When estimating distance to an object in an image using a single camera, data acquired by an onboard accelerometer is analyzed to determine camera speed as the user takes a video of the object of interest. The compression that results during video processing is used to derive motion vectors for the object of interest in the scene. The motion vectors have an opposite direction to the camera motion and a magnitude that is a function of the unknown object distance and a known magnification level. The object distance is calculated from the estimated velocity and motion vector magnitude.

In order to measure distance in a conventional visual system, two or more cameras with different perspectives are usually needed. Alternatively, multiple images of the same scene at different settings can be used. There are smart phone applications that perform distance estimation using a known height of the user and determination of camera orientation to estimate the distance of the object, but such approaches are very sensitive to camera height and typically require a reference image to be captured a known camera height and/or camera angle.
The determination of distance is useful in many applications, such as establishing the distance to a target in military applications, modeling of 3D structures (e.g. sizing a room or a building), and in sports (e.g. distance to hole estimation in golf, distance to target measurement in archery or distance to prey assessment in hunting). Some conventional distance measurement instruments use either laser or ultrasound as a mechanism for measuring the distance. The ultrasound-based instruments measure the time of flight for a sound pulse while the laser based systems can utilize either time of flight or phase shift methods to measure distance. While ultrasound and laser based instruments are accurate, each requires specialized equipment to perform the task.
The ability to measure distance using a single camera is an underdetermined problem; there is insufficient information in a single monocular picture to determine distance of an object in an image. In order to measure distance using purely visual (i.e. camera) information, more than one image is needed. At least two images, each with a different perspective angle and known relative positions, are conventionally employed as images of a common scene to allow for the determination of distance of the object. Typically this is done with two cameras, but it can be accomplished using a single camera if the scene is sufficiently static, for example, via depth-from-defocus methods (which estimate the distance of an object to the camera based on its degree of defocus at different camera focal settings) or structure-from-motion (which estimate the 3D structure of an object from tracking information of multiple features representative of the object as the camera moves). These methods, however, are computationally expensive.
Video compression is employed in applications where high quality video transmission and/or archival is required. Video compression is achieved by exploiting two types of redundancies within the video stream: spatial redundancies amongst neighboring pixels within a frame, and temporal redundancies between adjacent frames. This modus operandi gives rise to two different types of prediction: intra-frame and inter-frame. These in turn result in two different types of encoded frames: reference and non-reference frames. Reference frames, or "I-frames" are encoded in a standalone manner (intra-frame) using compression methods similar to those used to compress digital images. Compression of non-reference frames (e.g., P-frames and B-frames) entails using inter-frame or motion-compensated prediction methods where the target frame is estimated or predicted from previously encoded frames in a process that typically entails three steps: (i) motion estimation, where motion vectors are estimated using previously encoded frames. The target frame is segmented into pixel blocks called target blocks, and an estimated or predicted frame is built by stitching together the blocks from previously encoded frames that best match the target blocks. Motion vectors describe the relative displacement between the location of the original blocks in the reference frames and their location in the predicted frame. While motion compensation of P-frames relies only on previous frames, previous and future frames are typically used to predict B-frames; (ii) residual calculation, where the error between the predicted and target frame is calculated; and (iii) compression, where the error residual and the extracted motion vectors are quantized, compressed and stored. Since video compression is typically performed at the camera end prior to transmission over the network, real-time hardware implementations of popular algorithms such as H264 and MPEG4 are commonplace.
There is a need in the art for systems and methods that facilitate performing single camera distance estimation by leveraging information extracted in the real-time video compression process while overcoming the aforementioned deficiencies.

Distance estimation in camera-based systems utilizing motion measurement and compression attributes


A multi-loop antenna is described having a plurality of conductive loops to produce an electromagnetic field for radio frequency identification (RFID) communication with RFID tags. The conductive loops are spaced apart at least a distance that is selected based on a dimension of the RFID tags with which the antenna communicates. In this manner, the loops are positioned and spaced in a manner that reduces the size of the holes within the resulting magnetic field. In addition, the configuration of the described dual-loop antenna increases the coverage of the antenna, and decreases inter-winding capacitance, thereby increasing overall read range achieved by the antenna.

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has become widely used in virtually every industry, including transportation, manufacturing, waste management, postal tracking, airline baggage reconciliation, and highway toll management. A typical RFID system includes a plurality of RFID tags, at least one RFID reader or detection system having an antenna for communication with the RFID tags, and a computing device to control the RFID reader. The RFID reader includes a transmitter that may provide energy or information to the tags, and a receiver to receive identity and other information from the tags. The computing device processes the information obtained by the RFID reader.
In general, the information received from an RFID tag is specific to the particular application, but often provides an identification for an article to which the tag is fixed. Exemplary articles include manufactured items, books, files, animals or individuals, or virtually any other tangible articles. Additional information may also be provided for the article. The tag may be used during a manufacturing process, for example, to indicate a paint color of an automobile chassis during manufacturing or other useful information.
The transmitter of the RFID reader outputs RF signals through the antenna to create an electromagnetic field that enables the tags to return an RF signal carrying the information. In some configurations, the transmitter initiates communication, and makes use of an amplifier to drive the antenna with a modulated output signal to communicate with the RFID tag. In other configurations, the RFID tag receives a continuous wave signal from the RFID reader and initiates communication by responding immediately with its information.
A conventional tag may be an "active" tag that includes an internal power source, or a "passive" tag that is energized by the field created by the RFID reader. In either case, the tags communicate using a pre-defined protocol, allowing the RFID reader to receive information from one or more tags. The computing device serves as an information management system by receiving the information from the RFID reader and performing some action, such as updating a database. In addition, the computing device may serve as a mechanism for programming data into the tags via the transmitter.
Conventional antennas for RFID readers have a single inductive loop and operate in a relatively high frequency range, e.g., 3 megahertz (MHz) to 30 MHz. Consequently, these antennas tend to create magnetic fields that suffer from "holes," i.e., regions in which an RFID tag cannot be read even though the RFID tag is located relatively near the antenna. For example, depending on the orientation and location of the article to which the RFID tag is affixed, in some situations the RFID tag may be centered above a single turn of the inductive loop of the antenna during interrogation. In this situation, substantially equal current may be imposed on opposite sides of the RFID tag, which leads to a cancellation effect. As a result, the RFID tag may not be able to achieve RFID communication with the reader.
In addition, conventional antennas used with desktop RFID readers tend to create magnetic fields that extend horizontally beyond the edges of the antennas. Consequently, articles placed proximate the antenna, e.g., next to the antenna on the desktop, may be inadvertently read by the reader, which can lead to undesired results. For example, books associated with one library patron and located next to an antenna in a library management system may be inadvertently checked out to another patron.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-loop antenna for radio frequency identification (RFID) communication


