A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system displays an image synthesized from output of the image capture device. The display system is preferably contiguous with the forward field of view of the vehicle driver at a focal length that is forward of the vehicle passenger compartment. A plurality of image capture devices may be provided and the display system displays a unitary image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location, such as forward of the vehicle.

This invention relates generally to vision systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to rearview vision systems which provide the vehicle operator with scenic information in the direction rearward of the vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a rearview vision system utilizing image capture devices, such as CMOS imaging arrays and the like.
A long-felt need in the art of vehicle rearview vision systems is to reduce the amount of time spent gathering information of the condition around the vehicle in order to safely carry out a vehicle maneuver such as a turn or a lane change. It has been determined that up to about 50 percent of maneuver time is spent gathering information with conventional rearview mirrors. This typically requires viewing one or more mirrors, turning the head and body to check blind spots, and double-checking the mirrors prior to executing the maneuver. Some improvement has been obtained by adjusting mirror optics, for example, to increase the observed field of view rearward of the vehicle. However, this is achieved with an increase in image distortion which makes driver awareness of conditions to the side and rear of the vehicle even more difficult.
Another long-felt need in the art of vehicle rearview vision systems has been to eliminate exterior rearview mirrors by utilizing image capture devices, such as cameras, in combination with dashboard displays. This would be beneficial because it would reduce wind drag on the vehicle, wind noise and vehicle weight. Furthermore, rearview mirrors protrude a substantial distance from the side of the vehicle, which makes maneuvering in tight spaces more difficult. Image capture devices are capable of positioning in a greater variety of locations on the vehicle, providing more flexibility of vehicle styling. It is further expected that camera systems would greatly reduce the blind spots to the sides and rear of the vehicle common with vehicles equipped with conventional rearview mirror systems. The driver cannot perceive vehicles, objects, or other road users in such blind spots without turning his or her body, which interferes with forward-looking visual activities.
Camera-based rearview vision systems for vehicles have not obtained commercial acceptance. One difficulty with proposed systems has been that they present a large amount of visual information in a manner which is difficult to comprehend. This difficulty arises from many factors. In order to significantly reduce blind spots, multiple image capture devices are typically positioned at various locations on the vehicle. The image of an object behind the equipped vehicle is usually captured by more than one image capture device at a time and displayed in multiple images. This may confuse the driver as to whether more than one object is present. When multiple image capture devices are positioned at different longitudinal locations on the vehicle, objects behind the vehicle are at different distances from the image capture devices. This results in different image sizes for the same object. This effect is especially noticeable for laterally extending images, such as a bridge, highway crosswalk markings, the earth""s horizon, and the like. Such images are at different vertical angles with respect to the image capture devices. This results in different vertical positions on the display causing the elongated image to appear disjointed.
A camera system provides a monocular view of the scene, compared to the binocular stereoscopic view obtained when the scene is viewed through a rearview mirror. This makes the ability to judge distances in a camera system a problem. This effect is most noticeable at distances close to the vehicle where stereoscopic imaging is relied upon extensively by the driver in judging relative locations of objects. Therefore, known camera systems fail to provide to the driver important information where that information is most neededxe2x80x94at small separation distances from surrounding objects.
Another difficulty with camera systems is that, in order to provide a sufficient amount of information, the camera system typically presents the driver with a greatly increased field of view. This improves performance by further reducing blind spots at the side and rear of the vehicle. However, an increased field of view is often obtained by utilizing a wide-angle lens which introduces distortion of the scene and further impairs the ability of the driver to judge distances of objects displayed. The problem with such distortion of the scene is that the driver must concentrate more on the display and take a longer time to interpret and extract the necessary information. This further distracts the driver from the primary visual task of maintaining awareness of vehicles and other objects in the vicinity of the driven vehicle.
Yet an additional difficulty with camera systems is that flat panel displays present the image captured by the rearward-facing image capture device, or devices, at a focal length that approximates the arm length of the vehicle driver. In order to observe the condition of the vehicle utilizing the rearview vision system, the driver must change his or her gaze from the forward field of view of the vehicle to the display. Because the forward field of view of the vehicle is at a focal length that is much greater than the focal length of the displayed image, the eyes of the driver must refocus upon changing gaze. This refocusing further increases the amount of time for the driver to assimilate the information in the displayed image. Furthermore, when the gaze of the driver returns to the forward field of view, the eyes must, again, refocus to the greatly longer distance.
Yet an additional difficulty with camera systems is that of finding adequate space in the crowded area of the vehicle""s dashboard for the components making up the display.
The present invention is directed towards enhancing the interpretation of visual information in a rearview vision system by presenting information in a manner which does not require significant concentration of the driver or present distractions to the driver. This is accomplished according to an aspect of the invention in a rearview vision system having at least two image capture devices positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display is provided for images captured by the image capture devices. The display displays an image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location. In order to obtain all of the necessary information of activity, not only behind but also along side of the vehicle, the virtual camera should be positioned forward of the driver. The image synthesized from the multiple image capture devices may have a dead space which corresponds with the area occupied by the vehicle. This dead space is useable by the driver""s sense of perspective in judging the location of vehicles behind and along side of the equipped vehicle.
The present invention provides techniques for synthesizing images captured by individual, spatially separated, image capture devices into such ideal image, displayed on the display device. This may be accomplished, according to an aspect of the invention, by providing at least three image capture devices. At least two of the image capture devices are side image capture devices mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle. At least one of the image capture devices is a center image capture device mounted laterally between the side image capture devices. A display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices. The displayed image includes an image portion from each of the image capture devices. The image portion from the center image capture device is vertically compressed.
It has been discovered that such vertical compression substantially eliminates distortion resulting from the spatial separation between the cameras and can be readily accomplished. In an illustrated embodiment, the image compression is carried out by removing selective ones of the scan lines making up the image portion. A greater number of lines are removed further away from the vertical center of the image.
The compression of the central image portion produces a dead space in the displayed image which may be made to correspond with the area that would be occupied by the vehicle in the view from the single virtual camera. Preferably, perspective lines are included at lateral edges of the dead space which are aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle and, therefore, appear in parallel with lane markings. This provides visual clues to the driver""s sense of perspective in order to assist in judging distances of objects around the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the invention, image enhancement means are provided for enhancing the displayed image. Such means may be in the form of graphic overlays superimposed on the displayed image. Such graphic overlap may include indicia of the anticipated path of travel of the vehicle which is useful in assisting the driver in guiding the vehicle in reverse directions. Such graphic overlay may include a distance grid indicating distances behind the vehicle of objects juxtaposed with the grid.
According to yet an additional aspect of the invention, a rearview vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system is provided which displays a rear image synthesized from an output of the image capture device. The rear image is substantially contiguous with the forward field of view of the vehicle driver and at a focal length that is forward of the vehicle passenger compartment and preferably within the depth of field of a vehicle driver viewing a distant object. Because the image has a focal length that more closely matches that of the forward field of view observed by the driver, the need for the driver""s eyes to refocus from the forward field of view to a much shorter focus distance each time the gaze of the driver is directed at the display system is minimized. This reduces the amount of time required for the driver to gaze at the displayed image and interpret objects displayed in the image. Furthermore, the reduction in the repeated refocusing of the driver""s eyes reduces driver fatigue. If there are any near field objects in the periphery of the driver""s forward field of view, such as windshield wipers, windshield frame, dashboard, and the like, the display system is preferably positioned in a manner which blocks the view of such near field objects. In this manner, the driver""s gaze may shift between the forward field of view and the long focal length display system without being refocused on the near field objects. This is based upon a recognition that the driver""s eyes will tend to refocus on the near field object momentarily even though the gaze is being redirected between the forward field of view and the display system.
According to yet an additional aspect of the invention, a rearview vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system is provided for displaying a rear image captured by the image capture device. The displayed image is a unitary image having an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1. In a most preferred embodiment, the image has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3. The aspect ratio, according to this aspect of the invention, is especially useful where the unitary image is synthesized from a plurality of images which are captured by a plurality of image captured devices and are tiled by the display device.
According to yet an additional aspect of the invention, a rearview vision system for a vehicle includes a plurality of image capture devices positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system which includes at least one image generator and an optical correction system is provided which displays an image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices as a unitary image. Alternatively, the display system may include a plurality of image generators, each associated with one or more of the image capture devices and an optical correction system which amplifies images generated by the image generators and merges them into a unitary image. The optical correction system additionally increases the focal length, or lengths, of the image, or images, generated by the image generator, or generators. The display system may be an opaque projection display which is positioned approximately at the driver""s arm length in front of the driver. Alternatively, the display system may be a view-through heads-up display which projects the unitary image onto a combiner in order to combine the unitary image with the forward field of view of the driver.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will become apparent by review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

Vision system for a vehicle including an image capture device and a display system having a long focal length


An arrangement and method provide an optical thulium doped fiber amplifier utilizing a dual wavelength pumping scheme for amplifying an optical signal. The method includes the steps of: a first deposition (a) of energy into the fiber amplifier by pumping with radiation of a first wavelength; and a second deposition (b) of energy into the fiber amplifier by pumping with radiation of a second wavelength. The radiation of the first wavelength is arranged to induce, by single photon absorption, a population to the 3H4 level of the thulium dopant, and the radiation of the second wavelength primarily depopulates the 3F4 level, by excited absorption of a single photon, preferably by strong excited state absorption to the 3F2 level. The steps gives a population inversion between the 3H4 and the 3F4 levels and facilitate a power efficient high gain amplification.

