A liquid crystal (LC) panel cleaning device of the present invention includes a work table and a terminal seat located above the work table. While the cleaning device is in operation, the terminal seat sustains a terminal portion included in an LC panel against a pressure acting on the terminal portion. The terminal seat is connected to ground. This successfully protects the terminal portion from damage and prevents devices built in the panel from being damaged by static electricity.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a liquid crystal (LC) panel and, more particularly, to a device capable of cleaning an LC panel with an abrasive member thereof rotating on and pressingly contacting the surface of the panel.
Various kinds of LC panel cleaning devices are taught in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 7-218882, 4-270317 and 8-220517 as well as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-89819. However, a problem with the conventional cleaning devices is that while a cleaning head cleans the surface of an LC panel and a terminal portion included in the panel, the head presses even the terminal portion and is apt to damage it. Another problem is that static electricity ascribable to the movement of the cleaning head on the LC panel charges the panel and is likely to damage devices built in the panel due to shorting.

Device for cleaning a liquid crystal panel


A hybrid power supply circuit, a method using a hybrid power supply circuit and method for producing a hybrid power supply circuit are disclosed. In an embodiment a hybrid power-supply circuit includes a first energy-storage device and a second energy-storage device, wherein the first and second energy-storage devices are combined in a module and electrically interconnected, and wherein the first energy-storage device is a solid-state accumulator.

Modern electrical components are intended to have dimensions that are as small as possible, and to make ever more electrical functions available. For this purpose they need power-sources that make a supply voltage available that is as stable as possible, that withstand a large number of cycles without degradation, and that have short reaction-times to charge pulses and discharge pulses.
There is the possibility of supplying electrical devices with electrical energy by means of batteries or accumulators. Batteries or accumulators are well suited for applications with continuous load-current operation. Batteries are problematic in the case of applications with a pulsed additional load and/or an irregular charge cycle.
In the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) a large number of different electrical devices are intended to communicate with one another, preferentially via radio links. A continuous communication in this case is not necessary. Especially in devices in which sensors are running continuously and a communication with an external environment is to take place at regular or irregular intervals, the use of batteries is problematic. If the batteries are designed in such a way that the continuous load can be dealt with well, a power supply becomes problematic in the case of additional load. If a battery is designed in such a way that it can also handle additional loads, for most of the time it is oversized.

Hybrid power supply circuit, use of a hybrid power supply circuit and method for producing a hybrid power supply circuit


A package measurement apparatus comprising three measurement devices, one for each dimension. Each measurement device comprises a plurality of signal receptor modules. Each module comprises a row of signal receptor, and a signal energy source. In a first calibration step, the outputs of each receptor are standardized to reference maximums and minimums. In a second calibration step, calibration sets of receptor outputs are created and recorded. During measurement, a measurement set of receptor outputs is obtained and matched with a calibration set of receptor outputs to determine the dimension of an object.

Many courier companies provide the service of delivering packages on behalf of their customers. In exchange for delivering packages to the customer's specified destination, the courier company charges a fee. Typically, the fee is based upon one or more of (1) the size of package, (2) the weight of the package, (3) the destination of the package, and (4) the time within which the package must be delivered.
A problem exists in determining the appropriate charge for delivering the package. In some cases, the volume of the package is the limiting constraint, especially for goods shipped by overnight carrier. In other circumstances, the package's weight can be the limiting factor. What is needed is a way of measuring such physical parameters of a package to evaluate the appropriate shipping charge for the customer.
For large courier companies, these charges need to be determined for a very large number of packages. Large courier companies typically have central sorting stations. In these sorting stations, packages picked up from customers are processed for delivery to the customer's specified destination. Typically, in such circumstances, packages will be unloaded onto a conveyor belt, and the volume and/or weight of each package will be determined as the package moves along the conveyor belt. The customer is automatically billed later. Such a system is disclosed in published U.S. patent application No. 20030225712.
In other situations, there is a lower volume of packages, and payment for shipping is typically obtained at the time the customer provides the package to be delivered. For example, there are many companies that offer private mailbox services and the like, in a storefront setting. Typically, such companies also offer courier services. A customer enters the store with a package, and the package is sized and/or weighed immediately to determine shipping charges. In such cases, the measuring device used typically requires the user to place the package on a platform for measurement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,029 ("Claesson") discloses a measuring device for measuring three dimensions of an object being carried by a conveyor belt. The height of the object is measured by paired transmitters and receivers that are positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor belt, and are aimed across the conveyor belt. The width of the package is measured by paired transmitters and receivers that are positioned above the conveyor belt, and below the surface of the conveyor belt, between two sections thereof. The length of the device is measured by performing a calculation using the speed of the object on the conveyor belt.
The rows of transmitters and receivers are made up of modules. Thus, if the size of the relevant object is small, fewer modules can be used to create rows of transmitters and receivers. If, however, an object is larger, and more transmitters and receivers are required to measure its dimensions, then a greater number of modules can be used to extend the size of any set of transmitters or receivers.
The transmitters and receivers operate in pairs. Therefore, if a particular receiver is not receiving its signal from the particular transmitter from which it is paired, then the CPU will know that the object being measured is blocking the signal.
The system also has a calibration sequence which is performed after the measurement of each object, in anticipation of the next object. Specifically, the output of each receptor is measured to determine its raw output when it is receiving a signal from its corresponding transmitter, and when it is receiving no signal from its corresponding transmitter. A decision threshold for determining the presence of a signal, based on the raw output of each receiver, is calculated and stored in the computer for use with the next object.
There are a number of problems with this device. First, the necessity of pairing transmitters with receivers creates an unwieldy structure, in which transmitters or receivers must be positioned above the conveyor (thus taking up space and potentially blocking larger objects) and below the conveyor (thus inefficiently requiring a section break in the conveyor right at the measuring device). Also, the fact that each transmitter is positioned on the opposite side of the measuring platform from a corresponding receiver limits the size of the package that can be measured. In addition, the system uses a great deal of computing power, re-calibrating every signal receiver after each object is measured.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,379 ("Dlugos") discloses a dimensional weighing apparatus entitled "Coarse Volume Measurement with Interlock". The device includes a scale for weighing a package, together with a measuring frame having three axes. Along each axes are paired signal transmitters and receivers. The signal transmitters and receivers are positioned adjacent to one another, and oriented so that if the side of a package is positioned adjacent to the pair, then the signal from the transmitter will reflect off the package and travel to the receiver.
A substantial problem with the Dlugos device is that it provides only coarse measurements of package size. The device can only achieve limited precision based on the polling of these individual sensor pairs. So coarse are these measurements that the device includes an apparatus for indicating to the user that he requires a more precise measurement, which he is required to do manually.


An object of the present invention is to find a route on which a self-propelling electronic device preferentially runs a region which (i) is designated by a user and (ii) the self-propelling electronic device ran less frequently. A server device (80) includes: a preferential running region specifying section (812) which specifies a predetermined number of regions in a running region included in a predetermined space which predetermined number of regions a self-propelling electronic device (20) has most recently run a fewest number or fewer numbers of times, the running region being a region which the self-propelling electronic device (20) can run and which is determined by a user's operation; a route searching section (813) which searches for a running route on which the self-propelling electronic device (20) runs at least once all of the predetermined number of regions in the running region, the predetermined number of regions being specified by the preferential running region specifying section (812); and an instruction issuing section (814) which issues, to the self-propelling electronic device (20), a control instruction for causing the self-propelling electronic device (20) to run the predetermined space along the running route searched for by the route searching section (813).

Recently, development of self-propelling electronic devices has advanced. Among the self-propelling electronic devices, particularly, a self-propelling vacuum cleaner which cleans while carrying out self-propulsion has started being in widespread use among ordinary households. A technique has been developed for finding an optimal running route which the self-propelling electronic devices efficiently run.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for, without necessitating any operation for entering a complicated running route, causing a self-propelling electronic device to (i) flexibly select, from a plurality of cleaning regions, a cleaning region to be cleaned and (ii) clean the selected cleaning region.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique for distinguishing a temporal obstacle from an obstacle which always exists.

Device control apparatus, and self-propelling electronic device


An information processing apparatus includes: a first chassis having a first surface provided with at least an air intake port; a second chassis which is connected to the first chassis in a relatively rotatable manner and has a second surface that overlaps the first surface of the first chassis by the rotation; a heat dissipation unit having a fan for replacing air in the first chassis with outside air through at least the air intake port; a state detection unit that detects whether a state is a first state in which the first surface and the second surface overlap; and a control unit which changes control of the fan according to whether the state is the first state.

