The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for television program selection that monitors the viewing preferences of a viewer to create a dynamic viewer profile that is used to rate available programs. Based on the viewer profile, available programs are sorted and presented to the viewer in descending order of predicted interest. The invention allows a viewer to quickly find the program of greatest interest to the viewer without having to tediously search through large numbers of available programs. The invention may also be used for selecting from among a plurality of programs other than television programs, such as, for example, radio programs or audio or video programs stored on digital storage media such as CD's and DVD's.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting from among a plurality of available programs, such as television programs.
2. Background Art
As new technologies are developed for providing television programming to viewers, the number of television programs available to viewers continues to increase. Broadcast television, cable television, satellite television, and other television program distribution systems such as VCR's, DVD's, and laser disks provide a viewer with the choice of hundreds and even thousands of simultaneously presented programs. With all of this programming it is difficult for a viewer to select the most desirable program from those available for viewing.
In the past, a viewer's options were limited. For example, if a viewer could receive only three or four broadcast television channels, the viewer could easily switch between channels and, within a few seconds, find the channel with the most desirable program. As the number of available channels increased, televisions with remote controls became available. Remote controls made switching between channels easier, but did nothing to filter or sort the available channels or reduce the amount of time needed to preview the available channels.
Printed television program listings have long been available that provide program schedules and brief descriptions. However, with the increasing number of available programs, it has become difficult and inconvenient to locate listings for a particular time and date and to read through all of the available program descriptions.
Chart form printed television listings have been developed that attempt to provide program information in a concise, graphical form. However, the chart form listing leaves little room to provide information about the content of a program other than its name. Further, the chart form printed listing still requires obtaining the listing, physically locating the chart for the date and time of interest, and reading through the program names for each program shown on the chart.
On-screen versions of chart form television listings have also been developed to eliminate the need for a viewer to obtain and look through a printed program guide. However, the on-screen versions of the chart form still suffer from the other disadvantages of the printed chart form listings: little information about a program other than its title is available and a viewer must still scroll through the whole chart to identify all programs of potential interest.
Certain on-screen charts have been developed that use a limited color coding scheme to indicate general categories of programs. The color coding provides some additional information about program content. However, the information available is still minimal, and a viewer must still scroll through the whole chart to find all the programs of potential interest.
More recently, internet program guides have become available. One example of a web page from an internet program guide is shown in FIG. 1. The program guide is presented in the same form as a printed chart, providing time, channel, and program name information. However, the internet program guide allows a user to obtain additional information about a program by clicking on the program's name, thereby activating a hyperlink to an additional information page. Accordingly, the online guide allows a user to obtain additional information about programs. However, it still requires excessive effort, since the viewer must click every title and go to every linked web page, and read every description, to find every available program the user might be interested in watching.
There is a need for a method and apparatus that allows a television viewer to quickly and conveniently identify the available programs in which the viewer has the greatest interest and that allows the viewer to quickly select the program of greatest interest for viewing.

Method and apparatus for program selection


A double cutting spindle unit comprising a main spindle unit and a sub-spindle unit mounted on the main spindle unit and vertically slidable relative to the main spindle unit. The chucking member is normally biased toward its fastening direction by a fastening spring formed by a plurality of spiral belleville springs arranged around the chuck actuating shaft. A two-stage hydraulic cylinder comprising two coaxially arranged cylinders is mounted on a supporting frame arranged on the top cover, and the actuating rod of the hydraulic cylinder is arranged with its free end being opposite to the end of the chuck actuating shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cutting spindle unit for a cutting machine, especially a router for wood working and, in particular, to a double cutting spindle unit comprising a main spindle unit and a sub-spindle unit mounted on the main spindle unit and being vertically slidable relative to the main spindle unit.
2. Description of Background Art
In recent years, it has been proposed to provide a router for wood working having a double cutting spindle unit comprising several main spindle units each being mounted slidably vertically on a planer-type frame, and a sub-spindle unit also mounted slidably vertically on each main spindle unit, with the main and sub-spindle units being able to integrally move along the Y-axis direction as well as being able to separately move along their axial (i.e., Z-axis) directions in order to increase the number of places to be simultaneously cut by the router and also to reduce the frequency of tool exchange.
The mounting of tools to the spindle units are carried out by the collet chuck mechanisms both in the main and sub-spindle units. However, there is a difference between the sub-spindle unit and the main spindle unit in that the collet chuck of the sub-spindle unit is manually actuated, whereas the main spindle unit is remote-controlled by a powered actuator.
The powered actuation of the main spindle unit will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 4. An end of a spindle 22 of the main spindle unit 20 is formed with a tapered bore Aa, and a collet chuck Ab is positioned inwardly adjacent to the tapered bore Aa. After having inserted a tool attachment Ba into the tapered bore Aa, the collet chuck Ab is fastened by the force of belleville springs Ac and thus the tapered portion of the tool attachment Ba is pulled into the tapered bore Aa and frictionally engages the inner surface thereof. In order to remove the tool attachment Ba from the spindle 22, a piston rod Cb is projected by a pneumatic cylinder Ca having a large diameter. The power of the piston rod Cb is boosted by a lever Cc and pushes an actuating shaft 26 downward against the force of the belleville springs Ac to release the collet chuck Ab. Simultaneously, the front end 26a of the actuating shaft 26 abuts the rear end of the tool attachment Ba to release its frictional engagement with the tapered bore Aa. A reference character "Cd" denotes a stopper for the lever Cc. In general, wood working machines which generate sawdust or woodchips typically use pneumatic cylinders as hydraulic actuators, which can experience oil leakage problems.
Since the size of the sub-spindle unit is required to be small, the outer diameter of the collet chuck should be small and its detachable mechanism should be simplified. In addition, the opening and closing operations of the collet chuck and the pushing-out operation of the tool attachment are carried out by a manually operated screw shaft (not shown). Since such a manual operation requires substantial time and labor for mounting and demounting of the tool attachment, it is desired to develop a collet chuck which can be operated by power and also can fulfill the requirements of small size and light weight.
However, there are several problems which must be overcome before the successful development of such a collet chuck can be realized. Firstly, it is impossible to get a small and powerful power source used for mounting and demounting the tool attachment to and from the spindle. As previously mentioned, the mounting of the tool attachment Ba to the collet chuck Ab of the main spindle unit is carried out by the force of a plurality of strong belleville springs Ac and the demounting of the tool attachment Ba therefrom is carried out by the pneumatic cylinder Ca. However, such a mounting and demounting mechanism of the main spindle unit cannot be applied to that of the sub-spindle unit due to potential interference of the sub-spindle unit with the main spindle unit if the outer diameter of the sub-spindle unit is increased to accommodate a large diameter power cylinder or a boosting lever which can generate sufficient power to overcome the force of the belleville springs.
Secondly, there is practical difficulty due to instability of the spring constant of the belleville springs caused by the mutual friction between springs when using belleville springs of small diameter to be accommodated within the sub-spindle casing.
Thirdly, there is the problem of preventing the mutual interference between the main and sub-spindle units during tool exchange of these spindle units. That is, in the case of the sub-spindle unit of the prior art which is manually operated to mount or demount the tool attachment, the lower stroke limit of the sub-spindle unit is set at a position higher than that of the main spindle unit in order to prevent the interference of the sub-spindle unit with the main spindle unit since the tool of the manually operated spindle unit is not required to be lowered to the position of the automatic tool exchanger of the main spindle unit. Moreover, with a sub-spindle unit that is automatically operated to mount or demount the tool attachment, if the tool attachment is lowered to the position of the automatic tool exchanger, there would be caused an occasion in which the presence of the tool attachment of the sub-spindle unit will interfere with the tool exchange of the main spindle unit or an occasion in which the presence of the main spindle unit will interfere with the exchange of the tool exchange of the sub-spindle unit.

Double cutting spindle unit for a cutting machine


A mobile communication device scans a barcode of a product and comprises a scanner, a processing module, and a receiving module. The scanner scans the barcode. The processing module is in communication with the scanner, and sends a coded information received from the scanner to an information provider. The receiving module is in communication with the processing module, and receives a product information from the information provider as a voice message and sends the product information to the processing module.

