The present invention is a translucent interlayer, or a laminate obtained therefrom, that has low clarity, high haze, and light transmission of at least 60 percent wherein the aesthetic qualities of etched or sandblasted glass are substantially recreated. In addition, a laminate of the present invention provides the safety characteristics of laminated safety glass. In addition, the process for making the translucent laminates of the present invention can eliminate the safety and environmental concerns related to sandblasting or etching processes.

Plasticized polyvinyl butyral sheet (PVB) is used in the manufacture of laminate structures such as, for example: windshields for vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, boats and airplanes; homes and buildings; shelving in cabinets and display cases; and other articles where structural strength is desirable in a glass sheet. In many applications, it is desirable that the laminate be transparent and colorless. In other applications it can be desirable for the laminate to be translucent. Translucent laminates have been known in the art of laminated safety glass for many years.
Typically, translucent laminates have light transmission levels of 70 percent or less. However, translucent or semi-transparent laminates having higher light transmission levels, for example from 80 to 90 percent transmission—and also with high light diffusion properties—are typically prepared using sandblasted or etched glasses.
Sandblasting is a process that can be used for making glass less transparent by bombarding the surface of the glass with high-velocity sand particles, glass beads or similar aggregate, propelled under pressure from a sandblasting apparatus. Etching is a process by which the surface is chemically etched by application of a chemical, such as an acid which reacts on the surface of the glass to reduce the transparency in the areas where the chemical contacts the glass surface. Either of these processes can create a roughened surface on the glass, thereby causing a scattering, or diffusion, of incident light at the surface of the glass.
While the processes of sandblasting and etching can create glass with from low to high opacity, and with light diffusion and light transmission properties offering aesthetic appeal in architectural applications, the processes themselves can be dangerous because of the handling of the etching acids and/or silicosis from the glass dust created. Further, any operation that creates imperfections in the glass surface creates stresses that can lead to failures of the glass when handled or impacted, thereby reducing its safety properties. An additional problem encountered with glass having a roughened surface is that the surface can be difficult to clean where dirt becomes trapped in creases on the glass.
Typically, commercially available white intertayers have a very low level of light transmission. In fact, white interlayer products that are commercially available allow light to pass through but do not allow a person to recognize or discern the shape of an object through the interlayer, or through any laminate prepared therefrom.
It would be desirable to have a translucent, or semi-transparent, glass laminate that affords some measure of object recognition through the laminate, wherein the laminate has the aesthetic characteristics of sandblasted or etched glass, and at the same time has the strength of a standard transparent safety glass laminate.
It would also be desirable to obtain such an aesthetically pleasing laminate by a process that reduces or eliminates the safety risks associated with manufacturing sandblasted or etched glass.

Interlayer composite structure for laminating glass with controlled diffusing properties at high transmission and a process for making same


A contactless power supply device supplying electric power in a contactless manner to a power receiving device mounted on a moving object includes: a bottom plate structuring an installation face; a power transmitting coil disposed on the bottom plate to supply electric power to a power receiving coil included in the power receiving device; and a cover attached to the bottom plate so as to cover the power transmitting coil disposed on the bottom plate. A layer of air is formed between the power transmitting coil and the cover.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a conventional contactless power supply device 6. In FIG. 6, a contactless power supply device (primary side) F connected to a power panel of a power supply 9 located on the external ground side is disposed so as to oppose to a power receiving device (secondary side) G mounted on an electrically propelled vehicle, having an air gap, i.e., a clearance space, interposed between the contactless power supply device F and the power receiving device G without any physical contact when power is to be supplied. When a magnetic flux is formed at a primary coil 7 included in the power supply device F in such a disposition state, an induced electromotive force is generated at a secondary coil 8 included in the power receiving device G. Thus, the electric power is transmitted from the primary coil 7 to the secondary coil 8 in a contactless manner.
The power receiving device G is connected to an in-vehicle battery 10, for example, and the in-vehicle battery 10 is charged with the electric power transmitted in the manner as described above. An in-vehicle motor 11 is driven by the electric power stored in the battery 10. Note that, during the contactless power supply process, the power supply device F and the power receiving device G exchange necessary information between each other through a wireless communication device 12, for example.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the power supply device F and the power receiving device G. In particular, FIG. 7(a) is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the power supply device F as seen from above, or the power receiving device G as seen from below. FIG. 7(b) is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the power supply device F or the power receiving device G as seen sideways.
In FIG. 7, the power supply device F includes the primary coil 7, a primary magnetic core 13, a back plate 15, a cover 16 and the like. In simple, the power receiving device G is structured symmetrically to the power supply device F, and includes the secondary coil 8, a secondary magnetic core 14, a back plate 15, a cover 16 and the like. The surface of the primary coil 7 and the primary magnetic core 13, and the surface of the secondary coil 8 and the secondary magnetic core 14 are covered and fixed by a mold resin 17 in which foam materials 18 are contained, respectively.
In other words, both the power supply device F and the power receiving device G are filled with the mold resin 17 between the back plate 15 and the cover 16, and the surface of each of the primary coil 7, the secondary coil 8, furthermore the primary magnetic core 13, and the secondary magnetic core 14 located inside is covered and fixed. The mold resin 17 is made of silicone resin, for example. By fixing the inside, the primary and secondary coils 7 and 8 are positioned and fixed, and the mechanical strength thereof is secured. In addition, the heat dissipation function is exhibited. That is, though the primary and secondary coils 7 and 8 produce heat by Joule heat as an exciting current flows, the heat is dissipated by thermal conduction of the mold resin 17, and the primary and secondary coils 7 and 8 are cooled.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Embodiments of the invention provide a method of welding sputtering target tiles to form a large sputtering target. Embodiments of a sputtering target assembly with welded sputtering target tiles are also provided. In one embodiment, a method for welding sputtering target tiles in an electron beam welding chamber comprises providing strips or powder of sputtering target material on a pre-determined at least one interfacial line between at least two sputtering target tiles, that are yet to be placed, on a surface of support, placing the at least two sputtering target tiles side by side with edges of the at least two sputtering target tiles abutting and forming at least one interfacial line on top of the strips or powder of sputtering target material, pumping out the gas in the electron beam welding chamber, preheating the at least two sputtering target tiles and the strips or powder of sputtering target material to a pre-heat temperature less than the temperature at which the at least two target tiles begin to melt, undergo a change in physical state, or undergo substantial decomposition, and welding the at least two sputtering target tiles placed side by side into a large sputtering target.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to substrate processing apparatuses and methods, such as apparatuses and methods for flat panel display processing (i.e. LCD, OLED, and other types of flat panel displays), semiconductor wafer processing, and solar panel processing. In particular, the embodiments of the invention relate to sputtering target for large area substrate processing systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is one of the most commonly used processes in fabrication of electronic devices, such as flat panel displays. PVD is a plasma process performed in a vacuum chamber where a negatively biased target is exposed to a plasma of an inert gas having relatively heavy atoms (e.g., argon) or a gas mixture comprising such inert gas. Bombardment (or sputtering) of the target by ions of the inert gas results in ejection of atoms of the target material. The ejected atoms accumulate as a deposited film on a substrate placed on a substrate pedestal disposed underneath the target within the chamber. Flat panel display sputtering is principally distinguished from the long developed technology of wafer sputtering by the large size of the substrates and their rectangular shape.
FIG. 1 (prior art) shows a typical DC magnetron PVD reactor 10, which includes an electrically grounded vacuum chamber 12 to which a target 14 is vacuum sealed through an electrical isolator 16. A DC power supply 18 negatively biases the target 14 with respect to the chamber 12 to excite an argon sputter working gas into a plasma. However, it is noted that RF sputtering is also known. The positively charged argon ions are attracted to the biased target 14 and sputter material from the target 14 onto a substrate 20 supported on a pedestal in opposition to the target 14. A magnetron 24 positioned in back of the target projects a magnetic field parallel to the front face of the target 14 to trap electrons, thereby increasing the density of the plasma and increasing the sputtering rate. In modern sputter reactors, the magnetron may be smaller and be scanned about the back of the target 14. Even a large magnetron may be scanned in order to improve the uniformity of erosion and deposition. Aluminum, titanium, and copper targets are typically formed of a sputtering layer of the material to be sputtered coated onto or bonded to a target backing plate of less expensive and more readily machine-able material.
Sputter reactors were largely developed for sputtering onto substantially circular silicon wafers. Over the years, the size of silicon wafers has increased in diameter from 50 mm to 300 mm. Sputtering targets need to be somewhat larger than the wafers to provide more uniform deposition across the wafer. Typically, wafer sputter targets are formed of a single circular member for some materials such as aluminum and copper or a single continuous sputter layer formed on a backing plate for more difficult materials.
In the early 1990's, sputter reactors were developed for thin film transistor (TFT) circuits formed on glass panels to be used for large displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for use as computer monitors or television screens. The technology was later applied to other types of displays, such as plasma displays and organic semiconductors, and on other panel compositions, such as plastic and polymer. Some of the early reactors were designed for panels having a size of about 400 mm×600 mm. Because of the increasing sizes of flat panel displays being produced and the economy of scale realized when multiple displays are fabricated on a single glass panel and thereafter diced, the size of the panels has been continually increasing. Flat panel fabrication equipment is commercially available for sputtering onto panels having a minimum size of 1.8 meter and equipment is being contemplated for panels having sizes of 2 m×2 m and even larger. One drawback of a single-piece target is the price of the target as the size of the target increases. Bonding multiple tiles of sputtering materials to a single target backing plate is an economical alternative.
Combining sputtering target tiles to create a larger sputtering target without gaps raises many challenges. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method of combining sputtering target tiles to create large sputtering target for large area substrate processing systems.