In information processing apparatuses such as laptop PCs (personal computers), electronic devices such as CPUs (Central Processing Units) generate heat when operated, leading to temperature rises therein. Some of such information processing apparatuses perform thermal control to suppress the temperature rises of the chassis. Some means for the thermal control are configured to include temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures of major electronic devices and the like and fans for heat dissipation to replace the air inside the chassis with outside air, and to control the rotation speeds of the fans on the basis of the detection results of the temperature sensors (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-226617).
However, the chassis is provided with an intake port for taking in outside air, but if it becomes difficult to take in outside air through the intake port depending on the usage state of the information processing apparatus, then the air intake efficiency may deteriorate, thus inconveniently causing the heat dissipation performance to deteriorate.

Information processing apparatus and control method


In a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable system, data is communicated upstream from user terminals to a headend of the system to realize various interactive services. The user terminals generate analog modulated signals representing the user data, which populate different channels in a reverse passband of the system. In accordance with the invention, the analog modulated signals are transformed to the corresponding digital baseband signals containing the data. The resulting digital baseband signals are optically transmitted to the headend, thereby efficiently utilizing the limited capacity of the fiber optical portion of the HFC cable system.

Cable television is typically provided by broadcasting television programming over a community access television (CATV) network including a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable system. In the United States, a forward passband, 50 MHz to 550 MHz, is allocated for transmission of CATV signals containing program material from a headend of the HFC cable system to the premises of subscribers or end users. Such transmission of the CATV signals from the headend to the end user premises is said to be in a "forward" or "downstream" direction.
In the "reverse" or "upstream" direction, an end user may use a terminal to transmit data to the headend to realize interactive services such as interactive games, telephone services, home shopping and Internet access. In the United States, the upstream data is transmitted through a reverse passband, 5 MHz to 42 MHz, of the HFC cable system. The terminal used by the end user is connected to, or incorporates, a cable modem for modulating a specified carrier with the data to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal representing the data. The RF signal populates a channel corresponding to the carrier in the reverse passband.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art arrangement including an HFC cable system with only those components relevant to upstream data transmission being shown. In FIG. 1, an end user may use terminal 100, e.g., a set top terminal or computer with a cable modem, to transmit data upstream to headend 140. In a well known manner, terminal 100 generates an RF signal representing the data, which populates a channel in the reverse passband. The RF signal from terminal 100 is combined by combiner 110 at a distribution tap with other RF signals, which contain data from other terminals and populate other channels in the reverse passband. The combined analog upstream signal is transported through cable distribution network 115 to distribution node 120. Linear optical transmitter 125 in node 120 receives the combined signal from link 117 extending from network 115. Transmitter 125, incorporating a linear laser, converts the combined signal into an optical signal. The latter traverses optical fiber 130 to headend 140. Linear optical receiver 135 in headend 140 converts the optical signal back to the combined signal. Cable modem termination system (CMTS) 150 processes the combined signal to recover the data from the respective terminals, and reformats the data in proper formats for further transmission to appropriate servers to realize various interactive services.
In the cable industry, the Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) are well known, which specify, among others, the data format of the upstream transmission, and the methods of, and equipment used in, the transmission. According to the DOCSIS, each user terminal can be programmed to transmit on a carrier frequency and through the corresponding channel specified by the CMTS. The carrier frequencies are selected to optimize the upstream communication by avoiding different types of noise, power losses or other problems occurring at known frequencies in the reverse passband. As a result, the reverse passband can accommodate up to 7 or 8 DOCSIS compatible channels.
As additional interactive services are being introduced and more and more users are subscribing to the interactive services, it is anticipated that the HFC cable system capacity for upstream communication, which is limited, will soon be overly strained. Accordingly, it is desirable to improve the traditional upstream communication technique to effectively utilize the limited HFC cable system capacity.

Technique for reverse transport of data in a hybrid fiber coax cable system


A magneto-sensitive wire (magneto-sensitive body) made of a Co-based alloy having a composite structure in which crystal grains are dispersed in an amorphous phase. The Co-based alloy is, for example, a Co—Fe—Si—B-based alloy, and the total amount of Si and B is preferably 20 to 25 at % with respect to the Co-based alloy as a whole. Preferably, the average diameter of the crystal grains is 70 nm or less and the area ratio of the crystal grains is 10% or less to the composite structure as a whole. The magneto-sensitive wire has a circular cross section and the wire diameter is about 1 to 100 μm. Such a magneto-sensitive wire can be obtained, for example, through a heat treatment step of heating an amorphous wire composed of a Co-based alloy at a temperature equal to or higher than a crystallization start temperature and lower than a crystallization end temperature.

Magnetic sensors have heretofore been used, such as fluxgate sensors (FG sensors), Hall sensors, giant magneto-resistive sensors (GMR sensors), and magneto-impedance sensors (MI sensors). In particular, MI sensors are superior to other sensors in terms of the sensitivity, responsivity, power consumption, and other properties and they are thus being used in various fields such as automobiles and medical services.
As the functionality of mobile terminals (such as smartphones) is enhanced in recent years, highly sensitive magnetic sensors are desired, such as those having a measurement range (e.g., about ±48 mT) that is far wider than the measurement range (about ±0.3 to 12 mT) required for an electronic compass to measure the geomagnetism (about 50 μT). In addition, magnetic sensors excellent in the heat resistance and durability are desired to allow for the use even under severe temperature environment and magnetic field environment, etc.
As an example, the measurement range of an MI sensor will be described below. In an MI sensor, an amorphous wire to which a high-frequency current or a pulse current is applied (simply referred to as an "amorphous wire") is used as a magneto-sensitive body, and the magnitude of magnetization rotation occurring in the circumferential direction in response to the strength of the surrounding magnetic field is detected as a change in impedance or a voltage. The measurement range of an MI sensor correlates with how likely the magnetization rotation occurs in the amorphous wire, which greatly depends on an anisotropic magnetic field (Hk). When the anisotropic magnetic field is small, the magnetization rotation is likely to occur and the measurement range is narrowed. In contrast, when the anisotropic magnetic field is large, the magnetization rotation is less likely to occur and the measurement range is widened.
Conventionally, adjustment of the anisotropic magnetic field has been mainly performed by allowing internal stress to remain in the amorphous wire. When the given internal stress is large, the anisotropic magnetic field is also large, while when the internal stress is small, the anisotropic magnetic field is also small. The internal stress has been given, for example, by performing heat treatment while applying tensile stress (also simply referred to as "tension") to the amorphous wire (this heat treatment will be simply referred to as "tension annealing (TA)"). The heating itself can be performed by passing the amorphous wire, to which tension is applied, through a heating furnace or by energizing the amorphous wire. In any case, the conventional heat treatment has been performed under a condition in which the amorphous state of the amorphous wire is maintained (heating at a temperature lower than the crystallization temperature or heating for a short time during which crystallization does not proceed even when the temperature is not lower than the crystallization temperature). Amorphous wires in which such internal stress is given are described, for example, in the following Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Magneto-sensitive wire for magnetic sensor and production method therefor


A frame assembly for pictures or other objects to be displayed includes a frame having front and rear panels defining a space therebetween for receiving objects to be displayed. A support mechanism optionally provided for supporting the frame in a substantially upright position enabling pictures to be viewed through a transparent area or window formed in one or both of the front and rear panels. The front panel includes retaining members formed along edges thereof, including at least two opposed edges, and each retaining member includes an extension portion extending rearward relative to a planar portion of the front panel and an inwardly projecting ridge formed on an inward surface of the extension portion. The rear panel is designed to fit snugly between the ridges and a rear surface of the front panel. The support mechanism may be a base separable from the frame or formed integral with the rear panel. The frame assembly may also be configured as an intermediate panel having retaining members extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, with respective front and rear panels engageable therewith.

