Technologies described herein can be used to generate and distribute neural network models and executable code using feedback data received from one or more client computing devices. A neural network model can be generated by a server computer. Executable code can also be generated by the server that, when executed by a client computing device, causes the client device to generate a prediction using the neural network model. The server can transmit the model and code to one or more client computing devices. The server can receive feedback data from the client device(s) based on predictions generated by the client device(s) using the neural network model and the executable code. The server can generate an updated version of the neural network model and/or an updated version of the executable code base on the feedback data, and can transmit the updated model and/or the updated code to the client device(s).

In many applications that use neural networks, the neural network is deployed as part of the application in a static form. In at least some cases, the neural network undergoes an initial training as part of application development. In at least some such applications, the application includes instructions that continue to train the neural network at a client. In some other applications, a neural network is trained and hosted at a centralized server. A client that wishes to use such a neural network sends requests to the server and the server generates predictions using the neural network and sends the results to the client. In the scenario where the neural network is part of an application executed by a client, the client cannot benefit from ongoing training based on usage by other clients. However, in the scenario where the neural network is hosted on a server, the client is subject to latency since access to the neural network is restricted to the server. Additionally, the neural network may not be trained in a way that is particular to the needs of a given client.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in technologies related to the generation and distribution of neural networks.

Neural network model generation and distribution with client feedback


A backlight system and an LCD employing the backlight system. The backlight system includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged on a base plate to form a plurality of lines each including a plurality of light emitting devices, and a light guide panel having a sidewall spaced apart from the plurality of light emitting devices such that light incident from the plurality of light emitting devices is dispersed by inner reflection, and a scattering region formed adjacent to the base plate such that light incident into the scattering region is irregularly reflected to emit in a direction away from the base plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a backlight system and a liquid crystal display using the same, and more particularly, to a direct light type of backlight system used in a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD), commonly known as one of the types of flat panel display devices, is a passive display that forms an image using incident light from an outside source as opposed to using self luminescence. A backlight system may be used in a LCD device and may be disposed at a rear portion of the LCD to irradiate light toward a liquid crystal panel.
Backlight systems are classified into two different types, a direct light type of backlight system and an edge light type of backlight system. In the direct light backlight system, light is emitted from a plurality of light sources disposed in back of a liquid crystal panel and is irradiated toward the liquid crystal panel. In the edge light type backlight system, light is emitted from a light source disposed on a sidewall of a light guide panel and is transmitted to the liquid crystal panel. The direct light type of backlight system may use a light emitting diode, which emits Lambertian light as a point light source.
Backlight systems use a diffusion plate for diffusing light emitted from a light source such that light is uniformly irradiated onto the liquid crystal panel.
In the case of the direct light type backlight system, which uses a light emitting diode as a light source, a transmission diffusion plate is disposed above the light source.
If the transmission diffusion plate is disposed too close to the light source, color of the light emitting diode used as a point light source appears as a spot from the light emitting diode.
Accordingly, in order to diffuse the light emitted from the light source more uniformly, it is necessary to increase a distance between the light source and the transmission diffusion plate, which results in an increase in the thickness of the backlight system.
However, when the backlight system is thick, an LCD employing such a backlight system, for instance, an LCD TV, is also thick, thus failing to satisfy a slim design requirement.
In the case of the direct light type backlight system, a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in two or more lines, with each line including a plurality of light emitting diodes. When a distance between the lines increases, an undesirable bright line appears. Accordingly, the distance between the lines should be kept sufficiently close such that the bright line does not appear.

LCD backlight system using light emitting diode chip


A replaceable wear pad for a crawler track of a tracked vehicle includes base plates for fastening thereto wear pads in a detachable manner, the wear pad includes a tread and a bottom side lying opposite to the tread and facing the base plate, the wear pad containing at least one reinforcing element, and the reinforcing element being molded-in by the wear pad material, the reinforcing element includes at least two holes and the wear pad includes cavities that run coaxially to the holes of the reinforcing element and, coming from the bottom side, end above the reinforcing element and at a distance to the same with the cavities serving the purpose of accommodating fastening devices which are fastened to the reinforcing element of the wear pad.

The invention relates to a replaceable wear pad for a crawler track of a tracked vehicle, in particular for construction machinery, as well as a method for manufacturing wear pads for a crawler track.
Replaceable wear pads for crawler tracks are known from prior art, which are suitable for being fastened to a base plate of the crawler track in a detachable manner.
The wear pads include, for instance, two reinforcing bars running in longitudinal direction of the wear pad, with two screw threads of retaining screws projecting from the said reinforcing bars towards the bottom side of the wear pad. The retaining screws are guided through holes of the reinforcing bars and are secured against twisting in a suitable manner.
When manufacturing these wear pads, the reinforcing bars with retaining screws inserted through corresponding holes at their ends are therefore molded-in by the wear pad material.
A disadvantage of this design is that the wear pad material also accumulates beneath the reinforcing bar during the moulding-in operation. This has the disadvantage that the bolted connections with the base plate loosen again during operation because of the soft polyurethane material between the reinforcing bar and the base plate, so that the bolted joints must be re-tightened on a regular basis. The reason for this being that the polyurethane layer between the reinforcing bar and the base plate prevents that the pre-tension of the bolted joint can be permanently maintained. It is understood that, with up to 50 wear pads per crawler track unit and with four crawler track units per machine, a considerable time effort results for re-tightening the bolted joints, which results in increased costs and an increased time requirement.
A further disadvantage of the stud bolts projecting from the wear pads is that they cause an increased transport volume and that the thread of the stud bolts may be damaged during transport.
A further disadvantage of the wear pads with projecting stud bolts is that care must be taken during moulding to protect the thread of the stud bolt from being coated with the polyurethane material during the moulding operation.

