A device for detecting RF power information, for use as a stand alone purpose built device, or connectable to an external computing instrument such as a laptop, PDA, or cell phone, or other similarly capable technology. The device scans two or more bands in the wireless frequency and provides output to the user with wireless information about multiple bands of information.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to the field of spectrum analyzers, and more particularly to a mobile device which analyzes multiple bands of RF frequencies.
2. Background
Wireless networks operating under standard IEEE 802.11, also known as Wi-Fi, are wireless local area network (WLAN) technology commonly used for networking computers together. Wi-Fi can operate in either the 2.4 GHZ Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band, or in the 5 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz band is roughly 100 MHz wide. Within that band there are 14 channels that are 22 MHz wide. Due to frequency constraints in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, these Wi-Fi channels overlap each other. The 5 GHz band is 600 MHz wide with 25 channels. Also, the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands share frequencies with a number of other users such as cordless telephones, Bluetooth® devices, ZigBee® devices. To the 802.11 WLAN devices, these other devices may be viewed as interferers. These potential interference sources may cause difficulty with network communications.
When setting up a wireless network or troubleshooting network problems, it is necessary to learn what portions of the available radio frequencies, or bands, are free of interfering signals. The test instrument most commonly used for such a task is the spectrum analyzer. A spectrum analyzer scans, or 'sweeps' the desired range of frequencies, then normally plots the strengths of the signals received in the vertical axis against the scanned frequencies on the horizontal axis. The result of such a sweep is shown on a graphic display to enable a user to graphically see the spectrum that is analyzed. Spectrum analyzers are specialized test instruments that often cover broad ranges of frequencies. Conventional spectrum analyzers focus on features that enhance the accuracy of measurements, such as: sweep time, principles of the invention, resolution bandwidth and frequency range. These features often require specialized hardware. For instance, conventional spectrum analyzers typically contain dedicated hardware capable of quickly taking precise measurements. This specialized hardware is typically bulky and cost prohibitive for a small scale user, such as a small business, a personal computer user, or highly mobile technical support personnel. Conventional spectrum analyzers also lack certain spectrum display and data manipulation features, creating additional work for a user desiring a particular display or spectrum data manipulation. For example, conventional spectrum analyzers typically graph amplitude versus frequency, requiring users to mentally map channels utilized by devices onto the frequency axis. Furthermore, while conventional spectrum analyzers allow an image to be saved, the image is generally only a representation of a single instant in time.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a portable and inexpensive device for portable analyzing and troubleshooting the Wi-Fi spectrum.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,898 to Woodings discloses a System and Apparatus for Detecting and Analyzing a Frequency Spectrum. The apparatus is suitable for spectrum analysis in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band. The apparatus is a small device that plugs into an available Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of a computing device such as a laptop computer. The result is a highly portable system that includes a 2.4 GHz radio system and hardware to support USB communications. The apparatus together with its companion software, which runs on the connected computer, functions as a spectrum analyzer. The software and the hardware apparatus are operated from the computer's graphical user interface (GUI). GUI's are a standard part of modern computer operating systems such as the common Microsoft® Windows operating systems.
What is needed is a small, portable, and inexpensive device that will perform spectrum analysis on at least the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio frequency bands. The device should work with a computer that has a GUI, and ideally existing software capable of spectrum analysis and display should be utilized.

Multiple band portable spectrum analyzer


Herein is disclosed a system for locating a parked vehicle, as in the case of a driver having forgotten the location of his/her parked vehicle in a crowded parking lot, whereby a handheld apparatus is automatically engaged prior to the driver leaving the immediate vicinity of his/her parked vehicle. When thusly engaged, the apparatus retrieves GPS location coordinates for the parked vehicle from GPS satellites and stores these coordinates in its memory. Once activated by the driver for the purpose of finding his/her parked vehicle, the Vehicle Locating Apparatus retrieves GPS location coordinates for the driver""s current position. Using the GPS location coordinates stored in its memory and those retrieved for the driver""s current location, a microprocessor contained within the apparatus calculates the shortest course between the driver and his/her parked vehicle. This course is then presented on a visual display by way of a xe2x80x9cfloatingxe2x80x9d directional arrow.

Not applicable.
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This invention pertains to the field of vehicle location, and more specifically to the use of satellite technology to aid a driver in finding his/her parked vehicle when the driver has forgotten the location of his/her parked vehicle as in the case of a vehicle parked in a crowded parking lot.
From time to time, most people have had the unpleasant experience of forgetting where they parked their vehicle; those with impaired memory from age or disease are particularly susceptible. Not only is wandering around a parking lot looking for a car unpleasant, it may also be dangerous as most people in this situation are preoccupied and therefore more vulnerable to attack by predatory individuals.
The art of locating vehicles in general has been greatly enhanced with the advent of the Global Positioning System (GPS). With regard to vehicle location, general uses of GPS technology include the recovery of stolen vehicles, vehicle tracking by companies with large fleets of trucks for routing purposes, and various kinds of investigative work. For these purposes, a GPS device onboard the vehicle retrieves GPS signals from at least three orbiting GPS satellites. These GPS signals are converted into location coordinates that are either stored in the GPS device""s memory or transmitted to a base station via radio, cellular or paging technology. The base station then determines the vehicle""s location by plotting the coordinates on a map either manually or on a computer mapping system. GPS devices used as such are cumbersome, require considerably more technology than the preferred embodiment of this invention, and are not intended for use as a handheld locating device for the objectives as disclosed herein.
Many GPS devices are coming onto the market for the purpose of personal navigation. Although a personal navigation system could be used to find one""s vehicle, it would require the driver to manually retrieve GPS location coordinates for the parked vehicle prior to leaving the vehicle""s immediate proximity. This is a significant disadvantage, as the driver would have to remember to bring the GPS device on every outing as well as to manually retrieve location coordinates every time the vehicle is parked. Other disadvantages of these devices are that they are expensive and too bulky to fit comfortably into a man""s trousers pocket.
For the main purpose of this inventionxe2x80x94aiding a driver to find his/her vehicle as in the case of the driver forgetting the location within a crowded parking lot of his/her vehiclexe2x80x94prior art has concentrated mostly on either radio signal directional finders as demonstrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,325 (1997) and visual and/or audible signaling devices attached to the vehicle and generally triggered remotely by radio signal as demonstrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,246,314 (2001) and 6,239,701 (2001).
With regard to radio signal directional finders developed for the purpose of locating a car in a crowded parking lot, the most significant disadvantages are distorted signals due to obstructions such as surrounding vehicles and or buildings, the reliability of the signal over long distances, and the size and physical nature of the portable devices and their directional antennas. Few people would use a bulky system to avoid the inconvenience of forgetting the location of their parked vehicle.
With regard to signaling devices, it seems obvious that such devices have inherent weaknesses, including difficulty seeing the signaling device from long distances (the greater the distance, the higher the signaling device must be), buildings and other obstructions that could block a visual sighting, the difficulty of determining direction from sound especially for those with hearing impairment and, of course, the embarrassment of calling attention to the fact that you""ve lost your car.
Accordingly, the main objective of this invention is to aid a driver in finding his/her vehicle as in the case of a vehicle having been parked in a crowded parking lot. The invention, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a small, handheld apparatus that contains a GPS receiver. At the time the vehicle is first parked, the GPS receiver retrieves location coordinates for the parked vehicle without prompting from the driver and stores those location coordinates in the apparatus"" memory. At the time the driver activates the apparatus for the purpose of locating his/her vehicle, the GPS receiver retrieves location coordinates for the driver""s current location. The present invention, using formulas well known to those skilled in the art, calculates a straight course between the driver and his/her parked vehicle. The course is then presented on the apparatus"" visual display as a xe2x80x9cfloatingxe2x80x9d directional arrow pointing from the driver""s current location toward his/her parked vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to remind a driver on what floor he/she has parked a vehicle within a multi-story parking garage by including in the Vehicle Locating Apparatus a simple electronic counting switch that, when manually depressed by the driver, increases the number stored in the apparatus"" memory by one integer until the corresponding floor number is achieved, the floor number being available for display when later requested by the driver.
Another object of the invention is to be smaller and more compact than standard GPS devices used for personal navigation. The preferred embodiment is a device small enough to be attached to a key chain with dimensions similar to a typical key chain automobile alarm activator.
And still another object of this invention is that a driver may use his/her vehicle as a starting point when journeying on foot into unfamiliar territory. This invention, by way of visual display, presents the direction by which the driver may safely return to his/her vehicle without incurring the expense of more elaborate (and bulky) personal navigation systems.

Abstract: In the case of a parking garage where GPS satellite signals cannot be retrieved consistently, the apparatus has a built in counting switch that allows the driver to manually record in the apparatus"" memory the floor number on which he/she parked his/her vehicle. When requested, the apparatus displays the floor number on a visual display.


