A propulsion and positioning system for a vehicle comprises a first gyroscope mounted for precession about an axis remote from the center of said gyroscope. A support structure connects the gyroscope to the vehicle. Gyroscopes are used to cause the first gyroscope to follow a path which involves at least one precession-dominated portion and at least one translation-dominated portion, wherein in the precession-dominated portion, the mass of the first gyroscope is transferred and associated movement of the mass of the remainder of the system in a given direction occurs, and, in the translation-dominated portion, the mass of the first gyroscope moves with an associated second movement of the mass of the remainder of the system in substantially the opposite direction, wherein the movement owing to the translation-dominated portion and is larger than the movement owing to the precession-dominated portion of the motion, hence moving the system.

The present invention relates to a propulsion system for a vehicle. It has particular utility in the propulsion and/or positioning of space vehicles.
The majority of propulsion systems in use today rely either on exerting forces against the surface over which they travel (e.g. cars, trains, funiculars (via their supporting rope) etc.), accelerating material which comprises the medium through which they travel in a direction opposite to the direction in which they are being propelled (e.g. propeller aircraft, power driven or manually propelled boats), taking advantage of thermally or gravitationally derived energy gradients (e.g. sailing boats, gliders or surf boards) or ejecting material in the form of fuel carried by the vehicle, either in part as in the case of a jet engine or totally as in the case of a rocket engine. Hitherto, there has been no alternative but to employ the latter method in order to propel or position a vehicle in space.
A problem associated with propulsion systems utilising the latter method is that the volatile fuel required to be carried by the vehicle represents a danger to any crew in the vehicle, the vehicle itself and its contents.
Another problem associated with such propulsion systems is that the range and manoeuverability of the vehicle is limited by the amount of fuel carried.
Yet another problem associated with such systems is that once the vehicle is accelerated, it can only be decelerated by expending further fuel.
The invention may also have utility in specialised terrestrial applications. For example, much effort has been expended in attempting to quieten the propulsion systems of boats. By obviating the need for propellers or such like, the system according to the present invention may provide quieter propulsion than has hitherto been possible.
The principles underlying the present invention will now be explained with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 of the accompanying drawings in which:
One method of moving a space vehicle a short distance is illustrated in FIG. 1. A device (D) inside the vehicle is arranged to project or move an object (W), of significant mass in relation to the mass of the remainder of the vehicle from one end of the vehicle to a receptacle (B) at the other end. It is known that if the object (W) is so projected to the right in FIG. 1, the vehicle will move a distance to the left (to the position S) in FIG. 1. After that movement, the object (W) and the receptacle (B) are at the positions W' and B' respectively. The distance moved will approach the length of the vehicle if the mass of the object (W) is relatively large in comparison to the mass of the vehicle, or will approach zero if the mass of the object (W) is insignificant in comparison to the mass of the vehicle. In any case, the effect will be that the centre of mass of the vehicle and object will not move. For this reason, it is thought that such an activity is of little or no use in propelling a vehicle, since it is assumed that, in returning the object (W), the vehicle will necessarily undergo an equal and opposite displacement to that which it underwent when the mass was originally moved from one end of the vehicle to the other.
Another method of moving a vehicle a short distance is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a vehicle (1), on which is mounted a base plate (2), which in turn carries a pivot (O). An arm OA of length R is mounted with one end on pivot (O) and the opposite end carries an object (W) of mass M.
If a force were to be applied to the object (W) with the intention of moving its mass M around the semi-circular arc ACB at speed v, it might be thought that the sum of the centrifugal force acting on the pivot (O) during that motion would have components only in the direction Y and therefore that the vehicle would be moved in the direction Y. However, this is not the case because the force needed to give the initial momentum Mv to the object W will always cancel the component of the centrifugal force. In fact, the application of the initial force to the object (W) will result in an equal and opposite force being applied to the vehicle (1) so that the object (W) and the vehicle (1) would rotate in opposite senses about the pivot (O).
The rotary part of this reaction can be neutralized by arranging for a second identical object (W1) arranged as a mirror image of the first object (W) to rotate in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 3, if the two objects (W1, W2) are of large mass compared to the mass of the vehicle, then it will be seen that as they begin to move around their semi-circular paths they will exert a relatively large centrifugal force (initially towards the right in FIG. 3) on the vehicle (1) which will in turn will be accelerated to a relatively high velocity by this force owing to its relatively low inertia. As the two objects (W1, W2) approach the point B (having passed points C and E), they will then exert similarly large centrifugal forces to the left in FIG. 3 decelerating the vehicle until it returns to the condition it had when the objects (W1, W2) were launched. Hence it will be seen that the motion of the objects (W1, W2) will be accompanied by an associated movement of the vehicle a distance D1 to the right as shown in FIG. 4. The vehicle moves from positions A to E in that Figure.
If, however, the objects (W1, W2) have a relatively low mass compared to the mass of the vehicle then they will exert a relatively small centrifugal force on the vehicle which will only be accelerated to a relatively low velocity owing to its relatively large inertia. When the masses then approach the point B (having passed points C and E), they will exert similarly low centrifugal forces on the vehicle in order to return it to its initial condition. Therefore, it will be seen that if the masses are relatively small (and hence the centrifugal force is less than in the previous paragraph), the vehicle will have moved a smaller distance D2 to the right. The motion of the vehicle in this case is illustrated in FIG. 5. It will be seen that the reduction of centrifugal force results in the vehicle moving a smaller distance. The vehicle moves from position A to position E in that Figure.
Consideration of the above two paragraphs and FIGS. 4 and 5, will show that the larger the relative mass of the objects (W1, W2) to the mass of the vehicle, the larger the displacement of the vehicle will be. If, for example, the vehicle were to be of negligible mass when compared to the sum of the masses of the objects (W1, W2), then the vehicle would move a distance 2R to the right in FIG. 3. If the vehicle were to have a mass equal to the sum of the masses of the objects (W1, W2), then the effect of the centrifugal force would be to move the vehicle a distance R to the right in FIG. 3.
It will be seen that, in each of the above examples, the centre of mass of the combined vehicle and object system remains in the same position.
As stated above, the fact that the centre of the mass of the combined system is not moved in each of the above examples means that such a method cannot be used to move a vehicle a distance greater than its own length.
However, if the centrifugal force exerted by the masses of the objects (W1, W2) as they travelled from position A to position B were to be reduced below the level seen in the examples above for that mass then the vehicle would be moved over a smaller distance. In other words, in a supposed first movement (in which centrifugal force is reduced), the vehicle would move a first (relatively short) distance in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the masses.
Then, if the objects (W1, W2) were to be subsequently returned, in a second movement in which the centrifugal force was equal to that seen in the above examples, the vehicle would move a second (relatively long) distance in the opposite direction to the first movement. Clearly, after both the first and second movements had taken place the position of the objects (W1, W2) relative to the vehicle would be unchanged. Moreover, it will be seen that the combination of the first and second movements would result in a net movement of the vehicle and its contents in the direction opposite to said first movement. Hence, it will be seen how, if a way could be found of reducing the centrifugal force exerted by the objects (W1, W2) moving from one end of the vehicle to the other that the centre of mass of the combined system could be moved across space, that mass could thereby be transferred, and that the vehicle could be propelled through space.
It is well known that when a spinning gyroscope is mounted on a pivoted radius arm, so that the pivot is remote from the centre of the wheel forming the spinning mass of the gyroscope, and the gyroscope is subjected to a torque at right angles to the spin axis of the wheel (for instance by means of transfer through the radius arm) then the gyroscope precesses, that is rotates, about a precession-axis that is at right angles both to the spin-axis of the wheel and the applied torque provided that it is free to do so.
FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a spinning wheel, all of whose mass may be considered to be concentrated in its rim of negligible thickness and of radius r. The wheel is connected to a pivot (O) (which forms the centre of precession) by a light rod of length R. A torque T is applied to the wheel in the direction shown.
The mechanism of precession may better be understood by considering the highest and lowest points of the rim of the spinning wheel as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
From FIGS. 7A and 7B, the application of the torque T may be considered as tantamount to the application of a force F1 to the top point of the spinning wheel and a force F2 to the bottom point of the spinning wheel, deflecting them and causing a change in the direction of their velocities from v to v' as shown. Thus both velocity vectors are deflected clockwise. It will be realized that an object whose velocity is constantly changing in a direction at right angles to its current velocity moves in a circle.
By conventional two-dimensional mechanics, a non-precessing mass moving in a circle only does so if it is subjected to a constantly applied force defined as the `centripetal` force.
The present inventors realised that by applying oppositely directed forces, (the effect of a torque,) to particles that are themselves, moving in opposite directions as a result of being part of the rim of a spinning wheel they could cause the spinning rim to circle about O without requiring a centripetal force.
It is known that a convenient means (for demonstration purposes) of applying a constant torque to a gyroscope is to offset the gyroscope on a shaft, which is supported at the end remote from the gyroscope by a joint, that allows the shaft to move both laterally and up and down, and to allow the weight of the gyroscope, together with the reaction force at the joint, to be the forces that apply the torque.
