An electric generator assembly for supplying power to electrical devices on a bicycle. The electrical generator assembly includes a gearwheel fixedly secured and rotatively coupled to a bicycle wheel proximate a hub axis of the bicycle wheel, a rotor housing, an annular stator disposed within the rotor housing, and a rotor disposed concentrically within the annular stator. The electric generator assembly further includes an arm extending from the rotor housing and configured for detachable attachment with a portion of the bicycle frame proximate the hub axis of the bicycle wheel. The rotor is driven by a rotor-driving gear disposed outside the rotor housing. The rotor-driving gear is configured to mesh with an output gear of a gear train for transmitting power from the bicycle wheel. An input pinion, configured to mesh with the gearwheel, is rotatively coupled to the input gear of the gear train. A gearbox, dimensioned to house at least the gear train and the rotor-driving gear, includes a pivot bearing for hingedly connecting the gearbox to the rotor housing, so that the input pinion can be selectively engaged with the gearwheel mounted to the bicycle wheel by selectively pivoting the gearbox relative to the rotor housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric generators for bicycles and, more particularly, to an electric generator assembly detachably securable to a bicycle wheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric generators or dynamos such as, for example, hub dynamos and tire dynamos have been developed to supply electrical power to lighting devices installed on bicycles. Hub dynamos, as the name implies, are disposed within the hubs of bicycle wheels, typically the front wheels, and are typically installed during manufacturing of new bicycles. Because a hub dynamo forms an integral part of a wheel hub, an already assembled bicycle cannot be easily retrofitted with a hub dynamo without major modifications. Retrofitting is difficult for the additional reason that the hub dynamos must first be spoked into the wheels. Thus, in addition to the high manufacturing costs of hub dynamos, there are also high assembly costs for mounting them on the wheels.
Tire dynamos, on the other hand, are inexpensive and can be easily installed on already assembled bicycles; however, since these devices are frictionally driven by bicycle tires, they tend to increase tire wear and are relatively inefficient. Furthermore, the ability of the tire dynamos to generate electricity decreases when the tire becomes wet due to adverse weather conditions.
DE 90 02 898 U1 discloses a hub dynamo with a stator and an armature as its main components. The stator and armature rotate relative to each other in a hub which rotates about a stationary axis. A planetary gear system is arranged between the armature and the stator so that the armature rotates at a speed higher than that of the stator and in a direction opposite to that of the stator. The planetary gear system is selectively disengageable by a bicyclist,
Similarly, DE 93 00 311 U1 discloses a hub dynamo which forms an integral portion of a hub and is driven by a multiple planetary gear system. The planetary gear system can be engaged or disengaged through an inner coupling which is actuatable from outside the hub.
Accordingly, there is a need for a low-cost energy-efficient dynamo that can be easily installed on an already assembled bicycle.


A method and an apparatus of driving a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device are provided having N scanning electrodes, and M data electrodes arranged in the form of an N.times.M matrix, N and M being positive integers, and a pixel being formed at each intersection of the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes of the matrix. The method comprises the step of applying a selected scanning signal to a Kth selected scanning electrode in a time period, wherein K is a positive integer and K.ltoreq.N. A selected data signal is applied to a data electrode in the time period to form a synthetic voltage at a selected pixel, and an auxiliary signal voltage is applied to a (K-A) scanning electrode in the time period, wherein A is a positive integer and 1<A<N.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of driving a display device such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal. The invention also relates to a driving control apparatus for driving and controlling such a ferroelectric liquid crystal display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, rapid progress has been made in the development of ferroelectric liquid crystal devices which are to be used in place of conventional nematic liquid crystal devices. Briefly, a ferroelectric liquid crystal device employs a pair of substrates spaced by a distance which is small enough to enable control of the spiral arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in a chiral smectic C phase of a bulk state, e.g., in the form of a thin cell having a thickness of 1 to 2 .mu.m. The liquid crystal molecules are arranged between these substrates and, in addition, vertical molecule layers each composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecules are arranged unidirectionally. Ferroelectric liquid crystal devices are generally superior both in memory characteristics and response speed and, hence, are expected to enable development of large-size display apparatuses having such superior characteristics.
Thus, it has been proposed to produce a display device having a large display area presented by ferroelectric display element with scanning and data electrodes arranged in a matrix form. Production of such a large-size ferroelectric liquid crystal display device, however, is encountered with the following problems. Namely, a drivable region tends to be extremely restricted or, in the worst case, completely extinguished due to change in the ambient temperature or local temperature difference in the cell, with the result that the display panel cannot display information. Expansion of the drivable region is therefore an important object in the development of ferroelectric liquid crystal display device. In addition, minimization of the time required for forming one picture frame is still an important object, from a view point of display speed.

Method of and apparatus for driving ferroelectric liquid crystal display device


A lens for reading an original, comprises five lenses as a whole including two positive and two negative lenses, an aspherical surface provided on at least one surface of the five lenses, a construction of four lens groups for five lenses which include a cemented lens constructed by cementing one of the positive lenses and one of the negative lenses, an aperture stop disposed between a second and third lens groups, and the cemented lens disposed adjacent to the aperture stop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens for reading an original, a method and an apparatus for reading an original, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an apparatus for reading an original has been widely utilized as an original reading unit of a facsimile machine and a digital copying machine, and an image scanner. The apparatus reduces an original image to be read by a lens for reading an original, and converts the original image to a signal by imaging it on a line sensor of a CCD or the like.
When a color original image is read out with a full-color, a 3-line CCD in which a light receiving element having a filter for decomposing colors for red, green, and blue is disposed in three lines on one chip is used, and the color original image is imaged on a light receiving surface of the light receiving element, then the color original image is discomposed into the three primary colors by the filter to convert it to a signal.
Comparing to a photographing lens, for the lens for reading an original used for the device for reading an original, generally, a high contrast in a high spatial frequency area and a substantially 100% of an aperture efficiency until a peripheral portion of a filed angle are required. Moreover, a bright lens in order to achieve a high-speed reading is also demanded.
In order to read the original image accurately, for the lens for reading an original, a number of aberrations should be successfully corrected.
Especially, a distortion is relatively allowed for the photographing lens; however, the distortion should be sufficiently corrected for the lens for reading an original.
In order to read successfully color image information with the full-color, a chromatic aberration for each color as well as a currature of filed should be highly sufficiently corrected because an image of the original image by the lens for reading an original is required to be imaged by coinciding an image-forming position of red, green, and blue toward an optical axis on the light receiving surface of the 3-line CCD.
As the lens for reading an original, a Gauss type of four groups for six lenses has been widely known in the prior art (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Hei6-109971, Hei10-68881, Hei10-253881, and Hei11-109221)
Generally, the Gauss type lens is capable of successfully correcting the currature of field up to about 20 degree of a half filed angle, and reducing a generation of a coma flare even though an aperture is relatively large. As a result, the high contrast in the high spatial frequency area until the peripheral portion of the image surface is able to be received. However, the Gauss type is composed of 6 lenses, which is a lot of numbers of lenses, and contributes to a large external diameter of lens. As a result, it becomes difficult for the lens for reading an original to miniaturize, and also there is a limit for miniaturizing and lowering a cost for the device for reading an original and the image forming apparatus.

Lens for reading an original, method and apparatus for reading an original, and image forming apparatus


A method for formation of a wiring layer in a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a first conductive layer upon a substrate; forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer having a melting point lower than that of the first conductive layer; and melting (or flowing) the second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the impurity may be Si or Cu, while the second conductive layer has a melting point lower than that of the first conductive layer by 10.degree. C. or more.

