An electrical connector assembly includes a high density plug connector 2 that is mated to a high density receptacle connector 4, each of which can be attached to wires 76. The plug connector includes male terminals 18 held in cavities 10 by resilient latches 12. The plug connector also includes a combination terminal guide and terminal position assurance member 26 which both guides and aligns male terminals 18 during mating and engages the resilient latches 12 to be sure that all of the terminals 18 are properly inserted in the plug connector housing 4. The male TPA guide member 26 is mounted on the plug connector housing mating face 6 and includes a front panel 28 with openings 30 for guiding the male terminals 18 during mating. Projections 32 extend from the panel 28 and function as terminal position assurance members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to electrical connectors that employ terminal position assurance members to insure that all terminals are properly positioned in a connector housing. This invention also relates to electrical connectors that employ guiding members to guide and align male terminals during mating.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Terminal position assurance members (TPA) are commonly used on electrical connectors, especially on electrical connectors used in the automotive industry. A terminal position assurance member is a movable member that can be moved into its proper position only if all of the terminals in the connector are in their fully inserted position. A variant of a terminal position assurance member is a terminal position assist member, which moves the terminals into a completely inserted position. Either form can also back up or prevent disengagement of a latches that hold terminals in an electrical connector housing.
In applications, such as automotive applications, individual electrical connectors can include many terminals attached to wires in a harness. The electrical connector used in these applications is commonly used on a receptacle connector, or a connector that includes female or socket terminals, that are connected to a pin header including printed circuit board pins. In these applications, a terminal position assurance member is commonly used with the receptacle connector. A terminal position assurance member used with a receptacle connector can be mounted on the mating face of the connector. The front mounted TPA can include a front panel with openings and projections, extending from the front panel into a terminal position assurance position beside the housing latches securing the terminal in the housing. Pins in the mating header enter the mating face of the receptacle connector through openings in the front mounted TPA. A TPA of this type can be used on a male or plug connector when two cables are to be attached.
Although in many applications, only the female electrical connector employs a TPA, a TPA is also employed in male electrical connectors when both the male and female electrical connector employs crimp snap terminals to connect wires extending from two or more harnesses into both of the mating connectors.
In many motor vehicle and other applications, a large number of wires must be connected in densely packed connectors containing a large number of terminals. In such applications a relative high mating force is required. Often one connector includes a bolt and the other includes a nut to provide mechanical assistance for overcoming these high mating forces. In certain densely populated prior art connectors pin guides are used to align pins during mating to prevent stubbing and damage to the terminals. These pin guides can also serve as pin protectors to prevent damage to the terminals during shipping.
Although each of these separate features is employed in prior art electrical connectors there is still the problem of including all of these desirable features is a densely populated assembly. In applications, such as motor vehicles, size and space are not unlimited and a large number of features must often be included within a relatively small electrical connector assembly.

Electrical connector with combination terminal guide and terminal position assurance member


A virtual workstation and network, each virtual workstation including a virtual environment controller for creating a display of a virtual representation of a work area and tools and assets therein. An interface processes inputs from a user and provides environment control signals to the environment controller, which adjusts the display to provide an image which appears to allow the user to virtually move within the work area and access the tools and assets therein. An intuitive controller is provided for activating each of the tools and assets when they are accessed virtually in the environment. A first embodiment provides a realistic three-dimensional representation of an office. To facilitate remote management and supervision, the invention provides a virtual or real image of coworkers on intuitive command. Thus, one user may virtually walk into the office of another worker and have face to face meeting while viewing and editing a common document. An alternate embodiment provides for a virtual trade show allowing the user to attend a trade show as it happens with live or virtual imagery. The invention allows a camera at the trade show to move through the show under remote control. This imagery may be combined with virtual imagery which may depict a top level graphical show directory or floor plan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computers and communication systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to virtual systems, computers and software systems and communication networks.
While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Notwithstanding the exigencies of business, it is often impossible, impractical or too costly for an individual or a group of individuals to be physically present at a particular location at a particular time.
For example, after the earthquakes in Los Angeles in 1994, many freeways were disabled for several months. Inasmuch as many of the freeways were on the verge of gridlock prior to the earthquake, traffic congestion after the destruction was such that for thousands of workers, a previously typical one-half hour commute to work became a two hour exercise in frustration. The cost to businesses was estimated to be on the order of millions of dollars per day. Accordingly, alternatives to the automotive commute were seriously evaluated.
One such alternative was "telecommuting". Telecommuting is a concept by which business is conducted in the home and communicated to the office or other locations via conventional telephone lines and other communication systems. While the vision of a large percentage of the workforce telecommuting has been discussed for years, corporate receptivity to the concept, even after the earthquakes of 94, has been lukewarm due, at least in part to the fact that conventional telecommunication systems do not allow for close management and/or supervision of subordinate employees. Thus, despite the fact that studies indicate the those that work out of the home are at least as productive as those that work in a conventional office environment (and, in some cases, significantly more productive), most companies simply do not allow a significant percentage of their workforce to telecommute. As a result, telecommuting has heretofore not provided a strong incentive for an investment in the equipment needed in the home to telecommute effectively. Given the lack of support for the concept on the part of employers, it has not been realistic to expect employers to invest in the equipment to provide even the limited telecommunications capability currently available. Hence, suppliers of such equipment have not generally provided equipment designed to facilitate telecommuting per se. Instead, suppliers of such equipment continue to use conventional market models and design equipment (such as fax machines and the like) for the business office and low cost, low duty cycle alternatives of same for the home. Currently, little is being done to provide telecommunications equipment which addresses the remote management and supervision problem. While there are some video teleconferencing systems on the market which provide face-to-face communication, these systems have traditionally been too expensive to be put in thousands of homes.
More recently, some products have been introduced which provide limited video interfacing and document sharing through a personal computer. ProShare.TM. from Intel and Pacific Telesis, ShareView.TM. from ShareVision, and CAMEO.TM. from Compression Labs Incorporated are exemplary of such systems. Unfortunately, the performance of these systems is limited by the fact that video communication and the document sharing are constrained through a monitor. Use of multiple monitors is not envisioned as it would significantly increase the cost and complexity of the system. The use of a single monitor to display data and video constrains the system with respect to the amount of information which may displayed at any given time.
In addition, system control is implemented primarily through a keyboard interface. While this may be suitable in a single application, and despite an availability of onscreen icons, keyboard control is still substantially more cumbersome, when moving from task to task, than working at one's desk for example. That is, when working in a real environment, one moves quickly and easily back and forth between files, documents, tools and appliances while carrying on conversations with coworkers directly or over the telephone. Thus, while computers allow for efficient performance of tasks using word processors, database programs and the like, the conventional computer interface is limited as a platform for creating a virtual work environment, particularly in the video telephone conferencing application critical to telecommuting.
Accordingly, a need remains in the art for a system for providing a virtual office environment which integrates telecommunications and computer-based tools in a manner that simulates a real office environment. Further, assuming that such a virtual office system could be provided, there would be a further need for a system for networking such virtual offices to provide real time two way communication to optimize the utility thereof and to facilitate remote management and supervision.


In a motor vehicle with a roof opening (12) located in a fixed roof surface (10) and a cover (13) for closing the roof opening, the cover has an at least partially transparent pane (14) and a frame which is connected to the pane and which extends over at least one part of the edge of the pane. The pane (14) is a plastic pane and the frame is formed by in situ foaming (20) of a foam material onto the periphery of the pane, the shape of the pane, in at least one partial area of a connecting region between the pane and the peripheral foam, is configured such that a permanent mechanical, positive interlocking connection is created between the pane and the peripheral foam.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a motor vehicle roof with a roof opening located in a fixed roof surface and a cover for closing the roof opening, the cover comprising at least one partially transparent pane and a frame which is connected to the pane and which extends over at least one part of the edge of the pane.
2. Description of Related Art
In these motor vehicles roofs, which can be roofs with a fixed or movable cover, the pane is conventionally a glass pane which is connected by means of a peripheral frame to the motor vehicle roof itself or to a positioning mechanism for positioning the cover. The frame can, moreover, be formed by foaming the pane in place, into which cover a metallic reinforcing or holding frame, for example, inner metal cover sheet, is inserted.
Aside from the glass elements, plastic panes which are cemented to a frame surrounding the pane are furthermore used in vehicle construction, especially for fixed elements.
While glass panes are advantageous in that they can be more easily worked, especially using techniques of foaming in place, it is however disadvantageous that glass covers have considerable inherent weight; this is disadvantageous not only with respect to the total weight of a roof structure, but especially when the cover is a movable cover which then requires a more complex configuration of the components supporting the cover and of the drive of the cover.
Plastic covers are lighter than glass covers, but much more difficult to install than the latter. This is due to the fact that the plastics used for producing vehicle roof covers generally have coefficients of thermal expansion which are very different from those of the metallic reinforcing and holding frame, and therefore, require corresponding movable connections between the pane and the frame, as is explained, for example, in German Patent DE 101 08 527 and corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0113466.
Instead of a corresponding movable mechanical connection, the attempt was made to connect the plastic cover by means of a material connection to the respective frame. For plastic covers using conventional materials, such as polycarbonates, to achieve the stability and durability of the cover required in motor vehicle construction, additional layers of hard material are applied to the outside and inside of the cover and are generally detrimental to a connection to other materials. As a result, the foaming-in-place processes used for glass covers to date are not applicable to plastic covers, and when a plastic cover is cemented to the frame, especially due to the aforementioned major differences with respect to coefficients of thermal expansion, faults and breaks in the cement often occur.


