A continuous data server apparatus incorporating a plurality of buffer memory units for storing the continuous data read out by the data memory control units and to be given to the communication control unit, at least one buffer memory unit being provided dedicatedly for each combination of one data memory control unit group formed by at least one data memory control unit and one communication control unit group formed by at least one communication control unit. The apparatus may further incorporate a plurality of calculation units connected in series, where each calculation unit is connected between corresponding one data memory control unit group and at least one buffer memory unit, and carrying out a prescribed calculation processing. The continuous data can be arranged over a plurality of data memory control units in word units, such that the data memory control units read out the continuous data in block units, the buffer memory units store the continuous data in block units, and the communication control unit transfers the continuous data obtained by reading out data the buffer memory units sequentially in word units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a continuous data server apparatus and a data transfer scheme for realizing services of continuous data such as video data and speech data by responding to a plurality of access requests for the continuous data simultaneously, and making parallel accesses to a plurality of disk devices.
2. Description of the Background Art
A continuous data server apparatus for handling continuous data such as video data and speech data has functions for reading out the continuous data stored in memory devices, and transferring the data continuously in real time while synchronizing in time with terminal devices. Such a continuous data server apparatus is used in fields such as a video-on-demand in which video data for a plurality of movies, etc. are stored and an arbitrary movie is transferred according to a request from a terminal, and an on-line shopping in which information on commercial products is provided in video data through a network.
In such applications, the continuous data server apparatus will receive requests from a plurality of users at random, and therefore the continuous data server apparatus is required to have a capability to transfer respectively different continuous data to many different users simultaneously.
Now, various examples of such a conventional continuous data server apparatus will be described in detail.
An exemplary conventional continuous data server apparatus has a configuration as shown in FIG. 1.
In this conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 1, an access request for the continuous data issued by a user or an application program will be sent through an inter-process communication, a communication via a network, etc. This access request is then notified from one of communication control devices 706 through a bus 720 to a central control device 710, and admitted by the central control device 710. The central control device 710 then notifies the reading of the requested continuous data to relevant data memory control devices 704, and these data memory control devices 704 read out the specified continuous data from data memory devices 702 and write them into a buffer memory device 708. The central control device 710 then commands the transfer of the data on the buffer memory device 708 to one of the communication control devices 706, and this communication control device 706 transfers the continuous data toward a transfer destination specified in the access request.
The central control device 710 basically comprises a CPU and a memory device, similarly as an electronic computer. The central control device 710 may be equipped with a communication control function for the purpose of notifying the access request, so that the access request from a user or an application program is notified by the communication control function of the central control device 710 rather than by the communication control device 706.
The data memory devices 702 for storing the continuous data are usually provided in forms of disk devices. For this disk device, a magnetic disk device is used in most cases, but there is also a case of using an optical disk or an opto-magnetic disk device, etc. Apart from the disk device, there is also a case of using a semiconductor memory device such as RAM or EEPROM for the data memory devices 702.
Now, in this conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 1, which uses disk devices as the data memory devices 702, for example, there are cases in which accesses from many users are concentrated simultaneously to different portions of the continuous data stored in a particular disk device. For instance, this corresponds to a situation in which a particular video data is contained in a certain magnetic disk as the continuous data, and this particular video data is to be watched by many users at timings displaced from each other by one minute.
In such a case, in this conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 1, the access speed of the disk becomes a bottleneck, and there is an inconvenience that it becomes impossible to transfer the data in real time to all the users. For example, in a case of dealing with video data, assuming that the continuous data are to be transferred at a rate of 1.5 Mbit/sec on average to a terminal of one user and that a magnetic disk device storing this video data can read out data at a rate of 2 MByte/sec at most, it would only be possible to realize a capability for transferring data from one magnetic disk device to ten users simultaneously at most.
As a technique for resolving such a problem associated with the disk device, a technique called striping is known. The striping is a technique for increasing an overall data transfer capability (total bandwidth) by using a plurality of disk devices, while making it possible for more numerous users to make accesses simultaneously to the identical continuous data by storing each one continuous data in division into a plurality of disk devices. By carrying out the striping, it becomes possible to construct a memory device with a wide bandwidth which can deal even with the worst possible case in which a plurality of users make accesses to different portions of the identical continuous data almost simultaneously.
In a case of using this striping technique with respect to n sets of disk devices, it is possible to take the exclusive OR of the data stored in these n sets of disk devices as a parity and store this parity in an (n+1)-th disk device, such that any data lost by a malfunction of one disk device among these (n+1) disk devices can be recovered by calculating the exclusive OR of the data in the remaining disk devices. This is a technique known as RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks).
However, even when one central control device 710 is connected with numerous disk devices as shown in FIG. 1 so as to enhance the bandwidth by means of the striping, a number of users that can make accesses simultaneously will be limited by the transfer rate of the bus 720 associated with the central control device 710.
For example, in a case of using a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus having a transfer capability of 133 MByte/sec, when the access speed for one piece of continuous data is assumed to be 1.5 MBit/sec, the data transfer will occupy total 3 Mbit/sec of the data transfer capability (bandwidth) of the bus 720 including 1.5 Mbit/sec used in transferring from the disk devices 702 to the buffer memory devices 708 per one piece of continuous data and 1.5 Mbit/sec used in transferring from the buffer memory devices 708 to the communication control device 706 per one piece of continuous data. Therefore, even if it is assumed that the bus is operated at 100% efficiency, it is going to be capable of making accesses to only up to 354 pieces of continuous data simultaneously. In practice, the bus will never be operated at 100% efficiency, so that a number of users that can make accesses simultaneously will be reduced further.
Thus, in this type of conventional continuous data server apparatus, there has been a problem that a number of users that can make accesses to the continuous data simultaneously in a single continuous data server apparatus is limited by the bandwidth of the data path such as the bus constituting the continuous data server apparatus.
For this reason, in order to realize the simultaneous accesses for so many users that cannot be realized by a single system of a conventional continuous data server apparatus, it is possible to consider a configuration shown in FIG. 2 in which a plurality of computers, each functioning as the continuous data server apparatus shown in FIG. 1, are provided in parallel. In this configuration of FIG. 2, the continuous data are stored by applying the striping among the data memory devices 802 connected to one continuous data server computer 800 (but the striping among the data memory devices 802 connected to different continuous data server computers 800 is not used in this example).
In this configuration of FIG. 2, a computer for overall control 801 receives the access requests for all the continuous data, and notifies each access request to the relevant continuous data server computer 800 having the requested continuous data. Then, the central control device (not shown) provided in the continuous data server computer 800 to which the access request is notified will control the transfer of the continuous data. According to this system of FIG. 2, it is possible to easily increase a number of users that can make accesses to the continuous data simultaneously by providing additional continuous data server computers 800.
However, unless a copy of every continuous data is provided in each group of the data memory devices 802 associated with each one of a plurality of the continuous data server computers 800, it will be impossible to deal with a case in which all the users make accesses to the different portions of the identical continuous data. Consequently, there has been a drawback in that it requires a considerable cost in providing copies of all the continuous data in all groups of the data memory devices 802 associated with many continuous data server computers 800.
Thus, in this type of conventional continuous data server apparatus, there has been a problem that a large cost is required for the data memory devices.
As another scheme for increasing a number of users that can make accesses simultaneously, which does not require copies of all the continuous data in many continuous data server apparatuses, there is a scheme using a configuration as shown in FIG. 3 in which data path from the data memory devices 902 to the communication control devices 906 is multiplexed by utilizing a massively parallel computer in which a plurality of central control devices (CPU) 910 and 911 are connected by a switch (coupling path) 921 with a large data transfer capability (bandwidth).
In this configuration of FIG. 3, memory devices 908 and 909 associated with the respective central control devices 910 and 911 are used as the buffer memory devices. Here, it is necessary for the switch 921 connecting between the central control devices 910 and 911 to be capable of handling the data transfer between the central control device 910 having an arbitrary data memory control device 904 and the central control device 911 having an arbitrary communication control device 906. For this reason, a multi-stage network such as the crossbar switch, the hypercube, or the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network will be used for this switch 921.
However, in this continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 3, the data can be transferred from a plurality of central control devices 910 having the data memory control devices 904 to a single central control device 911 having a single communication control device 906, so that there is a need to provide a function of arbitration. Consequently, there has been a drawback in that the hardware of the crossbar switch or the ATM network, etc. constituting the coupling path 921 becomes complicated, and this also requires a considerable cost.
Thus, in this type of conventional continuous data server apparatus, there has been a problem that the hardware of the switch becomes complicated, and a large cost is requires for this switch.
On the other hand, there is another conventional continuous data server apparatus which has a configuration as shown in FIG. 4.
In this conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 4, an access request for the continuous data issued by a user or an application program will be sent by means of an inter-process communication, a communication via a network, etc. to a central control device 610. The central control device 610 then notifies the reading of the requested continuous data to relevant data memory control devices 611, and these data memory control devices 611 read out the specified continuous data from data memory devices 612 and write them into a main memory device 613. The central control device 610 then commands the transfer of the data on the main memory device 613 to one of communication control devices 614, and this communication control device 614 transfers the continuous data toward a transfer destination specified in the access request. In a case the specified continuous data do not exist on the data memory devices 612, the specified continuous data are read out from an archiving device 615.
Similarly as in a case of FIG. 1, the data memory devices 612 for storing the continuous data are usually provided in forms of disk devices. For this disk device, a magnetic disk device is used in most cases, but there is also a case of using an optical disk or an opto-magnetic disk device, etc. Apart from the disk device, there is also a case of using a semiconductor memory device such as RAM or EEPROM for the data memory devices 612.
This conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 4 is based on the known fact that it is possible to construct a system with a good cost performance by storing the continuous data in different types of memory devices according to their utilization frequencies.
Namely, the data with higher utilization frequencies are stored in data memory devices such as magnetic disk devices which require a relatively high recording cost per capacity but which enable a high speed access. Here, the access speed indicates a time required for a data cue search since the data request is received until the transfer of that data starts. By means of the on-line connection of these data memory devices, the data cue search time can be shortened.
It is also possible to use the data memory devices such as semiconductor memories which require an even higher recording cost but which enable an even faster access for those data which have particularly high utilization frequencies.
On the other hand, the data with lower utilization frequencies are recorded and managed by the archiving device. This archiving device is formed by memory devices such as magnetic tapes, optical disks, or opto-magnetic disks, which require a relatively low recording cost per capacity but which enable only a rather slow access. This type of memory device usually uses a tape or disk for recording the data which is removable from a drive. Namely, it has a structure in which the recording medium can be taken out from a drive for reading or writing the data. For this reason, the recording cost per capacity required in this type of memory device is only a cost of the recording medium itself, which is low compared with the magnetic disk device, etc. in which the recording medium is irremovable. However, in this type of memory device, when the data request is received, it is necessary to load an appropriate recording medium having the requested data onto a drive, so that the access speed is low for this type of memory device.
Thus, in this continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 4, the continuous data with high access frequencies are stored in the data memory devices 612 such as the magnetic disk devices, while the continuous data with low access frequencies are stored in the archiving device 615 such as the optical disks. When a request for the continuous data which are not stored in the magnetic disk devices is received, the requested continuous data are read out from the archiving device 615 to the data memory device 612.
Here, the continuous data read out from the archiving device 615 to the data memory device 612 can be transferred to the user either while the reading continues, or after the reading is completed. In the former scheme, a time required since the request from the user is received until the transfer of the continuous data starts is shorter, but the use of the visual search mode such as the fast forward mode will be restricted. In contrast, in the latter scheme, the time required since the request from the user is received until the transfer of the continuous data starts is longer, but the visual search mode such as the fast forward mode can be used freely because the continuous data are completely entered into the data memory device 612 by the time of the data transfer.
However, in this conventional continuous data server apparatus of FIG. 4, in a case of transferring the continuous data between the archiving device 615 and the data memory device 612, the continuous data will be temporarily written into the main memory device 613, so that there is a problem that a memory region of the main memory device 613 that is otherwise available for the transfer of the continuous data will be reduced in such a case.
In addition, in a case of transferring the continuous data between the archiving device 615 and the data memory device 612, the bus will be occupied at a time of transferring the continuous data between the archiving device 615 and the main memory device 613 as well as at a time of transferring the continuous data between the main memory device 613 and the data memory device 612, so that there is also a problem that a time for which the bus is otherwise available for the transfer of the continuous data will be reduced.
As a consequence, there is a problem that a number of continuous data (a number of streams) that can be transferred will be lowered while the continuous data are transferred between the archiving device 615 and the data memory device 612.
Moreover, for the same reason, there is also a problem that, when the continuous data read out from the archiving device 615 are to be written into a particular data memory device 612, a number of continuous data that can be read out from other data memory devices 612 and transferred will be limited.
In particular, in a case of applying the RAID technique to the data memory devices 612, there is a problem that a number of streams that can be transferred will be reduced after an occurrence of a malfunction of the data memory device, as it will become necessary to carry out the operation to repair the malfunctioned data memory device and write the data to be stored in that data memory device from the archiving device 615, while carrying out the operation to recover the continuous data stored in the malfunctioning data memory device by using the parity of the RAID technique and transfer the recovered continuous data.

