Wireless tags with a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways altered to collectively represent encoded information, each of which responds differently to an interrogation signal. The element is subjected to a signal stimulating the current pathways, each of which contributes to an overall element response. The information may be recovered from the salient features of this overall response. These salient features include resonant frequency, amplitude, relative peak position, relative peak amplitude, damping, and Q factor.

Various monitoring technologies are known and used to monitor the location of an article or to provide identification in a wide range of contexts. One such technology, known as "tagging," is commonly employed, for example, in shoplifting security systems, security-badge access systems and automatic sorting of clothes by commercial laundry services. These conventional tagging systems may use some form of radio-frequency identification (RF-ID). In such systems, RF-ID tags and a tag reader (or base station) are separated by a small distance to facilitate near-field electromagnetic coupling therebetween. Far-field radio tag devices (far-field meaning that the sensing distance is long compared to the wavelength and size of the antenna involved) are also known and used for tagging objects at larger distances.
The near-field coupling between the RF-ID tag and the tag reader may be used to supply power to the RF-ID tag (so that the RF-ID tag does not require a local power source) and to communicate information to the tag reader via changes in the value of the tag's impedance. In particular, the RF-ID tag incorporates an active switch, packaged as a small electronic chip, for encoding the information in the RF-ID tag and communicating this information via an impedance switching pattern. The impedance directly determines the reflected power signal received by the reader, and as a result, the RF-ID tag is not necessarily required to generate any transmitted signal.
It is desirable in commercial applications or technology to reduce the cost of RF-ID tags. Though simple in principle, RF-ID tags may require sophisticated manufacturing techniques to produce. A more economical alternative involves marker elements adapted to affect an interrogation signal in a measurable, characteristic way. Many such systems utilize magnetic or magnetomechanical tags. For example, a magnetic wire or strip exhibiting harmonic behavior may be stimulated within an interrogation zone by transmitter antenna coils. The coils generate an alternating magnetic interrogation field, which drives the marker into and out of saturation, thereby disturbing the interrogation field and producing alternating magnetic fields at frequencies that represent harmonics of the interrogation frequency. The harmonics are detected by receiver antenna coils, which may be housed in the same structure as the transmitter coils. Accordingly, the appearance of a tagged article within the zone—which may be defined, for example, near the doors of a retail store or library—is readily detected.
Inexpensive, magnetic antitheft systems tend to encode very little, if any, information. Essentially, the tag merely makes its presence known. Although some efforts toward enhancing the information-bearing capacity of magnetic tags have been made—see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,821,859; 4,484,184; and 5,729,201, which disclose tags capable of encoding multiple bits of data—the tags themselves tend to be complex and therefore expensive to produce, and may require special detection arrangements that limit the interrogation range (the '859 patent, for example, requires scanning a pickup over the tag) or involve specialized equipment.

Tuneable wireless tags using spatially inhomogeneous structures


A carriage locking system for a device comprising a housing having a power cord receptacle. The system includes a carriage moveable in the housing. A power cord for the insertion into the power cord receptacle is also included. A carriage latch is moveable between a latched position to prevent movement of the carriage and an unlatched position allowing for movement of the carriage. The system further comprises a sensor operative to detect the presence of the power cord in the receptacle and operatively associated with the carriage latch such that the carriage latch moves to the unlatched position when the power cord is inserted in said power cord receptacle and the carriage latch moves to the latched position when the power cord is removed from the power cord receptacle.

Optical scanners are electromechanical devices used to capture and digitize images. For example, an optical scanner may be used to capture the image of printed matter on a sheet of paper. The digitized image may then be electronically stored and/or processed. The typical optical scanner includes a housing having power cord receptacle for receiving a power cord, a light source, various lenses, mirrors and other optical components. An optical carriage is typically moveably supported in the housing. A motor drives the optical carriage.
Typically prior to packaging of a scanner, the optical carriage is manually locked so that it cannot, relative to the housing, move during shipment. Otherwise, the optical carriage may move around and cause the optical components of the scanner to get out of proper alignment or cause damage to components of the scanner. Such manual locking scanners are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,977 to Thelen et al, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
Prior to use of the scanner, these manual systems must be unlocked. Failure to unlock the system could potentially damage the motor, if the user attempts to operate the scanner with the optical carriage in the locked position. Additionally, if the scanner is moved to a new location, after it has been removed from the packaging and used, it is desirable to lock the optical scanner during the move to prevent damage to the components of the scanner. Of course, the carriage must be unlocked after the move is complete to allow use of the scanner.

Method and assembly for carriage locking

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A design is presented for an N×N crossbar switch. A crossbar switch is one of the basic components of Optical Switching Networks. An optical N×N switch has the capability of connecting any light beam from the input of the switch to any output of the switch without interfering with other light beams. That is each single input is connected to one and only one of the output ports without interfering with any other beam or beams. The design presented is based on the use of precision meso-scale mechanics of the size typically found in miniature disc drives and meso-scale optical components. This meso-scale mechanics is then controlled or driven by precision servo-electronics and software to achieve the correct switching. The precision servomechanisms, meso-scale mechanics, electronics and software control are designed to work together to self-compensate for assembly or manufacturing defects and deleterious environmental, including temperature, effects.

Optical switching networks, incorporating a plurality of optical fiber input ports and output ports, require some apparatus for switching the various input ports between the various output ports. A crossbar switch is one of the basic components of optical switching networks. An optical switch with, for example, N inputs and N outputs, must have the capability of connecting any light beam from any of the N input ports of the switch to any of the N output ports of the switch without interfering with any other beam or beams.
Various designs exist in the literature for non-blocking and blocking switches: the present invention is concerned with non-blocking switches in which an optical input at a given port may be sent to a second available or free output port without requiring any other established connection to be changed.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved meso-scale strictly non-blocking optical crossbar switch.

Meso-scale strictly non-blocking N×N optical crossbar switch using precision servo controls


Two pairs of double-acting pistons are disposed in a hollow toroidal structure. Each pair of the double-acting pistons is operatively connected together and moves in the same rotational direction. Each of the pistons has two heads which cooperate with a head of an adjacently disposed piston to define a cylinder therebetween. Near the closest approach of two opposed heads, the fuel-air mixture is burned and the pistons recede from each other on an expansion stroke. Near their farthest separation, one of the opposed heads of the defined cylinder first opens an exhaust port and then the other one of the opposed heads opens an intake port. On a return compression stroke, during which the opposed heads move toward each other, the exhaust port is closed first and the intake port last.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a two-cycle internal combustion engine and method of operation, and more particularly to a two-cycle internal combustion engine having a pair of opposed double-acting piston heads partially defining each cylinder of the engine, and to a method for operating such an engine.
2. History of Related Art
Two-cycle engines generally produce from 50% to 80% greater power output per unit piston displacement at the same speed (depending on scavenging), twice as many power impulses per cylinder per revolution, low-cost for valveless designs, and light weight, as compared with conventional four-cycle engines. The advantages of two-cycle engines are applicable to both spark ignition and compression ignition engines.
An example of a two-cycle internal combustion engine having a plurality of double-acting, circularly oscillating pistons disposed in an annular, or toroidal, structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,228 titled, "OSCILLATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE", issued May 25, 1971 to Octavio Rocha and Serafin Cano, the co-inventors of the present invention. In that patent, the circularly oscillating pistons of the engine were mechanically controlled so that an opposed set of pistons moved toward and away from a fixed point in a respective cylinder, at equal synchronized rates of travel, so that each piston of the opposed set was always simultaneously displaced the same distance from the fixed point in the cylinder.
Also, in the above-referenced two-cycle engine arrangement, the exhaust ports were opened first during an expansion stroke, but closed last during a compression stroke. This characteristic is common to all valveless two-cycle engines wherein the port that opens first during one stroke, closes last during a return stroke. This action precludes effective charging and/or supercharging of the engine to increase the amount of charge per cycle above that of a normally scavenged and charged cylinder. The better a cylinder is charged with air or combustible mixture, the higher the power developed.
Furthermore, in conventional two-cycle engines, such as the above-described circularly oscillating piston engine, it is commonly accepted that combustion occurs instantly when the piston or pistons are at top dead center, i.e., when the gas volume is at a minimum. In actual practice, the minimum gas volume is typically maintained over only a very short time after ignition occurs, after which the combustion event continues during the expansion, or power, stroke which generally results in the higher hydrocarbon emissions typical of two-cycle engines. Hydrocarbon emissions are produced because the flame of combustion cannot completely reach the walls of the cylinder, thus leaving a layer of unburned fuel on the wall and discharging unburned fuel, together with the products of combustion, through the exhaust port of the engine. The flame front is cooled by the cool walls of the cylinder as it approaches the walls, flame speed decreases as the flame front temperature drops, and finally the flame stops. Accordingly, the lower the temperature and pressure of the combustion process, the thicker the unburned layer and the higher the exhaust hydrocarbon emissions. Lean fuel-air mixtures are commonly used to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. However, as the fuel-air ratio is reduced, the flame speed decreases and finally becomes so slow that the combustion process is not completed during the expansion stroke. Therefore, when the minimum volume in the cylinder is maintained over only a very short period of time, the use of lean fuel-air mixtures is restricted.
Another common characteristic of conventional two-stroke engines is uneven cycle pressure peaks between the cylinders of the engine, and even in the same cylinder from stroke to stroke. This characteristic reduces overall engine efficiency, and makes it difficult to produce consistent power output for a given fuel charge.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above. It is desirable to have a two-cycle internal combustion engine that has a relatively long combustion period during which minimum volume conditions are maintained in the combustion chamber so that after ignition, the combustion process starts, and since the minimum volume is maintained and combustion progresses, the pressure greatly increases, whereby lower emissions of hydrocarbons are produced and fuel economy is increased as a result of more efficient combustion during engine operation. It is also desirable to have a two-cycle internal combustion engine in which a pair of opposed piston heads associated with each cylinder are moved at different rates of travel to provide a relatively long minimum volume time and relatively long scavenging times during engine operation. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a valveless two-cycle internal combustion engine in which the exhaust ports open first during an expansion stroke and close first during a compression stroke, thereby enabling effective blow-down, scavenging, charging, and if desired, supercharging at appropriately beneficial times during the operating cycles of the engine. It is also desirable to have a two-cycle engine in which successive cycle pressure peaks evenly, between all cylinders and from stroke to stroke, are substantially uniform for equal fuel charges.