Replaceable wear pad, as well as method for manufacturing wear pads for a crawler track


An apparatus to scoop debris from a surface is described. The apparatus comprises a trolley frame, a first and second wheels coupled to a first and second gear assemblies and designed to rotate in a first direction of rotation. The first and second gear assemblies are coupled to a opposite sides of the trolley frame. The apparatus further comprises an axle coupled to the trolley frame, using the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly, wherein the axle is configured to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction of rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel. A plurality of parallel spokes is attached to the axle that rotate with the axle, wherein each of the plurality of spokes are bent at an angle at their respective ends. A detachable debris collection net is coupled to the trolley frame.

Red-tides and blue-green algae are examples of harmful algal blooms that have severe impacts on human and aquatic ecosystems. A common effect of such phenomenon is a collection of dead aquatic life on the shores of water bodies that suffer from such algal blooms. The collection of dead aquatic life on the shores of water bodies negatively impacts the aesthetic environment surrounding the water body. The typical process of cleaning the shores of the water body by attempting to pick up one piece of aquatic life at a time may be undesirable for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the aquatic animals may carry germs or bacteria that may harmfully infect any person that comes in contact with them. Secondly, the process of manually picking up one aquatic animal at a time may be cumbersome and time consuming, thereby deterring people who might be willing to undertake such a task. Furthermore, conventional apparatus designed to pick up debris from shores of a water body are large and unwieldy and may not be accessible to the people in general. An apparatus that may help in efficient collection and removal of this accumulated debris will help in improving the aesthetic environment of the water bodies effected by red-tides and blue-green algae.

Method and apparatus for collecting objects from a surface


A protecting unit is provided. The protecting unit can prevent accidents from occurring that become problems when data are transmitted due to for instance LVDS and for instance laser light is emitted based on the data. The protecting unit is applied in an instrument comprising an input end to which differential signal is transmitted, the input end being attachable to and detachable from an input line. Here, the voltage at the input end when the input line is not connected is set to a voltage different from that generated at the input end when the input line is connected, variation of the voltage at the input end is transmitted to an input terminal of a differential input/output circuit, and the voltage at the input end or a portion corresponding thereto is compared with a prescribed voltage to fix a state of output of the differential input/output circuit to a prescribed state based on the compared results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protecting unit for preventing an accident particularly during an extraordinary state from occurring in an electronic instrument using for instance laser.
2. Description of the Related Art
In PPCs (Plain Paper Copiers) and laser printers, printing is carried out with laser light of a laser diode. The laser light is irradiated onto for instance portions to be printed of a pre-charged roller to eliminate charges of the portions irradiated by the laser light. Toner is absorbed by the roller. Thereafter, the toner existing on the portions to which the laser light is irradiated is transferred onto paper. The transferred toner is printed on the paper by means of heat fusing.
Laser printing can give relatively crisp images and is suitable for high-speed printing. Accordingly, there is a strong demand for business use where a large volume and highspeed printing are necessary. Recently in particular, demand for high-speed printing is stronger.
In this case, transfer of printing data from an image processor to a laser driver becoming very fast, data transmission is switching from existing one due to TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) to another one due to LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signal) suitable for high-speed data transmission.
US IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) has provided the LVDS as IEEE1596.3. As shown in FIG. 6, data transmission is executed with small amplitude differential signals.
That is, in the PPC and laser printer, as shown in FIG. 6, a LVDS transmitter 2, a LVDS receiver 3 and a cable 5 connecting therebetween, connects between an image processor 1 and a laser driver 4.
As shown in FIG. 7, when terminal resistance Rt connected to a differential input terminal of the LVDS receiver 3 is 100 xcexa9, an off-set voltage VOS of the differential input terminal of the LVDS receiver 3 is 1.125V to 1.275V, differential amplitude VOD being 0.25VP-P to 0.4VP-P, the upper limit of an output voltage VOHMAX being 1.475V, the lower limit of that VOLMIN being 0.925V.
Accordingly, relative to an existing TTL level of 5 VP-P, the amplitude being approximately one tenth thereof, data can be easily transmitted faster approximately ten times than that of the existing one, accordingly. Though the LVDS is suitable for the high-speed transmission, when used in the data transmission from the image processor to the laser driver, there occurs a big problem.
Ordinarily, for the PPCs and laser printers, from their structures, maintenance is indispensable. During maintenance operation, since the respective portions are necessary to be checked and adjusted in operation, it is necessary to open a cover without turning off the power source. At this time, in order to prevent an accident due to the laser light from occurring, the image processor 1 instructs the laser driver 4 to set data so that the laser does not emit. However, sometimes the cable connecting between the LVDS transmitter 2 and the LVDS receiver 3 may be disconnected.
Here, the input terminal of the LVDS receiver 3, being open, becomes indefinite as a state of input data. Accordingly, in the worst case situation, the laser is always in an emitting state to result in liability to serious accidents.
In order to avoid this from happening, the data transmission due to, other than the differential signal such as the LVDS, unbalanced signal such as the existing TTL signal can be implemented. However, the high-speed transmission becomes difficult.
Thus, when with the aforementioned existing LVDS, signal that drives the laser diode is transmitted/received, a serious accident may occur. On the other hand, when the unbalanced signal, instead of the LVDS, is used in the data transmission, the high-speed data transmission can not be realized.
The present invention is to provide a protecting unit that can prevent an accident, which becomes problems when the data are transmitted due to for instance the LVDS and based on the data for instance laser light is generated, from occurring.
To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention discloses a protecting unit applied in an instrument comprising an input end to which differential signal, which is supplied to a differential input/output circuit, is transmitted, the input end being attachable to and detachable from an input line. The protecting unit comprises a circuit, and a comparator. The circuit sets a voltage of the input end when the input line is not connected to a voltage different from that generated at the input end when the input line is connected. The comparator compares a voltage of the input end with a reference voltage. Here, a state of output of the differential input/output circuit is fixed to a prescribed state based on the compared result.
Further, the present invention discloses a protecting unit applied in an instrument comprising an input end to which differential signal, which is supplied to a differential input/output circuit, is transmitted, the input end being attachable to and detachable from an input line. The protecting unit comprises a circuit, a node for detecting a voltage of the input end, and a comparator. The circuit sets a voltage of the input end when the input line is not connected to a voltage different from that generated at the input end when the input line is connected. The comparator compares a voltage at the node with a reference voltage. Here, a state of output of the differential input/output circuit is fixed to a prescribed state based on the compared result.
Still further, the present invention discloses a protecting unit applied in an instrument comprising an input end to which differential signal is transmitted, the input end being attachable to and detachable from an input line. The protecting unit comprises a bias circuit, a transmitter for transmitting variation of voltage at the input end to an input terminal of a differential input/output circuit, and a comparator. The bias circuit sets a voltage of the input end when the input line is not connected to a voltage different from that generated at the input end when the input line is connected. The comparator compares a voltage of the input terminal of the differential input/output circuit with a reference voltage. Here, a state of output of the differential input/output circuit is fixed to a prescribed state based on the compared result.
Thereby, an instrument comprising a differential input/output circuit that converts data inputted to a receiver input end that receives data transmitted from a transmitter transmitting differential signal to a prescribed output detects the input end of a receiver side to be opened. Thereby, if opened, output of the differential input/output circuit can be controlled.
Accordingly, when the present invention is applied in an electronic instrument using for instance laser, even if the cable is disconnected during maintenance operation, the laser can be instantly turned off to a non-emitting state. Thereby, occurrence of a serious accident due to laser light can be prevented.


