The present invention relates to an electric steering lock device of a vehicle and an assembly method thereof, more specifically, the invention can also be provided on a column housing of a different vehicle having a manual steering lock device by reducing the height of the product, and is capable of reducing the number of assembly process during assembling.

In general, the electric steering lock device is mounted to the vehicle for sensing stop of the vehicle when the drive stopped drive to lock a steering column of the vehicle for preventing stolen vehicle by preventing running of the vehicle by using the steering handle.
FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate an exploded perspective view and an inside configuration of an example of a related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle, respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle is provided with a lock body 10 having a plurality of mounting places (No reference numerals are given) for mounting predetermined components thereto in the steering lock device 1, a plurality of components 20 respectively mounted to the mounting places of the lock body 10, and a cover unit 40 coupled to a top side of the lock body 10 having the plurality of components 20 mounted thereon.
The plurality of components 20 may be mounted to the plurality of mounting places formed on the lock body 10, or in a separate mounting housing 30 coupled to an upper side of the plurality of mounting places. In more detail, the separate mounting housing 30 may have a drive motor 21 coupled to an upper side thereof, and a socket (Not shown) coupled to a lower side thereof for applying power thereto, and the plurality of mounting places may have a first worm wheel gear 22 and a second worm wheel gear 22′ for having the power forwarded thereto from a worm gear 22 arranged at the fore end of the drive motor 21, a spur gear 23 and a lock stopper unit 24 mounted thereto together with a lock bar 25.
As known, the lock bar 25 serves to lock or unlock the steering column (Not shown) while moving up/down along a lock hole 11 formed to be in communication with an underside of the lock body 10.
In the meantime, the related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle has a PCB assembly 31 provided to the mounting housing 30 for generating an electric signal if the starting of the vehicle is turned off or by operation of the user.
In this case, if the electric signal is generated, the drive motor 21 is come into operation by a non-illustrated control unit, the worm gear 22 is rotated to forward power through the first worm wheel gear 22, the second worm wheel gear 22′, and the spur gear 23 for a lock stopper unit 24 to move up/down, finally.
However, since the related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle is mounted and assembled such that the power is forwarded only toward a lower side of the separate mounting housing 30 having the drive motor 21 provided thereto through the first worm wheel gear 22, the second worm wheel gear 22′, and the spur gear 23, the related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle has a problem in that the up/down direction height becomes large. The problem results in a problem in that a total height of the electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle increases to unable to mount the electric steering lock device to a column housing to which a manual steering lock device is mounted, requiring to manufacture the column housing for the electric steering lock device and the column housing for the manual steering lock device, separately.
In the meantime, as described before, since the related art electric steering lock device 1 in a vehicle is required to mount the plurality of components 20 to the plurality of mounting places provided on the upper side of the lock body 10 and the separate mounting housing 30 one by one before assembly, to delay a time period of the assembly process very much, productivity of the product is poor.

Electric steering lock device of vehicle and assembly method thereof


An apparatus that can be used as a mouse device and as a pen device. The apparatus has modular configuration. It has four types of units: a sensor unit, a processor unit, a mouse converter unit and a pen attachment unit. The sensor unit may use an optical arrangement for detecting relative motion. The sensor unit and processor unit are used in mouse and pen device configurations. Mouse converter unit is a mouse-shape enclosure useful mainly when apparatus is employed for mouse-input. Pen attachment unit is actively employed when the apparatus is used as a pen device, but it can be made compact to fit into mouse converter unit when the apparatus is used as a mouse device. The pen attachment unit connects the sensor unit with any pen-shaped object, selectively coupling the motion of the object with the sensor unit. When the apparatus is used as a pen-device, the processor unit can be conveniently worn on hand thereby making the device highly portable. As a pen device, the apparatus can be used in pen-input mode to provide real-time input to a host device. It can also be used as a pen computer whereby input is processed and stored offline for future synchronization with the host device.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus that can be used, as a computer mouse device and as an enabling device for turning ordinary pen-shaped objects into digital instruments, for the purposes of cursor control, inputting figures, symbols, characters and the like into a data processing device, such as a computer.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a keyboard, mouse, digitizer, light pen, and tablet, etc. have been used as an input apparatus employed in a computer apparatus or the like. There is a growing range of computing devices, from those that are small and portable to those that are bigger and remain on desktop. Ergonomic human interaction with computers is an important problem to be addressed, particularly with the growing variety of small devices.
There is a limitation on making a keyboard small-sized from the viewpoint of human interface, and the keyboard is not a practical input apparatus for a portable device. A conventional mouse device is made to be gripped by the hand and to be enclosed by the palm of the hand. The arrangement of sensing technology in a mouse device is typically proximal to the surface. Mouse usage is ubiquitous. Although mouse device can be made in a small-size and used as a pointing device, it is not suitable for inputting figures and characters, etc. into a data processor.
Since it is clumsy to use a keyboard along with a small portable device such as Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or cellular phone, it is highly desirable to use a pen-shaped device with such small devices. For this reason, on many occasions, a pen-shaped input apparatus employing a tablet and pen have been adopted as the input apparatus for a portable device. The size of the tablet is small, especially in small portable devices, and this restriction does not allow providing pen-input with ease.
Use of tablet-based pen-input apparatus is not common in conventional desktop computer arrangement for several reasons. Even though larger tablets can be used on a desktop, such arrangements increase the price of the input accessories needed and also clutter the desktop.
To overcome the problem of tablet size, pen input apparatuses without relying on tablets have been developed. There are two kinds of such pen devices, based on their overall configuration. One type of devices is dedicated pen devices; they are dedicated in that they are manufactured in a specific pen size. The other type is pen "attachment" devices that can be attached to an external pen object; these devices can be made to accommodate different pen sizes.
Some of the dedicated pens allow ink flow for writing, whereas others do not. There are in general two classes of dedicated pen devices, based on the sensing technology employed. One class of sensing technologies places all the sensing mechanism contained within the pen (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,102) whereas the other class involves external references where at least part of the sensing mechanism is placed remotely from the pen (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,570).
Early attempts at dedicated pen devices, with self-contained sensing mechanism, relied on mechanical roller ball based arrangements wherein at least one ball at the tip of the pen is in contact with the writing surface (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,213) and the rotation of the ball is electromechanically sensed to calculate relative motion. Optical means of detecting relative motion, based on patterns on the ball, are also known in digital pens (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,604). Other attempts have used inertial sensors to calculate motion of tip of pen. Dedicated devices are typically offered in larger sizes that may not be comfortable to grip. When the dedicated pen devices involve ink flow, they can be cumbersome to maintain due to the need for customized ink reservoirs. These factors do not make such pen devices suitable for wide usage.
As stated earlier, dedicated pen devices that rely on external references are known. Many of those devices have used ultrasound and radio frequency technologies (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,299). Some have employed optical technology which relies on special markings on writing surface that provide absolute coordinate information. These technologies are expensive in general and are appropriate for use in specific applications such as the use of digital pen in filling forms, in an office setting.
All these developments in dedicated digital pens have left a void in that these devices are neither practical to manufacture in a variety of suitable sizes and weights at a low cost, so that they can be used by a variety of users, nor do they enable the use of commonly used pen-shaped objects to provide digital input.
There are a couple of attachment type pen devices known in prior art. One of them, disclosed in U.S. 2004/179000, allows a pen to be inserted into the attachment, but it is bulky in nature. The other device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,906,703, uses an attachment rigidly fixed to a pen and contains accelerometers to detect motion. Rigid attachment of accelerometers to a pen reduces the accuracy of detected motion due to the effects of gravity component on accelerometer signals. Further, in said U.S. Pat. No. 6,906,703, there is no means to distinguish between motion of pen on the surface and the motion of pen when it is not in contact with the surface.
In general, electronic hardware used in pen devices is more complicated than that used in mouse devices. This is because there are several components of motion that need to be accounted to accurately track pen movement. These motion components are: (i) motion of pen-tip on the surface, (ii) motion of pen tip away from the surface, but on a plane parallel to the surface, (ii) static inclination angle of pen with respect to the normal direction of the surface and (iii) dynamic inclination changes of the pen with respect to the normal direction of the surface.
In other words, among different users and based on user's style of gripping the pen, there can be variations in (i) the inclination of pen with respect to surface at the beginning of pen use and subsequent changes during pen use, and (ii) the amount by which the pen is lifted off the surface. These factors impact the accuracy of relative motion sensing means in pen devices.
It can be appreciated that although there are some similarities between sensor technologies used in mouse devices and pen devices, the complicated nature of pen motion necessitates additional sensors for accurate tracking of pen motion. In general, this makes the digital pen devices bulkier and more expensive.
For small portable devices, the need to have a low cost digital pen that is independent of tablet is crucial. In providing pen input to small devices such as PDA or cellular phone, it is much easier to write on a nearby surface than on a small tablet on the device. This will allow ergonomic pen interaction. But such devices are not commercially realized.
For large computing devices, such as desktop computers, it is important to allow pen input albeit at lower cost and without cluttering the desktop. For desktop computers, in some cases, it is preferable to be able to switch between the mouse-input and pen-input with ease.
In prior art, pen devices are known to be used for real-time (pen-input) or for offline (pen-computer) input purposes. A device that can be used both as a pen-input device and pen-computer device is not commonly available.
Not surprisingly, compared with digital pen devices, the computer mouse devices have achieved remarkable success while being available at a low cost. Particularly, the accuracy of computer mouse has increased with the introduction of optical sensing technology. In conventional mouse devices, the motion sensing means and related electronics are lightweight in nature; it is usually the shell of the mouse device that is made heavier to provide appropriate feel for the user.
Although the accuracy and ease of use of the mouse devices have vastly improved, the function performed by the mouse device has been restricted to cursor control, for several decades. Several mouse configurations are known for employing the mouse device for uses other than cursor control, but these modifications are not commercially available.
It is clear that there is a need for using both the mouse shaped device and low-cost ergonomic pen-shaped device (independent of tablet) in routine computer interaction. One possibility for having both mouse and pen function is to have a mouse device and a pen device separately connected to a host device, functioning independent of each other.
A port for a mouse device is commonly available in computers whereas an additional pen device would require use of another port. Also, the number of digital devices that need to be connected to a host device has increased in recent years. On the one hand it is difficult to have a dedicated port available for each device and on the other hand it becomes a chore to plug peripheral devices in and out, in order to share ports. So it is preferable to make devices that perform more than one function while sharing the connection to the host device. This will also lead to reduction in the cost of input accessories.
Combining mouse device functions and pen device functions in one apparatus have been attempted. One such attempt is a pen-shaped device, sold by a company Finger Systems of Korea, that can be used to mimic mouse-like functionality. One limitation with such device is that it is difficult to provide mouse-input using a pen-shaped device. Another attempt in prior art, disclosed in WO2005010741, has a pen that has a back end shaped like a mouse. This makes the pen heavier at the top and bulkier to handle.

