A multi-element, folded beam laser includes a plurality of laser medium elements, pumping means, a highly reflective reflector, an output coupler and one or more beam directors for redirecting the beam through the elements and between the reflector and the output coupler. An alternate folded beam ring laser and an alternate folded beam laser amplifier are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of lasers, and more particularly to lasers having multiple elements of lasing medium and a folded beam path.
2. Description of the Background Art
Known solid state lasers include a crystal of active laser medium, for example a cylindrical rod of ruby or neodimium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), and one or more pumping lamps, enclosed in a highly reflective housing. A highly reflecting mirror and a partially reflecting mirror are positioned to face one another at opposite ends of the laser medium such that light emitted from the laser medium is reflected back and fourth between the highly and partially reflecting mirrors.
The pumping lamps produce light which excites the atoms of the laser medium to a metastable state. The relaxation of the excited atoms to their ground state is accompanied by the emission of light. Some of the emitted light is reflected back and fourth between the end mirrors, and the growing reflected wave induces the emission of additional light into the reflected wave state. The partially reflecting mirror, also referred to as an output coupler, allows a portion of the reflected light to pass as the output beam of the laser.
The power output of solid state lasers depends upon, among other things, the length of the path of the beam within the laser medium. Thus, the power output of such a laser can be increased by increasing the length of the laser medium. This approach has at least two practical limitations, however. First, rods of increased length are difficult and expensive to manufacture. Second, beam quality deteriorates rapidly when rods exceed six to eight inches in length.
Due to the limitations of a single long rod, typical high powered lasers employ multiple short rods. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art multirod laser 100. Prior art laser 100 includes pump chambers 102(1-3), high reflector 108 which has a highly reflecting face 109, and output coupler 110 which has a partially reflecting face 111.
Pump chambers 102(1-3) include cylindrical laser rods 112(1-3) and two cylindrical arc lamps 114(1-3) and 116(1-3), mounted axially parallel in highly reflecting housings 118(1-3). Pump chambers 102(1-3) are aligned such that the axes of laser rods 112(1-3) are colinear and define an optical path 130 which is perpendicular to faces 109 and 111 of high reflector 108 and output coupler 110, respectively.
Combining multiple pump chambers in series as shown in laser 100 significantly increases output power, but the number of pump chambers that can be used in a system is practically limited by increased length making the system more awkward to work with and requiring more complex alignment processes to optimize the laser output.
Prior art patents have suggested folding the optical path of a laser to decrease the laser length overall and increase the optical path length within the active laser medium. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,443, issued to Du et al., teaches folding the beam within a single cavity of active laser medium by providing retroreflecting mirrors at each end of the cavity. This approach appears well-suited to gas lasers, but if the laser medium is solid state, then the size of the cavity is limited to the size of the available medium crystal. Thus, as applied to solid state lasers, Du et al. suffers the same limitations as the single crystal lasers described above.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,361,987, issued to DeMaria, teaches folding the beam within a single poly-sided crystal. This single crystal method suffers the same limitations as do the single crystal lasers described above.


The electric motor control unit of this electric vehicle is disposed at a first primary surface and/or a facing second primary surface of a plate-shaped member disposed along the anterior-posterior direction of the electric vehicle and having a higher rigidity than peripheral components or vehicle-configuring elements. An electricity storage device is connected to the electric motor control unit by means of wiring and is disposed on the vehicle cabin side of the plate-shaped member in the anterior-posterior direction. Furthermore, the electric motor control unit is provided with a low-voltage circuit unit and a high-voltage circuit unit. The high-voltage circuit unit is disposed on the vehicle cabin side in the anterior-posterior direction with respect to the low-voltage circuit unit.

There has been proposed a technology for protecting an electric motor controller on an electric vehicle at the time of vehicle collision {U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0283337 (hereinafter referred to as "US 2010/0283337 A1")}. According to US 2010/0283337 A1, an objection thereof is to provide a vehicle drive apparatus which appropriately protects a power control unit against an external impact thereon (see Abstract and paragraph [0008]).
In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle drive apparatus, denoted by 20, according to US 2010/0283337 A1 includes motor generators MG1, MG2 for generating driving forces and a power control unit (PCU) 21 integrally combined with the motor generators MG1, MG2 for controlling the motor generators MG1, MG2 (see paragraph [0027]). The PCU 21 includes a low-voltage circuit section 71 to which a relatively low voltage is applied, a high-voltage circuit section 75 disposed at a rear side of the vehicle relative to the low-voltage circuit section 71 and to which a relatively high voltage is applied, and a cooling plate 72 for cooling the high-voltage circuit section 75, the cooling plate 72 being disposed between the low-voltage circuit section 71 and the high-voltage circuit section 75 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (see Abstract, paragraphs [0055], [0057] through [0059], and FIG. 4).
According to US 2010/0283337 A1, when the vehicle drive apparatus 20 is subjected to an impact from the front end of the vehicle, the low-voltage circuit section 71 absorbs the impact, and the cooling plate 72 that serves to increase the mechanical strength of the front side of the high-voltage circuit section 75 buffers the impact which reaches the high-voltage circuit section 75 to which a high voltage is applied, thereby protecting the PCU 21 from the impact appropriately (see paragraphs [0010] and [0064]). On the rear side of the high-voltage circuit section 75, a water jacket 74, a portion of an MG2/inverter case 64 (a right wall of the water jacket 74 in FIG. 4), and the motor generator MG2 are disposed (see FIGS. 4 through 6).


A foldable and collapsible instrument stand, for securely holding an instrument, having a first support portion, a second support portion, and an adjustable head. The instrument stand may be placed in either a deployed state or a collapsed state. When in the deployed state, the first support portion is in the substantially upright position, while the second support portion is in the extended position. In contrast, when the instrument stand is in a collapsed state, several portions including the first support portion, the second support portion, and the base are each positioned in a folded and substantially parallel position, enabling an easy transporting of the instrument stand. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.

The prior art currently offers a variety of instrument stands to meet the basic needs of musicians. In some settings, such as primary and secondary school music classrooms, a simple stand that can hold a plurality of instruments will often suffice and may be preferred due to cost and space considerations. For example, the utility patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,182) to Wilfer teaches a string instrument stand that may be employed to hold a plurality of such instruments. However, instrument stands that can support a number of instruments simultaneously have several disadvantages. First, they tend to be somewhat large and generally do not provide secure and stable support when holding instruments. In addition, if built having a sturdy construction, they tend to be heavy and are not easily moved from one location to another. Further, as can be seen in FIG. 1 of Wilfer, stands of this type may not provide for any adjusting to fit a respective instrument. For example, consider the size difference between a stand-up bass, an electric guitar, or an expensive vintage mandolin. To safely provide even a minimal level of support (e.g., somewhat precarious support) for this variety of string instruments would prove difficult, if not impossible, for a stand such as that taught by Wilfer.
When considering professional musicians, who often must transport their instruments, cases, and associated gear, an ideal stand would preferably be at least partially foldable, light weight, strong, and provided for fully supporting the various portions of the instrument. All this is preferable, while securely supporting a plurality of portions of the instrument, while preventing an easy knocking or toppling over of the instrument. Unfortunately, known lightweight and foldable instrument stands taught by the prior art are often structured with 3-point tripod (triangular footprint) base arrangements, and tend not to be very stable. Many of these exist in the prior art. A few possibly relevant examples may be found in Schoenig (U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,796) and Gracie (U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,344). In addition, as with the first class of stands discussed above, there is often no provision provided for fully supporting an instrument, in a robustly adjustable fashion, as taught by the collapsible instrument stand of the present invention.
Yet another class of instrument holding prior art inventions can be found in what may be termed multifunction instrument stands, which are structured for holding or at least partially supporting an instrument while providing at least one additional function. Several of many available examples can be found in Vail (D477,718), Vail (U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,315), and Brown (U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,597).
As understood by skilled individuals, a simple, robustly adjustable, and fully foldable instrument stand is most desirable. A most preferred structure would have a simple construction that reduces the number of constituent portions and is easy to set-up. Further, when considering high quality string instruments, which often have finely finished and highly polished surfaces, a preferred instrument stand would provide a secure, full, and possibly cushioned supporting of most if not all major portions of an instrument placed upon the stand.
Accordingly, the present invention teaches an improved instrument stand, structured to properly support and securely hold an instrument while distributing the weight of the instrument over a significantly greater area than present prior art stands. In addition, it would be most desirable to provide this instrument stand having a stable base, and a fully foldable structure that is easy to transport. A number of other characteristics, advantages, and or associated novel features of the present invention, will become clear from the description and figures provided herein. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. In particular, the embodiments included and described, have been chosen in order to best explain the principles, features, and characteristics of the invention, and its practical application, to thereby enable skilled persons to best utilize the invention and a wide variety of embodiments providable that are based on these principles, features, and characteristics. Accordingly, all equivalent variations possible are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
The above provided Background section is included to provide a quick and concise overview of several prior art instrument stands and possible motivations for at least a portion of the features of the present invention. This Background section is not intended to provide a complete and exhaustive summary of all prior art instrument stands that may be deemed related to this invention. Further, the content of the Background section is not intended to limit the scope and or meaning of the claims.


