A mounting plate (20) is positioned between a manifold (18) and a pair of fluid pressure transmitters including a differential pressure transmitter (22) and a gauge pressure transmitter (24). The fluid pressure from high and low pressure taps or lines (14, 16) placed on opposite sides of a flow restriction (12) of a main flow line (10) is measured and transmitted to a remote location by the transmitters (22, 24). The mounting plate (20) has low and high pressure ports (62, 64) for differential pressure transmitter (22) and a low pressure port (66) for a gauge pressure transmitter (24). A connecting fluid passage (68) connects the low pressure ports (62, 66) and a block valve (80) is movable between open and closed positions to permit or block fluid communication between the ports (62, 66) and fluid communication between the transmitters (22, 24). One pair of ports (66, 76) are arranged in symmetrical relation to the other pair of ports (62, 64) to permit the mounting plate (20) to be utilized with the gauge pressure transmitter (24) for measurement of either a low pressure or a high pressure.

This invention relates to mounting means for fluid pressure transmitters in fluid communication with a main flow line, and more particularly to a common mounting means for both a differential pressure transmitter and a gauge pressure transmitter.
Normally, a flow restriction is placed in a main flow line transporting a fluid and pressure taps are made on each side of the restriction for obtaining high and low fluid pressures. Such a flow restriction may comprise an orifice plate, flow nozzle, or venturi tube, for example. The high and low pressures taken from opposed sides of the restriction in the main flow line are communicated to a transmitter for measuring and transmitting the measured pressure or pressure differential by a suitable electronic signal or the like to a remote location, such as a control room, where the pressure or pressure differential may be monitored and/or recorded by an operator.
Gas flow measurements in a main flow line across a reduced diameter orifice require several variable inputs including the differential pressure and the gauge or static pressure. A separate installation has normally been provided for each of the pressure transmitters with each installation normally utilizing a pair of orifice taps or ports one on each side of the reduced installation normally utilizing a pair of orifice laps or ports one on each side of the reduced diameter orifice. The use of two separate installations for flow measurement through a main flow line increases the possibility of malfunction from possible leakage at the connecting joints or improper installation, as well as requiring a relatively large amount of space for the two installations.
A manifold is normally mounted between the main flow line and the pressure transmitters. The manifold permits blocking or venting of the pressure lines to the transmitters which may be required for proper calibration of the transmitters. While a single installation from the main flow line has been used heretofore for a differential pressure transmitter and a gauge pressure transmitter, the transmitters have been mounted on separate sides of the manifold or have been mounted in a series relation to each other with the gauge pressure transmitter being downstream from the differential pressure transmitter. Such an arrangement sometimes makes it difficult for "rodding" or cleaning through passages and valve seats, and usually requires utilization of he manifold for calibration of the transmitters.

Mounting means for fluid pressure transmitters


A method of controlling a medical diagnostic system using a contrast medium is provided. The method includes injecting the contrast medium into a subject; obtaining an appearance image of the subject via a first camera; obtaining a temperature distribution image of the subject via a second camera; displaying a fusion image which combines the appearance image of the subject and the temperature distribution image of the subject on a screen; determining whether a side effect of the contrast medium has occurred in the subject, based on the fusion image; and selectively controlling the medical diagnostic system depending on a result of the determining.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method and an apparatus for controlling a medical diagnostic system in which it may be determined whether or not a side effect of the contrast medium has occurred in a subject based on changes in an appearance image and a temperature distribution image of the subject to rapidly respond to the occurrence of a side effect of the contrast medium, and a method of providing a subject's image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a medical test using an injection of a contrast medium, typically 100 cc or more of an iodine injection solution is injected into the body of a subject in order to capture a medical image. Although having been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in terms of safety, side reactions due to the contrast medium are frequent depending on a physical constitution of the subject. In computerized tomography (CT) scanning using a large amount of a contrast medium, side reactions due to the contrast medium occur in the subject more often than in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which uses a smaller amount of the contrast medium.
To rapidly determine whether a side effect of the contrast medium has occurred, a radiotherapist may check an electrocardiogram (ECG) during a heart test. However, in imaging an abdomen or a brain region, determining whether or not a side effect of the contrast medium has occurred in the subject may be based only on monitoring by a radiotherapist without checking an ECG. The radiotherapist may monitor a facial expression of the subject, but this type of subjective monitoring may be inaccurate in determining whether or not a side effect of the contrast medium has occurred in the subject. It is also impossible for the radiotherapist to rapidly respond to an occurrence of a side effect of the contrast medium in the subject.

Method and apparatus for controlling medical diagnostic system, and method of providing subject image


A method of operating a double deck elevator system when the trailing elevator deck (26,28) is empty, whereby the leading deck answers all registered hall calls except upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

The use of double deck elevator cars in high-rise, high-capacity buildings is well known. Such cars, particularly during the up-peak morning rush of passengers, are particularly effective in quickly and efficiently moving passengers to their destination floors.
One feature of the double deck elevator system described above is that, on occasion, the elevator car may stop to service a hall call or to discharge a passenger at a destination floor from one deck, while passengers on the other deck are still awaiting arrival at their destination floor. In such case, the non-served deck elevator doors remain closed and the passengers on the non-served deck must wait until the other deck has received or discharged its passengers.
Although these intermediate stops may not, in actual fact, lengthen the overall entry-to-arrival trip time for the passengers on either deck, the passengers on the non-served deck may experience dissatisfaction as the elevator repeatedly halts without any obvious (to them) discharge or acceptance of passengers. Systems in use today often include a visual indication in the non-served car to inform the passengers. However, the subjective dissatisfaction may still remain.

Method for operating a double deck elevator car


In the motor vehicle speed control arrangement, the distance to an object detected in front of the motor vehicle is detected by a distance sensor and supplied to a control unit which forms one or more manipulated variables for setting the driving speed of the motor vehicle as a function of at least a desired distance to the detected object which is determined at least from the instantaneous driving speed and/or a prescribed desired speed. In order to improve the comfort performance of the speed control, the arrangement provides that, in the event of a loss of detection of the object by the distance sensor, the control unit determines the reason for the loss of detection of the object and forms the manipulated variables for setting the driving speed as a function of the reason for the loss of detection.

This invention relates to a motor vehicle speed control method in which distance to an object in front of the motor vehicle is detected by a distance sensor and supplied to a control unit which generates one or more manipulated variables for controlling the driving speed of the motor vehicle as a function at least of a desired distance from the vehicle to the detected object. The desired distance is determined from at least the instantaneous driving speed and/or a prescribed desired speed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle speed control arrangement which includes a distance sensor for detecting the distance to an object in front of the motor vehicle and a control unit for generating a manipulated variable to control the driving speed of the motor vehicle as a function of at least a desired distance to the detected object which is determined from at least the instantaneous driving speed and/or a prescribed desired speed, and in which it is possible to supply at least the instantaneous driving speed and the distance to an object detected in front of the motor vehicle as actual variables.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,636 describes a method and arrangement for automatic motor vehicle speed control in which the driving speed is maintained at a selected speed if no vehicle is driving in front of the controlled vehicle whereas the speed is controlled in accordance with the distance to a vehicle in front if such a vehicle is detected. That patent deals with the problem which arises if a vehicle driving in front which is below a selected speed value suddenly is no longer detected. According to the patent both control functions are disabled if the driving speed is outside a predetermined range around the selected driving speed if there is no vehicle in front, or after a vehicle in front is no longer detected in a monitored region.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,905 discloses a distance controller for a motor vehicle by which, after the driving path of the motor vehicle has been determined, a vehicle located in front of the motor vehicle with which the motor vehicle is to dock is detected. Thereafter, the docking operation is performed. If the vehicle in front is no longer detected for any reason, the docking operation is terminated, that is to say the distance controller switches off.
Loss of detection of an object in front of a vehicle can be due to various reasons: the vehicle has initiated an overtaking operation; the road has a bend and the distance sensor does not detect the entire course of the bend; or the detected object has turned off the road. In each of these cases, the speed control must react differently to be acceptable to a driver.

