In a CDMA mobile communications device, a long code generator can be eliminated from a receiving section by storing a received long code at an output timing of a decimating section 11 through calculation of a write address of a FIFO buffer 12a, calculating a read address of the FIFO buffer at the cycle of a reference clock signal output from a reference clock signal generation section 12c, controlling the received long code through use of a FIFO buffer control section 12b which reads the received long code, and by a symbol combining section 10 combining symbols received over paths and output from a RAKE receiving section at the cycle of the reference clock signal and demodulating the combined symbol through use of the received long code.

The present invention relates to a code division multiple access (hereinafter referred to simply as a xe2x80x9cCDMAxe2x80x9d) system employing a spread spectrum (SS) communication scheme in the field of mobile communication.
Since spread spectrum communication employed in the field of mobile communication permits code division multiple access and has superior noise resistance, the spread spectrum communication is used for a CDMA communications system or radio LAN communications. A CMDA communications system is currently in actual use in North America and Korea (hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cNorth American Schemexe2x80x9d) and is standardized as (TIA/EIA/IS95 and TIA/EIA/IS98) scheduled to be put into service by Japanese communication service companies. Further, another CDMA scheme is scheduled to be adopted in Japan as a third-generation mobile communications scheme (hereinafter referred to simply as a xe2x80x9cwideband schemexe2x80x9d).
A spread spectrum scheme comprises a spread spectrum direct sequence (direct spread spectrum) scheme and a spread spectrum frequency hopping scheme. All currently employed as CDMA schemes are direct sequence schemes. In a spread spectrum communications scheme, multipath components are combined at the maximum rate through use of a receiver called a RAKE system, thereby producing a diversity effect. The RAKE receiver is described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,390.
Use of the RAKE receiver complying with the CDMA scheme enables a mobile communications device to communicate with base station other than the base station with which the device is currently communicating, thus allowing a hand-off without interruption of communication (i.e., a soft hand-off).
In order to realize a soft hand-off, the North American scheme causes all the base stations to be in synchronization with one another through use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). In the wideband scheme, the base stations are not in synchronization with one another. Accordingly, the North American scheme enables easier detection of a base station for soft hand-off purpose. In the North American scheme, all base stations share a common code (e.g., a long code), and the base stations are brought into synchronization with one another by activating a generator for producing the common code through use of a GPS clock signal.
FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a mobile communications device complying with the North American scheme. The mobile communications device shown in FIG. 6 is roughly divided into a transmission section A and a receiving section B. The transmission section A comprises a transmission data preparation section 1; an error detection/correction encoding section 2; a long code generator 3; a long code modulation section 4 which performs a first spreading operation through use of the long code; an in-phase component direct sequence section 5 which directly spreads a long code modulation signal through use of a spread code of an in-phase component; a quadrature component direct sequence section 6 which directly spreads a long code modulation signal through use of a spread code of a quadrature component; and a radio transmission section 7 which converts the frequency of a directly-spread base band signal into a radio frequency band, amplifies the signal, and transmits the signal from an antenna.
The receiving section B comprises a radio receiving section 8 which receives a signal of radio frequency band by way of an antenna, amplifies the signal, and converts the frequency of the received signal into a base band range; a RAKE receiving section 9 which combines multipath components at the maximum rate and effects a soft hand-off; a symbol combining section 10 which combines a received symbol at the maximum rate; the long code generator 3 that is identical in configuration with that provided in the transmission section A; a decimating section 11 which decimates the long code; a long code demodulation section 13 which descrambles the long code through use of the decimated long code; an error detection/correction decoding section 14; and a demodulation data processing section 15 which segments the decoded received data into an audio signal and a control signal. The RAKE receiving section 9 comprises in-phase component despread sections 9a to 9c; quadrature component despread sections 9d to 9f; and combining sections 9g to 9i. In-phase components and quadrature components are despread and combined for every path, whereby a despread signal (i.e., a received symbol) is output for every path.
In the existing mobile communications device complying with the North American scheme, the mobile communications device produces at different timings, a long code for transmission purpose and a long code for receiving purpose. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the communications device requires separate long code generators for transmission and receiving purposes. The reason for this will now be described. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a long code generator used in the existing North American scheme mobile communications device. As shown in FIG. 7, the long code generator comprises 42 flip-flops, XOR circuits provided for all the outputs of the flip-flops, and seven XOR circuits necessary for feed-back operations (dividing operations) of a shift register (42 AND circuits are also required if a long code masking operation is performed). A clock frequency of 1.228 MHz is used as a clock signal for the long code generator.
In a North American scheme mobile communications device, an output from the long code generator 3 of the transmission section is used as a long code for the receiving section while being decimated. In the mobile communications device, a transmission timing is matched with the fastest path by means of the antenna""s edge according to the North American standards. The transmission timing is usually faster than the receiving timing because of a delay in the radio section and a delay for multipath combining (or a difference in timing between the fastest path and the slowest path), thereby posing no problem. However, the transmission timing is sometimes delayed (see EIA/TIA/IS-95A), and hence the receiving timing may become faster than the transmission timing, thereby posing a problem. The mobile communication device receives from the base station a string of long codes having a certain absolute time interval. From that point on, the mobile communications device produces a long code through use of a clock signal in synchronization with the base station. Accordingly, the mobile communication device cannot hold a string of long codes prior to receipt of a string of long codes from the base station. Accordingly, if the receiving timing becomes faster than the transmission timing, the receiving section cannot receive the long code from the transmission section. The despread timing of the RAKE receiving section of the receiver changes every time a receiving path changes, thereby making it difficult to adjust the transmission and receiving timings.
For this reason, the receiver is required to have a long code generator which operates at a timing independent of the transmission section and is identical with the long code generator of the transmission section (see the configuration of the long code generator shown in FIG. 6). For this reason, the mobile communications device becomes larger in scale, and an electric current dissipated in the communications device is increased.
Under the North American standards, the symbol combining section 10 is required to combine a delay path spreading over a cycle of several symbols without involvement of phase shift. Paths used for combining symbols are frequently switched in order to improve a receiving performance. If the receiving timing of each path frequently changes over a cycle of several symbols, the delay path cannot be combined without involvement of phase shift. For this reason, the configuration of the symbol combining section 10 becomes complicated.
The present invention is aimed at solving the foregoing problem of the existing CDMA mobile communications device, and the object of the present invention is to provide a superior CDMA mobile communications device which can be made compact and can reduce an electric current to be dissipated by means of a reduction in the number of receiving long code generators caused by storing long codesxe2x80x94which are previously produced by a transmission section in at least a number corresponding to the maximum timing differencexe2x80x94into a buffer before a receiving timing becomes faster than a transmission timing, and by reading the long code as a received long code.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior CDMA mobile communications device which can combine a delay path spreading over a cycle of several symbols with a simple configuration and without involvement of phase shift, by calculation of write and read addresses of a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer which stores a despread output symbol of each path, and through use of a reference clock generator, a counter which is incremented every time each path produces a despread output, and a differential signal generator for producing a difference between a previous count value and a current count value.
To solve the foregoing problem, a CDMA mobile communications device according to the present invention comprises: a buffer which decimates an output from a long code generator to be used in a transmission section and stores the thus-decimated long code; a buffer control section which controls addresses for writing and reading the buffer; and a long code demodulator which processes the long code (received long code) output from the buffer and a received signal (received symbol) output from a RAKE receiving section by means of a XOR operation.
A CDMA mobile communications device according to the present invention comprises: a RAKE receiving section which separates a received signal for each transmission path, despreads the thus-separated signal components for each in-phase and for each quadrature component through a spread string and merges the components into a combination signal, and outputs the combination signal for each path; first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers which store outputs (received symbol) from the RAKE receiving section for individual paths; a counter which is incremented at every output timing (or dump clock) for each path of the RAKE receiving section and whose maximum value is equivalent to the maximum number of received symbols to be stored in the FIFO buffer; a reference clock signal generator for outputting a clock (or reference clock) signal which runs at the cycle of the received symbol; a FIFO buffer control section which stores the received symbol into each of the FIFO buffers for every reference clock signal by referring to an output from the counter provided for each path as a write relative address and reads the read relative addresses of all the FIFO buffers from an identical count value; and a symbol combining section which merges the outputs from the FIFO buffers into one symbol.
