An enclosure adapter for a circuit breaker that converts a panel mounted circuit breaker to a flat surface mounted circuit breaker. The enclosure adapter has a housing with a top end, an open bottom end, and sides defining an interior. The open bottom end allows for insertion of a circuit breaker into the interior. The top end has an opening to provide access to controls on the circuit breaker and has openings for attaching the circuit breaker to an interior side of the top end. Mounting members are formed at the bottom end of the enclosure adapter to mount the enclosure adapter to a flat surface. The sides form corners which are indentations into the interior of the enclosure adapter and the mounting members are formed in the indentations, wherein the indentations facilitate mounting the enclosure adapter to a flat surface. Removable tabs create openings for electrical connections.

Circuit breakers are a type of switch designed to disrupt electrical current when an overload or short occurs. The circuit breakers can be used in a variety of electrical applications requiring circuit protection. Most DC circuit breaker options are thermally controlled, meaning during an over current condition, the additional current will cause excess heat to build up in the circuit breaker. With this excess heat, the breaker will trip, making it an essential safety component providing thermal overload protection to diverse applications. Mid-range circuit breakers cover a range of amperage from 10 to 60 amps. They are used in DC power systems in marine applications as a main or branch circuit breaker and also in truck, bus, and RV systems or as an add-on protection for accessories.
Most mid-range circuit breakers are constructed for panel mounting which limits their use to systems that have electrical panels. In many cases, it is desirable to surface mount a mid-range circuit breaker, particularly in boats. What is needed is an adapter to adapt panel mounted mid-range circuit breakers for surface mounting.

Flat surface mountable enclosure adapter for a panel mounted circuit breaker


A filtering apparatus comprises: a pressure vessel; a plurality of filter elements arranged within the pressure vessel, the filter elements each having an upper end, a lower end and a side wall; filling bodies positioned within the filter elements; a first conduit for introducing compressed gas into the pressure vessel; a second conduit for transporting unfiltered liquid to and from the pressure vessel; and a third conduit for removing filtrate from the pressure vessel and transporting back-flushing liquid to and from the filter elements, the third conduit positioned proximate to a bottom portion of the pressure vessel and attached to the lower ends of the filter elements, such that the third conduit provides a support structure for the filter elements and the back-flushing liquid introduced via the third conduit fills the filter elements in a direction from the lower ends toward the upper ends, the volume of back-flushing liquid introduced into the filter elements limited by the filling bodies. A method of operating the filtering apparatus is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and to equipment for filtration of liquids. More specifically, this invention relates to a new and improved method and device for the filtration of a suspension and the back flushing of filter elements.
2. Description of Related Art
A process for filtration of a green liquor suspension by means of filtering in a pressure filter has previously been disclosed in SE-B-443,815. The process involves the suspension being introduced into the lower part of a pressure vessel which contains a number of filter elements hanging down together from a partition wall. During the filtration stage, filtrate flows through these filter elements and is conveyed away from the upper part of the pressure vessel above the said wall. Sludge collected on the surface of the filter elements is released intermittently by means of so-called counter current washing. After the washing, and after the liquid, including accumulated sludge, has subsequently been pumped away, the process is repeated.
A process and a device for filtering suspensions has previously been disclosed in SE-A-8903267-6. In this case, a pressure filter is utilized which has vertically arranged filter elements. During the regeneration process, the deposited material is first dried and back-flushing is then carried out in order to remove this material from the filter cloth. The pressure vessel was drained of unfiltered suspension prior to the regeneration phase.
In both these processes, the back-flushing is carried out by the filter elements being supplied with the back-flushing medium from above. Medium which is present in the filter elements and which is not utilized for the back-flushing itself is allowed to dilute the filtrate and/or the secondary suspension containing the sludge.
Another proposal has been, in the case of a pressure filter which has been marketed under the name "Cricket filter" by the company Ama Filter, to initiate the back-flushing of flat filter elements, which hang down from an upper structure, from the area of their lower part in order thereby to improve the characteristics associated with the back-flushing. However, the back-flushing liquid is supplied from above and the liquid present in the filter element has no possibility of self-draining.

Filters employing "filling bodies" to reduce the amount of backwashing fluid remaining in the filters after backwashing


A partially interdigitated combline ceramic filter is provided. The filter has a filter body with top, bottom, and side surfaces, and metallized through-holes defining quarter-wavelength resonators. The filter also has a metallization layer and at least one combline section with at least one transmission zero between the quarter-wavelength resonators. The filter also has at least one interdigital section and a coupling means between the quarter-wavelength resonators of the interdigital section. The filter also has first and second input-output pads. The partially interdigitated combline ceramic filter has the best attributes of both interdigital filter designs and combline filter designs to provide a filter which has transmission zeros, superior stopband rejection, and good harmonic performance in a small, compact, low-profile package that does not require external shielding.

Filters are known to provide attenuation of signals having frequencies outside of a particular frequency range and little attenuation to signals having frequencies within the particular range of interest. As is also known, these filters may be fabricated from ceramic materials having one or more resonators formed therein. A ceramic filter may be constructed to provide a lowpass filter, a bandpass filter, or a highpass filter, for example.
Ceramic filters typically employ quarter-wavelength type resonators with one end electrically open and the other end shorted to ground in combline like design. This design offers compact size and rugged construction in a slim, low-profile component. Moreover, this design offers transmission zeros between pairs of resonators and only requires a printed pattern on one surface of the filter block.
FIG. 1 shows a ceramic filter with a combline design, representative of the prior art. A filter 100 is provided which has resonators 102. The resonators 102 are said to have a combline design because they are both open-circuited at one end 104 and short-circuited at the other end 106. FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the electrical circuit that corresponds with filter 100. Referring to FIG. 2, resonators 102 are provided. The combline coupling 108 is shown inside the dashed-line box. In a combline filter design, the inter-resonator coupling is described as a series connected short circuited stub. Combline coupling is well known in the art.
One disadvantage of the traditional combline design, however, is the fact that these block filters oftentimes require an external metallic shield attached to the open-circuited end of the block in order to minimize the parasitic coupling between non-adjacent resonators and to achieve acceptable stopbands and satisfactory harmonic performance. Filter designers expand much effort in designing a shield which is compatible with the block design and is easily manufacturable and attachable. Such shields are typically stamped from sheet metal and attached by a soldering operation.
Another design alternative involves the use of an interdigital resonator design in the dielectric block of ceramic. Interdigital resonator designs allow full quarter-wavelength designs which provide higher electrical Q, an important property related to loss. Whereas a block filter with an interdigital resonator design does not typically require a metallic shield, it does create other design challenges. For example, the strong inter-resonator coupling associated with this design necessitates large spacings between the resonators for narrow-band filter designs. This may lead to filters which are undesirably large in volume. Additionally, the transmission zeros between the pair of resonators, which is found in the combline filter design, is not found in the interdigital design. Transmission zeros are important to obtain a highly selective frequency response in the compact filters needed for modern communication equipment.
FIG. 3 shows a ceramic filter with an interdigital design, representative of the prior art. A filter 300 is provided which has resonators 302. The resonators 302 are said to have an interdigital design because they are each open-circuited at opposite ends 304 of the filter block. Similarly, the resonators are each short-circuited at opposite ends 306 of the filter block, creating the interdigital design. FIG. 4 shows a schematic of the electrical circuit that corresponds with filter 300. Referring to FIG. 4, resonators 302 are provided. The interdigital coupling 308 is shown inside the dashed-line box. In an interdigital filter design, the inter-resonator coupling is described by a series transmission line. Interdigital coupling is also well known in the art.
A ceramic filter design which exploited the best attributes of both interdigital filter designs and combline filter designs to provide a filter which has transmission zeros, superior stopband rejection, and good harmonic performance in a small, compact, low-profile package that did not require an external metal shield would be considered an improvement in the art.

