An exercise training system for prompting a user for stereo typed exercise and recording the intensity of the exercise, the training system consisting of an electromyographic sensor member which produces a rectified and time averaged signal forming a muscle force signal, the sensor member being provided with at least one electrode that is positioned adjacent to the user's muscle group for indicating muscle force of that muscle group, and a control member having a clock for measuring time intervals, and an alerting member for alerting the user that an exercise period has started as determined by the clock for a predetermined time interval loaded into the control means, whereby the user in response to the alerting member contracts and relaxes a predetermined muscle group and the muscle force used in the exercise is sensed by the electromyographic sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved neuromusclar training system for prompting stereotyped muscular control on the part of a user and quantitatively recording the user's performance and method for prompting stereotyped muscular control on the part of a user and quantitatively recording the user's performance, and more particularly, the invention is directed to electromyography (EMG) in the use of instrumentation for the visual and auditory cues to the user as to the degree of muscular control, as a function of the magnitude of myoelectric signals associated with the contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles that is used in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of medical conditions.
The invention relates further to a system for applying EMG biofeedback and/or exercise training of an individual in an unsupervised environment in which the individual's muscular performance and compliance to the prescribed biofeedback and exercise program may be monitored by a medical or therapist authority, and the method of constructing the system thereof as more particularly described herein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electromyographic (EMG) activities and measurements are those developed or derived by transcutaneous measurements taken across the skin, i.e., on or upon the surface of the skin, by use of electrodes connected in an electronics circuit or system and fed back to the patient or subject in the form of visual and/or auditory exteroceptive signals; transcutaneous electromyographic neouromuscular feedback has proven to be an important and often indispensable tool in the acquisition and retraining of volitional control of muscular action and coordination in many areas of medicine and related therapy. EMG feedback is also found to serve as an adjunctive quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic treatment of specific muscles or of muscle groups in terms of rate and degree of therapeutic progress.
Also, recent research indicates that EMG feedback exerts a positive influence on directed exercise in terms of increased muscle mass of the exercised portion of the body, and EMG feedback coupled with exercise produces significant gains in muscle mass beyond exercise alone. Patients with immobilized fractures of body extremities, as one example, are found to suffer decreased blood flow and muscle mass in a confined limb, and which often requires lengthy and sometimes painful rehabilitation following removal of a cast or brace. Such patients are candidates for EMG feedback-assisted isometric exercise training with the EMG electrode means embedded in the cast or brace and positioned superficially over the muscle or muscles being trained.
Medical literature references are known that indicate patients being candidates for kinds of prescribed and extensive EMG feedback and exercise programs are patients having these kinds of conditions: cerebral vascular accident or and head trauma; spinal cord injuries; peripheral nerve damage; industrial accidents undergoing work-hardening for lower back or other muscles; orthopaedic and physical therapy programs involving rehabilitation; urinary and fecal incontinence; athletics and sports related injuries; and requirements for relaxation training for headache, chronic pain, psychotherapeutic relaxation, and muscle hypertension and spasm.
Various prior art EMG biofeedback systems and the like, as well as apparatus and method of their construction in general, are found to be known and exemplary of the U.S. prior art are the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,993 Gaarder
U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,355 Brudney.
Brudney discloses equipment for processing detected EMG activity such that it may be provided to a subject in a psychophysiologically meaningful manner for the treatment of disorders of voluntary movement. Gaarder discloses a more generalized scheme for exteroceptive feedback of EMG activity by converting the magnitude of the processed signal to a logarithmic form to obviate the need for constant readjustment of various gain settings potentially disruptive to the therapeutic process and confusing to the clinician who may have only a hazy concept of the meaning of various gain adjustments (Gaarder, column 1, lines 20-25, and 40-45).
These patents or known prior uses teach and disclose various types of exercise training systems and devices of sorts and of various manufactures and the like as well as methods of their construction, but none of them whether taken singly or in combination disclose the specific details of the combination of the invention in such a way as to bear upon the claims of the present invention.

Microprocessor controlled system for unsupervised EMG feedback and exercise training


An ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing and low transmitting glass having neutral gray to neutral grayish green tint and also having low visible light and solar energy transmission and a low ultraviolet light transmission, further showing an excellent protection of interior trim of automobiles against deterioration and fading, and also showing privacy protection effect when applied especially to window glass of automobiles and to window glass of buildings. The ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing and low transmitting glass comprising in % by weight: basic glass components comprising 65 to 80% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 10% MgO, 5 to 15% CaO, 5 to 15% MgO+CaO, 10 to 20% Na.sub.2 O, 0 to 5% K.sub.2 O, 10 to 20% Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O, and 0 to 5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and coloring components comprising 0.65 to 0.95% total iron oxide (T-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.9 to 2.3% TiO.sub.2, 0 to 2.0% CeO.sub.2, 0.019 to 0.04% CoO, 0 to 0.002% Se, and 0.01 to 0.2% NiO, wherein the glass has a visible light transmission (YA) and a solar energy transmission (TG) of 30% or less and 10 to 35%, respectively, when the glass has a thickness of 3.1 to 5 mm.

In order to meet the demand for protection of interior trim of automobiles against deterioration, which has been increasing with the recent trend to luxury of the interior trim, and to reduce the load of air conditioning, various glass having ultraviolet and infrared absorbing power has recently been proposed as window glass for automobiles. Among these proposed glass, for rear side window and rear window glass of automobiles, a glass having a low visible light transmission is preferentially used in view of protection of privacy. As such glass, mention may be made of the following glass.
For example, a colored glass composition for window glass disclosed in JP-A-6-503300 (PCT) is a glass having total energy transmission (T.sub.E) which is smaller than a light transmission under the illuminant A (TL.sub.A). Regarding a glass having a thickness of 3.85 mm, T.sub.E is 10 to 48% and TL.sub.A is 20 to 60%. This glass contains, in % by weight: 0.45 to 2.5% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (total iron content), 0.001 to 0.02% CoO, 0 to 0.0025% Se and 0 to 0.1% Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, as colorants.
A neutral dark gray glass disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,593 claims in claim 25 a colorant comprising in soda-lime-silica glass, in % by weight: 1.00 to 2.2% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (total iron), at least 0.20% FeO, 0.0005 to 0.005% Se and 0.010 to 0.030% CoO. This glass has a light transmission of 35% or less and a total solar infrared radiation transmission of less than 20% at a thickness of 3.9 mm.
A gray soda lime glass disclosed in JP-A-8-59287 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application) contains in soda-lime-silica glass a colorant comprising, in % by weight: 0.5 to 0.9% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.012 to 0.025% CoO, 0.0025 to 0.010% Se and 0.005 to 0.020% Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3. The colorant is used in an amount which makes a glass have a light transmission (TL) of less than 30% and an excitation purity (P) of less than 12%.
Further, a dark gray glass disclosed in JP-A-8-157232 contains in soda-lime-silica glass a colorant comprising, in % by weight: 0.8 to 1.4% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (total iron content), 0.21% or less FeO, 0.05 to 1.0% TiO.sub.2, 0.02 to 0.05% CoO, and 0.0005 to 0.015% Se.
The colored glass composition for window glass disclosed in the above-described JP-A-6-503300 (PCT) has a relatively high visible light transmission and, therefore, privacy protection effect attempted by the present invention cannot be achieved. Further, in order to obtain a desired tint, a large amount of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is used.
The neutral dark gray glass disclosed in the above-described U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,593 has a high total iron content.
Further, the above-described any conventional glass does not essentially contain nickel but contains a high concentration of selenium, whereby desired optical characteristics can be obtained.
Selenium is vaporized in the course of melting in an amount of nearly 90% of batch charge. Therefore, it must be previously added to the batch in an amount of about ten times the required amount. Selenium is, however, extremely toxic, so that using such a large amount of selenium is not desirable from the standpoint of prevention of environmental pollution.
The above-described glass has a high total iron content. Therefore, due to radiant heat resulted from heat radiation absorbing effect of ferrous oxide, temperature at a crown of a melting tank may have the possiblity to reach its heat-resistant temperature or more in the course of melting. Thus, the production of glass by means of an ordinary glass melting tank has many difficulties.
The gray soda lime glass disclosed in the above-described JP-A-8-59287 uses a large amount of Se and Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 in order to obtain a desired tint.
As can be seen that Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 is often observed as black particles of chromite stone in glass, it is difficult for Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to melt in glass, and high temperature is needed to melt. Therefore, use of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 is not preferable in a practical production.
The dark gray glass disclosed in the above-described JP-A-8-157232 also uses a large amount of Se in order to obtain a desired tint. Further, total iron content is relatively high. Therefore, the content of TiO.sub.2, i.e., a colorant for cutting ultraviolet radiation, is small.

Ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing and low transmitting glass


The details of an apparatus and method for handling cell update during reconfiguration in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment are disclosed herein. When a UE receives a Reconfiguration request from a UTRAN, it sets an activation time for execution of the reconfiguration. Where a cell update is required before the reconfiguration has been applied, the UE cancels the reconfiguration and proceeds with the cell update.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) in general, and to an apparatus and method for handling cell update during reconfiguration in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment in particular.
2. Description of the Related Art
UMTS is a third generation public land mobile telecommunication system. Various standardization bodies are known to publish and set standards for UMTS, each in their respective areas of competence. For instance, the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) has been known to publish and set standards for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) based UMTS, and the 3GPP2 (Third Generation Partnership Project 2) has been known to publish and set standards for CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) based UMTS. Within the scope of a particular standardization body, specific partners publish and set standards in their respective areas.
Consider a wireless mobile device, generally referred to as user equipment (UE), that complies with the 3GPP specifications for the UMTS protocol. The 3GPP 25-331 specification, v.3.15.0, referred to herein as the 25-331 specification, addresses the subject of UMTS RRC (Radio Resource Control) protocol requirements between the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and the UE.
In accordance with clause 22.214.171.124 of the 25-331 specification, the UTRAN may send a reconfiguration command to the UE. The reconfiguration command includes an activation time that specifies when the reconfiguration should be applied, which can be either immediately or at some time in the future, generally up to a maximum of 2.55 seconds in the future, although usually expected to be only a few milliseconds in the future. The reconfiguration procedure is considered to be ongoing until the UE replies with a response message, which would normally be sent from the UE at or shortly after the activation time.
This procedure is illustrated in FIG. 1. A Reconfiguration command is sent from the UTRAN to the UE, with a new configuration X. The requested new configuration X, typically a dedicated physical channel, is applied at both the UE and the UTRAN at the activation time, indicated by the dotted line. The new configuration is generally applied at the UE before sending a Reconfiguration_COMPLETE response. If the reconfiguration fails for any reason, the UE will revert to its previous configuration and send a Reconfiguration_FAILURE message indicating that the reconfiguration has failed.
However, if an event occurs that requires a cell update to be invoked while the reconfiguration procedure is ongoing, the current 3GPP standards do not unambiguously define the required behaviour of the UE, so potentially leading to interoperability problems. Events requiring a cell update to be invoked are defined in clause 188.8.131.52 of the 25-331 specification and include the conditions of radio link failure, re-entering service area, RLC unrecoverable error, cell reselection and periodical cell update.
The basic cell update procedure is illustrated in FIG. 2. On the occurrence of a trigger event, the UE moves into the cell_FACH state and sends a CELL UPDATE request message to the UTRAN, which tracks the state of the UE. The UTRAN returns a CELL UPDATE CONFIRM (Y) message, where Y represents the reconfiguration carried by the CELL UPDATE CONFIRM message. Both the UTRAN and UE apply the new configuration Y and the UE sends a response to the UTRAN, confirming the completion of the reconfiguration procedure. When the procedure completes, the UTRAN knows both the state of the UE and its current configuration (FACH+Y), as required to maintain communication.
In addition to the general interaction of the cell update and reconfiguration procedures, two other scenarios need to be taken into account when designing UTRAN behaviour. The first is the crossover of the CELL UPDATE command with the Reconfiguration command, while the second is the cell update occurring while the Reconfiguration_COMPLETE message is in transit. The first of these is illustrated in FIG. 3 and the second in FIG. 4.
FIG. 3 illustrates the situation where a Reconfiguration command is issued by the UTRAN but reaches the UE after the UE has sent the CELL UPDATE command to the UTRAN. In this case, the Reconfiguration command is rejected per clause 18.104.22.168 of the 25-331 specification. Therefore, nothing happens at the activation time and both the UE and UTRAN apply the cell update configuration Y. The UE then sends a confirmatory response message and a Reconfiguration_FAILURE message to the UTRAN. FIG. 3 demonstrates that it is sensible for the UTRAN not to apply the reconfiguration (X) during the cell update, but to wait until after the cell update completes. If it applies X on receipt of the cell update response message, it must revert to the previous configuration when it receives the Reconfiguration_FAILURE message.
FIG. 4 illustrates the situation of a cell update occurring while the Reconfiguration_COMPLETE message is in transit. The UTRAN issues a Reconfiguration (X) command with an activation time. This is received by the UE and the configuration X is executed at the activation time. Subsequently, the UE issues a Reconfiguration_COMPLETE message. However, before this message reaches the UTRAN, an event occurs which triggers transmission of a CELL UPDATE command to the UTRAN. Because a C-RNTI is required to send the Reconfiguration_COMPLETE message (See 126.96.36.199.c of the 3GPP 25-321 specification) and this may not be available until the CELL UPDATE CONFIRM is received, the Reconfiguration_COMPLETE message cannot be sent until the cell update completes. The UTRAN must therefore tolerate receiving a response to the Reconfiguration command after completion of an intervening cell update.
The present invention aims to propose strategies for dealing with the interaction of a cell update procedure with a reconfiguration that has already started. A number of such strategies are detailed below, denoted B0 to B6.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for handling cell update during reconfiguration in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment


The invention relates to a rotationally symmetrical fastening element with an axially centralized rounded tip for a friction-welded joint with a flat component. The tip is adjoined by a conical lateral surface, the conical lateral surface transitioning into a flute for receiving a material melted during friction-welding, and by a shoulder, wherein the shoulder surrounds the flute, is axially recessed in relation to the tip and transitions into the friction-welded joint.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rotationally symmetrical fastening element with an axially centralized rounded tip for a friction-welded joint with a flat component.
2. Description of Background Art
Such a fastening element is presented in FIG. 6d of EP 1 250 210 B1. The fastening element consists of a pin with conically tapered end, the tip of which is rounded. For friction-welding, the rounded tip is pressed onto a flat component until, because of the arising heat of friction, the material of the pin and, where applicable, also of the component melts, whereupon, the retaining of the pin and the ensuing cooling of the friction-welding site results in the welded joint with subsequent solidification. The material that melts from the rounded tip is collected by a cup-shaped recess in the flat component, into which recess the tip is rotatingly pressed with strong pressure against the component in order to achieve the friction-welded joint.
A further embodiment of a fastening element used for friction-welding is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,433 B1, which relate to an especially obtuse-angled tip, which, for the friction-welding operation, is lowered into a flat component, possibly piercing said component and penetrating into a further component, this resulting in a joint between both components, there being no particular place provided to receive the material that melts from the fastening element.
Furthermore, reference may additionally be made to DE 196 20 814 A1, in which a fastening element similar to the fastening element in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,433 and having an especially obtuse cone angle is brought into engagement with a flat component. Through friction-welding as a consequence of rotation of the fastening element, the latter finally pierces a flat component and thereby comes into contact with a below-lying flat component, this resulting in the welding together of both components in the manner similarly disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,433. Also in the subject matter of DE 196 20 814 A1, no special space is provided to receive the melted material.

Fastening element for a friction-welded joint


An apparatus that evaluates a layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit by estimating a result of planarization in manufacturing the circuit includes a unit that divides the layout into partial areas, a unit that calculates, for each partial area, at least one of a wiring density in the partial area, a total perimeter length of wirings in the partial area, and a maximum value of differences of wiring densities in adjacent partial areas adjacent to the partial area from the wiring density in the partial area as partial area data, a unit that sets ranges of the wiring density, the total perimeter length, and the maximum value from which a height variation larger than an upper limit value is expected as critical regions based on an equation corresponding to a type of the layout, and a unit that plots the critical regions and the partial area data on a same map.