The widespread and increasing use of fiber optics for communication purposes has brought considerable attention to means for increasing the communication capacity of the fibers. The use of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) signals is an effective way of increasing transmission capacity, since a plurality of separated wavelength bands, each band capable of transmitting signals, is simultaneously used in a fiber.
Optical amplifiers are used to compensate for the fiber link and splitting losses within optical communication systems. The WDM technique requires amplification in a broad wavelength spectrum, which is typically realized by letting a plurality of optical amplifiers, each operational in a part of the wavelength spectrum, operate in parallel. Various rare-earth doped optical amplifiers, in the form of amplification fibers, suitable for WDM are known in the art. The optical fiber amplifier typically consists of an optical material such as glass, combined with a rare earth dopant and configured as an optical waveguide. Rare-earth-doped silica fibers are popular today, in part because they offer the advantages of single-mode guided wave optics. Optical fiber amplifiers can be made to operate over a broad range of wavelengths, dictated by the atomic properties of the host and rare earth dopant. In their basic operation pump light from a pump source is used to excite the dopant atoms in the amplification fiber from a ground state to a metastable state. The excited atoms are, by an incident signal of a characteristic wavelength, stimulated to emit energy in form of a light of the same wavelength, the emission resulting in an amplification of the signal. The process is known as stimulated emission. After the stimulated emission the atom is in a termination state. The gain should be high, the efficiency too. The gain of the amplifier, defined as the power of the signal out divided by the power of the signal in, should be as high as possible. Also, the efficiency of the amplifier, measured as the gain achieved for a particular pump power, should be as high as possible. In addition the gain should preferably be essentially flat, i.e. not depending on the frequency of the incident light, over the frequency range in which the amplifier is intended to be used.
For amplification in the so called S-band (1450–1520 nm) much interest has been given to thulium doped fiber amplifiers (TDFA). The useful transition for the stimulated emission is between the metastable 3H4 level to the lower 3F4 termination level, giving an output signal of wavelength around 1470 nm. A well recognized problem with using TDFA as an optical amplifier is that the 3H4 level has a short lifetime compared to the 3F4 level. In practice this results in that, even if the pumping excitation to the 3H4 level is successfully achieved, the stimulated emission will be impaired due to the accumulation of population at the 3F4 level. This results in a poor gain.
Several attempts for increasing the gain of the TDFA have been reported, including up-conversion pumping with repeated pumping with the same wavelength and various dual wavelength pumping schemes as for example presented in the following: F. Roy, D. Bayart, A. Le Sauze and P. Baniel, "Noise and gain band management of thulium-doped fiber amplifier with dual-wavelength pumping schemes," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett ., 13, 788–790, (2001); T. Kasamatsu, Y. Yano and H. Sekita, "1.50-μm-band gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier with 1.05- and 1.56-μm dual-wavelength pumping," Opt. Lett ., 24, 1684–1686, (1999); T. Kasamatsu, Y. Yano and T. Ono, "Laser-diode pumping (1.4 and 1.56 μm) of gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier," Electron. Lett ., 36, 1607–1609, (2000); T. Kasamatsu, Y. Yano, and T. Ono, "Gain-shifted dual-wavelength-pumped thulium-doped fiber amplifier for WDM signals in the 1.48–1.51-μm wavelength region," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett ., 13, 31–33, 2001; F Roy, F. Leplingard, L. Lorcy, A. Le Sauze, P Baniel,. D. Bayart, "48% power conversion efficiency in single pump gain-shifted thulium-doped fibre amplifier". Electronics Letters , 37:15, 943–945, 2001; T. Kasamatsu, Y. Yano, T. Ono, "Laser-diode-pumped highly efficient gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier operating in the 1480–1510-nm band", IEEE Photonics Technology Letters , 13:5, 433–435, 2001; Tadashi Sakamoto, "S-band fiber optic amplifiers", Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, 2 TuQ1-1–TuQ1-4, 2001; B. Cole, M. L. Dennis, "S-band amplification in a thulium doped silicate fiber" Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, 2, TuQ3-1–TuQ3-3, 2001; T. Kasamatsu, Y. Yano, T. Ono, "Laser-diode-pumped highly-efficient gain-shifted thulium doped fiber amplifier operating in the 1480–1510-nm band" Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, 2, TuQ4-1–TuQ4-3, 2001; F. Roy, P. Baniel, C. Fages, J. J. Girard, A. Le Sauze, D. Bayart, "Optimal pumping schemes for gain-band management of thulium-doped fiber amplifiers", Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, 2, TuQ7-1–TuQ7-4, 2001; F. Roy, F. Leplingard, L. Lorcy, A. Le Sauze, P. Baniel, D. Bayart, "48% power conversion efficiency in a single-pump gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier", Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, PD2—1–PD2—3, 2001; F. Roy, D. Bayart, P. Baniel, and "Novel pumping schemes for thulium doped fiber amplifier" Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 2, 14–16, 2000.
In the dual wavelength pumping process, the first photon populates the lower 3F4 level whereas the second photon is responsible for populating the higher 3H4 level and at the same time depopulating the 3F4 (lower) level to allow for population inversion. The reported wavelengths have been 1050–1550 nm for the first pumping and around 1400 for the second pumping and typically a total pump power of 200–500 mW are needed to reach a 27 dB gain.
Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,853 is a dual pumping scheme suitable for TDFA. A first pumping wavelength of preferably 800 nm excite the dopant from the ground level (3H6) directly to the 3H4 level. A second pumping wavelength of 1440 nm is used to depopulate the 3F4 level and hence facilitating the stimulated emission.
The prior art represent significant improvements in the use of thulium doped fiber amplifiers. However, for widespread use in communication systems it is necessary to further increase the efficiency of the amplifiers as well as to use pump wavelengths which are achievable with low cost semiconductor lasers.

Dual-wavelength pumped thulium-doped optical fiber amplifier


Examples disclosed herein relate to quantum-dot (QD) photonics. In accordance with some of the examples disclosed herein, a QD semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) may include a silicon substrate and a QD layer above the silicon substrate. The QD layer may include an active gain region to amplify a lasing mode received from an optical signal generator. The QD layer may have a gain recovery time such that the active gain region amplifies the received lasing mode without pattern effects. A waveguide may be included in an upper silicon layer of the silicon substrate. The waveguide may include a mode converter to facilitate optical coupling of the received lasing mode between the QD layer and the waveguide.

Optical systems may be used to manipulate optical signals in various ways. For example, photodetectors may absorb an optical signal and convert it into an electrical current. As another example, optical amplifiers, such as semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), may be used to directly amplify optical signals, such as those generated by lasers.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A cutting assembly (20) is removably supported on a sheet bending brake (24) for cutting a work piece (22). The cutting assembly (20) includes a cutter body (32), and a first (42) and a second cutting disk (48), each having an outer periphery defining a primary (44) and a complimentary cutting edge (50) respectively. The first (42) and second cutting disks (48) are rotatably supported by the cutter body (32) and rotate about a first axis (46) and a second axis (52) respectively. An adjustment mechanism (60) interconnects the second cutting disk (48) and the cutter body (32) for axially adjusting the complimentary cutting edge (50) with respect to the primary cutting edge (44) without having to remove the second cutting disk (48) from the cutter body (32). The cutting assembly (20) includes a locking device (82) for preventing movement of the adjustment mechanism (60) relative to the cutter body (32).

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a cutting assembly for cutting a work piece on a sheet bending brake.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to use a sheet bending brake to position and secure a work piece to assist a worker in cutting the work piece. The sheet bending brake includes a base, a clamping member attached to the base for clamping the work piece in place, and a bending member attached to the base for bending the work piece about a bending edge. One commonly known method for cutting the work piece includes scoring the work piece with a utility knife and then bending the work piece back and forth about the bending edge along the score line until the work piece breaks. The method forms an edge on the work piece that is not accurate or smooth, and leaves a rolled edge. Additionally, the method is time consuming, and the repeated use of the utility knife eventually damages an edge of the clamping member. This reduces the useful life of the sheet bending brake.
Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,053 to Chubb (the '053 patent), discloses a hand-operated cutting assembly that is removably mounted on the sheet bending brake. The cutting assembly quickly and accurately cuts the work piece, while leaving a smooth, flat edge; and not damaging the sheet bending brake. The cutting assembly includes a cutter body and two identical cutting disks. Each cutting disk has a cooperating cutting edge spaced from the other and separated from the cutter body by a spacer disposed between the cutting disk and the cutter body. The cutter assembly is able to cut a variety of work pieces, each having a different thickness, and manufactured from a different material. However, the ability of the cutting assembly to cut the variety of work pieces of different thickness' is dependent upon the spacing between the cooperating cutting edges. In order to change the spacing between the cooperating cutting edges to accommodate the work piece having a different thickness, one of the cutting disks must be removed and the spacer separating the cutting disk from the cutter body must be replaced with a spacer having a different thickness. This is a time consuming task and requires that spacers of varying thickness be readily available.


