A lighting arrangement for use in automotive front lighting and a method of producing such an arrangement are described. At least one LED lighting element 40 is provided for emitting light. A collimator 10 is provided for forming an emission pattern of the emitted light, which is subsequently projected by a secondary optic arrangement 42. The collimator 10 comprises a cutoff reflector surface 18 with a front edge 30 and a back edge 32. The back edge 32 is located adjacent to the LED lighting element 40. The front edge is spaced from the back edge 32 in a depth direction X, A. The front edge 30 is arranged as a shielding edge for forming a light/dark cutoff in the emission pattern. First and second lateral reflector surfaces 26a, 26b are arranged opposite to each other adjacent to the LED lighting element 40. The front edge 30 of the cutoff reflector surface 18 is arranged within a focal area of the secondary optic arrangement 42. For providing a beam pattern well suited for automotive front lighting, the first and second lateral reflector surfaces 26a, 26b extend further into the depth direction A, X than the cutoff reflector surface 18.

While LED lighting elements with their inherent advantages such as high efficiency and long lifetime are already used in many applications today, the use in automotive front lighting is still limited.
Already today, LED lighting elements are available with sufficient luminous flux for automotive front lighting. For example, LUXEON Altilon LED elements available from Philips Lumileds are designed for such applications.
However, LED elements are generally Lambertian emitters, i.e. do not generate a directed beam of light. On the other hand, motor vehicle headlamps are required to emit a specific beam pattern. For a low beam light, the beam pattern must have a sharp light/dark cutoff, i.e. a horizontal or slightly inclined line, below which the road ahead of the vehicle is brightly illuminated, whereas above the bright/dark cutoff line light is shielded to avoid glare.
WO 2006/033042 describes a lighting arrangement with an LED lighting element, where a desired beam is formed by a collimator element and by secondary optics. The collimator comprises opposing first and second reflector faces arranged close to the LED element. The first reflector face has a first edge, where a sharp cutoff is produced. The second reflector face has an upper section arranged inclined to a sectional plane and a lower section with less inclination. The LED collimator element is further delimited by lateral reflector faces, which are inclined outwards in the emission direction.
DE 10 2009 037 698 describes an automotive lighting unit. Light emitted from an LED light source is formed into a light pattern by an optical element, and a lens is used to project the light pattern. The optical element comprises a first reflective surface arranged horizontally under the optical axis of the LED light source and a second reflective surface above the optical axis. The first reflective surface comprises an edge of elliptical shape, which is arranged within a focus group of the projection lens. The second reflective surface is bent conically and is shaped to have a focus at or near the LED light source. A resulting light pattern comprises a portion of light Ha emitted directly from the LED element without reflection, a portion Hb reflected at the first reflective surface, and a portion Hc reflected at the second reflective surface.
US 2009/0122657 discloses a projection-type light source unit with an LED module as light emitting device, a reflector, a cut-off line forming shade, and a projection lens. The optical axis of the LED chip is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source unit. Light emitted from the LED chip is reflected by a reflector and concentrated at a point A near the rear focus of the projection lens. The projection lens projects an image formed on the focal plane, so that a light distribution for low beam with a clear cut-off line is formed.
WO 2009/122364 describes a projection module for a motor vehicle headlamp. An LED light source is surrounded by a reflector housing used as a collimator. A horizontal lower edge of the collimator lies on the centre axis of a lens, and is positioned within the focal plane of the lens, having a curvature corresponding to the different geometric spacings of the edge. The edge is provided with a 15° slope to generate a desired light distribution with a light-dark boundary for a low beam headlamp.


The disclosure relates to devices, solutions and methods for collecting and processing samples of bodily fluids containing cells (as well as embodiments for the collection, and processing and/or analysis of other fluids including toxic and/or hazardous substances/fluids). In addition, the disclosure relates generally to function genomic studies and to the isolation and preservation of cells from saliva and other bodily fluids (e.g., urine), for cellular analysis. With respect to devices for collection of bodily fluids, some embodiments include two mating bodies, a cap and a tube (for example), where, in some embodiments, the cap includes a closed interior space for holding a sample preservative solution and mates with the tube to constitute the (closed) sample collection device. Upon mating, the preservation solution flows into the closed interior space to preserve cells in the bodily fluid. The tube is configured to receive a donor sample of bodily fluid (e.g., saliva, urine), which can then be subjected to processing to extract a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells can be further processed to isolate one and/or another cell type therefrom. The plurality of cells, as well as the isolated cell type(s), can be analyzed for functional genomic and epigenetic studies, as well as biomarker discovery.