The present invention aims to improve soundproof and heat insulating properties of a foamed plastic by reducing internal cells pressure inside foamed resins. A base polymer such as a polyester-based polyol and a volatile foaming agent having an conjugate unsaturated group (i.e., conjugate double carbon bonds and/or triple carbon bonds) such as chloroprene (bp. 51.degree. C.) and calcium stearate were blended and then mixed with a hardening agent such as hexamethylene diisocyanate. The volatile foaming agent existing in open cells of the foamed plastic sealed in the Al laminated film and between the film and the foamed plastic, i.e., gap, possesses an unsaturated group, such as isoprene. Thus polymerization may occur by irradiating with electron rays, and the inside of the foams and the gap region may be reduced in pressure while the bag of the laminated film retains its shape.

It is known that properties of plastics such as heat insulation, sound absorption, buoyancy, elasticity and weight reduction are improved by mechanically foaming plastics, involving foaming by using reactive gas or foaming by using foaming agents. Such foamed plastics are widely used as soundproof material, heat insulators, building material, lightweight structural material, packaging material, insulating material, cushion material, quakeproof material, footwear, automobile interiors, and other articles. Many usable resins are known, and various foaming techniques are also known.
To save energy, resources and space, it is desirable to improve heat insulation and soundproof performance with a material that is as thin as possible.
However, in the prior art, it has proved very difficult to reduce the thickness of formed resins. The heat insulation or soundproof performance of foamed resins decrease in proportion to a reduction in their thickness.

Foamed plastic and method of manufacturing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention consists of a composition containing a chemically blocked trimerization catalyst and a polyurethane prepolymer resin or resins with reactive isocyanate groups. In the absence of heat, the catalyst is not active and the solution of catalyst in the resin undergoes no appreciable reaction for periods ranging from hours to weeks depending upon the composition and concentration of the catalysts and the structure and concentration of the isocyanate groups. When heat is applied to the mixture a trimerization reaction occurs which produces a crosslinked polyurethane network with utility as an elastomer or as an adhesive.

The preparation of polyurethane and polyurethane/urea elastomers and adhesives traditionally requires the combination of isocyanates or isocyanate containing resins with crosslinking agents, e.g., polyamines or polyols, in precise ratios. That is because the reactivity of the combined isocyanates and isocyanate terminated prepolymers and the properties of the final polyurethane and polyurethane/urea vulcanizates are dependent upon the curative-resin ratio or stoichiometry. It is further recognized in the preparation of the polyurethane/urea elastomers that many of the presently used aromatic amine curatives have potential health and safety problems are crystalline solids which must be melted at high temperature and used in a molten state. A final problem in preparing polyurethane/urea elastomers is that the limited working time ("pot-life") available complicates the production of multiple castings and large parts that require large amounts of polyurethane/urea.
A number of approaches have been taken to overcome such problems as those mentioned above. These rely upon (a) the inhibition of the isocyanate, (b) the retardation of the curative, and (c) the blocking of catalysts which promote crosslinker-isocyanate reactions. Examples of the first approach (a), include the use of reaction products of isocyanates with oximes, phenols, or caprolactams. These products are stable at room temperature but revert to the starting components at higher temperatures. Examples of the second approach (b) include deactivated complexes of aromatic amines which form stable admixtures with isocyanate containing materials at room temperature. One commercially available material sold under the trademark, Caytur.RTM. 21, is the 2.5:1 complex of methylenedianiline (MDA) with sodium chloride suspended in a carrier fluid. Heat destroys the weak complex and the liberated amine crosslinks the isocyanate containing material. An example of the third approach is a blend of a curative and an isocyanate which undergo a slow crosslinking reaction in the absence of a catalyst. A delayed catalyst, such as a thioalkanoic-tin complex, can be added. The three component blend has an extended working life at room temperature but rapidly cures upon heating.
The preparation of polyisocyanurate containing networks formed by the trimerization and chain extension of isocyanate terminated prepolymer in the presence of polyols is known. In this method the isocyanate group are caused to react to form the polyisocyanurate and this reaction can be effected through catalyst systems such as quaternary ammonium salts. The polyisocyanurate containing vulcanizates or networks are adapted for use in producing molded parts, laminating and impregnating applications as well as adhesives, coatings and so forth. Representative patents which disclose the trimerization of polyisocyanate resins are as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,845 discloses the catalytic trimerization of aromatic isocyanate terminated prepolymers in the presence of short chain and long chain diols, e.g., butane diol and polyether polyols to rapidly produce polyisocyanurate and polyurethane containing products. Trimerization catalysts include the organic acid salts of 1,8-diaza-bicyclo(5,4,0)undec-7-ene. Ortho-carboxylic acid esters used as a catalyst component include ortho-carbonic acid tetraethylester, ortho-formic acid triethylester and the like. Controlled induction periods of a few seconds are noted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,742 discloses a process for producing polyisocyanurate elastomers which comprises polymerizing aromatic polyisocyanates, e.g., methylene diisocyanate, with a small amount of polyol in the presence of a trimerization catalyst. Examples of trimerizing catalysts include tertiary amines such as N,N-dialkyl piperazine; 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2.]octane and many more.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,908 discloses the preparation of polyisocyanurate foams by reacting a polyisocyanate in the presence of a trimerization catalyst and a blowing agent. Aromatic polyisocyanates such as polymethylenepolyphenylpolyisocyanate are trimerized in the presence of organic cyclic carbonates and liquid alkylene carbonates, tertiary amine metal salts as trimer catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,383 discloses a storage-stable, liquid composition comprising an isocyanate functional compound, an epoxy component, an alkylating agent and a tertiary amine catalyst precursor. The tertiary amine precursor forms a quaternary ammonium salt catalyst in situ for achieving crosslinking of the isocyanate via trimerization. In practice an isocyanate-functional prepolymer, either derived from aromatic or aliphatic polyisocyanate, is mixed with the epoxy component and alkylating agent. In the presence of a quaternary ammonium catalyst the isocyanate is trimerized to form a polyisocyanurate resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,918 discloses a modified organic polyisocyanate having an isocyanurate ring. The modified polyisocyanate is prepared from an aromatic polyisocyanate, such as toluenediisocyanate or diphenylmethanediisocyanate or isocyanate terminated prepolymers where the polyol is the polyether or polyester polyol. Catalysts used for effecting isocyanuration of the isocyanates include amines such as 2,4-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)pheny, N,N',N",-tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine and diazabicycloundecene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,049 discloses the use of amidinium salts as a catalyst for converting isocyanates to products having isocyanurate and carbodiimide linkages. In the examples, polyol was added with the amidinium catalyst for effecting isocyanurate and carbodiimide linkages in the resulting product.

Aromatic polyisocyanurate resins and process therefor


A method for controlling a power level supplied to a load by an auxiliary output of a power source is presented. The method includes providing a power source having a user-adjustable main output and an auxiliary output. The method further includes providing a controller that is operative to control the level of the auxiliary output, the controller having at least supply and programming modes of operation. The method still further includes selecting the programming mode and adjusting the power level of the auxiliary output to a desired level while in the programming mode, thereby defining a programmed desired level. The method yet still further includes storing the programmed desired level in the controller, and then controlling the auxiliary output to the programmed desired level while operating the power source in the supply mode. The method further includes delivering power to the load in accordance with the stored desired power level.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to over-current protection of a transformer supplying one or more loads and, in particular, to over-current protection of a transformer supplying power to model electric trains.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventionally, transformers are used to adapt the available electrical supply from a generator, power supply or the common alternating current wall outlet to the voltage, current and power levels required by an electrical apparatus. A fuse is generally located in line with the primary of the transformer. When the fuse reaches a certain current level, it opens, protecting the transformer from overloads that may damage it permanently, such as overheating of the insulation. In many applications opening, or blowing, the fuse is undesirable. In these applications, the simple protection afforded by such a fuse has been supplemented by electronic protection.
One such application is in the operation of model toy trains. In this consumer electronics application, a blown fuse disables the use of the train until the fuse is replaced. Such fuses are generally not easily accessible or replaceable by the consumer. Electronic controls designed to minimize the current through the transformer to levels below the operation of the fuse protect the transformer from overloads without operation of the fuse. These controls can additionally protect other internal devices from excessive heat and power and provide a more enjoyable experience for the consumer.

Transformer over-current protection with RMS sensing and voltage fold-back


It is an object of the present invention to provide a PDP and an FED with excellent visibility and a high level of reliability that each have an antireflective function by which reflection of external light can be reduced. A plurality of adjacent pyramidal-shaped projections and an antireflective layer equipped with a covering film that covers the projections are provided. The reflection of light is prevented by the index of refraction of incident light from external being changed by a pyramid, which is a physical shape, projecting out toward an external side (atmosphere side) of a substrate that is to be used as a display screen as well as by the covering film used to cover the projections being formed of a material that has a higher index of refraction than the index of refraction of the pyramidal projection.

