A current sense circuit utilizes multiple resistive reference switches connected in electrical series to reduce the level of required reference current (Iref), while maintaining the integrity of tracking current (Iout) through a resistive power switch. Typically, all of the reference switches are MOS transistors connected in electrical series. The first embodiment includes establishing a ratio (n) of series reference transistors to series pilot transistors, n>1. In another embodiment, the series connection of reference switches is in parallel with a single reference resistor and is identical to a series connection of a number (NP) of pilot switches. In a third embodiment, the techniques of the first two embodiments are combined (i.e., n>1 and NP>1). The current sense circuit is utilized to monitor output current through a power switch from a circuit load. Each of the pilot and reference switches is fabricated such that conductivity through the power switch would be greater than conductivity through an isolated pilot or reference switch by a scaling factor. In the preferred embodiment, a scaling factor (SF) is established by fabricating the pilot and reference switches to have gate widths that are smaller than the gate width of the power switch, such that Iref=Iout/(SF.times.n.times.NP).

There are numerous applications in which current through a circuit load is to be regulated. Current regulation is used to protect circuitry from being damaged in a short circuit or overload situation. For example, the current through a power transistor of a power supply may be monitored to provide a means for limiting current flow through circuitry powered by the supply.
In its simplest form, a current sense circuit can be provided by connecting a resistor in series with a power switching transistor and monitoring the voltage drop across the resistor. The disadvantage of this monitoring circuit is that the current flow through the resistor increases the power demands placed on the supply. Minimizing power dissipation is particularly important to applications that require battery operation, such as providing power to circuitry of a cellular phone.
Power dissipation as a result of current sensing can be reduced by drawing a set fraction of the output current from the load circuitry and using this sampled current in the sensing circuitry. Briefly, the approach is to sample the current through a large device (i.e., the power transistor) with a small known amount of current through a small "pilot" device. If the two devices are transistors, the ratio of the current through the large device to the current through the pilot device may be set by fabricating the transistors such that the same ratio applies to the gate width of the large device to the gate width of the pilot device. This ratio is referred to as the scaling factor (SF). This approach is utilized in the circuits illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,319,181, 4,553,084 and 4,820,968 to Wrathall, the inventor of the present invention.
With reference to FIG. 1, a power switching transistor 10 is connected in series with a circuit load 12 to provide a path from a first terminal (Vdd) 14 to a second terminal (electrical ground) 16 of a power source. A pilot switching transistor 18 has a source-drain conduction path that is in parallel with the source-drain conduction path of the power switching transistor. Gate electrodes 20 and 22 of the two transistors are connected to a single switch control line 24. A pilot resistor 26 is connected between electrical ground and the source of the pilot switching transistor 18. As will be explained more fully below, the pilot switching transistor and the pilot resistor provide current "mirroring" of the current through the power switching transistor 10. A current generator 28 provides a reference current (Iref) and is connected to electrical ground via a reference resistor 30. A differential amplifier 32 has inputs that are responsive to the voltage drops across the pilot and reference resistors 26 and 30.
Typically, the goal of the current sense circuit of FIG. 1 is to provide current limitation by signaling when the current drop across the pilot resistor 26 is equal to the voltage drop across the reference resistor 30. This will occur approximately at the point at which the output current (Iout) from the circuit load 12 is equal to the reference current times the scaling factor of the gate electrodes (i.e., Iout=Iref.times.SF). The resistances of the pilot and reference resistors 26 and 30 are substantially equal. In the ideal, the voltage drops across the two resistors are equal and the current through the pilot switching transistor 18 tracks precisely the current through the power switching transistor 10 in ratio of their respective gate widths.
An advantage of the prior art current sense circuit of FIG. 1 is that the use of the scaled pilot switching transistor 18 significantly reduces the power dissipation imposed by current monitoring. Power efficiency can be further enhanced by increasing the resistance of the reference resistor 30. For example, if the resistance value is doubled, the reference current can be reduced by two, which is advantageous in terms of both efficiency and control. However, a limitation of the circuit of FIG. 1 is that it exhibits a significant degree of non-linearity, and the increase in the resistance increases the non-linearity. A small pilot resistance allows the pilot circuitry to more closely resemble the operation of the power switching transistor 10. A minimal resistance places the source of the pilot switching transistor 18 at electrical ground, similar to the source of the power switching transistor. However, as the size of the pilot resistance increases, the voltage at the source of the pilot transistor 18 increases for a given current level. This voltage drop varies as a function of Iout. Consequently, as Iout increases, there is a decreasing gate-to-source potential and a decreasing drain-to-source potential for the pilot transistor. Because the two potentials vary non-proportionally with the corresponding potentials at the power switching transistor 10, the current mirroring is inaccurate.
The linearity of the current sense circuit of FIG. 1 is improved in FIG. 2 by the addition of a reference switching transistor 34 in parallel with the reference resistor 30. The gate width of the reference transistor is equal to the gate width of the pilot transistor 18. As explained fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,968 to Wrathall, the addition of the reference transistor provides compensation for the non-linearities imposed as a result of the pilot resistor 26. The reference current Iref is then proportional to the current through the power switching transistor 10. When the voltages across the pilot resistor 26 and the reference resistor 30 are equal, the current ratio between Iout and Iref is then the ratio of the gate widths of the power switching transistor 10 and the pilot switching transistor 18 (i.e., SF=Iout/Iref). The addition of the reference switching transistor 34 enables the use of large resistor values without adversely affecting the current ratio.
While the circuit of FIG. 2 operates well for its intended purpose, there are concerns regarding its limitations. For circuitry that includes DMOS (double-diffused MOS) transistors, it is difficult to fabricate unit cells smaller than a unit cell of gate width. The price of accuracy is a substantial rise in current. For example, if one ampere were to flow in the circuit load 12 of FIG. 2, and the device scaling factor were 2000 (SF=2000), the reference current would be approximately 500 .mu.A. In many applications, this reference current is unacceptably high.
What is needed is a current sensing circuit that allows further reductions in the amount of reference current for given transistor fabrication techniques and parameters.

Current sense circuit having multiple pilot and reference transistors


A method for producing a handle-shaped molded article (1) having a thick grip portion (2) and at least one thick fitting portion (3) by injection molding using an injection molding apparatus (10) equipped with a mold having a cavity (60), a resin gate (46) provided in a portion (62) where the fitting portion is to be formed and a gas inlet (48) provided in a portion (64) where the grip portion is to be formed. A hollow structure (4) is formed in the grip portion (2) and a solid structure is formed in the fitting portion (3) by injecting a molten resin into the cavity (60) through the resin gate (46), thereby filling molten resin in a fitting portion-forming cavity zone formed of that portion (62) of the mold where the resin gate is provided and the fitting portion is to be formed and further filling molten resin in part of the rest of the cavity. A pressurized gas is introduced into the cavity (60) through the gas inlet (48) while maintaining an injection pressure, P, at a predetermined value, the injection pressure, P, being defined by EQU P=F/S. wherein P is an injection force and S is a cross-sectional area of a screw (12) of the injection molding apparatus, and maintaining the injection pressure and gas pressure in the gas inlet (48) at predetermined values until the molten resin is cooled and solidified.

