A linear bearing includes a linear guide on which a carriage is translationally movable, a plurality of balls between the linear guide and carriage located in a contact area between the linear guide and the carriage on a straight line, ball deflection sections each adjoining one end of the line outside the contact area, and a ball return section, with the balls being adapted to continuously revolve along the line between the linear guide and the carriage, the ball deflection sections and the ball return section. The ball deflection sections include an end part and a ball deflector. The end part is provided with a trough-shaped depression which guides the balls, while the ball deflector includes a hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section. Also, a deflection path for the balls is provided between the trough-shaped depression and the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section in a mounted state of the linear bearing.

One example of a known linear bearing is disclosed in German Patentschrift No. DE 40 22 168 C2. In this linear bearing, a ball deflection mechanism is used consisting of a U-shaped bearing piece which is seated with its plane base surface on the face of a support body. The balls run between the cylindrical outside surface of the ball deflection mechanism and the inside of the deflection hood.
A similar approach is known from German Patentschrift No. DE 36 39 544 C2. In this linear bearing, an intermediate piece is fitted into a ball reverse track groove in order to form a ball deflection channel in the cover plate. The outer surface of the intermediate piece is made flat and is in contact with a cylindrical outer sleeve. The balls roll off on the ball reverse track groove of the intermediate piece.
British Patent Specification No. 911,077 describes a track groove for deflecting the balls, where the track groove is formed by the combination of recesses in an end piece and hemispherical elevations made on the end area of the guide rail.
In previously proposed approaches such as described above, disadvantages arise in that the ball deflection sections must be mounted directionally and generally a differentiation into right and left executions, for the two axial ends of the linear bearing, is necessary.


In one embodiment, the stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the inner catheter, and an enlarged tip is disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. A stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state and is maintained, until deployment, in the stretched state by a stent restraining sleeve. The stent restraining sleeve, which coaxially surrounds the stent and is appropriately sized to maintain the stent in its stretched state, is a braided tube formed directly over the stent. The system also includes an outer catheter that surrounds much of the distal end of the inner catheter up to its tip, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter.

The present invention relates generally to medical stents (hereinafter "stents") and relates more particularly to stent delivery systems.
A stent is a tubular endoprosthesis placed within a body lumen to maintain its patency. For example, a stent may be used to maintain the patency of an esophagus or other passageway occluded by a tumor or of a blood vessel constricted by plaque. Most stents fall into one of the following two classes: (i) balloon-expandable stents; and (ii) self-expandable stents. Generally speaking, a stent delivery system includes the stent and some means for positioning and fixing the stent in place within a body lumen.
A balloon-expandable stent is typically a ductile metal tube. The delivery system for such a stent typically includes an inflatable balloon secured to the distal end of a catheter, the balloon-expandable stent being secured to the catheter over the inflatable balloon. In use, the catheter is introduced to a desired site within a body lumen, and the balloon is expanded until the stent positioned thereover is inelastically expanded to its desired size against the walls of the lumen. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter is withdrawn from the site, thereby leaving the expanded stent in place against the walls of the lumen. An example of a balloon-expandable stent and delivery system therefor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,905, inventor Strecker, issued May 1990, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A self-expandable stent is typically an elastic tube that self-expands after having been compacted. Illustrative examples of self-expandable stents are disclosed in the following documents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,445, inventors Andersen et al., issued Mar. 2, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,504, inventors Andersen et al., issued Nov. 22, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,457, inventor Andersen, issued Aug. 10, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,275, inventors Wallstén et al., issued Oct. 29, 1991; Watkinson et al., "The Role of Self-Expanding Metallic Endoprostheses in Esophageal Strictures," Seminars in Interventional Radiology, 13(1): 17–26 (March 1996); and Strecker et al., "Nitinol Esophageal Stents: New Designs and Clinical Indications," Cadiovasc. Intervent. Radiol., 19:15–20 (1996).
The delivery system for a self-expandable stent typically comprises a catheter and a restraint for temporarily holding the stent in a compressed state at the distal end of the catheter. In use, the catheter is introduced to a desired site within a body lumen, and the restraint is removed, thereby allowing the stent to expand by its own elastic restoring force against the walls of the lumen. One of the more common self-expandable stent delivery systems of the above-described type comprises a coaxial tube assembly. More specifically, said delivery system comprises an inner catheter and an outer catheter, said outer catheter being coaxial with said inner catheter. The inner and outer catheters are appropriately sized so that a stent inserted over the distal end of the inner catheter is maintained in a compressed state by the inner surface of the outer catheter. In use, the assembly is introduced to a desired site, and the outer catheter is axially retracted relative to the inner catheter, thereby allowing the stent to self-expand off the inner catheter and against the walls of the lumen.
Illustrative examples of the aforementioned type of delivery system include the following U.S. patents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,444, inventors Braunschweiler et al., issued Jan. 16, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,377, inventors Burton et al., issued Jun. 25, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,151, inventor Wallstén, issued Feb. 5, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,152, inventors Wallstén et al., issued Mar. 22, 1988. A commercial embodiment of the above-described delivery system is the UNISTEP PLUS™ delivery system (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass.).
Although the above-described coaxial tube delivery system is well-suited for many types of self-expandable stents, such a delivery system is not particularly well-suited for those self-expandable stents that have limited axial strength, such as the Strecker stent—a knitted nitinol wire stent disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 5,366,504 and commercially available from Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass. This is because such stents are often unable to resist becoming axially compressed during assembly of the coaxial tube delivery system, when the distal end of the outer catheter must be drawn across the stent, and/or during deployment of the coaxial tube delivery system, when the distal end of the outer catheter must be withdrawn across the stent.
Consequently, alternative delivery systems have been devised for use with the Strecker stent and with other like stents of limited axial strength. One such system, which is exemplified by the ULTRAFLEX™ esophageal stent system (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass.), comprises a stent of the aforementioned type, said stent being mounted on an inner catheter and being encased in a pharmaceutical grade dissolvable gelatin to maintain the stent in a compressed state. An outer catheter surrounds the gelatin-encased stent. In use, the system is inserted into a patient's esophagus and the outer catheter is retracted. Moisture present in the esophagus causes the restraining gelatin to dissolve, thereby allowing the stent to expand.
Another delivery system devised for use with the Strecker stent and like stents of limited axial strength is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,378, inventor Strecker, which issued Apr. 11, 1995, and which is incorporated herein by reference. Said delivery system, which does not include an outer catheter, uses a crocheted suture cord to compress the stent against a catheter core. The crocheted cord is connected to a finger ring at the proximal end of the delivery system. Retraction of the finger ring unravels the cord in a circular manner down the length of the stent, gradually deploying the stent. A commercial embodiment of the aforementioned delivery system is the COVERED ULTRAFLEX™ esophageal stent system (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass.).
Unfortunately, the manufacture of the aforementioned crocheted cord delivery system is typically performed manually and can be quite taxing physically as a great deal of strength is required to tightly stretch the stent down on the catheter while crocheting the cord around the stent. Another problem with the foregoing system is that, during deployment, the crocheted cord does not always unravel correctly and completely.

Method of manufacturing a stent delivery system


A radiant electric heater arrangement for a glass-ceramic top cooking appliance includes a heater in the form of a dish-like support supporting a first heating element and a second heating element. The first heating element has a predetermined minimum operating life expectancy at a predetermined optimum operating temperature. During user-selectable periods of boost heating the first heating element is connected independently to a voltage supply and operates at a first temperature higher than the predetermined optimum operating temperature. In contrast, during user-selectable periods of normal heating, the second heating element is connected to the voltage supply in series with the first heating element, the first heating element operating at a second temperature lower than the predetermined optimum operating temperature.

Glass-ceramic top cooking appliances incorporating radiant electric heaters have been known for many years. Throughout their period of development there has been an ongoing demand to reduce the heat-up time to radiance of heating elements in heaters used therein, when such heaters are energised.
A particularly fast heat-up time has been achieved with the use of tungsten-halogen lamps as heating elements, but such lamps are expensive.
Particular attention has therefore been given to the ongoing development of heaters incorporating bare metallic heating elements in the form of coiled wire or, more recently, corrugated metal ribbon. With such elements, oxidation of the components thereof occurs during operation thereof and the rate of such oxidation increases with increasing operating temperature. After prolonged periods of operation, failure of the elements occurs.
The use of a material such as iron-chromium-aluminium alloy for heater elements has led to the provision of heaters with good operating life expectancy of at least 2500 hours, as a result of the formation of a protective layer of aluminium oxide on the surface of the elements. However, even with the use of such a material care has to be taken to limit the operating temperature of the elements in order to achieve satisfactory operating life. It has been found, for example, that in the case of a corrugated ribbon heating element an increase in operating temperature by about 30.degree. C. at temperatures of about 1000.degree. C. can result in the life of the element being approximately halved.
For this reason, heaters are generally designed such that the element or elements therein operate in service at a temperature which will provide a predetermined operating life expectancy for the heater before failure of the element or elements occurs. Such operating temperature in service will be referred to in this specification as the predetermined optimum operating temperature of the element or elements which may, for example, be between about 960.degree. C. and about 1020.degree. C. for a typical corrugated ribbon element and between about 950.degree. C. and about 1150.degree. C. for a typical coiled wire element, according to the specific material, geometry and power of the ribbon or wire element, and may be selected, for example, to provide a predetermined operating life expectancy of 2500 hours or more.
It is particularly desirable to provide a heater in which the heat-up time to radiance is as short as possible and the temperature of the element or elements is as high as possible at least during an initial period, for example in order to promote rapid boiling of the contents of a cooking utensil placed on the glass-ceramic cook-top. Fast heat-up to radiance is also visually appealing to the user.

