Provided is a method for creating fluid motion of an electro-sensitive movable fluid upon application of direct-current-voltage between two electrodes adjacent the fluid, the fluid having a conductivity "sgr", and a viscosity xcex7 located inside a triangle in a graph showing a relation between a conductivity "sgr" plotted as abscissa, and a viscosity xcex7, plotted as ordinate, of a fluid at the working temperature, said triangle having, as vertices, a point P indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=4xc3x9710xe2x88x9210 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x97100 Paxc2x7s, a point Q indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=4xc3x9710xe2x88x9210 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x9710xe2x88x924 Paxc2x7s, and a point R indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=5xc3x9710xe2x88x926 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x9710xe2x88x924 Paxc2x7s.

The present invention relates to electro-sensitive movable fluids which flow by application of a direct-current-voltage, methods of using the movable fluids and motors using the movable fluids.
It is known that the characteristics of certain kinds of dielectric fluids vary when the dielectric fluids are subjected to electric fields. In case of liquid crystals, for example, when a voltage is applied to liquid crystal compounds in a liquid crystal phase (i.e., intermediate phase between a solid phase and a liquid phase), orientation properties of the compounds are controlled to thereby adjust light transmittance of the compounds, whereby visible images are formed. However, even if the liquid crystal compounds regulated by the orientation plates are placed in electric fields, they cannot flow freely because they are not liberated from the regulation.
Also, some fluids are known to exert an effect of variation of properties such as viscosity (electrical rheology effect or Winslow Effect).
The fluids exerting electrical rheology effect or Wien effect are generally colloidal dispersions wherein solid components, such as silica gel, cellulose, casein and polystyrene ion exchange resins, are mixed with insulating oils and dispersed in the oils, so that the storage stability of such fluids is low.
As lubricating oils for automobiles, those exhibiting electrical rheology effect have been proposed, but such lubricating oils are also heterogeneous and have a problem of low storage stability.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. 57274/1994 and No. 73390/1994, inventions of electrosensitive compositions wherein insulating oils are blended with specific fluorine compounds are disclosed.
The compositions disclosed in those publications are mixtures of insulating oils and fluorine compounds, and therefore they have a problem in the storage stability. Additionally, there is a worldwide tendency to avoid the use of fluorine compounds in recent years.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electro-sensitive movable fluid which flows upon application of a direct-current-voltage, a method of using the movable fluid and a motor using the movable fluid.
More particularly, the object of the invention is to provide an electro-sensitive movable fluid, wherein jet flow is induced by the electric energy of a direct-current-voltage applied to the movable fluid, said jet flow of the movable fluid being able to be taken out as mechanical energy such as rotational energy.
It is another object of the invention to provide an energy conversion method using the electro-sensitive movable fluid wherein the electric energy of a direct-current-voltage applied to the movable fluid is converted to energy in the other form.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel motor using the electro-sensitive movable fluid.
The electro-sensitive movable fluid of the invention comprises a compound having a conductivity "sgr" and a viscosity xcex7 located inside a triangle in a graph showing a relation between a conductivity "sgr", plotted as abscissa, and a viscosity xcex7, plotted as ordinate, of a fluid at the working temperature, said triangle having, as vertexes, a point P indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=4xc3x9710xe2x88x9210 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x97100 Paxc2x7s, a point Q indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=4xc3x9710xe2x88x9210 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x9710xe2x88x924 Paxc2x7s, and a point R indicated by the conductivity "sgr"=5xc3x9710xe2x88x926 S/m and the viscosity xcex7=1xc3x9710xe2x88x924 Paxc2x7s, or comprises a mixture of two or more kinds of compounds, said mixture being adjusted to have a conductivity "sgr" and a viscosity xcex7 located inside said triangle.
The electro-sensitive movable fluid may be an inorganic compound or an organic compound. When the electro-sensitive movable fluid is an organic compound, this organic compound preferably is a chain or branched, substantially dielectric fluid compound containing molecular end group composed of alkyl groups, outer ends of said groups inactivated by hydrogen atoms bonding to the carbon atoms, said molecular end groups being united by bonding to each other at the inner ends,
in which the bonding hand of each carbon atom for constituting the end groups with the sealed ends is bonded to at least one hetero atom and further linked to a straight-chain divalent hydrocarbon group, which may have a hetero atom and may have a branch, through the hetero atom, or is bonded to a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom or may have a branch.
When a voltage is applied between at least two electrodes arranged in the electro-sensitive movable fluid of the invention, the electro-sensitive movable fluid can be moved in the direction of one electrode to the other electrode.
