A cough event is differentiated from a sneeze event of a test subject enclosed within a plethysmograph test chamber by measuring air pressure changes during the event, and comparing the pressure changes against criteria indicative of a cough to determine the likelihood that the event is a cough. Air pressure changes are recorded as pressure and/or sound values. A graphical record of a waveform of changes in the air pressure during an event relative to a baseline value is recorded, and a value is calculated that is indicative of the likelihood that the event is a cough based on the sizes of areas between the waveform and baseline during the event, said areas including a first area indicative of the change in air pressure during air inspiration, a second area indicative of the change in air pressure during air compression, and a third area indicative of the change in air pressure during expiration.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for distinguishing a cough from a sneeze, and in particular to an apparatus and method of comparing the sound and volume attributes of possible cough events by a test subject within a plethysmograph against evaluation criteria to ascertain which events are probably coughs.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The affects of various gases and aerosols on test subjects, e.g., rats and mice, are determined in laboratory research by enclosing a test subject, e.g., a mouse or rat, in the test chamber of a laboratory testing device known as a plethysmograph. A gas or aerosol is introduced into the chamber and the respiratory patterns of the test subject are evaluated by measuring changes in the pressure within the test chamber.
Plethysmographs are comprised of a test chamber to enclose the test subject, a reference chamber, and a differential pressure transducer connected to the two chambers, e.g., via tubing extending from a port in each chamber to the transducer. Both chambers are in communication with the ambient air, i.e., the air within the room where the tests are being conducted, through inlet ports or pneumotachographs.
As changes to the air volume within the test chamber occur, pressure variations are recorded by the transducer, which normally displays the recorded data in numerical form or as a graph. Air pressure within the test chamber can also vary due to changes in the pressure of air entering the test chamber through the pneumotachographs. The transducer simultaneously measures variations in air pressures within the two chambers, and subtracts the reference chamber measurements from the animal chamber measurements. As a result, the net pressure variations are essentially attributable to the respiration patterns of the test animal. Preferably, the test and reference chamber pneumotachographs are close to each other to minimize variations in exterior air patterns.
A representative plethysmograph of the type used to measure small animal pulmonary responses is shown and described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,777 to Lomask, the entire disclosure of the patent being incorporated herein by reference.
One of the criteria measured is the number of time that the test animal coughs during a given time. The number of coughs can be measured to observation, with the tester listening for the coughs. However, this system is tedious, time consuming and inaccurate. Further, there is a degree of uncertainty due to the fact that a cough is often difficult to distinguish from a sneeze due to the similarity of their sound and their limited duration. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method for automating the process of counting coughs during such experiments, and in particular for distinguishing between coughs and sneezes that occur.


A ferrule in a fuel-air mixer assembly. The ferrule includes a body having (i) a plurality of channels having sidewalls, the plurality of channels leading to a corresponding plurality of exit openings, the plurality of channels configured to guide a first airflow therein and (ii) a plurality of cascade holes formed within the sidewalls of the plurality of channels and defining a plurality of passageways therein that are transverse to the plurality of channels. The ferrule also includes a plurality of airflow modifiers provided within the plurality of channels. The plurality airflow modifiers are configured to reduce a velocity of the first airflow when the first airflow exits through the plurality of exit openings and to generate low velocity vortex pairs to reduce interaction of the first airflow with a second airflow provided through primary vanes located downstream of the plurality of exit openings of the plurality of channels.

Engines, and, particularly, gas turbine engines, are rotary engines that extract energy from a flow of combusted gases passing through the engine onto a multitude of turbine blades. Turbine engines have been used for land and nautical locomotion, and power generation. Turbine engines are commonly used for aeronautical applications such as for aircraft, including helicopters and airplanes. In aircraft, turbine engines are used for propulsion of the aircraft. In terrestrial applications, turbine engines are often used for power generation.
Turbine engines include fuel-air mixer assemblies for mixing fuel and air in a combustion chamber of the turbine engines. In rich burn combustion systems, swirler induced instabilities can originate instabilities in fuel and heat distribution inside combustor causing high combustion hydrodynamics (P′4). Interaction of ferrule hole flow with primary vane air streams at high velocity causes higher perturbation in the flow before the fuel nozzle. For efficient operation of the fuel-air mixing system, low P′4 is desired.


A high-bandwidth electrical test probe having a probe contact spring of reduced size and characteristic capacitance is presented. The probe includes a contact spring connected at one end to the input port of a probe circuit. The opposite end of the contact spring enters the a probe socket and a predetermined angle of entry. The probe socket has a bore formed therein which is arranged at a non-zero angle relative to the angle of entry of the contact spring into said probe socket bore, thereby guaranteeing electrical contact with the bore. The design allows the use of a very small contact spring, on the order of tens of mils, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance of the spring and allowing much higher bandwidths than heretofore achievable.

The present invention pertains generally to electronic test instrumentation, and, more particularly, to a spring and socket assembly for a high bandwidth electronic test probe.
The increasing reliance upon computer systems to collect, process, and analyze data has led to the continuous improvement of the system components and associated hardware. New methods for increasing the speed of integrated circuit components while also increasing the functional density and reducing the physical size of integrated circuits are constantly being sought. As a result, it is not uncommon to see integrated circuits running at several GHz with pin spacing on the order of 10 mil apart.
In a test environment, electronic test instruments such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers are often required to measure electrical parameters on device pins or nodes of a circuit. A common tool for collecting measurements in this environment is an electrical test probe. An electrical test probe is used to make a connection between a test point or signal source on a device/circuit under test and a test instrument. An electrical test probe comprises a cable having a connector at one end connectable to the electronic instrument and having a contact device such as a probe pin at the other end of the cable for probing the test point (e.g., a desired device pin or circuit node). Typically, the contact device includes a probe pin connected to probe circuitry which filters a signal seen on the probe pin. The probe pin may be manually springably connectable to the probe circuitry via a spring mechanism.
As the speed of integrated circuits increase, the bandwidth required of electrical test probes has exceeded that which can be achieved with prior art probes. As a general rule, in order to achieve accurate measurements, the bandwidth of a test probe should be approximately five times greater than the frequency of the waveform being measured.
FIG. 10 is a top view and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a prior art electrical test probe tip 20. As shown, test probe tip 20 includes circuitry implemented on a printed circuit board 22. The printed circuit board 22 includes an input port 23 for receiving signals from a contact spring 25, and an output port 24 for electrical connection to a probe cable 21.
The printed circuit board 22 and probe pin 26 are positioned within a housing 28. In order to achieve maximum electrical contact, prior art contact spring mechanisms 25 were formed as a flat piece of metal with width d shaped into a hook, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The width d of such prior art hooks is typically on the order of approximately 100-200 mils wide. Due to the large width d of the contact spring 25, the contact spring 25 exhibits a large parasitic capacitance Chook which prevents signals above a certain cutoff frequency fo from passing. The cutoff frequency of the contact spring 25 is the frequency of the wave when the wavelength λ is twice the width d of the contact spring 25. At this frequency, λ/2 resonances occur that cause the contact spring 25 to act inductively. Above the cutoff frequency, additional resonances occur regularly. Therefore, the cutoff frequency represents the upper limit of the capacitor's (i.e., contact spring 25) frequency range. As is known in the art, the larger the width d of the contact spring, the greater its parasitic capacitance and inductance and therefore the lower the cutoff frequency of the probe.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the industry for a high bandwidth electrical test probe. In particular, a need exists for a probe contact spring of much smaller size and therefore reduced characteristic capacitance that also ensures good electrical contact.
In addition, as the node size and the spacing between nodes is reduced, the size of the probe tips must also accordingly be decreased in order to accommodate the required spacing between the nodes under test. Accordingly, there also exists a need in the industry for an electrical test probe that may be rotated to the desired distance without rotating the entire probe assembly.

Contact spring and socket combination for high bandwidth probe tips


A changer device for a clamping head having a base and pivoting elements pivotably articulated on the base and which in each case possess at least one engagement portion for impinging clamping jaws of the clamping head with a force. The changer device has a coupling transmission which per pivoting element possesses at least one coupling tab attached so as to be pivotably movable on the respective pivoting element. The changer device has a handle which for the purpose of simultaneous repositioning of the pivoting elements in relation to the base is movable in a relative manner. The handle is locationally fixed in relation to one of the coupling tabs such that a pivoting movement of the handle directly causes pivoting of the coupling tab and indirectly causes pivoting of the further coupling tab such that a pivoting movement of the pivoting elements and the engagement portions is caused.

