A system and method for handling a status change in a pipeline microprocessor. The pipeline microprocessor determines, at the decode unit, if an instruction is a status instruction. If the instruction is determined to be a status instruction, the decode unit delays the start of the following instruction a sufficient number of clock cycles to allow the status change to propagate through the system pipeline.

Pipeline processing is a method of processing information. A pipeline consists of several units that perform tasks on information. After a first unit has completed its work on the information, the information is passed to another unit. The work done on the information by the pipeline is not completed until it has passed through all the units in the pipeline.
The advantage of pipelining is that it increases the amount of processing per unit time. This results in instructions being handled in less cycles.
In FIG. 1, an exemplary diagram of a Microprocessor 100 using pipeline processing is shown. The Microprocessor 100 comprises an Instruction Fetch Unit 110 communicatively connected to a Decode Unit 115 and an Instruction Cache Unit (IC) 135. The Decode Unit 115 is communicatively connected to an Execute Unit 120. The Execute Unit 120 is communicatively connected to a Memory Access Unit 125. The Memory Access Unit 125 is communicatively connected to a Register Writeback Unit 130 and a Memory 140. The Register File 105 is communicatively connected to the Instruction Fetch Unit 110, Decode Unit 115, Execute Unit 120, and the Register Writeback Unit 130. In an exemplary embodiment, the Register Writeback Unit 130, however, is only capable of sending signals to the Register File 105, it is incapable of receiving signals from the Register File 105.
The Microprocessor 100 in FIG. 1 receives an instruction sequence, for example instruction n to instruction n+9, as inputs. The Instruction Fetch Unit 110 requests and grabs the instructions from the IC 135. The IC 135 obtains instructions from the main processor memory and stores them locally. The IC 135 serves to reduce the amount of time the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 takes to obtain an instruction. By having the instructions available at the IC 135, the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 does not have to spend additional cycles waiting for an instruction to arrive from the main memory.
When the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 grabs an instruction, it also requests another instruction. Requesting an instruction before it is needed is known as prefetching. By requesting that the IC 135 prefetch an instruction, the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 can further reduce the amount of time it has to wait to receive an instruction. When the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 returns to the IC 135 in order to grab the instruction it previously requested, it will either receive the instruction or have to wait for the IC 135 to obtain the instruction.
Whenever a requested instruction is not immediately available to the Instruction Fetch Unit 110, the IC 135 sends a wait signal to the Instruction Fetch Unit 110. This indicates to the Instruction Fetch Unit 110 that it needs to wait to receive the request and to wait before making any additional prefetch requests.
When an Instruction Fetch Unit 110 receives instruction n from the IC 135, it next requests instruction n+1. At the next clock cycle, if a wait has not been received from the IC 135, instruction n+2 is requested by the Instruction Fetch Unit 110. The Instruction Fetch Unit 110 receives instruction n+1 and the Decode Unit 115 receives instruction n. This process will continue throughout the Microprocessor 100 until instruction n has passed through each unit and a result is written back to the Register File 105.
Although the pipeline process increases the speed in which groups of instructions are processed, it has difficulty handling instructions that are dependent on the results from a preceding status instruction. A status instruction is an instruction that causes a change in the status of the system, such as whether the interrupts are on or off or a change from user mode to system mode. Once a status instruction has changed the status of the process, the Register File 105 will return an incorrect result if queried for a result during the status change.
Results from instructions are written to the Register File 105. Therefore, whenever an instruction requires a result from a previous instruction, it searches the Register File 105 for the result. One problem that occurs is that in some cases the result has not been written to the Register File 105. For example, if at the Execute Unit 120 a new result is computed, it has to propagate through the Memory Access Unit 125 and the Register Writeback Unit 130 before it is written to the Register File 105. A similar problem can occur with a status change of the system. If the status of the system has changed, due to a status instruction, accesses to resources that depend on the current processor status will return incorrect results until the new status has propagated through the processor pipeline.
One method for resolving these problems is data forwarding. Data forwarding, as its name implies, forwards data or results from a first instruction to a second, or dependent, instruction that is waiting for the result. Through data forwarding, the dependent instruction may proceed through the pipeline without errors or delays. Data forwarding allows the status of the system to be forwarded to the dependent instruction. The requesting instruction would then be able to obtain the correct information.
The problem with data forwarding, however, is that it requires additional hardware to implement. This results in a larger chip that consumes additional power. In addition, in many instances the data forwarding would have to be setup along a critical path. That would affect the overall speed of the system.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more problems presented above.

Status register update logic optimization


This display includes a display panel support member having a rear surface partially constituting a rear housing and a cover member mounted on the display panel support member to partially cover the rear surface thereof. A movement regulating portion regulating movement of the cover member is provided on the rear surface of the display support member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display and a television set, and more particularly, it relates to a display and a television set each including a display panel support member supporting a display panel.
Description of the Background Art
A display including a display panel support member supporting a display panel is known in general, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-134269, for example.
The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-134269 discloses a display including a front cabinet, a rear cabinet (display panel support member) and a liquid crystal display panel (display panel). In this display, the liquid crystal display panel is arranged between the front cabinet and the rear cabinet, while a circuit board is arranged at the back of the liquid crystal display panel. A rear surface (back surface) of the rear cabinet has a planar shape, and the circuit board is covered with the planar surface portion of the rear cabinet.
In a case where a cover member is further mounted on the rear surface of the rear cabinet, for example, in the display described in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-134269, however, it is conceivably difficult to arrange and mount the cover member on a prescribed position of the rear cabinet, due to the flat rear surface of the rear cabinet. Therefore, mounting workability is conceivably deteriorated when the cover member is mounted on the rear cabinet (display panel support member).


An image processing apparatus includes a compressed-feature extractor configured to extract a compressed feature from image data, the compressed feature being a feature having a less amount of data than the image data; a display controller configured to display the compressed feature; a processing-information determining unit configured to determine processing that is to be executed on the image data and to output processing information representing the processing; and a recorder configured to record the processing information on a recording medium in association with a processing feature, the processing feature being a specific feature of the image data on which the processing represented by the processing information is to be executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses, image processing methods, and programs. More specifically, for example, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program that facilitate tasks of editing images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of editing images can be classified into linear editing and non-linear editing.
In linear editing, processing corresponding to a user's operation is executed on image data that serves as what is called raw data, and processed image data obtained through the processing is recorded on a recording medium. At a time of playback, the processed image data recorded on the recording medium is played back and output.
On the other hand, in non-linear editing, image data that serves as raw data is recorded on a recording medium that allows random access, for example, a disk recording medium. Furthermore, information directly or indirectly representing processing that is to be executed on the image data according to an editing operation by a user, for example, processing information (parameter) representing processing that is to be executed on the image data, the editing operation by the user, or the like, is recorded. At a time of playback, the image data that serves as raw data is played back from the disk recording medium, the processing represented by the processing information is executed on the image data that serves as raw data, and the resulting image data is output.
For example, according to the art described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-270187, a parameter representing a region that is to be extracted from a wide-angle image is recorded in accordance with a pan operation, tilt operation, zoom operation, or the like performed by a user, and at a time of playback, the region represented by the parameter is extracted and output.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program


A golf practice device having a base supporting a substantially vertical fixed shaft which supports a wheel mounted for rotation about the shaft, and a ball tethered by at least one flexible cord to the wheel. The device also includes an optical sensor which is disposed adjacent to the wheel to detect the rotation thereof and to output a signal indicative of the rate of rotation. This signal is sent to a processor which calculates the free distance of travel a real untethered ball would have traveled and outputs a signal to a display to indicate the free distance of travel to a user.

The game of golf is becoming ever more popular around the world. It is not always possible for a golfer to have access to a golf course or driving range, and there exists a need for a device which allows a golfer to practice driving of golf balls in their own home, office or other convenient location as and when it suits them.
Quite a variety of existing golf practice devices are available. In general, these have a golf ball or simulated golf ball tethered to some kind of anchor. One such device in which the ball is connected to an anchor by means of an elasticated cord is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,835. A more sophisticated type of device, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,880 which shows a golf ball which is mounted on a joystick arrangement, where sensors are arranged to transmit data concerning the movement of the joystick as it is struck to a computer. The computer makes a calculation of the distance the ball would have travelled if it was a normal free golf ball based on the detected movement of the joystick.
Other prior devices include a simulated ball mounted on a rigid rod. Sensors placed on the rod measure the movement of this as the ball is struck. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,836.
There are various problems with the existing devices. For those where the ball is mounted on a rigid rod there is the significant drawback that the ball does not have the feel of a normal free ball. When the ball is not struck absolutely squarely, a lateral force is transmitted to the device, whereby the ball does not react as a free ball would. As well as feeling unnatural such lateral forces cause eventual damage to the device.
Many of the prior art devices are very large and complicated, requiring a special platform, computing equipment and display device, such that they are appropriate only for commercial use.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved golf practice device which is simple to use, and can be used even inside the home if desired, and yet still gives the feel of a free golf ball.


