A writing instrument that includes a body provided with an ink reservoir; an inker element mounted at one end of the body; and a feeder device. The feeder device includes a duct that connects the reservoir to the inker element and opens out into the reservoir via an opening. The feeder device also includes a valve that includes a tab received in the duct, the tab being extended by a head.

The Japanese patent application published under the No. JP-07-214968 discloses a writing instrument comprising an ink reservoir, a roller, a passage connecting the reservoir to the roller, and a valve mounted to move between a closed position in which it closes the passage, and open position in which it puts the reservoir into communication with the roller. A porous element is interposed in the passage between the roller and the valve, which valve is pierced by a hole that serves, in the open position, to allow the ink to flow from the reservoir towards the porous element, which porous element in turn inks the roller.
That type of writing instrument can give satisfaction, but it nevertheless presents a certain number of drawbacks.
Firstly, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the above-mentioned application, part of the roller is received in the passage provided for passing the flow of ink. In order to allow the roller to rotate freely, it can be understood that it is necessary to provide clearance between the roller and the passage. This leads to a risk of ink that is too fluid penetrating into said clearance and overflowing the contact zone between the roller and the support against which the roller is pressed, thereby leading to marks and smudges.
Furthermore, it can happen that the valve and/or the porous element become jammed in the passage, either in the closed position (in which case the ink no longer flows), or else in the open position (in which case the instrument leaks permanently), both to the detriment of proper operation of the writing instrument.

Writing instrument including a valve feeder device


This invention provides a production condition determining method by which a production schedule of boards can be determined in a short time. The production condition determining method is for determining production conditions, under which various types of boards are to be produced. This method includes: judging whether or not all of part feeders necessary to produce the various types of boards can be stored simultaneously in part supplying units in a mounter, by comparing the number of the necessary part feeders, with the number of part feeders which can be stored in the part supplying units; and outputting a guidance for modifying the production conditions so that the various types of boards can be produced, when the judgment is made that all of the necessary part feeders cannot be stored simultaneously in the part supplying units.

Conventionally, a part placement method has been proposed in order to efficiently produce multiple types of boards by a mounting line having a great number of mounters, each of which mounts electronic components (hereinafter, referred to as parts) on a board, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-22774, for example. By this conventional part placement method, parts to be mounted on all of the multiple types of boards (hereinafter, referred to as "common parts") are grouped in an order of user frequency and in an order of speeds, thereby deciding a placement position of a part feeder for the common parts. Thereby, it becomes no longer necessary to prepare each part feeder of the common parts for each board, to be set in a part supplying unit in the mounter. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of times of interchanging the feeders when a type of the board is to be changed, thereby efficiently producing the board.
However, if there are a great number of types of boards, due to constraints on the number of part feeders which are able to be stored in the mounter, all of the part feeders are not always able to be stored in the mounter. Whether or not all of the part feeders can be stored is unknown until processing for deciding placement of the part feeder is performed. More specifically, if the placement of all of the part feeders can be decided, all of the part feeders can be stored in the mounter, and if not, some of the part feeders are not able to be stored in the mounter.
However, this processing is quite time consuming. For example, in order to facilitate operations performed by an operator to place the part feeders in the part supplying unit, various processing is necessary, such as processing for grouping parts which have a similar size or shape, and processing for deciding an order of the placement of the part feeders in order to minimize a mounting time for each board type in the same group. Moreover, those processing need to be performed in trial-and-error processes. For this reason, a lot of time is required to know whether or not all part feeders can be stored in the mounter, and if some part feeders cannot be stored in the mounter, a production schedule of boards is modified, for example by reducing the number of board types to be produced, in order to re-perform the processing for deciding the placement positions of the part feeders. Therefore, there is a problem that a quite lot of time is required to decide a production schedule of boards.
The present invention is conceived to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a production condition determining method by which placement of the part feeders can be decided in a short time, by judging at an early stage whether or not the part feeders can be stored in the part supplying unit, and by adopting an interactive system for communicating with an operator.

Production condition determining method, production condition determining apparatus, mounter, and program


A method for predicting asphaltene onset pressure in a reservoir is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes performing downhole fluid analysis of formation fluid via a downhole tool at a measurement station at a first depth in a wellbore and determining an asphaltene gradient for the formation fluid at the measurement station. Asphaltene onset pressure for a second depth in the wellbore may then be predicted based on the downhole fluid analysis and the determined asphaltene gradient. Additional methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

Wells are generally drilled into subsurface rocks to access fluids, such as hydrocarbons, stored in subterranean formations. The formations penetrated by a well can be evaluated for various purposes, including for identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs within the formations. Flow connectivity of a reservoir is one parameter that impacts the hydrocarbon production efficiency. Asphaltenes are generally the heaviest fraction and the most polar component in a petroleum mixture. They can be precipitated as solid particles under certain pressure and temperature conditions in some crude oils. As reservoir pressure decreases, the pressure (at a given test temperature) at which asphaltene precipitation begins is referred to as the asphaltene onset pressure (AOP).
Formation evaluation may involve drawing fluid from a formation into a downhole tool. In some instances, downhole fluid analysis (DFA) is used to test the fluid while it remains in the well. Such analysis can be used to provide information on certain fluid properties in real time without the delay associated with returning fluid samples to the surface. Information obtained through downhole fluid analysis can be used as inputs to various modeling and simulation techniques to estimate the properties or behavior of petroleum fluid in a reservoir. These techniques can employ an equation of state (EOS) model that represents the phase behavior of the petroleum fluid within the reservoir, which can be used to determine various other fluid or reservoir characteristics.

Prediction of asphaltene onset pressure gradients downhole


A process of programming or reprogramming a reprogrammable onboard memory (5) comprises programming or reprogramming the onboard memory of several modules (M0, M1) in parallel through a multiple access bus (6) to which the modules are connected. In the case of blank flash memories, a process downloads code through the multiple access bus (6) and executes the code, eliminating all external constraints (such as frequency, binary throughput). The process is more particularly intended to apply to onboard flash type memories.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for programming and reprogramming any reprogrammable onboard memory in parallel through a multiple access bus such as a bus operating using the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol, and particularly to program and reprogram onboard flash type memories in parallel.
2. Description of Related Art
The following description is made with reference to a flash type memory, although the concept of the invention can be generalized to any reprogrammable memory.
Note also that the entire description given below is made particularly with reference to the use of a CAN bus. However, the concept of the invention also includes parallel programming/reprogramming of flash memories onboard modules through any other bus with multiple accesses not dedicated to this purpose and that could be used as a substitute for the CAN.
Flash memories are EEPROM memories, where EEPROM is an abbreviation for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, with a very short write time, a low erase voltage and with high capacity, and are frequently used in microcontroller circuits, particularly circuits dedicated to communication management for different diagnostic tools for an automobile vehicle such as engine control, ABS, electronic suspension management, etc.
The problem that then arises is to program (or reprogram) the onboard memory of these dedicated circuits in a minimum amount of time therefore at low cost.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional functional diagram of a module of the type mentioned above with an on-board flash memory. The core of the circuit is composed of a microprocessor 1. The microprocessor 1 communicates with a system unit in a central computer through an asynchronous serial link 2 of the UART type, where UART is an abbreviation for Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter. An asynchronous transmission interface 3 is then installed between the microprocessor 1 and the transmission line 2 to enable transmission of data in asynchronous mode. A CAN bus can also be provided to communicate with the microprocessor through a CAN interface 7. The circuit also comprises a chronometer 4 connected to an external oscillator 8 to determine the frequency at which the system runs, and an erasable reprogrammable flash type memory 5. The flash memory is usually shared between a test area 5a and a user area 5b.
In a context in which the flash memories to be programmed are blank, it is important to be able to start the activity of the microprocessor regardless of the frequency conditions under which the system is running and regardless of the transmission speed.
In prior art, the start methodology used to activate the memory is based on the principle of a separation of the flash memory into two parts: the flash test part 5a and the user flash part 5b. Thus, the flash test is programmed in the factory with a minimum program which then loads code through the UART serial link.
However, nowadays the UART serial link reduces the transmission speed which is limited to 9600 bits/s. Therefore this physical interface is not suitable for fast data transfers.
A faster physical link is necessary to enable greater productivity gains on production lines.
Thus, UART type serial links are increasingly being replaced by another communication medium which is the CAN bus, reference 6 in FIG. 1 and which communicates with the microprocessor in this circuit through the CAN interface module 7.
A bus operating according to the CAN protocol can achieve much greater throughputs than are possible with a conventional asynchronous serial link since the different throughputs possible with a CAN bus vary from 125 kilobits/second to 1 Megabit/second, and there is an intermediate rate of 500 kilobits/second.
The problem that then arises is to be able to program blank flash memories using this communication medium and therefore being able to download program code directly through the CAN bus and being able to execute it regardless of the system frequency conditions and regardless of the binary throughput on the link.
Solutions have already been proposed in prior art, particularly the ATMEL company has developed a microcontroller specifically dedicated to applications using a CAN network. However, the solution developed by ATMEL is not completely satisfactory since it requires additional hardware resources, particularly in the CAN module, for error management.
On the contrary, the invention is intended to avoid this disadvantage by implementing additional hardware resources.
It is important to note straight away that the invention is intended to be applicable to a context in which flash memories in all modules to be programmed are blank, in the same way as a context in which the flash memories are not blank, in other words a context in which an identical program is already installed in all modules, and this is the case particularly when a first programming of a test software has been installed in the flash memory and the flash memory then needs to be reprogrammed.
However, in a flash memory reprogramming context, in other words in the context in which an identical program of a test software had already been installed in the flash memory in all the modules, it is necessary to include an erase step before the flash memories can be reprogrammed as required by the user.
The erase step prior to reprogramming takes a lot of time, since it can take about 10 seconds per circuit. This memory erase operation is essential before reprogramming later, and is a severe handicap in a production environment that must produce several hundred of thousands or millions of modules.
Finally, concerning the actual programming of the flash memories in itself, another constraint that has to be taken into account is intrinsic to the component, since programming a flash memory is equivalent to charging capacitors. A flash memory is composed of several small capacitors each provided with a very good quality insulator, such that they hardly discharge over time.
However, the capacitors will discharge more or less quickly depending on the variation of the oxide quality in manufacturing batches. Thus, if the programming of a flash takes x microseconds for a given circuit, it may for example take 1 microsecond longer for another circuit due to variations in the oxide quality.
These synchronization problems that arise between the different modules due to programming of the flash memory and that are intrinsic to the flash memories themselves, are defects that make implementation of a specific programming protocol through the CAN bus unacceptable.