In various types of displays (a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as a PDP), a field emission display (hereinafter referred to as an FED)) and the like), the display screen becomes hard to see and visibility decreases because of reflection of scenery due to surface reflection of light from external. These are particularly significant problems with regard to increase in the size of a display device or use of a display device outdoors.
Methods in which antireflective films are provided in PDP and FED display screens in order to prevent reflection of light from external in this way are being implemented. For example, there is a method in which, for an antireflective film, the structure is set to be a multilayer structure in which layers of different indices of refraction are stacked together so as to be effective against a wide range of wavelengths of visible light (for an example of this method, refer to Patent Document 1). By the structure being made to be a multilayer structure, an antireflective effect can be obtained in which light from external reflected at interfaces of the stacked layers interferes with itself and cancels out.
Furthermore, for an antireflective structure, minute conical or pyramidal projections are arranged over a substrate and the reflectance of the surface of the substrate is reduced (for an example of this structure, refer to Patent Document 2).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2003-248102    Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-85831

Plasma display panel and field emission display

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method and system for providing an increased angular extent of autostereoscopic viewing zones received from a display is presented. The design comprises providing a first column of data having a baseline number of views associated therewith, said first column of data provided to at least one lenticule in a lens sheet associated with the display. The design further comprises altering the first quantity of columns of data to a second quantity of columns of data provided to the at least one lenticule. The second quantity of columns comprises more views than the baseline number of views. Employing the second quantity of columns when constructing an autostereoscopic image provides a display having relatively clear viewing of autostereoscopic images for specific viewing distances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present design relates to the projection of autostereoscopic images, and in particular to producing a strong depth effect for autostereoscopic images received from an autostereoscopic display over a broad range of viewing distances from the display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Autostereoscopic displays use lenticular sheets (and in some cases raster barriers, more or less optically interchangeable with lenticular sheets) as a selection device to enable viewing of a stereoscopic image without the use of individual selection devices (glasses) worn by the observer. The term of art used for these kinds of displays, when more than two views are provided, is "panoramagram," or sometimes "parallax panoramagram."
In a panoramagram, multiple perspective views are combined to be imaged by the lens sheet as explained by Okoshi in Three Dimensional Imaging Techniques, NY Academic Press, 1976. In lenticular (or raster barrier) stereoscopic displays, one concern is head movement or user position relative to the display. Head movement in the horizontal direction results in the observer seeing changes of perspective within a viewing zone, where a viewing zone is a spatial region, relative to the display, wherein images on the display are viewed. Perspective views repeat in adjacent viewing zones when transitioning from zone to zone, such as by an observer moving between viewing zones. In other words, the changing perspectives that occur in the primary viewing zone, as one moves laterally, repeats in the secondary and other peripheral zones. These secondary, tertiary, and nth order viewing zones have image quality similar to the primary zone. Beyond the nth order zone, comparative image quality tends to significantly degrade. Performance is symmetrical about the primary zone and the angular extent of the zones is similar. The transition from zone to zone is typically brief with the total of all zones providing the maximum angular extent of viewable image.
As selection occurs at the plane of the screen, many perspective views are required to provide a viewing zone having large angular extent. In the case of a display where only two views are provided, which is sometimes called a parallax stereogram, little head movement is permissible, and the observer's position is restricted. Such restriction of movement is both uncomfortable and undesirable.
The electronic display panoramagram can be adjusted to function well in two different viewing situations. The first is a range of walk-up viewing distances from, for example, 4 to 15 feet away from the display, and also from a distance that is in keeping with, for example, an airport environment where the display is mounted overhead and viewed from 15 feet or more. Currently no panoramagrams commercially available perform well in both scenarios.
Previously available designs therefore have issues with variance in viewer position relative to the display. It would be advantageous to offer a design that enhances or optimizes the autostereoscopic display of images by enabling the viewer to be positioned at various distances from the display.

Controlling the angular extent of autostereoscopic viewing zones


A method and system for decontaminating raw yield maps by combining filters with spatial outlier detectors is provided. In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving over a computer network electronic digital data comprising first yield data representing crop yields harvested from an agricultural field; applying one or more filters to the first yield data to identify, from the first yield data, first outlier data; generating first filtered data from the first yield data by removing the first outlier data from the first yield data; identifying, in the first filtered data, second outlier data representing outlier values based on one or more outlier characteristics; generating second outlier data from the first filtered data by removing the second outlier data from the first filtered data; generating and causing displaying on a mobile computing device a graphical representation of the crop yields harvested from the agricultural field using only the second outlier data.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Determining distributions of yield of crops from agricultural fields is essential for planning and evaluating agricultural management strategies. However, raw data representing yield of crops and obtained from field equipment is known to suffer from contamination such as errors. Some of the errors may be due to errors or shortcomings of the mechanisms used in the field to collect data about the yield of crops. For example, some of the data collection sensors on pieces of harvesting or other agricultural equipment may be incorrectly calibrated, and thus introducing some bias in the measured yield. Other errors may be inherent to the harvesting environment and conditions, including operational delays in registering harvested crops, improperly calibrated harvesting equipment including a harvester bar, incorrectly registered speed readings with which a harvester harvests the crops, narrow finishes of the harvesting combine, and errors caused by the harvester's turns and harvesting overlaps.
Decontaminating this data representing yield of crops is usually carried out by persons who visually inspect the data. The persons may be experts trained in applying various filters and thresholds to determine whether the data representing the yields is decontaminated. Based on the visual inspection and analysis of relations between the collected data and the thresholds, the experts may try to determine sources that caused the contamination. Unfortunately, the methods of selecting the filters and thresholds are typically random and unstructured, and thus do not offer a coherent and robust approach for decontaminating the data. Furthermore, it is often difficult to assess the effectiveness of the filters and thresholds with respect to their applicability to data harvested from different fields, using different harvesting equipment, and harvested using different crop harvesting techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer-generated accurate yield map data using expert filters and spatial outlier detection


A liquid film forming method of dropping a liquid adjusted to be spread into a give amount on a substrate to be processed from a dropping nozzle or dropping nozzles of a dropping unit onto the substrate, and then moving the dropping unit and the substrate relatively while keeping the dropped liquid on the substrate, so as to form a liquid film on the substrate, wherein the relative movement of the dropping unit and the substrate is composed of straight movement along a file direction in which the dropping unit passes from one end side of the substrate through an upper space of the substrate to the other end side of the substrate, and movement along a rank direction outside the substrate, movement distance along the file direction is the sum of dropping length (L) over the substrate and distance of an acceleration/deceleration section, and movement speed (v) along the file direction over the substrate is defined dependently on the square root of the product of the dropping length (L) and the absolute value of acceleration/deceleration (a) within the acceleration/deceleration section.

This invention relates to a liquid film forming method wherein a liquid is applied onto a substrate to be processed so as to form a liquid film.
In spin coating method, which has been used in lithographic steps, almost all of a liquid dropped onto a substrate is discharged outside the substrate so that a film is formed from the remainder thereof, which is several percent of the liquid. Therefore, most of the dropped liquid is of no use. Since most of the liquid is discharged, an adverse effect is produced on environment. Moreover, there arises a problem that in rectangle substrates or disc-shaped substrates having a large diameter of 12 inches or more, turbulent air is generated at the circumferential portion of the substrates so that the film thickness uniformity of this portion becomes deteriorated.
As a method of applying a liquid uniformly onto the whole of a substrate without vain use of the liquid, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2-220428 describes a method of dropping a Resist from many nozzles which are arranged along one line and, spraying from the back thereof, a gas or a liquid onto a film-forming surface to obtain a uniform film. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-151295 describes a technique wherein many spray nozzles are made in a rod and a resist is dropped out from them onto a substrate in order to obtain a uniform film. Furthermore, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-321001 describes a method of using a spray head in which many spray nozzles for spraying a resist are made and moving the head relatively to a substrate to perform application.
In all of these applicators, plural dropping or spraying nozzles are arranged along one rank and they are scanned in order to obtain a uniform film. Besides application methods using a device having these nozzles, there is known a method of using a single liquid jetting-out nozzle and the nozzle is scanned over a substrate to be processed, so as to form a liquid film.
These methods have a problem that the processing time per substrate becomes long dependently on a method of handling the nozzle(s) or the use amount of a liquid gets very large.

