A remote program monitor method and system using a system-under-test microcontroller for self-debug comprises a system-under-test (SUT) that includes a read-only memory (ROM) and a microcontroller for executing a program under test. The microcontroller has an interrupt input, wherein one or more enable debugger signals received at the interrupt input causes the microcontroller to execute a debugger program contained in the ROM. The SUT is connected with a host computer over a standard serial connection. When the SUT receives one or more debugger signals as an interrupt input, the signal causes the microcontroller to execute a debugger program contained in the ROM.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to techniques for correcting or "debugging" computer software code and, in particular, to a source-level run-time software code debugging instrument using a built-in software debugger that is transparent to and co-resident with a target system code.
2. Description of the Related Art
A program monitor is intrusive software code located in target memory to debug computer programs. The program monitor operates in conjunction with and monitors the operation of a main computer program that controls the functions of a microcontroller-based target circuit. The program monitor code is intrusive in that it is linked to the main program code, both of which are either downloaded into memory sites provided in the target circuit or stored in a read only memory (ROM) used by the programmer. The use of a monitor program requires that a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter or other communication hardware be provided in the target circuit so that the monitor can communicate apart from the main program to the programmer.
The use of program monitors is advantageous because they are relatively inexpensive and find the majority of errors or "bugs" located in the main program. One drawback of program monitors is that they require the use of resources in the target circuit and typically are ineffective in detecting more difficult problems present in the associated program code.
The in-circuit emulator has become a standard tool for debugging microcontrollers and microprocessors. A variety of emulators are available often consisting of an adapter board which plugs directly into an IBM PC/XT/AT bus with cable attachment to a pod containing a "bond-out" microcontroller. The "bond-out" microcontroller in the pod plugs directly into the target system in lieu of the target system's microcontroller. A PC debugger software application program is then invoked to display and manipulate the target system's registers, to start and stop traces, and to set and reset breakpoints at specific program addresses or at specific reads or writes to data addresses.
Besides the burden of considerable expense of the emulator adapter board and pod unit, valuable slot space within the PC is used. To get around PC slot usage, emulator manufacturers offer a stand-alone emulator called an Expansion Box, allowing the emulator to operate outside the PC. The Expansion Box has its own power supply and is either serial, parallel or modem attached to the PC. Examples of emulator manufacturers include Nohau Corporation (EMUL51-PC emulator), and Intel Corporation (ICE-51 emulator).
One type of debugger function, single stepping, is described by Intel's Microcontroller User Manual, 1982, page 6-28, section 6.8.3, "How to Single-Step the 8051". This article specifies that one of the external interrupts be level activated and held normally low. It further describes how an external interrupt routine can be made to execute following each instruction of the target system by toggling the external interrupt input pin high and low with a push button switch. The article does not however, describe a software debug tool. Instead, it describes a hardware technique of examining the 8031 port 0 and port 2 address and data lines in conjunction with single stepping the code with the push button.
As will be appreciated, one major drawback of emulation in the prior art is that emulators are relatively expensive, thereby making them inaccessible to a significant percentage of the growing number of software engineers participating in microcontroller-based circuit design tasks. Besides the considerable expense of emulator adaptor boards and pod units, valuable slot space within in the PC is used to accommodate such debugging techniques. Further, prior art techniques involve complicated hardware manipulations and analyzation to perform the debugging procedure. What is needed is a debugging method and system that performs the emulator debugging functions on an off-the-shelf microcontroller in place in the system under test without the need for in-circuit emulator technology, additional microcontroller on-board circuitry, or a supporting microcontroller designed into the system under test.

Remote program monitor method and system using a system-under-test microcontroller for self-debug

International Business Machines Corporation


Esters formed from polyol, C12-C28 branched chain fatty acid, and/or C12-C28 cyclic fatty acid are useful as a friction modifier for lubricants. Monomer is a preferred source for these fatty acids.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to polyol esters. This invention also relates to the use of these esters in fuels, oils and lubricant packages for engines and in metal working fluids, where the esters enhance the performance properties of the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Glycerol monooleate (GMO) is well known to function as a friction modifier in lubricant compositions for engines. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,885,942; 5,866,520; 5,114,603; 4,957,651; and 4,683,069, which are exemplary only. Indeed, GMO enjoys considerable commercial success, and is sold by a number of companies, for example, American Ingredients Company, Patco Additives Division, Kansas City, Mich., USA; Ivanhoe Industries, Unichema (Netherlands) and Mundelein, Ill., USA; Stepan Company, Northfield, Ill., USA.
There is a need in the art for a friction modifier that has superior properties compared to GMO, and which provides an improved cost performance ratio. The present invention meets this need and provides further related advantages as described herein.


A cord-winding device for a blind assembly having no pull cord includes a base seat defining a slide channel and having a bottom side configured to removably mount the blind assembly thereto, and an adjustment unit including a slide seat mounted slidably in the slide channel, a plurality of rollers mounted on the base seat and the slide seat, respectively, and a constant force spring having first and second ends respectively fixed to the base seat and the slide seat. A lift cord winds around the rollers and extends through the base seat. The lift cord is configured to extend through the blind assembly after extending through the base seat so as to be positioned to the base seat and the blind assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional blind assembly having no pull cord is shown to include an upper beam 11 defining a receiving space 111; a blind body 12 disposed on the bottom of the upper beam 11; a fixed seat 13, a movable seat 14 and a cord-winding controller 15 all disposed in the receiving space 111; and a plurality of lift cords 16, each of which passes through the blind body 12 and winds around the fixed seat 13 and the movable seat 14. The cord-winding controller 15 includes a rotating seat 151 having a rotating shaft 150, two torsion springs 152 respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the rotating shaft 150, and a drive cord 153 wound around the rotating seat 151 and having one end fixed to the movable seat 14. When the blind body 12 is pushed or pulled by an external force, the torsion springs 152 provide torsion for driving the rotating seat 151 to wind or unwind the drive cord 153. The drive cord 153, in turn, drives a sliding movement of the movable seat 14 for linking movement of the lift cords 16. An extent to which the blind body 12 is raised or lowered can thus be adjusted. However, during operation, the torsion springs 152 will wind reversely around the rotating shaft 150, resulting in a large deformation thereof, so that the service life of the torsion springs 152 is shortened. Moreover, this conventional blind assembly uses many components and complex coordination among the components, so that the assembly thereof is inconvenient, and the cost is high.
Referring to FIG. 2, another conventional blind assembly is shown to include a tabular support frame 21, a foldable blind body 22 having a top edge mounted to the support frame 21, a pulley seat 23 mounted slidably on the support frame 21, two first pulleys 24 mounted on the support frame 21, two second pulleys 25 mounted on the pulley seat 23, and a tension spring 26 and a lift cord 27 each of which is connected to the support frame 21 and the pulley seat 23. The support frame 21 includes opposite first and second ends 211, 212, a first end cap 213 mounted on the first end 211, and a second end cap 214 mounted on the second end 212 for fixing the tension spring 26. The lift cord 27 has a fixed intermediate section 271 fixed to the first end cap 213, and two cord end sections 272 extending outwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of the fixed intermediate section 271. The cord end sections 272 wind through the first and second pulleys 24, 25, and pass through the support frame 21 and the blind body 22 to be fixed on a lower end of the blind body 22. When the lower end of the blind body 22 is pulled or pushed by an external force, the lift cord 27 is driven to move, the first and second pulleys 24, 25 are driven to rotate, and the pulley seat 23 is driven to slide, so that the tension spring 26 is compressed or uncompressed to raise or lower the blind body 22. Hence, the effect of adjusting the blind body 22 having no pull cord can be achieved. However, the tension spring 26 requires a sufficient tension space. If the apace is too short, the elastic force of the tension spring 26 will be insufficient; and if the space is too long, it will result in elastic fatigue of the tension spring 26. The length of the tubular support frame 21 is thus restricted. Further, when the tension of the tension spring 26 is increased, the elastic force thereof is also increased, so that there is a big difference in the pulling force of the tension spring 26 before and after tensioning. Thus, the pulling force of the tension spring 26 may not be balanced with the weight, of the blind body 22. Moreover, more effort is necessary to pull the blind body 22 downward, so that if excessive force is used to pull down the blind body 22, the blind body 22 may likely get damaged. Hence, the conventional blind assembly is inconvenient to use.

Cord-winding device for a blind assembly having no pull cord


A utility coupler that includes a coupling unit and a tool unit that can be selectively engaged together. The coupling unit may include a body, a cam member, a handle, and one or more utility couplings. The tool unit may include a body, a latching pin, and one or more utility couplings. In operation, the coupling unit may be placed into a decoupled position with the handle in a first position. The coupling unit may be moved into proximity of the tool unit. The handle may be moved to a second position causing the cam member to engage with the latching pin and couple the coupling unit to the tool unit. The utility couplings engage together to pass the one or more utilities to the industrial equipment.

