A thermal treatment process for improving the resistance of a flux grown, periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal to photorefractive or photochromic damage comprising the steps of:                i) heating said crystal from ambient temperature up to an annealing temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 400° C.;        ii) maintaining said crystal at said annealing temperature in an oxygen containing atmosphere;        iii) allowing said crystal to slowly cool down from said annealing temperature to ambient temperature.

The production of visible light (λ=400–700 nm) by means of second- harmonic generation in non-linear optical crystals is a known process. A preferred approach is to use a non-linear material which has been periodically poled. In this technique, the inherent wavelength conversion efficiency of the non-linear crystal is enhanced by imposing a periodic reversal in the orientation of the polarization of the crystal along the direction of light propagation. Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTP) is one non-linear crystalline material which is used in a number of applications in non-linear optics, including second- harmonic generation. For example, periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PPKTP) has been used in the frequency doubling of near-infrared laser light to produce visible blue light. See, for example, WIPO Application No. 98/36109 for a detailed description of a method for transforming a crystal of KTP into (PPKTP) in order to permit quasi phase matching, which enhances conversion efficiency. Several workers with KTP have reported that, when used in frequency doubling, or other optical processes where UV, IR and/or visible light is transmitted for extended periods of time through a PPKTP crystal, whether grown by the older hydrothermal technique or by the currently preferred flux method, the crystal is subject to damage in service. Apparently this damage is caused by either or both of the input light (generally IR) and the output light (generally in the visible range or UV range) which results from the frequency doubling.
When used for frequency doubling, a variety of specific problems with the PPKTP crystal have been encountered, including photorefractive damage as manifested by:                i) changes in the size, shape and/or waist position of the frequency doubled beam and also beam astigmatism, and        ii) a decline in the frequency doubled (second harmonic) beam spatial mode quality.        iii) A change in the temperature at which second harmonic generation is optimal. This temperature is known as the phase matching temperature.
I will hereafter refer to these three effects as BSE for Beam Shift Effect.
Another problem is photochromic damage, one visible aspect of which is called "gray tracking", which term is used to describe the appearance of discolored regions in the crystal. Gray tracking may be a visible indicia of increased absorption, which effect can significantly reduce the crystal's conversion efficiency and hence the laser's power output. Although the cause of photochromic damage is almost certainly not limited to the effect of the blue or other visible wavelength output light, we refer to this phenomenon as BIA for Blue Induced Absorption. This effect may also be due at least in part to the infrared pump beam which is being frequency doubled to produce the visible output light. If we consider the case of using a 976 nm IR pump laser to generate frequency doubled 488 nm blue light, the consequence of BIA is that the output power of the 976 nm gain chip has to be continuously increased over the operating life of the laser to compensate for the increased absorption (and hence reduced output) of the blue light by the PPKTP crystal. Compensation can be achieved by increasing the pump current to the gain chip, however, there is an upper limit beyond which the gain chip current cannot be safely raised without risking sudden chip failure.
It is by no means clear whether both BIA and BSE result from the same change or changes occurring in the crystal itself, but both effects are believed to occur as a result of the passage through the crystal of the pump and/or frequency doubled radiation for a prolonged period.
Over the past twenty years, a number of prior artworkers have endeavored to understand and/or solve the performance problems associated with the use of KTP and especially PPKTP for frequency conversion and other optical processes. The approaches have involved varying the crystal formation conditions, and/or treatment of the KTP crystal. To date, none of these approaches have proved wholly successful.
It seems clear that part of the problem prior artworkers have encountered in solving the KTP and PPKTP crystal degradation problem has been disagreement as to the mechanism, or more likely mechanisms, involved in such degradation. See, for example, "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research" B, 141, pp 472–476 (1998); and J. Appl. Physics 87, 12, pp 8682–8687 (2000). At least some of the prior artworkers have postulated that the damage susceptibility of the PPKTP is due to deviation from stoichiometry (i.e., Potassium ion vacancies) in the crystal lattice. Hence, early workers tried annealing the crystal at the very high temperatures at which there would presumably be some mobility on the part of atoms present in the crystal lattice, in an effort to achieve a more uniform stoichiometry throughout the crystal. Other workers have investigated the effect of potassium non-stoichiometry on the crystal Curie temperature after high temperature (970° C.) heating in air, Appl. Phys. Lett. 67 (13) pp 1941–1943 (1995). Heating a KTP crystal in dry oxygen at 800° C., prior to poling to form PPKTP, has been reported to increase absorption at a wavelength of 500 nm., J. Appl. Phys. 73 (7), 2705 (1992), but conversely, heating in a wet Oxygen atmosphere at 800° C. is said to provide an improved crystal. Still other workers have suggested that synthesis of KTP in an Oxygen atmosphere affords a crystal having a stronger second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal, Solid State Comm. 91, 9, pp 757–759 (1994). However, later workers reported an improvement in transmission in the range 400–550 nm by growing the KTP crystals in an oxygen deficient ambient atmosphere, Appl. Phys. Lett. 69,(8) pp 1032–1034 (1996). The following review article describes much of the currently published literature on KTP and PPKTP: M. N. Satyanarayan, A. N. Deepthy and H. L. Bhat "Potassium Titanyl Phosphate and Its Isomorphs: Growth, Properties, and Applications", Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences, 24, 2, (1999), pp 103–189.
The extensive studies of KTP and/or PPKTP, only a few of which have been referred to above, while doubtless of scientific interest, have not provided a viable procedure for providing a KTP crystal and, in particular, a PPKTP crystal, which has a significantly reduced tendency to develop one or more of the previously enumerated problems, e.g., gray tracking, astigmatism, and other beam quality degradation when subjected to optical radiation for an extended period of service.

Periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystal


Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to integrated circuit (IC) package assemblies with magnetic contacts, as well as corresponding fabrication methods and systems incorporating such magnetic contacts. A first IC substrate may have a first magnet coupled with a first electrical routing feature. A second IC substrate may have a second magnet coupled with a second electrical routing feature. The magnets may be embedded in the IC substrates and/or electrical routing features. The magnets may generate a magnetic field that extends across a gap between the first and second electrical routing features. Electrically conductive magnetic particles may be applied to one or both of the IC substrates to form a magnetic interconnect structure that extends across the gap. In some embodiments, magnetic contacts may be demagnetized by heating the magnets to a corresponding partial demagnetization temperature (PDT) or Curie temperature. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Conventional IC package assemblies include components constructed from various materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), including plastics, metals, and silicon. Where two components are connected by solder joints, a CTE mismatch between the two components can result in movement upon heating and cooling, which in turn produces a shear strain on the solder joints. Underfill is used in some IC package assemblies to reduce the CTE mismatch. Nonetheless, repeated thermal fluctuations can lead to fatigue fractures in the solder joints, underfill, and other components.


An oil-submerged sliding member which has a good sealability and wear resistance and low attack to the mating member and which can be used with either a soft or a non-soft mating member. It is made from a resin composition comprising 30-88% by weight of a crosslinked polyallylene sulfide resin having a melt viscosity of 2000-5000 poise at 300.degree. C., 10-45% by weight of a carbon fiber, and 2-25% by weight of recycled polytetrafluoroethylene resin powder, and if required, not more than 10% by weight of molybdenum disulfide. Also, oil seal rings comprising the oil-submerged sliding member.

This invention relates to oil-submerged sliding members used in oil, and particularly to oil seal rings formed from the oil-submerged sliding members.
Automatic transmissions for automobiles such as torque converters and hydraulic clutches have oil seal rings at necessary locations to seal hydraulic oil therein. Such oil seal rings are rotatably mounted between a rotary shaft and a cylinder while kept in sliding contact therewith. It is therefore required that such oil seal rings have a low friction coefficient, high wear resistance, a low tendency to damage a cylinder (mating member) to be brought into sliding contact, good oil sealing properties and other properties. Conventional oil seal rings of this type were made of cast iron. Efforts have been made to develop materials for seal rings which can prevent oil leakage even if used in today's compact, lightweight, high-performance hydraulic devices. Now, an increasingly large number of oil rings are made of tetrafluoroethylene resin, a material which is superior in sealing and sliding properties to cast iron.
Cast-iron oil seal rings are high in wear resistance and less likely to abrade a ferrous mating member, but poor in sealing properties. On the other hand, tetrafluoroethylene rings, superior in sealing properties, tend to wear out quickly as the PV value increases.
In Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications 55-7848, 2-175793 and 7-179846, various oil seal rings that have good sealability are disclosed.
The oil seal rings disclosed in these publications are all intended for use with mating members made of soft materials such as aluminum alloy. If such seal rings are used with a non-soft ferrous mating member, the mating member may abrade the seal rings, causing oil leakage, though the mating members are abraded little.
An object of this invention is to provide an oil seal ring which is made from a material which is injection-moldable and thus advantageous for mass-production, and which can be used with either a soft or a non-soft mating member.


