An apparatus for optically scanning a document to generate digital image data corresponding to local optical densities of the document including a fixed glass plate, one side of which defines an original image plane, a transporting mechanism for transporting the document in a sub-scanning direction in the original image plane, at least two linear sensors situated in a main scanning direction, each having an array of opto-electric converters and each provided with a lens which images on the sensor a linear observation area, situated in the original plane, wherein the observation areas of the sensors are substantially in line and partially overlapping at the ends in the main scanning direction. An aligning element is situated between the lenses and the original image plane at a short distance from the latter in a position such that its perpendicular projection onto the original image plane is situated within the overlapping ends of two adjoining observation areas, wherein the aligning element has a shape such that for each sensor in whose observation area it is situated the aligning element has a width in the main scanning direction which monotonically increases or decreases as a function of the sub-scanning direction.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for optically scanning a document to generate digital image data corresponding to local optical densities of the document, such apparatus frequently being termed a scanner. The invention more particularly relates to a scanner provided with a fixed glass plate, one side of which defines an original image plane; a transporting mechanism for transporting the document in a sub-scanning direction in the original image plane; at least two linear sensors situated in a main scanning direction, each including an array of opto-electric converters, and each provided with a lens which images a linear observation area onto the sensor situated in the original plane, the observation areas of the sensors being substantially in line and partially overlapping at the ends.
2. Description of Related Art
In a scanner of the type mentioned above, a document to be scanned is moved in one direction by the transporting mechanism while the sensors cooperate to scan a stationary linear area that is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction of the document. In this way, the document may be scanned two-dimensionally. The direction of the area scanned by the scanners is generally termed the main scanning direction and the transport direction is the sub-scanning direction.
In order to ensure that the document is completely scanned during the scanning operation, the sensors and their lenses are usually disposed such that their observation areas overlap somewhat at the ends. In practice, it is impossible to mount the sensors such that their observation areas are exactly in contact. Furthermore, maintaining exact contact between the observation areas is also impossible because the scanner is typically subjected to vibrations and impacts particularly during transport of the scanner.
Within the overlapping observation areas, the two sensors deliver redundant digital image data. Thus, a choice has to be made as to which data are passed and which are not, a marginal condition being that the transition from one observation area to the other observation area should not be visible in the final image.
There are various conventional techniques to deal with the transition between two sensors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,745 describes a scanner provided with a movable glass plate on which the document to be scanned is placed. A narrow black line is provided in the transport direction on the glass plate and outside the area for documents. When the glass plate is in the home position, the black line is situated within the overlapping portions of the observation areas of the two sensors. The adjustment procedure searches for the image of the black line in the image data generated by the two sensors. The position of this black line in the image data is used as the transition from one sensor to the other to generate digital image data during scanning. The black line does not necessarily have to lie in the same plane as the document, but can, for example, be lower, e.g. at the bottom of the glass plate. In that case, the result of the adjustment procedure is corrected for parallax, by shifting the transition point, for both sensors, a predetermined number of pixels from their end.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,505 also relates to a scanner with a movable glass plate to receive a document. In the '505 patent, a test pattern (correction reference chart) having line patterns oriented in the direction of transport and triangle patterns that are disposed on the movable glass plate outside the area for documents. This test pattern is scanned during an adjustment procedure. In this way, the relative positions and the skew positions are calculated from the points of intersection of the test pattern with the observation areas of the separate sensors. The connecting points of the sensors are calculated from these data. Also, a correction can be carried out for a connection error in the transport direction between two skewed, adjoining sensors by buffering the image data of some scan lines during scanning and sourcing the outgoing image data from different image lines.
The above patents consistently utilize a movable glass plate on which a separate test pattern is provided outside the area reserved for the document to be scanned. However, there are also scanners which do not have such a movable glass transport system but in which the document to be scanned is conveyed by pairs of rollers over a narrow stationary glass plate mounted in the main scanning direction. This construction is simpler while maintaining accuracy and is certainly preferable for large document formats.
The above-mentioned adjustment techniques can only be used with a scanner having a stationary glass plate by making the test patterns in the form of documents (e.g. test cards). In that case, it is difficult to ensure that the test pattern is disposed with sufficient accuracy at the correct position.
To solve this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,295 replaces the test pattern with an aligning element situated between the lenses and the original image plane at a short distance from the latter in a position such that its perpendicular projection onto the original image plane is situated within the overlapping ends of two adjoining observation areas. This aligning element is formed by a thin wire in the transport direction and is disposed beneath the glass plate.
The pixels which correspond to the aligning element are then used in the '295 patent to determine the transition from one sensor to the next in the digital image data of the two observation areas. This is explained by reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 1A is a sketch showing the principle of a scanner with two CCD sensors S1 and S2, on each of which part of the glass plate 1 (for the sake of simplicity the glass thickness is not shown) is projected by a lens L1 and L2 respectively. The portion of the glass plate projected onto each sensor is also termed an observation area (O1 and O2 are the observation areas of sensors S1 and S2, respectively). The transport direction of the document D to be scanned on the top of the glass plate 1 is perpendicular to the drawing plane.
In the overlapping part of the observation areas O1 and O2 of the sensors S1 and S2, an aligning element 2 in the form of a wire perpendicular to the drawing plane is disposed beneath the glass plate 1. Both sensors S1 and S2 thus detect aligning element 2. The projection P of the aligning element 2 onto the plane of the document D for scanning (the original image plane) is selected as the transition point where the digital image data from sensor S1 and the digital image data from sensor S2 are fitted together. The image data from the ends of the sensors outside the position corresponding to point P are not used.
FIG. 1B shows the right-hand part of the image projected on to the sensor S1. The adjustment procedure searches for the middle 3 of the image of the aligning element 2 on the sensor and the measurement data of that point (pixel) is used as a reference. From point 3 a fixed number N of pixels are counted to find the transition point P (4). The number N can be determined experimentally or it can be preselected, whereafter the distance of the aligning element 2 from the glass plate 1 is adjusted until the required effect is obtained. During the scanning of documents, the measurement data from sensor elements between point 4 and end 5 of the projected image, and also the end of the sensor, are discarded. The remaining measured values are added to those from the other sensor, which has undergone the same procedure for determining the connecting point.
In this way, an accurate connection of the digital image from the various sensors can be obtained even for a scanner having a transport system without a moving glass plate. The advantage of these techniques is that any change of the mechanical adjustment of the sensors can be corrected automatically using digital techniques that do not require any mechanical action by a maintenance engineer.
However, the conventional art applies only to a distortion in the adjustment in the direction of the sensors themselves, the main scanning direction. A displacement of the sensors resulting in their observation areas no longer being in line, i.e. if the sensors are displaced relative to one another in the sub-scanning direction, cannot be determined in the above-described manner, let alone corrected. Such displacement, however, is quite possible and may occur, for example, if the apparatus is moved, transported or subjected to a physical shock. It is therefore desirable to be able to automatically compensate for displacement of the sensors in the sub-scanning direction as well as the main scanning direction.

Scanner system and method for automatically compensating main-scan and sub-scan sensor positioning errors


A method of setting a secure connection in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises setting a protocol information to a terminal; and checking a packet received in the terminal according to the protocol information; wherein the packet comprises a protocol type, a source port, and a destination port.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus utilized in a wireless communications system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus of setting a secure connection in a wireless communication system.
Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Display specification is a standard for a Wi-Fi technology and used in a latency-aware application for streaming in a short distance, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). In the Wi-Fi Display application, a connection is established between a source device and a sink device. The source device encodes video contents into encoded video bit streams and sends the encoded video bit streams to the sink device. The sink device further decodes the received video bit streams and recovers to the video contents. Therefore, a user can watch the video contents on a suitable display of the sink device for the user's purpose than a display of the source device. For example, a user shares a video from a notebook computer to a large screen television so that more people can comfortably watch the video on the television together. In this example, the notebook computer is the source device and the television is the sink device (assuming the television supports Wi-Fi Display specifications), and the source device transmits video contents to the sink device for playback on a display of the sink device.
Since malwares may attack through the connection, security of the connection is important. However, a standard firewall is not useful for an embedded system with restricted computing resources including memory and processor, so that the standard firewall cannot avoid the attack. Therefore, how to set up a secure connection becomes a goal.

Method and apparatus for setting secure connection in wireless communications system


A process for the synthesis of 3-5-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde from 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine is disclosed. The reaction provides 3,5-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde in commercially attractive yields from readily available starting materials.

