Disclosed is a torque suppressor for bodies having a forward assembly comprising an extension having a rear-portion, a mid-portion, and a fore-portion, wherein the fore-portion is configured to attach to the forward assembly, the rear-portion is configured to attach to the body at a forward point of attachment, and the mid-portion is configured to attach to a first end of a shoulder strap, the shoulder strap having a second end configured to attach to a rear point of attachment of the body. The device is effective in eliminating neck dive.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This invention relates to devices used to carry elongate items in a secure, convenient, and comfortable way where such items are typically carried with the assistance of a shoulder strap, and where such elongate items are musical instruments, such as various types of guitars or guitar-like instruments, keyboards, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Acoustic guitars, electric guitars and other, guitar-like instruments such as the electric bass are typically played with both hands, and each hand plays a specific role in the production of musical sounds. Ideally, both hands should be totally unencumbered while playing such an instrument. As a result, simultaneously holding and playing the instrument may be problematic, especially while the player is standing. The ideal solution would ensure that the instrument is held in a secure, convenient and comfortable way with absolutely no effort or thought needed on the part of the player; furthermore, the instrument should be suspended in a position that each player would consider to be the ideal position for the instrument according to their own preference.
To answer this need in part, such instruments are often played with the use of a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap normally attaches to the instrument at two points: approximately where the neck of the guitar joins the body and at the rear of the body. In both cases, the preferred points at which the shoulder strap attaches to the instrument are typically on the ribs of the instrument body, "ribs" being a term of art for the "sides" of the body. A strap button is screwed into the ribs at each of these two locations, "strap button" being a term of art for a small cylinder (generally slightly less than a half inch in height and in diameter, and generally made out of metal) with a notch cut in the middle of its curved surface. A small hole in each end of the shoulder strap is affixed to each of the strap buttons by fitting the inner rim of each hole into the strap button notch. The shoulder strap is intended to stay in place as a result of friction and the location and depth of the strap button notch. For instruments set up for right-handed players, the side of the shoulder strap is typically worn over the left shoulder and the strap passes diagonally down the player's back, is routed under the player's right arm, and attaches to the strap button at the rear of the instrument body. For instruments set up for left-handed players, the orientation of the shoulder strap is reversed accordingly.
One problem associated with the use of the strap button is that the shoulder strap may slip off of one or both of the strap buttons due to variations in factors such as shoulder strap design or manufacture, strap button design or manufacture, strap button location, the manner in which the instrument is held, the weight of the instrument, the weight distribution of various parts of the instrument, and/or shoulder strap adjustments made for the player's comfort or convenience. Devices called strap locks are intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, strap buttons, and are designed to prevent such unintended disconnects.
The use of the shoulder strap and strap locks have to a great extent addressed the need to hold a guitar-like musical instrument or other similarly shaped item in a secure and convenient way. However, an instrument held in this manner may still demonstrate an uncomfortable weight distribution that makes the instrument pitch and/or yaw. A typical form of this problem is known as neck dive, a term of art used to describe the situation where the neck of the instrument is prone to pitch downward with enough force that the player must consciously support the neck while playing the instrument. Over the course of weeks or months, needing to support the neck in this manner is uncomfortable, tends to interfere with proper playing technique, and may lead to strain-related medical conditions. Neck dive is commonly reported to be a common attribute of electric bass guitars due to their weight and weight distribution in comparison to acoustic and electric guitars.
The problem of muscle strain resulting from neck dive is particularly acute when playing the low positions, that is to say positions of the fingering hand on the fingerboard closest to the headstock where the players fingering arm is most extended and has the least leverage.
Finger pressure, resulting from the tendency of the headstock to yaw away from the player may or may not be a problem, depending on the player. Some players like the extra pressure on the fingers as an aid to firmly pressing the strings down. Others dislike the interference with techniques demanding a light touch. The apparatus of the disclosure is adaptable to either taste as will be made apparent below.
A basic operating principle of this device is to provide a rigid, relatively lightweight and adjustable device that allows the portion of the shoulder strap that passes over the player's shoulder to be attached to the instrument at a different range of locations than would be possible without the use of the apparatus of the present disclosure. The shoulder strap locations that the torque suppressor makes available to the player will allow the instrument to be worn in a comfortable position that completely solves the problems of neck dive and neck yaw, as well as addressing the other issues discussed herein.
Three-point support has been used in the past, though without the use of a rigid extension. In such a setup, a shoulder strap is generally provided that extends from the back of the guitar to the headstock, or at least high up the neck. A second strap then connects to the front of the body of the guitar to the shoulder strap, usually with a slideable metal ring. The user adjusts the length of this second strap to neutralize neck dive. Such a rig can be seen in Tonon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,173, issued 10 Aug. 1999, for a "Suspension of Musical Instruments," (see FIG. 3). The problem with those systems, in lacking the rigid extensions of the present disclosure, is that neck dive is only neutralized at a single fixed position. As soon as the player lifts the headstock, the shoulder strap goes slack and the configuration causes the instrument body to fall down and away to the back, accompanied by neck dive. Pushing the headstock downward causes the shoulder strap to tighten and the instrument body to be pulled upward and forward, accompanied by neck lift. All of which is to say that the instrument always pushes back toward its original set position. This is fine for those who don't move their guitar around during a performance and play simple chords, but the benefits of these kinds of flexible three point suspension are minimized or lost completely when the performer moves the neck of the instrument up or down to any substantial degree. All but the most rigorously trained and disciplined performers will demonstrate some such movement. Further, the second strap obstructs "over-the-board" playing wherein the performer reaches over the fingerboard rather than under it. The so called "two-handed tapping" technique, for example, involves bringing the right arm over the fingerboard and the left hand under it (for right-handed players).


There is a device for providing an easy opening in a beverage container such as a can. The device can comprise a body section, extending substantially along a longitudinal axis. This body section can comprise a first section having a rounded end. There can be a second section comprising a substantially flat section extending along the longitudinal axis. This second section comprises at least one first prong and a second prong comprising a hook which can extend to a sharpened section. The opening device is configured to create an opening in a metal can, wherein the first prong is configured to grip a bottom of a can, the second prong is spaced from the first prong and is configured to puncture a hole in the can when pressed, and the rounded end is configured to push through the opening to create a wider opening in the can.

At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a can opening device which is configured to create at least one opening in a can. This opening in the can in at least one instance could be used for "shotgunning" the contents of the can. To "shotgun" the contents of the can the user must create at least two openings in the can and then drain the contents of the can from one of the openings while using the other opening to provide air or other fluid feed into the can to allow for the drop in fluid pressure inside of the can. To create an opening in the body of the container, can result in cuts to both the user's fingers as well as to their mouth if the opening if not created carefully enough.
Therefore, there is a need for a device or a tool which can be used to create an opening in a can while avoiding any injury to the user.

Method of opening a can with an opening device


A Geothermal Power Generator which includes apparatus and method for the in-situ recovery of geothermal energy using thermionic or thermotunnelling converters. These are diode devices which produce electricity when a temperature gradient is applied across them. The electricity thus produced in a downhole environment is conducted to the surface where it can be used as an effective electrical source.