The invention relates to a changer device for clamping heads.
Such clamping heads serve for receiving workpieces during the machining, in particular during subtractive machining. Clamping heads which are to be capable of being changed by means of a generic changer device as well as a changer device according to the invention are distinguished by a plurality of clamping jaws which in the course of the clamping are repositioned in a converging manner in order for the workpiece that is disposed therebetween to be clamped on account thereof.
The clamping heads according to the intended use are clamped in a chuck which in most instances is part of a spindle that rotates when in operation. Inserting the clamping head into the chuck is usually performed in that the clamping jaws by means of the changer device are mutually impinged with a force, in particular in that said clamping jaws are compressed in a converging manner. Said clamping jaws in this compressed state can then be introduced into the chuck. As soon as the mutual impingement of the clamping jaws with a force is absent, the clamping jaws return to the radial initial relative position thereof in which said clamping jaws are then usually secured in a form-fitting manner against separating from the chuck.
A changer device which already has an obvious similarity with the changer device presently proposed is known from WO 2006/027269 A1. In the case of this changer device it is provided that by means of a plurality of knee levers a like number of pivoting parts can be synchronously pivoted in a manner driven by a support, wherein pins which cause the relative repositioning of the clamping jaws described above are also conjointly pivoted with the pivoting parts. The document mentioned as a possibility for driving the support proposes a hand wheel and a folding handle which act in each case on the support and by way of the latter indirectly on the pivoting elements.
The solution described in WO 2006/027269 A1 has in principle proven to be successful. Despite the already comparatively simple construction of said solution, there is however the requirement for a design that is even less complex and more favorable in terms of production technology.


The invention relates to a method for controlling the activation of a voice activity detector for a call in which music control information inserted into the control signalling plane is used to disable and enable the voice activity detector.

In most applications of mobile communication voice was always and is still the most important media component. All speech codecs and the mechanisms around the speech codecs were optimized for voice. Music was not considered important in the design of the mobile communication components.
But since the early days of GSM, music plays a small, but not unimportant role, e.g. in "Music-on-Hold". Recently, "Customized-Alerting-Tones" and "Musical-ring-back-Tones" are becoming popular services and the perception of music becomes more important.
The current solutions are not satisfying for these services. One important observation of real time telephony is that most of the time only one partner is talking, while the other is listening. The one talking does not pay much attention to what he is hearing, as long as it is not the other partner responding. The voice-feedback is important, but otherwise the background noise is just naturally there, not important.
From this observation the conclusion was drawn to cut off speech pauses and to not transmit them. The hope was to save 50% or more of radio- and network link-capacity on average. A "Voice Activity Detection" (VAD) was developed for the discrimination between speech and pause. Later it turned out that it is very unpleasant for the user when the loudspeaker is totally silent between talk spurts of the other partner. Therefore, the so-called "Comfort Noise" was invented. The terminal receiving the speech signal creates this comfort noise on its own, just on basis of a few "Silence Descriptor" (SID) parameters, transmitted every now and then.
This operation is called "Discontinuous Transmission" (DTX), controlled by the VAD within the Speech Codec at center side and with SID frames to feed the Comfort Noise at receiver side. DTX works satisfying for voice communication and for most of the music signals.
The VAD, however, is not really working well for all music signals. Over time the VADs were improved, but some music signals are still falsely classified as "background noise" and are replaced by Comfort Noise; this is unacceptable, if the goal was to use the music as specific, paid service.
There is not much hope currently that a VAD could ever be designed that works well for all kinds of music.
In FIG. 1 a mobile-to-mobile call is shown in which an originating mobile station oMS is the calling party, the terminating mobile station tMS being the called party. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the different components included in the speech path and signaling path are shown. The signaling path is indicated by reference numeral 10 and relates to the path from the oBTS (Base Station Transceiver) via the BSC (Base Station Controller), the originating Mobile Switching Center (oMSC), the intermediate Switching Center (iMSC) and the terminating Mobile Switching Center (tMSC) to the terminating Mobile Station (tMS). The speech path 20 is transmitted through the corresponding media gateways oMGW, iMGW, and tMGW to the terminating mobile station. In each of these media gateways or in the BSC there could be a speech codec including a VAD potentially destroying a music signal.
A music signal could basically be inserted in any of these media gateways without the VADs getting knowledge of this event. By way of example the music ring back tone is typically inserted in the terminating Media Gateway tMGW and is propagating backwards through iMGW, oMGW and BSC to the originating user using the originating mobile station. Up to now in most systems this drawback of the imperfect VADs was accepted and the VADs were just switched off in the wireline part of the network for the whole duration of the call. The VADs then only work in the mobile stations UMS and TMS.
DTX furthermore works well in the two radio uplinks from the mobile stations oMS to oBTS and tMS to tBTS, respectively, controlled by the VADs in the mobile stations. DTX is also working in the two radio downlinks in mobile-to-mobile calls for all signals coming from a mobile station if end-to-end transcoding free operation is applied. DTX works also on all other links in this example and reduces the load everywhere. In the case of a mobile-to-mobile call the VADs are only active in the mobile stations, resulting in a transcoding free operation helping to save downlink transmission resources.
But for mobile-to-PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) calls the VAD in the media gateways and the BSC are statically permanently switched off and so all the signals coming from the PSTN are transmitted downlink to 100% of the time, even if there are speech pauses included. In most networks mobile-to-PSTN calls still represent the majority of the calls. This works of course well for all signals coming from the PSTN, also for music, as intended, as the music was the reason that the VADs were switched off. An embodiment of a mobile-to-PSTN call is shown in FIG. 2, again with the signaling signal path 10 and the speech signaling path 20. As a consequence, the radio signal transmission in the downlink to the mobile station is always switched on. As a consequence, the activity on the downlink radio channel is higher than hoped for when using DTX.
Accordingly, a need exists to provide a possibility to switch on a voice activity detector when voice is transmitted and to switch off a voice activity detector when music is transmitted in order to minimize the radio signal transmission from and to the Base Transceiver Station BTS. This problem has been unsolved for years. One possibility to meet the above-referenced need is to insert inband signaling, such as specific tones or tone sequences before and after the music signal to control the VADs in the path. However, these inband signals are normally audible to the end user and these inband signals are not 100% secure and could lead to misbehavior. Additionally, these inband signals would have to pass through one or several transcoding stages and could therefore become unrecognizable for the VADs. Additionally, it would be necessary to update all the existing VADs.

Music control signal dependent activation of a voice activity detector


A disk interface controller (3) connected to a plurality of HDDS (7) is provided in the disk array apparatus. The plural HDDS 1 to 3 constitute a RAID. Three new hard disks having a larger storage capacity than that of an existing HDD are prepared. The existing HDD 1 is replaced with a new HDD 1. The data stored in the existing HDD 1 is reconstructed by the existing HDD 2 and HDD 3 to be stored in the new HDD 1. Thus, the existing HDD 2 and HDD 3 are successively replaced with new HDD 2 and HDD 3, and the data to be stored is reconstructed by the other two HDDS. After all of three HDDs are replaced with new ones, configuration information existing in each new HDD is modified to expand the storage capacity of each new HDD.

Conventionally, a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks), in which a plurality of small disks are arrayed to improve the performance and the reliability of the disk system and to reduce the cost, has been used to provide a high reliable disk system.
Various configurations are proposed to realize a RAID disk array. In some of them, data stored in a single disk is fragmentized and is circularly stored in a plurality of disks. Thus, for large volume data, plural disks transfer data at one time to improve the transfer speed depending on the number of disks. For small capacity data, the data distributed to each disk is independently accessed to increase throughput. When trouble occurs, information on a defective disk which causes the trouble can be restored from the information on an effective disk by use of a redundant disk, so that the reliability can be obtained. Alternatively, the redundancy may be easily preserved by duplicating a disk.
A unit price of a small capacity disk for a unit capacity is lower than that of a high quality large capacity disk due to mass-production. Therefore, the price of the entirety of the disk array in which a plurality of small disks are arrayed can be reduced.
To realize a disk array having the above-described benefits, in which a plurality of small disks are arranged, there is a variety of RAID techniques. Other than the RAID techniques, a striping configuration can, alternatively, be used.
In the striping configuration, two or more HDDs are combined to construct an apparent large capacity drive. In RAID configurations, there are RAID 1 in which two HDDs are configured in a mirroring configuration, RAID 2 having a redundant disk for recording a Hamming code in addition to a plurality of HDDS, RAID 3 in which a parity disk for redundancy is used, RAID 4 in which the striping unit is defined by a block and RAID 5 in which data and parity information to reconstruct the data are distributed and written.
These disk array configurations will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to FIGS. 10a to 10f.
In these RAID configurations, if it is required to expand the capacity, a (n+1)-th disk is added to a RAID system of n disks, and the additional disk is incorporated in the existing RAID configuration, so that the system capacity is expanded. However, in this expanding method, if a physical factor, i.e., if a slot into which a disk is inserted is not provided, a new disk cannot be inserted into the RAID configuration. In such case, the capacity cannot be expanded. Namely, in such disk array apparatus, no expansion of capacity is possible.
Nevertheless, even in the disk array apparatus, it is sometimes required to expand the storage capacity. Therefore, in order to meet the requirement of storage capacity expansion, a new disk array apparatus having an increased capacity must be prepared. Additionally, in order to replace the disk array apparatus, an operating RAID-stored data must be once saved in a magnetic tape medium or the like, and the data must be restored from the saving medium after a new RAID configuration is constructed.
As described above, a large capacity recording apparatus such as a magnetic tape apparatus or the like is required, and not only is a process of the construction of a RAID configuration complicated but also a computer system must be stopped during reconstruction that requires long time. Thus, the operation of the computer is hindered.