Machine-learned ranking algorithms, e.g. for ranking search results, often use a sequence of decision trees involving decision nodes based on threshold values of features. Modules, systems and methods of optimizing such algorithms involve analyzing threshold feature values to determine threshold intervals for each feature and grouping decision trees according to the feature used in a root decision node. Then coalescing the decision trees within each group to form a coalesced group tree for each group and finally coalescing the coalesced group trees to form a coalesced tree that implements the algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to document ranking and to optimization of document-ranking algorithms for the web.
2. Art Background
Web search and content-based advertising are two of the important applications of the Internet. One important component of web search, and of some content-based advertising systems, is document ranking. Relevant documents, e.g. web documents or advertisements, are ranked with respect to a given query or content, based on a multitude of metrics such as degree of query match and freshness of the document. Several advanced ranking techniques are in development to improve search result and advertising match accuracy. However, in many cases, such advanced techniques are computationally intensive and thus cannot be deployed in production, which in turn limits the scope of improvements to search ranking and content-based advertising.

Decision tree coalescing for document ranking


Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop subsystem is capable of adjusting at least two dynamic conditions in the specimen holder or a diameter of a specimen in the specimen holder. Embodiments of methods can promote endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft by placing the hybrid hemodialysis access graft or the hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a system embodiment according to the invention under conditions effective to promote endothelial cells to form a confluent monolayer on the surface of the hybrid graft.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a mammal.
2. Background of the Related Art
Hemodynamics plays an obligate role on the function and phenotype of vascular cells (i.e. endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblast s, etc.) and tissues in the cardiovascular system during disease and healthy states. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in North America, Europe and the developing world, with coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis being amongst the most prominent cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis is a disorder in which the coronary arteries become clogged by the build up of plaque along the interior walls of the arteries, leading to decreased blood flow which can in turn cause hypertension, ischemias, strokes and, potentially, death. Associated systemic risk factors include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, among other factors.
Atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), occur regularly and predictably at sites of complex hemodynamic behavior and, consequently, motivates further investigation into the role of hemodynamics in cardiovascular diseases. For example, atherosclerosis has been shown to occur in sites of complex hemodynamic behavior. Surgical intervention is often employed to treat it, and may include insertion of a balloon catheter to clean out the plaquie, and insertion of a stent within the vessel to enable it to remain open, or may include multiple bypasses of the clogged vessels. Bypass surgery involves the removal of a section of vein from the patient's lower leg, and its transplant into the appropriate cardiac blood vessels so that blood flows through the transplanted vein and thus bypasses the clogged vessels. A major problem associated with bypass surgery is the patency of the vessels to be used in the bypass. The bypass vessels are prone to failure, which may occur within a short period of time after bypass surgery, or after a period of several years. Hemodynamic forces have been implicated as a major factor contributing to the failure of the bypass vessels.
Hemodynamic forces, which are forces generated by irregular flow, and in particular, by the (sometimes irregular) flow of blood, are known to have numerous influences on blood vessels, including, but not limited to effects on blood vessel cell structure, pathology, function, and development. In the specific example of blood vessel structure and pathology, the vascular cells lining all blood vessels, endothelial cells (ECs), are important sensors and transducers of two of the major hemodynamic forces to which they are exposed. These forces include wall shear stress ("WSS"), which is the fluid frictional force per unit of surface area, and hoop stress, which is driven by the circumferential strain ("CS") of pressure changes. Wall shear stress acts along the blood vessel's longitudinal axis, while circumferential strain is associated with the deformation of the elastic artery wall (i.e., changes in the diameter of the vessel) in response to oscillation or variation in vascular pressure. Wave reflections in the circulation and the inertial effects of blood flow cause a phase difference, the stress phase angle ("SPA"), between CS and WSS. The SPA varies significantly throughout the circulation, and is most negative in disease prone locations, such as the outer walls of a blood vessel bifurcation such as the carotid sinus and the coronary arteries. Hemodynamic forces have been shown to dramatically alter endothelial cell function and phenotype (i.e., higher shear stress [low SPA] is associated with an atheroprotective gene expression profile, and a low shear stress [large SPA] is associated with an atherogenic gene expression profile).
ECs can influence vasoactivity and cause vessels to contract or dilate depending on the blood flow (shear stress) and pressure (causing stretch or CS), and thus are one component which is critical to blood pressure regulation among the many important factors which influence and/or are dependent on the hemodynamics. ECs are just one type of cell which is directly influenced by hemodynamics. Numerous other cell types may also directly or indirectly influenced by hemodynamics and mechanical forces.
As discussed above, hemodynamic forces have been shown to dramatically alter endothelial function and phenotype. For example, the coronary arteries are the most disease prone arteries in the circulation and have the most extreme SPA in the circulatory system, typically having a large, negative value, yet do not have a particularly low shear stress magnitude, thus suggesting that complex hemodynamic factors that include the SPA are important in cardiovascular function and pathology. Accordingly, there is a great need to study vascular biology in a complete, integrated, and controlled hemodynamic environment, preferably in 3-dimensions. However, to date, detailed knowledge of the simultaneous, combined influence of the time varying patterns of WSS and CS on EC biological response has not been technologically feasible.
More specifically, existing systems have focused on the individual effects of either WSS or strain on ECs separately. The most common WSS systems use a 2-dimensional stiff surface, such as, for example, a glass slide, for the EC culture on the wall of a parallel plate flow chamber, or a cone-and-plate type chamber, to simulate wall shear stress alone, which is only one hemodynamic condition. In such a system, the WSS must usually remain steady due to difficulties in simulating pulsatile flow, and strain or stretch effects must be omitted. Further, cyclic straining devices can only generate strain by stretching cells on a compliant membrane, without flow, and typically only in 2-dimensions. Both types of systems are obviously limited in the fidelity with which they can simulate a true, complete hemodynamic environment.
To address the need for simultaneous pulsatile strain and shear stress, a silicone tube coated with ECs was introduced. However, simulators using these tubes could only achieve phase angles (SPA) of about −90 degrees, if any, which is inadequate for simulating coronary arteries (SPA>−180 or −250 degrees), the most disease prone vessels in the circulation, or other regions of the circulation such as peripheral circulation, carotid, renal, organ hemodynamics, or head and brain hemodynamics, to name a few. A more complete physiologic environment which provides time-varying uniform cyclic CS and pulsatile WSS in a 3-dimensional configuration over a complete range of SPA is still needed.
Substantially all past research and development has focused only on obvious, one-dimensional blood flow or shear stress hemodynamic force characteristics, even though, based on physics, mathematics, and experimentation, there are clearly a multitude of dimensions associated with the with many simultaneous hemodynamic forces present in vivo, such as pressure and strain. Physiologic environments are highly dynamic and nonlinear, the cardiovascular system is certainly no exception. There is a need to preserve 3-dimensional vascular geometry while simultaneously and independently controlling hemodynamic forces such as, for example, pressure, flow, and stretch, as well as many other parameters and forces) in a cell and tissue culture environment in order to more fully and more accurately recapitulate in vivo hemodynamic environments.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a mammal


The voltage detection circuit 3 is provided with an isolation transformer 4 having its primary side connected to battery 2 connection nodes 10, a switching device 5 connected to the primary side of the isolation transformer 4, an isolated input circuit 7 that switches the switching device 5 ON and OFF, and a secondary voltage detection section 8 that detects output voltage from the secondary side of the isolation transformer 4. In the voltage detection circuit 3, the series input circuit 6 of the isolation transformer 4 primary side and the switching device 5 are connected to battery 2 measurement nodes, the switching device 5 is switched ON and OFF with a given periodicity by the isolated input circuit 7, and the output voltage from the secondary side of the isolation transformer 4 is detected by the secondary voltage detection section 8 to determine the voltage across the measurement nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a car power source apparatus that is provided with a circuit to detect battery voltage of a plurality of series-connected batteries in a battery array.
2. Description of the Related Art
For an on-board power source apparatus that drives a car, it is necessary to raise output voltage to increase output power. This is because output power is proportional to the product of battery voltage and current. For example, output voltage for a power source apparatus that drives a hybrid car or electric automobile is extremely high at 200V or more. A high voltage power source apparatus has many rechargeable batteries connected in series to form a battery array.
In a battery array with many batteries connected in series, it is important to charge and discharge those batteries while preventing over-charge and over-discharge of each battery. This is because over-charge and over-discharge degrade battery electrical performance as well as shorten battery lifetime. A power source apparatus that detects battery voltage and controls battery charging and discharging to prevent over-charge and over-discharge has been developed (refer to Japanese Patent Application Disclosure 2002-199510).