Provided is a filtration method for the step of removing viruses in a process of producing a protein preparation during which an intermediate protein preparation with a high protein concentration flows at high pressure to a virus removal filter. The filtration method employs a virus removal filter which has a close fitting nozzle of which the inlet at least has a pressure resistance of 600 kPa or more, and an effective area of the virus removal membrane of at least 0.0001 m2 and no more than 0.03 m2. An intermediate protein preparation with the protein concentration raised to at least 20 mg/ml and no more than 100 mg/ml by means of a purification process flows down to said virus removal filter under conditions in which the inlet pressure of the intermediate protein preparation is at least 150 kPa and no more than 600 kPa, the average protein filtration speed is at least 1.0 kg/m2/hr, and the filtration time is at least 1 hour and no more than 5 hours, to give an intermediate protein preparation filtrate with a viral removal rate (LRV) of ≧3.

A protein product, such as antibody drug, recombinant protein drug, plasma product, plasma fractionation product or the like may be contaminated with viruses derived from a raw material or caused during a production process. Therefore, it is necessary to inactivate or remove viruses in the course of preparing the protein product.
As the method for inactivating viruses that may be mixed into a protein product a heat treatment, a chemical treatment, or the like have been conducted. However, viruses may not be sufficiently inactivated using only such a treatment alone. Moreover, useful proteins themselves contained in a protein product may be denatured during such a treatment. In view of this situation, as a physical virus removal means that do not cause chemical denaturation separation/removal of viruses using a filter membrane have been carried out.
A membrane formed of a natural material such as cellulose and a virus removal membrane formed of a synthetic polymer material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyethersulfone (PES) have been known as a virus removal filter membrane (see Non-patent Documents 1 to 4).
When filtering an intermediate product of a protein product (hereinafter, may be referred to as an "intermediate protein product") using a virus removal apparatus that is provided with these virus removal membranes, it is ideal that a large amount of proteins can be filtered within a short time, and viruses can be removed by a sufficiently high virus removal performance. However in fact though a cellulose membrane, for example, can filter the intermediate protein product without clogging even at a protein concentration of 20 mg/ml or more, allows the practical pressure to be increased to only about 100 kPa due to low pressure resistance. On the other hand, a synthetic polymer membrane allows the practical pressure to be increased to about 300 kPa without problems due to high pressure resistance thereof, but may clog when the protein concentration is increased to about 20 mg/ml and cannot filter. Therefore, the intermediate protein product has been commonly filtered at a low protein concentration of 10 mg/ml or less (see Patent Document 1).
For these reasons, research of a filtration method carrying out under filtration conditions where an intermediate protein product having a high protein concentration that is increased by purification steps, such as various chromatographies, ultrafiltration and the like is passed through a virus removal apparatus at a high pressure have not been developed, and a virus removal filter used suitably for such a method also have not been developed.
Since an intermediate protein product is an important material for preparing a protein product, it is temporally and economically difficult to determine the filtration method and the operating conditions for the virus removal step in a production scale. Therefore, the inventor strongly recognized that it is very important to previously determine the filtration method for the virus removal step, the protein concentration of the intermediate protein product, and the operating conditions of the inlet pressure of the virus removal filter, and/or the filtration time in a small scale, and apply them to the scale-uped protein product production process.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2004-277323    [Non-patent Document 1] Manabe S., Removal of virus through novel membrane filtration method, Dev. Biol. Stand., (1996) 88: 81-90    [Non-patent Document 2] Brandwein H. et al., Membrane filtration for virus removal, Dev Biol (Basel), (2000) 102: 157-63    [Non-patent Document 3] Aranha-Creado et al., Clearance of murine leukaemia virus from monoclonal antibody solution by a hydrophilic PVDF microporous membrane filter, Biologicals, June 1998, 26 (2): 167-72    [Non-patent Document 4] L. Moce-Llivina et al., Comparison of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyether sulfone membranes in filtering viral suspensions, Journal of Virological Methods, April 2003, Vol. 109, Issue 1, pages 99-101


A pet strap includes a pulling unit, a locking unit, and an elastic drawing mounted between the pulling unit and the locking unit and including an elastic inner tube and a weaving outer layer mounted on a surface of the inner tube. Thus, the elastic drawing unit provides a buffering effect to the user to reduce the reaction applied by the pet on the user's hand, thereby preventing the user's wrist from being hurt when the pet is running violently. In addition, the weaving outer layer is enclosed around the inner tube, so that when the inner tube is broken due to an excessive reaction, the inner tube will not being sprung outward, thereby preventing the user from being hurt by the broken inner tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pet strap and, more particularly, to a pet strap having a buffering effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional pet strap in accordance with the prior art shown in FIG. 6 comprises a pulling unit 1 having a first portion provided with a retaining portion 11 for retaining a snapping member 13 and a second portion provided with a loop 12 to facilitate a user holding the pulling unit 1, and a turnbuckle 14 pivotally mounted on the snapping member 13 of the pulling unit 1 and snapped onto a neck collar (not shown) of a pet, such as a dog or the like. However, the pulling unit 1 cannot provide a buffering effect to the user to reduce the reaction applied by the pet on the user's hand, so that the user's wrist is easily hurt when the pet is running violently. In addition, the pulling unit 1 will be rotated by the pet when the pet is rolling or running irregularly, so that the pulling unit 1 is easily tangled, and the user's wrist is easily hurt when the pet is rolling or running violently.


Generating a digital signature of an entire embedded code project while maintaining certain exclusion areas so that a productivity application can incorporate application-specific information into the embedded code project without hampering the digital signature.

Computing systems today are becoming more and more complex. In the past, computing systems may have included productivity applications such as a word processor and a spreadsheet program whose functions were simply to create text documents and compute numbers. Today those same productivity applications include complex features, such as embedded programming environments. In other words, productivity applications today may include the ability to embed executable code within the documents themselves. This embedded code enables the features of the productivity application to be programmatically manipulated.
Many sophisticated users employ software developers to write or develop custom software programs (e.g., 'macros') within these embedded programming environments. For example, a company may employ developers to write customized software that executes in conjunction with a productivity application, such as a word processor, that is used enterprise-wide. The customized software may include functionality to assist the users with their ordinary tasks or to automate some of those tasks.
Such customized software creates an opportunity for malicious code or viruses to be introduced into a user's document. For example an outsider could receive an e-mail with a document having embedded code that is malicious. For these reasons, safe-software practices need to be applied to this embedded code. For example, code-signing is a common method of ensuring that a software program has not been modified since it was signed. Many companies take advantage of code signing for any customized software that they develop. Commonly, productivity software that allows customized embedded code to be developed includes the ability to sign their embedded code.
As applications develop and new versions are released, new features and capabilities are often included. Unfortunately, this creates a dilemma with signed embedded code in documents that are shared between users of different versions of the same application. Older versions of an application are unable to verify a signature for features that exist only in newer versions of the application. An adequate solution to this dilemma has eluded those skilled in the art, until now.