A system is provided that transforms haptic signals. The system receives an original haptic signal, where the original haptic signal includes a first haptic effect space, and where the first haptic effect space includes one or more haptic effects that can be generated by a first haptic output device. The system further transforms the original haptic signal into a new haptic signal, where the new haptic signal includes a second haptic effect space that is different from the first haptic effect space, where the second haptic effect space includes one or more haptic effects that can be generated by a second haptic output device, and where data contained within the new haptic signal is based on data contained within the original haptic signal. The system further sends the new haptic signal to a haptic output device to generate one or more haptic effects.

Haptics is a tactile and force feedback technology that takes advantage of a user's sense of touch by applying haptic feedback effects (i.e., "haptic effects"), such as forces, vibrations, and motions, to the user. Devices, such as mobile devices, touchscreen devices, and personal computers, can be configured to generate haptic effects. In general, calls to embedded hardware capable of generating haptic effects (such as actuators) can be programmed within an operating system ("OS") of the device. These calls specify which haptic effect to play. For example, when a user interacts with the device using, for example, a button, touchscreen, lever, joystick, wheel, or some other control, the OS of the device can send a play command through control circuitry to the embedded hardware. The embedded hardware then produces the appropriate haptic effect.
A haptic effect developer can author a haptic effect for the device, and the device can be configured to output the haptic effect. Alternately, a device can receive input, such as audio input, video input, or any other type of sensor input, can convert the input into a haptic effect, and can output the haptic effect (or can convert the input into haptic content and can receive the haptic content along with other audio and/or video content, via mixing or streaming). In either scenario, different types of hardware can be capable of generating different types of haptic effects due to different hardware characteristics. For example, different types of actuators (such as eccentric rotating mass motor actuators, linear resonant actuators, and piezoelectric actuators) are capable of generating different types of haptic effects due to different electromechanical characteristics of the different actuators. In general, a haptic effect developer that wishes to author a haptic effect for a specific type of hardware is required to tailor the haptic effect for the specific hardware. If the haptic effect developer wishes to support multiple hardware types, the haptic effect developer generally has to author different haptic effects, in order to provide an optimal haptic experience for each hardware type. This can result in additional design time and effort involved with authoring haptic effects.


The present invention provides for a method of receiving a signal spread over a frequency range, and in particular a direct sequence spread spectrum signals including the step of employing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in the Doppler search. In particular, the invention relates to the receipt of spread spectrum signals such as those transmitted as part of a GPS system.

Current GPS receivers and operating methods seek to acquire the GPS signals transmitted from a constellation of satellites so as to perform pseudorange calculations in order to determine the respective distances from the receiver to each of the satellites. The acquisition of the GPS signals is achieved by means of energy detection at the output of the received, and despread, signal and this approach involves the tuning of a code signal generated locally by the receiver but taking account of possible phase and frequency offsets which are anticipated as likely by the receiver. When the phase of the despread signal and the local generated code signal are within the specified limits, the detector then produces an output which exceeds some threshold value and the receiver can then register the presence of the desired signal. This initial acquisition of the signal then triggers verification and tracking steps which attempt to continuously maintain close alignment between the two code sequences in order to track any incoming signal fluctuation. If the signal phase and frequency offsets are not within the desired limits, the output of the detector will fail to reach the threshold value and so the search for initial acquisitions will continue.
Because of the Doppler effect that can be introduced into the incoming signals due to relative motion between the receiver and the satellite, it is anticipated that the incoming GPS satellite signals can be represented within a broad range of frequencies.
A GPS receiver commonly employs a plurality of search bins the number of which is determined by the number of possible code phase offsets and the total range of possible Doppler offsets.
Current GPS implementations do not allow GPS reception in areas of significant GPS signal attenuation such as in so-called urban canyons or indoor locations. While current receivers integrate for a maximum of 1 ms it is appreciated that, the longer the integration time, the greater the sensitivity that can be achieved. With very long integration periods, it would be possible to receive GPS signals in extremely harsh signal environments such as indoors.
It is appreciated that there is a combined sensitivity/acquisition time trade-off for GPS receivers. Although sensitivity can be readily improved, this has an adverse effect on acquisition time. With current implementations involving serial searches, this proves problematic because there is a non-linear relationship between sensitivity and acquisition time. For example, it has previously been noted that processing gain is achieved by reducing the noise variance of the integrated power. This can be achieved either coherently and/or non-coherently. The gain and search time as a function of non-coherent power sums N, and the coherent pre-detection interval (PDI) in milliseconds, can be represented as:Processing gain=10 log [PDI√{square root over (N)}] dB.Search time increases=the PDI (due to increased PDI)×the PDI (due to frequency step reduction)×N (number of non-coherent sums)=N×(PDI)2.
It should be appreciated that the non-coherent case comprises the non-coherent summing of more than one chunk, where each chunk is itself summed coherently.
For a 100 ms search time therefore with coherent PDI=10 ms and 10 non-coherent sums, the processing gain is 15 dB but the search time increases by a factor of 1000.
Acquisition time then becomes problematic since if 15 dB gain is required to detect the signal, the acquisition time goes up from in the region of 1 second to over half an hour.
What would therefore be advantageous is a long integration technique so as to enable high sensitivity but which would not severely impact computation, and thus acquisition, time. It would also be valuable to have a technique that will prove effective without requiring assistance messaging.
It is known from WO-A-99/26370 to seek to reduce the said acquisition time by searching for all possible Doppler codes simultaneously by the employment of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) as part of the acquisition system. This document discloses the use of an FFT combiner which is thought advantageous in that it enables a broad range of frequencies which might contain GPS signals to be searched simultaneously thereby reducing the time required to achieve signal fix. Without employing such an FFT combiner, the range of frequencies that can be searched simultaneously is disadvantageously limited and multiple searches must then be carried out which disadvantageously exhibit time delays.
However, such known FFT combiners nevertheless exhibit disadvantages in that they experience so-called scalloping losses between each of the bins.
In further detail, the FFT combiner such as that of WO-A-99/26370 uses a FFT to estimate the correct Doppler. The FFT is a complex-valued transform and the K-point FFT of a sampled signal x(kTs) of length K is
      X              (      l      )        =            ∑              k        =        0                    K        -        1                                                  x                          (                      kT            s                    )                                  ⅇ                              -            j2                                                                        π                                kl            K
The value of I for which the magnitude of X(I) is maximum indicates the strongest frequency component in x(kTs). Most signal processing texts discuss FFTs with some detail and FFTs are amenable to numerous efficient hardware or software implementations and can be employed in the context of code correlation.
The known FFT combiner technique functions as follows. First, a "chunk size" of N samples is defined e.g. N=4800 corresponds to 1 ms chunks in a receiver set up using 4.8 MHz sampling frequency. Correlation with a satellite PN code of interest is carried out and after integration for the N samples, the result is stored. This is repeated for K consecutive sets of N samples, so that KN samples in total are processed. The FFT of the K integration results is then obtained and if the satellite signal is present, a peak is clearly visible. If this is true then the FFT bin corresponding to this peak will correspond to the Doppler shift of the signal.
The whole procedure is represented diagrammatically in FIG. 2 using a "serial" approach, i.e. the integration results are obtained sequentially. A parallel implementation is also possible for matched filter approaches, as is described in WO-A-99/26370 where the matched filter is divided into K subsections and integration results from each "partial" matched filter are subjected to the FFT.
In comparison to a standard serial search, the proposal in effect searches K Doppler bins simultaneously using the FFT Combiner and hence exhibits a relatively short time-to-first-fix. This difference is clear from FIG. 3 where it can be seen that the FFT combiner appears nearly equivalent to K separate Doppler serial searches centred, in this example, every 1 kHz.
However, it is noted that the FFT combiner incurs a sensitivity loss of up to −4 dB; a so-called scalloping loss, at various values of Doppler error when the integration time increases beyond 1 ms, as can be seen from FIG. 4.