Motor vehicle speed control method and arrangement


A hand held luggage scale case is comprised of a generally pentagonal pair of shells which fit compatibly together and include a storage chamber section for weight sensing elements as well as a tape measure. The case includes a recess channel molded into the shell to retain a weight measurement hook.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a hand held luggage scale and, more particularly, to a case for such a scale which is designed to be ergonomical, useful, compact, and easily stored. The hand held luggage scale case of the invention may be utilized in combination with electronic weight measuring technology as well as mechanical weight measuring technology.
With the advent of various travel restrictions particularly air travel restrictions, persons traveling often find it necessary to pack luggage carefully taking into account the weight of luggage inasmuch as transportation service providers typically will charge additional fees for overweight luggage. Additionally, many items which are mailed or shipped often require the sender to take into account the weight of the item being shipped. Thus there has developed the need to provide a compact yet useful weight measurement device of the type which may be hand held and easily transported or stored for use at remote locations such as those locations where a traveler would find themselves.
Various prior art patents and applications disclose scales useful for such purposes. For example, Christman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,399 entitled "Hand Held Weighing Scale" issued Jun. 26, 1990 discloses a scale which utilizes an electronic measuring device retained within a case from which a hook is suspended. The item to be weighed is suspended on the hook and its weight is reported on a "read out" window. Dittrich et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,895 issued Jul. 3, 2007 for a Multi Purpose Digital Scale for Travelers discloses another type of portable scale allowing travelers to calculate the weight of an item which is to be transported. Critzler in U.S. Publication No. 2008/0251298 published Oct. 16, 2008 discloses another version of a portable hand held electronic scale. It is noted that many of these scales utilize electronic measurement sensors although mechanical measurement sensors are also available. A mechanical scale is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,961 entitled "Portable Hand Held Luggage Weight and Size Measurement Device" issued Jun. 19, 2007. All the references cited are incorporated herein by reference.
While such devices are extremely useful, there has remained a need for an ergonomic, useful and highly compact weight measurement device.

Hand held luggage scale case construction


An electronic torque-tool tester (10) designed to verify that various mechanical, electrical and pneumatic torque tools such as a torque wrench, are correctly calibrated. The tester (10) includes a housing (50) that is bordered by a horizontal mounting plate (14) and a vertical mounting plate (36). From the front of the housing (50) extends a torque transducer (132) that converts a rotational mechanical force produced by the torque wrench, into a corresponding electrical signal (11) that is converted by an electronics circuit (130) into a corresponding display signal (17). The display signal (17) operates a digital display unit (146) from where the applied torque in inch/pounds or foot/pounds can be viewed. The digital display unit (146) is attached to an articulated display assembly (108) that can be rotated through a 90 to 350-degree arc and that allows the digital display unit (146) to also be rotated through a 90 to 350-degree arc. Thus, allowing the tester (10) to be placed in an optimum position to view the applied torque.

One of the most effective and widely used tools are torque applying tools. Torque tools include mechanical, electrical and pneumatic torque tools, such as a torque wrench or a torque screwdriver. The reason torque tools are so effective and widely used is because they provide a means by which a threaded fastener can be tightened to a pre-determined value of tension. Previously, most torque tools utilized a mechanical design, with spring tension used to determine the amount of torque applied. As technology has improved, there are now torque tools that utilize electronic means for measuring the amount of torque applied by the torque wrench or torque screwdriver.
Regardless of which type of torque tool is utilized, they all must be calibrated at regular intervals to insure they are functioning effectively and accurately. The procedure for calibrating a torque tool typically requires that the tool be sent to a facility that specializes in torque tool calibration. The owner of the torque tool is usually required to pay for the shipping of the tool or tools both ways. Once the torque tool or tools arrive at the facility, they are calibrated and then shipped back to the owner. The time that is required to calibrate the torque tool can significantly vary, depending on the size and capabilities of the calibration facility, and the number of torque tools that are in line to be calibrated.
Obviously, any company or business that relies on torque tools must have a contingency plan in the event that their torque tools which are being calibrated might be unavailable for an extended period of time.
The solution to the problems associated with sending torque tools to a calibration facility is for the owner(s) of the torque tools to perform the calibration themselves. In the past, the equipment necessary to perform the calibration of torque applying tools was relatively expensive and required training to operate. Therefore, it was more economical for the owner of a small number of torque tools to send them to a facility for calibration.
The instant invention provides an effective, reliable and accurate means by which a person can quickly and easily calibrate torque tools. While it is necessary to learn to operate the instant invention, the learning process is significantly easier than previous torque tool testers. The benefits to an owner calibrating his/her torque tool or tools are substantial and include monetary savings, time saving and the security of maintaining the torque tool or tools on-site at all times.
A search of the prior art patents and industry literature did not disclose any electronic torque-tool testers that read on the claims of the instant invention.


A constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member having eight curved track grooves axially extending along an inner circumferential surface, an inner joint member having eight curved track grooves axially extending along an outer circumferential surface, eight balls respectively arranged in eight ball tracks provided as pairs of the track grooves of the outer and inner joint members. The center of each track groove of the outer joint member is axially displaced a predetermined distance from the spherical center of the inner circumferential surface. The center of each track groove of the inner joint member is axially displaced the same distance from the spherical center of the outer circumferential surface in the direction opposite to that of the outer joint member. A PCD gap in the ball track is in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fixed-type constant velocity universal joints to be used in power transmission systems of automobiles and various kinds of industrial machines, each of which only allows an operational angle displacement between a shaft on the power-transmitting side and a shaft on the driven side.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fixed-type constant velocity universal joints (e.g., Rzeppa constant velocity universal joints well known as Birfield universal joints: BJs) have been used for the connection between drive shafts or the like in automobiles. Typically, the conventional fixed-type constant velocity universal joint (hereinafter, simply referred to as the conventional universal joint) comprises: an outer joint member in which curved track grooves are axially formed on its inner circumferential surface with a spherical shape; an inner joint member in which curved track grooves are axially formed on its outer circumferential surface with a spherical shape; a plurality of balls respectively arranged in ball tracks provided as pairs of track grooves of the inner and outer joint members; and a cage having pockets for respectively holding these balls. More specifically, the plurality of balls are arranged in their respective pockets of the cage at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the joint.
The center of the track groove of the outer joint member is displaced a predetermined distance from the spherical center of the inner circumferential surface. On the other hand, the center of the track groove of the inner joint member is displaced the same distance from the spherical center of the outer circumferential surface in the direction opposite to that of the outer joint member. Here, such a displacement is referred to as a track offset. Therefore, the ball track formed between the outer joint member and the inner-joint member is shaped like a wedge opened toward one end of the joint in the axial direction. In addition, the spherical center of the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member and the spherical center of the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member are located within a common plane, i.e., the central plane of the joint that includes the center of each ball.
In the conventional universal joint, the constant velocity of the joint can be ensured because each of the ball held in the pocket of the cage can be always located in a plane that bisects any operational angle when there is an angular displacement between the outer joint member and the inner joint member. Here, the operational angle refers to an angle formed by a rotational axis of the outer joint member and a rotational axis of the inner joint member.
In recent years, there may be cases where a wheel base is lengthened from the viewpoint of improving the safety of automobile in the event of a crash. In this case, however, there is a need to increase a steering angle for front wheels by providing the universal joint with a higher operation angle. For filling the need for such a higher-angle, there is provided another conventional universal joint, i.e., an undercut-free type universal joint (UJ) in which the track grooves on the opening side of the outer joint member are shaped so as to be in parallel with the axial direction of the joint. In this kind of the universal joint, there is no under cut formed on either of the outer joint member or the inner joint member so that a higher operation angle can be attained.
In each kind of the conventional universal joints (BJ, UJ), it is very important to define how to fill a gap between a pitch circle diameter of the track groove of the outer joint member and a pitch circle diameter of the track groove of the inner joint member (hereinafter, such a gap is referred to as a PCD gap). If the PCD gap is too small, it becomes difficult to insert balls into the respective ball tracks and each of the balls is then difficult to roll smoothly as the binding force upon the ball increases. During the rotation of the universal joint, the rolling movement of the ball is caused with sliding contact between the ball and the ball track. As a result of frictional heating, the temperature in the joint increases and hence the lifetime of the joint decreases. If such a gap is too large, on the other hand, the characteristic features of the joint (such as noise, vibration, harshness (NVH), durability) can be affected by the generation of slapping sounds between the pocket and the ball, or more the increase in vibrations of the joint.
Especially, under high-load conditions, the contact ellipse between the ball and the track groove runs off the track groove. Under such circumstances, it could be chipped from such a portion, resulting in flaking. If the PCD gap is small, it is effective to prevent the contact ellipse from running off the track groove. On the other hand, if such a gap is substantially larger than usual, the ball contact point approaches the PCD gap and hence the contact ellipse becomes easy to run off the track groove.
In each of the conventional universal joints (BJ, UJ), furthermore, it is very important to determine the ratio (F/PCR) between the amount of track offset (F) and the length (PCR) of a straight line segment between the center of the track groove in the outer or inner joint member and the center of the ball. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 9-317784 (1997), for example, there is disclosed an appropriate range of F/PCR (i.e., 0.069≦F/PCR≦0.121). In this case, the depth of the track groove becomes shallow if the amount of track offset (F) is too large. Thus, the contact ellipse between the ball and the track groove tends to run off the track groove, causing the decrease in allowable load torque at a higher operational angle region. In addition, columns of the cage become narrow, so that the strength of the cage can be also decreased. On the contrary, if the amount of track offset (F) is too small, the track load increases. It causes the decrease in the durability of the joint in addition to lowering of the maximum operational angle.
Typically, the conventional universal joint has six balls (hereinafter, such a joint will be also referred to as a six-ball joint). However, there is an alternative universal joint having eight balls for the purpose of realizing a smaller and lighter version of the joint while retaining at least the same properties (e.g., strength, load capacity, and durability) as those of the joint using six balls. Here, the universal joint having eight balls will be also referred to as an eight-ball joint. The eight-ball joint has its own basic configuration different from that of the six-ball joint. In this case, the set value of the PCD gap may be peculiar to such a configuration. The amount of track offset (F) and the length PCR of a straight line segment between the center of the track groove of the outer or inner joint member and the center of the ball are also adjusted such that the ratio F/PCR can be defined within the above appropriate range. It is noted that the depth of the track groove of the eight-ball joint is smaller than that of the six-ball joint as the diameter of each of the eight balls is smaller than that of the six balls. In the eight-ball joint, the PCD gap exerts a very large influence on the durability of the joint. Consequently, there is a limit to improve the durability of the eight-ball joint by means of adjusting the above F/PCR in the appropriate range.