It is also known that when the wheel is spun up, suspended and released in this manner the gyroscope will precess at a rate .OMEGA. derived from the equation: ##EQU1## Where: T--MgR--torque at right angles to shaft
M--mass of the wheel PA1 g--acceleration due to gravity PA1 R--length of the shaft PA1 I--moment of inertia of wheel PA1 .omega.--angular spin velocity of wheel PA1 wherein in the precession-dominated portion, the mass of the gyroscope means moves in said first direction and an associated first movement of the vehicle in substantially the opposite direction to said first direction occurs, and, in the translation-dominated portion, the mass of the gyroscope means moves with an associated second movement of the mass of the vehicle in substantially said first direction, wherein said second movement is greater than said first movement and hence the vehicle moves in said first direction. PA1 at least one gyroscope means adapted for precessional motion about an axis remote from the centre of said gyroscope means; means for causing the gyroscope means to follow a path which involves at least one precession-dominated portion and at least one translation-dominated portion, PA1 wherein in the precession-dominated portion, the mass of the gyroscope means moves in said first direction with an associated first movement of the vehicle in substantially the opposite direction to said first direction, and, in the translation-dominated portion, the mass of the gyroscope means is moved with an associated second movement of the vehicle in substantially said first direction; and PA1 wherein said second movement is greater than said first movement and hence the vehicle moves in said first direction.
Further, it will precess about any point in the precessional plane so long as it is launched with initial conditions such that it finds itself travelling at the linear tangential velocity R..OMEGA. where .OMEGA. is determined from equation (1) inserting the value for the torque that so obtains.
With reference to FIG. 8, the present inventors realised that if two gyroscopes of identical mass M and spinning at the same speed .omega., but in opposite directions to one another, were mounted on equal rods with their remote ends pivoted in a frame (0,0') of negligible weight which was itself unrestrained, and were launched in an arc from A to B by whatever means (P), be it a spring, motor, ramp or chemical reaction, in such a way that, at the moment they found themselves being acted on by gravity supplying the torque, their launch velocity was exactly R..OMEGA. where: ##EQU2## then the resulting motion (in the event of the gyroscopes being `perfect` (see below)), would not involve a centrifugal force being exerted on the frame (0,0'), that the frame would not therefore be deflected and that the centre of mass of the system would move a total distance of 2R.
It will be appreciated that if the wheels were not spinning and were then just `dead` masses and were given the same treatment (as far as that is possible given that they would then have NO TENDENCY to move of their own volition when subjected to a torque and would therefore have to be projected with considerable velocity to achieve a similar result), then the frame (0,0') would, (as explained with reference to FIG. 3), be deflected from a distance R from one side of the wheels to a distance R on the other side. The centre of mass of the system would not move.
The present inventors have conducted experiments which show that when a gyroscope is caused to precess by a torque whatever additional angular momentum it acquires combines with the angular momentum already in the spinning mass and if the axis about which it is caused to precess is remote from the centre of the wheel, that an additional linear momentum proportional to the linear tangential velocity of the total moving mass of the gyroscope about that said axis of precession is the only extra dynamic requirement. The experiments conducted further show that, once the gyroscope has been launched on its path of precession about a remote axis as described, the forces exerted by the gyroscope at that axis are largely those involved with application of torque to the gyroscope. Such forces that pass through the axis normal to the tangent at any point in the precessional path of the gyroscope are less than those calculated from the conventional formulae for derivation of centrifugal force of a non-precessing mass. Thus it follows that, provided it is correctly launched, the centre of mass of a gyroscope may be moved around a circle of precession from the one end of a diameter to the other without the full corresponding net force at the centre of precession.
The present inventors further realised that if the mass of the gyroscope could be transferred predominantly by a precession of the gyroscope without a substantial movement in the vehicle, (i.e. providing the first movement referred to above) and thereafter the mass of the gyroscope were to be returned to its original position in relation to the vehicle by means not involving precession (deriving the momentum for that movement from the remainder of the system) (i.e. providing the larger second movement referred to above), then the vehicle would be moved and if this cycle were to be repeated the vehicle would be propelled.
It is arranged that in the precessional motion of FIG. 8, the gyroscopes derive their momentum from each other.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of moving a vehicle in a first direction, which method comprises the steps of : connecting at least one gyrocope means to said vehicle; causing said gyroscope means to follow a path which involves at least one precession-dominated portion and at least one translation-dominated portion,
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for propelling a vehicle in a first direction, which apparatus comprises:
Furthermore, the present inventors have conducted experiments which show that if the mass of the wheel of the gyroscope is not concentrated at an infinitely thin rim then an amount of centripetal force is developed which is required to constrain all parts to a circle, or precess, about the same centre 0. However, these experiments have verified that the centripetal force is still less than that predicted by the conventional formula for non-precessing masses.
The practical situation that would thereby be obtained is illustrated in FIG. 9. The gyroscopes would, as a result of their not being `perfect`, exert some centripetal force on the frame (0,0'). The frame would be moved a distance to the right as shown in that Figure, so that by the time the frame (0,0'), had moved from S to T, the gyroscopes have moved to Q and Q' respectively. However, when the gyroscopes are subsequently returned to the right hand side of the frame, the frame will be displaced by a distance 2R to the left in FIG. 9. Therefore, the combined result of the precessional motion and the translational motion would be to move the frame from position S to position U, i.e. over a distance less than the distance 2R obtained in the perfect case of FIG. 8 but nevertheless with a resulting movement in the centre of mass of the system that would not be achieved with `dead` masses.
Advantageously then, a high proportion of the mass of the gyroscope means lies in a plane at right angles to the spin axis of said gyroscope means and is located at a predetermined distance from said spin axis of the gyroscope.
Other experiments have shown that the greater the wheel spin velocity .omega. is in relation to the precessional velocity .OMEGA., the less centripetal force is developed. .OMEGA. and .omega. are related to the applied torque T and the moment of inertia I of the wheel by equation (1).
Preferably, the ratio of the angular velocity of the gyroscope means about its spin axis to the angular velocity of said precession is maximised.
In the absence of a gravitational field the torque to cause the gyroscope to precess in the first place has to be provided. This may conveniently be obtained from an identical gyroscope spinning in the opposite direction and with the same angular velocity as the gyroscope against which it is to be reacted so that the torque being applied to one gyroscope is equal and opposite to the torque on the other gyroscope, the net torque on the vehicle is nil and the two gyroscopes then precess in the same direction, as a pair, about a centre.
Preferably therefore, the apparatus comprises at least first and second gyroscope means such that the torque required for the precession of the first gyroscope means is provided by the second gyroscope means.
In order for this first pair of gyroscopes to precess about a centre remote from the centre of the gyroscopes, they must, as previously stated, be given a linear momentum proportional to their prospective linear tangential velocity when subjected to the applied torque. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this linear momentum may conveniently be derived from an identical pair of gyroscopes with identical attributes arranged as a mirror image of the first pair. In this arrangement the linear momentum required to launch each pair of gyroscopes on their precessional paths are equal and opposite and cancel out so that the net momentum outside the system is nil. Similarly when the two pairs of gyroscopes reach their diametrically opposite point the linear momentum, delivered when the torques are removed, are again equal and opposite and again cancel out leaving no net momentum outside the system.
Preferably then the apparatus comprises at least first and second gyroscope means such that the linear momentum required by said first gyroscope means in order to precess about an axis remote from its centre is derived from the second gyroscope means precessing in the opposite sense.
Advantageously, the apparatus comprises at least first and second pairs of gyroscope means, the torques required by each gyroscope means being provided by the other of said pair, and each pair providing the linear momentumrequired by the other pair.
Preferably, the path of the gyroscope means is such that the motion of the gyroscope means varies continuously between a substantially entirely precessional motion and a substantially entirely translational motion, thereby providing a smooth propulsion to the system.
A smoother propulsion can also be obtained by providing a plurality of groups of gyroscope means and arranging each group to impart said second movement the vehicle at a different time.
Some embodiments of the present invention utilise a gyroscope means which comprises a wheel which is driven by a central hub. A problem associated with such embodiments is that the degree of propulsion that can be provided by the apparatus is limited by the strength of the materials making up the hub itself.
Preferably therefore, said gyroscope means comprises a substantially annular rim which is driven by a means in contact with that rim.
Furthermore, the rim is preferably rotatably supported at a plurality of points around the rim. This has the further advantage that the level of propulsion that can be provided by the apparatus is increased in accordance with the number of means rotatably supporting the rim.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gyroscope means comprises two counter-rotating annuli which are retained in a frame means. This has the advantage that the torques exerted by each rim substantially cancel one another and that substantially no net torque is exerted by the frame on the vehicle.
The invention will now be described further, with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 28 of the accompanying drawings in which:


There is provided a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal in which an expansion mechanism expands a disposition of a laminated piezoelectric actuator by the principle of leverage. The mass of a base member placed in the expansion mechanism is larger than the mass of a vibration output member. An overall device size is small. The piezoelectric device has a pressurization structure for reducing a tractive force acting on the laminated piezoelectric actuator which is generated by the amplification. This enables provision of a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal that is a small size, highly resistant to dropping impact, and has god acoustic performance with less sound leakage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for generating an acoustic signal which is applicable to a loudspeaker that generates acoustic vibration in air, a headphone that is directly held against the ear for listening, a bone conduction speaker that transfers acoustic vibration through a cranial bone to be listened by auditory nerve, and so on. Particularly, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal which uses a piezoelectric element.
2. Description of Related Art
A piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal using a piezoelectric element typically employs a piezoelectric unimorph element or a piezoelectric bimorph element. FIGS. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a piezoelectric unimorph element. The piezoelectric unimorph element has a structure that a thin circular piezoelectric ceramic plate 21 having a diameter of about 20 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.3 mm is adhered to one surface of a thin circular metal plate 22 having a diameter of about 30 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 mm. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a piezoelectric bimorph element. The piezoelectric bimorph element has a structure that the piezoelectric ceramic plate 21 is adhered to both surfaces of the metal plate 22.
The frequency characteristics of an acoustic pressure as an acoustic performance of the piezoelectric unimorph element and the piezoelectric bimorph element are such that a large acoustic pressure is generated within a resonant frequency of several kHz of the piezoelectric unimorph element or the piezoelectric bimorph element while the acoustic pressure decreases significantly once the frequency falls outside the resonant frequency. Therefore, those elements are mainly used in the field of a piezoelectric sounder that generates an acoustic signal with a specific frequency. Further, if the thickness of a piezoelectric ceramic plate is reduced to under 0.1 mm, for example, and the outer shape of a diaphragm is 50 mmφ, it can be used as a tweeter which is a speaker that is designed to deal with a high frequency of 1 kHz or higher.
There are various proposals to improve an acoustic pressure or frequency characteristics. FIG. 3 is a side view of a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal according to a related art. The piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal has a structure that the center part of a piezoelectric bimorph element 23 is held by a support 25 and one end is fixed to a base 24. In this structure, a reaction force to the vibration generated at the center of the piezoelectric bimorph element 23 is transferred to the base 24 through the support 25 to thereby allow the base 24 to serve as a vibration plane. Accordingly, the area of the vibration plane is enlarged, thus enabling an increase in acoustic pressure. Further, this piezoelectric device combines the vibration mode of the piezoelectric bimorph element 23 and the vibration mode of the base 24, and has acoustic characteristics based on the combined vibration mode, thus capable of serving as a practical loudspeaker having a wide audio frequency range. Such a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications Nos. 2000-209697 and 2000-201398, for example.
In the use of the piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal for a cell phone, a portable terminal or the like, maximum miniaturization and high output are required. If a piezoelectric bimorph element is circular, its diameter is related to a resonant frequency in such a way that a smaller diameter leads to a higher resonant frequency to reduce a low frequency acoustic output. If a piezoelectric bimorph element is rectangular, its length is related to a resonant frequency in such a way that a shorter length leads to a higher resonant frequency to reduce a low frequency acoustic output. Further, its width is related to an amount of acoustic output in such a way that a narrower width leads to a smaller output. Accordingly, in order to produce a necessary acoustic frequency, it needs the displacement of mechanical vibration that is generated by a piezoelectric element in accordance therewith. Because the displacement of mechanical vibration is determined by the shape of a piezoelectric element, there is a limit to miniaturization while maintaining a desired acoustic output.
Further, a portable device such as a cell phone and a portable terminal should be resistant to dropping impact. However, in order to set the resonant frequency to a low frequency band by way of a small bend elastic coefficient, the piezoelectric unimorph element and piezoelectric bimorph element need to employ a very thin piezoelectric ceramic plate and metal plate. The mechanical strength of these elements is low and thus vulnerable to dropping impact.
Furthermore, in the use of the piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal using the piezoelectric unimorph element and piezoelectric bimorph element for a cell phone, a portable terminal or the like, it is typically incorporated into a case or housing. This causes vibration of a case or housing where an acoustic vibration should not be output, which leads to sound leakage to have people around a user hear the sound. It is thus unsuitable for application to the piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal that requires privacy feature. When the device is applied to a bone conduction speaker, the vibration occurring in a portion that is different from the portion though which vibration is transferred to a cranial bone and the airway sound are unwanted. Particularly, when a microphone is placed in the same housing, the microphone detects the leak sound to undesirably produce echo by acoustic coupling.
In order to overcome the above drawback, there has been a need for a piezoelectric device for generating an acoustic signal that is a small size, highly resistant to dropping impact, and has good acoustic performance with less sound leakage.
The present invention provides a means for generating an acoustic signal which is different from the piezoelectric unimorph element or piezoelectric bimorph element to thereby achieve size reduction, increase resistance to dropping impact, and improve acoustic performance by reducing sound leakage.

Piezoelectric device for generating acoustic signal


A slim type portable terminal is provided comprising a first housing on which a keypad and a microphone unit are arranged, and a second housing comprising a liquid crystal display unit and a speaker unit, in which a printed circuit board is disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal display unit and arranged side by side with the liquid crystal display unit on a co-planar surface, and a buffer member is attached to an upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit, through which a flexible circuit provided to the terminal extends.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slim type portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slim type portable terminal which has a reduced thickness, thereby achieving the slimness thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a "portable communication terminal" refers to an electronic device which a user can carry while wirelessly communicating with another user. Such a portable communication terminal includes hand-held phones, CT-2 cellular phones, digital phones, Personal Communication Service phones (PCS phones), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Conventional portable terminals may be classified into various types according to their appearance, such as bar-type portable terminals, flip-type portable terminals, and folder-type portable terminals. The bar-type portable terminal has a single housing shaped like a bar. The flip-type portable terminal has a flip panel or a cover which is pivotably mounted to a bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit. The folder-type portable terminal has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit in such a manner that the folder can rotate in order to be folded on or unfolded from the housing.
Further, portable terminals may be classified as rotation-type terminals and sliding-type terminals according to the methods of opening and closing the terminals. In the rotation-type portable terminal, two housings are coupled to each other in such a manner that one housing rotates to be opened or closed relative to the other while the two are facing each other. In the sliding-type portable terminal, two housings are coupled to each other in a manner that one housing slides to be opened or closed relative to the other. The various classifications of portable terminals are easily understood by those skilled in the art. On the other hand, the listed conventional portable terminals indispensably include an antenna unit, data input/output unit, and data transmission and reception unit. A keypad, which a user pushes with his/her fingers to input data, is generally used as the data input unit. Further, a touch pad or a touch screen may be used as the data input unit.
In addition, a liquid crystal display is generally used to display data in order to output the data. Further, the conventional portable communication terminal is provided with a camera lens for pictures in order to perform an image communication. Thus, a user can perform image communication with another user using the portable terminal having the camera lens, or take a picture of any object.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a sliding type portable terminal 10 among the various types of the portable terminals will be described.
The sliding type portable terminal 10 includes a body housing 20, and a sliding housing 30 sliding by a predetermined distance along the body housing 20 in a lengthwise direction, which has an advantage of satisfying users' various tastes.
The sliding type portable terminal 10 includes a body housing 20 and a sliding housing 30 sliding upward or downward with respect to the body housing 20, by a half length of the body housing 20 to be open. The sliding housing 30 includes a sliding keypad 31, liquid crystal display unit (LCD) 32 for displaying data, and speaker unit 33, all of which are mounted on a surface thereof, while the body housing 20 has a body keypad 21 of 3×4 metrics and microphone unit 22 which are provided therefor.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such a sliding type portable terminal 10 has a following structure.
The sliding type housing 30 includes a front cover 30a and a rear cover (not shown). A printed circuit board (PCB) 34 for the liquid crystal display unit (LCD) 32 is mounted in the front cover 30a.
The liquid crystal display unit 32 is adhered to the front cover 30a by a double sided tape or adhesive agent (not shown). The speaker unit 33 is disposed adjacent to an upper end of the liquid crystal display unit 32. A connector 34a is mounted on the printed circuit board 34 and electrically connected to the speaker unit 33.
As shown in FIG. 2, the speaker unit 33 has a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) 33a for electrically connecting the speaker unit 33 to the connector 34a of the printed circuit board 34. The flexible printed circuit board 33a in which a fine circuit is printed on a thin plate of flexible plastic material, and the connector 34a are used as an electric connection for electrically connecting the printed circuit board 34.
A plurality of parts 35 are mounted on the printed circuit board 34 while being electrically connected to one another to transmit and receive electric power and signals to/from one another.
In an exemplary implementation, a buffer member 36, such as a sponge, is disposed on an upper surface of the printed circuit board 34 to prevent the liquid crystal display unit 32 and the plurality of parts 35 of the portable terminal from being damaged by external impact.
However, since the conventional sliding type portable terminal has the structure in that the liquid crystal display unit is mounted on the front cover, the printed circuit board is stacked on an upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit, and the buffer member is stacked on and attached to the upper surface of the printed circuit plate, the thickness of the portable terminal increases, thereby making it difficult to achieve miniaturization and slimness of the portable terminal.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved portable terminal comprising an overall slimness for reduced thickness.