The term "picture frame" is used herein to refer to a picture or display frame or holder for holding and displaying virtually any type of substantially flat item. The term "picture frame" is used for convenience of description.
There are numerous different types of picture frames known in the art. Some picture frames include a holder defining a periphery of the frame, a clear front window arranged in the holder and a rear panel removably attached to the holder behind the front window. The rear panel usually includes a support, such as a prop or wall mounting mechanism, to enable the frame to be supported on a support surface or hung on a wall. A picture is placed in the frame by removing the rear panel from attachment to the holder, placing a picture against the front window and then attaching the rear panel to the holder.
Other picture frames have a unitary structure and are designed to provide a lower support which can rest on a planar support surface. One type of these unitary frames includes a planar support wall, a front panel defining a clear window extending rearward from a forward longitudinal edge of the planar support wall and a rear panel having an upper edge connected to an upper edge of the front panel and biased against the rear surface of the front panel. Another type of these unitary frames are formed with a front and rear base portion, a front panel extending upward from a rear edge of the front base portion and a rear panel extending upward from a front edge of the rear base portion and having an upper edge connected to the upper edge of the front panel. The rear and front panels are biased against one another. A picture is placed between the front and rear panel and retained therein by the bias of the rear panel against the front panel.
For wall-mounting applications, unitary picture frames are formed with a rear panel including one or more apertures and a front panel having a lower edge connected to a lower edge of the rear panel so that pictures can be placed between the front and rear panels. Screws and the like are inserted through the apertures in the rear panel to attach the frame to a wall.
A problem with these types of picture frames is that the size of the frame allows it to retain only the same size picture in the same orientation as the frame. Thus, if the frame is designed for an 8×10 picture in the portrait more, it cannot be used for a smaller picture, because the picture would move around, and cannot be used for an 8×10 picture in the landscape mode, because the edges of the picture would extend beyond the edges of the frame. Thus, these types of frames have very limited capabilities.

Display frame with side edge engagement members


A head scarf has a main body and a lining that are made of flat planar flaccid fabric. It has a crown for covering a wearer's head and a tail that hangs down from the rear of the crown. The lining has front and rear margin areas attached along their lengths to the main body. The end points of the front margin area of the lining are flush with the end points of the crown portion of the main body. The lining has its greatest length, measured longitudinally, in a central longitudinal plane of the scarf. The length of the lining fabric measured between the front and rear margin areas is greater, by differential amounts that decrease progressively toward the end points, than the linear distance between the front and rear margin areas to enhance the ability of the scarf to conform to the shape of a wearer's head.

This invention relates to head scarves that are suitable for use by all fashion conscious women, and are especially useful to women and children with medical hair loss. Scarves according to the invention are fashionable, easily put on and taken off, and they can be conveniently rearranged in a variety of styles. For persons without hair, they are particularly comfortable as they can be provided with linings of soft, absorbent material that avoid the discomfort experienced when wearing conventional bandanas and scarves in hot, humid climates.
Scarves according to the invention have a main body that is made of a fabric usually selected for its appearance, and a lining that is selected for comfort, especially in cases when the wearer does not have hair for medical or other reasons. The main body and the lining are made of fabrics that are flat, planar and flaccid. The scarf has a crown that includes the lining and covers the head, and an optional tail that is adapted to lie behind and hang down from the crown.
One aspect of the invention involves the shape of the crown. The lining and scarf body are connected together in a novel way that enhances the ability of the crown of the scarf to conform to the shape of a wearer's head, and attractively positions the scarf's front margin area that extends across the forehead, to the wearer's ears, and beyond. This advantage is due in part to the structure wherein, in the central longitudinal plane of the scarf, the length of the crown material between the front and rear margin areas of the lining is greater, by a differential amount, than the linear distance between the front and rear margin areas of the lining. The front margin area of the lining has end points that are flush with the front margin area of the crown portion of the main body. Preferably, in planes parallel to and spaced from the central longitudinal plane, the lengths of the lining between its front and rear margin areas are greater, by differential amounts, than the linear distance between the front and rear margin areas of the lining, and the differential amounts decrease progressively from a maximum near the central longitudinal plane to about zero in longitudinal planes most distant from the central longitudinal plane.
The forgoing effect is preferably achieved by attaching the front margin area of the main body to the front margin area of the lining by a convex line of stitching that provides the aforementioned differential amounts. This line of stitching desirably has a length (L) and a convexity of 0.005L to 0.013L.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a tail that is adapted to lie behind and hang down from the crown portion. A drawstring channel is located where the tail joins the crown, and a tightening member is located in the drawstring channel for drawing together the upper regions of the tail and for drawing the crown into a shape conforming to a wearer's head. The tail has a central section that is at least four inches long, and two side sections that lie on opposite sides of the central section and are longer than the central section.
The disclosed scarf has a drawstring channel located where the tail portion joins the crown portion. When the main body and lining are laid out on a planar surface, the drawstring channel has a form that is generally a semicircle having a radius of at least 12 inches. A tightening member, preferably an endless loop made of elastic material, is located in the drawstring channel for drawing together the upper regions of the tail portion and for drawing the crown portion into a shape conforming to a wearer's head.
The invention also includes a method for making a scarf. This method includes the steps of providing a scarf body piece; providing a scarf lining, stitching together the front margin portions of the body and lining pieces to form an assembly of the stitched-together pieces. The stitching is done along lines on both pieces that are convex and are registered with each other, and the stitching is done while the margin portions overlie each other and are extending in opposite directions from their respective pieces. The stitching produces exposed stitch lines on both sides of the sewn-together assembly. One of the pieces is folded to cover one of the exposed stitch lines, to provide a convex edge of the stitched-together pieces, to place the pieces in face-to-face relation, and to give the assembly a three dimensional forehead-receiving shape in the vicinity of the front margin areas. The rear margin area of the scarf lining piece is attached to the scarf body piece.


A waterjet system in accordance with at least some embodiments includes a carriage, a motion assembly configured to move the carriage horizontally relative to a workpiece, and a cutting head carried by the carriage. The waterjet system can also include a kinematic chain through which the cutting head is operably connected to the carriage. The kinematic chain can include first, second, and third joints rotatably adjustable about different first, second, and third axes, respectively. The carriage and the first and second joints can be configured to move the cutting head along a path relative to the workpiece while the cutting head directs a jet toward the workpiece to form a product. The third joint can be configured to shift a kinematic singularity away from the path to reduce or eliminate delay and corresponding reduced cutting accuracy associated with approaching the kinematic singularity.

Waterjet systems (e.g., abrasive-jet systems) are used in precision cutting, shaping, carving, reaming, and other material-processing applications. During operation, waterjet systems typically direct a high-velocity jet of fluid (e.g., water) toward a workpiece to rapidly erode portions of the workpiece. Abrasive material can be added to the fluid to increase the rate of erosion. When compared to other material-processing systems (e.g., grinding systems, plasma-cutting systems, etc.) waterjet systems can have significant advantages. For example, waterjet systems often produce relatively fine and clean cuts, typically without heat-affected zones around the cuts. Waterjet systems also tend to be highly versatile with respect to the material type of the workpiece. The range of materials that can be processed using waterjet systems includes very soft materials (e.g., rubber, foam, leather, and paper) as well as very hard materials (e.g., stone, ceramic, and hardened metal). Furthermore, in many cases, waterjet systems are capable of executing demanding material-processing operations while generating little or no dust, smoke, and/or other potentially toxic byproducts.
In a typical waterjet system, a pump pressurizes fluid to a high pressure (e.g., 40,000 psi to 100,000 psi or more). Some of this pressurized fluid is routed through a cutting head that includes an orifice element having an orifice. Passing through the orifice converts static pressure of the fluid into kinetic energy, which causes the fluid to exit the cutting head as a jet at high velocity (e.g., up to 2,500 feet-per-second or more) and impact a workpiece. The orifice element can be a hard jewel (e.g., a synthetic sapphire, ruby, or diamond) held in a suitable mount (e.g., a metal plate). In many cases, a jig supports the workpiece. The jig, the cutting head, or both can be movable under computer and/or robotic control such that complex processing instructions can be executed automatically.

Articulating apparatus of a waterjet system and related technology


A contact unit for a switching device includes: a first fixed contact; a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first arc extinguishing chamber, a second arc extinguishing chamber, and a third arc extinguishing chamber; and an arc guiding system. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the contact unit. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the contact unit. The first and the second arc extinguishing chamber and the arc guiding system in coordination with each other extinguish a first arc.

A switching device usually comprises a switching portion and an actuating portion that is often called an electromagnetic actuator to set a switching state of the switching portion.
In general it is a challenge to provide a rapid switch off and a secure and reliable extinguishing of an arc originated between electrical contacts of the switching device.
Document EP 2590192 A1 describes a switch for multi-pole direct-current operation.
The disclosure is related to a contact unit for a switching device for switching DC currents. The contact unit and the corresponding switching device may be used in the field of electro-mobility.