Manufacturing of semiconductor integrated circuits involves generation of desired circuits by repeating exposure, etching, deposition (plating), and planarization (polishing) on wafers to construct laminate structures. Recently, miniaturization of such circuits has progressed and thus high precision fabrication has been demanded.
For example, a copper wiring that is recently mainstream is formed by electro-chemical plating (ECP) of generating wiring grooves on an insulator and plating the wiring grooves with copper to fill the wiring grooves with copper. However, in the ECP, not only the wiring grooves but also the entire surface of the insulator are covered with the copper plating, and thus chemical mechanical polishing or chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) is used in polishing to expose a wiring pattern.
If what is obtained as a result of CMP includes a height difference of wafer surface, i.e., a height variation, a short circuit in the wiring or the like may be caused due to a property variation in the copper wiring or residual copper, and performance and yield are thereby decreased.
Ease of scraping differ among different materials in the CMP. For example, by the CMP, the copper wiring is scraped to a greater extent than an insulating layer. To suppress the height variation resulting in the CMP, importance of equalizing a wiring density, i.e., a proportion of wiring to a chip area has been conventionally noted. The wiring density is also called a metal density because the wiring is formed of a metal.
Inserting dummy wirings or dummy fills is known as a technique of equalizing the wiring density, as proposed for example in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 09-081622. In this insertion of dummy fills, a dummy wiring is inserted in an area having a low wiring density, electrically independent from a genuine wiring. Therefore, the dummy wiring does not function as an electric wiring, and enables adjustment of the wiring density to thereby adjust an amount to be scraped off by the CMP without affecting an operation of a circuit formed of the genuine wiring.
Conventional insertions of dummy fills includes a rule-based insertion of dummy fills and a model-based insertion of dummy fills, which are different from each other in their methods of determining necessity of inserting dummy wirings, positions to insert the dummy wirings, an amount of insertion, and a form of insertion.
The rule-based insertion of dummy fills involves a method of determining insertion of a dummy wiring according to a predetermined dummy fill rule during or after designing of a circuit layout. In the rule-based insertion of dummy fills, a separate analysis by a CMP simulator is necessary for predicting flatness. Therefore, it is difficult to carry out an optimization taking the flatness into consideration for each circuit layout, but a turn-around-time (TAT) is short.
The model-based insertion of dummy fills involves a method of performing a CMP simulation during designing of a circuit layout and inserting a dummy wiring to optimize flatness. The CMP simulation is a technique of estimating a height variation (flatness) resulting from the CMP based on a polishing condition and a layout pattern. In the model-based insertion of dummy fills, it is possible to carry out an optimization taking flatness into consideration for each circuit layout by performing the CMP simulation, and also to estimate the flatness. However, the CMP simulation takes time. In other words, there is a trade-off relationship between obtaining the flatness precisely by the simulation to optimize a dummy arrangement and shortening the time required for designing.
In the conventional techniques, the flatness evaluation and optimization of the dummy fill rule for each circuit layout, and the processing speed have been incompatible with each other. Accordingly, it has been an important challenge to estimate the flatness in a TAT equivalent to that by the rule-based dummy fill insertion and obtain a dummy fill rule that can realize a flatness equivalent to that by the model-based insertion of dummy fills.


A toy vehicle is operated as a track-guided vehicle and cooperates with a metallic current rail device of the track via one or more current consumers. A magnet is installed in the toy vehicle which is moved by an electric motor to optimize the traction between the track and the toy vehicle. This magnet is directed at the current rail device of the track. The magnet's magnetic force can be influenced as a function of driving operation states of the toy vehicle driven by the electric motor.

The invention relates to a track-guided toy vehicle operated as a track-guided vehicle on a raceway cooperating via a current consumer with a metallic current rail device of the raceway, whereby a magnet is installed in the toy vehicle which is moved by an electric motor, to optimize the traction between the track and the toy vehicle, said magnet being directed at the current rail device of the track.
A known toy vehicle shown in DE 32 40 712 C2 is driven by an electric motor on a track having a guide groove for a guide pin on the toy vehicle, with the guide groove containing a ferromagnetic current conductor. A permanent magnet is installed in the vehicle to improve the traction of the toy vehicle by magnetic cohesion.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,393 describes a toy vehicle suitable for operation on a magnetic track. The wheels of the toy vehicle there are magnets because that targeted traction between said wheels and the raceway is the desired goal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle that can be operated on a track with the aid of a magnet such a that a properly functioning traction of the toy vehicle is ensured under different driving operation states.
This object has been achieved by providing that the magnetic force of the traction-optimizing magnet is influencable as a function or condition of the driving states of the toy vehicle.
Among the main advantages achieved with the present invention are that the controlled magnetic force of the magnet provides the toy vehicle with excellent traction in defined driving operation states. When driving straight ahead, the toy vehicle achieves a higher speed, because the magnetic force decreases with an increase in speed. The force may be zero at full load. In the braking position of a regulator with which the toy vehicle is controlled, the toy vehicle is pulled toward the track under the influence of magnetic force and the braking distance is shortened by increasing the rolling resistance and the magnetic force. The magnetic force stabilizes the vehicle in turning, namely when the person controlling the vehicle briefly moves the regulator in the direction of zero. In addition, when turning the vehicle, the drift angle and thus also the curve stability can be metered in a controlled manner via the position of the regulator. Finally, the structural design of the magnet and its arrangement in the toy vehicle can be implemented with comparatively simple means.

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


Structurally altered capsular polysaccharides are produced by mutant bacteria. These polysaccharides are isolated by selecting a wild type bacterial strain and a phage producing degradative enzymes that have substrate specificity for the capsular polysaccharides produced by the wild type bacteria. Phage-resistant mutants producing capsular polysaccharides are selected and the structurally altered capsular polysaccharide is isolated therefrom.

Complex polysaccharides have a variety of industrial applications. Generally these molecules alter the physical properties--including viscosity and rheology--of fluid media in which they are suspended. Accordingly, complex polysaccharides are used as thickeners in the food industry, for suspending waste fragments in drilling or cutting operations, and as water soluble lubricants. Baird et al., "Industrial Applications Of Some New Microbial Polysaccharides," Biotechnology, November 1983, pp. 778-83. For similar reasons, complex polysaccharides are also used to reduce turbulence of fluid flow in pipelines and other containers. J. W. Hoyt, Drag Reduction In Polysaccharide Solutions, Trends In Biotechnology, 3, 17-20 (1985). The physico-chemical basis for these effects is not understood, id. although correlations between drag reduction and the extensional viscosity of polysaccharides have been reported. G. R. Petersen et al., "Rheologically Interesting Polysaccharides From Yeasts", Appl. Biochem. Biotech., 20/21, 845-67 (1989).
Because the basis for these useful properties of complex polysaccharides is not understood, the identification of useful complex polysaccharides requires screening of candidate polymers. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop methods for producing new candidate complex polysaccharides for evaluation.

Method for producing capsular polysaccharides


A fusing unit for fusing a nonfused toner image formed on a sheet medium, including: a heating roller; a pressing roller pressed to the heating roller; a heat-resistant belt which is wrapped around an outer periphery of the pressing roller and travels while being nipped at a nip portion between the pressing roller and the heating roller; a belt stretching member which stretches the heat-resistant belt; and a sliding member which is disposed between the belt stretching member and the pressing roller and slides along the outer periphery of the pressing roller, wherein the sliding member is disposed to be brought into contact with the heating roller through the heat-resistant belt at a contact portion.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fusing unit which fuses an nonfused toner image formed on a sheet medium and includes a heating roller, a pressing roller pressed to the heating roller, a heat-resistant belt which is wrapped around an outer periphery of the pressing roller and travels while being nipped between the heating roller and the pressing roller, and a belt stretching member for stretching the heat-resistant belt and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following two types of fusing devices have been proposed as a heating-roller-type fusing device which is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a facsimile and which fuses a nonfused toner image on a transfer material through contact thermofusing. Namely, one type of fusing device comprises a heating roller whose surface is coated with an elastic body and which has a built-in heat source and is capable of rotating; an endless heat-resistant belt stretched by a plurality of support rollers; and a pressing member which wraps the heat-resistant belt around the heating roller over only a predetermined angle to thus form a nipping portion and which locally applies pressure, which is greater than that applied to the other areas, to the heat-resistant belt at an exit of the nipping portion, to thus cause distortion in the elastic body on the surface of the heating roller. The fusing device facilitates output of the sheet medium from the nipping portion (see, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3084692). The other type of fusing device has a pressing member which has a projecting section and is provided at the inside of the endless heat-resistant belt, thereby decreasing a minute pressure area in the nipping portion (see, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3480250).
The fusing devices require a plurality of support rollers and rotary bearings thereof. This renders the fusing device expensive as well as complicated and bulky; and inevitably makes an image forming apparatus equipped with the fusing device complicated, bulky, and expensive. Further, when the circumference of the heat-resistant belt becomes longer and the belt is moved over a predetermined path, the heat-resistant belt is deprived of thermal energy by a plurality of support rollers, and the amount of naturally-dissipated heat is increased in accordance with the circumference. Accordingly, a longer time must be consumed before the temperature of the heat-resistant belt reaches a predetermined level. This undesirably entails a longer so-called warm-up time which elapses from when power is turned on until fusing becomes feasible.
The heat-resistant belt is wrapped around the heating roller over only an angle which enables formation of a nipping portion, and pressure which is greater than that applied to the other areas is locally applied to the heat-resistant belt at the exit of the nipping portion, to thus cause distortion in the elastic layer of the heating roller. This configuration is suitable for preventing the sheet medium from wrapping around the heating roller. However, the sheet medium output along the distortion of the elastic layer is curled in imitation of this distortion or is subjected to deformation, such as occurrence of wrinkles, caused by local high pressure.
In addition to these fusing devices, another fusing device (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-40235B) has also been proposed. The device deforms rollers by the pressure set between the rollers, to thus form a nipping length over which a sheet medium is to contact the rollers. A sheet medium carrying a nonfused toner image is caused to pass through the nipping portion, thereby fusing the toner image. The rollers are driven by selecting a first speed or a second speed as a drive speed of the rollers in accordance with characteristics of the sheet medium. However, the heat capacity of the rollers is large, and, hence, consumption of a long warm-up time is undesirably required. In addition, the sheet medium, having passed through the long nipping portion formed by deforming the rollers with pressure, undergoes stress derived from the pressure, as in the case of the former fusing device, which in turn causes deformation of the sheet medium, such as occurrence of a curl or wrinkles.
Still another fusing device (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-4235A) has been proposed as a device which solves the above-described drawbacks. A stretching member is placed at a position which is upstream with respect to the moving direction of a heat-resistant belt and where the heat-resistant belt turns itself around a heating roller to thus form a nipping portion, with reference to a tangential line of a press contact position defined between the heating roller and a pressing roller. This stretching member is supported so as to be swayable. As a result, the structure of the heat-roller-type fusing device can be subjected to simplification, downsizing, and cost-saving. A warm-up time can be shortened, and deformation of an output sheet medium, such as occurrence of a curl or wrinkles in the sheet medium, can be prevented by reducing stress imposed on the sheet medium.
The structures of the respective related-art fusing devices that have been proposed thus far are effective means for enhancing the fusing characteristic. However, the structures are not sufficient for forming a stable nipping portion in the axial direction of the heating roller and that of the pressing roller; namely, over the entire longitudinal area of the heating roller and that of the pressing roller. More specifically, the nipping portion is slightly relevant to axial deflection of the heating roller and that of the pressing roller attributable to pressure or deformation of the pressing member or that of the stretching member, such as a twist, a warpage, or an axial torsion. For these reasons, under the present circumstances, the nipping portion is under influence of such deformation, and difficulty is encountered in preventing the nipping portion from becoming unstable. Thus, enhancement of the fusing characteristic cannot be achieved.
In addition, there may arise a case where creeping deformation arises under influence of the heating roller which is heated to a temperature as high as about 200° C. Particularly, when the stretcher is formed from a plastic material having low thermal capacity, on the assumption that the stretcher is effective for shortening a warm-up time, the phenomenon of occurrence of deflection or deformation has become noticeable, which is not preferable for forming a stable nipping portion.