The present invention relates to a buffer mechanism of a hydraulic impact apparatus of a rock drill, and the like, and the buffer mechanism reduces damage by buffering the reflected energy from a shank rod (2), and enables to apply impact by advancing a bit so as to contact the rock even when a rock drill main body (1) cannot advance to a predetermined position for lack of thrust before the next application of impact after the rock drill main body once retracted, thereby to improve the efficiency of impact application. In a rock drill including an impact mechanism for applying impact to the shank rod (2), and a chuck driver bush (13) for transmitting thrust to the shank rod (2) to be applied to an object to be crushed, a front damping piston (4) having thrust smaller than thrust of the rock drill main body (1), and a rear damping piston (5) having thrust larger than the thrust of the rock drill main body (1) are provided at the rear of the chuck driver bush (13).

For example, in a rock drill, as shown in FIG. 2, a shank rod 2 is inserted into a front end portion of a rock drill main body 1, and a rod 22 attached with a bit 21 for drilling is connected to the shank rod 2 through a sleeve 23. When an impact piston 31 of an impact mechanism 3 of the rock drill applies impact to the shank rod 2, the impact energy is transmitted from the shank rod 2 to the bit 21 through the rod 22, and the bit 21 crushes rock R which is the object to be crushed by applying the impact.
At this time, since the reflected energy Er is transmitted from the bit 21 to the rock drill main body 1 through the rod 22 and shank rod 2, the rock drill main body 1 is once retracted by the reflected energy Er. Then after the rock drill main body 1 is advanced by thrust of a feed mechanism (not shown) by a crush length of one aplication of impact, the next impact is applied by the impact mechanism 3. The drilling work is performed by repeating this stroke.
A conventional rock drill main body 1 is provided with a chuck driver 12 as shown in FIG. 6 to rotate the shank rod 2 through a chuck 11, and a chuck driver bush 13 which abutts against a large diameter portion rear end 2b of the shank rod 2 is fitted into the chuck driver 12. This chuck driver bush 13, when thrust in a forward direction is applied to the rock drill main body 1, transmits this thrust to the shank rod 2, and at the time of impact application, the reflected energy Er from the bit 21 is also transmitted to the rock drill main body 1 from the shank rod 2 through the chuck driver bush 13.
When this reflected energy Er is directly transmitted to the rock drill main body 1 by the chuck driver bush 13, there is a fear of causing damage in the rock drill due to its impact. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, some rock drills are provided with a damping piston 50 at the rear side of the chuck driver bush 13 as a buffer mechanism for buffering the reflected energy Er.
As described above, the rock drill main body 1 is once retracted after one impact application, and after it is advanced by the thrust by the crush length of one impact application, the rock drill main body 1 must perform the next application of impact. Thus, after once retracted, it is necessary to advance the rock drill main body 1 quickly by the crush length of one impact application before the next impact is applied.
When the advance is insufficient, the position of the shank rod 2 is not definite, and as shown in FIG. 8, since the bit 21 is spaced from the rock R, the impact energy of the impact piston 31 is not transmitted to the rock R, and the crushing work will not be performed. At this time, almost all the impact energy becomes the reflected energy Er and returns to the rock drill main body 1 so that not only the wear or the tools such as rod 22, bit 21, sleeve 23, etc., is increased but also a strong retracting force is exerted to the rock drill main body 1 resulting in further delay in advancement for the next application of impact.
However, usually, the strength of the reflected energy received by the hydraulic impact apparatus is different for each application of impact, and accordingly, the amount of retraction of the hydraulic impact apparatus is not uniform with large variations depending on the nature of the rock. Furthermore, a reaction force to the hydraulic impact apparatus due to the advance and retraction of the impact piston is added to the retraction force.

