A first area and a second are formed in an image projected by a projector. A standard image plate is placed in a surface on which an image for the first area is projected. A standard image has been drawn on a standard image plate and is displayed in correct colors when white light is projected on the standard image plate. The projector projects white light as the image for the first area. An image for the second area is projected on a projecting surface. A user operates an operating section so that the image in the second area is closer to the standard image. A color correcting section corrects the colors of the image in the second area on the basis of information inputted to the operating section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color adjusting method for a projector, and in particular, to a color adjusting method used if the color of a screen or wall used as an image projecting surface is different from white, to adjust properly the colors of an image displayed on the projecting surface.
2. Description of the Related Prior Art
An image projected by a projector such as a liquid crystal projector is displayed on a projecting surface. The projecting surface is generally composed of a screen or a wall. Such a screen or wall is not necessarily white. Even if it is white when it starts to be used, it may become yellowish or bluish later. The image projected on such a screen or wall is displayed in colors relatively different from actual ones. Consequently, a user does not see the displayed image in its original colors. To allow the user to see the image in its original colors, the colors of the projected image must be adjusted.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional color adjusting method. A projector 10 projects an image on a screen 20. A user M observes a displayed image 30 on the screen 20. On the basis of the results of the observation, the user adjusts colors by operating the projector 10.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the projector 10. The projector 10 includes an operating section 11, a color correction processing section 12, an output signal processing section 13, and a video output section 14. The operating section 11 includes key switches and the like and is operated on the basis of the user M's determinations. On the basis of the user M's operation of the operating section 11, the color correction processing section 12 generates correction data d used to correct an externally supplied video signal in. The output signal processing section 13 adds the correction data d to the video signal into generate a color-adjusted video signal P. The video output section 14 is, for example, a three-plate type liquid crystal projector unit that splits white light generated by a light source into primary lights in red, green, and blue. The video output section 14 then modulates the primary lights in accordance with the video signal P. Subsequently, the video output section 14 carries out additive color mixture and then projects the mixed light on the screen 20.
With the color adjusting method used for the projector 10, if the color of the screen 20 is different from white, the user M first observes the color of the displayed image 30. On the basis of the results of the observation, the user operates the operating section 11 to carry out white balance adjustment, color temperature adjustment, and color corrections (adjustment of luminance, hue, or saturation) so that the image assumes desired colors.
However, with this conventional color adjusting method, the user M observes the colors of the projected image 30 and subjectively adjusts them on the basis of the results of the observation. Thus, the colors are adjusted without using any accurate references. Therefore, the user M disadvantageously cannot adjust the colors accurately.


An exerciser including a base frame with a seat pad. A leg support is pivotally inward foldably connected with two ends of a bottom face of the base frame. The leg support has a front arch section, a rear horizontal section and a vertical section. Two ends of a rear side of the base frame are respectively disposed with two adjustment seats for adjusting an angle. The other end of the adjustment seat is fixedly connected with each end of a handle. So, the base frame can be swung, lifted and lowered. The angle of the handle can be freely adjusted via the adjustment seat. Therefore, the position of the handle can be adjusted in accordance with various conditions for the user with the user's body stably presses on the seat pad and the base frame. The resilient section creates a resistant force when pushing and pulling the handle to achieve an exercising effect.

The present invention relates to an exerciser in which the seat pad and the base frame can be swung, lifted and lowered and the angle of the handle can be freely adjusted. Therefore, the position of the handle can be adjusted in accordance with various conditions with the user's body stably pressing on the seat pad and the, base frame. A resilient section of the handle creates a resilient force, when pushing and pulling the handle so as to achieve an exercising effect.
FIG. 6 shows an existing exerciser composed of large and small U-shaped frames 90, 91 which are pivotally connected with each other at two ends. The pivot sections 92, 93 are adjustable in angle and interconnected by a transverse beam 94. Each lateral side of the large frame 90 is disposed with a resilient section 95, 96. Each end of the transverse beam 94 is equipped with a shoulder belt 97, 98.
Referring to FIG. 7, in a sit-up exercise, a user presses his/her body against the transverse beam 94 and fits the shoulder belts 97, 98 around the knees. The user also steps on the small frame 91 with his/her soles and pulls the large frame 90. During the sit-up exercise, the resilient sections 95, 96 create a resistant force to achieve a training effect.
According to the above arrangement, the user must first lean the respective parts of his/her body against the small frame 91 and tranrseverse beam 94 and fit the shoulder belts 95, 96 around the knees and then pull the large frame 90 for exercising his/her body. However, different users have varied body configurations, while the large and small frames 90, 91 have fixed sizes. Therefore, it often takes place that some users can hardly suitably use the exerciser and they are subject to injury.

No. 23, Ju-I Lane, Chang-I 1st Street, Tai-Ping city


A battery system includes an electricity storage device including a plurality of battery units. The electronic control device is configured to switch a travel mode of the vehicle between a CD mode and a CS mode. The electronic control device is configured to calculate a vehicle state of charge at a higher value than an average state of charge when the average state of charge is higher than a threshold value, and calculate the vehicle state of charge at a lower value than the average state of charge when the average state of charge is lower than the threshold value. The threshold value is set at a lower value than a center value between an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the vehicle state of charge.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to a battery system installed in a vehicle that is capable of traveling using power from at least one of an engine and a motor-generator.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent No. 5149989 discloses a hybrid vehicle that is capable of switching between electric travel, in which an engine is stopped so that the vehicle travels using power from a motor-generator, and hybrid travel, in which the vehicle travels using power from both the engine and the motor-generator. In this hybrid vehicle, either a charge depleting (CD) mode or a charge sustaining (CS) mode is selected as a control mode in accordance with a state of charge (SOC) of an electricity storage device that exchanges power with the motor-generator. The CD mode is a control mode in which driving of the engine (hybrid travel) is prohibited in order to maintain the SOC of the electricity storage device within a predetermined control range. The CS mode is a control mode in which driving of the engine (hybrid travel) is permitted in order to maintain the vehicle SOC within the predetermined control range. As a result, greater priority is given to electric travel over hybrid travel in the CD mode than in the CS mode.
In the hybrid vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5149989, the CD mode is selected until the SOC of the electricity storage device falls to a predetermined value, and when the SOC of the battery falls to the predetermined value, the CD mode is switched to the CS mode.
When the electricity storage device is a battery pack formed by connecting a plurality of battery units in series, differences may occur among the SOCs of the respective battery units due to various factors such as individual differences among the respective battery units and variation in a degree of deterioration therein. Therefore, to prevent over-discharge of the respective battery units, an overall SOC (also referred to hereinafter as a "vehicle SOC") of the electricity storage device may be calculated in consideration of the SOC (also referred to hereafter as a "minimum unit SOC") of the battery unit having the lowest SOC. For example, the vehicle SOC may be calculated such that when the minimum unit SOC is at a lower limit value, the vehicle SOC also takes a lower limit value.
In the hybrid vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5149989, however, when the effect of the minimum unit SOC on the vehicle SOC is set to be excessively large in order to prevent over-discharge, the vehicle SOC is calculated at a lower value than necessary relative to an actual overall amount of power stored in the electricity storage device at a point where the vehicle SOC falls to a predetermined value. As a result, the CD mode may be switched to the CS mode earlier than necessary, leading to a reduction in an electric travel distance.


The present invention provides an image collation device having a simple whole structure which is applied, for example, as a fingerprint collation device. Linear images cut from the one image is stored in a memory means, and the other image is collated with the stored liner images. Thereby the image data of the linear images can be recorded in a memory means having a small capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image collation device, which is applied, for example, as a fingerprint collation device. In the present invention, an image collation device records linear images in a memory means, and judges a collation target image with reference to these linear images, thereby it is possible to collate an image with a simple structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, in the conventional fingerprint collation device using an image collation device of this sort, featured points such as branch point and cut (referred to as featured point hereinafter) are extracted from a fingerprint image obtained by means of an image pick-up device, and fingerprint collation is performed with reference to these featured points.
In other words, in the conventional fingerprint collation device, a fingerprint to be collated is previously converted to database with reference to, for example, featured points and coordinate values. A fingerprint image to be subjected to fingerprint collation is subjected to image processing in order to extract featured points. Then, a database has an access to the extracted featured points and the fingerprint is collated based on the existence of corresponding featured points.
The conventional fingerprint collation is disadvantageous in that it takes a long time to find featured points and fingerprint collation takes a long time. If fingerprint collation is carried out consistently within a short time, the fingerprint collation device provides improved convenience for use, and such improvement is desirable.
An alternative method that involves fingerprint collation based on image data instead of finger print collation based on featured point has been considered to solve such problem. According to this method, the time required to extract featured points is eliminated, and the time required for fingerprint collation is shortened.
However, for fingerprint collation based on image data, it is required to construct finger print image database, the fingerprint image database should have a large structure. Such database requires a memory means having a large capacity. The large capacity results in a complex whole structure, and such complex structure is a problem.
The present invention is accomplished to solve such problem, and provides an image collation device which is capable of collating an image such as fingerprint with a simple structure.