The present invention relates to a handle-shaped molded article having the form of a handle, a drawer pull, a knob, or the like (to be referred to as "handle" hereinafter) used for opening and closing the door, etc., of an automobile, an electric appliance, a building, and the like, a method of injection molding of the handle-shaped article, and a mold suitable for molding the handle-shaped molded article. More specifically, it relates to a handle-shaped molded article of which the grip portion has an excellent appearance and the fitting portion has high strength, a method of injection molding the same, and a mold suitable for molding such a handle-shaped molded article.
A handle-shaped part having a thick grip portion and thick fitting portion(s) is fixed to a door, etc., of an automobile, an electric appliance or a building, and is used to open the door. Such a handle-shaped part is required to be light in weight as a whole. The grip portion is evaluated on its appearance, and is required to be free from a sink mark and distortion. Further, the fitting portion of the handle-shaped part is required to have high strength.
A thick part can be generally produced by a foam molding method. When a handle-shaped part is produced by the foam molding method, however, cellules remain on the surface of the handle-shaped part, and it is therefore difficult to produce an excellent appearance. Further, since cells remain in the interior of the fitting portion, the strength of the fitting portion is insufficient. Furthermore, in the foam molding method, when a molten resin and a foam are mixed, a long period of time is required for cooling, and the molding cycle takes longer.
On the other hand, there is known another foaming technique in which a molded article is obtained by first injecting a molten resin containing no foaming agent into a cavity provided in a mold and then injecting a molten resin containing a foaming agent into the cavity. A molded article produced by this technique has an excellent appearance, since the surface layer of the molded article is formed from a resin containing no foaming agent. However, in the production of a handle-shaped part by such a technique, the structure of the injection molding apparatus and the molding conditions are complicated, and the molding cycle also takes longer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,617 or JP-B-57-14968 discloses a method in which a pressurized gas is applied to a molten resin injected into a cavity provided in a mold to produce an injection molded article having a hollow structure. Further, JP-B-61-53208 discloses an injection molded article having a hollow portion extending non-uniformly from that portion of the molded article which corresponds to a resin gate, and a method in which such an injection molded article is produced.
In the method of any one of U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,617, JP-B-57-14968 and JP-B-61-53208, a gas inlet is provided in a resin nozzle portion. Therefore, when a resin gate is provided in that portion of the mold where the fitting portion of a handle-shaped molded article is to be molded and the handle-shaped molded article is produced according to these methods by using such a mold, it is difficult to form a fitting portion having a solid structure, and the fitting portion cannot exhibit high strength. Further, when a resin gate is provided in that portion of the mold where the grip portion of the handle-shaped molded article is to be molded, the hollow portion of the grip portion extends toward the fitting portion although the extension depends upon the shape of the handle-shaped molded article, and it is difficult to accurately form a solid structure of the fitting portion.
In the above method of any one of the above three publications, after a molten resin in an amount insufficient to fill a cavity is injected, or while a molten resin is being filled into a cavity, a pressurized gas is introduced into the cavity through the gas inlet provided in the resin nozzle portion, and then the molten resin is cooled and solidified. However, nothing is described or suggested concerning the relationship between the resin pressure and the gas pressure while the molten resin is cooled and solidified.
JP-A-60-24913 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,732) and JP-A-64-14012 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,150) describe a method in which an injection molded article having a hollow structure is produced by applying a pressurized gas from the center of a cavity to a molten resin, an injection molding apparatus used therefor.
In one embodiment of JP-A-60-24913, as soon as a molten resin introduced into a cavity passes the outlet of a gas passage and closes the outlet, a pressurized gas is introduced into the molten resin from the gas passage, whereby a hollow portion is formed in the molded article. In this embodiment, however, it is very difficult to form a handle-shaped molded article having a hollow structure. That is because the pressurized gas, which has been introduced into the molten resin through the outlet of the gas passage as soon as the molten resin has closed the outlet of the gas passage, blows away the molten resin which has been introduced to that portion of the cavity where a grip portion having a large cross section is to be formed.
In one embodiment of JP-A-24913, a screw ram of an injection molding machine is held on in a forward end of a stroke while a molten resin is cooled and solidified. However, JP-A-24913 neither describes nor suggests anything concerning the relationship between the pressure for controlling the screw ram and the pressure of a pressurized gas. If the screw ram is allowed to stay in a forward end without applying any pressure to the screw ram and a pressurized gas is introduced into a molten resin introduced into a cavity, the molten resin which has been introduced into the cavity is pushed back into a resin gate by the pressurized gas. As a result, not only a grip portion becomes hollow, but also the molten resin is sometimes pushed back into the resin nozzle portion of an injection molding apparatus, thereby pushing back the screw ram.
JP-A-14012 discloses a method in which a sliding valve provided in a resin nozzle portion of the injection molding apparatus is closed. This method seems to prevent the counterflow of a molten resin injected into a cavity toward a resin gate and the formation of a hollow portion within a fitting portion. When the sprue portion and the runner portion have a large volume, however, a molten resin present in the sprue portion and the runner portion contract during its cooling and solidification, and a hollow portion is likely to be formed in the fitting portion due to the pressurized gas. Even the sprue portion and the runner portion are liable to become hollow in some cases. As a result, the resultant fitting portion has insufficient strength.
JP-A-268611 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,666) discloses a method in which an injection molded article having a hollow structure is produced by introducing a pressurized gas into a molten resin. In this method, a molten resin is injected into a cavity in such an amount that it occupies the entire volume of the cavity. It is therefore difficult to apply this method to the production of a handle-shaped molded article having a thick grip portion and a large-volume hollow portion.

Method of injection molding with air assist for making a handle-shaped molded article


A data processing system for implementing transaction management of auction-based trading for specialized items such as fixed income instruments. The data processing system provides a highly structured trading protocol implemented through a sequence of trading paradigms. The system employs a distributed computer processing network linking together a plurality of commonly programmed controlled workstations. The protocol and its programmed controlling logic enhances trading efficiency, rewards market makers and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users.

Economic activity has at its centerpiece the buyer-seller transaction for all goods and services produced and consumed in a market economy. It is the fundamental mechanism to which resources are allocated to producers and output to consumers. The operation of the buyer-seller mechanism can and often is a critical determination of economic efficiency and when operated properly, will substantially enhance market performance.
Through history, there have been many different approaches adopted to fairly bring buyers and sellers together, each with the key objective of permitting transactions at or as close as possible to the "market" price of the goods. By definition, the market price is the price (in given currency terms) that a fully educated market, given full access will transact select goods. This can only be accomplished by permitting full access to the transaction by essentially all potential buyers and sellers. However, the buyer-seller transaction must be structured to operate at very low costs--or it will distort the market price of goods with the artificially high transactions costs. Thus, as can be seen, the two keys to effective buyer/seller transactions--full access and knowledge coupled with low costs--can be and are often conflicting, necessitating trade-offs between trading efficiency and market knowledge.
One well-known and particularly successful trading system is known as the "open outcry auction". This involves a process wherein buyers and sellers collect in one location and prices for select goods are presented to the group through a broker, via simple vocal offerings. This approach has been used for almost all kinds of goods, but is particularly useful where there are no established trading locations or markets for the selected items. It is the dominate trading forum for exotic items such as rare pieces of art and the like. Although successful in bringing interested parties to the transaction, the overall process can be very expensive, adding significantly to the market-distorting transaction costs.
Open outcry auction techniques, modified over time, have also found successful application in many commodity trading activities, including the buying and selling of farm produce and livestock, oil and commodities contracts, future contracts on a variety of items and--particularly germane to the present invention--fixed income securities. These trading activities focus on the buying and selling of essentially fungible items, that is, items that are without meaningful differentiation from like items on the market. For example, a bushel of wheat for February delivery is considered for sale and delivery at a price independent from its source. Similarly, a 30-year treasury bond paying a coupon rate of 8 percent and having a July 1996 issue date is indistinguishable from other 30-year treasuries having the same properties. Accordingly, the price buyers are willing to pay and sellers willing to accept defines the market price of all 30-year treasury bonds of that same vintage, allowing a source transparent application of open outcry auction trading.
The fixed income securities issued by the United States Government are known as U.S. treasuries. These instruments typically span maturity terms at issue of 13 to 52 weeks (T-bills), one to ten years (notes), and up to 30 years (bonds). The T-bills are pure discount securities having no coupons. Almost all other treasuries having longer terms are coupon notes or bonds, with a defined payment cycle of semi-annual payments to the holder.
Treasuries have characteristic properties that make them especially useful for the purpose of the present invention and, therefore, are used exclusively in the following discussions with the fundamental tenant that the principles may be applied to other types of fixed income securities without departing from the inventive concepts. One important attribute of treasuries, in the context of the present invention, is the minimal and uniform default risk; the issuance of U.S. government paper removes the default risk as a defining criteria in the relative pricing of treasuries in the market place when they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
New treasury securities are auctioned by the U.S. government at preestablished auction dates. The auction prices for the treasuries having a face value with a set coupon rate will define the issuance yields of the security. After the auction, the treasuries enter the secondary market and are traded typically "over the counter", i.e., without a defined exchange. As inflation expectations and supply and demand conditions change, the prices of the recently auctioned treasuries fluctuate on the secondary market. These new prices are reflected by competing bid and ask prices communicated among institutions, banks, brokers, and dealers in the secondary market. For example, the yield of a treasury note increases as its price drops in the market, typically reflecting an overall increase in the interest rates for that term of security.
The newly auctioned securities are traded with and in conjunction with the securities issued in earlier auctions. In this context, some securities are traded more often than others and are called the "actives"; the actives usually correspond to the recently issued securities as opposed to the older securities in the market. Indeed, some older securities are infrequently traded, creating an illiquid market that may or may not reflect the current market-determined interest rate for that maturity length security.
As can be realized by the foregoing description, the very size and diversity of the treasury market implicates an unprecedented level of sophistication by market participants in the bidding, offering, buying, and selling transactions involving these securities. The very complexity associated with the transactions and the scale of trading undertaken by banks, brokers, dealers and institutional participants necessitates a rigidly structured approach to trading.
In the past, open outcry auction bond brokering has served its customers well, providing highly efficient executions at near perfect market pricing. The open outcry auction applied to bond trading was implemented by a broker working with a collection of customers to create and manage a market. Typical customer representatives--both buyers and sellers--at a common location (e.g., a single room) where the representatives of the customers would communicate with each other to develop pricing and confirm transactions. This process employed the expression by the representatives of various bid and offer prices for the fixed income security at select volumes (i.e., how many million dollars of bonds at a given maturity). This expression would involve the loud oral "cry" of a customer-proposed bid or offer and the coordination with the fellow representatives regarding the extraction of complimentary positions--until a transaction match is made and a deal is done. This "trade capture" process relies on after-the-fact reporting of what just transpired through the oral outcry trade.
Recently, the trade capture process was performed by having designated clerks input data into electronic input devices. An input clerk would attempt to interpret the open outcry of many individual brokers simultaneously who sequentially are making verbally known their trading instructions of their customers. The quality of the data capture was a function of the interpretative skill of the input clerk, and the volume and the volatility of customer orders. A significant drawback to this type of auction data capture process is the difficulty in discerning the distinct trading instructions verbalized in rapid succession during a quickly moving market, so that an accurate sequence of data can be captured by brokers and a set of inputters.
The many permutations of this process will be discussed in some detail below. At this juncture, suffice to say that at the volumes of business transactions existing at the time of its development, and the lack of suitable alternatives, left this process as the dominate trading mechanism for decades. However successful, this approach was not perfect. Indeed, in recent years, some of the problems in a open outcry auction forum have been amplified by the vastly increased level of trading now undertaken in the fixed income field. Without attempting to be comprehensive, difficulties would occur by the injection of trader personalities into the open outcry auction process. For example, an aggressive--highly vocal representative may in fact dominate trading--and transaction flow--even though he/she may only represent a smaller and less critical collection of customers. Although such aggressive actions at open outcry auction may be beneficial to those particular customers in the short run, overall, such dominance of the trading can and will distort pricing away from the actual market conditions.
Other problems exist in open outcry auction that deplete efficient trading. The speed at which trading flows and the oral nature of the auction process injects a potential for human error that often translates into many millions of dollars committed to trades unrelated to customer objectives. As such, the broker is left at the end of each trading day with a reconciliation process that may, under certain market conditions, wipe out all associated profit from that day's trading. Also, customers may quickly change direction regarding trading, based on new information available to the market. Shifting position or backing out of previously committed transactions on very short notice is often very difficult in the traditional open outcry auction process.
There have been many past efforts to incorporate computers into trading support for select applications and securities. Indeed, almost all trading today involves some computer support, from simple information delivery to sophisticated trading systems that automate transactions at select criteria. However, these systems have not significantly impacted the issues presented above as they relate to open outcry auction trading in the fixed income field. It was with this understanding of the problems with certain trading processes that formed the impetus for the present invention.