Radiant electric heater arrangement and method of operating the same


A toilet seat bidet assembly, for use on a toilet bowl, the assembly including a toilet seat, which includes an upper molded seat portion, a flat base portion structured and disposed for supported positioning atop a rim portion of the toilet bowl, and a central opening, pivotally mounted atop the toilet bowl, and having a hollow channel formed between the upper seat portion and base portion of the toilet seat wherein a pair of flow actuated, pop out cleansing spouts are mounted in spaced apart relation from one another. The spouts are caused to protrude through a side of the upper portion of the toilet seat into the center opening in the toilet seat in response to water pressure so as to disperse water for cleansing a user's intimate parts. The spouts retract and remain protectively concealed within the hollow channel when water flow is stopped so as to shield them from potential contamination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toilet seat bidet assembly for use on a toilet bowl, which includes flow actuated, pop out cleansing spouts that are exposed only when water is flowing therethrough, thereby providing a completely sanitary and highly effective means of cleansing a user's intimate parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bidets are a commonly used cleansing medium in many bathrooms. Generally, however, bidets are separate structures positioned alongside a standard toilet bowl, thereby requiring much more room in a bathroom if both are desired. For this reason, there have been many attempts in the past to devise a bidet system which can be formed integrally with the toilet bowl, thereby requiring only a single structure. Bidet apparatuses such as those in Aoyama, U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,423, Kou, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,060, and Baus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,715, all include nozzles formed with or attached to the toilet seat for use as a bidet. These assemblies, however, have permanently exposed spray nozzles which remain positioned in the central opening of the toilet seat whether in use or not in use. As a result, the spray nozzles detract from the appearance of the toilet and can become easily contaminated during normal use of the toilet bowl, thereby lessening the sanitary conditions of using the bidet. Other assemblies, such as those recited by Basile, U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,534, and Yui, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,274 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,454 attempt to utilize retractable spray systems to maximize the sanitary use of their bidet assemblies. Unfortunately, the spray nozzles must be manually positioned, a procedure which can often be difficult to perform, requires direct manual contact with the toilet by the user, and is not a highly sanitary procedure. For these reasons, it would be highly beneficial to have a bidet assembly which while conveniently being included as part of the toilet seat, also maximizes the sanitary conditions of use by retracting the water spouts when they are not in use and automatically positioning the water spouts when the device is used. The device of the present invention is devised to do precisely that.
The device of the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a system which is integrally formed with the toilet seat and keeps the water spouts concealed within the toilet seat when the bidet system is not in use and the toilet is being used regularly. Further, when use of the bidet system is desired, the water spouts automatically pop out into position and as a result of the constant flow of water therethrough while the spouts are exposed, will not become contaminated during cleansing, a further benefit of the present invention.


Biaxially oriented polyolefin films comprising a core layer of propylene polymer, an intermediate layer of a non-voided, substantially non-pigmented propylene polymer on the core layer, and an outer skin layer of a polyolefin including titanium dioxide as a pigment are disclosed. Such films have good gloss.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns polymeric films and more particularly polypropylene films having good gloss.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been proposed hitherto in EP0004633-A to produce opaque polypropylene films, the opacity resulting from microvoids within a core layer of a three layer film structure. The outer heat sealable layers of these films impart a degree of gloss to the films. However, higher degrees of opacity combined with high gloss values have been sought in the art.
One proposal for increasing the opacity of polypropylene films has been to use titanium dioxide as a filler. GB2195947-A, for example, describes biaxially oriented polypropylene films having a base layer of a voided propylene homopolymer with an outer heat sealable polymeric layer containing titanium dioxide thereon. The titanium dioxide in the outer layer imparts improved opacity to the films compared with analogous voided films such as are described in EP 0004633-A, but the surface gloss of the films is reduced.
It has been proposed in EP 0517109-A to use a layer of a propylene homopolymer containing finely divided titanium dioxide between a propylene homopolymer core layer and a polymeric outer layer containing no filler, and such films are said to have high gloss.


Disclosed herein is a panhard linkage system that includes a straight axle extending between a first wheel and a second wheel of a vehicle, the straight axle including a length that is adaptable for sliding movement of an attached sliding joint. The system includes a first panhard link pivotally attached to and extending between a first panhard location that is on or connected directly to a frame of the vehicle and a second panhard location that is on or connected directly to the straight axle by way of the sliding joint. The system further includes a second panhard link pivotally attached to and extending between a third panhard location that is on or connected directly to a middle of the first panhard link located between the first and second panhard locations and a fourth panhard location that is on or connected directly to the straight axle. Further disclosed is a vehicle including the panhard linkage system, and a kit for providing the panhard linkage system to the vehicle.