3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde, I, is a starting material for the preparation of a preferred manganese salen catalyst of formula II [see Jacobsen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113, 7063-7064 (1991)] ##STR1##
3,5-Di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde was prepared by Jacobsen et al. by the reaction of 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol with formaldehyde in the presence of SnCl.sub.4 and 2,6-lutidine (Casiraghi et al., J.C.S.P.1, 1980, 1862-1865). The use of relatively expensive reagents such as SnCl.sub.4 and lutidine, and the production of hazardous wastes make the procedure of Casiraghi unattractive for large-scale synthesis.
It is known that phenols and other activated aromatic compounds can be converted to the corresponding aldehydes by treatment with hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) (formula III). ##STR2## The reaction is known in the art as the Duff reaction; it has been reviewed by Blazevic et al. [Synthesis, 1979, 164-167]. The Duff reaction is commonly carried out with HBO.sub.2 in dry glycerol, although variations have been reported with trifluoroacetic acid and glacial acetic acid. Unfortunately, although the Duff reaction is usually successful with other activated phenols, it is notoriously poor when the substrate is a 2,4-dialkylphenol. For example, Blazevic et al. (op. cit.) report the formulation of 2-methyl-4-neopentylphenol using glycerol/boric acid in 19% overall yield. When Komissarova et al. attempted formulation of 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol using hexamethylenetetramine in the Duff reaction, they observed that the only product was a dihydro-1,3-benzoxazine [Chemical Abstracts, 110: 212723c]. ##STR3##
Yahagi reported that the corresponding 1,3-benzoxazine could be prepared very efficiently from 2,4-dimethylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine [Chemical Abstracts, 93: 8106e].
Because persons of skill in the art believed that the Duff reaction with HMT and acid was not preparatively useful for dialkyl salicylaldehydes, Zigeuner and Jellinek [Monatsh. Chem. 90, 297-305 (1959) p. 299] proposed a different synthetic route. They stated that "On the basis of the oxidative cleavage of the dibenzylamines . . . which proceeds in high yield, a new synthesis of 2-hydroxy-3,5-disubstituted benzaldehydes, which are difficult to prepare by the usual preparative methods, was developed." Their method comprised preparing a dibenzylamine from the reaction of an appropriate phenol with hexamethylenetetramine followed by oxidation of the resulting dibenzylamine to the benzaldehyde using sodium m-nitrobenzenesulfonate in aqueous acetic acid. ##STR4## No examples of the direct conversion of 2,4-dialkylphenols to 3,5-dialkylsalicylaldehydes in good yields using hexamethylenetetramine are found in the literature.
It has now been surprisingly found that under a specific set of conditions it is possible to prepare 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde from 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine in yields that are feasible for large scale production.


A display for receiving video signals of a plurality of deflection frequencies including a conversion unit which is responsive to at least one of a horizontal frequency and a vertical frequency of an input video signal below at least one of at least one predetermined horizontal frequency within a first horizontal frequency range and at least one predetermined vertical frequency within a first vertical frequency range for converting the input video signal to have at least one of a converted horizontal frequency within the first horizontal frequency range and a converted vertical frequency within the first vertical frequency range. The conversion unit is further responsive to the at least one of the horizontal frequency and the vertical frequency of the input video signal being within at least one of the first horizontal frequency range and the first vertical frequency range for directly supplying the input video signal to the output of the conversion unit. The display is capable of displaying pictures represented by video signals from computers or image generating apparatus.

A display included in a terminal equipment of a computer system receives video signals of various systems because different computers are different from each other, for example, in video signal scanning frequency, image displaying interval, displaying position and blanking interval, etc. Accordingly, a display capable of properly displaying images represented by video signals of different systems, i.e., what is called a multiscan display, has been used in recent years.
A display of such a type varies horizontal oscillation frequency according to the result of voltage conversion of the frequency of a synchronizing signal included in video signals provided to the display by a synchronizing oscillator as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-8628, originally published as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-57914, so as to deal with video signals of different scanning frequencies. Another display of such a type shifts the phase of a synchronizing signal included in video signals by a position correcting circuit using a monostable multivibrator as disclosed in Japanese Patent Appication Laid-Open No. 61-100078 so as to adjust the position of the image on the screen of the display according to image display position. There are many known techniques concerning multiscan displays.
The above-mentioned prior art employs a deflecting circuit comprising many active elements to deal with video signals of different systems and uses a circuit of a large scale to secure operating stability and reliability, causing problems in ease of manufacture and in adjustment of display. Recently, the scanning frequency of the video signals has been increased and hence the number of systems of video signals to be dealt with by the display has increased. As regards the scanning frequency of video signals, a display is required to be capable of dealing with video signals having horizontal scanning frequencies in the range of 15.75 kHz for NTSC video signals to about 100 kHz for high-definition video signals, and video signals used in CAD systems and CAM systems. A complex element constant switching control circuit is necessary to improve the prior art display so as to meet such a requirement, and a large-scale circuit is necessary to secure operating reliability. Furthermore, it is difficult to secure satisfactory performance to prevent the deterioration of picture quality and distortion of pictures for video signals of different systems, and the cost of the display increases to secure satisfactory performance.

Display with scan converter for converting scanning frequency of input video signal


Described is a stable transparent oil-in-water microemulsion concentrate consisting essentially of:. (i) water; PA0 (ii) one or more hydrophobic flavor or fragrance oils; and PA0 (iii) one or more surfactants. wherein the mixing ratio of the water, oil and surfactant is, referring to FIG. 1A, within the range surrounded by the lines connecting points A, B and C of FIG. 1A. Also described is a process for preparing such transparent microemulsion compositions. Also described is a mouthwash containing said transparent microemulsion compositions and a process for preparing same. Also described is a perfume composition containing said transparent microemulsion compositions and the process for preparing same.

Our invention relates to stable transparent oil-in-water microemulsion concentrates consisting essentially of:
(i) water; PA0 (ii) one or more hydrophobic flavor or fragrance oils; and PA0 (iii) one or more surfactants PA0 (i) water; PA0 (ii) one or more hydrophobic flavor oils; and PA0 (iii) one or more surfactants PA0 TWEEN.RTM. 20 (Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate) TWEEN.RTM. (is a Trademark of ICI Americas of Wilmington, Del. 19897); PA0 TWEEN.RTM. 40 (Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monopalmitate) PA0 TWEEN.RTM. 60 (Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monostearate) PA0 TWEEN.RTM. 80 (Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Mono-oleate); PA0 CREMOPHOR.RTM. RH 40 (Ethoxy Hydrogenated Castor Oil) (CREMOPHOR.RTM. is a Trademark of BASF Aktiengesellschaft of D-6700 Ludwigshafen, Federal. Republic of Germany); PA0 CREMOPHOR.RTM. RH 60 (Ethoxy Hydrogenated Castor Oil); PA0 GENAPOL.RTM. (Alcohol Polyglycol Ether)(GENAPOL.RTM. is a Trademark of Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft of D-6230 Frankfurt AM Main No. 80, Postfach 80, Federal Republic of Germany); PA0 Sodium Lauryl Sulphate; PA0 POLOXAMER.RTM. 407 (also known as PLURONIC.RTM. F127 and PLURACARE.RTM. F127) (Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer having the formula: ##STR1## and an average molecular weight of 12,600)(POLOXAMER.RTM., PLURONIC.RTM. and PLURACARE.RTM. are Trademarks of BASF Corporation of Parsippany, N.J. 07054); PA0 SPAN.RTM. 20 (Sorbitan Monolaurate)(SpAN.RTM. is a Trademark of ICI Americas of Wilmington, Del. 19897); PA0 SPAN.RTM. 40 (Sorbitan Monopalmitate); PA0 SPAN.RTM. 60 (Sorbitan Monostearate); and PA0 SPAN.RTM. 80 (Sorbitan Monooleate). PA0 SPAN.RTM. s have the formula: ##STR2## (a mixture wherein R is a fatty acid moiety. TWEEN.RTM. s are polyoxyethylene-substituted SPAN.RTM. s. Reference: The Merck Index, 8th Edition, Published by Merck & Company Inc., Rahway, N.J., 1968, at pages 848, 849 and 973.
as well as a process for preparing such transparent microemulsion compositions, mouthwash compositions containing such transparent microemulsion compositions, and perfume compositions containing such transparent microemulsion compositions.
The concept of the microemulsion was introduced by Schulman and Monaague, Ann. New York Academy of Science, 1961, Volume: 92, page 366. Becher, American Chemical Society Symposium Series 448, ACS, Washington, D.C., 1991 contains two chapters covering microemulsions in foods: Chapter 1, El-Nokaly, et al and Chapter 2, Friberg, et al. The microemulsion system typically contains relatively large amounts of oil and water along with a surfactant and cosurfactant except in the case of certain hydrophobic surfactants where no cosurfactant may be: required. These systems are indicated in the prior art to form spontaneously as a result of contact between the several components.
The most characteristic difference between an emulsion and a microemulsion is the appearance of the microemulsion and the emulsion. An emulsion is turbid while the microemulsion is transparent.
Rosano, U.S. Letters Patent 4,146,499 issued on Mar. 27, 1979 discloses a method for the preparation of oil-in-water microemulsions via a four-step process: (1) a surfactant is selected which is just barely soluble in the oil phase; (2) the surfactant thus selected is dissolved in the oil to be emulsified in an amount effective to yield a fine emulsion of the emulsified oil in an aqueous phase; (3) the oil, together with its dissolved surfactant is added to the water phase and shaken or stirred; and (4) finally there is provided a second surfactant in the water phase which is somewhat more soluble in water than the first surfactant to produce a substantially clear microemulsion of oil in water. Wolf, et al, U.S. Letters Patent 4,835,002 issued on May 30, 1989 discloses microemulsions of edible oils in a matrix of water and certain alcohols which are prepared using certain edible surfactants for use in various products such as beverages. El-Nokaly, et al, U.S. Letters Patent 5,045,337 issued on Sep. 3, 1991 discloses microemulsions which are thermodynamically stable, clear and homogeneous which are made from a polar solvent, a specific polyglycerol mono, diester and a lipid. El-Nokaly, et al discloses that these microemulsions are edible, have good flavor and can be used to disperse water soluble nutrients, vitamins, flavors and flavor precursors in oils. The polyglycerol mono diester in El-Nokaly, et al consists of a mixture of mono and diesters of branched or unsaturated fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms and a polyglycerol mixture consisting of 0% to 10% monoglycerol and other polyglycerols, 30% or less diglycerol, 25% to 50% triglycerol, 15% to 50% tetraglycerol. Tabibi, et al, U.S. Letters Patent 5,130,122 issued on Jul. 14, 1992 discloses oral cavity and dental products prepared by microemulsifying an adsorptive oil in an aqueous medium to produce uniform submicron sized droplets. It is disclosed by Tabibi, et al that the products disclosed therein avoid the generally unaesthetic, oily, and unpleasant taste problems of previous similar products.
Nothing in the prior art discloses or implies a high flavor or fragrance loading, e.g., 25% flavor or fragrance oil in a microemulsion which has unexpectedly and advantageously high stability yet is free of lower alkanols, e.g., ethyl alcohol or contains less than about 1% of lower alkanols, e.g, ethyl alcohol.