Personalized medicine is the customization of treatment to an individual as opposed to the one treatment-for-all model. Personalized medicine involves categorizing a patient based on his or her physical condition and designing an optimal healthcare solution exclusively for that category. The progression of personalized medicine is dependent on the discovery, validation, and commercialization of biomarkers to stratify populations for treatment and for the development of diagnostics for screening and early detection.
Epigenetic research has come to the forefront of medical research and is implicated in the etiology of a number of physical and mental illnesses including: cancer, obesity, diabetes, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease (Alika et al., 2010; Grant et al. 2010; McGowen et al., 2009; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Plazas-Mayorca and Vrana, 2011; and Portela and Esteller, 2010). In addition, Epigenetics may hold particular promise in the many scientific and medical areas including but not limited to: cancer, diabetes, drug integrations, drug effectiveness, childhood aggression, suicidal behaviors, aging, inflammation, pain, obesity, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses (Abdolmaleky et al., 2005; Costa et al., 2003; Iwamoto & Kato, 2009; Kuratomi et al., 2007; McGowan & Kato, 2007; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Peedicayil, 2007; Petronis et al., 1999; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Plazas- ̆Mayorca and Vrana, 2011; and Zawia et al., 2009).
A major challenge in the field includes the identification of an appropriate source material for home-based sample collection that is adequate for large-scale epigenetic research including whole-genome-analysis studies. Epigenetics may be the key for understanding the mechanisms of gene-environment interactions as growing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms may provide a molecular memory of environmental experiences (Ho, 2010; Kappeler and Meaney, 2010; McGowen et al., 2009, McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Portela and Esteller, 2010; Richards, 2008; Russo et al., 2010; Tsai et al, 2010; and Vlaanderen et al., 2010). Preliminary data from some humans suggest that distinct methylation patterns in peripheral blood cells are associated with social behaviors including: childhood aggression, suicidal behaviors, and ageing (Kappeler and Meaney, 2010; McGowen et al., 2009; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Portela and Esteller, 2010; Russo et al., 2010, Tierling et al., 2010; Tsai et al, 2010; and Zhang et al., 2011).
Due at least in part to the heterogeneous nature of human disease, particularly mental illness, and the complex interaction of contributing etiological factors, studies require large sample sizes to provide reliable and significant effects. However, current research options for sample collection for epigenetic studies do not meet this requirement of "large sample sizes." The need for large sample sizes for studies is also true in order to produce significant effects in regards to studying human-environment interactions as these interactions are also of a very complex nature with many contributing factors. The ability to perform large-scale "population sized" (subject samples numbering in at least the hundreds to thousands) epigenetic research can introduce a new understanding of human-environment interaction and facilitate the completion of longitudinal studies facilitating the development of epigenetic-based screening diagnostics crucial to the progression of modern medicine. This epigenetic research may lead to a new understanding of how the environment affects our epigenome and how this relates to a person's health outcome, which may further lead to the development of preventative interventions for individuals who are considered high-risk and diagnostics for these health disparities including, but not limited to, diagnosis.
Some epigenetic studies attempting to quantify environmental and other complex interactions in human populations use blood as the source material for experimentation. Blood can restrict the researcher's ability to conduct large population-sized studies as it:                1. generally requires medical supervision,        2. involves invasive procedures for collection,        3. carries stigma that limits participation, and        4. is expensive to collect and ship.
Naturally expressed bodily fluids, e.g., saliva and urine, can be an additional or alternative appropriate source material for home-based sample collection as they:                1. do not require invasive techniques,        2. do not have the same stigma as blood,        3. do not require professional supervision, and        4. can be inexpensive to collect.
In addition, at least saliva has been shown to contain white blood cells (Dos-Santos et al., 2009). The use of bodily fluids, e.g., saliva, urine, may enable large-scale "population-sized" epigenetic research. In addition, home-base sample collection of saliva, or urine, may allow for a much wider range of research options available as it can greatly increase participant numbers and samples can be more easily shipped by the subjects from anywhere in the world. For example, the ability to more easily ship samples from anywhere in the world can be particularly useful when samples are from countries that do not have laboratory infrastructure.
An organism's genome is a fixed sequence that contains its hereditary information and is the same in every cell of an organism. An organism's epigenome, by contrast, varies between cell types and changes over the organism's lifetime. Thus, epigenetic studies may include a single cell type as the source of sample material to control for these differences (Johnson and Tricker, 2010; Lister et al., 2009; and Rangwala et al., 2006). For example, human saliva contains numerous cell types, including epithelial cells, cells normally found in the blood (i.e., T-cells and B-cells), bacteria and debris (Dos-Santos et al., 2009 and Viet and Schmidt, 2008). The cells in saliva that are the most important to profile epigenetically are those that come from the blood stream, as these cells carry epigenetic information from the entire body (Kappeler and Meaney, 2010; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; McGowen and Szyf, 2010; Righini et al, 2007; Rosas et al., 2011, Vlaanderen et al., 2010 and Zhang et al., 2011).
Additionally, it may not be practical to use whole saliva DNA as the cells in saliva that are not found in the blood, such as epithelial cells, which make up the vast majority of cells in saliva (Dos-Santos et al., 2009) have the ability to "mask" the epigenetic effects seen in T-cells (cells that originated in the blood) by dampening the effect of the minority of cells (Dos Santos et al., 2009, Lister et al., 2009; and Tierling et al., 2010). To address these concerns AboGen developed a method to separate and extract the different cell types found in bodily fluids such as saliva by taking advantage of cell-specific markers and isolation techniques (e.g., magnetic). This method uses practical amounts of bodily fluids, such as saliva, to yield enriched cells that can be used for downstream biological applications including large-scale functional genomic studies (example epigenomic studies). For example, saliva sample processing technology allows collected samples to be processed into single cell types and have their epigenomes profiled.
Furthermore, saliva (and other bodily fluids) can present challenges with cell isolation as a source material for blood cells in respect to downstream experimentation for reasons such as:                1. Blood is a transporter fluid while saliva is a digestive fluid that can be rich in proteases, enzymes and secreted substances and urine is a excretory fluid consisting of unwanted waste products.        2. Some fluids can have a wide pH range and some of the pH values reported, such as for saliva, would result in death if blood reached that pH (saliva is 6.2-7.4; urine is 4.5-8; blood is 7.35-7.45).        3. Some fluids contain more bacteria than blood.        4. Some fluids contain non-cellular material that varies between individuals and interferes with cell isolation.        5. Some fluids include blood cells, such as T-cells, which can be abundant in blood, but may be rare in other naturally expressed bodily fluids, such as saliva or urine, and are vastly outnumbered by other cell types, such as epithelial cells, unlike in blood.        6. The subset of lymphocyte cells in some bodily fluids, such as saliva, greatly differs from the population of those cell types in blood. For example, only CD4+CD8− T-cells are reported to be found in saliva.        7. Some fluids are produced each day, such as saliva at about a rate of 0.5-1.5 liters per day per person.
Therefore, there is a need for new methods for isolating rare cells (i.e., T-cells) from saliva and other naturally expressed bodily fluids.
For collecting saliva samples from a large population of people (example: functional genomic studies) who are widely geographically dispersed, several requirements may need to be met for an optimal sample collection device. For example, it may be beneficial to have the sample collection device securely house a toxic preservative solution in a closed chamber. Additionally, the sample collection device may be able to be sent to a donor with the toxic solution safely enclosed. The sample collection device may also allow easy and safe collection of a donor specimen, such as human saliva or urine, with no risk of exposure of the donor to the toxic solution. Furthermore, the sample collection device may allow the donor to safely mix the toxic solution and the specimen (for preservation of the specimen) with no risk of exposure of the donor to neither the toxic solution nor any other hazard. The sample collection device may also allow the donor to send the sample collection device to a laboratory for processing generally "as-is" after securely closing the sample collection device. Finally, the sample collection device may further allow a laboratory technician to receive the sample collection device and safely open it for processing with generally no risk of exposure to any hazards.
Some currently available sample collection devices include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,116 which describes a device that utilizes disassociating a barrier to allow fluid communication between a cavity holding the donor sample and a solution, however, embodiments included in the patent are limited to the use of sharp extruding objects and thin pierceable membranes. The thin pierceable membranes can represent a safety hazard to the sample donor as any wrong manipulation (such as with a finger nail) can lead to piercing of the membrane and release of the solution. US patent publication no. 2009/0216213 A1 claims a device that utilizes a pierceable membrane to establish fluid communication between a cavity containing a solution and the donor sample. This can represent a safety hazard to the sample donor as any wrong manipulation can lead to piercing the membrane and exposing the solution. The device also requires exchange of the cap prior to sending the sample to the end user. This can represent a safety hazard as it may expose the sample donor to the potentially toxic solution. Therefore, there is a need for safer and easier to use sample collection devices.
Additionally, the purification process requires cells to maintain their antigen profiles and the epigenomic profiling requires that their epigenome be maintained. To this end, it is necessary to treat the cells in such a way that they are able to generally maintain these features. Currently available treatments generally do not meet this need. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,267,980 and 7,749,757 disclose solutions containing lysine, glycine and formaldehyde for stabilizing cells from blood. However, those solutions will not protect cells from proteases found in some bodily fluids, such as saliva. Therefore, there is a need for new solutions and methods that will preserve the antigenicity and epigenome of cells in other bodily fluids, such as saliva.

Method for collecting and preserving a biological sample


In various example embodiments, a system and methods are presented for generation and manipulation of three dimensional (3D) models. The system and methods cause presentation of an interface frame encompassing a field of view of an image capture device. The systems and methods detect an object of interest within the interface frame, generate a movement instruction with respect to the object of interest, and detect a first change in position and a second change in position of the object of interest. The systems and methods generate a 3D model of the object of interest based on the first change in position and the second change in position.

Conventionally, systems and methods for generating three dimensional models are third party systems located remotely from an intended recipient of the model. Generation of three dimensional models often employs sets of static images captured in advance of model generation. Systems and methods of generating three dimensional images often perform computationally intensive operations to generate and animate the three dimensional models.
The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automated three dimensional model generation


A motorcycle airbag module includes an inflatable airbag, which is deployed between the rider's seat and the steering handlebar of a motorcycle. First and second recessed portions are formed in the front face of the airbag, when in an inflated and deployed state. The first recessed portion extends in a longitudinal direction in the center part of the front face and the second recessed portion diverges and extends respectively to the right and left from the lower end of the first recessed portion arranged in the longitudinal direction. The front face of the airbag is sectioned by the first and second recessed portions to form right and left inflated portions as well as a lower inflated portion. The right and left inflated portions are positioned respectively on the right and left sides of the first recessed portion, and the lower inflated portion is positioned below the second recessed portions.

Recently, motorcycles equipped with an airbag module have been developed. Upon detection of a collision, the airbag module inflates and deploys an airbag to mitigate the impact that the rider receives. A motorcycle that is equipped with an airbag module is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2005-153613. FIG. 7 is a front view (a view seen from the rider's side) of an air bag that is inflated and deployed in front of the rider, in a conventional airbag module. The shape of the front face (the shape seen from the rider's side) of the conventional airbag is designed to have an inverted triangular shape with the upper part overall wider than the lower part. In addition, a recess 101 extending in a longitudinal direction is formed in the front face of an airbag 100. Hence, the front face of the airbag 100 forms a cross section having a v-shape, the center of which is recessed while the right and left sides protrude. Accordingly, when the rider of the motorcycle is pressed against the deployed airbag 100, this v-shape effectively prevents lateral movement of the rider, thereby making it easier to catch the rider at a center part of the front face of the airbag 100. Note that, one end portion of each of two straps 102 and 103 for keeping the airbag 100 in a predetermined shape is joined to the center of the front face of the airbag 100. The other end portions of the respective straps 102 and 103 are joined to the frame body of the motorcycle.


The invention provides adjuvants, immunogenic compositions, and methods useful for polynucleotide-based vaccination and immune response. In particular, the invention provides an adjuvant of cytofectin:co-lipid mixture wherein cytofectin is GAP-DMORIE.