Electron beam welding of sputtering target tiles


Vulcanizing apparatus including a sealable vulcanizing vessel having an access cover on the top thereof, and a mold to be inserted in the vulcanizing vessel. The length of a rubber sleeve provided to cover the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A formed over the external circumference of the mold is sized a little longer than the height of the mold so that both ends of the rubber sleeve when placed in covering position protrude slightly from both the top and bottom ends of the mold. A holding seat is provided in the lower part of the vulcanizing vessel, and a pressing seat corresponding to the holding seat is provided on the access cover via a cylinder unit so that the pressing seat can be extended and retracted as required. The inner structures of both the pressing seat and holding seat include cooling jackets.

The present invention relates to vulcanizing apparatus for vulcanizing endless rubber belts such as power transmission rubber belts.
Endless rubber belts of this type are produced by winding belt constituent members, including unvulcanized rubber sheet, canvas, cords, etc., over the outer circumference of a mold to form a cylindrical unvulcanized rubber slab, vulcanizing, cooling and removing the cylindrical rubber and slicing the slab into belts of a desired width.
One typical vulcanizing apparatus for vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber belt form is the gasket vulcanizing apparatus, and a cross sectional view of one portion of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 6. Ring-shaped capping members 52 and 53 are fixed to both the upper and bottom ends of a mold 51 in such a way that the capping members cover both the upper and bottom ends of an unvulcanized rubber belt molding A formed over the outer circumference of the mold 51 between the members 52 and 53. Then the whole assembly is inserted into a metal sleeve 55. The metal sleeve 55 has a rubber sleeve 54 of which both the top and bottom ends are fixed to the inner circumference of the metal sleeve 55. Pressurized steam is introduced through a pipe into the space between the rubber sleeve 54 and the metal sleeve 55 to apply pressure on the molding A and heat it to effect vulcanization. The above-mentioned vulcanizing apparatus is placed inside a sealable vulcanizing vessel (not illustrated) and the pressurized steam is introduced inside the vulcanizing vessel. An apparatus similar to that described above is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,480.
The above-mentioned conventional vulcanizing apparatus, however, has room for further improvements on the following points:
(1) In the vulcanizing operation, capping members 52 and 53 must be selected according to the size of the mold 51 and the thickness of the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A. Replacement of the capping members for each size takes time and labor. PA1 (2) The second point relates to the vulcanized product. The capping members 52 and 53 are made of metal, and these members are quickly heated up upon the introduction of the pressurized steam. As a result, the upper and lower portions X (see FIG. 5 (b)) of the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A have a greater vulcanizing speed relative to other portions (Y and Z), as shown by the curve X' in FIG. 5 (a) which indicates the states of vulcanization, and become overcured. The upper and lower portions X of the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A will shrink and prevent the gas released by the rubber belt molding A from escaping. Then the gas will remain in the form of bubbles which in turn may produce pin holes or deteriorate the quality of the rubber belt.
Moreover, there is a gap between the mold 51 and the capping members 52 and 53. During the vulcanization a part of the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A will melt and flow into the gap. As a result, the top and bottom portions of the rubber belt must be wasted since the form of these portions is irregular. The yield, therefore, is reduced.

Endless rubber belt vulcanizing apparatus


A footwear component and a method of making the footwear component are disclosed. The footwear component includes a first portion and a second portion that are joined at a transition zone. The first portion and the second portion have different flexibility characteristics. The footwear component can bend at the transition zone to accommodate the natural bending of a foot. The method can include removing material from a preformed member and applying layers of different materials to form a component with different properties in different regions.

The present invention relates generally to an article of footwear, and in particular to a footwear component for an article of footwear.
Inserts for articles of footwear have been previously proposed. Cort (U.S. Pat. No. 1,697,589) teaches a shoe with an inner sole blank. Cort teaches that the inner sole blank is first split from its heel end to form lower and upper laminations. A cushioning member comprises a soft sponge rubber and is inserted into the split.
Dardinski et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,470) teaches a shoe footbed system. Dardinski teaches a footbed that can include a stiffening member. The stiffening member can be made from one or more different materials including thermoplastic urethane (TPU), EVA or nylon.
The related art lacks provisions for accommodating the natural bending of the foot, especially near the toes of the foot. There is a need for a design that addresses this problem of the related art.

Footwear component for an article of footwear


A method for memory modification resulting in a test probe for examining a program under test substantially during run-time is provided. The ability to inject faults or errors in order to test a reaction of the program to a fault in a particular state and to individually replace access to a regular operand by accessing a shadow operand allow for non-intrusive tests while the program is substantially executed in real-time. The program itself is not substantially altered for testing purposes.

In order to provide a proper operation of program (e.g., particularly programs executed on an embedded system with real time requirements), rigorous testing is to be performed in the course of developing and engineering such programs.
Currently employed tools for software testing include external devices that depend on stimuli for indicating the state of a program being executed on a processing unit of a computer. In the course of testing, faults or errors are injected in response to the stimuli to test a reaction of the program to a fault in that particular state.
A particular problem with external test devices (e.g., devices outside and/or in a vicinity of a processing unit) is due to an integration and miniaturization of components and signals in current processing systems that render difficulties in reaching information of interest (e.g., cache-memory, internal registers and buses, and other on-chip logic of a processing unit). Due to a limited pin count, a tapping of internal signals of interest is rather intricate.
Such testing is particularly demanding in the case of real-time systems and/or embedded systems that include highly integrated components and where test results are to be obtained without compromising a functional and timing behavior.
Running a program under control of a debugger (e.g., a tool for finding causes of errors) and modifying the program by setting watch points or break points massively interferes functional and timing behavior, which makes debuggers impractical for automated testing.
In general, stimulations for testing purposes are not to impair the program under test. In other words, process-internal stimulations are to only have the intended effects on the control process under test, without any unintended side effects. In this sense, process-internal stimulations are to be non-intrusive.
Accordingly, there is a need for executing a program in a computer allowing for non-intrusive tests while the program is substantially executed in real-time and whereby the program itself is not substantially altered for testing purposes.
Further, there is a need for facilitating tests in programs by injecting faults at precise locations in the execution path of a program.

Method for executing a program in a computer


Fasteners characterized by structures which are suitable to be engaged reversibly in a slot of a rigid part, such as a metal sheet or the frame of a car for example. The structure provides easy insertion but difficult extraction of the fastener from the slot, without producing squeaking noises during end-use. Easy manufacturing and high dimensional accuracy are also great assets of the fasteners. The invention also pertains to an assembly of said rigid part and the fastener, an assembly connecting parts with the fastener of this invention, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies.