Consumers often want more information about a product prior to purchase than what is available on the product's packaging or in advertisements. There are of course multiple sources of such information, but most of these sources are not available at the point of purchase. It has been proposed to equip cellular telephones with a scanner capable of reading a barcode on a product, and retrieving information about the product through the cellular telephone. U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,573, for example, shows a camera-enabled cellular telephone that takes a picture of a barcode, transmits information from the barcode, receives content from the Internet for the barcode, and displays the content on a display screen.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

System and method for obtaining product information through a cellular telephone


A plastic container having a base portion adapted to support the container, a cylindrical sidewall projecting upwardly from the base, and a neck finish projecting upwardly from the sidewall and having an opening to the inside of the container. The container has a molded outer layer with inner and outer surfaces and an inner layer extending over the inner surface of the sidewall and base, with the neck finish free from the inner layer. The outer layer contains at least one oxygen scavenger material that reacts with oxygen, and the inner layer includes at least one oxygen barrier material.

Plastic containers are commonly used for packaging items in a wide range of fields, including food and beverage, medicine, health and beauty, and home products. Plastic containers are known for being easily molded, cost competitive, lightweight, and generally suitable for many applications.
Because plastic containers may permit low molecular gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, to slowly permeate through their physical configurations, the use of plastic containers sometimes proves to be less desirable when compared to containers formed from other less permeable materials, such as metal or glass. In most applications, the shelf life of the product contents is directly related to the package's ability to effectively address such molecular permeation. In the case of carbonated beverages, such as beer, oxygen in the atmosphere surrounding the container can gradually permeate inwardly through the plastic walls of the container to reach inside of the container and deteriorate the contents. Likewise, carbon dioxide gas associated with the contents may permeate outwardly through the plastic walls of the container until eventually being released on the outside, causing the carbonated beverage to lose some of its flavor and possibly become "flat".
To address some of the foregoing concerns, plastic container manufacturers have utilized various techniques to reduce or eliminate the absorption and/or permeability of such gases. Some of the more common techniques include: increasing the thickness of all or portions of the walls of the container; incorporating one or more barrier layers into the wall structure; including oxygen-scavenging or reacting materials within the walls of the containers; and applying various coatings to the internal and/or external surface of the container. However, conventional barrier and/or scavenger materials will frequently not effectively curtail the permeation of both oxygen and carbon dioxide over extended periods of time.
It is preferred to have a plastic container with high barrier properties to prevent oxygen ingress and carbonation egress from occurring. Barrier treatment on the internal surface of the plastic container, as for example, carbon treatment, prevents most oxygen from entering the container. A typical 16 oz. carbon coated plastic container has oxygen ingress of from 0.0010 to 0.0060 cc/package/day. This is a high barrier compared to a typical untreated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container which is typically in the range of 0.0400 to 0.0600 cc/package/day.
However, in some circumstances it is desirable to have less than the 0.0010 to 0.0060 cc/package/day oxygen ingress and for these applications an oxygen scavenger may be used in the plastic structure in combination with the barrier treatment. For example, the structure may consist of an oxygen scavenger in a mono-layer plastic structure with a carbon coating oil the inside surface. This will allow the container to reduce the oxygen ingress to less than 0.0010 to 0.0060 cc/package/day through the container sidewall. However, disadvantageously the closure will typically allow more oxygen to permeate through into the container than is desirable. A barrier on the internal surface of the container will prevent the scavenger from scavenging oxygen which comes through the closure.
Therefore, a need exists and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved plastic container including oxygen scavenging materials and barrier materials suitable for holding products, such as carbonated beverages or other food products, and having a long shelf life.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved plastic container as aforesaid which overcomes the problem of oxygen ingress through the container.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.


An apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of an automobile and a method therefor utilize a route guidance system. The apparatus includes a memory which stores road information, a detector for detecting a specific position which is located on a planned driving route from the road information stored in the memory; a position detector for detecting the present position of the automobile; a speed detector for detecting the speed V of the automobile; a sensor for detecting an opening degree .theta. of a throttle of the automobile; a computer for computing a distance "d" between the detected automobile position and the detected specific position; a driving operation detector for detecting an operation by the driver of the automobile; a first gear ratio selecting device for selecting a first gear ratio for the automatic transmission based on the detected speed V and the detected throttle opening degree .theta.; and a second gear ratio selecting device for selecting a second gear ratio based on the detected speed V, the distance "d", the detected operation by the driver and the first gear ratio selected by the first gear ratio selecting device. As a result, it is possible to carry out gear change control taking anticipated changes in the driving conditions into account, thus enabling smooth and comfortable driving. Further, since the driver of the automobile can have advance voice notice of control operations, it is possible to avoid confusion caused by sudden unexpected changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of an automobile and a method thereof, and in particular relates to apparatus and method of controlling gear changes in an automatic transmission of an automobile equipped with a route guidance system, in which road information obtained from the route guidance system is used for controlling the automatic transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One example of a prior art apparatus for controlling gear changes in an automatic transmission of an automobile based on information obtained from a route guidance system is disclosed In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 6-272753, in which the gear change control apparatus controls gear changing operations to automatically change gears so as to be suitable for the present driving conditions, based on the information obtained from the route guidance system and road information which has been previously prepared. In this prior art, gear change control apparatus, a gear change table (gear change pattern) is quickly established so as to be suitable for the present driving conditions based on the information obtained from the route guidance system and the road information, and then appropriate gear changes (i.e., changes in gear ratio) are carried out in accordance with the established gear change table.
Another example of such a prior art gear change control apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-58141, in which gear change control for an automatic transmission is also carried out based on information obtained from a route guidance system and road information that has been previously prepared.
However, in these prior art apparatuses, gear changes are carried out based on the information on the present driving conditions of the automobile that is obtained from the road information related to the detected present position. For example, when the automobile approaches an upgrade, the gear change control apparatus begins operations to effect a change of gears at the point in time when the automobile enters the upgrade. Further, when the automobile approaches a curved section of a road, the gear change control apparatus begins operations to effect a change of gears at the point in time when the automobile approaches the curved section of the road. Therefore, these prior art gear change control apparatuses can not take anticipated changes in the driving conditions into account when carrying out such gear change control operations.

Apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of an automobile and method thereof


A surgical instrument assembly includes a surgical instrument having an instrument body, an elongate member with a distal end configured to be inserted into an anatomical passageway of a patient, a sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the elongate member, and a first electrical connector electrically coupled with the sensor. The assembly further includes a cable assembly having a cable that communicates with a processor, and a coupling that releasably couples with the instrument body. The coupling includes a coupling body having first and second lateral sides that extend parallel to one another and are configured to extend parallel to a side of the instrument body when the coupling is coupled with the instrument body. The coupling includes a second electrical connector that electrically couples with the first electrical connector to transmit the signal from the sensor proximally through the cable and toward the processor.

In some instances, it may be desirable to operate within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient, such as performing an incision of mucosa, removal of bone, or dilation of an anatomical passageway. Such operations may occur within anatomical passageways such as ostia of paranasal sinuses (e.g., to treat sinusitis), the larynx, the Eustachian tube, or other passageways within the ear, nose, or throat, etc. In addition to the above described operations, or similar operations, it may be desirable to apply suction and/or irrigation within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway before, during, or after the above described operations, or similar operations. One method of applying suction within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient involves obtaining a suction device having an elongate shaft defining a lumen terminating at an open distal end of the elongated shaft, where the lumen is in fluid communication with an external suction source. An operator may then insert the distal end of the elongate shaft within the nostril or mouth of a patient toward a desired location within the patient. With the distal end of the elongate shaft inserted within the patient, an operator may manipulate the suction device and/or suction source in order to remove extraneous and/or undesired matter near or within an anatomical passageway of a patient. Applying suction and/or irrigation during an operation may be beneficial for multiple purposes as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Image-guided surgery (IGS) is a technique in which a computer is used to obtain a real-time correlation of the location of an instrument that has been inserted into a patient's body to a set of preoperatively obtained images so as to superimpose the current location of the instrument on the preoperatively obtained images. In some IGS procedures, a digital tomographic scan (e.g., CT or MRI, 3-D map, etc.) of the operative field is obtained prior to surgery. A specially programmed computer is then used to convert the digital tomographic scan data into a digital map. During surgery, special instruments having sensors (e.g., electromagnetic coils that emit electromagnetic fields and/or are responsive to externally generated electromagnetic fields) mounted thereon are used to perform the procedure while the sensors send data to the computer indicating the current position of each surgical instrument. The computer correlates the data it receives from the instrument-mounted sensors with the digital map that was created from the preoperative tomographic scan. The tomographic scan images are displayed on a system display device (e.g., a video monitor) along with an indicator (e.g., cross hairs or an illuminated dot, etc.) showing the real time position of each surgical instrument relative to the anatomical structures shown in the scan images. In this manner, the surgeon is able to know the precise position of each sensor-equipped instrument by viewing the video monitor even if the surgeon is unable to directly visualize the instrument itself at its current location within the body.
When applied to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), balloon sinuplasty, and/or other ENT procedures, the use of image guidance systems allows the surgeon to achieve more precise movement and positioning of the surgical instruments than can be achieved by viewing through an endoscope alone. This is so because a typical endoscopic image is a spatially limited, 2-dimensional, line-of-sight view. The use of image guidance systems provides a real time, 3-dimensional view of all of the anatomy surrounding the operative field, not just that which is actually visible in the spatially limited, 2-dimensional, direct line-of-sight endoscopic view. As a result, image guidance systems may be particularly useful during performance of FESS, balloon sinuplasty, and/or other ENT procedures where a section and/or irrigation source may be desirable, especially in cases where normal anatomical landmarks are not present or are difficult to visualize endoscopically.
It may be desirable to provide features that further facilitate the use of an IGS navigation system and associated components in ENT procedures and other medical procedures. While several systems and methods have been made and used with respect to IGS and ENT surgery, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used the invention described in the appended claims.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