Method for programming/parallel programming of onboard flash memory by multiple access bus


The present invention includes Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, reactions using Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, methods of making Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, processes of hydrogenating carbon monoxide, and fuels made using these processes. The invention provides the ability to hydrogenate carbon monoxide with low contact times, good conversion rates and low methane selectivities. In a preferred method, the catalyst is made using a metal foam support.

The present invention is a catalyst structure and method of making, and a method of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is carbon monoxide hydrogenation that is usually performed on a product stream from another reaction including but not limited to steam reforming (product stream H2/COxcx9c3), partial oxidation (product stream H2/COxcx9c2), autothermal reforming (product stream H2/COxcx9c2.5), CO2 reforming (H2/COxcx9c1) coal gassification (product stream H2/COxcx9c1) and combinations thereof.
Fundamentally, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has fast surface reaction kinetics. However, the overall reaction rate is severely limited by heat and mass transfer with conventional catalysts or catalyst structures. The limited heat transfer together with the fast surface reaction kinetics may result in hot spots in a catalyst bed. Hot spots favor methanation. In commercial processes, fixed bed reactors with small internal diameters or slurry type and fluidized type reactors with small catalyst particles ( greater than 50 microns, xcexcm) are used to mitigate the heat and mass transfer limitations. In addition, one of the important reasons that Fisher-Tropsch reactors are operated at lower conversions per pass is to minimize temperature excursion in the catalyst bed. Because of the necessary operational parameters to avoid methanation, conventional reactors are not improved even with more active Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts. Detailed operation is summarized in Table 1 and FIG. 1.
Literature data (Table 1 and FIG. 1) were obtained at lower H2/CO ratio (2:1) and longer contact time (3 sec or longer) in a fixed bed type reactor. Low H2/CO (especially 2-2.5), long contact time, low temperature, and higher pressure favor Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Selectivity to CH4 is significantly increased by increasing H2/CO ratio from 2 to 3. Increasing contact time also has a dramatic favorable effect on the catalyst performance. Although reference 3 in Table 1 shows satisfactory results, the experiment was conducted under the conditions where Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is favored (at least 3 sec residence time, and H2/CO=2). In addition, the experiment of reference 3 was done using a powdered catalyst on an experimental scale that would be impractical commercially because of the pressure drop penalty imposed by powdered catalyst. Operating at higher temperature will enhance the conversion, however at the much higher expense of selectivity to CH4. It is also noteworthy that contact time in commercial Fischer-Tropsch units is at least 10 sec.
Hence, there is a need for a catalyst structure and method of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis that can achieve the same or higher conversion at shorter contact time, and/or at higher H2/CO.
The present invention includes a catalyst structure and method of making the catalyst structure for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis that have a first porous structure with a first pore surface area and a first pore size of at least about 0.1 xcexcm, preferably from about 10 xcexcm to about 300 xcexcm. A porous interfacial layer with a second pore surface area and a second pore size less than the first pore size disposed on the first pore surface area. A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, iron, nickel, rhenium, osmium and combinations thereof is placed upon the second pore surface area.
The present invention also provides a method of making a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having the steps of: providing a catalyst structure comprising a porous support with a first pore surface area and a first pore size of at least about 0.1 xcexcm; optionally depositing a buffer layer on the porous support; depositing a porous interfacial layer with a second pore surface area and a second pore size less than said first pore size, upon the buffer layer (if present); and depositing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst upon the second pore surface area.
The present invention further includes a method of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis having the steps of:
providing a catalyst structure having a first porous support with a first pore surface area and a first pore size of at least about 0.1 xcexcm;
a buffer layer disposed on the porous support;
a porous interfacial layer with a second pore surface area and a second pore size less than the first pore size, the porous interfacial layer disposed on the buffer layer (if present) or on the first pore surface area; and
a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst disposed on the second pore surface area; and
(b) passing a feed stream having a mixture of hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas through the catalyst structure and heating the catalyst structure to at least 200xc2x0 C. at an operating pressure, the feed stream having a residence time within the catalyst structure less than 5 seconds, thereby obtaining a product stream of at least 25% conversion of carbon monoxide, and at most 25% selectivity toward methane.
The present invention also includes various supported Fischer-Tropsch catalysts that are characterized by their properties. For example, a catalyst is provided that, if exposed to a feed stream consisting of a 3 to 1 ratio of hydrogen gas to carbon monoxide, at 250xc2x0 C. and a residence time of 12.5 seconds, exhibits a selectivity to methane that is greater at 24 atmospheres (contact time of 1 second) than it is at 6 atmospheres pressure (contact time of 4 seconds), even though the conversion is higher at lower pressure.
Catalytic activity is an intrinsic property of a catalyst. In the present invention, this property is defined by various testing conditions. For example, a preferred catalyst has a Fischer-Tropsch catalytic metal supported on a porous support; where the catalyst possesses catalytic activity such that, if the catalyst is placed in a tube inside an isothermal furnace and exposed to a feed stream consisting of a 3 to 1 ratio of hydrogen gas to carbon monoxide, at 250xc2x0 C., at 6 atm, at a contact time less than 5 seconds and the product stream is collected and cooled to room temperature, the selectivity to methane is less than 25%, and the carbon monoxide conversion is greater than 25%. To check whether a catalyst meets a claimed activity property requires only a test at the specified conditions.
The invention also provides a method for hydrogenating carbon monoxide, in which a feed stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is passed into a reaction chamber that contains a catalyst at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C.; the catalyst having a supported Fischer-Tropsch catalytic metal; and collecting a product stream. In this process, heat is transferred from the reaction chamber at a sufficient rate such that, under steady-state conditions, the feed stream has: a contact time of less than about 2 seconds; a production rate of at least 1 milliliter per minute of liquid product where the liquid product is measured at 20xc2x0 C. and 1 atm or at least 1 liter per minute of gaseous hydrocarbon product of molecules having at least 2 carbon atoms; a methane selectivity of less than 25%, and a carbon monoxide conversion greater than 25%. The hydrocarbons can be saturated, unsaturated or partially oxidized; and for use as fuels are preferably saturated hydrocarbons.
The present invention further includes reactors that use any of the catalysts described herein. The invention also includes hydrocarbon fuels made by any of the methods described herein. The present invention further includes methods of hydrogenating carbon monoxide that use any of the catalysts described herein.
Advantages that may be provided by the invention include (i) at residence/contact times shorter than the prior art, higher conversions are achieved with no increase to methane selectivity; and (ii) as residence/contact times increase, conversion increases and methane selectivity decreases. Surprisingly, it has been found that carbon monoxide can be hydrogenated at short contact time to produce liquid fuels at good conversion levels, low methane selectivities and good production rates.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

Catalyst structure and method of fischer-tropsch synthesis


A patient gas delivery apparatus includes a gas flow generator, a gas delivery conduit and a patient mask. Connected in series between the conduit and the mask is an assembly formed in at least two interengaging parts that may form a housing for an anti-asphyxia valve or flow sensor. The assembly further includes a mating portion for connection to the mask, the arrangement being such that connection of the assembly to the mask prevents disengagement of the interengaging connection between the two parts of the assembly.

