A system and method are disclosed for monitoring and controlling a positive displacement pump using readings obtained from a plurality of pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may be mounted at the suction, discharge and interstage regions of the pump. Signals from the pressure sensors are compared to obtain a ratio that is used to predict whether a cavitation condition exists within the pump. The ratio can be compared to user provided limits to change an operating characteristic of the pump to reduce predicted cavitation. The pump may be stopped, or pump speed changed, when the ratio is less than a predetermined value. In some embodiments, historical information regarding the ratio may be used to obtain standard deviation information which may then be used to predict whether gas bubbles are passing through the pump. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The condition of rotating machinery is often determined using visual inspection techniques performed by experienced operators. Failure modes such as cracking, leaking, corrosion, etc. can often be detected by visual inspection before failure is likely. The use of such manual condition monitoring allows maintenance to be scheduled, or other actions to be taken, to avoid the consequences of failure before the failure occurs. Intervention in the early stages of deterioration is usually much more cost effective than undertaking repairs subsequent to failure.
One downside to manual monitoring is that typically it is only performed periodically. Thus, if an adverse condition arises between inspections, machinery failure can occur. It would be desirable to automate the condition monitoring process to provide a simple and easy-to-use system that provides constant monitoring of one or more machinery conditions. Such a system has the potential to enhance operation, reduce downtime and increase energy efficiency.

System and method for monitoring and control of cavitation in positive displacement pumps


A fiber lens includes a graded-index lens, a single-mode fiber disposed at a first end of the graded-index lens, and a refractive lens having a hyperbolic or near-hyperbolic shape disposed at a second end of the graded-index lens to focus a beam from the single-mode fiber to a diffraction-limited spot.

The invention relates generally to optical devices for coupling optical signals between optical components. More specifically, the invention relates to a fiber lens for coupling signals between optical components.
Various approaches are used in optical communications to couple optical signals between optical components, such as optical fibers, laser diodes, and semiconductor optical amplifiers. One approach involves the use of a fiber lens, which is a monolithic device having a lens disposed at one end of a pigtail fiber. Light can enter or exit the fiber lens through either the lens or the pigtail fiber. The fiber lens can focus light from the pigtail fiber into a spot having the required size and intensity at a selected working distance. However, prior art has limitations on how small the spot size can be to achieve the required intensity distribution and limitations on the working distance achievable while controlling the spot size and intensity distribution. For some applications, it is desirable to obtain mode field diameters as small as 2.5 to 3.0 μm while maintaining Gaussian intensity distribution at working distances larger than 5 μm. Examples of such applications include coupling of optical signals from a semiconductor optical amplifier to an optical fiber, from a high-index semiconductor or dielectric waveguide to an optical fiber, etc.
From the foregoing, there is desired a fiber lens that can produce a focused spot with a small mode field diameter and the required intensity distribution for a broad range of working distances.


Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems that can intelligently copy data to a plurality of datastores using performance monitoring are described. In one embodiment, a shortest path tree determines the most efficient paths available for copying data from a source datastore to one or more destination datastores. During the copying of the data between a source datastore and the one or more destination datastores, a performance value of each of the datastores involved in the copying process is compared to a threshold. In response to determining that the performance value of a given source or destination datastore involved in the copying exceeds the threshold, the copying of the data to the corresponding destination datastore is suspended. An updated shortest path tree is determined to locate a more efficient path for copying data to the suspended destination datastore. Copying is resumed to the suspended destination datastore using the updated shortest path tree.

A virtual machine clone is a copy of an existing virtual machine (VM). VMs can be cloned across highly distributed architectures. These highly distributed environments include numerous host devices (e.g., ranging from hundreds to thousands of hosts) and corresponding datastores spread across geographically distinct locations. The speed at which VMs are cloned across a large, highly distributed environment, however, remains sub-optimal. For example, deploying a 200 cluster of VMs across 16 host devices by concurrently cloning a VM from a single template from a source datastore to all destination datastores takes on the order of tens of hours due in part to network and datastore bottlenecks.
Cloning VMs, or creating copies of other data, may be performed by copying an entire file or by copying the file on a per-block basis (e.g., dividing the file to be copied into fragments and copying each fragment from the source to the destination until the entire file has been completely copied). The suboptimal copying speed described above, however, persists regardless of the manner in which the data is copied from the source datastore to the destination datastores.

Intelligent data propagation using performance monitoring


A power system of an electric vehicle is composed of a three-phase induction motor, an inverter for supplying alternating current converted from direct current of a battery mounted on the vehicle and a controller including a microcomputer for controlling the power supply to the motor. The controller calculates a torque required to drive the motor according to driving conditions of the vehicle. When a signal to stop the motor is generated, the power supply from the inverter to the motor is not immediately turned off but gradually decreased according to a predetermined torque decrease ratio if the motor is driven at that time with a torque higher than a predetermined level, to avoid uncomfortable vibrations of the motor associated with the abrupt turning off of the power supply thereto. The power supply to the motor is finally turned off when the torque of the motor is decreased to the level below the predetermined value. Thus, the uncomfortable vibration of the motor otherwise associated with the turning off of the power supply is avoided. Since the torque level permitting the turning off of the power supply and the torque decrease ratio are preset at optimum values based on vibration characteristics of the motor including its mounting, the motor is turned off within a reasonably short period of time after the signal to stop the motor is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for an electric vehicle including an inverter which supplies electric power to a driving motor (an alternating current induction motor), and more particularly to a controlling system which suppresses vehicle vibration occurring when power supply from the inverter to the driving motor is shut off.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an alternating current induction motor for an electric vehicle is driven by polyphase alternating current converted by an inverter from direct current of a battery mounted on the vehicle. The inverter is composed of plural switching elements which is controlled by pulse width modulation signals generated in a microcomputer. An example of an inverter controller of this kind is disclosed in JP-A-62-48201. In the controller disclosed, in order to suppress surge current generated in the system when an acceleration pedal is suddenly released while the driving motor is rotating at a relatively high speed, the inverter is not abruptly shut off but controlled with a predetermined duty ratio and by pulse width modulation signals which are common to each phase. Since the driving motor is mounted on a vehicle with a resilient material such as rubber bushings, the driving motor vibrates as a reaction when a driving torque of the motor is rapidly decreased. This kind of vibrations is generated when the acceleration pedal is released or a shift lever is shifted from a driving position to a neural position and thereby the switching operation of the inverter is shut off. The vibrations are much detrimental to drive feeling. The controller disclosed in the aforementioned publication which aims at suppressing the surge current is not effective or sufficient to solve the problem of vibrations.


Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) expands static configuration of Ethernet MAC forwarding tables by the control plane and utilizes direct manipulation of Ethernet forwarding by a link state routing system. At least one media-access-control (MAC) address for unicast forwarding to the bridge and at least one MAC address for multicast forwarding from the bridge are assigned. Bridges exchange state information by a link state bridging protocol so that a synchronized configured view of the network is shared between nodes. Each node can calculate shortest path connective between peer bridging nodes and populated the appropriate forwarding tables. A reverse path forwarding check is performed on incoming packets to provide loop suppression. During times of network instability the loop suppression can be disabled for unicast packets as identified by the destination MAC address to buffer packets and minimize the impact on traffic flow.

