The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device capable of easily realizing stable output characteristics within a wide temperature range. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor laser element, and a semiconductor photodiode having an absorption layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity type region formed in a cap layer and the absorption layer, and a transmissive reflection film disposed on the back side of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor photodiode is mounted with the epitaxial layer side down, and the transmissive reflection film is irradiated with a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser element so that light reflected from the transmissive reflection film is used as output light, and transmitted light is received by the semiconductor photodiode and used for controlling the output of the semiconductor laser element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device and more specifically relates to a semiconductor light emitting device capable of controlling optical output with high accuracy by monitoring the optical output.
2. Description of the Related Art
As light sources for optical communication, semiconductor light emitting devices having stable output characteristics within a wide temperature range have been required. In general, semiconductor lasers (laser diode LD) are used, and a LD is provided with an alignment mechanism for optical output so that optical output is little affected by temperature variations and other disturbances.
For example, a semiconductor light emitting device using the following alignment mechanism has been proposed. Front optical output of a LD is output to the optical fiber side, and rear optical output is received by a photodiode (PD) used as a light receiving element which functions as a monitor. In addition, a monitor current is generated according to the quantity of light received by the PD to adjust a LD driving current and control LD output (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-74972).
In another alignment mechanism, the epitaxial layer side surface of a PD used as a light receiving element is coated with a reflection film (HR film: High Reflection) having a predetermined reflection to apply optical output of a LD to the reflection film of the PD so that part of light is transmitted and output as monitor light to optical fibers, and most of light is reflected light and output as optical output to optical fibers (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-116127).
However, in the alignment mechanism using the rear optical output for monitoring, it is necessary to control the temperature dependence of the front optical output/rear optical output ratio, but control of the temperature dependence is difficult. Namely, when all the relations given below can be controlled, an alignment mechanism can be realized, in which the reflectance on the surface of a PD is changed according to a wavelength shift on the basis of the relation between the LD temperature and the wavelength shift.
(1) The relation between the LD temperature and the front optical output/rear optical output ratio.
(2) The relation between the LD temperature and the wavelength shift
(3) The relation between the wavelength and the reflectance of a reflection film
(4) The relation between the structure of a reflection film and reflectance
For example, in any case in which the wavelength of a LD is intentionally changed, the above relations cannot be controlled. Since it is necessary to strictly control all items including the film thickness of the reflection film, the production cost is increased. In brief, from a practical viewpoint, the complete control of the temperature dependence cannot be easily realized.
In addition, in the alignment mechanism in which part of light is transmitted and used for monitoring and most of light is reflected and used as output using the reflection film, a p-type portion electrode and wiring to an electrode pad are disposed near the center of the PD provided below the reflection film, and thus unevenness or a step shape of the wiring is reflected in the reflection film. Therefore, the reflectance and reflection direction of the reflection film are changed at a step portion, and thus output light is not output to the optical fiber side from this portion. As a result, even when light emitted from a LD has a normal intensity distribution (positional distribution of intensity), the intensity distribution of reflected light is greatly disturbed, thereby increasing noise and causing difficulty in using as an optical signal.
As a countermeasure for avoiding the disturbance in the intensity distribution of reflected light, a light receiving surface may be sufficiently widened for the spread of LD emitted light. However, this has the following problem: A p-type region is formed by Zn doping but has a limited doping amount and rate of electrical activation. And because of a relatively small thickness, when a current spreads in a transverse direction, the electric resistance is significantly increased. Thus, the driving voltage must be increased, and the frequency response characteristic is degraded due to the excessively high capacity. When the thickness of an epitaxial film of a p-type region is increased for decreasing the driving voltage, the cost of formation of the epitaxial film is increased. For example, when a fine mesh p-type electrode is provided for decreasing the electric resistance of a p-type region, a capacity due to the mesh electrode is excessively increased to degrade the frequency response characteristic. In addition, the fine unevenness of the mesh electrode inhibits normal reflection, thereby causing difficulty in using reflected light as an optical signal.


An improved electronic spreadsheet is provided for applications that require the processing of continuous data streams over a time-based data interval of size greater than one. The improved spreadsheet supports the creation of expressions involving clocked delay line objects instantiated within spreadsheet cells. The delay line object includes data storage and a member function that implements a shift register. Data stream input functions supply the clocking signals that trigger the execution of the shift register function of the delay line object. Spreadsheet functions are provided that support random access of elements and other analysis over the buffered data interval. The forgoing improvements extend the effective range of spreadsheet programming to include a wider range of applications than was previously possible, including signal processing, machine vision, and time evolution studies.

The present invention relates to electronic spreadsheets, and particularly to spreadsheets applied to processing continuous data streams.
The superior ease-of-use characteristics of electronic spreadsheets are well-known, especially in the field of office automation. The use of electronic spreadsheets in other fields is also known, although in the past, certain computer applications have been unable to take full advantage of the spreadsheet metaphor. One reason for this is that a large class of computer applications require algorithms that operate over time-based intervals of a continuous data stream, and conventional spreadsheets provide no intrinsic support for continuous data processing over more than one processing interval.
An electronic spreadsheet is, essentially, a means of graphically representing a set of expressions as a grid of cells. Each cell in the spreadsheet grid represents a parenthetical expression that can, in turn, be a function of some number of other cellular expressions.
A spreadsheet program updates its grid, as necessary, to maintain the programmed relationship between cellular expressions. Electronic spreadsheets are intended to provide immediate response to any modifications of the programmed expressions. However, in conventional electronic spreadsheets, cellular expressions have no means for accessing previously evaluated results from prior processing intervals. Absent this capability, it is impossible for a conventional spreadsheet to process a continuous data stream of incoming data on a time-based interval of a duration greater than one processing interval.
Although methods for implementing algorithms that operate on continuous data streams are well-known in computer programming, no methods are known for implementing this class of processing within the context of an electronic spreadsheet.
The invention provides an electronic spreadsheet adapted for programming the processing of continuous data streams. The invention also provides means and methods that, to a high degree preserve the fundamental characteristics of conventional electronic spreadsheets. The invention also provides means and methods, which are uncomplicated and intuitive to use.
These benefits and features are accomplished by extending the spreadsheet paradigm to include apparatuses and methods of clocked data buffering, such as by using shift registers, delay lines, FIFOs, pipelines, and even random access memory. The use of shift registers is preferred because shift registers do not require addressing. Delay lines objects are instantiated (memory is allocated for each delay line object) and assigned to spreadsheet cells (each allocated memory is associated with the coordinates of a cell). A delay line object includes a data buffer configured as a variable length shift register, and a method for clocking data through the buffer. In a preferred embodiment, input data streams supply the clocking signals, and xe2x80x9ctap functionsxe2x80x9d support random access of elements, and other analysis over the buffered interval.
The invention extends the conventional electronic spreadsheet paradigm to include the processing of continuous data streams on finite intervals.

Processing continuous data streams in electronic spreadsheets

Cognex Technology and Investment Corporation


An angular position sensor has a sensor element detects changes of magnetic field strength of a magnet that rotates in synchronization with a rotating body, for detecting its angular position. A circuit is provided for compensating hysteresis characteristics of an output of the sensor element in both the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation directions, using different coefficients for compensation approximated by different functions, depending on whether said rotating body rotates clockwise or counterclockwise.

The present invention relates to an angular position sensor for detecting the angular position of a rotation body and a control device for rotation using the sensor.
In a conventional non-contact angular position sensor, for example, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-213993, it is known that to prevent a magnetic detection element from directly detecting an effect of magnetization generated in an undetected member by electromagnetic induction, the flow of a magnetic line of force flowing through the undetected member and the flow of a magnetic line of force flowing through the magnetic detection element are made independent of each other.

Angular position sensor and rotation control device


A method and system of dynamically altering the contents of a web page. The method comprises the steps of providing a web page having a title selected in accordance with a pre-defined naming convention, and providing a style sheet having pre-defined style attributes. The method further comprises the steps of selecting the web page, reading the title and identifying a section name based on the title, and altering the pre-defined style attributes based on the section name. This invention allows the Web page developer to highlight the active section of the site within the left-hand navigation (or anywhere on the page, if desired) using CSS and JAVA Script. No manual intervention is required. As new pages are added to the Web site, the developer simply follows the established naming convention, and the appropriate section will automatically be highlighted.

This invention generally relates to altering contents of Web pages; and, more specifically, the invention relates to methods and systems of altering automatically the properties of specific content within a Web page without manual intervention.
In recent years, a unique distributed database has emerged in the form of the World-Wide Web (Web). The database records of the Web are in the form of pages accessible via the Internet. On the Web, tens of millions of pages are accessible by anyone having a communications link to the Internet.
The pages of the Web are dispersed over millions of different computer systems all over the world. Users of the Internet constantly desire to locate specific pages containing information of interest. The pages can be expressed in a number of different character sets, including English, French, German, Spanish, Cyrillic, Kanakata and Mandarin. In addition, the pages can include specialized components, such as embedded forms, executable programs, JAVA applets and hypertext.
The pages of the Web can be constructed using various formatting conventions, for example, ASCII text, Postscript files, html files, and Acrobat files. The pages can include links to multimedia information content other than text, such as audio, graphics, and moving pictures. As a complexity, the Web can be characterized as an unpredictable random update, insert and delete database with a constantly changing morphology.
In order to increase the usability of a Web site, it is desirable to indicate in which section of the site the page the user is currently viewing is located by highlighting the section name within the left-hand navigation. Current processes for doing this require either the hard coding of the highlighted section into each individual Web page, or the creation of several server side includes for each variation. Either process requires manual editing of HTML and SSI files if new sections are added or section names are altered.