A fuel tank is allowed to hold any of types of liquid fuels and currently hold one type of liquid fuel. A light emitting element outputs a light beam of a predetermined emission spectrum to the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. The liquid fuel changes the light beam to a reflected light beam of a reflection spectrum according to spectral characteristics of the liquid fuel. The reflection spectrum is peculiar to the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. A light receiving element detects the reflection spectrum, and a control circuit receives the detected reflection spectrum from the light receiving element. The control circuit collates the detected reflection spectrum with a referential reflection spectrum corresponding to each fuel type and identified the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank according to a collation result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel type identifying apparatus which identifies a type of a liquid fuel held in a fuel tank.
2. Description of Related Art
The structure of a conventional internal combustion engine and a combustion method in the engine depend on a type of a liquid fuel used in the engine. For example, in case of a gasoline engine, gasoline is used as a fuel, and the gasoline is mixed with air at the optimum ratio to obtain an air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture is fed into a cylinder of the engine and is compressed in the cylinder. The compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited by using a spark plug, thereby being exploded. Further, in case of a diesel engine, light oil is used as a fuel, only air is initially fed and compressed into/in a cylinder of the engine, and then light oil is injected into the cylinder to explode a mixture of the air and light oil due to a self ignition. As another combustion method for the gasoline engine, similarly to the self ignition in the diesel engine, a technique of the self ignition applied to the gasoline engine has been researched to reduce a fuel consumption of the gasoline engine.
Further, a diesel engine using kerosene or vegetable oil as a fuel has been proposed. For example, Published Japanese Patent First Publication No. H09-158731 discloses this diesel engine. Particularly, because vegetable oil can be mass-produced due to biotechnology, a diesel engine using the vegetable oil is called a bio-diesel engine. In this bio-diesel engine, an exhaust gas can be reduced. Further, in consideration of exhaustion of the petroleum in the future, the spread of the bio-diesel engine has been expected.
Moreover, a multi-fuel engine operable by using any of a plurality of types of fuels has been proposed. In this engine, structural parts common to those of the conventional engine usable for only one type of fuel are used, so that the multi-fuel engine can be produced at low cost. Further, a user of this engine can freely select the fuel type, so that the user can reduce a cost of the fuel used for the engine.
However, in case of the engine operable by using any of the types of liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, vegetable oil and the like, operational conditions (for example, quantity of injected fuel, compression ratio in air-fuel mixture or air, valve timing and the like) optimum to the engine depend on the type of the fuel actually used for the engine. Therefore, it is required to change the operational conditions optimum to the engine for each fuel type so as to obtain fuel combustion conditions optimum to the type of the fuel actually used in the engine. Therefore, a fuel type identifying apparatus has been required to identify a type of a liquid fuel supplied to an engine.


The invention concerns a transmitter-receiver device (A, B) which comprises a receiver unit (RXA) for receiving optical signals and transmitter unit (TXA) for transmitting optical signals. Furthermore, the transmitter-receiver device (A, B) comprises a supervising unit (CUA) which supervises the functions of the receiver unit (RXA) and the transmitter unit (TXA). Furthermore, the transmitter-receiver device (A, B) comprises a transmitter circuit which transmits optical communication signals in response to a balanced electric input signal. The invention also concerns a communication system comprising two transmitter-receiver devices (A, B). Through the structure of the invention is by relatively simple means a well functioning device achieved, which, inter alia, makes it possible to supervise the status of the two transmitter-receiver devices (A, B) in an advantageous manner.

The present invention concerns a transmitter-receiver device which may be used to transfer information optically. Such a transmitter-receiver device may form part of a communication system for bi-directional transfer of optical signals. The invention also concerns such a communication system.
FIG. 1 shows schematically an example of a bi-directional communication system according to the prior art for transferring optical signals. The system comprises a first transmitter-receiver device A with a receiver unit RXA and a transmitter unit TXA. The transmitter-receiver device A communicates with a similar transmitter receiver device B. Also the transmitter-receiver device B thus comprises a transmitter unit TXB and a receiver unit RXB. The transmitter unit TXB transmits optical signals over a first optical fibre F1 to the receiver unit RXA. In a similar manner, the transmitter unit TXA transmits optical signals over a second optical fibre F2 to the receiver unit RXB. In such a system, the light that is transmitted from the respective transmitter unit TXA, TXB often has an essentially constant average power, i.e. light is normally transmitted all the time. The information transfer is carried out through a suitable modulation of this light signal.
The receiver units RXA, RXB may have an output, UA, UB, respectively, which for example may assume two logical values depending on if the optical power received in the receiver unit RXA, RXB exceeds a certain value. This output UA, UB may for example be connected to an indicator IA, IB, for example in the form of a light emitting diode. Such an indicator IA, IB may for example emit light if the respective receiver unit RXA, RXB receives light. In such a manner, the respective indicator IA, IB may indicate that the connection over the fibre F1, F2 works. The signal from the output UA or UB may also be connected to a network management system NMS. Such a network management system NMS supervises the communication system and makes it possible to, from a completely different position than where the transmitter-receiver devices A and B are located, supervise whether the bi-directional communication system works. The lines 131, 133, 135, and 137 are intended to transfer information carrying signals, for example as electric signals, to and from the transmitter and receiver units RXA, TXA, TXB, and RXB.
In the system according to FIG. 1, for example the transmitter-receiver device B may be arranged in a home and the second transmitter-receiver device A may constitute a centrally located device which transmits signals to the home and receives signals from the home. In order to supervise the system it is desirable to connect the device B to the network management system NMS. If, for example, the device B is positioned in a home or in an office, this device often has no other connection out from the home or the office than via the optical fibres F1 and F2. It is actually conceivable to connect the device B to a network management system via the fibre F1. However, it is relatively expensive and complicated to, in addition to the normal information signals, also transmit signals concerning the network management on the same fibre F1. Furthermore, this network management does not work in case of a breakage of the fibre F1. Since the network management system NMS is intended to supervise the function of the network, it is desirable that this supervision works also in case an error occurs in the communication between the devices A and B. It is, of course, conceivable that the network management system NMS may supervise the device B via another line than via F1 or F2, for example in the home there may be a telephone modem, over which this supervision takes place. This constitutes, however, a complicated solution for transferring signals to the network management system NMS. It is, of course, also possible that a person goes to the device B in order to personally check if, for example, the indicator IB is lit. This may possibly be acceptable within, for example, an office where the distance to B may be short. However, it becomes much more complicated to send a person to the device B if this device is located at a long distance from the position where the person normally is.
As a background to the present invention, also so-called eye-safe fibre communication systems should be mentioned. A problem with fibre communication systems is that the light intensity which is transmitted over the fibres may be relatively high. If, for example, a fibre is broken and if somebody looks into the fibre, damages of the eye might occur. If a fibre is broken or damaged, it is therefore desirable to cut off the light signal which is transmitted over this fibre. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,410 describes such a system.
With reference to FIG. 1 it will now briefly be described how an eye-safe system may work. Suppose that a breakage takes place of the fibre F1. The output UA thereby indicates that no light is received in the receiver unit RXA. A supervising unit (not shown in FIG. 1) may then cut off the transmission of light from the transmitter unit TXA. At the receiver unit RXB it is thereby detected that no light is received. Another supervising unit in connection to the device B thereby immediately cuts off the transmission of light from the transmitter unit TXB. Thereby, no harmful light exists on the broken fibre F1. In order to check if the connection via the fibre F1 works again, the respective transmitter unit TXA, TXB often transmits short light pulses at regular intervals. These light pulses are so short that they are not harmful to the eye. When one receiver unit RXB receives such a light pulse, a similar light pulse is immediately transmitted by the transmitter unit TXB. As long as the breakage of the fibre F1 is the case, the receiver unit RXA does not detect any such light pulse. If, however, the fibre F1 works again, the receiver unit RXA will detect such a response pulse from TXB immediately after TXA having transmitted a pulse to RXB. The connection thus works again and the respective transmitter unit TXA, TXB may now continuously transmit light. The time between the light pulses in such a safety system is usually quite long, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,410 mentions that the time between these pulses is about 49 seconds.
The line 133 (and 135) shown in FIG. 1 may constitute a pair of conductors on which a balanced electric signal is present.
The transmitter unit TXA (and TXB) therefore normally has a transmitter circuit comprising a light source and arranged to operate said light source to transmit optical communication signals in response to electric input signals from a first and second circuit point between which circuit points a balanced electric input signal is intended to be present.
Different transmitter circuits of the above mentioned kind are known. A pair of electric conductors has a certain characteristic impedance for example 100 ohm. In order to avoid undesired reflections, such a pair of electric conductors should in its end point be connected to a load which corresponds to the characteristic impedance.
It should be noted that by a balanced signal is meant that the signal that is present on the pair of conductors is such that the voltages on corresponding points on the two conductors are of the same magnitude but have opposite polarity to a reference potential. This reference potential is usually earth potential. With an unbalanced signal (or "single-ended") is meant that the signal, i.e. the voltage variation, is only present on one conductor, while the other conductor, or reference potential, is at a constant potential, usually on earth potential.
On a pair of conductors with a balanced signal, due to noise or other phenomena, a signal which is superposed on the two conductors may occur, a so-called common mode signal, which signal may vary with time. This signal is often undesired and should therefore be suppressed. This is often done with the help of, for example, transformers, baluns (a balun is a device which converts a balanced signal to an unbalanced signal) and differential amplifiers.
Also when a balanced electric signal is to be converted to an optical signal, such an undesired superposed signal need to be suppressed in order for the light source, which transmits the optical signal, to be correctly operated. According to the prior art, this has usually been done by first converting the balanced electric signal to an unbalanced electric signal.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the prior art. The electric balanced input signal is here present on a twisted pair 30. The balanced signal is converted to an unbalanced signal with the help of a balun 41 and a transformer 42. The circuit also comprises a termination resistance 43 which is adapted to the characteristic impedance of the twisted pair 30. Thereafter follows one or more circuits 44, which i.a. produce a suitable bias current and a modulation current, wherein the total current drives the light source 20.
Also EP-A-0 542 480 shows an example of a transmitter circuit. The transmitter circuit comprises two differentiators and an amplifier for driving a light emitting diode.
The prior known solutions are relative complicated and expensive, since they often comprise relatively complicated and expensive components, such as active components or transformers. Furthermore, known transmitter circuits often have a relatively high current consumption.
It should be noted that by active components is meant components which produce a gain or a switching, for example transistors, integrated circuits, and diodes.