In the late 1980s, it was discovered that direct intramuscular (i.m.) injection of lipid-DNA complexes results in measurable protein expression, and that "naked" plasmid DNA (pDNA) is taken up and expressed in muscle to a greater extent than lipid-DNA complexes (Felgner, Scientific American, 276(6), 102-106 (1997)).
One of the first applications of pDNA injection technology was the induction of an immune response. In 1991, it was first reported that mice could be immunized against HIV gp120 by i.m. vaccination with gp120 plasmid DNA (Felgner et al., Nature, 349, 351-352 (1991)), and that mice could be protected from a lethal challenge of influenza virus after DNA immunization with influenza nucleoprotein (NP) antigen. Protection obtained after immunization with the highly conserved NP antigen extended across 2 different viral strains (Ulmer et al., Current Opinions In Immunology, 8, 531-536 (1996)). Numerous publications in the field of polynucleotide-based vaccination followed thereafter (e.g., Boyer et al., J. Med. Primatology, 25(3), 242-250 (1996); Boyer et al., Nature Medicine, 3(5), 526-532 (1997); Davis et al., Vaccine, 15(8), 849-852 (1997); Wang et al., Vaccine, 15(8), 821-825 (1997); Agadjanyan et al., Current Topics In Microbiology And Immunology, 226, 175-192 (1998); Heppell et al., Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 8(4), 271-286 (1998); Lodmell et al., Nature Medicine, 4(8), 949-952 (1998); Vanderzanden et al., Virology, 246(1), 134-144 (1998)).
A major problem frequently encountered in the course of polynucleotide-based vaccination is insufficient or suboptimal humoral response. Often, the antigens or immunogens encoded by the polynucleotide are expressed in vivo, but they are not sufficiently immunogenic to raise the antibody titer in the organism to sufficient levels to provide protection against subsequent challenge and/or to maintain the potential for generating therapeutically active antibody levels over extended time periods. To obtain a stronger humoral and/or cellular response, it is common to administer such vaccines in an immunogenic composition containing an adjuvant, a material which enhances the immune response of the patient to the vaccine. Adjuvants are useful generally for improving the immune response of an organism to a particular immunogen and are commonly included in vaccine compositions to increase the amount of antibodies produced and/or to reduce the quantity of immunogen and the frequency of administration.
A variety of adjuvants have been reported to effect differing levels of immune response enhancement to polynucleotide-based vaccination. Examples of such adjuvant materials include semi-synthetic bacterial cell wall-derived mono-phosphoryl lipid A (Sasaki, S., et al., Infection and Immunity 65(9), 3250-3258 (1997)), small molecule immunostimulators (Sasaki, S., et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 111, 30-35 (1998)), and saponins (Sasaki, S., et al., J. Virology 72(6), 4391-4939 (1998)). The immune response from i.m. pDNA vaccination has also been enhanced through the use of cationic lipids (Ishii, N., et al., Aids Res. Hum. Retroviruses 13(16), 1421-1428 (1997)), Okada, E., et al., J Immunology 159, 3638-3647 (1997); Yokoyama, M., et al., FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 14, 221-230 (1996); Gregoriadis, G., et al., FEBS Letters 402, 107-110(1997); Gramzinski, R. A., et al., Molecular Medicine 4, 109-118 (1998); Klavinskis, L. S., et al., Vaccine 15(8), 818-820 (1997); Klavinskis, L. S., et al., J. Immunology 162, 254-262 (1999); Etchart, N., et al., J. Gen. Virology 78, 1577-1580 (1997); Norman, J., et al., in Methods in Molecular Medicine, Vol. 9; DNA Vaccines: Methods and Protocols, D. B. Lowrie and R. Whalen, eds., Chapter 16, pp.185-196 (1999)). Cationic lipids were originally studied as cytofectins to enhance delivery of pDNA into cells in vitro; however, further development has led to successful specific applications of protein delivery in vivo (Wheeler, C. J., et al., Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 11454-11459 (1996); Stephan, D. J., et al., Human Gene Therapy 7, 1803-1812 (1996); DeBruyne, L. A., et al., Gene Therapy 5, 1079-1087 (1998)). Accordingly, such cytofectins may be useful for vaccine applications by enhancing delivery of the pDNA into the cells responsible for giving rise to the humoral arm of the immune response, thereby increasing antibody titer levels.
Commonly used adjuvants show low levels of immune response enhancement for vaccination (typically less than 3-fold) and possess undesirable toxicological and manufacturing profiles. In addition, cationic lipids used previously for vaccination show only low levels of humoral enhancement. There is a need for more adjuvant compositions useful for enhancing the immune response of vertebrates to immunization, especially to pDNA vaccination.

Adjuvant compositions and methods for enhancing immune responses to polynucleotide-based vaccines


A system of solar PV strip modules and method of use designed to integrate with vertical structures such as poles. The system and method use articulated semi-rigid solar PV strip modules and components with elastic characteristics to enable a high static-friction attachment to the structure. The static friction exceeds the force of gravity, enabling the solar PV strip modules to remain in place upon the vertical structure. The PV strip modules can have a rectangular shape or any other shape that enables customized or variable modular assembly and attachment to the structure.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.
There is a huge market for solar powered lighting systems, especially using high efficiency solid state lighting that reduces the power demand of luminaires. Alternative means of generating on-site renewable power from solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has made this a feasible alternative to grid supplied power for external lighting, such as on roads, in parks, on pathways and in parking lots. In response to this new opportunity for alternative solar power, numerous designs of PV panels and their means of support have been devised, with the current standard being the utilization of large flat panels oriented towards the sun with a zenith angle relative to the vertical earth axis, in a south facing direction (in the northern hemisphere), where the zenith angle is set to an optimal tilt angle that maximizes total annual solar energy produced, as a function of earth's latitude at the location being applied.

System of solar modules configured for attachment to vertical structures


Insertion delay associated with receiving and distributing a clock within an IC is removed using a DLL. The structure of a differential receiver in the feedback circuit of the DLL is substantially matched to the structure of an input differential receiver which receives and inputs a differential input clock into the DLL. In this manner, the insertion delay associated with the input differential receiver is removed from a delay-corrected clock output from the DLL. By substantially matching one or more aspects of the feedback circuit to one or more aspects of a clock distribution circuit for distributing the delay-corrected clock, the insertion delay associated with the clock distribution circuit can also be removed from the delay-corrected clock.

The invention pertains to clock distribution, particularly within an integrated circuit (IC).
Most high speed integrated circuits (ICs) utilize some form of delay-locked loop (DLL) for the creation of internal clocks. A DLL removes the insertion delay from an IC""s internal clocks so that the delays associated with clocks received at an IC""s register elements match the delays associated with an external clock received at the IC""s external contacts. Delays which can be matched include delays which affect phase alignment, and delays which affect frequency.
A DLL removes insertion delay using a delay comparator and correction unit. The delay comparator and correction unit receives first and second clocks, one of which is derived from an input clock, and one of which is derived from a feedback clock. In response to these clocks, the delay comparator and correction unit generates a delay-corrected clock and the afore-mentioned feedback clock. The delay-corrected clock is then distributed to an IC""s register elements via a clock distribution network, and the feedback clock is routed back into the delay comparator and correction unit via a feedback circuit comprising a string of invertors. If the feedback circuit is constructed such that its delay equals the sum of 1) the delay incurred in routing a clock signal through the clock distribution circuit, 2) the delay incurred in receiving, buffering and inputting the input clock into the delay comparator and correction unit, and 3) the delay through the delay comparator and correction unit, then the delays associated with clocks received at the IC""s register elements will substantially match the delays associated with the input clock.
A first preferred embodiment of apparatus for distributing clocks comprises first and second differential receivers, a delay comparator and correction unit, and a feedback circuit. The structures of the first and second differential receivers are substantially matched, with the first differential receiver receiving a differential input clock and outputting a first clock, and with the second differential receiver receiving a differential feedback clock and outputting a second clock. The first and second clocks are received by the delay comparator and correction unit, and in response thereto, the delay comparator and correction unit generates a delay-corrected clock and a feedback clock. The feedback circuit comprises 1) a first signal route for carrying the feedback clock from the delay comparator and correction unit, 2) a converter for converting the feedback clock into the afore-mentioned differential feedback clock, and 3) a second signal route for coupling the converter to the second differential receiver.
A second preferred embodiment of apparatus for distributing clocks comprises first and second differential receivers, a delay comparator and correction unit, and a feedback circuit. The structures of the first and second differential receivers are substantially matched, with the first differential receiver receiving a differential input clock and outputting a first clock, and with the second differential receiver receiving a differential feedback clock and outputting a second clock. The first and second clocks are received by the delay comparator and correction unit, and in response thereto, the delay comparator and correction unit generates a differential delay-corrected clock and a differential feedback clock. The feedback circuit carries the differential feedback clock from the delay comparator and correction unit to the second differential receiver.
A first preferred embodiment of a method for distributing clocks commences with providing first and second differential receivers with substantially matched structures. A differential input clock is then received at the first differential receiver, and a differential feedback clock is received at the second differential receiver. Clocks which are output from the first and second differential receivers are then compared and, in response thereto, a delay-corrected clock and a feedback clock are generated. The feedback clock is then converted to the differential feedback clock.
A second preferred embodiment of a method for distributing clocks commences with providing first and second differential receivers with substantially matched structures. A differential input clock is then received at the first differential receiver, and a differential feedback clock is received at the second differential receiver. Clocks which are output from the first and second differential receivers are then compared and, in response thereto, a differential delay-corrected clock and the afore-mentioned differential feedback clock are generated.

