Composite polymeric articles significantly larger than the size of a compression molding press are produced by providing a plurality of expandable pillows interposed between an upper plate and the upper exterior surface of an outside the press upper mold. The upper plate has a plurality of downwardly extending paired vertical arms attached to opposite sides of the upper plate. Each vertical arm has a lower portion having a eyelet (or aperture), and each pair of vertical arms together forms an aligned pair of eyelets. When the upper and lower mold portions are pressed together, the eyelets reside below the exterior lower surface of the outside the press lower mold portion. Each eyelet is dimensioned to reversibly receive a horizontal or lateral arm that is deployed below the exterior lower surface of the outside the press lower mold portion. A plastic material is introduced onto the interior surface of the lower mold portion, which is compressed between the upper and lower mold portions via a press having a press area that does not extend out over the outside the press portions of the upper and lower mold portions. The lateral arms are extended through the paired and aligned eyelets. The plurality of expandable pillows are expanded, and the lateral arms are brought into compressive abutment with the exterior lower surface of the outside the press lower mold portion. The plastic material residing between the outside the press upper mold portion and the outside the press lower mold portion is then correspondingly compressed.

There are a wide variety of molding systems to produce parts of thermoplastic or thermoset resins, or thermoplastic or thermoset composites. In vacuum molding, a slab (constant thickness sheet) of heated polymeric material is placed on the vacuum mold and a vacuum drawn between the mold and the heated plastic material to draw the plastic material onto the mold. Similarly, in compression molding, a lump or slab of preheated material is pressed between two molding forms that compress the material into a desired part or shape.
Compression Molding
Compression molding is by far the most widespread method currently used for commercially manufacturing structural thermoplastic composite components. Typically, compression molding utilizes a glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) composite comprising polypropylene or a similar matrix that is blended with continuous or chopped, randomly oriented glass fibers. GMT is produced by third-party material compounders, and sold as standard or custom size flat blanks to be molded. Using this pre-impregnated composite (or pre-preg as it is more commonly called when using its thermoset equivalent), pieces of GMT are heated in an oven, and then laid on a molding tool. The two matched halves of the molding tool are closed under great pressure, forcing the resin and fibers to fill the entire mold cavity. Once the part is cooled, it is removed from the mold with the assistance of an ejecting mechanism.
Generally, the matched molding tools used for GMT forming are machined from high strength steel to endure the continuous application of the high molding pressure without degradation. These molds are often actively heated and cooled to accelerate cycle times and improve the surface finish quality. GMT molding is considered one of the most productive composite manufacturing processes with cycle times ranging between 30 and 90 seconds. Compression molding does require a high capital investment, however, to purchase high capacity presses (2000-3000 tons of pressure) and high-pressure molds, therefore it is only efficient for large production volumes. Lower volumes of smaller parts can be manufactured using aluminum molds on existing presses to save some cost. Other disadvantages of the process are low fiber fractions (20% to 30%) due to viscosity problems, and the ability to only obtain intermediate quality surface finishes.
Injection Molding
Injection molding is the most prevalent method of manufacturing for non-reinforced polymeric parts, and is becoming more commonly used for short-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. Using this method, thermoplastic pellets are impregnated with short fibers and extruded into a closed two-part hardened steel tool at injection pressures usually ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 psi. Molds are heated to achieve high flow and then cooled instantly to minimize distortion. Using fluid dynamic analysis, molds can be designed which yield fibers with specific orientations in various locations, but generically injection molded parts are isotropic. The fibers in the final parts typically are no more than one-eighth (⅛)″ long, and the maximum fiber volume content is about 40%. A slight variation of this method is known as resin transfer molding (RTM). RTM manufacturing utilizes matted fibers that are placed in a mold which is then charged with resin under high pressure. This method has the advantages of being able to manually orient fibers and use longer fiber lengths.
Injection molding is the fastest of the thermoplastic processes, and thus is generally used for large volume applications such as automotive and consumer goods. The cycle times range between 20 and 60 seconds. Injection molding also produces highly repeatable near-net shaped parts. The ability to mold around inserts, holes and core material is another advantage. Finally, injection molding and RTM generally offer the best surface finish of any process.
The process discussed above suffers from real limitations with respect to the size and weight of parts that can be produced by injection molding, because of the size of the required molds and capacity of injection molding machines. Therefore, this method has been reserved for small to medium size production parts. Most problematic from a structural reinforcing point is the limitation regarding the length of reinforcement fiber that can be used in the injection molding process.
Composites and other Processes
Composites are materials formed from a mixture of two or more components that produce a material with properties or characteristics that are superior to those of the individual materials. Most composites comprise two parts, a matrix component and reinforcement component(s). Matrix components are the materials that bind the composite together and they are usually less stiff than the reinforcement components. These materials are shaped under pressure at elevated temperatures. The matrix encapsulates the reinforcements in place and distributes the load among the reinforcements. Since reinforcements are usually stiffer than the matrix material, they are the primary load-carrying component within the composite. Reinforcements may come in many different forms ranging from fibers, to fabrics, to particles or rods imbedded into the matrix that form the composite.
There are many different types of composites, including plastic composites. Each plastic resin has its own unique properties, which when combined with different reinforcements create composites with different mechanical and physical properties. Plastic composites are classified within two primary categories: thermoset and thermoplastic composites.
Thermoset composites use thermoset resins as the matrix material. After application of heat and pressure, thermoset resins undergo a chemical change, which cross-links the molecular structure of the material. Once cured, a thermoset part cannot be remolded. Thermoset plastics resist higher temperatures and provide greater dimensional stability than most thermoplastics because of the tightly cross-linked structure found in thermoset plastic. Thermoplastic matrix components are not as constrained as thermoset materials and can be recycled and reshaped to create a new part.
Common matrix components for thermoplastic composites include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyether imide (PEI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyamide (nylon). Thermoplastics that are reinforced with high-strength, high-modulus fibers to form thermoplastic composites provide dramatic increases in strength and stiffness, as well as toughness and dimensional stability.
Molding Methods for Thermoplastic Composites Requiring "Long" fibers
None of the processes described above are capable of producing a thermoplastic composite reinforced with long fibers (i.e., greater 12 millimeters) that remain largely unbroken during the molding process itself; this is especially true for the production of large and more complex parts.
Historically, a three-step process was utilized to mold such a part: (1) third party compounding of pre-preg composite formulation; (2) preheating of pre-preg material in oven, and, (3) insertion of molten material in a mold to form a desired part. This process has several disadvantages that limit the industry's versatility for producing more complex, large parts with sufficient structural reinforcement.
One disadvantage is that the sheet-molding process cannot produce a part of varying thickness, or parts requiring "deep draw" of thermoplastic composite material. The thicker the extruded sheet, the more difficult it is to re-melt the sheet uniformly through its thickness to avoid problems associated with the structural formation of the final part. For example, a pallet having feet extruding perpendicularly from the top surface is a deep draw portion of the pallet that cannot be molded using a thicker extruded sheet because the formation of the pallet feet requires a deep draw of material in the "vertical plane" and, as such, will not be uniform over the horizontal plane of the extruded sheet. Other disadvantages associated with the geometric restrictions of an extruded sheet having a uniform thickness are apparent and will be described in more detail below in conjunction with the description of the present invention.
A series of U.S. Pat. Nos. (the Polk patents) 7,208,219; 6,900,547; 6,869,558; and 6,719,551 describe molding systems for producing a thermoplastic resin of thermoplastic composite parts using either a vacuum or compression mold with parts being fed directly to the molds from an extrusion die while the thermoplastic slab still retains the heat used in heating the resins to a fluid state for forming the sheets of material through the extrusion die. These patents describe a thermoplastic molding process and apparatus using a thermoplastic extrusion die having adjustable gates (dynamic dies) for varying the thickness of the extruded material, which material is molded as it is passed from the extrusion die. In addition they describe a continual thermoforming system that is fed slabs of thermoplastic material directly from an extruder forming the slabs of material onto a mold that can be rotated between stations.
The thermoplastic material is extruded through an extrusion die that is adjustable for providing deviations from a constant thickness plastic slab to a variable thickness across the surface of the plastic slab. The variable thickness can be adjusted for any particular molding run or can be continuously varied as desired. This allows for continuous molding or thermoplastic material having different thickness across the extruded slab and through the molded part to control the interim part thickness of the molded part so that the molded part can have thick or thin spots as desired throughout the molded part.
The technology of the aforementioned patents has been extremely useful for the production of large parts and for the production of parts made up of composite materials. In particular, the use of these technologies has allowed a "near net shape" deposition of molten composite material into the lower half of mold sets. Since the filled half of the mold represents a "near net shape" of the final molded part, the final compression molding step with the other half of the matched mold can be accomplished at very low pressures (<2000 psi) and with minimal movement of the molten composite material.
As thermoplastic demands continue to grow there is a growing need to occasionally build even larger parts. The use of systems as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,208,219, 6,900,547, 6,869,558 and 6,719,551, are extremely useful for producing fairly large parts via low pressure molding of complex geometries but moving beyond those sizes would require the use of extremely large and expensive presses for compression molding. There is a need for a new approach, which can produce these much larger parts without the need to use extremely large presses.
The development described herein can provide all of the flexibility and capability for producing large and complex geometries from long-fiber reinforced plastic materials and the use of either thermoplastic or thermoset polymers without the use of larger presses.