Disk array apparatus and method for expanding storage capacity


This is a container breach detection system wherein a piece of material is affixed across the outside surface of container doors. When the container doors are opened, the strip will rip and cannot be repaired satisfactorily, thereby making detection of a breach much easier and much more cost effective. The material is meant to be disposable.

A. Field of the Invention
This relates to security measures with regard to containers and detecting container breaches via visual cues while a container is moving. Containers are frequently used to transport large amounts of goods across great distances and it is important to determine if unauthorized access to the container has occurred.
B. Prior Art
There are other prior art references to container breach systems and a great many prior art references teach a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, some of which are passive and some of which are active. This type of tag is placed on the container doors and will either signal when a breach has occurred (passive) or will allow constant monitoring of the condition of the container (active).
Representative examples of the prior art that teach types of tracking methods using RFID tags include Nowak, U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,149 and Hornbacker, U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,103. A system that teaches the tracking of goods through a variety of tracking stations can be found at Clift, U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,470.
There are other systems in the prior art that teach article tracking methods and systems including real time tracking of goods and examples of this type of device and method can be found at Chung, U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,729 and Li, U.S. Pat. No. 7,136,832. Both the Chung and Li patents use RFID technology.
The major drawback in those applications that employ RFID tags is the cost of the RFID tag. Consequently, this application is not an application for a RFID tag or a related system using an RFID tag but rather a method to track the security of containers by using visual cues. This is done not by RFID technology but by placing a strip of material across the back of the container once it has been sealed and monitoring the condition of the strip of material as it travels over great distances.
If the container doors are opened and the strip is ripped; it is made from material that will be very difficult and close to impossible to piece together. This device can be used on any type of container is significantly less costly than any methods that employ RFID tags.

Method and apparatus for detecting container breach via visual cues


A precision tactical mount (12) includes a horizontal controller (30) and a vertical controller (34) for determining azimuth angles and elevation angles for a sight line of the precision tactical mount (12). The horizontal controller (30) and the vertical controller (34) have friction blocks (102, 114, 196) which engage mating friction surfaces with selectable forces for providing specific resistance against azimuth and elevation angular movement, without requiring separate mechanisms for locking the tactical mount (12) in selected positions. The friction blocks (102, 114 and 196) are preferably formed of softer materials than the mating friction surfaces to conform to the shape of the mating friction surfaces with increased normal forces, providing varying surface areas. The vertical controller (34) includes a course threaded screw member (142) mounted at an angle to a centerline (6) of the precision tactical mount (12) to provide fine control adjustment for elevation.

Prior art tactical mounts have been provided for aiming various objects at targets. Objects being aimed have included firearms, such as hunting rifles and tactical weapons, cameras, and the like. Prior art tactical mounts for controlling the aim of an object at targets have included fine and course threaded adjustments for aiming the objects relative to two different axes, such for determining an azimuth angle and elevation for a sight line of the object. Some prior art tactical mounts have included two sets of fine and course threaded adjustment mechanisms, each set corresponding to different perpendicular axes for azimuth and elevation. Typically, fine adjustment mechanisms are provided by micro-screw threaded assemblies having very fine screw threads. Course adjustment mechanisms have been provided by threaded assemblies having course screw threads. A target is acquired such that the object is aimed at a target by selectively manipulating the fine and course adjustment mechanisms for each axis about which the object is rotated. Release and then securing of coarse adjustment mechanisms typically results in a bumping movement, in which the direction in which the object is aimed jumps to a direction which is not directly pointing toward the target, requiring re-acquisition of the target after course adjustments are made. Following a moving target is often difficult due to the constant need to switch between fine and gross adjustment mechanisms, and thread run-out may be encountered which limit the range of motion for which a tactical mount may be moved without requiring return of threaded mechanisms to a mid-range position. If adjustment is required in for both azimuth and elevation to follow a moving target, this often requires that a user not continuously focus his line of sight on a target, but instead must periodically view the adjustment mechanisms to assure that the adjustment mechanisms are being correctly operated.


This invention is directed to a computer-implemented system and method for providing web-based features in a client-based digital imaging application. An area of the registry is provided for a number of possible, future web-based features. The registry has the capacity to accept a number of name-value pairs that define a web-based imaging feature. When a web-based feature is to be added, the name-value pairs that define the web-based imaging feature are added to the registry. After a feature has been added, it is displayed for selection by a user. Upon selection of the web-based imaging feature, image data about a selected one or more images is recorded in a known location. The web-based service that is providing the web-based imaging feature is granted access to the image data in the known location. The image data in the known location is then deleted when the web-based imaging feature is closed.

Digitally represented still images are now commonly stored in a computer environment, such as a personal computer. The stored images can then be manipulated, printed, and indexed by the PC user. Software packages are available to aid the PC user in handling these digital images. Such software packages include numerous capabilities, including archiving the images, printing the images in various sizes and formats, and other editing capabilities, such as the ability to rotate an image, crop it, correct its brightness, contrast and tint. In addition, such software packages typically include the ability to cut portions out of one image and incorporate them into other images. These software packages are typically provided to the consumer via a piece of removable, computer-readable media, such as a compact disk or CD.
It has also become desirable to provide to the PC user a number of web-based imaging services. These web-based imaging services generally involve taking an image existing on the user's PC and sending it to a remote location on the World Wide Web, through the Internet. The remote location then provides some type of service related to the image. Examples of web-based imaging services include remote storage, professional printing and photo gift creation. Other web-based services are available and the services change and evolve over time. The imaging software packages provided via CD are typically revised only periodically. For example, the software provider may revise the imaging software packages only once per year. When a revision is made, the software provider updates, tests, and then releases the code to the consumers. In between software revisions, the software provider lacks the ability to add new web-based features to the software packages. In addition, when the software provider adds a web-based feature to the current software package, it must write new code for each feature. In other words, the code is not transferable from feature to feature. As with any software product, code addition is somewhat risky. To alleviate this risk, if new code is added, the software provider must test the code to ensure that the code addition does not cause problems elsewhere within the software.
It can therefore be seen that the current software imaging products and the system for updating this software involve several disadvantages. First, the software packages lack structure that allows updates as new web-based features are available, or as existing web-based features change. Second, the software packages require new code for each web-based feature. Third, code addition involves the risk of introducing error into the existing and already tested software package. A new client-based software imaging application is needed that can incorporate web-based features even after the software application has been released. A software package is needed that has structure allowing addition of features without introducing significant code changes and the resulting risk of error. Finally, the software package needs to allow addition of the web-based features in a way that involves a more uniform protocol from feature to feature.

System and method for web-based imaging services within a client-based application


A receiver may comprise: a symbol receiver configured to receive a first modulated symbol at a first resolution and thereafter a second modulated symbol at a second resolution greater than the first resolution; an output path coupled to the symbol receiver and configured to forward the first modulated symbol; a decision device coupled to the symbol receiver and configured to determine a most probable symbol represented by the first modulated symbol; a phase detector coupled to the decision device and configured to compare the first modulated symbol and the most probable symbol to generate a phase error value; and a phase modifier coupled to the decision device and configured to determine a phase correction value based on the phase error value and to adjust the phase of the second modulated symbol based on the phase correction value.