Dynamically altering web page content based on a page's title properties

International Business Machines Corporation


A light pulse having a high intensity generated from LD pumped solid state laser is launched into optical fiber from its one end to generate induced Raman scattering. The induce Raman scattering light emitted from the other end of optical fiber has a wide spectrum of wavelengths with strong intensity. Thus obtained induced Raman scattering light is introduced into optical fiber under test from its one end. Subsequently, the backward scattering light returning to the aforementioned one end is taken out by means of optical coupler or optical switch to brought into optical detectors, which, in turn, detects the light so as to be measured on the intensity of the particular wave components by every period of time by means of digital averaging circuit and computer.

The present invention relates to an optical time-domain reflectometry apparatus capable of measuring characteristics such as optical losses at any point along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber by launching a light pulse into the optical fiber from its one end and measuring the intensity of the backward scattering light with the passage of time.
In an optical time-domain reflectometry (which will be abbreviated as OTDR hereinafter) apparatus, the loss distribution along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber can be acquired by the following procedures. A light pulse generated from a light source is launched into an optical fiber under test from one end thereof by means of an optical coupler or optical switch. The light scattered inside the optical fiber under test, returning backward and outgoing from the aforementioned one end (known as backward scattering light), is split from the incident light by means of the optical coupler or optical switch. The backward scattering light, thereafter, is led to an optical receiver to be transformed into electric signals, and thus the intensity of the backward scattering light is obtained in correspondence with the passage of time. The variations in the intensity of the backward scattering light intensity are analyzed with respect to the passage of time from the time at which the light pulse is generated, in order to obtain the loss distribution along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.
Since the intensity of the Rayleigh scattering light detected as the backward scattering light is weaker than one-ten thousandth that of the incident light, use of a laser diode (will be abbreviated as LD hereinafter) which is compact and has a high intensity of light has been made. For this light source, the LD devices respectively having wavelengths of 0.85 .mu.m, 1.3 .mu.m, and 1.55 .mu.m are usually employed since these have been brought into commercial use for communication equipment.
The conventional OTDR apparatus, however, has a problem that it is impossible to measure the loss with respect to arbitrary wavelengths in the wide wavelength range, except at 0.85 .mu.m, 1.3 .mu.m, and 1.55 .mu.m. In other words, an LD with a wavelength other than the aforementioned wavelengths is hard to use practically since it is not available due to the lack of production, or due to extremely high cost.
For these reasons, it is impossible to measure the loss increase at a wavelength of 1.38 .mu.m which may arise when the optical fiber includes impurities such as water or the like. Accordingly, it is impossible to determine whether or not an optical fiber has any locally increased loss by being mixed with impurities in the course of manufacturing, and whether or not an optical fiber has any locally increased loss by water breaking thereinto when the optical fiber installed is submerged. Consequently the conventional apparatuses have difficulty evaluating important factors of optical fibers.
On the other hand, there has been provided another conventional method which makes it possible to measure the loss characteristic of an optical fiber in a wavelength range other than 0.85 .mu.m, 1.3 .mu.m, and 1.55 .mu.m; in such a manner that by leading light having a certain wavelength to one end of the optical fiber with the help of a white light source and spectroscope, the output light from the other end is detected to measure the total loss along the longitudinal direction of the long optical fiber. However with this method, the measurement cannot be made on the loss at each point along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, so that it is impossible to measure the loss caused by impurities existing locally along the longitudinal direction.

Variable wavelength optical time domain reflectometry apparatus


A modulation method, applicable for augmentation of present art modulated signals. The method, for communicating data from a transmitter to a receiver, is based on periodical burst transmissions, set at a nominal timing, of signals which are either pure carriers or already modulated by data (e.g. ASK, FSK, PSK). Knowing the transmission timing and assessing the propagation delay, the receiver can estimate the nominal reception timing of these periodical transmissions. Modifying the nominal timing of a transmission, by a specific time period, is used to communicate a symbol between the transmitter and the receiver, according to a predefined encoding table which associates between a symbol and a unique time period. According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmitter is a distress radio beacon, configured to report its position upon activation, in periodical data burst transmissions, to ground stations through satellites. The present method is used to augment this report, complying with the present beacon specifications, yet providing a finer resolution of the reported coordinates. According to one embodiment, the position resolution is improved approximately from 125 to 8 meters.

The present invention relates to the art of digital communications, particularly modulation and encoding methods, specifically in which the information to be transmitted is conveyed by means of the relative position of pulses in a series of transmitted pulses or the time or spacing between pulses.
Communication, as well known, is the process of conveying information (also referred to as "data" hereinafter), from a sender, or more technically speaking a transmitter, to a receiver, via a medium. Such a medium can be a twisted pair of copper wires, a laser beam or an RF carrier, to name a few. Information can be encoded in various ways, such as an analog voltage representing human sound amplitude and frequency and pitch, or a series of digital pulses representing the geographical coordinates of a specific location, and so on. Typically, information is communicated by modulating a carrier wave, e.g. changing its amplitude or frequency or phase, in a way that uniquely encodes the transmitted information.
It is to be noted that the term "modulation" is usually related in the art to the process of varying a periodic waveform, usually a carrier wave (e.g. RF); "encoding" is usually related to transforming information from one format to another, typically at the baseband level; however in this document, those terms are alternatively used, particularly "encoding" which is used in a wider context expressing any form of transforming information from one format to another, either at the baseband level or at the carrier level or a combination thereof (such a combination is also known as modulation).
Many modulation methods are known and practiced in the art, for analog information, such as: Amplitude Modulation (AM); Frequency Modulation (FM); Phase Modulation (PM); and for digital information, such as: Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK); Frequency Shift Keying (FSK); Phase Shift Keying (PSK); and Minimal Shift Keying (MSK).
Modulation methods can be compared according to complexity of implementation and efficiency of conveying information in terms of throughput and noise immunity. Some modulation techniques enable conveying relatively much information per provided bandwidth, but might trade off the noise immunity, while others may better suit noisy channels. Accordingly, communication systems and applications adopt this or that modulation method. Over the years, less efficient modulation methods phased out and were been replaced by more efficient modulation techniques, usually digital. Typically, such digital modulation methods are implemented along with more efficient schemes of baseband data encoding, including data compression and error correction coding. Examples for this trend are military radios moving from analog FM to digital PSK or MSK or GMSK modulation achieving denser channel spacing and higher data rates per channel; cellular communication migrating from wide band analog AMP to narrow band NAMP modulation, or to digital GSM standards; Television and video cable broadcasting migrating from very wideband analog VHF and UHF channels to more compact digital modulation and data compression (e.g. MPEG) over significantly narrower broadcasting channels.
In some cases, even after applying such modern and efficient modulation schemes, a further upgrade can be achieved, to increase the system throughput. In the scope of the present invention, this typically applies to communication systems that transmit on periodic basis, at predefined transmission timing, i.e. the nominal time of transmission is basically known to the receiver, and modification of this nominal transmission timing can be interpreted as modulation of data.
An example for such a system is the satellite Search and Rescue (SAR) system known as Cospas-Sarsat. Though the present invention is not limited to this specific system, Cospas-Sarsat is a good example to clarify the present art, as well as the present invention, so it is specifically enlightened here. A detailed description of the system is provided in www.cospas-sarsat.org or www.cospas-sarsat.com.
Cospas-Sarsat is a satellite communication system to assist SAR of people in distress, all over the world and at anytime. The system was launched in 1982 by the USA, Canada, France and the Soviet Union (now Russia) and since then, it has been used for thousands of SAR events and has been instrumental in the rescue of over 20,000 lives worldwide. The goal of the system is to detect and locate signals from distress radio beacons and forward the data to ground stations, in order to support all organizations in the world with responsibility for SAR operations, whether at sea, in the air or on land. The system uses spacecraft—Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) satellites; and in the future also Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites; Cospas-Sarsat radio beacons transmit in the 406 MHz band. The position of the beacon is determined either by the Doppler shift of the received beacon signal or by position coordinates modulated on the signal, provided by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver integrated in the radio beacon.
As a skilled person probably appreciates, GNSS is usually a general term, as well as GPS (Global Positioning System) and SPS (Satellite Positioning System) and SNS (Satellite Navigation System); these acronyms may generalize particular systems such as the USA GPS or the Russian GLONASS or the European GALILEO. In the scope of the present invention, unless referring to a specific system, the terms GNSS and GPS usually relate to a generic satellite navigation system, therefore encompassing all kinds of specific navigation or positioning satellite systems.
All Cospas-Sarsat beacons are subject to the same RF specifications, yet may employ a different mechanical structure and different activation method, possibly also slight differences in the data message modulated on the signal; those differentiations usually reflect different applications, typically marine or airborne or terrestrial, so several types of beacons are defined accordingly: a) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for marine use; b) Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) for aviation use; and c) Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for personal and/or terrestrial use. For the purpose of the present invention, the terms EPIRB or PLB are alternatively used, and unless indicated otherwise, these terms relate to generic radio location beacons, therefore encompassing all kinds of specific location beacons.
The Cospas-Sarsat standard defines two different lengths of messages to be modulated on a 406 MHz carrier: 112 ("short message") or 144 ("long message") bits long.
Three levels of position resolution can be encoded in these restricted in length messages:
a) position data in the short message with a resolution of either 15 minutes (of an arc) or 2 minutes;
b) position data in the long message with a resolution of 4 minutes ("User Location Protocol");
c) position data in the long message with a resolution of 4 seconds ("Standard Location Protocol" or "National Location Protocol");
As a skilled person may appreciate, even the highest resolution of 4 seconds provides a worst case error of 4/60*1 NM, i.e. approximately 125 meters (1 NM=1 Nautical Mile=1853 meters). For several scenarii, e.g. searching for a person fallen overboard a vessel at a stormy dark night, even an error of 125 meters might be critical. Yet, if four more bits could be communicated to augment the Latitude and four bits to augment the Longitude, this ambiguity of 125 meters could shrink to 125/16, i.e. approximately 8 meters only. At this distance, a person may be significantly better heard and seen.
When activated, automatically or manually, a Cospas-Sarsat beacon transmits short signals, each about 0.5 seconds long, repetitively every 50 seconds plus or minus 2.5 seconds; this variation of the beacon transmission repetition rate should be random, according to the standard, to minimize transmission collisions among beacons.
It is then an object of the present invention to use this permitted variation in the transmission timing of the beacon to communicate data that augments the beacon report, particularly providing a finer resolution to the geographical coordinates reported in the beacon's message.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a radio beacon configured to transmit data messages according to present or future protocols, using present art modulation methods, enabling conveying additional data, without modifying the present signal, but only its transmission timing.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a receiver configured to demodulate the present art message transmitted by beacons, and also demodulate the auxiliary data communicated through variations of the transmission timing.
It is another object of the present invention to upgrade communication systems, which communicate information using any type of analog or digital modulation, such as Amplitude Modulation (AM); Frequency Modulation (FM); Phase Modulation (PM); Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK); Frequency Shift Keying (FSK); Phase Shift Keying (PSK); increasing these systems throughput by adding an auxiliary modulation that utilizes the timing of transmission of the already modulated signal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method to communicate data by modulating the predefined transmission timing of a transmitter, yet keeping a random or pseudo random variation of the transmission timing.
Many radio beacons, particularly Cospas-Sarsat beacons, comprise GNSS receivers, which in the recent years became low size and low power and low cost, thus much more popular. Integrating a GNSS receiver in the radio beacon enables locating this beacon much more accurately than using the Doppler method. Then, it is another object of the present invention to employ GNSS timing signals in the process of determining the transmission or reception timing, and possibly also use positioning data in order to calculate the difference or offset of the reception timing from the transmission timing.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Modulating transmission timing for data communications


Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method for providing location-based content delivery to at least one target zone. The system comprises at least one content transceiver unit having a processor configured to control the operation of the content transceiver unit, and a communications subsystem coupled with the processor and being configured to communicate with at least one target in the at least one target zone. The processor is configured to send an introductory content page based on a content campaign to the at least one target when the at least one target initiates a content transmission session with the at least one content transceiver unit. The processor is also configured to send selected content to the at least one target when the at least one target selects a content option in the introductory content page.

The advertising of various products and services is typically done through commercials and advertisements on conventional media outlets such as the radio, television and the Internet as well as through various forms of print media such as newsletters, newspapers, and flyers. These forms of advertisements are mainly delivered to potential consumers while they are in their home. However, there are also other forms of advertising outside of the home such as posters, billboards and signs which are placed at certain locations and can only be seen if they are in the direct line of sight of the potential consumers. Typically, the same advertisements are shown to the same potential consumers for a given media outlet, which is not the most effective way of advertising to potential consumers.

System and method for location-based content delivery


Methods, systems and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, are provided for assisting users with adherence to a medication regimen. An attachable device includes a sensor module releasably attached to an adapter, which is in turn attached to a medication container using a connector. The sensor module can be removed from the adapter to change an included battery without removing the adapter from the medication container. The sensor module is in communication with a user device, such as a smart phone. A user can use an app on the user device to create a medicine regimen, or schedule, and send the schedule to the sensor module. The user can also set notification preferences on the user device to be sent to the sensor module. The sensor module includes audio and/or visual transducers that notify the user to take the medication at the scheduled times. The sensor module further includes one or more buttons that are pressed when a user opens the medication container. The button(s) are configured so the action of the user required to open the container also presses at least one button. The sensor module records the actions of the user, including when the medication container is opened, when a dose of the medication is missed, and when the user presses a mood indication button. The user actions can be transmitted to the user device, which can then transmit the recorded actions to a server. The sensor module may be configured to attempt communication with the user device on a periodic basis to conserve battery life.

This specification relates generally to systems, methods and apparatuses for assisting with adherence to a health or medical routine or regimen, in which a patient or user must open a container, such as a pill bottle, at specified times. Some of the present embodiments also relate generally to a system and method for determining when such a container has been opened, and for providing reminders to a user to assist in adherence to a health or medical routine or regimen.
It is estimated that half of all patients do not take their medications as prescribed. Approximately 125,000 Americans die each year as a result of this non-adherence. Simple forgetfulness is a primary factor for patients not taking their medication. In addition, the same forgetfulness prevents people from adherence to other health and wellness regimens, such as water or other liquid intake goals and the consistent consumption of vitamins and/or other supplements. To help improve adherence to taking medications, there exist specially configured medication containers and/or replacement lids for medication containers. Such devices may remind patients when it is time to take a dose of medication and/or may automatically dispense a proper dose. However, none of these medication containers and/or replacement lids can be applied to (e.g., removably or permanently adhered to) one or more conventional pill containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,754,769 to Stein et al. discloses a medication container that senses the opening and/or closing of a cap thereof. The medication container also senses a quantity of medication in the container. However, this patent does not disclose a sensor attachable to an existing medication container that detects the opening thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 9,125,798 to Stein et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,183 to Stein et al. contain similar disclosures.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,727,180 to Zonana et al. discloses a medication container cap for use with a medication container that controls the dispensing of the medication. The cap includes a door and a ramp for dispensing the medication. However, this patent does not disclose a sensor attachable to an existing medication container that detects the opening thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,507,916 to Charanis et al. discloses a medication container with a lockable lid and a dispensing device that automatically dispenses an appropriate dose of medication at scheduled times. It also includes an internal scale to measure the quantity of medication remaining within the container. This patent also fails to disclose a sensor attachable to an existing medication container that detects the opening thereof.
Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods for improving patient adherence to medication regimens or schedules and other health and wellness regimens which overcomes the preceding disadvantages.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing adherence to a regimen


A method, architecture and service of providing a multiple tiered pricing structure for providing a first service level to priority traffic where the priority traffic is protected via a 1:1 protection system, and a second service level for non-priority or extra traffic, wherein the extra traffic is normally propagated via the protection path, and is protected using a mesh restoration technique in the event of failure of the protection path or use of the protection path by the priority traffic.

In a communications system requiring a very high uptime rate, a commonly used topology comprises redundant communications paths (e.g., two physically distinct optical transmission paths) to provide, thereby, a service path and a protection path to form a "1:1" protection system. In the event of a fiber cut or other damage that disrupts data traffic through the service path, the same data traffic may be rerouted through the protection path. In this manner, customer traffic is not interrupted.
In a mesh topology, each of a plurality of network elements or nodes within a communications network is connected to at least two other network elements or nodes. In this manner, a communications path provisioned between a start node and an end node may be satisfied using different groups of intermediate nodes. Thus, in the case of a failure in a communications path between two intermediate nodes, an alternate communications path may be established using other intermediate nodes.

Hybrid protection using mesh restoration and 1:1 protection


A surface mount ring assembly for loudspeakers which comprises a xe2x80x98hardxe2x80x99 ring in which the speaker is secured. This hard ring is, in turn, secured to a resilient or xe2x80x98softxe2x80x99 ring which soft ring is secured in the wall opening. The soft ring has a durometer of between 30 to 90 and a dynamic loss modulus of 1010 Dynes/cm2 at 100 to 1000 Hz. This effectively isolates the loudspeaker from the resonant frequency of the structure in which the speaker is secured.