Generally, semiconductor integrated circuits include electrical wires of a conductive material for electrically connecting a plurality of circuit elements which are formed therein. As for the material of the metal wires, aluminum (Al) is widely used. Aluminum has the characteristics of low electrical resistivity, low price and relatively easy processing, and, therefore, aluminum is the most widely used conductive material.
An aluminum alloy containing 10% by weight of Si or Cu may be deposited by a sputtering method, thereby forming a wiring layer for carrying out a metallization process.
In accordance with the trend of high density and high integration of semiconductor devices, however, the step difference of the surface is increased in an underlayer of the wiring layer, and the aspect ratio of the contact holes is increased. Therefore, due to the inherent characteristics of the sputtering method, the angle of sputtered Al atoms which may reach inside of the contact hole is decreased. As a result, the problem of step coverage of a deposited aluminum layer is aggravated, with the result that the wire resistivity is increased, and the electromigration is increased, thereby adversely affecting the reliability of the metallization.
Meanwhile, as methods proposed for improving the deposition characteristics of an Al alloy layer, particularly the step coverage, there are: a method of melting an Al alloy using a laser; a method of carrying out a deposition while heating the wafer; and a method of carrying out a flattening in a dual manner by carrying out a collimator sputtering and a high temperature sputtering for ensuring a straight motion and directionality for the sputtered Al atoms. The above cited methods are for improving the existing sputtering method, and are in various stages of research. Besides attempts to improve the sputtering methods, studies are being conducted to improve the contact hole and step coverage by applying a low pressure chemical vapor deposition method in which the conformability of the deposited layer may be improved.
Particularly, a CVD method may simultaneously satisfy the filling of the contact hole and the conformability of the lines, and selective deposition is possible. Therefore, this method is expected to be a future wire forming method for integrated circuits. An example of an Al CVD method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,042 (dated Jan. 12, 1993).
If a conductive layer (Al layer) is formed by applying a conventional CVD method, however, the CVD Al layer shows archipelago-like growth characteristics. Further, the CVD method is carried out at a temperature higher than that of the sputtering method. Further, if the wiring becomes fine, the contact areas between the grains are decreased, and, therefore, the electric resistance is increased, as well as causing problems of stress migration or electromigration. Further, within the contact hole, a void is likely to be formed near the center of the contact hole.
Actually, the cross section of the Al layer which is grown on an semiconductor substrate by applying a cold wall type LPCVD apparatus and through a pyrolysis of TIBA (Al(C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.3) gas using an Al source can be observed through an SEM (scanning electron microscope). Through such an observation, it can be confirmed that the surface roughness occupies over one half.
If the Al layer which is formed by application of a CVD method is reflowed based on a conventional method, the Al layer varies in accordance with the step of the lower layer. If this layer is patterned into a wiring pattern, line breaks, electromigration or stress migration may occur, thereby lowering the reliability.

Process for formation of wiring layer in semiconductor device


A efficient circuit for driving two switching transistors of an electrical power transfer circuit in an anti-phase relationship is described. The drive circuit is applied to a power transfer circuit, such as a switching-type power converter, having a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor, and a magnetic storage element electrically coupled to the first switching transistor. The first switching transistor is coupled to the magnetic storage element and operates to vary the magnetic flux in the storage element. The present invention comprises a drive circuitry for operating the first switching transistor, the drive circuitry being responsive to a first control signal generated by the power transfer circuit. For driving the second switching transistor, the present invention comprises circuitry for generating a second control signal as a function of the magnetic flux in the magnetic storage element. The second control signal causes the second switching transistor to be conductive when the first switching transistor becomes non-conductive. The present invention further comprises a shunting circuitry responsive to the first control signal for causing the second switching transistor to be non-conductive when the first switching transistor becomes conductive. The circuitry for generating the second control signal and the shunting circuitry of the present invention may be constructed from components requiring less board area than standard drive circuitry for the second switching transistor.

Power converters such as DC-to-DC voltage converters, DC-to-AC power inverters, and the like, generally use one or more power switching transistor devices and one or more magnetic storage elements in the power conversion process. Examples of such converters are: buck converters, boost converters, forward converters, and flyback converters. Such power converters generally have control circuitry for operating the switching transistors and generally use the magnetic storage elements to store, transfer, and/or transform power from an input source to an output source. Many of these converters have two power switching transistors operating in an anti-phase relationship to one another. Specifically, one such switching transistor usually operates to couple power to the magnetic storage element from the input power source while the other switching transistor may be used to recycle surplus stored energy in the magnetic storage element back to the input supply. Alternately, as a second example, the second switch may act as a synchronous rectifier on the secondary side of the magnetic storage element. Such power converters typically provide conversions at power levels of 50 W and above. The power switching transistors in such converters are relatively large devices in comparison with general-purpose transistors and, therefore, have relatively high gate capacitances.
Typically, these power transistors are switched at frequencies of 250 kHz to 2 MHz. Given this relatively high frequency for power transistor devices and the relatively high gate capacitances, switching power converters generally have large heavy-duty drive circuits for switching these power transistors. Such a drive circuit may typically comprise a large high-powered buffer amplifier and an isolation transformer coupled between the buffer amplifier and power transistor through one or more blocking capacitors. Additionally, as noted above, many power converters have two such power switching transistors operating in an anti-phase relationship, thus requiring two such transistor drive circuits. However, one of the two switching transistors usually does not require a corresponding isolation transformer because it and its corresponding drive circuit operate in the same range of voltage. In such cases, only one of the two drive circuits will require an isolation transformer and corresponding blocking capacitors.
Due to increases in operating frequency and improvements in magnetic storage elements, switching power converters have now evolved to the point that the commonly-used power transistor drive circuits occupy substantial "board" area (or cubic volume) of the power converter and add significant costs to the manufacturing of such power converters. Therefore, there is a significant need in the switching-power supply industry to reduce the costs and "board" area of these circuits.

Efficient transistor drive circuit for electrical power converter circuits and the like


A method for a fuel system, comprising: monitoring a fuel tank pressure during a refueling event; determining a fuel flow rate based on a steady-state portion of the monitored fuel tank pressure; and indicating an amount of fuel added to a fuel tank based on the fuel flow rate. In this way, a fuel tank fill level can be determined following a refueling event, even in a scenario where the fuel level indicator is stuck or malfunctioning.

Accurately determining and indicating the amount of fuel contained within a fuel tank can often be critical for a vehicle operator. The fuel amount may be used to determine when and where the vehicle should be refueled prior to the fuel tank being emptied.
A typical fuel tank utilizes a dedicated fuel level sensor, such as a floating sensor, to determine the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank. However, if the floating sensor becomes stuck, malfunctions, or becomes decoupled from the vehicle powertrain control module, the fuel level may become unknown. An in-dash fuel level indicator may provide an inaccurate or indeterminate fuel level to the vehicle operator. This may lead to the vehicle running out of fuel if the fuel level indicator suggests fuel is still remaining in the tank, or may lead to increased operator anxiety stemming from not knowing how much fuel is remaining in the tank.
The inventors herein have recognized the above problems, and have developed systems and methods to at least partially address them. In one example, a method, comprising: indicating a fuel level of a fuel tank based on a steady-state fuel tank pressure during a refueling event. In this way, a rate of fuel flow from a fuel dispenser into a fuel tank may be determined during the refueling event. The fuel flow rate may then be integrated over the duration of the refueling event to determine an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank.
In another example, a method for a fuel system, comprising: monitoring a fuel tank pressure during a refueling event; determining a fuel flow rate based on a steady-state portion of the monitored fuel tank pressure; and indicating an amount of fuel added to a fuel tank based on the fuel flow rate. In this way, a fuel tank fill level can be determined following a refueling event, even in a scenario where the fuel level indicator is stuck or malfunctioning.
In yet another example, a fuel system for a vehicle, comprising: a fuel tank configured to receive and store a liquid fuel; a fuel tank pressure sensor coupled to the fuel tank; and a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to: determine a fuel tank fill level prior to a refueling event; monitor a fuel tank pressure during a refueling event; determine a steady-state fuel tank pressure from the monitored fuel tank pressure; determine a duration of the refueling event; determine an amount of liquid fuel added based on the steady-state fuel tank pressure and further based on the duration of the refueling event; and indicating a fuel tank fill level following the refueling event based on a sum of the amount of fuel added and the fuel tank fill level prior to the refueling event. In this way, once a fuel tank fill level is established (for example, due to a full fuel tank indicated by an automatic shutoff event during refueling), the fuel tank fill level can be calculated in perpetuity despite the lack of a functioning fuel level indicator.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

