A float movable along a ramp for launching trailerable boats so that the float remains adjacent the water line of the ramp responsive to changes in water level. The float is moved by a line extending from the deep water end of the float, downwardly to a stationary underwater sheave, upwardly to a shore mounted powered drive mechanism and downwardly to the shallow water end of the float. The drive mechanism is controlled by a water level sensor to move the float along the ramp as the water level changes so that the float remains in the water near the water line of the ramp as the water level fluctuates. The water level sensor includes an ultrasonic level detector mounted in a vertical tube communicating with the water through an equalizing tube. The float moves along a guide mechanism running alongside one end of the ramp to prevent transverse movement of the float.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to boat launching facilities for trailerable boats, and more particularly to a movable flat on which an individual stands while launching a boat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Boats of either the motorized or sailing variety are commonly carried from place to place on trailers which are towed by motorized vehicles. These trailerable boats are generally placed into a body of water by backing the trailer down an inclined launching ramp into the water, releasing the boat from the trailer and then driving the vehicle forwardly up the ramp to remove the trailer from the water. When the boat is to be removed from the water, the reverse procedure is followed.
During a boat launching or removal operation it is often necessary to manipulate the boat from the side, necessitating that the boater step into the water adjacent the boat. This technique is undesirable since the boater's clothing often becomes wet and the water may be uncomfortably cold. Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult to adequately maneuver the boat while standing in water well below the deck of the boat, particularly where the boat is large, the wind is heavy, or the surface of the water is rough.
To alleviate the problem of wading in the water to launch a boat, floats have been used in connection with loading ramps to allow boaters to stand on the float adjacent the boat during a launching or removal operation. This technique is adequate where the water level does not fluctuate substantially so that the water line at the ramp is fairly constant. However, where inclined launching ramps are used with bodies of salt water or lakes having widely fluctuating water levels, the water line of the ramp fluctuates accordingly. Since the float should be positioned in the water closely adjacent the water line of the ramp, it is necessary to move the float along the ramp or to otherwise compensate for water level variations. Two techniques have been employed to accomplish this function.
The most commonly used technique for compensating for water level variations is to pivotally interconnect a number of floats so that the floats are successively grounded as the water level falls, yet sufficient numbers of floats are provided so that at least some of the floats are always floating. This technique may be satisfactory for bodies of water in which the water level does not fluctuate appreciably. However, for widely fluctuating water levels the number of floats required to compensate for water level variations is unacceptably large. Also, it is difficult to adequately prevent transverse movement of a large number of pivotally interconnected floats where only the inner float is connected to a ramp. In order to allow single floats to be used with ramps for launching boats into a body of water in which the water level fluctuates a great deal, mechanisms have been tried for moving the float in accordance with the variations in water level. However, such devices use either the buoyancy of the float or a counterweight to move the float up the ramp when the water level increases, and gravity acting on either the float or a weight to move the float down the ramp when the water level falls. Movable float systems utilizing this technique have not functioned acceptably, principally because the forces of buoyancy and gravity must continually move the float up the ramp as the water level rises, or down the ramp as the water level falls.
This angular movement causes severe binding action which quickly overcomes the floats buoyancy reserves or gravity forces thus immobilizing the float.

Movable float system for boat launching ramps


A transition metal based ceramic material having the general formula Li.sub..alpha. M.sub.1-.beta. T.sub..beta. N.sub.x O.sub.67, wherein M is a transition metal, T is a dopant metal, and wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to l, .delta. is 0, or less than or equal to 4; .alpha. is less than or equal to 3-x, and .beta. is less than 1 is disclosed. The ceramic material has utility as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Rechargeable batteries are of ever increasing importance as power supplies for a variety of items. One important class of rechargeable batteries comprises rechargeable lithium batteries, and as used herein, the term is understood to include all types of rechargeable lithium and lithium ion batteries.
The cathode is an important component of a lithium battery. During discharging and charging of the battery, lithium ions are inserted into and removed from the bulk of the cathode material respectively. Battery performance in terms of capacity, charging rate, discharge rate and life time will depend, among other things, upon the material properties of the cathode material. Some important parameters for a cathode material are its electrical conductivity and lithium transport properties. Stability is also important, as is cost and ease of fabrication.
Prior art cathode materials for lithium batteries are primarily based on metallic oxides, and in particular on oxides of nickel, manganese and cobalt. Representative cathode materials widely employed in the prior art include LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiCoO.sub.2 and LiNiO.sub.2. In some instances, metal nitrides have been utilized in electrodes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,298 and 5,702,843 disclose the use of specific lithium metal nitrides as cathode materials for lithium batteries, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,394 discloses capacitor electrodes composed of metal nitrides.
As will be detailed hereinbelow, the present invention is directed to a unique class of ceramic materials. The base material thereof is generally a transition metal nitride, although it is to be understood that some proportion of oxygen may be present in the material, and in particular embodiments of the present invention, oxide or oxynitride materials are important dopants for the ceramics of the present invention. The materials of the present invention have very good electrical conductivity. Lithium is highly diffusive in the materials of the present invention, and they readily and reversibly allow for the insertion of lithium therein. The materials have a very stable lattice structure and this structure is preserved through repeated charge and discharge cycles. As will be further explained hereinbelow, the materials of the present invention include a dopant species which greatly enhances the beneficial properties thereof. These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the discussion, description and examples which follow.

Transition metal based ceramic material and electrodes fabricated therefrom


A device for separating subcutaneous tissue and for tightening and contracting internal dermal tissue. In particular, the device uses an elongated hollow shaft having a distal end that has an ultrasonic energy source that projects ultrasonic energy outward at the distal end of the device to lyse through the subcutaneous fat tissue, and associated fiber optics and lens that projects laser beams outward to irradiate the internal dermal tissue.

Traditionally, face-lifts are performed by surgically cutting and removing portions of the skin. In the subcutaneous tissue layer, where the fat joins the dermis, there are few nerves and there are only occasional blood vessels connecting the fat to the dermis. In the face, most of the blood flow moves horizontally as opposed to the other regions of the body where the blood flow moves vertically up into the dermis from the fat. This important fact of lateral blood flow allows the performance of a face-lift by cutting completely around the ear and separating the tissue out toward the mouth and lower neck and temporal regions.
No matter in what layer the fact-lift is performed, once sufficient tissues have been freed, stretched and pulled back toward the ear, excess tissue is then cut out with scissors or scalpel. The first reason a face-lift is successful is that the deeper tissues and surface tissues are freed and the tissues are then affixed to each other or other structures in order to tighten the tissues below the surface and indirectly on the surface. Secondly, surface tightening occurs when the tissue edges that remain following the removal of tissue are cut and sewn around the ear. Thirdly, tissue tightening occurs because of the trauma that occurs to most tissues during the entire procedure.
Whenever trauma occurs to tissue, scar tissue or fibrosis tissue is created. Scar/fibrous tissues have contractile elements in them, similar to miniature muscles. The key is to create the proper damage so that fibrous-tissue tightening may occur, but destruction, full thickness loss of tissue and overt scarification does not occur.
Improvements to the appearance of the epidermis also has been accomplished by use of lasers. Traditional laser resurfacing involves application of a Carbon Dioxide Laser on the epidermis destroying the epidermis and displaying the outer surface of the dermis. Erbium Yag Lasers are also used to tighten the skin and destroy the surface but do not cause as much thermal damage as Carbon Dioxide Lasers.
In the laser resurfacing procedure, superficial, medium, and relatively deep destruction methods are used depending upon the amount of resurfacing that a patient needs. Patients with mild sun damage may use superficial laser resurfacing procedures because most of the damage is near the top surface of the skin. Therefore, a high degree of concentration and destruction is not required. Patients with moderate or severe sun damage require relatively deeper laser resurfacing procedures, chemical peels or dermabrasion.
Laser resurfacing works very similarly to chemical peel or dermabrasion in that the surface of the skin is destroyed and new collagen is created. Epidermal elements, which coat the very surface of the skin, arise out of the hair pores. Too much destruction of the skin and too much destruction in general may destroy the hair pores and the ability of the skin to repopulate itself at the surface, which may lead to scarring. Scar tissue is fibrous tissue. Fibrous tissue makes up the bulk of the dermis, which is the "leather layer" of the skin. Whenever scar tissue is formed, these tissues in general contract.
The concept of the current invention by resurfacing skin from the "inside-out" was developed because of the nature of contraction observed when the interior or underside of the dermis tissue is damaged or altered by laser. The current invention projects laser beams on the interior surface of the dermis, which is the surface of the dermis that usually adjoins the subcutaneous fat tissue. The laser energy causes scarring and consequent contraction of the dermis.
The best age of the patient population suited to this invention are those without tremendous excess lack skin that would need to be cut out and thrown away during a traditional face-lift procedure. Patients that would benefit from this type of approach generally would be between the ages of 35 and 55.