With the foregoing configuration, before the receiving timing become faster than the transmission timing, the long code previously received by the transmission section is stored in the buffer in a number corresponding to the maximum timing difference. The thus-stored long code is read as a received long code from the buffer, thereby eliminating a received long code generator. As a result, there is obtained a superior CDMA mobile communications device which can be made compact and can reduce an electric current to be dissipated.
Further, there are provided a plurality of FIFO buffers for storing despread output symbols for individual paths. A write address of the FIFO buffer is calculated through use of a reference clock signal generator, and a read address of the FIFO buffer is calculated through use of a reference clock signal generator, a counter which is incremented for an output from each path, and a differential signal generator which produces a difference between the previous count value and the current count value. As a result, there is obtained a superior CDMA mobile communications device which can combine a delay path without involvement of phase shift and with a simple configuration.
Specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a CDMA mobile communications device comprises: a transmission section including a transmission data preparation section, an encoding section for detecting and correcting an error, a long cycle string code (long code) generator used for primary spreading operations, a long code modulator which processes the long code and an output from the encoding section by means of an exclusive OR operation; a short code spreader which divides an output from the long code modulator into in-phase components and quadrature components and processes the components by means of secondary spread through use of a short cycle string code (short code), a frequency conversion section which converts the frequency of an output from the short code spreader into a radio frequency range, an amplifier for amplifying the thus-frequency-converted signal, and an antenna; and a receiving section including a radio receiving section for converting a signal received by an antenna into a signal of base band range, a RAKE receiving section which separates an output from the radio receiving section for each transmission path and despreads the thus-separated outputs for each in-phase component and for each quadrature component by means of despreading operations through use of the short code, a symbol combining section which combines outputs from the RAKE receiving section, a buffer which decimates the output from the long code generator of the transmission section and stores the thus-removed long codes, a buffer control section which controls read and write addresses of the buffer, a long code demodulator which processes the long code (received long code) output from the buffer and the received signal (received symbol) output from the symbol combining section by means of exclusive OR operations, a reference clock signal generator for producing a clock signal which runs at the cycle of the received symbol, an error detection-and-correction section which reproduces received data by detection and correction of an error in the symbol output from the long code demodulator, and a demodulated data processing section which decomposes the reproduced data into a sound signal and a control signal. The CDMA mobile communications device enables data transmission of audio and control data according to a CDMA scheme without use of a received long code generator and can be made compact.
Further, according to second aspect of the present invention, the buffer previously stores the received long code in at least a number corresponding to the maximum amount of delay before a transmission timing of the transmission section lags. The device can supply a received long code even when the transmission timing becomes lagged.
Further, according to the third aspect of the present inveniton, a CDMA mobile communications device comprises: a long cycle string code (long code) generator to be used in primary spreading operations for transmission; a decimating section for decimating an output from the long code generator; a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer for storing an output (received long code) from the decimating section; a reference clock signal generator for producing a clock (reference clock) signal which runs at the cycle of a despread received signal (received symbol); a first counter which is incremented at the output timing (or dump clock timing) of the decimating section; a second counter which is incremented at the reference clock cycle; and a long code operation section which processes the output from the FIFO buffer and the despread received signal. The CDMA mobile communications device enables data transmission of audio and control data according to a CDMA scheme without use of a received long code generator and can be made compact.
According to fourth aspect of the present invention, modulo values of the first and second counters are taken as the maximum number of long codes which the FIFO buffer can store, and wherein the output from the first counter is referred to as a write address of the FIFO buffer every output timing (dump clock timing), and the output from the second counter is referred to as a read address of the FIFO buffer every reference clock signal. The device enables transmission according to a CDMA scheme without use of a received long code generator and with a simple configuration and can be made compact.
According to fifth aspect of the present invention, a CDMA mobile communications device comprises: a long cycle string code (long code) generator to be used in primary spreading operations for transmission; a reference clock signal generator for producing a clock (reference clock) signal which runs at the cycle of a despread received signal (received symbol); a decimating section for decimating an output from the long code generator; a shift register which stores the long code (received long code) while shifting the long code each timing (dump clock timing) at which the decimating section produces an output; a counter which is incremented at every dump clock timing and is reset at the reference clock cycle; an integrator which integrates the count value, outputs an integral value, and is decremented after outputting of the integral value; and a long code operation section which reads the received long code of the shift register from the position corresponding to the value output from the integrator and processes the received long code and a despread received signal by means of exclusive OR operations. The CDMA mobile communications device enables data transmission of audio and control data according to a CDMA scheme without use of a received long code generator and can be made compact.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a CDMA mobile communications device comprises: a radio receiving section for converting a signal received by an antenna into a signal of base band range; a RAKE receiving section which separates an output from the radio receiving section for each transmission path and despreads the thus-separated outputs for each in-phase component and for each quadrature component by means of despreading operations through use of the short code; a plurality of buffers which store outputs from the RAKE receiving section for respective paths; a symbol combining section which combines outputs from the buffers; a buffer control section which calculates write and addresses of each buffer on the basis of information about the timing of the signal for each path received from the RAKE receiving section in order to prevent phase shift among the outputs from the buffers at the time of combining of a symbol; a long cycle string code (long code) generator; a decimateing section which decimates an output from the long code generator; a long code demodulator which processes an output (received long code) from the decimating section and an output (received symbol) output from the symbol combining section by means of exclusive OR operations; an error detection-and-correction section which reproduces received data by detection and correction of an error in the symbol output from the long code demodulator; and a demodulated data processing section which decomposes the reproduced data into a sound signal and a control signal. The device can combine RAKE received output signals of each path without phase shift.
Furthermore, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of buffers comprise a plurality of first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers which store outputs (received symbols) from the RAKE receiving section for each of the paths; and wherein the buffer control section comprises a plurality of first counters which are incremented at every output timing (dump clock timing) for each of the paths of the RAKE receiving section and whose maximum value is equivalent to the maximum number of received symbols to be stored in each FIFO buffer; a reference clock signal generator for producing a clock (reference clock) signal running at the cycle of the received symbol; a second counter which is referred to as a relative address of each FIFO buffer and whose maximum value is equal to the maximum number of symbols to be stored in each FIFO buffer; and a FIFO buffer control section which stores received symbols into the individual FIFO buffers while, for every reference clock signal, referring to outputs from the plurality of first counters as write addresses and which refers to all the relative read addresses of the FIFO buffers as an identical count value of the second counter. There can be simplified the configuration for symbol combining operations in which the RAKE receiver output signal for each path is combined without involvement of phase shift.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the FIFO buffer control section comprises: a switch for selecting a count value (the fastest count value) corresponding to the fastest path (a receiving path over which a signal arrives at the fastest speed); a delay device which delays the fastest count value for one cycle of the reference clock signal; a differential signal generator which produces a signal relating to a difference between the output from the switch and the output from the delay device; a FIFO buffer output symbol number calculation section which calculates from the output from the differential signal generator the number of symbols output from each FIFO buffer; and a FIFO buffer read address calculation section for incrementing the count value of the second counter referred to at the time of calculation of the read address, after each FIFO buffer has been read. There can be simplified the configuration for symbol combining operations in which the RAKE receiver output signal for each path is combined without involvement of phase shift.
The above mentioned inventions can be applied to a CDMA mobile communications base station or a CDMA receiving method. Therefore, the devices operate in the same way as those mentioned above.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of valuing products based on demand probabilities. Products are designed by identifying product components, and combining the components in various combinations to provide standard and non-standard products. Components are valued using an algorithm that considers demand probability as well as known prices of standard products. The component values are added to determine product values and may be used to make pricing and order fulfillment decisions.