A pair of rear wheel suspension assemblies are attached to arm brackets provided on a fuel tank which is in turn mounted on a lower surface of a vehicle body by means of mount brackets likewise attached to the fuel tank. An inner frame is incorporated inside the fuel tank. To prevent any deformation of the fuel tank when excessive load is applied to the suspension assemblies, the mount brackets and the arm brackets are made less rigid and provided with less mechanical strength than the parts of the fuel tank at which these brackets are attached. Thus, the fuel tank in effect serves as a subframe so that the rear chassis system can better ensure sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity, and can be easily mounted on a vehicle body without sacrificing the capacity of the fuel tank and without increasing the weight of the chassis structure.

Conventionally is known a rear chassis system in which rear wheel suspension assemblies are mounted on the vehicle body via a subframe. (Refer to Japanese patent laid open (kokai) publication No. 5-8643.) According to this conventional system, a fuel tank is supported by the subframe which is in turn mounted on the vehicle body. Therefore, a step of mounting the fuel tank on the subframe needs to be carried out before mounting the subframe on the vehicle body, and this may increase the complexity of the assembling process.
Additionally, interference between the subframe members and the fuel tank must be avoided, and it creates some difficulty in ensuring the necessary capacity of the fuel tank, and the necessary mechanical strength and rigidity of the subframe with the result that the weight of the rear chassis and the manufacturing cost tend to be increased.


An apparatus and method for cutting a hole in a liner installed in a conduit. Included in the apparatus is a carriage and a cutting head that are rotated to cut the liner. A lateral axis extends through the carriage. A skid constrains the carriage and the cutting head. The cutting head is substantially positioned over the center of gravity of the carriage to provide stability during cutting. The cutting head moves vertically with the use of a cam. The cutter also moves laterally and may rotate about the axis when cutting the hole. Prior to cutting the hole, the skid extends outward to hold the carriage in place. The apparatus also includes a specialized cutter having cutting bars along its outside perimeter and along its top surface.

This invention relates generally to using a remotely located device for cutting holes. More specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting through a liner in a conduit in order to re-establish service to lateral (incoming) lines.
It is well known that conduits that hold water sewage require repair due to leaking. This leakage may result from improper installation, deterioration due to aging, corrosive material running through the conduit, improper care, earth vibrations or other causes.
Typical leakage has been corrected by running a liner through a conduit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,009,063 and 4,067,211. After the conduit has been lined, a cutter such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,648,454, 4,197,908, 4,701,988 or 4,422,891, is fed into the conduit to cut holes at the conduit's junctions.
These cutters have a cutter head disposed at one end and a motor that is connected to a carriage at the other end. The cutter turns rapidly while moving upward to cut a hole through the liner. A drawback to these cutters is that the cutter head may wobble while cutting, resulting in an inaccurate cut. Further, the cutter heads may not be able to exert enough force to cut away obstacles that protrude into the hole after the liner has been cut.
The locations of the junctions where the holes in the liner are to be cut may be located on the sides of the conduit. Further, the size of the hole may be large. Consequently, when the aforementioned cutters are used, they must be twisted and turned to place the cutting head in the proper orientation to cut the hole. The aforementioned cutters may not have the range of motion to cut large holes without having to stop cutting the liner, physically moving the cutter. Twisting and moving the cutters to reposition the cutting heads increases the time to cut holes in the liner which allows blocked lateral (incoming) lines to backup and possible overflow or backflow.
Another drawback to the cutters disclosed in the aforementioned patents is that they are constructed with many moving components. Except for the cutting head, prior art components are sealed in a cover to prevent contact with debris. However, debris may still seep through cracks around the cover resulting in the cutter's components corroding, thereby reducing its life expectancy.
Due to the tight space requirements of a conduit, the cutter's components must be compacted into a small region. When cutting it is desirable to cut deeply through the liner to cut away any debris or growth present in the junction. A drawback of the aforementioned cutters is that they may not have the extent of movement to allow the cutters to cut growth in the junction.
The devices described in the aforementioned patents use brakes which are connected through rams to the cutter's support structure. During operation the rams expand outward. This expansion results in the brake being pushed against the side of the liner to hold the support structure in place. A drawback to this approach is that when the cutter is to be moved to the next cutting location, the operator may occasionally forget to release the brake. Consequently, the brake may tear up the liner, or a hose connected to the support structure to move the cutter may be damaged.
Another problem with the extended brake in the prior art is that because the force exerted by the brake(s) along the liner, enough force may not be applied to one location on the liner to hold the support structure in place. Consequently, the cutter may vibrate and travel during cutting operation resulting in an inaccurate cut.
Many of the prior art devices cause debris from the liner to fall downward on the cutter during operation. This debris may clog up the cutter's moving components. Further, the debris may become entrained in the cutter's blades themselves so as to increase the time to cut the hole. Further, the prior art devices only have a limited cutting surface. Thus, the time to cut the hole is increased.
When a cutting head cuts the liner it typically cuts in two directions. First the cutting head moves upward to form a hole in the liner. Then the cutting head moves downward to spread the hole. When the cutting head moves downward it may not exert enough force to expand the hole after punching through the liner.
Finally, when the prior art cutting devices are repositioned during cutting, the operator may not react quickly enough to the movement of the cutter head to stop the cutter's reposition. Consequently, if the cutter mechanism moves too fast, it may overshoot its mark and damage the conduit or liner. This damage may result in a leaky liner.

Apparatus and method for cutting a hole in a pipe liner


The present invention significantly modifies “The Overflow Process”. It includes a method and apparatus for measuring glass flow rate and maintaining a constant glass flow rate. It also embodies design features and methods that support and stress the forming apparatus in a manner such that the deformation that results from thermal creep is corrected, thus minimizing the effect of the thermal creep on the thickness variation of the glass sheet. The present invention also embodies design features that change the process from a single step (combined flow distribution and cooling) to a two step process; step one being flow distribution and step two being cooling.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to the manufacture of glass sheets, and, more particularly, to glass sheets formed from an overflow process.
2. Description of Related Art
The glass that is used for semiconductor powered display applications, particularly for TFT/LCD display devices that are widely used for computer displays, must have very high surface quality to allow the successful application of semiconductor type material. Sheet glass made using the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,696, assigned to Corning, Inc., makes the highest quality glass as formed and does not require post-processing. That patent makes glass by a manufacturing process termed "The Overflow Process". Glass made using other processes requires grinding and/or polishing and thus does not have as fine a surface finish. The glass sheet must also conform to stringent thickness variation and warp specifications. The fine surface finish is formed from virgin glass primarily from the center of the glass stream. This glass has not been in contact with foreign surfaces since the stirring operation.
The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,696 are still the state of the art as practiced today; however, the apparatus has limitations.
A drawback of the apparatus of "The Overflow Process" is that, even though it makes excellent glass during stable operating conditions, the control of process temperature and flow is limited by simplistic control technology, thus allowing unintended process transients which cause glass defects. Defects caused by the flow and temperature transients eventually subside when the process stabilizes; however, there is a period of time where the quality of the glass sheet is substandard. Flow and temperature transients also cause variations in the sheet thickness. Therefore, there is a need in the art for measurement technology that facilitates more precise control of the flow rate of the glass entering the forming apparatus.
Another drawback of the apparatus of "The Overflow Process" is that the forming apparatus deforms during a manufacturing campaign in a manner such that the glass sheet no longer meets the thickness specification. This is a primary cause for premature termination of the production run. Therefore, there is a need in the art for technology that corrects for the apparatus deformation.
Another drawback of the apparatus of "The Overflow Process" is that the production rate of the present forming apparatus design is limited by the use of a single step process to both distribute the glass and cool the glass prior to drawing the sheet. The limited production rate makes the cost of the glass sheet that is produced less competitive in the market.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Overflow downdraw glass forming method and apparatus


An adaptation technique for decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes for hard disk drive (HDDs) systems is disclosed. The method includes tuning the normalization factor for LDPC decoding for each data zone and read head during the test stage of manufacturing. The LDPC decoder can be either a sum-product algorithm (SPA) decoder or a Min-Sum decoder. The channel detector can be any soft-output detector, such as a soft-output Viterbit detector (SOVA), a BCJR detector, a pattern-dependent noise-predictive (PDNP) detector, or a bi-directional pattern-dependent noise-predictive (BiPDNP) detector. The adaptation technique can optimize the LDPC decoding performance for each data zone and read head, thereby relaxing the acceptance criteria for hard disk drive read/write heads and disk media, enabling acceptance and use of a much broader range of head and media for hard disk drives.