Connector to couple surgical instrument with navigation system


According to one embodiment, a lens driving apparatus comprises: a fixed member in which a first long groove is formed; a movable member including a lens and a second long groove; a first ball arranged between the first long groove and the second long groove, and configured to guide the movable member along the groove; a plurality of second balls arranged on a side opposite to a side of the first ball with the lens; a first actuator configured to generate a driving force for moving the movable member along the groove; and a second actuator for pivoting the movable member with respect to the fixed member. A pivoting center around which the movable member is pivoted with respect to the fixed member is a position of the first ball when the movable member is moved along the first long groove and the second long groove.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2011-85675, a pivot guide groove 124 which engages with a pivoting shaft 115 is formed in one end portion (a positive-side end in the X direction) of a moving frame 119. The pivoting shaft 115 is attached to a fixed member 102. When the moving frame 119 is translated during yaw correction, the pivot guide groove 124 slides with respect to the pivoting shaft 115. Also, the pivot guide groove 124 permits the moving frame 119 to pivot around the pivoting shaft 115 in the pitch correction direction.
Consequently, a correction lens L7 held in the moving frame 119 can move in the pitch correction direction and yaw correction direction.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2010-266739 has disclosed an anti-vibration actuator capable of supporting a lens so that the lens can move without any vibration. This anti-vibration actuator includes a support arm 17 for connecting a fixed plate 12 and moving frame 14, and a steel ball 18 clamped between the moving frame 14 and fixed plate 12. A flexible portion 17a of the support arm 17 is readily elastically deformable. When a horizontal driving force acts on the moving frame 14, a horizontal translation is permitted. When a vertical driving force acts on the moving frame 14, the moving frame 14 pivots around the flexible portion 17a and its vicinity.


An angiostomy apparatus has an ultrasonic oscillator for generating predetermined ultrasonic energy. A holding member has at least a substantially annular end face or an annular portion, and holds a blood vessel at its inner peripheral side. A probe is used to hold a portion of the blood vessel between itself and an outer peripheral side portion of the substantially annular end face or the annular portion of the holding member. An oscillation transmitting section transmits ultrasonic oscillation from the ultrasonic oscillator to that portion of the blood vessel which is in contact with the holding member or the probe. The holding member is a cylindrical member having a slit formed therein.

This invention relates to an angiostomy apparatus and an angiostomy method.
Conventional angiostomy operations are performed by suturing blood vessels using a needle and a thread. In addition, in light of the fact that a considerable skill is required to suture blood vessels in this way, automatic angiostomy apparatuses have come to be used for performing the angiostomy operations. Since, however, a mechanical structure for suturing thick blood vessels such as coronary arteries is hard to realize, angiostomy operations using energy are now proposed.
For example, there is a method for suturing fine blood vessels by radiating a laser beam. In this method, though, it is very difficult to bring the intimae of ends of blood vessels into tight contact with each other, and to reliably apply a laser beam onto the contact portion. Therefore, a method for accurately fixing the blood vessels and the laser beam is necessary.
Ultrasonic energy is considered another kind of suitable energy. An ultrasonic knife is considered a ultrasonic energy applied device in the medical field, in which a treatment for incising, excising or coagulating a caught organic tissue is made using ultrasonic energy. In the other industrial fields, ultrasonic energy is applied to an ultrasonic bonding apparatus or a plastic welder.
As described above, ultrasonic energy has been used in the medical field, but application of the energy to angiostomy operations has not been considered, and nor has a method for realizing the application been proposed.

Angiostomy apparatus using ultrasonic energy and angiostomy method


An attachment strip for attaching lath to a wall and a system for attaching lath to a wall with increased water resistive characteristics. The attachment strip has protruding teeth on an attachment plate that holds the lath in place, and a mounting plate that secures the lath furring strip against the wall and framing. In addition, since attachment strip, instead of the lath directly, is secured to the sheathing, fewer mounting devices are needed compared to when a lath is directly secured to a sheathing, where substantially more mounting devices would be needed. Thus in this arrangement, fewer penetrations are created when installing the lath. Additional water resistive features, such insulation layers, and a drainage space surrounded by two water resistive barriers, create space that not only increases insulation, but protects the inner layers of a wall from damage.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to overcome problems associated with securing lath to walls. In wall construction, plaster is traditionally applied to a flexible lath material. The sheathing material to which the lath is secured is usually lined with a moisture resistive barrier. The current method of fastening lath to sheathing is either with staples, nails or screws. These traditional methods of attaching the metal lath to the sheathing creates multiple penetrations of the moisture resistive barrier and can cause tearing of the barrier that compromises its water resistant purpose.
A Furring strip a traditionally a strip of wood or metal fixed to a wall, floor, or ceiling to provide a surface for the fixing of furring (i.e. the backing surface such as drywall, lath, tiles, etc.). One function of furring strips is to add the function of creating an air space between the sheathing and the lath, which can serve the purpose of creating an air pocket to permit moisture to evaporate when it soaks through the exterior plaster system.
However, there are still problems with current furring strips. Such furring strips still create penetrations of the moisture barrier through which water can seep. Moreover, the attachment of the lath to the furring strip is labor intensive and difficult. Current methods of attaching the lath to the furring strips include using wire ties, staples, screws or nails that are interlaced with the lath and attachment holes on the furring strip. This can be very tedious and time consuming since several attachment points using wire ties, staples, screws or nails are needed to properly secure the lath to the furring strip so that it does not fall off the wall due the weight of the lath, after plaster is applied to it. Traditional metal furring strips have also been an unwanted source of thermal transfer from interior to exterior walls and vice versa. Conventional furring strips are also not designed to accommodate the latest insulation technologies or accommodate improved drainage planes within wall systems.
Therefore, there is a need to replace current furring strips and improve their attachment to the walls, and improve the way the lath is attach to the furring strips with an improved attachment strip design that: (1) minimizes and seals penetrations; (2) more easily permits the attachment of the lath to the wall without the use, and/or the optional use, of ties, staples, screws or nails or other extraneous attachment devices; (3) minimizes thermal transfers; (4) better accommodates drainage planes within walls; and (5) can better accommodate insulation technologies in various thicknesses. These improvements over existing technology are merely illustrative of the benefits of the present invention and are not intended to be an exhaustive list. One skilled in the art will recognize many other benefits of this new attachment strip and method over apparatus and methods used to attach lath to a wall in prior art.