Fusing unit that stabilizes a contact nip region


A system and method for bidirectionally demodulating data symbols transmitted through a communication channel. The method includes sequentially receiving and storing a first plurality of known data symbols, a second plurality of unknown data symbols, and a third plurality of known data symbols. Thereafter, a first block of the unknown data symbols received nearer the first plurality of known data symbols is forward-demodulated. Likewise, a second block of the unknown data symbols received nearer the third plurality of known data symbols is backward-demodulated. The forward- and backward-demodulation of the unknown data symbols determines quality values (figure-of-merits based on at least one of signal power, noise power and a combination of signal power plus noise power) indicative of demodulation qualities of the unknown data symbols that are compared to produce a best direction indication. Upon determining the best direction indication, either the forward- or backward-demodulation steps are repeated for subsequent blocks of unknown data symbols.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the demodulation of digitally modulated signals and more particularly, to such signals received through radio channels subjected to the interference phenomenon such as fading, distortion and intersymbol interference.
2. History of the Related Art
In the communication of digitally modulated radio signals such as are employed in mobile radio telephone systems, the quality of the signal received by a mobile station from a base station is affected from time to time by natural phenomena inherent in the use of radio signals to communicates. A factor common to most of the problems related to radio reception is that a desired signal at the receiver is too weak, either in comparison to thermal noise or in comparison to an interfering signal. The interfering signal can be characterized as any undesired signal received on the same channel by the receiver as the desired signal. Another common transmission problem in mobile radio systems used in an environment where there are objects such as buildings present, is that of log-normal fading. This phenomenon occurs as a result of a shadowing effect produced by buildings and natural obstacles such as hills located between the transmitting and receiving antennas of the mobile station and the base station. As the mobile station moves around within the environment, the received signal strength increases and decreases as a function of the type of obstacles which are at that moment between the transmitting and receiving antennas.
Another phenomenon which effects signal strength within the mobile radio system operated in an urban environment is that of Rayleigh fading. This type of signal degradation occurs when a broadcast signal takes more than one path from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna so that the receiving antenna of the mobile station receives not just one signal but several. One of these multiple signals may come directly from the transmitting antenna but several others are first reflected from buildings and other obstructions before reaching the receiving antenna and, thus, are delayed slightly in phase from one another. The reception of several versions of the same signal shifted in phase from one another results in a vector sum of the signals being the resultant composite signal actually received at the receiving antenna. In some cases, the vector sum of the received signal may be very low, even close to zero, resulting in a fading dip wherein the received signal virtually disappears. In the cases of a moving mobile station, the time that elapses between two successive fading dips due to Rayleigh fading depends on both a frequency of the received signal and a speed at which the mobile station is moving.
In case of digitally modulated radio systems, such as those in which time division multiple access (TDMA) is used, other radio transmission difficulties arise. One of these difficulties, referred to as time dispersion, occurs when a signal representing certain digital information is interfered with at the receiving antenna by different, consecutively transmitted symbols due to reflections of the original signal from an object far away from the receiving antenna. It thus becomes difficult for the receiver to decide which actual symbol is being detected at the present moment. Another transmission phenomenon inherent in the use of digitally modulated signals, such as TDMA, is due to the fact that each mobile station must only transmit during a particular allocated time slot of the TDMA frame and remain silent during the other times. Otherwise, the mobile will interfere with calls from other mobile stations which are assigned different time slots of the same frame.
One technique used to deal with the time dispersion of digitally modulated signals and the resultant inter-symbol interference is equalization within the receiver. Since an optimum receiver is adapted to the particular type of channel used for the transmission, equalization creates a mathematical model of the channel and adjusts the receiver to this model. If the receiver knows how long and how strong the signal reflections are, it can take this into account when the received signal burst is detected. In the mobile radio environment, an equalizer creates a model of the transmission channel, eg. the air interface, and calculates the most probable transmitted sequence of data within that channel. For example, TDMA digitally modulated data is transmitted in bursts which are placed within discrete time slots. A "training sequence" comprising data of a known pattern and with good auto-correlation properties is placed somewhere in each burst. This training sequence is used by the equalizer to create the channel model. The channel model may change with time, so that it may be tracked during each burst.
The training procedure within the equalizer may also involve correlating the received signal burst with one or more shifts of the training pattern to determine a corresponding number of points (both phase and amplitude) of the channel's impulse response.
An MLSE equalizer typically implements a linear, finite-impulse-response (FIR) model of the channel, that is, a transversal filter or a tapped delay line having complex multiplication weights applied to the tap outputs. The weighted outputs are summed to predict, for each possible data symbol pattern that can be contained within the time span of the channel's impulse response, the signal waveform that should be received for the next data symbol. The predicted waveforms are compared with the actually received waveform and metrics for and against the probability of each data symbol pattern being "correct" (i.e., the pattern received) are accumulated. Each metric is based on the accuracy of the match between the predicted waveform and the received waveform. The data symbol patterns that can be contained within the time span of the channel's impulse response correspond to the "states" of the system. Such equalizers are sometimes referred to as "Viterbi" equalizers and are described in J. G. Proakis, Digital Communication, 2d ed, New York,: McGraw-Hill, Sections 6.3 and 6.7 (1989).
The weights applied to the delay line tap outputs are the J coefficients, C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3 . . . C.sub.j in the equation: EQU S.sub.i =c.sub.1 D.sub.i +c.sub.2 D.sub.i-1 +c.sub.3 D.sub.i-2 . . . C.sub.j D.sub.i-j+1 ;
where S.sub.i is the predicted signal for the sequence of data symbol patterns D.sub.i, D.sub.i-1, D.sub.i-2 . . . The coefficients are usually calculated from the known training pattern. In the case of signaling by binary data symbols, (i.e., 1 and 0), the number of predicted signals that must be calculated is 2.sup.j. It is understood that M'ary (e.g. quaternary) data symbols can also be used.
