A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Fiscor Electric’ particularly described by the combined features of brilliant, orange-red bract color; medium sized inflorescence, ovate bracts; uniform dark-green foliage, ovate leaves with moderate lobes; medium sized, wide and rounded plant habit; and medium flowering response.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination 'Fiscor Electric'.
'Fiscor Electric' was discovered by the inventor, Dirk Krüger, from a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of Poinsettia plant named 'Fiscor' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,364). 'Fiscor' is characterized by deep red colored bracts, dark-green foliage with moderate lobes, and wide, medium sized plant habit.
In November 2001, a plant having several orange inflorescences was discovered among a crop of potted flowering plants of the parent variety 'Fiscor' in a greenhouse in Gönnebek, Germany. In December 2001, the plant was taken to Hillscheid, Germany, where the plant was left to develop vegetative shoots, which were cut for propagation in the spring of 2002.
Asexual reproduction of 'Fiscor Electric' was performed by vegetative terminal cuttings. Asexual reproduction of 'Fiscor Electric' was first performed in March of 2002 in Hillscheid, Germany. Horticultural examination of the plants grown thereof starting in the late summer of 2002 and continuing through 2003, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Fiscor Electric' are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.


A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for manufacturing a product. In response to receiving an identification of the product, a process object associated with the product may be identified. A completed instance of the process object may be created for the product. A set of instructions may be presented to manufacture the product using the completed instance of the process object.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for manufacturing products. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating instructions to assemble products.
2. Background
A product may take various forms, such as, for example, a single part, a subassembly, or an entire product. As a non limiting example, the product may take the form of a wing subassembly, an engine, an audio input system, a wing spar, a flight control system, or an entire aircraft.
In designing and manufacturing products, a number of different processes may be present. Initially, an engineer or designer may generate product data for a product. This product information may include, for example, without limitation, bills of materials, attributes, requirements, and other information relating to the product. A computer aided design application may be used to create a drawing of the product with this product data. This drawing may take the form of a two dimensional drawing or a three dimensional drawing and/or model. The drawings may be used to form a model for the product. The product data may be combined or associated with the model to form a product definition.
With the product definition, process plans may be created to manufacture the product. These process plans also may include work instructions, which may be used to manufacture or assemble the product. The information in the product definition for the product and manufacturing processes for creating products may be used to create work instructions for the process plans to manufacture the product. A work instruction may provide an explanation for a step or operations that may be performed to manufacture a product. Each product or configuration of a product may have a set of work instructions. The selection of a particular product and configuration may result in the work instructions for selection being retrieved and presented for use in manufacturing the selected product or configuration of the product.
With the presence of many products with different configurations, management of the work instructions may become difficult. Currently, each configuration of a product may have a specific set of work instructions. One difficulty in managing work instructions may be the storage of the work instructions. As the number of work instructions increase, the amount of space needed to store these work instructions also may increase. This situation may not be of concern when only a few products may be manufactured by a business or organization. The concern, however, arises when hundreds or thousands of products are manufactured by a business or organization.
Another difficulty may occur in managing revisions or changes to the work instructions. If an organization or company has hundreds or thousands of products, storing and maintaining these work instructions may become difficult as with the addition of new products and changes to existing products.
When changes to a product occur, such as part changes or changes in requirements, the work instructions for the product and every configuration for that product may be updated. Currently, users maintaining work instructions may be required to look up the different documents for the instructions affected by a change and make those changes. Although the burden may be lightened by the fact that instructions are stored electronically, much time and effort may still be needed to update these instructions.
For example, if a product has five configurations, five sets of work instructions may be present. These work instructions may be used to define a step in the assembly of a particular configuration of the product. A particular hole size and process for deburring the hole also may be defined in each of these sets of instructions. If the hole size changes or if deburring is no longer required for the product, then each of the sets of instructions may be modified.
If changes affect hundred of products, then the time and maintenance needed to update work instructions for the products may increase. Further, changes may be made as customer requirements change during the lifetime of the product or changes occur to increase the efficiencies or reduce costs during manufacturing of the product. Updating work instructions may take into account changes, such as, for example, changes in desired configurations, changes to add or remove steps, or changes to revise product requirements in the work instruction content may often be a non-value added activity. In other words, the time and cost of these types of updates may not be chargeable or billable to customers.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for minimizing the burden and costs for maintaining work instructions, which over comes the problems discussed above. Embodiments of the disclosure are intended to satisfy this need.

Method and apparatus for work instruction generation


Provided are a configuration signaling execution control method and apparatus, a device, a system and a storage medium. The method includes: in a beam recovery process and in a case of receiving configuration signaling, deciding an execution environment of the configuration signaling; and determining an execution policy of the configuration signaling according to a decision result.

In the 5th Generation mobile communication system (5G), a 5G base station uses large-scale antenna arrays to form directivity beams through a beam forming technology for communications. In order to ensure obtaining sufficient signal gain, the base station needs to use a large number of narrow beams to ensure that users in any direction in a cell can be effectively covered, that is, the narrower the beam, the greater the signal gain. However, a narrow beam transmission is sensitive to the movement of a user equipment (UE) and the blocking of a beam link. The blocking is especially serious at high frequencies, and thus a beam link failure is often caused. Therefore, when a radio channel changes for the preceding reasons, the UE in the communication system needs to perform a fast beam link recovery with a base station so that good user experience is provided.
According to relevant protocols, in the process of beam link recovery performed by the UE with the base station, In addition to performing a detection on control resources used for receiving a beam recovery response, the UE still needs to detect control resources (such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)) configured for the original beam link that need to be detected and are not cut off. As a result, in the beam recovery process, the UE may receive configuration instructions from the control resources configured for the original beam link, for example, the configuration instructions include, but are not limited to, a band width part (BWP) handover instruction, control channel reconfiguration signaling, search space reconfiguration signaling, and control channel transmission configuration indication (TCI) indication signaling. According to relevant protocols, during beam recovery, the UE will directly and unconditionally execute the configuration instructions after receiving the configuration instructions through the control resources configured for the original beam link, while executing these configuration instructions may affect beam recovery (for example, may cause disorder in the beam recovery process, etc.), making beam recovery unable to be normally performed.

Configuration signaling execution control method and apparatus, and device, system and storage medium


A method for providing a customer one or more options for increasing a line of credit includes communicating to a customer one or more solicitations offering the customer a credit account and providing the customer one or more options for increasing a line of credit associated with the credit account. The method also includes receiving a response to the one or more solicitations from the customer requesting the credit account and selecting at least one of the one or more options. The method also includes storing data associated with the credit account to book the credit account according to the response from the customer. At least some of the data reflects the one or more options selected by the customer and an increase of the line of credit provided as a result of the selection of the at least one option by the customer.

A credit card issuer, such as a bank or other financial institution, generally provides credit accounts to customers, or cardholders, allowing the customers to make purchases on credit rather than using cash. A customer incurs debt with each credit card purchase which may be repaid over time according to the terms and conditions of the particular customer's credit account. Credit card accounts provide a customer one or more lines of credit, typically including at least one revolving credit line in which the customer may choose to pay the full amount of debt owed on an account by a specified date or alternatively defer payment of all or a portion of the debt to a later date. The credit card issuer typically charges the customer interest or finance charges for such deferred payments during the period of deferral. The credit card issuer typically establishes a credit limit for each credit account defining the maximum amount of credit available to the customer for making purchases at any given time. When a customer makes a credit card purchase, the amount of credit available to the customer, often called the available balance, is reduced by the amount of the purchase, and the amount of debt currently owed by the customer, often called the outstanding balance, is increased by the amount of the purchase.
Providing relatively low lines of credit to customers may be disadvantageous to a credit card issuer. Customers tend to dislike low lines of credit, and attrition among customers with low credit lines tends to be relatively high. Customers with low lines of credit may also give the credit card issuer bad word-of-mouth publicity, hurting the ability of the credit card issuer to acquire new customers. In addition, customers with lower lines of credit may tend to use their credit cards less often than customers with higher lines of credit. Moreover, providing low lines of credit to customers may cause low morale among employees of the credit card issuer, who may feel as though they are working as "loan sharks" or in some other disreputable capacity. However, considerable risk to the credit card issuer is often associated with certain customers, and providing higher lines of credit to those customers may increase losses incurred by the credit card issuer.

Providing a customer one or more options for increasing a line of credit


A system of reinforcing a structural support such as a utility pole in situ includes applying a coating of a curable resin and wrapping a plurality of layers of a fiberglass fabric. The fiberglass fabric is applied in the form of elongated strips having longitudinal and weft fiberglass rovings. The fabric strips are spirally wrapped around the pole while applying a biasing shift to the fabric so that the weft threads are oriented axially to the support and the longitudinal threads extend helically around the support. An electrical resistance heating wire may be included between the wrappings of fiberglass to heat and accelerate curing of the resin.