A dental resin composition is presented, comprising an ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate having the formula EQU CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2 (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x C.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(CH.sub.3) .sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 (OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.y O.sub.2 CC(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH.sub.2. wherein x+y is an integer from 1 to 20, and preferably from 2 to 7, together with a methacrylate oligomer and an optional diluent monomer. The composition is suitable for use for dental fillers adhesives, and the like, and has improved water sorption and excellent wear resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to polymeric condensation products for restorative dentistry. More particularly, it relates to polymeric condensation products useful as a component of filled resin composites. Depending on filler content, such filled resin composites may be used as crown and bridge materials, either with or without an alloy substrate; or as reconstructive materials, bioprostheses, restorative materials, filling materials, inlays, onlays, laminate veneers, and the like. The polymeric condensation products of the present invention have improved water sorption characteristics and excellent wear resistance.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
In recent years, materials used for dental restorations have comprised principally acrylate or methacrylate polymers. Typical acrylate resinous materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,112 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,623 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,784 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,399 to Lee et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,906 to Lee et al. An especially important methacrylate monomer is the condensation product of bisphenol A and glycidyl methacrylate, 2,2'-bis [4-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxy propoxy)-phenyl]-propane (hereinafter abbreviated "BIS-GMA"). Polyurethane dimethacrylates (hereinafter abbreviated to PUDMA) are also commonly-used principal polymers in dental restorative materials of this type.
Since BIS-GMA is highly viscous at room temperature, it is generally diluted with an acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a lower viscosity such as trimethylol propyl trimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, and the like. Other dimethacrylate monomers, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, are also in general use as diluents.
When these acrylic resinous materials were first developed, they were used for dental restorative purposes unfilled, that is, without the presence of any other organic or inorganic component. However, because acrylic materials exhibit high coefficients of thermal expansion relative to the coefficient of thermal expansion for the tooth structure, these unfilled substances proved to be less than satisfactory. The disparity in thermal expansion, coupled with high shrinkage upon polymerization, resulted in poor marginal adaptability and ultimately led to secondary decay. Furthermore, the wear and abrasion characteristics and the overall physical, mechanical and optical properties of these unfilled acrylic resinous materials were quite poor. Composite dental restorative materials containing methacrylate resins and fillers were thus developed, the fillers generally comprising inorganic materials based on silica, silicate glass, or quartz.
There are now available materials which exhibit high diametral tensile strength, excellent optical properties and polishability, and low water sorption while at the same time complying with all of the requirements specified in ADA Specification No. 27 for Direct Filling Resins. Particularly suitable restorative materials include the compositions having improved inorganic filler materials such as those disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,531 to Waknine, disclosing self-curing two-component compositions, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,359 to Waknine, disclosing visible light curable compositions.
Other monomers and polymers particularly suited for dental restorative resins and other dental applications are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,068 to Waknine and U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,104 to Waknine. Such materials make use of a novel polycarbonate dimethacrylate which is the condensation product of two parts of hydroxyalkylmethacrylate of the formula H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)C(O)O--A--OH, in which A is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylene, and 1 part of a bis(chloroformate) of the formula ClC(O)--(OR).sub.n --OC(O)Cl, in which R is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene having at least two carbon atoms in its principal chain, and n is an integer in the range from 1 to 4. Where no diluent monomer is used, this novel polycarbonate dimethacrylate is reacted in an amount of about 65-75% by weight of the total resin composition with a secondary monomer in an amount of about 25-35% by weight of the total resin composition. Suitable secondary monomers include BIS-GMA, PUDMA, and the like. Alternatively, where a diluent monomer is used, the novel polycarbonate dimethacrylate is present in an amount of about 30-80%, with 5-60% of a secondary monomer and 1-50% of a diluent monomer. This polycarbonate dimethacrylate imparts excellent strength to the cured resin, but it is somewhat costly.
Thus, despite recent advances in the development of filled dental restorative materials having led to composites having higher resistance to abrasion, better handling characteristics, and more satisfactory visual appearance, there remains a need for improvement in the wear resistance of filled compositions used as crown and bridge materials and denture-base materials. Improved water sorption in particular would contribute to the long-term stability of a restoration and is particularly desirable.


A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming first structures in a first portion of the integrated circuit and forming second structures, which are arranged more densely than the first structures, in a second portion. The first and second structures are defined by lithography processes using photomasks. At least one of the photomasks includes both openings in a first region for supporting the definition of the first structures and openings in a second region for supporting the definition of the second structures.

Integrated circuits such as memory devices usually comprise conductive lines, for example, bitlines or wordlines, which are arranged in a regular manner so as to form an array of conductive lines. With shrinking feature sizes the pitch of the conductive lines is further reduced. As a consequence, contacts which contact these conductive lines as well as, for example, the substrate are disposed at a very small pitch. Moreover, a proper alignment of the contacts to the conductive lines is sometimes troublesome to obtain.

Integrated circuit including structures arranged at different densities and method of forming the same


A backlighted button or knob made by multi-shot molding has a translucent part and an opaque part. At the front of the button the translucent part contains a ridge shaped in the form of a symbol which is illuminated. The opaque part surrounds the ridge to mask light to surrounding areas. Where the symbol is a closed figure defining an island, a passage behind the ridge coupled the island to the surrounding areas to allow opaque material to flow to the island during molding, and results in an opaque bridge in the passage. To minimize a shadow of the bridge on the illuminated symbol the bridge is spaced far behind the ridge to allow light to be conducted through the translucent material to the ridge portion just in front of the bridge.

In electronic controls such as automotive radios and the like, control knobs or buttons bearing graphics such as letters, numbers and other symbols are often illuminated to make the graphics easily visible. An inexpensive method of making such buttons of good quality is by a two part molding process. A first shot of translucent material is injected into a mold to form a base part containing a raised symbol. A second shot of opaque material is injected to surround the symbol. The resulting button when back lighted will have the raised symbol illuminated and the remainder of the button will be dark due to the layer of opaque material.
Some symbols such as A, B and D are closed figures which define inner islands containing opaque material separate from the remainder of the button surrounding the graphic. The opaque material is fed to the island during the second shot by a bridge behind a portion of the raised symbol which connects the island with the area surrounding the symbol. Heretofore, this has resulted in the button typified by that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. A button 10 bears the letter "A" having two angled side legs 14 and a cross bar 16 to define an island 18 which is isolated from the outer region 19 of the button outside the legs and crossbar. The base 20 of the button 10, shown in FIG. 2, is a cup-shaped element made of translucent material. The base has a front base surface 22 carrying a ridge 24 shaped to form the letter "A" which extends from the front base surface 22 to the front button surface 26. The inner wall of the button comprises a rear base surface 28. A lamp 30 mounted on a circuit board 32 or other light source behind the button illuminates the rear base surface so that the letter "A" is illuminated. An aperture 34 in the base extends transverse to and underneath the crossbar 16. To provide contrast and to suppress light through the front of the button other than through the illuminated symbol, an opaque part 36 is added to the button by injection molding so that the two parts together form a smooth uninterrupted front button surface 26. The opaque material during molding surrounds the letter "A" and flows through the aperture 34 to fill the island 18. The resulting opaque bridge 38 filling the aperture 34 impedes the flow of light to the portion of the crossbar 16 adjacent the bridge thereby causing a shadow on the light bar which is aesthetically objectionable.

Molded two part button with illuminated graphic


A combined flying-driving vehicle having a unique hybrid propulsion system architecture that provides a very high level of reliability and functionality to the user.

Flying cars have been invented which successfully achieve both objectives of flying and driving. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,358 to the present inventor and owned by Terrafugia, Inc. discloses a flying and driving vehicle that includes a foldable main wing mounted to a fuselage using a sophisticated folding mechanism and separate propulsion systems for driving and for flying. U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,253 discloses a ducted-fan vehicle capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), which, however, does not have the ability to drive legally on roads. U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,253 purports to disclose a vehicle for the road, the air, and water that is VTOL capable. However, the design is neither simple nor aerodynamic.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a vehicle that is capable of legally operating on a roadway surface and of VTOL-type flying. Moreover, in highly regulated industries such as the aviation and automotive world, vehicle inventions have much greater value if they can be made to meet existing regulations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combined flying/driving vehicle with vertical takeoff and fixed-wing cruise capabilities


Methods of treating cancer with antibodies that bind colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) in combination with one or more immune stimulating agents are provided.

Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (referred to herein as CSF1R; also referred to in the art as FMS, FIM2, C-FMS, M-CSF receptor, and CD115) is a single-pass transmembrane receptor with an N-terminal extracellular domain (ECD) and a C-terminal intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity. Ligand binding of CSF1 or the interleukin 34 ligand (referred to herein as IL-34; Lin et al., Science 320: 807-11 (2008)) to CSF1R leads to receptor dimerization, upregulation of CSF1R protein tyrosine kinase activity, phosphorylation of CSF1R tyrosine residues, and downstream signaling events. CSF1R activation by CSF1 or IL-34 leads to the trafficking, survival, proliferation, and differentiation of monocytes and macrophages, as well as other monocytic cell lineages such as osteoclasts, dendritic cells, and microglia.
Many tumor cells or tumor stromal cells have been found to produce CSF1, which activates monocyte/macrophage cells through CSF1R. The level of CSF1 in tumors has been shown to correlate with the level of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor. Higher levels of TAMs have been found to correlate with poorer patient prognoses in the majority of cancers. In addition, CSF1 has been found to promote tumor growth and progression to metastasis in, for example, human breast cancer xenografts in mice. See, e.g., Paulus et al., Cancer Res. 66: 4349-56 (2006). Further, CSF1R plays a role in osteolytic bone destruction in bone metastasis. See, e.g., Ohno et al., Mol. Cancer Ther. 5: 2634-43 (2006). TAMs promote tumor growth, in part, by suppressing anti-tumor T cell effector function through the release of immunosuppressive cytokines and the expression of T cell inhibitory surface proteins. Thus, antibodies that bind to CSF1R may be useful in methods of treating cancer.
Some tumor cells may escape detection by the immune system at least in part by suppressing the immune response, for instance by altering the expression of immune modulatory genes. For example, the relative concentrations of both immune stimulatory and immune inhibitory molecules in the body may modulate the adaptive immune response. A relatively high level of expression of inhibitory molecules and/or reduced expression of certain stimulatory molecules may create a checkpoint or switch that down-regulates the adaptive immune response. Agents that counteract this effect by up-regulating the adaptive immune response or by stimulating the innate immune response are potential cancer therapies.
A combination regimen of agents that modulate the immune response in cancer, such as immune stimulating agents, may increase the depth and durability of the response and may also broaden efficacy to patients who do not respond to a single agent alone.