Method and apparatus for distributing clocks


A method for hard-material coating or heat treatment of the blade airfoils of blisks for gas turbines provides for partial heat-insulation and cooling of the other blisk parts during the respective process to prevent their properties from being changed by the high temperatures. The apparatus required for this method comprises two or more cooling plates (5 to 7) which are thermally insulated on their outer surfaces and include supporting flanges (20) which heat-conductively locate the blade platforms (3) of the blisks (1). Radially extending cooling medium channels (16) are provided in the cooling plates connected to a cooling medium source to continually apply cooling medium to the inner surfaces of the supporting flanges and the blade platforms.

This invention relates to a method for elevated-temperature hard-material coating or heat treatment of the blade airfoils of blisks of aircraft gas turbines and an apparatus for the performance of this method.
High-pressure compressors of aircraft turbines can be equipped with blisks where the actual disk, the blade platforms and the blade airfoils are manufactured as one integral part. In order to improve protection against wear by particles carried by the compressed air, the blade airfoils, as is generally known, are coated, for example, by means of an elevated-temperature plasma vapor deposition process using hard materials, such as nitrides or carbides. Further, after repair of the blade airfoils, the blisks are subject to a heat-treatment process. The coating or the heat-treatment processes, respectively, are, however, disadvantageous in that, simultaneously with the blade airfoils, the blade platforms and the actual disk are heated to a temperature that exceeds the maximum operating temperature. While this high process temperature does not constitute a serious problem for the less loaded stressed blade airfoils, it can cause geometrical distortion, affect serviceability and, ultimately, lead to a reduction of service life of the other parts of the blisk.

Method and apparatus for coating or heat treatment of blisks for aircraft gas turbines


An apparatus comprised of a wind turbine tower removeably holding or containing antenna type devices. Such antenna type devices will be utilized to receive and/or transmit communication signals. The major advantage of this apparatus is that a single tower can be constructed containing the functionality of both a communications tower and a wind turbine tower. Substantial siting and construction costs may be saved by constructing one tower that can perform two functions; as opposed to siting and constructing two separate towers.

There has been a significant proliferation of cellular communication towers worldwide. These towers are sited virtually everywhere that the demand for cellular communication is significant enough to justify their construction. These towers are very expensive to build.
At the same time that the proliferation of cellular communication towers has occurred, significant advances have been made in the design of wind turbines; fixed towers that have a turbine generator mounted on them that is powered by large rotating blades that are driven or propelled by the wind.
The amount of electricity that a wind turbine can generate is measured in kilowatt hours (kwH). The cost of generating electricity per kwH using wind turbines has declined significantly in recent years from approximately $0.30/kWh in 1981 to approximately $0.05–$0.08/Kwh. This decline in costs has led to the construction of large-scale developments of aggregates of wind turbines—called wind farms.
In Kansas, the Gray County Wind Farm recently became operational. It is the largest wind project in the U.S. not mandated by a state regulatory commission as part of a utility company's energy mix—which is reflective of changing cost structure of wind turbine construction. The farm consists of 170 turbines with a combined generation capacity of 110 megawatts. Compared to the emissions from 110 megawatts of coal-fired generation, the Gray County Wind Farm reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 600 tons annually. This is the CO2 emission absorption equivalent of having a 120 square mile forest on the southwest Kansas plains.
Wind turbines function most efficiently where the wind resources are strong enough to allow for the consistent generation of electricity. A major drawback to utilizing wind turbines as cellular communications towers is that it is perceived that wind resources sufficient to power a wind turbine are generally not located in areas where cell coverage is needed—in and near large urban areas. I make three points in response to this:
First, wind turbines are quite tall; the turbine towers in the Gray County Wind Farm are 217 feet high at the hub. Towers are available from manufacturers which stand in excess of 300 feet at the hub. At these heights, wind resources are typically much stronger then at surface level. This means that the wind resources required to operate wind turbines successfully cover a much larger area—including many urban locations—than would be anticipated if wind resources were measured at surface level.
Secondly, the ability to combine two types of towers, a wind turbine tower and a communications tower, into one structure will have a positive impact upon the economics of tower construction. This will mean, ultimately, that the minimum wind resources required to make wind turbines economically viable will be lower or weaker relative to the minimum wind resources required for the viability of a stand-alone wind turbine, from a cost justification standpoint
Finally, there is a push to develop wind turbines that operate at relatively low speeds. This type of turbine technology, called low speed wind technology, is focusing on improvements required in three areas:                1. Turbine rotor diameters must be larger to harvest the lower energy winds from a larger inflow area without increasing the cost of the rotor.        2. Towers must be taller to take advantage of the increasing wind speed at greater heights.        3. Generation equipment and power electronics must be more efficient to accommodate sustained light wind operation at lower power levels without increasing electrical system costs.
Building a stand-alone tower of either of the two types of towers discussed—a cellular communications tower or a wind turbine tower—is very expensive. Accordingly there has been a continuing search to reduce the costs of building these towers.
The present invention proposes the development of a dual-purpose structure to be used as a cellular communications tower and as a tower that would contain a wind turbine for electrical power generation. Primarily, the present invention proposes that the basic wind turbine structure will remain dominant or relatively unchanged in design. The features that modify the wind turbine structure so that it obtains communications functionality will be attached, possibly as an optional "kit" or "add-on" feature; or result in relatively minimal changes to the overall operation or construction of the wind turbine tower.
The advantage of this configuration is, primarily, that one tower can be built that will have a dual purpose—instead of two towers. This would result in significant savings in costs. In addition, these combined towers may be located in sites that are designated for cell towers—siting expenses could be saved.
It is noted here that the focus of the discussion of the present invention relates to cellular signal transmission and reception. However, it is noted that the present invention may be utilized for other types of signal transmission and reception including, but not limited to, television, radio and short wave signal transmission and reception (or a combination of different types of signals).
Although I have seen no prior art with respect to the specifics of the present invention as discussed in detail below, the general concept for combining wind turbine towers and cellular antenna is known. The following web links discuss this:    http://www.tva.gov/grreenpowerswitch/wind_faq.htm,    http://www.cetsolar.com/airindustrial.htm,    http://planning.org/zoningnews/askauthor0303.htm.
I respectfully disclose that I have not seen or heard of any other prior art with respect to the specifics of my invention.

Modification of wind turbines to contain communication signal functionality


Techniques for filtering broadcast SMS messages at a mobile station based on network configuration, user configuration, and/or user preferences. In one method, a broadcast message is initially received, and one or more filtering criteria are applied to the received broadcast message. The filtering criteria are defined by settings stored in a removable module (e.g., the R-UIM) coupled to the receiver. The received broadcast message is then processed if it is not filtered out by the one or more filtering criteria. The one or more filtering criteria may include (1) those imposed by a service provider and defined in a network configuration setting, (2) those determined by the mobile user and defined in a user configuration setting, (3) those selected by the mobile user based on user preferences, which allow for filtering of broadcast messages based on service category, language, and priority, or (4) any combination of the above.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to wireless messaging communication, and more specifically to techniques for filtering SMS broadcast messages at a mobile station.
2. Background
Short Message Service (SMS) is a service that supports the exchange of SMS or short messages between mobile stations and a wireless communication system. These short messages may be user-specific messages intended for specific recipient mobile stations or broadcast messages intended for multiple mobile stations.
Broadcast SMS messages may be sent by a wireless communication network for various service categories (e.g., news, sports, and so on), in different languages, and with different priorities. Each mobile station in the network may be allowed by its service provider to receive all broadcast messages, only a subset of the broadcast messages, or no broadcast messages. For a given mobile station, the broadcast messages that it is allowed to receive may be determined by various factors which may relate to network deployment, service provisioning, subscription status, and so on. For example, a premium mobile subscriber may be allowed to receive all broadcast messages whereas a regular mobile subscriber may be allowed to receive only broadcast messages for certain bundled service categories.
A mobile user may be interested in receiving only some of the broadcast SMS messages that are allowed to be received by the mobile station. For example, the mobile user may be interested in receiving only broadcast messages for certain service categories (e.g., sports) and/or with certain priority level or higher. The broadcast messages that can be received by the mobile station may also be limited by the availability of resources (e.g., memory storage) at the mobile station.
There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to "filter" SMS broadcast messages to be received by a mobile station based on one or more criteria determined by the service provider and/or the mobile user.


A method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium which is usually stable and is not affected by the environmental condition and an apparatus used therefor. The method comprises the steps of placing a substrate and a member comprising a material for a film opposing each other in a vacuum film forming chamber; forming a plasma by glow discharging a gas between the substrate and the member comprising a material for a film; and supplying a gas mixture containing water to the film forming chamber before forming films or during forming films of the protective layer by the film forming method in which the material for a film freed from the member comprising a material for a film by using the plasma as an energy source are attached or deposited on the substrate.