Ultrasound and laser face-lift and bulbous lysing device


A digital processing color camera includes a matrix circuit for arithmetically processing digital R, G and B video signals, which have been sampled by a clock signal, to provide a digital brightness signal, a first digital color difference signal and a second digital color difference signal. Those signals are subsequently converted by associated digital-to-analog converters into an analog brightness signal, a first analog color difference signal and a second analog color difference signal. Both the brightness signal and the first color difference signal, are delayed a predetermined period of time by digital delay lines inserted between the matrix circuit and the digital-to-analog converter circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a television camera and, more particularly, to a digital processing color TV camera having digitized signal processing units.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A solid-state camera utilizing a solid-state imaging element which is compact and light-weight, and has a low power consumption and is highly reliable is today largely used as a color television camera not only in the television broadcasting industry, but also in homes. Particularly in the field of the television broadcasting industry, demands for a digital color camera are increasing because improvements in reliability, handling capacity and quality of images can readily be accomplished and also because it can readily be connected with other equipment which have been digitized.
One example of such prior art digital color cameras comprises a processing circuit for effecting black-balance, white-balance and gamma corrections, a Y color difference matrix circuit for providing a brightness signal and a color difference signal, low pass filters for limiting bands, delay lines for time adjustment and an encoder circuit for effecting a quadrature two-phase amplitude modulation of two color difference signals and combining them with the brightness signal.
Assuming that three primary colors of red, green and blue contained in a video signal are expressed by R, G and B, respectively, the brightness signal Y can be expressed by the following equation. EQU Y=0.30R+0.59G+0.11B
The two color difference signals, denoted I and Q signals, respectively, can be expressed by the following respective equations. EQU I=0.60R-0.28G-0.32B EQU Q=0.21R-0.52G+0.31B
An NTSC output signal which is a standard television system is generally processed in the following manner by a color encoder to combine R, G and B sync signals so as to thereby provide a single signal (NTSC) signal.
The two color difference signals, that is, the I and Q signals, emerging from the Y color difference circuit have their respective bands restricted according to the NTSC standards to 1.5 MHz and 0.5 MHz, respectively. Specifically, the I signal must have such frequency characteristics that (1) the amount of the I signal attenuated at 3 MHz is smaller than 2 dB and (2) the amount of the I signal attenuated at 6 MHz is greater than 20 dB. On the other hand, the Q signal must have such frequency characteristics that (1) the amount of the Q signal attenuated at 0.4 MHz is smaller than 2 dB, (2) the amount of the Q signal attenuated at 0.5 MHz is smaller than 6 dB and (3) the amount of the Q signal attenuated at 0.6 MHz is greater than 6 dB.
Thus, as compared with the I signal, the Q signal is subjected to a steep band restriction. Therefore, if the band restriction is carried out by the use of a low-pass filter of a simple construction having few stages, the phase characteristic tends to be deteriorated and ringing such as overshoot and undershoot tends to occur. Conversely, if a low-pass filter of a complicated construction having an increased number of stages is employed, a favorable phase characteristic can be attained, but a problem tends to occur in that a delay time increases.
In view of the foregoing, the use has been made of a low-pass filter in which an induction m-type is combined with a window trap for providing a phase characteristic and a steep cut-off characteristic. However, the use of such low-pass filter tends to increase a delay time undesirably.
Thus, since the respective bands of the I and Q signals are restricted to 1.5 and 0.5 MHz, respectively, by means of the low-pass filter, the Q and I signals tend to be delayed about 2.35 .mu.sec. and about 0.18 .mu.sec., respectively, as compared with the brightness signal Y.
In order to compensate for those delay times, delay lines are employed to compensate for a difference between the delay time of the Q signal and that of any one of the brightness signal and the I signal, so as to thereby equalize the delay times of the brightness signal Y, the I signal and the Q signal.
The delay time added to the brightness signal Y and the delay time added to the I signal are 1.4 .mu.sec. and about 1.2 .mu.sec., respectively.
It is, however, to be noted that the brightness signal Y as well has its band restricted by a low-pass filter to 6 MHz as a transmission bandwidth. Therefore, if a delay time attributable to this low-pass filter and any other processing such as an aperture correction is added, the delay time thereof can be subtracted, but the brightness signal Y is generally given a delay time of about 1 .mu.sec. (See, "NHK Terebi Gijutsu Kyokasho (Jou)" (NHK TV Technical Text), pages 17 to 19, published by Nippon Hoso Kyoukai, Apr. 10, 1989.)
The I and Q signals to which the respective delay times have been added in the manner described above are supplied to a quadrature two-phase amplitude modulator in which they are combined together with no cross-talk to provide a single color signal. This color signal is subsequently added to the brightness signal having the delay time adjusted by means of the delay line, so as to thereby provide an NTSC output signal.
Since the circuitry so constructed as described hereinabove is an analog circuit, the delay line to be inserted in each of the brightness signal and the I signal is employed in the form of a delay circuit having a concentrated constant such as, for example, a resistor, a capacitor or a coil, for example, a delay circuit of induction m-type capable of exhibiting a linear phase characteristic, or a delay cable.
Accordingly, the phase characteristic and the amplitude characteristic tend to be adversely affected as a result of a change in temperature and/or a change with time and, therefore, the image quality tends to be adversely affected considerably. Where the delay cable is employed, a reflection of a high frequency occurs, thereby adversely affecting the image quality.
In order to suppress the reduction in characteristic resulting from the change with time, it is a recent trend to digitize the camera. Although the camera wherein both of a signal processing circuit and an encoder are digitized is today available (See, "Signal Processing LSI for Totally Digitalized Color Camera", Technical Report of the Society of Television, 1984 Vol. 8, No. 3, pages 27 to 32.), a digital camera wherein only the signal processing circuit is digitized to reduce power consumption while an analog encoder is employed is rather widely used and, therefore, the use of the analog delay line cannot be avoided, failing to make best use of the digital features.

Digital processing color camera using digital delay lines and an analog encoder

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A plasma source mass spectrometer in which ions in a plasma generated in a high pressure (.ltoreq.1 atm) region are introduced into a low pressure (.ltoreq.10.sup.-5 Torr) region to analysis the ion mass includes a moderate pressure (.gtoreq.10.sup.-3 Torr) region which is provided between the high pressure region and the low pressure region. The plasma generated in the high pressure region is diffused to the moderate pressure region in order to produce a diffused plasma. Ions are extracted from the diffused plasma by an ion extraction electrode having an ion extraction opening. In the vicinity of the ion extraction opening a convex-shaped toward the diffused plasma whereby ion sheath is formed, whereby the ions can be extracted toward the low pressure region with a high efficiency.

The present invention relates to improvement of a plasma source mass spectrometer used for quantitative analysis of trace elements in materials or biological fields, and more particularly to improvement of ion extraction means for extracting ions from a plasma generated in a high pressure region.
The conventional plasma source mass spectrometry has been discussed in Anal. Chem., 57, 13 (1985) pp. 2674-2679, Analyst, 108 (February 1983) pp. 159-165, Bunseki, 7 (1985) pp. 505-508, etc. The fundamental construction of the conventional plasma source mass spectrometer is shown in FIG. 2a and the details of a portion A in FIG. 2a is shown by FIG. 2b. In FIG. 2b, reference numeral 10 designates a discharge tube, numeral 20 an inlet for plasma gas, numeral 30 an inlet for sample, numeral 40 an RF (or radio frequency) power supply coil, numeral 50 a plasma, numeral 60 an ion extraction electrode, numeral 61 an aperture provided in the ion extraction electrode 60, numeral 70 a skimmer, numeral 71 an aperture provided in the skimmer 70, numeral 80 an ion extraction lens, numeral 90 an ion beam, and numeral 100 a photon stopper (or baffle). Also, (i) represents a high pressure (.about.1 atm) region, (ii) a moderate pressure (.about.1 Torr) region, and (iii) a low pressure (.ltoreq.10.sup.-4 Torr) region.
In the above-mentioned prior art, no sufficient consideration is paid to the improvement on the efficiency of extraction of ions (sample ions) 90 from the plasma 50 generated in the high pressure (atmospheric pressure) region (i). Therefore, a problem exists in respect of the detection limit (or sensitivity). Also, in order to suppress the deterioration of the S/N ratio of signal (S) to noise (N) caused by intrusion of photons from the plasma into an ion detector, the photon stopper 100 is provided on the axis of the ion beam 90, thereby preventing the photons from entering into the mass analyser side. Therefore, there is a problem that the ion lens system has a complicated construction as shown in FIG. 2a.


A method of generating crash reports by an electronic gaming machine includes detecting an error condition during operation of a wagering game on the EGM, wherein the error condition affects operation of a wagering game executed on the EGM. In response to detecting the error condition, the EGM (a) generates a crash data file comprising data related to the error condition; (b) generates a screenshot of a screen displayed on the display screen at or near a time the error condition was detected; and (c) transmits the crash data file and the screenshot to a central server using a secure communications network to which the EGM and the central server are connected.