Utility poles are often made from wood treated with one or more preservatives such as creosote. Wooden utility poles are often desirable since they are less expensive and readily obtainable compared to poles made from metal or composite materials. Although the wooden utility poles are treated with a preservative, these poles are often subject to decay and insect damage. Since the wood preservative does not always penetrate the center of the wooden pole, the center is prone to decomposition near or below the ground line. As the pole continues to decompose, its structural integrity is weakened and the pole eventually must be repaired or replaced.
It is generally desirable to repair and strengthen a damaged utility pole rather than replace the entire pole. The replacement of utility poles is time consuming and expensive. Furthermore, when a utility pole is replaced, it is necessary to interrupt power or telephone service, thereby inconveniencing the utility customers. Heavy equipment and skilled workers are also required to replace a utility pole.
It is thus desirable to repair or strengthen a utility pole in situ whenever possible. Numerous methods and devices have been proposed in the past for repairing poles without removing the pole from the ground. One prior method of repairing damaged utility poles is to excavate around the pole, remove the decomposed material from the pole and helically wind a rubber strip around the damaged area. A sleeve is then placed around the pole and a hardenable composition poured between the pole and the sleeve. One example of this type of process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,601 to Norwood. This process relies primarily on the strength of the hardenable material for the reinforcing strength to the pole. Furthermore, this process is time consuming by requiring the assembly of the sleeve around the pole and removing the sleeve after the composition has hardened.
Other methods of repairing and reinforcing utility poles comprise removing the ground around the damaged area of the utility pole and applying a reinforcing material around the damaged area. The reinforcing material is usually saturated with a resin, such as a polyester or epoxy resin, which when cured, provides sufficient strength to the reinforcing material. Examples of this type of repair method are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,555 to Skiff; U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,883 to Owen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,575 to Owen et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,109,508 to Schmittutz.
These previous methods of repairing and reinforcing utility poles suffer from several disadvantages. For example, many of these methods require the reinforcing material to be saturated with a resinous material before applying the reinforcing material to the damaged area. These saturated reinforcing materials are typically difficult to handle and apply to the damaged area. In addition, many of these methods use combustible resinous materials, and thus, do not provide any fire protection to the wooden utility pole. In areas where brush fires occur regularly, it is desirable to repair damaged utility poles With a non-combustible material. Many methods use resins that are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, and thus, have a limited life or require additional coating to provide UV protection.

Method for reinforcing structural supports and reinforced structural supports


A cold cathode fluorescent lamp controller exhibiting a multi-function terminal and operative alternately in a strike mode and a run mode, the controller comprising: a phase locked loop arranged for synchronization of an oscillator, associated with the controller, with an external signal, the phase locked loop comprising a capacitor coupled to the multi-function terminal; and a soft start circuit arranged to limit drive current immediately after reset of the controller responsive to a signal at the multi-function terminal. In one embodiment the controller further comprises an error detection circuit arranged to output an error signal on the multi-function terminal. In one embodiment the controller further comprises a frequency sweeping circuit operative to sweep the frequency of a drive signal during the strike mode of the controller, the frequency of the drive signal being swept by the frequency sweeping circuit responsive to a signal at the multi-function terminal.

The invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and in particular to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp controller exhibiting a multi-function terminal.
Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL) are extensively used today as backlights for computer liquid crystal displays (LCD) and LCD televisions. In certain embodiments CCFL lamps are driven in a push pull configuration such that current flows alternatively in each direction to ensure long life and uniform operation. A CCFL driver, and a controller operative with such a driver preferably provides a pair of complementary drive signals which are out of phase with each other. Typically, a CCFL driver requires a pair of driving signals which are 180° out of phase with each other, however this is not meant to be limiting in any way and 90° phase difference is also required in some particular applications.
Systems that use a plurality of CCFL lamps for a single display require synchronization between the CCFL drivers so as to avoid interference caused by non-synchronized operation. Further synchronization is often required with a system display signal, such as a video scanning signal, associated with a horizontal scanning frequency, so as to avoid a water wave effect. Such synchronization is required for single and multiple CCFL driver systems and thus requires an input terminal for receipt of any synchronization signal. Synchronization is typically accomplished with a phase locked loop which typically requires an external filtering capacitor accessed via another input terminal.
Ignition of a CCFL, also known as striking, requires a high voltage applied for a short period of time to ionize the gas within the fluorescent tube. Once ignition has been achieved a lower voltage is sufficient to maintain the CCFL in an on condition, known as the run state. CCFLs are often driven by a converter circuit, responsive to a CCFL controller, operative to convert an input DC signal to the AC waveform required to drive the CCFL in either the strike mode or the operating mode.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,959 issued Dec. 27, 2005 to Henry, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, is addressed to a lamp inverter with a continuous strike voltage exhibiting a frequency sweep generator. The frequency sweep generator sweeps the frequency of the lamp inverter to a striking frequency corresponding to a striking lamp voltage and then maintains the striking frequency until the lamp strikes. In certain embodiments, the frequency sweep generator is responsive to a voltage across an external capacitor, whose charge over time increases resulting in the sweeping of the frequency of the sweep generator. Such a capacitor is typically user selected, and of a value too large to be economically integrated within an integrated circuit. Thus, striking using a swept frequency requires an additional input terminal.
An integrated circuit providing the electronic control for striking and running the CCFL is termed hereinafter a CCFL controller.
A soft start function is also typically supported, which prevents start up over shoot during the strike mode. Such an over shoot is typically the result of an error amplifier indicating that substantially no current is flowing during strike mode until the lamp lights, and thus calling for increased on time for a pulse width modulation circuit. In the absence of a soft start function, upon ignition of the lamp a maximal amount of current will flow without limitation until the error amplifier senses the overflow and acts to reduce the current flow. Such a soft start function typically thus requires a timing capacitor, with yet additional associated input terminal.
In the event of an error condition being sensed by the CCFL controller, it would be advantageous to supply an error signal which may be sensed by the system electronics. Such an error signal requires yet another associated terminal.
In electronics the cost of each terminal of integrated circuit adds cost. Thus, it would be desirable to provided a multi-function terminal arranged to serve in place of at least some of the dedicated terminals of the prior art.

CCFL controller with multi-function terminal


An ordered packing comprising elongated elements having lengthwise extending surfaces configured to be wet by a liquid phase to thereby form a film thereon. The elongated elements are packed together into a structure such that in each of a plurality of parallel planes, extending in two orthogonal directions, the elongated elements cross one another to form lattices having openings defined between the crossings of the elements. The elongated elements are interleaved within the structure such that elongated elements pass through the openings in the lattices and form repeating clusters of four of the elongated elements in a pyramid-like arrangement. Each of the clusters of the elongated elements and their lengthwise extending surfaces provide pathways for the film to descend through the structure. The structure has an open area for a vapor phase to ascend through the structure and contact the liquid phase.

The present invention relates to an ordered packing to intimately contact vapor and liquid phases ascending and descending within a column.
The prior art has provided liquid-gas mass transfer elements within columns or towers to bring ascending and descending vapor and liquid phases into intimate contact in distillation and absorption processes. Common liquid-gas mass transfer elements are sieve trays, plates and packing elements. Packing elements can be random or dumped such as the well known Rachid rings or can have a fixed or ordered structure relative to the column axes. The latter packings include structured packings, which consist of parallel metal or woven gauze sheets that can be crimped in a herringbone or sinusoidal pattern. Each of the sheets can also have an embossment. The sheets are assembled face to face so that the directions of the crimpings cross one another to provide alternate pathways for the vapor to ascend and the liquid to descend through the packing in a countercurrent direction to one another. Perforations can be provided within the sheets to permit mass transfer in a direction normal to the sheets.
In structured packings formed by vertically arranged sheets, as the liquid descends through the packing, it will, by and large, spread out along two opposite directions parallel to the sheets. Therefore, liquid flow in a direction normal to the sheets will be inhibited. The perforations provided in the sheets permit some liquid migration in a direction normal to the sheets, however, such perforations only make up less than 10% of the area provided by the sheets and hence, such migration is limited.
A further problem related to the use of any structured packing concerns the possibility of deformation of the packing due to shocks and vibrations attendant upon the transportation of a column containing structured packing to an erection site. It is this possibility of packing deformation which can limit the size of factory built packings.
The packing is normally installed in a column or tower in segments, each segment filling the diameter of the column or tower and consisting of packing material of identical orientation bounded by horizontal planes spaced apart by six or more inches. In the usual arrangement, each segment is rotated 90.degree. about its vertical axis in relation to the segments above and below, placing the vertical planes of the sheets in the adjacent segments.
As will be discussed, the present invention provides an ordered packing that inherently provides a more uniform distribution of descending liquid through the packing. Additionally, the ordered packing of the present invention is stronger than the crimped, sheet-type structured packing of the prior art to permit larger factory packed columns to be produced.