A mounting ring for a loudspeaker. The ring is frictionally fitted into a panel such as a wall or the interior panel of a vehicle. The loudspeaker is secured in the ring.
In architectural loudspeaker installations loudspeaker drivers are installed into the interior and inside walls of buildings. The existing practice involves the use of a subassembly baffle to which one or more drivers are mounted. The baffle is then attached to the wall by means of assembly to a rough-in box which has been placed inside the wall. The rough-in box is a structural frame which requires an opening in the wall approximating the size of the baffle subassembly.
In the installation of loudspeakers in vehicles particularly in the aftermarket, holes are formed in the panels and a support structure is secured in the hole by fasteners, typically threaded fasteners. The loudspeaker is then secured to the support structure, again usually by threaded fasteners. This method of installation is time consuming and costly.
A vibration (resonant frequency) in the form of very low amplitude, omni-directional motion is naturally present in any building or vehicle. This frequency is present at varying levels from as low as 1 Hz up to 1000 Hz. When speakers are hard mounted into a wall or panel, these frequencies migrate to the speaker walls and interfere with the audio design frequencies of the speaker.
The present invention provides a significant improvement to the installation of either architectural or vehicular speakers by eliminating the rough-in box. An opening only the size needed to fit the ring is required. The elimination of the rough-in box greatly reduces installation time and labor. Additional benefits are a smaller (minimal) footprint for a cleaner look. The ring can also provide for integral attachment of the grill. The present invention isolates the speaker from the resonant frequency of the wall or panel in which it is mounted.
In installing a loudspeaker in the panel of a vehicle, a circular hole of the proper circumference is cut into the door panel forming a circular opening. The wires for the speaker can be xe2x80x98fishedxe2x80x99 in the usual way, such as using a snake. The ring or speaker is inserted in the door panel. After the rings have been secured, the speaker is secured in the ring.
The present invention comprises a surface mount ring assembly for loudspeakers. The ring is received and secured in an opening solely by frictional engagement. The loudspeaker is received and secured in the ring solely by frictional engagement. The opening can be in any flat surface, wall, vehicular door panel etc. The ring isolates the speaker from the inherent resonance frequency in the structure in which the speaker is mounted.
Broadly the invention embodies a mounting ring assembly for speakers. The ring assembly comprises a xe2x80x98hardxe2x80x99 sleeve or ring in which the speaker is secured. This ring could be any suitable material, metal, polymeric material or the like. This sleeve in turn is secured to a resilient or xe2x80x98softxe2x80x99 ring which ring is secured in the wall opening. The ring may either be a ring such as described in my parent application as the xe2x80x98inner ringxe2x80x99 or a sleeve-like ring. Either the inner or outer surfaces of the ring are roughened, preferably both surfaces, to enhance both the frictional engagement of the ring in the wall opening and to the sleeve which secures the speaker. Also, the composition of the ring per se has inherent xe2x80x98adhesivexe2x80x99 characteristics to further enhance the engagement of the components one to the other.
The speaker, generally comprises a sleeve having a back end and a front end. When assembled, the speaker/ring/sleeve and/or grill form an integrally mounted assembly with the following characteristics, the speaker is firmly mounted to a xe2x80x98wallxe2x80x99, the speaker is isolated from the inherent resonance in the wall by the ring. The xe2x80x98softxe2x80x99 ring has a durometer of between 30 to 90 and a dynamic loss modulus of about 1010 Dynes/cm2 at 100 to 1000 Hz. The xe2x80x98hardxe2x80x99 sleeve can have a stiffness similar to polyvinyl chloride pipe or conduits. This ensures compression among the sleeve/ring/wall acts essentially only on the ring.

Surface mount ring assembly for loudspeaker


A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a computing device, an event notification; determining, by the computing device, whether to immediately execute a pipeline including a commit associated with the event notification based on historical trends of commits entering the pipeline at a similar time period as a current time; and immediately executing or delaying the execution of the pipeline, by the computing device, based on the determining whether to immediately execute the pipeline.

The present invention generally relates to optimizing pipeline execution scheduling and, more particularly, to optimizing pipeline execution scheduling based on commit activity trends, priority information, and attributes.
Software build and delivery pipeline solutions include automatically running or executing software pipeline jobs. For example, builds/pipeline jobs may be run on a fixed schedule, or may be run whenever a new commit (e.g., a set of changes to files, such as source code, stored in a repository) is pushed to a source control management (SCM) repository or application server. Running builds on a fixed schedule may not allow for flexibility and can cause unnecessary or even potentially harmful delays in pushing new changes through the pipeline. On the other hand, running a build and delivery pipeline for every commit as it is received may not be efficient during periods of high commit activity. For example, running a build and delivery pipeline for each commit as received may overwhelm a pipeline that has limited computing resources, or may not be cost effective for a customer who is charged for resources consumed by their pipeline executions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optimizing pipeline execution scheduling based on commit activity trends, priority information, and attributes

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A parting blade having a flat, elongate body, which is delimited by two opposite side surfaces and has two opposite longitudinal edges which are mutually parallel and present chamfered surfaces for wedging the body in a holder, and which includes at least one insert seat formed adjacent to an end, the position of which seat in relation to a longitudinal edge determines the tip height of a turning insert mounted in the insert seat. An attachment part is formed on one of the side surfaces of the blade body. The attachment part is shorter and thinner than the proper blade body and has two opposite longitudinal edges which are mutually parallel and present chamfered surfaces for wedging the attachment part in another holder. In this way, the parting blade can be formed for robust, wide turning inserts and in spite of this be mounted in holders intended for considerably thinner parting blades.

Parting blades of the type generally mentioned above are mountable in fixed holders in order to, together with a wear part in the form of a replaceable turning insert, form a turning tool having the purpose of carrying out parting or grooving operations in rotating workpieces. Typically, the blade—at least near the insert seat—has to have a thickness that is smaller than the width of the turning insert carried by the blade, because otherwise the blade would not go free in the gap generated in connection with the grooving of the turning insert into the workpiece. The so-called insert-tip height has a great importance to the dimensioning of the tools, which height is a measure of the position or level of the insert seat in relation to the lower longitudinal edge of the blade. It is always desirable that the insert seat is located as high as possible in the overhung end of the blade that protrudes from the tool holder, in order to, in such a way, endow the front, supporting blade portion that is present under the insert seat with the greatest possible stiffness. Namely, if this portion would become too weak, the same runs the risk of being deflected or deformed by the very great forces that are applied to the turning insert during machining.
Tools of different dimensions are provided for different applications. Thus, on the market an assortment of small tools is offered, which have an insert-tip height of 21 mm at the same time as the appurtenant turning inserts have a width that varies within the range of 1.5-3 mm. Another assortment—in the form of medium-sized tools—has an insert-tip height of 25 mm and a set of turning inserts the width of which varies within the range of 1.5-8 mm. Furthermore, tools that are even more robust may also be found. Within the different assortments, different solutions are found to the problem of reliably fixing the turning insert in the insert seat. A usually occurring solution is the so-called spring clamping. In this case, the turning insert is kept clamped only by means of the inherent elasticity or flexibility of a clamping finger present above the bottom of the insert seat. Another solution is screw clamping. In this case, the clamping finger is actuated also by a screw, which upon tightening, clamps the finger by a force that is considerably greater than the plain spring-tension force. In other words, screw clamping is more reliable than spring clamping.
The holder used to clamp the blade and which may be included in a turning lathe or a multioperation machine is a robust block, which includes side support surfaces against which an inside of the blade may be pressed, and which has a lower, fixed jaw against which the lower longitudinal edge of the blade is applied. A movable upper jaw co-operates with a number of screws, which upon tightening press the movable jaw against the upper longitudinal edge of the blade. The two longitudinal edges of the blade are formed with chamfered surfaces, which converge in the direction outward and co-operate with analogous, although inwardly converging chamfer surfaces of the jaws. Therefore, when the jaws approach each other by the tightening of the screws, a wedge action arises, which by a great force presses the inside of the blade firmly against the side support surfaces of the block.
Because different types of blades have insert-tip heights of different sizes, one type of holder is required for each type of blade. In practice, the machine equipment of different workshops may vary most considerably. For instance, certain workshops may just have a single type of holder, while others have holders for small as well as large blades. A problem being common to all users—irrespective of the machine equipment—is, however, that the small blades (insert-tip height of 21 mm) only are suitable for the very smallest turning inserts (insert width of max 3 mm). Namely, if a larger and wider turning insert is attempted to be mounted on the smallest blade, the flexural rigidity of the front, supporting end portion of the blade would become too small to be able to resist the cutting forces acting on the turning insert. The section in the area under the insert seat would simply become too weak, since the amount of material (steel) in this section is limited. Naturally, it is feasible to mount the larger turning insert on a more robust blade (insert-tip height of 25 mm), but in such a case, the users only having access to holders for small blades would need to acquire larger holders and maybe rebuild existing machines.


A front loading garbage truck with a unique packing blade that creates a self-cleaning garbage truck without the need for manual clean outs and construction for the accomplishment of same. The packing blade includes a top vertical portion that is in a fixed position and a second bottom vertical portion that is retractable into a horizontal position to allow for repeated pass-throughs to collect all debris prior to emptying the garbage from the truck. Additionally, a unique cab shield sits atop the cab portion that contains a plurality of holes on the sides and along the top sloping face to allow ventilation therethrough and prevent damage to the engine caused by excessive heat.