Further, using the electro-sensitive movable fluid, the electric energy can be converted to energy of other form by a method comprising the steps of arranging at least one pair of electrodes in the electro-sensitive movable fluid, applying a voltage between the electrodes to form jet flow of the electro-sensitive movable fluid at a velocity corresponding to the applied electric energy, and converting fluid energy of the jet flow of the electro-sensitive movable fluid to mechanical energy capable of being taken out. In this case, the energy conversion using the electro-sensitive movable fluid can be controlled by a method comprising the steps of arranging at least one pair of electrodes in a container filled with the electro-sensitive movable fluid, applying a direct-current-voltage between the electrodes to convert electric energy to fluid energy of the electro-sensitive movable fluid by changing the applied direct-current-voltage in a range of 0.1 V to 10 kV to control the flow velocity and the flow direction of the electro-sensitive movable fluid in proportion to the applied direct-current-voltage, and converting the fluid energy of the movable fluid to mechanical energy capable of being taken out.
The first motor for electro-sensitive movable fluid (referred to as xe2x80x9cRE type ECF motorxe2x80x9d hereinafter, ECF: electro-conjugated fluid), which is preferably employed for the energy conversion, includes a container to be filled with an electro-sensitive movable fluid, a lid to close the container by being engaged with the open top of the container, a cylindrical rotor rotatable inside the fluid container around a rotating shaft borne by a shaft hole provided at the center of the lid and a bearing section provided at the center of the bottom of the container, plural first electrodes which are electrically connected with external electrode terminals through the rotating shaft at the upper part of the cylindrical rotor and arranged in the vertical direction on the surface of the cylindrical rotor, and second electrodes which are electrically connected with external electrode terminals through the rotating shaft at the lower part of the cylindrical rotor and arranged in non-contact with the first electrodes and in the vertical direction on the surface of the cylindrical rotor. The electro-sensitive movable fluid of the invention can drive the second motor for electro-sensitive movable fluid (referred to as xe2x80x9cSE type ECF motorxe2x80x9d hereinafter) other than the RE type ECF motor. The SE type ECF motor includes a cylindrical container to be filled with the electro-sensitive movable fluid, a lid of the container and a vane rotor, vanes of which detect motion of the movable fluid induced by application of a voltage to thereby rotate the rotor. The cylindrical container is provided with slits where the electrodes are arranged, and from the slits at least one pair of electrodes extend along the inner wall surface of the container.
As described above, the RE type ECF motor includes a container to be filled with an electro-sensitive movable fluid, a lid to close the container by being engaged with the open top of the container, a cylindrical rotor rotatable inside the container around a rotating shaft borne by a shaft hole provided at the center of the lid and a bearing section provided at the center of the bottom of the container, plural first electrodes which are electrically connected with first external electrode terminals through the rotating shaft at the upper part of the cylindrical rotor and arranged in the vertical direction on the surface of the cylindrical rotor, and second electrodes which are electrically connected with second external electrode terminals through the rotating shaft at the lower part of the cylindrical rotor and arranged in non-contact with the first electrodes and in the vertical direction on the surface of the cylindrical rotor. In the case of this motor, when a direct-current-voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, jet flow of the electro-sensitive movable fluid is produced in the fluid container, whereby the rotor can be rotated together with the electrodes.
When a certain kind of dielectric fluid (i.e., xe2x80x9celectro-sensitive movable fluidxe2x80x9d of the invention) is subjected to an electric field, an electric force is generated in the fluid owing to the nonuniformity of electric conductivity and dielectric constant inside the fluid. In the direct current field, the Coulomb force acting on space charge dominates the dielectrophoretic force. The Coulomb force causes hydrodynamic instability, resulting in occurrence of convection of the electro-sensitive movable fluid or a secondary motion of the fluid. These phenomena are called xe2x80x9celetrohydrodynamic (EHD) effectsxe2x80x9d.
The present inventors have found that the electric energy can be readily converted to mechanical energy utilizing the EHD effects and succeeded in specifying a dielectric fluid capable of exerting the EHD effects. That is, the electro-sensitive movable fluid of the invention inherently is a dielectric fluid, but when the movable fluid is subjected to an electric field, electric current is brought about, though it is very small. When a direct-current-voltage is applied to the electro-sensitive movable fluid as described above, the movable fluid is moved owing to the EHD effects, whereby jet flow of the movable fluid is generated. The intensity (or rate) of the jet flow varies with the applied direct-current-voltage. Therefore, when the motion (jet flow) of the electro-sensitive movable fluid is captured and taken out, the electric energy can be utilized as mechanical energy transformed from the electric energy.
The present inventors consider that the motion of the electro-sensitive movable fluid in the invention is owing to the EHD effects. This means that the present inventors consider that the phenomenon occurring in the invention can be related with the xe2x80x9cEHD effectsxe2x80x9d, but they do not conclude that the phenomenon occurring in the invention is owing to the xe2x80x9cEHD effectsxe2x80x9d.