Partially interdigitated combline ceramic filter


A headlamp is used as an emergency light by removably mounting the headlamp and connecting the headlamp to a rechargeable battery source separate from and in addition to the connection to the vehicle electrical system, so that the headlamp is operated normally and when needed is removable and has a separate power source. Such a rechargeable lamp can be mounted in the trunk or elsewhere in the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to headlamps for vehicles, and more particularly to three different aspects: cushioning against impact; removable for use as an emergency light; and changing the color of the light emitted.
2. The State of the Art
One of the most prevalent problems with headlamps is impact damage during low speed collisions, such as when in a parking lot or in slow moving traffic. Various bumper and other front end structures, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,010,456, 5,288,177, 5,651,604, 6,190,030, and 6,331,068, are devised to deform and protect the headlamp during a collision. Various headlamp mounting assemblies, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,539, include leaf springs, but such are not designed to provide any significant movement of the headlamp and thus do not cushion the impact. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,335 describes a rear lamp mounted on a leaf spring and depending from a truck bumper to provide a resilient connection for the lamp. However, there are no aftermarket products than can be used with existing vehicles to retrofit a headlamp to be more resilient to impact.
Regarding vehicles in general, when a driver needs to pull off to the side of the road to fix a flat tire, typically the only lighting available is the ambient lighting from street lamps and oncoming vehicles. Flashlights and similar devices are sold which are powered by batteries, so one must be sure that the batteries are fresh and have not leaked. Other flashlights and similar devices can be powered by DC current available through the cigarette lighter socket, but their light output is relatively limited.
In yet another aspect, the color of the headlamp can make the lighting more effective and/or less distracting/imposing for on-coming traffic. In many European countries, headlamps have a yellow cast, likely because the wavelength is more energetic and can penetrate fog better, and is less blinding that pure white light. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to change the light emanating from the headlamp depending on the driving conditions (weather and ambient/street lighting) and the amount and/or type of oncoming traffic. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,041,302 and 4,153,928 describe, respectively, a vehicle tail lamp having one color and selecting a different color when the bulb is not energized, and a vehicle tail lamp that appears black when the bulb is not energized. Systems for controlling headlight intensity or energization based on oncoming traffic are well known (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,003). U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,296 describes the use of a light pipe as a remote lighting source, and the ability to colorize the light to the remote source, but such a device may not be readily amenable to aftermarket sale where customers are interested more in buying existing lamps or new lamps that can be used in the same manner as the existing lamp.


An ion processing apparatus for processing a target with ions includes a plasma ion source and a mass spectrometer for producing an ion beam for depositing ions onto the surface of the target to form a thin film or for implanting the ions into the target to modify the composition or properties of the target or for separation and collection of individual, separated isotopes. The plasma ion source is preferably an inductively coupled plasma ion source, and the mass spectrometer is preferably a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The stoichiometry of the deposited or implanted ions can be adjusted by controlling the mass spectrometer to produce an ion beam having a desired composition. Mixtures of different elements can be easily deposited or implanted in any desired stoichiometry by introducing a multielement sample into the plasma ion source and controlling the time the mass spectrometer transmits each element to be deposited or implanted.

The present invention is directed to an ion processing apparatus for processing a target with ions, and more particularly to an ion processing apparatus including a plasma ion source and a mass spectrometer for ion deposition for depositing ions onto the surface of a target to form a thin film on the target, for ion implantation for implanting ions into a target to modify the composition or properties of the target, or for isotope separation to prepare bulk amounts of highly enriched, stable isotopes.
Ion processing apparatuses for processing a target with ions are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,320 discloses an ion implantation apparatus including an unspecified ion source and a magnetic-sector mass spectrometer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-95458 discloses an ion implantation apparatus including an ion source and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Absent an English translation of this reference, it is unclear if a particular type of ion source is specified.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,282 which is assigned to the assignee of the present application discloses an apparatus for forming a thin film on a target. Finely divided particles of a coating material to be deposited on a target are introduced into an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch in a stream of a carrier gas such as argon. The coating material is vaporized by plasma heating in the ICP torch. The vaporized coating material passes through a first orifice in a sampler into a first vacuum zone and then through a second orifice in a skimmer into a second vacuum zone. The vaporized coating material is cooled below its melting temperature as it passes through the first and second vacuum zones, and is subsequently deposited on a target disposed in the second vacuum zone in a solidified atomic, ionic, and/or molecular form to form a thin film.
In the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,282, the coating material is deposited directly on the target after it passes through the second orifice. No provision is made to guarantee the purity of the deposited coating material. This requires the use of a high-purity coating material if a high-purity thin film is desired. Also, no provision is made to remove unwanted background species passing through the second orifice such as neutral argon or argon ions from the plasma. Furthermore, while the stoichiometry of the thin film can be controlled by controlling the reaction conditions in the plasma, it is difficult to achieve precise control of the stoichiometry in this manner.
Ion processing apparatuses for isotope separation are also known in the art. Such an apparatus which uses a plasma ion source and a magnetic-sector mass spectrometer is disclosed in K. Eberhardt et al., "A Microwave Induced Plasma Operated at Atmospheric and Low Pressure as an Ion Source for a Mass Separator", Soectrochimica Acta, Vol. 47B, No. 1, pp. 89-94, 1992. This apparatus employs a microwave-induced plasma and is intended primarily for separation of radionuclides such as .sup.235 U; thus, the sample is introduced as a particle beam from a nuclear reactor. In contrast, the present application deals primarily with an inductively coupled plasma and is intended primarily for separation of stable isotopes introduced by nebulization or other simple sample introduction means.

Ion processing apparatus including plasma ion source and mass spectrometer for ion deposition, ion implantation, or isotope separation

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


The run-flat supporting body (1) is configured of the annular shell (2) and elastic rings (3) and (3). The annular shell (2) works as a supporting surface on an outer peripheral side, and bifurcates into two leg portions on an inner peripheral side. In addition, the annular shell (2) is provided with a large number of the through holes (4) in wall surfaces thereof. The elastic rings (3) and (3) are attached respectively to the two leg portions of the annular shell (2). The run-flat supporting body 1 is supported on a rim of a wheel with the elastic rings (3) and (3). According to a configuration of the present invention, peripheries of the respective through holes (4) are thickened, residual stresses are applied to the peripheries of the respective through holes (4), or each through hole (4) is formed into an elliptic shape having the major axis in a circumferential direction.

As a measure for enabling emergency running at the time when a pneumatic tire is punctured during the running of a vehicle, many measures have heretofore been known, in which a core-type run-flat supporting body is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire, and thus supports an applied load.
Among such core-type run-flat support bodies, in particular, there is a run-flat supporting body, in which a main body is composed of an annular shell whose cross section in a tire width direction bifurcates into right and left leg portions, and in which elastic rings are attached to both of the leg portions for supporting the run-flat supporting body on a rim seat. Such a run-flat supporting body can be employed to the existing wheel as it is without adding a structural modification thereto. Accordingly, it is expected that use will be made of the run-flat supporting body described above in the future.
The above-described run-flat supporting body has had an advantage that previously attaching the run-flat supporting body to the wheel ensures safe running of the vehicle at the time when the tire is punctured. On the contrary, the run-flat supporting body has also had a disadvantageous point that the attachment thereof causes a deterioration of fuel economy since the attachment brings a weight increase of the vehicle.
As a countermeasure against the disadvantage, there is a proposal to achieve a weight reduction of the run-flat supporting body by providing a large number of through holes in the annular shell (refer to Patent Document 1).
Specifically, not only does such provision of the through holes contribute to the weight reduction, but also it allows the air to flow between the inside and outside of the annular shell. This makes it possible to appropriately maintain temperature distribution in the cavity of the tire during the running. The provision of the through holes thus can contribute to the safe running, and is preferable from the perspective of this point.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Kokai publication No. 2004-51088

Run-flat supporting body and tire/wheel assembly


Disclosed herein is a three layered wound dressing delivery system comprising a release layer, and adhesive layer, and a protective layer. The release layer is provided with a cut separating the release layer into two portions. A hinge strip is adhered to the protective layer and release layer along at least one of the lateral edges of their lateral edges.

The present invention relates to wound dressings and, in particular, to an improved wound dressing delivery system.
Polymeric wound care dressings are very generally thin "plastic" films with an adherent side that may be applied to a patient. They are commonly used by clinicians in association with managing wounds that occur during or result from various surgical procedures. For example, prior to many surgical procedures, a polymeric wound dressing is applied to the skin of the patient over the site of the operation. Surgical incisions are made through the thin polymeric dressing and into the skin of the patient. The wound dressing permits easier handling of the skin surrounding the incision site and, as a result, increases the accuracy of the incision. Furthermore, use of a wound dressing in this manner reduces the risk of any infection resulting from the surgical procedure.
In other applications, polymeric wound dressings are applied to the patient after the surgery is completed. In these applications, the wound dressings serve the important function of preventing post-operative infection.
Polymeric films useful as wound dressings are known to those of skill in the art. For example, such polymeric films are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,622 to Carion, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,563 to Sessions. Both the Carion and Sessions patents disclose in conjunction with the wound dressings various dressing application systems with a number of different nonadherent tabs or strips to assist the clinician in placing the sticky wound dressing to the patient. These strips and tabs result in a more complex structure which increases manufacturing costs. Moreover, the tabs or strips are only helpful in placing a whole wound dressing. Oftentimes, a clinician must cut a wound dressing prior to application to size it to the wound. The placement tabs or strips of the prior art are often ineffective in facilitating application when the dressing must be cut, because the cut portions do not have appropriately placed nonadherent portions that the clinician may grasp when placing the cut dressing.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a wound dressing application system which provides the clinician with improved flexibility in cutting the dressing to size prior to its application, and, at the same time, is of a simple structure to promote low cost manufacturing.


