A sound produced at the location of a listener is captured by a microphone in each of a plurality of speaker devices. A sever apparatus receives an audio signal of the captured sound from all speaker devices, and calculates a distance difference between the distance of the location of the listener to the speaker device closest to the listener and the distance of the listener to each of the plurality of speaker devices. When one of the speaker devices emits a sound, the server apparatus receives an audio signal of the sound captured by and transmitted from each of the other speaker devices. The server apparatus calculates a speaker-to-speaker distance between the speaker device that has emitted the sound and each of the other speaker devices. The server apparatus calculates a layout configuration of the plurality of speaker devices based on the distance difference and the speaker-to-speaker distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server apparatus, a speaker device and a multi-speaker audio system. The present invention also relates to a layout configuration detection method of the speaker devices in the multi-speaker audio system.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 61 shows a typical audio system in which a multi-channel acoustic field of a multi-channel signal such as 5.1-channel surround signal is produced using a plurality of speaker devices.
The audio system includes a multi-channel amplifier 1 and a plurality of speaker devices 2 of the number equal to the number of channels. The 5.1-channel surround signals include signals of a left (L) channel, a right (R) channel, a center channel, a left-surround (LS) channel, a right-surround (RS) channel, and a low-frequency effect (LFE) channel. If all channels are used for playing, six speakers are required. The six speakers are arranged with respect to the forward direction of a listener so that the sound images of sounds emitted from respective channels are localized at respective intended locations.
A multi-channel amplifier 1 includes a channel decoder 3, and a plurality of audio amplifiers 4 of the number equal to the number of channels. The output terminals of the audio amplifiers 4 are connected to respective output terminals (speaker connection terminals) 5 of the number equal to the number of channels.
The 5.1-channel surround signal input to the input terminal 6 is decomposed into the audio channel signals by the channel decoder 3. The audio channel signals from the channel decoder 3 are supplied to the speakers 2 via the audio amplifiers 4 and then the output terminals 5. Each channel sound is thus emitted from the respective speaker device 2. Volume control and audio effect process are not shown in FIG. 6.
To listen to a two-channel source in the 5.1-channel surround audio system of FIG. 61, only both a left channel and a right channel are used, with the remaining four channels unused.
To listen to a multi-channel source such as a 6.1-channel source or a 7.1-channel source, the system reduces the number of output channels to the 5.1-channel surround signal using a down-mix process. The number of speaker connection terminals is smaller than the number of channels, even if the channel decoder 3 has a capability to extract required audio signals from the multi channels. The down-mix process is performed to work as the 5.1-channel surround signal.
FIG. 62 illustrates a speaker device that is designed to be connected to a personal computer. The speaker device is commercially available in a pair of an L-channel module 7L and a R-channel module 7R.
As shown in FIG. 62, the L-channel module 7L includes a channel decoder 8, an audio amplifier 9L, an L-channel speaker 10L, and an input terminal 11 to be connected to a universal serial bus (USB) terminal of the personal computer. The R-channel module 7R includes an audio amplifier 9R that is connected to an R-channel audio signal output terminal of the channel decoder 8 in the L-channel module 7L via a connection cable 12, and an R-channel speaker 10R.
An audio signal in a format containing L/R channel signals is output from the USB terminal of the personal computer and then input to the channel decoder 8 in the L-channel module 7L via the input terminal 11. The channel decoder 8 outputs an L-channel audio signal and an R-channel audio signal in response to the input signal.
The L-channel audio signal from the channel decoder 8 is supplied to the L-channel speaker 10L via the audio amplifier 9L for playing. The R-channel audio signal from the channel decoder 8 is supplied to the audio amplifier 9R in the R-channel module 7R via the connection cable 12. The R-channel audio signal is then supplied to the R-channel speaker 10R via the audio amplifier 9R.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-199500 discloses a virtual sound image localization processor in a 5.1-channel surround audio system. The virtual sound image localization processor modifies a virtual sound image location to a modified sound image location when a user instructs the processor to modify a sound image. In other words, the disclosed audio system performs sound playing corresponding to a "multi-angle function" that is one of features of DVD video disks.
The multi-angle function allows a user to switch a camera angle to a maximum of nine angles up to the user's preference. Pictures of movie scene, sporting events, live events, etc. are taken at a plurality of camera angles and stored on a video disk, and the user is free to select any one of the cameral angles.
Each of the plurality of speaker devices is provided with a multi-channel audio signal that is appropriately channel synthesized. In response to an angle mode selected by a user, a channel synthesis ratio is updated and controlled so that each sound image is properly localized. In accordance with the disclosed technique, the user achieves sound playing at a sound image localized in accordance with the selected angle mode.
The audio system of FIG. 62 is an L/R two channel system. To work with a multi-channel source, a new audio system must be newly purchased.
In the known arts of FIGS. 61 and 62, the channel decoders 3 and 8 work with a fixed multi-channel input signal and fixed decomposed output channels as stated in the specifications thereof. This arrangement inconveniences the user, because the user can neither increase the number of speakers, nor rearrange the layout of the speaker device to any desired one.
In view of this point, the disclosed virtual sound image location process technique can provide an audio system that permits a desired sound image localization even when speakers of any number is arranged at any desired locations.
More specifically, the number of speakers is entered and the information of the speaker layout is entered in the audio system, and the layout configuration of the speakers of the audio system with respect to a listener is identified. If the speaker layout configuration is identified, a channel synthesis ratio of the audio signal to be supplied to each speaker is calculated. The audio system thus achieves a desired sound localization even if speakers of any number are arranged at any locations.
The disclosed technique is not limited to the channel synthesis of multi-channel audio signals. For example, the audio system generates signals to be supplied to a plurality of speakers more than the number of channels of a sound source, from the source sound, such as a monophonic audio signal or a sound source having a smaller number of channels, by setting a channel synthesis ratio. The audio system thus generates a pseudo-plural channel sound image.
If the number of speakers and the layout configuration of the speakers are identified in the audio system, a desired sound image is produced in the audio system by setting a channel coding radio and a channel decoding ratio in accordance with a speaker layout configuration.
However, it is difficult for a listener to enter accurate speaker layout information in the audio system. When the speaker layout is modified, new speaker layout information must be entered. This inconveniences the user. The speaker layout configuration is preferably entered in an automatic fashion.

Multi-speaker audio system and automatic control method


An apparatus is equipped with classifier logic to programmably extract key data from a data packet of a data stream based upon a dynamically programmable offset, compare the key data with one or more lookup tables of key entries, and store the result of the comparison as at least part of a categorization vector. The apparatus is further equipped with filter logic coupled to the classifier logic to receive the categorization vector and to programmably determine group membership of the data packet based at least in part upon the categorization vector, as well as to dynamically determine a disposition for the data packet based at least in part upon the group membership.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of networking. More specifically, the present invention relates to programmable packet filtering in a prioritized chain.
2. Background Information
The Internet may be characterized as a global network of networks through which countless devices communicate electronically. In a typical exchange of information between two or more devices connected to a large network such as the Internet, data from a source device for example, will likely propagate through numerous switching devices prior to the data reaching one or more designated destination devices. In order to determine where the data should be forwarded to next, certain such intermediate switching devices inspect the data at various points throughout the transmission to determine the respective source and destination addresses of the sender and recipient(s). In order to ascertain intermediate forwarding addresses for the data, some switching devices rely on previous transmissions between identical source and/or destination devices, whereas other switching devices reference routing tables in order to ascertain the intermediate forwarding address. In any event, the time with which it takes for the data to be received at the destination device after being transmitted from the source device is proportional to the speed at which the network operates including the time it takes for the data to propagate through each network switching device.
As the number of devices communicating over the Internet continues to exponentially increase, the volume and complexity of the data transmitted correspondingly continues to increase. Accordingly, networks that were considered to be the fastest of their kind only a few years ago are now considered by many to be too slow to handle modern communication requirements. As new network transport mediums such as fiber optics continue to replace legacy copper-wire networks for example, new data communication performance metrics are continually being achieved. Unfortunately however, as network performance continues to increase, the operational performance of intermediate switching devices connected to such networks must correspondingly increase so as not to become the bottleneck affecting network performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Programmable packet filtering in a prioritized chain


A vehicle includes a vehicle battery; a vehicle sensor configured to detect a current, a voltage and a temperature of the vehicle battery; and an alternator configured to output a target voltage to the vehicle battery. A controller is configured to calculate state of charge (SOC) estimation based on the current, voltage and temperature of the vehicle battery, calculate an initial SOC based on a direct current internal resistance (DCIR) map and apply the initial SOC to the SOC estimation, when an open circuit voltage (OCV) is maintained in a predetermined range after engine-off, and adjust an available SOC range based on a difference between an actual battery charge current amount, to which the initial SOC is applied, and the calculated SOC estimation.