In Ethernet network architectures devices connected to the network compete for the ability to use the shared telecommunications path at any given time. Where multiple bridges or nodes are used to interconnect network segments, multiple potential paths to the same destination will exist in a meshed network architecture. The benefit of this architecture is that it provides path redundancy between bridges and permits capacity to be added to the network in the form of additional links. However the Ethernet paradigm of flooding and learning means that typically the breadth of connectivity that exists in a mesh network cannot be exploited at any given instant in time due to the requirement to ensure that no replicating path can loop. It should be noted that bridges can be interconnected by simple links or by shared LAN segments or by shared Virtual LAN segments. From the point of view of this document, segment, virtual segment and link are effectively interchangeable.
Each bridge node in an Ethernet network learns which devices or station can be reached via which local Ethernet segment by observing which segment packets from a given device arrive upon. When sending to an unknown device (one for which no forwarding information exists in the forwarding information base (FIB)), a bridge will replicate the message on all attached segments (this is known as flooding). This has two effects, bridges observing the flooded packet learn reachability information to the originating device, and there is an expectation that at some point in the future a reply solicited by the message or a subsequent unsolicited message from the intended destination device will be observed from which it can be noted via which segment the device replied to the message. Gradually, the bridge builds a picture for itself of what next segment is appropriate to reach specific devices in the network. When subsequent messages are sent, the bridge can use its FIB to determine which locally attached segment to forward it to. The approach of allowing the bridges to learn the network through experience is known as transparent bridging. One key benefit of the technique is that bridging does not require setup by an administrator.
In a mesh, when a packet is forwarded between peer devices it may be possible for the packet to traverse through multiple bridges via a plurality of paths. However, if the packet were to be sent on multiple routes simultaneously, network congestion would increase and possible looping conditions may result. This scenario arises in a mesh for multicast and/or flooded traffic as the number of copies of a given packet would grow exponentially if unchecked. A Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) algorithm is utilized to eliminate packet duplication by iteratively electing a spanning tree logically connecting the set of participating nodes. The algorithm is specifically constructed to avoid bridge loops (multiple paths linking one segment to another, resulting in an infinite loop situation) The algorithm typically computes the shortest path from all segments to an elected root bridge. If the best path fails, the algorithm recalculates the network and finds the next best route. If the root fails, a new root is elected and the algorithm re-runs. At the same time, all learned MAC information with respect to device reachability is discarded, and the FIBs are gradually repopulated via flooding and learning once the new spanning tree is established.
STP provides connectivity while preventing undesirable loops in a network that would exist if there were multiple active paths between nodes or devices. If loops were permitted to form, packets entering the loop circulate until a node takes action to remove the packet or the loop is broken. If the bridges in the loop flood, or the packet is a multicast packet, additional copies of the packet will be generated in each traversal of the loop, a highly undesirable outcome. To establish loop free connectivity, STP creates a tree that spans all of the bridges in an extended network, forcing redundant paths into a standby, or blocked, state. STP allows only one active path at a time between any two points in the network, this prevents loops but the additional capacity associated with physical mesh connectivity is not utilized. STP was designed for nodes without state memory for bridge simplicity. However the simplistic approach to loop-free connectivity can result in an excess of un-used network capacity due to the requirement to prune the physical topology to a single loop-free spanning tree.
Root election during STP convergence is determined by the set of bridges determining which bridge has lowest ID and then each bridge determining the next hop on the path of lowest cost to the bridge with the lowest ID, or "root". The bridges initially advertise their own ID and null cost in spanning tree protocol exchanges. When they receive an advertisement with a lower ID, they stop advertising their own ID and advertise the lower ID and cost. Similarly when they see a segment with a lower cost to the current lowest ID, they modify both their re-radiated advertisements and internal state accordingly. Eventually the network will converge on a common view of the lowest ID, and each bridge knowing the next segment on the lowest cost path to the root. If costs change, or if one network segment in the spanning tree becomes unreachable, the STP algorithm iteratively computes a new spanning tree topology to offer connectivity utilizing the revised set of segments. While the bridges of the network are not converged, ports are blocked stopping network traffic in order to prevent looping and replication.
FIG. 1 shows an example of how a spanning tree protocol algorithm in a mesh network affects the forwarding of a packet through the network. From a source device A, the STP algorithm has mapped out a path from through the network by determining links between each node that achieve the lowest cost (shown as multicast route). This route determines the paths available for all the traffic traversing the network. Device A, attached to bridge 110 sends a packet to device B which is new on the network. The bridges of the network do not have forwarding tables populated for this device. The packet is flooded into the network to each bridge node by the path defined by the spanning tree. Following the spanning tree packets are forwarded from bridge 110 through bridge 112. The links from bridge 110 to the neighboring bridges 116 and 120 are not utilized as they have been disabled or blocked and are not part of the spanning tree. From bridge 112 the packet is forwarded to the other nodes of the network, bridges 120, 122, 124, and 114. Bridge 114 in turn forwards the packet to bridges 116 and 118. Device B receives a flooded copy of the packet via bridge 122. All intermediate bridges will note the segment of arrival for source "A" and update their FIBs accordingly. A response sent by device B will then traverse the network directly to device A without being flooded as the return route is known to the intermediate bridges in the network. Essentially a flood of packets enters the network with one response back from device B to device A, and similar to how intermediate bridges learned optimal forwarding to "A" observing the initial message, they learn optimal forwarding to "B" observing the response.
Using STP in an Ethernet network limits the utilization efficiency of thee links or LAN segments in the network. Segments and links not selected by the STP algorithm are disabled and essentially not part of the active network topology until some change in the physical topology of the network occurs such that the link is part of the resultant spanning tree. This strands the capacity of these links. In a small LAN environment this may not be an issue, however in a WAN or provider network unused capacity both impacts scaling and represents under utilized investment. In addition when a failure does occur, the performance of the whole network is impacted during the time required to re-converge STP and stabilize all the bridges in the network. The path taken by a given packet utilizing spanning tree is typically not the shortest path between the source and destination as the root of the current spanning tree is not necessarily on the physical shortest path. For example, if device C were connected to neighboring bridge 116, packets from device A would still have to traverse bridges 112 and 114 based upon the current spanning tree which does not necessarily provide the shortest path to bridge 116. Finally in a provider network there may be many small communities of interest in the form of virtual private networks, and to constrain flooding of information within those communities of interest requires typically a distinct spanning tree per community.
Various methods have been proposed to improve STP performance and mitigate loop formation in meshed Ethernet network. Some current proposals require an MPLS-like label or the additional of time-to-live (TTL) field to Ethernet packet to limit the impact of looping. However fundamental data plane modifications are required to implement these solutions which limits their utility. In addition, only limiting the number of times a packet may replicate is a demonstrably incomplete solution to the looping problem.
In order to scale Ethernet from the LAN space to the WAN or provider network space an improved mechanism for creating efficient loop-free Ethernets is required. This is one which makes superior utilization of mesh connectivity, constrains the impact of failures or topology changes (e.g. does not interrupt or minimizes interruptions of connectivity), and suppresses loops or mitigates the effect of looping. Therefore, there is a need for an Ethernet network with improved network utilization while avoiding the pitfalls of transient or persistent Loops.


Embodiments of the current disclosure are directed toward systems, devices and methods for diabetes management. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for dispensing insulin to a patient. A portable fluid infusion device, comprising a disposable part (DP) and a reusable part (RP) is disclosed. The DP comprises a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the second reservoir less than or equal to the first reservoir in length, while the RP comprises a first compartment configured to receive the first reservoir, a second compartment configured to receive the second reservoir and a gasket for sealing a junction between the second reservoir and the second compartment upon connection of the RP and the DP.

Diabetes mellitus patients require administration of varying amounts of insulin throughout the day to control their blood glucose levels. Ambulatory portable insulin infusion pumps can be used as superior alternatives to multiple daily syringe injections of insulin. However, although these devices represent an improvement over multiple daily injections, they nevertheless all suffer from several drawbacks. One drawback is the large size and weight of the devices, caused by the configuration and the relatively large size of the driving mechanism and syringe. These relatively bulky devices have to be regularly carried in a patient's pocket or attached to his/her belt.

Systems, apparatuses and methods for fluid infusion into a body


A method for transferring a plurality of columnar honeycomb structures according to the present invention includes: subjecting first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures to vacuum suction; and correctively transferring the plurality of the columnar honeycomb structures, optionally while supporting second side surfaces opposing to the first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures by a supporting member.