Two-cycle internal combustion engine and method of operation

Condominio La Diana, Monte Capitolio 233-12, Col. Fuentes del Valle

Via Asinaria No. 315 otc, Col. Fuentes Del Valle


A method for automatically defining or learning the configuration of a television interconnected with a plurality of peripheral devices utilizes a digital control channel to define the analog interconnections. This method does not require the consumer to know the specific configuration of the system. The system functions properly whether peripheral devices are in the video chain path or not. This method enables a suser to simply connect peripheral devices to any one of the multiple inputs of the video processing apparatus. The video processing apparatus employs a systematic process of (1) commanding each of said peripheral devices via a digital bus, such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus, to transmit a signal from its analog output, (2) monitoring the analog inputs of the video processing apparatus to determine which of the inputs receives the transmitted signal, and (3) constructing a map of the analog interconnectivity of each peripheral device connected to said video processing device.

Today, television receivers allow selection of external baseband audio and video signals from audio and video sources such as VCR's and videodisc players, as well as selection of broadcast television programs tuned and demodulated by a built-in tuner and intermediate frequency (IF) circuitry.
The external audio and video signals are coupled to individual input terminals (or jacks). These input terminals, and the output terminals of the internal tuner/IF circuitry, are coupled to the signal processing circuits of the television receiver via a signal switch assembly. One television receiver having multiple electronically selectable auxiliary baseband signal inputs is known from the RCA CTC-140 manufactured by Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. This television receiver employs digital switching logic to automatically provide proper audio and video when each of the video source selections is made (i.e., tuner, AUX1 or AUX2).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,122 (Teskey) issued in 11 Apr. 1989 discloses a system in which in response to the reception of a "VCR ON" remote control command, a television receiver, to which the VCR is connected, automatically selects the AUX1 baseband video input as the signal source. If no signal is found at the AUX1 input, then the television receiver switches to the tuner, and tunes channel 3, and then channel 4 in succession, searching for input signals from the VCR. Thus, a user may select the VCR for viewing without knowing how the VCR was actually connected to the television receiver. However, suppose that a user has a baseband video signal source, other than the desired VCR, connected to AUX1. In this case, the automatic signal seeking function will not locate the VCR but will find an active signal at the AUX1 input, and thus will be "fooled" into selecting the signal at the AUX1 input.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,597 (Duffield) issued in 26 Feb. 1991 discloses a switching system which allows a user to specify which of several input connectors or channels is assigned to which of several signal sources, and store the connector or channel assignment data in memory. Thereafter, upon selection of a particular signal source, the system automatically selects the input connector or channel associated with the selected signal source in response to the stored data. The disclosed system also provides ease of use in that the television receiver automatically selects the proper input configuration when a signal source device is selected.
The emergence of high definition television (HDTV) will make available television programming services in a digital format using compressed digital video bitstreams. However, the complete transition to digital programming may take years or even decades. Thus multi-video service providers (MVSP) may likewise offer a combination of NTSC analog video programs and ATSC digital video programs. MVSPs may offer service to customers in multiple ways. First, to service customers with legacy analog television sets, a cable set-top box may include a digital MPEG decoder to convert digital signals to analog signals. In this case the consumer sees no difference in the way the system operates. Another implementation would be to provide a set-top box that offers the digital signals through a digital data bus and the analog programs through the traditional analog ports. This implementation lets the consumer take advantage of displaying the full resolution of the picture if they have a digital television.
'Dual-mode' systems have unique requirements in that a consumer may wish to switch between channels requiring a switch of the physical input ports on a television set or converter box. For a 'dual-mode' system to function properly, it is necessary for a television set to be knowledgeable about the particular configuration of the video source, display, and auxiliary devices.
In addition to the multiple signals produced by a single device such as a "dual mode" device, complex systems producing many signals may be created by interconnecting electronic devices such as television receivers, display devices, video-cassette recorders (VCR), digital versatile disk (DVD), direct broadcast satellite (DBS) receivers, and home control devices (e.g., a security system or a temperature control device) The interconnection may be done using a data bus such as the Consumer Electronics Bus (CE Bus), and the IEEE 1394 High Performance Serial Bus.
A bus protocol typically provides for communicating both control information and data. For example, CEBus control information is communicated on a "control channel" having a protocol defined in Electronics Industries Association (EIA) specification IS-60. On an IEEE 1394 serial bus, control information is generally passed using the serial bus' asynchronous services. Control information for a particular application can be defined using for example, CAL (Common Application Language) or AV/C.
Televisions and display devices typically have one or more inputs for gathering source signals for display. For example, a typical television may have an antennae input for tuning the broadcast RF television signals plus one or more auxiliary inputs for providing a higher quality base-band video and audio signal for display. One may use the antennae input for signals coming from a cable decoder box and use one set of auxiliary inputs for attaching a DVD or VCR player. Depending on the specific television product, multiple sets of auxiliary inputs may be available.

Method for automatically determining the configuration of a multi-input video processing apparatus


The present invention relates to a new design for an extensible architecture for a rack-mounted network attached storage. In one embodiment, the design employs a riser card for a rack-mounted network attached storage. The riser card provides multiple, e.g., four, eight, etc., SATA connections from a PCIe bus on the motherboard. In addition, the riser card may provide power connections and a fan controller. In addition, the riser card supports dual-power inputs from multiple power supply sources. In one embodiment, the riser card can share power from AC power from the rack and a DC input to receive power from an external power supply.

Rack-mounted network attached storage (NAS) devices are employed by enterprises for various storage needs.
Equipment designed for rack-mounts typically have a height of that is standardized as multiples of 1.75 inches (44.45 mm) or one rack unit or U and 19-inches (482.6 mm) wide. Typically, a piece of equipment being installed has a front panel height 1/32 inch (0.031 inches or 0.787 millimeters) less than the allotted number of U's. Thus, a 1U rack-mounted computer is usually 1.719 inches (43.7 mm) tall. This allows a bit of room above and below an installed piece of equipment so it may be removed without binding on the adjacent equipment.
A rack-mounted configuration can be used for network-attached storage, for example, in a data center. The rack-mounted configuration enables the NAS device to be mounted within a standard rack that is common in most data centers. However, as noted above, the form factor for a rack-mounted, especially a 1U rack-mounted, has a limited height and space.
A riser card plugs in to the motherboard and provides additional slots for adapter cards, such as SATA interface. Riser cards are common in rack-mounted systems to allow the addition of feature cards in a horizontal position (instead of a standard vertical position). Unfortunately, the features of riser card 114s are generally limited.