Conventionally, a sputtering method has been used as one of the methods for manufacturing thin films. The basic structure of the sputtering apparatus used for such sputtering method is described in "Basic Technology of Thin Film" (written by Akira Kinbara, published by Hideo Tanaka, printed by the Tokyo University Publishing Foundation, 1985. 5. 20, Vol. 8, pages 53 to 56).
As shown in FIG. 5, in this apparatus, a cathode 2 and an anode 3 are provided in a vacuum film forming chamber 1; a target member 4 is attached to the cathode 2 and a substrate 5 is attached to the anode 3; and the predetermined amount of gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber 1 via a gas bomb (a gas cylinder) 6, a mass flow controller 7 and a pressure controlling valve 8. In this state, glow discharge is conducted by applying voltage between the cathode 2 and the anode 3; and a material for a film, which is sputtered from the target member 4 by using plasma generated by the glow discharge as an energy source, are deposited onto the substrate 5. These sputtering apparatus are divided into two types: a direct current (DC) type sputtering apparatus in which direct current is used for the power source, and a radio frequency (RF) type sputtering apparatus in which radio frequency is used for the power source. Moreover, in order to obtain high density plasma, a magnetic field convergence (magnetron discharge) type apparatus is used. In this magnetic field convergence type apparatus, electron released from a cathode does not go directly to an anode but is trapped in a space having both electric field and magnetic field which are crossing at right angle each other. By such structure, high density plasma can be provided and the efficiency of forming films can be enhanced.
In recent years, magnetron discharge type sputtering apparatus have been combined with direct current type or radio frequency type apparatus. The direct current type apparatus permits sputtering dielectric materials, and the radio frequency type apparatus permits sputtering both insulating materials and conductive materials. Which apparatus to be used is determined depending upon target members to be sputtered.
The above mentioned sputtering method is used for forming each layer of an optical disc. In general, a direct current (DC) magnetron discharge type apparatus is used for forming a recording thin film and a reflecting layer of an optical disc. Radio frequency (RF) magnetron discharge type apparatus may be used for forming the protective layer comprising insulating materials. At present, rewritable optical discs such as a magneto-optical disc, a phase change optical disc or the like, have been developed and put into practical use. The basic structure of these optical discs includes a first protective layer, a recording thin film, a second protective layer and a reflecting layer which are sequentially formed on a transparent substrate which comprises guide grooves for laser beams. In general, an overcoat layer comprising UV-ray curing resins is provided on the reflecting layer to prevent films from being damaged. In the above mentioned phase change optical disc, recording is conducted by making the recording film amorphous by heating a recording film to a temperature which is not less than the melting point and then quenching the recording film. Erasing is conducted by crystallizing the recording film by heating the recording film to a temperature which is not less than crystallization temperature nor more than melting point and then cooling slowly thereof. Signals are obtained by the difference in reflectance between the amorphous state and the crystalline state.
With phase change optical disc, where a Ge--Sb--Te type chalcogen compound is used for a recording film, the melting point is not less than 600.degree. C. Thus, the protective film provided on both sides of the recording film is subjected to a thermal stress every time recording and erasing are conducted. Therefore, to provide a protective layer, a thermally stable film which has excellent adhesion to the recording thin film and having a strong mechanical strength is required. One protective layer which satisfies this conditions is a protective layer comprising a mixture of ZnS and SiO.sub.2. However, even if films are formed by the use of a mixture of ZnS and SiO.sub.2, the properties of the protective layer may change due to process conditions. For example, the environment for storing the substrate, exhausting time or the like may affect the properties of the overwrite cycle of recording and erasing an optical disc, which is manufactured through the step of forming film protective layer. In particular, the difference is made in the number of overwritable cycles between discs manufactured in high humidity and discs manufactured in low humidity. The discs manufactured in low humidity do not have the stable overwrite cycle property.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems and to provide a method for manufacturing an optical recording medium which is usually stable and is not affected by environmental conditions such as humidity condition and to provide a film forming apparatus used therefor.

Method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to conditioning shampoo compositions which both cleanse the hair and condition the hair. These compositions comprise a detersive surfactant; a fatty compounds; a hair conditioning agent; and water. The present invention also relates to methods for cleansing and conditioning the hair.

Human hair becomes soiled due to its contact with the surrounding environment and from the sebum secreted by the scalp. The soiling of hair causes it to have a dirty feel and an unattractive appearance. The soiling of the hair necessitates shampooing with frequent regularity.
Shampooing cleans the hair by removing excess soil and sebum. However, shampooing can leave the hair in a wet, tangled, and generally unmanageable state. Once the hair dries, it is often left in a dry, rough, lusterless, or frizzy condition due to removal of the hair's natural oils and other natural conditioning and moisturizing components. The hair can further be left with increased levels of static upon drying, which can interfere with combing and result in a condition commonly referred to as "fly-away hair."
A variety of approaches have been developed to alleviate these after-shampoo problems. These approaches range from post-shampoo application of hair conditioners such as leave-in and rinse-off products, to hair conditioning shampoos which attempt to both cleanse and condition the hair from a single product. Hair conditioners are typically applied in a separate step following shampooing. The hair conditioners are either rinsed-off or left-in, depending upon the type of product used. Hair conditioners, however, have the disadvantage of requiring a separate and inconvenient treatment step. Conditioning shampoos, i.e. shampoos which both cleanse and condition the hair, are highly desirable products because they are convenient for consumers to use.
In order to provide hair conditioning benefits in a cleansing shampoo base, a wide variety of conditioning actives have been proposed. However, many of these actives have the disadvantage of leaving the hair feeling soiled or coated, of interfering with the cleansing efficacy of the shampoo, or of yielding a resultant shampoo with poor shelf stability.
It has surprisingly been found in the present invention that stable shampoo compositions having good cleansing and conditioning ability without leaving the hair feeling soiled or coated can be achieved. These compositions provide improved wet hair conditioning benefits such as smoothness and ease of combing compared to conventional conditioning shampoos. These compositions also provide improved dry hair conditioning benefits such as leaving the hair feeling soft, smooth, and moistened. These dry hair benefits can also result in hair that looks shiny. These compositions are achieved by utilizing the combination of a detersive surfactant; selected fatty compounds; a hair conditioning agent selected from the group consisting of nonvolatile dispersed silicone conditioning agents, hydrocarbon conditioning agents, water soluble cationic polymeric conditioning agents, cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Preferred embodiments include compositions which further comprise a polyalkylene glycol.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide conditioning shampoo compositions, i.e. compositions which both cleanse and condition the hair from a single product.
It is another object of the present invention to provide compositions which do not leave the hair feeling coated, heavy, or soiled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide compositions which provide improved wet hair conditioning benefits such as smoothness and ease of combing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide compositions which provide improved dry hair conditioning benefits such as leaving the hair feeling soft and smooth and looking shiny.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for cleansing and conditioning the hair utilizing a single composition.
These and other objects will become readily apparent from the detailed description which follows.


An inputting fingertip sleeve includes a sleeve and an inputting end. The sleeve is configured to receive a finger. The sleeve includes at least one opening. The inputting end is located on the sleeve. The inputting end includes a supporter and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is located on a surface of the supporter. The conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube structure and a conductive layer. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The conductive material is coated on a surface of each carbon nanotube to form a coating layer.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to inputting fingertip sleeves.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital devices using touch panel such as computers, mobile phones, are becoming increasingly popular. Typically, consumers can operate the touch panel by bare fingers. However, there are some disadvantages of operating touch panels with bare fingers directly. First, the skin on fingers naturally has oil and may leave a greasy print on the touch panel screen. Second, some touch panel screens, such as mobile phones are small in size, thus incorrect manipulations are often made with bare fingers because the keypads shown in the touch panel screen are very small.
What is needed, therefore, is an inputting fingertip sleeve that can overcome the above-described shortcomings.


