An integrated circuit that includes an array of random-access memory cells is provided. Each memory cell may include inverting circuits formed from pull-up transistors and pull-down transistors and also access transistors coupled to the inverting circuits. The pull-up transistors may be formed in an n-well. The memory cells may also be coupled to single event latch-up (SEL) prevention circuitry. The SEL prevention circuitry may include a clamping circuit, a voltage sensing circuit, and a driver circuit. In response to a single event alpha particle strike at one of the memory cells, a temporary voltage rise may be presented at the clamping circuit. The voltage sensing circuit may detect the voltage rise and direct the driver circuit to bias the n-well into deep reverse bias region. Operated in this way, the SEL prevention circuitry can mitigate SEL while minimizing memory cell leakage.

This relates to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to integrated circuits that contain memory.
Integrated circuits often contain volatile memory elements. A volatile memory element retains data only so long as the integrated circuit is powered. In the event of power loss, the data in the volatile memory element is lost. Although nonvolatile memory elements such as memory elements based on electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory technology are not subject to data loss in this way, it is often not desirable or possible to fabricate nonvolatile memory elements as part of a given integrated circuit.
As a result, volatile memory elements are often used. For example, static random-access memory (SRAM) chips contain SRAM cells, which are a type of volatile memory element. In programmable logic device integrated circuits, SRAM cells may serve as configuration random access memory (CRAM) cells. Programmable logic devices are a type of integrated circuit that can be programmed by a user to implement a desired custom logic function. CRAM cells are used to store configuration data supplied by the user. Once loaded, CRAM cells supply control signals to transistors to configure the transistors to implement the desired logic function.
Volatile memory elements often occupy a significant portion of an integrated circuit and are prone to semiconductor reliability issues such as latch-up. Latch-up is a type of short circuit that can sometime arise between the power supply rails of a memory element. Each memory element includes at least an n-channel transistor coupled to a p-channel transistor, which effectively forms a parasitic silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) structure in the semiconductor substrate. During a single-event latch-up, heavy ions or protons from cosmic rays or other source of ionizing radiation can strike the SCR, which might cause parasitic bipolar transistors in the SCR to conduct, thereby creating a low resistance path between the positive and ground power supply rails. When this occurs, the latch-up may result in circuit malfunction or potentially destruction of the entire device.
It is within this context that the embodiments described herein arise.

Memory with single-event latchup prevention circuitry


A sheet guide mechanism, for use with a printer having a printing head on a carriage that is mounted on a carriage shaft for movement in a printing direction which is transverse to a feeding direction of a printing sheet supported by a platen, includes a sheet guide movably mounted on the carriage shaft. The sheet guide moves in the printing direction along with the printing head. The sheet guide can move in unison with the printing head without interfering with the printing operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet guide mechanism for use in a printer, and particularly to a sheet guide mechanism for guiding a sheet passing between a platen and a printing head which is moved laterally as it prints.
2. Description of the Related Art
One type of conventional sheet guide mechanism employs a bail roller. The bail roller of this mechanism can be operated manually or automatically.
A conventional sheet guide mechanism employing an automatically operable bail roller will be described with reference to FIG. 11.
The sheet guide mechanism includes a platen 1 and a paper chute 2 positioned substantially under the platen 1. The paper chute 2 has rotatable pinch rollers 3a and 3b attached thereto in order to press paper against the surface of the platen 1. A cut paper sheet can be fed along the upper surface of the paper chute 2. A continuous sheet can be fed along the upper surface of a pin tractor 4 positioned substantially under the paper chute 2. The platen 1 has a shaft 5 to which a separator 6 and a gear 7 are attached. The gear 7 rotates a gear 9 attached to the separator 6 by way of an idle gear 8. A pull-up roller 10 is coaxially attached to a shaft to which the gear 9 is attached and is rotatable when the platen 1 is rotated. A rib 11 is disposed opposite the pull-up roller 10. A printed sheet is discharged after passing between the pull-up roller 10 and the rib 11. A printing head 12 is disposed opposite the platen 1 and is mounted on a carriage which is slidably attached, via a carriage guide portion 13, to a carriage shaft 14. A ribbon protector 15 is attached to the carriage and disposed between the platen 1 and the printing head 12 for guiding sheet.
The sheet guide mechanism further includes bail arm 16 having a bail roller 17 which is attached to one end thereof. The bail roller 17 is urged toward the platen 1 by a spring 18. The bail arm 16 is turnable about a fulcrum 19. A roller 21 attached to one end of a link 20 contacts the bail arm 16. The link 20 is turnable about a fulcrum 22 and has a gear segment 20a. The gear segment 20a meshes with a gear 24 on the shaft of a motor 23. The bail arm 16, the spring 18, the link 20 and the motor 23 are attached to a side frame, not shown. Several bail rollers 17 are provided along the entire length of the platen 1. A sheet pressure plate 26 is attached to a frame 25 and has a tip end which presses paper against the platen 1. A guide rail 27 is attached to the frame 25 for guiding the movement of the carriage. The operation of the sheet guide mechanism will be described hereinafter. In order to print characters, a cut sheet is inserted from behind between the paper chute 2 and the separator 6. The cut sheet is pinched between the platen 1 and the pinch rollers 3a and 3b and the platen 1 is rotated to feed the cut sheet. A controller (not shown) rotates the motor 23 in the direction of the arrow A when a detector (not shown) detects the cut sheet. The link 20 meshing with the gear 24 is turned counterclockwise about the fulcrum 22 and positioned as shown in broken lines. This turns the bail arm 16 clockwise about the fulcrum 19, whereby the bail roller 17 is moved away from the platen 1.
When the cut sheet is delivered between the platen 1 and the printing head 12, i.e., when the cut sheet reaches the printing position, the controller drives the printing head so that the printing operation starts. The cut sheet is advanced upward by the platen 1 during the printing operation. When the upper end of the cut sheet is positioned where the bail rollers 17 are brought into contact with the platen 1, the controller rotates the motor 23 counterclockwise, i.e., in the direction opposite the arrow A. Accordingly, t he bail arm 16 is turned counterclockwise by way of the link 20 so that the bail roller 17 presses the cut sheet against the platen 1 for assuring the guidance of the cut sheet. The cut sheet is further advanced while the characters are printed on it, and the upper end of the cut sheet enters between the pull-up roller 10 and the rib 11 to be guided again.
If a continuous sheet is to be printed, it is fed from the pin tractor 4 toward the region under the paper chute 2. The continuous paper is further fed and the characters are printed on it in the same manner as the cut sheet.
Another type of conventional sheet guide mechanism employs bail rollers (corresponding to bail rollers 17) which can be manually moved toward or away from the platen 1 by operating a lever. The lever moves the bail rollers toward or away from the platen. It is preferable to start the printing operation after the upper end of the sheet is pressed by the bail rollers.
A further type of conventional sheet guide mechanism has no bail rollers. The printing head is moved to a central portion of the sheet (a so-called centering operation) when lines are changed until the upper end of the sheet enters between the pull-up roller and the rib, thereby facilitating the insertion of the upper end of the sheet. After the upper end of the sheet has entered between the pull-up roller and the rib, the centering operations are discontinued and normal printing is carried out.
However, when this type of conventional sheet guide mechanism is used the upper portion of the sheet is guided only by the ribbon protector. Accordingly, away from the printing head, in the axial direction of the platen, the upper portion of the sheet separates from the platen due to the stiffness of the sheet. In this state, sheet vibration occurs during the printing operation. As a result, high quality printing cannot be achieved.
A sheet guide mechanism of the type having automatically operable bail rollers requires links, a motor for driving the bail roller and electric circuits. This increases the size of the mechanism and results in high cost.
A sheet guide mechanism of the type having manually operable bail rollers requires operation of a lever each time a sheet is inserted between the platen and the paper chute or each time the pin tractor feeds a continuous sheet, thus involving laborious operation.
A sheet guide mechanism of the type having no bail rollers requires a centering operation each time a new line is started until the upper end of the sheet enters between the pull-up roller and the rib, thus lowering the throughput of the printer.


An engine shutdown valve comprises a housing and a gate movable within a housing between a first position where the air flow through the shutdown valve is substantially unrestricted to a second position where the opening is restricted thereby stopping air flow. The gate is pivotable about an axis and a drive is located concentrically about the axis to rotate with the gate. The drive has a recess which is engageable by a piston movable between a first position where the gate is held in its latched position and a second position out of engagement with the recess so as to allow the gate to move to a position where the air passageway is closed. The piston assembly is located substantially wholly within the housing with only the piston of the piston assembly extending therefrom. The housing is divided into two halves joined together with cap screws having axes transverse to the axis of rotation of the gate.