A power-on detect circuit includes: a resistor divider having a first node, a second node coupled to ground, and a center tap; a bandgap circuit for providing a reference voltage; a differential amplifier having a first input for receiving the reference voltage, a second input coupled to the center tap of the bandgap reference voltage circuit, and an output for providing a power-on detect signal; and a suppression circuit for coupling the first node of the resistor divider to a source of supply voltage once the reference voltage substantially achieves a stable reference voltage level. The suppression circuit has an input for receiving a trigger voltage generated in the bandgap circuit, and an output coupled to the first node of the resistor divider. The suppression circuit includes: an input section having an input for receiving the trigger voltage, and an output; a switch coupled between the source of supply voltage and the first node of the resistor divider having a control node coupled to the output of the input section; and a capacitor coupled to the control node of the switch. Both the switch and the bandgap circuit are responsive to the power-on detect signal for further reducing power consumption.

This invention relates generally to "power-on detect" circuits, sometimes referred to simply as "power detect", "power-on reset", "power enable" or "voltage detect" circuits. These circuits generally provide a power-on signal that indicates when the voltage level of a power supply voltage source has attained a predetermined acceptable level. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power-on detect circuit well suited for low voltage power supply operation less than or equal to 3.3 volts, and including a suppression circuit for eliminating false power-on signal indications.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a prior art power-on detect circuit 10 is shown including a resistor divider 12, a bandgap reference circuit 20, and a differential amplifier or comparator 24. Resistor divider 12 includes resistors 14 and 16. A first node 13 of resistor divider 12 is typically coupled to the VDD power supply voltage source, and a second node 17 of resistor divider 12 is typically coupled to ground. Resistors 14 and 16 are ratioed so that the output voltage, ROUT, on center tap 18 is equal to the VREF reference voltage on line 22 of bandgap reference circuit 20 when the VDD power supply voltage has attained the desired level. The ROUT voltage and the VREF reference voltage are compared by comparator 24. Once the ROUT voltage has exceeded the VREF reference voltage, a power-on signal PWREN is provided at the output of comparator 24 on node 26. The PWR signal indicates that the power supply voltage is in the acceptable range, and can be used to control various functions on, for example, an integrated circuit.
In FIG. 2, the ideal ROUT, VREF, and VDD voltages corresponding to the same labeled voltages shown in FIG. 1 are plotted against time. Initially, all three voltages are zero. As the power supply voltage is increased, the VDD power supply voltage and the VREF reference voltage rise together. The ROUT center tap voltage also rises, but at a linear ratio of the VDD and VREF voltages. At some point, typically about 1.1 volts for a bandgap reference voltage, the VDD and VREF voltages diverge. The VDD power supply voltage and the ROUT center tap voltage continue to increase, whereas the VREF reference voltage remains constant. At time t1, the ROUT and VREF voltages are equal, which corresponds in FIG. 2 to a power supply voltage of about 2.5 volts. Shortly after time t1, a valid PWREN power-on signal is generated.
In FIG. 3, the non-ideal ROUT, VREF, and VDD voltages corresponding to the same labeled voltages shown in FIG. 1 are plotted against time. In particular, the "non-ideal" or actual VREF voltage waveform for a typical bandgap circuit is dramatically different than the idealized version. As in FIG. 2, initially all three voltages are zero. As the power supply voltage is increased, the VDD power supply voltage, the ROUT center tap voltage, and the VREF reference voltage all rise at different rates. Notably, the VREF voltage rises at a rate slower than the ROUT voltage waveform, at least initially. At time t0, the VREF reference voltage quickly rises to its final value, typically about 1.1 volts. As the VREF voltage rises to its final value, it crosses the ROUT voltage. An undesirable false power-on signal indication can be produced at anytime prior to time t0. If a false power-on signal indication is generated, it will correspond to a VDD voltage significantly less than the desired minimum VDD voltage.
At low VDD supply voltages, a false power-on signal indication cannot be tolerated due to the extremely low power supply margin voltages. For example, if a 2.5 volt minimum VDD level is set for a valid power-on signal indication (which would correspond to a nominal three or 3.3 volt VDD power supply level), a voltage difference of as little as one hundred millivolts, i.e. a 2.4 volt supply voltage is unacceptable.
What is desired, therefore, is a power-n detect circuit that is compatible with low voltage operation and will not provide false power-on detect signals corresponding to an unacceptably low power supply voltage.

Bandgap reference based power-on detect circuit including a suppression circuit


A determiner which learns acceleration measurement data which has been obtained by an accelerated aging test and indicates that a facility changes from a normal state to an aged state, and advance label data which is obtained by giving a label to data indicating characteristics of aging in the acceleration measurement data. Measurement data of aging diagnosis is obtained from the facility which is operating, teacher aging degree label data is found from a record of maintenance of the facility, and additional data is obtained from the measurement data and the teacher aging degree label data. When a difference between predicted aging degree label data and teacher aging degree label data is greater than a predetermined value, learning data is selected as additional learning data. The additional learning data is learned to update the determiner.

Conventionally, there is disclosed an equipment and facility anomaly diagnosis method which includes a signal extractor which detects a specific harmonic component included in an input current of an electric motor which is operating, and a signal processor which converts an output signal from the signal extractor, and can specify an anomaly cause and an anomaly site by comparing a characteristic value including the harmonic component obtained by the signal processor and a predetermined determination reference (for example, see PTL 1).
In a conventional anomaly diagnosis method for constantly monitoring an aged state of a facility which includes a motor including a rotating body and a generator, physical amounts such as a temperature, a sound and vibration mainly indicating a facility state are measured, and a normality and an anomaly are diagnosed in this case based on a predetermined threshold.

Additional learning method for deterioration diagnosis system

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Some embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods that operate to apply a first value of a drain select gate voltage during a first portion of a programming time period associated with programming a plurality of memory cells, and to apply a second value of the drain select gate voltage different from the first value during a second, subsequent portion of the programming time period. The drain select gate voltage may be changed between groups of programming pulses in a single programming cycle. The first and second portions may be determined according to the number of applied programming pulses, the number of memory cells that have been completely programmed, and/or other conditions. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Memory devices are widely used in computers and other electronic devices to store data and other information. Some memory devices, such as flash memory devices, do not need power to maintain the information stored in the device.
A flash memory device usually makes use of a programming operation to store information, a read operation to retrieve the stored information, and an erase operation to clear some or all of the information in the device. Programming, read, and erase operations in a flash memory device usually involve applying different voltages to various components of the device.
Programming operations generally proceed according to a well-defined sequence of voltage application operations. However, sometimes programming operations fail, such as when the select gate voltage is applied in a manner that unintentionally turns off cells that have been selected for programming (e.g., due to an insufficient select gate voltage level when higher data line voltages are used in multi-level cells). Programming operations can also fail when non-selected cells are programmed unintentionally (e.g., due to select gate voltage leakage between selected cells and non-selected cells).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A dense mass centrally located in a personal vehicle acts as an inertial analog computer for predicting and compensating motion of an occupant of the vehicle during crashes. Acceleration and motion of the mass is converted into motion of impact prevention or impact velocity reduction systems to reduce likelyhood of severe injury to the occupant. Power disconnection in alternatively powered vehicles through disconnection of electrical systems by motion of the mass provides additional safety during the crash.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to safety systems for vehicles to enhance occupant protection during a crash. The invention specifically relates to activation of crash safety systems employing kinetic energy generated by an inertial mass constrained for movement within the vehicle and released by impact forces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Crash safety in automobiles and other highway vehicles is a continuing area of concern for vehicle designers. Present vehicles employ a wide array of safety devices including seat belts, shoulder harnesses, air bags, and energy-absorbing collapsible structures.
Seat belt restraining systems including inertia reels and other devices for locking or tensioning the seat belt during a crash. Present designs employ position actuators, propellant driven turbines, or similar systems actuated by acceleration sensors to reduce slack or impose tension on the seat belt shoulder harness system. In some configurations, belt webbing is played out at a controlled force through tensioning systems to decelerate the occupant under conditions of high crash loads. These systems require highly reliable sensing systems to detect crash accelerations and require separate energy sources such as propellant charges or the like for operation.
Similarly, air bags are being employed in numerous vehicles for added occupant safety. Present air bag systems require sensors for detecting crash accelerations and propellant cartridges or other stored energy systems to inflate the bag upon actuation.
To obtain efficiency from common control and power source the subsystems of conventionally powered vehicles may be grouped and centrally located on a pallet within the vehicle. The subsystems such as hydraulic pumps and actuators for power steering, air conditioning systems, electronics such as stereo and mobile telephones which require electrical or supplemental power not driven directly from the drive train of the vehicle may be aggregated in such a system.
Additionally, alternatively powered vehicles are presently being designed and entering the consumer arena based on demand for clean, non polluting, non petroleum energy based transportation. Electric vehicles are becoming a viable alternative to gasoline or other petroleum based internal combustion engine vehicles. Vehicles employing hybrid systems of partial battery and partial internal combustion, fuel cell or other energy systems are also undergoing research and development.
Each of these alternative systems employs, as a portion of its system, components which are heavy masses that impart little mechanical torque or other forces requiring rigid constraint within the vehicle. It is desirable to employ the inertial mass in these alternative systems as an enhancement in the activation and operation of safety systems within the vehicle to reduce the cost and complexity while increasing the reliability of those systems.

