An emergency CPR feature is comprised of a timer and logic circuit mounted to a PC card with connections that are compatible to many existing control circuits for an adjustable hospital bed. The emergency CPR feature provides for "hands free" automatically repositioning of an adjustable hospital bed at a desired height, e.g., the full up position, with a flat mattress upon entry of a coded command by simultaneously depressing two switches, e.g., a foot and hand switch, by a trained attendant. The circuitry is contained on a single PC card which may be readily retrofit into existing adjustable hospital beds as well as incorporated into newly manufactured beds.

Adjustable beds for hospitals have been made for some time and are well known in the art. Most of the present day adjustable beds provide some form of electronic control to adjust the various portions of the bed. Typically, a bed will have an up and down adjustment at the knee of the bed, at the head of the bed, and also for the entire bed frame. These different motors and drives, i.e. head, knee, and bed, are controlled by a wide variety of switch arrangments in the prior art. Some of these include simple manual controls for head up and down, etc. to what is known in the art as a Trendelenburg or reverse Trendelenburg which provides coordinated movement from more than one drive by pressing a single button on a control in order to move the bed into a flat, incline orientation with either the foot or the head elevated from the rest of the bed. Of course, all of these switches are well identified in the prior art to provide immediate information to both the patient and nurse which facilitates controlled movement of the bed into the desired position.
It is also well known in the art that switches to control movement of the various parts of the bed may be actuated either by hand or by foot. For those switches actuated by foot, it can be assumed that some selected patients would not have access to the foot controls, or at least are not readily accessible to a patient such that there is some discrimination in the prior art between those bed functions under patient control and those which are reserved for nurses' control. This is primarily for reasons of safety and to also minimize the tendency for a patient's curiosity with the controls to cause either damage to the bed or potential discomfort or even injury to the patient.
Because of the great concern for the safety of the patient, almost all of the beds in the prior art are provided with drives which move the bed relatively slowly to avoid sudden, rapid repositioning of the patient's body, or a jerky movement, either of which might potentially cause discomfort or even pain to the patient. While these features of the typical prior art bed are intended to provide for the increased comfort and safety of the patient, they are not the most desirable in all situations. For example, in an emergency situation, it would be most desirable to be able to quickly and easily, as well as automatically with hands free commands, reposition the bed from its existing position into an emergency position to facilitate the administering of CPR or other resuscitation efforts. At the same time, it is desirable to utilize a coded command which is not readily ascertainable from the markings on the switches and controls provided to the patient and, perhaps, to some of the staff.
To solve these and other problems in the prior art, and to also improve the functionality of an adjustable bed for emergency situations, the inventors herein have succeeded in designing and developing a control circuit which is operable by existing switches for providing an emergency re-positioning of the adjustable bed from its existing position into a CPR position which is characterized by a flat mattress surface at a specific height, e.g., the full up bed position. Furthermore, in order to provide greater safety and eliminate accidental or inadvertent commands, the inventors have chosen to require virtually simultaneous operation of a switch adapted for foot operation in combination with a switch adapted for hand operation. This renders it virtually impossible for a bed-ridden patient to enter the command, while at the same time requiring a staff member to thoughtfully and consciously utilize both his hand and foot in entering the command. Alternatively, any two switches could be used such as, for example, a pair of hand switches.
This control circuit is comprised of a logic circuit with an electronic timer at its heart along with several logic gates for decoding the coded command signal, and latching on the motors and drives for the various portions of the bed in their appropriate directions in order to automatically achieve the repositioning of the bed in its CPR position. The inventor herein has chosen to utilize the "bed up" foot control along with the "programmed Trendelenburg" or "programmed reverse Trendelenburg" hand switch for the coded command as these controls generally suggest the emergency CPR position in that the bed generally moves up from its existing position and the mattress surface is flat. However, any other combination of controls could be chosen to designate the same function. The timer is set to provide for each motor and its associated drive to travel through the full range of motion. Should the bed be oriented in an intermediate position, the automatic limit switch or mechanical cutouts for the bed drives will stop them in the desired orientation. Thus, the inventors have chosen to utilize a single timer which has a time delay long enough to ensure complete repositioning of the bed to the CPR position from a "worst case" orientation of the bed.
As the emergency CPR control circuit is fully compatible with existing controls and control circuits, and requires no additional mechanical switches or other controls, the inventor has been successful in adapting the entire circuit for mounting on a single PC card which may then be easily retrofitted to existing beds, as well as being easily incorporated into the manufacturing process presently used to manufacture new beds. This additional advantage lends great versatility to the inventor's improvement and provides wider application of the invention to a greater number of beds.
While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been explained, a more thorough understanding thereof may be obtained by referring to the drawings and brief description of the preferred embodiment which follow.

Electronic control with emergency CPR feature for adjustable bed


In order to distinguish between a state where an upper casing of an electronic device is closed and a state where the upper casing is folded towards its back side, the electronic device having an upper casing (10) and a lower casing (20) that are connected to each other via a hinge (30) is arranged such that: a magnetic axis (12a) passing through a south pole and a north pole of a magnet (12) provided in the upper casing (10) is inclined with respect to a direction vertical to a surface of the upper casing (10) that faces the lower casing (20); and magnetic sensors (A and B) provided in the lower casing (20) distinguish between magnetic fields generated by the magnet (12) in a closed state and magnetic fields generated by the magnet (12) in a tablet state.

There has been conventionally known a technique of determining, with use of a magnet and a magnetic sensor, opening and closing of a foldable (openable and closable) electronic device such as an electronic dictionary, a personal computer, or a mobile phone.
Each of (a) and (b) of FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration of a magnet and a magnetic sensor in a conventional electronic device. As shown in FIG. 12, an electronic device 200 has (i) an upper casing 210, having a screen and a magnet 212, which is provided on a plus side of a Z axis and (ii) a lower casing 220, having a magnetic sensor 223, which is provided on a minus side of the Z axis. The upper casing 210 and the lower casing 220 are connected to each other, via a hinge 230.
According to the electronic device 200, in a case where the upper casing 210 and the lower casing 220 are folded (closed), the magnetic sensor 223 of the lower casing 220 detects magnetic fields generated by the magnet 212 of the upper casing 210 (see (a) of FIG. 12). In contrast, in a case where the upper casing 210 is rotated to open, the magnetic sensor 223 does not detect the magnetic fields generated by the magnet 212. This is because the magnetic sensor 223 moves away from the magnet 212 (see (b) of FIG. 12).
There has been recently developed an electronic device having an upper casing 210 that can be folded towards a back side of a lower casing 220. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a mobile phone in which an upper casing, having an image display section, can be folded towards both of a front side (dial key side) and a back side (a side opposite to the dial key side) of a lower casing having dial keys.
Patent Literature 1 further discloses a technique of determining (i) opening and closing of an electronic device and (ii) a state where the upper casing is folded towards a back surface of a lower casing. Such a technique is realized by a configuration in which (i) a magnetic sensor is provided at a position where magnetic fields are generated in a case where an image display section of the upper casing is folded towards a dial key side and (ii) another magnetic sensor is provided at a position where magnetic field are generated in a case where the image display section is folded towards a side opposite to the dial key side.


The present invention provides a vehicle lamp comprising a lens molded article (1) and a housing molded article (2) laser-welded to each other, the lens molded article (1) comprising a methacrylic resin composition which comprises 70 to 99.9% by mass of a methacrylic acid ester monomer unit and 0.1 to 30% by mass of a unit of an additional vinyl monomer copolymerizable with the methacrylic acid ester monomer and satisfies conditions (a) to (c), and the housing molded article (2) comprising a resin which satisfies a condition (d): (a) MW is 90000 to 250000; (b) a mass (MFR-1) of the methacrylic resin composition emitted according to ISO1133 standard at 230° C. and 3.8 kg for 10 minutes is 0.2 to 12 g/10 min; (c) when a mass of the methacrylic resin composition emitted according to the ISO1133 standard at 230° C. and 10 kg for 10 minutes is defined as MFR-2, MFR ratio=(MFR-2)/(MFR-1) is 4.5 or more; and (d) a mass (MFR-3) of the resin emitted according to the ISO1133 standard at 220° C. and 10 kg for 10 minutes is 2 to 45 g/10 min or smaller.

Methacrylic resins typified by polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are characterized, as transparent resins, by having higher optical transmittance, weather resistance, and rigidity than those of other plastic transparent resins and have heretofore been widely used for purposes such as components for vehicles, lighting equipment, materials for building construction, signboards, nameplates, paintings, and windows for display apparatuses.
The methacrylic resins are often used, particularly, as materials for lens members in vehicle lamps.
The vehicle lamps are usually constituted by a lens portion welded to a housing portion. Hot plate welding has typically been practiced as a conventional method for welding a lens molded article for use in the lens portion and a housing molded article.
The hot plate welding, however, presents problems such as poor appearance or poor looks of welded surface caused by resin threads after heating. Therefore, laser welding, which is free from such problems, has been increasingly adopted in recent years.
On the other hand, for use in vehicles, thinning has proceeded recently for the purpose of reducing weights in association with improvement in fuel economy, while upsizing has proceeded for realizing fresh designs. There arises a new problem that warpage occurs in molded articles due to charging pressure increased during the charging of resin materials into molded article materials, resulting in reduction in welding strength or solvent resistance. Furthermore, there also arises a deformation problem ascribable to heat.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a resin improved in terms of flowability in injection molded article and solvent resistance.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique using a methacrylic resin in lens members for marker lights for vehicles.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a method which involves applying pressure to a warped molded article and laser-welding a lens molded article and a housing molded article kept in close contact.