Transmitter-receiver device and a communication system


A driver which includes an output node and an output transistor connected between the output node and a first voltage reference node. A CMOS inverter is connected to a gate of the output transistor and includes a first p-channel transistor and a first n-channel transistor that have their gates connected together. A capacitance transistor is connected to the output node and the CMOS inverter and is configured to create a capacitance therebetween. A shifting transistor has its drain-source conducting path connected in series with a drain of the first p-channel transistor and a drain of the first n-channel transistor and is configured to maintain the capacitance transistor in accumulation mode. A method of driving a line includes the steps of creating a capacitance between the output node and the CMOS inverter with a capacitance transistor having its source and drain connected together, and maintaining the capacitance transistor in accumulation mode with a shifting transistor having its drain-source conducting path connected in series with a drain of the first p-channel transistor and a drain of the first n-channel transistor of the CMOS inverter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bus line drivers, and more particularly, to a driver which meets the specifications for the Universal Serial Bus and that does not utilize linear poly-capacitors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a new industry standard for a cable bus that supports data exchange between a host computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible peripherals. It provides for connection of a personal computer to a telephone line and can be used for port expansion.
The USB standard specifies a differential output driver to drive the data signal onto the USB cable at a data rate of 12 MBS for full speed and 1.5 MBS for low speed. Some of the electrical specifications for the USB standard are sown in Table I. The USB specifications provide challenges to the circuit implementation, especially in CMOS area.
TABLE I ______________________________________ Full Speed (FS) Low Speed (LS) at C.sub.L at C.sub.L = 50 to 350 pf Transition MIN MAX MIN MAX ______________________________________ Rise Time (TR) 4 n 20 n 75 n 300 n Fall Time (TF) 4 n 20 n 75 n 300 n TR/TF Matching 90% 110% 80% 120% Diff. Signal 1.3 V 2.0 V 1.3 V 2.0 V Crossing PT ______________________________________
The output voltage swings between the two single-ended outputs of a USB driver should be complementary. Furthermore, the output swings between differential high and low should be well balanced, i.e., .+-.10% matching on a signal transition of 12 ns for full speed and 120 ns for low speed, and have a controlled slew rate in order to minimize signal skew, the radiated noise, cross talk and common mode reflection.
In the low speed switching mode, matching the rise time TR and the fall time TF, i.e., designing the driver so that they are within 20% of each other, is challenging in view of the variations in the load capacitance of the cable. Specifically, a long cable creates a high load capacitance and a short cable creates a low load capacitance, causing the load capacitance in the low speed switching mode to change from 50 pF to 350 pF. The difficulty in matching the rise time TR and the fall time TF is in part due to the high load capacitance of the long cable causing a slow rise time TR, and the low load capacitance of the short cable causing a fast rise time TR.
Thus, there is a need for a USB driver which can closely match the rise time TR and the fall time TF over variations in load capacitance.

Universal serial bus driver having MOS transistor gate capacitor


A work supporting device includes an elongated body, an extension plate and a locking unit. The elongated body has elongated first and second sections and an intermediate curved section. A gap is formed between the first and second sections. The curved section is indented from the work supporting faces at the gap. The first section has a first end distal from the second section and a second end proximate to the second section. The extension plate is connected pivotally to the first section of the elongated body. The extension plate is pivotable about an axis transverse to the first section between a first position where the extension plate extends into the gap in order to shield at least a part of the gap, and a second position where the extension plate extends beyond the first end of the first section of the elongated body in order to prolong the length of the first section from the first end of the first section. The locking unit is provided for releaseably locking the extension plate in one of the first and second positions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a work supporting device, more particularly to a work supporting device that is mountable on a worktable of a circular sawing apparatus for use with a movable support to hold and support a workpiece therebetween.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional circular sawing apparatus is shown to comprise a worktable 10, a saw-holding arm 11, a circular saw 12 mounted on the saw-holding arm 11, a work supporting device 13 and a movable support or turntable 14 which cooperates with the work supporting device 13 in order to hold and support a workpiece (not shown) therebetween. The work supporting device 13 has elongated first and second sections 131, 132 and an intermediate curved section 133. The first and second sections 131, 132 have work engaging faces 1311, 1321 aligned with one another in a lengthwise direction thereof. A gap 134 is formed between the first and second sections 131, 132. The curved section 133 is indented from the clamping faces 1311, 1321 at the gap 134. The first section 131 has a downward inclined end 1312 near the gap 134 to prevent the circular saw 12 from interfering with the first section 131 when the circular saw 12 is operated at an angle with respect to the worktable 10.
When the circular sawing apparatus is utilized to cut a workpiece of a length that is smaller than the width of the gap 134, it is difficult to hold the workpiece between the movable support 14 and the work supporting device 13. In addition, since the contact length of the work supporting device 13 is fixed, when a workpiece that is longer than the work supporting device 13 is held between the movable support 14 and the work supporting device 13, the workpiece cannot be held securely on the worktable 10 due to insufficient contact surface area of the workpiece with the work supporting device 13.

Work supporting device mountable on a worktable of a circular sawing apparatus


A technique for enabling a configuration of an entire radio communication system to be grasped in a manner of bird's-eye is disclosed. In the radio communication system provided with one radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus 101 and a plurality of radio communication terminals 102a to 102e accommodated in this radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus by using the technique, each radio communication terminal transmits identification information of a self-terminal, and monitors a radio transmission medium, and then acquires identification information of a different radio communication terminal transmitted from a different radio communication terminal. Then, each radio communication terminal reports the acquired identification information of the different radio communication terminal to the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus, and the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus generates information indicating a relation of a detection of an existence between the plurality of radio communication terminals, in accordance with the report of those identification information, and grasp the configuration of the entire radio communication system in the manner of the bird's-eye.