Conventional land vehicles include a frame with axles and multiple wheels. The frame is suspended from the axle and wheel assemblies at a given ride height, i.e. ground clearance. Traditionally the ride height of a vehicle is fixed. However, adjustable ride height systems allow for the ride height of a vehicle to be altered.
The ability to adjust the ride height of a land vehicle provides several advantages. Increasing the ride height allows a vehicle to travel over more significant obstacles, e.g. rocks, bumps, downed trees, streams, and other irregularities in the surface over which the vehicle is traveling. An increased ride height also allows a vehicle to operate with larger tires for enhanced off road capability. Decreasing the ride height of a vehicle provides a lower roll center for increased stability and cornering capability, which may be desired for high speed travel over smooth surfaces.
Unfortunately, traditional systems used to adjust the ride height of a vehicle suffer from a limited amount of ride height adjustment capability without significant effort. Additionally, traditional systems used to adjust ride height result in detrimental effects to ride quality, wheel positioning, and/or steering alignment.
To demonstrate these deficiencies, a prior art vehicle 100, typical of a commercially available pickup truck, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The vehicle 100 is comprised of a body 101 attached to a frame 105. The vehicle 100 has a total of four wheels 110, two of which are attached to a straight axle 115 in the front, and two of which are attached to a straight axle 115 in the rear. The wheel 110 is permitted to rotate around the centerline of the straight axle 115, allowing the vehicle 100 to travel over the surface 200. The straight axle 115 illustrated in the rear of the vehicle 100 is positioned beneath the frame 105 via a traditional leaf spring suspension 300. The straight axle 115 illustrated in the front of the vehicle 100 is positioned beneath the frame 105 via a multi-link suspension 400.
The leaf spring suspension 300 and the multi-link suspension 400 are two exemplary prior art ways to position the straight axles 115 relative to the frame 105, support the sprung weight, i.e. the weight of the frame 105, body 101, and passengers/cargo, and provide dampening as the vehicle 100 travels over bumps in the surface 200.
Referring first to the rear of the exemplary vehicle 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the leaf spring suspension 300 comprises a leaf spring pack 305, pivotally attached to the frame 105 in the front, pivotally attached to a spring shackle 310 in the rear, and bolted to the straight axle 115 via a short lift block 315 which provides the interface surface between the bottom center of the leaf spring pack 305 and the straight axle 115. The spring shackle 310 is pivotally attached to the frame 105, allowing the leaf spring pack 305 to compress or expand as the vehicle 100 travels over bumps in the surface 200. The leaf spring pack 305 performs the function of positioning the straight axle 115 in the front to rear direction, supporting the sprung weight, and establishing the fixed ride height H. The shock 320 is pivotally attached to the frame 105 and the straight axle 115, and provides the dampening function.
Referring now to the front of the exemplary vehicle 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the multi-link suspension 400 comprises a shock tower 405 fixed to the frame 105. A coilover 410, which comprises a coil spring and a shock, is pivotally attached to the shock tower 405 and pivotally attached to the housing of the straight axle 115. The coilover 410 supports the sprung weight, establishes the ride height H, and provides dampening, but does not position the straight axle 115 in the front to back direction. Alternatively, a separate coil spring and shock, or an air spring and shock may be used in lieu of the coilover 410. The straight axle 115 is positioned front to back by the links 415 which are pivotally attached to the housing of the straight axle 115 and pivotally attached to the frame link mount 420. A coilover 410 may provide a small amount of adjustability to the ride height H (typically 2-4 inches). However, this limited amount of adjustability may not satisfy that which is required for traversing significant obstacles on the surface 200.
Traditional means of adjusting the ride height H are illustrated in FIG. 2 for both the leaf spring suspension 300 and the multi-link suspension 400. In FIG. 2, the ride height H has been increased approximately 13″ from that shown in FIG. 1.
With regards to the leaf spring suspension 300 in the rear, the increase in ride height H may be accomplished by substituting the short lift block 315 with a tall lift block 316 and the shock 320 with a long shock 321. This method results in what is known in the art as "axle wrap" due to the longer moment arm created between the base of the leaf spring pack 305 and the surface 200, and requires significant time to alter the ride height. Another traditional means of increasing the ride height H as illustrated in FIG. 2 is to install a large leaf spring pack 306. The large leaf spring pack 306 reduces and/or eliminates the "axle wrap", but typically creates a harsher ride quality than the original leaf spring pack 305 due to the increased spring constant as a result of the increased convexity and/or number of leaves making up the pack. The large leaf spring pack 306 still requires a long shock 321 and significant effort to change the ride height H.
With regards to the multi-link suspension 400 in the front, the increase in ride height H can be accomplished by substituting the coilover 410 with a longer coilover 411. The longer coilover 411 can be expensive, and this substitution requires significant time. Also, since the links 415 travel in an arc, the wheelbase W is shortened as the ride height H is increased, requiring the links 415 to be lengthened to compensate.
FIGS. 3A and 3B each illustrate the front view of the exemplary vehicle 100, depicting a traditional panhard bar 425 pivotally attached to the frame 105 and pivotally attached to the straight axle 115. The traditional panhard bar 425 positions the straight axle 115 in the left to right position relative to the frame 105. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, as the ride height H is increased, the body 101 moves to the side as a result of the traditional panhard bar 425 traveling in an arc. Although the front view of the multi-link suspension 400 is shown, a traditional panhard bar is also used in the same manner as a component of the leaf spring suspension system 300 in the rear of the exemplary vehicle 100.
FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary vehicle 100 steering system 500 as traditionally used in conjunction with a straight axle 115. The steering system 500 comprises a drag link 505 which is attached at one end via a ball and socket joint to the pitman arm 510 and at the other end via a ball and socket joint to the steering tie bar 515. The steering tie bar 515 is attached at both ends to the spindles 520 via a ball and socket joint (note: in some applications the drag link 505 attaches directly to one of the spindles 520). As the pitman arm 510 translates left and right, the spindles 520 are turned left and right, thus steering the vehicle 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5A (centered), FIG. 5B (turning right), and FIG. 5C (turning left).
The traditional steering system 500 illustrated in FIG. 6 is shown at the lower ride height H. At this specific ride height H, the traditional steering system 500 is effective since the drag link 505 is adjusted to permit the pitman arm 510 to be centered in its travel from left to right, and the angle ω between the drag link 505 and the surface 200 is small. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the traditional steering system 500 suffers limitations as the ride height H of the vehicle is altered. Increasing the ride height H increases the angle w, which exacerbates what is known in the art as "bump steer." "Bump steer" is a result of the drag link 505 traveling in an arc as the straight axle 115 moves vertical relative to the frame 105. This vertical motion is a result of the vehicle 100 traveling over irregularities in the surface 200. As further illustrated in FIG. 7, changing the ride height H causes the pitman arm 510 to rotate, which causes steering misalignment unless the length of the drag link 505 is adjusted via a replacement drag link to compensate.
As such, there is a need for a system that can be used to adjust the ride height of a vehicle without significant effort, and without significant impacts to the ride quality, wheel positioning, or the steering alignment of a vehicle

Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit


A SAW device includes a SAW element having an IDT and a conductive pad connected to the IDT provided on a piezoelectric substrate, and an external terminal. The SAW device also includes an insulating layer having an exciting portion protective opening defining a space for protecting a SAW-exciting portion including the IDT and a conductive opening. The external terminal is connected to the conductive pad through a wiring extending in the conductive opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to piezoelectric components, such as surface acoustic wave devices and piezoelectric thin-film filters, used for delay lines and filters and a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, the present invention relates to piezoelectric components packaged in a chip and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a decrease in the size and weight of electronic devices has caused a growing demand for multifunctional electronic components. In this case, piezoelectric components, such as surface acoustic wave filters (hereinafter referred to as SAW filters) used for SAW devices and piezoelectric filters including piezoelectric thin-film resonators, used for communication apparatuses such as portable phones are required to have decreased size and weight.
A piezoelectric filter includes piezoelectric resonators arranged in a ladder configuration or a lattice configuration. Each resonator includes a Si substrate having an opening or a recessed portion, and a vibrating portion provided by sandwiching the upper and lower surfaces of a thin-film portion having at least one layer of piezoelectric thin-film (comprising ZnO or AIN) provided on the opening or the recessed portion by at least a pair of upper and lower electrodes that face each other. Alternatively, the Si substrate may not include an opening or recessed portion, and a space may be provided between the lower electrode and the Si substrate. In this type of piezoelectric filter, thickness longitudinal vibration generated at the vibrating portion is used. Therefore, a space for vibration must be ensured and the vibrating portion must be protected against water and dust.
On the other hand, a SAW filter is provided by arranging interdigital transducers (hereinafter abbreviated as IDTs), each including a pair of comb-like electrodes including a metal such as Al, on a piezoelectric substrate including crystal, LiTaO3, or LiNbO3. In such a SAW filter, a vibrating space for the IDTs and a SAW-propagating portion on the piezoelectric substrate must be ensured, and the IDTs must be protected against water and dust.
In the above-described piezoelectric filter and SAW filter, a die bonding agent is applied to the bottom surface of a package including a ceramic material, such as alumina, elements of the piezoelectric filter or the SAW filter are mounted on the package by die bonding, a terminal in the package is connected to electrodes of the elements by wire bonding, and then the package is sealed with a lid. Alternatively, in the above-described piezoelectric filter and SAW filter, an electrode land is provided on the bottom surface of the package including alumina, elements of the piezoelectric filter or the SAW filter are mounted on the package by flip-chip bonding, and then the package is sealed with a lid so as to achieve miniaturization.
In the above-described configuration, however, even though the elements in the piezoelectric filter or the SAW filter are miniaturized, miniaturization and lower profile of the piezoelectric filter and SAW filter is not achieved unless the package is miniaturized. Also, the cost for compact package is high. Particularly, in the piezoelectric filter, the vibrating portion is provided on the opening or recessed portion of the substrate, and thus, the vibrating portion may be broken by impact caused by dicing of elements, and pick up or die bonding of elements when packaged.
In the following discussion, Patent Document 1 is Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-94390, Patent Document 2 is Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-150441, Patent Document 3 is Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-60642, and Patent Document 4 is Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-244785.
On the other hand, bumps are used for packaging in Patent Documents 1 to 3. According to these Patent Documents, flip-chip mounting, in which a SAW element is bonded to a base substrate via bumps on the base substrate is used. In this method, space for wire bonding is not required, which results in miniaturization of the SAW filter. However, conductive pads corresponding to the bumps must be provided in the SAW element, which reduces an effective area of the SAW element. As a result, miniaturization of the SAW filter is difficult and the cost of forming the bumps is incurred.
In Patent Document 4, a SAW element is mounted on a base substrate provided with a through hole that faces a lead electrode of the SAW element and a conductive agent is filled in the through hole, so as to form an external circuit connecting portion. In this manner, the SAW filter is miniaturized.
In the configuration described in Patent Document 4, however, since the SAW filter is formed by bonding the base substrate to the SAW element, the thickness of the SAW filter increases due to the base substrate.

Piezoelectric component and method for manufacturing the same


A PPG PRV device for generating a PRV parameter of a PPG signal (20) as an estimation of a HRV parameter of an ECG signal. The PPG PRV device employs a PPG probe (700) and a PPG PRV controller (710). In operation, the PPG probe (700) generate a PPG signal (20). In response thereto, the PPG PRV controller (710) generates a normalized PPG signal (20′) including a plurality of pulses of the PPG signal (20) designated as normal pulses by the PPG PRV controller (710) and excluding at least one pulse of the PPG signal (20) designated at least one abnormal pulse by the PPG PRV controller (710), wherein the normalized PPG signal (20′) is HRV comparable to the ECG signal. The PPG PRV controller (710) derives the PRV parameter from a HRV measurement of the normalized PPG signal (20′).