Expanded compression molding of composite plastics


In a rod sealing system, which comprises a buffer ring, a rod seal, and a dust seal, provided successively in this order from a fluid hydraulic side toward the outside in an annular clearance between two members in reciprocating motion, the buffer ring is made up of a thermoplastic polyurethane molding product obtained by subjecting a thermoplastic polyurethane molding product prepared by reaction of (A) a high molecular weight polycarbonatediol having a number average molecular weight Mn of 500-6,000, (B) an aromatic diisocyanate, and (C) a low molecular weight diol as a chain elongation agent in an NCO/OH ratio of 0.95-1.20, to heat treatment under conditions that a glass transition point (Tg) of hard phases becomes 170° C. or higher, preferably 170-230° C., and an endothermic peak area (ΔH) at Tg becomes 5 J/g or more, by differential scanning calorimetry. The buffer ring made up of the thermoplastic polyurethane molding product has a distinguished heat resistance capable of withstanding the service environmental temperature, particularly maximum 120° C., compression set characteristics, follow-up to eccentricity, etc.

A rod sealing system, which comprises a buffer ring, a rod seal, and a dust seal, provided successively in this order from a hydraulic fluid side toward the outside in an annular clearance between two members in reciprocating motion is disclosed in the following Patent Literature 1, and shown in FIG. 1 as a half-cutaway cross-sectional view, where a rod sealing system 1 comprises a rod seal R as the main seal for preventing leakage of a working oil to the outside, a buffer ring B provided on the oil hydraulic side O of the rod seal R to buffer the impact pressure or pressure fluctuations at a high-load stages, or to shut off the inflow of high-temperature working oil into the rod seal R, thereby improving the durability of rod seal R, and a dust seal D for preventing inflow of external muddy water or dusts into the rod seal R at the outside A, as provided in an arrangement in the order of B-R-D from the hydraulic fluid side toward the outside in an annular clearance between two members in reciprocating motion, for example, a rod and a cylinder.
Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2001-355739
To make the longer service life of such a rod seal ring system, specific materials are selected for each seal type of rod seal R, buffer ring B, and dust seal D from the viewpoints of material characteristics such as heat resistance, oil resistance, abrasion resistance, etc. Above all, the buffer ring B is provided on the nearest side to hydraulic oil, and exposed to a high-pressure, high-temperature oil, and thus materials with distinguished strength and heat resistance must be selected for use.
To meet the recent need for higher pressure (35 MPa 42 MPa) and higher temperature (maximum 110° C.), and furthermore longer service life, the afore-mentioned Patent Literature 1 discloses selection of a lip seal type for buffer ring B and use of heat-resistant type polyurethane (polyurethane obtained from heat-resistant type polyol and heat-resistant type polyisocyanate) having distinguished heat resistance and abrasion resistance as the materials. As to rod seal R, it is disclosed to use a lip type and NBR or hydrogenated NBR having distinguished heat resistance, cold resistance, oil resistance, and follow-up to eccentricity as the materials. As to dust seal D, it is disclosed to use a split groove type lip seal with a ring bonded to the outer periphery, and general-purpose polyurethane as the materials from the viewpoint of cold resistance.
In the service temperature up to maximum 110° C., the service life of buffer ring B can be thereby prolonged to attain a load control effect on rod seal R, and thus the prolonged service life of rod sealing system can be obtained. Nowadays, however, there are needs for higher service temperatures up to maximum 120° C. or requirements for further improvement of system service life. When the rod sealing system of the afore-mentioned Patent Literature 1 is used, for example, at a service temperature of 120° C., such a problem as considerable decrease in the sealability has been encountered.
Shapes of members of the rod sealing system will be explained below, referring to FIG. 1. Buffer ring B can be used generally by fitting a backup ring 6 to the inner peripheral seal working as a heel of the sliding side of U-shaped packing 2. Rod seal R can be used generally by providing with a flat washer-type backup ring 11 adjacently to the outward side A of U-shaped packing 8. Dust seal D is fitted to a mounting groove 16 on the inner periphery of cylinder 102, where both of oil lip 13 provided on the oil hydraulic side O and dust lip 14 provided on the outward side A are allowed to slide along rod 104, and a metallic ring 15 is stoving fitted to the outer peripheral engaging part mounting the fitting groove 16.
Numeral 3 shows an inner peripheral lip, 3a a tip end recess thereof, 4 an outer peripheral lip, 5 an inner peripheral heel, 7 a mounting groove, 9 an inner peripheral lip, 9a a tip end recess thereof, 10 an outer peripheral lip, 10a a tip end recess thereof, and 12 a mounting groove, respectively.
Various causes of oil leakage can be presumed. In the sealing system, the rod seal is regarded as an important seal from the viewpoint of oil leakage, and thus the buffer ring is provided in front of the rod seal to buffer a pressure load impact onto the rod seal.
However, due to a loss of resilience caused by a decrease in mechanical strength or due to reduction in interference caused by an increase in abrasion, under conditions in excess of the service limit temperature or in continuous working under such conditions, buffer ring B will fail to function fully (see Paragraph [0022] of afore-mentioned Patent Literature 1). Thus, so long as the buffer ring can work without any damage, longer maintenance of interference will be more effective for pressure load-buffering on the rod seal for a long time. To satisfy the recent need for a higher service environmental temperature (120° C.) and also the need for longer service life, materials having distinguished heat resistance and mechanical characteristics are now required for buffer ring B.
However, the heat resistance and mechanical characteristics of thermoplastic polyurethane for use in the buffer ring B depend on physical restrictions imposed by hydrogen bonds, etc. of hard segments in the polymer chain, and thus have been so far not always satisfactory under the influence of softening or melting point, or heat stability of the hard segment. To improve the heat resistance, or compression set characteristics, it is known to increase the hard segment content. In that case, there is such a problem as an increase in the hardness of molding product resulting in loss of softness.
Attempts have been so far made to replace the components of the hard segment with more rigid ones to improve the heat resistance or compression set characteristics, but have been found not satisfactory. For example, Patent Literature 2 or 3 discloses use of 4,4′-biphenyldiol compounds having a molecule structure with good symmetry and rigidity, as a chain lengthening agent, where the resulting thermoplastic polyurethane has good mechanical characteristics, but suffers from a large reduction in the modulus of elasticity due to increased temperature, and also from an unsatisfactory heat resistance. When p-phenylene diisocyanate as disclosed in Patent Literature 4 is used as a diisocyanate compound, thermoplastic elastomers having distinguished thermal deformation resistance and compression set characteristics can be obtained, but the diisocyanate compound is hard to handle because of a high melting point and also sublimation property, so there is such a problem as thermoplastic elastomers of desired constant quality are hard to obtain.
Patent Literature 2: JP-A-4-211033
Patent Literature 3: JP-A-4-332716
Patent Literature 4: JP-A-1-95119
Thus, it is now difficult to satisfy the mechanical characteristics, heat resistance and compression set characters at the same time by changing the hard segment content or compression ratio of raw material polyurethane. It is known to solve these problems by adding a compounding component, i.e. by adding inorganic fibers such as glass fibers, carbon fibers, etc. or inorganic powder such as calcium carbonate, mica, talc, titanium oxide, whisker, etc. thereto as a reinforcing agent. To obtain a satisfactory effect, however, it is necessary to add a relatively large amount, for example, about 10 to about 30 parts by weight, or more, of the reinforcing agent to 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane, sometimes giving rise to such problems as decreases in the rubber elasticity, rigidity, surface flatness, and increases in the specific gravity, etc., of the molding products
On the other hand, Patent Literature 5 discloses another method not based on changes in component composition or compounding condition, that is, elimination of isocyanate groups NCO groups in a certain range (IR absorbance ratio of NCO group/C═C group is 0.10-0.35) remaining in the molding product just after hot molding by heat aging treatment, thereby increasing the cross-linking density to attain chemical stabilization and improve the compression set characteristics, etc. However, the heat resistance of thermoplastic polyurethane is largely dependent also on physical structure such a molecule arrangement (orderly arrangement of hard phases for improving the packing), besides the chemical structures such as cross-linking structure, and thus it is hard to obtain physical stabilities such compression set characteristics only by the method disclosed in Patent Literature 5.
Patent Literature 5: JP-A-7-228661


The object of the invention is a radio communication transceiver, in which the low noise pre-amplifier and mixer of the receiver and the power amplifier, directional coupler and the mixer of the transmitter are integrated in connection with the filter section. The active components are integrated with the filter so that the entity forms one component on the circuit board of the telephone.