A data processing system has a browser with scripting engine means for executing a script. The scripting engine means implements a public scripting engine and a private scripting engine. The browser is configured to have the script executed by the public scripting engine if the script does not require access to a pre-determined resource at the system. The browser is configured to have the script executed by the private scripting engine if the script requires access to the pre-determined resource. Only the private scripting engine has an interface for enabling the script to access the predetermined resource. The scripting engine means is configured to prevent the private scripting engine from communicating data to the public scripting engine or to a non-approved server external to the data processing system.

The use of networked electronic devices has become increasingly more prevalent. In the field of home-networks, remote user interfaces are provided for consumer electronics (CE) devices in UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) networks. Remote user interfaces enable the user to remotely control applications on other UPnP devices via a UPnP home network, and also to interact with Internet services using CE devices that are connected to the Internet. An example of such Internet service is one from which the user can download content information, such as movies. For more background on UPnP, see, e.g., WO 2005/002139.
In view of the multitude of providers of Internet services, the different types of services and the multitude of consumer device suppliers involved, it is preferable to standardize the communication protocols and user interfaces as much as possible so as to provide the best experience for the user.
One such standard is CEA-2014 (also known as Web4CE), a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) standard. See, e.g., "Web4CE: Accessing Web-based Applications on Consumer Devices", W. Dees and P. Shrubsole, WWW 2007/Poster Paper, Topic: Systems, pp. 1303-1304. The standard specifies a web-based protocol and an XHTML-based content format referred to as CE-HTML, for remote user interfaces on UPnP networks and the Internet. CE-HTML is based on common open Internet languages such as Javascript 1.5, XHTML 1.0 and CSS TV Profile 1.0. CE-HTML specifies the content format and scripting semantics for the interactive services, and defines the browser environment that will host and render those services. The standardization of the current version of CE-HTML is mainly driven forward in two standardization bodies, namely in the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and in the Open IPTV Forum (OIPF). CEA-2014 has two main applications: first it allows consumers to remotely control applications on other UPnP devices over a UPnP home network. Second it allows consumers to interact with Internet Services or web-based applications using consumer devices that are connected to the Internet. The user interaction may take place using just the remote control, the keys or the touch screen of the device containing a CEA-2014 compatible browser, e.g. a Media Adaptor, a TV or a mobile phone.
Typically, a web browser is used to render an electronic document in HTML format, but a host of special-purpose languages has been developed to control the browser's operation via executable content embedded in the HTML document. The executable content adds, e.g., interactivity and automation to the browser. Examples of these special-purpose languages are: ECMAScript, a versatile procedural scripting language superficially resembling Java; Cascading style sheets (CSS), which enable style metadata to be abstracted from content; XML, which can be used for content in conjunction with style metadata, as an alternative to HTML; and XSLT, a presentation language that transforms XML content into a new form. Techniques have evolved that involve the combination of XML and JavaScript scripting to improve the user's subjective impression of responsiveness. The Document Object Model standard ensures that all browsers respond in a predictable manner to the same JavaScript (Source: Wikipedia). Furthermore, the browser environment can be extended by a plug-in to display and/or interact with foreign content, such as Adobe Flash. Foreign content may be visual or non-visual and may offer a scripting API that can be used by the scripting engine. Accordingly, a web browser provides a client-side runtime environment for web applications and for executing scripts embedded in an electronic document, e.g., downloaded from a server. For more background on scripting, also see, e.g., WO 2006/106414.
A script embedded in the electronic document may be abused by the document provider to tamper with the system onto which the document has been downloaded or to obtain privacy-sensitive information about the system's user. That is, executing a script received in a downloaded document may hamper the system's security and the user's privacy.
The paper "Secure Web scripting", V. Anupam and A. Mayer, Internet Computing IEEE Vol. 2, issue 6, November/December 1998, pp. 46-55 discusses an explicit security model. The model proposed has been implemented for JavaScript in the Mozilla browser source code. It is realized by a "safe" interpreter and based on three basic building blocks: access control, independence of contexts and trust management. Access control regulates what data a script can access on a user's machine and in what mode. Independence of contexts ensures that two scripts executing in different contexts (for example, simultaneously in different browser windows or sequentially in the same browser window) cannot access each other's data at will. Trust management regulates how trust is established and terminated among scripts executing simultaneously in different contexts. Different users require different degrees of privacy and security, which translate to different degrees of flexibility when interacting with a Web server. These differences can be expressed in different, user-chosen security policies. The security policy chosen provides for padded cells for scripts. By means of partitioning the name space into inaccessible, read-only and writable items, access control ensures that scripts only have access to those parts of the browser- and window related data that do not compromise a user's privacy while browsing. The security policy also regulates access to external interfaces. Furthermore, independence of contexts ensures that there are no "hidden channels" among scripts in different contexts. For example, if a writable item persisted across changes of context (as is currently the case in JavaScript), it could be used as a user-invisible (albeit non-persistent) "cookie" accessible to collaborating Web sites. Data provided by a user in a first context of a certain window (for example, by filling out a form in this context's HTML document) is only available to scripts in a second context, if the second context is in the first context's access control list (ACL). Scripts in any other context however, are not able to access this data.
WO2006/106414, mentioned above, discusses domain security with script objects. This publication discloses a method of providing domain security with script objects. The method includes generating an exception when a first script object with a first owner attempts access to a second script object with a second owner, generating a dialogue to the second owner querying for the grant of access rights to the second script object, and carrying out instructions whether to grant the first script object access rights to the second script object. The instructions are responsive to the generated dialogue to the second owner. As to the term "owner": the owner of an electronic document is a domain that issued the document. The owner of any object which represents a local resource (e.g., a client database or file) is a local user. As known, an exception within this context is the occurrence of a condition that changes the normal flow of the execution of software instructions. The computer code designed to handle exceptions is referred to as an "exception handler".
WO 2005/031568 relates to presenting remote and local services and information in the same user interface by means of a web browser. The web browser contains an ECMAScript engine. This engine is extended by an ECMAScript extension module (the standardized version of the core JavaScript language) that is communicating with the device native environment through a ECMAScript extension library. This allows the ECMAScript environment to be extended with new classes and methods implemented in native code (rather like Java Native Interface, JNI in Java). The ECMAScript engine and ECMAScript extension module can be conditionally compiled into a build of a web browser on potentially any software platform. Once a build of a web browser has been created with the ECMAScript extension functionality enabled, then the ECMAScript environment can be extended by placing a specially written ECMAScript extension library in a certain directory on the electronic device along with a permissions file, which specifies which Web pages will have access to the extensions. The file is also important for security reasons.