A method and system which includes a minimally invasive, implantable device with a sensor configured for collecting electrical data associated with cardiac performance, a sensor configured for collecting mechanical data associated with cardiac performance, a sensor for collecting optical data associated with cardiac performance, a sensor for collecting biochemical data associated with cardiac performance, and a processor for deriving cardiac conditions and actuating an alarm upon identifying a cardiac event.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. A heart attack (also known as an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)) typically results from a thrombus that obstructs blood flow in one or more coronary arteries. AMI is a common and life-threatening complication of coronary heart disease. The extent of damage to the myocardium is strongly dependent upon the length of time prior to restoration of blood flow to the heart muscle.
Myocardial ischemia is an intermediate condition in coronary artery disease during which heart tissue fails to receive oxygen and other nutrients from the blood. It is typically provoked by physical activity or other causes of increased heart rate when there is coronary occlusion, that is, one or more of the coronary arteries are obstructed by atherosclerosis thus limiting the supply of blood to heart.
Patients will often experience chest discomfort (angina) when the heart muscle is experiencing ischemia. However, the ischemic episodes may also be without observable symptoms. The presence or absence of symptoms appears to be independent of the severity of the ischemia. According to the American Heart Association, millions of Americans may have silent ischemia. If even minor forms of ischemia remain untreated, affected heart tissue can eventually die, placing the patient at a high risk of having a heart attack with little or no warning. In fact, ischemia remains one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world.
The electrocardiogram ("ECG") is an important tool for monitoring heart activity and diagnosing heart conditions. The ECG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. This electrical activity causes the heart to contract. The contraction in turn causes blood to be pumped throughout the body. This electrical activity is spontaneously generated. As the cells within the heart change from a negative potential to a positive potential (depolarization), the muscles within the heart contract. Conversely, when the cells change from a positive to a negative potential (repolarization), the muscles return to their noncontracted state. The periodic contraction of the heart causes the pumping action. This spontaneous electrical activity typically occurs about once a second.
Acute myocardial infarction and ischemia may be detected from a patient's ECG, for example, by noting an ST segment shift (i.e., voltage change) over a relatively short (less than 5 minutes) period of time. U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,526 to Stadler et al. describes one type of ischemia detector that observes variation in the ST segment to identify an ischemic condition. Other ischemia detection techniques have relied upon measures of heart activity, patient workload and other factors.
By itself, an ECG may not always be sufficient for diagnosis. There are cases where an ECG may reflect the normal electrical activity of the heart, yet there is no actual pumping of blood from the heart. This condition, known as pulseless electrical activity (PEA), can be discovered if tissue perfusion is not detected even though an ECG waveform is present. Furthermore, there are certain mechanical and/or chemical changes in body physiology which typically precede or coincide with changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
For example, seconds after a coronary occlusion the potassium ion (K+) and sodium ion (NA+) concentrations in and outside cardiac myocytes are disturbed. This chemical change results in muscle contraction and relaxation dysfunction, causing mechanical changes such as a rise in the filling pressure to compensate for reduced systolic pressure. Shortly after this mechanical change, corresponding electrical activity is indicated on an ECG.
Another mechanical measure relates to heart sounds. There are four audible sounds are generated during each heartbeat that have been used to assess heart performance and augment the diagnosis of heart conditions. These heart sounds are produced by blood turbulence and vibration of cardiac structures due primarily to the closing of the valves within the heart. These four sounds are identified as S1, S2, S3, and S4. S1 is usually the loudest heart sound and is the first heart sound during ventricular contraction. S1 occurs at the beginning of ventricular systole and relates to the closure of the atrioventricular valves between the atria and the ventricles. S2 occurs at the beginning of the diastole and relates to the closing of the semilunar valves separating the aorta and pulmonary artery from the left and right ventricles, respectively. S1 and S2 can be easily heard with a stethoscope ("normal heart sounds"). S3 and S4, however, can usually not be heard in the normal heart ("abnormal heart sounds") of a person over 40 years old. S3 occurs in the early diastolic period and is caused by the ventricular wall distending to the point it reaches its elastic limit. S4 occurs near the end of atrial contraction and is also caused by the ventricular wall distending until it reaches its elastic limit.
Heart sounds have also been used to assess the severity of important types of cardiac disease. For example, after age 40, S3 can indicate congestive heart failure, and S4 can indicate hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, or coronary artery disease.
Implantable cardiac devices, known as cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMs), that can treat heart problems are presently known and commercially available. CRMs include pacemakers (PMs) which utilize electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart, biventrical PMs also known as cardiac resynchronization devices (CRTs), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for providing burst pacing pulses or a defibrillation shock to the heart when the heart is beating too fast or goes into fibrillation, and monitoring devices that use one or more physiologic sensors.
These implantable devices monitor many of the conditions that are indicative of cardiac events. However, symptoms are often highly varied. It is estimated that approximately one third of patients suffering from ischemia exhibit typical ischemic discomfort, while the remaining two thirds exhibit atypical symptoms or no symptoms at all. Similarly, classification of cardiac events is also varied. Thus, signs of trouble may be present but remain undetected by some of the common devices and detection methods for some time. Yet, it is well known that the benefits of treatment for heart conditions are greatest if administered as soon after the onset of a cardiac event as possible.
Present external automatic AMI monitoring approaches do not work well outside the hospital setting and cannot be worn for very long periods of time because of a number of factors, including the discomfort of external ECG electrodes and extensive maintenance required of these external lead systems since electrodes need to be replaced frequently leading also to poor compliance.

Apparatus and method for detecting cardiac events


A source driver and a method for determining polarity of pixel voltage thereof are provided. The source driver includes a data register unit, a plurality of data groups and a plurality of polarity determining units. The data register unit receives an image data signal and provides a plurality of display data. The data groups have at least two data channels respectively. The data channels are coupled to the data register unit to receive the corresponding display data and provide a plurality of pixel voltages. The polarity determining units are respectively coupled to the data channels corresponding to different data groups, and each of the polarity determining units determines whether to invert polarities of a part of the pixel voltages provided by the coupled data channels according to the received display data of the coupled data channels and previous display data corresponding to the received display data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a driving device of a display, and more particularly, relates to a source driver and a method for determining polarity of pixel voltage thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, liquid crystal displays have become a mainstream in the market due to its advantages such as low power consumption, absence of radiation, and high space utilization. In a driving circuit of a display, a source driver is an indispensable element configured to convert a digital image data signal into a pixel voltage and to provide the pixel voltage to the pixel being activated, so that the pixel voltage can be stored in the a storage capacitor formed by the a pixel electrode and a common electrode.
Since the pixel voltage varies with grayscale (i.e., brightness) pending to be displayed, and a variation of a voltage level can be conducted to the common electrode through a capacitance coupling effect of the storage capacitor, such that the voltage level of the common electrode (i.e., a common voltage) is influenced, thereby affecting a display performance of pixels. Further, as sizes of the liquid crystal displays become larger, a size of a liquid crystal display panel is also increased, which results in a number of the pixel voltages provided by the source driver to increase. Accordingly, how to avoid the common voltage from being influenced b the variation of the pixel voltage is gradually becoming an important topic to be discussed.
In addition, in order to reduce a power consumption of the source driver, a charge sharing technology is applied in transmitting the pixel voltage to the liquid crystal display panel. However, the charge sharing technology in a conventional art is generally used in the source driver which generates the pixel voltage by utilizing a dot inversion driving method. However, with continuous advancements of display technologies, driving methods for the source driver are also advanced, so that the charge sharing technology is incapable of reducing the power consumption of the source driver. Therefore, it requires a new charge sharing technology in order to reduce the power consumption of the source driver adopting the new driving methods.

Source driver and method for determining polarity of pixel voltage thereof


A push-through delimber device having a frame, a blade lattice, a trough, a throat and a saw so that trees can be topped and delimbed in the throat and pushed through the delimbing blade lattice to further delimb the trees. The delimber device can also include pivoting arcuate blades for delimbing trees.