Buffer mechanism of hydraulic impact apparatus


BB input units input baseband received signals. An initial weight data setting unit sets weighting coefficients to be utilized in the interval of a training signal as initial weighting coefficients. A gap compensating unit compensates control weighting coefficients with a gap error signal and outputs the updated weighting coefficients acquired as a result of the compensation. A weight switching unit selects the initial weighting coefficients in the interval of the training signal and selects the updated weighting coefficients in the interval of the data signal. Then the weight switching unit outputs the selected initial weighting coefficients and updated weighting coefficients as the weighting coefficients. A synthesizing unit weights the baseband received signals with the weighting coefficients and then sums them up.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiving technology. It particularly relates to a receiving method and a receiving apparatus which controls a weighting coefficient for synthesizing radio signals received by a plurality of antennas.
2. Description of the Related Art
In wireless communication, it is in general desired to effectively use limited frequency resources. In order to use the frequency resources effectively, radio waves of same frequency are, for example, utilized as repeatedly as possible in short-range. In this case, however, communication quality degrades because of cochannel interference caused by a radio base station or mobile terminal closely located, which utilizes the same frequency. As one technology for preventing such communication quality degradation deriving from the cochannel interference, the adaptive array antenna technology can be named.
In the adaptive array antenna technology, signals received by a plurality of antennas are respectively weighted with different weighting coefficients and synthesized. The weighting coefficients are adaptively updated so that an error signal between a signal to be transmitted and the signal after the synthesis might be small. Here, the signal to be transmitted is determined based on the signal after synthesis. In order to update the weighting coefficients adaptively, the RLS (Recursive Least Squares) algorithm, the LMS (Least Mean Squares) algorithm or the like is utilized. The RLS algorithm generally converges at high speed. The RLS algorithm, however, requires a high speed or a huge arithmetic circuit since computation performed is very complicated. The LMS algorithm can be realized with a simpler arithmetic circuit than that of the RLS algorithm. However, the convergence speed thereof is low.
Related Art List
1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-26788 In utilizing the adaptive array antenna for a radio mobile terminal, it is suitable to use the LMS algorithm for updating weighting coefficients, since it is desirable that an arithmetic circuit is small. However, the convergence speed of the LMS algorithm is low in general. Thus, if it is desired to delay received signals to be synthesized until the LMS algorithm converges, processing delay becomes large and therefore it is possibly impossible to use the adaptive array antenna in a real time application such as TV conference system where permissible delay time is limited. On the other hand, a response characteristic generally degrades if the weighting coefficients at the timing where the LMS algorithm has not converged yet in order to diminish the processing delay.


When it is detected that the voltage of a main power supply is reduced below a predetermined value during a normal operation, a power controller switches a power supply for a DRAM from the main power supply to a battery power supply and makes an instruction signal for instruction a self-refresh mode to a memory controller active. In response to this, the memory controller changes a clock enable signal for the DRAM to a low level to establish the self-refresh mode of the DRAM, and, after, the self-refresh mode of the DRAM is established, supplying of power to the memory controller is stopped. The clock enable signal for the DRAM is maintained to the low level by pull-down resistance even when the supplying of power to the memory controller is stopped from a condition that the signal is changed to the low level in the self-refresh mode, thereby maintaining the self-refresh mode of the DRAM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory control device having a memory controller for controlling an operation of DRAM such as a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and a power controller for controlling a power supply for the memory.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, regarding electronic circuits of a computer, in a system in which an SDRAM must be battery-backed up if supplying power from exterior is interrupted, for example, upon power stoppage, the following procedures have been adopted:
(1) During the power stoppage, power is supplied from a battery to a memory controller itself so as to continue to control an interface to the SDRAM to be backed up; or
(2) If the supplying power to the memory controller itself is stopped, a control signal between the memory controller and the SDRAM is switched by a switch, and a controller other than the memory controller controls the SDRAM to be backed up. However, in the above conventional procedure (1), since the battery power is consumed by the memory controller itself, as well as the SDRAM to be backed up, there was a disadvantage that a back-up sustaining time is short. Particularly, in a case where the memory controller is incorporated into a large scale application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), since the battery power is supplied to the entire ASIC, the back-up sustaining time is further shortened.
On the other hand, in the conventional procedure (2), since the power to the memory controller is stopped, although the disadvantage encountered in the procedure (1) can be eliminated, since an additional circuit such as the switch must be provided between the memory controller and the SDRAM, delay in the control signal is caused, with the result that it is very hard to increase operating frequency of the SDRAM. Incidentally, of course, this problem is also encountered in a DRAM, as well as the SDRAM.