The invention relates to direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion systems for in situ recovery of underground geothermal energy.
High temperature geological areas, commonly referred to as geothermal areas, exist throughout the world. These areas are a natural source of heat that can be used to generate electricity. This can be done by drilling a hole or by making use of existing holes, both natural and artificial. There are a number of current systems, which utilize these areas to produce electricity, but there are several problems associated with them.
One system used is hydroelectric power—geothermal heat is used to heat up water to high temperatures, which produces steam to power turbines. This involves either using natural hot springs or pumping water down holes, bringing the water to the surface and setting up a generating system above ground. There are a lot of inefficiencies involved in this system as heat is lost along the way. It is costly to build and maintain, as there are many moving parts, all of which are subject to wear and tear. Furthermore, the circulating water (or other fluid) often dissolves large quantities of minerals and becomes very corrosive. The dissolved minerals also often precipitate out as the fluid escapes or is pumped from underground. The precipitating minerals can effectively plug the well. All of these systems also require that the fluid be vaporized at some point.
Prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,894 to Halff and U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,923 to Berg have taken steps to avoid the problems associated with mineral buildup. Other systems use dry steam—steam from geothermal areas is used directly to power turbines. These methods avoid the problems that arise when water is used, but still necessitate the building of a generating system and the cost and time that this involves.
Systems have been invented to utilize the heat energy to produce electricity in a downhole environment, thus avoiding the need to bring heat to the surface, through liquid or any other medium, and avoiding the problems encountered with water as mentioned above. These systems use devices that can produce electricity by the simple application of heat to the device. The electricity produced in this way needs only to be conducted to the surface, where it can be used instantly. One prior art method of doing this involves thermoelectric devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,601 to Schnatzmeyer et al., for example, refers to the use of thermoelectric devices to generate electricity in a downhole environment, both for the benefit of recharging battery packs and to generate an independent electricity supply. It should be noted that the electricity produced is "DC", so for "AC" applications a converter must me used, also, because of the nature of the device, some form of voltage control must be used. The transformer can be placed underground or above ground depending on if it if more beneficial to have it easily accessible or to boost the voltage near the source to increase transport efficiency.
This avoids many of the problems of previous systems, but has considerable drawbacks. Thermoelectric devices generate power by using special materials and configurations that force heat to push electrons from one side of the device to the other.
The biggest problem with thermoelectrics is that while heat pushes electrons in one direction, the material itself redistributes most of that heat through simple conduction. This means that most of the heat is not usefully harnessed, and instead flows through the system in all directions, reducing efficiency. Prior art patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,401 to Santi describes a thermo-electric power station supplied by a geothermal heat source. This system still requires liquid to be heated underground, necessitating the building of a geothermal system and a power station. Furthermore, the power station may have the problems associated with thermo-electrics mentioned above.
Similar ideas have been developed using thermionic systems as opposed to thermo-electric systems. These have the advantage of being far more efficient because there is a physical gap between two substrates, which prevents heat from returning to its source. However, prior art inventions involving thermionic systems are only able to function efficiently at very high temperatures, thus limiting the areas in which they can be used. Furthermore, prior art systems include expensive custom designed units fully encircling centralized heat pipes, such as patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,093 to Levoy.
Patent Application number WO99/13562 of Borealis Technical Limited describes a method for generating electricity from any heat source using thermotunneling converters. These are diode devices made by placing two materials very close to each other so that energetic electrons can tunnel from one material to the next. By tapping this electron flow, usable electric current can be extracted. The gap between the two materials ensures that the temperature differential between the two sides is maintained. It also allows current to flow in one direction only. Being that the most energetic electrons tunnel, heat is likely to be transferred from the hot side to the cold side along with the current. The gap acts as a heat sink and prevents the heat from being transferred by mere conduction.
This system has been shown to be extremely efficient and has the added advantage of being able to harness lower grade heat than both turbine systems and the annular prior art thermionic systems mentioned above. It also has the potential require no external mechanical or electrical power, thus allowing it to be completely self-sufficient.


A portable prayer altar including an enclosure having an open rear wall facing the user. A padded kneeling mechanism is pivotally attached to the interior bottom wall and is movable between a lowered position for use, and a raised position for storage. A rotary air driven motor, in communication with an air compressor and air storage tank, is operably attached to the kneeling mechanism. An activation switch coupled to the motor is carried on the side wall of the enclosure and is readily accessible to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of prayer and meditation accessories, and more particulary to a portable altar for use in a home or apartment.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,382; Des. U.S. Pat No. 151,214; Des. U.S. Pat. No. 245,381; Des. U.S. Pat. No. 306,535; Des. U.S. Pat. No. 339,933; and Des. U. S. Pat. No. 357,825, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse prayer altars.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical portable prayer altar.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved prayer altar and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


The power supply control device of the present invention includes: a set of power reception conductors; a set of power supply conductors; a set of intermediate conductors electrically connected to the set of power reception conductors, respectively; a set of relays configured to make and break electrical connections between the set of intermediate conductors and the set of power supply conductors, respectively; a zero-phase current transformer positioned to allow the set of intermediate conductors to pass through an inside of the zero-phase current transformer; a control circuit for controlling the set of relays responding to a detection result of the zero-phase current transformer; and a body block including a first block and a second block fixed to the first block. The set of power reception conductors and the set of power supply conductors are fixed to the first block. The set of intermediate conductors is fixed to the second block.

In the past, there have been provided power supply control devices that control power supply from external power sources to automobiles (see document 1 [JP 2011-135653 A]). The external power source is, for example, a commercial 100V AC power supply. The automobile includes a battery and a charging circuit for charging the battery, is capable of running on a motor that is driven by electrical power from the battery, and specifically is a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle. The power supply control device is used for supplying electrical power to the charging circuit.
Some of such power supply control devices include a zero-phase current transformer in which power supply paths of all phases from an external power source to a load (e.g., a charging circuit) are inserted, and turn off relays inserted in the power supply paths to interrupt power supply from the external power source to the load responding to detection of an electrical leakage by use of the zero-phase current transformer.
In the past, a metal plate which is directly connected to an electric cable introduced from an outside and is part of the power supply path is inserted in the zero-phase current transformer (see document 1).
In the above structure where the metal plate directly connected to the electric cable is inserted in the zero-phase current transformer, when the electric cable receives external force such as pull force, the external force may be transferred to the metal plate via the electric cable and cause elastically deformation of the metal plate. Due to such deformation, the metal plate may press the zero-phase current transformer, and, as a result, displacement of the zero-phase current transformer is likely to occur.
For example, in a structure where the zero-phase current transformer is mounted on a printed wiring board, the displacement of the zero-phase current transformer is likely to cause breakage of a connection part (e.g., terminals and solder) of the zero-phase current transformer and the printed wiring board, and such breakage may cause poor connection.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A method is disclosed for allocating a portfolio investment among a population of securities held in an investment portfolio, wherein each security of the population of securities is issued by a company of a plurality of companies, and each security has at least one corresponding data element. The method includes the steps of assigning each security to a corresponding industry group, summing the industry total of each of the plurality of industry groups to provide the portfolio investment. One investment portion of the portfolio investment is distributed to at least one or more of the plurality of industry groups. The investment portion of the corresponding industry group is equal to a proportion of the industry total of the corresponding industry group to the portfolio investment. The investment portion may be distributed among a selected one or more of the securities of the corresponding industry group.

Equity mutual funds of all shapes and sizes tend to have one thing in common. Greater than 95% of equity mutual funds are managed by an individual Portfolio Manager or Investment Committee and would be considered "actively" managed. The remaining majority of funds would be considered "passively" managed index funds. An index fund uses the same representative portfolio as the published index it seeks to replicate. The majority of equity indexes that are published are weighted by market capitalization (the market price of a stock times shares outstanding). Market capitalization weighted indexes differ only by their universe selection. By gate-keeping an index universe, committees responsible for an index exclude certain component equities from their sample to maintain a predetermined portfolio characteristic of price/earnings ratio and price to book ratio. Our invention, The Industry Leaders Strategy Model was developed to generate portfolios based on the same universe, but using different ingredients to determine the weightings. Our process creates portfolios that have different portfolio statistics that are determined by the weighting factor and not a predetermined outcome. We developed a unique methodology for weighting portfolios by different fundamental inputs.
There are a small number of proprietary "model" based mutual funds that because of their secretive nature are as variegated as the actively managed funds. This invention has the same goal as these proprietary models (to be differentiated from actively managed funds by association to a discipline), yet this invention attempts to use a rigid and unique methodology to achieve the creation of understandably allocated portfolios.