Inertial mass safety system activation of an air bag in personal vehicles


A method for extracting segments from an electrocardiogram tracing is disclosed. The method selects an electrocardiogram tracing for segment extraction, and associates a dosing time or other time point with the electrocardiogram tracing to align an extraction template within the electrocardiogram tracing for segment extraction. The electrocardiogram tracing is scanned for artifacts and the electrocardiogram tracing is annotated if any artifacts are discovered. If there are any artifacts present in the segment designated for extraction by the extraction template, the extraction template is modified to avoid the artifacts. If the extraction template cannot be modified, the electrocardiogram tracing is annotated as unextractable. If artifacts are not present in the segment designated for extraction by the extraction template or the extraction template was successfully modified, the designated segment is extracted from the electrocardiogram tracing and written to a storage medium.

The heart is a pump comprised of muscle tissue that responds to electrical stimulation. A heartbeat is a precisely controlled event that relies on synchronization between the atrial and ventricular chambers to maximize pumping efficiency. The sinoatrial node, which is located in the right atrium of the heart, generates the electrical stimulus. In a healthy person, the sinoatrial node normally generates electrical stimulus signals at a 60-100 Hz rate, and the waves of myocardial excitation and contraction spread throughout the heart in well-defined manner. The electrical stimulus signals cause contractions in the heart's chambers, thereby pumping blood through the chambers. The left and right atria of the heart contract first and for a brief time, and then the left and right ventricles contract for a brief time. Normal heart rhythm is referred to as "sinus" rhythm, because it originates in the sinoatrial node (also referred to as the sinus node). The electrical stimulus signal output by the sinoatrial node is first sent to the left and right atria, then through the atrioventricular node and into the left and right ventricles.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the heart's electrical activity. Electrodes are placed at specific locations on the body to capture a tracing of the heart's electrical activity. The electrical activity resulting from heart depolarization and heart repolarization is recorded by each lead. The ECG is a summation of the information recorded from each lead. The captured ECG reflects the direction of electrical current flow, and the magnitude of the muscle that is depolarized. Therefore, when the atria depolarize (and contract) the ECG tracing is smaller as compared to when the ventricles contract, since the atria are much smaller than the ventricles. Ventricle repolarization is in the same direction (positive) as ventricle depolarization. Although an ECG is positive during membrane depolarization and negative during repolarization, the direction with respect to ventricles is the same since ventricles depolarize from the inside to the outside (endocardium to epicardium), while repolarization occurs in the opposite direction.
Referring to FIG. 1, an ECG tracing is illustrated. The cardiac cycle begins with a P-wave, wherein the spontaneously firing cells in the sinoatrial node reach a threshold and generate action potentials. A wave of depolarization that spreads to the left and downward though left and right atria, which is labeled in FIG. 1 as the "P wave." The atria that were hyperpolarized suddenly become depolarized and the ECG records a positive deflection. When the left and right atria become depolarized, the ECG returns to zero. The electrical current passes through the atrioventricular node, causing a delay of about one-tenth of a second, and due to the small mass of the atrioventricular node, the ECG tracing does not record any electrical activity. When the atrioventricular node is depolarized, it triggers depolarization of the Purkinje fibers. The Purkinje fibers spread the electrical current throughout the left and right ventricles, thereby causing depolarization across each ventricle simultaneously. Since the tissue mass of the Purkinje fibers is small, the ECG tracing does not record any electrical activity. The passing of the electrical current through the atrioventricular node and the Purkinje fibers is labeled in FIG. 1 as the "PR segment."
The depolarization of the left and right ventricles is referred to as the "QRS complex" and FIG. 1 is labeled as such. The QRS complex is quite large since the left and right ventricle tissue is large in comparison to the sinoatrial node. The three peaks are indicative of the manner in which the electrical current spreads through the left and right ventricles, i.e., from inside to outside, and are indicative of the fact that the tissue mass of the left ventricle is greater than the tissue mass of the right ventricle. The complete depolarization of the left and right ventricles indicates that the QRS complex has terminated.
Referring to FIG. 2, the points of the QRS complex are labeled. As noted above, the QRS complex is indicative of the depolarization of the left and right ventricles. The ventricular depolarization begins at a left side of the intraventricular septum and the peak of this depolarization is shown by the "Q" peak of the QRS complex. The ventricular depolarization spreads from the endocardial surface of the left ventricle to the epicardial surface of the left ventricle, and is shown by the "R" peak of the QRS complex. The spread of the ventricular depolarization to the right ventricle is shown by the "S" peak of the QRS complex.
The segment labeled "T wave" indicates repolarization of the left and right ventricles. Although the left and right ventricles are repolarizing, the T wave is positive, since the heart repolarizes from outside to inside, the opposite direction of depolarization (inside to outside). The completion of the T wave signals the end of the cardiac cycle.
Referring to FIG. 3, the captured tracing of electrical activity is printed out on a paper tape or is presented on a display. Anomalies in an ECG are indicative of various heart-related conditions, such as ischemia, myocardial infarction, conduction disorder, electrolyte disturbance, pericarditis, valve disease or enlarged heart. Certain arrhythmias might occur only on an intermittent basis, or only if certain psychological or physical factors (i.e., stress, fatigue, etc.) are present. Since a typical ECG tracing is only a few minutes in length, arrhythmias of this type are difficult to capture. A more lengthy ECG tracing, referred to as a Holter monitor, will be used to capture any arrhythmias or other abnormal activity. The Holter monitor may record a heart's activity over a period of several days.
Referring to FIG. 1, one of the measured segments is referred to as the QT interval, and the QT interval indicates the duration of the electrical activity that controls contraction of the cells of the heart muscle. The QT interval represents the duration of ventricular depolarization and subsequent repolarization, beginning at the initiation of the Q wave of the QRS complex and ending where the T wave returns to isoelectric baseline. QT interval prolongation creates an electrophysiological environment that favors the development of cardiac arrhythmias, most clearly torsade de pointes, but possibly other ventricular arrhythmias as well. Long QT syndrome identifies a condition wherein there exists an abnormally long QT interval on the ECG tracing. The term "congenital long QT" refers to a long QT interval that is inherited. The inherited form occurs due to irregularities in particular heart cell proteins, and, of course, these protein irregularities are caused by abnormalities in the genes that produce those proteins. The term "acquired long QT" refers to a long QT interval that is brought about by drugs or anomalous levels of the salts within blood, e.g., potassium and magnesium.
Although a person might have an unremarkable QT interval under normal conditions, that person might develop a prolonged QT or suffer torsades de pointes (TdP) when taking certain medications. As shown in FIG. 4, TdP refers to the characteristic appearance of the electrocardiogram indicative of a rhythm abnormality, and typically occurs in the setting of a prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram. TdP is a polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia that manifests on the ECG tracing as continuous twisting of the vector of the QRS complex around the isoelectric baseline. A feature of TdP is pronounced prolongation of the QT interval in the sinus beats preceding the arrhythmia. TdP can degenerate into life-threatening cardiac rhythms that can result in blackouts or sudden death. Measurement of the QT interval on the ECG tracing is still the main method of determining whether a person has long QT interval syndrome, whether inherited or acquired.
Non-antiarrhythmic drugs can have an undesirable side effect of causing delayed cardiac repolarization. Due to its relationship to heart rate, the QT interval is normalized into a heart rate independent "corrected" value known as the QTc interval, which represents the QT interval at a standardized heart rate (essentially the QT interval at a heart rate of 60 bpm). Several drugs that have caused TdP clearly increase both the absolute QT and the QTc.

Method and apparatus for sequenced extraction from electrocardiogramic waveforms


A dynamic characteristic of a hydraulic pressure is significantly enhanced since a line pressure control system. A method employed by the system includes determining whether a vehicle is in a power-on state, determining whether a damper clutch is being engaged when the vehicle is in the power-on state, compensating a line pressure duty determined on the basis of an engine torque with a first compensation duty determined on the basis of a vehicle speed and an operation state of the damper clutch when the damper clutch is being engaged under the power-on state, and controlling the line pressure according to the compensated line pressure duty.