Anti-CSF1R antibody and agonistic anti-CD40 antibody combination therapy for cancer


A data receiver is disclosed, including an equalization process part, a multi-value oversampling part, and an equalization controller. The equalization process part equalizes serial received data before binarization and outputs the serial received data being equalized. The multi-value oversampling part binarizes the serial received data being equalized by multiple threshold values, conducts oversampling, and generates the multi-value sampling data. The equalization controller detects an eye pattern of the serial received data being equalized based on the multi-value oversampling data, and controls an equalization characteristic of the equalization process part based on a detection result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a data receiver and data communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to satisfy demands of a large capacity and high speed data transmission, numerous high speed interface standards exist in practical use. The high speed interface standards mostly apply to a serial transmission method. In a serial transmission, data are transmitted based on a frequency defined beforehand. A clock signal of a frequency is superimposed with the data to be transmitted. A data receiver extracts the clock signal, and recovers the data based on the clock signal. A circuit for conducting a restore operation is called a "clock data recovery" (hereinafter, abbreviated as a "CDR").
In a conventional CDR circuit, a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) circuit is generally used. The PLL circuit is controlled so that an oscillator clock of a VCO (Voltage-Controlled Oscillator) in the PLL circuit synchronizes with a phase of received data. The oscillator clock is extracted as a recovery clock. By latching the received data in which the recovery clock is determined as a reference, the received data are accurately recovered.
An oversampling type CDR circuit is proposed (refer to Patent Document 1), for example). The oversampling type CDR circuit generates multiphase clocks in which phases are shifted at equal intervals based on a reference clock. The oversampling data are acquired by sampling input data. The oversampling type CDR circuit detects timing at which a logic is reversed from a bit sequence of the oversampling data, and restores the clock and the data based on the result. By adopting this configuration, since a circuit other than the multiphase clock generator can be configured by using a digital circuit, the circuit can be realized relatively easily.
As a jitter caused by the transmission channel, Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) is known. Conventionally, an equalizer is used to reduce ISI. In the equalizer, by realizing a filter having a reverse characteristic of the frequency characteristic which causes ISI, the frequency characteristic of the data transmission in a data band is formed to be flat. For instance, the reverse characteristic may be a high pass characteristic in a case in which the frequency characteristic of the transmission channel is the low pass characteristic. By this configuration, the jitter caused by ISI is reduced.
Recently, in order to respond to diversity of a data transmission rate and diversity of the data transmission channel, an adaptive equalizing technology has been developed to adaptively adjust an equalizing amount. Especially, a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) is largely used as the adaptive equalizer in a receiving circuit of a serial transmission system (see Patent Documents 2 and 3).
Moreover, a signal processing apparatus, in which the oversampling type CDR circuit and the adaptive equalizing technology are combined, is known. That is, Patent Document 4 discloses an equalizing processing apparatus of the oversampling type CDR circuit in which its object is to reduce the jitter caused by ISI. Accordingly to the equalizing processing apparatus, received data are binalized, a digital signal process is conducted to binalize the data, and the binalized data are further binalized based on a result of the digital signal process, so as to realize an adaptive equalizing.

Data receiver, data communication system, and data communication method


Process for combustion and vitrification of waste in which at least one oxygen plasma jet is associated with a continuous melting device by high frequency direct induction. The crucible is composed of a continuous external shell and a sole plate, both cooled by a liquid circulating in internal channels. The inductor is placed below the sole plate. There is a gravity drain valve at the bottom or on the side.

A great deal of research work has been carried out for many years on immobilisation of the toxic fraction of various combustible waste in a vitreous, glass ceramic or crystalline type matrix, the toxicity being either chemical (including heavy metals) or radioactive. There are often several advantages such as stabilising waste, production of a tested and durable confinement matrix, reduction of the initial volume of waste, etc.
Obviously, research for an industrial process capable of both combustion and vitrification in a single, simple unit generating only small quantities of secondary waste is economically advantageous.
Several methods have been explored in research laboratories and at industrial scales. Essentially, the use of the thermal plasmas, variants using immersed or non-immersed electrodes and melting by direct induction have been considered.
Several processes have been developed for plasma treatment, but they have disadvantages that make industrial application difficult. Crucibles are made from refractory materials and wear quickly when in contact with molten glass (by corrosion in a complex aggressive medium) and also under intense plasma radiation. The treatment capacity of combustible waste in these plasma furnaces is also limited so as to protect linings made of refractory materials.
The most frequently used plasmagenic gases are nitrogen and air. In the first case, the generated plasma is only used as a heat source and not as a combustion element, which leads to simple cracking of organic molecules. This makes the chemical composition and treatment of fumes that contain a great deal of unburned materials, soot and dust and often nitrogen oxides, very complex. The use of air as the plasmagenic gas partially solves the disadvantages mentioned above, but 80% of the gases are then useless but are still heated, which means that gas treatment units are oversized.
Plasma fusion production using cooled crucibles has been tested to overcome the problem of refractories. Copper has been proposed as a material for the construction of crucibles, but it has the same disadvantage that it is sensitive to corrosion, particularly in a nitric medium; noble stainless steel is preferred to copper. However, heat transfers from the molten material in the crucible to the walls are such that melting is always made difficult, which makes it more difficult to create a sufficiently extensive bath and to empty the crucible.
The high frequency direct induction technique for melting in a metallic crucible, at least part of which is transparent to electromagnetic fields, is also known. With this technique, melting and production of a sufficiently large glass bath and casting are controlled. Known applications include the production of high purity glass and enamels, and vitrification of high activity radioactive waste. Relevant descriptions are found in French patent applications FR 91 02595(U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,532)and FR 96 09382(U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,243). But there are disadvantages with this process if it is applied to melting of a confinement matrix above which combustible elements are thrown. In particular, there is a strong chemical interaction between the waste to be treated and the molten material, resulting in important modifications of its composition and homogeneity. For example, reduction as far as the metallic phase of an oxide-based material (glass) is practically inevitable when the waste contains carbon or hydrogen or sulphur, even if air or oxygen blowing means are used in or bath. This result modifies the required properties for the ash confinement matrix and for correct electromagnetic operation of the process. Concerning surface combustion, depending on the calorific value of the treated waste, the temperature (therefore melting) of the surface layer of the molten material is not always guaranteed, and cooling may occur associated with an accumulation of material that remained solid. Note that a special process (susceptor, metallothermy, etc.) is always necessary when starting direct induction melting processes in a cold crucible when the molten material is not electrically conducting at low temperatures, which is the case for glass.

Vitrification furnace with dual heating means

Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires


Disclosed is an insulated metal door edge guard having a stainless steel body, a PVC cover, and a sheet of colored PVF. The PVC cover is coextruded completely around the metal body in strip form. Then, before the heat of the coextrusion step is lost, the PVF sheet is laminated onto one surface of the PVC cover. The combination is then roll formed into a door edge guard having a base and two legs. The ends of the legs are folded inward to form two beads. The PVC cover has two regions of decreased thickness on the interior of the beads to facilitate the roll forming of the beads.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to door edge guards mounted on the trailing edges of automobile doors and to methods of manufacturing such door edge guards. In particular, the invention relates to insulated metal door edge guards having a color to match the color of the automobile door to which the door edge guard is to be attached.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Door edge guards are mounted on the trailing edges of automobile doors to protect the edges of the doors and to protect objects that are struck by the door edge. For example, in a crowded parking lot the door edge may strike the side of an adjacent automobile. Without door edge guards, the door edges may be chipped and subsequently rust.
Both metal and non-metal door edge guards are manufactured. Non-metal door edge guards are made of various plastics, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC). Metal door edge guards are generally made of stainless steel or aluminum. If the metal of the guard is different from the metal or the door, usually carbon steel, then the two metals must be insulated to prevent electrochemical action between the two metals from causing galvanic corrosion. Insulating materials are generally plastics, such as PVC.
In many prior art door edge guards aluminum is used because the galvanic corrosion does not produce red rust. However, stainless steel has more resilience than aluminum, so stainless steel is preferred over aluminum, if the insulation is adequate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,327, issued Oct. 6, 1987, to Adell, shows an insulated metal door edge guard. During manufacturing, the plastic insulating material is coextruded onto a flat metal strip. The strip is then painted and roll formed to form a door edge guard.
The heat of extrusion may be used to join two materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,175, issued Nov. 29, 1988, to Adell, shows a non-metal door edge guard. A flat, plastic strip is extruded and the heat of extrusion is used to laminate a roll of mylar or encapsulated foil onto the plastic strip. The combination is then roll formed into a door edge guard. An adhesive may be used to improve the joining of the mylar or foil with the plastic.
In the past many door edge guards have been black or silver. More recently, though, automobile manufacturers have preferred for the door edge guards to be the same color as the automobile door. Many different methods have been used to add color to door edge guards.
As mentioned earlier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,327 discloses painting the plastic cover prior to roll forming, U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,175, also mentioned earlier, discloses laminating a layer of mylar onto the plastic strip.
Coextrusion has also been tried. However, when the colored material is coextruded with the plastic, the color flakes in the colored material tend to align themselves, giving the material different colors when observed from different angles.
Another method that has been attempted involves laminating colored material, such as polyvinylfluoride (PVF) onto sheets of plastic. The plastic is then cut into thin strips and roll formed.