The method first creates a BS database by randomly sampling experimental data items from an experimental data DB storing a plurality of experimental data items having n (n is an integer of 2 or larger) kinds of variates. It then identificates an n-dimensional sampling curve or surface model approximating a correlation of the n kinds of variates with reference to the BS database, and stores the model into a BS optimum solution database. The method then repeats the creation of the BS database and the identification of the sampling curve or surface model, thereby creating the optimum solution database. Finally, the method obtains a mean and variance of the optimum solution with reference to the BS optimum solution database and estimates the reliability of the optimum solution from these values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing method and program suitable for use in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) which effectively utilizes less experimental data to enhance design efficiency. Particularly, the present invention relates to data processing method and program capable of estimating obtained curve or surface model and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent heightening of user requirements, intensification of competition in the marketplace, and the introduction of cheap foreign products have all resulted in increased market demands in the areas of product quality, delivery, and costing. Furthermore, there are demands for both increased efficient in product and productivity planning, and for reduced development costs. In response to these demands, recent years have seen more interest in response surface methodology, a technology for efficient implementation of design tasks that require high amounts of experimentation.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-18311, which is referred to herein as the related art 1, for example, contains disclosure concerning a method that efficiently identificates a response surface model by biharmonic spline interpolation based on the Green function with the use of data collected according to the experimental design. The response surface model is used in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for pharmaceutical design, materials design, design or adjustment of system operating conditions and product manufacturing conditions and the like.
The use of the response surface model generated by the biharmonic spline interpolation based on the Green function described in the related art 1 enables easy finding of optimum design conditions. It is thereby possible to find optimum design conditions quickly from a small amount of experimental data even for a complex and unknown design target.
Yutaka Tanaka et al. "Handbook of Statistical Analysis", 1995, pp. 22-24 describes that, where a correlation (responce) between design conditions and product characteristics is expressed by a linear polynominal (linear regression model), it is possible to estimate variations in a response surface model based on a statistical approximate error and thus possible to estimate the reliability of an optimum solution.
A conventional response surface model generation and estimation method where a response surface model is a linear regression model is described herein. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a conventioal response surface model estimation apparatus 100. The response surface model estimation apparatus 100 includes an experimental data DB 101 for storing experimental data, a response surface model generation section 102, an optimum solution search section 103, a response surface model estimation section 104, and an optimum solution estimation index calculation section 105. The response surface model generation section 102 generates a response surface model, which is a linear regression model, from the experimental data stored in the experimental data DB 101. The optimum solution search section 103 searches for an optimum solution of the generated surface model. The response surface model estimation section 104 calculates F value, which is described below, from the response surface model. The optimum solution estimation index calculation section 105 calculates an estimation index from the optimum solucion obtained by the optimum solution search section 103 and the F value calculated by the response surface model estimation section 104.
The conventional response surface model estimation apparatus 100 obtains an estimation index of the reliability of an optimum solution based on the approximation accuracy of a response surface model identificated from experimental data, which is goodness of fit of a regression model to data (F value in the following equation 1):
                    F        =                              V            R                                V            e                                              (        1        )            where, when     y is the mean of n-number of data items of response variable y;    ŷ is the estimate by a regression model; and    p is the degree of freedom,parameter variation:
            V      R        =                            ∑                      i            =            1                    n                                              (                                                            y                  ^                                i                            -                              y                _                                      )                    2                    p        ,and model accuracy:
      V    e    =                              ∑                      i            =            1                    n                                              (                                          y                i                            -                                                y                  ^                                i                                      )                    2                            (                  n          -          p          -          1                )              .
However, the application of the estimation based on a statistical approximate error in the case where a response surface model is a linear regression model is limited to partucular targets. The estimation method cannot be applied to a target with a complex correlation (responce) between design conditions and product characteristics, like a non-linear response surface as described in the related art 1. This means that there is no solution estimation means for a technique described in the related art 1, though actual product design needs to make allowances for variations in optimum conditions (optimum solution).


The invention discloses a method of optimizing handoff time in a wireless communication system from a first base station to a second base station through a dynamic data source control, the method comprising determining a communication delay between a network service node of the wireless communication system and the second base station; setting a scheduling delay for the second base station; determining a handoff delay based on the communication delay and the scheduling delay and indicating said handoff delay to a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device performs the handoff from the first base station to the second base station on expiry of the handoff delay so determined.