One of the unique challenges of any manufacturing enterprise is pricing of its end products. Traditionally, these prices are computed on the basis of a cost-plus measure and some measure of the ability of the customer to pay.
In recent years, computer-implemented enterprise management tools have been developed to assist in management decisions. These tools often include pricing tools, intended to assist in the pricing process.
Although product pricing methods have been developed for airlines, such tools are not necessarily suitable for manufacturers. For example, many manufacturers (referred to as "material intensive manufacturers) have limited materials (components) rather than capacity. Demand is probabilistic and is not in a particular order for different prices, as is the case with airline travel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer-implemented product valuation tool


There are provided a constant voltage circuit that features low current consumption and stable operation, and an analog electronic clock provided with the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal and which controls the voltage of a gate of an output transistor on the basis of a reference voltage and a feedback voltage that are received, a switch circuit which is connected to an output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit and which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal, and a voltage holding circuit which is connected between the gate of the output transistor and a power supply terminal and which has a resistor and a capacitor connected in series. An analog electronic clock provided with the foregoing constant voltage circuit that supplies a voltage to at least an oscillation circuit and a frequency division circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a constant voltage circuit featuring reduced power consumption and to an analog electronic clock.
2. Background Art
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an analog electronic clock. The analog electronic clock includes a semiconductor device 1, a crystal 2, a battery 3, and a motor 4. The semiconductor device 1 includes an oscillation circuit 11, to which the crystal 2 is connected, a frequency division circuit 12, a constant voltage circuit 10, which outputs a constant voltage Vreg for driving the oscillation circuit 11 and the frequency division circuit 12, and an output circuit 13 which drives the motor 4.
An analog electronic clock is required to minimize the frequency of replacing the battery thereof, so that the semiconductor device 1 is required to reduce current consumption. As a method for reducing the current consumption, the constant voltage circuit 10 that consumes less current has been proposed (refer to Patent Document 1).
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional constant voltage circuit. The conventional constant voltage circuit 10 includes a reference voltage circuit 101 that generates a reference voltage Vref, a differential amplifier circuit 102, an output transistor 103, a voltage dividing circuit 104, a holding circuit 105 composed of a capacitor, and a switch circuit 106.
The conventional constant voltage circuit 10 has the holding circuit 105 that holds the gate voltage of the output transistor 103, and reduces power consumption by intermittently operating the differential amplifier circuit 102 and the like. The operation of the differential amplifier circuit 102 is interrupted by a signal Φ1 and the switch circuit 106 is turned off. At this time, the gate voltage of the output transistor 103 is held by the holding circuit 105 at a voltage before the switch circuit 106 was turned off. Unless a load current significantly varies, the constant voltage circuit 10 is capable of outputting the constant voltage Vreg.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-298523
However, the conventional constant voltage circuit 10 is incapable of maintaining an output voltage in the case where a load current significantly varies. More specifically, if a battery voltage suddenly falls while the switch circuit 106 is off, then the gate-source voltage of the output transistor 103 decreases, undesirably causing the constant voltage Vreg to vary. Further, if the constant voltage Vreg falls below an oscillation stop voltage VDOS of the oscillation circuit 11, then the oscillation circuit 11 may lose stability and stop oscillation.

Constant voltage circuit and analog electronic clock


All execution paths of one or more assemblies in managed code are simulated to find the permissions for each execution path. The managed code can correspond to a managed shared library or a managed application. Each call in each execution path has a corresponding permissions set. When the library or application has permissions to execute that are not less than the required permission sets for the execution paths, any dynamic execution of the library or application will not trigger a security exception The simulated execution provides a tool that can be used to ensure that code being written will not exceed a maximum security permission for the code. A permission set can be determined by the tool for each assembly corresponding to an application and for each entry point corresponding to a shared library.

An application program interface (API) for a network platform can be used by developers to build Web applications and services. One such API is the .NET™ platform created by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., USA. The .NET™ platform is a software platform for Web services and Web applications implemented in a distributed computing environment. The .Net framework is not only intended for web services and application development, but is also intended as a general programming platform that enables both web services and application development as well as rich client application development. The .NET™ platform allows integration of a wide range of services that can be tailored to the needs of the user. As used herein, the phrase application program interface or API includes traditional interfaces that employ method or function calls, as well as remote calls (e.g., a proxy, stub relationship) and SOAP/XML invocations. The .NET™ platform uses a framework that includes a Common Language Runtime (CLR). Additional information regarding the basics of the .NET™ Framework can be found in a number of introductory texts, such as Pratt, Introducing Microsoft .NET, Third Edition, Microsoft Press, 2003.
The CLR is the heart of the Microsoft .NET™ Framework and provides the execution environment for all .NET code. Thus, code that is built to make use of the CLR, and that runs within the CLR, is referred to as "managed code." The CLR provides various functions and services required for program execution, including 'Just-In-Time' (JIT) compilation, allocating and managing memory, enforcing type safety, exception handling, thread management and security. The CLR is loaded upon the first invocation of a .NET™ routine. Because managed code is JIT compiled to native code prior to execution, significant performance increases can be realized in some scenarios. Managed code uses Code Access Security (CAS) to prevent assemblies from performing certain operations that could represent a security violation.
When writing managed code, the deployment unit is called an assembly which is a collection of one or more files that are versioned and deployed as a unit. An assembly is the primary building block of a .NET™ Framework application. All managed types and resources are contained within an assembly and are marked either as accessible only within the assembly or as accessible from code in other assemblies. An assembly is packaged as a data link library (DLL) file or executable (EXE) file. While an executable can run on its own, a DLL must be hosted in an existing application.
One or more methods in an assembly may call to access protected resources associated with another method. This call can be a cross assembly call (e.g., a call to a different assembly), or the call can be a call from one method to another within the same assembly. Various permissions can be requested by a method that contains security relevant resources, and various permissions can be assigned to each method. The assembly that contains the caller method must have been granted the required permissions before access is provided to the protected security relevant resources. Otherwise, a security exception will be triggered.
As a developer develops an application that will run in a managed environment, the application can be successively executed in order to find out if the application's source code has been written so that it will operate correctly in the targeted security context Alternatively, a manual review of every line of code in the application being developed can be made to try to find the security requirements associated with the calls that would be made during an actual execution of the application. Then, the results of the manual review can be summarized as to the security requirements for its execution. This summary can then be compared to a maximum level of security that the developer may not exceed for the application being developed.
Of course, both the try-and-error execution technique and the manual review technique can be time consuming and impractical to perform, as knowledge of the code in assemblies not written by the developer is required, i.e., a security check might be triggered by a shared managed library that the developer uses in order to implement a feature. It would be an advance in the art to provide an efficient technique to derive what the minimum security requirements are for executing managed code prior to a deployment of the managed code, prior to a release of the managed code, and/or prior to an actual execution of the managed code.


In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle includes an air conditioning device. An input device is provided to receive a selection input of a user with respect to a blowing position of the air conditioning device and including a first input area, a second input area and a third input area for outputting an activation mark or a deactivation mark by the selection input, A controller is configured to control output of an activation mark or a deactivation mark of the first input area, the second input area and the third input area.

A vehicle is typically equipped with an air conditioning device for comfortably maintaining the air environment according to various changes of the surroundings. The air conditioning device includes a cooling device for maintaining a low temperature and a heating device for maintaining a high temperature.
The air conditioning device is connected to the input/output means to be operated by the user. Referring to FIG. 1, the input device 10, which is an input/output means, includes a first push button 101, a second push button 102, and a third push button 103, thereby allowing a user to select a blowing position generated by an air conditioning device. For example, the user may control the air to be blown to the upper layer inside the vehicle through an input to the first push button 101.
On the other hand, when the user wants to change the position of the blower using a plurality of push buttons provided in the input device 10, the user intuitively presses a push button (for example, a first push button) corresponding to the blowhole currently in operation. Then, the push button (e.g., second push button) corresponding to the blowhole to be changed is pressed. However, since the air conditioning device requires air discharge by at least one blowhole when in operation, the activation mark of the first push button and the blowhole currently in operation are maintained. Due to the characteristics of the air conditioning device, a user may misunderstand that the input device has failed.


A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a power feeding brush including a tip end portion slidably abutted on the slip ring to feed electric power to the slip ring; and a rotation angle sensing mechanism including; a sensed portion provided to the one end portion of the motor output shaft, and a sensing portion provided to the cover member, and arranged to sense a rotation position of the sensed portion; the cover member including a recessed portion formed in an inner surface of the cover member, and recessed in an axially outward direction relative to the position of the opening end of the brush holding hole; and the sensed portion including a tip end portion inserted and disposed within the recessed portion to confront the sensing portion.

This invention relates to a valve timing control apparatus and a variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine which are configured to control an opening timing and a closing timing of, for example, an intake valve and an exhaust valve.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-226372 (corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/253085) discloses a valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a cover member which is provided on an front end side of a motor housing of an electric motor with a predetermined clearance. A pair of slip rings confronting the clearance is fixed on an inner surface of the cover member. A power feeding plate is fixed at a front end portion of the motor housing. A power feeding brush is provided to the power feeding plate. The power feeding brush is arranged to be slidably abutted on the slip ring, and thereby to feed the power to a coil of the electric motor.
A rotation sensing mechanism of an electromagnetic induction type is provided between one end portion of a motor output shaft of the electric motor which is on the cover member's side, and the cover member confronting the one end portion of the motor output shaft of the electric motor in the axial direction. The rotation sensing mechanism is arranged to sense a rotation angle of the motor output shaft.
This rotation sensing mechanism includes a sensed rotor fixed to one end portion of the motor output shaft; and a sensing portion provided to confront a tip end portion of the sensed rotor of the cover member. This sensing portion confronts the tip end portion of the sensed rotor with a predetermined gap.