An envelope generator for an electronic musical instrument, in which a current value of the envelope approaching asymptotically to a target level, using a subtracter means for subtracting from data representing the target level in a floating point representation, data representing the difference between the target level and the current value in a floating point representation with deeming these data as fixed point data each having a decimal point between an exponent part and a fractional part, and a comparator for comparing the output of the subtracter means with a predetermined constant, and for judging that an envelope phase transfer condition is met if the output of the subtracter is greater than the constant. The envelope generator can achieve a phase transfer control function substantially similar to prior art envelope generators by a small amount of hardware.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an envelope generator for an electronic musical instrument, and particularly to an envelope generator for an electronic musical instrument in which a transfer condition of an envelope phase can be judged with simple hardware.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in the electronic musical instrument, a system has been used in which a musical tone wave is read out from a wave memory and the wave signal is multiplied by an envelope to generate a musical tone wave signal. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram shows the configuration of such electronic musical instrument. Keyboard 31 comprises, for instance, a plurality of keys each having a pair of switches.
Key assigner 32 consists of, for instance, a microcomputer or the like, and performs a so-called key assign processing and tone generating processing as follows. Key assigner 32 scans each switch of the keyboard 31 to check ON/OFF thereof for detecting a depressed key, and measures the key depression speed on the basis of the time-lag of the moments when the pair of switches corresponding the depressed key turn on to obtain an information on strength of tone generated by the depressed key. Then, it selects an idle channel of a plurality of tone generating channels, and instructs the selected channel to generate a tone of the pitch, tone strength and tone color corresponding to the depressed key.
Particularly, for key-on, key assigner 32 reads out from frequency data memory 33 a wave memory read address interval corresponding to the pitch corresponding to the depressed key, and sets it in accumulator 34. Also, according to the detected tone strength and predetermined tone color, key assigner 32 sets envelope generation control data (attack level, attack speed, etc.) in envelope generator 36.
Accumulator 34 accumulates the set wave memory read address intervals for each sampling period, and supplies the accumulated value to wave data generator (for example, ROM which stores wave data) 35 as an address to read out wave data therefrom. On the other hand, an envelope signal is generated from envelope generator 36 according to the set data, then the wave data and the envelope signal are multiplied together by multiplier 37 to form a musical tone wave signal. The musical tone wave signal is converted by D/A converter 38 to an analog tone signal which is amplified and converted by a sound system (e.g. amplifiers and speakers) to a musical tone. In FIG. 1, accumulator 34, wave data generator 35, envelope generator 36, multiplier 37 and D/A converter 38 can serve as a plurality of tone generating channels by time division multiprocessing.
In addition, upon detection of key-off, the key assigner 32 instructs envelope generator 36 to release or cease the tone generating.
FIG. 2 is a wave form diagram showing an example of the envelope wave generated in envelope generator 36. At key-on time (t0), an attack level L corresponding to the strength of key depression is set by key assigner and during an attack phase (t0-t1), a signal is generated which increases asymptotically from 0 to the attack level L at an attack speed that is set according to the tone color at the key-on time.
At time t1, upon detection of a current value E having reached to a value predetermined with relation to the attack level L, for instance, a value or level P corresponding to 90% of the attack level L, a decay phase is entered to generate a signal which approaches asymptotically to a decay level D at a decay speed that is set at the key-on time. The reason for employing such method for judging phase transfer is that timing for phase transfer (t1) is not varied even for a different attack level L if the attack speed is equal.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the conventional envelope generator 36. Current envelope value memory 1 stores a current value of envelope in fixed point data of 24 bits. Envelope phase memory 2 is a one-bit memory for storing a current phase of the envelope, and represents an attack phase if it contains "0", while it represents a decay phase if it contains "1".
Attack level memory 3 and decay level memory 4 respectively store the attack level L and decay level D which are set by the key assigner. Attack speed memory 5 and decay speed memory 6 store the asymptotic speeds in attack and decay phases, respectively, which are set by assigner 32 at the key-on time. All the data stored in these memories are in a floating point representation having an exponent part (power) of 4 bits (higher order four bits) and a fractional part (mantissa) of 4 bits (lower order four bits). Selectors 7 and 8 are controlled by the output of envelope phase memory 2 so that they output the contents of attack level memory 3 and attack speed memory 5 in the attack phase and select the contents of decay level memory 4 and decay speed memory 6 in the decay phase, respectively.
Floating point data to fixed point data conversion (F1Fx conversion) circuit 9 converts (4+4)-bit floating point data to 24-bit fixed point data. The F1Fx conversion circuit may be, for instance, a ROM which stores a conversion table, barrel shifter, or a combination of a counter and a shift register. Subtracter 10 subtracts the value E in the current envelope value memory from a target value converted to fixed point data, for instance, L. The difference (L-E) is reversely converted to floating point data by fixed point data to floating point data conversion (FxF1 conversion) circuit 11. The FxF1 conversion circuit can be comprised of, for instance, a combination of a barrel shifter and a priority encoder.
Multiplier 12 multiplies the difference value by the (4+4)-bit value in attack speed memory 5 or decay speed memory 6. This multiplication is performed in the floating point representation. That is, the fractional parts are multiplied together and the exponent parts are added. Accordingly, if it is assumed that the output of FxF1 conversion circuit 11 is in (4+8) bits, the output of multiplier 12 is in (5+12) bits at maximum.
The output of multiplier 12 is converted each to 24-bit fixed point data by F1Fx conversion circuit 13. Adder 14 adds the output of conversion circuit 13 and the value in current envelope value memory 1, and the resultant sum is written in current envelope value memory 1 to update the current value and the updated value is output. Thus, an output that approaches asymptotically to the target value is obtained.
Phase transfer control is now described. Multiplier 15 multiplies, for instance, in an attack phase, the output of selector 7 or the contents L of the attack level memory 3 by a predetermined constant K (e.g. 0.9). The constant K is in a floating point representation of (4+8) bits. The output of multiplier 15 is converted to 24-bit fixed point data by F1Fx conversion circuit 16.
Comparator 17 compares the output data of F1Fx conversion circuit 16 with the contents E of current envelope value memory 1, and generates an output signal "1" if the current envelope value E (at terminal A) is greater. Phase control circuit 18 directly writes the signal from comparator 17 in envelope phase memory 2 if the output of envelope phase memory 2 is "0", namely, for attack phase, and writes "1" if the output of envelope phase memory 2 is "1", namely, for decay phase.
With such circuit configuration, if the current envelope value E has reached 90% of the target value, the output of comparator 17 goes to "1" and hence the contents of envelope phase memory 2 is rewritten to "1", whereby a decay phase is entered. Such calculation is performed within a predetermined period, for instance, a sampling period, as many times as the number of tone generating channels which are time division multiplexed. In the conventional envelope generator as described above, there was a problem that a multiplier, F1Fx conversion circuit and comparator are required as the structural elements of the phase transfer control circuit, which increased hardware amount.

Envelope generator for electronic musical instrument


The present disclosure provides for systems and method for producing hybrid seed. In various embodiments, the disclosure provides a system for the high-throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. In another embodiment, a high-throughput, nondestructive method for producing hybrid seeds comprises removing a sample from a plurality of seeds in the population while preserving the germination viability of the seed and analyzing the sample for the presence or absence of one or more genetic markers indicative of a male-sterile gene.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Various hybrid seed is currently produced by removing male flower parts of the female parent by hand-emasculation and then hand-pollinating the female flowers with pollen from a male parent. This method is labor intensive and expensive, and limits seed production to areas where the use of hand labor is available and cost-effective. For example, gynecious plant types have been developed for use as female parents in some types of melons, and if strongly expressed, these types do not require hand manipulations. However, the gynecious trait is complexly inherited and incompletely penetrant, making it difficult to breed and use.
Genetic male-sterility controlled by single recessive nuclear genes has been identified in cucurbits and other fruit and vegetable bearing plants. This trait could be used to develop male-sterile female parents that would not require flower removal or hand emasculation, and it would allow the use of bees for pollination. However, male-sterile lines always segregate for sterile and fertile plants because they must be maintained by pollinating male-sterile plants (ms/ms) with heterozygous, isogenic male-fertile plants (Ms/ms). Thus, the use of nuclear genic male-sterility requires that the male-fertile segregants be removed from the female parent rows in hybrid seed production fields. This process is labor intensive and often ineffective because the male-fertile plants are difficult to identify in the field. For this reason, previous efforts by seed companies to develop this trait were abandoned.
The present disclosure addresses needs in the art for improved methods of producing hybrid seeds using high-throughput, nondestructive seed sampling systems.