Wireless communication systems have evolved drastically from the first voice-only cellular telephone systems to high-speed digital data networks capable of delivering voice, Internet, and even streaming video content to miniature handheld units that users carry with them and use as they travel.
In a typical cellular radio communication system (wireless telecommunication network), an area is divided geographically into a number of transmission areas, or cell sites, each of which is defined by one or more radio frequency (RF) radiation patterns from respective base transceiver station (BTS) antenna. The BTS of a cell may also be called an Access Point (AP) which implements functions of a BTS. A cell may refer to a coverage area serviced by an AP. A cell may further include one or more sectors.
When a non-stationary mobile user equipment also called an Access Terminal (AT), is positioned in a cell site, it communicates wirelessly with Access Points (APs). The APs communicate with a network service node of an Access Network (AN) of the telecommunication network.
An Active AT may have one or more sectors in its active set. An AP may have multiple sectors, making it possible for the active set to contain more than one sector for the same AP, or "cell". The AT receives forward link data from one sector at a time. The AT sends a signal to the AN via AP that indicates the best serving sector among the sectors in the active set. This signal is called the Data Rate Control (DRC) signal. The AT is said to "point" its DRC to the sector from which it may receive data next. The DRC signal also indicates to the AN the rate at which data should be sent to the AT. The AT generally varies the DRC signal based on measurements taken at the AT of one or more forward link signal parameters. Where the AP has multiple sectors, the AT may also identify in the DRC signal a specific sector from which the AP may transmit data to the AT. If the source and target sectors belong to the same AP, then the AT may switch between them without incurring any delay.
A wireless communication system permits an AT to move from the coverage area of one AP to that of another AP without losing the AT's connection with the AN. At any given time, the AT in a wireless network will typically be linked to a given sector and will be able to communicate with the telecommunication network via the AP serving that sector. The AN sends data from the AP at the rate requested by the AT. If the AT intends to move into a new sector of another AP, the AT attempts to switch from the first AP to the second AP serving the new sector. The process of rerouting data for an AT from a first AP to a second AP is called handoff. The AT sends a DRC signal requesting to switch the serving sector from a source sector in a first AP to a destination (target) sector in a second AP.
When the AT moves from the coverage area of one AP to another, the handoff process occurs because of the AT's transition from an initial sector of a cell site to a target sector of a different cell site. The AT may communicate with the new sector of second AP once the handoff process from the initial sector in the original AP to the target sector in the second AP is complete.
Wireless standards provide specifications that promote compatibility between various manufacturers of ATs and AN equipment. One such wireless standard for wireless high rate packet data (HRPD) systems, is as specified in "cdma2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification," 3GPP2 C.S0024-0 Version 4.0, published in 2002, referred to herein as a "1xEV-DO (1x Evolution-Data Only) Release 0 network".
A soft handoff takes place when the AT switches from one sector to another sector in the same AP, or when the AT moves from one AP to another AP wherein the APs have a common frequency assignment. Soft handoff (handoff between two APs) switching causes a short period of outage. When the source and target sectors belong to different APs with different frequency assignment, during the AT handoff from one AP to another AP, the AT stops communicating with the first AP and starts communicating with the second AP after a certain time period (delay) sufficient for the AN to reroute forward link data to the second AP associated with the target sector in a hard handoff. The outage ranges from 100 milliseconds to as high as 200 milliseconds. This delay is because the AN takes time to re-route data packets targeted for the source BTS to the target BTS. Even though the AT has pointed its DRC to a sector of the second AP, the network will not be able to transport data to or from the AT through the second AP until after this delay or switch time.
For some applications, the handoff process or the rerouting process may result in a brief interruption in the data flow or data communication with the AT. Thus, handoff of an AT from a source AP to a target AP may interrupt signal transmission and reception between the AT and the AP, and may cause unacceptably long interruptions to services such as Voice over IP (VoIP), video telephony, network gaming, or other applications requiring high Quality of Service (QoS). Most de-jitter buffers on mobile VoIP handsets are able to handle 20-30 milliseconds delay and make it undetectable to the voice user on a call, but 100-200 milliseconds delay is beyond the capability of most de-jitter buffers and voice quality suffers.
The TIA-856-A standard, entitled "cdma2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification," 3GPP2 C.S0024-A, published by the Telecommunications Industry Association in 2004, referred to herein as a "1xEV-DO Revision A network", describe methods of minimizing the duration of the interruption of data communication during handoff of an AT. The delay caused due to rerouting process of the AN is improved in revision A of the 1xEV-DO standard, with the introduction of a Data Source Control (DSC) switching. The forward sector switching in EV-DO is enhanced with the introduction of DSC channel. The DSC channel allows the AT to send an early indication of an impending handoff to the base station. The DSC signal is sent from the AT to the AN, and indicates the cell to which the AT will point its DRC after a specified delay time called "DSCLength". When an AP receives a DSC signal from an AT indicating that the AT will handoff to a new AP, the AP forwards the information to one or more entities in the AN through a Backhaul Connection. The AP then participates in the synchronous switching of routing of data to the AT. Thus, the DSC signal provides advance notification to the AN of the AT's intention to point its DRC at a sector belonging to the target cell, thereby minimizing the interruption in data flow to the AT caused by the handoff.
During BTS switching, the addition of DSC functionality enables the Access Network (AN) to send data packets to a target cell at almost the same time Access Terminal (AT) switches to target BTS, hence minimizing cell switching outage.
The DSCLength normally chosen is such that it provides sufficient time for the AN to reroute forward link data from the source AP to the target AP identified in the DSC signal. DSCLength is measured in slots. Alternatively, DSCLength may be measured in some other time differential, or may be identified by some other techniques such as by indicating an index into a lookup table of possible time periods.
Generally, AT uses a default value for DSCLength. Alternatively, the AN may also provide the DSCLength parameter to the AT prior to the DSC signal, to be used in the event of a switch to another AP. The AN may optionally adjust the DSCLength parameter used for handoff to be long enough to seamlessly switch to a sector of another AP. The AN sets the DSCLength to a relatively shorter value, if the AT needs to handoff to a target sector that is in the same cell as the source sector. In the event of AT performing a handoff to a target sector in a different cell than the source sector, the AN sets the DSCLength to a larger value to accommodate the longer time needed to reroute data to a different cell. After the time period specified in DSCLength passes, the AT directs its DRC signal to the target sector and it may then receive data from said target sector.
The "service outage" time during cell switching is dependent on the DSCLength which in turn is dependent on the Backhaul Delay (between the AN and BTS). DSCLength specifies the minimum time required prior to the AT switching cells. This time should be greater than the Backhaul Delay. However, if this time is much larger than the Backhaul Delay, the handoff outage is increased. Thus, although the interruption in the data flow caused by handoff is tried to be minimized by the AN adjusting the DSCLength, a challenge lies in reducing cell switching (handoff) outages which pose a problem for delay-sensitive applications, such as VoIP data. A short DSCLength is desirable to reduce the delay and possible service degradation due to bad channel conditions.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to reduce handoff outage between an AT and an AP, as much as can be possible.

Method of optimizing handoff time in a wireless telecommunication network through dynamic data source control


A method for controlling a modular converter, having a plurality of M converter cells, including an active AC-to-DC converter operable in one of a plurality of modes; a DC-to-DC converter; a secondary side of said AC-to-DC converter and a primary side of said DC-to-DC converter connected in parallel with a DC-link capacitor, wherein the primary sides of the converter cells are connected in series, with a first converter cell connected to a line, preferably a medium voltage line, providing an AC line voltage an M-th converter cell connected to a ground; operated by a method placing the converters in bypassed, active or diode mode.

For an electric power supply of electric trains or trams, modular converters comprising a plurality of converter cells configured to produce from an AC input voltage a DC output voltage which may be supplied to electrical installations on-board have recently received growing attention. Usually, the AC input voltage is supplied from a line, in particular an overhead line.
In an exemplary modular converter, each converter cell comprises a resonant DC-to-DC converter, which is connected to the line via an AC-to-DC converter. In the resonant DC-to-DC converter, a DC-to-AC converter on a line side is connected via a resonant transformer with a further AC-to-DC converter on a motor side. Both the DC-to-AC converter and the further AC-to-DC converter may be active converters comprising controllable semiconductor switches.
Frequently, a control method for the modular converter is based on hard-switching of the AC-to-DC converters' semiconductor switches and soft-switching of the DC-to-DC converters' semiconductor switches, with low current switching during a turn-off, possibly in combination with zero voltage switching (ZVS) during a turn-on of the DC-to-DC converter semiconductors.
As switching losses depend on voltage and current during switching, said switching method may result in low switching losses and thus in a high-efficiency AC-to-DC conversion at nominal power ratings.
However, when this switching method is used under light-load or no-load conditions, the switching losses of the AC-to-DC converter cells stay approximately the same, but less power is transferred, and thus efficiency decreases. In an extreme case, when no power is required to be transferred by the converter cells, switching losses in almost equal amounts would nevertheless occur.
WO 2014/037406 A1, which is hereby included by reference in its entirety, is concerned with enhancing the efficiency of a modular converter under low load or very low load conditions. Amongst other measures, this is achieved by operating the AC-to-DC converters in an intermittent mode. In said intermittent mode, in dependence on voltage and power capabilities, a first number of converter cells may be short circuited. For a second number of remaining converter cells, all AC-to-DC converters are put into an active mode when a DC-link voltage for one of the converter cells falls below an individual threshold; and are deactivated (or turned off) when a sum of all DC-link voltages of the remaining converter cells reaches a further threshold.
However, if a difference between individual thresholds and further threshold is selected sufficiently large, the DC-link voltages will oscillate between the individual threshold for the respective cell and the further threshold, which may lead to voltage oscillations and thus converter instabilities. On the other hand, if the difference between individual thresholds and further threshold is chosen relatively small, converter efficiency under low load and in particular under very low load operation remains unsatisfactory, due to the fact that the AC-to-DC converters remain in active mode.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for controlling of a modular converter which overcomes the disadvantages as discussed above.
This object is achieved by a method in accordance with the invention.

Method for controlling of a modular converter


An extender device having a base frame with two ends. There is at least one extendable arm that extends from one of the ends of the base frame that allows the bed extender to move from a retracted to an extended position. The length of the bed extender can be set by a locking mechanism located on the base frame that can be used to lock the extendable arm in position. The bed extender can be used to divide a storage compartment or it can be used to extend the length of the pick-up truck bed by using the extendable arms and a pivot mechanism connected to the extendable arms.

Most vehicles provide some form of storage space or compartment. Automobiles that are in the car category usually have a storage compartment in the form of a trunk, while other larger vehicles such as pick-up trucks have a bed that can be used for storage. Additionally, semi-trucks have tractor trailers that provide a large enclosed trailer for storage of items. It is desirable to develop items that will maximize the storage space by allowing the space that's available to be sub-divided. For example it is sometimes desirable to divide a storage compartment into sections in order to provide spaces for the storage of various items. Additionally it is also desirable in the case of pick-up trucks and other vehicles having a storage bed to have a way of extending the sides of the bed in instances where oversized items need to be transported.


