An interface unit is provided for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from several transmitters. The interface unit includes a DC power supply, an active load, and a transmit/receive circuit connected to the first wire of a two wire circuit which transmits signals to and receives signals from the transmitters. The active load is connected in series with the DC power supply between the first and second wire of the two wire circuit and has a first impedance at DC and a second, higher impedance within a frequency range defined by the signals transmitted to and received from the transmitters.

This invention relates to an apparatus which allows a hydrostatic interface unit (HIU) to detect digital communication signals while minimizing the input power needed by the unit. More particularly, an active load within the hydrostatic interface unit provides a high impedance at AC frequencies for detecting digital communication signals, while providing a low impedance at DC frequencies, minimizing the input power needed for the hydrostatic interface unit.
The hydrostatic interface unit (HIU) is one of a series of instruments utilized in a tank gauging system. In this system, numerous liquid-filled tanks are located on a tank farm. Each tank has various transmitters connected to it. These transmitters are electrically coupled in parallel with one another in a "multidrop" arrangement and provide inputs to an HIU. The HIU accumulates data from various transmitters connected to it and combines their output representing pressure and temperature of the liquid in the tanks to provide a single output which indicates liquid level. The HIU outputs a digital signal to a control room via a translator. The control room monitors the liquid levels of numerous tanks and adjusts indicators, control outputs, or alarms as necessary.
In conventional HIUs, a resistor is used as a load across which communication signals appear and can be detected. In order to provide enough impedance at frequencies for detecting digital communication signals reliably, the resistor would have a minimum of 500 ohms of resistance. This 500 ohm resistor was sufficient for the HIU not adapted for use in so-called "designated field safe areas" where cabling is required to have specified low power levels to meet intrinsic safety requirements.
When a facility (such as a tank farm) uses or produces explosive vapors, special precautions must be taken with electrical circuits in areas of the facility where there are explosive mixtures. These areas are called "designated field safe areas" and are areas where the vapors can reach concentrations which may explode if there is an ignition spark. Also, some sparks have enough energy to ignite an explosive mixture and other sparks do not have enough energy to ignite an explosive mixture. Thus, electrical circuitry which enters "designated field safe areas" must have specified low voltage, low current, and energy storage capacity so that if its wires are inadvertently shorted out and a spark occurs, the spark will not have enough energy to ignite an explosive mixture. The limits have been developed experimentally and are defined in various safety standards. This is the subject of designing for intrinsic safety.
The problem of designing for intrinsic safety is magnified in a multidrop circuit, such as a tank gauging system having several transmitters connected to a single HIU, because the HIU and every transmitter connected to it must be energized within the power limit for one circuit. Small energy losses which normally would be ignored in other designs become extremely important and great efforts are utilized to reduce them. When small energy losses in a multidrop circuit are added together, the resulting amount of energy loss often exceeds the allowable limit for input energy to a HIU.
Thus, there is a need for a HIU with a load which will not only provide high impedances at AC frequencies for detecting digital communication signals, but will also provide low impedances at low frequencies (essentially DC), making intrinsic safety approval possible.


The object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a flexural panel formed by bending the normal plan liquid crystal panel, which possesses an excellent display quality without the leakage of the light. The technical solution thereof is: the entire liquid crystal panel is bent to form a concave shape bend at the observer's side of the liquid crystal panel, that is, at a side of the CF substrate, towards the observer, so that the pitch at the horizontal direction of the respective pixels on the CF substrate is shorter than the pitch at the horizontal direction of the respective pixels on the TFT substrate, or to make said the same as each other and the width at the horizontal direction of the black matrix existing in both left and right end regions of the horizontal direction on the CF substrate, which is bent to a concave shape, is greater than the width at the horizontal direction of the black matrix disposing in the central section region.

Recently, that the picture of the liquid crystal display device changes to large picture has been speeded up as the liquid crystal display device is used as the display device of the television set. While the picture has been developed to large picture, the viewer has discovered that a problem exists, in which the visual angle difference existing between the visual angle for viewing the central part of the picture and the visual angle for viewing the right and left ends of the picture (the term "visual angle" is defined as an angle formed by the visual line of the observer who views the picture and the tangent of the picture, and the difference value is defined as the "visual angle difference") will be greater.
In order to solve the problem of the visual angle difference, that the shape of the flexural panel is formed in a concave shape at a side near the observer is taken into consideration.
The liquid crystal panel is formed by two glass sheet having the liquid crystal sandwiched between them, therefore, by setting the position of the observer's eye as a center, if two glass sheet are bent in a concave shape at the observer's side, then a tender difference exists between the width of the glass substrate near the observer's side, that is, at the inner side, and the width of the glass substrate at the far end, that is, at the outer side, the width of the glass in a transverse direction at the outer side will be wider. This will be described with reference to the following drawings.
FIG. 10 is a simplified cross sectional view of the glass substrates before two sheets of the substrates being bent.
FIG. 11 is a simplified cross sectional view of the glass substrate after two sheets of the substrates being bent. In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, 101 is a CF (Color Filter) substrate of the two sheets of the substrates which is the nearest one to the observer, 102 is a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate which is the farthest one to the observer, and 110 is an arrow indicating the sight line of the observer.
As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in order to superpose precisely two sheets of the bent substrates, it is required that the width of the outer substrate must be larger than the transverse width of the inner substrate.
Furthermore, it is a problem of the flexural panel that the light of the back-lighting will leak from the black matrix of the color filter. This will be described according to the drawings as follows.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a plan liquid crystal panel.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion 103 in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 2, 204 is a black matrix (Hereinafter also referred to as "BM"), 201 is a pigmentation section of the color filter, 202 is a signal line, 205 is a light of the back-lighting transmitted to BM 204, 206 is a light of the back-lighting transmitted to the pigmentation section 201, 203 is ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) of the pixel. The light cannot pass through BM 204 so that BM 204 may block the light 205, and it cannot reach the eyes of the observer. As a result, the signal line 202 can be hidden at the back of BM 204 and cannot be seen by the eyes of the observer. Furthermore, because ITO 203 is transparent, the light 206 is transformed into color light after passing through the pigmentation section 201, and then reaches the eyes of the observer, and the observer can view a correct image.
Nevertheless, if the plan panel is bent, then the light 205 which must be blocked originally by BM 204 can pass through the pigmentation section 201 adjacent to BM 204, and can be viewed by the observer. This will be described according to the drawings as follows.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a substrate which is a substrate of two sheets of plan substrates shown in FIG. 1 after bending. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the section 301 shown in FIG. 3. The light 205 of FIG. 4 is a light which is blocked actually by BM 204, however, the panel is bent so that the position of BM 204 is slightly different from that of the liquid crystal panel in a plan shape, therefore the light leaks from the adjacent pigmentation section 201.
Therefore, the problem of the leakage of the light needs to be solved in order to provide a liquid crystal display device having flexural panel with excellent display quality.
Further, to be precise, the CF substrate and TFT substrate in FIG. 4 are flexural rather than in the plan shape, however, it is an enlarged view so that the flexuosity is very small and it can be described as a plane.
The reference, Japanese Utility Publication No. JP58-52513, is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Flexural liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal device

InfoVision Optoelectronics Holdings Limited


A non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a battery includes: an additive A which is a compound represented by formula (I); and an additive B which is at least one selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound having at least one of a halogen atom or an alkyl group and a carbamate, and which is a compound other than carbonates or a cyclic sulfates. In formula (I), R1 represents a group represented by formula (II) or a group represented by formula (III) and R2 represents H, a C1-6 alkyl group, a group represented by formula (II), or a group represented by formula (III); or R1 and R2 represent groups which combine to form a benzene ring or cyclohexyl ring. In formula (II), R3 represents a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkyl halide group, a C1-6 alkoxy group, or a group represented by formula (IV).

In recent years, lithium secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for electronic devices such as portable telephones and notebook computers, or for electric cars or electric power storage. Particularly recently, there is a rapidly increasing demand for a high capacity and high power battery with a high energy density, which can be mounted in hybrid cars or electric cars.
Lithium secondary batteries are primarily composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which contain materials capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent.
Examples of positive electrode active materials used in a positive electrode include lithium metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMnO2, LiNiO2, and LiFePO4.
Furthermore, as the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, solutions prepared by mixing a mixed solvent (non-aqueous solvent) of carbonates such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate or methyl carbonate, with a Li electrolyte such as LiPF6, LiBF4, LiN(SO2CF3)2 or LiN(SO2CF2CF3)2, are used.
On the other hand, as the active material for a negative electrode which is used in negative electrodes, metal lithium, metal compounds (elemental metals, oxides, alloys with lithium, and the like) capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, and carbon materials are known. Particularly, lithium secondary batteries employing cokes, artificial graphite or natural graphite, which are all capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, have been put to practical use.
As an attempt to improve battery performance, it is proposed to incorporate various additives into a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. For example, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution including a cyclic sulfate ester as an additive is known (for example, see WO 2012/053644).