A number of fasteners have been used in the past for securing one object on another object, as for example, securing an article such as for example a plastic sheet on a metal or other rigid plastic sheet. However, the fasteners of the type, which are improved by the advances of the present invention, and being used presently, have a rather low ratio of insertion force to removal force. In other words, they require considerable force to be inserted into a slot in order to provide adequate removal resistance in order to be removed from the slot. This is ergonomically inferior performance, and the operators may suffer miscellaneous ailments, while productivity is also considerably undermined. In other cases, disadvantages, such as unacceptable squeaking noises during their use in vehicles for example, make such fasteners undesirable and inferior.
Examples of conventional fasteners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,714 (Smith); U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,319 (Smith); U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,158 (Gronau et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,789 (Fisher et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,611 (Murata); U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,280 (Gagliardi); U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,592 (Doerfling); U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,475 (Bien); U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,622 (Ohelke); U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,170 (Schnabl); U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,652 (Kelly et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,789 (Leitner); U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,643 (Kindell); U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,129 (Holton); U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,948 (Parkin); U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,971 (Bedford, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,883 (Tinnerman); U.S. Pat. No. 2,329,688 (Bedford, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,656 (Murphy), among others.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,019 (Fisher) provides fasteners which can only be permanently installed into a slot; they can only be inserted but not extracted without damage to parts of the fastener. The major engagement is performed by spring strips, while frictional portions of the fastener pass through the slot with at most slight compression, and immediately after the insertion of the fastener they are located in slightly spaced or barely contacting relation with the edges of the slot. They are only activated for engagement after the insertion of a bolt into a hole at the base plate. Thus, the profound effect of the increased removal to insertion ratio (explained in detail hereinbelow) is not recognized, mentioned, or implied. Thus, the intentionally provided distance of the frictional portions away from the edges of the slot by Fisher, during insertion and before use of the bolt, teaches actually away from the instant invention, which recognizes and takes full advantage of the increased removal to insertion ratio by an engagement region having a hindrance portion. According to one embodiment if the engagement surfaces of the instant invention were located in slightly spaced or barely contacting relation with the edges of the slot, no engagement at all would take place upon insertion of the fastener of this invention into the slot.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,837 (Wisniewski) describes a spring fastener comprising bulbous and outwardly projecting portions, which assist in preventing withdrawal of the clip and associated molding from an aperture of a vehicle frame. However, "bulbous projections" are necessarily voluminous, take most of the space in the inwardly directed section which acts as an engagement region, and unless they are manufactured within tight tolerances with regard to the thickness of the frame, the "base plates" do not sit on the frame (see also the Figures), rendering the structure unstable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,240 B1 (Hironaka et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,768 (Hoyle et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,550 (Bettini), U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,310 (Belissaire), U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,341 (Harris, Jr. et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,325 (Moran et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,355 (Junemann), U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,246 (Small), and U.S. Pat. No. 2,424,757 (F. Klump, Jr.) are directed to plastic or metal fasteners which are designed to be just inserted into the slot of a panel, but not extracted without damage to the fastener (if such extraction would be attempted from the front side; the side from which the fastener is inserted into the panel, since the back part of the panel is not reachable in the cases, wherein such types of fasteners are used).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,380 (Vassiliou) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,440 (Vassiliou) disclose fasteners having bent teeth which, however, either produce squeaking noises if they are extending very little, or they prevent extraction of the fastener from a slot without distraction of the fastener, if the teeth extend too much.
In contrast, this invention is characterized by critical configurations providing superior fasteners lacking the above undesirable properties.


A display controller includes a video signal-analyzing unit, a video signal-adjusting unit operable to receive a video signal, to adjust the video signal in accordance with adjustment parameter information, and to feed the adjusted video signal into a display device, and a light source-controlling unit operable to feed a light source-controlling signal into a light source in accordance with light source light-emitting amount information. The video signal-analyzing unit allows timing in which the display device displays a picture in accordance with the adjusted video signal from the video signal-adjusting unit to be synchronized with timing in which the light source changes a light-emitting amount in response to the light source-controlling signal from the light source-controlling unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display method, a display controller, and a display apparatus. In particular, it relates to an art of dynamically adjusting a video signal and light source luminance in accordance with entered video data in a video-displaying apparatus that is operable to display a picture by illuminating, with light from a light source, a light-receiving display device as represented by a liquid crystal panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide a light source with less power consumption and a longer life display device, a video signal-adjusting value and a light source luminance-regulating value have been controlled in a manner correlated therebetween in response to an entered video signal, a photosensor, and a temperature sensor, thereby realizing a power saving and a longer lifetime in the display device. Such a prior art is disclosed in published Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-66501.
However, according to the prior art, a step of displaying an adjusted video signal on a display device is entirely unassociated in terms of time with a step of switching a light source to a value at which the luminance of the light source has been regulated.
As a result, despite an earnest effort to closely adjust the video signal to be applied to the display device, the video signal is often unbalanced with a light-emitting amount of the light source. More specifically, the prior art sometimes results in unsuccessful display such as an obscure image plane and a conspicuous change between brighter and darker light sources.

Display method, display controller, and display apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system and method of testing call performance of a plurality of mobile telephones is provided. In one embodiment the method comprises storing in a memory of a test device, data for one or more test scenarios that each comprises associated test parameters for attempting a plurality of telephone calls, establishing a first Bluetooth connection between the test device and a first mobile telephone, and concurrently with said first Bluetooth connection, establishing a second Bluetooth connection between the test device and a second mobile telephone. The method further comprises transmitting commands to the first and second mobile telephones via the Bluetooth connections to cause the mobile telephones to attempt to establish a plurality of telephone calls of the test scenarios, and monitoring the plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephones to determine test results data. The method further includes attempting and monitoring a plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephones to determine test results data with one or more remote call servers and outputting the test results data to a remote computer system for processing to determine the number of dropped calls, call set up times, number of calls successfully initiated, number of calls having two way speech, and other data.

Mobile telephone devices have become ubiquitous in our society. Unlike conventional landline telephony services, which typically operate in a home or office and are delivered via a wire or cable and enjoy a highly consistent transmission quality, mobile telephone devices are subjected to use under varying radio environments. Wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, end users, and providers of various add-on services want the call performance of mobile telephone devices to be of the highest quality. Data relating to call performance may include data related to dropped calls, failed call initiations, call set-up times, time in no service, and calls not having two-way speech. Various factors may impact call performance, including signal strength, signal quality, environmental factors (such as weather), and network congestion.
In order to arrive at predictive indicators of call performance, individuals have performed manual testing whereby a plurality of mobile telephone devices are distributed in the market and manual placement of hundreds and even thousands of calls are placed and the disposition of each is manually noted. Such a process is tedious and time consuming. In other instances, call performance may be tested in the manner of a "census" in which the calls placed to and by mobile telephones operated by consumers are monitored. However, in such a census process, the mobile telephones are already in the market place.
There is a need to deploy systems and methods designed to provide indicators (such as predictive indicators or statistical indicators) of how a mobile telephone device may perform in the hands of consumers prior to the device being distributed in the market place. Further, there is a need to perform such testing in a cost-effective and automated manner.
To accurately evaluate call performance of a mobile telephone device, there is a need to test the device under various live network scenarios. To determine an indicator of a mobile telephone device's expected call performance in the hands of a consumer, a test may be conducted in the manner of a "survey" whereby a plurality of samples of the subject mobile telephone device are used to place and receive calls from and to a variety of locations representative of the signal strength and signal quality experienced by consumer users and calls are also placed during a variety of daily time periods representing light and heavy call congestion.
For example, it may be desirable to include mobile tests, stationary tests, and in-building tests in various locations and at various times and days, so as to encompass various live network configurations. When considering live network configuration variables, it also may be desirable to test mobile telephone call performance across networks having nodes that implement various types of wireless telephony equipment, such as base-station equipment and mobile-switch equipment. Further, there is a need to perform such testing with some degree of automation to efficiently perform the testing and limit recording errors and other human errors.
Accordingly, there is a need to implement and improve test methods pertaining to mobile telephones in a manner that more accurately correlates to the actual usage experiences of mobile telephone users. These and other needs may be addressed by one or more embodiments of the present inventions.

System, method and device for testing mobile telephone call performance


The prolactin production inhibition agent of the present invention containing a condensed cyclic compound, which is characterized by containing a condensed bicyclic structure of an optionally substituted homo or hetero 5- to 7-membered ring with an optionally substituted homo or hetero 5- to 7-membered ring, or a salt thereof, can be used, as a medicine, for the prophylaxis or therapy of diseases accompanied with an excess prolactin production or diseases having enhanced reactivity with prolactin, or is useful for inhibiting puerperal lactation, and also useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent of galactorrhea, hyperprolactinemic ovulation disturbance, amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome, prolactinoma, and besides, interbrain tumor, and acromegaly, pituitary gigantism.

