A communication device searches for a desired communication device and requests a service, without being conscious of the status of the power supply of other communication devices on a network, and achieves a reduction in power consumption. The communication device includes a main processing unit to process main service provided for other communication devices, a network processing unit to transmit and receive a request packet and a response packet among other communication devices, and an integrated power supply unit to stop supplying power to the main processing unit in a state of being able to supply it again and to supply the power to the network processing unit. The network processing unit is provided with an automatic responding unit to determine whether or not it can respond to the received request packet only by itself and, when the response is possible, to transmit the response packet to the communication device, and a power supply controlling unit, when the response is not possible, to control a main-power supply unit to supply the power to the main processing unit.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a communication device that is connected to a home network, which is a network in a home, to provide services to each other. Particularly, the present invention relates to a communication device that achieves a reduction in power consumption due to a reduction in standby power, and an automatic discovery and an automatic cooperation of communication devices present in the network.
Background Art
In recent years, as the information-oriented society has been developed, networking at home has been quickly spreading. Since a communication device connected to the network at home is used not by an engineer but by a general home user, setup operation of the communication device must be as easy as possible.
Additionally, by the communication devices connected through the network cooperating with each other, in other words, by the communication device operating while controlling the other communication devices, enhancement of the convenience of services provided by the communication devices is anticipated.
In general, when controlling other communication devices present on the network, it requires acquiring IP address information of a communication device to be controlled and setting for it, as well as acquiring information, including the type of the communication device to be controlled and the service provided by the communication device and setting for it. As a method for acquiring the IP address or the service information of the communication device to be controlled, a service discovery protocol such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is known. In order to automatically discover the communication device to be controlled and to acquire the IP address or the service information using such a service discovery protocol, however, there is a problem that a power supply of the communication device to be controlled must be turned on.
Namely, in order to keep the communication device connected to the network in a state where it can automatically be discovered, the power supply of the communication device must be normally turned on.
However, in recent years, with the rise of the consciousness to energy saving, a reduction in standby power of each communication device has been desired, so that a usage mode where the power supply is always turned on has been regarded as problematic.
In response to this problem, there is known a power supply controlling method which provides two energization states in the communication device, wherein (1) when a main-power supply is in an off-state, a sub-power supply energizes only a network device which performs the processing regarding the network, and (2) when a power supply starting packet is received from the network, the main-power supply of the communication device is turned to an on-state to service all the communication devices (for example, see Patent Reference 1).
While, for example, each communication device transmits a discovery packet in order to search for the communication device to be controlled, this method makes it possible, by transmitting the power supply starting packet before transmitting the discovery packet, to search for the communication device even when the main-power supply of the communication device is in an off-state.
Meanwhile, in another parallel computer system, in order to enable a controlling device to manage the status of the respective operational units and to control the power supply thereof, there is known a method wherein an auxiliary device connected to each operational unit is energized by the sub-power supply when each operational unit is in an off-state, and wherein the auxiliary device processes a response to a status inquiry from the controlling device and a correspondence to a request of controlling the power supply (for example, see Patent Reference 2).
In this method, when the auxiliary device receives the power supply starting packet from the controlling device, the power supply of the operational unit is turned to an on-state, so that the operational unit is turned to a fully operable state.
By performing such control, the parallel computer system makes it possible to achieve a reduction in power consumption and a reduction in rush power upon turning on the power.    [Patent Reference 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-244157    [Patent Reference 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No 1997-97241
However, the conventional power supply controlling method described in Patent Reference 1 simply enables, when a new communication device is connected to the network (namely, when the communication device with which the power supply is already turned on has acquired a list of the communication devices to be controlled connected to the network), the power supplies of all the communication devices connected to the network to be turned on for acquiring communication device information. Hence, there is a problem that, with the protocol such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) where the inquiry of the communication device to be controlled is transmitted irregularly by multicast over the network, it can not expect the power-saving effect.
Additionally, in the protocol such as UPnP, each communication device is required to notify that the communication device itself is in a state of being able to provide the service by transmitting an alive packet by multicast for every certain period. Since the periodical transmission of the alive packet can not be solved by the conventional power supply controlling method, it is necessary that the power supply is always turned on in order to transmit the alive packet.
Moreover, in the prior art described in Patent Reference 2, as a trigger to restore the operational unit from a power-saving operation state to a normal state, there is transmitted a request packet (power supply starting packet) which is for the controlling unit on the controlling side to restore a specific operational unit to be controlled to the normal state. As a result, in order to transmit the request packet to properly restore the specific operational unit to be controlled to the normal state, there is a problem that the controlling device on the controlling side must realize whether the operational unit to be controlled is in the power-saving operation state or in the normal state.
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device which enables to discover a desired communication device using the service discovery protocol such as UPnP while the main-power supply of the communication device to be controlled on the network is in an off-state, without the communication device on the controlling side being conscious of the status of the communication device to be controlled.
In addition to that, it is a second object of the present invention to provide a communication device which enables to control the discovered communication device to be controlled, without the communication device on the controlling side being conscious of the status of the communication device to be controlled.


A method of interchangeably using memory devices constructed from different memory technologies, and/or having different storage capacities, in a predetermined socket of an electrical circuit. The method includes the steps of determining which technology types of memory devices, and storage capacities thereof, are to be interchangeably inserted in the predetermined socket, determining which pin positions of the determined memory devices have like functions, and determining which pin positions have different functions. The method further includes the steps of connecting the socket in the electric circuit such that a predetermined placement position of each determined memory device in the socket will serve the pin positions determined to have like functions. The method includes the steps of providing a jumper block having a predetermined number of connectable input/output terminal pairs, and connecting the jumper block in the electric circuit such that the determined unlike functions are connected to predetermined different input terminals of the jumper block, and predetermined output terminals of the jumper block are connected to predetermined pin positions of the socket. A memory device is selected from the determined memory devices and it is inserted in a predetermined position in the socket. The method then includes the step of determining which input/output terminal pairs of the jumper block should be interconnected for the inserted memory device, and the step of interconnecting the determined pairs of input/output terminals.

A variety of non-volatile memory technologies may be utilized to store program code in any microcontroller system. The three major technologies are: (1) the erasable MOS-technology programmable read-only memory (EPROM), which uses ultraviolet (UV) light to erase the memory, (2) the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and (3) the Flash EPROM memory. The Flash EPROM memory combines the electrical erase capability of the EEPROM with the simplicity and lower cost of the EPROM layout. The Flash EPROM memory may be erased while the device is installed in a host system, unlike the UV EPROM, which usually must be removed from the host system for erasure and subsequent reprogramming.
Each of the three major technologies mentioned above implement their footprints with similar but distinctly different pin configurations. Also, within any given technology, certain pin positions change their function as the storage capacity of the device is changed. Thus, when a microcontroller system is designed, it is designed to support a specific memory device for program code storage, selected from one of the available technologies. The storage capacity is selected to support the need for the system being designed. These choices, made when the system is designed, preclude the later use of alternate memory technologies, and/or different storage capacities in a given technology, without resorting to costly redesign of the system. This is not a serious disadvantage when the system being designed is to be manufactured in large quantities. There are many applications for microcontrollers, however, such as transport refrigeration applications, where the production quantities are not large, and/or the microcontroller system is designed to operate in a family of related, but different, applications requiring different degrees of sophistication. In such applications, it would be desirable to make the microcontroller system, as originally designed, extremely flexible in order to match the appropriate memory technology with the individual requirements of each application of the system, as well as to be able to respond to the changing requirements of a given application, without costly redesign or retrofit of the system. Such flexibility would also enable a manufacturer to change the memory technology used in a given microcontroller system as price and availability of different memory technologies fluctuate in the marketplace.

Method of interchangeably using dip memory devices in a single socket


A brake apparatus includes: a displacement member which is displaced with respect to a disk rotor; a friction member which presses the disk rotor by being pressed by the displacement member thus displaced so as to generate braking force; a hydraulic braking apparatus which displaces the displacement member using hydraulic pressure; an electric-powered braking apparatus which displaces the displacement member using a force that differs from the hydraulic pressure; and a brake ECU which controls the hydraulic braking apparatus based on information acquired from a detection unit which detects information having a correlation with the hydraulic pressure applied to the displacement member. When the electric-powered braking apparatus operates in a state in which braking is being performed by the hydraulic braking apparatus, the brake ECU controls the hydraulic braking apparatus or otherwise the electric-powered braking apparatus so as to suppress hydraulic pressure fluctuation.