Generally, an automatic transmission (AT) includes a torque converter and a powertrain of a multiple speed gear mechanism connected to the torque converter. In addition, a hydraulic control system is provided with an AT for selectively operating at least one operational element included in the powertrain, based on the running state of the vehicle.
Such an AT also includes a hydraulic pressure source supplying a hydraulic pressure, a main line connected to the hydraulic pressure source in order to guide the hydraulic pressure, distributing lines branching from the main line in order to respectively guide the hydraulic pressure to the operational elements, and a valve provided respectively at the distributing lines in order to control the hydraulic pressure inflowing into the operational elements. In addition, to control a main line hydraulic pressure (hereinafter called "line pressure"), a conventional AT typically uses a mechanical control means controlling the line pressure according to a map table predetermined on the basis of only a throttle valve opening.
However, such a mechanical control means has the following problem. Since the line pressure is controlled according to the map table predetermined on the basis of only a throttle valve opening, a problem can occur in that dynamic characteristics of the hydraulic pressure inflowing into the operational elements is deteriorated.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Line pressure control system and method of an automatic transmission


A method for controlling a motor vehicle including driven wheels, a mechanism recovering energy generated by braking, and a torque transmission chain transmitting torque from the driven wheels to the energy recovery mechanism, the method including:    a) acquiring a braking instruction and dynamic characteristics of the motor vehicle,    b) controlling the energy recovery according to a control set point calculated as a function of the braking instructions and the dynamic characteristics acquired in a), and c) controlling the brakes according to a control set point calculated as a function of the braking instruction and the dynamic characteristics acquired in a). In b), the control set point for energy recovery is calculated by a preventive filter that filters the braking instruction to attenuate amplitude thereof around the resonant frequency of the torque transmission chain.

In motor vehicles of the aforesaid type, the recovery means is provided in addition to the brakes. Thus it can be used not only to brake the vehicle, but also to store some of the energy generated by the braking of the vehicle for subsequent re-use.
This recovery means therefore makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle as well as the wear on the brake pads.
Unfortunately, when braking takes place in this type of vehicle, phenomena of oscillation of the torque transmitted to the driven wheels are observable, resulting in jerking, affecting passenger comfort, and wear on the members of the traction mechanism of the vehicle.
These oscillations arise from the torque transmission mechanism, which, because each of its members has non-zero rigidity and damping, is deformed (by torsion, flexion, traction and compression) with an amplitude and frequency which vary as a function of the transmitted torque and the ageing of the various components.

Method for controlling a means for recovering energy generated by the braking of a motor vehicle


A storage device copies copy source data stored in a copy source volume to a copy destination volume and manages copied data in units of generations. The storage device includes a first storing unit, a second storing unit, and a processor. The first storing unit stores information representing presence/no-presence of a copy in association with a logical address of the copy destination volume in units of generations. The second storing unit stores a physical address of the copy destination volume in units of generations. The processor determines, when receiving an access request for a copy destination volume, presence/non-presence of a copy of a logical address for which the access request is made by using information in the first storing unit, and to access a physical address of the copy destination volume acquired from the second storing unit for a generation designated by a result of the determination.

As one of methods for backing up data in a storage product or a computer, there is a technique called "copy-on-write". According to the copy-on-write, not at a time point when a snapshot is generated but at a time point when data is requested to be written into a copy source volume, the data before writing, which is located in a part of the copy source volume that has been requested for is backed up to a copy destination volume.
In addition, as a backup technique extending the copy-on-write, there is a technique for performing generation management of a part (target area) for which writing has been requested by using a copy bit map. The copy bit map is used for managing, for each generation, whether or not data of a target area of the copy source volume has been copied to the copy destination volume.
FIG. 16 is a diagram that illustrates the data structure of a conventional copy bit map. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the copy bit map stores for each generation whether or not the data of each target area has been copied to the copy destination volume. In FIG. 16, "0" is a bit value representing that the data of the target area is present in a corresponding storage area of a copy destination volume. On the other hand, "1" is a bit value representing that the data of the target area is not present in a corresponding storage area of a copy destination volume.
With regard to the conventional techniques, please see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-26939, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-199711, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-373093, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-238009, for example.
However, according to the copy-on-write, since a copy bit map for each generation is secured in memory every time the number of backup generations is increased, there may be cases where the copy bit map is not secured due to a shortage of the memory capacity, and the number of generations is not increased. In consideration of a case where the number of generations is not increased due to a shortage of the memory capacity, the copy bit map may be arranged in a disk.
However, in the copy-on-write, in a case where a conventional copy bit map is arranged in a disk, when the number of backup generations is increased, there are cases where the performance deteriorates. For example, in a case where a process of reading data of a target area of a specific generation into a copy destination volume is performed, there are cases where it takes a time for the reading process. FIG. 17 is a diagram that illustrates a conventional reading process for a copy destination volume.
First, in the reading process, when a storage device receives a read request, for example, from a host in Step S101, the storage device reads a copy bit map of a target generation as a reading target in Step S102. Then, the storage device determines in Step S103 whether a bit corresponding to the target area is 0 (presence of data) by using the read copy bit map.
Then, in a case where the target bit is determined to be 0 (Yes in Step S103), the storage device converts the target area corresponding to the target bit into a physical address and reads data of the target generation from the converted physical address in Step S104. On the other hand, in a case where the target bit is determined not to be 0 (No in Step S103), the storage device determines whether or not the generation being processed is a latest generation in Step S105. In a case where the generation being processed is determined not to be the latest generation (No in Step S105), the storage device reads a copy bit map of the next generation in Step S106, and the process proceeds to Step S103 so as to determine the presence of data of the target area.
On the other hand, in a case where the generation being processed is determined to be the latest generation (Yes in Step S105), the storage device reads the data of the target area of the copy source volume in Step S107. When the data of the target area is read in Step S104 or Step S107, the storage device transmits the data to the host in Step S108.
As above, in a case where data corresponding to the target area is not present for the generation as the reading target, the storage device repeatedly reads the copy bit map of a generation other than the generation from a disk and determines whether or not the data is present. As a result, in a case where the number of times of reading the copy bit maps of different generations increases, the performance deteriorates.

Storage device and method of accessing copy destination data


A method of tracing an aqueous liquid, particularly an aqueous urea used for addition to a selective catalytic reduction system to remove NOx from diesel exhaust, includes adding a tracer comprising a pre-determined amount of a phenol to the liquid. The liquid can subsequently be identified by reacting a sample with a reagent containing a predetermined amount of 4-aminoantipyrine in the presence of an initiating compound such that the reaction between the reagent and a phenol in the liquid produces a chromophore and measuring the absorbance of the resulting solution of the chromophore.

Heavy-duty diesel engines which are used largely in commercial vehicles are subject to increasing regulation of emission levels. It is therefore important to provide such engines with measures to reduce harmful emissions, especially particulates, and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology which has been introduced to reduce emissions of NOx by reducing the NOx to nitrogen. Ammonia-SCR systems react ammonia (NH3) with the NOx to form nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O). There are three reaction pathways:4NH3+4NO+O2→4N2+6H2O2NH3+NO+NO2→2N2+3H2O8NH3+6NO2→7N2+12H2O
Any source of ammonia can be used but most commonly the source is an aqueous solution of urea. This decomposes in the exhaust stream in two stages to form ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO2). The commercial standard form of urea sold for this purpose in Europe is a 32.5% aqueous urea solution, known as AdBlue™ which conforms to DIN 70070 standard for urea solution for use in SCR systems.
A concern with the introduction of such an additive is the control and monitoring of the use of suitable quality product which conforms to the accepted regulatory standard. With the introduction of mandatory emission control measures in many countries, the use of SCR technology will become regulated and therefore liable to inspection. Dilution of conforming Adblue or the use of Adblue from a non-conforming source should be capable of being monitored by the transport authorities' inspectors in order to ensure that vehicle emissions of NOx using SCR technology are suitably controlled. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tagging system for urea solutions for use in SCR systems and to provide a method of tagging urea and determining the source of a urea solution.


A reflection mirror unit for a document on a platen includes first and second reflection mirrors, a base frame formed of a plate member and having a sliding portion adapted to slidably engage a guide rail located in a sub-scanning direction for the document on the platen, and a mirror support frame formed of a plate member. The mirror support frame includes a mirror mounting portion for supporting the first and second reflection mirrors opposite to each other with a predetermined angle. First and second coupling portions are formed on the base frame and the mirror support frame to couple together.