Valve timing control apparatus and variable valve actuating apparatus for internal combustion engine


The present invention relates to a novel N-alkylaspartyl amide derivative, a salt form thereof, a sweetening agent containing the same and a sweetened food or drink containing the N-alkylaspartyl amide derivative as an effective ingredient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel N-alkylaspartyl amide derivative, a salt form thereof, a sweetening agent containing the same and a sweetened food or drink containing the N-alkylaspartyl amide derivative as an effective ingredient.
2. Discussion of the Background
With the significant societal improvements in eating habits in recent years, fatness resulting from excessive sugar intake and diseases accompanied by fatness has come under closer scrutiny. Accordingly, development of a low-calorie sweetener (sweetening agent) to replace sugar has been in increased demand. At present, aspartame has been employed owing to its excellent safety record and quality of sweetness. However, aspartame is somewhat problematic with respect to stability.
One approach to improve stability and enhance sweetening potency of aspartame is the creation of an aspartyl amide derivative by condensation of an aspartic acid and a β-aminoalcohol. The resulting product has no ester linkage. These compounds and derivatives are described in patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,029 and EP 0203540A1 Publication, and in technical literature, such as J. Med. Chem., 13, 1217(1970) and Tetrahedron Letters, 35, 6891 (1994).
An alternative approach is described in the International Patent Publication WO 94/11391, which reports that derivatives in which an alkyl group is introduced on a nitrogen atom of aspartic acid constituting the aspartame markedly improve (enhance) the ratio of the sweetening potency and have a slightly improved stability. Of the compounds set forth in this publication, N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, in which a 3,3-dimethylbutyl group has been employed as an alkyl group has been found to be the best. The sweetening potency of this compound is reported to be 10000 times that of sucrose. However, the sweetening potency of the other derivatives described in the foregoing publication do not exceed 2500 times that of sucrose.
A substituent group having a sweetness-enhancing effect for the aspartame equal to that of the 3,3-dimethylbutyl group therefor, has not been found. Further, examples of the derivatives in which a 3,3-dimethylbutyl group is introduced on a nitrogen atom of aspartic acid constituting an aspartyl dipeptide ester or an aspartyl dipeptide amide in place of the aspartame, are described in the FR 2719592 Publication and the International Patent Publication WO 97/29122. However, a critical need still remains to develop a method which comprises introducing a substituent group (particularly one other than the 3,3-dimethylbutyl group) on a nitrogen atom of aspartic acid constituting an aspartyl amide derivative in place of the aspartame, to obtain a derivative having a sweetening potency equal to or more than that of the N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester. Moreover, a critical need exists to develop a low-calorie sweetening agent having a superior sweetening potency compared to sucrose and/or aspartame.

N-alkylaspartyl amide derivative and sweetening agent


A phase-correction circuit comprises an amplifier, comparators, inverters, an S/R flip-flop, a switch and, a pulse width controller. The circuit sets a reference of recording position of a head to a tape and corrects the phase differences between the head, a magnet and a pulse generator, thereby realizing precise drum phase servo action and acquiring excellent audio and video recording and reproducing.

The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus using a head drum, and more particularly to a phase-correction circuit for the recording/reproducing apparatus using a head drum.
In general, in recording/reproducing apparatuses using a head drum, such as a rotary digital audio tape recorder, a video tape recorder, etc., signals are not recorded continuously on a track of tape, but are cut and recorded in sections by a helical scanning method so that a trace start point of a head matches that of the track. This requires a drum phase servo as described below. In other words, in order to match the trace start point of the head to that of the track in which a signal is recorded, as shown in FIG. 1, a magnet is adhered to the head drum and a pulse generator detects the location of the magnet. The head is positioned at the trace start point, precisely when the magnet is detected by the pulse generator. A pulse of the pulse generator acts as a reference in forming a track during recording.
In the standard format of a digital audio tape recorder, the trace start point is located 0.6 mm from the bottom of tape. However, when a reference is not set, even if a drum is rotated at a normal speed, a track may not be formed at the center of the tape but in an upper or lower part thereof, or may even be omitted entirely.


A content management system entails analyzing similarity of the contents distributed among at least one network element (e.g., contents server) and managing the contents on the basis of the analysis result. The content management server analyzing similarities of content files and providing the similarities information includes a communication unit that collects content information from at least one content server stored the content files and the content information corresponding to the content files; a digital content management (DCM) control unit which analyzes similarities of the content files received from the content server; a storage which stores information on the similarities analyzed by the DCM control unit; a content information comparison unit which detects the content information in response to a similar content file request transmitted from a client on the basis of the similarities information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing digital contents and, in particular, to a contents management server and method that analyze similarity of the contents distributed among at least one network element (e.g., contents server) and manage the contents on the basis of the analysis result.
2. Background of the Related Art
In recent years, as digital content has been widely used, the need to effectively manage a digital contents file emerges as an issue. In order to effectively manage content, there has been developed a digital content management (DCM) engine for analyzing similarity among digital contents files stored in the network elements.
In the meantime, home network systems have been progressed and the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has been proposed as a standard for home networking.
The DLNA is an alliance of leading members including Microsoft Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, Intel Corporation, SONY Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, SAMSUNG Electronics Co., ltd., etc. for developing industry standards to allow products from all companies to be compatible with each other and to enable a network of electronic devices such as TV, VCR, digital camera, and audio components in the home. The DLNA has also focused on interoperability between networked entertainment and media devices for personal media uses involving imaging, audio and video.
The DLNA home network can be implemented on the basis of a wired network standard (IEEE 802.3) or a wireless network standard (IEEE 802.11), which interconnect a home server, a home gateway, and other devices such as Mobile-Digital Media Server (M-DMS), Mobile-Digital Media Renderer (M-DMR), and Mobile-Digital Media Player (M-DMP).
In particular, the DLNA guideline divides the home network devices into a Digital Media Server (DMS), and a Digital Media Player (DMP) or Digital Media Renderer (DMR), and specifies the interoperability between the DMS and DMP or DMR.
DMS assumes the function of a Media Server Device (MSD) under the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Audio-Visual (AV) part, which provides media contents. The main objective of the DMS is to enable the control point (CP) as a user interface (UI) application to retrieve digital media content items in the DMS such that the user can display or distribute the contents. The DMS is equipped with a broadcast signal receiver and middleware for broadcast. Some examples of DMS includes Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), Compact Disc (CD) players, Digital Video Disk (DVD) players, Motion Pictures Expert Group 1 (MPEG-1) layer 3 (MP3) players, set-top boxes (STBs), TV tuners, radio tuners, personal computers (PCs), etc.
The DMR plays content received after being setup by another entity. Some examples of DMR devices include a TV, an audio/video receiver, a video monitor, and remote speakers for music.
The DMP is a DMR or M-DMR including the CP functioning to find content exposed by the DMS so as to afford playback and rendering capabilities.
One of the key technologies of utilized in the DLNA guidelines e.g., Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.5, is UPnP. DMSs and DMPs are addressed and automatically recognized on the basis of the protocol specified in the UPnP device architecture. For example, the UPnP Media Server is the DMS providing a list of stored files and broadcasting the data.
The DLNA guidelines are based on the UPnP protocol and specify the design architecture of digital information products. Such digital information products as household appliances, PCs, and wireless devices can accordingly share media content over the wired or wireless home network.
Although the DLNA system enables the network elements to share multimedia content, the DCM engine can perform the similarity analysis only for the contents files stored in the local device; there thus exists no effective management for the multimedia contents distributed over the network.
Instead, even though the similarity analyses can be performed for all the respective network devices, this entails all network devices equipped with the DCM engines performing a similarity analysis on their, respective locally stored contents files. As a result, much central processing unit (CPU) processing overhead is wasted.
The arrangement is further disadvantageous in that the issuing of similarity analysis requests for all the network devices having DCM engines represents an inconvenient management burden.