Riser card for rack-mounted network attached storage


Embodiments of the present invention describe a MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization) sample plate body that includes a reusable sample plate and a sample plate adapter that are releasably coupled to one another. In one particular embodiment, the sample plate and the sample plate adapter are releasably coupled to one another to form the MALDI sample plate body by a latch formed by a spring-loaded hook within the sample plate adapter and a recess shaped to accept the hook within the sample plate. The MALDI sample plate body may be formed by aligning the sample plate with the sample plate adapter and coupling the sample plate to the sample plate adapter to releasably couple the sample plate to the sample plate adapter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry, and more particularly relates to the field of sample plates for MALDI.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) has proven to be one of the most successful ionization methods for mass spectrometric analysis and investigation of large molecules. The sample to be ionized and analyzed by mass spectrometry is embedded in a solid matrix that greatly facilitates the production of intact gas-phase ions from large, nonvolatile, and thermally labile compounds such as proteins, oligonucleotides, synthetic polymers, and large inorganic compounds. A laser beam (UV- or IR-pulsed laser) serves as the desorption and ionization source. The matrix molecules play a key role in this technique by absorbing the laser light energy and causing sample molecules to be ablated from a portion of the matrix surface. Once the sample molecules are vaporized and ionized they are transferred by ion optics into a mass spectrometer for mass analysis, typically by operation of an ion trap or time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer.
In commercial MALDI mass spectrometer instruments, a large number of sample spots are deposited on a sample plate to enable rapid and efficient analysis of multiple samples. MALDI sample plates are typically formed of stainless steel having a highly polished and flat surface. The plates may be adapted to fit into and to be handled by automated handling apparatus employed to transport and position the plates within the mass spectrometer instrument, and optionally to transport the plates between different stations in an automated analysis train (e.g., between automated sample deposition equipment and the mass spectrometer). To enable their use in automated handling apparatus and also to conform their size to standardized dimensions required by other equipment, MALDI sample plates have traditionally been integrated with a base structure. Because a sample plate body consisting of an integral metallic sample plate and base structure is expensive to manufacture, others in the art have proposed alternative constructions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,609 to Franzen et al. describes a sample plate assembly consisting of a sample plate permanently bonded to a base structure by a set of cooperating pins and holes. The bonding arrangement purportedly accommodates the differential thermal expansion of the sample plate and base structure, which may be fabricated from different materials. Disposable single-use MALDI plates fabricated from relatively low-cost materials have also been developed as an alternative to conventional sample plates. However, the sample plate construction disclosed in the aforementioned Franzen patent, as well as other alternatives known in the art, generally fail to provide the degree of rigidity and planarity required for reliable operation in a MALDI mass spectrometer.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) sample plate releasably coupled to a sample plate adapter


A video disk playback apparatus includes a disk driver which retrieves video data and a key data table from a digital video disk, and a decoder board which has its own ID. The disk driver receives the ID from the decoder board, verifies the ID, selects key data based on it, calculates a first datum from the selected key data, and sends the datum to the decoder board. The decoder board calculates a second datum from the key data and first datum, and returns the second datum to the disk driver. The disk driver verifies the second datum, produces an encryption key, encrypts the video data based on it, and feeds the encrypted video data to the decoder board. The decoder board calculates a decryption key from the first datum, decrypts the video data based on it, and decodes the decrypted video data for display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and device for data decryption, a method and device for device identification, a recording medium, a method of disk production, and a method and apparatus for disk recording, and particularly to a method and device for data decryption, a method and device for device identification, a recording medium, a method of disk production, and a method and apparatus for disk recording which are all intended to decrypt encrypted data protectively.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, the format of digital video disk (will be termed "DVD" hereinafter) is going to be standardized, and DVDs are expected to take the place of conventional analog video disks. With the intention for long-time recording, video data is recorded on a DVD by being rendered the compressed encoding, e.g., based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) scheme that will be dealt with exclusively in the following explanation. Accordingly, a record of data needs to be decoded at the time of playback.
It becomes possible, by the way, for a DVD owing to the digital recording of video data to produce its copies on other recording mediums at virtually the same output quality as the original DVD. Namely, there is a possibility of such an illegal conduct as manufacturing a stamper by leading video data out of the data path between the disk driver and MPEG decoder and producing illegitimate copy disks in large scale from it. Another possibility is manufacturing a stamper by decoding video data reproduced by the disk driver with an imitated MPEG decoder and producing illegitimate copy disks in large scale from it.
As a conceivable manner of precluding the illegal copy of DVDs and the use of imitated MPEG decoders, video data reproduced by the disk driver is encrypted based on an encryption key and fed to the MPEG decoder upon judging the legitimacy of the MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder decrypts the encrypted video data by using the encryption key and thereafter decodes the encoded video data.
Based on this counter measure against the illegal conduct, video data reproduced by the disk driver is not fed to the MPEG decoder unless it is a legitimate device, whereby the illegal copy of DVDs and the use of imitated MPEG decoders can be precluded. Even if the disk driver is accessed with an imitated MPEG decoder and reproduced video data is led out, the encrypted data cannot be used intact, and accordingly DVDs are protected from being copied practically.
However, the conventional scheme of encryption of video data based on a simple encryption key before it is fed to the MPEG decoder by which reproduced and encrypted video data is decrypted is susceptible to breaking of encryption key.

Method and device for data decryption, a method and device for device identification, a recording medium, a method of disk production, and a method and apparatus for disk recording


A micro-electro-mechanical system based focusing device and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The system includes: a deformable lens, multiple groups of conductive deformable crossbeams and conductive structs; and one or more fixed parts. In each group, each conductive deformable crossbeam corresponds to a conductive struct. The conductive deformable crossbeams and the conductive structs are arranged around the deformable lens and spaced from each other. The conductive deformable crossbeams are suspended in the air, their inner edges are connected with an external edge of the deformable lens and their external edges are connected with the fixed parts. The conductive structs are fixedly connected with the fixed parts and remain stationary. Electrostatic force between the conductive deformable crossbeam and the conductive struct causes the deformable lens to be stretched and rotate, thus, surface curvature and focal length are changed. The device has a small size, low power consumption and low manufacturing cost.

Nowadays, in cell phones or other handheld devices, micro cameras which has a much smaller size than a common camera module, are used more and more widely. Generally, a micro camera module includes an image sensor, one or more image processing chips and a focusing lens system. A fixed focusing lens system is mainly used in a micro camera which is integrated in a cell phone or other handheld devices due to its size and manufacturing cost limitation.
In practice, micro focusing devices have become a development trend and research focus. In a current automatic focusing camera, a voice motor technology of a focal length is adjusted by the retraction and repulsion of magnetism, where a voice motor technology device has a large size and high power consumption, and the adjusting rate is slow. Therefore, to be assembled in a micro camera module conveniently, a focusing device should have a small size, low power consumption and low manufacturing cost.
How to realize an automatic focusing function in a micro camera module which has a very small size, low power consumption and low manufacturing cost has become a problem exigent to be solved.

Micro-electro-mechanical system based focusing device and manufacturing method thereof

LEXVU OPTO MICROELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) LTD


The present disclosure relates to a gimbal, and more particularly, to a gimbal for preventing gimbal lock from occurring due to interference between axes, thereby not limiting shooting composition.

A gimbal is an apparatus that maintains a camera or the like in a constant position such that, despite the movement of a user, an image does not lose focus during a tracking shot.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a 3-axis gimbal according to the related art. Since the 3-axis gimbal shown in FIG. 1 has a yaw-roll-pitch sequence, interference between axes occurs when a portrait shot is taken in a vertical position. In other words, a pitch axis coincides with a yaw axis, causing gimbal lock in which the tilt function of the pitch axis disappears. Accordingly, only 2-axis driving is available, deteriorating the function of the gimbal and limiting shooting composition.
Gimbal lock limits the possible composition of a shot during portrait shooting. In other words, since the gimbal in the vertical position cannot be controlled in a vertical direction during portrait shooting, only horizontal composition is available. For example, when a subject is approaching from below or above the gimbal in this state, it is impossible to shoot the subject.
In addition, according to the related art, gimbals only have functions such as keeping the balance of a shooting device and performing a tracking shot of a certain subject, but are limited with respect to the collection of voice information or do not allow a user's voice command to be used.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a gimbal that prevents gimbal lock, has no limit in shooting composition, effectively collects voice information, and recognizes a user's voice command.


A low profile connector, as for an electrode, is disclosed. The connector of the invention includes an electrically conductive connector body and electrical connector means to separate electronics. The connector body has a channel or groove which communicates with one side of the connector body and its bottom. The channel leads to a "stop" position located substantially the central portion of said body. Viewed from the bottom of the connector body, the channel is interiorly concave so as to cooperatively, preferably rotatively and restrictively receive and hold an upstanding portion of an electrode, such as an electrode eyelet. In a preferred aspect, the present invention is an electrical assembly which includes the connector body and a biomedical electrode, such as a TENS electrode.

This invention relates to low profile connectors especially useful in the biomedical field. More specifically, this invention relates to preferably rotatable, restriction fit electrode connectors or adapters that are particularly useful to connect transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulator (TENS) electrodes to suitable electrical signal generating means. (Electromyographic, and sensing, monitoring or stimulating electrodes could also be connected or coupled in a practice of this invention.) Even more particularly, this invention relates to restriction fit electrode connector assemblies or adapters in which a connector body slides over an upstanding member, e.g., a bulbous post, of an electrode, "snapping" into place so as to permit secure, rotatable electrical coupling between the connector and the electrode.
There are many types of connectors used in the medical industry to connect various skin interface means, e.g., TENS electrodes, monitoring and diagnostic ECG electrodes, to separate electrical means. Such separate electrical means could include electrical pulse generators, or signal processors. In many instances, these connectors permit the user to employ relatively inexpensive disposable electrodes with relatively more expensive connector means which can then be reused. None of these connectors have the advantages of the present invention, viz., a low profile, a secure coupling or connection, preferably rotatable restriction fit and ease of detachment from the electrode once the electrical measurement has been completed.