A flat panel display that has a stand is designed to be easily fixed onto a base without a separate immobilization device. The flat panel display includes a display screen, a base installed on a bottom side, and a stand having an upper end pivotably connected to a rear side of the display screen, and a lower end pivotably connected to a top surface of the base. A clamping device is movably installed inside the base. The clamping device is configured to fix the stand onto the base when the stand is folded over the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a flat panel display, and more particularly, to a flat panel display that has a stand being easily fixed onto a base without a separate immobilization device.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat panel display according to a related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the related art flat panel display is largely composed of a main body 1 for outputting images, a stand 2 for supporting the main body 1, and a base 3 installed at the bottom side, for bearing a load of the main body 1 being transferred through the stand 2.
Here, the upper end of the stand 2 is hingeably connected to the rear side of the main body 1 with a first hinge 4, and the lower end of the stand 2 is hingeably connected to the top surface of the base 3 with the second hinge 5. Therefore, when an external force is applied, the main body 1 pivots on the first hinge 4, and the stand 2 pivots on the second hinge 5.
Also, the second hinge 5 is provided with a torsion spring 5a. Therefore, when the stand 2 pivots towards the top surface of the base 3, the torsion spring 5a supplies an elastic force in the opposite direction, offsetting a torque generated by the weight of the main body 1.
As described above, the main body 1 and the stand 2 in the flat panel display of the related art are built to be able to pivot on the first and second hinges 4 and 5 by an external force. Thus, a user can apply force to the main body 1 and adjust its inclination angle. That is, to get a desired inclination angle of the main body 1, the user may pivot the main body 1 on the first hinge 4 or pivot the stand 2 on the second hinge 5.
FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a case where the stand of the flat panel display of FIG. 1 is folded over the base.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, by pivoting the main body 1 and the stand 2 on the first and second hinges 4 and 5, the user is able to fold the main body 1 and the stand 2 over the stand 2 and the base 3, respectively.
This structural feature is very useful, especially when the flat panel display is hung on the wall or packed in a carton, in either case the volume of the flat panel display needs to be minimized. To this end, the user pivots the stand 2 on the second hinge 5 to fold it over the base 2 and at the same time, pivots the main body 1 on the first hinge 4 until the main body 1 is in parallel to the base 3 as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the user can hang the flat panel display on the wall using a wall mount or put it into a carton for ease of shipment.
Because the torsion spring 5a tends to cause the stand 2 to pivot up away from the base 3, an external shock could often cause the related art device to unfold from the position shown in FIG. 2. For this reason, a separate immobilization device (not shown), having a U shape, is generally used to fix the stand 2 to the base 3. However, the use of such immobilization device increases the cost of manufacture of the related art flat panel device because it must be separately manufactured. The related art immobilization device could also be somewhat awkward to use. Further, because the flat panel display cannot be hung on the wall or easily packed in a carton without the help of the immobilization device, users must be extra careful not to lose the immobilization device.


A light fixture includes a light source driver circuit and a light engine. The light engine includes a light source and a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the light source. The driver circuit includes a temperatures sensing circuit operable to connect to the temperature sensor and provide a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the light source. The driver circuit monitors the temperature signal and shuts down an output current provided to the light source when the temperature is outside of a predetermined operating range. The driver circuit is configured to interface with a thermistor or normally bi-metal switch temperature sensor without alteration.

The present invention relates generally to light source driver circuits operable to interface with external temperature sensors. More particularly, this invention pertains to driver circuits supporting both negative temperature coefficient resistor temperature sensing and normally closed bi-metal switch (i.e., bi-metallic strip switch) temperature sensing.
Referring to FIG. 1, a light source (e.g., light emitting diode) driver circuit 100 is configured with an internal negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensing circuit 102. The internal NTC sensing circuit 102 interfaces with an NTC resistor 104 embedded in a light engine 106. The light engine 106 includes a light source 108 that may be formed from a plurality of LEDs configured in various parallel and series arrangements. The driver circuit 100 includes a constant current source 110 to provide power to the light engine 106 from a power source (not shown). The constant current source 110 may include a controller and a current source tank circuit. The controller is responsive to a temperature signal from the internal NTC sensing circuit 102 to adjust operation and current output of the current source tank circuit. In other words, the constant current source 110 is responsive to the temperature signal from the NTC sensing circuit 102 to adjust a current provided to the light engine 106.
Referring to FIG. 2, a light source (e.g., light emitting diode) driver circuit 200 is configured with an internal bi-metallic strip switch sensing circuit 202. The internal bi-metallic strip switch sensing circuit 202 interfaces with a bi-metallic strip switch 204 embedded in the light engine 206. The light engine 206 includes a light source 108 that may be formed of a plurality of LEDs configured in various parallel and series arrangements. The driver circuit 200 includes a constant current source 110 to provide power to the light engine 206 from a power source (not shown). The constant current source 110 may include a controller and a current source tank circuit. The controller is responsive to a temperature signal from the internal bi-metallic strip switch sensing circuit 202 to adjust operation and current output of the current source tank circuit. In other words, the constant current source 110 is responsive to the temperature signal from the internal bi-metallic strip switch sensing circuit 202 to adjust a current provided to the light engine 206.
Conventional driver circuits are designed to interface with either an NTC resistor as in FIG. 1, or a bi-metallic strip switch as in FIG. 2, but not both. For example, the bi-metal switch may be configured as an interrupter to interrupt power to the light source, whereas the thermistor is configured as a sensor to be monitored and current adjusted as a temperature indicated by the thermistor approaches a predetermined limit.

Driver circuit with a common interface for negative temperature coefficient resistor and bi-metallic strip temperature sensing


An air removal device removes air from blood flowing in a perfusion system. A generally cylindrical chamber has a liquid flow region at a lower end thereof and has a gas collection region at an upper end thereof. An arcuate manifold provides an arcuate flow path outside of the chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end. A slit aperture is provided between the arcuate manifold and the chamber along at least a substantial portion of the arcuate manifold. A mixture of gas and liquid introduced into the arcuate flow path at the upstream end flows through the slit aperture to create a spiral flow within the chamber causing the gas to move toward a central axis of the chamber and into the gas collection region.

The present invention relates in general to extracorporeal blood perfusion systems, and, more specifically, to an air removal device for separating entrained air from blood flowing in the system under control of a float-driven lever arm.
When heart surgery is performed 'on pump', steps are taken to remove air entrained in the blood flowing in the extracorporeal blood circuit. Preferably, air removal occurs upstream of the pump. Typically, either a cardiotomy reservoir with defoamer or a flexible venous reservoir (FVR) has been employed. An FVR typically comprises a sealed bag with a luer valve or stopcock at its upper end for manually removing excess air. A cardiotomy reservoir comprises a hard shell for collecting and storing blood which is then supplied to the pumped system. The collection chamber is open to atmosphere and the blood is at atmospheric pressure. Any air bubbles in the blood rise to the top of the collection chamber. Blood is resident in the reservoir for a time that is sufficiently long for air to separate. A blood defoamer is often mounted in the reservoir to aid in the breakdown of foam bubbles in the chamber. Substantially bubble-free blood is drawn out of the reservoir at the bottom. The cardiotomy reservoir can also be used for filtration of particulates or for addition of fluids or pharmacological agents.
Blood from a patient can be collected passively or actively. Passive drainage is accomplished by catheterizing the patient, connecting the catheter with tubing to a cardiotomy or FVR, and siphoning the blood into the cardiotomy or FVR. Active drainage is accomplished by using either a pump or vacuum source on the drainage line to pump or suction blood from the access site. The resulting blood flow rate is greater than what is obtained using passive drainage. When drainage is passive, the pressure in the extracorporeal circuit upstream of the blood pump typically becomes slightly positive relative to atmospheric. When drainage is active, the pressure in the circuit upstream of the pump frequently becomes less then atmospheric. Either a cardiotomy or FVR may be used when drainage is passive. An FVR will not work during active drainage because the negative pressure in the circuit will cause the FVR to collapse.
Certain advantages could be realized by eliminating the use of the cardiotomy reservoir. For instance, a reduction in blood contacting surface areas, a reduction of blood to air interface, a reduction of fluid priming volume of the perfusion circuit, and elimination or reduction of the amount of blood-to-defoamer contact are all expected to improve patient outcome. Since an FVR provides a closed system (i.e., not open to atmosphere) it can achieve some of these advantages to a certain degree, but it cannot be used when active drainage is desired because of the tendency to collapse under negative pressure.
Closed, hard shell reservoirs have recently been suggested for use as air removal devices. These systems have required an active electronic sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the presence of collected air and an electronically controlled purge valve that is triggered when air is sensed. However, cost and potential reliability issues associated with active sensing and purging are disadvantageous. No system has yet met the objectives of removing air from blood flowing at high flow rates in a passive manner (i.e., without electronic sensors) and doing so whether the pressure within the system is higher or lower than atmospheric pressure.