A laptop computer stand for a cab for an over-the-road vehicle wherein the cab is provided with a passenger seat, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending horizontal arms having forward ends and rear ends, one horizontal arm being attached to an inboard side of the seat and the other horizontal arm being attached to an outboard side of the seat, a curved arm having a horizontal portion extending across the forward ends of the two horizontal arms and being connected thereto, a vertical arm having an upper end and a lower end, the curved arm also having a vertical portion at an inboard end thereof connecting with the lower end of the vertical arm, a diagonal arm connected to and extending from the vertical arm to the rear end of the inboard arm and being connected thereto, a horizontal rectangular bed for receiving and supporting a laptop computer thereon, means connecting the bed to the upper end of the vertical arm so as to support the laptop computer over the seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-invasive laptop computer support attachment, or laptop computer stand, for tractor-trailer truck cabs, also known as over-the-road vehicles. The laptop computer stand comprises a plurality of stainless steel members or arms that interconnect to form a frame. The arms may be removably attached to existing elements in a tractor-trailer truck cab so as to obviate permanent alteration to the cab. The frame operates in conjunction with a shock-absorbing bed which is adapted to receive the laptop computer during travel and which is further adapted to provide easy access for a driver (or passenger) of the vehicle, provide ventilation and cooling for the computer, and absorb shocks when the laptop computer is secured in the bed. The frame and bed assembly is adapted to be affixed to the passenger seat of a truck cab so as to be readily accessible to the truck driver while simultaneously being out of the way of a driver and/or a passenger in the cab.
2. Prior Art
Many over-the-road truck drivers carry their own laptop computers and utilize them in connection with their business, to keep track of their activities and to coordinate the computer with a global positioning system. However, no one in the past has proposed a laptop computer stand such as is presented herein.

Non-invasive cab laptop computer stand for over-the-road vehicles


A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue includes a transesophageal probe or a transnasal, transesophageal probe connected to a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The two-dimensional transducer array is disposed on a distal portion of the probe's elongated body. The transmit beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected pattern defined by azimuthal and elevation orientations. The receive beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to acquire ultrasound data from the echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume. The tissue volume is defined by the azimuthal and elevation orientations and a selected scan range. The receive beamformer is constructed to synthesize image data from the acquired ultrasound data. The image generator is constructed to receive the image data and generate images that are displayed on an image display. Preferably, the image generator is constructed to generate, from the image data, several orthographic projection views over the selected tissue volume.

Non-invasive, semi-invasive and invasive ultrasound imaging has been widely used to view tissue structures within a human body, such as the heart structures, the abdominal organs, the fetus, and the vascular system. The semi-invasive systems include transesophageal imaging systems, and the invasive systems include intravascular imaging systems. Depending on the type and location of the tissue, different systems provide better access to or improved field of view of internal biological tissue.
In general, ultrasound imaging systems include a transducer array connected to a multiple channel transmit and receive beamformer. The transmit beamformer applies electrical pulses to the individual transducers in a predetermined timing sequence to generate transmit beams that propagate in predetermined directions from the array. As the transmit beams pass through the body, portions of the acoustic energy are reflected back to the transducer array from tissue structures having different acoustic characteristics. The receive transducers (which may be the transmit transducers operating in a receive mode) convert the reflected pressure pulses into corresponding electrical RF signals that are provided to the receive beamformer. Due to different distances from a reflecting point to the individual transducers, the reflected sound waves arrive at the individual transducers at different times, and thus the RF signals have different phases.
The receive beamformer has a plurality of processing channels with compensating delay elements connected to a summer. The receive beamformer selects the delay value for each channel to combine echoes reflected from a selected focal point. Consequently, when delayed signals are summed, a strong signal is produced from signals corresponding to this point. However, signals arriving from different points, corresponding to different times, have random phase relationships and thus destructively interfere. The receive beamformer selects such relative delays that control the orientation of the receive beam with respect to the transducer array. Thus, the receive beamformer can dynamically steer the receive beams to have desired orientations and can focus them at desired depths. The ultrasound system thereby acquires acoustic data.
To view tissue structures in real-time, various ultrasound systems have been used to generate two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. A typical ultrasound imaging system acquires a two-dimensional image plane that is perpendicular to the face of the transducer array applied to a patient's body. To create a three-dimensional image, the ultrasound system must acquire acoustic data over a three-dimensional volume by, for example, moving a one-dimensional (or a one-and-half dimensional) transducer array over several locations. Alternatively, a two-dimensional transducer array can acquire scan data over a multiplicity of image planes. In each case, the system stores the image plane data for reconstruction of three-dimensional images. However, to image a moving organ, such as the heart, it is important to acquire the data quickly and to generate the images as fast as possible. This requires a high frame rate (i.e., the number of images generated per unit time) and fast processing of the image data. However, spatial scanning (for example, when moving a one-dimensional array over several locations) is not instantaneous. Thus, the time dimension is intertwined with the three space dimensions when imaging a moving organ.
Several ultrasound systems have been used to generate 3D images by data acquisition, volume reconstruction, and image visualization. A typical ultrasound system acquires data by scanning a patient's target anatomy with a transducer probe and by receiving multiple frames of data. The system derives position and orientation indicators for each frame relative to a prior frame, a reference frame or a reference position. Then, the system uses the frame data and corresponding indicators for each frame as inputs for the volume reconstruction and image visualization processes. The 3D ultrasound system performs volume reconstruction by defining a reference coordinate system within which each image frame in a sequence of the registered image frames. The reference coordinate system is the coordinate system for a 3D volume encompassing all image planes to be used in generating a 3D image. The first image frame is used to define the reference coordinate system (and thus the 3D volume), uses either three spherical axes (rv, Θv, and φv axes) or three orthogonal axes (i.e., xv, yv and zv axes). Each image frame is a 2D slice (i.e., a planar image) has two polar axes (i.e., ri and Θi axes) or two orthogonal axes (i.e., xi and yi), where i is the i-th image frame. Thus, each sample point within an image plane has image plane coordinates in the image plane coordinate system for such image plane. To register the samples in the reference coordinate system, the sample point coordinates in the appropriate image plane coordinate system are transposed to the reference coordinate system. If an image plane sample does not occur at specific integer coordinates of the reference coordinate system, the system performs interpolation to distribute the image plane sample among the nearest reference coordinate system points.
To store sample data or the interpolated values derived from the sample data, the system allocates memory address space, wherein the memory can be mapped to the reference coordinate system. Thus, values for a given row of a given reference volume slice (taken along, for example, the z-axis) can be stored in sequential address locations. Also, values for adjacent rows in such slice can be stored in adjacent first memory address space. The system performs incremental reconstruction by computing a transformation matrix that embodies six offsets. There are three offsets for computing the x, y, and z coordinates in the x-direction (along the row of the image), and three offsets for computing the x, y, and z coordinates in the y-direction (down the column of the image). Then, the system computes the corners of the reconstruction volume and compares them with the coordinates of the bounding volume. Next, the system determines the intersecting portion of the acquired image and the bounding coordinates and converts them back to the image's coordinate system. This may be done using several digital signal processors.
Furthermore, the system can compute an orthogonal projection of the current state of the reconstruction volume. An orthogonal projection uses simpler computation for rendering (no interpolations need to be computed to transform from the reference coordinate system to a displayed image raster coordinate system). The system can use a maximum intensity projection (MIP) rendering scheme in which a ray is cast along the depth of the volume, and the maximum value encountered is the value that is projected for that ray (e.g., the value used to derive a pixel for a given raster point on the 2D image projection). The system incrementally reconstructs and displays a target volume in real time. The operator can view the target volume and scan effectiveness in real time and improve the displayed images by deliberately scanning desired areas repeatedly. The operator also can recommence volume reconstruction at the new viewing angle.
The image visualization process derives 2D image projections of the 3D volume over time to generate a rotating image or an image at a new viewing angle. The system uses a shear warp factorization process to derive the new 2D projection for a given one or more video frames of the image. For each change in viewing angle, the process factorizes the necessary viewing transformation matrix into a 3D shear which is parallel to slices of the volume data. A projection of the shear forms a 2D intermediate image. A 2D warp can be implemented to produce the final image, (i.e., a 2D projection of the 3D volume at a desired viewing angle). The system uses a sequence of final images at differing viewing angles to create a real-time rotating view of the target volume.
Other systems have been known to utilize power Doppler images alone in a three dimensional display to eliminate the substantial clutter caused by structural information signals. Such Doppler system stores Doppler power display values, with their spatial coordinates, in a sequence of planar images in an image sequence memory. A user can provide processing parameters that include the range of viewing angles. For instance, the user can input a range of viewing angles referenced to a line of view in a plane that is normal to the plane of the first image in the sequence, and a range increment. From these inputs the required number of three dimensional projections is computed. Then, this system forms the necessary sequence of maximum intensity projections by first recalling the planar Doppler power images from the image sequence memory for sequential processing by a scan converter and display processor. The processor rotates each planar image to one of the viewing angles projected back to the viewing plane.
The Doppler system accumulates the pixels of the projected planar images on a maximum intensity basis. Each projected planar image is overlaid over the previously accumulated projected images but in a transposed location in the image plane which is a function of the viewing angle and the interplane spacing: the greater the viewing angle, the greater the transposition displacement from one image to the next. The display pixels chosen from the accumulated images are the maximum intensity pixels taken at each point in the image planes from all of the overlaid pixels accumulated at each point in the image. This effectively presents the maximum intensity of Doppler power seen by the viewer along every viewing line between the viewer and the three dimensional representation.
This system can rotate, project, transpose, overlay, and choose the maximum intensities at each pixel for all of the planar images, and then store in the image sequence memory the resulting three dimensional representation for the viewing angle. The stored three dimensional sequence is available for recall and display upon command of the user. As the sequence is recalled and displayed in real time, the user can see a three dimensional presentation of the motion or fluid flow occurring in the volumetric region over which the planar images were acquired. The volumetric region is viewed three dimensionally as if the user were moving around the region and viewing the motion or flow from changing viewing angles. The viewer can sweep back and forth through the sequence, giving the impression of moving around the volumetric region in two directions.
It has also been known to utilize a modified two dimensional ultrasonic imaging system to provide three dimensional ultrasonic images. Such three dimensional ultrasonic imaging system can use conventional two dimensional ultrasonic imaging hardware and a scan converter. The two dimensional ultrasonic imaging system acquires a plurality of two dimensional images. This system processes the images through scan conversion to approximate their rotation to various image planes and projection back to a reference plane, which can be the original image plane. Conventional scan conversion hardware can be used to rescale the sector angle or depth of sector images, or the aspect ratio of rectangular images. This system projects a plurality of planes for each image and then stored them in a sequence of combined images, wherein each combined image comprises a set of corresponding projected images offset with respect to each other. Each combined image is a different view of a three dimensional region occupied by the planar image information.
The above system can replay the sequence of combined images on a display to depict the three dimensional region as if it is rotating in front of a viewer. Furthermore, the system can recall the stored combined images on the basis of the three dimensional viewing perspectives and displayed sequentially in a three dimensional presentation.
There are several medical procedures where ultrasound imaging systems are not yet widely used. Currently, for example, interventional cardiologists use mainly fluoroscopic imaging for guidance and placement of devices in the vasculature or in the heart. These procedures are usually performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory (Cathlab) or an electrophysiology laboratory (Eplab). During cardiac catheterization, a fluoroscope uses X-rays on a real-time frame rate to give the physician a transmission view of a chest region, where the heart resides. A bi-plane fluoroscope, which has two transmitter-receiver pairs mounted at 90° to each other, provides real-time transmission images of the cardiac anatomy. These images assist the physician in positioning various catheters by providing him (or her) with a sense of the three-dimensional geometry of the heart.
While fluoroscopy is a useful technique, it does not provide high quality images with good contrast in soft tissues. Furthermore, the physician and the assisting medical staff need to cover themselves with a lead suit and need to reduce the fluoroscopic imaging time whenever possible to lower their exposure to X-rays. In addition, fluoroscopy may not be available for some patients, for example, pregnant women, due to the harmful effects of the X-rays. Recently, transthoracic and transesophageal ultrasound imaging have been very useful in the clinical and surgical environments, but have not been widely used in the Cathlab or Eplab for patients undergoing interventional techniques.
Therefore there is a need for transesophageal or transnasal, transesophageal ultrasound systems and methods that can provide fast and computationally inexpensive real-time imaging. The images should enable effective visualization of the internal anatomy that includes various structures and provide selected views of the tissue of interest. An ultrasound system and method providing anatomically correct and easily understandable, real-time images would find additional applications in medicine.