A communication network comprising a carrier network with a service coordinator is capable of acting upon SIM card change information detected by an agent located in the electronic devices used in the communication network. In general, the agent in electronic devices facilitates the determination of SIM Card changes in the electronic device. It also facilitates the selective reporting of such changes to the carrier network. In one embodiment, the communication network is capable of detecting SIM Card changes in the electronic device. In general, the carrier network determines updates to firmware, software, configuration etc. necessitated by the change in SIM card and selectively communicates it to the electronic device.

Electronic devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA's), often contain firmware and application software that are either provided by the manufacturers of the electronic devices, by telecommunication carriers, or by third parties. Electronic devices, such as GSM phones, often contain a SIM card reader that is employed to read information on SIM cards that are inserted by end users. SIM cards are expected to provide personal identity regardless of phone. The firmware and application software on such electronic devices often employ information contained in a SIM card to avail of services provided by service providers over the telecommunications network
Quite often, SIM cards are used to specify the identification of the end user such that any device into which the SIM card is inserted assumes the identity provided by the SIM card. Services accessed by the end user using a SIM card in conjunction with an electronic device are often tailored by the service provider based on information provided by/from the SIM card. This approach has several inherent problems. For example, if the service provider provides content or service based on information provided by the SIM card, such content or information may not be compatible with the electronic device that currently holds the SIM card.
Typically, electronic devices that are handsets, such as GSM phones, PDA's etc. provide SIM card readers. In such devices, a service provider for services accessed from the handset does not know what the actual device type is that is being serviced. Only information provided by the SIM card in the handset is available to the service provider to determine the type of service or type of information to be provided to the end user. If the end user reuses the SIM card in another electronic device and accesses the service, the service provider does not know, and often cannot determine, that the electronic device has been changed. This is especially true of GSM phones where a wireless carrier does not know which wireless handsets type or make is associated with a given SIM card employed by a end user and therefore cannot easily determine the software or firmware that is available in the handset.
There is often a need to know which specific end user electronic device is associated with a end user's SIM card. There is also a need to determine the make, model and version of hardware and software available on the electronic device associated with a SIM card. Unfortunately, such information is not available to the service provider, only the contents of the SIM card, such as a user identification is provided to the service provider. This is a major problem that currently inhibits creation of new services for electronic handsets.
Quite often, new versions of the firmware and software are periodically released to fix the bugs or to introduce new features, or both. There is a fundamental problem in determining which electronic device needs the bug fixes if the service provider or the carrier is not able to accurately and reliably determine which electronic device is currently associated with a given SIM card.
Typically, attempts to upgrade firmware and/or software in electronic devices such as GSM phones are often hampered by limited user interaction capabilities and slow communication speeds on these devices and end user interactions cannot be resorted to, as they can be erroneous. Automating firmware and/or software upgrades, within a carrier network for example, requires the reliable determination of the actual device characteristics associated with a SIM card. When a SIM card is transferred from one electronic device to another, the service provider or the carrier needs to determine what changed. Unfortunately, determination of the change of SIM cards is not supported in most electronic devices and service providers and carriers are totally ignorant of such changes.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Communications network capable of determining SIM card changes in electronic devices


An integrated circuit storing multiple bits per memory cell is described. The amount of charge stored in a memory cell corresponds the multiple bits in a memory cell. Dual banks of shift registers are alternately coupled to one or more data pins and to the memory cells of the memory array speed data transfer for reading and writing operation. Reading is performed in the voltage mode to conserve power. During writing operations, reading of a memory cell is performed in the voltage mode to determine whether the desired programming of the memory cell has been achieved. During the reading of a memory cell, the voltage corresponding to the amount of charge stored in a memory cell is compared against a binary search sequence of reference voltages to determine the multiple bits stored in the memory cell.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memories, such as EEPROM, EPROM and FLASH integrated circuits, have traditionally been used to store a single digital bit per memory cell. This has been done by changing the threshold voltage (conduction) characteristics of the cell by retaining a certain amount of charge on the floating gate of the memory cell. The threshold voltage range is normally partitioned into two levels (conducting versus nonconducting) to represent the storage of one digital bit per memory cell.
A wide range of charge can be reliably stored on the floating gate to represent a range of threshold voltages. Charge retention on the floating gate can be partitioned to represent multiple number of threshold voltage ranges and the threshold range can be partitioned into multiple ranges to represent storage of more than one bit of digital data per memory cell. For example, four threshold partitions can be used to represent storage of two digital bits per memory location and sixteen partitions to represent storage of four digital bits per memory location. Furthermore, the threshold voltage range can be partitioned to appropriately finer resolution to represent the direct storage of analog information per memory cell.
The ability to store multiple digital bits per memory cell increases the effective storage density per unit area and reduces the cost of storage per digital bit. In addition to this, in the field of semiconductor memories, the costs of a modern fabrication facility often exceeds a billion dollars. Application of multibit storage per cell techniques to existing memory fabrication processes and facilities allows the production of the next generation of higher density storage devices in the same manufacturing facilities, thereby increasing profitability and the return on investment.
Nonetheless, the problem of operational speed, i.e., the reading and writing operations, have yet to be satisfactorily addressed for devices having multiple bits per memory cell. A related problem is power dissipation. As more power is used to increase operational speeds, power consumption is also undesirably increased. Still another problem is reliability. While charges can be stored in the floating gates of memory cells for very long periods, erasing and rewriting charges causes long term problems as to the certainty of the bits stored in a memory cell. And, of course, any integrated circuit has problems of space. In an integrated circuit having multiple bits per cell, additional circuits must be added to handle the new requirements. This partially negates the advantages of the increased bits per memory cell.
The present invention solves or substantially mitigates these problems. The present invention speeds up the reading and writing operations of multibit memory cells. Power dissipation is lowered for reading operations. The present invention also permits the reliable determination of the bits in the memory cells over the long term and also conserves space on the integrated circuit.

Integrated circuit for storage and retrieval of multiple digital bits per nonvolatile memory cell


The invention relates to the controlling of picture tubes used in television sets and monitors, more specifically to the linearization of their horizontal sweep. In the system according to the invention, linearization is performed using a linearization coil (L3) equipped with a control winding (L4) and the effective inductance of the linearization coil is adjusted by changing the impedance (Z) that serves as the control winding load.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the controlling of picture tubes used in monitors and television sets, more specifically to the linearization of their horizontal sweep.
2. Description of the Related Art
In picture tubes, the distance from the picture tube electron gun to various positions of the screen varies according to the deflection angle of the electron beam. Therefore, the position to which the electron beam points does not move at an even pace but more quickly by the edges of the screen and more slowly at the center of the screen if the electron beam is deflected by a steadily varying signal according to FIG. 1, in which case the patterns displayed on the screen will be distorted. In FIG. 1, the actual sweep period is the time between t.sub.1 and t.sub.0. The distortion is corrected using vertical and horizontal linearization, wherein the waveform of the signal controlling the electron beam is formed such that the angle of the electron beam changes in the border areas of the screen more rapidly than in the center, thus making the pixel formed by the electron beam to move evenly. Such a waveform is illustrated in FIG. 2.
The horizontal sweep current can be generated e.g. with the known basic construction illustrated in FIG. 3, disclosed in the Electronic Design, Jan. 4, 1973. In this circuit, during the second half of the sweep period, the transistor conducts and C2 acts as the energy source. At time to the deflection current through the deflection coil L1 reaches its negative peak and at the same time the transistor stops conducting and the retrace period begins. The energy stored in coil L2 builds up a sinusoidal voltage across the sweep capacitor C1. When this voltage returns to zero at time t.sub.1, Diode D1 begins to conduct and the sweep period begins again. The deflection coil L1 acts again as the energy source until time t.sub.2. At time t.sub.2 the current polarity reverses, the Diode stops conducting and the transistor starts conducting. Capacitor C2 is now the energy source until time t.sub.0.
The circuit described above generates in an ideal case a waveform according to FIG. 2. The differences between this waveform and the waveform of FIG. 1 are caused mainly by capacitor C2, this is why capacitor C2 is called an S-correction capacitor. Real components, however, have losses which make the curve asymmetric. The asymmetry can be removed e.g. by bringing in an external correction current to the deflection circuit via a transformer, for example. Disadvantages of this approach include the relative complexity and expansiveness of the circuits required to generate the correction current and feed it to the deflection circuit.
A generally used loss compensation method is to use a so-called linearization coil in addition to a deflection coil, connected in series with it, for example. The linearization coil is a coil the inductance of which depends on the current flowing through it. Such a coil can be made by using a ferromagnetic core in the coil and, in addition, a biasing magnet. FIG. 4 shows the optimum-shaped current-inductance curve to produce the correct sweep shape for such a linearization coil. This kind of solution according to a simple principle functions well when the line frequency is constant, as in television receivers. The waveform correction produced by the linearization circuit can then be tuned to correspond to the line frequency in use by moving the biasing magnet, which effectively moves the inductance curve in the direction of the current axis in FIG. 4.
In monitors, the situation is more complex because they can use many different line frequencies and therefore the inductance of the linearization coil must be changeable according to the line frequency. Such a solution can be implemented by using a FET transistor to connect a second coil in parallel with the linearization coil and using the FET transistor to direct part of the sweep current past the linearization coil. The disadvantage of this kind of solution is that it requires many additional coils and FET transistors, depending on the number of line frequencies used in the monitor. Generally, however, to save costs, only one additional coil and FET is used.
Nowadays, a more commonly used solution is to use a linearization coil including a control winding, wherein direct current is brought to the control winding to compensate for the biasing magnet field of the linearization coil in order to change the inductance at the ends of the linearization coil. The current through the control winding and thus the inductance of the linearization coil can be changed according to the line frequency in use. In this solution, the disadvantage is that the curved shape of the current-inductance curve is not retained, as shown in FIG. 5 where the curvature is shown flattened or substantially reduced in curvature, which causes nonlinearities in the monitor display.
In addition, the tuning of the linearization circuits must be very accurate. Variation of characteristics of new component lots, even within the normal tolerances, may affect the tuning so much that the produced circuit has to be separately tuned after manufacturing. As far as devices with fixed coils are concerned, one has to either reduce turns in the linearization coil or add extra coils in parallel with the linearization coil.


