In a drill string jar apparatus having an elongated tool body positionable within a drill string, which would also include a latch mandrel movable within a bore of the tool body between a first neutral position and fired up or fired down positions; a substantially continuous channel formed in the interior wall of the tool body, a shoulder portion on the exterior wall of the latch mandrel body for latching into the channel of the tool body when the mandrel is in the neutral position and slots in the wall of the latch mandrel for allowing the mandrel body to flex inwardly sufficiently to disengage the shoulder portion from the channel in the tool body and allow the latch mandrel to move upward or downward within the bore of the tool body depending upon the direction of the force imparted on the mandrel and make contact with the upper or lower end of the tool in order to dislodge a tool below the jar apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to oil well drilling. More particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus utilized on a drill string so that when sufficient force is exerted on the apparatus the apparatus shifts and jars loose a tool that may be stuck at the bottom of the bore hole.
2. General Background
In the process of drilling oil wells, which is usually accomplished with the use of a drill bit at the end of a continuous plurality of sections of drill pipe, called the "drill string" many tools are utilized at the end of the string in order to accomplish various tasks. Often times, during the use of these tools, a tool may become stuck or lodged within the drill bore, and must be retrieved in order to continue the drilling process. This retrieval is accomplished by the use of some type of grabbing apparatus at the end of the drill string in combination with a jarring tool.
As known in the art, a jarring tool is an apparatus which when utilized in conjunction with the drill string has either a mechanical or other type of latch engaged in the tool body, so that when sufficient force is placed on the string, the tool body is jarred loose, and when the string is encountered by the jarring motion of the tool body, oftentimes this will result in a unsticking of the tool, and therefore subsequent retrieval.
Of course, this type of jarring tool must work within the confined space of the drill string, and therefore due to this factor, there is oftentimes a malfunctioning of the mechanical latching mechanism in the present state of the art. In addition, because many state-of-the-art tools have a plurality of latching fingers around the circumferential wall of the tool body, force on the tool body is placed between the fingers and the tool body, and therefore is not evenly distributed around the wall of the tool.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,198 issued to Buck entitled "Drilling Jar Latch", discloses a drilling jar latch tool which, as seen in the figures, particularly FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a plurality of fingers attached to the interior wall of the tool body have tooth projections engaged into a continuous channel within the mandrel of the tool. Because of the flexion of the finger on the wall of the body, this would allow the mandrel to slip to engage and disengage during use of the tool. This particular arrangement requires that six different mechanical fingers operate in unison in order to have the proper operation of the tool. Therefore, this tool is susceptible to failure. Other patents have been granted in this field, some of the more relevant being the following:
______________________________________ U.S. PAT. NO. TITLE INVENTOR ______________________________________ 3,853,187 Duplex Hydraulic- Sutlif et al. Mechanical Jar Tool 4,688,649 Mechanical Drill String Jar Buck 4,889,198 Drilling Jar Latch Buck 4,694,917 Mechanical Jarring Devices Heidemann et al. For Use in Drilling 2,059,540 Oil Well Jar Stephan 2,591,130 Jar Brown et al. 2,008,743 Jar Black 2,978,048 Bumper Safety Joint Walker 2,051,911 Rotary Jar Siracusa 1,978,847 Rotary Jar Spang 1,885,043 Rotary Jar Beck. ______________________________________
In each case of the patents listed above in addition to the '198 patent to Buck, each of these require the external finger mechanisms operating in conjunction with the movable mandrel and are all susceptible to the problems encountered in the Buck patent.
One of the most important needs in workover well work is the ability to achieve and maintain circulation in hole. Adequate circulation is important for the following reasons:
1) it is needed to wash sand or any other material that may be causing a bridge down hole;
2) it is needed to keep pressure down hole without being blown out of the hole (mud density is varied to achieve the proper pressure down hole--without adequate circulation, the mud density cannot be changed quickly enough to prevent being blown out of the hole);
3) it is needed to keep materials moving up hole, thus keeping tools from getting stuck going in or coming out of the hole;
4) it is needed to allow the setting of hydraulic tools on the work string; hydraulic releasing tools are sometimes set below jars and accelerators to allow the jars or accelerators to be extracted from the hole if the need should arise by "pumping off" (pumping a steel ball down through the string and tools to activate the releasing tool and allow all tools and the string above the releasing tool to be removed from the hole).


A method and apparatus for concealing data to be transmitted within an environment. A sound frequency map is identified based on sounds detected within the environment. A number of audio symbols for use in representing a number of data blocks in the data to be transmitted within the environment are selected using the sound frequency map. An encrypted audio signal is formed using the number of audio symbols.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to transmitting and receiving sound, and in particular, to transmitting encrypted data within sound. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for concealing data within sound using sounds characteristic of the environment.
2. Background
Currently, different types of encryption algorithms are present for encrypting data and providing secure communications. However, with some currently available encryption methods, certain risks may still be present. For example, some encryption methods use encryption keys that are shared between the transmitter and the receiver of encrypted messages. These types of encryption keys may be easily obtained, directly or indirectly, by an unauthorized person. An unauthorized person may, for example, use guesswork, brute-force search techniques, dictionary program-based methods, and/or other types of methods to obtain an encryption key.
Further, in some cases, the transmission of data, whether encrypted or not encrypted, may be vulnerable to certain threats through the very awareness of the existence of the transmission. As a result, concealing the communications channels used to transmit data may be beneficial. However, some currently available methods for concealing communications channels may be less effective than desired.
As the need for and importance of secure communications increase, the complexities and costs associated with encryption algorithms also increase. The complexities and costs associated with some currently available encryption methods may be greater than desired. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that take into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.

Concealing data within encoded audio signals


Provided are an internal combustion engine control device and control method in which a multi-injection process comprises performing an intake synchronized injection and an intake asynchronous injection to inject a required injection amount of fuel by operating a port injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake passageway. A variable process includes variably setting an injection timing for the intake synchronized injection on the basis of at least two of three parameters. The injection timing for the intake synchronized injection is expressed by the rotation angle of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. The three parameters include a rotational speed of the crank shaft of the internal combustion engine, a valve-opening start timing of an intake valve, and a temperature of an intake system of the internal combustion engine.

Patent Document 1 describes an example of a control device that executes a multiple injection process. In the multiple injection process, fuel that is to be injected into a single cylinder in a single combustion cycle is split into the discharge stroke and the intake stroke. Paragraphs [0017] and [0024] of this document describe that the control device sets the injection timing in the intake stroke to be a timing that has been determined in advance.
Patent Document 2 describes an example of a control device according to a second embodiment that injects a necessary amount (requested injection amount) of fuel in a single combustion cycle determined in accordance with an intake air amount by splitting the necessary amount of the fuel into two in a high-load region.

Internal combustion engine control device and control method


A laboratory container rolling device is provided which has a relatively low profile for use in confined spaces such as in refrigerators, ovens or other small compartments. Removable rollers allow the device to accommodate various diameter containers and the variable speed feature accommodates precise speed setting. Safeguards are provided to prevent container damage during extended usage to maintain the container properly upon the rollers.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention herein pertains to container rolling devices and specifically to rolling devices for bottles, test tubes and other containers as are used in laboratories for cell cultures, filter blot applications, hybridization and for other solutions and procedures.
2. Description of The Prior Art And Objectives Of The Invention
Various laboratory stirrers, shakers, and blenders have been available in the past to stir or agitate fragile filter bolts and other sensitive solutions in chemical and biological laboratories. Also, devices which rotate containers for stirring have also been used in prior industrial and laboratory procedures. With the recent advancements in biological techniques a multi-functional container rolling device is required which will perform under many different conditions and provide a variety of options for the technician. For example, a container rolling device for modern biological laboratories must be portable to operate on bench tops or in incubators and refrigerated chambers as needed. The size of the rolling device and particularly its height is of paramount importance since oftentimes incubators and laboratory refrigerators have minimum interior heights. Presently available devices generally do not meet the versatility or precision requirements for modern biological laboratory equipment and techniques and therefore the present invention was conceived with one of its objectives to provide a container rolling device which can be used in a modern laboratory under a large number of conditions and limitations.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a laboratory rolling device which will securely maintain a plurality of various sized containers thereon for simultaneous rotation.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a container rolling device in which one or more rollers can be easily and conveniently removed for the accommodation of larger vessels.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a container rolling device in which the speed of the rotation can be easily and precisely adjusted.
It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a laboratory rolling device in which the overall height is relatively low for use in a limited height controlled environment such as in an incubator or refrigerator.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed presentation is set forth below.

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Display box for housing a cylindrical container with a side portion thereof visible through a window provided in at least one of the side walls of the box, including elements which interfere with the container, to lock the container, protect the container within the box, and to prevent the container from accidentally rotating about an axis.