Browser with dual scripting engine for privacy protection


A lace-up device for tightening an article of footwear, providing for the tieing of the lacing without causing discomfort to the user's hands, as well as to the article of footwear equipped with such device. The lace-up device includes a gripping mechanism arranged on the linkage in the area of a loop formed by the lacing outside the tightening zone. The gripping device includes a rigid frame, making it possible to distribute the tension of the lacing over the hand of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tight lace-up device using a lace-type linkage and adapted to equip an article of footwear used, in particular, but in a non-limiting fashion, in sporting activities. The invention also relates to such article of footwear equipped with such device. Tight lacing, according to the invention, is more specifically adapted to shoes whose upper is reinforced, and which are used in particular for snowboarding, in-line roller skating, alpine skiing, mountain skiing and telemark skiing, ice skating, etc.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
To tighten a shoe of the aforementioned type properly, it is necessary to tie the lace tightly. In addition, using a lace-type tightening makes it possible to preserve a lightweight and inexpensive system, as compared to the other mechanical locking means, such as buckles. However, to obtain a tight lacing, it is necessary to reduce the friction of the lace in the lace returns. The improved sliding occurs in particular by reducing the section of the lace, which reduces the friction contact surface. Nevertheless, the small section of the lace tends to cause a painful shearing effect in the hand, and this prevents the user from applying enough tension in order to efficiently tighten the shoe.
French Application Publication No. 2 752 686 proposes a first alternative by describing a lace having variable sections. The central portion is small in diameter so as to slide easily in the returns, and the ends of the lace have larger sections in order to provide greater comfort for the hands. However, even though this system makes it possible to tension the lace correctly, it does not make it possible to maintain the tension due to a locking of the lace by a knot. Indeed, during the time necessary required for tying the knot, the user is forced to release the tension in the lace. Furthermore, the system is expensive to implement, for it requires specific means for manufacturing the lace.
French Application Publication No. 2 706 743 describes a lace-up device where the lace, having a small cross section, passes in returns, minimizing the friction and forms a loop. The lace is locked by an independent locking element that slides along the lace outside the lacing zone. The locking element makes it possible to maintain the tension in the lace. However, the user cannot apply a substantial tension in the lace. Indeed, the user is forced to grab the loop of the lace with at least one finger and to pull on the lace, which quickly shears the skin due to the small diameter of the lace.

Article of footwear with linkage-tightening device


A method and apparatus for controlling the steering of a trailing section of a multi-sectioned vehicle is described. The trailing section follows the path of the first section. Data is acquired by a controller from sensors on the various sections. The controller then processes this data, generating a configuration needed for the controller-steered wheels to follow a path approximately equivalent to the path taken by the first steered section. Power is then applied by some means to steer these controller-steered wheels, forcing them into the desired configuration. The complexity of the control system can be varied with different algorithms providing alternative steering patterns as desired. This system can be extended with more trailing sections without necessitating more than minor changes to the control algorithms.

This invention relates generally to the steering of the various sections of mobile articulated machines, and particularly to the steering of a section that is steered as a robot by a non-human control system. The preferred embodiments of the invention demonstrate a way of applying the principles of the invention to over-the-road tractor-trailer combinations. A driver controls the steering of a lead tractor, which carries the first trailer.
Over-the-road transport companies find it difficult at times to compete with other freight haulers due to labor costs. Labor costs could be decreased if each tractor-trailer rig could carry more weight, but weight limits have been placed on roads and bridges for structural reasons. Multi-trailer arrangements have been seen as a possible solution to this problem because they spread the load over a longer stretch of pavement and reduce the columnar loading on bridges. These arrangements generally involve long combination vehicles, a semi-trailer carried by the tractor with one or more full trailers composed of semi-trailers carried by dollies, called xe2x80x9cdoublesxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ctriplesxe2x80x9d.
These long combination vehicles face the two interconnected problems of instability and lack of maneuverability, with each following dolly (with trailer attached) becoming less stable at speed and, also, each following dolly xe2x80x9ccutting the cornerxe2x80x9d more than the vehicle segment in front of it during cornering. The standard Type A dolly has achieved some degree of success over the years by striking a point between the two problems. It hitches to the towing vehicle or first trailer using a single point hitch. The standard Type A dolly provides steering for the trailer it is carrying by allowing the entire dolly to steer relative to its semi-trailer about the fifth wheel vertical axis on the dolly as well as relative to the towing trailer about the single point hitch vertical axis. The dolly tires however, do not steer relative to the dolly frame.
Commercial vehicles of either truck and full trailer or multi-trailer configurations which employ the standard Type A dollies generally possess undesirable characteristics such as limited maneuverability and instabilities caused by rearward amplification. Rearward amplification, sometimes described as a crack-the-whip phenomenon, implies that in rapid evasive maneuvers such as emergency lane changes, the rearward elements of the vehicle train such as the dolly and the trailer carried by the dolly experience motions which are substantially amplified compared to the motions of the towing tractor and first trailer. Rearward amplification is known to be the basic cause of many accidents in which roll over of the last trailer or second trailer occurs while the remaining elements of the vehicle remain unscathed.
A second general class of dollies known as Type B dollies represents an improvement over standard Type A dollies. Type B dollies are generally characterized by a double tow bar arrangement, which eliminates steering of the dolly with respect to the towing vehicle, most commonly the first trailer. The Type B dollies have been effective to a degree against some of the instability problems and are slightly more maneuverable than the standard Type A dollies. However, they cause other problems such as introducing other types of instabilities, causing stresses on the rear of the forward trailer, and increasing unloading delays due to difficulty in accessing the back of the forward trailer for some configurations.
Steerable Type A dollies address the stability problems, but are even less maneuverable than Standard Type A dollies.
The long dolly of provisional patent No. 60/204,513 addressed these problems by switching between a stability and a cornering or maneuverability mode. The application of drive power to the dolly axles, provisional patent Ser. No. 09/776,211 did not change the steering but did allow the long dolly (with its trailer attached) to swing wider around a corner in the path dictated by steering modes that demanded a closer emulation of the behavior of the tractor.
Although an improvement, these modes of steering for the long dollies, stability and cornering, did not truly track the path of the tractor, but only traced a path that represented a typical expected path for a given maneuver. Clearly a mode of steering is needed for these long combination vehicles that would ensure that the following vehicle tracked the path of the forward vehicle as closely as possible, especially during critical cornering maneuvers in tight places.
A similar problem exists in narrow city streets where equipment must be delivered to an emergency site such as a fire, or where the delivery of other materials is required. A sectioned vehicle in which each short section followed the path of the first section would be better able to negotiate such streets than a single long vehicle. Similarly, in a convoy of RV""s traveling together, each vehicle requires a driver. If a mode of path tracking steering existed which would assure that successive vehicles followed the same path as the lead vehicle, a single driver might steer a convoy of several vehicles.
The present invention advances the concept of a robotic vehicle that is capable of tracking the path of a lead vehicle. At this point the device can no longer be considered a mere dolly but must more properly be called a robotic vehicle or robotic tractor, because it is fully capable of steering itself in response to input and of propelling itself during cornering. It is also capable of selecting other desired steering modes, including, for example, a mode in which the stability is enhanced at a slight expense to its tracking capability.
The details of this robotic tractor include mathematical equations and algorithms, electronic hardware, and a mechanical system.
It is an objective of this invention to advance the concept of a robotic vehicle that is capable of tracking the path of a lead vehicle, and that is fully capable of steering itself in response to input, of propelling itself during cornering, and of selecting other desired steering modes, including, for example, a mode in which the stability is enhanced at a slight expense to its tracking capability.
It is an objective of this invention to present a mathematical model that would allow a multiplicity of path-tracking and non-path-tracking steering algorithms to be combined in a coherent manner using a variety of weighting factors, and to point toward even more complex control algorithms.
It is an objective of this invention to provide a plurality of mathematical algorithms based on physical principles and on the geometry of the vehicle configurations, each of which is compatible with the above system for combining algorithms, for steering a robotic vehicle to track the path of a lead vehicle.
It is an objective of this invention to present an electronic control system, preferably including hardware such as sensors, actuators, and other I/O devices, RAM, ROM, and other data storage devices, and digital processors, that is capable of acquiring data from these sensors, using that data as input to algorithms to generate control signals, and using these control signals to activate steering and other control components to enable a robotic vehicle to track the path of a lead vehicle.
It is an objective of this invention to present a mechanical system that is capable of being controlled by the actuators to track the path of the lead vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for a second operator for the second vehicle.
The first advantage of this invention is the increase in maneuverability for shorter sectioned delivery or emergency vehicles in places such as narrow city streets. The long wheelbases of standard trucks and tractor-trailer combinations cause them to xe2x80x9ccut the cornerxe2x80x9d during turns. In narrow city streets such as those found in many European cities, this behavior could be disastrous. A vehicle composed of a number of shorter sections that were steered so that each section tracked the first section could solve some of the problems in these types of situations.
Another advantage of this invention is the savings in labor costs in applications such as over-the-road freight transport. The length of the robotic tractor spreads the load and permits more weight to be carried by a single long combination vehicle driven by a single driver. A robotic tractor xe2x80x9cdoublexe2x80x9d eliminates one driver, and a robotic tractor xe2x80x9ctriplexe2x80x9d eliminates two drivers. At the same time, because of the ability of the robotic tractor(s) to track the path of the lead tractor while carrying its own trailer, the loss of maneuverability is minimal. Because of the length and because of the capability for using a more stable mode at higher speeds, there is also no appreciable loss of stability as compared to a single tractor-trailer rig.
Another advantage of this invention is that it requires minimal supervision from the driver. The controller is programmed to steer using input from its sensors (such as speed of travel or quickness of a turn), and by taking clues from the normal control activities of the driver. To set up the long combination vehicle, the driver has only to adjust the length of the tongue and input the length of the tractor and the trailers.
Another advantage of this invention is that the robotic tractor embodiment can carry standard semi-trailers with only very minor modifications. Standard tractors could also be used as lead tractors with only slightly more substantial modifications, such as the addition of the appropriate sensors.
This invention offers the stability of the steerable Type A dollies but with better cornering capabilities than the Type B dolly. It also takes advantage of the reduction in cost and the rapid growth in the capabilities of electronic computing hardware.