Systems and methods for Desktop-To-Mobile (D2M) application installation that allows a publisher to extend their relationship with a consumer from the Desktop PC (PC) to a mobile device. In accordance with some implementations, a mobile application store may be used to offer apps on a user's mobile device as a result of a user acceptance of an offer(s) for the apps. The user may install a personal computer (PC)-based application that runs in the background. The PC-based application receives offers to install mobile applications and may use the mobile app store or a PC to install the mobile applications to the user's mobile device.

Application publishers create relationships with users to inform and educate users about features of desktop and mobile applications. The relationships may take many forms, such as targeted advertising and offers based knowledge of user's behaviors. However, while advertising and offers may successfully engage a user, the user may be engaged while using a platform that is not the intended platform of the application being offered. For example, the user may be using a personal computer, but the offered application is intended for use on a mobile device. As such, the user may pass on an offer, as the application cannot be installed on the mobile device because the user is presently operating his/her personal computer.

System and method to install mobile applications from a desktop


An adaptive bias circuit which provides a more sensitive adaptive bias current with respect to power level is used for biasing an electronic circuit. The adaptive bias circuit has a first transistor coupled to a power supply, a voltage bias circuit coupled to the first transistor and the power supply biasing the first transistor, and a first power coupling module coupled to the first transistor and the electronic circuit for coupling a portion of input signal power to the first transistor. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the power supply to increase the current gain of the adaptive bias circuit, and a second current coupling module is coupled to the second transistor and the electronic circuit to provide adaptive bias current to the electronic circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptive bias circuit, and more particularly, to an adaptive bias circuit for adaptively biasing a system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present, electronic devices are ubiquitous. They can be found in nearly every place imaginable, including the home, the workplace, vehicles, and even our pockets. And, as electronic device technologies mature, for the same cost, the electronic devices become more portable, use less power, and offer greater functionality. In part, this is due to availability of smaller geometry electronic components, such as transistors and on-chip capacitors. However, novel circuit architectures with improved specifications are also responsible for overall performance gains in the electronic devices.
Amplifiers are a key component in practically every electronic device. They vary broadly in their electrical characteristics, such as gain, bandwidth, and linearity, and vary even more in their application to active filters, buffers, analog-to-digital converters, and RF transceivers.
Currently, most amplifiers used in integrated circuits use a transistor, or transistors, for providing signal amplification. In some applications, such as power amplifiers for RF transceivers, linear operation of the amplifying transistor(s) is an important design consideration. To achieve linear operation of the amplifying transistor(s), a bias circuit is coupled to the amplifier to provide a bias current or voltage to the amplifying transistor(s). Typically, the bias current or voltage is selected to maximize a linear operating region while minimizing the current consumption of the amplifying transistor(s).
One technique used to increase the linear operating region of the amplifying transistor(s) is adaptive biasing. Instead of biasing the amplifying transistor(s) with a fixed bias current or voltage, an adaptive bias circuit is utilized to provide more or less DC current or voltage based on characteristics of the input signal, such as amplitude, phase, frequency, etc. The adaptive bias circuit may also be used in conjunction with a traditional bias circuit, in effect providing fine-tuning of the bias current or voltage provided.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of an adaptive bias circuit according to the prior art. In the prior art, the adaptive bias circuit biases a power amplifier transistor Q1 that outputs an output signal through an output matching circuit. The adaptive bias circuit has a bias transistor Q2, a first bias resistor R1, a first bias diode D1, and a second bias diode D2. A collector of the bias transistor Q2 is coupled to a power supply voltage Vcc. An emitter of the bias transistor Q2 is coupled to a base of the power amplifier transistor Q1. A first bias resistor R1 is coupled between a bias reference voltage Vbias and a base of the bias transistor Q2. An anode of the first bias diode D1 is coupled to the base of the bias transistor Q2 and a cathode of the first bias diode D1 is coupled to an anode of the second bias diode D2. A cathode of the second bias diode D2 is coupled to ground.
As power of an input signal received through a capacitor C1 increases, i.e. power at the emitter of the bias transistor Q2 increases, the bias transistor Q2 emits more adaptive bias current to the base of the power amplifier transistor Q1 to maintain operation in a linear region. The required adaptive bias current to keep a power amplifier transistor operating linearly depends on the characteristics of the power amplifier transistor itself and the matching circuit coupled to the power amplifier.
In some cases, as the input power increases, the adaptive bias current provided by the emitter of the bias transistor Q2 may not be large enough to keep the amplifier operating in the linear region. In such a case, an improved adaptive bias circuit is needed to provide an adaptive bias current that is more sensitive to the input power level.
Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a diagram of a bias circuit according to the prior art. The bias circuit shown in FIG. 4 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,103 (hereafter '103), entitled "Bias Circuit for Improving Linearity of a Radio Frequency Power Amplifier," and comprises a bias transistor 412 biased by two diodes 401, 402 and a resistor 403. The bias transistor 412 provides bias current to a power amplifier transistor 422. RF input is applied to a base of the power amplifier transistor 422, and is partially isolated from an emitter of the bias transistor 412 by an inductor 404. An LC series-connected resonator circuit 405, 406 conducts a second harmonic of the RF input to ground. This architecture emits more adaptive bias current with increased input power through the bias transistor 412, but is not able to provide an agile adaptive current response with changes in the input power.
Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a diagram of a bias circuit according to the prior art. The bias circuit shown in FIG. 5 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,321, entitled "Bias Control Circuit for Power Amplifier," and comprises a primary bias circuit 502 for biasing a power amplifier transistor 501. The bias circuit further comprises a supplementary bias circuit 504, which is turned on or off through a control voltage Vcom, and provides supplemental bias current to the power amplifier transistor 501. The bias circuit shown in FIG. 5 only allows for two possible power modes: a lower output power mode, and a high output power mode, and more transistors must be added if more power modes are required. Further, the power mode is decided by the control voltage Vcom, which implies that extra circuitry is required to provide the voltage Vcom, and to determine when to switch the voltage Vcom.

Adaptive bias circuit and system thereof


Associative Data Management and Knowledge Operating System using a Data Instance centric architecture, where Data Instances are typically atomic. Each Data Instance can be at the center with all its associations. The base structures encapsulate the Data Instances and can generally be identical in form and function, and application independent. Encapsulate references can include references to all other directly related independently encapsulated Data Instances. The encapsulated references can be both unique identifiers for each and every associated Data Instance and also logical indexes that encode the abstracted location of each Data Instance, making it possible to both identify and locate any Data Instance using the same reference key.