Many types of display boxes are known provided with elements which retain and protect a container housed therein such that the base of the container is kept raised from the base of the box to protect it from possible impacts while transporting or storing the boxes with the containers therein or while moving them from one place to another. A box of this type is illustrated, for example, in EP-B-0642977 and in the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,330; it is formed from a single piece of punched and crease-lined cardboard having projecting flaps at one end, these flaps being automatically folded about themselves (on shaping the box) to form supports which are only partly glued onto the side walls of the box and perform the effective function of keeping the container housed in the box raised and spaced from the adjacent base of the box.
EP-A-0761550 describes a display box also formed from a single piece of punched and crease-lined cardboard which differs from the box claimed in the aforesaid patents by the fact that one of the flaps projecting from an end of the cardboard sheet is very long and, in addition to forming a portion for supporting the container base (by keeping it raised in front of a window provided in the side wall of the box), extends (while remaining adhering to a side wall of the box) beyond the opposite end of the box and is partly glued to a flap projecting from said opposite end: in this manner, when the cardboard sheet is folded to form the finished box, the said very long flap forms two separate supports, one for the lower end of the container and the other for the upper end of the container, which is hence securely retained in the box and is protected against those impacts which may be transmitted to the two lids or ends of the box.
The main drawback of known display boxes is that nothing effectively prevents the containers from rotating (as a result of the handling and transport to which the finished boxes are subjected) about their longitudinal axis, so that any portion of the cylindrical surface of the containers can appear visible through the windows provided in the box, rather than only and always that portion carrying trademarks, writings, labels or the like which are required to remain positioned in front of the windows provided in the boxes.

Display box with elements protecting against the rotation and movement of a container inserted into the box


The storage of data sets in a storage set (e.g., data sets written to hard disk drives comprising a RAID array) may diminish the performance of the storage set through non-sequential writes, particularly if the storage devices promptly write data sets that are followed by sequentially following data sets. Additionally, storage sets may exhibit inconsistencies due to non-atomic writes of data sets and verifiers (e.g., checksums) and an intervening failure, such as an occurrence of the RAID write hole. Instead, data sets and verifiers may first be written to a stored on the nonvolatile media of a storage device before being committed to the storage set. Such writes may be sequentially written to the journal, irrespective of the locations of the data sets in the storage set; and recovery of a failure may simply involve re-committing the consistent records in the journal to correct incomplete writes to the storage set.

Within the field of computing, many scenarios involve the storage of data on one or more nonvolatile storage devices (e.g., platter-based magnetic and/or optical hard disk drives, solid-state storage devices, and nonvolatile memory circuits). Many details of the data storage may vary, such as the word size, the addressing method, the partitioning of the storage space of the storage device into one or more partitions, and the exposure of allocated spaces within the storage device as one or more volumes within a computing environment.
In many such storage scenarios, techniques may be utilized to detect unintended changes to the data. For example, an error in the reading or storing logic of the device, a buffer underrun or overrun, a flaw in the storage medium, or an external disruption (such as a cosmic ray) may occasionally cause an inadvertent change in the data stored on the storage medium or in the reading of data from the storage medium. Therefore, in many such scenarios, the data is stored on the storage devices according to an error detection scheme involving a verifier (e.g., a parity bit or checksum) computed for respective data sets (e.g., different words, sectors, regions, or other sets of data). The verifier may be used to confirm that the contents of the data set have been validly stored to and/or read from the storage device. As one such example, in the context of storing a data set comprising a set of bits, an exclusive OR (XOR) operation may be applied to the bits, resulting in a parity bit that may be stored and associated with this data set. When the data set is later read, another XOR operation may be applied thereto, and the result may be compared with the parity bit. A change of any one bit results in a mismatch of these XOR computations, indicating that the data has been incorrectly stored, altered, or incorrectly read from the storage device. Many types of verifiers may be identified, which may vary in some features (e.g., ease of computation, a capability of identifying which bit of the data set has changed, and an error-correction capability whereby an incorrectly read portion of data may be corrected).
Error detection schemes are often utilized in Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) arrays, such as a set of hard disk drives that are pooled together to achieve various aggregate properties, such as improved throughput and automatic data mirroring. As one such example, a RAID 4 array involves a set of two or more disks, where one disk is included in the array not to store user data, but to store verifiers of the data stored on the other disks. For example, for a RAID 4 array involving four disks each storing one terabyte of data, the capacity of the first three disks is pooled to form a three-terabyte storage space for user data, while the fourth disk is included in the array to hold verifiers for data sets stored on the first three disks (e.g., for every three 64-bit words respectively stored on the other three disks, the fourth disk includes a 64-bit verifier that verifies the integrity of the three 64-bit words). The RAID array controller comprises circuitry that is configured to implement the details of a selected RAID level for a provided set of drives (e.g., upon receiving a data set, automatically apportioning the data across the three user data disks, calculating the verifier of the data set, and storing the verifier on the fourth disk). The RAID techniques used may also enable additional protections or features; e.g., if any single storage device in a RAID 4 array fails, the data stored on the failed device may be entirely reconstructed through the use of the remaining storage devices.

Nonvolatile media journaling of verified data sets


A novel device for deacidifying, reinforcing and strengthening ancient books is provided. The device includes a double-open front door, a fan set, a dehumidifier, a vacuum pump, a light, a middle partition, a gas pipe hole, a rear panel, an ultrasonic atomizer, a gas pipe and a pulley track. The double-open front door is provided on one side face of the device. The middle partition divides the device into an upper part and a lower part, bottom faces of the upper part and the lower part are each provided with the fan set. The dehumidifier, the vacuum pump and the ultrasonic atomizer are arranged at an external surface of the rear panel opposite the double-open front door. The gas pipe locates at and runs through an upper part of the middle partition, and that section of the gas pipe is provided with the gas pipe hole The gas pipe is connected with the ultrasonic atomizer.

Thousands of precious books, calligraphy and paintings, modern newspaper, files and other cultural relics are preserved in various libraries, museums and archives in China. Being the essence of the Chinese nation's excellent traditional culture and a significant constituent of the Chinese cultural heritage with important historic value, cultural value and information value, they possess an irreproducible historic significance. As a carrier of the literal essence, paper would suffer a critical situation by the increasing severe worm damage, acidification, mildew and breakage with the time flies. Paper is made from fibrous materials, and the stability of cellulose is one of the most important factors that maintain the physical performances of paper. Cellulose is relatively stable under neutral and alkalescent conditions and generally would not be hydrolyzed or oxidized. However, in an acidic condition, hydrolysis on the cellulose is enhanced due to the catalysis of acid. After the hydrolysis of cellulose, strength of paper is reduced by the decreased degree of polymerization, resulting in pulverization of paper over time. Thus, there's an urgent need of thorough deacidification research on paper documents. Although various researches on deacidifying paper documents have been carried out by the domestic and foreign research institutes, practical application of the deacidification technology has not been achieved till now.
Current deacidification technology mainly includes liquid phase deacidification and gaseous phase deacidification of which the principle is to neutralize the acid in paper by using an alkaline deacidifying agent so as to achieve deacidification.
The liquid phase deacidification mainly includes organic solution deacidification and aqueous solution deacidification.
The deacidification by organic solution mainly includes Weito method, FMC method, and barium hydroxide-methanol solution deacidification. The deacidification by organic solution has advantages of high deacidification efficiency, simple operation and low cost. Japan and western countries such as Germany, Italy, USA, and etc. mainly use deacidification by organic solution, but most of the organic solvents would cause dissolution of printing ink thereby staining the ancient books. Additionally, the organic solvents are combustible with strong toxicity which demands a high level of safety requirement for operation.
The deacidification by aqueous solution has advantages of environmental safety, easy operation, economy and good deacidifying effect, but deformation and crimping still exist in the treated paper documents, bringing influence on the handwriting and being difficult to deacidify the books in large scale. There's no deacidification technology to solve the problem of deacidifying an entire book by the aqueous solution so far. Paper would stick to each other if deacidification is directly carried out on the entire book which results in severe secondary damage. The ancient book must be separated into single pages before the processing and then rebound after the processing. The ancient book has a rather low strength over a long time and it would be easily damaged when being separated. After the book is immersed into the solution, the strength of paper becomes lower which brings severe secondary damage to the ancient books though the deacidification is carried out. Moreover, drying is required after the books are immersed into the solution. Aging and breakage of fiber are easily caused during the drying, thereby yellowing or even damaging the paper. Such method is complicated in process with long term, which is inappropriate for the ancient books.
The gaseous phase deacidification method mainly includes diethylzinc method and morpholine deacidification method.
The diethylzinc deacidification method: when meeting with the acidic hydrogen ion in paper, diethylzinc not only reacts with the acidic hydrogen ions in paper but also rapidly neutralizes the hydrogen in water to generate solid zinc oxide. Such solid zinc oxide remains on the surface of the paper and provides a certain deacidification effect. However, diethylzinc is spontaneously combustible when meeting with air, and great danger exists, that is, a great threat of fire to the paper documents. In addition, residues of zinc oxide accelerate the photooxidation on paper fibers, yellowing and aging the paper to some extent. Therefore, such method is not a good one.
The morpholine deacidification method: under normal circumstance, morpholine is in liquid state, and turns into gas when mixing with water in vacuum, so as to react with the hydrogen ions in paper to achieve deacidification. This method changes the color of paper easily, yellows the newspaper and magazines, and does not exerts reinforcement during the process. A large scale of promotion of such method is limited due to the high cost for equipment and instruments. From the aspect of deacidification technology abroad, in 1970s and 1980s, gaseous deacidification attracted people for its large scale of processing. However, its extensive application is limited by the high level requirement for technological conditions, potential safety hazard, great investment and uneven processing effect.
There are various similar gaseous phase and liquid phase deacidification technologies at home and abroad currently, but each of these still has defects such as high cost, high difficulty of operation, strong toxicity of deacidifying agent, failure to develop in large-scale, potential safety hazard, environmental pollution, etc. In recent years, studies of methods for atomizing the liquid phase deacidifying agent have been carried out by some researchers.
An arc discharge paper deacidifying device and a method (Zhejiang University, Xiwen Zhang, CN102644218A), wherein the device needs an inert gas as protective gas, and sprays an alkaline deacidifying agent on the surface of the paper to be tested by using an arc discharge spray gun. Its advantages lie in that compared with the conventional liquid phase deacidification, such device processes the paper in the air without impregnating the paper into a solution and no adhesion generates; compared with the conventional gas phase deacidification, such device presents shorter deacidification time and higher efficiency for a single piece of paper. Its disadvantages lie in that: 1. inert gas protection is required which brings a certain risk; 2. high voltage power supply of 5-10 kV is required which brings high energy consumption and high danger coefficient; and 3. spraying is suitable for processing a single piece of paper such as newspaper and the like, but it is difficult to process an entire ancient book.
A paper document deacidifying device and a method (Nanjing Museum, Liang Gong, CN105544299A), wherein the device processes the ancient book also by the direct spray method, that is, spraying the atomized alkaline deacidifying agent on the ancient book to be tested. The advantage thereof is that an automatic page-turning device is designed. The device sprays one page by automatically turning one page so as to reduce the complexity of manual operation. The disadvantage thereof is that the page-turning system has a certain requirement to the size and thickness of the book and sorting of ancient books is needed. Moreover, adhesion may be resulted if the paper is not dried completely after spraying.
A pressurizing, atomizing and deacidifying device and a method for pressurizing, atomizing and deacidifying by using the same (Guangdong University of Technology, Yanxiong Fang, CN102242529A), wherein the ancient books are placed in a closed device, and an alkaline deacidifying agent solution is pressurized, atomized and introduced into the device for deacidification. The advantage is that the simple process allows direct treatment to a large batch of ancient books. The disadvantages lie in that: 1. the liquid drop obtained by pressurizing and atomizing is relatively large so that the books are too humid and likely to adhere; and 2. even distribution of the atomized liquid drops in the device cannot be guaranteed and it is easy to cause uneven deacidification.
So far, a practically applicable deacidification method for ancient books has not been found. Although deacidification studies on paper documents have been developed by the research institutes home and abroad at present, a practically applicable deacidification technology has not been achieved so far, let alone that the deacidifying device matching the technology is rare.
Devices of the prior art all have defects such as high cost, high difficulty of operation, strong toxicity of deacidifying agent, failure to develop in large-scale, potential safety hazard, environmental pollution, etc. In conclusion, an effective device that can be applied practically has not been designed yet.