Memory control device having less power consumption for backup


This application relates to a client-server architecture that enables user accounts registered with a service to be discoverable to other users of the service. A discovery protocol includes accessing personal information data stored in an address book of a client device, obfuscating the personal information data, transmitting a request to a service to determine if the obfuscated personal information data matches any potential contacts that have registered as discoverable with the service, and comparing information related to the potential contacts with the contacts included in the address book to determine if the contacts in the address book match any of the potential contacts.

Mobile devices such as cellular phones and tablets commonly store an address book that includes information for various contacts known to a user of the mobile device. The address book typically stores a contact's name along with at least one of a phone number or an email address for the contact. Additional information related to the contact, such as a residential address or image may also be stored in the address book.
Many applications would like to leverage this personal information data to implement a social aspect of the application. For example, a game application could read email addresses from the address book to determine whether additional user accounts may be related to a particular user based on matching email addresses in the address book with email addresses registered with the user accounts.
Notably, these applications are typically designed to request access to the address book such that the application can leverage the information contained therein. However, there are commonly very few limits placed on how the application can use this personal information data once access has been granted. Many users are uncomfortable with allowing such unrestricted access to the information they have in their address book. Consequently, such users may instead choose to deny the application access to the information in the address book entirely, which impedes the ability of the application to provide said social aspect as a part of the overall user experience of the application.

Contact discovery service with privacy aspect


A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named xe2x80x98Kleflasalxe2x80x99, characterized by its upright and rounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; star-shaped green-colored leaves with darker green zonation pattern; and star-shaped pink-colored single flowers.

Pelagaroniumxc3x97hortorum cultivar Kleflasal.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargoniumxc3x97hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Kleflasalxe2x80x99.
The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Geraniums with unique flower forms, freely-branching growth habit and interesting flower and foliage colors.
The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor in July, 1996 of the Pelargoniumxc3x97hortorum cultivar Gemini, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,980, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified proprietary selection of Pelargoniumxc3x97hortorum, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Kleflasal was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany, in June, 1997.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Stuttgart, Germany, since July, 1997 has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Kleflasalxe2x80x99. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Kleflasalxe2x80x99 as a new cultivar and distinguish it from other known Geranium cultivars:
1. Upright and rounded growth habit.
2. Freely basal branching habit.
3. Star-shaped green-colored leaves with darker green zonation pattern.
4. Star-shaped pink-colored single flowers.
Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Gemini in flower color. In addition, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Geranium are stronger and more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Gemini. Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male selection in leaf and petal shape.


A decorative tree uses a control circuit to operate multiple light strings and a speaker. Based on different types of music output by the speaker, the control circuit determines the light strings to be properly turned on or off. Therefore, the visual effects generated by these light strings coordinate with the output music.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a decorative tree and, in particular, to a decorative tree capable of simultaneously generating visual and sound effects coordinating with each other.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic ornaments are developed and manufactured in recent years to enrich decorative effects. For example, a conventional Christmas tree may leave people with a monotonous impression even though colorful bulbs are decorated on the tree. Therefore, an optical fiber-based Christmas tree can generate superior visual effects than the conventional type. Such an optical fiber-based Christmas uses optical fibers as a tree frame and comprises a base and a light color changing assembly. The light color changing assembly is composed a light source, a colorful rotating disk and a motor. The light source is mounted below the rotating disk, and the rotating disk is driven by the motor. Since the rotating disk with different color regions is made of transparent material, a source light beam emitting through the rotating disk becomes a colored light beam to be guided into multiple optical fibers. As the motor drives the rotating disk, the color of the light beam guided into the optical fibers is accordingly changed.
Even though the optical fiber-based Christmas tree can change the colors of the light beam, it still has the disadvantages of high power consumption and complex structure. Further, since the rotating disk is driven with a constant speed and has only limited color regions, the Christmas tree therefor will easily lose its decorative effect.

Decorative tree with coordinated visual and sound effects


A keyboard. The keyboard comprises at least one key, a base, a membrane assembly and a circuit board. The membrane assembly is disposed between the base and the key. At least part of the circuit board is disposed in the key. The keyboard is connected to a notebook computer or a personal computer via a connection member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard, and in particular to a keyboard detachably disposed on a notebook computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional notebook computer includes a keyboard inseparably disposed on a main body. A decoding circuit for decoding signals from keys of the keyboard is generally not disposed thereon, but in the main body of the notebook computer. Nor does the keyboard include a signal connection device for external electronic devices. Also, the keyboard does not include a conversion circuit for the signals from the keys into specific signals for the signal connection device to connect the external electronic devices. The keyboard thus has a single use.
Another conventional notebook computer includes a detachable keyboard assembly with a keyboard circuit and signal connection device. The keyboard circuit decodes signals from the keys of the keyboard for conversion into specific signals for the signal connection device to connect external electronic devices. The keyboard circuit is disposed in an expansion module (such as a base or an expansion box). The expansion module is connected to a keyboard to enable the detachable keyboard assembly. In addition to use in the notebook computer, the detachable keyboard assembly can connect to other electronic devices through a connection member. The detachable keyboard assembly thus has multiple uses. Moreover, Taiwan patent No. 507900 discloses the aforementioned detachable keyboard assembly.
The detachable keyboard assembly, however, is limited by the expansion module receiving the keyboard circuit. The expansion module increases the volume of the detachable keyboard assembly, causing difficulty in deployment of the detachable keyboard assembly in the notebook computer.
Thus, there is a need to provide a detachable keyboard with reduced volume.