Method of manufacturing a door edge guard


An acceleration sensor is described which is formed by planar technology on a substrate. It includes a core of ferromagnetic material and, coupled conductively together by the core, a first winding adapted to be connected to a power supply and a second winding adapted to be connected to circuit means for measuring an electrical magnitude induced therein. The core has two suspended portions which are free to bend as a result of an inertial force due to an accelerative movement of the sensor itself. The bending causes lengthening of the core and hence a variation in the reluctance of the magnetic circuit. If a constant current is supplied to the first winding, a voltage is induced in the second winding as a result of the variation in the magnetic flux caused by the variation in reluctance.

Acceleration sensors are used in many fields of technology. For example, in the motor vehicle industry they are used to control various devices, such as air bags, ABS braking systems, active suspensions, inertial orientation systems and several engine parts.
Various types of acceleration sensors are known which differ from each other in their construction and principle of operation. In recent years, in addition to conventional sensors made on the macroscopic scale and including mechanical switches sensitive to acceleration, miniaturized planar sensors have also been devised and made available. The miniaturized sensors are made using techniques typical for semiconductor devices, such as the planar technology. In many cases, they are formed on a substrate of semiconductive material together with the circuits and electronic components necessary for the amplification and processing of the signal produced thereby. These latter sensors have many advantages over conventional ones, as well as the obvious ones of smaller size, lower cost, greater reliability, improved signal-to-noise ratio, integrability with processing and memory devices, better reproducibility, etc.
The methods of manufacture of planar sensors are based on processing a wafer of semiconductor material, typically silicon, on both of its faces. This is typically done by means of anisotropic etching steps (bulk micromachining), or on only one face by deposition and selective removal of thin films and isotropic etching steps (surface micromachining). This latter type of working or processing is particularly suitable for integration of the structure of the sensor with the processing circuits.
With regard to the operation of planar sensors, this is based on the effect of the acceleration on a structure which has a so-called seismic mass, and which is anchored to the substrate by a mechanical suspension element. The seismic mass, when subject to an inertial force due to an acceleration, moves relative to the substrate, possibly deforming and causing stress in the suspension element. The movement and/or deformation and/or stress are converted into an electrical signal which is then amplified and processed as necessary.
In a known sensor, the seismic mass is provided by one electrode of a capacitor, and wherein the second electrode is in the substrate. A movement of the seismic mass causes a variation in the capacitance of the capacitor which, in turn, is detected and processed by a suitable circuit.

Acceleration sensor and a method for its manufacture


Methods and systems for predicting surface failure of a surface, for example a method comprising the steps of: obtaining a group of measured datasets, each including: a measurement value of at least a first type for each of a plurality of grid elements, each grid element associated with a location on the surface; and a time value, such that the group of datasets includes datasets associated with a plurality of unique time values, identifying an interface set of grid elements for each measured dataset, each interface set comprising grid elements of the associated measured dataset meeting a connection threshold according to a connection rule in dependence on the measurement values of the grid elements, determining a risk of surface failure in accordance with identification of a pattern of grid elements of the interface set which has a persistent location with respect to the surface of interface sets over a plurality of measured datasets.

Surface failures, such as land and mud slides, avalanches, rockfalls and failures of retaining walls and dams as well as slips in mines and other geological surfaces are unfortunately common place. The impact is often devastating and costly. Geomaterials (i.e., rock, soil and snow) are at the heart of these failure events.

Method for prediction of a surface event


A mold assembly for producing a molded object from resin. The assembly includes a cavity configured to be filled with resin to form at least one surface of the molded object into a predetermined shape with at least one transfer surface of the cavity. A molding insertion member is arranged to form another surface of the molded object, and a holding insertion piece is configured to hold the molding insertion member. The holding insertion piece includes a communication path that places a surface of the molding insertion member at a side opposite to the cavity in fluid communication with the exterior of the mold assembly and guides air from the exterior of the mold assembly toward the surface of the molding insertion member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and mold assembly for producing a molded object of plastic optical elements such as a lens, a mirror, and a prism.
2. Discussion of the Background
Metallic mold assemblies that employ an injection molding method to produce plastic optical elements such as plastic lenses with high accuracy are known. Known methods of producing a molded object 21 of a plastic optical element using a mold assembly 1 are shown in FIGS. 8A through 8C. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the molded object 21 has mirror surfaces 22 and 23 as optical surfaces, as well as non-optical surfaces 24 and 25. Referring to FIG. 8A, the mold assembly 1 includes a fixing-side metallic mold 2 providing a cavity piece 8 (i.e., a molding piece for forming a cavity) and a moving-side metallic mold 3 providing a cavity piece 9. The cavity pieces 8 and 9 have transfer surfaces 8a and 9a, respectively. A pair of porous members 26 is arranged opposing each other in the mold assembly 1. A cavity, which is filled with molten resin during molding, is defined by the cavity pieces 8 and 9 and the porous members 26. After the molten resin is loaded into the cavity, the molten resin is cooled under a controlled pressure. In the cooling process, when air is guided to the cavity via the porous members 26, the sides of the resin in the cavity corresponding to the non-optical surfaces 24 and 25 of the molded object 21 are pressed. This presses the resin in the cavity against the transfer surfaces 8a and 9a. As a result, the transfer surfaces 8a and 9a are transferred to the resin, and thereby the mirror surfaces 22 and 23 of the molded object 21 are formed.
In another mold assembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 8B, a vent hole 27 is provided at a side surface other than the transfer surfaces 8a and 9a in the cavity. Furthermore, a communication path 28 is provided to place the vent hole 27 in fluid communication with the exterior of the mold assembly 1. When the molten resin is loaded into the cavity, the communication path 28 is filled with compressed air in the cavity. Then, a differential pressure is generated between portions of the resin contacting the transfer surfaces 8a/9a and a portion of the resin contacting the vent hole 27. This forms a sink only at the portions of the resin that contact the vent hole 27. Thereby, a sink can be prevented from occurring at the mirror surfaces 22 and 23 of the molded object 21.
In still another background mold assembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 8C, a slide cavity piece 29 is provided to form a side surface of the cavity other than the transfer surfaces 8a and 9a. When the molten resin in the cavity is cooled to a temperature lower than a softening point of the resin, a gap 30 is forcibly formed between the resin and the slide cavity piece 29. This is done by sliding the slide cavity piece 29 in a direction away from the resin so as to form a sink only at a portion of the resin facing the gap 30. Thereby, a sink is prevented from occurring at the mirror surfaces 22 and 23 of the molded object 21.
In the above-described mold assembly 1, the molded object 21 of a highly accurate optical element can be obtained by forming a sink in a portion of the molded object 21 other than mirror surfaces 22 and 23 which are to be used as optical surfaces. This allows mirror surfaces 22 and 23 to be shaped by transfer surfaces 8a and 9a. This is further accomplished by reducing internal distortion of the molded object 21. However, because a portion of the resin where the sink is formed is separated from a piece of the mold assembly 1 at a temperature above the softening point of the resin, the thermal conductivity of the above-described portion of the resin where the sink is formed becomes extremely low. As a result, a significant cooling time is required to cool the resin.
Furthermore, when the sink is formed asymmetrically at a surface of the cavity other than transfer surfaces 8a and 9a as illustrated in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the temperature distribution of the resin becomes uneven. This is because the temperature of the portion of the resin where the sink is formed is relatively high and the temperature of other portions of the resin is relatively low. As a result, after the molded object 21 is removed from the mold assembly 1, the molded object 21 may deform due to differences in contraction rates. In order to prevent the deformation of the molded object 21, it is necessary to sufficiently cool the resin and to lower the temperature of the molded object 21 before removing the molded object 21 from the mold assembly 1. However, the process of cooling the resin requires a significant amount of time.
Furthermore, in the mold assembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 8C, when the slide cavity piece 29 is slid away from the resin, the molded object 21 may be deformed due to a change in the contact-force between the slide cavity piece 29 and the resin during the process of cooling the resin to a temperature lower than a softening point of the resin.