Most communications systems use a transmitter and a receiver to transfer information across a transmission medium. The transmitter may interface with devices that send information over the transmission medium and may include a modulator to convert information from the devices into a format compatible with the transmission medium. Conversely, the receiver of a communication system may interface with devices that receive information, and may include a demodulator to convert information from the transmission medium into a format that the devices can use. Many modern communications systems consolidate the functionalities of a transmitter and a receiver into a transceiver that sends and receives information. In many communications systems, the transceiver may be capable of modulating and demodulating information between devices and the transmission medium.
In an ideal communications system, all of the modulated information placed in a transmission medium by a transmitter could be demodulated by a corresponding receiver without errors. That is, in an ideal world, a receiver could extract all the information placed on the transmission medium without any loss of information. In the real world, however, factors such as the components incorporated into the receiver, the environmental conditions surrounding the receiver, and the characteristics of the transmission medium may cause the receiver to lose some of the information placed on the transmission medium. It would be desirable to prevent loss of the information modulated into the transmission medium.

Carrier recovery aided by pilot symbols carrying information


A technique is performed within a DNS server to respond to a DNS message. The technique includes receiving the DNS message from a requesting device (e.g., a DHCP server), and generating a search result based on a search of a portion of the DNS message for a request to delete a specific record (i.e., a specific, predefined record which is not expected to exist in the DNS). The technique further includes selectively providing and not providing current state information (or other information) to the requesting device depending on whether the search result indicates that the request to delete the specific record resides within the portion of the DNS message. Such operation allows for augmented operation with augmented DNS clients, as well as non-augmented operation with legacy equipment.

In general, the DNS enables translation of domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Such translation makes it possible to attach easy-to-remember domain names (e.g., "domainname.org") to difficult-to-remember IP addresses (e.g., "18.104.22.168"). A detailed description of conventional DNS is provided in a document entitled "RFC 1035—DOMAIN NAMES_IMPLEMENTATION AND SPECIFICATION", by P. Mockapetris, November 1987, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
With the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), DHCP client computers obtain dynamically assigned IP addresses from DHCP servers. Such dynamically assigned IP addresses are valid for specific amounts of time (i.e., lease times). If a DHCP client computer is unable to renew its IP address lease or if the DHCP client computer moves to a different subnet, the DHCP client computer must acquire a new IP address.
In order to keep DNS current in a DHCP environment, DNS client computers (e.g., DHCP servers) typically register and dynamically update their resource records (RRs) with authoritative DNS name servers whenever a change to an IP address or a name occurs. Such operation reduces the manual administration burden of zone records, i.e., master files which are managed by the authoritative DNS name servers. A detailed description of the conventional DNS update process is provided in a document entitled "RFC 2136—DYNAMIC UPDATES IN THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM (DNS UPDATE)", by P. Vixie et. al., April 1997, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
One conventional authoritative DNS name server implementation (hereinafter referred to as the "general DNS name server approach") employs primary authoritative DNS name servers for maintaining a master zone file. In particular, an active primary authoritative DNS name server controls an authoritative version of the master zone file. A backup primary authoritative DNS name server maintains a backup copy of the master zone file.
During normal operation, the active primary authoritative DNS name server is capable of (i) fulfilling requests for DNS information (i.e., DNS queries) as well as (ii) processing dynamic DNS updates to the master zone file (i.e., DNS messages configured to change RRs in the master zone file). Since the backup primary authoritative DNS name server merely maintains a backup copy of the master zone file, the backup primary authoritative DNS name server is capable of fulfilling requests for DNS information for load balancing purposes. However, the backup primary authoritative DNS name server cannot process dynamic DNS updates while the active primary authoritative DNS name server is available. Otherwise, the authoritative version of the master zone file managed by the active primary authoritative DNS name server would no longer match the backup copy of the master zone file managed by the backup primary authoritative DNS name server.
If the active primary authoritative DNS name server fails, the backup primary authoritative DNS name server then becomes capable of fulfilling requests for DNS information as well as processing dynamic DNS updates to the master zone file. That is, when the backup primary authoritative DNS name server detects a loss of the active primary authoritative DNS name server, the backup primary authoritative DNS name server becomes capable of making changes to the backup copy of the master zone file. Along these lines, if a DNS client sends a dynamic DNS update to the active primary authoritative DNS name server while the active primary authoritative DNS name server remains unavailable, the DNS client does not receive a response within a particular timeout period because the active primary authoritative DNS name server is unable to respond. After the DNS client waits for the time period to elapse, the DNS client sends the dynamic DNS update to the backup primary authoritative DNS name server which then processes the update. As a result, the updated backup copy of the master zone file then becomes the most current version of the master zone file.
When the active primary authoritative DNS name server is repaired and returns to operation, the active primary authoritative DNS name server synchronizes its authoritative version of the master zone file with the backup copy of the master zone file on the backup primary authoritative DNS name server. If a DNS client sends a dynamic DNS update to either the active primary authoritative DNS name server or the backup primary authoritative DNS name server during this synchronization process, the receiving authoritative DNS name server typically ignores the dynamic DNS update and thus the DNS client does not receive a response. Rather, the timeout period elapses and the DNS client re-tries (e.g., sends the dynamic DNS update to a different primary authoritative DNS name server, waits a predefined amount of time and re-sends the dynamic DNS update to the same primary authoritative DNS name server, etc.) until the dynamic DNS update is fulfilled.
Another conventional authoritative DNS name server implementation (hereinafter referred to as the "active directory" approach) employs multiple peer-level primary authoritative DNS name servers which can process dynamic DNS updates concurrently. That is, a first primary authoritative DNS name server can process a first dynamic DNS update while a second primary authoritative DNS name server processes a second dynamic DNS update. This "active directory" approach utilizes timestamps to coordinate DNS updates handled by the multiple primary authoritative DNS name servers.

Communicating additional information in a DNS update response by requesting deletion of a specific record


In a micro heat exchanger for the transfer of high area-specific amounts of heat from a heat source to a heat transfer medium, including a heat transfer structure with an inlet- and an outlet duct structure between which a plurality of passages extend through the heat transfer structure, the inlet and outlet duct structures are arranged in alternating order in the heat transfer area in close proximity to the heat source, with the inlet and outlet duct structure and the passages interconnecting the inlet and outlet structures covering the whole heat transfer area directly adjacent the heat source.

The invention resides in a micro heat exchanger for the transfer of high area-specific amounts of heat by a fluid, comprising inlet and outlet structures, each having distribution volumes with passages extending therebetween for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet structures through the passages.
In technical processes, often energy loss-dependent heat amounts are generated which must be reliably carried away by suitable coolants. In microelectronic systems, the waste heat is generally carried away by heat conducting solid bodies and/or flows of fluid coolant for example air, oil or water.
Larger specific heat loss amount occur for example in microelectronics, micro-engineering or other micro-technical systems. The constantly increasing miniaturization of electronic components which, at the same time, become increasingly powerful, such as data processors, substantially improves the capabilities of the electronic equipment but also increases the amount of waste heat which is generated and has to be carried away. Consequently, with the increase in the specific waste heat generated also the means for reliably carrying the waste heat away, that is the means for cooling the components must be improved or further developed.
Known cooling means for microelectronics comprise bodies which are directly connected to the electronic components to be cooled and which include cooling ribs via which the heat is transferred to a fluid flowing past the ribs, preferably air. The bodies have a good heat conductivity and often a relatively high heat capacity for carrying heat away and for compensating to a certain degree for local temperature variations.
Known cooling means in micro-processing comprise micro fluid heat exchangers such as micro-cross-flow or counter-flow heat exchangers with a plurality of fluid flow passages. The fluid flow passages are often also micro-structured which, as a result of the large heat transfer area on one hand and the short heat transfer distances, provide for high specific heat transfer rates. However, such systems have—based on the principle—relatively large temperature differences over the length of the fluid passages and therefore result in a non-uniform inhomogeneous heat removal which is even increased by blockages caused in individual passages by impurities. Often such micro-structured heat exchangers have a high flow resistance and consequently cause a high pressure loss in the coolant during its flow through the micro-channels which is highly dependent on the amount of blockages of the coolant channels.
If a specific heat amount to be removed together with the miniaturization and power-consumption exceeds a certain value, known concepts rapidly reach their physical limits.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a fluidic micro heat exchanger for the transfer of high area-specific amounts of heat which does not have the limitations and disadvantages of the systems referred to above and which has an especially low coolant flow resistance of the cooling medium. Preferably, the heat exchanger according to the invention should also have a specific heat removal capability which remains essentially constant over a certain heat transfer range and a temperature level which remains constant over the whole area.
The heat exchanger of the present is to be particularly suitable for cooling an electronic component.