Apparatus and method for managing digital contents distributed over network


An artificial water cycle system is comprised of one or more water table cells or beds, having a generally horizontally disposed base and one or more generally vertically disposed sidewalls each having an end portion and made from a water impervious material, that are submerged below the surface of the soil. The end portion, that form the outer periphery terminate just below the surface while internal end portions terminate several inches below the surface and overlap adjoining internal end portions. The system allows introduced water to percolate down to the base to form an artificial water table and, through capilarity action, to be pulled upward along with nutrients, to supply the plants within the system. Excess water is discharged from the system through capilarity action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for creating a subterranean artificial water cycle.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Since the beginning of man's agricultural practices, the main problem was always maintaining adequate water supply in order to provide moisture for harvestable and grazing crops. Man was, and in many situations continues to be, dependent on nature for the provision of this life-giving water supply. However, one of the most predictable aspects of nature's gift of atmospherically supplied water, is that nature is unpredictable.
In order t o combat nature's unpredictability, man has devised methods of using terreanean and subterranean methods of water retrieval for crop irrigation. Such methods include irrigation piping, river diversion, artificial lake creation, well digging and others. While such methods have varying degrees of effectiveness, they tend to be expensive to create and operate. This is specially so in desert areas where the natural water table may be up to a hundred feet or more below the surface and any water introduced will quickly dissipate down to the water table depriving any crop the ability to absorb the introduced water. As a result, vast quantities of water must be introduced in order to make an effective system.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that will maximize the effectiveness of an irrigation system for crops. Such a system must maintain any water introduced to the crop, whether naturally or through artificial irrigation, in effective contact with the crops utilizing the system. Such a device must make provisions for channeling away excess waters. Ideally such a device must be of a low cost relative to standard irrigation systems.


A wide range of advanced call processing services are optimally provided through a cooperative effort between public and private intelligent networks. Service control logic in the public network interacts with service control logic in the private network. The cooperative call processing exploits the best service features from both environments. More specifically, a logical relationship is established over an end-to-end, service logic communication path between the service control elements of both networks using a very small set of operation procedures. Using that set of operational procedures, either network's service control logic requests and receives a service feature orchestrated entirely by the other network's service logic. In this way, specific service features making up a requested service may be provided by the network best suited to perform a particular service feature. Since neither network needs to control or even know how the other network performs its assigned service feature, the integrity and simplicity of each network's control logic and protocols are preserved.

Both public and private (business) telecommunications environments employ intelligent network techniques to develop and process advanced telecommunication services. Intelligent network services are based upon a network architecture containing a collection of communicating "archetype" elements for handling (a) service management, (b) service control, (c) service data, (d) service information, and (e) switching control. These archetype elements may be identified in both the public and the private telecommunications environments. A service control element may, for example, be employed in a Service Control Point (SCP) in a public intelligent network and in a Application Server for Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) in a private intelligent network. Likewise, a service information element may be an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) in public networks while private networks may use the term Media Server. A service data element is typically some sort of database.
For both environments, the processing of a call attempt in a switching control element may trigger service processing in a service control element. The service control element then sequences and controls instrumentation functions in service data, service information and/or switching control elements to advance the call attempt through the specific service features of the triggered service. Service data elements maintain network and/or customer data required for service processing. Service information elements provide a mechanism for exchanging information between call parties and the network during service processing. Switching control elements establish, supervise, maintain, and release a transport path between two or more call parties or between a call party and a service information element under the control of the service control element.
Unfortunately, the operation procedures and protocol stacks used to interconnect intelligent network elements are not coordinated across the public and private intelligent network domains. Elements of a public intelligent network communicate via operation procedures and protocol stacks that are specific to public telecommunication standards. On the other hand, private intelligent network operation procedures and protocols are based on computer industry standards. Because public telecommunication standards and computer industry standards are different, the set of operation procedures used to accomplish a service feature in a particular intelligent network is specific to that network and is implemented entirely within the boundaries of that specific network.
As a result of the communication incompatibility between public and private intelligent networks, a service control element in one type of intelligent network cannot directly request performance of a service feature by a service control element in another type of network. None of the existing service control elements in either network environment provides simultaneous support of operation procedures for service data, service information, and switching control elements both in its own network and in other types of networks. Indeed, the complexity and cost of a service control element that would provide such simultaneous support would be significant.
In order for a public intelligent network provided service to request a service feature from a private intelligent network, it must transmit a call attempt to the switching control element of the private intelligent network. However, this type of switch-routed service request procedure is indirect and inefficient. Moreover, this indirect triggering of service processing via an internetwork call attempt is required in the opposite direction when a service control element in a private intelligent network desires a call processing service from the public intelligent network. Although switching control elements and the standardized telephony signaling system handle telephony traffic intranetwork call processing quite well, this switch-based approach to call processing does not permit direct exchange of information between service control elements in public and private intelligent networks.
Such telephony, switch-based internetwork call processing is referred to herein as "confined Call Processing" because each network's service control elements render requested services without interacting with the other network's service control elements. Confined call processing does protect the integrity of both types of networks in the sense that the service control logic of one network type is not able to interfere with or otherwise take control of the other network's resources while performing a call processing service. But confined call processing is not the most efficient and effective way for intelligent networks to request and provide services to each other. For example, existing switching control elements and transport signaling systems cannot forward detailed service context information from the requesting service control element to the serving service control element or return an intermediate or final service feature result information from the serving to the requesting service control element.
The practical effect is that confined call processing ignores the benefits of direct interaction between service control elements and resources of different network types optimized for specialized capabilities or for the technology of a specific telecommunications environment in rendering advanced call processing services that usually include multiple service feature requests. For example, some private intelligent network developers have been able to rapidly customize advances in computer information technology to create new private intelligent network service features. However, because there is no way to establish a direct, service level control relationship between the service control elements of the private and public intelligent networks, the public intelligent network services do not have access to and therefore do not benefit from such new private intelligent network customized service features.
The absence of a logical service control relationship between public and private networks also adversely limits private intelligent networks. A private intelligent network service instance applying confined call processing to a call request from a public intelligent network service cannot return dynamic, mid-service billing information to a billing record for the call maintained by the public intelligent network service. Nor can the private intelligent network return information to the public intelligent network to complete the originating call to a network destination. Instead, in order to complete the call to the destination, another independent call connection must be established and maintained. In this case, confined call processing leads to a transport path that is "tromboned" through the switching control element of the private intelligent network. For example, a subscriber requests a first service feature through a call request routed through the switching element of the private intelligent network. If the subscriber desires that, after the first service feature is rendered, the call be completed to another destination in the public network, i.e., a second feature of the requested service, the private network has no way to perform that second service feature except by placing a second switch-based call from the private switch element to the public switch element. The double-back transport path through the switch forms the "trombone."
The present invention solves the problems of confined call processing by providing a "Cooperative Call Treatment" approach where a call is logically serviced effectively and efficiently across the boundaries of public and private intelligent networks without undermining the integrity of each network. The service logic level cooperation enables service features of the call optimally or otherwise provided by and processed within a public intelligent network to call upon and cooperate with service control features of the call provided by and processed within a private intelligent network and vice versa.
Cooperative call processing is accomplished using a set of operation procedures shared between the service control elements of the public and private intelligent networks. In addition, a "protocol stack bridge" enables these operation procedures to be carried on top of standard protocol stacks used in both the telecommunication industry and the computer industry. The protocol stack bridge is used when the lower layers of these protocol stacks are incompatible. Advantageously, the protocol stack bridge may be realized using existing technology and is fully transparent to the format and encoding of the operation procedures that the bridge relays.
Therefore, the present provides a method of logically integrating services from a public network oriented towards a telephony protocol with services from a private intelligent network oriented towards a computer industry protocol. An end-to-end communication connection is established between the public intelligent network service logic and the private intelligent network service logic. Upon receiving a telecommunications call on one of the networks for a call processing service having plural service features, the public intelligent network service logic and the private intelligent network service logic cooperatively perform the plural service features.
A significant aspect of the invention is that the public intelligent network service logic and the private intelligent network service logic interact with each other while cooperatively performing the plural service features. Another significant advantage of the present invention is that when one of the network's service logic requests the other network's service logic to perform one of the service features, the one network's service logic does not control how the other network's service logic performs the requested service feature. In this way, the present invention preserves the integrity of each network, e.g., the private network service logic cannot directly access the public network billing records. In fact, the two networks do not have to have any knowledge of how the other network service logic performs the requested service feature.
The cooperative performance and interaction between the service logic of the two networks is implemented using a common set of operation procedures transmitted over the established service logic end-to-end communication connection. One operation procedure includes a Start operation coupled with a specific service feature start argument. When the Start operation is transmitted by the service control logic of one network over the established end-to-end communication connection to the other network's service logic, the other network's service logic performs the requested service feature and returns a Continue operation coupled with a specific service feature result argument over the established end-to-end communication connection. After the service feature result is returned, a determination is made if further servicing is needed to provide the requested service feature. If so, a Continue operation coupled with a specific service feature Continue argument is sent to the other network's service control logic to continue service feature processing by the other network's service control logic. Otherwise, a Stop operation coupled with a specific service feature stop argument is sent to the other network's service control logic. The operation procedures also include an Event operation coupled with a specific service feature event argument for transmitting one or more events that the other network's service control logic is to take into account when providing the requested service feature.
The present invention also provides for an integrated communications services system including a public intelligent network oriented towards a telephony protocol and providing services and a private intelligent network oriented towards a computer industry protocol and providing a second set of services. A communications path is established between the service logic in the public intelligent network and the service logic in the private intelligent network. A set of operational procedures is used by the service logic in both networks to interact at a logical operation level. When a telecommunications call is received from the one of the networks requesting a call processing service having plural service features, the service logic of both networks cooperatively performs the service features by invoking the operational procedures over the communications path, i.e., the Start, Continue, Stop, and Event operations, along with specific service feature arguments. The service logic of the network that received the telecommunications call identifies the various service features to be performed in order to fulfill the call service and determines which of the two networks is to perform each of the identified service features. After receiving a service feature request framed using one of the operational procedures and transmitted over the communications path, the other network service logic performs the requested service feature and returns a result over that communications path.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practicing the invention.