Front loading garbage collection trucks are common in the field of trash, garbage, refuse and/or recyclable materials removal. Typically, the truck includes an arm at the front of the truck that grabs with forks or other grabbing mechanism a trash can or other receptacle containing trash, garbage, refuse and/or recyclable materials. The grabbing mechanism is attached to an arm that travels over the top of the cab of the truck and behind the cab to an opening called a hopper and dumps the trash, garbage, refuse and/or recyclable materials can therein. Once the garbage is inside the body of the trash truck, a packing blade pushes the garbage to the rear end of the truck to make room for more trash, garbage, refuse and/or recyclable materials and to optionally allow for expulsion through the rear of the trash truck once full.
One problem that often occurs is that some of the garbage is not grabbed by the packing blade on the push through. When garbage is left behind like this, the missed garbage needs to be manually removed by the operator. To accomplish this, the driver must climb inside the body of the trash truck. Additionally, a side door is required for access as is a floor clean-out trough to remove the missed garbage.
Also with front loading garbage trucks, there is often some sort of shield over the cab of the chassis to prevent debris that may fall out of the container being dumped from falling onto the cab of the truck. These shields are solid construction, but have been known to include a single hole in the top for the chassis engine exhaust pipe. This system has problems, however, in that the action of moving over the engine and the exhaust creates heat over the cab. Engine heat trapped under this cab shield design can then enter back into the engine air intake system thereby causing engine problems.
There is a need for a front loading trash truck engine design that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art.


An optical fiber having reduced residual stress discontinuity is disclosed. The optical fiber includes a core which is an optical transmission medium and a clad for surrounding the core. The residual stress discontinuity at an interface between the core and the clad is 20.0 MPa or less, which is represented by an absolute value of a difference between a minimum axial stress at (r/a)=0.8-1.1 and a maximum axial stress at (r/a)=1.0-1.2, wherein a is the radius of the core and r is a radius measured from the center of the core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transmission medium, and more particularly to an optical fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional processes for manufacturing optical fibers are generally divided into a preform manufacturing process and a drawing process. In the drawing process, the drawing temperature that is used has a great influence on residual stress, which occurs at an interface between a core and a clad of the optical fibers. Varying residual stress affects various optical characteristics. Therefore, it is of a great importance to control the residual stress using the drawing temperature. Otherwise, composition of the optical fibers should be designed in such a manner that the residual stress is not affected by the drawing temperature.
However, optical fibers (including Ethernet optical fibers of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 10 Gbps), which are mainly used as optical transmission media for an access network, a FTTH (fiber-to-the-home), a LAN, or a WAN, are supposed to pass through many curved areas when they are installed in conduit lines, buildings, or complicates office rooms for installation and operation. Such curved areas should not affect the loss, which is one of the important factors in communications.
FIG. 1 shows a typical optical fiber having a graded index distribution. The optical fiber 110 includes a core 120 and a clad 130, which surrounds the core 120. The index distribution of the core 120 is given below as Equation 1 and the modal bandwidth of the optical fiber 110, which is one of the important optical characteristics, is greatly influenced by the value of α in the equation.n=n1(1−2Δ(r/α)α)1/2  (Equation 1)
In the above equation, n is the index of the core 120 of the optical fiber 110; n1 is the index at the center (r=0) of the core 120; Δ is a relative index difference; a is the radius of the core 120; r is a radius measured from the center of the core 120; and α is a core form factor. The α is sensitive to the residual stress discontinuity at the interface (r/a=1) between the core 120 and the clad 130. In particular, the residual stress discontinuity is greatly influenced by a difference in composition between the core 120 and the clad 130 or by the optical fiber's drawing conditions, such as heating temperature, cooling rate, and drawing rate.
Conventional technologies regarding bending loss of optical fibers include methods for reducing the bending loss of single-mode optical fibers, mainly by modifying the index structure of their core and clad. However, no method is known in the art for controlling the residual stress discontinuity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,722 of Carnevale, et al, entitled "Single-mode fiber with graded index of refraction," discloses a method for fabricating a single-mode optical fiber having a core with a graded index distribution. U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,643 of Hodges, et al, entitled "Single-mode bend insensitive fiber for use in fiber optic guidance applications," discloses a structure having depressed regions or isolated trenches in parts of a clad area. U.S. Pat No. 5,032,001 of Shang, entitled "Optical fiber having enhanced bend resistance," discloses a structure having raised areas and depressed areas in a clad area. U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,931 of Antos, et al, entitled "Low bend loss single-mode optical waveguide fiber," discloses a method wherein the index of an inner core is increased to reduce a MFD (mode field diameter), while maintaining zero-dispersion wavelength; a diffusion tail effect is reduced at an interface between a core and a clad to suppress the increase in an unnecessary cut-off wavelength and the MFD; or a ring structure is applied to an external area to suppress the increase in the zero-dispersion wavelength, which is caused by the increase in an outer core index. U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,785 of Dabby, entitled "Optical waveguides having reduced bending loss and method of making the same," discloses a structure capable of supporting a dual mode or a multi mode by using a virtual single-mode structure, the cut-off wavelength of which is substantially larger than the zero-dispersion wavelength, and decreasing the index difference between a core and a clad thereof.
As mentioned above, conventional optical fibers have a problem in that they exhibit severe changes in residual stress, depending on drawing conditions, at an interface between their core and clad. In addition, conventional optical fibers have large bending loss even in the case of a small bending (diameter of about 10 mm), which occurs at recent access networks, FTTHs, LANs, or WANs.