Method and mold assembly for producing a molded object


A tufting machine belt driven gauging element drive assembly (5) for use with a tufting machine (7) is disclosed. The drive assembly includes a spindle assembly (24) rotatably supported on the tufting machine with respect to at least one elongate gauging element drive shaft (31, 34). The spindle assembly is rotated in timed relationship with the rotation of a tufting machine drive shaft (16) by a drive sprocket (20) mounted on the tufting machine drive shaft, a flexible timing belt (21) encircling the drive sprocket and a driven sprocket (23) formed as a part of the spindle assembly. The spindle assembly has at least one adjustable cam assembly (52a, 52b) affixed thereto and having a stub shaft (54a, 54b) formed as a part thereof which is parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the spindle shaft, and which orbits the axis of the spindle shaft as the spindle shaft is rotated. An elongate drive pinion (58a, 58b) is pivotally fastened at one end to the stub shaft, the other end of the drive pinion being pivotally fastened to the first end of an elongate drive lever (66a, 66b) for transmitting the reciprocating motion of the drive pinion as a rocking motion to the drive lever for rocking the at least one gauging element drive shaft in timed relationship with the rotation of the tufting machine drive shaft. The at least one cam assembly is positioned adjacent a timing disc (47a, 47b) on which a timing reference mark (50a, 50b) is defined, and has a series of timing indicia (55a, 55b) defined thereon in registry with the timing reference mark so that the at least one cam assembly may be rotated about the spindle shaft to adjust the stroke of the drive pinion which adjusts the rotational position of the at least one gauging element drive shaft with respect to rotational position of the tufting machine drive shaft in response thereto.

The use of tufting machines for creating tufted articles, for example tufted carpet, is wellknown in the art. In conventional tufting machines, a reciprocating needle bar carries a plurality of aligned needles thereon, the needles being constructed to reciprocably penetrate a backing material passing transversely underneath the needle bar through a tufting zone. As the needles penetrate the backing material, they carry a yarn therethrough, whereupon the yarn is caught either by a looper to create a tufted pile article, or by a looper/hook moved in time relationship with a knife to create a loop of tufted material which is then cut to create a cut pile article. It is by this process, for example, in which tufted cut pile carpeting is made.
Early tufting machines used mechanical devices to reciprocate the needle bar, the loopers, or hooks and the looper/knife arrangement of the machine all of which are known as gauging elements to those familiar with the art, in timed relationship with one another. Thus, in early tufting machines a main drive shaft was rotated by a drive source, most commonly a motor, with the rotation of the tufting machine drive shaft being used to reciprocate the needle bar toward and away from the tufting zone, as well as moving the looper, and/or looper/knife mechanisms in timed relationship with the needles passed into the tufting zone. Early examples of tufting machines used eccentric cams mounted on the tufting machine drive shaft to reciprocate a push rod attached to the needle bar for reciprocating the needles in turn, and using either push rods or straps engaged with additional eccentric cams on the main drive shall of the machine to operate the looper and/or looper/knife mechanisms. Although these tufting machines have proven to be durable and capable of creating a high quality tufted product, the problem with these machines has been the inherent limitations of the mechanical connection or interlinking of the operation of the needle bar, the looper drive, and the knife drive which resulted in increased mechanical drag and led to the creation of heat and increased friction, which in turn led to increased wear and vibration in the drive train, all of which resulted in diminished production efficiency as well as increased machine down time and maintenance/repair costs required to keep the tufting machines in proper working order.
An example of an early tufting machine which uses this kind of mechanical drive system for the creation of tufted products is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,361,096 to Watkins, as well as in British Patent No. 1,507,201, and British Patent No. 1,304,151. In the effort to get away from using cams with straps or push rods, the use of belt driven components of tufting machines has developed. An early example of this is the multiple stroke looper mechanism for a stitching machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,944 to Passons, et al. Passons, et al. teach the use of a drive chain passed over a sprocket on the tufting machine drive shaft and a spaced second sprocket to which an eccentric cam shaft is attached, the eccentric cam shaft being used to reciprocate a push rod for rocking the loopers disposed within the tufting zone back and forth with respect to the reciprocation of the needle to create longitudinal rows of stitching in a base fabric in which the looper is driven through two or more strokes for each stroke of the needle in a stitch cycle. In Passons, et al., however, an eccentric cam was still employed on the tufting machine drive shaft for moving a push rod to reciprocate the needle bar, and an eccentric cam mounted in close proximity to the tufting machine drive shaft was still used to drive the loopers in timed relationship thereto, thus requiring the use of a relatively long push rod/crank to rock the loopers with the resultant problem of mechanical vibration, stress, and wear in the looper drive train. Although Passons, et al. represented a novel advance in the art, the problem of using a primarily mechanical link system in tufting operations persisted, which did not allow for the increased tufting speeds and serviceability demanded in the tufting industry.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,586,445, and 4,665,845, to Card, et al., respectively, disclose a high speed tufting machine in which a flexible timing belt is used to drive the needle bar by transmitting the rotation of the tufting machine drive shaft to an offset sprocket, the sprocket being one of a series of aligned sprockets along the length of the tufting machine and having a push rod fastened thereto for reciprocating the needle bar with respect to the tufting zone. These two patents to Card, et al. represented a significant advance in the art in allowing still greater production speeds in the creation of tufted products because higher needle bar speeds were now attainable, however Card, et al. did not focus on how the looper drive shaft and the knife drive shaft, if one was present, would be moved in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the needle bar to take full advantage of the improved speed feature of the needle bar drive system.
The tufting machines taught by Passons, et al., and by Card, et al., were followed with the patent to Neely, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,586 in which a belt driven looper drive assembly was disclosed. In Neely, et al., a looper drive assembly is spaced from the main drive shaft of the tufting machine, with a flexible timing belt encircling a pair of sprockets used to rotate a spindle assembly. The spindle assembly has an eccentric cam mounted on the end thereof, to which a push rod is pivotally fastened for transmitting the rotational motion of the tufting machine drive shaft, through the spindle shaft, into a reciprocating motion whereby a lever is fastened to the push rod for transmitting this reciprocating motion into a rocking motion of the looper drive shaft.
However, neither Neely, et al., nor the patents to Card, et al., or Passons, et al., focused on improvements to tufting machines used for the creation of a cut pile tufted loop in which a series of knives, one knife for each looper or hook, is provided and moved in time relationship with the looper in order to cut the tufted pile, as known in the production of tufted cut pile carpeting and other similar articles. What is needed in tufting machines used for the creation of cut pile articles is a tufting machine which allows for increased production rates, improved serviceability of components, reduced manufacturing costs, and which will allow for the precision adjustment of the gauging elements, to include the loopers and the hooks/knives, with respect not only to each other, but with respect to the tufting machine drive shaft so that the loopers and knives are moved in precise relationship with respect to the reciprocating needles of the tufting machine, and off of which the entire tufting operation is keyed.
In conventional cut pile tufting machines, separate drive assemblies have been used for powering the looper drive shaft and knife drive shaft of the tufting machine, one each of these mechanisms being provided for the looper and knife drive shafts at both ends of the machine across the width of the tufting zone, so that two looper drive systems, and two knife drive systems have commonly been employed in the industry. For example, Neely, et al. teach only a looper drive assembly so that separate knife drive assemblies are still required if the device of Neely, et al. is to be used in a cut pile tufting machine. Moreover, and although Passons, et al. and Neeley, et al. have disclosed belt driven drive systems, these systems focus only or drive systems for loop pile tufting machines in which the loopers do not have the same loading requirements which exist in cut pile production in which a knife blade is repeatedly engaged with the looper and the yarn carried thereby at a high rate of speed as the looper is simultaneously drawn back from the needle to create the pile of yarn to be cut. This results in greatly increased loads on the loopers or hooks of a cut pile system, and requires the ability to precisely adjust the hooks for loopers with respect to the knives, and vice versa, and each with respect to the needle bar so that still higher production rates can be attained.
What has been needed, therefore, but seemingly unavailable in the art is an improved tufting machine belt driven drive assembly for driving the gauging elements, the hooks and knives, of a cut pile tufting machine which allows for the precise adjustment of the loopers and knives with respect to one another, and with respect to the tufting machine drive shaft, but yet which also provides a reduced mass to allow for increased operational speeds, and improved serviceability. What has also been needed, but unavailable in the art, is a reduced mass looper and knife drive system which is constructed to accommodate the increased loading of a looper in a cut pile tufting machine, and which allows for the precise adjustment of the loopers and knives with respect to one another. What is also needed is a belt driven tufting machine drive assembly for powering both the loopers and knives of a tufting machine which allows for precision stroke control of the spaced looper and knife drive assemblies at each end of the looper and knife drive shafts of the tufting machine to eliminate any torque stress loading, or torque within the looper and knife drive shafts for improved machine reliability and a high quality tufted cut pile article.
The known devices are not constructed to perform these tasks, and they fail to suggest how this may be reasonably accomplished. What is still needed, therefore, is an improved belt driven tufting drive assembly constructed to drive both the loopers and the knives of a cut pile tufting machine which provides for a simple, yet durable and rugged apparatus which is simple in design and inexpensive to construct, which allows for improved serviceability, and allows for improved production rates demanded in high speed tufted cut pile manufacturing operations.