A hydraulic disk brake is known, which is configured to supply hydraulic pressure generated in a hydraulic master cylinder or hydraulic pressure accumulated in an accumulator to a wheel cylinder provided to each wheel, according to a brake pedal operation value, thereby generating a regular braking force. With such a hydraulic disk brake, a friction pad is pressed into contact with a disk rotor by driving a piston via hydraulic pressure. Also, a conventional technique has been proposed in which such a wheel cylinder piston is also shared with a parking brake apparatus. For example, a disk brake has been proposed including a parking brake mechanism which operates using an electric motor as a driving source provided outside the wheel cylinder so as to hold the piston at a braking position (see Patent document 1, for example). That is to say, such a disk brake is configured to use both the hydraulic operating mechanism and the mechanical operating mechanism to drive the piston.

Brake apparatus and braking control apparatus


There is provided a printed circuit board in which a PCB and an FPC can be readily located, a solder connection structure and method between a printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board. The printed circuit board 1 includes a plurality of pads 2 for mounting a flexible printed circuit board, wherein a solder resist 3 is formed on the surface of the printed circuit board so as to expose the pads 2 and convex portions are formed by insulation print layers 4 around the pads 2.

The present invention relates to a printed circuit board, a solder connection structure and method between the printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board, and in particular, to a printed circuit board in which a PCB and an FPC can be readily located, a solder connection structure and method between a printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board.

Printed circuit board, solder connection structure and method between printed circuit board and flexible printed circuit board


Methods for planning an optimum vehicle route from a selected origin to a selected destination with a selected departure time, taking account of the presence of timed turn restrictions and/or timed lane restrictions. Separate methods are provided for recalculation of a suitable route remainder, where an unanticipated timed turn or timed lane restriction or other traffic obstruction, such as a vehicle accident, is encountered enroute. Computations for an optimum route can be performed at the vehicle or at a station that communicates with the vehicle.

The availability of local position determination units (PDUs), such as LORAN-C, and of global position determination systems, such as the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS), for tracking locations and location observation times of a PDU antenna has produced a marked growth in the number of vehicle navigation systems available. These navigation systems are used to track a vehicle as the vehicle moves, or to plan a route to be followed by the vehicle.
Different approaches for route planning navigation systems are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,262,775, 5,291,412, 5,291,413, 5,291,414 and 5,303,159, issued to Tamai et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,414, issued to Tamai, Nos. 5,359,529 and 5,508,931, issued to Snider, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,113, issued to Shibazaki et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,630, issued to Oshizawa et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,655, issued to Adachi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,283, issued to Desai et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,060 and 5,550,538, issued to Fujii et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,950, issued to Peterson.
When a vehicle moves along roads, streets and highways (collectively referred to as "roads", the vehicle encounters two kinds of restrictions on vehicle maneuverability: traffic restrictions that are always present ("non-lapsing vehicle restrictions" or NLVRs) and traffic restrictions that vary with the time of day, with the day of the week, or with the season ("timed vehicle restrictions" or TVRs). Examples of the timed vehicle restrictions include No-Left-Turn, No-Right-Turn and No-U-Turn restrictions that are imposed during commute or rush hours, specially marked traffic lanes that can be used only by "car pool" vehicles (carrying two or three or more persons) during commute or rush hours, and side lanes that can be used for vehicle parking during portions of the day that are not commute or rush hours. This invention is concerned with timed turn restrictions ("TTRs") and timed lane restrictions ("TLRs"), which are restrictions on vehicle turns and/or on use of traffic lanes that vary with the time of day, with the day of the week and/or with the season.
In many of the navigation systems, a timed turn restriction is treated in the corresponding navigation database as a non-lapsing turn restriction so that a vehicle turn at the corresponding TTR location is never available. If the restriction on this turn is present at all hours except late evening hours, such as 10:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m., treatment of this TTR as a NLVR may have little effect on route planning. If the restriction on this turn is imposed only during a small portion of the daytime hours, such as 3:00-6:00 p.m., treatment of this TTR as a NLVR substantially penalizes or constrains the route planning process.
In navigation databases that account for the number of lanes available for vehicle traffic on a given segment of a road (referred to herein as a "link"), the presence of a timed lane restriction is often ignored, and the lane is treated as if it is unavailable for vehicle traffic in any direction. This approach also substantially penalizes or constrains the route planning process, especially if the lane is available for travel in the desired direction during some times with low or unsaturated traffic density. A pre-scheduled and temporary restriction on a vehicle turn or on use of a traffic lane may be treated as non-lapsing, which is too pessimistic, or as non-existent, which offers a rude surprise for any vehicle that includes that turn or link as part of its planned route.
If the presence of one or more timed vehicle restrictions is to be accurately accounted for, many questions should be first posed and answered. How can one obtain accurate local time? When and how should a TVR be included in a route planning process? How should the presence of a TVR be presented to a vehicle operator or user? How should diversion around a TVR, and route recalculation, be handled enroute? How should this diversion around a TVR be presented to the user? How should the occurrence of an unanticipated traffic incident, such as a traffic accident or temporary closing of a street or temporary imposition of turn restrictions at an intersection, be handled when the vehicle is enroute between the route origin or source and the route destination? Answers to these questions and to related questions should be incorporated in any robust navigation system that utilizes route planning and optimization.

Vehicle navigation using timed turn and timed lane restrictions


An approach for improving efficiency of speculative execution of instructions is disclosed. In one embodiment, a branch predictor entry associated with a particular branch instruction is accessed when the particular branch instruction is to be speculatively executed. The branch predictor entry may take on different values indicating whether a first possible path or a second possible path should be executed. Based upon a current value of the branch predictor entry, a predicted path for the particular branch instruction may be determined. Instructions along the predicted path may be executed, before the particular branch instruction is resolved. Once the particular branch instruction is resolved, a cost associated with executing the one or more instructions may be determined. Accordingly, the branch predictor entry may be updated by an amount that is commensurate with the cost.

Before an instruction can be actually executed by a processor, a data item may sometimes have to be loaded first from cache or memory—this is known as a load miss. This load miss occurs, for example, when the data item required by the instruction is not yet loaded in internal memory locations in the processor. When such a load miss occurs, some techniques provide that the processor, instead of idly waiting, may speculatively execute other instructions while the load miss is being concurrently resolved by the processor. Clearly, efficiency gain from using these speculative execution techniques is highly dependent on whether instructions to be speculatively executed are correctly predicted at runtime.
If a software module comprises only sequential logic, it is relatively easy to predict what instructions are to follow from a particular instruction. On the other hand, where a software module involves constructs that give rise to branch instructions, since any such branch instruction may comprise two or more possible paths, which of the two or more paths of the branch instruction may actually be executed is not known until after the branch instruction is actually executed (or resolved).
To handle this dilemma, a processor may use a facility known as a branch predictor entry to make a prediction as to which path following a branch instruction should be taken. Specifically, the processor may associate a branch predictor entry with a branch instruction based on a hint provided by a compiler. Such a branch predictor entry may be implemented as a counter (e.g., a saturation counter) that can take on a plurality of values. At runtime, a current value of the counter indicates to the processor to take (for example, by jumping to a non-sequential instruction), or alternatively not to take a particular path (for example, by continuing to execute a sequential instruction that follows the branch instruction). Since software modules that give rise to processor instructions sometimes exhibit predictable behaviors, past execution history of the same branch instruction may be taken into account in setting the value of the counter (or branch predictor entry).
For example, when a load miss is resolved and thus the branch instruction is actually executed, a branch prediction logic may determine whether the prior prediction was correct (i.e., a prediction hit) or not (i.e., a prediction miss). The branch predictor entry associated with the branch instruction may be updated accordingly to favor a path that has actually been taken more frequently in the past. In this manner, future branch predictions may be influenced by past execution history of the branch instruction.
However, generally speaking, the total number of branch predictor entries is limited and not all possible address values of instructions can be mapped to their own separate branch predictor entries. In fact, at runtime the branch prediction logic may often map two or more different branch instructions to the same counter (branch predictor entry).
When two or more different branch instructions share the same counter, a prediction for a correct path of one branch instruction may indicate a prediction for a wrong path of the other branch instruction that shares the counter. As a result, updates of the counter from different branch instructions interfere with each other. This interference may cause extra prediction misses, in addition to those that would be generated by predictable or unpredictable behaviors of the software modules involved. Moreover, the cost of these extra prediction misses can be very high as they may be amplified by some repetitive behaviors of the software modules involved. In particular, wasted speculative executions from one of these extra prediction misses may amount to several hundreds of CPU cycles or more.
For these reasons, the existing techniques for sharing branch predictor entries are not as efficient as would be desired and an improved branch prediction mechanism that reduces adverse impact of interference between branches that share branch predictor entries is needed.