Industrial equipment, such as automotive and aviation manufacturing equipment, often requires utilities for operation. The utilities can include, for example, compressed air, hydraulic fluid, electrical power, data signals, and the like. For modularity of design, ease of reconfiguration, ease of maintenance and upgrade, and similar reasons, it is advantageous not to install permanent utility couplings on all industrial equipment. Rather, the equipment may be fitted with a utility coupler. As used herein, a utility coupler is a device comprising two units—referred to herein as a tool unit and a coupling unit—that may be selectively coupled together and decoupled from each other. When coupled, mating utility couplings provide for the passing of utilities across the utility coupler interface. A tool unit of the utility coupler is rigidly affixed to industrial equipment, and the utility couplings of the tool unit attached to provide the utility to the equipment. Corresponding utility couplings of a coupling unit of the utility coupler are attached to a source and/or sink of the utility. When the industrial equipment is activated, the appropriate (preconfigured) utilities are provided by simply coupling the utility unit to the tool unit. In many cases, the coupling unit is preferably manually coupled to the tool unit.
The coupling unit and the tool unit should be securely engaged together. This ensures that the one or more utilities can be effectively passed to the industrial equipment. Insecure engagement between these members could lead to a leak of one or more of the utilities.
The Background section of this document is provided to place embodiments of the present invention in technological and operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in understanding their scope and utility. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by its inclusion in the Background section.


An apparatus for remotely verifying the potency of a backup power source for an information display apparatus using an electrically-actuated switch coupled between a primary power source interface and the switch. In one embodiment, a signal receiving device receives a transmitted signal, activates a switch, interrupts the supply of power from a primary power source, and requires the sign to be lighted by the backup power supply. The apparatus may include a circuit to transform alternating current line voltage into a reduced direct current voltage for the lighting source; a backup power supply recharging circuit that is integrated so as to allow the backup power supply to be recharged using power from the primary source; a power failure detector switching circuit that allows the light source to receive power from the backup power supply if the power from the primary power source were interrupted; and a control circuit power source. These components may be integrated upon a circuit board and placed in a housing which has a removable front and displays a message such as "EXIT." A multi-pronged connector may be interfaced to connect the primary power source to the integrated circuitry.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an information display device, and more particularly to an illuminated information display device incorporating a remotely activated switch that cuts off the primary power source and allows the potency of the backup power supply to be verified.
2. Background
Illuminated information display devices are common in our modern society. They typically are found in buildings and take the form of entrance and exit signs and also signs that inform people of various hazards. Most of these devices are colored light emitting display devices, and employ incandescent lamps as the light source and a colored filter for coloring the display's light. For example, an exit display sign uses an incandescent lamp as the light source. This light source is placed inside a housing which has at least one surface relieved to display the indicia of the word "EXIT." A colored filter is commonly placed between the light source and the relieved area so that the word "EXIT" is displayed in color. The light source is arranged within the housing so that the displayed word is uniformly illuminated.
Information display devices are commonly integrated with the structure of a building. This requires a skilled carpenter and an electrician to mount the device. The "hard-mounting" results in additional cost above the initial expense of purchasing the display device. Additionally, many states have enacted building code requirements that require illuminated information devices, such as exit signs, to be placed both at the floor level and the ceiling level of commercial buildings. Most existing buildings, however, have illuminated signs only at ceiling level. The new building code requirements means costly projects to retrofit existing buildings with floor level signs to comply with the code requirements using the current technology.
Many information display devices, like the entrance or the exit signs, are required to operate day and night for safety and security purposes. This means that the light source must stay illuminated at all times, even during power outages. For this reason, such signs typically include a battery back-up. In many cases, such a back-up power source is mandated by building regulations.
In order to insure that the backup power supply of an information display device is functional, the current technology is to install a manual cut-off switch that disconnects the primary power source from the device. This allows an observer to disconnect the display device from the primary power source and determine whether or not the device remains illuminated by virtue of the backup power supply. Thus, the observer can manually verify whether or not the device will remain lighted in the event the primary power source fails.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a circuit diagram for a prior art illuminated information display device with a backup power supply. The circuit shown in FIG. 1 is exemplary of the prior art circuitry for illuminated information display devices. The device 100 is coupled to an external primary power source 105 that illuminates a light source 120. Also coupled to the light source 120 is a secondary power source 130 that is, for example, a battery. Between the external primary power source 105 and the light source 120 is a manual cutoff switch 110. To test the potency of the backup or secondary power supply 130, an observer manually throws manual switch 110 to disconnect the light source 120 from the primary power source 105. Once disconnected from the primary power source 105, the light source 120 is powered by the backup power supply 130. The backup power supply 130 is engaged when a power fail detector 180 senses an absence of power from the primary power source 105. The power fail detector 180 signals a power failure switching device 140 to allow current to flow from the backup power supply 130 through the power failure switching device 140 into the light source 120. The circuit shown in FIG. 1 also includes a recharge circuit 170 that utilizes power from the primary power source 105 to charge the backup power supply 130 when power is supplied by the primary power source. Finally, the circuit of FIG. 1 includes a power transformer 150 to accept an AC voltage and step that voltage up or down, and a rectifier 160 to convert an AC current into a DC current.
As illustrated with the circuit presented in FIG. 1, the prior art illuminated information display devices utilize a manual switch to disconnect the primary power source from the light source. The problem with this technology is that most devices, particularly exit signs, traditionally are located near the ceiling of the area where it is displayed. This location makes maintenance and testing of its battery backup unit extremely difficult. An individual must climb a ladder or similar apparatus to access the illuminated device in order to operate the manual, primary power cut-off switch. This situation not only creates a hazard for the individual on the ladder, but also increases the amount of time required to check the devices and acts to discourage routine checks.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an illuminated information display device that can be easily installed without hard-mounting. Also needed is an information device with a backup power supply, the potency of which may be easily verified remotely.


A portable infant bed has a bottom panel with a perimeter and a top sleeping surface. A side wall is connected to the perimeter of the bottom panel around a periphery of the bed. The bottom panel and side wall are foldable and unfoldable between an in-use configuration with the side wall extending up from the perimeter and surrounding the sleeping surface and a folded configuration with the side wall lying generally parallel with and adjacent the bottom panel. A vent through a portion of the side wall positioned at a level near the sleeping surface, the vent permitting air to pass freely through the side wall.

Child containment structures, such as cribs, bassinets, and playards, provide a safe environment in which a child can rest and/or play. Adequate air circulation along the child sleeping surface is desirable to promote safe and comfortable sleeping. There is a need in the art for an improved child containment structure to promote the passage of air across the child sleeping surface.

Portable infant bed with side wall ventilation


A pair of communication devices are capable of communication by means of a communication link, such as a Bluetooth or WLAN link. The device has an RFID tag containing data sufficient to identify feedback to be provided to a user. The device has an RFID reading device able to read feedback data from the tag. The device is operable to provide feedback, which may be audible, visible or tactile, to a user, in accordance with feedback data read by the device from the tag. Establishment of the communication link is not required before feedback can commence and thus, feedback is not delayed by the procedures required to establish the link.

The present invention relates to communication devices and to the provision of feedback to users of them.
Many types of communication device are capable of communication by means of a communication link established between the devices, by means of a Bluetooth or WLAN (wireless local area network) protocol, or other link protocol. The establishment of a communication link allows devices to perform tasks such as the transfer of data files, which may contain images, music, video content, contact information or other digital content.
The performance of such digital tasks may be accompanied by the provision of feedback to device users. For example, a sound (such as a "bleep") may be used to indicate the successful completion of a task.
The present invention seeks to improve the provision of feedback to device users.

Provision of feedback to users of communication devices


A black donor for use in a laser addressable thermal transfer system, wherein the black donor comprises a substrate having coated thereon at least one black color layer comprising a binder and colorants. The colorants include a non-infrared absorbing black dye or pigment and about 10% to about 50% of a carbon black pigment, based on the total weight of the colorants in the black color layer.