An additivation device (2) for beverages (B) adds at least one additive (A) to at least one beverage (B). The device (2) includes at least one first inlet duct (30), through which at least one beverage (B) coming from a source is introduced into the device (2), and at least one second inlet duct (40), through which at least one additive (A) is introduced into the device (2). The additive (A) is a fluid and is contained in at least one container (21). The device includes at least one outlet duct (39), through which the beverage (B), to which said at least one additive (A) has been added, exits the device (2). The device (2) includes an additivator device (5) for taking a known quantity of the at least one additive (A) and mixing the additive (A) with the beverage (B). The device (2) supplies and mixes the at least one additive (A) with the beverage (B) while the beverage (B) is flowing between the at least one first inlet duct (30) and the outlet duct (39).

The present invention relates to an additivation device for beverages such as, for example, water, and to an associated additivation method.
Said additivation device is adapted to mineralize said beverage by adding mineral salts and/or flavours.
The additivation process, implemented by means of said device, can simultaneously add at least one required substance to the beverage and dissolve it into the beverage in one step.
The additivation device can add mineral salts, for the purpose of mineralizing the beverage, e.g. water, or flavours, for the purpose of flavouring the same beverage.
Beverages like table water, whether bottled mineral water or spring water or waterworks' water, not always have satisfactory organoleptic and/or mineralization characteristics that suit, for example, each consumer's tastes. In fact, for each spring, waterworks or producer, the water will have particular mineralization characteristics making it different.
Purifiers of various kinds are known which are adapted to reduce specific elements and/or pollutants. Such purifiers cannot add any substances which may be lacking, e.g. mineral salts. On the other hand, water mineralization systems are known which are adapted to restore and supplement mineral salts reduced or even completely removed by the above-mentioned purifier. Such mineralizers are very complex and bulky, since they are designed for mixing the water in large containers before it can be dispensed.
Such mineralizers cannot be designed and implemented as a household appliance for family use. In fact, the dimensions of such devices are such that they can only be normally used in beverage production facilities, where large quantities of normally purified water are treated.
It is also known that bottled mineral water, since it cannot be modified by law, contains elements which are typical of the source it comes from, with no possibility of selection or modification.

Additivation device for beverages and method thereof


A class of bio-based bifuran cross-linkers are disclosed. Polymers cross-linked using the cross-linkers are also disclosed.

Apparatus and methods described herein relate to cross-linkers derived from renewable sources. Such cross-linkers can be used to build molecular weight in polymers in a way that preserves and promotes renewable and bio-content without sacrificing the physical properties of the polymers.
Conventional methods of boosting bio and renewable content in polymers generally rely on adding polymers derived from renewable or bio-sources to petroleum-based polymers to form a mixture. Such methods generally do not link the bio-based polymers to the petroleum-based polymers chemically, or use cross-linkers that are themselves petroleum-based. Cross-linkers derived from biological or renewable sources are needed to improve the physical properties of bio-based polymers.

Renewable cross-linker for increased bio-content from fructose

International Business Machines Corporation


A cassette which serves the purpose of connecting and branching light waveguides has a reserve length thereof for each of the waveguides deposited in the cassette in either a figure eight or circular or oval pattern. To accomplish this, the cassette is formed with upstanding holding devices which enable winding the waveguides in a figure eight pattern or in a circular pattern, or both. A plurality of the cassettes can be interconnected together to form a cassette block which can be opened hinge-like. To interconnect waveguides in one cassette with the other cassette, each of the cassettes is provided with an opening in a floor of the cassette and a portion of the side wall midway along the longitudinal side wall, which side wall is positioned adjacent a hinge interconnecting the cassettes together.

The present invention is directed to a cassette and to a cassette block for connecting and branching light waveguides. The light waveguides are joined by connector elements, such as splices, or by coupling elements, which can be couplers or splitters. What is referred to as the "reserve length" of the light waveguide is placed in the cassette.
A cassette for the acceptance of light waveguides is disclosed in German Published Application 34 13 401. As disclosed, two leads are tangentially conducted to the deposited light waveguides offset from the outside from the middle of the end face of the cassette, and the cassette has hold-down means to prevent the fibers from ascending or moving in a vertical direction. The reserve length of the light waveguides are usually only placed after the splice connection has been produced. When these reserve lengths are placed in circles or ovals, then the light waveguide is turned with every loop formed. When a plurality of loops are necessary, this leads to a high stress, which makes manipulation of the light waveguides more difficult and also lends to an increase in the attenuation.
Various solutions for avoiding this problem are known. A figure-eight-shaped deposit of light waveguides is disclosed by Japanese Published Application 55-62414.
The above two cassettes are actually more suitable for connecting light waveguides than for branching to a plurality of light waveguides and, accordingly, receive only two leads. A plurality of leads and a plurality of cassettes are often required when branching light waveguides via couplers. It is known per se to combine the plurality of cassettes to form a cassette block.

Cassette and cassette block for light waveguides


The present invention is directed to novel pyrimidines, their derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and hydrates thereof. The compounds and compositions of the present invention have protein kinases inhibitory activities and are expected to be useful for the treatment of protein kinases and/or mutants mediated diseases and conditions.

Protein kinases represent a large family of enzymes, which catalyze the phosphorylation of target protein substrates. The phosphorylation is usually a transfer reaction of a phosphate group from ATP to the protein substrate. Due to their activity in numerous cellular processes, protein kinases have emerged as important therapeutic targets.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a widely distributed growth factor that in cancer, can stimulate cancer-cell proliferation, block apoptosis, activate invasion and metastasis, and stimulate angiogenesis (Citri, et al., Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:505, 2006; Hynes, et al., Nat. Rev. Cancer 5:341, 2005). The EGF receptor (EGFR or ErbB) is a transmembrane, tyrosine kinase receptor that belongs to a family of four related receptors. The majority of human epithelial cancers are marked by functional activation of growth factors and receptors of this family (Ciardiello, et al., New Eng. J. Med. 358: 1160, 2008) so that EGF and EGFR are natural targets for cancer therapy. The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) tyrosine kinase family consists of four structurally related cellular receptors: the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; HER1), HER2 (ErbB2), HER3 (ErbB3), and HER4.
EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and gefitinib as well as the dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitor lapatinib are FDA-approved cancer drugs that are effective against multiple solid tumor cancers. However, their effectiveness is also limited by the drug resistance that frequently emerges following treatment. Point mutations in the kinase domain of EGFR as well as upregulation of by-pass signaling pathways are frequently observed resistance mechanisms in patients treated with gefitinib and erlotinib. A single point mutation at the gatekeeper position, T790M, in EGFR kinase domain accounts for approximately 50% of acquired resistance.
Thus, the compounds that can inhibit mutant protein kinases such as EGFR-T790M activity with improved efficacy or overcome drug resistance are highly desired.

Substituted pyrimidines useful as EGFR-T790M kinase inhibitors


A passive golf swing training apparatus used in teaching a golfer the proper fore and aft alignment of the golfer's club in conjunction with a pair of adjustable guide rails that can be set to conform with the particular lie of a golf club. The apparatus provides guidance for the club during the first half of the back stroke from the setup position to the horizonal position. A trigger means, located at the horizonal position, is tripped by the shaft of the golf club, allowing the apparatus to collapse, thereby removing the apparatus as an obstruction on the down stroke.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the sport of golf and more particularly to golf training aids that provide guidance during practice in a manner that will improve the golfer's ability to strike a golf ball effectively. The need for such guidance has been recognized almost since the game of golf was invented. Over the generations, many instructional devices have been offered to the learning golfer. Such devices include oral or written information, tips, demonstrations and general advice. Elaborate devices have been constructed to restrict the golfer's movement of his limbs, torso or both in a predetermined and supposedly effective manner or, alternatively, to prevent his moving where movement was seen to be detrimental to a successful swing. Such devices are intended to demonstrate the correct mechanics of a swing, and the golfer is expected to become acclimated to the new habits for use on the course. However, since the golfer cannot actually play encumbered by a training device, any training method must train the golfer in a manner that does not make him actually reliant on the device while on the course.
2. GENERAL BACKGROUND
It is well known that the golfer must address the ball properly using the proper grip and stance. It is also essential that the club be in proper alignment throughout the swing. To teach the golfer to maintain proper alignment, various devices have been employed utilizing large cumbersome apparatus. Most such devices have complete or substantially complete arcuate members which extend from point of impact of the golf ball completely around the golfer in an attempt to control the entire swing.
Some golf professionals are now advocating that the first move into the back swing is critical and should be practiced repeatedly using a combination of hands, arms, and body moving together to the point where the shaft is horizontal and parallel to the ground. The golfer must learn to address the ball in a manner that allows the club to assume its normal lie and maintain an accurate fore and aft alignment conforming to the golfer's center of gravity. To perfect the alignment of the club, the golfer must insure that the club face is moved neither away from nor towards the body. In addition, the golfer must learn to achieve a movement whereby the club shaft at the horizonal is parallel to the target with the club head pointed vertical. It becomes evident the hands and club must work independently of the body. Once the club reaches the horizonal position, the golfer's body-build plays a significant part in the remainder of the swing.
Therefore, one must master the set up, lie, shaft alignment and the critical wrist action necessary to produce a proper back swing. It is also essential that such training aids should be capable of not only training golfers to achieve the stance and proper take off on the back swing but also not hinder him on the down stroke.
The closest prior art found which attempted to provide a back swing guide that is both lightweight, and portable was U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,152 issued to Graham. However, the Graham training guide fails to provide a means for controlling the club's lie or the fore and aft angle of the club's shaft in relation to the ball. Furthermore, no means was provided in the Graham patent for removing the apparatus from the path of the golf club on the down stroke.


An electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, include: a communication module configured to receive a keyword list that includes a topic keyword and one or more related keywords concerning the topic keyword from another electronic device; and a processor configured to create a topic channel by using the keyword list, collect social media data by using the one or more related keywords, extract related content by analyzing the social media data, and provide the social media data and the related content to the other electronic device through the topic channel.

Social network services (SNS) refer to services by which people may strengthen existing relationships with others and may make more personal connections based on the web. The SNS may provide a service for classifying people into specific groups, a service for providing a means by which the users can contact their friends, or the like. Initial social networks were generalized online communities in which groups or people who are interested in a particular topic sharing exclusive services in which the users get together and chat to each other in chat rooms or the users post personal information or articles on their personal home pages. Afterwards, with the provision of the SNSs that allow the user to share his/her individual interests and personality and that can attract tens of millions of unique service users, the SNSs have been productively used to share business and a variety of information. The SNS may provide a means by which the users can contact each other through e-mails or instant messenger services. The SNS enables a one-person media and a one-person community to help the sharing of personal information and communicate with each other. In addition, since the SNS enables users who have the same interest or social background to make personal connections and exchange information with each other, the SNS users may be provided with highly reliable information.

Method for providing social media content and electronic device using the same


Provided herein are recombinant respiratory syncytial viruses that contain mutations that make the disclosed viruses attractive vaccine candidates. The viruses disclosed contain attenuating mutations designed to have increased genetic and phenotypic stability. Desired combinations of these mutations can be made to achieve desired levels of attenation. Exemplary vaccine candidates are described. Also provided are polynucleotides capable of encoding the described viruses, as wells as methods for producing the viruses and methods of use.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects nearly everyone worldwide early in life and is responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity. In the United States alone, RSV is responsible for 75,000-125,000 hospitalizations yearly, and worldwide conservative estimates conclude that RSV is responsible for 64 million pediatric infections and 160,000 pediatric deaths. Another unusual feature of RSV is that severe infection in infancy can be followed by years of airway dysfunction, including a predisposition to airway reactivity. RSV infection exacerbates asthma and may be involved in initiating asthma.
RSV is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family and, as such, is an enveloped virus that replicates in the cytoplasm and matures by budding through the host cell plasma membrane. The genome of RSV is a single, negative-sense strand of RNA of 15.2 kilobases that is transcribed by the viral polymerase into 10 mRNAs by a sequential stop-start mechanism that initiates at a single viral promoter at the 3′ end of the genome. Each mRNA encodes a single major protein, with the exception of the M2 mRNA, which has two overlapping open reading frames that encode two separate proteins. The 11 RSV proteins are: the RNA-binding nucleocapsid protein (N), the phosphoprotein (P), the large polymerase protein (L), the attachment glycoprotein (G), the fusion protein (F), the small hydrophobic (SH) surface glycoprotein, the internal matrix protein (M), the two nonstructural proteins NS1 and NS2, and the M2-1 and M2-2 proteins encoded by the M2 mRNA. The RSV gene order is: 3′-NS1-NS2-N-P-M-SH-G-F-M2-L. Each gene is flanked by short transcription signals called the gene-start (GS) signal, present on the upstream end of the gene and involved in initiating transcription of the respective gene, and the gene-end (GE) signal, present at the downstream end of the gene and involved in directing synthesis of a polyA tail followed by release of the mRNA.
The development of live-attenuated vaccines has been in progress since the 1960's but has been complicated by a number of factors. For example, RSV grows only to moderate titers in cell culture and is often present in long filaments that are difficult to purify and can readily lose infectivity during handling. Another problem is that the magnitude of the protective immune response is roughly proportional to the extent of virus replication (and antigen production). Thus, attenuation is accompanied by a reduction in immunogenicity, and it is essential to identify a level of replication that is well tolerated yet satisfactorily immunogenic. These studies can only be done in humans, because RSV does not replicate efficiently in most experimental animals, such as rodents and monkeys. Chimpanzees are more permissive but usually are not readily available. Another obstacle is the difficulty in developing attenuating mutations. Another obstacle is genetic instability that is characteristic of RNA viruses, whereby attenuating mutations can revert to the wild-type assignment or to an alternative assignment that confers a non-attenuated phenotype.
Until recently, RSV vaccine candidates were developed by conventional biological means. These previous biologically-derived candidates were either under-attenuated or over-attenuated, and genetic instability was observed in some cases.

Genetically stable live attenuated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine and its production

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A dual mass flywheel protection system includes an engine coupled to a transmission using a dual mass flywheel defining a drive train. A gear determiner identifies a present operational gear. A filtered engine speed is available. A torque reduction module applies the present operational gear and filtered engine speed producing signals limiting an engine torque to reduce engine torque variations. A first torque limitation option limits engine torque when the drivetrain is coupled, dependent on an engine rpm, which is related to an actual gear selected. A second torque limitation option determines an engine torque reduction during an emergency braking maneuver while an anti-lock brake (ABS) system is active. An engine shut-off module produces an output signal shutting off the engine upon initiation of one of multiple engine shut-off module outputs, and is active when an engine torque limitation due to a low engine rpm is not present.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Motor vehicle drive trains may include a dual mass flywheel between an engine and a transmission to dampen variations of torque or revolutions of a crankshaft of the engine or prime mover that could cause an unwanted vibration felt by an operator of the motor vehicle. Vibration reduction is achieved by accumulating stored energy in the two flywheel half masses over a period of time using a series of springs and releasing this stored energy.
Present vehicle control systems provide only a basic protection of the dual mass flywheel by shutting off the engine if the engine speed gets to a predetermined low speed during an elongated cranking during engine start. Additional system protection of the dual mass flywheel is therefore warranted under all driving and operating conditions of the vehicle.

Dual mass flywheel protection by software


A method for deducing user intent and providing computer implemented services characterized by the steps of: a) noticing a significant new event occurring within the computer system; b) deducing an intent from the significant new event and from the context in which the new event occurred; and c) providing a service based upon the new event and its context. Significant events are those which the computer might be able to assist a user, and can be determined by matching the event into a database of recognizable events to make a significant observation. The deduction step takes a delimited set of significant observations and attempts to match the set against a number of intent templates. If there are multiple matches to the intent templates, the matches are ranked and a best guess is made to determine a deduced intent. Service is provided fulfilling all preconditions of a plan associated with the deduced intent, and by sequentially executing the steps of the plan. The apparatus of the present invention implements the method on a pen-based computer system.