Device for deacidifying, reinforcing and strengthening ancient books


Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for allowing a ramp signal generator to reduce noise. A ramp signal generator may include a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage, a gain controller configured to control a gain of the reference voltage, a ramp signal controller configured to generate a ramp signal in response to an output signal of the gain controller, and an offset controller coupled to an output terminal of the gain controller in the form of a current mirror, and control an offset of the ramp signal in response to a control signal.

The complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology has been adopted to design and fabricate sensors in the field of imaging where the charge coupled device (CCD) dominated most of image sensing devices in the past decades. A CMOS image sensor (CIS) has traditionally had lower image quality compared to the CCD. However, the CIS is rapidly reaching parity with the CCD in image quality and is expanding rapidly into the image sensor market thanks to their low power consumption, low price, and small size. Notably, the CIS allows video cameras to record at high quality and high frame rate and is now also expanding into the video camera market.
The CIS includes, among others, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert analog signals (pixel signals) generated from a pixel array into digital signals.
The correlated double sampling can improve the signal to noise ratio by subtracting a reference output signal from the actual signal of the pixel. The ADC performs the analog-to-digital conversion using the resultant signal of the correlated double sampling. After performing the correlated double sampling on an analog output voltage generated by the image sensor pixel array, the ADC compares the resultant signal with a ramp signal generated by a ramp signal generator, providing a comparison signal for generating a digital code.
However, the noise generated by the ramp signal generator and transmitted to the ADC can still impact on the image quality of the CMOS image sensor (CIS).

Ramp signal generator and image sensor including the same


A handheld video game controller is operable in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mode to allow for sending controller input data to a target BLE device in a manner that bypasses any operating system (OS) restrictions that might otherwise be imposed on game controller input. When operating in the BLE mode, the handheld video game controller pairs (establishes a radio link) with a BLE device executing a client application used for video game streaming. During gameplay, the video game executes on a host computer and the player provides user input to the game controller to control an aspect of the video game. In response to such user input, the game controller sends controller input data to the BLE device via a radio of the game controller. The player may switch between operating the game controller in BLE mode and receiver mode using input gestures on the game controller.

In-home video game streaming allows for playing a video game on one computer (a target device) while the video game is actually executing on another computer (a host computer) elsewhere in a home environment. An example setup includes a personal computer (PC) (a host computer) located in a home office that executes the video game, captures video game data (e.g., audio and video data), and streams the video game data over the home network to a living room television (a target device). In this scenario, the player can use a handheld video game controller to play the video game from the living room couch while the video game content is rendered on the television. If the living room television does not include the appropriate receiver, a hub device might act as an intermediary that receives the video game data from the PC and provides the video game data over an audio/video interface to the living room television. The hub device may also receive controller input data from the game controller and provide the controller input data to the PC in the upstream direction. Other setups might use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle as a wireless receiver, which can be plugged into a target device, such as a laptop, with a suitable USB port. The dongle would receive of the controller input data provided by the game controller, allowing for gameplay on a target device that streams the video game data from the PC over the home network. Using these and other setups, a player is able to play a video game on multiple different devices located throughout the house while the video game is actually executing on the host computer somewhere else in the environment.
Today, there is a demand to allow games to be streamed to consumer electronic devices (e.g., tablet computers, smart phones, etc.), which are ubiquitous amongst consumers. There is also a concomitant demand to allow players to switch between devices, even in the midst of a single video game session. For example, a player might want to start playing a video game on a tablet computer, and may want to subsequently switch to playing the video game on the living room television. All the while, the user might want to carry around a favorite video game controller that is usable to play video games on these various target devices.
For security reasons, or otherwise, operating system (OS) vendors place restrictions on the types of peripherals (e.g., gaming controllers) that are allowed to connect to a device running their OS. Apple's iOS is illustrative because iOS only allows gamepads that are MFi-certified to connect to iOS devices. This means that, in order to stream a video game on an iOS device, a player is unable to use a game controller that is not MFi-certified. Instead, the player is forced to use an often less-performant gamepad that is MFi-certified in order to stream the video game on the iOS device and play the game with a handheld video game controller. Other popular OS's, such as Android, may connect to certain game controllers, but the OS may not support all of the features and functionality of the game controller. For example, the OS may be unable to interpret a guide/menu button input or a back button input when these buttons are actuated on the game controller. Furthermore, plugging a USB dongle into a tablet or a smart phone with a thin profile becomes a less desirable solution due to the susceptibility of damaging the device or the dongle if the dongle is struck by an object. Some devices don't support the use of a dongle in the first place. In addition, it is easy to lose or misplace a dongle when the user has to carry the dongle around from one device to another in order to stream video games to different target devices.
In light of these considerations, today's in-home video game streaming ecosystem is restricted to a limited subset of target devices that work with most video game controllers, else a player is forced to use a less performant game controller with other target devices. The disclosure made herein is presented with respect to these and other considerations.

Game controller operable in bluetooth low energy (BLE) mode


Proper hitting techniques for baseball or for golf are taught and reinforced by forcing the hitter off balance if his or her foot placement, foot movement, or leg orientation are in error. A device includes a multipart base which has one part linearly adjustable with respect to the other parts, and another part angularly adjustable with respect to the other parts, as well as a back foot supporting element rotatably mounted on the base. The hitter is forced to stand on the back foot supporting element on the forefoot so his back foot heel is held off the ground. The device forces the user to pivot correctly during the swing, as well as forcing the user to stride and land his front foot on the device, also on the forefoot, to master this element in conjunction with the back foot pivot and swing of the bat. The device is amenable to use by both left and right handed hitters, and can be used in conjunction with both an open stance and a closed stance by either batter.