A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user""s geographic location and which are provided automatically directly to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided directly and automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail. The high resolution forecast data is preferably generated locally for a limited region, e.g., at a television station for the station""s viewing area, using initialization conditions provided from a central location.

The present invention pertains generally to systems and methods for producing weather reports including current weather conditions and weather forecasts, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing such weather reports and forecasts to individuals, e.g., over computer networks such as the internet.
Most of the current weather and weather forecast information used by individuals is obtained by them from weather reports provided by local television and radio stations. Such reports are typically prepared by meteorologists at a television or radio station serving a particular geographical area, e.g., a large city and surrounding environs. The reports are based on current weather information available to the meteorologist which may be provided by various local (e.g., local radar) and national (e.g., NEXRAD radar and weather satellite) weather information sources. A meteorologist may also employ computer implemented weather forecasting models in preparing a weather forecast report. A meteorologist may prepare and/or update several such reports throughout the day, and such reports may be provided as part of periodic radio and/or television broadcasts. Such weather reports and forecasts may also be provided in printed form, e.g., in a daily newspaper. A person who is interested in the current or forecast weather conditions for a geographic location accesses such a weather report by tuning in to the television or radio broadcast of the report at the designated time, reading the paper, etc. If severe weather threatens a particular area, an emergency radio or television broadcast may be made to provide such information to the public immediately, and, if necessary, continuously. For example, a television station may provide a graphic indication of the general location (e.g., county) and nature of severe weather, (e.g., tornado, and thunderstorm warnings, etc.) as part of its television broadcast, throughout the period during which severe weather threatens an area.
A severe limitation of such conventional weather reports and forecasts is that they are generalized over a large geographic area and, typically, an extensive period of time. For example, a typical conventional weather forecast will provide predicted high and low temperatures, sky conditions, precipitation, etc., for the day, or for several days, for a particular geographical area, e.g., the city where the television or radio station is located and the surrounding area. However, the actual current and forecast weather conditions for the downtown area of a city, the suburbs, and surrounding rural areas will, of course, be different. For example, different areas in and around the city will achieve different high and low temperatures at different times during the day, and precipitation will reach different points in a television station""s viewing area at different times during the day and at different levels of intensity. A meteorologist""s forecast may indicate that some areas within a television station""s viewing area will receive significant precipitation during the day, while other areas will receive none (e.g., a forecast of xe2x80x9cwidely scattered showersxe2x80x9d). Thus, generalized weather conditions and forecasts for a particular area, e.g., a television or radio station viewing and/or listening area, may be of limited use to any particular individual, especially individuals living or working outside of a central city area, in that such general information will not provide an accurate indication of, e.g., high and low temperatures and sky conditions at any particular time during the day at that individual""s home or place of work, and when, how much, or even if precipitation will arrive at that individual""s home or place of work.
The National Weather Service also issues weather forecasts. However, such forecasts are xe2x80x9czonexe2x80x9d forecasts generalized over National Weather Service xe2x80x9czonesxe2x80x9d which may cover a hundred miles square or more. Thus, such National Weather Service forecasts also do not provide an individual with a detailed or accurate weather forecast for a particular localized area of interest.
Advances in computer connectivity technology have allowed television and radio station meteorologists to provide access to their latest weather condition and forecast reports via computer over the internet at any time desired. Thus, an individual need not try to catch the local television or radio broadcast of a weather report to get the latest weather information. An individual may be able to access weather reports and other outdoor information for both local and remote geographic locations via computer over the internet. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,886 to Zereski, Jr., et al. describes a multimedia outdoor system which automatically compiles outdoor information, including current weather conditions, traffic, meteorologist-provided weather forecasts, etc., from a variety of sources and locations, and generates multimedia presentations based on the information for local areas throughout the country. In such a system, weather forecasts, including oral forecast presentations, are manually generated by meteorologists and entered into the system periodically. The multimedia reports generated by the system from such forecasts are stored in a presentation database. An interested user may access the weather report for a local area, such as a city, by accessing the presentation database via computer over, e.g., the internet. However, the individual weather reports and forecasts upon which the multimedia weather reports provided over the internet are based are conventional weather reports and forecasts which are generalized over a wide geographic area and period in time, as described above. Thus, such a system does not provide an individual with a detailed or accurate weather report and forecast for that individual""s particular residence or place of work.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,699, to Baron, Sr., et al. describes a weather alert manager which receives meteorological data, e.g., NEXRAD data, which includes weather information defining storms within a relevant geographic area. The current position and predicted path of a storm is determined from the data and combined with a geographical grid to produce a storm profile indicating storm severity and if a storm is or is likely to enter any geographical grid area. The storm profile may be distributed to remote units located within a particular grid area to provide storm warnings to individuals in such areas. For example, the remote unit may be a cellular phone or pager which is associated with a particular area, and which receives the storm profile to provide the appropriate warning when a storm is in or approaching that area. Such a system, however, only provides limited severe weather warning information for existing storm cells and does not provide an individual with a detailed and accurate weather report and forecast of general weather conditions, e.g., high and low temperatures, precipitation, wind speed and direction, etc., for that individual""s particular residence or place of work.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,223 to Baxter, Jr. describes a plurality of remotely located environmental sensors, e.g., temperature sensors, which are linked to a database server having data tables for holding the environmental data. A user can access the database, via the internet, to search for environmental information of interest. The user may also store a profile on the server which contains predefined environmental threshold triggers. When an environmental condition meets the threshold trigger, the user may be notified, e.g., via e-mail, facsimile message, pager, or telephone. Such a system, however, only provides a warning to a user if current conditions satisfy preselected thresholds and only provides limited environmental information for an individual""s particular area of interest if an environmental sensor happens to be positioned in that area.
Complex weather forecasting models exist which can be used to generate accurate and detailed weather forecast data for narrowly defined geographic locations and periods in time. An example of such a weather forecasting model is the ADONIS model, available from Weather Central, Inc., of Madison, Wis. This model is based on a three-dimensional weather forecasting model of the atmosphere developed originally by Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin. This model is a non-hydrostatic model, which therefore takes into account changing atmospheric moisture conditions, as well as topography, snow cover, etc., in generating weather forecast data. The model is, therefore, highly accurate. Some weather forecasting models, including ADONIS, are capable of producing weather forecast data with both high geographic and temporal resolution. For example, the ADONIS model may be run to provide detailed forecast data (e.g., temperature, sky conditions, wind, precipitation, etc., for, e.g., up to 25 different vertical levels of the atmosphere) for geographical areas only a few miles across and in half hour increments extending several days into the future. By extrapolation between such closely spaced points for which weather forecast model data is generated, accurate forecast weather conditions for any modeled time at any point in a modeled geographic area may be obtained. A practical limitation of such highly accurate and complex models is, however, the computation resources and time required to obtain such high resolution forecast data. As a practical matter, using current technology, the computation resources and time required to run such a model to generate high resolution forecast data for the entire country would be prohibitive for any single local television or radio station weather operation. In addition, to be useful, such highly detailed models must be capable of producing thousands of near-real-time individualized weather forecasts in order to be useful to individuals requiring precise pinpoint forecasts.
The present invention provides a system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user""s geographic location, e.g., home or work, and which are provided automatically directly to the individual user. The present invention may also provide personalized advanced notice to a user when forecast weather conditions meet a user definable weather condition profile for outdoor activities of interest to the user. In accordance with the present invention, a user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest (e.g., home or work), a contact address (e.g., e-mail address or pager number) to which the personalized weather report is to be delivered, and, optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data. This high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest to the individual is provided directly to the individual, e.g., via e-mail. The generation of individual personalized weather reports from pre-established user profile information and model forecast data may be generated and delivered automatically, without human intervention, e.g., each time the forecast model is run.
An exemplary system for providing personalized weather reports in accordance with the present invention includes a main computer system, which may be implemented, for example, as part of a television or radio station news and weather reporting operation. The main system computer includes weather forecast modeling software for calculating and presenting high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data for a wide, but limited, geographical area, e.g., the geographical area serviced by a television or radio station or newspaper. The weather forecasting model preferably accepts and stores as inputs thereto initialized weather model data, e.g., initial atmospheric condition information, which is generated and provided from a central location to the local main computer system (e.g., by satellite or internet data delivery). Since weather conditions modeled in the main computer are for a geographic area which is limited to, e.g., the television station""s viewing area and the number of personalized weather reports generated and delivered by the main computer system is limited by the number of customers in a limited geographic area, computation resources and run-times for even very high resolution modeling and report generation are reasonable. The forecast model may be run periodically, e.g., twice a day, or each time initialization conditions are received by the main computer, to provide high resolution forecast data and personalized reports for the geographical area of interest.
The main computer system includes a user profile generator. The user profile generator provides various user profile set-up menu user interfaces which allow a user to establish a user profile. These menus may be accessed by a user by use of, for example, a personal computer connected to the main system computer over a network such as the internet. Using such menus, a user establishes a personal user profile which includes a particular location of interest, e.g., home, vacation home, or work, for which the user would like a detailed weather report, a contact address, e.g., e-mail address or pager number, to which the personalized weather report is to be delivered and, optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest to the user. This user profile information is stored in a user profile database.
Each time the high resolution forecast model is run, the resulting forecast data is compared to the user profiles saved in the user profile database and personalized weather reports are generated automatically by a personalized report generator implemented in the main computer system. Automated detailed personalized report generation is possible using a high resolution weather forecast model, such as ADONIS, which provides as an output exact and discreet weather condition readings for specific points in time at pinpoint lat./lon. locations covering an entire geographic area of interest. The user location provided in the user profile may be converted to a lat./lon. coordinate and used to automatically pull detailed forecast weather conditions for that location from the forecast model data to generate the personalized weather report. The personalized weather reports are delivered to the user at the contact address indicated in the user profile, and include detailed information on forecast weather conditions, e.g., high and low temperatures, the times those temperatures will be reached, sky conditions, wind conditions, whether or not there will be frost or dew, etc., for the specific user location identified by the user in the user profile. The forecast data is also compared to the personalized activity weather condition profile established by the user, and, if forecast weather conditions satisfy the profile, a notice is sent to the user indicating that and when such favorable weather conditions for the activity will occur at a selected activity location (which may be different for the user""s home or work location).
Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