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming machines, and more particularly to systems and methods for capturing and recording crash data in electronic gaming machines (EGMs).
Many of today's gaming casinos and other entertainment locations feature different single and multi-player gaming systems such as slot machines and video poker machines. The gaming machines may include a number of hardware and software components to provide a wide variety of game types and game playing capabilities. Exemplary hardware components may include bill validators, card readers, keypads, buttons, levers, touch screens, ticket printers, player tracking units and the like. More recently, gaming machines have been equipped with sophisticated gesture recognition hardware, eye gaze tracking systems, and contactless haptic feedback systems that provide an enhanced gaming environment for players. Software components may include, for example, boot and initialization routines, various game play programs and subroutines, credit and payout routines, image and audio generation programs, various component modules and a random or pseudo-random number generator, among others.
More particularly, games played on modern gaming machines are more likely to have a video display interface instead of a mechanical interface, such as a set of mechanical reels. Many newer games include three dimensional displays that display animated three dimensional images to the player, which allow more complex game content to be displayed.
Gaming machines are highly regulated to ensure fairness. In many cases, gaming machines may be operable to dispense monetary awards of a large amount of money. Accordingly, access to gaming machines is often carefully controlled. For example, in some jurisdictions, routine maintenance requires that extra personnel (e.g., gaming control personnel) be notified in advance and be in attendance during such maintenance. Additionally, gaming machines may have hardware and software architectures that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers (PCs), even though both gaming machines and PCs employ microprocessors to control a variety of devices. For example, gaming machines may have more stringent security requirements and fault tolerance requirements. Additionally, gaming machines generally operate in harsher environments as compared with PCs.
In many casinos and other entertainment locations, the gaming machines may be networked to one or more devices that monitor the functions of the gaming machines during operation. For example, an accounting system may monitor the amount of credits received by a gaming machine and the amount of credits paid out by the gaming machine. Such an accounting system allows the operator of the gaming machines to analyze the profitability of the gaming machines, the use of the gaming machines, and similar metrics.
The operating system of a gaming machine may be configured to use one of a variety of gaming protocols, i.e., communications protocols specifically designed for use in a gaming environment, such as a casino. Such a gaming protocol may be promulgated by an organization that defines standards for the gaming industry. One exemplary protocol is the Slot Accounting System (SAS) Protocol, pioneered by International Game Technology (IGT) and recognized in 2002 by the Gaming Standards Association (GSA) as an industry standard. A more recent communications protocol in the gaming industry is the Game to System (G2S) Protocol, also recognized by the GSA as an industry standard. Thus, many casinos and other gaming environments may have existing infrastructure to communicate data between gaming machines and a server. For example, a server may provide an indication to a gaming machine that the player has won a collective jackpot.

Accident data recorder for electronic gaming machines


Inactivated scours vaccines for immunization and protection of bovine animals from disease caused by infection with bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus, which comprise and effective amount of at least one inactivated viral strain are described. Polyvalent inactivated vaccines further comprising an effective amount of an antigenic component which is protective against one or more additional pathogenic organisms or viruses are also disclosed. Said vaccines are prepared from one or more strains of rota- and coronavirus, C. perfringens Type C bacteria and E. coli bacteria, and combinations thereof. Preferably, a polyvalent inactivated vaccine is provided for parenteral administration. Passive immunity is achieved in neonatal calves via immunization of pregnant cows prior to birth.

The principle of vaccination is based on two key elements of adaptive immunity, namely specificity and memory. Memory cells allow the immune system to mount a much stronger response on the second encounter with antigens. This secondary response is both faster to appear and more effective than the primary response. The aim in vaccine development is to alter a pathogen or its toxin in such a way that they become innocuous without losing antigenicity. This is possible because antibodies and T cells recognize particular parts of antigens, the epitopes, and not the whole organism or toxin. For example, a toxin produced from a bacterium may be modified, e.g. by formalin treatment, so that it retains its epitopes but loses its toxicity. The resulting toxoid is used as a vaccine. Viruses may be attenuated and/or inactivated so that they retain their antigenicity but lose their pathogenicity.
Neonatal calf diarrhea, also known as calf scours and calf enteritis, is a serious, contagious disease caused by a variety of organisms, including Escherichia coli, Clostridium. perfringens, rotavirus and coronavirus, often in combination and/or with other bacteria, viruses and intestinal parasites. Although antibiotics given to scouring calves can help control bacteria, over-relying on them is ineffective, as they are ineffective against viral or parasitic infections. Moreover, antibiotics reduce the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and use over extended periods can lead to microorganisms becoming resistant to antimicrobial drugs used for treatment, e.g. antibiotic resistant bacteria—particularly E. coli.
For many years, extensive research has been directed toward the preparation of safe and effective veterinary scours vaccines. A number of scours vaccines are currently marketed for use in cattle and other animals. These vaccines are generally classified as attenuated or inactivated, referring to the final vaccine product containing a modified live virus or a killed virus. The scours veterinary vaccines currently marketed include, e.g., ScourGuard™, and are known to be of limited efficacy.
Calf scours, the leading cause of economic loss and death in calves, is usually caused by a combination of factors. Hence, a vaccine to prevent scours should include protection against the four most common causes of scours: coronavirus, rotavirus, E. coli and Cl. perfringens Type C. Attaining high levels of antibody in the colostrum through the use of potent vaccines has proven extremely effective in preventing calf scours. The most effective vaccination program is one in which the level of antibodies in the dams' system peaks at or just prior to calving, providing maximum protection to the calf via the colostrum. Historically, immunization required vaccines to be given within two weeks to a month pre-calving, and required two and sometimes three doses. Vaccination of cows close to calving is a management problem that can overly stress both the cow and the fetus. The vaccines of this invention provide maximum protection while minimizing such stress.
Bovine coronavirus (BCV) causes both enterocolitis and respiratory tract infections in calves and adult cattle. In some instances, the diseases are referred to as calf diarrhea, calf scours or calf enteritis, and winter dysentery in adult cattle. Coronavirus effects calves as soon as their second week of life but can effect older calves as well. Heretofore, virus vaccines have been prepared by extensive passaging of the virulent virus. These known vaccines have proven to be clinically ineffective against many wild-type BCV infections. Coronavirus causes one of the most severe viral diseases of neonatal calves and may completely destroy the villi of the intestine. Evidence also suggests that some forms of Coronavirus contribute to respiratory disease. Coronavirus causes severe disease alone, but is influenced by coinfections with other enteropathogens. That is, concurrent infection with E. coli and/or rotavirus often complicates the disease process. Unlike bovine rotavirus, only one serotype of bovine coronavirus is known.
Rotaviruses (RV) cause acute gastroenteritis, malabsorptive diarrhea, and dehydration in severe cases. The disease severity is influenced by coinfections with other enteropathogens. Rotavirus is recognized as a distinct entity and is divided into six groups based upon how the proteins on its outer surface behave antigenically. Two of those groups—Group A and Group B—commonly infect cattle; within those groups, a number of different serotypes have been identified. The most common G serotypes of group A rotaviruses affecting calves are G6 and G10. G8 may also be emerging as a prevalent genotype. Three P serotypes have been identified in calves with scours: P6(1), P7(5) and P8(11).
The two non-viral pathogens addressed by this invention include Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Clostridium perfringens Type C (Cl. perfringens). E. coli pathogens are commonly found in the gut and the manure of healthy cattle, resulting in most calves being exposed shortly after birth. These bacteria attach to the lining cells of the intestine by means of hair-like projections called pili. These attached bacteria produce toxins that cause the intestine to secrete large amounts of fluid, which can result in scours, dehydration and death.
E. coli is divided into antigenic types based on adhesiveness factors on the surface of the cell wall and its ability to produce various toxins. Specific pilus formation appear to be controlled by DNA outside the chromosome. This DNA replicates autonomously and can thus be transferred from one E. coli to the next, often resulting in increased virulence and mutations in the field.
Cl. perfringens Type C commonly inhabits soil as well as the intestinal tracts of healthy cattle, meaning calves are easily exposed and infected. Changes in the environment of the calf's stomach allow the Type C organisms to grow, producing enterotoxins that cause severe symptoms and high death losses.
The vaccines of the present invention, accordingly, are prepared from virus and/or bacteria originally obtained in the field, and more specifically, are prepared from various combinations of bovine coronavirus, bovine rotavirus, E. coli and Cl. perfringens Type C originally obtained in the field. That is, they were obtained by collecting biological samples and identifying/isolating the specific strains.
Vaccines must contain the correct serotypes of the organisms responsible for scours in order to prevent it. Although available scour vaccines are carefully produced to insure they contain the organisms claimed on the label, there are differences in the number of serotypes in the products that are available. The best vaccine is one that demonstrates immunity in calves challenged with specific serotypes of the important scours-causing organisms.
Accordingly, there is a real and unsatisfied need in the art for new treatment modalities for cattle at risk for scours-causing infections, both in terms of a more effective and broader coverage vaccines. The novel scours vaccines disclosed herein comprise viruses that are propagated on cell cultures and an effective vaccine is prepared by inactivating the virus after it has been grown on other cell cultures. Therefore, this invention consists of polyvalent vaccines effective against neonatal calf scours comprising one or more inactivated viruses, may further comprise one or more bacterial strains, and methods of preparing and administering these vaccines.