Micro heat exchanger and its use as cooler for electronic components


Recombinant microorganisms including one or more modifications that enhance lipid production and uses of same for producing lipid. The modifications alter cell surface functions, envelope functions, and other functions. The modifications are capable of converting non-oleaginous microorganisms into oleaginous microorganisms. The lipids produced by some of the recombinant microorganisms are excreted.

Lipids derived from bacteria, yeast, and microalgae offer a promising source of renewable fuels and chemicals. These sources can offset petroleum usage and reduce CO2 emissions (Liang et al. 2013, Sawangkeaw et al. 2013). A major challenge to producing microbial replacements for oils that are cost-competitive with petroleum products is increasing the yield of these lipids, which are energetically expensive for cells to produce and thus tightly regulated (Zhang et al. 2010, Levering et al. 2015). One approach for microbial oil production is the use of oleaginous microorganisms, defined as those accumulating over 20% of their dry cell weight (DCW) as lipid (Liang et al. 2013). However, even though very high oil content (up to 90%) can be observed under some experimental conditions, lipid content is usually not high under nutrient replete conditions (Levering et al. 2015, Kosa et al. 2011). Genetic and process engineering strategies are being investigated to further increase the biomass lipid content and yield of oleaginous microorganisms (Liang et al. 2013, Kosa et al. 2011). However, although biosynthetic pathways for fatty acids and lipids are well understood in some microorganisms, identifying and bypassing the mechanisms regulating lipid accumulation in oleaginous strains remains a challenge (Blatti et al. 2013, Levering et al. 2015, Liang et al. 2013).
An alternative approach to increasing lipid production in microorganisms is transgenically engineering lipogenic pathways into non-oleaginous, but robust and genetically tractable hosts (d'Espaux et al. 2015). Many enzymes that convert fatty acids, or pathway intermediates, into products with desirable fuel properties have been investigated for their potential use in non-oleaginous microorganisms (Steen et al. 2010, Schirmer et al. 2010, Goh et al. 2012, Kalscheuer et al. 2006, Choi et al. 2013, Feng et al. 2015). However, achieving industrially relevant lipid production levels and yields can require genetic and metabolic engineering steps that are not feasible in many hosts (d'Espaux et al. 2015).
Mechanisms for increasing production of lipids and lipid-associated bioproducts in microorganisms, particularly in non-oleaginous microorganisms, are needed.

Oleaginous microorganisms and uses of same


A fluid dispenser device, comprising: a dispenser orifice (5); a reservoir (10) containing at least one dose of fluid; at least one piston (15) axially slidable in said reservoir (10) so as to dispense said fluid; a dispenser member (20) co-operating with said piston (15); and an actuator element (30) co-operating with said dispenser member (20); said device being characterized in that said dispenser member (20) is displaceable between a blocking position, preventing said actuator element (30) from being actuated, and a release position in which the actuation of said actuator element (30) displaces said dispenser member (20) so as to dispense a dose of fluid, said dispenser member (20) being displaced manually from its blocking position to its release position before said device is actuated.

Systems for preventing a fluid dispenser device from being accidentally actuated, e.g. while it is being transported or stored, are well known in the prior art. Their purpose is to guarantee that when the user decides to actuate the device for the first time, all the fluid is contained inside the device, and to guarantee that no fluid has been dispensed, and that no loss of sealing occurred while the device was being stored or transported. Such systems can be of various types. Thus, pull-off-strip systems are known in which a strip of pull-off material is disposed on or around the device, said device not being actuatable so long as said strip has not been pulled off. Such systems are relatively complex to manufacture and to assemble, and therefore increase the cost of manufacturing and assembling the device correspondingly. This is particularly disadvantageous when the device is disposable. Another type of system includes elements such as tabs that the user must displace before being able to use the device. Once again, an additional blocking part is required, thereby implying an increase in the cost of manufacturing and assembling the device.


In this method for cementing an implant into bone by means of an autopolymerising two-component bone cement the implant, in particular the stem of a hip prosthesis is preheated above room-temperature prior to its cementing into bone, preferably to at least 43.degree. C.. By this method the stem-cement interface is warmer than the bone-cement interface and consequently a stiff cement shell will form first around the stem and the cement will shrink towards the stem and away from the bone. The resulting reduction of porosity at the stem-cement interface improves significantly the fatigue life of the system.

It is standard practice to fix implants, in particular endo-joint implants into bone by means of an autopolymerising two-component bone cement prepared by mixing liquid methylmethacrylate (MMA) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in powder form.
The use of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement in total hip replacement has been extremely successful since its introduction by Charnley in 1960. However, many revisions are still required every year and a large majority of these are due to aseptic loosening (Stauffer et al 1982; Sutherland et al 1982; Fournasier et al 1976). In particular, it is the loosening of the femoral component which accounts for the majority of such cases (Poss et al 1970; Jasty et al 1991). Failure of the cement mantle is believed to initiate at the stem-cement interface (James et al 1993; Culleton et al 1993; Jasty et al 1991) which is significantly weaker than the bulk cement under static and fatigue loading (Raab et al 1981). Furthermore, a number of studies indicate that the stresses become significantly higher in the cement mantle once the stem-cement interface has become loose (Harrigan et Harris 1991; Crowninshield et Tolbert 1983; Freitag et Cannon 1977).
Both the static and fatigue strength of bone cement decrease with porosity (James et al 1992; Burke et al 1984; Saha et al 1984; DeWijn et al 1975; Greenwald et al 1977) and the stem-cement interface strength is similarly affected (Welsh et al 1971, James et al. 1993). Fatigue is the most credible mode of mechanical failure of the cement mantle (Harris et Davies 1988) and any measure to reduce the porosity of both the bulk cement and its interface to the prosthesis should be of clinical benefit.
Pores in the bulk cement result primarily from air bubbles which become entrapped during hand mixing of the powder and liquid components. It is also thought that monomer evaporation at the high temperatures of polymerisation due to its volatility may contribute to pore formation (Debrunner et al 1976). The bubbles act as stress risers of at least factor two (Timoshenko & Goodier 1934; Burke et al 1984; Freitag et al 1977; Carter et al 1982; Gates et al 1983) and it has been reported that failure in fatigue has occurred in test specimens almost exclusively through a pore (cited in James et al 1992). Reduction in porosity has been achieved using two techniques: centrifugation (Burke et al 1984) and mixing under vacuum (Schreurs et al 1988; Lidgren et al 1987). Other methods to decrease the porosity include pressurising cement (Saha et Pal 1984) and the use of improved hand mixing technique (Eyerer et Jin 1986).
The stem-cement interface strength can be improved by precoating of the stem with a thin layer of PMMA under optimal polymerisation conditions (Ahmed et al 1984). Under static testing of the precoated interfaces the bulk PMMA fractured preferentially to the stem-cement interface, thus implying an interface strength in excess of the bulk cement strength. Roughening the implant surface, both on the micro and macro scale, improves the interface strength, but it also increases stresses in the cement mantle (Stone et al 1989; Welsh et al 1971).
The bone-cement interface appears to be less critical in loosening and is believed to be due to biological factors rather than mechanical (Schmalzried et al 1992). There are a number of practised techniques which are used to ensure an optimal cement-bone interface (Krause et al 1982). These include thorough cleaning of the canal using pressurised water picks, and the pressurisation of cement into the cancellous bone interstices (Bourne et al 1984). This ensures maximum area for load transfer. However, Noble and Swarts (1983) have shown that a penetration of more than 5 mm is likely to cause thermal damage to the bone and from mechanical considerations more than 2.9 mm is possibly superfluous (Jansson 1993).
The heat of polymerisation of PMMA cement is considered to be an important factor in initial bone necrosis (Dipisa et al 1976). Lenhartz (1959) cites the threshold temperature of collagen denaturation (56.degree. C.) as the criterion for bone necrosis. However, Moritz and Henriques (1947) present a time dependant threshold level for cell necrosis (e.g. a temperature of 50.degree. C. for three minutes will kill bone cells). Toksvig-Larsen et al. (1991) measured a mean maximum temperature of 40.degree. C. at the cement-bone interface using lavage and vacuum mixed cement. They found that cooling of the stem prior to implantation had no affect on the peak cement temperature and indeed this increases the setting time of the cement(De Waal Malefijt et al 1987) and compromises its mechanical properties.
Porosity at the stem-cement interface is caused by shrinkage of the cement. If the stem is implanted at room temperature the cement at the warmer bone-cement interface will polymerise first, creating a stiff shell towards which cement will shrink. Thus, the cement shrinks away from the stem, creating pores at the areas of least adhesion.