This invention relates to improvements in patient gas delivery apparatus of the kind used in the analysis and treatment of respiratory disorders. The invention will be described with particular reference to patient gas delivery apparatus used in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) but it is not intended to be limited thereto.
Patient gas delivery apparatus of the kind having a mask worn by a patient and a gas delivery conduit attached to the mask, is commonly used in the analysis and treatment of respiratory disorders. The gas conduit delivers a gas under pressure to the patient. It is necessary that the gas conduit is detachable from the mask to facilitate cleaning
Patient gas delivery apparatus typically includes at minimum, a gas delivery conduit and a nose or full face mask. In some cases it is a clinical requirement that additional components be included, such as means for CO2 washout, for example, vents, anti-asphyxia valves and the like. In some cases, these additional components must be assembled in between the gas delivery conduit and the mask. Problems with prior art assemblies include:
(a) They may be inadvertently assembled without the additional components
(b) They may be incorrectly assembled, for example, incorrectly aligned
(c) During the course of treatment, the patient may inadvertently remove or dismantle the assembly and incorrectly reassemble it.
The present invention is directed towards solving or ameliorating one or more of these problems. The invention will be described with reference to a full face mask and an anti-asphyxia valve, though other forms of mask and additional components may be used.
In one form, the invention resides in a patient gas delivery apparatus including a mask adapted for communication with a patient""s airways, a gas flow generator and gas delivery conduit means, further including an assembly connected in series between the conduit means and the masks, said assembly being formed in at least two parts connected by interengaging connecting means, said assembly further including means for connection to the mask, wherein connection of the assembly to the mask prevents disengagement of the interengaging connecting means such that said at least two parts of the assembly cannot separate whilst the assembly is connected to the mask.
In a further form of the invention, there is provided an assembly for connection in series between a gas delivery conduit means and a patient mask in a patient gas delivery apparatus, the assembly being formed in at least two parts connected by interengaging connecting means, said assembly further including means for connection to the mask, wherein connection of the assembly to the mask prevents disengagement of the interengaging connecting means such that said at least two parts of the assembly cannot separate whilst the assembly is connected to the mask.
Preferably, the means for connection to the mask includes locking means located on the inner side of the mask, that is in the region of the mask that lies adjacent the patient""s face, such that the assembly cannot be disconnected from the mask until the mask has been substantially removed from the patient.
Preferably also, the interengaging means connecting the two parts of the assembly includes detent means on a first of the parts which releasably engage a second of the parts, the detents being held in an engaged position by the mask whilst the assembly is connected to the mask.
Desirably, the mask and conduit are not adapted for direct interconnection without the assembly.
In one preferred form of the invention, the assembly may form a housing for one or more internal components, for example a valve member or a flow sensor.


A sensor assembly for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of movable strings includes a primary winding adapted to be disposed at one end of either one of a fingerboard and a neck of the stringed musical instrument. The sensor assembly includes at least one magnet disposed adjacent the primary winding and the movable strings to generate a magnetic field. The primary winding creates a primary current from a disruption in the magnetic field by the movable strings and the primary current creates a primary electromagnetic flux. The sensor assembly further includes at least one secondary being coupled to the primary winding. The at least one secondary winding transforms the primary electromagnetic flux into a secondary current adapted to pass out the stringed musical instrument.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to musical instruments and, more particularly, to a sensor assembly for use with stringed musical instruments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, stringed musical instruments such as electric guitars have electromagnetic sensors or pick-ups for sensing mechanical vibrations of the strings and converting such into electrical signals. The electrical signals from the electromagnetic sensors are amplified and modified and, ultimately, reconverted into acoustical energy, to produce music and the like.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,501,900 and 5,438,157, issued to Lace, disclose an acoustic electromagnetic sensor assembly and mounting assembly for a stringed musical instrument. In these patents, the sensor assembly has a mounting assembly that fits in a sound hole of the stringed musical instrument. These electromagnetic sensors have a high visual impact when mounted on a stringed musical instrument such as an acoustic guitar. Further, these electromagnetic sensors typically have a tone and output that has a single value.
It is desirable to provide a sensor assembly that has less of a visual impact. It is also desirable to provide a sensor assembly with more variations in tone and output. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a sensor assembly, which meets these desires.

Sensor assembly for stringed musical instruments


A system for improving distribution of gases within an intake manifold of an engine is presented. The system may be used to improve engine air-fuel control. In one example, turbulence of gases entering an intake manifold is increased.

An intake manifold of an engine may be configured to receive gases and provide vacuum to devices external the intake manifold. In one example, fuel vapors accumulated from a vehicle fuel system may be introduced to an intake manifold by way of a port. One system for distributing gases in an intake manifold is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,787. This system provides for a gas introducing pipe that is upstream of a partitioning part, and the intake manifold is bifurcated by the part. Gases flowing from the gas introducing pipe are directed to a first or second group of cylinders by way of the partitioning plate.
The above-mentioned method can also have several disadvantages. Specifically, the intake manifold limits communication between cylinders of different cylinder banks and therefore may interfere with cylinder air flow during some conditions. Further, the intake manifold is more complex than other intake manifolds that have a common collector area between intake manifold runners. Further still, the intake manifold may be less suitable for engines that have a different cylinder firing order (e.g., eight cylinder engines).
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and have developed an intake manifold for improving distribution of gases in an engine intake manifold.
One embodiment of the present description includes an intake manifold, comprising: a non-partitioned intake manifold coupled to an engine and including a common collector to which a plurality of intake runners are coupled; a first port located in said intake manifold and in an air flow path downstream of a throttle body and upstream of said plurality of intake runners; and a protrusion into said intake manifold downstream of said port and upstream of said plurality of intake runners.
By integrating a protrusion into an intake manifold, the intake manifold having a collector common to intake manifold runners, distribution of gases in an intake manifold may be improved without degrading engine performance. For example, a protrusion into an intake manifold at a location downstream of a gas inlet port and upstream of intake manifold runners can improve distribution of gases between the intake manifold runners. As a result, engine air-fuel control may be improved. Further, a protrusion can be designed into the intake manifold such that it has a limited affect on induction of gases into engine cylinders. Thus, engine cylinder air-fuel distribution may be improved without sacrificing engine power.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may improve engine emissions by improving cylinder air-fuel distribution. Further, cylinder air-fuel control may be improved while engine power is substantially unchanged. Further still, a protrusion may be formed in an intake manifold such that no additional components are necessary to improve engine cylinder air-fuel distribution.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for improving gas distribution in an intake manifold