The present invention relates to a reflection mirror in an image reading device for a scanner apparatus, a copier, a facsimile machine, or the like which optically reads document images, and in particular, to improvements in a reflection mirror unit for an image reading device in which an optical system such as a light source or a mirror reciprocates under a document on a platen for scanning.
In general, in image reading devices for scanner apparatuses, copiers, and facsimile machines, a document placed on a plate is irradiated with light from a light source to form reflected light from the document into an image, which is then electrically read. A line sensor is used as a photoelectric conversion element, and a line light source is used as a light source. The light source is allowed to perform a scanning operation in a sub-scanning direction along the document to read the planar image.
In order for an image forming optical system to read such a document image in order of lines, it is necessary to move, in a sub-scanning direction, the light source and a refection mirror guiding reflected light from the document to the photoelectric conversion element. The light source and the reflection mirror are mounted on a carriage that can reciprocate along the document surface so that the movement of the carriage allows the document surface to be scanned. In this case, in a known device, the light source and the reflection mirror are mounted on a single carriage to constitute an image forming optical system. Another device has a first carriage and a second carriage. The light source is mounted one of the first and second carriages, while the reflection mirror is mounted on the other carriage. The first and second carriages are moved to constitute an image forming optical system.
In any of the above device configurations, the device is generally configured to have a thin, flat shape, and further designed to irradiate a document on the platen located at the top of the device with light from the light source and use the reflection mirror to reflect reflected light so as to form an optical path in a longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) of the device. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-116662 (TOKKAI) discloses a device having a first carriage equipped with a light source lamp and a first reflection mirror that polarizes reflected light from a document, and a second carriage equipped with a second reflection mirror and a third reflection mirror which polarize light from the first reflection mirror. In this scanning device, the first and second carriages are supported so as to be moved along a platen. A driving motor moves the first carriage at a predetermined speed and moves the second carriage at a speed half of the predetermined speed of the first carriage. A condensing lens forms an image on a photoelectric element located on a device substrate.
Similarly, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-77851 (TOKKAI) discloses a device corresponding to the above configuration which additionally has a carrier frame slidably supported by a guide rail and a mirror supporting frame that supports the pair of reflection mirrors mounted on the second carriage, and the carrier frame and mirror supporting frame are composed of individual sheet metal members and integrated together by screws.
When the paired reflection mirrors are integrated into a unit that is movable along the platen as described above, the mirror supporting frame is conventionally mounted on a base frame carrying the unit and slidably supported by the guide rail, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-77851 (TOKKAI). The two separate frames are used to support the pair of reflection mirrors because dimensional precision can be prevented from varying, and it facilitates positional adjustments during assembly of a metal material in order to rigidly construct the unit and determine a position, in this case, by press-working, where the mirrors are supported.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11(a), if a pair of reflection mirrors 50a, 50b is prevented from being mounted on a mirror support frame 51 at a predetermined angle in the correct posture, the optical path may be bent. If the mirror support frame 51 is not accurately mounted on a base frame 52 at the correct position during the scanning movement, the mirrors may be vibrated or the optical path direction may be shifted. Thus, the mirror support frame 51 comprises a stay like frame 51a having bent pieces 51b, 51c at the opposite ends thereof which are bent by press-working and to which the respective ends of each reflection mirror are mounted by positioning the ends at corresponding surface references. The mirror support frame 51 is fixed to the base frame 52 with screws.
When the reflection mirror unit is constructed by connecting the two frame members together as described above, a machining operation is easy. Further, since the bent pieces, to which the refection mirrors are mounted, are integrally formed by press-working, for example, the positions of a right mirror attachment portion and a left mirror attachment portion need not be adjusted, and this configuration results in easy assembly. If this assembly method is employed to the conventional technique, since the mirror support frame is fixed to the base frame with screws or the like as described in Patent Document 2, the mirror support frame may be mounted so as to incline in the direction of arrow a in the figure (see FIG. 11(a)).
The bent pieces, which simultaneously support the mirrors, are likely to be bent in the direction of arrow b (see FIG. 11(b)). Consequently, when the right and left bent pieces are bent during assembly or the like, the reflection mirrors may disadvantageously mounted at a slant. When the two frames are bent at the mounting positions during a connection operation, the reflection mirrors are prevented from being placed at the accurate positions in the correct postures. This may bend the optical path or change the radius of curvature, disadvantageously distorting a read image. Thus, tilting the pair of reflection mirrors in the direction of arrow a may blur the document image or distort the read image. Further, misalignment in the direction of arrow b leads to misalignment in the sub-scanning direction shown by Δy, resulting in a blurred or distorted image. This may in turn result in misalignment in the main scanning direction shown by Δx in the figure, causing an image reading start position to deviate from the correct position. In particular, it is difficult to form the surface of each mirror perfectly flat, and the surface of the mirror normally tends to have an insignificant aberration in a central region, but it tends to have a significant aberration in a peripheral portion. Thus, a very difficult operation needs to be performed in order to assemble the mirrors while preventing the misalignment of the center position of the mirror during assembly.
It is thus a main object of the present invention to provide a reflection mirror unit that, when a mirror support frame carrying a pair of reflection mirrors is connected to a base frame supported by a guide rail, enables the reflection mirrors to be held at accurate positions in correct postures in the main scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reflection mirror unit in which a mirror support frame carrying a pair of reflection mirrors is composed of a relatively thin plate of metal or the like, which enables the reflection mirrors to be reliably held, as well as an image reading device using the reflection mirror unit.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Reflection mirror unit in image reading device and image reading device using the same


An optical time-division multiplex signal processing apparatus includes an optical dispersion part providing optical dispersion to an optical time-division multiplex signal and an optical clock signal, an optical detector coupled optically to the optical dispersion part for detecting a beat signal formed between the optical time-division multiplex signal and the clock signal in a superposed state, and a filter connected to an output terminal of the optical detector for filtering out an electric signal of a desired frequency band from an output electric signal of said optical detector.

The present invention generally relates to optical signal processing apparatuses and especially to an optical time-division multiplex signal processing apparatus.
Optical time-division multiplexing technology is an indispensable art in today's super-fast optical telecommunication system in addition to the technology of wavelength-multiplexing.
In the optical time-division multiplexing technology, signal components of channels are sampled with different timings. By superposing the signal components thus sampled, a multiplexed optical signal is formed. As a result, it becomes possible to transmit optical signals of plural channels through a single optical fiber.
In the technology of optical time-division multiplexing, the speed of incoming optical time-division multiplex signals is generally much higher than the response speed of a photodiode or other high-speed optical detectors. Because of this, it is practiced to first separate the incoming optical time-division multiplex signal supplied to a receiver into optical signal components of respective channels by using an electro-optic modulator and then detect the optical signal components thus separated by a photodiode.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional optical time-division multiplex signal receiver 10.
Referring to FIG. 1, an optical time-division multiplex signal OTDM transmitted through an optical fiber 11 is supplied to an electro-optic modulator 12. The electro-optic modulator 12 is further supplied with a clock voltage signal corresponding to a desired channel from a clock signal source 13 and changes the transmittance thereof in response to the clock voltage signal. As a result, the optical sampling is achieved in the electro-optic modulator 12 with respect to the incoming optical time-division multiplex signal with the timing provided by the clock voltage signal, and an optical signal component for a specified channel is extracted. The optical signal component thus extracted is then supplied to a photodiode 14 through an optical fiber or an optical waveguide for conversion to an electric signal.
FIG. 2 shows the construction of another optical time-division multiplex signal receiver 20.
Referring to FIG. 2, an optical time-division multiplex signal OTDM transmitted through an optical fiber 21 is supplied to an all-optical gate 23, wherein the all-optical gate 23 is supplied with an optical clock signal via an optical waveguide 22 and changes a transmittance thereof in response to the optical clock signal. As a result, the optical signal component of the channel corresponding to the optical clock signal is extracted and is outputted to an optical waveguide 24 formed at an output side of the all-optical gate 23. The optical signal component thus extracted is detected by a photodiode 25.
However, in the construction of FIG. 1, there exists a drawback in that, while the response speed of the electro-optic modulator 12 is faster than the response speed of a photodiode, there is a limit and the advantage may be lost in the case the transmission rate of the optical time-division multiplex signal is increased further in future.
In the construction of FIG. 2, the all-optical gate 23 has a response speed sufficient for responding to a high-speed optical time-division multiplex signal. However, such an all-optical gate 23, relying upon the optical-absorption-saturation phenomenon caused by an optical clock signal, requires a strong optical clock signal for on-off driving, and there arises a problem in that a large and bulky construction is necessary.