Apparatus and method for creating and managing a financial instrument


An image forming system includes an image former for forming a non-fixed image on a recording sheet, a heat fixer for thermally fixing the non-fixed image on the recording sheet, and an operation permitting signal output device for outputting a signal representative of an operation permitting condition of the image forming system after a power source of the system is turned on. The operation permitting signal output device outputs the signal representative of the operation permitting condition before the temperature of the heating body reaches a waiting temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system such as a copying machine, printer and the like, having a heat fixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, in image forming systems such as electrophotographic recording systems having heat fixing devices, particularly heat roller fixing devices, an operator could not utilize the image forming system until a surface temperature of a heat roller has reached a predetermined level after a power source has been turned ON. Efforts have been made to reduce the waiting time during which the system could not be used after the power source was turned ON. For example, it has been considered to reduce the heat capacity of a heat roller and/or to increase the heating value of a heater for increasing the temperature increasing speed of the heat roller.
However, if the thickness of a roller core made of aluminum and the like is decreased to reduce the heat capacity of the heat roller, heat conduction in a longitudinal direction will be worsened, and further, the heat roller will be more apt to deform from pressure. Furthermore, if the heater is set to compensate for the reduction of the heat conduction, when small-sized recording sheets are printed continuously, since the surface temperature of the portion of the heat roller which does not contact with the recording sheet the, the service life or durability of a separating claw and bearings which contact the heat roller must be increased, thus making the system expensive. Further, since the heat roller is apt to deform, it is not possible to apply adequate force to the heat roller fixing device, thus worsening the fusion of toner on the recording sheet. If the heating value of the heater is increased, since the maximum power consumption is also increased, for example, when a plurality of image forming systems are connected to a power source via a single plug socket, the number of systems to be connected is limited.
Further, as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-31549, it is also known that an image forming operation is started at a temperature lower than a fixing permitting temperature so that the temperature of the heat roller is increased up to the fixing permitting temperature when a recording sheet actually reaches the heat roller fixing device, thereby, reducing the waiting time more or less. However, the time required to bring the recording sheet to the fixing device after the image forming system starts to feed the recording sheet depends upon a length of the sheet feeding path and the sheet feeding speed of the image forming system, and is about 5-10 seconds at the most. Further, since the heat roller is rotating together with a pressure roller when the recording sheet is brought into the fixing device after the sheet feeding operation is started, the building-up temperature of the surface of the heat roller becomes gentle.
Furthermore, since the building-up temperature of the surface of the heat roller is influenced by the dispersion in the input voltage to the heater and/or in the heating value of the heater itself, in order to ensure that the temperature of the heat roller is increased up to the fixing permitting temperature within the time period when the recording sheet reaches the fixing device after the initiation of the sheet feeding operation, the surface temperature of the heat roller at the end of the waiting time must be set to accommodate the condition that the heating value of the heater is lowest, i.e., a condition that the building-up speed of the surface temperature of the heat roller is slowest. Thus, the waiting time cannot be effectively reduced only by ending the waiting time at a temperature lower than the fixing temperature by an amount of the temperature increase until the recording sheet reaches the fixing device.

Image forming system having reduced wait time


A computer-implemented method for solving a satisfiability (SAT) problem includes defining a formula, including variables, which refers to properties of a target system. Using a chosen search strategy, a search process is performed over possible value assignments of the variables for a satisfying assignment that satisfies the formula. A performance metric estimating an effectiveness of the search process is periodically evaluated during the search process. The strategy of the search process is modified responsively to the evaluated performance metric. The method determines, using the search process, whether the formula is satisfiable on the target system.

Various methods are known in the art for verifying complex hardware and logic designs. Some verification applications (commonly referred to as model checking methods) model the design as a finite state machine and express the hardware specification in temporal logic. For many designs, the number of states in such state machine can be prohibitive, and the explicit traversal of the state space becomes infeasible. To reduce the number of states, some applications use symbolic model checking methods, which encode the finite state machine in terms of Boolean formulas. Some symbolic model checking methods use binary decision diagrams (BDDs) for representing Boolean formulas. BDDs are described, for example, by Bryant in "Graph-based Algorithms for Boolean Function Manipulation," IEEE Transactions on Computers, (35:8), August 1986, pages 677-691.
Bounded Model Checking (BMC) is a symbolic model checking method introduced by Biere et al. in "Symbolic Model Checking Without BDDs," Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems Fifth International Conference (TACAS'99) volume 1579 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, July 1999, pages 193-207. Bounded model checking is based on propositional satisfiability (SAT) procedures. The method considers counterexamples of a particular length and generates a propositional formula that is satisfiable if and only if such a counterexample exists. The authors show that bounded model checking for linear temporal logic (LTL) can be reduced to propositional satisfiability in polynomial time.
Many satisfiability solving methods are based on variants of the well-known Davis-Putnam-Longman-Loveland (DPLL) algorithm, which is described by Davis et al. in "A machine program for theorem-proving," Communications of the ACM, (5:7), pp. 394-397, July 1962.
Various methods and software tools are known in the art for solving propositional satisfiability (SAT) problems. For example, Merques-Silva and Sakallah describe a SAT solver called GRASP (Generic seaRch Algorithm for the Satisfiability Problem) in "GRASP: A Search Algorithm for Propositional Satisfiability," IEEE Transactions on Computers, (48:5), May 1999, pages 506-521.
Another SAT solver is described by Moskewicz et al. in "Chaff: Engineering an Efficient SAT Solver," Proceedings of the 38th Annual IEEE/ACM Design Automation Conference (DAC'2001), Las Vegas, Nev., June 2001.
Goldberg and Novikov describe a tool called BerkMin in "BerkMin: A Fast and Robust SAT Solver," Proceedings of the Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE'2002) Conference, Paris, France, March 2002, pages 142-149.
Yet another SAT solver called SATO is described by Zhang in "SATO: An Efficient Propositional Prover," Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Automated Deduction, Townsville, Australia, July 1997, pages 272-275.
Nudelman et al. describe a tool called SATzilla, which aggregates several SAT solvers, in "SATzilla: An Algorithm Portfolio for SAT," SAT 2003 Competition, in conjunction with the Sixth International Conference on the Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing. SATzilla is a portfolio of SAT algorithms (including, for example, SATO and BerkMin cited above). The authors describe a method that predicts the running time of each algorithm for a given SAT instance and runs the algorithm predicted to be fastest.
In some cases, SAT solvers use heuristics and learning techniques for reducing the time and memory requirements of the solving process. For example, The BerkMin SAT solver cited above uses decision-making procedures, non-chronological backtracking, conflict analysis and clause database management as part of the solving process.
Several learning techniques and decision strategies are described by Ryan in "Efficient Algorithms for Clause-Learning SAT Solvers," M. Sc. Thesis, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, February 2004.
Lagoudakis and Littman describe a method for choosing appropriate branching rules in a DPLL SAT solver in "Learning to Select Branching Rules in the DPLL Procedure for Satisfiability," Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematics (ENDM), Volume 9, LICS 2001 Workshop on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2001), Boston, Mass., June 2001. The method uses a reinforcement-learning approach, in which a value function, which predicts the performance of each branching rule in each case, is learned through trial runs on a typical problem set of the target class of SAT problems.
Bayardo and Schrag describe a method that incorporates constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) look-back techniques to enhance the Davis-Putnam procedure in "Using CSP Loop-Back Techniques to Solve Real-World SAT Instances," Proceedings of the 14th National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Providence, R.I., July 1997, pages 203-208.
Herbstritt and Becker describe another method for branching rule selection in "Conflict-Based Selection of Branching Rules," Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Theory and Application in Satisfiability Testing (SAT'2003), Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, May 2003, pages 441-451. The method uses a set of branching rules. Each branching rule is given a preference value, which models the probability of selecting the branching rule. The preference values are dynamically adapted with respect to conflict analysis. Learning methods and decision strategies are also described in the above-cited references regarding BerkMin, GRASP, chaff, SATO SAT solvers.
Aloul et al. describe a tool for estimating the progress of a SAT solver in "Satometer: How Much Have We Searched?" IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, (22:8), August 2003, pages 995-1004. Satometer estimates the percentage of the search space actually explored by a Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solver that uses conflict clause learning. The tool calculates a normalized count for portions of the search-space identified by conflicts. The computation is carried out using a zero-suppressed BDD data structure.