The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and more particularly to methods for providing computerized assistance to users of computer systems.
Computer systems have evolved over the years to provide substantial levels of user assistance. On such form of assistance is the help function available in many operating systems and application programs. For example, release 7.0 of the Macintosh operating system of Apple Computer, Inc. provides context sensitive "balloon help" where a user can learn more about an object represented on a computer screen by simply pointing to the object. Microsoft Word 5.0 from Microsoft, Inc. provides a help menu which allows a user to select a help topic. Other systems, such as dbase IV from Borland International, will ask users if they need help if it appears that they need help.
Conventional help functions are useful adjuncts to system and application software. They provide a convenient access to helpful information without requiting a user to study a reference manual. However, such help functions tend to be quite limited. They typically are only useful for a limited range of topics, and users must often know the right questions to ask to access the information. Furthermore, conventional help functions are merely passive providers of information and do not aid a user in accomplishing a desired task.
Another form of computerized assistance are the utilities known as "macros" which can provide user requested services. Macros often have a "record" function which allows a series of keystrokes to be recorded for subsequent playback. By using the record function, a frequently used sequence of commands can be executed by evoking the macro.
A powerful feature of many macro programs is the ability to program macro functions including loops and conditionals. This permits the macro to adapt to user inputs and the system environment to flexibly perform automated tasks. While macros are powerful tools, their capabilities tend to be limited and they must be evoked by the user.
Both help and macro functions fall short of providing intelligent or "deductive" assistance to computer users. The help function is essentially just a convenient way for a user to access reference information or information concerning system status. The macro function is often no more than an automated playback of a string of commands. Truly deductive assistance would anticipate a user's needs and intentions and satisfy those needs and intentions with little or no user input.
To be truly useful, deductive assistance should be fully integrated throughout a computer system's operating and application programs. No such deductive assistance process has heretofore been known. One reason for this is that most general purpose computers do not have a high degree of integration between various application programs and between the application programs and the operating system. Therefore, activity in one application program is unlikely to have an impact upon or modify another application program, limiting the range of useful activities that a deductive assistant could provide. Nonetheless, deductive assistance would be useful in the general computer environment if it were available.
A relatively new type of computer which is well suited for deductive assistance is the pen-based computer system. A pen-based computer system is typically a small, hand-held computer where the primary method for inputting data includes a "pen" or stylus. A pen-based computer system is commonly housed in a relatively flat enclosure, and has a dual-function display assembly providing a viewing screen along one of the planar sides of the enclosure. The dual-function display assembly serves as both an input device and an output device. When operating as an input device, the display assembly senses the position of the tip of a stylus on the viewing screen and provides this positional information to the computer's central processing unit (CPU). Some display assemblies can also sense the pressure of the stylus on the screen to provide further information to the CPU. When operating as an output device, the display assembly presents computer-generated images on the screen.
The dual-function display assemblies of pen-based computer systems permit users to operate the computer as a computerized notepad. For example, graphical images can be input into the pen-based computer by merely moving the stylus on the surface of the screen. As the CPU senses the position and movement of the stylus, it generates a corresponding image on the screen to create the illusion that the stylus is drawing the image directly upon the screen, i.e. that the stylus is "inking" an image on the screen. With suitable recognition software, text and numeric information can also be entered into the pen-based computer system in a similar fashion.
Besides serving as a notepad, pen-based computers can provide a number of useful functions, such as serving as an address book, an appointment calendar, a to-do list, etc. These functions can be tightly integrated with the operating system of the computer, permitting information input into one function to impact upon another function. In such an environment, deductive assistance would be a valuable addition to the functionality and value of the computer system.

Method and apparatus for deducing user intent and providing computer implemented services


A hand-held contact shock producing and nonlethal stun device wherein the electrical circuitry therein includes an oscillator coupled to an inverter transformer which, in turn, cooperates with an output transformer and spark gap device to produce a high voltage, short duration, low current arc across contact probes. The internal circuitry further includes a low battery detection circuit wherein a visual display of a low battery condition is produced when the gun is activated for a first predetermined time period. To preclude overzealous application of the device, the oscillator is disabled after a second predetermined time period. A wrist strap secured to the operator and having a key portion fixedly attached thereto is also provided. The key portion is received into the device housing and closes a kill switch within the housing to disable the device when removed from the housing. The key portion remaining with the operator disables the circuit when the device is separated from the operator. The key portion further provides means for re-enabling the device if recovered by the operator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device designed to incapacitate a person by means of non-lethal electric shock. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held stun gun used by law enforcement officers to affect the neuromuscular system of the body by interrupting electrical nerve impulses, causing a mild state of confusion or disorientation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, the term "stun gun" has been generically applied to any electronic device designed to incapacitate a person by means of non-lethal technology. Most stun guns have a hardened and nonconductive exterior case in which is housed the electronic circuitry. Generally protruding from the case are preferably two or four probes through which a high voltage, low duration, and low charge pulse, produced by the internal circuitry, is delivered. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,084 issued to Dunning, et al. for "Enhanced Electrical Shocking Device with Improved Long Life and Increased Power Circuitry" ("'084 Patent").
The disclosure in the '084 Patent describes a stun gun which utilizes a pair of surge arresters in place of the conventional internal spark gap found in most stun guns. The pair of surge arresters are used to eliminate the problems associated with the corrosion and pitting of the internal spark gap which made prior art stun guns unreliable. Also disclosed in the '084 Patent is a strap attached to the stun gun housing such that when in use, the user's fingers are wrapped around grooves in the housing and the strap is wrapped around the back of the user's hand. If the stun gun is knocked out of the user's hand by an assailant, the force of the stun gun "flying out of the user's hand" creates a pulling effect on a pin connected from the strap to an ON-OFF switch, causing the switch to open and break contact, thereby deactivating the stun gun temporarily. Reinsertion of the strap end back into the stun gun housing serves to reactivate the device.
The electronic circuitry within the housing of the '084 Patent utilizes an inverter transformer and an output transformer to generate the high voltage at the contact probes. The inverter transformer is driven by a standard relaxation oscillator circuit which is activated upon closure of a trigger switch. The secondary winding of the inverter transformer is used to drive a half wave rectifier circuit to charge a large storage capacitor. The storage capacitor continues to charge until a point when the voltage across a series pair of surge arresters reaches a "breakover" point, at which time the storage capacitor discharges through the primary windings of the output transformer. The output transformer, having a turns ratio selected to step up the applied voltage, produces approximately 75,000 volts across the contact probes attached to the secondary winding. The circuit thus operates to produce the high voltage for so long as the trigger switch is operated.
Therefore, there exists a need for a stun gun device having a low battery indicator light to alert an operator that the battery driving the internal electronic circuits have reached the end of their useful life. Further, the market demands a stun gun having a fail-safe shutdown feature wherein an overzealous operator is precluded from applying the device against a victim for prolonged periods. The market further demands a stun gun which is deactivated if stripped away from an officer and which is rendered useless to an assailant who may obtain possession of the device without a reactivation component securely strapped about the operators wrist or to his person. Lastly, the market demands the efficient utilization of energy stored in the battery power source to permit the device to be used for prolonged periods.

Stun gun with low battery indicator and shutoff timer


A pressure generating apparatus for a braking system of a motor vehicle, a flange embodied on a second housing component adjacent to a first housing component, which flange is congruent with a flange-shaped portion of the first housing component, is mounted on the flange-shaped portion of the first housing component, and the second housing component completely surrounds a transmission gear set of the first housing component. Also described is a hydraulic assemblage for interacting with the pressure generating apparatus, to a braking system for a motor vehicle, and to a method for installing a braking system for a motor vehicle.

Hydraulic vehicle braking systems conventionally have piston pumps to generate brake pressure.
Patent document DE 10 2008 002 740 A1 discusses a piston pump in particular for brake pressure regulation in a hydraulic vehicle braking system. To control the flow of pressure medium, the piston pump has an outlet valve housed in a valve cover. An outflow conduit of the piston pump opens into a pressure medium conduit of a pump housing. This pressure medium conduit is located, when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the piston pump, above an end, located in the interior of the pump housing, of the valve cover.
A cylinder-piston arrangement in which a drive device is furnished which is embodied to displace the piston axially in an opening, provided therefor, of a hydraulic assemblage, can furthermore alternatively be provided for pressure generation.

Pressure generating apparatus for a braking system of a motor vehicle, hydraulic assemblage for interacting with the pressure generating apparatus, braking system, and method for installing a braking system for a motor vehicle


A foot-actuated valve assembly operable for delivering either a mixture of hot and cold water through a faucet, or solely cold water to the faucet. The user selectively actuates one of two sides of a kick plate. Actuation of one side of the kick plate causes a mixture of hot and cold water to flow through the faucet. Actuation of the other side of the kick plate causes only cold water to flow through the faucet.

Foot-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids through a faucet are useful in a variety of settings, especially in applications related to the healthcare industries. For example, surgical suites often have scrub-rooms in which the water supply to the wash basin is operated by the user depressing an actuator valve located in the floor. In this way a surgeon may scrub without handling the faucet valves. This eliminates one source of contamination. Dental offices also utilize foot controlled valves for sanitation in a similar manner.
In foot-actuated valve systems an on-off valve is plumbed into the fluid line. A faucet or some other delivery valve is located downstream from the on-off valve. The actuator valve is connected to the on-off valve. When the actuator valve is depressed it causes the on-off valve to open, allowing fluid to flow through the valve and to the faucet. Release of the actuator valve causes the on-off valve to close, stopping the fluid flow.
Where water is the fluid to be delivered, one actuator valve is usually connected to a pair of on-off valves. One of the on-off valves is plumbed into the hot water line, the other is plumbed into the cold water line. When the user depresses the actuator valve, both the hot and cold on-off valves open simultaneously to allow water to flow through the on-off valves to the faucet. The faucet is pre-set to regulate the volume of water flowing through the faucet, and the flow of hot water relative to the flow of cold water. Water at the desired temperature is delivered in this manner.
A problem with this type of a foot-actuated valve assembly is that there is only one pre-set temperature setting available at the wash basin. In other words, the mixing valve is pre-set to deliver water at a given temperature by regulating the rate of flow of hot water relative to the rate of flow of cold water. If the user wants hotter or colder water, the mixing valve must be hand adjusted to alter the relative rates of flow. This defeats the purpose of the foot-actuated valve.