The earliest business-oriented data processing applications consisted of records of information content collected into flat files based on like record structures. Each department within an enterprise attempted to independently computerize their data-intensive functions (e.g., invoice processing, customer billing). Aspects of the enterprise's data were repeated or replicated at will, as these flat files of information were specifically engineered for each aspect of the separate software applications. There was a massive level of data redundancy in the flat files, which made information very difficult to update completely and often resulted in software applications giving wrong answers or taking inappropriate actions. Flat file computing also meant that there was no enterprise view of data across the spectrum of departmental information. Each software application used a unique physical data storage design and basic device access methods supplied by the hardware manufacturer to implement physical data management within the application. The flat file approach to data processing was extremely error-prone and costly, and provided no strategic view of the enterprise.
This situation led to a universal quest to separate physical data management from the functional software applications and create independent, reusable applications whose sole purpose would be physical database management. These applications became known as Data Base Management Systems or DBMSs.
Because enterprise data often has rich structural complexity that is almost impossible to capture in flat files (i.e., all structural complexity is flattened into two dimensions and hence the term 'flat'), the first attempts at independent DBMSs used smaller records of largely non-redundant information with either hierarchical or networked 'pointers'. To choose among these DBMSs it was necessary to decide whether the data was inherently hierarchical or networked. Both approaches proved to have limited scalability. For these and other reasons, hierarchical and network DBMSs met with limited commercial success.
In 1970, E. F. (Ted) Codd of IBM published a relational model of data storage and retrieval for large shared data banks (CODD, E. F., A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks, Communications of the ACM 13, 6 (June, 1970), pp. 377-387, hereafter referred to as [Cod70]). Ted Codd's model for organizing database records with limited redundancy is a set-theoretical (mathematical) model that treats data contents the same whether its underlying structures are hierarchical or network-oriented. Though elegant and universal, Ted Codd's approach was not largely adopted through the early 1980s because mainframe computers of that day were incapable of supporting the input/output intensity required by a relational DBMS (RDBMS). As hardware capability increased through the 1980s, most industry practitioners began to line up behind Codd's RDBMS as the best means to manage large shared data banks.
While there are hundreds of thousands of business-oriented software applications today that still operate with flat files and hierarchical or network-based DBMSs, these methods of managing enterprise databases are considered outdated. Information update is now the province of on-line transaction processor (OLTP) sites that are implemented by RDBMSs. Large-scale complex query is increasingly being handled by specialized applications called data warehouses (DWH) that operate on vestiges of Codd's relational model. Ted Codd's relational model today stands astride the world of enterprise computing.
Despite near-universal acceptance as a database management mechanism, there are huge problems with the relational model. The most significant is the lack of relationship definition. Relational models contain almost no clues as to a) how they were created; b) what the various relationships among the data actually are; or c) how the relationships are reflected in the model. Most practitioners and experts who work with the relational model are destabilized by its lack of semantic context. As a result, many experts, including Ted Codd himself (CODD, E. F., Extending the Database Relational Model to Capture More Meaning, ACM Transactions on Database Systems 4, 4 (December, 1979), pp. 397-434, hereafter referred to as [Cod79]), have attempted to create semantic data models (HULL, R., KING, R., Semantic Database Modeling: Survey, Applications, and Research Issues, ACM Computing Surveys, Vol. 19. No. 3, (September, 1987) pp. 201-260, hereafter referred to as [Hull87]). For example, a semantic data model posed by Peter Chen in 1976 (CHEN, P. P., The Entity-Relationship Model—Toward a Unified View of Data, ACM Transactions on Database Systems 1, 1 (March, 1976), pp. 9-36, hereafter referred to as [Che76]) is almost universally accepted as the means to determine the semantic context of a relational model.
There have been many serious attempts to implement semantic data models (SDMs) as DBMSs. None have reached the commercial marketplace, partly because they are more difficult to implement just the required optimizers are difficult propositions), and partly because they are typically more difficult to use in real business settings. Also, the more semantic context a DBMS captures, the more difficult it is to make corrections and changes. Though such changes may have less impact than when the semantics are managed by the functional application, efficient support for semantics in a DBMS is very difficult. Getting a value-based or record-based DBMS to work takes significantly less resources. Another notion as to why semantic data models have not done better in the commercial marketplace is that semantic context does not do much to improve performance (and may actually retard performance). Given that RDBMSs are challenged for performance, it is probably not surprising that more semantic context has not found its way into value-based DBMSs.
With rare exceptions (e.g., Sentences from Lazy Software Ltd), semantic data models are not used as DBMSs. Unlike humans, a computer has no need to understand the semantic context of data. A computer needs only for the DBMS schema definition to be efficient for maintenance and execution. If semantic context helped a computer to be more efficient, there would be a reason to include semantic information in the execution system. There is no reason to believe that semantic context would improve the performance of the relational model. For example, there are no RDBMSs that also implement Peter Chen's E-R semantic data model [Che76]. There are numerous semantic data models and specialized implementation techniques, but there is only one widely accepted means of implementing enterprise databases—an RDBMS running on the relational model.
Background Art—Relational Model:
Ted Codd's relational model (originally [Cod70] but defined for current context in [Cod79]) is the foundation for relational DBMSs, which are today the prevalent implementation for enterprise systems. In a relational representation, which is shown in Drawing 1., "Relational Model", all data is folded into two-dimensional relations (tables) consisting of attributes (columns) and tuples (rows), such that some combination of the attribute values will uniquely identify each tuple (primary key or PK). Such a 2D table is called a relation (hence, the term relational. The remaining attributes (columns) in a relation (i.e., those that are not part of the PK) are called the non-key attributes or NKs of the relation. Within each relation, integrity is ensured when the NK attributes are dependent upon the whole set of the designated PK attributes and nothing but the whole set of the PK attributes (normalized, normal form, third normal form and 3NF). Creating lookup relations that define the range of acceptable values for an attribute ensures attribute-level integrity.
Relations (tables) are connected to one another only by shared combinations of identifying attributes. PK attributes migrate from relation to relation, where they are known as foreign keys (FKs). FK migration begins with the primary relations, which are the relations with only one attribute in the PK and no FKs. Relations with multiple attributes in the PK are called associative relations. Information is typically extracted from a relational model by projecting and/or selecting, then joining the resulting relations according to the FKs and, finally, filtering the results table based on any attribute value limitations specified in the transaction. Structured Query Language (SQL) can specify the data manipulation involved in projecting, selecting, joining and filtering. When an enterprise database structure has been captured in its correct (canonical or normalized) relational format, there is no redundancy in the stored NK attributes.
The best definition of the relational model can be found in [Cod79], Section 2. "The Relational Model", which defines succinctly that which is generally accepted as the relational model. The remainder of the paper ([Cod79]) proposes an extended relational model to capture more of the meaning of the data. Codd's extended relational model sought to move the relational model toward a more semantic data model with at least four "personalities". The extended relational model was not adopted by industry.
Advantages of the Relational Model:
The relational model has a highly evolved structure that facilitates data retrieval and a ero data redundancy goal for NK attributes that ensures data integrity. The relational model also separates logical data representation from the physical implementation. The data repository can be plied with a relational calculus implemented by a highly evolved and broadly standardized SQL, for example, as specified in [SQL92].
Relational Model Advantage—Application-Oriented Structure:
The process for evolving a relational model causes the data model to exactly mimic the business model. Each relation is created to exactly support some number of end-user views of data that are required by the software application. Once the correct relational tuples are located in the relational model, all of the necessary attribute values (instances) for the particular user view are directly contained within the structure of the tuple. No additional data need be accessed or retrieved (except, sometimes, lookup values that can be stored in memory).
Relational Model Advantage—Limited Data Redundancy:
The normal (canonical) form of the relational model ensures that no tuple of attributes is stored more than once. This has the advantage of reducing the amount of data to be stored and ensuring that updates to non-key attributes will be performed without anomalies. Each question posed to an RDBMS should only be answered in one way (when multiple replicated tuples are involved in a data model there exists the possibility that the data replicas will be out-of-synch and, thus, provide wrong answers to questions). The elimination of data redundancy from the flat file model was one of the driving features of the relational model.
Relational Model Advantage—Relational Calculus and SQL:
The relational model has a highly evolved relational calculus for manipulating the elements of the model and a broadly standardized SQL for plying the relational data structures.
Problems Involved in the Relational Model:
The principal problem involved with the relational model is that its fundamental data structure is both highly evolved and application-dependent. In simplest terms, the "row×column" structure of a relation lacks symmetry. The attributes that are bound into the various relations, the designations of the PK attributes and the nature and structure of the interconnecting FKs are as unique to a given enterprise's operation as fingerprints are to a person. Relational application software, written in SQL, relies completely on the structure of the relations and business rules.
Each aspect of the relational model maps to many different views/interfaces in the application and each view/interface in the software application interfaces with many different aspects of the relational model. This many-to-many relationship between the application software and the representation of the data has the effect of binding together the application and data so tightly that a minor change in either can have major consequences on the other. Because the relational model's application-dependent data structures (ADDS) are unique, complex and fragile (resistant to change), the ADDS feature of the relational model causes many severe problems in the software applications.
Relational Model Problem Involved—ADDS vs. Relational COTS:
ADDS makes the distribution and maintenance of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) application software a very difficult business proposition. Because each application is inherently unique (by virtue of the ADDS uniqueness), it is difficult to achieve the economy of scale necessary to sustain a business distributing COTS applications. If the data model is made more flexible (complex) to accommodate a range of variation in the underlying business model (such as varying operational practices within an industry), the artifacts of this flexibility will cause the application software's complexity to increase, proportionally, to handle the increased operational flexibility (because SQL is tightly bonded to the data structure). Although any given implementation only uses a small portion of the ADDS-induced flexibility, every implementation must be able to fully identify and understand the flexibility. The relational equation—flexibility implies unnecessary complexity—is inescapable with respect to any given implementation of the COTS software.
Relational applications that are built on such flexible relational model data structures often suffer operational difficulties and failures that are not caused by any aspect of the particular enterprise's business model, but rather are caused by unneeded and unused artifacts of flexibility (included in the COTS application to accommodate competitors' business models).
In addition, identifying, understanding and ignoring the unused artifacts of induced flexibility in the application and the data model necessarily consumes the most talented human IT resources of the enterprise, as well as other institutional resources such as data storage, processing, training and documentation. As the COTS software vendor's customer base continues to grow, the need for flexibility and attendant complexity increases until the existing customer base begins to reject the COTS application. This often results in the failure of the COTS application vendor.
It is fair to state that the ADDS inherent in the relational model are the root cause of many if not most commercial failures of COTS application software vendors. [i.e., a) commercial viability requires vast flexibility, b) because of ADDS, vast flexibility implies unnecessary complexity (with respect to any given customer), and c) ever increasing and unnecessary complexity causes customers to stop using the application.]
Relational Model Problem Involved—Long Frozen Baselines:
For a given relational software application, the complete structure of the relations must be known/defined before the coding of the application software can begin. Thus, because of ADDS, long frozen requirements baselines are necessary so that the relational modelers can ascertain and document the specifics of the enterprise's data structure (it is not uncommon for enterprises with complex data structures to require frozen requirements baselines measured in years). The complexity is so extreme that it is often necessary to use semantic data models to first describe the data model in abstract terms. Because the underlying data model of the enterprise does change during the period of the frozen baseline (sometimes considerably), relational application software typically lags behind the true enterprise model, often to a substantial degree.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Resistance to Change:
Because of the ADDS and the tight bond with SQL, relational software applications are highly resistant to even the smallest changes in the structure of the relations. The most sensitive problems in this area are involved with changes in the single PK attributes of the primary relations. Any given PK for a primary relation can migrate to become FKs in a substantial number of relations within the enterprise's relational model. Any changes in such PK attributes can induce changes throughout a relational model, as well as the associated application software. This implies that minor changes can be very costly to make, and necessary changes are often avoided with costly workarounds (because the cost to correct the problem in the application is even greater). As a direct result of ADDS and FK migration, relational applications typically have years of unapplied application change requests in backlog. This is why COTS enterprise applications based on the relational model typically have a low degree of fit to the customer's needs.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Structural Degradation:
