A high speed tool steel, which is high in impact value and free from variations in tool performance, comprising, by mass %, of: 0.4≦C≧0.9; Si≦1.0; Mn≦1.0; 4≦Cr≧6; 1.5–6 in total of either or both of W and Mo in the form of (½W+Mo) wherein W≦3; 0.5–3 in total of either or both of V and Nb in the form of (V+Nb); wherein carbides dispersed in the matrix of the tool steel have an average grain size of ≦0.5 μm and a dispersion density of particles of the carbides is of ≧80×103 particles/mm2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high speed tool steel excellent in cold strength, wear resistance and in hardenability and also to a method for manufacturing such high speed tool steel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high speed tool steel particularly excellent in hot strength and in toughness with a minimum variation in tool performance when used as a material for: a metallic mold used for forming plastics; and, a swaging tool, for example such as a press forming die, a press forming punch and like tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, widely used as materials in production of: a tool such as a press forming punch used in hot precision press working; and, a metallic mold used for forming plastics, are those excellent in hot strength or toughness, for example such as: a hot working tool steel of the type "AISI H19"; and, a high speed tool steel of the type "AISI M2". However, these conventional types of tool steels are still poor in toughness and like mechanical properties. This often leads to breakage and occurrence of heat cracks of a tool product made of the conventional types of tool steels in use.
More particularly, in case of the former steel (i.e., hot working tool steel), this type of steel is low in carbon content and therefore low in cold strength. Due to this, the former steel often suffers from its poor resistance to fatigue and poor wear resistance together with its breakage in use.
On the other hand, in case of the latter steel (i.e., conventional type of the high speed tool steel), the applicant of the subject Patent application has previously proposed, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open application No. H02-8347 (Laid open in 1990): a high speed tool steel, which is improved in cold/hot strength and toughness so as to improve a product made of this type of steel in crack resistance and in resistance to fatigue at high temperatures in use. The product made of this type conventional tool steel is excellent in tool performance. On the other hand, in order to realize the mass production of such product made of the tool steel, it is necessary to produce a large-sized steel ingot. However, such large-sized ingot often varies in composition of its carbides. Due to the presence of variations in composition of the carbides, the product made of the tool steel obtained from the large-sized steel ingot often varies in tool performance even when the product is sufficiently controlled in quality during its production processes.
Also proposed by the applicant in another Japanese Patent Laid-Open application No. H04-111962 (Laid open in 1992) is a method for manufacturing a high speed tool steel. This method employs a conventional electro-slag melting process to reduce anisotropy in mechanical properties of a tool product made of the tool steel, and improves the product in tool life. However, the product made of the tool steel is still poor in toughness in use.


A computer simulates flight routes for simulated airborne transmitters across a spatial region divided into unit area tiles and over time based on actual aircraft flight plan data. The computer determines transmitter counts per tile per time interval based on the flight routes and assigns transmit parameters, including transmit message rates, to the transmitters. The computer determines transmit message rates per tile based on the transmitter counts and the transmit parameters. The computer generates, for a simulated receiver, an antenna pattern covering at least some of the tiles, and converts the transmit message rates of the covered tiles to a total effective receive message rate of interfering messages at the receiver. The computer determines a probability of successful detection of a desired message among the interfering messages at the receiver based on the effective receive message rate.

A receiver attempts to decode a message of interest (i.e., a "desired message") received from a transmitter on a radio frequency channel. In a "clear sky" environment, the receive channel is free from undesired interference from other transmitters, in which case the receiver optimally detects the desired message. In contrast, co-channel interference from other interfering transmitters within range of the receiver degrades the ability of the receiver to optimally detect the desired message. A model or simulation of co-channel interference may be used to determine an expected receiver performance under different co-interference conditions; however, a model that realistically represents dynamic co-channel interference experienced at the receiver is difficult to construct. Model complexity increases if the receiver and interfering transmitters are assumed to move relative to each other, for example, if the receiver and the other transmitters are assumed to be airborne. Model complexity further increases if the model attempts to incorporate other time-varying, inter-dependent, transmit-related factors or parameters, such transmit power ranges and different types of transmit link technologies associated with the transmitters.

Co-channel interference model and use thereof to evaluate performance of a receiver


An image capturing apparatus and method, a storage medium, and an electronic equipment are provided. The image capturing apparatus includes: a nonopaque cover plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction of the nonopaque cover plate, wherein the first surface of the nonopaque cover plate is opposite to an object to be captured; a light source module having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction of the light source module, wherein the first surface of the light source module is opposite to the second surface of the nonopaque cover plate; and a sensor module disposed on the second surface of the light source module.

With the development of information technology, biometric technology plays an increasingly important role in ensuring information security, among which fingerprint identification has become one of the key technologies widely used in the field of mobile internet for identity recognition and device unlocking.
In the trend of larger and larger screen-to-body ratio of intelligent devices, a traditional capacitive fingerprint identification technology has been unable to meet the demand, while ultrasonic fingerprint identification technology has problems in technology maturity and cost, so an optical fingerprint identification technology is promising to become a mainstream technology scheme of fingerprint identification.
An existing optical fingerprint identification scheme is based on the imaging principle of geometric optical lens. Generally, a fingerprint module includes components such as a microlens array, an optical spatial filter and so on, which have many disadvantages such as complex structure, thick module, small sensing range and high cost, etc.
Compared with the existing optical fingerprint identification scheme, a non-lens optical fingerprint identification technology based on the total reflection imaging principle of physical optics has the advantages of simple structure, thin module, large sensing range and low cost, etc.
However, the existing non-lens optical fingerprint identification technology needs to be further improved.

Image capturing apparatus and method, storage medium and electronic equipment

Shanghai Harvest Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.


A tandem propeller assembly for use with a marine propulsion unit is disclosed wherein a single shock-absorber assembly is utilized to assure damping effects for both propellers so as to protect the propulsion system from being damaged when either propeller is obstructed by drifting wood or other debris. Each of the preferred embodiments disclosed provides a simple structure for absorbing impacts upon either propeller in a tandem propeller assembly while minimizing any increase in the surface area of contact with the water which would increase the propulsion resistance and would result in speed loss.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a tandem propeller assembly for use on a marine propulsion unit and, more particularly, a tandem propeller assembly which utilizes a single shock-absorber arrangement between a drive shaft of the marine propulsion unit and both of the tandem propeller units.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 2,672,115 discloses the concept of utilizing tandem propellers in a marine propulsion unit. In this patented arrangement, each of the propellers are attached to a drive shaft of the marine propulsion unit. By appropriately designing their diameters, pitch and relative positions, the tandem propellers can be used to improve the propulsion efficiency with respect to load in various types of watercrafts.
In this prior art arrangement, the tandem propellers are not affixed to the drive shaft by a shock-absorber. Instead, a complex protective structure is utilized to protect the propulsion system from being damaged when drifting wood or other debris strikes either of the propellers. Although it is technologically possible to construct a specialized shock-absorber for each of the propellers when a plurality of propellers are mounted in tandem, this would inherently lengthen the collars associated with the propellers. The longer the propeller collar, the greater the contact surface with the water which results in increased propulsion resistance and speed loss.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a marine propulsion unit which utilizes a tandem propeller assembly incorporating a shock-absorber between the propellers and the drive shaft. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a tandem propeller assembly incorporating a shock-absorber wherein the length of the collars associated with the propellers can be minimized so as to maintain a low propulsion resistance during operation. Finally, there exists a need in the art for a shock-absorbing arrangement for use with a tandem propeller assembly of a marine propulsion unit which is simple in structure and which can functionally protect the propulsion system from damage when the propellers are obstructed by drifting wood or other debris during operation.

Tandem propeller assembly for a marine propulsion unit


A method and system for presenting auxiliary content to a client during download of primary content from a server is provided. The system includes a server network including a server that manages primary content and a client computer connectable to the server. At the client computer, local storage for storing user information and auxiliary content is provided. In one example, the auxiliary content is stored in the local storage prior to download of the primary content from the download management server. The user information is communicated from the client computer to the server, and the user information is used to direct initial access to primary content. Then, specific portions of the auxiliary content stored in the local storage device is displayed at the client computer during download of the primary content.