A sub-rate modulation method that is compatible with full-rate ADSL modems. The method may be used to implement a reduced complexity transceiver, preferably remotely located from the central office or service provider. The method includes instructing the full-rate modem to transmit data using a subset of available carriers; receiving the subset of carriers at the remote location; and performing a reduced complexity time-to-frequency domain transform. The full rate modem is instructed to use every other carrier, resulting in a transmitted time domain sequence that is cyclicxe2x80x94the first half of the symbol is identical to the second half. As a result, the first half of the symbol is treated as an extended cyclic prefix by the sub-rate ADSL modem, resulting in the elimination of the need to perform time-domain equalization at the sub-rate ADSL modem receiver. This substantially reduces the amount of signal processing required by the sub-rate ADSL transceiver. In addition, local echo cancellation need not be performed during the first half of the received symbol period since these values are not utilized in the demodulation process.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunication devices. More particularly, the method of the present invention relates to a simplified modulation format. The method is readily applied to asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems.
B. Description of the Related Art
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a communication system that operates over existing twisted-pair telephone lines between a central office and a residential or business location. It is generally a point-to-point connection between two dedicated devices. ADSL supports bit transmission rates of up to approximately 6 Mbps in the downstream direction (to a subscriber device at the home), but only 640 Kbps in the upstream direction (to the service provider/central office). ADSL connections actually have three separate information channels: two data channels and a POTS channel. The first data channel is a high-speed downstream channel used to convey information to the subscriber. Its data rate is adaptable and ranges from 1.5 to 6.1 Mbps. The second data channel is a medium speed duplex channel providing bi-directional communication between the subscriber and the service provider/central office. Its rate is also adaptable and the rates range from 16 to 640 kbps. The third information channel is a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) channel. The POTS channel is typically not processed directly by the ADSL modemsxe2x80x94the POTS channel operates in the standard POTS frequency range and is processed by standard POTS devices after being split from the ADSL signal.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard T1.413, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, specifies an ADSL standard that is widely followed in the telecommunications industry. The ADSL standard specifies a modulation technique known as Discrete Multi-Tone modulation.
Discrete Multi-Tone Modulation
Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) uses a large number of subcarriers spaced close together. Each subcarrier is modulated during training using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, or QPSK. During normal data transmission mode, the modulation used in ADSL is Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (MQAM). The data bits are mapped to a series of symbols in the I-Q complex plane, and each symbol is used to modulate the amplitude and phase of one of the multiple tones, or carriers.
In some ADSL transceivers, the symbols are used to specify the magnitude and phase of a subcarrier, where each subcarrier frequency corresponds to the center frequency of the xe2x80x9cbinxe2x80x9d associated with a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). The modulated time-domain signal corresponding to all of the subcarriers can then be generated in parallel by the use of well-known DFT algorithm called Inverse Discrete Fourier Transforms (IDFT). There are many well-known forms of the DFT and IDFT, often referred to generically as fast Fourier transforms (FFT) and inverse fast Fourier transforms (IFFT).
The symbol period in ADSL modems is relatively long compared to single carrier systems because the bandwidth available to each carrier is restricted. However, a large number of symbols is transmitted simultaneously, one on each subcarrier. The number of discrete signal points that may be distinguished on a single carrier is a function of the noise level. Thus, the signal set, or constellation, of each subcarrier is determined based on the noise level within the relevant subcarrier frequency band. The appropriate loading of each carrier is determined during initial training and analysis periods.
Because the symbol is relatively long and is preceded by a guard band, intersymbol interference is a less severe problem than with single carrier, high symbol rate systems. Furthermore, because each carrier has a narrow bandwidth, the channel impulse response is relatively flat across each sub-carrier frequency band. The DMT standard for ADSL, ANSI T1.413, specifies 256 sub-carriers, each with a 4.3125 kHz bandwidth. Each sub-carrier can be independently modulated from zero to a maximum of 15 bits/sec/Hz. This allows up to 60 kbps per tone. DMT transmission allows modulation and coding techniques to be employed independently for each of the sub-channels.
The sub-channels overlap spectrally, but as a consequence of the orthogonality of the transform, if the distortion in the channel is mild relative to the bandwidth of a sub-channel, the data in each sub-channel can be demodulated with a small amount of interference from the other sub-channels. For high-speed wide-band applications, it is common to use a cyclic-prefix at the beginning to maintain orthogonality. Because of the periodic nature of the DFT, no discontinuity in the time-domain channel is generated between the symbol and the extension. It has been shown that if the channel impulse response is shorter than the length of the periodic extension, sub-channel isolation is achieved.
Time domain equalization is often performed to reduce the apparent length of the channel. impulse response. A frequency domain equalizer is able to remove channel distortion only in the case where the channel impulse response is shorter than the cyclic prefix. In full-rate ADSL data transmission, the receiver may perform time domain equalization prior to the conversion to the frequency domain in order to shorten the effective impulse response so that its length is less than the length of the cyclic prefix.
The signal processing associated with ADSL modems, specifically that associated with echo cancellation, equalization and DMT modulation/demodulation, is typically performed after the signal waveform is sampled. The processing is then performed on the digital signal. Because of the high bandwidth and the correspondingly high sample rate, the digital signal processing exceeds the capabilities of typical digital signal processors (DSP) that have been used quite successfully in the implementation of POTS-type modems. As a result, ADSL modems for subscriber devices, e.g., personal computers and other remote terminals, are significantly more expensive than traditional analog POTS-type modems. It has been generally understood that the increased cost is acceptable in view of the greatly enhanced data transmission capabilities of ADSL.
A sub-rate modulation method that is compatible with full-rate ADSL modems is provided. The method may be used to implement a reduced complexity transceiver, preferably remotely located from the central office or service provider. The method includes instructing the full-rate modem to transmit data using a subset of available carriers; receiving the subset of carriers at the remote location; and performing a reduced complexity time-to-frequency domain transform.
The full rate modem is instructed to use every other carrier, resulting in a transmitted time domain sequence that is cyclicxe2x80x94the first half of the symbol is identical to the second half. As a result, the first half of the symbol is treated as an extended cyclic prefix, resulting in the elimination of the need to perform time-domain equalization at the sub-rate ADSL modem receiver. This substantially reduces the amount of signal processing required by the sub-rate ADSL transceiver. In addition, local echo cancellation need not be performed during the first half of the received symbol period since these values are not utilized in the demodulation process.

Frequency decimated DMT modulation modem


A torch comprises inner parts carrying the welding current. The inner parts are enclosed by a nozzle, an intermediate member and an outer neck section. The intermediate member is connected to the outer neck section with a left handed internal screw and to the nozzle with a right handed external screw. The inner parts are surrounded by electrically insulating tubes for preventing an electrical breakthrough. At least an intermediate one of the insulating tubes is coated with a thermally conducting paste for providing good heat conduction between the outer and inner parts.

The invention relates to a torch for shielded arc welding comprising an inner part for carrying the current and an outer part and isolation means arranged therebetween.
Such torches are e.g. used for MIG arc welding and are usually exposed to high temperatures. Their tip and gas nozzle must therefore be designed to carry off heat efficiently. A device with water cooling is disclosed in European patent application EP 376 015. On the other hand, the torches should be compact and slim such that they can be used in constricted areas. This compact design makes it difficult to provide for the necessary heat removal.


A high efficiency fuel-saving drawer type steam cabinet includes multiple layers provided at the front of the housing for accommodating steam bins. The front panels of each of the steam bins includes inclined or slanting planar surfaces at respective inner sides of the upper, lower, left and right edges. Provided at the front end of both sides of the cabinet housing are several laterally extending joists each made up of an upper frame board and a lower frame board that also form inclined planar surfaces. The inclined surfaces on the upper and lower frame boards are respectively angled to engage and achieve air tight contact with the upper and lower inclined surfaces on the front panels of adjacent steam bins. In addition, an inclined side panel having an inwardly slanting or inclined surface is provided on both side walls of the cabinet housing to engage the two inclined side surfaces of the front panels and form an air tight seal therewith. A water storage passage and an air exhaust passage are provided in the rear of the cabinet housing for effectively reclaiming exhaust from the heating fuel to heat up the water used to generate the steam.

The present invention relates to a high efficiency fuel-saving drawer type steam cabinet, and more particularly to a steam cabinet exclusively designed for steaming and keeping warm various types of soup.
The steam cabinets available in the market are essentially divided into two types. In the first type of cabinet, which is for steaming stuffed buns, dumplings and similar edibles, a door is provided at the front panel to provide access for placing food in and removing the food when opened, and for sealing the cabinet housing when shut, so to keep the steam from escaping, as disclosed in another utility model application pending (Application No. 78210395) by this same applicant. The second type is for steaming soups generally seen in snack shops. Within such a cabinet, multiple drawer segregation layers are provided, each layer accommodating a drawer bin with dishes or cups to be placed above the bin. Each bin can be separately pulled out when the soup desired is ordered.
By referring to FIG. 1, a hollow chamber is provided inside a drawer type steam cabinet housing (1) of the prior art, and multiple rails are relatively provided on the upper and lower edges of inner walls on both sides of the chamber to form several separation layers or compartments for drawers (11). A drawer bin (12) for holding soup dishes (13) to be steamed can be inserted into each layered compartment, a pot (2) containing boiling water is provided below the steam cabinet, and a heating oven fixture (3) is placed below the pot (2). Steam generated by the water in the pot (2) when heated by the oven fixture (3) passes through pores distributed on the bottom of the bin (12) of each layer, and gradually rises up to cause food in the dishes (13) to cook and keep warm the food.
The prior art has the following defects:
1. It has poor steaming effects and usually serves at best to keep the food warm because, when the bin is placed inside the housing (1), there is a gap between the open end of the housing (1) and the bin (12), so that the steam still manages to escape from each drawer layer, thus preventing the temperature in the bins from rising to 100.degree. C. (generally staying between the range of 80.degree. C..about.90.degree. C.). As a result, steaming usually takes a longer time and soup must be boiled before being put into the cabinet for keeping warm. In practice, the conventional drawer-type steam cabinet does not provide the function of steaming the food.
2. The fire from the oven fixture (3) provides low heating efficiency for the pot (2), that is, part of the hot air and the waste gas discharged from heating the pot (2) by such fire is not reclaimed, resulting in a great waste of fuel energy.
3. The prior art cabinet requires attention to refilling of water to the pot (2). When the water in the pot (2) is about to be used up, the pot (2) has to be removed for the refill. Such a process presents hazards of being burned by boiling water for the operator, making the water refill an inconvenient operation.
Despite having been provided with multiple drawer layers for accommodating several steam bins to steam (or actually keep warm) various types of soup dishes, the absence of a good air-tight contact between the bins, and between the front end of the steam bins and the opening of the housing of the prior art cabinet, prevents real steaming effects of the type obtained by a door type of steam cabinet. Therefore, there is a need for a drawer type steam cabinet that provides air-tight separation for each layer of drawer type steam bins, and effective reclaiming of fuel waste gas to promote the energy consumption.