Contact unit for a switching device and switching device


A control system 14 and method for preventing exhaust gases from entering an intake manifold 26 of an engine 21 after engine shutdown is provided. The engine 12 includes a valve controlling air flow into the intake manifold 26. The method includes determining when the engine 12 has been shutdown. The method further includes opening the valve for a predetermined amount of time after the engine shutdown to allow air at ambient atmospheric pressure to communicate with the intake manifold 26. Thus, a relatively high air pressure in an intake manifold 26 prevents exhaust gases from migrating into the intake manifold 26 which reduces a subsequent engine crank period.

The invention relates to a control system and method for preventing exhaust gases from entering an intake manifold of an engine after engine shutdown.
Engines have long used throttle valves and idle air control valves to adjust the amount of airflow into engine intake manifolds. Generally, a powertrain controller generates first and second control signals to control operational positions of the throttle valve and the idle air control valve, respectively.
When an engine is shutdown, the throttle valve and idle air control valve are generally closed. As a result, the air pressure in the intake manifold has a relatively low pressure (i.e., a vacuum) compared to the pressure of exhaust gases in an exhaust manifold. Further, after engine shutdown, intake and exhaust valves communicating with an engine cylinder may overlap in an open position. As a result, the exhaust gas in the exhaust manifold may migrate through the engine cylinder and into the intake manifold. Thereafter, during engine crank, the exhaust gases in the intake manifold must be pumped through the engine cylinders before sufficient oxygen is supplied to the cylinders for combustion to occur. Thus, the migration of exhaust gases into the intake manifold, after engine shutdown, results in a long engine crank (i.e., startup time) that is undesirable to vehicle operators.
The above-identified disadvantages of conventional control systems and methods are substantially overcome by a control system and method described and claimed herein.
A method for preventing exhaust gases from entering the intake manifold after engine shutdown in accordance with the present invention is provided. The engine includes a valve controlling airflow into the intake manifold. The method includes determining when the engine has been shutdown. The method further includes opening a valve for a predetermined amount of time after engine shutdown to allow air at an ambient atmospheric pressure to communicate with the intake manifold.
A control system for preventing exhaust gases from entering an intake manifold after engine shutdown in accordance with the present invention is provided. The control system includes a valve actuator configured to control an operational position of a valve controlling air flow into the intake manifold, responsive to a control signal. The control system further includes a control circuit that is operably connected to the valve actuator. The control circuit is configured to determine when the engine has been shutdown. The control circuit is further configured to generate a control signal to induce the valve actuator to open the valve for a predetermined amount of time after engine shutdown to allow air at ambient atmospheric pressure to communicate with the intake manifold.
The control system and method for preventing exhaust gas from entering an intake manifold of an engine after engine shutdown provides a substantial advantage over conventional systems and methods. In particular, the control system increases the air pressure in the intake manifold to ambient atmospheric pressure after engine shutdown. As a result, exhaust gases remain substantially within the exhaust manifold after engine shutdown. Thereafter, the engine may be started quickly because fresh air is immediately inducted into the engine cylinders during engine crank.

System and method for preventing exhaust gases from entering an intake manifold of an engine


A primerless method for repairing a substrate surface that includes applying to the surface a curable filler composition that includes (i) an epoxy compound, (ii) a polythiol curing agent, and (iii) a catalyst and then curing the composition. The filler composition can also include a polyamine in addition to the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a method for repairing substrate surfaces with an epoxy filler composition that does not require the application of a primer to the surface prior to application of the epoxy composition.
The use of epoxy compositions as fillers for automotive vehicle body repairs is well known. However, current commercial epoxy fillers typically require the use of an adhesion-promoting primer that is applied to the substrate prior to application of the filler. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,470,605 and 5,604,271 are directed to such a primer that includes a first composition comprising an epoxy compound dispersed in a first volatile organic solvent and a second composition comprising a mercaptan-terminated polymer and an amine-functional material dispersed in a second volatile organic solvent.
The use of thiol-cured epoxy compositions as adhesives or sealers is also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,702 relates to a two part adhesive or sealing system that includes a first part comprising 29-52 weight percent of an amine curable epoxy resin and 48-71 weight percent of an isocyanate prepolymer and a second part comprising an amine hardener, a tertiary amine as a primary accelerator and a mercaptan terminated polymer as a secondary accelerator. Certain diamines are listed as possible amine hardeners. The amount of amine hardener is 0.3 to 16.7 weight percent, based on the total weight of the epoxy resin and isocyanate prepolymer. Japanese Published Patent Application (Kokai) No. 05-112632 relates to an adhesive composition that includes an epoxy resin, a polymercaptan curing agent, and a reaction initiator. Tertiary amines and polyamine derived from certain diamines are listed as possible reaction initiators. There is no example that includes both a tertiary amine and a diamine.
A need exists for an epoxy filler that does not require pre-application of a primer.

Primerless substrate repair with polyepoxide and polythiol


A method and system of providing an interactive manual, including a speech engine to receive and process speech from a user, convert the speech into a word sequence, and identify meaning structures from the word sequence, a structured manual including information related to an operation of a device, a visual model to relate visual representation of the information, a dialog management arrangement to interpret the meaning structures in a context and to extract pertinent information and the visual representation from the structured manual and the visual model, and an output arrangement to output the information and visual representation.

Manuals may be too generic and cumbersome for many people, and it is believed that there are people who do not like to read manuals. While some devices may be usable without a manual, other devices may be more complicated requiring a manual to operate them. This problem may become worse since automotive industry trends may indicate that more devices are being integrated into vehicles.
Those who use manuals for vehicles or other complex equipment or devices may complain that it is tedious to read these manuals. In particular, when traveling, for example, they may rent a car, which is unfamiliar, and may have little time to peruse the manual due to, for example, a tight travel schedule.
The reluctance and/or unwillingness to use manuals may be explained in that these manuals may only utilize written languages, which may be adequate in some circumstances, for example, to explain abstract concepts, but not in other instances, for example, to explain intuitive objects or process. Additionally, manuals may be designed for general users and not for each individual need at each specific occasion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,499 refers to a vehicle diagnosis and health monitoring system that uses a client/server architecture to keep vehicle relevant data in a database and to check the status of the vehicle remotely using a voice interface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,499 indicates that the diagnosis and health monitoring system may be used to update user manuals but there is no direct link to any manual construction process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,335 refers to an automobile personal computer system that allows a user to wirelessly interact with merchants, communications facilities, information providers, computers at the home or office, and other entities. Products may be purchased using voice commands or by interacting with displays in the automobile.
U.S. Patent Publication 20020004719 refers to a machine interface for interfacing a user to a machine that receives input words from the user. Scores for at least some of the input words are determined using scores for words appearing in each passages of the text. A passage in the text having the highest combined score for the input words is identified and a corresponding dialogue instruction set is executed to generate words for output and to respond to input words from the user. In this regard, the system of U.S. Patent Publication 20020004719 merely returns a text passage with the highest score without further representation. No preprocessing or structural investigation of the document occurs.

Interactive manual, system and method for vehicles and other complex equipment


Systems and methods for managing fast to slow links in a bus fabric. A pair of link interface units connect agents with a clock mismatch. Each link interface unit includes an asynchronous FIFO for storing transactions that are sent over the clock domain crossing. When the command for a new transaction is ready to be sent while data for the previous transaction is still being sent, the link interface unit prevents the last data beat of the previous transaction from being sent. Instead, after a delay of one or more clock cycles, the last data beat overlaps with the command of the new transaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer systems, and in particular to methods and mechanisms for managing links in a bus fabric.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems on chips (SoCs) are becoming increasingly complex with large numbers of agents and circuits within a typical SoC. Often, data will be shared among the different agents of the SoC, and a bus fabric may be utilized to connect the agents to each other. Some of the agents may be running at different clock speeds, and so communicating from agent to agent may involve a clock domain crossing. When transferring data between agents with different clock frequencies, bubbles may be introduced at the agent with the slower clock frequency. These bubbles may result in increased latency and reduced bandwidth utilization for links between agents with clock frequency mismatches.