On the typical enterprise application, RDBMSs are faced with a physical reorganization problem relative to the basic tabular organization of information. The problem, which is attendant to the ADDS, is that relational information is stored in a highly-organized form which should be at least clustered if not physically contiguous on the storage medium. However, a table is only represented in its pristine structural form on the storage medium when it is first loaded (or re-loaded). When rows are deleted and inserted, this clustered physical arrangement on disk cannot be maintained. Over time, the RDBMS will gradually lose much of its throughput efficiency because of the relational model's reliance on structured data storage. The enterprise may simply accept this loss of efficiency or correct it by periodically reorganizing the tables on the physical storage medium.
The problem of structural degradation is inherent in relational data management. Reliance on complex physical data structures is the problem. All complex physical data storage structures degrade over time. When the DBMS relies on the physical structures for organization, processing efficiency degrades in proportion to the erosion in the physical structures.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Need to De-Normalize:
Normalization is considered a key theoretical strength of the relational model. In practice, it is one of the great weaknesses of the model. It is a rare implementation of the relational model that can afford the inefficiency involved in full normalization. The join operation is extremely inefficient and the greater the degree of normalization the more joins must be performed. De-normalizing the structures of the relational model provides for operational efficiency but leads to update anomalies and significant redundant data that then must be plied to support operations. This is especially true of the requirement to keep the data replicates updated in synch with the copies of record. All of this complexity must be added to the application. Complex queries require so many joins, that databases on the relational model must often be de-normalized further just to support complex query. When the update processors (OLTP) cannot support the added redundancy (de-normalization) that is required for complex query, it is frequently necessary to deploy separate DWH sites just to support the complex query.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Elemental Security:
The security requirements of enterprise applications are difficult to predict. Customers often require that security classifications (for access to data) be at the row or column (attribute) level. In some cases, customers may require security at the 'cell' level of a table (row×column). There are no practical ways to implement security labels within the cells of two-dimensional table structures (certainly none that are efficient). This is so because security is actually a different, third dimension to the two-dimensional table. A certain 'row-column' combination (two-dimensions) might require no security, or one or more security labels. If the security dimension is collapsed (folded) onto the two-dimensional table, as is required by the relational model, the result is not good.
This is an example of one area where induced flexibility makes the relational model untenable. To make applications broadly useful, the underlying data model must allow for cell-level security. Yet, cell-level security may only be invoked in a few instances. The rigid relational table structure would have to be built to handle security labels on all instances (cells). This approach is enormously inefficient. One alternate possibility is to create adjunct table structures (category relations) with only the row-column values that require the security labels. In a secure mode, this doubles the number of reads that are required to process transactions.
The more dimensions of complexity that exist in the application (such as security) the more difficult it is to implement the application in a two-dimensional relational depiction.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Inability to Interface:
Because of ADDS, the ability to read the information in a relational repository is effectively limited to the application for which the repository was erected. This is ironic because Codd's original intent for the relational model [Cod70] was to facilitate access to large shared data banks. To share a relational database that was erected for/by a different application and use its data effectively, a software application must learn the complicated ADDS of the 'owning' software application. Over time, as each application changes its business model and its underlying ADDS, all other applications that must share the application's data must be similarly modified to keep pace. For this reason, making even one minor change in a tapestry of interconnecting relational applications can be like throwing a rock into a still pond. The waves of change must propagate throughout the interconnecting applications. This has a profound effect on the structure and composition of relational applications. For example, most relational software applications do not eliminate unneeded attributes from their relations. It is more cost-effective to ignore that which is no longer necessary than it is to make such minor changes and suffer the wide-ranging effects upon the structure and composition of all interfacing applications. Over time, the persistence of unneeded data structure and attribution in a relational implementation can cause additional problems in complexity, storage space, and operations.
Relational Model Problem Involved—Inability to Model Complex Interrelationships:
The relational model has no real mechanism for modeling complex interrelationships among data. The most basic relationships are encapsulated in rigid sets of attributes. All other relationships are simply "embodied" within the FKs that are repeated among the relations. Therefore, the relational model does not define in any semantic manner the relationships among the relations. In 1976, Peter Chen [Che76] defined one of the first semantic data models (the Entity-Relationship or E-R model) to extend the relational model to address this problem. To define and explain the relationships among PKs and FKs in the relational model, the E-R model adds the notion of named "business rules" (among entities) with cardinality (e.g., 1:1, 1:M, 1:0,1M, etc.). The relational model and the E-R models are so generally intermixed in the real world that most people, and indeed most experts in the field, view them as one and the same data model. In [Cod79], Ted Codd both corrected this notion and attempted, himself, to extend the relational model to a semantic data model to encompass the definition and classification of complex relationships among the relations.
In short, the relational model presents a means of depicting data (an end-state description) and an add-insert-delete and query calculus. The relational model is not a means of understanding, analyzing, defining, designing, describing or improving the complex interrelationships that exist among the data. To do that, generally requires a semantic data model, of which there are many to choose from (including Chen's E-R model [Che76]).
Relational Model Problem Involved—OLTP vs. DWH:
When large and very large databases are implemented with the relational model, the contention between query and update transactions can cause severe performance difficulties. Mission critical enterprise applications generally require that updates be applied in real time. This is known as On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP). However, enterprises also need to query the database, and many of the required queries are elaborate and/or complex. To support such queries on large databases requires secondary indices on each of the columns that are mentioned in the SQL "select" and "where" clauses. Because these secondary indices must be maintained during updates, they add substantial overhead to the update transactions.
Given that joining tables can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, complex queries also benefit from reducing the number of physical tables that must be accessed. A popular approach is to pre-join (or de-normalize) the tables to reduce the number of joins. Though most OLTP sites do de-normalize the databases somewhat, to improve performance, they typically do not do nearly enough de-normalization to support complex queries. Moreover, as the amount of de-normalization and secondary indices increases, OLTP response times get appreciably worse. Because of this contention, complex query support on large and very large databases has been increasingly implemented on separate computing suites known as data warehouses.
OLTP installations are optimized to best support real-time update, while still supporting enough queries to meet the tactical objectives of day-to-day enterprise operations. DWH implementations are optimized to support unrestricted complex query on large and very large databases, and as infrequent and minimally disruptive of an update process as is consistent with strategic assessment and decision support. OLTP supports the least amount of columnar inversion of the database tables (secondary indices) that is minimally consistent with tactical needs. DWHs support the maximum amount of columnar inversion of the database tables that reasonably contributes to efficiency in supporting complex queries. The current direction of the OLTP and DWH markets is to drive these two computing paradigms farther and farther apart, not closer together.
There would be a sizable advantage to conducting OLTP and DWH on the same copy of the database, provided that the solution was cost-effective. It would, for example, simplify training, lower maintenance costs, improve the currency and accuracy of data, and put strategic support within reach of many enterprises that today cannot afford both an OLTP and a DWH solution. It is simply that the DBMS industry views the separation as a necessary evil.
Background Art—Semantic Data Model:
As mentioned above, the relational model provides no mechanism for modeling the complex interrelationships either within or among its relations. Like the hierarchical and network data models that came before it, the relational model is termed a value-based or record-based model. Semantic models were first introduced as tools to understand, analyze, define, design, describe and improve data interrelationships. Complex data schemas could be modeled in a semantic tool and then translated into the relational model for implementation on an RDBMS.
The first published semantic data model, the Semantic Binary Data Model (SBDM) appeared in 1974, (ABRIAL, J. R., Data Semantics, Data Base Management, North Holland, Amsterdam, (1974) pp. 1-59, hereafter referred to as [Abr74]). In 1976, Peter Chen published the most commercially successful semantic data model of all, the E-Rmodel [Che76], to address the complete lack of semantic context in the relational model. So successful was the E-R data model at extending the relational model, that most database practitioners today regard the relational model and the E-R model as one and the same model. They are not. The relational model is implemented by an RDBMS while the E-R model is implemented in an entity-relationship diagram. The "business rules" introduced by the E-R model are not supported, per se, by an RDBMS. The success of the E-R model (compared to the more robust semantic models developed by, among others, Codd himself [Cod79]) is rooted in its simplicity.
One grouping of semantic data models that is related to this invention including a Knowledge Operating System or KnOS is the one that describes data as two constructs: entity sets and binary relations. These semantic binary data models(e.g., [Abr74], BRACCHI, G., PAOLINI, P., and PELAGATTI, G., Binary Logical Associations in Data Modeling, Modeling in Data Base Management Systems. North Holland, Amerstam, (1976) pp. 125-148, hereafter referred to as [BPP76], DEHENEFFE, C., HENNEBERT, H., and PAULUS, W., Relational model for a Data Base, Proceedings of the IFIP Congress, (1974) pp. 1022-1025, hereafter referred to as [DHP74], HAINAUT, J. L., and LECHARLIER, B., An Extensible Semantic Model of Database and its Data Language, Proceedings of the IFIP Congress, (1974) pp. 1026-1030, hereafter referred to as [HaL74], and SENKO, M. E., Information Systems: Records, Relations, Sets, Entities, and Things, Information Systems 1, 1, (1975) pp. 3-13, hereafter referred to as [Sen75]) treat each binary relation as an inverse pair of possibly multi-valued functions (see Drawing 6, "Semantic Binary Data Model"). The SBDMs and the present invention have the same core construct (sets of binary relations in inverse pairs of possibly multi-valued functions), but the present invention is not a semantic data model, per se, in that it does not seek to define relationships. Instead, the present invention treats the binary relations as basic, unnamed "associations", in much the same way that the relational model implements the net results of the E-R model.
In short, people crave semantic context; computers and DBMSs do not. DBMSs benefit only from efficiency and maintainability. If the inclusion of semantic context makes a DBMS less efficient or the database/application less maintainable, it is a weak candidate for addition to a DBMS. Unfortunately, semantic data models do both (less efficient and less maintainable). The more semantic context a DBMS captures, the more changes are required when one discovers either that mistakes were made or that the enterprise model has changed. If this were not true, all of the commercial RDBMSs would have absorbed at least the E-R semantic data model [Che76] into their basic framework.
Advantages of the Semantic Data Model:
One of the better treatments of semantic models was produced by Richard Hull and Roger King in 1987, "Semantic Database Modeling: Survey, Applications, and Research Issues" [Hull87]. Semantic data modeling techniques provide three principal advantages over record-based or value-based models such as the relational model.
Increased separation of conceptual and physical components. In the relational model, the access paths available to end-users tend to mimic the logical structure of the database schema directly (by comparing identifiers in order to traverse from one relation to another). The attributes of semantic models are used as direct conceptual pointers. Decreased semantic overloading of relationship types. The relational model only has two constructs for recording relationships among objects: a) by binding attributes within relations and b) by using the same values within two or more relations. It is for this latter reason, that the relational model is often called "value based".
Availability of convenient abstraction mechanisms. Semantic models provide a variety of convenient mechanisms for viewing and accessing the schema at different levels of abstraction.
Peter Chen's Entity-Relationship (E-R) model [Che76] is the most widely used and widely recognized semantic data model. The E-R model is the standard semantic data model for understanding, analyzing, defining, designing, describing and improving a relational model.
Problems Involved in the Semantic Data Model:
Semantic data models have been widely used in schema design but have not experienced much commercial success as a means of implementing computing solutions. There are several reasons for this.
Most of the semantic data models are not implementation models (they are used for schema design). For example, the E-R model is not an implementation model.
Many semantic data models are used by the object-oriented (OO) behavioral computing paradigm. OO has suffered from a lack of success because many enterprise data models do not sustain a broad-based crisp boundary condition (the core requisite of OO).
Many semantic data models have a narrow focus of interest, which is not well suited to commercialization as an implementation model.
Many semantic data models are too complex to gain wide-scale usage. Codd's own semantic extension to the relational model [Cod79] gained no following because of its theoretical complexity. The very simple E-R model is the standard semantic data model for defining relational models.
The simplicity inherent in the relational model permits the development of powerful, non-procedural query languages such as ANSI SQL. Many semantic data models can be mapped to a relational model for implementation, thereby taking advantage of the general computing features of relational modeling. As a result, many semantic data models are implemented on the relational model by an RDBMS.
There is no body of expert opinion today to suggest that semantic data models will ever replace record-based data models (relational, network, hierarchical) for implementation. But, it is likely that semantic data models will always have a place in the field of schema analysis and design.