This invention relates to logging equipment and, more specifically, to devices used to strip branches off harvested or felled trees.
Historically, delimbing felled or harvested trees was performed manually using axes, hand saws and powered chain saws. This method of delimbing works well on large trees with sporadic branches because the weight of a felled tree trunk will snap many of the branches off the trunk leaving a minimal amount of delimbing to be performed. When smaller trees with many branches are felled, the trunk weight is often insufficient to cause the branches to snap off. Consequently, the hand delimbing process was dangerous and unpredictable, as well as time consuming.
As a result, delimbers have been developed which strip branches off a whole tree at the harvesting site, thereby eliminating the need for manual delimbing and drastically reducing the time necessary for delimbing. Thus, the need for delimbing machines has grown over the years as modern forestry practice has relied on clear cutting and forest thinning through the removal of smaller trees.
A popular type of delimber is a pull through delimber. The majority of pull through delimbers allow for a tree to be placed in the delimbing device with delimbing blades surrounding and parallel to the tree trunk. The tree is then pulled through the device with the blades cutting the branches as it traverses the assembly. The majority of these types of machines contain hydraulics or electronics causing them to be very expensive to purchase and operate. As a result of the high purchase and operating costs, many logging operations cannot afford to purchase such delimbers. Another disadvantage of these types of delimbers is that they only delimb one tree at a time. Additionally, most of these delimbing assemblies are very complicated with many moveable parts that are susceptible to damage and breakdown.
A second type of delimbing device is the mechanical pull through type delimber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,997, to Davison, describes a mechanical pull through delimbing device that does not use any electronic or hydraulic components. Instead, the Davison device uses the weight of a tree to actuate the delimbing blades. In Davison, a tree is placed onto the assembly so that the weight of the tree rests on a lever causing a set of delimbing blades to close about the trunk. The trunk is then pulled through the delimbing assembly causing the branches to be stripped off the trunk.
The Davison device eliminates the use of hydraulics and electronics; however, the assembly uses many moving parts that are susceptible to breakdown and jamming. Furthermore, the Davison delimber only allows for one tree to be placed into the assembly at a time resulting in a slow and tedious process in delimbing trees in a logging operation. An additional drawback associated with the Davison device is that it relies on the weight of the tree to close the blades. This method of operation is troublesome for small trees whose weight is insufficient to properly close the blades around the trunk. Davison also uses a spring to exert an opposite force on the support lever, and the spring is susceptible to stretching and breaking.
In general, most mechanical delimbing devices are cost prohibitive for soft wood logging operations because of the capital investment and maintenance requirements of complicated delimbing apparatuses. In addition, many delimbers in the market are cumbersome to transport from one site to another and require setup and breakdown time. Thus, what is needed is a delimbing device that delimbs multiple trees, is easily transportable, has few movable parts, and is affordable.
This invention is a stationary assembly used to strip limbs from trees. The delimbing assembly is mounted on a base trailer. The base has an axle and wheels on one end and a hitch on the other allowing for easy transportation from one harvesting site to another. The assembly allows multiple trees to be processed simultaneously. The blade assembly includes a plurality of criss-crossing straight blades forming a plurality of apertures. A knuckle boom loader, for example, pushes multiple trees through the delimber. To increase the efficiency of the delimber, a trough structure directs the trees into the blade assembly. As trees are pushed through the blade lattice, each trunk moves through an open aperture allowing the limbs to come into contact with a blade edge; thereby stripping the limbs from the trunk. A saw box is coupled to the assembly for topping the trees.
In another embodiment, the delimbing assembly includes a plurality of arms, having delimbing blades, for containing and delimbing at least one tree. The arms are mounted to a carriage and are controlled individually with hydraulic actuators. Each arm can include a delimbing blade. Further, the delimbing assembly can include an arcuate delimbing blade mounted to the carriage. In operation, this embodiment of the delimbing assembly accepts trees within the arms. The arms close around the trees and the loader pulls the trees partially through the arms, cutting off some, if not all, of the limbs. A delimbing saw then tops the tree, and the tree is removed from the assembly after the arms are opened to allow for removal of the trees. If the trees require further delimbing, the trees are inserted into the blade assembly described above.
Primary objectives of this invention are to provide:
the logging industry with a push through delimbing device that is durable, easier to use, less susceptible to jamming and less expensive to operate;
a push through delimbing device that can delimb multiple trees simultaneously;
a push through delimbing device that operates without the aide of any hydraulic, mechanical or electronic control; and
a push through delimbing assembly for use in delimbing soft wood or hard wood trees, which is affordable throughout the logging industry.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration of the following description and drawings.


A window assembly is disclosed including a window casing; a sash assembly slidably mounted within the window casing, the sash assembly including first and second stiles extending between first and second rails; a first tilt latch assembly mounted in the first stile; a second tilt latch assembly mounted in the second stile; and a sash lock mounted to the first rail, the sash lock being operably connected to the first and second tilt latch assemblies to operate the first and second tilt latch assemblies between a latched position in which a latch member of each of the first and second tilt latch assemblies engages with the window casing assembly and an unlatched position in which the latch member of each of the first and second tilt latch assemblies is disengaged with the window casing assembly.

Many window assemblies are provided with tilt latches and tilt pins that enable one or more sashes to be rotated with respect to a window casing. Such features enable the sash to be accessed and/or removed from one side of the window assembly. In many configurations, the tilt latches and tilt pins also act as the guide members for the sash to slide within the window casing assembly, and thus provide the only means of support for the sash with respect to the window frame. In double hung window applications, especially tall or high aspect ratio window applications, the stiles of the sash can bow under wind load. This load adds stress to the tilt latch at the top of the sash and the tilt pin at the bottom of the sash. Typically, there is no support in the middle of the stile.
Referring to FIG. 2, a typical known tilt latch mechanism 10 is shown in which a sash lock 12 operates a pair of tilt latches 14 that are mounted to the top of a window sash 16. With this type of construction, the check or meeting rail profile is forced to get taller in order to fit the sash lock hardware. Most hardware requires the tilt latch 14 to be located at the end of the check rail 16 in order for the sash lock 12 to work with the tilt latch 14. The majority of sash locks 12 are also mortised into the top of the check rail 16. The off-end tilt latch 14 and mortised sash lock 12 combine to make the checkrail profile taller, contradictory to the design element of a slim check rail that is desired with many window genres.


A controlling apparatus which can control a continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus so that an excess current when the electrolyzing strength is not adjusted appropriately can be prevented with certainty and harmless electrolytic ion water can be obtained continuously from the continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus. When water flows through the electrolytic cell, it is energized by a power source circuit to electrolyze the water to obtain electrolytic ion water. When a range change-over switch is manually operated, a dc voltage of the power source circuit is controlled in response to the range change-over switch by a control unit and a switching regulator to produce an electrolyzing voltage corresponding to the operated position of the range change-over switch. The water is thus electrolyzed with an electrolyzing strength of the electrolyzing voltage. During the electrolyzing operation, the electrolytic current is always detected by a current sensor, and when it exceeds a preset value and an excess current is judged, the pulse width is decreased to automatically decrease the electrolyzing voltage and hence the electrolyzing capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus which electrolyzes water such as city water to continuously produce alkali ion water and acid ion water, and more particularly to a controlling apparatus which controls a continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus of the type mentioned so that an excess current is automatically prevented from flowing to an electrolyzing cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
A continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus which applies a dc voltage between a pair of positive and negative electrodes in drinking water such as city water to electrolyze the drinking water to directly produce alkali ion water and acid ion water is already known. Alkali ion water is used to improve the acid condition resulting from modern eating habits depending upon meat and thereby promotes health while acid ion water is used to wash the surface of the human body and for make-up.
The electrolyzing capacity of an electrolytic cell of an electrolytic ion water producing apparatus of the type mentioned, that is, the hydrogen ion exponent (pH) value of electrolytic ion water produced, depends much upon the flow rate through the electrolytic cell, the electric conductivity, temperature and quality of water supplied to the electrolytic cell and so forth. Therefore, a range change-over switch is provided which varies the dc voltage received by a power source circuit to adjust the electrolyzing strength to one of a plurality of stages. Thus, a required PH value of electrolytic ion water can be obtained if a user judges the flow rate and/or the quality of water and selects a suitable range in accordance with that judgment.
The range change-over operation user is sometimes performed in error. In this instance, if the electrolyzing strength is excessively low as a result of the range change-over operation in error, then electrolysis of water supplied may be insufficient, but there is no trouble. However, if the electrolyzing strength is excessively high as a result of the range change-over operation in error while the flow rate is comparatively low or the electric conductivity of water supplied is comparatively high, then an excess current higher than a maximum safe current which is set in advance depending upon the capacity of a power source transformer and some other factor flows, resulting in overheat of the power source transformer, burning of an electric part or the possibility that a human body may be damaged by water produced which has an excessively high PH value. Therefore, a countermeasure for the prevention of an excess current is taken.
Various countermeasures for the prevention of an excess current are conventionally available. One of the conventional countermeasures is to light up an indicator lamp to give a warning to a user in order to urge the user to perform a manual range lowering operation. It is another conventional countermeasure to provide an overheat preventing switch in the form of a bimetal thermo-switch for a power source transformer so that, when an excess current flows, the power supply is interrupted by operation of the switch.
However, with the former countermeasure, the manual range lowering operation is not always performed appropriately by a user, and in some cases, the manual range lowering operation may be performed in response to a warning in such a manner as to excessively decrease the electrolyzing strength beyond a necessary level. On the other hand, with the latter countermeasure, interruption of the power supply results in interruption of production of electrolytic ion water, and therefore, a range change-over operation and passing of water must be performed again from the beginning, resulting in low operability. Accordingly, in such a situation that an excess current flows, it is not possible to prevent such excess current to continuously obtain electrolytic ion water.