Managing fast to slow links in a bus fabric


Provided is a readily-attached seat frame that has a compact periphery of a stay cloth attachment portion while maintaining a high deployment performance of an airbag. A seat frame is provided in which an airbag module is disposed in a seat back frame. The seat back frame is provided with a guide member end attachment member that locks ends of guide members for facilitating the deployment of an airbag provided in the airbag module, and the attachment positions of the guide members in the guide member end attachment member are disposed at the inside of the seat back frame in relation to the attachment position of the airbag module 6.

Disclosed herein is a seat frame, and particularly, a seat frame with a guide member end attachment member that encloses an airbag module provided in a side portion of a seat back and locks a guide member for facilitating the deployment of an airbag.
Hitherto, as an airbag module equipped seat, there has been proposed a seat in which an airbag module is attached to a side frame of a seat back frame, ends of a trim cover and one-side ends of two stay cloths are sewn together to form a fracture portion of the trim cover, the airbag module is enclosed by two stay cloths drawn into the trim cover from the fracture portion, and the entire seat back including the airbag module is covered by the trim cover (for example, Japanese Patent Document No. 4452860 ("the '860 Document").
In the '860 Document, two listing wires are provided at the position opposite to the airbag module of the side frame to be entangled in a ring shape. The ends of two stay cloths drawn from the fracture portion to both sides of the airbag module are respectively attached to the listing wires while being stretched to two listing wires to enclose the airbag module. A locking member is formed as a metallic bar-shaped body to stand up toward the opposite side to the airbag module of the side frame, and the two listing wires are mutually entangled and fixed while being caught by the locking member.
The locking member includes a trough bent portion which is bent in a V-shape at the position where the listing wires are locked, and the listing wires are locked to the trough bent portion so that the deviation of the listing wire from the locking member in the length direction may be prevented.
According to the invention of the '860 Document, since the listing wire is not deviated from the locking member in the length direction, the end of the stay cloth is not deviated in the width direction during the assembly, and the airbag module is enclosed by the entire area of the stay cloth. Then, since the airbag module may be directly enclosed by the stay cloth and the stay cloth may be reliably pulled and locked by the listing wire, the expansion pressure of the airbag may be caused to efficiently concentrate on the sewn seam of the fracture portion of the trim cover by the stay cloth, and hence a high deployment performance of the airbag may be attained.
However, in the invention of the '860 Document, the listing wire entangling and pulling position is provided at the opposite side to the airbag module of the side frame, and the locking member locking the listing wire is provided to stand up toward the opposite side to the airbag module of the side frame. Further, in order to fasten the end of one stay cloth to the side frame, there is a need to provide three wire members including two listing wires and the locking member in total.
For that reason, since the attachment position of the end of one stay cloth is enlarged, a demand for the compact dimension may not be satisfied. Further, since the number of components increases, manufacturing cost also increases.
Moreover, the assembling workability is poor when the number of components is large or the length of the listing wire is long.
Further, there has been a desire to improve the rigidity by decreasing the number of connection points.


The present invention is to provide a clamp lamp comprising a first side plate, a second side plate and a lateral plate, wherein the lateral plate connects the first side plate and the second side plate, thereby forming a retaining space between the first side plate and the second side plate. A lamp is disposed on the first side plate opposite to the second side plate and powered by at least a battery installed in a battery holder formed on the clamp. A light source can thus be generated from a light emitting portion of the lamp. A screw rod is disposed on the second side plate and connected with a mobile portion. By adjusting the amount of the screw rod inserted into the retaining space, the clamp can firmly grab an object, so as to securely fasten the lamp onto the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamp, more particularly to a lamp having a clamp capable of firmly grab an object, so as to securely fasten the lamp onto the object.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional grill oven 10 is illustrated. As shown, the grill oven 10 comprises an oven body 11 and an oven stand 12. The opposite side walls of the oven body 11 comprises a motor 132 and a stick mount 133 disposed thereon for connecting one end of a grill stick 131 with the motor 132 and the other end of the grill stick 131 with the stick mount 133. The grill stick 131 can thus be rotated on the oven body 11 following the rotation of the motor 132. On the other hand, a shelf 121 is formed on the oven stand 12 adjacent the oven body 11, which may be used to place food (e.g. sheep meat or pork, not shown) or grill tools (e.g. fork or barbecue souse, not shown) that is required for barbecue.
Additionally, a lamp 14 may be disposed on the shelf 121. The lamp 14 comprises a lamp cover 141, a base 142, a light bulb 143 and a connection portion 144, wherein the lamp cover 141 and the connection portion 144 are connected with each other. The other end of the connection portion 144 is connected to the base 142, and the light bulb 143 is installed in the lamp cover 141, connecting with the connection portion 144. In addition, a power cord 145 is provided, which connects an outlet 147 on a wall 146 with the light bulb 143 through the base 142 and the connection portion 144. The light bulb 143 can thus receive electrical power from the outlet 147, thereby illuminating a light source. In this manner, one can employ the light of the lamp 14 to clearly see what is illuminated when using the grill oven 10 during night times or in dark spaces.
However, the lamp 14 as set forth above requires the outlet 147 being adjacent to the grill oven 10, so as to provide electrical power to the lamp 14 through the power cord 145. On the other hand, one also needs to watch out the possibility that the lamp 14 is fallen down, which largely reduces the enjoyment of cooking outside.


In a first distance range to the obstacle, the velocity of the vehicle is limited by the control of the power of the drive unit of the vehicle. In a second distance range which is less than said first distance range, the braking force at the wheel brakes is built up.

The invention pertains to a method and to an apparatus for controlling the approach of a vehicle to an obstacle.
When a vehicle approaches an obstacle, especially during the attempt to park, unwanted driving situations can occur as a result of, for example, the limited view of the driver. Especially in the case of commercial vehicles, the driver cannot see the area behind the vehicle when in reverse. It is possible for the driver to estimate incorrectly the distance to the obstacle (especially the distance between the vehicle and a loading ramp), and it is also possible for the vehicle to be damaged and even for personal injury to occur if the driver fails to notice a person located behind the vehicle.
For this reason, parking aids have been developed, which use distance sensors (based on ultrasound or lasers) to measure the distance between the vehicle and the closest obstacle. This information is then presented to the driver optically and/or acoustically (see, for example, DE 35 03 352 A1). A further improvement of these solutions is found in DE 31 21 684 A1. This document describes a vehicle with several distance sensors, so that, as the vehicle is approaching an obstacle, the vehicle's environment, that is, the distance to the obstacle, can be displayed continuously to the driver and automatic actions taken on the drive or brake control units. The intended result is to influence the motion of the vehicle sufficiently in advance in such a way as to prevent contact with an obstacle.
The object of the invention is to control a vehicle's approach to an obstacle by intervention in the engine control and/or brake control.

Method and apparatus for controlling the approach of a vehicle to an obstacle


A main ellipsoidal drive element is provided including a buoyant internal chamber. The main ellipsoidal drive element defines a main ellipsoid axis, a minor ellipsoid plane, a first ellipsoid end portion, a second ellipsoid end portion, and an outer ellipsoid surface. A drive engagement element is mounted to the first ellipsoid end portion and selectively transfers rotational drive to the main ellipsoidal drive element around the main ellipsoid axis. A plurality of roller elements are mounted around a minor ellipsoid periphery of the main ellipsoidal element. Each of the roller elements are orientated to provide friction reduced rolling in a main ellipsoid axis direction and traction perpendicular to the main ellipsoid axis direction.

Robotic drive assemblies are often sensitive to the differing terrains on which they are required to traverse. As a result, drive assemblies are often designed to accommodate only narrow environmental scenarios. The resultant robotic drive assemblies are, therefore, commonly designed to be narrowly configured for highly specific operating environments. Operation outside such narrow parameters can result in drive failure or incapacitation of the robotic assembly.
A common approach to all-terrain operation has been through the development of highly complex mechanical drive assemblies suitable for multi-environmental operation. However, the complexity of such drive assemblies exposes these drives to mechanical failure or undesirable maintenance requirements. In addition, complexity also drives production costs and assembly weight. This can serve to limit the suitable applications for which the drive assembly may be utilized.
A robotic drive assembly with reduced complexity and the ability to cope with a vast diversity of operation environments would reduce manufacturing costs and provide an increased range of application and operation. In addition, maintenance costs and schedules could be significantly reduced. These benefits would serve a host of applications ranging from entertainment to aerospace.