Method and apparatus for signal receipt and acquisition


A device wirelessly receives first and second identifiers contemporaneously from a network. The first identifier indicates that the network operates in a first mode that is not secure. The second identifier indicates that the network operates in a second mode that is secure. In response to wirelessly receiving the first and second identifiers, the device wirelessly connects to the network in the first mode to determine whether the network accepts the device for the second mode, irrespective of whether the network previously accepted the device for the second mode, and irrespective of whether the device already stores authentication information for the second mode. In response to determining that the network accepts the device for the second mode, the device wirelessly connects to the network in the second mode to securely communicate with the network in response to the authentication information.

The disclosures herein relate in general to information handling systems, and in particular to a method, system and computer program product for wirelessly connecting a device to a network.
Networks can wirelessly communicate information within overlapping areas (e.g., within a building, such as a school), so that various devices (e.g., handheld computing devices) within the overlapping areas may simultaneously communicate information through the networks. In one example, the networks are respectively associated with different regions of the overlapping areas (e.g., with different regions of a school, such as different floors or classrooms of the school), so that devices located within a particular region may be: (a) accepted for wireless connection to the particular region's associated network (e.g., in response to approval by a human operator of such network); and (b) rejected for wireless connection to another region's associated network. In that example, if a device is located within the particular region, then such device wirelessly connects to the particular region's associated network instead of another region's associated network.
If a number of such devices increases within the particular region, then such wireless connection (for all such devices aggregately) becomes more time-consuming. For example, if various students (e.g., 30 students) in a particular classroom have respective devices for wireless connection to the classroom's associated network, then each device: (a) distinguishes the classroom's associated network from other classrooms' associated networks that operate within the overlapping areas; and (b) attempts wireless connection to the classroom's associated network. If such wireless connection (for all such devices aggregately) becomes more time-consuming, then it likewise becomes more disruptive of the classroom's normal activity, especially if the classroom's normal activity has a fixed duration (e.g., 60-minute class period) that is partly consumed by establishing such wireless connection (for all such devices aggregately).

Method, system and computer program product for wirelessly connecting a device to a network


A printer takes up slack in media while suppressing excessive rewinding, and can check the movement of a movable member that moves following change in tension on the media. The printer drives the supply motor in a first operating mode in a slack removal operation that rewinds the recording paper (media) onto a paper roll 2, and stops driving the supply motor when the tension lever (movable member) moves from a slack-side first position toward a second position. In the movement checking operation, the supply motor is driven in a second operating mode with greater output than the first operating mode, rewinds the recording paper on the paper roll, and sets the tension lever to the second position.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a media conveyance device that conveys continuous media delivered from a paper roll, and a drive motor for rotating the paper roll. The invention also relates to a printer having the media conveyance device, and a control method of the printer.
2. Related Art
Printers having a conveyance mechanism that conveys continuous recording paper delivered from a paper roll through a conveyance path past the printing position of a printhead, and a drive motor that rotates the paper roll, are known from the literature. To prevent the tension on the recording paper from fluctuating greatly when recording paper conveyance starts and the conveyance speed becoming unstable in such printers, an initialization step is performed to remove the slack in the recording paper before conveyance starts. In the initialization operation the printer drives the drive motor to rotate the paper roll and take up slack in the recording paper between the conveyance mechanism and the paper roll onto the paper roll.
A rewind device that rewinds recording paper onto a paper roll is described in JP-A-2006-150859. This rewind device includes a drive motor that turns the paper roll; a tension roller that is located between the conveyance mechanism of the printer and the paper roll, and moves between highest and lowest positions tracking change in the tension on the recording paper; a tension spring that urges the tension roller to the lowest position; a sensor that detects the current position of the tension roller; and a rewinding control unit that controls the drive motor based on the current position of the tension roller.
If a configuration equivalent to the mechanism of the rewind device described in JP-A-2006-150859 is included in a printer, the initialization operation that removes slack in the recording paper can be executed by controlling driving the drive motor based on the current position of a movable member (tension roller). By controlling driving the drive motor based on the current position of the movable member to rewind or deliver recording paper during conveyance of the recording paper by the conveyance mechanism, this configuration can suppress fluctuation in the tension (back tension) on the recording paper and can suppress a drop in print quality due to variation in the conveyance speed.
However, problems such as described below occur in the initialization operation when a configuration corresponding to the mechanism described in JP-A-2006-150859 is deployed in a printer.
When there is slack in the recording paper between the conveyance mechanism and the paper roll, there is no tension on the recording paper and the movable member is positioned to a first position at one end of its range of movement, and in this position there is no way to know how much slack is in the recording paper based on the current position of the movable member.
Therefore, when there is minimal slack in the recording paper when operation starts, the recording paper may be rewound excessively onto the paper roll by driving the drive motor, and excessive tension may be applied to the recording paper. As a result, the recording paper may be pulled out of the conveyance mechanism to the paper roll side, resulting in the conveyance mechanism being unable to convey the recording paper.
When the recording paper is rewound too much on the paper roll by driving the drive motor, the movable member moves abruptly to a second position, which is the opposite end of the range of movable member movement as the first position end, and collides with the stop that limits the range of movable member movement on the second position side. This produces noise, including the sound of impact.
To resolve these problems, driving the drive motor in a low output operating mode is conceivable. For example, excessively rewinding the recording paper onto the paper roll can be prevented even when the drive motor is driven when there is little slack by driving the drive motor in an operating mode with output low enough that the movable member cannot reach the second position by the urging force of the urging member.
However, when the drive motor is driven in a low output operating mode, the operation that checks movement of the movable member cannot be executed. More specifically, the initialization operation must confirm that the movable member can move between the first position and the second position to ensure that tension can be controlled normally when controlling driving the drive motor based on the current position of the movable member to suppress fluctuation in the tension on the recording paper during recording paper conveyance. However, because the movable member cannot be moved to the second position in resistance to the urging force of the urging member when the drive motor is driven in a low output operating mode, movement of the movable member cannot be confirmed.

Media conveyance device, printer, and control method of a printer


A mobile phone includes a main body consisting of front and rear side parts; a retention groove formed in the rear side part and having pivotal holes; and a prop kept within the retention groove in the rear side part. The prop has two positioning posts pivotally inserted into the pivotal holes in the rear side part. The prop is turnable relative to the rear side part between a normal position where the prop is pressed into the retention groove, and an extended position where the prop is spaced apart from the rear side part to form an angle. Movement of the prop between the normal position and the extended position results in engagement between the positioning posts and the pivotal holes so as to permit leaning of the main body on the prop.

In order to promote and achieve the fame in the brand of an electronic communication instrument, the manufacturers have invented a plurality of auxiliary devices to facilitate the application of a mobile communication device since that it is prevalent and is widely used among the people. The auxiliary devices include the multi-media, the wireless network and electronic games that are all equipped to the mobile communication device to satisfy the user. In addition to the auxiliary devices, the external appearance of the mobile communication device also plays an important part in order to attract the attention of the users.
Since the trend of the market is to produce the mobile communication device in compact size, there arises some drawbacks when the mobile communication device is placed on a table. For example, it is difficult to locate the presence of the mobile communication at an eye glance due to its compact size.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional mobile communication device (hence will be called a mobile phone). The conventional mobile phone includes a main body 10 consisting of a front side part 101 and a rear side part 102 opposite to the front side part 101. The front side part 101 has a display 103 and a keypad 104. When the conventional mobile phone is disposed on a table, the display 103 provides a relatively small viewing angle, such as 135. In case, the user is out of range of the viewing angle, the user is unable to see the display 103 clearly. Thus, the user is disposed in a state, where he or she is unable to identify clearly the calling number or the time. To overcome the aforesaid drawback, the user must adjust manually the location of the conventional mobile phone.
A phone rest is generally employed in order to keep the conventional mobile phone thereon. However, it is inconvenient to carry the phone rest along with the user. Purchase of the phone rest can result in extra expense for the user of the mobile phone.
For a mobile phone with a camera, a camera stand is offered together with the mobile phone during the purchase so as to attract the attention of the consumers. It is noted that the structure of the camera stand is similar to that of the conventional camera stand and must be carried separately with respect to the mobile phone, thereby causing inconvenience to the consumer.
It is therefore important for the phone manufactures to find a way to eliminate the aforesaid problem encountered during use of the conventional mobile phone.

Mobile communication device capable of leaning


Disclosed is a fuel activation apparatus using a magnetic body, capable of ionizing fuels so as to obtain high combustion efficiency for a liquid or gas fuel. In the fuel activation apparatus, a fuel activation member of a magnetic material to make the fuels rotatably flow is inserted into the inner side of a fuel activation duct through which the fuels flow. A magnetic body is disposed on the external side of the fuel activation duct. A magnetic induction layer encloses the magnetic body and the fuel activation duct. Further, a magnetic shield layer is disposed in the external side of the magnetic induction layer. Thus, the ionization of the fuels which flow through the fuel activation duct is maximized, thereby heightening the combustion efficiency of the fuels.