Hard disk drives employ a technique called zoned bit recording (ZBR) for storing information on the disk media. ZBR is a technique where recording tracks are grouped into zones based on their distance from the center of the disk and each zone is assigned a number of sectors per track. In practice, the disk media characteristics differ from one data zone to another and each read head also has its unique response to the recorded data. In addition, no two disks are alike. As a result, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals read back from the head typically varies from zone to zone, head to head, and disk to disk. The SNR may also vary with temperature and other operational parameters. Therefore, the read channel is expected to be optimized for each disk, and for each zone and head.
In conventional disk drive systems, adaptive equalization techniques have been applied in order to take into account the variations between data zones, read heads, and disks. For example, during the test stage of manufacturing, the equalizer coefficients are trained or optimized based on known pseudo-random data recorded on the corresponding data zone. This process is repeated for each data zone and each head and the obtained equalizer coefficients are cached in RAM and stored at "a reserved area" on the disk or in a flash memory. During data detection, the microcontroller retrieves the equalizer coefficients for each data zone and head, and uploads them into the equalizer. In this way, the performance of the equalizer and channel detector can be optimized for each data zone and read head. However, up till now, the error correction codes (ECCs) such as the LDPC codes used for hard disk drives are fixed across the disk media. However, these fixed ECCs cannot take into account the variations in zones and disk heads.
Thus what is needed is a method for deriving error correction codes (ECCs) for data detection optimized for each zone and head, which can provide improved data recovery accuracy. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the disclosure.

Normalization factor adaptation for LDPC decoding for hard disk drive systems

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A top-flow fluid pump that is made from a high-purity fluroplastic material is disclosed. The pump is used to circulate extremely corrosive fluids that are heated to temperatures of 160-180xc2x0 C. through at least one filtration unit. The pump can be used in a semiconductor etching system. The pump utilizes the driven side of an impeller to generate a suction force that draws the corrosive fluid into a pumping chamber from at least one inlet port. A pedestal support or shaft sleeve, through which a motor drive shaft extends, is modified to create an annular passageway that permits the corrosive fluid to enter the pumping chamber from the inlet. With the inlet design of the present invention, a drive motor seal assembly is no longer subjected to corrosive fluid because the seal assembly is positioned on the suction side of the impeller. In a xe2x80x9cdead headedxe2x80x9d condition, the corrosive fluid flow stops completely as the fluid within the pumping chamber simply remains in shear.

The present invention relates to the fluid pumping and filtration arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with a top-flow centrifugal fluid pump for use in pumping highly-corrosive fluids, such as used in a semi-conductor etching system, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention may also find application in conjunction with other systems and applications where the pumping and/or filtration of fluids is performed.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary impeller-type fluid pump and filtration unit A for a semi-conductor etching system. The pump and filtration unit is disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,151, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all that it teaches.
Briefly, the pump and filtration unit A includes a housing 10 having a pump chamber 12 and a filter chamber 14 spaced apart from the pump chamber. The pump and filter chambers 12, 14 communicate through an intermediate passageway or bore 16. An inlet port 18 of the housing communicates with an inlet 20 of the pump chamber. An outlet port 22 of the housing communicates with an outlet 24 of the filter chamber. A centrifugal-type fluid pump within the housing 10 includes an impeller 26 positioned within the pump chamber 12. A hollow impeller shaft sleeve 28 is secured to the impeller and extends through a bore 30 in the housing. A drive motor assembly 32 is secured to the housing by an adapter plate 34. An output shaft 36 of the drive motor extends through the adapter plate 34 and impeller shaft sleeve 28 and is secured to the impeller 26. A replaceable filter element 38 is located within the filter chamber 14.
The impeller 26 is formed from a first section 40 and a second section 42, each of which has a plurality of impeller vanes associated therewith. In particular, the impeller vanes 44 associated with first impeller section 40 draw fluid from the inlet port 20 to the pump chamber 12 in a direction toward the drive motor assembly 32. The impeller vanes 46 associated with the second impeller section 42 move fluid more efficiently than the impeller vanes 44 associated with the first section 40. As a result, a positive suction force is created by the impeller vanes 46 to prevent fluid from being pushed up into the bore 30 and potentially reaching the drive motor unit 32.
In operation, the pump and filtration unit A is located in a tank or tub together with a weir basket that holds microelectronic circuits or chips. The tub contains a corrosive chemical solution or fluid (e.g. corrosive acid(s) heated to 160-180xc2x0 C.) which overflows the top of the basket and engulfs the unit A, and which is intended to etch the microelectronic circuits or chips. When the pump and filtration unit A is energized, the corrosive fluid is drawn from the inlet port 16 to the pump chamber 12 by the impeller 26. The impeller then pumps the fluid into the filtration chamber 14 and through the filter 38 before being discharged back into the tub at the outlet 22. Notwithstanding the positive suction force generated by the second impeller section 42, a seal assembly 48 (FIG. 2) such as a labyrinth seal assembly further prevents corrosive fluid from flowing between the shaft sleeve 38 and the adapter plate 34 to the drive motor assembly 32.
It should be appreciated that the drive motor assembly provides a very efficient means of pumping fluids when coupled to the centrifugal-type pump. High rotational speeds of the centrifugal-type pump 26 can produce high fluid-flow rates at moderate outlet pressures. However, when the outlet pressure increases (such as when the filter 38 becomes at least partially blocked with particles generated by the etching process), the fluid flow drops off sharply beyond the design parameters of the pump. In the most extreme case when the pump is xe2x80x9cdead headedxe2x80x9d (i.e. outlet 22 and/or 24 is blocked completely), the pressure created by the first impeller section 40 can force the corrosive fluid up the bore 30, past the seal assembly 48, and into the drive motor assembly 32. When pumping aggressive (i.e. highly-corrosive) fluids, this can result in the premature failure of the drive motor and/or the drive bearings.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved top-flow centrifugal fluid pump for use in pumping corrosive fluids, which pump meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.
The present invention is directed to a fluid pump that is made from a high-purity fluroplastic material. The pump is used to circulate extremely corrosive fluids that are heated to temperatures of 160-180xc2x0 C. through at least one filtration unit. The pump can be used in a semiconductor etching system. The pump utilizes the driven side of an impeller to generate a suction force that draws the corrosive fluid into a pumping chamber from at least one inlet port.
A pedestal support or shaft sleeve, through which a motor drive shaft extends, is modified to create an annular passageway that permits the corrosive fluid to enter the pumping chamber from the inlet. With the inlet design of the present invention, a drive motor seal assembly is no longer subjected to corrosive fluid because the seal assembly is positioned on the suction side of the impeller. In a xe2x80x9cdead headedxe2x80x9d condition the corrosive fluid flow stops completely as the fluid within the pumping chamber simply remains in shear.
Thus, in one aspect of the present invention a fluid pump is disclosed. The fluid pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a single fluid inlet communicating with the pump chamber; an impeller positioned within the pump chamber; and a drive shaft extending through the fluid inlet and coupled to the impeller.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a corrosive fluid pumping system including a tub adapted to hold a corrosive fluid and a fluid pump is disclosed. The fluid pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a single fluid inlet communicating with the pump chamber; an impeller positioned within the pump chamber; and a drive shaft extending through the fluid inlet and coupled to the impeller.
Accordingly, one advantage of the present invention is the provision of a fluid pump that prevents corrosive fluid from reaching a drive motor unit during a worst-case, xe2x80x9cdead-headedxe2x80x9d operating condition of the fluid pump.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a fluid pump having at least one inlet port positioned intermediate a pumping chamber and a drive motor housing.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a fluid pump having an impeller that draws fluid into a pumping chamber in a direction away from a drive motor housing.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.


Sensors and methods for detecting attachment to a surface are disclosed. The sensors include a housing having an inner surface, an outer surface and a passage extending through the housing. An elongated member or fastener extends through the passage and protrudes from the outer surface of the housing to attach the sensor to a surface. First and second electrical contacts are disposed within the housing so that when the sensor is attached to the surface an electrical path is formed between the first and second electrical contacts.