System and methods for fuel level inference


A brake system for a vehicle includes a liquid pressure generating device for generating a liquid pressure for braking dependent upon a manual operation, an actuator for generating a liquid pressure for braking dependent upon an electrical command signal, and an electromagnetic switchover valve which is switchable between a first state in which a wheel brake is connected to the liquid pressure generating device upon deenergization of the electromagnetic switchover valve, and a second state in which the wheel brake is connected to the actuator upon energization of the electromagnetic switchover valve. The brake system further includes a controller. The controller determines whether the regulation of braking force is necessary depending upon the behavior of the vehicle or a wheel, determines an amount of braking force required to be generated by the brake, and determines an electrical command signal to be applied to the actuator, dependant upon the required amount of braking force, when the regulation of brake force is necessary. Further, the controller controls the switching operation of the electromagnetic switchover valve device between the first state in which the regulation of braking force is unnecessary, and the second state in which the regulation of braking force is necessary. The switching of states may be based upon an elapsed time or based upon equalizing pressures between the actuators and the liquid pressure generating device. Thus, it is possible to reduce the frequency of operation of each of the actuator and the electromagnetic switchover valve device and to eliminate the need for a stroke accumulator, thereby providing a simplified structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brake system for a vehicle, comprising a liquid pressure generating means for generating a liquid pressure dependent upon a manual operation, an actuator for outputting a liquid pressure dependent upon an electrical command signal applied thereto, and an electromagnetic switchover valve means which is switchable between a first state in which a wheel brake is connected to the liquid pressure generating means upon deenergization of the electromagnetic switchover valve means, and a second state in which the wheel brake is connected to the actuator upon energization of the electromagnetic switchover valve means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a brake system which is conventionally known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 65060/93, when the operation of the actuator is normal, the electromagnetic switchover valve means is energized to connect the actuator to the wheel brake. When the operation of the actuator becomes abnormal, the electromagnetic switchover valve means is deenergized to connect a master cylinder serving as the liquid pressure generating means, to the wheel brake. In the normal state, braking pressure is provided by the actuator, and the output pressure from the master cylinder is used as a fail-safe. With such known system, however, during a normal braking, the actuator is normally in operation, and the electromagnetic switchover valve means is also energized, resulting in a higher frequency of operation of each of the actuator and the electromagnetic switchover valve means. Moreover, in a condition in which braking pressure is provided by the output pressure from the actuator, a stroke accumulator for accumulating output pressure from the master cylinder is required for the purpose of providing a braking feeling.
If there is a difference in pressure between the wheel brake and the master cylinder when the electromagnetic switchover valve means is switched from the state in which the actuator is connected to the wheel brake to the state in which the master cylinder is connected to the wheel brake, a sense of incompatibility due to a pressing-up or a kick-back of a brake pedal may be produced in response to the switching of the connected state.


Certain neoprene copolymers make it possible to manufacture surgeon's gloves and Swanz-Ganz balloons having improved properties.

In some cases, natural rubber medical gloves may produce allergic responses in individuals predisposed to developing an allergic reaction to latex. Some of the medical literature has suggested that allergen response is especially high in rubber glove use in areas of medicine due to continuous exposure by healthcare providers. Resistance to changing from natural latex has always been associated with the uncomfortable, or different feel, of all other synthetic offerings; including neoprene, silicones and other type materials.
Neoprene surgical gloves now on the market generally are unpopular since they feel tight and inflexible on the hands of the user. Surgical users of these products prefer the soft and flexible tactility of a natural rubber glove. The neoprene compound, and process developed by this invention produces a synthetic glove that has a modulus lower than the prior art. The invention produces a neoprene glove of equal or better softness in feel to the common surgeon's glove constructed of natural latex.

Surgeon's gloves from neoprene copolymers


A system and method for supporting articles is generally provided for use, with a seat, such as a child's safety seat or stroller, having a seat surface and at least one restraining member that extends outwardly from the seat surface. The system may be provided with a support member having one or more pocket members for holding the articles. An aperture may be formed through the support member through which the restraining member may be passed to limit movement of the support member across the seat surface when the system is placed on the seat. In one aspect, the pocket members may at least partially depend from one or more side portions of the seat, with or without the use of a support member.

It has often been desirable, if not necessary, to bring feeding bottles, cups, toys, books, and the like when traveling with children. For example, when traveling with children in a motor vehicle, the children have frequently asked the driver to hand the children one or more of such articles. This has not only posed an inconvenience to the driver, but has also proven to create potentially hazardous conditions, as the driver has had to reach into the rearward portions of the vehicle while driving. Further, the articles have frequently become loose within the cabin of the vehicle, rolling around and becoming not only potentially dangerous impediments to the driver's ability to properly control the vehicle but projectiles in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
Some prior storage devices for use with a vehicle seat have generally included a storage device with a storage container, such as a bag or pouch, that has had to be attached to a structural feature of a front seat within the vehicle. Such storage devices have been designed to store telecommunications equipment, such as the storage device disclosed by Dillion, Jr. et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,229. Unfortunately, such a storage device was impractical for use with a child safety seat. The Dillion, Jr. device necessitated mechanical fastening members to secure the device with a seat frame, beneath the seat cushion. Another previously described storage device for use in a vehicle included a saddle bag that was hung over the back of the vehicle seat, as taught by Greaves, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,098, and Bibb et al., in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2007/0018487. However, these devices were also impractical for use with a child's safety seat as they were designed to hang from the top portion of the back support of a chair, disposing the pocket behind the seat. In another described method of use, the pocket was suspended from the chair, behind the legs of the individual seated in the chair. Such positioning of the storage pocket would not have been accessible to a child seated in a child's safety seat, with its restraining straps secured across the front of the child.
Other prior storage devices for use with child safety seats have included devices that were attached beneath the cushion of an arm rest on the safety seat, such as disclosed by Kain, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,467,839 and 5,615,925. However, these designs required specific coupling features formed into the frame of the seat that engaged specific mounting features on the storage devices. As such, the devices were not universally useable with a wide array of child's safety seats. Other designs, taught by Fair, in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0049674, and Tipton, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0200169, positioned mounting platforms of the storage devices between the safety seat and a vehicle seat on which the safety seat was positioned. As such, the storage devices were not easily or practically removed from, or engaged with, the child's safety seat without first disengaging the child's safety seat from the vehicle seat. Additional, storage devices have been presented for use with for use with an umbrella stroller that included an organizing apparatus, which hung over a back member of the stroller, such as that disclosed by Makoski, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,168. However, this device was secured with straps to the frame of the stroller so that the storage pockets hung from the top portion of the stroller, behind the seat. Such a device was not reasonably useable with a child's safety seat.


A multi-functional garment includes a combination back-pack, a tote bag, and an article of clothing wherein a pack-pack portion is integrated with the back panel of the article of clothing. The garment is manipulated into its various functional configurations by inverting the back-pack/tote bag portion to reveal or, conversely, conceal the article of clothing. The back-pack/tote bag portion of the garment has a double flap closure to provide alternative closure options for the back-pack/tote bag. The back-pack/tote bag is an integral part of the back panel of the article of clothing and the rear webbing or wall of the back-pack/tote bag near the opening of the pack is topologically continuous, such that the back-pack/tote bag can be inverted to reveal or conceal the article of clothing and the pack shoulder straps are attached near the upper end and next to the opening of the back-pack/tote bag so that the garment can be reconfigured without having to thread the straps through the garment to use it as a back-pack alone or as a garment with the back-pack attached.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to multi-purpose garments of the type which are convertible into carrier bags, and pouches; and more particularly, to multi-purpose garments provided with at least one integrally contained compartment wherein the garment may be readily converted into a tote bag or back-pack and the back-pack or tote bag and the garment may be used simultaneously or independently of one another.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Garments which may be converted into carrier bags and/or stored in carrier bags or semi-luggage type carriers are generally well known in the art. It is also known in the art to provide a pouch within the garment, wherein the garment may be stored and carried in the event that the wearer no longer needs the protection of the garment. Totes and carrying bags which contain these garments generally have utility as carrying receptacles for athletic apparel, sporting equipment, hiking paraphernalia, cameras, snacks and the like. Few have any aesthetic appeal or fashion value because of the utility requirement.
It is well known to have a garment and a pouch/carrier arrangement which contains outerwear to allow a wearer retrieval of the garment from the carrier when use of the garment is desired. Generally, however, prior art garments are limited in their functionality and utility, and have proven to be generally unsatisfactory and unworkable in practice in that they have been characterized by elaborate arrangements of secured fasteners, folding procedures, manipulation of straps through the garment, and other complicated and cumbersome procedures and devices for converting the garment into the various utilitarian articles. Specifically, garments that have pouches and/or carrying means into which the garment fit or convert tend to be very cumbersome and provide limited utility to the wearer. Further, prior art configurations which allow the wearer multiple configurations, tend to be mutually exclusive. That is, the wearer must choose between using the garment or the utility bag, but cannot use both.
Because of the configurations and requirements for conversion, these prior art articles of clothing that provide for large capacity utility bags have been aesthetically unpleasing and do not lend themselves to use as stylish or fashionable garments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,687 to Hager discloses a poncho-type garment with a topologically located "pouch" across the entire front of the garment. This pouch is adapted to receive the garment by unzipping the entire horizontal top portion of the pouch. The pouch pocket is secured in a topologically continuous relation to the carrying bag pocket, so that the garment and the carrying bag pocket can be stored completely in the pouch. Thus, this configuration does not create an aesthetically fashionable garment because of the presence of the kangaroo-type pouch arrangement on the front of the garment.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,831 to Greenberger shows a garment with a pocket on the side of the garment and straps convertible into a back-pack on the inside of the garment. The configuration is such that the straps are on the inside and the back-pack cannot be utilized while the jacket is being worn. In order to expose the straps, the garment must be turned into the back-pack configuration.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,629 of Itoi, the straps used with the garment are attached to the back of the jacket. In accordance with this method of attachment, it is required that holes be incorporated into the bag so that the straps are exposed when using the device solely as a back-pack. In this disclosure, all of the non-trunk portions, i.e., the sleeves, collar, etc., are folded or tucked into the back-pack. Additionally, the opening through which the human head protrudes and the sleeves contain zippers, buckles, straps, and the like which allow the closure of the tote bag when the garment is contained therein. Again, this is aesthetically and fashionably unpleasing and makes the garment a utility item and not a fashionable garment.
Thus, it would be highly advantageous to have a fashionable garment that could be configured in many styles and for many purposes; and that was multi-functional, wherein the garment and the back-pack could be used simultaneously, the garment could be turned inside out to conceal the back-pack completely, or the back-pack could be utilized alone, containing the article of clothing or garment, in either a back-pack or tote bag configuration, without the necessity of penetrating the article of clothing in order to provide straps for carrying the back-pack and/or supporting the back-pack on the back of the article of clothing.
It would also be advantageous to have a garment artistic in design, coloration, and fabric as an all-purpose garment which is not activity-specific, i.e., for warmth or functional storage or only for campers and hikers, that has aesthetics and design features pleasing to all wearers and users. It would further be advantageous to have an article of clothing that transforms from one configuration to another in a simple, easy manner so that all configurations are contained in a single garment.