Systems and methods for processing hybrid seed


The present invention relates to a process for preparation of 2-(trihalomethyl) benzamide.

The substituted benzamides, especially 2-(trihalo methyl) benzamide of Formula I, find vast usage in pharmaceutical and agrochemical field. The Welch et. al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (1969), 12(2), 299-303 describes a general process for preparation of α,α,α-trifluorotoluamides by reacting corresponding α,α,α-trifluorotoluic acid chloride with concentrated ammonium hydroxide. However, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (1969), 12(2), 299-303 provides no specific example for such amidation reaction wherein the yield and purity of the product is illustrated.
                wherein X is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine; and R is hydrogen or substituted/unsubstituted C1-C7 alkyl group.
Despite the teaching of the prior art, the research for new preparation processes of halo alkyl substituted benzamides is still an active field and there still persists a need in the art to develop industrially scalable and economic process for the preparation of halo alkyl substituted benzamides.

Process for the preparation of 2-(trihalomethyl) benzamide


Control of the emission characteristics of a light source in a light field display poses a significant benefit in the resulting 3D display quality for current and future technologies. A design system for microcavity OLEDs of any wavelength is detailed, which combines theoretical background with FDTD optimizations, permitting microcavity design of any OLED configuration. The resulting output profiles for microcavity OLEDs designed and fabricated with this method are compared to standard OLEDs and provide a reduction in spectral bandwidth, and a decrease in angular output.

Light field displays provide multiple views, allowing a user to receive a separate view in each eye. While current displays in this category provide an interesting viewing experience, a captivating light field display requires a very high pixel density, very low angular separation between views, and a large viewing angle. It is desired that a user experiences smooth transitions between viewing zones, while maintaining an independent and perceivable view from the adjacent views. A fundamental requirement in achieving these viewing parameters is controlling the output characteristics of the emission source. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) bound in a microcavity allow control of the spectral bandwidth and output angle of the resulting light.
Organic light-emitting diodes consist of thin-film layers of organic material coated upon a substrate, generally made of glass, between two electrodes. OLEDs have a characteristic broad spectral width and Lambertian intensity distribution profile. The thin-film layers disposed between the anode and cathode commonly include one or more of an Organic Hole-Injection Layer (HIL), an Organic Hole-Transporting Layer (HTL), an Emissive Layer (EML), an Organic Electron-Transporting Layer (ETL), and an Organic Electron-Injection Layer. Light is generated in an OLED device when electrons and holes that are injected from the cathode and the anode (electrodes), respectively, flow through the ETL and the HTL and recombine in the EML.
A method for controlling the output characteristics of light is the use of a microcavity. The microcavity is formed between two mirrors. The first mirror can be a metal cathode and the second mirror may be a layered stack of non-absorbing materials. The layered stack of non-absorbing materials is referred to as a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). A DBR is an optical mirror comprised of multiple pairs of two different dielectric layers with different refractive indices in an alternating order. The highest reflectivity is attained when the layer thicknesses are chosen such that the optical path length of each layer is one quarter of the resonance wavelength, commonly referred to as the Bragg Wavelength, λBragg. Three main design variables affecting the output characteristics of a microcavity are the reflectance of the top and bottom surfaces (i.e. opposing mirrors), and the optical path length. The optical path length between the mirrors is to equal a multiple of the wavelength. The wavelength of the light output by such resonant OLED structure is dependant, in part, upon this optical path length of the microcavity. The optical path length in the cavity can be manipulated in different ways, one of which is changing the thickness of the layers that make up the microcavity. A challenge for OLEDs, which are suitable for light-field displays, is how to determine the optimum optical path length of the microcavity to decrease the spectral bandwidth and output angle.
The current design process for microcavity OLEDs, as known in the prior art, includes creating the initial OLED design, defining the output characteristics, designing the reflective surfaces and determining the material thicknesses. The OLED is then fabricated and tested. This process is repeated until the desired output is attained from the fabricated OLED structure. This is a time consuming and costly process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,159 B2 (microcavity OLED device) describes the use of a microcavity within an OLED to improve efficiency and intensity of output. Metallic mirrors are used instead of DBRs as they are easier to fabricate. This results in greater energy lost and less control of the reflectance. As metallic structures are used for both reflectors, one must be semi-transparent. This is to improve the output efficiency on the OLED and improve the chromaticity, however, for fine-tuning the output parameters, the fabrication of the semi-transparent electrode/reflector would need to be very precise to be able to control the reflectance. Also, the reflectance has a maximum value which is lower then achievable by a DBR since the metal will absorb some of the energy.
Patent publication WO2017051298A1 (Distributed Bragg Reflector on Color Conversion Layer with Microcavity for Blue OLED Lighting Application) describes the fabrication techniques and geometries categorized by device components. This patent publication refers to the fabrication and design for blue OLEDs only. An unknown OLED deposition process is applied for the DBR and the structure includes the combination of inorganic and organic layers to create a bottom emitting device with a flexible substrate and the pixels here are controlled using a passive matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,074 (Reducing or Eliminating Color Change for Microcavity OLED Devices) and US 2006/0066220 A1 (Reduction or Elimination of Color Change with Viewing Angle for Microcavity Devices) disclose a multi-layered mirror structure at the bottom of the OLED structure, resulting in a bottom-emitting device. The structure of the OLED includes the use of two electrodes on either side of the emission layer. The disclosed device includes a light modulation thin film on a front surface of the substrate, one of which is a microstructure that redistributes wavelengths so the outputted emission spectrums have the same perceived color.

OLED microcavity design and optimization method


A memory hub device with test logic is configured to communicate with memory devices via multiple hub device ports, and is also configured to communicate on one or more busses in an upstream and downstream direction. The test logic includes a built-in self test apparatus providing logic to simultaneously and independently test the memory devices interfaced to one or more of the hub device ports using read and write data patterns. The test logic also includes configuration registers to hold fault and diagnostic information, and to initiate one or more tests. The memory hub device can further include command collision detection logic, a trace array, buffer transmit mode logic, trigger logic, clock adjustment logic, transparent mode logic, and a configured command sequencer, as well as additional features.

This invention relates generally to computer memory systems, and more particularly to test, initial bring-up, characterization and validation of a memory subsystem designed for use in a high-speed, high-reliability cascade interconnect memory system.
Contemporary high performance computing memory systems are generally composed of one or more dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, which are connected to one or more processors via one or more memory control elements. Overall computer system performance is affected by each of the key elements of the computer structure, including the performance/structure of the processor(s), any memory cache(s), the input/output (I/O) subsystem(s), the efficiency of the memory control function(s), the main memory device(s), and the type and structure of the memory interconnect interface(s).
Extensive research and development efforts are invested by the industry, on an ongoing basis, to create improved and/or innovative solutions to maximizing overall system performance and density by improving the memory system/subsystem design and/or structure. High-availability systems present further challenges as related to overall system reliability due to customer expectations that new computer systems will markedly surpass existing systems in regard to mean-time-between-failure (MTBF), in addition to offering additional functions, increased performance, reduced latency, increased storage, lower operating costs, etc. Other frequent customer requirements further exacerbate the memory system design challenges, and include such items as ease of upgrade and reduced system environmental impact (such as space, power and cooling).
As computer memory systems increase in performance and density, new challenges continue to arise which add significant levels of difficulty and increase the time required for initial bring-up, characterization and/or design validation of one or more memory system elements (e.g., high speed interface(s), hub device functionality, buffered memory modules, memory device interface(s), etc). Higher DRAM operating frequencies, especially when coupled to intermediary devices such as hub devices, buffer devices, register devices, etc via high speed bus(es) may prevent use of conventional test equipment to characterize memory systems and subsystems during both tester-based and system bring-up and operation—as the high speed bus(es) and memory device interfaces may not properly transfer information when known probing methods are used within the subsystem and/or system environment(s). In addition, traditional hardware and software diagnostic methods may also be of limited value given the complexity and large number of operations performed during bring-up and initial memory operations—including such operations as power supply activation (often with varying voltage ramp rates), power supply sequencing (e.g., the time relationship between and relative ramp rates of the various voltages utilized by the memory system), capture of initial subsystem characteristics (e.g., via Serial Presence Detects or other methods) by the controller or test environment, device reset operations, initial communications over untrained high speed bus(es), completion of the training of high speed bus(es), device initialization(s), determination of appropriate values and the setting of initial device configuration information for all programmable devices, the completion of initial diagnostics to attached device(s), etc. With the breadth of tasks involved in initial bring-up of the memory subsystem separately and/or within the memory system environment, the addition of tight timing margins and small signal swings further challenge traditional test and software diagnostic methods for analyzing and reporting fault and/or marginal operational conditions and will generally result in far too much data and limited "root-cause" failure indications—thereby dramatically increasing and complicating the time and effort required to complete initial bring-up, characterization and design validation of new memory structures under the range of operating conditions for which the memory structures are intended to reliably function.