Method of using electro-sensitive movable fluids


2-propylidene-19-nor-vitamin D compounds are disclosed as well as pharmaceutical uses for these compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. These compounds are characterized by high bone calcium mobilization activity and high intestinal calcium transport activity. This results in novel therapeutic agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of diseases where bone formation is desired, particularly osteoporosis, as well as autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and lupus. These compounds also exhibit pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis. These compounds also increase both breaking strength and crushing strength of bones evidencing use in conjunction with bone replacement surgery such as hip and knee replacements.

The present invention relates to vitamin D compounds, and more particularly, to 2-alkylidene-19-nor-vitamin D analogs having a substituted propylidene moiety at carbon-2, pharmaceutical uses for such analogs, and a general method for chemically synthesizing such analogs.
The natural hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analog in the ergosterol series, i.e. 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 are known to be highly potent regulators of calcium homeostasis in animals and humans, and more recently their activity in cellular differentiation has been established, Ostrem et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 2610 (1987). Many structural analogs of these metabolites have been prepared and tested, including 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1α-hydroxyvitamin D2, various side chain homologated vitamins and fluorinated analogs. Some of these compounds exhibit an interesting separation of activities in cell differentiation and calcium regulation. This difference in activity may be useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases such as renal osteodystrophy, vitamin D-resistant rickets, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and certain malignancies.
In 1990, a new class of vitamin D analogs was discovered, i.e. the so called 19-nor-vitamin D compounds, characterized by the replacement of the ring A exocyclic methylene group (carbon 19), typical of the vitamin D system, by two hydrogen atoms. Biological testing of such 19-nor-analogs (e.g., 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3) revealed a selective activity profile with high potency in inducing cellular differentiation, with very low calcium mobilizing activity. Thus, these compounds are potentially useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignancies, or the treatment of various skin disorders. Two different methods of synthesis of such 19-nor-vitamin D analogs have been described (Perlman et al., Tetrahedron Letters 31, 1823 (1990); Perlman et al., Tetrahedron Letters 32, 7663 (1991), and DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,191). Few years later, analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3 substituted at the 2-position of its A-ring with hydroxy or alkoxy groups (DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,713) were synthesized. It has been established that they exhibit interesting and selective activity profiles. All these studies indicate that binding sites in vitamin D receptors can accommodate different substituents at C-2 in the synthesized vitamin D analogs.
In a continuing effort to explore the 19-nor class of pharmacologically important vitamin D compounds, analogs which are characterized by the transposition of the ring A exocyclic methylene group from carbon 10 (C-10) to carbon 2 (C-2), i.e. 2-methylene-19-nor-vitamin D compounds have been recently synthesized and tested (Sicinski et al., J. Med. Chem., 41, 4662 (1998); Sicinski et al., Steroids 67, 247 (2002); DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,843,928, 5,936,133 and 6,382,071). Molecular mechanics studies, performed on these analogs, showed that a change of ring-A conformation can be expected resulting in the "flattening" of the cyclohexanediol ring. From molecular mechanics calculations and NMR studies their A-ring conformational equilibrium was established to be ca. 6:4 in favor of the conformer that has an equatorial 1α-OH. Introduction of the 2-methylene group into 19-nor-vitamin D carbon skeleton thus changes the character of its (1α- and 3β-) A-ring hydroxyls; they are both now in the allylic positions, similarly, as the 1α-hydroxyl group (crucial for biological activity) in the molecule of the natural hormone, 1α,25-(OH)2D3. It was found that 1α,25-dihydroxy-2-methylene-19-norvitamin D analogs are characterized by significant biological potency, enhanced dramatically in compounds with "unnatural" (20S)-configuration.
Very recently, 2-ethylidene analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3 have been synthesized. Such modification of the ring A results in significant biological potency for the compounds, especially enhanced in the E-geometrical isomers, Sicinski et al., J. Med. Chem., 45, 3366 (2002). Interestingly, it has been established that E-isomers have their A-ring conformational equilibrium considerably shifted to one particular chair form, that possessing 1α-hydroxyl in an equatorial orientation.


A geo-energy production system and method extracts thermal energy from a reservoir formation, and stores either thermal waste heat or excess heat in a storage zone of the reservoir formation. A compressed fluid injection injects an unheated, compressed working fluid into the storage zone. A fluid injection well injects a working fluid laden with thermal waste heat or excess heat into the storage zone. The storage zone is located below a caprock layer and above a native brine zone of the reservoir formation and is partially circumscribed by a hot brine storage zone. The compressed working fluid assists with a withdrawal of pressurized brine residing below and/or to the sides of the storage zone. A compressed CO2, N2, or air production well helps to remove compressed working fluid from the storage zone for use in power production.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Climate change mitigation requires a range of measures to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. Two of the most important measures include increasing reliance on technologies that generate electricity from renewable resources and reducing the CO2, intensity of fossil energy use. Despite providing reliable and predictable power, geothermal resources are underutilized relative to their vast resource potential. Challenges that have heretofore limited geothermal deployment include (1) the cost and risk of prospecting and well drilling, (2) parasitic power cost of fluid recirculation, and (3) geographically limited range of geologic settings amenable to the current generation of hydrothermal geothermal power systems. Geologic CO2 storage (GCS) has received considerable attention as a means of reducing the CO2 intensity of fossil-energy systems. But the high cost of supplying CO2 by capturing it from exhaust streams requires valuable uses for CO2 to justify those costs.
Wind and solar are renewable energy sources with enormous resource potential. However, such energy sources are difficult to predict and are temporally variable, both diurnally and seasonally. Until major advances in both thermal energy storage (TES) and bulk energy storage (BES) technology are commercialized, wind and solar energy technologies will require back-up, load-following, and peaking power sources, which often emit a significant quantity of CO2. The temporal nature of the major renewable power sources (primarily wind and solar, and in some instances, hydro) may also result in costly power curtailments to other low-CO2 power sources (e.g., nuclear power plants). These drawbacks are setbacks in attempts to mitigate climate change. To effectively meet goals for reduced CO2 emissions, integrating electricity generated from wind and solar resources into power grids requires that their diurnal and seasonal variability and unpredictability be addressed with minimal reliance on CO2-intensive back-up and grid-stabilizing (e.g., load-following) power sources, and without displacing other low-CO2 power sources.
Still further, there is continuing interest in maximizing the efficiency and utility of geo-thermal energy systems. In one sense, the Earth itself may be viewed as potentially forming an exceedingly large, ready-made energy recovery/storage device or reservoir.