Engine shutdown valves are, of course, well known in the industry. Such engine shutdown valves are used to terminate operation of a diesel engine when overreving results from combustible vapours being present in the atmosphere in which such engines are operated. By terminating atmospheric or air flow through the intake manifold in which such combustible vapours are present, the engine will starve from lack of oxygen and the engine will shutdown thereby preventing damage to the engine caused by overrunning. Such engine shutdown valves are, for example disclosed in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,215,845, 4,285,494 and 4,537,386.
Engine shutdown valves can be manufactured in various configurations for particularly uses. For example, an engine shutdown valve disclosed in our copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/725,290 is intended to be used within an air cleaner on a diesel engine. Other engine shutdown valves are designed for other particular uses.
Such engine shutdown valves, however, have a configuration which may be too large for many applications. Likewise, such valves have manufacturing costs which may be considerably greater than necessary.


A method for controlling mechanical lung ventilation is described. The method may include supplying a breathing gas to an airway of a patient in an intermittent way such that a plurality of respiratory cycles are formed; measuring a volume received by the patient in one or more respiratory cycles of the plurality of respiratory cycles; comparing the measured volume of each of the one or more respiratory cycles with a user defined target volume; attributing a classifying score to each of the one or more respiratory cycles based at least partially on a deviation between the measured volume and the user defined target volume; summing the classifying scores and dividing the result by a sample size of the one or more respiratory cycles; attributing a pressure step value based at least partially on the division result; and adding the pressure step value to a present pressure.

A patient requiring lung ventilation support may be connected to a mechanical lung ventilator that applies a positive pressure to insufflate a volume mixture of air and oxygen to the lungs in an intermittent way (in cycles). For example, in an acute respiratory failure condition, the patient is typically sedated or in apnea state. In other words, there may be no spontaneous breathing effort and controlled cycles of mechanical ventilation may be required. Controlled cycles are generally volume or pressure controlled. Volume controlled cycles may have a fixed flow pattern and any variation of the respiratory mechanics may result in pressure change in the patient's airway. On the other hand, pressure controlled cycles generally keep pressure in the patient's airway constant, having free flow demand and, as a result, the volume may be variable.

Methods for controlling mechanical lung ventilation


A low loss power inductor core and method for making same. The magnetic core includes an outer portion formed as a closed loop from multiple magnetic core pieces, and inner portion disposed within the closed loop. Non-magnetic spacers at opposing ends of the inner core portion position and secure the inner core portion between mutually opposed inner sides of the closed loop.

The present invention relates to inductors, and in particular, to inductors for storing energy in high power applications.
Previous patent applications (U.S. Pat. App. 61/782,457 filed Mar. 14, 2013 and entitled "Low loss inductor windings using offset gap, offset windings", and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/206,511 filed Mar. 12, 2014 and entitled "Low Loss Inductor With Offset Gap and Windings", all contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference) described a novel method of winding conducting foil around a magnetic core assembly. That assembly employed a common implementation where the magnetic core has a dimensionally controlled non-magnetic gap between one end of the center core finger (or center leg) and an adjacent magnetic component. A development of such an assembly is to have the magnetic core suspended such that each end of the core has a dimensionally controlled non-magnetic gap between it and surrounding magnetic material. This application describes the mechanical support of such a dual non-magnetic gap core.


A wireless device including a first communication module, a second communication module, and a processor. The first communication module is configured to communicate with a cellular antenna tower of a cellular network. The second communication module is configured to communicate with a device associated with a Wi-Fi network. The processor is configured to determine a first territorial range in which the wireless device is located based on a location of the cellular antenna tower of the cellular network, determine a second territorial range in which the wireless device is located based on a location of the device associated with the Wi-Fi network, and in response to the second territorial range being within the first territorial range, establish a location of the wireless device as being within the second territorial range.

Cellular communication networks comprise relatively widely spaced apart cellular antenna towers in order to reduce the number of such antenna towers required to provided continuous coverage, via hand-offs between antenna towers, for mobile cellular communications devices. The cellular networks were designed originally for minimizing the cost of mobile roaming of a cellular phone user by arriving a balance of customer-acceptable reception for the customer's roaming area versus the installation, antenna towers in order to reduce the number of such antenna towers required to provide continuous coverage, via hand-offs between antenna towers, for mobile cellular communications devices. The cellular networks were designed originally for minimizing the cost of mobile roaming of a cellular phone user by arriving a balance of customer-acceptable reception for the customer's roaming area versus the installation, resulted in installation of more powerful and numerically more antenna towers, their geographical density is limited by practical economics of customer acceptance of services provided.
Thus, cellular network antenna towers will always remain relatively widely spaced apart due to economic considerations. It is well known that communication of a specific cellular communication device, such as a telephone, with the cellular network is such that the antenna tower through which the device is communicating at any time, including when no phone connection has been made but the device is turned on, can be determined and is recorded in the records of the cellular service provider. Such information has been critical to identifying the general location of a user of the specific communication device. However, the location of a transmitting or receiving communication device can be determined only to within a relatively wide area, i.e., within several hundred feet. While some cellular communications devices are being equipped with global positioning systems that allow the location of the communication device to be determined much more accurately, the addition of such a GPS capability to a cellular communication device adds weight, cost and design complexity to such a device. Improving the ability of a cellular communication device to be accurately located by its communication with cellular antenna towers is technologically possible but not economically viable.
However, many cellular communication devices have been equipped with what is referred to as Wi-Fi capability without adding unacceptably to the weight, price or operational complexity of such a device. In contrast to the original design of the cellular communications networks to accommodate wide geographic coverage, Wi-Fi networks were originally designed to have very limited physical transmission range, having been assigned to work within the 2.4 GHz frequency that is also used by cordless phones and microwave ovens. Limiting the range was a practical way to assure that local communications would not be interrupted by noise or competing transmissions. Prior to installing a local Wi-Fi "hotspot" network, the installer could evaluate the operational range of the hotspot for likely sources of interference and anticipate the potential for users of the hotspot network to experience unacceptable levels of interference.
Indoor range of Wi-Fi hotspots is typically limited to about 100 to 150 feet. Outdoor range is about 300 feet. It is well known that, even as cellular antenna density increases with improved location capability, that the effective range of operation of Wi-Fi networks is increasing by way of the use of multiple wireless access points operating for the same network, range extenders or wireless repeaters, and improved antennas with greater power and elevation so that, in some cases, extends the range of communication of a Wi-Fi network up to several kilometers from such an antenna. Community-wide Wi-Fi networks are now common across the United States.
In a Wi-Fi network, each separate piece of hardware comprises a unique identifier. At a top level, the Wi-Fi network itself transmits with every packet a session set identifier (SSID) which is generally comprised of a 32 element alphanumeric identity and uniquely identifies the network. Some Wi-Fi networks are intentionally designed so that the SSID is not transmitted in outgoing packets in an ineffective attempt to keep the network from being used by unauthorized users. Regardless of the transmission of an SSID, a basic operational unit of the Wi-Fi network is the access point, a device which wirelessly communicates with multiple wireless Wi-Fi enabled devices. The Wi-Fi network is provided with at least one and, many times, multiple access points, each having a specific identifier and potential and actual broadcast range in its physical location. The Wi-Fi network may also comprises other devices which extend the range of an access point, where each of these range extenders also comprise, in operation, a specific identifier and potential and actual broadcast range in its physical location.
Wi-Fi networks can connect via a broadband Internet connection into a single router which can serve both wired and wireless clients, can connect in an ad-hoc mode for client to client wireless connections, and can connect non-computer devices to enable wireless connectivity to other devices or the Internet. Increasing the number of Wi-Fi access points in an environment provides redundancy and local roaming, thereby increasing overall network capacity by using more channels and/or creating smaller operational cells per access point. In addition, metropolitan-wide WiFi (Mu-Fi) has become a reality as a result of the use of multiple access points and range extenders. It is well known that the Wi-Fi protocol 802.11a, b, g and n are the agreed upon international standard for creating and operating Wi-Fi networks.
Turning again to communication via cellular networks, a text message capability has long been in operation in such networks. The Short Message Service (SMS) comprises a very short text message (a typical limitation is 160 characters) composed at a sender client and transmitted via wireless cellular communication to a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) which operates upon received short messages to first store the short message, determine a recipient client, and forward the stored message. The operation of a message center relieves the wireless device of the sender client from the task of assuring the transmission operation to a recipient client is completed as required. The SMSC attempts to send messages to a recipient client. If a recipient client is not reachable, the SMSC queues the message for later retry. Some SMSC's also provide a "forward and forget" option where transmission is tried only once. Both Mobile Terminated (MT), for messages sent to a mobile handset, and Mobile Originating (MO), for those that are sent from the mobile handset, operations are supported. Message delivery is best effort, so there are no guarantees that a message will actually be delivered to its recipient and delay or complete loss of a message is not uncommon, particularly when sending a message between networks. Sender clients may obtain delivery reports for transmitted short messages. These reports provide positive confirmation that the short message reached the recipient client. SMS is a very effective form of communication for short messages where the recipient client cannot presently receive a wireless communication (out of radio range), is not able to take a call, etc. SMS does not use Internet connection for delivery of the text message, thereby eliminating a requirement for Internet connection by the sender client. SMS guarantees relative privacy as opposed to transmission of an identical email transmission via Internet communication. SMS is a very secure and private person-to-person communication in the realm of wireless communications.
There is a need for integration of the short message capabilities of a sender client of a cellular network device with the physical location capabilities of that device when it is Wi-Fi enabled and can obtain specific physical location information either directly from a memory of a specific Wi-Fi network or which can be obtained otherwise.