Various methods for optimally updating the channel model from the received signal are known, such as that described in European patent application no. 90850301.4, filed Sep. 10, 1990. The best methods maintain a separate channel model for each Viterbi state and, when one of the states is selected as the best predecessor of a new state, the channel model corresponding to that state is updated and becomes the channel model for the new state. Thus, it is ensured that the channel models are always derived from the best demodulated data sequences received up to that time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,666 to Dent entitled "Adapted Maximum Likelihood Modulator" describes a variation of the adaptive Viterbi equalizer that does not employ channel models to generate the predictions except during system start-up, and thus does not update the channel model parameters Rather, direct updating of the signals predictions for each state, without going through the intermediate step of first updating the channel models is described in the Dent '666 patent which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Viterbi equalizers incorporate the following steps in performing their functions: (1) determining the tap coefficients of a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) model of the channel; (2) for all possible data symbol sequences that can be postulated to be contained within the impulse response length of the channel model, predicting the signal value that should be received based upon the determined tap coefficients; (3) comparing each postulated value with the actually received signal value and calculating the mismatch (usually by squaring the difference between the received and postulated values); (4) for each postulated symbol sequence, adding the calculated mismatch to the cumulative mismatch of predecessor sequences that are consistent with the postulated symbol sequence, also called "the state" (the cumulative mismatch values are called "path metrics"); and (5) choosing the "best" of the possible predecessor sequences that can transition to the new postulated state, i.e., choosing the predecessor sequence that gives the lowest path metric for the new state. Thus, the path metrics can be considered confidence factors that represent the degrees of correlation between the postulated symbol sequences and the actually received signal.
It should be appreciated that the Viterbi equalizer is a form of sequential maximum likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE) that decodes, or demodulates, the received data symbol stream. MLSE estimators and other equalization methods are described in the reference by J. G. Proakis, above.
FIG. 1 illustrates the data structure and flow within an MLSE equalizer having 16 states, the predicted signal values being assumed to depend on four previous binary symbols (bits) plus one new bit. The channel impulse response length (J) for this example is thus five symbols, i.e., the latest echo can be four symbols delayed compared to the shortest signal path.
Referring to FIG. 1, an MLSE processing cycle begins by assuming the postulated symbol history of state 0000 to be true, and that a new bit "0" was transmitted. Consequently, causing the channel model 40, the signal value that should be observed given the 5-bit symbol history 00000 predicted. This is compared in comparator 50 with the actual received signal value and a mismatched value produced. This is added in adder 51 with the previous state 0000 path metric to produce a candidate metric for a new 0000 state.
However, another candidate for the new path metric of new state 0000 can be derived by assuming state 1000 to contain the true history, with a new bit of `0`. This is because both 0000-0 and 1000-0 lead to a new state (0-0000) when the oldest (left-most) bit is left shifted out of the 4-bit state number and into the symbol history memory. This candidate is evaluated by applying 10000 to the channel model 40, comparing the prediction so-obtained with the input signal value in comparator 50 and adding the resultant mismatch with the previous cumulative mismatch (path metric) associated with state 1000 in adder 52. The two candidate values from adders 51 and 52 are then compared in a comparator 53, and the lower of the two is selected to become the new path metric of new state 0000. Furthermore, the contents of the history memory 55 associated with the selected predecessor state is selected to be the symbol history of the new state 0000. Also, the selected bit history is left-shifted and a 0 or 1 entered in the right-most position according as state 0000 or 1000 gave rise to the selected candidate path metric.
The above procedure is then repeated with the assumption that the new bit is a `1` in order to produce a new state 0001, also with either state 0000 or 1000 as candidate predecessors
The above procedure is then repeated using every pair of states, which are 8 states apart, to derive all 16 new states, as follows:
0001,1001 to produce new states 0010 and 0011 PA1 0010,1010 to produce new states 0100 and 0101 PA1 0011,1011 to produce new states 0110 and 0111 PA1 0100,1100 to produce new states 1000 and 1001 PA1 0101,1101 to produce new states 1010 and 1011 PA1 0110,1110 to produce new states 1100 and 1101 PA1 0111,1111 to produce new states 1110 and 1111
At the end of the above processing cycle, one signal sample has been processed and one extra bit has been demodulated and inserted into symbol history memories 55. There is a tendency for the older bits in the history memories to converge to the same value, at which point that bit can be extracted as a final unambiguous decision and the history memory shortened 1 bit. Other methods of truncating history memory growth are known to the art, such as taking the oldest bit from the state having the lowest path metric. If memory is sufficient, bits need not be extracted until all received values have been processed.
It will be understood that the MLSE equalizer recognizes that some sequences of data symbol patterns, and thus some sequences of predicted waveforms, are not valid. For example, a prediction that the channel carried the binary data symbol pattern 10010 at one instant (i.e, one bit period) and a prediction that the channel carried the binary data symbol pattern 11001 at the next instant (i.e., the next bit period) are inconsistent because the pattern 10010 can be followed only by the patterns 00100 or 00101 (assuming a left-shift in passing through the channel.) Also under such conditions, each of the 00100 and 00101 patterns can have only either 10010 or 00010 as predecessors. Thus, a set of transition rules constrains the number of ways the metrics can be sequentially accumulated for each sequence of predicted waveforms.
It will be appreciated that such prior demodulators operate on the received signal only in the forward direction: a received training pattern is used to develop predicted waveforms for yet-to-be-received data symbols. If the training pattern is lost or excessively distorted due to severe channel fading, intersymbol interference, frequency errors, etc., such forward demodulators must wait until the next training pattern is successfully received before they are able to demodulate accurately. As a result, data sent in the intervening periods between training patterns can be lost.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,250 to Dent et al. entitled "Method and Apparatus for Bidirectional Demodulation of Digitally Modulated Signals" a technique is disclosed and claimed for minimizing the loss of data sent during intervening periods between training patterns. This technique includes the demodulation of intervening data not only forward from a received training pattern but also backwards from the next received training pattern. In general, this technique is implemented by storing a sequence of received signal samples, time-reversing the stored sequence, and estimating quality factors for both forward and backward demodulation of the stored and time reversed sequence, respectively, to determine how many data symbols should be decoded by forward demodulation and how many should be decoded by backward demodulation.
In the technique set forth in the '250 patent, the criterion decide which direction to continue demodulation from the training pattern is based upon the metric in the MLSE equalizers which is typically related to the noise level within the received data. Since the demodulated she demodulated signal depends not only upon the level of noise but also the signal strength, a technique for determining which direction to demodulate from the training pattern which considers other parameters related to both signal strength and noise results in a better performance. The system of the present invention incorporates such a technique.