Adaptive application of SAT solving techniques

International Business Machines Corporation


A waste heat utilization device for a motor vehicle includes a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. The water heat utilization circuit includes a conveying device, an evaporator, an expansion machine, and a condenser. The waste heat utilization device also includes an electrical generator in direct or indirect drive connection with a power take-off shaft of an internal combustion engine. The expansion machine is in direct drive connection with the power take-off shaft of the internal combustion engine for purposes of energy recirculation.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a waste heat utilization device for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine. Exemplary embodiments of the invention further relate to a motor vehicle having such a waste heat utilization device, and an operating method for a motor vehicle having such a waste heat utilization device.
A conventional waste heat utilization device, which preferably operates according to the Rankine cycle or according to the Clausius-Rankine cycle, usually includes a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. A conveying device for driving the working medium, an evaporator for evaporating the working medium, an expansion machine for expanding the working medium, and a condenser for condensing the working medium are successively situated in the waste heat utilization circuit in the direction of flow of the working medium.
German patent document DE 24 00 760 describes a motor vehicle that may be alternatively or simultaneously driven by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,029 discloses a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The electric motor may be operated by means of a waste heat utilization device. The electric motor may be used for driving a transmission as well as for charging a battery. The electrical energy stored in the battery may in turn be used, if necessary, for driving the electric motor.
European patent document EP 1 249 585 A1 discloses a heat exchanger of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The heat exchanger may be designed as a waste heat utilization device that is mounted in a motor vehicle. The waste heat utilization device in turn includes an evaporator that generates steam at an elevated temperature and elevated pressure, wherein waste heat, such as exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, is used as the heat source. A rotary shaft is driven by means of an expansion machine by expansion of the high-pressure steam, and the steam is re-condensed by means of a condenser. By means of the expansion device, an output shaft of an internal combustion engine as well as an electrical generator which may, for example, electrically charge an electrical energy store, in particular a rechargeable battery, may be driven via a mechanical coupling.
European patent document EP 1 326 017 A1 describes a Rankine circuit system for utilizing waste heat of an exhaust gas from a hybrid vehicle. The system includes an internal combustion engine as the drive source for the motor vehicle, and an electric generator motor. An output torque of the system is supplied to a transmission, and is used to provide an additional drive force for a drive train of the motor vehicle or to electrically charge a chargeable battery. During an acceleration of the motor vehicle, thermal energy of the exhaust gas is utilized by the system, and during a deceleration of the motor vehicle, the kinetic energy of the motor vehicle is converted to provide regenerative electrical power for the electric generator motor, so that the fuel consumption in the internal combustion engine may be reduced.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved design for a waste heat utilization device and for a motor vehicle using such a waste heat utilization device. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are also directed to an improved operating method for such a motor vehicle.
The waste heat utilization device according to the invention includes a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. The waste heat utilization device includes a conveying device, situated in the waste heat utilization circuit, for driving the working medium, and an evaporator, situated in the waste heat utilization circuit downstream from the conveying device, for evaporating the working medium. Furthermore, the waste heat utilization device includes an expansion machine, situated in the waste heat utilization circuit downstream from the evaporator, for expanding the working medium, and a condenser, situated in the waste heat utilization circuit downstream from the expansion machine, for condensing the working medium.
For energy recovery, the expansion machine is now in direct drive connection with a power take-off shaft of the internal combustion engine. Output drive power of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle may be assisted in this way. In addition, as the result of providing an electrical generator that is in direct or indirect drive connection with the power take-off shaft, besides the above-mentioned direct energy recovery, the generation of electrical energy is also possible. The electrical energy generated in this way may be used in particular for driving an electric motor, via which in turn the drive of a main output shaft of the internal combustion engine may be assisted. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible for the generated electrical energy to be temporarily stored in a suitable energy store, such as a chargeable battery. By means of the electrical energy that is temporarily stored in such a battery, an electric motor situated on a main output shaft of the internal combustion engine may then be driven, or, if the electrical generator is designed as a so-called generator motor, the electrical generator may be driven for operation as an electric motor by means of the electrical energy stored in the energy store, in order to likewise assist the drive power of the internal combustion engine via the power take-off shaft. The efficiency of the internal combustion engine may be significantly increased by means of a waste heat utilization device designed according to the invention as described above.
In one embodiment the expansion machine may have a rotor and a turbine wheel connected to the rotor in a rotationally fixed manner and drivable by the energy that is released during expansion of the working medium, wherein the power take-off shaft of the internal combustion engine is the rotor of the expansion machine. According to the invention, the term "direct drive connection" is thus understood to mean that the expansion machine is situated directly on the power take-off shaft of the internal combustion engine, so that the power take-off shaft simultaneously functions as a rotor of the expansion machine. A space-saving and technically simple, and therefore cost-effective, design of the waste heat utilization device according to the invention is thus possible.
In one embodiment, the electrical generator may be situated on the power take-off shaft. In that case, the expansion machine and the electrical generator are both placed on the power take-off shaft of the internal combustion engine, as the result of which the space requirements for the waste heat utilization device according to the invention may be further reduced.
Alternatively, however, it is possible to situate the electrical generator on a separate generator shaft that is in operative connection with the power take-off shaft. The electrical generator may thus be spatially separate from the expansion machine if this should be necessary for technical reasons, for example.
The power take-off shaft is then in drive connection with the generator shaft by means of a wheel drive, in particular a belt drive, chain drive, or gear drive. A torque of the power take-off shaft may thus be transmitted to the generator shaft of the electrical generator, which is spatially separate from the power take-off shaft, in a technically simple and space-saving manner. The wheel drive may also include a gear unit by means of which a certain gear ratio between a generator shaft of the electrical generator and the output shaft may be achieved. This embodiment as well allows a flexible and compact design of the waste heat utilization device.
In one particularly compact and therefore space-saving embodiment, the power take-off shaft may be led coaxially through the expansion machine in such a way that the electrical generator or the wheel drive is situated on a side of the expansion machine facing away from the internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the power take-off shaft may be led coaxially through the electrical generator or the wheel drive, so that the electrical generator or the wheel drive is situated on the power take-off shaft on a side of the expansion machine facing the internal combustion engine.
To be able to re-supply the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator to the drive train of the motor vehicle in order to increase the power, the waste heat utilization device may also include an electric motor which is drivable by the electrical generator. For this purpose, the electric motor may be in drive connection with a main output shaft of the internal combustion engine.
Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment the electrical generator itself may be designed as a so-called generator motor, so that in a coasting mode state of the motor vehicle the generator motor may act as an electrical generator for generating electrical energy, and in a drive mode state of the motor vehicle may act as an electric motor for driving the power take-off shaft of the motor vehicle. Thus, in the drive mode state, additional drive power may be supplied to the drive train of the motor vehicle in the manner of a so-called "booster," via the main output shaft (by means of a separate electric motor) or via the power take-off shaft (by means of the electrical generator which is designed as a generator motor). The energy necessary for operating the electric motor or generator motor may be withdrawn from a suitable electrical energy store, such as a chargeable battery. The charging of this electrical energy store may then take place by means of the electrical generator, for example when the motor vehicle is in a coasting mode state. In such an operating state, the motor vehicle is not accelerated or even decelerated, so that the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator is not needed by the drive train of the motor vehicle, and instead may be temporarily stored in the electrical energy store for later use.
Furthermore, in one embodiment the electrical generator may be designed in such a way that it is switchable for selectively charging the electrical energy store, in particular the battery, or for driving the main output shaft. The electrical energy generated by the electrical generator may thus be reused in an energy-efficient manner.
The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine which includes a main output shaft and a power-take off shaft, and having a waste heat utilization device with one or more of the above-mentioned features. The invention further relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle having this type of design.
Further important features and advantages of the invention result from the drawings, and the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.
It is understood that the features mentioned above and to be explained below are usable not only in the particular stated combination, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Waste-heat utilization device for a motor vehicle


A resource indication method, a user equipment and a network device is disclosed. In an embodiment a method includes receiving, by user equipment, configuration information sent by a network device, wherein the configuration information comprises allocation information of frequency domain resources of a plurality of first system parameters and transmitting, by the user equipment, information corresponding to a physical channel and/or information corresponding to a physical signal on at least one resource element in a time-frequency resource corresponding to a frequency domain resource of at least one of the plurality of first system parameters, wherein the first system parameter comprises a first subcarrier spacing size, a cyclic prefix length, a transmission time interval length, a symbol length, or a symbol quantity.

With the development of communications technologies, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has formulated the fifth generation network (5G) new radio (NR) standard, and flexibly supporting a plurality of system parameters (numerology) is one of important features of the NR.
Different system parameters correspond to different subcarrier spacings in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system. Currently, the NR supports the subcarrier spacing such as 15*2n kHz (n∈{−2, −1, . . . 5}, which corresponds to a subcarrier spacing interval [3.75 kHz, 480 kHz]). Selection of the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the system parameter depends on a trade-off between spectral efficiency and an anti-frequency offset capability. For an OFDM system based on a cyclic prefix (CP), a symbol includes a symbol part and a CP part. For same CP overheads, a smaller subcarrier spacing indicates a longer symbol part, a longer OFDM symbol period, higher system spectral efficiency, and weaker capabilities of resisting Doppler frequency shift and phase noise.
In the NR, different services and different scenarios require different system parameters. The NR supports, on a segment of bandwidth, that a manner of frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and/or time division multiplexing (TDM) may be used to multiplex different system parameters. At the RAN1 #87 meeting, an agreed research focus was to dynamically multiplex a plurality of system parameters in a same segment of bandwidth.
Currently, a resource indication method provided in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard for each resource allocation type is applicable to a system parameter corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz. For example, for a downlink resource allocation type 2, a resource allocated to user equipment is a segment of consecutive virtual resource blocks (VRBs). A manner of mapping the VRB to a physical resource block (PRB) may be centralized, or may be distributed. The resource indication method for this resource allocation type is indicated by downlink control information (DCI). A bit in a DCI format is used to indicate that the mapping manner is centralized or distributed, and a resource indication bit in the DCI format is used to indicate a start resource block allocated to the user equipment and a length of consecutively allocated resource blocks.
However, a resource indication method for a system parameter corresponding to 15 kHz can indicate a resource allocation status in a single system parameter scenario, but cannot indicate a resource allocation status in a co-existence scenario of a plurality of system parameters.