A radio device according to prior art with duplex function and utilizing time or frequency division duplex (FDD, Frequency Division Duplex: TDD. Time Division Duplex) comprises several RF and IF filters both on the transmitter and the receiver side. FIG. 1 shows a TDM radio according to prior art. The radio device 10 comprises on the receiver side a band-pass filter 12 with its input port connected to the antenna switch 14. The output port of the filter is connected to a low noise amplifier (LNA) 17, which amplifies the received radio signal. After this there is a second band-pass filter 18, which further filters the received signal. The output port of the filter 18 is connected to a mixer 11, in which the received signal is mixed with the first injection signal from the synthesizer 22. The intermediate frequency (IF) signal obtained as the mixing result is then supplied to the RF circuit for further processing.
The transmitter section of the radio 10 comprises a second local oscillator (LO) signal 26, which is generated by the transmitter front end (not shown) and mixed in a mixer 30 with the first injection signal. The output of the mixer 30 is supplied to the band-pass filter 13 )which is located before the power amplifier 14 of the transmitter. The output of the power amplifier 14 is connected to the input to a low-pass or band-pass filter 15, so that undesired components can be filtered from the transmitted signal before it is broadcast via the antenna. Between the power amplifier 14 and the band-pass filter 15 there is often a directional coupler (not shown) with which it is possible to measure the power level of the signal going to the antenna.
It is very difficult to integrate two successive RF blocks (e.g. LNA 17 and the antenna switch 14) and the "off-chip" filter 12 between them. The filter may be for instance a helical, a dielectric or another corresponding filter, and regarding the function of the shown radio design 10 it is necessary to use this filter. The difficulty is primarily due to the fact that if the "off-chip" filter and the RF blocks are integrated on the same chip, then the large size of the filter requires large size connection strips--compared to the RF blocks realized in IC technology, whereby the selectivity of the filter is impaired by the electrical stray quantities and inductive coupling caused by these strips. In practice a complete integration will not be economical when "off-chip" filters are used between the RF blocks. Thus TDNI radios according to prior art comprise several RF blocks realized with concentrated or discrete components, and filters connected between the blocks.
50 .OMEGA. was established as a standard impedance in the interfaces between the discrete components and the filters. Manufacturers of filters and semiconductors adapt their input and output impedances to the standard value in order to facilitate a modular design. Very often the input and output impedances of RF circuits would preferably be lower, for instance an optimal input impedance level of the LNA 17 would be about 10 .OMEGA.. The adaptation to the standard value must be made with a matching circuit, which is made of discrete components or which the semiconductor manufacturer integrates as a part of the RF circuit. In order to be able to substantially decrease the size and price of the radio device from the present level we must develop a radio architecture which enables an easier integration of said blocks.
It is known to integrate all active components of a radio transceiver on one chip. The patent publication WO 93/14573 shows a new architecture solution based on time division multiple access and using time duplex. In the architecture presented in the publication all active components of the transceiver were integrated in one circuit, whereby it was possible to increase the degree of the integration. However, the filters essential for the function of the structure are left outside the integrated circuit, so that there are substantial problems in the matching of these circuits.
The major disadvantage of the design presented in the publication is that without a separate duplexer it can not be used in systems using Time Division Multiple Access and Frequency Division Duplex (TDMA/FDD). which in practice almost doubles the physical size of the circuit shown in the publication. Also, the design does not contain any directional coupler or a direct measuring connection for automatic gain control. The directional coupler must be realized as a transmission line outside the integrated circuit, directly on the printed board of the telephone, which is very susceptible to electrical interference. A directional coupler made on the printed board requires a substantial area on the printed board and also causes an extra attenuation of at least 0.5 dB in the transmitter chain which has a direct effect on the power consumption of the telephone and thereby on the achievable talk time.
Another disadvantage of the design presented in the above publication is the poor selectivity of the transmission line resonator filter formed in the ceramic surface. The filter is used to filter the mixing results of the mixer in the transmission branch. Its pass-band attenuation level is low enough, but when low intermediate frequencies of the magnitude 70 MHz are used, then the selectivity is not at all sufficient if we require e.g. 30 dB attenuation level for the mixing results.
Further we know in the prior art a transceiver, in which the duplexer, the transmitter and the receiver are integrated on one chip. This solution is presented in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,939. In the design according to the patent the duplexer is realized with Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters. This design integrates the receiver's low noise amplifier (LNA), the band-pass filter realized with the SAW technology, and the mixer. The patent further presents a solution in which circuits required by the power control are integrated in said design, i.e. the directional coupler and the control unit, the power amplifier of the transmitter, and the separate amplifier for its control.
The problems of the solution presented in the patent relate to the SAW filters used. The require matching circuits that are large compared to the filters, which make it impossible to apply the solution in mobile phones, and the matching circuits realized as transmission lines on the printed boards are susceptible to electromagnetic interference. The modest power capacity of the SAW filters prevents a duplexer assembled comprising these filters to be used in the transmitter branch of a mobile phone, where the power capacitor may be 2 W. A SAW filter is also very susceptible to temperature changes, which will appear as a frequency drift. This must be observed so that the SAW filter pass-band is made wider then needed, which for its part also prevents the use of these solutions particularly in future mobile phone networks, where the transition band between the transmit and receive bands is made narrower than the present one; for instance in the future E-GSM network, which is a GSM system enhancement according to the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) specification 05.05 "European digital cellular telecommunication system (phase 2); Radio transmission and reception", the transition band is only 10 MHz. There should also be mentioned the high passband attenuation of the SAW filters, about 3.0 to 4.0 dB, which is quite too high regarding the transmitter branch of a mobile phone.
Time division multiplex/multiple access (TDM/TDMA) is generally used in digital data communications networks, where the transmission and reception is made in different time slots. If the transmission and reception frequencies are the same, a mobile phone uses an antenna switch to separate the signals, whereby the switch connects the antenna alternately to the transmitter and the receiver branches of the device. As the isolating unit we can use a filter like the duplex filter used in analog telephones, if the transmission and the reception are made on different frequency bands. The latter alternative will come into question also in systems using frequency division multiplex/multiple access (FDM/FDMA).
A digital radiotelephone using Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) requires also filters besides the above mentioned RF switch, because the input of the receiver must have some selectivity and it must protect the low noise pre-amplifier. At the transmitter output harmonic multiples of the transmission frequency and other spurious transmissions such as minor frequencies must be attenuated. The filters further remove noise generated on the receiver's band by the transmitter chain. The frequencies below the transmission band must also be attenuated with a separate filter. In a system using time duplex, such as the DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone), separate arrangements must further take care of sufficient attenuation of the spurious transmissions generated during signal transmission towards the antenna.
In the prior art we know solutions where the antenna switch and the filter have been combined in the same structure. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,935 uses as a filter two parallel transmission lines, of which the first has one end connected to the antenna. The second transmission line has the first end connected to the receiver and this end can be shorted with a PIN diode. The second end is connected to the transmitter through a reverse biased PIN diode. The use of the diodes and the transmission line provides a sufficient isolation, and some degree of filtering is obtained by using transmission lines with a mutual electromagnetic coupling. However, with this design it is not possible to use high powers, and it has very modest filtering characteristics. A further disadvantage of the design is its large size. It utilizes transmission lines with a length of a quarter-wave, having a length of about 8.5 cm at a frequency of 880 MHz. When other circuit elements are added, the total size of the design could easily amount to about 20.times.100 mm, which is far too much in mobile phones.
The patent Fl 90926 presents a method with which the frequency of a filter realized by transmission line resonators can be changed in a desired way and with high accuracy in a time division multiple access system, both when it utilizes one frequency band and two frequency bands. According to the patent the resonators are arranged in groups between the three ports of the filter, and with the aid of an external control signal the characteristic frequency of the resonators between e.g. the first and the third port or between the first and the second port. The resonance frequency of separate resonators is changed for instance with a method presented in the patent Fl 88442 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,873), in which an auxiliary resonator arranged adjacent the main resonator is shorted at one end when required, whereby the characteristic impedance of the design will change leading to a change in the resonance frequency. In the present invention it is also possible to use other known methods to shift the frequency of a resonator and a filter comprising such resonators.
The patent FI 90478 shows how transmission lines in the couplings or matching circuits of the transmitter branch can be used as a pale of a directional coupler. In this way the directional coupler can be moved from the circuit board, which is susceptible to interference and losses, inside the cover of the high frequency filter on a substrate with low loss. Measurements have shown that when we move the directional coupler to be part of the filter we obtain, due to the lower insertion loss, a power saving of about 0.3 dB compared to a conventional circuit board embodiment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to create a combined radio transmitter/receiver design, which is applicable in a digital mobile phone system based on Time Division Multiple Access/Frequency Division Multiple Access Frequency Division Duplex/Time Division Duplex/TDMA/FDMA, FDD/TDD), and which on one hand eliminates and/or reduces the above presented disadvantages of antenna switches based on RF switches or duplex filters, and which on the other hand combines the advantages of the above designs. The object of the invention is further to increase the integration degree of a mobile phone by combining with the antenna switch and filter structure the receiver's low noise pre-amplifier and mixer, and the transmitter's power amplifier, directional coupler and mixer.
The object of the invention is attained by integrating the antenna switch, filter, directional coupler, the receiver's LNA and mixer and the transmitter's PA and mixer within the same entity, in which all parts are assembled on one low loss substrate, and where they are located within a common cover protecting against interference. This entity forms one component on the circuit board of the mobile phone.
Essential in the invention is that active components, which are the receiver's LNA and mixer and the transmitter's power amplifier and mixer, are combined to be a part of the filter structure on the same substrate together with the other components of the filter structure.
The radio transceiver according to the invention is characterized in that a switch means is arranged in the connection of its filter section, the switch operating as the antenna switch of the radio transceiver, and that said filter section, the receiver section of the device, and the transmitter section of the device, form a structural entity, in which said receiver section and said transmitter section are arranged in connection with the switch means and the filter section so that
the supporting structure of the transmitter and receiver sections is the same as the supporting structure of the combined antenna switch and filter section, PA1 the galvanic connections between the parts belonging to the arrangement are realized using said common supporting structure, and that PA1 the transmitter and receiver sections are located within the protective cover, belonging to the filter section and made of electrically conducting material.
The active components can be realized as discrete components as one GaAs circuit, or as a multichip module, which is known per se and belongs to prior art. The inventive idea of the present invention is to integrate the active component realized in said way within the filter-antenna switch-directional coupler-structure, whereby the major part of matching circuits can be eliminated, which matching circuits would match the interfaces of discrete components to the standard value 50 .OMEGA..
This means in the first place the matching, circuits required so far at the input of the receiver's low noise pre-amplifier and at the output of the transmitter's power amplifier. Further all passive components required in the structure can be integrated, e.g. in thick film or thin film technology directly on the circuit board by using the MCM (Multichip Module) technology. Thus we can eliminate discrete modules and the reliability of the whole structure increases, its total weight and size decreases. Further we achieve cost savings in the manufacturing. Rewarding the electrical functions it is essential that parasitic elements are eliminated, which results in electrical circuits operating faster and with a lower total power consumption.