Transesophageal and transnasal, transesophageal ultrasound imaging systems


Method and apparatus for providing a protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit design is described. In one example, a sequence generator is defined to produce a pseudorandom sequence of output vectors. A plurality of output vectors is selected from the sequence of output vectors. Bits from the plurality of output vectors are randomly selected to define a terminal vector. Detection logic is generated for detecting the terminal vector. In another example, a protection circuit is defined for asserting a signal after a plurality of clock cycles. At least one lookup table (LUT) is identified in the implemented circuit design having at least one unused input terminal. The signal is coupled to the at least one unused input terminal of the at least one LUT. The protection circuit and the circuit design are then implemented.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) exist as a well-known type of integrated circuit (IC) that may be programmed by a user to perform specified logic functions. There are different types of programmable logic devices, such as programmable logic arrays (PLAs) and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). One type of programmable logic device, known as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), is very popular because of a superior combination of capacity, flexibility, time-to-market, and cost.
An FPGA typically includes an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) surrounded by a ring of programmable input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLBs and IOBs are interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure. The CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect structure are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data (known as a bitstream) into internal configuration memory cells that define how the CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect structure are configured. An FPGA may also include various dedicated logic circuits, such as memories, microprocessors, digital clock managers (DCMs), and input/output (I/O) transceivers.
To implement a circuit design using an FPGA, the design is synthesized to produce a logical representation, which is then mapped onto programmable logic blocks, placed within the FPGA, and routed using the programmable fabric. The place and route phases of implementing a circuit design involve generating a layout of the circuit elements on the FPGA and defining the signal lines (routing resources) that connect the elements. When designing a circuit for an FPGA, a designer may utilize pre-defined circuit designs provided by a third party vendor on a fee basis. Such pre-defined circuit designs are referred to as intellectual property (IP) cores or IP blocks.
Vendors typically provide IP cores to their customers for a pre-defined evaluation period, after which the IP cores must be purchased. It is desirable to prevent unauthorized use of an IP core after the evaluation period has expired. Otherwise, the recipient of the evaluation IP core will be able to circumvent paying the fee for the core after the evaluation period has expired. Accordingly, there exits a need in the art for a method and apparatus for providing a protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit design


An edge-welded bellows, including a plurality of diaphragms and a guide part for guiding on the outer surface of a rod extending through an inner through-opening of the bellows or for guiding on the inner surface of a tube surrounding the bellows. The guide part has a retaining fin, which, at the edge thereof, lies between the edges of adjacent diaphragms and is welded thereto, and a guide sleeve, which surrounds the longitudinal central axis and has a guide surface for guiding the bellows on the outer surface of the rod or the inner surface of the tube. The guide sleeve has a wall thickness that is more than three times that of the retaining fin. The guide sleeve has a step having a contact surface. The retaining fin lies, in a region adjoining the edge thereof, on the contact surface and is form-fittingly secured against being lifted off from the contact surface.