A high density wood product that is made from low-density wood is provided. The wood product is made using a continuous viscoelastic thermal compression (VTC) process and exhibits high density, strength and dimensional stability, compared to the lower density starting material (typically composite panels such as strand board) from which it is made.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a process for the production of high density wood from low-density wood. In particular, the invention provides a continuous viscoelastic thermal compression (VTC) process for the production of VTC wood with high density, strength and dimensional stability.
2. Background of the Invention
Wood is widely used as a material for many manufacturing endeavors, including the construction of buildings, furniture, tools, decorative objects, composites, etc. The continual utilization of virgin forests has reduced the available supply of wood from large old growth logs. Further, the "green revolution" has increased public awareness regarding the efficient utilization of timber, and protection of forest lands, particularly of old growth forests. As a result, a shift in the available resource base has occurred, from old-growth mature forests to intensively managed, short-rotation, forest plantations. Many species of trees are now grown in plantations where conditions are manipulated to encourage rapid growth of the trees. The time to harvest for a tree grown on a plantation is typically less than 20 years, compared to 50-60 or more for trees in a naturally generated forest. Unfortunately, the demand for certain types of wood products cannot be met with trees that are so rapidly grown. Although these tree "crops" are adequate for such products as paper, a high percentage of the available wood is of low density and has mechanical properties that are inadequate for structural products.
Wood with inadequate mechanical properties can be modified by various combinations of compressive, thermal and chemical treatments. It can be densified by impregnating its void volume with polymers, molten natural resins, waxes, sulfur, and even molten metals, with subsequent cooling to solidify the impregnant. On the other hand, wood can be compressed in the transverse direction under conditions that do not cause damage to the cell wall (Kollmann et al. 1975). The compression of solid wood has been done in Germany since 1930 under the trade name of Lignostone. Laminated compressed wood has been made under the trade name Lignofol. Similar materials, Jicwood and Jablo, have been in production in England for some years (Rowell and Konkol, 1987). In the United States, patents on methods of densifying wood (such as Sears, U.S. Pat. No. 646,547, Apr. 3, 1900; Walch and Watts, U.S. Pat. No. 1,465,383 Aug. 21, 1923; Olesheimer, U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,135, Mar. 26, 1929; Brossman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,834,895, Dec. 1, 1931) date back to the 1900s. These patents did not adequately consider plasticization of the wood or stabilization of the final product; for this reason, the methods described therein have not been adopted by the industry (Kollmann et al. 1975).
Another densified wood product created in the United States is Compreg (Stamm and Seborg 1941). Compreg is resin-treated compressed wood. It is normally made by treating solid wood or veneer with water-soluble phenol formaldehyde resin and compressing it to the desired specific gravity and thickness. Compreg is much more dimensionally stable than non-impregnated compressed wood. However, treating resins harden within the cell wall making the treated wood brittle. Thus, if a tough, compressed product is desired, a brittle polymer should not be impregnated in the wood. A similar resin-treated compressed wood has been made in Germany under the name of Kunstharzschichtholz (Kollmann et al. 1975).
Unfortunately, untreated, compressed solid wood and veneer tend to undergo irreversible "springback" or recovery from compression when exposed to moisture. To eliminate springback wood should be pressed under conditions that cause sufficient flow of the lignin. A second compressed wood product developed in the U.S. that is not treated with resin is Staypak (Seborg et al. 1962a). Staypak is produced by compressing wood at a moisture content equal to or below that which it will have in service. One of the problems associated with making of Staypak is that the panels must be cooled to 100° C. or less while under the full pressure. Due to the thermoplastic nature of the lignin, and because the moisture content of the wood is only slightly less after compression than prior to pressing, considerable springback will occur if the product is removed while still hot (Kollmann et al. 1975). This necessity and other disadvantages of Staypak prevented this product from being adopted by the industry.
There have been many studies relating to wood stabilization by various treatments. Hillis (1984) reviewed the literature about stabilization of wood by a heating process. The effect of steam pretreatment on wood was investigated by Hsu et. al. (1988); Inoue et al. (1993); Inoue et al. (1996) and Kawai et al. (1992). Lately, the effect of heat on the dimensional stability of compressed wood has been evaluated by Dwianto et al. (1996). Tomme et al. (1998) performed thermo-hygromechanical treatment in order to produce densified wood with stable deformation.
Dwianto et al. (1996) found that preheating had a great influence on permanent fixation. According to their results, the permanent fixation of compressive deformation in wood resulted from the release of stresses stored in microfibrils and the matrix substance of the cell wall due to their degradation.
Hsu et al. (1988) developed a steam pretreatment process to produce highly dimensionally stable wood-based composites. They found that steam pretreatment causes partial hydrolysis of hemicelluloses for both hardwoods and softwoods, which greatly increases the compressibility of wood (i.e., reduces the tendency of internal stresses to build up in composites during hot pressing).
Inoue et al. (1993) found that almost complete fixation can be achieved by post-steaming compressed wood for 1 min. at 200° C. or 8 min. at 180° C. There was a large increase in hardness and only a slight decrease in bending stiffness (MOE) and bending strength (MOR). Inoue et al. (1996) also investigated the effect of pre-steaming. They found that the degree of recovery decreases if the press time and temperature increase. Pre-steaming increases the compressibility of wood and reduces the amount of stored stress due to the viscous flow of wood substances.
Kawai et al. (1992) produced laminated veneer lumber (LVL) by steam-injection pressing. They found that MOR and MOE of compressed LVL increased with increasing density. The dimensional stability of LVL has been improved considerably. They also have proposed the mechanism responsible for the fixation of compression set by steam treatment. They hypothesize that relaxation of the stresses stored in the microfibrils and fixation of the compressive set is due to: rapid hydrolysis of hemicellulose and partial degradation of lignin; partial hydrolysis of cellulose of amorphous and paracrystalline region, and reorientation in the crystalline region by steam treatment.
Another process to enhance the strength and stiffness of low-density wood species using steam, heat and mechanical compression has been termed Viscoelastic Thermal Compression, (VTC) (Kultikova, 1999; Kamke et al., 2000; Kamke and Sizemore; 2001). However, previous descriptions of this process have been limited to batch processes which utilize constant environmental conditions to produce flat, densified materials. Thus, previous VTC procedures are not suitable for the industrial manufacture of densified wood products. In addition, previous VTC methodology dealt only with whole wood and did not address the manufacture of laminae from veneer or composite panels for use in structural laminated composites.
The prior art has thus far failed to provide an industrially applicable method for treating low density wood to produce a wood product of high density, strength, and dimensional stability. In particular, the prior art has not provided a method to produce, from veneer or composite panels, laminae of high density, strength, and dimensional stability for use in structural laminated composites.

Viscoelastic thermal compression of wood


Methods and apparatus for use to relieve fatigue and or strain of the wrists, fingers, arms, and upper body due to repetitive motion or position. A support is provided comprised of an inflatable main support, a medium dispensing assembly, and a conduit assembly. The support's intended use is in conjunction with devices that require the user to maintain a position on a work surface, such as computer keyboards, pointing devices, and associated device pads. The support features an attached medium dispensing assembly and pressure release valve to allow the user repeatable inflation/deflation cycles and fine adjustments of the support inflation pressure.

Modern computers use a variety of equipment to facilitate user input. Many common input devices (such as keyboards, pointing devices, and the like) rely upon interaction with the computer-user's fingers and hands. When using the input devices, the user's hands, arms and upper body are subject to stress and fatigue due to the general position and repetitive motion. An effective method of reducing stress and fatigue for device user is maintaining a position, with arms and hands slightly elevated from the main work surface, that minimizes pressure points and strain. Many rest and support devices assist a user in maintaining the proper elevated position, but all are limited in the amount of adjustment, or user-customization, that is offered.
Certain supports are constructed from a solid material, generally foam rubber, whose material properties give the support some flexibility. However, such a device is still solid in nature and maintains a singular, firm form when in use. This assists the user in maintaining the arms and hands in an elevated position, but may also create new pressure points and strains due to the unyielding solid material. Further, solid devices are mass-manufactured in fixed dimensions, so there is no customization available for an individual user's physical situation or equipment.
Flexible solid pouches filled with a fluid or semi-fluid (gel) material sealed inside provides another approach. Within the pouch, the displacement of the fluid or gel assists in dissipating pressure points while still aiding the user in maintaining an elevated position. The fluid or gel displacement within the pouch offers a small range of individual adjustment for users. Although these fluid or gel filled supports improve the comfort level of the user, material and manufacturing is costly and the final product is heavy.


A vehicle headlight measurement system instrumentation structure, comprises: a support structure; a vehicle calibration assistance structure, which is carried by the support structure and includes a headlight aiming device; a positioning target element, having a surface provided with a predetermined graphical feature, the positioning target element being supported by the support structure and oriented in a forward direction towards the service area; a positioning device, configured for aiding a relative positioning between the vehicle and the vehicle calibration assistance structure; a processing system which is operatively connected to the positioning device.

In this field, it is common practice to calibrate and align vehicle headlights using structures positioned in front of the vehicle. For example, patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,619B1 describes a vehicle headlight aiming device associated with a system for calibrating a radar proximity sensor; the headlight aiming device is configured to be positioned in front of the vehicle with the aid of a positioning system which includes alignment mirrors. The positioning systems of prior art headlight aiming devices have several disadvantages: in effect, positioning is highly time-consuming and not very precise (resulting in imprecise headlight alignment).
This disclosure has for an aim to provide a vehicle headlight measurement system instrumentation structure (or vehicle headlight aiming device) and a method for aligning a headlight aiming device mounted on a headlight aiming device to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Vehicle headlight measurement system instrumentation structure


A workpiece support has a simplified structure and can operate with improved dependability and reliability. The workpiece support has a rod, a sleeve body externally fitted on the rod and elastically deformable so as to shrink in diameter, a case member supporting the sleeve body, and an external peripheral hydraulic chamber formed on the external periphery of the sleeve body. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for moving the rod in the axial direction and oil passage are provided for connecting the hydraulic operating chamber of the hydraulic cylinder with the external peripheral hydraulic chamber when the piston member of the hydraulic cylinder has moved up to or to the vicinity of the stroke end thereof.