Blood perfusion air removal device with arcuate manifold


A method of producing silicon nanowires includes providing a substrate in the form of a doped material; formulating an etching solution; and applying an appropriate current density for an appropriate length of time. Related structures and devices composed at least in part from silicon nanowires are also described.

In the discussion that follows, reference is made to certain structures and/or methods. However, the following references should not be construed as an admission that these structures and/or methods constitute prior art. Applicants expressly reserve the right to demonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not qualify as prior art.
Structures having nanometer-scale dimensions can possess unique and useful properties, such as the quantum behaviors observed in some nanostructures.
One such material is silicon nanowires. The nanowires are characterizable as one-dimensional, small-scale, large surface area wire-like materials that exhibit electron transport, photoluminescent and/or quantum effects. Such materials are of interest for certain medical and electronics applications.
A number of techniques have been described for making such structures. These techniques include lithography, plasma etching, plasma deposition, reactive ion etching, chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation, sputtering, thermal evaporation decomposition, electron-beam evaporation, supercritical vapor-liquid solid synthesis, electrochemical dissolution, and metal-induced local oxidation and dissolution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,618 discloses a chemical dissolution procedure reportedly for forming silicon nanowires. The procedure comprises a first anodizing step, followed by a second chemical dissolution step to increase pore size. No visual evidence (e.g., imaging) is included in the patent to demonstrate that well-aligned silicon nanowires along the (001) direction were actually achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,735 describes a process for forming a "microporous silicon layer" having luminescent properties. The process described therein involves illuminating the anode side of a silicon wafer during at least part of the time in which the wafer is placed in an acidic solution. The microporous layer comprises a n+ doping region in addition to a p+ doping region, thereby forming a p-n junction. The patent does not discuss formation of silicon nanowires.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,328 describes the formation of porous silicon light emitting diode arrays. The only discussion of the morphology of the porous silicon describes "a column-like Si structure." The columns are said to have a diameter on the order of 50-100 nanometers. The porous silicon is produced by a electrochemical dissolution process. The reported etching current is 10 mA/cm2, and the etching solution was HF:H2O=1:3. The process is described as taking place with illumination. Moreover, most embodiments described therein involve complicated silicon structures such as p−n junctions or "poly-Si."
A thesis entitled "Investigation of Pristine and Oxidized Porous Silicon" by Andrea Edit of the University of Oulu, dated 2005 discusses the synthesis and properties of porous silicon. It is noted in the thesis that porous silicon can comprise crystalline silicon nanowires. However, the thesis does not describe the morphology or nature of silicon nanowires, or the mechanism(s) of their formation, in any detail. Moreover, the thesis does not describe free-standing nanowires or techniques for obtaining them from a substrate.
Despite the numerous techniques utilized, a need still exists for a simple and cost-effective fabrication method to form well-aligned, high-aspect ratio silicon nanowires in large quantities with tailorable geometries.

Well-aligned, high aspect-ratio, high-density silicon nanowires and methods of making the same


A communication network includes a first communication device (10, 64), a second communication device (14, 66) connected through a switched network (12, 68) to the first communication device (10, 64), in order to carry out a communication with the first communication device (10, 64), and a monitor/management device (16, 60) for performing a monitoring and/or management of the first and the second communication devices. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a disconnection factor requiring a disconnection between the first and the second communication devices is detected in the second communication device, and is transmitted to the first communication device, and thereafter, a connection between the first and the second communication devices is disconnected. In a second embodiment of the present invention, monitor/management information from the monitor/management device to the second communication device is once retained in the first communication device and is transmitted to the second communication device while both are connected to thereby carry out a user communication. Monitor/management information from the second communication device to the monitor/management device is transmitted to the first communication device while both are connected, and once retained in the first communication device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of transmitting monitor/management information in a data communication network constructed by connecting a plurality of communication devices, for realizing a communication between a plurality of data terminals such as personal computers. The present invention also relates to the communication device in the network. The monitor/management information includes information on the causes of disconnections of lines between the communication devices and other information, such as identification numbers of the communication devices, the type of communication devices, set conditions in the communication devices, and the data and time of events occurring in the communication devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The aforementioned data communication network has been enlarged, given a higher performance, and has had various functions added thereto, and thus a unified monitoring and/or management of the network is now required.
Also, many different types of communication devices constitute the network. Namely, not only communication devices connected through a private line or a leased line but also communication devices connected through a public switched network or a switched network are used, and therefore, a monitoring and/or management of the communication devices connected through the switched network is required.
In a network including only communication devices connected through a private line or leased line, a unified monitoring/management of the network has been realized by communicating monitor/management data between first communication devices connected to a host for monitoring/management and second communication devices connected through that line to the first communication devices, independently of a user data communication between the communication devices, whenever the host or the communication devices requires same and as long as they are normally operating. Usually, the communication of the monitoring/management data is carried out by using a lower frequency band than that of the user data communication, within a frequency band of the communication line.
Nevertheless, in a network including the second communication devices connected through the switched network, since repeated connections and disconnections between the communication devices occur in the switched line as time elapses, the second communication device cannot communicate the monitoring/management data to the host except when the second communication device is connected through the switched network to the first communication device connected to the host. Thus, when a disconnection between the communication devices occurs, the communication device cannot communicate the cause of disconnection to the host after the disconnection, even if the device can detect same.
Generally, the cause of the disconnection is due the following factors i) to iv), and the factors i) to iii) can be detected by the communication device:
i) normal disconnection by a disconnection control signal from a data terminal connected to a communication device; PA1 ii) manual disconnection using a switch provided in a communication device; PA1 iii) spontaneous disconnection by a communication device when the communication device detects a deterioration of a line such that a normal data communication cannot be maintained; and
iv) sudden disconnection caused by an obstruction.
In addition, as mentioned before, communication of the monitoring/management data can be carried out only during the user data communication, by utilizing a lower frequency band. The user data communication is carried out as required by the user, because the user fears the expense thereof. On the other hand, a predetermined communication time dependent or a throughput of the host and the communication device, a delay time in the transmitting line, and a transmission rate, are required for the communication of the monitoring/management data, and therefore, the communication of the monitoring/management data may be broken off before it is completed.

Method of communicating monitor/management information and communication devices in network including communication devices connected through switched network


A smart thermostat hub and a management platform for controlling and securing smart devices in a multi-family residential property are disclosed. Smart thermostat hubs may bi-directionally communicate with the management platform using a LoRaWAN communication link and communicate with smart devices present within an apartment of the multi-family residential property via a non-LoRaWAN communication link. Smart thermostat hub may provide a gateway or bridge between the management platform and an offline door lock, thereby enabling access credentials for an offline door lock to be disabled from the management platform, and may serve to facilitate remote configuration of other smart devices, such as thermostats and smart light fixtures, for example.

Technology and the benefits it provides often plays an important role with respect to how many consumers make decisions. This has become increasingly so in the real-estate industry, and more specifically in the multi-family residential property market. To illustrate, Class A multi-family residential properties (e.g., apartments, etc.) may have keyless entry systems installed that allow residents to gain entry into their respective apartments by placing a fob, smartphone, or smartcard in proximity to a door lock. As another example, these Class A multi-family residential properties may have been constructed with infrastructure, such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points and/or wired networks (e.g., Ethernet), for providing Internet access to residents. While the security and convenience these technologies provide are attractive to residents, deploying such technologies in older multi-family residential properties, such as Class B and C multi-family residential properties, can be cost prohibitive and/or present challenges with respect to the security of residents of the multi-family residential property.
For example, keyless entry systems may utilize online door locks or offline door locks. Online door locks may be controlled (e.g., locked and unlocked) remotely through an Internet-accessible network connection and locally by a device (e.g., a fob, smartphone, smartcard, etc.) that is placed in proximity to a sensor of the online door lock, while offline door locks can only be controlled (e.g., locked and unlocked) by a device (e.g., a fob, smartphone, smartcard, etc.) that is placed in proximity to a sensor of the offline door lock. The cost to deploy an online door lock-based keyless entry system in a multi-family residential property can be significantly higher than offline door lock-based keyless entry systems due to the requirement that network communication infrastructure (e.g., a mesh network, a Wi-Fi network, etc.) be provided to facilitate network-based control of the door lock.
While less expensive to deploy, the offline door lock-based keyless entry systems present challenges with respect to security. For example, in addition to being controlled remotely, online door locks can be managed remotely, such as to authorize and disable new access credentials. For offline door locks, new access credentials for controlling an offline door lock may be created via a network-based application (e.g., a cloud-based application or website); however, offline door locks require an individual, such as a property manager or property maintenance personnel, to connect (e.g., via a universal serial bus (USB) connection) an external device (e.g., a laptop, tablet, or other electronic device) to the offline door lock and then use software or another utility provided by the external device to disable access credentials. The requirement that access credentials for offline door locks be disabled in person presents risks with respect to the security of residents of a multi-family residential property. For example, if a resident's access credential (e.g., fob, smartcard, etc.) is lost or stolen, the access device may be used to gain entry into the resident's apartment before the appropriate personnel can visit the resident's apartment and use an external device to disable the lost or stolen access credential. As another example, if a resident gives an access credential to a non-resident and then has a falling out with the non-resident, the resident cannot prevent the non-resident from using access credential to gain entry into the resident's apartment and must wait until the appropriate personnel can visit the resident's apartment to disable the access credential provided to the non-resident.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A display unit for a merchandise display system, comprising: a support surface for supporting a plurality of merchandise items, the support surface defining a travel path for said plurality of merchandise items between a rear of the display unit and a front of the display unit; a pusher element disposed for movement relative to said support surface along said travel path; an actuation member coupleable to said pusher element and operative to control movement of said pusher element; a releasable coupling for coupling said pusher element to said actuation member, said releasable coupling configured to couple said pusher element to said actuation member when an actuation force is applied to said actuation member, and to uncouple said pusher element from said actuation member when said actuation force applied to said actuation member exceeds a threshold.