A columnar honeycomb structure is used for various applications such as catalyst supports for use in catalyst bodies in internal combustion engines, boilers, chemical reaction devices, reformers for fuel cells, and the like; and collection filters for particulate substances (especially diesel fine particles) in an exhaust gas. The columnar honeycomb structure is generally produced by forming a green body containing ceramic powder into a desired shape, drying and firing the green body, and then processing the green body. Most of the steps are automated in terms of production efficiency or the like.
On the other hand, between the respective steps, the columnar honeycomb structure may be transferred onto a pallet or a conveyor, or pallets onto which the columnar honeycomb structures have been transferred and placed may be stacked and temporarily stored, for preparations for use in the next step. However, such a transferring operation of the columnar honeycomb structure between the respective steps currently relies on manual operation by an operator, which has been a cause of a decrease in production efficiency.
Further, some devices for transferring columnar honeycomb structure have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, the conventional transfer devices can transfer only one columnar honeycomb structure at a time. Therefore, improvement of production efficiency has been limited.

Method and device for transferring columnar honeycomb structures


Gliotoxic factor in the isolated or purified state, characterized in that it possesses toxic activity with respect to human or animal astrocytic cells, having the effect of a cytomorphological disorganization of their network of intermediate filaments and/or a degradation of the proteins of said intermediate filaments and/or cell death, in particular by apoptosis.

Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microgliocytes) are the primary or secondary target of pathological processes in various diseases of the nervous system, in particular, in man, in leukoencephalitis, leukodystrophies, some forms of encephalopathy, some neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis where there is a concomitant astrocytic gliosis with neuronal involvement, and lastly inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Schilder's disease.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in man, developing in a succession of phases of remission and exacerbation or according to a steady progression, and the anatomopathological feature of which consists of the formation of well-delimited patches of demyelination in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord (1). At histological level, these patches display, at the early stage of the lesion process, a degradation of the periaxonal myelin associated with an involvement of the glial cells responsible for this myelination, the oligodendrocytes (2). An inflammatory macrophage activation involving microglial cells (tissue macrophages resident in the central nervous system) as well as, probably, macrophages originating from infiltrated blood monocytes, is associated with this demyelination process and contributes to the destruction of the myelinated layers (3). In the center of the demyelinated patch, a relative depletion of glial cells is to be found, whereas a proliferation of astrocytes, or astrocytic gliosis, develops at the periphery and can, at a later stage, invade the demyelinated plaque to generate a fibrous or gliotic plaque, as is found on the site of old lesions (1). These sclerotic structures are the origin of the name given to the disease, multiple "sclerosis" (4).
Another feature of these plaques is their almost invariable association with a vascular element around which they appear to develop (5, 1). At histological level an adverse change in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) consisting of capillary endothelium is commonly observed in them (6). In effect, the vascular endothelium of capillary structures is normally butt-jointed in the central nervous system, except for the fenestrated capillaries associated with the choroid plexus, periventricular structures providing for the production of cerebrospinal fluid (7). This change in the BBB, marked by a parting of the endothelial cells and by the uncontrolled passage of a flow of plasmatic fluid and of cells of blood origin into the neuroglial parenchyma, may be visualized in "active" plaques by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique combined with the intravenous injection, into the patient under examination, of a solution of gadolinium. This compound enables a contrasted magnetic resonance signal to be obtained in the plasmatic fluid, and makes it possible to detect the abnormal passage of plasma into the nervous parenchyma with the edema resulting therefrom. It has been possible to show a correlation between the lesion-inducing activity of the plaques and the presence of this edema at the same level, as well as between the appearance and resorption of this edema and the regression of clinical exacerbations of the disease (8).
One of the decisive factors in maintaining a butt-jointed structure of the cerebral capillary endothelium, and hence in the endothelium of the BBB, consists of the underlying presence of cytoplasmic processes in the astrocytes, known as astrocyte feet (6). Probably, these astrocyte feet induce the formation or permit the maintenance of leakproof junction structures (of the zonula occludens type) which provide for the cohesion of the capillary endothelium barrier which is the material expression of the BBB. Now, various pathological models report the adverse change in the BBB associated with a depletion of astrocyte feet (9, 10).
Moreover, in the lesion process of MS, the adverse change in the BBB contributes to an amplification of the associated inflammatory response, through the afflux, rendered "free", of lymphoid cells originating from the blood circulation (11).
The contribution of the inflammation associated with immune cells is considerable in MS and participates in the lesion process, in particular via lymphocytes and self-reacting antibodies (12, 13). However, contrary to the autoimmune animal model of experimental allergic encephalitis, where the involvement of the BBB and the invasion of the nervous parenchyma by lymphoid cells of the circulating blood initiate the neuroglial lesion process (14), it is observed in MS that early lesion processes associated with a local macrophage reaction in the nervous parenchyma seem to precede the invasion of the tissue by lymphoid cells of the circulating blood (15, 3). It is thus apparent that lymphoid cells, and more especially lymphocytes, are not the prerogative of recent plaques (16). Furthermore, the density of the lymphocytic infiltration is most especially pronounced in the perivascular areas and at the periphery of the active plaques of demyelination (11, 3).
The initial stimulus at the origin of MS is at the heart of the debate about the etiology of MS (17). Arguments have been put forward, in turn, in favor of a viral (18), bacterial (19, 20), autoimmune (21, 13), toxic (22) or genetic (23, 24) hypothesis. In fact, it appears that a combination of a genetic predisposition to the action of a primary pathogenic agent may lead up to a devastating inflammatory and autoimmune process (25).
Different sequences of events may thus explain the demyelination and the functional neurological involvement in MS, without it having been possible to date to identify a decisive factor which might initiate and give a coherent explanation to the multitude of fragmented data which have accumulated concerning this disease.
Some molecules of bacterial or viral, or even endogenous retroviral, origin are known to possess so-called superantigenic properties (26, 27). Their particular properties of direct stimulation of T lymphocytes, specific to different antigens, by binding to the V.beta. region of certain "T" receptors, have suggested the hypothesis that such molecules are intimately associated with the etiopathogenic process of MS (28). Now, one of the characteristic effects of these superantigens on T cells is the premature induction, under certain conditions, of a programmed cell death or apoptosis (29). Superantigens also have properties of binding to HLA class II molecules at the surface of cells presenting the antigen (27). It may thus be recalled that astrocytes possess the capacity to express HLA class II antigens at their plasma membrane, and in particular in response to certain pro-inflammatory cytokines such as gamma interferon or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) (30). However, no superantigen has yet been demonstrated in multiple sclerosis.
Moreover, many "untimely" apoptotic processes, as opposed to the normal apoptotic processes linked, for example, to the development of the nervous system (31), may take place in the absence of superantigen, either in the context of viral infection (32) or in the context of stimulation of a cell receptor (33). It is also of interest to note that an apoptosis may be induced by the in vitro stimulation of a TNF-alpha membrane receptor (31), but such a phenomenon has not been studied in the nervous system, and a fortiori with astrocytes.
Some cytokines may hence trigger a pathogenic process and be produced, in particular by macrophages, and they have a cytotoxic effect on oligodendrocytes (34). It should be noted that TNF-alpha, as well as interleukin-1-alpha, interleukin-1-beta, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and gamma interferon, do not in principle have a cytolytic effect on astrocytes, but induce, rather, an astrocyte proliferation (35). However, astrocytes can themselves be subjected to stimulations at the origin of a secretion of TNF-alpha. This may be observed, for example, in response to lipopolysaccharide bacterial toxins or to calcium ionophores (36). Thus, an involvement of the oligodendrocytes, and hence a destruction of the myelin layers, may take place indirectly via the TNF-alpha produced by astrocytes. Any molecule which induces such a cytokine production by astrocytes, irrespective of its specific effect on the latter (proliferation, differentiation or cytopathogenic effect) is hence potentially demyelinating. TNF-alpha induces an oligodendrocytic cytotoxic mechanism whose primary effects are marked by a swelling of the myelin structures, suggestive of an ion channel-mediated action (34). A correlation seems, moreover, to exist between the production of TNF-alpha in vivo and exacerbations of MS (37). The role of astrocytes in such a production of TNF-alpha in patients suffering from MS is, however, unknown.
At all events, since astrocytes are capable of producing TNF-alpha and of copresenting a target antigen with HLA class II antigens to immunocompetent cells, which are themselves recruited by a cytopathic and/or inflammatory process, they are, in fact, at the pivotal point of the immunopathological interactions such as may be observed in the demyelinating lesion process which characterizes MS.
Another type of molecule capable of playing a part in the pathogenic process leading to the formation of a demyelination plaque, and then to an astrocytic gliosis, consists of the so-called heat shock proteins (HSP) or stress proteins. These proteins constitute a relatively conserved phylogenetic family and are to be found both in prokaryotes and in higher vertebrates (38). Their synthesis is inducible in eukaryotic cells by various stresses, in particular infectious or thermal stresses, and their interspecies antigenic likeness has suggested a possible induction of autoimmunity in man by infectious bacteria carrying HSP, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (39).
Bacterial antigens capable of possessing superantigenic properties or of being heat shock proteins have been implicated in the induction of exacerbations of MS, without it being clearly established to date whether they are chance cofactors of pathogenicity or are etiological agents, or are alternatively pathogens sharing common properties responsible for an identical pathogenicity (40, 42).
This type of mechanism involves, on the one hand, the presence of exogenous HSP (for example bacterial HSP) against which the immunocompetent cells become sensitized, and on the other hand the expression of endogenous HSP (of the infected body) at the surface of cells expressing HLA class II antigens. If the cellular HSP share common epitopes with the exogenous HSP, they may be recognized as "infectious" by sensitized lymphocytes. Their role has also been mentioned in MS (42). The "gliotoxicity" of such molecules may proceed via the immune response and, possibly, via the astrocytic cells or the microgliocytes (other macrophage glial cells capable of presenting a specific antigen), but the distinctive cytopathic effects of some HSP on glial cells are unknown in view of the absence of exhaustive studies in this field.
Some investigations carried out have provided arguments in favor of a viral etiology of MS (in particular 43, 44, 45 and WO-93/20188, the content of which is incorporated by way of reference).
Following the abovementioned investigations, the present inventors were led to look for one or more factors which are effectors of the pathogenic process ending in the typical formation of demyelination plaques and in an astrocytic gliosis.
Although cultures of multiple sclerosis blood monocytes/macrophages contributed to supporting a viral hypothesis during the abovementioned investigations, other aspects of the role of macrophage cells in the pathogenesis of this disease, which do not necessarily involve a viral agent, must be taken into consideration; in this connection, a hypothesis has hence been put forward and verified, according to which one or more factor(s) which is/are toxic to macroglial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes) might be produced by the monocytes of patients suffering from MS.
Although the molecular factors in question are unknown, a toxic factor originating either from immune or inflammatory cells or from a viral or bacterial agent, or alternatively induced by these latter in the surrounding cells, is capable of initiating a process ending in an acute or chronic inflammatory response.
The double uncertainty about the possible retroviral origin of MS (46) and about the possible contribution of a bacterial agent to its pathogenesis (40, 47) confirms the investigators in their search for factors which are cytotoxic to macroglial cells in patients suffering from MS. In effect, the glial cells are the ones which constitute the main target of the neuropathological process in MS.
A. N. Davison et al. (48) have studied the activity of oligodendrocytes, which are the cells involved in myelin synthesis, and in particular the factors capable of participating as a myelin synthesis inhibitor. These investigations are, however, exclusively limited to oligodendrocytes, and do not enable progress to be made in explaining the pathogenic process described above.