Resource indication method, user equipment, and network device


The present invention provides novel markers of treatment response in a subject infected with Mycobacterium, which allow for quantifying treatment impact on the physiologic state of the Mycobacterium.

Diseases caused by the bacterial genus mycobacteria are a leading cause of death worldwide. Mycobacteria species are broadly divided into two categories: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) organisms. and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) organisms.
MTBC cause tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide, an estimated 10.4 million people are sickened with TB, and 1.8 million die each year. TB affects the lung most often, although is capable of affecting nearly any part of the body. TB is spread from person-to-person through the air. Globally, the standard treatment for drug-susceptible TB is a six-month regimen that begins with a two-month course of four antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol; this treatment regime is commonly referred to as "HRZE"), and continues for an additional four months with isoniazid and rifampin alone. Unfortunately, the standard six-month, four-drug treatment regimen has not changed in nearly four decades. This treatment's long duration and complexity is a major challenge for health systems, and may lead to non-adherence to treatment. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 10% of patients relapse after treatment completion, causing morbidity or death, enabling TB transmission within communities and generating drug resistance. There is an urgent need for new more efficacious drug regimens that cure TB in a shorter period.
The challenges of TB treatment can be massively compounded when the bacterium is drug-resistant. Multiple drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is defined as resistance to the two most effective first-line TB drugs: rifampin and isoniazid. The WHO considers the growing incidence of MDR-TB to be a global public health crisis. An estimated 480,000 new MDR-TB cases occur each year. Recommended treatment for MDR-TB includes four to seven antibiotics for 9-24 months, but unfortunately the treatment success rate with these regimens is estimated to be only 52% globally. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has resistance to not only rifampin and isoniazid, but also three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs. Globally, the treatment success rate with these regimens is estimated to be only 28%. Development of new drugs and drug regimens for treatment of MDR-TB and XDR-TB is an urgent priority.
NTM comprises over 125 species. A subset of NTM species is capable of causing devastating disease, particularly among the elderly or patients with underlying lung damage such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis. NTM can cause lung disease, lymph node swelling, skin disease, or disseminated infection. NTM disease is most commonly associated with species in the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Among the most difficult-to-treat NTM disease is caused by Mycobacterium abscesssus (Mab). In the U.S., NTM is a more common cause of disease than TB. Even with adherence to months to years of treatment with multiple, often toxic, antimicrobial agents, patients may fail treatment or relapse after completing treatment.
A central challenge for both TB and NTM disease is the current lack of reliable markers measurable early in treatment that accurately indicate the duration of treatment required to achieve durable non-relapsing cure. This has critical implications for both routine clinical care and clinical trials. Currently, the routine care of patients with mycobacterial disease is hamstrung by the current inability to stratify treatment duration. For example, nearly all patients worldwide with drug-susceptible TB receive the same "one size fits all" treatment that lasts six months. However, responses to treatment are heterogeneous. For most of these patients, the standard six month regimen is over-treatment; clinical trials show that up to 80% of patients may be durably cured in 4 months. But the standard six month regimen also undertreats an important subset of patients that relapse after completing six months of treatment. In treating NTM disease, clinicians also face the uncertainty about how much treatment is "enough" and how much is "too much."
Lack of a surrogate marker of treatment effectiveness also impedes clinical trials of new drugs. For both TB and NTM, a central goal is curing disease more quickly. Without a marker of treatment-shortening effectiveness, early-phase trials are hamstrung. For example, in TB drug development, a critically important decision is which candidate drug regimens should move from Phase IIb to Phase III clinical trials. Unfortunately, currently Phase IIb trials estimate treatment efficacy based on sputum culture, which is a 19th century technology that fails to accurately the duration of treatment required to prevent relapse. Existing culture-based markers provide imprecise, poorly predictive information with minimal statistical power based on endpoints that are dichotomous or, at best, have limited dynamic range. An early marker that indicates a treatment's capacity to shorten treatment would have a transformative effect on the design and conduct of clinical trials, thereby accelerating new drug development. In summary, development of accurate early marker of treatment effectiveness would have a profound effect on drug development and clinical practice.
There remains a need in the art for methods for assessing efficacy of a given drug therapy for treatment of mycobacterial diseases. Such methods should monitor surrogate markers that accurately correlate with treatment response and/or optimal duration. The present invention addresses and meets this need.

Methods of evaluating treatment efficacy and/or treatment duration in mycobacterial diseases

The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate

The Regents of the University of California

Colorado State University Research Foundation

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Standford Junior University


Disclosed is a vacuum processing apparatus having a means for preventing counter-pressure between adjacent chambers, which comprises a process chamber, a transfer chamber, and a load lock chamber, comprising: a cassette chamber installed between the chambers, having slits formed at both opposite side surfaces to serve as a passage of a substrate; a vent detection part configured to detect a vent process in which a vent gas is injected into each chamber; a cassette chamber constant pressure inducing part comprising first and second bypass lines configured to connect each chamber and the cassette chamber and first and second intermittent valves respectively installed at the first and second bypass lines to control a gas flow through each bypass line; and a control part configured to determine whether the vent process or a vacuum process is performed in each chamber through a signal detected from the vent detection part.

Typically, a process of processing substrates for devices such as an LCD, OLED, and SOLAR needs a sealed chamber for performing a predetermined process under a high vacuum atmosphere, such as a thin film depositing process and an etching process. Further, to increase substrate yield through the chamber, it is important to maintain an inside of the chamber without any contaminants.
The chamber includes a process chamber (PM) in which a predetermined substrate treatment process is performed under a high vacuum condition, a load lock chamber (LM) in which a substrate is loaded or unloaded, and a transfer chamber (TM) which is installed between the PM and the LM to transfer the substrate.
Meanwhile, a slit serving as a passage through which the substrate passes is formed between the chambers, and a slit valve is installed at the slit to open/close the slit.
The slit valve serves to open/close the slit substantially forming the passage between the chambers. The slit valve includes a valve plate having the same shape as that of the slit and a larger size than that of an opening of the slit, an actuator operated by air pressure to drive a shaft connected to the valve plate and thus to lift up and down the valve plate, and the like.
Further, an o-ring 3 for sealing the slit 2 is provided at a portion of the valve plate 1 which is in contact with the slit 2. When the slit 2 is closed using the valve plate 1, the valve plate 1 is pressed to a side of the chamber, and the o-ring 3 is compressed, and thus the slit is sealed.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a conventional vacuum processing apparatus, since the slit 2 as the substrate passage between the chambers is closed by one valve plate 1, when a vent process in which a gas such as nitrogen is injected to maintain one of the adjacent chambers in an atmospheric pressure state is performed, a pressure difference between the two chambers becomes very large. And the valve plate 1 sealing the slit 2 is pushed from the chamber having high pressure (in which the vent process is performed) toward the chamber having low pressure (which is maintained in the vacuum state).
At this time, when the PM is the chamber having the high pressure (in which the vent process is performed), the valve plate 1 is pushed to the TM by the pressure difference, and also counter-pressure is generated. In this case, a fine gap is generated at a contact surface between the o-ring 3 and the slit 2, and has an influence on a vacuum state of another adjacent chamber. Finally, this causes a defect in the process, and thus leads to a defect in products.
Particularly, since the substrates are recently turned out on a mass production basis, a multi-process chamber type vacuum processing apparatus in which the plurality of process chambers adjacent to the transfer chamber disposed at a center portion of the apparatus are provided and thus the plurality of processes are simultaneously carried out in one apparatus is widely used.
In this case, when one of the plurality of process chambers is in trouble, or the vent process should be performed at the process chambers due to a periodical check, the transfer chamber used as a common chamber should be maintained in the vacuum state, and thus other process chambers may normally perform the process.
However, in the multi-process chamber, when the vent process is performed at one of the process chambers, interleakage occurs between the process chamber in which the vent process is performed and the transfer chamber due to the counter-pressure caused by the pressure difference therebetween, and the vacuum state of the transfer chamber is released, and the vacuum states of other process chambers are also affected, and thus the defect occurs in the entire process.

Vacuum processing apparatus having a means for preventing counter-pressure between chambers


A method of detecting and measuring voids in insulation material includes: providing a sample of insulation material; providing an imaging system for generating an image of the sample of the insulation material; analyzing the image to detect the presence of voids therein; and measuring the voids present in the sample to determine their size and density. Preferably, a nondestructive imaging system is utilized to detect and measure the voids.