High efficiency fuel-saving drawer-type steam cabinet


A projector illuminates an object, within the field of view of a camera, with a sequence of code patterns. The camera captures the illuminated object and provides object images to a decoder to convert the code patterns into code. A transition locator locates discontinuities in the code pattern images. A dequantizer reconstructs a range image from those discontinuities and said code.

This relates to time-multiplexed structured (coded) light, and to methods for acquiring a three-dimensional structure of an object.
Coded light is an active triangulation method for three-dimensional (3D) geometry acquisition, in which the object of interest is illuminated by a time-multiplexed sequence of patterns, e.g., vertical or horizontal stripes of varying width, forming some binary (e.g. Gray) code. Using a camera calibrated with the projecting system, the 3D geometry is recovered by triangulation. The code enables a correspondence between the camera and the projector coordinate systems to be determined.
The object is illuminated with a rapidly changing sequence of patterns. Typically, the sequence of projected patterns consists of b binary code patterns, forming a one-dimensional Gray code. The object illuminated by these patterns forms a set of N×M images I0 . . . , Ib captured by the camera. These images contain continuous gray levels (hereinafter assumed to have pixel values in the range [0, 255]) that are converted into values of 1 at illuminated pixels and 0 at dark pixels.
The binary code of length b is thus formed at each pixel and decoded, giving a reference to the location Y of the pixel in the one-dimensional system of coordinates of the projector. The intersection of the ray connecting the pixel with the optical center of the camera coordinate system and the plane in the projector coordinate system allows recovery of the three-dimensional world coordinate of the point seen at that pixel. This coordinate can be expressed as the distance R from the camera center and obtained by means of a spatially-dependent non-linear projection operator R(x,y)=P(x,y){(x,y)}.


A control barrier is provided having a barrier wall with one or two support legs attached thereto. The barrier wall has a front face with a display recess formed therein and an internal cavity for selective filling with a ballast material. Each of the support legs are hingedly mounted to the back face of the barrier wall so as to selectively fold flat. Each support leg has an interior surface defining an internal chamber for selective filling with a ballast material.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable, reusable control barriers, and more specifically, reusable control barriers having collapsible support legs.
2. The Relevant Technology
Control barriers are used in a variety of situations. For example, control barriers can be selectively positioned at special events, such as parades, to help direct crowds in a desired direction. Alternatively, control barriers can be put up to help limit access to select areas. In yet other embodiments, control barriers can be used to define an area such as an entertainment stage or the course for a sporting event.
Conventional control barriers have long comprised individual sawhorse type barriers and collapsible V-shape barricades. Such barriers, however, are generally lightweight and are easily tipped over. As a result, conventional control barriers have limited use in situations where crowds may be pushing against the barriers or where it is likely that the barriers may be impacted. In addition, such barriers are typically made of non-flexible metals or wood and have sharp corners. Accordingly, such structures pose a potential risk to crowds, athletes, or the like who may be pushed or otherwise come in contact with the barriers. Furthermore, such barriers are typically not connected and often have spaces or gaps extending therethrough. As such, it is possible for individuals to either slip between or through the barriers.
Other barriers comprise various gate or wall configurations. Such barriers, however, require extensive time to assemble and disassemble. In yet other alternative embodiments, concrete barriers have been used. Although concrete barriers are not easily tipped over, such barriers are extremely heavy. As such, they are difficult to move and place in a desired location. Often, special equipment such as fork lifts or cranes are required. Furthermore, concrete barriers require a large storage area, are difficult and expensive to move over large distances, and are difficult to dispose of once they are damaged or begin to fail. Finally, concrete barriers can be dangerous in that they are rigid and non-forgiving when impacted by a person or object.


Provided is a sensitive golf club with a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a battery, a sensor module configured to measure sensor data indicating a state of the golf club using power from the battery, a communications unit configured to wirelessly transmit the sensor data to an external device using power from the battery, and a control unit configured to control operation of the sensor module and the communications unit using power from the battery. The sensor unit has an A mode, and a B mode in which operation of the communications unit is suppressed compared to the A mode. The control unit is configured to judge whether or not the golf club is prepared for a shot based on the sensor data, and switch between the A mode and B mode based on whether or not the golf club is prepared for a shot.

Conventionally, there is known a system that records a shot of a golfer by using a golf club with a sensor unit in which there is mounted a sensor module such as an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor (see JP 2007-530151A of Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the measurement data from the sensor module is wirelessly transmitted to an external portable computer through a communications module mounted in the same sensor unit. In this system, it is possible to collect shot measurement data in real time during a round on a golf course, and provide analysis results based on the measurement data to the golfer in real time.


A multimedia call is completed to a mobile user, who registered to receive a multimedia call at a multimedia terminal using a portable intelligent device. A mobile user record including a physical address of a multimedia terminal and a user address is stored. In response to a multimedia call addressed to the user address, the physical address is determined and call notification information is transmitted to the multimedia terminal at the physical address. The multimedia call is then completed to the multimedia terminal at the physical address.

A portable intelligent device ("PID"), also known as a Personal Digital Assistant ("PDA"), allows a person to carry and access a wide variety of data, such as address and phone data, date book and scheduling information, expense data, e-mail messages, memoranda, to-do lists, etc. An example of such a PID is the Palm V Organizer from 3Com Corporation. The Palm V includes a serial port that allows the Palm V to be coupled to a personal computer to import and export data. The Palm V also includes an infrared ("IR") port that allows the Palm V to transmit data to and receive data from other devices having an IR port, such as another Palm V.
Public "pay phones" and cellular communication technology (e.g., cellular phones) allow a person to easily initiate an interactive voice communication (e.g., a voice phone call) with another person. It has been more difficult for a person who is located away from home or office to easily receive calls unless various non-systematic, ad-hoc mechanisms are used to notify the person's friends, family, and work colleagues of the address (e.g., phone number) of a nearby multimedia terminal (e.g., telephone).
Typical public pay phones do not adequately allow a person who is located away from home or office to easily receive calls because a caller to that person cannot know in advance the phone number of a public phone to which the mobile person is in close proximity at any given time. Cellular phone technology does allow a cellular phone subscriber to always have a known phone number, but current battery technology deters a cellular phone subscriber from leaving a cellular phone constantly on to receive an incoming call. Moreover, the typical higher price of cellular communication dampens the willingness of a cellular phone subscriber to blithely advertise and accept any and all incoming phone calls.
The obstacles restricting a person's ability to receive incoming communications are exacerbated with the increase in types of communications media. Even if cellular phone technology overcomes the obstacles noted above, it will still not be easy for a mobile person to receive a paper fax from a cellular phone or participate in a video conference. This difficulty includes the expense and physical bulk of multimedia receivers and transmitters (e.g., a fax machine, a video camera) and the large bandwidth requirements of multimedia communications (e.g., a video phone call) that cannot be met practically in the wireless electromagnetic spectrum.
The present invention in one embodiment advantageously allows a mobile person to be the recipient of incoming multimedia calls by utilizing recent technological advances, such as the increasing ubiquity of standard data networking technology based on packet-switched Internet Protocol ("IP") networks, the use of IP networks for multimedia call transmission and call signaling, the increasing computing and storage capacity of portable intelligent devices (e.g., at present these devices are typically handheld PDAs, but soon such computing and storage capacity will be available in smaller devices, such as watches, jewelry, or implants), and the increasing ability of a PID to communicate with other devices using wireless technology, such as infrared data transmissions, a wireless Local Area Network ("LAN"), wireless Wide Area Network ("WAN") and/or a wireless Internet service provider ("WISP").

Method and apparatus for personalization of a public multimedia communications terminal


The present invention provides an air intake noise reducing device, an internal combustion engine fitted with the air intake noise reducing device and a structure for fitting the air intake noise reducing device to the internal combustion engine. The air intake noise reducing device comprises a gasket (2) comprising a ring member (2a) held by connecting surfaces of an air intake passage (100) and protrusion holding portions (2b) extending from the ring member (2a) toward a center of the air intake passage (100); and a net member (3) comprising a net (3a) for rectifying intake air and connecting protrusions (3b) extending outward from the net (3). The connecting protrusions (3b) are held in the protruding holding portions (2b) such that the ring member (3) is firmly secured to the gasket (3). The air intake noise reducing device constituted by in the above-mentioned manner can reduce assembly man-hours without deteriorating a sealing property of the air passage.