Diaphragm bellows are generally used as a flexible sealing element in order to separate regions of pressure which differ in an application. Diaphragm bellows are thus used for example for vacuum leadthroughs of vacuum valves, wherein the diaphragm bellows encloses the drive rod of the valve and separates the vacuum region from the atmosphere region when the valve is being opened and closed. In addition to applications for vacuum leadthroughs for introducing movement into the vacuum, diaphragm bellows can be used for example as compensators for absorbing thermal expansions or assembly tolerances. A further application consists for example in vibration decoupling in a vacuum system, e.g. between a vacuum pump and a measuring instrument.
Diaphragm bellows consist of diaphragms that are welded to one another alternately at their outer and inner edges. During production, first of all diaphragm pairs are welded to one another at their inner edges and subsequently the diaphragm pairs are arranged in line with one another and welded to one another at their outer edges. With such diaphragm bellows, travel in an axial and/or lateral and/or angular direction is possible.
In addition to diaphragm bellows, corrugated bellows are known, in which tubes are deformed in the manner of a bellows, as a result of which movability is achieved. Specific configurations of corrugated bellows can be found for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,160 A and GB 2 062 132 A.
When diaphragm bellows are used, pressure differences usually arise between the interior space and the outer side of the diaphragm bellows, wherein the pressure inside the diaphragm bellows can be lower or higher than the pressure which is present outside the diaphragm bellows. Due to such pressure differences (in particular when a higher pressure prevails inside the diaphragm bellows than outside the diaphragm bellows) and/or as a result of the gravitational force, it is possible, due to the low side rigidity of the diaphragm bellows, for lateral buckling of the diaphragm bellows to occur to a greater or lesser extent when the diaphragm bellows is sufficiently long. For example, as a result, the diaphragm bellows can come to bear against a rod (e.g. drive rod of a vacuum valve) extending through the inner through-opening in the diaphragm bellows, in regions of the welds of the inner edges of the diaphragms. In the event of the rod displacing, the inner edges of the diaphragms thus rub against the rod, and this results in wear to the weld seams between the inner edges of the diaphragms, with the result that over time the strength of these weld seams can be impaired and leaks can occur.
Therefore, guide parts for guiding the diaphragm bellows in the central regions of its longitudinal extent have already been used. US 2002/0175480 A1 discloses annular guide parts (=slide rings) with outwardly protruding protuberances which project into the space between adjacent diaphragms of the diaphragm bellows and secure the guide part in a form-fitting manner against displacement in an axial direction of the diaphragm bellows. The inner edges of the two diaphragms, between which a respective slide ring is retained, rest against the outer lateral surface of the slide ring. In the compressed state of the diaphragm bellows, the inner edges of adjacent diaphragms are also arranged over the outer lateral surface of the slide ring. A certain disadvantage of such slide rings is that the possible axial travel of the diaphragm bellows is reduced. In addition, such slide rings have a relatively large mass in comparison with the diaphragms, which leads to the diaphragms being subject to additional dynamic loads. In the state installed in the vertical direction, the mass of the slide rings also results in a different expansion of the diaphragm bellows below and above each slide ring, and this is enhanced and likewise leads to higher loads on the diaphragm bellows in the event of a plurality of slide rings being used.
In the case of the diaphragm bellows known from CN 203 363 518 U, a solid support ring is welded in between two portions of the diaphragm bellows. Similar problems to those described above occur here.
JP 2013221596 A discloses a bellows having guide members formed in the manner of scissors. This is a complex structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,289 discloses a bellows having a device for restricting the extension of the bellows. Provided in this respect are annular platelets, the outer edges of which are located between adjacent diaphragms of the bellows and which are connected in the region of their radially inner edges to sleeve-like elements, at the ends of which stop extensions are arranged.
The use of diaphragm bellows in implantable infusion pumps for dispensing a medicament is also known. The medicament is situated inside the diaphragm bellows, which is closed at the bottom side by a base and at the top side by a base plate of the infusion pump. A pressure which acts on the base compresses the diaphragm bellows and meters the medicament. In order to determine the remaining volume of the diaphragm bellows and thus the remaining quantity of medicament, use is made of electronic resonant circuits which comprise a coil in the base of the diaphragm bellows. To increase the sensitivity of a resonant circuit for determining the volume of the diaphragm bellows, in EP 2 177 792 A1 use is made of an additional central plate of the diaphragm bellows that has at least one opening for the medicament to pass through. To fasten the central plate, use is made of a retaining ring with retaining arms which are arranged in a cross shape, are connected to one another in a central connecting region and to which the intermediate plate is welded. The retaining ring is located, in the region of its outer edge, between the outer edges of two diaphragms and is welded thereto. A guide that prevents lateral buckling of the diaphragm bellows is not necessary in such a device just because of the shortness of the diaphragm bellows.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,657,075 A discloses a double-walled diaphragm bellows having pairs of outer diaphragms and pairs of inner diaphragms, as a result of which closed air spaces are formed between the outer diaphragms and inner diaphragms.
EP 2 982 888 A1 discloses a diaphragm bellows of the type mentioned in the introduction. For the purpose of guidance on a rod, the diaphragm bellows has guide parts which are composed of sheet metal and each of which has a retaining fin and a guide sleeve which is connected to the retaining fin. The retaining fin and the guide sleeve have small wall thicknesses and are welded to one another according to one possible embodiment. In another disclosed embodiment, the guide parts are formed in one piece, specifically L-shaped in cross section. A diaphragm bellows with guide parts for guidance on the inner surface of a tube which surrounds the diaphragm bellows is analogously formed.


A rubber composition for a tire, which does not require the addition of a compound when synthesizing rubber component and the modification of a rubber component, and a winter tire using the rubber composition are provided. The rubber composition for a tire contains fine particles of rotaxane having a straight chain molecule, acyclic molecule clathrating the straight chain molecule and blocking groups arranged at both terminals of the straight chain molecule such that the cyclic molecule does not desorb from the straight chain molecule, covered with silica; a rubber component comprising styrene-butadiene rubber; and at least one of carbon black and silica, wherein the total content of the fine particles, the carbon black and the silica (excluding silica covering rotaxane) is 70 to 150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

A winter tire is required to have braking performance (snow performance) when running on a snowy road surface. Improvement in flexibility at low temperature is required in a rubber composition in order to improve braking performance on a snowy road surface. On the other hand, a problem occurs such that when flexibility is improved, reinforcing property is deteriorated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rubber composition for tire and winter tire using the same


An energy storage system for a bow, the system defined at least in part by a riser, a first and second limb each having a first end coupled to the riser, a first and second wheel disposed at a second end of respective first and second limbs, a first and second power cord each having a first end coupled to the riser and a second end coupled to respective first and second wheels, and a string extending between and coupled to the first and second wheels.

Bows are used for target shooting and as a weapon for hunting. Compound bows include cams configured for increasing the mechanical advantage for drawing of the bowstring. Some bow designs include cams configured for decreasing the draw force near the full draw position. In some bow designs, power cables are used for synchronizing the rotation of the cams.
In recent years, bow preference has shifted from a forward-draw configuration to a reverse-draw configuration. One advantage of the reverse-draw configuration over the forward-draw configuration is the increase in the power stroke.
Reverse-draw configurations include at least one pair of cables extending between a pair of cams disposed on either side of a barrel or track or rail of the bow. Such cables are often referred to as "power cables" by those skilled in the art. The cables and the cams are arranged such that when the bowstring is drawn, the cam on one side of the barrel rotates to pull-in the cam on the other side towards the barrel. For example, when the bowstring is drawn, the cam on the right side of the barrel rotates to pull-in the other cam, i.e., the cam on the left side of the barrel, towards the barrel while the cam on the left side of the barrel rotates to pull-in the cam on the right side of the barrel towards the barrel. This arrangement requires the cables to cross each other and, in most configuration, the cables are in frictional contact at the point of intersection. As is well known in the art, such configurations induce "cam lean" as well as wear on the cable.
Conventional cams used in reverse-draw bow configurations have one or more spiral grooves for receiving at least one cable when the bowstring is drawn and/or released. In some instances, one or more cable or string is wrapped around in the one or more spiral grooves of the cam while the bowstring is not drawn, and the cable or string unwraps from the spiral groove of the cam when the bowstring is drawn. In other instances, one or more cable or string wraps around onto or into the one or more spiral grooves of the cam when the bowstring is drawn, and the cable or string unwraps from the spiral groove of the cam when the drawn bowstring is released. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, providing spiraling grooves increases the size of a cam.


A vacuum processing system has a wafer cooling system disposed on a lid of a transfer chamber so that heated wafers are cooled inside the transfer chamber. The wafer cooling system has a wafer lift assembly and a wafer cooler. The wafer cooler has a cooling plate and a coolant tank disposed through the transfer chamber lid. The wafer lift assembly has a lift actuator disposed on the top of the transfer chamber lid, guide rods to translate the lifting motion through the lid, and wafer supports inside the lid to raise the wafer to a position proximate to the cooling plate. The wafer cools by radiating heat up to the cooling plate, and the coolant tank transfers the heat from the cooling plate.

Vacuum processing systems for processing 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm or other diameter wafers are generally known. Typically, such a vacuum processing system has a centralized transfer chamber mounted on a monolith platform. The transfer chamber is the center of activity for the movement of wafers being processed in the system. Wafers are in the transfer chamber only long enough to be transferred therethrough to another chamber for storing or processing. One or more process chambers attach to the transfer chamber at valves through which wafers are passed by a robot in the transfer chamber. The valves close in order to isolate the process chambers while wafers are being processed therein. Physically, the process chambers are either supported by the transfer chamber and its platform or are supported on their own platform. Inside the system, the transfer chamber is typically held at a constant vacuum; whereas, the process chambers may be pumped to a greater vacuum for performing their respective processes.
Afterward, the process chamber's pressure must be returned to the level in the transfer chamber before opening the valve to permit access between the chambers.
Access to the transfer chamber for wafers from the exterior of the system, or from the manufacturing facility, is typically through one or more load lock chambers. The load lock chambers cycle between the pressure level of the ambient environment and the pressure level in the transfer chamber in order for the wafers to be passed therebetween, so the load lock chambers transition the wafers between the atmospheric pressure of a very clean environment to the vacuum of the transfer chamber.
Some common transfer chambers have facets for four to six process chambers and load lock chambers. For a six-faceted transfer chamber, typically two of the facets are for load lock chambers, and the other four facets are for process chambers. The process chambers include rapid thermal processing (RTP) chambers, physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers, etch chambers, etc. The productivity of a vacuum processing system is increased when more process chambers are mounted to the transfer chamber, because more wafers can be processed at a given time. Additionally, less; space is required in the manufacturing facility if the productivity of the system is maximized.
Some of the processes performed by the process chambers cause the wafers processed therein to be heated. For some of the processes, the heating is incidental to the process; but for some other processes the heating is a significant part of the process, and for some of these processes, such as RTP, the heating is the process. A process may require that a wafer be cooled before it is placed back into the load lock chamber after processing. For such processes, one or more of the facets of the system mounts a cool-down chamber.
Generally, a cool-down chamber receives a heated wafer from the transfer chamber. The cool-down chamber typically has a plurality of lift pins that lift the wafer off of the blade of the robot, so the blade can be retracted out of the cool-down chamber, and then lowers the wafer onto a cooling plate. The cooling plate is disposed on the bottom of the cool-down chamber, and it is typically water cooled to increase the heat transfer rate. The close proximity of the wafer to the cooling plate permits the wafer to cool by radiating heat from the underside of the wafer to the cooling plate. After a sufficient time to cool the wafer has elapsed, typically a few seconds to a few minutes, the lift pins raise the wafer up again, the robot blade extends under the wafer, the lift pins lower the wafer onto the blade, and the robot removes the wafer from the cool-down chamber and transfers the wafer to a load lock chamber.
Since a cool-down chamber occupies one of the locations on the transfer chamber that could be occupied by a process chamber, the productivity potential, or throughput, of the vacuum processing system is decreased. Therefore, in order for a manufacturing facility to achieve the same throughput as would be achieved if each system had the maximum number of process chambers and no cool-down chambers, the manufacturing facility would have to increase the number of systems in the facility, which translates to an increase in the amount of floor space dedicated to these systems. Thus, the manufacturing costs increase.
A need, therefore, exists for a vacuum processing system that provides for cooling wafers without sacrificing a process chamber or system throughput.