A conveyor and a method for rotating and registering an article against a rail. The conveyor includes an angled-roller conveyor belt whose article-supporting rollers are arranged to rotate about axes directing conveyed articles toward a side rail. An obstruction is selectively activated to move into a position just above a top article-conveying surface of the belt. In that position, the obstruction intercepts conveyed articles. The obstruction forms a pivot about which the articles rotate as the belt advances and the angled rollers rotate. An electric eye or other sensor sensitive to oversized or misoriented articles controls the positioning of the obstruction to rotate misoriented articles 90° or to let correctly oriented articles pass without contact and reorientation.

The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to a conveyor using a conveyor belt with rollers arranged to rotate about axes oblique to the direction of belt travel.
Many conveying applications require that conveyed articles of a variety of sizes and shapes be aligned single file in a specific orientation for downstream processing or inspection. Sometimes the width of the conveyor or of the entrance into a processing station is limited. In the case of articles having a generally rectangular footprint, with a minor axis and a longer major axis, the major axis or the diagonal can be longer than the width of the conveyor. If the major axis of an oversized conveyed article is arranged on the conveyor belt with its long axis across the width of the belt, the article can jam between the sides of the conveyor. Manual intervention is then required to free the jam. Consequently, there is a need for a conveyor that can align and orient articles of a variety of sizes and shapes to prevent jamming on width-restricted conveyor sections.


A non-aqueous, chewable composition for oral delivery of unpalatable drugs is provided. The composition contains the drug intimately dispersed or dissolved in a pharmaceutically-acceptable lipid that is solid at room temperatures. The composition also has a matrix that contains a granulating agent for the total composition and a rapid dispersal agent and optionally additives such as buffering agents, flavoring agents, surfactants, and the like. Methods for the preparation of the chewable compositions are also provided.

Formulations for oral delivery of various pharmaceutically-active compounds, particularly unpalatable ones such as aspirin, ibuprofen, cimetidine, acetaminophen, erythromycin, or the like, are well known in the art. Generally, unacceptable taste characteristics due to acidity, bitterness, burning in the back of the throat, or odorousness, have been overcome, by coatings, capsules, flavoring agents or combinations of these features. See for example, formulations which are intended to be swallowed whole, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,966, which coats granular ibuprofen with an acrylic acid resin in the presence of an organic solvent and water; U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,186, which discloses spray-drying ibuprofen in a suspension of colloidal silica, alcohol, and cellulose acetate; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,161, which discloses coating ibuprofen via a wet granulation method using certain methyl cellulose phthalates as taste-masking agents. Each of these formulations, however, has been devised in order to momentarily disguise or prevent these objectionable features while the compound is passing through the mouth and throat and being swallowed without being masticated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,387 employs lipids to coat therapeutic agents such as aspirin in order to assure slow absorption in the stomach. Alternative timed-release aspirin formulations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,468, employing such slow-release coating agents as waxes, fats, cellulose esters, etc., alone or in various combinations. This patent claims a slow-release formulation comprising aspirin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and saccharides prepared in an organic solvent solution. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,407 discloses a formulation for oral administration of various active agents which are first dissolved in a heated liquid organic phase, followed by mixing this liquid with a second, different organic phase, and cooling this liquid to a solid dosage form.
Unfortunately, for certain classes of ill persons, or even in veterinary applications, swallowing of a tablet or capsule containing these unpalatable compounds is difficult or impossible; this is particularly so in the very elderly or in young children. This situation leads to problems with noncompliance in maintaining the dosage schedules for the patients. Moreover, many such formulations, as evidenced by the cited art, are very complex in their composition or preparation or both, and thus costly and difficult to make. See, for example, the chewable formulation disclosed In U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,152 comprising an active ingredient pre-coated with glycerides, lecithin, polyoxyalkylenes, or polyalkylene glycols, and mixed into a binder comprising a gelatin, a sweetener, glycerin, and water.
A relatively simple formulation, especially of such unpalatable drugs as aspirin, ibuprofen, cimetidine, acetaminophen, erythromycin, or the like which could readily be chewed before swallowing without suffering the bitterness, burning, or unpleasant taste or odor of these unpalatable compounds would be highly desirable.