The present invention relates generally to the field of conductor insulation and, more particularly, to a method for detecting and measuring voids in conductor insulation systems of a size considerably smaller than would generally be considered an obvious manufacturing defect.
Voids and gaseous cavities originate in conductor insulation systems through a variety of mechanisms, including normal as well as improper manufacturing processes, severe or cumulative mechanical and environmental stresses, and differential thermal expansions.
As explained in more detail below, when a conductor insulation system contains voids or cavities of a sufficient size and density, electrical discharges occur therein. These discharges result in an increase in current flow through the insulation between the conductor and ground or between two adjacent conductors, and a consequent reduction in the amount of current which is able to be transmitted through the conductor(s).
Further, the presence of voids or cavities of a sufficiently large size within a conductor insulation system (when subjected to an electric field or potential of sufficient magnitude) facilitates the initiation and growth of "electrical trees," which also detrimentally affect the insulation system's conductivity and projected life.
An electrical tree consists of a number of tiny hollow channels that extend and propagate from voids or impurities present in a conductor insulation system. The hollow channels can contain or allow considerable unstable discharges which, in time, may initiate further tree growth until cable failure occurs.
As explained above, when voids are present in a conductor insulation system, the insulating walls in effect "erode" in time and cause dielectric breakdown.
Three processes cause this dielectric breakdown: (1) bombardment of the void's walls by ions and electrons produced when gases within the void become ionized (i.e., corona breakdown); (2) heat generated by the corona breakdown process; and (3) chemical reactions within the void, due to the formation of ozone.
Conventionally, manufacturers have been responsible for testing conductor insulation systems, such as cables, for obvious voids (i.e., manufacturing defects of a magnitude sufficient to allow immediate or premature cable insulation failure) before shipping the cables from the factory. The manufacturers' favored production test (i.e., the partial discharge test) is performed to cable specifications prepared by the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC). The AEIC has only promulgated specifications for medium and high-voltage cable; currently, there are no specifications for low-voltage (i.e., 600 to 2000 Volts) cable, which is the most commonly used cable today.
The partial discharge test measures the discharge magnitude (Q), which is measured in pico-coulombs. Manufacturers are required to maintain the discharge magnitude below a specific level (i.e., not greater than 5 pico-coulombs) before shipping the cable.
The industry has accepted the partial discharge test because it uses the simplest measurement that can be made to date, and it can detect insulation degradation. However, because of the many cable failures that occur due to voids being present in cable, often after installation and over time, it is evident that the partial discharge test and other existing testing methods are not able to locate voids that can cause subsequent failure.
As can be appreciated, the goal of current testing methods, including the partial discharge test, is to ascertain whether partial discharges are present in a conductor insulation system before it is shipped to customers. Also, there are currently no nondestructive tests available to detect voids or other defects, or to estimate system condition, in installed conductor insulation systems. Consequently, the conventional approach to evaluating cable condition is by a "post-mortem" analysis after the cable has failed.
Because the presence of voids can ultimately lead to conductor insulation system failure, those industries, such as the nuclear power industry, where the integrity of power and control systems implemented by conductor insulation systems is critical, have long desired a method for assessing insulation integrity degradation (which is related to void size and density), and for identifying potential problems related thereto, in new and installed conductor insulation systems before partial discharge occurs.

Method for detecting and measuring voids in conductor insulation systems


There is provided a system including a mobile device configured to transmit a first advertisement to a listening device and a repeater device, receive a data advertisement from the listening device in response to transmitting the first advertisement to the listening device, the data advertisement including a time difference between the listening device receiving the first advertisement and the listening device receiving a second advertisement transmitted from the repeater device in response to transmitting the first advertisement from the mobile device to the repeater device, and determine a location of the mobile device using the data advertisement including the time difference. In the system, the listening device and the repeater device may each include Bluetooth low energy devices.

Nowadays, numerous software applications on mobile devices require tracking the location of the mobile devices to work properly. As such, different systems have been developed to accurately determine the location of a mobile device. For example, Global Positioning System (GPS), cell tower based tracking, and Wi-Fi based tracking are a few of the systems that have been developed in order to track the location of a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. However, many problems can occur with mobile devices that implement these current systems. For example, some of the current systems require a precision synchronization of time clocks between multiple stations that are used to determine the location of the mobile device. As such, even a small difference in the synchronization of the time clocks can mean significant errors when determining the location of the mobile device. As another example, the current systems require the mobile device to constantly transmit and listen for messages. This requires a lot of battery power to perform and as such drains the power supply of the mobile device.


An electrical connector includes a first connector including a first interlock terminal, a first connecting terminal, and a first interlock connector for holding the first interlock terminal, and a second connector including a second interlock terminal electrically connected to the first interlock terminal, and a second connecting terminal engaged with the first connecting terminal. The second connector further includes a second interlock connector engaged with the first interlock connector and holding the second interlock terminal, a fit detecting portion movable in conjunction with the second interlock connector for detecting a fit state of the first connector and the second connector, and a rod for connecting the second interlock connector to the fit detecting portion. The second interlock connector includes an interlock female connector including a U-shaped portion substantially U-shaped in a side cross sectional view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and, in particular, to an electrical connector that can detect a fit state of male and female connectors.
2. Related Art
A conventional electrical connector is known which has a first connector with a locking arm along an outer surface of a housing, a second connector having a hood portion and fixed to the first connector by the locking arm while being engaged with the first connector, a detection member provided between the housing and the locking arm for detecting whether or not the first connector is suitably engaged with (or fitted in) the second connector, and a locking projection on an inner surface of the locking arm for holding the detection member at a standby position (See, e.g., JP-A 2004-63090).
In the electrical connector of JP-A 2004-63090, since the locking arm and the detection member are fixed by the locking projection in projected form, it is possible to keep the strength of the locking arm, as compared to the case that an opening as a locking means is formed penetrating from an outer surface to an inner surface of the locking arm.
However, the electrical connector of JP-A-2004-63090 has the problem that, in case of disengaging the female connector from the male connector while feeding current, the current-carrying between the terminals of the male and female connectors continues until the terminals of the male and female connectors are disconnected, so that the surface of the terminals of the male and female connectors deteriorates and the current-carrying property of the connectors lowers.
Furthermore, the electrical connector according to JP-A-2004-63090 is difficult to downsize since the locking arm is inserted into the hood portion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray. The tray includes a base defining an opening and a sidewall extending from the base which terminates in a free edge. The free edge defines a tray opening. The sleeve includes a top panel positioned adjacent the tray opening, a bottom panel positioned adjacent to the opening in the base and a side panel positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall.

This invention relates to a food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray.
Packaged foods, such as frozen pizzas, are sold extensively throughout the United States and the world. These packaged foods offer the consumer a convenient and a sometimes inexpensive alternative to preparing foods from "scratch". Increasingly, packaged foods are becoming microwavable. Many times, however, the food product must be removed from the food package and placed in a separate receptacle for heating in the microwave.
In order to avoid this extra step, ovenable food packages have been developed. For example, it is known to provide a package consisting of a box which contains a frozen pizza. In use, the box is opened and placed in the microwave oven along with the pizza and then subjected to microwave energy.
There are several problems with current ovenable food packages. For microwavable food packages, if the package rests on the microwave oven floor, a heat sink is created which leads to non-uniform heating of the food product. This non-uniform heating causes "cold spots" in the food product. In addition, paperboard materials which are used for the food packages tend to lose their stiffness and rigidity upon heating. This is because the paperboard has a moisture content which is vaporized by the microwave heating. Because of this loss of stiffness, more "heat sinking" can occur and in addition, after removing the package from the microwave oven, the food product is not well supported by the package, thus making it harder to carry the food product in the package.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,228, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a food product tray including a base defining an opening. A floor member having a portion secured to the base substantially directly supports the food product in the tray. The floor member, preferably, includes a microwave susceptor material.
While my tray meets many of the needs lacking in prior art trays, there is still a need for an economical, easy to use food package that can efficiently and effectively be used to heat a food product.