Method for forming a liquid film on a substrate


The invention provides a dynamic pressure bearing capable of generating enough dynamic pressure even with the use of a porous material. Dynamic pressure grooves at an inner circumferential surface of a sleeve made of porous material are formed by rolling process. Voids of the porous material at a surface of the dynamic pressure grooves are crushed by this rolling process, making the dynamic pressure grooves airtight. Further, the inner circumferential surface at which the dynamic pressure grooves are formed is subject to a sizing process, by which a bearing surface of the sleeve is crushed so that substantially no voids are present.

The present invention relates to a dynamic pressure bearing using porous material.
This type of dynamic pressure bearing has conventionally been provided in which a sleeve for supporting a shaft is made by a sintering process of metal powder and in which dynamic pressure grooves are formed by a metal mold pattern for the sintering process.
However, in this conventional dynamic pressure bearing having a sleeve of sintered metal, many pores are present in the sintered metal. Therefore, fluid pressure escapes outside through pores of the dynamic pressure grooves, causing a problem that sufficient dynamic pressure can not be generated.

Dynamic pressure bearing made of porous material


A data modulator/demodulator (MODEM) for converting main data and subdata to a baseband signal and an FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulated wave, respectively, frequency division multiplxing the baseband signal and FSK modulated wave to produce a transmit signal, and sending the transmit signal over a metallic cable. The MODEM controls the levels of the baseband signal and FSK modulated wave on the output thereof in association with the carrier frequency of the FSK modulated wave such that the levels of the baseband signal and FSK modulated wave simultaneously coincide with respective minimum necessary levels of the terminal of the cable at such a terminal. This is successful in maximizing the transmittable distance by making the most of the power of the transmit signal. Especially, when the total output power of the transmit signal is limited, the ratio of the output levels of the baseband signal and FSK modulated wave is changed in matching relation to the data rate to thereby maximize the transmittable distance at each of the data rates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data modulator/demodulator (MODEM) for a bidirectional data communication system which allows a plurality of computers, work stations or similar data terminals (DTEs) located at remote places in a building or on the premises to interchange data over metallic cables. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a data MODEM of the type sending main data to be handled by the DTEs and subdata, e.g., network supervisory information to be handled by the data communication system to a metallic cable as a frequency division multiplexed transmit signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A data MODEM of the type described includes a modulator which converts the main data in the form of a unipolar signal to a main channel signal of baseband and converts the subdata in the form of a digital signal to a subchannel signal undergone FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulation and different in frequency from the main channel signal. The frequency division multiplexed transmit signal made up of the main channel and subchannel signals is fed out to a metallic cable, e.g., a parallel pair line or a coaxial cable. The main data may have any one of a plurality of bit rates (data rates) predetermined on a DTE basis. It is a common practice with the data MODEM to fix the output levels of the main channel and subchannel signals with no regard to the data rate.
The transmit signal fed out from the data MODEM to the metallic cable is sent to a demodulator included in a remote or opposite data MODEM without the intermediary of an exchange or a repeater. The demodulator demodulates the main channel signal and subchannel signal to reproduce the main data and subdata.
The attenuation of the transmit signal on the metallic cable increases with the increase in the transmission distance, and the attenuation constant of the cable is substantially proportional to the square root of frequency. Therefore, the attenuation of the transmit signal increases with the increase in the data rate or the carrier frequency of FSK modulation even when the cable length is constant. This brings about a problem that the transmittable distance of the transmit signal is limited by either of the main channel and subchannel signals since the output levels of the two signals have customarily been fixed, as stated earlier. As a result, the power available with the other channel signal cannot be sufficiently used. Specifically, assume that the carrier frequency for FSK modulation is constant, and that the maximum transmittable distance of the transmit signal is set when the main channel signal has a medium data rate. Then, the power of the main channel signal cannot be effectively used at lower data rates while the power of the subchannel signal cannot be effectively used at higher data rates. Moreover, when the output level of transmission is maintained constant to save the production cost and volume of the data MODEM, the transmittable distance of the main signal critically decreases with the increase in the data rate of the main data.


Cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink are each used to print a color patch to obtain four color patches. Two of each pair of the three colorants cyan, magenta and yellow are used to print a red, a green and a blue patch. These seven color patches together with a patch formed by the printing medium with no colorant form eight color patches. A color monitor is adjusted until its screen color matches one of the eight color patches and the appearance values of the monitor are noted. This is repeated for each of the eight patches in order to compile a lookup table for the colors in each of the eight color patches. For softproofing, each square in a color grid pattern printed by the printer will contain portions, each of which has a color identical to one of the eight color patches. Using the lookup table, the values of the appearance signals corresponding to the colors of these portions in the square area are obtained for displaying a color patch on the color monitor of the same color. In this manner, the color image displayed by the monitor will closely resemble the printing result using actual inks.

This invention relates in general to color systems for use in printing and, more particularly, to a system for softproofing a color reproduction.
In color printing processes (e.g., offset lithography, letterpress and gravure), it is customary to form three separate images by scanning the original through three different color filters to form three color separations. These three color separations are combined in various ways to produce printing plates or the equivalent thereof, which in turn control the amount of each colorant deposited at each point of the reproduction. A problem common to these processes is that the exact combination of colorants required for the match is not related to measurements which can be made on the original in any simple way. Great skill and experience are usually required on the part of the operator in adjusting the color printing system in order to achieve high quality reproduction of the original.
Even with highly qualified operators, the unpredictable behavior of color inks is such that proofing using actual inks is still a laborious and time-consuming process. For this reason, various softproofing systems have been developed to facilitate the proofing process. Softproofing systems typically include a color viewing device with which an image to be printed can be displayed by means of a color monitor. Extensive image corrections can then be made so that the corrected color image displayed on the color monitor comes as close as possible to the final printing result. In this manner, instead of having to go through the laborious and time-consuming process of proofing using actual inks, it is possible to predict the final printing result by observing the image as displayed on the color monitor. For an example of an apparatus for checking color pictures on a color monitor, please see U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,229 to Colditz et al.
In color monitors, color images are constructed from an array of square or rectangular pixels where each pixel includes fluorescent elements of different colors. In color reproduction systems, the colorants are typically printed in the form of circular dots. In order for the colorants in the form of circular dots to cover an entire area intended to be of a solid or mixed colors, the circular dots must overlap each other at least partially so as to leave no portion of the area not covered by the circular dots of colorants. For this reason, in almost all color reproducing systems, the dots overlap. Another major difference between color monitors and color reproducing systems is that in color monitors, the color of images displayed by color monitor are additive where the light of each color component is summed together whereas for printing systems, the ink mixtures are more nearly subtractive than additive, but the colors of overlapping areas are difficult to predict accurately because of non-ideal behavior of the inks. For this reason, where a circular dot of one colorant overlaps a circular dot of another colorant of a different color, the color of the overlapping area between the two dots may be difficult to predict accurately.
Conventional softproofing systems have not taken the above differences between color monitors and color reproducing systems using ink into account. For this reason, the color images displayed on the color monitor do not always accurately predict the appearance of the same image when printed using ink. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved softproofing system which enables the picture displayed on the color monitor to more accurately predict the final printing result.

System for softproofing a color reproduction


A wrist-worn device and a blood pressure measuring method based on the same are disclosed. The wrist-worn device comprises a main body and a wrist band connected to the main body, and further comprises: a photoelectric tube located on a back surface of the main body and configured to collect pulse data of a wearer; electrodes configured to collect electrocardiograph data of the wearer, an insulator located between two of the electrodes, for preventing both from a direct electrical connection; a circuit board electrically connecting the photoelectric tube and the electrodes, the circuit board calculating a blood pressure value based on the collected pulse data and the electrocardiograph data.

The principle used in a related blood pressure measuring method is as follows: hardware is built with an undisturbed blood pressure detecting method based on a Photo Plethyamo Graph (PPG) signal and an electrocardiograph (ECG) signal, and then calibration is performed using the system algorithm before an Arterial Blood Pressure (ABP) value is output. In particular, a pulse signal is converted from a change in a diameter of the blood vessel of hands as detected by a photosensitive chip, the electrocardiograph signal is converted from a change in the capacitive difference between electrodes, and the built hardware platform may be a blood pressure measuring watch.

Wrist-worn device and blood pressure measuring method based on the same


A mechanism and method for depositing oil paints, acrylics, or other textural paints provides a means for automating the process of painting a picture. The process can be programmed into a data base which is stored and used at will, or the artist can utilize control means such as a joy stick to provide real-time input.