Cytotoxic factor as is associated with multiple sclerosis, its detection and its quantification


Systems and methods are provided for gathering audience measurement data relating to receipt of and/or exposure to audio data by an audience member. Audio data is monitored to detect a monitoring code. Based on detection of the monitoring code, a signature characterizing the audio data is extracted.

There is considerable interest in identifying and/or measuring the receipt of, and or exposure to, audio data by an audience in order to provide market information to advertisers, media distributors, and the like, to verify airing, to calculate royalties, to detect piracy, and for any other purposes for which an estimation of audience receipt or exposure is desired.
The emergence of multiple, overlapping media distribution pathways, as well as the wide variety of available user systems (e.g. PC's, PDA's, portable CD players, Internet, appliances, TV, radio, etc.) for receiving audio data, has greatly complicated the task of measuring audience receipt of, and exposure to, individual program segments. The development of commercially viable techniques for encoding audio data with program identification data provides a crucial tool for measuring audio data receipt and exposure across multiple media distribution pathways and user systems.
One such technique involves adding an ancillary code to the audio data that uniquely identifies the program signal. Most notable among these techniques is the CBET methodology developed by Arbitron Inc., which is already providing useful audience estimates to numerous media distributors and advertisers.
An alternative technique for identifying program signals is extraction and subsequent pattern matching of "signatures" of the program signals. Such techniques typically involve the use of a reference signature database, which contains a reference signature for each program signal the receipt of which, and exposure to which, is to be measured. Before the program signal is broadcast, these reference signatures are created by measuring the values of certain features of the program signal and creating a feature set or "signature" from these values, commonly termed "signature extraction", which is then stored in the database. Later, when the program signal is broadcast, signature extraction is again performed, and the signature obtained is compared to the reference signatures in the database until a match is found and the program signal is thereby identified.
However, one disadvantage of using such pattern matching techniques is that, because there is no predetermined point in the program signal from which signature extraction is designated to begin, each program signal must continually undergo signature extraction, and each of these many successive signatures extracted from a single program signal must be compared to each of the reference signatures in the database. This, of course, requires a tremendous amount of data processing, which, due to the ever increasing methods and amounts of audio data transmission, is becoming more and more economically impractical.
In order to address the problems accompanying continuous extraction and comparison of signals, which uses excessive computer processing and storage resources, it has been proposed to use a "start code" to trigger a signature extraction.
One such technique, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,990 to Lert, et al., proposes the introduction of a brief "cue" or "trigger" code into the audio data. According to Lert, et al. upon detection of this code, a signature is extracted from a portion of the signal preceding or subsequent to the code. This technique entails the use of a code having a short duration to avoid audibility but which contains sufficient information to indicate that the program signal is a signal of the type from which a signature should be extracted. The presence of this code indicates the precise point in the signal at which the signature is to be extracted, which is the same point in the signal from which a corresponding reference signature was extracted prior to broadcast, and thus, a signature need be extracted from the program signal only once. Therefore, only one signature for each program signal must be compared against the reference signatures in the database, thereby greatly reducing the amount of data processing and storage required.
One disadvantage of this technique, however, is that the presence of a code that triggers the extraction of a signature from a portion of the signal before or after the portion of the signal that has been encoded necessarily limits the amount of information that can be obtained for producing the signature, as the encoded portion itself may contain information useful for producing the signature, and moreover, may contain information required to measure the values of certain features, such as changes of certain properties or ratios over time, which might not be accurately measured when a temporal segment of the signal (i.e. the encoded portion) cannot be used.
Another disadvantage of this technique is that, because the trigger code is of short duration, the likelihood of its detection is reduced. One disadvantage of such short codes is the diminished probability of detection that may result when a signal is distorted or obscured, as is the case when program signals are broadcast in acoustic environments. In such environments, which often contain significant amounts of noise, the trigger code will often be overwhelmed by noise, and thus, not be detected.
Yet another specific disadvantage of such short codes is the diminished probability of detection that may result when certain portions of a signal are unrecoverable, such as when burst errors occur during transmission or reproduction of encoded audio signals. Burst errors may appear as temporally contiguous segments of signal error. Such errors generally are unpredictable and substantially affect the content of an encoded audio signal. Burst errors typically arise from failure in a transmission channel or reproduction device due to external interferences, such as overlapping of signals from different transmission channels, an occurrence of system power spikes, an interruption in normal operations, an introduction of noise contamination (intentionally or otherwise), and the like. In a transmission system, such circumstances may cause a portion of the transmitted encoded audio signals to be entirely unreceivable or significantly altered. Absent retransmission of the encoded audio signal, the affected portion of the encoded audio may be wholly unrecoverable, while in other instances, alterations to the encoded audio signal may render the embedded information signal undetectable.
In systems for acoustically reproducing audio signals recorded on media, a variety of factors may cause burst errors in the reproduced acoustic signal. Commonly, an irregularity in the recording media, caused by damage, obstruction, or wear, results in certain portions of recorded audio signals being irreproducible or significantly altered upon reproduction. Also, misalignment of, or interference with, the recording or reproducing mechanism relative to the recording medium can cause burst-type errors during an acoustic reproduction of recorded audio signals. Further, the acoustic limitations of a speaker as well as the acoustic characteristics of the listening environment may result in spatial irregularities in the distribution of acoustic energy. Such irregularities may cause burst errors to occur in received acoustic signals, interfering with recovery of the trigger code.
A further disadvantage of this technique is that reproduction of a single, short-lived code that triggers signature extraction does not reflect the receipt of a signal by any audience member who was exposed to part, or even most, of the signal if the audience member was not present at the precise point at which the portion of the signal containing the trigger code was broadcast. Regardless of what point in a signal such a code is placed, it would always be possible for audience members to be exposed to the signal for nearly half of the signal's duration without being exposed to the trigger code.
Yet another disadvantage of this technique is that a single code of short duration that triggers signature extraction does not provide any data reflecting the amount of time for which an audience member was exposed to the audio data. Such data may be desirable for many reasons, such as, for example, to determine the percentage of audience members who listen to the entirety of a particular commercial or to determine the level of exposure of certain portions of commercials broadcast at particular times of interest, such as, for example, the first half of the first commercial broadcast, or the last half of the last commercial broadcast, during a commercial break of a feature program.
Still another disadvantage of this technique is that a single code that triggers signature extraction cannot mark "beginning" and "end" portions of a program segment, which may be desired, for example, to determine the time boundaries of the segment.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data that require minimal processing and storage resources.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein the maximum possible amount of information in the audio data is available for use in creating a signature.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein a start code for triggering the extraction of a signature is easily detected.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein a start code for triggering the extraction of a signature can be detected in noisy environments.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein a start code for triggering the extraction of a signature can be detected when burst errors occur during the broadcast of the audio data.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein a start code for triggering the extraction of a signature can be detected even when an audience member is only present for part of the audio data's broadcast.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein the duration of an audience member's exposure to a program signal can be measured.
It is also desired to provide techniques for gathering data reflecting receipt of and/or exposure to audio data wherein the beginning and end of a program signal can be determined.
It is also desired to provide such data gathering techniques which are likely to be adaptable to future media distribution paths and user systems which are presently unknown.