Combination mouse, pen-input and pen-computer device


A hood protective shield for use on a front portion of a motor vehicle's hood protects against insects and road debris damage. The shield comprises a main body member, a lip member extending therefrom and a set of spacers attached to the underside of the main body member. The main body member is shaped to fit the contour of the front portion of the hood and extends laterally substantially fully across the hood and extends longitudinally partially from a front edge thereof. The lip member wraps around the edge of the hood to engage an underside of the hood and hold the shield in a semi-permanent, though secure fashion to the hood.

Many owners of motor vehicles are concerned about the appearance of their vehicle. This is very true of owners of new autos and owners of more exclusive autos. A problem particularly of concern is paint finish scratching or marring. Even small scratches or chips in the finish of the auto can materially detract from its appearance and significantly reduce its value. An auto's paint finish can be impaired by an accidental bumping from another auto's door being carelessly opened as often occurs in a public parking lot or by insects or road debris thrown against the auto during travel. The latter is a cause of paint finish scratching, chipping and marring. It is most likely to occur at the front portion of the auto's hood. There is no practical way to avoid the damage. Furthermore, it is difficult to repair a small damaged area. The whole hood most likely will have to be repaired and/or repainted.
Various articles have been developed for use on auto hoods to protect them from insects and road debris damage. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,872,242, 3,022,848, 3,817,572 and 5,039,156 disclose articles which are designed to fit on the front portion of an auto's hood. All suffer in one way or another. Certain of the known articles are unattractive, per se, and actually detract from the auto's appearance. The insect deflector article of U.S. Pat. No. 2,872,242 for example extends vertically from the hood a very noticeable distance. While most likely effective, most auto owners would rather risk the paint finish damage and its consequence appearance detraction than mount the rather bulky article in so conspicuous a location as the hood. Ideally, any protective article for the hood will be noticed only upon close inspection.
All known hood protective articles also appear to be difficult to mount and demount as the need arises. For example, there are times when the auto owner is not particularly concerned with insects and road debris. Thus, low speed driving is less likely to cause a problem. The auto owner may want to remove any hood protective shield at such time. There are other times when paint damage is much more likely to occur. Ideally, any hood protective shield will be readily mounted and demounted as need dictates. It is particularly important that any mounting means be secure, yet be semi-permanent in nature. Most importantly, no physical alteration of the auto should be needed to install the shield. This generally means that no external attaching means such as screws or bolts and nuts be used in the installation.
In accord with a long felt need experienced by many auto owners, there has now been developed a hood protective shield for use on a motor vehicle. The shield is virtually unnoticeable and does not detract from the vehicle's appearance. It is mounted to the hood of the vehicle in a semi-permanent, though secure fashion.


The invention is directed to controlling an electric motor by means of a frequency converter. The frequency converter can be connected to one of several different mains voltages. According to the present invention, the maximum output power of the frequency converter, is limited when the actual mains voltage is lower than the maximum nominal mains voltage, for which the frequency converter is designed, and during the limitation the frequency converter controls the speed of the motor within a power range up to a limited maximum output power. This gives a genuine multi-voltage unit, which can be connected to a wide range of mains voltages.

Differences in the mains voltages in the USA and Europe increase the production costs, as product differentiation is required. For years, therefore, it has been known to make frequency converters, which can be connected to different mains voltages, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,571.
However, this gives rise to a problem, when a frequency converter is connected to a mains voltage, which is lower than the maximum nominal mains voltage, for which the frequency converter is designed to handle. In this case the current in the unit will be increased in order to maintain the same electrical power output to the motor. The increased current may damage the frequency converter. To avoid this, the frequency converter can be designed for the high current, but this is an expensive solution, which will also require more room, because, for example, the intermediary circuit coil gets bigger. Thus, protection of the frequency converter is required.
Reduction of the current flowing in a frequency converter is known from EP 0 431 563 B1, however, in another connection. When the load, that is, the motor which is here used in a compressor for an HVAC system, consumes too much current, a control device reduces the output frequency of the inverter. The amplitude of the current is detected by a current measurement on the mains side, that is, before the frequency converter. When the output frequency is reduced, the current flowing to the rectifier from the mains is reduced, and thus the installation in private homes is protected against over current. However, the frequency converter described is not intended for connection to one of several different mains voltages.
A mains voltage self-adapting frequency converter is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,571 mentioned above. In front of the rectifier a voltage detector is placed, which gives information to a control device about the amplitude of the mains voltage. The control device comprises a memory element, in which a table for every possible mains voltage is stored. Each table again contains a number of U/f relations, known per se as the relation between the motor voltage and motor frequency applied by the inverter. To obtain an optimum motor operation, this relation must be kept constant. There are tables containing the U/f relations for mains voltages of 100V, 115V, 200V and 230V, and the output power of the frequency converter is regulated to a constant value by selecting the suitable U/f relations. In this solution, it is endeavoured to keep the intermediary circuit voltage constant, and for this purpose the input circuit contains a switch arrangement, which switches to voltage doubling mode when the unit is connected to 115V, whereas the switching device remains unchanged when connecting the unit to 230V. Thus, the motor receives the same voltage, but this system has the disadvantage that with a 115V mains voltage the input circuit has to sink a higher current. The complete input circuit has to be dimensioned for the lowest mains voltage, meaning that with the higher mains voltages the components will be substantially overdimensioned. A further problem with this design is that non-standard voltages are not considered. It is thus unclear, how the control device will handle a voltage supply drop from 230V to 170V. A stepless operation is not described.
Self-adaptation of a frequency converter should not be limited to adapting to the mains voltages. Also, adaptation of current limits is of interest. Today, a frequency converter typically contains three current limits, the upper limit being a short-circuiting protection, which is activated at a current of 300% of the nominal frequency converter current, and has a response time of 1 to 2 μs. This limit is activated when earthing or a short-circuit appears between the phase windings. The second limit is the hardware limit, which is typically at a current of 220% with a response time of 15 μs. The hardware limit is an expression of the maximum current, which semiconductors and coils of the frequency converter can stand. The short-circuit limit and the hardware limit are realised with electronic components, whereas the third limit, the software limit, is controlled by the program of the frequency converter. A typical software limit is 160% current for 60 seconds, after which the frequency converter reduces the load by lowering the motor frequency.
Normally, the hardware current limit is locked in the frequency converter already during manufacturing, but U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,660 discloses an over current circuit, in which the current limit is variable during operation. One input of a comparator here receives a current measuring signal from a current measured in the intermediary circuit or on the motor lines, the other input receives a current reference signal, which changes in dependence of the voltage-frequency ratio (U/f) of the frequency converter. When the current measuring signal exceeds the current reference, the comparator sends a signal in order to reduce the current or fully stop the frequency converter. The variable current reference signal consists of two contributions, a first fixed contribution being set by means of a potentiometer and a second contribution being determined as a function of the U/f ratio. The second contribution is found by means of a lookup table or a function calculation, the U/f ratio being the entry key and the current limit contribution increases with increasing U/f. Thus, the resulting current reference signal changes during operation of the frequency converter. However, this circuit has the disadvantage that the variation of the current limit is locked to the U/f ratio, which alone determines the characteristic, that is, the curve profile, of the current reference.
WO 97/36777 also describes a circuit for generating current references, which change during operation of a motor control, and the change takes place as a function of the speed of a vehicle. A current reference generator generates a hardware limit value by means of a table in a memory element comprising combinations of speed and current, while a microprocessor forms a software current limit. Via data lines, the microprocessor is connected with the memory element of the current reference generator, thus being able to change the profile of the hardware characteristic. Compared with U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,660, the circuit has the advantage that the current limit characteristic can be changed merely by changing the programming of the microprocessor. This gives the manufacturer a larger degree of freedom. Larger degrees of freedom are particularly desirable, when the manufacturer wants to make a general purpose motor drive, which can be used for different sizes of motors. A typical problem is the series-manufactured high-power frequency converter being connected to a low-power motor. The hardware current limit of the frequency converter is then locked and too high in relation to the motor. A further degree of freedom is desirable with regard to application areas, that is, areas in which the frequency converter is used. For example, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, AirConditioning) and conveyor belt applications have different current limit profiles, but usually they are fixed in the frequency converter already during manufacturing. Thus, the frequency converter manufacturer is forced to have many variants, each having its particular hardware current limit.