In recent years, improvements in the ability for members of the public to access valuable entertainment content by connection to relatively low cost high speed bi-directional networks has raised interest in advertisers seeking to exploit such systems for promotion of goods and services to users of these networks.
Current methods and trends to advertise over such networks are frequently unsatisfactory due to their failure to provide a satisfactory combination of incentive and acceptable amount of effort on the part of the users targeted by the advertisements, or by excessive advertiser commitments (i.e., effort, expense, time, etc.). This is particularly true with regard to methodology that requires users to perform substantial amounts of data entry or other time-consuming tasks to acquire access to content and services that are initially indicated to be readily available or free. Oftentimes such methodology can also require a user to enter sensitive personal information, such as home address and/or credit card information, which may also be unacceptable to the user. For advertisements that require more efficient involvement of user interaction, this trend of requiring substantial expenditure of effort and/or disclosure of sensitive information, coupled with the subsequent wait period during download of the desired content has significant drawbacks.
Another related trend has been to offer certain services, such as network access, or access to specialized content, e-mail accounts, e-fax accounts, and so forth, over a network connection, for free to customers who are willing to sign up and provide detailed personal identifying information to be maintained in a server database. In return for providing such customer information, the service provider provides desired access to services, for example an e-mail account, to the customer for free or at reduced cost, with the provision that the customer must then view attached advertisements, which may be targeted to the customer based on his or her identifying information, browsing activity, etc. Such advertisements can be attached to customer e-mail or appear in pop-up windows or frames which are generated upon accessing the server network. By such systems, the costs necessary for maintaining the network services or paying for network content can be paid for by advertising revenues, whereas the customer gains access to desired services by release of certain personal information and being forced to view targeted commercial advertisements.
However, despite their popularity as an advertising medium, such systems suffer from the drawback that customers, in general, do not like being forced to view advertisements or commercials in this fashion. In addition, many customers are reluctant to give up personal information, particularly to advertisers, in exchange for free network services or free access to content over a network. Thus, a need exists for improvement in when and where a user wishes to view auxiliary content. At the same time, flexibility needs to be provided to advertisers in terms of the manner in which such auxiliary content is delivered to customers, so that advertisements can be presented in a non-offending way more likely to appeal to customer interest. Therefore, more flexible systems have been sought in which auxiliary content can be provided to customers.
According to one known system, embedded commercials may be provided in a memory device installed in a television receiver, the commercials being displayed on a portion of the screen through use of a graphics generator when a control function on the television receiver is activated. Local storage of advertisements may be done on a programmable read-only memory (PROM), however, this system places a heavy burden on advertisers who must establish access with the PROM device in some manner through a server network.
According to another known technique, advertisements may be provided over a computer network or on a local storage device such as a CD-ROM and displayed on a local computer. The advertisements displayed on the local computer can be selected based on pre-configured user preference information, such as which types or categories of advertisements a given user may choose to view. Here, the main feature intended to be accessed by this system is simply the internet as a whole, so there is no linkage or association between predetermined primary content and auxiliary advertising content. There is no suggestion that advertisements are provided on local removable storage which acts as the means (or key) by which customers gain access to predetermined content servers providing valuable information such as movies, interactive games, programs, and so forth.
Therefore, current methods of advertisement in the computer network environment do not contain the incentives and ease-of-use necessary to provide auxiliary content efficiently and at optimal times, and thereby provide effective and sucessful advertisement content.

Methods and systems for providing auxiliary content during user interactivity with digital data over a network

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.


A computed design of a composite camera having multiple digital imaging devices is generated automatically in accordance with the following process. A target volume to be captured by the composite camera and a target resolution for capturing the target volume are obtained. A representation of a view frustum of each of a plurality of digital imaging devices is generated based on at least one characteristic of each device. The digital imaging devices are organized based on the view frusta. A set of digital imaging devices is selected from the organized digital imaging devices, where the view frusta of the set of digital imaging devices substantially covers the target volume with at least the target resolution. The set of digital imaging devices are positioned based on each device's physical characteristics. A computed design of the composite camera that includes digital imaging devices held in position by a mechanical fixture is generated.

A composite camera is generally capable of capturing images or videos by integrating images captured by multiple digital imaging devices. A digital imaging device includes at least an imager and a lens. The imager typically includes electronic components for converting images captured through the lens into digital images. Different sizes and types of imagers and lenses may be purchased from different manufacturers and need not be described in more detail herein.
Composite cameras are generally rare, and exist primarily in research environments. Their purpose is to provide, through multiplicity, capabilities difficult or impossible to attain in a single optical camera, for example extreme wide angled capture or varied resolution over the field of view. They are built through a process that typically requires intensive manual modeling (i.e., manual assembly and adjustments of each digital imaging device). The configuration of a manually assembled composite camera is a function of the desired characteristics (e.g., focal length, imager shape, intended coverage pattern, etc.) of its digital imaging devices. Composite cameras are generally time-consuming to produce, designed and built individually, and virtually un-reproducible.
Thus, there is growing demand for an automated process to design and construct composite cameras comprising multiple digital imaging devices arranged and configured to meet specific requirements.

Automated process for generating a computed design of a composite camera comprising multiple digital imaging devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A water-based ink containing a surface treated pigment as a coloring material, a water-soluble organic solvent, water, both for dispersing the pigment, an organic pH buffer selected from Good's buffers, and a compound selected from aminopropanediol derivatives. This water-based ink has a high storage stability which exhibits reduced change in pH, in particular, reduced decrease of pH during the storage. Due to this, it is possible to provide a highly durable inkjet recording apparatus wherein dissolution of the member constituting the printer system that comes in contact with the ink is prevented, and a recording process.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a recording liquid adapted for use in inkjet recording, and in particular, to a recording liquid which is useful in forming images on so-called plain paper. Such recording liquid may also be used as a water-based ink composition for water based writing instruments, recording instruments, and pen plotters.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of investigations have been conducted in recent years on inkjet printers to thereby improve printing properties on a plain paper, and in particular, to improve colorfastness to water and light. As a consequence, inkjet printers and plotters adapted for use with an ink including a pigment for the coloring material are now commercially available. These printers and plotters, however, are associated with the problem of insufficient reliability, for example, clogging, compared to the machine using a dye ink. This problem is particularly notable when a highly permeable solvent is added to the ink for controlling wettability, and the pigment often became aggregated as a result of change in the nature of the dispersant.
In view of such situation, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,311 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open JP-A) No. 10-510862 propose an ink having improved dispersibility, stability after dispersion, and reliability by surface treating a carbon black with a compound having diazonium group, and introducing carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid as a functional group. U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,118 discloses an organic pigment for use in a color ink wherein the carbon black has been surface treated and introduced with carboxyl group and sulfonyl group as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,311 or the like. JP-A No. 10-273606 discloses an organic pigment which has been oxidized by using sulfamic acid, and JP-A No. 11-246807 discloses an organic pigment wherein sulfonic group has been introduced by Friedel-Crafts reaction by using a sulfonating agent.
The pH of a water soluble ink is generally adjusted for the purpose of preventing clogging of the nozzle and corrosion of the members that come in contact with the ink. The surface treated pigments as described above, however, are associated with the problem that they change the pH, in particular, lower the pH when the pigments are exposed to the change in temperature and other environmental factors or as the time lapses despite their improved dispersibility and stability after the dispersion. Such change in the pH resulted in the corrosion and erosion of various constituent members including the head having an ink supplying means and a liquid chamber including members comprising silicon or glass and/or metal such as nickel, SUS, or the like, and this, in turn, adversely affected the ejection properties.
In view of the situation as described above, JP-A No. 04-226175 discloses an ink wherein a sodium borate, N-tris(hydroxy)-methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, N,N-bis(hydroxylethyl)glycine, triethanolamine or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminoethane has been added as a pH buffer with the particular dye for the purpose of stabilizing the pH of the ink. JP-A No. 08-41398 discloses an ink containing at least one compound selected from 2-(cyclohexyl-amino)ethane-sulfonic acid, 3-N-cyclohexylamino-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, 3-N-cyclohexylaminopropane-sulfonic acid, and glycine with an alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate, wherein pH has been adjusted to the range of 9.5 to 9.8, and which exhibits small pH decrease after storing at 60° C. for 1 week. JP-A No. 09-268267 discloses an ink containing a dye and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol derivative as an organic weak base, wherein the pH has been adjusted to the range of 8 to 10. Since these inks contain dyes having buffering capability, the pH can be kept in the range of 9 to 9.3 even after storing at 60° C.
With regard to the pigment-based ink, JP-A No. 04-149286 discloses a pigment-based ink using a dispersant wherein a carbon black having a pH of up to 6 is used with a buffer to adjust the pH to the range of higher than 6 to less than 8. In the case of a pigment-based ink, pigment often aggregates at a high ion strength, and therefore the pH adjusters used in the dye-based inks as described above cannot simply be applied to the pigment ink, and such application is particularly difficult in the case of an ink employing a surface treated pigment.