Non-aqueous electrolyte solution for battery and lithium secondary battery


A device for signal evaluation is described, in particular for knock recognition in an internal combustion engine, in which the signals forwarded by sensors are evaluated digitally and error recognition is carried out that performs two different test functions, whereby a first test function supplies a test pulse at a specifiable location, and the second test function clears the sensor signals, and the reaction of both the analog and digital parts of the circuit are monitored.

The present invention relates to a device for error detection in a digital signal evaluation unit.
It is known that, in signal evaluation units designed as analog evaluation IC's, for example, monitoring measures are required that allow misoperations to be recognized. Various possibilities for accomplishing this are known. For example, a method for monitoring and error recognition is presented in DE-P 197 560 81.4 that is carried out in an analog evaluation IC in conjunction with knock detection in an internal combustion engine. With this knock detection, the structure-borne noise signals supplied by the knock sensors are forwarded to the evaluation IC via a multiplexer. This IC is composed, at the least, of an amplifier, a filter, a rectifier, and an integrator. The resultant integrator result is used as the result of knock detection in order to calculate a knock index for the knock control. Signal evaluation takes place in this IC in analog form. Two test options are implemented to monitor the operatability of the integrated circuit (IC). These test options are referred to as test pulse and zero test. Using this type of diagnosis, the entire signal path except for the multiplexer can be checked for operatability.
In the first test option—the test pulse—a test signal is supplied to the evaluation chain after the multiplexer. The downstream integrator is fully modulated by means of this signal in a relatively short period of time, independently of the amplifier level setting. If it is recognized that the expected full modulation of the integrator has not occurred after a relatively short period of time, an error is detected. In the second test option—the O-test—the signal path is separated after the multiplexer. In this case, only the disturbing noises, e.g., background noises, occurring internally in the integrated circuit (IC) are integrated in the integrator.
The signal available in the integrator then provides information as to whether erroneous disturbances have occurred, or if any other misoperations are present. The integrated circuit for evaluation of knock signals in an internal combustion engine must be monitored, since, if the evaluation circuit would fail, erroneous values for knock control would be provided and the knock control itself would no longer function correctly, and damage could occur to the internal combustion engine.
New units for signal evaluation, e.g., in conjunction with knock detection in internal combustion engines, have digital evaluation IC's. The entire signal evaluation, if possible, is thereby performed with the aid of a digital arithmetic and logic unit. Such an evaluation IC designed to evaluate the output signals of knock sensors is described in patent application DE-P 100 041 66.3. In this type of digital signal evaluation, a typical property, e.g., components typical for knock, are extracted from the conditioned and digitized output signals from the sensors, and they are compared with specifiable threshold values for knock detection. A checking or monitoring of the operatability of the IC is not performed in this digital signal evaluation described in DE-P 100 041 66.3.

Device for error recognition in a digital signal evaluation unit


Methods and a system are provided for controlling fuel injection in a vehicle engine. The system specifically relates to an engine fueled with both port and direct fuel injectors. In one example, a method may include delivering a first portion of fuel via port injection during a first injection window, and subsequently delivering a second portion of fuel directly during a second injection window before the engine exits cranking speeds.

Engines may use various forms of fuel delivery to provide a desired amount of fuel for combustion in each cylinder. One type of fuel delivery uses a port injector for each cylinder to deliver fuel to respective cylinders. Still another type of fuel delivery uses a direct injector for each cylinder. Direct fuel injection (DI) systems may improve cylinder charge cooling so that engine cylinders may operate at higher compression ratios without incurring undesirable engine knock. Port fuel injection (PFI) systems may reduce particulate emissions and improve fuel vaporization. In addition, port injection may reduce pumping losses at low loads. To leverage the advantages of both types of fuel injection, engines may also be configured with each of port and direct injection. Therein, based on engine operating conditions, such as engine speed-load ranges, fuel may be delivered via only direct injection, only port injection, or a combination of both types of injection. For example, during an engine restart, the engine may be fueled with each of port and direct injection, with the split ratio adjusted based on one or more engine operating conditions.
One example approach for operating an engine with dual fueling capabilities is shown by Bidner et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,100,107. Therein the split ratio for engine fueling includes a higher portion of the fuel mass commanded during an engine cold-start being provided via port injection, and a remaining smaller portion being provided via direct injection. By increasing the ratio of port injected fuel in the fuel split, particulate matter emissions are reduced.
However the inventors herein have identified potential issues with such an approach. As one example, during an engine start, as combustion occurs on a first few events counted since the first combustion event of the engine, engine speed may or may not increase predictably. The speed profile may be affected by numerous factors including engine temperature, component wear causing changes in friction, spark plug degradation, fuel quality, low battery voltage causing slow cranking speeds, etc. Engines may be calibrated to start with larger fuel masses in the first fueling events/engine cycles until the engine exits cranking speeds. If the threshold for exiting cranking engine speed is exceeded in the middle of the fueling cycle for one or more cylinders, and if the desired fuel mass decreases during this fueling cycle, the dual fueled engine may choose to honor the lower desired fuel mass by trimming the fuel pulse commanded to the DI fuel injector. As a result, a target split ratio between the PFI and DI injector is not preserved during this combustion event. In particular, the DI fuel mass may be decreased (or eliminated) if the desired fuel mass decreases by a large amount as the engine exits cranking speeds, or if the decrease is commanded late in the port fueling window (when port injection adjustments are not possible). The deviation from a calibrated split ratio for fuel delivery can have a significant effect on mixture formation. In addition, the deviation from the calibrated split ratio can have cascading effects on other engine operating parameters, such as a deviation from a calibrated spark timing. As a result, combustion stability and robustness may be affected during engine starts. Further, the engine start reliability and repeatability may be reduced.
In one example, some of the above issues may be addressed by a method for an engine comprising: for a first number of consecutive combustion events counted from a first combustion event of an engine start from rest, fueling an engine with each of port and direct injection; and maintaining a ratio of fuel injected via port injection relative to direct injection over the first number of combustion events even as fuel mass changes. In this way, the calibrated split ratio can be prioritized during the engine start until the cranking speed is reached, and then the calibrated fuel mass can be prioritized.
As one example, during an engine start from rest, the engine may be fueled via each of port and direct injection. A calibrated split ratio of fuel delivered via port injection relative to direct injection may be determined based on engine conditions at the engine start (such as engine temperature). For the first combustion event of the start, as well as for a first number of combustion events counted as occurring consecutively after the first combustion event (with no intervening combustion events in between), the calibrated fuel split ratio may be maintained even as fuel mass changes. For example, if a decrease in fuel mass is commanded, the fuel mass is decreased by trimming both the port injection (PFI) fuel pulse and the direct injection (DI) fuel pulse proportionately so that the split ratio is maintained. For example, the end of injection timing of both the PFI and DI fuel pulses may be advanced. As such, this may be possible if the commanded decrease in fuel mass is received earlier in the port injection fueling window (e.g., before an abort angle of the port injection window is reached). If the commanded decrease in fuel mass is received later in the port injection fueling window (e.g., after the abort angle is reached), trimming of the port injection pulse may not be possible. In this case, instead of trimming the DI fuel pulse to provide the commanded fuel mass at the expense of the commanded split ratio, the DI fuel pulse is maintained so as to maintain the commanded split ratio at the expense of the commanded fuel mass. That is, the actual fuel mass delivered may be higher than the commanded fuel mass. After the first number of combustion events have elapsed, the commanded split ratio may be varied to accommodate changes in a commanded fuel mass.
In this way, a more robust engine calibration may be provided across engine starts, even as factors that could affect the start change. By selectively disregarding a commanded decrease in fuel mass received in the middle of a combustion event during engine cranking, a calibrated fuel split ratio may be maintained for a defined number of combustion events counted from the engine start. As such, this reduces variations in mixture formation and deviations from a calibrated spark timing. By prioritizing the commanded split ratio over the commanded fuel mass for the defined number of combustion events from the start, engine start variability arising from sudden changes in fuel mass may be reduced. Overall, engine start combustion stability is improved. In addition, engine starts are made more reliable and repeatable.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and systems for dual fuel injection


A system, method and apparatus for making evident, diesel exhaust fuel (DEF) contamination is provided. The system, for use with a diesel exhaust fluid system, includes a container having an opening to receive a diesel exhaust fluid. A reactive device is located near the opening and reactive upon exposure to one or more predetermined components potentially present in a fluid pourable into the container through the opening. The reactive device is not reactive to the diesel exhaust fluid.