Robotic vehicle that tracks the path of a lead vehicle


A reflector includes a first reflector portion located above the central axis of a headlamp extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a second reflector portion located below the central axis. A first light source and a second light source are arranged such that: the light emitted from the first light source is reflected by the first reflector portion to form a first light distribution pattern; and the light emitted from the second light source forms two partial light distribution patterns by being reflected with both the first reflector portion and the second reflector portion, and a second light distribution pattern, which is different from the first light distribution pattern, is formed by combining the two partial light distribution patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention in general relates to an automotive headlamp forming a plurality of light distribution patterns with a single lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automotive headlamps are generally configured to switch a low beam and a high beam. The low beam is used for lighting a near region with a predetermined illuminance, and light distribution of the low beam is specified so as not to provide glare to oncoming vehicles and leading vehicles. The low beam is mainly used while a vehicle is running in an urban area. On the other hand, the high beam is used for lighting a forward wide range and a far region with a relatively high illuminance. The high beam is mainly used while a vehicle is running at high speed on a road where oncoming vehicles and leading vehicles are few.
In many cases, the automotive headlamps as described above are configured to select a plurality of light distribution patterns with one lamp. For example, an automotive headlamp is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-226706, in which light distribution patterns different from each other are respectively formed on three reflective surfaces, each area of the surfaces having been formed into a radial shape in a reflector, by combining three semiconductor light emitting elements and the three reflective surfaces.
In the automotive headlamp described in the above patent application, it is needed to design a chamber dedicated for each combination of the semiconductor light emitting elements and the reflective surfaces. Accordingly, there is the problem that the structure of the automotive headlamp becomes complicated and the cost is increased.

Automotive headlamp forming multiple light distribution patterns with a single lamp


A power state broadcast mechanism. A master device may broadcast a message through the use of a protocol to each of one or more slave devices to inform the slave devices of the power state of a computer system. The broadcast message may include a protocol header indicating the start of the broadcast transaction, a function type parameter indicating the type of broadcast transaction, and power state data indicating the power state of the computer system. Each of the slave devices may read the protocol header to detect the start of a broadcast transaction, and the function type parameter to determine the type of broadcast transaction. If the function type parameter indicates a power state broadcast transaction, each of the slave devices may read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust the current power state of the slave device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data transfer methodologies and, more particularly, to a power state broadcast mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a typical PC system, particularly in mobile systems, saving power is important. To that end, individual devices within the system usually adjust their power consumption based on the state of system power. If the system has decided to enter a lower power mode, then all devices may also enter a lower power mode.
Most devices that are capable of responding to power state changes dedicate pins to power state signals. In addition, some devices include A/D converters to monitor voltage supplies and determine on their own the power state of the system, e.g., detect that a supply has been shut down and cause the device to enter a low power state.
Dedicating pins to power state signals may be expensive on very small or low-cost parts. The use of A/D converters may involve process changes and considerable chip die area to implement. Direct monitoring of voltages may also require that a device requiring power state control be connected to all voltages, even though there may not otherwise be a need for a particular voltage plane on that device.

Method, system, and apparatus for a plurality of slave devices determining whether to adjust their power state based on broadcasted power state data


A sleep prevention system captures a facial image of a driver, determines a sleepiness level from the facial image and operates warning devices including neck air conditioner, seatbelt vibrator, and brake controller if necessary based on the sleepiness determination. A sleepiness determination device determines sleepiness from facial expression information such as distances between corners of a mouth, distance between an eyebrow and eye, tilt angle of a head, and other facial feature distances. The facial distances are calculated from captured images and from reference information gather during wakefulness. The sleepiness degree is determined based on the determination results including combinations thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to determining sleepiness and, in particular, to determining sleepiness based on motion analysis of a face of a target person.
2. Description of Related Art
Sleeping by a driver of a moving vehicle is undeniably dangerous. Proposals to prevent sleeping having included suggestions for devices for capturing a face of the driver by use of a camera mounted in the vehicle and for processing the obtained image to determine a degree of sleepiness. Usually, in such devices, the eyes of the driver are specified from the obtained image, an opening and line of sight of the eyes is detected from the image, and the presence or absence of sleepiness is determined from the detection result. For example, a device in which an opening of eyes is detected sequentially to determine whether a target person is asleep more precisely has been suggested in accordance with JP-A-11-66304.
However, problems with the above described method exist in that eye movement often changes in accordance with situation where a vehicle is traveling. For example, when the sunlight enters the eyes of the driver, the driver squints in many cases regardless of a level of sleepiness. Other eye based indications such as the frequency of mirror checking or confirmation by the driver on an expressway are unreliable since indications on a highway, busy town or city can differ from a mirror checking frequency that might be used by the same driver on a small road or in a small town regardless of sleepiness.
Still further complicating detection is the problem that eye movement relates generally to a sleepiness level of the target person directly, but as described above, many disturbances to the determination of a degree of sleepiness occur. Therefore, many countermeasures are needed for determining a degree of sleepiness from only eyes.

Device, program, and method for determining sleepiness


The invention relates to a method for producing a data carrier having a laser-markable layer and a transparent optically variable layer overlapping therewith at least in certain areas, wherein visually visible markings that at least partly overlap with the optically variable layer are produced in the laser-markable layer after the application of the optically variable layer. The invention further includes a data carrier produced by the method and a semifinished product, such as a data carrier blank, that is provided for processing by the method.

This invention relates to a method for producing data carriers, in particular ID cards, papers of value and the like, in which the data carriers are provided with a security element having an optically variable layer and including markings produced by laser irradiation, and to data carriers produced by said method.
WO 97/19818 discloses printing data carriers with information that is rendered in a color contrasting with the data carrier. The accordingly printed areas are then covered with a transparent optically variable layer, the optically variable effect of said layer being clearly evident only in the areas where the printed information forms a dark and thus absorbent background. An optically variable effect is understood to mean that different visual impressions, for example different colors or tones, are produced at different viewing angles. This method has the disadvantage that a plurality of printing operations are necessary for producing the absorbent background and the optically variable layer, possibly with drying periods therebetween. If the printed information renders important data meriting protection, the data carriers produced by this method have little protection against forgery and manipulation since the printed information is easily accessible and manipulable.