Method and apparatus for bidirectional demodulation of digitally modulated signals


An electrochemical cell electrode plate includes a laminar and preferably laminated assembly of at least two substantially identically configured plate-shaped components of an electrically conductive high-strength material, each including a fluid-pervious central portion and a solid frame portion integral with and surrounding the central portion. At least one through aperture is provided in the frame portion and forms a continuous fluid-flow conduit with the corresponding aperture of the other component. The frame portion of each of the components has at least one channel therein that is situated between the aperture and the central portion and opens onto the first major surface. The channels of the two components may be constituted by interrupted rows of mutually staggered slots that complement each other into a continuous passage that establishes communication between the aperture and at least one of the spaces of the central portion of one of the components.

There are already known various constructions of electrochemical cell devices; most if not all of which include a multitude of individual electrochemical cells that are arranged in groups or stacks. Depending on their intended use, such electrochemical cell devices fall in two categories: electrolysis cells in which water or another liquid substance is electrolytically dissociated into its components (oxygen and hydrogen when the substance is water), or fuel cells in which hydrogen or other gaseous fuel and oxygen are catalytically combined, usually in order to generate electricity in the process.
While these two kinds of electrochemical cell devices may be different in some respects, given the different tasks to be performed by them, they also have many features in common. As is well known, each cell of any such device includes an anode electrode plate, a cathode electrode plate, and an electrolyte confinement body (membrane or porous matrix) which contains a quantity of electrolyte or other ion transfer or exchange medium and is disposed at least between active areas of the anode and cathode electrode plates. To enable or enhance the electrochemical reaction, a layer containing a quantity of a catalyst, such as platinum, is typically present at each of the interfaces between the respective electrode plate and the electrolyte confinement body. An electrically conductive separator plate or a similar plate-shaped member (such as a cooling device) is usually interposed between the cathode and anode electrode plates of the respective adjacent cells to separate such cells from one another at least as far as fluid transfer therebetween is concerned.
When the electrochemical device is constructed and operated to perform electrolysis of water, water has to be supplied into the cell and to at least one of the active areas. In operation, electrolytic reaction takes place in the respective cell upon application of different electrical potentials to its electrode plates, resulting in the generation of product gases (hydrogen and oxygen) at the respective active areas of the respective electrode plates. Such gases have to be separately conducted away from such active areas and eventually separately discharged from the cell. On the other hand, when the device is to serve as an electric power generator, hydrogen (or another gaseous fuel) and oxygen (as such or as an ingredient of air) have to be separately admitted into the cell and separately distributed over the active areas of the anode and cathode electrode plates, respectively, whereupon an electrochemical reaction occurs resulting in the creation of an electrical potential difference between the anode and cathode electrode plates. This potential difference is utilized, in conjunction with that created in the other fuel cells arranged in the stack, to supply electric power to an external user device or circuit. The water that is formed in the cell as the reaction product must be conveyed away from the location at which it is produced and ultimately removed from the fuel cell.
It may be seen that, in each case, provisions have to be made not only for separate admission of the respective starting substance(s) to and discharge of the respective product(s) from the cathode and anode portions or sides of each of the cells, but also for substantially uniform distribution of each such substance over the respective active area and removal of each such product from all regions of the affected active area. The latter task is typically accomplished by providing at least those otherwise solid regions of the electrode plates which underlie the active areas with interconnected passageways that open onto the affected active areas and communicate with respective admission or discharge passages, such as by giving each of such regions a porous structure. Besides providing for an orderly management of flow of the various fluids toward or away from the active areas and providing electrically conductive paths between the active areas and the electrically conductive separator plates or similar plate-shaped components, this approach achieves a pronounced advantage of such electrode plate regions serving as supports for the electrolyte confinement body that prevent such body from buckling or other deformation that may adversely affect the operation or integrity of such a body and, consequently, of the electrochemical cell and/or device as a whole.
Especially when the electrochemical device is constructed to employ a solid electrolyte membrane as the electrolyte confinement body in each of its cells, it has to be operated at high, and often very high, superatmospheric pressures. While this requirement would not create any problems were the entire device (that is, both its interior and its exterior) subjected to only negligibly different pressures, for instance, by accommodating the device in a confining vessel and maintaining the pressure in the vessel around the device at the same level as, or at a level acceptably lower (or higher) than, that prevailing in the interior of the device, the provision of such a confining vessel significantly adds to the complexity and cost of the equipment and, moreover, considerably increases the overall dimensions and weight of the equipment, which makes this approach unsuited for use in applications where either the amount of available space, or the acceptable weight, or both, are either limited or at a premium.
On the other hand, when such pressure equalization measures cannot be taken, the existence of the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of the electrochemical device imposes considerable strains on the peripheral portions of the individual cells and also puts high demands on the fluid impermeability of the various components of the electrochemical cell device and the interfaces therebetween.
To deal with the various requirements mentioned above, it has already been proposed to construct the electrode plates in such a manner that each of them includes a solid, fluid-impervious annular frame that constitutes the peripheral portion, and a fluid pervious (and electrically conductive) central portion that fills the space bounded by the frame. The interfaces between the frames are then properly sealed, usually by interposing discrete seals between such frames.
In at least one known cell construction employing these principles, each of the frames (as well as each of the intermediate separator plates or similar plate-shaped intermediate members) includes a plurality of through apertures or slots that are aligned, in the assembled condition of the electrochemical device, with corresponding slots or apertures of the other components to collectively constitute respective fluid supply and discharge conduits or manifolds. Moreover, it is necessary to provide individual connecting passages in each of the electrode plate frames to establish communication in the assembled device between the thus formed manifolds and the voids in the central portions of the appropriate ones of the electrode plates.
The making of such passages does not pose much of a problem when the frame is of a highly elastic material, especially a synthetic plastic material such as polyimide, inasmuch as the electrode plate or the frame can then be bent, without undergoing permanent deformation, out of the way to gain easy access to the respective portion of internal surface of the frame from which a material-removing operation such as drilling is to be conducted to form the respective passage leading to and terminating in the associated manifold.
Yet, despite the fact that there is a pronounced need or desire for operating electrochemical cell devices, especially those of the solid electrolyte type, at relatively high internal pressures, there is a limit to the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of the device, beyond which materials of this kind are no longer suited for use. On the other hand, most if not all other materials that would satisfy the requirements put on them in the environment of such a device in all other respects while being additionally capable of withstanding higher pressure differentials, especially metallic materials, are not amenable to this passage forming expedient, so that other, more expensive, approaches would have to be used to produce such passages. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrochemical cell device including a stack of juxtaposed individual cells, which device does not possess the disadvantages of the known devices of this kind.
Still another object of the present invention is to devise an electrochemical cell device of the type here under consideration that would be capable of operation at a very high pressure differential between the interior and the exterior thereof.
It is yet another object of the present invention so to develop the electrochemical cell device of the above type as to assure easy and reliable assembly thereof and, when assembled and operated, the desired flow of the starting substance(s) and reaction product(s) between the respective manifolds and the respective internal regions of the device and proper distribution of the starting substance(s) to the active area(s) of the electrode(s).
A concomitant object of the present invention is to design the device of the above type in such a manner as to be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and yet reliable in operation.

High pressure electrochemical cell structure


A low leakage solid state switch for range-changing uses a pair of low leakage diodes switched to a reference voltage to block leakage through the switch when it is in the "off" state.

The present invention relates to low leakage solid state switches and, in particular, to solid state switches used in range-changing networks in electrical measurement devices.
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical range-changing circuit for a high impedance and/or low current, current measurement device is generally indicated by the numeral 10.
The noninverting input of the operational amplifier 12 is connected to a reference potential for the measurement (i.e., the measurements on a device under test are made with respect to V.sub.F). The inverting input of the amplifier 12 is connected to a test point on the device under test. In order to appropriately scale the input current from the test point, a range-changing network is provided between the output of the amplifier 12 and the inverting input of the amplifier 12. The range-changing network includes a series of parallel branches, each including a switch and a range impedance. For example, the switches 14, 16, 18 are each located in a range-changing network branch having a range impedance 20, 22, 24, respectively. The switches 14, 16, 18 may be, for example, reed relays. The range impedances 20, 22, 24 may be, for example, 2 G.OMEGA., 20 G.OMEGA., 200 G.OMEGA., respectively. To select a range, one of the switches 14, 16, 18 is turned "on" and the rest turned "off".
It should also be noted that the feedback from the output of the amplifier 12 through the range-changing network forces the inverting input of the amplifier 12 to V.sub.F.
Ideally, the switches 14, 16, 18 have infinite impedance when they are "off" and zero impedance when they are "on". It is possible to closely approximate this ideal behavior with reed relays.
However, reed relays are expensive, take up substantial space and provide a source of mechanical failures. Solid state switches can be smaller, cheaper and more reliable. Unfortunately, prior art solid state switches tend to be leaky when they are "off". As a result, they have not been suitable where measurements on the order of 10 picoamperes or less are desired.


In order to improve workability of an operation to adjust the interval between two members, leveling devices (3) support an air rail (2) on base frames (1), and adjust the height of the air rail (2) with respect to the base frames (1). The leveling devices (3) have: disc spring groups (31) which expand and contract in the height direction of the air rail (2) with respect to the base frames (1); a columnar indenter (32), in which a stepped through-hole (324) for inserting a bolt (4) is formed from one end face (321) to the other end face (323), with a first edge part (322) formed outward on the one end face (321) side; a columnar spring guide (33), in which a through-hole (334) for inserting the bolt (4) is formed from one end face (331) to the other end face (333), with a flange part (332) formed outward on the one end face (331) side; and a tubular housing (34) in which a second edge part (342) is formed inward at one opening (341) thereof.

As a floating transportation apparatus that transports an object such as a substrate used for a flat-panel display (FPD) in a state of being floated above a transportation surface, a substrate transportation apparatus described in the Patent Document 1 is known.
This floating transportation apparatus transports a substrate in the direction of transportation while floating the substrate as the object of transportation by blowing compressed air from transportation surfaces of arranged floating blocks. Here, to allow adjustment of respective heights and flatness of the floating blocks, the floating blocks are fixed on respective movable plates by screws, so that an interval between each movable plate and a fixed plate can be adjusted at three points.
In detail, a movable plate, which projects from both sides of the bottom of each floating block, has female threads at three positions in total. The fixed plate has female threads at positions opposite to the female threads of each movable plate, and a pitch of the female threads of the fixed plate is different from that of the female threads of the movable plate. Further, an adjust screw, which has male thread portions screwable into the female threads of the movable plate and the fixed plate, is screwed into each pair of opposite female threads in a state that the adjust screw is inserted in a spring placed between the movable plate and the fixed plate. A worker can adjust the interval between a movable plate and the fixed plate by inserting a tool between adjacent floating blocks and turning an adjust screw so as to increase or decrease the interval by the distance corresponding to the difference between the pitches of the female threads of both the plates.

Interval adjustment device and transport device using same


A method of generating a plurality of potential network topologies is provided herein. The method includes receiving parameters that specify a number of servers, a number of switches, and a number of ports in the switches. The parameters are for configuring a network topology. The method also includes generating one or more potential network topologies comprising the set of potential network topologies, for each of a number of dimensions. The number of dimensions is based on the number of switches. The method further includes determining that the set of potential network topologies is structurally feasible. Additionally, the method includes determining an optimal link aggregation (LAG) factor in each dimension of each of the set of potential network topologies.

Network topologies are typically tree-based, and do not provide path diversity, or high bandwidth. However, multipath topologies, which are inherently redundant, may provide both. For example, HyperX topologies are an extension of hypercube and flattened butterfly topologies. HyperX topologies provide a large number of paths between any two end-points, and can provide improvements in bandwidth over typical topologies. However, choosing a cost-effective topology is challenging because the various parameters for configuration create a large design space. The potential network topologies that may be created for a specific set of servers and switches is numerous. Further, these parameters have complex interactions amongst themselves, which makes the design space computationally complex to resolve. Additionally, the physical layout of datacenter racks housing servers in such networks may affect certain settings that influence performance. Generating HyperX topologies in a way that is less computationally complex would be useful in creating multipath networks with greater bandwidth.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system and method for conserving vacuum within a vehicle is described. In one example, vacuum is conserved via limiting volume expansion of a brake booster working chamber.