"Facing" (also known as blocking, zoning, straightening, rumbling, or conditioning) is a common practice in the retail industry to create the look of a perfectly stocked store (even when it is not) by pulling, or moving, all of the products, or merchandise items, on a display or shelf to the front, or by filling empty space at a front of a shelf with merchandise items. It is also done to keep the store appearing neat and organized. Retailers, wholesalers and showrooms place their merchandise products on shelves in certain ways. They may arrange merchandise product packages in colourful horizontal or vertical patterns, featuring some brands more than others. For example, products on a shelf may be arranged in "columns" in which the products extend rearward from the front-most product of each column. However situated, "facing" is when merchandise items are moved to the edge of shelves with their fronts facing outward. Customers can then easily identify each brand when making their selections. Facings can apply to many different merchandise products, including cereal, canned soups, toilet paper and books.
As customers remove merchandise items from shelves, remaining items must be moved forward either by store operatives or a customer attempting to purchase the item. Also, when a front-most item is removed from a shelf, it is difficult for customers or prospective customers to see the remaining merchandise items, which may be spaced back from the front portion of the shelf. Additionally, when a front-most item is removed from a relatively high shelf, it may be difficult for customers or prospective customers to access remaining merchandise items.
Some types of merchandise display systems and units contain elements operable by a store operative to achieve facing of products, or merchandise items. In such merchandise display systems and units, facing is implemented manually (i.e. by the store operative) rather than automatically. These types of systems and units comprise a pusher assembly that is actuated by a manually operated pull element. A store operative can pull the pull element from the front of a shelf, which causes the pusher assembly to move from a rear portion of the shelf towards a front portion of the shelf. Continued pulling of the pull causes the pusher assembly to move forward to act upon a rear-most product, or merchandise item, in a column of products/merchandise items. This can move the column of products/merchandise items forwards towards a front portion of the shelf.
Some merchandise display systems and units include mechanical pushing apparatus to achieve automatic facing. In these merchandise display systems and units, the mechanical pushing apparatus pushes remaining merchandise items forward when a front-most merchandise item of a column of merchandise items is removed. In these systems and units, a mechanical pushing apparatus exerts a force on a rear-most product/merchandise item of each column of products/merchandise items all the time. When a store operative conducts a re-stocking operation and/or a customer returns a product/merchandise item to the shelf, the store operative/customer must push back against the action of the mechanical pushing apparatus. This may increase the risk of damage to product(s)/merchandise item(s).
Whilst merchandise display systems and units of the types as described above have been satisfactory and may continue to be satisfactory in certain instances, the inventors have recognised that it may be desirable to provide merchandise display systems and units that can inhibit excessive pressure being exerted on products/merchandise items in a column of products/merchandise items when being moved forward using a manually operated pull element and pusher assembly. Exertion of excessive pressure on products/merchandise items in a column of products/merchandise items when being moved forward using a manually operated pull element and pusher assembly may, potentially, lead to damage of softer products/merchandise items, or damage to softer types of packaging of such products/merchandise items. Also, the inventors have recognised that it may be desirable to provide merchandise display systems and units that can exert pressure on products/merchandise items only when a front-facing operation is being performed.
The present invention has been devised with the foregoing considerations in mind.

Merchandise display system and display unit


A vehicle brake includes a compact module having an inlet port connected to the return-to-sump line of a hydraulic operating system on the vehicle. The module includes a path to a filter mounted on the module for filtering the operating system fluid and a poppet valve for bypassing a clogged filter. Passages in the module direct most of the return line fluid through a poppet valve which develops a source of back pressure substantially lower that system operating pressure in a cavity in the module and returns the fluid to an outlet connected to sump. A portion of the fluid in the cavity is communicated via a charge port in the module to a hydrostatic system to replenish leakage and shuttle flow in the hydrostatic system and to prevent cavitation. The source of back pressure in the module is selectively connected to spring-applied, pressure-released brakes through a four-way solenoid valve housed by the module. To release the brakes, the valve is actuated to direct pressure to one side of each of the brake cylinders. To apply the brakes, the valve is deactuated to pressurize the opposite sides of the cylinders for hydraulically assisted braking.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hydraulic brake control systems and, more specifically, to a hydraulic system for a pressure released brake for a vehicle such as a skid steer loader.
2) Related Art
In braking systems for vehicles, hydraulically controlled brakes are often selectively connected to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure through a multi-valve system by numerous hydraulic lines. Spring-applied, pressure-released brakes may be used to assure braking if fluid pressure is lost.
In a typical braking system on a vehicle, a relatively large number of brackets and other mounting hardware elements are required to connect the separate lines and valve components, and the system can be complicated and expensive, particularly when individual cartridge valves are utilized. The system often takes up much valuable space in a confined area on the vehicle and is difficult to install. The numerous lines and connections are subject to leakage. Providing a compact and inexpensive braking system that is relatively inexpensive and easily accessible has been a continuing source of problems, particularly in a vehicle such as a skid steer loader where accessible space is at a premium. Providing such a system that effectively utilizes an existing source of hydraulic fluid under high pressure available on the vehicle has also presented problems.