Method for cementing an implant into bone


According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor apparatus including a RF semiconductor circuit chip; a substrate on which the RF semiconductor circuit chip is mounted; and a signal line and a corresponding ground line for connecting the RF semiconductor circuit chip to the substrate. In this apparatus, the signal line and the ground line are arranged in such positions that a magnetic field created by the signal line and a magnetic field created by the ground line substantially cancel each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrical connection structure for achieving excellent radio frequency characteristics in a radio frequency semiconductor apparatus which operates in the gigahertz (GHz) band.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the need for integrated circuits operating in the microwave or millimeter wave band has increased as a result of the widespread use of mobile communications means such as PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) and PDC (Personal Digital Cellular phone).
As a result, the development of Si or GaAs transistors has advanced enough to produce highly-integrated MMICs (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits) incorporating such transistors, e.g., power amplifiers, mixers, and low-noise amplifiers.
In such an integrated circuit operating in a radio frequency band, more than negligible parasitic inductance may exist which significantly affects the characteristics of the integrated circuit.
For example, when a RF semiconductor circuit chip is mounted in a package or on a substrate, bonding wires used for electrical connection purposes tend to have a substantial inductance component. In order to obtain the expected circuit performance of the RF semiconductor circuit chip, it is important to minimize such inductance components.
While it is possible to reduce the inductance component residing in a signal line extended from a RF semiconductor circuit chip through impedance matching with an externally-connected load circuit, the inductance component residing in a ground line cannot be controlled through such impedance matching.
Thus, in the case of mounting a RF semiconductor circuit chip composed of, e.g., gallium arsenide (GaAs), it is essential to connect the ground line to a grounding surface in such a manner that the inductance associated with the ground line within the chip is minimized. Otherwise, the above-mentioned inductance tends to reduce the gain of any amplification circuit within the chip, particularly in a RF band.
Conventional methods for reducing the above-mentioned inductance fall into two major categories. One category is employed in the case, for example, where a GaAs integrated circuit chip is mounted on a package and electrically connected by wire bonding. These methods amount to increasing as much as possible the number of bonding wires which extend from bonding pads within the chip to be each connected to either a lead frame or a slug which is located immediately below the chip. In other words, a plurality of bonding wires each having a certain inductance value are arranged in parallel connection so as to reduce the total inductance of the bonding wires.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the above-described method of arranging bonding wires in such a parallel connection. This example illustrates wire bonding for an output stage of an amplifier circuit within a multitransistor unit.
In FIG. 3, 1 denotes an IC chip; 2 denotes an output stage transistor within the chip; 3 denotes a bonding pad on the chip; 4 denotes a signal line (bonding wire); 5 denotes a ground line (bonding wire); 7 denotes a signal lead frame pin; 8 denotes a grounding point; and 9 denotes a substrate. The grounding point 8 is typically a metal portion (usually referred to as xe2x80x9cslugxe2x80x9d) exposed on a back face of a package; otherwise a grounding lead frame pin may be used.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, four bonding wires are used as the ground lines 5 for grounding emitters of the output stage transistor 2 within the IC chip 1.
The other category for reducing the inductance of a bonding wire involves reducing the length of the bonding wires. According to the methods in this category, a portion on a chip to be die-bonded is arranged so as to be lower than the other portions of the chip. In this manner, the height of the bonding pads on the chip is matched to that of the patterned circuitry on the surface of the substrate. As a result, the length of the bonding wires is shortened, thereby reducing the inductance values of the bonding wires. Such methods are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 2-107001 and Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 3-262302, for example.
Another method to shorten the length of a lead wire is to make a very small hole into a GaAs integrated circuit chip so that a ground line within the chip can be connected to a ground surface on the back face of the chip through this hole.
However, the aforementioned conventional methods for minimizing inductance components have the following problems.
A plurality of grounding bonding wires may be arranged in parallel in an attempt to reduce the inductance in the ground lines. However, as the number of bonding wires increases, the chip size will become larger due to the space required for the wires if the intervals between the bonding wires remain unchanged. In other words, in order to prevent a decrease in the packing density on the chip, the intervals between the bonding wires should be made narrow. However, narrower intervals between the bonding wires causes electromagnetic coupling between adjacent bonding wires, thereby resulting in an increased mutual inductance between the wires. Therefore, simply introducing an increased number of bonding wires may not necessarily reduce the total inductance as desired.
The above problem is illustrated in FIG. 4, which is a graph illustrating the relationship between the number of bonding wires (length: about 1 mm) which are arranged in parallel at an interval of about 140 xcexcm and the equivalent inductance value thereof as estimated by an electromagnetic field simulation. Illustrated for comparison are the inductance values obtained by dividing the simulated result for one wire by different numbers of wires.
The simulation was conducted under the conditions of an operating frequency of about 2 GHz and a signal line impedance of about 2xcexa9 (assuming an output stage transistor for a power amplifier).
As shown in FIG. 4, the equivalent inductance value of the bonding wires does not decrease in exact inverse proportion to the number of wires (as would be expected absent the effects of mutual inductance). Rather, the equivalent inductance value remains higher than the expected value. This is presumably caused by a so-called mutual inductance phenomenon, in which the in-phase magnetic fields occurring around the wires affect adjacent wires so as to prevent currents from passing therethrough.
In the simulation in FIG. 4, the interval between the bonding wires was kept constant at about 140 xcexcm regardless of the number of wires. As previously described, the mutual inductance increases as the interval between the bonding wires decreases. Therefore, it will be understood that the equivalent inductance-reducing effect associated with an increase in the number of wires is attenuated as the interval between the bonding wires decreases, because of increased mutual inductance.
FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a MAG (Maximum Available Gain: a maximum gain obtained through complete input/output impedance matching) of an amplification circuit incorporating an output stage transistor, where the results of the graph in FIG. 4 are applied to a ground line 5 extending from the emitter of the output stage transistor. This simulation was conducted in order to determine MAG values at an operating frequency of about 2 GHz.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the equivalent inductance of bonding wires can be reduced as the number of wires is increased, thereby making it possible to obtain a large gain in an amplification circuit incorporating such bonding wires. However, an increased number of wires would result in a larger chip size due to a corresponding increase in the number of bonding pads on the chip, as mentioned before, thereby resulting in higher manufacturing costs.
On the other hand, decreasing the interval between the bonding wires to avoid an increase in the chip size will not make for much increase in the gain of the amplification circuit because an increased mutual inductance will occur between adjacent wires, as already discussed above.
As for the method of reducing the length of the bonding wire to minimize the inductance of wires, there is a problem in that it is necessary to make a recess portion on a substrate where a chip is die-bonded. This adds to the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, there exists a limit as to how short a wire may be used, such limit being dictated by the wire bonding machine used to provide wire bonding. Thus, it is difficult to employ wire lengths which are any shorter than currently available.
Moreover, the method of making a grounding hole in a chip complicates the manufacturing process, leading to higher costs.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor apparatus including a RF semiconductor circuit chip; a substrate on which the RF semiconductor circuit chip is mounted; and a signal line and a corresponding ground line for connecting the RF semiconductor circuit chip to the substrate. In this apparatus, the signal line and the ground line are arranged in such positions that a magnetic field created by the signal line and a magnetic field created by the ground line substantially cancel each other.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged adjacent to each other.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged substantially in parallel to each other.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged with an interval of about 60 xcexcm between respective conductor centers of the signal line and the ground line.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line each have a length of about 1 mm and a diameter of about 25 xcexcm.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line comprise gold (Au).
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the RF semiconductor circuit chip comprises gallium arsenide (GaAs).
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the RF semiconductor circuit chip, the signal line and the ground line are placed within a package.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the package comprises a sealing resin.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor apparatus including a RF semiconductor circuit chip; a substrate on which the RF semiconductor circuit chip is mounted; and a plurality of pairs of signal lines and ground lines, each pair comprising a signal line and a corresponding ground line, for connecting the RF semiconductor circuit chip to the substrate. In this apparatus, the signal line and the ground line are arranged in such positions that a magnetic field created by the signal line and a magnetic field created by the ground line substantially cancel each other in each of the plurality of pairs.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged adjacent to each other.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged substantially in parallel to each other.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line are arranged with an interval of about 140 xcexcm between respective conductor centers of the signal line and the ground line.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line each have a length of about 1 mm and a diameter of about 25 xcexcm.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the signal line and the ground line comprise gold (Au).
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the RF semiconductor circuit chip comprises gallium arsenide (GaAs).
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of pairs are positioned adjacent to each other.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of pairs are positioned adjacent to each other, and the signal line and the ground line are arranged so as to alternate throughout the plurality of pairs.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the RF semiconductor circuit chip, the signal line and the ground line are placed within a package.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the package comprises a sealing resin.
According to the present invention, a ground line and a signal line, having a phase difference of about 180xc2x0 from each other, are arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other (and/or disposed in an alternating arrangement) so as to advantageously utilize the mutual inductance between the signal line and the ground line. As a result, the present invention effectively reduces the equivalent inductance value of any ground lines in a RF semiconductor circuit.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantage of providing a RF semiconductor apparatus incorporating a radio frequency(RF) semiconductor circuit chip such that the performance of the RF semiconductor circuit chip can be exhibited to its full capacity. This can be achieved by means of a specific arrangement of a ground line and a corresponding signal line extending from the chip for reducing the inductance of the ground line, such that those lines are arranged adjacent to each other so as to minimize the mutual inductance thereof.
This and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.