Conventionally, there is a radio communication network which uses a radio communication and carries out an exchange of data between a plurality of radio communication terminals. A radio communication method in this radio communication network is roughly classified into: a communication method of a centralized control type where there is a radio communication terminal for managing a communication between different radio communication terminals (hereafter, the radio communication terminal for managing this communication is referred to as a radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus) and a communication permission is given to each radio communication terminal by this radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus; and a communication method of a decentralized control where there is not the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus, and each radio communication terminal carries out a check (carrier sense) of a communication state in a transmission medium and accesses a radio transmission medium (hereafter, referred to as a transmission medium).
In the communication method of the centralized control type, the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus serves as a master, and each of the plurality of radio communication terminals accommodated in this radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus serves as a slave. Then, the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus carries out the communication through the radio transmission medium with each of the plurality of radio communication terminals and controls the communication in each of the plurality of radio communication terminals.
On the other hand, for example, the following non-patent document 1 notes a route control system for retrieving a relay route whose transmission efficiency is better, in a network that uses a radio transmission path where a variation in a transmission property is large. In this route control system, since each node broadcasts a time when an error bit number of a reception packet from an adjacent node, a reception line band width of a self-node, and a line quality are measured, the nodes adjacent to each other can grasp the respective line states, and moreover, since each node broadcasts the line state received from the adjacent node in its original state, the line state of each node is spread to the node that is further adjacent to the adjacent node, and all of the nodes in the network can finally grasp the line states of the respective nodes in the network. The technical idea noted in this non-patent document 1 is such that OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) that is the conventional route control method is applied to the radio communication, and each node uses the line state of a different node in the network as route information.
Non-Patent Document 1: "Radio Line Asymmetrical Adaptation Route Control System APFS", IC98, Japan Society for Software Science and Technology, pp 107-116,
However, unless the radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus accurately grasps the information indicating the relation of the communication between the accommodated respective radio communication terminals (the information such as [a radio communication terminal which can be detected by a certain radio communication terminal], [a radio communication terminal to which information transmitted from a certain radio communication terminal is delivered] or the like), this disables the accommodated radio communication terminal to carry out the communication of an excellent efficiency and further disables a direct communication (side stream) between parallel radio communication terminals. Also, this may lead to a fear where the communication between the radio communication terminals induces interference.
Also, according to the technique noted in the non-patent document 1, since the line state of each node is gradually spread to the node further adjacent to the adjacent node, it takes a long time until all of the nodes in the network grasp the line states of the respective nodes, and the traffic in the network is increased. Also, moreover, in the case of the radio communication, since the various states such as the line states and the like are changed from moment to moment, the state related to the foregoing communication is required to be instantly reflected in the communication. However, the technique noted in the non-patent document 1 cannot cope with the foregoing instant change. Thus, the information spread with a time is not said to be the information, which is accurate and meaningful, depending on the environment where the radio communication state is changed.

Radio communication method, radio communication terminal accommodating apparatus, and radio communication terminal


A power supply connectable to a power source and to a gas-discharge tube. The power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and first and second switches. The switches receive first and second drive signals, respectively, and switch power to the primary winding. The power supply further includes a controller interconnected to the first and second power switches. The controller is operable to generate the first and second drive signals for a time period. For a first time interval of the time period, the controller transitions the first and second drive signals from a first frequency to a second frequency. For a second time interval of the time period, the controller generates the first and second drive signals at the second frequency. For a third interval of the time period, ceases generation of the varying signal.

The invention relates to a power supply for brightness control of a gas-discharge tube, and particularly to a power supply that provides a combination of frequency transitioning and pulse-group modulation for controlling the brightness of a gas-discharge tube.
It is desirable to control the brightness of a neon sign or other gas-discharge tube application. Controlling the brightness of a gas-discharge tube requires some sort of variable power source to drive the tube. The power source is typically one of two types: a xe2x80x9ctransformerxe2x80x9d type power source, or a xe2x80x9cpower supplyxe2x80x9d type power source. The xe2x80x9ctransformerxe2x80x9d type power source steps up the utility voltage, and drives the gas-discharge tube at utility frequency (e.g., 50 or 60 Hz). The xe2x80x9cpower supplyxe2x80x9d type power source rectifies the line voltage to form DC rail voltages, inverts the rail voltages at relatively high frequencies (typically 20-100 kHz), and drives a small step-up transformer that drives the tube. The present invention deals with a gas-discharge tube having a xe2x80x9cpower supplyxe2x80x9d type power source.
Numerous methods have been used in an attempt to dim a gas-discharge tube powered from a power supply. Some methods attempt to reduce the energy delivered to the tube on a continuous basis by reducing the DC rail voltages applied to the inverter. This and similar methods suffer from a common disadvantage; when dimmed, the center of large signs including the gas-discharge tube becomes dimmer than the sections electrically close to the incoming power.
One dimming method that gives the greatest range of dimming, with no significant difference in intensity along the length of the tube, is pulse group modulation (xe2x80x9cPGMxe2x80x9d). For PGM and as shown in FIG. 1, the inverter is operated at full input voltage and optimum frequency (e.g., 20 kHz) for a first interval 15 of a time period 5 (i.e., a first group of pulses 10 is generated for a first interval 15). The inverter is then xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d for a second interval 25 of the time period 5 (i.e., no group of pulses 20 is generated in the second interval 25). The result is groups of drive pulses being delivered to the transformer and to the tube load. The ON and OFF pulsing is continuously performed at a sufficiently high repetition rate to prevent the perception of flickering (about 100-200 Hz). The overall repetition rate is kept constant, while the lengths of the first and second intervals 15 and 25 are varied to implement dimming. The tube is at full intensity when the ON interval 15 occupies the entire time period 5, and the tube is off when the OFF interval 25 occupies the entire time period 5. In between lies a smooth range of dimming from off to fully bright.
Pulse group modulation suffers from one major drawback. The step-up transformer oscillates at the pulse group repetition rate, producing a loud buzz. A subtler drawback of PGM dimming is that, at lower brightness levels, the tube may extinguish and re-ignite with each pulse group 15. This continuous re-ionization generates radiation electromagnetic interference (EMI).
One prior art method used to combat the above problems is frequency-shift-key (FSK) dimming (see FIG. 2). FSK dimming entails producing a first group of pulses 35 for a first interval 40 of a time period 45 (referred to as the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d portion or mode), ramping to a higher pulse frequency during a second interval 55, producing a second group of pulses 60 for a third interval 65 (referred to as the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d portion or mode), and ramping down to the frequency of the first group of pulses 35 in a fourth interval 75. The transformer and tube are continuously driven, but with a much lower energy transfer efficiency during the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d portion 60. By varying the amount of time spent in the normal high efficiency xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d mode 45 and the low efficiency xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d mode 55, the sign can be progressively dimmed. Also, since the transformer is continuously driven, the audible noise generated by the pulse group repetition is dramatically reduced.
FSK dimming suffers from one major drawback. The continuously changing drive frequencies generate a wide spectrum of noise, making EMI filtering difficult. However, since FSK dimming continuously drives the tube, it is always ignited, and reignition EMI is not a concern.
The invention provides a power supply connectable to a power source and to a gas-discharge tube. The supply includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The tube is connectable across the secondary winding. The power supply further includes first and second switches that receive first and second drive signals, respectively, and switch power to the primary winding. The power supply further includes a resonant circuit interconnected to the first and second switches, and a controller interconnected to the first and second power switches. The controller is operable to generate the first and second drive signals for a time period. For a first time interval of the time period, the controller generates the first and second drive signals at a first frequency, and transitions the first and second drive signals from the first frequency to a second frequency. For a second time interval of the time period, the controller generates the first and second drive signals at the second frequency. For a third interval of the time period, the controller ceases generation of the first and second drive signals.
The invention also provides a method of controlling the brightness of a gas-discharge tube. The method includes providing a power supply having a resonant circuit, establishing a time period, and generating a varying signal having a varying frequency. The generating of a varying signal includes: for a first time interval of the time period, transitioning the varying frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency; for a second interval of the time period after the first interval, generating the varying signal at the second frequency; and, for a third interval of the time period, ceasing generation of the varying signal. The method further includes providing the varying signal to the resonant circuit.
As was stated earlier, for PGM, the gas-discharge tube may de-ionize between ON intervals when the power source ceases generation of drive signals for extended OFF intervals. De-ionizing the tube results in the tube re-ionizing at the beginning of each pulse group. Since the strike voltage of the tube is typically much higher than the run voltage of the tube, continuous tube re-ionization produces a steady stream of high voltage re-strikes in the tube. High voltage breakdown is more likely for the tube because of the frequent presence of high voltage on the output of the power supply. Consequently, greater high voltage insulation is required, which increases the cost of the power source.
The present invention attempts to overcome the high voltage restrike. The resonant circuit of the power supply operates best at approximately a resonant frequency (e.g., 20 kHz). When a varying signal greater than the resonant frequency is provided to the resonant circuit, the ability of the resonant circuit to transfer energy is compromised. As a result, the voltage at the secondary winding of the power supply""s transformer is limited. In one embodiment of the invention, the power supply of the invention starts each pulse group at a higher than normal drive frequency, and slowly transitions the frequency down toward the normal operating frequency. As the frequency drops, the voltage at the secondary of the transformer increases. When a sufficient voltage is reached, the gas ionizes in the tube. Since the tube voltage is increased slowly, the tube is coaxed into conduction at the lowest possible voltage, minimizing the voltage present at the output leads. The voltage applied to the load is limited at the beginning of each pulse group and, thus, is limited at each re-ionization of the tube. This reduces or eliminates the need to change the physical construction of the transformer to accommodate higher voltages. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.