The present application relates to the production of paint on canvas works of art by use of a programmable mechanism which applies paint to a canvas and, if desired, modifies the texture and or distribution of the deposited paint.
1. Background: Limitations in Art
The process of producing art with paint on canvas has remained a principally manual process. Manual methods of producing paintings severely limits the number of works a single artist can produce. Some enterprising artists have attempted to overcome this limitation by employing apprentices to do much of the work and then have the principle artist add finishing touches and a signature. In this day and age of mass marketing and rapid distribution the gap between an artist's productivity and the demand for his work is particularly large. Modern printing technology can capture a two dimensional image of an original artwork and prints of former and modern masters are for sale all over the globe. However, prints do not capture the texture of the original works which are often an important part of the artist's work. Recently some reproductions of paintings have been made to appear more like original paintings by adding some texture to prints. This texturing can be added by the artist or one of their apprentices.
2. Machine Assisted Painting
The present application discloses a mechanized method of applying paint directly to the canvas to produce an original work of art more efficiently than is possible with manual methods. The deposited paint can be further distributed by the mechanism or the artist can add his own touches to produce the desired effect of paint on canvas. The result is an original painting on canvas produced by the artist with the aid of this labor saving device.
The mechanism is a plotter which moves to selected positions and deposits the required amount of paint directly on the canvas. After paint deposition, the mechanism is capable of further distributing the paint on the canvas in any number of ways.
The disclosed innovations, in various embodiments, provide one or more of at least the following advantages:                paintings can be produced much quicker;        painting has three-dimensional aspect of manual work;        cost-effective;        works can be reproduced easily;        works can be modified by changing programming.


An improved device for machining workpieces in a chamber surrounded by a housing. The housing has a hollow space defined by housing walls. A blasting nozzle is positioned in the chamber and is connected by a line to a supply of blasting medium in a container. The chamber is separated by partition walls from the hollow space of the housing. A carrying structure in the hollow space carries the container through a loading opening defined by the housing walls. The loading opening can be closed by a wall. The carrying structure for the blasting medium container is movable between a working position in the housing through the loading opening into a loading position where a filling opening in the medium container is outside the housing.

A machining device of this kind can be provided with a circulatory blasting device or with a one-way blasting device to blast the workpiece. With a circulatory blasting device the used blasting medium is re-supplied for multiple use to the blasting nozzle. With a one-way blasting device the blasting medium is only used once. In both cases, and for the reasons mentioned above, in particular when having a one-way blasting device, it is therefore often necessary to refill the existing blasting medium container with blasting medium. This loading is intended to occur in a ready and quick manner so that the machining device is unavailable for use as little as possible.
In known machining devices with one-way blasting devices the blasting medium container is located in the rear part of the housing. Owing to this accessibility from the rear, not only is the access to the blasting medium container itself made difficult, but the space necessary for the machining device is also hereby increased as a relatively large space must be reserved behind it for loading purposes.

Machining device for machining precision workpieces in a chamber


A ball pitching device that, prior to release and delivery of the ball to a receiver, propels the ball through a circular loop or semi-circular arc in a manner that is visible to the receiver to simulate the path of a person's hand in the act of throwing. The invention enable a more realistic simulation of an overhand or side arm throwing motion as are commonly used for pitching baseballs and to also simulate the underhand throwing motion used in softball.

This invention relates to a pitching machine and, more particularly, to a ball pitching machine for pitching a baseball or softball or any other type of ball. Various forms of ball pitching machines are known in the prior art which are said to simulate the speed and trajectory of balls as if pitched by an actual person.
There is known in the prior art devices to throw or pitch baseballs and/or softballs to a receiver such as a batter or catcher. These devices include machines to hurl a ball using a mechanical arm or lever. The arm is rotated and the ball is thrown from one end of the arm. Other devices project a ball by striking it with a rod or lever. Some other devices use either; (a) one or more rotating contact wheels, (b) rapid release of gas or air, (c) sudden release of tension on a spring, or (d) some combination thereof, to set a ball in flight. These machines project the ball from a stationary or near stationary position to the receiver with no visual throwing motion or simulation of a human throwing motion.
These devices do not give the receiver of the ball the realistic sense of batting or catching a ball thrown by a human. The ball is accelerated rapidly, typically over the distance of only a few inches, and the batter or catcher does not see a throwing motion prior to release of the ball and has no chance to "time" or anticipate the throw as with a real pitcher.

Ball throwing and pitching machine feeder device


A tilting inversion exerciser includes a stand, and a table rotatably attached to the stand with the shaft, to support a user. The table includes one or more hand grips for being grasped by the user, a driving device attached to the table and coupled to the shaft, to drive and rotate the table relative to the stand. A control device is attached to the hand grip, for being readily operated by the user, to control the driving device, and for preventing the control device from being disengaged from the hand grip and the table. The control device includes an electric cable coupled to the driving device, to operate the driving device. The electric cable may be engaged through the hand grip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tiltable or a tilting inversion exerciser, and more particularly to a tilting inversion exerciser having a fixed control device for preventing the fixed control device from being separated from users, and for allowing the fixed control device to be easily operated by the users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical inversion suspension exercisers, rotational exercisers, tilting inversion exercisers etc. have been developed and comprise a table rotatably or pivotally attached to a support, and rotatable relative to the support for conducting various inversion or suspension exercises.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,745 to Lin discloses one of the typical inversion suspension exercisers, and comprises a rotatational frame pivotally attached to a support with pivots, for allowing the users to rotate the frame relative to the support.
However, the typical inversion suspension exercisers do not have any control device to control the rotational movement of the frame relative to the support, such that the users may have to use their own weight and their strength to operate the conventional tilting inversion exercisers and to conduct the typical rotational or inversion exercises.
For allowing the users to easily operate the typical rotational or inversion exercises, the other typical rotational or inversion exercises have been developed and comprise a motor driving mechanism attached to the support, to control the table or the frame to rotate relative to the support, and thus to allow the users to easily operate the conventional tilting inversion exercisers.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, illustrated is another tilting inversion exerciser which also comprises a table 20 rotatably or pivotally attached to a support 11, and rotatable relative to the support 11 for conducting various inversion or suspension exercises, and a motor driving mechanism 90 has further be provided and attached to the support 11, to control and to actuate the table 20 to rotate relative to the support 11.
In order to control the motor driving mechanism 90, a control box or member 91 is required to be provided and loosely coupled to the motor driving mechanism 90 with an electric cable 92, to allow the users to operate the conventional tilting inversion exercisers. However, the electric cable 92 may not be fixed to the support 11 or the table 20 due to the rotational movement of the table 20 relative to the support 11, and may thus be dropped or separated from the users, and may be wound around the support 11 or even the users inadvertently.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tilting inversion exercisers.

Tiltable exerciser having fixed control device


A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a speed testing service is provided. The speed testing service includes a protocol independent data model that has no dependency on a management protocol. The speed testing service can be triggered via an application programming interface request. An agent of an end device or customer premise equipment is configured to respond to the application programming request, and generate and transmit a test request to a network device based on the data model. The agent stores all files and data to initiate a test, perform a test, and obtain a test result. The network device is configured to schedule the test based on the test request, and generate and transmit a test response based on the data model. The network device is configured to perform the test and provide test results.

A network-side speed testing system generally measures bandwidth (e.g., upload speed, download speed) and perhaps other service quality parameters. For example, a user of a user device may initiate a test with the speed testing system. The test may include measuring upload and download speeds, and providing a test result to the user via the user device.