A system and method are described for providing drift compensation for a multimedia receiver which processes multimedia streams from a plurality of satellite transponders and/or cable/broadcast carriers. In one embodiment, the average drift amount for all multimedia signals in a first group of multimedia signals is calculated and, based on the calculation, the drift of the entire group is corrected. This drift is referred to as system drift. In addition, the difference in drift between each individual multimedia signal and the system drift amount is used to correct the individual drift for each multimedia signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of multimedia systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a multimedia system capable of concurrently demodulating and decoding a plurality of multimedia streams transmitted from a satellite or a cable network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital broadband video systems, such as digital cable or satellite, multiplex many television channels onto a single carrier. In the cable world, the carriers are modulated using Quadrature Amplitude Modulation ("QAM"). In the satellite world, the carriers (known as transponders) are modulated using Quadrature Phase Shift Key ("QPSK") modulation. In residential satellite/cable systems, these carriers typically have a net bandwidth of 20-40 Mbits/s.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional digital receiver 100 is comprised of a tuner 110 for locking on to a signal from a single transponder at a specified frequency and downconverting the signal to baseband. The tuner 110 receives the transponder signal from a satellite dish 105 with one or more low noise block downconverters ("LNBs"). The signal coming from the transponder has either a clockwise or counterclockwise polarization (or horizontal vs. vertical for fixed satellite service ("FSS") systems satellite systems). Each LNB, which can be thought of as an antenna, can selectively listen to either polarization. The LNB also moves the signal from the satellite transmission band (Ka or Ku) into the L-Band, 950-2100 MHz.
The signal is then digitally sampled via an analog-to-digital ("A/D") converter 120 and demodulated via a QPSK demodulator 130 (or, in the case of digital cable, a QAM demodulator). Noise and other types of interference may be introduced in the signal during transmission (e.g., by the tuner and/or the LNB). When demodulating the signal, the QPSK demodulator 130 attempts to remove these unwanted portions of the signal using a combination of filters (e.g., band-pass FIR filters for removing noise, root-raised cosine filters for removing inter-symbol interference, . . . etc).
The demodulated signal is then transmitted to a Viterbi decoder 140 (or other type of forward-error-correction decoder) which attempts to correct bit errors caused by signal noise. In particular, the Viterbi algorithm determines the most likely transmitted bit sequence using statistical correlation of the bit sequence actually received by the system. Accordingly, the original bit sequence may be reconstructed, even in the presence of a significant amount of noise.
After additional processing, the Viterbi-decoded signal is input to a Reed-Solomon decoder 150 (or similar block-based decoder). Reed-Solomon codes are block-based error correcting codes. Before transmission, a Reed-Solomon encoder (not shown) adds extra "redundant" bits to each block of data. The Reed-Solomon decoder 150 processes each block and attempts to correct any errors and recover the original data. The number and type of errors that can be corrected depends on the characteristics of the particular Reed-Solomon code employed.
Following Reed-Solomon decoding, a single MPEG-2 transport stream containing video data for a single channel (e.g., HBO) is demultiplexed and further processed by the system. If the system is equipped with a mass storage device (e.g., such as a Tivo™ or Replay TV™ system), the MPEG-2 stream may be stored for later viewing. In addition, "trick modes" such as pause and rewind for live television broadcasts may be implemented on the system. Alternatively, or in addition, the signal may be decoded by an MPEG-2 decoder (not shown) and rendered on a television display.
One limitation of the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is that it is only capable of processing data from a single transponder at any given time. In order to concurrently process data from a group of n transponders, all of the logic illustrated in FIG. 1 must be multiplied by n, resulting in significant additional manufacturing costs. Given that satellite systems typically transmit multimedia data over between 24 to 32 transponders, a system for concurrently processing data transmitted over all available transponders would be prohibitively expensive to manufacture using current satellite receiver technologies.
A receiver system capable of concurrently processing data from multiple transponders would provide many benefits to end users, especially if the system included a high performance mass storage device (a 40+ Gbyte hard drive with an ATA-100 interface). For example, channels from several different transponders could then be concurrently stored on the on the mass storage device, either for long term storage or for "trick modes." Such a system would allow users to watch any program being broadcast from the beginning by continually buffering each program (or subset thereof) for a predetermined period of time (e.g., until the program broadcast has ended).
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for concurrently processing content from multiple transponders and/or QAMs which is not prohibitively expensive to manufacture.

Frequency drift compensation across multiple broadband signals in a digital receiver system