Audio data receipt/exposure measurement with code monitoring and signature extraction


A dunnage structure comprising a partition matrix made up of at least some folded partitions, each of the folded partitions having two plies fused together in select locations. The partitions may be made by folding a partition blank and securing at least one portion of the folded partition blank to itself. Passages extend through portions of the folded partitions to allow multiple partitions to be secured together using connectors extending through the passages.

In the storage, shipment or display of parts or merchandise, it is a common practice to divide the interior of a box or container into a plurality of individual cells. The interior of a box or container is typically separated by a series of dividers, one set of parallel dividers being orthogonal to a second set of dividers. The dividers separate the interior of the container into a plurality of individual holding cells each of which is intended to hold a separate item for display and/or shipment. The division of the interior of the box or container helps prevent the items therein from contacting one another and breaking during shipping. The division or partitioning of the container also aids in the loading and unloading of the items therein, as well as inventorying the contents of each box or container.
The dividers typically are slotted and arranged in an orthogonal relationship to divide the interior of the box or container into a desired number of holding cells. The dividers are slotted in a manner that enables the dividers to engage with one another at the location of the slots so that the dividers form an orthogonal grid or matrix. Typically the dividers are made of the same material as the material of the box or container, plastic or paperboard. However, the dividers may be constructed of any suitable material with sufficient rigidity to prevent the contents of the container from contacting one another and being damaged.
One disadvantage with known partition assemblies is that the upper edges of the partitions may have exposed sharp edges. For example, corrugated plastic partitions may have sharp upper edges created by cutting a sheet of corrugated plastic to the desired partition size. Such an exposed upper edge of the partition may damage products or parts being loaded into or unloaded from the cells of the container in which is located the partition matrix or assembly. Partition assemblies incorporating partitions having exposed sharp upper edges may require additional clearance between the parts being either loaded or unloaded and the upper edges of the partitions.
Another disadvantage of such partition assemblies is that the person loading or unloading parts or products into or from the cells of the container may cut or scrape their knuckles or hands on the exposed edges of the partitions when loading or unloading parts or products.
Additionally, the stiffness of the partitions of the assembly is dictated by the material from which the partitions are made. The stiffness of the partitions may not be altered without changing the material from which the partition is made.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,679 discloses a partition assembly which separates the interior of a box or container into a plurality of cells. The partitions of the assembly disclosed in this patent are formed by folding a blank of material along a fold line so as to create a rounded smooth upper edge. The material is disclosed as being paper board or similar material.
Another partition assembly for dividing the interior of a container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,263. The partitions of this assembly are similarly rounded along their upper edges and are made of transparent vinyl sheets.
In each of these prior art partition assemblies, the opposed plies of the dividers or partitions formed by folding a blank of material are not secured to each other. Consequently, the opposed sides or plies of the partitions are not secured to each other and may be easily separate, thereby expanding into the cells of the container defined by the partition assembly. Consequently, the partitions may contact the products or parts stored in the cells and damage them. Additionally, the partition plies may easily tear or otherwise be damaged. Upon assembly or disassembly of the partition matrix, one or more portions of the partitions may tear and hence cause disassembly of at least a portion of the partition matrix.
It therefore has been one objective of the present invention to provide a double-ply partition for use in a dunnage structure in which the plies are secured together in predetermined locations and have passages for joining multiple partitions together.
It has been a further objective of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a dunnage structure incorporating at least some multiple-ply partitions and connectors which pass through the interior of the multiple-ply partitions.
It has been another objective of the present invention to provide a dunnage structure which may be quickly and easily assembled for use in a container.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dunnage structure made with multiple ply partitions


Remote control of a mechanical transmission, more particularly to the remote control of at least one gripping element by a monodirectional action, whereby the gripping element includes an articulation which can close by converging upon the object which is to be gripped and which can be locked in an active position upon contact with said object and the control device can be disengaged in the gripping position. The device includes a) a primary pulley which is joined to a control cable; b) a spring which angularly returns the primary pulley to its initial position counter to the action of the cable; c) a secondary pulley which is joined to the end of the output cable terminating in the elements which are to be controlled; d) a self-disengaging mechanical drive disc which, for a torque value exceeding a given threshold, can displace the secondary pulley in a disengaged position; e) a locking ring for the second pulley in a disengaged position; f) opposing trapezoid-shaped teeth on opposite surfaces of the disk and secondary pulley, whereby the pulley can be alternatively driven by ring dogging by the disk and the teeth can be disengaged by a cam effect on the basis of a given torque.

