Compression coding may be used with forward error correction (FEC) coding to provide higher information rates by reducing the proportion of redundant bits relative to information bits that are transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver. In one example, first determiners and second determiners are calculated from a set of information bits, where each first determiner is calculated from a different first subset of the information bits along a first dimension, and each second determiner is calculated from a different second subset of the information bits along a second dimension that differs from the first dimension. First and second nubs are calculated from the first and second determiners, respectively, each nub comprising a number of redundant bits that is less than the number of bits in the determiners from which the nub is calculated. The information bits and the nubs are transmitted over one or more communications channels.

In communications, a transmitter uses a particular modulation format to map bits of data to symbols, which it then transmits as a signal over a communications channel to a receiver. The receiver applies an inverse process of demodulation to the received signal to produce estimates of the symbols, the data bits, or both. During its transmission over the channel, the signal may experience noise and/or distortion. Noise and/or distortion may also be contributed to the signal by components of the transmitter and/or receiver. The noise and/or distortion experienced by the signal may lead to errors in the symbols or bits recovered at the receiver.
The reliability of a communications channel may be characterised by the Bit Error Ratio or Bit Error Rate (BER), which measures the ratio of the expected number of erroneously received bits (or symbols) to the total number of bits (or symbols) that are transmitted over the communications channel. A given application may have a maximum BER tolerance. For example, an application may require that the BER not exceed 10−16.
Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques may be used to reduce the BER. FEC encoding performed at a transmitter maps input information bits to FEC-encoded bits, which include redundant information, such as parity or check symbols. When a systematic FEC code is employed, the FEC-encoded bits output from the FEC encoder consist of redundant bits and the information bits that were input to the FEC encoder. FEC decoding subsequently performed at a receiver uses the redundant information to detect and correct bit errors. In an optical communication network using FEC, the bits of data that undergo modulation at the transmitter have already been FEC-encoded. Similarly, the demodulation performed at the receiver is followed by FEC decoding.
FEC is advantageous in that it may permit error control without the need to resend data packets. However, this is at the cost of increased overhead. The amount of overhead or redundancy added by a FEC encoder may be characterized by the information rate R, where R is defined as the ratio of the amount of input information to the amount of data that is output after FEC encoding (which includes the overhead). For example, if FEC encoding adds 25% overhead, then for every four information bits that are to be FEC-encoded, the FEC encoding will add 1 bit of overhead, resulting in 5 FEC-encoded data bits to be transmitted to the receiver. This corresponds to an information rate R=4/5=0.8.
A variety of techniques for FEC encoding and decoding are known. The combination of a FEC encoding technique and the corresponding FEC decoding technique are herein referred to as a "FEC scheme." Stronger FEC schemes provide better protection (i.e., better error detection and correction) by adding more redundancy. However, this is at the expense of a lower information rate. Circuitry to implement stronger FEC schemes may also take up more space, may be more costly, and may produce more heat than circuitry to implement weaker (i.e., higher-rate) FEC schemes.
A FEC scheme may be implemented using hard decision FEC decoding or soft decision FEC decoding. In hard decision FEC decoding, using BPSK as an illustrative example, a firm decoding decision is made by comparing a received signal to a threshold; anything above the threshold is decoded as "1" and anything below the threshold is decoded as "0". In soft decision FEC decoding, additional probability bits are used to provide a more granular indication of the received signal; in addition to determining whether the incoming signal is "1" or "0" based on the threshold, the soft decision FEC decoding also provides an indication of confidence in the decision. While soft decision FEC decoding is more robust than hard decision FEC decoding, it is also more complicated to implement.
A FEC scheme may be selected to satisfy a desired BER tolerance. For example, a hard decision FEC scheme may take input bits having a maximum BER of 10−4, (i.e., 1 bit error for each 10000-bit block), and may produce output bits having a maximum BER of 10−16 (10−12 bit errors for each 10000-bit block). It is of interest to maximize the information rate, while satisfying a desired BER tolerance.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,537,608 describes a FEC technique referred to as staggered parity, in which parity vectors are computed such that each parity vector spans a set of frames; a subset of bits of each frame is associated with parity bits in each parity vector; and a location of parity bits associated with one frame in one parity vector is different from that of parity bits associated with the frame in another parity vector.

Forward error correction with compression coding


A passing lamp assembly for a motorcycle. A mount arm extends between opposite end portions and is mounted below the headlight of a motorcycle. A spherical element having a through-hole passing therethrough is formed at the mount arm end portions. Passing lamps are pivotally mounted above the spherical elements by stems attached to the lamps and passing through the spherical elements. Spherical washers are mounted around the stem between the passing lamp and the spherical element, and between the underside of the spherical element and a fastener. First and second turn signals are mounted below the spherical elements by turn signal mounts and are not pivotally movable relative to the mount arm. The turn signal mounts conceal mounting hardware for the passing lamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to motorcycles and, more particularly, relates to an assembly for mounting passing lamps to a motorcycle.
2. Description of Related Art
Saddle-type vehicles such as motorcycles are typically provided with a headlight to provide illumination at night and under low-lighting conditions. Turn signal lights to signal left and right turns are also typically provided. Other types of lighting, such as passing lamps, may also be added as accessories in order to provide greater or different (i.e. fog conditions) amounts of illumination, as well as to enhance the appearance of the motorcycle.
Mounting multiple and various sources of illumination to a motorcycle is problematic due to the limited mounting area and surfaces available on a motorcycle. Bracket-type mounting assemblies have been provided to which both turn signals and passing lamps may be mounted. Known assemblies, however, suffer from various drawbacks. Usually, the mounted lamps or lights are fixed relative to the mount and cannot be adjusted. Where adjustable, the means for adjusting the lamps have been difficult to access and have not provided a great range of adjustment. Moreover, the mounting hardware and wiring associated with the extra lamps/lights is typically not well-concealed.


This invention provides a novel family of plant phosphatases. Further provided are nucleic acids and nucleic acid constructs encoding the genes for plant phosphatases, cells containing the nucleic acids described and transgenic photosynthetic organisms with altered phosphate metabolism.

Phosphorus is a major mineral nutrient essential to the growth and reproduction of photosynthetic organisms. Plants grown under natural soil conditions often experience sub-optimal growth because of inorganic phosphate (Pi) deprivation. Because crop productivity is strongly influenced by the availability of phosphorus, phosphate fertilizers are used to supplement the natural soil levels. However, excess phosphorus upsets the natural balance of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems which border agricultural lands. Further, it is estimated that the mineral sources of phosphorus for the production of fertilizers will become severely depleted within fifteen years. Even a modest increase in the efficiency of plants to utilize phosphorus would make a significant contribution to the reduction of agricultural expenditures by producers and lower the impact on untilled ecosystems.
Phosphatase activity (orthophosphate-monoester phosphohydrolase) has been observed in all plants and in all tissues. Phosphatases are involved in the routine turnover of Pi from the many intracellular sources of orthophosphate esters (Hollander, 1971). Certain phosphatases exhibit phosphate-stress induction (psi) and are implicated in Pi acquisition through the release of Pi from the environment or from intracellular sources. Typically, these psi phosphatases are abundant and active toward a broad range of substrates. In contrast, the expression of phosphatases involved in cellular and metabolic regulation is generally discrete and tightly regulated.
Defined according to their pH optima, there are two types of phosphatases. The acid phosphatase (APase) and alkaline phosphatase subclasses are structurally distinct and undergo different reaction mechanisms (Kim and Wyckoff, 1989; Neuman, 1968). Alkaline phosphatases tend to demonstrate specificity toward a particular substrate whereas APases usually have no absolute substrate preference.
A major response to phosphate-deficiency involves the induction of phosphatase activity. Because the phosphoesters or polyphosphates found in soil cannot directly be assimilated by plant roots, Pi must be released from these compounds by phosphatase-mediated hydrolysis. Under phosphate-deficient conditions, increased acid phosphatase activity has been demonstrated in a number of plant species (Lefebvre et al, 1990; Dracup et al, 1984; Lefebvre and Glass, 1982). APases that respond in this manner are produced de novo and are secreted to the external cell wall environment in roots (Szabo-Nagy et al, 1987) and cell cultures (Duff et al, 1991a; Lefebvre et al, 1990). Controlling the expression of plant APases could result in crops with an enhanced capacity for phosphate uptake and lower fertilization requirements.
APases have been identified in every plant species tested and a number have been characterized (Duff et al, 1994). A species survey using antibodies raised against a Brassica nigra APase suggests a major family of closely related APases exists among plants (Duff et al, 1991b). A plant APase gene has been isolated that codes for a storage protein-related phosphatase (Erion et al, 1992); however, this enzyme is distinct from the major family of APases in both structure and function. No genes encoding members of the major family of plant phosphatases have been reported.
Detailed knowledge of the plant phosphatases which affect the uptake and metabolism of phosphorus is essential to understand phosphate metabolism and to manipulate the growth and reproduction of photosynthetic organisms for commercial or industrial purposes. Further, the identification and synthesis of the genes which encode plant phosphatases would allow the development of transgenic photosynthetic organisms for many purposes.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for making precise velocity measurements of a spacecraft using a two-way noncoherent Doppler tracking system. The received uplink and transmitted downlink frequencies on-board the spacecraft are compared with the resulting information being included in the downlink signal and used to cancel spacecraft oscillator drift rate effects in the two-way Doppler measurement made by the ground station. The information can also be used to characterize the drift rate of the spacecraft oscillator, thus permitting periods of accurate one-way Doppler tracking by the ground station. To improve accuracy, the times at which the measurements comprising the information would have been observed on the ground are inferred from the measurement of a signal generated by the spacecraft, e.g., the telemetry frame start times, made by the ground station.