Multi-fluid renewable geo-energy systems and methods

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


Apparatus 10 for a golf swing training device comprising a golf club 20 with a shaft 24 with a grip 22 at one end and a club head 26 at the other end of the shaft with a cup 12 attached to the face 14 of the club head with the cup opening on the front towards the intended target. The bore of the cup 12 conforms substantially to the diameter of the ball 28. In use, a ball 28 is placed in the cup 12 with the intention of releasing the ball from the cup at a desired point during the swing at a target. In practice, if during the back swing the cup 12 is incorrectly tilted, due to poor swing mechanics, the ball 28 will fall out. Also, if the bore of the cup 12 is not in alignment with the target line at the ball's 28 point of release the ball trajectory will be skewed from the target. As an additional element, the cup 12 can have a circumferential ridge 40 on the interior to impede the ball 28 from easily falling out and the cup can be removably attached at 36, 38 to the club face 14.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides a golf swing training device comprising a shaft with a grip at one end and a club head at the other end of the shaft with a cup attached to the face of said club head with the cup opening on the front towards the intended target. The bore of the cup conforms substantially to the diameter of the ball. In use, a ball is placed in the cup with the intention of releasing the ball from the cup at a desired point during the swing at a target.
In practice, if during the back swing the cup is incorrectly tilted, due to poor swing mechanics, the ball will fall out. Also, if the bore of the cup is not in alignment with the target line at the ball's point of release the ball trajectory will be skewed from the target.
The present invention provides a golf swing training device that helps the golfer develop a back swing along the correct swing plane, at a slow pace, while rotating the hands properly thus keeping the ball from falling out of the cup.
The present invention provides a golf swing training device that promotes the correct extension and rotation of the hands along the target line, during the down swing, leading to a proper finish.
If the down swing is done correctly the ball will leave the cup at the bottom of the swing and fly directly down the target line in a manner that is predictable and repeatable. Any swing other than a correct swing will cause the ball to go left, right, lower or higher of the target line.
As an additional element the cup can have a circumferential ridge on the interior to impede the ball from easily falling out and the cup can be removably attached to the club head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other golf club devices designed for training. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 2,057,821 issued to Costello on Oct. 20, 1936.
Another patent was issued to Costello on Oct. 5, 1937 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,094,766. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,044 was issued to Sloan on Dec. 9, 1952 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 24, 1964 to Sabia as U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,206.
Another patent was issued to Swan on Jul. 13, 1965 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,564. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,198 was issued to Kanavas on Feb. 13, 1979. Another was issued to Faust on Oct. 31, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,251 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 16, 1990 to Colucci as U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,927.
Another patent was issued to Watkins on Apr. 30, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,153. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,962 was issued to Lin on Oct. 4, 1994. Still yet another patent was issued on Oct. 15, 2002 to Belding as U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,594. Another was issued to Jenkinson on Jun. 23, 1971 as U.K. Patent No. GB1236982 and still yet another was issued on Sep. 5, 1994 to Iriarte, et al. as Canadian Patent No. CA 2,116,891.


The present invention relates to a broadband non-resonant antenna device for wireless transmission of information using electromagnetic signals, comprising a metal sheet layer, forming a plane, with a slotline that comprises a first part and a second part. The side of the second part that is the most distant from the first part transcends into a widening open-ended tapered slot in the metal sheet layer. The device additionally comprises a feeding line in the metal sheet layer. The feeding line comprises a feeding part, with a first end and a second end, and gaps separating the feeding part from the surrounding metal sheet layer by a certain distance, where the slotline is intersected by the feeding line.

In systems for wireless transmission of information using electromagnetic signals, for example radar and cellular telephony or some other telecommunication area, there is a strong need for efficient antennas, both single antennas and group or array antennas. For different applications, different types of antennas with different properties are desired. For many applications, broadband properties are desired.
When an antenna element is used in an array, i.e. when a number of antenna elements are placed in a horizontal row or a vertical column, the antenna element may be fed with varying phase, which results in that the main lobe of the array antenna radiation pattern may be directed in different directions along the array. A two-dimensional array may also be used, where a number of antenna elements are placed in horizontal rows and vertical columns. The elements may then be fed with varying phase along both the horizontal rows and the vertical columns allowing the main lobe of the array antenna radiation pattern to be directed in different horizontal and vertical directions along the array. These "steerable" arrays are also called phased arrays.
Antenna elements may also be arranged in orthogonally arranged pairs, radiating in orthogonal directions. These antennas are called dual polarized antennas. An array antenna may thus be dual polarized if it consists of an equal amount of orthogonally arranged pairs of antenna elements. One reason for using a dual polarized antenna is that so-called polarisation diversity is desired. Polarisation diversity is for example desired when there is a risk that the antenna signal is reflected in such a way that the main signal and the reflected signal have opposite phases at the point of reception, causing the signal to fade out. If two polarizations are used, the risk of fading decreases as both polarizations would have to fade at the same time.
One kind of non-resonant antenna element which typically is used when a wide broadband performance is desired, i.e. when a performance over a wide frequency span is desired, is the so-called notch antenna, which is a kind of a so-called end-fire element. Also, when used in an array antenna, the use of notch antenna elements allows the array antenna to be directed to scan wide angles. Especially, the use of a tapered notch antenna element is preferred, which basically comprises a slot in a metal layer, which slot widens as it approaches an edge of the metal layer.
One special kind of a tapered notch antenna element is the so-called Vivaldi notch antenna element, which may be used alone or in an array.
A typical tapered notch antenna element may be formed on a first copper-clad substrate, for example a PTFE-based substrate, where the copper on one side, the feeding side, has been etched away but for a single feeding microstrip line. On the other side of the substrate, a slot is formed in the copper, which slot starts to widen as it approaches an edge of the substrate, forming a tapered slot. The tapering is typically represented by an exponential form. The microstrip feeding line passes the slot on the other side of the substrate in such a way that the longitudinal extension of the microstrip feeding line is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the slot. The microstrip feeding line passes the slot approximately with the length λg/4, i.e. one quarter of a wavelength in the material, a so called guide wavelength, if the feeding line is open-ended. The open-ended feeding line transforms to a short-circuited feeding line under the slot due to the λg/4 length. The microstrip feeding line then couples energy to the slot, as the electromagnetic field of the microstrip feeding line is interrupted by the slot.
This design is, however, asymmetrical when looking towards the edge of the laminate where the tapered slot emerges, as there is a feeding line on one side of the laminate and a tapered slot structure on the other side. This asymmetry may result in cross-polarization at the antenna radiation pattern. One way to come to terms with this asymmetry is to mount a second laminate, without copper on one side and with an essentially identical tapered slot structure on the other side, to the first laminate in such a way that the side without copper on the second laminate faces the side with the microstrip feeding line on the first substrate. In this way the feeding line is squeezed between the two laminates, forming a stripline feeding line, with essentially identical tapered slots etched out of the copper cladding on the outer sides, forming a dual-sided notch antenna.
The basic configuration of a tapered slot antenna element of the Vivaldi type is described in the technical article "Wideband Vivaldi arrays for large aperture antennas" by Daniel H. Shaubert and Tan-Huat Chio. There the λg/4 length is made as a so-called radial stub in order to achieve a larger bandwidth. The other end of the slot, opposite to the tapered part of the slot, is ended with a circular part without copper, forming a two-dimensional cavity which results in an open-ended slot line close to the feeding point. The article also describes how array antennas may be formed using a Vivaldi antenna element. A problem with this symmetrical Vivaldi antenna element design is that so-called parallel plate modes appear in the substrate material, i.e. undesired propagation of electromagnetic radiation. In order to suppress these parallel plate modes, metallic posts, vias, have to connect the copper on the outer sides of the laminates, surrounding the tapered slot structure.
This dual sided tapered slot antenna with vias for mode suppression ends up in a rather complicated substrate configuration, especially in an array configuration. The use of substrates renders dielectric losses and also makes the final antenna quite heavy. The use of substrate materials is also disadvantageous when an antenna is meant to be used for space applications, i.e. in a satellite, as electrostatic build-ups in the plastic material may result in discharges that could be fatal for adjacent electronic circuits. The common PTFE substrates are also relatively expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,255 describes co-planar waveguide filters etched on a substrate, which filters may be combined with a notch antenna which is fed by active components. This is however a quite narrow-banded structure, as the co-planar waveguide filters are resonant for certain narrow frequency bands. The active components may also affect the bandwidth of the structure.
Neither of the documents above disclose how a broadband, symmetrical tapered slot antenna element that does not have to be supported by a substrate may be devised.