The present invention relates to the field of devices for remote control of movement. More particularly, the invention concerns a single device for remote control of elements, particularly gripping elements, such as articulated jaws or fingers and adapted to converge upon the object to be gripped.
The invention is particularly applicable to the control of an element having to be placed successively in active position, position in which the element is blocked, then disengaged from this blocked active position, the control of the cycle being permitted from one sole movement transmission means, with unidirectional linear or angular action. The same manoeuvre of the transmission means makes it possible, when the controlled element is inactive, to take it towards its blocked active position, and when the controlled element is in blocked active position, a fresh manoeuvre identical to the preceding one returns it towards its inactive starting position.
The invention is particularly applicable to the control of elements for gripping and displacing objects, forming an artificial hand usable for the remote manipulation of objects in an aggressive or dangerous environment; the invention will also be more particularly applicable to the production of a manual prosthesis controlled by cable, for example from a scapular or dorsal harness and transmitting to the articulated fingers an effort of traction taking the fingers towards their gripping position. It is in connection with this latter application that the invention will be described hereinafter, although it does not constitute the limiting framework of application of the device described and claimed here. The latter may in effect be adapted to the control of numerous bistable systems moving between two positions of rest, the same unidirectional manoeuvre of a single transmission means operating the passage from one position to the other.
Numerous systems of manual prostheses are known, aiming at allowing persons having undergone an amputation of the hand, to perform certain gestures or certain elementary functions of everyday life, both personal and social, and in particular and especially the bi- or pluridigital gripping of objects, under conditions reproducing more or less faithfully the gripping functions of the natural hand.
French Patents Nos. 73 25719, 83 15850 and 90 10455 for example disclose a hand prosthesis constituted by a rigid plate forming palm supporting articulated elements forming the phalanxes, the latter being provided with an inner spring made of elastically deformable material and returning the corresponding finger in position of extension, a terminal cable connected to the end of each finger being adapted to provoke the movement of angular closure of the finger; the terminal cables are connected to a common beam or bar distributing the traction transferred successivly on each of the terminal cables, this traction coming from a single cable controlled by the user, for example from a dorsal harness. This mechanical structure is completed by a surfacing or trim both for facing and functional, viz. a rigid or semi-rigid dorsal shell and a coating made of supple material, particularly cellular on the palm face.
The invention relates to a device for transmitting and controlling the effort of traction operating from the single cable and driving terminal cables for individual control of the fingers belonging to a manual prosthesis, in particular of the type such as provided by the above-mentioned Patents; reference is expressly made to these Patents for a more complete description of the elements ensuring the functionality and the aesthetically satisfactory aspect of the prosthesis.
According to Patents 83 15850 and 90 10455, a device has been provided for locking the traction arriving at the beam for balancing and distribution on the terminal cables. The object of the devices provided in these Patents is to make it possible to block the gripping elements, particularly the fingers once closed on the object gripped; such blocking allows comfort of use in that it allows a relaxing of the effort of traction having controlled the retraction of the fingers and the grip of the object. Thus the user may, without maintaining his/her effort, conserve in manually held position the gripped object which is in that case capable of being displaced or changed in its positioning in space. In effect, it will be understood that it is particularly hard and difficult for the user to ensure at the same time the maintaining of a traction ensuring stability of the grip and, in parallel, a manipulation or a manoeuvre of the object held in the hand.
The mechanical blocking devices according to the afore-mentioned Patents employ elements acting on the traction cable, either directly by pinching or braking, or via means associated with the cable and subjected to a locking catch. In this way an immobilization of the cable in the position of the closed fingers in abutment on the object is obtained, despite the stop of any traction voluntarily controlled by the user on the cable. Despite their interest and efficiency, these known devices remain imperfect. In effect, although their actuation towards the blocking position can be controlled automatically, for example by a return spring controlling the displacement towards its active position of the locking catch constituted by a pawl associated with a rack or a ratchet wheel, unblocking of the locking system requires a specific manoeuvre and an intervention of the other hand, which handicaps and slows down the overall operation of the ongoing manipulation.
A first object of the invention is to provide a system for locking the hand in position where the fingers are closed on the gripped object, which locking automatically occurs at the end of the phase of closure, the fingers having arrived in position of abutment on the gripped object; this system allows a relaxing of the voluntary effort of traction, while ensuring maintenance of the gripping position acquired.
A second object of the invention is to allow an unlocking which occurs when the user desires, therefore at the opportune moment, solely by manoeuvring the traction cable, while allowing the user to resume, at the moment of release of the fingers, the control of the gripping position previously set. More especially according to this object of the invention, after a period of rest of the traction cable, the maintained grip no longer being under the voluntary control of the user, the latter can in one and the same manoeuvre return to the gripping position voluntarily controlled by the traction cable via an autonomous action of unlocking of the gripping elements, by means of a single subsequent action on the single cable.
Another object of the invention is to introduce in the functioning of the artificial hand a comfort and convenience of control such as a precision of the gesture, by an effect of demultiplication of the movement between the movement of control and the displacement of the remote-controlled elements.
Finally, an essential object of the invention is to allow the use of a single movement control means, for example a linear traction means, to take a bistable element successively towards an active position, position stable and blocked therefore allowing relaxing of the effort, then subsequently by the same manoeuvre as the preceding one, to disengage the element from this active position and control the progressive and controlled return of the element towards its inactive, stable starting position.
To that end, the invention relates to a device for remote-control by a single manoeuvre of at least one element such as a gripping element formed by articulated elements and adapted to close, converging upon the object to be gripped, the device ensuring a blocking of said elements in their active position, while allowing in this stable position a relaxing of the control manoeuvre, characterized in that it comprises:
a) a rotating element such as a primary pulley connected to a control means such as a cable wound and driven in rotation by the traction of said cable;
b) a spring returning the pulley towards its initial position against the action of said cable;
c) a secondary pulley connected to the end of an output cable, this latter terminating by its opposite end at the gripping elements;
d) disengageable mechanical drive means transmitting the torque from the primary pulley towards the secondary pulley;
e) means for blocking the secondary pulley, adapted to immobilize the secondary pulley for a predetermined value of said torque, corresponding to the active position.
According to a more particular form of embodiment, the primary pulley and the secondary pulley are arranged on a common shaft, and the disengageable drive means are constituted by two discs, viz. a driving disc fast in rotation with the primary pulley and a driven disc fast in rotation with the secondary pulley, the discs presenting on each of their opposite faces surface unevenness, adapted to ensure, upon contact of the two discs by their opposite faces, the drive of the disc driven by the driving disc.
More especially, within the framework of this embodiment, the opposite faces of the respectively driving and driven discs comprise asymmetrical teeth forming on one side of the tooth an inclined plane forming a cam, the teeth being regularly distributed over the periphery of each disc and being separated by hollow housings of complementary profile, allowing the engagement of the teeth fast with a disc in the housings of the opposite disc when the two discs are in the engaged position, the slope of said inclined planes being such that, for values of the torque applied to the driving disc less than a determined threshold value, the two discs, driving and driven, are fast in rotation, while, for a torque attaining this critical value, further to the resistance opposed by the gripping elements having arrived in position of abutment on the object, said resistance transmitted by the output cable and the secondary pulley, the teeth of the driving disc slide freely on the teeth, then immobilized, of the driven disc, by their opposite inclined planes, which, by cam effect, provokes the axial translation of the secondary disc thus pushed by the driving disc towards the disengaged position of the drive means.
In particular, the inclined planes of the teeth of the driving disc slope downwards in the direction of rotation of the driving disc in action for the gripping manoeuvre, while the inclined planes of the teeth of the driven disc slope upwards in the direction of this same rotation, all these inclined planes being of the same angle and being opposite and thus being in contact from one disc to the other, when the drive means are in the engaged position.
According to another characteristic, the teeth of the discs comprise at their apex a flat portion, defining for each tooth a planar face parallel to the mean plane of the discs and forming a foundation for rest of the flat portion of the tooth located opposite, when the drive means are in disengaged position.
Advantageously, the side of each tooth opposite the inclined plane is orthogonal with respect to the plane of the disc, each tooth thus having a rectangular trapezoidal section.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the secondary pulley and the driven disc form a one-piece assembly, the driven disc being formed by a cheek of the secondary pulley, oriented towards the driving disc, being thereopposite.
Likewise, the secondary pulley is associated with a return spring, such as a helicoidal spring surrounding said shaft and adapted to return the secondary pulley towards its position of abutment, by its cheek forming driven disc, on the driving disc.
The element for blocking the secondary pulley in the position of gripping of the gripping elements is in particular constituted by a ring facing the cheek of the secondary pulley opposite the cheek in contact with the driving disc. This locking ring, on the one hand, and the opposite cheek of the secondary pulley, on the other hand, comprise surfaces provided with unevenness cooperating together from one face to the other in order to ensure blockage of the pulley in position, when the latter is brought into contact with said ring by the axial thrust undergone from the driving disc during the phase of slide of the teeth of the driving disc rising and pushing the inclined planes of the driven disc fast with the secondary pulley; to that end, the locking ring is provided at a distance from the secondary pulley equal to or less than the height of the trapezium formed by each of the teeth of the driving disc, said height corresponding to the axial stroke of translation of the secondary pulley, under the thrust of the teeth forming cams of the driving disc, in order to come into contact with the locking ring.
The flat portions located at the apex of the teeth comprise, at least on the driven disc, and preferably in the vicinity of the right angle starting the orthogonal side of the tooth, a projecting boss forming stop for the opposite tooth fast with the driving disc, this stop making it possible to mark and make aware for the user the mutual positioning of the teeth in disengaged position of the drive and of blocking of the secondary pulley, this boss being, in addition, of such section and height as to allow the tooth fast with the driving disc to surmount it and pass beyond, dropping in the following housing of the driven disc, when the torque exerted by the driving disc has gone beyond said critical threshold.
The mechanical transmission between the primary pulley and the driving disc is effected via a hub mounted for unidirectional rotation on the shaft of the device via a ratchet wheel and pawl assembly of the so-called xe2x80x9cfree wheelxe2x80x9d type, adapted to ensure drive in rotation of the driving disc by the primary pulley in the direction of rotation corresponding to the transmission of the effort of traction on the traction cable, the driving disc being disconnected from the primary pulley upon rearward return of the latter under the action of its return spring, ensuring rewinding of the primary cable on its receiving primary pulley, without action on the driving disc.
The ring locking the secondary pulley is also mounted for unidirectional rotation by a ratchet and pawl assembly of the xe2x80x9cfree wheelxe2x80x9d type, allowing a rotation of the ring with the secondary pulley in the direction of winding of the output cable and opposing any reverse rotation with rearward return of the output cable and gripping elements. The latter are thus blocked in this set position of equilibrium, by abutment of the secondary pulley on the locking ring, until a fresh traction from the cable generates the excess rotation of the driving disc, beyond this position of equilibrium, and provokes the return of the teeth of the driving disc in the next housings of the driven disc. This fresh mutual engagement of the teeth on the two discs provoking the axial translation of the secondary pulley under the thrust of its return spring, said pulley resuming its initial position of engagement on the driving disc via its cheek forming driven disc, and at the same time the secondary pulley then escapes from its engagement on the locking ring.
The groove for winding the traction cable on the primary pulley is provided with a radius greater than that of the groove for winding the output cable on the secondary pulley, thus allowing a demultiplication between the stroke of the traction cable and that of the output cable, the assembly constituting a pulley block allowing a greater precision in the control of the manoeuvre and a better yield of the effort in the gripping manoeuvre.
It may also be provided that the primary pulley comprises a recessed part on its periphery over a substantially semi-circular segment of crown, the non-recessed sector bearing on its periphery, substantially in a semi-circle, the groove for winding the traction cable, the central crown of the pulley comprising a plurality of regularly distributed housings for receiving the engagement of the end of a return spring working in torsion, the suitable choice of the housing possibly making it possible to calibrate the return force exerted on the primary pulley.
According to the preferred embodiment hereinabove, (the device) is inserted and contained in a housing provided with openings respectively for the traction and output cables, and the housing is mounted fast with a plate forming structure of an artificial hand, the output cable terminating, in manner known per se, in a single beam for distributing the traction on the terminal cables each serving a finger, each finger being able to be brought into bent position against the action of a spring, the traction cable being connected upstream to a manoeuvring harness worn by the user.