A charge pump circuit including N stages of diode-capacitor voltage multipliers clocked so as to convert a low voltage received from a supply voltage to a high voltage at an output terminal thereof employs an output stage to improve the efficiency of the charge pump. The output stage includes first and second legs each coupled to the output terminal, where the first leg provides current to the output terminal during low transitions of the clock signal and the second leg provides current to the output terminal during high transitions of the clock signal. In some embodiments, numerous ones of the above-mentioned charge pump circuit may be connected in parallel to achieve even greater output currents. Thus, unlike conventional charge pump circuits, a substantially constant current is provided to the output terminal throughout each period of the clock signal, thereby increasing the average total current provided to the output terminal and, thus, increasing the driving capability of the charge pump circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power converters and more specifically to high efficiency charge pump circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Charge pump circuits are often required within integrated circuit's (IC's) to convert a low voltage to a high voltage. Typically, such charge pump circuits employ a series of clocked diode-capacitor voltage multiplier circuits, as shown in FIG. 1. Such charge pump circuits generate only a small amount of output current, typically less than 100 .mu.A, thereby limiting their driving ability. Increasing the size of the capacitors to provide a greater output current not only undesirably increases the size of the charge pump circuit but also may lead to increased noise.
The output voltage V.sub.PP of charge pump circuit 100 is a function of the input power supply, the number of pump stages, the clock frequency, and the load current at the output terminal. This relationship may be expressed as: ##EQU1## where V.sub.CC is the power supply, N is the number of pump stages, V.sub.PN is the forward voltage drop across each of diodes D.sub.1 -D.sub.N, I.sub.out is the load current, f.sub.e is the effective clock frequency, and C.sub.s is the parasitic capacitance at each of the clocked nodes along the diode chain.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,588, Bajwa et al disclose a charge pump circuit which may increase output current to approximately 8 mA by providing a plurality of parallel-connected diode-capacitor voltage multiplier circuits. The plurality of voltage multiplier circuits are switched at different times during the clock frequency to minimize noise generation. Although improving performance over more conventional charge pump circuits, the greater output current is realized by the addition of parallel diode-capacitor voltage multipliers, thereby significantly increasing the size and complexity of the charge pump.
It would thus be advantageous for a charge pump circuit to provide a greater current driving capability without significantly increasing the size of the charge pump circuit.


A flexible device insertion tool including an elongated stiffener with one or more suction ports, and a vacuum connector for interfacing the stiffener to a vacuum source, for attaching the flexible device such as a flexible neural probe to the stiffener during insertion by a suction force exerted through the suction ports to, and to release the flexible device by removing the suction force.

Microelectrode neural probes and interfaces are an essential tool in neuroscience. They typically comprise a multi-electrode array (MEA) configuration with exposed metal pads or electrodes located on rigid silicon shanks and connected, via interconnection traces, to output leads or to signal processing circuitry on a monolithic substrate. The exposed metal pads/electrodes provide a direct electrical interface with the neurons of a biological entity's nervous system to stimulate and/or record neural activity. Such neural probes can target the neuronal activity of neurons, enabling researchers and clinicians to better explore and understand neurological diseases, neural coding, neural modulations, and neural topologies, as well as treat debilitating conditions of the nervous system. Moreover, the ability to analyze neuronal activity using neural probes has led to the development of new neuro-therapeutic devices implemented through brain-machine interfaces. These interfaces use neural probes implanted to bypass damaged tissue and stimulate neural activity, so that a patient can regain lost communication and/or control with respect to some aspect of the patient's nervous system. Implantable neural probes and interfaces in particular enable extended interaction with neural tissue.
The flexibility of polymer-based intracortical neural implants provide an attractive alternative over conventional silicon-based neural probes and interfaces for reliable and stable long-term recording, stimulation, and/or monitoring of neuronal activities in the brain. Such flexible MEA probes are typically fabricated using multiple layers of polymers (e.g. biocompatible polymers such as polyimide, Parylene-C, and polyurethanes) coated layer by layer after each metal film deposition and patterning, to insulate the patterned conductive wiring and lines. The resulting electrode array is completely flexible and may enable extended interaction with neural tissue by mitigating the risk of silicon breakage and minimizing potential tissue damage caused by micromotion between the brain and the implant, for long-term safety and functional stability.
However, the low mechanical stiffness of flexible polymer-based MEAs can cause bending or buckling when percutaneously penetrated/inserted into tissue, e.g. the pial membrane of the brain. In particular, the viscoelastic and inhomogeneous properties of the brain make the mechanics of probe insertion a complex problem with direct insertion difficult.
What is needed therefor is an insertion tool and method for percutaneously inserting/implanting flexible devices by providing adequate stiffness to the flexible device to enable tissue penetration and insertion.

Vacuum-actuated percutaneous insertion/implantation tool for flexible neural probes and interfaces

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A box cover for an electrical box comprises a faceplate having a height and width that corresponds to a height and width of the electrical box, a sidewall extending from a rear surface of the faceplate, and a securement assembly that is adapted to interconnect with the electrical box and secure the cover thereto. When the cover is secured to the electrical box, the sidewall contacts the box wall along substantially the entire length of the box wall thereby creating an interior cavity. An electrical fixture may be electrically connected to one or more electrical conductors within the electrical box, and placed in the electrical box. The cover may then be secured to the electrical box, thereby providing a protective cover for the electrical fixture.