A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a multi-plane heater such as a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate. The multi-plane heater includes at least one pair of vertically offset heating elements connected in series or parallel to control heating output in a heating zone on the substrate support. The thermal control elements can be powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones.

Critical dimension (CD) control is a challenge during semiconductor substrate manufacturing steps such as plasma etching. The uniformity of CD across the substrate can also affect the yield of chips from the substrate. In known semiconductor manufacturing nodes, a CD uniformity of <1 nm can be specified.
Controlling temperature is not an easy task for several reasons. First, many factors can affect heat transfer, such as the locations of heat sources and heat sinks, and the movement, materials and shapes of the media. Second, heat transfer is a dynamic process. Unless the system in question is in heat equilibrium, heat transfer can occur and the temperature profile and heat transfer will change with time. Third, non-equilibrium phenomena, such as plasma, which of course is always present in plasma processing, make the theoretical prediction of heat transfer behavior of any practical plasma processing apparatus very difficult if not impossible.
The substrate temperature profile in a plasma processing apparatus is affected by many factors, such as the plasma density profile, the radio frequency (RF) power profile and the detailed structure of the various heating and cooling elements in the electrostatic chuck assembly, hence the substrate temperature profile is often not uniform and difficult to control with a small number of heating or cooling elements. This deficiency translates to non-uniformity in the processing rate across the whole substrate and non-uniformity in the critical dimension of the device dies on the substrate.

Multi-plane heater for semiconductor substrate support


One embodiment provides a system. The system includes a register to store an operand; a multiplier; and optimizer logic to initiate a first reduction stage to operate on the operand, initiate a second reduction stage prior to completion of the first reduction stage, and determine whether a carry propagation has occurred.

Cryptography may be utilized to protect data from unwanted access, for authentication, to generate digital signatures, etc. Current cryptographic techniques rely on intensive mathematical operations. For example, a number of public key cryptographic standards (e.g., RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), Diffie-Hellman, ElGamal, DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm), etc.) are based, at least in part, on modular exponentiation of large numbers. A binary representation of the large numbers may include on the order of thousands, e.g., 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, etc., or more bits. Modular exponentiation involves raising a first number (base) to some power (exponent) and reducing it with respect to a third number (modulus). A reduction (i.e., modular reduction) result corresponds to a remainder left when the base raised to the exponent is divided by the modulus. Mathematically, modular exponentiation can be expressed as ge mod M where g is the base, e is the exponent and M is the modulus. Computationally, modular exponentiation includes squaring followed by a reduction and/or multiplying followed by a reduction. Such operations are performed repeatedly in cryptography. Thus, even a relatively small performance increase in a single modular reduction operation can have a significant effect over the relatively large number of modular reduction operations associated with modular exponentiation of large numbers.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiplier pipelining optimization with a postponed estimation correction


A gas burner (11) for a charcoal grill having a bowl (12) includes an elongated burner tube (30) secured to the bowl and passed through an opening (36) in the bowl (12) so as to be positioned in a substantially horizontal manner below and substantially parallel to a bed of charcoal supported on a charcoal support grid (18). The burner has a propane tank (42) connected to the free end thereof outside the bowl (12) and has air intake openings (44) in the tube (30) adjacent the free end. A venturi section (46) is formed into the tube (30) downstream of the air intake openings (44) and elongated diametrically-opposed, horizontal slots (50) defining the gas exit ports are positioned downstream of the venturi section (46). An igniter assembly (52) having its electrode (56,60) extending through an opening into the tube (30) is located between the venturi section (46) and the slots (50) to ignite the flowing gases. The positioning of the electrode (56,60) within the tube (30) prevents flash-back through the air intake openings (44).

Charcoal grills have been in existence for a number of decades and generally consist of a firebox which has a charcoal support grid located in a bottom section thereof and a cooking grid located above and spaced from the charcoal support grid. While numerous outdoor cooking devices have resorted to gas in place of the charcoal, many consumers still desire the charcoal grill because charcoal adds a desirable flavor to the food that is being cooked.
One of the difficulties with charcoal grills is the lighting of the charcoal. Generally speaking, it is customary to spray the charcoal with a lighter fluid or liquid that is very combustible and then ignite the liquid to heat the charcoal to the desired temperature for cooking purposes. This is a very dangerous procedure, since explosions can readily occur if too much liquid is placed on the charcoal. Furthermore, the liquid is generally a butane, which is very readily combustible. In addition, many times, the lighter fluid that is being used produces an undesirable flavor in the food that is being cooked.
Additionally, governing bodies and individuals have recognized the negative environmental impact resulting from the use of lighter fluids and liquids. This concern is so great that some municipalities and states are considering ordinances and laws to ban the use of lighter fluids and liquids.
Many devices have been proposed for eliminating the need for lighter fluid to ignite the charcoal. For example, a number of different electric igniters are in existence and can be utilized with a proper power source for igniting the charcoal. However, many times an electrical power source is not available. Numerous other types of starters utilizing propane gas have also been proposed. However, most of these are portable in nature and require a gas source. Furthermore, such devices are intended to be temporarily placed into the grill below the charcoal to provide the ignition. Thus, there remains a need for a simplified solution for igniting charcoal and one that is permanently incorporated into the charcoal grill.


A method and system for data entry of handwritten text into a computer program that is not designed to accept handwritten text is provided. In preferred embodiments, the computer program is designed to operate in a windowing environment. A data entry program receives handwritten data, recognizes the data, and sends the recognized data to the computer program. The computer program processes the recognized data as if it had been entered from the keyboard. According to the present invention, the data entry program overlaps the window of the computer program with an invisible window. To the user, it looks as if the computer program is accepting handwritten data directly.