Food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray


Methods and apparatus for managing data storage in hybrid memory devices utilizing single level and multi level memory cells. Logical addresses can be distributed between single level and multilevel memory cells based on a frequency of write operations performed. Initial storage of data corresponding to a logical address in memory can be determined by various methods including initially writing all data to single level memory or initially writing all data to multilevel memory. Other methods permit a host to direct logical address writes to single level or multilevel memory cells based on anticipated usage.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and flash memory.
Flash memory devices have developed into a popular source of non-volatile memory for a wide range of electronic applications. Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Common uses for flash memory include personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, and cellular telephones. Program code and system data, such as a basic input/output system (BIOS), are typically stored in flash memory devices for use in personal computer systems.
Flash memory typically utilizes one of two basic architectures known as NOR Flash and NAND Flash. The designation is derived from the logic used to read the devices. In a NAND type flash memory array architecture, the floating gate memory cells of the memory array are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The memory cells of the array are also arranged together in strings, typically of 8, 16, 32, or more each, where the memory cells in the string are connected together in series, source to drain, between a common source line and a column transfer line, often referred to as a bit line. The array is then accessed by a row decoder activating a row of floating gate memory cells by selecting the word line connected to their gates. In addition, bit lines can also be driven high or low depending on the current operation being performed.
As the performance and complexity of electronic systems increase, the requirement for additional memory in a system also increases. However, in order to continue to reduce the costs of the system, it is desirable to keep the parts count low. This can be accomplished by increasing the memory density of an integrated circuit by using such technologies as multilevel cells (MLC). For example, MLC NAND flash memory is a cost effective non-volatile memory.
Multilevel memory cells assign a data state (e.g., as represented by a bit pattern) to a specific range of threshold voltages (Vt) stored on the memory cell. Single level memory cells (SLC) permit the storage of a single bit of data on each memory cell. Meanwhile, MLC technology permits the storage of two or more bits per cell (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16 bits), depending on the quantity of threshold voltage ranges assigned to the cell and the stability of the assigned threshold voltage ranges during the lifetime operation of the memory cell. The number of threshold voltage ranges (e.g., levels), which are sometimes referred to as Vt distribution windows, used to represent a bit pattern comprised of N-bits is 2N. For example, one bit may be represented by two levels, two bits by four levels, three bits by eight levels, etc.
For example, a cell may be assigned a Vt that falls within one of four different voltage ranges of 200 mV, each being used to represent a data state corresponding to a bit pattern comprised of two bits. Typically, a dead space (which is sometimes referred to as a margin) of 0.2V to 0.4V is maintained between each range to keep the Vt distributions from overlapping. If the voltage stored on the cell is within the first of the four Vt distributions, the cell in this case is storing a logical '11' state and is typically considered the erased state of the cell. If the voltage is within the second of the four Vt distributions, the cell in this case is storing a logical '10' state. A voltage in the third distribution of the four Vt distributions would indicate that the cell in this case is storing a logical '00' state. Finally, a Vt residing in the fourth Vt distribution indicates that a logical '01' state is stored in the cell.
There are advantages and disadvantages associated with using SLC or MLC memory. MLC memory is generally considered more cost effective in regards to memory density as MLC memory can, for example, store multiple bits of data in a single memory cell as opposed to SLC memory which is conventionally used to store one bit of data per cell. However, conventional SLC memory can be written to many (e.g., by an order magnitude) more times than conventional MLC memory. For example, a characteristic of conventional MLC memory is that after data has been erased and re-written about 10,000 times the memory may become subject to significant read and write errors. Conventional SLC memory on the other hand typically may be erased and re-written about 100,000 times before the reliability of the data begins to deteriorate. These density and performance characteristics also apply between different types of MLC arrays. MLC devices with four and eight levels exist today, while denser memories are being researched. While an MLC with more levels would be more efficient (higher density) than an MLC with less levels (lower density), these higher density devices may have performance penalties over the lower density devices. The case of a device built with SLC (two level) and MLC (more than two level) can be generalized as a device with multiple memory arrays, each with its own density and performance trade-offs. An example is a device built with an array of MLC (four level) and an array of MLC (eight level). There could even be more than two arrays of memories, such as SLC, MLC (four level) and MLC (eight level). A common naming convention is to refer to SLC memory as MLC (two level) memory as SLC memory utilizes two levels in order to store one bit of data as represented by a 0 or a 1, for example. MLC memory configured to store two bits of data can be represented by MLC (four level), three bits of data by MLC (eight level), etc. An MLC (four level) memory cell is typically referred to as a lower density memory cell than an MLC (eight level) memory due to the lower number of bits stored per memory cell, for example. SLC (e.g., MLC (two level)) is typically referred to as a lower density memory than MLC (four level) memory and so on.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for hybrid memory devices that are adapted to manage the utilization of memory of different densities, such as SLC and MLC memory, to take advantage of preferred operating characteristics associated with each type of memory.


An arrangement for analyzing body fluids drawn from a living subject has a fluid sample station connectable to the subject for drawing fluid from the subject, a disposable cassette connectable to the fluid sample station for receiving a fluid sample to be analyzed, a sensor unit for analyzing the fluid sample, a cassette store in which a plurality of disposable cassettes are storable and a transfer system for bringing cassettes in the cassette store, one by one, into operative connection with the fluid sample station. A control unit controls the transfer system to bring the respective cassettes into connection with the fluid sample station at a programmable rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for analyzing body fluids drawn from a living subject of the type having a fluid sample station connectable to the subject for drawing therefrom, a disposable cassette connectable to the fluid sample station for receiving a fluid sample to be analyzed, at least one sensor unit for analyzing the fluid sample and a control unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During intensive care, for example, it is important to collect information of the condition of the patient on a regular basis in order to provide an optimal treatment for the patient. Important information can be obtained by analyzing body fluids drawn from the patient, especially blood. A blood sample can be analyzed as to its blood gas content, e.g. partial pressure of oxygen (PaO.sub.2). Other parameters of interest in body fluids are pH, glucose, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO.sub.2), etc.
Historically, hospitals have made use of large central laboratories for analyzing samples taken from the patients, including blood samples. Although the laboratories can provide good measurements by using complex and expensive equipment, this system has some vital drawbacks when analysis of blood gas content is considered. The blood samples taken from the patient are not analyzed immediately and the result of the analysis can, therefore, not normally be reliably used for determining necessary and/or immediate changes in the treatment of the patient. The physician sometimes, particularly in acute cases, cannot await the result of an analysis of a sample which has to be transported to a laboratory.
In addition, such a conventional laboratory does not allow for the treatment Of patients with so called closed loop-systems (i.e. infusion, medication, ventilation, anaesthesia systems), for which the continuous or semi-continuous sample and analysis of body fluids is mandatory in order to acquire the necessary parameters for regulating the whole system.
Further, for parameters such as the blood gas content of blood, there is also the necessity of keeping the blood sample from contact with air which otherwise could affect the blood gas content in the blood sample.
As one approach to solving these problems, smaller mobile systems have been developed, i. e., point of care systems (for analyzing blood gas content). The point of care systems can be brought to the patient's bedside and usually include a measurement unit and a disposable cassette containing the sensors. A physician or nurse draws a blood sample from a patient into a cassette and analyzes it by means of the point of care system.
Although operating more flexibly and faster than the use of central laboratories, the point of care systems are ineffective in providing continuous or almost continuous information about the body fluid parameter, e.g the blood gas situation of the patient. In cases where treatment is given to the patient, using technical systems or equipment, the actual settings of the system or equipment could and should be made dependent upon the continuous information of the body fluid parameter, such as the blood gas content, and therefore require more regular samples to be taken and analyzed. "Continuous" body fluid measurements are a necessity if closed loop ventilator, infusion, anaesthesia, etc. treatment is to be given, e. g. automatic control of a lung ventilator based on measured blood gas content.
Systems for (practically) continuous measurement of blood gases are known. For instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,063 discloses an apparatus for measuring the partial pressure of oxygen, wherein a double lumen catheter is inserted into the patient's blood system. The outer lumen extends further into the blood system than the inner lumen, thereby almost enclosing the inner lumen. Blood can be drawn into the inner lumen, by a first pump, up to a measuring cell where a measurement is made. After measurement a second pump will pump a rinse medium through the outer lumen toward the blood system and the rinse medium will be pumped into the inner lumen to cleanse the lumen and the measuring cell from all blood residues before next blood sample is taken.
Another system of a similar kind is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,786. In this system the blood sample is drawn to a measuring cell and is returned to the patient together with rinse medium after measurement.
These (almost) continuous measurement systems have some disadvantages. The sensors used in the measuring cell must be stable over a long time and usually require regular calibration as well. Such systems normally also require a very exact pumping system for drawing the blood sample, rinse medium and calibration solution in exact volumes. This requires exact (and expensive) pumps or advanced measurement systems for measuring the pumped volumes. Further, when frequent samples are taken, the successive minimum volumes required by the pump system additively result in an unacceptable loss of blood. Depending on the system design, some systems will lead to a loss of blood while rinse medium and calibration solution will enter the blood system. In addition, these systems also carry an inherent risk for the patient, since both the rinse medium and the calibration solution must always be completely harmless substances. In general, these systems have the inherent disadvantage of being "open" in the sense that these systems "communicate" body fluids from and to the body arid from and to the system and can therefore be a potential source of infection and/or necessitate the use of relatively complex and expensive elements, procedures (e.g. sterilization) and features in order to prevent these risks.