A coupling loop, formed by a bendable sheet material, formed by a main plate and two branch plates, with the main plate provided with a phase adjustor. The coupling loop can be easily bent in the direction of its thickness, thereby facilitating coupling adjustments and reducing the load exerted on the connecting and fixing portions of the sheet material of which the coupling loop is composed. The coupling loop allows excellent workability and processability to be achieved, is lower in cost, and allows external coupling adjustments to be performed readily, without any problems occurring in the connecting and fixing portions of the coupling loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly relates to a dielectric resonator device, and, more particularly, to a structure of a dielectric resonator device which allows an external coupling of a dielectric resonator to be performed readily, and excellent workability and processability to be achieved.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view which schematically shows a structure of an external coupling of a dielectric resonator.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the structure, a coupling loop 59, composed of a metallic wire connected to an external connector 58, is externally coupled to a dielectric column 60. More specifically, when an electrical current E is allowed to flow in the coupling loop 59 in the direction of the arrows, a magnetic field M is generated around an axis defined by the coupling loop 59. The generated magnetic field M causes the coupling loop 59 and the dielectric column to be coupled together. Here, the degree of coupling of the coupling loop 59 and the dielectric column 60 depends on such factors as the thickness of the metallic wire making up the coupling loop 59, the size of the coupling loop 59, the distance between the coupling loop 59 and the dielectric column 60, and the like.
FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) each illustrate an example of a dielectric resonator device using the dielectric resonator shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5(A) is a plan view of the internal construction of the dielectric resonator device, without the upper portion of the case. FIG. 5(B) is a side elevational view thereof.
As shown in FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B), six dielectric resonators, R1 to R6, are contained in a case 30. The first three dielectric resonators R1 to R3 form a receiving bandpass filter, while the last three dielectric resonators R4 to R6 form a transmitting bandpass filter. External connectors 31 to 33 are provided on the side faces of the case 30. Coupling loops 34 and 35 are provided between the central conductor of the external connector 32 and the case 30, and between the central conductor of the external connector 33 and the case 30, respectively. The case 30 serves as a ground. The coupling loops 34 and 35 are magnetically coupled to the dielectric resonators R1 and R4, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the structure of the region around the external connector 31. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a central conductor 31a of the external connector 31 is connected to the coupling loop 21.
The coupling loop 21 is formed by a main wire 22 and four branch wires 23. The main coupling of the coupling loop 21 to the dielectric resonators R3 and R6 is performed through the four branch wires 23.
The main wire 22 is provided with two phase adjustors 24. The central conductor portion 31a of the external connector 31 is soldered at 26 to the center of the main wire 22. Each end of the main wire 22 is connected and fixed to the case 30, serving as ground, via terminals such as solderless terminals 27 or the like which are then screwed to a grounded mounting post.
When the coupling loop 21 is magnetically coupled to the dielectric resonators R3 and R6, the two phase adjustors 24 adjust the phase of the dielectric resonator R3 and the central conductor 31a, and the phase of the dielectric resonator R6 and the central conductor 31a, respectively. The two phase adjustors 24 adjust an electrical length from the central conductor 31a to the dielectric resonator R3 and an electrical length from the central conductor 31a to the dielectric resonator R6, whereby the two phase adjustors 24 adjust the phase of the transmitter and the phase of the receiver. The phase adjustors 24 are thought to adjust the phase of the dielectric resonator R3 and the central conductor 31a, and that of the dielectric resonator R6 and the central conductor 31a, respectively, when the equivalent inductive components of the phase adjustors 24 are introduced in parallel with the four branch wires 23 which are used for the main coupling of the coupling loop 21 with the resonators R3 and R6, and the branch wires 23 and the dielectric resonators R3 and R6 are coupled together.
The center of the main wire 22 is supported by two cylindrical bushings 28 made of fluororesin.
The four branch wires 23 are C-shaped. A projecting end of each of the C-shaped branch wires 23 is inserted in a hole formed in the main wire 22 and soldered thereto, while the other end of each branch wire 23, provided with one of the solderless terminals 27, is connected and fixed to the case 30, serving as ground, along with the ends of the main wire 22.
The coupling of the coupling loop 21 with the dielectric resonators R3 and R6 is adjusted using an adjusting jig, with the upper portion of the case 30 removed, or through a hole for receiving the adjusting jig into the case 30. Here, the adjustment is performed using the adjusting jig by bending the branch wire 23 of the coupling loop 21 such that the loop 21 approaches the case 30 (that is, moves away from the dielectric resonators R3 and R6), or by bending the branch wire 23 such that the loop 21 approaches the dielectric resonators R3 and R6 (that is, moves away from the case 30). In other words, the adjustment is performed by moving the branch wires 23.
Conventional coupling loops are formed by metallic wires, with a hole formed in a main wire of the coupling loop for inserting an end of a branch wire therethrough and soldering the branch wire thereto. However, it is extremely difficult to form such a hole in a thin metallic wire, making it very troublesome to produce the coupling loop.
Even when the coupling loops are constructed such that they can be externally coupled to a desired degree, the coupling loops vary slightly in form after they are constructed, and variations occur in the degree of external coupling of the dielectric resonator devices, thus requiring large adjustments of the coupling loops.
In addition, many component parts are used, including a main wire having a portion for coupling to the central conductor of the external connector and having two phase adjustors, four branch wires, a bushing for supporting the main wire, and a solderless terminal for being screwed to a ground.
Further, since the coupling loop is formed by a metallic wire, the metallic wire must be shaped into a desired form after it has been formed to a proper length, thus making it very troublesome to produce the coupling loop.
This has made it more expensive to produce a dielectric resonator device.
Further, since an adjusting jig is used to adjust the degree of external coupling by moving the branch wire, a load is exerted on a soldered connecting portion of the coupling loop, resulting in peeling of the solder or removal of the end of the inserted metallic wire, so that the characteristics of the coupling loop are changed from their predetermined value, leading to the possibility of deviations in the characteristics of the entire dielectric resonator device from the desired characteristics.


A network device receives an indication to establish a session for an internet protocol (IP) service between a first device and a second device, wherein the network device is part of a local network with the first device and another network device. The network device identifies a service tag to include in a service tag field of a session request. The other network device causes the session request that includes an updated service tag to be provided to the second device. The second device provides a session response with the service tag to the other network device, the other network device updates the session response to include the original service tag and provides an updated session response to the network device. The network device causes the session to be established.

A local network (e.g., a local a area network (LAN), a home network or home area network (HAN), and/or the like) may refer to a type of network that facilitates communication between devices within or near a home. The local network may include, for example, a group of user devices (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a smart TV, and/or the like), an access point device (e.g., a router), a gateway, a modem, and/or the like.

Local area network architecture for supporting multiple IP services


A pulse generator for use in a defibrillator provides cardioverting electrical energy to a heart through at least one lead having a pair of electrodes associated with the heart. Electrical energy is applied to the heart with a biphasic waveform having a first cardioverting phase and a second cardioverting phase. A crosspoint switch selectively couples a storage capacitor to the lead means. A master switch decouples the crosspoint switch from the storage capacitor while the crosspoint switch connections are changed between the first cardioverting phase and the second cardioverting phase. A control circuit provides independent control of the duration of both the first and second cardioverting phases.

The present invention generally relates to an automatic implantable atrial defibrillator for delivering cardioverting or defibrillating electrical energy to the atria of a human heart. The present invention is more particularly directed to a crosspoint switch for use in an automatic implantable atrial defibrillator which provides cardioverting or defibrillating electrical energy. The invention also provides improved discharge control when supplying defibrillating electrical energy having a biphasic waveform to the atria of the heart.
Atrial fibrillation is probably the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Although it is not usually a life threatening arrhythmia, it is associated with strokes thought to be caused by blood clots forming in areas of stagnant blood flow as a result of prolonged atrial fibrillation. In addition, patients afflicted with atrial fibrillation generally experience palpitations of the heart and may even experience dizziness or even loss of consciousness.
Atrial fibrillation occurs suddenly and many times can only be corrected by a discharge of electrical energy to the heart through the skin of the patient by way of an external defibrillator of the type well known in the art. This treatment is commonly referred to as synchronized cardioversion and, as its name implies, involves applying electrical defibrillating energy to the heart in synchronism with a detected electrical activation (R wave) of the heart. The treatment is very painful and, unfortunately, most often only results in temporary relief for patients, lasting but a few weeks.
Drugs are available for reducing the incidence of atrial fibrillation. However, these drugs have many side effects and many patients are resistant to them which greatly reduces their therapeutic effect.
Implantable atrial defibrillators have been proposed to provide patients suffering from occurrences of atrial fibrillation with relief. Unfortunately, to the detriment of such patients, none of these atrial defibrillators has become a commercial reality.
Implantable atrial defibrillators proposed in the past have exhibited a number of disadvantages which probably has been the cause of these defibrillators from becoming a commercial reality. Two such defibrillators, although represented as being implantable, were not fully automatic, requiring human interaction for cardioverting or defibrillating the heart. Both of these defibrillators require the patient to recognize the symptoms of atrial fibrillation with one defibrillator requiring a visit to a physician to activate the defibrillator and the other defibrillator requiring the patient to activate the defibrillator from external to the patient's skin with a magnet.
An implantable defibrillator must be powered by a portable, depletable power source, such as a battery. It has been long believed that as much electrical energy is required to cardiovert or defibrillate the atria of the heart as is required to cardiovert or defibrillate the ventricles of the heart, on the order of ten joules or more. In addition, episodes of atrial fibrillation occur much more frequently than do episodes of ventricular fibrillation. As a result, due to the contemplated required cardioverting or defibrillating energy levels for cardioverting or defibrillating the atria of the heart and the predicted required frequency of delivering such energies, it has long been believed that an implantable atrial defibrillator would deplete its power source so rapidly that frequent battery replacement would be required. Since battery replacement would require the surgical implanting of the defibrillator, it has long been believed that an implantable atrial defibrillator could not be a commercial reality. To this day, a commercially implantable atrial defibrillator remains unavailable.
Defibrillators generally include a means, such as a storage capacitor, for storing the electrical energy required to cardiovert or defibrillate the heart. A charging circuit is provided for charging the storage capacitor to a potential of several hundred volts. Control circuitry is further provided to detect the level of charge stored on the storage capacitor and to control the discharge of the capacitor through lead means to the heart.
Implantable defibrillators are known in the art which deliver cardioverting or defibrillating electrical energy from the storage capacitor with a biphasic waveform. With such a biphasic waveform, the cardioverting or defibrillating electrical energy is initially applied with a first polarity, and then with a second and reversed polarity in rapid succession. The electrical energy is applied through lead means having at least two electrodes in electrical contact with the heart.
A crosspoint switch is generally utilized for supplying the biphasic electrical energy from a single storage capacitor. The crosspoint switch may be configured to first couple a positive terminal of the storage capacitor to a first electrode and a negative terminal of the storage capacitor to a second electrode during a first cardioverting phase of the biphasic waveform and to couple the positive terminal of the storage capacitor to the second electrode and the negative terminal of the storage capacitor to a first electrode during a second cardioverting phase of the biphasic waveform Crosspoint switches exhibit a distinct advantage because they conserve space within an implantable defibrillator by eliminating the need for a second storage capacitor with reverse polarity and its associated charging circuit.
One concern in implementing a crosspoint switch for delivering cardioverting electrical energy with a biphasic waveform is inadvertently shorting out the storage capacitor between the first cardioverting phase and the second cardioverting phase. This can occur during switching if both terminals of the storage capacitor are coupled to the same electrode, even briefly. If this occurs, the shorted capacitor could lose all and most assuredly a significant portion of its stored electrical energy.
To reduce the risk of shorting out the storage capacitor, crosspoint switches have been associated with control circuits which verify that the connections within the switch for the first cardioverting phase are broken before completing the connections for the second cardioverting phase. To provide this verification, such control circuits have had to be rather elaborate to introduce switching delays to prevent the storage capacitor from being shorted out.
In addition to being rather elaborate, prior crosspoint switch control circuits have exhibited the further disadvantage of lacking the ability to adequately control the durations of the first and second cardioverting phases. Such phase duration control is desirable for tailoring the applied electrical therapy to a patient's particular condition. Ideally, the duration of both the first and the second cardioverting phases should be independently controllable from a zero time duration (analogous to a monophasic waveform) to a predetermined maximum time duration. Previous crosspoint switch control circuits have lacked this flexibility. The crosspoint switch and control circuit of the present invention overcomes these shortcomings of earlier devices. The crosspoint switch and control circuit of the present invention provides for decoupling the storage capacitor from the lead means while the crosspoint switch connections are changed. The present invention also provides independent control of the duration of each cardioverting phase. As disclosed herein, first and second digital counters are provided for controlling the duration of the first and second cardioverting phases, respectively. Other features and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent hereinafter.