Method for producing laser-writable data carriers and data carrier produced according to this method


An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first tab, the second tab and the third tab extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The third tab extends over a smallest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The accessory mount includes a restricting member disposed near the third tab, a fitting portion used to align an optical axis of the accessory mount with an optical axis of the camera body, and a lock pin hole through which a lock pin, retractably disposed at the camera body, is inserted so as to lock the camera accessory in a fully mounted state. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera accessory that can be detachably engaged with a camera body equipped with a camera body mount assuming a bayonet structure.
2. Description of Related Art
A camera accessory, such as an exchangeable lens, and a camera body assuming structures that allow them to be detachably engaged with each other via a mount system adopting a bayonet structure are known in the related art. Such a camera accessory and a camera body are engaged with each other by first inserting a camera accessory mount through a camera body mount at the correct interlock phase and then rotating the camera accessory along a predetermined direction (mounting direction) around the incident light optical axis. The camera accessory can be dismounted from the camera body by first rotating the camera accessory mounted at the camera body along a direction (dismounting direction) opposite from the mounting direction and then pulling the camera accessory forward relative to the camera body.
Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H3-229229 discloses a system that includes a camera accessory and a camera body structured as described above, whereby a projecting portion formed at the camera accessory comes in contact with a side end of a tab at the camera body mount when the camera accessory is being mounted at or dismounted from the camera body, so as to restrict the range of rotation of the camera accessory along the mounting direction or the dismounting direction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The proposed technical solution relates to fire prevention equipment and can be used in industrial and civilian properties, including with an increased risk of fire, for locating hot spots, and also for efficiently extinguishing fires in facilities using automatic fire-extinguishing systems. The technical problem addressed by the claimed invention is to produce a fire-extinguishing device which does not have the drawbacks mentioned and has increased reliability, efficiency and manufacturability. The technical result of the claimed invention consists in elimination of the drawbacks of the prior art, in an increase in the reliability and manufacturability of a fire-extinguishing device and thus in an increase in the fire-extinguishing efficiency overall.

There is a known fire-extinguishing device as described in application US2017036048 (A1), published on 9 Feb. 2017 on 15 sheets. The known fire-extinguishing device consists of a cylinder and a lock and release device which includes a thermal lock being destructed once the temperature limit is reached. This activates a spring-loaded push-bar which is performed as a hollow needle; it breaks through cylinder's membrane and releases gas fire extinguishing agent (GFEA) which is discharged under pressure through spray element's openings. In an optional performance, the lock and release device includes an electronic device of forced actuation; and the thermal lock includes conductive coating which allows heating of liquid inside the thermal lock when supplying voltage to the forced actuation device. Thereby, this results in lock destruction and release of push-bar spring.
Disadvantages of the specified solution are that in the lock and release device, the push-bar sleeve is connected with the spray element through only one slot. This results in the fact that in the moment of movement the push bar may be positioned noncoaxially towards the axis of exhaust opening, which in its turn will result in its jamming or in breaking-off the closure under angle, by the push bar. Respectively, this may result both in total failure of the device and in its wrong actuation, which will reduce efficiency of fire extinction.
Moreover, push-bar sleeve is connected with the spray element with a pin through a slot; whereas, the pin is performed with a uniform cross section along its length. This, respectively, in case of device actuation, results in ineffective release of GFEA.
Other disadvantages of the specified device include the fact that the lock and release device is connected with the cylinder directly; whereas, the closure element (membrane) is positioned immediately in the lock and release device. This, respectively, reduces processability of the device and does not allow assembling in the place of installation.
Finally, in case of the device with a forced-actuation device in its assembly, among disadvantages there are the following: that the actuation device is supposed to be mounted in the upper part of spray-element cap, which, respectively, also decreases processability of the device in general, because in this case, an additional working hole is required. Performance of such forced-actuation device is also questioned, so far as it requires to have a direct current supply in the system. Such direct current supply must ensure sufficient operating period in order to cause actuation of the thermal lock.

Fire-extinguishing device (variants), lock and release device for fire-extinguishing device (variants), forced activation device for lock and release device, fire-extinguishing system and fire-extinguishing method


The present invention is directed to musical instruments that are based on the operation of an air reed and, in particular, encompasses end-blown flutes comprising an acoustic air space and a fluid air space. The communication between the acoustic and fluid air spaces is positioned so as to minimally interfere with the flow of air introduced, i.e., blown, into the fluid space and enables the instrument to produce rich, in-tune tones across a three octave range. The acoustic air space is formed by a hollow tuning chamber positioned opposite the air reed. In alternate embodiments, the invention encompasses a head-joint of a musical instrument, which head joint comprises a an acoustic space and a fluid space. The head joint of the invention may be used to replace or in place of the head joint or mouthpiece of common musical instruments of the woodwind family, e.g., the Western flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, nay, shakuhachi, or recorder.

The present invention is directed to musical instruments, commonly known as flutes, that are based on the operation of an air reed. The sounds produced by a flute arise due to the impingement of air on an edge, known as the air reed, causing the air to oscillate as it passes into a sound chamber, producing an audible tone. The two primary categories of flutes include tubular flutes (for example, those of the modern Boehm flute family (i.e., the orchestral flute family including C-flutes, piccolos, alto flutes, bass flutes, etc.), the recorder, the tin whistle, the quena, the nay, the shakuhachi, etc.) and enclosed vessel flutes (such as the ocarina). As used herein, the term "flute" does not encompass enclosed vessel flutes.
Tubular flutes generally employ sound chambers open at both ends, wherein the embouchure hole is one of the end-openings. This is in contrast to other woodwind instruments, e.g., the clarinet, saxophone, oboe etc., wherein the mouth of the player encloses and seals one end of the central bore of the instrument, forming a sound chamber open at only one end. The sound chamber of a tubular flute is relatively long and slender, and is shaped (or substantially shaped) like a tube or a truncated cone, and may optionally comprise one or more tone holes in the wall of the sound chamber, i.e., in the side wall of the instrument. The most well-known flutes in Western cultures are the orchestral transverse flutes, or Boem flutes, which comprise an embouchure hole in the side wall of the sound chamber rather than at the end of the tube as in an end blown flute such as a nay or shakuhachi. The placement of the embouchure hole requires the orchestral flute to be supported laterally to the player's side, at an approximately 90° angle relative to the vertical formed by the player's torso. Maintaining the constrained horizontal position is especially tiresome on the hands, arms and neck. After long periods of playing, it may become difficult to move the fingers properly to precisely control the finger holes and keys. Accordingly, repeated efforts have been made to redesign the transverse instrument and/or head-joint thereof such that it may be played in a vertical position (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,422,364; 3,888,154, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Moreover, the tonality of the transverse flute is known to be adversely affected by placement of the embouchure hole and resulting streamlines of blown air entering the flute.
In transverse flutes, the air is blown against the air reed (which is formed from a section of the embouchure hole), enters the embouchure hole and is forced into a spiral course within the sound chamber at a right angle to its direction of entry. Part of the air entering the sound chamber is deflected towards a closed section of the sound chamber (i.e., toward the cork or stopper of a traditional Boem flute) and from there is again deflected back toward the embouchure hole and the remaining open end of the sound chamber (i.e., the portion of the sound chamber comprising one or more tone holes). This path creates a turbulent air-stream within the flute in the area of the embouchure hole, recognized to negatively affect the tonality of the flute. For example, the turbulent air-flow has been ascribed to cause a "hissing sound" (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No: 2004/0255754, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety) or to cause out of tune progression into the higher harmonics (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 594,735, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).
Efforts to improve the air-flow within the sound chamber of transverse instruments in the area of the embouchure hole, and to thereby improve the tonality of the instrument across all octaves, have included redesigning the interior of the sound chamber to attempt to direct airflow in a laminar fashion (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,308 and 5,435,221, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), redesigning the shape of the sound chamber in an attempt to promote laminar flow (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No.: 2004/0255754), redesigning the shape of the sound chamber and placement of tone holes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,714,000; and 6,259,010, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and moving the embouchure hole to the end of the sound chamber (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 444,830; and 594,735 each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). The instant patent encompasses a solution to the turbulent flow and/or playing position considerations by, in effect, placing the air reed at the end of the sound chamber, forming an end-blown flute.
End-blown flutes traditionally encompass non-western flutes (such as, but not limited to the nay, the quasaba, the shakuhachi, e.g., a "shakuhachi-type flute") and, in certain embodiments, fipple flutes (e.g., the recorder, the tin whistle). To play an end-blown, shakuhachi-type flute (e.g., wherein the embouchure hole is formed from the open end of the central bore of the instrument and wherein the air reed is thus formed from a section of the side wall of the instrument) the player focuses air directly over the air reed using the lips. In contrast, fipple flutes employ an airway to focus the air over the air reed. However, relative to traditional Western transverse flutes, either fipple-type or shakuhachi-type end blown flutes suffer from weaknesses in playable tonal range, in particular, in the range of tones they are able to be played harmonically, or in-tune. For example, a flute designed to emit a strong lower register is often quite shrill in the upper register(s) because the player is forced to blow relatively hard to obtain upper register notes. Similarly, in such flutes the upper octaves tend to be out of tune in relation to the bottom octave, and higher notes can be difficult to reach. These weaknesses are corrected in the transverse flutes by extending and enclosing the tubular sound chamber beyond the embouchure (and, thus, air reed), effectively placing the air reed and embouchure in the side wall of the sound chamber, and forming an acoustic air space and fluid air space on opposite sides of the air reed (see, e.g., Arthur H. Benade Fundamentals Of Musical Acoustics, (Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y. 1976). Prior to the present invention, however, attempts to redesign an end-blown flute to encompass an acoustic air-space have failed to address the problem of turbulent air-flow at the embouchure hole. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 444,830 teaches an end blown flute comprising at least one lateral tuning chamber on the side of the air reed. The positioning of the chamber(s) places it (them) at least partially in the path of the blown air, creating disruption of the air flow as the air passes the chamber(s) before spreading downward to fill the open sound chamber. Accordingly, the instant invention addresses the tonality/harmonic weaknesses of end blown flutes in general.