Data base and knowledge operating system


A cooling apparatus for cooling an electronic device on a substrate, comprising a first heat sink held in contact with the electronic device, but unconnected with the substrate or the electronic device. The first heat sink is held into contact with the electronic device by a biasing means.

As shown in FIG. 10, computers 2 typically comprise a motherboard, or substrate 3, that have one or more microchips 4 disposed thereon that control the functions of the computer. It is important that the temperature of the microchips are maintained within given operating temperatures to ensure optimum performance of the microchip, and hence the computer. However, during operation the microchips will be heated as they consume power supplied to them.
In one known arrangement to cool the microchips, heat sinks and fans are disposed above the or each chip to be cooled. However, this arrangement creates noise due to the operation of the fans.
Therefore, to overcome the above problem fanless cooling means were developed, that comprise a heat sink 6 disposed above the chip. A heat pipe 7 is coupled to the heat sink 6 and connected to a remote heat sink (eg the computer casing 8). Thus heat may be drained away from the chip.
However, motherboards manufactured by individual manufacturers generally place the microchips in variable locations. Thus it is difficult to provide a generic heat sink for use with all microchips and motherboard combinations. In practice a buyer is left with no choice but to buy the heat sink from the same manufacturer as the motherboard, as they will have been created to fasten to the motherboard in specific locations about the or each microchip.


A golf cart front-wheel collapsing device includes two parallel lower tubes, two stationary annular gears, a rotary cylindrical gear, a switch and a front wheel. The lower tubes are fixed under a golf cart frame, having a lower end combined with each stationary annular gear, with the cylindrical gear located between the stationary annular gears, and with a coil spring located respectively between each stationary annular gear and the cylindrical gear. The switch is positioned in one of the stationary gears for securing other components in place and operated to engage and disengage the stationary gears with and from the cylindrical gear, letting the front wheel removably combined with the cylindrical gear able to be expanded or folded for collapsing this device, also adjusting the front-wheel's angle to suit to users of different heights.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a golf cart front-wheel collapsing device, particularly to one collapsible to become a small size for convenience of handling, storing and carrying, and having the functions of angle adjusting of the front wheel and of height adjusting of the height of the grip from the ground for suiting to the height of a user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional golf cart shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a front wheel 11, which has to be folded up between the two rear wheels 12 before collapsing it, so the grip 13 is prevented from being folded inward, impossible to be collapsed. Then the conventional golf cart has a collapsed size substantially large, inconvenient to be stored or carried.