A wireless toy playset. The playset includes a small size vehicle that moves about a track. Movement of the vehicle is controlled by a wireless transmitter. At the discretion of a parent or end user the transmitter can either be structurally coupled to the track or physically separated from the track. By way of example, the transmitter may be docked into a docking station of the track. Structurally coupling the wireless transmitter to the track reduces the likelihood of separation, and possibly misplacement, of the transmitter from the playset. For example, when the playset is operated by a small child it may be desirable to structurally couple the wireless transmitter to the track to prevent the child from removing and losing the transmitter. When the child is older the transmitter may be removed from the track

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless signal controlled toy playset.
2. Background Information
There have been developed a number of wireless signal controlled toy playsets. Wireless toy playsets typically include a wireless transmitter that can be operated by an end user to control the movement of a motorized toy vehicle. For example, there had been developed wireless signal controlled hand size playsets marketed by Fisher-Price under the trademarks RC RACEWAY and RC OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE that contained motorized vehicle that moved about a track. The vehicles were controlled by buttons of a wireless transmitter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,887 issued to Rudell et al., discloses a small size train set that is controlled by a wireless transmitter. The transmitter includes a button to control the speed of the train and a second button to activate an auxiliary feature such as a barrel loading feature of the train set.
The transmitters for the small size wireless toys are physically separate from the vehicles or tracks. Consequently, a child may misplace, lose, or otherwise permanently separate the transmitter from the vehicle, rendering the playset inoperative.
Tyco Preschool, which became a part of Fisher Price, marketed a line of wireless controlled toys under the SESAME STREET brand. One of the Tyco toys was a ride-on train marketed under the trademark FP RADIO CONTROL RIDE-ON TRAIN. The RIDE-ON TRAIN was large enough for a young child to ride.
The RIDE-ON TRAIN included a wireless transmitter that could be held and operated by a parent while the child held onto the train. When the child attained a certain level of motor skills the transmitter could be attached directly to the train so that the child could control the motion of the toy train. In this configuration the child would have to ride the train to operate the transmitter. This would be an impossibility for a small size playset such as the RC RACEWAY and RC OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE products. It would be desirable to have a toy playset that would minimize the possibility of losing the transmitter while allowing the end user to operate the transmitter without sitting on the vehicle. It would also be desirable to allow an end user to operate a wireless transmitter located adjacent to the track.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which an element is formed, a low dielectric constant insulation film formed over the semiconductor substrate and having a relative dielectric constant of 3 or lower, a plug and a wiring layer buried in the low dielectric constant insulation film, and a high Young's modulus insulation film having a Young's modulus of 15 GPa or higher and formed in contact with a side of the plug between the low dielectric constant insulation film and the plug.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a multilayer wiring structure using a low-dielectric-constant interlayer insulation film, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Materials having a relative dielectric constant of 3 or lower have recently been used for low dielectric constant interlayer insulation films in order to increase the operation speed of an LSI. The Young's modulus of such a low dielectric constant insulation film is generally about 10 GPa or lower. The coefficient of linear expansion of Cu used as wiring materials is as large as about 16 ppm. However, when a Cu wiring layer is formed, a barrier metal layer comprising refractory metal such as Ta and Ti and a compound thereof, is formed between the Cu wiring layer and an interlayer insulation film. The coefficient of linear expansion of barrier metal is not larger than 10 ppm and smaller than that of Cu. Thus, a great thermal stress is exerted on the barrier metal layer due to a difference in coefficient of linear expansion between barrier metal and Cu wiring layer during a high-temperature process such as annealing and sintering.
If the Young's modulus of the low-dielectric-constant insulation film is sufficiently large, the stress applied to the barrier metal layer can be decreased by suppressing the thermal expansion of Cu. However, the Young's modulus of the low dielectric constant insulation film is about 10 GPa or lower, as described above. Therefore, the thermal stress applied to the barrier metal layer becomes great and causes a crack to the low dielectric constant insulation film.
It is around a via hole that such a crack is most likely to occur. Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, a problem of the crack in the wiring structure of a prior art semiconductor device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an insulation film 1 having a laminated structure of a low dielectric constant insulation film 1a and a high fracture strength cap insulation film 1b is formed on a semiconductor substrate 24 and a lower wiring layer 2 is buried in the insulation film 1 with a barrier metal layer 9 interposed therebetween. An etching stopper insulation film 3, a low dielectric constant insulation film 4, and a high fracture strength cap insulation film 5 are formed in sequence. As shown in FIG. 1B, a via hole 6 connected to the lower wiring layer 2 and a wiring groove 7 are formed in the insulation films 3, 4 and 5 by RIE (reactive ion etching). Then, the surface of the low dielectric constant insulation film 4 is damaged by the RIE to form a low fracture strength damaged layer 8.
After that, as shown in FIG. 1C, barrier metal is deposited in the via hole 6 and on the entire surface of the wiring groove 7 by sputtering. The barrier metal layer 9 formed on the sidewalls of the via hole 6 is thinner than that formed on the sidewalls and bottom of the wiring groove 7 and the bottom of the via hole 6. Then, conductive materials 10 such as Cu are deposited and the resultant structure is annealed at high temperature. During the high temperature annealing, a tensile stress is exerted on the barrier metal layer 9 due to a difference in coefficient of linear expansion between them.
Since, in particular, the barrier metal layer 9 formed on the sidewalls of the via hole 6 is thin, it is likely to be cracked by the tensile stress. The fracture strength of the damaged layer 8 that is formed in contact with the barrier metal layer 9 is low and thus the crack caused in the barrier metal layer 9 might come into the low dielectric constant insulation film 4 through the damaged layer 8. Consequently, the conductive materials 10 such as Cu, which are compressed at high temperature, are protruded from the crack and a short circuit will occur.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate; a first thin film transistor including a first active region on the substrate; a second thin film transistor connected to the first thin film transistor and including a second active region spaced from the first active region; and a silicon layer on the substrate and including a plurality of polysilicon lines spaced from each other and extending in a first direction and a plurality of amorphous silicon lines between the adjacent polysilicon lines and extending in the first direction, wherein the first active region and the second active region are in different polysilicon lines of the plurality of polysilicon lines.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting diode display and a manufacturing method of an organic light emitting device. Further, embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting diode display including a plurality of thin film transistors, and a manufacturing method of an organic light emitting diode display.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, representative examples of a flat panel display include an organic light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel, and the like.
Among them, the organic light emitting diode display includes a plurality of thin film transistors. The plurality of thin film transistors respectively includes an active layer formed of polysilicon.
Each active layer includes a plurality of thin film transistors patterned to be spaced from each other to prevent an undesired current from flowing therebetween.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form prior art.