All-terrain robotic omni-directional drive assembly


The invention relates to an electrical lamp base and socket assembly for mechanically holding and supplying power to an electrical lamp, having a vitreous envelope, allowing mainly axial motion for the lamp and avoiding any turning motion over a certain angle during its insertion into and removal from the socket. The lamp base and socket are made of insulating material, and the lamp base has slot on its surface while the socket has mechanical means with spring mechanism and protruding parts engaging the slot of the socket.

The invention relates to an electrical lamp base and socket assembly for mechanically holding and supplying power to an electrical lamp having a vitreous envelope, the base and socket assembly allowing mainly axial motion for the lamp and avoiding any turning motion over an angle of greater than 90 degrees during its insertion into and removal from the socket. The invention relates also to a method of operating an electrical lamp base and socket assembly.
The present electrical lamp base and socket assembly can be utilized favorably with several kinds of electrical lamps, i.e. incandescent lamps, discharge lamps, and especially also with electrodeless high intensity discharge lamps.
In the case of typical lamp bases and sockets, generally, a turning motion is employed during the insertion of the lamp into or the removal of it from the socket. In some cases, e.g. in the case of an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp with an outer induction coil, the performance of such turning motion is relatively difficult because the outer envelope of the lamp has to be surrounded by a close-fitting induction coil which limits the area of the envelope which can be gripped during the turning of the lamp. Thus, there is sometimes a definite demand for lamp bases and socket assemblies which can be used by moving the lamp in the direction of its axis and avoiding any turning motion or at least over a certain maximum value of the turning angle.
Additionally, because of the outer surrounding coil, for an electrodeless HID lamp, there is a further requirement that the base and socket assembly have a smaller outer diameter than the lamp envelope so as to allow movement through the outer coil. For an example of this dimensional relation between the outer envelope and the induction coil of an electrodeless HID lamp, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,015 issued to Heindl et al. on Sep. 22, 1992.
Electrical lamp base and socket assemblies of the kind mentioned in the introductory paragraph and for application with incandescent lamps are well-known as the bayonet lamp base and lamp holder. In the case of bayonet lamp bases and lamp holders, the base is usually made of metal and has two protruding pins on its lamp base for engaging two L-shaped slots in the lamp holder, providing in such a way the mechanical holding and power supply of the incandescent lamp. These protruding pins however increase the outer size of the lamp base and would thus be inappropriate for an application involving an outer envelope which must fit within an induction coil.
In fields different from that of electric lamps, there are several known kinds of latch mechanisms for mechanically holding one or another component part, (e.g. in the case of the locking mechanism of cabinet doors). The component part, a locking dowel, is fixed on the door and has to be inserted into and removed from a latch mechanism by axial motion. Mechanical holding of this kind is mentioned in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,576.

Electrical lamp base and socket assembly


A method of distance estimation is to be implemented using a digital camera, and includes: selecting a pre-established reference dimension corresponding to a target whose distance is to be estimated; enabling operation of the digital camera to capture a clear image containing the target; obtaining a focal length corresponding to the captured clear image; calculating an image dimension for each of predetermined distance values with reference to the selected reference dimension and the focal length; and showing the distance values on a display unit at positions based on proportions of the calculated image dimensions. The distance of the target can be estimated as one of the distance values corresponding to a dimension of the target image contained in the clear image and shown on the display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of distance estimation, more particularly to a method of distance estimation to be implemented using a digital camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,719, there is disclosed an optical device for use as a gun sight, telescope or viewfinder and capable of indicating the distance of a target from the user. The optical device includes a reticule 1 with vertically displaced segmented horizontal lines 101 that are calibrated to give the viewer an instant indication of range of the target without requiring mechanical adjustment. Although the distance of the target from the viewer may be determined through the reticule 1, the segmented horizontal lines 101 have a very high requirement of manufacturing precision. Moreover, once manufactured, the design and specification of the reticule 1 cannot be altered. In other words, an optical device can only be installed with a reticule 1 having a specific design and specification.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional digital camera 2 that is capable of distance measurement and that includes a laser emitter 201 and a laser receiver 202. When laser light emitted from the laser emitter 201 is reflected back to the laser receiver 202 from a target (not shown), a digital signal processor (not shown) in the digital camera 2 is able to calculate the distance between the target and the viewer based on the time difference between laser light emitting and laser light receiving, wherein the distance is equal to one half of the product of the calculated time difference and the speed of light.
However, the need to provide the digital camera 2 with the laser emitter 201 and the laser receiver 202 not only increases the size of the digital camera 2, but also increases the manufacturing cost of the digital camera 2 significantly.

Method of distance estimation to be implemented using a digital camera


An apparatus and method are disclosed for efficiently removing a belt from a drive assembly of an agricultural implement in which a flywheel and a header framework cooperatively define a gap therebetween which is smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the belt and thereby prevent the belt from being simply passed through the gap and removed from the remaining components of the drive assembly. A radially inwardly extending notch in the periphery of the flywheel is configured and dimensioned to allow a portion of the belt to be received within the notch. The notched flywheel, with the portion of the belt received in the notch, is rotatable such that the portion of the belt is moveable past the gap to thereby permit the belt to be removed from the remaining components of the drive assembly in the distal direction without requiring the removal of either the flywheel or the framework.

Agricultural implement drives often include an endless element (e.g., a belt or chain) that must be replaced or removed for maintenance purposes. Because of the confined spaces in which drives are typically located, the removal of the endless element is often an inefficient and time consuming process. For example, the drive is often situated so that one or more components must be removed in order to access the endless element. One particularly problematic arrangement involves an endless element that is located inboard of a rotating member (such as a flywheel), wherein a component cooperates with the rotating member to prevent outboard removal of the endless element without taking the rotating member off of its supporting shaft.
The present invention provides a novel method and apparatus to overcome this problem and provide for the more efficient removal of an endless element from a drive through a confined space without necessarily removing other parts of the drive or implement. In one aspect of the present invention, a rotating member is provided with a peripheral notch so that at least a portion of the cross-section of the endless element can be placed therein to clear a narrow gap defined between the rotating member and another component. As the rotating member is rotated with the portion of the endless element received in the notch, the endless element can be moved past the interfering obstruction (defined at the gap) and separated from the rest of the drive without having to remove the rotating member.
Various aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiment.

Drive belt removal apparatus in confined spaces


Described herein is a novel receptor-ligand interaction and agents that may modify and/or block the interaction. Methods, uses, reagents and kits for the modulation of ligand activities related to its interaction with the novel receptor are disclosed. Also disclosed are therapeutic uses of reagents in treating inflammation-related disorders.

Immune function is regulated by the balance of activating and inhibitory signals mediated by immune cell-surface receptors (Lanier, Nature Immunol. (2001) 2:23-27; Smith et al., Immunol. Rev. (2001) 181:115-125; Moretta et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. (2001) 19:197-223; Diefenbach & Raulet, Curr. Opin. Immunol. (2003) 15:37-44.). Among these receptors, there are families that harbor extracellular regions that have a highly conserved amino-acid sequence but have different intracellular domains responsible for activation and inhibitory signaling. Thus, activating and inhibitory members of these families can generally recognize the same or very similar ligands with slightly different specificities, presumably resulting in fine-tuning of immune regulation. Since they are involved in both the activation and inhibition of immune function, they are generally referred to as paired receptor families Paired immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) type 2 receptors (PILRs) are one of the paired receptor families. Inhibitory receptors possess immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) in their cytoplasmic domains and deliver inhibitory signals via tyrosine phosphatases, such as SHP-1. The ITIM-bearing receptor PILR-alpha recruits SHP-1 via its amino-terminal SH2 domain and is likely to have cellular inhibitory potential. The lack of a cytoplasmic tail and the presence of the transmembrane lysine residue in the second receptor, PILR-beta, suggest its potential activating function. See Fournier et al., J. Immunol. (2000) 165:1197-1209; Mousseau et al., J. Biol. Chem. (2000) 275:4467-4474.; Shiratori et al., J. Exp. Med. (2004) 199:525-533. Although the ligand for mouse PILR-alpha and PILR-beta was identified as CD99 (Shiratori et al., J. Exp. Med. (2004) 199:525-533), to date no human ligand has been identified for human PILRs.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a member of the alphaherpesvirus subfamily and can cause recurrent mucocutaneous lesions on the mouth, face, or genitalia and potentially meningitis or encephalitis. Membrane glycoprotein B (gB) of HSV-1 is a second ligand for PILR-alpha (Satoh et al., Cell (2008) 132:935-944). The interaction of HSV-1 gB with PILRα mediates viral entry and cell-cell fusion. Interestingly, expression of PILRα on cells enhances HSV-1 entry, whereas expression of PILRβ does not (Fan and Longnecker, J. Virol. (2010) 84(17):8664-8672). This suggests HSV-1 gB is not a ligand of PILRβ, and subtle amino acid differences between a and b play a role in ligand selectivity. Interestingly, binding of PILRα to HSV-1 gB also requires sialylated O-glycans (T53, T480) (Fan et al., J. Virol. (2009) 83(15):7384-7390). PILRα specifically associates with HSV-1 gB, but not with other HSV-1 glycoproteins, although some other envelope proteins are known to be O-glycosylated (Fan et al., J. Virol. (2009) 83(15):7384-7390).
Although PILR-alpha and PILR-beta are abundantly expressed on myeloid cells, very little is known about their role in host defense against extracellular bacterial infection or in immune function. Thus, elucidating the role for PILR-alpha and PILR-beta is a necessary prerequisite for the prevention/treatment of diseases/conditions associated with PILR-alpha and/or PILR-beta dysfunction. The present disclosure identifies sialidated glycans as necessary and sufficient for hPILRα binding. The present disclosure also provides a method and compositions, such as selective binding agents, to modulate the interactions of the PILR and its ligands. Specifically, described herein are novel reagents and methods based on the interaction of infective microorganisms and/or endogenous ligands for the prevention/treatment of diseases/conditions associated with PILR-alpha and/or PILR-beta activity.