Since the first man-made satellites were flown in the late 1950s, navigation accuracy has been a fundamental performance parameter for space missions. Over the years, many techniques have been used for tracking spacecraft, with the most popular based upon measurement of the Doppler shift of the radio signals from the spacecraft. From observation of the Doppler shift profile of a spacecraft as it passes over a ground station, and from knowledge of the ground station location, the orbital elements of the spacecraft can be estimated.
The simplest radio navigation technique depends on one-way Doppler tracking using an on-board oscillator to produce a beacon that can be tracked from the ground. Early spacecraft depended on this approach. Often the beacon signal was modulated with data to provide for telemetry transmission as well. The ultimate accuracy of such one-way techniques, however, was limited by the stability of the on-board oscillator.
During the 1960s, the development of two-way coherent transponders virtually eliminated the oscillator stability problem because a highly accurate ground-based oscillator such as a hydrogen maser could be used as the frequency reference. Since their introduction, coherent transponders have been used in many spacecraft missions, with extensive ground station infrastructure built around their use. Examples include the Air Force Space-Ground Link Subsystem, the NASA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network, and the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN).
(Note: Throughout the discussion herein, the subscripts "t" and "r" will refer to the signals transmitted and received by the ground station. The subscripts "u" and "d" will refer to the uplink and downlink signals at the spacecraft. The signals at the ground differ from those at the spacecraft due to the propagation time. All times will be referenced to a clock on the ground, even when the discussion deals with events taking place on the spacecraft.)
In a conventional two-way, coherent spacecraft navigation implementation, the ground station transmits a carrier with phase EQU .phi..sub.t (t)=2.pi.f.sub.t t (1)
where t is time and f.sub.t is the ground station transmit frequency. The transponder turnaround ratio is .zeta., so the phase of the carrier received on the ground from the spacecraft is EQU .phi..sub.r.sup.coh (t)=.zeta..phi..sub.t (t-.rho.(t))=2.pi..zeta.f.sub.t [t-.rho.(t)] (2)
where .rho.(t) is the round-trip light time for a signal received at time t. This light time will depend on the spacecraft position (relative to the ground station) at the time of the transponder turnaround. This position will not, in general, be the position of the satellite at time t due a combination of satellite travel, Earth rotation, and movement of the Earth's center through space.
The ground station generates a reference signal based on the turnaround ratio and measures a Doppler phase that is the difference of this reference and the received phase. This Doppler phase is EQU .phi..sub.Dop.sup.coh (t)=.zeta..phi..sub.t (t)-.phi..sub.r.sup.coh (t)=2.pi..zeta.f.sub.t .rho.(t) (3)
The change in the Doppler phase over some period of time is then related to the change in the round-trip light time as EQU .DELTA..phi..sub.Dop.sup.coh (t)=2.pi..zeta.f.sub.t .DELTA..rho.(t)(4)
This is the basic metric of coherent navigation. A change in the Doppler phase indicates a change in the round-trip light time, and therefore a change in the spacecraft position relative to the ground station.
While coherent tracking has proven very effective, it restricts the architecture choices for the communications hardware. Coherent transponders are typically heavy and expensive. The coherency requirement is a barrier to the renewed interest in simple transceiver-based communication systems that has been generated by the present-day emphasis on smaller, lower cost satellite missions.
For a noncoherent measurement, the phase of the signal transmitted by the spacecraft is not coherent with the uplink signal, but is a multiple, .alpha., of the spacecraft reference oscillator phase, .phi..sub.0 (t). The phase received by the ground station is EQU .phi..sub.r.sup.non (t)=.alpha..phi..sub.0 (t-.rho.(t)/2) (5)
where we have subtracted only the one-way light time from the argument of the phase reference because this phase has experienced only one-way travel.
Because we have a noncoherent system, the change in phase of the signal received on the ground will differ from what would occur with the use of a coherent system. This can result in an unacceptable error if the difference cannot be accurately removed from the measurement. Over the years, several noncoherent Doppler tracking techniques have been developed including one-way Doppler, difference Doppler, and two-way noncoherent Doppler using a subcarrier. These techniques either require highly stable oscillators (one-way Doppler), multiple ground stations (differenced Doppler), or changes to the ground station configuration (subcarrier tracking).
What is needed is a method and apparatus for two-way noncoherent navigation that provides cancellation of spacecraft oscillator drift effects and is compatible with existing ground station equipment. It must also provide accuracy equivalent to present-day two-way coherent systems (<0.1 mm/second).

Method and apparatus for precise noncoherent doppler tracking of a spacecraft


A tape type binding apparatus includes a cutter portion formed in a U-shape inside which a paper staple is held, a paper table formed with a drawing hole through which cutter blades of the cutter portion can be inserted, a pair of pressing members arranged on respective sides of the drawing hole, and a pressing piece arranged below the center of the drawing hole. The cutter blades and leg portions of the paper staple penetrate a stack of sheets placed on the paper table by moving down the cutter portion, the pair of pressing members folds the leg portions of the paper staple to inner sides by moving toward the center of the drawing hole through rectangular holes formed on respective cutter blades, and the pressing piece presses and bonds the folded leg portions by relatively moving up with respect to the paper table.

Conventionally, a stapler is used when simply binding a stack of papers. However, when recycling the papers bound with staples made of metal lines, the mixed staples needs to be removed. Also when disposing such a stack of stapled papers, it is preferable to separate the staples from the papers in view of environmental protection. Nevertheless, extra time and labor is required for such a separating work.
As a proposal for dispensing with such time and labor, there a binding apparatus which binds a stack of papers by a paper made adhesive tape in stead of a metal staple (see, e.g., JP-A-8-039959 and JP-A-10-000871). The binding apparatus uses a paper made adhesive tape roll, and includes a slider having a clamp plate for clamping papers and a lift type cutter portion above a paper table which is similar to a general desktop stapler.
The paper made adhesive tape roll includes a predetermined length (a length used in a single binding operation) of paper made adhesive tapes and a release tape on which the paper made adhesive tapes are continuously stuck. A front end portion of the adhesive tape is set such that it is erected from a lower side of the paper table to an upper side, and such that an adhering face thereof is opposed to an end face of the stack of sheets of paper placed on the paper table.
When an edge portion of the stack of papers is held by the clamp plate of the slider, and then the slider and the stack of papers are slid toward a front side, the end face of the stack of papers is comes into contact with the adhering face of the adhesive tape.
Next, when the cutter portion is moved down, a pressing member integral with the cutter portion presses a front end portion of the adhesive tape to an upper face of the edge portion of the stack of papers, and a blade of the cutter portion penetrates through a vicinity of the edge portion of the stack of papers from the upper side to the lower side.
Further, by pressing the adhesive tape with a front end of the blade, a rear portion of the adhesive tape for the first single binding is released from the release paper. A rectangular hole is formed near the front end of the blade, and the released rear portion end of the adhesive tape moves into the rectangular hole by an elastic recovery force. Accordingly, the released rear end of the adhesive tape is brought into a state of penetrating the blade in a front and rear direction.
Subsequently, when the cutter portion is released from being pressed manually, the cutter portion moves up by a spring, thereby pulling up the rear portion of the adhesive tape caught by the blade through a cut hole of the stack of papers and to an upper face side of the stack of papers along with the blade. When the blade moves up further, the rear portion of the adhesive tape is drawn from the rectangular hole of the blade, and the rear portion of the adhesive tape is erected.
Finally, when the slider and the stack of papers are moved back, the rear portion of the adhesive tape is squeezed by a roller arranged above the paper table, and the rear portion of the adhesive tape is adhered on top of the front end portion of the adhesive tape which has already been stuck to the stack of papers, thereby finishing the binding process.
However, according to such binding apparatuses using the paper made adhesive tape, one binding process is carried out by holding and sliding the papers with the clamp plate of the slider toward the front side, moving down the cutter portion, and thereafter, sliding the slider and the papers to a rear side. Accordingly, a number of operating steps is required, and therefore, improvements should be made in terms of operability and swiftness.
Further, one side of the adhesive tape is provided with an adhesive layer on an entire face thereof so that the adhesive tape is stuck on a surface of the papers. Therefore, there is another problem in that, when unbinding the stack of stapled papers, it is difficult to release the adhesive tape without damaging the papers.

Tape type binding apparatus and paper staple


An apparatus for fluid treatment of a borehole, the apparatus allowing initial outflow injection of fluids into a wellbore in which it is installed and then is actuable to allow fluid inflow control. The apparatus includes: a tubular body, a first port and a second port opened through the wall of the tubular body, the second port having a fluid inflow controller positioned to control the flow of fluid into the tubular body through the port, a sliding sleeve valve in the tubular body moveable from (i) a first position closing the first port and the second port to (ii) a second position closing the second port and permitting fluid flow through the first port and to (iii) a third position closing the first port and permitting fluid flow through the second port; a sleeve actuator for actuating the sliding sleeve valve to move from the first position to the second position in response to a force applied thereto; a releasable lock for locking the sliding sleeve valve in the first position and selected to maintain the sliding sleeve valve in the first position after the force is removed; and a lock release mechanism configured to actuate the releasable lock to release the sliding sleeve valve to move into the third position.