Vacuum may be used in a vehicle to apply motive force in vehicle systems. For example, vacuum may be used to apply vehicle brakes, operate a turbocharger waste gate, and adjust valve positions in heating and ventilation ducts. However, vacuum in vehicle systems is becoming a less available resource due to the trend of engine downsizing and variable valve timing to improve vehicle fuel economy.
One of the more significant consumers of vacuum in a vehicle is the vehicle brake system. Vacuum is used in a brake booster to apply brakes. In particular, vacuum is applied to both sides of a brake booster diaphragm when brakes are not applied. Pressure equalization across the diaphragm allows the diaphragm to return to a position where a piston in the master cylinder does not increase brake line pressure. When the brakes are applied, vacuum on a working side of the diaphragm is displaced with ambient air while vacuum remains present on the vacuum side of the diaphragm. Consequently, a pressure differential is produced across the diaphragm that motivates the diaphragm to apply force to the piston in the master cylinder, thereby increasing brake pressure and applying the brakes.
During vehicle braking, a driver receives visual and physical cues that allow the driver to know whether or not a proper amount of force is being applied to the brake pedal to provide the desired braking amount or level. However, when the vehicle is stopped, the driver receives much less information regarding whether or not braking force is adequate or more than is desired to keep the vehicle from moving. Consequently, the driver may apply more brake force than is desired to keep the vehicle from moving. As a result, more vacuum than is desired may be consumed when the vehicle is stopped.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and have developed a method for conserving vacuum, comprising: limiting a brake line pressure increase at a wheel brake in response to an increasing in brake pedal force when a vehicle is stopped.
By limiting a brake line pressure increase, it may be possible to reduce vacuum consumption in a vehicle. Specifically, pressure in brake lines supplying wheel brakes may be limited via closing a valve located between a master cylinder piston and wheel brakes. Closing the valve limits master cylinder piston motion because brake fluid between the master cylinder piston and valve is nearly incompressible, thereby limiting master cylinder piston motion when the valve is closed and the brake is applied. The master cylinder piston is also mechanically coupled to a diaphragm in the brake booster that separates a brake booster working chamber from a brake booster vacuum chamber. Consequently, brake booster diaphragm motion is limited when master cylinder piston motion is limited. The brake booster diaphragm defines one side of the brake booster working chamber, and brake booster working chamber volume is substantially fixed (e.g., changes by less than 10% of total brake booster volume) when motion of the diaphragm is limited via the master cylinder piston. As a result, a driver may only decrease vacuum in the working chamber to an extent determined by the volume of the brake booster working chamber, which is related to the brake booster diaphragm position. In this way, vehicle brakes may be applied to provide a desired amount of braking force while brake booster vacuum consumption is limited.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may conserve vacuum in a vehicle so that the vehicle's engine operates for less time at low intake manifold pressures. The approach may also conserve fuel since the engine may be able to operate more efficiently at higher intake manifold pressures for longer periods of time. Additionally, the approach conserves vacuum responsive to vehicle operating conditions such as road grade and vehicle mass.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for reducing vacuum consumption in a vehicle


A process and apparatus is described for the production of purified fullerenes using a non-reactive gas to collect and transport impure fullerenes from an evaporation zone to a heated filter zone in which solid impurities may be filtered out of the mixture. If one or more condensed fullerenes are present in the gas stream entering the filter zone, such condensed fullerenes may be vaporized in the filter zone and carried to a condensation zone in which one or more vaporized fullerenes may be recovered. When more than one vaporized fullerene is present in the gas entering either the filter zone or the condensation zone, a temperature gradient may be used to permit separation and recovery of purified portions of different fullerenes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for forming, recovering, and separating fullerenes. More particularly, this invention relates to a process and apparatus for making a mixture of impure fullerenes, transporting the mixture via a non-reactive gas to a heated filter zone, filtering out solid impurities from the vaporized fullerenes, thermally separating the fullerenes in the vapor phase, and then condensing and recovering the fullerenes.
2. Description of the Related Art
The formation of fullerene structures has been reported by the formation of soot from the evaporation of graphite electrodes in an evaporation chamber. The soot is scraped from the walls of the chamber and the fullerenes produced in the soot are separated from the remaining carbon forms therein by dissolving the fullerenes in a solvent such as benzene or toluene, and then separating this solution from the undissolved soot. The solvent is then evaporated to recover the fullerenes.
Such fullerene formation and recovery methods are described, for example, by Kratschmer et al. in "Solid C.sub.60 : A New Form of Carbon", published in Nature, Volume 247, pp 354-357, on Sep. 27, 1990; and by Y. K. Bae et al. in "Production, Characterization, and Deposition of Carbon Clusters", prepared for the Symposium on Clusters and Cluster Assembled Materials Special Session on Buckminsterfullerenes, in Boston, MA on Nov. 29, 1990, and published in The Proceedings of the 1990 Meeting of the MRS Society.
Such fullerenes, after formation and recovery by methods such as described above, are then separated from one another, if desired, i.e., purified, so that each may be independently used. Conventionally, such a separation is carried out using column chromatographic procedures.
However, while such techniques have been satisfactory for producing small quantities of fullerenes for experimental purposes, there remains a need for a process wherein larger quantities of fullerenes can be reliably produced, so that they may be utilized for commercial purposes such as, for example, in superconducting materials, in fullerene based chemicals, in polymers, etc.

Process and apparatus for producing and separating fullerenes


A microcontroller system includes a microcontroller, a device which is controllable by the microcontroller, and a monitoring device. Under the control of a normal operation program, the microcontroller outputs a normal operation indicating signal. If the normal operation indicating signal is absent, the monitoring device transfers the device into a secured state and, if it is absent over a predefined period of time, locks the device in that state. When predefined exceptional conditions occur, the microcontroller changes to an operation preparation program, and the monitoring device increments a register. If the contents of the register reach a predefined value, the monitoring device locks the device in the secured state.

Microcontroller systems of that kind are used to control diverse systems that are relevant to safety in motor vehicles, such as anti-lock braking systems, attitude control systems, hydraulic brake systems etc., the monitoring device serving to transfer the controlled device, such as a vehicle brake, attitude control actuators or the like, into a secured state when absence of the normal operation indicating signal indicates that the execution of the normal operation program by the microcontroller is defective and hence the operating reliability of the system as a whole is not guaranteed.
Absence of the normal operation indicating signal may be caused by the microcontroller having entered an undefined state, that is to say having crashed, as a result of a program error, or by the normal operation program having registered the existence of exceptional conditions and having triggered a complete or partial repetition of the operation preparation program to remedy those conditions.
In order that such a repetition may be carried out and normal operation may subsequently be resumed automatically, the transfer into the secured state when the normal operation indicating signal is absent is initially not yet final, so that, if the normal operation indicating signal returns within a predefined period of time, the controlled device is able to return from the secured state to its fully functioning operating state. Only when the normal operation indicating signal is missing for longer than the predefined period of time is the controlled device locked in the secured state, thus making a return to the fully functioning operating state impossible without external intervention.
If, for example, owing to an error in the programs of the microcontroller, execution of the normal operation program constantly leads to the occurrence of exceptional conditions, a conventional microcontroller system of that kind enters an endless loop which rotates through exceptional condition, repetition of the operation preparation program and execution of the normal operation program back to re-occurrence of the exceptional condition.

Microcontroller system and operating method for secure device locking using counter and timer


A toner manufacturing process capable of providing a toner with uniform charge amounts. A mixture of a synthetic resin having an acidic leaving group and a coloring agent as essential components is emulsified in an aqueous solution to produce synthetic resin particles containing the coloring agent. If desired, the resin particles are further aggregated to form aggregated resin particles. The synthetic resin particles are then separated, washed and dried. The washing of the toner particles is conducted using a washing water prepared by dissolving carbon dioxide in water with a conductivity of not more than 20 μS/cm.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a toner for the development of electrostatic latent image during the image formation by an electrophotographic method, for example. More particularly, the invention relates to a process whereby a mixture containing at least a synthetic resin with an acidic leaving group and a coloring agent is rendered water-dispersible by neutralizing the acidic leaving group in the synthetic resin with amine or alkali. The mixture is then mixed, stirred, and emulsified in an aqueous solution to produce a synthetic resin particle containing the coloring agent. The synthetic resin particle is preferably further aggregated to produce an aggregated resin particle, which is then washed.
2. Background Art
Two kinds of electrostatic latent image developer are known. One is the two-component developer that contains a toner particle and a carrier particle, and the other is the one-component developer containing a magnetic toner particle or a non-magnetic toner particle. The process for manufacturing developer toner particles can be divided into a dry process and a wet process. The dry process includes a pulverizing method whereby a binding resin and a coloring agent, for example, are kneaded, pulverized and then classified. The wet process includes a polymerization method whereby a coloring agent or the like is added during the polymerization of a binding resin. The wet process also includes an emulsion polymerization condensation method whereby a resin dispersion liquid is prepared by emulsion polymerization. The resin dispersion liquid is then mixed with a coloring-agent dispersion liquid comprising a solvent in which a coloring agent or the like is dispersed. The resultant aggregated particle is then heated and fused, thereby obtaining a toner. Another example of the wet process, a phase-inversion emulsification method, is disclosed in JP Patent No. 3063269. In this method, a coloring agent is dispersed and mixed in a solution in which a resin having an acidic group is dissolved in an organic solvent, and then the acidic group of the resin is neutralized by a base, thereby preparing a coloring-agent mixture. Water is added to emulsify the mixture, such that an encapsulated particle is produced in the water medium, which is then dried to obtain a toner.
If the wet process involves the step of producing a toner particle in an aqueous solution, impurities, such as a dispersing agent, emulsifier or flocculating agent, are used for the granulation of toner. As a result, the charging characteristics of the obtained toner has variations such that the amount of charge greatly differs depending on the environment in which the toner is used. It would also take time to remove these impurities by washing, which would require a large volume of water for washing.