Efforts to reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines may include reducing CO emissions, unburned hydrocarbons, particulate emissions, and NOx emissions. Measures to reduce one class of emissions may make efforts to reduce others more challenging. For example, running a diesel engine with a lean burn air-to-fuel ratio may increase soot combustion and reduce the level of unburned fuel in the exhaust. However, the excess air in the lean mixture may tend to increase the amount of NOx produced. Conversely, effective techniques to reduce NOx may allow for more aggressive soot combustion. This interdependence, may further increase the importance of NOx reduction measures.
Measures to reduce NOx, may include selective catalytic reduction (SCR). SCR systems may spray, or inject a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in regulated doses into the exhaust stream upstream from an SCR catalyst. DEF is typically a 32.5% solution of urea in demineralized water. DEF products may be known commercially as DEF, AdBlue, urea, ARLA, or ARNOX. Once sprayed, or injected, into the exhaust stream the urea may decompose into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Then, within the SCR catalyst, the NOx may be chemically reduced by the ammonia (NH3) into water (H2O) and nitrogen (N2), and released through the exhaust.
The DEF may be stored in a container located onboard diesel powered vehicles. The container may be located in the engine compartment. Engine compartments typically also include storage systems for other liquids for engine and vehicle operation, for example, hydrocarbon materials such as fuels, oils, other lubricants, additives, etc. Because of their relative proximity cross contamination is possible. Avoiding contamination of the reductant fluid, i.e. the DEF, is important for a number of reasons. For example, if contaminated: the effectiveness of reducing NOx with the DEF may be reduced; the remaining DEF may be consumed more quickly than it would otherwise be consumed; the contaminated DEF may cause the SCR system to malfunction, and may damage the engine's exhaust management equipment; and a malfunctioning SCR system may cause the engine to shut down, or cause a vehicle equipped with the system to operate at very slow speeds. In addition, the presence of the contamination in the DEF storage tank may void the equipment manufactures warranty. Once the hydrocarbons are in the reductant system the system may have to be, replaced or, taken apart, cleaned, and rebuilt with some new, and typically expensive, components to replace those that may be destroyed.
Ancillary diesel support systems, such as refueling stations, refueling vehicles, retailers, and various maintenance facilities may include reductant storage, and distribution, systems. These too, may be vulnerable to contamination. Typically these storage systems and other parts of reductant dosing systems are made with materials which may degrade in the presence of hydrocarbons.
Owners and users are warned not to put any products not identified as approved reductants into the DEF system. Warranty agreements may include a warning or clause that the warranty will not cover such misuse/abuse from contaminant introduction. Determining who is responsible for contamination of the DEF, and perhaps for the cost of remediation/repair, and avoiding possible, or further, damage would be advantageous. Also advantageous would be providing early notification of the contamination which may avoid damage, or extensive remediation efforts.
Methods exist to test for hydrocarbons in the reductant fluid. For example, US Patent publication 20130115137 A1 discloses sensing materials for selective and sensitive detection of hydrocarbons suggested implementation via a wearable detector. As another example the firm Bellingham and Stanley make such a product in the form of a test strip that is effective in giving such proof of contamination.
The inventors of the present disclosure have recognized a number of shortcomings of these approaches. For example, the wearable detector disclosed 20130115137 A1 is too far removed from the location of the possible contamination. The problem with the test strips is that the strip must be put into the fluid of the tank or a sample of the fluid must be brought out of the tank in order to test the fluid. Often reductant storage tanks have a long fill pipe, especially those on vehicles. This makes such testing difficult or impossible and so the suspected system must be removed and opened in order to complete the test. This removal and opening of the system is difficult and expensive in itself.
What is needed is an indicator, a system and a method that makes contamination easy to determine and that can be accomplished in close proximity to the DEF storage tank. Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a system, method and apparatus for making evident, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) contamination is provided. The system, for use with a diesel exhaust fluid system, may include a container having an opening to receive a diesel exhaust fluid. A reactive device may be located near the opening and reactive upon exposure to one or more predetermined components potentially present in a fluid pourable into the container through the opening. The reactive device may not be reactive to the diesel exhaust fluid.
In this way, contamination, or lack of contamination, may be determined substantially immediately and at the site of the DEF storage tank. Also in this way, a servicing organization that suspects hydrocarbon contamination could confirm the contamination before they work on the system.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or is that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

System, method and apparatus for making evident diesel exhaust fluid contamination


An attachment clip is formed from a generally rectangular blank of bendable material and includes a pair of depending legs bent forwardly and upwardly so as to engage the slots found in the nailing flange of standard horizontal siding panels. The clip includes a nail slot having a length greater than the length of an individual slot formed in the nailing flange of the panel, thereby permitting greater expansion and contraction of the panel on the wall to which it is attached. The clip is formed from a rectangular blank of bendable material, with a notch extending upwardly in the lower edge to form the depending legs which are journaled through individual slots in the nailing flange of the panel.

Wood siding has been used for many years in the construction of homes and other buildings. However, wood siding has several disadvantages, including regular painting for protection, and eventual rot or other breakdown of the wood material.
In order to retain the visual effect of siding, yet overcome the problems associated with wood, alternative materials such as metal and plastics have been utilized to simulate wood siding. Metal siding is typically formed of aluminum or steel, while plastic siding is conventionally formed from polyvinyl chloride, more commonly referred to as vinyl. In both types of siding, the bottom margin of each panel is bent inwardly and then upwardly to form a longitudinal channel flange with an upstanding inner leg, and the top portion of each panel is formed to provide an outwardly and downwardly projecting longitudinal lip corresponding to the channel flange of an adjacent panel. The panels are conventionally secured to a wall along their top portions, above the projecting longitudinal lip, utilizing fasteners driven through a nailing flange along the top of each panel.
One problem that is common with both metal and vinyl siding is in the expansion and contraction of the siding with changes in temperature. Because of this expansion and contraction, it has been common to attach the siding utilizing longitudinal nail slots provided in the nailing flange of each panel. The nails were then driven into the nail slots a sufficient distance to support the siding, but not far enough to grip the siding to prevent slidable movement along the nail slots.
In order to avoid splicing or overlapping horizontal lengths of siding, it is becoming increasingly common to provide longer lengths of siding which extend horizontally across an entire wall surface. These longer lengths of siding have posed problems in attachment because of the additional expansion and contraction which occurs. Conventional siding nailing flanges have nail slots approximately 1/8 inch in width and approximately 1 and 1/8 inch in length. Thus, the maximum amount of expansion or contraction is approximately 9/16 of an inch in either direction. With the use of long lengths of siding, this distance is not sufficient, and the siding can "ripple" or bulge where fastened during extreme expansion or contraction.
Attempts to deal with this problem have resulted in failure. Increasing the length of the nail slots in the nailing flange results in a narrow support strip above the nail slot, which is insufficient to support the siding, and causes rippling and bulging. Attempts to strengthen the nailing flange to permit longer nail slot lengths have also failed. An increase in the thickness of the nailing flange causes the nailing flange to expand at a different rate than the remaining portions of the siding panel, again causing rippling and/or bulging.
Another problem with vinyl siding is the low structural strength of the nailing flange when a nail is inserted through the nail slot. Because of the small cross-section of the nail, and the narrow width of the material between the nail slot and upper edge of the panel, the vinyl material will not support a great amount of weight, and is easily ripped upon the application of a downward dynamic force on the panel. Thus, application of vinyl siding to manufactured homes, which are transported over the road, has a significant problem with loss of vinyl siding during transit.

Attachment clip for horizontal siding panels


In one example, a method for modifying input with a dial includes creating a queue of input actions corresponding to one or more atomic operations for an application. The method can also include detecting a dial action from a dial, the dial action indicating a reversal operation for removing at least one input action from the queue of input actions or an addition operation for adding at least one input action to the queue of input actions. Furthermore, the method can include generating an intermediate representation of the one or more atomic operations based on the dial action from the dial.