An oil or gas well relies on inflow of petroleum products. When natural inflow from the well is not economical, the well may require wellbore treatment termed stimulation. This is accomplished by pumping stimulation fluids such as fracturing fluids, acid, cleaning chemicals and/or proppant laden fluids to improve wellbore inflow.
In one previous method, the well is isolated in segments and one or more segments are individually treated so that concentrated and controlled fluid treatment can be provided along the wellbore by injecting the wellbore stimulation fluids from a tubing string through a port in the segment and into contact with the formation. After wellbore fluid treatment, the stimulation fluids are sometimes allowed to back flow from the formation into the wellbore tubing string. Thereafter, fluids are produced from the formation. In some embodiments, the produced fluids also enter the tubing string for flow to the surface. Such wellbore treatment systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,748,460 and 7,543,634 and PCT application PCT/CA2009/000599.
It may be advantageous in certain circumstances to control the inflow of produced fluids. For example, it may be advantageous to screen the produced fluids before they enter the tubing string. In addition or alternately, the produced fluids may require flow rate control, as by use of chokes including devices called inflow control devices (ICD).
Where a wellbore frac tool also provides for inflow control, it is useful if fracing fluids not be forced out through the same ports that offer inflow control.


In accordance with one aspect of the present disclose, a conveyor system for a cold planer is provided. The convey system may have a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a folding mechanism, and a belt tensioner. The second conveyor may have a first and a second conveyor sections, and the second conveyor section is vertically movable relative to the first conveyor section by the folding mechanism from a folded to an unfolded position, and while in the unfolded position.

Cold planer machines are a type of road construction vehicle and generally include a machine frame and a cutting drum rotatably mounted on the machine frame. The cutting drum facilitates removing material from a roadbed, such as asphalt. The machine also includes a conveyor used for transporting the asphalt to a discharge location such as a truck bed of a dump truck. They conveyor typically has a first section connected to the main frame and a second section that is pivotally connected to the first section, and the conveyor is adapted to be folded for transportation of the cold planer between job sites. The conveyor is folded by pivotally moving the second section with respect to the first section, such that, the second section is folded from
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0218762, entitled "Automotive Milling Machine, and a Method for Unloading Milled Material" discloses an automotive milling machine. The automotive milling machine of the '762 patent application publication includes a transport conveyor pivotable relative to a machine frame and a controller that has a detection and control system. Furthermore, the control system is used to continuously locate an alterable position of a transport vehicle and continuously control position on the point of impingement of the milled material onto the transport vehicle.
However, there is still a need for an effective way to adjust the tensioning system of a conveyor to accommodate for a hinge movement and automatically adjusting a conveying angle.

Trajectory control of discharge conveyor


A shoulder strap with integral organizer enclosure for attachment to luggage and the like. The enclosure has several zippered compartments for holding personal items which are frequently needed during travel. When worn over the shoulder, the enclosure is disposed to one side of the a wearer's chest which makes the enclosure easily accessible to the wearer without requiring removal of the strap from the shoulder, even if the wearer has only one free hand. Additionally, the enclosure's location over the chest allows the user to easily monitor the pocket and its contents for peace of mind. The shoulder strap with integral organizer enclosure can also be worn around the waist as a utility pouch.

Travellers often carry an assortment of personal articles with them. These articles commonly include airline boarding passes, passports, glasses, pens and pencils, calendars, wallets, reading materials, medication, and the like. It is often inconvenient to carry so many items in clothes pockets, so the items are placed in carry-on luggage and briefcases. However, in the airport and on the airplane, it can be difficult to safely access carry-on luggage to remove these items. Producing a boarding pass is especially difficult for travellers with their hands full of carry-on luggage hurrying to board the airplane.
A small pouch mounted on the shoulder strap of the luggage is one solution to this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,308 to Gautier discloses a packet fastened to the strap of a lady's handbag and U.S. Pat. No. 2,745,456 to Rubin discloses a coin purse attached to the carrying strap of a purse. Neither of these addresses the problems faced by travellers, as previously described. A third invention, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,761, consists of a bag with a shoulder strap wherein the shoulder strap is comprised partially of a conventional adjustable strap and partially of a long soft tubular enclosure. The strap and the enclosure clip together and can be worn over the shoulder to support the bag. As disclosed, the strap extends from the front of the bag diagonally upward across the wearer's chest while the tubular enclosure extends from the rear of the bag diagonally upward across the person's back. No provision is made for access to the tubular enclosure without removing the strap from the shoulder. In this invention, the weight of the bag is partially supported by the tubular enclosure, which can cause the enclosure to deform.


A theft and tamper resistant vehicle interior is disclosed. The front compartment of the vehicle interior has a concealed mode and an operating mode. During the concealed mode, multiple components, including a display region, a gear shifter, a center armrest, a side armrest, and a central control module may be completely or partially hidden from view. During the operating mode, each of these components may be revealed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of vehicle interiors including vehicle controls and gauges, and more particularly to a theft and tamper resistant vehicle interior in which many elements are concealed in a default condition and revealed only when actuated into an operating condition.
2. Background of the Invention
In general, the basic considerations in vehicle interior design are the safety and comfort of the driver and passengers. For the front seat compartment, where the majority of the controls and instruments are located for operation by the driver or front seat passenger, more attention has been paid to the need for ergonomic controls and instruments. Most vehicle manufacturers have offered different instrument layouts and different types of controls including voice activated ones in an attempt to facilitate operation of the vehicle. With an increased array of electronic components and features in vehicles, a challenge has been to design an instrument panel that enables easy access to and operation of all of the onboard features, without being too complicated, appearing too cluttered, or requiring excessive user operation of the onboard computer system.
Another factor in vehicle interior design has been vehicle security as theft and vandalism to vehicles is always a concern. Most often security revolves around alarm systems, locks, electronic component lock-outs, and ways to keep easily stolen components and personal valuables out of view. This focus has resulted in many vehicle interiors designed with storage compartments for locking away valuables, and even audio components which have removable and stowable front faces that can be stored out of plain sight. In an effort to thwart would-be thieves, some audio components are fixed in place but almost hidden from view requiring, ironically, undue searching even by the authorized user.
In most instances, the driver controls and gauges are arrayed in some format on the dashboard with the gauges protected by a glass covering or the like. Sometimes LCD or LED displays are used. The displays and gauges are generally in plain view on the dashboard, and can provide a passerby information about the electronic components in the vehicle. For example, a relatively large rectangular LCD screen on the dashboard usually signals the presence of a navigation system. Such components may be the prey for would-be thieves, and most vehicles have such displays in plain view.
With the increased complexity and proliferation of electronic devices, on-board computer systems and other vehicle options, there is an ongoing need to simplify and streamline the presentation of information and availability of controls to the driver. With the increased number of devices that must be controlled or whose operational status must be displayed, there is a need to more closely manage the very limited real estate of an instrument panel. There is a need for a vehicle that includes provisions for reducing the visibility and operability of large panel displays and other electronic or mechanical components when the vehicle is not running without minimizing the visibility of these components during times when the driver needs to use them. Additionally, there is a need for anti-theft provisions that do not detract from the general aesthetic appeal and ergonomics the vehicle.

Theft and tamper resistant vehicle interior


Provided is a method of performing web browsing in a video display device. The method includes: displaying on a screen a first object that displays a video of a broadcast signal received through a tuner and a second object that includes at least one application; selecting a web browsing application in the second object; displaying on a screen a web browser including thumbnail images corresponding to a plurality of web pages, respectively, in response to the selection of the application; selecting at least one of the thumbnail images in the web browser; and displaying a web page corresponding to the selected thumbnail image.

Recently, digital TV services using a wired or wireless communication network are widely spread. The digital TV services may provide various services that typical analog broadcasting services cannot provide.
For example, in the case of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, i.e. one type of the digital TV services, it provides interactive contents to allow a user actively select the type and viewing time of a program. The IPTV service may provide various additional services such as internet search, home shopping, and online gaming, on the basis of such an interactivity.

Web-browsing method, and image display device using same


In three-dimensional graphics rendering, a method of texture mapping, or shading, applies to triangle-based graphical objects having undergone a perspective transformation. The present invention makes use of linear interpolation for determining the appropriate mapping for the interior points of each triangle, thus reducing the computation-intensive mathematical calculations otherwise required. In order to minimize visual artifacts due to high interpolation errors, the borders of each triangle are tested against a predetermined threshold, and the triangle subdivided if any of the borders contain a maximum error which exceeds the threshold. The subdivision continues until all triangle sides have maximum errors that are less than the threshold value. Linear interpolation is then used to determine all mappings for the sides and interior points of the triangle. In alternative embodiments, the triangle is subdivided without using recursive methods. In one non-recursive method, the entire triangle is subdivided uniformly based on the necessary number of segments into which the triangle sides must be broken to keep the maximum error below the threshold. In another non-recursive method, w-isosceles triangles are subdivided into trapezoids, each of which is then subdivided into w-isosceles, and mostly geometrically isosceles, triangles.