Use of wearable devices capable of collection and analysis of physiological parameters is rapidly increasing. Although electrocardiogram (ECG) is generally considered to be the standard tool to monitor cardiac health, an ECG is methodologically difficult to record and analyze using wearable devices. As an alternative to ECG monitoring, photoplethysmography (PPG) technology used in wearable devices makes it possible to use them as portable health monitoring tools for measuring the clinical parameters such as pulse rate, oxygen saturation, respiration, and a number of other features in a non-invasive manner. These PPG devices use optical sensors to detect the blood volume changes by amount of either transmitted light (e.g., via a fingertip application) or reflection light (e.g., via a wrist application).
More particularly, an important feature to measure in cardiac monitoring is heart rate variability (HRV), which is defined by the variation in interbeat intervals between successive beats. As known in the art of the present disclosure (See, e.g., Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology: Heart rate variability. Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. European Heart Journal, 17, 1996, s. 354-381), HRV is clinically significant as the vascular system is regulated by autonomic nervous system and a reduction in a value of HRV relates to several cardiological and non-cardiological diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, diabetic neuropathy, myocardial dysfunction and tetraplegia). Furthermore, a reduction in a value of HRV has been seen in patients with cardiac transplantation.
Calculating HRV needs accurate measurement of interbeat intervals which is more reachable in ECG beats with the sharp r-wave peaks than PPG pulses with smooth shape, but the practical issues in collecting ECG by wearable devices has motivated the inventors of the present disclosure to calculate pulse rate variability (PRV) in PPG technology as an estimation of HRV.
However, as known in the art of the present disclosure (See, G. Lu, F. Yang, Limitations of oximetry to measure heart rate variability measures, Cardiovasc Eng. 9:119-125, 2009), measuring the pulse rate variability (PRV) using PPG technology needs highly accurate measurements, which is challenging due to several inherent characteristics of PPG pulses such as the pulse smoothness, and further due to PPG pulses being imposed to higher levels of artifact with the bandwidth overlapping the underlying PPG spectrum. Utilization of an accelerometer-based motion sensor with PPG technology may help to detect the artifact-corrupted pulses more conveniently, but those sensors are not always available for artifact detection. Thus, the art of the present disclosure teaches away from using PPG technology as an estimation of HRV of ECG signals.

Artifact-tolerant pulse rate variability measurement


A method and apparatus for electro-biometric identity recognition or verification that produces and stores a first biometric signature that identifies a specific individual by forming the difference between a representation of the heartbeat pattern of the specific individual and a stored representation of common features of the heartbeat patterns of a plurality of individuals; after the producing step, the method and apparatus obtains a representation of the heartbeat pattern of a selected individual and produces a second biometric signature by forming the difference between the heartbeat pattern of the selected individual and the stored representation of common features of the heartbeat patterns of the plurality of individuals; it then compares the second biometric signature with the first biometric signature to determine whether the selected individual is the specific individual. The apparatus and method may be employed as a stand-alone unit or as part of another device pursuant to the many applications described herein.

Identity recognition plays an important role in numerous facets of life, including automatic banking services, e-commerce, e-banking, e-investing, e-data protection, remote access to resources, e-transactions, work security, anti-theft devices, criminologic identification, secure entry, and entry registration in the workplace.
Often computerized systems use passwords and personal identification numbers (PIN) for user recognition. But to maintain security, passwords have to be changed on a regular basis, imposing a substantial burden on the users. Likewise, signature verification methods suffer from other shortcomings, including forgery and enrollment fraud. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,824 issued to Beatson et al.
As a result, identity recognition systems that use measures of an individual's biological phenomena—biometrics—have grown in recent years. Utilized alone or integrated with other technologies such as smart cards, encryption keys, and digital signatures, biometrics are expected to pervade nearly all aspects of the economy and our daily lives.
Several advanced technologies have been developed for biometric identification, including fingerprint recognition, retina and iris recognition, face recognition, and voice recognition. For example, Shockley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,855, generally describes using biometric data, such as fingerprints, to authorize computer access for individuals. Scheidt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,680, describes identity authentication using biometric data. Dulude et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,966, describes the use of fingerprints, hand geometry, iris and retina scans, and speech patterns as part of a biometric authentication certificate. Murakami et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,929, generally describes "physiological and histological markers," including infra-red radiation, for biometric authentication. However, these types of technologies have penetrated only limited markets due to complicated and unfriendly acquisition modalities, sensitivity to environmental parameters (such as lighting conditions and background noise), and high cost. In addition, due to complicated acquisition procedures, the foregoing technologies usually require operator attendance.
Fingerprint recognition is well-established and the most mature technology of the group. But it has several drawbacks: a fingerprint recognition system cannot verify physical presence of the fingerprint owner and therefore is prone to deception, limiting its suitability for on-line applications; the optical sensor is a costly and fragile device generally unsuitable for consumer markets; and the system suffers from negative connotations related to criminology.
Retina scanning technologies are characterized by high performance. However, they require high-precision optical sensors, and are not user friendly because they require manipulation of head posture and operate on a very sensitive organ—the the human eye. The optical sensor is also costly and fragile.
Iris and face recognition systems are user-friendly technologies since they record an image from afar and are not intrusive. However, they require digital photographic equipment and are sensitive to lighting conditions, pupil size variations and facial expressions. In addition, iris recognition performance is degraded by the use of dark glasses and contact lens, and face recognition may be deceived by impersonation.
Voice recognition is the most user-friendly technology of the group; however, it requires a low-noise setting and is highly sensitive to intrinsically variable speech parameters, including intonation. Moreover, existing conventional recording technologies may be used to deceive speech-based recognition systems.
Thus, a need exists for reliable, robust, hard to deceive (on-line and off-line), low cost, user friendly identity recognition technologies that may be used in stand-alone applications or integrated with existing security systems.
Over the years, electrocardiogram ("ECG") measurements have been used for many different purposes. ECG signals are electric signals generated by the heart and can be picked up using conventional surface electrodes, usually mounted on the subject's chest. ECG signals are made up of several components representative of different functional stages during each heart beat and projected according to the electric orientation of the generating tissues.
Individuals present different, subject-specific detail in their electro-cardiologic signals due to normal variations in the heart tissue structure, heart orientation, and electrical tissue orientation, all of which affect the electro-cardiologic signals measured from the limbs. Numerous types of systems make use of these subject-specific variations.
For example, Blazey-et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,904, describes the use of ECG signals to evaluate or profile an individual's physiological and cognitive state. As to identification, a 2001 conference paper at the 23rd Annual International IEEE Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (in Istanbul, Turkey) by Kyoso et al., entitled "Development of an ECG Identification System," compares a patient's ECG with previously registered ECG feature parameters for purposes of identification. Wiederhold, U.S. Application No. 2003013509, suggests using directly or remotely acquired ECG signals to identify a subject, "explores" feature extraction for identifying individuals, and provides a "preliminary analysis" of such methods.
But an ECG signal is comprised of ECG components having features that may be common to a group. None of these references describe a system or method that eliminates common features of ECG components to create a signature for subject identification. Thus, there still exists a need for systems and methods with these attributes to identify an individual.
The inclusion of the foregoing references in this Background is not an admission that they are prior art or analogous art with respect to the inventions disclosed herein. All references in this Background section are, however, hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set out herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for electro-biometric identity recognition


A programmable divider or prescaler divides an input signal by a divisor of two raised to the m.sup.th -power plus one, (2.sup.m +1), where m is an integer, and n is a value between zero and two raised to the m.sup.th -power minus one, (2.sup.m -1). When m is equal to 3, the duty cycle is between 44% and 56%. The divider can be utilized in communication applications for providing radio frequency source signals. The duty cycle is maintained around 50% for use with balanced mixers.

Radios, wireless devices, and other high frequency applications often require several sources of ultra-high frequency (UHF), very-high frequency (VHF), radio frequency (RF) or other high frequency signals. Programmable dividers can be utilized to generate frequency signals at various frequencies. The programmable divider or programmable prescaler typically receives a divisor at a selection input and an input signal at a clock input. The divider provides an output signal (generally a square wave) which has a frequency equal to the frequency of the input signal divided by the divisor.
Heretofore, programmable dividers have produced output signals which have variable duty cycles (e.g., the ratio of on-time to off-time). The variable duty cycle is often a function of the divisor provided at the selection input. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,867 discloses a programmable divider or prescaler which can divide the frequency of an input signal by a factor of (2.sup.m +n), where m is an integer and n is a whole number from zero to (2.sup.m -1). The divider can provide output signals having a duty cycle approaching 50% for some values of the divisor. However when other values are utilized, duty cycles more than 33% away from 50% are produced (e.g., for m=3 and n=7, 4 positive pulses and 11 negative pulses results in a duty cycle of 4/15 or 26%).
When a programmable divider is utilized to provide an injection signal to balanced mixers, mixer performance is degraded if the duty cycle is significantly greater than or less than 50%. A mixer has improved spurious performance when provided with a signal having a duty cycle close to 50%.
Thus, there is a need for a programmable divider or prescaler which can provide a duty cycle that approaches 50% for all values of its divisor. Further still, there is a need for a programmable divider which can divide the frequency of a signal by a significant number of divisors and yet provide a duty cycle approaching 50% for all values of the divisors. Even further still, there is a need for a programmable divider which provides an output signal having an approximately 50% duty cycle which is not limited by critical path delays.