Transparent oil-in-water microemulsion flavor concentrate


A paper-like multilayer barrier film comprises a filled polypropylene layer and several unfilled layers. The filled layer contains 40-75% by wt. of inorganic fillers, forms one of the two outside layers of the film, and has a thickness of at least 40 μm. The unfilled layers include a barrier layer, a sealing layer, and optionally at least one adhesive layer. The ratio of the total thickness of the unfilled layers to the thickness of the filled layer is in the range of 1:8 to 1:1.2.

The present invention relates to a multilayer barrier film with very good thermo-forming properties especially on form-, fill- and seal-machines (FFS-machines). The film has paper-like features.
In the food-processing industry perishable products, as for example fresh meat, poultry, fish, cheese and products made from these products, are packed in so-called barrier films. These kinds of food are either packed in a defined gas-atmosphere (MAP-packages=Modified Atmosphere Packages) or in a vacuum (vacuum-packages). Therefore, in MAP-packages the surrounding atmosphere is replaced by various gas mixtures depending on the product. Typical examples for gas compositions are CO2/O2 mixtures for fresh meat, and gas mixtures of CO2 and N2 for sliced meat. According to that, films with barrier properties must be used as packaging material in relation to the gases mentioned above.
The food products named above as examples can also be vacuum-packed. According to this packaging process the surrounding atmosphere is nearly completely extracted from the packages. Barrier films, which avoid oxygen transfer from the surroundings into the packages, are used as packaging material. A high precentage of MAP- as well as vacuum-packages are produced on FFS-machines. As the geometry of the packages, in dependence on the goods to be packed, is formed by thermo-forming directly before the filling step, this packaging process is characterized by a high flexibility.
There is a variety of films, especially of barrier films, known for packaging. Thus, a transparent film has been known for a long time with the principal structure: polyamide (PA)/ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/polyethylene (PE) or polystyrene (PS)/ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/polyethylene (PE) or polyester terephthalate (PET)/poly vinylidene chloride (PVDC)/polyethylene (PE).
A non-transparent, white film is also known for packaging purposes. In EP 0161035 a 7-layer film filled with inorganic filler and comprising a barrier layer is described. It has no sealing layer and its thermo-formability is insufficient.
In EP 0494594 (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,534) a multilayer barrier film with a filled layer is disclosed which does not need an adhesive layer between the individual layers of the film. Based on the fact that the respective neighboring layers of the film are composed to some extent of the polymer of the neighboring layer, an adhesion between these layers is achieved after extruding, pressing together and cooling of these respective layers of the film.
These kinds of film also show the disadvantage of not being sufficiently thermo-formable.

Thermo-formable multilayer barrier film with the appearance and texture of paper


An anti-flicker circuit for an LED direct driver under low input voltage operation, the LED direct driver at least having a current source, and the anti-flicker circuit comprises a first path having a first resistor, a second path having a second resistor, a filter capacitor and a comparator having a reference voltage. The filter capacitor is connected to the first path, the second path and the current source of the LED direct driver, and discharges current via the first path. The comparator charges the filter capacitor to the current source via the second path when a voltage of the current source is below the reference voltage, wherein the RC time constant of the first path and the filter capacitor in combination with the second path and the filter capacitor is slower than a period of the flicker. As long as the RC time constant is long enough, then the changes in light output will occur slowly enough so that the deleterious effects for the flicker are eliminated.

Direct Driver for LED lamp are popular for its low cost, low EMI and high efficiency. However, they all suffer from limited input voltage range. As voltage is lowered, the LED current will decrease and the light output will dim. What is particularly troubling about this phenomena is that the normal voltage ripple at the output of the rectifier will cause the light output to flicker at twice the input line voltage frequency (e.g., AC voltage) when input voltage becomes low. Although this is not consciously perceptible to most people, it can have deleterious health effects including eye strain, headache, and in the worst case, it can trigger epileptic seizures in people who are prone to those seizures.
FIG. 1 shows one of the conventional direct driver for an LED lamp. The LED lamp is divided into a major string 10 and a minor string 11. The major string 10 contains a fixed number of LED diodes while the driver constantly changes the number of electrically connected LED diodes in the minor string 11 to provide optimal light output.
As the input voltage is lowered, less and less of LED diodes the of minor string 11 are configured in series with the major string 10. Low input voltage operation defined occurs when the LED diodes of the minor string 11 drops to zero, the overall number of the LED diodes cannot be lowered any more. As further decreasing voltage of the input voltage result in lower LED current and subsequent lower luminous output power. If, as well as being lower than normal, the input voltage has an AC component, then the light output of the LED string will show the same AC component.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach to provide a scheme or means to have an anti-flicker circuit for an LED direct driver especially for a low input voltage operation.

Anti flicker circuit for a LED direct driver under low input voltage operation


This invention relates to personal lubricant compositions that are at least between three and eighteen times more lubricious than the compositions known previously. The compositions of this invention contain one or more polyhydric alcohols, one or more water-soluble polymers derived from cellulose, water and, optionally, preservatives and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bases. The compositions of this invention can provide a vehicle for delivering medicaments for contraception and for the treatment and prevention of disease. This invention also relates to methods of using the personal lubricant compositions of this invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to personal lubricant compositions. They are at least between three and eighteen times more lubricious than the compositions known previously. The compositions of this invention can provide a vehicle for delivering medicaments for contraception and for the treatment and prevention of disease. This invention also relates to methods of maling and testing the personal lubricant compositions of this invention.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Inc.


A method of treating a plurality of byproducts generated in the process of producing alcohol using corn as a raw material, and making effective use of them, particularly as feed compositions. The method of treating byproducts generated in the process of producing alcohol from corn comprises a step of using a koji mold to ferment a mixture of at least one solid byproduct and a distillation residue generated in the process of producing alcohol, to produce a koji fermentation product.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the treatment of waste generated in the process of producing alcohol from corn.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the demand for biomass ethanol has increased, and an efficient method for treating ethanol production waste has been sought. Various byproducts are generated in the process of producing alcohol from corn, including corn cobs, corn fiber and distillation residues. While corn fibers have been conventionally used in livestock feeds after adding ingredients high in nutritional value such as corn steep liquor, these various byproducts have not been put to adequately effective use.
Additionally, the present applicant has proposed methods for using organic wastes such as raw garbage as feeds after fermenting them with koji mold (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,771 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,054).