In the field of computer graphics, it is commonplace to render three-dimensional objects in "object space" using a set of polygons. For simplicity, the polygons used are typically triangles, and other polygon shapes are usually broken down into triangles using an available method such as Delauney triangulation. Thus, an object may consist of a set of contiguous triangles each of which is positioned in three-dimensional space relative to the others such that together they form the shape of the desired object. Each of the triangles has a set of Cartesian coordinate values for each of its vertices. These coordinate sets uniquely define the location and orientation of the triangle in three-dimensional space.
Typically, in addition to the Cartesian coordinates, each triangle vertex is also defined by values indicating its surface characteristic, such as texture map coordinates (u,v) for texture mapping, red, green, blue color values (r,g,b,) for Gouraud shading, or vertex normal N (having x,y,z coordinates) for Phong shading. When displaying a three-dimensional object built from triangles, each triangle must first be transformed from the three-dimensional coordinate system to a homogeneous coordinate system. This is typically achieved using a perspective transformation, which results in a homogeneous coordinate value for each of the triangle vertices. That is, the transformation results in each triangle vertex being represented by horizontal and vertical display coordinates (x,y) (the z value is usually also retained for making visibility determinations), as well as the homogeneous coordinate w and surface values, such as texture map coordinates (u,v).
Depending on the application, a triangle may be shaded and/or texture mapped. Whether the shading is Gouraud shading or Phong shading, the shading process is very similar to that of texture mapping, and both contribute to the determination of a color for each pixel within the triangle. In both texture mapping and shading, a value, or values, indicative of pixel color must be assigned to each pixel of the triangle as defined in its homogeneous coordinate system. Typically, this is done by dividing the triangle into horizontal spans, each of which is one pixel width in the vertical direction, determining texture mapping or shading values for the end points of the span, and thereafter the values for the pixels in between. This process is described below for texture mapping, but is similar for the determinations of values for Gouraud or Phong shading.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a triangle 10 having three vertices P.sub.0, P.sub.1, P.sub.2, each of which is uniquely defined by its own set of values (x,y,z,w,u,v). For a given span, such as span 12 shown in the figure, the values for each of the pixels in the span must then be determined. Each pixel is defined by its three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z), and by its value w found from the perspective transformation. However, the values of u and v needed for texture mapping must thereafter be calculated using w. This calculation process makes use of the values at the ends of the span containing the pixel, and very similar calculations would be used to determine r, g, b, or N for shading operations.
Referring again to FIG. 1, if vertex P.sub.0 is defined by the values (x.sub.0, y.sub.0, z.sub.0, w.sub.0, u.sub.0, v.sub.0), and vertex P.sub.1 is defined by the values (x.sub.1, y.sub.1, z.sub.1, w.sub.1, u.sub.1, v.sub.1), the desired values for endpoint P.sub.3 of span 12 may be found from the values for P.sub.0 and P.sub.1. P.sub.3 has Cartesian coordinates x.sub.3 and y.sub.3, and homogeneous coordinate w.sub.3 may be determined as follows: EQU w.sub.3 =(1-t)w.sub.0 +tw.sub.1
the value of u.sub.3 for P.sub.3 may be calculated as follows: EQU u.sub.3 =((1-t)u.sub.0 /w.sub.0 +tu.sub.1 /w.sub.1)/((1-t)/w.sub.0 +t/w.sub.1)
where t is a normalized position value (i.e., from 0 to 1) between P.sub.0 and P.sub.1, such that t=0 at P.sub.0 and t=1 at P.sub.1. Similarly, the value of v.sub.3 for endpoint P.sub.3 may be calculated as: EQU v.sub.3 =((1-t)v.sub.0 /w.sub.0 +tv.sub.1 /w.sub.1)/((1-t)/w.sub.0 +t/w.sub.1)
As with endpoint P.sub.3, the values of u.sub.4 and v.sub.4 for endpoint P.sub.4 may be calculated from the values defining vertex P.sub.1 and those defining vertex P.sub.2 (i.e., x.sub.2, y.sub.2, z.sub.2, w.sub.2, u.sub.2, v.sub.2), since a line segment containing P.sub.4 extends between P.sub.1 and P.sub.2.
The values of u and v for points along a span, such as span 12 of FIG. 1, can be determined using the above equations relative to the values of u, v, w at the endpoints. Thus, for point P.sub.5, located on span 12, the following calculations may be made: EQU u.sub.5 =((1-t)u.sub.3 /w.sub.3 +tu.sub.4 /w.sub.4)/((1-t)/w.sub.3 +t/w.sub.4)
and, EQU v.sub.5 =((1-t)v.sub.3 /w.sub.3 +tv.sub.4 /w.sub.4)/((1-t)/w.sub.3 +t/w.sub.4).
In this manner, the u and v values for each pixel of each span may be found, until mapping for all of the pixels of the triangle is complete.
While performing the above calculations for each of the triangles of the object is the most accurate way to provide it with surface detail, it also typically requires a large number of calculations, and therefore results in a heavy processing burden. The largest computing cost of these calculations is performing the division functions. For example, the calculation necessary to determine u.sub.5 requires five separate division functions. Although the values of 1/w.sub.3 and 1/w.sub.4 may be precalculated, this still requires one division function for each pixel of the triangle. Performing these divisions are extremely costly in terms of circuitry and performance.
One way to reduce the number of divisions performed is to replace the above formula for u or v with a linear approximation which assumes that w.sub.0 =w.sub.1. For example, the linear approximation for determining the value u.sub.5 for point P.sub.5 may be expressed as follows: EQU u.sub.5 =(1-t)u.sub.3 +tu.sub.4
A similar linear approximation may be used to determine values for v, r, g, b, or N. The linear approximation requires no division to compute, and is therefore significantly faster to calculate on a digital computer than the exact formula. However, when w.sub.3 and w.sub.4 are not close in value, the approximation is correspondingly inaccurate. As a result, images which use texture mapping or shading that relies on this type of linear approximation tend to have visible artifacts, the severity of which depend on the difference between the values of w for the two endpoints which would otherwise be used for the calculation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,846 to Donovan discloses a span-based rendering approach which breaks each span into multiple segments, the points separating the segments having a surface characteristic value, such as u, calculated mathematically in the manner described above. The u values for the portions of the span between the calculated points are then determined by interpolation. The calculated points separating the segments are selected so that the segments formed are as long as possible without the error in u resulting from the use of interpolation exceeding a predetermined amount. The Donovan method thereby allows a relatively low number of computations, while keeping errors below a desired threshold. Nonetheless, the span-by-span process of breaking the span into segments requires each new point determined on each span to be calculated using at least one division operation.

Method and apparatus for adaptive nonlinear projective rendering


A rotating machine has a stationary portion, and a rotating portion. The stationary portion and the rotating portion having a fluid passage therebetween. The stationary portion comprising a first fluid channel, a well, and a second fluid channel spaced apart from the first fluid channel. The first fluid channel fluidically is coupled to receive fluid from the fluid passage. A sensor is coupled to the stationary portion and is disposed at the well.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a rotating machine 10 has a housing 12 that has a pump portion 14 and a turbine portion 16. The pump portion 14 has a pump inlet 18 and a pump outlet 20. Pumpage passes from the pump inlet 18 and passes through a pump impeller 22 and exits the housing 12 through the pump outlet 20.
Turbine flow enters the turbine through a nozzle 23 and passes through a turbine impeller 24 and exits the turbine portion 16 through a turbine outlet 26. The pump impeller 22 and the turbine impeller 24 are coupled together with a rotor shaft 28. The rotor shaft 28 is supported within the housing 12 with a journal bearing 30. The housing 12 and the journal bearing 30 are stationary portions of the rotating machine 10. The pump impeller 22, the turbine impeller 24 and the rotor shaft 28 form the rotating portion of the rotating machine 10. A fluid passage or bearing clearance 32 allows a small amount of fluid to pass from the pump portion 14 to the turbine portion 16. The arrows 34 indicate the passage of fluid from the relatively high pressure of the pump portion 14 to the turbine portion 16. Forces in the direction toward the turbine portion 16 are absorbed at a thrust bearing 40.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the journal bearing 30 and the thrust bearing 40 rely on a thin film of fluid between the stationary surfaces and the moving or rotating surfaces. When the rotating surfaces contact the stationary surfaces during operation, the initial result will be heat generation followed by mechanical damage such as galling, chipping or complete failure. One way to detect the failure of a rotating machine is to provide vibration sensors to detect an increase in vibration. Vibration sensors, however, do not provide an immediate indication of fluid film failure. Also, vibration sensors tend to provide false/positives due to air ingestion, changes in operating conditions and the like. However, air ingestion or changes in operating conditions may be acceptable. Another way to provide failure detection is to provide a temperature sensor 42. The temperature sensor 42 is typically disposed in the housing 12 close to the thrust bearing 40. A significant delay is typical when the increase in bearing temperature is generated due to a failure. The delay may amount to over 1 minute of time. Such delays may allow a significant amount of damage to occur prior to disabling a system. Also, the monitoring of a journal bearing is not feasible because the temperature probe cannot be brought close enough to the bearing clearance to provide timely measurements.