In baseball, as in any other sport such as golf, in which a ball is struck, proper hitting technique is paramount. Without proper hitting technique, batted balls, if they are hit at all, will not go where the hitter intends. Proper hitting technique is therefore taught very early to someone learning the game.
Proper hitting technique involves many skills including certain lower body skills which include stance, stride and pivot, with swinging of the bat culminating as a result of proper sequencing and the balance associated with each of these skills. These skills can be further broken down to include the required actions and balance associated with hitting a ball such as a baseball or a golfball.
While all of these elements are important, it is the proper balance, stance, stride, pivot and swing that are of interest to this invention. More particularly, it is noted that without a proper stance, stride or balance, it is nearly impossible to have a proper swing. The inventor has observed that once a batter places his weight on the heel of his front or back foot, at any time during the stride or swing phase, he will lose his balance and fall/stumble in the direction either away from the pitcher or away from home plate and the strike zone. Therefore, teaching and reinforcing the proper stance, stride, pivot and balance will be the primary focus of this invention.
For purposes of this disclosure, the following definitions apply: "Forefoot" is generally known as the "ball of the foot" and is the forward half of the foot where the toes are joined at the knuckles (which lie between the long arch of the foot and the toes); "Rear foot" is the posterior remaining half of the foot . . . essentially the heel of the foot; "Front Foot" is the hitters left or right foot, whichever is closest to the pitcher in baseball, also known as the "stride foot;" "Back Foot" is the hitter's right or left foot, whichever is farthest away from the pitcher in baseball . . . also known as the "pivot foot."
The proper lower body movement associated with hitting a baseball can be broken down into the following stages: the initial stance assumed while waiting for a pitch (with the batter's weight moved onto each forefoot and his knees slightly bent); the foot movement and placement of the front foot in striding toward the pitcher/ball; back foot pivot on its forefoot, causing the hips/pelvis to turn toward the pitcher; and follow through as the swing is completed. Balance is paramount and necessary with each stage. If balance or foot placement and/or foot movement is wrong during any of these stages the swing will be affected, and of course, if the ball is struck at all, the ball is not likely to go where the batter wants.
Therefore, there is a need for a practice and teaching device that is particularly directed to baseball, but which can be used in teaching golf, which teaches proper hitting technique, and specifically proper balance, stance, and foot placement and movement prior to, during and after a swing.
With regard to proper foot placement, the inventor has observed that if the proper stance is not assumed before the swing is initiated, a desired result is not likely. For example, the batter in baseball should assume a stance with his head properly aligned if he or she expects to swing properly. Still further, the inventor has observed that striding toward the pitcher allows the batter to transfer all of his energy and momentum into the pitched ball, thus hitting it harder. Still further, proper stance and stride prevents the batter from swinging from his heels, thereby allowing more power to be directed to the swing. The batter should also have the proper stance while waiting for a pitch so he or she is prepared to hit the ball when and where desired. Thus, a batter may feel more comfortable with an open stance for one pitcher or game situation and a closed stance for another pitcher or different game situation. The batter should also have proper stride length and proper landing technique to further transfer power to the hitting stroke, maintain balance and proper visual contact with the ball.
The inventor has also observed several other elements of proper hitting technique that should be taught and reinforced if a hitter, such as a batter in baseball, is to be trained and reinforced in the proper manner. For example, proper back foot pivot before the swing causes proper back knee flexion (bending). This allows the batter to develop additional power and bat speed as well as to gain further access to balls that are pitched lower down in the strike zone. The inventor has also observed that many novices tend to land too hard after striding into the pitched ball which tends to disrupt their balance and remove power from their swing. The inventor has also observed that a hitter must stay on his or her forefoot of each of his or her feet from the start to the finish of the swing (i.e., when in the batter's box waiting for the pitch, the batter should be on his or her forefeet), if the proper swing is to be executed.
Still further, the inventor has observed that one of the most important aspects of a proper swing is balance. A hitter must maintain his or her balance during all phases and stages of batting if the result is to be desirable. Improper balance at any stage or phase can adversely affect the swing, and may not be remediable during the swing. In fact, most pitchers in baseball try to keep a hitter off balance, or at least cause the batter to lose some or all of his balance at some time during the pitch to adversely affect the swing process.
Still further, the inventor has observed that proper back foot movement requires a batter to move the heel of the back foot off the ground and then to pivot on the front part (forefoot) of the back foot. Proper movement of the back foot permits the hitter to position his or her body into a proper hitting position to properly hit a ball.
While the art does contain devices that are disclosed as teaching hitting, these devices do not teach the overall technique, and especially do not properly teach balance or use balance as a primary teaching tool so proper balance is constantly reinforced to the learner or to the user.
Still further, these known devices often do not teach the proper placement and movement of the feet prior to, during and after a swing. More specifically, these devices do not teach the proper stance for the batter's back foot. That is, while some control is exerted on the hitter by the prior art devices, they are deficient because they omit to require a stance and balance on the forefoot which causes the heel to be lifted prior to the pivot. Since proper back foot placement and movement is not taught by prior art devices, a batter may not learn a proper swing, and may even obviate proper initial stance teaching.
Therefore, there is a need for a baseball practice and teaching device that teaches and reinforces hitting in a complete manner whereby lower body placement, movement and balance during the entire swing is controlled.
Still further, since all batters do not have the same stance width and orientation, any device that is used to teach or reinforce proper lower body placement and movement during a swing should be able to account for this variation. Also, any such device must be able to account for both right handed and left handed hitters. This is particularly true for hitters who prefer an open stance or for hitters who prefer a closed stance.
Still further, the inventor has observed that many hitters like to warm up before a game, or even before a practice, by taking practice swings either at live pitching or at no pitching. Therefore, any device that is intended to teach or to reinforce proper hitting technique should be easily portable from one place to another, as well as be easily stored and set up.
As any hitter will attest, if one element of the swing is wrong, the entire swing is considered as deficient. Sometimes, one element will affect another more easily noticed element of a swing. Often, it is the more easily identified element which is the element corrected. This will be an error because the real culprit is not identified. This then creates additional problems and may result in an entire swing being affected and changed.
Still further, even professional batters develop bad habits. For example, there may be a lack of forefoot balance, a lack of proper back foot pivot and pelvic forward rotation, a lack of proper stride, or the like. These habits are often developed unknowingly or as a result of an attempt to correct another deficiency as discussed above, or as a result of injury or the like. However, developed, they can be highly detrimental and should be corrected. However, before they can be corrected, they must be identified. Prior art devices do not have the ability to identify such deficiencies.
Therefore, there is a need for a teaching device that identifies errors in a swing, especially lower body errors in a hitting technique.

Means and method for teaching and reinforcing proper hitting techniques


A fitness accessory for improving positioning and form during a frog pump exercise may include a wedge shaped device. The wedge shaped device may include a base; a top opposite the base; a pair of angled side walls connecting the base and the top; a first smaller end closing a first end of the wedge shaped device; and a second larger end closing a second end of the wedge shaped device. The device may taper from a larger width at the second end to a smaller width at the first end.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to fitness accessories, and more particularly, to a wedge-shaped fitness accessory to enhance glute activation and ergonomics of the frog pump exercise.
The traditional frog pump exercise places the ankles in a compromised position with the soles of the feet together and limits the resistance capable of being used due to ankle stress.
Therefore, what is needed is a device designed to allow for proper foot, ankle, knee, and hip alignment during the frog pump exercise while simultaneously improving safety and effectiveness of the exercise.


A liquid crystal display device includes a first scanning line, a second scanning line and a third scanning line which are provided for each of a plurality of pixel rows; a first signal line and a second signal line which are provided for each of a plurality of pixel columns; a pixel capacitor provided for each of a plurality of pixels; a temporary storage capacitor for temporarily storing a voltage to be written to the pixel capacitor; a first switching element for controlling electrical connection between the first signal line and the temporary storage capacitor; a second switching element for controlling electrical connection between the temporary storage capacitor and the pixel capacitor; and a third switching element for controlling electrical connection between the second signal line and the pixel capacitor.