Disclosed are transgenic mice carrying a human HLA-DQ sgene. The transgenic mice are deficient in mouse H-2 class II molecules. Such mice provide animal model systems to identify peptides useful for preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis. Also disclosed are methods and materials for treating rheumatoid arthritis, including administration of peptides having specific binding affinity for HLA-DQ molecules expressed in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis leading to destruction of joints and, sometimes, to severe systemic complications such as vasculitis, amyloidosis or Felty's syndrome. It is widely accepted that a strong genetic component contributes to the susceptibility or resistance to certain human autoimmune diseases such as RA. Attempts to identify the particular genes involved in these disorders has been an area of major focus for many laboratories. Among the numerous genes studied, those encoding the class I and class II molecules of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex have garnered particular attention. The primary function of HLA-class I and class II molecules is binding and presentation of processed antigenic peptides to T cells bearing receptors specific for particular HLA-peptide complexes. The presentation event plays a pivotal role in shaping the cellular immune repertoire and in shaping the nature and scope of the immune response against a given antigen.
In Caucasians, genetic studies initially showed a high prevalence of certain HLA DR subtypes among RA patients. Specifically, predisposition to RA has been linked to the class 30 II HLA-DRB1 locus, and in particular to the DR4 specificity. Within the HLA-DR4 specificity, the Dw4 (DRB1*0401), Dw14 (DRB1*0404/0408), and Dw15 (DRB1*0405) subtypes confer genetic predisposition to RA, while the Dw10 (DRB1*0402) subtype does not confer such genetic predisposition. Nepom et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 9: 493-525 (1991); Wordsworth et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 10049-53 (1989); Ollier et al., Rheum. Dis. Clin. North. Am. 18: 741-59 (1992). Several studies have also shown that the incidence of RA is significantly decreased in patients expressing HLA-DR2 alleles compared with normal controls. Jaraquemada et al., Ann. Rheum. Dis. 45: 627-36 (1986); Deighton et al., Br. J. Rheumatol. 32: 893-98 (1993); Ollier et al., cited supra. Indeed, the DR2Dw12 subtype is associated with a low incidence of RA in the Japanese population. Ohta et al., Human Immunol. 5: 123-32 (1982). For a general review of HLA nomenclature, see Bodmer et al., Tissue Antigens 44: 1-18 (1994), incorporated herein by reference.
DNA sequence analysis revealed that allelic DR4 molecules mainly differ in their third hypervariable (HV3) regions. On this basis, Gregersen et al. proposed, in their "Shared Epitope" hypothesis, that sequence homologies within the HV3 regions of the RA-associated HLA-DRB1 alleles are the molecular basis for RA predisposition. Gregersen et al., Arthritis Rheum. 30: 1205-13 (1987); Winchester et al., Rheum. Dis. Clin, North, Am. 18: 761-83 (1992). In addition, the associations of Dw1 and Dw20 (DRB1*0101/0102) in several ethnic groups and Dw16 (DRB1*1402) in American Indians of the Yakima Nation with RA susceptibility further support the "Shared Epitope" hypothesis. Ollier et al., cited supra; Gregersen et al., cited supra; Winchester et al., cited supra; Willkens et al., Arthritis Rheum. 34: 43-7 (1991). However, associations of RA with DRB1*0301, DRB1*09011, or DRB1*1001 in Arabs, Chileans and Spaniards, respectively, do not fit this model. Ollier et al., cited supra; see also Harris, Ann. Intern. Med. 123: 232-33 (1995). Thus, the precise role of the "Shared Epitope" in RA susceptibility remains unknown.
A further caveat regarding studies aimed at identifying the precise HLA-D region gene responsible for susceptibility to RA is the presence of certain DQB alleles in linkage disequilibrium with particular HLA-DR genes. Such linkages further constrain any conclusions concerning the relative impact of particular HLA-D region genes on RA susceptibility. For example, two allelic forms of DQB, HLA-DQ7 and HLA-DQ8, are associated with the HLA-DR4 genotype in RA susceptibility. Gregersen et al., cited supra; Singal et al., Lancet 2: 1118-20 (1987); Lanchbury et al., Human Immunol. 26: 59-71 (1989). Moreover, an interesting, albeit small, study analyzing Indian patients with RA showed that 100% possessed the HLA-DQ8 allele, versus 33.3% for the normal subjects. Taneja, Rheumatol. Int. 11: 251-55 (1992). Thus, despite an association of the "Shared Epitope" with RA susceptibility, prior studies have also pointed to a possible role for HLA-DQ alleles in this disease.
Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is an experimental model of autoimmune polyarthritis that has numerous similarities to human RA. David, APMIS 98: 575-84 (1990). The histopathologic lesions of CIA resemble those seen in RA with synovial proliferation that progresses to pannus formation, with subsequent marginal bone erosions and cartilage destruction. Radiographs of joints affected by CIA often show erosive changes similar to those seen in human RA, and progressive arthritis often results in joint deformity and destruction similar to that seen with RA. As in some patients with human RA, anti-collagen antibodies develop in the CIA model.
In the CIA model, mice are injected intradermally with either homologous or heterologous species type II collagen with complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvant. During the first two weeks after immunization, the immune response is detected by the presence of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to type II collagen as measured by skin test or ear thickness measurements. The DTH response peaks at day 10 after injection. Antibodies to type II collagen are detected in the peripheral blood 2 weeks after injection and IgG peak titers are reached at about 4 weeks. X-ray evidence of joint involvement is apparent by 4-6 weeks with the onset of clinically apparent arthritis by 7-9 weeks.
In mice, studies using congenic and recombinant mice have narrowed down the gene(s) controlling CIA susceptibility to the MHC class H-2A molecules, such that only mice with the H-2.sup.q, H-2.sup.r, H-2.sup.w3 or H-2.sup.w17 haplotypes are susceptible to the disease. Wooley et al., J. Exp. Med. 154: 688-700 (1981); Wooley et al., Transplant. Proc. 157: 180-85 (1983); Holmdahl et al., Proc. natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 9475-79 (1989). Presentation of the Type II collagen (CII) peptide 250-270 by the H-2A.sup.q molecule is probably the most important event in disease induction. Myers et al., J. Immunol. 151: 500-05 (1993). In q, w3 and w17 haplotypes, the H-2E molecule is not functional because of mutations in both the Ea and Eb genes. Begovich et al., J. Immunol. 144: 1957-64 (1990).
Thus, while human RA is associated with polymorphisms in the HLA-DRB1 locus (mouse H-2Eb equivalent), mouse CIA is associated with polymorphisms in the H-2Ab locus (human DQB1 equivalent). This presents a paradox of sorts, since to date all of the major functions of the major histocompatibility genes in humans and mice have been found to be substantially similar between equivalent regions. Resolution of this paradox would allow development of animal (e.g., mouse) models permitting identification and testing of agents for prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in humans.

HLA-DRBI peptides with specific binding affinity for HLA-DQ molecules: prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


The present disclosure relates to a digital asset synchronization system that provides improved local and remote synchronization of digital assets. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system manages digital assets by separating each digital asset into multiple components stored as a set of distributed individual files. Employing individual components for a digital asset rather than single monolithic file enables the digital asset synchronization system to provide safe concurrent access to the digital asset from multiple applications on the same device and across different devices. In addition, using components for a digital asset provides the digital asset synchronization system with the ability to efficiently store and synchronize multiple versions of the digital asset, both locally and remotely.

The advent of computers and computer technologies has provided numerous benefits to individuals. Some of these benefits include the ability to store files on web-based severs to allow access from multiple devices or by multiple users. For example, various file management systems enable an individual, or a group of individuals, to synchronize files across multiple client devices as well as access their files on the cloud (e.g., via the Internet). Despite these and other advantages, conventional file management systems, however, still present several drawbacks.
As one example drawback, conventional file management systems often limit an individual's ability to access a file from multiple locations, particularly if the individual is trying to edit the file at more than one location. For example, conventional file management systems often prevent an individual from modifying a file at one location if the file is also being accessed in another location. Rather, the conventional file management systems limit the individual to read-only at one or each of the locations.
In some cases, when an individual attempts to simultaneously access a file from a second location, many conventional file management systems require that the individual create a duplicate copy of the file before the individual can make any changes to the file. The practice of creating duplicate copies creates several problems. For example, creating a copy doubles the amount of storage needed to store the file. This includes doubling the amount of storage at each location where the files are stored.
Further, by creating copies of a file, conventional file management systems waste bandwidth transmitting file copies. For instance, when a copy is created on a client device, the client device transmits a full copy of the file to the remote storage location. Further, if the file is synchronized to additional devices, the file management system then transmits the copy of the file to each of those locations. As the size of the file increases, the amount of wasted bandwidth also increases.
As another example, creating a file copy untethers the copy from the original file. For instance, by having multiple copies of a file (e.g., the file and the copy), an individual can easily become confused as to which file is the most current file. For example, if one or more copies of the file include modifications, an individual is left on their own to figure out which copies contain which modifications, whether to merge modifications between multiple copies, and/or whether to delete one or more copies as a duplicate or outdated version. Further, these file copies clutter up the individual's client device (e.g., multiple copies of the same file begin to appear in folders and directories). As a result, individuals are confused as to what to do with each file copy, and in some cases, incorrectly remove a file that included correct revisions.
Accordingly, these along with additional problems and issues exist with regard to conventional file management systems. Hence, there remains a need for an improvement in the area of file management within a computing device as well as between computing devices.

Component-based synchronization of digital assets


An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements attached to an outer wall of a pipeline through which a measurement target fluid flows, and configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave transmission element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave transmission surface thereof is in parallel to a pipe axis direction of the pipeline, and another at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave reception element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave reception surface thereof is in parallel to the pipe axis direction of the pipeline.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic flowmeter.
2. Related Art
A clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter has been widely used in various fields for the following reasons, for example. The clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter can be installed afterward in the existing pipeline. The clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter has a transducer portion for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals attached outside the pipeline to prevent pressure loss. The clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter can easily measure even corrosive fluid and/or high-pressure fluid.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the structure of an exemplary clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter in the related art (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3043758). Specifically, FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating the entire structure of the flowmeter, and FIG. 10B is a partial cross-sectional view of a transducer 4 in FIG. 10A. The ultrasonic flowmeter includes a first bracket 3 and a second bracket 5 on the upper part of a pipeline 1 in a pipe axis direction. The first bracket 3 is attached with a first hooded ultrasonic transducer 2, and the second bracket 5 is attached with a second hooded ultrasonic transducer 4. These first and second brackets 3 and 5 are fixed on the pipeline 1 in an axial direction thereof through metal bands 6 and 7, respectively, to maintain a predetermined positional relation therebetween.
As illustrated in FIG. 10B, each of the hooded transducers 2 and 4 houses a base 8 having a predetermined inclined surface on which an ultrasonic transducer 9 is attached.
The ultrasonic flowmeter configured as described above operates as follows. The first ultrasonic transducer 2, which is fixed on the pipeline 1, emits an ultrasonic wave from its ultrasonic transducer in a direction obliquely to the axis of the pipeline 1. The second ultrasonic transducer 4 is slid over the pipeline 1 to find out a suitable position thereof for allowing its ultrasonic transducer to receive the ultrasonic wave most efficiently, followed by being fixed on the resulting position.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the structure of another exemplary clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter in the related art (refer to, for example, JP-T-2011-501191). As illustrated in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic flowmeter 10 includes a plurality of leg portions 14 and a dial gauge 15. The leg portions 14 are disposed with spaces therebetween and are in contact with an outer peripheral surface 13 of a predetermined portion 12 of a pipe 11. The dial gauge 15 is disposed between the leg portions 14. The dial gauge 15 is configured to indicate the radius of curvature at each of a plurality of positions measured from a measurement reference point in a circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface 13. The curvature radius data at the positions, which are measured by the dial gauge 15, and the thickness data of the pipe, which are measured separately, are transmitted to a processor 16. These data are used, for example, in calculation to determine the horizontal cross-sectional area of the predetermined portion 12 of the pipe 11.


A WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) transmitter or another data communications apparatus is provided that includes a transmission section that is configured to generate signals to be transmitted, and a control section that is connected to the transmission section to control the transmission section dependent on at least two transmission parameters. The control section comprises a state transition controller that is configured to step through a plurality of predefined control states. The control section is configured to apply different transmission parameter modification mechanisms in different control states. The state transition controller is configured to determine the respective next control states based on transmission success and failure statistics.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to data communication transmitters such as WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) transmitters and transceivers, and corresponding methods, and in particular to the adjustment of transmission parameters.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless local area network is a flexible data communication system implemented as an extension to or as an alternative for, a wired LAN. Using radio frequency or infrared technology, WLAN systems transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, WLAN systems combine data connectivity with user mobility.
Most WLAN systems use spread spectrum technology, a wide-band radio frequency technique developed for use in reliable and secure communication systems. The spread spectrum technology is designed to trade-off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity and security. Two types of spread spectrum radio systems are frequently used: frequency hopping and direct sequence systems.
The standard defining and governing wireless local area networks that operate in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, is the IEEE 802.11 standard. To allow higher data rate transmission, the standard was extended to the 802.11b standard that allows data rates of 5.5 and 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz spectrum. This extension is backwards compatible as far as it relates to direct sequence spread technology, but it adopts a new modulation technique called CCK (Complementary Code Keying) which allows for realizing the speed increase.
In 802.11b compliant WLAN systems, all data rates specified in the IEEE 802.11 and 802.11b standards can be used to transmit digital data. The data rates of 1 and 2 Mbps were already possible in the 802.11 standard. The CCK related higher data rates that were introduced by the 802.11b standard, where the data rates of 5.5 and 11 Mbps.
Thus, an 802.11b compliant WLAN transmitter may select one of the above-mentioned four data rates for transmitting its signals. While choosing the highest data rate substantially increases the data throughput since choosing a higher data rate allows for transmitting more data in the same time, this mode cannot be used in all circumstances. For instance, if the present channel conditions are deteriorated by noise, signal reflections, interferences or other negative influences, the actual data throughput may be significantly less than what might be expected. This is because the error rate may increase so that signal retransmissions are required.
Another problem in WLAN systems is to choose the right transmission power. If a transmitter selects a low power level, the above signal deterioration by noise etc may still increase since the signal to noise ratio at the receiver side is decreased. However, choosing a high transmission power may not be the best choice since high power transmissions from one subscriber may then influence the signal quality of data transmissions of other subscribers. Moreover, using higher transmission powers increases the power consumption of the device what is particularly disadvantageous where the transmitter is a mobile station.
A technique for reducing the collision probability in WLAN systems and other data communication systems is the RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send) mechanism. The exchange of RTS and CTS frames prior to the actual data frame is one way of distributing medium reservation information announcing the impending use of the medium. While this mechanism may significantly reduce the collision probability in high traffic systems it is not necessary in data communication systems where the channel quality is high. Rather, if the RTS/CTS exchange is performed in high quality systems, the data throughput is even reduced since the exchange of RTS and CTS frames increases the overall traffic volume where this mechanism is not necessary but nevertheless used.
Thus, there are a number of parameters in data communication systems which to choose may be a difficult task. As mentioned above, such parameters may be the data rate, the transmission power and the RTS/CTS threshold that indicates a frame length limit for controlling when to apply this mechanism. There may be many other parameters which need to be adjusted in data communication systems depending on the current channel situation.
In conventional data communication systems, adaptation techniques are applied that adjust one of these parameters to find an optimum and trace this optimum. However, such techniques usually work on only one of these parameters so that multiple mechanisms are required to optimizes all the different aspects mentioned above. This leads to a significant amount of control circuitry necessary to implement such mechanisms, and thus increase the circuit development and manufacturing costs.
Moreover, even when implementing different optimization techniques that each relate to a different one of the above mentioned parameters, there are no synergy effects since the individual optimization techniques would operate completely independently from each other. Moreover, such cumulative optimization mechanisms tend to exhibit instabilities which may occur since controlling one mechanism will somehow influence the conditions that form the basis of controlling another mechanism.

Transmitter adjustment based on transmission statistics


A light-directing device adapted for directing light emitted by a light source. The light-directing device includes a light-guiding plate and a directing unit that is disposed adjacent to the light-guiding plate such that a portion of the light emitted by the light source into the light-guiding plate is internally reflected by a first inclined surface thereof to exit the light-guiding plate toward an illuminating region, and another portion of the light emitted by the light source passes through the light-guiding plate, enters the directing unit and is internally reflected by a second inclined surface thereof to exit the directing unit toward the illuminating region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical element, more particularly to a light-directing device adapted for directing light emitted by a light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional illuminating device 1 includes a light source 11, and a light-guiding plate 12 for guiding light emitted by the light source 11. The light-guiding plate 12 has a light-receiving surface 121 facing the light source 11, and an inclined surface 122. A portion of the light emitted by the light source 11 is reflected by the inclined surface 122 to exit the light-guiding plate 12 via a light-exit surface 123 by virtue of internal reflection. The remaining portion of the light exits the light-guiding plate 12 via the inclined surface 122.
While a reflector (not shown) can be placed at the inclined surface 122 in order to increase the rate of reflection occurred at the inclined surface 122 toward the light-exit surface 123, the overall optical efficiency of the conventional illuminating device 1 is still low.


A formula of lightweight aggregates, fiber, and Portland Cement, which, when graded, prepared and mixed as described produces a lightweight, fire and thermal resistive concrete which can be successfully and easily extruded into shapes for use in construction, principally, roofing tiles, shingles and shakes. This mix can also be pressed into the same shapes and brick and block shapes. The resultant compressed product is homogeneous and uniform thus creating superior strength characteristics. This "concrete" is approximately half the weight of traditional concrete (specific weight is 0.85 to 1.0, or expressed in metric, 0.85 gr. per cc.) and is greater than half as strong and absorbs the same amount of water.

This invention relates generally to the production of lightweight, fire resistant roofing shingles or tiles, and more particularly concerns the use of Portland cement in admixtures capable of extrusion to form such roofing pieces.
There is continuous need for improvements in processes to consistently produce strong, lightweight cementitious building products such as tiles, shingles, bricks, blocks, etc., and employing lightweight aggregates together with Portland Cement. In the past, such lightweight building products were difficult to produce, and suffered from undesirably low strengths.
Prior roofing tiles and methods of production are disclosed, for example, in Jakel U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,885, Jakel U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,777, Kirkhuff U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,934 and Murdock U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,959, and Wood U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,659 describing problems encountered in lightweight extruded tile production.

Roofing shingle composition, method of formulation, and structure


In photocopying and/or printing machines, the blower or fan used for internal ventilation is suspended from the structure of the machine by springs slung between the blower casing and the machine structure to eliminate the transmission of vibrations to delicate members in the machine itself.

In machines such as photocopiers and laser printers it is necessary to create ventilation inside the machine to remove the heat generated by certain parts of the machines. For this purpose, fans or blowers are used. In these the impellers are often not correctly dynamically balanced, with the result that vibrations are generated which are harmful to good machine operation.
The prior art methods for damping these vibrations include the use of damping materials such as rings or cushion pads of special rubber placed between the blower and its supporting structure in order to reduce the transmission of vibrations.
Even though these prior art solutions are satisfactory, they require the construction of usually expensive special rubber parts, and the supporting structure has to be adapted to the shape and dimensions of the blower which it is designed to support.

Antivibration suspension device for a blower


Apparatus and methods for impact testing of a transparent substrate are provided. The apparatus includes a base (110) for receiving the transparent substrate (112), the base having a curved surface (124) about which the transparent substrate is bent by a first fixture (130) and a second fixture (132). An abrasive sheet (136) is disposed between the transparent substrate and an impacting object (138) which is released from above the substrate such that the force from the impacting object causes damage to the transparent substrate while the transparent substrate is bent about the curved surface.