The present invention relates to a fuel activation apparatus using a magnetic body, and particularly to a fuel activation apparatus using a magnetic body, capable of maximizing ionization of fuel particles to obtain better fuel combustion efficiency, in which fuels rotate and flow in a fast speed under the influence of a magnetic force, to thereby split the fuel particles more minutely and repetitively.
Generally, a liquid or gas fuel used for an internal combustion engine is composed of a set of molecules. Each molecule includes a number of atoms, each of which is composed of a nucleus and electrons orbiting around their nucleus. The molecules have magnetic moments in themselves, and the rotating electrons cause magnetic phenomena.
Thus, positive (+) and negative (-) electric charges exist in the fuel's molecules. For this reason, the fuel particles of the negative and positive electric charges are not split into more minute particles. Accordingly, the fuels are not actively interlocked with oxygen during combustion, thereby causing incomplete combustion. To improve the above, the fuels have been required to be decomposed and ionized. Since all the liquid and gas fuels are very similar to conductive bodies, if a magnetic force is applied thereto from an external source, the ionization of the fuel particles is accomplished. Generally, the electrons orbiting around a circular orbit in a constant velocity generate magnetic moments. These moments generate magnetization forces by an amount proportional to movement velocity and orbit areas.
Thus, to maximize the ionization or magnetization, the movement of the electrons should become fast and the areas of the orbit should be widened. If a magnetic force is applied for a long time at an atmosphere of repeating operations of splitting and mixing the fuel particles for several times, Ion decomposition of the fuels is maximized according to a large amount of magnetization force.
Using the above phenomenon, a variety of the fuel ionization apparatus have been developed up to now. As one of them, an invention entitled "magnetic fuel ion modifier" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,901. However, in that patent, three magnets are opposedly disclosed in which the same polarities face one another around a fuel duct. For this reason, the magnetic forces induced from the magnets are cancelled by repulsive forces due to the same polarities. Accordingly, the intensity of the magnetic forces which influences the fuel particles in the fuel duct is very small. Thus, an extremely small amount of the fuels is ionized, thereby expecting no better combustion efficiency.
Further, since the respective polarities of the several magnetic bodies should be correctly disposed, the fabrication is difficult and the cost of the product is high.

Fuel activation apparatus using magnetic body


A catheter tray package includes a tray portion including a floor, an access end, a storage end opposite the access end, and an elongate locking formation secured to the floor and being substantially parallel in relation to a longitudinal axis of the floor. The present package also includes an insert portion configured for sliding engagement with the tray portion and including a planar sheet portion having a catheter access end, a catheter storage end opposite the access end and an elongate keyway formation disposed on the sheet portion for engaging the locking formation to limit the sliding action of the insert portion relative to the tray portion in a first direction, while permitting the insert to be released from engagement with the locking formation in a second direction.

The present invention relates generally to packages for medical catheters, and specifically to such a package having a tray portion and an insert portion, wherein the insert portion is releasably lockable in relation to the tray portion.
Conventional medical procedures include an extensive use of flexible catheters for diagnosis as well as various types of treatment. Typical catheters include tip portions having curved configurations designed for passage into and through body passageways such as blood vessels, heart passageways, intestinal lumens and in other regions, in many cases employing ultrasonic or fluoroscopic guidance. Opposite the tip portion is a hub or luer fitting for connection to other catheter manipulation and control devices. Surgeons and other medical personnel have come to rely upon catheter tip portions having specially designed shapes, and it is critical that during packaging and shipment, these shapes be maintained in their initially manufactured and sterilized form.
Another design criterion for catheter packages is that catheter tips are particularly prone to disfigurement during the removal of the catheter from the package. Accordingly, catheter package design efforts have been focused on preventing damage to the catheter tip, either during insertion into, storage within, or removal from the package.
A widely used form of catheter package includes an elongate catheter tray which supports the entire length of the catheter in an immobilized condition, and includes an insert which is slidable relative to the tray. The insert has a recess formed to enclose and protect the curved catheter tip.
The combined tray, insert and catheter combination is placed in a sealed flexible pouch to maintain sterile conditions. To remove the catheter from the package, the pouch is opened and the rear or access end of the catheter is pulled relative to the tray, which causes the insert and the catheter tip to move toward the access end of the tray. At a certain point, the insert separates from the tray, allowing the removal of the catheter tip. Often, such tray packages include ramps or other integral formations for facilitating the separation of the insert from the tray portion upon opening of the package.
A disadvantage of conventional catheter trays is that the tray portion, which is often produced by thermoforming sheets of polymeric material, is provided with side edge rails having undercuts defining a track in which the insert slides. These tracks are used both to retain the insert in position during shipment to avoid damaging the catheter tip, and also provide a guide for the withdrawal of the insert when the package is opened. However, it has been found that this type of undercut side edge configuration is difficult to accurately and efficiently die cut.
Another concern of users of conventional catheter tray packages is that the insert be immobilized on the tray during shipment, and until the package is opened. Tray packages employing undercut side edges also must be provided with some sort of locking or friction fit formation to secure the insert in position. These additional locking formations, whether found on the tray or on the insert, create problems in tool design and package formation techniques.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter tray package having an insert tray retaining and guide configuration which is effective in releasably locking the insert in position relative to the tray portion without the use of undercut formations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a catheter tray package with an insert locking configuration which easily releases upon the pulling of the luer end of the catheter by medical personnel when the package is opened.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a catheter tray package in which the locking formation also is configured to facilitate the separation of the insert portion from the tray portion upon the opening of the package.

Catheter tray package with lockable insert


A dynamic infant head support for preventing, or correcting, the abnormal shape of a head of an infant, and a method of using the support for treating deformational plagiocephaly. The support is an oval-shaped pillow, with a central opening to receive the head of the infant to be treated. Spaced barriers divide the interior of the pillow into a plurality of compartments. A ring-like manifold passes through the interior of the pillow and communicates with each compartment. A plurality of valves is operatively associated with the manifold; one valve is located in each compartment. The valves allow fluid, such as pressurized air, in the manifold, to inflate individual compartments. The manifold is pressurized by a pump, at a remote location; a heater warms the pressurized air. A remote controller is connected to the valves by electrical leads. The controller governs the sequence of operation of the valves, and regulates the duration of time that each valve is open. The controller may be programmed, to inflate or expand the compartments in the pillow, to gently lift, and mildly turn, the head of the infant positioned thereon, thus combating the abnormal shape or deformation.