Liquid crystal display devices have advantages of being thin and consuming lower power, and therefore are in wide use in various fields. Especially, active matrix liquid crystal display devices including a switching element such as a thin film transistor (TFT) or the like for each of pixels provides a high level of performance owing to a high contrast ratio and an excellent response characteristic, and therefore are used for TV, monitors, notebook computers, and the like. Recently, the market scale of the active matrix liquid crystal display devices has been rapidly expanded.
Large-size liquid crystal display devices are used as display devices for amusement facilities, information displays, digital signage devices and the like. Along with the expansion of such uses, it has been attempted to provide pseudo realization of a large-screen display device by arraying a plurality of liquid crystal display devices (occasionally referred to as "tiling technology"). Such a structure is referred to as a "multi-display system" or the like and is a target of attention as a system for realizing a high-precision large screen.
A liquid crystal display device is driven by a line sequential system. According to the line sequential system, scanning is performed in a line sequential manner from the top to the bottom of a liquid crystal panel. In an active matrix liquid crystal display device, in one vertical scanning period, TFTs are turned ON on a pixel row-by-pixel row basis by a scanning line provided for each of pixel rows, and a voltage is written to pixels on a pixel row-by-pixel row basis.
FIG. 28(a) shows an equivalent circuit of a conventionally common active matrix liquid crystal display device 700. As shown in FIG. 28(a), in the liquid crystal display device 700, a TFT 712 is provided for each of a plurality of pixels 701 located in a matrix. A gate electrode of the TFT 712 is connected to a scanning line 700g provided for each of pixel rows, and a source electrode of the TFT 712 is connected to a signal line 700s provided for each of pixel columns. A drain electrode of the TFT 712 is connected to a pixel electrode 711 provided for each of the pixels 701.
FIG. 28(b) shows waveforms of a scanning signal voltage supplied from the scanning lines 700g to the TFTs 712. FIG. 28(b) corresponds to FIG. 28(a) and shows the waveforms of the scanning signal voltage supplied from the scanning lines 700g provided for a first pixel row, a second pixel row, a third pixel row and a final pixel row. As shown in FIG. 28(b), the scanning signal voltage becomes a gate ON voltage sequentially from the first pixel row. Therefore, the timing to write a voltage to the pixels 701 varies in accordance with the pixel row. The time lag between the first pixel row (i.e., the uppermost pixel row) and the final row (i.e., the lowermost pixel row) is a time period corresponding to approximately one vertical scanning period (one frame) (i.e., about 16.7 ms in the case where the driving is performed at 60 Hz).
As can be seen, the timing to write a voltage to the pixels 701, namely, the timing at which the pixel data is rewritten and the display is switched is gradually shifted from the top to the bottom of a liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the following problem may occur when a video showing motions is displayed.
FIG. 29(a) shows a vertical bar (band extending in a top-bottom direction) 70 displayed in a still manner on a screen of the liquid crystal display device 700, and FIG. 29(b) shows the vertical bar 70 displayed in a scroll manner so as to move rightward on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 700. In the case of the still display, as shown in FIG. 29(a), the vertical bar 70 is displayed parallel to the top-bottom direction, namely, normally. By contrast, in the case of the scroll display, as shown in FIG. 29(b), the vertical bar 70 is displayed as being inclined with respect to the top-bottom direction.
FIG. 30(a) shows the vertical bar 70 displayed in a still manner on a screen of a multi-display system 800, and FIG. 30(b) shows the vertical bar 70 displayed in a scroll manner so as to move rightward on the screen of the multi-display system 800. The multi-display system 800 shown in FIGS. 30(a) and 30(b) includes 12 liquid crystal display devices 700 arrayed in three rows by four columns. In the case of the still display, as shown in FIG. 30(a), in each liquid crystal display device 700 and also in the entire multi-display system 800, the vertical bar 70 is displayed parallel to the top-bottom direction, namely, normally. By contrast, in the case of the scroll display, as shown in FIG. 30(b), in each liquid crystal display device 700 and also in the entire multi-display system 800, the vertical bar 70 is displayed as being inclined with respect to the top-bottom direction. In addition, the inclined vertical bar 70 is discontinuous between the liquid crystal display devices 700 adjacent to each other in the top-bottom direction. Herein, the term "discontinuous" does not indicate that the vertical bar 70 is not displayed in a frame area, but indicates that parts of the vertical bar 70 displayed by the liquid crystal display devices 700 are not located on a strictly straight line (namely, that the parts of the vertical bar 70 are displayed in a state of being shifted in a left-right direction).
According to a conventionally known technique, a frame memory for storing image data is provided in each of a plurality of liquid crystal display devices included in a multi-display system, and for a liquid crystal display device located in the second and subsequent rows, display is provided in a delayed manner. In this way, the continuity of the display is kept.
This technique can solve the discontinuity of the display between the liquid crystal display devices, but cannot solve the inclination of the display in each of the liquid crystal display devices. This technique also requires a frame memory for each of the liquid crystal display devices, and thus raises the production cost. In addition, when the number of the liquid crystal display devices included in the multi-display system is increased and thus the number of the liquid crystal display devices located in a column direction is increased (namely, when the number of the liquid crystal display device rows is increased), the display needs to be delayed in correspondence with the number of the liquid crystal display device rows. In the case where, for example, the liquid crystal display devices are arrayed in three columns as shown in FIG. 30(b), the display on the liquid crystal display devices on the third row (i.e., the lowermost row) needs to be delayed by two vertical scanning periods with respect to the display on the liquid crystal display devices on the first row (i.e., the uppermost row). In a liquid crystal display device, for which the display is delayed by a long time period, the frame memory needs to have a larger capacity in correspondence with the delay. This further raises the production cost.
Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid crystal display device capable of writing a voltage to all the pixels globally. FIG. 31 shows a liquid crystal display device 900 disclosed in Patent Document 1.
As shown in FIG. 31, the liquid crystal display device 900 includes a plurality of pixels 901 arrayed in a matrix. A scanning line 900g1 and a scanning line 900g2 are provided for each of pixel rows, and a signal line 900s is provided for each of pixel columns. A storage capacitor line 900c1 and a temporary capacitor line 900c2 are provided for each of the pixel rows.
The plurality of pixels 901 are each provided with a liquid crystal element LC, a storage capacitor element 922A and a temporary capacitor element 922B. The liquid crystal element LC is a capacitor element formed by a pixel electrode for each pixel 901, a part of a counter electrode that faces the pixel electrode 901, and a part of a liquid crystal layer that is located between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode (none of these components is shown).
Each pixel 901 is provided with two TFT elements 912A and 912B. Among the two TFT elements 912A and 912B, the TFT element 912A is a switching element for switching a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the temporary capacitor element 922B and the liquid crystal element LC/the storage capacitor element 922A. A gate electrode of the TFT element 912A is connected to the scanning line 900g1, and a source electrode of the TFT element 912A is connected to an end of the temporary capacitor element 922B. A drain electrode of the TFT element 912A is connected to one end of the storage capacitor element 922A and also an end of the liquid crystal element LC (i.e., pixel electrode).
The other TFT element 912B is a switching element for switching a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the temporary capacitor element 922B and the signal line 900s. A gate electrode of the TFT element 912B is connected to the scanning line 900g2, and a source electrode of the TFT element 912B is connected to the signal line 900s. A drain electrode of the TFT element 912B is connected to one end of the temporary capacitor element 922B.
The storage capacitor element 922A is a capacitor element for storing an accumulated charge in the liquid crystal element LC stably. As described above, one end of the storage capacitor element 922A is connected to the drain electrode of the TFT element 912A. The other end of the storage capacitor element 922A is connected to the storage capacitor line 900c1.
The temporary capacitor element 922B is a capacitor element for temporarily storing a video voltage corresponding to a video signal before the video signal is written to the liquid crystal element LC. As described above, one end of the temporary capacitor element 922B is connected to the source electrode of the TFT element 912A and the drain electrode of the TFT element 912B. The other end of the temporary capacitor element 922B is connected to the temporary capacitor line 900c2.
In the liquid crystal display device 900 having the above-described structure, in one vertical scanning period, first, video signals are sequentially supplied to the temporary capacitor elements 922B in a line sequential manner and temporarily stored in the capacitor elements 922B. Then, the video signals are transferred (written) to the liquid crystal elements LC and the storage capacitor elements 922A in all the pixels 901 globally.

Liquid crystal display device and multi-display system


The preparation of suitable powdered metal is important in powder metallurgy technology. To date, powdered metals, in particular refractory metals, have been produced using very time-consuming and, consequently, costly methods for the reduction of metallic compounds, e.g. by reducing solid metallic compounds to powdered metal in fluidized bed ovens or pusher-type furnaces. In the present invention, powdered metallic compounds are reduced by retaining the solid phase as a continuous process by particles passing through a reaction chamber to predetermined orbits. The process lasts on average 0.4 to 60 s, and the level of completeness of the process is at least 90%.