Test and bring-up of an enhanced cascade interconnect memory system

International Business Machines Corporation


A plastic, heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout, and a method and apparatus for forming a plastic, heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout are disclosed. The bag includes a radially disposed perforation in the upper corner of the bag. Above a heat sealing strip, a slit is formed in the portion of the bag extending above the heat sealing strip, to aid in tearing through the heat seal strip to gain access to the perforation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plastic, heavy duty bag provided with an easy opening pouring spout, and a method and apparatus for making a plastic, heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout. The plastic, heavy duty bags of the present invention may be used as shipping bags for any small objects that lend themselves to pouring, such as salt pellets, dog food, fertilizer, yeast, sand, and lawn and garden products such as pine bark chips, and similar products.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many products today are distributed in plastic, heavy duty, heat sealed shipping bags, containing approximately forty (40) pounds of a particular product. Examples of products which are distributed in such plastic, heavy duty bags are: salt pellets for water softening, dog food, fertilizer, yeast, sand and/or gravel, and lawn and garden products, such as pine bark nuggets, potting soil, dirt, and similar products. The bags in which these products are distributed typically are manufactured of extruded low density polyethylene plastic film, and the upper and lower ends of the bags are heat sealed, in a conventional manner, to provide a strong and durable closure at the top and bottom of the bags. Typically such bags, upon being filled with approximately forty (40) pounds of the material to be packaged, must withstand a drop test wherein a filled bag is dropped, from a vertical distance of approximately ten (10) to twenty (20) feet, upon a hard surface, without rupturing the plastic film of the bag, or rupturing the heat sealed closure at the upper and lower ends of the bag. Typically, the present plastic, heavy duty shipping bags are formed of low density polyethylene, having a thickness of approximately 4 to 8 mils.
A major disadvantage associated with prior plastic, heavy duty bags, is that they are difficult to open, which results from the heat sealed closure of the upper and lower ends of the bag. By its design, the heat sealed closure is inherently difficult to open, because of the strength and integrity of the heat sealed closure. Typically, it is quite difficult to open prior plastic, heavy duty bags without the aid of a knife or scissors, in that it is very difficult to pull open, or manually tear the heat sealed closure, so as to open the bag to be able to pour out the material contained within the bag. If the bag is manually torn open, the plastic film typically tears open in an uneven fashion, and it is difficult to just remove a portion of the upper end, for example, to form a pouring spout at the top of the bag.
Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, there has been no plastic, heavy duty, heat sealed bag, which: is simple and economical to manufacture and use; is provided with a easy opening pouring spout; and is easily opened without the use of a knife or scissors.
Therefore, the art has sought a plastic, heavy duty bag and method and apparatus for making a heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout, which: are simple and economical to manufacture and use; provide an easy opening pouring spout in the bag; and does not require the use of a knife or scissors to provide an easy opening pouring spout in the bag.

Heavy duty bag having an easy opening spout, and method and apparatus for making a heavy duty bag having an easy opening spout


An image pickup apparatus which is capable of full line reading, comprises a line delay device, a picture element delay device, a switching device, and an adding device. The line delay device delays an output of an image pickup element for one line. The picture element delay device delays the output delayed for one line for one picture element. The switching device selects the output either of the line delay device or of the picture element delay device and outputs the selected output. Furthermore, the switching device is adapted to supply the selected output for the adding device at every two lines in a cycle of four lines. The adding device adds the output of the switching device to the output of the image pickup element and outputs the added output.

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus applied to a videotape recorder which is equipped with a camera having a digital zoom function and an electronic still camera having a frame electronic shutter function, etc., and the apparatus is equipped with a charge coupled device (CCD) having a complementary color checkered filter.
As for the CCD used in the above image pickup apparatus, a CCD as shown in the technical report of the Television Institute (Page 79-84 of Feb. 28, 1989 issue) is capable of full line reading by increase of the vertical transfer gates from 2 to 3 for one picture element.
And as for the complementary color checkered filter with which the CCD is equipped, there is a color filter arrangement type as shown in FIG. 4 and field reading is carried out as shown in the drawing. In field A, electric charges are mixed in a pair of A1 line or A2 line (In field B, in a pair of B line). Therefore, an order of electric charge coming out of a horizontal shift register (Hreg) as signal in A1 line is EQU {(G+Cy), (Mg+Ye), (G+Cy), (Mg+Ye)}.
A luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal are constructed by treating the above signals. The Y signal is obtained by adding a field pair in the line to a neighboring field pair, and the color difference signal is obtained by taking a field pair in the line from a neighboring field pair. That is, the Y signal is obtained based on the approximate signal shown in the following equation; ##EQU1## The color difference signal is obtained based on the approximate signal shown in the following equation; ##EQU2## And in A2 line, an order of a signal coming out of a Hreg is {(Mg+Cy), (G+Ye), (Mg+Cy), (G+Ye)}. The Y signal constructed with these signals is shown in the following equation; ##EQU3## Thus, the Y signal of A1 line and of A2 line are balanced because of the same construction.
Similarly, the color difference signal is approximated by the following equation; ##EQU4## After all, R-Y and -(B-Y) are obtained as the color difference signal alternately in linear order. Field B is treated in the same manner.
In the above mentioned prior art, when full line reading of CCD, to which color coding is applied by a complementary color checkered filter, is made, color can be demodulated by means of the same color demodulation process as a case of field reading effected by mixing two lines by delaying one horizontal line. However this is the color difference line-sequential system, if line numbers are (n).about.(n-5), the color difference signal is shown as follows; ##STR1## Two kinds of the color difference signals appear in two successive lines alternately like EQU [R-Y], [R-Y], [B-Y], [B-Y], [R-Y], [R-Y]
Further delay circuitry corresponding to two lines is necessary for synchronization as shown in the above right hand. (The color difference signal in the number n line is composed of [R-Y] obtained from (n) and (n-1) and [B-Y] obtained from (n-2) and (n-3). One line color signal contains four lines of CCD output signals, so there is a problem to cause the deterioration of vertical resolution of the color signal.