In the imaging arts, elements that can be imagewise exposed by means of light radiation are well known. The availability of infrared laser diodes has provided a convenient means of generating images onto a variety of substrates using a laser scanner. In particular, laser thermal transfer systems have gained significant attention over the past decade. In a typical laser thermal transfer system, a donor sheet comprising a layer of an infrared absorbing transfer medium is placed in contact with a receptor, and the assembly is exposed to a pattern of infrared (IR) radiation. Absorption of the IR radiation causes a rapid build-up of heat in the exposed areas which in turn causes transfer of the medium from the donor to the receptor to form an image. This transfer can result, for example, from sublimation (or diffusion), ablative transfer, film transfer, or mass transfer.
Sublimation or diffusion transfer systems involve a mechanism wherein a colorant is sublimed (or difflused) to the receptor without co-transfer of the binder. This process enables the amount of colorant transferred to vary continuously with the input of radiation energy. Examples of this type of process are discussed in JP 51-088016; GB 2,083,726; as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,126,760; 5,053,381; 5,017,547 and 4,541,830.
In an ablative thermal transfer system, the exposed transfer medium is propelled from the donor to a receptor by generation of a gas. Specific polymers are selected which decompose upon exposure to heat to rapidly generate a gas. The build-up of gas under or within the transfer media acts as a propellant to transfer the media to the receptor. Examples of various laser ablative systems may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,516,622; 5,518,861; 5,326,619; 5,308,737; 5,278,023; 5,256,506; 5,171,650; 5,156,938; 3,962,513; and WO 90/12342.
In a mass-transfer system, the colorant and associated binder materials transfer in a molten or semi-molten state (melt-stick transfer) to a receptor upon exposure to the radiation source. The thermal transfer media sticks to the receptor surface with greater strength than it adheres to the donor surface resulting in physical transfer of the media in the imaged areas. There is essentially 0% or 100% transfer of colorant depending on whether the applied energy exceeds a certain threshold. Examples of these types of systems may be found in JP 63-319192; JP 69-319192; WO 97/15173; EP 530018; EP 602893; EP 675003; EP 745489; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,501,937; 5,401,606 and 5,019,549.
In laser-induced film transfer (LIFT), the donor sheets contain a crosslinking agent that reacts with a binder imaging to form a high molecular weight network. The net effect of this crosslinking is better control of melt flow phenomena, transfer of more cohesive material to the receptor, and higher quality dots. Examples of this type of system may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/842,151, filed on Apr. 22, 1997.
Ideally, the transfer media absorbs at a wavelength different from the imaging radiation. However, black colorants typically absorb over a broad range of wavelengths making it difficult to formulate a black donor that does not interfere with the imaging radiation. Absorption of infrared radiation by black colorants is particularly troublesome since the absorption of the infrared radiation causes additional heat generation which leads to poor image quality or in some cases may destroy the imaging media. Therefore, there is a need for a black formulation that does not interfere significantly with infrared imaging sources.

Laser addressed black thermal transfer donors


Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for improving reverse link throughput using Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) across multiple wireless devices. In a particular embodiment, in response to receiving a user instruction to execute an application associated with a wireless protocol over a MIMO transmit antenna system, a method provides transferring a wireless probe signal to identify whether an external MIMO antenna element is available over another wireless protocol. The method further provides generating a signal with a Walsh code for the application and wirelessly transmitting the signal from an internal MIMO antenna element for receipt by a MIMO receive antenna system. The method further provides wirelessly transmitting the signal over the other wireless protocol, wherein a second wireless device including the external MIMO antenna element receives the signal and wirelessly transmits the signal from the external MIMO antenna element for receipt by the MIMO receive antenna system.

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication transmission schemes allow for greater data throughput on a single wireless channel. This greater throughput is accomplished using the multipath characteristics inherent in the transmission of wireless signals. These characteristics stem from the fact that a wireless signal transmitted from a single antenna element may bounce off of various objects before being received at a receiver antenna element. The receiver antenna element thereby receives what is essentially the same signal multiple times as the signals that have bounced off the various objects arrive at the antenna element. The receiver antenna element is able to process the received multipath signals to obtain the signal that was originally transmitted.
MIMO transmission schemes take advantage of this fact that a receiver can distinguish an originally transmitted signal from multipath signals in order to increase data throughput. To do this, MIMO schemes use multiple antenna elements to transmit communications over the same channel. Using multiple antenna elements allows a MIMO scheme to divide a communication signal into components for transmission over the multiple antenna elements rather than transmitting the communications over a single element. This effectively multiplies the throughput of the wireless channel by the number of antenna elements. When a MIMO receiver receives communications from each MIMO transmission antenna element, the MIMO receiver is able to distinguish the communications from each element in order to recompile the original communications that were split for MIMO transmission.
While many modern wireless communication devices, such as cellular phones, are capable of receiving MIMO communications, the devices are unable to transmit MIMO signals because the devices lack the multiple antenna elements necessary for transmitting MIMO communications. Specifically, the size and packaging requirements of the devices prevent the devices from having the necessary space for the placement of the multiple antenna elements. Therefore, many wireless devices on their own can receive but not transmit MIMO communications.
Overview
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for improving reverse link throughput using Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) across multiple wireless devices. In a particular embodiment, a method provides, in a first wireless communication device, receiving a user instruction to execute an application associated with a wireless protocol over a MIMO transmit antenna system, wherein the wireless protocol separates users on a wireless channel using Walsh codes. In response the user instruction, the method provides transferring a wireless probe signal to identify whether an external MIMO antenna element is available over another wireless protocol that does not interfere with the wireless protocol and receiving a wireless response signal indicating an availability of the external MIMO antenna element over the other wireless protocol. The method further provides generating a signal with a Walsh code for the application and wirelessly transmitting at least a first portion of the signal with the Walsh code from an internal MIMO antenna element for receipt by a MIMO receive antenna system. The method further provides wirelessly transmitting at least a second portion of the signal with the Walsh code over the other wireless protocol, wherein a second wireless communication device including the external MIMO antenna element receives at least the second portion of the signal with the Walsh code over the other wireless protocol and wirelessly transmits at least the second portion of the signal with the Walsh code from the external MIMO antenna element for receipt by the MIMO receive antenna system.

Reverse link throughput using multiple input multiple output (MIMO) across multiple wireless devices


Techniques for processing handwriting input based upon a user's writing style. Some techniques employ the style in which the user writes a single character, while other techniques alternately or additionally employ a group of allographs that form a handwriting style. Some implementations of these techniques, such as those implemented in writing style analysis tool, analyze one or more characters written by a user to identify a community, such as a geographic region or cultural group, to which the user's handwriting style belongs. Other implementations analyze one or more characters of a user's handwriting in order to alternately or additionally categorize the user's handwriting into a particular handwriting style. The writing style analysis tool may then provide the user with a handwriting recognition application specifically configured for that user's personal handwriting style. With still other implementations, the user's handwriting style alternately or additionally is employed to prevent a handwriting recognition application from using an aberrantly written character as training data for improving the recognition process, or to predict how a user writes other characters.

Computers are regularly being used for a variety of purposes throughout the world. As computers have become commonplace, computer manufacturers have continuously sought to make them more accessible and user-friendly. One such effort has been the development of natural input methods. For example, speech recognition permits a user to input data into a computer simply by speaking the data out loud. The phonemes of the user's speech then are analyzed to convert it into typewritten text Handwriting recognition alternately allows a user to input data by writing on a digitizer with a stylus to create electronic ink. The computer analyzes the shapes of the ink to convert it into typewritten text.
The advent of handwriting input techniques has been especially beneficial to many computer users. Some users can write characters by hand faster than they can type the same characters using a key board. These users can thus create handwriting input more quickly than keyboard input. Most East Asian language users also find handwriting input handwriting more efficient than keyboard input. East Asian languages typically are written using a pictographic character set having thousands of characters. Even a large keyboard cannot contain enough keys for a user to write in an East Asian language. Thus, a keyboard user is required to tediously convert phonetic characters represented on the keyboard into the desired pictographic characters. With a computer that accepts and recognizes handwriting input, an East Asian language user may now simply write the desired pictographic character directly in electronic ink. Still further, some users employ computers in environments that do not allow for the use of keyboards. For example, a doctor walking rounds in a hospital may create handwriting input where the use of a keyboard would be impractical.
While handwriting input techniques can be very convenient for a variety of users, the usefulness of these techniques largely depends upon their recognition accuracy. Consistently accurate handwriting recognition can be difficult to obtain, however, as different users will write the same character using a wide variety of different shapes.
To address the issue of handwriting recognition, some software developers have created handwriting recognition software applications that are generic to a wide variety of users. These software applications employ one or more handwriting recognition techniques that are common to all forms of handwriting for a language. For example, some of these techniques may compare a handwritten character to a set of character prototypes to determine which prototype the handwritten character most closely resembles. The set of prototypes will then include one or more conventional allographs for each character in the user's alphabet. While these generic recognition techniques will recognize handwriting "out of the box" for a wide variety of users, they typically will not provide a high recognition accuracy rate for any particular user. Moreover, the accuracy of these types of recognition techniques usually will not improve over time.
Some software developers alternate to provide personalized handwriting recognition software applications that will learn to recognize a specific individual's handwriting. These applications typically require a user to input a large amount of handwriting data during the learning process, however, as a result, some of these handwriting recognition software applications are not very accurate "out of the box." Further, many users are reluctant to invest the time required to properly train this type of software to recognize the user's handwriting. In addition, these personalized handwriting recognition software applications are susceptible to overtraining. As the software continues to refine its recognition process over time, it may include aberrant character shapes written by the user in its training data. These occasionally abnormal character shapes, uncommon to the user's typically writing, may actually reduce the application's recognition accuracy over time.