System and method for providing personalized weather reports and the like


The control circuit comprises a source of dc voltage, a first electronic switch, interposed between a first terminal of the voltage source and a corresponding first terminal of the load, a second electronic switch, interposed between the other or second terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the source, a current recirculation device, including a diode connected between the said first terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the voltage source to allow a circulation current in the load when the first switch is open, and a control circuit arranged to control the switches in a predetermined manner. The recirculation device further includes a third electronic switch disposed between the first terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the voltage source, and the control unit is arranged to control this third switch in a synchronous manner, but in phase opposition, in relation to the first switch.

The present invention relates to a circuit for controlling (at least) an inductive load, in particular an electro actuator, such as a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine.
More specifically, the subject of the invention is a control circuit of the type comprising                a source of dc voltage,        a first electronic switch, interposed between a first terminal of the voltage source and a corresponding first terminal of the load,        a second electronic switch interposed between the other or second terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the source,        a current recirculation device, including a diode connected between the first terminal of the load and the other or second terminal of the voltage source, to allow a circulation of current in the load when the first switch is open, and        an electronic control unit arranged to control the switches in a predetermined manner.
A control circuit of the above-defined type is described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,356.
In prior art, in such control circuits the current recirculation device is typically a diode, in particular a diode having a high speed and a low direct voltage drop, such as a Schottky diode.

Circuit for controlling inductive loads, in particular of electro actuators, at high efficiency


New intracorporeal photodynamic medicaments and certain medical uses and methods for use of such photodynamic medicaments for treatment of disease in human or animal tissue are described, wherein a primary active component of such medicaments is a halogenated xanthene or halogenated xanthene derivative. In preferred embodiments, such medicaments are used for treatment of a variety of conditions affecting the skin and related organs, the mouth and digestive tract and related organs, the urinary and reproductive tracts and related organs, the respiratory tract and related organs, the circulatory system and related organs, the head and neck, the endocrine and lymphoreticular systems and related organs, various other tissues, such as connective tissues and various tissue surfaces exposed during surgery, as well as various tissues exhibiting microbial or parasitic infection. In another preferred embodiment, such medicaments are produced in various formulations including liquid, semisolid, solid or aerosol delivery vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to certain photodynamic medicaments and methods for treatment of human or animal tissue using photodynamic therapy (PDT). The inventors of the present invention have found that such medicaments are useful for the treatment of a variety of conditions affecting the skin and related organs, the mouth and digestive tract and related organs, the urinary and reproductive tracts and related organs, the respiratory tract and related organs, the circulatory system and related organs, the head and neck, the endocrine and lymphoreticular systems and related organs, various other tissues, such as connective tissues and various tissue surfaces exposed during surgery, as well as various tissues exhibiting microbial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection. These medicaments are available in various formulations that may include liquid, semisolid, solid or aerosol delivery vehicles, and are suitable for intracorporeal administration via various conventional modes and routes, including intravenous injection (i.v.), intraperitoneal injection (i.p.), intramuscular injection (i.m.), intracranial injection (i.c.), intratumoral injection (i.t.), intraepithelial injection (i.e.), transcutaneous delivery (t.c.), and per oesophageal (p.o.) administration. These photoactive ingredients contain intracorporeal medicaments, the photoactivation of which produces a desirable therapeutic response, such as destruction of microbial infection, reduction or elimination of tissue irritation, reduction or elimination of hyperproliferative tissue, reduction or elimination of cancerous or precancerous tissue, reduction or elimination of surface or subsurface lipocytes or lipid deposits, and many other similar indications.
2. Description of the Related Art
PDT was originally developed to treat cancer and other diseases with the promise of limiting the invasiveness of the therapeutic intervention and lessening potential collateral damage to normal, non-diseased tissue. In its simplest form, PDT is the combination of a photosensitive agent with special forms of illumination to produce a therapeutic response in certain tissues, such as a tumor. The agent attains an excited, active state when it absorbs one or more photons, and then is or becomes efficacious. Key elements of a successful PDT regimen include either selective application or selective uptake of a photosensitive agent into the diseased tissue and site-specific application of the activating light. PDT agents are typically applied systemically (for example, via intravenous injection or oral administration) or via localized topical application directly to diseased tissues (for example, via topical creams, ointments, or sprays). Subsequent to administration of the agent (typically 30 minutes to 72 hours later), activating light is applied to the disease site, locally activating the agent, and destroying the diseased tissue. Light is typically applied by direct illumination of the site, or by delivery of light energy to internal locations using a fiberoptic catheter or similar approach.
Most current PDT regimens are based on systemic application of porphyrin-based agents or topical or systemic application of psoralen-based agents. Examples of porphyrin-based agents include porfimer sodium (PHOTOFRIN®), hematoporphyrin-derivative (HPD), benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD), Lutex, BOPP and SnET2. PHOTOFRIN® is one of the few agents currently licensed by the U.S. FDA. Porphyrin-based agents generally are derived from complex mixtures of natural or synthetically prepared materials and may contain components that are lipophilic. As a possible result of this lipophilicity, porphyrin-based agents have shown a slight tendency to accumulate preferentially in some tumors and other diseased tissues. However, the targeting of such agents to diseased tissue is still unacceptably low when compared to uptake in normal tissue, (i.e., at most 2-10× greater uptake in diseased tissue relative to normal tissue). The psoralens, such as 8-MOP, 5-MOP, trioxsalen, and AMT, are nucleic acid intercalators that function by disrupting cell regulation or impairing cellular physiology upon photoactivation. This mechanism of action appears to be relatively indiscriminate in terms of tissue type, and as a result these agents also exhibit minimal specificity for diseased tissue. Thus, current PDT agents have not exhibited high specificity and may exhibit additional disadvantages, including persistent systemic or localized photosensitivity, systemic or localized toxicity, and high treatment cost (due to high agent cost or excessive dosage requirements).
Consequently, PDT has not become widespread, given these background problems of target specificity and cost of treatment.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide new medicaments, new medical uses for such medicaments based on improved specificity of such medicaments for the desired target tissue to be treated, and methods for treatment using such medicaments, thereby resulting in improved treatment outcomes, increased efficacy and safety and reduced cost of treatment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Intracorporeal medicaments for photodynamic treatment of disease