Sensors for detecting attachment to a surface are generally well known. For example, retail businesses that sell consumer goods, particularly expensive hand-held or portable electronic goods such as cameras, personal data assistants, laptop computers, calculators, camcorders, etc., use security sensors that detect removal of such an item from a point-of-purchase display area. The cable or tether enables a consumer to physically examine and test a hand-held, portable electronic product. The product is typically fixed to a tether or cable, which may be retractable, that enables the consumer to examine the product only in close proximity to the display area and prevents the consumer from removing the product from the display area. In some cases, the tether or cable provides power and/or other signals to the product. Often, the tether or cable also includes one or more wires or signal lines that connect to a security sensor at the product end of the tether or cable. Known security sensors are typically momentary switches encased in a housing that provide a push-button or the like protruding from an outer surface of the housing. Such push-button actuated security sensors are typically adhered via double-sided tape to a surface of the product being protected so that the push-button is depressed to maintain the switch contacts in a closed condition while the security sensor remains attached to the product. If the security sensor is removed from the product, the switch contacts move to an open condition.
Typically, the switch contacts are electrically connected to a remote security unit via signal lines traveling through the tether or cable. In the event the remote security unit detects that the switch contacts are in an electrically open condition (i.e., the current path between the contacts has been interrupted or broken), an alarm or other indication may be produced to alert security personnel, store managers, owners, etc. that a product may have been removed from the display area.
Unfortunately, retail theft of hand-held or portable electronic goods is a pervasive problem and the above-described known security sensors are relatively easy to circumvent or defeat. In general, known security sensors and switches use an attachment mechanism (e.g., double-sided tape) that is functionally independent from the switching or sensing mechanism. As a result of this functional independence, a thief can more easily disable or circumvent the switching or sensing mechanism before removing the security sensor from the product. For instance, a momentary switch-based security sensor that is attached to a product can be removed without detection by sliding a knife or other thin, flat object between the push-button and the product and using the knife or other object to maintain the push-button in a depressed or fully-actuated condition while removing the security sensor from the product.


The invention provides a method for treating or preventing heart failure in a subject, which includes administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a Poloxamer (e.g., Poloxamer 188).

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome or clinical condition resulting from failure of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood. It can be chronic or acute, and has many etiologies including ischemic infarction or myocardial infarction.
According to the American Heart Association, the total direct and indirect costs for HF in the US are estimated at $27.9 billion in 2005. The HF market has been devoid of novel drugs on the market for some time partially because drug development in the HF arena has one of the highest late stage failure rates. However, HF prevalence and incidence are increasing as a result of an aging population and increasing survival in the underlying cardiovascular disease patient base. This has resulted in an increased demand for new treatments. The US HF market is expected to grow from $1.33 billion in 2004 to $4.33 billion by 2011. Marketed products include angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as Vasotec and Altace, β-adrenergic blockers (ARBs) such as Troprol and Coreg, nitric oxide enhancing therapy (BiDil), angiotensin II receptor blockers such as Diovan and Atacand, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists such as Inspra, and recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (Natrecor). There are also generic inotropes, vasodilators and diuretics. Emerging therapies include statins, inotropes with calcium sensitizer and PDE properties, recombinant erythropoietic protein, α-human natriuretic peptide, vasopressin antagonists, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) crosslink breakers, and xanthene oxidase inhibitors, among others.
In the US, there are about 5 million heart failure patients and more that 285,000 deaths occur annually from this disease (American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2006 Update, Dallas, Tex.). The number of patients is on the rise and is expected to reach 11.5 million in 2011 (Frost & Sullivan, U.S. Heart Failure Therapeutics Markets, F666-52, 2006; http://www.frost.com). Approximately 1.6 million patients have New York Heart Association Class III or IV HF encompassing the population with moderate to severe symptoms. These syndromes typically progress from Class III to IV over 3 to 10 years where the patients may be treated with optimal pharmacological therapy such as β-blockers, angiotensin II receptor type 1 blockers, angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators. As additional symptoms occur, patients may require medical devices such as implantable pacemakers or defibrillators and possibly left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). With the possible exception of LVADs, these therapies prolong life but do not stop or reverse the deterioration of heart function. In the mid- and end-stages of this disease, patients are frequently hospitalized for shortness of breath with dangerously low left ventricular ejection fraction (acute decompensation in patients with chronic HF or acute HF). These patients require IV inotropes to increase contractility of the heart muscle, IV diuretics to decrease fluid burden, and IV vasodilators to decrease peripheral vascular resistance (ACC 2005). However, patients are discharged with signs and symptoms of congestive HF and within 2 months after discharge, the readmission rate is about 30% and the mortality rate is 10%. See, e.g., Gheorghiade, M. et al., Early Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes, in Cardiovascular Emergencies, 2006, Omni, Atlanta, Mar. 11, 2006. Thus, there is an immediate and critical need for better therapies to treat acute HF.
Heart failure may be manifested by cardiac muscle dysfunction, e.g., abnormal contraction of heart muscle such as diastolic or systolic dysfunction. While several therapies are available to treat abnormal contraction, there are currently no therapies that target diastolic dysfunction of heart muscle seen in approximately 2.3 million patients. Despite various etiologies of HF, its syndromes are highly related and systolic and diastolic dysfunctions coexist in most patients. See, e.g., Dyer, G. S. M. et al., Heart Failure, in Pathophysiology of Heart Disease (L. S. Lilly ed.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md., 2003, p. 234. Diastolic dysfunction results from compromised ventricular heart relaxation (filling) in the presence of abnormal heart contraction and ejection fraction. See, e.g., Zile, M. R. et al., Circulation, 2002, 105:1387-1393. Diastolic HF DHF) is most often associated with coronary artery disease, hypertension, aging and infiltrative cardiomyopathy. Currently there are no consensus guidelines for the treatment of chronic diastolic dysfunction as compared with the ACC/AHA treatment guidelines for systolic-related HF.
Heart dysfunction may be associated with loss or lack of dystrophin in the cardiac muscle cell membrane (Takahashi, M. et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol., 2005, 522: 84-93; Yasuda, S. et al., Supra; Kaprielian, R. R. et al., Circulation, 2000, 101: 2586-2594; Toyo-Oka, T. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2004, 101: 7381-7385). Dystrophin is a structural protein that participates in cellular organization in muscle cells and promotes both myofibril and sarcolemma (muscle cell membrane) stability. See, e.g., Kaprielian, R. R. et al., Circulation, 2000, 101: 2586-2594. Genetic dystrophin deficiency or abnormal dystrophin level are the underlying cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MD) and Becker's muscular dystrophy (BMD), respectively. Cardiac disease in both DMD and BMD manifests as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), ardiac arrhythmia, or both. It is seen in young patients with an incidence of 26% by the age of 6 and causes death of these patients typically in their early to mid 20s. About 20% of DMD patients and 50% of BMD patients die from HF. Female carriers of DMD or BMD are also at risk for cardiomyopathy. For carriers the age of onset is unclear but is thought to be in the adult years. Cardiac involvement ranges from asymptomatic to severe HF. See, e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics, Clinical Report, Pediatrics, 2005, 116:1569-1573.
Dystrophin levels in the muscle cell membrane can also be influenced by environmental factors such as pathological stresses including catecholamine administration, coronary ligation resulting in acute myocardial ischemia, and in chronic HF after myocardial infarction (MI). The increase in intracellular calcium (Ca+2) in HF subsequent to MI is well established with changes in calcium handling such as impaired removal of cytosolic calcium by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), ryanodine receptor leakage, decreased activity of the sodium/calcium exchanger, and increased activity of phospholamban accompanying impairment of cardiac relaxation and systolic function. See, e.g., Morgan, J. P. et al., Circulation, 1990, 81:III21-III32; Iwanaga, Y. et al., J. Clin Invest., 2004, 113:727-736; Zhang, X.-Q. et al., J. Appl. Physiol., 2002, 93:1925-1931; Wehrens, X. H. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2006, 103:511-518; Angeja, B. G. et al., Circulation, 2003, 107:659-663. These mechanisms may work to increase calcium initially leading to activation of calpains (calcium-activated proteases) and remodeling pathways. Activation of calpains could lead to initial loss of dystrophin from the membrane, causing it to become unstable and susceptible to contractile stress. The loss of dystrophin and dystrophin-associated proteins from the membranes of cardiomyocytes from HF patients and animal HF models is well documented. See, e.g., Kawada, T. et al., Pharmacol. Therap., 2005, 107: 31-43; Kaprielian, R. R. et al., Circulation, 2000, 101:2586-2594). These proteins form complexes that provide mechanical resistance to overexpansion of the sarcolemma. Loss of these proteins is associated with an increase in the number of cardiomyocytes taking up the membrane impermeable dye Evans Blue. See, e.g., Takahashi, M. et al, Eur. J. Pharmacol., 2005, 522:84-93.
Further, an increase in calpains was demonstrated in models of myocarditis where loss of dystrophin correlates with functional deficit (Lee, G.-H. et al., Circ. Res., 2000, 87:489-495).
Tears in the sarcolemma have been shown to be a conduit for calcium to enter the cell and increase intracellular calcium. It has been proposed that a vicious cycle exists where stresses that cause a sustained increase in intracellular calcium, either directly or indirectly, lead to advanced HF. See, e.g., Kawada, T. et al., Pharmacol. Therap., 2005, 107:31-43. In this cycle, the increased sustained calcium activates calpains which, among other things, cleave dystrophin. This leads to more membrane instability, more tears and more calcium. As the remaining cardiomyocytes are stressed because of increased work demand, they too enter this cycle.
ACE inhibitors and ARBs are drugs that have been shown to improve cardiac hemodynamics and survival in patients with heart failure. In the rat MI model of heart failure, both of these agents have been shown to prevent a decrease in the level of dystrophin from the membrane fraction of cardiac muscle cells, after MI, presumably by decreasing the total calpain content. This effect was seen when the rats were treated with these agents chronically from 2-8 weeks post infarction. See Takahashi, M. et al., Cardiovasc. Res. 2005, 65: 356-365.
It has also been established that sustained increases in intracellular calcium result in the activation of signaling pathways, which subsequently result in maladaptive remodeling of the heart contributing to the functional problems. See, e.g., Molkentin, J. D. et al., Cell, 1998, 93: 215-228; Wilkins, B. J. et al., Circulation Research, 2004, 94:110-8).
Taken together, it appears that dystrophin loss and membrane instability contribute to cardiac muscle dysfunction in HF.