Method of treating waste from alcohol production


A data recording apparatus is constructed by: an input unit for receiving first and second digital data in which a ratio of sector sizes is not equal to an integer ratio; a block segmenting unit for inserting first data nA and second data mB (n and m are integers of 2 or more and n.noteq.m) when it is assumed that a sector size of first data is set to A and a sector size of second data is set to B and for forming data of a block structure; a recording processing unit for performing an error correction encoding and a digital modulation to the data of the block structure; and a recording unit for recording the recording data from the recording processing unit to a data recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to data recording/reproducing apparatus and method corresponding to a plurality of data formats and a data recording medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As an external memory apparatus of a computer, attention is paid to an optical disc drive from a viewpoint of advantages of a large capacity and a high-speed access. The use of a CD-ROM [or CD-I (CD Interactive)] drive and an MO (magneto-optical disc serving as one of erasable discs) drive has already rapidly been being spread. In addition to those discs, an MD (mini disc; erasable disc) having a disc diameter of 2.5 inches has also been proposed. Further, a DVD (digital video disc) is being developed as a video memory medium.
The DVD is a read only disc having the same diameter as that of the CD or a recordable/reproducible optical disc such as MO disc or phase-change type disc.
The DVD is a disc in which video information compressed by an MPEG or the like can be reproduced or can be recorded and reproduced. In the DVD, by the improvement of processes such as digital modulation and error correction encoding in association with the progress of the realization of a short wavelength of a laser beam and an increase in numerical aperture NA of an objective lens, a recording density is further raised. Even in case of a single-layer disc, a data memory capacity is very large to be about 3.7 Gbytes. In a manner similar to the CD and MD which have first been developed as digital audio discs and, after that, they are also used as external memory media of computers, it is expected that the DVD having a larger capacity is used as an external memory medium of the computer.
Hitherto, since different formats have been specified for every medium such as magnetic tape, magnetic disc, flexible disc, above-mentioned optical discs, and the like, respectively, a consideration about a compatibility is not made. Therefore, in case of obtaining a compatibility between a new medium and the existing medium, such a compatibility can correspond in only a logical region, so that it is not efficient. For example, in case of an external memory medium of a computer, a sector size of (128 bytes.times.2.sup.i)(512 bytes, 2 kbytes, or the like) is a main stream. In the CD-ROM, 2352 bytes (in case of excluding a synch signal, 2340 bytes; in case of excluding the synch signal and a header, 2336 bytes) is set to one block. Thus, there is a problem such that it is difficult for both of them to physically correspond to each other. Further, as a sector size according to the CD format including the CD-ROM, when considering a sub-code as well, there are other various sizes.
The above-mentioned DVD can be realized even by a recordable MO disc or a phase-change type disc, so that there is an advantage such that when comparing with a capacity of any one of the other existing optical discs, a capacity of the DVD is remarkably large. In case of newly using such a DVD as an external memory medium, it is indispensable to consider the compatibility with the existing optical disc media, especially, the CD-ROM which has been widespread and has almost the same disc size and uses the same reading method in order to simplify the mutual transmission and reception of data between the CD-ROM and the DVD, to enable the drive to be shared, and further, to effectively use the resources of the CD-ROM.
In JP-A-7-73593, the inventors et al. of the present invention have proposed the method of setting a memory capacity per one recording block unit of the MO disc to 2352 bytes in order to simplify the data transmission and reception between the CD-ROM and the MO disc. According to the method, the memory capacity per one recording block of the MO disc is matched with that of the CD-ROM. There is a problem such that although such a method can be applied to a case where a data structure of the disc is newly decided, it cannot be applied to a case where the data structure of the disc has been standardized to a certain degree.
As mentioned above, in the data recording/reproducing apparatus in which a plurality of sector sizes are permitted, ordinarily, a different format is specified every data having a different sector size and signal processes for recording and reproduction are made independent every format. According to such a method, there is a problem that a scale of a hardware for recording and reproduction increases. As another method, there is a method whereby data having different sector sizes is fundamentally recorded and reproduced in the same format, an identification (ID) signal is inserted to a directory area or a header area as additional information, and the sector size is recognized by the ID signal.
The method of inserting the ID information of a sector size into the additional information has an advantage such that a hardware can be partially shared. However, there is a problem with respect to a point of an accessing performance. Generally, in case of recording and reproducing digital data, a digital modulation such as an EFM or the like is generally performed to data in order to improve an error rate and to enable a clock to be easily extracted. The additional information as mentioned above has been also modulated. Therefore, the ID information cannot be obtained upon reproduction unless a process for demodulation is finished. A sector size of data which was reproduced so far cannot be known, so that the accessing performance deteriorates.

Data recording/reproducing apparatus and method corresponding to a plurality of data formats, and data recording medium


The present disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions that provide immediate release of active ingredients and have abuse deterrent properties. In particular, the pharmaceutical compositions comprise at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient, at least one non-cellulose polysaccharide, at least one hydrophilic gelling polymer, and an effervescent system.

Abuse of prescription drugs (particularly opioids) has become a serious societal problem. Such abuse places an enormous economic burden on society due to increased health care, work place, and criminal justice costs. Several routes of administration are commonly attempted by abusers. For example, the oral solid dosage form may be crushed or pulverized into a powder and administered intranasally (i.e., snorted) or dissolved in a suitable solvent (e.g., water) and administered parenterally (i.e., injected intravenously).
Attempts have been made to diminish the abuse of opioid solid dosage forms. One approach has been to include in the dosage form an opioid antagonist that is not orally active but will substantially block the analgesic effects of the opioid if one attempts to dissolve the opioid and administer it parenterally. Another approach has been to include gel-forming high molecular weight polymers that confer plasticity to the dosage form rendering them difficult to crush and pulverize into a powder. These high molecular weight polymers, however, retard the release of the active ingredient from the dosage forms, making them unsuitable for immediate release formulations.
Thus, there is a need for oral solid dosage forms that provide immediate release of the active ingredient yet are resistant to abuse.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Abuse deterrent immediate release formulations comprising non-cellulose polysaccharides


Row signals or other typically regular signals generated by an imager during each frame period of the imager are counted to determine when to emit pulses of illumination. Methods in accordance with the preferred embodiments may facilitate synchronization of at least some of the pulses with exposures of the imager, while pulsing visible illumination at a rate in excess of the flicker fusion frequency of human vision, to thereby avoid a flicker effect. Methods in accordance with disclosed embodiments are especially useful for a data reader including an imager when visible illumination is pulsed or when it is desired to pulse one or more illumination sources (whether or not visible) at a constant rate or a minimum rate, wherein the constant or minimum rate of pulses differs from a nominal frame rate of the imager.

Optical data readers include devices for sensing illumination and typically illumination that is reflected by a surface being read. One type of data reader is an optical scanner for reading optical codes comprised of dark elements separated by white or light-colored spaces. A 1-D barcode (such as a UPC or EAN/JAN barcode) is an example of an optical code readable by such an optical scanner, although 2-D codes, such as PDF-417 and Maxicode, are also readable using similar methods and equipment. Other types of optical data readers are useful for reading other image data and other kinds of symbols.
Imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (CCDs) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imagers can be used to capture image data for use in data reading applications. In such devices, an image of the optical code or other scene is focused onto a detector array. With some such devices, it may be advantageous to provide a source of illumination that illuminates the optical code or other scene being imaged, to provide the required signal response in the imaging device. Such a source of illumination can reduce exposure time, thereby improving imager performance, especially in low ambient light conditions and when imaging moving items.
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/632,696 ("the '696 application") describes some potential advantages of utilizing pulsed illumination generated by an LED or other illumination source. The '696 application also describes the use of multiple different wavelengths of illumination in connection with a frame-shuttered imaging data reader, which may be useful for reading a variety of optical codes having different surface reflection characteristics. For example, infrared illumination in the range of 850 nm may result in improved imaging performance for many optical code surfaces, and infrared illumination has the added benefit of being invisible to the human eye. On the other hand, thermally printed barcodes have little or no contrast in the infrared spectrum, but good contrast in the visible spectrum at around 590 nm. In some instances, a single optical code may be more easily read by utilizing illumination of multiple different wavelengths. Thus, the present inventor has recognized a need for providing multiple wavelengths of illumination for a data reader and has proposed alternating between different illumination wavelengths for consecutive or sequential exposures of the imager to avoid interference and improve imager performance. Since infrared illumination is not visible, it can be pulsed a high power only when needed, during the exposure interval of selected frames of the imager. Visible illumination, however, must be pulsed at a lower luminous power and at a rate that is higher than the flicker fusion frequency of human vision (typically about 60 Hz) to avoid distracting users and bystanders. Unfortunately, imager frame rates may need to be slower (less) than the flicker fusion frequency, due to design constraints of the imager or other reasons; and, in such cases, the visible illumination cannot merely be triggered to coincide with the exposure intervals of the imager without resulting in a flicker effect. And even if the imager frame rate is greater than the flicker fusion frequency, if the visible illumination is not pulsed during every frame exposure (for example when multiple light sources of different wavelengths are used), then the resulting visible illumination pulse frequency may be lower than the flicker fusion frequency.
The present inventor has, therefore, recognized a need for improved methods of pulsing illumination for a data reader. The present inventor has also recognized a need for methods of pulsing illumination in conjunction with operating an imager; and, in particular, such methods that avoid the flicker effect while ensuring that illumination is pulsed during an imager's frame exposures or some subset thereof. The present inventor has also recognized a need for illumination pulsing methods that facilitate illumination with different wavelengths during sequential frame exposures of an imager.