Wafer cooling in a transfer chamber of a vacuum processing system


A device for determining a malfunction of an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising a first detection unit for detecting a first engine speed at a predetermined first crank angle, and a detecting second engine speed at a predetermined second crank angle, during a power stroke of two engine cylinders under a continuous combustion cycle, a difference calculating unit for calculating a difference between the first and second engine speeds, a misfire determining unit for determining that a misfire has occurred in a corresponding engine cylinder when the difference is outside a predetermined limit, a malfunction determining unit for determining that a malfunction has occurred in the corresponding engine cylinders when a frequency at which the misfire determining unit determines that a misfire has occurred is larger than a predetermined frequency, a second detection unit for detecting a current engine load, and a first changing unit for changing at least one of the predetermined limit and the predetermined frequency in accordance with the current engine load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for determining a malfunction of an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a malfunction such as a serious misfiring occurs in an engine cylinder, the engine torque drops and imburst fuel is often discharged from the engine cylinder and leaks therefrom onto surrounding parts of the engine. Accordingly, it is important that a driver know of the malfunction, and deal with same at an early stage.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-258955 discloses a device for determining a malfunction in an cylinder of a multicylinder engine. In this device an engine speed in the power stroke of each engine cylinder is detected, and the difference between the two engine speeds for two successive power strokes is calculated. When the difference is larger than a predetermined constant reference value, it is determined that a misfire has occurred in the engine cylinder with a delayed power stroke, and accordingly, a misfire count value is incremented by "1". The routine is carried out a predetermined intervals, and when the misfire count value becomes larger than a predetermined malfunction determining value, it is determined that a malfunction has occurred in the engine cylinder.
In the above device, the predetermined constant reference value is made relatively small, to thereby determine a misfire without fail under all engine driving conditions. Therefore, according to an engine driving condition, the difference can be larger than the predetermined constant reference value even though a misfire has not occurred, and thus the misfire count value becomes larger than the predetermined malfunction determining value, and accordingly, it is determined that a normal functioning cylinder is a malfunctioning cylinder.

Device for determining malfunction of an engine cylinder


The present invention comprises apparatus and methods for processing code, that is, for intercepting, examining and/or controlling code streams in a network. A protocol parser is implemented in order to intercept the code as it passes through the channel and transfer the code to a proscribed code scanner. Embodiments for various platforms, including Unix® and Windows® NT are disclosed.

The rise of the Internet and networking technologies has resulted in the widespread transfer of code, data and files between computers. This material is not always what it seems to be. For example, code that is accessed on a remote machine and downloaded to a computer system can contain hostile algorithms that can potentially destroy code, crash the system, corrupt code or worse. Some of these hostile algorithms are viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.
Hostile, malicious and/or proscribed code, data and files ("code" as used hereinafter generally includes "data" and "files") can infect a single computer system or entire network and so posit a security risk to the computer system or network. The user and/or administrator (generally referred to hereinafter as "user") may wish to intercept, examine and/or control such code. The user might also wish to intercept, examine and/or control other code as well, for example, code which the user does not know to be hostile, but wishes to intercept nonetheless, for example, potentially sexually or racially harassing email, junk email, etc. This latter type of code is known hereinafter as "predetermined code".
Antivirus or other similar packages attempt to protect the system or network from hostile, malicious, predetermined and/or proscribed code (generally referred to hereinafter as "proscribed code.") VFIND®, from CyberSoft, Inc., is one such product that protects systems and networks from proscribed code. Any programs standing alone, such as VFIND®, must be run by the user, however, and run frequently, otherwise the protections offered by the programs are lost. Also, these programs is do not generally intercept proscribed code as the code is transferred from machine to machine, nor do these programs protect against hostile or unauthorized access to a machine or network.
A firewall is generally used to intercept proscribed code or protect against hostile or unauthorized access. When a firewall is installed, communications are routed through the firewall, and the firewall determines whether particular code is authorized to pass to the internal network. Firewalls have a number of disadvantages. A firewall must be placed at a "choke point" at which a network (an "internal" network) interfaces with one or more other networks (an "external" network.) Although placement of a security device at a choke point is proper practice, because all traffic must travel through the choke point, the firewall becomes a potential central point of failure: if the firewall fails, the entire connection to the network fails. Additionally, the firewall will usually add latency to the connection by performing its function. This firewall latency often degrades, linearly or logarithmically, the bandwidth such that all available bandwidth cannot be utilized. Also, since a firewall does not exist between the users on the internal network, a user can attack the internal system. It is an observation within the security industry that 80% of all attacks against a system originate on the internal network while only 20% of attacks originate from an external network.
Accordingly, because of these and other known disadvantages, firewalls alone cannot provide efficient, effective, and transparent protection for any machine or network.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an automatic system and method for simply and effectively scanning incoming and outgoing code in an efficient and effective manner transparently or almost transparently to the end-user, with little or no operational effort required by the user.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods that intercept, control, and/or examine code.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods that simply and effectively intercept, control, and/or examine incoming and outgoing code in an efficient and effective manner transparently or almost transparently to the enduser, with little or no operational effort required by the user.

Apparatus and methods for intercepting, examining and controlling code, data and files and their transfer


A foam-holding body 52 having a large difference in refractive index between foams 521 and the surrounding material is disposed on the major light extraction surface of the sapphire substrate 50. The foam-holding body 52 has translucency to light of a light-emitting wavelength and is formed of a material such as a silicone or the like, having a refractive index equal to or more than 1.77, and includes a foam-holding layer holding a plurality of foams made of an air or an inactive gas having a refractive index of about one. Therefore, when the light emitted in the light-emitting portion scatters in the foam-holding body 52, the spread of the scattered light becomes wide, which restricts repetition of the total reflection in the light-emitting device to improve an efficiency of the light extraction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device which emits light from a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (referred to as LED hereinafter) and in particular, to a light-emitting device with a high efficiency of light extraction.
2. The Related Art of the Invention
There is well known an earlier LED chip with an improved efficiency of light extraction, for instance, a LED chip with a convex and a concave portion formed on a light extraction side in a substrate (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-319708 (Paragraphs [0022]-[0024], FIG. 2)).
FIG. 1 shows the earlier LED chip. The LED chip 100 forms on a sapphire substrate 101 a nitride semiconductor layer made of a GaN buffer layer 102, an n-type semiconductor layer 103, and a p-type semiconductor layer 104. Further, a p-side electrode 105 is disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer 104 and an n-side electrode 106 is disposed on the n-type semiconductor layer 103. The LED chip 100 is flip chip bonded on a mounting substrate 110 by bumps 130a and 130b. And a surface of the sapphire substrate 101 opposite to a surface where the nitride semiconductor layer is formed is grinded by an abrasive with a regulated size of particles, to form irregular surfaces 110a and 101b having a depth of approximately 1 μm. Since light emitted at a light-emitting portion of the nitride semiconductor layer is reflected in random directions by these irregular surfaces, repetition of total reflection of light inside the LED chip 100 is restricted to improve light extraction efficiency.