A device for storing and hanging a continuous string of lights on a tree is provided. The device includes a spool assembly having first and second annular plates spaced apart and connected to a cylinder member. One of the annular plates is adapted to releasably secure an end portion of the string of lights in a fixed position. An axle structure is removably secured within a bore of the cylinder member. The axle structure has a holding mechanism for releasably securing the axle structure to the cylinder member. A handle is coaxially mounted to the axle structure. An elongated pole is provided which has first and second end portions. The first end portion is removably coaxially secured to the handle. The elongated pole is sized for extending and elevating the spool assembly upwardly in close adjacency with branches of the tree when a user grasps the second end portion of the elongated pole so that the spool assembly can be moved around a perimeter of the tree to enable the string of lights of be progressively strung about the tree to adorn the tree with the string of lights.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to storing and hanging devices for lights. More particularly, the invention pertains to a storing and hanging extension device and method for using same for use with a continuous string of lights in the adornment of trees.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The adornment of trees with strings of electric lights is especially popular with those who celebrate Christmas where a decorated Christmas tree is desired, as well as for those seeking to provide a decorated tree for other festive events.
As decorative and aesthetically pleasing as these lights can be, storage, installation and removal of such lights is commonly viewed as both problematic and tedious. Once removed from their packages, the electric lights are highly prone to becoming tangled, which poses both storage and installation difficulties.
A common manner of tree decoration requires strings of lights to be continuously strung from the very top of the tree to the bottom, often in a spiral type configuration. Installing the lights on the upper boughs or branches of trees, such as evergreen trees is both time consuming and dangerous, as it typically requires the use of a ladder. The level of danger to an installer is further increased when having to decorate taller trees or in northern climates where such activity often occurs in winter where snow and ice may be covering the trees and ground and where the user has to repeatably climb a ladder in cold temperatures wearing bulking clothing, which both increases the likelihood of the installer falling from the ladder and the amount of time needed to hang the lights.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the method and device of the present invention differs from those previously proposed and employs a number of novel features that solve the above mentioned problems and render it highly advantageous over the prior art.

Light hanging extension device and method for using same


Methods and systems for tracking mobile communication terminals based on their identifiers. The disclosed techniques identify cellular terminals and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminals that are likely to be carried by the same individual, or cellular and WLAN identifiers that belong to the same multi-mode terminal. A correlation system is connected to a cellular network and to a WLAN. The system receives location coordinates of cellular identifiers used by mobile terminals in the cellular network, and location coordinates of WLAN identifiers used by mobile terminals in the WLAN. Based on the location coordinates, the system is able to construct routes that are traversed by the terminals having the various cellular and WLAN identifiers. The system attempts to find correlations in time and space between the routes.

Various techniques for tracking and locating mobile communication terminals, such as cellular phones, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0015626, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes Methods and systems for determining mobile communication terminals (mobiles) that have a common user, or that have a group of users in common. The methods and systems examine change-of-association events of mobiles operating in a network, and correlate the events to determine common mobiles, i.e., mobiles that have the same or similar change-of-association events. The events described are generated by the mobiles themselves automatically, by virtue of the fact that the mobiles are operating in the network. There is thus no need for, and the embodiments described herein do not require, user intervention to generate the events.

System and method for geography-based correlation of cellular and WLAN identifiers


A backup valve for use with a pool cleaner coupled to a source of water under pressure. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and at least a first outlet and a second outlet. The valve further includes a timing apparatus directing water from said inlet to the first outlet or the second outlet. In addition, an adjustable flow controller over the second outlet is provided to increase the flow speed of fluid exiting the outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of automatic swimming pool cleaners, and more particularly, to reverse flow valves for use with pressure cleaners.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatic swimming pool cleaners for cleaning the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool are well known. There are generally four types of pool cleaners in the pool cleaning market: pressure or return-side cleaners; suction cleaners; electric cleaners; and in-floor cleaners. Generally, "pressure" or return-side cleaners perform superior cleaning over the other three types of cleaners. Pressure-type cleaners use pressurized water from a pump into the cleaner to sweep and collect debris into a bag carried by the cleaner.
Pressure cleaners can be characterized into at least two categories—those requiring a booster pump and those which do not. Booster pumps are used in conjunction with the pool's skimmer pump to provide pressurized water to the cleaner at a rate sufficient to operate the cleaner effectively.
One particular type of known automatic pressure cleaner is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,899 (the "'899 patent"), fully incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus described in the '899 patent does not require a booster pump; rather, it is designed to operate using the lower fluid pressure of the pool's existing filtration pump. Another type of cleaner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,184.
Both of these types of cleaner operates on pressurized water that is supplied to the cleaner through a supply hose. The water is used in part to drive the blades of a turbine which, in turn, rotates two or more of the wheels, and in part to induce a flow of pool water upwardly through the cleaner suction mast and into the collection bag. The drive wheels and a thrust jet propel the cleaner along the floor and sidewalls of the swimming pool. When the pool cleaner reaches an obstruction preventing further direct forward travel, the drive wheels impart a turning movement, causing the cleaner to turn and continue travel in a different direction. Alternatively, when the cleaner travels along the pool floor and reaches a smoothly curved region merging with a sidewall, the cleaner tends to travel through the curved region and crawl at least part way up the pool sidewall until the cleaner falls by gravity back to the floor of the pool. A ballast float mounted at the upper rear of the cleaner helps assure that the cleaner will land upright on the pool floor and resume travel in a forward direction.
In addition to the drive system, backup valves are coupled to the water supply line between the pumping system and the cleaner. Backup valves provide additional insurance that a cleaner will not get stuck in edges or corners of pools by forcing a reversal of direction of the cleaner at regular intervals.
Construction of backup valves is well known. In particular, one such valve includes a housing containing a fly wheel, rotating cover plate, and gearing. The housing has a water inlet, and at least two water outlets directed generally toward the opposite end of the housing from the inlet. One outlet is coupled by the supply line to the cleaner, while the other allows water to enter the pool directly, in a direction generally parallel to the supply line and the first outlet. Water is also prevented from entering the cleaner, thereby freeing backward movement of the cleaner. Water in the supply line enters the housing and drives the impeller to rotate the rotating cover plate to cover the first outlet and redirect water in the housing to the second outlet for a period of time determined by the gearing. The rotation of the gearing and the rotating cover plate determine the amount of time that water is allowed to flow to the cleaner, and the amount of time water flows into the pool to "backup" the cleaner.
With low pressure cleaners, that is, cleaners operating without the benefit of an additional booster pump, a difficulty has been found in obtaining the desired timing in backup valves due to the lower pressure of the water entering the inlet of the valve. Specifically, there is not enough pressure from the main water pressure source—without a booster pump—to accurately and regularly drive the impeller in the valve to ensure a constant spin rate and in some cases, not enough to even turn the wheel.
An improved backup valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,464 (the "'464 patent"). This valve is designed to be used in conjunction with a low pressure cleaner, requiring a lower volume per unit time of fluid to function effectively. Improvements to backup valves which can compensate for lower flow rates of pumping systems without booster pumps allow the backup valves to be used with a wider variety of pumps and cleaners.
Another issue in the performance of backup valves exists with the weight of the cleaner. The heavier the cleaner, the more force which must be provided by the valve to reverse the tension on the water supply line to reverse the direction of the cleaner.


A safety device for electrical outlets includes a body having prongs rigidly attached to the body which can be inserted into the openings of a standard electrical outlet, wherein one or more of the prongs define a spring-biased portion defining a barb for engaging the rear surface of the outlet once the device is fully inserted therein.

It is generally well known in the art to cover electrical outlets with protective outlet covers to prevent unwanted tampering, especially by babies and young children, and, for outdoor outlets, for purposes of weatherproofing the outlet.
The outdoor cover designs include box shaped structures surrounding the outlet or cover plate implementations, which are offered with a variety of miniature spring-loaded doors covering the individual sockets. The miniature doors are provided so that they slide or pivot out of the way to accommodate an electrical cord to be plugged into the outlet.
The same concept of a cover plate has been extended into the interior of the home as a child safety device. Installation of the device, most often requires the removal of the existing outlet plate and its replacement with one having an integrated protective device. These types of covers tend to be expensive since they are manufactured as a series of assembled components and require removal and discard of the existing outlet plate.
For interior outlets there are also products that work with the individual sockets in an outlet. Many of these designs consist of a cover and some type of prongs for engaging and holding the plug into the outlet. These prongs are typically sized to work like the prongs on an electrical plug and engage the electrical contacts inside the outlet to hold the cover in place. These are very well known in the art and consist mainly of a plastic faceplate in the shape of an outlet, having two plastic prongs extending therefrom which are designed to engage the outlet in the two rectangular slots.
Although the use of these types of safety devices do not require the replacement of the existing outlet plate, they only rely on the application of force in one direction for removal. Further, these types of safety devices do not have a positive locking feature. Therefore, once a child understands how to pull on them, they tend to remove them out of curiosity, thereby attracting them to the very thing they are being guarded from. Because these types of cover plugs are easy to remove, and lack a positive locking feature, they have traditionally been manufactured in material and shapes that do not suggest to children that they are objects of attention.
Other designs have improved on this idea and have provided more complicated devices. One such design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,050 to Wong, et al., in which a barbed, spring-loaded prong engages the ground hole of the outlet. The prong and the sliding mechanism are encased in a protective plastic housing that covers the remaining slots in the outlet when the device is in place. Another design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,603, which discloses a device having barbed prongs and a locking mechanism. Both of these designs, however, suffer from the disadvantage of being relatively complicated and comprise multiple parts, requiring assembly, making them relatively expensive to manufacture.
Therefore there is a need to have an outlet protection device that does not require the removal of an existing outlet plate due to the expensive nature of the cost of removal and replacement.
There is also a further need for an outlet protection device that can be manufactured as a single component to reduce the cost of manufacture.
In addition, it is desirable to have an outlet protection device that requires force to be applied simultaneously in two different directions to increase the complexity of removal of the device from the outlet. Similarly, it is desirable to have an outlet protection device that includes a positive safety lock not allowing the device to be removed without some type of activation force.
Lastly, it is desirable to have an outlet protection device which can be manufactured with colors or designs, which are attractive and decorative while still maintaining their safe utility.