This invention is related to a method and computer system of data entry of handwritten characters and, in particular, data entry in a windowing environment.
Handwriting recognition systems are being developed to allow users to input handwritten data into a computer. An electronic tablet allows a user to hand write data that the computer can recognize. The user writes data on the electronic tablet with a special pen. As the user moves the pen across the tablet, the tablet displays xe2x80x9cink.xe2x80x9d The tablet senses the position of the pen as the user writes and sends the position data to the computer. The computer receives this position data and converts it to recognized symbols, such as letters or numbers, in a convenient format, such as ASCII format. The computer then processes the formatted characters.
Some handwriting recognition systems recognize not only characters, letters and punctuation, but also gestures. Gestures are handwritten symbols that are typically used to represent editing commands or to produce non-printing text. For example, a handwritten backslash over a letter may mean delete the letter, a caret in between two letters may mean insert text, or a vertical line with an arrow to the left may mean insert a carriage return. Gestures are used extensively when printed documents are edited. During recognition, these gestures are converted to a convenient format for use by the computer.
These handwriting recognition systems use algorithms to map handwritten data to symbols. Typically, these systems internally store a prototype for each symbol that can be recognized. A prototype is a xe2x80x9cpicturexe2x80x9d of a handwritten symbol that is used to map handwriting to a symbol. A system that recognizes just capital letters may have only 26 prototypes: one for each capital letter. Recognition systems use recognition algorithms to map handwritten data to a prototype. As long as the user writes like the prototypes, the handwritten data is successfully recognized. Conversely, the more dissimilar the handwritten data and the prototype are, the more likely it is that the handwritten data will be misrecognized. Misrecognition is typically due to the differences in user handwriting styles and legibility of the handwriting. For example, the handwritten word xe2x80x9cdearxe2x80x9d may be misrecognized as the word xe2x80x9cclearxe2x80x9d depending the way the user writes a xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d and the prototypes for the letters xe2x80x9cd,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cc,xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cl.xe2x80x9d
Although some computer programs are written to accept handwritten data, most computer programs are designed to receive data typed by a user at a computer keyboard. Such programs are call non-pen programs, that is, the programs are not designed to support handwritten data entry. It is often desirable to allow users the option to input data through a keyboard or by handwriting. Many people are not proficient at typing. They shun using computers because it is burdensome to enter data. These people, however, would use a computer if the computer program would accept handwritten data entry. Also, there are many situations where the use of a keyboard is impractical and where the use of handwritten data entry would be practical.
Many of the non-pen application programs are written for a windowing environment. One such windowing environment is Windows by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Several operating systems also have integrated windowing environments. In a windowing environment, each application program is assigned a window. The windows for several programs can be shown on the computer display simultaneously. Typically, the windowing environment supports multitasking, that is, multiple programming may be operating concurrently. The windowing system controls the positioning and size of the windows on the screen. Typically, the user has considerable flexibility in arranging the windows. In most windowing systems, the windows can overlap. The window that logically overlaps obscures the overlapped window.
It would require extensive redesigning and reprogramming to adapt non-pen programs to accept handwritten data. In some situations, it may not be economically feasible to adapt a non-pen program. The costs of the adaptations may not be offset by increased revenue resulting from the program accepting handwritten data. It would be desirable if these non-pen application programs could receive handwritten data without the need to adapt the non-pen application program. It would be desirable if the non-pen program could also receive handwritten gestures.
The methods of the present invention provide for the data entry of handwritten data into a computer program that is not designed to accept handwritten data. According to the methods, a non-pen application program operates in a windowing environment. A handwriting data entry program detects when a user wants to input handwritten data. The data entry program creates an xe2x80x9cinvisiblexe2x80x9d window, which preferably overlaps the application window. An xe2x80x9cinvisiblexe2x80x9d window is a window that when created and displayed has no visual effect on the display. The windowing environment internally treats the creating and displaying of an invisible window like a visible window. However, when the user writes with the pen, the data entry program inputs the handwritten data, converts the data to recognized symbols, and erases the handwritten data from the display. The data entry program then sends the recognized symbols to the application program as virtual keyboard or mouse events. The application program then processes the virtual keyboard or mouse events as if the events were enter from the keyboard or mouse.
In preferred embodiments, the methods automatically detect when the user wants to input handwritten data to a non-pen application. The data entry program monitors all pen down events. The user starts entering handwritten data by writing over a data entry area of the application window. When the data entry program detects a pen down within a data entry area of the application window, the data entry program starts the collection and recognition process. When the user stops writing for a period of time, the data entry program assumes that the user has finished the handwritten data entry.
In a preferred embodiment, the data entry program inputs gestures from the user. The data entry program converts a recognized gesture to keyboard or mouse events or other standard messages that will effect the function of the gesture. The data entry program then sends these events to the application program as virtual events. When the application program receives the virtual events, it processes them as if they came from the keyboard or mouse.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for allowing non-pen application programs to receive handwritten data entry.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for using an invisible window to input handwritten data and send the recognized symbols to an application program.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for detecting when a non-pen application program is in a data entry mode.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for allowing a non-pen application program to process gesture data entry.
These and other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully described below.

Method and system for data entry of handwritten symbols


Managing lineage information includes: receiving lineage information representing one or more lineage relationships among two or more data processing programs and two or more logical datasets; receiving one or more runtime artifacts, each runtime artifact including information related to a previous execution of a data processing program of the two or more data processing programs; and analyzing the one or more runtime artifacts and the lineage information to determine one or more candidate modifications to the lineage information.

This description relates to managing parameter sets.
In data processing systems it is often desirable for certain types of users to have access to reports of a lineage of data as it passes through the systems. Very generally, among a number of uses, such "data lineage" reports can be used to reduce risk, verify compliance obligations, streamline business processes, and safeguard data. It is important that data lineage reports are both correct and complete.


A mass airflow measuring system includes an air conduit and a sensor assembly mounted to the air conduit, including a unitary one-piece first section which in cross section defines a first channel, a second channel and a wall separating the two channels. A second section has similar components. A unitary one-piece corner section, in cross section includes four legs, each defining a respective channel. A respective leg is mounted in a respective one of the channels of the first and second sections to communicate the sections with each other through the channels defined in the corner section legs. A sensor housing is mounted to one of the sections and includes an inlet opening communicating with the first channel and an exit opening communicating with the second channel. A mass airflow sensor communicates with a sample channel defined in the housing.

The present disclosure is directed to airflow measuring devices. More particularly, it is directed to a system and a method for measuring airflow in a building.
Controlling airflow in a building in regard to both volume and temperature is important for the comfort and wellbeing of the occupants of the building. Heating and cooling a building necessarily involves significant energy costs. Present techniques for monitoring and/or controlling airflow in a building employ airflow measuring devices having limitations on their accuracy. These can impact the comfort of the building occupants, as well as the costs for heating and cooling the building.
It would be desirable to provide a mass airflow measuring system, including a sensor assembly which is adapted to be placed in an air passageway, which system is more accurate than what is currently available. It would also be desirable to provide a mass airflow measuring system with components which are easily extruded and molded so as to create an inexpensive mass airflow measuring system.

Mass airflow measuring system for a building having a sensor assembly mounted to an interior wall of an air conduit


A method, a kit and an applicator for performing a surgical occlusion. A tubular applicator open at both ends is introduced with a first end adjacent a free-prepared tissue. At least one bundle-strap type tie is introduced into the applicator. A tie portion protruding from said first end of the applicator is caught in order to position the tie in its proper place around the tissue. Thereafter, the tie is formed into a locked occlusion loop around said tissue. The occlusion technique is applicable to both laparotomy and laparoscopy.

The present invention relates to a method, a kit and an applicator for performing a surgical occlusion on a human or animal body. More particularly, in accordance with the invention use is made e.g. of elongated and flexible, bundle-strap type occlusion ties which are passed and locked into occlusion loops around a tissue.
A surgical operation (on a human or animal body) frequently involves the sectioning of tissues containing vessels. For example, such sectioning is necessary in order to remove organs, or parts thereof, from the body. If the tissue to be sectioned is thin and superficial and the vessels are correspondingly small, sectioning normally does not involve any difficulties when employing conventional ligation/occlusion techniques.
Generally, present-day sectioning and occlusion techniques comprise the following two alternative procedures. According to the first alternative, one or more ligatures are applied on each side of the intended sectioning area, whereupon the tissue is sectioned. According to the second alternative, two pairs of pair of tissue forceps are initially applied at a certain mutual distance over the intended sectioning area, whereupon the tissue is sectioned between the forceps, and a ligature is performed on the opposite side of the respective forceps, which are then finally removed.
Normally, a ligature is a suture thread which is applied around the tissue and knotted to establish a firm seal or occlusion. When a suture is to be applied around a free-prepared non-sectioned tissue, a pair of curved pliers is first introduced under the tissue from one side. At the other side of the tissue, the pliers are opened to grasp one end of a suture thread which by some other means, such as a pair of tissue forceps, has been introduced into the operation area. The pliers are then withdrawn, taking with them the suture thread which thus remains in its proper place around the tissue. Such application of the suture thread has to be performed with great care so as not to damage the tissue and adjacent organs. After the suture thread thus has been positioned around the tissue, the actual knotting is performed, the first knot accomplishing a sealing function and the succeeding knots accomplishing a locking function. This procedure of applying and locking a suture thread has to be repeated for each ligature, i.e. at least twice. Ligation outside a pair forceps on a non-sectioned tissue is performed in practically the same way.
However, when the operation is performed in a deep and narrow area, it is sometimes difficult and troublesome to introduce the suture around the tissue and establish a firm and secure ligature. One reason could be that the suture is not sufficiently tightened before knotting. Also, the knot itself could be insufficiently strong and thus come loose, so that the ligature slides off, involving a risk of peroperative or postoperative bleeding. If bleeding occurs during the operation, a hemostatic instrument has to be applied more or less blindly with a risk of damaging organs. A postoperative sliding-off of a ligature may necessitate a further and difficult operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4 955 913 discloses a bundle-strap type, one-piece surgical tie including a retaining head from which a tongue extends. The tongue is to be inserted into the retaining head so as to form a loop around living tissue and ligate such tissue, especially during the performance of feline and canine hysterectomies. The retaining head includes locking means for receiving the tongue and retaining it against a loop-opening movement. The tongue is formed as an elongated and flexible flat member having a smooth outer side and a toothed opposite side for engaging the locking means of the retaining head. The document does not disclose any special technique for applying the ties.