In a data communications system a remote data source outputs data as a series of application data units (ADUs). Each ADU is individually encrypted with a different key. The keys are transmitted (for example using Internet multicasting) via a communications network to one or more customer terminals. At the terminals a sequence of keys is generated for use in decrypting the ADUs. A record is kept of the keys generated, and this record may subsequently be used to generate a receipt for the data received by the customer. The keys may be generated, and the record stored within a secure module such as a smartcard.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a data communications system, and in particular to the control of access by users to copies of digitally encoded data. It is applicable, for example, to the control of data multicast on the internet.
2. Description of Related Art
Multicasting routing techniques have been developed to allow multiple copies of a data item to be distributed efficiently to a large number of end users. However, for such techniques to be exploited commercially, it necessary to control selectively access by users to the data. For example, in an application in which selected stock market prices are multicast via the internet to subscribers, it is necessary to ensure that the data is accessed only by users who have paid the relevant subscription. This might be achieved by encrypting the data and only releasing the relevant key to the user in return for the subscription payment. However, whenever one user's subscription expires, after a fixed length of time or after a predetermined quantity of data has been received, it would be necessary to change the key for all the users, in order to exclude the one user. In such a situation, the traffic associated with key distribution becomes a significant operating overhead, and may even exceed the traffic for the data itself.

British Telecommunications public limited company


A cubic form of C.sub.3 N.sub.4 with a zero-pressure bulk modulus exceeding that of diamond. The product is prepared by combining carbon and nitrogen at a pressure of 120,000 to 800,000 atmosphere and a temperature of 1000-3000.degree. C.

Intense theoretical and experimental interest has been focused on the possibility of new low-compressibility materials with bulk moduli and hardness exceeding that of diamond. Carbon nitrides have been proposed as superhard materials on the basis of empirical systematics [1]. First-principles calculations have suggested that a hypothetical material, .beta.-C.sub.3 N.sub.4 may have a bulk modulus somewhat lower than that of diamond [2,3]. These results have motivated theoretical calculations [4-8] and experimental efforts to synthesize and characterize this compound [10-20]. Amorphous C--N films have been synthesized [14,16,20] and small crystallites have been found in some of these films [15,17-19]. Electron diffraction patterns of these crystallites were indexed as the .beta.-C.sub.3 N.sub.4 structure. It has also been suggested that a better fit is to phases of graphite [9]. Other forms of carbon nitride with high hardness have been suggested including a fullerene-like carbon nitride [21] and a crystalline carbon nitride composite [22].


A continuous linear array ink jet system and method is capable of depositing a predetermined amount of printing fluid of at least one color onto a linear array of pixels to form a predetermined image to be printed on a substrate. The invention comprises a chamber in fluidic connection to a source of pressurized print fluid. A plurality of orifices are situated in fluidic connection with the chamber to form an array of streams of print fluid from the plurality of orifices. Stimulation is used to synchronize break-up of the streams of print fluid into uniform streams of uniformly spaced drops. The printed density of the linear array of pixels is controlled by controlling the number of uniformly spaced drops on each pixel of the linear array of pixels, dependent on color density to be printed, whereby a totality of printed pixels forms a continuous tone value required to form the predetermined image to be printed.

In continuous ink jet printing, ink is supplied under pressure to a manifold region that distributes the ink to a plurality of orifices, typically arranged in a linear array(s). The ink discharges from the orifices in filaments which break into droplet streams. The approach for printing with these droplet streams is to selectively charge and deflect certain drops from their normal trajectories. Graphic reproduction is accomplished by selectively charging and deflecting drops from the drop streams and depositing at least some of the drops on a print receiving medium while other of the drops strike a drop catcher device. The continuous stream ink jet printing process is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,255,754; 4,698,123 and 4,751,517, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.
In recent years, the use of the flat face charging scheme described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,808 has enabled the spatial resolution of binary array ink jet systems to increase dramatically. This has meant better print quality for high speed text and line drawing applications. In order to improve the quality of pictorial images, however, improvements are needed. Present array ink jet systems print in a binary fashion; in each pixel, they either print a drop of ink or no ink at all. Some pictorial work has been done with binary systems by using various algorithms in which sets of pixels are grouped together to enable the average gray level over the group of pixels to be close to the desired gray level needed in the picture. This process is known in the art as "dithering". In this process, the action of achieving the proper gray level over the group of binary cells detracts from the sharpness (resolution) of the image. A large number of dithering techniques have been described, but all of them group sets of pixels together and result in images which appear "course" or "grainy" to the eye. That is, they trade off graininess and sharpness for the ability to simulate the printing of gray scale images with a binary printing technology.
The image quality of the ink jet array images can be dramatically improved if the color density in each pixel can be varied over a range. Techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,808 regarding high spatial density array printing, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,196, which deals with printing a variable number of drops on each pixel, are useful for improving image quality. The need for a continuous ink jet system suited to charging arrays of drops at high spatial frequency, utilizing planar charging has been satisfied by U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,808. This patent describes a "flat face" drop charging and deflection scheme for use in a binary printing system. Implicit in the operation of the system is the idea that there are always non-printing drops in the drop stream, and those skilled in the art have observed that these non-printing drops play an important role in developing the electric field which causes drop deflection and selection (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,871.)
It is seen, however, that there is a need for a continuous ink jet system wherein the amount of ink printed in each pixel by the ink jet array can be controlled. The present invention applies techniques used in conventional lithographic and gravure printing to array ink jet systems so that gray scale printing can be dramatically improved.

Gray scale printing with high resolution array ink jet


A device for detecting substances in a liquid film by measuring chemiluminescence, fluorescence or absorption using techniques such as flow-injection analysis schemes, liquid chromatographies, and gas chromatographies. The device can be used as a micro-volume mixing or reaction substrate for a variety of measurements. The device comprises at least two film supports that are separated by a small gap. One or more applicators are positioned along the gap to supply fluids to the gap. The applicators are positioned near the gap at a spacing that is near the necking length of the fluid supplied by the applicator. A thin, continuous film of the mixture of fluids to be examined is supported in the gap between the film supports. The film extends through the examining chamber and through drop and overflow detection probes. Also disclosed is a mixing or reaction chamber which comprises an enclosable mainframe into which a plurality of applicators are butted near a gap defined between two film supports. The chamber communicates with an inlet port and an exit port for controlling the pressure and other aspects of the environment in the chamber.

This invention relates to devices for the detection and to devices for rapid mixing of liquid substances in small volumes.
In certain analytical procedures, it is necessary or advantageous to measure properties of liquids present in small volumes. Devices for such purposes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,570 (Machler, et al) and 4,643,580 (Gross, et al).
Some sample flow cells in the past have had problems with light from an excitation source. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,974, which provides for an opaque mask and/or specially designed sample flow cell with coating material to reduce the problem of light from an excitation source. Furthermore, sampling of small flow volume has presented some difficulties with unwanted introduction of air bubbles. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,940. Another problem arises in having sufficient fluorescence quantum yield for adequate detection which can be solved by a method and apparatus using a stationary phase for sampling as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,853.
Windowless flow cells by design minimize scattered light. Two previous designs for windowless spectroscopic flow cells have been reported. One design is based upon the suspension of the flowing stream between an outlet capillary tube and a small diameter rod placed directly below the outlet tube. A stationary, but constantly replenished four microliter droplet is formed in the gap between the tube and the rod. The second design is based on directing the flowing stream from a capillary tube across the gap to another capillary tube. The effluent stream is confined by sheathing with a flowing solvent to provide a windowless optical volume of 0.006 to 0.15 microliters.

The State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State University


A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 16054’, characterized by its compact, upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark purple-colored flowers and deep purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Anouk Deluxe 16054'.
The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.
The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2015 of Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk Deluxe 1205', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,264, as the female, or seed, parent with Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk Deluxe 1304', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,302, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2016.
Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.