Branch predictor for branches with asymmetric penalties


Disclosed herein is a bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed self-healing ring network. The ring network includes a central office and a plurality of remote nodes. Two optical fibers each connect the central office and the remote nodes in a ring form to allow optical signals to be bidirectionally received and transmitted between the central office and the remote nodes. One of the two optical fibers is a drop fiber for transmitting optical signals from the central office to the remote nodes, while the other is an add fiber for transmitting optical signals from the remote nodes to the central office.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a wavelength division multiplexed self-healing network, and more particularly to a bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed self-healing ring network, in which a central office and remote nodes are connected to one another using two optical fibers—add fiber and drop fiber. Optical signals are transmitted bidirectionally through the two optical fibers. And, the proposed ring network provides the self-healing function without the protection optical switch in the transmission path and doubles the transmission capacity in a normal operating state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the amount of the desired transmission traffic increases by the popularization of the Internet, the interest in optical networks that connect a central office to subscribers grows up.
The optical network should facilitate the provision of high-speed service to fulfill a demand for the high-speed service, and be economical to accommodate a large number of subscribers.
An optical network utilizing wavelength division multiplexing technology can transmit optical signals using various wavelengths regardless of transmission types and speeds, so communication networks can be effectively made to have a high-speed and a wide bandwidth.
In order to connect a central node to subscribers in the optical network, a remote node, which is placed near a group of subscribers, should be provided with a function of dropping and adding the signal assigned at each remote node.
Therefore, there is required a simple and economical wavelength division multiplexed optical network having add and drop functions.
The conventional wavelength division multiplexed access/Metro networks which connect a central office and remote nodes may be classified into three types: a unidirectional optical ring network using a single optical fiber, a unidirectional self-healing optical ring network using two optical fibers, and a mesh network.
In particular, an optical ring network has a relatively simple structure and can implement a self-healing function, so researches on the optical ring network have been actively carried out.
In a conventional unidirectional optical ring network, a central office and remote nodes are connected to one another by two optical fibers, one of the optical fibers transmits an optical signal in a normal operating state, and in case of a system failure, the ring network could be self-healed by detouring optical signals to the other optical fiber using an optical switch.
When optical signals are detoured through the other optical fiber in the conventional unidirectional optical ring network, the number of hops and a transmission distance of optical signals are increased in comparison with those in a normal state. Therefore, the quality of signals is deteriorated and expensive optical amplifiers may be employed to compensate for a loss due to the increased transmission distance.
Additionally, in the conventional optical ring network, signals are simultaneously added and dropped at each node, so the structure of the remote node is complicated and the requirements of the device are very strict. These features bring about increases of the system cost.

Bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed self-healing ring network composed of add fiber and drop fiber

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A double-balanced microwave biphase modulator circuit is provided with a first balun for transforming the unbalanced RF Input impedance to a balanced diode impedance and providing direct current ground return paths, and a second balun for transforming the balanced diode impedance to the unbalanced RF Output impedance and providing access for data input. The first balun consists of a transmission line attached from a coupled pair of transmission lines to ground. The second balun consists of three pairs of coupled transmission lines, in which the first two pairs of transmission lines are attached to a diode ring, to a data input filter, to a circuit ground, and to the third pair of transmission lines.

Over the decades, wireless communication systems have become more and more technologically advanced, with performance increasing in terms of smaller size, operation at higher frequencies and the accompanying increase in bandwidth, lower power consumption for a given power output, and robustness, among other factors. The trend toward better communication systems puts ever-greater demands on the manufacturers of these systems.
Today, the demands of satellite, military, and other cutting-edge digital communication systems are being met with microwave technology.
Many of these systems use digital phase modulation, such as biphase modulation, to encode data onto the carrier wave. This requires modulators at the transmission end and demodulators (mixers) at the receiving end of a communication signal. In many microwave communication applications, a double-balanced microwave mixer is utilized as a biphase modulator. Examples of microwave mixers that are built for this purpose are disclosed in Maas, S., Microwave Mixers, 2nd Edition, Artech House, 1993.
It is preferable for biphase modulators, such as those operating at X-band or K-band frequencies, to have minimal phase and amplitude imbalance in order to eliminate errors in data transmission. There is also a need to isolate balanced and unbalanced circuitry while conveying signal information between them. Typical double-balanced microwave mixers and biphase modulators are composed of rings of Schottky diodes and baluns. The baluns are transmission line structures that transform an unbalanced system impedance to or from a balanced diode impedance, thereby isolating balanced and unbalanced circuitry while allowing signal information to travel between them. Typical balun designs used with biphase modulators are disclosed in Sturdivant, R., Balun Designs for Wireless, . . . Mixers, Amplifiers, Antennas, Applied Microwave, summer 1993.
The structure of a balun typically used for this application is a broadside coupled, suspended transmission line with a short-circuited quarter-wave, high impedance transmission line that is attached to the balanced end of the coupled line. Alternatively, two short-circuited lines, or shunt inductors, may be used at the balanced end of the balun as a shorting transformer. In either case, a short-circuited line provides a direct current return for the diode currents, but has the detrimental effect of decreasing the effective bandwidth of the balun if the length of the line is not carefully chosen and precisely manufactured, and also degrades the phase and amplitude balances of the modulator.
An effective biphase modulator has several attributes. It is important that the two binary states of the modulator are balanced. Ideally the amplitudes of the two states are equal to each other, and the phase difference is exactly 180 degrees. However, the precise balance of the amplitude and phase between the two binary states is limited by any asymmetry of the balun structure. The balance is also limited by stray reactances introduced by the ring of Schottky diodes.
In space or satellite applications, circuitry employing biphase modulators are often subjected to tremendous stress, such as the severe vibrations and mechanical shock experienced during a launch. A syntactic foam powder is often utilized to fill the cavity around the circuitry to prevent damage to the circuit components. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the placement of foam around the circuitry exacerbates the effects of an asymmetric balun by introducing a material with a higher dielectric constant and loss tangent than air. The permittivity of the foam significantly increases the insertion loss of the modulator, and causes the phase and amplitude imbalance created by the asymmetric balun to become substantially worse.


A glove for supporting a gun even when the person wearing the glove is not actively gripping the gun is disclosed. The glove includes a covering for a hand of a person, the covering has a back side, a palm side, an extended thumb section, and separate finger sections for each finger. At least one of the finger sections has an opening therethrough. The thumb section has a slit therethrough. The glove has a strap with two ends where a first end extends from the thumb slit and a second end extends outwardly from the finger section opening, with the mid-portion of the strap extending within the interior of the covering. The ends of the strap have fasteners thereon so that the two ends may be fastened together and through which the handle of the gun may be supported. In a first embodiment the thumb and finger sections are open and in a second embodiment the thumb and finger sections are closed. In order to release the gun the fasteners are released and the first end of the strap is secured to a fastener on the back side of the covering.

The present invention is directed toward a glove and more particularly toward a glove for supporting the handle of a gun even when the person wearing the glove is not actively gripping the gun.
Law enforcement personnel, and in particular, police officers carry handguns. A common problem a police officer faces when pursuing a person or persons is that his or her gun may slip from his or her hand and accidentally fall. There are many types of gloves which may aid a person to grip an object, particularly when playing a sport. For example, and as discussed below, there are gloves which help a person to grip a pole, a golf club, a bat, or racket. However, there remains a need for a glove which helps a person grip a gun.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,667 to Hook, Jr. discloses a grip control glove for a handgun which includes a covering for a person's hand having a pocket through which a handle of the gun may be inserted. The glove has a structure for securing the covering to the person's wrist so that the person may relax his or her hold on the handle periodically and still have his or her hand secured to the handle of the gun. This glove, however, does not allow for mobility of the person's hand and may be cumbersome.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,868 to Crawford discloses a glove with straps having a fastener portion where the fastener portions mate with fasteners on the back of the glove in order to secure an object within the wearer's hand. This patent, however, does not disclose and would not be suitable for holding a gun.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,344 to Carmin discloses a glove for holding objects. The glove consists of a strap which encircles the object to be secured, extends around the wearer's hand, and is fastened on the back of the person's hand by a buckle or the like. This patent, however, is rather complex and does not allow for easily and quickly releasing the object that is seized which may be necessary when a police officer is pursuing a person and needs to release his or her gun.