Workpiece supports for supporting workpiece from underneath have been provided for cutting workpiece and the like, and the present applicant has also proposed and submitted patent applications for various workpiece supports (Japanese Patent Application Nos. H11-46922, 2000-84112, and others).
The workpiece support in Japanese Patent Application No. H11-46922 has a case member, a rod, a rod-moving hydraulic cylinder, a sleeve body, a pressure intensifier, an outer peripheral hydraulic chamber, and the like.
The sleeve body is configured so as to be capable of elastic deformation and is supported by the case member, the rod is fitted movably into the sleeve body, and the external peripheral hydraulic chamber is formed on the external periphery of the sleeve body. The pressure intensifier and the rod-driving hydraulic cylinder are built into the case member, and a configuration is adopted whereby oil pressure from an oil pressure supply port formed in the case member is simultaneously supplied to the pressure intensifier and the rod-driving hydraulic cylinder.
In other words, as the rod-driving hydraulic cylinder is actuated by oil pressure supplied via the oil pressure supply port and the rod is moved in the workpiece-supporting direction, the pressure intensifier is actuated and caused to generate high oil pressure in the external peripheral hydraulic chamber, the thin-walled cylinder of the sleeve body is elastically deformed by the high oil pressure so as to shrink in diameter, and the rod is locked.
However, in this workpiece support,because oil pressure is supplied from a shared oil pressure supply port simultaneously to the pressure intensifier and the rod-driving hydraulic cylinder, the rod tends to lock before making contact with the workpiece, thus creating drawbacks of inadequate dependability and reliability of the operation of the workpiece support.
The workpiece support in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-84112 has a case member, rod, rod-driving hydraulic cylinder, sleeve body, pressure intensifier, and external peripheral hydraulic chamber, as well as a restrictor valve(throttle valve) provided in the oil supply passage leading from the oil pressure supply port to the input oil chamber of the pressure intensifier, and a non-return valve that is capable of discharging the oil pressure of the input oil chamber in the discharge oil passage leading from the input oil chamber to the oil supply port, and that opens from the oil supply port when oil pressure is discharged.
Because a restrictor valve is placed in the oil supply passage leading from the oil pressure supply port to the input oil chamber in this workpiece support, the pressure intensifier can be made to operate subsequently to the rod-driving hydraulic cylinder, and thus the rod can be locked after coming in contact with the workpiece. However, this arrangement has drawbacks because the need for providing a restricting valve and non-return valve increases the number of parts and complicates the structure.
An object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of a workpiece support and increase the dependability and reliability of its operation.


Disclosed are compounds that are derivatives of brevetoxin, or PbTx, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the compounds, and methods of regulating mucus transport in a cell, treating mucociliary dysfunction and diseases related to decreased mucus transport, wherein the compounds are of the Formula (I), and Formula (III):

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to brevetoxin derivative compounds, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the brevetoxin derivatives, and methods of treating diseases that are related to decreased mucus transport using the compounds and pharmaceutical formulations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Decreased mucus transport is characteristic of conditions and diseases such as airway obstruction, asthma, increased incidence of pulmonary disease and/or infection, and cystic fibrosis. In particular, cystic fibrosis is characterized by abnormal functioning of the airway epithelial cells. Cystic fibrosis (or "CF") is caused by a defective gene that codes for a Na+/Cl− transporter present on the surface of the epithelial cells that line the trachea, lungs, and other organs, including the intestines, pancreas, reproductive organs, and kidneys. Hundreds of mutations have been identified in this gene, all of which result in defective transport of sodium and chloride by epithelial cells. The severity of the disease symptoms is related to the inherited gene mutation or mutations. These observations indicate that activation of sodium channels can lead to bronchoconstriction and, in some cases, defects in mucus transport, both of which are associated with airway diseases, including CF.
The class of compounds known as the brevetoxins were initially discovered when they were purified as toxins from cultures of the Florida red tide organism Karenia brevis also known as Gymnodinium breve and Ptychodiscus brevis (Baden, D. G., et al., Toxicon, 1982; 20(5):929-932). K. Brevis proliferates during red tide incidents. The brevetoxins, also known as "PbTx" toxins (Ptychodiscus brevis toxin), have since been characterized and found to be polycyclic-polyethers that initially were shown to have binding activity to a unique site associated with rat brain synaptosomes (Poli, M. A., et al., Molec. Pharm., 1986; 30:129-135). Brevetoxins are classified as neurotoxins that are known to bind to voltage gated sodium channels. In particular, the effects of brevetoxins are mediated by interaction with receptor site 5 on the sodium channels. The general brevetoxin A and brevetoxin B backbone structure are as follows, with PbTx molecules (1-10) described.
Brevetoxin B Backbone
    PbTx-2: R is CH2C(═CH2)CHO;    PbTx-3: R is CH2C(═CH2)CH2OH;    PbTx-5: R is CH2C(═CH2)CHO, and OAc (instead of OH) at C37;    PbTx-6 R is CH2C(═CH2)CHO, and an epoxide at C27, C28 (instead of double bond);    PbTx-8 R is CH2COCH2Cl    PbTx-9 R is CH2CH(CH3)CH2OH.Brevetoxin A Backbone
    PbTx-1: R is CH2C(═CH2)CHO;    PbTx-7: R is CH2C(═CH2)CH2OH;    PbTx-10 R is CH2CH(CH3)CH2OH.
Generally, the activity of brevetoxins is thought to derive from the general backbone structure. Ring A and intact rings H, I, J, and K have been reported to be essential for the toxic activity of these compounds. There have been no reports that link toxic activity of brevetoxins to the various side chains appended to the backbone structure.
β-Naphthoyl-PbTx-3 is a brevetoxin derivative that reduces sodium channel openings and effectively antagonizes the actions of the native toxin in channel activation (Purkerson-Parker, Chemistry and Biology, 2000; 7(6):385-393). β-Naphthoyl-PbTx-3 is thought to displace the native toxin from its binding site, does not elicit opening of sodium channels in the steady state, and findings indicate that it blocks brevetoxin-induced opening of sodium channels.
If activation of voltage gated sodium channels causes airway related diseases or conditions, effective modulation or blockade of voltage gated sodium channels can be useful in alleviating airway pathologies associated with mucociliary dysfunction, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, pulmonary infection (e.g., pneumonia, Pseudomonas), and cystic fibrosis. Thus, there is a need for active agents that can act at the CFTR, P2Y2 receptors, A2B receptors, purinergic receptors, and chloride ion channels, binding to voltage gated sodium channels, which are useful in the regulation of mucus transport, as well as treatment or prevention of conditions or diseases associated with decreased mucus transport.

Polyether brevetoxin derivatives as a treatment for cystic fibrosis, mucociliary dysfunction, and pulmonary diseases

Abstract: wherein R, R1, R2, R3, A, n, and Y are as defined herein for each compound.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington


A noise canceller for removing noise components from an input signal includes a noise detector which detects a noise component of the input signal and outputs a hold signal which corresponds to duration of the noise component, a first hold circuit which outputs a sample value while holding the input signal during the duration of the noise component, an adder which adds a compensating signal to the sample value, a prediction filter which determines predicted values by performing filter operations on the outputs from the adder, a second hold circuit which outputs a predicted hold value while holding the predicted value during the duration of the noise component, a subtractor which subtracts the predicted hold value from the predicted value and outputs a result as the compensating signal, and a switch which supplies the compensating signal to the adder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a noise canceller which removes noise components from input signals. More particularly, it relates to a noise canceller which suppresses noise components in an input signal from an FM tuner or the like by predicting the value of the current digital signal based on past values.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, FM tuners which receive and demodulate FM broadcast waves have often been used aboard movable bodies. For example, car-mounted FM tuners are more susceptible to external pulse noise such as ignition noise produced by vehicles than typical FM tuners are. Therefore, in order to prevent degradation of sound quality caused by external noise, it is desirable that car-mounted FM tuners should be equipped with a noise canceller which removes noise components due to external noise, from detected signals.
To remove noise components from received FM signals, a commonly used configuration involves detecting noise components contained in detected signals or the like when the received FM signals are processed and holding the received FM signals during the duration of the noise components. Even if noise components are produced during reception of the FM signals, since this configuration holds the FM signals at the level at which they are at the start of noise generation and releases the hold when the noise subsides, it can reduce the effect of noise on the detected signals or the like sent out to downstream circuits.
Regarding a digital prediction filter for a noise canceller, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-22079, for example, discloses a configuration in which predicted values represented by a predictive equation are calculated by means of delay elements connected in multiple stages and a coefficient multiplier.
However, with a first noise canceller configured in the manner described above, received FM signals are held during periods in which noise components are generated during receiving FM waves, and thus sound signal components are removed together with noise components. For example, if external pulse noise such as ignition noise is generated during FM reception on a car-mounted FM tuner, sound signal components which correspond to a period equivalent to the pulse width of the external noise will be lost. This will deteriorate a distortion factor of the sound signal outputted after demodulation.
Also, FM signals received on an FM tuner generally consist of main signals such as the sound signal superimposed with various signals including a pilot signal for stereophonic broadcasting. For example, looking at a frequency distribution of detected signals, in addition to a 19-kHz pilot signal, various signals including a 38-kHz subcarrier are superimposed at integral multiples of 19 kHz in the frequency band up to 100 kHz. Therefore, digital FM tuners need to process various digital signals at a sufficiently high sampling frequency of at least 200 kHz or higher. Also, they are configured to supply the prediction filter described above with clock signals which correspond to the sampling frequency. Consequently, each of the delay elements which compose the prediction filter operates with a short delay time on the order of several microseconds. Thus, prediction time is on the order of several microseconds.
However, signal compensation based on predicted values produced by a prediction filter is not suited to deal with the above-mentioned ignition noise, which generally has a relatively large pulse width on the order of 50 microseconds.
Furthermore, if the prediction filter is configured to cover a frequency band up to 100 kHz to accommodate an FM tuner, errors are small at low frequencies, but increase sharply at high frequencies. FIG. 8 shows a frequency characteristic of a prediction filter when a linear predictive equation and a sampling frequency of 228 kHz are used. As shown in FIG. 8, prediction error is large around 19 kHz, which is the frequency of the pilot signal, and increases even more at integral multiples of 19 kHz. Consequently, when using a prediction filter in an FM tuner to remove noise, degradation in prediction accuracy for important signals such as the pilot signal and subcarrier becomes a problem.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a noise canceller which can remove noise components due to external pulse noise introduced into the input signal while keeping original sound signal components intact, and thereby maintain good sound quality.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a noise canceller with an uncomplicated configuration which can determine predicted values with a high accuracy, even if external noise with a relatively large pulse width is introduced, and maintain high prediction accuracy when main signals are superimposed with various signals.