Optical fiber having reduced residual stress discontinuity


A method for exploring and finding a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir by modeling of temperature and/or thermal anomalies within a geologic volume of the earth's crust. The geologic volume is subdivided into a plurality of laterally disposed and aligned, and vertically disposed and aligned, volumetric cells. Geologic properties are assigned for each of the volumetric cells, and a normal gradient temperature is determined and generated for the geologic volume. An x, y, z temperature is assigned for each volumetric cell based on the normal gradient temperature of the geologic volume. A hypothetical hydrocarbon reservoir is disposed in the geologic volume by varying the geologic properties of some of the plurality of volumetric cells; and a true x, y, z temperature is computed for each volumetric cell caused by the hypothetical hydrocarbon reservoir. A true hydrocarbon reservoir in the geologic volume is determined from the true x, y, z temperature of each volumetric cell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to exploring and finding hydrocarbons in a subterranean reservoir. More specifically, this invention provides for a method for exploring and finding a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir by modeling of temperature and/or thermal anomalies within a geologic volume of the earth's crust.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Much has been published concerning the exploration and the finding of hydrocarbons in a subterranean reservoir. Representative publications include, but far from limited to, the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,759 to Eliason et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,664 to Anderson et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,199 to Mufti; U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,545 to Lin et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,912 to Banavar et al; U.S. Pat. No. 1,901,431 to Bond; U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,629 to Birman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,889 to Rawson et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,250 to Poppendiek et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,669 to Roedder; U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,326 to Reistle, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,403,704 to Blau; U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,550 to Birman; and "Exploration Application of Temperatures Recorded on Log Headings--An Up-the-Odds Method of Hydrocarbon-Charged Porosity Prediction" by Stanton M. Ball, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin V.66, No. 8 (August 1982), pgs. 1108-1123. All of these publications are fully incorporated herein by reference thereto.
U.S Pat. No. 4,698,759 to Eliason et al. discloses a quantitative method of geologic structural analysis of digital terrain data for implementation on a computer U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,664 to Anderson et al. discloses a method and a system for measuring the sea floor temperature gradient several meters into the formation at each of an array of measurement sites, and using these gradients to explore for and characterize hydrocarbon deposits. Mufti U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,199 proposes taking thermal gradient measurements in a borehole which does not penetrate a hydrocarbon deposit, and using them as an indication of the proximity of hydrocarbon deposits. The Mufti patent suggests that it may be practical in some cases to drill a number of shallow test holes in an area to be explored simply for the purpose of mapping temperature gradients from measurements taken in the 50 to 100 foot depth region and that even shallower boreholes can be used when a set of readings can be made in such a short time period that seasonal changes can be ignored. The Lin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,545 teaches converting seismic data obtained at known points to synthesized seismic traces obtainable at arbitrarily selected points. Two dimensional seismic data in the Lin et al. patent are converted to three dimensional data with the aid of a programmed computer to permit generation of arbitrary views of a particular geologic structure as well as a mathematical representation of the structure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,912 to Banavar et al. discloses investigating earth formations surrounding a borehole by selectively heating a region of the formations, and measuring the thermal response to obtain useful information concerning the characteristic length scales of the pores in the heated region. The thermal response is obtained indirectly by measuring the electrical conductivity response. U.S. Pat. No. 1,901,431 to Bond discloses a method and apparatus for accurately determining rock temperatures in a well. U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,629 to Birman teaches the use of subsurface temperature measurements in earth prospecting. Rawson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,889 discloses a heat flow transducer for use in measuring the geothermal heat flow in the earth. Likewise U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,250 to Poppendiek et al. also discloses a heat flow transducer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,669 to Roedder relates to heat sensing instruments which are operative to indicate and measure relevant characteristics of thermal gradients, and heat sensitive control devices adapted to function in response to variations in such characteristics of thermal gradient. U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,326 to Reistle, Jr. is directed to a method for determining the temperature at a series of points, or the temperature gradient, of a flowing well, and from the results obtained determining the position in the bore hole at which the oil components and gaseous components produced by the well enter the bore hole. U.S Pat. No. 2,403,704 to Blau discloses a method for prospecting for oil by determination of subsurface thermal properties. The Birman U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,550 relates to methods of geophysical prospecting which permit the detection and location beneath the earth's surface of a body of mineral, fluid, or rock mass possessed of anomalous thermal characteristics as well the detection of depth variations of such body from point to point over a given surface ore. Stanton M. Ball in "Exploration Application of Temperatures Recorded on Log Headings--An Up-the-Odds Method of Hydrocarbon-Charged Porosity Production" teaches an analytical technique for defining temperature anomalies called "hotspots" which are hydrocarbon temperature anomalies. Ball more specifically teaches that hydrocarbon fluids insulate more and their temperatures are elevated more easily than contiguous waters. Hydrocarbon reservoirs whose heat flow effects are not obscured by the anisotropic effects of adjacent water reservoirs, may cause definable temperature anomalies. The technique formulated by Ball more specifically involves the following steps: (1) calculation of geothermal gradient values, (2) creation of a geothermal gradient field areally, (3) vector analysis or contouring of created data, and (4) temperature anomaly definition.
Thus, temperature anomalies in connection with hydrocarbon reservoirs have long been recognized. However, the complexities of heat flow under the surface of the earth and the resulting temperature distribution have prevented widespread success in utilizing thermal data to locate hydrocarbon accumulations. Even the most elementary conclusions as to what features of thermal data should be examined in order to get an indication of associated hydrocarbons were widely debated with no generally acceptable conclusions possible Some authors have espoused the view that hot temperature anomalies occur over hydrocarbon reservoirs. Other authors, such as Fons in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,716 incorporated herein by reference thereto, discloses that hydrocarbons accumulations can be located by the presence of a cool temperature anomaly above the hydrocarbon accumulation(s). The Fon's method seeks cool anomalies over a hydrocarbon accumulation and defines an anomaly as any observed temperature which differs significantly from the average observed temperature behavior in the immediate vicinity of the anomaly. This technique has proven statistically to be a reliable method of locating hydrocarbon reservoirs on the Texas Gulf coast, but in other provinces, the technique has been less successful than desired.
There are many factors that influence and cause temperature anomalies in the crust of the earth. Meyer, H. J. et al., in "The Relationship of Geothermal Anomalies To Oil And Gas Accumulation in The Rocky Mountain Area", Am. Assn. Petl. Geol. Bulletin, 1983 concludes that upward fluid movement at depth was an important factor. Other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: variation in heat flow within the earth; reduced thermal conductivity of hydrocarbon bearing reservoir rock as compared to similar rock bearing only formation water; and variation in thermal conductivity within the crust of the earth separate or apart from those variations caused by hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Of the factors, the reduced thermal conductivity of hydrocarbon bearing reservoir rock as compared to similar rock bearing only formation water is of the highest interest. It is known that the heat or thermal conductivity of a material depends upon the conductivity of the solid particles, the geometry of the solid particles, and the conductivity of any fluids comprised between the solid particles. The heat conductivity of quartz is greater than that of calcite, while the latter is greater than that of the usual silicates. In heterogeneous substances the heat conductivity increases with compactness. For instance, igneous and metamorphic rocks are usually better conductors than sediments. The nature of the fluids present in the pores is also an important factor because if the material is dry and very porous, the heat conductivity is considerably less than if the pores contain water (sediments). This is due to the fact that air is a much poorer heat conductor than water. Oil and natural gas are also poor conductors; therefore, the heat conductivity of petroleum-bearing reservoirs should be smaller than that of the same reservoirs when they contain only water. The reduced thermal or heat conductivity of hydrocarbon bearing reservoir rock as compared to similar rock bearing only air and/or formation water relates directly to the presence or absence of hydrocarbons within the pores of the rock. If the effects of hydrocarbon accumulations in hydrocarbon bearing reservoir rock could be modeled, and those effects isolated from the various other factors influencing temperature or thermal anomalies by the employment of the model, then the location of hydrocarbon accumulations of hydrocarbon accumulations by their influence upon the observed temperatures and/or heat flow emanating from the crust of the earth becomes practical.
Much effort has been extended into modeling, including the modeling geological structures as an aid to exploring and finding hydrocarbons and other subterranean substances. U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,164 incorporated herein by reference thereto, to Swanson discloses modeling of geologic volumes of the earth's crust. The patent more particularly discloses a system for developing a model of a geologic volume by locating positions of observations within the model which corresponds to known positions of observation in the geologic volume, and thereafter extrapolating from or interpolating between such positions of observations. The model is composed of a plurality of small incremental volumetric elements configured to resemble corresponding incremental volumetric elements in the geologic volume. Swanson further discloses that modeling may be performed in several ways, as for example, by making maps or sections of volumes directly from the information. Generally speaking, a map is a two-dimensional projection on a horizontal planar surface of a representation of features of the volume modeled. A section, on the other hand, is normally a graphic representation of the volume projected on a vertical plane cutting the volume. Another way to model as disclosed by Swanson is to systematically store the information in computers, and thereafter recover the information as desired. Recovery of the stored information in some instances may involve feeding the information to plotters which automatically plot the data in map or section form. In general, then, the art of modeling a geologic volume in a first aspect resides in building a model of the volume by assembling known data as well as extrapolated and interpolated data throughout the modeled volume. Once the model is built, displays such as maps, cross-sections, and statistical information result from the model. Modeling the earth's crust, including map and section making, involves complex geological and geophysical relationships and many types of data and observations. Of particular interest in the present invention are geological volumes of sedimentary rocks or deposits since almost all oil and gas, many mineral deposits, and most ground water normally occur in sedimentary deposits--typically in porous reservoirs such as clastic (sandstones), secreted, and/or precipitated deposits.
There has been considerable effort extended in the oil and gas industry towards modeling of fluid or liquid flow in porous media by attempting to relate fluid or liquid flow to pressure gradients and rock properties. There are many analogies between the flow of a fluid or liquid through a permeable medium, the flow of electricity through a conductor and the flow of heat by conduction (as opposed to convection and radiation) through a solid body. In particular, the mathematical solutions of the problems involved in these three branches of physics are identical and many formulas obtained for one of them can be used for the others by simply translating each symbol into its proper analogue. The fundamental law of heat conduction is Fourier's law (i.e. dQ/dt=kA dT/dx where Q is amount of heat flowing in differential time dt, k is proportionality factor known as heat or thermal conductivity of the medium, A is path cross section, and dT/dx is the rate of change of temperature, T, with respect to the length of path, x). Fourier's law is analogous to D'Arcy's law in hydrodynamics and to Ohm's law in electricity. D'Arcy's law is dQ/dt=kA dP/dx where dQ/dt is fluid output or input per unit time, k is permeability, A is path cross section, and dP/dx is the rate of change of pressure, P, with respect to the path length, x. Ohm's law is dQ/dt=CA dV/dx where dQ/dt is current intensity or change in current per unit time, C is electrical conductivity, A is path cross section, and dV/dx is the rate of change of potential or voltage, V, with respect to path length, x.
The flow of heat within the crust of the earth obeys a partial differential equation or diffusivity equation that is identical in form to the equation for fluid flow. For example, the partial differential equation or diffusivity equation in radial form for fluid flow is: ##EQU1## where p is pressure, .phi. is porosity, k is permeability, x and y and z are respectively length in x, y, and z direction, t is time and C.sub.t is system compressibility. For incompressible fluid flow C.sub.t becomes O so the equation reduces to: ##EQU2## For pseudo steady-state compressible liquid flow in bounded systems, .differential.p/.differential.t is a constant, i.e., the pressure is falling everywhere at the same rate A, and ##EQU3##
The diffusivity equation for the flow of heat is ##EQU4## while .theta. (x, y, z,t) represents the temperature at any point in space at time t, and it is assumed that heat flows in the direction of decreasing temperature and that the rate (in calories per second) across any infinitesimal square body of mass or matter is proportioned to the area of the square body of mass or matter; and k is a constant in calories per centimeter per degree per second, .rho. is the density of the mass or matter in grams per cubic centimeter and c is the specific heat in calories per gram per degree. For steady-state flow of heat becomes O and the equation reduces to: ##EQU5##
Many different techniques have been developed which permit solving the basic diffusivity equation on a computer for three dimensional and time varying flow. One method known as line successive over relaxation (LSOR) is extremely reliable but normally requires many, many computations in order to successfully converge to reach the correct desired solution. Another technique known as Newton-Rapson, generalized iterative technique for solving for the roots of algebraic equations, greatly increases the speed for convergence. For fluids and heat flow, most flow is in one direction or in one plane, such as in the horizontal direction or horizontal plane which involves in general, two coordinates. If vertical flow is also present, the problem then is three dimensional and the effort required to reach convergence on a computer is correspondingly increased. If LSOR is employed in all three dimensions, the computer time (and cost) required is extremely high.
In view of the known prior art for modeling subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs and for solving the diffusivity equation on a computer, it is believed that a need exists to find a way to explore and find a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir by modeling of temperature and/or thermal anomalies within a geologic volume of the earth's crust which would include a cost effective and accurate method for solving a heat flow diffusivity equation.
Important aspects of the present invention are directed to meeting these needs.