Continuous data server apparatus and data transfer scheme enabling multiple simultaneous data accesses


The vasoocclusive apparatus can be used in a method of interventional therapy and vascular surgery by inserting the apparatus into a portion of a vasculature, for treatment of a body vessel such as an aneurysm in conjunction with a secondary vasoocclusive device to be placed within the vessel. The vasoocclusive Vasooclusive apparatus includes a plurality of strut members connected together at a central hub that extend from a collapsed position to an expanded configuration to cross the neck of the aneurysm, dividing the neck into smaller openings, allowing the deployment of the secondary vasoocclusive device within the aneurysm but preventing migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm. The strut members can be made from a twisted cable of strands of a superelastic material, such as a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, with at least one radiopaque strand. A shape memory collar is provided for detachably mounting the vasoocclusive apparatus to a pusher member and for detaching the vasoocclusive apparatus for deployment when a desired placement within an aneurysm to be treated and out of a parent vessel is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to implantable devices for interventional therapeutic treatment of defects in the vasculature, and more particularly concerns a detachable device having multiple strut members with collapsed and expanded configurations to be used in combination with a catheter for the occlusion and reinforcement of aneurysms.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently developed interventional procedures have been used to treat defects in the vasculature which are not easily reached by surgical procedures. More particularly, such interventional procedures have been developed to treat defects that are located in small and remote vessels such as those within the brain. During such interventional procedures, vasoocclusive devices are typically placed within the vasculature of the human body by use of a catheter, either to block the flow of blood through a vessel making up that portion of the vasculature through the formation of an embolus, or to form such an embolus within an aneurysm stemming from the vessel. Vasoocclusive devices used for these procedures can have a variety of configurations, and are generally formed of one or more elements that are larger in the deployed configuration than when they are within the delivery catheter prior to placement. One anatomically shaped vasoocclusive device that forms itself into a shape of an anatomical cavity such as an aneurysm is made of a preformed strand of flexible material such as a nickel-titanium alloy. One or more of such vasoocclusive members can be wound to form a generally spherical or oval shape in a relaxed, expanded state, and can be readily deformed to fit within a small diameter catheter from which they can be deployed at a treatment site.
Aneurysms have been treated with external surgically placed clips, or using vascular catheters, by detachable vasoocclusive balloons or an embolus generating vasoocclusive device such as one or more vasoocclusive coils. The delivery of such vasoocclusive devices can be accomplished by a variety of means, including via a catheter in which the device is pushed through an opening at the distal end of the catheter by a pusher to deploy the device. By using highly flexible materials for the vasoocclusive devices, the vasoocclusive devices can be produced in such a way that they will readily pass through the lumen of a catheter in a linear shape and take on a complex shape as originally formed after being deployed into the area of interest, such as an aneurysm.
One vasoocclusive device used to treat aneurysms is a tightly wound coil that is pushed into the aneurysm through the neck of the aneurysm so that the coil forms a complex shape with the aneurysm. When an embolus generating vasoocclusive device such as a vasoocclusive coil is used to treat an aneurysm, the success of the treatment depends upon whether the embolus generating vasoocclusive device can migrate out of the aneurysm through the neck of the aneurysm, which in turn is somewhat dependent upon whether the ratio of the diameter of the dome portion of the aneurysm to the diameter of the neck of the aneurysm is less than approximately 2:1. If the dome to neck ratio is larger than approximately 2:1, the possibility that the embolus generating vasoocclusive device will migrate out of the aneurysm into the parent vessel becomes greater, posing a risk to the success of the procedure.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a vasoocclusive device that can be used with or without a stent, coil or the like, that can be delivered to an aneurysm or other body vessel in a primary collapsed configuration, where the vasoocclusive device can be deployed and released to assume a secondary, expanded configuration which partially occludes the neck of the aneurysm and which also allows deployment of an additional embolus generating vasoocclusive device such as an embolic coil within the aneurysm, and blocks migration of the embolus generating vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm to the vessel. It would also be desirable to provide a device which offers the advantages of a shape memory alloy such as a nickel-titanium alloy, and that incorporates radiopaque material in a stable configuration that is not subject to fracture during use of the device, so that the device can be visualized under fluoroscopy. The present invention meets these and other needs.