A method and system of forming and processing communication links in a satellite communications system. The satellite communications system includes a plurality of groups of transmitters, a satellite and a plurality of destination receivers. Each transmitter is associated with only one transmitter group and transmits a communications signal. Each respective communications signal is a CDMA signal having a predetermined code that is associated with a transmitter. Each respective predetermined code is selected from a code set assigned to the group of transmitters with which the transmitter is grouped. Each code set is different from code sets associated with the transmitters of other selected transmitter groups so that the code sets are arranged in a code set pattern that is repeated for selected groups of transmitters. The satellite receives the communications signals and groups together each received communications signal having a same predetermined code set. The code sets of selected uplink communications signals in a group of received communications signals are fully or partially despread, filtered, and respread so that the group of communications signals contains communications signals from only one code set. Each group of communications signals is then transmitted to a different destination receiver, or groups on different code sets to the same destination receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a system for eliminating interbeam interference and multipath fading caused by multiple uplink beams coupling in a bent-pipe satellite communications system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a bent-pipe satellite communications system that combines four spatially adjacent uplink beams, with each beam using spread-spectrum techniques for beam separation, multipath fading can occur if two or more of the adjacent uplink beams are routed on-board a satellite to the same destination earth station receiver, such as an earth station for a terrestrial gateway communications system. While the spread-spectrum code set used with a particular uplink beam would be different from the code set used on adjacent uplink beams, an uplink signal transmitted from the edge of one beam couples equally well to an adjacent beam. If the two adjacent beams carrying the uplink signal are routed to the same gateway receiver, a multipath condition can exist because the same signal has been effectively transmitted on the two adjacent beams and combined prior to being received at the gateway receiver. That is, since RF phasing of the transponders of the two adjacent uplink beams can vary, destructive interference may occur between the two RF paths, resulting in a substantial loss of signal power at the gateway receiver. In effect, the gateway receiver receives the same signal from two different sources by the intercoupling of uplink signals between adjacent uplink beams. In addition, second tier interference may be introduced by transmitters in other beams utilizing the same code sets.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary multi-beam bent-pipe satellite communications system 10 that illustrates multipath fading caused by an uplink beam signal being coupled into two adjacent uplink beams and second tier interference. Satellite communications system 10 uses four spread-spectrum code sets, based, for example, on synchronous Walsh codes, for separating uplink beams 12, 13, 17 and 18 in a well-known manner, each of which accept transmitted signals using uplink frequency F1. The exemplary code sets are referred to herein as W1-W4. A ground station 11 transmits an uplink communications signal using uplink beam 12. While only ground station 11 is shown within the geographic region covered by beam 12, there are a plurality of ground stations within the geographic region covered by beam 12, but are not shown. Ground station 11 is geographically located near the edge of beam 12 such that the transmitted signal is also coupled into adjacent uplink beam 13. Beams 12 and 13 are received by satellite 14, combined with each other (and beams 17 and 18), and transmitted over a downlink beam 15 to a common earth station receiver 16, such as a terrestrial gateway. System 10 includes a plurality of gateway receiver stations, of which only gateway receiver 16 is shown. Multipath fading occurs at gateway receiver 16 because multiple versions of the signal from ground station 11 are received (effectively) from two different paths and are potentially destructively combined prior to being received by gateway receiver 16. Other beams, for instance, beam 19, which utilizes the same code set as beam 12 (and potentially the same code as ground station 11), couple into the beams adjacent to beam 12, such as beams 13 and 18, causing second tier interference when combined by the satellite and received by gateway receiver 16.
FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show conventional uplink beam tiling patterns for a reuse of four which can be used in satellite communications systems. Each hexagon shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 represents a different geographic region covered by a corresponding uplink beam. The numbers within the hexagons represent a partitioning of resources (such as frequencies, polarities, or code sets) between groups of geographic regions. All the users in geographic regions labeled 1 use the same resources, which are different from those used in regions 2, 3 and 4. A similar statement can be made for each regions 2, 3, and 4. The patterns shown in FIG. 2 and 3 are representative, and other tiling patterns for sharing resources between groups of regions 3, 7, 8, etc., also exist. Also shown in an outlined area of these Figures is a grouping of hexagons referred to herein as a "Beam Group". Each number of a beam group is assigned a different set of resources. By replicating a beam group multiple times, a full tiling pattern can be generated. It is assumed for this example, that each beam group is serviced by a different gateway receiver, although this is not required by the present invention. For example, see application Ser. No. 08/953,020.
FIG. 4 shows the tiling pattern of FIG. 2 applied to a conventional Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) based system utilizing four different uplink frequency groups F1, F2, F3 and F4. Again, the outlined section indicates a beam group. FIG. 5 shows the tiling pattern of FIG. 2 applied to an FDMA-based system utilizing different combinations of uplink frequency groups F1 and F2 and two polarizations P1 and P2. FIG. 6 shows a conventional uplink beam frequency tiling pattern for a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) based system. Isolation between users in different beams for such a system is provided by proper allocation of code sets between the beams. FIG. 7 shows the tiling pattern of FIG. 2 applied to codes for a representative CDMA-based system utilizing code sets W1-W4 for isolation between the beams.
Each of the tiling patterns of FIGS. 2-7 suffer from multipath fading that occurs when two adjacent uplink beams are downlink-routed to the same terrestrial gateway receiver. Also, they suffer from second tier interference through the introduction of signals that are twice removed from a desired beam, using the same resources, and are coupled via adjacent beams. In more advanced tiling schemes (such as described in application Ser. No. 08/953,020 and shown in FIG. 8) this "second tier" interference may still exist, although not strictly originating from second tier beams. In an FDMA system, this multipath condition and interference is easily remedied through the application of appropriate filtering on-board the satellite. However, for CDMA systems where adjacent beams use the same frequency and polarization, the filtering techniques that are applied in an FDMA system cannot be used. Consequently, what is needed is a method and a system that eliminates the multipath fading and interference effects caused by an uplink transmission being coupled into adjacent uplink beams utilizing the same frequency and polarization, and downlink-routed to the same terrestrial gateway receiver, or routed to other terrestrial gateway receivers with other signals using the same code set.

Method and system for reducing interbeam interference and multipath fading in bent-pipe satellite communications systems


A method for enlarging display regions on displays is provided. The method includes a definition of at least two enlargeable display regions, determining a touch screen signal, associating the touchscreen signal with an enlargeable display region to be enlarged and a display region-specific enlargement of the enlargeable display region to be enlarged.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for enlarging a display region on a display device.
2. Discussion of the Background
A method is known from specification US 2006/0022955, with which a display region of a graphic user surface on a touchscreen display can be temporary enlarged. For this purpose, a touch on the touchscreen display is detected, and a limited display region of the graphic user surface disposed around a touch zone, is enlarged. The enlargement function corresponds to a virtual magnifying glass, of which the location and movement is determined by touching the touchscreen display. The duration of the enlargement here corresponds to the time during which the touchscreen is touched plus a delay time. The enlargement function leads either to an enlargement of a display region without regard to the relevance of displayed objects or information units, or to an enlargement of an object.
However, an object-specific or information-unit-specific enlargement which depends upon the relevance and/or the content of an object, such as a dialog box or an information unit, is not possible. A further enlargement of an object disposed within the enlarged region, for example, a menu point within the dialog box or an information unit of an already enlarged object or an already enlarged information unit is also not disclosed. Accordingly, it is not possible to adapt the enlargement to given application-specific criteria.

Method for enlarging a display region on a display unit


A temporary lens for attachment to prescription eyeglasses is disclosed. The temporary lens is attached to prescription eyeglasses by means of electrostatic force. The temporary lens contains optical components in a unique combination to relieve the vision problems associated with prolonged computer use.

The present invention is directed to providing a solution to the problems of visual stress induced by prolonged viewing of images on computer screens. Those of ordinary skill in the art refer to such images as pixillated. The particular problems of viewing these images are induced by: 1) lag of accommodation; 2) contrast sensitivity; 3) blue light spectrum glare; and 4) loss of convergence capability.
Varying degrees of eye strain have been observed in persons viewing pixillated images on computer screens. Persons viewing these images exhibit blurry vision at table top distances due to a combination of fatigue and a disrupted accommodative system. Another problem associated with staring at a computer screen for long periods of time without blinking is dry eyes. The normal response to dry eyes is reflexive tearing. Reflexive tearing itself can cause new glare problems in the same manner as a dry or dissected cornea. In addition, drying of the eyes due to staring at the computer screen can also lead to a condition known as red eyes. All of the aforementioned symptoms can also lead to headaches.
Glare from the computer monitor screen, room light and/or sun light can also cause other problems for the computer user. Among these problems are spasms of the pupils, headaches and cloudy vision.
Another problem that can arise is related to the poor contrast on a computer screen. The poor contrast can lead to poor discrimination of near and far fields of vision. The poor discrimination creates a melding effect that makes the processing of visual information more difficult. The effect slows the ability to correctly process visual information and slows the speed at which the computer user can work.
If a computer user engages in prolonged viewing and scanning of the computer screen with degraded visual information, fatigue of the ocular mot0r muscles in the eye will result. When these muscles become fatigued, both eyes no longer simultaneously view the exact same information. This effect in turn causes blur as the vision has an area around the muscles called panama area which, allows for the maintenance of fusion. As fusion slips away and the eyes fatigue, blur sets in. Initially, blinking will reset fusion by disrupting the slippage. As fatigue continues, blur of the vision degrades into an intolerable state of double vision.
The ability to address these problems in one lens would be most useful to computer users. There are presently over 70 million computer users in the United States alone according to a 1992 NIOSH study. As of 1995, eye doctors had treated over 15 million people with computer related vision problems. It is estimated that over 1 million additional persons per year will suffer from some sort of computer use related vision problem.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel approach to treating computer induced visual stress. This object is achieved through the use of specific magnification to reduce symptoms of lag of accommodation and the use of a specific amount of prism to address convergence fatigue.