Provided herein is a carryover-reducing liquid handling probe for an analytical system, incorporating a rigid sheath and a polymer core that extends from the sheath to act as the fluid contact surface.

A wide variety of automated analyzers are available, performing analyses that range from simple pH determination to sophisticated testing that determines the presence of genetic markers. Despite this range of functions and capabilities, however, nearly all automated analyzers have common basic functionalities and performance issues. An automated analyzer must manipulate patient samples, which are generally liquids, such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, or saliva. Solid or semisolid samples, such as tissue samples and fecal material, can treated as a liquid following maceration and suspension in a liquid. As such samples are provided in containers, such as venous blood collection tubes, and are generally manipulated by aspiration from these containers using one or more liquid handling probes. In order to move these fluids and liquid reagents to different locations on an automated analyzer a liquid handling probe may be attached to a moving carriage.
Automated analyzers generally share a common workflow, each step of which is a potential source of error that can degrade system performance. In a typical automated analyzer containers holding liquid samples are first loaded into the system by the operator. A robotic liquid handling probe then removes a portion of the sample which is used for testing. One or more reagents, which are also generally in liquid form, are retrieved from storage using a robotic liquid handling probe and subsequently mixed with the sample in order to perform an assay reaction that generates a detectable result.
As noted above liquid transfer is a process that is performed frequently on automated analyzers, and is a potential source of error that may degrade the quality of assay results. One assay characteristic that can be severely impacted by such errors is sensitivity, which is essentially a measure of the lowest concentration of a particular analyte that the analyzer can reliably detect or quantify. In many instances the sensitivity of a particular assay is a function of variation in the signal associated with a result from an assay performed on sample that does not contain the analyte, also known as the background signal. A large amount of variation in the background signal results will limit the sensitivity of the analyzer to concentrations of the analyte that return a relatively strong signal, one that is statistically distinguishable from the widely varying background signal. Conversely, a small amount of variation in the background signal can permit the detection of relatively low concentrations or analyte that generate a relatively weak signal.
One source of variation in the background signal is carryover or contamination. Carryover occurs when material is transferred from a first fluid to an analyzer component and then from that analyzer component to a second fluid. A typical scenario is when a small volume of fluid from a patient sample containing a very high concentration of analyte is transferred to a second patient sample by a liquid handling probe, leading to a falsely positive test result from the second sample. Similar transfers of liquid assay reagents are also possible.
Carryover can occur by physical transfer of a volume of fluid. This can occur in crevices that are inherent in the design of the liquid handling probe, or may take place in irregularities in the surface of the liquid handling probe that may occur due to rough handling or inadvertent collisions during use. Another source of carryover is the interaction of specific molecules in the sample with a wetted surface of the liquid handling probe. Once bound to such a surface these molecules may subsequently be released when the liquid handling probe enters a different fluid. Carryover may also occur by a combination of these mechanisms.
A number of approaches have been developed to minimize carryover. One of these is the use of disposable tips to handle fluids. These tips are applied to the liquid handling probe mechanism prior to handling a fluid and disposed of thereafter. Supplying and manipulating these disposable tips can add significant cost and complexity to an automated analyzer, and the time required to attach and dispose of the tips can impact system throughput. Improper attachment of a tip to a liquid handling probe may also lead to delivery of inaccurate volumes that impact assay results, and thereby become yet another source of variation.
Another approach is to implement rigorous washing procedures of the interior and exterior of the liquid handling probe mechanism. Numerous devices and methods for this have been disclosed, however these add significantly to the cost and complexity of an analyzer in the form of the need for additional workstations and wash reagents. In addition to impacting system throughput, these washing steps also are an additional source of variation in the analyzer.
Carryover of fluid volumes can be minimized without resorting to these measures by optimizing analyzer functions to reduce exposure of the liquid handling probe mechanism to the sample, for example by using liquid level sensing to detect the surface of the sample liquid and subsequently immerse only a small portion of the liquid handling probe. The liquid handling probe mechanism itself can be designed so as to present a surface without features that can trap liquids. This can be accomplished by electropolishing exposed metal surfaces and utilizing materials, such as stainless steel, that resist scratching. Positioning of the liquid handling probe can also be monitored to avoid collisions that may generate surface scratches and chips.
Carryover due to the binding of molecules to the material of the liquid handling probe can be avoided by selecting materials with a low tendency to interact with molecules in solution. These are typically polymers, such as polypropylene or fluoropolymers. A liquid handling probe may be constructed entirely of these materials, however the relative lack of strength and rigidity can complicate mounting such devices to motion systems and subsequent accurate positioning, particularly in a high throughput analyzer that may be making rapid movements. In addition, since such materials are generally nonconductive they are not compatible with many liquid level sensing mechanisms. Low nonspecific binding materials can be used as coatings over more conventional rigid materials, such as stainless steel. Such coatings are easily damaged through careless handling and accidental collision, however, generating surface scratches and chips in the polymer coating that can lead to significant fluid volume carryover.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems, individually and collectively.

Low carryover liquid handling probe for an automated analyzer


A method and apparatus for completing an inbound call from a telephone system to a portable communication unit (104) operating in a communication system comprising a base station (102) coupled to the telephone system (106, 124). The telephone system (106, 124) can complete the inbound call by different procedures requiring differing responses. The portable (104) receives (502) a selective call message (400) comprising a Call-Type Identifier (402) and a Call-Completion Number (412, 414, 416), and then transmits (520, 522, 524) to the base (102) the Call-Completion Number (412, 414, 416) and a Call-Type Code corresponding to the received Call-Type Identifier (402). The base (102) originates (606, 624) a call to the telephone system (106, 124) in accordance with the Call-Completion Number (412, 414, 416) and the Call-Type Code, and then completes the inbound call according to the Call-Type Code.

Two-way wireless communication systems that support inbound calling from a telephone system are well known. Examples of such systems include cellular telephone systems and trunked radio systems. Simpler, less expensive two-way wireless communication systems have recently become available. One such system is the "CT2" system comprising, for example, the S35XGB1602AP base station and the S35XCD1000AA portable communication unit, both manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill. The CT2 system typically has included a plurality of base stations at a plurality of locations called "telepoints." Each telepoint usually had from two to six base station transceivers, and each transceiver was coupled to the telephone system by a telephone line. Unfortunately, conventional telepoint systems initially did not provide inbound call capability. That is, a telepoint user could originate a call to any destination reachable by the telephone system, but could not receive any inbound calls.
Several different procedures for providing inbound calling have been proposed. One example procedure (defined herein as the "Meet-Me" procedure) uses a telephone switch coupled to a paging system to send a Meet-Me telephone number to a radio pager coupled to the portable communication unit. The Meet-Me telephone number when dialed by the portable communication unit through a base station reaches a port of the telephone switch, where a waiting inbound call is then connected to the portable communication unit. Another example procedure (defined herein as the "Call Forwarding" procedure) uses a telephone switch coupled to a paging system to send a call identification number to a radio pager coupled to the portable communication unit. The portable communication unit sends the call identification number to a base station, which sends the telephone switch a predetermined "feature code" followed by the call identification number. The telephone switch then forwards by a call-back to the base station a waiting inbound call identified by the call identification number.
The two procedures for inbound calling described above require the portable communication unit and the base station to respond in two different manners to process the call. This implies that a base station and a portable communication unit compatible with one of the procedures are different from a base station and a portable communication unit compatible with the other procedure. Additional procedures requiring additional differing responses are likely to be proposed in the future, requiring additional unique varieties of base stations and portable communication units. Still, for economic and administrative reasons it is highly desirable that a single base station configuration and a single portable communication unit configuration be compatible with at least several of the most prevalent procedures for inbound calling without requiring alteration of the base station or the portable communication unit.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus for overcoming the need for unique construction of the base station and the portable communication unit for compatibility with different inbound calling procedures. Preferably, the method and apparatus should be readily adaptable to modifications and additions for accommodating new inbound calling procedures that may be developed in the future.

Method and apparatus in a communication system for completing an inbound call