Expandable curvilinear strut arrangement for deployment with a catheter to repair an aneurysm


A holder elastically supporting a mask frame of a shadow mask has a holder body and a bimetal plate. The holder body is formed by bending an elongate metal plate in two opposite directions along first and second bending lines inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the holder body, and has an engaging portion in engagement with a stud pin, a fixed portion fixed to the mask frame, and a slope portion extending aslant between the engaging portion and the fixed portion. The holder body moves the mask frame toward a phosphor screen along the central axis, when the mask frame is thermally expanded. The bimetal plate includes a first metal plate on the mask-frame side and a second metal plate on the holder-body side, the first and second metal plates having different thermal expansion coefficients and being stuck together. The bimetal plate is located between the fixed portion and the mask frame, for moving the mask frame away from the phosphor screen along the central axis of the face panel when heated.

The present invention relates to a color cathode-ray tube, and more particularly, to a color cathode-ray tube in which a shadow mask is supported by elastic supporting members for compensating a deviation in beam landing attributable to thermal expansion of the shadow mask or a face panel.
In general, a color cathode-ray tube is provided with an envelope that includes a funnel and a substantially rectangular face panel having side wall sections on the peripheral edge portion of its effective section. A phosphor screen, including three phosphor layers that individually emit light of three different colors, blue, green, and red, is formed on the inner surface of the effective section of the face panel. In the envelope, a substantially rectangular shadow mask is opposed to the inside of the face panel. Provided in a neck of the funnel is an electron gun that emits three electron beams.
The electron beams emitted from the electron gun are deflected by a deflecting device, which is attached to the outside of the funnel, and are used to scan the phosphor screen in the horizontal and vertical directions through the shadow mask. Thereupon, a color image is displayed on the phosphor screen.
The shadow mask serves to sort the three electron beams from the electron gun by color so that they can correctly land on the three phosphor layers. The mask includes a substantially rectangular shadow mask body having a large number of electron beam apertures and a substantially rectangular mask frame attached to the peripheral portion of the mask body. At least three side wall sections of the mask frame are supported on the side wall sections of the face panel by means of elastic holders, individually, so that the shadow mask body faces the phosphor screen at a predetermined distance therefrom. Each holder has one end portion fixed to the mask frame and the other end portion anchored to a stud pin on the inner surface of each corresponding side wall section of the face panel.
In the color cathode-ray tube having the shadow mask, 30% or less of the electron beams emitted from the electron gun reach the phosphor screen through the electron beam apertures in the shadow mask body, while about 70% strike against the mask body. Thus struck by the electron beams, the shadow mask is heated and undergoes thermal expansion. When a high-brightness image is displayed, in particular, the relative positions between the electron beam apertures and the phosphor screen are shifted by thermal expansion of the mask body and the mask frame. Accordingly, electron beam spots shaped by the mask body cannot strike against or land on the phosphor layers of desired colors, so that the color purity is lowered inevitably.
Such color purity deteriorations during the operation of the color cathode-ray tube mainly include one attributable to the thermal expansion of the shadow mask body and one attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame.
The color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask body is observed in the initial stage of high-brightness image display, and the electron beam landing position is shifted from a predetermined position toward the center of the phosphor screen in the radial direction thereof. This is caused by a doming effect such that the shadow mask body, having a small thermal capacity, bulges toward the phosphor screen, since it is heated while the mask frame, having a larger thermal capacity, is hardly heated.
On the other hand, the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame is caused as the electron beam landing position is shifted radially outward from the predetermined position on the phosphor screen. In this case, the doming effect of the shadow mask body is reduced as heat from the mask body is transmitted to the mask frame so that the external size of the mask frame is enlarged, while the peripheral portion of the mask body is pulled by the mask frame.
In order to restrain the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the shadow mask body, the shadow mask body itself should preferably be formed of a material with a low thermal expansion coefficient. In this case, however, a problem may possibly be aroused by the difference in the degree of thermal expansion between the shadow mask body and the mask frame that is attributable to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient. If the shadow mask body is formed of a low-expansion material and is pulled beyond its thermal expandability by the thermal expansion of the mask frame, however, the mask body can be prevented from extending to the degree corresponding to the thermal expandability of the mask frame by giving an appropriate elasticity to a fixing portion between the mask body and the mask frame or by considering some other countermeasure. Accordingly, the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame can be also restrained to some extent. In the case of a high-precision color cathode-ray tube used in a computer display or the like, therefore, the shadow mask body is often formed of a low-expansion material, such as invar, to cope with its thermal expansion.
It is known that the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame can be corrected by suitably shaping the holder. According to this arrangement, the holder is formed of a belt-like member, which is obtained by bending a belt-shaped metal plate, and a bimetal member fixed to the mask frame. The mask-frame side of the bimetal member serves as a lower-expansion member, and the belt-like member side as a higher-expansion member. A fixing portion between the bimetal member and the mask frame is situated nearer to the phosphor screen than a fixing portion between the bimetal member and the belt member in the direction of the tube axis.
When heat from the mask frame is transmitted to the bimetal member during the high-brightness image display, according to this arrangement, the holder is tilted by the thermal expansion of the higher-expansion member, so that the angle of engagement between the holder and the stud pin changes. As the holder moves in this manner, the shadow mask body moves toward the phosphor screen, and the original electron beam apertures are corrected so as to be situated on the paths of the electron beams. Thus, the color purity deterioration is restrained.
In the case where the low-expansion material is used for the shadow mask body, as mentioned before, however, the color purity is lowered by the change of the ambient temperature. This is caused by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient between glass as the material of the face panel and the low-expansion material, such as invar, for the shadow mask body.
More specifically, the color cathode-ray tube is shipped after it is adjusted so that optimum electron beam landing is ensured during its manufacturing processes. If the working temperature is different from the ambient temperature for the adjustment operation, then it is concluded that the ambient temperature is changed. If the ambient temperature for the adjustment operation and the working temperature for the cathode-ray tube are 20.degree. C. and 40.degree. C., respectively, a temperature difference of 20.degree. C. is produced for all components of the tube.
The thermal expansion coefficient of invar for the shadow mask body, which is 1.2.times.10.sup.-6 .degree. C., is about a tenth as high as that of glass, which is 10.times.10.sup.-6 .degree. C. Thus, the degree of thermal expansion of the face panel exceeds that of the shadow mask body, so that the electron beam landing position is deviated inward from the predetermined position in the radial direction of the phosphor screen. When the ambient temperature changes descendingly, on the other hand, the degree of shrinkage of the face panel exceeds that of the shadow mask body, so that the electron beam landing position is deviated outward from the predetermined position in the radial direction of the phosphor screen.
Although the holders with the conventional construction can be effectively used for the correction of the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame, they accelerate the color purity deterioration attributable to the change of the ambient temperature. More specifically, the holders shift the electron beam landing position inward in the radial direction of the phosphor screen by moving the shadow mask body toward the phosphor screen. When the ambient temperature changes ascendingly, the bimetal member also undergoes thermal expansion, and the radially outward movement of the phosphor screen by the thermal expansion of the panel and the radially inward movement of the beam landing position are caused simultaneously. In consequence, deviations in the electron beam landing increase.
On the other hand, if the bimetal member of each holder is located on the other side so that the shadow mask body is shifted in the correcting direction against the change of the ambient temperature, in order to correct the color purity deterioration attributable to the ambient temperature change, then the color purity deterioration attributable to the thermal expansion of the mask frame will be accelerated.
Thus, deviations of the electron beam landing position, which cause the color purity deteriorations, occur in one direction when the mask frame is thermally expanded during the operation of the color cathode-ray tube, and in the opposite direction when the ambient temperature is changed. Accordingly, the holders that use bimetal cannot simultaneously correct the color purity deteriorations of the two kinds.