Optical time-division multiplex signal processing apparatus and method, optical time-division multiplex signal receiver


The document explains, inter alia, a method in which a titanium nitride layer is removed by wet chemical means (106). Following removal of the titanium nitride, further metalization strata are produced (114). The result is an integrated circuit arrangement having connections which have a low electrical resistance. The circuit arrangement is particularly suitable for the purpose of switching high powers.

A metalization stratum or a metalization plane contains a multiplicity of interconnects, for example made of aluminum or copper. Various metalization strata are electrically insulated from one another by a respective insulating layer. The insulating layer is penetrated by "vias" containing connecting sections. In the connecting sections, current flows between various metalization strata during operation of the integrated circuit arrangement.
The intermediate layer is electrically conductive and serves, by way of example, as:
a diffusion barrier,
to increase the mechanical adhesion, and/or
as an antireflection layer.
Suitable materials for the intermediate layer are, by way of example, titanium nitride or tantalum nitride, or double or multiple layers with these materials, e.g. a double layer made of a titanium layer and of a titanium nitride layer.
Typical dry etching processes are:
physical dry etching,
chemical dry etching, or
chemicophysical dry etching.
If the insulating layer is made of silicon dioxide, for example, then dry etching can be carried out using fluorine-containing chemicals, for example.

Method for the production of an integrated circuit bar arrangement comprising a metal nitride layer and integrated circuit arrangement


An apparatus for routing, treating and recycling refuse includes a first valve connected between the drain and the main sewer line for receiving water and refuse flowing through the drain. A compost pile and water separation tank are connected to a second valve which is connected to receive water and refuse from the first valve. The first valve operates between a first position directing the water and refuse received thereby to the main sewer line and a second position directing the water and refuse received thereby to the second valve. The second valve operates between a first position directing the water and refuse received from the first valve to the compost pile and a second position for directing the water and refuse received from the first valve to the separation tank. The water received by the separation tank is stored in a water storage tank for recycling and later use while the refuse directed to the compost pile and separation tank is collected for later use. The apparatus for routing, treating and recycling refuse is controlled by a control panel positioned adjacent the drain and connected to control the first and second valves. The apparatus may also include a third valve for further routing the water from the separation tank to a hose for supplying the a water to a garden or to another facility such as a toilet or sink.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to treatment of refuse and waste products and, more specifically, to an apparatus for separating and routing water and refuse passing through a drain and selectively processed by a garbage disposal unit to any of a number of facilities local to the source of the refuse through the use of a manually activated control panel redirecting the refuse from the conventional sewer lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous devices for routing, treating and recycling waste products have been provided in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,954,605; 4,050,917; 4,210,528; 4,344,826; 4,812,237; 5,082,486; 5,405,780; 5,441,155; 5,522,913; 5,534,042; 5,535,455; 5,551,969; 5,587,320; 5,588,534 and 5,676,319 all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


A read circuit for providing multi-bit disk data to a disk controller in correspondence to analog data from a disk head, includes a low frequency clock generator whose phase is adjustable in response to a detection of the synchronization marker in the analog disk data. A high frequency clock is phase-locked to the output of the disk head, and synchronizes operation of an A/D converter and a bit detector which produces a verified single-bit based on the A/D output. A serial-to-parallel converter converts the single bit output from the bit detector to a parallel output, and the parallel output is latched to multi-bit disk data for use by the disk controller in accordance with a low frequency clock. The low frequency clock is generated by a clock generator from the high frequency clock with a phase that is adjustable in response to the synchronization mark detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to read circuitry for a disk head, and in particular relates to phase-adjustment of a divided clock in such a read circuit, so as to avoid race conditions between time of data validity and latching of such data in accordance with the divided clock.
2. Description of the Related Art
Read circuits for a disk head provide an interface between a magnetic disk head and a hard disk controller, so as to provide verified digital parallel data to the hard disk controller. Such read circuits include a time base generator phase-locked to the output of the disk head so as to provide a high frequency clock reference, together with a divider to provide a divided clock signal for use in latching digital data. A generalized block diagram for a conventional read circuit, showing the time base generator and the divider, is shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, read circuit 1 accepts as input the pre-amp output from pre-amp 2 which amplifies the analog output from disk head 3. Read circuit 1 provides 9-bit digital data 4 to hard disk controller 5, which in turn provides the digital data to computer bus 6. Internally, read circuit 1 includes a time base generator 8 phase-locked to the output of pre-amp 2 so as to provide a high frequency clock signal 9. In addition, divider 10 operates to divide the output from time base generator 8 (such as division by 8, 8½, or 9) so as to provide a divided clock signal 11. A/D converter 12 converts the analog output from pre-amp 2 into a digital output such as a 6-bit digital output which is provided to detector 14 (such as a Virterbi detector) which outputs a 1-bit digital signal which is a verified digital bit corresponding to the bit stored on the hard disk. A sequence of such 1-bit digital signals is provided to serial-to-parallel data formatter 15, which converts the 1-bit digital serial data into 9-bit parallel data which includes a parity bit. Each of A/D converter 12, detector 14 and data formatter 15 operate in accordance with high frequency clock 9.
The 9-bit parallel data from data formatter 15, shown at reference numeral 16, is provided to latch 17 which latches the data at a timing determined by divided clock 11. The latched parallel data is thereafter provided to hard disk controller 5, as described before.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing the timing of some signals in the FIG. 1 block diagram. (a) is high frequency clock 9, (b) is the 6-bit output of A/D converter 12, (c) is divided clock 11, and (d) shows validity of 9-bit data 16. As shown in FIG. 2, high frequency clock 9, such as a 600 mHz clock, is divided by divider 10 (in this example, a divide-by-eight divider) into divided clock 11. Superimposed on the waveform for divided clock 11 are count numbers showing the count by which divided clock 11 is created.
Superimposed on A/D converter output 13 is a well-known synchronization marker 20 (hereinafter "SM"), which follows the equally well-known synchronization field. Upon encountering the synchronization marker, digital data from the disk head immediately follows. Digital data here is indicated by numerals 21, also superimposed on the A/D converter output 13, which indicate the bit number of the data. 9-bit data 16 is valid after eight bits of data have been collected from the disk head and the ninth parity bit has been added by formatter 15, as shown in FIG. 2.
Because of the construction of conventional read circuits, it is possible for a race condition to arise between the timing at which data 16 is valid and the timing when latch 17 latches the data in accordance with the rising edge of divided clock 11. This race condition is depicted at 22 in FIG. 2, and arises primarily for two reasons. First, because time base generator 8 is phase-controlled to lock with data from the disk head, its phase moves, causing a corresponding movement in phase of divided clock 11. Second, because the occurrence of the synchronization field and the synchronization marker is asynchronous with operation of divider 11, divider 11 is never exactly certain of where, in the output of high frequency clock 9, 9-bit data 16 will be valid.

Race avoidance in disk head read circuit


Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a holder implemented to hold a probe; an object sensor for detecting physical changes around the holder; an electromagnetic wave sensor for detecting electromagnetic waves around the holder; and a controller for determining a port name for a probe held in the holder, based on sensing values from the object sensor and electromagnetic wave sensor.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, holder assembly, and method for controlling the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is a device for transmitting ultrasound from the surface of a subject toward a target point of the inside of the subject, and obtaining tomograms of soft tissue or images about blood flows in an invasive way by receiving reflected echo ultrasound.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is widely used because it is compact and inexpensive, and is able to display diagnostic images in real time, as compared with X-ray devices, Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices, etc.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a probe for transmitting ultrasound to a subject and receiving echo ultrasound reflected from the subject to obtain an ultrasound image of the subject.
There may be multiple probes equipped in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and each probe may be coupled with a port of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus over a wireless communication network or via a cable. Each probe may be held in a holder equipped in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
Typically, if the user selects one of the plurality of probes held in a holder, the user has to manually type in which port the selected probe corresponds to. For example, in a case that there are first and second holders equipped in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and that the user selects a probe held in the second holder, the user has to type in whether the probe held in the second holder is coupled with a first port or a second port directly to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, holder assembly, and method for controlling the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus


A method and apparatus for measuring resistance of a blood sample in order to determine the hematocrit of that blood sample. The present invention makes a direct ratiometric measurement. That is, the alternating current that flows through the sample is directly measured by applying that alternating current to an integrator which converts the current to a D.C. voltage which is directly proportional to the applied current.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical diagnostic equipment, and more particularly to blood analyzers for measuring hematocrit value of a blood sample.
2. Description of Related Art
Measurement of hematocrit (i.e., volume of red blood cells per unit volume of whole blood) is useful for monitoring, diagnosing, and otherwise determining the health and status of a medical patient. One method for measuring hematocrit is to directly count the number of red blood cells using a conventional microcentrifuge and modem cell-counting cytometry methods. However, such methods are not amenable to the design of convenient or continuous bedside monitoring instruments. Rather, an indirect method in which blood conductivity (1/R.sub.blood) is measured is preferred for determining hematocrit in order to make it possible to determine hematocrit at bedside. It is well known that the conductivity of a blood sample varies as a function of its hematocrit value. It is also known that other blood components must be taken into account when calculating hematocrit based upon the conductivity of a blood sample. Currently, bridge circuits are used to determine the resistance (R.sub.blood) of a blood sample. A bridge circuit determines resistance by comparing an unknown resistance (i.e., R.sub.blood) with a known resistance.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a Wheatstone bridge circuit commonly used to determine the resistance (R.sub.blood) of a blood sample. The bridge circuit comprises two fixed resistors R.sub.a, R.sub.b with known values. The values of these resistors R.sub.a, R.sub.b must be known to a very high precision in order to accurately determine the value of the resistance (R.sub.blood) of a blood sample. One terminal of each of the resistors R.sub.a, R.sub.b is coupled together at node 100. A "zero-center" current meter 104 is coupled between the other terminal of each of the known resistors R.sub.a, R.sub.b at nodes 101, 102. Also coupled to the node 102 is a first terminal of the hematocrit sensor. The hematocrit sensor is shown in FIG. 1 as an equivalent resistor having a resistance R.sub.blood. The first terminal of the hematocrit sensor is placed in contact with the blood sample to be measured. A second terminal of the hematocrit sensor which is also in contact with the blood sample is coupled to a node 103. A high precision potentiometer 105 having a resistance R.sub.pot is coupled between nodes 101 and 103 and a voltage source 106 is placed across nodes 100 and 103. It is well known that when no current flows through the current meter 104, the value of the unknown resistance R.sub.blood is equal to: EQU R.sub.pot (R.sub.b /R.sub.a)
However, there are a number of disadvantages to using such a bridge circuit to measure hematocrit. It is typically desirable to have the resistance measurement device interface with a microprocessor or other programmable device in order to allow additional calculations to be performed, such as adjusting the measured resistance to account for electrolytes in the blood, and to allow data to be compiled, logged, and reported. Also, such bridge circuits require adjustments to be made to the potentiometer to set the bridge to null, and calibrations to be made to ensure the accuracy of the bridge circuit (i.e., the accuracy of the known resistances). Furthermore, such bridge circuits require compensation for both temperature and voltage. Still further, the voltage source 106 must be very stable. In addition, such bridge circuits typically require a great deal of space and are expensive due to the number of high precision components required. Therefore, in general, bridge circuits are difficult and expensive to make accurate, inherently instable over long periods of time, and require close tolerance components.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for measuring the conductivity (or resistance) of a blood sample for use in a hematocrit measurement device which is stable over long periods of time, is inexpensive, can be fabricate in relatively small space, which does not require regular calibration and adjustment, and which can easily interface with a microprocessor or other digital device.

Method and apparatus for ratiometric measurement of hematocrit


The self-mounting shelf with a light includes a base, an overhead light, and a shelf. The base attaches to a wall or vertical surface via at least one of adhesives, nylon hook and loop strips, or mounting screws. The self-mounting shelf with a light is designed to be positioned adjacent to an electrical wall outlet in order to ensure ease of access to an electrical supply for the overhead light. The shelf may be substituted with alternate designs designed to accommodate a plurality of needs.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of shelving systems, more specifically, a self-mounting shelf that has an integrated light.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
As a preliminary note, it should be stated that there is an ample amount of prior art that deals with shelves. As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a self-mounting shelf that has a light.
The Castano Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,583) discloses an illuminating cue stick rack made up of a rack frame and a lighting system built into or attached onto the rack frame. However, the lighting system illuminates a cue stick rack and does not provide overhead lighting of a shelf. Furthermore, the cue stick rack only supports the cue sticks when not in use and does not provide a place to rest cue sticks between turns in a pool game.
The Ramirez, Jr. et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,675) discloses a pool cue holder attachment for holding pool cues to the side of a table. However, the pool cue holder does not include an overhead light and abut a wall or vertical surface.
The Schaak Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0077672) discloses a gooseneck lighting apparatus with decorative woven sleeve. Again, the lighting apparatus does not include a self-mounting shelf.
The Donovan et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,248) discloses a wall mounted billiard display system. However, the display system does not have an overhead light and pool cue rack for use while playing a game of pool.
The Baughman et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,261) discloses a rotating fishing rod/pool cue holder, which supports and secures the pool cue at an angle. However, the pool cue holder does not include a shelf and overhead light and mount upon a wall or flat surface.
The Perry Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0156753) discloses a cue holder having a base with an upper surface. However, the pool cue holder is placed upon the ground or floor and supports the pool cue at an angle, as opposed to a shelf that mounts upon the wall and includes an overhead light.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a self-mounting shelf with light that attaches to a wall or flat surface and supports a plurality of pool cues during a pool game. In this regard, the self-mounting shelf with light departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.


A vehicle accessory such as an armrest includes a core to which there is positioned a collapsible member extending outwardly from at least one edge of the core at a side thereof and which upon receiving a lateral force in a direction toward the core, expands by collapsing and to increase its height. A cushioning material is positioned over the collapsible member which can be covered by a suitable upholstery material.

The present invention relates to an armrest for use in vehicles such as automobiles and one whose height varies as a function of a side impact force to provide safety to an occupant.
Armrests for use between seats in vehicles typically pivot between a raised, stored position and a lowered, use position. In many vehicles, such armrests are relatively large having a generally square cross-sectional shape such that the width of the armrest and its height are substantially the same. In modern compactly designed vehicles, it is difficult to incorporate large bulky armrests as used in larger, earlier vintage vehicles. In newer vehicles, therefore, the armrests tend to be smaller and thinner and as a result, in the event of a vehicle accident, the occupant, if accelerated laterally against the side of an armrest could be seriously injured. To prevent such injury, it is necessary for the armrest to present at least a two-inch height along a major portion of its length so that it provides protection for the vehicle occupant as required in the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Accordingly armrests, even those employed in compactly designed vehicles, must have a vertical height which is sufficient to meet this safety requirement. The result in some vehicles is an ungainly appearing armrest.
Ultra-thin armrests of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/914,791 filed on Jul. 16, 1992, and entitled ARTICULATED ARMREST provides an armrest which rotates downwardly from a generally vertical plane when in a raised, stored position to a horizontal use position in which the armrest lies in a generally horizontal plane. In this position, the edge or height dimension can be relatively thin. Also, from an aesthetic standpoint, it may be desirable to provide an armrest which has a height which is substantially less than the minimum height required by safety standards and yet provides adequate safety for the vehicle occupant.


Data is compressed, which includes first through sixth patterns having respective first through sixth values, where the first pattern precedes the second pattern in the data, the third pattern precedes the fourth pattern in the data, and the fifth pattern precedes the sixth pattern in the data. Compression includes outputting a first code and the second value if the second value exceeds the first value by more than a predetermined amount, outputting a second code and a difference between the third and fourth values if the fourth value does not exceed the third value by more than the predetermined amount, and outputting the fifth value and the sixth value if the sixth value exceeds the fifth value by a predefined number.

Internet use, particularly electronic commerce (E-commerce), has experienced considerable growth in recent years. E-commerce, in its current form, is supported by vendors, advertisers and service providers, all of which use Web servers to respond to client requests for goods, services and information. A Web server typically maintains one or more log files, which contains information relating to access of the Web server. For example, Web server log file(s) may contain information relating to a transaction performed via the Web server. Log files can take up large amounts of storage. This can be problematic, particularly for Web servers that accommodate high amounts of Web traffic.


An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.

Airbag systems are commonly used on vehicles and especially in steering wheels. These airbags are designed to inflate during an accident to prevent the occupant from harmful impact with the steering wheel during a crash. Accordingly, the airbag system will generally be positioned in the steering wheel.
It is also known that most vehicle manufacturers want to have their logo or trademark on the steering wheel. These logos or trademarks are often colored images and are positioned on the steering wheel (such as on the cover of the steering wheel that is used to cover the airbag system). Some logos may also have a metallic chrome portion for improved appearance. Such positioning of the logo fosters brand recognition and also helps the vehicle occupant to remember that cars made by the vehicle manufacturer have airbags and are thus safer.
In order to further make the company's logo "stand out," some parties have even begun to seek for ways to illuminate the logo/trademark. One example of this type of system is found in International Patent Publication No. WO 2007/084031, which document is expressly incorporated herein by this reference. However, to date there has not been an acceptable solution to illuminating the colored portion of a trademark in addition to a chrome/metallic portion. Such a solution would provide cosmetic benefits and would be desirable to many consumers.

Method for illuminating colors in a backlit driver airbag emblem