Frequency converter for different mains voltages


A controller includes a control module to control operation of a process in response to control data, a plug-in module coupled to the control module as a non-layered, integrated extension thereof, and a model identification engine. The plug-in detects a change in the control data, and a collects the control data and data in connection with a condition of the process in response to the detected change. The model identification engine executes a plurality of model parameter identification cycles. Each cycle includes simulations of the process each having different simulation parameter values and each using the control data as an input, an estimation error calculation for each simulation based on an output of the simulation and based on the operating condition data, and a calculation of a model parameter value based on the estimation errors and simulation parameter values used in the simulation corresponding to each of the estimation errors.

Process control systems, such as distributed or scalable process control systems like those used in chemical, petroleum or other processes, typically include one or more process controllers communicatively coupled to each other, to at least one host or operator workstation and to one or more field devices via analog, digital or combined analog/digital buses. The field devices, which may be, for example, valves, valve positioners, switches and transmitters (e.g., temperature, pressure and flow rate sensors), perform functions within the process such as opening or closing valves and measuring process parameters. The process controller receives signals indicative of process measurements made by the field devices and/or other of information pertaining to the field devices, and uses this information to implement a control routine and then generates control signals which are sent over the buses to the field devices to control the operation of the process. Information from the field devices and the controller is typically made available to one or more applications executed by the operator workstation to enable an operator to perform any desired function with respect to the process, such as viewing the current state of the process, modifying the operation of the process, etc.
Some process control systems, such as the DeltaV® system sold by Fisher Rosemount Systems, Inc., headquartered in Austin, Tex., use function blocks or groups of function blocks referred to as modules located in the controller or in different field devices to perform control operations. In these cases, the controller or other device is capable of including and executing one or more function blocks or modules, each of which receives inputs from and/or provides outputs to other function blocks (either within the same device or within different devices), and performs some process operation, such as measuring or detecting a process parameter, controlling a device, or performing a control operation, such as the implementation of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control routine. The different function blocks and modules within a process control system are generally configured to communicate with each other (e.g., over a bus) to form one or more process control loops.
Process controllers are typically programmed to execute a different algorithm, sub-routine or control loop (which are all control routines) for each of a number of different loops defined for, or contained within a process, such as flow control loops, temperature control loops, pressure control loops, etc. Generally speaking, each such control loop includes one or more input blocks, such as an analog input (AI) function block, a single-output control block, such as a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) or a fuzzy logic control (FLC) function block, and an output block, such as an analog output (AO) function block.
Control routines, and the function blocks that implement such routines, have been configured in accordance with a number of control techniques, including PID control, fuzzy logic control, and model-based techniques such as a Smith Predictor or Model Predictive control (MPC). In model-based control techniques, the parameters used in the routines to determine the closed loop control response are based on the dynamic process response to changes in the manipulated or measured disturbances serving as inputs to the process. A representation of this response of the process to changes in process inputs may be characterized as a process model. For instance, a first-order parameterized process model may specify values for the gain, dead time, and time constant of a self-regulating process or values for integrating gain and dead time of an integrating process.
One model-based technique, model predictive control (MPC), involves a number of step or impulse response models designed to capture the dynamic relationships between process inputs and outputs. With MPC techniques, the process model is directly used to generate the controller. When used in connection with processes that experience large changes in process dead time, process delay, etc., the MPC controller must be automatically regenerated using the models to match the current process condition. In such cases, a process model was accordingly identified at each of a number of operating conditions. The introduction of multiple process models and the requisite automatic generation of the controller to matching the current process condition undesirably increased the complexity of the process control system.
Process models have also been used to set tuning parameters of PID and other control schemes using adaptive control techniques, where the tuning of the PID (or other) controller is generally updated as a result of changes in the process model and a user-selected tuning rule. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2003/0195641 entitled "State Based Adaptive Feedback Feedforward PID Controller" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,908 entitled "Adaptive Feedback/Feedforward PID Controller," the entire disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
A process control system generally has the ability to tune process loops and provide some kind of performance monitoring. However, as conditions change and process equipment degrades the existing tuning results in inefficient operation. While some manufacturers have tried to address this problem by layering complex applications on top of the control system, the continuing sophistication of hardware and software provides the ability to embed more and more functionality in the native control system itself. The next generation intelligent control system provides embedded learning algorithms that constantly observe every loop and every device of the system, thereby enabling intelligent monitoring, diagnostics, and advanced tuning, automatically. The algorithms learn and remember the process models, and, as conditions change, re-learn the process automatically. This information can then be used to evaluate control performance and behavior, and diagnose problems. Finally, the control performance can be improved by advising operators of under performing loops or recommended tuning, and ultimately, by automatic retuning of the loops with continuous adaptive control. An example of automatic process identification in a control system is described in U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2007/0078533 entitled "Process Model Identification In A Process Control System," the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. This combination of intelligent control with intelligent devices realizes a control system with predictive intelligence.

Method and apparatus for intelligent control and monitoring in a process control system


A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium or lithium alloy and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) with calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 and lithium carbonate Li2CO3 additive mixed therein. The electrolyte may typically comprise lithium bistrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide, Li(CF3SO2)2N (LiTFSI) salt dissolved in a solvent mixture comprising 1,3-dioxolane and sulfolane. The electrolyte typically contains between about 100 and 2000 parts by weight water per million parts by weight (ppm) electrolyte therein. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising iron disulfide powder with Ca(OH)2 and Li2CO3 mixed therein, carbon, binder, and a liquid solvent. The mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.