A hinge structure for a lid of an in-vehicle console box includes a storage box having an opening, a lid having a front end and a rear end, and a hinge member having a rotation axis. The hinge member is disposed between the storage box and the lid so the lid rotates around the rotation axis to open and close the opening. A slide mechanism is located between the lid and the hinge member so the lid can move in the directions of the front end and the rear end in relation to the hinge member when opening and closing the lid. A converting mechanism converts a turning force for rotating the lid around the rotation axis to a linear force for sliding the lid in the directions of the front end and rear end so the lid moves in the direction of the rear end when being opened, and in the direction of the front end when being closed.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-27476 discloses an opening/closing mechanism of a storage box that is capable of making operational property favorable involving opening and closing operation of a lid without requiring electric power. The opening/closing mechanism comprises a pivot shaft 25 disposed in the backward of a box body 13, a base panel 22 adapted to rotate around the pivot shaft 25, a lid 14 connected to the base panel 22 through a slide groove 21 and a slide pin 23 and adapted to be slidable in an anteroposterior direction of the box body 13, guide pins 19 formed on the lid 14, and guide grooves 17 formed on the sidewalls of the box body 13 to receive the guide pins 19 slidably. The guide groove 17 is comprised of a linear part and an arc-shaped part, wherein the linear part extends from an anterior end to a middle portion of the guide groove 17 with ascending moderately toward the middle portion, while the arc-shaped part extends from the middle portion to a posterior end of the guide groove 17 with rising steeply toward the posterior end. The arc-shaped part extends along a circular arc centering on the pivot shaft 25. As the lid 14 is pulled toward the backward of the box body 13, the guide pin 19 of the lid 14 moves along the guide groove 17 of the box body 13. While the guide pin 19 moves along the linear part of the guide groove 17, the base panel 22 relatively moves toward the front end of the lid 14, thereby making the distance between the front end of the lid 14 and the rotary shaft 15 short. As the guide pin 19 subsequently moves along the arc-shaped part of the guide groove 17, the lid 14 and the base panel 22 are made to rotate around the pivot shaft 25 by camming action caused between the arc-shaped part and the guide pin 19, and the box body 13 is opened. Then, the front end of the lid 14 and the pivot shaft 15 come close to each other and the front end of the lid 14 traces a circular track of smaller radius centering on the pivot shaft 25. Consequently, a vehicle driver can rotate a front end of the lid 14 along a circular arc having a reduced radius when opening and closing the lid and this improves operationality of the lid 14. In addition, it is advantageous that the biasing force for assisting closing movement of the lid 14 should be a turning force centering on the pivot shaft 25 as far as the guide pin 19 moves along the arc-shaped part of the guide groove 17 and a linear force toward the frontward of the box body as far as the guide pin 19 moves along the linear part of the guide groove 17. In order to accumulate the turning force and the linear force when opening the lid 14, the opening/closing mechanism comprises two independent accumulation mechanisms for storing these biasing forces. The first accumulation mechanism is composed of a drum 26 and a constant load spring 27 in order to store the linear force while the lid 14 moves along the linear part of the guide groove 17. The second accumulation mechanism is composed of a rotary gear 28, a torsion coil spring 29, a gear wheel 31, a pinion 32 and a rack 33 so as to store the turning force while the lid 14 moves along the arc-shaped part of the guide groove 17.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572 discloses a storage box comprising a first guide groove 12 and a second guide groove 13. The first guide groove 12 leads the lid 2 in an anteroposterior direction of a box body 1 while the lid 2 is kept closed. The second guide groove 13 makes the lid 2 rotate together with a rotary member 4 so as to open or close the lid 2, after the lid 2 is disengaged from the first guide groove 12 and then engages with the rotary member 4 in the rear position of the box body 1. The first guide groove 12 is formed to allow a vehicle driver to adjust the position of the lid 2 to his physique, especially when the lid 2 is used as an armrest, by moving the lid 2 in an anteroposterior direction of the box body 1. However, the second guide groove 13 is formed to open and close the storage box by rotating the lid 2, only when the lid 2 is in the rear portion of the box body 1. Therefore, the feature of the first guide groove 12 can be clearly distinguished from the feature of the second guide groove 13. Since either the first guide groove 12 or the second guide groove 13 engages with the lid 2 continuously, the storage box can provide not only a useful armrest but also a storage box lid that can be rotated along a circular arc having a reduced radius when the lid is drawn backward.
However, the guide groove for controlling opening and closing movement of the lid must be formed on the sides of the box body as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-27476. In order to prevent the arm of the lid from hitting against the goods stored in the box body as the guide pin moves along the guide groove, it is needed to form such a protective side wall as described in paragraphs 0003 to 0005 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572.
Instead of forming the foregoing protective side wall, the guide groove disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-27476 may be formed as a second guide groove on the outside surface of the rear side wall of the box body as described in paragraph 0032 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572. If a bar-like projection that is formed on the transfer member is inserted into the second guide groove as described in paragraph 0037 and FIG. 8 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572, however, it is also needed to form a space for storing the transfer member in the box body.
In other words, the existing devices disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2006-27476 and 2007-276572 require a guide groove to be formed on the inside surface or outside surface of the box body so as to control the direction of rotation of the lid when opening and closing the lid. Consequently, Consequently, various sorts of parts or members such as a guide pin, a bar-like projection, an arm and a transfer member must be disposed on a side surface of the box body. In addition, a space for storing the arm and the transfer member etc. must be formed on the side surface of the box body.
Furthermore, the existing devices disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2006-27476 and 2007-276572 are adapted to reduce the distance between a front end of the lid and a rotation axis of the lid preparatory to open the lid, by virtue of a linear part of the guide groove, which extends from an anterior end to a middle portion of the guide groove and rises gently toward the middle portion. With use of this mechanism, a vehicle driver can rotate a front end of the lid along a circular arc having a reduced radius when opening and closing the lid. When opening the lid, therefore, a closed lid must be drawn toward the back of the storage box in a predetermined distance preparatory to open the lid. When closing the lid, a closed lid may be moved toward the front of the storage box in a prescribed distance after the lid has been closed by tuning the lid around the rotation axis thereof.
In addition, the existing devices disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2006-27476 and 2007-276572 make the lid open and close by sliding a guide pin in a guide groove acting as a cam groove. The guide groove is composed of a liner part extending from an anterior end to a middle portion of the guide groove and rising gently toward the middle portion, a convex curve part steeply raising along a circular arc centering on a rotation axis of the lid and extending from the middle portion to a posterior portion of the groove, and a concave curve part of small diameter connecting the linear part to the convex curve part at the middle portion of the groove. The second groove of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572 corresponds to the aforementioned guide groove. Consequently, the sliding direction of the guide pin cannot help changing significantly in the concave curve part of the guide groove. In order to slide the guide pin smoothly in the concave curve part of the guide groove when closing the lid, the existing devices require means for biasing the lid in the closing direction. A force to bias the lid toward the closing direction should be a turning force centering on the rotation axis of the lid when the guide pin is sliding in the convex curve part extending from the posterior end of the groove to the middle portion of the groove, while the biasing force should be a linear force directed to the front end of the box body when the guide pin is sliding in the linear part extending from the middle portion of the groove to the anterior end of the groove. Consequently, the existing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-27476 has a first accumulation means and a second accumulation means in order to accumulate the turning force and the linear force, separately, when opening the lid. As for the device of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-276572, the lid is forced to rotate in the closing direction by means of a couple of springs 47, 48 and forced to move in the horizontal direction by means of one of the springs 47, 48, when closing the lid. The both devices of Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2006-27476 and 2007-276572 have a complicated lid-closing mechanism composed of a lot of parts.


An automatic filling up spuit (100) screwed to an entrance (1a) of a cosmetics container (1) for suctioning and discharging liquid stored in the cosmetics container (1) includes: a spuit pipe (10); a cylinder member (20); a piston member (30); a cylindrical push button (50); and a top/bottom-opened cylindrical enclosure (60). The automatic filling up spuit has an advantage of convenient use in that it is capable of automatically filling up liquid contents in a cosmetics container by a certain amount precisely at all times through joining with the cosmetics container without requiring a separate filling up operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic filling up spuit, and more particularly, to an automatic filling up spuit with a simple structure, which is capable of automatically filling up liquid contents in a cosmetics container by a certain amount precisely at all times through joining with the cosmetics container without requiring a complicated operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, as one of methods of using liquid contents such as eye creams, cosmetics and the like desirable of use of the required small quantity at one time, there has been conventionally used a method of packing liquid contents individually in the form of a capsule or the like containing a desired quantity of liquid contents for each use. However, such an individual packing method has a problem of inefficiency since a relatively large quantity of contents is still left even when a user considers the contents to be used up.
To overcome such a problem of the individual packing method, there has been devised a structure in which contents stored in a container are drawn out for each use by using a drawing means having a traditional spuit, syringe or push pump structure or the like.
However, for the spuit-structured drawing means, since the amount of suction or drawing of the contents is varied depending on an amount by which a user presses a rubber pressing part, it may be impossible or nearly impossible to draw out the contents precisely by a certain quantity for each use.
In addition, for the syringe-structured drawing means, considering that an extremely small quantity (for example, about 1 ml) of contents is mostly used, there is a configuration trouble in that the diameter of a syringe or a stroke of a syringe piston has to be made very small. Further, there is a demerit of very troublesome use since the syringe piston has to be pulled to suction the contents and then be pushed to draw out the contents.
On the other hand, for the push pump-structured drawing means, although it has a merit that a certain amount of contents can be drawn out if only a button is simply pushed, there is a demerit of complicated structure in that it includes a button, a discharge port, a spring, a valve structure and so on as well as a structure forming the interior and exterior of the pump. In addition, it is common to use a suction tube to suction the contents on the characteristics of the push pump mainly installed in the upper portion of the container. However, in this case, there may be an impossibility of drawing-out of the contents left in the container depending on a position of the suction tube.