Methods for enhancing pathogen clearance by blocking its interaction with paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor (PILR)α


A method to determine a piston position in a sample bottle, having steps of providing a transducer near a chamber of the sample bottle, exciting the transducer to provide at least one wave of acoustic energy, propagating the acoustic energy through the chamber to a surface, reflecting the acoustic energy from the surface, receiving the acoustic energy at a receiver, determining a time of flight of the acoustic energy, and calculating the piston position from the time of flight of the acoustic energy.

The Modular Dynamics Tester (MDT) is an instrument used to acquire aliquots of reservoir fluid for analyses and transportation. The reservoir fluid is drawn into the MDT through a probe in-contact with the bore-hole wall by reducing the pressure within the MDT tubular, which contains bore-hole fluid, from the pressure of the formation. The pressure reduction is generated by a positive displacement pump operated by hydraulic fluid. When the fluid within the tubular is, for all intensive purposes, free of drilling fluid, as determined by the interpretation of independent measurements on the flow-line, the reservoir fluid is directed into the sample bottle. The position of the piston within the sample bottle and thus the intake of fluid are not currently determined.
Department of Transportation ("DOT") certified bottles are used to move fluid from the well-site to the laboratory. These may contain hydraulic fluid and, in one case, a nitrogen buffer to significantly reduce the pressure reduction arising from a temperature decrease. Ideally, for any replacement reservoir fluid sampling instrument, the sample collection vessel will include the N2(g) buffer and be DOT certified and for the remainder of this the description will assume this is so.
Current apparatus do not accurately determine piston position during fluid withdrawal activities. The methods provided and the apparatus for conventional systems do not provide sufficient resolution to allow operators control to the desired level.

Acoustic determination of the position of a piston within a sample bottle


An optical sheet includes a reflective polarizer and a filter layer. The reflective polarizer reflects a part of incident light and transmits another part of the incident light. The filter layer selectively reflects the transmitted light passed through the reflective polarizer. The filter layer reflects at least one of a first wave band that is an overlapped area between a green peak and a blue peak in the spectrum of incident light, and a second wave band that is an overlapped area between a green peak and a red peak in the spectrum of incident light.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an optical sheet and display device having the optical sheet.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of display devices which use liquid crystal. Compare to the other display devices, LCD has the advantages such as thin, light, using low driving voltage and low power consumption so that LCD is widely used in industry.
Conventional LCD needs a liquid crystal panel having color filters to implement color and CCFL (Cold Cathode Florescent lamp) lamp to provide light to the liquid crystal panel.
When the white light from the lamp transmits through color filters, the spectrum of the light has three peaks corresponding to colored light, such as to each color like red, green and blue. However, the spectrum of each color is overlapped each other except for the relative middle area of the peak.
Thus, except for the middle area of each color peak, side areas of each color peak are overlapped with each other and show mixed color. This makes color reproduction decrease.

Optical sheet and display apparatus having the same


Methods of offering inspection services through retailers are described. Customers may obtain access to qualified home inspectors in a sub-contractor referral service area of a retailer through the use of a kiosk, service desk or similar point-of-purchase display. The retailer may partner with the inspector or inspection company for a fee. The retailer may offer Inspection Services Gift Cards for sale to customers. The retailer may also receive additional business from the inspection company's customers who may return to the retailer to purchase replacement items for those found deficient from the inspection.