Inactivated bovine scours vaccines, processes and method of preventing bovine scours


A multi-stage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including input and output shafts, planetary gear sets, gear stages shift elements and shafts. The input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5), which couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and which, via clutch (58), can couple shaft (8), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P3). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6) and the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun and ring gears of respective gearsets (P1, P3) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing (G). The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple the output shaft via the gear stage (S1) and clutch (24). The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7), which couples gear stage (S2) and the output shaft. Clutch (46) can block gearset (P2).

Automatic transmissions, particularly those for motor vehicles, comprise, according to the prior art, planetary gear sets that are shifted by means of friction and/or shift elements, such as clutches and brakes, and usually are connected to a start-up element that is subject to a slip effect and optionally provided with a direct-drive clutch, such as a hydrodynamic torque converter or fluid coupling.
Automatic transmissions of this kind have been described extensively in the prior art and are subject to continuous development and improvement. Correspondingly, these transmissions are intended to provide an adequate number of forward gears and at least one reverse gear, as well as step changes that are very well suited for motor vehicles with a high overall gear ratio and favorable step changes. Furthermore, they are to allow for a high start-up ratio in the forward direction, and contain a direct gear. Moreover, automatic transmissions should not require any great structural complexity and a large number of shift elements, wherein, for a sequential gear-shifting modality, only one given shift element is to be activated and one shift element deactivated, respectively.
An automatic transmission of this kind is known, for example, from DE 199 12 480 B4 filed by the applicant. It comprises three single carrier planetary gear sets as well as three brakes and two clutches for shifting six forward gears and one reverse gear, one input shaft and one output shaft, wherein the carrier of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier of the second planetary gear set to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set, and the input shaft is directly connected to the sun gear of the second planetary gear set.
Further, the known transmission provides that the input shaft can be connected to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set by means of the first clutch and to the carrier of the first planetary gear set by means of the second clutch, wherein the sun gear of the first planetary gear set can be connected to the housing of the transmission by means of the first brake and the carrier of the first planetary gear set can be connected to the housing of the transmission by means of the second brake, and wherein the sun gear of the third planetary gear set can be connected to the housing of the transmission by means of the third brake. The output shaft of the transmission is continuously connected to the carrier of the third planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set.


An air bag is formed by sewing a first basic fabric opposed to an occupant and a second basic fabric on the opposite side, at a sewn portion along an outer peripheries of the fabrics. The air bag is folded in a longitudinally longer shape, and an oblong restricting member is wound around a central portion of the air bag to fix the air bag in a bundling manner, and then the air bag is vertically folded. In the process of expansion of the air bag, the air bag bundled by the restricting member is first expanded vertically and then expanded laterally after breakage of a breaking portion of the restricting member which cannot withstand a tension. Thus, by providing the restricting member, the shape and direction of the air bag can be controlled as desired in the process of deployment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag device adapted to make a folded air bag expanded and deployed into a vehicle compartment by a gas generated by an inflator upon collision of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
An air bag adapted to be deployed into a vehicle compartment from a central portion of a steering wheel upon collision of a vehicle in order to restrain an occupant is generally formed by sewing two circular basic fabrics along their outer peripheries. The air bag is adapted to be expanded into a flat spherical shape by a gas generated by an inflator fixed in an opening provided in the center of one of the basic fabrics.
An upper body half of an occupant to be restrained by the air bag extends vertically, and hence the occupant-restraining performance can be enhanced by deploying the air bag first vertically and then laterally. In such a way, the order of folding the air bag has been conventionally devised in order to control the shape and direction of deployment of the air bag, as described above.
However, it is difficult to sufficiently control the shape and direction of the air bag in the process of deployment only by devising the order of folding the air bag, and the development of a further reliable technique has been desired.
A sewn portion of each basic fabric of the air bag is harder than the other portions of the air bag, due to its increased thickness where the basic fabric is superposed and due to an influence of the rigidity of a sewing thread. Therefore, in order to softly restrain an occupant in the process of deployment of the air bag, it is desirable to avoid the contact between the sewn portion and the occupant. For this purpose, it is necessary to deploy first the central portion of the air bag and then the outer periphery of the air bag.


A compiler is provided to a network element management subsystem for compiling rules and behaviors of device types into nested meta data structures of model databases. The rules and behaviors of the device types are specified via definitions describing controls of the device types, and features assignable to the device types. In one embodiment, the compiler is a two phase compiler comprising a parsing and list building phase and a database building phase. The device type model databases are loaded into memory to allow fast access and traversal. Each of the model databases comprises a plurality of nested meta data structures. Data are conditionally retrieved by selectively traversing the model databases using navigation sequences. An array of evaluation functions is further provided to evaluate predicates embedded in the nested meta data structures in view of operational data. During operation, user and system actions are interpreted through device emulation accessing the appropriate model databases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications network management systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to modeling and emulating devices in telecommunications networks for software systems.
2. Background
In the telecom industry, complex and specialized software and hardware systems are a given. Because each system is specialized, information used by one system is not easily manipulated for use in another. As a result, software designers are constantly asked to provide solutions, via software, that can integrate different systems in a consistent and easy-to-use manner.
Designing and building software that is consistently easy to use and can integrate and manipulate information from other systems is often extremely difficult. Device modeling gives to the software systems designer a method for representing behaviors of very complex devices in a model that is simple to use and understand. The model will remain the same even if the device changes; thus, the software designer is free to concentrate on the functional capability of a device.
Where a model is a simplified description of a system, a device model describes a particular element of the system. In a complex telecommunications network management system, devices might be central offices switches, PBXs, telephones, or the interfaces to applications such as work order systems, inventory systems, billings systems and so on. To build a device model, the device must first be identified: the scope of its function--"what it does", and the constraints under which it operates--"how it does". For example, to build a simplified device model of a telephone, the telephone's functions will first be identified, i.e.
1) A telephone transmits electronically encoded sounds between two locations. PA1 2) A telephone allows a user to turn on or off pre-programmed functions (features). Then, the telephone's constraints are identified, i.e. PA1 1) Activating the telephone handset sends a signal that conversation may begin. PA1 2) Dialing numbers on the keypad identifies the other person in the conversation. PA1 3) The handset at the dialed end alerts the person there that someone wishes to talk. PA1 4) When the dialed handset is activated conversation between parties can take place. PA1 5) Conversation is ended when either party deactivates his or her handset. PA1 6) To manage pre-programmed functions, the user activates the handset and presses a specific button or dials specific numbers to turn those functions on or off; then the user deactivates the handset. PA1 People talk to each other on the telephone through handsets. One person has to call the other person. The called handset must be used to answer the call. The caller must know the dialing number of the person being called. Conversation can only take place if both people use their respective handsets during the call. Either party can end the call. Telephone pre-programmed functions are controlled with buttons or special numbers.
The model is then constructed from the functions and the constraints, i.e.
In other words, the device model defines in basic terms what a device is for, how to use it, and how it works. A crucial point about device modeling is that the model can ignore many aspects of a device and still be highly valuable. In the telephone example, the concentration was on the functional aspects, and the physical descriptions such as type and color are omitted. With device modeling, the designer concentrates on what each device does, creating a functional software core that is generic and highly adaptable in integrating with other devices or components of the system. In short, device modeling separates the things that change from the things that are universal.
Device emulation is used to mimic the behavior of a modeled device and its features. Where the device model is used in the context of device emulation, the device model is invoked as part of the application. Therefore, the capability of an application can be expanded by simply providing a new device model for any given device type. Of course, different applications are free to use the emulation of a device type for different purposes. Essentially, device emulation provides the "how" to device modeling's "what". Device emulation allows new features to be introduced in the system in a standard way, thus avoiding code changes, which in turn leads a more reliable product, and shorter development cycle.
Device emulation enables system developers to focus more on the system's functional objectives than on the peculiarities of the device or network elements being managed. All information exchanges between the network management software and the network elements take the form: 1) what needs to be done--the action, and, 2) what to do it with--the data. As an intermediary between components, the device emulation adds interpretation or knowledge (the how) to the action-plus-data (the what). When a user makes a change to a device, the network management software interprets what that change means using device emulation and then makes that change directly on the device. The device's response is in turn interpreted so the management software can understand it.
Device modeling and emulation have been used in prior art products, such as the CENPAC network management software, Version 4.0, produced by American Telecorp of Redwood Shores, Calif., the assignee of the present invention. Under CENPAC, the device models are stored in a database using mass storage. As the number and varieties of devices, and complexity of telecom systems continue to increase, the traditional approach of storing and accessing device models in databases on mass storage is found to be increasingly limiting in performance as well as flexibility of the systems. Furthermore, as the device model becomes more complex, the characteristics/behaviors of a device that is modeled become highly interdependent with a large variability as to how the device model might be accessed so as to cause a particular device's characteristic to manifest itself. Typically, a manifestation of a characteristic is arrived at via a series of evaluations within the device model which may cause the access path in the device model to branch in a non-obvious manner. Thus, it becomes impractical to implement access and storage methods using the normal input/output (I/O) bound database and mass storage oriented technologies. Also the characteristics of a device can vary so greatly that it becomes impossible to predetermine the optimal database/storage schema ahead of time.
Therefore, it is desirable to bring forward a technology that is optimal for dealing with the needed flexibility when storing data and the needed access performance. The objects of the invention are to create a device model which was small enough so that it could be easily loaded as part of the execution environment of a program, and the model would allow very fast access capability and a great degree of flexibility as to how the behavior of the device might be defined. As will be disclosed, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for modeling and emulating devices in a manner that advantageously achieves the above described desirable results.