Cooperative call processing across public and private intelligent networks


An improved circuit board mounting system for use with a toner cartridge. The first circuit board mounting pad holds a circuit board with large electrical contacts that mate with printer-mounted contacts in numerous positions. A second circuit board mounting pad is positioned on a vertical wall of the waste bin and holds a circuit board with electrical contacts that mates with printers that mate with electrical contact pads positioned near the front left edge of the waste bin. The second circuit board mounting pad also accommodates a larger circuit board that supports larger components or a greater number of components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to toner cartridges. More particularly, it relates to a toner cartridge that fits a large plurality of printers of differing brands and models.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printer manufacturers such as IBM, Lexmark, and the like also make the toner cartridges that fit their respective printers.
Some printer cartridges, such as those manufactured by Hewlett Packard, employ a single component design. However, most companies make a toner cartridge that includes a waste bin containing waste toner and a hopper containing the toner supply. The hopper is connected to the trailing end of the waste bin. The leading end of the waste bin is inserted into the printer first when a toner cartridge is being installed. The user holds the trailing end of the waste bin when the toner cartridge is installed and removed.
Each printer manufacturer designs its printers to accept toner cartridges manufactured by it and to reject the toner cartridges manufactured by others.
More particularly, to increase sales of their own toner cartridges, printer manufacturers have added structural features to the printers and to the toner cartridges that do not enhance the functional performance of the printer in any way but which serve to prevent use of a competitor's toner cartridge in the printer.
Printer manufacturers also prefer to sell new toner cartridges to replace empty toner cartridges. Therefore, they do not support the re-cycling industry.
Thus there is a need for a universal adapter that enables a single toner cartridge to be used with printers made by differing manufacturers and with differing printers models made by a common manufacturer. Such a universal adapter could be re-filled with toner when empty by the re-cycling industry.
The waste bin and hopper in conventional toner cartridges are pivotally interconnected to one another so that the hopper may move up and down in a vertical plane while the waste bin is secured into an immovable position. A full hopper has a weight sufficient to prevent it from pivotal movement, but as the hopper grows lighter as the toner therein is consumed, the hopper pivots upwardly under the influence of biasing means positioned at its opposite ends.
The pivotal interconnection ensures that a proper nip is formed between the photoconductive drum of the waste bin and the developer roller of the hopper. Such pivotal mounting requires the use of springs to interconnect the waste bin to the hopper. It also requires use of a shipping lock strap during shipping to prevent the hopper from bouncing inside the printer or toner cartridge shipping box during transportation.
There are several drawbacks to a pivotal interconnection of a waste bin and a hopper. The most obvious drawback is the need for an elongate spring at each end of the toner cartridge. A first end of each spring must be secured to the waste bin and a second end thereof must be secured to the hopper. This makes the assembly of the toner cartridge more difficult and increases the time required to complete the assembly. Moreover, during remanufacturing of the toner cartridge, additional handling of the spring can cause the loss of necessary spring tension causing improper nip between the developer roller and the photoconductive drum.
Thus there is a need for an improved means for interconnecting a waste bin and a hopper. The improved interconnecting means should eliminate the pivotal mounting of the toner cartridge within the printer, eliminate the springs, and eliminate the need to use a shipping strap during transportation of the cartridge.
If the toner hopper and waste bin are not pivotally connected to one another, a new construction is required for holding the hopper and waste bin together.
The new construction must ensure that a proper nip is formed between the photoconductive drum that forms a part of the waste bin and the developer roller that forms a part of the hopper.
To insert a toner cartridge into a printer, the leading end of the waste bin is introduced into a waste bin-receiving cavity formed in the printer. A laterally extending wing, usually called a planar wing, is formed integrally with each side wall of the waste bin and is slidingly received within guide grooves formed on opposite sides of the waste bin-receiving cavity formed in the printer body.
The known planar wings are thin at their respective leading ends so that they can more easily enter into the guide grooves of the printer and thick at their respective trailing ends to provide more structural integrity. The leading ends are thus somewhat fragile and can be broken if a user does not exercise care when inserting a toner cartridge into a printer.
Thus there is a need for an improved, more robust planar wing design having a uniform thickness along its extent so that the leading end thereof is no thinner than the trailing end thereof. The more robust planar shape also improves installation and removal of the toner cartridge into and out of the printer.
A conventional waste bin may include a small circuit board that, if present, must enter into electrical communication with electrical contacts on the printer to activate the printer. More particularly, one or more connection pads are mounted on the circuit board. Electrical contacts mounted on the printer at a preselected location, such as a printer door, communicate electrically with said circuit board through said connection pads.
This invention also includes optical communication means that may replace any electrical communication means mentioned herein.
Some waste bins have a small, substantially horizontally-disposed mounting pad on a left edge of a top wall thereof that supports the circuit board that is aligned to mate with (through the aforementioned connection pads) the electrical contacts secured to an associated printer. Other waste bins have a small mounting pad just to the right of the left edge-mounted pad to mate with the electrical contacts of other printers. Still other waste bins have a small, vertically disposed mounting pad on a front wall of the waste bin.
Thus there is a need for a waste bin having both horizontally and vertically mounted pads that accommodate the circuit boards of all waste bins and which are positioned so that said circuit boards are properly positioned for electrical communication with the electrical contacts of the printer with which the waste bin is used. Such a waste bin does not appear in the prior art.
Conventional printers further include a microswitch that enables the printer to operate when its cartridge door is fully closed. More particularly, when the cartridge door is fully closed, it engages a door-closed microswitch-actuating tab having a thin, upstanding construction. As a printer ages, its hinges and latches become worn to the extent that the cartridge door no longer engages the actuating tab even when the cartridge door is fully closed. The microswitch is therefore not closed and no "door closed" signal is sent to activate the printer.
Thus there is a need for an improved tab that is engaged by a closed cartridge door even when the hinges and latches of a printer door have become worn. More particularly, when the hinges and latches of a printer door have become worn, the needed tab would act to better position the closing of the door by centering on the microswitch port.
Conventional toner cartridges are also difficult to insert into a printer. No dedicated gripping surface is provided so most users simply grasp the trailing end of the waste bin and hopper in a haphazard manner. The plastic on the trailing end of the waste bin has a lattice work or open mesh structure and a user is expected to place his or her fingers through various narrow slots provided by such lattice work when lifting and installing the toner cartridge. The fingers of many people cannot fit between the minimal clearance between the waste bin handle and hopper, thereby making the handling of the toner cartridge difficult. Since the cartridge has no dedicated handle, the user will most likely grasp the cartridge off center and the weight of the hopper and waste bin together will cause the toner cartridge to tilt relative to a horizontal plane as the user attempts to insert the toner cartridge into the printer. The toner cartridge often jams as a result.
Thus, there is a need for a toner cartridge with a dedicated gripping means that centers a user's hands relative to the trailing end of the toner cartridge so that it can be placed into the printer while being held in a horizontal plane. Nor should an improved handle rely on narrow slots as part of the gripping means.
Printers are also subject to jamming due to poorly designed media guides that are formed on the lower wall of the waste bin of a toner cartridge.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved waste bin having improved media guides that reduce the frequency of paper jams.
Printers typically include downward forcing levers that bear against the toner cartridge after it has been inserted to keep the toner cartridge from rattling during printer operation. However, on the known cartridges, the levers bear against flat surfaces. Thus, if the toner cartridge is not installed properly, the levers bear against the cartridge and hold it in said improper position.
There is therefore a need for an improved design that would ensure that the toner cartridge is in its optimal position relative to the printer when the downward forcing levers of the printer engage the toner cartridge.
A toner cartridge is removed from a printer by manually lifting the trailing end of the toner cartridge relative to the stationary printer. However, in the known printer designs, very little clearance is provided for this lifting procedure, thereby increasing the degree of difficulty encountered when removing a toner cartridge. The small clearance also increases the difficulty associated with inserting a toner cartridge into a printer.
Thus there is a need for a design that increases the clearance to facilitate the introduction and removal of a toner cartridge into and from a printer, respectively.
The known toner cartridges also have a door, known as the shutter or upper shutter, that is hingedly mounted to the top of the cartridge. The shutter pivots downwardly like a conventional door on a simple two pin hinge.
Thus a need is extant for an improved shutter construction.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