Method for exploring for hydrocarbons utilizing three dimensional modeling of thermal anomalies


A flexible, low friction, rideable sliding toy is disclosed that slides over relatively smooth, firm surfaces with very low friction. The toy is comprised of a bag of flexible, air impermeable material having one or more relatively large holes cut out of the bottom of the bag where the bag contacts the floor when in use. The bag is inflated by allowing it to drop onto the floor, trapping air inside it as it lands. The outer edges of the hole form a relatively air-tight seal allowing the bag to retain its inflated state when laid upon by a user, thus permitting a user to propel himself over flat surfaces in a low friction manner.

One example of a sliding toy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,626, issued to Brian H. Nagamatsu on Mar. 9, 1967. The aforementioned patent describes a rigid, powered, ground effect toy which rides above the surface of the ground to provide what is described as a "ground effect vehicle". While Nagamatsu provides a low friction toy upon which users can ride over relatively smooth and regular surfaces, Nagamatsu nevertheless requires a source of power to provide air pressure to enable the device to operate, resulting in a relatively more complex and expensive toy. Moreover, Nagamatsu teaches a non-flexible toy, resulting in a larger embodiment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856 to Wegener describes another related but quite different invention. This patent teaches a powered, ground effect patient mover for emergency use in the field. This device makes use of a flexible plenum which surrounds a rigid planar backing. An externally powered air source generates sufficient pressure to inflate the plenum and expel air from small diameter perforations on the bottom at a rate which lifts the device entirely off the ground in order to move in a relatively friction free manner. However, this device does not rest on the ground nor seal the air within and so operates on different principles with different design requirements from the present invention to be described. Moreover, it once again requires a source of power, resulting in greater complexity and cost, and is relatively non-flexible, resulting in a larger embodiment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,893 to Mackie describes another related but quite different invention. This patent teaches a rigid topped, air impermeable load bearing air cushion. Various means are described to introduce air under higher pressure than within the air cushion from an external air source into the region centrally beneath the cushion. This higher pressure air lifts the cushion entirely above the underlying surface to allow frictionless travel in any direction. As before, however, Mackie requires a power source, and teaches a large non-flexible embodiment.


Multi-connectors for extendable conveyors are disclosed. An example multi-connector to connect an external component to an extendable conveyor is disclosed. The extendable conveyor is to convey articles and includes a base unit, a mechanically extendable section to be supported in a cantilevered manner and to be selectively positioned relative to the base unit, and a conveying surface to convey articles. The conveying surface is to extend at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section. The multi-connector includes a mechanical connection section to mechanically attach the external component, a fastening section to fasten the multi-connector to the extendable conveyor, and a functional/powered connection section to provide at least one of electric power or a vacuum supply to the external component.

The loading and unloading of packages from truck trailers or the like can be a physically challenging task for which extendable conveyors are used.
Extendable conveyors, such as described in WO 2006/068443 A1 and DE 10 2010 005 267 A1, have a base unit and multiple extendable conveyor sections which are nested within each other. The total length of the extendable conveyor can be adjusted by extending or retracting the nested extendable conveyor sections. The end of the extendable conveyor (e.g., the outmost extendable conveyor section) can move, for example, into a truck at a loading dock for loading or unloading goods. Such known extendable conveyors have a front light at the front of the outmost extendable conveyor section to illuminate the front area of the outmost conveyor section.
It is anticipated that the volume of loose-loaded goods being transported will continue to increase. Additionally, it is anticipated that attracting people to work in the loading and/or unloading zone will become more difficult as fewer people in later generations enter the labor market. Moreover, loading and/or unloading zones are typically cramped and the environment in the zones is uncomfortable. Thus, there is a need to make the loading and/or unloading zone or working area comfortable and to thereby make it attractive for personnel. Furthermore, the loading and/or unloading zone is a hazardous area and there is a risk that personnel may get hurt.


An atomizer spray plate including a body having an inlet surface and an exit surface, a swirl chamber within the body and adjacent to the inlet surface, an atomizer hole extending through the body from the swirl chamber to the exit surface, and a plurality of elongated protrusions upon the inlet surface extending radially from the swirl chamber, wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions define a plurality of venturi inlets to the swirl chamber between adjacent protrusions.

Atomizers are used in any number of applications to dispense or discharge fluids. For example, atomizers may be used for discharging fuel oil in an oil burner or boiler. Many different types of atomizers exist, one such type being a swirl atomizer. In swirl atomizers, liquid is generally directed into an atomizing nozzle or device having a swirl chamber. The liquid rotates in the swirl chamber and forms a thin conical sheet. The sheet is then directed via a hole or slot and breaks into ligaments and discrete particles or droplets upon exiting the nozzle. The droplets then mix with combustion air and evaporate and burn in a flame.
It is desired in oil burner applications to achieve an oil mist exiting the nozzle having fine fluid droplets. Decreasing the oil droplet size generally will reduce the unburned fuel carbon particles that contribute to the black opacity emission from the boiler or combustion device. One method for decreasing an atomizer's fluid droplet size is to provide increased liquid pressure to the atomizer. In swirl atomizers, the increased liquid pressure increases the angular velocity of the liquid within the swirl chamber and may result in a thinner film and hence a finer spray. However, typically substantial pressure must be provided to achieve an optimal droplet size. Achieving such high pressure adds significantly to the cost of atomization.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,495 to Döbbeling illustrates a high pressure atomizer having a liquid feed annulus, a plurality of straight radial supply ducts, and a turbulence chamber with an exit orifice. The liquid enters the turbulence chamber through the radial supply ducts where it impinges upon liquid entering from an opposing turbulence duct. This impingement creates a shearing action to atomize the liquid. While Döbbeling suggests that the atomizer achieves small droplet sizes, an inlet fluid pressure of approximately 2175 psig is required to do so.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,301 to Hurley et al. teaches an atomizer spray plate for discharging fuel oil. The atomizer taught by Hurley includes a cylindrical rear portion having a number of whirl slots to provide fuel oil with rotational energy to a whirl chamber. The atomizer taught by Hurley does not require the substantial inlet pressure of other prior art devices and thus provides a less costly means for atomization. However, the Hurley atomizer does not achieve the fluid droplet sizes provided by the high pressure atomizers.
It is therefore desired to provide an atomizer that provides fine fluid droplet sizes without the necessity for substantial inlet pressure.

Advanced mechanical atomization for oil burners


A reformer is provided which includes a micro reactor having a flow path for a fluid. A container accommodates the micro reactor and keeps an atmosphere on a periphery of the micro reactor at a pressure of not more than 1 Pa.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reformer or reforming apparatus which reforms a raw material to be reformed containing hydrocarbons, and further relates to a method for manufacturing the reformer and a power generation system comprising the reformer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, small-sized electronic devices such as portable telephones, notebook-sized personal computers, digital cameras, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and electronic diaries have been advanced and developed. Primary cells such as an alkaline dry cell and a manganese dry cell, and secondary cells such as a nickel-cadmium storage cell, a nickel-metal-hydride storage cell and a lithium ion battery are used as electric sources for the small-sized electronic devices. Energy has not always been effectively utilized if the primary cells and secondary cells are verified in terms of effective utilization of energy.
Therefore, fuel cells are keenly researched and developed to replace the primary cells and secondary cells, as the fuel cells can accomplish high efficiency of energy use. The fuel cell is a device which electrochemically reacts a fuel with oxygen in the atmosphere to directly draw electric energy from chemical energy. Hydrogen can be cited as the fuel used for the fuel cells, but has problems of handling and storage amount because it is gas at ordinary temperature. The fuel cell using a liquid fuel as the fuel includes types as follows: a reforming type which reacts the liquid fuel and high-temperature water vapor to draw hydrogen necessary for power generation, and a direct type which directly supplies the fuel to the fuel cell.
If the reforming type fuel cell is used as the power source for the small-sized electronic device, not only the fuel cell but also the reformer need to be small-sized. Therefore, small-sized reformers have been developed in recent years.
The reformer is a reactor which causes a reaction of predetermined chemical substances, and the inside of the reformer is heated to promote the reaction. In this case, the reformer is required to improve heat generation efficiency for its small size.
An advantage of the present invention is to effectively heat a reaction container to promote a reaction.

Reformer, method for manufacturing the reformer, and power generation system


Embodiments of systems and methods of etching material from the surface of a wafer are provided. In one representative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a fluid reservoir configured to receive a fluid including an etchant and one or more wafers in a cassette. The apparatus can further comprise a roller member in the fluid reservoir to frictionally engage the one or more wafers and to displace the one or more wafers with respect to a bottom portion of the cassette when the cassette is in the fluid reservoir. The apparatus can further comprise a motor outside the fluid reservoir and magnetically coupled to the roller member such that activation of the motor causes corresponding rotation of the roller member, and thereby rotation of the one or more wafers when the roller member is in frictional engagement with the one or more wafers.