Ink, and, inkjet recording process, ink cartridge, recording unit, and inkjet recording apparatus using the ink


An electric power steering apparatus transmits a driving force of an electric motor to a steering mechanism for steering assist. The apparatus includes a torque sensor which detects a steering wheel torque; a basic assist characteristic determining section which determines a basic assist characteristic defining a basic characteristic of a motor driving target value for the steering torque; a motor driving target value determining section which determines the motor driving target value for the steering torque in accordance with a modified assist characteristic prepared by shifting the basic assist characteristic along a steering torque coordinate axis; a shift amount determining section which determines the amount of the shift from the basic assist characteristic to the modified assist characteristic on the basis of the steering torque; and a motor driving section which drives the electric motor on the basis of the motor driving target value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus which is adapted to transmit a driving force generated as a steering assist force by an electric motor to a steering mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Electric power steering apparatuses are conventionally used, which are adapted to transmit a driving force generated by an electric motor to a steering mechanism via a gear mechanism (reduction gear mechanism) or by a direct drive system.
In such an electric power steering apparatus, an assist characteristic which defines a relationship between a steering torque applied to a steering wheel and a target value of an assist torque to be applied to the steering mechanism from the electric motor is preliminarily determined, and stored as an assist map in a memory. An assist torque target value for a given steering torque is read out of the assist map. The electric motor is controlled to be driven on the basis of the assist torque target value thus read out.
As shown in FIG. 9, the assist characteristic is defined so that the assist torque target value is increased as the steering torque increases. For example, the steering torque is assigned a positive value for rightward steering, and assigned a negative value for leftward steering. The assist characteristic is defined so that a positive assist torque target value corresponds to a positive steering torque value and a negative assist torque target value corresponds to a negative steering torque value.
When the assist torque target value is positive, the steering assist force acts on the steering mechanism for turning steerable wheels rightward. When the assist torque target value is negative, on the other hand, the steering assist force acts on the steering mechanism for turning the steerable wheels leftward. Where the steering torque has a value within a dead zone around zero, the assist torque target value is set at zero.
The electric power steering apparatus employing the assist characteristic is problematic in that, when a driver performs a return stroke steering operation to turn the steering wheel back to a steering angle midpoint, the driver is liable to have a heavier steering feeling (so-called "spring feeling") such that the steering wheel is returned to the steering angle midpoint more heavily than intended by the driver. That is, the steering torque is reduced in the return stroke steering operation, so that the assist force is correspondingly reduced. Therefore, the steering wheel receives a reverse input from the wheels thereby to be heavily returned to the steering angle midpoint.
Further, the electric power steering apparatus is problematic in that, when the driver performs a steering holding operation to hold the steering wheel at a certain steering angle, a steering burden is increased.
These problems can be solved by increasing the inclination of an assist characteristic curve so that the assist torque target value is set greater for a given steering torque. In this case, however, a steering response is reduced when the driver performs a forward stroke steering to actively turn the steering wheel.


The present invention relates generally to grips for sports equipment such as golf clubs, tennis racquets, baseball bats and the like and relates to swelling solvents and the use of swelling solvents to expand a generally tubular or cylindrical elastomeric article, such as, for example, a golf club grip. In accordance with the invention, the expanded elastomeric article may be fitted over an elongate article, such as a grip-receiving portion of a golf club shaft, and contracted by evaporating the swelling solvent therefrom to bring the elastomeric article into tight contact with the elongate article.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to grips for sports equipment such as golf clubs, tennis racquets, baseball bats and the like and relates to swelling solvents and the use of swelling solvents to expand a generally tubular or cylindrical elastomeric article, such as, for example, a golf club grip. In accordance with the invention, the expanded elastomeric article may be fitted over an elongate article, such as a grip-receiving portion of a golf club shaft, and contracted by evaporating the swelling solvent therefrom to bring the elastomeric article into tight contact with the elongate article.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A large and diverse number of sports equipment grips have been previously described, such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,667 to Tosti; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,939 to Kobayashi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,890 to Kaminstein; U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,776 to Falco et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,050 and 5,584,482 to Huang; U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,885 to Heo; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,836 to Avetoom. Those in current use, however, are often made of a single piece of tubular, non-porous, vulcanized or molded rubber. For example, conventional golf club grips are typically molded from a single piece of rubber or synthetic plastic, and are one-piece, hollow, preformed, and conical in appearance. The larger end is substantially or completely closed, while the smaller end is open and reveals the hollowness of the grip. The hollowness of the grip is mandatory so that the insertion of the golf club shaft into this recess can occur. This described golf club grip typically has an inside diameter, i.e., a recess diameter, that is substantially the same as the circumference of the shaft to which it is to be attached. The grip is slipped onto a golf club shaft in a manner that requires an adhesive, such as two-way tape, and a petroleum-based agent, such as lighter fluid or the like.
In a conventional manner of attaching such a preformed golf club grip to the shaft of a club, the shaft area that is to receive the golf club grip has the two-way tape or adhesive applied thereto. Then, the petroleum-based agent is applied to the cavity of the grip and also poured over the tape. This procedure causes the adhesive and the grip wall to become slick so that the bored small end of the golf club grip can be slipped over the top of the taped or adhesive-laden shaft. Then, the grip can be subsequently slipped down the shaft until the end of the shaft abuts against the covered or semi-covered end of the golf club grip. After the liquid petroleum-based agent evaporates, the golf club grip becomes permanently attached to the golf club shaft by the binding action of the tape or glue. Alternative approaches to attaching a grip to a golf club shaft are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,031 to McLendon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,428 to Hsu, U.S. Patent No. 5,407,026 to Vald'via and U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,706 to Cresse et al.
A serious disadvantage of conventional golf club grips is that the grips need to be replaced periodically. This is necessary due to the fact that these grips wear and harden with use and thus lose their tackiness. Consequently, the entire grip has to be replaced relatively often, which involves cutting, scraping, and the use of adhesives, clamps and other specialized equipment. This process is wasteful, time consuming, inconvenient and expensive. Additionally, the re-gripping of, for example, a golf club may not typically be done by the golfer himself or herself, and usually means leaving the club at an equipment facility and returning to collect it. It is expensive and inconvenient, and it is a process that often has to be repeated at regular intervals.
Another disadvantage of conventional golf club grips is their tendency to become slippery when dampened, as for example, when playing under rainy conditions or by contact with perspiration formed on the golfer's hands. Slippery contact of a golfer's hands with a golf club grip reduces his feel of the golf club.
In light of the above, there has been a long-felt need for a simple, fast, economical and efficient way of re-gripping, for example, a golf club, and this need has so far not been satisfied. The present invention overcomes the above-described problems by providing a non-slip grip or handle which may be readily and quickly attached to, for example, a golf club shaft. Golf club grips made in accordance with the invention may be attached to a golf club by the golfer himself or herself, thereby eliminating the inconvenience and delay caused by the time-consuming and labor intensive manner of re-gripping clubs using prior art techniques.
Also provided by the invention are methods and compositions for increasing the tackiness of, for example, a golf club grip, this overcoming a long-felt need for grips which do not become slippery when dampened.
In addition to the re-gripping of golf clubs, there are also a wide variety of situations where it is advantageous or necessary to tightly fit an elastomeric sleeve over an elongate article, for example, to seal a joint, to electrically insulate, or perhaps to prevent corrosion of the elongate article if it is exposed to the elements. Particularly advantageous uses involve automotive, residential and industrial heating and cooling units, wherein it is often difficult to prevent leakage of gases and liquids therefrom. Examples of methods and devices used in the prior art to expand an elastomeric sleeve are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,871 to Lambert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,752 to Chang et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,661 to Izraeli. Introducing a tight-fitting elastomeric sleeve over an elongate article using methods and devices of the prior art, however, requires the manufacture of complex devices which are difficult to handle and expensive. Therefore, there is also a need for improved methods for introducing a tightfitting elastomeric sleeve over an elongate article. Such are provided by the present invention.

Methods for installing a golf club grip onto a golf club shaft


Calibration of an acceleration detector is initiated by a user depressable button such as a button indicating a vehicle is at rest and/or by the detector reading an OBDII vehicle communication protocol to determine the condition of the vehicle. Calibration permits more accurate measurements in a vehicle performance test.