Applications can accept many forms of input from touchscreen displays, keyboards, and mice, among others. In some examples, applications store a character stream of the most recent input characters and enable users to unwind the character stream. Therefore, in some examples, applications enable users to select an icon to manipulate the character stream by removing a previous input character or displaying a previously removed input character.

Dial control for addition and reversal operations


Each duct of a plurality of generally cylindrical exhaust ducts disposed in approximately uniform annular arrangement about an axis is a tube, or a lobe of a radially-branched passage, having a discharge end canted so that the radially outer portion of such duct end projects rearward farther than any other portion of the duct end. The canted duct ends direct the major portion of the exhaust of a jet engine inward toward the axis of the annular exhaust duct arrangement in a plurality of exhaust jets, effecting a rearwardly convergent relationship of the jets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jet engine multiduct noise suppressors and particulary to a modification of such a suppressor for increasing its noise suppression effectiveness.
2. Prior Art
It is known that the noise of a jet engine exhaust can be suppressed to a considerable degree by utilization of a multiduct noise suppressor. The extent to which the noise of the jet exhaust is suppressed depends principally on the number of ducts utilized in such a suppressor. Consequently, a sufficient number of ducts must be used to approach the desired degree of noise reduction. If the suppressor includes too many ducts, however, or if the ducts are too small, the friction of the exhaust gas passing through the ducts will be higher than desirable, resulting in too great a sacrifice of engine power.
Where a multiduct noise suppressor is used for a jet engine, the residual noise is composed of two principal components. The first component is of relatively high pitch and occurs prior to merger of the jets issuing from the several ducts. The other component is of comparatively low pitch and is caused by that portion of the jet exhaust rearward of the location where the jets from the several ducts merge. For subsonic aircraft it has been found that the premerged exhaust jet noise usually is more annoying and objectionable than the postmerged jet noise.
The principal problem in suppressing the noise of a jet engine exhaust is to effect such suppression to a noise level and type that is considered to be tolerable with minimal loss of power and increase of drag and by utilization of a suppressor structure that is reasonably light.
A representative multiduct noise suppressor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,212 in which the ducts are in the form of tubes. The array of such tubes differs from that of the noise suppressor of the present invention in that the tubes project to different locations rearward as shown in FIG. 1 of that patent. In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,212, side nozzles are directed inward, but the major portion of the exhuast is discharged in parallel jets through three discharge tubes arranged in a vertical row.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,905 shows a jet exhaust noise suppressor in which an annular row of small convergent nozzles is arranged around a much larger main jet nozzle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,842 exhaust ducts are in the form of concentric slots instead of being generally cylindrical.
Canadian Pat. No. 618,154 shows a multiduct noise suppressor which reduces postmerged jet engine exhaust noise.


A low profile connector for mounting on a PCB comprising: an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals, a shielding shell and an auxiliary member. Each terminal is provided with a contacting section and a solder portion extending beyond insulative housing for connecting with the PCB. The shielding shell defines a mating opening surrounding the contact portion, and the auxiliary member defines a main portion attached to a bottom surface of the shielding shell and at least one horizontal portion located at one end thereof for mounting on an upper surface of the PCB. The shielding shell further includes a vertical portion perpendicular to the horizontal portion for inserting a hole of the PCB, and the horizontal portion of the auxiliary member has a concavity for receiving the vertical portion which decreasing space that the connector located on the PCB.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low profile connector, and more particularly to a low profile connector with a combo solder tails suitably soldered to both via and conductive pad of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,660 issued to Kubota et al. on Aug. 17, 2004, discloses a conventional electrical connector that includes a housing, a number of contacts retained in the housing and a shell covering the housing. The shell includes a pair of end walls opposite to each other and formed a mating space therebetween, and each end wall has a vertical tail and a horizontal tail substantially perpendicular to the vertical tail and arranged along a mating direction, however, the horizontal tail and the vertical tail are located apart from each other, accordingly, increasing an additional space which the electrical connector located on the PCB, on the other hand, mechanical and electrical connection between the electrical connector and the PCB is unsteady.
Therefore, an improved low profile connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related arts.

Low profile connector with combo solder tails


A lithium secondary cell has, on a conductive substrate (collector) a lithium layer containing metallic lithium or an alloy thereof, and further has a metal fluoride substance film containing at least one type metal fluoride substance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithium secondary cell having metallic lithium or an alloy thereof as an active anode substance and a method for manufacturing same, and more particularly to a lithium secondary cell and method for manufacturing same, which does not have a tendency for dendrite growth, and which has superior cycle characteristics.
2. Related Art
Although a lithium cell with a anhydrous electrolytic fluid using metallic lithium features superior energy density and a high electromotive force, when charged, it exhibits dendrite formation on the lithium surface of the anode, and in some cases, the dendrite formation can break through a separator, causing a short to the cathode or peeling of the lithium dendrite from the conductive base (collector). These factors cannot only cause the cell not to function, but can also lower the safeness of the cell or worsen the cycle characteristics of the cell, due to abnormal reactions caused by shorting.
In order to suppress dendrite growth in metallic lithium, it is desirable to perform dielectric reactions having uniform precipitation and reaction speed. For this reason, it is necessary that the metallic lithium crystal structure be uniform, and that the surface reaction and coverage on the surface at which the reaction occurs be uniform.
Given the above, there have been proposals, for the purpose of suppressing dendrite formation, of forming alloys of metallic lithium with components of aluminum, bismuth, lead, tin, or indium or the like, or of forming an oxide layer on the surface of the metallic lithium. Using these methods, however, the operating voltage of the cell is low compared to the case of using an anode made of metallic lithium, and there is a reduction in the energy density. Additionally, when such alloys are used repeated charging and discharging results in deterioration of the lithium alloy in the form of micro-powder formation.
Another proposal that has been made is that of forming a covering film of lithium fluoride or the like, making use of a chemical reaction on the surface thereof, so as to suppress dendrite formation.
For example, in the Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 7-302617, there is disclosure of an anhydrous electrolytic cell having a covering including a lithium compound such as lithium fluoride on the surface of the anode. This lithium fluoride covering film is obtained exposing a anode having a covering film or lithium hydroxide or lithium oxide formed by natural oxidation in the atmosphere to an electrolytic fluid including LiPF6, to cause a reaction between the lithium fluoride and water, and then causing a reaction with lithium hydroxide. Because these lithium fluoride-covering films make use of a reaction with water at an electrode boundary, however, there is a tendency for components from sub-reactions intruding into the covering film, thereby making it difficult to achieve a uniform covering film. There are also cases in which the lithium hydroxide or lithium oxide covering film is not form uniformly, or in which there are locations at which lithium is partially exposed, in which cases not only is it impossible to achieve formation of a uniform thin film, but also there is a problem with safety, because of an abnormal reaction with water or hydrogen fluoride or the like. If the reaction is insufficient, there will be a residue of an unwanted covering film other than the fluoride, leading to an adverse effect, such as a reduction in ion conductivity.
Additionally, with a method such as this, in which a fluoride layer is obtained by making use of a chemical reaction at a boundary, there is a limitation on the possible fluorides and electrolytic fluids that can be used, thereby making it difficult to achieve a stable covering film. For this reason, this method does not achieve a sufficient cycle life, and has still not been developed to a practically usable stage.
In the Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 8-250108, there is disclosure of method for forming a lithium fluoride covering film, by placing a metallic foil made of metallic lithium or a lithium-aluminum alloy in an atmosphere of argon gas or nitrogen gas containing a small amount of hydrogen fluoride so as to cause a reaction, thereby forming a lithium covering film on the surface of the metallic foil (anode). In this case, if a covering film already exists on the surface of the metallic lithium, there is a tendency for the reaction to be non-uniform, particularly if there is a plurality of covering films, thereby making it difficult to form a complete lithium fluoride covering film. Additionally, because this method uses a reaction between hydrogen fluoride and a boundary with metallic lithium to form lithium fluoride, it is not suited to the case in which it is necessary to form a thick lithium fluoride covering film. As a result, it is not possible to achieve a lithium secondary cell with satisfactory cycle performance.
Additionally, in Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 11-288706, there is disclosure of improvement in the cycle life of a battery, by forming a surface covering film having as a main component a rock-salt type crystal structure, on the surface of s lithium sheet oriented with preference to a uniform crystal structure (that is, 100), thereby enabling suppressing a dendrite precipitation reaction of the metallic lithium. This disclosure mentions that it is preferable that the substance used as a surface covering film be selected as at least one lithium halide, selected from among LiCl, LiBr, and LiI. In this case, in order to form a solid solution covering film of at least one of LiCl, LiBr, and LiI and LiF, a lithium sheet formed by pressuring (cold rolling) and oriented preferably for (100) on the crystal plane is immersed in a dielectric fluid containing at least one of a sodium molecule or sodium ion, a bromine molecule or bromine ion, and an iodine molecule or iodine ion with a fluoride molecule or fluoride ion. This technology makes use of a cold-rolled lithium sheet, and because it is easy to expose the lithium sheet to the atmosphere, there is a tendency for a covering film to be formed on the surface due to water content and the like, leading to non-uniformity in the activated points, making it impossible to achieve the intended stable covering film and causing insufficient suppression of dendrite growth. Additionally, because of the immersion into an electrolytic fluid, the same problems arise as noted with regard to the Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 7-302617. Additionally, because of the use of a cold-rolled lithium sheet, compared with the case of using an amorphous lithium layer, there is a greater tendency toward dendrite formation, leading to possible insufficient cycle life.
In the Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 7-296812, there is a proposal for using, in place of using a film fabricated by cold rolling, a anode having minimally at its surface a layer made of amorphous lithium or an alloy of amorphous lithium. An amorphous form is used in this technology to impede the formation of activated points at the crystal grain boundaries, which are characteristic points for dendrite growth on the surface of a metallic lithium anode, thereby achieving a uniform precipitation of lithium ions. Furthermore lithium precipitated by virtue of a high electron hole density, based on an amorphous structure is efficiently dispersed within the anode, thereby preventing the occurrence of concentrations of activated points at specific locations on the surface of the anode. It is difficult, however, using just an amorphous structure alone, to achieve a battery with good cycle performance. Additionally, with only amorphous lithium or an amorphous lithium alloy, there is a tendency for a reaction to occur at the time of fabricating the battery with water contained in the atmosphere, the electrolytic fluid, the cathode, or the separator or the like, making it necessary to establish strict conditions for the constituent elements battery fabrication process and the constituent elements thereof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lithium secondary cell featuring suppressed dendrite growth in a anode, which contains a metallic lithium or an alloy thereof, and featuring superior energy density, superior electromotive force, and superior cycle life.