The cranium, or skull, of a human infant is made up of several bone plates bridged by compliant membranous separations, known as sutures. These sutures solidify to herald the completion of rapid brain growth at eighteen to twenty-four months of age. Normally, the infant skull is symmetrical in shape. However, the shape of the head may be influenced by in utero constraint, external pressures during the birth process, as well as modeling and gravitation forces on the rapidly developing skull of an infant after birth. A condition known as occipital positional plagiocephaly, or deformational plagiocephaly, results in an asymmetrical head. This abnormal skull is most often a classic parallelogram or rhomboid shape, with bulging of the forehead and forward displacement of one ear as well as facial asymmetry, when observed from a top down or plan view.
Approximately one out of every three hundred healthy birth infants have a noticeable flattening of the head, asymmetry of the skull base and face, or both. Risk factors for plagiocephaly include prematurity, multiple births (twins, triplets), congenital anomalies, neurological injury, delayed muscle and motor development, tumors, and cervical defects.
Positional plagiocephaly has had an increased incidence since 1992 when the American Academy of Pediatrics initiated the "Back to Sleep" campaign, encouraging the placement of infants on their backs instead of their stomachs for sleeping purposes. The campaign reduced the occurrence of sudden infant death (SIDS), but led to a notable escalation in the number of plagiocephalic children. Another factor that may have contributed to the greater incidence of deformational plagiocephaly is increased usage of car seats, infant carriers, baby swings, "bouncy seats," strollers, cribs and stationary toy gyms. Yet other factors may include feedings and social interactions that are routinely offered from the same side of the infant, as well as a preferred position when carrying the child.
Dysfunction of the neck musculature is almost universally associated with plagiocephaly. Neck abnormality, such as torticollis, is one important cause of plagiocephaly; likewise, existing skull deformity predisposes to torticollis and other forms of neck imbalance. Long term problems associated with plagiocephaly include subtle cerebral dysfunction (language disorders, learning disability, attention deficits and disorders of processing sensory stimulation), various functional disabilities caused by facial and jaw asymmetry, and psychosocial issues such as depression and tainted self-image.
Early assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of plagiocephaly have been prerequisites for successful treatment to date. The value of education of caregivers, hospital personnel, and parents about the importance of alternating infant sleeping and feeding orientations should not be overlooked. Additionally, supervised "tummy time" for infants continues to be encouraged. Since 80% of postnatal brain growth, which can direct head shape, occurs early in life, plagiocephalic patients under the age of 18 months are also often given active and passive neck stretching exercises, to perform regularly, as the first line of treatment.
Helmet therapy, or use of external cranial remodeling orthotic devices, has been used alone and as an adjunct treatment option for plagiocephaly. These orthotic devices are predicated upon the theory that pressure from a rapidly growing brain against a concave surface will round flattened or deformed areas caused by earlier pressure against a flat surface. The optimum response for orthotic helmets, bands and caps is said to occur at ages of 4-12 months, which represents the period of greatest malleability of the skull bone, with the normalizing effect of rapid brain growth. Nonetheless, 25% of infants 3-6 months of age, 70% of infants 6-18 months of age, and 100% of older children undergo surgical correction for progression of the condition.
An orthotic helmet for treating deformational cranial asymmetry is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,324, granted to S. K. Clarren, on Oct. 11, 1988. The dimensions of the therapeutic helmet cavity are prescribed in relation to specific CT scan sections of the plagiocephalic infant's cranium, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the Clarren patent. A graded series of sized helmets is provided for such treatments. Each helmet cavity is configured to accommodate and treat infants of specified ages and degrees of plagiocephaly.
Orthotic bands, or caps, for remodeling the cranium are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,503, granted Sep. 14, 1999 to Jeanne K. Pomatto, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,019, granted Jul. 23, 2002, to Francis Papay et al. Each band provides at least one recess into which the skull may be remodeled as it grows. The orthotic band of Papay et al further includes at least one expandable bladder, on the inner wall of the band.
Other orthotic devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,229, granted Mar. 10, 1992, to Jeanne K. Pomatto et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,494, granted Aug. 6, 2002, to Stannon F. Schwenn et al.
Despite some advances in cranial remodeling, these prior art appliances are costly, uncomfortable and unsightly to wear and difficult to retain in position. Moreover, these devices require both complex measures to accommodate each individual patient as well as the intervention of skilled doctors, educators, and trained medical personnel.
The key to successful management of deformational plagiocephaly is prevention of its occurrence altogether. A number of devices have been used with the goal of preventing early skull deformation including contour pillows, foam pads with cut-outs of varying sizes, and static infant positioning devices. However, none of these devices present dynamic options that also alter orientation of the infant's head to reduce "side preference," favored head orientation by the infant which fosters progressive neck imbalance and skull deformity. Furthermore, all of the known devices and techniques also necessitate the costly involvement of knowledgeable, skilled care providers and educators to achieve satisfactory results.
The requirement for a simple, yet effective, dynamic head support that prevents deformational plagiocephaly, while obviating the need for skilled care providers and frequent intervention, remains unfulfilled.


This invention relates to a gem-dinitro ester energetic material represented by Chemical Formula 1 below, which is synthesized using esterification, and to a preparation method thereof:

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a gem-dinitro ester energetic material, which is synthesized using esterification, and to a preparation method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plastic bonded explosive (PBX) has been developed to improve both performance and insensitivity of explosives, and typically includes a molecular explosive in crystalline form, such as RDX (Research Department Explosive), which typically exhibits explosive performance, and a binder system. The binder system is used in an amount of about 2˜20 wt % based on the total weight of PBX, and functions to impart dimensional stability and insensitivity to the molecular explosive in crystalline form. However, it does not contain a nitro group for exhibiting explosive performance as in the molecular explosive, thus deteriorating the total performance of the explosive.
The binder system is composed of a polymer and a plasticizer. As such, the amount of the plasticizer is as large as about three times the amount of the polymer, and thus the properties of the plasticizer are regarded as very important.
In order to maximize performance of PBX, thorough research into introduction of a nitro group to a plasticizer is ongoing, and a plasticizer having a nitro group is referred to as an energetic binder. The energetic binder has been extensively and intensively studied, but a typical example of the plasticizer, which is actually applied to explosives, includes a formal or acetal plasticizer, such as bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)formal (represented by Chemical Formula A below) or bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)acetal (represented by Chemical Formula B below).

Preparation of PBX requires a mixing process. The mixing process is typically performed at 60° C. to decrease the viscosity of a polymer. The molecular explosive such as RDX used for PBX is shape-controlled in a polygonal form through recrystallization to maintain insensitivity to external impact. However, when the mixture comprising the shape-controlled molecular explosive and the energetic plasticizer mixed at 60° C. is cooled to room temperature, the shape-controlled molecular explosive is dissolved in the plasticizer and then produced again in the form of crystals. In this procedure, the molecular explosive is changed to an undesired crystal shape, such as a needle shape, etc., instead of a polygonal shape. Like this, in the case where the molecular explosive having a changed shape is contained in PBX, sensitivity of PBX increases.
The sensitivity of PBX by the plasticizer as above is based on the chemical structure of the plasticizer. Specifically, a structural difference between DOA and the energetic plasticizer depends on whether a nitro group which is an energy group is contained. When a nitro group is introduced to the plasticizer, a solid filler such as a molecular explosive is dissolved in the mixing process at 60° C. due to strong polarity of the nitro group. When the temperature is lowered, the molecular explosive is deposited again as a solid. In the deposition procedure, because the shape of the molecular explosive is changed to a sensitive shape, the molecular explosive having a changed shape makes PBX sensitive.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gem-dinitro ester energetic material using esterification and preparation method thereof

Abstract: wherein R is a C5˜C15 substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl group.


In some embodiments, a method to process video data may include receiving an upload file; using the publication identifier, identifying a bumper video segment and retrieving the bumper video segment from a storage device; concatenating a video payload with the bumper video segment to create a concatenated video; using the publication identifier, identifying at least one third-party video service to which to publish the concatenated video; and/or transmitting the concatenated video, together with publication credentials, to the third-party video service.

User Generated Content (UGC) is becoming an increasingly valuable form of content that entities and brands are using to engage their users. The management of such UGC by an entity or brand owner can present a number of technical challenges (e.g., relating to the processing and moderation of such content). One form of UGC is user-captured video content (e.g. captured on the mobile device of the user). Current solutions to process such a video content, both by the user and partners in distribution of the content, are time-consuming and somewhat impractical. The automation of these processes also presents technical challenges that are not fully addressed by current solutions.
One specific example of such technical challenges relates to video and audio production. A "bumper" is a video or audio segment may be used to introduce or terminate main content. In current video production solutions, the generation of these bumper video segments, and the generation of a final video that includes these bumper video segments is a very manual process that is time-consuming
In today's fast-paced world that demands the near-real-time video production and publication, the insertion of bumper videos into a final production video can be a especially challenging, particularly for users with limited a video production facilities and experience. Additionally, video content producers are often "out in the field", and may not have access to video production capabilities. Consider the situation in which a video blogger wishes to create video content on the fly, while engaged in an activity (e.g., extreme sports). Currently, such a video blogger would need to capture video content, return to their video production computer, and perform final production there. In addition to introducing unacceptable delay in the publication of video, the time demands on the video blogger may be excessive.


A waterproof advertising display device includes a captive calculator and is particularly adapted for use on a shopping cart of the telescopingly nestable type. Broadly speaking, the display device includes a display plate for mounting on the front wall of a shopping cart upper rear receptacle and for receiving advertising copy and a transparent cover plate attached with keyed quick release fastener and forward release hinge over the advertising copy to the display plate. A tongue and groove seal between the plates keeps water from the advertising copy. A calculator assembly is attached to the upper right of the cover plate and includes a slanted blind channel shelf for holding a captive calculator at a preferred angle for use by a shopper. A plug/bumper attached after insertion of the calculator prevents calculator removal and protects the calculator from impact upon nesting of shopping carts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a waterproof advertising display device including a captive calculator. The display device is particularly adapted for use on a shopping cart of the telescopingly nestable type wherein the device is attached to the cart rear receptacle and the calculator is slanted relative to the remainder of the display.
2. Background of the Invention
Typically, in modern self-help shopping the customer pushes a wheeled push cart about the store. Items to be purchased are placed in the cart and taken to a check out stand. Basically a customer is left to his own devices to find items, to compare price, and to know if he has sufficient funds to cover the total. The customer takes the cart outside and after placing purchased items in his car, he leaves the cart in a parking lot storage area where it is subjected to the weather.
Typically, also, many modern shopping carts are of the type that can be telescopingly nested, that is they can be partially wheeled one inside the other. In this manner they can be stored in a smaller area and can be moved in mass from outside holding areas to inside the store for customer pickup.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a display device on the shopping cart displaying shopping information, such as a store index or special sale items or other advertising, as an aid to the customer. It is further desirable that the display is protected from the elements, particularly rain and water, and yet be easily changeable to reflect changes in item location and price. It is also desirable to incorporate a calculator into such display device and to protect the calculator from theft.
It is further desirable that such a waterproof and easily changeable display device incorporating a calculator be adapted for use on a telescopingly nestable shopping cart.