A modular building assembly is disclosed. The assembly consists of connecting hubs fixedly interconnected with tubular members. The hubs are each made up of one generally circular, central ring and two semi-hemispheric portions or lobes, the ring and lobes being mutually and adjustably engageable. The outer surfaces of the ring and lobes have a plurality of rounded protrusions or apertures that are adapted to engage or receive the hollow ends of the tubular members. In one embodiment, the inner ring has a central, circular aperture therethrough that can also receive a tubular member, the aperture being dimensioned to engage the outer surface of the tubular member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular construction assembly. More specifically, it relates to a modular construction assembly that is particularly well adapted to be used as an educational toy. Even more specifically, it relates to a modular assembly where the connection hub consists of three interengageable pieces: a generally ring shaped central piece and two semi-hemispherical lobes. The three pieces have, on their outer surfaces, rounded protruding members adapted to fit inside hollow tubes, holding them firmly in place to create geometric shapes, models, or on a larger scale, temporary structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The desire to create pleasing shapes is one of the first impulses that humans develop as they grow. Nurseries and schools from antiquity have had, as part of their equipment, objects on hand to allow and encourage this impulse. Building blocks and the like are a well known and familiar device from almost everyone's childhood. Popsicle sticks and glue are another memory that most adults who have grown up in the Western Hemisphere or Europe will have in common. As children get older, the abstract or geometrical objects they envisage become more complex. This can require models that not only allow for the realization of these abstract entities, but additionally these models can impose a spatial hierarchy of some sort by a set relation between angles and distances in the interengaging pieces to encourage the recognition of patterns in three-dimensional space and an appreciation for planning. A number of inventions direct themselves at this educational challenge.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,113,371 issued on Oct. 13, 1914 to Charles H. Pajeau, there is disclosed an improvement in toy construction. There are shown disks with sockets spaced about their peripheries that engage with rods to form structures. The rods have slits cut into their extreme ends to allow for a secure fit in the disk sockets.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,628 issued on Jun. 9, 1981 to John V. Barlow we see a geometric construction toy apparatus. In this invention there are a number of substantially spherical connector members that have, arranged about their central point, a plurality of radial sockets or protrusions spaced in a predetermined pattern and referred to as "first order, second order, third order, and fourth order" depending on the configuration desired. This allows for the construction of various geometric shapes when connecting members are affixed between the connectors.
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,131 issued on Oct. 20, 1987 to Paul R. Hildebrandt et al. In this patent we see a group of nodes in the shape of rhombicosidodecahedrons. The elements that make up the surface of the nodes have radially and inwardly converging openings. These openings are shape coded and are adapted to receive likewise shape coded struts, thus allowing for the construction of various geometrical objects.
Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,191 issued on Nov. 29, 1988 to Hiroshi Shima. In this document there are disclosed elements for constructing a three-dimensional structure. There are various joints disclosed. Of particular interest are the full circled and semi-circled joints denoted, respectively, 1 and 2. The full circled joint has an annular core and six arms spaced radially about it. The annular core has a pair of opposing angular notches that allow two full circle joints to be mounted in a cruciform configuration, shown in FIG. 5.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,105 issued on Sep. 17, 1991 to Joel I. Glickman shows a connecting element for a construction toy where connections are provided in two planes, the planes being at right angles to one another.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,486 issued on Aug. 11, 1992, also to Joel I. Glickman, shows a hub connector for tubes in a toy construction set. The connector elements disclosed have hub cylinders surrounded by a flange wall that, in the preferred embodiment, is octagonal in shape. Both the cylinder and the wall are integrally connected by a flat thin web. Each of the faces of the octagonal body formed by the cylinder, web, and wall further integrally mounts a radially extending mounting lug that is adapted to be received internally by tubular structural elements.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A three-group zoom lens, includes, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens group having a negative refractive power, including in order from the object side: a negative-power first lens; and a positive-power second lens, wherein the first lens group including at least one aspherical surface, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, including in order from the object side thereof, a positive-power first lens; a positive-power second lens; and a negative-power third lens; wherein the positive-power second lens and the negative-power third lens are cemented together to form a meniscus-shaped cemented lens that faces a convex surface to the object side and the second lens group has aspherical surfaces on at least two surfaces other than a cemented surface of the cemented lens; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, including: a positive-power single lens having only a spherical surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-group zoom lens and an image pickup apparatus, for example, a three-group zoom lens that is suitable for an electronic image pickup apparatus, such as a digital camera, a video camera, or the like.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2004-136908, 2004-136909, and 2004-136910, filed Apr. 30, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, digital cameras (electronic cameras) have received attention as the next generation of cameras, an alternative to silver-halide 35 mm-film cameras. Such digital cameras are broken down into several categories in a wide range from the high-end type for commercial use to the portable low-end type. In particular, cameras in the portable low-end type are desired to have high quality, such as having a low F number of about 2.8, a high zoom ratio of about 3, and a wide angle of view of about 60° while being thin.
The gravest bottleneck in diminishing the depth dimension of cameras is the thickness of an optical system, especially the zoom lens system from the surface located nearest to its object side to an image pickup plane. Recent technologies for slimming down cameras rely primarily on a collapsible lens mount that allows the optical system to be extended from a camera body for phototaking and be retracted thereto for carrying.
In order to achieve reduction in size and thickness, the reduction in the size of an image pickup element is required. For the reduced sized image pickup element to have the same number of pixels, the pitch between pixels should be reduced, and the resulting compromised sensitivity must be compensated by the optical system. In addition, diffraction may affect the sensitivity. Thus, an optical system having a smaller F number must be required.
Furthermore, to obtain a camera body to be thinner, it is effective to use the so-called rear focusing method for focusing in terms of the layout of the drive system rather than a method in which a front lens group is moved. Thus, an optical system that exhibits less fluctuation of aberration when the rear focusing method is employed must be selected.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-372667 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-196240 disclose a negative lead type of zoom lens including three groups that has a low F number, a high zoom ratio of about 3, and a wide angle of view while being relatively compact.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-196240 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-222797 disclose a zoom lens that is suitable for used in the rear focusing method.
The above-described conventional zoom lenses have the following shortcomings.
In the techniques disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-372667 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-196240, off-axis aberrations cannot be completely eliminated by the first lens group and the second lens group, and the remainder of the aberrations is eliminated by providing a lens having a large amount of asphericity to the third lens group. Therefore, fluctuation of aberration becomes significant when the third lens group is moved, and accordingly it is difficult to obtain a sufficient image forming capability stably from the object point at infinity to an object point in a close range. Thus, the techniques are not suitable for the rear focusing method.
In addition, the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-196240 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-222797, the shortest entire lens length in the wide-angle end or the telephoto end are large and the second lens group moves in a large amount upon varying magnifying power. Thus, the length of a lens-barrel portion that includes a cam mechanism for driving the second lens group is increased. Consequently, the overall length of the lenses is increased even when the lens is retracted, which may hinder size reduction.


A progressive, bingo-like game is disclosed. The game involves drawing a sequence of numbers and playing a conventional bingo-like game until a desired quantity of numbers to be drawn remains, and matching the remaining numbers to indicia in a manner that only yields a win upon the game's ending if the most recently drawn quantity of numbers all match numbered spaces bearing the indicia. The prize can be progressive prize, or a non-progressive prize, as desired by the game operator. Indicia can be colors, graphical symbols, or other visual designations that are viewable on a player's game card at the beginning of the game.

Bingo is a game that has been widely played for generations. Balls numbered from 1 to 75 are randomly selected and the number on the ball is read or called to the players. Players maintain one or more bingo cards, each having a matrix of rows and columns containing numbered spaces. Spaces on the bingo card are numbered 1 through 15 in the leftmost or "B" column, 16 through 30 in the next or "I" column, 31 through 45 in the center or "N" column, 46 through 60 in the "G" column, and 61 through 75 in the rightmost or "O" column. As the numbered balls are called, the player places a dauber or marker over the numbered space on the bingo card if the numbered space matches the number called. Players that place daubers in an acceptable pattern over matching numbers win a prize. For example, such patterns on the card can include a column, a row, a diagonal line, all four corners of the card, a cross, an intersection of lines, etc., or even every space on the bingo card. The caller or operator of the bingo game announces the winning pattern before the start of the game.
Bingo is becoming an increasingly popular form of gambling.
Players purchase cards, thus contributing to a cash prize paid to the winners. The cost of the card is often dictated by the statistical chance of winning, or the size of the prize. With the advent of electronic bingo, a player can simultaneously play a larger number of bingo cards. One electronic device generates random numbers between 1 and 75 and players use another device to monitor the called numbers and match them to electronic bingo cards. Progressive jackpots, prizes that increase as games are played to completion without a winner, also have attracted more players to the game of bingo.
Bingo still needs an added level of excitement and attraction to compete with traditional automated casino games such as slot machines or video poker machines. Bingo still suffers a shortcoming of infrequent wins in many instances of play. However, current variations on the game allow for progressive prizes to be won during play. But if a progressive prize is won for a particular bingo game, some of the excitement of a big jackpot is gone because the progressive prize gets reset to a low amount. In addition to significantly larger jackpots, bingo games need some added level of excitement of a prize that stands independent of a progressive prize being reset to a smaller amount.