Illumination pulsing method for a data reader


Blanks or structural components of steel are joined to those of an aluminum alloy (a) or titanium alloy (b) by friction-welding with insertion of at least one transition layer of a ductile subgroup metal, in particular by applying, according to (a), a pure nickel layer to the steel by friction-welding and joining the surface of the nickel layer, after weld bead removal, to the aluminum alloy by friction-welding. According to (b), a copper layer is applied to the steel by friction-welding and a vanadium layer is applied to the titanium alloy by friction-welding. The copper and vanadium surfaces are, after weld bead removal, then joined to one another by friction-welding. In the case of steel which tends to form martensitic zones, a layer of austenitic steel is applied by friction-welding before the application of the copper layer. The process is especially suitable for joining the turbine wheel and shaft or fixing component for the shaft of a turbocharger.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for joining blanks or structural components of steel to those of aluminum alloy or titanium alloy, and it comprises turbochargers obtained by the method.
2. Discussion of Background
The joining of different materials plays a considerable part in the highly developed fabrication technology, since frequently different properties are demanded within one arrangement, which properties cannot be obtained by a single material so that, depending on the manufacture and operating function, different materials are used for individual elements of a component or of a structure, in order to arrive at an optimum of economical manufacture and mechanical property.
Thus, for example, according to European Patent Specification 0,129,311, aluminum or aluminum alloy is used, for reasons of manufacturing technology, for the compressor rotor of a turbocharger and, because of the good mechanical properties such as strength and toughness, tool steel is provided for the shaft to be fitted on or for the fixing component for the latter, and these are to be joined to one another by friction-welding.
Some difficulties arise, however, in following this recommendation since, although aluminum can be joined to steel by friction-welding under certain conditions, making a welded joint between steel and hardenable aluminum alloys causes great difficulties.
Likewise, friction-welded joints, capable of being loaded, between steel and titanium alloys have hitherto not been achieved.

Method for joining steel to aluminum alloy components or titanium alloy components, and turbochargers obtained by the method


A power conversion system is disclosed including a DC bus for receiving DC power, a power converter for converting the DC power to AC power, and a controller. The controller includes an active power regulator for generating a phase angle command signal, a reactive power regulator for generating a voltage magnitude command, and an active power (P) and reactive power (Q) decoupling unit for decoupling interaction between the active and reactive power regulators. The PQ decoupling unit includes an active power compensation element and a reactive power compensation element. The active power compensation element is used for generating a phase angle compensation signal based on a reactive power error signal, to compensate the phase angle command signal. The reactive power compensation element is used for generating a voltage magnitude compensation signal based on an active power error signal, to compensate the voltage magnitude command signal.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to power conversion systems and methods for converting and providing electrical power to feed an electrical system.
Renewable power, such as solar power generated by solar power generation systems, is becoming a larger source of energy throughout the world. A typical solar power generation system includes one or more photovoltaic arrays (PV arrays) having multiple interconnected solar cells. The solar cells of the PV arrays convert solar energy into DC power. In order to interface the output of the PV arrays to a power grid, a solar power converter is typically used to change the DC power from the PV arrays into AC power to feed a power grid.
Various solar power converter configurations exist for converting the DC power output from PV arrays into AC power. One implementation of a solar power converter has two stages including a DC-DC converter stage and a DC-AC converter stage. The DC-DC converter controls the flow of DC power from the PV arrays onto a DC bus. The DC-AC converter converts the DC power supplied to the DC bus into AC power that can be output to the power grid. Existing solar power converters further utilize power converter controllers to regulate the DC-DC converter and the DC-AC converter to compensate for various system variables, such as DC bus voltage, AC grid voltage, AC grid current, and frequency, for example.
In one proposed method for using voltage source control (VSC) for a power generation system, the converter is designed to emulate a synchronous generator. In the propose method, active and reactive power control loops of the VSC converter are built in a manner not taking into account the resistance between the converter and the power grid side. When grid impedance and the resistance of main circuit are small enough, active and reactive power can be considered as decoupled. In some systems, virtual impedance is added in a control loop to enhance the system's stability. Active and reactive power may be coupled due to the resistance, including real and virtual resistance. In other words, one of them may be impacted by the variation of the other one. The interaction between active and reactive power makes it difficult to control active and reactive power separately.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to address the above-mentioned problems.

Power decoupling controller and method for power conversion system


A safety device can provide electrical shock protection for an electrical appliance. Voltage sensors can monitor voltage levels among a power conductor, a neutral conductor, and a ground conductor. When sensed voltages indicate that these conductors are properly wired to an electrical power utility, inline switches can close to allow power to pass through the safety device to the appliance. When one or more of the sensed voltages indicates that the power level is too low to operate the appliance, one or more switches of the safety device can open to block power from passing through to the appliance. When one or more of the sensed voltages indicates that an electrical problem posing a shock hazard exists in the electrical appliance, one or more switches of the safety device can open to interrupt power from transmitting to the appliance.

An electrical appliance or load receives electrical energy from one terminal of an electrical outlet or source (the so-called high voltage or hot side), electrical current flows to the load through an electrical conductor (a wire), this current passes through the load and is then returned to another terminal of the electrical outlet through another wire called the neutral wire. The two wires that connect source and load may have a coating of rubber or some other electrical insulating material or they may be bare, in which case air, which is a good insulator, functions to inhibit electrical current flow outside of the wire. Since the human body can conduct the flow of electrical current, if a person comes into contact with one electrified object, such as the so-called hot wire in an electrical system, while also making contact with a second object having a substantially different voltage, then an electrical leakage current that is proportional to the voltage difference will flow through the person and may cause injury or death. If the second object that the person comes in contact with is electrically connected to the earth ("ground") then this is called a ground fault.
Electrical current is the flow of electrons. Electrons are neither created nor destroyed so any functioning electrical appliance will require both an entry path for electrons and an exit path for electrons in order for electrical current to flow. For most household appliances that operate from a plug, electrons will sometimes enter path one and exit path two and sometimes enter path two and exit path one. This is known as alternating current or AC operation.
Although the two conductors coming out of an AC power source are often designated as "hot" and "neutral", in an AC system, the hot conductor will cyclically have a more positive voltage than the neutral for half the time and will cyclically have a more negative voltage than neutral for half the time, having a momentary value of zero (the so-called "zero crossing") each time the voltage passes from positive to negative or from negative to positive.
Any electrical appliance that plugs into a wall outlet can be the source of electrical shock, electrical burns, and possibly electrocution. Worn or damaged appliances or appliance cords may come in contact with a conducting surface that is accessible to the user, thus presenting a hazardous condition. For example, if the rubber insulation on a wire within an appliance is worn, then the exposed metal wire strands might touch the appliance housing. If the appliance housing were made out of metal or a similar electrical conducting material then a shock hazard could exist.
In order to minimize the potential hazards intrinsic to electrical appliances, government and industry standards serve to regulate the way in which appliances are built and used. One outcome is that many classes of electrical appliances are required to have a grounded connection over and above the standard two electrically conductive wires that supply electrical power to the appliance. A grounded electrical cord is recognizable because it has a plug with three prongs. In the U.S., in a 120 volt (sometime referred to nominally as 110 volts, 115 volts, or 120 volts) single phase system, two of the prongs on a grounded plug are flat and the third, ground prong, is generally rounded.
To achieve electrical protection, the grounding line will connect to ground at the plug where it is plugged into a grounded outlet. The other end of the grounding line, within the cordset, will connect to the appliance housing or other exposed or potentially exposable metal parts. If an electrically hot (that is, having a voltage potential that is significantly different from a ground potential) conductor comes into contact with a grounded conductor, the grounded conductor will present a low resistance path to ground, causing the hot conductor to maintain a voltage at or near a ground potential. If the current drawn from an electrically hot source, through ground, exceeds the "trip" current of an in-line circuit breaker, the circuit breaker will open, removing power from the outlet that the appliance is plugged into, thereby protecting the electrical distribution system from over-current damage and protecting the user from electrical shocks.
If the ground connection on a grounded appliance is removed, the safety of the appliance is compromised. This removal of ground condition can occur through abuse or damage but more commonly occurs when the appliance is plugged into an outlet in which the ground has not been connected or is improperly wired. The removal of ground may also occur if the grounding prong is cut off of the plug or is otherwise disconnected. An open ground condition often goes unnoticed by the casual user. This is because most appliances will operate normally without a ground connection.
In the U.S., agencies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) maintain regulations governing the use of grounded appliances. For many situations, the regulations require that a qualified technician periodically test the continuity of the ground connection between appliance and the grounding prong and between grounding prong and actual ground.
One drawback to the periodic test approach is that a significant period of time may elapse between inspections. In many situations the inspection schedule may not be adhered to or may be completely ignored. Also, malfunctions, particularly if intermittent, may go undetected. Often a complete inspection of the grounding impedance between actual ground is not made. Accordingly, there are many situations where a user may assume he is using a grounded appliance when he is not.
Another potentially hazardous operating condition occurs when the hot and the neutral conductors are switched at an outlet. The typical appliance that is plugged into an outlet with these so-called "transposed" conductors will still operate. However, the design of many appliances is such as to favor having one of the two power carrying conductors designated as the neutral conductor. For example, in a droplight, the socket for an incandescent light bulb will have the outlet shell as neutral with the base connected to the hot conductor. Then if a user accidentally makes contact with the exposed outer shell, electrical shock is less likely to result. The neutral and hot conductors are distinguished by using a polarized plug wherein one of the two blades is designated as neutral and is physically wider. If a droplight is plugged into a polarized outlet but the hot and neutral conductors in that outlet are transposed, the safety associated with using a polarized plug has been compromised. In such situations, it is important to alert the user.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,808 (Lee) discloses a system for monitoring chassis potential and ground continuity by injecting a radio frequency (RF) signal into the neutral lead and monitoring the signal amount that is capacitively coupled to ground. A major limitation of this approach is that it is electronically complicated and is sensitive to leakages through capacitances in the power cable and elsewhere.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,961 (Kershaw) discloses an electrical outlet sentinel that detects an open ground condition in an electrical outlet and opens a mechanical circuit breaker thereby removing power from the outlet. A major objection to this design is that power from the outlet is controlled by a circuit breaker whose relay is energized through power running continuously through ground. For any practical relay, this represents a substantial continuous ground current and is likely to disrupt the correct operation of any ground fault circuit interrupters that are upstream in the electrical distribution system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,496 (Volk) discloses a ground integrity monitor that relies on the application of short electrical pulses between the neutral and ground terminals. If the resistance between neutral and ground is less than a threshold amount, this pulsing purportedly causes a photo coupler to be activated, providing power to the load. The system is electronically complicated and this compromises the appeal of the design.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,331 (Legatti) discloses a ground fault interrupt circuit in which open ground conditions create actuation of the interrupter. An open ground produces current flow through a supplemental secondary winding that, in turn, induces a trip signal. When implemented, this approach does not check for a good connection going forward to the appliance, but only going back to the outlet. If, for example, the grounding conductor on the appliance cordset is cut, thereby leaving the appliance ungrounded, this approach will not detect that condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,454 (Winterton, et al.) discloses an open ground detection circuit for appliances that utilizes a special plug with four electrical connections. Two of these are the standard hot and neutral prongs. A third prong, having the location and shape of a conventional ground prong, has two electrical conductors (the so-called grounding blade and sensing blade) that are separated by an insulating member. Four wires connect this special plug to a housing that is located within an appliance. When the special plug is correctly seated in a three-hole grounded outlet, the two blades on the third prong are electrically connected together. If, however, the two conductors on the third prong are not electrically connected together, then an alarm signals that an open ground condition exists. A major problem with this design is that it only checks to see whether grounding blade and sensing blade are shorted together. This can occur even if the plug is connected to an ungrounded outlet and the user would incorrectly assume that the appliance was grounded. Another problem with this design is that it requires a special plug and four wires to connect between the appliance and this special plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,893 (Glennon) discloses a circuit that detects a loss of ground condition in an electrical system by using a capacitive circuit that discharges through the ground. The disclosed embodiments are electronically complex and can generate relatively high ground currents which would cause nuisance tripping in distribution systems having ground fault interrupters.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,795 and 5,943,198 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/756,784, all to Hirsch et al., describe a solid state ground and arc fault detection and interruption technology that has two parts, one part which resides in the load and one part which resides in the source. In applying this to an electrical appliance, the load is the appliance and the source is the plug. The basic theory in this technology is that a load conditioning module in the appliance injects a deadzone in the current flow during each half wave AC cycle. A sensing circuit in the plug looks for the presence of that deadzone each half cycle. If there is leakage around the load conditioning module (indicating a ground fault or arcing fault) this is indicative of a potential dangerous condition and current flow is interrupted at the plug.
To address these representative deficiencies in the art, what is needed is an improved capability for controlling electrical power to an appliance in a manner that provides safety to people that may come in contact with the appliance.