Prolactin, which is produced and secreted from anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, shows a variety of actions including the actions on mammary glands to play an important role for starting and maintenance of lactation, the actions on water-electrolyte metabolism, the actions on reproductive glands, the actions on the immune system and the actions on brain function. The prolactin-producing cells of the pituitary gland are recognized to have clearly characteristic properties. For example, peptide hormones so far known as various pituitary hormone secretion/production stimulating hormones secreted from hypothalamus are clearly observed to act preferentially and specifically on specified pituitary hormone secretion/production cells of the anterior lobes of the pituitary gland. Typically, while gonadotropic hormone releasing hormone, sometimes referred to as GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone): lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), acts preferentially and specifically on the cells which secrete/produce, for example, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) in the anterior lobe of pituitary, no observational studies have been reported that the GnRH acts on the cells which produce/secrete prolactin, also known as an anterior pituitary hormone, to cause secretion of prolactin. Therefore, cells which produce/secrete gonadotropins and prolactin are considered to have, among anterior pituitary hormone secreting/producing cells, entirely different characteristic features. From the viewpoints as above, for controlling the prolactin production/secretion, the drug to be used therefor should at least act on pituitary prolactin-producing cells which can be clearly distinguished from other peptide hormone secretion/production cells of pituitary.
As diseases caused by excess production and secretion of prolactin, hyperprolactinemia has been known, which shows clinical symptoms such as suppression of reproductive function and galactorrhea (cf. Clinical Neuroscience, Vol.8, No.4, 1990, Chugai Igakusha; Nihon Rinsho, Vol.51, No.10, 1993, Nihon Rinshosha). As causes of this hyperprolactinemia, prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor (prolactinoma) is frequently observed, and, besides, functional hyperprolactinemia due to paracrisis of prolactin-inhibiting factor or drug-induced hyperprolactinemia have been known (cf. Clinical Neuroscience, Vol.8, 1990, Chugai Igakusha; Nihon Rinsho, Vol.51, No.10, 1993, Nihon Rinshosha). Furthermore, prolactin takes part also in puerperal lactation and galactorrhea.
Hyperprolactinemia is treated principally by surgical operation and drug treatment. As the drug for treatment, a dopamine agonistic one such as bromocriptine is used, leaving several problems still to be solved. First of all, bromocriptine therapy is not a complete cure, and, after suspension of the administration, the prolactin levels rise up again and the recurrence and progression of the disease are observed. And, undesirable side effects, including digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and constipation, postural hypotension and headache, are observed. Further, among prolactin adenomas, there exist bromocriptine-resistant ones. For solving these problems, development of a novel agent of suppressing prolactin-production has been desired.
Condensed bicyclic compounds, for example, a thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivative and a thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative, are known to have an excellent gonadotropic hormone-releasing hormone antagonistic activity (PCT International Publication No. WO95/28405). On the other hand, while the pituitary prolactin-producing cells have so far been considered to be clearly distinguished from other pituitary peptide hormone secreting/producing cells, especially FSH- or LH-secreting/producing cells, among peptide pituitary hormone secretion/production stimulating hormone actually secreted from hypothalamus, none of such hormone as acting on prolactin-producing cells to cause secretion of prolactin while showing simultaneously activity on gonadotropin secreting/producing cells has been known. Circumstances being such as above, development of a novel agent of suppressing prolactin-production from an independent viewpoint has been required as well.
Furthermore, for treating diseases/disturbances due to hyperprolactin, use of a prolactin inhibitory agent acting specifically on prolactin-producing cells has a possibility of curing completely hyperprolactinemia and of reducing undesirable side-effects. Therefore, a highly stable and orally administrable prolactin-inhibiting agent, which is capable of directly suppressing or inhibiting the prolactin-production of pituitary prolactin-producing/secreting cells, especially a non-peptide prolactin inhibitory agent, is ardently desired.


Provided are systems and methods for line volume calibration, and measurement of fluid samples delivered to an interrogation point. In various embodiments, a known fluid volume comprising a sample line fluid and a secondary fluid is delivered to a fluid boundary sensor. The fluid boundary sensor assists in determining the position of the boundaries between the various fluids, and the positions of these boundaries are used to determine the sample line fluid volume.

When analyzing very small sample volumes, e.g., on the microliter scale, fluidic analysis instruments must be very precise when measuring the sample volume and collecting data. Flow cytometry, for example, can analyze single cells suspended in fluid, as the fluid passes by a highly focused laser beam, and obtains information about the cells based on the scattered light. In such experiments, the precise volume (i.e., line volume) of the fluid sample must be known to accurately correlate the timing of the scattered light (e.g., forward scattered light, side scattered light) from cells and also fluorescence from fluorescent labels associated with cells of the fluid sample. Likewise, the precise timing of when the sample enters and exits the interrogation region is essential for determining start/stop times for data collection and analysis. Thus, having an accurate determination of the fluid line volume between the sample origination point and the interrogation point is critical to system performance.
Current methods to address these challenges include beginning an analysis of the sample fluid late and ending the analysis earlier than the actual beginning and end of the sample. Cutting off analysis of the leading and trailing ends as the sample fluid passes the interrogation point ensures that it is sample fluid that is being analyzed, not air or other non-sample fluid in the line.
A shortcoming of this approach, however, is that a portion the sample fluid is wasted and is not analyzed. This can be particularly problematic during experiments attempting to detect and analyze rare events (e.g., cells in a sample fluid expressing a rare protein), as rare event analytes that are present in only dilute quantities can be missed if some of the sample fluid that contains such analytes is discarded or not analyzed. Further, some events of interest may not end up being analyzed because of their location at the beginning or end of the fluid sample.
Careful sample line manufacturing methods are intended to provide consistent and reliable sample line volumes, as such careful manufacturing methods attempt to ensure that sample line volumes fall within a certain tolerance or range. This approach, however, often results in a higher cost of manufacturing and testing of sample lines. In addition, during analysis, sample arrival times must be calculated with larger margins of error to allow for variations in the line volume. This in turn results in waste of potentially valuable sample, and portions of both ends of the analysis period must be discarded (and with such discard, the potential loss of valuable information that could be critical for both research purposes as well as clinical purposes associated with diagnosing a patient).
Accordingly, there is a long-felt need in the art for improved methods and systems of line volume calibrations and sample measurements.

Line volume calibration systems and methods


A new and distinct cultivar of shrub rose plant named ‘SFROSA128’, characterized by its semi-double type, bright yellow-colored flowers, medium to light green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rosa hybrida. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'SFROSA128'. 'SFROSA128' is a new cultivar of shrub rose grown for use as a landscape shrub.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during July 2009. The objective of the breeding program was to create new shrub rose cultivars with disease resistance, ever blooming habits, unique brightly colored flowers that can be readily propagated on their own roots.
The new shrub rose cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is 'Sun Flare', not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, medium yellow-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during October 2010 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by stem cuttings since October 2010 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


Methods and systems described herein are directed to viewpoint coordination of multiple users on artificial reality collaboration models. Multiple users can collaborate on 3D models in an artificial reality environment. Attention indicators can indicate to the other users where a user is looking or where the user is pointing. In some implementations, there is a central model that each user sees from her own perspective (e.g., in the center of a virtual table all users are seated around) and/or instances of the model that only an individual user sees or can manipulate. The user's attention indicators can be based on where the user is looking or pointing on the model instances. Additionally, attention indicators can be translated from a controlling user's perspective to a coordinate system defined by the model, which allows the indicators to be then presented in that model coordinate system for all users.

Artificial reality environments can be provided by a variety of systems, such as projectors, head mounted displays, "cave" systems, etc. Users can interact with an artificial reality environment by selecting objects, moving, rotating, resizing, actuating controls, changing colors or skins, defining interactions between virtual objects, setting virtual forces to act on virtual objects, or practically any other imaginable action. Various interaction modalities exist for taking such actions in an artificial reality environment. For example, some systems can employ one or more of gaze controls, hand-held hardware devices, gesture controls, wearable devices (e.g., wrist bands), voice controls, etc. For example, in some cases a user operating in an artificial reality environment can view and move a virtual object using commands issued via hand-held controller devices.
The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

Viewpoint coordination on artificial reality models


Fast startup for streaming media includes one or both of a technique for predictive start and a technique for switching delivery channel(s) during streaming. Predictive start allows a media content source to predict which media stream(s) are desired by the requesting client device and begin streaming those predicted media stream(s) to the client device. The delivery channel switching technique allows the media content source to begin streaming the media stream(s) using one delivery channel (e.g., using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)), and then check whether another delivery channel (e.g., using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) will work and switch to that other delivery channel if it will work.

Content streaming, such as the streaming of audio, video, and/or text is becoming increasingly popular. The term "streaming" is typically used to indicate that the data representing the media is provided over a network to a client computer on an as-needed basis rather than being pre-delivered in its entirety before playback. Thus, the client computer renders streaming content as it is received from a network server, rather than waiting for an entire "file" to be delivered.
The widespread availability of streaming multimedia content enables a variety of informational content that was not previously available over the Internet or other computer networks. Live content is one significant example of such content. Using streaming multimedia, audio, video, or audio/visual coverage of noteworthy events can be broadcast over the Internet as the events unfold. Similarly, television and radio stations can transmit their live content over the Internet.
Current streaming technology, however, has its drawbacks. One such drawback is that there is typically a somewhat lengthy delay between the time that a playback of streaming media is requested and the time when the playback of the streaming media begins. Various communications are typically required between the client device where the playback of the media content will occur and the source of the media content. From the perspective of the user of the client device, such delays reduce the user-friendliness of the client device as well as the user-friendliness of the streaming process. Thus, it would be beneficial to reduce the delay between the time the user requests playback of streaming media and the time when the playback of the streaming media begins.