A system and method for monitoring and managing the loading conditions in a CDMA wireless communication system. The system comprises a load monitoring device such as a CDMA mobile station connected to a data logging and processing device such as a diagnostic monitor. The monitoring device is placed within the service area of a base station. The monitoring device periodically initiates a call, is assigned to a traffic channel normally, and logs a power control parameter such as mobile station transmit power or the number of closed-loop power control commands received per unit time. From this information, the load monitoring device can infer the real-time traffic loading conditions of the base station. If the loading of the system exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alarm may be sent to the system management center in order to take some action to limit additional loading on the base station.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel and improved system and method for the monitoring and management of the loading of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless communication system.
II. Description of the Related Art
In the field of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless communication, a wideband frequency channel is shared by multiple communication devices, with each communication device employing a different pseudo-noise (PN) spreading code. In a typical CDMA wireless communication system, a first frequency band is used for forward channel communications (base station to mobile station), while a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band, is used for reverse channel communications (mobile station to base station). An example of such a system is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307 entitled "SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS," issued Feb. 13, 1990, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference.
Fundamental to the concept of maximizing system capacity in a CDMA wireless communication system as described above is the process of power control. Subscriber units'output power must be controlled to guarantee enough signal strength received at the base station and to maintain good quality audio while minimizing the potential for interference. Since a CDMA wideband channel is reused in every cell, self interference caused by other users of the same cell and interference caused by users in other cells is the most limiting factor to the capacity of the system. Due to fading and other channel impairments, maximum capacity is achieved when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for every user is, on the average, at the minimum point needed to support "acceptable" channel performance. Since noise spectral density is generated almost entirely by other user's interference, all signals must arrive at the CDMA receiver with the same average power. In the mobile propagation environment, this is achieved by providing dynamic power control of the mobile station transceiver. Power control guards against changes in system loading, jamming, slow and fast variations in channel conditions, and sudden improvements or degradations in the channel (shadowing).
Power control of the mobile station's transmitter consists of two elements: open loop estimation of transmit power by the mobile station, and closed loop correction of the errors in this estimate by the base station. In open loop power control, each mobile station estimates the total received power on the assigned CDMA frequency channel. Based on this measurement and a correction supplied by the base station, the mobile station's transmitted power is adjusted to match the estimated path loss, to arrive at the base station at a predetermined level. All mobile stations use the same process and arrive with equal average power at the base station. However, uncontrolled differences in the forward and reverse channels, such as opposite fading that may occur due to the frequency difference and mismatches in the mobile station's receive and transmit chains, can not be estimated by the mobile.
To reduce these residual errors, each mobile station corrects its transmit power with closed loop power control information supplied by the base station via low rate data inserted into each Forward Traffic Channel. The base station derives the correction information by monitoring the Reverse CDMA Channel quality of each mobile station, compares this measurement to a threshold, and requests either an increase or decrease depending on the result. In this manner, the base station maintains each reverse channel, and thus all reverse channels, at the minimum received power needed to provide acceptable performance. An example of a communication system employing the open loop and closed loop power control methods described above is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,109 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TRANSMISSION POWER IN A CDMA CELLULAR MOBILE TELEPHONE SYSTEM," assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference.
In a CDMA wireless communication system as described above, a predetermined number of radio frequency resources, such as transceivers and channel modulator/demodulators (modems) are located at each base station. The number of resources allocated to a particular base station is a function of the anticipated traffic loading conditions. For example, a system in a rural area may only have one omni-directional antenna at each base station, and enough channel modems to support eight simultaneous calls. On the other hand, a base station in a dense urban area may be co-located with other base stations, each have several highly directional antennas, and enough modems to handle forty or more simultaneous calls. It is in these more dense urban areas that cell site capacity is at a premium and must be monitored and managed closely in order to provide the most efficient allocation of limited resources while maintaining acceptable quality of communications.
Sector/cell loading is the ratio of the actual number of users in the sector to the maximum theoretical number that the sector can support. This ratio is proportional to total interference measured at the receiver of the sector/cell. The maximum number of users that the sector/cell can support is a function of the aggregate signal-to-noise ratio, voice activity, and interference from other cells. The individual subscriber unit signal-to-noise ratio depends on subscriber unit speed, radio frequency propagation environment, and the number of users in the system. Interference from other cells depends on the number of users in these cells, radio frequency propagation losses and the way users are distributed. Typical calculations of the capacity assumes equal signal-to-noise ratio for all users and nominal values of voice activity and interference from other cells. However, in real systems, signal-to-noise ratio changes from user to user and frequency reuse efficiency varies from sector to sector. Hence there is a need to continuously monitor the loading of a sector or cell.
A conventional way to monitor cell site loading conditions is for a person, usually a network engineer or technician employed by a wireless communication service provider, to travel from cell to cell making loading condition readings using specially designed and expensive test equipment. The logged data is then returned to a central processing facility for postprocessing and analysis. Some significant drawbacks to this method are that the data can not be evaluated in real-time, and that significant errors are introduced due to propagation effects between the base station and the measurement equipment. Thus, this monitoring method only provides a rough estimate of cell site loading conditions, and can only be used in a time-delayed fashion to take corrective action, such as reassigning resources for the future. It does not enable the service provider to take any real-time action to improve loading conditions and their effect on system performance. Additionally, it requires a person to travel to each site serially, thus providing a discontinuous "hit or miss" estimate of the peak loading condition and consequent system performance depending on whether the visit coincided with the actual (rather than assumed) peak usage times.
Another possible way of monitoring cell site loading conditions is to access the performance data logged by the base station itself, or the base station controller. However, this requires that the scarce base station processing resources be diverted to collect and retrieve the data. Additionally, it suffers from the non-real time post-processing problems as previously mentioned. Lastly it also requires that a person visit each cell site serially to retrieve the data.
What is needed is a simple and accurate remote real-time load monitoring and management system which does not require access to the base station or base station controller logged data, and hence does not impact processor performance.

Load monitoring and management in a CDMA wireless communication system


A method is described comprising: assigning to each of a first group of keys of an alphanumeric keyboard a specific alphabetic character; assigning to each of a second group of keys of the alphanumeric keyboard both a specific alphabetic character and a specific number; and monitoring keys on the keyboard selected in sequence by an end user, and if all keys within the sequence are keys within the second group of keys, generating within the display a contact list containing contact entries, each of the contact entries within the list identified based on the alphabetic characters associated with the sequence of selected keys and/or the numbers associated with the sequence of selected keys.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of data processing devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a versatile user interface for identifying and selecting a telephone number on a data processing device by analyzing user input.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable data processing devices such as Personal Digital Assistants ("PDAs") and programmable wireless telephones are becoming more powerful every day, providing users with a wide range of applications previously only available on personal computers. At the same time, due to advances in silicon processing technology and battery technology, these devices are manufactured using smaller and smaller form factors. Accordingly, users no longer need to sacrifice processing power for portability when selecting a personal data processing device.
Although data processing devices with small form factors tend to be more portable, users may find it increasingly difficult to interact with them. For example, entering data may be difficult due to the absence of a full-sized keyboard and reading information may be difficult due to a small, potentially dim Liquid Crystal Display ("LCD").
To conserve the space required for data input, data entry keys such as those used on miniature alphanumeric keyboards are typically assigned multiple functions. For example, when the data processing device is in a "data entry" mode, the keyboard may function as a standard alphanumeric keyboard but when the device is in a "telephony mode" (e.g., when the user opens dials a telephone number), portions of the keyboard may be used as a telephony keypad. For example, when in telephony mode (or other type of numeric entry mode), the characters 'Y,' 'U' and 'I' may change to the numbers '1,' '2,' and '3,' respectively; the characters 'H,' 'J' and 'K' may change to the numbers '4,' '5,' and '6,' respectively; and so on.
Although current data processing devices provide multiple data entry modes, they are not capable of automatically detecting which mode a user needs. Accordingly, users must manually switch between modes before performing a particular type of data entry. Thus, what is needed is an improved user interface for a data processing device which automatically switches between data entry modes based on the detected data entry pattern of a user.