A urea injection controller for a motorized system includes a passive regeneration model configured and disposed to calculate an amount of NOx conversion resulting from an interaction between exhaust gases and soot entrained in a selective catalyst reduction filter (SCRF) device, a replenishment mode trigger module configured to set an ammonia replenishment request based on the passive regeneration model, and a replenishment control module configured to selectively activate a urea injector to discharge a particular amount of urea based on the regeneration model.

Motorized systems include both stationary mechanisms such as generators, pumps and the like, and moveable mechanisms, such as motor vehicles, including cars, truck, locomotives, and ships. Often times the motorized systems employ a power system including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device that converts NOx with the aid of a catalyst into diatomic nitrogen and water. In many cases, the SCR device relies upon ammonia as a reductant that is absorbed into the catalyst. Over time, the ammonia in the catalyst depletes and requires replenishment. Many systems employ a urea injector to add ammonia back to the catalyst. The urea injector is controlled to introduce a set amount of urea into the SCR device based on known conversion efficiencies. Existing urea injection controllers base urea injection on active NOx regeneration (interaction between NOx and the catalyst). However, in addition to active NOx regeneration, many SCR devices experience passive NOx regeneration, or regeneration that does not deplete ammonia storage. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a urea injector controller that determines urea injection based on both active and passive NOx regeneration.

Urea injection controller for a motorized system


To use a catalyst material, which has a functional group that covalently binds to a catalyst metal particle on the surface of a catalyst carrier, and a catalyst metal particle that covalently binds to the functional group, for a fuel cell.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell in which liquid fuel is oxidized on the anode which is a component of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) consisting of an electrode catalyst, anode, electrolyte membrane, cathode, and a diffusion layer, and then oxygen is reduced on the cathode.
In a conventional secondary cell, the cell must be charged after a constant amount of electric power has been used, which requires a charging device as well as a relatively long charging time. Accordingly, there are some problems in continuously operating mobile devices for a long period of time at any time and any place. In the future, mobile devices will require a power source which has high power density and high energy density, that is, a power source which can be continuously operated for a long period of time, in order to quickly process an increasing amount of information and achieve highly advanced functions. Thus, there are increasing needs for a compact power generator which does not need to be charged, that is, a micro power generator which can be easily supplied with fuel.
In the light of such circumstances, a fuel cell power source is considered to be a response to remedy the aforementioned request. The basic fuel cell at least consists of a solid or liquid electrolyte, two electrodes which induce desired electrochemical reaction, an anode, and a cathode. The fuel cell is a power generator which efficiently converts fuel's chemical energy directly into electrical energy by the action of an electrode catalyst. Hydrogen which has been chemically converted from fossil fuel or water, methanol which is a liquid or solution in a normal environment, alkali hydride, hydrazine, or dimethyl ether which is a pressurized liquefied gas are used as a fuel, and air or oxygen gas is used as an oxidizing gas.
A fuel is electrochemically oxidized on the anode and oxygen is reduced on the cathode, which generates an electrical potential difference between those two electrodes. If, at this point, an external circuit load is applied between the two electrodes, ion transfer occurs in the electrolyte, and consequently, electrical energy is supplied to the external load.
Of all fuel cells, a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) which uses liquid fuel, and metal hydride or hydrazine fuel cells are considered effective as a small and portable or mobile power source because those fuels' volume energy density is high. Especially, the DMFC which utilizes methanol as a fuel is considered an ideal power supply system because methanol is easily handled and is expected in the future to be produced from biomass.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.2002-1095, No.2002-305000 and No.2003-93874 aim to increase performance of the above-mentioned electrode catalyst.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Catalyst material and method of manufacturing the same and fuel cell using the same


Apparatus, methods, data structures, and systems are provided for subdividing input data associated with a first software program into job quanta, wherein each job quantum is operable to be executed by a separate software program residing on a different processing element from the first software program. The first software program and the separate software program execute substantially in parallel and output data associated with the executions of the programs are assembled into a single coherent presentation or results data. Moreover, the software programs may be threaded or non-threaded.