Shopping cart advertising display device


According to an embodiment, a wireless communication unit includes a media access control (MAC) unit. The MAC unit includes a clock unit, an acquisition unit and a calculation unit. The clock unit includes a register which stores periodically counted-up first time information. The acquisition unit acquires a statistic for reception quality information on the received packet. The calculation unit normalizes the second time information, weights the normalized second time information using a time weight based on the statistic, and calculates a time correction value for correcting the first time information, using the weighted and normalized second time information. The time weight increases with increasing link stability indicated by the statistic.

In a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), an AP (Access Point) transmits a beacon packet containing time information (hereinafter referred to as a time stamp) from a clock inside the AP. Then, an STA (STAtion) connected to the AP (that is, the STA having the same SSID (Service Set ID) as the SSID of the AP) receives the beacon packet and matches the time information from the clock inside the STA with the time stamp contained in the received beacon packet. As a result, time synchronization is achieved among a plurality of STAs connected to the same AP.
However, according to such a synchronization technique, if a failure occurs in the AP or if the beacon packet from the AP fails to be received due to, for example, a variation in wireless propagation path, maintaining the time synchronization among the plurality of STAs connected to the AP is difficult.
It is assumed that the plurality of STAs use a certain technique to switch their connections to another AP. However, different APs measure different absolute times, and hence, the time stamp utilized for time synchronization before the switching may differ significantly from a time stamp utilized for time synchronization after the switching.
A plurality of APs that transmit beacon packets may be arranged around the plurality of STAs. However, it is not always appropriate to utilize the average value of the time stamps contained in the beacon packets from the plurality of APs, as a target time for time synchronization. This is due to the following two problems.
First, as described above, different APs generally measure different absolute times, and thus, the absolute value of the time stamp may vary among the plurality of APs. That is, the degree of the effect of the time stamp from each AP on the target time is not uniform. Second, links among the plurality of APs and the plurality of STAs are not necessarily stable. It may be difficult for a certain STA to stably receive beacon packets from a certain AP.

Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication system


A card connector adapted for receiving a card, comprises an insulating housing defining a card insertion/ejection direction; a plurality of contacts received in the insulating housing, an ejector and a holding member; The ejector comprises a positioning device, a resilient member and an ejecting member cooperating with the positioning device to eject the card directly. The holding member engages with the ejecting member to hold the card into the card connector after the card is inserted to electrically connect with the contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a card connector, and more particularly, to a card connector which can hold a card therein securely.
2. Description of Related Art
With the development of electronic appliances, an express card connector has been widely used to achieve data transmission between an express card and a corresponding electronic appliance. In order to assure transmission stability of data, the express card must be secured in the corresponding express card connector when the express card is in a working state.
However, at present, express card connectors, such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,222 and US Application Pub. No. 20060040561 disclosed, have no additional element to hold corresponding express cards therein securely. In this situation, when the express card is in working state, it can be easily drawn out of the express card connector by mistake so that data transmission is interrupted and the express card can be easily destroyed.
Hence, an improved card connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.


A reversible door (10), having a defined top, includes two notches (11, 12) on opposite sides of the door. A template is provided to fit into one of the notches (11 or 12) and installer drilled holes are formed through the door proximate one of the notches (11 or 12). Then, a mortised handle assembly (15) is positioned through the holes formed in the notch. A hinge assembly is secured to the opposite side of the door from the handle assembly. A snap cover (14) is positioned in the notch that does not have the handle assembly (15). Therefore, the door (10) is reversible without having to be flipped end for end and provides for a reversible door having mortised hardware.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a reversible door, and more particularly to a reversible door that can use mortise hardware.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Doors that are reversible, that is may be hinged on either side, are well known in the art. However, when using such reversible doors in which the design of the door necessitates the door be installed in a particular orientation, it has not been possible to use mortise hardware where the door is reversed by flipping the door end to end. The use of mortise hardware provides for a more aesthetically pleasing door as well as the appearance of a higher quality door. To date, this has not been possible as an effective way of doing so has not been devised.
The present invention addresses the problems associated with prior art devices and provides for the use of mortise hardware with a reversible door that cannot be flipped end to end for reversibility.

Larson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, Inc.


An apparatus and a method are provided for killing insects on vegetation using an insecticide, where the insecticide does not contact the vegetation. In one embodiment, an absorbent material is placed on an upper surface of a disc mower. The absorbent material is soaked with insecticide, and as a tractor moves the mower through a field of hay, insects land on the insecticide-laden material and die from the toxic effect of the insecticide. In another embodiment, an L-shaped blade outfitted with an insecticide-laden mat is mounted transverse to the front of an all-terrain vehicle or a tractor, which is driven through a field. The blade, or alternatively a feeder bar attached to the blade, brushes the tips of vegetation in the field, causing bugs and insects to fly, fall or jump from the vegetation onto the insecticide-laden mat, where the insecticide kills some, most or all of the bugs and insects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to killing insects, particularly to a method and apparatus for exposing insects to an insecticide.
2. Description of the Related Art
Insects damage crops and vegetation. Grasshoppers and other insects continue to cause damage to numerous agricultural, residential and recreational properties. For example, farmers plant seeds and grow hay for food for cows, and insects, such as grasshoppers, eat the hay before it is harvested. Insecticides have been spayed or otherwise applied to crops and vegetation, but this is not always desirable due to cost or other considerations, such as environmental concerns.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,148,150 and 5,768,822, issued to Harrell and incorporated by reference, describe tractor-mounted apparatus for collecting and destroying insects from multiple rows of plants as a tractor passes along the rows. The apparatus has metal pans that collect insects and gas-fired burners for heating the pans and incinerating the insects.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,690, issued to Podgurney et al. and incorporated by reference, describes a bug zapper that is pulled behind a tractor for catching and electrocuting bugs. First and second grids, which are spaced apart by a small gap, extend laterally in relation to a direction of travel. Insects are caught on the grids and pass through the gap and are electrocuted as they bridge the gap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,701, issued to Sherman and incorporated by reference, describes a tamper resistant flying insect control device, which attracts flying insects, such as houseflies, into an enclosed area that has been coated with a toxin capable of killing insects. Sherman states that a housefly produces a pheromone that attracts other houseflies and that the pheromone continues to be active after the housefly dies, thus attracting more houseflies into the device.

Method and apparatus for killing insects


A display device includes: a display panel including an organic electroluminescent element; and a color filter on the display panel and including a plurality of color filter portions spaced from each other on a plane, wherein at least one color filter portion of the color filter portions comprises a scattering agent having an average diameter of 50 nanometers (nm) or more and 500 nm or less.

Aspects of some example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device, and for example, to a display device including a color filter member for preventing or reducing reflection of external light.
Various display devices used for multimedia devices such as televisions, mobile phones, tablet computers, navigations, and game consoles are being developed. When external light is provided into the display device when using such a display device, the external light may be reflected by various components in the display panel, such as electrodes, and the display quality of the display device may be lowered.
Accordingly, some example embodiments may enable improved display quality of a display device by reducing the reflectivity of light provided from the outside.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute prior art.

Display device having color filter with scattering agent


In a control device for a hybrid vehicle, the charge/discharge setting unit sets a charge/discharge demand for an electricity storage device during a limp home mode, and the operation control unit controls an engine and a motor generator such that the electricity storage device receives/outputs a power in accordance with the charge/discharge demand set by the charge/discharge setting unit. In the case where a charge/discharge amount X input/output to/from the electricity storage device when the engine is operated to generate a required driving force is smaller than a charge/discharge amount Y based on the charged state of the electricity storage device, the charge/discharge setting unit sets, as the charge/discharge demand, the smaller one of the charge/discharge amount Y and a charge/discharge amount Z based on the upper-limit rotation speed of the engine set in accordance with a torque transmitted by a drive shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control device for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle provided with the same, and a control method for the hybrid vehicle, and particularly to a control device for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a drive motor, the hybrid vehicle provided with the same, and a control method for the hybrid vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-328804 (JP 2003-328804 A) discloses a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a drive motor, a generator motor, and a power split device. In the hybrid vehicle, an output from the internal combustion engine is divided by the power split device into a power for generating electricity and a power for driving. The generator motor generates electricity using the power for generating electricity resulting from the division by the power split device (see JP 2003-328804 A).
In such a hybrid vehicle as described above, even when the drive motor fails, limp-home driving can be performed by driving the internal combustion engine. At this time, when an amount of electricity stored in an electricity storage device that stores the electric power for driving decreases, the amount of electricity generated by the generator motor is increased to charge the electricity storage device. Since an output power from the internal combustion engine is increased to increase the amount of electricity generated by the generator motor, the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine increases. In such a case, when the driving force required for the hybrid vehicle decreases, if the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine increases to charge the electricity storage device, drivability deteriorates.