In commercial and residential construction applications, there is a continuing need to enhance efficiency of trades workers performing the construction. Such enhanced efficiency results in faster construction, along with reduced costs for performing the construction, as well as increased productivity. Such enhanced efficiency is desirable across all different trades including, for example, framers, masons, plumbers, electricians, drywallers, painters, and finish and trim carpenters, to name but a few.
With respect to electricians and electrical wiring, in particular, it is commonly required for the trades person or persons to install circuits, associated wiring, and gang boxes to receive electrical fixtures such as electrical outlets or light switches, for example. Drywallers and painters typically perform their associated task, and the electrical trades person is then required to come back and complete the installation of various electrical fixtures, such as switches and outlets, at a later time. More specifically, an electrical trades worker will typically be present at a construction site following, or concurrently with, the framing of the various walls and other structural elements of the building. The electrician will install appropriate electrical conductors between a circuit box or other circuit origination, and various electrical boxes such as boxes that will accommodate lights, electrical outlets, switches, and communications and video cables, to name but a few. Commonly, the electrician will install such conductors and terminate them at an electrical box that is adapted to receive the appropriate electrical component, such as the switch, outlet, or lighting fixture. Following the installation of the various electrical boxes and electrical conductors or cables, testing may be performed to verify appropriate electrical continuity to the different circuits.
At this point, finishing work is typically performed on interiors of buildings including, for example, drywalling, painting, installation of cabinetry, counters, and flooring, and various other finishing type work. The trades persons performing the finishing work typically cut and measure various pieces to be installed over the electrical boxes, and then cut the appropriate holes, as necessary, in the pieces to expose the previously installed electrical boxes. Such materials may include, for example, drywall, fiber board, masonry board, composite sheet material, and the like. In the application of such material, installers frequently use a router with a small cutting tip to expose the openings for the boxes by securing the sheet material in place with a minimal number of securement implements, such as screws, punching the router through the sheeting material in the general vicinity of the box, and then routing around the outer perimeter of the box to define an opening in the sheeting material. Thereafter, the sheet material is completely mounted with additional securement, such as additional screws into studs, and other finishing work is performed.
Following the finishing work, an electrician typically returns to the construction site to install the different fixtures as required for each of the electrical boxes. Following the installation, the different circuits are tested to verify the circuits are operating properly. In the event that such a circuit is not operating properly, the circuit must be repaired which often results in sheet material having to be removed from the walls and the electrical conductors repaired or replaced, with the finishing material then reattached.
As can be seen, such construction involves various steps of different trades workers, often including trades workers returning to a site on multiple different occasions. Such construction methods as a result are often inefficient due to the scheduling and performance of such different tasks by different trades workers. Requiring certain trades workers to return to a construction site on multiple occasions may require significant additional logistical planning. Furthermore, the electrical contractor that is only able to complete a certain percentage of the electrical work in the earlier stages of a project is only able to bill for, and collect payment for, that completed percentage. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have additional electrical work completed at earlier stages of construction projects.


To provide a biochip, a biochip manufacturing method, an electrophoresis method, and an electrophoresis apparatus, by which the detection accuracy may improve, there is a biochip introducing a sample in band form into a sample separation passage, by a means for reducing the band width of sample, at which the sample is before being introduced in the sample separation passage in band form. The band of sample supplied to the sample separation passage is compressed, and the expansion by diffusion may be prevented, thus the detection accuracy may improve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a biochip, for example, a biochip in which taper sections are provided, as a means for reducing the width of band, at a sample introductory passage for introducing a sample, in order to improve the detection accuracy. Further, the present invention relates to a biochip having a simple structure so that the sample may be directly supplied into a sample separation passage without requiring the sample introductory passage. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the biochip discussed as above, and relates to an electrophoresis method and an electrophoresis apparatus using such biochip.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been provided a so-called "electrophoresis method" as a method of separating the electric charge nature matter from protein or nucleic acid. In particular, there is a known method of "capillary electrophoresis method" by using micro electrophoresis chip, in order to separate and fix a very small amount of matter. According to the "capillary electrophoresis method", a separation object maybe introduced in a separation slot by electro kinetic injection (see, for example, the Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Official Gazette of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-310613.
According to the Patent Document 1, first, a sample introductory passage and a sample separation passage are provided respectively. Then a small amount of reagent containing a separation object is dropped into a liquid reservoir section of the sample introductory passage. There are electrodes for electrophoresis, respectively provided at this liquid reservoir section, and at another liquid reservoir section located at the other end of the sample introductory passage. When an appropriate voltage is applied to these electrodes for electrophoresis, the sample dropped into the sample introductory passage moves to an intersection part at which the sample introductory passage perpendicularly intersects with the sample separation passage.
When the sample reaches the intersection part, an appropriate voltage is applied to other two electrodes for electrophoresis, respectively provided at other two liquid reservoir sections located at the both ends of the sample separation passage. Consequently, the sample existing only at the intersection part will be separated, and move inside the sample separation passage in the form of band, thus it is possible to carry out the optical detection at a predetermined measuring point. In this connection, the "optical detection" would mean, for example, that the optical absorbance is measured by using the UV (ultra violet) absorption property of nucleic acid molecule, or the size of nucleic acid molecule is detected by marking fluorochrome on the nucleic acid molecule so that the fluorescence may be measured.
However, the above prior art has the following disadvantages.
As discussed above, according to the prior art, the introduced sample moves to the intersection part by electrophoresis, and only the sample that reached the intersection part will then be separated and move inside the sample separation passage, and eventually will reach detecting sections respectively provided at each end of the sample separation passage. At that time, during movement of the sample, the width of the band of sample existing at the intersection part will be expanded due to molecular diffusion, thereby the detected image of electrophoresis will become unclear, which would result in a poor detection accuracy. In particular, the larger the number of base becomes (such as DNA), the lower the detection accuracy would become, and due to the difference of base number, the complete separation cannot be done.
Further, according to the prior art, the sample is first introduced from injection holes to the sample introductory passage, and then the sample is introduced to the sample separation passage being provided independently. Thus, even a sufficient volume of sample is injected from the liquid reservoir sections, the amount of sample, actually entering the sample separation passage to be used for separation, is very little, and the large amount of the sample, i.e. the remaining sample, will become useless.
In addition, as discussed above, since the two-phase electrophoresis, i.e. the introductory electrophoresis and the separation electrophoresis is required, the apparatus related to the electric power supply would become complicated.

Biochip and a manufacturing method of biochip

President of Shizuoka University, a Japanese Government Agency