An elastomer composition includes a polymer system made up of a majority of HNBR polymer and an optional polymer additive such as carboxylated nitrile, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber and hydrogenated carboxylated butadiene acrylonitrile terpolymer, and combinations thereof. The polymer system totals 100 parts by weight. A cure system for the elastomer composition includes 1.5 to 30 parts by weight of zinc, magnesium or calcium oxide, 15 to 50 parts by weight of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an organoperoxide. Under vulcanization conditions, the elastomer composition cures through the in situ formation of a metal carboxylate. A degradation inhibitor for an elastomer composition that includes an amine and an imidazole along with an optional polymerized quinoline is noted to be particularly effective.

Longevity of elastomeric articles is a matter of concern in a variety of fields. The periodic replacement of elastomeric articles increases the cost of ownership of an article while also removing the associated equipment from service in order to effect replacement. The longevity of elastomers is a problem associated with a variety of commercial and military components such as vehicle tires and treads, drive belts, conveyor belts, and vibration damping pads. A typical elastomer for the production of such articles is a styrene-butadiene containing rubber. Conventional blends include styrene-butadiene rubber blended with natural rubbers and butadiene rubbers in order to provide a variety of performance and processing characteristics.
In order to provide high wear elastomeric articles having extended longevity, especially in high demand environments, highly hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) was developed as an elastomer having superior wear performance characteristics, particularly for heavy vehicle tread and tracks. The synthesis and properties of highly hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,114. Unfortunately, the vulcanization process detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,114 is susceptible to variations in ambient atmosphere thereby reducing article performance characteristics and reproducibility. These production variations led to periodic article replacement based on projected longevity of the poorest performing production variant, resulting in premature disposal of the majority of such articles.
Thus, there exists a need for an elastomeric compound having wear performance characteristics of elastomers that are amenable to reproducible vulcanization.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


This invention relates to a process for preparing secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface active compositions substantially free of unreacted organic matter and water, which process comprises: a) sulfating a mixture of a detergent range olefin having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a detergent range alcohol having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms with a sulfating agent, b) neutralizing the product of step a) with a base dispersed in a nonionic surfactant having a boiling point higher than that of said detergent range olefin and its corresponding secondary alcohol, c) saponifying the product of step b), d) passing the product of step c) through a thin film evaporator to evaporate unreacted organic matter from said product and recovering said product.

This invention provides a process for preparing surfactant compositions containing secondary alkyl sulfates which are substantially free of unreacted organic matter (UOM), and which are substantially free of water, thus making the compositions substantially free of inert diluents.
In conventional practice, secondary alkyl sulfates have been derived from both olefins and alcohols using sulfuric acid, followed by neutralization of the intermediate secondary alkyl sulfuric acid with the appropriate base, although olefin-derived secondary alkyl sulfates have not been as extensively investigated as alcohol-derived secondary alkyl sulfates. The process is complicated by incomplete reaction of the starting olefin and alcohol and by formation of dialkyl sulfates which saponify during the neutralization step, noted above, to equal molar amounts of secondary alkyl sulfate and secondary alcohol.
Unreacted olefin and secondary alcohol, which can amount to 50% by weight or more of the starting olefin, are generally removed from the secondary alkyl sulfate by a process of extraction with an organic solvent as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,092. The extraction process can be complicated by the formation of undesirable emulsions and gels as well as by the dissolution of some of the extracting solvent in the aqueous secondary alkyl sulfate phase. Extracting solvents frequently have objectionable odors and must be removed from the aqueous surfactant solution, an operation which can be accompanied by severe foaming difficulties. When extraction is complete, the concentration of secondary alkyl sulfate in water is generally in the range of 20-40% by weight (F. Asinger, Mono-Olefins: Chemistry and Technology, 1968, pp. 689-694).
It would therefore be advantageous to have a process for preparing surfactant compositions utilizing secondary alkyl sulfates as the anionic component which eliminates the problems associated with solvent extraction for removal of the non-surface active organic material and which produces a product free of water, thus allowing maximum handling and blending flexibility.
An integrated process for preparing surfactant compositions has been found in which secondary alkyl sulfates derived from a mixture of olefins and alcohols can be generated in a manner such that the non-surface active material can be easily stripped from the secondary alkyl sulfates while at the same time producing a surfactant and/or detergent composition which is particularly useful for household applications.
It is therefore an object of this invention to prepare surface active compositions containing secondary alkyl sulfates derived from a mixture of olefins and alcohols, which are substantially free of unreacted olefin and substantially free of water, in a nonionic surfactant having a boiling point higher than the olefin reaction and its corresponding secondary alcohol. In the present invention, a surface active composition is prepared by reacting a mixture of one or more detergent range alcohols and one or more detergent range olefins with a sulfating agent, removing excess sulfating agent, neutralizing and saponifying the mixture in the presence of a base dispersed in a nonionic surfactant having a boiling point higher than the detergent range olefin and its corresponding secondary alcohol, and then passing the mixture through a falling film or wiped film evaporator to strip unreacted organic matter from the mixture, thereby producing a secondary alkyl sulfate-containing detergent composition which is anhydrous and substantially free of inert diluents.

Process for the preparation of secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant compositions


Provided is a vehicular steering apparatus capable of improving a steering feeling and achieving a reduction in cost. The vehicular steering apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with an assist motor for generating an assist torque, a state quantity detector for detecting a steering shaft reaction torque and a road surface reaction torque, and a control unit for calculating a target current value of the assist motor. The control unit includes a friction compensation portion and a return compensation portion, which calculate a friction compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque and a return compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque from the steering shaft reaction torque and the road surface reaction torque respectively. The control unit compensates for an overall friction torque in a steering mechanism and a gradient of the road surface reaction torque, using the friction compensation torque and the return compensation torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular steering apparatus for generating, by using a motor, an assist torque for supplementing a steering torque exerted by a driver.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a driver steers in turning at a curved section of a road or at an intersection, and then returns a steering wheel with the aid of a spontaneous returning force of the steering wheel, which corresponds to a road surface reaction torque received by tires from a road surface, in starting to travel straight again. However, the road surface reaction torque is small when an overall friction torque generated in an entire steering mechanism of a vehicle is large, or when the vehicle travels on a slippery road surface such as a frostbound road. In such the cases, the road surface reaction torque is equal to or smaller than the overall friction torque of the steering mechanism, so the steering wheel may not return in starting to travel straight again.
In such the cases, accordingly, the driver is required to apply a torque to the steering wheel to return the steering wheel to a neutral point. As a result, there is caused a problem of a deterioration in steering feeling.
In consideration of the aforementioned problem, a conventional motorized power steering control apparatus has a road surface reaction torque detecting means for detecting a road surface reaction torque received by tires from a road surface, and a road surface reaction torque application control means for controlling a torque of a motor for supplementing a steering torque exerted by a driver based on the road surface reaction torque detected by the road surface reaction torque detecting means (e.g., see JP 2001-122146 A).
Another conventional motorized power steering apparatus is equipped with a steering torque detecting means for detecting a steering torque of a steering system, a steering rotation detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of the steering system, a motor control signal generating means for determining a motor control signal based on respective detection signals from the steering torque detecting means and the steering rotation detecting means and outputting the motor control signal, and a motor driving means for driving a motor of a steering force amplifying device based on the motor control signal from the motor control signal generating means.
The motor control signal generating means is equipped with a road surface load-corresponding control signal determining means for determining a control signal corresponding to a road surface load based on a detection signal of the steering torque detecting means, a friction-corresponding control signal determining means for determining a control signal corresponding to a friction of a system of the steering force amplifying device based on the detection signal of the steering torque detecting means, and a calculation means for adding both control signals of both the determining means together and outputting an added result as a motor torque control signal (e.g., see JP 62-34850 A).
Still another conventional motorized power steering apparatus is equipped with a steering assist motor coupled to a steering system to generate a steering assist torque, a steering torque detecting means for detecting a steering torque of the steering system, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, and a control means for creating an assist command based on outputs of the steering torque detecting means and the vehicle speed detecting means and controlling the driving of the motor through the assist command.
The control means has a friction compensation means for calculating a friction compensation value based on a rotational direction of the motor. The control means controls the driving of the motor through a command signal, which is obtained by adding the friction compensation value to the assist command (e.g., see JP 06-144280 A).
A conventional vehicular power steering apparatus has an actuator for generating an assist steering torque, a means for detecting a steering torque, a control means for controlling the assist steering torque of the actuator by an assist steering control amount based on at least the steering torque, a means for detecting a lateral acceleration of a vehicle, and a means for calculating a hysteresis width of a Lissajous waveform of the steering torque with respect to the lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The control means corrects the assist steering control amount based on the hysteresis width (e.g., see JP 2002-308131 A).
In the conventional motorized power steering control apparatus disclosed in the document of JP 2001-122146 A, although a pseudo-feeling of a road surface reaction force can be aroused in the driver, the overall friction torque (i.e., hysteresis width) generated in the entire steering mechanism cannot be compensated for. As a result, there is a problem in that a steering feeling cannot be improved.
In the conventional motorized power steering apparatuses disclosed in the documents of JP 62-34850 A and JP 06-144280 A, it is possible to compensate for the overall friction torque. However, it is impossible to compensate for the overall friction torque when the steering torque is 0, or when the speed of the motor is 0. Therefore, there is a problem in that a steering feeling cannot be improved in accordance with a driving state.
In the conventional vehicular power steering apparatus disclosed in the document of JP 2002-308131 A, the hysteresis width of the steering torque for the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is calculated, so a stable steering feeling can be ensured regardless of the aging of the steering mechanism. However, there is a problem in that this control cannot be performed under a circumstance in which a relationship between the steering torque and the lateral acceleration cannot be uniquely determined as in the case of a cant road or the like.
Further, the means for detecting the lateral acceleration is required, so there is also a problem of high cost.