Police traffic surveillance devices emit an electromagnetic signal in the radio frequency (RF) band or light band (i.e., infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light) that reflect off of approaching or departing vehicles to determine their speed. In particular, a change in frequency (Doppler shift) or a change in time of travel for return signal pulses is sensed for calculating vehicle speed.
Police radar and laser detectors ("detectors") are used by drivers of vehicles to detect radiant electromagnetic signals characteristic of police traffic surveillance devices. In particular, the following RF (radar) frequency bands are used: X-band (10.525 GHz±25 MHz); K-band (24.150 GHz±100 MHz); and Ka-band (34.700 GHz±1300 MHz). Furthermore, laser wavelength of 904 nm with 33 MHz bandwidth is also used. These detectors are generally a detachable device clipped to a visor or dash of the vehicle for unimpeded sensing of the signals and for providing a conveniently positioned display and one or more controls to the driver. While police radar/laser detectors successfully provide alerts to the driver, generally during significant portions of time there are no alerts to be made. Consequently, the display capabilities of the detector are generally limited to displaying the operating mode ("pilot mode") of the detector. In addition to the under-utilized display, detectors increasingly use digital signal processors for processing received electromagnetic signals that operate faster with additional data and program storage capabilities. Consequently, the processing capacity of the detectors is also under-utilized much of the time. For example, detectors spend less than two percent of their operating time alerting the user of received electromagnetic signals.
Taking advantage of the unused capacity of a detector would increase its value. For instance, many drivers would benefit from the display of other sensed conditions associated with their vehicle. However, sensor displays integral to the vehicle instrument panel are either expensive or unavailable for certain models. Using after-market displays is inconvenient and tends to clutter the interior of the vehicle. Consequently, drivers often forego incorporating additional displays for sensed conditions.
Most cars and light trucks on the road today have on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems. In an effort to met Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission standards, manufacturers started using electronic engine management to control engine functions and diagnose engine problems during the 1970's and early 1980's. Through the years, on-board diagnostic systems came into being and have recently become more sophisticated. OBDII, a standard introduced in the mid-1990's, provides almost complete engine control and monitoring of other parts of the vehicles including the chassis, body and accessory devices, as well as providing a diagnostic control network for the vehicle.
The origin of these systems dates to 1966 when, in an effort to reduce smog in the Los Angeles Basin, the State of California began requiring emission controls on 1966 model cars. Later, in 1968, the federal government extended these controls nationwide. In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act and established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In doing so, Congress charged the EPA with reducing emissions from cars and trucks. The EPA then promulgated a series of emission standards for motor vehicles to meet this mandate. These standards were graduated, becoming ever more stringent on vehicle emissions with time. Further, manufacturers were required to maintain the vehicle within the emission standards for the useful life of the vehicle.
Manufacturers, in an effort to meet these standards, introduced electronic engine management systems that control engine ignition and fuel delivery. These systems included sensors for monitoring various engine parameters. The ignition and fuel delivery are adjusted based on sensor readings so that vehicles comply with the emission standards. Access to these sensors for diagnostic purposes was also provided.
In the beginning each automotive manufacturer had its own engine management system and used signals commensurate with their system. Finally, in 1988, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), established a set of standards for a connector plug and a set of diagnostic test signals. The EPA adapted most of these standards established by the SAE regarding on-board diagnostic programs, as well as some other recommendations. OBDII is an expanded set of standards and practices developed by SAE and adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the EPA. The deadline for implementation of OBDII was Jan. 1, 1996.
Manufacturers began incorporating OBDII standards into various models as early as 1994, although some of these early vehicles were not completely compliant with OBDII standards. However, all vehicles manufactured since Jan. 1, 1996 are compliant with the OBDII standard. OBDII provides a universal inspection and diagnosis method to ensure the vehicle is performing to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. A scanner console or tool is connected to the OBDII connector to inspect and diagnose the vehicle.
There are currently three basic protocols in use, each with minor variations on the communication pattern between the on-board diagnostic computer and the scanner console or tool. While there have been some manufacturer changes between protocols in the past few years, as a rule of thumb, Daimler Chrysler products and all European and most Asian imports use International Standards Organization (ISO) 9141 circuitry. General Motors uses SAE J1850 VPW (Variable Pulse Width Modulation), and Ford Motor Company uses SAE J1850 PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) communication patterns.
It is also possible to tell which protocol is used on a specific automobile by examining the dash connector socket. If the connector has a pin in the #7 position and no pin at #2 or #10, then the vehicle has the ISO 9141 protocol. If no pin is present in the #7 position, the vehicle uses a SAE protocol. If there are pins in positions #7 and #2 and/or #10, the vehicle may still use the ISO protocol. While there are three OBDII electrical connection protocols, the command set is fixed according to the SAE J1979 standard.
Pre-OBDII cars had connectors in various positions under the dashboard and hood. However, as part of the standard, all OBDII vehicles have a connector located in the passenger compartment, easily accessible from the driver's seat. Often, the connector is located under the dash or behind or near the ashtray. A cable is plugged into the OBDII J1962 connector and connected to a scanner console or scan tool. This equipment ranges from a simple hand-held meter that provides a coded readout of the various diagnostic functions, up to a large console computer-based unit costing thousands of dollars.
These large units are compatible with all cars and contain software that analyzes the signals received from the car, displays a text or diagrammed readout of any malfunctions found and suggests possible solutions to the problems.
Smaller units for the home or small shop technician can provide a variety of levels of data, some approaching the sophistication of the big shop consoles. However, they are usually limited to one OBDII system type, unless adapters can be purchased.
OBDII signals are most often sought in response to a "Check Engine Light" appearing on the dashboard or driveability problems experienced with the vehicle. The data provided by OBDII can often pinpoint the specific component that has malfunctioned, saving substantial time and cost compared to guess-and-replace repairs. Scanning OBDII signals can also provide valuable information on the condition of a used car.
There are other methods to gather data from a vehicle other than using OBDII. One method involves the development of the Intelligent Vehicle Data Bus (IVDB). The IVDB allows all computers within a vehicle to communicate with each other, and potentially makes data used or held by those computers available across the IVDB.
Therefore, a significant need exists for a police radar/laser detector that incorporates additional sensing and display of conditions associated with a vehicle, as well as other vehicle data such as that gathered using an on-board diagnostic system or intelligent vehicle data bus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Acceleration detector with integral vehicle parameter display using a vehicle interface


A multi-die package has a plurality of leads and first and second semiconductor dies in superimposition and bonded together defining a die stack. The die stack has opposed first and second sides, with each of the first and second semiconductor dies having gate, drain and source regions, and gate, drain and source contacts. The first opposed side has the drain contact of the second semiconductor die, which is in electrical communication with a first set of the plurality of leads. The gate, drain and source contacts of the first semiconductor die and the gate and source contacts of the second semiconductor die are disposed on the second of said opposed sides and in electrical communication with a second set of the plurality of leads. The lead for the source of the first semiconductor die may be the same as the lead for the drain of the second semiconductor die.

The present invention generally relates to semiconductor packages and more particularly to semiconductor packages and methods of making semiconductor packages.
In many MOSFET switching circuits a pair of power MOSFETs is switched in complementary fashion. A typical MOSFET switching circuit 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes two MOSFETs 12 and 14 coupled in series across a voltage source Vin and ground. MOSFETs 12 and 14 are typically referred to as high side and low side MOSFETs, respectively.
To initiate a switching cycle, MOSFET 14 is first turned off. As a result, the body diode of MOSFET 14 turns-on and drives current. After a delay, MOSFET 12 turns on, turning-off the body diode of MOSFET 14. This generates a recovery current IL through, as well as, trace inductances (not shown) associated with switching circuit 10, producing oscillations.
In order to save space and cost, MOSFETs 12 and 14 are often co-packaged together, as indicated by a dashed line. It is the goal of MOSFETs 12 and 14 to attain the highest power density possible in order to work efficiently. The power density is closely related to the die area, i.e., the larger the die, the lower the drain-to-source on resistance, Rdson. Typically, MOSFETs 12 and 14 are co-packaged side by side, on separate die pads, as shown in FIG. 2. The overall package outline is indicated by the dashed line. Conventional power MOSFETs 12 and 14 are vertical devices, with the source S1 and S2, respectively, and gate, G1 and G2, respectively, on one side, and the drain, D1 and D2, respectively, on an opposing side. MOSFET 12 is attached to a die pad 16, which has leads extending from it allowing connection to drain D1. MOSFET 14 is attached to a die pad 18. The low side die pad can be exposed through the bottom of a dual flat non-leaded (DFN) package for external connection to drain D2 and source S1. Typically low side MOSFET 14 has a larger die area, compared to high side MOSFET 12, because MOSFET 14 is usually turned on for a longer duration of time. Source S1 contacts drain D2 by way of bond wires from S1 to die pad 18. Gates G1 and G2, as well as source S2 are connected to the appropriate leads by bond wires. The die areas of MOSFETs 12 and 14 are constrained by the package size and by the side by side configuration of the dies.
Therefore, a need exists to improve the operational performance by maximizing the die area of MOSFETs to minimize Rdson without unduly increasing the overall size of the circuit.


The invention described below relates to an enclosed cell sorting device and methods of using the device. The device is constructed so that the entire process of cell sorting can be conducted under fully anaerobic conditions to retain viability of anaerobic cells before, during, and after cell sorting. This is accomplished by creating an anaerobic atmosphere for the high speed cell sorter and all its components and by the use of airlocks that allow the introduction of anaerobic containers into the chamber containing the sample.