Conventionally, the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine such as an automobile engine is adjusted by opening or closing throttle valves arranged in air intake passages. When the throttle valves are opened rapidly, large amount of air is sucked in a short period, so that unusual sounds or noises are caused in surge tanks, intake manifolds and the like connected to or arranged at downstream of the throttle valves.
In order to suppress such unusual sounds, a structure comprising a net arranged at downstream of the throttle valve is proposed (for example, see reference 1).
Hereinafter, one of the conventional devices for reducing noises caused during the air intake operation is explained as referring to drawings.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an air intake noise reducing device. FIG. 8 (a) shows a cross-sectional view along C-C line in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 (b) shows a cross-sectional view along D-D line in FIG. 7.
An air intake noise reducing device 101 is arranged at a downstream position from a throttle valve 110 in the vicinity where the device can affect air streams from the throttle valve 110. The air intake noise reducing device 101 is arranged at a connecting portion of an air intake passage 100, where two pipe members, for example a throttle body and a surge tank are abutted each other, so that the air intake noise reducing device is held by both ends of the pipe members.
A reference numeral 102 is an annular gasket. Airtightness at the connecting portion is secured by the annular gasket 102, which is held by end surfaces of the throttle body and the surge tank.
A reference numeral 103 is a net for reducing the air intake noise. Air flowing through the air intake passage 100 is dispersed and rectified by the net 103, so that the air intake noise is reduced. A metal mesh and the like are employed as the net 103.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 (a), the gasket 102 and the net 103 are connected each other by inserting protruded portions 104 formed around the periphery of the net 103 into the gasket 102. Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), sometimes an outer rim 105 for connecting protruded portions 104 together, passes through the gasket 102.
The net 103 and the gasket 102 are formed into a one-pieced device such that the protruded portions 104 and the outer rim 105 are fixed to the gasket 102 by an adhesive.                Reference 1: Japanese laid open patent No. 11-141416

Air intake noise reducing device, internal combustion engine fitted with the same and structure for fitting the same to the internal combustion engine


A first message server is placed in a first geographic location, a second message server is placed in a second geographic location, and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) metrics are used to properly route traffic to a surviving message server if one geographic location is destroyed.

In recent years, mobile wireless communications have become increasingly popular. Initial implementations of mobile wireless communications, for example in the form of cellular telephone networks, supported circuit switched voice communication services. The carriers developed short message service (SMS) technology to provide text and/or e-mail communications via the wireless networks. Today wireless carriers also offer packet data communication services to their mobile customers. The deployment of broadband packet-based wireless networks allows the carriers and other service providers to offer a variety of new services via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) technologies, which enable users of mobile devices to send and receive multimedia content, such as text, graphics, digital photographs, audio files and video clips, via non-real-time transmission.
The SMS service, for example, provides text messages for display on the mobile devices. In a typical implementation, SMS communications to/from a mobile device use a signaling channel over the airlink and use out-of-band signaling resources of the mobile phone network for transport to/from a server platform referred to as a SMSC (Short Message Service Center). The SMSC, for example, receives packet communications containing text messages and forwards the messages via the signaling resources and the signaling channels to the appropriate mobile devices. The SMSC will also receive similar messages from the mobile devices and forward them to servers or terminal devices accessible via an Internet Protocol (IP) packet data network. An MMS service operates in a similar manner using packet data communications capabilities of enhanced network architectures, for example, using a MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Center) to perform functions analogous to those of the SMSC.
The SMSC or MMSC type message service center is typically implemented on a server platform having appropriate network connectivity and programming. To provide the level of service reliability typically expected by the network operators' customers, the servers are implemented in a redundant manner. Thus, if a first server fails, then a second server should take over the duties of the first server. The second server may be referred to as secondary, or redundant, or sister, or backup, or matched, or mated to the first server.
One conventional approach provides locally redundant message servers, so that if a first (primary) message server fails, then a second (backup) message server can provide backup service. In this conventional approach, both message servers reside in a single geographic site. If either server fails, then the remaining server is able to handle its own traffic, plus the traffic from the failed server. The term "mated pair" may be the most accurate term for the conventional solution, because the second server is the backup for the first server, and simultaneously and symmetrically the first server is the backup for the second server.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional locally redundant approach for message servers in a SMSC. An SMSC is a collection of hardware that resides in an access MSC and uses the SS7 network and a group of store-and-forward messaging servers to send and receive text messages between mobile handsets and other communication entities. Geographic zone 210 is served by an access Mobile Switching Center (MSC-1) 220 and does not have a Short Message Service Center. A second geographic zone 230 is served by a second access Mobile Switching Center (MSC-2) 240, which includes a Short Message Service Center (SMSC-AB) 250 with locally redundant message servers. Short Message Service Center (SMSC-AB) may serve two or more geographic zones. In this example, the SMSC-AB may serve at least geographic zones 210 and 230 through their respective access MSCs 220 and 240. There are at least two types of MSCs: access and distribution. The distinction between access and distribution MSCs will be discussed in more detail elsewhere.
The SMSC-AB 250 has locally redundant message servers: Server A 254, and Server B 258. If one message server fails, then the remaining message server will handle the additional ("failover") message server load. Short Message Service Center (SMSC-AB) may additionally have locally-redundant load balancers: Balancer-A 252, and Balancer-B 256. If one balancer fails, then the remaining balancer will handle the additional ("failover") balancer load.
FIG. 3 illustrates internal detail for a conventional locally redundant Short Message Service Center (SMSC-AB) with locally redundant message servers (Server A 335, and Server B 345). Short Message Service Center (SMSC-AB) may also have locally redundant load balancers (Balancer-A 330, and Balancer-B 340). The message servers may communicate with mobile phones through an SS7 network, or communicate with distribution mobile service centers (MSC) through a router.
Note the redundant communication paths 351-358, 361, and 362. For example, if Balancer-A 330 fails, and Server B 345 fails, then Server A 335 is still functional. Specifically, Server A 335 may still communicate via path 354 to Balancer-B; and Balancer-B may communicate via path 352 to Ethernet switch 320; and Ethernet switch 320 may communicate with a router via path 351. Thus, this example has locally redundant message servers, and also has locally redundant balancers.
In its conventional configuration, all traffic that flows either from an ESME (SMPP Gateway, VM complex, etc.) to a mobile handset or vice versa passes through the locally redundant message server solution depicted in FIG. 3. IP traffic destined for a mobile handset is routed towards a VIP address which is originated from the MSC that houses the hardware which is provisioned to handle a particular customer base. For example, Server A 335 may be provisioned to handle traffic from customers in geographic zone 210, and Server B 345 may be provisioned to handle traffic from customers in geographic zone 230. Traffic from these two geographic zones may be routed to SMSC-AB 250. SMSC-AB is associated with a first VIP address for Server A (VIP-A), and with a second VIP address for Server B (VIP-B).
To summarize, this locally redundant solution illustrated by FIG. 3 advertises two VIP addresses from a single SMSC site, and the customer base is divided among the two VIP addresses.
The problem with locally redundant message servers is that a local catastrophe such as a hurricane may destroy a geographic site containing both the primary and the backup servers. Analysis shows that 99.999% availability may not be feasible using locally redundant message servers.
As discussed above, the hardware that is housed in SMSC-AB 250 is locally redundant so in the event of a single message server failure (or single balancer failure), then there are backup devices to handle the transactions of the failed hardware. Unfortunately, this local redundancy does not protect against a catastrophic failure (such as a hurricane) at the local site which may destroy or isolate all hardware at the local site.
Hence, as a result of this vulnerability to catastrophic failure at a local site, a need exists to increase survivability by physically separating the message servers, and locating the message servers at two different sites. This geographic separation will insure survival and availability of one of the message servers in case of a catastrophic failure at a local site. This geographic separation may be necessary in order to achieve 99.999% availability of at least one message server.

OSPF routing to geographically diverse applications using OSPF and route health injection (RHI)


A belt-shaped base of a female member of a zipper tape attached to an inner surface of a bag body has a wide portion that extends wider toward an opening of the bag body than a belt-shaped base of the male member. An open tape is disposed on the wide portion and a seal layer is laminated on a surface of the open tape. A first projecting portion is also provided on the wide portion. A second projecting portion is provided on an opening-side end of the belt-shaped base. The projecting portions have a substantially trapezoidal cross section. When the zipper tape is bonded to the bag body and is sealed by the seal layer, a gap is provided between the open tape and the first and the second projecting portions.

As a package for packaging various articles such as food, medicine, medical products and miscellaneous goods, package bags provided with a zipper tape have been used, in which a pair of belt-shaped zipper tapes respectively including a male member and a female member that are mated with each other is disposed on an opening, the zipper tapes capable of being opened from the mated state and closable again.
Such package bags provided with a zipper tape are sealed at an upper part of the zipper tape. When the package bags are to be opened, a film forming a bag body is capable of being torn apart starting from notches and the like provided on both sides of the package bag.
When the package bag is to be thus opened, since the film is cut at a position adjacent to the zipper tape, it become difficult to pinch the bag body. Accordingly, a technique has been desired that allows the film of the bag body to be cut at a predetermined position.
In view of the above, several methods have been proposed.
In Patent Document 1, an opening string is disposed on a part of a zipper tape. The opening string is pulled to tear a film of the bag body.
In Patent Document 2, an open tape is provided and a film of the bag body is cut together with the open tape.
In Patent Document 3, in order to cut an open tape at a predetermined position, a cylindrical guide piece is provided on both ends of the open tape or, alternatively, the thickness of the both ends of the open tape is increased.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2004-276925
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2000-355336
[Patent Document 3] JP-A-10-059384

Chuck tape with cut tape, its manufacturing method, and packaging bag with chuck tape


A method facilitates provisioning of pre paid wireless services. Credit refresh operations involving a pre paid wireless communication device involve SMS messages transmitted to the device over the air. The device uses tariff tables to keep track of a call's impact on available credit. The tariff tables are updatable at the service provider's discretion using SMS messages.