A portable, human-powered, catamaran styled water cycle that can be used by users of all ages. The water cycle contains a left pontoon, a right pontoon, a steering mechanism, a propelling mechanism, a seat, a left wheel, and a right wheel. The steering mechanism has a rudder which is controlled with the use of a steering handle. The propelling mechanism has a propeller which is powered by pedaling. The left pontoon and the right pontoon are both foldable such that the water cycle can be extended or collapsed conveniently. The seat is cushioned and also includes a back rest which can be used as a second seat when required. The left wheel is mounted onto the left pontoon and the right wheel is mounted onto the right pontoon. Therefore, the water cycle can be dragged with the use of the wheels for storing purposes.

Watercrafts and boats have been traditionally used to transport goods and people across water. However, with developments in technology watercrafts and boats have been used for recreational activities and sports. Rowing, rafting, kayaking, and canoeing are among some of the recreational activities that take place at a competitive level.
In contrast to participating in water related activities at a competitive level, many individuals also prefer to be involved in water related activities as a recreational activity. Jet skis are one such watercraft that is intended for recreational activities. However, jet skis cannot be used by individuals of all ages. As an example, an elderly person or a child may not be able to handle a jet ski. Among other similar watercrafts such as canoes and kayaks, water cycles can be noted as a watercraft that can be used by individuals of all ages.
Water cycles are mostly used during warm weather conditions. Children and adults are equally likely to enjoy riding water cycles during family outings and other activities such as fishing. Almost all water cycles we see today are fixed in size and require special transportation methods. As a result, most of the water cycle owners are individuals who live close to an area where the water cycle can be used or have special means for transporting the water cycle. On the other hand, renting water cycles have evolved into a very profitable business. Most individuals or groups rent water cycles investing notable amounts. Even if renting a water cycle is a possibility, a water cycle may not be always available at a user's preference. For instance, water cycle renting personnel may not be able to provide for the increasing number of water cycle users. Also, water cycle rental outlets may not be available at a desired location.
Another issue is that existing water cycles are difficult to transport. With the existing fixed designs, the water cycles need to be either carried or dragged across land prior to being used on water. As a result, components that make contact with ground can be damaged over time. Furthermore, all existing water cycles require assembly and disassembly before each use. The process of assembling and disassembling repeatedly can be time consuming and also stressful to a user.
The objective of the present invention is to address the aforementioned issues. In particular, the present invention is a portable water cycle that can be transported and utilized with great convenience. Additionally, the present invention includes features that allow users of different build and height to utilize the present invention.


A side-emitting lens for use with an LED lamp provides a distribution of emitted light that is substantially normal to an axis of symmetry of the lens; the light can also be symmetrical with respect to a plane normal to the lens axis. The lens has a cavity in which the LED lamp can reside, having a cavity refracting surface with a central section and a stepped cavity sidewall. The lens also has a base external refracting surface surrounding the cavity, an internal reflecting surface spaced apart from the cavity, and a side surface; these surfaces redirect light that enters the lens through the cavity refracting surface. For many applications, the lens axis is vertical in service and the lens is configured to provide a narrow distribution of light in the horizontal plane.

Luminaires which provide a generally horizontal distribution of emitted light have long been employed for marking objects of navigational interest, such as buoys and fixed obstructions. The horizontal distribution of light increases the efficiency of such luminaires, as it causes the light generated to be concentrated in the generally horizontal region where viewers are most likely to be located. This desired horizontal distribution has classically been attained by using cylindrical Fresnel lenses surrounding a centrally-located lamp, such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,148. While such lenses can concentrate a large portion of light emitted from a lamp into a substantially horizontal distribution, those portions of the light which are directed substantially vertically upward or downward will not enter such lenses, and thus are wasted. To avoid the loss of these substantially vertically-directed portions of the light, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,230,560 and 5,335,157 teach the use of reflectors to redirect these portions of the light in a substantially horizontal direction in order to provide greater efficiency for the luminaire.
More recently, there has been a need to redirect light from LED's so as to provide a distribution of light suitable for illuminating a backlit display. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,598,998; 6,607,286; and 6,679,621 teach side-emitting lenses that redirect the light emitted by LED's to obtain a distribution of light in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of symmetry of the lens; this distribution is intended to increase efficiency by directing most of the light generated into a thin backlighting panel light guide, into which the lens is inserted, and minimizing the portion of light not directed into the panel. These lenses employ an internal reflecting surface which is generally conical in overall shape, and which functions to reflect light from the LED to an associated refracting surface, which in turn refracts the light to exit the lens in a substantially perpendicular direction, so as to enter the backlighting panel. This refracting surface can be a sawtooth surface, somewhat resembling a portion of a cylindrical Fresnel lens, or can be formed by a simple frustoconical surface which forms an oblique angle to the axis of symmetry of the lens. The lens has a cavity in which the LED is located, with the reflecting surface located above the cavity. In some embodiments, the lens has a second refracting surface, which forms a smooth convex curve designed to further refract the light so as to direct it into the backlighting panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,002 states that the side-emitting lenses for LED's taught in the '998, '286, and '621 patents are limited by the size of LED light source which can be accommodated, as some light is not directed out the sides when larger LED light sources are employed. The '002 patent teaches a lens structure which is stated to be more suitable for use with larger LED light sources, such as those where multiple LED's are employed to provide greater light intensity or where the white light is formed by combining the light from three primary-color LED's. In the '002 lens structure, the lens has both an upper reflecting surface and an inner reflecting surface, these reflecting surfaces serving to direct the light to be emitted through side surfaces.
Since luminaires for marking obstructions are frequently employed at remote locations, such as on buoys, it is desirable for such luminaires to employ LED's to generate light. LED's provide advantages of reliability and relatively low power consumption, reducing the size of batteries needed for power. While the side-emitting lenses discussed above apparently serve well for backlighting applications, they have not been found practical for use in a luminaire for marking obstructions. Such lenses are designed only to assure that the light emitted through the side surfaces will enter a light guide of a backlighting panel, and this distribution of light has not been found to be sufficiently well-directed to be practical in providing the needed intensity of light for a marker luminaire without undue power consumption.


A power system for a display, particularly an electroluminescent display, includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the glass panel. A first power supply circuit supplies a first power output having a first average power and first peak power. A second power circuit generating a second power output having second average power greater than the first average power and a second peak power less than the first peak power.

The present invention provides an electroluminescent drive system which reduced the potential of screen image "burn in."
It is known that displays, including ELDs, can acquire a "burned in" image after displaying the image for an extended period of time. Some displays dim after a period of inactivity, such as no input on a user input device. Other displays display a "screen saver" or image which moves across the screen, thereby activating different pixels, in order to prevent burn in.
High resolution, reconfigurable displays, such as ELDs, are increasingly incorporated into current vehicles. These displays also have the potential for burned in images. However, screen savers or dim screens cannot be utilized in a vehicle. In a vehicle display, there may be several hours between user inputs on a user input device, but it would be inappropriate to dim the screen or remove the useful information from the display.

Electroluminescent panel drive optimization


A method and apparatus for acquiring, recording, synchronizing, analyzing, and interpreting continuous wave data. A process for isolating separate events from wave data composed of multiple events and for determining the identification and characteristics of an event's wave source, its frequency components, amplitude, duration, and timing. A procedure for defining the parameters of the source wave and for adapting these parameters to the analysis requirements (e.g., correct frequency, amplitude, and timing divisions). A procedure for verifying interpretation results, for correcting interpretation errors, and for retaining successful results. Products of the processes, such as databases and recordings, can be made.