Method for performing a surgical occlusion, and kit and applicator for carrying out the method


Provided are methods and/or systems to convert sulfide intermediates to sulfilimines using a series of continuous loop reactors instead of a batch reactor. The advantages of the methods and systems provided include improved total yield, improved heat management, improved phase mixing, and/or improved volume management.

The present invention concerns an improved process for manufacturing certain cyano-substituted sulfilimines.
Cyano-substituted sulfilimines are useful intermediates for the preparation of certain new insecticidal sulfoximines; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,678,920 B2 and 7,687,634 B2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,027 B2 describes the manufacture of substituted sulfilimines by the reaction of the corresponding sulfide with cyanamide and hypochlorite solution in a suitable organic solvent. While the hypochlorite process of U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,027 B2 is preferable to the iodobenzene diacetate process described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,678,920 B2 and 7,687,634 B2, it is plagued by significant levels of byproducts formed by competing reactions of the sulfide starting materials and the sulfilimine products.
Therefore, there is the need for inventions that are useful to produce the substituted sulfilimines efficiently and in higher yields.

Methods of manufacturing certain substituted sulfilimines


The lever-fitting connector assembly includes a first connector. The first connector includes a first terminals arranged at intervals. The first connector includes a hood enclosing the first terminals. The assembly includes a second connector fitted to the hood. The second connector includes second terminals connected to the first terminals. The second connector includes connector components joined to each other, and having joint surfaces in a fitting direction, respectively. The assembly includes a lever rotatable on one of the first and second connectors to fit to the other one of the first and second connectors. The assembly includes a locking mechanism for locking the connector components with each other. The locking mechanism includes a resilient member contactably and separatably retaining the connector components within a clearance normal to the joint surfaces opposed to each other.

The present invention relates to a lever-fitting connector assembly which allows a connector and a mating connector to be fitted to each other by rotating a lever provided on the former connector. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly structure formed by assembling a connector having a lever and other connectors together.
This invention is applied in a field of producing a connection device of wires.
The lever-fitting connector assembly includes a female connector having a fitting hood. This connector includes a male connector having a male connector body which is fitted into and disengaged from the fitting hood. The connector includes a lever which is rotatably supported by the inner wall of the fitting hood or the outer periphery of the male connector (e.g., Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open Nos. 2002-280111 and 2002-359028). According to this connector, the rotating motion of the lever allows the male connector body to fit into the fitting hood or allows the male connector body to be disengaged from the fitting hood.
In this connector, the connector body is fitted into the fitting hood, and a male terminal housed in a male connector and a female terminal housed in a female connector are connected to each other. The connection between these terminals is released by separating of the male connector body from the fitting hood. In this case, an insertion force for inserting the male connector into the female connector is reduced by a lever using this principle.
In this connector, in order to obtain a waterproof function, a seal member is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the connector body and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting hood. A waterproof hood is provided on each of an outer side of the hood of the female connector and an outer side of the male connector body (outer side of the lever). The waterproof hood covers fitted portions between the fitting hood and the male connector body.


The invention relates to an apparatus for widening a stenosis in an elongated body cavity such as an artery, the urethra, the ureter, a bile duct or the like, characterized by an endoprosthesis made from a memory alloy with a substantially cylindrical jacket-like outer contour with a lock surrounding and radially holding together the endoprosthesis and with an applicator for the endoprosthesis. It is important that the apparatus is supplied in such a way that in the delivery pack the endoprosthesis is held radially from the outside in its compressed (low temperature) position, which is ensured by the above-described construction of the apparatus according to the invention.

An occlusion or obstruction in an elongated body cavity such as in a vessel especially in an artery, is generally initially widened in that deposits such as plaque are removed, for example, by cutting out and suctioning or the like. However, this cannot take place up to the tissue material of the vessel because, at this point, there is a risk of injury.
If there is only a narrowing, for example, a stenosis, but not a complete occlusion, such as, for example, with an enlarged prostrate in the vicinity of the urethra, or after a certain through-flow area has been created in the previously complete occlusion, a radial widening of the stenosis is desired. Therefore, this is carried out not only in blood vessels, but also in other body passages or tubes such as the ureter, urethra, bile ducts, etc.
Previously, this function has been fulfilled by a balloon catheter, optionally with a double internal diameter, which brings about an instantaneous radial widening. This widening of the stenosis should remain permanently after the removal of the balloon catheter, but this is generally not the case. Therefore, permanent widening of a stenosis has already been proposed. Thus, a widening part is mounted on a balloon catheter in an axially fixed manner, with the widening part being introduced with the catheter and, by widening action, the catheter is plastically deformed in such a manner that the radial dimensions of the widening part increase and the widening part is pressed into the stenosis wall and, after releasing the air from the catheter, the catheter can be removed again, whereas, the widening part, in the plastically deformed state, remains in its location. For this purpose, a proposal has already been made for a sleeve in the form of an "optionally perforated" plastic or tissue-compatible metal envelope.
A significant disadvantage of the above proposed process resides in the fact that the sleeve must be introduced into the stenosis resting on the outer circumference of a catheter. First, the axial fixing is complicated and can either not be reliably achieved, so that the part can be left behind on advancing the catheter or a separate release of the part from the catheter causes problems. In addition, a widening part located externally on the catheter can lead to tissue damage. Finally, the widening through the balloon catheter in the case of such a part must initially lead to a radial extension, which is well beyond that which is ultimately desired for the widening part, because such parts, such as conventional compatible materials, to the extent that they have an adequate strength to maintain the stenosis open, have a considerable elastic deformation range, before there is a permanent plastic deformation to the desired radius. This more particularly occurs if the stenosis or the surrounding tissue material is pressed radially from the outside against the widening part.


A sheet shaped heating device attached on a contact surface of a mounting part of a hot melt type inkjet head for applying heat to the mounting part in order to heat hot melt ink in the hot melt type inkjet head, the sheet shaped heating device having: an insulating sheet having an attaching surface to be attached on the contact surface of the mounting part and a wiring surface located opposite to the attaching surface; and a heating element disposed on the wiring surface of the insulating sheet for generating heat, wherein at least one air passage passing through the insulating sheet is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a head of a hot melt type inkjet printer, and more particularly to a sheet shaped heating device used for a head of a hot melt type inkiet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hot melt type inkiet head has a plurality of nozzle heads corresponding to a plurality of colors of inks actually used for printing, respectively. Each of the nozzle heads has a large number of nozzle holes. In such a hot melt type inkiet head, when printing, solid hot melt inks are melted by heat, and then, the hot melt inks in the liquid state are ejected through the nozzle holes. Therefore, it is necessary to heat up the inks quickly at the start of printing, and keep temperature of the inks at a predetermined high temperature during printing. Here, a performance of an ink ejection is sensitively changed with temperature of inks. If temperature of each nozzle head is not uniform, ejection speed of inks irregularly varies. As a result, printing quality is reduced. Therefore, in order to enhance the printing quality, it is necessary to apply heat to each nozzle head suitably, and that an optimum temperature distribution is set for each nozzle head. In order to apply heat to each nozzle head, the hot melt type inkjet head has a sheet shaped heater.
A sheet shaped heater is typically used as a heater for the hot melt type inkiet head. The sheet shaped heater has an insulating sheet made of polyimide or the like. On the insulating sheet, a meandering wiring pattern is formed. Width and length of the wire of the wiring pattern are designed so as to set a certain wattage density in each part of the wire. The sheet shaped heater is attached near the nozzle heads, and applies heat to the nozzle heads in order to set an optimum temperature distribution for each nozzle head. More concretely, the sheet shaped heater is bonded to a mounting part of the inkiet head located near the nozzle heads by using an adhesive etc., in a condition that a surface of the sheet shaped heater abuts a surface of the mounting part. Therefore, heat generated by the wiring pattern of the sheet shaped heater is conduct to the nozzle head through the mounting part.
However, the surface of the mounting part is flat and relatively hard, whereas the surface of the sheet shaped heater is easy to curve, since the insulating sheet made of polyimide or the like is soft and flexible. In case that the surface of the sheet shaped heater has curved and a concave portion has been formed on it, if the surface of the sheet shaped heater is bonded to the surface of the mounting part, an enclosed space is formed between them, and air is confined in the enclosed space.
Furthermore, if the enclose space is formed in the vicinity of the middle of the surface of the sheet shaped heater, it is difficult to remove the air and the enclosed space.
Moreover, if the enclosed space has been formed, the surface of the sheet shaped heater is partially separate from the surface of the mounting part. Hence, heat generated by the wiring pattern is not completely conducted to the nozzle head through the mounting part. Accordingly, thermal efficiency is reduced, a temperature distribution is dispersed, and printing quality is reduced.