Treatment of chronic progressive heart failure


A rotatable counterweight assembly is mounted on a hose and contains a body and a rotary loop. The body includes a first segment, a second segment, an outer fence formed between the first segment and the second segment, and an open channel longitudinally extending along an X axis and between the first segment and the second segment to define a first opening; a horizontal width of the channel along a Z axis allows the hose placing in the channel, and a radial depth of the channel along a Y axis allows the hose accommodating in the channel. The body also includes an installing groove defined around the outer fence and having two ends communicating with the first opening. The rotary loop is rotatably fitted in the installing groove and is rotated toward an opening position and a retaining position, and the rotary loop includes a second opening defined therein.

A conventional regulator valve is fixed in a flushing system of a toilet to decrease and stabilize water pressure and water flow at a high pressure.
A conventional spray hose assembly includes a hose and a spray head, and one end of the hose is connected to a water supply source, and another end thereof is coupled to the spray head. In a normal state, the hose is fixed under a tank, and the spray head is positioned in a receiving seat of the tank so that when a user pulls the spray head, the hose extends outwardly from an opening of the receiving seat. Moreover, a counterweight assembly is installed on the hose so that the spray head returns back to the receiving seat when in no use by using the counterweight assembly's weight.
Two conventional counterweight structures are individually disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,570 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,562 B2, and they are one-piece formed or are comprised of two parts but cannot be retained on or removed from a hose easily.
Another conventional counterweight assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,562 B2 and is mounted on a hose by screwing outer threads of a retainer with inner threads of a locking element. However, the conventional counterweight assembly cannot be mounted on the hose tightly or it removes from the hose easily. Furthermore, the outer threads of the retainer and the inner threads of the locking element are machined at high production cost.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


The invention is directed to textile fabrics for use in air bags and side curtains having at least one coating layer of polyvinyl chloride thereon. The textile fabric can be a flat sheet, such as used in driver side air bags, or a multi-layered woven textile having preconfigured air-holding cavities therein for use in side curtains such as are installed in sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In certain embodiments of the invention coating layers of elastomeric polyurethane may be applied to the textile fabric in addition to the coating layer of polyvinyl chloride. In certain instances, the textile fabrics are coated on one side only, and in others they may be coated on both sides, i.e., on opposed first and second surfaces. In either case, the polyvinyl chloride coatings, whether alone or in combination with other polymeric coatings, provide the air bags or side curtains with superior air-holding characteristics.

Presently known restraint systems for vehicles include driver and passenger side air bags which are housed in the steering wheel and in the dashboard, respectively, in a collapsed, folded condition and are adapted to be deployed instantaneously by introduction of a gas—sometimes referred to herein as "air"—upon the occurrence of a collision. Additionally, the automotive industry has introduced air bags which are housed in the rear supports of the front seats or in the rear seats to protect the cabin occupants in the event of a collision occurring on either side of the vehicle. Moreover, a further safety feature that has been made available for passenger vehicles, especially the so-called sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are air-holding side impact protective inflatable side curtains which are designed to provide a cushioning effect in the event of rollover accidents. These side curtains are housed uninflated in the roof of the vehicle or in one of the main support pillars of the vehicle, and deploy along the interior sidewalls of the cabin of the SUV in the event of a rollover.
In addition to the widely used flat textile fabrics that are coated and then sewn or stitched to form an air bag, there has more recently been introduced into this field one-piece woven fabrics (OPW) that are woven as preformed air bags or side curtains with preconfigured air-holding cavities that require little or no further sewing or stitching in the formation of the bag. These OPW fabrics, mainly used in the construction of side curtains, require only an exterior surface coating to retain air.
Each of these different types of air bags has different design and physical property requirements, such as air holding, air permeability, air pressure and volume, puncture resistance and adhesion of the coating material to a woven fabric. For example, driver side air bags must have little or no permeability and, as a result, are often made from a material having very little or no permeability. Passenger side air bags, on the other hand, require a controlled permeability, and are most often made from materials having some degree of permeability. Furthermore, all such vehicle air restraint devices must have superior packageability and anti-blocking qualities. Packageability refers to the ability for a relatively large device to be packaged (stored) in a relatively small space. Anti-blocking refers to the ability of the device to deploy almost instantaneously from the stored condition without any resistance caused by the material sticking to itself. This is an important consideration in an air bag or side curtain which could remain stored for long periods of time before it is activated.
The air holding capability of side curtains is critical since they must remain inflated for an extended period of time to protect passengers in multiple rollovers. Unlike air bags which are designed to inflate instantaneously, and to deflate almost immediately after inflation in order to avoid injury to the driver and front seat passenger, air curtains used in SUVs, or in ordinary passenger vehicles, must be capable of remaining inflated in the range of from about three (3) to about twelve (12) seconds, depending upon the size of the curtain and the type of vehicle. An average passenger vehicle would require a side curtain of from about 60 inches to about 120 inches in length as measured along the length of the vehicle, while a larger vehicle, such as a minivan, would require an even longer side curtain. The maximum inflation period of a side curtain should be sufficient to protect the cabin occupants during three (3) rollovers, the maximum usually experienced in such incidents.
When such air bags are deployed, depending upon their specific location or application, they may be subjected to pressures within a relatively broad range. For example, air bag deployment pressures are generally in the range of from about 50 kilopascals (kpa) to about 450 kpa, which corresponds generally to a range of from about 7.4 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 66.2 psi. Accordingly, there is a need for fabric products and air bags that can be made to be relatively impermeable to fluids under such anticipated pressures while being of relatively light weight.
One means of improving air holding capability in vehicle restraint systems has been through coatings, such as chloroprene and silicone rubber coatings, which are applied to the textile substrate. However, these coated air bags are not susceptible to heat sealing and are usually made by stitching, a process that requires the addition of an adhesive sealant in the stitched areas. To alleviate this problem there have been developed improved polyurethane, acrylic, polyamide and silicone coatings that are coated singly or in layers on the fabric substrates. It has been disclosed in the art, for example, in Menzel et at., U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,666, to coat a woven nylon substrate with polyurethane to provide the desired permeability to better retain the inflation gas. Certain aqueous silicone emulsion coating compositions that yield a tack-free surface and high mechanical strength to prevent cracking on inflation of the air bag have also been disclosed in the art, such as, for example, in Inoue et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,621.
Wherever coated fabrics are used, however, there exists the problem of insufficiency of adhesion of the coating to the fabric substrate. More particularly, the smoother the substrate surface, generally the more difficult it is to obtain strong adhesion of the coating material to the substrate. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the problems associated with adhesion of coatings to woven substrates, and in particular to multiple coatings of one or more polymeric materials on woven and non-woven fabric substrates of polyesters and polyamides, including combinations as well as mixed deniers of those fabric substrates. Examples of such coated fabric substrates, coating materials and methods of coating such fabrics are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,239,046; 6,350,709; 6,455,449; 6,458,724; 6,641,686; 6,645,565; and 6,734,123, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this disclosure.
Despite advances in air bag coating technology, there remain problems related to the controlling of air permeability, air pressure, and volume. In particular means to accomplish these important functions while at the same time reducing the already high cost of production of air bags and side curtains in a highly cost competitive environment is of paramount concern. In this respect, polysiloxane coatings are very expensive and OPW fabrics often require a second coating of polyurethane to accomplish the sealing effect required for a side curtain. Polyvinyl chloride coatings are much less expensive than polysiloxane coatings, but have not been considered acceptable for use as air bag coatings because of problems of adhesion (sticking) due to the relatively low melting point of polyvinyl chloride compared to polyurethane and polysiloxane. Moreover, it was thought that polyvinyl chloride would not work well in air bags as a result of adhesion or sticking during long periods of storage because of its relatively low melting point. The problem of sticking became of increasing concern with the advent of the OPW air bag fabric used in side curtains, which have two interior facing inflation surfaces that must not stick together when the air bag is deployed.
I have invented a product and process by which polyvinyl chloride is used to coat flat woven air bag fabric as well as prefabricated OPW fabric for use in side curtains. The polyvinyl chloride-coated products of this invention are typically used, preferably in conjunction with so-called cold inflators, and can be used alone or in combination with polyurethane coatings, if desired. The polyvinyl chloride coatings of the invention provide substantially equally effective air holding capability and aging characteristics as do the polysiloxane and polyurethane coatings of the prior art and adhere well to polyester woven fabrics commonly used in air bags and side curtains. Moreover, when the polyvinyl chloride coatings are used in combination with polyurethane coatings, additional benefits in terms of air holding capability are obtained.