The microbial diversity of the planet is primarily represented by uncultivated species that are not amenable to growth under laboratory conditions. Obligate anaerobes are a particular example of microbes that are not amenable to cultivation using standard laboratory techniques as these cells are either completely or nearly completely intolerant to oxygen exposure. Obligate anaerobic microorganisms employ anaerobic respiration that may include fermentative routes to obtain energy. Some of these pathways include propionic acid fermentation, butyric acid fermentation, mixed acid fermentation, butanediol fermentation, Stickland fermentation, acetogenesis or methanogenesis. There is a great deal of metabolic diversity exhibited by anaerobic microorganisms, some of which may lead to fermentation products such as wine. More recently, there is an increased interest in the production of alcohols such as ethanol and butanol derived from plant materials to produce biofuels to substitute petrochemical-derived combustibles as vehicle propellant.
Some of these previously uncultivated anaerobes are thought to mediate processes in the environment linked to global carbon and energy fluxes, including the production methane, biodiesel, hydrogen and alcohols from carbon sources. Methane extracted from coal deposits, known as coal bed methane, from which commercial methane gas is produced, is thought to be the product (in whole or in part) of such anaerobic organisms. New methods for isolating and cultivating novel anaerobic microorganisms are desirable, since such organisms have a variety of useful applications. For example, the ability to cultivate novel anaerobic species participating in the methane production at coal bed sites will allow for increased methane production.
The isolation and cultivation of anaerobic microorganisms has been limited to date by the lack of available equipment and culture vessels providing anoxic atmospheres on which oxygen sensitive cells divide and cultures may be established. High speed cell sorters, such as flow cytometers, have been used for the selection and downstream cultivation of aerobic microorganisms, and in some cases instrument modifications have been made to allow cell sorting under controlled atmospheres, including anaerobic gas mixtures. However the complete operation of a cell sorting device in a contained environment has never been demonstrated. This is thought to be primarily due to their relatively large dimensions and complex ancillary infrastructure required for the operation of typical cell sorting devices, such as water cooling systems, pressurized air, and very sensitive 3D laser alignment.
Conventional gel microdroplet (or "GMD") encapsulation and flow cytometry have been used for studying aerobic bacteria (Nir et al. 1990 Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56:2870-2875; Katsuragi et al., 2000 J. Microbiol. Meth. 42:81-86; Manome et al. 2001 FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 197: 29-33). Zengler et. al. (2002 PNAS, 99:15681-15686) used GMDs for growth of novel aerobic bacteria from the environment demonstrating the ability of the GMD technique combined with flow cytometry to cultivate previously uncultured microorganisms. The authors also grew one strain of the strict anaerobe Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus from the American Type Culture Collection in GMDs, but did not demonstrate the ability to sort this anaerobically.
One limitation to sorting cells anaerobically is the inability to perform cell sorting under anoxic conditions. Dissolved oxygen present in the fluidics and during sample injection exposes cells to oxygen levels not permissible for anaerobic growth. Establishment of anaerobic cultures using aerobic procedures, such as those found in existing high speed cell sorting, is hindered by the cellular damage produced by oxygen upon brief exposure time. Thus, the vast majority of strict anaerobic cells cannot be sorted using existing technology. As a consequence, work to date conducting aerobic or partially anaerobic cell sorting of anaerobic cells has resulted in an incomplete cultivation of the indigenous populations.
An example of a partially enclosed device and method for processing cells is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,377 (hereinafter "the '377 patent"). The '377 patent provides an environmental containment system fitted to a DAKO cell sorter to sort cells under a specific atmosphere including those suitable for the cultivation of strict anaerobic microorganisms. A major limitation of this environmental containment system is that the sample cells are exposed to oxygen at multiple points during processing. First, to sort obligate anaerobes, the sample needs to be prepared and handled under anaerobic conditions. This implies at a minimum that the transportation of the sample between an anaerobic chamber used to prepare the sample and the cell sorting system needs to be performed in an oxygen-free environment. This point is not discussed in the '377 patent. Second, introduction of the sample into the cell sorting device must also take place in an oxygen-free environment. As such, the sample port of the cell sorter needs to be free of oxygen. The '377 patent does not considered the sample injection port as part of the anaerobic environment. As a result, a sample processed using the invention described in that patent is exposed to oxygen from the air prior to cytometry and sorting. Third, the fluidics driving the laminar flow and producing the envelope and droplets used during cell sorting need to be oxygen free. The necessity of maintain not only an anaerobic gas but the use of anaerobic fluids, that is, through sparging anaerobic gas into a suitable gas impermeable container as part of the process is not addressed and it is only mentioned the potential for "adjustably controlling the environment surrounding the process(es) of fluid stream generation, droplet formation, droplet separation and droplet collection." In practical terms, the use of fluids with low amounts of oxygen (few parts per million) can be toxic for anaerobic microorganisms and the fluids used to drive the sample and droplet formation need to absolutely oxygen free. In view of these systemic limitations, it is clear that the '377 patent does not teach a completely anoxic system.
What is needed is a cell sorting system, the components of which are completely self-contained, which protects organisms from exposure to oxygen prior to, during, and after the cell sorting process.

System and methods for anaerobic environmental microbial compartmentalized cultivation


A method of limiting belt slip in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) of a vehicle. The CVT is operatively connected to an engine. The method includes determining a slip speed of a belt of the CVT, determining the accumulated energy based on the slip speed of the belt and an engine torque produced by the engine, and controlling the engine torque in an intervention mode when the accumulated energy is greater than a threshold energy. Controlling the engine torque in the intervention mode comprises controlling at least one of cycling the engine torque, and limiting the engine torque. Systems and vehicles for performing the method are also disclosed.

Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), comprising a drive pulley and a driven pulley connected by an endless belt, are used in many kinds of wheeled and tracked vehicles to transfer power from the engine to the wheels or tracks of the vehicle. The maximum torque produced by the engine depends on the engine speed, generally being higher for lower engine speeds. The torque required by the wheels or tracks increases with the load on the vehicle. For example, torque required to move the vehicle is larger when going uphill or when starting from a stationary position.
Each pulley has a pair of opposing sheaves (at least one of which is moveable) holding the belt between them. The opposing pulley sheaves exert a clamping force on the belt to keep the belt engaged so that the rotational motion of the drive pulley can be transmitted to the driven pulley. The clamping force exerted on the belt by the drive pulley sheaves is determined by several factors. In a purely mechanical CVT, the clamping force is generated by a set of rotating flyweights connected to one of the drive pulley sheaves. The clamping force therefore increases with the rotational speed of the drive pulley. The clamping force exerted on the belt thus also depends on the engine torque. Although the flyweight mass and/or the rotational speed of the pulley can be increased to obtain larger clamping forces, these parameters can only be changed within certain limits without affecting the overall performance of the vehicle. In some types of assisted CVTs, the clamping force is controlled by a hydraulic, electric or pneumatic system selectively exerting an external force on the drive pulley sheaves. In these assisted CVTs, the size of the assisting systems, and therefore the clamping force produced thereby, is limited due to space limitations.
Whatever the mechanism may be for producing the clamping force on the belt, a minimum amount of clamping force is required to prevent the belt from slipping with respect to the drive pulley sheaves. When the clamping force exerted on the belt is smaller than the minimum clamping force required, the belt begins to slip with respect to the drive pulley sheaves. The belt moving against the pulley sheaves generates a significant amount of heat, which could potentially lead to "spotting" of the belt when certain spots on the surface of the belt (primarily made of rubber), especially in those portions of the belt which are in contact with the drive pulley sheaves melt, from the excessive heat. A belt having such "spots" cannot operate smoothly as it is no longer uniform and will thus need to be replaced.
Furthermore, as the belt begins to slip, and the vehicle begins to slow down or is unable to start, the driver of the vehicle sometimes responds by further increasing the throttle, causing the drive pulley sheaves to rotate faster, further increasing the amount of heat generated by the belt rubbing against the pulley sheaves and thereby exacerbating the situation. Thus, such a response to the belt slipping could actually increase the chances of spotting of the belt.
There is thus a need for a system and method to limit slipping of the CVT belt, and to prevent the slipping belt from being damaged.

Method and system for limiting belt slip in a continuously variable transmission


Apparatus, systems and methods of 110 (one hundred ten) CFM (cubic feet per minute) generating ventilation fans for bathrooms with grill covers and with or without lights in the grill covers. Spring clip type washers can attach the grill covers to the housings. Suspension brackets directly attached to outer side walls of the housing can support the housings. One suspension bracket can be mounted on a bottom wall of the housing and another suspension bracket of equal length can be mounted on a side wall of the housing that is oriented perpendicular to the bottom wall. Bent flanges on the suspension brackets can be on opposite ends of the respective brackets. A lens cover can cover a light box that holds light sources centrally located in the grill cover. The grill cover can include vent openings that allow incoming air to bypass the light sources that can be located inside of the light box.

Various types of bathroom ventilation fans have been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. No.: 4,867,640 to Penlesky et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,851 to Sarnosky et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,175 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,579 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,770 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,416 to Craw et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,495 to Adrian et al.
There have been many problems with the prior art. For example, many bath fans are difficult to be installed into a ceiling since the housings cannot be easily attached to different locations of joists in the ceiling. If a joist is off center to the middle of bathroom ceiling the bath fan is not easy to center in the room. Additionally, many of the bath fans have numerous parts which add extra manufacturing costs. And as a result a bath fan that requires assembly of the bath fan at a job site will incur undesirable extra labor and material costs to install. Additionally, many bath fans have to be wired to components inside of the housings which also requires extra expensive labor costs to make the connections onside during the installation of the bath fan.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.


An improved interpolation technique for reconstructing a complex signal from sampled data estimates a carrier phase for each sampled data time. The carrier phase is then used to compensate for frequency variation in the complex signal. The complex components of the sampled data are then interpolated separately with the interpolated results being used to produce an interpolated magnitude that is the reconstructed complex signal.

The present invention relates to the display of electrical signals, and more particularly to an improved interpolation of sampled complex signals for increasing the accuracy of the displayed signal.
There are many demands for observing the envelope magnitude of a radio frequency (RF) band-limited signal in the time domain. Modern measurement instruments, such as spectrum analyzers as represented in FIG. 1, measure the magnitude of the RF band-limited signal from the sampled signal. To measure intermediate points between the sampled points of the signal, some interpolation is commonly used. Ideal interpolation is reconstructing intermediate points from the discrete samples. One of the optimal methods for band-limited signals is resampling. However a traditional interpolation technique, such as a cubic spline interpolation, is still popular although the signal reconstruction is not perfect. A traditional interpolation technique may be more desirable when interpolation points are irregularly spaced, when faster speed is required, and/or when it is difficult to design a reconstruction filter for the resampling method.
There are two common methods for computing the magnitude of interpolated complex signals using traditional techniques. However both methods have some difficulties. One method is to take the magnitude of the original sampled signal and then apply interpolation, as shown in FIG. 2. This first method may produce negative interpolated data, as shown in FIG. 3. The other method is to apply interpolation separately to In-phase and Quadrature-phase components of the signal and then compute the magnitude, as shown in FIG. 4. This second method does not produce negative magnitudes, but may introduce excessive ripple if the signal phase is rotating, as shown in FIG. 5. If linear interpolation is used for the phase rotating signal, the cause of the introduced ripple in the magnitude trace is apparent, as shown in FIG. 6.
What is desired is an improved interpolation for complex signals that does not produce negative magnitudes and does not introduce excessive ripple in order to provide a more accurate representation of the input signal.