Power supply for brightness control of a gas-discharge tube


Compression and decompression of data such as a sequential list of executable instructions (e.g., program binaries) by uniformly applying a predictive model generated from one segment of the executable list as a common predictive starting point for the other segments of the executable list. This permits random access and decompression of any segment of the executable list once a first segment (or another reference segment) of the executable list has been decompressed. This means that when executing an executable list (e.g., an executable file), a particular segment(s) of the executable list may not need to be accessed and decompressed at all if there are no instructions in that particular segment(s) that are executed.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compression technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods, systems and computer program products for performing compression and decompression of a sequential list of computer-executable instructions (also called herein an "executable list") by uniformly applying a predictive model generated from one segment of the executable list as a common predictive starting point for the other segments of the executable list to thereby permit random access and decompression of the executable list even though the executable list was compressed using predictive compression techniques.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Computing systems have revolutionized the way people work and play. Original computing systems were rather monolithic, stand-alone mainframe computing systems often occupying entire rooms despite their relatively low processing and memory capabilities by modern standards. Currently, however, a wide variety of computing systems are available that are often even more powerful than their much larger mainframe ancestors. For example, a computing system may include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, or any other system or device in which machine-readable instructions (also called "program binaries" or simply "binaries") may be executed by one or more processors. Computers may even be networked together to allow information to be exchanged electronically even over large distances as when using the Internet.
Despite monumental advances in computing technology, computing systems still have limited memory resources and network bandwidth that will vary depending on the computing system. In order to preserve memory resources and network bandwidth, compression technology is often employed to reduce the size of a data segment (such as a file, program, software module, software library or any other identifiable segment) with minimal, if any, loss in information. While there are many varying compression technologies, all compression technologies reduce the size of a data segment by taking advantage of redundancies in the segment. By reducing the size of the data segment, the memory needed to store the data segment and the bandwidth needed to transmit the data segment are both reduced. The power requirements for processing compressed segments are also often reduced which is especially relevant to low power environments such as mobile devices.
Text is often compressed as the semantic and syntactic rules that structure the text also introduce a high degree of redundancy in the text. Patterns can be detected in such text that allow one to make reasonable guesses as to the text that follows based on the text that was just read. Skilled human readers with sufficient reading comprehension skills can, for example, often reasonably predict how a sentence will be completed before even reading the entire sentence. Such prediction would not be possible if the text was simply a random sequence of arbitrary text characters, following no syntactic or semantic rules.
Due to the predictability of text, text is said to have a high degree of local sequential correlation. That is, a human can make reasonable predictions as to what text will follow, based on the immediately preceding text. Even computers can make such reasonable predictions by creating a statistical model that may be used to predict the text character that will follow based on the immediately preceding text characters. Such statistical models are often called predictive models. One compression technology that takes advantage of the high degree of local sequential correlation in text is called Prediction by Partial Matching compression or "PPM" compression for short.
While both compressing and decompressing, PPM builds a predictive model of the input data-stream that aims at estimating the probability that a certain symbol occurs after a certain context. When compressing (and decompressing) a particular text file, the model is gradually built as the compression (and decompression) proceeds from beginning to end through the text file. The state of the predictive model as it exists when evaluating a particular point in the text file is naturally heavily dependent on the text that was encountered prior to that point.
PPM and other predictive compression techniques were previously primarily used to compress text information. However, PPM and other predictive compression techniques have also been used to compress program binaries. As used herein, "program binaries" mean a sequence of machine-level executable instructions. Like they did for text, the predictive compression and decompression techniques build a predictive model of the program binaries as it compresses or decompresses the program binaries. Here, however, instead of using a human language alphabet for text, a different alphabet is used that represents each of 256 possible values in each byte of the program binaries.
While compression of files does reduce the amount of information that needs to be communicated over a network or to/from a mass storage device, it is always beneficial to improve the bandwidth use of the network when accessing the compressed program binaries over a network, and improve the bandwidth use of the local read/write channel when accessing compressed program binaries from a local mass storage device. Accordingly, what are desired are methods, systems, and computer program products for reducing the bandwidth usage needed to access and run program binaries (or any other sequential list of computer-executable instructions for that matter) whether over a remote or local channel.

Parallel predictive compression and access of a sequential list of executable instructions


A system for mounting a snap ring to a workpiece includes: a supporting structure; a snap ring guide unit mounted to the supporting structure by a first actuating device; a snap ring assembling unit including a supporting portion connected to the supporting structure by a second actuating device, a snap ring assembling jig, and a third actuating device, which pivots the assembling jig; a snap ring inner diameter measuring unit including a snap ring inner diameter measuring jig pivotally connected to the supporting portion of the snap ring assembling unit, a fourth actuating device, which pivots the inner diameter measuring jig, and a linear gauge that measures the pivotal position of the inner diameter measuring jig; and a control unit controlling the actuating devices and determining, based on a comparison of the measured snap ring mounted diameter and a predetermined value, whether the snap ring has been accurately mounted.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for mounting a snap ring.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for mounting a snap ring and checking whether the snap ring has been accurately mounted.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional system for mounting a snap ring automatically mounts a snap ring to a snap ring mounting position of a workpiece and checks whether or not a snap ring has been mounted. That is, a conventional system cannot check whether a snap ring has been accurately mounted. If a clutch or a brake in which a snap ring is inaccurately mounted is used, the snap ring may shift from its mounted position.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A communication device is connected with a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN) and includes a recording unit that performs predetermined processing in accordance with a request, that comes in through the WAN or the LAN. A controller of a communication module of the communication device determines whether a request came in through the WAN or the LAN. When the request comes in through the WAN, the controller demands an acceptance/rejection determination as to the performance of the request from a user of the communication device. When the performance of the requested operation is accepted, the controller performs the processing according to the request that came in through the WAN.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a communication device that is connected to a LAN (local area network) and/or a WAN (wide area network) and can perform a printing operation in accordance with a print request made by LAN terminals and/or WAN terminals through the LAN and/or WAN.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-91739 (page 4 and FIG. 1) and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 08-30692 (page 5 and FIG. 1) disclose a printing system in which a printer is connected to a LAN and/or a WAN. U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2002/0042884 (page 4 and FIG. 1) discloses a printing system in which an authenticated document is printed at a distant location by remote control.
A system has been suggested in which a printer is connected with a WAN, such as the Internet, as well as personal computers installed in a building or a house, via a LAN. In this system, the printer can be used by specific computers by performing authentication using, for example, passwords. However, this authentication confirms the identity of not only users on the WAN but also users on the LAN, so that this system has less usability. Also, a password may be artificially leaked to outsiders as well as being leaked by stealing packets from a network (sniffing). Accordingly, there is a possibility that unauthorized users can use the printer by using stolen passwords.

Communication device preventing unauthorized access to its services via user intervention and a method thereof


A battery charge monitor for automotive vehicles that includes electronic circuitry for connection to the vehicle battery and responsive to battery voltage to provide a first electrical signal when battery voltage decreases to a selected threshold level. A latching relay includes relay contacts for connection between the vehicle battery and vehicle battery loads, including the starter. A first relay coil is operatively coupled to the relay contacts and responsive to the first signal from the electronic circuitry to open the relay contacts and disconnect the battery from the battery loads including the starter. A second relay coil is operatively coupled to the relay contacts and responsive to a second electrical signal from an operator reset switch for reclosing the relay contacts and connecting the battery to the loads. Thus, when battery charge reaches a level below which starting may be difficult, the electronic circuitry cooperates with the latching relay to disconnect the battery from the loads. When the vehicle is to be started, the battery is reconnected to the loads, including the starter, by operation of the reset switch before energizing the starter.