Image pickup apparatus for full line reading


The power consumption, memory allocation, and CPU time used in a signal processor executing a fast transform can be optimized by using a particular method of scheduling the calculations. The transform typically is used to transform a first m-dimensional indexed array into a second m-dimensional indexed array. The elements of the first m-dimensional array are grouped according to the index difference between the elements of the particular butterfly code of that stage. A second grouping of elements is composed of butterfly code elements having non-maximal index differences. The second group advantageously includes elements also assigned to the first group. The butterfly codes of the groups are arranged sequentially and are executed in the sequential schedule. In a second embodiment, elements are grouped according to a group specific threshold value. Memory is allocated to the groups according to the size of the group such that the access to memory is minimized during execution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital signal processing. More particularly, this invention relates to memory, CPU, and power efficient performing of fast transforms.
2. Description of the Related Art
In literature many fast transforms (fast Fourier transform, fast cosine transformation, etc.) are known. As an example the fast Fourier transform is discussed below but the invention is not limited thereto.
Traditionally, as shown in FIG. 7, FFT stages are calculated sequentially on a programmable processor or in a time multiplexed hardware solution, usually followed by a sequential iteration over each block and the butterflies involved. Three nested loops are considered: stagexe2x80x94blockxe2x80x94butterfly. The access graph shown in FIG. 8 shows which addresses are used for calculation at each moment. The end points of each line represent which elements are used; the length of a line determines the current stage. FIG. 7 is the traditional representation of an FFT. FIG. 8 shows the access sequence in time. E.g. the content of addresses 0 and 16 are used first, followed by addresses 1 and 17, etc. In the second stage, address 0 and 8 are used, 1 and 9, etc. The presented scheduling of the butterflies is not optimal when power consumption of the hardware device on which the transform is executed is important.
The invention presents memory access orderings, also denoted schedules, for fast transforms which are optimal with respect to power consumption and bus loading of the hardware device on which said transforms are executed.
The invention presents a method for minimizing memory space and power consumption in a signal processor when transforming a first m-dimensional indexed array with N elements into a second m-dimensional indexed array with M elements, said second array being a transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of butterfly codes, also denoted calculation method steps, each butterfly code being characterized by the elements of the indexed arrays accessed by said butterfly code, said method is characterized in that at least part of said butterfly codes are assigned to be part of at least one group of butterfly codes such that butterfly codes within one group are executed sequentially, meaning substantially close after each other in time, and said grouping of butterfly codes enables the use of storage spaces being substantially smaller than then storage space needed to store an array with N elements. The storage spaces used are either registers or a distributed memory configuration or a combination thereof. Note that M is often equal to N.
In a first aspect of the invention data locality improvement schedules are presented. In a first embodiment a full data locality improvement schedule is disclosed while in a second embodiment a partial data locality improvement schedule is shown.
The full data locality improvement schedule can be described as a method for transforming a first m-dimensional array into a second m-dimensional array, wherein said second array being a transform of said first array. Said transform can be a Fourier transform, a cosine transform, a Karhunen-Loxc3xa8ve transform, a Hartly transform but is not limited thereto. Said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of codes, also denoted butterfly codes, each code being characterized by its array variables or array elements it accesses. One can state that said arrays are indexed, meaning that each element of said arrays can be referred to by its index number. Note that with code or butterfly code is meant a calculation method which reads elements of an array and produces new elements. More in particular is meant a method reading elements and producing elements via operations such as complex additions, subtractions, multiplications and/or divisions. The multiplication factor is a parameter, which can vary from execution to execution of said codes while the operations are the same within said codes. Said execution is characterized in that said codes are scheduled by grouping in pairs or sets of codes with a maximal distance between the array variables accessed by said codes. Said pairs are placed in a predetermined ordering. In a particular example said predetermined ordening is address bit-reversed. Note that with distance is meant the index difference of the elements of the array under consideration. Distance can also be denoted window. With maximal is meant having the largest index difference when considering all codes needed to describe the transformation under consideration. For each pair of said ordened codes codes which access at least one array variable being accessed also by one of the code of said pair are determined. Note that not necessarily all such codes are selected. Thus part of the codes which have a common access with one of the code of said pair are selected. The selected codes can be denoted as codes being assigned to such a pair. The selected codes are ordened in a binary tree with as top node one of said pair of codes according to their related maximal distance wherein higher distance of such code implies closer placement to the top node of said tree. For each pair of codes a binary tree can be constructed. The execution order of said ordered codes is determined by traversing said binary tree in a depth-first manner. Note that this is done for each pair. The improved data locality obtained by the above described scheduling is exploited because during said execution of said scheduled codes data is shared between at least part of said pairs of codes subsequently scheduled after one another. This data sharing is done via small memories, often denoted registers, register files, being capable of storing a few elements, possible a single element. Said small memories, also denoted foreground memory, are local to the datapath of the hardware device executing said application. Note that with subsequently scheduled is meant scheduled soon after each other in time. Some intermediate operations are possible depending on the amount of elements that said data sharing memories can store. During said execution of said scheduled butterfly codes at least part of the accesses of elements accessed by said scheduled butterfly codes are accesses to a storage space being capable of storing a few elements.
A first characteristic of the best mode realisation of the full data locality improvement ordering is an address bit-reversed selecting of the butterflies with largest index difference, also denoted top butterflies, is done. Suppose that the butterfly selected is characterized by the address of the element it accesses with the lowest address number. Suppose one write down the sequence 0,1,2, . . . in binary format with log2(N)xe2x88x921 number of bits with N the size of the transform, thus 0000, 0001, 0010, . . . for a 32 Fourier transform as an example. This binary sequence is now transformed into another binary sequence by reversing the bit ordering, thus one obtains 0000, 1000, 0100, . . . or in normal format 0, 8, 4, . . . This sequence gives the lowest address number of the butterfly being selected as can be observed in FIG. 4. A second characteristic of the best mode realisation of the full data locality improvement ordering is the tree-depth, meaning the number of levels in said binary trees, each level being characterized by the index difference which is the same for the butterflies represented by the nodes of a single level. The tree-depth is given by the log2(N)xe2x88x92[log2(N/2xe2x88x92x)], wherein x means the lowest address number of the butterfly defining the top node of the tree, hence the wording top butterflies, and [ ] means rounding the number in between brackets up to the following larger integer. An example is given in the table below showing in the actual location of the top butterflies, their characterizing address (lowest address) and the depth of their related tree.
A partial data locality improvement schedule is described as a method for transforming a first m-dimensional array into a second m-dimensional array, said second array being a fast transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of butterfly codes, each butterfly code being characterized by the elements of the array accessed by said butterfly code, said execution is characterized in that said butterfly codes are scheduled by performing a step 1 and a repetition of step 2 . In step 1 from said butterfly codes half of these butterfly codes with a maximal index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said codes are selected and executed in a predetermined ordering, e.g. bit-reversed ordering. The other half of these butterfly codes are denoted non-executed butterfly codes. In step 2 for half of these non-executed butterfly codes with a maximal index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said codes one performs an operation but for each of these non-executed butterfly codes separately. For such a non-executed butterfly code other butterfly codes are selected with a minimal index difference of half of said maximal index difference and which access at least one element of an array being accessed also by the non-executed butterfly code under consideration. Said non-executed butterfly code under consideration and said selected codes are then executed. This operation is thus performed for half of the non-executed butterfly codes. For the remaining half of the non-executed butterfly codes also step 2 is performed but the minimal index difference decreases by factor of 2 for each repetition of step 2. In a further embodiment a binary tree scheduling approach is used for said selected codes. Naturally again data sharing via registers or foreground memory can now be used due to the data locality improvement.
The first embodiment using a full data locality improvement can be described as follows:
A method for transforming a first m-dimensional array into a second m-dimensional array, said second array being the Fourier transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of butterfly codes, each butterfly code being characterized by the elements of the array accessed by said butterfly code, said execution is characterized in that said butterfly codes are scheduled as follows:
From said butterfly codes these butterfly codes with a maximal index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said codes are selected and grouped in pairs and placed in a predetermined ordering;
For each pair of said selected and ordered butterfly codes, butterfly codes which access at least one element of said arrays being accessed also by one of the butterfly codes of a pair are determined and assigned to said pair.
For each pair of said selected and ordened butterfly codes, the assigned butterfly codes are ordened in a binary tree with as top node one butterfly code of said pair according to the index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said butterfly code wherein a higher index difference of such butterfly code implies closer placement to the top node of said tree and determining the execution order of said assigned butterfly codes by traversing said binary tree in a depth-first manner.
The method described above wherein during said execution of said scheduled butterfly codes at least part of the accesses of elements accessed by said scheduled butterfly codes are accesses to storage spaces being capable of storing a single element or a few elements.
The second embodiment partially using said data locality improvement can be described as follows:
A method for transforming a first m-dimensional array into a second m-dimensional array, said second array being a fast transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of butterfly codes, each butterfly code being characterized by the elements of the array accessed by said butterfly code, said execution is characterized in that said butterfly codes are scheduled as follows:
Step 1 From said butterfly codes half of these butterfly codes with a maximal index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said butterfly codes are selected and executed in a predetermined ordering;
Step 2 For each of half of the non-executed butterfly codes with a maximal index difference between the elements of the array accessed by said codes, butterfly codes are selected with a minimal index difference of half of said maximal index difference and which access at least one element of an array being accessed also by the non-executed butterfly code under consideration, said non-executed butterfly code under consideration and said selected codes are executed; and
Step 2 is repeated for half of the non-executed codes but the minimal index difference decreases by factor of 2 for each repetition of step 2.
The method described above wherein selected codes are ordered in a binary tree with as top node the last of the non-executed code, said ordening in said binary tree is according to the index difference of said selected codes wherein higher index difference of such code implies closer placement to the top node of said tree and the execution order of said selected codes is determined by traversing said binary tree in a depth-first manner.
The method described above wherein during said execution of said scheduled butterfly codes at least part of the accesses of elements accessed by said scheduled butterfly codes are accesses to storage spaces being capable of storing a single or a few elements.
In a second aspect of the invention improved in-place mapping schedules for performing a fast transform are presented. The invention can be described as a method for transforming a first m-dimensional array into a second m-dimensional array, said second array being a fast transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of codes, also denoted butterfly codes or calculation method steps, each code being characterized by its array variables or elements it accesses. Said execution is characterized in that said codes are scheduled such that codes accessing nearby array variables are grouped, codes within one group are executed sequentially and said execution of codes exploit a memory being smaller than said array sizes. With nearby array variables or elements is meant elements of said arrays with an index difference between said elements smaller than a threshold value being at most (N/p) with N the amount of elements in said arrays and p an integer being larger than 1. With a memory being smaller than said array sizes is meant a memory with a storage space for less than N elements. Note that both a sequential execution, wherein each group is executed after each other, or a parallel execution, wherein groups are executed substantially simultaneously, is possible. Also combinations of sequential and parallel are possible. One can further specify for the sequential set-up that after finishing execution of a first group of code data within said memory is transferred before execution of a second group of code is started. The minimal memory size is determined by the maximal distance between the array variables accessed while executing a group of codes. Said maximal distance is characterized by the index difference between said array variables or elements. The data transfer is between said memory and another memory having a size at least larger than said memory. Said second aspect of the invention is not limited to grouping of said butterfly codes in one group of a single size. One can assign each individual butterfly codes to a plurality of groups with different sizes With size of a group is meant the maximal index difference of elements being accessed by butterfly codes within a group. Said size is determined by the so-called group-specific threshold value. With each group a group-specific memory with a minimal size being determined by said threshold value is associated. Indeed, execution of codes within such group is done by accessing said group-specific memory. One can state that a group of codes are executed sequentially before executing another group of codes and said groups of code, which while executing have the same maximal distance between the array variables accessed, can exploit the same memory, meaning the group-specific memory. Thus at least part of said butterfly codes are assigned to be part of at least one group of butterfly codes such that butterfly codes within a group are butterfly codes accessing elements of said arrays with an index difference between said elements smaller than a group-specific threshold value being at most N/p. Then butterfly codes within one group are executed sequentially before executing butterfly codes of another group and said execution of said groups of butterfly codes exploit a group-specific memory with a minimal storage space being determined by said group-specific threshold value. The data transfer in between execution of groups of codes is then between memories of different sizes, more in particular the memory with its group-specific size and a memory with a larger size, possibly another group-specific memory or the main memory. The memory configuration is denoted a distributed memory configuration and can be but is not limited to be a hierarchical memory architecture. Note that said in-place execution is characterized in that at least part of said codes are scheduled such that codes accessing nearby array variables are executed nearby in time.
An embodiment of said in-place mapping approach can be formalized as follows:
A method for transforming a first m-dimensional indexed array with N elements into a second m-dimensional indexed array with N elements, said second array being a fast transform of said first array, said method comprising the steps of executing a plurality of butterfly codes, each butterfly code being characterized by the elements of the indexed arrays accessed by said butterfly code, said execution is characterized in that at least part of said butterfly codes are scheduled such that butterfly codes accessing elements of said arrays with an index difference between said elements smaller than a threshold value being at most N/p with p an integer being larger than 1 are assigned to a group, butterfly codes within one group are executed sequentially before executing butterfly codes of another group and said execution of said groups of butterfly codes accesses only a first memory with a storage space for less than N elements.
The method described above, wherein after finishing execution of a first group of butterfly codes a data transfer between said first memory and a second memory being larger than said first memory is performed before execution of a second group of butterfly codes is started.