Elastically supporting holder for a color cathode-ray tube


Proposed is a tube container in which generation of scratches on a surface of the container can be prevented. The present tube container (100) includes a tube body (30) that defines a container space (S) for contents and that has a laminated structure. The tube body (30) includes: a cylindrical laminated sheet (31) in which both edges (31a, 31b) of the sheet are butted together; and a reinforcing tape portion (reinforcing tape 35) provided on an inner surface of the laminated sheet (31) along a butted portion (32). The laminate sheet (31) includes a high hardness protective layer (18) constituting an outermost layer, an outer polyethylene-based resin layer (21) formed on an inner side of the high hardness protective layer (18), and an inner polyethylene-based resin layer (11) constituting an innermost layer, and the high hardness protective layer (18) has a pencil hardness of 3B or greater than 3B. The reinforcing tape portion (35) includes a polyethylene-based resin layer (outer reinforcing resin layer 59) as an outermost layer abutting against the inner surface of the laminate sheet (31).

Tube containers in which cosmetic products, toothpaste, pharmaceutical agents, seasoning, or the like can be filled as contents and which can dispense the contents when being pressed on trunks of the containers are desired to have good light-shielding properties and good gas barrier properties so as to prevent deterioration of the contents, while still enjoying enhanced aesthetic appearances of the containers.
For example, Patent Literature 1 (PTL1) describes a tube container that includes a metal vapor-deposited layer and a barrier layer and that is designed to have glossy properties, in addition to light-shielding properties and gas barrier properties.


The present invention provides for an antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral filter comprising in laminations a dust collecting filter and a filter impregnated with a tea extract. The filter having nonwoven fabric is impregnated with a polyphenol tea extract, which can be easily produced commercially and is capable of maintaining a high virus trapping performance, inactivating the trapped viruses and preventing them from being rescattered.

The present invention relates to the antiviral techniques making use of tea extracts having the effect of inactivating the viruses. More particularly it relates to a cup used for gargling for preventing cold caused by the influenza viruses, etc.; an antiviral mask which can prevent the infectious viruses from entering the mask wearer's system from the mouth and/or the nose by trapping the viruses floating in the air at a high rate and inactivating the trapped viruses; an antiviral filter which is capable of trapping the viruses floating in the ambient air at a high rate and inactivating the trapped viruses to clean the air; an antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral filter which can trap fungi, bacteria and/or viruses floating in the air to kill or inactivate the trapped fungi, bacteria and/or viruses, thereby to clean the air; an air cleaner; and an air cleaner-humidifier comprising said filter.

Gargling cup, antiviral mask, antiviral filter, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral filter air cleaner and air-cleaner humidifier


The present invention relates to an evaporator arrangement for an air conditioning system of an aircraft, wherein a bypass conduit is provided which can be connected such that if required at least part of the airflow bypasses an evaporator. Advantageously this makes it possible in the case of malfunction of the evaporator to maintain the functionality of the air conditioning system.

Especially in pressurised cabins of commercial aircraft and transport aircraft, the humidity of the air can drop during flight. For example the humidity of the air can drop to as little as 3% relative humidity (% RH) at room temperature. Passengers may consider such low humidity uncomfortable.
In order to increase thermal comfort, the cabin air can be humidified in part or in whole. U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,692 describes a system which uses electrical energy for evaporating water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,014 and EP 0 031701 describe systems which use hot air to evaporate water. In these systems the water vapour is mixed with the cooled air and is supplied to the air conditioning unit. These systems are associated with a disadvantage in that the thermal load in the cabin is increased by mixing water vapour with hot air.
Furthermore, there are air humidifiers which are based on the principle of cold evaporation, such as for example the diaphragm humidifier described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,690. EP 0 779 207 B1 describes an atomiser and an evaporator with a porous dripper bed.
In particular in aircraft engineering, individual components have to be highly reliable.

Evaporator arrangement for an air conditioning system of an aircraft


A system includes a multi-stage solids feeder. The multi-stage solids feeder includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and a conduit disposed between the first outlet and the second inlet. The second solids feeder is disposed adjacent to the first solids feeder, and the conduit routes a solids flow from the first solids feeder to the second solids feeder.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for feeding solids between upstream and downstream systems.
Solids feeders are used in a variety of industries to transport a solid material. Unfortunately, existing solids feeders generally do not adequately isolate upstream and downstream systems. For example, existing solids feeders are generally ineffective at separating upstream and downstream atmospheres, which may be at different pressures, compositions, and so forth. Furthermore, separation of upstream and downstream atmospheres may be difficult with inconsistent material supply by the solids feeder, which may be particularly susceptible to variation in flow rates due to conditions in the upstream or downstream systems.

Multi-stage solids feeder system and method


A flexible inflatable hinge includes curable resin for rigidly positioning panels of solar cells about the hinge in which wrap around contacts and flex circuits are disposed for routing power from the solar cells to the power bus further used for grounding the hinge. An indium tin oxide and magnesium fluoride coating is used to prevent static discharge while being transparent to ultraviolet light that cures the embedded resin after deployment for rigidizing the inflatable hinge.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,621 entitled Power Sphere, U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,966 entitled Power Sphere Nanosatellite, U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,167 entitled Power Distribution System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,675 entitled Power Sphere Deployment Method, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,158 entitled Integrated Solar Power Module, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference, teach the use of solar cells for powering a spacecraft. The connections between individual serially connected solar cells and serial strings of solar cells have been accomplished by soldering or welding interconnect conductors to the front and back contacts of the solar cells. Solar cells use wire or wire mesh interconnects to connect individual solar cells in a series or to serially connect strings of solar cells to a spacecraft power bus. However, solder and mesh interconnections disadvantageously add significant mass to the thin film structure.
Thin film solar cells can be fabricated using monolithically integrated interconnections that eliminate the need for separate interconnect conductors for connecting a string of solar cells in series. Monolithically interconnected serial strings of thin film solar cells are readily available in commercial markets. Conventional thin film solar cells can be monolithically interconnected in thin film solar cell modules, but ultimately require connection to the spacecraft power bus disadvantageously using welding or soldering interconnects between the module and the power bus. The interconnects are typically made by soldering or welding methods to make electrical connections between the solar cells and the power bus. These welding and soldering methods of interconnection are not well suited for sensitive thin film structures due to excessive spot heat. That is, welding or soldering requires a high temperature to melt the solder or to weld a contact. This high temperature may be significantly higher than the maximum temperature that the thin film solar cell can withstand without damage during fabrication. Hence, another problem of connecting monolithically integrated thin film solar cells is the use of hot welding and soldering methods for interconnecting the thin film solar cells to the spacecraft power bus.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,284,966, and 6,318,675, and 6,127,621 teach stowing and deploying a stack of hexagons and pentagons to form a geodetic sphere as a power sphere spacecraft. The flat hexagonal and pentagonal panels are thin film solar cell panels that form a power sphere. Inflatable hinges are flexible tubular hinges used to precisely position the individual panels from a stowed position into final deployed positions forming the sphere of panels. One problem associated with flexible inflatable hinges is the need for routing power produced by the thin film solar cell panels across the hinges to the power bus.
The inflatable hinges are flexible for enabling inflation using sublimation powders for deploying space structures. The inflatable hinges do not form a rigid structure after the deployment is complete. It is desirable to rigidize the positions of the panels for accurately and rigidly forming the power sphere. Mechanical hinges can be used for rigidizing the position of the panels after deployment. However, mechanical deployment hinges disadvantageously add significant mass and control complexity to the spacecraft. Also, electrical conductors that cross the hinges are bundled together causing twisting and stresses that may lead to breakage of the conductors. Also, mechanical hinges disadvantageously require variable sizes to accommodate variable stacking thicknesses of the panels. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the invention.

Thin film solar cell inflatable ultraviolet rigidizable deployment hinge


The backlighting device (1) enables an information display element of a portable object such as a wristwatch to be illuminated from the back. This device comprises a light guide plate (7) having a front face and a rear face, a light reflector (6) located on the rear face of the light guide plate, a light diffuser film (9) and a rectifier film (11) located on the front face of the light guide plate and a source of visible light (2). This light source, such as a light emitting diode (2), feeds light beams to the edge of the light guide plate, which spread in the light guide plate between its two faces. A layer, such as a diffuser film, has a zone (10′) with opacity decreasing from a limit (25) located close to the boundary area of the light guide plate, which receives the light beams of the light source, in order to attenuate the intensity of the light crossing said zone. This zone with decreasing opacity is, for example, a shading white or black dye disposed on the diffuser film.