Press-on lenses for relieving computer related eye problems


A tray for displaying rings and photographs of the rings adjacent to the rings comprises a support upon which each ring is placed in a slot adjacent to the corresponding photograph of that ring. The support includes an internal cavity for storing a booklet, video cassette or other article.

The process of selling jewelry, including finger rings, often is a time-demanding and labor intensive process. Typically, a major retailer of jewelry employs a number of salespersons who meet with potential customers, displaying jewelry items and communicating information concerning the jewelry items to the potential customer for the purposes of making a sale.
It is important for the seller of jewelry to be able to readily, easily and accurately communicate to the potential customer information concerning the jewelry for sale. This is especially important where the seller of jewelry is selling special order items, which are jewelry items specifically manufactured for a particular customer. For special order items, for example for a ring, a customer may select a particular style, size, stone(s) and sequence of stones. Special order items are more difficult sales than non-special order items, because they are complicated by the number of options available to the customer and the possibility that the seller may make a mistake in communicating erroneous information concerning the jewelry, such as, quoting an erroneous price, or an unavailable stone.
Commonly, the seller of jewelry needs to display the jewelry item to the customer, identify the jewelry, and provide pricing, styling or other relevant information to the potential customer in order to sell the jewelry. Usually, the seller of jewelry has a limited time period available to make his or her sale's pitch. Typically, the jewelry salesperson is positioned behind a sales showcase, which contains the jewelry items which are to be shown to customers, and has separate printed materials, such as price lists, information booklets describing the jewelry or catalogues, which the salesperson consults during the sales negotiations. Often, it has been difficult for a salesperson to display the jewelry to a potential customer and to expeditiously, conveniently and correctly provide the pricing, styling, or other relevant information required by the potential customer to determine if he or she will buy the jewelry. Frequently, the salesperson has to sort through various materials to locate the printed information which corresponds to the jewelry piece which the salesperson is attempting to sell, often resulting in a delay and sometimes resulting in providing erroneous information, which may interfere with the salesperson's ability to complete the sale.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a tray displaying jewelry having a means for correctly providing information identifying or otherwise relating to the jewelry items displayed and providing for easy and rapid access to information relating to the jewelry. There is also a need in the art for a tray displaying jewelry having a means for assisting the salesperson in returning rings removed from a jewelry tray to their respective original positions in the jewelry tray.
An object of the present invention is to provide a tray for displaying jewelry items having slots for holding jewelry items and having a means to provide for easy and rapid access to information relating to the jewelry.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tray for displaying jewelry with a means for displaying a picture of the jewelry near to the jewelry item displayed to facilitate returning the ring to the proper holding slot for the ring.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tray for displaying jewelry with a pocket for holding a card or booklet having information relating to the jewelry displayed to facilitate providing accurate information relating to the jewelry.
Other objects, advantages and features of this invention become more apparent hereinafter.

Tray for displaying a plurality of jewelry items and information relating to the jewelry items


Migrastatin and a migrastatin analog can be produced by fermentation of Streptomyces platensis NRRL 18993 and used in pharmaceutical formulations to treat cancer and/or inhibit metastasis of cancer cells.

Migrastatin is a polyketide that inhibits the migration or movement of cells. Migrastatin has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer, because migrastatin can be administered, alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs, to prevent metastases. Unfortunately, migrastatin is quite difficult to synthesize de novo, and strains that produce the compound have heretofore either not been available or have not been identified as producers of migrastatin. There remains a need for efficient means to produce migrastatin and migrastatin analogs. The present invention meets this need.

Fermentation and purification of migrastatin and analog


A backpack with a pillow and extendible sleeping mat including a backpack portion having an upper compartment and a lower compartment therein accessible through a respective upper zipper and lower zipper; a foldable sleeping mat extendible from the lower compartment and having a first end attached to a top side of the backpack portion within the lower compartment, the sleeping mat including a plurality of a plurality of cushions conjoined in a longitudinal configuration and a folding crease disposed between each of the cushions; and a pillow disposed in the upper compartment. At least a rear side of the backpack portion is configured to resemble a body of an animal figure, while the auxiliary member is configured to resemble a head of the animal figure.

Various types of portable blankets, mats, and sleeping bags, some of which include their own storage system are known. However, many of these known blankets are formed of separate pieces, which tend to increase the bulk and weight of the device, thereby negatively affecting its portability and tending to increase the possibility of misplaced pieces. What is needed is a backpack with a pillow and extendible sleeping mat including a backpack portion having an upper compartment and a lower compartment therein accessible through a respective upper zipper and lower zipper; a foldable sleeping mat extendible from the lower compartment and having a first end attached to a top side of the backpack portion within the lower compartment, the sleeping mat including a plurality of a plurality of cushions conjoined in a longitudinal configuration and a folding crease disposed between each of the cushions; and a pillow disposed in the upper compartment. At least a rear side of the backpack portion is configured to resemble a body of an animal figure, while the auxiliary member is configured to resemble a head of the animal figure.

Backpack with a pillow and extendible sleeping mat


A control circuit for an amusement device includes a sound detector, a band-pass filter, a peak integrator and a controller. The sound detector is configured to detect audible sound signals. The band-pass filter is electrically coupled to the sound detector. The band-pass filter is configured to extract sound signals in a predetermined audible frequency range and to output a corresponding filtered signal. The peak integrator is electrically coupled to the band-pass filter. The peak integrator is configured to receive the filtered signal, to average peaks of the filtered signal and to output a trigger signal based on a predetermined range of the averaged filter signal. The controller is electrically coupled to the peak integrator. The controller is configured to receive the trigger signal and to provide a control output in response to the trigger signal.

The present invention relates generally to control circuits, and more particularly, to sound detection control circuits for toys and other amusement devices.
Audible sound detection circuits are generally known in the art. One such audible sound detection circuit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,618 and 5,615,271, both of Stevens et al. (hereinafter, "Stevens"). Stevens discloses a control circuit having a sound detector which is applied through a filter and a peak detector to a microcontroller and which is separately applied through an amplifier and a peak detector to the microcontroller. The microcontroller monitors both the filtered and the unfiltered inputs from the sound detector and counts the number of sounds (claps) detected within a window of time. The microcontroller must detect at least two sounds (claps) within a certain window or period of time, for example within 1.5 seconds. Alternate embodiments allow the microcontroller to take other actions when three sounds (claps) or four sounds (claps) are detected within the window of time. The Stevens circuit requires not only that the sounds be above a predetermined level, but also that two or more sounds above that level occur in sequence within the window of time.
Other, more complex prior art control circuits, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,513,189, 4,641,292, 4,856,072 and 5,199,080, are responsive to voice activation. Generally, voice activated circuits require a complex voice recognition portion of the circuit including pattern analyzers, multiplexers, and memory for retaining a database of "learned" words. Most of the voice recognition circuits require the user to "train" the voice activated circuit to teach the circuit (database) words spoken by the user. Due to the complexity of the circuits, they tend to be expensive and not applicable to toys and games and the like. Furthermore, due to the complexity of training the circuits, they are not well suited to young children and/or children who cannot speak or cannot follow the instructions needed to "teach" the circuit(s).
There are many prior art toys that are responsive to remote controls that emit radio frequencies (RF) or infrared (IR) signals. The remote control responsive circuits require complex receiver circuitry and an antenna or photocell in addition to the control circuit. Furthermore, such circuits normally require a particular and separate remote control unit having a powered transmitter, antenna or infrared light emitting diode capable of emitting a complex communication signal outside of the audible frequency range. Normally such remote controls are complex in nature having buttons, knobs, dials, joysticks and the like, and require a certain degree of dexterity by the user. Furthermore, the additional remote control circuit adds unnecessary expense to a toy or an amusement device which only needs an initiation or trigger signal.
What is needed but not provided by the prior art is an inexpensive and easy to use remote control system, especially one simple enough for literally an infant to use.