An fiber optic imaging device utilizing fiber optics for imaging portions of documents of varying shapes and/or sizes. For example, for imaging a book or any document having a centerfold, where the document will not lay flat (non-planar) against the platen of the image forming device. The device may be shaped to fit in the centerfold of an open document between the platen of the copying device and the document. Additionally, the fiber optic imaging device may also allow for performing a geometric translation based upon a portion of the document, for facilitating document reproduction.

This disclosure is directed to devices and methods for imaging of documents and correcting for the distortion that results with image forming devices and documents that tend to be non-planar, such as the centerfolds of open books.
Generally imaging a non-planar document with a centerfold is accomplished by placing the open document face down on the surface of the platen of a xerographic copier or document scanner. Since the document does not lay flat against the platen, the raised portion, with respect to the platen, of the document falls outside of the focal length range for which the image forming device may properly project the image of the document. Therefore, the portion of the document is not clearly imaged, resulting in the copy of the raised portion being compressed and dark causing portions of the copy to be out of focus and/or distorted. Additionally, when copying a non-planar document, such as a book, on an image forming device, the document is pressed down onto the platen of the copying device, which may result in damage to the document.
Attempts have been made in the past to resolve similar problems to those discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,252 discloses a bundle of fiber optics the size of a book as an accessory to help prevent damage to the spine while copying the book. However, this accessory is the size of the entire book and does not image the spine. U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,769 discloses a plastic "T" shaped insert to eliminate the shadow that occurs while copying a book. However, this insert does not image the area of the spine but instead reflects the light to prevent the dark area from occurring. U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,954 discloses a corrective tens the size of the book inserted under the book while copying the book.


The synchronous motor comprises an armature having a plurality of teeth solid with a yoke and spaced apart by slots in which coils are accommodated. An inductor comprising a plurality of magnets borne by a sole is spaced from the armature by an air-grap. The motor is so dimensioned that the teeth of the armature have a constant cross-section over their entire height and the width of the slots alongside the tooth heads is substantially equal to the width of these heads to minimize the parasitic reluctant effect due to the slots. The motor may be linear or rotary.

A synchronous motor corresponding to the above generic definition is known. It is illustrated in this document by FIGS. 1, 1a, 2 and 3 which set forth the state of the prior art.
FIG. 1 is a partial section in a linear synchronous motor constructed according to the prior art. Here, the armature 60 is a stator that consists of a pack of ferromagnetic laminations and in which the yoke 1 and teeth 10 may be seen, the teeth 10 being regularly arranged with a tooth pitch .tau.n. The armature 60 further comprises a plurality of slots 2 separating the teeth 10 and in which are housed coil windings 4, the latter being insulated from the yoke 1 and from the teeth 10 by insulating sheets 3. In this type of motor, the heads of teeth 10 are terminated by a broadened portion or shoe 10' whose purpose is to create an opening or pre-slot 6 of reduced width for reasons that will become apparent below. The windings 4 are generally loosely coiled, in no precise order either with a spooling machine or inserted by hand into the slots 2 through the pre-slots 6. To keep the winding in slot 2, a sliding closer 5 is provided that bears on the shoes 10'.
FIG. 1 also shows the motor's inductor 61 which in the present example is the movable part of the motor that travels linearly along the axis y. Inductor 61 essentially comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 8 in the shape of rectangular parallelepipeds that are regularly disposed, with a pole pitch .tau.p, on a plane flux-returning sole 9 made of ferromagnetic material. The armature 60 and inductor 61 are separated by an air-gap 7.
FIG. 2 shows the distribution of the normal component of the magnetic induction B expressed in Tesla (T) and which extends here over two pole pitches .tau.p. It should be noted that induction B is that which is produced solely by the magnets 8 of inductor 61 on the teeth 10 of armature 60, whether the coils 4 are energized or not. It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the openings 6 of slots 2 cause disturbances 15 and 16 that are clearly visible in the outline of induction B. These openings, of width bn, are responsible for a phenomenon that is well known in permanent-magnet motors called the reluctant effect. This effect creates a parasitic force, or reluctant force Fr, which is directed along axis y and which disturbs the motor's proper operation. The variations of this force Fr is represented in the graph of FIG. 3.
The graph of FIG. 3 is based on a motor having a tooth pitch .tau.n of 12 mm, a pole pitch .tau.p of 16 mm and a slot opening bn of 1.5 mm, the ratio bn/.tau.n thus having a value of 0.125. The pole pitch .tau.p is shown along the abscissa and the reluctant force Fr along the ordinate. .tau.p is expressed in millimetres (mm) and Fr in Newtons (N). The curve 17 of the FIG. 3 graph reflects the outline of the reluctant force Fr that would be produced if the armature only had one slot. This curve is characterized by two unstable points 22 and 22' of low steepness and by a stable point 21 of high steepness. At points 22 and 22' slot 6 is in the middle of a magnet 8 (-.tau.p/2 and +.tau.p/2), whereas at point 21, it is between two magnets 8. If the inductor 61 is for instance located between 0 and 3.2, it will move to the right in supplying a driving force (slope 19) and stabilize itself at point 21. But if the inductor 61 is located between 16 and 12.8, it will move to the same point 21 in supplying a braking force (slope 20). The curve 18 of the FIG. 3 graph reflects the outline of the total reluctant force Fr that is produced over one pole step .tau.p, the armature 60 having eight slots. The parasitic reluctant force then has a succession of eight parasitic maxima that disturb the proper operation of the motor, these forces being of the order of 16 Newtons. It will thus be appreciated that if no due care is given to this phenomenon, the motor may become unusable, as the reluctant force can then exceed the maximum force that can be provided by the motor when supplied with current.
To eliminate or greatly reduce this reluctant effect, one widespread technique consists in staggering the laminations forming the armature 60 in relation to one another so that in a section such as that represented in FIG. 1a, the longitudinal axes of the teeth 10 and of the slots 2, shown in chain-dotted lines, form an angle other than 90.degree. with the direction of motion y of inductor 61, not shown in FIG. 1a, in relation to armature 60. It should be noted that, in FIG. 1a, which is a section along axis A--A of FIG. 1, the windings 4 and the insulating sheets 3 disposed in the slots 2 have not been shown, and that the laminations forming the armature 60 have not been illustrated separately.
This technique of staggering the laminations forming armature 60 gives rise to additional difficulties by complicating the tooling required for manufacturing purposes and by making it more difficult to insert the windings 4 into the slots 2.
Another technique, which may be combined with the previous one, consists in disposing the magnets 8 obliquely, i.e. in a manner such that the arrises thereof lying parallel to the plane of sole 9 respectively form angles other than 0.degree. and 90.degree. with the direction of motion y of inductor 61 in relation to armature 60. This technique also complicates the manufacture of the motors.
In any case, besides the above-mentioned arrangements, it will always be endeavoured to provide the pre-slots 6 with a width bn that is as small as possible, thereby complicating the spooling operations since, because of the very small slot width bn, the coils, before being fitted, must be arranged loosely to enable them to be inserted into the slot 2 through the pre-slot 6. This looseness for packing purposes means that the wires forming windings 4 are very irregularly arranged in slots 2. Consequently, the space filling coefficient of slots 2 is low (of the order of 30%) and the thermal resistance between the windings and the yoke 1 is large. These drawbacks respectively lead to low motor efficiency and to poor thermal capacity.


A probe for spectrometric measurements of magnetic resonance at very high temperatures includes a resonator (3) within which is disposed a sample (9) to be analyzed. A laser beam from a laser (6) is conducted toward and focused upon the sample (9) for heating the same, and levitation of the sample (9) during measurement proceedings within the resonator (3), as a means of thermally isolating the sample (9) from its surroundings, is achieved by means of a levitation gas from a gas source (18) which is introduced into the resonator (3) by means of a constriction zone aperture (17) whereby the sample (9) is maintained within an upper cavity (16) of the resonator (3).