Polyvinyl chloride coated fabrics for use in air bags


In a port forwarding configuration system and method for wire and wireless networks, when an Internet protocol (IP) is allocated according to a request from a wireless terminal of a private network and an initialization information message is transmitted by the terminal, a port to be used by the terminal is configured and a configured port information message is transmitted to the terminal so as to open a port for the terminal, thereby performing a remote connection of a user terminal to the wireless terminal through port forwarding.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a port forwarding configuration system and method for wire and wireless networks.
2. Related Art
With a recent increase in the population using a super-highway communication network and the Internet, the tendency is to utilize the Internet for controlling and monitoring domestic appliances or machines. Of course, even before the diffusion of the Internet, efforts had been made to control various kinds of equipment through the modification of the ring, but such efforts failed because of the technical limitations thereof. However, with the active development in various wire and wireless communication technologies, such as power line communication or wireless communication, the interest in and demand for the home network have increased.
A home network is a network for the control and automation of lighting, air conditioners, and domestic appliances in use for the home or office, and the network operates at a low speed of 1 Mbps or less, and should be configured to ensure compatibility between different types of equipment as well as low cost.
Particularly, for Internet remote controlling and monitoring, it is necessary to construct a network between a home gateway, where a web server is built-in, and a controlled target device. Since a microprocessor is generally provided in the lighting, air conditioners, and home appliances for home use, and since it supports most of the RS-232C serial communication ports for a host computer, it can be easily connected to the home gateway.
However, in order to remotely control the controlled target devices under a wireless local area network (LAN) through the Internet, there is a problem in that the user should configure a fixed Internet protocol (IP) and a port to be used while directly accessing a configuration program of the controlled target device, and should then manually configure port forwarding to the fixed IP and the port to be used for the controlled target device while accessing a configuration program of a wire and wireless sharing device (AP).

Port forwarding configuration system and method for wire and wireless networks


The field of the invention is that of solid-state laser gyros used for the measurements of rotation speed or relative angular positions. This type of equipment is notably used for aeronautical applications. The object of the invention is to complete the optical devices necessary to control the instability of lasers by specific optical devices enabling elimination of the dead zone and of population inversion gratings exiting in the amplifying medium. An “all optical” solid-state laser is hence obtained without moveable parts, stable and without a dead zone. To this end, the laser gyro according to the invention comprises notably and optical assembly enabling a nonreciprocal optical phase-shift to be introduced between the counterpropagating modes; and control means allowing the phase-shift amplitude to be varied periodically around a mean value that is very approximately zero.

The laser gyro, developed around thirty years ago, is widely commercialized and used these days. Its operational principle is based on the Sagnac effect, which leads to a frequency difference ΔF between the two optical transmission modes propagating in opposite directions, called counterpropagating, of a bidirectional ring laser cavity when it is stimulated by a rotational movement. Conventionally, the frequency difference ΔF is equal to:ΔF=4A ω/λL where L and A are the optical length and the area of the cavity respectively; λ is the wavelength of the laser transmission without the Sagnac effect; ω is the speed of angular rotation of the laser gyro.
The measurement of ΔF obtained by spectral analysis of the beating of the two transmitted beams enables the value of ω to be known with very great precision.
Electronically counting the interference beats that pass during a change in angular position also enables the relative value of the angular position to be known with very great precision.
The production of laser gyros presents certain technical difficulties. A first difficulty is linked with the quality of the beating between the two beams, which determines the proper operation of the laser gyro. This is because good stability and relative equality of the intensities transmitted in the two directions is necessary to obtain correct beating. For in the case of solid-state lasers this stability and this equality are not ensured due to the phenomenon of intermodal competition, which causes one of the two counterpropagating modes to tend to monopolize the available gain to the detriment of the other mode. The problem of instability of the bidirectional transmission for a solid-state ring laser may be solved, for example, by fitting a negative feedback loop intended to control the difference between the intensities of the two counterpropagating modes around a fixed value. This loop acts on the laser either by making its losses dependent on the direction of propagation, for example by means of an assembly comprising an element inducing a reciprocal rotation, an element inducing a nonreciprocal rotation and a polarizing element (patent application no. 03/03645), or by making its gain dependent on the direction of propagation, for example by means of an assembly comprising an element inducing a reciprocal rotation, an element inducing a nonreciprocal rotation and a polarized emission crystal (patent application no. 03/14598). Once controlled, the laser emits two counterpropagating beams, the intensities of which are stable and may be used as a laser gyro.
A second technical difficulty is linked with the domain of low rotation speeds, the laser gyro only operating correctly beyond a certain rotation speed. At low rotation speeds the Sagnac beat signal disappears because of a coupling between the two counterpropagating modes due to backscattering of the light caused by the reflectors and the various optical elements possibly present in the cavity. The domain of low rotation speeds for which this phenomenon is produced is commonly called the "dead zone". This problem is not intrinsic to the solid state. It is also encountered in the gas laser gyro field. The most commonly adopted solution for this latter type of laser gyro consists in mechanically activating the device by imposing on it a forced periodic movement that artificially puts it outside the dead zone as often as possible. Another solution consists in introducing a constant phase shift between the two optical paths, which results in a frequency bias between the two counterpropagating modes. Hence, the operational field of the laser gyro is artificially moved outside the dead zone. However, this latter solution has the significant drawback that the value of the bias introduced must be perfectly stable over time.
A third difficulty is linked, in the context of solid-state lasers, with the fact that the counterpropagating waves interfere in the amplifying medium, creating a population inversion grating. In fact, if the amplifying medium is a solid Nd:YAG crystal, it is possible to show that in such a medium the population inversion gratings caused by stimulated emission in the gain medium has the effect of destabilizing the bidirectional emission. In addition, when the laser gyro is rotating, these gratings become mobile and through the Doppler effect cause a frequency shift between the two counterpropagating waves circulating in the laser cavity, which increases the nonlinearity of the frequency response of the laser gyro.