Hot melt type inkjet head and sheet shaped heating device used for hot melt type inkjet head


A grate assembly for a coal gasifier of a moving-bed or fixed-bed type is provided for crushing agglomerates of solid material such as clinkers, tailoring the radial distribution of reactant gases entering the gasification reaction zone, and control of the radial distribution of downwardly moving solid velocities in the gasification and combustion zone. The clinker crushing is provided by pinching clinkers between vertically oriented stationary bars and angled bars supported on the upper surface of a rotating conical grate. The distribution of the reactant gases is provided by the selective positioning of horizontally oriented passageways extending through the grate. The radial distribution of the solids is provided by mounting a vertically and generally radially extending scoop mechanism on the upper surface of the grate near the apex thereof.

The present invention relates generally to an improved grate arrangement for use in gasification systems, and more particularly to such a grate arrangement in a fixed-bed coal gasifier with the grate arrangement incorporating clinker crushing capabilities together with selective gas and solids flow distribution.
The gasification of coal and other carbonaceous materials such as peat and biomass provides for the production of product gases having high energy values useful in various energy consuming applications such as gas-fired turbine systems. The gasifiers used for the conversion of coal to such product gases include moving bed gasifiers or fixed-bed gasifiers which normally comprise a vertical reaction vessel containing a gasification zone overlying a grate mechanism which supports the downwardly moving solid reactants in the gasification zone. In addition to supporting the solid reactants, the grate mechanism, which may be of a planar or conical configuration provides for the removal of spent solid reactants or ash from the gasification zone as well as other functions including the distribution of gaseous reactants, normally air and steam, that are introduced into the base region of the gasifier and pass upwardly into the gasification zone through the grate mechanism to react with and gasify coal introduced into the top region of the gasifier.
Clinkers formed of fused ash particulates are commonly produced in the lower region of the gasification zone during the gasification process with the extent of such clinker formation being dependent upon the characteristics of the coal and the operational parameters employed in the gasification process. While proper control of steam and air flow is commonly used to limit the extent of clinker formation, crushing of the clinkers which are formed into solids of a size which will pass through or around the edges of the grate mechanism is often required in order to prevent taking the gasifier off-line for removing "excessive" clinkers. Such crushing of clinkers has been achieved by providing the grate mechanism with clinker crushing capabilities such as by employing one or more excentric lobes on the rotating grate and a "wear" ring on the stationary internal diameter.
In order to provide for the distribution of the upwardly flowing reactant gases within the gasification zone, the grate mechanisms are usually provided with throughgoing orifices or passageways placed at various locations about the surface of the grate mechanism. It was previously generally accepted that the grate mechanism should distribute these reactant gases and cause the downflow of solids through the gasification to occur in an areally uniform manner. However, it was recently found in terms of gasifier throughput that the distribution of the upflowing gaseous reactants and the downflowing solids in the gasification zone in a non-areally uniform manner would be more advantageous from an efficiency standpoint in the gasification operation. Thus, while previously known grate mechanisms have been found to provide either a capability for satisfactorily crushing clinkers or a desirable distribution of the reactant gases, none of the previous grate mechanisms have been found to be capable of providing both effective clinker crushing and desirable reactant gas distributing characteristics nor do they address the desirability of adjusting the flow pattern of the reactant gases for effecting an areal or other distribution of the reactant gases or adjusting the flow pattern of solids in the gasification zone.

Grate assembly for fixed-bed coal gasifier

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


In machining a substrate surface of a photoreceptor by the use of a cutting machine which supplies cutting lubricant from a reservoir to a cutting tool of the cutting machine, the method comprises a measurement of a cutting tool temperature by a sensor and a control of both the temperature of cutting lubricant and a flow rate thereof. The control is responsive to the cutting tool temperature and suppresses a temperature fluctuation of the cutting tool.

The present invention relates to a method of surface machining for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and more particularly, to a method of surface machining of a substrate made of aluminum of an electrophotographic photoreceptor.
In an electrophotographic copying machine, a digital copier, a laser printer and others, an electrophotographic photoreceptor wherein a light-sensitive layer is provided on a substrate of a rotary drum-shaped electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to simply as "substrate") is commonly used. As a material of the substrate forming such electrophotographic photoreceptor, materials of an aluminum type are preferably used from the viewpoint of low cost, lightness and easy machining. A rotary drum-shaped substrate made of the aluminum type material is generally made by turning the surface of a cylindrical material for finishing, and cutting liquid is usually used for the cutting work of turning. The cutting liquid is used for the purpose of cooling, lubricating and cleaning, and for that purpose, petroleum, polybutene, kerosene and white kerosene are used.
Actual technologies related to a method of surface machining for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor which have been suggested are as follows.
(1) A technology wherein a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor is machined by the use of cutting oil containing 1.0% by weight or less of an oiliness improver and/or extreme-pressure additive (Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 307463/1988 (hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication).
(2) A technology wherein the surface of a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor is made of an aluminum alloy containing magnesium, silicon, copper and titanium each within a specific range of values is machined by a cutting tool having a rounded shape at its cutting portion (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 86151/1989).
(3) A technology wherein an alloy containing silicon and iron each within a specific range of values is used for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 86152/1989).
(4) A technology wherein the surface of a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor made of an aluminum alloy containing magnesium, silicon, and copper each within a specific range of values is machined by a cutting tool having a rounded shape at its cutting portion (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 86153/1989).
(5) A technology wherein an alloy containing silicon, magnesium and iron each within a specific range of values is used for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 86154/1989).
(6) A technology wherein an alloy containing magnesium, silicon, copper and titanium each within a specific range of values is used for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 86155/1989).
(7) A technology wherein an alloy containing silicon, iron, and magnesium, each within a specific range of values and containing other metals within a specified range of values is used for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 123245/1989)
(8) A technology employing a surface machining apparatus which is composed of a lathe unit, a high-pressure liquid jetting unit and a conveyance unit for a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and is capable of turning and high-pressure jetting successively and automatically (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 152642/1987)
(9) A technology employing a specific cutting liquid supplying nozzle apparatus having a spindle head on which a spindle equipped with a rotary tool having oil holes and a rotary tool having no oil holes is supported rotatably (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 152642/1987).
(10) A technology wherein high pressure water is jetted onto the surface of a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor from a nozzle connected to a source of high-pressure water supply while the surface of the substrate is scanned by the nozzle, thereby the surface of the substrate is matted to the predetermined surface roughness (Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 264764/1988).
In the past, however, the supply of cutting liquid was unstable, resulting in insufficient cooling of a cutting tool which shortened its life, because an operator used his experience and head for supplying cutting liquid. In addition to that, a temperature of cutting liquid was unstable, and change of ambient temperature and heat generated from a surface machining apparatus adversely affected dimensions of the surface-machined substrate, which has been a problem.

Method of surface machining for substrate of electrophotographic photoreceptor


A motorized weapon gyroscopic stabilizer which creates a stabilizing effect for single shot, semi-automatic, and fully automatic weapons. The rotating mass that generates the gyroscopic stabilizing effect can be the rotor of the motor. The motor is designed to allow the mass to rotate around the open core of the motorized weapon gyroscopic stabilizer. Because of its open core design the motorized weapon gyroscopic stabilizer allows the fired projectile to pass through it, or be mounted in line with the sighting mechanism allowing the target alignment-line of sight to pass through the motorized weapon gyroscopic stabilizer, or both.