As for a vehicle to which a lithium battery is applied, there may be a region in which it is difficult to set an initial state of charge (SOC) by an Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) when a chemical stabilization time elapses after engine-off.
Particularly, in a case of a 12V lithium battery, there is a flat region in which a difference in the OCV according to the SOC is relatively small due to a difference in physical properties in comparison with a lead acid battery.
In this case, an error in an initial value of SOC, which is calculated based on the OCV, may increase.
In addition, an error in the SOC estimation for estimating SOC of the battery may be increased due to an inaccurate initial SOC.
Therefore, a service operator has sought a method for estimating an accurate initial SOC of the lithium battery.

System for estimating initial SOC of lithium battery of vehicle and control method thereof

Hongik University Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation


A task processing method includes setting, by a terminal, a quality of service (QoS) class of a task, where the QoS class is related to user perception, and configuring a priority of a thread executing the task as the QoS class of the task, where the priority of the thread indicates an execution sequence of the thread in the system.

A terminal device is widely applied to people's daily life. However, as use time increases, a freezing phenomenon occurs when the terminal device executes a task. For example, it takes relatively long time for the terminal device to start an application program, and content of the application program can be displayed on a display interface of the terminal device only after the application is started. Freezing occurs when the display interface is waiting for the application program to start. A reason why the application program is started slowly is that when the terminal device processes an application program start task, a process of the application program needs to queue for a long time before being processed. The terminal device may allocate a priority to an application program in a system, and process, based on the priority, a task related to each application, to avoid a freezing case caused when the terminal device processes the task.
A task processing may be the following process. The system of the terminal device includes a plurality of application programs, where an application program displayed on the display interface of the terminal device may be referred to as a foreground application program, and an application program that is not displayed on the display interface may be referred to as a background application program, and the terminal device allocates a priority to each application program based on whether the application program can be displayed on the display interface, where a priority of the foreground application program is relatively high, and a priority of the background application program is relatively low. When processing tasks of the foreground application program and the background application program, the terminal device may generate a process related to each application program, and the terminal device completes, by processing the process, a task related to the application program, where a priority of a process related to the foreground application program is relatively high, and a priority of a process related to the background application program is relatively low. For example, when processing a task, the terminal device calls a plurality of threads to implement the task. An operating system (for example, LINUX) kernel of the terminal device schedules the plurality of threads at a scheduling layer using a Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS). In a scheduling process, a LINUX kernel may perform scheduling based on a thread priority. Virtual execution time indicated by a virtual clock is used as a reference. A virtual clock of a thread with a high priority goes relatively slowly, and a virtual clock of a process with a low priority goes relatively fast. Although virtual execution time of the thread with the high priority and virtual execution time of the thread with the low priority are relatively fair, the execution time of the process with the low priority is shorter than the execution time of the process with the high priority. When processing of all threads required by the task is completed, processing of the task is completed. However, when one or more threads whose priorities do not match a requirement of the task exist in the plurality of threads, excessively long execution time of the task is easily caused. For example, threads of one or more background applications exist in the plurality of threads, and the threads of the one or more background applications have relatively long execution time due to a relatively low priority. Consequently, total time consumed by the task is relatively long, and system freezing is perceived from a perspective of a user, thereby reducing user experience.

Task processing method and apparatus, terminal, and computer readable storage medium


An electronic device may have an antenna for providing coverage in wireless communications bands of interest. The wireless communications bands may include first, second, third, and fourth communications bands. The antenna may have an antenna resonating element with first, second, and third arms and may have an antenna ground. The antenna ground may be formed form metal housing structures and other conductive structures in the electronic device. The first arm may be configured to exhibit an antenna resonance in the first and third communications bands. The second arm may be configured to exhibit an antenna resonance in the second communications band. The third arm may be configured to exhibit an antenna resonance in the fourth communications band. The third arm may be located between the first arm and the ground. A diagonal crossover path may pass over a return path and may couple the second and third arms.

This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to antennas in electronic devices.
Electronic devices such as portable computers and handheld electronic devices are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. For example, electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications circuitry to communicate using cellular telephone bands. Electronic devices may use short-range wireless communications links to handle communications with nearby equipment.
It can be difficult to incorporate antennas and electrical components successfully into an electronic device. Some electronic devices are manufactured with small form factors, so space is limited. In many electronic devices, the presence of conductive structures associated with components and housing structures can influence the performance of antennas. At the same time, it may be desirable for antennas to handle multiple communications bands. Configuring antennas to handle multiple communications bands can be challenging, particularly when antennas are mounted in an electronic device in close proximity to conductive structures such as housing structures and electrical components.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved antennas for handling multiple communications bands in electronic devices.

Electronic device with multiband antenna


The present invention provides an internal combustion engine drive train actuating assembly which includes a dual overhead cam shaft arrangement wherein a pair of cam shafts is supported in the head section of the engine. One cam shaft is positioned to actuate the intake and exhaust valves. The other cam shaft is dedicated to actuating only the unit fuel injectors and is positioned relative to the injector actuating rocker levers to contact only these rocker levers during engine operation. The rocker lever-contacting lobes on the dedicated injector-actuating cam shaft are dimensionally wider than has heretofore been possible, which allows the high fuel injection pressures required to achieve optimum fuel economy and emissions while minimizing hertz stresses on the cam shaft.

The ever increasing demand for achieving and maintaining minimum exhaust emissions and fuel efficient internal combustion engines has required increasingly higher fuel injection pressures. These higher fuel injection pressures, particularly in unit injectors in diesel engines, increase the hertz stress on the injector-actuating cam shaft and its associated following mechanism. When the unit injectors and the intake and exhaust valves in a diesel engine are actuated by the same cam shaft, space constraints can severely limit the axial placement of the injector lobes since all of the valve-actuating lobes and the injector-actuating lobes must be located on the same cam shaft. When sufficient axial space is not available, the hertz stresses on the cam shaft can become unacceptably high. Unless hertz stresses on the cam shaft are kept to a reasonable level, injector pressures of a desirable magnitude cannot be achieved.
Cam-operated unit fuel injectors are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,974 to Sabelstrom et al, for example, discloses a diesel engine with a fuel injection system which employs a cam shaft positioned in the engine overhead for operating a unit fuel injector.
Dual overhead cam shaft arrangements are also known. Most dual overhead cam shaft arrangements include one cam shaft dedicated to actuating the intake valves and one cam shaft dedicated to actuating the exhaust valves. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,171 to Melde-Tuczai et al is illustrative of an internal combustion engine which employs two overhead cam shafts. The dual cam shaft arrangement disclosed in this patent includes cams for separately mounted rocker arms actuating pump nozzles which, in turn, are operated by the two cam shafts. The first cam shaft actuates the pump associated with one cylinder, and the second cam shaft actuates the pump associated with the adjacent cylinder. It is not suggested that this arrangement could be used to actuate unit fuel injectors; rather, it is designed to permit the easy disassembly of a selected pump nozzle without disturbing the two cam shafts and all the remaining valve gear.
None of the art of which applicants are aware suggests dedicating one cam shaft in a dual overhead cam shaft or other cam shaft arrangement solely to the actuation of the engine unit fuel injectors.
The prior art, therefore, has failed to provide a drive train actuation assembly for an internal combustion engine with a dual overhead cam shaft arrangement wherein one of the cam shafts is dedicated solely to actuating the engine unit fuel injectors, thereby minimizing hertz stresses on the cam shaft and prolonging cam life.