In a zoom lens unit, substrate are arranged to be faced to each other and are provided with first driving electrodes used to drive a first movable section and second driving electrodes used to drive a second movable section, respectively. A recessed portion is formed in the first movable section so as to face the second driving electrodes. A recessed portion is also formed in the second movable section so as to face the first driving electrodes. The first and second movable sections can be independently controlled to achieve a zoom operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens unit and an image pickup apparatus which utilize an electrostatic actuator to drive a lens, and in particular, to a zoom lens unit and an image pickup apparatus which utilize an electrostatic actuator independently controlling and driving individual movable sections in which lenses are provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many efforts have been made to incorporate a camera unit with a zoom function into a mobile apparatus such as a cellular phone. In such a camera unit, a lens is driven along an optical axis to adjust a focus to finally form an image on a sensor. Attempts have been made to use an electrostatic actuator as a driving source that drives the lens across the optical axis.
In a zoom lens unit, lenses are independently driven to adjust the zoom scale factor of a lens system. In a zoom lens unit utilizing an electrostatic actuator, the electrostatic actuator comprises a stator and first and second movable sections. The first and second movable sections hold the respective lenses and are independently driven.
The stator comprises a driving electrode substrate and a holding electrode substrate mounted on the opposite inner surfaces of a stator frame. Further, the first and second movable sections are arranged so that there is a gap of several μm between each movable section and the corresponding one of the paired electrode substrates. The first and second movable sections are reciprocated between the paired electrode substrates and also moved along the axial direction of the lenses. The holding electrode substrate is provided with a first holding electrode used to hold the first movable section and a second holding electrode used to hold the second movable section.
A zoom lens unit configured as described above is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-126009 and the corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/672,409, filed Sep. 29, 2003, Koga et al. In these documents, the first and second movable sections are electrostatically driven by using as switching circuit to supply voltages to the electrodes of the paired electrode substrates of the stator in a predetermined order. In the conventional zoom lens unit, with one of the movable sections held by the holding electrode substrate, voltages are supplied to the driving electrode substrate in a predetermined order to drive the other movable section. Thus, the conventional zoom lens unit can only alternately move the plurality of movable sections.
In the zoom lens unit, to change the zoom scale factor, each lens must trace a zoom curve based on a particular lens design. If the zoom curve is traced, it is not preferable that lenses from different groups be alternately driven. Alternately driving the lenses unavoidably causes the positions of a plurality of movable sections to be temporarily shifted from the zoom curve. That is, a subject gets out of focus during the zoom operation, resulting in a blurred image.

Zoom lens unit and image pickup apparatus


According to an embodiment, a content addressable memory (CAM) device (104) may be capable of executing a “restricted” search operation. A restricted search operation (an “explore” or “search beyond” operation) may compare only a portion of the CAM entries to a search key device. Preferably, a restricted search operation may restrict searches to entries having an index value greater than a received search index value.

Due to the increasing need for rapid matching capabilities, in networking hardware equipment for example, content addressable memories (CAMs) continue to proliferate. A CAM may perform matching functions by applying a search key or "comparand" to a table of stored data values. A CAM may then determine if any of the data values match a given search key.
CAM devices may take a variety of forms. As but a few of the possible examples, some CAM devices are based on particular types of CAM cells. Such cells may include storage circuits integrated with compare circuits. Examples of storage circuits may be static random access memory (SRAM) type cells or dynamic RAM (DRAM) type cells. Alternate approaches may include RAM arrays, or the like, with separate matching circuits and/or matching processes executed by a processor, or the like.
Conventional CAM devices may include both binary and ternary CAM devices. Binary CAM devices can provide a bit-by-bit comparison between a stored data value and a key. Ternary CAM devices can provide maskable compare operations that can selectively exclude predetermined bits of a data value from a compare operation.
Typically, a conventional CAM device can generate match indications for each entry. That is, each entry can be compared with an applied search key value. If a search key value matches a stored data value, a match (or "hit") indication may be generated for the entry. Conversely, if a key value does not match a stored data value, a mismatch (or "miss") indication may be generated for the entry.
Match results in a CAM device may include single match results, that can be generated when a single entry matches an applied key value, as well as multiple match results, that may be generated when a more than one entry matches an applied key value.
Conventionally, when a CAM device generates multiple match results, a priority encoder, or the like, can prioritize from among such multiple matches and output an indication corresponding to a single match entry. Typically, priority from among multiple matching entries can be established according to entry address (e.g., lowest address corresponds to highest priority).
While a priority encoder, or the like, can select from among multiple matching entries, it can be desirable to identify other lower priority matching entries. A conventional approach to identifying lower priority addresses in a multiple match case will now be described.
Referring now to FIGS. 21A–21C, a conventional content addressable memory (CAM) device is set forth and designated by the general reference character 2100. A conventional CAM device 2100 may include a number of entries 2102-0 to 2102-n, each for storing data values for comparison with a search key value. A CAM device 2100 may also include a match bit 2104-0 to 2104-n corresponding to each entry (2102-0 to 2102-n). The function of match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n) will be described in more detail below.
Entries (2102-0 to 2102-n) may each generate a match indication M0 to Mn. Match indications (M0 to Mn) can indicate when data values in a corresponding entry (2102-0 to 2102-n) match an applied search key value. Match indications may be prioritized and encoded into an index value by a priority encoder 2110.
A search key value KEY may be applied to entries (2102-0 to 2102-n) from a search key input 2106. Along with a search key, a key match bit 2108 may be applied to match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n) of entries (2102-0 to 2102-n). Conventionally, match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n) can function in the same way as a data value bit within an entry. If a key match bit 2108 does not match a match bit (2104-0 to 2104-n) a match indication can be forced to a "miss" state. Thus, in the conventional arrangement of FIGS. 21A to 21C, a match indication can be in a "hit" state when both a data value and a corresponding match bit for the entry matches a search key value and key match bit, respectively.
In FIG. 21A it is assumed that an applied search key value KEY matches data values stored in entries 2102-1, 2102-3 and 2102-4. In addition, prior to the application of a search key value KEY, such as while writing or reading the data values initially, match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n) can all be set to a same value as key match bit 2108. Thus, such match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n) may not generate a mismatch indication. Consequently, a CAM device 2100 may have a multiple match state, shown by match indications M1, M3 and M4 having a "HIT" status.
A priority encoder 2110 may prioritize resulting multiple match indications. In FIGS. 21A to 21C it will be assumed that physical priority is established with entry 2102-0 having a highest priority and entry 2102-n having a lowest priority. Accordingly, active match indication M1 can be encoded into an index value INDEX1.
In the conventional approach shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, following the generation of multiple "HIT" match indications, match bits for all but he highest priority matching entry and a key match bit 2108 can be changed to differ from match bits of non-matching entries. This is illustrated in FIG. 21B by match bits for lower priority matching entries 2104-3 and 2104-4, and key match bit 2108 being changed from a "1" to a "0".
A subsequent search may then be performed with new match bit and key match bit values. This is shown in FIG. 21C.
In FIG. 21C, a same key value KEY as shown in FIG. 21A may be applied from a key input 2106 to entries (2102-0 to 2102-n). In addition, a key match bit 2108 may be applied to match bits (2104-0 to 2104-n). Due to a change in match bit values and a key match bit value as noted above, non-matching entries and a highest priority entry are prevented from generating "HIT" match indications. Consequently, a second highest priority active match indication M3 may be prioritized and encoded by priority encoder 2110 to generate an index value INDEX3. In this way, a next higher priority match result for a multiple match case may be extracted.
A conventional search operation may continue by changing match bit 2104-3 from a "0" to a "I" and then searching once again with a same search key and key match bit value. Such a search may result in third highest priority match indication M4 being encoded into an in index value INDEX4 (not shown). Such an operation may continue in this fashion until all match results are extracted.
A drawback to the conventional approach noted above can be added time in executing the function and/or added complexity in circuits. In particular, multiple additional write operations may be necessary to set match bits in matching entries and to set a key match bit. In addition, a write operation may be necessary to set the match bit of each matching entry as lower priority matches are extracted.
Yet another drawback to such a conventional approach can be lack of flexibility in operation. In order to extract multiple match results, the state of the conventional CAM is essentially monopolized by the process. That is, while multiple match values are extracted other search operations may not be performed as the setting of a key match bit can prevent a search of non-matching entries and/or higher priority entries that have been previously extracted.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to arrive at some way of extracting multiple match results that may be more flexible and/or faster than conventional approaches.
Additionally, it is always desirable to provide new search features in a CAM device for targeting searches to smaller search spaces (e.g., fewer numbers of entries). Such restricted search approaches may yield results faster than conventional approaches that do not restrict a search space. In addition or alternatively, restricting a search space may reduce power consumption by excluding some entries from search operations.