User interface for detecting a data entry mode


The device of the present invention is for the collection of viscous fluids, e.g. motor oil, from a plurality of containers having open necks. The device includes: a trough-like member having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of container holders, operably joined to the trough-like member, for receiving the necks of the containers in an inverted, fluid draining position; and an outlet adjacent to the lower end of the trough-like member. The viscous fluid remaining in the inverted containers flows by gravity through at least a portion of the trough-like member to the outlet and the fluid can be collected in any receiving container that is positioned below the outlet. The device is capable of easily supported by any one of a number of alternative support means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of fluid collection devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a collection device that routes viscous liquids from a plurality of containers, such as plastic oil bottles, to a singular container of any construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
After a person dispenses the contents of a bottle filled with a viscous liquid such as motor oil, a small quantity of the liquid clings to the interior walls of the container. This small amount of oil is usually thrown away with the container because several minutes of draining are required to remove this residue. Due to ecological and economic concerns, there exists a need to reclaim this residue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,095 issued to Bonnel describes a device for draining oil from a maximum of six cylindrical oil cans and/or six plastic bottles. This device arranges the containers in a two by three grid and drains them into a screw-on jar positioned beneath the integral funnel. The device has a provision to provide some stabilization by use of a key-hole shaped attachment to capture a nail or screw on a wall. Some disadvantages of this device are:
(1) its relatively large size, i.e., eight inches by twelve inches, assuming a four-inch diameter cylindrical can; PA1 (2) its complexity, requiring separate pieces for the funnel, holding grid, and screw-on receptacle; and PA1 (3) its inherent instability since the small diameter receptacle bottle is its main support. PA1 (1) capable of supporting multiple viscous fluid containers in an inverted position and permitting gravity flow of the liquid along a channel to empty into a receptacle; PA1 (2) capable of allowing the user to empty the viscous fluid into any collection receptacle selected and provided by the user; PA1 (3) capable of being manufactured by common molding of a plastic material; PA1 (4) capable of easily being mounted to a wall, work bench or floor by a number of alternative support means; and PA1 (5) capable of being combined or hooked together. PA1 (1) to a fiberboard wall of multiple, evenly spaced holes and pegs (commonly known as "peg board"), or PA1 (2) to a single lag screw or bolt to provide primary support and another screw, a nail, the receptacle, or another rigid member to provide secondary support, or PA1 (3) to a work bench, floor or other horizontal surface by means of a primary support that contacts the horizontal surface upon which the device rests and by means of a secondary support provided by the receiving container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,860 issued to Connor describes a device for holding only one type of bottle at a time in the inverted position. The latter device is simple, but can handle only one bottle at a time, and does not provide a large receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,188 issued to Brutsman shows a device for draining oil from a maximum of five cylindrical cans into a separate receptacle. This device is mounted to a wall by means of two holes for nails or screws. This device cannot drain the currently popular plastic oil bottles.
In view of the limitations of the prior art devices, it would be highly desirable to improve upon the collecting devices of the prior art so that a device is:


A wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) includes a semiconductor substrate, a back end of line (BEOL) layer on the semiconductor substrate and having a peripheral edge recessed inwardly from an adjacent peripheral edge of the semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric layer is over the BEOL layer and wraps around the peripheral edge of the BEOL layer. A redistribution layer is over the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer is over the redistribution layer.

A wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) is a small integrated circuit (IC) package typically used in mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA's), notebook computers, printers, and similar devices. A WLCSP usually has an area no greater than 1.2 times that of the IC die. It is a single-die, direct surface mountable package that may be secured to a printed circuit board (PCB) by conventional surface mount technology. The pads of the IC die connect to pads of the PCB through individual solder balls that typically require no underfill encapsulation and typically require no bond wires between the IC die and solder balls. This reduces the inductance between the IC die and the PCB and improves signal quality. The ball pitch is usually no more than 1 millimeter (mm). Pads are etched or printed directly onto the silicon wafer, resulting in a semiconductor package close to the size of the IC die. For that reason, it is given the name wafer level chip scale package.
Some WLCSP's are direct-bump designs, where the solder balls are placed directly above a bond pad on the die. Many WLCSP's, however, use a redistribution layer (RDL) as a copper or other metal interconnect layer applied after repassivation to route original bond pads to new solder ball locations that are not directly above the original bond pads. In RDL technology, the bare silicon wafer is repassivated with a polymer dielectric layer, but the original bond pads are left exposed. A copper redistribution layer is applied after repassivation to route the original bond pads to the new solder ball locations. A second polymer passivation or dielectric layer isolates the copper RDL layer. The die are singulated, i.e., cut, after the solder balls are placed.
A wafer level chip scale package typically includes a back end of line (BEOL) layer on the semiconductor substrate that is applied during a latter or "back end" part of the IC fabrication. Individual devices, including transistors, capacitors and resistors, are interconnected on the wafer. The BEOL layer includes contacts, insulating layers (dielectrics), metal levels, and bonding sites. As many as 3 to 10 layers may be added to form the BEOL layer. This is followed by applying passivation, first dielectric, RDL, and second dielectric layers. The repassivation layer and dielectric layers impart tensile stress at the edge of the BEOL layer, creating a risk of delamination near that edge. This results in device failure. It may be desirable to increase reliability by lowering the tensile stress at the edge of the BEOL layer.

Wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) having edge protection


A method and composition for stabilizing and isolating hazardous, radioactive or mixed waste materials of particulate and solid types, which comprises providing a non-toxic one component aqueous mixture of an acrylic polymer containing a thixotropic agent, a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer containing a thixotropic agent, or a vinyl chloride copolymer latex containing a thixotropic agent, and applying the mixture over surfaces of hazardous material in an amount sufficient to form a flexible impermeable coating or foam. The mixture may be applied by spraying to form a coating having a thickness of about 0.5 to about 5.0 centimeters when dry. The coated waste material may then be disposed of in conventional manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for containing hazardous, radioactive or mixed waste materials, and in particular, to compositions of acrylic emulsions containing a thixotropic agent, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsions containing a thixotropic agent, or vinyl chloride copolymer latices containing a thixotropic agent which can be sprayed over, or otherwise applied to, contaminated areas to generate a flexible film or foam which entraps and immobilizes the hazardous, radioactive or mixed materials therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most of the prior art for containment of hazardous waste materials utilizes compositions of natural and synthetic rubbers, silicates, or alkanolamines to provide solid masses containing the waste material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,514, issued Dec. 4, 1951, to J. De Ment, discloses a method whereby certain reactive compounds of silicon are employed to react with the soluble radioactive compounds to form substantially insoluble derivatives thereof. The composition includes a soluble sodium silicate, dilute hydrochloric acid which forms silicic acid, and then water is utilized to wash away the reaction products and radioactive contaminants carried therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,873, issued Nov. 13, 1962, to J. R. Saroyan, discloses a protective coating composition which is applied to a surface prior to contamination to form a dried film covering the surface. After contamination, the coating can be washed off by steam or hot water which carries with it the radioactive particles embedded therein. The coating composition is a high polymer plastic of either the elastomeric (natural and synthetic rubbers) or the thermoplastic type (bitumins, vinyls, polystyrene, polyethylene, acrylics, silicones, celluloses, and polyamides) formulated with a water sensitive adhesion modifier of a hydrophilic film forming material. The process comprises applying a substantial layer of an alkali-sensitive coating composition formed of a polymer resin, ammonium hydroxide, water, and pine oil, and then washing the coating off with an alkali solution after contamination.
Prior art references which disclose the use of urea-formaldehyde solutions for containment of hazardous waste materials are all directed to forming a solid mass which contains the hazardous materials and can be disposed of by burying. However, present EPA regulations prohibit the use of urea-formaldehyde resins for this purpose due to the carcinogenic nature thereof.

Process for containment of hazardous wastes


A physio-ball including a shell and a support member attached to the shell. The support member is sufficiently rigid so as to support at least a portion of a user's body when the portion of the user's body is in contact with the support member.

Physio-balls, also known as "Swiss balls" or stability balls, are a popular type of exercise apparatus for promoting balance, flexibility, strength and alignment. Physio-balls are typically spherical, cylindrical or ovoid-shaped balls that have a vinyl outer coating. They are filled with air or some other type of fluid in order to provide a moderate degree of flexibility and compressibility when sat on by a user or when pressed upon by a user during use.
A physio-ball may be used in many different ways. For instance, a physio-ball may be used as a seat when exercising, e.g., a user may sit on top of the physio-ball while performing sit-ups or some other type of movement of the upper body relative to the lower body. Alternatively, a user may balance a portion of her body, e.g., her feet or her hands, on the ball, thereby forcing the user to balance that portion of the body during the performance of an exercise. For instance, a user may position her feet, or her hands, on top of the physio-ball while performing push-ups, lunges, hip lifts, etc.
A physio-ball provides several advantages. For example, a physio-ball is typically semi-firm, and thus conforms somewhat with a user's body when being used. Thus, less pressure or contact is experienced by a user when performing an exercise with a physio-ball as compared to performing the same exercise on a conventional hard surface. Furthermore, a physio-ball may roll in one or more directions, thereby promoting balance and developing muscles that contribute to the user's stability and strength. Still further, the rolling motion of the physio-ball against the user's muscles may facilitate myofascial flexibility and release.