Safety device for prevention of electrical shocks


The invention provides exemplary devices and methods for protecting golf clubs when stored within a golf bag. The golf bags used in connection with the invention comprise a bag body having a bottom end and an open top end for receiving a plurality of golf clubs. The protection device comprises a collar which is attachable about the golf club heads which are held in the golf bag. Further, the collar comprises a bladder which is inflatable to compress and secure the golf clubs together.

The invention relates generally to the field of golf, and in particular to the protection of golf clubs which are held within a golf bag. More specifically, the invention provides a removable attachment which may be affixed to a golf bag to surround the club heads and then inflated to compress the club heads together.
Golf is currently one of the most popular sports in the United States and throughout the world. In the game of golf, the golfer utilizes a set of golf clubs which can include various irons, a putter, drivers, and the like. The golf clubs are often constructed from different materials, such as metals, woods, composites, and the like, and may change from time to time as technology advances.
Typically, a set of golf clubs will be held within a golf bag until ready for use. When stored within the golf bag, the shafts of the clubs are inserted into the golf bag so that the club heads are positioned above the top end of the golf bag. In this way, the club heads are visible and may easily be located and removed by grasping the club head and pulling the club from the golf bag.
To maximize the performance of the golf clubs, it is desirable to keep them in good working order. However, this can be difficult because of the manner in which the golf clubs are stored in the golf bag. For instance, most golfers transport their golf clubs while held within a conventional golf bag. Since the clubs are loosely held within the golf bag, they are free to jostle about and can damage each other, especially if some of the club heads are constructed from wood or special alloys. Furthermore, the club heads are often directly exposed to external environment and can become damaged by external objects as the bag is transported to various locations. The potential for inflicting damage to the golf clubs is heightened when transporting the golf clubs in an airplane, an automobile, or the like, where the club heads can easily bang against other luggage or the vehicle itself.
In view of such problems, a variety of schemes have been proposed to protect golf clubs when stored within a golf bag. For example, some have proposed placing a cloth "sock" individually over some or all of the club heads. However, this scheme provides only minimal protection for the club heads. As another example, some have proposed placing the entire golf bag and clubs within a rigid, hard shell or case. However, such cases are heavy, bulky, expensive and inconvenient to carry and store.
Hence, it would be desirable to provide devices and methods for their use which would overcome or greatly reduce these and other problems associated with the storing of golf clubs within a golf bag. Such devices should be cost effective, easy to attach to a golf bag, and easy to operate. It would be further desirable if such a device were light weight so that the overall weight of the golf bag would not be greatly increased, and so that the device would be easy and convenient to store.

Inflatable bladder and methods for protecting golf club members


A wavelength-selective add-drop multiplexer is disclosed for adding and/or dropping spectral components from a wavelength-division-multiplexed optical signal. (1.times.1) or (2.times.2) optical switches are used, either alone or in conjunction with other optical elements, to separate spectral components identified for drop from other spectral components.

Wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical communications networks support multiplexed optical signals having many different spectral components or wavelengths. Each one of such wavelengths, referred to as a channel, represents an independent data stream. Before processing a WDM signal at any node within a network, it may be necessary to remove ("drop"), or, alternatively, to add, one or more spectral components to the WDM signal.
While WDM communications networks have been studied, theoretically, for years, there are few, if any, commercial implementations of such networks. Thus, while the need for a device capable of adding and/or dropping spectral components from a WDM signal has been recognized in the art, few if any of such devices have been described in the literature. It is clear, however, that regardless of its configuration, such a device should be transmission format independent, robust, fast and low cost.

Article comprising a wavelength-selective add-drop multiplexer


A method for controlling a memory card which includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory whose memory area includes a plurality of write areas is disclosed. A first area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a first file system. The first file system sequentially writes data along a direction in which addresses of the plurality of write areas increase. A second area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a second file system. The second file system writes data in an order which does not depend on the addresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a memory card and a method for controlling a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and in particular, to a method for controlling a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a predetermined erase block size.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory cards using a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory are now used as recording media for music or video data. A FAT system is used as a file system for the memory card. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-141479 discloses an example in which the FAT system is adopted as a file system for a flash memory. The FAT file system is originally used for a medium such as a hard disk on which high-speed, random rewrite operations can be performed. The random write operation is a method of random writing data in free sectors regardless of their addresses (the sectors are write area units that the file system recognizes).
A typical example of a flash memory used for a memory card is a NAND type flash memory. Data in the NAND type flash memory can be erased only in block units. One block contains pages that are write units. Thus, to rewrite only a part of the data stored in a block, it is necessary to write a new write data to a new erased block and to copy data, which are not to be rewritten, from the old block containing the old data (that are to be changed to new data) to the new block. This process is called "move accompanying write (involved data copy)". The move accompanying write involves an operation of copying data that is not to be rewritten. Consequently, frequent move accompanying write operations drastically increase overhead.
With a FAT file system, every operation of rewriting cluster data in a file requires FAT data to be rewritten. Thus, if the FAT file system is adopted as a file system to manage a NAND type flash memory, every operation of rewriting cluster data results in a move accompanying write. This reduces file rewrite speed.

Method for controlling memory card and method for controlling nonvolatile semiconductor memory


The invention relates to a method for enabling most reliable packet orientated data transfer to take place by using an ARQ-method, especially a hybrid-ARQ-method, preferably for use in a mobile radio system. The invention also relates to a bit rate adaptation model which is used for signaling between the transmitter and the receiver.