Method and apparatus for restricted search operation in content addressable memory (CAM) devices


A method of and apparatus for determining the spacing between a ribbon of hot glass and a coater extending over the ribbon for forming a coating thereon by chemical vapor deposition. Position sensors are affixed to the coater at selected positions therealong. The sensors include an annular outlet through which a compatible gas is discharged against the glass surface from a position closely adjacent the surface, and a central opening for measuring the back pressure resulting from impingement of the gas against the glass surface. The back pressure is a function of the distance of the annular outlet from the glass surface, and the size of the annular passageway and rate of gas flow therethrough are such that a smooth well-defined pressure-versus-distance curve is produced for the range of distances within which the coater is intended to operate. Comparison of observed pressures with pressures at known distances indicate the sensor-to-glass, and hence the coater-to-glass, distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the coating of glass by means of chemical vapor deposition, and more specifically to sensing the position of a coater by which a coating gas is supplied, relative to the surface of a glass ribbon upon which a coating is to be formed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In accordance with one highly successful method of coating flat glass, the surface of the glass is contacted while at an elevated temperature by a gas such as a metal vapor which reacts on contacting the hot surface to form a coating on the glass surface. In order to produce a uniform coating, the coating gas is preferably caused to flow substantially parallel to the surface of a moving ribbon of glass to be coated under laminar flow conditions. One method and apparatus for achieving such laminar flow conditions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,045. As disclosed therein, the coating gas is directed onto a surface to be coated by a coater extending across the upper surface of an advancing ribbon of glass and transverse to the direction of movement of the ribbon. The temperature of the gas or vapor supply and that of the coater are preferably maintained sufficiently high to prevent condensation of the coating gas, but sufficiently low to avoid any substantial decomposition or other deleterious reactions of the coating gas before it reaches the glass surface. In order to achieve a uniform coating of high quality, it is imperative that the temperature and rate of flow of the gaseous coating material be precisely maintained within prescribed parameters.
There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,282 a method of and apparatus for coating flat glass with a coating formed from a plurality of reactant gases. A coater is positioned above an advancing ribbon of glass maintained at a temperature suitable for formation of a coating. Reactant gases are directed to a plenum formed in the interior of the beam. The gases flow from the plenum through flow distributing mechanisms such as baffle stacks to insure homogenizing and uniform distribution across the width of the glass ribbon. The temperature of the plenum, and thus of the gases therein, is regulated by means of liquid cooling and electric heaters.
The downwardly facing surface of the coater must be positioned closely adjacent the top surface of the glass ribbon, typically on the order of 0.200 inch (5.1 mm) therefrom, for the maintenance of a parallel laminar flow of the coating gas as required for production of a uniform coating on the ribbon. The spacing of the coater from the ribbon surface must also remain constant across the width of the ribbon in order to produce a coating which is uniform across the ribbon. It has been proposed to employ various types of position sensors for determining the distance of the coater from the ribbon surface. However, none of the position sensors employed heretofore has proven entirely satisfactory in that they were not suitable for use over extended periods of time in the hostile environment encountered in the coating area. They also tended to have an adverse effect upon the coating, and the data obtained was unreliable. As a result, the position of the coater relative to the glass surface has generally been determined heretofore by visual observation and estimation. Such imprecise procedures are not conducive to formation of a uniform coating on the glass. Furthermore, due to the close proximity of the coater to the glass ribbon, even slight errors in positioning of the coater can result in the coater coming into contact with and severely damaging, it not entirely severing, the ribbon.

Two sensor for determining spacing between surfaces

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A process for producing propylene homopolymers comprises producing a homopolymer in a reactor train having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is normally used for homopolymer production and the second stage is normally used only in the production of copolymer blends, and is left idle during homopolymer production. According to the invention, during the production of propylene homopolymer, the polymerization is carried out sequentially in both the first stage and second stage reactors.

In a capital intensive field such as the production of polymers, it is imperative that the maximum amount of production be obtained from each piece of capital equipment. Therefore, when polymerization reactor trains for polyolefins are designed and installed, they are designed for the production of multiple products.
In particular, most polypropylene manufacturers produce both propylene homopolymers and copolymers, i.e. random or impact copolymers. An impact copolymer, is an in-situ blend of a propylene homopolymer with a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and/or other alpha-olefins. To produce such blends in-situ a reactor train having at least two stages is used, wherein the propylene homopolymer portion of the blend is produced in the first stage reactors and is then transferred to the second stage reactors where a copolymer of propylene with ethylene and/or other alpha-olefins is produced in the presence of the homopolymer.
Because of the high capital cost of equipment, the same reactor trains used to produce impact copolymers are used to produce propylene homopolymers. In this case, the second stage reactors are left idle and the homopolymer is recovered directly from the first stage reactors. However, keeping the second stage reactors idle during homopolymer production imposes its own cost, as reactor capacity is left unused for a time.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method whereby historically unused reactor capacity can be brought into use for the production of propylene homopolymers. Such a process would provide a polymer product of uniform properties and quality.

Process for production of propylene homopolymers


Therapeutic combinations useful in the treatment or prevention of depression or other mood disorders, to pharmaceutical compositions containing said combinations, and to their use in the treatment or prophylaxis of depression or other mood disorders are provided. Such compounds are of formula I:

Between 5-10% of adults worldwide suffer from depression. Even more experience depression-related mood disorders such as dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, and postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The economic costs to society, and person costs to individuals and families, associated with depression are enormous. Within a 15-month period after having been diagnosed with depression, sufferers are four times more likely to die as those who do not have depression. Almost 60% of suicides have their roots in major depression, and 15% of those admitted to a psychiatric hospital for depression eventually kill themselves. See Nierenberg, Am J Manag Care 7(11 Suppl): S353-66, 2001. In the U.S. alone, the estimated economic costs for depression exceeded $44 billion in 1990. The World Health Organization estimates that major depression is the fourth most important cause worldwide of loss in disability-adjusted life years, and will be the second most important cause by 2020.
A variety of pharmacologic agents are available for the treatment of depression. Significant success has been achieved through the use of seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NERIs), combined serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors or other compounds. However, even with these options available, many patients fail to respond, or respond only partially to treatment. Additionally, many of these agents show delayed onset of activity, so that patients are required to undergo treatment for weeks or months before receiving benefits. Most currently available antidepressants take 2-3 weeks or more to elicit a response.
Traditional therapies can also have significant side effects. For example, more than a third of patients taking SRIs experience sexual dysfunction. Other problematic side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, often manifested as nausea and occasional vomiting, agitation, insomnia, weight gain, onset of diabetes, prolongation of the heart rate corrected interval (QTc), agranylocytosis, etc. Depressive patients who also suffer from psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) also sometimes suffer extrapyramidal side effects. These side effects often discourage patients from following their recommended therapeutic regimen.
There remains a need for the development of improved therapies for the treatment of depression and/or other mood disorders.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Therapeutic combinations for the treatment or prevention of depression

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, n, y, and Ar are as defined and described herein.


A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for selecting a media processor to host a conference is provided. According to some embodiments, a multipoint controller may control or be associated with a plurality of media processors. Different media processors may be implemented in software and operating on different hardware platforms. When a request for a media processor is indicated or received and the multipoint controller needs to select or allocate a media processors to host the conference, the multipoint controller may select one of the media processors to support the new conference based on the media processor's ability to support more additional participants than the other media processors in the plurality of media processors. In some embodiments, the determination of a media processor's ability to support additional participants may be based on the media processor's current number of supported participants in conferences and the media processor's current CPU utilization percentage.

In some conferencing systems, a single multipoint controller (MC) may control or be associated with multiple media processors (MP), also referred to as multipoint processors. The multipoint controller may need to select which media processor to use for a new conference when a new conference session is requested.
In some systems, the multipoint controller (MC) may check to see how many conferencing participants are allocated to each media processor (MP) controlled by the multipoint controller. Based on this information, the multipoint controller can select the media processor with the fewest participants to host the new conference. Unfortunately, such an approach does not take into account the fact that a software based or implemented media processor may operate on a wide variety of hardware platforms. For example, suppose one media processor currently is running or supporting ten channels/participants for a conference on a Pentium III™ based computer operating at 866 MHz and a second media processor is running or supporting fifteen channels/participants for a conference on a Pentium IV™ based server operating at 2 GHz. The traditional approach would choose the Pentium III™ based computer for supporting a new conference, even though the Pentium IV™ based server may be able to support a much larger number of new conferencing channels/participants. By using the Pentium III™ based computer, the multipoint controller increases the likelihood of not being able to expand the conference to support all of the required participants for the new conference, particularly since the number of participants for a conference may be unknown at the time of creation of the conference and may change over time.
It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus that overcame the drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a method, apparatus, means, and computer code that considers the fact that different software based media processors may have different capabilities and processing resources depending on the hardware on which they are operating.