A computing system includes a processing device and a memory device configured to store an Application Programming Interface (API) and computer software. The computer software has a plurality of software components configured to enable the processing device to utilize internal data for performing a plurality of functions. The API is configured to define interactions between the software components and is further configured to define access constraints with respect to the computing system. The access constraints are configured to restrict access by an end user associated with the computing system with respect to the internal data and software components. Also, the computer software is configured to adjust the access constraints of the API.

Generally, an Application Programming Interface (API) is used in a software architecture to define the interactions between a number of software procedures, subroutines, code, etc. Also, APIs can define how a user may interact with the software, how requests are made, what formats or protocols are used, among other functions. Also, many current software applications are deployed in a distributed software architecture where any number of users may access portions of the software from any number of locations using different types of devices. APIs in these distributed systems are typically fixed with respect to how users can access various portions of the software.
Many independent software components may be combined together to perform a set of functions. Specifically, the functions that are performed may be referred to as services, where parts of a function may be referred to as microservices. In a grouping of such services, which may be referred to as a "deployment," many services may represent data that is for internal use only. In order to hide this internal data from an external user, a "northbound" service may be written to act as a gateway for a user. Only the selected external resources are supported by this gateway, which can provide a mechanism to hide data and notifications of the internal services from the user.
One drawback of this approach is that it requires a custom design of a service that creates one external view of the system. Any time the internal services change, the external resources need to be updated and a new API needs to be generated. Since an API is traditionally defined statically or inflexibly, it can only be presented as one pre-defined view to the outside world. As such, many conventional methods for defining APIs will focus on a static, monolithic definition for filtering, which may simply be a factor of a single feature of a user access level. Therefore, there is a need for software applications with APIs to provide more flexible or customizable API features to allow a variety of access constraints.

Configuring an API to provide customized access constraints


A structure is provided to prevent access to the latch pin of a dead bolt or latch lock. For dead bolts, a sleeve is provided which is received over the bolt frame in which the latch pin reciprocates. The sleeve is secured to the frame in such a manner that the latch pin cannot be accessed without removing the sleeve. For latch locks, a sleeve is provided with an extending tongue, which tongue covers the ears of the latch pin and denies access to the ears.

Various devices have been described to prevent compromise of lock systems. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,565; U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,172; U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,168; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,048.
Dead bolt locks typically include a latch pin which extends through an arm which arm is joined to the bolt. The latch pin drives the bolt between its extended and retracted positions when a key is turned. If the latch pin is exposed it may be engaged by a pick and the pick can then move the latch to retract the bolt.
It has been discovered that almost all commercially available dead bolts, which have an upper exposed latch pin, and almost all commercially available latch bolt lock sets can be compromised without defacing or injuring the lock itself. A hole is drilled into the door to provide a passageway between the outside of the door to the upper portion of the dead bolt where the pin is or to that portion of the latch lock where the ears are located. A pick is inserted into the hole and the lock can be opened.
Applicant's invention, in one aspect, is directed to structures adapted to be secured to existing lock sets to prevent such a compromise.
The invention, in one aspect, is a sleeve adapted to engage a bolt frame. The sleeve when so engaged encases the latch pin which drives the bolt and thereby denies access to the latch pin from a location exterior to the bolt. In another aspect, the invention comprises the sleeve in combination with a dead bolt assembly.
The invention in still another aspect comprises a hollow cylindrical sleeve with a tongue extending from one end thereof. The sleeve is adapted to be engaged to the cylinder of a latch lock assembly. The tongue is spaced apart from and extends over the ears of the assembly. This sleeve prevents access to the ears from a location exterior to the lock assembly. The invention, in a still further aspect, comprises the cylindrical sleeve in combination with a latch lock assembly.
In a still further aspect of the invention, a dead bolt lock assembly is provided wherein an arm which extends from the bolt has its under surface configured to engage the latch pin.


The invention relates to a shutter for furniture, cabinets, shelf units and the like, having at least two shutter parts which are arranged next to one another, which shutter parts can be pivoted on the furniture carcass about an axis of rotation, can be transferred by means of an inner guide from a common plane into two mutually parallel planes and can then be slid over one another, wherein the first shutter part, which is furthest away from the axis of rotation, interacts with the second shutter part, which is closer to the axis of rotation, by way of at least two guide means arranged on inner sides thereof, and wherein an outward thrusting mechanism interacts with the first shutter part, wherein the outward thrusting mechanism can be moved from an inoperative position into an operative position.

The invention relates to a shutter for furniture as defined by the preamble to claim 1.
In conventional shutters, for instance with a rotation mechanism, the furniture cannot only be opened partially, for instance in order to take out items that are needed more often. The shutter must either remain completely open or must be opened and closed again repeatedly. Precisely when space is tight for the furniture, it is often hard for the user to open the shutter completely as needed. Also, especially in tall cabinets, it is not always possible to use other mechanisms, such as opening out the shutter upward. Mechanisms such as sliding shutters or shutters with a rotary/sliding mechanism can either not be opened completely, or as a rule have a complex mechanism, which additionally requires accurate adjustment.
From DE 2 831 128 A1, a furniture item is known that has a door that is formed by a series of uniformly dimensioned panels, which are movable from a closed position, in which they are coplanar to one another, to an open position, in which they are folded parallel and on one side of the furniture. The panels are connected to one another by means of a parallelogram connection system, which makes it possible to move the panels from the closed position to the open position using a single control element. The panels slide in an upper and lower guide of the piece of furniture and lie against one side of the furniture, making access to the contents of the piece of furniture possible. The connection system is clearly visible on the top and underside of the panels, and the piece of furniture cannot be opened all the way.
DE 3 619 775 A1 describes a sliding door cabinet in which, in addition to fixed front doors, frontally sliding front doors are also provided. In the closed position of the doors, the doors are initially flush on the front side of the cabinet, but things are initially pulled out frontally and then the sliding front doors are slid laterally at the same time as the fixed front doors are moved, it becomes possible to open the cabinet. The doors are movably supported by means of rollers on rails, which are located at an upper and lower region of the cabinet body. The mechanics of the door-opening mechanism is relatively complicated and is also visible on the top and undersides of the doors. Here again, complete opening of the cabinet is not possible.
In DE 20 2005 007 214 U1, a cabinet is described which has at least two door elements which, in the closed state, are located in the same plane and can be moved relative to one another in at least one guide rail. Spaced-apart retaining elements are located on at least one door element and are connected to one another and embodied in such a way that when a door element in the course being opened is moved in the guide rail, this door element necessarily swings, parallel to the guide rail, behind the other door element and can be slid behind that element. As in all the classical sliding doors, it is not possible to open the cabinet all the way.
From U.S. Pat. No. 2,002,163 284 A1, a container structure is known which has an internal storage compartment and an opening for access to the storage compartment. A slide plate and a pivotable plate serve to cover and uncover the opening. The pivotable plate can be slid between the closed position, which covers a second portion of the opening next to the first portion, and an open position. The slide plate can be slid between a closed position, which covers a second portion of the opening next to the first portion, and an intermediate opening position, which is located in an overlapping relation to the pivot plate when the pivot plate is in its closed position, in order to enable access to the compartment through the second portion. The slide plate, in the intermediate opening position, is pivotable together with the pivot plate into a fully opened position, in order to enable access to both the first and the second portions of the opening. The profile element in which the slide plate is displaceably supported is located visibly on the top and underside of the pivotable plate.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to develop a shutter for furniture, cabinets, shelving units or the like, which have an internal guide, and in which a shutter of a piece of furniture can be either partially or fully opened and does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.


A virtual camera within a volumetric model of a real world environment during an event occurring within the real world environment can be identified. The virtual camera can be associated with at least one of a location and an orientation within the real world environment. A virtual stream for the virtual camera can be constructed. The field of view of the stream can include video obtained from two cameras present within the real world environment and video not captured by a camera within the real world environment. The video field point of view can correspond to at least one of the location and orientation of the virtual camera. The virtual stream of the virtual camera can be presented within an interface of computing device responsive to the constructing.