Protocol independent speed testing service


The invention relates to novel dinaphtho[2,3-a:2′,3′-h]phenazine compounds, to methods for their preparation and intermediates used therein, formulations comprising them, the use of these compounds and formulations as semiconductor material in organic electronic (OE) devices, and OE devices comprising these compounds and formulations.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) are expected to revolutionise the manufacturing process of the thin film field-effect transistors (TFTs) used for display technologies. Compared with the classical Si based field-effect transistor (FETs), organic TFTs can be fabricated much more cost-effectively by solution coating methods such as spin-coating, drop casting, dip-coating, and more efficiently, ink-jet printing. Solution processing of OSCs requires the molecular materials to be 1) soluble enough in non-toxic solvents; 2) stable in the solution state; 3) easy to crystallise when solvents are evaporated; and most importantly, 4) to provide high charge carrier mobilities with low off currents. In this context, pentacenes and hetero-acenes with solublising substituents have shown to be promising classes of p-type OSC materials. Notably, unsymmetrically substituted pentacene derivatives have shown hole mobility greater than 3 cm2/Vs, as disclosed in WO 2009/155106 A1 while fluorinated anthracenodithiophene derivatives (F-ADTs) have shown hole mobility greater than 1 cm2/Vs, as disclosed in US2008/0128680 A1; Payne et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127 (14), 4986; and Subramanian et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130(9), 2706-2707.
However, the currently available materials still have some major drawbacks, like a low photo and environment stability particularly in solution states, and a low temperature of the phase transition and melting point. Also for future OLED backplane applications, which demand higher source and drain current, the mobility and processibility of currently available materials needs further improvement.
Acenes larger than pentacene keep attracting interests in the quest for novel OSCs due to the predicted lower reorganization energy (see Deng et al., J. Phys. Chem. B, 2004, 108, 8614) and the potential higher charge carrier mobility (see Cheng et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2003, 118, 3764). However, linear elongation of the aromatic cores by fusing additional benzene rings is witnessed by the decreased stability and solubility in organic solvents, which compromised the practical application of these analogues as OSC materials (see Purushothaman et al., Org. Lett., 2010, 12(9), 2060). Interestingly, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons much larger than pentacene have either been synthesized as nano materials (see Yang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130 (13), 4216) or existed in nature as dye stuffs without stability issues due to their 2-D fusing features. This type of structure is most notably represented by free-standing graphene, a class of intrinsic 2-D polycyclic aromatic system, of which large charge carrier mobilities exceeding 104 cm2/Vs have been observed under ambient conditions (see Geim et al., Nat. Mater., 2007, 6(3), 183; Allen et al., Chem. Rev., 2010, 110(1), 132), and exceeding 2×105 cm2/Vs have been achieved under optimised conditions (see Bolotin et al., Solid State Commun., 2008, 146, 351).
Therefore, there is still a great need for new OSC materials that show good electronic properties, especially high charge carrier mobility, good processibilty and high thermal and environmental stability, especially a high solubility in organic solvents.
It was an aim of the present invention to provide compounds for use as organic semiconducting materials that do not have the drawbacks of prior art materials as described above, and do especially show good electronic properties, especially high charge carrier mobility, good processibilty and high thermal and environmental stability, especially a high solubility in organic solvents. Another aim of the invention was to extend the pool of organic semiconducting materials available to the expert.
It was found that these aims can be achieved by providing compounds as claimed in the present invention. These compounds are based on indanthrone, a industrially available dye stuff with a kinked polycyclic aromatic ring structure as shown below, as the starting material.

For the purposes of the present invention, this indanthrone has been made soluble in organic solvents, so that it becomes solution processible, by the introduction of solublising functional groups through aromatisation of its quinoid structure into a new core unit, i.e. dinaphtho[2,3-a:2′,3′-h]phenazine (hereinafter also shortly referred to as "indanthrene"). The inventors of the present invention have found that these indanthrene derivatives exhibit high solubility in organic solvents, especially those that are typically used in organic electronic device manufacture, and in addition show good thermal stability and high charge carrier mobilities.
No examples of indanthrene based materials have been reported up to date in the literature.

Dinaphto[2,3-a:2′3′-H]phenazines and their use as organic semiconductors


A hand tool for acting upon fasteners which are located in constricted areas. The hand tool comprises an elongated shaft having a handle member at one end and fork connector assembly located at the opposite end thereof. A variety of detachable ratcheting heads may be pivotally attached to the fork assembly. Each ratcheting head may be selectively set to allow only clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation thereof for tightening or loosening of fasteners.

The invention relates to a hand tool. More particularly, the invention relates to an angularly adjustable hand tool which employs an angular pivoting system and detachable, interchangeable ratcheting heads, thus permitting fasteners in concealed and constricted locations to be secured or removed therefrom with ease.
Wrenches known heretofore in the art typically comprise an elongated handle having at one or both ends a gripping means which are either integral with the elongated handle or an extension of said handle which is carried by said elongated handle about the longitudinal axis of the fastener which is to be removed or installed. In either case, the device is useless where the fastener is located in an area of limited lateral clearance for the handle about the axis of the fastener, such as in motor vehicle engine compartments where fasteners which must be reached are often located in tight recesses.
When fasteners which are to be removed or installed are located in constricted areas as discussed above, conventional wrenches typically can be positioned upon the fastener to be grasped. However, because the elongated handle extends radially of the fastener and only a limited amount of space is available, said elongated handle is incapable of being swung sufficiently to tighten or loosen the fastener as needed. Accordingly, it is often the case that surrounding components and elements must be removed to obtain proper access to the targeted fastener. This, of course, results in undue and excessive cost. A hand tool is greatly needed which allows the removal or installation of fasteners in tight, constricted areas where present hand tools are incapable of obtaining access.
While various related prior art units are found in the art which may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

Hand tool with angular interchangeable ratcheting heads


An apparatus and method optimize a query in a computer database system having a DISTINCT specifier. An SQL SELECT statement with a DISTINCT specifier is analyzed to determine if the expression can be optimized, and if so, the SELECT statement is reformulated to improve system performance. In preferred embodiments, the query optimizer eliminates the DISTINCT specifier in the outer select statement to reformulate the query. In other preferred embodiments, a query optimizer reformulates the query before being sent to the database manager to optimize the query to improve system performance.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically relates to apparatus and methods for improving access to data in a computer database through optimization of the SELECT query in Structured Query Language (SQL).
2. Background Art
Database systems have been developed that allow a computer to store a large amount of information in a way that allows a user to search for and retrieve specific information in the database. For example, an insurance company may have a database that includes all of its policy holders and their current account information, including payment history, premium amount, policy number, policy type, exclusions to coverage, etc. A database system allows the insurance company to retrieve the account information for a single policy holder among the thousands and perhaps millions of policy holders in its database.
Retrieval of information from a database is typically done using queries. A database query typically includes one or more predicate expressions interconnected with logical operators. A predicate expression is a general term given to an expression using one of the four kinds of operators (or their combinations): logical, relational, unary, and boolean, as shown in FIG. 2. A query usually specifies conditions that apply to one or more columns of the database, and may specify relatively complex logical operations on multiple columns. The database is searched for records that satisfy the query, and those records are returned as the query result.
A primary type of SQL query is the SELECT statement. The SELECT statement specifies data to be retrieved from a database table. The SELECT statement has an optional DISTINCT specifier. When the DISTINCT specifier is used with a SELECT statement, it causes the database manager to return only unique column data specified by the SELECT statement by discarding duplicate rows. A duplicate row is when the corresponding data of the SELECTed column has duplicate data. In the known art, a query containing a DISTINCT statement often causes the database unnecessary delay. This occurs when database manager executes the SELECT statement. The execution of the SELECT statement joins tables together in a temporary data structure. When data is duplicated in rows of the table, the joining of the tables for the SELECT statement causes joining of duplicate records that will be discarded anyway by the DISTINCT specifier. This causes an undue burden on system resources and increases access delay to database queries. Without a way to reduce database query time to improve system performance, the computer industry will continue to suffer from excessive delays in database accesses that include the DISTINCT specifier.

SQL distinct optimization in a computer database system

International Business Machines Corporation


A plurality of communication lines are connected to a gateway. The gateway relays a communication message between the communication lines. A communication message input to the gateway from a first communication line out of the communication lines is defined as a first communication message. The gateway generates a communication message for relay. The communication message for relay contains first path information and second path information incorporated into the first communication message. The first path information indicates the first communication line. The second path information indicates the fact that the first communication message has been input to the gateway. Further, the gateway transfers the communication message for relay to at least one communication line different from the first communication line. The communication device determines the reliability of the received communication message based on the first path information and the second path information in the received communication message.

The present disclosure relates to a communication system including network-connected electronic control units mounted on a vehicle, for example. The present disclosure also relates to a communication method.
As is well known, in many cases, multiple electronic control units (ECUs) mounted on a vehicle are network-connected to each other to form a communication system that allows communication of information (vehicle information) held by these electronic control units. Specifically, such a communication system is configured as a vehicle network system using ECUs as communication devices. Examples of such a vehicle network system include a controller area network (CAN).
In a communication system composed of a CAN, a complicated system structure as a result for example of an increasing number of ECUs connected to the communication system tends to find difficulty in detecting or specifying an abnormality generated in the communication system or an unauthorized ECU connected to the communication system, for example. Thus, a technique of detecting an abnormality and the like generated in the communication system has conventionally been suggested, and an example of this technique is described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-206697.
The communication system (vehicle-mounted communication network system) described in the publication is intended to detect an abnormal site in the network system. This communication system includes multiple buses connected to the system, a gateway to relay a communication message between the buses, one or more ECUs connected to each bus such that they can perform communication using a communication message, and an external diagnostic device connected to the gateway. In response to a connection confirmation request signal input from the external diagnostic device, the gateway outputs a response request signal to each ECU on each bus. In response to the received response request signal, each ECU outputs a response signal containing transmission source identifier data unique to the ECU itself to the bus to which this ECU is connected. Then, the gateway outputs to the external diagnostic device a result of comparison between this transmission source identifier data and transmission source identifier data in a response signal received for each bus or a value about each bus stored in advance, thereby specifying an ECU incapable of making communication.
In the CAN, ECUs sharing a bus, which is a communication line, can transmit messages onto the bus at their discretion, so that a message can be transmitted easily from each ECU to the bus. This makes it possible to transmit an unauthorized message to a bus in the CAN by connecting an unauthorized ECU to this bus, for example. Communication using such an unauthorized message should be prevented in real time. However, it is difficult to detect an abnormality in real time if it is to be detected in response to a connection request confirmation signal transmitted from the external diagnostic device, as in the aforementioned communication system in the Publication. Communication using an unauthorized message may be prevented by encrypting a communication message. However, performing encrypting process in real time involving a high processing load results in an increased load on an ECU, which is not negligible.
The aforementioned problems generally apply not only to the CAN but also to a communication system in which a communication message is transmitted and received to and from network-connected communication devices.