Method and system for determining a characteristic of a rotating machine

FLUID EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC


A circuit includes: a PLL circuit which multiplies a reference clock by a multiplication factor and outputs a PLL clock; a first counter which counts up with the PLL clock for a fixed period of time; a comparator which compares a count value of the first counter with the multiplication factor; a second counter which counts up the number of times the comparison values have been matched for the fixed period of time; and an output unit which generates an enable signal when a count value of the second counter reaches the number of times the circuit waits for stability, and opens a gate to transmit the PLL clock in response to the enable signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase locked loop (PLL) output clock stabilization circuit that allows the PLL circuit to output a PLL clock signal after the operation thereof has become stable (locked) and to supply the PLL clock signal to circuits, for example, logic circuits provided in the next stage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional PLL circuit technologies are described in, for example, Japanese Patent application Kokai No. H11-69263 and Motorola Users Manual "On-chip Clock Synthesis (OCCS)" published in January 2001, specifically FIG. 6-3 on page 6-7 and section 184.108.40.206 "PLL Frequency Lock Detector" on page 6-9 in the manual.
FIG. 6 is a basic circuit block diagram of a conventional frequency counter. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the circuit in FIG. 6.
A PLL circuit takes a certain time to output a clock pll_clk having an expected frequency after it has received a source clock (clk) or a reference clock. Therefore, when a clock pll_clk generated by a PLL circuit is used, a waiting time is required to obtain a stable clock pll_clk having an expected frequency.
As described in the above-described references, for example, one of conventional methods for detecting that the PLL circuit has been stabilized is to count a PLL output clock pll_clk by using a counter and determine its stability from the count value. Another method is to take a PLL output clock pll_clk out from the large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) and determine by observing the waveform of the PLL output clock.
In the latter method, if the frequency of a PLL output clock pll_clk is observed in a consecutive period, it will be found that the frequency continues to match an expected frequency from a certain time point. Therefore, it can be determined that the PLL circuit has entered a stable state at that time point.
To measure frequency F using the frequency counter comprising a flip-flop (hereinafter, referred to as "FF") 1 and a counter 2 as shown in FIG. 6, the number of pulses npulse of a clock pll_clk that arrives over a certain or fixed period of time tenable during which an enable signal "enable" of the FF 1 is high is counted by the counter 2 as shown in FIG. 7. Then, the frequency F is calculated by the following equation.F=1/T=npulse/tenableA PLL output clock stabilization circuit is also proposed so that logic circuits or other circuits in the next stage do not malfunction due to an unstable PLL output clock pll_clk generated before the PLL circuit is stabilized.
FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram showing an example of a conventional PLL output clock stabilization circuit.
The PLL output clock stabilization circuit comprises a PLL circuit 3, a counter 4, a comparator 5, and a gate circuit 6. The PLL circuit 3 multiplies a source clock (clk) by a predetermined multiplication factor to output a PLL clock pll_clk. The counter 4 counts up with the source clock (clk) and is reset by a reset signal "reset." The comparator 5 is connected to the output of the counter 4. The gate circuit 6 is connected to the output of the PLL circuit 3.
To use the output clock pll_clk of the PLL circuit 3, first the LSI is evaluated and a time required for its stable operation is measured externally. Next, based on this time, a fixed value with a certain margin is determined and set to the comparator 5 as the number of times K the circuit waits for stability. The number of pulses of the source clock (clk) is counted by the counter 4 and this counted number is input to the comparator 5. In the comparator 5, when the counted number reaches the number of times K the circuit waits for stability, it outputs an enable signal "enable" to open the gate circuit 6, by which the PLL clock pll_clk has been blocked. A stable PLL clock PLL_CLK is thereby output from the gate circuit 6 and supplied to logic circuits and other circuits in the next stage.
The conventional PLL output clock stabilization circuit shown in FIG. 8, however, has the following problems.
The PLL circuit 3 has the number of times K the circuit waits for stability, which fluctuates due to the variations of operation temperature and voltage, and element characteristics. Therefore, when the number of times K the circuit waits for stability is set to a fixed value as in the circuit in FIG. 8, the time from when the PLL circuit 3 is stabilized until it is actually used may be wasted or, contrarily, the PLL circuit 3 may be used before it is stabilized.


A lubricant supply unit that supplies lubricating oil to a raceway groove of an inner ring is fixed to an outer ring. The lubricant supply unit is provided with a first and second radially separated electrodes used to supply electric power from an external power source to the micropump. Each of the first and second radially separated electrodes is fixed to an outer face of a tank that is stationary relative to the micropump so as to be exposed on the outside of the lubricant supply unit. The first radially separated electrode is arranged so as to be apart from the second radially separated electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rolling bearing device including a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring, rolling elements, and a pump that supplies lubricant.
A conventional rolling bearing device of this type is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-102803 (JP 2012-102803 A). The rolling bearing device includes a ball bearing, a tank, a pump, and a battery. The tank stores grease. The tank has a discharge port. The pump sucks in the grease from the tank and discharges the grease from the discharge port.
The pump is operated by electric power from the battery. In the rolling bearing device, the grease stored in the tank is moved to the discharge port and the grease is discharged to a raceway surface of an outer ring. In this way, sliding portions are lubricated.
In the rolling bearing device, the pump is operated by the electric power from the battery. Therefore, if the battery capacity is increased, the size of the rolling bearing device is inevitably increased. If the electric power for the pump is generated by a generator to avoid the increase in the size of the rolling bearing device, the reliability of electric power supply is not high in the present circumstances. Therefore, an improvement in the reliability of the electric power supply is absolutely necessary.
On the other hand, if the electric power for the pump is supplied from an external power source, a wire extending over the rolling bearing device and a housing, to which the rolling bearing device is fixed, is required. However, when a work for fixing the rolling bearing device to the housing is performed, the wire obstructs smooth fixation of the rolling bearing device to the housing.


A surface mount coaxial cable connector comprising a generally elongate block. A channel extends between the proximate and remote ends for receiving a coaxial cable and includes an upstream larger diameter channel and a downstream, smaller diameter channel for receiving with little clearance the central conductor after the shield and the outer layer have been removed. The lower surface of the block is provided with slots extending from the lower surface to the stepped channel. One slot is arranged along said central plane and aligned with the central conductor within the smaller diameter channel and two slots are offset from the central plane. A plurality of piercing blade contacts within the slot extend beyond said lower surface that have extended piercing contact portions with opposing free edges suitable for surface mounting on a printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to surface mount connectors and, more specifically, to a coaxial cable surface mount connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Coaxial connectors are well known and have been used to terminate coaxial cables in numerous applications. Typically, such connectors are mounted on a housing or at the edge of a printed circuit board. However, a simple and inexpensive coaxial cable connector suitable for surface mounting, for example, by a pick-and-place machine has not been available.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,632 to Narozny discloses a "Coaxial Cable Connector". However, this connector is in a form of a termination for a coaxial cable that can be used as a plug or part of a union for connecting a cable to a piece of electrical equipment or to another cable having a counterpart or mating connector. An external contact 14 appears to pierce the outside insulation layer and make contact with the outer electrical conducting sheath while the external connector 12 pierces the inner layer of insulation between the central conductor and the sheath for making contact with this central conductor 16. However, as indicated, this is more in the nature of a terminal connector at the end of a coaxial cable that is intended to be connected to electrical equipment or with another mating connector, as noted. The contacts are spaced from each other and are not housed within an integral pressure block that can pierce both connectors after they have been attached to a printed circuit board by application of a single force on a block.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,314 similarly discloses a plug connector for connecting conductor tracks to at least one coaxial cable. After coaxial cables are inserted into an insertion duct, the partial removal of the screen at which point the contacts are pressed into the slot-type clearances. The relevant conductors are cut into thereby connecting to the plug contacts. The conductor contacts or blades are axially spaced from each other and individually actuatable. In addition to being individually actuatable, the contacts are provided with spring clips intended to exert a pressure to insure reliable contact. However, clearly, the clips are not designed nor intended to be surface mounted. In fact, as a result of projections that project in the same direction as the clips, it would be impossible to solder the clips to a PCB board for surface mounting. The clip 9 is arranged along the axis of the cable and the clips 10 are offset one to each side of the axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,097 to Morishita is for a "Pressure Connection Structure with Coaxial Cable". The patent discloses a pressure connection for coaxial cables using piecing terminals suitable for connection with outer coaxial cables and a connector using pressure connection structures.
A "Shielded Surface Mount Coaxial Connector" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,544 to Barnes et al. However, this patent discloses a coaxial connector that can be SMT mounted or connected to a printed circuit board. However, it does not teach an insulation piercing connector suitable for surface mounting of a coaxial cable but connection of a coax connector to a PCB.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,616 discloses a plurality of piercing elements attached to a single pressure block. However, the IDC connector assembly is for connection to multiple individual wires as shown and not to a coaxial cable.