Control device for hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle provided with same, and control method for hybrid vehicle


The subject invention relates to method for briquetting fines and ultrafines comprising mixing the fines and ultrafines on a continuous basis with a binder system having low viscosity of up to about 200 cps and at least 50% solids, such that the resulting briquette contains less than about 3% binder by weight of the briquette.. The invention further relates to a process for producing briquettes from fines and/or pretreated ultrafines comprising discharging the fines and/or pretreated ultrafines into a high speed mixer; discharging the components of a binder system into the high speed mixer through fog nozzles simultaneously with the discharge of the fines and/or pretreated ultrafines; agitating the binder and the material to produce a homogeneous binder-fines-ultrafines mixture; discharging the homogeneous binder-fines-ultrafines mixture into a delay box for a period of time such that the mixture is at the point of incipient cure; discharging the mixture at the point of incipient cure into a briquetting press and forming briquettes therefrom; discharging the briquettes onto a heated conveyor for a period of not longer than 4 minutes to cure the briquettes, and collecting the cured briquettes.

The subject invention is directed to a process for producing briquettes from the fines produced by metallurgical processes wherein less than 3% by weight of the briquette formed, is the binder material. Also disclosed is a process description comprising proper sequencing and juxtapositioning of various apparatus for producing such briquettes.
Solids handling is a major part of a variety of processes, especially metallurgical processes. Size degradation inevitably occurs during handling, resulting in the creation of "fines" (a generic term generally used for particles that are smaller than 1/4"). Fines are produced in a variety of other ways as well. Due to the small particle size which vitiates recoveries, and associated problems with handling, fines in the unagglomerated state cannot be remuneratively used. Many metallurgical processes today are generating ultrafine baghouse dusts that are listed as hazardous wastes by EPA, and must be disposed of at considerable cost. These costs are going to be higher as the number of disposal sites shrinks and regulations become even more demanding. Consequently, there is great interest in the industry to somehow avert these disposal costs and perhaps reduce the waste streams through recycling. The baghouse dusts, because of their ultrafine size, are not amenable to briquetting by the standard methods available to date. This invention will relate a way of briquetting these fines, among other things.
Agglomeration of fines to make them more usable has been a common practice for more than 100 years. One method of agglomeration is to use binders. The most commonly used binders include sodium silicate, a lime and molasses combination, Portland cement and water, and steric acid, among others. These binders typically make up about 10% by weight of the final product; and agglomeration is generally a batch process.
Briefly, binder components and the fines are delivered into typical mixing equipment and the mixture is stirred together for a certain length of time to produce a homogeneous mix. No particular attention is paid to the particle size of the binder components as they are delivered into the fines. However, it is known that the surface area of the binder should ideally be greater than or equal to the surface area of the fines. Thus, any binding process involves a basic surface area balance. Since the binder is a relatively minor part of the agglomerate by weight, it becomes clear that to create the same surface area out of the binder as that of a much larger amount by weight, of particulates, is quite a challenge. The typical way of delivering the binder to the mix necessarily requires that a considerable amount of binder be used.
But one cannot keep adding the binder indefinitely. After all, there is a common sense upper limit on the binder percentage for the mixture to be economically viable. The process, due to the batch nature, is forced to stop at a certain binder percentage which in most cases is not really enough to produce a high quality agglomerate. Consequently, typical binder systems produce an agglomerate with poor green strength ( i.e. the strength necessary to hold the agglomerate in a given form or shape after partial curing) which is insufficient for maintaining that form or shape during handling and transportation of the resulting briquettes. Typically, such agglomerates are post cured with heat, followed by a curing time of about 24 hours before the agglomerates can be handled or transported. Thus, storage must be made available to accommodate the agglomerates during this long cure period. When such agglomerates are eventually used in the process, high binder content results in excessive energy costs to break the binder down and the inorganic binder residue becomes an impurity.
Some three-part organic binder systems, including one that claims to use a relatively low binder percentage compared to the standard inorganic binder, have recently been offered. However, these systems use lead based catalysts leading to high lead content and also a high level of free formaldehyde, both of which are considered to be hazardous to health. These systems are known to contain a solvent package that poses potential health and environmental hazards as well. Further, these systems comprise a high viscosity resin (over 250 cps) impeding the resin's ability to produce small enough particles that are necessary to achieve the required surface area balance. For these reasons, these binder systems would be unattractive to the Industry.
The following invention relates to bonding fine particles and agglomerating these particles on a continuous basis by using an uncommonly low quantity of binder, i.e. less than about 3%. The binder is organic in nature and can burn off completely, leaving no residue. The low quantity of binder substantially maintains the original chemistries, i.e. the percentage breakdown of most or all of the components or elements in the original fines is almost unchanged. Also, the low quantity of binder saves handling and transportation costs, and saves on energy costs as the agglomerated material is economical in various energy consuming processes.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means by which metallurgical fines can be agglomerated with lesser amounts of binder while at the same time producing an agglomerate with sufficient strength to undergo handling, transportation, and use without untimely degradation of the material.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a binder system, devoid of carcinogens or other potentially hazardous components, for the agglomeration of fines.
In addition, this invention will present a way of agglomerating ultrafine dusts such as electric arc furnace dust or basic oxygen furnace baghouse dust, among others.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a continuous agglomeration process which avoids the need for lengthy cure times and thus for holding or storage accommodation.

Continuous method for formation of briquettes contains less than 1% binder by weight of the briquette


A magnet rotor includes a drive arm with a rotary shaft and a hollow cylindrical-shaped permanent magnet bonded by a light curable resin. The drive arm is composed of a light transmitting resin, and the permanent magnet is an anisotropic magnet with an axis of easy magnetization. During fabrication, the light curable resin is applied to the rotary shaft, and a hollow portion of the magnet is fitted to the rotary shaft. While holding the magnet in a position where a direction of the axis of easy magnetization corresponds to a magnetic field direction, the drive arm is irradiated with light to cure the resin and bond the drive arm and the permanent magnet.

The invention relates to a manufacturing method of a magnet rotor used for a light quantity adjustment device and as a drive source of an electromagnetic drive device used for the light quantity adjustment device. The device typically adjusts photographic light quantity or projecting light quantity by open/closed driving blade members such as a shutter blade, diaphragm blade and the like in optical equipment such as imaging devices like a still camera, video camera and so on, or projecting devices like a rear projection television, a front projector and so on.
Generally, this kind of light quantity adjustment device adjusts light quantity passing through an optical path by arranging a blade member in the optical path and by opening/closing the blade member by an electromagnetic drive device. The electromagnetic drive device includes a magnet rotor in which a rotary shaft is provided at the center of a permanent magnet and a stator in which an excitation coil is wound around a periphery of a coil frame. The magnet rotor is rotated to a predetermined angle by turning on electricity to the excitation coil, to open/close the blade member.
As the magnet rotor used for the above-described electromagnetic drive device, one in which a rotary shaft of a drive arm is pressed into a central through hole of a permanent magnet to be united with each other as disclosed in JP-A-8-19239, one in which a rotary shaft is bonded to a permanent magnet by an adhesive to be united with each other as disclosed in JP-A-9-56092, and further one in which molding material such as resin is inserted into a magnet having a hollow cylindrical shape to be united with each other as disclosed in JP-A-6-258683 and the like are known.
These methods for uniting the magnet rotor are used respectively according to the compatibility to certain devices, and the present application relates to an adhesion method among these methods.
In the past, in the adhesion method, two-component epoxy resin has been used in general for an adhesive thereof. The reason why the two-component epoxy resin has been used is that, first, it is easy to deal with because the curing starts by mixing the adhesive with a curing agent when using the adhesive. Secondly, the adhesive has a long curing time and is not cured during a positioning time which is required for positioning a direction of the drive arm and a direction of an axis of easy magnetization of the permanent magnet to a prescribed relation in the magnet rotor. As a result, the two-component epoxy resin is suitable for use as an adhesive of the magnet rotor.
One-component epoxy resin is also known as an adhesive. However, the one-component epoxy resin is cured by being exposed to air. The adhesive applied between the rotary shaft of the drive arm and the central through hole of the permanent magnet is difficult to cure since it is hardly exposed to air, therefore, the resin is not regularly used.
However, the above two-component epoxy resin is used by mixing the adhesive with the curing agent. When used, therefore, there arose problems such as adhesion failure of curing spots caused by a poor mixing state. Additionally, there was rotation failure caused by adhesive flowing out of a bearing portion of the rotary shaft as a result of the long curing time, such as in the case of adhesive being applied between the rotary shaft of the drive arm and the central through hole of the permanent magnet when a device diameter becomes small in accordance with miniaturization.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a manufacturing method of a magnet rotor, a magnet rotor manufactured by the method, and an electromagnetic drive device and a light quantity adjusting device using the magnet rotor. According to the method, the adhesive is not mixed with a curing agent as in the conventional way, and curing start time can be controlled. Secondly, after the curing starts, the resin is cured immediately with no leakage, even in a sealed portion, and it is securely cured without curing spots.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.