Controlling apparatus for continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus


A host computer checks the frequency of type data such as a character code or a graphic pattern in print data. Type data with a high frequency is registered in a registered character management area in correspondence with a data ID and sent to a printer. The printer registers the received ID and data in a print data registration area. Thereafter, the host computer sends print data obtained upon replacement of the type data with the ID to the printer. The printer identifies an ID included in the print data, replaces the ID with the corresponding type data, and outputs the print data. With this processing, data with a high use frequency can be registered in the printer. Therefore, the data transfer amount from the host computer can be decreased, and the printing processing speed is increased. In addition, since the frequency is totalized, the memory in the printer can be effectively used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system for printing data generated by a data source such as a host computer.
2. Related Art
In a conventional printing system, type data such as character data, which appears in a document repeatedly, is registered in a printer by a printer driver in advance, and a printing operation is performed using this data. In such a system, the memory device in the printer has a limitation, so it may be that not all print data or data which needs to be printed can be stored in the printer.
Therefore, data registered in the printer may be data with a low frequency, depending on the print data. In this case, an inherent function of performing high-speed printing processing by registering type data in the printer is not effectively utilized. In addition, the print data transfer amount from the host computer to the printer increases, resulting in an increase in time required for data transfer processing performed by the host computer.

Printing system with means to extract data type before printing on a recording medium


A tile installation spacer includes a circular disk having opposed, parallel surfaces, and opposed cylindrical first and second spacers extend away from the respective surfaces of the disk. The disk, the first cylindrical spacer, and the second cylinder each have a diameter. The diameter of the disk is greater than the diameter of the first cylindrical spacer and the diameter of the second cylindrical spacer, and the diameter of the first cylindrical spacer is greater than the diameter of the second cylindrical spacer.

In tiling a surface individual tiles are set onto adhesive applied to the surface of a floor or substrate. The tiles are arranged in a predetermined pattern on the surface and are separated by intertile grout lines or simply grout lines. After the adhesive is sufficiently cured bonding the tiles in place, grout is applied into the grout lines. In the process of setting the individual tiles, spacers are often applied in the grout lines to ensure a uniform spacing between the individual tiles. Typical tile spacers are made of semi-rigid plastic having depths ranging from, for instance, ⅛ to 3/16 of an inch, with spacing widths of between 1/16 of an inch and ⅜ of an inch. For brick, cement block and larger tile forms, larger sizes of spacers, with considerably more depth, are used.
The spacers of conventional tile spacers have rectangular or square cross sections. When such a conventional spacer is positioned in a grout line separating adjacent tiles, opposing flat surfaces of the spacer reside in juxtaposition to the opposing confronting edges of the adjacent tiles. If the spacer is twisted or moved during installation or adjustment, it is common for the spacer to act on the confronting edges of the adjacent tiles pushing the opposing tiles apart if the spacer is accidentally twisted or jarred thereby misaligning the adjacent tiles. Also, because conventional spacers have square or rectangular cross sections, such tile spacers are difficult if not impossible to adjust while installed in the grout line without jarring the adjacent tiles out of alignment. Moreover, after a conventional tile spacer is installed in a grout line, it is virtually impossible to make minor adjustments to the adjacent tiles prior to the adhesive curing without causing the tile spacer to shift or twist, which, again, is due principally to the square or rectangular cross section of the spacer applied to the grout line.
Given these and other deficiencies in the art of tile spacers, the need for continuing improvement in the art is evident.

Tile installation spacer and method of use


A method for manufacturing an electronic device includes the following: forming an island-shaped peeling layer onto a substrate; stacking a resin layer all over the peeling layer; forming a barrier layer over the resin layer; forming an electronic-circuit layer onto the upper surface of the barrier layer; and peeling off the resin layer from the substrate and the peeling layer.

Manufacturing a flexible electronic device includes, for instance, forming a stack of layers, such as a resin layer, a TFT layer, and a light-emitting element layer, onto a glass substrate, followed by laser application to the lower surface of the resin layer from the backside of the glass substrate to peel off the glass substrate.

Method for manufacturing electronic device


A system and method for voltage and frequency margining of a digital system such as a digital processing system. Various implementations of the present invention may be utilized to programmatically vary the voltage and or frequency utilized by one or more components within a processing system to effect changes in system and or component margining.

The present disclosure relates to computer systems and to methods and apparatuses for frequency and voltage margining. Given the high speed of today's microprocessors and related circuitry, the signal edge rates and system bus speeds have increased to the point that oscilloscope measurements may not offer a true indicator of signal quality present at an integrated circuit die. Typically, to accurately measure signal quality, a silicon die has to be exposed and probed by an oscilloscope. While oscilloscopes have been used for many years to make these types of waveform measurements, the very high speed of today's circuitry makes an accurate measurement by most oscilloscopes a very difficult and error prone process.
A number of issues combine that may make accurate oscilloscope measurements difficult. One such factor is the capacitance loading of an oscilloscope probe that, by it's very nature, changes the input impedance seen by a signal. This increase in capacitance may in fact modify the observed signal to such a degree that it is unreliable and does not accurately reflect the actual signal during normal operation of a circuit. Additionally, an oscilloscope probe may introduce inductance effects which like capacitance effects modify the observed signal waveform such that what is observed also may not accurately reflect a waveform of a circuit in actual operation without being probed.
To address these issues and to accurately measure signal quality of a silicon die, the silicon die typically has to be exposed and probed by expensive high speed test equipment. This may be a very time consuming and destructive process and therefore is one to be avoided if practical.
One reason for doing system margining, such as frequency and voltage margining, is to monitor in the production process components and systems that may have deviated from their specifications, or may have performance trends that require investigation to understand. Identifying and capturing these systems may improve the customer's experience with the related products and may reduce the cost in dealing with problems before products that may be problematic are introduced into the field.
Such margining testing may in fact be the only practical solution to proactively address and resolve process drift issues to prevent product holds that could become a major revenue impact to a company. Therefore, the ability to perform real time system margining may become an important part of the design and production phase of products in the future. The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Intelligent frequency and voltage margining

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and a high latch for a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat has a seatback pivotably coupled to a seat base and the seat base is coupled to a vehicle body having a vehicle wall. The high latch includes a hook carriage including a structural hook, with the hook carriage coupled to the seatback. A striker assembly including a striker arm is configured to selectively engage the structural hook, with the striker assembly coupled to the vehicle body. With the structural hook and striker arm engaged, the seatback will move with the striker assembly from the first position to a second position.

The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle seats and more particularly relates to a vehicle seat and an articulating striker for a reclining seat high latch.
It is well known in the art to provide folding seat backs to allow access to cargo storage area through the opening in the partition between the passenger area and the cargo storage area of a vehicle. It is also known to provide a folding seat back to provide access to areas behind a vehicle seat such as for a second and third row seat in any vehicle, for example, a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), van, or the like. It is also known to provide a vehicle seat, for example, an automotive seat and a reclinable back.
In a typical configuration, the seat back includes a recliner pivot located between the seat back and seat base. The seatback may also be folded to provide access. The seat back may also include a latch that engages a striker member attached to the vehicle body to secure the seat back in an upright, or designed seating position. With a low recliner pivot position, the seat system is penalized in various ways. For example, such arrangement increases structure in the pivot and reclining mechanism to manage required loads. Such additional structure also increases the weight of the seat assembly. Application of aesthetic trims and materials to the seating structure is difficult and reduces "meat to metal" clearances in the recliner mechanism vicinity of the seat. Such seat configurations require that the latch be released to allow the seatback to pivot to the stowed position.
One prior art disclosure provides a high latch mounted on a seat and having a structural hook that engages a wall rack mounted to the vehicle structure. Reclining motion is facilitated by engaging and disengaging the hook from the wall rack and moving the seat back.
Therefore, there is a need for an articulating striker force reclining seat high latch that provides the reclining function at a position higher on the seat back and would be more efficient in transferring seat loads to the vehicle structure. There is further need for a seat that will provide an improvement in overall craftsmanship, lighter overall weight, and a lower cost to the seating system. There is further need for a seat that will provide for a fold-down position as well as a seating or design position and a reclining capability without disengaging the latch and striker. There is also a need for a method to move the seatback while attached to a striker assembly.