The present disclosure relates to a method and corresponding apparatus for transferring data according to an ARQ method, especially a hybrid ARQ method, in a communication system, such as a mobile radio system, for example
The use of so-called "packet-access methods" or "packet-oriented data connections" is often recommended especially in connection with mobile radio systems, since the message types produced often have a very high burst factor with the result that only short periods of activity exist, interrupted by long breaks. Packet-oriented data connections may, in this case, considerably increase efficiency compared to other data transfer methods in which a continuous data stream is. This is because in data transfer methods with a continuous data stream, once a resource has been allocated, such as, for example, a carrier frequency or a time slot, it remains allocated during the entire communication relationship (i.e., a resource remains occupied even if there are momentarily no data transfers taking place, which means that this resource is not available for other network users). The result is that the narrow frequency range available for mobile radio systems is not used to the best effect.
Future mobile radio systems, such as, those that comply with the mobile radio standard UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), for example, will offer a multitude of different services whereby multimedia applications will become increasingly prevalent alongside pure voice transmission. The diversity of services associated with this, with different transmission rates, requires a highly flexible access protocol on the air interface of future mobile radio systems. Packet-oriented data transmission systems have proved to be highly suitable in this context.
In connection with UMTS mobile radio systems, a so-called ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) method has been proposed in packet-oriented data connections. In this method the data packets transferred from a transmitter to a receiver are checked for quality at the receiving end following decoding. If a data packet is erroneous on receipt, the receiver requests retransmission of this data packet by the transmitter (i.e., a repeat data packet that is identical or partially identical to the one previously sent and which was erroneous on receipt, is sent from the transmitter to the receiver (the terms full or partial repeat are used to indicate whether the quantity of data contained in the repeat data packet is less than or equal to that of the original data packet)). With regard to this ARQ method proposed for the UMTS mobile radio standard, which is also known as a hybrid ARQ method, the intention is for both data and so-called header information to be transmitted in a data packet, whereby the header information also contains information for error checking, (e.g., CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) bits), and can also be coded for error correction (known as FEC, Forward Error Correction).
In accordance with the current status of UMTS standardization, it is proposed that the bits in the individual data packets and/or repeat data packets be transferred following execution of a corresponding channel coding by means of QAM modulation (quadrature amplitude modulation). In this procedure the individual bits are mapped, via a process known as "gray mapping", onto corresponding QAM symbols which form a two-dimensional symbol area. This is problematic, since, in the proposed QAM modulation with alphabetic scope, which includes more than four QAM symbols, the reliability of the bits to be transferred varies considerably between the higher-value bits and the lower value bits. This is particularly disadvantageous with regard to the channel coding that is to be carried out, -since, for this-purpose, it is preferable to use turbocoders which require the reliability of the bits to remain consistent in order to achieve a sufficiently high level of efficiency. In a hybrid ARQ method, in which the repeat data packet is identical to the original data packet, the result of the aforementioned feature of variable bit reliability is that certain bits of the data packet and repeat data packet are to be found at the same place in the QAM symbol area, thus reducing the efficiency of the entire data transfer and limiting the data throughput at an early stage.
In order to resolve this problem it has previously been proposed that those bits which occur in the same place in the original data packet and in the repeat data packets be mapped to different QAM symbols in the QAM symbol area by dynamic rearrangement of the "gray mapping".
This will be explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D. FIG. 4A shows the signal constellation/QAM symbol area for a 16-QAM modulation, in which bits i1 and i2 as well as q1 and q2 are mapped to a corresponding QAM symbol 26 of the two-dimensional QAM symbol area 25 in the sequence i1 q1 i2 q2. Each of the columns/rows of QAM symbol 26 in the two-dimensional QAM symbol area 25 that can be used for each bit i1, i2, q2, q2 is marked with a line. Thus, for example, the bit i1="1" can only be mapped onto QAM symbols in the first two columns of the QAM symbol area. Thanks to "gray mapping" the reliability of the higher-value bit i1 is greater than the reliability of the lower value bit i2. In addition, the bit reliability of the bit i2 fluctuates depending on the corresponding QAM symbol 26 transferred (i.e., depending on whether the corresponding QAM symbol 26 is arranged in the outer left or outer right column of the QAM symbol area 25). The same applies for bits q1 and q2, since bits q1 and q2 are mapped in a manner equivalent to the mapping of bits i1 and i2 (albeit orthogonally for this purpose).
According to the conventional methods explained on the basis of FIGS. 4A-4D, it has been proposed that a different "gray mapping" be used for repeat data packets than the one used for the original data packets. Thus, for example, the "gray mapping" illustrated in FIG. 4B can be used for a first repeat data packet, while a "gray mapping" as shown in FIG. 4C is used for a second repeat data packet, and a "gray mapping" as shown in FIG. 4D can be used for a third repeat data packet. Comparison of FIGS. 4A-4D clearly shows that different QAM symbols 26, i.e., different points in the two-dimensional QAM symbol area 25, are mapped to one and the same bit combination i1 q1 i2 q2. This dynamic variation of the "gray mapping" may, for example, continue to the extent that, after a certain number of repeats, each bit i1, i2, q1 and q2 is transferred to a place in the QAM symbol area 25 with excellent or good reliability or poor reliability, whereby this procedure can be optimized for a different number of repeats.
It may be seen from FIGS. 4A-4D that this procedure is relatively costly since the "gray mapping" process must be modified for each repeat data packet.

Method and device for transferring data wherein a bit rate adaptation model is signaled between the transmitter and the receiver


A reinforced member which is made from a steel product having a strain aging characteristic and has a closed section at a cross section perpendicular to an axis of the reinforced member. The reinforced member includes a reinforced area which is produced by press-forming the steel product so as to generate a compression strain in the press-formed steel product due to the application of a compression stress to the steel product along the direction from a surface of the steel product to an inside of the steel product, and by giving a strain aging treatment to the press-formed member.

The present invention relates to a reinforced member which is made from a steel product having a strain aging characteristic and has a closed section in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the reinforced member, and more particularly to a reinforced member constructing a vehicle structural member such as a member and a roof rail.
There have been proposed various steel products having a strain aging characteristic, in order to ensure a desired strength of structural members while decreasing a vehicle weight by decreasing a thickness of a steel product. For example, Japanese Published Patent Application Nos. 2001-303185 (≈U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,584) and 2001-335889 disclose typical steel sheets having a strain aging characteristic.


A modular propellant charge for semi-fixed ammunition is disclosed. The propellant charge is disposed within an ammunition cartridge canister, and permits direct access to each charge increment. Further, the propellant charge comprises at least one charge increment comprising a rigid section of a cylindrical solid of rotation, and each charge increment has a length less than the central cavity of said ammunition canister.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semi-fixed ammunition. In particular, the present invention relates to semi-fixed ammunition and is intended to replace the cumbersome, multi-zone, bagged discrete charge system with charge components of a rigid, modular design.
2. Description of Related Art
Historically, the United States military has maintained 105 mm howitzers, which employ semi-fixed ammunition. Semi-fixed ammunition is a design where the projectile is seated on a cartridge canister or case containing a propulsion system. The term "semi-fixed" means that the projectile can be removed from the case mouth and replaced there, permitting access to the internal propellant charge. When ammunition of this type is employed, it is typically used in a multi-zone configuration. In this mode, the projectile is removed and the propellant charge adjusted by removal of one or more of the propellant increments, then the projectile is reseated on the case mouth. The complete round, prepared in this manner, is then inserted into the cannon for firing. In the present generation of howitzers with semi-fixed ammunition, all systems currently employ a plurality of cloth bags to hold the propellant. Zoning is achieved by removing one or more of these bags.
While this system has proven useful over the years, it is not without its limitations. Firstly, it is not a system, which can be easily automated, and its rate of fire cannot be increased. Further, there are safety issues associated with the misidentification of charge increments, and deterioration of the cloth bags employed, during long-term storage, has traditionally been a problem. It has recently been determined that, because of the shape and location of the ullage, or empty space within the cartridge canister, internal pressure waves can occur, which can cause adverse, sometimes catastrophic, ignition.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,702,167 and 4,864,932 to Reinelt and Schwenzer are entitled Propellant-Charge Module and are assigned to Rheinmetall GmbH, of Germany. These references both claim priority of a single German patent filing, and show a propellant-charge pack of the doughnut-shaped annular type, in which the inner annular wall is provided with an easily ignited primary charge, while the remaining volume of the pack contains propellant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,883 to Jaskolka, Rahnenfuhrer and Schulze, is entitled Ammunition and is assigned to Theinmetall GmbH, of Germany. This reference shows a projectile with primary charge and a projectile charge. In addition, both of these charges are provided with an annular transfer charge at their junctions that permits ignition of the projectile charge without a noticeable time delay relative to the primary charge.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,163 to Lindskog, is entitled Loading System and is assigned to Bofors AB, of Sweden. This reference shows a method and device for the automatic loading of doughnut-shaped rigid propellant modules. A stack of the chosen loading modules is prepared and swung into position to be ram-loaded.