A cellular phone includes a radio circuit block, and a control block including a CPU for controlling operations of the cellular phone and treating data for the cellular phone. The control block retains an interrupt signal when the radio circuit block receives a radio signal, and delivers the interrupt signal to the CPU after completion of the receipt of the radio signal by the radio circuit block.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cellular phone, and a method and a program used in the cellular phone, and more specifically, an improvement of the receiving sensitivity for a radio frequency signal in the cellular phone.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A variety of clock frequencies are used in a cellular phone, such as shown in FIG. 12 showing a typical fold-type cellular phone. It is known in a general cellular phone that, if an integral multiple of a clock frequency used in the cellular phone coincides with the radio frequency, the receiving sensitivity for receiving the radio frequency signal is degraded in the radio channel using the radio frequency signal. It is also known that, if an integral multiple of one of frequency components in the transmission signal coincides with the radio frequency during transmission of data by using a data bus in the cellular phone, the receiving sensitivity for receiving the radio frequency signal is degraded.
FIG. 13 exemplarily shows the results of measurements of the receiving sensitivity of all the receiving channels in the cellular phone FIG. 13 is obtained for the case where a 10-MHz clock frequency is used as a synchronizing frequency of a data bus. As understood from the figure, the receiving sensitivity is significantly degraded at 81-, 82- and 83-times the 10-MHz synchronizing frequency of the data bus.
A fold-type cellular phone, such as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, having a top chassis section 201 mounting thereon a display unit 205 and a bottom chassis section 201 mounting thereon a keyboard (not shown) is increasingly used among the cellular phones having camera units thereon. The degradation of the receiving sensitivity is especially recognized for the case where a flexible printed circuit board 203 coupling together the top chassis 201 and the bottom chassis section 202 irradiates the 10 MHz synchronizing frequency as described above, and thus the antenna 204 of the cellular phone 200 receives the irradiated synchronizing frequency. It is to be noted that the camera unit may be provided on the top chassis section 201, although not specifically shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
For example, in a typical cellular phone such as shown in FIG. 7, the control block 105 controlling the overall operation of the cellular phone includes a first clock generator 1051, a second clock generator 1052, PLL circuits 1053 and 1054. PLL circuit 1053 divides the system frequency of 14.4 MHz supplied from the first clock generator 1051 by four to generate a first system clock having a frequency of 3.6 MHz. The oscillation frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator 1055 receiving an output from PLL circuit 1053 is multiplied by fourteen and delivered to a CPU 1057 as a 50.4 MHz CPU clock after being synchronized with the 3.6 MHz first system clock.
PLL circuit 1054 divides the system frequency supplied from the first clock generator 1051 by four to generate a 3.6 MHz second system clock. The oscillation frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator 1056 is multiplied by ten and delivered to a DSP 1058 as a 36 MHz DSP clock after being synchronized with the 3.6 MHz second system clock.
Referring to FIG. 8 showing a display block (LCD block) 110 of the typical cellular phone, an LCD controller 1101-1 receiving the CPU clock 1201 from the control block 105 divides the CPU clock by five to deliver a data clock signal having a frequency of 10.08 MHz. Referring to FIG. 9 showing a camera block 114 of the typical cellular phone, a camera interface 1141-1 divides the CPU clock supplied from the control block 105 by six to deliver a data clock signal having a frequency of 8.4 MHz.
In the typical cellular phone, if a radio signal is received during operation of the LCD block 110, a degradation problem as to the receiving sensitivity occurs in the cellular phone. JP Patent Laid-open Publication 2000-184418 describes a technique for solving the above problem by delaying the output of the AC driving signal, horizontal scanning signal and frame signal in the LCD block until the receipt of the radio signal is completed, thereby suppressing noise caused by angle rotation of the LC molecules and thus suppressing degradation of the receiving sensitivity during the receipt of the radio signal.
In the described technique, however, there still occurs another degradation of the receiving sensitivity in the frequencies corresponding to integral multiples of the 3.6 MHz reference frequency, 10.08 MHz data clock frequency in the LCD block, and 8.4 MHz data clock frequency in the camera block.
In addition, data transmission through buses between the CPU and memory, between the CPU and LCD block, and between the CPU and camera block also degrades the receiving sensitivity in the cellular phone. Moreover, the described technique complicates the structures and control of the cellular phone.
The CPU disposed in the control block 105 operates for data processing at any time the data processing is requested. More specifically, if a data processing occurs, the CPU starts for the data processing, and stops after the completion of the data processing. In such a case, transmission of data through the data bus by the CPU may cause a significant degradation of the receiving sensitivity.
For example, in the processings shown in FIG. 10, when an interrupt signal is generated after completion of signal receipt, the CPU operates for processings A1 and A3, which do not cause any degradation of the receiving sensitivity because the processings A1 and A3 are out of the timing of the receiving slot. When another interrupt signal is generated after completion of a signal transmission, the CPU operates for processing A2, which does not cause any degradation of the receiving sensitivity because the processing A2 is out of the timing of the receiving slot.
When other interrupt signals are generated due to the operation on the man-machine interface, the CPU operates for data processings such as processings B1, B2 and B3, among which processings B1 and B3 may cause a degradation of the receiving sensitivity whereas processing B2 dose not cause any degradation. This is because the processings B1 and B3 are within the timing of the receiving slot and processing B2 is out of the timing of the receiving slot. The degradation of the receiving sensitivity caused by the processings B1 and B3 may be involved with the data transmission through the data bus during the CPU processings.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, processings by the LCD block and the camera block may cause a degradation of the receiving sensitivity because these blocks operate for processings at random in asynchrony with the time division multiple access (TDMA) timing, and may fall within the timing of the receiving slot. In FIG. 11, camera control signal and camera data as well as the LCD control signal are delivered during the receiving slot. This may cause degradation of the receiving sensitivity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cellular phone, and a method and a program for suppressing a degradation of the receiving sensitivity in the cellular phone.
The present invention provides a cellular phone including: a radio circuit block including an antenna; an analog baseband block connected to the radio circuit block; a digital baseband block connected to the analog baseband block; and a control block for controlling operation of the blocks, the control block including a central processing unit (CPU) for treating data input from the blocks and the keyboard, the radio circuit block receiving a radio signal through the antenna during a receiving slot, wherein the control block stops operation of the CPU during the receiving slot.
The present invention also provides a cellular phone including: a radio circuit block including an antenna; an analog baseband block connected to the radio circuit block; a digital baseband block connected to the analog baseband block; at least one of display block and camera block, and a control block for controlling operation of the blocks, the control block including a central processing unit (CPU), the radio circuit block receiving a radio signal through the antenna during a receiving slot, wherein the at least one of display block and camera block stops data transmission through an associated bus during the receiving slot.
The present invention also provides a method for controlling a cellular phone having a CPU for controlling operation of the cellular phone and treating data in the cellular phone, the method including the step of: detecting a receiving slot to activate a receiving frame signal; retaining an interrupt signal during a time interval when the receiving frame signal is active; delivering the interrupt signal to the CPU after the receiving frame signal is inactivated; and operating the CPU for processing corresponding to the interrupt signal.
The present invention also provides a program stored in a medium for running on a CPU in a cellular phone, the program defining the steps of: detecting a receiving slot to activate a receiving frame signal; retaining an interrupt signal during a time interval when the receiving frame signal is active; delivering the interrupt signal to the CPU after the receiving frame signal is inactivated; and operating the CPU for processing corresponding to the interrupt signal.
In accordance with the cellular phone, method and program of the present invention, since at least one of operation of the CPU and transmission of data through the data bus is stopped during the receiving slot, the receiving sensitivity is not degraded in the receiving slot by the at least one of the operation of CPU and the transmission of the data.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Cellular phone suppressing degradation of receiving sensitivity


A treadmill includes a base and a frame has a first end thereof pivotably connected to the base and an endless belt is connected to the frame. A guide rod has its axis extending lengthwise of the frame and a first end of the guide rod is fixed to the base. A second end of the guide rod connected to the base. A sleeve extends through a through hole in a transverse bar of the base 10 and the guide rod is received in the sleeve which is able to move along the guide rod back and forth. A supporting rod has a first end thereof pivotably connected to a pivotal portion on the sleeve and a second end of the supporting rod is pivotably connected to a first pivotal portion on the frame. A securing device is connected to the sleeve so as to secure movement of the sleeve relative to the guide rod so that the frame can be kept at upright position.