The invention relates to analysis of continuous wave data and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for novel efficient transformation of complex continuous wave data into frequency, amplitude, and time spectral information, unique intelligent pattern recognition, and novel identification of individual events contained within complex continuous wave data.
The need for recognizing and identifying individual events contained within a continuous stream of wave data arises in a broad range of technologies such as the conversion of music into an interactive database of musical events, the recognition of potentially dangerous patterns in a continuous stream of wave data produced by medical monitoring devices, the recognition of specific objects in radar, sonar, laser, and other wave reflections by surveillance or navigational devices, and the like. Event recognition in this context means, in general, the separation and identification of specific wave patterns contained in complex continuous wave data.
Waves are a fundamental means of describing the movement of energy in the physical world. A wave consists of a travelling pattern of energies which fits within a certain distance, or wavelength. The pattern described within a wavelength is a cycle, and a stationary observer perceives the arrival of a repeating wave pattern as a certain number of cycles per second, or frequency. A waveform is defined as one cycle of a wave pattern. There are no theoretical limits to the frequency of a wave pattern, although the limits of current detection apparatus range from ultra low frequency waves (0.001 Hz) to hard cosmic rays (one thousand billion billion Hz). Practitioners in the art will recognize the invention can be applied to any wavelength capable of analysis using state of the art detection and processing equipment.
It is known that a complex waveform can be completely described by its component sinewaves. Complex waves from multiple wave sources can be combined to form even more complex waves containing multiple wave events. In Digital Filters and Signal Processing, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 1986, Leland Jackson describes how waves of related frequencies combine. Component sinewaves of complex waveforms add together, cancel each other, attract each other, and modify each other through interference. Yet despite this complexity of wave combinations, a wave event generated by a particular source usually maintains its own identity, even when combined with many other simultaneous complex waves. The human perception of sound is the best example of this phenomenon. An instrument, such as a flute, is easily distinguished by an average listener from a second instrument, such as a timpani, even though both instruments are played simultaneously. Such human perception of sound waves suggests that separation and identification of waves of many frequencies should be possible.
Consequently, for many years researchers have studied the perception of sound as the quintessential guide toward understanding complex wave analysis and event recognition. Considerable technology exists in the field of acoustic wave analysis, and technology related to spectral analysis and pattern recognition exists in other fields. The use of acoustic wave analysis as illustrated by the preferred embodiment of the invention serves to demonstrate the invention is useful in many fields for spectral analysis and pattern recognition techniques. Since the complexity of acoustic patterns requires attention to a level of detail exceeding the detail required in many other fields, the application of the preferred embodiment to acoustic patterns serves as a comprehensive example of the practice of the invention.
In current practices of analysis of continuous audio data an instrument playing a note is considered a wave source. The notes played by the instrument are considered the individual events. As time progresses forward the notes played produce a continuous stream of complex wave data. The continuous wave data is digitally sampled at precise intervals and the resulting stream of digits is processed by a computer. Most analysis and event recognition techniques try to transform the continuous stream of sampled wave data into frequency, amplitude, and time spectra before attempting any form of pattern recognition. The goals of existing pattern recognition procedures are the identification of the pitch, amplitude, and timing of the note event.
James A. Moorer describes one type of complex continuous wave data analysis in his paper, "On the Segmentation and Analysis of Continuous Musical Sound by Digital Computer", CCRMA, Department of Music, Report No. STAN-M-3. Moorer uses comb filters to preprocess the music wave data and then refines the data with band-pass filters. Moorer relies on harmonic ratios for his preprocessing and pattern recognition procedures and constructs linked lists of all potential notes based on occurrences of events conforming to predetermined harmonic ratios. Moorer places extreme constraints on the structure and instrumentation of the music which can be analyzed since the optimum comb step depends on predictable and stable harmonics at integer harmonic ratios. However, real music rarely has predictable and stable harmonics and does not conform to the compositional constraints imposed by Moorer.
The transformation of digitally sampled data into accurate frequency, amplitude, and time spectra is a difficult and computationally intensive process that has received considerable research. The nature of the difficulty lies in the fact that, for any single analysis step, the more accurate the frequency resolution becomes, the less accurate the time resolution becomes. The reverse condition is equally true. In "The Bounded-Q Frequency Transform", CCRMA, Department of Music, Report No. STAN-M-28, Kyle L. Kashima, et al., present a method of frequency analysis called the Bounded-Q Frequency Transform, which "lowpass-filters" and "sub-samples" input data and applies a Fast Fourier Transform [FFT] to the resulting data for each octave of output desired. Although the effective frequency resolution is good and the computational time is relatively low, the final results distort time to such a degree that the results are not sufficiently accurate, if the timing accuracy of events is important, which it is in music and most other fields.
Other attempts to transform digitally sampled data into frequency, amplitude, and time spectra are described by Lawrence R. Rabiner, et al., in Theory and Application of Digital Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1975. The use of the FFT with a high degree of overlap is described as well as the principle of a bank of band-pass filters. Rabiner's work does not recommend a bank of band-pass filters due to the tremendous computation time required. The inherent problem with Rabiner et al's recommended FFT technique is that the frequency spacing is not suited to most analysis needs since output from the FFT is linearly spaced and does not lend itself to more generalized needs.
John Chosening, et al., propose a study of continuous wave analysis and event recognition in their paper, "Intelligent Analysis of Composite Acoustic Signals," CCRMA, Department of Music, Report No. STAN-M-36. They propose using "simulated real-time problem solving heuristics" to determine strategies for allocating resources and controlling feedback loops, and propose a "system learning coprocessor" for parameter adjustment and various forms of pattern recognition. The multi-rate signal processing they propose is a form of the Bounded-Q Frequency Transform. Thus, the proposed system would suffer time distortion. Although this paper was only a proposal for continued funding, it does draw attention to the need for a process that can learn and retain a knowledge base of the facts learned.
In "Techniques for Note Identification in Polyphonic Music," CCRMA, Department of Music, Report No. STAN-M-29, Cris Chafe uses a moving-average technique to identify the beginnings of events prior to application of the Bounded-Q Frequency Transform. Although this technique can work well for some extremely simple forms of music, it does not perform well for dense or complex music. In addition to the weakness of the Bounded-Q Frequency transform, Chafe ignores the unstable portion of the note event, thereby failing to utilize a tremendous portion of the vital data.
Clearly, new and more comprehensive method and apparatus for complex continuous wave analysis and event recognition are needed to efficiently transform sampled wave data into frequency, amplitude, and time spectra without substantially distorting frequency or time. The method and apparatus should evaluate all aspects of spectral data without ignoring any portion of the data, despite any instability in the data, as well as readily adapt to a broad range of frequencies, timing, and analysis needs. The invention addresses these needs and provides an efficient solution to these problems.
The major advantages of the present invention are the speed, accuracy, flexibility, and consistency of the conversion of sampled wave data to frequency, amplitude, and time spectra and the extraordinary accuracy and flexibility of its event recognition. In addition, the capacity of the present invention to be configured to meet virtually any frequency and time requirements, as well as virtually any definable recognized wave event, will enable researchers in a broad range of scientific investigation to utilize the invention effectively.
The present invention accomplishes wave analysis and event recognition with a greater degree of efficiency and accuracy than possible with any of the prior art. More specifically, by using the principles of the present invention the conversion of wave data to frequency, amplitude, and time spectra is many times faster and more accurate than by using the best of the prior art. In addition, the invention performs event recognition with a degree of accuracy and flexibility that effectively removes the restrictions imposed by the best attempts of the prior art. Furthermore, the invention is "virtual" in the sense that its frequency scales, time scales, amplitude scales, conversion procedures, pattern recognition procedures, and file structures can be configured for a variety of applications.