Radio communications transceiver with integrated filter, antenna switch, directional coupler and active components


In a novel tunnel-less SD-WAN, when an ingress node of the SD-WAN receives a new packet flow, it identifies the path of the flow through the SD-WAN, and sends an initial prepended set of SD-WAN header values before the first packet for the flow to the next hop along this identified path, rather than encapsulating each packet of the flow with encapsulating tunnel headers that store SD-WAN next hop data for the flow. The prepended set of SD-WAN header values are then used to not only forward the first packet through the SD-WAN, but also to create records at each subsequent hop, which are then used to forward subsequent packets of the flow through the SD-WAN. Instead of identifying the entire packet flow, the first hop in the SD-WAN does not identify the entire path for the packet flow in some embodiments, but just identifies the next hop, as each subsequent hop in the SD-WAN has the task of identifying the next hop through the SD-WAN for the packet flow. Also, in some embodiments, each hop also creates records for the reverse flow in order to automatically forward reply packets along a reverse route.

In the field of network computing, a wide area network (WAN) system allows companies to incorporate separate local area networks (LANs) as a single effective network. Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) systems are a way of operating such WANs that reduces various network problems such as variations in packet delay, network congestion, and packet loss. SD-WAN systems send data packets (e.g., TCP packets) through managed forwarding nodes (sometimes referred to herein as "nodes" or "MFNs") of an SD-WAN. The packets are sent from the original source address of the packet to the final destination address through a series of nodes of the SD-WAN.
Some existing SD-WAN systems use IP tunnels. Each network site is provided with an SD-WAN device connected to the LAN. Data packets from one network site to another are sent to the SD-WAN device and encapsulated before being sent to an SD-WAN device of another network site through the nodes. In some existing systems, the encapsulation includes adding additional header to each packet of a packet flow at each node. The headers successively direct the packets to the next node in a path from the original source of the packet to a final destination of the packet. The headers include an inner header with an original source and final destination of the data packet that is prepended when the packet is initially sent and an outer header that includes an address for the next hop of the packet. In such systems, the outer packet is replaced at each hop with a packet identifying a subsequent hop for the packet. Other systems may group packets together and encrypt them. However, such systems may be inefficient as they require every packet to have an outer header removed, analyzed, and replaced with a new header at each successive node. Accordingly, there is a need for more efficient tunnel-less SD-WAN system.


There is provided a flexible transmission device capable of automatically setting an optimal point for a signal decision making with high accuracy, so that highly reliable high-quality signal regeneration control is achieved. A clock timing extraction circuit dynamically sets a frequency-dividing ratio based on the transmission rate of an input signal to perform a phase synchronization control so that there is a fixed phase difference between the input signal and an oscillation output, whereby clock timing based on the transmission rate can be extracted. A regeneration control circuit sequentially sweeps a voltage threshold level and the phase of the extracted cock with respect to the input signal and determines whether the levels of adjacent monitor points match, whereby a decision point within the valid zone of the eye pattern can be automatically measured and used as the optimal point for regeneration control.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to transmission devices, and more particularly, to a transmission device that performs signal regeneration control.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Multimedia times including the Internet have come and the optical communication network technology in a core communication system has been desired to provide much more advancement and broadening of services. And development is progressing quickly towards the information society.
The channel capacity of optical communication is changing from mainstream 2.4 Gb/s to 10 Gb/s. The receiving part in the optical transmission system has been required to have much more advanced receiving functions with increased channel capacity and higher bit rate.
The light receiving part has a fundamental operation such that a received light signal is converted into an electric signal by a photodiode, waveform shaping and noise band restriction being imposed thereon by means of an equalizing filter. Then, a clock timing is extracted by a timing extracting part. A "1"/"0" decision is made by a decision making part in synchronism with the extracted synchronizing clock, so that data can finally be retrieved. In the light receiving part, the above-mentioned regeneration control is performed so that the received light signal that has been attenuated and contained noise is regenerated so as to have an error rate equal to or lower than the target error rate.
The conventional light receiving part widely employs a SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) filter arranged in the timing extracting part in order to extract the particular clock timing from the input signal. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that the conventional light receiving parts are capable of handling only single transmission rate and the transmission devices are not flexible.
Regarding optical fiber transmission, different optical fibers have different refractive indexes, and optical transmission paths slightly vary with different wavelengths. This results in differences in the propagation time of light for the same optical fiber. This phenomenon is called waveform dispersion, which is a factor restricting the optical transmission quality.
The conventional light receiving part measures a waveform distortion because of wavelength dispersion, and the optimal point in the decision making part is manually determined for each device. In the setting of the optimal point, it is required to consider difference in the practical devices caused during production, and variations in temperature and/or power supply voltage. Thus, the conventional transmission devices are not efficient, convenient, and reliable.

Transmission device for automatically set an optimal point for a signal decision making


An apparatus and process for inspecting print material having a reference template generator circuit, a defect detector circuit for comparing a target image to a reference image and a defect rejecter circuit for determining the acceptability of the target image. The reference template generator circuit is made up of a pixel intensity range circuit, a pixel classifier circuit and a reference address circuit. Each pixel data of the target image is compared, according to the pixel classification of the pixel data, to each pixel data of the reference image. The flaw severity code is generated from the reference pixel comparison, which is then weighted and accumulated for the image area. The weighted sum of the occurrences of the flaw severity codes is compared with the user specified threshold for determining the acceptability of the test sample. Each entry of the look-up table contains a corresponding flaw severity code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material. Particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material by comparing a target image to one or more reference images. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material by comparing the intensity of each pixel in a target image to the average intensity according to the classification of each pixel in the reference image or images. Even more particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material capable of comparing the intensity of each pixel in a target image to the average intensity according to the classification of each pixel in a reference image or images on a web running at speeds as high as 1200 feet per minute while maintaining a high defect-detection sensitivity and relatively low computational cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Through the years devices and methods of inspecting print material have been developed. Several of these devices and methods of inspecting print material has been accomplished by comparing a target image to a reference image including a means for compensating the printing variation that exists during a print run. It is well known in the prior art that the flaw pattern of printed material can be detected by comparing the digital image representation of a target pattern with the digital image representation of a known good sample of such a pattern stored in memory. The digital image representations are generated by digitizing the signal of an optical pickup device such as CCD camera, all as is well known in the art.
The image comparison is accomplished by means of subtracting the digitized intensity value for each pixel in the target image from the intensity value of the corresponding pixel in the reference image. When the difference in the subtracted intensity of the pixels is above the tolerance limit, the pixel is said to contain a flawed pattern.
In reality, however, when the normal printing process variation is introduced, the digitized intensity of the pixels varies more significantly at the spatial location where the process variation occurs, than at other pixel locations in the rest of the image. The intensity tolerance of these affected pixels must therefore be increased to compensate for process variation. Otherwise, a false defect will be detected. An attempt to use a single tolerance for all pixels in the image will cause the entire image to be unnecessarily desensitized, rather than only the affected pixels.
In the multicolor printing press, the impression image of each color ink is transferred to the target material in separate processes. The printing process variation occurs when the web tension varies, the feeding velocity changes, the ink is replenished, the ambient temperature changes, etc. It is obvious that when the printing variation causes the ink impression on the printed material to be displaced, the digitized intensity values of the pixels that are spatially located at the edge of the printing pattern diverge more severely from their ideal reference intensity than the pixels that are located in the inner printing pattern or at the substrate area. Furthermore, the pixel intensities in the inner printing pattern of uniform ink density varies less than the pixels in the area where the ink gradation occurs, such as in the photograph area. The pixel intensity difference due to these acceptable printing variations must be differentiated from the pixel intensity difference due to the actual printing defect before an accurate inspection can be achieved.
Several devices and methods of inspecting printed material on a printing press using the reference image comparison process including compensating for the printing variation, have been disclosed in the prior art. However, those methods have severe limitations. They suffer from reduced sensitivity in the overall defect detection. This is caused by grouping the pixels into units of predetermined areas and determining an average intensity for the group. Groups of the target image are then compared to the corresponding groups of the reference image data. This grouping into units of predetermined areas is necessary because comparison of tone change recognition alone, i.e. intensity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis requires a significant amount of computational power in order to prevent false tone change recognition. An acceptable flaw detection sensitivity for a normally large area printing web requires a large number of digitized pixel elements across the printing image. Furthermore, on web printing systems, the web is run at speeds as high as 1200 feet per minute which require high data processing throughput.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,703 (1997, Okuda et al.) teaches a method and apparatus for detecting a defective printed matter in a printing press. Each pixel data of a printed matter is input as test image data. A change in tone, i.e. intensity, is recognized by accumulating and comparing the reference image data and the test image data in units of predetermined areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,566 (1992, Anderson et al.) teaches a print inspection method in which an area of printed material is optically scanned to obtain image data representing picture elements having variable intensity levels. This is achieved by counting the number of picture elements at a particular intensity level in the area scanned to thereby generate a frequency distribution of the intensity level of the image data in the area scanned. The frequency distribution generated is compared to a stored reference frequency distribution of intensity levels of the image data. A statistical comparison with the reference data is utilized to determine whether or not the printed material is satisfactory.
Therefore what is needed is an apparatus and process for inspecting print matter by comparing a target image to one or more reference images based on the classification and on the average intensity of each pixel. What is further needed is an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material capable of comparing the intensity according to the classification of each pixel of a target image to a reference image data on a web running at speeds as high as 1200 feet per minute while maintaining a high defect-detection sensitivity and a relatively low computational cost. What is still further needed is an apparatus and process of inspecting printed material by comparing the intensity according to the classification of each pixel while tolerating printing variations caused by web error of the printed matter.