A conventional treadmill is shown in FIG. 12 and generally includes a base 70 and a frame 71 on which an endless belt 72 is connected to the frame 71 so that the users run on the endless belt 72. The endless belt 72 can also be driven by a motor which allows the users to set pre-determined speed of the endless belt 72 to meet different requirements of the users. In order to save space of storage of the treadmill, the length "L" of the base 70 is usually designed to be shorter than the frame 71 and the frame 71 is pivoted relative to the base 70. When the frame 71 is folded to upright position, a securing device is used to hold the frame 71. Nevertheless, the base 70 might be pivoted clockwise about the rear point 700 if the users use too much force and this is because the length "L" of the base 70 is too short. The unstable base 70 could result a dangerous injury to the users.
The present invention intends to provide a folding and supporting device to easily folding the frame of treadmills and the frame can be kept at position by a securing device.

Folding and supporting device for treadmills


In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a pre-processor, an output file; where the output file is created by the pre-processor in response to input of an electronic file to the pre-processor; where the electronic file is an attachment to a message that is in-transit to a recipient computer on a network; where the output file contains features that are created by the pre-processor analyzing one or more sub-features of the electronic file; receiving, from a machine learning-based classifier, malware classification data that indicates whether the electronic file does or does not contain malware; where the malware classification data is output by the machine learning-based classifier in response to the machine learning-based classifier determining that the features are or are not indicators of obfuscation; where data used to create the machine learning-based classifier includes output files previously created by the pre-processor; in response to the malware classification data matching a criterion, causing the network to modify, delay, or block transmission of the electronic file to the recipient computer.

Computer networks facilitate the communication of electronic messages from sender computers to recipient computers. Malware is frequently propagated via electronic messages. Network applications have attempted to protect recipient computers and networks from malware attacks. However, the purveyors of malware have continued to find ways to circumvent the protective measures.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Machine learning-based malicious attachment detector


The invention discloses a method of transferring multicast data, a method for updating a multicast tree, a system and a device thereof, the main technical solution comprise: a first Mobile Access Gateway (MAG) receives pre-handover message transmitted from a Multicast Source before it handovers from the current accessed first MAG to the second MAG; the first MAG according to the second MAG ID carried in the pre-handover message, establishes a bidirectional tunnel with the second MAG; and the first MAG multicasts multicast data from a Multicast Source, based on the established bidirectional tunnel and the definitive post-handover multicast mode which is the multicast mode adopted by the Multicast Source after handovers to the second MAG. Adopting the technical solution, by previously establishing bidirectional tunnel, the first MAG transfers multicast data by the established directional tunnel when performing binding, updating and authenticating between the Multicast Source and the second MAG, which reduces the interruption delay of multicast service due to the switching among MAGs by Multicast Source.

In recent years, as the wireless technology matures, more people are using wireless devices to access networks, and the desire to access networks anytime and anywhere is increasing. Supporting mobile communication becomes an inevitable requirement for the development of networking. Numerous studies on how a network provides mobility support has been done, among which, PMIPv6 (Proxy Mobile IPv6) of IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), as a localized mobility management technology, the mobility management function is shifted from the terminal side to the network side, so that the network represents the host to manage the IP mobility, and a mobile entity in the network is responsible for tracking the moving of the host and initiating the required mobile signals transmission. In PMIPv6, the IP (Internet Protocol) mobility of the host is achieved without the host participating in any mobility-related signal transmission, thereby the burden of the terminal is greatly alleviated, and the centralized control is facilitated.
In another aspect, multicast technology is increasingly used in various fields widely. Multicast is a way of point-to-multipoint information transmission, and requires that data can be transmitted simultaneously from one source node to multiple destination nodes which constitute a particular set of nodes (also known as a group or cluster). Due to its advantages, such as high network utilization rate, reduced backbone network congestion, saved resource, and strong scalability, the multicast technology plays an important role in new type network applications, such as video conferencing, document distributing, real-time information distributing, and IP TV. In a typical mobile IPTV (Interactive Personality TV) application, a large number of users can obtain audio/video stream data distributed via a network by the multicast technology.
With the development of mobile communication technology, the combination of mobility and multicasting becomes an urgent requirement. In the mobile environment, since the wireless link has limited bandwidth and high error rate, and a mobile node has limited energy supply, processor capability and the like, new challenges to the traditional multicast technology have been arised. The traditional multicast protocol is based on a fixed-network, wired-communication mode, and can not meet the requirement for mobility. Mobile multicast architecture not only needs to deal with dynamic changes of the mobile host's position, but also needs to deal with group memberships which dynamically change in the multicast group. Generally speaking, the multicast architecture in the mobile environment needs to meet the following requirements: seamless continuity of multicast dialogues in the event of node handover; optimal routing of data packets; stream handover support in multicast communication (different streams have different characteristics and identifiers); avoiding specialization of the multicast solution (supporting only multicast, not unicast); having capability of dealing with packet loss and duplicate copies; multicast data stream dynamically adapting to the states of the current network (to adjust the sending rate, etc.); easy to be deployed; accelerating the convergence speed of the routing protocol and the like.
Currently, the studies on supporting multicast source mobility by the IETF are still in the initial stage, and a solution of supporting multicast source mobility in PMIPv6 has been proposed. This solution includes RPT (Rendezvous Point Tree) and SPT (Shortest Path Tree) based methods in PMIPv6.
With the solution, in the case where multicast data are transmitted in the RPT mode, a LMA (Local Mobility Anchor) is used as a RP (Rendezvous Point) to reply a Join message sent by a multicast receiving node, and to establish a shortest path multicast tree from the LMA to the multicast receiving node. Multicast data are sent to the LMA by a multicast source, and then forwarded to the multicast receiving node along the multicast tree by the LMA. In this mode, when the multicast source moves, there is no need to re-establish the shortest path tree from the LMA to the multicast receiving node, so the multicast tree is relatively stable. However, in this mode, since the path forwarding multicast data by the LMA is not the optimal routing from the multicast source to the multicast receiving node, significant delay and network burden may be introduced.
In the RPT mode, after a multicast source MN enters into a PMIPv6 domain, a procedure is performed as shown in FIG. 1, and the procedure mainly includes the following steps.
In step 101, a link between a Mobile Access Gateway MAG1 and a multicast source MN is established, and the multicast source MN includes "S"=1 and "J"=1 in a RS (Router Solicitation) message to identify that the multicast source MN is a multicast source and a RPT mode is selected.
In step 102, the MAG1 sends an extended PBU message to a LMA, and establishes a bidirectional tunnel between the MAG1 and the LMA when it is determined that the multicast source MN is attached to the MAG1.
In step 102, on receipt of the PBU message, the LMA analyzes extended information contained in the PUB message, and replies a multicast Join message.
In step 103, multicast data are sent to the LMA by the multicast source MN in the basic manner defined in PMIPv6.
In this step, an SPT between the LMA and a multicast receiving node is established, and multicast data are transmitted between the LMA and the multicast receiving node in accordance with the multicast routing protocol.
In step 104, the multicast source MN moves to an MAG2, and sends multicast-related information to the MAG2 using the RS message.
In step 105, a bidirectional tunnel between the LMA and the MAG2 is updated.
In step 105, the SPT between the LMA and the multicast receiver is not affected in the process of updating the bidirectional tunnel between the LMA and the MAG2.
When the multicast source MN is switched, multicast data are transmitted continually. The moving of the mobile multicast source does not affect the multicast receiver.
With the solution, in the case where multicast data is transmitted in the SPT mode, the multicast source replies a Join message sent by a multicast receiving node, and establishes directly a shortest path multicast tree from the multicast source to the multicast receiving node, and multicast data are sent directly to the multicast receiving node along the established multicast tree. In this mode, network delay is shorter due to the optimization of the routing, but the router storage burden will be too heavy and the multicast tree will be unstable. When the multicast source moves in the network, the multicast tree needs to be updated frequently.
In the SPT mode, after a multicast source MN enters into a PMIPv6 domain, a procedure is performed as shown in FIG. 2, and the procedure mainly includes the following steps.
In step 201, a link between an MAG1 and a multicast source MN is established, and the multicast source MN includes "S"=1 and "J"=0 in a RS message to identify that the multicast source MN is a multicast source and a RPT mode is selected.
In step 202, the MAG1 sends an extended PBU message to a LMA, and establishes a bidirectional tunnel between the MAG1 and the LMA when it is determined that the multicast source MN is attached to the MAG1.
In step 202, on receipt of the PBU message, the LMA analyzes extended information contained in the PBU message but does not reply a multicast Join message.
In step 203, multicast data are sent to the LMA by the multicast source MN in the basic manner defined in PMIPv6.
In step 203, when the LMA redirects the multicast Join message to the multicast source MN, an SPT between the multicast source and a multicast receiving node begins to be established, and the subsequent multicast data are transmitted between the multicast source and the multicast receiving node along the optimized path.
In step 204, the multicast source MN sends, after moving to an MAG2, multicast-related information to the MAG2 using the RS message.
In step 205, a bidirectional tunnel between the LMA and the MAG2 is updated.
In step 205, the SPT between the multicast source and the multicast receiving node also needs to be updated when the bidirectional tunnel between the LMA and the MAG2 is updated, because the root node of the multicast tree moves to a different position.
As defined in the solution, the multicast source selects the mode in accordance with a moving speed. If a multicast source moves in the network at a lower speed, a shortest path multicast tree is established between the multicast source and a multicast receiving node in the manner of SPT; and if the multicast source moves faster in the network, the shortest path multicast tree is established between the LMA and a multicast receiving node in the manner of RPT and by taking the LMA acting as a rendezvous node.
The disadvantages of the prior art lie in that it can not support a fast handover of the multicast source, and a large delay happens if the multicast source is switched between two MAGs in a PMIPv6 domain. As prescribed in the existing solution, it is needed to perform the processes, such as binding, updating, and authenticating, and particularly it is needed to perform the process of reconstructing the multicast tree in the SPT mode, when the multicast source moves from an old MAG (i.e., the MAG1) to a new MAG (i.e., the MAG2). Multicast data distribution may be continued only when these processes are completed, this causes long time interruption of multicast service. Since the feature of one-to-multiple in the multicast service, the handover delay of the multicast source will affect all users within the group, it is obvious that the seamless continuity of the multicast dialogues is not satisfied, and in particular, the applications with real-time requirement are affected seriously.