Primary (non-rechargeable) electrochemical cells having an anode of lithium are known and are in widespread commercial use. The anode is comprised essentially of lithium metal. Such cells typically have a cathode comprising manganese dioxide, and electrolyte comprising a lithium salt such as lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate (LiCF3SO3) dissolved in an organic solvent. The cells are referenced in the art as primary lithium cells (primary Li/MnO2 cells) and are generally not intended to be rechargeable. Alternatively, primary lithium cells with lithium metal anodes but having different cathodes are also known. Such cells, for example, have cathodes comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and are designated Li/FeS2 cells. The iron disulfide (FeS2) is also known as pyrite. The Li/MnO2 cells or Li/FeS2 cells are typically in the form of cylindrical cells, typically AA size or AAA size cells, but may be in other size cylindrical cells. The Li/MnO2 cells have a voltage of about 3.0 volts which is twice that of conventional Zn/MnO2 alkaline cells and also have higher energy density (watt-hrs per cm3 of cell volume) than that of alkaline cells. The Li/FeS2 cells have a voltage (fresh) of between about 1.2 and 1.8 volts which is about the same as a conventional Zn/MnO2 alkaline cell. However, the energy density (watt-hrs per cm3 of cell volume) of the Li/FeS2 cell is higher than a comparable size Zn/MnO2 alkaline cell. The theoretical specific capacity of lithium metal is high at 3861.4 mAmp-hr/gram and the theoretical specific capacity of FeS2 is 893.6 mAmp-hr/gram. The FeS2 theoretical capacity is based on a 4 electron transfer from 4Li per FeS2 molecule to result in reaction product of elemental iron Fe and 2Li2S. That is, 2 of the 4 electrons change the oxidation state of +2 for Fe+2 in FeS2 to 0 in elemental iron (Fe0) and the remaining 2 electrons change the oxidation state of sulfur from −1 in FeS2 to −2 in Li2S.
Overall the Li/FeS2 cell is much more powerful than the same size Zn/MnO2 alkaline cell. That is, for a given continuous current drain, particularly at higher current drain over 200 milliAmp, the voltage is flatter for longer periods for the Li/FeS2 cell than the Zn/MnO2 alkaline cell as may be evident in a voltage vs. time discharge profile. This results in a higher energy output obtainable from a Li/FeS2 cell compared to that obtainable for a same size alkaline cell. The higher energy output of the Li/FeS2 cell is more clearly and more directly shown in graphical plots of energy (Watt-hrs) versus continuous discharge at constant power (Watts) wherein fresh cells are discharged to completion at fixed continuous power outputs ranging from as little as 0.01 Watt to 5 Watt. (As the cell's voltage drops during discharge the load resistance is gradually decreased, raising the current drain to maintain a fixed constant power output.) The graphical plot Energy (Watt-Hrs) versus Power Output (Watt) for the Li/FeS2 cell is above that for the same size alkaline cell. This is despite that the starting voltage of both cells (fresh) is about the same, namely, between about 1.2 and 1.8 volt.
Thus, the Li/FeS2 cell has the advantage over same size alkaline cells, for example, AAA, AA, C or D size or any other size cell in that the Li/FeS2 cell may be used interchangeably with the conventional Zn/MnO2 alkaline cell and will have greater service life, particularly for higher power demands. Similarly the Li/FeS2 cell which is a primary (nonrechargeable) cell can also be used as a replacement for the same size rechargeable nickel metal hydride cell, which has about the same voltage (fresh) as the Li/FeS2 cell. Thus, the primary Li/FeS2 cell can be used to power digital cameras, which require operation at high pulsed power demands.
The cathode material for the Li/FeS2 cell may be initially prepared in a form such as a slurry mixture (cathode slurry), which can be readily coated onto the metal substrate by conventional coating methods. The electrolyte added to the cell must be a suitable organic electrolyte for the Li/FeS2 system allowing the necessary electrochemical reactions to occur efficiently over the range of high power output desired. The electrolyte must exhibit good ionic conductivity and also be sufficiently stable, that is non reactive, with the undischarged electrode materials (anode and cathode components) and also non-reactive with the discharge products. This is because undesirable oxidation/reduction side reactions between the electrolyte and electrode materials (either discharged or undischarged) could thereby gradually contaminate the electrolyte and reduce its effectiveness or result in excessive gassing. This in turn can result in a catastrophic cell failure. Thus, the electrolyte used in Li/FeS2 cell in addition to promoting the necessary electrochemical reactions, should also be stable to discharged and undischarged electrode materials. Additionally, the electrolyte should enable good ionic mobility and transport of the lithium ion (Li+) from anode to cathode so that it can engage in the necessary reduction reaction resulting in Li2S product in the cathode.
An electrode composite is formed with a sheet of lithium, a sheet of cathode composite containing the FeS2 active material and separator therebetween. The electrode composite may be spirally wound and inserted into the cell casing, for example, as shown in the spirally wound lithium cell of U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,421. A cathode coating mixture for the Li/FeS2 cell is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,360. A portion of the anode sheet is typically electrically connected to the cell casing which forms the cell's negative terminal. The cell is closed with an end cap which is insulated from the casing. The cathode sheet can be electrically connected to the end cap which forms the cell's positive terminal. The casing is typically crimped over the peripheral edge of the end cap to seal the casing's open end. The cell may be fitted internally with a PTC (positive thermal coefficient) device or the like to shut down the cell in case the cell is exposed to abusive conditions such as short circuit discharge or overheating.
The electrolyte used in a primary Li/FeS2 cells is formed of a "lithium salt" dissolved in an "organic solvent". Representative lithium salts which may be used in electrolytes for Li/FeS2 primary cells are referenced in related art, for example, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,414 and include such salts as: Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, LiCF3SO3 (LiTFS); lithium bistrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide, Li(CF3SO2)2N (LiTFSI); lithium iodide, LiI; lithium bromide, LiBr; lithium tetrafluoroborate, LiBF4; lithium hexafluorophosphate, LiPF6; lithium hexafluoroarsenate, LiAsF6; Li(CF3SO2)3C, and various mixtures. In the art of Li/FeS2 electrochemistry lithium salts are not always interchangeable as specific salts work best with specific electrolyte solvent mixtures, and specific solvent mixtures with certain lithium salts can lead to significantly improved performance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,414 (Marple) is reported use of a beneficial electrolyte for FeS2 cells, wherein the electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent comprising 1,3-dioxolane (DX) in admixture with a second solvent which is an acyclic (non cyclic) ether based solvent. The acyclic (non cyclic) ether based solvent as referenced may be dimethoxyethane (DME), ethyl glyme, diglyme and triglyme, with the preferred being 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME). As given in the example the dioxolane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) are present in the electrolyte in substantial amount, i.e., 50 vol % 1,3-dioxolane (DX) and 40 vol % dimethoxyethane (DME) or 25 vol % 1,3-dioxolane (DX) and 75 vol. % dimethoxyethane (DME) (col. 7, lines 47-54). A specific lithium salt ionizable in such solvent mixture(s), as given in the example, is lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate, LiCF3SO3. Another lithium salt, namely lithium bistrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide, Li(CF3SO2)2N is also mentioned at col. 7, line 18-19. The reference teaches that a third solvent may optionally be added selected from 3,5-dimethylisoxazole (DMI), 3-methyl-2-oxazolidone, propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC), butylene carbonate (BC), tetrahydrofuran (THF), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethylene glycol sulfite (EGS), dioxane, dimethyl sulfate (DMS), and sulfolane (claim 19), with the preferred being 3,5-dimethylisoxazole.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,054 (Webber) is disclosed an electrolyte solvent system wherein dioxolane-based solvent and dimethoxyethane-based solvent are present in a weight ratio of about 1:3 (1 part by weight dioxolane to 3 parts by weight dimethoxyethane).
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,360 B2 (Marple) is disclosed an electrolyte for an Li/FeS2 cell, wherein the electrolyte comprises the salt lithium iodide dissolved in the organic solvent mixture comprising 1,3-dioxolane (DX), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), and small amount of 3,5 dimethylisoxazole (DMI). (col. 6, lines 44-48.) This reference discloses an anode of lithium alloyed with aluminum.
In US 2007/0202409 A1 (Yamakawa) it is stated with reference to the electrolyte solvent for the Li/FeS2 cell at para. 33: "Examples of the organic solvent include propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, 1,2-dimethoxy ethane, γ-butyrolactone, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, sulfolane, acetonitrile, dimethyl carbonate, and dipropyl carbonate, and any one of them or two or more of them can be used independently, or in a form of a mixed solvent." Such statement is misleading, since the art teaches only specific combinations of electrolyte solvents will be workable for the Li/FeS2 cell depending on the particular lithium salt to be dissolved in the solvent. (See, e.g. above U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,414 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,360) The reference Yamakawa does not teach which combination of solvents from the above list are to be used with any given lithium salt.
In U.S. 2006/0046152 (Webber) is disclosed an electrolyte system for a lithium cell which may have a cathode comprising FeS2 and FeS therein. The disclosed electrolyte contains lithium iodide salt dissolved in a solvent system comprising a mixture of 1,2-dimethoxypropane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane.
The choice of a particular organic solvent or mixture of different organic solvents for use in conjunction with any one or more lithium salts to produce a suitable electrolyte for the Li/FeS2 cell is challenging. This is not to say that the cell with various combinations of lithium salt and solvent mixtures may not work at all, but it may not work well enough to be practical. The challenge associated with such cells using an electrolyte formed with just any combination of lithium salt and known organic solvent suitable for dissolution and ionization of the salt is that the problems encountered will likely be very substantial, thus making the cell impractical for commercial usage. The history of development of lithium cells in general, whether lithium primary cells, e.g. non rechargeable Li/MnO2 or Li/FeS2 cells or rechargeable lithium or lithium ion cells reveals that just any combination of lithium salt and organic solvent cannot be expected to result in a good cell, that is, exhibiting good, reliable performance. Thus, references which merely provide long lists of possible organic solvents for Li/FeS2 cells do not necessarily teach combinations of solvents or combination of specific lithium salts in specific solvent mixtures, which exhibit particular or unexpected benefit.
An effective electrolyte for the Li/FeS2 cell promotes ionization of the lithium salt in the electrolyte and is sufficiently stable that it does not degrade with time and does not degrade the anode or cathode components. The effective electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent mixture which provides good ionic mobility of the lithium ions through the electrolyte so that the lithium ions may pass at good transport rate from anode to cathode through the separator.
The iron disulfide is purchased in the form of a powder. It has exposure to atmospheric air and moisture during transit and storage. This results in contaminants, which include mostly acids and Fe containing salts, forming on the surfaces and within the pores of the FeS2 particles. The contaminants include acids and Fe containing salts such as FeS, H2S, H2SO4, H2SO3, FeSO4, FeSO4 nH2O (hydrate). If these contaminants are present in the cathode, they can react directly with electrolyte or cell components to significantly interfere with proper performance of the cell. It has been determined that if the FeS2 particles are heat treated in a nitrogen atmosphere prior to their use in the cathode mixture, the level of contaminants can be reduced. But it has been found that the contaminants can gradually reform and reappear on the FeS2 surfaces when the heat treated particles are subsequently placed in storage with exposure to atmospheric air and moisture. In a cell assembly operation it is not practical to heat treat the FeS2 particles and use the heat treated FeS2 particles immediately in forming the cathode slurry without exposing them to atmospheric air and moisture prior to forming the slurry.
Conventional FeS2 powders, for example Pyrox Red 325 powder from Chemetall GmbH, are conventionally available with pH raising additives therein to offset or retard any buildup in acidity of the powder. Such additives are believed to contain calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Such calcium carbonate is added to the FeS2 powder to retard the formation of acidic impurities within or on the surface of the powder as it is stored in ambient air and exposed to oxygen and moisture. This is regardless of whether the FeS2 is intended for use in cathode mixtures or other applications, for example, as an additive in manufacture of car brakes.
The addition of pH raising additive such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or calcium carbonate containing compounds to the FeS2 powder, however, tends to cause agglomeration of the FeS2 particles when the FeS2 powder is stored in ambient air. Such agglomeration of the FeS2 powder can significantly interfere with attainment of the expected level of performance from Li/FeS2 cells. Also, the calcium carbonate or calcium carbonate containing compound additives has the disadvantage that such compounds get carried into the FeS2 cathode mixture. The calcium carbonate acts merely as an insulator within the cathode, that is, it is not electrochemically active and does not render the cathode more conductive. In other words the calcium carbonate takes up a certain amount of volume within the cathode that might otherwise be used for FeS2 active material. If calcium carbonate is admixed with FeS2 to raise pH it may typically comprise up to about 2.5 percent (maximum) by weight of the mixture. However, calcium carbonate is less dense than FeS2. The bulk density ratio of FeS2 to CaCO3 is about 1.66. That is, 2.5 grams of calcium carbonate has the same volume as 4.15 grams FeS2. Thus for every 2.5 grams of calcium carbonate present in the cathode there are 4.15 grams less FeS2 active material that can be included in the cathode.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,988 (Langan) is discussed the use of the combination of additives Li2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 which are mixed into the cathode of a nonaqueous cell. The Li2CO3 may comprise between about 0.5 to about 2 percent, preferably about 1 percent by weight of the cathode and the Ca(OH)2 may comprise between about 0.5 and 6 percent, preferably 1.3 percent by weight of cathode. The nonaqueous cell may have an active metal anode, for example, lithium metal (claim 4). Manganese dioxide is indicated as the preferred cathode active material for the nonaqueous cell. (col. 3, lines 14-15) The reference focuses on the nonaqueous cell having a lithium anode and cathode comprising principally manganese dixoide (Li/MnO2 cell) and adding the Li2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 to the manganese dioxide cathode. However, the reference also mentions that such nonaqueous cells may be employed with other cathode materials, for example, iron sulfide (theoretical discharge capacity of 893 mAh per gram) or copper oxide (theoretical discharge capacity of 674 mAh per gram). In any event the reference is specific that the cell is a nonaqueous cell. The nonaqueous cell employs an electrolyte which is composed of a salt dissolved in appropriate organic (nonaqueous solvent). (col. 1, lines 26-30). The reference teaches that when manganese dioxide is intended to be used as the cathode active material, the water present in the manganese dioxide can be first removed, by heating it in air or inert atmosphere at a temperature of about 350° C. for about 8 hours. (col. 4, lines 4-10) The reference indicates that the Li2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 may be mixed with the manganese dioxide by the "wet process", that is, in the presence of some water. In that case the mixture is subsequently dried by heating it at a temperature of between about 120° C. and 150° C. until sufficiently dry before the mixture is shaped into the desired cathode configuration. It is clear that the final cell containing the Li2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 cathode additive is a "nonaqueous" cell.
Accordingly, in the present invention it is desired to reduce the rate of buildup of acidic contaminants in the FeS2 powder and thus in effect to extend the storage life of the FeS2 without sacrificing electrochemical cathode capacity. It is desired to reduce the amount of pH raising additive, such as calcium carbonate, that acts merely as an insulator and takes up volume within the cathode, which could otherwise be used for additional FeS2 active material. But at the same time it is desired to add water to the electrolyte for the cell so that the cell is no longer considered a nonaqueous cell.
It is also desired to improve the method of forming the cathode for the Li/FeS2 cell, in particular to reduce the amount of acidic contaminants carried into the cell by the FeS2 powder.
It is desired to produce a primary (nonrechargeable) Li/FeS2 cell having good rate capability that the cell may be used in place of rechargeable batteries to power digital cameras.