Dedicated overhead cam shaft for unit injector


In an engine for a vehicle including a bearing cap integral type oil pan which has a plurality of bearing cap sections integrally provided thereon and which is integrally coupled to a cylinder block, connecting bolts are screwed into the bearing cap sections from the cylinder block to integrally couple the cylinder block and the oil pan to each other. An oil pan chamber, which is an as-cast bore made by drawing a die in an axial direction of a crankshaft, is defined to extend continuously in the axial direction of the crankshaft between the bearing cap sections and a bottom wall of the oil pan. Thus, the oil pan can be produced simply, at a low cost, by a casting process and moreover, it is possible to reduce the weight and size of the oil pan and increase the rigidity of the oil pan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of an engine for a vehicle, including a bearing cap-integral type oil pan integrally provided with bearing cap sections and coupled to a cylinder block.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventionally known an engine for a vehicle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-50864, in which an oil pan integrally provided with a plurality of bearing cap sections for supporting a crankshaft, is coupled to an end face of a cylinder block on the side of a crank chamber by connecting bolts.
In the above known engine for a vehicle, however, the following problems are encountered: (1) Since the oil pan is fastened to the cylinder block by connecting bolts passing through bolt bores in a bottom wall of the oil pan, seal means are required in the bolt bores, resulting in an increased number of parts. (2) The opening of the bolt bores brings about a reduction in rigidity of the oil pan itself. (3) Since the plurality of bearing cap sections extend to the bottom wall of the oil pan and are integrally connected to the bottom wall, an increase in weight of the oil pan is brought about. (4) The structure of the oil pan itself is complicated, and the mold for forming the oil pan by casting is complicated, resulting in an increased manufacturing cost.


The present invention provides vancomycin analogs and methods related to synthesis of these analogs via chemoenzymatic techniques. In a preferred embodiment, the vancomycin analogs have a structural moiety selected from the group consisting of:

Vancomycin is a small glycopeptide and is considered an antibiotic of "last resort" for fighting infections by Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. However, at the beginning of 1987, hospitals began reporting vancomycin resistant strains of enterococci. Vancomycin acts by interfering with the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. It binds to the peptide substrates [Ala-Glu-Lys-Ala-Ala] and prevents it from cross-linking carbohydrates in the cell wall. Resistant bacteria, however, overcome vancomycin's effect by synthesizing [Ala-Glu-Lys-Ala-lactate]. Vancomycin does not bind well to this moiety; and therefore the bacterial cell wall is synthesized.
The emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and Staphylococci (VRE/VRS) clinical isolates in conjunction with the demonstrated antiviral properties of certain glycopeptides, continues to promote the search for efficient routes of rapid glycopeptide diversification.
The rapid diversification of glycopeptides via glycorandomization reveals significantly diverse substitutions are tolerated and suggests there may be a synergistic benefit to the construction of mechanistically—related natural product core scaffold fusions. Glycorandomization is a chemoenzymatic process in which scaffold of a natural compound is altered through alteration of its sugar moieties. Since sugar groups help determine biological activity in large number of pharmaceutically interesting compounds, glycorandomization is an important process in developing new therapeutic compounds.
Toward this goal, recent research has revealed that alterations to the vancomycin's L-vancosaminyl-1,2-D-glucosyl disaccharide attachment, via chemical or chemoenzymatic impacts upon both the molecular target and organism specificity.
However, the need exists for yet newer molecules and architecture, especially using chemoenzymatic approaches to diversify complex natural products that may be capable of countering the effects of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and Staphylococci.


An adjustable and adaptable artist's easel for holding a canvas includes an upper stand. The upper stand includes a planar frame having opposed sides, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom. This upper stand also includes a canvas support on the front of the frame, a top clamp, and a clamp adjusting device for adjustably mounting the top clamp on the front of the frame for movement toward and away from the canvas support and for locking the top clamp in an adjusted position relative to the canvas support with the canvas clamped therebetween and on the front. This upper stand further includes a pair back legs having a free end, a back leg pivot for pivotally mounting the back legs to the frame, and a back leg locking device for adjustably locking the back legs with the free ends spaced from the planar frame such that the upper stand is capable of standing in an upright position and hence for being used on a table top or the like. The easel also includes a free standing lower base and an attaching mechanism for removably attaching the upper stand to the lower base such that the upper stand is mounted above the lower base. The easel is then usable by itself as a free standing easel, and in this configuration, the frame is tiltable downwards for convenience.

Numerous artist's easels have been disclosed in the prior art with various adjustments thereof. Examples of such prior art easels are shown in various U.S. Patents. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,513 (Presley et al.), an easel with a tilting means for a canvas is provided. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,363 (Koves) there is also disclosed a canvas carrier with a tripod which permits an angular adjustment of the canvas. A table top easel with an adjusting means for the angle of the workpiece relative to the table surface is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,462 (Driscoll). Another patent of general interest disclosing a combination adjustable chair and easel where the easel is swingable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,951,960 (Anduaga).
While there are numerous prior art easels including those mentioned above which are variably adjustable, there still exists a need for an easel which is usable both on a table and free standing, and which is capable of tilting the canvas downward toward the artist.


A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a generally horizontal seat cushion for supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly and a seat back (36) pivotally connected to the seat cushion by a recliner (38) for pivotal movement between a generally upright position and a fully reclined position relative to the seat cushion. The seat assembly includes a head restraint (26) pivotally coupled to the seat back for pivotal movement between a normal position when the seat back is in the upright position and a forward angled position relative to the seat back when the seat back is in the fully reclined position to support the seat occupant""s head. An adjustment mechanism comprises a guide plate (90) slidably coupled to the seat back for pivoting the head restraint between the normal position and the forward angled position. A cable (100) is coupled between the seat cushion and the guide plate mechanism for automatically sliding the adjustment mechanism between a first position pivoting the head restraint to the normal position and a second position pivoting the head restraint to the forward angled position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back between the upright position and the fully reclined position for continuously adjusting the position of the head restraint relative to the seat occupant""s head. A spring (110) urges the guide plate toward the second position when the seat back is pivoted toward the fully reclined position.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a continuous self-adjusting head restraint system for a seat assembly, and more particularly, to a head restraint system which continuously and automatically adjusts its position in response to pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion of the seat assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automotive vehicles include vehicle seat assemblies for supporting a seat occupant in the vehicle. The seat assemblies comprise a generally horizontal seat cushion and a generally upright seat back pivotally connected to the seat cushion by a recliner mechanism. The seat back is commonly pivotal about the seat cushion between a generally upright position and a fully reclined position. The seat assembly also commonly includes a head restraint coupled to the seat back for supporting the seat occupant""s head. The head restraint is commonly adjustable, either manually or by power actuation, to adjust the height and/or pivotal displacement of the head restraint relative to the seat back.
However, it is desirable to automatically and continuously adjust the angle of the head restraint relative to the seat back in response to the seat back pivoting between the upright position and the fully reclined position.
The present invention relates to a seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprising a generally horizontal seat cushion for supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between a generally upright position and a fully reclined position relative to the seat cushion. The seat assembly further includes a head restraint pivotally coupled to the seat back for pivotal movement between a normal position when the seat back is in the upright position and a forward angled position relative to the seat back when the seat back is in the fully reclined position to support the seat occupant""s head. An adjustment mechanism is slidably coupled between the seat back and the head restraint for pivoting the head restraint between the normal position and the forward angled position. An actuator is coupled between the seat cushion and the adjustment mechanism for automatically sliding the adjustment mechanism between a first position pivoting the head restraint to the normal position and a second position pivoting the head restraint to the forward angled position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back between the upright position and the fully reclined position for continuously adjusting the position of the head restraint relative to the seat occupant""s head.