The present invention relates to a backlighting device for an information display element of a portable object such as a wristwatch. The backlighting device comprises a light guide plate having a front face and a rear face, a light reflector located on the rear face of the light guide plate and a source of visible light. This source of visible light feeds light beams at the edge or boundary of the light guide plate. These light beams spread in the light guide plate between its two faces to be directed for illumination of the display screen located above the front face of the light guide plate.
In the case of an object such as a wristwatch, the display element is understood to be a watch face, on which the hands indicate the time, a liquid crystal-type display screen, where time, text or image information can be displayed, or a combination of watch face and screen.
Devices for illumination from the back, which are referred to as backlighting devices, for display screens in particular of the liquid crystal type have already been described in the prior art. Such devices are encountered in particular in objects such as cordless mobile phones, portable computers or other types of portable objects in current use.
In these objects of relatively large dimension, it is generally simple to illuminate a display element uniformly from the back over its entire visible surface. To do this, illumination from the back is achieved by one or a plurality of light sources disposed to face layers of a light guide plate. These light sources feed light beams into the light guide plate so that the light is directed towards the display element. With several light sources spaced at a relatively substantial distance in relation to the visible portion of the display element, the display element can be illuminated relatively uniformly.
In the case of a wristwatch, it is difficult to provide several light sources to illuminate the display element from the back, since the area available inside the case is limited. Since the number of components to be mounted in said case must be reduced to fulfill all the desired functions of the watch, a single light source is generally provided to ensure illumination of the display element.
In the case of a traditional backlighting device, this light source is mounted in the case of the watch below the display element in a position close to the visible portion of the display element. Even if the light source is partially concealed below the display element, its radiation of light causes a halo around the position of the light source, which is visible to the outside via the display element.
Illumination of the display element from the back is therefore not uniform, since the light intensity of this halo is greater than the light intensity illuminating the rest of the display element. This is major disadvantage of such a backlighting device, if it is provided, for example, to fit an upmarket type of watch.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Backlighting device for an information display element of a portable object


A device and process for aiding the driving of an aircraft running over the ground in an acceleration phase with a view to takeoff may include determining a current speed v0 of the aircraft and a value acc corresponding to a deceleration of the aircraft during emergency braking. A distance df to be traveled on the ground by the aircraft while stopping is calculated using the expression df=(v0)2/2 acc, and a stopping position of the aircraft is calculated from the distance df and a current position of the aircraft. Thereafter, the distance df and the stopping position are presented to a driver of the aircraft with the aid of an appropriate device.

Although not exclusively, the present invention applies more particularly to an aircraft, in particular a transport airplane, that can run over the ground, in particular during acceleration and deceleration phases, with a view respectively to the takeoff and landing of said aircraft.
It is known that, during the phases of braking (deceleration) of a vehicle moving on the ground, for example an aircraft running over a runway during landing, it is frequently the case that the driver or pilot of this vehicle initially applies the maximum braking intensity permitted by the characteristics of the vehicle. When the latter reaches a speed much lower than its original speed corresponding to a stopping distance of a few meters, the pilot ceases this braking and maintains this speed until the desired stopping position is reached. This method of driving or of piloting guarantees to the pilot that the vehicle does not overshoot said desired stopping position.
However, this method has several drawbacks. Firstly, it results in increased invoking of the brakes, thereby causing them to wear prematurely. Secondly, having a phase of running at reduced speed often causes a prolonging of the time required to reach the desired stopping position.
The document GB-2 224 475 discloses a device making it possible to display a plurality of stopping distances of a vehicle on the windscreen of the latter. These stopping distances correspond to theoretical values for several predetermined speeds (the ones used most). This device therefore has a preventive role, but it does not make it possible to aid the driver during abrupt braking from a particular running speed.
Furthermore, the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,437 discloses a device making it possible to display in particular the stopping distance of an aircraft, representative of maximum braking. For the calculation of the stopping distance, this device takes account of parameters relating to the environmental conditions (state of the runway, weather, etc). This known device does not make it possible to aid the driver in the aforesaid braking situation. Moreover, the taking into account of environmental conditions makes it necessary to proceed to the acquisition of parameters related to the ground infrastructures, this having the drawback of rendering this known device dependent on said ground infrastructures.

Process and device for aiding the driving of a vehicle running over the ground


Even if business processing is transaction, a standby-type cluster system copes with double faults in a short time while holding down the standby computer cost to the minimum. An execution server monitoring thread in a standby server periodically monitors an operation state of an execution server. Upon detecting time-out as a result of the monitoring, the thread resets the execution server, stops load balancing to an IP address of the execution server, recovers transaction of the execution server, and returns to monitoring of the operation state. If normality of the execution server is detected as the result of monitoring and an operation state in an execution server management table is “stop,” the thread starts the load balancing to the execution server and returns to the monitoring of the operation state.

The present invention relates to a cluster control method and a cluster control program in a cluster system for implementing high availability of a computer system.
As a technique for implementing high availability of a computer system, there is a cluster system in which a plurality of independently operating computers are collectively handled as one computer. The cluster systems are broadly classified into scalable-type cluster systems and standby-type cluster systems. In the scalable-type cluster systems, normally operation is conducted by using all computers, and when a fault has occurred, down-scaling is conducted and the operation is continued. In the standby-type cluster systems, a standby computer which is activated when a fault has occurred is provided. The standby-type cluster systems are further classified into 1:1 standby type, 1:1 mutual standby type, N:1 standby type and N:M standby type cluster systems. Each of the N:1 standby type cluster systems includes N active computers and one standby computer. In the N:1 standby type cluster systems, high availability of the computer system and expandability of business processing (scalability) can be implemented while suppressing the cost of the standby computer. Each of the N:M standby type cluster systems includes N active computers and M standby computers (where typically N>M) The N:M standby type cluster system inherits the merits of the N:1 standby type cluster systems, and in addition the N:M standby type cluster system can cope with M fault occurrences. An example of the N:1 standby type cluster system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,724.

System and method for highly available data processing in cluster system


An embroidery unit including a first switch mechanism rotating a Y-direction drive mechanism driving a carriage having a detachable embroidery frame holding a workpiece cloth connected thereto from the embroidery position to the upright position taking a vertical disposition, a second switch mechanism switching the Y-direction drive mechanism from the upright position to the stored position situated along a side surface of the unit body 31. Further, the upper surface of the exterior cover of the Y-direction cover and the upper surface of the bed are arranged to be substantially at level when the Y-direction drive mechanism is switched to the stored position.

Conventionally, an embroidery unit for sewing embroidery on a workpiece cloth clamped by an embroidery frame has been provided either separately to or integrally with an electronic sewing machine. Under such configuration, the embroidery unit is driven in accordance with embroidery data to carry the embroidery frame in a width direction (Y-direction) and a length direction (X-direction) of the sewing machine bed to form embroidery seams.
JP-A-2002-52280 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1) discloses an embroidery frame carrier unit detachably attached to the sewing machine bed. The embroidery frame carrier unit includes a carriage removably receiving a connecting portion of the embroidery frame; a Y-direction carrier mechanism carrying the carriage in the Y-direction; and an X-direction carrier mechanism disposed below the Y-direction carrier mechanism to carry the carriage in the X-direction in cooperation with the Y-direction mechanism (refer to FIG. 8 of page 5 of patent document 1).
Provided on the main casing of the embroidery frame carrier unit is a movable case containing the Y-direction carrier mechanism and the carriage. The movable case appears as a projection atop the main casing and further extends beyond the foremost end and the rearmost end of the casing.
The embroidery frame carrier mechanism disclosed in patent document 1 requires a troublesome task of detaching the embroidery frame carrier unit from the bed in case the user desires to execute normal sewing operation such as utility sewing after embroidery sewing operation. One solution may be to allow the execution of normal sewing without having to remove the embroidery frame carrier unit from the bed. However, in such case, the movable case provided on top of the main casing in a projecting manner is likely to interfere with the normal sewing operation, leading to low work efficiency.
Also, the increasing demand to sew large embroidery patterns calls for a larger movable case projecting further forward and rearward relative to the bounds of the main casing, which in turn requires larger space to store the embroidery frame carrier unit when it is not in use. Also, larger movable case requires larger packaging supplies for packaging, creating problems such as increase in cost and effort.
One solution to such problem is allowing the movable case to be removed from the embroidery frame carrier unit on a required basis. However, such configuration additionally requires a complex mechanism for detaching the Y-direction drive mechanism containing the movable case from the X-direction carrier mechanism inside the main casing. This inevitably leads to cost increases of the embroidery frame carrier unit. Also, such detachment mechanism is highly prone to rattle at its joints, which may reduce the precision of positioning the embroidery frame and causing pattern distortions.