Lithium secondary cell and method for manufacturing same


A high resolution grazing incidence X-ray diffraction technique for measuring residual stresses and their gradients as a function of depth in thin film materials on substrates or in bulk materials is disclosed. The technique includes positioning a material relative to an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, performing an Omega scan to determine an Omega offset, setting the incidence angle at a first target incidence angle based on the Omega offset and greater than the critical angle of the material, performing a grazing incidence X-ray diffraction scan, analyzing the results to identify diffraction peaks, selecting a diffraction peak, setting the incidence angle at a second target incidence angle based on the Omega offset and a desired penetration depth, performing two theta scanning on a range of two theta values around the selected diffraction peak, performing refraction correction, and determining residual stress values for the material.

The present disclosure relates to thin film materials deposited, grown, or produced in any other manner on substrates or to bulk materials and the measurement and analysis of the bulk materials or thin film materials for residual stresses and their gradients using high resolution grazing incidence X-ray diffraction.
Stress may be defined as the ratio of force applied to a cross sectional area of a material. Stresses on a material may be either tensile or compressive. Materials undergo elastic and plastic deformations as force is applied. Plastic deformation is permanent non-recoverable deformation. Elastic deformation is recoverable and temporary, e.g., no permanent change is made to the material and the atoms return to the original position when the force is removed.
Residual stresses are defined as elastic stresses that remain in the material following processing. Excessive residual stresses present in bulk materials or in thin film materials could lead to failure of the materials during use. Residual elastic stresses in thin film material deposits and coatings may occur in many industries where thin film materials and coatings are used and produced such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical, ceramics, coatings, electronics, energy, metals, optics, thin film material deposition tool manufacturing, Semiconductor and Packaging, and other similar industries. X-ray diffraction techniques may be used to measure residual stresses in materials by measuring changes in the spacing between atomic planes in the materials, also known as dspacing or d-spacing.

Measuring and analyzing residual stresses and their gradients in materials using high resolution grazing incidence X-ray diffraction

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of channel access for a radio device in an asynchronous channel hopping wireless network includes a channel hopping coordinator first radio device transmitting its receive (Rx) channel hopping sequence to a fixed or semi-channel hopping sleepy radio device. The sleepy radio device tracks the first radio device's Rx channel using the channel hopping sequence and transmits a poll frame exclusive of a unicast schedule information element (US-IE) on the first radio device's current Rx channel to the first radio device. The sleepy radio device moves to an updated Rx channel that is a function of the current Rx channel. The first radio device receives the poll frame and then computes the updated Rx channel as the function of the current Rx channel. After the computing, the first radio device transmits a data frame to the sleepy radio device on the updated Rx channel.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4e is an enhanced media access control (MAC) layer protocol of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard designed for low power and low data rate networks. The IEEE 802.15.4e architecture is defined in terms of a number of blocks in order to simplify the standard. These blocks are called layers. Each layer is responsible for one part of the standard and offers services to the higher layers. The interfaces between the layers serve to define the logical links that are described in the standard. A low-rate (LR)-wireless personal area network (WPAN) device comprises at least one physical layer (PHY) which contains the radio frequency (RF) transceiver (or radio) along with its low-level control mechanism, and a MAC sublayer that provides access to the physical channel for all types of transfers. The radio device can either transmit or receive at any given time, but cannot simultaneously perform both transmitting and receiving.
IEEE 802.15.4e is suitable for sensor devices with resource constraints; e.g., low power consumption, low computation capabilities, and low memory. As sensors and actuators that are interconnected by a PAN in home and office environments become more common, limiting the power dissipation for each device is important. Some radio devices may operate on a battery, in which case frequent battery changes or recharges are undesirable. Some other radio devices may operate on a limited amount of power that is generated by the device itself such as using conversion from solar or other light sources, energy scavenging from motion or thermal effects, or collection of energy from ambient electromagnetic fields.
Channel hopping wireless transmission system protocols typically have a retransmission mechanism to retransmit lost frames. When channel hopping is used, subsequent transmissions can use a different channel (frequency band) in the channel hopping sequence. This helps avoid channel interference that may have existed in the previous channel used causing frame loss so that channel hopping can improve network capacity. Channel hopping achieves increased network throughput by promoting simultaneous data transfer over multiple channels between different pairs of radio devices, or to achieve reliability in tough channel conditions by exploiting channel diversity.
Channel hopping can be achieved through many different known methods, with the most common methods used being either a synchronous method called Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) or an asynchronous method called un-slotted channel hopping (USCH) as defined in the IEEE 802.15.4e standard. Many standards also exist that use a channel hopping MAC to define MAC protocols for different applications. Standards also exist that use a channel hopping MAC to define MAC protocols for different applications. For example the Wi-SUN™ Alliance has published a Field Area Network (FAN) specification that specifies how to use asynchronous channel hopping for smart grid applications (Technical Profile Specification Field Area Network, Wi-SUN Alliance 2014, hereafter the "Wi-SUN FAN").
In USCH (which does not require any synchronization for channel hopping) MACs, such as the one defined in the Wi-SUN FAN, frequency (or channel) hopping is achieved by a device by changing its receive (Rx) channel over different periods of time. The channel hopping sequence is based on a direct hash channel function (DH1CF) as defined in the Wi-SUN FAN specification which generates a pseudo-random sequence of channels based on the extended address of the node, and thus the channel sequence is unique to each node. Each radio device maintains its broadcast schedule as well as a unicast schedule. The radio device will transmit its broadcast data during its broadcast schedule and its neighboring radio devices who are already tracking this radio device are expected to be listening in its channel during the broadcast slot. During the broadcast interval, the radio devices follow their own receiver directed unicast channel hopping schedules. Being asynchronous channel hopping, the unicast channel hopping slots need not be synchronized to each other.
The unicast schedules are receiver directed in the sense that a radio device transmits the frame in the receiver radio device's current channel using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). If the frame's data transmission goes beyond the slot period, the transmitting radio device then continues the data transmission into the adjacent slots of the receiver radio device as well. For example, responsive to a data request received from a radio device B, a radio device A may transmit a frame in radio device B's Rx channel and the data transfer from radio device A to radio device B may extend into the adjacent time slot.
There is network overhead needed to maintain proper synchronization in such USCH networks. The exchange of timing information requires the use of specific information elements (IEs) as defined in Wi-SUN FAN specification. There are two specific defined IEs in the Wi-SUN FAN specification. A Unicast Timing IE (UTT-IE) carries the timing information related to a hopping device node's Rx channel sequence needed for a fixed or semi-channel hopping device node to properly track the Rx hopping sequence, and a Unicast Schedule Information Element (US-IE) carries information regarding the channel number currently used by a fixed or semi-channel hopping device node (for generally sleepy device nodes) to the hopping device node.
The following example describes conventional USCH network operation per the Wi-SUN FAN specification. Assume a communication exchange between a coordinator hopping first radio device (first radio device) and a sleepy fixed or semi-channel hopping device node (sleepy radio device). A semi-channel hopping mode device does not channel hop on multiple channels continuously (even when not transmitting or receiving), where it instead hops to different channels only when transmitting or expected to be receiving a frame in response to its transmission of a poll (data request) frame.
The first radio device being a coordinator node can receive frames at any time and so will continue to keep its Rx on according to its hopping sequence. The hopping sequence is only for the hopping device node's Rx. When the first radio device being a hopping device decides to transmit, it will deviate from its Rx channel hopping sequence and transmit a frame on the target destination node's (sleepy radio device's) Rx channel and then return back to its Rx hopping sequence. The sleepy radio device is generally an end device in the network (e.g., a sensor network) that will receive a frame only as a response to its poll frame which it transmits after wake-up, so it does not have to keep its Rx always on.
The sleepy radio device operating on a fixed channel always expects data from the hopping device by an indirect transmission (as defined in IEEE 802.15.4 specification). A fixed radio device operating on a fixed channel will change its Rx channel of operation before every poll interval and may not follow any specific channel sequence. The first radio device being a hopping device changes its Tx channel based on channel information generally provided in a poll frame including a US-IE from the sleepy radio device. The sleepy radio device is able to track the timing of the Rx channel of the hopping device node based on an acknowledgement (ACK) frame with a UTT-IE from the hopping device node.
Thus to convey a sleepy radio device's current Rx channel to the first radio device being a hopping device a US-IE carried in a poll frame is used per the Wi-SUN FAN specification. To convey the first radio device's timing information related to its Rx channel hopping sequence to the sleepy radio device a UTT-IE is carried in all ACK frames and data frames per Wi-SUN FAN specification.