The invention concerns a method for the chemical reduction, consisting of one or more stages of reaction, of powdered metal compounds as the material to be reduced, to powdered metal or to powdered metal compounds at a lower oxidation state than the predetermined final product, in a temperature controlled reaction chamber with input and output openings for the material to be reduced, for the gaseous reducing medium and, alternatively, for the carrier gas. The method is particularly suitable for the reduction of refractory powdered metal oxide into powdered metal, for example, the reduction of en oxide to tungsten, or even of molybdenum oxide to molybdenum.
Until now, the methods of powder metallurgy have dominated the manufacture of refractory metals and their further processing. As a result, the quality of the powdered metal, particularly the purity and the grain structure, has a decisive influence on the quality of the powder-metallurgical products produced from it.
The specialist has therefore always ascribed great importance to the production steps of metal extraction, which produce pure powdered metal directly. This especially concerns the reduction of powdered metal oxides of refractory metals, for example W.sub.4 O.sub.11 or MoO.sub.3 to pure metallic powder in one or more stages of reduction.
It is therefore noteworthy, that these oxides have predominantly been reduced in pusher-type furnaces for decades, for reasons unchanged up to the present. For this processing, the powdered oxides are smeared into a thin layer in tablet-like ceramics or metal seers and directed (pushed) step by step, at an established rate for several hours through a high temple pusher-type furnaces with zones of different temperature and different atmospheric conditions. As a rule, hydrogen gas is introduced as the reducing agent. The processing times and therefor the reduction times are around 10.sup.3 -2.times.10.sup.4 seconds. The specific throughput, measured as tons of material to be produced per unit volume (m.sup.3 ) of the reaction chamber and hour, is approximately 0.04 for pusher-type furnaces.
Another known method for reducing these types of metallic compounds which is seldom used in practice, is the so led rotary kiln method Here the charging stock of the material to be reduced moves in a rotary kiln tilted slimly from the horizontal. The processing times are comparable to that of pusher-type kilns. Here, adequate furnace dwelling or reduction times are likewise in the range of 10.sup.3 -10.sup.4 seconds and the specific throughput is approximately 0.055 tons per cubic meter and hour.
Both of these methods have a disadvantage which has been known for a long time, namely the small specific throughput of the powder to be reduced, relative to the size of the installation. The source of the small specific throughput is the restricted access of the reducing gas to the powder surface of the material to be reduced.
To overcome the discussed disadvantages of rotary kilns and pusher-type kilns, it has been proposed to undertake the reduction in a fluidized bed oven In this method, the metal compound to be reduced is brought as powdered charging stock into a temperature controlled reaction chamber on a metal grating, By the reducing gas, mixed with a carrier gas if necessary, flows from below through the material to be reduced, which is positioned on the grating, thereby stirring up the material, bringing it into a quasi-fluid gas particle phase, and reducing it to powdered metal in contact with the same.
Yet even in this method, the dwelling time of the material to be reduced in the reaction chamber for adequate homogeneous reduction of the particles is 10.sup. -10.sup.4 seconds. Accordingly, the specific throughput of the material to be reduced is around one power of ten above that of pusher-type and rotary kilns.
The sources of these unsatisfactorily long dwelling or reaction times are the partial reoxidation of already reduced particles in the charging stock, and the unavoidable formation of individual time-varying "channels" in the bulk material through which the gas flows. The materials in the zones bordering these channels is only partially, if at all, supplied with reducing gas and reduced.
The publication by A. V. Savin "On the practice and theory of reduction of tungsten oxides", Izvestiya Rossuskoi Akademii Nauk. Metally, No. 4, pages 22-26, 1993, English version appearing under the publication number ISSN: 0568-5303, published in 1993 by Allerton Press. Inc., 150 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011; deals with the metallurgical events and with the kinetics of the reduction of tungsten oxide. In this context it gives practical laboratory experiments to help with the reduction of powdered tungsten oxide. For this purpose, loose tungsten oxide powder was introduced from above into a vertical tube, 250-300 mm long, heated to 1,200.degree. C., over a small hopper, and traveled through this tube in free fall within 0.25 seconds. There was a reducing gas in the tube whose influence on the passage time of the powder through the tube could be disregarded. The reduction of tungsten oxide occurred at a moderate rate, so that the process had to be repeated several times with the same powder, in order to obtain reaction data which appeared to support the model over the individual reaction events. In an alternative experimental arrangement, a film of WO.sub.3 was placed on a wire which was brought into a reducing atmosphere, and heated for approximately 1 second by a current passage. This resulted in a reduction of the oxide that escaped precise quantification.
In the professional world, the concept of "cyclone" has evolved for a reaction chamber, externally similar to the fluidized-bed chamber, for carrying out reactions of chemical materials. In contrast to the procedure in a fluidized-bed chamber, the solid, gaseous, and occasionally even liquid materials which are provided for a reaction in a cyclone, often premixed and swirled many times, individually or together, are continuously fed into the upper area of the reaction chamber with mass throughput, as a whole vertical, or blown in a prescribed direction. The materials introduced in this way move under the effects of the gravitational and centrifugal forces as well as the flow conditions of the gases in the reaction space. They react in the desired way and manner, and exit the chamber, mainly at the end of the reaction chamber opposite the entrance, as solid, liquid, or gaseous end products. Gaseous end products are released at the reaction chamber's upper end, from case to case, depending on the flow conditions.
The origination of a flow field of the reaction material with axial, radial, and high tangential velocities is common to all cyclone-like reaction chambers. As a rule, very large relative velocities between solids and gases appear. Large velocity gradients produce high intensities of turbulence, thereby effecting high rates of thermal and material diffusion.
These types of cyclone reactors are useful for the pyrolysis of sawdust: J. Lede, F. Verzaro, B. Antoine, J. Villermaux, "Flash Pyrolysis of Wood in a Cyclone Reactor", Chem. Eng. Proc. 20 (1986), pages 309-317; J. Cousins, W. Robinson, "Gasification of Sawdust in an air blown cyclone Gasifier", Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev. 24 (1985), pages 1281-1287; or even for the burning of slag and sewage sludge: T. Murakami, et al, "Characteristics of Melting Process for Sewage Sludge", Wat. Sci, Tech. 23 (1991), pages 2019-2028.
Finally, cyclones are also described for exothermal metallurgical processes, e.g. for melting copper and lead concentrations, and copper concentrations containing zinc (DE 33 41 154 Al; A Lange, "Das Schwebeschmelzen und andere leistungsintensive Prozesse" [Flash-smelting and other Production Intensive Processes], Erzmetall 13 (1960), pages 151-159).
It is nevertheless common to all metallurgical processes conducted in cyclones, that the reaction materials are introduced as gaseous and solid particles, and the reduced metals leave the cyclone molten, i.e. they are collected as smelt in a settling kiln at the reaction chamber's lower outlet.
The shape and chemical structure of all materials participating in the reaction are determining factors for the constructive arrangements actually tried, within broad bounds, and the process parameters used in the cyclone in practice.
A reaction chamber corresponding to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,387 is used for a procedural step for man, molybdenum trioxide from a slag containing molybdenum sulphide. It corresponds to a cyclone insofar as powdered molybdenum sulphide is introduced into a reaction chamber from above together with a reaction gas, and these pass through on a prescribed path. Slags containing molybdenum di-sulphide are added to the reaction chamber separately in particle form together with oxygen as the reaction gas and with additional carrier gases. There, they are brought to the reaction temperature in the so-called flame front. The end products leaving the reaction space are volatile molybdenum trioxide, liquid slag, and residual gas.

Method for the reduction of metallic compounds


An electrical connector adapted to even more securely and positively hold a conventional terminal element therein such that the terminal element cannot be withdrawn from a main body portion of the connector by a pulling or tugging force. The connector comprises a main body portion having an inner upper wall portion and an inner lower wall portion. A plurality of upper bores are formed in connection with the inner upper wall portion, and a plurality of lower bores are formed in connection with the inner lower wall portion. Each of the inner upper and lower wall portions include a shoulder portion which protrudes into one of the upper or lower bores. A conventional terminal element is inserted into a front side of the connector where a portion of the terminal element abuttingly engages the internal shoulder portion of the bore in which it is inserted. A shoulder portion positively and effectively prevents the terminal element from being withdrawn by a pulling or tugging force from a rear side of the main body portion. The upper and lower shoulder portions are non-flexible and non-moving and are therefore not susceptible to breakage such as with conventional leaf beam-type latching arms.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to an electrical connector having a plurality of non-flexible, non-movable shoulder portions which positively prevent a terminal element inserted therein from being unintentionally pulled out of a rear side of a main body portion of the connector.
2. Discussion
Electrical connectors are used in a wide variety of applications to electrically couple various circuits, wiring harnesses, etc., together. Many such connectors include some form of internal, movable, "beam-type" element which is adapted to abuttingly engage a portion of a terminal element inserted within the connector. Typically the terminal element is inserted from a rear side of the connector body. As it passes adjacent the shoulder portion of the beam-type element the element typically flexes outwardly to allow the terminal element to be inserted completely within the connector, and then latches or otherwise abuttingly engages a portion of the terminal element to help prevent same from being pulled from the rear side of the connector body.
The drawback with the use of beam-type movable latching elements is their propensity to break or flex when a pulling force is exerted on a wire attached to the terminal element being secured by the latching member. Since the beam-type elements are flexible, on occasion they break or may be caused to flex such that the terminal element within the connector may be inadvertently pulled from the connector body. Such instances are highly undesirable, especially in motor vehicle applications where electrical connectors may not always be easily and readily accessible for repair. Such instances where a terminal element is accidentally pulled from the connector body may also necessitate time consuming electrical trouble-shooting in an otherwise complicated wiring system by a qualified technician to isolate the accidentally removed terminal element. Such situations not only represent a serious inconvenience but also may necessitate the entire connector being replaced if some suitable repair cannot be made to a broken beam-type latching element.
Connector designs requiring a flexible, beam-type latching member further are required to be made from material having a high flex modulus. Moreover, the tooling which must be used to make flexible beam-type latching members is very fragile and a generally high maintenance item. Still further, problems are frequently encuntered with filling of material which is to form the flexible member, as well as underfilling and trapped air, all of which can lead to brittleness of the flexible beam-type latching member.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which even more securely and effectively holds a terminal element therein in response to pulling forces exerted on the terminal element, which might otherwise cause the terminal element to be accidentally withdrawn from the electrical connector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which includes a plurality of non-flexible, non-movable shoulder portions for even more securely and effectively securing a terminal element within a bore of a connector such that a pulling force exerted on an electrical conductor coupled to the terminal element, or the terminal element itself, will not cause the terminal element to be pulled from the electrical connector.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which more positively and effectively secures a terminal element therewithin without any use of traditional leaf beam-type latching members.