Protective electrical outlet cover having integrated positive locking mechanism


Process for the catalytic conversion of a charge incorporating at least one oxygen compound such as methanol, into olefinic hydrocarbons having 2 to 4 carbon atoms. Conversion takes place in a reactor (100), into which the charge is introduced by the pipe (20), the catalytic solid by the pipe (30) and the solid entrainment gas by the pipe (40), the reactor being connected by a pipe (1) to a co-current cyclone separator (S) making it possible to separate a solid phase from a gaseous phase containing the conversion products, which is recovered by the pipe (4). The solid phase is fed by the pipe (9) to a regenerator (R), in which the catalytic particles are at least partly regenerated before being returned by the pipe (80), connected to the pipe (30), to the reactor (100).

The invention relates to a process for the entrained bed catalytic conversion of a charge incorporating at least one oxygen or oxygen-containing compound and more specifically at least one alcohol, such as methanol and/or at least one ether oxide, such as dimethyl ether and an apparatus for performing this process incorporating at least one co-current cyclone separator permitting the very rapid separation of the solid particles and the gases.
This process is more particularly applied to the production of olefinic hydrocarbons, particularly for petrochemical uses and largely constituted by compounds having 2 to 4 carbon atoms in their molecule, in the presence of a catalyst, such as a zeolite, circulating in an entrained bed reactor. A particular use given in exemplified manner here is the catalytic conversion of methanol into ethylene and/or propylene-rich hydrocarbons. The technical background is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,418.
One of the essential factors in the selective production of light olefins and more particularly ethylene and/or propylene by conversion of methanol is controlling the contact time between the charge and the catalyst. This contact between the charge and the catalyst must be both short and uniform (or regular) in time, which imposes a contacting uniformity and speed between the catalyst grains and the gaseous or liquid charge. It is therefore important to more particularly control the charge quantity introduced in conjunction with the catalyst quantity with which it comes into contact, while keeping constant the contact time between the charge and the catalyst in order to bring about the optimum selectivity in the desired ethylene compound or compounds. In the absence of such a control, the tendency of the reaction is to lead to a wide range of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons generally extending from methane to hydrocarbons having up to or more than 10 carbon atoms in their molecule and such as those conventionally constituting the naphtha cut.
In the methanol conversion processes using the entrained bed procedure described in the prior art, there is usually an insistence on the importance of optimizing and controlling the contact time between the catalytic particles and the charge. As is e.g. stated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,608, this contact time must be relatively short. However, no reference is made to the use of a separation system appropriate for allowing an effective, rapid separation of the solid particles and the gases containing the reaction products.
The association of well chosen operating conditions and an ultra-fast separation of the catalytic particles and the gaseous products including the conversion products in particular makes it possible to significantly improve the selectivity with respect to the desired ethylene compound or compounds, which was not the case in the prior art, such as e.g. that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,825.

Process and apparatus for the entrained bed catalytic conversion of a charge containing an oxygen compound


A method for making a heat exchanger assembly (10) includes the steps of simultaneously extruding hollow tubes (12) and bridges (14) integrally connecting adjacent tubes (12) through a die; and cutting holes (16) into the bridges (14) to allow airflow through the holes (16). The holes (16) are cut into the bridges (14) by cutting tongues (18, 118) into the bridges (14) and bending the tongues (18, 118) transversely to the tubes (12). Fin modules (20) are then inserted into each hole between the hollow tubes (12) to provide alternative heat exchange characteristics to those of the tongues (20) acting as the fins.

The object of a heat exchanger assembly is to maximize heat transfer efficiency at the lowest possible manufacturing cost. Such heat exchangers include adjacent hollow tubes interconnected by fins. Typically, the tubes and fins are bonded together by a brazing process in an oven. This method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,949,543, 5,042,574, 5,102,032, and 5,277,358, all to Cottone et al. To address the problem of bonding the fins to the tubes, U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,317 to Shockley discloses a method for making a heat exchanger by making individual hollow tubes with integral fins. In yet another disclosure, U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,559 to Dinulescu, a fin module is extruded having a flat wall for bonding with the flat wall of a hollow tube.
The prior art teaches the extrusion of a hollow tube having fins on one hand and the extrusion of a fin module on the other hand. Although the prior art methods and assemblies function satisfactorily, there remains a need to reduce the cost of manufacturing while meeting heat transfer requirements.

Method of making unitary heat exchanger core


Food preparation sinks are disclosed which have an integral raised work area that is rinsed by an automatic system. Food waste or the like present in that area can be washed into a sump above a drain, and the weight of the waste and water in the sump is enough to automatically drive them through a baffle to a food waste disposer, without requiring the baffle to be manually opened. An automatic controller system coordinates water flow and food waste disposer operation, and the water supply can be linked to the sink below the sink rim to save counter top space. In some forms multiple rinsing nozzles are provided which pulse in altering fashion.

The present invention relates to a sink that facilitates the preparation of food and the efficient and hands-free disposal of food waste and other kitchen waste from a sink work area to a food waste disposer (a/k/a garbage disposal).
Various types of preparation steps are typically performed on food items prior to cooking and/or serving. For example, vegetables and fruit may be peeled and/or have seeds, stems or other portions removed from them. The user will typically push the waste portions of the food off a cutting board into a sink by scraping the board with a knife or by hand. The user may then push the waste into the disposal with a tool or other item, sometimes by also using a manually held sprayer to help drive the food towards the drain.
Moving the waste portions in this manner is time consuming and somewhat messy, and the need to push the waste through the disposer entry can require the use of a separate implement to avoid using a hand for that purpose.
Accordingly, there exists a need for addressing these problems.


An image pickup apparatus using white sheet data for correcting the color of a picked-up image. Each image pickup data is converted into a file by an image filing unit and recorded by a medium-recording unit. Average value data of each color component data for part of the picked-up data is stored in an area different from the image pickup data recording area in each file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for adjusting tone of image data picked up by an image pickup element having a plurality of color filters.
2. Related Background Art
To output image data picked up by an image pickup element having a plurality of color filters, the color temperature of a light source in the picked-up image, and the picked-up image data undergoes white balance adjustment, thereby performing faithful color reproduction of the picked-up image.
The white balance adjustment methods include a method of determining the color temperature of a light source using a calorimetric element and a method of searching for an achromatic portion in the picked-up image and determining the color temperature of the achromatic portion. These methods, however, cannot accurately adjust the white balance due to detection errors of colors of the light sources.
As one of the most accurate white balance adjustment methods, a white balance adjustment method is available in which an achromatic object is picked up (this operation is called white sheet image pickup), a control value is obtained so as to equalize the magnitudes of color components of the picked-up image, and white balance adjustment is performed for the subsequent image pickup using the control value. This white balance adjustment method will be referred to as a manual white balance (MWB) hereinafter.
A conventional MWB control method using white sheet image pickup is shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows the conventional white balance adjustment method of partially extracting data (to be referred to white sheet data hereinafter) from an achromatic image (to be referred to as a white sheet image hereinafter) picked up by an image pickup element having a plurality of color filters, recording the extracted white sheet data on a recording medium, reading the white sheet data from the medium in the subsequent image pickup to calculate a white balance control value, and adjusting the white balance using the calculated control value.
The plurality of color filters of the image pickup element are arrays each made up of primary color filters of R, G1, G2, and B, as shown in FIG. 5. Image pickup data input from an image pickup data input terminal 1001 is processed by a main image processing unit 1002, encoding processing unit 1003, and image filing unit 1004. The processed data is recorded on a recording medium as image data by a medium-recording unit 1005.
Independently of this normal image recording process, part of the image pickup data is extracted by an image data extraction unit as MWB white sheet data. The extracted MWB white sheet data is recorded in the MWB data area of the recording medium.
When the white balance mode is set in the MWB in the subsequent image pickup, a medium-reproduction unit 1007 in the image pickup apparatus reproduces the white data recorded on the medium. A white balance control value read-out unit 1008 reads out the white data. A white balance control value operating unit 1009 calculates the R, G1, G2, and B white balance control values so as to equalize the magnitudes of the average values of the R, G1, G2, and B color signals of the white data.
The white balance control values obtained by the white balance control value operating unit 1009 are set for white balance adjustment of the image pickup apparatus by a white balance control value setting unit 1010. Using the set control values, a white balance adjustment unit 1014 adjusts the white balance of the image pickup data input from an image pickup data input terminal 1013 in the subsequent image pickup. A color processing unit 1015 performs final color adjustment such as color correction processing using a color matrix. An encoding processing unit 1016 encodes the color-adjusted data into a recording format. The data output from the encoding processing unit 1016 is converted into a recording file by an image filing unit 1017. The resultant file is recorded on a recording medium 1018 as a pickup image file.
As shown in FIG. 12, in the MWB mode, a white balance control value operating unit 1102 directly calculates white balance control values from the white sheet data picked up by an image pickup apparatus (input from an image pickup data input terminal 1101). The calculated control values are set in the image pickup apparatus by a white balance control value setting unit 1103 and used as the control values in subsequent image pickup for a white balance adjustment unit 1114.
By using the set control values, the white balance adjustment unit 1114 adjusts the white balance of the image pickup data input from an image pickup data input terminal 1113 in the subsequent image pickup. A color processing unit 1115 performs final color adjustment such as color matrix conversion and color correction processing. An output from the color processing unit 1115 is encoded into a recording format by an encoding processing unit 1116. An output from the encoding processing unit 1116 is converted into a recording file by an image filing unit 1117. The resultant file is recorded on a recording medium 1118 as a pickup image file.
In the prior arts described above, however, white sheet data is written in a specific area called the MWB data area of a recording medium. The recording medium is inserted into an image pickup apparatus to read out the white data in the MWB mode. It is difficult to store a plurality of types of MWB white sheet data on one recording medium, manage them, and read out desired white data. The white data cannot be conveniently used.
The method of directly calculating the white balance control values upon picking up image pickup data and setting them in the image pickup apparatus cannot set an another MWB mode when the white data is prepared once and continuously used, resulting in inconvenience. The white data cannot be conveniently used either.
When white sheet data picked up by a given image pickup apparatus is used as white data for another image pickup apparatus in the above system, accurate white balance adjustment cannot be performed due to the influence of variations in spectral characteristics of the image pickup elements. The white sheet data cannot be conveniently used either.