Communication system and communication method


Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a condition of a component in an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example, a method includes selectively routing exhaust from a first subset of engine cylinders to an exhaust passage via a first valve and to an intake passage via a second valve and determining a respective condition of each of the first valve and second valve based on a first exhaust pressure of the first subset of engine cylinders and a second exhaust pressure of a second subset of engine cylinders.

Technical Field
Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to engines. Other embodiments relate to engine diagnostics.
Discussion of Art
Engines may utilize recirculation of exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system, a process referred to as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to reduce regulated emissions. In some examples, a group of one or more cylinders may have an exhaust manifold that is exclusively (and/or selectively) coupled to an intake passage of the engine such that the group of cylinders is dedicated, at least under some conditions, to generating exhaust for EGR. Such cylinders may be referred to as "donor cylinders." Further, some EGR systems may include multiple valves to direct exhaust to an intake passage and/or an exhaust passage based on a desired amount of EGR. Under some conditions, the multiple valves may become stuck in undesired positions, or may be inadvertently mispositioned. Further still, degradation of one or more of these multiple valves, or other EGR system components, may result in degradation in engine performance and/or eventual engine shutdown.

Method and systems for exhaust gas recirculation system diagnosis


Granule cleaner and method comprises a hollow elutriation column into which dust- and debris-adulterated pellets are blasted on a high velocity air stream through an upwardly inclined injection tube to form a floating suspension in said column. Suction withdraws the lighter suspended material from the top while the heavier particles fall to the bottom. A.C. electrostatic dischargers diametrically disposed opposite conductive portions of the injection tube which may be ground-isolated (and also opposite ground-isolated conductive portions of the column below the injection level of the granules therein) to neutralize both the entering contaminated granules and the falling cleansed pellets, the conductive ground-isolated portions defining reference electrodes for balancing ion emission.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to granule or particle cleaning, and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method for separating shavings, fines, dust and debris from granular material, pellets and the like or small components or parts which have been or are susceptible to electrostatic charge build-up as a result of exposure to electrostatic fields or by tumbling against one another or by virtue of triboelectric charges produced on such materials by way of friction.
The present invention is derived from a process, known as "elutriation" wherein a volume of random-sized particles or pellets are blown into a vertical column or tube such that they become fluidized and temporarily suspended therein, the lighter weight particulate consisting of dust, fines and debris being drawn off by suction or other means for disposal while the larger size fall by gravity where they are collected for recycling or re-use. In the instant invention, balanced bipolar ionized air is used to neutralize the particles before they are thrust into the elutriation column for separation of the electrostatically adhered particles from each other prior to assortment and thereafter the falling granules which are to be reclaimed are again subjected to a balanced bipolar ionized air static neutralization as they drop through the lower portion of the elutriation column prior to collection.
The bipolar air stream acting on the granules prior, during and subsequent to separation from the entrained fines employs pointed static eliminators which are coupled to opposite sides of a high voltage A.C. power supply and including a reference electrode (adjacently spaced from the points to define an air gap with respect thereto) which is isolated from ground, whereby the reference electrode floats and provides a bipolar, dual phase balanced ion emission. In the present invention the reference electrode comprises the injection tube or the lower portion of the elutriation column into which the static eliminators are contained, both being conductive to enable ion emission from the points.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,642 (Frei) shows a process for separating particles of non-conductive, plastic material from comminuted waste by first subjecting the ground waste material to electrostatic charging and then fluidizing the charged particles on an upwardly directed stream of air. While the charged particles are in a state of suspension, they are electrostatically attracted to a transverse conveyor whereupon they are separated from the non-charged material and conveyed away.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,693 shows a fluidized bed wherein an inlet conduit injects fines and product entrained in a propellant gas at the bottom of a housing whereby the fines are drawn off at the top while the product falls to the bottom. An electrostatic charge neutralizing magnetic field envelops the adulterated product before it impinges against the impact surface of a baffle.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,631,124 and 5,035,331 to Paulson, dust and impurity-laden particulate material is fed by gravity through a tortuous path and a linear-kinetic, magnetic field, energy cell which is said to generate an electric field to neutralize static charges causing dust to adhere to such particles.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,652 to Levy, there is shown a dual or bi-phase static eliminator system for neutralizing a stream of powdered material through a conduit. Pairs of multi-pointed bars having A.C. high voltage applied to each set of points but at 180.degree. out-of-phase whereby the output of one of the pair is one-half cycle behind that of the other. Thus, one of the paired static bars delivers ions of a given polarity toward the conveyed materials during any portion of the cycle while the other supplies ions of the other polarity. The static bars of this patent utilize a grounded casing adjacently spaced from the points, as a result of which an unbalanced predominance of negative ions is produced because of lower negative corona offset voltages and the greater mobility of negative ions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,594 (Swanson et al), there is set forth a self balancing circuit for convection air ionizers wherein the points of the ion emitter are capacitvely coupled to the A.C. high voltage power supply while the adjacently spaced collector plate is similarly connected to ground through a capacitor. It is said that the capacitive isolation of the external charge sources or sinks maintain a zero average balance and produce a charge balanced system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,963 (Partridge), the ionizing points of the pairs of the dual phase static neutralizers are coupled to the opposite sides of the A.C. high voltage. These emitter points and the high voltage power supply are completely isolated from any direct current path to ground. The electrodes acquire a D.C. bias that maintains an equal output of positive and negative ions without need for air ion sensors or feedback for balancing.
In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,811, granted Oct. 6, 1992, we show and describe a self-balancing ionizing circuit for static eliminators wherein pointed electrodes were directly coupled to one side of an A.C. high voltage transformer while the other side of the transformer is directly coupled resistively to an ungrounded conductive band supported within an insulative sheet peripherally spaced from the discharge electrodes to define a floating reference electrode with respect to the points. Grounding is only effected by way of an external conductive chassis which is shielded from the internal ionization system by way of the dielectric of the insulative casing. It is taught that isolating the reference electrode from ground permits substantial voltages to be developed on said reference electrode without creating the ionization imbalance normally produced by adjacent grounded components. Balancing of positive and negative ion production is shown to be independent of capacitors or other electrical components, and no mechanical adjustment is required to compensate for changes in environmental factors or contamination conditions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,492 and 4,195,780 show and describe air flow amplifiers for directing a stream of pressurized fluid through a nozzle.
3. Objectives of this Invention
The instant invention is particularly useful for recycling plastic components, such as rejects, or re-use of plastic materials previously contemplated for throw-away. The reject or throwout plastic components are first ground in a mill to a particular size, such as granules or pellets whose dimensions range from about 0.125 inch to 0.375 inch, and then introduced into a charge load or feedstock for molding or extrusion. However, these ground materials not only contain entrained dust, and fine particulate or other debris, but also this fine material as well as the granules themselves are statically charged as a result of the grinding operation such that they adhere to each other by electrostatic attraction. Foreign particles and other fines in the mix tends to cause burning, charring and other discoloration in the remolded articles.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for cleaning granules having dust, dirt and other particulate entrained therein so that the cleaned granules may be collected for re-use and/or recycling.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing for continuous cleaning of plastic granules but readily adapted for batch mode.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a conveying system for elutriation and cleansing of dirty granules in which dual-phase opposing static eliminators are employed wherein the net charge on articles emerging therefrom will be minimal.
Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a fully balanced static ionizer for neutralization of particles wherein there will be full compensation with respect to ion balance for (1) line voltage fluctuation, (2) dirt build-up on ion emitters and (3) emitter erosion.
Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved device and method of the character described which is easily and economically produced, sturdy in construction and both highly efficient and effective in operation.