Universal toner cartridge circuit board mounting pads


A method for making a pressure transducer comprising: forming a recess in a diaphragm, the diaphragm having a thinned region that deflects responsively to pressure being applied thereto; depositing a glass frit in the recess; embedding a plurality of strain gages in the glass frit; and, wire bonding the strain gages into a Wheatstone bridge configuration.

Strain gage based pressure transducers are used to measure pressures, such as the pressure of fluids in a vehicle. A strain gage based pressure transducer that utilizes an integrated Wheatstone bridge exhibits a high over pressure capability, high output, low zero offset and linear output.
Conventional pressure transducers typically utilize four stain gages bonded to the diaphragm of a metal pressure port. As is well known in the art, the gages are positioned on the diaphragm in such a way that two strain gages are put into compression and two strain gages are put into tension when pressure is applied to the diaphragm.
Currently, the process for producing a pressure transducer on a machined metal pressure port having a thin diaphragm on the top surface is to first bead/sand blast the top surface of the pressure port to roughen the surface in order to keep the glass from flowing out and becoming too thin. The pressure port is put through a cleaning cycle to remove any particles from the port that may result from the bead/sand blasting. The glass frit is then screened printed at two separate locations on the top surface of the pressure port. The pressure port is passed through a furnace to fire the glass frit. Two half bridge strain gages are then placed on top of the fired glass fit. The pressure port is again passed through a furnace to embed the strain gages into the glass. Six wire bonds are made between the strain gages and an interface printed circuit board (PCB) to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
The aforementioned process results in puddling of the glass frit on the diaphragm, non-uniform glass thickness and concomitant breakdown voltage control problems, dirt and debris resulting from the bead blasting process, and other processing inefficiencies and drawbacks. Alternative apparatus and methods for forming a pressure transducer are desired.

Method of making pressure transducer and apparatus


A dummy capacitor drive potential VDC is given to one electrode of a dummy capacitor, and a reference potential for determining a data value of a memory cell is generated in the other electrode thereof. A potential generator circuit for generating the potential VDC is composed of a BGR circuit outputting a potential VBGRTEMP having temperature dependency, and resistors R3 and R4, which are series-connected between an output terminal of the BGR circuit and a ground point. The potential VDC is output from a connection point of the resistors R3 and R4. Temperature dependency of the potential VDC is adjusted based on a resistance ratio of resistors R1-1, R1-2 and R2, and the absolute value is adjusted based on a resistance ratio of resistors R3 and R4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a potential generator circuit of a semiconductor memory. In particular, the present invention relates to a sense amplifier reference potential generator circuit of a memory using a ferroelectric capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a sense amplifier reference potential used for a semiconductor memory, for example, ferroelectric memory, has kept a constant value, which does not depend on temperature. Thus, the study of giving a desired temperature dependency to the potential has not been made.
A BGR circuit has been conventionally used only for generating a reference potential having no temperature dependency. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it has been known that the area or resistance ratio of a diode is varied, thereby obtaining an output potential having temperature dependency. However, it is difficult to independently control the temperature dependency and its absolute value. There is the following problem; more specifically, if high temperature dependency is set, the absolute value also becomes large, as seen from FIG. 3.
For example, the following technique is desired in the field of ferroelectric memory. Temperature dependency is given to a sense amplifier reference potential in accordance with ferroelectric thin film characteristics, and the temperature dependency and the absolute value are independently controlled in their setting.


In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a pressure probe. In some embodiments, the pressure probe includes a tube having an output end, an internal passage, an axial run, and pressure orifices axially aligned along a downstream side of the axial run. In some embodiments, the pressure orifices are in communication with the output end through the internal passage and an upstream side of the axial run that is opposite from the downstream side of the axial run and does not include a pressure orifice. Additionally, in some embodiments, the downstream side is perpendicular to airflow.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be used to regulate the environment within an enclosed space. Typically, an air blower is used to pull air from the enclosed space into the HVAC system through ducts and push the air back into the enclosed space through additional ducts after conditioning the air (e.g., heating, cooling or dehumidifying the air). Various types of HVAC systems may be used to provide conditioned air for enclosed spaces. For example, some HVAC units are located on the rooftop of a commercial building. These so-called rooftop units, or RTUs, typically include one or more blowers and heat exchangers to heat and/or cool the building, and baffles to control the flow of air within the RTU. Some RTUs also include an air-side economizer that allows to selectively provide fresh outside air to the RTU or to recirculate exhaust air from the building back through the RTU to be cooled or heated again.
When the enthalpy of the fresh air is less than the enthalpy of the recirculated air, conditioning the fresh air may be more energy-efficient than conditioning the recirculated air. In this case the economizer may exhaust a portion of the stale air and replace the vented air with outside air. When the outside air is both sufficiently cool and sufficiently dry it may be possible that no additional conditioning of the outside air is needed. In this case the economizer may draw a sufficient quantity of outside air into the building to provide all the needed cooling. In some installations an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) may be used to pre-condition the fresh air demanded by the RTU. The ERV may include, e.g., an enthalpy exchange zone to transfer heat and/or humidity between an incoming fresh air stream and an outgoing exhaust air stream. The enthalpy exchange zone can include one or multiple enthalpy wheels. ERVs are typically equipped with fresh-air and return air filters that allow energy recovery from areas, such as kitchens and smoking area, that have a high level of contaminants but can still benefit from fresh-air.
HVAC systems may rely on pressures sensors installed in airflow ducts to monitor and/or control system conditions. These sensors can malfunction and give inaccurate pressure readings for example due to dust accumulation and clogging of the probe.

Pressure probe including multiple orifices for measuring air pressure in varying airflow systems


A solar concentrator includes a mirror 24 having a frame 27 connected with a lever 55, a train 36 supporting the frame 27 and the lever 55, a first control cable 28 connected with the frame 27, and a second control cable 30 connected with the lever 55. A first locomotive 35 moves the train along a curvilinear path to keep the mirror 24 opposite the sun. The first control cable 28 controls pitch of the mirror 24 and the second control cable 30 controls yaw of the mirror 24. When a concentrator includes a plurality of mirrors 24 they are preferably controlled collectively by pulling all of the first control cables 28 with one motor to control pitch and by pulling all of the second control cables 30 with one motor to control yaw. Sunlight focused on the receiver 20 preferably boils water to form steam that is transmitted to a turbine connected to a generator for producing electricity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a concentrator for focusing sunlight onto a central receiver by means of mirrors revolving around the receiver. Central-receiver concentrators can be used to produce the high-pressure steam needed in power plants.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Sunlight can replace coal, natural gas, or uranium as the source of energy for electric power plants. Sunlight must be collected and concentrated to obtain the high temperature needed for producing high-pressure steam used in power plants. Several high-pressure steam solar power plants were built in the 1970's and early 1980's. They proved to be much too expensive and inefficient for widespread commercial use.
The high cost and poor performance of the plants was attributed to the heliostats used as solar concentrators. Heliostats include massive steel and concrete pedestals supporting mirrors that rotate about 2 axes to keep sunlight focused on a central receiver. Mirrors mounted on pedestals are inherently expensive and inefficient. Each heliostat requires 2 sets of precise hinges, motors, and gearboxes to rotate the mirrors about 2 axes. The mirrors cannot rotate about the receiver to keep facing the sun, or move out of shadows of other mirrors, or move out of storms. When these earlier plants were built there were no suitable mobile-mirror solar concentrators.
Solar energy concentrators focusing sunlight onto a central receiver by means of mirrors revolving around a central receiver are known in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,878 which shows a mobile-mirror solar energy concentrator with mirrors rotated by hydraulic pistons linked with hydraulic hoses to a few motors and pumps on each train. The trains are braced against wind with cables anchored to moving trains. When storms threaten, the cables are reeled in with rack and pinion drives as the trains move to closely-spaced tracks where the trains are nested compactly and enclosed by roof panels attached to the mirrors. One disadvantage is the cost of the large number of pistons, hoses, cable reels, and rack and pinion drives required. Another disadvantage is the amount of land and track required. Still another disadvantage is the weight and complexity of roof panels attached to the mirrors.