Parallel processing provides economic, scalable, and high-availability approaches to computing solutions. From the point of view of using a computationally expensive non-threaded (e.g., single-threaded) legacy software program, there is a need for achieving the operational performance associated with parallel-processing techniques without substantially rewriting the legacy software program. In this way, the operational latency associated with the execution of the software program may be substantially reduced.
Parallel processing includes solutions that are largely hardware in nature such as, and by way of example only, massive parallel processing (MPP). Furthermore, parallel processing may be achieved in a multiple processing environment (MPE) using largely software techniques such as, and by way of example only, symmetric multiple processing (SMP) environments where a software job scheduler directs application programs to run on a particular processing element (PE). In SMP environments, the operating system (OS) is enabled to treat a group of PEs as peers.
Conventional parallel processing systems fall generally into four categories: single instruction stream operating on multiple data streams (SIMD), same program operating on multiple data streams (SPMD), multiple instruction streams operating on multiple data streams (MIMD), and multiple processors sharing a single data or memory (MISD). Moreover, a system that is usually not classified as a parallel processing system is often referred to as a single processor operating on single data (SISD).
Additionally, software programs may be written such that they are threaded, or capable of having their internal instructions concurrently (e.g., in parallel) executed multiple times by multiple processes. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, developing a threaded program is an expensive development exercise, wherein the logic is largely event driven, rather than linear. Moreover, expensive error-handling applications must be developed for recovery purposes in the event of an unexpected failure during any particular execution sequence. As a result, very few legacy programs have been written in a threaded manner. For the most part, OS kernel programs are threaded as well as large-scale distributed database programs. A program that is not threaded is often referred to as being singly threaded or non-threaded.
In recent years, industry consortiums have promulgated industry standards that have increased the potential for achieving parallel processing results by creating a message-passing interface (MPI). By and large, MPI is primarily used to interface disparate software programs. In MPI, both the sending program and the receiving program must be capable of translating the MPI data. MPI is not a software program and legacy programs or additional programs must be developed to effectively process MPI data.
With MPI, input and output data passed among multiple programs are standardized, such that disparate computing environments or programs may be interfaced to one another. Yet, each interfaced program must be capable of translating the MPI data, therefore program customization is still required. Furthermore, MPI has not been embraced, or interfaced to, standard job scheduling programs that reside in MPEs. These job schedulers provide efficient load balancing to the PEs and, in some instances, individual programs residing on a single PE.
However, even with MPP, SMP, SIMD, SPMD, MIMD, MISD, and MPI many computationally expensive legacy programs are still unable to improve throughput of operation, because of the extreme development expense associated with rewriting the legacy programs to be threaded. For example, consider bioinformatic programs designed to compare protein or DNA sequences and query multiple databases for matches to multiple protein or DNA sequences. These programs continue to experience large operational latency, and none of the present technologies have provided cost-effective and timely solutions.
Accordingly, there is a need to transparently permit computationally expensive legacy programs to execute in parallel in order to improve operational efficiency, and there is a need to minimize the development expense associated with achieving the same. Therefore, there is a need for improved apparatus, methods, data structures, and systems which transparently parallel process the operations associated with a computationally expensive non-threaded software program.

Transparent distribution and execution of data in a multiprocessor environment


A grinding apparatus (36) for a paper cutting mechanism (10) is shown and includes a coupler (38), for mounting on an upper rail (14) of the cutting mechanism (10), a motor-driven grinder (40), and an adjustable support (42) for adjustably positioning the motor-driven grinder (40) in the direction of the rail (14).

The present invention relates generally to a sharpening apparatus for a dual-knife cutting mechanism of the type used to cut a continuously manufactured paper web and, more particularly, to a portable system for in-line sharpening the lower knife or cutter thereof.
As is well known in the art, paper is conventionally manufactured in a continuous web, several feet in width. The manufacturing equipment represents a huge capital investment, and the dynamics of the process are such that "downtime" is extremely costly.
As a part of this process, a dual-knife mechanism cuts the web longitudinally (i.e., in the direction of web travel) to provide rolls of the desired width or widths. For example, if 8½×11 inch paper is being made, the continuous web is cut into 8½ inch sections, individually rolled for further processing to the desired length of 11 inches.
Such dual-knife mechanisms are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,210,045; 4,274,319; and 4,658,685, and the teachings thereof are expressly incorporated herein by reference. An upper slitter unit, adjustably mounted on a substantially horizontal rail, includes a freely rotating blade, having a tapered peripheral edge. The lower slitter unit, secured to a motor-driven shaft, includes a collar having a tapered side edge. Engagement of blade and collar, or more particularly the blade and tapered side edge of the collar, cuts the paper web in a scissor-like action.
As the slitter units wear, the quality of the cut deteriorates, and maintenance is required. The upper slitter units are often removable from the rail, and sharpening is typically performed as normally scheduled maintenance, e.g., once a week. The associated downtime is usually measured in hours.
Maintenance of the lower slitter units represents a more difficult technical issue. To access the collars, the paper production system, in its entirety, must often be halted and the motor-driven shaft must be disengaged and pulled. Given the enormous weight of this shaft, an overhead crane is often required. The collars are then removed from the shaft and ground. Downtime for this operation can be several days.

Portable sharpening system for a dual-knife cutting machine


In one implementation, a computer-implemented method, executed on a computing device and configured to effectuate a trading platform, includes: receiving balance information from a Value Unit Repository (VUR) to maintain a local balance datastore; receiving a matched order concerning a plurality of parties; and confirming that one or more balances defined within the local balance datastore and associated with the plurality of parties are sufficient to execute the matched order.

Modern trading systems are large, complex, computer-implemented systems. Gone are the days of the trading floor being crowded with groups of traders screaming their bid and ask prices to close a deal. Today's trading systems operate in silence with digital efficiency, as bid orders and ask orders are quietly matched and trades are efficiently executed based upon the same.
Unfortunately, as the cutting edge becomes the new normal, existing systems need to adapt to address and incorporate new methodologies and concepts. For example, the trading of cryptocurrency has presented the existing trading infrastructure with complex challenges concerning how to integrate such new technology into existing systems.