Apparatus and process for inspecting print material


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixing device, a fixing temperature sensor, a drive device, a printed sheet number counting part, a fixing voltage power supply, a controller, and an apparatus external temperature sensor. The controller can perform a cooling mode in which, when a number of continuous printed sheets at a reference speed exceeds an upper limit number, a number of printed sheets per unit time is gradually decreased to suppress an increase of an apparatus internal temperature. The controller sets the upper limit number based on a temperature difference between the fixing temperature detected by the fixing temperature sensor and the apparatus external temperature detected by the apparatus external temperature sensor.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine and a printer, provided with a fixing device which fixes a toner image transferred on a recording medium, and particularly, a method for suppressing a temperature increase in the apparatus without adding a member.
In a conventional electrophotographic type image forming apparatus, an exposure device irradiates laser light on an image carrier, such as a photosensitive drum, which has been uniformly charged by a charge device to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image whose charge is partially attenuated, a development device supplies a toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer means transfers the toner image on a sheet (recording medium), and then a fixing device heats and pressurizes the unfixed toner to form a permanent image.
In the meantime, if the apparatus internal temperature of the image forming apparatus becomes high due to heat radiation from the fixing device, there is a possibility that an operation failure of the image forming apparatus occurs. Conventionally, the apparatus internal temperature is detected, and the printing operation is stopped or the apparatus is cooled by a cooling fan according to the detection result to suppress an increase of the apparatus internal temperature.
For example, a printing apparatus is disclosed, which includes: a power supply switching means for switching on or off the power supply of the apparatus main body; a thermal head provided with a heating element and performing printing on a recording medium based on an energization of the heating element; an elapsed time counting means for counting a count value according to a lapse of time from a point of time when a printing was performed by the thermal head the last time regardless of whether the power supply of the apparatus main body is on or off; and a print permitting means for permitting the printing by the next thermal head when the count value counted by the elapsed time counting means reaches a predetermined value.
Also a printed matter forming apparatus is disclosed, which is configured to obtain one unit print data to be printed on a tape to be printed, to control a thermal head and a conveyance roller in cooperation with each other so that a plurality of unit print images corresponding to the obtained unit print data are formed repeatedly along a conveyance direction at a printing speed synchronized with a conveyance speed, to input a printed matter forming instruction signal for instructing the forming of printed matter, to change the printing speed according to an environmental temperature in which the apparatus is installed, a printing rate in one unit print data, and a length of one printed matter to be formed, thereby avoiding a temperature increase of the thermal head and avoiding performing a cooling operation.
Both the above methods are described for a thermal printing type image forming apparatus using a thermal head, and the temperature increase of the thermal head is avoided by providing a printing stop time or reducing a printing speed. However, in consideration of a usability of a user, it is necessary to avoid the stop of printing and the reduction of the printing speed within a range where the apparatus does not fail, and to ensure as high productivity as possible.


An improved chess-like game. The game uses a traditional chessboard and basically the same rules. The additional second set of pieces and same rule changes enhances the game. There's a time limit to strategically place the secondary pieces inside of the primary pieces and placed on the board. Primary pieces for each player are the same as traditional chess. Secondary pieces include the same pieces as traditional chess except there is no king. When a primary piece is taken it is removed from the game, the secondary piece is removed from the primary then placed in the same square it was occupying with its primary piece. The piece that took the primary piece returns to the square it was in before advancing. Castling is the same. Using En passant, all pawns can be taken. Only primary pawns have the option of moving two squares on the first move.

The traditional game of chess has its limits. There is no strategy in the placement of pieces at the beginning of the game. At the start of every game, all the pieces are placed in the same order. During the game, all the pieces and their positions are known to each player. The strategy of the game is limited to the pieces and the rules of classic chess.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Certain embodiments provide a power amplifying device including: a distribution line which distributes power; a plurality of power amplifying elements; a connection line; an output line; a filter; a first directional coupler; and a second directional coupler. The power amplifying elements is provided at a stage subsequent to the distribution line. The connection line is provided at a stage subsequent to each of the power amplifying elements and combines outputs of the power amplifying elements. The output line is connected to the connection line. The filter is placed on the connection line or the output line. The first and second directional couplers are provided at a stage subsequent to the filter. The first directional coupler outputs the high frequency signal transmitted to the output line, to a RF monitor terminal. The second directional coupler outputs the high frequency signal transmitted to the output line, to a level detection detector.

A high power output is required in a transmitter such as a radar transmitter which uses solid-state elements. In the transmitter, a plurality of power amplifying devices is used. The transmitter outputs the high power by combining outputs of these power amplifiers. The radar power amplifying device is generally highly efficient. The radar power amplifying device outputs the high power by operating the solid-state elements in a non-linear region. However, when a power amplifying device is operated in a non-linear region, the output includes a fundamental wave component and, in addition, a spurious and a harmonic component. Hence, a transmitter has a filter which filters the harmonic component to suppress that the harmonic component is emitted from an antenna.
Further, the power amplifying device has a level detection detector which monitors the output (transmission power). Furthermore, the power amplifying device has an RF monitor terminal which monitors a transmission output level and an occurrence situation of a harmonic.
A conventional transmitter has one filter element at a stage subsequent of a combiner which combines outputs of a plurality of power amplifying devices. Hence, high power handling capability is required in the filter element. However, the filter element having high power handling capability is large and expensive. Hence, there is a problem that the transmitter becomes large and expensive.
When a small filter element is provided in each of the power amplifying devices, the filter element having high power handling capability does not need to be provided, and a cheap filter element can be used as the small filter. Generally, a filter element is formed by covering by a package a filter body such as a filter pattern and coaxial cables each of which connects the filter body and a connector which is an external connection terminal. When such a filter element is provided in each of the power amplifying devices, mounting space of the filter element increases, and therefore the dimension of the power amplifying device increases. Therefore, even when the small filter element is provided in each of the power amplifying devices, it is difficult to at least miniaturize the transmitter.
Further, a conventional power amplifying device has directional couplers on a line through which a high frequency signal is transmitted, and supplies one of outputs of the directional couplers to a level detection detector and a RF monitor terminal through the distributor. Hence, a harmonic produced by the level detection detector is also outputted to the RF monitor terminal. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to accurately monitor a spurious of the power amplifying device.


Auditing a communication is disclosed. Credentials are received from a client. It is determined whether the client is authorized to communicate with a remote resource. If it is determined that the communication with the remote resource is allowed, a communication is forwarded from the local resource to the remote resource.