Method, apparatus and computer program product for enhanced bingo game


In a combined oil ring having a spacer expander to be installed between a pair of upper and lower side rails, a plurality of axially protruding inner peripheral protruding portions are formed on the inner peripheral side of the spacer expander along its peripheral direction. The inner peripheral protruding portions press the inner peripheral surface of the side rails. On the outer peripheral side of the spacer expander, a plurality of slits are formed, and a plurality of connecting portions are located in the peripheral direction isolated by the slits. On the plurality of connecting portions, axially protruding outer peripheral protruding portions are formed.

A cross sectional configuration of general piston rings installed in a piston of an internal combustion engine is shown in FIG. 9. In a piston 100, ring grooves 110, 120, and 130 are formed for accommodating piston rings. In each ring groove, compression rings 200 and 210 are mainly for gas sealing, and a three-piece oil ring 220 is mainly for oil controlling and oil sealing are inserted respectively. In accordance with the reciprocating motion of the piston 100, outer peripheral sliding surfaces of these rings slide with the inner wall of a cylinder 300.
The three-piece type combined oil ring 220 comprises a pair of side rails 230 and 240 arranged at its axially upper and lower portions, and a spacer expander 250 combined therebetween for pressing the side rails 230 and 240 from inner peripheral side to produce tension on the side rails 230 and 240. Profiles of each of these components are described, for example, in JIS B 8032-13, "Internal combustion engines—Small diameter piston rings—Part 13: Expander/segment oil control rings," published on Mar. 31, 1999, pages 3 to 5.
Due to the ear portions 252 that are formed with an angle to protrude in the axial direction of the spacer expander 250, the side rails 230 and 240 are pressed with component forces in the radial direction toward the cylinder wall and in the axial direction toward upper or lower surface of the ring groove. Therefore, the side rails 230 and 240 can perform sealing with the cylinder wall and with the upper and lower surfaces of the ring groove 130.
The configuration of such a spacer expander of a combined oil ring is disclosed in JP06-081950A, for example. In this spacer expander, a wave shape is formed in the axial direction by gear machining of a metal strip. The outer peripheral surfaces of the side rails are pressed toward the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder with the tension generated by the wave-shaped portion, and thus secures sealing property. In addition, this wave-shaped portion becomes an inlet and outlet of oil, and effectively prevents sticking. Moreover, in the inner peripheral portion of the spacer expander, protruding portions in the axial direction of the piston (ear portions) are formed for pressing the side rails outward in the radial direction, and protruding portions are formed in the outer peripheral portion for supporting the side rails in the axial direction.
With the recent trend toward better fuel consumption of engines, it has been desired to reduce width and weight of oil rings. As an example of reducing width in the axial direction of a three-piece type combined oil ring, JP04-300467A is reported. The expander of this oil ring is made of a steel strip having a wave shape in the axial direction, in which an upper portion and a lower portion are alternately located and axially spaced apart in a circular arrangement and both portions are connected with an intermediate portion extending in the axial direction. The expander is not inserted between two rails. Tapered faces are formed on both upper and lower sides of the outer peripheral surface of the expander. Inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower rails are pushed by the tapered faces so that the rails contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. Because the expander is not inserted between the upper and lower rails, the width of the oil ring in the axial direction can be reduced.
In JP05-087240A, a spacer expander of a narrow width three-piece oil ring is reported. The spacer expander is made of a shape steel material having a substantially lateral T-shape in cross section. In this spacer expander, side rail supporting surfaces are formed on the top and bottom of an enlarged portion on outer peripheral side, and upper and lower pads for pushing side rails are formed by bending end surfaces on inner peripheral side alternately upward and downward. The pad portions are bent by plastic working, and have thin material thickness and a low stiffness. Thus, the pad portions have a high degree of flexibility in displacement. Therefore, an excellent followability can be obtained in pushing the side rails toward the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder due to the elasticity of the pad portions, and better sealing can be maintained even at low tension, compared to the conventional oil rings.
JP05-106734A discloses a spacer expander of a narrow width three-piece oil ring. Here, the spacer expander is made of a base plate of a shape steel material whose outer peripheral side is thick and inner peripheral side is thin. Slits are formed alternately from the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side. The outer peripheral side portion formed between the adjacent slits on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side portion formed between the adjacent slits on the inner peripheral side are bent alternately upward and downward, and the surfaces facing the outer peripheral side support side rails. This spacer expander ensures that the side rails follow irregularities on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder because the inner peripheral side portion has a low stiffness, and thus easily deforms elastically.
In a combined oil ring, as shown in JP06-081950A, the side rails are combined with the spacer expander so that the inner peripheral surfaces of the side rails contact with ear portions of the spacer expander. The combined width of the oil ring in the axial direction depends on the axial width of the connecting portion that connects the upper portion and the lower portion of the wave shape of the spacer expander. Therefore, if the axial width of the connecting portion of the spacer expander can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the axial width of the combined oil ring when the spacer expander is combined with side rails. However, for conventional spacer expanders, wave shapes have been manufactured by gear machining, and thus it has been difficult to reduce the axial width of the connecting portion due to manufacturing reasons. Therefore, there has been a limit in reducing the combined axial width.
In the configuration of a combined oil ring shown in JP04-300467A, the contact portions of the rails and the expander are only the inner peripheral surfaces of the rails and the tapered faces of the expander. Therefore, it is difficult to control the amount of axial movement of the outer peripheral portion of the upper and lower rails in the cylinder. If the amount of movement of the rail outer peripheral surfaces on the cylinder inner peripheral surface is large, vibration tends to occur between the rail outer peripheral surfaces and the cylinder inner peripheral surface. This may inhibit the reduction of oil consumption by the width reduction, and may cause unusual noises.
In a method that uses a shape steel material as shown in JP05-087240 and JP05-106734A, the steel material itself is expensive in general. Also, the tension of the spacer expander needs to be controlled by the width and number of slits that are formed alternately on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side, and thus, machining process becomes complicated and restricted. In addition, reduction in width and weight is limited due to the thickness and weight of the shape steel material itself.
Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a spacer expander of a combined oil ring with a narrow axial width by simple processes and at a low cost, in which the spacer expander is excellent in followability and stability and effective in improving fuel efficiency of engines.