The transmission of energy to the system of nuclear spins that represents the sample of material during the period of excitation is accomplished by means of the probe that carries the aforesaid sample.
The recovery of energy emitted by the system of spins returning to equilibrium is also accomplished by the probe.
The probe constitutes the essential part of a resonator. The spectrometric measurement of resonance is accomplished by it.
The probe is composed of a mechanical sample carrier component and of the antenna network electronic circuit that forms the radio resonator, or properly speaking, the microwave resonator. This network creates an electromagnetic wave in the range of radio or microwave frequencies concentrated in the volume containing the sample.
To make a spectrometric resonance measurement at very high temperatures using a resonator used in magnetic resonance, two essential conditions must be satisfied simultaneously:
the sample must be contained in the volume of radio frequency or microwave frequency irradiation,
the sample must be heated in the same irradiation volume to permit measurements at the desired temperatures.
At the present time, the sample is heated by a temperature-controlled stream of air passing through the chamber of the resonator enclosing the sample carrier.
The temperature is regulated at a set value, for example +100.degree. C., printed on the control panel, and maintained in the measurement chamber using a control loop, for example a thermocouple control loop.
For measurement temperatures between 200 and 600.degree. C., a special shielded probe is presently used in magnetic resonance measurements which is cooled by a pump and heat-removing fluid (usually oil).
This type of cooling necessary to protect the resonator adds greatly to the total cost of the measurement probe.
The radio frequency or microwave frequency emission by the sample is detected by a sensor sensitive in the radio frequency or microwave frequency band being studied.
Traditionally, this sensor is in direct contact with the sample.
Since the sample and sensor are necessarily joined, the temperature increase of the sample results in a corresponding increase of the thermal noise of the sensor, which masks the signal to be measured.
Furthermore, any thermal insulation by wrapping or otherwise is unsuitable because of the difficulties of the wrapper in maintaining the temperature, and for various other types of thermal insulation, because of their screening characteristics for radio frequency or microwave frequency waves and because of the noise signals that they may generate.
The second important condition for the measurement to have meaning is not to change the sample and to avoid any chemical reaction with the container that holds it.
Actually, the heated samples show physical and chemical characteristics themselves that may modify the characteristics of the sensor by reaction with the sample carrier.
Because of this, these temperature increases may induce chemical reactions by interaction with the support in the midst of the sample, whose nature is variable and thus significantly falsifies the measurements.
Finally, a significant elevation of the measurement temperatures is propagated to the resonator by thermal dissipation and thus modifies greatly its operating characteristics.

Probe for magnetic resonance spectrometric measures at very high temperatures


In a smoke detector of the ionization type having inner, auxiliary and outer electrodes providing inner and outer ionization chambers disposed one within the other, the electrodes and the associated circuitry are mounted on one side of a printed circuit board, the outer electrode conforming to the configuration and dimensions of the circuit board so as to define a box-like enclosure.

Ionization smoke detectors are of various types, the commonest comprising a system of electrodes whose respective potentials are dependent upon the flow of ionization current in separate chambers, and electronic circuitry interconnected with the electrodes for deriving an electrical signal in response to a change in the configuration of electrode potentials caused by the entry of smoke into one of the chambers. A suitable alarm device such as a piezoelectric horn is normally connected to output terminals of the electronic circuitry. An LED connected to the circuitry may also provide a visual indication of the alarm condition.
In one such type of smoke detector, to which the present invention relates, the electrode system comprises an inner electrode consisting of or supporting a radioactive material or otherwise providing a source of ionizing radiation, an outer electrode providing openings which allow the passage of smoke therethrough, and an auxiliary electrode positioned so as to define with the inner and outer electrodes, respectively, a first and a second ionization chamber disposed one within the other, the auxiliary electrode having a hole which is capable of passing radioactive rays from the inner electrode to the outer chamber so as to produce ionization simultaneously in both chambers.
Known smoke detectors of this type have the disadvantage that their structures tend to be large and often complicated, and they do not readily lend themselves to automatic assembly techniques during manufacture.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved smoke detector of this type which, besides having the desirable features of the known detectors has the added advantages of the simplicity of construction and ease of assembly during manufacture.


Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which is high in sensitivity for high-intensity red light source and less in fog formation and excellent in time stability and comprises a support and at least one silver halide emulsion layer provided on the support wherein said silver halide emulsion comprises 50 mol % or more of silver chloride and contains 5.times.10.sup.-9 mol or more of a water-soluble rhodium compound per 1 mol of silver and at least one sensitizing dye represented by the following formula (I), pH of said emulsion as finished being 4.8 or less: ##STR1## wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification.

The present invention relates to a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and more particularly to a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which is high in sensitivity and contrast and less in fogging for high intensity exposure to red light and is excellent in time stability of the emulsion.
With recent rapid progress of information transmission systems, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials are increasingly required to have the higher sensitivity. Examples of these systems are high-speed photo-composing system in which the information which is output from electronic computers is rapidly displayed as letters or figures by cathode-ray tubes and press facsimiles for rapid transmission of press manuscripts to remote places.
The characteristics required for the silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials used for such systems are high sensitivity, high contrast and high resolving power for so-called high-intensity and short-time exposure, namely, exposure for a short time of 10.sup.-4 second or less with a light source such as cathode ray tube (CRT), a gas laser such as argon or helium-neon or light emitting diode (LED). Among these light sources, the scanner system of argon laser has conventionally been mainly employed. This system can provide high output, but the apparatus is large-sized and expensive. Therefore, recently, apparatuses having the compact and inexpensive helium-neon laser or LED as the light source are sold from many companies and silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials high in sensitivity for these light sources are desired.
It is known to use trinuclear cyanines as sensitizing dyes in the case of exposure to such light sources of red light. These cyanines have a spectral absorption maximum in the region of about 600-680 nm and are very effective for sensitization to red light of helium-neon laser or LED. However, they tend to increase fog formation when added in a large amount. Use of antifoggants for inhibition of formation of fog causes deterioration in developability or reduction in sensitivity due to desorption of the dyes. If chemical sensitization is diminished, the sensitivity is insufficient and if the addition amount of the dye is increased, occurrence of fog further increases and retention of color of the dye increases to deteriorate the quality of images. Accordingly, there have been desired light-sensitive materials which are less in remaining of color of the dye, less in fogging and besides, high in sensitivity and contrast even when subjected to high-intensity exposure.
It is also known to add a water-soluble rhodium compound for preparing a high contrast silver halide photographic emulsion. However, when a silver halide emulsion prepared with addition of the said sensitizing dye and the rhodium compound in combination is coated on a photographic support, the sensitivity of the emulsion sometimes changes during the period of from the finishing of the emulsion until the coating of the emulsion or during the coating of the emulsion. Thus, there have been problems in stability in preparation of the emulsion and stability in quality of light-sensitive materials.
Consumption of silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials is increasing steadily and in many cases, the light-sensitive materials are processed in a short time at a high temperature for increasing the processing amount of the materials. Therefore, demand has more and more increased for light-sensitive materials which are high in sensitivity and less in formation of fog even when processed in a short time and at a high temperature and can give a certain photographic characteristics even if the processing conditions are somewhat deflected.
Silver iodobromide emulsions sensitized with gold and sulfur are widely known as emulsions having high sensitivity to high-intensity exposure. However, the light-sensitive materials coated with such emulsions sometimes show delay in developability or inferior clearing in fixation because of the short time development in processing of the film materials of a relatively large silver halide amount. Thus, demand for stability in processing of light-sensitive materials has further been increased.

Silver halide photographic light-sensitive material


A coupling element for an ultrasonic transducer, which comprises a first recess provided for the arrangement of a piezoelectric element and comprising a terminal base surface in which an ultrasound signal generated by the piezoelectric element can be fed into the coupling element. The coupling element comprising inside the first recess one or a plurality of stops, each of which comprises at least one stop surface which extends along a plane, the plane extending parallel to the base surface of the first recess, and there being defined between this plane and the base surface a space for accommodating material for an acoustic adaptation layer. The invention further concerns an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic flow meter.

A plurality of different assemblies and layer sequences are known in the field of ultrasonic transducer assemblies.
The generic European Patent EP 0 974 814 B1 discloses a coupling element with a support or contact surface, which has a recess for holding a piezoelectric element. A metal disk is arranged between the coupling element and the piezoelectric element. This metal disk is glued onto a plane, which is inclined to the support surface and also forms a base surface of the recess. This design has fundamentally proven itself and is appealing owing to its high thermal cycling. However, occurrence of high impedance differences between the metal disk and the coupling element has been observed.