One tool used in network security is the ability to monitor and log administrator actions. For example, when an administrator logs into a production server at midnight each night, runs assorted tests, and emails log files associated with the results of those tests to another server, each of those actions may be monitored and logged. If problems occur, the administrator(s) logged into the system at the time of the problem can be questioned and their actions can be evaluated.
Typically when administrators find themselves performing the same set of tasks repeatedly, they seek to automate those tasks. For example, instead of manually running the tests and emailing the results each night, an administrator might create a cron job or batch file that performs those actions, schedule it to run every night at midnight, and then cease logging in at night. Unfortunately, while automating tasks can be efficient, it can also pose security risks. While the nightly actions continue to be performed, the administrator has ceased logging in and thus the monitoring system that monitors the actions of the administrator may no longer be effective at determining the administrator as the source of the activity. This can be particularly problematic in the case of consultants or other temporary employees that may leave batches processes behind when they stop administering the enterprise.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a better way to monitor and authenticate activity.


The present invention includes a method of filling a nectar bird feeder. The bird feeder includes a base with a nectar reservoir and an extension member that downwardly depends from the bottom surface thereof. A hanger is connected to the base and extends upwardly therefrom. A cover, which is releasably attached to the base, has a central aperture to receive the hanger therethrough. The cover is removed from the base and placed on a support surface. The base is then placed on the cover with the extension member being positioned through the aperture so it can be movably positioned so it is level for filling of the reservoir of the base with nectar. After filling, the base is removed from the cover and the cover is reattached to the base.

This invention relates generally to animal feeders and, in particular, bird feeders. More specifically, the method of the present invention relates to bird feeders of the nectar feed type, such as hummingbird, oriole and butterfly bird feeders and methods of filling such feeders.
Nectar feeders are very well known in the bird feeding field. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical prior art nectar feeder 10 includes a saucer-shaped base 12 that includes flat bottom surface 14 that serves as a floor for a reservoir trough 16 that is typically annular-shaped. A hanger 18 is typically connected, which can be removably connected, to a center area 20 in the middle of the ring-shaped reservoir 16. A cover 22 includes a center aperture 24 so that it can be easily placed over the hanger 18 into releasable engagement with the top open end 26 of the reservoir trough 16 of the base 12. Typically, the cover 22 is frictionally engaged with the base 12 so it can be easily removed when desired.
The cover 22 includes a number of feed ports 28 about the periphery thereof to permit a bird, such as a hummingbird, to access the nectar feed 30 therethrough. The feed ports 28 are commonly configured to appear as flowers and the cover 22 is typically of different colors depending on which type of birds are to be attracted to the feeder 10. Such configuration can be modified to attract different types of birds, as desired.
As can be understood, when the nectar 30 within the feeder 10 has been consumed, it must be re-filled so that more birds can feed. In accordance with the prior art method of filling the prior art feeder 10 of FIG. 1, the feeder 10 is first placed on a support surface 32 with the flat bottom surface 14 of the base 12 in communication with the support surface 32, which can be a table, for example. The cover 22 is then typically removed from the base 12 and routed over the hanger 18 to reveal the annular-shaped nectar feed trough 16. The hanger 18 can be removed before removal of the cover 22, if desired. Further details of the prior art feeder 10 of FIG. 1 need not be provided as this construction is well-know in the art.
Once the nectar feed trough 16 is exposed, nectar feed 30 can be poured therein in the amount desired, all while the base 12 of the feeder is lying flat on a support surface 32. When the feed trough 16 is preferably filled, the cover 22 is attached back onto the base 12. The cover 22 is routed over the hanger 18 if the hanger 18 was left connected to the base 12 or attached directly to the base 12 after which the hanger 18 can be re-attached. The entire feeder 10 can now be hung from a tree or post (not shown) via the hook 18a.
Prior art nectar bird feeders 10 can be easily filled because the bottom surface 14 of the base 12 is substantially flat which enables it to be placed level on a support surface 32. However, such a method of filling cannot be employed if the bottom surface 14 of the base 12 is not flat or substantially flat. As will be described below, it may be desirable to provide a base that is not flat or substantially flat where an ornamental or stabilizing member downwardly depends from the bottom surface of the base of the feeder. In such a case, the base of the feeder cannot simply be placed on a flat support surface, such as a table. Also, the appropriate support surface, to accommodate a non-flat bottom surface of the base, is typically not available.
Therefore, the prior art methods of filling a nectar feeder, that are employed for prior art feeders 10 with bases 12 with flat bottoms 14, cannot be used in feeders with that have a base bottom surface which are not flat or substantially flat. Thus, the prior art methods of filling nectar feeder suffer from various disadvantages that make them unusable with certain nectar feeders. Therefore, there is a need for a method of filling a nectar bird feeder that can accommodate a feeder with a base that has a non-flat bottom surface. There is further need for a method for filling a nectar bird feeder that is easy to carry out quickly and with little or no mess. There is yet a further need for a method of filling a nectar bird feeder that can accommodate a bird feeder with an ornamental or stabilizing member that downwardly depends from the bottom surface of the base member.


A refrigerator includes a universal shelf assembly that can be mounted in either a stationary configuration or a sliding configuration. The shelf assembly includes a shelf unit having a base portion surrounded by a peripheral frame. The peripheral frame includes front, rear and opposing side frame members that include a mounting boss and a locating tab. When mounted in the stationary configuration, the shelf unit is mounted directly to a support unit through the mounting boss and locating tab. Conversely, when mounted in the sliding configuration, the shelf unit is mounted indirectly to a support unit. Arranged between the support unit and the shelf unit are glide members. The glide members include structure that cooperates with the mounting boss and locating tab that both secure the shelf unit and enable the shelf unit to shift relative to the support unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a universal shelf module configured to accept a variety of support units to establish a stationary or slide-out shelf configuration in a refrigerator compartment.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Refrigerators are available in a variety of different models which range from basic to high-end units. The models vary in numerous aspects including size, components utilized, available features and, accordingly, price. In order to reduce manufacturing costs, it is often desirable to produce certain parts that are common to all, or at least a few, of the various refrigerator models. For example, it is known in the art to utilize a single refrigerator liner in various models and attach different types of shelves and/or bins therein to distinguish between the various models. It is also known to construct door bins that can be incorporated into different units. However, in order to enable similar parts to be employed in more than one model, there must be some basic structure that is common to all or at least a few of the various models.
Increasing the number of common components can result in substantial cost savings that is realized across different product lines. However, attempting to design certain components to be universal can also require major changes to accessories used in combination therewith such that no actual cost savings may be realized. In addition, designing universal components can raise engineering problems, particularly when those components serve different functions and have varying forces exerted upon them.
Therefore, based on the above, there exists a need for universal components that can be incorporated into a variety of refrigerator models. More specifically, there exists a need for a universal shelf module that can be configured in one of a stationary and a sliding configuration, with the shelf module being designed to be incorporated into a variety of refrigerator models.

Universal shelf module for a refrigerator


Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) extracellular domain (ECD) acidic region muteins that have been engineered to exhibit decreased tissue binding by increasing the number of acidic amino acid residues within the D1-D2 linker region are provided. Polynucleotides encoding FGFR ECD acidic region muteins are also provided. Methods of making FGFR ECD acidic region muteins, and methods of using such molecules to treat proliferative disorders, including cancers, disorders of angiogenesis, and macular degeneration, are also provided.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) are a highly conserved group of proteins with instrumental roles in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and wound healing, as well as in tissue patterning and limb formation in embryonic development. FGFs and FGFRs affect cell migration, proliferation, and survival, providing wide-ranging impacts on health and disease.
The FGFR family comprises four major types of receptors, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, and FGFR4. These receptors are transmembrane proteins having an extracellular domain (ECD), a transmembrane domain, and an intracytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domain. Each of the extracellular domains contains either two or three immunoglobulin (Ig) domains. When there are three Ig domains, they are referred to as D1, D2, and D3. Receptors having two Ig domains typically lack D1. An acidic motif, called the acid box, is located in the linker region between D1 and D2 in the FGFR extracellular domain. The D2 domain of FGFRs contains a heparin binding site. FGFR4 also contains a heparin binding site in D1. The acid box is believed to interact with the heparin binding site in the D2 domain. Furthermore, it has been shown that the FGFR1 and FGFR3 D1 domains are capable of interacting with the D2 and D3 domains. It has been hypothesized that the FGFR1 acid box-mediated interactions with the D2 domain, and the FGFR1 D1 domain-mediated interactions with the D2 and D3 domains play an autoinhibitory role that prevents receptor oligomerization in the absence of FGF ligand. Finally, extracellular FGFR activation by FGF ligand binding to an FGFR initiates a cascade of signaling events inside the cell, beginning with oligomerization of the receptor and activation of receptor tyrosine kinase activity.
To date, there are 22 known FGFs, each with the capacity to bind one or more FGFRs. See, e.g., Zhang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281:15, 694-15,700 (2006). Several FGFs can bind to and activate each of one or more FGFRs, often with large differences in their affinities for the different FGFRs. Heparin sulfate proteoglycan ("heparin") is required for the binding of FGFs to FGFRs under certain circumstances. See, e.g., Ornitz et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 12:240 (1992). For example, the mitogenic response to FGF2 (also known as basic FGF (bFGF)) mediated by FGFR1 has been shown to depend on the presence of heparin. See, e.g., Ornitz et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 12:240 (1992).