Continuous self-adjusting head restraint system


An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member and a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic image on the image bearing member with a toner to form a toner image thereon and including a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic image, and a toner cartridge configured to supply the toner to the developing unit through at least one opening, wherein the developing device circulates the toner between the toner cartridge and the developing unit through the at least one opening, and wherein the internal temperature of the hopper is higher than that of the cartridge and the ratio of a charge quantity distribution parameter of the toner under a condition of 45° C. and 54% RH to that under a condition of 25° C. and 54% RH is greater than 0.9 and less than 1.5.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and an electrophotographic image forming method. In addition, the present invention also relates to a developing device and a process cartridge for the image forming apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
Electrophotographic image forming methods typically include the following processes.
(1) An electrostatic image is formed on an image bearing member such as photoreceptors (electrostatic latent image forming process);
(2) The electrostatic image is developed with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the image bearing member (developing process);
(3) The toner image is transferred to a receiving material optionally via an intermediate transfer medium (transfer process); and
(4) The toner image is fixed on the receiving material (fixing process).
The developers are broadly classified to two component developers which include a toner and a carrier, and one-component developers (such as one-component magnetic developers and one-component non-magnetic developers) which include no carrier and which consist essentially of a toner.
In two-component developing methods, toner particles tend to be fixedly adhered to the surface of carrier particles after long repeated use. In this case, the properties (such as charging ability) of the carrier particles deteriorate. In addition, since only the toner is used for developing electrostatic images, the toner concentration in the developer decreases with time, and therefore a device for controlling the toner concentration is necessary. Therefore, image forming apparatus using a two-component developing method become large in size.
In contrast, one-component developing methods do not have such drawbacks and therefore it is possible to miniaturize image forming apparatus. In addition, one-component developing methods have another advantage such that the image forming apparatus using the methods can be used under various environmental conditions (from low temperature/low humidity conditions to high temperature/high humidity conditions). Therefore, one-component developing methods are mainly used now.
One-component developing methods are classified into one-component magnetic developing methods using a magnetic toner and one-component non-magnetic developing methods using a non-magnetic toner.
In one-component magnetic developing methods, a thin layer of a magnetic toner, which includes a magnetic material (such as magnetite), is formed on a developing sleeve including a magnet therein using a thickness controlling member (such as blades). Therefore, recently the magnetic one-component developing methods are widely used for small-sized printers.
In contrast, non-magnetic toners for use in the one-component non-magnetic developing methods have no magnetic force. Therefore, in one-component non-magnetic developing methods, a thin toner layer is formed using a toner supply roller which presses a toner to a developing sleeve. Therefore, the toner layer is electrostatically borne on the developing sleeve. Since non-magnetic toners do not include a magnetic material, which is typically colored, the non-magnetic toners can be preferably used for forming color images. In addition, since a developing sleeve including no magnet therein can be used, the developing device (i.e., the image forming apparatus) has a light weight and a low cost. Therefore, recently such non-magnetic one-component developing methods are widely used for small-sized full color printers.
Developing devices typically include a developing section configured to develop an electrostatic image on an image bearing member, and a toner cartridge configured to supply a toner to the developing section. These developing devices often cause a problem in that a large amount of toner particles in the developing section are returned to the toner cartridge, thereby decreasing the amount of the toner in the developing section, resulting in formation of abnormal images.
In attempting to solve the problem, published unexamined Japanese patent application No. (herein after referred to as JP-A) 2002-162817 discloses a developing device which includes a developing section configured to develop an electrostatic image on a photoreceptor belt and a toner cartridge configured to supply a toner to the developing section through a connection passage and which can be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. In this regard, a check valve made of an elastic material is provided on the connection passage to prevent the toner in the developing section from returning to the toner cartridge.
Since the toner in the developing section does not return to the toner cartridge, toner particles with a low charge quantity tend to remain in this developing section after long repeated use. Therefore, problems in that images having undesired image qualities are formed and toner particles are scattered around the developing section tend to occur. Particularly, in one-component non-magnetic developing methods toner particles having a relatively small particle diameter and a relatively high charge quantity are mainly used for developing electrostatic images. Namely, toner particles having a relatively large particle diameter and a relatively low charge quantity tend to remain in the developing section, thereby affecting the image qualities of the toner images.
In attempting to impart a proper charge amount to a toner, JP-A 2000-227676 discloses a technique in that a binder resin having a high acid value is used for the toner. However, this technique has a drawback in that the resultant toner has poor stability to withstand environmental conditions. Specifically, the toner has too large an amount of charge quantity under low temperature and low humidity conditions, and has too small an amount of charge quantity under high temperature and high humidity conditions. Therefore, the toner causes problems such as decrease of image density and formation of background fouling.
JP-A 2004-354530 discloses a technique in that a large amount of charge controlling agent is included in a toner. However, it is hard to disperse a large amount of charge controlling agent in a binder resin. If a charge controlling agent is nonuniformly dispersed in a toner, image qualities tend to deteriorate after long repeated use.
JP-A 2003-280256 discloses a technique in that a proper amount of charge is imparted to a toner without using a charge controlling agent. Specifically, the technique is that a particulate inorganic material is adhered to the surface of toner particles. However, it is difficult to perfectly solve the problems mentioned above (i.e., decrease of the charge quantity of the toner in the developing section) cannot be avoided by using this technique when the toner is repeatedly used in a developing device.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for an image forming apparatus which can produce high quality images by imparting a proper amount of charge to a toner in a developing section even after long repeated use without deteriorating the fluidity of the toner.

Image forming method and apparatus, and developing device and process cartridge therefor


A method for controlling power in a communication system. In the power control method, a transmitter receives feedback information from receivers located in its own cell; determines data rates of the receivers according to the received feedback information, calculates a load of the cell by calculating an amount of data to be transmitted to the receivers; and calculates transmission power of the transmitter by comparing the load of the cell with a threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a communication system, and in particular, to a power control method and system for minimizing interference between neighbor cells in a communication system with a multi-cell configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intensive research on the next generation communication system is being conducted to provide users with high-speed services having various Quality of Service (QoS) classes. The communication system may experience interference between multiple cells, especially between neighbor cells, because the multiple cells constituting the communication system share the limited resources, for example, frequency resources, code resources, time slot resources, etc. Due to the interference between neighbor cells, Mobile Stations (MSs) located in a particular cell, especially the MSs located in the boundary area of the cell, may suffer from a considerable decrease in reception performance of the signals received from a Base Station (BS) in charge of the cell ("serving BS").
Also, the serving BS in charge of a particular cell may suffer from a considerable decrease in reception performance of the signals received from MSs located in the cell due to the interference between neighbor cells. That is, in the communication system with a multi-cell configuration, a BS in charge of its own cell and MSs located in the cell may receive interference from neighbor cells, for example, from BSs in charge of the neighbor cells ("neighbor BSs"), and from MSs located in the neighbor cells.
In the communication system with a multi-cell configuration, due to the occurrence of interference between neighbor cells, the communication system may suffer from a decrease in signal transmission/reception performance, and also may not guarantee the required QoS for users. Therefore, there is a need for a power control scheme for minimizing interference between neighbor cells in the communication system with a multi-cell configuration. There is also a need for a power control scheme for increasing performance and efficiency of the communication system with a multi-cell configuration.