Solid-state laser gyro optically active through alternating bias


A light emitting diode (LED) display panel includes a back plate and a pixel structure, which includes multiple pixels. Each pixel includes a reflector structure and two LEDs emitting light of a same color, all disposed on the back plate. The reflector structure of each pixel has a first reflective bank structure and a second reflective bank structure. The first reflective bank structure has a first bank opening. The second reflective bank structure has a second bank opening. The two LEDs are disposed within the first and second bank openings. The first bank opening has a first shape, and the second bank opening has a second shape, which is a mirror shape or a 180° symmetrical shape of the first shape. For each of the pixels, the first shape is a polygonal shape, and at least two corners of the first shape have an included angle less than 90°.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
With larger display resolution and size are required, the light emitting diode (LED) display apparatus has become one of the most popular display panels for high light emitting efficiency. The LEDs used in the LED display apparatus can be micro LEDs or mini LEDs. For example, a micro LED (μLED) display panel utilizes micro LEDs as the pixel units, which may be used as a display panel of any size, and the small size of the micro LEDs enable the micro LED display panel to achieve a high resolution, high brightness and high contrast.
However, due to the light emission patterns and characteristics of the LEDs without packaging and reflector structures thereof, the brightest viewing angle of the LEDs in a LED display panel is not at the normal viewing angle (i.e., angle 0°), which is perpendicular to the display panel. Further, the light emission patterns and characteristics of the LEDs corresponding to the pixels of the LED display panel are consistent. In this case, if any one of the LEDs functions abnormally, a user may easily observe the abnormal display caused by the abnormal LED.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Pixel arrangement and reflector structure of LED display and method of forming same


A tire pressure monitoring system has a first abnormality determination means for determining a state to be normal, the normal state being when the front wheel air pressure is higher than a front wheel warning threshold 400 kPa and the rear wheel tire pressure is higher than a rear wheel warning threshold 240 kPa. The first abnormality determination means also turns on a warning light in the state. A second abnormality determination means turns the warning light to an off state regardless of the determination result of the first abnormality determination means when the warning light is turned off while the vehicle is stopped, the tire pressures of two wheels have been determined to be higher than the front wheel warning threshold 400 kPa, and the tire pressures of the remaining two wheels have been determined to be higher than the rear wheel warning threshold 240 kPa.

In JP Patent Application Publication No. 2008-126959 A, a technique is disclosed in which, if the tire pressure indicates a predetermined percentage decrease from a recommended air pressure, a warning lamp is turned on and lit in order to prompt or encourage the driver to travel with the recommended air pressure.
However, in the prior art technique, in a case in which a vehicle recommended air pressure is different between the front and rear wheels, when the driver has adjusted the tire pressure of each tire after a tire rotation, the warning lamp will be lit until a tire location is completed and the correspondence between each sensor unit and a wheel position will be updated. Thus, during this time, the driver will be given with a sense of discomfort.


In the tapping device for producing beautiful skin, a Head contacts with skin. A Tapping mechanism pats the skin facing the Head with a Pad. The Tapping mechanism is equipped with the Pad at one end, and has a Shaft from which the Head projects and rolls back by piston actions. A Biasing member biases the Shaft toward one side of the piston actions. A Wire rod empowers the Shaft towards the direction resisting the biasing power of the Biasing member when tension is provided. An Actuator provides tension intermittently in a Wire rod, the tension of the wire rod and biasing of the bias member providing piston actions.

Tapping is a simple skin-care technique producing a rhythmical vibration in skin by patting repeatedly with fingers. Besides beneficial effects of massage, it is said to be effective in relaxation and stimulating an acupuncture point. This technique is generally included in service at aesthetic salons.
Additional, there are some handy devices for producing beautiful skin that practice tapping like this. For example, a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (particularly p. 5-7, FIG. 4-6) fixes up an iontophoresis electrode and a tapping mechanism with a pad. They are provided for helping active ingredients in essence to infiltrate into skin by introducing ions with an iontophoresis electrode and by patting skin with a pad of a tapping mechanism.
This device for producing beautiful skin is composed of a tapping mechanism with a shaft whose head projects and rolls back a pad from a contact face with skin, a biasing member that biases the shaft, a cam follower fixed to the shaft, and a motor-driven twist cam controlling the shaft's piston action resisting biasing power of biasing member engaging the cam follower.

Tapping device for producing beautiful skin


Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for improved timing recovery. As one example, some embodiments of the present invention provide timing recovery circuits that include an error signal and a digital phase lock loop circuit. The error signal indicates a difference between the predicted sample time and an ideal sample time. The digital phase lock loop is operable to apply an adjustment value such that a subsequent sample time is moved toward the ideal sample time. Further, the digital phase lock loop circuit includes an adjustment limit circuit that is operable to limit the adjustment value.

The present invention is related to systems and methods for data synchronization, and more particularly to systems and methods for timing recovery in relation to a data set.
Many baseband and carrier-modulated communication systems utilize timing recovery circuits to synchronize to an available data stream. Such timing recovery circuits operate to recover a clock signal at the symbol rate that is both phase-locked and frequency-locked to the available data stream. As one particular example, a typical read channel employed in a hard disk drive may use a digital phase lock loop circuit as a timing recovery circuit to synchronize to a data stream retrieved from a magnetic storage medium associated with the hard disk drive. Such read channel devices serve as interfaces between a magnetic storage medium on which digital information is stored and external devices (e.g., Central Processing Unit (CPU)) that receive and process the digital information in various applications. Read channel devices take the analog information stored as magnetic pulses on the hard disk drive and convert that information into digital values (i.e., "1"s and "0"s) that are readable by digital devices, such as a CPU.
An example of a digital phase lock loop circuit 100 that may be used to perform timing recovery in read channel is depicted in FIG. 1. Turning to FIG. 1, digital phase lock loop circuit 100 includes a multiplier 105 which receives an error signal (E_N) and a slope (SLOPE) signal from a Viterbi detector. Multiplier 105 produces a phase error signal (PE) at its output. The phase error signal is provided as an input to both a multiplier 110 and a multiplier 115. Multiplier 110 has a frequency gain input (FREQ GAIN) signal, and multiplier 115 has a phase gain (PHASE GAIN) signal input. The output of multiplier 110 is provided to a summation circuit 120, and the output of multiplier 115 is provided to an adder 125. Summation circuit 120 aggregates the output of multiplier 110 and an output from a frequency register 130, and provides the aggregate back to frequency register 130. The output of frequency register 130 and the output of multiplier 115 are added together. The output of adder 125 is provided to a summation circuit 135. Summation circuit 135 aggregates the output of adder 125 and an output from a phase register 140, and provides the aggregate back to phase register 140. The output of phase register 140 is provided to a phase mixer 145 that provides an output signal to control a voltage controlled oscillator.
It is important that read channel devices have the ability to perform timing recovery at reasonably low signal-to-noise ratios. Where, however, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases too far, the read channel will experience an inability to recover a clock and/or an inability to maintain a lock condition. This inability renders the read channel unable to track an incoming waveform and provide accurate estimates of the sampling clock. In some existing read channels, the ability of the timing recovery circuit is stretched to its limits with the current signal-to-noise ratios. Further, the signal-to-noise ratio in many implementations continues to decrease due to, for example, proposed changes in data density and power considerations.
Hence, for at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for advanced systems and methods for timing recovery.

Systems and methods for improved timing recovery


Radiation analysis devices include circuitry configured to determine respective radiation count data for a plurality of sections of an area of interest and combine the radiation count data of individual of sections to determine whether a selected radioactive material is present in the area of interest. An amount of the radiation count data for an individual section is insufficient to determine whether the selected radioactive material is present in the individual section. An article of manufacture includes media comprising programming configured to cause processing circuitry to perform processing comprising determining one or more correction factors based on a calibration of a radiation analysis device, measuring radiation received by the radiation analysis device using the one or more correction factors, and presenting information relating to an amount of radiation measured by the radiation analysis device having one of a plurality of specified radiation energy levels of a range of interest.

Radioactive materials are common. Some radioactive materials may be hazardous to human life. Accordingly, some radioactive materials may need to be detected and located so the radioactive materials can be managed, thereby preventing exposure to human life. Since a selected radioactive material may emit gamma rays having a particular energy level at a known rate, the selected radioactive material may be detected using a device configured to receive a gamma ray and determine an energy level of the gamma ray. At least some aspects of the disclosure are directed towards apparatus and methods for detecting and/or analyzing radioactive materials.

Radiation analysis devices, radiation analysis methods, and articles of manufacture


Methods for forming a support frame for flexible leaflet heart valves from a starting blank include converting a two-dimensional starting blank into the three-dimensional support frame. The material may be superelastic, such as NITINOL, and the method may include bending the 2-D blank into the 3-D form and shape setting it. A merely elastic material such as ELGILOY may be used and plastically deformed in stages, possibly accompanied by annealing, to obtain the 3-D shape. Alternatively, a tubular blank could be formed to define a non-tubular shape, typically conical. A method for calculating the precise 2-D blank shape is also disclosed. A mandrel assembly includes a mandrel and ring elements for pressing the blank against the external surface of the mandrel prior to shape setting.