Handheld electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets include a cover substrate, which is typically a glass substrate, which is typically referred to as a cover glass. Understanding the failure mechanism of a cover glass when the handheld device is dropped is important to determine ways to prevent cover glass failure and improving materials used to manufacture cover glass. This understanding is especially important with the movement towards thinner and lighter cover glass materials. Variations in material properties such as ion exchange variations can be better understood if the failure mechanism is more accurately reproduced compared with existing methods.
One way to drop test cover substrate materials is to retrofit a cover substrate into commercially available phones. While the test results are useful and are able to adequately differentiate between different materials, the phones are expensive and the process of retrofitting is time intensive. "Pucks" that represent the size, shape and mass of typical cell phones are also used. While less costly than phones, fitting materials into the pucks is still a time intensive process.
The retrofit process and drop testing work well in that the failure of the cover material replicates the failure mode typically seen in the field: sharp-contact damage to the cover while the cover is convexly bent. Existing test methods have provided a limited understanding of the failure mechanism when a handheld device is dropped, which will be referred to as "a drop event." Therefore, there is a need for apparatus and methods for impact testing of substrate materials that more accurately reproduce the stresses experienced by the cover glass of a handheld device during a drop event.

Apparatus and methods to impact test materials


A variable flow regulator assembly includes a first stationary exhaust pipe, a second stationary exhaust pipe concentrically disposed within the first stationary exhaust pipe, and a movable exhaust pipe concentrically disposed between the first and second stationary exhaust pipes. The first stationary exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its interior surface. The movable exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its exterior surface. The interference tabs complimentarily interact and restrict the movement of the variable flow regulator so that the flow maldistribution of the exhaust gas stream entering the catalytic converter can be variably controlled.

The reduction of emissions from vehicle exhaust systems is a well known problem. As the number of vehicles having an internal combustion engine continues to increase, the problem is becoming more severe and despite the introduction of catalytic converter exhaust systems, the exhaust emissions from vehicles fitted with such systems are still relatively high.
In particular exhaust emissions are relatively high during the initial warm-up phase, also referred to as the "cold start", of an internal combustion engine after starting, especially with regard to the emissions of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons. Cold start conditions refer to when the catalytic converter is not operating. For example, this could be on a cold winter day when the temperature is −10° C. or on a summer day when the ambient temperature is 30° C. The catalytic converter must be heated to approximately 250° C. before it becomes operable to convert the combustion by-products of the internal combustion engine. Normal operating temperature is in the 400° C. to 800° C. range. For the internal combustion engine to meet the Federal Test Procedure for the new stringent exhaust requirements, the catalyst must come up to temperature as quickly as possible.
The particularly high exhaust emissions are largely due to the fact that the catalytic converter has not reached its so-called "light-off" temperature, at which the catalyst causes the required catalytic reactions to take place. The light-off temperature can be defined as the temperature at which the catalytic converter reaches 50% conversion. Modern catalyst systems start operating at temperatures of around 200° C. to 300° C.
In order to reduce the quantity of harmful emissions during the initial warm-up phase, a plurality of different solutions has been proposed, many of these solutions being based on shortening the time taken to reach the light-off temperature by raising the temperature in the catalyst as fast as possible. During a cold start, this can be achieved by generating increased heat energy into the exhaust system, which subsequently causes the catalyst to be rapidly heated.
A previously known arrangement for obtaining this reduction in time for the light-off temperature to be reached is one comprising an electrically heated catalyst, which is arranged upstream from the main catalyst. However, this arrangement implies certain drawbacks. Firstly, the cost for a heatable catalyst substrate is considerable. Furthermore, the consumption of electrical energy is relatively high. An additional power supply such as an extra battery may be required in the vehicle. Also, the durability of the electrically heatable catalyst substrate may constitute a problem.
Consequently, there exists a need for a catalytic converter that can accelerate catalyst light-off time without increasing the emissions from the vehicle's exhaust system.

Variable flow regulator for use with catalytic converters


A lens barrier apparatus includes: swingable sectors opening and closing an opening, a swinging member swinging the sectors; and a drive portion driving the swinging member, and one ends of bias members biasing the sectors in a closing direction are provided at the sectors, the other ends of the bias members are provided at the swinging member, and when the sectors are at a closed position closing the opening, the swinging member is driven in the closing direction of the sectors against biasing forces of the bias members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lens barrier apparatuses, and more particularly, to a lens barrier apparatus located at a front face of a lens body tube so as to protect an image pickup lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been cameras with the lens barrier function to protect the lens from dust or the like entering from the outside. Generally, the lens barrier is integrally formed at a front face side of a lens body tube, and protects the lens in the lens body tube, for example, by closing sectors (blades) swingably provided. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-186828 discloses a shutter apparatus having a lens barrier, and proposes a technique of driving the sectors for the shutter or lens and driving the lens barrier by means of one actuator. The lens barrier of the shutter apparatus has a configuration in which the lens barrier is moved through a pinion, gear, cam, and actuating lever.
The lens barrier of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-186828 has a configuration in which a motor for driving the sectors for the shutter or the lens is also used for driving the barrier (sector), and a drive power of the motor is transmitted through a gear train, cam, and actuating lever to the lens barrier. In addition, the actuating lever is biased in a direction of closing the sector. When the cam rotates, the actuating lever is driven in accordance therewith. Then, the lens barrier is swung to form a closed or open state.
In the above configuration, if the biasing force of the actuating lever is set too strong, the rotation of the cam will be impeded and the load on the motor will be increased. On the other hand, if the biasing force of the actuating lever is weak, the lens barrier will not be retained stably at a closed position thereof. As stated heretofore, it is difficult to swing the lens barrier stably by use of only the biasing force of the actuating lever. If the state of the lens barrier is unstable at a closed position, the lens barrier will be brought to a half-open state when an impact is externally applied. This will permit dust or the like to enter the inside and the lens cannot be protected in the lens body tube with certainty.
For the above reason, a stopper mechanism may be provided separately in order to prevent the unstable movement of the lens barrier. An example of the stopper mechanism is to stop the actuating lever of the lens barrier at a stop position. However, once there is provided such stopper mechanism, the configuration will be complicated and the apparatus will be increased in size. Alternatively, the motor may be energized to keep the position of the cam at a fixed position; however, the power consumption will be increased in this case.

Lens barrier apparatus and image pickup apparatus having the same


A fastener configured to couple a first substrate to a second substrate may include a head, a shank, and a tip. The shank may have a generally constant diameter between the head and tip, and the shank may include an unthreaded portion proximate the head, a threaded portion proximate the tip, and a reverse threaded portion therebetween. The threaded portion may include a plurality of right handed threads that continue onto the tip, and the reverse threaded portion includes a plurality of left handed threads. The unthreaded portion may have an axial length greater than an axial length of the reverse threaded portion. In addition, the fastener may include one or both of a cut extending radially inward toward the fastener axis proximate the tip and serrations on at least one of the plurality of right handed threads.

Conventional wood fasteners often are used to assemble deck structures. Over time, these fasteners exhibit several problems. As the deck weathers and goes through repeated freezing and thawing cycles, these fasteners may back at least partially out of the wood, leaving metal protrusions sticking up from the deck surface. This problem may be exacerbated by the elastic nature of the materials through which the fasteners are driven, i.e., often wood or similar materials. The fibers of the material that are displaced by driving the fasteners into the substrate attempt to return to their original placement, causing the wood to tend to close on the fasteners. This leads to compression upon the shanks of the fasteners and can cause even further backing out.
The protrusions caused by the backed-out fasteners are unsightly, may make people walking on the deck more prone to tripping, and may cause the deck materials to at least partially separate from each other, which may shorten the life of the deck or require that the user expend additional resources in repairing the deck.
What is needed is a fastener that addresses the problems of the prior art.


A poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having a high molecular weight and a reduced content of low molecular weight species can be prepared by a method that includes specific conditions for the oxidative polymerization, chelation, and isolation steps. The poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is particularly useful for the fabrication of fluid separation membranes.