Method and apparatus for selecting a media processor to host a conference


A fuel injector comprising a head which has a free outer face and a main orifice designed to spray a fuel jet in a main direction and a secondary orifice designed to spray a fuel jet in a secondary direction, the main and secondary orifices opening into the outer face and communicating directly with a common injection chamber which is selectively placed in communication with a supply chamber. The secondary direction forms an angle α between 10° and 80°, with the main direction so that the secondary jet intercepts the main jet in a burst zone which starts at a distance d of between 1 and 15 mm, and the flow rate of the secondary jet is between 80% and 100% of the flow rate of the main jet. The invention also relates to a spark ignition engine and to a method of manufacturing the injector.

In the case of spark ignition engines with direct injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber, it is necessary to rapidly obtain well controlled spraying of the fuel jet. Specifically, the spraying must exhibit a certain directionality and a penetration rate sufficient to obtain a fuel-air ratio around the spark plug at the moment of ignition that enables the mixture to be ignited. However, the depth of the sprayed jet which increases with the injection pressure, must not be excessive so as, in particular, not to spray fuel against the walls of the combustion chamber.
To this end, use has been made of swirl injectors in which the fuel is guided with a swirling motion in the injector before being sprayed. These injectors make it possible to obtain good atomization but, in addition to their high cost, they have the disadvantage of creating a high internal pressure drop in the supply pressure and consequently make it essential to apply a high force in order to actuate the control needle of these injectors. In practice, it is difficult to use these injectors with a fuel supply pressure above 150 bar. Moreover, these injectors create a poorly directional jet with a relatively low rate of penetration into the chamber, which makes it more difficult in some cases to obtain a stratified mixture, that is to say a gas mixture whose fuel-air ratio is greater in certain defined parts of the combustion chamber.
In the case of these engines, it is also known practice to use multihole injectors comprising a plurality of orifices which spray fuel jets in divergent directions. These injectors make it possible to obtain a higher penetration rate and very good directionality of all the fuel jets. Moreover, they create fewer internal pressure drops and are less difficult to manufacture than injectors provided with a swirl atomizer. On the other hand, the fuel is sprayed with less efficiency since the contact area with the gases is smaller and the fuel jet is less turbulent than with the swirl injectors. Consequently, the degree of mixing of the fuel with the combustion chamber gases is less able to be controlled in certain situations, which has harmful consequences in terms of the engine efficiency and the emission of pollutants.
An object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing an injector which allows high pressure direct injection into the combustion chamber with high efficiency spraying and a certain directionality, without however consequently increasing the depth of penetration of the atomized fuel jet and the cost of the injector.

Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

Magneti Marelli Motopropulsion France SAS


A process for treating R,S-mandelonitrile or a derivative thereof or a mixture of benzaldehyde or a derivative thereof, and; hydrogen cyanide, with a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus sp. HT29-7 (FERM BP-3857) in an almost neutral or basic aqueous medium to thereby directly produce a predominant amount of R(-)-mandelic acid or a derivative thereof, whereby the racemic R,S-mandelonitrile or a derivative thereof or benzaldehyde or a derivative thereof and hydrogen cyanide can be directly converted into R(-)-mandelic acid or a derivative thereof at a ratio of about 80 to 100% and at an optical purity of almost 100%.sub.ee without performing any optical resolution.

Known methods for producing R(-)-mandelic acid or derivatives thereof include: racemic resolution of chemically synthesized R,S-mandelic acid (racemic modification) by (1) fractional crystallization as described in JP-A-58-177933 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application); (2) chromatography as described in European Patent Publication No. 0 098 707A; and (3) conversion of the racemic modification into racemic esters followed by racemic resolution thereof by enzymatic asymmetric hydrolysis as described in K. Mori et al., Tetrahedron, 36, 91-96 (1980); and (4) chemical asymmetric synthesis with the use of a chiral reagent as described in D. A. Evans et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 107, 4346-4348 (1985). Biological methods therefor include the asymmetric hydrolysis of the abovementioned esters formed by process (3) above and (5) microbiological asymmetric reduction of benzoylformic acid as described in JP-A-57-198096; (6) hydrolysis of R(-)-mandelonitrile or substituted derivatives thereof which are asymmetrically synthesized with the use of D-oxynitrilase as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,859,784 and 5,008,192; and (7) asymmetric hydrolysis of mandelonitrile, mandelamide or substituted derivatives thereof with the use of microorganisms belonging to the genus Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Rhodopseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus or Candida as described in European Patent Publication No. 0 348 901A.
However, each of the racemic resolution methods (1) to (3) requires a complicated process and a decrease in the yield occurs in each step. In method (4), using a chiral reagent as a catalyst, an expensive chiral reagent is required and a product of high optical purity is almost impossible to obtain.
The above-mentioned biological methods also have some disadvantages. Namely, in method (5) it is difficult to synthesize the substrate for the asymmetric reduction of benzoylformic acid. It is further difficult to maintain the NADH-regeneration system. The D-oxynitrilase method (6) is merely a basic finding that an optically active substance is obtained. The asymmetric hydrolysis method (7) requires a post treatment of another optically active substance remaining after the completion of the hydrolysis. In addition, the above-mentioned European Patent Publication No. 0 348 901A contains no particular example of the production of a R(-)-mandelic acid derivative from a substituted derivative of mandelonitrile. Therefore, it is unknown whether an R(-)-mandelic acid derivative of a high optical purity can be efficiently obtained or not.
As described above, these known methods suffer from various problems. Thus, none of these known methods is an industrially advantageous method for producing R(-)-mandelic acid or derivatives thereof.
The present inventors conducted extensive investigations to establish a method for advantageously producing R(-)-mandelic acid on an industrial scale. As a result, the present inventors discovered that R,S,-mandelonitrile could be easily racemized through dissociation equilibrium into benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide in an almost neutral or basic aqueous medium, and that R,S-mandelonitrile or benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide could be directly converted into R(-)-mandelic acid in conjunction with this racemization system together with a microorganism capable of asymmetric hydrolysis of mandelonitrile. Based on these findings, they disclosed a process for producing R(-)-mandelic acid by using a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Acinetobacter or Caseobacter as described in European Patent Publication No. 0 449 648A and another process for producing R(-)-mandelic acid with the use of a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia, Bacillus, Brevibacterium or Aureobacterium as described in European Patent Publication No. 0 449 648A. Subsequently, they further applied the above-mentioned findings to substituted mandelonitrile derivatives and, as a result, proposed a process for producing R(-)-mandelic acid derivatives with the use of a microorganism belonging to the genus Aureobacterium, Pseudomonas, Caseobacter, Alcaligenes, Acinetobacter, Brevibacteriumn or Nocardia as described in European Patent Publication No. 0 449 648A.
However, the R-stereoselectivities of the hydrogenases produced by these bacteria are not always satisfactory and thus further evaluation has been required for the steroeselectivities.

Process for producing R(-)-mandelic acid or a derivative thereof from a mandelonitrile using rhodococcus


Systems, methods and devices for the remote control of a robot which incorporates interchangeable tool heads. Although applicable to many different industries, the core structure of the system includes a robot with a tool head interface for mechanically, electrically and operatively interconnecting a plurality of interchangeable tool heads to perform various work functions. The robot and tool head may include several levels of digital feedback (local, remote and wide area) depending on the application. The systems include a single umbilical cord to send power, air, and communications signals between the robot and a remote computer. Additionally, all communication (including video) is preferably sent in a digital format. Finally, a GUI running on the remote computer automatically queries and identifies all of the various devices on the network and automatically configures its user options to parallel the installed devices. Systems according to the preferred embodiments find particular application in the pipeline arts. For example, interchangeable tool heads may be designed to facilitate inspection, debris clearing, cleaning, relining, lateral cutting after relining, mapping, and various other common pipeline-related tasks.