In a conventional wireless system, a subscriber purchases a wireless phone (i.e., a handset) and a wireless service from a service provider. The subscriber has a contract with the service provider and pays a monthly subscriber fee for access to the wireless service and also pays for air time. If the subscriber fails to timely pay, the service provider may disconnect the service. Then the service provider have to attempt to collect money for unpaid bills. U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,247 describes a cellular telephone communication refill system. This system includes an apparatus that meters payment according to a predetermined parameter (e.g., a number of calls, an amount of funds, etc.). The predetermined parameter is stored within a secured metering device of the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,100 describes a mobile phone having internal accounting capabilities for real time call debiting. The mobility phone includes an internal memory which stores an upgradeable rate table and a complex billing algorithm calculating an account status on the fly. In addition, the mobile phone is capable of alerting a customer of real time account status. Furthermore, this U.S. patent provides for a communication system which activates the mobile phone and upgrades the account status in the rate table over airways.
Therefore, there is a need for a wireless prepaid system where the service provider does not need to be concerned with collecting the unpaid bills and where the subscriber has control over his wireless expenditures.

System for managing prepaid wireless service


A device processes a received radio signal. Circuitry formulates voltage samples of the radio signal. Analog processing of those samples is performed. Then, digital processing is performed on the output of the analog processing. The circuitry for formulating voltage samples is configured to ensure a processing of the samples prior to the digital processing.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of signal processing, and pertains in particular to a preprocessing performed at the input of a digital device.
The invention pertains more particularly to the processing of radiofrequency signals implemented in a digital processing device for signals such as a device known by the term of art as a "software radio".
2. Description of Related Art
A software radio is a device for processing a radiofrequency signal of purely digital nature.
The realization of such a device makes it necessary to process a bandwidth at least equal to twice the clock frequency. To process the incoming signal in real time and in a synchronous manner, the clock frequency to be considered is in relationship with the frequency of the radiofrequency domain, i.e. generally 2 GHz. The bandwidth of the signal digital processing device must therefore be equal to at least 10 GHz.
Additionally, the power gap of the signal arriving at a radiofrequency antenna may lie between a minimum of −100 dbm and a maximum of −20 dbm. The amplitude of the signal received may therefore be of the order of 100 db. It is then necessary to use a sampling with at least 16 bits to digitize signals of such an amplitude.
The constraints applying to the bandwidth and to the amplitude of the signal require considerable calculation power. The power consumption of calculation devices capable of carrying out such calculations is conventionally of the order of 500 to 1000 watts. Such power consumption is incompatible with the portability requirements of a software radio.
It is therefore desirable to decrease the complexity of the calculations to be carried out for processing signals arising from a radiofrequency antenna.
It is also necessary to decrease, in the same manner, the power consumption of the calculation means implemented for processing the radiofrequency signals.
Applicants further reference and incorporate by reference herein French Application for Patent No. 07 55441 entitled "Method and Electronic Device for Frequency Shifting an Analog Signal, in Particular for Mobile Telephony" by Didier Belot, et al. filed Jun. 4, 2007 and filed as PCT/FR2008/50973 on Jun. 3, 2008 (also incorporated herein by reference).

Method and device for the analog processing of a radio signal for a radio frequency receiver

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


An apparatus, system, and method for fluorescence imaging with stray light reduction is described. The system including a light source to provide a first illumination of a scene to induce fluorescence from the scene, an image sensor to capture a fluorescence image of the scene during the first illumination, and a controller coupled to the light source, the image sensor, and memory that includes instructions that when executed by the controller causes the system to perform operations. The operations including comparing a first color channel value to a second color channel value of a given pixel included in the fluorescence image to identify one or more pixels of the fluorescence image as being affected by stray light. The operations further including generating a stray light image mask based, at least in part, on the one or more pixels of the fluorescence image identified as being affected by the stray light.

Fluorescence imaging is an imaging technique that utilizes fluorophores for a variety of applications, such as visualizing biological processes (e.g., dynamics of gene expression, protein expression, molecular interactions, and the like), DNA sequencing, cancer detection, marking or tracking biological features, and the like. The fluorophore is a fluorescent chemical compound that can re-emit light upon illumination by excitation light. Specifically, upon illumination by the excitation light, the illuminated molecules of the fluorophore absorb the excitation light, briefly enter a higher energy state (e.g., excited state), and subsequently emit fluorescence light when the molecules return to a ground energy state. The fluorescence light can be captured or otherwise imaged by an image sensor for applications as described above and as follows. In one example, indocyanine green (ICG) is a fluorescent dye used for medical diagnostics applications. In another example, ICG can be used as a tracer or marker during surgery. One use case is during a cholecystectomy, ICG may be used to distinguish between the bile duct and an artery to assist a surgeon during removal of a gallbladder.

Apparatus, system, and method for fluorescence imaging with stray light reduction


A semiconductor device capable of high speed operation is provided. Further, a semiconductor device in which change in electric characteristics due to a short channel effect is hardly caused is provided. An oxide semiconductor having crystallinity is used for a semiconductor layer of a transistor. A channel formation region, a source region, and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor layer. The source region and the drain region are formed by self-aligned process in which one or more elements selected from Group 15 elements are added to the semiconductor layer with the use of a gate electrode as a mask. The source region and the drain region can have a wurtzite crystal structure.

A transistor formed over a glass substrate or the like is manufactured using amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or the like, as typically seen in a liquid crystal display device. Although a transistor including amorphous silicon has low field-effect mobility, it can be formed over a larger glass substrate. On the other hand, although a transistor including polycrystalline silicon has high field-effect mobility, it is not suitable for being formed over a larger glass substrate.
In view of the foregoing, attention has been drawn to a technique by which a transistor is manufactured using an oxide semiconductor, and such a transistor is applied to an electronic device an optical device. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a technique in which a transistor is manufactured using zinc oxide or an In—Ga—Zn-based oxide as an oxide semiconductor and such a transistor is used as a switching element or the like of a pixel of a display device.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique in which in a staggered transistor including an oxide semiconductor, a highly conductive oxide semiconductor including nitrogen is provided as buffer layers between a source region and a source electrode and between a drain region and a drain electrode, and thereby the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor and the source electrode and between the oxide semiconductor and the drain electrode is reduced.
Further, as a method for forming a source region and a drain region of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor by a self-aligned process, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a surface of an oxide semiconductor is exposed and argon plasma treatment is performed thereon for reducing resistivity of the exposed portion in the oxide semiconductor.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A computer implemented system, method and a computer program product for ahead of time delivery of electronic content, have been provided. A file policy specifying a time period in which the electronic content is to be rendered accessible to a subscriber, is created. The electronic content is embedded with the file access policy, and subsequently encrypted. The encrypted electronic content is transmitted ahead-of-time to a network enabled device accessible to the subscriber. The encrypted electronic content is decrypted subsequent to the authentication of the subscriber. The electronic content is made accessible via the network enabled device only in the event that the current time stamp received from a time server is within the time period specified by the file access policy.

Technical Field
The embodiments herein relate to the held of data transmission and distribution. Particularly, the embodiments herein relate to systems and methods that enable ahead-of-time delivery of data/content to a subscriber/intended content recipient.
Description of Related Art
Information security and information rights management are critical aspects for an enterprise that seeks to protect valuable information from being accessed and probably misused by unauthorized users. Apart from securing the available information, an enterprise would also have to emphasize upon was in which the information could be shared with authorized users who are in need of the said information, and also upon ensuring that the information is transmitted to multiple authorized users, in a safe and secured manner. One of the traditional approaches for delivering information in a secured manner to a plurality of users, warranted for the information to be encrypted prior to distribution and delivering a key, preferably a public key which would facilitate decryption of the distributed (encrypted) information.
However, one of the drawbacks associated with the aforementioned approach is the obligation to deliver a key to each of the plurality of recipients, which in turn could jeopardize the security offered to the transmitted information.
Therefore, there was felt a need for a system that could securely transmit the information without warranting the key to be transmitted to each of the intended content recipients. There was also felt a need for a system that would enable an authorized intent content recipient to access the transmitted information, only at a predetermined time.
The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

Computer implemented system and method for ahead-of-time delivery of electronic content