Implicit exchange of channel information for un-slotted channel hopping networks


A composition and method comprising an anti-adjuvant such as DOI (an anti-inflammatory) together with any gene therapy plasmid is disclosed. A method for GHRH production in-vivo using a set of compositions and methods for use of those compositions is provided.

A number of publications exist for various forms of GHRH-coding DNA plasmid constructs including patents for a product currently marketed for veterinary use in Australia under the name Lifetide® by VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC out of Blue Bell, Pa., a company acquired by Inovio Pharmaceuticals of Blue Bell, Pa.
There are two major conventional methods of gene therapy, the first, generally better known method, is to use viral capsids to encapsulate a DNA sequence of interest for introduction into animal tissue. Such viral capsids are generally termed viral vectors, and a variety of vectors have been used including HIV and adenoviruses. Such viral vectors are generally constructed so that they should not reproduce in-vivo, and usually contain a reverse transcriptase that results in splicing of the viral vector borne DNA into the host animal's genome.
The viral vector method has multiple drawbacks, not least of which is that it has caused patient death and serious illness, both short term (e.g. idiopathic apparent immune system storm) and long term (e.g. cancer), despite the relative rarity of this type of gene therapy's use. One patient has also died due to the gene of interest resulting in sufficient immune system suppression that a probably quiescent infection to bloom. Thus, while gene therapy had been perceived as having much promise, there are issues, most of which have little to do with the genes of interest that are introduced.
By contrast, the second major conventional method of gene therapy, DNA gene therapy, uses the much simpler method of injection of DNA into the patient. This introduces considerably less packaging material into the host, and DNA constructs are generally smaller. DNA is not incorporated into the host genome, but is instead maintained separately in circlets either inside the nucleus or at the nuclear wall inside the cell. These circlets may become associated with histones within the nucleus. However, DNA gene therapy has few inherent problems. DNA gene therapy does suffer from difficulty producing enough of the gene product. It also may have a small percentage of subjects who are stimulated to produce an immune response to the protein product of the gene of interest. This effect is due to the self-adjuvant effect of plasmids, which contain gene sequence motifs which are recognized by animal immune systems as having a non-self origin. These motifs contain cytosine followed by guanine in the 5′ to 3′ direction, also called CpG sequences (Brazalot-Millan et al, 1998).
Because GHRH has a half-life after injection of roughly 8 minutes, it has not been practical to supplement using conventional methods. However, GHRH is a peptide hormone, which makes DNA gene therapy a viable alternative for supplementation. In addition, GHRH is a hormone that is required in very small amounts. These three factors together make it an appropriate choice to consider for DNA gene therapy.
Thus, there is a need to improve GHRH gene constructs. The present invention minimizes immune system activation by anti-adjuvant codon optimization to eliminate CpG sequences to prevent binding to bacterial DNA intracellular receptors.
In addition, methods and compositions are provided that further minimize the activation of the immune system by any DNA construct delivered in-vivo using co-delivered compounds (Yu et al, 2008).
The Applicant further provides compositions for improved regulation and expression of the plasmids by means of AT rich regions that are in the range of 20 base pairs to 1000 base pairs long placed 5′ and 3′ to the gene expression cassette.
There are further compositions to improve secretion of the produced protein by providing a leader sequence on the gene which codes for a peptide that signals the cell to transport the gene product to the cell membrane for export. (Zou, 2006)
And finally, there is postproduction modification of plasmids to excise the bacterial components so as to yield a smaller circlet of DNA bearing the expression cassette only. This allows use of higher yield bacterial origins of replication containing large CpG sequences so as to get higher concentration of plasmid in production, while preventing the shutdown of plasmid gene expression that is associated with DNA bearing bacterial sequences.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to improve suitability of GHRH constructs for human therapeutic use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide methods for minimizing immunogenicity of DNA constructs delivered into cells.
It is a further object of the invention to provide methods for maximizing ongoing expression of DNA constructs delivered into cells.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
As a practical matter, when expanding cultures of bacteria to reproduce usable quantities of plasmids for gene therapy, minor mutations occur, most of which are of no significance. In this invention, such mutations are only significant when they result in changes that create antigenic responses not created by the designed plasmid or else functional modification of the peptide sequence for the GHRH gene.

Methods and compositions for gene therapy and GHRH therapy


An improved packet delay estimation method results from an indirect measurement method that employs an estimation method based on sampled lengths of queues and measured traffic. A complex system of queues sharing the same constant rate server and driven by a non-trivial scheduling scheme is split into logical clusters of queues. The method estimates packet delay based on a two-level approximation. On the first level of approximation, effects of the fact that the server is shared by other clusters is approximated by an equivalent reduction of the service rate. On the second level of approximation, individual queue lengths within a cluster are sampled and, based on the knowledge of the scheduling discipline, used to obtain the upper and lower bounds on the occupancy of the equivalent FIFO buffer. Estimate of the delay is found based on the effective buffer occupancy, and the effective service capacity.

In packet-switching communications networks, user information is carried in packets which are routed from the source towards the destination via switches or routers. The switch buffers each packet received from the upstream direction until a decision is made when and on which outgoing link the packet would be forwarded. The time that a packet takes to reach the destination after it leaves the source is called end-to-end packet delay. Different packets travelling between the same source/destination pair may experience different delays which depend on traffic conditions and level of congestion in different switches, scheduling and management policy, and other deterministic and/or random factors.
The end-to-end delay accumulates the link transmission delays, propagation delays and switch processing delays along the route. Whereas the transmission delays and propagation delays are determined by the packet size and the fixed link parameters (capacity, length and signal propagation speed in the medium) and therefore are predictable with small error, the switch processing delays are subject to much larger random deviations. The single main contributor to the switch processing delay is the queuing delay in a switch's buffer.
In-service measurement of packet delay in a switch is an important source of network management information. It allows the switch to monitor the existing level of congestion, to provision a selected quality-of-service, as well as to support other management functions, including admission of a new connection, path selection and load balancing.
The in-service measurements are required on a per-flow basis, i.e., with respect to specific spatial source-destination pairs and to specific packet loss and service priorities. Since the delays of individual packets are experienced at arbitrary moments of time and are, therefore, random variables, the values arrived at in the course of measurement are merely samples from a stochastic process, and therefore require an estimation procedure.
Conventional direct measurements are based on timestamping. When a packet is enqueued, it is assigned a numerical value associated with the current time or clock cycle number. This value is stored with the packet. When the packet is dequeued, the difference between the new current time or clock cycle number and the value stored with the packet constitute a sampled queuing delay. However, packet timestamping in a high-speed packet switch where the number of the simultaneously buffered packets is significantly large incurs significant overhead associated with the buffer space allocated for the timestamps. Therefore, in high-speed packet switches, the direct measurement methods may be unavailable or undesirable.