An endoscope apparatus of a type having a cover for covering the endoscope composed of a cover for an insert, a cover for a control unit, and a universal-cord cover, and the endoscope which uses the endoscope cover to cover the control unit having a handle in the body of the control unit, an elongated insert extending from the control unit to the leading portion and a universal cord extending from the control unit. At least two members of all members that form the cover for the insert of the endoscope cover, for example, a leading unit and an acceptor for fixing the control unit of the endoscope, are made of the same material such as polysulfone which is a thermoplastic resin which can be recycled, or all members forming the cover for the insert are made of a material which can be subjected to a combustion process, or the cover for the control unit integrally covers the insert and the handle of the endoscope with the endoscope cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus of a type having a cover for covering the endoscope to prevent contamination of the endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
Endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and so forth. When an inspection with an endoscope of the type for use in the medical field is performed, a clean endoscope sufficiently must be used which is washed and disinfected prior to the inspection.
However, the endoscope usually has air-supply and water-supply passages and a forceps channel, requiring a long time to completely clean or disinfect the insides of the pipe portions. Since the disinfection process must be performed sufficiently to obtain a desired effect, the process must be performed for a long period of time. As a result, a problem arises in that the efficiency in using the endoscope deteriorates. Another problem is that the disinfection process is too complicated to be completed.
In view of overcoming the aforesaid problems, an endoscope apparatus of a type having a cover for covering the endoscope has been disclosed, in which the body of an endoscope is used in a state where it is covered with a cover for the endoscope, and only the cover for the endoscope is disposed of after use and replaced to prevent the unclean state of the body of the endoscope so that the the necessity of performing the cleaning operation and the disinfection process are eliminated. The foregoing structure has been disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,050,585, 4,646,722, Europe Patent Application Laid-Open No. 0,341,719, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-54734, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,190.
Specifically, the endoscope for use with the endoscope cover fastened is used in such a manner that its insert is previously cleaned and subjected to a sterilization and disinfecting process, and the insert and the like of the endoscope are covered with the endoscope cover followed by insertion of the insert into the coelom of a patient to inspect or cure the patient. After the endoscope has been used, the endoscope cover for covering the body of the endoscope is removed and disposed. By disposing the endoscope cover for each patient as described above, the body of the endoscope does not need to be cleaned or disinfected. Therefore, it can always be kept clean and sanitary. Since the body of the endoscope can be successively used while eliminating the necessity of cleaning and disinfecting it, the efficiency of using the endoscope can be satisfactorily improved.
Recently, there has arisen a problem of the disposition of the disposable products in view of environmental safeguards. Therefore, it is desirable that the manufacturer supplies products to consumers while taking, for example, recycling into consideration. However, the foregoing conventional endoscope covers have not been satisfactorily adaptable to the foregoing circumstance. Although the recycle must be so performed that the components are divided depending upon the material, the conventional endoscope cover incorporates components which are made of a multiplicity of materials, causing a problem to arise in that the division takes a too long time. In addition, the materials employed to constitute the members are not suitable to be subjected to the recycle process. The conventional endoscope cover sometimes employs an adhesive agent to connect the components, resulting in difficulty in decomposing the components. Furthermore, the adhesive agent usually contains a variety of components, resulting in a problem in that the components with the adhesive agent cannot be adaptable to the recycle process.
Furthermore, it is preferred in view of the environmental safeguards that the manufacturer considers the combustion facility when it supplies the disposable products to consumers. However, the conventional endoscope covers have not satisfactorily met the foregoing requirement. That is, the conventional endoscope cover has components that partially contain metals and resins. Therefore, there arises a problem at the combustion of the disposed components in that they cannot be subjected to the combustion process. The metals, which cannot be subjected to the combustion process, and resins, which can be subjected to the combustion process, must be divided to dispose them. Moreover, some resins for use in the conventional endoscope cover generate poisonous gas at the time of the combustion process. Therefore, some resin components cannot be subjected to the combustion process as it is. In addition, the conventional endoscope cover sometimes uses an adhesive agent to connect the components to each other, causing a difficulty to arise at the time of decomposing the components. Furthermore, the adhesive agent usually contains various components, causing a problem to arise in that poisonous gas sometimes is generated depending upon the type of the adhesive agent.
The endoscope cover of the conventional endoscope apparatus of a type having the endoscope cover disclosed in Europe Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 0,341,719 incorporates a cover for an insert of the endoscope and a cover for the control unit of the endoscope. The control unit of the endoscope has a handle in the leading portion and the cover for the control unit covers the portion including the handle. In the foregoing structure, the boundary between the cover for the control unit and the cover for the insert is positioned below the handle that can easily be contaminated. In the foregoing case, the invasion of contaminants through the boundary or that .due to the undesirable shift of the cover for the control unit during use of the endoscope must be prevented by carefully fastening the cover. The portion covered with the cover for the insert of the conventional endoscope cover is provided with the forceps channel and the air/water-supply passages. If the structure is so arranged that the base of the cover for the insert is positioned more forwards than the handle, the passage outwards extending from the base of the cover for the insert is undesirably positioned below the handle. As a result, the foregoing passage interrupts the operation with the endoscope, causing deterioration to arise in the operation facility.

Endoscope apparatus of a type having cover for covering the endoscope


The invention is a method continuing over a plurality of time periods for compensating for the output error in each of one or more navigation instruments in a system comprising a plurality of navigation instruments after the system is introduced into its operating environment. The practice of the method begins with determining the values of one or more of a set of coordinates that specify the position, velocity, and orientation of the system in space together with the error in a compensated output for each of the one or more navigation instruments. The method continues with determining a compensation model for each of the one or more navigation instruments. A compensation model specifies for a current time period an adjustment in amplitude of the output of a navigation instrument as a function of time and temperature. A compensation model is expressed as the sum of a first compensation model and a present second compensation model where the present second compensation model is a future second compensation model determined during the prior time period. The final steps of the method consist of measuring the time and the temperature of the navigation instruments and then obtaining a compensated output for each of the one or more navigation instruments by adjusting the output of a navigation instrument in accordance with its compensation model.

This invention relates generally to strapdown inertial navigation systems and more specifically to continuous temperature compensation methods.
In previous generations of inertial navigation systems, gimbaled platforms were used to spatially stabilize the accelerometers and thereby provide a coordinate system in which velocity and position could be propagated. The advantage of the gimbaled systems was the isolation of the instruments from large angular motions, the cancellation of errors in many scenarios, and the ability to re-calibrate the instruments by using simple gimbal rotations. The advent of strapdown instruments such as laser gyroscopes and high-speed computers has rendered the platform systems obsolete. Strapdown systems offer a high degree of ruggedness, unsurpassed reliability, wide-bandwidth capabilities, and multi-function capabilities. A typical strapdown ZLG system has an MTBF an order of magnitude higher than a platform system of old while providing equal or better performance and enhanced capabilities. Unfortunately, the strapdown systems are at a disadvantage from the point of view of continuous calibration. While gimbaled systems could self-calibrate with commanded gimbal rotations, such possibilities were non-existent in the strapdown, gimbal-free systems. Furthermore, while platform systems were generally temperature controlled, modem strapdown systems operate at the ambient temperature and employ thermal models to compensate for instrument temperature sensitivity. For systems with extremely long field longevity such as the ZLG-based units, a continuous calibration method is highly desirable in order to track any potential aging effects and to guarantee superior navigation accuracy over the life of the unit.

Temperature compensation method for strapdown inertial navigation systems


Method and apparatus for extruding incandescent coke from a coke oven and for quenching the coke prior to transport thereof from the point where extruded. The method and apparatus include enhanced air pollutant emission control characteristics. The apparatus includes an inverted, truncated-pyramid container cradled within the frame of a vehicle similar to that used to transport molten metal. Prior to coke extrusion the vehicle permits indexing of the container under the plane through which the extruded coke falls so as to receive all of such extruded coke. While indexed and immobile, the container is adapted to mate with a correspondingly indexed hood having emission control means adapted to be operable during both the extrusion and quenching of the coke at the indexed position of the container/hood. Use of the present invention, in comparison to the prior art, further minimizes the escape of uncleaned, air pollutant-emitting fume, both by virtue of combustion suppression and exhaust gas cleaning. The method and apparatus herein are subject to retrofit application on slot-type ovens converting coal to coke for metallurgical purposes wherein such ovens are subject to damage from misdirected water and steam.

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for minimizing the emission of particulate-laden smoke to the ambient atmosphere during extrusion of incandescent coke from a coke oven and during the quenching thereof at oven side. More specifically, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus involving a "one spot" container and mating hood including a spraying system operable during extrusion and quenching of the coke. Particulate matter entrained in the resulting steam is removed upon passage of the steam through an inertial impaction vent disposed in the hood portion of the apparatus.
The ever-increasing concern over environmental pollution has focused on a number of industrial operations that emit substantial amounts of gases and particulate matter to the ambient atmosphere. Various gas-cleaning devices such as electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers, etc. have been employed to collect the emissions. However, such devices have generally been applicable for use only in conjunction with fixed or stationary capturing structures. Thus, there is a need for such systems that may be employed wherein vehicular operations are encountered, at least in part and which require emission control.
One particular industrial operation producing substantial gases and particulate emissions is the movement of incandescent coke from a slot oven and the conveyance of such incandescent coke to a remotely located quenching station at which the coke is quenched. Typically, coke is pushed or extruded from any one of several individual oven chambers in a slot-type battery into a movable guide by which the coke is constrained to fall into an open-top railroad vehicle while it is moving past a loading point adjacent to the coke oven. As the coke emerges from the oven, the gases and particulate emissions are relatively minor until the coke begins to break up as it leaves the coke guide to drop into the vehicle thereunderneath. This extruding and falling of the coke normally results in a generation of a substantial quantity of sooty smoke and other particulate matter of the type that pollute the ambient air and atmosphere.
Accordingly, in slot-oven cokemaking air polluting emissions escape during (1) the extrusion process, (2) while incandescent coke is transported to another location for quenching and during (3) quenching of the coke. Subsequent to quenching the cooled coke is discharged from the transiting equipment or vehicle associated therewith so that the same equipment can be used for subsequent cycles. All of the above steps are closely related because of the need to expeditiously handle incandescent coke once it is extruded to the atmosphere, where it begins to burn. The nature of these steps (and their punishing effect on equipment used therefor) are well known and normally repetitious through several cycles each hour. For example, a method and apparatus for controlling particulate emissions during the coke extrusion and transit phases referred to herein above is disclosed and claimed in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,569, issued Sept. 12, 1978, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.
As considered in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,569 water has most commonly been the media used to lower incandescent coke below its ignition temperature. It is well known to the art that some liquid water survives conversion to gaseous steam, even in the presence of excessive heat, because droplets of water or columns of water become covered with steam envelopes which diminish the transfer of heat. In traditional, remotely located quenching processes it is common to use three to four times as much water as is converted to steam, for example. Accordingly, the apparatus and process of the present invention include means for the collection and husbanding of water not converted to steam for reintroduction during subsequent cycles, and to do so without interfering with coke loading and unloading. All recycled water is moved by pumps on board the coke vehicle and reintroduced so as to minimize the known difficulty of quenching coke in the lower, central areas of a relatively deep container.
As considered herein above, traditional wet quenching has been conducted in remotely located towers with large, ground level portals to permit the entrance and exit of rail vehicles containing coke. In attempting to minimize the carryout of solids the steam plumes associated therewith are passed upwardly through inertial impactors to de-entrain water and particulate matter. The flow resistance of such de-entrainment facilities is necessarily kept minimal to minimize or avoid flow through the rail vehicle portals. The result has been marginally satisfactory emission control. In a fully closed apparatus as herein described the inertial impactors will intensify resistance to flow and enhance de-entrainment of water and particulates from exhausted steam.
As described above, air polluting emissions evolve from coke, both when a coke cake is breaking during the extrusion, and from the coke which has come to a position of repose within the container into which it is extruded. To facilitate containment of fume and to permit directing it through a gas cleaner it has been granted to be beneficial to hold the container immobile through the extrusion phase so that fume containing equipment having mating surfaces can directly contact with one another. This has led to the development of the concept of a "one-spot car" in which incandescent coke is contained in a relatively deep, short container. Rather than coke being disposed in a thin layer on the sloped bottom of a traditional long quench car, the newer concept causes problems in coke quenching and adaptations therefore must be incorporated. However, by obviating the time period necessary to move coke from where it is extruded to remote quenching facilities, one of the three hot coke emission periods is eliminated. The necessity to include apparatus devoted to control hot coke transit emissions is obviated along with interface adaptations with traditional or modified wet quenching facilities to accept the transiting car. Obviation of the time necessary for incandescent coke transit also permits lengthening and subduing the instantaneous intensity of the quenching process.