Programmable divider with controlled duty cycle


A multilayer laser transfer film for permanently inscribing parts made from at least one backing layer, where on at least part of the underside of the backing layer there is a first adhesion layer, characterized in that, on the backing-layer side of the laser transfer film, this being the location of the first adhesion layer, there are at least two pigment layers, preferably a first pigment layer applied to at least part of the material and comprising at least one glass flux pigment, and a second pigment layer applied to at least part of the material and comprising at least one laser-sensitive pigment.

Industrial labeling is one of the methods used for the identification marking of components on vehicles, on machinery, and on electrical and electronic devices, examples being model-identification plates, labels for process control, and guarantee badges and test badges.
Increasing importance is being attached to identification marking by means of laser labels or printed or coated metal plates, specifically in the automotive industry, in particular for high-quality markings. This method is used to place information and advice, such as tire pressure or fuel type, on a very wide variety of components in the automobile for its subsequent user. A laser label may also be used to convey important production data within upstream stages of manufacture.
For this use, the label may be inscribed with a bar code. A suitable reading device gives an assembly team the opportunity of using the bar code for read-off of information concerning model, color, and special equipment, directly on the manufacturing line. Labels are used on the vehicle not only for this standard information but also for the placing of sensitive security data, such as chassis number and identification numbers. In the event of theft or an accident, this information is very important for tracing of a vehicle and of stages in manufacture.
The label material used therefore has to be highly counterfeit-proof, in order to prevent any attempt at manipulation. It has to be impossible to remove the label intact from the base to which it adheres.
Additional security is achieved by using highly breakable material in combination with high adhesive strengths. The adhesive strength of the material on the adhesion base is very significant. It is a decisive factor for resistance to any attempt at manipulation by removal.
Besides the standard material, there are modified labels intended to eliminate any possibility of imitating the material by using other safety features, such as embossments, holograms, or a lasting UV impression (footprint).
There are widely used high-performance controllable lasers for introducing markings, such as inscriptions, codings, and the like, using a burning process. Some of the requirements placed upon the material to receive the inscription, or used for the inscription process, are:                It has to be capable of rapid inscription.        A high degree of spatial resolution capability has to be achieved.        It has to be very simple to use.        The decomposition products have to be non-corrosive.
For particular cases moreover, additional properties are demanded:                The markings produced by applying the laser have to have sufficient contrast to be capable of being read without error even under unfavorable conditions and over large distances.        Heat resistance has to be high, for example extending above 200° C.        Good resistance to weathering, water, and solvents is desirable.
Complete separation of labels from the substrate is possible using sharp, flat blades. The bond between adhesive mass and substrate exhibits particular weaknesses on plastics substrates, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
Despite increased adhesive strength on metallic or coated substrates, it is also possible here to remove part of the labels without irreversible damage, by using specific tools. A specific tool with a blade can be passed under the label at a shallow angle. Careful cutting movements can lift an edge, producing what is known as a grab site. This method creates a point of attack, which facilitates release.
This means that labels have a fundamental disadvantage.
If printing, rather than a laser label, is used to apply the inscriptions to the component, third parties can easily remove the inscription by washing or scratching. Simple rubbing of the inscribed article on a second article, for example a packing, is also often sufficient to reduce the clarity of the individual letters or numerals.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multilayer laser-transfer film which permits rapid and precise inscription of any desired component, and which meets the abovementioned demand for improved security against counterfeiting, and which cannot be removed intact, even with the aid of a cutter, and which besides this in particular also has high contrast, high capability for resolution, high heat resistance, and good ease of use.

Multilayer laser transfer film for permanently inscribing parts


A system for capturing, storing and retrieving movies recorded in a video format and stored in a compressed digital format at a central distribution site is described. A plurality of remote distribution locations are connected through fiber optic connections to the central distribution site. The remote sites maybe of one of two types: a video retail store or a cable television (CATV) head end. In the case of a video retail store, VHS videotapes, other format videotapes or other video media may be manufactured on-demand in as little as three to five minutes for rental or sell-through. A totally automated manufacturing system is described in which the customers can preview and order movies for rental and sale from video kiosks. The selected movie is then either retrieved from local cache storage or downloaded from the central distribution site for manufacturing onto a blank or reused videotape. One feature of the system is the ability to write a two-hour videotape into a Standard Play (SP) format using a high speed recording device. A parallel compression algorithm based on the MPEG-2 format is used to compress a full-length movie into a movie data file of approximately four gigabytes of storage. The movie data file can be downloaded from the central site to the remote manufacturng site and written onto a standard VHS tape using a parallel decompression engine to write the entire movie at high speeds onto a standard VHS tape in approximately three minutes.

The manufacturing and distribution of movies for viewing in the home is one of the largest industries in the world. The rental and sale of movies on videotape is a constantly growing industry amounting to over $15 billion dollars in software sales in the United States in 1995. The most popular medium for distributing movies to the home is by standard VHS videotape although other formats and mediums are available. One of the reasons for the robust market for movies on videotape is the established base of videocassette recorders (VCR) in peoples homes. This helps fuel an industry of local videotape rental and sale outlets around the country and worldwide.
The VHS videotape format is the most popular videotape format in the world and the longevity of this standard is assured due to the sheer numbers of VHS videocassette players installed worldwide. However, there are other mediums for distributing movies such as laser disk and 8 mm tape. In the near future, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) technology will probably replace some of the currently used mediums since a higher quality of video and audio would be available through digital encoding on such a disk. Yet another medium for distributing movies to the home is through cable television networks currently providing pay-per-view capabilities and in the near future, direct video on-demand.
For the consumer, the experience of renting or buying a videotape is often frustrating due to the unavailability of the desired titles. Movie rental and sales statistics show that close to 50% of all consumers visiting a video outlet store do not find the title that they desire and either end up renting or buying an alternate title or not purchasing anything at all. This is due to the limited space for stocking many movie titles within the physical confines of the store. With limited inventory, video stores can only supply the most popular titles or a small number of select titles. Increasing the inventory of movie titles is in direct proportion to the shelf capacity of any one video store.
Direct video distribution to the home is also limited by the availability of select and limited titles at predefined times. Pay-per-view services typically play a limited fare of titles at predefined times offering the consumer a very short list of options for movie viewing in the home. Video on-demand to the home is limited by the cable television head end facilities in its capacity to store a limited number of titles locally.
All of the aforementioned mechanisms for distributing movies to the consumer suffer from inventory limitations. An untapped demand in movie distribution results if the inventory to the consumer can be made large enough and efficient enough to produce movies on-demand in whatever format the consumer desires. There is a need in the art, therefore, for the ability to deliver movies on-demand with a virtually unlimited library of movies on any number of mediums such as VHS videotape, 8 mm videotape, recordable laser disk or DVD technology.
Some systems have addressed the need for distribution of digital information for local manufacturing, sale and distribution. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,713 to Allen described a system for on-demand data delivery and reproduction of program material at a remote site. This system describes a central site which stores digitized information such as digital video game information which can be downloaded to a manufacturing site for storage onto, for example, a blank video game cartridge. The manufactured game cartridge can be ordered on-demand from a large variety of titles and delivered to the consumer within a matter of minutes. The shortcomings of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,713 is the inability to download and manufacture or distribute large volumes of digital information such as would be required for the downloading, distribution or manufacturing of fall motion, full length video movies.
Another method of delivering information is U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,643 to Freeny Jr. This system provides information to a remote manufacturing machine located on a point of sale location. This system is mainly directed to reproducing pre-recorded music titles on eight-track tapes. The system also suffers from the inability to distribute large volume of digital data necessary for full motion full length movies on videotape and the like and lacks the ability to produce a videotape at high speeds.
A limited number of systems are also known in the art for writing videotaped information at speeds greater than the normal playback speeds. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,070 to Cooper et al. describes a system and method for high speed videotape reproduction. The source of the video information for reproduction is from a laser disc player which is specially equipped with two optical read heads. The optical disc player also rotates the disc at twice the standard speed allowing information to be read from the optical disc at four times its standard playback rate. In a similar fashion, the helical scan videotape recorder unit has two write head pairs for writing the video information on the videotape and parallel while the tape is moved at twice its normal speed thus producing a 4.times. write capability. This system lacks the ability to write videotapes at higher than four times their normal viewing speed and requires that the video information come from a video disc player. Although two parallel video signal paths are described, the system lacks the ability to decompress video images from a compressed video file format.
Another system known in the art for writing videotape at a speed faster than the normal viewing speed is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,258 to Warren et al. This system is an analog to analog system in which an analog videotape is played at a higher than normal speed and the signals therefrom are recorded by a second video recorder at the same higher than normal viewing speed. This system lacks the ability to write videotapes at more than twice the normal viewing speed and lacks the ability to process parallel streams of video data from a compressed file format.
Another type of video duplication device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,800 to Sturm et al. This system duplicates video cassette tapes at twice the normal viewing speed. The source video information comes from modified video disc players which operate at twice the normal NTSC video format speed. The video and audio information is converted to analog signals which are written at twice the normal viewing speed by a modified VHS video cassette recorder. This system lacks the ability to duplicate a videotape at anything more than twice the normal viewing speed and operates only in the analog domain. This system lacks the ability to write video cassette tapes using parallel data streams of compressed data from a digitally encoded file.
There is a need in the art, therefore, for a method and system of distributing large volumes of digital information representing full length, full motion movies in a video format to remote locations for on-demand purchase or rental. This need in the art is directed both to on-demand video distribution through cable television headends or through the availability and manufacturing of movie titles on videotape or other medium at video rental retail outlets. There is also a need in the art to track the distribution of a large number of movie titles for accounting and copyright compliance. There is a further need in the art for the automated inventory tracking and billing for the distribution of a large volume of titles for movies. There is a further need in the art for manufacturing video tapes at many times the normal viewing speed from digitally compressed and stored data files.