Lithium cell with improved iron disulfide cathode


A medical signal processing device 6 receives a picture signal imaged by a medical observation device 2 and processes the picture signal. The medical signal processing device 6 includes: a signal input unit 61 that receives the picture signal; a first signal converting unit 62 that converts the picture signal received by the signal input unit 61 from an RGB signal into a luminance signal and a color difference signal by performing a matrix calculating process; an identification information appending unit 63 that appends color gamut identification information related to a color gamut of the picture signal and corresponding to the matrix calculating process, to the picture signal resulting from the conversion; and a signal output unit 64 that outputs the picture signal to which the color gamut identification information has been appended, to either a medical display device 4 or a medical recording device provided externally.

Conventionally, in medical fields, a medical observation system is known in which the inside of an examined subject such as a human being (the inside of a living body) is imaged so as to observe the inside of the living body (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
The medical observation system (an electronic endoscope device) described in Patent Literature 1 includes: a medical observation device (an endoscope) that images the inside of the living body and outputs a picture signal; a medical signal processing device (a processor device) that receives an input of the picture signal from the medical observation device, converts (hereinafter, "YC conversion") the picture signal from an RGB signal into a luminance signal and a color difference signal (a Y, CB/CR signal) and outputs the result of the conversion; and a medical display device (a monitor) that generates a display-purpose picture signal (an RGB signal) by converting (hereinafter, "RGB conversion") the picture signal (the Y, CB/CR signal) received as an input from the medical signal processing device from the Y, CB/CR signal into an RGB signal and further displays an image based on the picture signal (the RGB signal).
FIG. 12 is a table illustrating picture signals having a 4K resolution level and an 8K resolution level that are standardized by an international organization. FIG. 13 is a table illustrating picture parameters of picture signals having a High Definition (HD) level, a 4K resolution level, and an 8K resolution level that are standardized by an international organization. In the following description, the 4K resolution level and the 8K resolution level will simply be referred to as "4K" and "8K", respectively.
In FIG. 12, "Ultra-High Definition Television (UHDTV) 1" corresponds to a 4K picture signal, whereas "UHDTV2" corresponds to an 8K picture signal. Further, in FIG. 13, "UHDTV" corresponds to 4K and 8K picture signals, whereas "High Definition Television (HDTV)" corresponds to an HD picture signal.
Incidentally, in recent years, medical observation devices configured to output high-resolution picture signals of either 4K or 8K have been developed. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, transfer schemes used with such high-resolution picture signals are standardized by international organizations (e.g., Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU)).
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 13, for HD picture signals (see "HDTV" in FIG. 13), a standard defines that a calculation formula (see the items corresponding to "luminance signal" and "color difference signal" in FIG. 12) compliant with ITU-R BT.709 is to be used for a matrix calculating process in the YC conversion. Further, for 4K and 8K picture signals (see "UHDTV" in FIG. 13), a standard defines that a calculation formula (see the items corresponding to "luminance signal" and "color difference signal" in FIG. 13) compliant with ITU-R BT.2020 is to be used for a matrix calculating process in the YC conversion.
In this situation, although omitted from FIG. 13, the international organization defines that, for a 4K picture signal, it is also acceptable to use not only the calculation formula compliant with ITU-R BT.2020, but also the calculation formula compliant with ITU-R BT.709, for the matrix calculating process in the YC conversion.

Medical signal processing device, medical display device, and medical observation system involving appending color gamut identification information to the picture signal resulting from conversion


A method and apparatus for generating vibration based on sound characteristics in a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes converting audio data into an audio signal upon generation of a sound play request; determining whether to generate vibration based on a sound volume of the audio signal; setting an actuator to be driven for the audio signal among at least two actuators based on frequency distribution characteristics of the audio signal if it is determined upon determining to generate the vibration; and driving the actuator being set for the audio signal when outputting the audio signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for generating vibration in a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for generating vibration in a mobile terminal based on sound characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile terminal refers to an apparatus that allows a user to perform mobile communication. Mobile terminals typically provide a vibration function to inform the user of incoming call or message reception.
As mobile terminals have increasingly been implemented in the form of multimedia devices that provide composite functions, such as capturing of still or moving images, play of music or moving image files, games, and reception of broadcasting, vibration is used for various purposes as well as for indicating incoming call or a message reception. For example, a vibration function is provided in association with various functions, such that vibration may be generated when the user listens to music or plays a game with a mobile terminal.
However, conventional vibration functions in conventional mobile terminals merely focus on generating a monotonous vibration. Accordingly, various and dynamic vibrations cannot be generated in conventional mobile terminals.
Vibration in conventional mobile terminals may produce various resonance effects according to the arrangement and mounting position of an actuator. In the conventional mobile terminal, the actuator is mounted without consideration of the arrangement position of the actuator, and thus the resonance effect cannot be sufficiently provided to the user.

Apparatus and method for generating vibration based on sound characteristics


An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus includes: a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image on a receiver, a development station for applying toner particles to the latent image to form a developed toner image on the receiver, a fuser assembly for fixing the developed toner image to form a fused toner image on the receiver, and a transport member for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly. The transport member includes a substrate and an oil-absorbing layer that contains inorganic particles dispersed in an organic binder and is capable of absorbing release oil applied to the receiver bearing the fused toner image.