Electronic trade processing system and method


A system for configuring a plurality of programmable devices may include an external memory, a master programmable device, and at least one slave programmable device. The programmable devices may have a parallel data bus connected in a daisy chain fashion. The programmable devices may further include a chip select signal that is also connected in a daisy chain. Special instructions embedded in the configuration bitstream, which may be stored in the external memory, are used by the programmable devices to control the configuration process.

Programmable devices may include, but are not limited to, programmable logic devices (PLDs), which are a well-known type of digital integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and programmable input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLBs and IOBs are interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure. Some FPGAs also include additional programmable resources with special purposes (e.g., DLLs, RAM, DSP blocks, multipliers, processors, transceivers).
The CLBs, IOBs, interconnect, and other programmable resources are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data (bitstream) into internal configuration memory cells that define how the CLBs, IOBs, interconnect, and other blocks are configured. The configuration data can be read from memory (e.g., an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Another type of PLD is the complex programmable logic device (CPLD). A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to input/output (I/O) resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in programmable logic arrays (PLAs) and programmable array logic (PAL) devices. In some CPLDs, configuration data is stored on-chip in non-volatile memory, then downloaded to volatile memory as part of an initial configuration sequence.
For all of these programmable logic devices (PLDs), the functionality of the device is controlled by data bits (configuration data or bitstream) provided to the device for that purpose. The data bits can be stored in volatile memory (e.g., static RAM cells, as in FPGAs and some CPLDs), in non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory, as in some CPLDs), or in any other type of memory cell.
In particular, some programmable devices, including many FPGAs, have internal volatile memory (e.g., SRAM configuration memory) for storing the configuration data or bitstream during operation of the FPGA. Since the internal volatile memory does not retain data when power is not supplied to the device, such programmable devices typically have an external device for providing the bitstream at power up or on reset conditions. The external device may be an external tester/programmer, such as a computer or test fixture, or an external nonvolatile memory, such as a flash or EEPROM memory.
Prior techniques for configuring a programmable device, such as n FPGA, have used a serial interface to the external device. For example, serial memories may be popular because they have a very compact interface with a small number of pins. However, a memory having a parallel interface may offer significant speed increases that allow a programmable device to be configured in a short amount of time. Parallel memories may also be more economical and may be available in larger sizes than their serial counterparts. Prior parallel techniques have had certain constraints, such as board layout constraints or timing constraints, that have limited their appeal.
Therefore, it would be desirable to address these and other needs in programmable devices.

Parallel configuration of programmable devices


A method of forming a solid-phase support, the method including the steps of providing a substrate having a reaction vessel, dispensing a particle in the reaction vessel, and permanently bonding the particle in the substrate within the reaction vessel. The particle may include a microbead. The particle may include controlled pore glass. A method of synthesis is also disclosed that includes including the steps of providing a solid-phase support including a particle embedded to the substrate adjacent a surface of substrate, the particle being functionalized to covalently attach an intermediate compound of a synthetic reaction, dispensing a liquid including a reagent to the solid-phase support to effect the synthetic reaction, and removing the liquid from the solid-phase support by centrifugation, whereby the intermediate compound remains attached to the substrate by the particle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to a solid-phase support for high-throughput synthesis, and more particularly to substrates having particles attached thereto, the solid-phase support being capable of withstanding centrifugal forces generated during high-throughput synthesis.
2. Description of Related Art
Solid-phase synthesis of organic molecules is the method of choice for preparation of libraries and compound megaarrays, which are currently being applied for screening in the quest to find new drugs or pharmaceutical lead compounds, i.e., compounds which exhibit a particular biological activity of pharmaceutical interest. These leads can serve as a starting point for the selection and synthesis of a drug compound, which in addition to the particular biological activity of interest have pharmacologic and toxicologic properties suitable for administration to animals, including humans.
Solid-phase synthesis requires repetitions of several relatively simple operations of addition of reagents, incubation and separation of liquid-phases. In solid-phase synthesis, final compounds are synthesized attached to solid-phase supports that permit the use of mechanical means to separate intermediate, partially-synthesized compounds between synthesis steps. Various designs of manual and automated instruments for combinatorial synthesis utilizing solid-phase synthesis have appeared in patent and non-patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,418 and 5,338,831, both to Lebl et al., each describe a method of performing multiple synthesis of peptides on a solid carrier. U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,585, also to Lebl et al., describes an apparatus for multiple syntheses of peptides on solid support. U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,755, also to Lebl, et al., describes an apparatus and a method for combinatorial chemistry synthesis. The entire contents of the above patents are incorporated herein by this reference.
Some known instruments have employed centrifugation for the separation of solid and liquid-phases in order to provide devices that are capable of high-throughput synthesis. Such devices can utilize solid-phase particles, for example, macrobeads or microbeads, as a solid-phase support to which intermediate and final compounds are attached. Such solid-phase particles are generally suspended within a reaction vessel, which reaction vessel is subjected to centrifugal forces to separate the liquid and solid-phases. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,054 to Lebl, describes a method for separation of liquid and solid-phases for solid-phase organic synthesis in which a slurry of beads are suspended in a solvent. Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0044894 A1 to Lebl et al. describes an oligonucleotide synthesizer that utilizes centrifugation to separate the liquid-phase from beads. Generally, such instruments employ mechanical means to retain the solid-phase beads within a reaction vessel, for example, a well of a microtiter plate, during centrifugation. The entire contents of the above patent and publication are incorporated herein by this reference.
One means to retain the solid-phase beads is to tilt the reaction vessel to form pockets from which the solid-phase cannot be removed by centrifugal force. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,054. Alternatively, mesh or other frit materials can be employed to enclose and restrain the beads within the reaction vessel. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0044894 A1. Disadvantageously, such retention means increase the mechanical complexity of the instruments and/or the reaction vessels.
What is needed is a solid-phase support for high-throughput synthesis that overcomes the above and other disadvantages of known instruments employing solid-phase particles suspended within reaction vessels.