Method and system for controlling power in a communication system

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A method and an apparatus for recording and playing back monitored video data for recording monitored video data generated continuously for a long time on a magnetic tape, with less S/N degradation by shortening the operation time of the VTR to suppress the degradation of the magnetic tape, recording head, and other mechanical items, wherein video signals from a video camera are converted to digital signals in an A/D converter, compressed and encoded in a compression encoder & decoder circuit, then transferred to a time axis compression circuit including the first memory, the second memory, an SCSI controller, and a hard disk unit, thereafter compressed on the time axis and recorded on the magnetic tape loaded in a D-VHS standard VTR via an I/F circuit. Compressing the video data from the compression encoder & decoder circuit on the time axis in the time axis compression circuit makes shorter the recording time of the video data on the magnetic tape than the actual recording time of the video camera, whereby the VTR is only required to record video data intermittently on the magnetic tape and that a general home VTR can be adopted as the above VTR, moreover the magnetic tape itself is prevented from damages.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for recording and playing back video data, more particularly to a method and an apparatus for recording and playing back monitored video data, which will be suitable for recording video data for a long time for the purpose of monitoring and preventing of crimes.
There is provided a prior art time lapse VTR used as a video data recording device for recording video data from, a video camera, suitable for monitoring and preventing crimes. Many of this type VTR are improved from a home VHS VTR which is very popular at present to enable a long time recording. For example, in such a time lapse VTR, the magnetic tape can be fed at a ⅓ speed of the VHS Extended Play (EP) mode to record only one of the input video 3 fields on the tape, so that the recording time can be extended to 3 times that of the EP mode. Consequently, when a 120-min tape is used, the recording time is extended to 6 hours (120 min×3) in the VHS EP mode. The recording time of the above time lapse VTR can thus be extended to 18 hours, 3 times that of the VHS EP mode. In this case, however, as understood clearly from the recording principle explained above, the number of fields per second is 20, which is ⅓ of the VHS (60 fields). In addition, audio signals can be recorded on audio tracks arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tape just like an ordinary VTR, but the tape speed becomes ⅓ of the normal one. As a result, the sound quality is degraded more than the normal one. In spite of this, the time lapse VTR can have an advantage of 18-hour audio recording time.
There is also proposed an intermittent recording system for the above prior art time lapse VTR, in which system, the average tape speed is delayed and the number of recording fields is reduced more to extend the recording time. This system can have the maximum recording time of, for example 720 hours using a normal 120-min tape by, recording video data at a rate of 1 field per 2 seconds (120 fields) per frame (2 hours×3 times×120=720 hours). In such a super-long time recording operation, the average tape feed speed is very slow, so that it becomes difficult to control the continuous feeding of the tape. To avoid this problem, the tape is fed intermittently in most cases and accordingly, it becomes impossible to record audio signals in audio tracks.
The conventional time lapse VTR ware opened in, for example, Examined Published Japanese Patent Application No.3-12380, Examined Published Japanese Patent Application No.7-63182, etc. The former patent report describes a method for controlling tape feeding so as to obtain the same recording tape pattern as that of the ordinary VTR even at the recording time by feeding the tape intermittently just like in the above-mentioned 720-hour recording. The latter patent report (No.7-63182) describes a method for controlling the rotation speed of the cylinder to prevent generation of skew during the intermittent recording.
As explained above, the time lapse VTR needs recording modes for continuous low speed tape feeding and intermittent tape feeding in addition to the normal continuous tape feeding, and a means for precision controlling of the capstan and the cylinder corresponding to those playback modes. In a recording operation, the same playback mode as each of those recording modes is needed to check pictures at the same speed as that of the recording. For this purpose, each of those prior art VTRs must be provided with various precision control means, so their prices become more higher than general home VTRs.
The time lapse art VTR cannot load (wind a magnetic tape onto the cylinder to which a magnetic head is attached to prepare for recording or playing back) a magnetic tape (video data recording medium) and unload (separate the tape from the cylinder) the magnetic tape within a short time even for a recording operation in a recording mode for intermittent tape feeding. Therefore, the tape is needed to be kept loaded during recording. Further, since the cylinder has a large moment and takes much time until its rotation speed is stabilized, the cylinder must be rotated almost at a fixed speed continuously during the recording.
Therefore, the time lapse VTR must be kept loaded with a tape during recording of monitored video data and the cylinder is rotated continuously. Especially, in the above super-long recording mode (720-hour mode), the VTR has a disadvantage that because the cylinder is kept rotated in contact with the tape for 720 hours, the tape is damaged far more rapidly than used for a home VTR. In the same way, because the head is in contact with the tape, the head is also worn rapidly. The mechanisms such as the motor and belt used for making the cylinder rotate are also degraded rapidly and often damaged, since they are running for a long time respectively.
Further, conventional helical scanning VTR also has a following defect; the recording track pattern angle on the tape loaded is decided by both the rotation speed of the cylinder and the feed speed of the tape, so that the track pattern recorded at the above slow speed tape feeding or the tape stops has an angle different from the normal speed tape feeding. Therefore, when playing back the track pattern recorded in such way, a mismatching occurs between the tracing angle of the head and the angle of the track pattern, causing the SIN (signal-noise ratio) to be degraded in a part of the playback signals, with the resultant of lowering the quality of output pictures significantly.

Method and apparatus for recording and playing back monitored video data


This invention relates sealing of paperboard cartons in order to form an integral structural. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of radiation curable, pressure-sensitive adhesives and "spot curing" of the adhesives in order to seal and form the carton.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sealing of paperboard cartons in order to form an integral structural. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of radiation curable, pressure-sensitive adhesives and "spot curing" of the adhesives in order to seal and form the carton.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flap or end sealing of cartons following or prior to product filling has relied on the use of cold adhesives, hot melt adhesives or heat sealable polymer coatings. Typically, carton lines advance at a rate of 100 to 300 fpm.
It is well known that cold adhesives are incompatible with the higher speeds due to their extended set time requirements. Also, hot melt adhesives are limited to only certain end-use conditions due to temperature sensitivity. Finally, polymer coatings are costly, if applied as a continuous film and require specialized application equipment if patterned only in the seal areas.
The latest attempt to solve this problem is through the utilization of patterned-applied heat sealable coatings. This requires specialized printing equipment and powerful, inefficient heating systems to render the coatings tacky/sealable on the cartoning forming line. A reasonable amount of compression must also be applied to obtain an effective seal; therefore, proximity of the seal area and carton style are limited.
Finally, it is known to employ various sealing methods in order to seal various paper/paperboard materials together. Exemplary of such prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,578 ('578) to R. Emrich et al., entitled "Method and Apparatus for Connecting Together Material Plies Which are Unilaterally Thermoplastically Coated", U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,199 ('199) to R. S. Steck et al., entitled "Induction Sealing of Paperboard", U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,479 ('479) to A. Anderson et al., entitled "Method of Infrared Heating a Restricted Area on a Continuous Thermoplastic Laminated Web", and U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,304 ('304) to N. W. Shaw et al., entitled "Method of Manufacturing Corrugated Board Using A Thermoradiate Energy Source". While the '578, '199, '479, and '304 patents disclose various types of energy for sealing webs of material, such as hot air, induction heating, infrared heating and radiant heating, respectively, there is no disclosure of the use of ultra-violet (UV) light or adhesives which can be cured by UV light.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a carton sealing system which is capable of sealing cartons through simplicity of parts and uniqueness of structure, and which at least equals the sealing characteristics of the known carton sealing systems, but which at the same time is capable of utilizing the more efficient UW light.
It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.

Carton sealing method utilizing radiation curable pressure-sensitive adhesives


The invention relates to a method for producing protein hydrolyzates from animal and/or vegetable starting materials by comminuting the starting materials, mashing the comminuted starting materials into a pumpable mass, decomposing the mashed starting materials in an electric discharge gap and separating the aqueous phase of the decomposition from solid and water-unmixable residues, wherein the starting material is decomposed at a pH value between 10.0 and 14.0 and the decomposed starting material is subjected to a secondary reaction over at least 1 h at a pH value of 10.0 to 14.0, the temperature being at least 70.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for producing protein hydrolyzates from animal and/or vegetable starting materials by comminuting and mashing the comminuted starting materials into a pumpable mass, decomposing the mashed starting materials in an electric discharge gap and separating the aqueous phase of the decomposition from solid and water-unmixable residues.
Protein-containing residues from industrial or manual processing of agricultural products as well as vegetable raw materials are valuable raw products due to the contained ingredients. However, a problem is frequently the cost-effective and simple recovery of these ingredients. In particular offal, such as skins, hairs, bristles, feathers, bones, meat parts, blood, etc., largely defies simple and cost-effective further processing as far as their ingredients are concerned. The contained proteins are a valuable source of raw materials hitherto utilized only to a small extent.
2. Description of the Related Art
The inventive method develops a technique known from DE 42 31 914 A1. This print describes a method for producing protein hydrolyzates from animal and/or vegetable substrates by comminuting the substrates, heating the comminuted substrate, mashing the heated substrate into a pumpable mass, decomposing the mashed substrate by means of electric discharges and separating the aqueous phase of the decomposition from solid and water-unmixable liquid residues wherein the temperature is held below the coagulation temperature of protein during the entire method and mashing is performed with aqueous hydrolyzate phase obtained from the decomposition. This method has its advantages but is still capable of being improved with respect to energy consumption and the processing of the obtained products. In particular the separation of obtained protein hydrolyzates from solid and water-unmixable liquid residues is elaborate and cost-intensive. Although one can improve the separation and subsequent filtration of the obtained hydrolyzate solution by suitable pretreating the starting materials, this is an additional step with additional costs.
DE-A 37 13 179 A1 further discloses a method for recovering gelatin and products containing it wherein collagen-containing starting material is decomposed in an aqueous medium with the aid of electric current. The collagen containing starting material used is offal. Decomposition takes place with an electric discharging current with short discharge pulses. The method obtains a collagen-containing material which is used in particular as glue.
The discharge apparatus used in this known method is known in the art and has been described for a variety of purposes, including the abovementioned. For the discharge technology reference is furthermore made to DE-PS 12 37 541 and 19 46 267 and to DE-OS 16 67 029, 17 92 572, 29 07 887 and DE 31 16 623 A1 and also to the statements in DE 37 13 179 A1.
Finally, DE-OS 27 50 149 discloses a method for producing keratin-like protein wherein keratin is hydrolyzed with saturated steam under pressure. The process conditions are quite drastic and lead to high costs and a chemically changed product.
The objectives of the invention is a method for separating the proteins contained in animal and vegetable raw materials, in particular offal and vegetable agricultural raw products and waste, in simple, cost-effective and largely pure fashion.

Process for producing protein hydrolysates


A panel (assembly) having an inner panel member (sheet) and an outer panel member (sheet), with the member being secured to the member so that the member applies an outward force to the first member.