Tufting machine belt driven drive assembly


The invention relates to an ion accelerator arrangement which uses a combination of a magnetic field having a cusp structure and a cross-section of an ionisation chamber that is extended in one direction transversally in relation to the longitudinal axis. This enables the ionic current to be advantageously scaled.

In the case of grid accelerators, the positively charged ions are drawn from a plasma by means of a grid arrangement, in which a first grid that borders on the plasma chamber lies at an anode potential, and a second grid, offset in the beam exit direction, lies at a more negative cathode potential, and electrostatically accelerated between the two grids. Such an arrangement is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,370, for example. The ion stream density of such an accelerator arrangement is limited to low values due to spatial charging effects.
Another design provides a plasma chamber through which an electric field for accelerating positively charged ions in the direction of a beam exit opening, for one thing, and a magnetic field for guiding electrons that serve to ionize a neutral working gas, for another thing, pass. In particular, accelerator arrangements having a ring-shaped plasma chamber, in which the magnetic field runs predominantly radially and electrons move on closed drift paths under the influence of the electric and magnetic fields move on closed drift paths under the influence of the electric and magnetic fields have been in use for some time. Such an accelerator arrangement is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,493.
An embodiment of a pulse plasma accelerator, as it is known from DE 15 39 264, for example, which deviates significantly from this, both theoretically and practically, provides electrode rails at opposite sides of a flat plasma channel, between which a current flows crosswise to the longitudinal direction of a channel, in a working gas that is located in the channel, by means of pulsed discharges, thereby creating a plasma. The current loop with electrode rails and current through the plasma chamber results in pulse-like ejection of the ionized gas, by means of magnetic displacement.


This is a system for monitoring and controlling a compressed air driven, pulse tool. The system includes a means for measuring air pressure supplied to a pneumatic pulse tool and converting the air pressure into an electrical signal representative of the air pressure; a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the air pressure; and a means for controlling the flow of air to the tool. The programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store timers to be associated with the signal representing the air pressure. The microprocessor is configured to report an acceptable condition if all of the timers are satisfied and the air flow to the tool has been shut-off by the microprocessor. The system is external to the tool.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,055,484 and 5,937,370 represent a recent, significant development in the field of tool monitoring and assembly qualifying. The programmed microprocessor is configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the analog signal corresponding to a completed cycle. The configuration also allows for identification of an incomplete cycle and a multiple counting of a completed cycle (double-hit). The qualifiers and disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,055,484 and 5,937,370 are herein incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,335 represents the next generation qualifier uses multiple thresholds to perform its operations. This assembly qualifier is a counting apparatus that monitors either the pressure of a pneumatic tool to determine if the tool's clutch has shut the tool off. This version makes use of up to four thresholds and five timers in order to accomplish its qualification of an assembly process. Certain pneumatic pulse tools have an internal mechanical device that regulates (governs) the incoming air supply. Because of this, the pneumatic signature can "fool" the qualifier by creating a signal that would satisfy all of the timers and thresholds even thought the tool was in reverse or running in the air and not tightening a fastener at all.
With these particular pneumatic tools the difference between a "good" run-down and the other anomalies were the pulses. Even though the other qualification methods were used to insured that the pressure was in a window where it was considered to be pulsing, that logic was not sufficient to identify individual pulses. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,335 the invention is a pulse counting algorithm that knows how to identify individual pulses. A count of all the positive pulses is kept during a rundown and this pulse count is compared to the desired number of pulses at the end of the run. At the end of the run, if all criteria are met including timers, thresholds, and number of pulses, then the fastening is considered good. The qualifiers and disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,335 is herein incorporated by reference.
In the pneumatic, pulse tools of these recent developments, the tool included an internal means of shutting off the tool. A need exits, however, for a system for monitoring and controlling a compressed air driven, pulse tool that does not have an internal mechanism for stopping the tool.


An extendable electrical outlet enclosure with a tubular main body, a bezel, a cap, at least one extension tube, and a back plate. The tubular main body has a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and second end. The tubular main body also has an electrical device support that extends inward from the wall and defines a separation between an electrical plug section and a wiring section. The bezel surrounds an opening in the main body at the first end and allows the cap to removably mount to the electrical enclosure. The at least one extension tube attaches to the tubular main body at the second end and has a leading end, a trailing end, and an outer wall extending between the leading end and the trailing end. The back plate couples with the at least one extension tube at the trailing end.

Electrical outlet enclosures are used to contain an electrical outlet and its wiring. Electrical enclosures help to keep the outlet free of water, direct, and other contaminants. In addition, the electrical enclosure provides a layer of separation between electrical wiring and the materials surrounding the electrical outlet. This reduces the risk of fire or electrical shock as a result of contact with the electrical wiring. However, in each situation in which an outlet is used, there may be differing amounts of electrical wiring that need to be contained within the electrical enclosure. A need exists for electrical outlet enclosures that are extendable to accommodate different amounts of wiring while still providing the benefits of an electrical outlet enclosure expressed above.