The present invention is directed to a therapy involving administering effective amounts of an organic osmolyte selected from the group consisting of polyols, amino acids and methyl amines, that regulate hydration of certain cells, for treating or preventing complications resulting from ischemia, hypoxia or oxidative stress.

In recent studies it has been revealed that, immune competent cells with macrophage activity such as the Kupffer cells have a remarkably sensitive and potent osmoregulation, see e.g. Biochem J. 1995, Vol. 312, pag. 135-142, F Zhang et al. The studies suggest that cell volume homeostasis is a critical factor for the cellular function of Kupffer cells. This type of organic osmolytes need to be non-perturbing solutes that do not interfere with protein function even when occurring at high intracellular concentrations. Such a prerequisite may explain why only a few classes of organic compounds, viz. polyols (e.g. inositol and sorbitol), methylamines (betaine, .alpha.-glycerophosphorylcholine) and certain amino acids such as taurine have evolved as osmolytes in living cells. In mammals, osmolytes have been identified in astrocytes, renal medulla cells and lens epithelia. The need for osmolytes in renal medulla cells is obvious, because ambient medullary osmolarity can increase up to 3800 mosmol/l during antidiuresis and decrease to 170 mosmol/l during diuresis. In the antidiuretic state (high extracellular osmolarity), intracellular osmolarity increases in renal medullary cells as the result of the intracellular accumulation of inositol and betaine which are taken up via sodium ion dependent transporters. These sodium ion dependent transporters are induced upon hyperosmotic exposure in renal cells and astrocytes. Recent studies with Madine-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells have identified a hypertonic stress-responsive element in the 5'-flanking region of the mammalian BGT-1 gene (betaine transporter).
In a study disclosed in FEBS Letters, 1995, Vol. 377, pages 47-50, U Warskulat et al., betaine is identified as osmolyte in mouse macrophages. The betaine uptake in mouse macrophages was significantly stimulated when the cells were exposed to a hyperosmotic (405 mosm/l) medium. From the results of this study it was concluded that betaine availability could be a potential site for the regulation of macrophage cell function.
Certain organic osmolytes have previously been suggested in the International Patent Application WO 91/14435 as supplements to protect cells in a dehydrated environment from volume changes. Also in Biocbem. Journal, 1992, Vol. 282, pages 69-73, it is demonstrated that SV-3T3 cells (fibroblasts) subjected to hyperosmotic conditions may retain normal function in terms of rate of cell proliferation and protein synthesis in the presence of an osmolyte. Even if these publications may consider a therapeutic utility of certain osmolytes, there are no disclosures of how osmolytes can affect cells which mediates pathological events resulting from ischemia, hypoxia or oxidative stress, both during hyperosmolar conditions and in conditions with normal osmolarity.
Organ transplantation has become an established therapy for end stage liver and heart disease, although primary graft non-function or dysfunction is serious clinical problem. Cold ischemic storage and the following reperfusion of the donated organ are identified as major contributors to failing primary graft function and is shown to have a detrimental impact on endothelial and immune competent cells, injuries to the endothelial cells precipitates a malfunction vascular system and consequently, an inadequate oxygen and substrate delivery, as well as an impaired waste product clearance. Furthermore, the challenged endothelium enhances the expression of adhesive molecules facilitating the binding and infiltration of immune competent cells in the tissue area at risk. Immune competent cells respond to ischemia and reperfusion by producing a number of biologically toxic mediators, again leading to the dysfunction of surrounding cells, including the vascular endothelium and in certain cases the whole organ. The early organ dysfunction is considered to originate from injuries of endothelial cells resulting in inadequate oxygen and substrate delivery as well as reduced waste product clearance. Beyond transplantation injuries, resulting from ischemia and reperfusion, these are a well recognized clinical problems in, for example, myocardial infarction and the following thrombolytic treatment. As disclosed in Laboratory Investigation, 1996, Vol. 74, No. 1, p. 86 (J Kajstura et al.), both myocardial ischemia and hypoxia can induce cell death, such as programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the heart following myocardial infarction which may lead to massive loss of cells and further organ damages.
In the liver, the inflammatory response to ischemia and reperfusion is suggested to be primarily mediated by resident macrophages, the Kupffer cells, while the heart in such a situation suffers from invading immune competent cells which might cause persistent injuries.
It would consequently be highly desirable to find a suitable therapy to preserve or improve the endothelial cell function and diminish the inflammatory response of the immune competent cells during and after the mentioned complications, as well as form a protection against cell death.
In response to ischemia/reperfusion and inflammatory mediators, endothelial and immune competent cells produce oxygen free radicals which exert a detrimental metabolic load on exposed cells termed oxidative stress. The oxidative stress precipitates severe damages to biological molecules, especially to DNA, lipids and proteins. The protection against oxidative stress and hence the salvage of tissues and organs might be achieved only partially by supplying antioxidants and ensuring an adequate level of antioxidant enzymes. It would therefore also be desirable to be able to provide a therapy which also is useful for improving the protection of cells against damages originating from oxidative stress.
In the International patent application WO 92/15546 certain osmolytes, such as taurine, which are capable of crossing the blood brain barrier, are suggested in the protection of cells being at risk to be damaged from lactic acidosis from oxygen deficiency. In this publication, however, the osmolyte exert its beneficial effect by providing buffering action and not by directly acting on specific cells in order to modulate their response to the disorderly event. Furthermore, the osmolyte taurine has been suggested to have certain beneficial effects to heart in Japanese Circ. Journ. 1992, Vol. 56, p. 95 (J Azuma et al.) following congestive heart failure. It is concluded that taurine possibly contributes to a regulation of the myocardial calcium uptake and thus may increase the myocardial activity. According to the present invention, it has been surprisingly found that certain osmolytes, such as betaine and taurine, have a powerful capacity to maintain the cellular integrity in specific cells, and thereby the organ function, subjected to a depletion of oxygen in an anoxia model or oxidative stress, as demonstrated in an isolated, perfused liver. The present invention shows that selected osmolytes can be employed as important regulators of endothelial and immune competent cell function. The osmolytes have a capacity to protect these cell types or to affect such cells to modulate their response to the mentioned complications and thereby maintaining the function of vital organs challenged by pathologic events, such as an inadequate blood supply.
The failing liver is an early event in sepsis and accompanied by raised enzyme leakage from the liver, for example lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) which indicates a compromised cellular integrity. As a sign of an adequate treatment, the hepatic function and enzyme leakage is restored to near normal levels within days. This course of pathological events and the impact of a successful treatment, reflects the clinical importance of the marked decrease in LDH leakage in response to osmolyte treatment following anoxia, as will be described in the present invention.
Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to preserve and improve the endothelial cell function and diminish the inflammatory response of the immune competent cells by a supplementation of an effective amount of certain osmolytic agents. It is also an object of the present invention to, by means of an osmolyte therapy, to improve the capacity of the tissue to resist oxidative stress, in order to prevent and treat damages resulting from such a condition and thereby improve the possibility of organ protection and rescue.
The present invention demonstrates that otherwise metabolically inert osmolytes have a high potency in protecting organs or tissues from such damages and dysfunctions resulting from ischemia and reperfusion, hypoxia or oxidative stress.


A system and method for spatially matching the output of two imaging stations in an electro-photographic device by using a second order polynomial curve and a third order polynomial curve to approximate the non-linearity errors between the two imaging stations and using the second order polynomial curve and the third order polynomial curve to modify the frequency of a pixel clock.