A copolymer comprising the polymerized product of an electron-sensitizing acid deprotectable monomer, such as the monomer having the formula (XX), and a comonomer:

Disclosed herein are a novel photosensitive copolymer, a photoresist incorporating the copolymer, and a method of making a pattern from the photoresist.
EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) photoresist development continues to be a challenging issue for EUVL (EUV Lithography) technology implementation. Development of materials that are not only high resolution (i.e., resolving features of 22 nm at half pitch) and with a low linewidth roughness (LWR) of less than 1.8 nm, but sensitive enough to afford high wafer through put are required (i.e., 10-15 mJ/cm2).
For EUV photoresist material and polymer design, a very important consideration is EUV absorption. Polymers widely used for EUV platform are ionized by high energy (13.4 nm) light and release high energy electrons. The high energy electron is trapped by the photoacid generator through reductive electron transfer and activates the PAG to generate acid.
EUV sensitivity is also determined by photo speed, which may be increased by varying the concentration and or efficiency of photoacid generators (PAGs) in the resist, optimizing the number of acid-labile protecting groups on a polymer backbone, engineering the polymer protecting groups, or reducing the base quencher amounts. Sasaki et al. ("Development of partially fluorinated EUV-resist polymers for LER and sensitivity improvement," T. Sasaki, O. Yokokoji, T. Watanabe and H. Kinoshita, Proc. SPIE V. 6923, 692347, (2008)) disclose introducing halogen atoms into polymers enhances acid generation yield and resist sensitivity in EUV systems, due to an increase in the absorption coefficient by the halogens which are high absorbing EUV elements. This additional absorption can make for efficient use of the incident energy in EUV lithography.

Photosensitive copolymer, photoresist comprising the copolymer, and articles formed therefrom

Abstract: wherein Ra is H, F, —CN, C1-10 alkyl, or C1-10 fluoroalkyl; Rx and Ry are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1-10 alkyl group or C3-10 cycloalkyl group; Rz is a substituted or unsubstituted C6-20 aromatic-containing group or C6-20 cycloaliphatic-containing group; wherein Rx and Ry together optionally form a ring; and wherein at least one of Rx, Ry and Rz is halogenated. A photoresist and coated substrate comprising the copolymer, and a method of making an electronic device using the photoresist, are also disclosed.


A method suitable for detecting malicious files includes several steps. A file that is received into a computer system is analyzed to determine a presence or absence of each of a plurality of predefined properties in the file. A score is calculated based on the presence or absence of the plurality of properties in the file. This score is reflective of the risk that the file is malicious. Once the score is calculated, the file can be further processed based on the score.

In the increasingly interconnected computer environment, there is an ever-increasing number of viruses and other malicious software, or "malware," that attack the components and framework of the interconnectivity. One limitation of malicious files is that they must be loaded into memory in order to execute, and must be executed in order to perform their malicious functions. However, many prior systems, methods, and software to fight these malicious files cannot or do not recognize the files as malicious until the files are already loaded into memory. Additionally, many prior software products require continuous updates in order to recognize the most recently developed malicious software. These and other prior systems and methods have certain drawbacks and disadvantages.

Risk scoring system for the prevention of malware


An apparatus and method for determining the localized presence of severe weather and signaling an alarm. An outdoor sensor assembly may contain a number of sensors including a barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor. The outdoor sensor assembly is in electrical communication with an indoor controller assembly. A plurality of parameters may be measured and compared with pre-established threshold values. The alarm may be signaled when the measured parameters meet or exceed the selected threshold values.

Most of the current weather forecast information used by individuals and businesses is obtained by them from weather reports provided by local television and radio stations. Such reports are typically prepared by meteorologists at a television or radio station serving a particular geographical area, e.g., a large city and surrounding environs. The reports are based on current weather information available to the meteorologists, which may be provided by various local (e.g., local radar) and national (e.g., NEXRAD radar and weather satellite) weather information sources. A meteorologist may also employ computer implemented weather forecasting models in preparing a weather forecast report. A meteorologist may prepare and/or update such reports throughout the day, and such reports may be provided as part of periodic radio and/or television broadcasts. A person who is interested in the current or forecast weather conditions for a geographic location accesses such a weather report by tuning in to the television or radio broadcast of the report at the designated time.
If severe weather threatens a particular area, an emergency radio or television broadcast may be made to provide such information to the public immediately and, if necessary, continuously. For example, a television station may provide a graphic indication of the general location (e.g., county) and nature of severe weather (e.g., tornado and thunderstorm warnings, etc.) as part of its television broadcast, throughout the period during which severe weather threatens an area. Such severe weather or storm warnings may be generated from various different weather information sources and provided in various different manners to the public. For example, a television station may subscribe to National Weather Service weather wire information, which includes weather warning bulletins authored by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, and other related government agencies. The weather warning bulletins include tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings, and the like.
NEXRAD weather radar weather information is also obtained from the government by many television stations. NEXRAD information includes a storm attributes table which defines storm cells and provides detailed information concerning the cells, including the characteristics of the cells (e.g., hail and vortex intensity and location, rain fall intensity, speed, etc.) as well as the position, direction, and speed of movement of the cells. A storm cell tracking and display system employed by the television station may use such NEXRAD data to determine the position of a storm and to derive a predicted storm path therefrom. Such a derived storm track may be displayed to viewers, e.g., as part of a severe weather update television report. Such a report may include a display indicating the time that a selected storm or storms is predicted to arrive at a particular city or town, based on the storm track derived from NEXRAD storm attribute information.
Government-provided NEXRAD radar data includes detailed information on storm cells, including detailed information on the characteristics of the cells, including their speed and direction of movement, contents (e.g., hail or tornadoes), etc. This detailed information is obtained by the NEXRAD radar system by performing a volumetric radar scan of the atmosphere. A weather tracking and display system can expect to receive updated NEXRAD weather information no more often than every six (6) minutes. The speed and direction of movement of a severe weather cell can change significantly during this relatively long period between NEXRAD updates. Thus, storm warnings based on the predicted track of a storm cell will become increasingly inaccurate between NEXRAD updates, if NEXRAD information alone is relied upon to determine the predicted track of a storm cell. Local or remote live radar systems perform a much more rapid scan of the atmosphere, and are, therefore, able to provide more up-to-the-minute information on the current location of a severe storm weather cell. Since such live radar systems are significantly less expensive than NEXRAD radar systems, many television news and weather operations have their own live local radar systems, in addition to access to government provided NEXRAD data, which provides much more detailed storm attribute information.
A limitation of conventional weather reports and storm warnings is that they are generalized over a relatively large geographic area. For example, a typical storm warning may indicate that severe weather, e.g., a tornado, thunderstorm, etc., is present or expected to arrive in a geographic area such as a county. Of course, such severe weather will arrive at different locations in the county at different times, and some areas of a county under a weather warning may not receive any severe weather at all. Since many storm systems (especially tornadoes) are highly localized, they might strike one side of the street while leaving the other untouched. A county-wide storm warning, therefore, does not provide sufficient information for an individual to know whether or when to expect severe weather at his home, place of work, or other specific location of interest within the county.
Televised weather reports which provide expected arrival times of severe weather at specific cities or other populated areas are also of limited value for many individuals. Such reports, which may employ NEXRAD information or NEXRAD information in combination with live radar information to provide accurate storm cell tracking, typically only provide arrival time information for a handful of populated areas in the path of a storm. Those in rural areas and smaller towns in the path of a storm must attempt to estimate on their own, from the graphics provided in the televised weather warning broadcast, if severe weather will reach their area and, if so, when. Still further, in many cases a power outage may cause TV and radio signals to go dark (either at the station or at the individual's location) so these warnings may not be available.
What is desired, therefore, is a system and method which provides localized storm or other severe weather warnings to individuals or businesses which indicate whether or not a storm will reach an individual's location of interest and, if so, when.

Apparatus and method for localized detection and warning of severe weather


This invention provides a finely particulate composite wherein a fine particle of block copolymer having a poly(ethyleneglycol) chain segment and a poly(meth)acrylate ester chain segment containing, on its side chain, a tertiary amino group and/or a secondary amino group has, encapsulated therein, a carbon compound, e.g., fullerene or carbon nanotube which may contains, encapsulated therein, a metal. This composite is water-soluble, and is usable as an active oxygen scavenger. This composite, when it has a metal encapsulated therein, is usable as a contrast medium.

Fullerene and carbon nanotube which have a closed-shell structure and which are composed of carbon atoms alone are, owing to their novel structure, expected to be usable in the wide range of technical field such as medicine, internal diagnosis, cosmetics, etc.
Fullerene is, however, water-insoluble, and, therefore, there has been a certain limitation on the use of fullerene in these technical fields. Thus, with a view to solubilizing fullerene, there have been provided various kinds of fullerol wherein hydroxyl group is introduced into carbon atoms of fullerene (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-048302). In the case of metal-encapsulating fullerene, there have also been presented those whose surface is covered with polysaccharides having a functional group selected from the group consisting of sulfone group, ketone group, amino group and alkyl group (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-048302).
Furthermore, it has been reported that, when fullerene is added to an aqueous solution of fluoroalkyl chain-terminated acryloylmorpholine oligomer or N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomer or the like with sufficient stirring, there are given self-organized materials (self-assembly) wherein the amount of solubilized fullerene is 100 μg/ml (see Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 263, (2003), 1-3). It is further known that a charge transfer complex which has been prepared with use of the electron acceptability of fullerene (e.g., fullerene C60) or a C60-containing polymer which has been prepared by grafting fullerene with hydrophilic polymer such as poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl-methacrylate] gives a solubilized fullerene. Moreover, C60-b-poly[(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate] has been provided, and its physical properties have been studied (Dai et al., Langmuir 2004, PAGE EST: 6. 8 A-G). It is suggested that this block polymer forms in an aqueous solvent a micelle having fullerene as a core and polymer as a shell, and is thus solubilized.