Coupling element, ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic flow meter


The present invention is an apparatus, method and system for time synchronizing data from various sensor types that enables data fusion and transport. To provide this capability, the present invention utilizes an inverted Passive Optical Network (PON) approach for synchronous communication. Further, the present invention introduces an inverted Passive Electrical Network (iPEN) that extends the iPON approach. Data that are in a common format with embedded time synchronization information can easily be integrated or fused and transported over such communication links. The present invention provides the ability to merge and aggregate data from a wide range of disparate sensors and systems while maintaining close synchronization. The present invention is appropriate for synchronization of data, voice, and video onto a single network and/or multi-tiered networks and can also handle signal processing and control technologies at line rates well into the Gigabits per second (Gbps) range.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary Gigabit PON (GPON) system architecture of the background art. The GPON backbone enables the network to fully leverage the bandwidth by concatenating many common protocols within a single stream. Furthermore, access to the voice and data streams is transparent to Local Area Network (LAN) technologies such as Fast Ethernet (FE), Gigabit Ethernet (GE), SONET OC-3-OC-12, as well as their copper counterparts.
There are two major components of the network of FIG. 1: the Optical Line Termination (OLT) and the Optical Network Termination (ONT). Note, the OLT and ONT are also referred to as Network Controller and Network Gateway, respectively. In the system architecture shown in FIG. 1, the OLT acts as a bridge between the GPON network and the upstream user networks (e.g., LAN, Wide Area Network (WAN)). The OLT has the capability to communicate simultaneously with LAN protocols as well as WAN protocols.
Many sensors and systems exist that produce data products at multiple different data rates using different protocols. These include analog and digital sensors and systems for data fusion. Exploitation of data from multiple sensors or systems is significantly enhanced when the data is sampled synchronously and/or when timing is controlled deterministically. The background art has not addressed such data fusion systems with both a passive and synchronous approach. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus, method and system with widely disparate sensors and systems that produces data at multiple different data rates that can be synchronously sampled, fused, and aggregated into a single telecommunications passive optical or electrical network.

Inverted passive optical network/inverted passive electrical network (iPON/iPEN) based data fusion and synchronization system


An air management system for a vehicle having a supply tank, a system controller integrated with the supply tank, a first pneumatic circuit pneumatically connected to the system controller, and a second pneumatic circuit pneumatically connected to the system controller. The system controller adjusts independently air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit without establishing pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits. The system controller establishes pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the system controller is not adjusting independently the air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit.

Air suspension systems for vehicles have a plurality of air suspension bags supporting one or more vehicle axles in pairs on either side of each axle. In one well-known vehicle, the pairs of air springs are connected by a common large diameter air lines extending between correspondingly positioned air springs on adjacent axles. The common air lines are each connected by an air line to a height control valve directed to a respective side of a vehicle. The height control valve controls the air supply to the common air lines to adjust the inflation of the air springs to ensure that the vehicle is kept level as it is driven over variable road conditions. Unless defined otherwise, the term "height control valve" is used as equivalent to the term "leveling valve," such that the terms "height control valve" and "leveling valve" may be used inter-changeably.
For example, when a vehicle negotiates a turn, the vehicle's center of gravity shifts along its width away from the turn. Due to the weight shift, the air springs on the side of the vehicle facing away from the turn start to contract, while the air springs on the side of the vehicle facing the turn start to extend. Consequently, the vehicle becomes unleveled from side-to-side. In response, one of the leveling valves on the lowered side of the vehicle supplies air to the contracted air springs, while the other leveling valve on the elevated side of the vehicle removes air from the extended air springs to keep the vehicle level. Through testing, it has now been found that leveling valves often overcompensate in responding to dynamic weight shifts of the vehicle, in which the air springs that were supplied air from the leveling valve tend to have a greater air pressure than the air springs that were purged by the leveling valve. As a result, a pressure difference persists between the two sides of the air suspensions system ever after the leveling valves attempt to level the vehicle. Even though a pressure differential remains between the air springs on opposite sides of the vehicle, the leveling valves return to a neutral mode (e.g., the rotary disk is set within a dead band range), in which there is a lack of pneumatic communication between the air springs on opposite sides of the vehicle. Due to this pressure differential between the air springs, the vehicle remains unlevel even after the leveling valves have adjusted the pressure of the air springs in response to the vehicle weight shift.
Other types of air suspension systems have replaced mechanical leveling valves with electronic-actuated valves to the control the height of the air bags. While some electronic-actuated valves have been designed to respond to vehicle weight shifts or vehicle rolling, electronic-actuated valves fail to account for pressure differentials between the air springs that persist after the heights of the air springs have been adjusted in response to vehicle weight shifts.
Accordingly, the present inventors have recognized that there is a need for an air management system that solves the problem of persistent pressure imbalance so that the vehicle may be restored to equilibrium air pressure, level and ride height.

Symmetrically dynamic equalized volume and pressure air management system


A joining construction between a flywheel of a flywheel magneto and a boss for mounting thereon a shaft comprises a joining portion formed on the periphery of the boss, and a joining portion of the flywheel surrounding the periphery of the boss. The joining portion of boss has an annular groove defined by a rugged bottom and both sides one of which is inclined along metal flow. The joining portion of the flywheel has the same shaped groove as one of the boss. Two the joining portions define an annular gap in which a joining member is disposed deformed by pressworking. The joining member inserted into the annular gap has the same shearing strength as the flywheel when an axial force is applied to the flywheel magneto.

This invention relates to a rotor of a flywheel magneto and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a construction and method for joining a boss mounted on a driving shaft to a flywheel through metal flow of a joining member.
A flywheel magneto driven by an engine comprises a cup-shaped flywheel mounting thereon a plurality of permanent magnets, and a boss for joining the cup-shaped flywheel to a driving shaft of the engine. The boss has a flange overlapped on the cup-shaped flywheel. The overlapped flange and the cup-shaped flywheel are assembled by a plurality of rivets to form a rotor. In a space defined by the flywheel and the boss, a plurality of iron cors and coils are disposed. The cup-shaped flywheel is composed of heavy metal members because of moderating by its inertia any fluctuation of speed or torque in the engine. For the rotors of this kind of flywheel magnetos, it is necessary to satisfy the following conditions from the design point:
(a) not to involve any problem at a normal rotational frequency of 11,000 r.p.m,
(b) not to break at 22,000 r.p.m, and
(c) to endure a head variations of from 40.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. In consideration of the various conditions, the boss and the flywheel are fixed with 6.about.9 rivets which each are made of carbon steel and has a diameter of 4.about.6 mm. In order to satisfy the requirements of strength of the assembled rotor, a high dimentional precision in pitches between holes for the rivets is required. An error in measurement of the pitch in making the holes causes concentration of stresses in the rivets, which may results in loosing the joint portion of the rotor. Therefore, there is the problem of the costly production of such precise parts.
For providing a small size of the flywheel magneto, it is desirable to reduce its axial size. In this construction of the flywheel magneto, however, the axial size can not be reduced because the flange of the boss and the flywheel are overlapped, and the heads of the rivets projected into the inner space of the flywheel magneto are necessary to be spaced enoughly from the coil disposed in the inner space not to interfere with the coil during the rotation of the rotor, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,315. It is difficult to reduce the thickness of the flywheel or the flange because the thinner can not endure a large load caused by the inertia due to the rotation of the rotor.
On the other hand, as joining of two members, force fit and welding are well-known. In the force fit, an error in measurement in making the members to be joined influences greatly joining strength, which is limited. Therefore, the force fit can not be applied for assembling the flywheel and the boss. The welding accompanys thermal deformation of a member to be joined because of being heated. Accordingly, it is difficult to manufacture the above-mentioned rotor with the desired accuracy by the welding.
Further, there is a method of joining two members by plastic deformation or metal flow of joining material of metal inserted between the members. Such a method is disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,946, wherein a groove having a rectangular section is formed on each face to be joined of two member, and a joining member of metal in filled in the groove through the metal flow. The joining material is not fully filled in the groove because the joining material does not flow rectangularly or along the surface of the rectangular groove. Therefore, there is a gap between the joining material filled and the surface of the groove so that sufficiently strong joining can not be obtained. Further, the joining material disclosed in the U.S. patent is filled only in a limited portion of the member to be joined, which means that the joining material is not utilized sufficiently. Accordingly, sufficient joining strength can not be obtained.

Flywheel magneto rotor and manufacture method thereof


A laterally adjustable mounting bracket for use on a desk or cabinet drawer and with a drawer guide having a tongue portion, the bracket including a base supporting a pair of opposing retaining flanges configured to cooperatively receive a drawer guide tongue portion for lateral adjustment of the drawer with respect to the desk or cabinet. An insert having a stop component limiting lateral movement of the drawer guide tongue portion and at least one support component is cooperatively received within at least one aperture in the base so that the support component extends through the base to support the base on the desk or cabinet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to desk or cabinet drawer mounting brackets and, more particularly, to a new and improved mounting bracket used in connection with a drawer guide having a tongue portion, the bracket having a base with opposing retaining flanges secured to the base to cooperatively receive the drawer guide tongue portion for lateral adjustment of the drawer with respect to the desk or cabinet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of mounting brackets for desk and cabinet drawers have been used in the furniture industry for many years. Generally such brackets are not precisely designed or engineered to achieve stability, long wear or efficient operation. They have adjustable elements usually formed directly in the bracket body making the bracket difficult to adjust, insufficient to achieve drawer stability with respect to the desk or cabinet, and quick to deteriorate. There is a current need to provide more precisely designed and manufactured mounting brackets which operate with greater efficiency and adjustability while retaining the cost associated with the design and manufacture of such devices within the same ranges as presently experienced with conventional brackets. The present invention addresses this need and interest.

Laterally adjustable mounting bracket for use in a desk or cabinet drawer and with a drawer guide having a bent tongue