A communication system includes a motor vehicle, a portable communication adapter separate from the motor vehicle and able to be coupled reversibly to a control device of the motor vehicle via a communication interface, and a vehicle-external coordination device. The communication adapter receives motor vehicle data describing a traffic behavior and/or a traffic environment of the motor vehicle from the control device. The communication adapter includes a transmission/reception unit and transmits the motor vehicle data to the vehicle-external coordination device via the transmission/reception unit and receives warning data generated by the vehicle-external coordination device which describes a traffic behavior and/or a traffic environment of another motor vehicle. The communication adapter initiates a traffic-coordinating measure based on the warning data.

Described herein is a communication system having a motor vehicle, a communication adapter, and a coordination device. The communication adapter is designed as a portable communication adapter external to the vehicle and able to be coupled reversibly to a control device of the motor vehicle by use of a communication interface. The communication adapter is for example realized as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a comparable mobile terminal. The coordination device is designed as a coordination device external to the vehicle, for example as a central server device.
Within the context of developing autonomous motor vehicles and networked traffic systems, for example networked traffic control systems, great significance is placed on the communication between individual road users, for example between individual, at least partly autonomous motor vehicles. A multiplicity of known methods for exchanging information between road users exists accordingly.
For example, German Patent Application No. 10 2017 009 722 A1 thus describes a method for wireless information transmission between two vehicles, wherein the vehicles are located within a predetermined distance or radius from one another. In this case, the information is transmitted between communication units, wherein a respective communication unit can be designed in the form of a smartphone. This described car-to-car communication disadvantageously involves only those road users located within a predetermined maximum distance from one another.
German Patent Application No. 10 2017 200 842 A1 describes a method for operating a traffic control infrastructure for determining a target trajectory for at least one motor vehicle. The target trajectory is determined in this case by use of a central server device depending on an environment of the motor vehicle. Disadvantageously, only those motor vehicles and/or those further road users having a correspondingly designed communication interface can be involved in the method described here.
German Patent Application No. 10 2007 006 227 A1 for its part describes an early warning system for preventive recognition and correction of defects in vehicles. To this end, data are transmitted between a respective vehicle and a central computer, which automatically evaluates the transmitted data and forwards an alarm notification to a technical control center when preprogrammed limit values are exceeded. A communication between the individual road users or vehicles is not provided.
A disadvantage in what is known is that in each case only a restricted circle of respective road users and/or vehicles can be involved in a radio-based data exchange of motor vehicle data. This disadvantageous restriction results, on the one hand, from the fact that only vehicles that are located at a predetermined distance from one another can communicate with one another. On the other hand, this restriction consists in the fact that participants in a respective communication must have the same technical basic prerequisites for communication.

Communications system having a communications adapter and a coordination device, and communications adapter, coordination device and method for carrying out a communication


An interface controlling method and an apparatus thereof are provided to control a user interface based on a proximity sensor and a touch pad. A number of items are displayed, an item approached by a user is identified by sensing an approach, information is provided regarding the identified item, contact by the user is sensed, and a function corresponding to the user contact is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments described herein relate to a method and apparatus for controlling interface, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling user interface based on a proximity sensor and touch pad method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, display apparatuses such as TVs, electronic boards, large format displays (LFDs) and table tops have been given touch screens. If a user touches the touch screen, an image or an icon on the screen is selected or executed. However, if there are a plurality of items on the screen, a user must touch and execute each item to obtain information regarding each item and to figure out how each of items should be executed. This may require a lot of work from the user and thus undermine usability.

Apparatus and method for providing GUI interacting according to recognized user approach


To improve performance of a semiconductor device. For example, on the assumption that a superlattice layer is inserted between a buffer layer and a channel layer, a concentration of acceptors introduced into nitride semiconductor layers forming a part of the superlattice layer is higher than a concentration of acceptors introduced into nitride semiconductor layers forming the other part of the superlattice layer. That is, the concentration of acceptors introduced into the nitride semiconductor layers having a small band gap is higher than the concentration of acceptors introduced into the nitride semiconductor layers having a large band gap.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, for example, relates to an effective technique to be applied to a semiconductor device using nitride semiconductor layers.
Japanese Patent No. 3960957 (Patent Document 1) describes a technique for forming a buffer layer from a laminated structure of a first layer formed of a GaN layer that is a nitride semiconductor layer and a second layer formed of an AlGaN layer that is a nitride semiconductor layer and having a band larger than that of the first layer. In this technique, magnesium (Mg) that is an acceptor is introduced into both the first layer and the second layer and the addition amount of the magnesium introduced into the first layer and the addition amount of the magnesium introduced into the second layer are the same.


One embodiment of a lens moving unit includes a bobbin mounted with at least one sheet of lens and arranged at a periphery with a coil unit, a cover member mounted with a magnet at a position corresponding to that of the coil unit, upper and bottom elastic members respectively coupled at one distal end to upper and bottom surfaces of the bobbin to support movement of the bobbin to an optical axis direction, and a detection unit to detect a movement parallel to an optical axis of the bobbin, wherein the detection unit includes a sensing magnet mounted at a periphery of the bobbin, and a position detection sensor arranged at a lateral wall of the cover member and formed at an inner lateral surface opposite to the sensing magnet, wherein the bobbin includes a correction magnet mounted at a side opposite to that of the sensing magnet.

Field of the Invention
The teachings in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this present disclosure generally relate to a lens moving unit and a camera module having the same.
Background of the Related Art
In general, a camera module may include an optical system formed with an image sensor, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with the image sensor configured to transmit an electric signal, an IR (Infrared) cut-off filter configured to cut off light of infrared region from the image sensor and at least one sheet of lens configured to transmit an image to the image sensor. At this time, the optical system may be installed with a lens moving unit configured to perform an auto focusing function and a hand shake correction function.
The lens moving unit may be variably formed and widely uses a voice coil unit motor. The voice coil unit motor is operated by an electric interaction between a magnet fixed to a housing and a coil unit wound on a periphery of a bobbin coupled to a lens barrel to perform an auto focusing function. An actuator module of voice coil motor method thus described is operated in a manner such that a vertically-moving bobbin is elastically supported by upper and bottom elastic members to reciprocally move to a direction parallel to an optical axis.
Although development of a lens moving unit is recently demanded to quickly grasp an optimal focusing position by receiving position information of a bobbin mounted with a lens in order to shorten an auto focusing time of a camera module, the lens moving unit may suffer, in terms of performance, from disadvantages of instability in electromagnetic force and eccentricity of a lens barrel due to magnetic force.

Lens moving unit and camera module having the same