Embroidery unit and embroiderable sewing machine


A manually operated zipper-door comprised of a zipper and zipper track positioned on the side of a playpen and incorporated into the existing material of the playpen. The zipper-door, with the zipper located on the outside, allows one to safely and easily place a child into or remove a child from the side of a playpen. In addition, the child placed into the playpen is unable to operate the zipper-door for when the door is closed, the zipper is located at the bottom corner of the door.

This invention relates to a manual zipper-door (hereinafter zipper-door) for a portable crib, playard, or playpen (hereinafter playpen designates all three), designed to be used on either lengthwise sides of a rectangular, or any side of a square playpen.
The repeated action of lowering and raising a child into and from a playpen by way of the only current opening, the top, often causes lower back pain in the one moving the child.
The door affords one the alternative of removing a child from or placing a child into a playpen from the side, thus eliminating the common problem of back strain attendant to the same procedure performed from the top of the playpen.

Manual zipper-door for portable crib, playard or playpen


The invention relates to a freezer illumination lens system, comprising a lighting fixture, a lens connected with the lighting fixture and a mounting groove configured for receiving a printed circuit board supporting a LED light source by insertion. The lens comprises a light transmitting main portion, a first light transmitting auxiliary portion and a second light transmitting auxiliary portion. The light transmitting main portion is configured and arranged relative to the LED light source such that a major portion of light emitted by the LED light source is focused, and the first light transmitting auxiliary portion and the second light transmitting auxiliary portion are arranged along long sides of the light transmitting main portion. The invention has the advantages that the utilization rate of light can be improved, the illumination can be uniform, and the overall illumination effect can be improved.

Because of the advantages of low voltage, high light efficiency, pure color and no impurity, LED lamps are widely used in the field of home appliances such as freezers.
As an example, Chinese utility model CN 207778135U with the title 'Light distribution system for freezers' discloses a light distribution system comprising a strip-shaped LED lamp to be arranged on the freezer door. The strip-shaped LED lamp includes a lamp holder, an imaging lens and an LED chip. Both ends of the imaging lens are provided with a mounting portion. Corresponding grooves are provided at corresponding positions of the lamp holder, and the imaging lens is fixed by inserting the mounting portions into the associated grooves.
Although the light distribution system solves the problem of lighting the freezer well, the mounting structure for mounting the lens at the lighting fixture causes that the walls of the grooves block a certain part of the light emitted by the LED, resulting in the embarrassing situation that even if the LED light-emitting angle is 180°, the effective LED light-emitting angle is only 120°, resulting in low light utilization. Even if the mounting structure also has the function of light transmission, it is still useless.


Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing customizable interaction with a mobile terminal using external input devices are provided. A first activation signal that corresponds to a first function in the mobile terminal is received into the mobile terminal from a first external input device of the plurality of input devices that is configured to receive a first activating input from a user. The first function is activated in the mobile terminal responsive to receiving the first activation signal. A second activation signal is received into the mobile terminal from a second external input device of the plurality of external input devices that is configured to receive a second activating input from the user. The second activation signal corresponds to a second function in the mobile terminal. The second function is activated in the mobile terminal responsive to receiving the second activation signal.

As consumer preferences and improved technology results in smaller electronic devices, the space available on electronic devices for displays and keypads and other user interfaces is increasingly limited. In conjunction with the decrease in display and keyboard space, the quantity of functions in an electronic device may be increased. However, access to the increased functionality and/or ease of use may be compromised in an effort to decrease the size of the user interface. For example, multifunctional keys can be confusing to the user and may still not provide convenient access to desired operations.
Additionally, some functions may be relied upon more frequently than other functions. Although multifunctional keys may be programmed to directly access the regularly accessed functions, this operation may be cumbersome and time consuming for a user.

Apparatus and methods for providing function specific access to a mobile terminal via an external device


A sub-caliber in-bore device placed within a launching structure of a larger caliber weapon system used to simulate the firing and ballistic trajectory of a larger and relatively more expensive weapons round. The said device essentially comprises a smaller caliber weapon subsystem with recoil suppression mounting subsystem, traverse and elevation adjustment subsystem, firing circuit delay timer, and an electrical connection subassembly to allow communications with the launching system. This invention provides an accurate, realistic, and cost-effective training experience to the operator.

Military armament systems continue to become increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated. With this increase in complexity and sophistication comes an increase in cost. For example, a weapon currently in the arsenal of the U.S. Army is the TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) missile system. This anti-tank weapon system fires a sophisticated missile that is launched from a launching tube, optically-tracked over a period of up to, for example, approximately 20-seconds, and controlled in-flight to the target by an operator via a deployed wire communications umbilical that allows communication between the operator and the in-flight missile. Once the weapon is fired, the only action required by the operator is to keep the optical sight cross-hairs on the target until weapon impact. To effectively employ this weapon, the operator needs to be trained to maintain the target within the sights of the weapons target tracking system until target impact by the weapon. The cost to launch a TOW missile can be expensive which prohibits a large number of these systems to be consumed during training exercises. In an effort to minimize the cost of training personnel in the operation of expensive military armament systems, it has been a common practice to place a smaller caliber weapon system, which fires less expensive ammunition, in the bore of the larger launching system. When fired, the smaller caliber projectile simulates the firing and ballistic trajectory of an actual and more expensive round providing an accurate, realistic, and cost-effective training experience to the operator. The use of smaller caliber ammunition reduces cost and allows training to be conducted on readily available and less expensive small arms ranges. However, these methods heretofore do not account for the time-of-flight (TOF) of the simulated weapon and consequently do not provide the needed optical tracking time necessary for operator training. Attempts to simulate weapon systems operation using computer-based virtual video displays have been made, but these systems suffer from the lack of their ability to provide the operator with a realistic hands-on training experience under actual field conditions. Consequently, there is a need to devise cost-effective ways of providing weapons operators realistic training on such weapons systems.
This invention provides an exemplary embodiment of an in-bore sub-caliber training apparatus for use in a TOW weapon system having the capability to interface with a TOW launching system and simulate the TOF and resultant target impact point of a more expensive TOW missile.
This invention further provides an exemplary embodiment of an in-bore sub-caliber training apparatus for use in a projectile launching weapon system having the capability to interface with and simulate the characteristics of a more expensive, larger caliber system.
This invention still further provides an exemplary embodiment of an in-bore sub-caliber training apparatus capable of firing ammunition of different calibers.
The said training apparatus essentially comprises a sub-caliber weapon that is supported in-bore of the launching tube of a TOW missile. The said sub-caliber weapon employs recoil suppression and is supported via forward and rear mounting brackets designed to fit within and attach to an existing launching tube. The said rear mounting bracket comprises an adjustment mechanism to allow precise aiming refinement in both traverse and elevation of the sub-caliber weapon to ensure the ballistic trajectory and resulting impact point of the fired sub-caliber round coincides with the aim-point as seen by the operator. A ballistic timer, actuated upon firing, delays firing of the sub-caliber weapon for a time interval equal to that calculated for the TOF of the larger simulated weapon. This firing delay allows the operator to gain training experience by optically tracking a target for the time the simulated weapon would otherwise be in-flight. At the end of the delay period and approximately at the calculated time of impact of the simulated weapon, the sub-caliber weapon is allowed to fire a projectile at the target location last sighted by the operator. The impact point of the sub-caliber projectile provides the operator instant feedback on his/her targeting accuracy.
In one aspect of the invention, the sub-caliber device may be used in systems other than TOW type designs.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the sub-caliber weapon may be interchanged with weapons of other calibers.
This invention offers superior training by providing the operator realistic TOF tracking time of the simulated weapon and allowing the operator to fire multiple times at a significant cost savings as opposed to firing relatively fewer actual and relatively more expensive weapons.

Sub-caliber in-bore weapons training apparatus


A semiconductor device includes a stored device identifier that is accessible to external systems, and a stored secret key that is inaccessible to external systems. The device also includes an input, which in operation receives a system identifier, representing the system into which the device is to be incorporated, and an authorization key. An authorization unit within the device is then used for enabling or disabling the device in accordance with the values of the stored secret key, the received system identifier and the authorization key. The authorization key is typically supplied by a support center in response to being notified of the device identifier. In one embodiment, the authorization unit encrypts the system identifier using the stored secret key as the encryption key and then compares the result against the authorization key.