Methods and apparatus for modeling and emulating devices in a network of telecommunication systems


Conveyor chains of the type utilized in commercial ovens and proofers are provided with improved bearing support for the rotating and pivoting components of the chains. The rotating components comprising anti-friction bearings constructed from superior components which support substantial improvements in the service life of the conveyor chains. The pivoting components are provided with plain bearings and/or anti-friction coating which also function to extend the service life of the conveyor chains.

Modern large-scale commercial bakeries of the type utilized in the production of bread, sandwich buns, and similar dough products are frequently equipped with continuous proofing and baking apparatus. In the operation of a continuous proofer and/or oven, dough to be baked is received in bakery pans. The bakery pans are transported on grids which are supported on the links of a continuous chain. A drive mechanism actuates the chain to transport the bakery pans and the dough contained therein through a proofer wherein the dough is allowed to rise and/or through an oven wherein the dough is baked.
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a link 20 of the type comprising a prior art conveyor chain utilized in continuous proofing and baking apparatus. Each link 20 of the conveyor chain includes a first connection member 22, a second connection member 24, and a pair of spaced, parallel plates 26. The first connection member 22 of a particular link 20 is connected to the second connection member 24 of the next preceding link in the chain by a pin 28 (FIG. 3) which facilitates pivotal movement between adjacent links in the nominally vertical plane. The plates 26 are connected to the first connection member 22 and to the second connection member 24 by pins 30 which facilitate relative pivotal movement between adjacent links in the nominally horizontal plane.
The first connection member 22 of each link 20 is provided with a pair of wheels 32. The wheels 32 support the link 20 for movement along a conveyor track 36 (FIG. 3). A wheel 34 is positioned between the plates 26. The wheel 34 functions to center the link 20 in the conveyor track 36.
Conveyor chains of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 have gained widespread acceptance in the commercial baking industry and other industries. Notwithstanding this fact, such conveyor chains incorporate various deficiencies. For example, the wheels 32 which support each link 20 for moving along the conveyor track comprise anti-friction bearings which require periodic lubrication. Lubricating the chain is time consuming and expensive, and is frequently overlooked by bakery operators. Lack of lubrication leads to bearing failure which, at a minimum, requires the conveyor to be taken out of service to facilitate replacement of the failed bearings. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, substantially more serious consequences can and do result from bearing failure which can require the replacement of multiple links of the conveyor chain, entire sections of the conveyor track, etc.
Various factors lead to improper conveyor chain maintenance and lubrication. One of the most important involves the demands made on commercial bakeries by their customers for continuous high level production leaving no time for maintenance and lubrication procedures. An equally important factor is the lack of technicians having the training and experience necessary to properly perform conveyor chain maintenance and lubrication procedures. When untrained and inexperienced personnel are employed to maintain and lubricate the conveyor chains used in continuous proofers and ovens, improper and inadequate maintenance and lubrication result.
A related problem attendant to the use of conveyor chains comprising links of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3 relates to the cleaning thereof. The lubricants which are used in the anti-friction bearings of the wheels 32 of the links 20 are incompatible with the use of water and detergents to clean the conveyor chain. It is therefore necessary to employ other, more costly, techniques in order to attain the level of cleanliness required in food manufacturing operations.
Even when proper lubrication and cleaning procedures are in place, the problems inherent in the use of the prior art chain are not resolved. Lubricant from the chain combines with debris from the dough products being baked to form a sludge which cannot be disposed of except pursuant to strict EPA guidelines. When the chain is used in an oven the high temperature environment causes the lubricant to thicken to the point that the bearings seize causing increased load on the conveyor drive system and increased chain and track wear.

Conveyor for continuous proofing and baking apparatus


The present invention provides a solid-state image sensing device that converts long-wavelength light represented by the terahertz band into electric signals without being affected by the fluctuation of radiated heat, and outputs the signals mainly as picture signals; a method for manufacturing the same, and an imaging system. The cell unit has an antenna to generate electrical signals by receiving incident electric waves, an electrical resistor electrically connected to the antenna, and to vary the temperature of the cell unit by generating Joule heat corresponding to the electrical signals, and a thermoelectric conversion element electrically connected to the support structure portion, electrically insulated from the antenna and the electrical resistor, and thermally connected to the electrical resistor, to generate electrical signals by detecting the temperature variation of the cell unit; and the side of the incident electric waves in the cell unit is formed of a material to reflect infrared lights.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state image sensing device for images of long-wavelength light represented by the terahertz band, and specifically to a solid-state image sensing device having high sensitivity and high resolution, a method for the fabrication thereof, and an imaging system.
2. Related Art
There has been an infrared sensor that absorbs incident far-infrared lights (of a wavelength of 8 μm to 12 μm) in a cell unit to once convert into heat energy, which is in turn converted into electric signals by a thermoelectric conversion element provided in the cell unit (for example, refer to JP-A 2001-281065 (KOKAI)). However, by this configuration, frequency bands that spans between 100 GHz and 10 THz (wavelengths of 30 μm and 3 mm) having wavelengths longer than far-infrared lights and the characteristics of both electric wave and light, i.e., high-frequency long-wavelength electromagnetic waves represented by the terahertz band cannot be detected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,368 adopts a system wherein an antenna structure is installed on an infrared sensor to receive electromagnetic waves of millimeter waveband from 30 GHz to 1 THz, and heat generated in the antenna is converted into electric signals by a thermoelectric conversion element. For the antenna structure, a protective pad is provided in the location facing the direction of incident electromagnetic waves, and thereby, the incidence of infrared lights (of a wavelength from about 1 μm to 30 m) having a higher frequency (shorter wavelength) than the above-described wavelength band into the detected cell is prevented. This is because the electromagnetic waves of the infrared band, which are constantly radiated from substances at normal temperature has an extremely high power compared with the power of the electromagnetic waves of the above-described millimeter waveband, and since the amount of radiation energy fluctuates, the electromagnetic waves of the infrared band must be blocked to constitute a detecting element specialized for millimeter waveband or terahertz band.
However, the protective pad structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,368 has essential defects that: (1) the radiation from the protective pad itself cannot be ignored; (2) the protective pat absorbs millimeter waves or terahertz waves to be detected; and (3) capacity coupling occurs between the protective pad and the antenna structure to deteriorate antenna characteristics.

Solid-state image sensing device, method for manufacturing the same, and imaging system


A closure device with interlocking fastening strips and a slider which establishes a leak proof seal. The closure device comprises first and second interlocking fastening strips arranged to be interlocked over a predetermined length and a slider with a separator finger which slidably engages said first and second fastening strips. The first fastening strip includes a first closure element and the second fastening strip includes a second closure element. The slider facilitates the occlusion of the closure elements when moved towards a first end of the fastening strips. The separator finger extends into the closure elements without extending completely through the closure elements. The portion of the closure elements below the separator finger are occluded when the slider is at the first end of the fastening strips.