A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, which can be used in the transparent mode and reflective mode, selectively. The transflective liquid crystal panel includes the pixel electrode having the transparent electrode and reflective electrode and the reflective film having the transmitting hole. Therefore, the light generated from the backlight device can pass through the transmitting hole and transparent electrode into the liquid crystal. Moreover, the light reflected in the reflective film can also pass through them into the liquid crystal without being absorbed by the lower polarizer. That is, the brightness of the transflective LCD device is improved.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-55107, filed on Dec. 6, 1999, under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a transflective LCD device.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, liquid crystal displays are divided into transmissive LCD devices and reflective LCD devices according to whether the display uses an internal or external light source.
A typical transmissive LCD device includes a liquid crystal panel and a back light device. The liquid crystal panel includes upper and lower substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed. The upper substrate includes a color filter, and the lower substrate includes thin film transistors (TFTs) as switching elements. An upper polarizer is arranged on the liquid crystal panel, and a lower polarizer is arranged between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight device.
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a transflective color LCD device.
A transflective LCD panel 11 comprises upper and lower substrates 15 and 21 opposing each other with liquid crystal 23 interposed. On the opposing surface of the upper substrate 15, color filters 17 having black matrix 16 and a transparent common electrode 13 are arranged sequentially.
The lower substrate 21 includes switching devices xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d and pixels xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d having pixel electrode 19 divided into transmissive portion 19a and reflective portion 19b.
On the lower substrate 21, a plurality of gate and data lines 25 and 27 are positioned like an array matrix, and switching devices xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d is introduced into a matrix type.
An area defined by two adjacent gate and data lines 25 and 27 is the pixel xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d. On the pixel xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d, the transmissive portion 19a of the pixel electrode 19 can be composed of a transmitting hole or a transparent electrode. For the transmissive portion, the transparent electrode is conventionally employed.
Conductive metallic material having the superior reflectivity is used for the reflective electrode becoming the reflective portion 19a of the pixel electrode 19, and transparent conductive metallic material having the good transmissivity such as ITO (indium tin oxide) is used for the transparent electrode of the transmissive portion 19a.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the LCD device illustrating the operation principle of the transflective LCD device. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional transflective LCD device 57 includes lower and upper substrates 43 and 53 with a liquid crystal layer 56 interposed there between. The upper substrate 43 has a color filter 17 (see FIG. 1), and the lower substrate 53 includes a switching device xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d (see FIG. 1), a transparent electrode 51 and a reflective electrode 49. The reflective electrode 49 is made of a conductive material having a good reflectivity and surrounds a transparent electrode 51 formed therein. The transflective LCD device 57 further includes a backlight device 41. The light transparent electrode 51 serves to transmit light xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d irradiated from the backlight device 41 and the reflective electrode 49 serves to reflect the ambient light xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d.
The transflective LCD device is operable in both a reflective mode and a transmissive mode. First, in the reflective mode, the ambient light xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d from the upper substrate 43 is reflected in the reflective electrode 49 and directs toward the upper substrate 43 again. At this time, when the electrical signals are applied to the pixel electrode (49 and 51) by the switching element xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d (see FIG. 1), phase of the liquid crystal layer 56 varies and thus the reflected light is colored by the color filter 17 (see FIG. 1) and displayed in the form of colored light.
Further, in the transmissive mode, light xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d generated from the backlight device 41 passes through the transparent electrode 51. At this time, when the electrical signals are applied to the pixel electrode (49 and 51) by the switching element xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d (see FIG. 1), phase of the liquid crystal layer 56 varies. Thus, the light xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d passing through the liquid crystal layer 56 is colored by the color filter 17 (see FIG. 1) and displayed in the form of images with other colored lights.
As described above, since the transflective LCD device has both the transmissive mode and the reflective mode, the transflective LCD device can be used without depending on the time of day (e.g., noon or dusk) and has advantages that it can be used for a long time with consuming a low power.
However, the efficiency of the light from the backlight device is lowered in the transmissive mode of the transflective LCD device.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional transflective LCD device.
An upper polarizer 45 is formed on the upper substrate 43, and the lower polarizer 47 and a retardation film 50 are formed sequentially under the lower substrate 53. Moreover, the upper and lower substrates 43 and 53 opposing each other with liquid crystal 55 interposed. On the opposing surface of the lower substrate 53, the reflective electrode 49 and the transparent electrode 51 are positioned.
Referring back to FIG. 1, an area defined by two adjacent gate and data lines 25 and 27 is the pixel xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d. On the pixel xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d, the pixel electrode 19 is comprised of the transmissive portion or transparent electrode 19a and the reflective portion or reflective electrode 19b.
The LCD panel 57 having the upper substrate 43 and the lower substrate 53 divided into open region xe2x80x9cExe2x80x9d and closed region xe2x80x9cFxe2x80x9d depending on whether the light xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d generated from the backlight device 41 can be transmitted via the LCD panel 57. The closed region xe2x80x9cFxe2x80x9d includes the opaque metallic material such as the reflective electrode 49 of the pixel electrode, the gate line 25 and data line 27 (see FIG. 1). The open region xe2x80x9cExe2x80x9d includes the transparent electrode 51 of the pixel electrode.
In the transmissive mode, the light xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d generated from the backlight device 41 passes through the liquid crystal 55 and transparent electrode 51. However, the light xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d is absorbed by the lower polarizer 47 after being reflected in the reflective electrode 49, or a little of the light xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d passes through the liquid crystal 55.
FIG. 4 shows the state of light while it passes through each of the components described above.
The light generated from the backlight device 41 is first converted into linearly polarized light through the lower polarizer 47. The light, while passing through the lower polarizer 47, is absorbed except the parallel light to the transmitting axis of the lower polarizer 47. Therefore, the quantity of the light is being decreased.
The linearly polarized light is changed into left-circularly polarized light through the retardation film 50 having a phase difference xcex/4. Some of the left-circularly polarized light passes through the liquid crystal 55 (see FIG. 3) of the open portion xe2x80x9cExe2x80x9d, and the other of the left-circularly polarized light is reflected in the reflective electrode 49. At this time, the left-circularly polarized light is changed into the right-circularly polarized light due to the mirror effect. The right-circularly polarized light enters into the retardation film 50 again, and is converted into the linearly polarized light having a phase difference angle of 45 degrees.
That is, when the linearly polarized light enters into the lower polarizer 47, it is perpendicular to the transmitting axis of the lower polarizer 47. Therefore, the lower polarizer 47 absorbs most of the light.
As a result, the conventional transflective LCD device causes the decrease of the brightness since the closed portion xe2x80x9cFxe2x80x9d having the reflective electrode, gate line and data line absorbs the light.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a transflective liquid crystal display device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the invention is to provide a transflective LCD device which can increase the brightness.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, in one aspect the invention includes a transflective liquid crystal display device, including: upper and lower substrates opposing each other; a pixel electrode formed on the lower substrate and having reflective and transmitting portions; liquid crystal interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; a backlight device providing light to the pixel electrode; and a reflective film for preventing the light from the backlight device from radiating to the reflective portion of the pixel electrode.
The transflective LCD device also has a lower polarizer under the lower substrate and the reflective film formed under the lower polarizer and having a transmitting hole corresponding to the transmitting portion of the pixel electrode. The area of the transmitting hole is smaller than that of the transmitting portion of the pixel electrode.
The lower substrate can be located under the reflective film and the lower polarizer. In the transflective LCD device, the reflective portion is made of the metallic material selected from a group composing of Aluminum, Tungsten, Molybdenum and the like. The transmitting portion is made of transparent conductive metallic material and can be replaced with a hole surrounded by the reflective portion.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, in another aspect the invention provides a transflective liquid crystal display device, including: an upper substrate; an upper polarizer on the upper substrate; color filters under the upper substrate; a common electrode under the color filters; liquid crystal layer under the common electrode; a switching device under the liquid crystal; a pixel electrode, under the liquid crystal, having the transmitting and reflective portions and having an electrical connection with the switching device; a lower substrate under the pixel electrode; a lower polarizer under the lower substrate; a reflective film, under the lower polarizer, having a transmitting region; and a backlight device, under the reflective film, irradiating the light.
The transflective LCD device makes the light from the backlight pass through the transmitting region of the reflective film and transmit the transmitting portion of the pixel electrode. In the transflective LCD device, the area of the transmitting region for example a transmitting hole is smaller than that of the transmitting portion of the pixel electrode.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, in another aspect the invention provides a transflective liquid crystal display device, including: an upper substrate; an upper retardation film on the upper substrate; an upper polarizer on the upper retardation film; color filters under the substrate; a common electrode under the color filters; liquid crystal layer under the common electrode; a switching device under the liquid crystal; a pixel electrode, under the liquid crystal, having the transmitting and reflective portions and having an electrical connection with the switching device; a lower retardation film under the pixel electrode; a lower polarizer under the lower retardation film; a reflective film, under the lower polarizer, having a transmitting region; a substrate under the reflective film; and a backlight device, under the lower substrate, irradiating the light.
The transflective LCD device makes the light from the backlight device pass through the transmitting region of the reflective film and transmit the transmitting portion of the pixel electrode into liquid crystal.

Transflective liquid crystal display device


This disclosure describes techniques are described for proactively computing configuration information for policy-driven on-demand tunnel creation and deletion between sites in a software-defined networking in wide area network (SD-WAN) environment. In some examples, a controller device is configured to precompute configuration data for an overlay tunnel through the wide area network to connect a first site and a second site of a plurality of sites in the SD-WAN environment. The controller device is further configured to obtain, after precomputing the configuration data, an indication to configure the overlay tunnel. The controller device is also configured to send, in response to receiving the indication to configure the overlay tunnel, at least some of the configuration data to the first site to configure the first site with the overlay tunnel.

A computer network includes a number of devices, such as computers; that are interconnected by network infrastructure. In some cases, these devices are grouped into a number of sites implemented as local area networks (LAN), which in turn may be geographically distributed over a wide area and interconnected by a wide area network (WAN).
Typical sites, such as branch offices, data centers, campus/corporate offices, service networks, and other networks that communicate over a WAN, can have multiple WAN connection types, including Multiprotocol Label Switching (AWLS); Internet, and so on. In these traditional networks, the MPLS-based connection typically includes performance guarantees, or service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure business-critical applications can function properly; the Internet connection provides an alternative link for backup and load balancing purposes. However, with Internet access offerings providing ever-increasing bandwidth, many applications can now reasonably be routed over the Internet link.
Software-defined networking in a WAN (SD-WAN) is a connectivity solution implemented as an overlay on top of traditional WAN access. An SD-WAN solution provides the ability to make use of MPLS, Internet, and other WAN connection links. To interconnect sites and in some cases to provide secure site-to-site connectivity, SD-WAN typically involves virtual overlay networks based on overlay tunnels (sometimes referred to as SD-WAN tunnels) that transport traffic over the WAN.
In a hub-and-spoke topology, a hub operates to facilitate communication between spoke sites. Some configurations of the hub-and-spoke topology pass all data through a hub, isolating the spoke sites, and allowing communication between devices within different spoke sites only through the hub. In a full mesh topology, each site is directly connected to every other site via respective tunnels. A dynamic mesh topology is similar to a full mesh topology where every site is capable of connecting directly to any other site. But with dynamic mesh, the tunnels are brought up on-demand, thereby reducing the continual load on any one site. A single tenant can support both hub-and-spoke and dynamic mesh topologies.

Proactive tunnel configuration computation for on-demand SD-WAN tunnels


A method and an apparatus for automatically allocating baseband resources are disclosed. The method includes: traversing all automatically allocated local cell sets, automatically allocated BP board sets and automatically allocated BBU shelf sets, and generating cell sets to be allocated, allocated cell sets, cell sets to be adjusted, idle BP board sets and associated machine shelf sets; and traversing all automatically allocated BBU shelf sets, and allocating all automatically allocated baseband resource BBU shelf sets to local cells according to an allocation principle. With the above method and apparatus thereof, baseband resources are allocated to a cell cyclically according to the allocation principle, which makes full use of baseband resources, thus utilizing the baseband resources to the greatest extent, and furthermore reducing the manual participation process, lowering the error probability, and greatly improving the working efficiency when establishing base stations on a large scale in a cluster environment.

In a traditional environment with a single base station, a mapping relationship between cells and baseband processor boards is limited to several baseband processor boards in the local base station. Therefore, the allocation relationship between the cells and the baseband processor boards may be configured manually.
After a cluster environment is introduced, a baseband processor board to which the cell is mapped is not limited to the baseband processor boards within a certain base station. In such cases, if the baseband resources are allocated by using manual configuration, it is a waste of time and energy. In addition, customer service persons need to clearly know the total amount of various resources of the baseband processor boards as well as consumption of resources by various types of cells, which largely increase the workload of the customer service persons and increase pressure on these persons. Moreover, the customer service persons are also required to be capable of good technical ability; and due to manual participation in configuration process, it increases the error probability and largely reduces the working efficiency when establishing base stations on a large scale in a cluster environment.

Baseband resource allocation method and device thereof