Axial modular propulsion charge design for semi-fixed ammunition

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A lattice stitch surgical tension-limiting device, designed to be used in lattice stitch repair of wounds in biologic tissue. The device is tied to the surface of biologic tissue to be repaired by a lattice stitch. The device is designed to limit the tension in the lattice stitch, to allow placement of the lattice stitch without the need of an assistant and “instrument tie”, to help displace tension away from the surface of the body tissues, to enhance the properties of the lattice stitch in tissue shear reduction, and manage rotational forces affecting the repair as the lattice stitch draws the wound together to a closed condition. The device remains on the tissue surface during the wound healing period and is removed with the lattice stitch when wound healing is complete.

The lattice stitch is a suture-based method of surgical repair that distributes biologic tissue tension throughout the full thickness of the wound in both parallel and perpendicular directions from the wound edge. It is ideally, but not exclusively, suited for closure of atrophic skin and wounds under high tension and can be effectively used as a salvage stitch to repair wounds with secondary tissue tears (tears in wounds that have occurred as a result of failure of a wound repair using a closure other than the lattice stitch).
The lattice stitch is formed by first placing a pair of "anchor" stitches in opposed positions parallel to the wound edge, one on each side of the wound. The anchor stitches are placed with sufficient tension to minimize slack, while avoiding excessive tightening/strangulation of the skin. Next, a "closing" stitch is passed through the skin and is looped around the anchor stitches. The closing stitch is then drawn together at the surface of the tissue and is tied at the center of the wound. It is possible to place multiple closing stitches around a single pair of anchor stitches for additional support of the repair, at the surgeon's discretion.
In a lattice stitch repair, the closing stitch is preferably looped completely around each anchor stitch within the tissues, before the stitch is tied at the surface of the wound, thus, drawing the wound together to a closed condition. This arrangement optimizes stitch function and efficacy. Alternate arrangements of the closing stitch and anchor stitches in a lattice stitch repair include those where the closing stitch is passed through the loop of one or both anchor stitches, in the tissues, before the closing stitch is tied at the surface of the wound. Said alternate lattice stitch arrangements are not as effective at displacing wound tension or shear, in comparison to the preferred embodiment of the lattice stitch repair.
In the preferred embodiment of the lattice stitch, closing tension across the wound borne by the closing stitch is distributed away from the plane of closure in a direction parallel to the wound edge throughout the full thickness of the repair by the anchor stitches through a process called "dynamic vectoring." In this process, the lattice stitch adjusts its three dimensional structural configuration to accommodate forces acting on the repair during wound closure and throughout the healing period. Tissue shear forces during closure of a lattice stitch are largely avoided since the closing stitch is drawn primarily over anchor stitches during closure. Leverage for the closure is provided for the closing stitch by the anchor stitches which act as fulcrums, allowing a great degree of force to be exerted on the closure with little effort. Unlike staples, the lattice stitch can be placed at significantly variable distances from the wound edge and can use substantial subcutaneous tissue support, depending on the needs of the closure. Suture removal is easy because the stitch does not "sink" into the skin; a common problem with the vertical mattress type closures typically used in high tension wound repairs. The lattice stitch is versatile and can be used singly as a support element in repairs where other stitching methods are used, or in plurality as part of a complex lattice closure in cases where a greater distribution of tension is desired.
Despite the stated advantages of the lattice stitch, there are some limitations of this repair technique. The anchor stitches of a lattice stitch must be properly tensioned for optimal function, and this can be difficult to achieve under certain conditions. Use of an "instrument tie" with the help of an assistant, can facilitate proper tensioning of the anchor stitches, but can be a challenge to arrange in a busy office or emergency room setting. Excessive tension in the anchor stitches inhibits optimal functioning of the lattice stitch and may contribute to wound ischemia. Slack anchor stitches, on the other hand, can lead to unnecessary stretching of the tissue behind the anchors when the closing stitch draws the wound together and can lead to small tissue tears behind the anchors by the closing stitch, especially in repairs of extremely delicate tissue. Pressure from the lattice stitch on the surface of the skin, especially in high-tension closures, might lead to the formation of scar tissue under the sutures ("suture tracks"). Although this problem is not unique to the lattice stitch, it could be seen more commonly with this method of repair since the lattice stitch is well suited for high-tension closures.
A need exists, therefore, for a device that can facilitate proper tensioning of the (lattice) anchor stitches without the need for an assistant/instrument tie whilst preserving the dynamic vectoring properties of the lattice stitch; and, to separate the suture material of the lattice stitch from the surface of the tissues to help reduce the likelihood of scarring. The device should also manage any frictional and rotational forces in a lattice stitch repair that can occur as the closing stitch draws the wound to a closed condition.
Various apparatus and suture based methods for biologic tissue repair are known in the patented prior art as evidenced by Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,348; Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,631; and Gibson U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,106.
Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,348 discloses an apparatus that is adapted to be received at least partially in body tissue, for purpose of securing a suture in the body, consisting of a cylindrical tissue anchor with a smooth outer surface, and an attached suture means. Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,631 is a continuation of Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,348 that teaches a method for closing a discontinuity in biologic tissue by moving the tissue anchor described in Bonutti U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,348 into the body tissue by means of a pusher mechanism and an application of force. The anchor must be suitable for implantation in the biologic tissue and must be sufficiently rigid to permit suture retention function and according to the methods governing use of the anchor. The Bonutti method teaches a technique of skin repair that requires subcutaneous access to the wound and a high tolerance of tissue shear at the tissue insertion point of the apparatus at closure. The Bonutti method would not be suitable for applications where use of an implantable anchor device with an associated suture means was inappropriate or unnecessary; in repairs of delicate tissue; in situations where sufficient subcutaneous access to a cutaneous wound was unavailable, or in situations where a pusher mechanism as taught by Bonutti were unavailable.
The Gibson patent teaches a substantially disk shaped tissue spacer including a plurality of apertures for receiving suture thread and a depression in the bottom surface thereof to space the apertures above the surface of the skin to reduce the formulation of granulation tissue in surgical applications such as removal of varicose veins, treatment of chronic ulcerations and hernias, attachment of deep cutaneous structures and positioning of prosthesis under the skin. A disk shaped structure of a design consistent with the Gibson spacer would be incompatible with lattice stitch repair. Such a design would be significantly inflexible in the trans-axial plane (force applied on plane to the edge of the disk) and force applied perpendicular to the edge of the disk structure would result in a rotational stress on the structure, thus limiting use of such a design in applications such as lattice stitch repairs where such properties would be undesirable.
While the prior apparatus and methods operate satisfactorily as intended, they are not particularly effective in repairs involving lattice stitch closures of atrophic tissues, wide wounds, and/or delicate/high tension wounds with limited subcutaneous access, all of which require a reduction of tissue shear forces, accommodation of dynamic vectoring of tissue tension, and management of rotational and frictional force in the repair, in order to avoid tissue tears, ischemia, wound edge inversion, necrosis and/or dehiscence. The above apparatus and methods do not allow an unassisted surgeon to properly tension lattice anchor stitches whilst preserving the dynamic vectoring properties of the lattice stitch; and, by extension, cannot be used to separate the suture material of the lattice stitch from the surface of the tissues to help reduce the likelihood of scarring. The present invention was developed in order to overcome these and other drawbacks by providing a uniquely configured lattice stitch surgical tension-limiting device to complement lattice stitch repairs.

Lattice stitch surgical tensioning device with horizontal patency


Systems and methods include obtaining a catalog for a “to” software release and details of a controller of a network element operating a “from” software release, wherein the software releases are associated with the network element, and wherein the controller has a file system associated therewith; determining a delivery technique for a software load of the “to” software release based on the catalog and the details of the controller; and causing delivery of the software load to the file system based on the determined delivery technique, wherein the causing is one of automatic and subsequent to a user command. The delivery technique can be one of i) a full delivery, including all files in the catalog, ii) a minimal delivery, including only files in the catalog needed based on modules present in the network element, and iii) a hybrid delivery, between the full and minimal delivery.

Networks are realized with physical equipment, i.e., network elements, nodes, etc., that require periodic software upgrades, updates, etc. while deployed and operational. To upgrade a network element, the software release must be delivered to the network element file system first and stored thereon. Over time, the size of the software release is growing, sometimes unpredictably, making it challenging to accommodate the software release on a controller file system and increasing the release delivery time. As described herein, a controller is a processing device associated with a network element. A network element can be initially deployed at an early software release and with a controller having specific characteristics (i.e., memory, file system, processor, etc.). Over time, there can be multiple software releases with each release having a different load size, and usually with later releases having larger sizes. Also, as described herein, a legacy system refers to a network element that is deployed with an early software release and with a controller having limited capabilities in terms of available space for software, processing capabilities, etc. Legacy systems may be severely limited in terms of available space for release delivery, while more recent systems may have plenty of space. This requires different operations for delivering a software release to a network element, based on the type of network element, the card/modules present in the network element, the type and memory size of the controller, etc. A network operator, technician, engineer, etc. have to manually perform the delivery process, making the whole process cumbersome and error-prone. Additionally, different combinations of "from" and "to" loads (from being a current software release and to being an upgraded software release) may require further differentiation.

Optimal software load delivery systems and methods to network elements