A system and method for protecting a reverse battery protected device during loss of battery are disclosed. An embodiment method includes biasing a substrate of a substrate switch of the reverse battery protected device to a lowest potential selected between a battery voltage and ground when the battery voltage is less than a magnitude of a first substrate clamping voltage during reverse battery, clamping the substrate to the first substrate clamping voltage when the battery voltage is greater than the magnitude of the first substrate clamping voltage during reverse battery, and clamping the substrate to a second substrate clamping voltage during loss of battery, where a magnitude of the second substrate clamping voltage is less than the magnitude of the first substrate clamping voltage.

Battery powered devices are susceptible to the consequences of batteries being installed in reverse polarity, as well as other types of careless use. In many situations, configuration of a device with a battery installed backwards can be catastrophic, resulting in destruction of the device itself, electrical components that support the device, or other electrical circuits that share circuit boards or common substrates, for example. Mechanical and electrical safeguards have been designed to protect battery operated devices when a user inadvertently installs a battery with the leads reversed.
Some reverse battery protected devices are also susceptible to loss of battery. Loss of a battery can be due to a sudden catastrophic failure in the battery itself, or to a break in a battery lead or a conductor that couples the battery to the reverse battery protected device. Devices that have inductive components, such as switched inductive loads, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of loss of DC source power. Since voltages across inductive components depend upon the rate of change of current in the component, devices having inductive components typically generate excessively large voltages upon loss of power. These large voltages in combination with the discharge of electromagnetic energy stored in the inductive components can exceed device and circuit design specifications, resulting in catastrophic failure in the device and/or associated electrical components and circuitry.
Some reverse battery protected devices utilize external circuits that provide alternate current pathways for dissipation of power during loss of battery. Other reverse battery protected devices implement design changes to those circuits and associated device components that are most affected by the consequences of loss of DC source voltage. These design changes allow the affected components to handle large amounts of power dissipation under loss of battery. However, these techniques are typically costly to implement as they involve additional external protection circuits or nonefficient redesign and resizing of affected components. In addition, these techniques typically do not shift power dissipation from vulnerable electrical components to power components, such as power switches for example, that are designed to accommodate high power.

System and method for protection against loss of battery in reverse battery protected devices


In one embodiment, a method includes a method includes obtaining traffic, determining a host Media Access Control (MAC) address, and determining a host Internet Protocol (IP) address using the traffic. The method also includes generating an Ethernet virtual private network (E-VPN) MAC route advertisement that includes both the host MAC address and the host IP address and generating an IP virtual private network (IP-VPN) route advertisement that includes the host IP address.

Ethernet Virtual Private Network (E-VPN) is a layer 2 virtual private network (VPN) technology, and is based on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). Internet Protocol VPN (IP-VPN) is a layer 3 VPN technology which is generally also based on MPLS.
In many networks, soft switches which run on a virtual machine (VM) or a hypervisor hosted on a server are used to provide efficient intra-server inter-virtual machine switching, flexibility, and ease of provisioning as a part of server orchestration. Servers on which soft switches run on a VM or a hypervisor are multi-homed to Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches using multi-chassis link aggregation groups (LAGs).
Some ToR switches offer layer 3 connectivity to associated, e.g., attached, servers. Although layer 3 connectivity generally allows intra-subnet and inter-subnet traffic to be forwarded, the use of layer 3 connectivity to support intra-subnet and inter-submit traffic forwarding may be inefficient and may cause issues which impact the performance of a network. By way of example, unknown Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses may be dropped with layer 3 forwarding, media access control (MAC) addresses of originating hosts may be set to addresses of Network Virtualize Endpoints (NVEs), an IP time-to-live (TTL) may be decremented thereby causing applications which confine traffic by setting an IP TTL to a value of one to no longer function, and/or mechanisms which rely on layer 2 connectivity may no longer function as expected.

Providing intra-subnet and inter-subnet data center connectivity


A gas bag module comprising a gas generator (16) and a module housing (14). The gas generator (16) has a generator flange (22), which is provided with first hook-shaped fastening elements (24) of sheet metal for fastening the gas bag module (12) to a steering wheel (10). The generator flange further has second fastening elements (30; 30′; 30″) for fastening the gas generator (16) to the module housing (14).

Driver's gas bag modules have been part of the standard equipment of modern vehicles for some years. Economic considerations require that the gas bag module can be mounted and fastened to the vehicle in as few process steps as possible. In the fastening of gas bag modules in steering wheels, therefore, screw couplings are being increasingly replaced by the use of detent connections, for reasons of cost and time. These must, at the same time, be able to be closed quickly and simply and ensure a secure connection.
It is an object of the invention to improve an above-mentioned gas bag module with regard to its installation and fastening to the steering wheel.


A navigation system is provided for offering navigational assistance to a mobile user. The navigation system receives GPS position information signals which are processed to determine current position latitude and longitude coordinates and direction of travel. A destination data base includes destination related information preferably stored on an interfacable memory card and contains menu categories and subcategories for classifying destinations and text information. The memory card may include a user modifiable data base. Data information is provided with a data identification code which is required to match the user identification code assigned to a given system for authorized access thereto. Such data could be provided for a period of time set to expire. User selectable menu controls enable the user to sequence through the menu of categories and destinations and select a desired destination. A processor compares the current position coordinates with the position coordinates of the selected destination and determines a distance and a straight-line direction from the current position to the selected destination. A display displays the distance and a direction pointing indicator for showing the direction from the current position to the selected destination. In one embodiment, the navigation system is integrated with an audio entertainment system and shares a common display and housing.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to navigation systems and, more particularly, to an easy to use low cost GPS navigation system employing readable memory cards containing destination data base information and data access control for allowing access to authorized data and denying access to unauthorized data.
2. Discussion
The concepts of intelligent vehicle highway systems (IVHS) are changing the future of ground transportation systems. In particular, navigation systems have been developed and are increasingly becoming available for use in assisting a mobile user. For example, on-board navigation systems are currently provided in some automotive vehicles to assist the driver of the vehicle in navigating the vehicle along a route or roadway system to reach a desired destination.
Early navigation systems generally did not have the availability of advanced positioning systems such as global positioning system (GPS). Instead, a number of early navigation systems often relied exclusively on dead reckoning techniques to account for a moving vehicle's location. Generally speaking, dead reckoning is the determination of position by advancing a known position using measured courses and distances. This generally involved determining a starting location and manually setting the vehicle's position on an electronic map. With the use of a dead reckoning technique, an approximate path of travel of the vehicle could be computed and updated as the vehicle was driven. The travel path determination was often achieved by way of a compass reading and vehicle speed information or was achieved by some other kind of dead reckoning technique. However, many of the dead reckoning based navigation systems often failed to provide accurate and continuous navigation assistance and therefore required repeated corrections to the vehicle's computed position.
The development of the global positioning system (GPS) by the United States Department of Defense has greatly enhanced the ability to navigate. Currently, a constellation of satellites are in place orbiting the earth at high altitudes and transmitting radio waves which contain position information. With the use of GPS receivers, the position information can be received and used to calculate the current latitude and longitude position coordinates at the receiving location. The global positioning system is currently achieving recognition as the superior position locator system for providing accurate worldwide fixes.
With the widespread availability of GPS, more recent navigation systems now rely on GPS to provide position information to compute a vehicle's position. According to one approach, the computed position of the vehicle is contrasted to a digitized map. This technique, also known as map matching, requires a complex digitized map data base and normally uses an expensive full function detailed map display to show the digitized map in relation to the vehicle's position. The digitized map data base has to consider one-way street information, turn restrictions and other roadway requirements. Often with the use of a complex algorithm, a computer would attempt to compute a best route from the vehicle's current position to a desired destination, considering all available street changes and travel restrictions. This results in turn-by-turn instructions in which a driver is instructed to turn left or right or proceed straight ahead on each approaching street.
The use of map matching navigation and other similar full function navigation systems has generally provided a user with the ability to follow calculated turn-by-turn instructions as computed by the navigation system. However, map matching techniques generally do not take into consideration changes in travel routes and roadway restrictions. That is, changes in a transportation system which often occur, especially on roads subjected to road construction, remain unaccounted for. Also, some drivers may feel that the expensive full function displays may tend to cause the driver to rely too heavily on the map display for driving instructions rather than for mere assistance. They therefore may feel that such displays are too distractive. Furthermore, most full function navigation systems are commercially available at a very high cost which often makes the systems unaffordable to a vast majority of consumers.
Additionally, some conventional GPS navigation systems do not offer continual flexibility and large data bases to select from a very large number of destinations. Instead, a number of systems contain predetermined destination information stored entirely within the navigation system. The user is generally limited to the prestored destination information. While some navigation systems do contain removable data bases, the removable data bases are often not easily accessible by a driver. It is desirable to provide for a more flexible destination data base which may easily accommodate the needs of users in different territories.
Also, commercially available GPS navigation systems provide destination data bases with preselected destination information which the manufacturer anticipates will be useful for the user. These destination data bases generally do not provide the user with the capability to modify destination information to one's personal liking. Modifiable destination information may advantageously allow a user to customize the navigation system for use in a given geographic territory. For example, the user may find it helpful to reprogram a destination data base so as to update the information which may change over time. That is, new businesses may open or close or change location, phone numbers and price information may change, amongst other types of information that may have to be changed on the destination data base. Users may have special preferences for certain types of restaurants, hotels, etc., or may wish to pre-plan routes with waypoint and turn information for later use.
Furthermore, navigation systems, as well as other service-related products, often require large amounts of stored information. For navigation purposes, this information may include compiled data generally pertaining to possible destinations or roadway information. The collection, organization, programming and maintenance of current information for data information such as this is generally expensive and time consuming. Often, the data is made available and licensed on a per copy basis to individual users or to organizations for a particular purpose or made available on some other basis. In order to prevent widespread unauthorized data copying and subsequent commercial exploitation (e.g., piracy) and ensure valid data information is available to the user, the data provider must take steps necessary to encrypt or otherwise protect the information.
It is therefore desirable to provide a low cost and easy-to-use navigation system which offers navigational assistance to a mobile user for traveling to desired destinations.
More particularly, it is desirable to provide a navigation system that employs global positioning system signals and a flexible destination data base on an interchangeable memory card in a manner which is affordable to many users.
It is further desirable to provide such a navigation system which may easily be installed in an automotive vehicle and different memory cards may be used in assisting the driver of the vehicle to reach a desired destination.
Yet, it is also desirable to provide such a navigation system which further offers many categorized destinations and provides detailed information about the destinations for predefined areas of service coverage.
Additionally, it is desirable to provide for a system and method for accessing authorized data information, such as information made available to navigation system users, so as to protect against widespread unauthorized copying and pirating of the data.
Also, it is desirable to provide for such a system and method which allows a user to access authorized consumer data information that is made available with a purchase or rental agreement.
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide for such a system and method for accessing navigation-related data information, while allowing a user to create and use personal data information.