Solar energy concentrator for power plants


A pressure regulator for an x-ray apparatus includes a piston housing having a recess formed therein and a piston seated in the recess. The piston is free to reciprocate, and define a variable volume chamber, within the recess. A circumferential groove is formed in an exterior surface of the piston, and a seal is seated in the circumferential groove. A manifold in the piston housing places the chamber in fluid communication with an exterior of the piston housing.

An X-ray apparatus and its associated components may generate large amounts of heat, which heat needs to be removed in order to maintain proper operating conditions for the X-ray apparatus. A closed circuit of coolant, such as a high voltage dielectric fluid, may be distributed throughout the X-ray apparatus by way of a pump, and then may be cooled as it passes through a heat exchanger. Removal of heat from the liquid coolant in the heat exchanger serves to cool various components of the X-ray apparatus. The closed fluid circuit operates best in the absence of air in the circuit and, therefore, the circuit may be exposed to vacuum during the filling process. There can be large pressure differentials between the closed fluid circuit and its surrounding environment, which are caused by temperature and pressure changes. Large temperature and pressure changes can result from operation of the X-ray apparatus itself, or from shipment of the device at high altitude. A pressure regulator within the closed circuit of liquid coolant may be used to help maintain the pressure within the closed circuit within desired limits.
Prior art pressure regulators may include bladders that are constructed of materials with collapsible and expandable properties. The collapsible nature of a bladder may prevent fluid flow under vacuum conditions, leading to problems in removing air from the circuit, and the bladder itself may be susceptible to damage.
It would be desirable to provide a pressure regulating device for an X-ray apparatus that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known processes. Particular objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure and detailed description of certain embodiments.


A shape-memory reflector is disclosed along with methods for manufacturing, packaging and deploying the same. The shape-memory reflector may include an elastic reflector material, a shape-memory stiffener, and a plurality of radial stiffeners. The shape-memory stiffener may be coupled with the elastic reflector material in a band that encloses at least a portion of the elastic reflector surface, for example, the exterior of a paraboloid reflector. The plurality of radial stiffeners is coupled with the bottom surface of the elastic reflector material and extends radially from a central portion of the elastic reflector surface toward the outer edge of the elastic reflector surface. The shape-memory reflector may be packaged in a packaged configuration that includes a plurality of pleats within the elastic reflector material and/or the shape-memory stiffener, and the shape-memory reflector is configured to deploy into a deployed configuration (i.e. a paraboloid) by heating the shape-memory stiffener.

This disclosure relates in general to shape-memory reflectors and, but not by way of limitation, to shape-memory reflectors utilizing shape-memory polymers among other things.
Space antennas are designed to provide reliable RF energy reflection to a feed located at the focus of the antenna's energy collecting surface. A deployable space antenna, therefore, should likewise supply the same RF energy reflection while providing an antenna that is launched in a packaged configuration and deployed as a reflector that exceeds the size of the packaged configuration. A deployable antenna should be light weight, have a small stowage to deployment volumetric ratio, has a solid reflector surface, and be as simple as possible to deploy.


A color reproduction characteristic display apparatus displays a color chart. When a mouse cursor is placed on any one of a plurality of color patches constituting the color chart, there are displayed a coordinate value in a CMYK color space associated with the color patch designated by the mouse cursor and a color difference to determine two coordinates on a color space of L*a*b*, said two coordinates being associated with the coordinate value and two sorts of devices as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color reproduction characteristic display apparatus for displaying color reproduction characteristics defined in accordance with a device for mediating between image data and an image, for example, an input device for converting an image to image data, such as a color scanner and a digital still camera, and an output device (including a display device for outputting or displaying an image on a display screen, such as a display unit and the like) for outputting an image in accordance with image data, such as a printing machine and a printer, and a color reproduction characteristic display program storage medium storing a color reproduction characteristic display program which causes a computer to operate as the color reproduction characteristic display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, it is performed that an input device, for example, a color scanner or an electronic scale camera, is used to take an image (hereinafter, it is referred to as an original image) in to obtain image data, so that an reproduced image of the original image is obtained in accordance with the image data by a printing machine or a printer, or on a display screen. In this case, there are determined a color reproduction characteristic (profile) associating a color on the original image with a color on the image data, according to the input device, and a color reproduction characteristic (profile) associating a color on the image data with a color on the reproduced image, according to the output device such as a printing machine and a printer, and image data obtained from the original image by the input device is converted into image data suitable for the output device in accordance with both the color reproduction characteristics, so that the reproduced image is outputted in accordance with the image data for the output device. This feature makes it possible to obtain the reproduced image coincident with the original image in color.
The same matter as the above will occur between output devices. Next, there will be explained an example.
Hitherto, when a printing machine is used to perform a color image printing, it is performed that prior to the printing, a color printer and the like is used to create a proof image which is intended to be similar in color to an image to be printed by the printing machine. When the printer creates the proof image, detected are a color reproduction characteristic (a printing profile) describing a relationship between image data and a color of the actual printed matter, associated with a printing machine of interest, and a color reproduction characteristic (a printer profile) describing a relationship between image data and a color of an image to be actually printed, associated with a printer. Image data for printing is converted into image data for printers in accordance with the printing profile and the printer profile, so that a proof image is created in accordance with the image data for printers thus converted. Thus, it is possible to create a proof image that is coincident with the actual printed matter in color.
In order to obtain a proof image that is coincident with the actual printed matter in color in the manner as mentioned above, there is a need to determine with great accuracy color reproduction characteristics (profiles) of the input device and the output device. When the color reproduction characteristics (profiles) are determined, for example, in case of the input device, a color chart, in which color patches are arranged, is read by the input device and then converted into image data, and coordinates (CYMK values, or RGB values) of color spaces (a device color space: for example, a CMYK color space consisting of four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), or an RGB color space consisting of three colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B))) on the image data are determined. And the same color chart is measure by a spectrocolorimeter to determine coordinates (L*a*b* values or XYZ values) of a colorimetry color space (for example, L*a*b* color spaces or XYZ color spaces), and the coordinates on the device color space are associated with the coordinates on the colorimetry color space. Thus, it is possible to determine the color reproduction characteristics (profile) of the input device.
When the color reproduction characteristics (profile) of the output device is determined, image data, which corresponds to a color chart wherein color patches are arranged, is created, the output device outputs the color chart in accordance with the image data thus created, the color chart is measured by the spectrocolorimeter, and the coordinates of the color space (the device color space) on the image data are associated with the coordinates of the colorimetry color space. Thus, it is possible to determine the color reproduction characteristics (profile) of the output device.
The color reproduction characteristics of the input device and the output device are carefully determined, and the image data are converted in accordance with those color reproduction characteristics, nevertheless, various errors and main causes of fluctuations will cause a phenomenon in which colors are delicately different between the original image and the reproduced image, or between the printed matter and the proof image.
Under the circumstance as mentioned above, when it is evaluated as to whether a color of an image outputted from a color printer for example is properly reproduced as to a color of an original image which is read by a color scanner in form of image data, or when it is evaluated as to whether a color of an image outputted from a color printer is coincident with a color of an image on a printed matter, according to the earlier technology, a print output is actually carried out, and a weight is put onto only a point that the printed output image is evaluated through observer's comparisons of a reproduced image by the print output with the original image, or of a proof image by the print output with an image obtained through printing using a printing machine. It is a present state that there is found no suitable one as a tool for objectively scrutinizing and evaluating points as to how what colors are coincident with or different from one another.

Color reproduction characteristic display apparatus, and color reproduction characteristic display program storage medium