Wet-etching can refer to the use of chemical baths to dissolve portions of a metal layer situated on a wafer. Wet-etching techniques are often simpler and less expensive than dry-etching or de-plating techniques, but can be highly isotropic, which can amplify surface irregularities on the wafers. Conventional wet-etching systems also typically suffer from poor chemical usage owing to the boundary layer established between the wafer surface and the chemical bath, which tends to restrict both the flow of spent etchant away from the wafer surface and the flow of fresh etchant against the wafer surface. Further, the cassettes or cassettes in which wafers are situated when in the chemical bath can restrict the flow of etchant against certain regions of the wafer surface, causing those regions to etch at different rates than other regions of the wafer surface. Accordingly, improvements to wet-etching systems are desirable.


Flexographic printing plates are mounted in precise registration on printing press cylinders for multicolor printing using a registration apparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus has a support on which a cylinder can be locked in fixed axial and circumferential position. A pair of pin holders slide on a bar parallel to the cylinder axis to set registration pins in precise positions relative to the surface of the cylinder. The bar moves toward the cylinder and places the pin bases on the cylinder surface so the plate is registered on the pins and adhered to the cylinder along the plate centerline and then across its back. The pin holders are set from a template that matches the plates. The locked pin holders and cylinder support allow additional plates to be similarly mounted on other cylinders in precisely corresponding positions, from their centerlines, with reduced error.

In multiple color printing, multiple step printing processes are employed in which different color components of multiple color images are separately imprinted onto the printing stock, usually paper, in a sequence of impressions with a series of separate plates or mats mounted onto separate cylinders of a press. Each of the mats imprints with an ink of a different color. Typically, four colors are employed. In such processes, it is important that the various plates be mounted on the cylinders in precise registration with each other so that the colors precisely align for the production of a high quality multicolor image.
In printing processes that use flexographic printing plates, or flexible photopolymer mats, the plates are usually secured to the cylinders with an adhesive such as a double backed tape, which holds the plates in position during printing. In mounting such plates, care must be taken to register the plates precisely in the same relative position on the respective cylinders. This registration process is often assisted with a mounting apparatus sometimes referred to as a registration system. These registration systems frequently employ pins that receive the mats by engaging a pair of holes made in the mats for registration purposes. The pins are locked into place on a mounting table, and the mats are transferred to the respective cylinders, one at a time, in what is intended to be the same relative position with respect to the respective cylinder. Inevitably, however, some error exists which will cause a slight misregistration of the colors on the printed work which detracts from or limits its quality.
Registration systems of the prior art have operated to engage the mats and transfer them to the print cylinders so as to register one edge of the plate along a line on the surface of the cylinder that is as close to being parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and as consistently located on the surface of the cylinder, as is possible with the equipment.
In such prior art systems, when the edge at one end of the mat is brought into contact with the cylinder surface, it is usually fastened to the surface first at this edge, and then progressively secured across its back surface to edge at its opposite end. In such a process, any error that exists in the registration of the first edge of the mat progressively increases around the cylinder with the distance from the edge of the mat that was first secured.
In one prior art system, it has been proposed to register the mats, begin securing the mats, from their centers. Such system employs pins mountable in holes predrilled into the cylinders to register with holes in the mats. This system has proved impractical because (1) it requires precise location of the holes in the mats to some predetermined positions or spacing, (2) it requires the drilling of multiple sets of holes in the cylinders to accommodate mats of different sizes, and (3) restricts the positioning of the holes in the mats to those of predetermined dimensions and spacing. These disadvantages make it most impractical to mount more than one mat at a time to a cylinder.
The systems of the prior art have been prone to error in the mounting of the plates on the cylinders, have required practice and skill in mounting the plates, and often consume excessive time and repetitive attempts to precisely mount the plates.
The prior art has not provided a flexographic mat registration system and method that is more precise and more practical than those set forth above. Accordingly, there is a need for a more precise, easier to use, and more flexible plate registration method and apparatus.

Pin register mounter and method of mounting flexographic plates


A structure and method for forming raised source/drain structures in a NFET device and embedded SiGe source/drains in a PFET device. We provide a NFET gate structure over a NFET region in a substrate and PFET gate structure over a PFET region. We provide NFET SDE regions adjacent to the NFET gate and provide PFET SDE regions adjacent to the PFET gate. We form recesses in the PFET region in the substrate adjacent to the PFET second spacers. We form a PFET embedded source/drain stressor in the recesses. We form a NFET S/D epitaxial Si layer over the NFET SDE regions and a PFET S/D epitaxial Si layer over PFET embedded source/drain stressor. The epitaxial Si layer over PFET embedded source/drain stressor is consumed in a subsequent salicide step to form a stable and low resistivity silicide over the PFET embedded source/drain stressor. We perform a NFET S/D implant by implanting N-type ions into NFET region adjacent to the NFET gate structure and into the NFET S/D stressor Si layer to form the raised NFET source/drains.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices and methods for the fabrication of semiconductor devices and more particularly to the fabrication of Field Effect Transistors (FETs) having embedded Source/Drain regions and FETs having raised S/D regions.
2) Description of the Prior Art
It is now well-established that raised source/drain (S/D) structures and embedded SiGe (eSiGe) are useful techniques to enhance device performance. However, both techniques involve complicated processes compared to a normal CMOS process flow. Especially for eSiGe, besides the additional process needed for Si recess and epitaxial growth in the PFET S/D region, the eSiGe scheme needs additional process to protect the poly-Si gate as well. It is also extremely difficult to integrate eSiGe in the PFET while having raised S/D structures in the NFET.
The importance of overcoming the various deficiencies noted above is evidenced by the extensive technological development directed to the subject, as documented by the relevant patent and technical literature. The closest and apparently more relevant technical developments in the patent literature can be gleaned by considering the following patents.
US20050035409A1: Structure and method of a strained channel transistor and a second semiconductor component in an integrated circuit—Semiconductor chip for use in semiconductor integrated circuit, comprises semiconductor substrate having first and second active regions, resistor formed in first active region, and strained channel transistor formed in second active region. Inventor: Ko, Chih-Hsin; Kaohsiung, Taiwan
US20050079692A1: Methods to fabricate MOSFET devices using selective deposition process—Fabrication of silicon-based device on substrate surface involves depositing first and second silicon-containing layers by exposing to specified first and second process gases, respectively Inventor: Samoilov, Arkadii V.; Sunn
U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,635: Strained silicon NMOS devices with embedded source/drain—Formation of n-type field effect transistor involves removing silicon germanide material outside transistor body and below strained silicon layer and replacing the removed material with epitaxial silicon. Inventor: Chidambarrao, Dureseti
U.S. Pat. No. 6,861,318: Semiconductor transistor having a stressed channel—Semiconductor transistor for integrated circuits, comprises source and drain formed in source and drain recesses, respectively, source and/or drain being made of film material, which is formed to have second lattice having second spacing Inventor: Murthy, Anand; The patent shows a process for recessed S/D SiGe regions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,347: Method of making recessed source drains to reduce fringing capacitance—Manufacture of semiconductor device involves forming source and drain regions that are recessed at prescribed depth below semiconductor substrate surface
Inventor: Huster, Carl
U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,883: Strained SOI MOSFET device and method of fabricating same—MOSFET device as e.g. large-scale integration circuit comprises first MOSFET with silicon layer in first region serving as strained silicon channel and second MOSFET with silicon epitaxial layer serving as silicon channel—Inventor: Okihara, Masao; Tokyo, Japan
Gene Fitzgerald, "A quick primer on strained silicon", URL: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18100036 (Feb. 23, 2004 12:00 PM EST) discusses boron doped SiGe epitaxy processes.

Formation of raised source/drain structures in NFET with embedded SiGe in PFET

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)


A rotatable handgrip shifting device (10) that is mountable on a bicycle handlebar and connected to a bicycle gear changing mechanism by a cable within a tube and reversibly operable at discrete shift points corresponding to the gears of the bicycle gear changing mechanism. The shifting device (10) includes a handgrip (34) rotatable about the handlebar, a spool (30) rotatable with the handgrip (34) and a housing (12) that secures the shifting device (10) to the handlebar. The housing (12) includes a gear display (18) denoting a plurality of discrete shift points of the gear changing mechanism. A flexible member (40) includes at one end a pointer (44) and a spool tab (42) at another end. The pointer (44) is reciprocally displaceable along the gear display (18) in response to rotation of the handgrip (34). The spool tab (42) is removably attachable to the spool (30) or the handgrip (34) and configured such that the flexible member (40) spools at a radius permitting alignment of the pointer (44) with the plurality of discrete shift points denoted on the gear display (18).

Bicycle gear shifting systems include a shifting device connected by a cable within a tube to a gear changing device such as a derailleur or an internal gear hub. Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,476,019, 5,524,501, and 5,662,000, also owned by the assignee of this invention, and are incorporated herein. In conventional bicycle gear shifting systems, the spacing of the detent notches is generally dictated by the gear changing mechanism used. Typically, a gear changing mechanism that doubles the spacing of the detent notches may double the stroke of the pointer along the display of a gear indicator, thereby lengthening the display window. It is therefore beneficial to create a gear indicator mechanism allowing control of the stroke of the pointer along the display regardless of the particular gear changing mechanism used.