Data product authorization control for GPS navigation system


The invention relates to an apparatus for simulating the look, sounds and vibrations of a genuine transcranial magnetic stimulator (xe2x80x9cTMSxe2x80x9d), while keeping the induced current reaching the patient low. The invention involves a sham TMS which presents the appearance of a genuine TMS, but which, in fact, does not operate as would a genuine TMS, because the induced current provided to the patient is captured by an aluminum shroud overlaying the end faces of the core of the TMS. The sham TMS may be used to provide a control in a medical study seeking to compare the results obtained by a genuine TMS with a sham TMS. Because the sham TMS appears to be genuine to the operator of the sham TMS and to the patient, the results of the medical study are not influenced by the knowledge of the operator and/or patient as to whether the TMS device is genuine or sham. The invention, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a thin sheet of continuous aluminum which extends over the center and beyond the end faces of an open core, magnetic nerve stimulator.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for simulating the sounds and vibrations of a genuine magnetic nerve stimulator, in the preferred version, a transcranial magnetic stimulator (xe2x80x9cTMSxe2x80x9d), while reducing the induced current for the device from reaching the patient. The present invention relates to a sham TMS which presents the appearance, noise, apparatus, etc. of a genuine TMS, but which, in fact, may be used as a placebo in clinical studies to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of the genuine magnetic nerve stimulator or TMS.
TMS is well known in the art. Magnetic stimulation realizes the electric fields necessary for the charge transfer by induction. Magnetic stimulation may be used to induce electric fields in biologic tissue. Rapidly changing magnetic fields induce electric fields in biologic tissue, and when the proper rates, intensity, depth of penetration are achieved, the magnetically induced electric field accomplishes transferring charge directly into the neuron to be excited. TMS involves the magnetic stimulation of neurons in the brain and has been used in the localization, characterization and treatment of brain function. TMS is known to non-invasively alter the function of the cerebral cortex. (See e.g. George M S, Wasserman E M, Post Rm, Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A neuropsychiatric tool for the 21st century, J. Neuropsychiatry, 1996 8:373-382, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference). The magnetic fields used in transcranial magnetic stimulation are generally generated by large, rapidly-changing currents passing through a wire coil on the scalp. Use of a coil with a ferro magnetic core of a material with a saturability of at least 0.5 tesla has been found to be very effective.
Two recent studies have suggested that rapid rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be used for exploring the functional neuroanatomy of emotions: emotionally healthy volunteers who received left pre-frontal stimulation reported an increase in self-rated sadness, while, in contrast, right pre-frontal stimulation to similarly healthy volunteers caused an increase in happiness. (See, Pascual-Leone A., Catala M D, Pascual A P, Lateralized effect of rapid rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of the prefrontal cortex on mood, Neurology, 1996; 46: 499-502; and, George M S, Wasserman E M, Williams W., et al., Changes in mood and hormone levels after rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of the prefrontal cortex, J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 1996; 8: 172-180, the disclosures of which are also fully incorporated herein by reference.)
Other reports have begun to delineate the therapeutic use of rTMS in depression. The earliest such studies used round, non-focal coils centered at the cranial vertex, with stimulation rates well under 1 Hertz (Hz). Results were promising but not always statistically significant. (See, Hoflich G., Kasper S. Hufnagel A. et al., Application of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment of drug-resistant major depression: a report of two cases, Human Psychopharmacology, 1993; 8: 361-365; Grisaru N., Yarovslavsky U., Abarbanel J., et al., Transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression and schizophrenia, Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol. 1994; 4: 287-288; and, Kilbinger H M, Hofilich G., Hufnagel A., et al., Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of major depression: A pilot study, Human Psychopharmacology, 1995; 10: 305-310, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.)
Subsequently, George et al., described a striking improvement in some depressed patients from the treatment with rTMS over the left pre-frontal cortex. (See, George M S, Wasserman E M, Williams W A, et al., Daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves mood in depression, NeuroReport, 1995; 6: 1853-1856; and, George M S, Wasserman E M, Williams W E, Kimbrell T A, Little J T, Halleft M., Post R M, Daily left prefrontal rTMS improves mood in outpatient depression: a double blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, Am. J. Psychiatry, 1997 (in press), the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference). A large study was reported by Pascual-Leone et al., who used a five-month double blind placebo-controlled cross-over design with five different treatment conditions. (See, Pascual-Leone A., Rubio B., Pallardo F. Catala M D, Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depression, The Lancet, 1996; 348: 233-237, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.) Left pre-frontal rTMS was uniquely effective in 11 of 17 young (less than 60 years of age) psychotically depressed and medication resistant patients.
A recently developed TMS was disclosed by the present applicant and Charles M. Epstein in the PCT International Application NO. PCT/US97/14826, filed Aug. 15, 1997. That disclosure is therefore specifically incorporated herein by reference.
The TMS studies have demonstrated a need for a sham TMS, which may be used as a placebo, to provide a control to determine the effectiveness of a device genuinely providing TMS. There is a need for a sham TMS which can be effectively used in placebo-controlled TMS blind studies. Accordingly, it is a goal of the present invention to provide a sham apparatus for transcranial magnetic stimulation, which may be used in placebo-controlled blind studies to further investigate the uses and effectiveness of TMS in the treatment of patients. Such a sham device must simulate, as much as practicable, the apparatus under investigation, while shielding the induced current of the device from reaching the patient, especially since the studies are related to ephemeral concepts, e.g., self-perception, depression, etc. concepts which are difficult to accurately measure.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for imitating the external appearance, sounds and vibration of a genuine TMS while keeping low the induced current which is actually transmitted to the patient.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sham TMS which may be used as a placebo in studies to determine the effectiveness of a TMS apparatus and/or procedural protocol under investigation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for realistically simulating a TMS, to be used as a control in legitimate and verifiable medical studies.
As disclosed more fully hereafter, a method and an apparatus is described for realistically simulating a TMS wherein the induced current reaching the patient is kept to a very small percentage of the functioning core which is not provided with the sham shroud. The apparatus placebo comprises the genuine TMS device, modified however, such that an aluminum shroud is situated over the core""s end faces. The aluminum plate absorbs a significant amount of the transmitted energy from the TMS, thus substantially keeping the induced current from penetrating to the patient who is receiving the TMS placebo treatment and/or device.