The present invention relates to methods for offering home and commercial building inspection services. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be directed to method for offering inspection services through retailers that offer home improvement, home furnishing and office supply products and services.
Exemplary methods may involve having access to qualified home inspectors in a sub-contractor referral service area of the retailer's store through the use of a kiosk or similar point-of-purchase display. The retailer may partner with the inspector or inspection company for a fee. The retailer may also receive additional business from the inspection company's customers who may return to the retailer to purchase replacement items for those found deficient from the inspection.
A home or commercial building inspection is an objective examination of the condition of the visible and accessible components of a home or building. Owners, buyers and sellers view these inspections as a way to gain valuable information about their property because most often this property represents their single greatest investment. It helps them to determine whether there are any major defects or system inadequacies before they buy, sell or inhabit the property, and it minimizes any unpleasant surprises, significant financial and/or health related burdens.
Inspectors do not point out every small problem or defect in a home. Minor or cosmetic flaws, for example, should be apparent without the aid of a professional. The inspector's observations or recommendations may help to dispel property owner and buyer anxieties and provide useful home repair and maintenance suggestions. The inspector's service is primarily one of education. The goal of the inspector is to provide property owners, buyers and sellers with a better understanding of the physical condition of their prospective home or business; giving them peace of mind and helping them make more informed decisions about buying and maintaining real estate property.
The following terms as used herein are defined as follows:
Property Inspection: A visual inspection of either residential real estate, which adheres to the American Society of Home Inspector standards or commercial real estate, which adheres to the guidelines set forth by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).
Inspection Services: Residential inspections (ASHI Standards), commercial inspections (ASTM Standards), airborne radon testing (EPA Protocol) and airborne and surface mold sampling (by an accredited testing laboratory).
Inspection Services Gift Card: Separate cards for each type of inspection in various denominations. These cards may be owned by the inspection company and placed into the retailer's establishment on a consignment basis. The card may then be sold at face value to the public as over-the-counter merchandise. The retailer may retain a percentage on these sales and pass the remaining balance of the sale to the inspection company. The consumer may redeem the cards to the inspection company to render Inspection Services.
Retailer Gift Card: Is the property of the retailer and is sold to whomever for the face value of the card. The inspection company, for example, could buy a Retailer Gift Card in order to provide that retailer credit for a sale. The inspection company may then offer the Retailer Gift Card to their client at no charge as an incentive or token of appreciation. More often than not, the client will return to the retailer to use the card and may also buy merchandise which costs more than the face value of the card.
There are correlations between the inspection industry and the construction industry and the home improvement and retail industry. Inspection service clients may have three concerns: 1) How much are replacement equipment costs? 2) Where is such equipment/materials found? 3) Who can install such equipment/materials?
Nationwide promotions have appeared at home improvement retailers stating that they will install various categories of product purchased from their stores. Specifically, HOME DEPOT rolled out a program named "At Home Services" which is their department designated to find and match a preferred contractor with a client to install a given classification of product. For example, matching a customer looking for flooring with a flooring installation contractor, appliances with an appliance installer, etc. LOWE'S also has a similar service which they call "Installed Services" which also matches a preferred installation contractor with a store customer to install their newly purchased products.
In both of the previous examples, the preferred installers are pre-screened, pre-approved sub-contractors hired by the retailers to install certain products on a contractual basis. In turn, the retailers keep a percentage of the sale as a referral fee. The contractor warranties the work which the retailer then passes onto the customer. The retailers each list over 40 different categories of products which they install. They include electrical, plumbing, roofing, flooring, appliances, paint, wall coverings, play equipment, landscaping and much more. Yet, neither retailer offers Inspection Services to their customers. Other leading retailers such as WAL-MART, TARGET, KROGER, PUBLIX, COSTCO, SAM'S CLUB and STAPLES also do not offer Inspection Services for their residential and small business customers.
The correlation between Inspection Services and retailers may also exist for reasons other than that of finding replacement equipment or installation contractors. For example, when a new property owner is taking possession of a new or existing property, new items may typically be purchased. Once the physical move is complete, new furniture, TV's, stereos and bedding may be purchased. Old items such as barbeque grills, patio furniture, and the like may be discarded and new products purchased.
This trend is in keeping with the American Dream and in keeping with one's desire to stay new and current. Such desire for 'newness' is evidenced by the popularity of HGTV and shows such as Extreme Make-Over Home Edition. Additionally, the public is buying new homes and commercial businesses in record numbers due to low mortgage rates. With the purchase of a new home or business comes the need to have it inspected and buy new items to fill it.
Once the property is inspected, a summary list of defective equipment and materials may be compiled by the inspector and presented to the client. The client (be it the seller or buyer) may shop for new or replacement items. Shopping is what unites the inspection company to the retailer. A mutual client of both entities may buy new or replacement equipment, and/or have other new items installed. Because of this correlation between the inspection company and retailers, both entities can help the other in the promotion of each other's respective companies and in the generation of revenue.
Currently, both inspectors and clients experience problems in finding each other for mutual benefit. Inspectors must work toward being placed on a referral list by a real estate professional. Many real estate professionals require certain credentials before placing an inspector on a referral list. Most referral lists contain multiple inspector names & companies based more on the real estate professional's personal preferences than on the inspector's credentials. Clients are more likely to be biased toward the real estate professional's personal biases of those on such a list. Most Professional Lists, Trade Directories and Internet Directories cost money. Financial resources of the independent inspector are burdened by these costs and the costs of other business related expenses. Not all real estate professionals work full time nor are they writing contracts on a daily basis or even on a weekly basis. Hence, an inspector must rely on a greater pool of agents to obtain referrals, and logistics and little cash flow make it difficult to conduct broad and far reaching marketing solicitation. FIG. 1 shows ways that inspectors have found clients.
Clients experience problems in finding inspectors. First, not all clients work with a real estate professional, and therefore do not have access to the referral lists. Not all clients consider having an inspection performed or are unaware of Inspection Services. Not all clients are internet savvy enough to find an inspector nor are they knowledgeable enough about the Inspection Service to know where to look for an inspector or what questions to ask. A client may be new to the community and not know who to ask or what inspector to call. Many real estate contracts are written in such a way as to provide a very short time frame in which to have an inspection performed which leaves little time to find an inspector. Clients may be too consumed with work, family, careers and the moving process to allow time to find a quality inspector, and many clients buying newly constructed homes do not believe that a new home needs to be inspected since it is 'new'. Posting an in-store display & message for the buying public can help dispel this falsehood. FIG. 2 shows ways that clients have found inspectors. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be directed to methods and systems for offering inspection services to a customer of a retailer. In one exemplary embodiment, an order may be placed directly with a retailer for an inspection of a property and an inspector may inspect the property. In another exemplary embodiment, a telephone or a computer, which may be electronically connected to the Internet, may be provided at a kiosk at the retailer. The computer may display a web page. The customer may enter information about themselves and the property to be inspected or simply talk to the inspection company's customer service representative. The customer may then place an order for an inspection of the property and schedule the inspection of the property. The inspector or inspection company may then obtain payment information from the customer and inspect the property on the scheduled date. In another exemplary embodiment, the customer may purchase an Inspection Services Gift Card from a point of sale display at the retailer.

Method of offering home inspection services through retailers


Debugging a multiprocessor system utilizing at least two debuggers is disclosed. A user command is issued through a first debugger to a first processor in the multiprocessor system. The user command can be converted to a debugger RPC command by a first proxy module associated with the first debugger. The user command can be intercepted by a scheduler. A second processor in the multiprocessor system is then informed, for example by the scheduler, of the issuance of the user command. The user command is executed by both the first and second processors and both the first and second debuggers can then be informed by means of processor RPC commands of the execution of the user command. The processor RPC commands can be converted to callback commands by respective first and second proxy modules associated with the first and second processors when being sent to the first and second debuggers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of debuggers for processors and, more particularly, in the field of debugging multiprocessor systems.
2. Background Art
Software for embedded systems is conventionally developed using a single micro controller or a digital signal processor (DSP) and either an emulation or simulation module to which a debugger is attached. A debugger is a tool that aids a programmer or developer in locating and correcting errors in the system. In the case of a simulation module, the debugging system and the debugger are both implemented in software.
When debugging software in a multiprocessor environment using multiple debuggers, the state of each individual processor is displayed independently in each debugger. However, multiprocessor systems typically share system resources such as shared memory. When a user changes the state of a "shared system resource," by utilizing a debugger, the other debuggers are not informed of the change to the system state. Furthermore, many multiprocessor systems now exist which contain a centralized control structure to allow the execution state of all the processors in the system to be started and stopped synchronously. This is true of most system simulation environments that utilize a centralized clocking scheme and a centralized debug controller. In these environments, any of the attached software debuggers can modify the execution state of all of the processors. When this modification occurs, the other debuggers are no longer coordinated with the system to which they are attached.
In the past, hardware/software developers typically limited themselves to debugging one processor at a time to limit the source of state changes in the system. When the need to simultaneously debug multiple processors arose, the hardware/software developers were forced to manually re-synchronize the debuggers. An alternative approach was to create a single debugger capable of debugging multiple processors. In this environment all state changes come from a single source. Unfortunately, this type of debugger is more difficult to develop and must be modified if a new type of processor is added to the environment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional exemplary single-processor system simulation, i.e. debugging system 100. In the present application, the entity upon which a debugger acts will be referred to as a "target" within a "system simulation." A system simulation may include, for example, several targets, a scheduler, and a shared system resource such as a shared memory. Furthermore, a target may contain a central processing unit (CPU), among other elements. As shown in FIG. 1, debugging system 100 includes a debugger, i.e. debugger 110, which communicates with a processor model, i.e. system simulation 120. Debugger 110 is used to control and display the state of system simulation 120.
Many of today's embedded software applications are complex and cannot be properly supported by a single microprocessor system. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary conventional multiprocessor system simulation, i.e. debugging system 200. Debugging system 200 includes debuggers 210, 212, and 214, a shared system resource such as shared memory 228, and targets 220, 222, and 224. Targets 220, 222, and 224 further comprise CPUs 221, 223, and 225, respectively. Information, e.g. a "stop command," can be communicated from debuggers 210, 212, and 214 to targets 220, 222, and 224, respectively, as represented pictorially by "communication lines" 216, 217, and 218, respectively. Furthermore, shared memory 228 can have two-way communication with targets 220, 222, and 224, as represented pictorially by two-way "communication lines" 230, 232, and 234, respectively. As an example, debugger 210 may issue a command to CPU 221 in target 220, via communication line 216. A problem that arises in conventional multiprocessor debugging systems, such as debugging system 200, is that the debuggers are not aware of changes made to the system state by other debuggers. This problem can be illustrated by the following example.
As mentioned above, debugging system 200 includes three CPUs: CPU 221, CPU 223, and CPU 225, which are run in debug mode using debugger 210, debugger 212, and debugger 214, respectively. Moreover, CPUs 221, 223, and 225 may share system resources, such as shared memory 228. Thus, debugger 210 may issue a command to CPU 221 which will in turn cause a change in the state of shared memory 228 within system simulation 250. When debugger 210 changes the state of shared memory 228, debugger 212 and debugger 214 are not informed of this change and are thus not updated to reflect the current state of shared memory 228. In effect, each debugger in debugging system 200 acts as if it is the only entity that may change the state of a shared system resource, and that its commands are necessarily executed, without accounting for the actions of other debuggers. Due to this lack of coordination between the debuggers and the system simulation, debuggers 212 and 214 may initiate improper commands, or may fail to initiate necessary commands.
Thus there is a need in the art for coordination of multiple debuggers in a multiprocessor simulation environment.

Method and system for debugging multiprocessor systems