The use of fastening devices for the closure of containers, including plastic bag bodies, is generally known. Furthermore, the manufacture of fastening devices made of plastic materials is generally known to those skilled in the art relating to closure devices, as demonstrated by the numerous patents in this area.
A particularly well-known use for fastening devices is in connection with flexible containers, such as bag bodies. The closure device and the associated container may be formed from thermoplastic materials, and the closure device and sidewalls of the container can be integrally formed by extrusion as a single piece. Alternatively, the closure device and sidewalls may be formed as separate pieces and then connected by heat sealing or any other suitable connecting process. The closure devices when incorporated as fasteners on bag bodies have been particularly useful in providing a closure means for retaining the contents within the bag body.
Conventional closure devices utilize mating male and female closure elements which are occluded. When conventional closure devices are employed, it often is difficult to determine when the male and female closure elements are occluded. This problem is particularly acute when the closure devices are relatively narrow. Accordingly, when conventional closure devices are employed, there exists a reasonable likelihood that the closure device is at least partially open.
The occlusion problem arises from the inability of a user to perceive when the male and female closure are occluded to form a seal between the contents of the bag and the environment external to the bag. A number of solutions to this problem have been attempted. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,186,786, 4,285,105, and 4,829,641, as well as in Japanese patent application No. 51-27719, disclose fasteners that provide a visual indication that the male and female closure elements are properly occluded. Specifically, a color change means for verifying the occlusion of the male and female members of the closure is provided wherein male and female members having different-colors are employed, and, upon occlusion, provide yet a different color. For example, the female member of the closure may be opaque yellow and the male member of the closure may be translucent blue. Upon occlusion of the male member and female member a composite color with a green hue results. This use of a color change greatly improves the ability of the user of the interlocking closure device to determine when the male and female members are occluded.
The change in color that is viewed when dissimilarly colored male and female members are occluded is demonstrated in a commercially available product sold under the trademark GLAD-LOCK (Glad-Lock is the registered trademark of The Glad Products Company of Oakland, California, formerly First Brands Properties, Inc., Danbury, Conn.). This color change effect may be enhanced by the incorporation of a color change enhancement member in the closure device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,641.
Color-changing closure devices are not a universal solution to the aforementioned problem of assuring full closure, however. For example, the color-change effect is imperceptible in the dark, thus mooting the color-change advantage of the closure devices when they are used under such conditions. In addition, sight-impaired or color-blind people may not be able to perceive the color-change effect. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a closure device that affords other indications of occlusion.
The prior art has attempted to furnish a fastener that provides a tactile or audible indication of occlusion. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,736,496, 5,138,750, 5,140,727, 5,403,094, and 5,405,478, as well as EP 510,797, disclose closure devices that allegedly provide a tactually or audibly perceptive indication of proper interlocking of the closure elements. It is said that, upon occlusion of the disclosed closure devices, a user is able to feel or hear that full closure is accomplished. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,946 discloses the use of additional ribs on either side of the closure elements. These ribs are said to give an improved "feel" to the closure, thus aiding a user in aligning the closure elements.
Such devices are difficult to handle by individuals who have limited manual dexterity. Thus, in order to assist these individuals and for ease of use by individuals with normal dexterity, the prior art has attempted to furnish a fastener that provides a reclosable fastener and a slider for opening and closing the fastener. For example, several U.S. Patents disclose fasteners with sliders. However many of these fasteners use either: (1) a separator finger which extends between the closure elements, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,054,434, 3,115,689, 3,122,807, 3,230,593, 3,426,396, 3,713,923, 4,199,845, 4,262,395, 5,007,142, and 5,010,627 (FIGS. 9 and 10); or (2) the separator finger runs along a track above the closure elements, such as, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,143, 5,010,627 (FIGS. 3-8), 5,020,194, 5,067,208, 5,070,583, 5,088,971, 5,131,121, 5,161,286, 5,283,932, 5,301,395, 5,426,830, 5,442,837 and 5,448,808.
With respect to fasteners which use a separator finger which extends between the closure elements, these fasteners do not provide a leak proof seal because the separator finger extends between the closure elements. With respect to the fasteners which run along a track, the fastener typically include slits, notches or another means to accommodate the separator finger in the end position. These means are used to achieve occlusion of the closure elements at the end position and thus attempt to achieve a leak proof seal. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,020,194, 5,067,208, 5,088,971, 5,131,121, 5,161,286, 5,301,394, 5,301,395, and 5,442,837 use a slit, notch or other means to accommodate the separator finger in the end position. These means in the fasteners create additional steps in the manufacturing process and thus may increase the cost of these fasteners.
A reclosable fastener with a slider and without a separator finger nor the use of a track is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,074,137 and 5,442,838. However, the fastener in the '137 patent would be too expensive to manufacture and may not seal when the slider is in the end position. With respect to the fastener in the '838 patent, the slider does not manipulate the interlocking elements directly. Rather, the slider engages the structure located below the interlocking elements to control the opening and closing of the interlocking elements. Difficulties and additional variables can arise when the slider does not act directly upon the interlocking elements. In addition, the fastener in the '838 patent may not operate properly if the tolerances are incorrect for the slider and/or the fastener. The structure below the interlocking elements and/or the slider may be difficult to extrude or manufacture. If the tolerances are incorrect, the slider may not move smoothly or fail to open or close the fastener elements. Thus, it would be difficult to achieve a properly functioning fastener.
Thus, the prior art has failed to afford a closure device with a slider and a separator finger which establishes a leak proof seal without the use of slits, notches or other means. It is a general object of the present invention to provide such a closure device. It is a further general object of the present invention to provide a container that is closeable and sealable by means of such a closure device.


Systems and methods for audio editing are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes displaying audio data in a visual form. A user input is received demarcating an arbitrary region within the visual display of the audio data. A portion of the audio data is isolated corresponding to the region demarcated by the user. The isolated portion of the audio data is edited and the edited audio data is mixed into the audio data to create edited audio data.

The present disclosure relates to audio editing.
Audio data can be displayed in a number of different formats. The different display formats are commonly used to illustrate different properties of the audio data. For example, a frequency spectrogram display format shows various frequencies of the audio data in the time-domain (e.g., a graphical display with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis). Similarly, an amplitude display format shows audio intensity in the time-domain (e.g., a graphical display with time on the x-axis and intensity on the y-axis).
Audio data can be edited. For example, the audio data may include noise or other unwanted components. Removing these unwanted components improves audio quality (i.e., the removal of noise components provides a clearer audio signal). Alternatively, a user may apply different processing operations to portions of the audio data to generate particular audio effects.
Audio editing by frequency, for example, typically involves filtering over a rectangular region of the displayed audio data having a constant frequency band. To perform an effect on an audio data directed to component frequencies below 200 Hz, for example, a low-pass filter is applied to the audio data. The low-pass filter removes the components of the audio data at or above 200 Hz while leaving the components of the audio data below 200 Hz intact. This remaining audio data is then processed to create a desired effect (e.g., an echo effect). The original audio data is then filtered again with a high-pass filter. The high-pass filter removes the components of the original audio data below 200 Hz. The processed audio components (i.e., the portion below 200 Hz after processing) are then recombined, or mixed, with the remaining original audio data to generate edited audio data having the applied effect.

Editing audio directly in frequency space


The present invention discloses a software development tool that includes a model development interface, an aspect design tool, and a model transformation engine. The model development interface can permit a developer to graphically design at least one software model. The aspect design tool for the model development interface can be configured to permit a user to specify at least one aspect to be applied to a model of the model development interface. The model transformation engine can transform a model of the model development interface having at least one aspect defined via the aspect design tool into automatically generated aspect code integrated with base language code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of software development technologies and, more specifically, to a model driven development (MDD) software solution that includes an aspect integration tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
All modern software programming methodologies, including procedural programming and object-oriented programming methodologies, support some separation and encapsulation of concerns into single entities, where concerns represent any area of interest or focus. For example, procedures, packages, classes, and methods all help programmers encapsulate concerns into a single entity. Some concerns, referred to as cross-cutting concerns, defy these traditional forms of encapsulation by affecting (cross-cutting) multiple concerns. Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) is a software programming paradigm designed to handle cross-cutting concerns.
AOP is a relatively new technology, which is currently implemented by a variety of tools, the most common of which is AspectJ. Other tools used for implementing AOP include AspectWerkz, JBoss AOP, Spring AOP, AspectC++, and the like. All of these tools are designed to modularize cross-cutting concerns, such as authentication and transaction management. At the heart of each of the AOP tools is a join point model, which provides a means of identifying where the cross-cutting is happening.
At a minimum, a join point model defines conditions for AOP code to run in an execution environment, a means of specifying where in base code (the non-aspect part of a program) the AOP code is to run, and a means of specifying code to run at this specified point. Using AOP terminology, a join point is where the main program and the AOP code (or aspect) meet. A pointcut is a set of join points. Whenever the base code execution reaches one of the join points described in the pointcut, a piece of code associated with the pointcut, referred to as an advice, is executed. In AspectJ, an advice is able to run before, after, and around join points.
Currently, use of AOP principles requires a developer to learn semantics of an AOP language, a new style of programming, and to be knowledgeable about integrating that language with a coding structure in a base language. At present, this skill is a highly specialized one which few programmers possess. Further, early design decisions should be made to utilize non-intrusive AOP principles in lieu of traditional approaches to cross-cutting concerns, such as use of intrusive APIs or frameworks. Hence, an AOP knowledgeable designer needs to be involved early in a project and remain involved throughout the various project stages, else AOP required code can become a bottleneck impeding project progress.
What is needed is a software tool that enables software designers and developers who lack specialized knowledge of AOP languages and programming intricacies to implement AOP oriented designs and non-aspect code. Preferably, this tool will permit core business code to be designed and tested largely independent of aspect specific code so that software projects are not highly dependent upon an availability of programmers possessing specialized knowledge of AOP languages. No software tools adequate for this purpose are known to exist.