A test head for testing a DUT includes a probe card having a plurality of DUT probes, the probes being in contact with the DUT during the testing; an instrument carrier, the instrument carrier being located above the DUT during the testing; and a SMU mounted on the carrier for each of the probes, each SMU being operably connectable to a respective probe, wherein the carrier is moved with respect to the probe card to permit replacement of the probe card.

The present invention relates to electrical measurements and, in particular, to test equipment with many test probes.
In the testing of semiconductor devices and electronic products, it is common to use test heads having many test probes. Such test heads may have ten or more probes, for example, 56 may be used. To use the probes, measurement instruments need be connected to the probes.
The use of such numbers of probes complicates the connection, configuration and operation of the test instruments in combination with the probes.


A seat with a device for generating electromagnetic interaction in an accommodation region that is equipped to accommodate an object. By electromagnetic interaction, an object can be influenced in such a way that, for example, fatigue that occurs during long-distance flights can be avoided. The device is used to prevent and reduce the occurrence of jet lag, reduce the danger of passengers suffering from thrombosis, and increase general well-being by promoting relaxation, sleep and stress reduction. The integration in cabin crew seats and/or cockpit seats can improve the performance of the crew of an aircraft on long-distance flights.

The present invention relates to an airplane seat, a passenger bench for an aircraft, a magnetic field resonance system, and a use of a device for generating electromagnetic interaction in an airplane seat or in a passenger bench for an aircraft.
Long-distance flights, long journeys in passenger motor vehicles or coaches in confined spaces entail an uncomfortable seating position for passengers. Apart from the passengers, members of the crew are also affected. Remaining in the same seated position, combined with limited opportunities to move around, in many cases leads to the danger of suffering from thrombosis. Moreover, long journeys can entail changes in time zones. If such journeys are made in confined spaces, the body can experience stress situations, and manifestations can be experienced which, for passengers and aircrew alike, can lead to the phenomenon known as jet lag.
DE 103 04 085 A1, DE 103 04 093 A1, DE 103 02 439 A1 and DE 103 01 867 A1 disclose devices which are based on the principle of electromagnetic resonance stimulation (eMRS). One example of this is the eMRS® system of the company vita-life®.                vita-life® eMRS® can for example be used as supplementary treatment:        for regenerative function—bone system;        for regenerative function—soft tissue;        as a relaxation function—vegetative soothing;        for improved provision of oxygen;        as a function that stimulates circulation;        as a pain-relieving function—bony joint system; and        as a pain relieving function—connective tissue.
The function of the devices is based on the effect which electromagnetic and magnetic fields have on living organisms.
First there was the empirical knowledge of old cultures with the positive effect of magnets on health and beauty. After a considerable period when this was forgotten and after a brief reawakening of the interest in medieval times and at the beginning of the modern age, magnetic-field research made its breakthrough by recognising the pathogenesis as a result of a lack of electromagnetic information. There followed a phase of euphoric, uncritical and undifferentiated use: in cosmetics, in the wellness sphere, and in conjunction with other fashion trends. This boom caused considerable damage to serious magnetic field research. The latter has increasingly been classified as frivolous and thus not to be taken seriously.
Irrespective of these western fashion trends, however, above all in Europe intensive high-level research has continued without interruption. In the early 21st century, as part of information medicine and energy medicine, there has again been an increased focus on the therapeutic options of electromagnetic waves, and, in the context of environmental medicine and the problematic nature of electrosmog, this research discipline attains a dimension of urgency.

Airplane seat, passenger bench, magnetic field resonance system, and use of a device for generating electromagnetic interaction in an airplane seat or in a passenger bench in an aircraft


A flow regulator for automotive vehicles of the type having a computer-controlled emission control system. The flow regulator has an electric vacuum regulator (EVR) valve that regulates the vacuum signal provided to a vacuum regulator valve in accordance with the current signal supplied to the EVR valve by the engine controller unit. The vacuum regulator valve includes a control chamber and a valve chamber that are separated by a movable diaphragm valve assembly. The preload on a biasing spring acting on the diaphragm valve assembly can be adjusted during calibration of the flow regulator for setting a first calibration point. An adjustable flow restrictor provided in the inlet portion of the vacuum regulator valve can be varied during calibration for setting a second calibration point. In operation, the flow regulator is operable to generate substantially linear output flow characteristic between the two calibration points as a function of the current signal in a manner that is independent of changes in manifold vacuum.

The present invention relates generally to electronically-controlled flow regulators of the type used in automotive vehicles equipped with computer-controlled emission control systems.
As is known, virtually all modern automotive vehicles are equipped with emission control systems that are operable for limiting the emission of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. Such emission control systems typically include an evaporative emission control system which traps fuel vapors from the fuel tank in a carbon-filled canister and a purge system which draws the vapors from the canister into the engine intake system. In this manner, fuel vapors from the fuel tank are delivered to the engine for subsequent combustion.
Conventional evaporative emission control systems are equipped with electronically controlled purge valves for regulating the flow rate of fuel vapors introduced into the intake system in response to specific engine operating parameters. Conventional purge valves comprise pulse width modulated (PWM) solenoid valves which are responsive to a duty cycle control signal from the engine computer. However, PWM purge valves provide uneven flow characteristics, particularly at low engine speeds, and also do not provide consistent flow control independent of variations in manifold vacuum.
In view of increasingly stringent emission regulations, the demands on the evaporative emission control system have increased dramatically. In particular, in order to satisfy current EPA emission requirements, the flow capability of the evaporative emission system must be increased. To achieve this result within the EPA city test cycle, it is therefore necessary to provide purge flow at engine idle speeds. Moreover, purge flow control must also be accurately regulated so as not to cause unacceptable excursions in overall engine output emissions.
To provide such enhanced flow control, it is desirable to have the output flow characteristics of the purge valve be proportional to the duty cycle of the electric control signal applied to the valve, even at low engine speeds, and yet be independent of variations in the manifold vacuum. Accordingly, the output flow of the valve should be substantially constant at a given duty cycle control signal and be controllable in response to regulated changes in the duty cycle regardless of variations in manifold vacuum. Moreover, it is also desirable that the output flow of the valve vary substantially linearly from a predetermined "minimum" flow rate at a "start-to-open" duty cycle to a specified "maximum" flow rate at 100% duty cycle.
The above performance demands have prompted the recent development of a purge flow regulator that combines an electric vacuum regulator (EVR) solenoid valve with a diaphragm-type vacuum regulator valve to provide the desired continuous controlled flow characteristics independent of variations in manifold vacuum. In particular, the EVR solenoid valve is connected to the diaphragm vacuum regulator valve so as to regulate the vacuum signal supplied to the reference side of the diaphragm valve in accordance with the control signal from the engine computer.
A closure member, associated with the opposite side of the diaphragm, controls flow from the input port to the output port of the vacuum regulator valve in response to regulated movement of the diaphragm. Since the EVR valve is in communication with atmosphere and a vacuum source, such as the intake manifold of the engine, the amount of vacuum (i.e., the vacuum signal) provided to the reference side of the diaphragm is proportional to the electric control signal supplied to the EVR valve by the on-board engine control computer. Thus, output flow through the vacuum regulator valve is controlled by the duty cycle of the control signal applied to the EVR valve.
Examples of electronically controlled flow purge regulators of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,378 to Cook and U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,568 to Fox. However, for such conventional flow regulators to satisfy the above-described performance specifications, the purge flow regulator must be precisely calibrated. It has been proposed to calibrate the purge flow regulator by adjusting the characteristics of the EVR solenoid valve. In particular, the preload on the armature bias spring of the EVR valve is adjusted for setting the minimum flow rate at the "start-to-open" duty cycle. Such changes in the magnitude of preload on the armature bias spring effectively displaces the performance curve without changing its slope. In addition, the reluctance of the solenoid flux path is adjusted for setting the maximum flow rate at the 100% duty cycle. However, changes in reluctance result in a corresponding change in the slope of the performance curve. As can be appreciated, this calibration approach is problematic in that each adjustment affects the other, such that the two calibration adjustments are dependent and cumulative in nature. As such, it typically requires several iterations to "zero-in" on both of the desired calibration points. Accordingly, while such conventional flow regulators are generally successful in automotive emission control systems for their intended purpose, there is a continuing need to develop alternatives which meet the above-noted performance specifications and can be manufactured and calibrated in a more efficient and cost effective manner.