A clock control circuit includes a first signal generation block for outputting a first internal clock signal, which is enabled after delay of a first time from a rising edge of a first input clock signal and has a high level pulse width shorter by a second time than a high level pulse width of the first input clock signal, and a second signal generation block for outputting a second internal clock signal, which is enabled after delay of the first time from a rising edge of a second input clock signal and has a high level pulse width shorter by the second time than a high level pulse width of the second input clock signal.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments described herein relate to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to a clock control circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit using the same.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor integrated circuits with a high integration level and capable of operating at a high speed are increasingly in demand. Specifically, these high speed circuits include DLL (delay-locked loop) circuits to implement read operations in synchronization with external clock signals.
As is well known in the art, a DLL circuit is provided to control the output timing of a signal (for example, data, etc.), which is output by a semiconductor integrated circuit, in synchronization with the clock signal, which is input to the semiconductor integrated circuit. In detail, since timing delay occurs when the clock signal received by the semiconductor integrated circuit is used within the semiconductor integrated circuit, a DLL circuit is employed to control the timing delay and allow the clock signal used within the semiconductor integrated circuit to be synchronized with the clock signal received by the semiconductor integrated circuit.
An SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory), for example, includes a DLL circuit to implement read operations in synchronization with external clock signals. As a consequence, the SDRAM is controlled in a read operation mode by the rising and falling clock signals generated by the DLL circuit, so that data can be output precisely in synchronization with the rising and falling edges of the external clocks signals. Meanwhile, the enable timing of output data is controlled so that a duty ratio can always be satisfied irrespective of a data pattern.
In general, in order to maintain the duty ratio between clock signals at 50:50, the rising and falling clock signals are controlled such that the rising edge of the rising clock signal and the falling edge of the falling clock signal cross at an intermediate point between a high level and a low level and the falling edge of the rising clock signal and the rising edge of the falling clock signal cross at the intermediate point between the high level and the low level. Therefore, when an output buffer is driven, as data is pulled up and pulled down depending upon the pattern of output data, an overlap of two signals occurs, and due to this fact, a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor in a pre-driver or an output buffer are simultaneously turned on and off, which serves as noise in the data output and can cause distortion and increase power consumption.

Clock control circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same


Portable, wheeled apparatus for transporting two or more contaminated asbestos workers to a remote decontamination facility after performing asbestos removal. The portable device is wheeled and is provided with a brake to selectively prevent rolling. A fiberglass shell is mounted upon a rugged angle iron frame and is provided with a window along one side. A hingedly connected door is preferably provided with a window and has a gasket to provide an air-tight seal. Internally mounted door latches permit locking and opening from the interior. An air inlet is provided with a HEPA filter and fan to create positive pressure within the enclosure. An exhaust port is provided at the top end and is also fitted with a HEPA filter. A sealing flap extends around the people carrier door and is provided with a Velcro surface for attachment to a cooperating Velcro surface on the decontamination chamber as well as the work area. A Velcro strip on the opposite side of the closure flap and a cooperating Velcro strip provided on the carrier serves to retain the flap flush against the people carrier when not in use. A push handle is provided at the end of the people carrier opposite the door. A rechargeable battery is mounted within the people carrier to power the fan and may be plugged into a suitable AC outlet for recharging when not in use.

There are a number of materials, which have been identified as posing significant health hazards to personnel exposed to or coming in contact with such materials.
For example, asbestos has been well-known and recognized for its insulation and fireproof properties and, as a result was widely used as an insulation and/or fireproofing material. In spite of these excellent insulation and fire retardant characteristics, it has been established that airborne asbestos fibers, and other fine particles of asbestos are the cause of a serious disease known as asbestosis as well as causing a type of cancer known as mesothelioma.
Due to the serious health hazards, which may result from continued exposure to asbestos as well as other materials that include fine particulate contaminants, significant efforts have been made, especially throughout the United States, to remove or abate asbestos from buildings and/or any other structures employing asbestos as an insulating and/or fire retardant material. Due to the serious health hazards posed by asbestos, detailed government regulations have been provided to dictate the handling and removal of asbestos as well as the protective measures, which have been promulgated to insure the safety of personnel involved in the removal and/or abatement of such hazardous material as well as isolation of the areas being decontaminated to prevent exposure to uncontaminated areas as a result of the removal and/or abatement of asbestos from contaminated areas.
One conventional apparatus and technique for asbestos abatement and/or removal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,111, in which an enclosure is created to isolate the region in which asbestos is to be removed. The space is sealed by plastic sheets or the like, an air inlet is provided for the enclosed space to permit air to be drawn into the region, and a filtration unit is employed to provide an air outlet so that fibers and particulate are collected in the filtration unit. A negative air system is utilized to assure that all of the air in the enclosed space is under pressure to leave. However, air only leaves through the filtration unit covering the air outlet to collect dangerous fibers and other particulate.
In order to gain access to the region to be decontaminated, an entrance port is provided. The entrance is selectively sealed by a "flap seal" typically comprised of a plastic sheet, and is designed to form a one-way closure with the aforementioned opening so that air is normally drawn into the enclosed region so long as a negative pressure condition is maintained, and whereby the flap seals the opening as a result of failure or sudden loss of the negative pressure to prevent airborne matter from leaving the enclosed region other than through the filter.
The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,111 also discloses that it is conventional to provide a decontamination unit in close proximity to the contaminated region, such decontamination unit being typically referred to as a "decon" unit, which is conventionally comprised of three adjoining chambers including a "dirty room", shower and clean room enabling personnel to leave the contaminated area and enter into the decon unit to be vacuumed off, and remove protective garments and masks in the dirty room, shower in the shower unit, and dress in the clean room in a manner so that the decon unit isolates the contaminated region. The region connecting the contaminated work area and the decon unit is typically short in length and is isolated from adjacent regions for the protection of the public.
Employing the above technique in job sites such as multi-story, high rise office buildings, factories or the like, necessitates the provision of a decon unit at each work area. In the event that the floor space of each floor is quite large, decon units are typically required at two or more locations on each floor depending on locations of the work areas when employing the techniques of U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,111, thus significantly increasing the capital costs for equipment employed at such job sites.

Method and apparatus for protectively transporting contaminated personnel and the like


Apparatus and methods for concentrating platelet-rich plasma is described herein. One variation may generally comprise a tube having a length and defining a channel within and one or more ports located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the channel. A plunger may slidably translatable within the channel while forming a seal against an inner surface of the channel and a float may have a pre-selected density and defining a concave interface surface, wherein the float is slidably contained within the channel such that the concave interface surface is in apposition to the one or more ports.

Blood may be fractionated and the different fractions of the blood used for different medical needs. For instance, anemia (low erythrocyte levels) may be treated with infusions of erythrocytes. Thrombocytopenia (low thrombocyte (platelet) levels) may be treated with infusions of platelet concentrate.
The sedimentation of the various blood cells and plasma is based on the different specific gravity of the cells and the viscosity of the medium. When sedimented to equilibrium, the component with the highest specific gravity (density) eventually sediments to the bottom, and the lightest rises to the top. Under the influence of gravity or centrifugal force, blood spontaneously sediments into three layers. At equilibrium the top, low-density layer is a straw-colored clear fluid called plasma. Plasma is a water solution of salts, metabolites, peptides, and many proteins ranging from small (insulin) to very large (complement components). Plasma per se has limited use in medicine but may be further fractionated to yield proteins used, for instance, to treat hemophilia (factor VIII) or as a hemostatic agent (fibrinogen). The term platelet rich plasma (PRP) is used for this component because most of the plasma proteins and platelets in the whole blood are in the plasma following slow centrifugation so the concentration of platelets in the plasma has increased while suspended in supernatant plasma. The uppermost layer after centrifugation typically contains plasma proteins only and is typically called platelet-poor plasma (PPP) due to the absence or low number of platelets as a result of a "hard spin".
The bottom, high-density layer is a deep red viscous fluid comprising a nuclear red blood cells (RBC) specialized for oxygen transport. The red color is imparted by a high concentration of chelated iron or heme that is responsible for the erythrocytes high specific gravity. Packed erythrocytes, matched for blood type, are useful for treatment of anemia caused by, e.g., bleeding. The relative volume of whole blood that consists of erythrocytes is called the hematocrit, and in normal human beings can range from about 38% to about 54%.
The intermediate layer is the smallest layer, appearing as a thin white band on top the erythrocyte layer and below the plasma, and is called the buffy coat. The buffy coat itself has two major components, nucleated leukocytes (white blood cells) and anuclear smaller bodies called platelets (or thrombocytes). Leukocytes confer immunity and contribute to debris scavenging. Platelets seal ruptures in the blood vessels to stop bleeding and deliver growth and wound healing factors to the wound site. The buffy coat may be separated from whole blood when the blood is subjected to a "hard spin" in which the whole blood is spun hard enough and long enough so that platelets sediment from plasma onto packed red cells and white cells percolate up through red cell pack to the interface between red cells and plasma.
When whole blood is centrifuged at a low speed (e.g., up to 1,000 g) for a short time (e.g., two to four minutes) white cells sediment faster than red cells and both sediment much faster than platelets. At higher speeds the same distribution is obtained in a shorter time. The method of harvesting PRP from whole blood is based on this principle. Centrifugal sedimentation that takes the fractionation only as far as separation into packed erythrocytes and PRP is called a "soft spin" which is typically used to describe centrifugation conditions under which erythrocytes are sedimented but platelets remain in suspension. "Hard spin" is typically used to describe centrifugation conditions under which erythrocytes sediment and platelets sediment in a layer immediately above the layer of erythrocytes.
The auto-transfusion equipment used to make autologous platelet concentrates requires a skilled operator and considerable time and expense and these devices require a large prime volume of blood. While many of these devices have somewhat reduced the cost and the time required, skilled operators and time are still required. Accordingly, there remains a need for simple and effective methods and devices for separating and removing components from whole blood.