A semiconductor device of the invention prevents a breakdown of a gate oxide film, while restraining an area of a protection circuit to enlarge, without substantially involving a modification of a manufacturing process. The semiconductor device includes an electrostatic breakdown preventing protection circuit made up of an input line electrically connecting an input terminal to an input circuit, a first power supply line connected to a first power supply terminal, a first MOSFET, and a first protection circuit. A drain electrode of the first MOSFET is connected to the input line, a source electrode and a substrate electrode thereof are connected to the first power supply line, and the gate electrode thereof is connected to a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit is connected to bridge the input line and the power supply line. The voltage control circuit controls the potential of the gate electrode of the first MOSFET to a potential between the potential of the drain electrode and the potential of the source electrode so that the protection circuit prevents a breakdown of the gate oxide film by an electrostatic surge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device provided with a protection circuit for preventing electrostatic breakdown, specifically to the protection circuit for preventing electrostatic breakdown.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many semiconductor integrated circuit devices (hereunder, referred to structure as Metal, Oxide film, and Semiconductor, namely, the MOS structure. The MOS filed effect transistor (MOSFET) adopting the MOS structure uses a silicon oxide film (also referred to as the gate oxide film) in the insulating film to separate the gate and the channel.
When a semiconductor device is connected to, for example, an external circuit, there is an apprehension that a circuit inside the semiconductor device is subject to an electrostatic charged with the external circuit to fall into an electrostatic breakdown. In order to prevent the electrostatic breakdown, the input terminal or output terminal of the semiconductor device is provided with a protection circuit for preventing the electrostatic breakdown (hereunder, referred to as electrostatic breakdown preventing protection circuit).
The conventional electrostatic breakdown preventing protection circuit provided at the input terminal or output terminal of the semiconductor device generally uses N-type transistors. Here, the N-type transistors each are located between the input terminal and a power supply terminal, and between the input terminal and a grounding terminal. When a positive voltage is applied to the input terminal as an electrostatic, by the breakdown of the N-type transistors each, and when a negative voltage is applied as an electrostatic, by the N-type transistors each being brought into a conductive state, namely, being turned ON, the electrostatic is discharged to the power supply terminal or the grounding terminal (refer to the patent document 1).
Some protection circuits are provided with the input circuit using complementary MOSFETs (hereunder, referred to as CMOS). A conventional example of the input circuit using the CMOS will be explained with reference to FIG. 7 through FIG. 9.
FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional electrostatic breakdown preventing protection circuit. An input terminal 221 is electrically connected to an input circuit 229 being a protective object, by way of an input line 211 furnished with an input protection resistor 227. Here, an inverter is used as the input circuit 229. A power supply line 213 is connected to a power supply terminal 223, and a grounding line 215 is connected to a grounding terminal 225. Between the input line 211 and the power supply line 213 is located a P-type MOSFET (hereunder, referred to as PMOS) 251; and between the input line 211 and the grounding line 215 is located an N-type MOSFET (hereunder, referred to as NMOS) 261. Here, it is assumed that with regard to the NMOS 261, N-type source and drain are formed on a P-type substrate, and with regard to the PMOS 251, an N-type well is formed on the P-type substrate, and P-type source and drain are formed on the N-type well.
A source electrode 253, a gate electrode 257, and a well electrode 259 of the PMOS 251 are connected to the power supply line 213. A drain electrode 255 of the PMOS 251 is connected to the input line 211.
A source electrode 263, a gate electrode 267, and a substrate electrode 269 of the NMOS 261 are connected to the grounding line 215. A drain electrode 265 of the NMOS 261 is connected to the input line 211.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for explaining a measuring circuit of the current vs. voltage characteristic of the NMOS 261. An output terminal of a variable voltage supply 271 is connected to the drain electrode 265 of the NMOS 261 through an ammeter 281. A grounding terminal of the variable voltage supply 271 is connected to the source electrode 263, the gate electrode 267, and the substrate electrode 269 of the NMOS 261, and also to the grounding terminal 225. A voltmeter 283 is connected to measure a voltage across the source electrode 263-drain electrode 265. Hereunder, the current measured by the ammeter 281 is referred to as a drain current ID, and the voltage measured by the voltmeter 283 is referred to as a drain voltage VD.
FIG. 9 typically illustrates a relation between the drain voltage VD and the drain current ID, by the circuit explained with reference to FIG. 8. The horizontal axis represents the drain voltage VD, and the vertical axis represents the drain current ID.
The output voltage of the variable voltage supply 271, namely, the drain voltage VD increases from the state of 0 Volt. Since the source electrode 263, gate electrode 267, and substrate electrode 269 of the NMOS 261 are grounded, and a potential difference is not given across the gate-source, the NMOS 261 is always OFF. As the drain voltage VD increases, a reverse voltage is applied to a diode formed across the drain-silicon substrate, and the drain current ID does not flow. However, as the drain voltage VD increases further to exceed a breakdown voltage VBD of the PN junction existing across the drain-silicon substrate, a current starts flowing from the drain to the substrate. This current is divided into a breakdown current flowing through the diode and a base current flowing into the emitter-base of a parasitic bipolar transistor existing in the NMOS 261. As the drain voltage VD increases further more, the breakdown current and the base current increase. At the time when the base current increases and the potential of the substrate rises higher by a forward voltage VF (about 0.6 V in case of the silicon semiconductor) of the PN junction than the potential of the source, a forward current flows into the substrate-source, accordingly the parasitic bipolar transistor of the NMOS 261 is turned ON. The drain voltage at this moment is referred to as a turn-on voltage VTO.
As the parasitic bipolar transistor is turned ON, a through current flows into the collector-emitter of the bipolar transistor, namely, into the drain-source of the NMOS 261; accordingly, the drain voltage sharply falls. To utilize this behavior of the parasitic bipolar transistor for protecting the device against the electrostatic is the main current of the protection circuit design at the present time.
Since the gate electrode and the source electrode of the NMOS 261 are on the same potential, when the parasitic bipolar transistor is turned ON, the turn-on voltage VTO is applied across the drain-gate, namely, to the gate oxide film. Generally, the turn-on voltage VTO of the parasitic bipolar transistor is set lower than a gate oxide film breakdown voltage VC.
[Patent Document 1] JPA-No.Hei9-284119 (paragraph 0007˜0013)

ESD breakdown prevention protection circuit


This disclosure describes image processing techniques that facilitate the determination of the lighting condition associated with an image. Once the lighting condition is determined, white balance can be performed on the image such as by applying white balance gains defined for the lighting condition. According to the techniques of this disclosure, gray point lines are defined and plotted for the different lighting conditions, and cylindrical bounding volumes are defined around the gray point lines, e.g., in a three-dimensional color space. The image is then analyzed with respect to each of the cylindrical bounding volumes to determine how many pixels of the image fall within the respective cylindrical bounding volumes formed around the gray point lines for the different lighting conditions. Based on this analysis, the actual lighting condition can be determined. The use of cylindrical bounding volumes can significantly improve the process of determining lighting conditions relative to conventional techniques.

In digital camera applications, white balance can be an important process. White balance is typically used to correct for image sensor responses in order to better match an image with a user's perceptual experience of the object being imaged. The human eye can easily identify gray objects in all lighting conditions and interpret them as gray. For some imaging sensors, however, a white balance process is typically needed to make gray objects appear gray in the processed images.
There are multiple ways to perform automatic white balancing. The most commonly used approach is based on an assumption referred to as the "gray world assumption." The gray world assumption postulates that, for a picture that contains multiple colors, the average of all these colors will turn out to be gray.
The white balance process is typically dependent upon the lighting condition associated with an image. Thus, in order to accurately perform a white balance process on an image, it is necessary to determine the lighting condition associated with that image. Different lighting can cause gray pixels to be defined differently within a given color space.

Estimation of lighting conditions based on near-gray pixel detection using cylindrical boundaries


A sequence of canal instruments for performing an endodontic operating protocol uses a sequence of several instruments, for example, three such instruments with three cutting blades. The instruments have a progressive conicity, for example, 6%, 4% and 2%, and each instrument has an identical progressive pitch. The pitch further increases progressively from instrument to instrument as a function of the conicity of each instrument.

The present invention relates to a sequence of canal instruments for performing an endodontic operating protocol using a sequence of several instruments, for example, a sequence of three such instruments with three cutting blades.
Sequences of canal instruments of this type are known. Instruments with progressive pitch are such that the pitch of the instrument increases from the apex toward the handle. The progressive pitch of the instrument prevents the instrument from being screwed into the tooth resulting continued rotation.
The increase in pitch leads to a reduction in the residual core of the instrument, in this way increasing its reliability. This provides an acceptable flexibility for a conicity of 2%. However, as the conicity increases, the flexibility is progressively reduced.

Sequence of canal instruments for executing an endodontic operative procedure


A universal tiltable joint (10) for a lighting fixture (11) includes a first joint portion (12) having an axial joint axis (A), a second joint portion (14) having the axial joint axis, one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion housed co-axially within the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, a co-axial gap (60) between the first joint portion and the second joint portion allowing movement at an angle to the axial joint axis, the movement causing at least one of engagement or disengagement of a safety feature (27) on the first joint portion and the second joint portion.

In illuminating various types of areas, such as, for example, roadways, adjustable joints or supports may be utilized for luminaire or lighting fixture adjustment to disperse the light in a desirable location and/or pattern.
Various types of luminaire joints have been suggested for positioning lighting fixtures. Certain joints allow rotation. Certain adjustable joints rely on a fastener to limit movement. When the fastener is loosened, however, the joints may move uncontrollably.
Other adjustable supports require wiring to be positioned exterior to the joint. These systems require additional components to compensate for exterior wiring and environmental conditions. For example, seals and associated assembly time increase cost of manufacture of these joints. Moreover, despite these seals, the wiring or controls are still vulnerable to the environment conditions.
Still other joints may be slidably adjustable. However, in order to render these joint types adjustable, the joints require multiple parts and therefore are typically more costly and prone to mechanical malfunctions.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an adjustable luminaire joint that may optionally overcome these or other drawbacks associated with existing luminaire joints or supports.


The invention relates to a method for determining the used bandwidth (CCR) on a connection (18) on which information-carrying units are transported. The duration (ET) of an arrival period, during which a predetermined number (M) of the cells arrives at a certain point of the connection (18), is measured and stored. The bandwidth (CCR) at an arbitrary point of time (GT) is set to the predetermined number (M) per the stored duration (ET), if the point of time (TS) when the duration (ET) was stored is not longer ago than a predetermined threshold time interval (THR) at the arbitrary point of time (GT).