Model driven development including aspect integration tool

International Business Machines Corporation


A database modernization system and method is disclosed. One example embodiment comprises a method for receiving a record stored as a source physical data model, parsing the source physical data model into a source logical data model, wherein the source logical data model includes semantic information from the record, transforming the source logical data model to a destination logical data model independent of a source or a destination record physical implementation, wherein the destination logical data model includes at least a portion of the semantic information from the record, and storing the destination logical data model in a destination physical data model. In this manner, a destination physical data model may be stored in a relational database management system on a per record basis.

One of the greatest infrastructure challenges in organizations today is the reliance on database systems created and maintained over a period of time much longer than their anticipated lifespan. Many of these systems were created with numerous limitations and restrictions due to technological restraints of the time period. Over time, technology has rapidly improved and many of these systems have become outdated and inefficient. As a result, many organizations are looking for a viable approach to modernize their legacy database systems.
Past attempts at legacy database modernization have generally included direct software updates and/or conversions. One approach to legacy database modernization involves creating a new data store and uploading an entire legacy database into the new store in a single modernization attempt. One problem with this approach is that undetected flaws in the modernization software may result in unacceptable amounts of lost and/or destroyed data.
Another approach to legacy database modernization involves performing a record by record conversion of legacy source data into a new data store format. Although the occurrence of lost and/or destroyed data may be reduced, this approach may be both time-consuming and cost-prohibitive.

Data modernization system for legacy software


A controller for a plurality of electric loads of a motor vehicle has a simple design and flexible applicability and expandability. Each electric load is arranged together with a local computer in a load module and is controlled by the respective local computer within the load module and the local computers are connected to a central computer over a databus and exchange control data according to a standard protocol.

Switching and/or controlling electric loads in a motor vehicle are conventionally performed with the use of simple switches (example: light on/off), pushbuttons (example: power windows or electrically adjustable side mirrors) or actuators (example: instrument lighting) in an electric circuit. The actuators are usually designed as analog devices. They are also designed specifically for a given process or load and they are arranged in a decentralized location. This also has the disadvantage that in the case of a plurality of electric loads, such as those in the case of modern vehicles, there must also be a plurality of power supply lines with plug connectors leading from the switches, pushbuttons and actuators to the individual loads.
In addition, there have also been attempts to use a computer to control some of the electric equipment of the motor vehicle. The computer is arranged centrally and is designed in part specifically for the control functions. It generates the control pulses for the electric component (the electric load). At the same time, the computer also performs certain "infotainment" functions, such as navigation, radio or telematics. One problem is optimizing the operating system to perform both infotainment as well as control functions. However, retrofitting and scalability of functions from the control area are problematical if hardware changes must be made in the PC.
German Published Patent Application No. 42 19 669 relates to a control unit for calculating control quantities for recurring control operations in a motor vehicle, including, in particular, engine management (ignition, injection) and the ABS brake system. The ignition module, the injection module and the brake module each include a microprocessor, a memory module and on/off circuits, and these modules continuously transmit the control quantities achieved over a connected databus to a central control unit. Any bus system suitable for data transmission in the motor vehicle may be used for this purpose.
European Published Patent Application No. 392,411 relates to an automotive controller having a central system manager module, which works together with load modules (air conditioner, power steering, transmission) over a bus. The system manager module, however, can be activated only when the user has identified himself correctly as the proper user. No special transmission protocol is provided.
German Published Patent Application No. 44 01 785 describes an integrated wiring system for a motor vehicle having a central control unit and a plurality of terminal control units that exchange data. This data exchange is not performed according to a standard protocol, but instead according to different communication protocols at different transmission rates.
European Published Patent Application No. 307,344 describes an automotive wiring system, in which user stations exchange data over a bus. Interface devices are connected to the user stations in a star network, with end devices (loads) connected in groups to the interface devices. There is no provision for combining them into load modules.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,074 describes a mobile portable wireless communication system, in which data transfer occurs between a remote computer and an automotive controller according to the Internet protocol. Data is converted in the motor vehicle and sent to a local control network, which operates according to another bus system (CAN), not according to the Internet protocol.

Control for a plurality of electrical consumers of a motor vehicle


The present disclosure illustrates a multi-systems integrated modulation module. The modulation module includes a first modulation circuit and a second modulation circuit. The first modulation circuit includes a high frequency oscillator and high frequency mixers. The second modulation circuit includes a low frequency oscillator and low frequency mixers. The second modulation circuit couples to the first modulation circuit. The high frequency mixers couple to the high frequency oscillator and the low frequency mixers couple to the low frequency oscillator. The high frequency mixers and the low frequency mixers provide high frequency signals and low frequency signals separately. The frequency mixers mix radio frequency signals with the high frequency signals or low frequency signals. The modulation module forms a first signal path by the first modulation circuit, and forms a second signal path by the first modulation circuit and the second modulation circuit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a modulation module, in particular, to a multi-systems integrated modulation module.
2. Description of Related Art
With the continuous development of the wireless communication technology, the mobile communication devices with variety functions (such as smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and so on) have become the tools which people communicate with other people in the life. However, since the communication technology evolves for a long time, the communication device may have many different communication technologies existed therein. Therefore, how the communication technologies successfully operate therebetween in the communication device has become an important issue of wireless communication.
In the short distance communication technology, 2.4 GHz ISM frequency (e.g. industrial, scientific and medical) is the common implementation environment. In the practical implementation environment, two transceiver modulation circuits with different protocols are sited around or in the same device (such as the handheld mobile communication device). For example, the transceiver modulation circuit for transmitting the IEEE 802.11b/g wireless local area network (WLAN) signal and the transceiver modulation circuit for transmitting Bluetooth signal may be sited closely to each other or in the same device. IEEE 802.11b/g WLAN and Bluetooth share the 2.4 GHz frequency. Since the frequencies in which the communication technologies operate are close to each other (the oscillating frequency in range 2.4˜2.48 GHz), it easily causes the transceiver modulation circuits to generate the interference to each other or frequency pulling effect during the modulation procedure, while the distance between the two transceiver modulation circuits is short.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traditional communication device using the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. In FIG. 1, a communication device 1 includes a first modulation module 11, a second modulation module 12, a first communication circuit 13 (which includes a digital-to-analog converting module 131 having an analog-to-digital converter 131a and a digital-to-analog converter 131b and a first communication computing unit 132), a second communication circuit 14 (which includes a digital-to-analog converting module 141 having an analog-to-digital converter 141a and a digital-to-analog converter 141b and a first communication computing unit 142), a switch 15, and an antenna 16. The first modulation module 11 includes a signal amplifier module 111 (which includes low noise amplifier 1111 and a power amplifier 1112), a Wi-Fi modulation circuit 112 (which includes a high frequency oscillator 1121 and a high frequency mixer 1122), a filter module 113 (which includes filter 113a, 113b and a voltage gain amplifier 114). The second modulation module 11 includes a signal amplifier module 121 (which includes a low noise amplifier 1211 and a power amplifier 1212), a Bluetooth modulation circuit 122 (which includes a high frequency oscillator 1221 and a high frequency mixer 1222), filter module 123 (which includes filter 123a, 123b and a voltage gain amplifier 124). The first modulation module 11 is coupled to the first communication circuit 13, and further includes a first receiving terminal 11a and a first transmitting terminal 11b which are coupled to the switch 15. The second modulation module 12 is coupled to the second communication module 12, and further includes a second transceiver terminal 12a coupled to the switch 15. The antenna 16 is switched to connect with the first receiving terminal 11a of the first modulation module 11, the first transmitting terminal 11b of the first modulation module 11, or the second transceiver terminal 12a in the second communication module 12 by the switch 15. The first receiving terminal 11a can receive the Wi-Fi signal or the Bluetooth signal when the switch 15 switches the antenna 16 to connect with the first receiving terminal 11a. The first transmitting terminal 11b can transmit the Wi-Fi signal when the switch 15 switches the antenna 16 to connect with the first transmitting terminal 11b. The second transceiver terminal 12a can transmit the Bluetooth signal when the switch 15 switches the antenna 16 and to connect with the first transceiver terminal 11b.
In the circuit design, as shown in FIG. 1, the traditional communication device having WiFi and Bluetooth coexisted therein usually has signal amplifier modules 111, 121, filter modules 113, 123, high frequency mixers 1122, 1222, and high frequency oscillator 1121, 1221 respectively. The high frequency mixer 1122 has a high frequency receiving mixer 1122a and a high frequency transmitting mixer 1122b. The high frequency mixer 1222 has a high frequency receiving mixer 1222a and a high frequency transmitting mixer 1222b. It's noted that, the high frequency circuit in the circuit design usually needs the larger circuit area in general, and thus also has the higher cost. In the trend which the user pursues the slim, thin, short, and small product, reducing the circuit area is also an important issue.
On the other hand, the second modulation module 12 for modulating the Bluetooth signal and the first modulation module 11 for modulating the Wi-Fi signal are disposed closely to each other. Since the second modulation module 12 cannot transmit the Wi-Fi signal while the second modulation module 12 transmits the Bluetooth signal, the communication device 1 cannot supply the high task duty operation of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In other words, the communication device 1 only can transmit the Bluetooth signal when the switch 15 switches the antenna 16 to connect with the second transceiver terminal 12a. Therefore, when the communication device 1 wants to transmit the Wi-Fi signal at the first transmitting terminal 11b, the communication device 1 cannot transmit the Wi-Fi signal, and must wait until the switch 15 switches the antenna 16 to connect with the first transmitting terminal 11b. Accordingly, the transmission quantity becomes worse, and the high latency may exist. However, for the application program which is sensitive to the latency (e.g. Voice over internet protocol, VoIP), the above operation may causes some problem. Since the traffic of the kind is the voice traffic, the serious delay cannot be tolerated. Moreover, the conflicting problem will cause the poor quality of the voice transmission. To sum up, in the wireless communication technology, it still has to improve the circuit structure, which is disposed in the communication device of multi-protocols used sharing frequency.