A storage container primarily for use as a tool or utility box for pick-up trucks. The container is located in the space between the rear wall of the truck cab and the front wall of the truck bed. The container is generally box-shaped with a mechanism to enable access within the container and a mechanism to releasably lock the container. The container also has a hollow lower bin with a mechanism to enable access to the bin. The lower bin can be used to store tools, small objects or containers of liquid which have a tendency to spill.

The present invention relates to pick-up truck storage containers and, more particularly to storage containers permanently secured to a pick-up truck between the truck cab and the truck bed.
Truck storage containers are typically removably secured within the truck bed. Illustrative of such prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,750,773 and 4,288,011. Other containers are removable and secured to the rear end of the truck bed, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,075. Finally, storage containers are also located between the passenger door of the truck cab and the rear wall of the cab as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,430.
The above identified containers have several disadvantages. One disadvantage of the containers is that the consumer must secure the container to the truck bed. Also, the storage containers occupy a portion of the truck bed, thereby decreasing the amount of storage space available in the truck bed. Finally, the containers do not provide for the insertion of dividers to separate the storage container into separate compartments.
It is desirable to have a storage container in a pick-up truck, since small articles, tools or containers placed directly in the truck bed will be subject to constant movement, unless stored in a separate container. It is also desirable to have a means of separating a storage container into even smaller compartments in order to decrease the movement of the objects. Finally, it is desirable to have a means for attaching a luggage rack to a truck storage container. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention there is provided a storage container permanently secured between a truck bed and a truck cab. The storage container includes separate lower storage bins and dividers to separate the container into separate compartments. The present invention provides a storage container with hollow lower bins to store tools, small objects and containers of liquid, which otherwise may easily spill or leak in the container. The invention also provides a storage container including means to attach a luggage rack to the storage container.
From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Integral storage container for pick-up truck


The present invention provides a compact coaxial nozzle useful in laser welding operations where the welding piece has a restricted or confined geometry. The nozzle is generally conical in shape, terminating in a relatively small tip. The nozzle includes a central laser discharge opening. The conical shape allows movement of the nozzle in confined areas. The nozzle includes a cooling jacket for proving coolant to the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a powder mixing chamber that provides good mixing of powdered filler material with a coaxial discharge around the laser. Finally, the nozzle further provides for inert gas to pass from an upper inlet, through passageways, out of a ring discharge. The ring discharge is also coaxially disposed around the central laser. Further the ring discharge provides mixing of the inert gas in order to minimize turbulent flow problems associated with restrictor plates.

Welding techniques such as laser welding are being used more frequently as a means to repair and restore various types of worn components. Laser welding operations include procedures such as the welding or joining or parts and material deposition or cladding. Laser welding has found particular application in the repair of gas turbine engine components. These components are frequently expensive such that their repair, rather than replacement, is economically justified. Further the components are often made of high strength, high performance alloys such that other welding repair techniques will not service these materials, unless they are combined with other methods such as a pre-weld heat treatment. The trend is to push turbine engine components to still higher levels of performance, and thus engines will continue to see components with high strength and high performance materials. Consequently there is an ongoing need to improve the laser welding methods that will be used with these types of components.
Recently it has been found that conventional laser welding equipment will not adequately repair certain kinds of gas turbine engine components. The blisk, for example, is a development in the design of gas turbine engine components that calls for repair methods that differ from those used with previous components. Similar to the blisk are other gas turbine engine components such as the impeller and other rotor/airfoil devices.
A blisk is an integrally structured airfoil and rotor device in which airfoils are integrally formed with the perimeter of a rotor disk by, for example, integral casting. This design provides the advantage of eliminating the connection between individual airfoils and the rotor at a dovetail. The blisk, by having a unitary construction, also provides a strong mechanical connection between the airfoil region and the rotor disk region thereby allowing for a more efficient positioning of the airfoils. This results in an improved performance of the blisk in terms of weight and component size.
The development of the blisk as a gas turbine engine component has presented challenges with respect to repair strategies. Individual airfoils are now permanently attached to the rotor disk, which means that damaged airfoils cannot easily be removed for repair, as has been done with individual turbine blades. Nonetheless, blisks do have a normal life cycle and must be repaired or replaced at the end: Blisks are impacted by foreign objects such as sand, dirt, and other such debris. Blade leading edge damage, for example, is a common failure experienced in blisks. The leading edge is subject to foreign object damage or erosion after a period of service time.
The option of throwing out worn engine components such as blisks and replacing them with new ones is not an attractive alternative. Blisks are very expensive due to costly material and manufacturing processes. Consequently there is a strong financial need to find an acceptable and efficient repair method for turbine blisks.
Blisks, and other rotor devices, used in modern gas turbine engines are frequently castings from a class of materials known as superalloys. Disadvantageously, the superalloys generally are very difficult to weld successfully. Traditional repair methods have proven less than satisfactory for superalloy materials. Known welding techniques often include heating an airfoil to high temperatures, ranging from 1800° F. to 2000° F. before the welding process. However, at such an elevated temperature the airfoil may experience heat cracking and fracturing, rendering the blade unusable for further engine service. Other welding techniques similarly suffer from a lack of thermal control and provide too much localized heat during welding to render an effective repair. Superalloys are susceptible to microcracking during localized heating.
In addition to the welding challenges presented by the component material, the geometrical configuration of blisks, impellers, and similar devices also makes conventional welding very difficult. The complex geometry of the airfoil, and particularly, the shape of the leading edge, makes it difficult to deposit filler or cladding material thereon. It is often necessary to change the orientation of a welding nozzle with respect to the airfoil leading edge. However, in doing so, the nozzle or other welding apparatus may impact neighboring airfoils. The confined geometry of the airfoil thus makes it difficult to apply a laser beam to points other than the extreme outer surfaces of a blisk using conventional equipment.
Thus, laser welding performed with known designs of laser nozzles has shown the drawbacks of the prior art. In one aspect laser nozzles are bulky. They frequently include a shielding plate and a shielding gas housing. The shielding plate has been used to protect the nozzle from heat and debris generated during the laser welding operation. A shielding gas housing is the structure that collects shielding gas and allows it to be dispensed toward the weldpiece. However, these pieces of the prior art nozzles often interfere with positioning and movement of the nozzle. It would be desired to redesign a laser welding nozzle so as to eliminate these bulky and cumbersome structures.
Another shortcoming that has become apparent with known laser welding nozzles relates to the transmission of shielding gas through the shielding plate itself. The shielding plate often has small holes which allow shielding gas to pass through. However, the position of these holes can cause turbulence in the flow patterns of the shielding gas. Turbulence can degrade the quality of the inert gas shielding. It would thus also be desired to develop a laser welding nozzle that minimizes turbulence in the gas flow and improves the coverage provided by the inert gas shield.
Hence, there is a need for an improved coaxial nozzle that addresses one or more of the above-noted drawbacks and needs. Namely, a coaxial nozzle for use with laser welding is needed that is compact in size so that it may be used with parts having confined spaces and/or a nozzle that eliminates bulky structures and/or a nozzle that better directs shielding gas around the laser. Finally, it would be desired to provide an improved compact coaxial laser welding nozzle that allows laser welding repair on items for which it has previously been unable to perform laser welding repair. Finally it is desired that a nozzle be provided that, by virtue of the foregoing, therefore realizes a cost savings with respect to alternative repair methods. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

Compact coaxial nozzle for laser cladding


A system for a vehicle traveling on the road is shown. The system includes a first cylinder; a second cylinder; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said first cylinder; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said second cylinder; and a controller configured to perform a decontamination cycle where one of said first cylinder and second cylinder produces a reductant rich exhaust and the other of said first and said second cylinder produces an oxygen rich exhaust, where an air-fuel ratio of one of said first and second cylinder is adjusted in response to said linear sensor.