An optical device includes a frame supporting a lightguide, a microdisplay, and a field lens positioned therebetween that directs light from the microdisplay into a top surface of the lightguide. Four optical surfaces of the lightguide include: a curved surface where light from the microdisplay enters a top of the lightguide, curved eye-side and world-side surfaces providing total internal reflection, and a combiner surface. The eye-side surface is used twice. Once in total internal reflection, and a second time as a refractive surface when light is reflected from the combiner surface and is thereby refracted out of the lightguide and directed towards a user's eye. The field lens has a curved first surface oriented toward the microdisplay and a curved second surface oriented toward the top of the lightguide. The combiner surface combines ambient light from a world-side of the lightguide with light from the microdisplay.

The present disclosure relates generally to design, placement, and use of a see-through lightguide as part of a head-mountable display (HMD) device for creating augmented vision.
HMD devices usually incorporate a near-to-eye optical system to create a virtual image placed a distance in front of a user. Single eye and dual eye displays are referred to as monocular and binocular HMDs, respectively. Some HMD devices display only a computer-generated image (CGI), while other types of HMD devices are capable of superimposing a CGI over a real-world view. This latter type of HMD typically includes some form of see-through eyepiece and can serve as a hardware platform for implementing augmented reality (AR). A scene of the world when looking through see-through eyewear is augmented with an overlaying CGI. Such an arrangement is also referred to as a heads-up display (HUD).
HMDs have practical and leisure applications. However, many applications are limited due to cost, size, weight, thickness, field of view, and efficiency of optical systems used to implement existing HMD devices. A narrow field of view is particularly restrictive. Use of conventional components yield a CGI of only a few degrees width and a few degrees of height, resulting in a poor user experience. Previous HMD designs have attempted to address these issues by employing curved lightguides and have positioned a microdisplay in a temple region of a head wearable frame similar to a conventional pair of glasses. However, based on the particular geometry and physical constraints of arrangement of these designs, the lightguide restricts a light path to include at least two bounces or reflections on an eye-side of the lightguide and two reflections on a world-side of the lightguide thereby restricting a size of a resulting visible image. In addition, conventional constraints in positioning the components of HMDs lead to low field of view (FOV) displays that are on the order of 10 degrees diagonal within user sight.

Curved optical see-through thin freeform lightguide with large field of view in eyewear formfactor


[Problem] The problem of the present disclosure relates to proposing an information processing device, an information processing terminal, an information processing method, and a program, which are capable of controlling the output of a voice so as to be adaptive to an action purpose of a user.

Conventionally, various kinds of technologies for adjusting output characteristics of audio equipment are proposed.
For example, the undermentioned Patent Literature 1 discloses the technology for, in a scene in which a plurality of persons and a telephone call partner in a vehicle mutually talk by using hands-free telephones, adjusting sound quality for persons who are currently talking in the vehicle.

Information processing device, information processing terminal, information processing method, and program

Abstract: [Solution] An information processing device including: an inference unit that infers an action purpose of a user on the basis of a result of sensing by one or more sensors; and an output control unit that controls, on the basis of a result of inference by the inference unit, output of a voice to the user performed by an audio output unit.


Methods and compositions for stimulating the growth of hair are disclosed wherein said compositions include a cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-cycloalkyl or arylalkyl compound represented by the formula I

Dermatologists recognize many different types of hair loss, the most common being "alopecia" or "baldness" wherein humans (mostly males) begin losing scalp hair at the temples and on the crown of their head. However, hair loss may be due to many other disorders.
Hair loss is often accompanied by a change in the hair growth cycle. All mammalian hair passes through a life cycle that includes the anagen phase, the catagen phase and the telogen phase. The anagen phase is the period of active hair growth. In the scalp, this phase lasts from 3-5 years. The catagen phase is a short 1-2 week transitional phase between the anagen phase and the telogen phase. The final telogen phase is considered a "resting phase" where all growth ceases. This phase is also relatively short-lived lasting about 3-4 months before the hair is shed and a new one begins to grow. With the onset of baldness, a successively greater proportion of hairs are in the telogen phase with correspondingly fewer in the active growth anagen phase.
Additionally, different types of hair exist including terminal hairs, vellus hairs and modified terminal hairs. Terminal hairs are coarse, pigmented, long hairs in which the bulb of the hair follicle is seated deep in the dermis. Vellus hairs, on the other hand, are fine, thin, non-pigmented short hairs in which the hair bulb is located superficially in the dermis. Modified terminal hairs are seen in eye lashes and eye brows. As alopecia progresses, a transition takes place wherein the hairs themselves change from the terminal to the vellus type. Accordingly, alopecia (baldness) also includes a deficiency in terminal hairs.
One non-drug treatment for alopecia is hair transplantation. Plugs of skin containing hair are transplanted from areas of the scalp where hair is growing to bald areas. This approach can be reasonably successful, however it is costly, time-consuming and painful. Other non-drug related approaches to treating alopecia include ultra-violet radiation, massage, psychiatric treatment and exercise therapy. None of these approaches, however, have been generally accepted as effective. Even such things as revascularization surgery or acupuncture have shown little, if any, effect.

Compositions and methods for stimulating hair growth

Abstract: wherein the dashed bonds represent the presence or absence of a double bond which can be in the cis or trans configuration and A, B, Z, X, R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification and a penetration enhancer. Such compositions are used in stimulating hair growth of human or non-human animals.


A damping force control apparatus with adjustable shock absorbers is disclosed. An electronic control unit calculates estimated roll angle and estimated pitch angle of a vehicle body based on detected sprung accelerations, calculates a target pitch angle from the estimated roll angle, and determines target damping force required for front-wheel-side shock absorbers such that the stimulated pitch angle coincides with the target pitch angle; calculates rear-wheel-side jack-up force exerted on the rear-wheel-side vehicle body based on detected vehicle speed detected yaw rate and detected lateral acceleration, and determines the force in the direction for overcoming the calculated jack-up force as target damping force of rear-wheel-side shock absorbers; and controls the operation of each actuator based on the rear-wheel-side and front-wheel-side target damping forces.

Conventionally, there has been widely known, as this type of a damping force control apparatus, the one in which a virtual vehicle model having mounted at a virtual point at the inner side of the turning locus a lift-suppression-use shock absorber for suppressing a lift-up of a vehicle body and a roll-suppression-use shock absorber for suppressing a roll of the vehicle body is adapted to an actual vehicle model having shock absorbers disposed between the vehicle body and each of four wheels, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3509544.
In this damping force control apparatus, a difference is produced between the total of the damping forces generated by the shock absorbers at the outer wheels of the turning locus and the total of the damping forces generated by the shock absorbers at the inner wheels of the turning locus so as to set the damping force of the shock absorbers at the inner wheels of the turning locus relatively higher than the damping force of the shock absorbers at the outer wheels of the turning locus, in order to suppress the roll of the vehicle body as well as to suppress the lift-up of the vehicle body at the inner wheels of the turning locus. Therefore, the rise of the vehicle at the center of gravity during the turning is suppressed, so that the roll of the vehicle body is suppressed. Consequently, driveability during the turning of the vehicle can be enhanced.
Meanwhile, during the turning of the vehicle, jack-up force is exerted on the vehicle body, i.e., force in the direction of lifting up the vehicle body is exerted on the vehicle body due to the geometry change of a suspension system caused by lateral force produced on the wheels. In the damping force control apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3509544, the damping coefficients of the lift-suppression-use shock absorber and the roll-suppression-use shock absorber are suitably set by considering the jack-up force, whereby the driveability can be enhanced even if the jack-up force is exerted on the vehicle body.
However, in the damping force control apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3509544, the damping forces of the front-wheel-side shock absorbers corresponding to the front wheels and the damping forces of the rear-wheel-side shock absorbers corresponding to the rear wheels are independently controlled, in which the balance of the input applied to the front-wheel-side vehicle body and the rear-wheel-side vehicle body in the vertical direction is not at all considered. Therefore, a difference is caused between the jack-up forces exerted on the front-wheel-side vehicle body and the rear-wheel-side vehicle body, or between the inputs applied to the front-wheel-side vehicle body and the rear-wheel-side vehicle body in the vertical direction due to the vehicle structure and weight balance, so that a problem of occurring a pitching during the turning of the vehicle arises.

Vehicle damping force control with roll angle and pitch angle