Device for remote control of the movement of gripping elements


A transmission controller includes a rotatable shaft that controls engagement and disengagement of a variable speed clutch. An actuator, such as an electric motor, drives the shaft. The shaft is rotated alternately in the normal and reverse directions by supplying a low level current to such an extent that a clutch transfer mechanism is not operated by the rotation. Rotation stop positions are detected. A play area between the rotation stop positions is calculated and can be used to correct for manufacturing inaccuracies or for wear occurring over time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a transmission controller that drives an actuator, such as a motor, to cause engagement and disengagement of a clutch and to cause a speed change of a transmission. The present invention also generally relates to a vehicle including such a transmission controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transmission controller can be used to control a motor that drives a shift shaft. Rotation of the shift shaft can be used to control engagement and disengagement of a clutch and to control change of gear ratios with varied gear combinations. See JP-A-2000-27991. This type of transmission controller has a clutch transfer mechanism located between the shift shaft and the clutch. The clutch transfer mechanism causes engagement and disengagement of the clutch in accordance with the rotation of the shift shaft. The transmission controller also has a transmission transfer mechanism located between the shift shaft and the transmission. The transmission transfer mechanism switches the selected gear ratio in accordance with the rotation of the shift shaft.
JP-A-2000-27991 discloses a method for correcting a neutral position of the shift shaft. According to this correcting method, the shift shaft is rotated to its limits in both directions of rotation and the respective rotation angle positions are detected at the limits. The midpoint between the limit rotation angles then is registered as the new neutral position of the shift shaft.

Transmission controller and vehicle including the same


An access network obtains a non-native mobile station identifier, such as an International Mobile Station Identifier, for use in establishing a packet data call by inducing the mobile station to transmit a non-native message containing the mobile station identifier encapsulated in a native message. The access network de-capsulates and parses the non-native message to obtain the mobile station identifier.

The present invention relates generally to the operation of mobile stations in a hybrid wireless communication network, and more particularly, to a method of obtaining a mobile station identifier from a mobile station in a network where the mobile station identifier is not native to the air interface.
Cellular networks were originally developed to provide primarily voice services over circuit-switched networks. The introduction of packet switched 2.5 G and 3 G networks enables network operators to provide data services as well as voice services. Eventually, network architecture is expected to evolve toward all-IP networks providing both voice and data services. However, network operators have a substantial investment in existing infrastructure and would therefore prefer to migrate gradually to an all-IP network architecture to allow them to use their existing infrastructure. At the same time, network operators recognize that there is a demand for high rate packet-data services. In order to provide high-rate packet data services, network operators may deploy hybrid networks wherein a high data rate (HDR) network is overlaid on an existing circuit-switched or packet-switched network as a first step in the transition to an all IP-based network.
One example of a hybrid network combines a cdma2000 1× (IS2000) network and an HRPD (IS856-A) network. A mobile station operating in a hybrid network supports both the IS2000 and IS856-A air interfaces. Both the cdma2000 1× and HRPD networks can support packet data services. To provide seamless packet data services, it is desirable that a mobile station be able to continue a packet data session when it transitions between the HRPD and cdma2000 1× networks. Under current standards, the mobile station is assigned a static mobile station identifier, such as an International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI). The IMSI is used to select a packet data serving node (PDSN) to connect the mobile station to a packet core network (PCN). The IMSI is also used as a mobile station identifier on the interface to the PCN (i.e., the A9/A11 interface), and by the PDSN to identify the packet data session.
All mobile terminals that are capable of supporting the cdma2000 air interface are assigned a unique IMSI. In cdma2000 1× networks, the IMSI is included in air interface messages transmitted to and from the mobile station. Thus, a cdma2000 1× base station can determine the IMSI of a mobile station by monitoring messages transmitted over the air interface. In contrast, air interface messages in the HRPD network do not contain the IMSI. Instead, the HRPD network assigns a temporary and typically geographically specific Unicast Access Terminal Identifier (UATI) to the mobile station that is included in air interface messages. The method of assigning a UATI is not standardized and thus the methods used vary from one network operator to another. During the course of a HRPD session, the UATI can be changed, for example, in response to a mobility event such as a handoff. Thus, the HRPD network cannot obtain the IMSI by monitoring messages transmitted over the air interface.
The interoperability standards (TIA-878 and TIA-1878) for HRPD networks contain procedures that allow the HRPD network to obtain the IMSI of a mobile station. During session establishment, the HRPD AN (TIA-878) or a Session Controller/Mobility Manager (SC/MM) in the HRPD network (TIA-1878) may acquire the IMSI of the mobile station from an AAA server when authenticating the mobile station. This procedure requires the network operator to provision the IMSI at the AAA server. This procedure is not available if the HRPD AN or SC/MM does not support the A12 interface.
If the HRPD AN or SC/MM is unable to obtain the IMSI of a mobile station from an AAA server, the HRPD AN or SC/MM may generate and assign a random IMSI to the mobile station to use for signaling with the PDSN. The random IMSI is not transmitted to the mobile station over the air interface and the mobile station has no knowledge of it. When the HRPD AN receives messages from the mobile station over the air interface, it correlates the UATI with the random IMSI and uses the random IMSI for signaling with the PDSN. If the mobile station subsequently transitions to the cdma2000 1× network, the cdma2000 1× base station will determine the IMSI of the mobile station from the signaling messages transmitted over the cdma2000 1× air interface and use this IMSI for signaling with the PDSN. In this scenario, the PDSN will not have any record of a packet data session associated with the IMSI received from the cdma2000 1× base station. Therefore, PDSN will set-up a new packet data session for the mobile station based on the IMSI received from the cdma2000 1× base station. Setting up a new packet data session requires additional signaling and control procedures, such as PPP establishment/negotiation and, in some circumstances, mobile IP registration. These procedures will cause some delay in delivering packets and possibly data loss.
A similar problem may occur when a mobile station hands off between two HRPD ANs. Normally, the IMSI used by the source AN to communicate with the PDSN is sent to the target HRPD AN over the A13 signaling interface along with other session information. When there is no A13 link between the source HRPD AN and the target HRPD AN, there is no mechanism for informing the target HRPD AN of the IMSI. Consequently, the target HRPD AN will assign a new IMSI to use for signaling with the PDSN, which is not likely to match the IMSI used by the PDSN to identify the packet data session. The PDSN will not be able to identify the existing packet data session because the target HRPD AN is using a different IMSI and therefore will set up a new packet data session for the mobile station. As previously describe, setting up a new packet data session will cause some delay and may result in packet data loss.