Packet delay estimation in high speed packet switches


A tape cassette mount for receiving different types of tape cassettes in a tape cassette recorder has a shutter operating mechanism including an arm and a guide roller provided at an end of the arm. The guide roller rotates while sliding along a guide of the tape cassette, thereby sliding the shutter open. When a different type of tape cassette having no shutter is inserted, the arm is pressed and thus pivoted by the tape cassette to a retracting position without damaging the tape cassette or a magnetic tape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cassette tape mount for use in a cassette tape recorder in which different types of tape cassettes can be mounted, for example, a tape cassette having a slidable shutter which covers an opening for exposing a magnetic tape, such as a digital compact cassette (hereinafter, referred to as a DCC); and a tape cassette having no shutter wherein a magnetic tape is exposed through an opening, such as an analog compact cassette (hereinafter, referred to as an ACC).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, digital audio equipment has been actively developed for improving reproduction quality. In such a trend, DCCs capable of digital recording and digital reproduction have been a main target for the development. As tape recorders for a DCC, two systems are proposed: R-DAT using a rotary head, and S-DAT using a fixed head. The fixed head of the S-DAT has a similar construction with that of a tape recorder for an ACC which is in general use today. Accordingly, the S-DAT system has an advantage that a DCC which is similar in construction with the ACC can be used. A cassette tape mount which can be used both for a DCC and an ACC has been demanded.
A DCC usually has a shutter on a front face thereof. The shutter is opened by sliding with respect to a cassette main body to expose a stretched portion of a magnetic tape. When the shutter is opened, the stretched portion of the magnetic tape is exposed through openings in the front face of the cassette main body.
An ACC has a cassette main body which holds a magnetic tape with a portion of the magnetic tape in a stretched condition. The cassette main body has uncovered openings in a front face for exposing the magnetic tape, and a portion of the cassette main body in the vicinity of the openings is thicker in a width direction of the magnetic tape than a remaining portion thereof. This portion will be referred to as the thick portion, hereinafter. In the DCC and the ACC, a magnetic head, pinch rollers and the like are inserted into the openings to detect information recorded on the magnetic tape. In this specification, the "front" face of the tape cassette is the side of the DCC and the ACC which is inserted first into the cassette tape mount. The "back" side of the tape cassette is opposite to the front face.
As a cassette tape mount for receiving both of a DCC and an ACC, the one shown in FIG. 11 has been proposed by the applicant of the present invention. In FIG. 11, a cassette tape mount has a shutter operating mechanism 71 for sliding open a shutter of a DCC to uncover openings of the DCC. The shutter operating mechanism 71 includes a pivotable arm 72 which is pressed and thus pivoted by a front face of the DCC which is being inserted. The arm 72 is pivoted while sliding along a guide 80 of a cassette main body. The arm 72 has a shutter operating shaft 77 at an end hereof, and the shutter operating shaft 77 has a contact portion 77a which contacts the shutter of the DCC.
When the DCC is first inserted into the cassette tape mount, the contact portion 77a contacts the cassette main body and slides along the guide 80, and contacts and slides the shutter open with respect to the cassette main body. When the shutter has completely uncovered the openings, the contact portion 77a is put into a lock groove formed in connection with the guide 80, thereby locking the shutter and prohibiting the pivoting of the arm 72 and closing of the shutter.
In order to allow the use of an ACC in a tape mount having the above construction, it is required to prevent the shutter operating mechanism 71 from contacting the exposed magnetic tape when an ACC is inserted. The shutter operating mechanism 71 is controlled so that the contact portion 77a will contact a front face of a thick portion of the ACC and thus the arm is pressed and pivoted by the ACC. When the ACC is completely inserted into the cassette tape mount, the arm 72 is pushed by the front face of the ACC into a fully retracted position.
In the shutter operating mechanism 71 having the above described construction, the contact portion 77a is integrally formed with the shutter operating shaft 77 which is fixed at the end of the arm 72. Accordingly, when a DCC is being inserted, the contact portion 77a does not smoothly slide along the cassette main body or along the shutter. After being recessed in the look groove, the contact portion 77a is not smoothly taken out of the lock groove, thereby possibly causing the contact portion 77a to be pressurized by the shutter. When an ACC is being inserted, the contact portion 77a can come out of engagement from the thick portion, thereby causing the arm 72 to enter the opening and damage the magnetic tape. Such shutter operating mechanisms do not smoothly operate.

Cassette tape mount for use in a cassette tape recorder

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A load coil is disposed along a local loop for conditioning POTS signals while permitting passage of higher frequency DSL signals with low attenuation. In one embodiment, the load coil includes a coupled inductor having multiple capacitive elements coupled thereto, the capacitive elements facilitating passage of the DSL signals across the load coil.

1. Technical Field
The present system and method generally relate to load coils, and more particularly to an xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) compatible load coil for conditioning POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)-band signals while permitting xDSL signals to traverse the load coil with low attenuation.
2. Description of Background Art
Load coils, also referred to as "loading coils," are conventionally positioned along long local loops to improve POTS, or voice-grade, communications over the loop. Conventional load coils are inductive devices that are positioned along a local loop to compensate for, or counteract, the distributed parallel capacitance of the local loop. Such use of load coils generally conditions long local loops for POTS-band communications by flattening out the POTS band up to about 3.6 KHz. These load coils, however, also significantly limit, or prevent, the provision of digital services over a loaded loop due to the attenuation conventional load coils impart to higher frequency signals, such as ADSL (Asymmetric DSL) signals.
ADSL signals, for example, typically reside between about 26 KHz-1.1 MHz and are highly attenuated by conventional load coils. Indeed, in the past, load coils are routinely removed from local loops in order to provide ADSL service over such loops. The removal of such load coils, in turn, impairs or prevents the provision of POTS service over long loops, such as over loops longer than about 18,000 feet.
A need exists, therefore for an improved load coil that compensates for the distributed parallel capacitance of a local loop while permitting passage of higher frequency digital signals.
Additional background details regarding DSL technology more generally are described in Understanding Digitial Subscriber Line Technology by Starr, Cioffi, and Silverman, Prentice Hall 1999, ISBN 0137805454 and in DSL—Simulation Techniques and Standards Development for Digital Subscriber Line Systems by Walter Y. Chen, Macmillan Technical Publishing, ISBN 1578700175, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.


Systems, methods, and apparatus for generating and validating product keys. In some embodiments, a product key includes security information and identification information identifying at least one copy of a software product. The identifying information may be used to access validation information from at least one source other than the product key, and the validation information may be used to process the identification information and the security information to determine whether the product key is valid. In some further embodiments, the security information includes a first portion to be processed by a first validation authority using first validation information and a second portion to be processed by a second validation authority using second validation information, wherein the second validation information is stored separately from the first validation information.

Software products such as operating systems and application programs often contain materials that are protected under copyright law, which grants the author of a piece of original work (e.g., software code) exclusive rights over the usage and distribution of the work. To obtain a copy of a software product from a vendor who owns rights to that software product, a user typically enters into a license agreement with the vendor, which governs how the user may use and/or distribute the software product. For example, the license agreement may restrict the number of times a user can install the software and/or the number of computers on which the software can be installed.
Unauthorized copies of software products may be very damaging to vendors selling licenses to those products. To prevent use of unauthorized copies, software vendors often require that an "activation" process be completed when an attempt is made to install a copy of a software product. This process may be designed to determine whether the copy is authorized for installation (e.g., whether the copy was legitimately purchased by the user) and/or whether the installation is in compliance with one or more applicable license agreements (e.g., whether the user has exceeded a maximum number of permitted installations). Where a software product is offered in multiple editions (e.g., professional and home editions), the activation process may also identify the edition purchased by the user and selectively enable one or more features in the software product according to the identified edition.
Some conventional software activation techniques make use of a so-called "product key," which is a piece of information made available to a user when the user legitimately purchases or otherwise legitimately obtains a copy of a software product. During the activation process, the user provides the product key as "proof" of legitimacy. When such proof is accepted or validated, the user is given permission to complete the installation, and appropriate features in the software product are enabled depending on the license(s) granted to the user for that particular installation.