High speed video distribution and manufacturing system


Disclosed herein are burnable air treatment chemical dispensing substrates, such as mosquito coils, in which wax is incorporated. In one form the wax portion is a separate coating layer in which the air treatment chemical is also placed. This permits the underlying base to be dried without loss of air treatment chemical. Methods for forming such coils are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to burnable substrates such as mosquito coils for dispensing air treatment chemicals. More particularly it relates to ways of achieving desired air treatment effects using lower levels of air treatment chemicals.
Insect control ingredients, fragrances, and other air treatment chemicals have been dispensed into the air by a variety of types of dispensers. Some use an electrical heater to volatize the active into the air from a wick, mat, or other substrate. Others use a fan to blow active off of a porous substrate into the air.
Another approach is to use a burning device to dispense the active. For example, candles having wicks have had fragrance, citronella, and other air treatment chemicals mixed with their wax such that as the wax is consumed by the candle the active is dispensed.
Such candles have been formed in a variety of configurations. See eg. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,755. However, this approach requires a burning flame (which is susceptible to being blown out, which restricts where the candle can be placed, and restricts the actives).
Still another approach is to use a burnable object which consumes itself without a flame. Insect control coils (e.g. "mosquito coils") and incense punks are of this type. They can be manufactured at very low cost (e.g. making them particularly suitable for use in impoverished countries that have severe malaria control issues).
Mosquito coils typically have a generally spiral-shaped body with is composed of a slowly burnable solid material that is impregnated or coated with an insect control active ingredient (such as a repellant, an insecticide, or an insect growth regulator). When the coil burns, the heat from the burning vaporizes and disperses the insect control active ingredient. Examples of such coils are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,144,318, 5,657,574, 5,948,424, 6,419,898, 6,732,473, and 6,941,697.
It is desirable that such a coil burn very slowly as such coils are often intended to provide protection for eight hours or so (e.g. overnight). Further, coil materials must be designed to be consumed so that they don't easily snuff out before the coil is used up and so that they don't readily burst into flames after the initial lighting. Another constraint is that they cannot be so brittle as to present undesirable breakage risks. This can be a significant consideration given the inherent nature of dough derived cellulosic materials and that such coils are often supported only at discrete positions (e.g. their centers) to reduce the risk of snuffing.
Further they must also be made of materials that don't interfere with the active in undesirable ways (e.g. react with the active during storage; retard dispensing of active too much). Also, any ingredient of the coil should not significantly increase the overall cost of the coil over standard ingredients, given that typical users of such coils are often extremely poor.
Such coils have therefore traditionally been made of largely cellulosic secondary/by product powder materials (e.g. coconut or peanut shell flour, sawdust, ground leaves, ground bark), sometimes with small amounts of additives that will affect burning characteristics or appearance, modify production characteristics, or act as a preservative (e.g. binder starch, kerosene, potassium chloride, or dye). While existing coils made from these materials have proven quite useful, there is a desire to improve them further.
For example, in order to achieve desired extended burn times using such conventional ingredients one must typically make the coil of a certain minimum size (which, if it could be reduced without cutting back on burning time could lead to cost savings and consumer preference). Also, many such coils are manufactured using wet extrusion followed by a drying step to create the desired rigidity. Some active can be prematurely volatized during the drying step, thereby increasing the cost of the active (as more needs to be added to achieve a given result during burning).
Further, many coils uniformly mix active throughout the coil. As a result, some of the active can be destroyed or partially degraded during the burning process before it is able to be dispensed. Also, because active will to some extent slowly volatize from standard coils in storage (absent precautions) they must be packaged in relatively expensive sealed packaging prior to use. This increases the cost of the ultimate product to the consumer.
Hence, a need exists for insect control coils which achieve improvements with respect to the above concerns.

Wax treated burnable dispensing substrates


A tree-removing device designed for mounting on a land vehicle such as a conventional bulldozer or tractor and having a bulldozer-type blade fitted with a power blade for cutting the roots of a tree and a tree jack for levering the tree from the ground after the roots are cut. The power blade is characterized by a frame pivoted to the bulldozer-type blade and a vertically-adjustable blade carrier mounted in the frame and internally fitted with a hydraulically-operated blade which may be extended into the ground from the blade carrier to cut the roots of a tree by operation of the land vehicle. The tree jack includes a jack frame pivoted to the land vehicle bulldozer-type blade and a mast extensibly attached to the jack frame, which jack frame is fitted at one end with a foot for engaging the tree. The mast includes hydraulic cylinders for both engaging the tree and causing the mast to pivot, thereby jacking the tree from the earth by operation of the jack frame foot.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tree-removing equipment, and more particularly, to a tree-removing device designed for mounting on a conventional land vehicle, such as a tractor or bulldozer having a bulldozer-type blade fitted with a power blade for cutting the roots of a tree and a tree jack for levering the tree from the ground after the roots are cut. The power blade is characterized by a frame pivoted to one end of the bulldozer blade and seating a vertically-adjustable blade carrier internally fitted with a hydraulically-operated blade which may be extended into the ground from the blade carrier to cut the roots of the tree by operation of the bulldozer. The tree jack includes a jack frame pivoted to the bulldozer blade and a mast extensibly attached to the jack frame, which jack frame is fitted at one end with a foot for engaging the tree. The extending end of the mast is fitted with a hydraulically-operated stabilizing arm for engaging the tree and a pair of hydraulic cylinders extend between the bulldozer and the mast for causing the mast to pivot, thereby jacking the tree from the earth by operation of the jack foot.
One of the problems encountered in the lumber industry, as well as general purpose clearing of trees from land, is that of quickly, efficiently and safely removing the trees from the land. The problem is particularly acute under circumstances where it is desirable not only to remove the trees, but also the stumps and roots. The stumps and roots of trees must be removed from land in order to utilize the land for many types of structures, paving the land or other applications where stumps and roots are prohibitive for optimum land use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various tree-removing equipment and devices are known in the art. Typical of these devices are bulldozers with cutting blades and tractors with pincer-type devices designed to engage a tree approximately at ground level and by means of hydraulic pressure, operate a pair of pincers to cut the tree at that point, leaving the stump in the ground. Another technique includes using a bulldozer and a trackhoe. The trackhoe is used to dig around the trees and push them over. The bulldozer then moves the fallen trees and levels the ground. The stump may then be removed by bulldozers, stump cutters and alternative equipment known to those skilled in the art. Typical of devices used in such stump and small tree removal is the root ripping attachment for bulldozers detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,468, dated Jan. 27, 1953, to Dobrinich, Jr. The device includes a bulldozer fitted with an arm and a cutting blade attached to the arm, wherein the cutting blade can be extended into the ground and forward operation of the bulldozer effects cutting or ripping of the roots of the tree. A device for uprooting tree stumps is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,761, dated Mar. 30, 1982, to Hedblom. The apparatus includes a vehicle, an arm carried by the vehicle and a tool attached to the arm, for engaging a stump. The tool includes two members movable relative to each other when the tool has been located in uprooting position relative to the stump. One of the members is adapted to rest against the ground while the tool lifts the stump by means of the relative movement of the members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,734, dated Dec. 31, 1968, to G. W. McConnell, details a "Subsurface Cutter Attachment For A Bulldozer". The attachment includes two upstanding frame members that are spaced in parallel relationship. Rearwardly-extending hooks are attached to the frame members, along with a rearwardly-extending spur. A cutter blade extends between the lower ends of the frame members and the forward edge of the cutter blade and the forward edges of the lower portion of the frame members are sharpened for cutting and reducing drag. Hooks and the spurs are arranged in such a manner that the attachment can be operatively engaged with or detached from a bulldozer blade upon proper movements of the bulldozer blade. U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,724, dated Apr. 16, 1968, to W. A. Jones, Jr., details a "Tree Pusher Attachment For Bulldozers". The attachment includes a bulldozer blade extending horizontally in front of the tractor or a bulldozer by means of pusher beams attached at the forward ends to the blade and connected at the rearward ends to the frame of the tractor for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis. The tree pusher attachment includes a second pair of pusher beams pivoted at the rearward ends respectively, to the first pusher beams on a horizontal transverse axis and extending forwardly of the bulldozer blade, to rest on the upper edge thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 2,886,286, to P. J. Walls, details a "Transportable Lifter" for use in raising and transporting such objects as rocks, stumps or trees. The device is attached to a tractor, a bulldozer or like land vehicle and includes a beam adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a pivot adjacent to one end of the beam, a cranked lever mounted on the pivot, a fulcrum block pivoted to the cranked lever between the pivot and one end of the cranked lever and a mechanism for applying a turning force to the other end of the cranked lever. The fulcrum block is adapted to rest on the ground when the toe of the cranked lever is contacted with the ground, such that the toe may be raised by depressing the heel of the cranked lever. A "Combined Scarifying and Digging Attachment for Bulldozers" is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,664,651, dated Jan. 5, 1954, to J. P. Woodward. The device includes a guide frame mounted directly on the blade assembly of a bulldozer and adapted to provide a track way for multiple rollers mounted at opposite ends of a stiffener frame assembly extending transversely of the guide frame. A series of digging tines are mounted on the stiffener frame assembly and are adjustable upwardly or downwardly, due to the rollable mounting of the stiffener frame assembly on the guide frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,693, dated Aug. 2, 1994, to Severeid, details a "Tractor Mounted Implement For Removing Tree Stumps and the Like Buried in the Ground". The implement includes at least two components pivotally joined to form an articulating structure that shifts from a retracted position to an extended position upon forward movement of the tractor. The structure has a first end pivotally coupled to the tractor and a second end rigidly attached to a forked structure. The forked structure is disposed to engage a buried object and the tractor is then moved in a forward direction, causing the articulating components to shift from a retracted position to an extended position. As the articulating structure shifts to the extended position, the tines of the fork structure are lifted and rotated to lift the buried object.
It is an object of this invention to provide a tree-removing device for attachment to a conventional bulldozer, tractor or other land vehicle, which device includes a power blade for cutting the roots of a tree and a tree jack for levering the tree from the earth after the roots are cut by the power blade.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved tree-removing device which is characterized by a bulldozer-type blade adapted for mounting on a bulldozer, tractor or other mobile equipment and further including an extensible power blade and tree jack mounted on the bulldozer blade for initially cutting the roots of a tree and subsequently jacking the tree from the ground after the roots are cut.
Still another object of this invention is provided in a new and improved tree-removing device or apparatus which includes a specially designed bulldozer-type blade for mounting on a bulldozer, tractor or other land vehicle, which bulldozer-type blade is fitted on one end with an extensible and pivoting power blade and in the center thereof with an extensible and pivoting tree jack, for initially cutting the roots of the tree around the tree by operation of the power blade and subsequently jacking or levering the tree from the ground by operation of the tree jack.