In packet-switching systems, e.g. ATM systems, several users are connected via one or more ATM switches. The users exchange information which is transmitted in form of fixed-size packets, also called cells. Since the ATM switch is limited in its capacity to handle cells without loss of information and required to avoid loss of information for certain connections, the cell rate or bandwidth which is allowed to reach the switch is limited. In some ATM systems all users are assigned an equal share of the totally available bandwidth as maximum bandwidth; in other systems users can get different shares assigned. In ATM switches with ABR (Available Bit Rate) service, the unused bandwidth is distributed over the ABR-connections.
Determining the actually used bandwidth is an important aspect for such systems since a deviation from an assigned maximum bandwidth can have various effects: Users may be confronted with additional fees for their assigned bandwidth limit being exceeded. Furthermore, free, unused bandwidth may be at least temporarily assigned to a user who exceeds his assigned bandwidth limit. Finally, queues for arriving cells need to be adapted to the used bandwidth. For all these actions, a precise determination of used bandwidth is of importance.
Two methods are known for determining the actually used bandwidth on a connection.
A first method uses an arrangement that counts the number of arriving cells for a fixed amount of time. The problem is that usually with this method one counter and one timer for each connection is to be established. Furthermore, particularly in the realistic case of a big number of connections, many results of many counting processes have to be stored in very short time, even when less timers are provided. In worst case this may even be simultaneously. Such storage mechanism requires an appropriate provision of reliable and fast resources. This leads to expensive arrangements which still may have only limited capacity. Also, a huge amount of data is to be stored even if no cell traffic is pertinent. Another point is that the timers need to be accessed by two asynchronous processes, namely the cell-receiving process to increment the counter and a timer-based process to set the counter to zero and to read out its value. Such a twofold asynchronously controllable timer needs to be realized with a dual-port RAM which is more expensive than a single port RAM for only one asynchronous access. Also, a queuing mechanism must be implemented between the timer expiration process and the dual-port RAM containing the counters for the case when several timers expire at the same time. This again can only be avoided by providing additional, expensive hardware.
A second method counts a fixed number of cells and measures the elapsed time for these cells. It is here more probable that the storing processes when the number of cells is reached for several connections, do not occur simultaneously. A problem occurs when the number of sent cells remains below the fixed number or if the cell rate falls from a high value to a very low value during a counting process. Then the counting process does not get to an end and no terminating event stops the counting or it takes a very long time until the counting process reaches the fixed number of cells. If this happens, the last value that was used to determine the used bandwidth does no longer represent the correct value of the used bandwidth.

Method and means for determining the used bandwidth on a connection

International Business Machines Corporation


A feedring for use with an axial flow preheat steam generator which utilizes a double wrapper to direct feedwater flow to the cold leg tube bundle region. The feedring is positioned directly over the double wrapper and includes a plurality of standpipes spaced circumferentially along the feedring. The standpipes respectively extend vertically from a lower portion of an interior of the feedring upward through the interior of the feedring. The standpipes have a feedwater intake in the upper portion of the feedring to minimize the potential for vapor formation and bubble collapse water hammer. The components of the standpipe are arranged to minimize the transmission of entrained loose parts from traveling with the feedwater to the tube bundle. A feedwater discharge is provided at the exit of the standpipe at or below the bottom of the feedring, for evenly distributing the feedwater into the double wrapper downcomer.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to U-tube steam generators and, more particularly, to such generators that disperse feedwater into a downcomer between a wrapper and the steam generator shell.
2. Description of Related Art
A pressurized water nuclear reactor steam generator typically comprises a vertically oriented shell, a plurality of U-shaped tubes disposed in the shell so as to form a tube bundle, a tube sheet for supporting the tubes at the ends opposite the U-like curvature, a divider plate that cooperates with the tube sheet and a channel head forming a primary fluid inlet header at one end of the tube bundle and a primary fluid outlet header at the other end of the tube bundle. A primary fluid inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the primary fluid inlet header and a primary fluid outlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the primary fluid outlet header. The steam generator secondary side comprises a wrapper disposed between the tube bundle and the shell to form an annular chamber made up of the shell on the outside and the wrapper on the inside and a feedwater ring disposed above the U-like curvature end of the tube bundle.
The primary fluid having been heated by circulation through the reactor enters the steam generator through the primary fluid inlet nozzle. From the primary fluid inlet nozzle, the primary fluid is conducted through the primary fluid inlet header, through the U-tube bundle, out the primary fluid outlet header and through the primary fluid outlet nozzle to the remainder of the reactor coolant system. At the same time, feedwater is introduced into the steam generator secondary side, i.e., the side of the steam generator interfacing with the outside of the tube bundle above the tube sheet, through a feedwater nozzle which is connected to a feedwater ring inside the steam generator. In one embodiment, upon entering the steam generator, the feedwater mixes with water returning from moisture separators. This mixture, called the downcomer flow, is conducted down the annular chamber adjacent the shell until the tube sheet located at the bottom of the annular chamber causes the water to change direction passing in heat transfer relationship with the outside of the U-tubes and up through the inside of the tube wrapper. While the water is circulating in heat transfer relationship with the tube bundle, heat is transferred from the primary fluid in the tubes to water surrounding the tubes causing a portion of the water surrounding the tubes to be converted to steam. To differentiate the steam/water mixture from the single phase downcomer flow, the fluid flow surrounding the tubes is designated as the tube bundle flow. The steam then rises and is conducted through a number of moisture separators that separate entrained water from the steam and the steam vapor then exits the steam generator and is typically circulated through a turbine to generate electricity in a manner well known in the art.
The U-shaped heat exchange tubes of such steam generators are typically described as having a hot leg, which is directly in fluid communication with the primary fluid inlet header and a cold leg which is directly in fluid communication with the primary fluid outlet header. A number of these types of steam generators preheat the downcomer flow by passing the cooler portions of the downcomer flow by the cold legs of the tube bundle to increase the log mean temperature difference and thereby enhance heat transfer. This is accomplished by employing a partition plate which extends across the tube sheet through a center tube lane between the hot legs and cold legs of the heat exchange tubes. The partition plate extends axially up between the tubes from the tube sheet to an elevation below the U-bends. In this preheat class of steam generators, the downcomer region typically extends less than 180° around the cold legs side of the wrapper and is partitioned to separate the downcomer region from the circumferential area around the wrapper that surrounds the hot legs. A nearly semicircular feedwater distribution ring is supported above the cold leg downcomer region in the partitioned area between the shell and the wrapper, so that the feedwater is distributed down the outside of the wrapper surrounding the cold legs, underneath the wrapper at the tube sheet and up and around the cold legs of the heat exchange tubes.
Axial flow preheat steam generator feedrings must evenly distribute feedwater flow over approximately 160° of a steam generator's upper shell circumference. As explained above, this serves to introduce the colder feedwater into the cold leg side of the tube bundle, whereby the preheating benefit of increased heat transfer occurs. Prior art reference, U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,680, accomplished this objective utilizing a large inverted duct to direct and distribute flow into the downcomer, and included a loose parts screen within the feedring, which requires access through bolted flanges.
An improved feedwater distribution ring is desired that provides a much lower pressure drop loose parts screening arrangement with enhanced access features.
Furthermore, such a feedwater feedring design is desired that will accomplished substantially even feedwater distribution over the cold leg downcomer, using a more compact arrangement.

Axial flow steam generator feedwater dispersion apparatus


The present invention is a method for controlling a process for producing a distillate fuel heavier than gasoline. The process includes several different fractions, streams, including alcohols, olefins, and acids. At least one of the streams is irradiated with IR radiation, allowing the determination of the concentrations of at least one of alcohols, olefins and acids. The temperature of the separator is then adjusted to change the concentrations to pre-determined values.

Typical raw products of high alpha Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis (FT-HCS) are too heavy and too waxy for use as diesel fuel. Therefore, FT-HCS products are universally hydroprocessed to simultaneously reduce the boiling point and improve cold flow properties. In addition hydroprocessing removes any oxygenates and olefins produced during FT-HCS, by converting them to the corresponding paraffins. The removal of olefins and oxygenates is desirable because high olefin contents are directly related to poor oxidative stability and carboxylic acids result in fuel corrosivity. But the complete removal oxygenates including high molecular weight linear primary alcohols is undesirable in that Fischer-Tropsch distillates that retain native long chain primary alcohols exhibit surprisingly high lubricity. Prior art processes maximize the desirable oxygenates, while minimizing undesirable carboxylic acids, and olefins. All of these flow plans require a degree of over hydroprocessing in order to assure product compositions within the desired range. This over processing results in undesirable increases in capital costs and higher operational costs from larger recycle streams and hydrogen consumptions. The ability to control secondary hydroprocessing would therefore allow the continual optimization of the operations, while minimizing both capital and operational expenses. The present invention provides for the use of infra-red spectroscopy to provide real time operational control of a novel flow scheme to produce a high lubricity, high stability Fischer-Tropsch derived diesel fuels and blend stocks. Infrared spectroscopy allows for rapid and reproducible measurement of key olefin, alcohol, and carboxylic acid concentrations in both process streams and final products.