In computer technology, there is an inexorable trend towards miniaturisation, which is particularly apparent in the case of semiconductor devices (chips). Modern chips can contain millions of sub-micron transistors fabricated onto a single device. It will be appreciated that this leads to semiconductor devices that are highly compact, and also of considerable financial value.
It is also common for computer systems to be built around a modular structure, with a standard set of interfaces between different modules. This increases flexibility, in that a system of a particular power or capacity can be constructed by simply providing the requisite number of modules of the desired type. This applies not only to initial system design and construction, but also in terms of an upgrade path. For example if a customer needs more power then they can add additional modules, such as extra memory units, and/or replace an existing module by one that has a higher rating, for example because it includes a more powerful processor. The ability to use common modules across a range of systems also helps to reduce manufacturing and inventory costs, and makes overall management of the range simpler. Furthermore, where the modules can operate independently of one another, there may be the added benefit of redundancy, in that even if one unit fails, the system can continue operating on the remaining modules (albeit at reduced throughput).
Unfortunately, the modularity of computer system components, in conjunction with their high value and relatively small size, has made them highly attractive targets for theft. This can occur at a variety of levels. For example, a whole system may be stolen, either for sale on to an innocent third party, or for use by the criminals themselves. Another possibility is that a stolen system is broken down into its components, which can then be passed on to the open market for purchase. A further possibility is that rather than stealing complete systems, only particular modules are stolen, especially those that have high value and are easy to integrate into other systems. It will be appreciated that if computer parts appear on the second-hand market, it can be difficult to determine whether or not they have a legitimate history.
There are also various other forms of illicit activity associated with computer systems. For example, such systems, particularly at the high end, can be subject to export restrictions, especially to countries whose regimes are suspected of involvement with terrorist activities. Such states may then try to subvert these restrictions, either by buying whole systems on the open market (typically via some intermediary in a clandestine manner), or possibly by buying a range of modules, and then assembling them into a complete or workable system.
There is also the rather grey area of system or component reconfiguration. In this, legally acquired systems or components are broken down and/or assembled into different systems and components. For example, systems from a new range of computers may be nominally upgraded by adding network interface cards obtained at reduced cost from a downlevel range of computers from the same manufacturer. This sort of operation may or may not be legitimate, depending upon jurisdiction, and whether there is any misrepresentation to customers, breach of contract or warranty terms, and so on.
Another area of concern is the manufacture and supply of counterfeit components or systems. The counterfeits may be constructed from scratch by an illicit manufacturer, or they may be produced by modifying or augmenting one or more legitimate components. For example, a memory card may be formed by combining a genuine memory controller with counterfeit memory units, and then sold off as a completely bona fide article.
In addition to their general criminality, such activities can cause system vendors particular business problems. Thus they can lead to reduced sales and/or depressed prices for legitimate goods, as a result of competition from stolen or counterfeit goods. Furthermore, they can also damage a supplier's reputation and create support problems with legitimate customers who have inadvertently acquired and installed such illicit goods. This is because counterfeit components are frequently substandard in terms of quality, compatibility with other parts of the system, and so on. Moreover, stolen components, although constructed to the proper specifications, often suffer from degraded reliability. This can arise, for example, because they have been subjected to rough physical treatment or to inappropriate temperature and humidity as a result of their theft.
In addition, problems may also arise from third party reconfigurations (whether legal or otherwise). For example, if these involve components that were not originally designed or tested to interoperate with one another, then there may be an adverse interaction that affects overall system behaviour. There can also be problems if the reconfiguration is performed by personnel who do not have the relevant training and experience. (Moreover, such personnel may be reluctant, for various reasons, to exploit the official support channels).
Unfortunately, a customer may erroneously attribute operational difficulties arising from the above circumstances to the original manufacturer. This can clearly be detrimental to the general reputation of the manufacturer in the marketplace. Furthermore, the manufacturer may also be called upon to remedy any resultant fault(s), perhaps under a warranty or some other form of support contract. Of course, such contracts would not normally extend to cover stolen or counterfeit parts, but it is often very difficult to distinguish these in the field. Moreover, a faulty (illicit) part may lead to multiple problems elsewhere in the system. As a result, a manufacturer may be called in due to a general system problem, and it can be a very time-consuming process to trace this problem back to a fault in a particular (illicit) component. In addition, it can sometimes be difficult, from a commercial perspective, to refuse assistance to an important customer, even if their predicament is ultimately attributable to the (inadvertent) use of a stolen or counterfeit component.
It will be appreciated therefore that there is considerable interest in any technological measures that may be available to manufacturers to help protect against theft and other criminal activities involving computer systems.

Anti-theft system and method for semiconductor devices and other electronic components


An improved clock signal modeling circuit capable of more quickly generating an internal clock signal in an external clock signal without using a phase locked loop and a delay locked loop, which includes a delay unit for receiving an external clock signal and for outputting a delay clock sinal; a sampling unit for receiving the delay clock signal and for sampling in accordance with an external clock signal; a comparing unit for receiving the output of the sampling unit and for sequentially comparing the output; and an output unit for receiving the delay clock signal outputted from the delay unit and for outputting an internal clock signal in accordance with an output signal of the comparing unit and an externally applied switching signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock signal modeling circuit, and particularly to an improved clock signal modeling circuit capable of more quickly generating an internal clock signal from an external clock signal without using a phase locked loop (PLL) and a delay locked loop (DLL).
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Recently, memory chips which operate at a high speed have been developed. However, in order that a certain circuit may generate an internal clock signal, it is necessary to receive an external clock signal and have a certain delay process. In this regard, since the delay process has its limit, there is a certain limit to reduce the clock access time until the external clock signal is received and the data stored in a memory is outputted.
Therefore, generally, a PLL or a DLL are used in order to reduce the clock access time, so that delay between the external clock signal and the internal clock signal can be reduced, and it is possible to more quickly generate the internal clock signal than that of the external clock signal.
However, a method of reducing a clock access time using the PLL and DLL requires hundreds of clock cycles, and even in a stand-by state the PLL and DLL should be operated, so that more current consumption is disadvantageously required.
In addition, if the PLL or DLL is turned off in order to reduce the current consumption in a self refresh operation which does not access a chip, in order to access the chip again, it is required to stop the operation of the self refresh operation, and the PLL and DLL should be operated, so that it is difficult to lock an external clock signal and an internal clock signal for hundreds of cycles.