The method of the present invention is useful in a computer system having a user interface, a CPU, a memory, at least one disk drive, and an object-oriented repository, a program operating in the computer system for accessing the object-oriented repository. The program executes a method for mapping types in a model stored in the repository to language constructs for a C binding to the repository. The method first processes each type in the model, then the program processes each data type in the model. Function declarations and C to C++ wrapper functions are generated for each type and data type.

A repository enables the storage and reuse of information about an enterprise. Such information could be definitional (such as programs, files, and the relationships therebetween), management information (e.g., who can see certain types of information, etc.) and operational information (such as schedules, processes, etc.) In an object-oriented repository, this information is stored as objects that have data (e.g., name, salary, etc.) and behavior (e.g., change salary, etc.). The C++ language, with its object-oriented syntax is well suited as an interface to an object-oriented repository. For more information on such an interface reference is made to a co-pending patent application by Peter Johnson for A METHOD FOR PROVIDING OBJECT DATABASE INDEPENDENCE IN A PROGRAM WRITTEN USING THE C++ PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, Ser. No. 08/505,140, filed Jul. 21, 1995; which application is assigned to the same assignee hereof.
However, having just a C++ interface limits the types of programs (or tools) that can have access to the object-oriented repository to only those programs written in the C++ language. It would be beneficial to have an interface that would allow access to the object-oriented repository by programs written in the C language. In addition, programs written in languages that can access dynamic link libraries (DLL's on Windows NT), or shared objects (UNIX), will benefit from access to an object-oriented repository by use of the method of the present invention. Examples of such language include Visual Basic, Smalltalk and other similar languages.
A problem with C interfaces to object-oriented databases is that the functions provided are not tailored to the types in the database. For example, in some implementations in order to create an object in the database, the C program must first call the database to retrieve a representation of the desired type, then call a generic create function to create the object. The method of the present invention solves this problem by generating functions tailored to each of the types in a model in the repository. One function call is required to create an object of a specific type. Similarly, one function call is used to access the properties and operations of types in the repository
Another problem with C interfaces to object-oriented databases is that the functionality available through the C interface is limited compared to the C++ interface to the same object-oriented database. This invention provides almost 100% of the functionality available through the public C++ interface to the repository.
Still another problem is that the C and C++ interfaces can be constructed quite differently with much of the object-orientedness of the types in the database being lost when translated to C. The method of the present invention provides a C interface that maps the C++ types, operations and properties in a straightforward manner to the C language. This reduces the amount of documentation necessary for both interfaces, as well as programmer learning time going from one interface to the other.
The present invention provides a C interface to an object oriented repository by making the public properties and operations of the types in the repository available to programs written in the C language, or accessed via DLLs, or shared objects from other languages. A program written in the C language can open an object-oriented repository, log in to the repository, begin a repository session, and create, retrieve, and modify instances of the types in the repository. The purpose of the method of the present invention is to convert the types, properties, and operations defined for a model into constructs understood by a C compiler, for example. The Application Program Interface (API) for the C binding includes a set of header files that contain the C type and function declarations necessary to access instances of the types in the object-oriented repository. A set of C++ files provides a wrapping between the C functions that can be called by a program written in the C language and the C++ interface provided by the object-oriented repository.

Method for mapping types stored in a model in an object-oriented repository to language constructs for A C binding for the repository


Hardware for implementing a Deep Neural Network (DNN) having a convolution layer. A plurality of convolution engines are each operable to perform a convolution operation by applying a filter to a data window, each filter comprising a set of weights for combination with respective data values of a data window, and each of the plurality of convolution engines comprising: multiplication logic operable to combine a weight of a filter with a respective data value of a data window; control logic configured to cause the multiplication logic to combine a weight with a respective data value if the weight is non-zero, and otherwise not cause the multiplication logic to combine that weight with that data value; and accumulation logic configured to accumulate the results of a plurality of combinations performed by the multiplication logic so as to form an output for a respective convolution operation.

The present disclosure relates to hardware for implementing a Deep Neural Network having a convolution layer, and to methods for implementing in hardware a Deep Neural Network having a convolution layer.
Deep Neural Networks (CNNs) are a type of artificial neural network having multiple layers between the input and output layers. DNNs can be used for machine learning applications. In particular, a deep neural network can be used in signal processing applications, including image processing and computer vision applications.
DNNs have typically been implemented in applications where power resources are not a significant factor. Despite this, DNNs have application in a number of different technical fields in which the resources of the hardware used to implement the DNNs are such that power consumption, processing capabilities, or silicon area are limited. Furthermore, the definition of a DNN for a particular application may vary over time—for example, as a result of additional training of the DNN.
DNNs often include a convolution layer at which filters are applied to windows of a dataset. In particular, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are a class of DNNs that include one or more convolution layers and are often applied to analysing image data. Depending on the application, the number of filters and windows at a convolution layer can vary enormously between different DNNs.
There is a need for a system for efficiently performing convolution operations in a DNN in a flexible and scalable manner over wide range of different DNN architectures.