Sham for transcranial magnetic stimulator


A ball game racket, especially a tennis racket, has a racket head formed by a tension frame with stringing, and a handle unit formed by a handle shaft or a racket neck joining the tension frame for example via a heart piece. Between a frame profile and the support profile a hose or cushion-type element is filled with an attenuating or damping liquid.

This invention refers to a ball game racket, especially a tennis racket, including a racket head formed by a tension frame with stringing and by a handle element connected to the tension frame, for example, by means of a core, and formed by a handle shaft, or a racket neck and a handle, as well attenuating means on at least one area of the racket frame.
Ball game rackets, especially designed as tennis rackets, are known in most different varieties.
Furthermore, hydraulic mediums, or liquids, are known to have a viscosity which can be altered by an electric, or electromagnetic field, in a controlled manner; the use of such liquids has been in connection with ski bindings (DE 195 17 417 A1).
It is one object of this invention to provide a ball game racket, the characteristics of which can be altered dynamically, for example, by using the racket dependent on forces exerted upon the racket.


Provided herein is a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 antibody and/or bendamustine or a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP, the combination product provides a use of the combination product for prevention and/or treatment of a disease (e.g., cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and microscopic polyangiitis).

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a natural pathway for the body to clear abnormal or unwanted cells, which can cause various diseases such as cancers if affected.
Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins are associated with many diseases. Bcl-2 family proteins are key regulators in the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. Escape from apoptosis is one of the characteristics of human cancers and is a common cause of clinical drug resistances.
In approximately one-third of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), BCL-2 protein is highly expressed. Therefore, targeting BCL-2 protein to induce apoptosis is considered to be an effective method for treating B cell lymphoid malignancies. However, long-term use of BCL-2 inhibitors may induce drug resistance. The mechanisms of drug resistance include induction of expression of other anti-apoptotic proteins, such as MCL-1 and BCL-XL, continuous activation of intracellular signaling (i.e, downstream BCR signaling), etc. (Youle R J, Strasser A. The BCL-2 protein family: opposing activities that mediate cell death. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2008; 9(1): 47-59). Studies have shown that acquired drug resistance is induced by long-term exposure to BCL-2 inhibitors in DLBCL cell lines, resulting in a large number of AKT activation and up-regulation of MCL-1 and BCL-xL levels (Choudhary G S, Al-Harbi S, Mazumder S, et Al. MCL-1 and BCL-xL dependent resistance to the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 can be overcome by preventing PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation in lymphoid malignancies. Cell Death Dis. 2015; 6: e1593).
Other studies have shown that the second-generation anti-CD20 antibody, obinutuzumab, blocks the expression of BCL-xL by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway (Chiron D, Bellanger C, Papin A, et al. Rational targeted therapies to overcome microenvironment-dependent expansion of mantle cell lymphoma. Blood. 2016; 128(24): 2808-2818).
With the advancement of molecular biology, molecular targeted therapy has become a hotspot in medical research (especially tumor research). The biological behavior of most tumors is not dominated by a single signaling pathway, but multiple signaling pathways work together. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a regimen and product of drugs in combination which aim at different target proteins and/or different signaling pathways, and the regimen and product of drugs in combination can reduce the dose of single drug, reduce the side effects of the single drug and/or act in a synergistic manner to achieve prevention and/or treatment of disease.
Contents of the Invention
In order to meet the needs in the prior art, the present invention provides a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 antibody and/or bendamustine, or a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP, the combination product provides for a use in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases (e.g, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis).
Specifically, a first aspect of the invention relates to a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor and an anti-CD20 mAb. Also, the present invention relates to a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 mAb and bendamustine. Further, the present invention relates to a combination product comprising a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone).
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor is a compound of Formula I-A or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:

wherein:
A is

E is a carbon atom and  is a double bond; or
E is a —C(H)— and  is a single bond; or
E is a nitrogen atom and is a single bond;
X1, X2 and X3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —CR8= and —N═;
R1a and R1b taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3-, 4-, or 5-membered optionally substituted aliphatic ring; or
R1a and R1b taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 4- or 5-membered optionally substituted heterocyclo;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of —NO2, —SO2CH3, and —SO2CF3;
R2a is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and X;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —CN, —C≡CH, and —N(R4a)(R4b);
R4a is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, optionally substituted C3-6 cycloalkyl, heterocyclo, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl;
R4b is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C14 alkyl;
R5 is selected from the group consisting of is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, heterocyclo, cycloalkylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl;
R6a, R6c, R6e, R6f, and R6g are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, optionally substituted C3-6 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclo, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl;
R6b and R6d are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, and halogen;
R7 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, heterocyclo, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl; and
R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of the following compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof:

In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor is the following compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:

In some embodiments, the anti-CD20 mAb is selected from the group consisting of: Rituximab, IF5, Ibritumomab tiuxetan, tositumomab, ocrelizumab, veltuzumab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab, AME133V, Pro13192 and GA101, TRU-015.
In some embodiments, the combination product is in the form of a pharmaceutical composition.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor and the anti-CD20 mAb are each in a separate preparation.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor, anti-CD20 mAb and bendamustine are each in a separate preparation.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP are each in a separate preparation.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor and anti-CD20 mAb are administered simultaneously, sequentially or alternately.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor, anti-CD20 mAb and bendamustine are administered simultaneously, sequentially or alternately.
In some embodiments, the Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP are administered simultaneously, sequentially or alternately.
In some embodiments, the combination product further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
In some embodiments, wherein the combined product is in the form of tablet, capsule, granule, syrup, powder, lozenge, sachet, cachet, elixir, suspension, emulsion, solution, syrup, aerosol, ointment, cream and injection.
A second aspect of the invention relates to the use of a Bcl-2 inhibitor and an anti-CD20 mAb in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
Meanwhile, the present invention relates to a use of a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 mAb and bendamustine in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
Further, the present invention relates to the use of a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease, wherein the disease is cancer.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a combination product for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease, in which the combination product comprises a Bcl-2 inhibitor and an anti-CD20 mAb, and the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
Meanwhile, the present invention relates to a combination product for preventing and/or treatment of a disease, in which the combination product comprises a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 mAb and Bendamustine, and the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
Further, the present invention relates to a combination product for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease, in which the combination product comprises a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP, and the disease is cancer.
A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-2 inhibitor and an anti-CD20 mAb, in which the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
At the same time, the invention relates to a method for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-2 inhibitor, an anti-CD20 mAb and Bendamustine, in which the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis.
Further, the present invention relates to a method for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-2 inhibitor and CHOP, and the disease is cancer.

Synergistic antitumor effect of Bcl-2 inhibitor combined with rituximab and/or bendamustine or Bcl-2 inhibitor combined with CHOP


An off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and an image sensor. The primary mirror is located on an incident light path. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflecting light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflecting light path. The image sensor is located on a tertiary mirror reflecting light path. The primary mirror, the secondary mirror, and the tertiary mirror are all xy polynomial surfaces up to the sixth order. The off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces can achieve push-broom image with small F-number and large field angles.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces, and particularly to an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces which can achieve push-broom image with small F-number and large field angles.
2. Description of Related Art
Compared with conventional rotationally symmetric surfaces, freeform surfaces have asymmetric surfaces and more degrees of design freedom, which can reduce the aberrations and simplify the structure of the reflective scanning system. Thus, freeform surfaces are often used in off-axial three-mirror optical system.
However, conventional off-axial three-mirror optical systems with freeform surfaces are mainly applied to linear field of view with small field angles and large F-number, but the applications in the field of view with large field angles and small F-number are limited.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces, which can achieve large field angles and small F-number.