Secure software product identifier for product validation and activation


A zoneless pick-to-light method and system initially inducts a group of totes into an initial picking station by scanning a tote identifier for each tote in the group. A product order is assigned to each tote in the inducted group of totes, such that matching a product in the picking station with the order causes a light to be illuminated adjacent to the corresponding product needed to fulfill the order. A user scans a personal identification and picks and places the desired quantity of the product to fulfill the product order for each tote at the station. The group of totes are moved in a flow direction to an adjacent picking station, where the user can elect to either follow the group of totes to the adjacent downstream picking station or abandon the group of totes, such that a different user may complete the product orders for the group of totes.

Conventional picking techniques organize products to be picked in rows and columns, with the products supported in boxes or containers, for example, in flow racks. Pickers or operators may be prompted by indicators, such as lights in pick-to-light systems, which are illuminated to indicate which product is to be picked and the quantity to be picked. In response to the indicator or light, the operators may pick and place a product in a box or tote or the like that is supported in front of the flow rack. Once the product is picked, the operator may then press a button to indicate that the pick is complete, which deactivates the light. The totes are typically supported on a roller conveyor so that when picks are complete for a flow rack, the operator can move the tote to the next flow rack. After the picks are complete for a given flow rack and the tote has been moved down to the next flow rack, the process will be repeated for the next tote. Typically, when all the products in all a picking zone are picked, the operator then initiates the next order.

Zoneless pick method and system with operator data tracking


An equipment for conveyance and treatment of garbage in a high building comprises a conveyer, a guide track, gathering barrels, and a cleaning mechanism. The conveyer further comprises a driving motor, a conveyer belt, a driving gear wheel, and a driven gear wheel, wherein the driving motor is to drive the conveyer belt to revolve via the driving gear wheel and the driven gear wheel. A guide track is covered with the conveyer belt for stable revolution, and the gathering barrel attached to the conveyer belt externally is provided with a reception opening for garbage collection of each story. A bracket and cantilevers are supplied to the gathering barrel to keep the same upright when circulating. The gathered garbage is conveyed to base story of a building and ejected through outlet at bottom of the gathering barrel. The used gathering barrel will be cleaned by the cleaning mechanism for immediate subsequent use.

This invention relates to an equipment for conveyance and treatment of garbage in a high building, particularly to an equipment that facilitates dumping garbage for each story instead of carrying the same down to the first floor individually for time and trouble saving, as well as tidy environment keeping.
A resident in a high building usually has to carry garbage down to the first floor for disposal that is not only laborious and troublesome but also disgusting in the case of leaking to contaminate environment in carrying process to degrade living quality.

Equipment for conveyance and treatment of garbage in high building

Lukuang Erh Tsun Kuei Shan Hsiang Tao Yuan Hsien


Methods and apparatus for supporting real time parental screening of a variety of different types of communications which may be directed to or sent from children are described. The methods and apparatus may be used with voice, text messaging and/or E-mail communications individually or as part of a unified parental control system. Parents can set restrictions preventing text messages, E-mails and/or voice calls being sent to or received from particular individuals, sources or destinations. In addition, parents can configure the system to support real time parental screening of individual communications, e.g., messages or calls, with the parent being provided a real time notification of an incoming or outgoing communication and the parent being provided an opportunity to control in real time the disposition of the individual communication. Disposition options may include blocking an outgoing or incoming call, video communication such as point to point video, text message, or E-mail, or sending the communication to a storage device, e.g., voice mail system.

It is becoming relatively common for children to have cell phones and/or text messaging devices in addition to other communications services such as E-mail.
In recent times, a great deal of concern has been expressed with regard to a parent's ability to monitor and/or control a child's access and use of communications services.
In the case of Internet access, filtering programs which a parent can use to block a child's access to content and/or websites which the parent deems to be inappropriate for the child have grown in popularity and have found some success. While such programs are useful in the case of controlling Internet access and a child's exposure to Internet content, a child may still be vulnerable to exposure to individuals and/or information which a parent may deem inappropriate through a cell phone, E-mail or other messaging device. For example, pedophiles and/or other undesirable individuals may try to strike up conversations with children via cell phones and/or text messages, without a parent's knowledge, after obtaining a child's contact information through other means.
While one option to controlling a child's use of a cell phone would be for the parent to limit the child from using the cell phone when the parent is not present, such use restrictions are not practical since a parent can not be reasonably expected to be with a child at all times a cell phone might be used.
In order to give a parent greater control over a child's communications with others, and the contacting of a child by someone outside the family, it would be desirable if methods and apparatus could be developed which would notify a parent when a child is contacted by, or attempts to contact someone outside the family using a cell phone, text message, and/or E-mail. While a parent may be concerned with calls and/or text messages to/from some individuals but not others, it would be desirable if the parent could be able to set some conditions on when the parent would be notified regarding a child's communications. In addition, it would be desirable if a parent could block a child's incoming and/or outgoing communications on a selective basis or redirect particular communications as the parent sees fit. From a parent's perspective, it would be highly desirable if the parent could control/supervise a child's communications though a single interface without having to contact multiple service providers and/or use different communications devices to set parental controls on the various communications services which may be provided to a child.

Methods and apparatus for providing multiple communications services with unified parental notification and/or control features


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for assisting a user in performing a three dimensional scan of an object. An example user device to assist with scanning may include a processor. The user device may further include a scanner coupled to the processor and configured to perform a three dimensional scan of an object. The user device may also include a display to display a graphical user interface, wherein the display is coupled to the processor. The user device may further include a memory coupled to the processor and the display, the memory including one or more instructions that when executed by the processor cause the graphical user interface to display a target marker for a three dimensional (3D) scan and display a scanner position marker to assist in moving the scanner to a preferred location and direction.

Advances in technology have resulted in smaller and more powerful computing devices. For example, there currently exist a variety of portable personal computing devices, including wireless telephones such as mobile and smart phones, tablets and laptop computers that are small, lightweight, and easily carried by users. These devices can communicate voice and data packets over wireless networks. Further, many such devices incorporate additional functionality such as one or more digital still cameras, one or more digital video cameras, one or more infrared scanners, one or more ultrasound scanners, and so on. As such, these devices can include significant computing capabilities.
With such advances, three dimensional scanning and rendering of objects is becoming more available to casual users and novices. For example, in using cameras as input devices, wireless telephones, unmanned vehicles (such as drones), robots, aircraft, automobiles, mounted cameras, personal cameras, and other devices may be configured to capture images, which may be used to generate a three dimensional (3D) model of an object.
Handheld scanning devices or otherwise portable scanning devices (such as attached to an unmanned vehicle or mounted on a vehicle) can be used to perform a three dimensional (3D) scan. However, some assistance may be needed in operating such devices when performing a scan in order to ensure that sufficient information is collected in order to properly render an object.

User interface to assist three dimensional scanning of objects


This invention relates to a process for continuously producing halogenated hydrocarbons by: (1) flowing a feed mixture containing CO, H2 and a halogen source into a reaction zone containing a catalyst bed; (2) removing from the reaction zone the resultant reaction product which contains the desired halogenated hydrocarbons; and (3) maintaining the halogen source content in the feed mixture at from about the stoichiometric amount to about twice the stoichiometric amount needed to produce the halogenated hydrocarbons.

This invention relates to a catalytic process for producing halogenated hydrocarbons from a halogen, and a hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing gas, e.g., synthesis gas.
The halogenation of a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks produces many valuable and useful products. Typical of such halogenated hydrocarbons is methyl chloride which is used in the production of higher halogenated hydrocarbons, silicones and tetramethyllead.
There are two principal processes for producing methyl chloride, i.e., the chlorination of methane and the reaction of hydrogen chloride and methanol. Both of these processes require the use of an intermediate, methane for the former and methanol, typically obtained by reforming methane, for the latter. These intermediates add expense to the selected process whether they are purchased from a supplier or produced for in-plant use.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of synthesis gas plants being built. These plants produce synthesis gas by the gasification of carbonaceous materials, especially coal. During the 1970's, the high price of oil made such plants economically attractive; however, due to present lower oil prices, such plants provide an excess of synthesis gas capacity. It would be desirable, then, to be able to use this excess capacity to directly produce methyl chloride and other halogenated hydrocarbons from synthesis gas.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a process for the direct production of halogenated hydrocarbons using hydrogen- and carbon monoxide-containing gases, especially synthesis gas.

Process for the production of halogenated hydrocarbons