Electrostatographic printers produce images by transferring polymeric toner particles from a photoreceptor to a receiver and fixing the toner particles to the receiver with heat and pressure. Various additives and oils are used to aid the transfer of the particles. Silicone oil is commonly used as a release oil because it is thermally stable and incompatible with the toner particles and other polymers in the printer; unfortunately, however, it tends to spread throughout the machine as prints are made. Release oil spread is exacerbated by duplex printing, which entails the application of images to both sides of a receiver sheet. Oil provided to the receiver during application of the first image on one side of a receiver is carried into the printer on the paper transport web in the course of applying the second image to the opposite side, leading to objectionable image artifacts such as non-uniform density and differences in gloss. Details of fuser oil application are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,157,445 and 5,512,409, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Ink-jet printers produce images by ejecting droplets of ink onto receivers that absorb ink. Porous coatings of inorganic particles on the receivers improve the image quality by, for example, causing more rapid drying of the ink, reducing image spread, and producing more uniform ink coverage. Silica and alumina particles incorporated into binder polymers are used for coatings on paper and coatings on clear plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate sheets. While larger particles can be used to produce opaque coatings on paper substrates, smaller particles are required for coatings that are transparent in a binder, which is also desirably transparent and colorless. Microporous ink-jet recording elements prepared using psuedo-boehmite in organic polymer matrices are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,723,211; 5,605,750; 5,085,698; 4,879,166; and 4,780,356, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Pseudo-boehmite coatings have also been applied to the photoreceptors used in electrophotographic printing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,442, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes the incorporation of a nickel metallized dye into an overcoat of pseudo-boehmite to act as a filter to protect the light sensitive element. The inorganic particles and 5 wt. % of the metallized dye in a poly(vinylpyrrolidone) binder form a transparent layer that can be charged under a corona charger and discharged by exposure to actinide radiation.
The mitigation of objectionable image artifacts such as non-uniform density and differences in gloss that result from the spread of release oil from an imaged receiver into the reproduction apparatus, particularly during a duplex printing process, is provided by the present invention.

Electrostatographic apparatus having transport member with release oil-absorbing layer


A compound preparation for the treatment of hypogonadal men and men with hypophyseal diseases. This invention relates to compound preparations containing biogenous or synthetic androgens and biogenous or synthetic estrogens that are used for the treatment of imbalances of the testosterone metabolism in old age, of hypogonadal men, and of men with hypophyseal diseases. These compound preparations are present in various galenic formulations such as ointments, gels, sprays, TTS systems, tablets, lozenges, capsules, and suppositories. These preparations are used to treat the fluctuations of the testosterone metabolism occurring in old age and with certain diseases such as hypophyseal diseases (adenoma), hypogonadism and/or metabolic syndrome, to maintain the balance between androgens and estrogens found in young and healthy men in ill and/or elderly men as well. The preparations for treating these imbalances are suitable for oral, parenteral, percutaneous, sublingual or rectal administration depending on their galenic form. Thus, unphysiological changes in steroid-converting enzymes such as aromatases and reductases are avoided, which considerably improves the outcome of the therapy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compound preparations for oral, percutaneous, intranasal, rectal or parenteral application used in the treatment of hypogonadal men with or without metabolic syndrome and of men with hypophyseal diseases.
2. Prior Art
Various endocrine functions undergo changes in the course of the aging process. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels in the plasma diminishes in healthy persons as they get older (Rudman D(1985): Growth hormone, body composition, and aging. J Am Geriatr Soc 33: 800-807; Florini JR, Prinz PN, Vitiello MV, Hintz RL (1985): Somatomedin-C levels in healthy young and old men: Relationship to peak and 34-hour integrated levels of growth hormone. J. Gerontol 40: 2-7). The normal aging process in men is accompanied by a hypofunction of the testicles, in particular, by a decline in serum testosterone levels. At the same time, the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the plasma are increased (Tien-Chun Chang, Chin-Chia Tung, Yung-Lien Hsiao (1994): Hormonal changes in elderly men with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and the hormonal relationships to abdominal adiposity. Gerontology 40: 260-267).
The prevalence of specific diseases with or without a disturbed oral glucose tolerance increases parallel to these hormonal changes. Examples of this are the various forms of diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolaemia and other disorders of the lipid or lipoprotein metabolism, myocardial infarction, and Alzheimer's disease (Vermeulen A (1991): J. Clin Endocrinol Metab 73: 222). Quite frequently, the so-called metabolic syndrome is found in overweight elderly men which is accompanied by obesity, insulin or insulin receptor resistance, a testosterone deficit and a disproportionately high risk of cardiovascular diseases. There is a considerably increased mortality caused by cerebral or coronary ischaemia (McGovern PG et al. (1993): The role of stroke attack rate and case fatality in the decline of stroke mortality. The Minnesota Heart Survey. Ann Epidemiol. 3: 483-487; Hames CG et al. (1993): Black-white comparisons of 20-year coronary heart disease mortality in the Evans County Heart Study Cardiology 82: 122-136).
Patients with serum-testosterone levels that were regularly below 3.5 ng/ml in repeated tests are commonly called hypogonadal, and they are treated with appropriate androgens in a hormone replacement therapy.
Testosterone replacement may be carried out by oral, intramuscular or transdermal (e. g. transscrotal) application. It should be considered here that the testosterone itself may either become effective in specific target tissues by binding to a specific androgen receptor, or by being aromatized into estradiol or reduced to dihydrotestosterone, the effect of the testosterone therefore mainly depending on the extent of aromatization or reduction. Testosterone acts directly at the androgen receptor in specific organs such as the muscles, the skeleton and the testicles. In various peripheral tissues such as the external genitals, accessory sexual glands (e. g. the prostate) and the skin, however, testosterone has first to be reduced to 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone to develop its androgenic effect. 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone is about twice as active as testosterone. In other tissues such as fatty tissue and certain cerebral areas or cells, testosterone is aromatized into the female sex hormone, estradiol, and acts via the estrogen receptor.
3.0 to 10.0 ng/ml of total testosterone, 2% of which (0.06 to 0.2 ng/ml) present as uncombined, "free" testosterone, 0.25 to 0.75 ng/ml as 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone and <50 pg/ml as 17.beta.-estradiol has been measured in the blood of healthy young men (Ikuko Kato et al. (1992): Determinants of sex hormone levels in men as useful indices in hormone-related disorders. J. Clin Epidemiol. 45:1417-1421; Andersson SO et al. (1993): Serum pituitary and sex steroid hormone levels in the ethiology of prostatic cancer-a population-based case-control study. Br. J. Cancer 68: 97-102; Mikuma N et al. (1994): Role of the hypothalamic opioidergic system in the control of gonadotropin secretion in elderly men. Andrologia 26:39-45).
This well-balanced ratio between the parent substance, testosterone, and its two main metabolites, 17.beta.-estradiol and 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone is essential for maintaining the physiological equilibrium in males which in turn is responsible for the functioning of the protein, carbohydrate, and lipoprotein metabolisms as well as of the haemopoietic system including fibrinolysis, for the maintenance of the weight of bony and muscular tissue, the functions of the skin and liver, and several behavioural patterns. This illustrates that a disruption to this balance can entail certain states of disease.
Testosterone and estradiol can interact in a very complex way. Estradiol increases the concentration of androgen receptors in certain tissues, thus multiplying the androgenic effect (synergistic effect) while testosterone acts, for example, as an estradiol antagonist in the mammary glands of mice. In addition, androgens in breast cancer cell lines (MCF6 cells) can bind to the estrogen receptor and inhibit the estrogen-dependent progesterone receptor synthesis (antagonistic effect).
The degree to which estrogens are converted and thus the pharmacokinetic profile of the respective androgen can also be influenced by the way in which an androgen molecule is synthetically changed. The orally active 17.alpha.-alkylated androgens can only with difficulty, or not at all, be aromatized to estrogens. They lower the levels of HDL cholesterol, HDL.sub.2 cholesterol and of the apolipo-proteins, AI and AII. They cause an increase in total and LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, hepatic triglyceride lipase, and lipoprotein lipase levels. Unlike the 17.alpha.-alkylated androgens, testosterone esters such as testosterone enanthate only have a minor effect on total and LDL cholesterol levels, though they can cause a minor suppression of HDL cholesterol. This difference between 17.alpha.-alkylated and non-alkylated androgens (e. g. testosterone ester) is due to the capability of testosterone or its esters to be aromatized into estrogens. As is generally known, estrogens act contrary to androgens on LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.
In elderly men, however, the metabolic pattern of testosterone changes considerably, i.e. the balance mentioned above of testosterone, 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone and 17.beta.-estradiol is durably disturbed. This modifies the quantitative aspects of testosterone metabolism: more estrogens and less 5.alpha.-reduced metabolites are formed.
Aromatization into estradiol is especially increased in adipose men (De Ligniere B (1993) Transdermal dihydrotestosterone treatment of andropause, Ann Med 25: 235-241). If testosterone or its fatty acid ester is applied to hypogonadal men, a much greater portion is aromatized into estradiol than with healthy men. Estradiol levels in the plasma are increased by 70% after percutaneous application (Kuhn JM Laudat MH, Lignieres de B, Bricaire H. Lutaon JP (1986) Traitement androgenique percutane des hypogonadismes masculins. Efficacite comparee de la testosterone et de la dihydrotestosterone: etude de 40 observations. Contracept Fert Sex 14: 1031-1036). The estradiol levels in the plasma are even doubled after intramuscular injection (Tenover JS (1992) Effects of testosterone supplementation in the aging male. J. Clin Endocrinol Metab 75: 1092-1098). In many patients, this results in estradiol levels similar to those of women during the follicle phase. It is therefore not astonishing that the application of testosterone to hypogonadal, adipose men may cause a series of unwelcome effects such as triggering or intensification of gynaecomastia and a relative peripheral androgen deficit (decrease in libido, reduced size of the genitals, but also prostatic hyperplasia).
The exogenic supply of testosterone, e. g. of testosterone enanthate, to patients in which gonadal testosterone biosynthesis still works soon reversibly inhibits the endogenic testosterone production for a period of about 2 weeks (Humpel M. and Oettel M. (1994): Wertende Zusammenfassung Pharmakokinetik und Biotranformation von Testosteronenanthat beim Menschen). This has not been observed after applying estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or mesterolone (Oettel M. (1993) in: Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis vols. 7 and 8).
Furthermore, the reductive metabolism to the highly androgenic metabolite, 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone, may be disturbed in old age. Much less androgenic metabolites are formed as the 5.beta.-metabolization pattern is intensified rather than the 5.alpha.-metabolic pathway. As a consequence, androgens had to be applied in heavy doses (e. g. 400 to 600 mg testosterone undecanoate/day orally or 200 to 250 mg testosterone enanthate i. m. every 2 to 3 weeks) to achieve the desired androgenic effects. This inevitably increases estradiol levels with the unwelcome side effects mentioned above.
According to Yarnell JWG et al. 1993 (Arterioscl. Thromb. 13: 517-520), estradiol levels in the blood plasma are slightly increased in men with a severe ischaemic heart disease. This Caerphilly Prospective Study involved a total of 2161 healthy control persons aged from 45 to 59 years with estradiol levels in the plasma at 69+/-17 pg/ml (250+/-61 pmol/l), and 134 men of similar age suffering from severe ischaemic heart disease with levels at 71+/-19 pg/ml (257+/-69 pmol/l).
The advantages of estradiol at a low concentration are indispensable, though (as is the case when administering non-aromatizable dihydrotestosterone or one of its derivatives). These advantages include an improvement of cognitive performance, an increase in the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the inhibition of LDL cholesterol oxidation as an important step in atherogenesis, arterial dilatation and the associated improved blood flow through the tissue, and the inhibition of increased gonadotropin and inhibin levels (Harman SM. Blackman MR. (1994) Male menopause, myth or menace? Endocrinologist 4:212-217). Moreover, estradiol seems to prevent age-dependent transformation processes in proteohormones (Wide L. Maessen T. (1994) 17.beta.-Estradiol counteracts the formation of the more acidic isoforms of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone after menopause. Clin Endocronol 40: 783-789).
The efficiency of the unchanged testosterone is also clearly reduced in old age as the most important transport protein, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) binds testosterone much stronger through structural transformation processes. As a result, the portion of free, i.e. biologically active testosterone becomes smaller. 5.alpha.-Dihydrotestosterone and estradiol, unlike unchanged testosterone, do not show a significant decrease in old age (Vermeulen A. (1972) Testosterone secretion and metabolism in male senescence. J Clin Endocrinol 34: 730-735).
It is the object of the present invention to provide appropriate pharmaceutical formulations that can prevent the imbalances of testosterone metabolism in old age, in cases of hypophyseal diseases, hypogonadism and/or metabolic syndrome, thereby maintaining the balance of androgens and estradiol known from healthy young men in male senescence as well.