A device for converting a current pulse signal into a voltage pulse signal through a conversion from a current to a voltage includes a converting unit converting the current pulse signal into a first voltage signal, a voltage reducing unit generating a second voltage signal by reducing a magnitude of the first voltage signal, a delay unit generating a third voltage signal by delaying the second voltage signal, and a comparison unit generating the voltage pulse signal by comparing the first voltage signal with the third voltage signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to light receiving devices, and particularly relates to a device for receiving an optical pulse signal and converting it into a voltage pulse signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The optical transmission technique is widely used for transmitting signals, and there is a high demand for inexpensive optical transmission devices having a large transmission capacity. A light transmitter on the transmission side sends optical pulse signals after converting voltage pulse signals into the optical pulse signals. A light receiver on the receiving side receives the optical pulse signals, and converts them into voltage pulse signals.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an example of a related-art optical transmission device. The optical transmission device of FIG.1 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a transmitting unit 11 and a LED (light emission diode) 12. The receiver includes a PD (photo diode) 13, a pre-amplifier 14, an amplifier 15, and a comparator 16.
FIGS. 2A through 2E are time charts showing wave forms of signals observed at various points of FIG. 1. Provided with an input voltage signal as shown in FIG. 2A, the transmitting unit 11 applies a current as shown in FIG. 2B to the LED 12. The LED 12 emits light to send an optical signal, which is then received by the PD 13. At this time, a current as shown in FIG. 2C is generated through the PD 13. The pre-amplifier 14, which is an I-V converter to convert a current into a voltage signal, generates an output voltage signal as shown in FIG. 2D. The voltage signal of FIG. 2D is then amplified by the amplifier 15 before the comparator 16 compares the amplified signal with an appropriate threshold value Vth. As a result, a voltage pulse signal as shown in FIG. 2E is obtained.
As shown in FIG. 2D, the output signal of the pre-amplifier 14 is not precisely a pulse signal because of the resistor and the capacitor included in the PD 13. In order to explain this, a simple model circuit of the pre-amplifier 14 and the PD 13 connected thereto is shown in FIG. 3A with the capacitor of the PD 13 separately shown. The model circuit of the pre-amplifier 14 in this figure is a simplified circuit only to explain a basic principle of the pre-amplifier.
In FIG. 3A, the pre-amplifier 14 includes a resistor 21 and a Schottky diode 22, and the PD 13 includes a PD 23 and a capacitor 24. Here, Vcc denotes a power voltage. When an optical signal as shown in FIG. 3B is received by the PD 23, a current commensurate with this optical signal would flow through the PD 23 if there were no capacitor 24. However, the existence of the capacitor 24 delays a rise and a fall of the voltage appearing at the output node of the pre-amplifier 14. As a result, a voltage shown by a solid line in FIG. 3C is obtained at an output of the pre-amplifier 14.
A signal shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3C is a voltage which would appear at the output node of the pre-amplifier 14 if there were no Schottky diode 22 in FIG. 3A. In reality, the Schottky diode 22 of the pre-amplifier 14 clamps the output voltage, thereby providing the voltage signal shown by the solid line in FIG. 3C.
Because of the reason described above, the output signal of the pre-amplifier 14 shown in FIG. 2D does not properly reflect the transmitted signal. Therefore, the output signal of the comparator 16 (FIG. 2E) obtained through a comparison with a threshold value has a pulse length longer than that of the transmitted signal. Even if the signal shown in FIG. 2D is deformed, there is little problem when the pulse length of the transmitted signal is relatively long, i.e., when T is far greater than Te. However, when the pulse length is shortened such that T/2 is less than Te, a difference in the pulse length between the transmitter side and the receiver side becomes undesirably large. In such a case, a problem arises when a modulation scheme representing 0.5 and 1.5 using the pulse length is employed.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the output signal of the pre-amplifier 14 shown in FIG. 2D. In the voltage signal form of FIG. 4, the effect of the Te portion can be minimized if the threshold voltage can be set to a voltage Vr slightly lower than the maximum voltage Vh. Namely, even if the pulse length is shortened on the transmitter side, a voltage pulse signal having a similar pulse length can be obtained on the receiver side.
Although it is preferable to use a threshold voltage slightly lower than the maximum voltage Vh, it is very difficult to set such a threshold voltage due to voltage fluctuation or the like. The above description has been provided, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, by considering a threshold value for the output signal of the pre-amplifier 14. In reality, however, the amplifier 15 amplifies the signal before the comparator 16 compares it with the threshold value.
A photo diode used as the PD 13 ranges from an expensive one having a capacity of an order of picofarads to an inexpensive one having a capacity of an order of several tens of picofarads. When a pulse frequency of a transmitted optical signal becomes several tens of megahertz or higher, the expensive photo diode having a capacity of an order of picofarads should be used, resulting in higher prices of the optical transmission devices. This is not desirable for optical transmission devices which are mass-manufactured and used in the general-purpose computer communication.
Accordingly, there is a need for a light receiver which can reconstruct a voltage signal having a pulse length similar to that on the transmitter side in order to achieve a high-speed optical transmission.

Current-to-voltage converting device and light receiver


Anti-fouling materials may include one or more of a number of suitable copolymers (e.g., block copolymers, graft copolymers, etc.) which provide biocidal and/or fouling release characteristics. The copolymers may include a polysiloxane backbone with one or more polymers grafted onto the polysiloxane backbone.

Fouling of surfaces exposed to an aquatic environment is a serious problem. For example, surfaces of ships such as the hull, offshore marine structures such as oil rigs, sea water conduit systems for seaside plants, buoys, heat-exchangers, cooling towers, de-salination equipment, filtration membranes, docks, and the like may all experience some degree of fouling when continually exposed to water. In the case of ships, fouling can inhibit vessel performance and capabilities. For example, fouling may substantially increase fuel consumption and may necessitate extensive and more frequent maintenance, all of which raise the overall costs of operation. Fouling may also reduce ship speed, maneuverability, and range, which impede performance. On another level, attachment of regionally specific aquatic organisms on ships that traverse the world can lead to the unwanted invasion and infestation of these organisms to non-indigenous harbors. In some instances, this can have severe adverse effects on local aquatic ecosystems.
Over the years there have been numerous attempts to minimize the effect of fouling on structures exposed to an aquatic environment. For example, coatings (e.g., paints, etc.) have been developed that impede the attachment and/or growth of aquatic organisms on such structures. Traditionally, two parallel lines of coatings research have predominated: biocide containing coatings and low surface energy, "non-stick," fouling release coatings.
Unfortunately, certain biocidal coatings have been linked to environmental problems (e.g., tin based biocidal coatings, etc.). For example, while moored in harbors, paint chips and leaching have led to sediment accumulations of toxins resulting in harm or destruction of non-targeted sea life (e.g., oysters). Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved antifouling coating that is more environmentally sensitive and/or is more effective at inhibiting fouling.

Polysiloxanes with anti-fouling activity


A bearing assembly is provided for a fuel delivery system that includes a pump (10) having a housing that rotatably receives a rotor (20) carrying vanes (26) thereon, a cam ring (70) received between the housing and rotor (20), and a support member of yoke (50) encompassing the cam ring (70) to selectively vary fuel flow. The bearing assembly (80) is a journal bearing between the yoke (50) and the cam ring (70) and includes an annular surface having a central opening therethrough. The annular surface includes a first, high pressure pad (102) and a second, low pressure pad (104) substantially diametrically opposite the first pad and separated by first and second lands (106, 108). The circumferential extent of the first pad (102) is at least as great as an inner diameter of the cam ring (70). Circumferential ends of the second pad (104) are wider than circumferential ends of the first pad. The first and second pads (102, 104) are formed by circumferentially extending grooves that extend an entire width of the bearing so that the cam ring moves between the first and second pads, and thereby varies a clearance between the lands (106, 108) and the cam ring (70).

The present invention relates to a bearing arrangement, and more particularly to a bearing arrangement used to support a cam ring within a support member or yoke in a hydrostatic and hydrodynamic configuration for use in fuel pumps, metering, and control for jet engines.
PCT/US02/09298, filed Mar. 27, 2002, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference, relates to a fuel delivery system having increased efficiency and reliability over known fuel pump arrangements. Particularly, a pump of a fuel delivery system includes a housing having a chamber with an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the pump chamber. A rotor is received in the pump chamber, and a cam member surrounds the rotor and is freely rotatable relative to the housing and the rotor. A journal bearing is formed between the cam ring and a support sleeve or yoke that is precluded from rotation within the housing.
The bearing arrangement must be responsive to hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces imposed thereon by the internal components of the pumping mechanism. Known bearing arrangements require improvement to properly support the cam ring in a combined hydrostatic and hydrodynamic arrangement. Accordingly, a need exists for a new bearing assembly.

Cam ring bearing for fuel delivery system


A tensor deep stacked neural (T-DSN) network for obtaining predictions for discriminative modeling problems. The T-DSN network and method use bilinear modeling with a tensor representation to map a hidden layer to the predication layer. The T-DSN network is constructed by stacking blocks of a single hidden layer tensor neural network (SHLTNN) on top of each other. The single hidden layer for each block then is separated or divided into a plurality of two or more sections. In some embodiments, the hidden layer is separated into a first hidden layer section and a second hidden layer section. These multiple sections of the hidden layer are combined using a product operator to obtain an implicit hidden layer having a single section. In some embodiments the product operator is a Khatri-Rao product. A prediction is made using the implicit hidden layer and weights, and the output prediction layer is consequently obtained.

A neural network is a powerful discriminative modeling tool. Neural networks can be used to solve problems of prediction, classification, structured recognition, and time series analysis, just to name a few. Neural networks are applicable in situations where a relationship between the predictor variables (inputs) and the predicted variables (outputs) exists, even when that relationship is complex and temporally varying.
One type of neural network is a deep neural network (DNN), which contains many layers that are built one upon the other. Each higher layer receives as input the output from the immediate lower layer. However, it is quite difficult to parallelize the prevailing training algorithms of such networks because of the challenge of spreading the large model out over multiple machines for each minibatch. This leads to a lack of scalability and parallelization in the learning algorithms for the DNN architecture.
In an effort to overcome these obstacles, a Deep Convex Network, or Deep Stacking Network (DSN) was developed. The DSN architecture is different from a normal neural network. It is a deep classification architecture that is built on blocks of single hidden layer neural networks (or SHLNN). The DSN architecture allows one to perform unsupervised learning on the bottom layers and supervised learning at the top layers. It is thus possible to develop more efficient, batch-mode, parallelizable learning algorithms for DSNs.
To further simplify the learning process, each building block of the DSN can have a non-linear hidden layer and a linear output (also called prediction) layer, rather than two non-linear layers. Because of this simplification, the connection between the hidden layer and the output layer can be determined using a closed-form solution and the connection between the input layer and the hidden layer can be estimated more effectively using a batch-mode algorithm that is easier to parallelize.