Method of transferring multicast data, updating method of multicast tree, system and device thereof


A new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla named ‘WIMS RED’ that is characterized by its inflorescences that emerge white in color and change to pink and finally turning red in early fall, its long panicles that are broadly conical in shape, its strong stems that are red-brown in color, its blooming period from summer to early autumn in The Netherlands, and its heat and shade tolerance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'WIMS RED'. 'WIMS RED' represents a new panicle hydrangea, a deciduous shrub grown for landscape use.
'WIMS RED' arose as part of an ongoing breeding program by the Inventor in Leende, The Netherlands with the goal of developing a new cultivar of panicle hydrangea with strong stems and inflorescences that change in color from white to red. 'WIMS RED' originated from a cross made in 2001 between 'Pink Diamond' (not patented) as the female parent and 'Dharuma' (not patented) as the male parent. The new Hydrangea was selected as a unique single plant from the progeny of the above cross in 2004.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings in Rijkevorsel, Belgium in 2006 under the direction of the Inventor. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings and tissue culture has shown that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A loudspeaker has a yoke having a center hole, a cylindrical magnet mounted on the yoke, a cylindrical pole piece having an inner shoulder portion and mounted on the magnet. A diaphragm is provided above the pole piece, and a cylindrical throat is disposed in the magnet. The yoke has a screw thread formed on an inside wall of the center hole, and the pole piece has a screw thread formed on an inside wall of the shoulder portion. The throat has outer screw threads on an outside wall thereof at an upper portion and a low portion. The outer screw threads are engaged with the screw threads of the yoke and the pole piece. Thus, the magnet is secured to the yoke and the pole piece.

The present invention relates to a loudspeaker, and more particularly to an assembling of a horn loudspeaker, thereby improving sound characteristic.
The horn loudspeaker operates to directly propagate sound waves produced at a diaphragm passing through a horn without diffusion. The sound is compressed to be a high sound pressure. Air in the horn operates as resistance to increase radiation resistance and efficiency. The horn loudspeaker has a feature of a high efficiency of change in sound energy. Thus, the horn loudspeaker is widely used in various fields such as home Hi-Fi system and business PA system.
FIG. 11 shows a conventional horn loudspeaker. A horn loudspeaker 10 has a yoke 20 having a center hole 20b formed in a yoke base 20a, an annular magnet 60 mounted on the yoke base 20a around the center hole 20b, and an annular pole piece 61 having an inner shoulder portion 61a and mounted on the magnet 60. An annular plate 30 having an integral spacer ring 31 is mounted on the pole piece 61 at an upper peripheral portion thereof through the spacer ring 31 and secured to the yoke 20 with screws. A cylindrical throat member 65 made of aluminum and having a tapered through-hole 66 is mounted in the pole piece 61, magnet 60, and center hole 20b of the yoke 20. Thus, a magnetic circuit is formed with these elements.
On the plate 30 is mounted an annular frame 35 which supports a diaphragm 50 around an edge 51 thereof. A phasing plug 70 is mounted on a top portion of the pole piece 61 in front of the diaphragm 50. The phasing plug 70 has a center slit 71 and side slits 72 and disposed in a throat portion 65a of the throat member 65. Thus, sound waves produced at the diaphragm 50 are propagated in the hole 66 to a mouth portion 75 of the throat member 65 through the slits 71 and 72. A back cover 40 is mounted on the periphery of the plate 30 and secured thereto with screws so as to define a back chamber 45 between the plate 30 and the cover 40.
As shown in FIG. 12, a lower edge of the diaphragm 50 is disposed in a magnetic gap G formed between the pole piece 61 and the plate 30 and secured to a voice coil bobbin 52 having a voice coil 54. The voice coil 54 is disposed in magnetic gap G to be moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 12. The edge 51 of the diaphragm 50 is made of insulation material.
In assembling the magnetic circuit, the throat member 65 is inserted in the center hole 20b at the mouth portion 75 and secured thereto with adhesive. The magnet 60 is mounted on the throat member 65 and the pole piece 61 is mounted on the magnet 60 and the shoulder portion 61a is secured to the throat member 65 with adhesive. Then, the phasing plug 70 is mounted on the pole piece 61 and the diaphragm 50 secured to the plate 30 through the frame 35 is mounted on the phasing plug 70 and the pole piece 61. The spacer ring 31 of the plate 30 is engaged with the pole piece 61 and secured thereto.
When the magnet 60 is energized, the elements in the yoke 20 are attracted with each other by the magnetic force of the magnet to be fixed to each other. Thus, magnetic loss is reduced.
However, in such a speaker, if the loudspeaker 10 is dropped, the elements fixed to each other with magnetic force may be deflected with shock and the throat member 65 may be removed from the magnetic circuit.
In order to eliminate the disadvantage, elements are adhered to each other with adhesives. However, since the adhesive is non-magnetic material, the magnetic force is prevented from flowing, causing a circuit efficiency to be deteriorated.
If the elements are secured to each other with screws, the magnetic flux becomes irregular because of metallic screws.

Loudspeaker having a yoke, magnet, cylindrical throat, and spacer plate configuration


A television signal processing unit which provides monitoring to detect erroneous operation of one or more circuit sections thereof during periods of the television signal. The processing unit includes a test signal generator and an evaluation circuit, the test signal generator supplying a test signal to a circuit section of the processing unit during allocated periods of each picture frame. The evaluation circuit compares the processed test signal produced by such circuit section with a predetermined specimen signal corresponding to correct circuit operation, and produces an error indication when the processed test signal differs from the specimen signal. The allocated test periods may be during portions of each picture frame which are not assigned to video information, or during other portions of a picture frame wherein no video information is actually present.

The invention relates to a television signal processing unit which provides monitoring to detect erroneous operation of one or more of the circuit sections thereof. Such a processing unit may be, for example, for processing the red, green or blue signal of a HDTV television camera in a HDMAC transmitter. The term "television signal" is herein to be understood to refer to a component video signal (for example, a red signal, a colour difference signal, a luminance signal, etc.), or a processed component video signal, or any of a plurality of combined video component signals.
The paper "HD-MAC Uebertragung mit 140 MBit/s" by M. Gendsior, J. Wenger, J. Witzany, NTZ, Vol. 42, 1989, no. 9, pp. 638-647 describes, for example a processing unit for a HDMAC television signal being shown in FIG. 2 thereof on page 640. This Figure shows a coder for generating HDMAC signals and a decoder for decoding the HDMAC signals.

Television signal processing unit which provides monitoring during periods of the television signal to detect erroneous circuit operation