Crosspoint switch with improved discharge control for use in an implantable defibrillator


Provided is a display device that individually corrects luminance of an image to be displayed in a part of an image display area and an image to be displayed in the other area. The display device includes a display unit to display an entire image, and a luminance correction controller to correct luminance of the entire image. The entire image is an image in which a first image displayed in a first display area being an area except a second display area is superimposed by a second image displayed in the second display area that is set in a part of the image display area. The luminance correction controller respectively corrects the luminance of the first and second images by using the first and second luminance correction coefficients. The display unit displays first and the second images each having corrected luminance respectively in the first and second display areas.

Display devices using light emitting diodes (LEDs) for pixels are often used in indoor and outdoor advertising displays etc. owing to technological development and lowered costs of LEDs. Such display devices have hitherto been mainly used for the purpose of displaying a moving image such as a natural image and animation. In recent years, however, such display devices are used also in indoor displays having a short visible distance, such as a display for a meeting room and a display for displaying a monitored image, as a result of narrowed pixel pitches. Among those indoor display devices, in many cases, monitoring LED display devices display a moving image in a part of a display area and a still image in the most of the other part, as in computer images.
Patent Document 1 discloses a display device for saving power by reducing increase of power supply capacity. The display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 predicts values of current to flow through a display panel, based on an image signal input into the display device. Then, when the sum of the values of current etc. reaches a predetermined threshold value or more per frame, the display device performs image signal processing, specifically, corrects contrast or brightness of the image, to thereby perform control such that the values of current to flow through the display panel do not exceed a predetermined maximum value.


An integrated circuit device containing complementary metal oxide semiconductor transistors includes a semiconductor substrate and an NMOS transistor having a first fin-shaped active region that extends in the semiconductor substrate. The first fin-shaped active region has a first channel region therein with a first height. A PMOS transistor is also provided. The PMOS transistor has a second fin-shaped active region that extends in the semiconductor substrate. This second fin-shaped active region has a second channel region therein with a second height unequal to the first height.

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors having reduced channel lengths may suffer from parasitic short-channel effects. These effects can result in an effective reduction in transistor threshold voltage. One technique for reducing short-channel effects includes increasing the doping concentration in the channel region of the transistor. Unfortunately, this higher doping concentration may result in a higher inversion-layer channel resistance when the transistor is disposed in a forward on-state mode of operation. This higher channel resistance may cause a reduction in the current driving ability of the transistor. Another technique to reduce short-channel effects includes forming transistors having three-dimensional channel regions. One method of forming a transistor with a three-dimensional channel region is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,650 to Gambino et al. In this method, a gate electrode is formed in a self-aligned manner to a channel region. Other methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,615 to Forbes et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,605,501 to Ang et al.
Notwithstanding these methods, complications may arise when forming complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors in a semiconductor substrate. These complications may relate to the inability to obtain optimum device characteristics for both NMOS and PMOS transistors because of the fact that electron and hole mobilities in these transistors are different. In order to obtain improved device characteristics, unique processing conditions may be necessary for each of the types of MOS transistors (i.e., N-type and P-type MOS transistors). However, these unique processing conditions may be difficult to apply to conventional CMOS methods of forming channel regions having three-dimensional shapes (e.g., fin-shaped channel regions).

Methods of forming complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors having three-dimensional channel regions therein


When an operator operates an operation tool of a dimming operation terminal device in order to set the brightness of a lighting load to desired brightness, an energization electric signal, for example, a voltage level detected by a dimming control section changes. The dimming control section generates a dimming signal modulated according to the voltage level. Power supply to the dimming control section is performed by an insulated auxiliary power supply. Transmission of the dimming signal is performed via an insulating section.

In the past, a luminaire is proposed that controls a conduction phase of a lighting load such as a light-emitting diode (LED) and dimly lights the lighting load. "Dim" means adjusting the brightness of lighting. A dimming operation terminal device in such a luminaire is connected between an alternating-current power supply and the lighting load and subjects a load current to phase control. Such a dimming operation terminal device of a phase control system is provided to be embedded in or exposed from a wall or the like. An operator can operate a rotary or sliding operation tool provided on the front surface of the dimming operation terminal device, change a conduction phase of a phase control type dimmer, and change the brightness of a lighted place lighted by the lighting load to desired brightness.
Such a phase control type dimmer subjects a power supply voltage itself supplied to the lighting load to phase control. Usually, such a phase control type dimmer is referred to as two-wire dimmer.
On the other hand, a dimmer of a type for transmitting, via a signal line separated from a power supply line, a dimming signal to a lighting device that lights a lighting load is proposed. Such a dimmer of the type for transmitting the dimming signal via the signal line is sometimes referred to as four-wire dimmer.
In the past, a dimmer is known that lights an LED (light-emitting diode) using a boost chopper circuit, transmits a duty-variable (PWM-controlled) dimming signal from a dimming operation terminal device via a signal line, and controls an output of the boost chopper circuit to dimly light the LED.
In general, such a dimming operation terminal device that generates the duty-variable dimming signal obtains a voltage for dimming operation from an alternating-current power supply. In such a case, in general, a commercial alternating-current voltage is stepped down by resistance division, a transformer, or the like and then rectified and smoothed (further converted into a constant voltage according to necessity) to obtain a desired direct-current voltage.
However, a power supply for the dimming operation terminal device in the past explained above needs to step down a relatively high-voltage alternating-current power supply to generate a relatively low voltage. Therefore, the power supply has a complicated configuration and the terminal device tends to be increased in size. If the dimming operation terminal device is not sufficiently electrically insulated from the alternating-current power supply and a lighting device, safety against an electric shock of the operator is not guaranteed. When plural dimming operation terminal devices are provided in parallel, electrical insulation needs to be sufficiently taken into account. When another electric appliance such as an intercom and the dimming operation terminal device are set adjacent to each other at home, electrical insulation between the terminal device and the other appliance needs to be sufficiently taken into account. In order to secure such insulation, the dimming operation terminal device is often requested to have a complicated configuration.
When a power supply for the dimming operation terminal device is formed using an insulated step-down transformer, the power supply has a complicated configuration and is increased in size. Besides the dimming operation terminal device that includes the power supply for dimming operation by itself and transmits a duty-variable (PWM-controlled) dimming signal, there is a dimming operation terminal device that does not include a power supply for operation by itself and causes a lighting device to generate a dimming signal according to operation. In such a dimming operation terminal device, for example, a variable resistance section is provided in the dimming operation terminal device, a voltage is supplied from a lighting device side to the variable resistance section, and the dimming operation terminal device changes the resistance of the variable resistance section to thereby transmit a variable voltage signal to the lighting device side. In this case, the dimming operation terminal device is also requested to be electrically insulated from the alternating-current power supply and the lighting device side.
Therefore, there is a demand for a luminaire in which a dimming operation terminal device is electrically insulated from an alternating-current power supply and a lighting device, a power supply section of the dimming operation terminal device has a relatively simple configuration and is reduced in size and in weight.