Provided is a speaker module for a portable terminal which e includes a speaker housing having an opened front surface thus defining a resonance space, a radiation pattern disposed on a back surface of the speaker housing, and connection terminals which extend from the radiation pattern to be disposed in the resonance space, such that the radiation pattern is disposed on the speaker housing and the connection terminal for providing electric connection of the radiation pattern is disposed in an inner side of the speaker housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to an audio device, and more particularly, to a speaker module mounted on a portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A speaker module is typically provided in various audio or video devices, such as a wireless or a mobile terminal, for outing a sound. A function of the mobile communication terminal has evolved from voice and data communication to various functions such as a portable game console. Now, a multimedia player and other devices have been integrated into a single mobile communication terminal
To provide a multimedia function on a portable terminal, a larger display device is needed and at the same time, to maintain portability, miniaturization of the portable terminal is also required. To this end, a touch screen with a virtual key pad is implemented as display unit, so that the display device is expanded but the thickness of the portable terminal is reduced.
The sound quality of the speaker module varies depending on a volume of the speaker module. That is, as the volume of the speaker module increases, the speaker module generally outputs a sound which is rich and near the original sound. However, there is a limitation in securing a sufficient volume of the speaker module as the speaker module is mounted in a miniaturized and thin-shaped portable device. Moreover, there is a need to mount communication antennas of different standards such as a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and so forth inside the portable terminal Therefore, a need for efficient use of an inner space of the miniaturized and thin-shaped portable terminal is urgent. As an approach to efficiently use the inner space of the portable terminal, some antenna devices may be integrated into the speaker module.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional speaker module 10 in which some of antenna devices are integrated. As shown, the conventional speaker module 10 receives a speaker unit 21 in a speaker housing 11, and has a radiation pattern 15 on its circumferential surface. The speaker unit 21 receives a vibration layer, a magnetic object, a coil, a yoke, and so forth, and substantially generates a sound according to an applied electric signal. The radiation pattern 15 which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the speaker housing 11, more specifically, a back surface of the speaker housing 11, is used as a portion of the antenna device. A front surface of the speaker housing 11 is opened, and an inner side of the speaker housing 11 is used as a resonance space 13 and a portion thereof is used as a space for receiving the speaker unit 21. The speaker unit 21 includes a flexible Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 23 which extends to a side of the speaker unit 21 and connection pads 25 which are provided on the flexible PCB 23. The speaker housing 11 is mounted such that the front surface of the speaker housing 11 confronts a circuit board (not shown) of the portable terminal, in which the connection pads 25 contact a sound signal connection terminal provided on the circuit board.
Further, between the circuit board and the speaker housing 11 is a sealing member 19 such as a poron tape interposed. The sealing member 19 is disposed on a front edge of the speaker housing 11, more specifically, a circumference of the resonance space 13. Hence, the resonance space 13 is completed substantially by coupling the speaker housing 11 with the circuit board, and the sealing member 19 prevents sound pressure from leaking in an unnecessary direction. To output a sound of the resonance space 13, sound output holes may be provided in a region corresponding to the resonance space 13 in the circuit board.
The radiation pattern 15 includes connection terminals 17 provided on an end thereof, which extend to partially cover the edge of the speaker housing 11 and thus to be positioned on the front surface of the speaker housing 11. The connection terminals 17 are positioned at a side of the resonance space 13 and on the front surface of the speaker housing 11. Once the speaker housing 11 is mounted on the circuit board, the connection terminals 17 contact a wireless signal connection pad provided on the circuit board.
The speaker module structured as described above provides the resonance space using the speaker housing and uses the speaker housing as a carrier for disposing an antenna radiation pattern, thus allowing efficient use of the inner space of the portable terminal.
However, only some volume of the speaker housing may be used to dispose the connection terminals for electrically connecting the radiation pattern to the circuit board, thereby resulting in a limitation in using the volume of the speaker housing as the resonance space. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, only 60-70% of the actual volume of the speaker housing is used as the resonance space.


A system and method that utilizes clean groups for reducing security management complexity. The system reduces the complexity of managing security technologies by automatically assigning objects such as computers or persons to clean groups which are defined by existing management infrastructure. In an embodiment where members are computers, ongoing automatic efforts ensure that clean groups include only computers that satisfy specified security principles, which allows administrators to treat all computers that are in compliance as a group. Separately, the members of the clean group are required to implement self-governance, which is an ability to detect being compromised and to take steps to remove themselves from the clean group when they are compromised. In addition to attempting to remove itself from the clean group, a compromised computer may take additional steps aimed at minimizing further damage, such as erasing or hiding computer domain credentials, hiding/protecting/disabling cryptographic (e.g. EFS) keys, or logging out a user.

One of the everyday tasks that network administrators are required to implement is keeping the computers and servers in their systems up to date and having all the latest patches installed. Network administrators are required to make sure that the latest versions of the software and data files are present, and that the configuration is consistent and up to date. Data files that may be required to be kept up to date may consist of items such as virus signatures. One of the advantages of keeping everything up to date is that by doing so the network administrator is able to minimize risks from viruses that exploit vulnerabilities and ensure consistent and reliable configurations.
In known systems where computers connect through a small number of connection points (i.e., choke points), quarantine mechanisms may be created at these known choke points. In other words, a system may be put in place by which when the server which is at the choke point of a network is connected to, the server checks out the connecting client to determine what state it is in, and if it is in an acceptable safe state, then it is let into the network. If it is in an unacceptable state, it may either be rejected automatically, or may be guided through the steps for being placed in an acceptable state. This method works best when there are a small number of choke points. The method is less desirable when computers are connected in a system such as a wireless network or an Ethernet, where there are large numbers of potential access points through which the system can be entered. For example, in a corporate network where there may be many thousands of ports, due to the expense and complexity it is generally not practical to use known techniques to equip each of these ports with a quarantine system.
The embodiment of the present invention is related to providing a system and method that overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages. More specifically, the embodiment of the present invention is related to a system and method which utilizes clean groups for reducing security management complexity.

System and method utilizing clean groups for security management


A method of administering a liquid pharmaceutical formulation, particularly a surfactant formulation, to at least one lung of a subject in need of such treatment is disclosed. The method is carried out while the subject has a breathing tube extending through the subject's mouth and larynx, and while ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube. The method comprises simultaneously administering the liquid pharmaceutical formulation down the breathing tube and into at least one lung of the subject and ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube. The method may be performed on premature infants to combat respiratory distress syndrome. A preferred apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention comprises a breathing tube configured for insertion through a subject's mouth and larynx, a ventilating apparatus operatively associated with the breathing tube, and an injecting device such as a syringe operatively associated with the breathing tube for introducing a liquid pharmaceutical formulation into the breathing tube.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), also termed hyaline membrane disease, is the leading cause of death and disability among premature infants. Of the 230,000 to 250,000 infants born prematurely each year in the United States, 40,000 to 50,000 develop RDS; and of those who develop this disease, 5,000 to 8,000 die. The risk of RDS is less for infants born closer to full term. However, RDS occurs in up to 75% of infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation (less than 1250 grams body weight). See generally R. Perelman and P. Farrell, Pediatrics 70, 570 (1982); D. Vidyasagar, in Hyaline Membrane Disease: Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology, 98 (L. Stern Ed. 1984).
RDS is caused by a deficiency in lung surfactant, a material ordinarily secreted onto the surface of lung alveoli. In the absence of surfactant, the alveoli tend to collapse during exhalation. Collapse can be avoided by mechanically ventilating the lungs. Nevertheless, even though premature infants often begin to secrete surfactant within 48 hours after birth, lung damage may have by this time already occurred due to the high oxygen concentrations and positive pressures of mechanical ventilation.
A number of groups have sought to develop surfactant formulations which can be used to treat or prevent RDS. Both human and bovine natural surfactants have been administered into the airways of newborn infants. See, e.g., J. Horbar et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 320, 959 (1989); R. Soll et al., Pediatric Res. 23, 425A (1988). Problems with such natural surfactants are, however, potential contamination with microorganisms and potential sensitization of the patient to proteins therein. Accordingly, completely synthetic surfactants have been developed. See. e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,821 to Clements; U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,860 to Clements.
With natural and synthetic surfactant formulations now available, a current problem is how to best administer them to a patient. Such patients are typically maintained on a ventilator with a breathing tube, an endotracheal tube extending through the patient's mouth and larynx. The endotracheal tube is joined to a ventilator Y-piece (typically through an endotracheal tube adapter), the Y-piece is connected to a pair of patient tubes, and the patient tubes are connected to a ventilating unit. The ventilating unit cyclically forces oxygen-rich air into, and allows oxygen-depleted air to escape from, the patient's lungs. One approach others have taken to administering a surfactant formulation to such a patient is to remove the Y-piece from the endotracheal tube adapter, inject the formulation into the endotracheal tube adapter, and rejoin the Y-piece to the endotracheal tube adapter. Another approach others have taken is to remove the Y-piece from the endotracheal tube adapter, insert a canula into the endotracheal tube adapter, inject the formulation through the canula, remove the canula, and rejoin the endotracheal tube adapter to the Y-piece. In both cases ventilation of the patient is interrupted. In both cases a risk of infecting the patient through the opened breathing tube exists. In both cases duration of administration is limited by the length of time which ventilation may be safely interrupted; and in both cases there is a need for substantial manipulation of the patient. These problems are compounded when the patient is a premature infant, particularly a premature infant afflicted with RDS, as such patients are sensitive to even gentle handling and susceptible to infection. Indeed, some premature infants critically ill with RDS do not tolerate even a brief interruption of mechanical ventilation.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of administering a pharmaceutical formulation (particularly a surfactant formulation) to a patient's lungs without interrupting ventilation of that patient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of administering a pharmaceutical formulation to a patient's lungs which does not require opening the breathing tube of that patient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of administering a pharmaceutical formulation to a patient's lungs with a minimal number of manipulative steps to which that patient must be subjected.