FGFR extracellular domain acidic region muteins


The invention encompasses the novel compound of Formula I as well as a method of treating cyclooxygenase-2 mediated diseases comprising administration to a patient in need of such treatment of a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I. ##STR1## The invention also encompasses certain pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of cyclooxygenase-2 mediated diseases comprising compounds of Formula I.

This invention relates to methods of treating cyclooxygenase mediated diseases and certain pharmaceutical compositions therefor.
Non-steroidal, antiinflammatory drugs exert most of their antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity and inhibit hormone-induced uterine contractions and certain types of cancer growth through inhibition of prostaglandin G/H synthase, also known as cyclooxygenase. Initially, only one form of cyclooxygenase was known, this corresponding to cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) or the constitutive enzyme, as originally identified in bovine seminal vesicles. More recently the gene for a second inducible form of cyclooxygenase, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been cloned, sequenced and characterized initially from chicken, murine and human sources. This enzyme is distinct from the COX-1 which has been cloned, sequenced and characterized from various sources including the sheep, the mouse and man. The second form of cyclooxygenase, COX-2, is rapidly and readily inducible by a number of agents including mitogens, endotoxin, hormones, cytokines and growth factors. As prostaglandins have both physiological and pathological roles, we have concluded that the constitutive enzyme, COX-1, is responsible, in large part, for endogenous basal release of prostaglandins and hence is important in their physiological functions such as the maintenance of gastrointestinal integrity and renal blood flow. In contrast, we have concluded that the inducible form, COX-2, is mainly responsible for the pathological effects of prostaglandins where rapid induction of the enzyme would occur in response to such agents as inflammatory agents, hormones, growth factors, and cytokines. Thus, a selective inhibitor of COX-2 will have similar antiinflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties to a conventional non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, and in addition would inhibit hormone-induced uterine contractions and have potential anti-cancer effects, but will have a diminished ability to induce some of the mechanism-based side effects. In particular, such a compound should have a reduced potential for gastrointestinal toxicity, a reduced potential for renal side effects, a reduced effect on bleeding times and possibly a lessened ability to induce asthma attacks in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic subjects.
Furthermore, such a compound will also inhibit prostanoid-induced smooth muscle contraction by preventing the synthesis of contractile prostanoids and hence may be of use in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, premature labor, asthma and eosinophil related disorders. It will also be of use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, for decreasing bone loss particularly in postmenopausal women (i.e. treatment of osteoporosis) and for the treatment of glaucoma.
The potential utilities of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are discussed in the following articles:
1. John Vane, "Towards a better aspirin" in Nature, Vol. 367, pp. 215-216, 1994 PA0 2. Bruno Battistini, Regina Botting and Y. S. Bakhle, "COX-1 and COX-2: Toward the Development of More Selective NSAIDs" in Drug News and Perspectives, Vol. 7, pp. 501-512, 1994. PA0 3. David B. Reitz and Karen Seibert, "Selective Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors" in Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry, James A. Bristol, Editor, Vol. 30, pp. 179-188, 1995. PA0 4. Don E. Griswold and Jerry L. Adams, "Constitutive Cyclooxygenase (COX-1) and Inducible Cyclooxygenase (COX-2): Rationale for Selective Inhibition and Progress to Date" in Medicinal Research Reviews, Vol. 16, pp. 181-206, 1996. PA0 a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. PA0 a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. PA0 administration to a patient in need of such treatment of a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. PA0 administration to a patient in need of such treatment of a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. PA0 (1) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridine, PA0 (2) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridine, PA0 (3) 5-Chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-piperidin-1-ylpyridine, PA0 (4) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-piperidin-1-ylpyridine, PA0 (5) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl)-5-trifluorometh ylpyridine, PA0 (6) 2-(Homopiperidin-1-yl)-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-5-trifluoromethylpyridin e, PA0 (7) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2S)-2-hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifl uoromethylpyridine, PA0 (8) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2R)-2-hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifl uoromethylpyridine, PA0 (9) 5-Chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2S)-2-hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-y lpyridine, PA0 (10) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2S)-2-methoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifl uoromethylpyridine, PA0 (11) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2S)-2-acetoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifl uoromethylpyridine, PA0 (12) 5-Chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-((2S)-2-methoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-y lpyridine, PA0 (13) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(2-hydroxymethyl)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluorome thylpyridine, PA0 (14) (-)-3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxymethyl)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluo romethylpyridine, PA0 (15) (+)-3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxymethyl)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluo romethylpyridine, PA0 (16) 5-Chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxymethyl)piperidin-1-ylpyrid ine, PA0 (17) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl)piperidin-1-yl-5-tr ifluoromethylpyridine, PA0 (18) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxymethyl)homopiperidin-1-yl-5-trifluo romethylpyridine, PA0 (19) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(2-(2-hydroxyethyl))piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluor omethylpyridine, PA0 (20) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(4-oxo)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridi ne, PA0 (21) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-oxo)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridi ne, PA0 (22) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(4-hydroxy)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpy ridine, PA0 (23) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(3-hydroxy)piperidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethylpy ridine, PA0 (24) 2-(4,4-Difluoro)piperidin-1-yl-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-5-trifluoromethy lpyridine, PA0 (25) 2-(3,3-Difluoro)piperidin-1-yl-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-5-trifluoromethy lpyridine, PA0 (26) 2-(4-Fluoro)piperidin-1-yl-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-5-trifluoromethylpyr idine, PA0 (27) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridine, PA0 (28) 3-(4-Methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-thiomorpholin-4-yl-5-trifluoromethylpyridine, PA0 administration to a patient in need of such treatment of a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I as disclosed herein. PA0 PEG 200/300/400: restricted to 2 mL/kg PA0 Methocel 0.5%-1.0%: 10 mL/kg PA0 Tween 80: 10 mL/kg PA0 Dextrose: 1 mL/kg PA0 Moleculosol 25%: 1 mL/kg PA0 DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide): Restricted to a dose volume of 0.1 mL per animal PA0 PEG 200: Not more than 60% mixed with 40% sterile water--1 mL/kg

2-aminopyridines as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2


Systems and methods for downhole completions. A downhole running tool can have a body having a bore formed therethrough. A latch member can be disposed on a first portion of the body. A reset member can be disposed on a second portion of the body. A conduit can be formed within a sidewall of the body. The conduit can be located between the first and second portions of the body. A pressure relief port can be disposed at a first end of the conduit; and a first flow port can be disposed at a second end of the conduit. The pressure relief port and first flow port can be in communication with an outer diameter of the body.

Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from subterranean geological formations, which are referred to as reservoirs. To recover hydrocarbons from a reservoir, a well that penetrates the reservoir can be drilled. After the well is drilled, a well completion assembly can be used to complete the well before hydrocarbons can be produced.
A typical well completion assembly can be located or installed in the well, and can have a hydraulic control system or flowpath used to convey or pump control fluids to downhole valves used to control production from the well or injection of fluids into the well. The well completion assembly is often installed in the well using a running-tool. During run-in operations, it maybe desirable to protect the hydraulic control system or flowpath of the well completion assembly.
Particularly, it can be desirable to protect the hydraulic control system or flowpath of the well completion assembly from ambient fluids, such as wellbore fluids, during the run-in with the running tool. Such ambient fluids can damage the hydraulic control system of the completion. In addition, the wellbore can have temperature gradients. Such temperature gradients can cause pressure variations, which can damage the hydraulic control system of the completion.
There is a need, therefore, for a running-tool that can protect the hydraulic control system or flowpath from excessive pressure variations during run-in operations.


Polyester filaments of 0.5-2 denier per filament from ethylene terephthalate polymers modified both by polyethylene oxide and by tetraethyl silicate to give polymers of commercial spinning viscosities, and textile fibers and fabrics having greatly improved dye rates, good color stability to standard lightfastness and wash cycles and good pilling, when compared to unmodified polyester and polyester/cotton blend fabrics.

Polyester apparel fibers are for the most part produced from a standard homopolymer polyethylene terephthalate base using either dimethyl terephthalate/diethylene glycol or terephthalic acid/diethylene glycol as starting materials. The commercial need to minimize polymer discontinuities during the polymer spinning operation has mostly required that the polymer have a sufficientdegree of polymerization (18 to 24 LRV) to provide a spinnable melt. Polymer viscosities between 800 and 1800 poise have generally been employed, because spinning discontinuities have been more numerous at lower viscosity, een below 1000 poise. Additives such as the branching agents described by Mead and Reese in U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,211 and by Vaginay in U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,773 can be added to the lower chain length materials in order to raise polymer viscosity and allow commercial spinning performance. "By trifunctional or tetrafunctional branching agent" herein is meant trifunctional and tetra functional branching agents of the type disclosed by Mead and Reese and by Vaginay.
Fibers made in the above manners generally have at least one and sometimes two undesirable properties. For instance, fibers produced with high LRV polymer give knit and woven fabrics and garments that form undesirable "pills" from surface abrasion during normal wear and require high energy superatmospheric and/or enviromentally undesirable chemical additives to the dye systems to effect the coloration desired and necessary for commerce. Fibers and fabrics produced from reduced chain length polymers by the incorporation of melt viscosity enhancing additives that may give reduced "pill" fabrics and garments, still require the use of the high energy dye or chemical systems to achieve coloration.
Historically, polymer modifications (e.g. polyethylene oxides, adipates, glutarates, etc.) have been used to enhance the dye rate and styling versatility in carpet and rug fibers of high dpf (typically 6 and above dpf, denier per filament) and allow easy atmospheric dyeing. Dye enhancing polymer modifications have been practically limited to less sensitive non-textile end uses because the modifiers depress polymer viscosity and can lead to excessive spinning discontinuities that render spinning processes non-commercial and fabrics non-saleable because of excessive defects. The normal route to correcting spinning performance has been to increase the degree of polymerization(LRV). This has had the unwanted effect of increasing fiber strength and subsequently fabric pilling.