Multi-systems integrated modulation module and communication device


A panel fastener and space frame hub adapted for releasably holding panel sections in place against the space frame hub. The space frame hub has threadable connections for receiving space frame struts so as to permit the construction of a frame of any desired shape or size. Each panel section used with the invention has respective panel brackets at each of its corners, the panel brackets being complementary shaped to engage with a rotatable keyed plate on the fastener. They Keyed plate may be rotated to align a key cutout with a complementary shaped key in the respective panel brackets and may then be rotated to lock the panel bracket in place against the keyed plate.

The present invention relates to a fastening device for securing panel sections together; more particularly, the invention relates to a fastening device for securing panels against a supporting frame of a particular construction.
The invention finds particular utility in the field of portable exhibit displays of the type generally associated with trade shows, exhibits, and retail and commercial displays. These displays are typically set up to provide a fairly large display surface containing graphics and/or printed material for the purpose of promoting and advertising a particular product or service. In the trade show industry, it is preferable that such displays be made easy to assemble and disassemble and be capable of being carried in portable display cases from place to place.
In any application where the display is not intended to become a permanent fixture at a particular location, it is desirous to provide ease of assembly and disassembly. At the same time, care must be taken to provide the necessary structural strength for such displays; and in the case of very large displays, the strength of the supporting structure and frame becomes a very important factor. Such structures typically have a panel display surface affixed to a supporting frame, wherein the panel display surface is formed in sections, and the sections are individually attachable to the frame structure. The frame structure itself is also typically formed in sections or in a folding or collapsible construction. Alternatively, the supporting frame may be made from an assemblage of component parts which can be easily engaged to construct the frame and disconnected when the frame is to be broken down for storage and/or transport.


A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, a voice coil motor (VCM) for actuating the head radially over the disk (the VCM having a voltage control input), and a spindle motor for rotating the disk, the spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings and a rotor rotatable at a variable spin rate wherein the rotor generates a back EMF (BEMF) voltage across the windings proportional to the spin rate of the rotor. A plurality of switching elements are coupled to the windings, and switch control logic generates switch control signals applied to the switching elements for commutating the spindle motor during normal operation and for generating an internal supply voltage Vi from the BEMF during a spin down mode, the internal supply voltage Vi applied to the voltage control input of the VCM for parking the head. A demand limit circuit disconnects the internal supply voltage Vi from the voltage control input of the VCM when the internal supply voltage Vi falls below a predetermined level, and reconnects the internal supply voltage Vi to the voltage control input of the VCM once the internal supply voltage Vi recharges to a predetermined level, thereby enhancing power management during the spin down mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disk drives for computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a demand limit circuit for enhancing power management during spin down.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When the disk spins down in a disk drive it is important to park the head before the air bearing dissipates to prevent damage to the head and/or the disk. In disk drives wherein the head is parked in a landing zone on the disk, it is also important to brake the spindle motor as quickly as possible to minimize head wear. Conventionally, during a power failure the head is parked using the back EMF (BEMF) voltage present over the motor windings due to the angular momentum of the spindle and disk assembly. The current induced by the BEMF charges a capacitor to thereby generate an internal supply voltage which is applied to a voice coil motor (VCM) to park the head. Once the head is parked, a braking torque is applied to the spindle motor to stop it from rotating as quickly as possible in order to minimize head wear.
If the internal supply voltage drops below a certain threshold for an extended period of time during a power failure mode, the analog and digital circuitry which control the power down sequence may malfunction or shut down. This can typically occur if the VCM driver draws an excessive amount of current from the internal supply voltage. For example, if the head is in the middle of a seek operation when power failure occurs, the VCM driver may draw excessive current in order to decelerate the head. In another example, the VCM driver may draw excessive current in order to prevent the head from bouncing away from the parking latch at the end of the park operation. Either of these events may pull down the internal supply voltage beyond a safe level, thereby rendering the power down operation questionable.
This problem has been addressed in the prior art by designing disk drives with efficient spindle motors capable of providing sufficient BEMF voltage during power failure, and with efficient VCM motors which require less current to perform the head parking operation. However, this increases the overall cost of the disk drive since less efficient spindle and VCM motors are less expensive. Another known technique which alleviates this problem is to employ a xe2x80x9cboostxe2x80x9d circuit for xe2x80x9cboostingxe2x80x9d the internal supply voltage by periodically shorting the spindle motor windings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,402 discloses a boost circuit for boosting the internal supply voltage by periodically grounding the spindle motor windings using a grounding switch. When the grounding switch is turned on (grounded), a current builds in the spindle motor windings due to the inductance and the BEMF. When the current reaches a predetermined level, the switch is turned off so that the current stored in the spindle motor windings charges a capacitor which boosts (and filters) the internal supply voltage. When the internal supply voltage reaches a predetermined level, the grounding switch is turned back on in order to recharge the current in the spindle motor windings. Although the boost circuit increases the available power so that less efficient spindle and VCM motors may be employed, further improvements are attainable.
Another problem identified with prior art disk drives is the inability to safely park the head unless the disk is rotating fast enough so that sufficient power is available to retract the head. Thus, the head is typically positioned over the landing zone on the disk while the disk is still rotating at a high RPM resulting in undesirable head wear. The landing zone is typically textured to reduce the stiction force during spin up; however, this textured surface also wears on the head during spin down. Because prior art techniques position the head over the landing zone while the disk is still spinning at a high RPM, head wear increases due to the increased time to brake the spindle motor. The prior art boost circuit alleviates this problem somewhat by increasing the internal supply voltage, thereby enabling head parking at a lower RPM which reduces the braking time while the head is over the landing zone. However, further improvements are attainable.
There is, therefore, a need to improve upon prior art techniques for generating an internal supply voltage used to park the head in a disk drive during spin down. In particular, there is a need to protect against the internal supply voltage from dropping below a safe level in order to maintain proper operation of the digital and analog circuitry responsible for the power down sequence. Further, there is a need to improve power management so that head parking is viable at a lower RPM to reduce head wear.
The present invention may be regarded as a disk drive comprising a disk, a head, a voice coil motor (VCM) for actuating the head radially over the disk (the VCM having a voltage control input), and a spindle motor for rotating the disk, the spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings and a rotor rotatable at a variable spin rate wherein the rotor generates a back EMF (BEMF) voltage across the windings proportional to the spin rate of the rotor. A plurality of switching elements are coupled to the windings, and switch control logic generates switch control signals applied to the switching elements for commutating the spindle motor during normal operation and for generating an internal supply voltage Vi from the BEMF during a spin down mode, the internal supply voltage Vi applied to the voltage control input of the VCM for parking the head. A demand limit circuit disconnects the internal supply voltage Vi from the voltage control input of the VCM when the internal supply voltage Vi falls below a predetermined level, and reconnects the internal supply voltage Vi to the voltage control input of the VCM once the internal supply voltage Vi recharges to a predetermined level, thereby enhancing power management during the spin down mode.
The present invention may also be regarded as a method of enhancing power management in a disk drive during a spin down mode, the disk drive comprising a disk, a head, a voice coil motor (VCM) for actuating the head radially over the disk (the VCM having a voltage control input), and a spindle motor for rotating the disk, the spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings and a rotor rotatable at a variable spin rate wherein the rotor generates a back EMF (BEMF) voltage across the windings proportional to the spin rate of the rotor. A plurality of switching elements are coupled to the windings, and switch control logic generates switch control signals applied to the switching elements for commutating the spindle motor during normal operation and for generating an internal supply voltage Vi from the BEMF during a spin down mode, the internal supply voltage Vi applied to the voltage control input of the VCM for parking the head. The method of enhancing power management during the spin down mode comprises the steps of disconnecting the internal supply voltage Vi from the voltage control input of the VCM when the internal supply voltage Vi falls below a predetermined level, and reconnecting the internal supply voltage Vi to the voltage control input of the VCM once the internal supply voltage Vi recharges to a predetermined level.

Disk drive comprising a demand limit circuit for enhancing power management during spin down