The present invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods related to the remote control of robots, and, more specifically, the present invention relates to a system architecture utilizing a robot with interchangeable tools used for pipeline rehabilitation.
The use of robotic devices or robots to perform tasks that are either too difficult, too dangerous, or too repetitive in order to gain efficiencies over similar manual processes is well known in many arts. These robots are typically either tele-operated (an operator acting on visual cues or visual servo feedback), operator assisted, forced multiplication (one operator overseeing a plurality of robots) or autonomous (no human intervention).
In most of these industries, specific robots have been custom-designed to perform each individual task that is automated. Such custom-designed machines are very expensive to build and maintain, and do not take advantage of the similarities between the various tasks that need to be performed. In short, most robotic applications are special purpose, and these robots are not designed to be flexible, self-configurable, and easy to operate.
One particular application that has seen attempts at utilizing robots is in the area of tanks and pipelines (conduits). Since many pipes are of a standard size and regular shape, it is considered less difficult to design robots that can navigate and perform work within the confines of these structures. Therefore, although the concepts of the present invention find application across a wide variety of industries, the examples given herein will be directed to robots utilized inside pipeline networks, as described in more detail below.
Various pipeline networks are used in a variety of different technological disciplines. For example, largely subterranean potable water pipeline networks deliver clean water to homes and businesses, and sewer pipeline networks guide used water and wastes away from these same locations for further treatment or disposal. Likewise, natural gas, petroleum and chemical pipelines operate in a similar manner. In general, pipeline networks are used to guide an almost limitless variety of liquids and gases from one location to another, either under pressure or by the force of gravity.
A section of a conventional pipeline network for subterranean sewers is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1A shows an isometric view of the pipeline network, and FIGS. 1B and 1C show front (down the longitudinal axis) and side views, respectively. As seen in FIG. 1, a main line 10 typically traverses in a longitudinal direction with a variety of different lateral lines 12, 14 intersecting the main 10 at various locations. The lateral connections with the main 10 occur at various angles in planes co-linear with the longitudinal axis (FIG. 1C) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (FIG. 1B). A lateral typically may intersect with the main 10 at any angle within the upper hemisphere of the main.
The pipeline network also includes a plurality of surface manholes (not shown) that provide access to the subterranean pipeline network at various locations. For sewer pipelines, a distance of 300 feet between successive manhole access points is common. These access points intersect with the main as vertically intersecting laterals.
After years of wear, the walls of the pipelines begin to crack, leak and generally deteriorate, and this wear may adversely affect use of the pipe. As such, various processes have been developed to rehabilitate these pipelines and provide for a longer service life. As used herein, the term "rehabilitation" includes all active tasks performed on a pipe as part of the relining process including inspection, cleaning, debris clearing, relining, and the like. One common rehabilitation method involves relining the interior walls of pipes with an epoxy or resin-impregnated felt liner that is prefabricated and rolled in the form of a rolled-up sock (i.e., one end open and one end closed). The liner is fed down through a manhole access point and is guided into the pipeline main. Pressurized water or steam is then forced into the open end of the rolled liner forcing it to unroll and unfurl down the length of the main. The far end of the liner is tied off or closed to allow for the expansion of the felt liner against the inside of the pipe wall.
The relining process is typically performed on pipes that have been prepared for relining by removing serious flaws, such as collapses and extensive debris. In these cases, a machine or other means, depending on the size of the pipe, is used to assess and repair the main and/or lateral (extending to a house or building) before relining.
After unrolling, the felt liner, often referred to as Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP), is filled with pressurized heated water and is allowed to cure for several hours depending on the CIPP length, thickness and other relining factors. For an 8″ sewer main, a typical cure time may be three hours. After curing, the closed end of the liner is cut open allowing the water to proceed down the main out of the liner. The result is a relined, and hence rehabilitated, pipe that lasts for up to 50 more years with regular maintenance. This process is obviously much cheaper than excavating and replacing the mains of subterranean pipe networks.
At this point, each of the lateral connections with the main is now covered over with the cured epoxy lining. Therefore, to restore service to the houses and other buildings connected to the main through the laterals, new openings in the Cured In Place Pipe must be cut at each lateral connection. Typically, for smaller pipes that do not allow for man-entry within the mains for cutting (e.g., smaller than 24″ in diameter), a small machine is used to cut the laterals open after curing. The machine includes an air-powered routing bit with three axes of manipulation that is operated from the surface. Via operator visual servo feedback (closed circuit TV), the cutting machine is positioned in front of a lateral. This signaling and feedback is all analog.
To accomplish the lateral cutting task using conventional methods, the operator uses a camera view from an inspection sled which is being towed directly in front of the lateral cutting machine which provides a perspective view of the cutting operation. Typically, a conventional video feed (CCTV—analog) is used for tele-operation of the machine. The operator (at the surface) uses the analog video image to look for a "dimple" or depression in the newly cured liner caused by the pressurized water indenting the soft felt liner at the location of most laterals. In some cases, a lateral may not cause a dimple in the liner. In these cases, a pay-out sensor may be used to generally identify the location of each lateral prior to lining, and the lateral cutting machine may be stopped at each of the recorded locations after lining and attempt to drill or punch a lateral hole at each of these locations. In either case, the conventional method lacks a great deal of precision.
Throughout this pipe relining or rehabilitation operation (before and after relining), remotely controlled robots may be used. For example, the initial inspection may be performed based on a robot with camera capabilities. Further, large or small debris may be cleared out of the pipeline via some sort of robotic device. Finally, as explained above, the lateral cutting operation, as well as the sealing or inspection operations, may also be automated.
However, these prior robotic application do not present a universal architecture and robotic device that can be used to perform these, and other similar tasks using a robot with interchangeable tool heads. These prior art systems do not include self-recognizing components connected to the network architecture. Finally, these prior systems do not include a Graphical User Interface ("GUI") that builds itself based upon the recognition of robotic components and robotic functionality. In fact, conventional interfaces are nothing more than analog overlays and are not GUIs at all. These and other disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by the present invention.
Although shown and described herein with respect to sewer pipelines, the present invention could also be used in other industries, such as general industrial, water, gas, or chemical pipes, as well as non-pipe industries such as construction. Those skilled in the art can easily adapt the features of the present invention to these and other alternative uses within the scope of this patent.

Network architecture for remote robot with interchangeable tools


An optical receiver may include a photodetector that is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting an optical signal, a first gain path coupled to receive and amplify the electrical signal generated by the photodetector, and a second gain path coupled to receive and amplify the electrical signal generated by the photodetector. The second gain path may have a higher gain than the first gain path. The two gain paths may be configured to amplify the electrical signal independently of each other. The optical receiver may also include a switch that selectably outputs an amplified electrical signal from one of the gain paths based on a magnitude of a signal corresponding to the optical signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical systems and, more particularly, to amplifier systems for use in optical receivers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber optic WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and DWDM (Dense WDM) systems are increasingly using more channels, narrower channel spacing, and wider wavelength ranges. As fiber optic systems such as these become more complex, it becomes increasingly important to characterize the wavelength-dependent optical properties of both broadband network components (e.g., couplers, combiners, splitters, attenuators, isolators, circulators, etc.) and narrowband network components (e.g., multiplexers, demultiplexers, interleaves, wavelength filters, etc.). By characterizing the optical properties of components, properties such as wavelength flatness and polarization-dependent loss that may adversely affect network system performance may be identified. In narrowband devices, it may be particularly useful to measure the center wavelength, crosstalk, and/or channel spacing in order to improve system performance. Since narrowband and broadband devices may be used over the entire wavelength band of a WDM or DWDM system, it may also be useful to test each device over the entire wavelength band (as opposed to just testing over the channel of intended operation for each particular device). Characterization systems may also be used to provide real-time feedback while adjusting the placement and/or orientation an optical component in a system.
One way in which optical components may be characterized is by measuring the throughput power as a function of wavelength. This may provide information about a component's center wavelength, channel spacing, wavelength flatness, filter transfer function, and/or crosstalk. A common type of measurement system is a step-and-measure system. In a step-and-measure system, an operator tunes a tunable laser source to each wavelength used to characterize the component under test and then detects and measures the component's output at that wavelength. One consequence of the increasing wavelength range of optical systems is that optical components need to be tested over these larger wavelength bands. Additionally, the narrower channel spacing may make higher resolution in the measurements desirable. Since more data points may be measured in systems that have larger wavelength ranges and/or higher resolution, testing using a step-and-measure system may take a undesirable amount of time. For example, in a 50-GHz DWDM system with 80 channels and channel spacing of 0.4 nm, component performance may need to be characterized over a wavelength span of greater than 35 nm. Properly characterizing the component may also require a resolution of 0.01 nm. Consequentially, a measurement for the device may involve at least 3,500 data points. In a step-and-measure system, this measurement may take hours to complete.
In order to improve measurement times, swept-wavelength systems have been developed in which the wavelength of the tunable laser source is automatically swept across a range of wavelengths while the output from the component under test is recorded. The wavelength sweep may occur very quickly, allowing a component to be characterized in significantly less time than it could in a step-and-measure system. However, because of the increased speed at which swept-wavelength systems operate, receivers used in such systems need to have enough dynamic range to capture the optical component's output over the sweep of the laser while still operating quickly enough to provide the desired resolution.
Optical receivers used with swept-wavelength systems may need to handle a large dynamic range relatively quickly. However, in some receiver components (e.g., analog logarithmic amplifiers), there may be a tradeoff between speed and dynamic range. For example, amplifiers designed to operate at speeds commensurate with those used in swept-wavelength systems may not provide the dynamic range needed to capture an optical component's output over the entire sweep of the laser. Conversely, logarithmic amplifiers designed to have the needed dynamic range may not operate quickly enough to provide the desired measurement resolution.

Optical receiver including a dual gain path amplifier system