A color filter substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, and a corresponding display panel. The manufacturing method of the color filter substrate includes: providing a substrate; forming an array of a plurality of pixel units on the substrate, wherein each pixel unit comprises a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel and at least two third sub-pixels, the at least two third sub-pixels being made of an irreversible temperature-sensitive pigment; and performing a temperature-variation treatment on one third sub-pixel in each pixel unit such that the one third sub-pixel changes color and becomes a fourth sub-pixel.

With increasing requirements for low-cost devices on the market, a display panel with better light transmittance is needed. At present, producers are adopting color filters, e.g., filter layers of four colors including W (white), R (red), G (green) and B (blue), to form a color display picture. By doing this, not only the transmittance of the product can be improved, but the power consumption of the product can also be reduced.
In an existing color filter, the filter layer for W pixels is usually made in the following two ways. In a first way, after forming the filter layers for R, G and B pixels, an additional process is performed separately to make the filter layer for W pixels. This manufacturing approach has problems such as a long production cycle and a high product cost. In a second way, the filter layer for W pixels is made by a coating process. Although this approach can reduce the manufacture cost, the obtained filter layer for W pixels and the filter layers for other pixels have large segment differences. In this case, the display panel will be subject to problems such as poor touch and non-uniformity in dark states.

Color filter substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and display panel

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Instance properties are defined for instances of an application. During episodes of the instances, the values of the instance properties are populated. Other instances read the values of the instance properties without requiring the instance to run. If the value of an instance property is not populated, then a new episode of the instance is executed to populate the missing values. Instance properties may be grouped into property bags. An instance may populate the values of instance properties in a property bag atomically during one episode using a multi-set message. Other instances may read the values of the property bag instance properties using a multi-get request.

Programs often need some configuration and context data for their execution. It is typically a role of the system managing the programs to make configuration and context data available. Traditionally, this has been done using configuration ("config") files or by maintaining configuration and context data in databases.
However, the existing approaches are impractical in distributed systems that must scale to manage a potentially very large number, such as many millions, of program definitions and an even higher number of executing instances of these program definitions. Additionally, the distributed systems must provide shared and separate dynamic configuration and context data for program definitions and for executing program instances.

System for scalable configuration and context


Semiconductor device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device structure includes a body well region having a first conductivity type, a drift region and a source region each having a second conductivity type, where a channel portion of the body well region resides laterally between the source region and a first portion of the drift region that is adjacent to the channel portion. A gate structure overlies the channel portion and the adjacent portion of the drift region. A portion of the gate structure overlying the channel portion proximate the source region has the second conductivity type. Another portion of the gate structure that overlies the adjacent portion of the drift region has a different doping, and overlaps at least a portion of the channel portion, with the threshold voltage associated with the gate structure being influenced by the amount of overlap.

During normal operation, the current flowing through a semiconductor device causes the temperature of the semiconductor device to increase as a byproduct of the power dissipated by the resistance of the device. The increase in temperature can lead to thermal runaway or otherwise impair functionality of the semiconductor device, particularly in response to large currents (e.g., during an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event, inductive switching, or the like). The desire to improve the current or temperature handling capabilities of a device must often be balanced against competing desires to achieve a particular level of performance while minimizing fabrication process costs and complexity.

Semiconductor device and related fabrication methods


Each of a plurality of connected optional apparatuses includes a sliding member slidable in a direction of connection, and a display provided in the sliding member, the display having a plurality of unique identifiers. The sliding member is movable while contacting a sliding member of an adjacent one of the plurality of optional apparatuses, and when the plurality of optional apparatuses are connected, a moving amount of a sliding member of each of the plurality of optional apparatuses differs, and therefore displays a different unique identifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plurality of connected optional apparatuses, such as external sheet feeding apparatuses or external sheet discharging apparatuses, that are connected to an image forming apparatus, and to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile apparatus, and a printer, that can be connected to the optional apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is often configured to increase a sheet feeding capacity and a discharged-sheet mounting capacity by including a plurality of external sheet feeding apparatuses, such as optional feeders, or external sheet discharging apparatuses, such as optional trays, connected to the image forming apparatus. Such external apparatuses (hereinafter termed "optional apparatuses") are generally disposed below or above an image forming apparatus. In many cases, optional apparatuses can be stacked in several stages.
In an image forming apparatus connecting to these optional apparatuses, discrimination among the optional apparatuses is generally performed by providing each of the optional apparatuses with an identifier, such as a sheet-feeding-port number in an external sheet feeding apparatus, or a discharged-sheet-tray number in an external sheet discharging apparatus. That is, each optional apparatus is discriminated by being provided with an identifier, such as a numeral, a letter, or the like.
Conventionally, when there is an identifier for each optional apparatus when a plurality of optional apparatuses are used in a stacked state, for example, the process of attaching a label on which a corresponding identifier is printed is performed after installing an optional apparatus, and as a result the operation of installing optional apparatuses becomes complicated.
In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 11-246059 (1999) discloses a configuration for allowing automatic switching of an identifier for a connected optional apparatus.
This conventional configuration will be described illustrating optional feeders, serving as external sheet feeding apparatuses. As shown in FIG. 8, a sliding member 4 having an projection 9 protruding upward is provided so as to be vertically slidable in each optional feeder 2. The sliding member 4 is urged upward by a coil spring 7. Two identifiers "2" and "3" are integrally formed on the sliding member 4 at constant intervals in a sliding direction. When optional feeder 2 is in one stage, the identifier "2" disposed downward from among the two identifiers is displayed from a display window 8 provided in the surface of a protective housing of the optional feeder 2. A hole 11 in image forming apparatus 1 is provided at a position facing the projection 9 of the sliding member 4 of the uppermost optional feeder 2. When connecting the uppermost optional feeder 2 to the lower surface of an image forming apparatus 1, the projection 9 is inserted into the hole 11. Since the sliding member 4 does not move, the identifier of the optional feeder 2 is a sheet-feeding-unit number "2" provided at the lower portion of the sliding member 4.
Since the base of the optional feeder 2 is flat, when an optional feeder 2 of the second stage is connected below the uppermost or first optional feeder 2, the projection 9 of the lower optional feeder 2 contacts the base of the uppermost optional feeder 2 to push the sliding member 4 downward against the spring force of the coil spring 7. As a result, the identifier "3" provided at the upper portion of the sliding member 4 is displayed thru display window 8 provided on the surface of the protective housing, to set the sheet-feeding-unit number of the lower optional feeder 2 to "3".
In the above-described conventional configuration, however, since switching of the identifier is performed using the optional apparatus disposed adjacent to the first optional apparatus and switching can be performed only between two types of identifiers, it is impossible to deal with a configuration allowing stacking of at least three external sheet feeding apparatuses.

Optional apparatuses each displaying unique identifier and image forming apparatus containing same


The optical switch arrangement is included in an optical node of an optical network and includes an optical switch (OS) with optical inputs and optical outputs which routes incoming optical signals from the optical inputs to the optical outputs and generates outgoing optical signals. The optical switch arrangement (OSA) additionally includes an optical delay device (ODD) with optical delay units (ODU1, . . . , ODUm) coupled to a subset of the optical outputs and which delays an outgoing optical signal with a predetermined delay time to generate a delayed optical signal and a control unit (CTRL) to control the routing and the predetermined delay time. The optical switch arrangement (OSA) is thereby enabled to synchronise incoming optical signals. The arrangement is used in an optical protection switching module consisting of the connection of this optical switch arrangement (OSA) and a plurality of optical selectors which select one out of the outgoing optical signals or the delayed optical signals. A second use of the arrangement relates to an optical hitless protection switching module (OHPSW) similar to the previous module but where the optical selectors select one out of a plurality of synchronised outgoing optical signals.

Such an optical switch arrangement is already known in the art, e.g. from the article "Transparent routing; the enabling factor towards all-optical networking" written by A. Fioretti, F. Masetti, M. Sotom from Alcatel Alsthom Recherche France, published in the proceeding ECOC 1994. Florence, Italy September 1994. Therein, and more specifically in the paragraph about the functional description of main optical network elements on page 504 and FIG. 3 on page 509, a transparent optical crossconnect is described, which is similar to the above mentioned optical switch arrangement and which provides optical connections by exploiting both wavelength and space domain and reroutes a wide range of incoming optical signals from optical inputs to optical outputs.
Due to increased transmission capacity in optical networks the ability to recover quickly from failures becomes extremely important. A way to prevent failures is to use an optical protection mechanism which explicitly preserves a back-up path for each active path and selects this back-up path in a selector when failure occurs on the active path. However identical optical data travelling over physically diverse optical fiber routes from a source optical node to a destination optical node has different amounts of propagation delay and as a result arrives at a different time in the selector of the destination optical node. For applications providing optical hitless protection switching, i.e. switching between active paths with minimal information loss, identical optical signals coming over different optical paths should arrive at the same time at the selector. However an optical switch arrangement which routes the identical incoming optical signals to the according optical selector can not ensure provision of these optical signals at the same time to the optical selector.

Optical switch arrangement with synchronisation feature and in particular optical protection switching module and optical hitless protection switching module using such an arrangement and methods realized by such arrangement and modules