Method of acquiring a mobile station identifier in a hybrid network


A fuel cell stack includes a terminal plate, an insulating member, and an end plate at one end of a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. A heat insulating member and the terminal plate are placed in a recess of the insulating member. The heat insulating member is formed by stacking metal plates and metal plates together alternately. The metal plate is formed by cutting the outer end of a first metal separator of the power generation cell into a frame shape and the metal plate is formed by cutting the outer end of a second metal separator of the power generation cell into a frame shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack including a stack body formed by stacking power generation cells in a stacking direction, and terminal plates, insulating members, and end plates provided at both ends of the stack body in the stacking direction. Each of the power generation cells includes a membrane electrode assembly and a separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is a polymer ion exchange membrane. In the fuel cell, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode each including an electrode catalyst layer of electrode catalyst and a gas diffusion layer of porous carbon to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates) to form a power generation cell. A predetermined number of the power generation cells are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack, e.g., mounted in a vehicle.
In some of power generation cells of such a fuel cell stack, in comparison with the other power generation cells, the temperature is decreased easily due to heat radiation to the outside. For example, in the power generation cells provided at ends of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "end power generation cells"), since a large amount of the heat is radiated to the outside, e.g., from the terminal plates and/or the end plates, or the like, the decrease in the temperature is significant.
In this regard, for example, a fuel cell stack disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-277521 (hereinafter referred to as conventional technique) is known. As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel cell stack includes a stack body 1 formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells, a pair of current collecting plates 2a, 2c provided on both sides of the stack body 1, a pair of end plates 3a, 3c provided outside the current collecting plates 2a, 2c, a plurality of elastic members 4 provided outside the current collecting plates 2a, 2c to apply pressure to components between the current collecting plates 2a, 2c, and heat insulating members 5 provided around the elastic members 4 to cover the elastic members 4.


A spun-blown non-woven web is disclosed which is formed from a plurality of fibers formed from a single polymer having an average fiber diameter ranging from between about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns; a basis weight of at least about 0.5 gsm; a tensile strength, measured in a machine direction, ranging from between about 20 g to about 4,200 g; a ratio of tensile strength, measured in the machine direction, to basis weight of at least about 20:1; and a ratio of percent elongation, measured in the machine direction, to fiber diameter of at least about 15.

Conventional meltblown fibers can be manufactured with very fine diameters, in the range of less than 1 micron to about 10 microns. These fine diameters are very advantageous in forming various kinds of non-woven fabrics. However, conventional meltblown fibers are extremely weak in strength due to the high die and air temperatures used in the forming process. To the contrary, spunbond fibers can be manufactured to be very strong but have a much larger diameter, in the range of from about 15 to about 50 microns. Fabrics formed from spunbond are less opaque and tend to exhibit a rough surface since the fiber diameters are quite large. Typically, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) non-woven structures are formed because the conventional meltblown fibers do not have the strength necessary to make a one layer fabric. They need the added spunbond layers on the outside to make an acceptable strong non-woven web.
The problem, up to now, is that no one has been able to find a way to extrude smaller fibers, having a diameter close to those of meltblown fibers, yet having similar strength of spunbond fibers.
Now, a Spun-Blown® non-woven web has been invented which solves this problem.


A hollow golf club head comprises a main body made of a metal material and being provided with at least one opening, and a cover member made of a fiber reinforced resin and attached to the main body so as to close the opening, wherein the cover member comprises an outline including a wavy part extending in a waveform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hollow golf club head which comprises a head main body made of a metal material and a cover member made of a fiber reinforced resin, and more particularly to a golf club head which can improve a freedom of designing its center of gravity while increasing a joint strength between both the members.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a composite type golf club head which comprises a head main body made of a metal material and provided with an opening in a crown portion, and a cover member made of fiber reinforce resin and closing the opening by being firmly attached to the head main body. In the club head mentioned above, a weight saving is achieved by the fiber reinforced resin having a small specific gravity. A weight margin obtained thereby is used, for example, for increasing a head volume and/or adjusting its center of gravity point.
In the composite type club head as mentioned above, in order to sufficiently increase a joint strength between the cover member and the head main body, for example, there can be considered a structure in which the head main body is provided with a wide supporting portion around the opening on which an inner surface of a periphery of the cover member is overlapped. However, in this method, it is hard to obtain a great weight margin.


An external sound box includes a connecting member and a sound box. The connecting member includes a sound passage and is selectively attachable to a surface of an electronic device to cover a sounding hole of the electronic device. The sound box is mounted to the connecting member. The sound box defines a resonant chamber communicating with the sound passage and a sounding output hole. Sound generated by the electronic device moves from the sounding hole into the sound passage and the sound box. The sounding passage and the sound box are configured so that the sound from the sounding hole resonates before exiting the sound output hole with increased volume.

Electronic devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, include loudspeakers for implementing the multi-media playing function. The electronic devices commonly define receiving chambers for receiving the loudspeakers, and resonant cavities for sounds emitted by the loudspeakers to resonate. However, the volume of the loudspeaker may not be high enough or satisfy the requirements of the user.

External sound box, loudspeaker module with same and electronic device


A grab bar includes a continuous support bar extending between a first end and a second end vertically spaced apart from the first end. The continuous support bar has a top section extending away from the first end, a bottom section extending away from the second end and angling upward toward the top section, and a bend formed between and connecting the top section and the bottom section. A brace member is coupled to and extends between the top section and the bottom section.

Grab bars are often located in lavatories, such as washrooms, bathrooms, and showers to help facilitate a user maneuvering within and through the lavatory. Grab bars can extend away from a sturdy mounting surface (e.g., a floor, wall, ceiling, etc.) to form an elongate structure capable of supporting or at least partially supporting the weight of a user. In use, a user can grab or otherwise engage the grab bar, which transfers at least a portion of the bodyweight of the user onto the grab bar. The user can then balance and support himself or herself partially or entirely on the grab bar as the user traverses or otherwise orients himself or herself within a bathroom stall or shower, for example.
Grab bars can be particularly useful for people with physical disabilities. For example, grab bars provide a sturdy structure that can support at least some of the bodyweight of a user as the user transitions from, for example, a wheel chair or power chair to a toilet or shower seat. The grab bar can similarly support at least some of the bodyweight of the user as the user transitions from, for example, the toilet or shower seat back into the wheel chair or power chair.

Grab bar for support in various environments