The present application relates to weapon stabilizer systems. It finds particular application in utilizing a motorized weapon gyroscopic stabilizer to create a stabilizing effect for single shot, semi-automatic, and fully automatic weapons, and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be understood, however, that it also finds application in other devices, and is not necessarily limited to the aforementioned application.
Shooting a weapon depends on a high degree of precision. Slight movements made by the shooter significantly alter the accuracy of the shot. This variation in target alignment is made even more significant when compounded over long distances. Over time, shooters have been taught to minimize these movements by using a variety of methods to create stability and support of the weapon during target alignment and firing of the weapon. This desired stability of the target alignment is so critical that a shooter is taught to measure his breaths, and be aware of his heartbeats as he prepares for his shot. A small fraction of a degree in target misalignment when magnified over a long distance is enough to miss the target.
While there are a variety of sights, scopes, and aiming devices available for weapons, they only serve to make the shooter more aware of the existing deviations experienced during aiming and firing at his target. Typically, the shooter has the ability to support his weapon from the middle and/or rear with handgrips, and/or stock supports. When possible, a shooter enhances his stability by supporting the weapon with external stable surfaces available to him in his environment at the time. Unfortunately, due to the different conditions and environments in which a weapon is expected to function, the ideal support for the weapon is not always available. Without the aid of external stable surfaces for the weapon, the shooter is dependent on supporting the unsupported weapon with his skeletal structure incorporated into their position, and the steadiness of their muscles.
With a weapon, during the first shot, the shooter typically experiences recoil from the shot. During this recoil phase, the weapon typically moves as the projectile is fired and propelled and leaves the weapon. Typically, this recoil affects the least supported part of the weapon the most. This recoil causes alignment with the target to be altered, and requires subsequent shots to be made after adjusting target alignment, causing a delay in repeated firing and the ability to aim accurately. The less the natural recoil of the weapon affects the target alignment, the faster the target can be reacquired, and subsequent shots may be made. This recoil problem is present with single shot, semi-automatic, and fully automatic weapons.
Gyroscopes have been utilized in the past in a wide variety of stabilizing applications, but size, weight, and bulk have limited their application related to the handheld weapon field. Gyroscopes are heavy and cumbersome, and while used for applications such as on cameras, missiles, battleship guns, and tanks, they have never been practically used on handheld weapons.
The present application provides a weapon stabilizer system and apparatus which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.


An exercise device includes an elongate platform and a pair of foot support members slidably mounted on the elongate platform. A mount permits reciprocating movement of the elongate platform and a guide member retains a body support member vertically above the elongate platform. The guide member guides the body support member for movement as an exerciser slides in opposite directions along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate platform.

A variety of exercise devices are known for exercising both the lower and upper torso of an individual. In addition, some of these devices provide excellent endurance training.
One prior art device for providing training of the lower torso of an individual in the frontal plane is made by Reebok and is referred to as the "Reebok slide." This device includes a generally planer, low friction surface with bolsters at opposed transverse ends to limit the sliding movement of a person as the person traverses the slide from side-to-side. The person desiring to exercise on this device is required to put on a pair of slippers to provide low friction engagement with the slide surface.
In use a individuals shifts his/her weight and pushes off of his/her trailing leg to provide translational back and forth movement in the frontal plane. This system does not provide optimized strength and endurance training of the lower torso in a frontal plane.
Moreover, an individual using this system is not supported and needs to rely upon his/her balance to maintain in an upright position during sliding movement. This can provide a dangerous exercise for individuals that either lack balance, coordination or simply cannot maintain control of their body during such sliding movement.
Numerous other devices are known in the prior art for providing lower torso exercises, and in some cases upper body exercises.
Zhang et al. U.S. Publication No. 2012/0277063 discloses an apparatus and method for controlling lower-limb joint movements in the form of a generally elliptical device including foot supports on a reciprocating platform attached to a rotary support member. This device is not designed to provide lower body exercises in a frontal plane or any type of sliding body movement.
Saysek et al. U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,540 discloses a multi-purpose exercise system in which a person can exercise by sliding along an elongate platform and also engaging in upper body exercises by using an additional connection device. In particular, the system is disclosed for use in carrying out skiing exercises, rowing exercises and weight training/resistance exercises. While this device is designed to provide both lower body and upper body training, it is believed to have limited applicability, and does not provide the most desired endurance and strength training for the lower torso and/or upper torso of an exerciser.
Nicholas U.S. Publication 2007/0072745 discloses an alpine ski training apparatus employing spaced-apart foot platforms that are mounted on a linkage assembly for rocking movement. The device further includes a back support to be used by a person simulating the compound motion encountered in alpine skiing. This device does not deal with the problem of providing rigorous strength and endurance training of the lower torso in a frontal plane, let alone achieving this strength and endurance training in a device including an upper body exercise system.
Crivello U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,990 provides a jumping jack exercise machine that includes frame members and foot supports for supporting or retaining a person's arms and feet as the person is engaged in a jumping jack exercise. This device is not designed for sliding exercise movement in a frontal plane to achieve high strength and endurance training.
Skatestrider Inc. International Publication No. WO2005/107889 discloses an apparatus including foot supports mounted on non-linear tracks to permit the simulation of skating or roller blading movement.
Lipscomb, et al. International Publication No. WO2005/011818 discloses a pushup device employing a reciprocating platform with hand engaging sections slidably attached thereto. This device does not provide lower torso training in a frontal plane or a combination of lower and upper torso training/exercising.
Schützer U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,214 discloses a training apparatus for skaters including foot supports mounted for sliding movement along a rail.
Ehrmantraut U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,986 discloses a system employing rollably mounted dollies for engagement by an individual's feet to provide frontal exercise for the individual.
Wang U.S. Publication No. 2003/0216230 discloses a multi-purpose exercise device providing synchronized sliding on a stationary support and also capable of providing upper body exercises.
Stelma U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,645 discloses a ski-simulator training device wherein foot supports are slidably movable in a frontal plane through a stationary mounting system.
Wilson U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,811 discloses a ski-training device employing an elongate, reciprocating platform with slidable foot support members thereon.
Liang U.S. publication No. 2013/0102442 discloses an exercise device employing a spaced-apart exercise members engageable by the hands of an exerciser and being pivotally connected to a lower platform that can be reciprocated from side to side. The platform includes feet support members pivotally mounted on a support fixed against movement to the platform.
Based upon the state of the art a need is believed to exist for an improved exercise devices for providing enhanced exercise in a frontal plane for the lower torso.
In addition, a need is believed to exist for an exercise device capable of coordinating lower torso and upper torso exercising by synchronizing movement of the upper body with movement of the lower torso during an exercise operation.
Moreover, a need is believed to exist for an exercise device including both upper and lower exercise systems and wherein the movement of these two systems either can be connected for synchronized movement or disconnected to permit lower body sliding movement independent of the upper body exercise system.


A chair control mechanism for positioning between the seat and seat support of a chair. The chair control mechanism includes a base section for mounting to a seat support such as an adjustable height cylinder, and a seat mounting section pivotably interconnected with the base section. A seat is mounted to the seat mounting section, and is pivotable about a seat pivot axis. An adjustable position back mounting arrangement is pivotably interconnected with the seat mounting section, and the chair back is engageable with the back mounting section. A variable stop arrangement is interposed between the base section and the seat mounting section, for varying the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. The back can be selectively locked in one of a number of predetermined positions relative to the seat by operation of a variable position back locking arrangement.