Polyphenylene ether) resin is a type of plastic known for its excellent water resistance, dimensional stability, and inherent flame retardancy, as well as high oxygen permeability and oxygen/nitrogen selectivity. Properties such as strength, stiffness, chemical resistance, and heat resistance can be tailored by blending it with various other plastics in order to meet the requirements of a wide variety of consumer products, for example, plumbing fixtures, electrical boxes, automotive parts, and insulation for wire and cable.
The most commercially important polyphenylene ether is currently poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), which is prepared on a large scale by the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol (also known as 2,6-xylenol). For certain product applications, notably use in hollow fiber membranes, very high molecular weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s are needed. Not only must the average molecular weight be very high, but the sample must have a small weight percent of low molecular weight polymer chains. There is therefore a need for poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s that have but a high number average molecular weight and a reduced fraction of low molecular weight molecules.
The literature includes various procedures for the preparation of high molecular weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s, but these procedures are deficient for one reason or another. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,110,311 and 4,116,939 to Cooper et al. require the addition of chemical compounds that interfere with the solvent recycling that is required to make commercial process environmentally acceptable. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,311 requires the addition of a dihydric phenol and a mild reducing during the copper removal step, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,939 requires the addition of an aromatic amine. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,499 B1 to Braat et al. provides a commercially viable process for producing high molecular weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s, but the present inventors have observed that the products of the Braat et al. process, once isolated, have a relatively large fraction of lower molecular weight molecules. Other references provide procedures that are suitable for use on a laboratory scale, but for reasons that are not always well understood it is difficult or impossible to successfully translate the procedures to a commercial scale. It should also be noted that many references characterize product poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s in terms of intrinsic viscosity, rather than molecular weight, and there is no way to deduce a specific molecular weight distribution from an intrinsic viscosity value.
There therefore remains a need for poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s having high number average molecular weight and reduced content of molecules with low molecular weight (e.g., polymer chains with a molecular weight less than 30,000 atomic mass units). There is also a need for improved, commercially scalable, and environmentally acceptable processes for producing such poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)s.

High molecular weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and process therefor


Systems and methods for recording “on-screen” content of a user device via a web browser-based coupling with a content recording system. The content to be recorded may include an audio component and a video component. The audio and video components are merged into a single stream that contains the content displayed via the user device. Segments of the recorded stream are periodically stored to a local storage associated with the web browser. Upon completion of the storage of a segment in the local storage, the segment is uploaded to the content recording system. As the recording session persists, multiple file segments are created in the local storage of the web browser and uploaded, on a segment-by-segment basis, to the server. The server of the content recording system concatenates the multiple uploaded file segments to generate a single file associated with the recorded session.

In many instances, a user of a computing device (e.g., a desktop computer or a mobile device) may wish to "capture" or record content displayed on the computing device. For example, a source of the content may make a presentation including an audio component and a video component using a computing device. In addition to be being displayed on the source device, the recorded content may be broadcast or transmitted to one or more other computing devices.

Web-based content recording and adaptive streaming


An emergency routing protocol within a wireless communication network. A mobile device can establish a communication link to the system backbone even when, for whatever reason, it can no longer communicate directly with a base station. The emergency routing protocol enables a distressed mobile device to communicate with the system backbone through another mobile device serving as an intermediary. The intermediary mobile device forwards information destined to/received from the distressed mobile device to its intended destination.

Wireless communication networks incorporating one or more mobile devices have become increasingly widespread in recent years. Retail stores and warehouses, for example, may use such communication networks with mobile data terminals to track inventory and replenish stock. The transportation industry may use such networks at large outdoor storage facilities to keep an accurate account of incoming and outgoing shipments. In manufacturing facilities, such networks are useful for tracking parts, completed products and defects. Such networks are also utilized in cellular telephone communications to allow users with wireless telephones to roam across large geographic regions while retaining telephonic access. Paging networks also utilize wireless communication networks which enable a user carrying a pocket sized pager to be paged anywhere within a geographic region.
Conventional wireless communication networks such as those referred to above typically involve a cellular network. As is known, cellular networks includes a number of fixed base stations interconnected by a cable medium often referred to as a system backbone. Associated with each base station is a geographic cell. Such cell is a geographic area in which an base station has sufficient signal strength to transmit data to and receive data from a mobile device such as a mobile data terminal or telephone with an acceptable error rate. Typically, base stations will be positioned along the backbone such that the combined cell area coverage from each base station provides full coverage of a building or site. The base stations may be connected via a hardwire connection to the system backbone, or may be connected via a wireless medium as is known.
Mobile devices such as telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), data terminals, etc. are designed to be carried throughout the system from cell to cell. Each mobile device is capable of communicating with the system backbone via wireless communications between the mobile device and a base station to which the mobile device is registered. As the mobile device roams from one cell to another, the mobile device will typically deregister with the base station of the previous cell and register with the base station associated with the new cell.
In order to provide sufficient cell area coverage, base stations within the cellular communication system typically are distributed at separate physical locations throughout an entire geographical region. Even still, it is possible that a mobile device may not be able to register with a base station and/or may lose its communication link with a base station. For example, an established communication link between the mobile device and a base station may incur a sudden increase in noise or interference. Alternatively, a mobile device may wander out of range of any base stations, for example. In such cases the mobile device becomes "distressed" in that communication directly with the system backbone via the base station no longer exists, at least temporarily.
In view of shortcomings such as those discussed above, there is a strong need in the art for a wireless communication network and emergency routing protocol which enables emergency communications between a distressed mobile device and the system backbone. Particularly, there is a strong need for an emergency routing protocol which is transparent to base stations so as to obviate a need to reconfigure operation of the base stations. Furthermore, there is a strong need for an emergency routing protocol which can utilize standard packet format within an existing system so as to eliminate a need for extensive changes in the system.


An imaging detector assembly is provided comprising a detector array and a scintillator assembly positioned in communication with the detector array. The imaging detector assembly further includes a first collimator array optimized to shield the scintillator assembly. The first collimator array is mounted to the scintillator assembly. The imaging detector assembly further includes a second collimator array optimized to reduce x-ray scatter. The second collimator array is mounted independently from the first collimator array.

The present invention relates generally to a detector assembly, and, more particularly to a two piece collimator assembly with improved design flexibility.
Computed tomography has been utilized for a wide variety of imaging applications. One such category of applications is comprised of medical imaging. Although it is known that computed tomography may take on a wide variety of configurations within the medical industry, it commonly is based on the transmission of low energy rays through a body structure. These low energy rays are subsequently received and processed to formulate an image, often three-dimensional, of the body structure that can by analyzed by clinicians as a diagnostic aid.
The reception of the low energy rays, such as gamma rays or x-rays, is often accomplished through the use of a device referred to as a detector assembly. The detector assembly is typically comprised of a plurality of structures working in concert to receive and process the incoming energy rays after they have passed through the body structure. The detector assembly utilizes scintillator to absorb the photons and convert their energy into visible light. This allows the low energy rays received by the scintillator detector to be converted into useful information. Scintillator elements may come in a wide variety of forms and may be adapted to receive a wide variety of incoming rays. The light produced by the scintillator element is commonly processed by way of a device such as a light sensitive photodiode, which converts the light from the scintillator element into an electronic signal. In this fashion, the information from the scintillator detector can be easily transferred, converted, and processed by electronic modules to facilitate viewing and manipulation by clinicians.
Imaging assemblies additionally include an element referred to as a collimator. A collimator is an element that commonly incorporates two fundamental functions. The collimator is used to reduce x-ray scatter as the x-rays approach the scintillator element. Scattered photons can cause noise and reduce resolution causing image artifacts. In addition, the collimator is commonly used as a shielding device for shielding the edges of the individual scintillator cells. This is necessary to prevent, X-rays from impinging on the edges of the scintillators causing non linearities and image artifacts, x-rays from damaging the reflector between scintillator elements, X-rays being transmitted through the gap between scintillator elements and impinging on the photo diode causing noise or X-rays being transmitted through the gap between scintillator elements and impinging on electronics located behind the detector causing damage to these sensitive electronic components. Thus present collimator designs commonly attempt to balance shielding and scatter reducing properties.
Unfortunately, the design characteristics that make a collimator optimal for shielding the scintillator edges are not always compatible with the characteristics that make a collimator optimal for reducing x-ray scatter. Present collimator formation, therefore, often relies on a functional compromise between these two competing characteristics. Even when the physical characteristics necessary to perform each of these functions is not directly incompatible, their importance may vary by function. High manufacturing and assembly tolerances are often important for proper shielding functionality. These high tolerances, however, are not commonly required to reduce x-ray scatter. Therefore, by requiring the collimator assembly to be manufactured with tolerances suitable for shielding, the cost of the entire assembly is often increased.
Approaches to resolving this balance of characteristics has lead some to modify other aspects of the detector assembly to accommodate existing collimator designs. These approaches include leaving large gaps between adjoining scintillator elements; use of x-ray absorbing layers between scintillator cells; and the use of organic reflector composites. In these approaches, however, the distance between scintillator elements tends to be large. This is often incompatible with the small cell and small gap requirements for the current generation of multi-slice CT systems. In addition, many existing systems do a poor job of attenuating scatter x-rays within the scintillator elements or to prevent X-rays from crossing over from one scintillator cell to an adjoining cell. Thus considerable room for improvement of existing designs and design approaches exists.
It would, however, be highly desirable to have a detector assembly that could be simultaneously optimized for reducing scattering x-rays in addition to shielding scintillator elements. Similarly, it would be highly desirable to have a detector assembly suitable for use in modern high density imaging applications.