The present invention relates to the field of video processing and, more particularly, to leveraging a multitude of dynamic camera footage to enable a user positional virtual camera.
Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, car racing, or motor car racing) is an extremely popular sport with loyal and involved fans. Auto racing includes stock car racing, production car racing, sports car racing, formula racing, and the like, where vehicles race each other on a fixed moto racing track.
Spectators, which include live and broadcast spectators, of auto racing often desire to be immersed in the experience. The more immersive and interactive the experience, the more enthusiasm is generated for the sport. In a number of instances, spectators are willing to pay for premium access to race details. While a number of premium access mechanisms exist, these do not satisfy fans desires for an immersive and interactive experience.
For example, NASCAR™ mobile applications exist (for APPLE™ and ANDROID™ devices) which offer news, video, social, and race information. An in-app subscription to this mobile application allows users to receive enhanced live content, which includes driver audio, a 3D race virtualization, track positions, and live driver telemetry (GPS positioning information). In-car audio is also provided for some races.
NASCAR™ also offers a product called RACE BUDDY™, which includes an ability to see live camera feeds, a pit road camera, a chat, and a leaderboard. Generally speaking, the "live" cameras are time delayed, sometimes over a minute from each other. The cameras are the set of cameras that broadcasters select from for race coverage. Effectively, the above apps and other known enhancements are aggregating Web portals that group information for user viewing. None of the known mechanisms grant end users an ability to control race specifics, such as viewing details seen from race driver perspectives. Thus, existing products are effectively a set of pushed facts covered over an Internet Protocol (IP) network about a race, as opposed to an interactive and immersive experience that gives end users a level of control on how a race is to be experienced.

Leveraging a multitude of dynamic camera footage to enable a user positional virtual camera


An automatic feeding device for feeding plural number of recording sheets stacked on a pressure plate by separating them one by one is provided with a sheet-feeding roller for carrying the recording sheets stacked on the pressure plate; a separation roller for separating the recording sheets one by one by abutting against the recording sheet carried by the sheet-feeding roller; and a fornt stage-regulator that confines the number of recording sheets advancing into the separation roller. At least one of the sheet-feeding shafts provided for both ends of the sheet-feeding roller is made movable along the bearing groove of elongated hole of the bearing, and least one of the sheet-feeding shafts is structured to move between plural positions during the execution of a series of feeding operations. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to enable the recording medium to be bitten stably into the nipping portion of the sheet-conveying roller and pinch roller in good condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic feeding device that feeds recording medium one by one from the plural sheets thereof stacked thereon. The invention also relates to a recording apparatus provided with such automatic feeding device.
2. Related Background Art
A recording apparatus provided with an automatic feeding device performs the skew (diagonal conveyance) preventing operation, which adjusts the advancing direction of a sheet by enabling the tip of the sheet to abut against the nipping portion formed by a sheet feeding roller and a pinch roller facing it, before the recording sheet (recording medium) thus fed arrives at a recording area.
In the structure where the sheet feeding roller of a recording apparatus and an automatic feeding device are driven by use of one and the same driving source, there often adopted a structure in which a planetary arm and a planetary gear are used for switching the driving transmissions of the sheet feeding roller in order to prevent the automatic feeding device from being operated during a recording operation.
FIGS. 16A to 16D are views that schematically illustrate the skew preventing operation of the conventional automatic feeding device.
As shown in FIG. 16A, the driving gear 135, which is provided for a driving source (not shown), drives a sheet feeding roller gear 136 directly. Then, up to a sheet feeding shaft gear 119, the driving power is transmitted through an idler gear 137, a sun gear 138, and a planetary gear 139. A planetary arm 140 supports the sun gear 138 and the planetary gear 139 so as to provide the planetary gear 139 with resistance. Also, on a sheet feeding tray 116, recording sheets are stacked.
When the sheet feeding operation begins by use of a driving source (not shown), the driving gear 135 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow P shown in FIG. 16B. Then, the sheet conveying roller 130, the idler gear 137, and the sun gear 138 rotate in the directions indicated by the respective arrows. At this juncture, for the planetary arm 140, the rotational momentum occurs in the direction indicated by an arrow Q in FIG. 16B. As a result, the planetary gear 139 is connected with the sheet-feeding shaft gear 119 to enable the sheet-feeding roller (not shown) to rotate in the direction indicated by an arrow R in FIG. 16B. At this juncture, the sheet-feeding roller and the separation roller 112, which abuts against thereto, separates and feeds the recording sheet 120 one by one.
In this state, the sheet-conveying roller 130 rotates in the direction in which the recording sheet 120 is conveyed reversely, and the sheet-feeding roller (not shown), which is connected with the sheet-feeding shaft gear 119, is caused to rotate in the direction in which the recording sheet 120 is conveyed to the recording area.
When the conveyance of the recording sheet 120 continues as it is, the leading end of the recording sheet 120 arrives at the nipping portion formed by the sheet conveying roller 130 and the pinch roller 129.
Here, the conveyance of the recording sheet 120 continues for a designated amount, and then, as shown in FIG. 16C, the leading end of the recording sheet 120 abuts against the sheet conveying roller 130 that rotates in the reverse-conveyance direction, thus forming a bend (loop) for the recording sheet 120. In this way, even if the recording sheet 120 is conveyed diagonally up to that point, it is possible to the leading end of the recording sheet 120 is placed along the nipping portion of the sheet conveying roller 130 and the pinch roller 129 to correct the advancing direction of the recording sheet 120, hence preventing the skew of the recording sheet 120.
The recording sheet 120, the preceding direction of which has been adjusted, is conveyed to the recording area by being pinched by the sheet conveying roller 130 and the pinch roller 129 as shown in FIG. 16D. At this juncture, the driving gear 135 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow S in FIG. 16D. Therefore, the planetary arm 140 is given moment in the direction indicated by an arrow T in FIG. 16D so that the planetary gear 139 parts from the sheet feeding shaft gear 119. The structure is thus arranged so as not transmit driving power from the driving source to the sheet-feeding roller (not shown) when the nipping portion bits the recording sheet 120.
The structure of the conventional automatic sheet-feeding device described above has advantages such as to simplify the driving switching mechanism, and to control the automatic sheet-feeding device, among some others. However, only by the contact pressure of the separation roller to the sheet-feeding roller is used for generating the nip abutting force, which is needed for a recording medium to be bitten by the sheet-conveying roller. As a result, when the recording medium, which is comparatively thick or liable to slip, is fed, the abutting force becomes insufficient, and in some cases, it is disabled to bite such recording sheet into the nipping portion of the sheet-conveying roller.

Automatic feeding device and recording apparatus provided with such automatic feeding device


A method and a current sensor for measuring a current in a conductor. The sensor comprises a non-magnetic, flexible core member having a first end and a second end. A locking head having a channel therethrough is coupled to the first end of the core member. A first sensor conductor winding layer is mounted on the core member. Wherein the second end releasably engages the locking thread in the channel and adjustably configures the core member to surround the conductor as the second end is moved through the channel. In another embodiment the current sensor includes a locking tang within the channel and a plurality of sought tooth members on a portion of the core member and configured to selectively engage the locking tang as the second end of the core member is moved through the channel.

The present invention relates to a sensor for measuring current in an electrical conductor, more particularly for a flexible current sensor.
It is known to measure electric current in a conductor by measuring the generated field with a coil positioned around or in close proximity to the conductor being monitored. Such coils are known as a Rogowski Coil. The magnetic field caused by the current flowing in the monitored conductor induces a voltage between the ends of the coil sensor conductor in proportion to the current flowing in the monitored conductor. The induced voltage, or output signal of the Rogowski Coil is read by a signal processing circuit for further processing, such as for example, a microprocessor or voltage divider circuit.
A typical current sensor coil is either a fixed annular closed loop or an unadjustable openable loop structure. The monitor conductor is threaded through the current sensor coil. Conventional current sensors are difficult to use with different size or shaped conductors. Use of a closed loop sensor requires a disconnected, monitored conductor, so that the monitored conductor can be threaded through the loop.
Thus there is a need for a flexible current sensor operating in accordance with the Rogowski principle. There is a further need for a current sensor that can be used and reused with different sized and shaped conductors to monitor such current flow in such conductors. There is an additional need for a current sensor that can vary the diameter of a loop formed with the current sensor. There is also a need for an apparatus to make a flexible current sensor.