TOSHIBA LIGHTING AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION


A device may receive application information associated with an application. The application information may include information associated with a native homepage associated with the application, and may include a single file that includes content associated with the application. The device may receive an indication associated with running the application. The device may present, for display, the native homepage. The native homepage may include information associated with accessing the content. The device may determine that the content, associated with the application, is not current content. The device may obtain the current content, associated with the application, based on determining that the content is not the current content. The device may store the current content based on obtaining the current content. The device may load the current content based on storing the current content. The current content may be loaded to prepare the current content to be displayed to a user.

An application (e.g., a software application) may be installed on a user device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, etc.). The application may allow a user, associated with the user device, to access (e.g., via a network) content associated with the application (e.g., an HTML document associated with a web page) that may be managed and/or stored by another device (e.g., a server device associated with the application).

Content fetching and caching on a mobile device


A method for colourising a three-dimensional point cloud including surveying a point cloud with a surveying instrument. Each point of the point cloud may be characterised by coordinates within an instrument coordinate system having an instrument center. The method may include capturing a first image of the setting with a first camera. Each pixel value of the first image is assigned coordinates within a first camera coordinate system having a first projection center as origin and a first parallax shift relative to the instrument center. The method may include transforming the point cloud from the instrument coordinate system into the first camera coordinate system, resulting in a first transformed point cloud, detecting one or more uncovered points within the first transformed point cloud which are openly visible from the first projection center, and for each uncovered point, assigning a pixel value having corresponding coordinates in the first camera coordinate system.

Generating three-dimensional point clouds is used to survey many different settings such as construction sites, building facades, industrial facilities, interior of houses, or any other applicable setting. The surveys achieved therewith may be used to obtain accurate three-dimensional (3D) models of a setting, wherein the models consist of point clouds. The points of such a cloud are stored by coordinates in a coordinate system, which may be defined by a surveying instrument which recorded the point cloud. Usually, the surveying instrument constitutes the origin of the coordinate system by an instrument center, in particular by the so called nodal point of the surveying instrument. The points are usually surveyed by associating a distance measured with a laser beam (with help of a time-of-flight method) with the alignment under which the distance was measured. Usually, the coordinate system is a spherical coordinate system, such that a point is characterised by a distance value, an elevation angle and an azimuth angle with reference to the origin of the coordinate system.
Common surveying instruments comprise a unit for sending out a scanning beam and for receiving the reflected beam in order to measure the distance of a point the beam was directed at. Usually, these surveying instruments furthermore comprise means to rotatably alter the direction of the beams, commonly a vertical rotation axis and a horizontal rotation axis, wherein both axes are sensed with angle sensors. Usually, the rotation of the vertical axis is measured by an azimuth angle and the rotation of the horizontal axis is measured by an elevation angle. If the surveying instrument is embodied as a laser scanner, one of said axes may be a slow axis and the other one a fast axis.
The distances may be calculated with the travel time measurement (time-of-flight) method by observing the time between sending out and receiving a signal. The alignment angles are achieved with said angle sensors arranged at the vertical axis and at the horizontal axis.
In order to provide a graphically more ergonomic visualization, the point cloud may be digitally colourised. In various applications, terrestrial surveying is hence supported by imaging data of at least one camera which is combined with a surveying instrument by including the camera in the instrument or mounting it on the same platform as the instrument.
Such point cloud colourisations are known in prior art and for example described in US20140063489A1, US2016061954A1 and US20120070077A1.
However, prior art offers only complicated solutions to solve parallax errors which occur due to different perspectives of a camera and a surveying instrument. For example, according to US20140063489A1, the camera is incorporated inside a laser scanner and components are arranged such that the camera and the scanner have the same perspective. This construction requires a high technical effort and is therefore very expensive. According to US20120070077A1, a camera is a posteriori brought into the same position where the surveying instrument had been to scan the environment. This process requires extra high precision of the components.

Method and device for inpainting of colourised three-dimensional point clouds


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remedying a charging error. In use, a battery and a battery charger are identified. Additionally, an error associated with the charging of the battery by the battery charger is detected. Further, the error is remedied.

Batteries have become an essential power source for many portable electronics. For example, portable computers and other devices may use battery power to operate. However, current techniques for charging device batteries have been associated with various limitations.
For example, batteries that store a predetermined voltage may not be recognized by a charger if their stored voltage drops significantly from that predetermined voltage. This may result in the charger not charging the battery. There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program product for remedying a charging error


In a brazing method, a flux-mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a brazing flux with a quick-drying oil. The flux-mixed liquid, when it is spread to an aluminum or aluminum alloy work, fixes the brazing flux to the work by a quick-drying character of the quick-drying oil within a short time. Also, in the brazing method, the flux-mixed liquid is prepared by mixing the brazing flux with an aqueous solution in which a solid lubricant is melted in water. The solid lubricant melts in water at or above a prescribed temperature, and forms a film when the temperature is below the prescribed temperature. The flux-mixed liquid, when it is spread to the work, immediately forms the film due to a drop in temperature below the prescribed temperature and fixes the brazing flux to the work by the film within a short time.

The present invention relates on a brazing method for an aluminum or aluminum alloy work.
As methods for spreading a brazing to an aluminum or aluminum alloy work, a method utilizing electrostatic induction and a method by which a brazing flux dissolved in water is sprayed are known. In the case of the method utilizing electrostatic induction, the work is electrically grounded and a powdered brazing flux is charged by electrostatic induction. The charged brazing flux is carried to the work by a coulomb force, and thereby the brazing flux is spread to the work. In the case of the method by which a brazing flux dissolved in water is sprayed, a flux-mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a powdered brazing flux with water, and the flux-mixed liquid is sprayed to the work. After spraying, drying (for example, at 140.degree. C. for 5 minutes) is performed, and thereby the brazing flux is fixed to the work.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a flat tube used for a heat exchanger of an air-conditioning system. A flat tube 1 is composed of a one-piece sheet made of an aluminum alloy. In the flat tube 1, there are formed three coolant paths 5, 6 and 7 by brazing inside faces of embossed portions 2, 3 and an inside face of an end portion 4. Flat tubes 1 like this are produced by continuously forming a rolled aluminum alloy sheet by an endless processing and cutting it into individual flat tubes in the final stage of forming.
In the case of a flat tube like this, it is not possible to spread the brazing flux to inside faces of the embossed portions 2, 3 and inside face of the end portion 4 after the flat tube 1 is formed as shown in FIG. 6. For this reason, it is necessary to spread the brazing flux in the middle of forming the flat tube 1. However, the method utilizing electrostatic induction cannot be used for spreading the brazing flux in the middle of forming. That is, since the work is electrically grounded and the brazing flux is charged for spreading in the method utilizing electrostatic induction, it is necessary to conduct the spreading of the brazing flux separately, or as an independent process, after cutting flat tubes 1 into individual pieces. Accordingly, it is physically not possible to incorporate the spread of the brazing flux into the endless process. In addition, since the brazing flux is spread in a dry state, the fixing character of the brazing flux is not so good. On the other hand, in the case of the method by which a brazing flux dissolved in water is sprayed, the work must be dried and in order to fix the brazing flux on the work after the spread of the flux-mixed liquid. Hence, when the spread of the brazing flux is incorporated into the endless process, a drying time is required, and the result is an adverse effect to the speed of forming the flat tubes 1.


The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a shunt resistor with at least an electrically conductive first connecting leg and an electrically conductive second connecting leg. A resistance area of the shunt resistor is electrically connected to the first connecting leg and to the second connecting leg. The arrangement further comprises a circuit carrier with a first metallization and a second metallization. The first connecting leg is directly joined to the first metallization and the second connecting leg is directly joined to the second metallization. The resistance area of the shunt resistor is in thermal contact with the thermally conductive substrate by use of a thermal filler arranged between the resistance area and the substrate, and/or by directly contacting the resistance area with the substrate.

Shunt resistors are used to precisely determine electric currents, e.g. in power semiconductor modules. Conventional shunt resistors extend over a large area and are electrically connected, e.g., to a circuit carrier, by soldering. Physically, two conflicting properties are requested. First is a rather large electrical resistance to enable accurate current measurements. Second is a low thermal resistance to avoid overheating through the dissipated power. Since both properties do not combine well, shunt resistors usually heat up to high temperatures and therefore a degradation of the solder and, coming along therewith, delamination of the shunt resistor may arise. This is one of the reasons why shunt resistors generally are specified to certain maximum temperatures, e.g. 250° C.

Arrangement comprising a shunt resistor and method for producing an arrangement comprising a shunt resistor

Abstract: The invention further relates to a method for producing an arrangement with a shunt resistor and a circuit carrier.