Method and apparatus for wave analysis and event recognition


A drainage catheter having a weld to secure the distal end of the catheter in an anchor configuration. The suture is welded into a loop at the distal end of the suture to secure the anchor configuration of the distal end of the catheter either directly or by securing the suture to a stylet positioned in the catheter wall. A plurality of drainage bores are positioned on the inside diameter of the anchor loop to provide advantageous draining of fluid into the lumen of the catheter. The drainage catheter includes a stylet and stylet lumen positioned in the sidewall of the catheter approximately 90 degrees from the inside diameter of the catheter tube and drainage allowing the drainage bores on the inside diameter of the drainage catheter to operate without obstruction from the stylet and suture.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to catheters. In more particular, the present invention relates to a drainage catheter hub having a welded suture and a stylet lumen in the sidewall of the drainage catheter tubing. The suture and stylet are adapted to secure a suture thread to maintain the anchor configuration of the distal end of the catheter in order to secure the position of the catheter within the patient's body.
2. The Relevant Technology
Drainage catheters are utilized to drain volumes of fluids that collect in a patient's tissue, body cavities, or other positions within a patient's body that exceed normal volumes. Collected fluids can contribute to infection, exert harmful pressure on the patient's organs, or otherwise impede with proper care and recovery of a patient. The drainage catheter is introduced into the patient to the site where the excess fluid is accumulated. A plurality of drainage bores are positioned in the distal end of the catheter to allow passage of the fluids from the volume of fluid to the lumen of the catheter.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art drainage catheter tube 10. Distal end 14 of drainage catheter tube 10 is adapted to be positioned in a volume of fluid to be drained from a patient. In the illustrated embodiment, distal end 14 is curved to form an anchor configuration to secure the drainage catheter at the site where excess fluid is accumulated. Loop 16 comprises the anchor configuration formed in distal end 14. The configuration of loop 16 provides a reliable anchor even in the event that the tissue surrounding the drainage site does not provide a solid or reliable substrate to maintain the position of the catheter. Loop 16 is formed by curling distal end 14 of catheter tube 10 such that the tip of the catheter tube 10 contacts a more proximal position on catheter tube 10. Suture 18 is utilized to form loop 16 to anchor distal end 14 in a desired drainage position. Suture 18 runs the length of catheter tube 10 such that it extends from a proximal end of catheter tube 10. Because the proximal end of catheter tube 10 is configured to be positioned outside the patient, suture 18 allows a user to secure or release loop 16 once the distal end 14 of catheter tube 10 is positioned inside the patient.
A plurality of drainage bores 20 are formed on the inside diameter of loop 16. Drainage bores 20 allow fluid to flow from the volume of fluid in the body cavity to a lumen 22 of catheter tube 10. A stylet 24 is provided to selectively secure suture 18 such that suture 18 can be utilized to form loop 16. Loop 16 is formed by securing the tip of catheter tube 10 to a point on catheter tube 10 corresponding with a suture bore 23. Suture 18 runs the length of lumen 22, exits the tip of catheter tube 10, enters suture bore 23, and is wrapped around stylet 24. Stylet 24 is positioned in a stylet lumen 26 in catheter wall 28. Stylet lumen 26 and stylet 24 terminate at suture bore 23 adjacent the distal end 14. When suture 18 is provided with sufficient slack, distal end 14 of catheter tube 10 can be straightened for insertion or removal of distal end 14 to/from the patient. When suture 18 is foreshortened, the tip of catheter tube 10 is securely drawn to a position on catheter tube 10 corresponding with suture bore 23. When tip of catheter tube 10 is secured adjacent suture bore 23, loop 16 is formed.
Suture 18 is adapted to have a double length configuration along the length of lumen 22 such that both ends of suture 18 extend from the proximal end (not shown) of catheter tube 10. In other words, suture 18 is threaded distally along the length of lumen 22 of catheter tube 10, exits catheter tube 10, is wrapped around stylet 24, re-enters catheter tube 10, and is threaded back to the proximal end of the catheter tube 10. The user manipulates both ends of suture 18 to tighten or loosen the anchor configuration of distal end 14. To tighten the anchor configuration the user grasps both ends of suture 18 and pulls in a rearward direction. To loosen the anchor configuration of distal end 14, the user relaxes the tension on, or releases, both ends of suture 18. Because suture 18 secures distal end 14 while extending to the proximal end of catheter tube 10, the user can manipulate suture 18 to maintain or release the anchor configuration of the distal end 14 of the catheter tube 10 while the distal end 14 of the catheter tube 10 is positioned inside the patient. In one device one end of the suture is anchored relative to the catheter hub while the other end is free.
When the volume of fluid in the body cavity of the patient has been drained, the practitioner will release loop 16 such that catheter tube 10 is no longer anchored in the body cavity. By releasing loop 16, catheter tube 10 can be removed from the patient. The user can release loop 16 utilizing one, or both, of-suture 18 and stylet 24. To release loop 16 utilizing stylet 24, a user simply retracts stylet 24 in a rearward direction. Because suture 18 is secured to catheter tube 10 by stylet 24, once stylet 24 is retracted beyond suture bore 23, nothing is available to secure suture 18 to catheter tube 10. As a result, suture 18 is released and catheter tube 10 can be withdrawn from the patient.
The practitioner can also utilize suture 18 to release loop 16 and withdraw catheter tube 10 from the patient without retracting stylet 24. To release loop 16 utilizing suture 18, the user grasps only one of the two ends of suture 18 that is extended from the proximal end (not shown) of catheter tube 10. The user then pulls the end of suture 18 in a rearward direction. This pulls the free end of suture 18 into catheter tube 10. As the user continues to pull the end of suture 18 in a rearward direction, the free end of suture 18 travels the length of lumen 22, exits the tip of catheter tube 10, and is unwound from stylet 24. Once suture 18 is unwound from stylet 24 the tip of catheter tube 10 is no longer secured adjacent the proximal position on catheter tube 10 and loop 16 is released. The practitioner can utilize suture 18 in the event that stylet 24 becomes bound by tissue, is kinked, or otherwise becomes inoperable. The practitioner can also utilize the double length configuration of suture 18 to release loop 16 in drainage catheter designs that do not include a stylet.
One drawback presented by the double length configuration of suture 18 relates to the passage of fluids through drainage bores 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the double length of suture 18 is depicted as being positioned in the center of lumen 22 along the entire length of catheter tube 10. This positioning is provided to more clearly illustrate the double length configuration of suture 18. In practice, the tension on suture 18 utilized to maintain the configuration of loop 16 draws suture 18 against the inner diameter of lumen 22. This positions suture 18 across drainage bores 20 substantially reducing the effective cross-section of drainage bores 20. As a result, a lesser amount of volume is permitted to pass from the exterior of catheter tube 10 to lumen 22. Additionally, larger articles and materials such as clots, tissue, or other materials suspended in the fluid cannot be drained through the drainage bores. This not only makes drainage of fluids less efficient, it also increases the likelihood that the drainage bores 20 will be clogged by materials suspended in the fluid.
FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art drainage catheter tube 10a which overcomes some of the deficiencies presented by the design of drainage catheter tube 10 of FIG. 1A. In the illustrated embodiment, a suture 18 having a single length is provided in connection with drainage catheter tube 10a. Suture 18 does not extend to the tip of catheter tube 10a. Instead, suture 18 exits catheter wall 28 at a position proximal to the tip of catheter tube 10a. In contrast to catheter tube 10 of FIG. 1A, stylet 24a and stylet lumen 26a extend along the inside diameter of loop 16a to approximately the tip of catheter tube 10a. Suture 18 extends from an exit bore 29 positioned proximally on catheter tube 10a through catheter wall 28 and around stylet 24. Suture 18 is secured to stylet 24 by tying a knot in the distal end of suture 18. This allows the use of a single length design for suture 18 minimizing obstruction along the length of lumen 22. Because stylet 24a and stylet lumen 26a extend along the inside diameter of loop 16a, drainage bores 20a are positioned on the outside diameter of loop 16a. This permits drainage of fluid to lumen 22 through drainage bores 20a without obstruction from suture 18 or stylet 24a.
While the design of drainage catheter tube 10a overcomes some of the deficiencies of catheter tube 10 of FIG. 1A, catheter tube 10a also has a number of deficiencies. For example, the knot formed in the distal end of suture 18 utilized to secure suture 18 to stylet 24a can be easily encrusted with clots, tissue, or other materials suspended in the fluid. This encrustation can lodge suture 18 within stylet lumen 26a such that when stylet 24a is removed, suture 18 and loop 16a are not released. This can be problematic, particularly where the practitioner is unaware that the anchor configuration of loop 16a has not been released and attempts to withdraw the catheter.
Another deficiency is presented by the positioning of drainage bores 20a on the outside diameter loop 16a. In some clinical settings, when the volume of fluid begins to drain, the positive pressure on the walls of the cavity in which drainage catheter tube 10a is positioned begins to decrease. This can result in shrinking of the size of the cavity. As the size of the cavity begins to shrink, the walls of the cavity contact the outside diameter of loop 16a. This can result in obstruction of drainage bores 20a directly by the walls of the cavity before the volume of fluid in the cavity is sufficiently drained. Where the practitioner relies on the volume of fluid being drained from the proximal end of the catheter as an indicator of the volume of fluid in the cavity, the practitioner may believe that no additional fluid is contained in the cavity. Additionally, the practitioner may be unaware of recurring fluid draining into the cavity that may otherwise be drained if not for blocking of the drainage bores 20a by the cavity wall. As a result, when the flow of fluid slows or stops prematurely in a particular procedure as a result of contact between the drainage bores 20a and the cavity walls, the practitioner may prematurely withdraw the drainage catheter tube 10a from the patient.

Drainage catheter hub with welded suture and sidewall stylet