The present invention relates to facades and roof assemblies to be applied to buildings, and more particularly but not exclusively to pressure equalizing or vented facades, and roof assemblies adapted to support and integrate solar and other active panel modules.
Panel assemblies applied to buildings, particularly multi-storey buildings, have a number of disadvantages including complexity in respect of insulation, deformation of the panels due to heat, and in respect of vented facades, the risk of fire travelling up between the outer surface of the building and the façade.
A disadvantage of known assemblies used to mount solar panels on building roofs is that they are limited in scope and performance, and are also difficult and time consuming to install.


An actuator assembly comprises: a rotatable shaft, a magnet mounted to the rotatable shaft, non-magnet material positioned between the magnet and the shaft, a rotary sensor configured to be responsive to rotation of the magnet for generating a signal, and a housing comprising a magnetic shield surrounding at least a part of the rotary sensor and at least a part of the magnet mounted to the shaft to shield the sensor and the magnet from an external magnetic field. The actuator assembly further comprises a magnet holder fixing the magnet to the shaft. The magnetic shield encompasses the magnetic flux from the magnet to the rotary sensor and also shields the rotary sensor from any external magnetic field such as stray field or magnetic field from the outside of the housing. The non-magnetic material may reduce leakage magnetic flux from the magnet to the shaft.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate in general to the field of sensors, and more particularly, to an apparatus for precisely measuring angular displacement of a shaft associated with a magnet.
Precise and accurate measurements of angular positions of a shaft directly or indirectly coupled to an actuator are necessary in many control and monitoring applications including vehicle, aircraft, military, transportation, energy, automation and industrial. The position of the shaft is determined via the use of a rotary position sensor. Such sensors may include encoders, Hall effect position sensors, potentiometers, resolvers and rotary variable differential transformers (RVDTs). For example, Hall effect sensor senses and measures changes in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by a magnet have been used for sensing the position of the shaft of the sensor.
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that the following embodiments have been described. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the embodiments should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Actuator assembly having rotary sensor responsive to rotation of magnet


An explosive bolt is made of electrically non-conductive plastic material and is provided with a bore accommodating a low order deflagrating squid having only sufficient explosive energy to shatter a non-metallic bolt insulation surrounds the squib and fills the center bore and seals the squib in the center bore. There is a detonator for detonating the squib. Detonation of the squib is initiated by electrical current from an outside source electrically connected to the squib. A device has a stationary part and a removable part connected by the bolt.

The invention relates to electrically initiated explosive devices, particularly explosive bolts and to such bolts which may be used underwater as hinge connectors or simple fasteners but which are expendable when access past the hinged or bolted work piece is required.
The invention is concerned with explosive bolts which shatter when exploded to provide access through openings such as doorways or hatches otherwise bolted closed by the unexploded bolt. More particularly, the invention pertains to such bolts which can better be used in marine environments.


A disk drive assembly includes a disk pack with an axially retractable spindle assembly and a rotary actuator, mounted within a unitary deck and precision aligned by bores through spaced apart upper and lower support walls of the deck. Bushing sleeves, mounted through bearings to opposite ends of a spindle shaft, are aligned and secured within the bores by screws through the support walls and threaded into the bushing sleeves, thus to secure the spindle shaft for rotation relative to the support walls. A cup-shaped hub is fixed to the spindle shaft. A radially outward wall of the hub has upwardly converging flutes that cooperate with openings through annular spacers between adjacent disks on the hub, to provide a purging and cooling air flow. The hub and bushing sleeves have interacting pairs of annular flanges and annular grooves, and the bushing sleeves include extensions adjacent the bearings, to control radially outward passage of air from the center of the spindle assembly toward the region of the disks. Three angularly spaced apart fasteners extend through the hub and into an annular back iron through an annular edge of the back iron, to secure the back iron to the hub. An outer circumferential surface of the back iron and the radially outward wall of the hub are radially spaced apart from one another when the hub and back iron are secured. Three spacers between the back iron edge and hub, one surrounding each fastener, maintain the hub and back iron in axially spaced apart relation.

The present invention relates to apparatus for reading, writing and storing bit-encoded data, and more particularly to disk drives including packs of multiple, concentrically stacked disks.
The continuing effort to increase data storage capacities of magnetic disk drives and other data storage devices is concerned largely with increasing the density at which data can be stored on the available recording surface area. Another approach involves mounting multiple magnetic disks on a single spindle assembly in which the disks are stacked in integral, spaced apart and concentric relation. Such spindle assemblies typically include an elongate shaft, a hub fixed to the shaft and supporting the disks, and bearings and bushings at opposed ends of the shaft, to support the shaft, hub and disks for rotation relative to the disk drive housing. Also mounted movably with respect to the housing is an actuator, either of the rotary or linear type, for selectively positioning data transducing heads relative to the disks.
The design and manufacture of such drives involve disparate and often competing needs. The preferred high data storage densities require precision alignment of the disk pack and actuator, stability during rotation of the spindle assembly and resistance to thermal effects due to differing thermal expansion coefficients of materials employed in the drive. The housing must be strong, lightweight, resistant to vibration and provide an effective seal to prevent contamination of the housing interior, particularly in the region of the disks. At the same time, cost considerations stimulate efforts to reduce the number of parts and steps involved in assembling disk drives.
Among the many approaches for meeting these needs is a divided housing for magnetic disks disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,237 (Tochiyama et al). The housing includes a shell which supports both a magnetic disk pack and a rotary actuator, and a cover that closes an opening in the shell. Holes that support bushings at opposite ends of the spindle shaft are drilled through opposite side walls of the shell in a single operation, 10 and thus are precision aligned. The rotary actuator has a shaft which is similarly mounted by precision aligned holes in the shell. This arrangement is said to enhance the mechanical rigidity of the disk pack and actuator mountings, and improve sealing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,637 (Mach et al) discloses a disk file in which a disk stack sub-assembly is mounted within a housing. A shaft of the sub-assembly is mounted to the housing through upper and lower bearings and associated upper and lower bearing supports. The lower bearing support is movable axially with respect to the outer race of the lower bearing. A spring biases the lower bearing support axially upward relative to the lower bearing outer race. This arrangement enables reduction of the sub-assembly length to enable its insertion between opposed parallel walls of the disk file housing.
While the above approaches have met with limited success, there remains a need to provide a disk drive capable of storing data at relatively high densities, and at low cost.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk drive housing which is strong, lightweight and resistant to vibration and thermal effects.
Another object is to provide a spindle assembly for a disk drive including means for mounting a spindle shaft for rotation relative to a disk drive housing, which means are particularly well suited to facilitate assembly into a unitary housing.
A further object of the invention is to provide, in a spindle assembly with an internal motor, an effective system for purging air in the region of disks, and seal against contamination of the region of the disks from particulates generated near the motor and bearings.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mounting interface for a spindle assembly and disk drive housing, in which a rotatable spindle shaft is precisely aligned as it is installed into the housing, without jigs or other extraneous alignment tooling.

Spindle assembly with labyrinth seals and hub/back iron spacers


Systems and methods are provided for dynamically grouping data analysis content derived from a plurality of sensors. In one embodiment, a plurality of sensors can be disposed on a plurality of machine trains or one or more components within the plurality of machine trains, each machine train including one or more machines configured to operate in an industrial environment. A communication circuit can be operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to communicate data measured by the plurality of sensors, and a graphical user interface (GUI) can be configured to generate one or more visualizations of the measured data. A processor can be configured to receive the measured data via the communication circuit, to generate a plurality of measurements based on the measured data, and to operatively control the GUI.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for grouping content presented on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a condition monitoring system. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to dynamically grouping the content displayed on the GUI based on real-time input received by the GUI.
Industrial monitoring systems, such as asset condition monitoring systems, generally provide monitoring capabilities for various types of mechanical devices and systems. For example, an industrial monitor can monitor one or more operational parameters of a gas turbine system. Here, the industrial monitoring system can include a number of sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, and so forth) disposed throughout the gas turbine system. Such sensors can provide the industrial monitoring system data related to parameters associated with the gas turbine system.
In this manner, condition monitoring systems can provide users with valuable information regarding the health or condition of various machines in an industrial environment. For instance, condition monitoring systems can receive inputs from a broad range of sources in a plant including permanent and portable condition monitoring hardware/software, process control and automation hardware/software, process historians, maintenance management and reliability software, spreadsheets, operator logs, and the like. Using the data received from these sources, users of the condition monitoring systems can analyze the data with various tools provided by the condition monitoring systems. However, due to a decreasing availability of technically inclined personnel in the general workforce of the industrial industry, it is now recognized that improved systems and methods for operating condition monitoring systems via a graphical user interface are desired.