Audible sound detection control circuits for toys and other amusement devices


A duplex electrical collector for a rail electrification system comprises a pair of slim elongate back-to-back metal conductor shoes which are supported respectively intermediate their ends by short sturdy offset metal plates that project laterally of the shoes. The metal plates can be cast integral with the shoes, or else attached to the shoes by ribs that are crimped into grooves of the shoes. The metal plates have bores to accommodate a pivot pin that carries a torsion spring, thereby to impart a bias that tends to spread apart the shoes. The ends of a copper lead wire are secured to the plates, and a terminal strip is carried at the center of the lead wire. This assemblage is encased in an insulating two-part housing that mounts it, and is held captive by interlocking shoulders on the plates and housing parts. The center portion of the lead wire and the terminal attached thereto are brought out through a collar of the housing.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical collector shoes for rail electrification systems, and more particularly to the means for the mounting of such shoes, and to the conductivity and insulation of the same.
Various type of electrical collector shoes have been proposed and produced in the past. Some have been miniaturized to reduce size and weight, others have been made more sturdy and larger to increase their capacity, and in between these constructions, alterations and modifications have been effected to obtain specific improvements, including longer useful operating life and cost reduction. Each in some measure enjoyed certain benefits resulting from the changes that were made.


A process for purifying crude fluoromethyl 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl ether (sevoflurane). The crude sevoflurane is repeatedly washed with water under conditions and for a time sufficient to reduce the level of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) to no more than 200 ppm or no more than 100 ppm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the production and purification of fluoromethyl 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl ether (sevoflurane), which is used as an inhalation anesthetic.
2. Description of Related Art
There are several known methods for the production of sevoflurane, particularly by the reaction of formaldehyde (or a formaldehyde equivalent such as paraformaldehyde or trioxane), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,334 describes a process in which HFIP is added to a mixture of a stoichiometric excess of paraformaldehyde and HF plus sufficient sulfuric acid to sequester most of the water formed in the reaction. WO 97/25303 describes a process for the production of sevoflurane in which essentially pure bis(fluoromethyl) ether (BFME) is allowed to react with HFIP and sulfuric acid. U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,219 ('219) describes a process in which HFIP and a formaldehyde equivalent are allowed to react with excess HF under distillative or extractive conditions in order to produce sevoflurane.
In all of these processes, unreacted HFIP may remain in the product mixture, as well as BFME, methyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether (MHFIP), polyethers containing the HFIP and formaldehyde moieties, and various other undesired species. These impurities must be removed from the crude sevoflurane product in order to obtain a pharmaceutically acceptable form of the material. For example, a pharmaceutically acceptable form of sevoflurane should contain less than about 20 ppm of HFIP.
Many impurities in crude sevoflurane product can be removed by distillation. HFIP, however, is difficult to distil from sevoflurane since the two molecules have similar boiling points and may form an azeotropic mixture. Simple washing of the crude sevoflurane product with water to remove HFIP has been reported, in US 2004/0124076 for example, to be inefficient, time consuming, and costly.
Thus, Example 1 of European Patent Application EP 703 450 describes a process for producing sevoflurane by heating a reaction mixture of sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and paraformaldehyde. The resulting crude product was extracted three times with water. As a result of prosecution of the corresponding U.S. application (resulting in issuance of U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,142), the mixture was later shown to contain about 4.7% HFIP. Such an amount is unacceptable for clinical grade sevoflurane.
WO 99/44978 and related U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,142 describe a process for the removal of HFIP from sevoflurane by performing aqueous base washes of crude sevoflurane. This process requires careful control of the amount of base used in proportion to the amount of HFIP present, as well as careful temperature control in order to avoid the conversion of some of the sevoflurane to sevoflurane compound A (1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoroisopropenyl fluoromethyl ether), a highly toxic and undesired side product. Prolonged processing with repeated sampling and analysis is required in order to ensure adequate removal of HFIP without formation of excess sevoflurane compound A. Thus, this approach has the disadvantages of complexity and added cost in the production process.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,142 also describes two comparative examples wherein a mixture of HFIP and sevoflurane is washed with pure water in an attempt to remove HFIP. In one comparative example, an initial amount of 10% HFIP in a mixture with sevoflurane was reduced to 3.4% HFIP by washing with water. In another comparative example, an initial amount of 0.25% HFIP in a mixture with sevoflurane was not reduced at all by washing with water.
WO 02/50005 and related US 2004/0124076 describe a process for purifying a crude sevoflurane product mixture by contacting a crude composition of sevoflurane and HFIP with a modifier to alter the vapor pressure of the ether and/or alcohol. The ether and alcohol then may be separated by distillation. The modifier is typically a compound which contains a group capable of bonding with or at least of donating electrons to HFIP, such as an amino group. The use of such a modifier adds cost and complexity to the production process since the modifier must be completely removed from both (i) the sevoflurane and (ii) the unreacted HFIP that is recycled back into the reaction phase. The modifier then must either be recycled or isolated for disposal. Odor issues are also of concern when amines or thiols are used as the modifier.
Middleton and Lindsey in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1964, 86: 4948-4952 have described azeotropes of fluorinated secondary alcohols, such as hexafluoroisopropanol, in which the normal boiling point is higher than the boiling point of the alcohol. Methods of breaking these azeotropes were also described, but applications of these azeotropes were not described.
International PCT application US2006/030046 of Halocarbon Products Corporation describes a process of purifying a crude sevoflurane product containing unacceptably high levels of HFIP. In this process, the crude sevoflurane product is combined with sufficient water to produce a multiphase mixture, the multiphase mixture is fractionally distilled, and substantially pure sevoflurane is removed from the fractionally distilling multiphase mixture. A disadvantage of this process is that the distillation may add to the cost and complexity of the process.
Other proposed methods of sevoflurane synthesis, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,434, avoid this difficult sevoflurane/hexafluoroisopropanol separation by using more complicated methods of synthesis.
What is still needed is a simple method for the efficient separation of sevoflurane and HFIP. Surprisingly, the inventors have discovered a simple, inexpensive, and convenient process for the purification of crude sevoflurane that results in purified sevoflurane.

Process for the purification of fluoromethyl 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl ether (sevoflurane)


A toy, namely, an elastic band launcher is presented. The invention includes a launch section, two band bridges, a handle section, a trigger assembly, a bridge section, and an anchor. The launch section includes a first launch surface at a first acute angle with respect to a second launch surface. The band bridges are separately disposed along the first launch surface. The trigger assembly is interposed between and fixed to one end of the launch and handle sections. The bridge section includes a pair of opposed ends separately fixed to another end of the handle and launch sections. The anchor is fixed to the second launch surface. The anchor, launch surfaces, band bridges, and trigger assembly are adapted to receive an elastic band. At least one band bridge constrains separation between the sides of the elastic band. The elastic band disposed between the band bridges defines a main pull vector. The main pull vector is disposed at second, third, and fourth acute angles with respect to the second launch surface, the anchor, and the first launch surface, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a toy and more particularly is concerned, for example, with a launcher for elastic bands. Specifically, the invention is an elastic band launcher that minimizes the energy lost during launch so as to optimize conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy and that improves the flight characteristics of an elastic band so as to optimize range and accuracy.
2. Background
A variety of toy launchers capable of launching one or more rubber bands are known within the art. Presently known launchers include features that frustrate proper launch of a rubber band thereby degrading the performance of such launchers.
In one example, a rubber band is often secured to the front end of a launcher via an anchor, typically a pin or a post, and to the back end of a launcher via a release mechanism, typically an escapement wheel or a slidable trigger. The design, location, and/or functionality of anchor and release mechanism permit unwanted interactions between the rubber band and the structure of a launcher after release of the rubber band.
In another example, a rubber band is disposed in a stretched configuration along a substantial length of the launcher. This arrangement permits a rubber band to contact and interact with the launcher body as the rubber band contracts during conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy.
When interactions between a rubber band launcher and a rubber band are not adequately controlled, the kinetic energy of a rubber band otherwise possible after launch is either absorbed or dissipated by the launcher. Furthermore, uncontrolled interactions between a rubber band and a launcher induce asymmetries and perturbations at various points along the rubber band causing the rubber band to tumble, wobble, and/or expand, thereby increasing drag and energy losses and decreasing range and accuracy. The end result is a rubber band with less than optimal kinetic energy and flight characteristics.
As is readily apparent from the discussions above, the related arts do not provide a launcher that optimizes the kinetic energy and stability of an elastic band after launch. In particular, the related arts do not describe a device that controls the release of an elastic band and minimizes friction and drag induced losses. As such, the related arts limit the range and precision achievable by an elastic band launcher.
Accordingly, what is required is an elastic band launcher that optimizes the kinetic energy of one or more elastic bands after launch so as to maximize the range achievable by the elastic band(s).
Accordingly, what is also required is an elastic band launcher that releases one or more elastic bands in a controlled fashion so as to reduce drag-induced effects after launch.
Accordingly, what is also required is an elastic band launcher that releases one or more elastic bands in a controlled fashion so as to minimize deviations from a flight path after launch ensuring arrival at an aim point.