A Raster Output Scanner (ROS) and a Light Emitting Diode (LED) print bar, also known as imagers and used in electro-photographic machines are well known in the art. The ROS or the LED print bar is positioned in an optical scan system to write an image on the surface of a moving photoreceptor belt. The photoreceptor belt is then used to transfer the image onto a piece of paper. In some systems, the output of an ROS imaging station is used to write a black image onto the photoreceptor belt and the output of an LED print bar imaging station is used to add a color component to the image. Obviously, alignment of the two imaging stations is important for the reduction of blurring of the colorized image. Several factors affect the ability to accurately align the two imaging stations.
One such factor is that certain errors that are not present in an LED print bar imaging system are inherent to the physical structure and operation of an ROS imaging system. A typical ROS imaging system 10 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a light source 12 for generating a light beam 14 and a mirror 16 for directing the light beam 14 to a spot 18 on a photosensitive medium 20. The mirror 16 also serves to move the spot 18 to generate a scan line 22 of specified width along the photosensitive medium 20. To that end, the mirror 16, which in this embodiment comprises a rotatable polygonal mirror with a plurality of light reflecting facets 24 (only four of eight facets are shown), is rotated about a rotational axis 26 in the direction of an arrow 28. Thus, light impinging on the mirror 16 is swept across the photosensitive medium 20 as the mirror 16 rotates as described below.
The light source 12, which in this embodiment is a laser diode, emits a modulated coherent light beam 14 of a single wavelength. The light beam 14 is modulated in conformance with an image information data stream contained in the video signal sent from the light source control circuit 30 to the light source 12. The modulated light beam 14 is collimated by a collimating lens 32 and then focused by a cross-scan cylindrical lens 34 to form a spot on a reflective facet 24 of the rotating polygonal mirror 16.
As the polygonal mirror 16 is rotated around its axis of rotation 26 by a conventional motor (not shown), the beam 14 is reflected from the facet 24 and passes through the f-theta scan lenses 36 and the anamorphic wobble correction lens 38. The f-theta scan lens 36 consists of a negative plano-spherical lens 40, a positive plano-spherical lens 42, and the cross-scan cylinder lens 44. This configuration of f-theta scan lenses has sufficient negative distortion to produce a linear scan beam. Thus the light beam that is deflected at a constant angular velocity from the rotating mirror is theoretically modified optically by the f-theta scan lens to scan the photosensitive material 20 at a constant linear velocity.
After passing through the f-theta scan lens 36, the light beam 14 passes through the wobble correction anamorphic lens element 38. The wobble correction element can be a lens or a mirror and is sometimes referred to as the "motion compensating optics." The purpose of the wobble correction element 38 is to correct wobble along the scan line 22 generated by inaccuracies in the polygonal mirror/motor assembly. The wobble correction element 38 then focuses the light beam in the cross-scan plane onto the scan line 22 on the photosensitive medium 20.
Accordingly, as the polygonal mirror 16 rotates, the light beam 14 is reflected by the facets 24 through the f-theta lens 36 and the wobble correction element 38 and scans across the surface of the photosensitive medium 20 along the scan line 22 from a first end 46 of the scan line 22 (referred to herein as the Start of Scan or "SOS") past a center position (the illustrated position of the spot 18) and on to a second end 48 of the scan line 22 (referred to herein as the End of Scan or "EOS"). The light beam 14 thus exposes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive medium 20. As the polygonal mirror 16 rotates, the exposing light beam 14 is modulated by a pixel clock (not shown) in the light source control circuit 30 to produce individual bursts of light that expose a line of individual pixels, or spots 18, on the photosensitive member 20.
It should be noted that the path followed by the light generated by the imaging station 10 does not change from one scan to the next. Thus, the latent image on the photosensitive medium 20 is generated by rotating the photosensitive medium 20 past the imaging station such that on a subsequent scan, a scan line is produced on the photosensitive medium that is adjacent to the previously produced scan line.
Ideally, the ROS imaging system exposes a line of evenly spaced pixels 18 on the photosensitive medium 20. For example, FIG. 2 shows a scan line 50 consisting of a series of pixels 52 uniformly spaced at a distance 54 based upon timing pulses from the pixel clock of the ROS imaging system for the designed resolution (e.g., the central portion of each pixel position is evenly spaced at 1/300 inch intervals for 300 dpi resolution or is evenly spaced at 1/600 inch intervals for 600 dpi resolution, etc.). Also shown in FIG. 2 are a plurality of desired pixel location lines 56. The desired pixel location lines 56 may be thought of as a series of parallel lines perpendicular to the scan line 50. The points at which the scan line 50 intersects the desired pixel location lines 56 indicate the desired locations for pixel placement. Thus, in the idealized schematic of FIG. 2, each pixel 52 is aligned with a desired pixel location line 56 and each desired pixel location line 56 is spaced apart at an even distance 54.
As a result of the inherent geometry of the optical system of the ROS, and because manufacturing errors can cause imperfections in the facets of a polygonal mirror, obtaining evenly spaced, identical pixels can be problematic. The uneven spacing is referred to as "scan non-linearity." FIG. 3 illustrates deviation from the uniform pixel placement of FIG. 2 due to scan non-linearity. The scan line 58 consists of a series of pixels 60 shown with the desired pixel location lines 62. The spacing of all of the pixels 60 does not coincide with the desired pixel location lines 62 as indicated by the scan line non-linearity error 64. The displacement of each of the pixels or pixel locations from the corresponding desired pixel location line may be shown by a curve referred to as a scan line non-linearity curve.
FIG. 4 shows a scan line non-linearity error curve 66 that reflects a zero position error at the SOS pixel 68 and the EOS pixel 70. The error curve 66 further includes both positive lobes 72 and negative lobes 74 between the SOS pixel 68 and the EOS pixel 70. Ideally, the error curve would be at zero across the entire scan line.
Scan line non-linearity is typically caused by system geometry or a velocity variation of the mirror 16. A scanner having a multifaceted rotating polygonal mirror, for example, directs the light beam toward the photosensitive material at a constant angular velocity; however, the photosensitive material 20 is farther from the polygonal facets 24 at the ends of the scan line 22 than it is at the center spot 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the speed at which the focused exposing light beam travels across the scan line 22 on the photosensitive medium 20, or spot velocity, is higher toward the ends of the scan line 22 and lower toward the center of the scan line 22. Without correcting for this inherent scan line non-linearity, the image being transferred to the photosensitive material will be distorted.
Distortion of the transferred image is small. Moreover, in an electro-photographic machine with only a single imaging station, such as a black and white imaging station, all of the images transferred to the photosensitive material include the identical distortion. Accordingly, the transferred image is generally not noticeably distorted even when no correction is made for the scan non-linearity. Such an imaging station in a machine that includes a second imaging station, so as to produce a colored image, however, results in noticeable distortion.
Noticeable distortion occurs as a result of the use of LED print bar imaging systems to provide the color image on the photosensitive material. LED print bar imaging stations generally consist of a linear array of light emitting diodes. As the photoreceptor material is advanced in the process direction, each LED in the LED print bar is individually controlled to produce a respective pixel. Therefore, because the pixels are not being created by a single centrally located source of light, the LED print bar imaging systems do not normally generate images with scan line non-linearity errors of the same magnitude as the scan line non-linearity errors generated by an ROS imaging system. Accordingly, overlaying the distorted image of an ROS imaging system with a less distorted image of an LED print bar imaging system results in a transferred image with noticeable distortion since corresponding black and color pixels are unevenly spatially separated along the scan line.
Known systems compensate for such scan line non-linearity differences electronically using a variable frequency pixel clock (sometimes called a scanning clock). The pixel clock produces a pulse train (i.e., a pixel clock signal) that is used to turn the light beam emitted by the light source of the ROS imaging system on and off at each pixel location along the aim line. Accordingly, varying the clock frequency and thereby the timing of individual pulses in the pulse train serves to control pixel placement along the scan line. The shape of the non-linearity signature varies, however, from one ROS imaging system to another ROS imaging system. Thus, each system is typically individually measured and programmed using complex measurements and computer programs.
As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,031, known electro-photographic systems provide for such measurements and programming with various electro-photographic machines. Known methods used to generate the desired pixel clock modulation generally rely upon the electro-photographic machine to perform the computational functions to generate a correction. Such computations may be significant as the corrections may be in the form of a fifth order polynomial.
Some electro-photographic machines do not include the internal communication and processing capability to support such complicated corrections of scan line non-linearity. Nonetheless, the reduction of scan line non-linearity differences between imaging stations in such machines is still desired.
Accordingly, reduction of the distortion resulting from the overlay of the outputs from two imaging systems that do not have identical scan line non-linearity errors is needed. Furthermore, the reduction of such distortion in machines with two imaging systems and reduced communication and processing capability is needed. Additionally, the reduction of overlay distortions using simple programming and adjustments is needed.

System and method for reducing non-linearity errors between two imaging stations


A method for forming a fluorinated compound includes a step of forming a sulfonate ester of a polyethylene glycol. The sulfonate ester is then reacted with a fluorinated diol in the presence of a base such that the polyethylene glycol is attached to one of the hydroxyl groups in the fluorinated diol. The other hydroxyl group in the fluorinated diol is reacted is converted into a leaving group and reacted with an number of nucleophiles. Complexes of the fluorinated compounds that as useful in Magnetic Resonance Imaging are also provided.

Fluorinated amphiphiles are an important class of compounds because of their tendency to self-assemble into nanostructures such as monolayers, micelles, or vesicles, in a fashion distinct from their hydrocarbon-based counterparts. Particularly, amine and guanidine-terminated molecules in this class can potentially decorate phosphate-rich biomolecules through selective non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding.
While syntheses of several highly fluorinated amphiphiles or surfactants have been reported, amine- and guanidine-functionalized fluorocarbons remain largely under-addressed despite the potential synthetic utility of nitrogen-containing groups as functionalization handles and biochemical tools. The known synthetic routes to highly fluorinated amines have drawbacks: for example, highly fluorinated amines can be prepared from routes such as fluoroalkylation of ammonia with an alkyl chloride, hydrogenation of fluoro-organic azides, and the Gabriel synthesis, with the latter two involving high-temperature displacement of fluoroalkyl tosylates. These methods are of limited scope or involve harsh conditions incompatible with some biologically relevant substrates.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods of making amphiphiles that are useful for biochemical applications.