This invention relates to a chair control mechanism, and more particularly to various features enhancing the operation and flexibility of a chair control mechanism of the mid-pivot type.
Various chair control mechanisms are known, for controlling the position of a chair seat relative to a seat support, such as an upstanding chair support pedestal. Typically, a chair control mechanism provides a seat pivot feature for providing pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support, as well as a lockout feature for selectively maintaining the seat in a predetermined angular position relative to the seat support. Some types of chair control mechanisms also provide a back mounting feature for supporting the chair back. Some designs simply support the chair back at a predetermined position relative to the seat, while others provide controlled movement of the back in response to changes in the seat angle, such that the seat and back move in a synchronous fashion upon movement of the seat.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a chair control mechanism which functions to support both the seat and the back of a chair. It is another object of the invention to provide such a chair control mechanism which includes a feature for adjusting the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a chair control mechanism in which the angle of the seat can be selectively fixed in a predetermined position relative to the seat support. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a chair control mechanism which provides independent movement of the chair back relative to the seat. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a chair control mechanism which includes a lockout feature for the chair back, to enable the chair back to be fixed in a predetermined angular position relative to the seat regardless of the position of the seat relative to the seat support.
In accordance with the invention, a chair control mechanism adapted to be positioned between a seat support and a seat, includes a base member secured to the seat support and a seat mounting member pivotably engaged with the base member for movement about a seat pivot axis. The seat is adapted to be mounted to the seat mounting member, and an adjustable spring is interposed between the base member and the seat mounting member for biasing the seat toward a predetermined position relative to the seat support. A variable position seat locking arrangement is interposed between the base member and the seat mounting member for selectively retaining the seat in one of a series of predetermined positions against the force of the spring. The variable position seat locking arrangement may include one or more locking pins interconnected with a manually operated actuator mechanism, and each locking pin is selectively engageable within one of a series of seat locking openings formed in a retainer member associated with the seat mounting member. The manually operable actuator mechanism includes a handle and an actuator member which is operable to selectively move one of the seat locking pins into engagement within one of the seat locking openings.
The seat mounting member includes a back mounting arrangement for pivotably mounting the back to the seat mounting member, for movement about a back pivot axis. The back mounting arrangement includes a back pivot member fixed to the seat mounting member at a location rearwardly of the seat pivot axis. A back mounting bracket is pivotably engaged with the back mounting member, so as to be pivotable relative to the seat mounting member about the back pivot axis which is defined by the back mounting member. With this arrangement, the seat is pivotable about the seat pivot axis relative to the seat support member, and the back is independently pivotable about the back mounting member relative to the seat. A biasing arrangement, such as a torsion spring, is interposed between the seat mounting member and the back mounting bracket for biasing the back forwardly relative to the seat. A variable position back locking arrangement is interposed between the seat mounting member and the back mounting bracket. The variable position back locking arrangement is preferably located forwardly of the back mounting member, and includes one or more back locking pins, each of which is selectively engageable within one of a series of spaced openings associated with the back mounting bracket, for selectively locking the back at a predetermined angle relative to the seat against the force of the spring.
The invention also includes a system for adjusting the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. This aspect of the invention involves the use of a front pivot stop arrangement and a rear pivot stop arrangement, preferably in combination so as to control the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support.
The front pivot stop arrangement may be in the form of stop structure associated with either the base or the seat support member of the chair control mechanism, and an engagement member associated with the other of the base member and the seat support member. The stop structure may be in the form of a stop member mounted to the seat support member. The stop member defines an upwardly facing stop surface and one or more slots extending from the stop surface. The engagement member is preferably mounted to the seat support member, and is shiftable between first and second positions. In its first position, the engagement member engages the upwardly facing stop surface of the stop member so as to limit the forward pivoting movement of the seat support member relative to the base member to a first angular position. When shifted to its second position, the engagement member is aligned with one of the slots in the stop member and is receivable within the slot so as to enable the seat mounting member to be pivoted to a second angular position relative to the base section. The engagement member is preferably mounted to a manually operable handle, which can be manipulated by a user to place the engagement member in either its first position or its second position. The stop member and the engagement member are preferably located forwardly of the seat pivot member so as to control the forward pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support.
Opposite the stop member and the engagement member, one or more pivot stop members are interposed between the seat support member and the base member for limiting pivoting movement of the seat in the opposite direction of pivoting movement. The one or more pivot stop members are preferably stationarily mounted to the base member rearwardly of the seat pivot member, and each pivot stop member defines a stop surface engageable by the seat support member when the seat support member is pivoted relative to the base member, for limiting pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. In this manner, the height of the stop surface of the pivot stop member determines the angle at which the seat support member engages the stop surface. The pivot stop member is selected from different pivot stop members of varying height, such that the height of the stop surface of the pivot stop member is selected according to the desired pivot angle of the seat support member relative to the base member, to limit the angle of the seat relative to the seat support. In a preferred form, the one or more stop members are selected and placed at the time of manufacture of the chair control mechanism, and are enclosed by the structural components of the chair control mechanism during use. The pivot stop members are preferably employed to limit the range of rearward pivoting movement of the seat support member relative to the base member, and thereby the rearward pivoting angle of the seat relative to the seat support.
The various aspects of the invention can be utilized individually to provide selective enhancements in the features and functioning of a chair control mechanism, or can be used in combination to provide a chair control mechanism with significant enhancements in flexibility in manufacture and operation.

Multi-task mid-pivot chair control mechanism


There is provided a method for automatically converting a media file for playback on a portable media player. The method includes specifying the type of the portable media player. If a stream of the media file is not capable of being played back by the portable media player, the stream is discarded. If a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is supported by the portable media player, the stream is then directly copied to the player. Where a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is not supported by the portable media player, the stream is then converted using a predetermined codec that is supported by the portable media player, the predetermined codec selected on a basis of playback quality, output file size and file conversion time. A corresponding system and software is also disclosed.

Media content is provided in many different formats. Many formats are not natively supported by various portable media players. Accordingly, such content is required to undergo a time-consuming conversion process to a supported format.
Typically, media content consists of media data and miscellaneous data. Media data includes audio and video streams. These streams are encoded using different codecs and packaged into different file containers. For instance, an AVI video (the file container format) may comprise a DivX encoded video stream and an MP3 encoded audio stream. The same streams can also be packaged into a MOV file container and appear as a different video to the portable media player.
Similarly, an audio stream may be encoded using different codecs and may be packaged into different file containers.
Therefore, to determine if media content is supported by and playable on a portable media player, the following components have to be considered:    1. File container—The portable media player must recognize the file container format before it knows how and where to parse the audio and video (for video content only) streams within the file.    2. Audio stream—The audio stream must be encoded using a codec supported by the portable media player in order for the portable media player to decode the audio stream. In addition, the portable media player may limit certain properties of the audio stream that it is capable of supporting. For instance, the sampling rate, the bit per sample, the number of audio channel and the bitrate of the encoded audio stream may be limited to suit the audio capability of the portable media player.    3. Video stream (for video content only)—The video stream must be encoded using a codec supported by the portable media player in order for the portable media player to decode the stream. In addition, the portable media player may limit certain properties of the video stream that it is capable of supporting. For instance, the dimension (width and height), the frame rate, the color depth and the bitrate of the encoded video stream may be limited to suit the video capability of the portable media player.
Previous attempts at simplifying and expediting the conversion process have had various degrees of success.
For example, iTunes 6 only allows video formats supported by the iPod to be downloaded to the iPod. Users are required to manually convert any unsupported formats before download. Only files listed in the iTunes video library can be selected for conversion. The files eligible for conversion are limited to those files that are supported by iTunes. Other video formats can be converted using an export function of QuickTime Pro or other third party software.
In another example, Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10) only permits video files from its Media Library to be downloaded to a portable media player. Therefore, file formats that are unsupported by WMP10 are excluded. While downloading to the portable media player, WMP10 automatically converts all WMV/ASF videos regardless of whether the formats are already supported by the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) player. For other file types (for example, AVI), WMP10 copies them to the MTP player without conversion. There is no assurance that transferred files are playable in the MTP player.
Therefore, there is a desire to simplify and expedite the conversion process which ensures that the converted video or audio content is playable on a portable media player.

Method and system for media file conversion


An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.

The present invention relates generally to an improved communication coupling apparatus with a hearing aid. The invention may be used to improve communication between a telephone and an individual with different degrees of hearing loss.
Efforts have been made to improve coils for telephones such as in U.S. Publication No. 20010055386 to Waldron et al., hereby incorporated by reference, which describes an audio coupler device for use in communication with a T-coil of a hearing aid.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,245 to Flygstad, may describe the use of an inductance coil in an apparatus to enhance communication with a hearing aid device. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,821 to Crouch et al., the patent may describe the use of a T-Coupler used in a hearing aid telephone interconnect system for connection between a telephone instrument and a conventional hearing aid.
US Publication No. 20020141545 to Segovia, may also describe the use of an induction coil to transfer audio signals from a telephone handset speaker to a hearing aid.
As these publications show, the use of different types of coils in conjunction with a telephone can be combined in various ways. However, none offer performance like some of the hearing impaired may need. Further, the use of a toroid has not been optimum in performance, and even the number if turns and other parameters whereby a wire is wound around a core appear not to have been optimized. It is now believed that the number of turns in a communication device appears to make a difference.

Apparatus for communication coupling with a hearing aid