Neural network architecture using convolution engines


A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, an electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face and facing, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge and to a printing apparatus comprising such a printing fluid cartridge.
2. Description of Related Art
A known image printing apparatus, as described in Patent Application Publication No. JP 2009-132098 A, is configured to print an image on a sheet of printing paper. The known image printing apparatus has an inkjet printing head and is configured to eject ink droplets selectively from nozzles of the printing head onto the sheet of printing paper. The ink droplets land on the sheet of printing paper and thereby a desired image is printed on the sheet of printing paper. The known image printing apparatus has an ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is configured to store ink to be supplied to the printing head. The ink cartridge is configured to be mounted to and removed from a mounting portion provided in the known image printing apparatus.
Another known ink cartridge, as described in Patent Application Publication No. JP 2000-37880, has an electronic component such as a memory module for storing data about the information of the ink cartridge, e.g., the color of ink, the ingredients of ink, the remaining amount of ink, a maintenance status, and etc. When the ink cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion, the memory module contacts and is electrically connected to electrical contacts provided in the mounting portion, such that the data stored in the memory module can be read out.
When another known ink cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion, an external biasing force is applied from the mounting portion to the ink cartridge in a removal direction in which the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, such that a user can readily remove the ink cartridge when the user intends to do so. Moreover, the ink cartridge may have a valve mechanism configured to selectively open and close an opening formed in the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge may be biased in the removal direction by a spring of the valve mechanism. The mounting portion has a lock mechanism to contact and retain the ink cartridge in the mounting portion against the biasing force. The ink cartridge mounted to the mounting portion is always biased in the removal direction.

Printing fluid cartridge and printing apparatus


The embodiments of the invention relate to video streaming, particularly to quality-aware adaptive and selective transmissions. The embodiments of the present invention provide for a set of scheduling patterns to be evaluated, and from such set determine the target scheduling pattern that is calculated to provide the least distortion increment based on the evaluation set.

With the proliferation of digital data, various source contents have been expected to come from various sources and various delivery mediums, including wide area networks, local area networks, broadcasts, cable, and wireless networks. A multimedia stream, however, may be transmitted, for example, over network segments with varying link capacities. Ways of dynamically adapting a multimedia stream to varying network conditions are thus highly desirable for efficient transmission of the multimedia stream.

Packet scheduling with quality-aware frame dropping for video streaming


A bus control apparatus includes a plurality of blocks configured to output a write command for writing data into memory via a bus, and a bus connection control unit provided in correspondence with each of the blocks. The bus connection control unit monitors signals between the bus and the block, and upon detecting a read command signal for reading data in a cause register of the block, blocks connection of a signal line between the block and the bus and outputs a dummy read command signal for the memory. The bus connection control unit releases blockage when a response signal for the dummy read command signal is received.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bus control apparatus and a bus control method, and more particularly, to a bus control apparatus including one or more blocks configured to output a write command signal for writing data into memory via a bus, and a bus control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been known apparatuses in which data is transmitted/received between functional blocks via a bus. For example, in recent apparatuses, a number of blocks on a System-on-Chip (SoC) transmit/receive data to and from each other by way of a system bus and via shared memory that is connected to the chip.
By way of example, when a block A is to transfer data to another block B, the block A transfers and writes the data to shared memory, and when the data transfer is finished, the block A notifies the block B of the completion of data transfer. The block B can then read the data from the block A by transferring the data from a storage area of the shared memory in which the data is written.
Due to a necessity of data consistency, it is a precondition for data transfer in such a shared-memory configuration that operations at each phase of data transfer must be completed before processing for a next phase takes place. The bus on which data is transmitted/received may be a shared bus or a point-to-point bus.
Meanwhile, many of modern bus architectures use a bus protocol which adopts a posted write scheme as a standard way of writing to a bus in order to improve bus efficiency. In the posted write scheme, when a block writes to shared memory, the block considers writing to be completed at a point when the block has finished passing a write command and data to be written to a bus. The data will be actually written to the memory when the bus and the memory (including a controller) are ready for writing.
However, some attention needs to be paid when data is exchanged according to such a procedure on a bus that uses the posted write scheme. It is a problem of memory consistency or coherency, which means correct read data cannot be retrieved unless reading by the other block B is carried out after the posted write reaches the shared memory.
General ways for maintaining data coherency include methods based on a bus protocol, hardware (hereinafter also abbreviated as HW) implementation, software (hereinafter also abbreviated as SW) implementation, or some combination of SW and HW implementations, which are already realized.
Some methods based on a bus protocol use non-posted write for a write that is used in common with other blocks.
However, a bus protocol-based method has a problem of involving complex HW implementation for executing the protocol. In general, implementation of non-posted write is more complex than that of posted write. In addition, performance of HW, especially throughput and overhead in terms of operating frequency, may present a problem.
For hardware implementation-based methods, there is an address interlocking technique, which identifies dependencies among all write and read addresses and makes reading wait as required. For example, a read from an address which is not related to an address at which data was written needs not to be made to wait, whereas a read from an address which is related to an address at which data was written needs to be made to wait. The address interlocking technique thus identifies a dependency between write and read addresses and decides whether or not to make a read wait.
However, a problem with methods based on HW implementation is that HW implementation is complex. Moreover, most portions of general shared buses are not typically involved in transaction between separate blocks. Therefore, application of address interlocking in every transaction can present a problem in terms of performance, especially throughput and operating frequency.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-82901 proposes a technique for a software implementation-based method in which a block as a data source issues a dummy read after a data write in order to confirm the write. This proposed technique presupposes a bus protocol using the posted write scheme with a restriction that when a read is issued by a same block, any write before the issuance must be completed.
However, methods based on software implementation generally have a problem of processing being sometimes extremely complex. Because of this fact, when a vendor supplying SoC chips leaves software implementation to a customer, for example, the customer might not be able to accept software implementation that involves such complex processing.

Bus control apparatus and bus control method


A data transfer circuit includes a plurality of data transfer sections which transfer pixel signals of pixel columns which are different from each other, wherein the plurality of data transfer sections include transfer lines which transfer the pixel signals read from the pixel columns of an image sensor; and amplifying sections which amplify the pixel signals output from the transfer lines, and wherein the plurality of data transfer sections are connected to each other in series.

The present technology relates to a data transfer circuit, an imaging device and an imaging apparatus, and, particularly, to a data transfer circuit, an imaging device and an imaging apparatus which can suppress an increase in transfer delay.
In the related art, there is an imaging device which performs A/D conversion in pixel signals that are read from pixel array for each line, respectively and transfers the pixel signals to a data output section. In such an imaging device, there is a concern that a difference between a delay time of the pixel signals which are read from a pixel column of a far side from an output side and a delay time of the pixel signals which are read from a pixel column of a near side from the output side is large, a setup time margin and a hold time margin of a flip-flop measuring synchronization with a global clock are reduced and a transfer speed is decreased in a data transfer circuit which transfers the pixel signals.
Then, a data transfer circuit is considered which performs data capture in a digital data output section with high accuracy at a high speed by reducing delay generated in a transfer line through which the data is transferred to the digital data output section by adjusting the delay of a clock line for the data capture of the digital data output section (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-306695).

Data transfer circuit, imaging device and imaging apparatus


An optical subassembly package configuration for monitoring a fiber, the configuration includes a container, an optical subassembly, an optical fiber, and a ferrule. The container has a face, and the optical subassembly is disposed within the container. The optical fiber communicates with the subassembly. The ferrule is attached to the face of the container, the fiber being monitored terminates inside the ferrule.

The present invention relates to an optical subassembly package configuration. More specifically, but without limitation, the present invention relates to built in test optical subassembly technology in fiber optic transceiver packages.
The United States Navy identified the need to incorporate optical built in test technology in avionics fiber optic links. Utilizing currently known methods, isolation accuracy is limited to 33.3% maximum. This poor accuracy is typically caused by ambiguity between the transmitter Weapons Replaceable Assembly (WRA), the receiver WRA, and the fiber optic cabling between the WRAs.
Thus, there is a need for laser power monitoring and laser reflectometry monitoring for isolating faults down to the fiber optic transmitter, receiver, and cable plant level.

Optical subassembly package configuration

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An apparatus for recording an information signal in a track on the record carrier, such as, a helical scan video recorder, includes an input terminal (36) for receiving the information signal, a signal processor (10) for converting the information signal into a form in which it can be recorded on the record carrier (1) and a writing unit (30,32,34) for writing the converted information signal in the track on the record carrier. Further, the apparatus includes a unit for establishing the total length of the record carrier, viewed in time, a unit for establishing the actual position of the writing unit along the record carrier, viewed in time, and a unit (5,6) for transporting the record carrier. For recording an information signal of specific duration (T.sub.2), on the record carrier (1), the record carrier is transported to a specific position along the record carrier for which holds that the remaining time for recording, at that specific position, substantially corresponds to the specific duration (T.sub.2) of the information signal to be recorded.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for recording an information signal in a track on the record carrier, the apparatus comprising
input means for receiving the information signal, PA1 signal processing means for converting the information signal into a form in which it can be recorded on the record carrier, PA1 writing means for writing the converted information signal in the track on the record carrier, PA1 means for establishing the total recording length of the record carrier, viewed in time, and PA1 means for establishing the actual position of the writing means with respect to the record carrier, viewed in time, and PA1 means for positioning the writing means and the record carrier relative to each other.

Apparatus for recording information signals on a record carrier