Synthesis of highly fluorinated amines for use in polymers and biomaterials


The present invention provides systems and methods for parallel interference suppression. In one embodiment of the invention, a processing engine is used to substantially cancel a plurality of interfering signals within a received signal. The processing engine includes a plurality of matrix generators that are used to generate matrices, each matrix comprising elements of a unique interfering signal selected for cancellation. The processing engine also includes one or more processors that use the matrices to generate cancellation operators. A plurality of applicators applies the cancellation operators to parallel but not necessarily unique input signals to substantially cancel the interfering signals from the input signals. These input signals may include received signals, interference cancelled signals and/or PN codes. The embodiments disclosed herein may be particularly advantageous to systems employing CDMA (e.g., such as cdmaOne and cdma2000), Wideband CDMA, Broadband CDMA and Global Positioning Systems (“GPS”) signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to the field of communications. More specifically the invention is related to interference suppression for use in coded signal communications, such as Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA") communications.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Interference in communications obstructs the intended reception of a signal and is a persistent problem. Interference may exist in many forms. In CDMA communications, for example, interference is typically the result of receiving one or more unwanted signals simultaneously with a selected signal. These unwanted signals may disrupt the reception of the selected signal because of mutual interference. This disruption of the selected signal is typical in CDMA telephony systems and may corrupt data retrieval processes of a selected signal.
In CDMA telephony, a communications system typically includes a plurality of "base stations" providing a coverage area within a geographic region. These base stations communicate with mobile telephones and/or other CDMA devices operating within the coverage area. To illustrate, a base station provides a coverage "cell" within the overall communication coverage area maintained by the communications system. While within a particular cell, a mobile telephone, or "handset", can communicate with the base station providing the coverage for that cell. As the mobile telephone moves to the cell of another base station, communications between the mobile telephone and the base station providing the initial cell coverage can be transferred via a "hand off" to the other base station.
Each base station within a CDMA telephony system uses coded signals to communicate with mobile telephones. For example, typical CDMA telephony systems use pseudorandom number (PN) spreading codes, sometimes referred to as "short codes," to encode data signals. These encoded data signals are transmitted to and from mobile telephones to convey digitized voice and/or other forms of communication. PN codes are known to those skilled in the art. The terms coded signals and encoded signals are interchangeably used herein.
To encode the data signals, the base station applies a PN code to the data at a rate faster than that of the data. For example, the PN code is applied to the data such that there are multiple "chips" of the code for any given element of data. Such an application of the PN code is commonly referred to as direct sequence spreading of the data. Chips and their associated chip rates are known to those skilled in the art.
Sometimes, each base station is assigned a particular timing offset of the short code to differentiate between base stations. Mobile telephones may therefore determine the identity of a particular base station based on the timing offset of the short code. Additionally, the data signals are often further encoded with a unique "covering" code. Such covering codes provide "channelization" for a signal that increases the number of unique communication channels. For example, data encoded with a covering code can further differentiate signals thereby improving detection and subsequent processing of a selected signal.
These covering codes are often used in CDMA telephony systems and typically include families of codes that are orthogonal (e.g., Walsh codes) or codes that are substantially orthogonal (e.g. quasi-orthogonal functions ("QOF")). Orthogonal covering codes and QOF covering codes have properties that allow for the differentiation of unwanted signals and are known to those skilled in the art. Walsh codes are also known to those skilled in the art.
Both the short codes and the covering codes assist in the detection of a selected signal. However, interference caused by other signals may still degrade data extraction capabilities of the selected signal. For example, as a mobile telephone communicates with a particular base station within that base station's coverage cell, signals from other base stations can interfere with the mobile telephone communication. Since cells often overlap one another to ensure that all desired geographic regions are included in the communication system's coverage area, one or more signals from one base station may interfere with the communication link, or "channel," between the mobile telephone and another base station. This effect is commonly referred to as cross-channel interference.
Cross-channel interference may also occur because some overhead channels are broadcast to all mobile telephones within the cell. These channels can "bleed" over into other cells and overpower a selected signal, thereby corrupting conveyed data. Examples of such channels include pilot channels, which are often broadcast at greater power levels and convey reference information and can be used to coherently demodulate other channels. Other potentially interfering channels may convey paging channels that alert a particular mobile telephone to an incoming call and synchronization channels that provides synchronization between a mobile telephone and a base station. Still other potentially interfering channels may include traffic channels bearing user traffic such as data and voice.
Still, other forms of interference may occur from "multipath" copies of a selected signal. Multipath can create interference because of the reception of copies of a selected signal at differing times. Multipath typically occurs because of obstructions, such as buildings, trees, et cetera, that create multiple transmission paths for a selected signal. These separate transmission paths may have unique distances that cause the signal to arrive at a receiver at differing times and is commonly referred to as co-channel interference. Additionally, these separate paths may bleed over into other cells to cause cross-channel interference.
Multipath creates co-channel interference because, among other reasons, the orthogonality of the covering code for a received signal is essentially lost due to timing offsets associated with the multipath. For example, a multipath signal having a covering code and arriving at a receiver at differing times causes a misalignment of the covering code. Such a misalignment can result in a high cross-correlation in the covering codes and a general inability to correctly retrieve conveyed data.
"Rake" receivers, such as those used in CDMA telephony systems, combine multipath signals to increase available signal strength. For example, a rake receiver may have a plurality of "fingers," wherein each finger of the rake receiver independently estimates channel gain and other signal characteristics (e.g., phase) of the selected signal to more accurately demodulate data of the selected signal and subsequently retrieve the data. Each finger is assigned a particular "path" of the selected signal (i.e., one of the paths of the multipath signal or a signal from another base station). These paths may be combined to increase signal strength. Additionally, as signal characteristics change, the fingers may be assigned or de-assigned to other "paths" of the signal to improve data retrieval.
Rake receivers can improve data retrieval of a received signal. However, present rake receivers do not substantially reduce cross-channel interference and/or co-channel interference. These interferers may still corrupt data as long as they exist in any substantial form.

Systems and methods for parallel signal cancellation


The present invention relates to a solar-powered lighting system that may be used to decorate trees and other outdoor items. The system of the present invention comprises a solar energy gatherer that converts solar energy to electrical energy, a storage battery, a light sensor or photoresistor that detects ambient light, and at least one lamp.

Many people decorate their homes and properties for holidays. One such custom is to place lights on trees at Christmas time. Often homeowners are required to provide long extension cords to remote areas where they wish to decorate. This is sometimes inconvenient due to logistical reasons. Furthermore, the user is using additional electricity to provide the lights with power. Unless a separate timer or light sensor is added to the lighting strand, the user must be vigilant in turning off lights as to not waste power.


A server system utilizing a backplane structure comprises first and second hard disk modules; a first backplane comprising a first wiring board comprising air vents and passive components and a second wiring board connected to a bottom portion of the first wiring board at a first angle and comprising first active components; and a second backplane comprising a third wiring board comprising second air vents and second passive components and a fourth wiring board connected to a bottom portion of the third wiring board at a second angle and comprising second active components thereon; wherein the first and second backplanes are disposed between the first and second hard disk modules; the first wiring board is directly corresponding to the first hard disk module; the third wiring board is directly corresponding to the second hard disk module; the first backplane is higher than the second backplane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a backplane structure and a server system utilizing a backplane structure, in particular, to an improved backplane structure and a server utilizing a backplane structure having active components arranged separately from passive components.
2. Description of Related Art
With respect to our daily schedule of the present time, electronic products are widely used in nearly 90% of our daily needs. As we look closely at our living style today, almost all information and signal processing requires the use of electronic products, server systems and network systems to achieve the goal of such high volume transmissions. With the advancement of our technology and various professions, the complexity of server system is continuously increasing. For example, the transmission speed has been tremendously increased from thousands of bits per second in the past to today's several million bits per second. The technology of Cloud data transmission is also becoming more common. The hardware components, including the central processors and server systems, need to be developed more extensively in order to effectively achieve the processing and transmission of such electrical signals. As a result, the hardware development is an essential issue to be dealt with endlessly in the industry.
During the server system development process, heat dissipation has always been a key issue. As a matter of fact, the life cycle of a server system is not only based upon the speed, performance, price or quality, but also the heat dissipation capacity thereof. If the capacity of heat dissipation is poor, the computing performance and quality must be poor as well. As a result, the costs spent on the equipment and maintenance would be increased significantly.
Please refer to FIG. 1 showing a perspective view of a backplane of a conventional server system. In general, as shown in FIG. 1, the backplane 9 is formed by a single piece of printed circuit board (PCB) which are mounted by various types of electronic components. In specific, the backplane 9 comprises a plurality of passive components 91 and active components 92. As known in the person skilled in the art, the active components 92 upon the backplane 9 will generate high thermal heat and energy. Along with the passive components 91 with lower thermal heat, the backplane 9 inevitably cause massive heat dissipation issue during the operation. In other words, since the active components 92 with high thermal heat are placed together with the passive components 91 with lower thermal heat, the high thermal temperature of the active components 92 would definitely rise the temperature of the passive components 91 and cause them overheated. Furthermore, in the conventional server system, air vents are rarely provided on the backplanes for heat dissipation. Even if further fans or other auxiliary heat dissipation devices are additionally introduced, the volume and costs of server system would also be increased. Therefore, there is a need, for the person skilled in the art and for the industry, to develop and provide and an improved backplane structure to resolve the heat dissipation issues onto server systems.
With respect to the merits and spirits of the present invention, the following provides further detailed description along with the accompanied drawings thereof.

Backplane structure and server system utilizing the same