Air pollution control method and apparatus for the extrusion and quenching of coke


This disclosure is directed to an ablation electrode having a cylindrical body in which a first conducting layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface and a second conducting layer is connected to a desired position on the interior surface of the first conducting layer forming a thermocouple at the desired position.

Electrophysiology catheters are commonly used for mapping electrical activity in the heart. Various electrode designs are known for different purposes. Certain types of electrical activity within a heart chamber are not cyclical. Instead of regular, coordinated electrical activity, disorganized electrical signals may impede heart function. Such electrical activity is random from beat to beat. An example is atrial fibrillation, which results from improper control of the timing and sequence of muscle contractions associated with a heartbeat. Other examples include arterial flutter or arterial fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia originating in scars in the wall of the ventricle that have resulted from infarcts.
Suitable treatments may include performing an ablation procedure, such as targeted ablation of myocardial tissue to treat the cardiac arrhythmias. One specific type of an ablation procedure is termed pulmonary vein isolation, in which tissue in the area adjacent the junction of the pulmonary veins and the left atrium is ablated. In such treatments, to reduce fibrillation or other arrhythmias, radiofrequency energy may be delivered by an ablation electrode to pulmonary vein tissue in order to create one or more lesions to block electrical conduction and to electrically isolate certain areas. This isolation may minimize the migration of irregular electrical activity to other areas of the heart. To deliver the radiofrequency energy to ablate tissue and thereby form conduction blocking lesions one or more ablation electrodes may be brought into contact or close proximity with atrial and pulmonary vein tissue.
A catheter may be used to position the ablation electrode to apply RF energy and create a lesion to break arrhythmogenic current paths in the cardiac tissue. It is desirable to know the temperature of the ablation electrode to prevent heating the tissue excessively. Current ablation electrodes may be equipped with thermocouples, but due to the size of current thermocouples in relation to the catheter and ablation electrode the thermocouple is usually attached at an edge of the ablation electrode (also "ring electrode") rather than at a central (or "focal") band of the electrode. The temperature at the edge of an ablation electrode may be significantly different from the temperature at the central band. Furthermore, and particularly when the ablation electrode is positioned correctly, the edge of the ablation electrode may be less likely to be in contact with the tissue being ablated. A temperature difference may also be accentuated in longer (e.g., 8 mm) ablation electrodes. For these and other applications, it would be desirable to determine the temperature of an ablation electrode at the point of contact with tissue as accurately as possible to avoid excess heating, or even charring, of the tissue. Accordingly, the embodiments of this disclosure as described in the following materials satisfy these and other needs.


A folding collapsible clothes rack including two parallel stands respectively equipped with rollers for movement, two uprights respectively pivoted to the stands and secured in an operative position by tightening up screws and spring plates, two bottom connecting rods pivotably connected together and respectively pivoted to the uprights and then secured in the operative position by tightening up screws and spring plates, a top tube for hanging clothes, two pistons respectively moved in the uprights at the top to hold the top tube and secured at the desired elevation relative to the respective upright by a respective lock, each piston having a top end turned about a respective pivot on a downward coupling plate at one end of the top tube and secured in the operative position by a respective tightening up screw and a respective spring plate.

The present invention relates to clothes racks, and relates more particularly to a folding collapsible clothes rack which can be conveniently folded up into a collapsed flat condition when not in use.
Various clothes racks have been disclosed for hanging clothes, and have appeared on the market. FIG. 1A shows a detachable clothes rack according to the prior art, which comprises two parallel stands (100) respectively equipped with rollers (300) for moving, a stretcher (200) connected between the stands (100), two uprights (400) respectively and vertically mounted on the stands (100), two pistons (500) adjustably fastened to the uprights (400), a top tube (600) horizontally supported on the pistons (500) at the top, and two extension rods (700) adjustably fastened to two opposite ends of the top tube (600). This structure of a clothes rack is still not functionally satisfactory. Because the stretcher is not collapsible, the detachable clothes rack still occupies much storage space when collapsed. Furthermore, the assembly process as well as the dismounting process of this structure of a detachable clothes rack are complicated. Because the parts of this structure of a detachable clothes rack are connected with one another by screws, they must be disconnected from one another so that the detachable clothes rack can be collapsed. However, when the parts of the detachable clothes rack are disconnected from one another, they tend to slip away from one another.


A computing device is described herein which accommodates gestures that involve intentional movement of the computing device, either by establishing an orientation of the computing device and/or by dynamically moving the computing device, or both. The gestures may also be accompanied by contact with a display surface (or other part) of the computing device. For example, the user may establish contact with the display surface via a touch input mechanism and/or a pen input mechanism and then move the computing device in a prescribed manner.

Handheld computing devices often allow users to input information by making direct contact with the display surfaces of the devices. These types of input mechanisms are referred to as contact-type input mechanisms herein. For instance, a touch input mechanism provides direct touch input events when a user touches a display surface of the computing device with a finger (or multiple fingers). A pen input mechanism provides direct pen input events when a user touches the display surface with a pen device, also known as a stylus.
Computing devices also permit a user to perform gestures by using one or more fingers or a pen device. For example, a gesture may correspond to a telltale mark that a user traces on the display surface with a finger or pen input device. The computing device correlates this gesture with an associated command. The computing device then executes the command. Such execution can occur in the course of the user's input action (as in direct-manipulation drag actions), or after the user finishes the input action.
Generally, a developer may wish to provide an expressive contact-type input mechanism that accommodates a rich set of input gestures. However, increasing the number of gestures may introduce a number of challenges. For instance, assume that a computing device accommodates two or more predefined intentional gestures that are nonetheless similar. In this case, the user may intend to enter a particular gesture, but the computing device may mistakenly interpret that gesture as another, but similar, gesture. In another case, the user may seek to perform a task using the computing device that does not involve intended interaction with a contact-type input mechanism. Yet the user may handle the computing device in a manner which causes inadvertent contact with the contact-type input mechanism. Or the user may accidently brush or bump against the display surface of the contact-type input mechanism while inputting information, which causes accidental contact with the contact-type input mechanism. The contact-type input mechanism may incorrectly interpret these accidental contacts as legitimate input events. These problems may understandably frustrate the user if they become a frequent occurrence, or, even if uncommon, if they cause significant disruption in the task that the user is performing.
A developer can address some of these concerns by developing compound idiosyncratic gestures. However, this is not a fully satisfactory solution because the user may have difficulty remembering and executing these gestures, particularly when these gestures are complex and "unnatural." Furthermore, complex gestures often take longer for the user to articulate. For this reason, adding these types of gestures to a set of possible gestures yields diminishing returns.

Detecting gestures involving intentional movement of a computing device


A method for disposing blocking material within an interior of a component for blocking a beam of radiation from a laser during a laser drilling operation, the method including forming one of a multiple of apertures formed via a first process and forming the remainder of the multiple of apertures formed via a laser drilling process. A component for a gas turbine engine includes a surface with at least one of a multiple of apertures formed via a first process, the at least one of the multiple of apertures formed via the first process in communication with a cavity, a remainder of the multiple of apertures formed via a laser drilling process, the remainder of the multiple of apertures in communication with the cavity.