Systems and methods for dynamically grouping data analysis content


An antenna for an implantable medical device, the antenna being configured for inductive wireless power transfer and/or near-field magnetic induction communication, the antenna comprising at least one coil or at least one set of coils, each coil comprising several windings. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device (IMD).

Pulse generating systems are implemented in various medical applications, inter alia pacemakers and neuromodulation applications, such as neuromodulation for the treatment of a subject, e.g. in the field of improving recovery after neurological disorders such as spinal cord injury and/or stroke.
In particular, such pulse generation systems may be implantable pulse generating systems and are used in systems to deliver adaptive electrical spinal cord stimulation to facilitate and restore locomotion after neuromotor impairment as e.g. described in EP 2 868 343 A1.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,813,809 B2 describes an implantable pulse generator (IPG) for prosthetic or therapeutic stimulation of muscles, nerves, or central nervous system tissue, or any combination, sized and configured to be implanted in subcutaneous tissue. The IPG includes a case and a control circuitry located within the case, and includes a primary cell or rechargeable power source, a receive coil for receiving an RF magnetic field to recharge the rechargeable power source, non-inductive wireless telemetry circuitry, and a microcontroller for control of the IPG.
Communication and power charging systems in a medical field may be used to submit energy and communication signals transcutaneously, in particular between a non-implanted device and an IPG.
For example, US 2015/0012061 A1 relates to a medical device for providing a stimulation therapy including a coil configured to receive both inductive charging and telemetry signals. The inductive charging signals are in a first frequency band. The telemetry signals are in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The medical device includes inductive charging circuitry configured to provide electrical power to the medical device via the inductive charging signals. The medical device includes telemetry circuitry configured to conduct telecommunications with a external device via the telemetric signals. The medical device includes a first component electrically coupled between the coil and the inductive charging circuitry. The first component is configured to allow the inductive charging signals to pass through. The medical device includes a second component electrically coupled between the coil and the telemetric circuitry. The second component is configured to substantially block the inductive charging signals while allowing telemetric signals to pass through.
Alternative solutions are for example disclosed by EP 1 680 182 A1, EP 1 675 648 A1 and EP 1 575 665 A1.
Of note, IPG coils may be attached to the exterior of the housing of the IPG or placed in the housing, in particular the main housing. The first approach results in a larger size of the IPG in terms of its largest width and thus is an adverse option, as the larger the size of the IPG is, the worse it is for the patient. The second approach is also an adverse option due to the conducting properties of the usually used titanium housing. A conductive housing restricts the usable frequency band of inductive charging and communication signals, and consequently, the charging performance, e.g. maximum IPG charging current and charging distance to a non-implantable charging device, and communication band options.
The coil could be placed in an IPG header which may be made of non-conducting material and attached to the IPG housing or IPG main housing. This represents a practical solution of integrating a coil into an IPG, both in terms of form factor of the IPG and in terms of IPG charging and communication performance.
However, as far as charging is concerned, this introduces the risk of implanting the IPG with the side of the header containing the coil not closest to the skin of a patient if a common a-symmetric header coil design is used, effectively increasing the implantation depth of the IPG header coil. This may adversely increase the implantation depth of the header coil by half the header thickness and thus may reduce the performance of the wireless charging link. In other words, the distance between the IPG (header) coil and the coil of the related non-implanted device sending signals to the IPG is not optimal.
It is an object of the present disclosure to improve an antenna and/or an induction coil of an IPG of a neuromodulation and/or neurostimulation system, in particular in that a better performance of the IPG in terms of increasing a coupling coefficient or coupling factor of an inductive wireless link and therefore the neuromodulation and/or neurostimulation system is enabled.
This object is solved according to the present disclosure with an antenna with the features of claim 1 and the features described herein. Accordingly, an antenna for an implantable medical device (IMD), the antenna being configured for inductive wireless power transfer and/or near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication, the antenna comprising at least one coil or at least one set of coils, each coil comprising several windings.
The disclosure provides that, by designing an antenna for an IMD, e.g. an IPG, e.g. an IPG for neuromodulation and/or neurostimulation, comprising at least one coil or one set of coils, each coil comprising several windings, one may avoid that the distance between coil and skin of a patient implanted with the IMD is not minimal. Thus, it does not matter which side of the IMD, e.g. which side of an IPG, faces the skin of the patient and thus is closer to the related non-implanted device. In other words, the features of the antenna according to the present disclosure may enable placing the antenna in minimal distance to the skin of the patient, independent of its orientation, thus in minimal distance for inductive wireless power transfer and/or near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication. The antenna design is therefore optimized for transferring a required amount of power from a non-implanted device to the IMD, in particular to an IMD battery charging circuit to charge the battery. Further, the antenna design may be optimal for communication between a non-implanted device and the IMD (bidirectionally, using NFMI). Overall, the antenna design may enable better charging and/or communication performance of the IMD and optimized neuromodulation/neurostimulation.
In general, the IMD may be an active medical device, a pacemaker, a monitoring device, a drug administration device or an IPG, in some embodiments a cochlear implant, a diaphragm stimulator, a sphincter stimulator, a bladder stimulator, and/or a neurostimulator and/or neuromodulator.
A set of coils may be or may comprise at least two coils. However, any number of coils more than two may be generally possible.
Each coil may be at least partially made of wire, in some embodiments made of gold wire. A coil made of gold wire may have the advantage that it is relatively unsusceptible to corrosion.
In some embodiments, the wire may have a diameter of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. The thickness of the wire may be adjusted to the self-guiding behavior of the wire. Due to the self-guiding behavior of the wire, it may be possible that the wire guide can also run continuously during orthocyclic winding and does not need to follow step by step.
In some embodiments, the inductive wireless power transfer may be a resonant inductive wireless power transfer.
Further, the at least one coil or the coils of the at least one set of coils each may form a rectangular form, especially a trapezoidal form. Beyond the number of windings, the inductance of a coil also results from the dimension of a coil. Given that the housing of IMDs, e.g. IPGs, or certain parts of IMDs, e.g. certain parts of IPGs, such as a header, are often characterized by a rectangular form, especially a trapezoidal form, the coil or the coils of the at least one set of coils forming a rectangular form, especially a trapezoidal form, may enable maximum use of the dimension of the housing of the IMD, e.g. of the IPG. Thus, using coils each forming a rectangular form, especially a trapezoidal form, may enable a maximum level of inductance relative to the given dimensions of the housing of the IMD, e.g. of the IPG.
Further, the coils of the at least one set of coils may be connected by means of at least one bridging element. This connection between the coils of the at least one set of coils may enable that the inductance of a first coil may be combined with the inductance of a second coil. In other words, the current flowing in one coil may induce a voltage in the adjacent, second coil, finally causing an increased mutual inductance of the coils of the at least one set of coils.
According to the present disclosure, an IMD comprising at least one antenna as described above is disclosed, especially an IPG comprising at least one antenna as described above is disclosed.
In some embodiments, the IMD may have a main housing part and a header part attached to the main housing part, wherein the at least one antenna may be arranged in the header part. As mentioned above, this arrangement may result in a practical solution of integrating a coil into an IMD, in terms of form factor of the IMD, available assembly space and in terms of performance of the IMD.
An IMD antenna and/or coil may be used for 5-8 MHz, especially 6.78 MHz, inductive wireless power transfer, e.g. resonant inductive wireless power transfer, and 8-12 MHz, especially 10.6 MHz, NFMI communication. Arranging the antenna in the metal housing of an IMD, such as titanium, may be disadvantageous when using the antenna and/or coil for 5-8 MHz, especially 6.78 MHz, inductive wireless power transfer, e.g. resonant inductive wireless power transfer, and 8-12 MHz, especially 10.6 MHz, near field magnetic induction communication, due to the conducting properties of the housing leading to eddy-current losses and severe signal attenuation. Thus, arranging the IMD antenna and/or coil inside the titanium housing part of the IMD may be not desirable. Further, arranging the antenna around the housing of the IMD may be disadvantageous and not desirable as this may result in a larger size of the IMD in terms of its largest width while at the same time adding cumbersome manufacturing steps to the IMD production. Arranging the antenna in the header part may overcome these disadvantages.
Further, the header part may be transparent. By using a transparent header part, it may be enabled that the integrity of the coils may be checked visually at the end of IMD production, e.g. for quality control reasons.
In some embodiments, the header part may be at least partially made of a polymer such as but not limited to epoxy, polyurethane and/or silicone. In some embodiments, the header part may be made of medical grade material. In some embodiments, the header may be at least partially made of a medical grade polymer such as but not limited to medical grade epoxy, medical grade polyurethane and/or medical grade silicone. Alternatively, and/or additionally, the header part may be made of medical grade polyamide and/or medical grade polypropylene. As the header may be made of non-conductive material it may not support or function as an indifferent electrode due to eddy-current losses, leading to better performance of the IMD.
Further, the header may be at least partially made of a polymer such as but not limited to epoxy, polyurethane and/or silicone may have insulation effects.
The coils of the at least one set of coils may be arranged in parallel (in a geometrical sense—electrically arranged in series or may also be arranged electrically in parallel). In some embodiments, arranging a first coil comprising several windings and a second coil comprising several windings in parallel may enable maximal total (mutual) inductance. The geometrical parallel arrangement may be beneficial for the charging function.
Alternatively, the coils of the at least one set of coils each comprising several windings may be arranged orthogonally to each other (in a geometrical sense).
Alternatively, the sets of windings can be arranged orthogonally to each other.
Further, the antenna may comprise at least one further coil or at least one further set of coils. In some embodiments, the at least one further coil or at least one further set of coils may increase the coupling factor between the antenna of the implanted IMD and an antenna and/or coil of a non-implanted device which may charge the IMD battery or communicate with the IMD for controlling reasons.
In some embodiments, the antenna may comprise at least one further coil or at least one further set of coils, wherein the at least one further coil or one further set of coils may be arranged substantially orthogonally with regard to the at least one set of coils, i.e. the first set of coils.
During communication, the non-implanted device may be in a non-optimal orientation with regard to the at least one coil or the coils of the at least one set of coils each comprising several windings arranged in parallel geometrically, resulting in a low coupling factor, e.g. coupling factor null. By introducing at least one further coil or at least one further set of coils comprising several windings, especially substantially orthogonally with regard to the at least one coil or at least one set of coils each comprising several windings, e.g. in an IPG header, communication quality and performance may be improved for these non-optimal orientations without impacting the charging performance much.
Alternatively, the at least one further coil or the at least one further set of coils may be arranged substantially parallelly with regard to the at least one set of coils.
Alternatively, the at least one further coil or the at least one further set of coils may be arranged substantially at an acute or obtuse angle with regard to the at least one set of coils.
If windings are geometrically arranged rectangularly or substantially rectangularly, this can be used to the so-called nulls in case of NFMI use.
Further, the header part of the IMD, e.g. IPG, may comprise a mechanical support structure comprising at least one channel structure in which each winding of a coil is received and wound around the support structure. The mechanical support structure may enable forming and keeping the form of the at least one coil or the coils of the at least one set of coils, such as a rectangular, especially a trapezoidal form. The mechanical support structure may additionally and/or alternatively enable keeping one coil apart from another coil.
The IMD, e.g. the IPG, may comprise connector slots being arranged at least partially within the at least one antenna.
Generally, an IMD header, e.g. an IPG header, may include one or more connector-slots and housing feed-throughs, typically located in the center of the housing-side. Mounting the connectors in the header center may make the header construction easier. According to the present disclosure, this construction advantage may be maintained with the connector slots being arranged at least partially within the at least one antenna.
Further, the connection of the connector slots with the housing-feedthroughs may be more cumbersome in case the connectors are placed more towards one side of the header (outside of its center). This may require bending of the connector connections towards the feedthroughs, therefore requiring more header height and/or width. Therefore, placing the connectors at least partially within the at least one antenna, e.g. in the middle of the antenna, and having the antenna next to the connectors on both sides may lead to a lower volume claim of the antenna in the header and/or the header itself.
Further, the IMD may be or may comprise a switch interface which may decide which of the coils and/or set of coils to use, wherein each coil and/or set of coils comprises its own feed-through and/or is connected to at least one feed-through assigned to the coil. This means that each coil has its own feed-through. This feed-through can be only assigned to this coil and directly connected to it. It is possible that this feed-through is not connected to another coil (directly). In some embodiments, electronics inside the IMD may enable to decide which coil and/or set of coils to use, for example based on a received signal strength (e.g. NFMI signal strength) or charge current strength (charging current magnitude). In some embodiments, this may increase the degree of freedom on electronic functionality, as the antenna configuration may be changed according to the situation.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments or the scope of the inventions as claimed. The concepts in this application may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventions.