Compound preparation for the treatment of hypogonadal men and men with hypophyseal diseases


Examples include a computing system having a load balancer circuitry to assign data units to destinations using a hash function having a plurality of hash bins, each hash bin being associated with a destination. The computing system includes a hash adjuster to assign a destination to each of the plurality of hash bins, sample assignment of data units to hash bins by the load balancer circuitry over a sample window, analyze the sampled assignments, and reassign destinations to the hash bins based at least in part on the analyzed sampled assignments. This results in increased system performance in processing of the data units by the load balancer.

The field of invention relates generally to hashing functions in computing systems, and, more specifically, to systems and methods for improving distribution in hashing for a load balancer.
Hash functions generally work very well with a large uniform input distribution. However, a non-uniform input distribution and/or an input distribution with very few flows may result in poor binning. For example, when an error detecting code such as a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) is used as a hash function in a load balancer of a switch (e.g., to select a destination port/host), it can cause system performance problems with non-uniform input distributions. An example of a CRC used in load balancing operations is CRC32, an error-detecting function that uses a CRC32 algorithm to detect changes between source and target data. Non-uniform sequential input distributions are especially common in data centers where host computer servers are assigned sequential Media Access Control (MAC) or Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Very few flows can also result in poor binning even if the hash function manages non-uniform input distributions well. For example, for a load balancer with eight input flows and four destination ports there is a significant probability that at least one of the destination ports will be oversubscribed while at least one other destination port will be undersubscribed. This negatively affects system performance.

Software assisted hashing to improve distribution of a load balancer


A microwave tube system for use with a spacecraft telecommunication system is provided. The system includes a traveling wave tube subsystem, a high voltage converter subsystem, and a low voltage converter subsystem. The traveling wave tube subsystem includes a plurality of traveling wave tubes. The high voltage converter subsystem powers the traveling wave tube subsystem. The high voltage converter subsystem includes a plurality of high voltage converter members that are paired with the traveling wave tubes on a one-to-one basis. The low voltage converter subsystem is a central power conditioner subsystem including a plurality of low voltage power conditioners that are connected in parallel to one another. A common power output of the central power conditioner subsystem is received by the high voltage converter members which in turn power the traveling wave tubes that are paired with the high voltage converters. Such configured central power conditioner subsystem requires less circuitry and fewer low voltage power conditioners thereby resulting in lower spacecraft weight and volume.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to power converters and, more particularly, to traveling wave tube amplifier electronic power conditioners.
2. Description of the Related Art
In satellite communications, multiple carrier frequencies are separately amplified by individual high power amplifiers such as traveling wave tube (TWT) radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. A traveling wave tube amplifier is a microwave device that contains a vacuum tube known as a traveling wave tube. In general, a TWT amplifies an RF signal inputted to the device after the signal is received by a receiver of the satellite and demultiplexed through a demultiplexer. The amplified RF signal may then be multiplexed and transmitted through a transmitter. Several voltages must be supplied to the TWT to make it perform its amplification function. TWTs on a satellite are usually integrated with a number of power converters or power conditioners that accept a single voltage from a power bus or a power source and generate the various voltages required for the TWT.
The assembly consisting of the various power supplies and their control circuitry is sometimes called an Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC). An EPC usually contains equal number of high voltage and low voltage converters and their related circuitry. Further, an assembly consisting of a TWT and its EPC is called a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA). Historically, EPCs have been designed as singles to provide power to one TWT, or as duals to provide power to two TWTs. With the increasing power capability of spacecraft, over a hundred TWTAs can advantageously be put on a commercial communication satellite. However, one problem with this approach is the amount of EPC circuitry that every single TWT requires and the high cost of deploying such weight into outer space.
In general, the deployment cost of a spacecraft depends significantly on the spacecraft weight and volume. Weight of a spacecraft, in turn, depends partially on the amount of the power conditioning circuitry in the EPCs that needs to be distributed over the available surface area of the spacecraft. Increasing the number of TWTAs increases the spacecraft weight and the volume needed for containing the EPC circuitry. An increase in spacecraft weight and volume leads to increased spacecraft costs. Thus, there are drawbacks in the conventional systems using multiple TWTAs in a spacecraft. Conventional, multiple TWTA systems increase spacecraft weight and require an undesirably large amount of prime surface area especially for EPC circuitry.
In light of the foregoing, a need therefore exists in the current spacecraft technology for a method that reduces the amount of power conditioning circuitry while maintaining the ability to meet multiple TWT specific requirements.
In one aspect of the present invention, a microwave tube system for use with a spacecraft telecommunication system comprises a microwave tube subsystem, a first voltage converter subsystem electrically connected to and powers the microwave tube system, and a second voltage converter subsystem electrically connected to the first voltage converter subsystem. The microwave tube subsystem includes a plurality of microwave tubes. The first voltage converter subsystem includes a plurality of first voltage converter members. The plurality of the microwave tube members are paired with the plurality of the first voltage converter members on a one-to-one basis through an output connector of the first voltage converter members. The second voltage converter subsystem includes a plurality of second converter members connected in parallel to one another and a first predetermined power output of the second converter subsystem powers the first voltage converter subsystem.
In another aspect of the present invention, a power system for use with a traveling wave tube amplifier system on a spacecraft comprises a power controller, a low voltage converter unit, a high voltage converter unit, and a traveling wave tube unit. The power controller regulates a first power output from a first power supply, such as a solar array, and transforms the first power output into a regulated power output. The low voltage converter unit receives the regulated power output and converts the regulated power output into a first predetermined power output. The low voltage converter unit comprises a first number of low voltage converter members connected in parallel to one another. The high voltage converter unit comprises a second predetermined number of high voltage converter members electrically connected to the low voltage converter unit. The second predetermined number is higher than the first predetermined number. Each of the high voltage converter members receives the first predetermined power output of the low voltage converter unit and generates a high voltage power output for one TWT. There are a plurality of traveling wave tube members. The tube members are paired with the high voltage converter members on a one-to-one basis such that the high voltage output of one of the high voltage members is received by one of the traveling wave tube members. The number of pairs equals the second predetermined number.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

Multiple traveling wave tube amplifier electronic power conditioner with centralized low voltage and distributed high voltage


Terminal equipment has mounted thereon a wireless module including a communication device having a transmission and reception antenna for connection to a wireless network and includes a first antenna unit which is connected to the transmission and reception antenna physically or spatially and a second antenna unit which is connected to the first antenna unit and transmits and receives radio signals directly to and from the wireless network such that not only communication quality is upgraded, but a radio signal reach distance between the terminal equipment and the wireless network is extended.