Use of infrared spectroscopy to produce high lubricity, high stability, Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuels and blend stocks


An interferometric system including: an interferometer that directs a measurement beam at an object point to produce a return measurement beam, focuses the return measurement beam to an image point in an image plane, and mixes the return measurement beam with a reference beam at the image point to form a mixed beam; a beam combining layer located at the image plane which is responsive to the mixed beam and produces an optical beam therefrom, wherein the layer comprises a thin film with an array of transmissive openings formed therein and further comprises a fluorescent material associated with each of the openings of the array of openings; a detector that is responsive to the optical beam from the beam combining layer; and an imaging system that directs the optical beam from the beam combining layer onto the detector.

A number of different applications of catadioptric imaging systems for far-field and near-field interferometric confocal and non-confocal microscopy have been described such as in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,852 entitled "Catoptric And Catadioptric Imaging Systems" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,736 entitled "Catoptric And Catadioptric Imaging Systems;" U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60/447,254, filed Feb. 13, 2003, entitled "Transverse Differential Interferometric Confocal Microscopy,"; No. 60/448,360, filed Feb. 19, 2003, entitled "Longitudinal Differential Interferometric Confocal Microscopy for Surface Profiling,"; No. 60/448,250, filed Feb. 19, 2003, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Dark Field Interferometric Confocal Microscopy,"; No. 60/442,982, filed Jan. 28, 2003, entitled "Interferometric Confocal Microscopy Incorporating Pinhole Array Beam-Splitter,"; No. 60/459,425, filed Apr. 1, 2003, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Joint Measurement Of Fields Of Scattered/Reflected Orthogonally Polarized Beams By An Object In Interferometry,"; No. 60/485,507, filed Jul. 7, 2003, entitled "Apparatus And Method For High Speed Scan For Sub-Wavelength Defects And Artifacts In Semiconductor Metrology,"; No. 60/485,255, filed Jul. 7, 2003, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Ellipsometric Measurements with High Spatial Resolution,"; No. 60/501,666, filed Sep. 10, 2003, entitled "Catoptric And Catadioptric Imaging Systems With Adaptive Catoptric Surfaces,"; No. 60/602,046, filed Aug. 16, 2004, entitled "Apparatus And Method For Joint And Time Delayed Measurements Of Components Of Conjugated Quadratures Of Fields Of Reflected/Scattered Beams By An Object In Interferometry,"; and U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/778,371, filed Feb. 13, 2004, entitled "Transverse Differential Interferometric Confocal Microscopy,"; Ser. No. 10/782,057, filed Feb. 19, 2004, entitled "Longitudinal Differential Interferometric Confocal Microscopy for Surface Profiling,"; Ser. No. 10/782,058, filed Feb. 19, 2004, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Dark Field Interferometric Confocal Microscopy,"; Ser. No. 10/765,229, filed Jan. 27, 2004, entitled "Interferometric Confocal Microscopy Incorporating Pinhole Array Beam-Splitter,"; Ser. No. 10/816,180, filed Apr. 1, 2004, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Joint Measurement Of Fields Of Scattered/Reflected or Transmitted Orthogonally Polarized Beams By An Object In Interferometry,"; Ser. No. 10/886,010, filed Jul. 7, 2004, entitled "Apparatus And Method For High Speed Scan For Sub-Wavelength Defects And Artifacts In Semiconductor Metrology,"; Ser. No. 10/886,157, filed Jul. 7, 2004, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Ellipsometric Measurements with High Spatial Resolution,"; and Ser. No. 10/218,408, filed Sep. 10, 2004, entitled "Catoptric And Catadioptric Imaging Systems With Adaptive Catoptric Surfaces,". In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/218,201, entitled "Method for Constructing a Catadioptric Lens System," filed Apr. 1, 2004 described one way to make some of these catadioptric lens systems. These patents, patent applications, and provisional patent applications are all by Henry A. Hill and the contents of each are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
In each of the applications of catadioptric imaging systems for each of the cited U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications, a beam-splitter is incorporated in generating an image of an object with zero optical aberrations for a measurement object located on the optic axis of the imaging system. The beam-splitter is located at an interface between relatively thick optical elements of the catadioptric imaging systems. The optical elements contribute off-axis aberrations and cause a significant portion of optical paths in the catadioptric imaging systems to comprise a transmitting refractive medium such as fused silica or CaF2.
In each of the applications of catadioptric imaging systems for each of the cited U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications, tight tolerances are generally placed on the manufacture of optical elements. In addition to the tolerances normally encountered in designing a diffraction limited imaging system, there are additional tolerances imposed in interferometric confocal and non-confocal microscopy applications. The additional tolerances are for example on surfaces of certain elements with respect to radii of curvature and on relative locations of centers of curvature of the surfaces of the certain elements.
The additional tolerances lead to improved performance of a catoptric or a catadioptric imaging system, e.g., with respect to increasing the average intensity of desired images by a factor of approximately 2 and reduced intensity of spurious beams by one or more order of magnitudes, and in addition make it possible to realize interferometric reduction of background fields. The interferometric reduction of background fields leads to a reduction of statistical errors. The increase in intensity of desired images and the reduction of statistical errors lead to an increase in signal-to-noise ratios and to a concomitant increase in throughput of a metrology tool using the catoptric or catadioptric imaging system. The interferometric reduction of background fields further leads to a reduction of systematic errors. A consequence of the reduction of systematic errors is a reduction of the computational task required to invert arrays of measured interference signal values to a multi-dimensional image of a measurement object.
The cited U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications further teach the use of adaptive catoptric surfaces in a catoptric or catadioptric imaging system. The use of adaptive catoptric surfaces in a catoptric or catadioptric imaging system makes it possible to relax tolerances on the surface figures of elements, to relax tolerances on locations of surfaces of the elements in the catoptric or catadioptric imaging system, and to compensate for certain optical aberrations such as may be introduced by the pellicle or aperture-array beam-splitter. The factor by which the tolerances may be relaxed on the surface figures is of the order of 5 for certain of the elements. The use of adaptive catoptric surfaces in a catoptric or catadioptric imaging system further makes it possible to introduce a vertical or lateral scan of a measurement object or substrate being imaged at slew rates higher than possible and/or practical when the vertical or lateral scan must otherwise be introduced either by translations of an entire catoptric or catadioptric imaging system and associated optics and detector systems or translations of the measurement object or substrate, e.g., a 300 mm wafer, and the measurement object or substrate support system.
The cited U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications further teach the replacement of a beam combining beam-splitter in an interferometric imaging system with a thin fluorescent layer or interface.
The cited U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications also teach the use of an N-dimensional bi- and quad-homodyne detection methods.

Catoptric and catadioptric imaging systems with pellicle and aperture-array beam-splitters and non-adaptive and adaptive catoptric surfaces


The present invention relates to novel cosmetic and/or dermatological compounds and compositions for the photoprotection of human skin and/or hair against the damaging effects of UV radiation, in particular solar radiation. In another embodiment the invention relates to compositions and compounds for topical application comprising at least one photoprotective compound for topical application comprising of hydroxylated derivatives of natural Jojoba wax/oil or its synthetic substitute, esterified with carboxylic acids or aminoacids bearing UV-absorbing groups.

During the last two decades the problem of photoprotection of the skin has attracted increasing attention. It has become clear that exposure to sunlight may cause not only erythema photoallergy and photoagining of the skin but also can damage the cutaneous immune system and induce or increase the probability of malignant transformations. These dangers are probably reinforced by the lately observed decrease of stratospheric ozone levels causing an increase of UV radiation on the ground level. Because of these consideration as well as for commercial reasons the development and production of sunscreen formulations has become a field of ever increasing activity.
Many of the existing sunscreen formulations are based on the use of benzophenones and methoxycinnamic acid derivatives. Although these synthetic chemicals are effective UV-absorbers their protective action is relatively short. Being small organic molecules with molecular mass of <300 Da they partly penetrate into deeper regions of the epidermis where they may have adverse reactions such as suppressing the immune system of the skin. Some of them may have estrogenic effects.
These antisun or sunscreen compositions are commonly in the form of an emulsion of oil-in-water type (namely, a cosmetically acceptable support comprising a continuous aqueous dispersing phase and a discontinuous oily dispersed phase) which contains, in various concentrations, one or more conventional lipophilic and/or hydrophilic organic screening agents which are capable of selectively absorbing harmful UV radiation, these screening agents (and their amounts) being selected as a function of the desired protection factor (the protection factor (PF) being expressed mathematically by the ratio of the irradiation time required to reach the erythema-forming threshold with the UV screening agent to the time required to reach the erythema-forming threshold without UV screening agent).
Therefore, it will be highly advantageous to develop long-lasting nonpenetrating photoprotectors confined to the stratum corneum, based on natural products.

Products for preventing penetration into the skin