Elutriation apparatus and method for cleaning granules


An apparatus for blast cleaning a generally vertical surface is disclosed. The device features a blast cabinet containing a blast wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. The blast wheel is positioned adjacent to an opening in the cabinet through which it propels abrasive material against the vertical surface being cleaned. Rebounding abrasive again contacts the rotating blast wheel. This contact deflects the particulate through a rebound corridor, to the side and into-a filter. The abrasive then falls into a storage hopper for reuse. A conveyor is rotatably mounted so as to catch leaked particulate matter. The conveyor features a pair of opposing feed screws that meet in the middle of the conveyor so that leaked particulate matter is projected up to the blast wheel in a manner similar to a water fountain. The particulate matter is then propelled by the blast wheel to the rebound corridor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to surface treating machines and, more particularly, to an improved portable blast machine for cleaning substantially vertical surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blast cleaning machines typically consist of a blast wheel having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom. The blast wheel is mounted in a housing and is rotatably driven at high speed. Abrasive such as steel shot is fed onto the blades and is projected against the surface to be cleaned. The impact of the abrasive with the surface to be cleaned dislodges paint, rust and other debris from the surface. Typically, the debris is removed from the system and the spent abrasive is recirculated back to the blast wheel. The housing is typically moved along over the surface to be cleaned.
A particularly useful application of portable blast cleaning machines is the cleaning of large vertical surfaces, such as the outer side walls of a ship's hull or a large tank for storing water, gas or the like. Such portable blast machines are usually suspended by cables from a movable hoist positioned above the vertical surface. The hoist raises and lowers the device vertically and moves horizontally so that the device may traverse the vertical surface.
Examples of such machines are presented by Diehn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,969; Bergh, U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,596; and Van Fossen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,436. The machines disclosed by these patents all feature a blasting wheel that projects abrasive upwardly at the vertical surface. The abrasive rebounds off of the vertical surface, taking the debris that was removed from the surface, such as paint and rust, and dust with it. The rebounding mixture of abrasive, debris and dust enters a rebound passage and then a filtering passage where it is exposed to an air stream that removes the debris and dust but leaving the heavier abrasive. The separated debris and dust are carried away by the air stream for deposit in a drum on the ground while the abrasive falls into a hopper within the device where it is returned to the blast wheel for reuse.
A disadvantage of such designs is that the angled orientation of the blast wheel and the rebound chamber limit the compactness of the devices. More specifically, in order for the blast wheel to project the abrasive against the vertical surface at the proper angle, it must be oriented and spaced a certain distance away from and below the portion of the vertical surface being treated. Furthermore, a somewhat lengthy chamber must lead from the blast wheel to the vertical surface. In addition, the rebound passage must be nearly perpendicular to the initial blast path. These requirements lead to devices having V-shaped housings that are not space efficient.
A device that is more space efficient is desirable in that it would be more compact and lightweight. This would allow the device to be more easily transported, carried and handled. For example, a lighter duty, and thus less expensive, hoist could be used to raise and lower the device. A more compact device could also more easily and thoroughly access confined spaces such as comers and portions of the vertical surface that are close to the ground. In addition, due to its compact design, such a machine could be manufactured at a lower material cost. As such, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable blast wheel cleaning machine that is compact and lightweight.
In the use of portable blast machines to clean vertical surfaces, it is desirable to confine the space about the surface being treated to permit recovery of abrasive and to prevent the development of hazardous conditions resulting from the ricocheting of particulate material into the surrounding atmosphere. In a portable device that is being moved over a vertical surface, the device housing obviously cannot be permanently attached to the surface to effect the desired sealing relation. As a result, flexible seals made of rubber or polyurethane are often deployed around the blast opening of the device so as to be positioned between the device housing and the vertical surface. Such seals are limited in effectiveness, however, by uneven vertical surfaces and wear of the seals themselves.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system whereby particulate material that leaks from the seals may be recovered. As such, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved portable blast wheel cleaning machine wherein particulate which escapes the seals may be recovered.


A shutter assembly for installation on the outside of a building wall including one or two shutter panels fitted with top and bottom rollers moveable along tracks in a plane outwardly spaced from and parallel to the external wall. A rack is carried by each panel inside thereof and a pinion, meshing with this rack, is carried by a shaft extending through the wall and provided at its inner end, inside a building room with a crank wheel for moving the shutter panels between opened and closed position at the side and in front of a window opening respectively. The shutter panels are heat-insulated and are provided with seals to extend around the periphery of the window opening when the panels are in closed position to thereby form an air insulating chamber with a window unit within the window opening. The top rollers together with the rack are fitted with a spring suspension to permit easy installation and removal of the rollers on and from the tracks and to accommodate any variation in the vertical position of the pinion which may have occurred during the installation.

Window shutter units for installation on the outside of a building are known such as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,568 dated Nov. 10, 1942, inventor F. J. Moss entitled WINDOW SHUTTER.
In this patent the shutter panels are moved along tracks between an opened position at the side of a window and closed position in front of the window and are manipulated by means of cables extending through the building wall to be accessible inside the building. The window shutter of this patent is not designed to be used in cold weather since the bore made through the building wall to accommodate the actuating cables cannot be properly sealed against cold air entrance. Also, in this patent, the shutter panels are not heat insulating and no seals are provided to surround the window opening and contact the closed shutter panels in order to form a heat insulating air chamber in front of the window.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,666 dated May 19, 1981 entitled SHIELD FOR A WINDOW, inventor James D. Davidson, describes shutters which are slideable within the building wall in an interior space of the latter to take an opened position. It follows that the shutters, when in the latter position, cannot be used as decorative items for the window since they are hidden from view. However, the shutter panels are made of heat insulating panels and they are sealed against the outside weather when in closed position.

Thermally insulating external window shutter


Novel C2,8-disubstituted adenosine derivatives disclosed herein have been found to be potent adenosine receptor agonists, in particular for the A2A receptor. The said compounds have biological activity against conditions such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, ischemic brain disease, psychosis and wound healing. Further, the invention also discloses a process for the preparation of such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.

Adenosine mediates a wide variety of effects as a result of its activation of specific membrane-bound receptors called P1-purinoceptors. The three subclasses of P1-purinoceptors are A1, A2 and A3, with A2 further subdivided into A2A and A2B. All adenosine receptors are coupled to the enzyme adenylate cyclase; activation of the A1 and A3 adenosine receptors inhibit the adenylate cyclase, whereas activated A2A and A2B receptors stimulate it. The adenosine A2A receptor can be found throughout the whole body, and A2A receptor agonists might be used to inhibit platelet aggregation in thrombosis, in the diagnosis of diseases in coronary arteries, in ischemia and reperfusion.1 Furthermore, activation of adenosine A2A receptors has been shown to alter the binding characteristics of other receptors. Stimulation of adenosine A2A receptors in rat striatal membranes reduces the affinity of agonist binding to dopamine D2 receptors.2,3 This raises the possibility of using adenosine A2A receptor agonists as a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of psychosis. However, these desired actions of agonists for the adenosine A2A receptor may be accompanied with serious side effects such as cardiovascular actions, since the receptor is ubiquitously distributed. The design of partial agonists for the adenosine receptors has already been shown to be a useful tool to achieve selectivity of action in vivo by exploitation of the differences in receptor-effector coupling in various tissues.4-7 Hence, partial agonists for the adenosine A2A receptor might then be developed as antipsychotic agents also devoid of undesired cardiovascular actions.
Selectivity for the adenosine A2A receptor can be obtained by the introduction of a C2-substituent, such as a 1-hexynyl or a 1-hexenyl group that have been shown to induce high affinity for the adenosine A2A receptor compared to A1.8-10 Partial agonism for adenosine receptors in general has been achieved by the introduction of alkylthio-substituents at the 5′-position.5,11 However, partial agonism for the adenosine A1 receptor has also successfully been accomplished by introducing alkylamino substituents at the C8-position of adenosine.12 8-Alkylamino substituted CPA derivatives have proven to be adenosine A1 receptor partial agonists in vivo when assessed for cardiovascular activity, although with modest affinities.6,13,14

C2,8-disubstituted adenosine derivatives and their different uses


A gear shift control apparatus for use in an automatic transmission having friction elements each of which is operable on a working fluid pressure applied thereto in an engaged and released state. A change is produced from the current gear ratio to a desired gear ratio by increasing the pressure of the working fluid to a first one of the friction elements at a first rate to engage the first friction element while decreasing the pressure of the working fluid to a second one of the friction elements at a second rate to release the second friction element. A time elapsed for a torque phase in the gear ratio change is measured. The first rate is decreased when the measured torque phase time is shorter than a predetermined value. The second rate is increased when the measured torque phase time is longer than the predetermined value.

This invention relates to a gear shift control apparatus for use with an automatic transmission having friction elements, such as clutches, brakes and servos, pressurized and vented to cause the transmission gear ratio to change.
For example, Japanese Patent Kokai No. 5-157168 discloses a gear shift control apparatus adapted to produce a change from the current gear ratio to a desired gear ratio by increasing the pressure of the working fluid to a first friction element to engage the first friction element while decreasing the pressure of the working fluid to a second friction element, inversely to the working fluid pressure increase, to release the second friction element. If the first and second friction elements are subject to different friction factor changes, however, the engagement of the first friction element will be advanced or retarded with respect to the disengagement of the second friction element, causing a great torque reduction or engine racing during the torque phase.