Recently, the use of a wireless LAN (local area network) has expanded rapidly thanks to its convenience of requiring no connection cable. Thus, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-107369 (1996), the wireless LAN attracts wide attention not only for its use as a so-called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) connection, but its use as an audio and video transmission interface. Meanwhile, at present, the frequency used in the wireless LAN is shifting from a 2.4 GHz-band to a 5 GHz-band which enables higher-capacity transmission.
Hereinafter, conventional terminal equipment provided with a wireless interface is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a schematic fragmentary side sectional view of the conventional terminal equipment provided with the wireless interface and FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear portion of the conventional terminal equipment of FIG. 5. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the conventional terminal equipment includes a wireless module 10, a printed circuit board 4 and a housing 5 having a rear panel formed with a slot 9 for fitting the wireless module 10 thereinto. The wireless module 10 further includes a wireless module body 1, a communication means such as a built-in antenna 2 which is provided at one end portion of the wireless module body 1 so as to transmit and receive radio signals to and from a wireless network to be connected to the terminal equipment and a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) connector 3 which is provided at the other end portion of the wireless module body 1 so as to be connected to the terminal equipment when the wireless module 10 has been fitted into the slot 9 of the housing 5. As shown in FIG. 6, when the wireless module 10 has been fitted into the slot 9 of the rear panel of the housing 5, the built-in antenna 2 of the wireless module 10 is projected out of the slot 9 on a rear face of the housing 5.
The operation of the conventional terminal equipment provided with the wireless interface, which has the above described arrangement, is now described. A modulated wave transmitted from the wireless network to be connected to the terminal equipment is received by the built-in antenna 2 provided on the wireless module 10 and is converted into a baseband signal after its demodulation in the wireless module 10. Thereafter, via the PCMCIA connector 3 provided on the printed circuit board 4 of the terminal equipment, the baseband signal is subjected to processing based on a predetermined protocol by a signal processing circuit formed on the printed circuit board 4 of the terminal equipment and is converted into desired digital data. At the time of transmission from the terminal equipment to the wireless network, the operation is performed in the reverse sequence of the above-mentioned one.
However, in the conventional terminal equipment referred to above, since the wireless module 10 is fitted into the slot 9 of the rear panel of the housing 5 of the terminal equipment, transmission and reception radio waves are likely to be intercepted by the housing 5 when the terminal equipment performs transmission and reception with the wireless network. Meanwhile, the conventional terminal equipment has disadvantages in that since the increase in gain of the built-in antenna 2 and the transmission power of the wireless module 10 are limited by the physical and electrical restraints of the PCMCIA interface, it is difficult to secure communication quality and extend a radio signal reach distance between the terminal equipment and the wireless network.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A construction member includes a composite material offering strength and functionality. Embodiments of the present invention include a thermoplastic composite for use in applications such as decking, exterior siding, seating and furniture. In one embodiment, a structural member includes a glass-reinforced PVC core surrounded by a thermoplastic layer that further includes a thermoplastic with elastomer thermofoamed layer as a exterior layer. All three components can be extruded and bond together to form a composite material that offers appropriate structural strength with resistance to heating from sunlight.

Various materials have previously been used to form decking surfaces, including natural materials such as wood, as well as synthetic materials, such as plastic. Although wood is often used, in many weather climates it requires maintenance that owners find burdensome and/or expensive. This has resulted in the increased use of other materials to avoid such up-keep, including plastic decking.
Although some plastic decking offers the advantage of less maintenance and up-keep, one problem associated with plastic decking materials is that the material can undergo relatively significant amounts of thermal expansion and contraction, which can be expressed in the form of warping. In addition to being unsightly, warped decking can pose a serious tripping hazard.
Both wood and plastic decking materials can also become too hot to be traversed by people that are not wearing shoes or other footwear. Since decking is used for outdoor all-weather surfaces, it is often placed in and around gathering places where people are occupied with outdoor activities, and many times, such activities are preferably undertaken by people in their bare feet. As people commonly know, it is often painful to walk on exposed outdoor decking because it is too hot.
With regard to artificial deck planking, some non-wood decking materials include multiple pieces that are assembled to form a single plank. For example, a top is snapped on to a base. Among other things, for these configurations the construction step requires assembling the pieces that can be more time consuming than installing a plank that is a single integral member.
Accordingly, among other things, it would be advantageous to provide a decking material that requires relatively less maintenance and up-keep than does natural wood decking. In addition, it would advantageous to provide a decking material that does not detrimentally warp and that maintains an acceptable surface temperature for traversing in one's bare feet. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide a decking material that is made in standardized construction dimensions for ease of use. It would also be advantageous to provide a planking material that is a single integral unit and does not require assembly. Finally, it would be advantageous to provide a construction material that has application for a number of different uses, including outdoor furniture, exterior siding for buildings, play sets, railings, and/or any other surface potentially contacting skin or otherwise needing to maintain an acceptable temperature upon exposure to the sun.
Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate a patent, publication or invention by another by virtue of prior invention.

Composite decking material and methods associated with the same


This invention proposes an autonomous interaction decision support apparatus to provide the operator of an e-commerce business with a recommendation of which received orders to perform. The apparatus autonomously tracks situational information comprising the existing level of work of the e-business, for each of multiple products and/or services offered by the business, and also a desired level of work. In this way, the recommendation protects both the reputation of the business and achieves work-life balance for the business owner.

In recent years, electronic commerce (e-Commerce) has grown at a rapid pace. Many customers purchase merchandise and services from online stores. This has created demand for an increasing number of online stores, which are typically small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owned by individuals or small partnerships. In an e-Commerce environment where customers and business owners do not know each other or meet up face-to-face, there is always the concern about the reliability of the online stores in fulfilling their contractual obligations. Many e-Commerce systems have implemented reputation mechanisms for customers to rate online stores based on their past transaction experience. The reputation of a store has now become an important social capital that can make or break an online store in an e-Commerce environment.
The majority of customers, who are not malicious, rate their experience with an e-Commerce online store according to two main categories of concerns: 1) the quality of the merchandise/service received, and 2) the time taken for the merchandise/service to be received. In general, the higher the quality and the shorter the delivery time, the better the customer rating for the online store will be. For the owner of an online store, the higher the reputation of the store, the more business he/she will likely receive over the long run. If these future orders can be fulfilled with high quality and in short periods of time, the reputation of the store will grow further, resulting in even more businesses, and vice versa.
Many methods for computing the reputation of an entity have been proposed (e.g., EP2365461A3, WO2007143314A3, US20120310831A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,112,515B2, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). Methods for assessing the reputation risk facing an online entity (e.g., US20110106578A1 and US20060116898A1) have also been disclosed, but these take into account only some of the issues facing an online store owner.
One important challenge facing online store owners as a result of the use of reputation as a social capital has emerged: the difficulty for online store owners to achieve work-life balance during the process of managing their businesses. Typically, the online stores are short staffed (most stores are one-man operations). The store owners are often overly focused on maximizing their revenue. As the business volumes grow with their reputations, they have to sacrifice more of their personal time to fulfill the orders with good quality and as fast as possible. According to an online survey in 2012 , "work out more" and "work less" ranked Number 4 and Number 5 respectively on the list of top goals for small business owners in the US. However, 33% of them did not achieve these goals in 2011 and 22% gained weight as a result. In China, the situation has resulted in tragic outcomes with reports of sellers on Taobao, China's largest e-Commerce system, who died of exhaustion related illnesses.

Method and apparatus for algorithmic control of the acceptance of orders by an e-Commerce enterprise


Each of a number of resonator masses is split into two separate lobes or masses joined together by a short flexure. The short flexure allows the separate lobes or masses to rotate slightly as they resonate so as to substantially relieve longitudinal stresses in certain resonator structures.

Micromachined structures, particularly gyroscopes, often require a mass suspended by flexures to move a distance which is large compared with the flexure width. Then, as well as the lateral movement, the flexure is also stretched longitudinally which, if unrelieved, makes the stiffness much larger. Such a structure generally has an ill-defined resonant frequency and is therefore unsuitable for making accurate measurements. Longitudinal tension can be relieved by transverse flexures at the ends of the primary flexures or by folding the primary flexures, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,855. These solutions are not suitable when it is necessary to stiffly constrain the mass in the longitudinal direction. Then, pairs of pivoted levers can be used as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,511.

Micromachined apparatus with split vibratory masses