Off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces


An apparatus includes a converter separating the OFDM signal into the several sub-carriers, an extraction circuit extracting the reference symbol from at least one of a plurality of sub-carriers, an estimation circuit estimating a transmission distortion channel every the sub-carrier based on the amplitude and phase characteristic of the reference symbol, an adder adding channel estimation results of a first sub-carrier be set at least one of the plurality of sub-carriers, a second sub-carrier adjacent to a high-band side of the first sub-carrier and a third sub-carrier adjacent to a low-band side of the first sub-carrier, a calculator calculating the average of the added value to obtain amplitude and phase correction values with respect to the first sub-carrier, and a correction circuit correcting amplitude and phase with respect to each of the plurality of sub-carriers based on the amplitude and phase correction values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-carrier radio transmission system such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) radio transmission system. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and method for receiving an OFDM signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to one of multi-carrier, that is, OFDM, information is transmitted using several sub-carriers orthogonal to each other. Under radio communication environment, amplitude and phase variations (distortion) occur in a received signal by Rayleigh fading and multi-path due to a change of relatively positional relation between transmitter and receiver. When synchronizing detection is made, the foregoing distortion generated in a radio communication channel must be estimated for every sub-carrier.
In a wireless LAN system, a preamble signal (known signal) is sent to a header of a transmission frame. The preamble signal is used, and thereby, distortion in the transmission channel is estimated (channel estimation).
However, it is insufficient to only calculate a channel estimation value from the preamble signal; in this case, accuracy is worse, and also, the receiving characteristic is reduced. For this reason, there has been so far proposed a method of improving the accuracy of the channel estimation value estimated from the preamble signal. According to the foregoing method, a channel estimation value (vector value) is calculated from the preamble signal for every sub-carrier. Thereafter, a vector average is taken with respect to several channel estimation values to carry out smoothing (see, for example, Document 1: JPN. PAT. APPLN. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-197032, and Document 2: JPN. PAT. APPLN. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-268048).
According to the channel estimation method described above, a vector average is taken to carry out smoothing between sub-carriers. However, the channel estimation method has a problem that the channel estimation accuracy is reduced if the transmission channel variation between sub-carriers is large. In other words, the transmission channel variation between sub-carriers is large; nevertheless, a vector average of several sub-carriers is taken. In this case, the averaged vector receives the influence of sub-carrier having large amplitude; as a result, the phase difference between sub-carriers becomes non-uniform.

OFDM signal receiving apparatus and an OFDM signal receiving method


A computer-implemented method and system for processing transactions between a client device and a web page. The system includes an adapter for receiving and interpreting a request from the client device, wherein the adapter is configured to interface with the client device. A generator retrieves a web page specified by the request. A transcoder receives the retrieved web page and applies a transcoding rule to extract data from the web page. The transcoding rule used is one of a set of predefined rules relating to the web page. The transcoder also transforms the data into a standardized form so that the adapter can then modifying the standardized data into a compatible form for display by the client device. Therefore, web based transactions can be performed by a variety of client devices, including portable, wireless and voice-based devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to techniques for transcoding web content, and more particularly to systems and methods for transcoding clusters of web pages to enable access to web services from a variety of client devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a rapidly increasing use of the Internet for commercial and non-commercial transactions. These transactions allow a user to use and access the products or services offered by a web site. These interactions generally take place by the use of graphical forms that allow a user to receive and submit information. The use of these interactive graphical forms for transactions has generally required the use of conventional display screens for viewing the graphical content.
Increasingly, pervasive devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand held computers, smart phones, TV browsers, wearable computers and mobile devices are gaining access to the Internet and other multimedia-rich information sources. However, the capacity of these devices to receive, store and display Internet content varies widely. For example, the graphical content of web pages cannot easily be viewed by voice-only interactions, nor by the small displays built into portable devices. As a result, many of these alternative devices cannot be used for certain types of web-based transactions.
To enable universal access in the coming age of pervasive computing, systems are being developed that tailor the content of web pages for pervasive computing devices. This tailoring process is called transcoding. The transcoding system adapts video, images, audio and text to the individual pervasive devices using a framework that allows the content to be summarized, translated and converted, on-the-fly.
One area where there is a need for transcoding systems is in web-based transactions. Conventional web pages require interaction with clusters of web pages to gain access to products and services being offered. For example, companies like e Bay, Yahoo!, and On sale, provide web-based auction services, and Amazon and Barnes & Noble act as on-line booksellers. The way that consumers access these services is through sets of interrelated web pages. These web pages typically include text and form controls through which the user retrieves information and enters input to communicate with the service-provider. For example, on an e-Commerce site, a user clicks on a hyperlink to select an item for purchase and receives a web page containing a form element to enter her credit-card information. She inputs her credit-card information and receives another form to enter her slipping address, etc. These kinds of multi-step transactions are necessary for a user to obtain web products or services.
Currently web pages, which are typically written in Hypertext mark-up language (HTML), are designed solely for display by devices using conventional graphical browsers, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. Usually, when a user attempts to access these pages by voice or a small-screen device, the page loses both meaning and functionality. Consequently, users of such devices find it difficult or impossible to obtain the information and services provided by existing web pages.
One approach to adapting web data for more efficient display and interaction through alternative client devices, has been to find a general solution that handles all web content by concentrating on syntactic translations from one medium to another. One example of this approach is the IBM Infopyramid model, which consists of different classes that deal with different media types. (See http://www.research.ibm.co,/networked_data_systems/transcoding/index/html) Since HTML pages do not separate content from representation, however many transcoding systems result in translations that result in loss of meaning or functionality. In particular, navigation through visual information is aided by the page layout. Through a quick glance, a visually oriented user with a fullsized view of the image is easily able to find a piece of information embedded in an HTML page. By voice (which is serial), or by looking at fragmented sections of the page, a user will experience more difficulty. Since HTML does not provide support for computer programs to interpret the function and meaning of data segments, translation programs face the challenge of how to organize and meaningfully render the raw data.
In view of these considerations, a system and method to transcode web content in a semantic context is needed. A system is also needed that can anticipate a user's needs to generate a concise, but semantically sound, rendering of web content.
The present invention has carefully considered the above problems and has provided the solution set forth herein.

System and method for transcoding web content for display by alternative client devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A fuel injection controller includes a transistor downstream of a coil of a fuel injector, two transistors applying a source voltage to an upstream of the coil, a diode refluxing an electric current to the coil from a ground, and a Zener diode provided to promptly consume the counter electromotive force generated in the coil when one of the transistors is turned OFF and the transistor is turned OFF, after an injector-drive-period of the fuel injector is terminated. When a microcomputer measures an injector current “I” decreasing from a time of the termination of an injector-drive-period, a drive control circuit delays an OFF time of the transistor relative to a time of a termination of an injector-drive-period, whereby the injector current “I” decreases gradually.

An electromagnetic-type fuel injector having a coil is well known as a fuel injector injecting fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. When the coil is energized, the fuel injector is opened to inject the fuel into the cylinder. A fuel injection controller drives such a fuel injector and controls the fuel injection to the internal combustion engine. Specifically, the fuel injection controller controls an energization start time at which an energization operation is started for energizing the coil. Further, the fuel injection controller controls a drive time period during which the energization operation has been conducted since the energization start time. Thereby, the fuel injection controller controls a fuel injection period and a fuel injection quantity.
Also, in this kind of fuel injection controller, a characteristic of a fuel injector is detected and the drive time period of the injector may be corrected according to the detected characteristic of the fuel injector.
JP-2010-532448A (EP-2174046A1) shows a method for detecting a characteristic of a fuel injector. In this method, an electric current flowing through the coil, which is decreasing from a starting time of valve-close period of an electromagnetic valve, is differentiated. The electromagnetic valve corresponds to a fuel injector and the starting time of valve-close period corresponds to an end time of the drive time period. Based on the derivative value of the electric current, a valve-close time of the injector is detected and a time period from the start time of the valve-close period until the valve-close time is computed as the characteristic of the fuel injector. Furthermore, based on the computed time period for valve-closing, a drive controlling duration, which corresponds to the drive time period, is computed so that a desired injection quantity is obtained.
Generally, in a fuel injection controller, in order to close a fuel injector immediately after the drive time period for the fuel injector is terminated, a counter-electromotive force generated by an energy accumulated in the coil is promptly consumed by the extinction, whereby the electric current flowing through a coil is rapidly decreased. The electric current flowing through the coil is referred to as an injector current.
For this reason, regarding such a fuel injection controller, when the method shown in JP-2010-532448A (EP-2174046A1) is applied to analyze a decreasing waveform of the injector current, it is likely that a sufficient detection accuracy may not be obtained in detecting the characteristic of the fuel injector because a decreasing period of the injector current is short. That is, a time length of the waveform of the injector current is short. The waveform of the injector current does not vary a lot according to a difference in characteristic of the fuel injector.
It is conceivable that an interval of an A/D conversion (analog-to-digital conversion) of the injector current is made shorter to improve the detection accuracy of the current waveform. However, in this method, an A-D converter of high-speed operation is necessary, which increases its cost.