Internal combustion engines utilize feedback from exhaust gas oxygen sensors to maintain desire air-fuel ratio mixtures during combustion, at least under some conditions. Various types of exhaust gas oxygen sensors may be used, such as linear type sensors (sometimes referred to as UEGO sensors), and switching type sensors (sometimes referred to as EGO, or HEGO, sensors, depending on whether a heater is included).
The inventors herein have recognized that under some conditions, it may be advantageous to utilize a switching type sensor, such as when operating about stoichiometry, as it may be possible to have a more accurate identification of stoichiometry through operating conditions and sensor aging. Further, it may be advantageous to utilize a linear type sensor, such as when operating away from stoichiometry (e.g., lean), as it may be possible to have a more accurate identification of air-fuel ratios over a broader range. However, the additional costs of adding sensors typically forces selection of a single sensor type for any given exhaust location, at least in some systems.
One approach that attempts to use both types of sensor places one type of sensor upstream of a catalyst, and another type of sensor downstream of the catalyst. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,738 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,724. However, the inventors herein have recognized that whichever selection is made, each has disadvantages, such as noted above. Further, these disadvantages can be exacerbated when the engine operates in various lean, stoichiometric, and decontamination modes. Specifically, when performing decontamination cycles where some cylinder are operated with an oxygen rich exhaust, and other cylinders are operating with a reductant rich exhaust, degraded temperature control may be encountered (due to air-fuel ratio errors) that can degrade catalyst operation.
The above issue may be addressed by, in one example, a system for a vehicle traveling on the road. The system comprises: a first cylinder; a second cylinder; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said first cylinder; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said second cylinder; and a controller configured to perform a decontamination cycle where one of said first cylinder and second cylinder produces a reductant rich exhaust and the other of said first and said second cylinder produces an oxygen rich exhaust, where an air-fuel ratio of one of said first and second cylinder is adjusted in response to said linear sensor.
In this way, it is possible to improve stoichiometric operation and reduce overall system cost since at least one switching type sensor is provided that can provide compensation to both cylinder groups. Further, it is possible to improve lean operation since at least one linear type sensor is provided that can also provide compensation to both cylinder groups. Finally, a decontamination cycle can be accurately controlled using both the linear and switching type sensor, since at least one of the oxygen rich gasses, or reductant rich gasses can be accurately measured via the linear sensor, and thus accurately limit the exothermic reaction (since the reaction will be limited by one of excess oxidants or excess reductants).

Engine control system with mixed exhaust gas oxygen sensor types


A step adapted to be screwed into a tree or post having an exposed threaded segment and a body segment, wherein a lag bolt is securely molded into the body member, the body member preferably comprising a strong plastic, and having certain advantages over existing similar devices due to various aspects of its construction, is described.

Many tree climbers or steps have been provided according to the prior art. However, these have all been characterized by numerous disadvantages. For example, they are not readily attached to or screwable into a tree or post upon which desired to be mounted. Further, they suffer from the fact that torque to be applied thereto in the mounting by screwing into a tree or post cannot be maximized, so that maximum hand pressure is frequently inadequate for the purpose of mounting the same on a selected tree or post. Also, numerous of such means have been provided in the past which failed to provide adequate contact between a portion of the step and a vertical surface of the tree or post upon which desired to be mounted, thus rendering the device less structurally stable and secure than desired after mounting of the same. Despite all these shortcomings, innumerable types and forms of tree climbers or steps, which are allegedly mountable as by screwing into a vertical surface of a tree or post, are still being promoted to the general public with their ensuing disappointing use effectiveness, stability, strength, and security. All of the foregoing shortcomings are eliminated by provision of the tree climber or step according to the present invention.


An on-board camera is disposed, behind a neighboring member that is located above a steering column, on the steering column that can move forward at the time of a collision of a vehicle in which the on-board camera is installed. The on-board camera includes: a camera portion; and a support mechanism. The support mechanism supports the camera portion in such a manner that the camera portion can move in a direction away from the neighboring member when the neighboring member and the camera portion are brought into contact with each other because of a forward movement of the steering column at the time of the collision.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a camera installed in a vehicle, and more particularly to a camera that is installed on a steering column to capture images of a driver of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cameras for capturing images of a driver have been installed in vehicles for monitoring the conditions of the driver of a vehicle (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-69680, for example). Such a camera is installed on a steering column so as to facilitate capturing images of a driver.
A mechanism that moderates the impact on a driver at the time of a collision by allowing the steering column to move at the time of the collision of the vehicle. This mechanism allows a steering wheel and the steering column to move toward the front of the vehicle (far side for the driver) when a collision of the vehicle is detected. With this configuration, the impact of the steering and the driver who is thrust forward by the inertia at the time of the collision is moderated, so that it is possible to moderate the impact on the driver.
When the camera is disposed on the steering column, a meter and a meter cover are disposed above the steering column, and the camera is therefore disposed on the near side, for the driver, of the meter and the meter cover. Thus, in the case where a camera is disposed on a steering column, when a mechanism for allowing the steering column to move at the time of a collision adopted as described above, there is a fear that the camera can hinder movement of the steering column. Specifically, when the steering column moves toward the far side (for the driver), the camera on the steering column may be brought into contact with the meter cover. In this case, a sufficient range of movement of the steering column cannot be secured. In order to secure a sufficient range of movement of the steering column, it is necessary to impose limitations on the shape and the arrangement of the components, such as the camera, the meters, and the meter cover. Thus, the design of these components becomes difficult, and limitations are imposed on the design of these components.


Successively transmitted images are stored in frame memories the contents of which are displayed. The user can freeze a desired image in order to view it for a prolonged period of time. When the image thus frozen is released from the freeze mode, the content of the frame memory storing it continues to be displayed until anew image is stored in this frame memory. When a new image has been written in the frame memory and a stage is reached in which the image is to be displayed, display-setting information pertaining to this image is read out and the image is displayed in accordance with this information. In a case where the display-setting information indicates that the image is to be displayed in combination with a designated image transmitted earlier and it is determined that the storage destination of the designated image had previously been placed in the freeze mode, this means that an unrelated image is presently being stored at this storage location. Accordingly, the image at this location is not displayed in combination with the first-mentioned image, and therefore only the first-mentioned image is displayed.

This invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus for displaying a still picture that has been received.
HDTV (high-definition television) has a large number of scanning lines and presents a very fine picture, thus making it possible to fully enjoy not only a moving picture but also a still picture. For this reason, use thereof in the fields of the arts, culture and animation is expected. In case of a still picture, the viewer observes a single picture thoroughly for several seconds to several tens of seconds, and therefore picture quality equivalent to that at the studio is required. Besides an HDTV moving-picture display apparatus, an HDTV still-picture reproducing apparatus has been considered that makes it possible to enjoy still pictures of studio quality.
FIG. 2 illustrates a still-picture reproducing apparatus according to the prior art.
A given information is received by the antenna of a receiver 201 so as to be converted into still-picture information. The output of still-picture information from the receiver 201 is restored to the original still-picture picture data by a still-picture decoder 202, and the still-picture data is developed as a still picture in one of frame memories 203 under the control of a frame memory controller 204. The still picture is read from the frame memory 203 by raster scanning performed by the frame memory controller 204. The read picture data is converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter 205 and is displayed as a still picture on a monitor 206.
The data format of a received still-picture broadcast is illustrated in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the still-picture data comprises data which sets a time that serves as a reference for displaying the condition of the still picture, display-setting data which sets the form in which the picture data is to be displayed, write-setting data for setting in which frame memory picture data is to be stored, and one frame of still-picture data, which is the actual condition of the still picture. A program effect using still-picture data can be considered as one form of display that can be established by the display-setting data. In the program effect, when it is desired to end the display of one still picture and display a still picture of interest, the display on the screen is gradually updated to the still picture of interest (by dissolving, wiping or scrolling) rather than merely changing over the screen. Alternatively, the display on the screen is combined with all (or a part) of an already received still picture in a frame memory.
As set forth earlier, since a still picture of this kind is highly attractive, naturally there are cases where it is desired to display a certain picture continuously. In order achieve this, it has been contemplated to provide the image-reproducing apparatus with a function for "freezing" the picture being displayed and with a function for cancelling the freeze mode. The term "freeze" means that the processing for reading a still picture of interest, which has been developed in a frame memory, from the frame memory to the monitor is continued until a cancel command is entered, and that the writing of other data into the frame memory whose picture is currently being displayed is prohibited.
Certain problems arise when an image reproducing apparatus is provided with such a freeze function. Specifically, in response to cancellation of the freeze mode, the frame memory whose picture is to be displayed is changed over. However, if the new frame memory whose picture is to be displayed is still receiving its data and undergoing writing, the possibility arises that an incomplete picture will be displayed on the screen because the data thereof is still in the process of being written in the frame memory. Such a display is unnatural and can confuse the viewer.
Another problem arises in the case of processing where one's own still picture is to be displayed superimposed on the still picture that has been stored in a frame memory. If this designated frame memory is one whose still picture has been frozen and, hence, the corresponding still picture (the one on which one's own picture is to be superimposed) has not been written therein, the combined picture displayed will be entirely different from the combined picture intended. This can only confuse the viewer.

Image reproducing apparatus capable of freezing a displayed image