End blown flute having an acoustic air space


An electrical circuit assembly which requires no solder processing, including an electronic component having terminations arranged on at least one of its surfaces, and a molded curviplanar substrate having circuit traces thereon and a cavity formed therein, wherein the cavity substantially conforms in shape with the electronic component. Proximate the cavity is a plurality of electrical contacts, arranged in matched relation with the respective terminations of the electronic component, with at least one of the electrical contacts being connected to at least one of the circuit traces on the substrate. The cavity and electrical contacts are dimensioned such that an interference fit is provided between the component's terminations and the electrical contacts, such that the component is held within the cavity when the component is placed therein. The component is disposed in the cavity such that its terminations are in physical and electrical connection with their respective electrical contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the mounting of electronic components. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting electronic components to three-dimensional-surface substrates using molded sockets.
2. Disclosure Information
The attachment of electronic components to circuit board substrates is typically achieved by soldering. Various soldering techniques are used in the electronics industry, including the conventional practices of reflow soldering, wave soldering, and vapor-phase soldering. Each of these processes requires the use of metal alloy solders that process at relatively high temperatures. Furthermore, each of these processes ha, been developed for use with planar circuit boards.
Recently, interest has grown in the use of non-planar (i.e., "three-dimensional" or "curviplanar") circuit substrates as a more flexible design alternative to conventional planar circuit boards. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, circuits and components which in the past were placed on rigid, planar circuit boards 60 with the boards then being attached by fasteners 64 to a molded plastic housing 62, are now being placed directly on an interior or exterior surface of the housing itself, as shown in FIG. 1B. In this type of arrangement, the surface of the molded housing 62 is typically metallized and the electronic components and circuitry are soldered thereto, the housing thus replacing the planar circuit board and serving as the substrate for the components and circuitry. This arrangement offers the advantage of integrating the electronics together with the structural housings or other adjacent molded structures, thus reducing the number of processing steps, eliminating unnecessary fasteners and other hardware 64, and reducing to overall product costs.
However, this type of integrated structure suffers from its inability to be processed using conventional soldering techniques, for at least two reasons. First, the non-planar surfaces of such integrated structures cause the structures to be incompatible with conventional soldering equipment, such as reflow ovens and the like, which can only process planar substrates. Second, the plastic resins used to make such integrated structures often cannot withstand the thermal excursions and/or chemical attack of conventional solder processing.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a way of integrating electronic circuitry with three-dimensional molded substrates in such a way that would eliminate the need for soldering altogether.

Three-dimensional molded sockets for mechanical and electrical component attachment


A data transfer system including a data transmission unit and a data reception unit, the data transmission unit including an arithmetic unit which, when accepting an interruption during data transfer, suspends processing in execution and immediately switches to a mode for executing the interruption processing, and the data reception unit including a received data accepting unit for temporarily accumulating received data, a data storage unit for receiving and storing received data accumulated at the received data accepting unit after the data transfer processing is completed, and a transfer control unit for inhibiting processing of shifting received data accumulated at the received data accepting unit to the data storage unit when detecting suspension of the data transfer processing due to generation of an interruption at the data transmission unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer system and, more particularly, to a data transfer system, in a system whose operation timing after the acceptance of interruption processing is required to be stable, which has a function of suspending data transfer to give priority to interruption processing when an interruption occurs during the data transfer and preventing an error caused by the suspension of data transfer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a data transfer system in which data to be transferred is divided and divisionally transferred several times, when interruption processing occurs during data transfer, it is a common practice to maintain the data transfer state until the transfer of the data being transferred is completed and proceed to interruption processing operation after the completion of the data transfer processing, thereby preventing data transfer error from occurring.
FIG. 6 shows structure of a conventional data transfer system of this kind. The conventional data transfer system shown in FIG. 6 includes a data transmission unit 210 for transmitting data and a data reception unit 220 for receiving data transmitted by the data transmission unit 210. The data transmission unit 210 includes an arithmetic unit 211, a storage unit 212, a transfer state control unit 213, a transfer data storage unit 214 and an interruption control switch 215. The data reception unit 220 includes a transfer control unit 221, a received data accepting unit 222 and a data storage unit 223. With the above-described structure, data whose arithmetical processing has been conducted by the arithmetic unit 211 of the data transmission unit 210 is transferred to the data reception unit 220.
When transferring no data, the data transmission unit 210 stores data whose arithmetical processing has been conducted at the arithmetic unit 211 in the transfer data storage unit 214 to enter a next processing waiting state. When data transfer is started, first, a data reading timing signal 112 is output from the transfer state control unit 213 and sent to the transfer control unit 221 of the data reception unit 220. In addition, the data held at the transfer data storage unit 214 is bit-serially output in synchronization with the data reading timing signal 112 output by the transfer state control unit 213, so that serial data 104 is transferred to the data reception unit 220. The data reception unit 220 receives the transferred data 104 and stores the same at the received data accepting unit 222. As a result of the foregoing operation, data transfer from the data transmission unit 210 to the data reception unit 220 finishes.
While data transfer from the data transmission unit 210 to the data reception unit 220 is under way, when an external interruption signal 101 is applied, the interruption signal 101 is held in the interruption control switch 215 based on a control signal supplied from the transfer state control unit 213 until the data transfer is completed. Then, after the completion of the data transfer, switching of the interruption control switch 215 is conducted such that the interruption signal 101 is transmitted to the arithmetic unit 211. This prevents data transfer error from occurring which is caused by interruption processing occurring during data transfer.
One of the above-described conventional data transfer systems is, for example, a data transfer system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying Open (Kokai) No. Showa 61-289749, entitled "Serial Data Transfer Device".
FIG. 7 shows structure of a transmission unit for use in the data transfer system recited in the above-described literature. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the transmission unit according to the present related art includes a transfer register 201, a mode control circuit 202, a transfer counter 203, a flag circuit 204 and a mode hold circuit 205. The mode control circuit 202 is supplied with a transfer start signal 110 and an output of the mode hold signal circuit 205. The mode hold circuit 205 is supplied with a mode designation signal 111. The transfer register 201 is supplied with a data signal 108 and a control signal output from the mode control circuit 202.
The transfer register 201 receives input of the data signal 108 to transfer data bit-serially based on a control signal. In other words, the transfer register outputs the data signal 108 as serial data 109. The transfer counter 203 counts a volume of output data transfer. The flag circuit 204 is set by the externally supplied transfer start signal 110 and is reset upon detection of overflow of the transfer counter 203. With the foregoing structure, when the flag circuit 204 detects overflow of the transfer counter 203, data is read on a bus line, so that transfer of the serial data 109 is completed. On the other hand, during data transfer, control operation is being conducted such that an operation mode is not switched, thereby disabling intervention of other interruption processing to prevent an error from occurring during data transfer.
In practical use, however, there exists such a system as is incapable of waiting for data transfer to end when an interruption occurs during data transfer, that is, a system required to synchronize with an interruption instruction. To this kind of system, conventional art is not directly applicable in which interruption processing is waited for until the end of data transfer in order to prevent the above-described transfer error. As an example of a system of this kind, a vertical deflection correction system on a horizontal/vertical synchronization signal frequency variable type display will be described. Vertical deflection correction in this system aims to conduct correction of screen display position, screen size, and distortion of a display screen.
In vertical deflection correction by a conventional vertical deflection correction system, there are, as synchronization signals of image, a vertical synchronization signal (a signal for determining a vertical position of a scanning line on a screen) and a horizontal synchronization signal (a signal for determining a horizontal position of a scanning line on a screen). Through the generation of a correction current in response to each synchronization signal, a scanning line is controlled to correct a display screen. A correction signal for a vertical position control signal of a common scanning line is a triangular wave signal in which a low voltage, for example, denotes an upper part of the screen and an increasing voltage denotes that a scanning line shifts toward a lower part of the screen. As a voltage of a correction signal increases gradually, a scanning line is moved downward on the screen. At the time point when the voltage increases to the maximum, that is, at a time point when the scanning line is moved to the lowermost end of the screen, the voltage is decreased at a breath in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal to start subsequent scanning from the uppermost end of the screen. While a voltage is being decreased, no scanning line is displayed on the screen. In addition, various arithmetical processing is conducted using a triangular wave signal of a correction signal. Deformation of a waveform of a triangular wave therefore leads to control for the above-described respective corrections etc.
When conducting arithmetical processing and data transfer processing (correction waveform output) repeatedly, such a data transfer system as the above-described vertical deflection correction system needs to forcibly suspend arithmetical processing and data transfer processing, conduct interruption processing in response to a vertical synchronization signal and conduct all the processing thereafter, with a vertical synchronization signal as a starting point. To control a horizontal/vertical synchronization signal frequency variable type display, it should be operated at various frequencies of a synchronization signal. There is therefore no knowing at which timing of data processing a vertical synchronization signal is applied, and there is accordingly a possibility of occurrence of an interruption during data transfer.
In this case, if no switching to an interruption mode is made in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal (interruption signal) in order not to cause a data transfer error as in the above-described data transfer system shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a time from the application of the above-mentioned interruption signal until entering an interruption operation mode will appear as a variable time for starting subsequent data processing. In other words, if a time before processing starts after the application of a vertical synchronization signal is inconstant, a scanning line will be displaced on a screen to the extent of variation of a time before data transfer ends after an interruption signal is applied and the displacement will appear as jitter. On an actual screen, display dots fluctuate vertically as a result.
As described in the foregoing, in a case where interruption processing is generated during data transfer, in order to prevent an error which is derived from imperfect data transfer caused as a result of the suspension of the data transfer by the interruption, a conventional data transfer system is controlled such that the interruption processing generated during the data transfer waits for the data transfer to end. For a system required to have stable operation timing after the acceptance of interruption processing such as a vertical deflection correction system for use in generation and adjustment of a vertical synchronization signal of a display, however, control for waiting interruption processing can not be conducted as it is because with such control, a time for shifting to an interruption operation mode, from the input of an interruption signal until the end of data transfer output, will be a variable time for starting data processing.
In addition, in such a system required to have constant operation timing after the acceptance of interruption processing as described above, if, at the time of the generation of interruption processing during data transfer, the data transfer is suspended to execute the interruption processing in order to give higher priority to stabilization of operation timing, occurrence of the above-described data transfer error will be invited.