Finely particulate composite containing carbon compound encapsulated in a polymer micelle of a block copolymer


A bar code reading apparatus includes a light source for illuminating a bar code, a light receiving part for receiving reflected light from the bar code and for subjecting the received reflected light to a photoelectric conversion to output an electrical signal, and a decoding part for decoding the bar code by reading width data related to widths of the bars and spaces of the bar code based on the electrical signal from the light receiving part. The decoding part includes a sampling part for sampling the electrical signal from the light receiving part with a predetermined period and for outputting sampled data, a calculating part for calculating an average value of the sampled data for every predetermined interval, where the predetermined interval is greater than a maximum width of a noise which is detectable from the electrical signal, and an operation part for obtaining intersecting points where a waveform connecting the sampled data and a waveform connecting the average values intersect and for reading a width of each bar and space within the bar code based on an interval between each two adjacent intersecting points.

The present invention generally relates to bar code reading apparatuses, and more particularly to a bar code reading apparatus which reads a bar code by using light reflected from the bar code.
Recently, management systems for goods using bar codes are popularly employed. For this reason, the bar code is not necessarily printed on paper and the bar code is in many cases printed on the product itself. When the bar code is printed on the product itself, the reflectivity of the background part of the bar code depends on each product. Hence, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the bar code part and the background part becomes poor depending on the reflectivity of the background part. The bar code cannot be read correctly if the S/N ratio of the bar code part and the background part is poor, and there is a demand to accurately read the bar code regardless of the reflectivity of the background part.
The reflectivity of the background part differs depending on the product for the following reasons. First, the state of the background part such as the material, color and surface roughness is different for each product. Hence, even though a white coating usually covers the background part of the product where the bar code is printed, the reflectivity of the background part is still different for each product. Second, when dirt or the like adheres on the background part or the background part is scratched while the product is transported, the dirt or scratch appears as noise when the bar code is detected. As a result, the reflectivity of the background part may be different among the products of the same kind and may vary within the same bar code. Third, the printing of the bar code cannot be controlled perfectly so that the printed bar codes on the products of the same kind are identical. In other words, some printed bar codes may inevitably be darker than others or vice versa. Therefore, the reflectivity of the background part may be different even among the products of the same kind.
Generally, the bar code reading apparatus includes a light source for illuminating the bar code, a light receiving part for receiving reflected light from the bar code, a shaping circuit for shaping an electrical signal which is obtained by a photoelectric conversion in the light receiving part, and a decoding circuit for decoding the bar code from a shaped signal which is output from the shaping circuit.
Various methods of decoding the bar code in the decoding circuit have been proposed. For example, a first method slices an average value as shown in FIG. 1, and a second method detects middle points as shown in FIG. 2.
According to the first method shown in FIG. 1, an average of all waveforms of a signal I which has been smoothened in the shaping circuit in order to eliminate noise is obtained so as to determine a reference voltage. The waveforms of the signal I correspond to the bars of the bar code. The signal I is then sliced by this reference voltage, and the bar code is read by detecting widths a through i of the bar code at the sliced part.
As a modification of this first method, there is a method which uses a plurality of reference voltages. In this case, each waveform is sliced at the plurality of reference voltages to detect widths for the same waveform, and an average of the detected widths is regarded as the detected width for this waveform. However, this modification of the first method requires a relatively long processing time because of the use of the plurality of reference voltages.
On the other hand, according to the second method shown in FIG. 2 obtains a middle point between adjacent peaks and valleys of the waveform of a smoothened signal II which is output from the shaping circuit. This middle point is used as a reference value, and a point indicated by a white circular mark in FIG. 2 where the waveform crosses the reference value is found. The bar code is read by detecting widths a through k between each two adjacent points indicated by the white circle. A maximum inclination of the waveform may be taken into consideration.
However, according to the first method described above, the reference voltage is constant. For this reason, when the reflectivity of the background part of the bar code greatly varies as shown in FIG. 3(A), the detection signal (waveform data) III corresponding to the detected bar code becomes as shown in FIG. 3(B). As shown in FIG. 3(B), the peaks of the detection signal III greatly differ and the valleys of the detection signal III also greatly differ. In addition, a noise N may be included in the detection signal III. As a result, even if the constant reference voltage is set to one of the voltages V1, V2 and V3 shown in FIG. 3(B), it is impossible to read the bar code accurately.
In the case of the second method shown in FIG. 2, the peaks and valleys of the noise part of the waveform are also detected because the smoothened signal output from the shaping circuit still includes noise which cannot be eliminated by the smoothing. As a result, the noise part causes inaccurate reading of the bar code. For example, the bar code pattern may include a defective part 2 shown in FIG. 4(A) where the reflectivity is different from other parts of the bar code. This defective part 2 may be caused by dirt on the bar code pattern or a printing error when the bar code pattern is printed. In this case, the peak and valley are also found in a bar code detection signal (waveform data) 3 at a part 3 shown in FIG. 4(B), and it is impossible to read the bar code accurately.


An organic compound nano-powder comprising a granular organic compound with an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less and a 90%-diameter of less than 1500 nm and a carbohydrate compound comprising at least any one of a sugar and a sugar alcohol and with amount of 0.3 times or more by mass relative to amount of the organic compound, a method for producing the same, and a suspension having the organic compound dispersed in a liquid dispersion medium in which the organic compound is insoluble or poorly soluble.

In order to fulfill an inherent function of an active ingredient contained in a formulation or a health food without excessively taking it, it is necessary to enhance the bioavailability for the formulation or the health food. Taking the formulation as an example, while an oral formulation has the advantages of being convenient and causing little distress compared to an injectable formulation, it has the disadvantage of providing low bioavailability. The oral formulation enters into the intestine via the stomach and the duodenum, is absorbed into blood mainly through the intestinal tract and then is delivered to the liver via the portal vein. A part of the oral formulation is decomposed by undergoing the action of a gastric acid or the like or being metabolized in the liver during passing through such a long path, whereby converted into a totally different substance. One of the major reasons for the low bioavailability is that the oral formulation is difficult to be absorbed from digestive organs like the intestine. In order to enhance the bioavailability for the formulation, it is necessary to get the size down of the organic compound with medicinal ingredients to a level required to facilitate the absorption of the compound from the digestive organs into the blood.
In the case of the injectable formulation, a typical example of parenteral formulations, effective functioning of a medicinal ingredient in the formulation requires the reaching of the medicinal ingredient through blood vessels in the body to a target site. The inner diameter of a capillary blood vessel, which is the narrowest among the blood vessels, is about 5 μm. Accordingly, in order to make pass the organic compound with the medicinal ingredient through the capillary blood vessel without causing occlusion, the particle diameter of this organic compound needs to be 5 μm or less. Further, for the same reason as the oral formulation, it is necessary for a health food to get the size down of the organic compound with active ingredients to a level required to facilitate the absorption of the compound from the digestive organs into the blood.
In the case of a solid skin-lightening ingredient and a moisturizing ingredient contained in a cosmetic, less agglomeration and the smaller particle size are required in order to make them easily attached and thinly spread on a skin surface while if it is in the form of a milky lotion, not to cause phase separation in a container in which this cosmetic is contained so that a uniform dispersion state may be sustainable.
In accordance with recent development of a nanotechnology, the preparation of the nano-sized organic compound to satisfy the requirements as mentioned above has attracted high attention. For example, a particulate formulation which contains a steroid or a steroid derivative with median of the particle distribution in the range of 0.005 to 5 μm and with the 90%-diameter of 10 μm or less has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, the coarse particles present with a small percentage in the particulate formulation due to so wideness of the particle diameter distribution causes a problem of instability of a suspension thereof, i.e., a problem of low dispersivity of the particulate formulation.
For example, as one of methods for finely-milling the organic compound to the level of nano-powder with a narrow particle diameter distribution, a method for milling the organic compound by a bead mill using beads made of ceramic, glass, or the like is well known (for example, see Patent Document 2). Nano-powder with a narrow particle diameter distribution can be obtained by applying such a mechanical impact or a grinding force to the particles of the organic compound. In addition, a wet milling method for milling the organic compound in organic liquid using salt particles as a milling medium is also known (for example, see Patent Documents 3 and 4). The method using salt particles is more advantageous than the method using the beads in view of less contamination with impurities coming from a milling medium. While the impurities coming from the beads are difficult to remove, the impurities coming from the salt particles are easy to remove by a water-washing process (also called salt-removing process) due to high water solubility of salt.