Two primary types of heart valve replacements or prostheses are known. One is a mechanical-type heart valve that uses a ball and cage arrangement or a pivoting mechanical closure to provide unidirectional blood flow. The other is a tissue-type or "bioprosthetic" valve which is constructed with natural tissue leaflets which function much like those in a natural human heart valve; that is, the leaflets imitate the natural action of the flexible leaflets that form commissures to seal against each other and ensure the one-way blood flow. In tissue valves, a whole xenograft valve (e.g., porcine) or a plurality of xenograft leaflets (e.g., bovine pericardium) provide the tissue leaflet occluding surfaces that are mounted within a surrounding stent structure. Some attempts have been made to simulate such flexible leaflets with polymers and the like, and these designs can be grouped with bioprosthetic valves for the purpose of the present invention.
In most bioprosthetic-type valves, metallic or polymeric structure provides base support for the flexible leaflets, which extend therefrom. One such support is an elastic "support frame," sometimes called a "wireform" or "stent," which has a plurality (typically three) of large radius cusps supporting the cusp region of the leaflets of the bioprosthetic tissue (i.e., either a whole valve or three separate leaflets). The free ends of each two adjacent cusps converge somewhat asymptotically to form upstanding commissures that terminate in tips, each being curved in the opposite direction as the cusps, and having a relatively smaller radius. The support frame typically describes a conical tube with the commissure tips at the small diameter end. This provides an undulating reference shape to which a fixed edge of each leaflet attaches (via components such as fabric and sutures) much like the natural fibrous skeleton in the aortic annulus.
The support frame is typically a non-ferromagnetic metal such as ELGILOY (a Co—Cr alloy) that possesses substantial elasticity. A common method of forming metallic support frames is to bend a wire into a flat (two-dimensional) undulating pattern of the alternating cusps and commissures, and then roll the flat pattern into a tube using a cylindrical roller. The free ends of the resulting three-dimensional shape, typically in the asymptotic region of the cusps, are then fastened together using a tubular splice that is plastically crimped around the ends. See FIGS. 3 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,662 for a support frame that is crimped together at a cusp midpoint. The plastic deformation of the splice and wire ends therewithin may cause high residual stresses, which can promote fatigue fracture of the support frame, thus reducing the overall life of the heart valve. Further, the added diameter of the splice may create an unsightly bulge at one location around the valve circumference that may interfere with the implant process or provide a point of stress concentration.
Some valves include polymeric "support frames" rather than metallic, for various reasons. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,420 discloses a plastic support frame that degrades in the body over time. Despite some favorable attributes of polymeric support frames, for example the ability to mold the complex support frame shape, conventional metallic support frames are generally preferred for their elastic properties, and have a proven track record in highly successfully heart valves. For example, the CARPENTER-EDWARDS Porcine Heart Valve and PERIMOUNT Pericardial Heart Valve available from Edwards Lifesciences LLC both have ELGILOY support frames and have together enjoyed the leading worldwide market position since 1976.
What is needed then is an improved three-dimensional heart valve support frame without the drawbacks of a conventional spliced support frame. Also needed is a simple and accurate method of manufacturing such a support frame.

Continuous heart valve support frame and method of manufacture


A first vibration sensor measures vibration of a bearing. A second vibration sensor for measuring background noise received by the first vibration sensor is installed so as not to receive vibration of the bearing. A data acquisition device receives a first signal that is a measurement signal of the first vibration sensor and a second signal that is a measurement signal of the second vibration sensor and outputs a third signal obtained by subtracting the second signal from the first signal as data indicating vibration of the bearing.

In a wind turbine, a condition monitoring system (CMS) is known which measures vibration of a mechanical component such as bearings of a main shaft and a gearbox with a vibration sensor and monitors a state of the mechanical component.
Such a condition monitoring system is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2011-154020 (PTD 1), which provides an abnormality diagnosing apparatus that diagnoses abnormality of a bearing provided in a wind turbine. In this abnormality diagnosing apparatus, the vibration waveform of the bearing is measured using a vibration sensor. Then, the effective value of the measured vibration waveform is calculated, and an envelope waveform of the vibration waveform is generated by performing an envelope process on the measured vibration waveform. Abnormality of the bearing is diagnosed based on the effective value of the vibration waveform and the effective value of an alternating-current component of the envelope waveform. This abnormality diagnosing apparatus can provide accurate abnormality diagnosis (see PTD 1).

Condition monitoring system and wind turbine including the same


An injector having three concentrated fuel spray bands is used, one of the fuel spray bands is directed to an spark plug, and the others are directed to curved grooves on a piston. The sprays that enter each groove advance along each groove, mutually collide substantially under the spark plug, and are ascended. Further, these spray bands are carried to the vicinity of the spark plug by a tumble flow and stable stratified air-fuel mixture is formed. As described above, stable and satisfactory stratified combustion can be made.

The present invention relates to a so-called direct-injection engine (it's also called as "in-cylinder direct injection type internal combustion engine") in which a fuel (for example, gasoline) is directly injected into a cylinder and also relates to a method of controlling the engine, a piston used in the engine, and a fuel injection valve used in the engine.
A direct-injection engine, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-130171, is based upon a direct injection/spark ignition type internal combustion engine, and which is provided with two intake valves and two exhaust valves at a cylinder head forming a pent roof type combustion chamber. Furthermore, the engine is provided with a spark plug at a substantial center of the cylinder head and a fuel injection valve for directly injecting a fuel into the cylinder. The fuel injection valve is arranged on the side of the intake valves in a state of being directed toward the center of the cylinder. In this arrangement, stratified combustion is realized by injecting the fuel at a compression stroke in a state where a tumble flow component of intake air is formed in the cylinder. In this prior art, a bowl, which has a cylindrical surface or spherical surface extending along a piston diameter line nearly orthogonally crossing with a fuel spray axis, is recessed on the center of a piston crown surface. Furthermore, a recessed portion recessed more deeply than the bowl is formed in a range from the intake valve side of the piston crown surface to the nearly center of the piston so that a fuel spray injected in the vicinity of a top dead center at a compression stroke is guided to the side of the spark plug.
However, as a normal conical spray with nearly uniform distribution in a circumferential direction is used in the above-mentioned configuration, a penetration of the spray is relatively small. Therefore, at the vicinity of the top dead center in the compression stroke such as approximately at 30 degrees before the top dead center, a spray angle is narrowed, and the whole quantity of the spray is injected toward the piston. Therefore, the recessed portion on the piston crown is required to be made deep so that the depth is equivalent to approximately a quarter of the height of the cylinder between 30 degrees and 10 degrees before the top dead center in a crank angle.
According to the above configuration, as the bowl is relatively deep, and the additional recessed portion deeper than the bowl is provided, the surface area of the piston increases. As a result, particularly in a high-load condition of the engine, output and fuel economy of the engine are deteriorated due to the increase of cooling loss is caused.

Direct-injection engine, method of controlling the same, piston used in the same and fuel injection valve used in the same


A system on a chip (SOC) device is disclosed comprising external outputs, and external inputs. A first secure storage location is operably decoupled from all of the external outputs of the SOC device during a normal mode of operation. By being decoupled from all external outputs, representations of the data stored at the first secure device are prevented from being provided to the external outputs. The decryption engine is also included on the system on a chip, comprising a first data input, and a private key input coupled to a first portion of the first secure storage location, and an output coupled to a second secure location. The decryption engine is operable to determine decrypted data from data received at the first data input based upon a private key received at the private key input. The decryption engine is further operable to write the decrypted data only to the first secure memory location and the second secure location.

Several forms of digital audio and video content are available to consumers. Audio and video content can be provided through media, such as compact disks (CD) or digital versatile disks (DVD). Service providers can be used to present audio and video content by broadcasting digital audio and video content to consumers, such as through broadband network services, digital cable broadcasts, or digital satellite and terrestrial transmissions. Generally, there are ownership rights associated with the audio and video content and consumers pay for services to receive the audio and video content.
To protect ownership rights, several methods are undertaken to secure audio and video content and ensure only valid consumers receive the content. For example, video associated with DVDs is generally scrambled to prevent undesired copying of DVD video content. Similarly, video content transmitted through digital satellite or digital cable broadcasts can be scrambled to only allow paying consumers to descramble the video content. Encryption and scrambling techniques use secret key or codeword values that are supposed to only be available to a device associated with the consumer, such as a digital cable, or digital satellite, set-top box. Once the secret key and/or codeword values become public knowledge, an unauthorized consumer is capable of descrambling protected audio and video content.
From the above discussion, it should be apparent that systems and methods of providing secured key and codeword protection would be useful.

Method and system for secure content distribution