The present disclosure relates to a method for disposing blocking material into a component having internal passages, and more particularly to a method for disposing laser blocking material within an interior of an airfoil.
Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor section to pressurize airflow, a combustor section to burn a hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, and a turbine section to extract energy from the resultant combustion gases. Gas path components, such as turbine blades, often include cooling that may be accomplished by external film cooling, internal air impingement, and forced convection either separately or in combination. In forced convection cooling, compressor bleed air flows through internal chambers to continuously remove thermal energy. The compressor bleed air enters the internal chambers through one or more inlets to the internal chambers, which then discharge though various aperture exits.
Advances in manufacturing have facilitated significantly smaller and more complex internal passages. The cooling air holes are drilled in pre-determined patterns and are contoured to ensure adequate cooling of the airfoil. The cooling air holes duct cooling air from passages on the interior of the airfoil through the hot walls to the exterior. The cooling air provides transpiration cooling as the air passes through the wall and, after the air is discharged from the airfoil, provides film cooling with a film of air on the exterior. The film of cooling air provides a barrier between the airfoil and the hot, working medium gasses.
One process to drill the holes utilizes a laser beam that burns through the wall of the airfoil to form a hole that provides a satisfactory conduit for cooling air. As the laser beam penetrates through the airfoil wall into an interior cavity, the laser beam may strike adjacent structure on the other side of the cavity that may cause unacceptable damage to the airfoil. Accordingly, blocking material may be disposed in the cavity to block the laser beam from striking walls that bound the cavity after the laser beam penetrates through the airfoil wall.
The relatively smaller and more complex passages complicate, if not prevent, the adequate injection of backing materials that fill all internal voids to protect from wall strikes and through wall breakthroughs associated with the laser hole drilling process. One process that attempts to overcome this complication relies solely on the control of filling material temperature and injection pressure, which may not be sufficient for parts with small cavities and complex internal features. Another process relies on controlling injection pressure and part orientation to move entrapped gases within the internal cavities. This process may also not be sufficient for parts with small cavities, complex internal features, nor those that dead-end.

Method for disposing a blocking material


Apparatus for extracting a target signal from a composite signal. The apparatus makes use of the composite signal to generate a DC power supply, whereupon no external power supply is needed for the apparatus to operate.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for extracting a target signal from a composite signal having the target signal and other signals combined together, and more particularly to a signal extracting apparatus which does not need to have an external power supply and which keeps the composite signal as intact as possible.
In electronic circuit applications, multiple signals are sometimes combined into a single composite signal to save cost of equipment (such as coaxial cables) in a signal transmission procedure. The need then arises to separate a target signal from the composite signal in order to further process the target signal, and a signal extracting apparatus must be used. For example, in a display monitor control circuit with only one cable input that represents both the horizontal synchronization (H-sync) and vertical synchronization (V-sync) signals, a signal extracting apparatus is necessary to separate the two signals for operation of the control circuit.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art circuit for extracting a target signal from a composite signal. Signal 111 is a composite signal ((H+V)-sync) of a horizontal synchronization signal (H-sync) and a vertical synchronization signal (V-sync) of a display monitor. Referring to the timing diagram of FIG. 2, signal 211 and signal 212 are the original H-sync and V-sync signals, respectively. Exclusive-OR gate G1 has signal 111 as one input and the other input kept "0". Thus the output signal 112 basically follows signal 111 except that signal 112 has the voltage level of TTL logic and possesses stronger driving capability. Furthermore, G1 separates signal 111 from the resistors and capacitor on the right hand side of the circuit with a high input impedance so that it won't be distorted by the charging and discharging effect.
A low-pass filter consisting of resistors R11 and R12 and capacitor C11 then passes only the low frequency portion of signal 112 and results in signal 113 which is the envelope of the low-frequency signal in the composite signal 111. Signal 113 has the shape of the vertical synchronization signal 212. With resistive and capacitive load of R11, R12, and C11, the rise time and fall time of signal 113 are longer and the amplitude is smaller than signal 112. Therefore another Exclusive-OR gate G2 is inserted between signal 113 and the ultimate output of this signal extracting circuit to recover signal 212 from the distorted signal 113. The other input terminal of G2 is kept "0" as in the case of G1. This makes the output signal 114 have TTL logic voltage levels and rise time and fall time closer to those of signal 212. Gates G1 and G2 can be replaced by OR gates, but whatever logic gates are used, the circuit requires a separate 5-volt power supply.

Apparatus for extracting a signal without external power supply


Aspirin (ASA) triggers a switch in the biosynthesis of lipid mediators, inhibiting prostanoid production and initiating 15-epi-lipoxin generation, through the acetylation of cyclooxygenase II.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) has been available for use as an analgesic-antipyretic for almost a century and novel therapeutic applications for this drug, for example in lowering the risk of myocardial infarction or as a prophylaxis against colorectal cancer, continue to be uncovered (Weissmann, G. (1991) Sci. Am. 264, 84-90; Ridker, P. M., Cushman, M., Stampfer, M. J., Tracy, R. P. & Hennekens, C. H. (1997) N. Engl. J. Med. 336, 973-979; Marcus, A. J. (1995) N. Engl. J. Med. 333, 656-658). The acetylation of cyclooxygenases I and II (COX I and II) and the subsequent irreversible inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) and thromboxane biosyntheses are well understood mechanisms of some of ASA's pharmacological actions (Marcus, A. J. (1995) N. Engl. J. Med. 333, 656-658; Herschman, H. R. (1998) Trends Cardiovasc. Med. 8, 145-150). More recently, ASA was found to cause a switch in eicosanoid biosynthesis as the acetylation of COX II changes the enzyme's activity to produce 15R-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid from agonist-released arachidonic acid Herschman, H. R. (1998) Trends Cardiovasc. Med. 8, 145-150). Human neutrophils, and other cells possessing 5-lipoxygenase, utilize this substrate via transcellular biosynthetic routes to produce 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (15-epi-LXA4) and 15-epi-lipoxin B4 (15-epi-LXB4) (Serhan, C. N. (1997) Prostaglandins 53, 107-137; Chiang, N., Takano, T., Clish, C. B., Petasis, N. A., Tai, H.-H. & Serhan, C. N. (1998) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 287, 779-790). These aspirin-triggered lipoxins (ATL) are the endogenous 15R enantiomeric counterparts of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and lipoxin B4 (LXB4), respectively, and share their bioactivities (Serhan, C. N. (1997) Prostaglandins 53, 107-137(5)).
Unlike other cicosanoids (e.g., leukotrienes, PGs, etc.), which are generally considered local pro-inflammatory mediators, lipoxins (LX) display potent inhibitory actions in several key events in inflammation, such as polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) chemotaxis, transmigration across endothelial and epithelial cells, and diapedesis from post-capillary venules (Serhan, C. N. (1997) Prostaglandins 53, 107-137(5)). LX are generated in several pathogenic scenarios in vivo, for example: in lung tissue of patients with severe pulmonary disease; and by PMN from patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, where their presence is proposed to be linked to long-term clinical improvement (Lee, T. H., Crea, A. E., Gant, V., Spur, B. W., Marron, B. E., Nicolaou, K. C., Reardon, E., Brezinski, M. & Serhan, C. N. (1990) Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 141, 1453-1458; Chavis, C., Chanez, P., Vachier, I., Bousquet, J., Michel, F. B. & Godard, P. (1995) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 207, 273-279; Chavis, C., Vachier, I., Chanez, P., Bousquet, J. & Godard, P. (1996) J. Exp. Med. 183, 1633-1643; Thomas, E., Leroux, J. L., Blotman, F. & Chavis, C. (1995) Inflamm. Res. 44, 121-124). Interestingly, ATL show an even greater level of inhibition than native LX in preventing neutrophil adhesion, where they are ˜twice as potent (Serhan, C. N. (1997) Prostaglandins 53, 107-137). ATL are also more potent inhibitors of microbial induction of cytokine release. Specifically, 15-epi-LXA4 showed greater inhibition than LXA4 of S. typhimurium-induced secretion and gene regulation of the potent leukocyte chemoattractant IL-8, generated by intestinal epithelial cells (Gewirtz, A. T., McCormick, B., Neish, A. S., Petasis, N. A., Gronert, K., Serhan, C. N. & Madara, J. L. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 101, 1860-1869). It is therefore likely that, in addition to the inhibition of prostaglandin formation, the benefits of ASA therapy also result from the triggering of novel anti-inflammatory lipid mediators that act locally to down regulate leukocytes.


A point of sale display including a first side with an image display having an aperture, and a second side with a backing wherein the aperture extends through the second side. A member (such as a hanger bar), onto which merchandise is held for display, may be supported by one or more point of sale displays. A member may be connected to a point of sale display by a bracket affixed thereto.

Garment racks are typically used by retail stores for hanging and/or displaying merchandise, including clothing, apparel, garments and other accessories. Such garment racks are known in the art; for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,484, 5,718,344 3,921,814 and 3,303,938. These garment racks allow consumers to browse and access the merchandise available for purchase.
Nevertheless, to date, garment racks have been designed solely to function as a mechanism for displaying and holding merchandise. However, especially in large retail stores, there is a need for retailers to further differentiate their products and attract consumers to their merchandise.