Method for administering surfactant to the lungs while concurrently providing one-lung ventilation


A method is provided to determine the concentration of an amorphous material such as blast furnace slag in a slurry such as drilling fluid, completion fluid fluids. A sample is annealed at a temperature between about 800.degree. C. and about 1000.degree. C. for a time period of about six hours to form crystals from the amorphous material, and the sample along with a known amount of a standard is then analyzed by X-ray diffraction. This method is particularly useful in determining the amount of blast furnace slag in a drilling fluid prior to conversion of the drilling fluid to a wellbore cement slurry by addition of additional blast furnace slag.

Tragesser, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,876 and Nahm in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 691,905, disclose the addition of pozzolan to drilling fluids. These pozzolans, when included in drilling fluids, provide a filter cake to prevent fluid loss from the wellbore wherein the filter cake has certain desirable properties. The filter cakes deposited from pozzolan-containing drilling muds can be made to be compatible with cements, and the filter cake itself can be converted into a cementitious material that bonds well with both wellbore cement and the formation. This eliminates problems of contamination of cement by incompatible filter cakes, and eliminates the need to displace mud and filter cake prior to cementing. Pozzolan, according to Tragesser, includes fly ash, flue dust, certain boiler and furnace slags, burnt ground brick, by-products of certain industrial processes, pumicites or volcanic ashes, pumice or pumice stones, obsidian, scoria, tuffs, some of the andesites, diatomites, cherts, shale, clays and pure opal. Nahm discloses particular advantages for the use of blast furnace slag as the pozzolan.
An improvement to the methods of using pozzolan-containing drilling muds is to convert the pozzolan-containing drilling muds directly to cementing slurries. Converting drilling muds directly to cementing slurries eliminates the need to dispose of used muds, eliminates the need to add some materials to the cement that are already present in the muds, such as fluid loss additives, and further improves compatibility of the muds with cementing slurries. Mud-based cements such as these are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,168,139; 3,499,491; and 5,058,679. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,679 discloses a conversion of drilling mud directly to a cement slurry by adding blast furnace slag; curing agents such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, zinc carbonate, or sodium carbonate; and optionally set control additives. The use of blast furnace slag cements instead of Portland cements significantly lowers cement costs, and further improves compatibility with pozzolan-containing drilling muds.
Determination of the amount of blast furnace slag in the drilling mud and in the cement slurry becomes important when blast furnace slag-containing drilling mud is converted to blast furnace slag cement. The amount of blast furnace slag remaining in mud will vary depending upon many factors. The amount of blast furnace slag in the final cementing slurry must be controlled to accomplish an acceptable slurry rheology, set time, and set cement properties.
An acceptable method was not previously known to determine the amount of an amorphous material such as slag in a slurry such as drilling muds, completion fluids, workover fluids or cement slurries. Such a method will be beneficial in conversion of muds containing amorphous materials such as blast furnace slag into blast furnace slag cement slurries.
Relative weight fractions of crystalline materials can be readily obtained by well-known X-ray diffraction techniques. But presence of a significant portion of an amorphous material such as blast furnace slag prevents obtaining useful information by existing X-ray diffraction techniques. X-ray diffraction has therefore not been a useful method in determination of the amounts of amorphous material in slurries such as cement slurries, drilling muds, completion fluids or workover fluids.
Use of X-ray diffraction as a quantitative analysis method for crystalline solids is disclosed by, for example, F. H. Chung, "Quantitative Interpretation of X-ray Diffraction Patterns of Mixtures. I. Matrix Flushing Method for Quantitative Multicomponent Analysis," J. Appl. Crystallogr., 7, p. 519-25 (1974). This method is not useful when a significant amount of amorphous material is present.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an analytical method capable of determining the amount of an amorphous material such as blast furnace slag in a sample such as cement slurry, drilling mud, completion fluid, and workover fluid.

Quantification of blast furnace slag in a slurry


A memory integrated circuit (IC) includes first memory implemented by the memory IC. An operation management module implemented by the memory IC generates first initialization data and stores the first initialization data in the first memory before other data is stored in the first memory. Timing alignment of the memory IC is adjusted based on the first initialization data.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Electronic data storage region devices (i.e. memory devices) are increasingly being required to operate at faster speeds and possess greater storage densities. Host devices such as computers, laptops, personal video recorders (PVRs), MP3 players, game consoles, servers, set-top boxes, digital cameras, and/or other electronic devices employ various types of memory devices to store data to enable operations. Common memory devices include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices and static random access memory (SRAM) devices.
In order to operate efficiently, various memory devices use a clock to synchronize input and output signals between memory devices and memory controllers (e.g. processors). Memory devices may use a clock from the memory controller to ensure synchronization during write and read commands that transfer data to and from the memory devices. Memory controllers use various calibration procedures to compensate for variations in parameters among individual memory devices and/or variations within the host devices.


Tone treatment given to callers by an originating switching system (10) during dialing may be customized in a call-processing arrangement (200) that uses stored definitions of syntax (320, 350) and grammar (400, 410) of the network numbering plan. The syntax definitions include definitions (312) of individual symbol strings and their associated tones (336), if any. Associations of tones with symbol strings are administratively reprogrammable to change the specified tone treatment. Following dialing and identification (340) of an individual symbol string, a caller is immediately fed back (906) the string's associated tone, if any. A caller is thus immediately advised during dialing of successful or unsuccessful input of a valid symbol string, and is selectively prompted for input of another string. Caller-perceivable feedback signals other than tones may be used with equal effect.

In telephone or telephone-like communications systems, system tones and ringing are used to inform a system user of the status or progress of a call to which the user is either an actual or an intended party. System tones include dial tone, busy tone, reorder tone, ringing feedback tone, and various prompting tones. Because a switching system is typically a source of these tones, the switching system includes an arrangement for generating these tones and an arrangement for distributing the tones to users' telephone lines. In alternative implementations, such as ISDN, the tones are generated locally at users' terminals in response to messages received by those terminals from the switching system.
Many switching system owners (e.g., private-party owners of PBXs, public-network owners of central office switches) would like to customize tone behavior for numbers in their network numbering plans. However, the way tones are presently handled by switching systems is to hard-code the tone treatment into the call-processing software, such that tones are given only in places where the designer of the switching system believes that tones should be given based on the designer's fixed network-number constructs. Deleting or adding tones, administratively by the customer in places where the customers would like to have them, is typically impossible, because the switching system cannot intelligently handle network-number constructs that do not conform to the structure that was implemented by the system's designer.
In a complex network (e.g., the international direct-dialed network), dialed network numbers can often be quite long. The longer the dialed network number is, the more likely it is that the user will misdial, and hence the more likely it is that network facilities will be needlessly tied up and time will be wasted while the entire number is (mis)dialed and thereafter redialed.