In conventional automotive vehicles, the electrical system includes loads, such as the clock, radio station programming and engine control computer, that draw current from the battery when the vehicle is not in use. When the vehicle is not used for long periods, these and other components may discharge the battery to a level at which the battery can no longer supply sufficient energy to start the engine. There is also the recognized potential of discharging the battery by inadvertently leaving the vehicle headlights or cabin lights turned on.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a device for monitoring battery charge level, and automatically disconnecting the battery from vehicle loads when battery charge reaches a level below which the battery may not be able to supply sufficient energy to start the vehicle. Another object of the present invention to provide a monitor device of the described character that is inexpensive to manufacture, that is reliable over an extended useful life, that can be built into a vehicle at the time of manufacture or added to a vehicle as an aftermarket accessory, and that includes facility for operator disconnection of the vehicle battery independent of the monitor when the vehicle will not be used for a long period of time. Another and related object of the invention is to provide a battery monitor of the described character in which the battery charge threshold level may be varied for differing conditions, such as summer and winter starting conditions. A further object of the invention is to provide a battery switch system for use in vehicles such as trucks in which the battery is to be disconnected from the loads when the vehicle is not in use independent of battery charge level.
A battery charge monitor for automotive vehicles in accordance with the present invention includes electronic circuitry for connection to the vehicle battery and responsive to battery voltage to provide a first electrical signal when battery voltage decreases to a selected threshold level. A latching relay includes relay contacts for connection between the vehicle battery and vehicle battery loads, including the starter. A first relay coil is operatively coupled to the relay contacts and responsive to the first signal from the electronic circuitry to open the relay contacts and disconnect the battery from the battery loads, including the starter. A second relay coil is operatively coupled to the relay contacts and responsive to a second electrical signal from an operator reset switch for reclosing the relay contacts and connecting the battery to the loads. Thus, when battery charge reaches a level below which starting may be difficult, the electronic circuitry cooperates with the latching relay to disconnect the battery from the loads. When the vehicle is to be started, the battery is reconnected to the loads, including the starter, by operation of the reset switch before energizing the starter.
The latching relay holds the relay contacts in a first position closing the contacts in the absence of the first electrical signal from the electronic circuitry, and holds the contacts in a second position opening the contacts in the absence of the reset signal from the manual switch. The relay contacts include a fixed contact and a movable contact carried by a resilient contact arm that normally biases the movable contact against the fixed contact. The first relay coil includes a plunger that urges the arm and movable contact away from the fixed contact until a detent protrusion on the arm rides over a fixed ledge, at which point resiliency of the contact arm latches the protrusion over the ledge and holds the contacts out of engagement. The second relay coil includes a plunger that engages the contact arm adjacent to the detent for pushing the protrusion off of the ledge, such that resiliency of the contact arm urges the contacts into re-engagement.
A second manual switch is responsive to the operator for providing the first signal to energize the first relay coil independent of the electronic circuitry, so that an operator may manually disconnect the battery from the battery loads independent of the electronic circuitry when the vehicle is going to be stored, for example. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second manual switches comprise a single toggle switch having a center-open position. Preferably, disconnection of the battery is inhibited when vehicle ignition is turned on so that the vehicle battery will not be inadvertently disconnected during operation. The monitor circuitry includes a delay to isolate the disconnection relay from transient changes in battery voltage. Preferably, the battery disconnection threshold can be varied for differing operating conditions, such as ambient temperature.


A composition contains an additive for assisting with the regeneration of the PF in the form of an organic dispersion of iron particles and a detergent including a polyester quaternary ammonium salt.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the association of an organic dispersion of iron particles and of a detergent within a composition notably useful as a fuel additive for internal combustion engines.
Description of the Related Art
During combustion of fuel and notably of gas oil in an engine, the carbonaceous products tend to form carbonaceous particles, which will be designated in the following of the description under the expression of "soots", which are said to be noxious both for the environment and for health. For a long time, there has been a search for techniques with which the emission of these soots may be reduced.
A satisfactory solution consists of introducing into the exhaust line a particle filter (or PF in the following of the text) which will block soots in its channels in order to let a gas escape without any soots. When a certain amount of accumulated soots in the PF is attained, the soots are burned in order to free the channels of the PF. This step for regenerating the PF is usually accomplished at greater temperatures than the temperature of the gas during normal operation of the engine, the soots usually burning in air at temperatures above 650° C.
In order to assist with regeneration of the PF, a catalyst is generally used which has the purpose of facilitating oxidation of the soots either directly or indirectly. By facilitating the oxidation of the soots is meant the fact of allowing their oxidation at a lower temperature so that this temperature is attained more frequently during normal operation of the engine. A portion of the soots may thus be continuously burned during the operation of the engine.
The catalyst also gives the possibility of lowering the temperature required for regenerating the PF so that the regeneration temperature is less than the combustion temperature of the soots without the presence of said catalyst. The catalyst also allows acceleration of the oxidation rate of the soots which allows a reduction in the required time for regenerating the PF.
The use of an additive for assisting with regeneration of the PF, vectorized by the fuel feeding the engine or further a fuel borne catalyst (FBC), proved to meet many criteria since it allows regeneration of the PF more rapidly and at a lower temperature than the competing technology called catalyzed soot filter (CSF, the catalyst being immobilized in the PF), which contributes to reducing fuel consumption for regenerating the PF (and thus reducing CO2 emissions).
New engine technologies, such as diesel engines with a common-rail system and high pressure direct fuel injection, are performing but however sensitive to fuel quality. It is notably known that deposits may notably form in injectors of diesel engines during their operation. The amount of deposit and their rate of formation depend on the quality of the fuel used in the engine but also on the nature of the fuel additives present in the latter.
By <<fuel additive>> is meant here any additive allowing improvement in the distribution of the fuel in the engine and/or improvement in the operating performances of the engine and/or improvement in the operating stability of the engine over time. Fuels which contain unstable components, like fatty acid methyl esters generally present in biofuels, tend to form more deposit than mineral fuels not containing any of them.
Further, the presence of certain metals in fuels like copper or zinc may lead to increased amounts of deposit and thus to exacerbated fouling levels of the injectors. The metals present in fuels stem from various origins like the metals stemming from the contact between the fuel and the fuel distribution network or from any other contamination. Metals may also be deliberately introduced into the fuel like in the case of metal additives for assisting regeneration of the PF. Even if these additives are beneficial for regeneration of the PF and are thus desirable, some may promote the formation of deposit in the fuel circuit and most particularly in fuel injectors.
Deposits may lead to a loss of power of the engine and may possibly go all the way to damaging the engine. These deposits may also degrade the quality of the combustion in the cylinders and lead to an increase in polluting emissions and in engine fuel consumption. It is known that detergent additives reduce or suppress formation of deposit in the injectors.
Among fuel additives for assisting with the regeneration of the PF, dispersions of rare earths, notably based on cerium, and/or iron are known to be efficient for regenerating the PF and contribute to the reduction of the oxidation temperature of the soots. These dispersions should have good dispersibility, high stability over time and sufficient catalytic activity at a relatively not very high concentration in the fuel into which they are introduced.
The dispersions known to this day do not always meet all these criteria. They may have for example good dispersibility but not sufficient stability, notably when they are introduced into fuels containing fatty acid methyl esters or another easily oxidizable fuel of vegetable origin. These dispersions may be sufficiently stable but may have catalytic activity at too high metal concentrations for them to be economically of interest. Moreover, as indicated earlier, all these dispersions should have a limited impact on the operation of fuel injectors, notably to lead to limited fouling of the latter, even in the presence of a fuel containing biofuel or further a fuel containing metals. Further the presence of an FBC in the fuel may lead to a reduction in the oxidation resistance of the fuel, notably when it contains biofuels.

Fuel additive containing a dispersion of iron particles and an ammonium polyester detergent


A pet chew toy includes an animal skin substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces. At least one of the major surfaces defines a pattern of surface impressions. A flavor coating is applied to the substrate, and resides within interstices created by the surface impressions.

This invention relates to an improved pet chew toy, and more specifically to a chew toy with flavor pockets designed to trap surface flavoring and to improve its adherence as the pet consumes the toy. The present chew toy includes a tough, dried or reformed rawhide, such as pork, bovine, fish, or reptile, that is especially appealing to both dogs and cats. Primary objects of the invention are to exercise the jaws, clean the teeth, and provide some measure of entertainment, which all contribute to the overall good health and longevity of the pet.
Rawhide pet chew toys/treats are well known and popular in the industry. The rawhide is generally processed in sheet form, and subsequently cut into small chips, rolled, twisted, or otherwise shaped as desired. Regardless of the selected shape, the surface texture of the rawhide is basically smooth.
During processing, the fat is typically removed from the rawhide to improve customer acceptance and decrease fat intake of the animal. This leaves a dry, tasteless and generally unappealing treat. In addition, the chemicals used in processing bovine hides can leave residual flavors and bitter tastes that further decrease the appeal to pets. To address this problem, some present commercial treats are basted to add flavor. However, because of their smooth surfaces, the inability to adhere high levels of flavor to the rawhide presents a further problem. When these chew toys are refused by the animal the chewing necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums along with jaw exercise is substantially diminished.
The present invention addresses these and other problems of existing chew toys by effecting a mechanically-induced physical change in the surface texture of the rawhide. The resulting product is stretched from opposing top and bottom surfaces with shaped rollers or dies to yield a "waffle" texture. The impressions formed in the rawhide define flavor pockets which trap tasty surface flavoring and create additional surface area for flavor coating. The flavor pockets enable accumulation of much more flavor coating than could be applied to a smooth rawhide, and provide better adherence to retain the coating after drying. This added capacity for surface coating further allows the addition of vitamins and nutrients to the chew toy. Moreover, the waffle surface texture creates a thicker product appearance for better customer acceptance.