A stand includes a frame, a sliding member, and two torsion springs. The frame has two guide rail subassemblies. The sliding member is slidably attached to the guide rail subassemblies. A first end of each torsion spring is connected to the frame, and a second end of each torsion spring is connected to the sliding member to provide an elastic force to overcome the total weight of the sliding member and a load.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to stands for display devices, more particularly to a height-adjustable stand for supporting a display device.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, flat-panel display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are widely used due to excellent display quality and thin bodies. Typically, a function of adjusting a height of the flat display device can be realized via an adjustable stand.
Referring to FIG. 4, a typical stand 100 for an LCD device includes a first stand unit 10, a second stand unit 20, a coiled spring 30, and a shaft 31. The second stand unit 20 is movably sleeved into the first stand unit 10. The second stand unit 20 has a connecting portion 21 for connecting to an LCD panel of the LCD device. The shaft 31 is fixed to the first stand unit 10. An end of the coiled spring 30 is sleeved on the shaft 31, and the other end of the coiled spring 30 is fixed to a bottom side of the second stand unit 20.
In use, the second stand unit 20 can be driven to slide in the first stand unit 10 by an external force. When the external force is removed, the LCD panel connected to the second stand unit 20 can be positioned at a desired position, because a net weight of the LCD panel and the second stand unit 20 is equal to an elastic force produced by the coiled spring 30 and a friction force between the second stand unit 20 and the first stand unit 10.
However, the coiled spring 30 of the stand 100 does not maintain its elasticity after being cycled up and down many times. Therefore, the coiled spring 30 cannot produce a sufficient elastic force to overcome the net weight of the LCD panel and the second stand unit 20. Accordingly, the stand 100 has a short service life.
Therefore, a stand for a display device to solve the aforementioned problems is desired.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A method of starting up a system clock that has been generated by a phase-locked loop, and circuitry for accomplishing that method. A low frequency master clock signal is distributed to circuits that generate high frequency local clock signals. These circuits generate the high frequency local clock signals using phase-locked loops in a frequency multiplier configuration. Lock indicator circuitry determines when the phase-locked loop has locked onto the master clock signal and then enables output buffers that then provide the high frequency clock signals to components in the system which need those local clocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computer clocking systems, and more particularly, to methods of starting up computer clocking systems that use phase-locked loops to generate local system clock signals from master clock signals. The invention further relates to devices for realizing such methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
In efforts to realize greater computing power, microprocessor developers have continuously pushed the clock speeds ever higher. As few as ten years ago, microprocessor clock frequencies of 16 MHz were rare. Today, one sees microprocessors running at frequencies of 50 MHz and even higher.
With these higher clock frequencies have come concurrent problems. Distribution of a 50 MHz clock to the various components of a digital computer system can present difficulties associated with electromagnetic interference (EMI), clock skew, and reflections of the higher harmonics of the system clock signal. Transmission of high frequency clock signals over connectors to companion boards exacerbates these problems.
Developers have sought creative solutions to these problems. One approach has been to rely on a lower frequency system clock, and then generate, on the microprocessor or peripheral chip itself, a higher frequency clock signal from that lower frequency system clock. A number of current microprocessors and peripheral chips implement such a technique, for example, the 80486DX2 by Intel Corporation. This technique has the advantage of increasing a chip's internal processing rate without requiring a corresponding increase in system clock frequency, thus avoiding the problems associated with those higher clock rates.
To generate these higher frequency internal clock signals, these chips typically use a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured as a frequency multiplier. A block diagram of such a frequency multiplier circuit is shown in FIG. 1. As is shown, a phase detector (or phase comparator) drives, through a filter, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The output of that VCO, which becomes the output signal, is then divided by the desired multiplication factor, and then the phase detector compares that divided reference signal with the input signal. This feedback arrangement compensates for shifts in the phase and frequency of the input signal by a level shift to the VCO, and the output signal is thus synchronized to the input signal. Examples of PLLs that can be configured as frequency multipliers include the CD4046A by RCA Corporation and the 74LS297.
The phase detector has two main purposes. First, it forces the VCO to shift frequencies when the reference signal and the input signal are of different frequencies. Second, it forces slight corrections to the VCO output when the reference and input signals are of the same frequency but are slightly out of phase. Both of these functions are accomplished by adjusting the frequency of the VCO; it is simply a difference of the magnitude of the adjustment.
A lock-in detection circuit can also use the output of the phase detector to determine when the PLL is locked onto the input signal. Phase-locked loops and lock-in detectors are well known to those skilled in the art of electronics design. Further information can be found in "The RCA COS/MOS Phase-Locked-Loop: A Versatile Building Block for Micro-Power Digital and Analog Applications." in: RCA COS/MOS Integrated Circuits (1978), pp. 598-601, which is incorporated herein by reference.
A PLL, however, has certain characteristics that can cause their own problems. Before an input signal is applied to a PLL, its VCO runs unrestricted at a frequency known as the free running frequency. The free running frequency is typically much higher than the frequency at which the PLL will ultimately lock. In fact, the signal initially output by the unlocked PLL may be higher than what would be allowed by the system in which the PLL is to be used. Thus, at system startup, any circuit using a PLL must take this free running frequency into account.
Further, when an input signal is first provided to a PLL, the reference signal does not instantaneously lock onto that input signal. A delay known as the capture time must pass before the PLL locks. The exact length of this delay is variable, but typically the output signal will become stable after a certain maximum delay.
Microprocessors and their support chips typically have minimum and maximum allowable clock input frequencies. Driving these chips at clock frequencies outside their specifications is not only logically unpredictable, but can also physically damage these devices. Thus, if a microprocessor is rated for a 50 MHz clock rate, driving that microprocessor at 100 MHz, for example, could destroy the microprocessor. In integrated circuits using CMOS and related technology, power consumption, and thus thermal heating, is proportionally related to the clock frequency. Thermal breakdown can thus be a failure mode for driving a chip beyond its rated clock frequency.
Another problem with PLLs is that as they attempt to lock onto the input signal, their output signals can change rapidly. Many microprocessors and peripheral devices cannot accommodate such rapid fluctuations of input clock frequencies. For example, using the Intel 80486-50, the maximum allowable fluctuation in clock period for adjacent clock cycles is 0.1%, or 20 picoseconds.
So, if a PLL is used to generate a system clock, it would be desirable to prevent such a circuit from outputting a clock signal of a frequency that is outside the rated parameters of the integrated circuits that will be driven by this generated clock. Further, it would be desirable for such a circuit to avoid outputting a clock signal whose frequency is rapidly changing. Such techniques would be particularly important when the system is first started up.

Method of and apparatus for startup of a digital computer system clock


A communication speed control system to be placed between service providing servers on the Internet and smartphones, the communication speed control system including: a traffic storing unit a non-regulated IP address storing unit for registering IP addresses of the servers a packet reading unit for extracting an IP address of the server from the packet; a traffic management unit for calculating cumulative data traffic of the IP address in question a handling rule management unit for determining that a band limitation is required when the cumulative data traffic exceeds a threshold value and the IP address in question is not registered as a non-regulated IP address, and determining that a band limitation is not required when the cumulative data traffic does not exceed the threshold value and a packet transmission unit for transmitting a packet at a normal communication speed.

In recent years, smartphones, which are multi-function mobile phones with PDA functionality, have become widespread, and data traffic of individual users continues to increase correspondingly, beginning to cause problems that communication common carriers (carriers) cannot keep up with it by facility enhancement.
Many users subscribe to a fixed communication fee plan commonly called "Unlimited Packet Discount" when they start using smartphones. They can view websites and video sites without worrying about the fee, which results in accelerating the increase of data traffic.
Meanwhile, it is also a fact that there are great differences between individuals in terms of the amount of data traffic, and an exceptionally large amount of use by some heavy users is increasing the overall traffic. Therefore, if the fixed fee is raised as a last resort to cover the cost of facility enhancement, it would cause unfairness among the users.
For this reason, some carriers are beginning to take a measure to suppress the overall data traffic by individually imposing a band limitation on users who have performed extremely large amount of data communication (see Non Patent Literature 1).