Antenna for an implantable pulse generator


A battery-operated electric power tool (1) includes a light unit (11) disposed on the front end of the main housing (2) and extending along the underside of the gear housing (6). The light unit (11) includes a light source (12) in a casing with the light emitting end of the light source (12) exposed through a hole at the front of the unit (11). The electric power tool (1) further includes at the front portion of the gear housing (6) a bumper (13) made of a molded rubber containing selfiuminous pigment. While the electric power tool (1) is operated with the light source (12) on, the bumper (13) absorbs and stores part of the light from the light source (12) and emits light therefrom, enabling the user to locate the bumper (13) in darkness or a dimly lit work environment even after sustained use in darkness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electric power tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electric power tool that includes a selfluminous component or part.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known electric power tool (Japan Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-138269) utilizes a selfluminous component to enhance its visibility in dark or dimly lit environments in order to improve the usability of the device. In particular, this particular power tool bears on its housing a manufacturer's label coated with selfluminous paint or material or includes at least one component (such as the housing, the pistol grip handle, or the top portion of the tool where a tool bit is received) made of molded resin mixed with selfluminous pigment. The selfluminous paint or pigment emits a part or all of the ambient or environmental light that has been stored therein to facilitate the locating or finding of the electric tool in darkness.
While this arrangement achieves its intended objective, it is not free from certain problems and inconveniences. For example, these selfluminous materials emit increasingly less light with time. Accordingly, if it is left in a dark or dimly lit location for an extended period, the selfluminous material in the tool eventually stops emitting a sufficient amount of light to be visible.

Electrical power tool with improved visibility in darkness


An intelligent token protected system includes a local host computer, an intelligent token in communication with the local host computer and a remote host computer in communication with the local host computer. The intelligent token interacts with the local host computer to perform a secure boot on the local host computer with minimal user input. Without additional user input, the intelligent token also interacts with the remote host computer to authenticate the local host computer to the remote host computer.

Security is a particularly vexing problem in the computer industry. Users often perform sensitive applications and tasks on their computers and they are desirous of maintaining confidentiality with respect to their information and data. In computer systems, it is common to use a firewall to separate various segments of a network.
As defined herein, a firewall is a bastion host which separates administrative domains. An administrative domain may be a single computer or a network of computers. For example, in a conventional computer system, a firewall may be utilized to separate a local area network from a wide area public network, e.g., the Internet. Firewalls may also be used to secure an intranet domain against unauthorized access. For example, in a large corporate environment, the firewall may separate the local corporate net from a dedicated segment used by one of the corporate departments.
Firewalls physically separate administrative domains. All traffic from one domain (the local domain) that is directed to a second domain (the remote domain) must pass through the firewall. Thus, if a user operating from the local domain would like to communicate with the remote domain, the user must communicate through the firewall.
User authentication to the firewall is required in order to communicate with the remote domain. Authentication is a check to ensure that the user is authorized to have access to a given device, e.g., an intelligent token, a computer, etc. Existing systems authenticate users through the use of reusable passwords or challenge-response techniques. In a password based system, after the user has "booted" a local host computer, the user requests a connection to a remote host computer, provides a user identifier and, when prompted, provides a password. Successive authentications use the same user identification and password. Hence, an attacker who misappropriates a user password is able to easily and continuously gain access to the remote host, and, thus, the remote domain.
In a challenge-response system, the remote host requests a user identifier and issues a challenge to the user. The user calculates a response which, if deemed valid by the remote host, grants access to the remote host. Because the challenge changes for successive authentications, the challenge-response method is not vulnerable to password misappropriation as described above. However, responses to the challenges must be computed. They may be computed 1) manually, 2) by the local host using software methods or 3) by a portable hardware device. In each of the three cases, the user is required to manually enter the calculated response. In many systems, the user must also enter the challenge.
It is readily apparent from the above described procedures that in order to communicate with the remote domain, the user is required to remember extensive information regarding the system and provide substantial input to the system. The user must know and input the required information to boot the local host computer. Further, the user must input additional information to access the remote host. Hence, there is need for a system that allows the user secure access to remote domains with minimal information input.

Intelligent token protected system with network authentication