Pet chew toy with integrally-formed flavor pockets


A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. A contact hole may be formed to expose a pad disposed on a substrate of the TFT array panel. A first layer of a connecting member is formed with the same layer as a first field generating electrode and is disposed in the contact hole. A second passivation layer is disposed in the TFT array panel, but is removed at a region where the contact hole is formed and portions of the second passivation layer that cover the first layer of the connecting member. A second layer of the connecting member is formed on the first layer of the connecting member.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a thin film transistor array panel and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Background
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are one of the most widely used flat panel displays. A LCD has two display panels on which field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and common electrodes are formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the panels. Voltages are applied to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer. Alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is determined by the electric field. Accordingly, polarization of incident light is controlled to display an image in the LCD. The pixel electrodes and the common electrodes that generate the electric field in the liquid crystal layer may be formed on a thin film transistor array panel.
Also in the LCD, a pad portion may be formed to connect a driving circuit to the field generating electrodes of the LCD to apply a gate voltage and a data voltage. If the thickness of a passivation layer in the LCD is problematically large, a height of a contact hole exposing the pad portion may be large such that a connecting member connecting the driving circuit and pad portion may be disconnected.
The connecting member may be formed on the pad portion exposed by the contact hole. In some cases, a bump may also be disposed between the connecting member and the driving circuit to transmit the driving signal to the pad portion from the driving circuit. If a height of the contact hole is increased, it is difficult for the bump to contact the connecting member and the driving circuit in the contact hole. Accordingly, the driving signal may not be transmitted properly.
Also, as the resolution of the LCD is increased, an interval between the pad portions becomes narrower such that the interval between the connecting members formed on the contact hole also becomes narrow. Accordingly, when an error is partially generated in an exposure process used to form the connecting member, adjacent connecting members may be connected such that a driving signal of a desired size may not be transmitted to the pad.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof


A rigging, operable to raise and lower the platform, passes through a restraint device comprising a tension holder. The tension holder comprises a first body having a substantially planar face surface and a rear portion having a divot disposed therein. A second body, substantially similar to the first body; and having a substantially planar face surface; is disposed in a substantially facing arrangement with the first body to permit a line to pass between the substantially planar face surfaces. A lever is disposed in the divot of the first body and is operable to draw together the substantially planar face of the first body and the substantially planar face of the second body whereby friction can be selectively applied to the line when the line is disposed between the substantially planar first surface and said substantially planar second surface.

Tension holders are used in a variety of load-lifting applications such as elevated platforms for building maintenance. Such platforms can be used in conjunction with a motorized hoisting device, whereby the hoisting device is attached to the platform of an elevated platform or basket that may then be raised or lowered using the hoisting device. The hoisting device and associated rigging typically comprises a tension holder, whereby a continuous lines such as a cable or rope passes through the tension holder. The tension holder is used to keep tension on the line when it would otherwise be slack.
A tension holder may also be associated with a fairlead, which is a device such as a ring or a block that has a guide opening, typically used to guide a rigging such as a line, such as wire or nylon rope or other cable, around an object, or to stop the rigging from moving laterally.
A tension holder is used in a variety of applications in which riggings are used, including marine vehicles, loading devices, and various hoisting applications such as elevated platforms for building maintenance. A tension holder is typically used on a suspended scaffold work basket or platform to keep tension on the line whenever the unit is not suspend in the air and line has the capability to go slack. In a hoisting application, an elevated platform or basket is typically raised or lowered using a powered hoisting device attached to the platform. The hoisting device utilizes a cable that is guided through a fairlead and then through a tension holder. A tension holder has a wear surface that conforms to the diameter of a line to keep tension on the line. It is used to keep the line taught and in place and also to prevent the lines from entangling with other items or themselves.
Prior art tension holders are made up of a number of parts including rollers with bearings which increase assembly and service time.


A pitch adaptive circuit (200) includes an equalizer control circuit (206) that evaluates the pitch of the speech signals that are being processed and depending on the pitch information, the equalizer control circuit (206) selects an equalizer (208, 210) to shape the decoded speech signals. By selecting the best equalizer (208 or 210) to use based on the pitch information, improvements in audio quality are provided automatically without user intervention.

Communication devices such as digital cellular telephones use low bit rate vocoders to encode and decode the users' speech signals. Modeling and compressing of the speech signals achieves increased capacity in a communication system. The end product of modeling and compressing of the speech signals is sometimes unnatural sounding reproduced speech. Added to this problem is the constant pressure to keep manufacturing costs low in electronic devices, which leads to the use of lower quality audio circuitry, microphones, speakers, etc.
Equalization of the audio signal, which can be done either in hardware and/or software, can help increase the intelligibility of the decoded speech and counteract some of the limitations of the audio circuitry. However, the problem with equalization is that it is very difficult to provide equalization for a broad group of users such as female and male voices.
In FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art audio circuit having an equalizer. Coded speech is presented to a vocoder 102 that provides decoded speech at its output. The decoded speech is sent to an audio equalizer 104 for equalization prior to being converted to analog by digital-to-analog converter 106. The analog speech is then presented to a speaker (or earpiece) 108. Although useful, the equalizer 104 can not provided optimum equalization for speech signals having different pitch. An equalization curve that may provide good results for higher pitched voices may leave lower pitched voices sounding muffled. While an equalization setting that may sound good for lower pitched voices may leave higher pitched voices sounding harsh or thin.
One solution to the equalization problem above is to provide simple "bass" and "treble" controls that the user can adjust manually or by providing a multi-band equalizer as found in some audio equipment. However, such controls are not typically found in cellular telephones and even if they were, the cellular telephone user may do more harm than good, since proper equalization setting can be tricky. Users may end up blaming poor sound quality on the cellular telephone and associate poor sound quality with the particular cellular telephone manufacturer even if the poor sound quality is caused by improper equalizer settings. A need thus exists in the art for a better method of providing different equalization setting for different voice types in order to improve the overall sound quality in communication devices such as cellular telephones.

Pitch adaptive equalization for improved audio


An inkjet device includes an inkjet head having a pressure applier applying voltage to ink contained in a ink reservoir, by executing a standby drive operation of applying a standby oscillation to the ink and a main drive operation of applying a main oscillation to cause the ink to be discharged from nozzles, such that the start of main drive operation execution is within a period where the displacement in the standby oscillation is oriented toward the interior of the nozzles in order to produce interference between the standby oscillation.

Many drive schemes for causing ink discharge have been proposed for inkjet devices, including a pump scheme, a piezoelectric scheme, a thermal scheme, and so on. For example, in the piezoelectric scheme, a drive signal (i.e., a drive voltage signal) is applied to voltage elements in order to cause ink discharge by causing an ink reservoir to expand and contract, which applies pressure to the ink within the ink reservoir and causes ink drops to be discharged from nozzles.
In recent years, application technology used in inkjet device is expected to be adapted to device manufacturing, such as for organic electroluminescence devices. Improvements to the landing accuracy of ink drops are thus demanded for increasing device precision.
An impediment to landing accuracy improvements is the problem of satellite mist. This is due to the fact that when ink drops are discharged and fly forward, the rear of the ink drops extends into a ligament, which becomes overextended and is dispersed into micro-droplets that land in locations other than a set landing position.
Increasing the magnitude of the pressure applied to cause the discharge of ink drops tends to extend the length of the ligaments for the ink drops. Ink drops with longer ligaments are more prone to producing satellite mist upon to dispersion of the overextended ligament. Thus, a method for constraining the magnitude drive voltage signal used to cause the discharge of ink drops as much as possible has been considered (Patent Literature 1).

Inkjet apparatus and method for manufacturing organic EL device

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


To obtain a magnetic core having an improved withstand voltage property while maintaining a high relative magnetic permeability, and the like. The magnetic core contains large particles observed as soft magnetic particles having a Heywood diameter of 5 μm or more and 25 μm or less and small particles observed as soft magnetic particles having a Heywood diameter of 0.5 μm or more and less than 5 μm in a cross section. C1<C2 is satisfied in which an average circularity of the small particles close to the large particles is C1 and an average circularity of all small particles observed in the cross section including small particles not close to the large particles is C2. The small particles close to the large particles are defined as small particles whose distance from centroids of the small particles to a surface of the large particles is 3 μm or less.

The present invention relates to a magnetic core, a magnetic component, and an electronic device.
Patent Document 1 describes an inductor in which a dust core obtained by pressing a metal magnetic powder and a coil portion are integrally molded. However, when the metal magnetic powder is used, a core loss tends to be large. Here, the core loss is reduced by using an amorphous alloy powder as the metal magnetic powder. However, in this case, it is known that it is difficult to improve a density of the dust core during molding.
Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 propose that a powder obtained by mixing a crystalline alloy magnetic powder and an amorphous alloy magnetic powder is used.
Patent Document 4 discloses that an inductor and the like having a core loss lower than that in the related art can be provided by using an amorphous soft magnetic powder having a high average value of practical sphericity.
[Patent Document 1] JP 2003-309024 A
[Patent Document 2] JP 2004-197218 A
[Patent Document 3] JP 2004-363466 A
[Patent Document 4] JP 5110660 B

Magnetic core, magnetic component and electronic device