Organic compound nano-powder, method for producing the same and suspension


Disclosed is a flexible hose for a vacuum cleaner and a fabricating method thereof. The fabrication method includes the steps of: extruding a primary extrusion molding band 13 having a larger size than a size of a finished state while embedding an electric wire 1 in the primary extrusion molding band 13 at a first extruder 12; molding a multi-extrusion molding band 10 in the size of the finished state at a sizing mold 14; and winding the multi-extrusion molding band 10 at a predetermined angle at a bonder and bonding a bonding portion 2 of the electric embedding portion 3 with a bonding end 4 of the semicircular portions 5 positioned on both sides of the multi-extrusion molding band 10 by using adhesive 8.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible hose for a vacuum cleaner, in which a long extrusion molding band is wound in a cylindrical form, and a fabricating method thereof, and more particularly, to a flexible hose for a vacuum cleaner, in which a multi-band extrusion molding is employed such that a plurality of extrusion molding bands are arranged in parallel and connected to one another, wound in a cylindrical form, and a fabricating method thereof is also included.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A flexible hose for a vacuum cleaner is made cylindrically by winding an extrusion molding band, which is extrusion-molded in a single line. The cross-section of the extrusion molding band may include a wave shape ''. One side of the cross-section may include an electric wire embedding portion and the other side may include a semicircle portion having a semicircle shape. When the extrusion molding band is wound in a cylindrical form so as to fabricate the flexible hose, the semicircle portion of the other side is folded on the electric wire embedding a portion of the one side and attaching to the electric wire embedding portion by an adhesive. Accordingly, the conventional flexible hose is made by bonding two lines of extrusion molding bands with an adhesive and winding the two lines of bonded and folded extrusion molding bands at the same time.
In other words, to fabricate a flexible hose of an extrusion molding having two bands, four extrusion motors (two motors for extruding extrusion molding bands and two bonding motors) are employed. The fabricating method includes the steps of cooling a first extrusion molding band molded out from a first extruder along with an embedded electric wire, fixing the first extrusion molding band dimensionally with a sizing mold simultaneously, drawing the first extrusion molding band with a cooling drawer, ascertaining the size of the first extrusion molding band, repeating the above-mentioned steps by operating a second extruder if the size is satisfactory, bonding the two extrusion molding bands by a first bonder if the extrusion molding bands have no problem in their shape, winding the two extrusion molding bands with a predetermined angle and bonding the two extrusion molding bands at the winding starting portions by using a second bonder simultaneously.
Alternatively, to fabricate a flexible hose with three lines of extrusion molding bands, six extrusion motors (two motors for extruding extrusion molding bands and two bonding motors) and three or four electric wires are needed. When using four electric wires, a danger of a short circuit may occur because two electric wires are inserted into any one of the three lines of extrusion molding bands. In this case, the fabrication method includes the steps of: cooling a first extrusion molding band molded out from a first extruder with an embedded electric wire and at the same time fixing the size of the first extrusion molding band using a sizing mold; drawing the first extrusion molding band using a cooling drawer; ascertaining the size of the first extrusion molding band; repeating the above-mentioned steps by operating a second extruder if the size is satisfactory; repeating the above-mentioned steps by operating a third extruder if the two extrusion molding bands have no problem in their shape; bonding the two extrusion molding bands by a first bonder if the extrusion molding bands have no problem in their size and shape; bonding the two bonded extrusion molding bands with another extrusion molding band by using a second bonder if the extrusion molding bands have no problem in their appearance size; winding the three bonded extrusion molding bands at a predetermined angle if there is no problem; and bonding the three extrusion molding bands at the winding starting portions by using a third bonder.
For conventional flexible hoses, the design is complicated in the coupling structure of the extrusion molding bands, so that the working efficiency is lowered. Since the flexible hose is bonded at many points by bond or resin, it is problematic in reliably fix the extrusion molding bands, therefore for the conventional flexible hoses the product reliability is low. Since there exist many bonding points, the pitch of the conventional flexible hose is not uniform and the failure ratio is high. In addition, since the bonding portion has joint surfaces on both sides, the flexibility of the flexible hose is lowered and its thickness is large so that too much source material is consumed.
In addition, for the conventional flexible hose, the extrusion molding band can be molded only in one line. So, if two or more extrusion molding bands are extruded and elongated to fix the size in a sizing mold, the semicircular portion may be adhered to an upper portion of the electric wire embedding portion.

Flexible hose for a vacuum cleaner and fabricating method thereof


A risk management system for use in a health care facility which receives patients who may be experiencing cardiac problems, the system including a first input port for receiving inputs derived from electrocardiograph measurements of a patient; a predictive instrument for using the inputs to compute a probability of the patient having a particular heart condition; a printer for generating a risk management form reporting the computed probability for the patient as well as other clinical and ECG-related observations for the patient, the form also containing categories requiring a person who is evaluating the patient to enter additional information relating to the evaluation of the patient, the computed probability triggering the printer to generate the form only when the computed probability falls within a preselected range which is less than the total range of possible values for the computed probability.

The invention relates to a risk management system for use in a health care delivery environment.
In response to the increasing costs of providing medical care and the growing risks of expensive medical malpractice litigation, risk management has grown in importance to hospital administrators, often accounting for a sizable commitment of hospital resources to achieve its objectives. In general, hospital personnel responsible for risk management programs have two primary objectives. One of their objectives is to identify those areas of greatest exposure for the hospital due to, among other things, a real risk of actual medical malpractice or the lack of procedures or evidence of having followed procedures that would satisfy a reasonable standard of due care such as might be required to provide an adequate defense against a groundless malpractice claim. The other objective follows from the first. It is to implement those changes in hospital practice or procedures which will reduce the hospital's exposure, beginning with the areas of greatest exposure. The changes may involve, for example, taking steps to make sure that actual medical malpractice does not occur or even just making sure that adherence to acceptable standards of due care has taken place and can be proven.
The importance of such risk management programs is particularly recognized by the insurance carriers who insure the hospital against financial losses due to such exposure. It is generally the insurance carrier that must pay the high expenses of malpractice litigation, regardless of whether the claim is actually justified or ultimately proves to be groundless. It is also the insurance carrier which pays the judgements that arise out of such litigation. Predictably, the premiums which the hospital pays to its medical malpractice carrier reflects the amount of exposure the hospital has to such claims. And, not surprisingly, the level of those premiums often depends very much on the seriousness with which the hospital takes its risk management responsibilities.

Risk management system for use with cardiac patients

New England Medical Center Hospitals, Inc.


Diagnostic information is provided in an automated data storage library which stores magnetic tape data storage cartridges. Uninitialized magnetic tape data storage cartridges are identified; a diagnostic scan is conducted by a drive of the library of the servo tracks on magnetic tape of an identified cartridge using write criteria for a diagnostic test; the results of the diagnostic test are logged by the drive; and the logged results of the diagnostic test are collected at the library controller.

Automated data storage libraries provide a means for storing large quantities of data in removable data storage media, such as magnetic tape data storage cartridges, that are not permanently mounted on data storage drives, and that are stored in a readily available manner on storage shelves.
Data is written to a magnetic tape data storage cartridge by a magnetic tape data storage drive, and the cartridge is typically removed from the drive and stored in a storage shelf of the automated data storage library and at some subsequent time is accessed from the storage shelf to be read by the same or another magnetic tape data storage drive of the library. Should an application or applications not cycle through multiple drives, for example, all jobs start on the same drive, and if that drive is busy try the next, errors in the data transfer process, for example, from defective cartridges, will be concentrated in the first drive. Thus, the assumption may be made that the problem lies with the magnetic tape data storage drive, resulting in the replacement of the drive, with accompanying warranty expense by the drive supplier, and may result in replaced and returned drives having "no defect found". One approach is to interrupt the application experiencing data errors, to move cartridges that have evidenced errors from drive to drive, and test the cartridges in another drive. This approach is not necessarily appreciated by the user of the library and cartridges.

Automated data storage library magnetic tape diagnostic

International Business Machines Corporation


An integrated circuit, a fuse therefor and fuse opening method are disclosed. The method implements fuse opening using a wet etchant. As a result, there is no explosion that causes damage to surrounding material. In addition, use of the wet etchant allows positioning of a fuse in any metal layer including any non-last metal layer, thus increasing design possibilities.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to an integrated circuit fuse and method of opening a fuse.
Back-end-of-line (BEOL) modifications are common in integrated circuit (IC) manufacture. One mechanism for making changes to an IC is to open a fuse that has been built into the IC. One widely used approach to opening a fuse is using a laser to destroy a fuse wire. Laser blown fuses have the advantage of allowing only selected fuses to be blown without the use of a chrome-on-glass mask. In operation, an infrared laser is used to heat a element to the point where it is destroyed, opening the wiring path.
One disadvantage of this approach, however, is that the destruction of the element is explosive and oftentimes causes damage to surrounding materials, e.g., insulator. Conventionally, damage to surrounding materials is inadequate to harm the delicate wiring at lower levels, which could cause IC failure. In many newer applications, however, very large elements, e.g., wide and tall, are provided at the last level to accommodate better power distribution. Unfortunately, larger elements result in larger fuses that require more laser energy to open, and thus cause more damage to surrounding materials. Accordingly, there is now a higher risk of damage to the delicate wiring used at the lower levels and a higher risk of IC failure.
Another disadvantage of current fuse technology is the necessity to place the fuses in the last metal layer, which limits design possibilities.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method of opening an IC fuse that does not damage surrounding areas, and allows for non-last metal layer positioning of the fuse.

Integrated circuit fuse and method of opening