Data transfer system having function of preventing error caused by suspension of data transfer to immediately service transfer interrupted request


Devices, systems, and methods measure, diagnose, and/or treat one or both eyes of a patient. Adaptive optics systems (such as those having a deformable mirror) may be configured to an aspherical or multi-spherical presbyopia-mitigating prescriptive shape to allow objective and/or subjective measurements of a candidate prescription. A plurality of viewing distances allow subjective and/or objective evaluations of performance using a light spot or a test viewing image. Measurements of aberrations at selected viewing conditions (including distances and/or brightness) with correlating pupil sizes may also be provided.

This invention relates to optical diagnosis and correction, and in particular provides methods, devices, and systems for treating presbyopia and other vision conditions, for evaluating and deriving prescriptions for treatment of presbyopia and other vision conditions, and/or for measuring the response of the eye to different viewing conditions.
Presbyopia is a condition that affects the accommodation properties of the eye. As objects move closer to a young, properly functioning eye, ciliary muscle contraction and zonular relaxation allow the lens of the eye to become rounder or more convex, and thus increase its optical power and ability to focus at near distances. Accommodation can allow the eye to focus and refocus between near and far objects.
Presbyopia normally develops as a person ages, and is associated with a natural progressive loss of accommodation, sometimes referred to as "old sight." The presbyopic eye often loses the ability to rapidly and easily refocus on objects at varying distances. There may also be a loss in the ability to focus on objects at near distances. Although the condition progresses over the lifetime of an individual, the effects of presbyopia usually become noticeable after the age of 45 years. By the age of 65 years, the crystalline lens has often lost almost all elastic properties and has only limited ability to change shape. Residual accommodation refers to the amount of accommodation that remains in the eye. A lower degree of residual accommodation contributes to more severe presbyopia, whereas a higher amount of residual accommodation correlates with less severe presbyopia.
Known methods and devices for treating presbyopia seek to provide vision approaching that of an emmetropic eye. In an emmetropic eye, both distant objects and near objects can be seen due to the accommodation properties of the eye. To address the vision problems associated with presbyopia, reading glasses have traditionally been used by individuals to add plus power diopter to the eye, thus allowing the eye to focus on near objects and maintain a clear image. This approach is similar to that of treating hyperopia, or farsightedness.
Presbyopia has also been treated with bi-focal eyeglasses, where one portion of the lens is corrected for distance vision, and another portion of the lens is corrected for near vision. When peering down through the bifocals, the individual looks through the portion of the lens corrected for near vision. When viewing distant objects, the individual looks higher, through the portion of the bi-focals corrected for distance vision. Thus with little or no accommodation, the individual can see both far and near objects.
Contact lenses and intra-ocular lenses (IOLs) have also been used to treat presbyopia. One approach is to provide the individual with monovision, where one eye (usually the primary eye) is corrected for distance-vision, while the other eye is corrected for near-vision. Unfortunately, with monovision the individual may not clearly see objects that are intermediately positioned because the object is out-of-focus for both eyes. Also, an individual may have trouble seeing with only one eye, or may be unable to tolerate an imbalance between their eyes. In addition to monovision, other approaches include bilateral correction with either bi-focal or multi-focal lenses. In the case of bi-focal lenses, the lens is made so that both a distant point and a near point can be focused. In the multi-focal case, there may exist many focal points between near targets and far targets.
In the field of refractive surgery, certain ablation profiles have been suggested to treat the condition, often with the goal of increasing the range of focus of the eye (rather than restoring accommodation in the patient's eye). Many of these ablation profiles can provide a single excellent focus of the eye, yet they do not provide an increased depth of focus such that optimal distance acuity, optimal near acuity, and acceptable intermediate acuity occur simultaneously. Shapes have been proposed for providing enhanced distance and near vision, yet current approaches do not provide ideal results for all patients.
Prior presbyopia treatment may generally be categorized into two approaches: passive and active. Active treatments generally seek to restore accommodation, such as through the use of an artificial accommodating intra-ocular lenses (IOLs), scleral expansion bands (SEBs), and drug therapies. Passive treatments generally seek to change the optical properties of the human eye to maintain an acceptable compromise between near vision and distance vision. Passive treatments include multifocal and bifocal contact lenses, IOLs, spectacle lenses, monovision, and the like. Effectiveness of both active and passive techniques has generally been established by human clinical trials which are time-consuming, expensive and may involve some risk for the involved patients. Optical modeling can provide significant insight into proposed techniques, but substantial uncertainties remain, including those associated with the retinal response and neural processing of the optical signals transmitted through the ocular optics.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to have improved methods, devices, and systems for treatment of presbyopia and other vision defects. It would also be desirable to have improved methods, devices, and systems for measuring the optical and/or visual response of the human viewing system and for developing new prescriptions to treat presbyopia and other viewing defects. It would generally be desirable to increase the percentage of the population which can be effectively treated for presbyopia and other vision defects without greatly increasing the cost, risk, and/or complexity of diagnosis and/or treatment over current techniques.

Correction of presbyopia using adaptive optics and associated methods


There is provided with there is provided with a wireless communication method using a frequency hopping scheme, which performs wireless communication with a different wireless communication apparatus by using a plurality of frequency bands, including: measuring interference quantities showing strength of interference signals in respective frequency bands; selecting a hopping pattern from a plurality of hopping patterns each having hopping densities set for the respective frequency bands on the basis of the interference quantities in the respective frequency bands, the hopping densities being the number of times that transmission is performed per unit time in the respective frequency bands; notifying the different wireless communication apparatus of the selected hopping pattern; and communicating with the different wireless communication apparatus by using the selected hopping patter.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method, in particular, to a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method for performing cognitive radio communication using frequency hopping.
2 Related Art
In conventional wireless communication using frequency hopping, there is a following communication method as an example. In the method, radio wave environments (received levels) of available frequency channels in a plurality of frequency channels are measured, the available frequency channels are ranked in ascending order of received level, and communication is performed by frequency hopping in this order (see JP-A 1997-200086(KOKAI)).
Furthermore, there is also an example in which it is proposed to cope with a change of the environment rapidly by using the UWB (Ultra WideBand) for communication of control signals in conventional cognitive radio communication systems (See "Implementation Issues in Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radios," Danijera Cabric, Shridhar Mubaraq Mishra, Robert W. Brodersen, Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems and Computers, 2004)
In the conventional scheme described in the above JP-A 1997-200086(KOKAI), however, the available frequency channels are merely selected in order of less interference. Even if frequency channels having less interference exist in the available frequency channels, therefore, it cannot be said that the frequency channels having less interference are enough utilized efficiently.
In the latter-cited conventional scheme, it is necessary to provide a wireless communication apparatus capable of performing two communications of an ordinary cognitive radio communication and a UWB wireless communication. A problem is posed from the viewpoint of reducing the size and power consumption of the wireless communication terminal.

Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method