Method of forming and using solid-phase support


The present invention relates to novel Heterocycle-Substituted Tetracyclic Compounds of Formula (I): (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A, A′, R2 R3, R4 and R are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one Heterocycle-Substituted Tetracyclic Compound, and methods of using the Heterocycle-Substituted Tetracyclic Compounds for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen. A substantial fraction of these HCV-infected individuals develop serious progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which are often fatal.
Recent attention has been focused toward the identification of inhibitors of HCV NS5A. HCV NS5A is a 447 amino acid phosphoprotein which lacks a defined enzymatic function. It runs as 56 kd and 58 kd bands on gels depending on phosphorylation state (Tanji, et al. J. Virol. 69:3980-3986 (1995)). HCV NS5A resides in replication complex and may be responsible for the switch from replication of RNA to production of infectious virus (Huang, Y. et al., Virology 364:1-9 (2007)).
Multicyclic HCV NS5A inhibitors have been reported. See U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US20080311075, US20080044379, US20080050336, US20080044380, US20090202483 and US2009020478. HCV NS5A inhibitors having fused tricyclic moieties are disclosed in International Patent Publication Nos. WO 10/065681, WO 10/065668, and WO 10/065674.
Other HCV NS5A inhibitors and their use for reducing viral load in HCV infected humans have been described in U.S. Patent Publication No. US20060276511.

Heterocycle-substituted tetracyclic compounds and methods of use thereof for the treatment of viral diseases


Methods of forming adjacent polyconductor line ends and a mask therefor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a polyconductor layer over an isolation region; forming a mask over the polyconductor layer, the mask including shapes to create the polyconductor line ends and a correction element to ensure a designed proximity of the polyconductor line ends; and etching the polyconductor layer using the patterned photoresist mask to create the adjacent polyconductor line ends, wherein the correction element is removed during the etching.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication, and more particularly, to methods of forming polyconductor line ends and a memory cell including the polyconductor line ends.
2. Background Art
Memory used in integrated circuit (IC) chips can come in a variety of forms such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Flash memory, etc. The industry has a continuing drive to shrink memory cells to remain competitive. As one attempts to shrink cells, process constraints can limit the amount of shrinkage. As isolation regions (e.g., shallow trench isolation (STI)) push closer together, the distance that a polysilicon conductor (polyconductor or PC) can extend pass the STI is decreased. The cell dimension is limited by how close one can place to PC lines end-to-end (facing each other or otherwise) on the isolation region. Thus, the performance of a memory cell is directly influenced by the end-to-end space that can be achieved between PC line-ends.
The ability to pattern a small space between PC line-ends has both lithographic and etch limitations. The etch limitations come from the fact that during the trim step (i.e., the process in which the gate critical dimension (CD) that was printed in photoresist is reduced to that which is needed in the final poly) the line-ends trim more than the gates. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, a specific PC line-end 2 may be targeted to be, for example, 100 nm, past an active region 4 (scenario A) or contact layer 6 (scenario B) into an isolation region 8, but due to limitations of the resist, trim processing and rounding, PC line-end 2 does not end up being 100 nm past the active region 6 or contact layer 8. In some instances, PC line-end 2 is etched back over active region 4. In any event, it is common for a gate length to be incorrect because of this situation. Further scaling magnifies the situation.
There are many methods which are being pursued in the industry to enable the tighter PC line-end spacing. For example, one popular approach includes a double exposure-double etch scheme. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2A, a polyconductor (PC) 12 is exposed and etched over an active region 14 and fully across an isolation region 16 to print a gate 18 (intersection of PC 12 and active region 14), and then another exposure and etch, shown in FIG. 2B, is used to remove polyconductor 12 over the isolation region 16 to form line-ends 22 and, hence, the devices. This approach attains the necessary sizes and precision, however, the cost incurred is significant because of the need for two exposures and two etches for one level. It allows the etch step for opening line-ends 22 to be completely directional (no trim) and also creates PC tips that are relatively less rounded. The rounded line ends trim very quickly during the etch process, which makes controlling the etch difficult.
A second approach, shown in FIGS. 3A-B, attempts to decrease the trim rate of line-ends 22 (FIG. 2B) by printing a bulged region 24 (FIG. 3A) in the resist at a line-end for polyconductor 12 (single exposure, single etch) over isolation region 16. That is, line ends 22 (FIG. 2B) are printed in the resist with bulged region 24 immediately adjacent to active region 14. This approach offers smaller spacing due to the decreased trim of the line-ends, but creates bulbous line-ends 26 (FIG. 3B). Unfortunately, bulbous line-ends 26 usually land on active region 14, which causes undesirable gate 18 length variation along the device. A third approach includes using a double exposure with a single etch. While this approach does not eliminate the etch effects, it allows for a smaller line-end space to be printed in resist if the illumination is optimized for the second exposure. A fourth approach under exposes the PC using a block mask, and uses alternating phase shift masks (Alt PSM) scheme and a break through with etch.

Polyconductor line end formation and related mask

International Business Machines Corporation


A piston engine with a compensation shaft unit, wherein a window surrounded by a flange is provided on the crankcase thereof. The flange forms a separating surface to which the housing of the compensation shaft unit is fixed by means of screws. In order to ensure clean, toothed-wheel engagement for the compensation shafts, which are integrated into the housing, and easy assembly, the compensation shaft is provided with a toothed wheel, which protrudes through the window inside the crankcase, and which is driven by a toothed wheel, which is arranged on the crankshaft, and the housing of the compensation shaft unit has a separating surface, which can be displaced in order to adjust the amount of engagement clearance on the separating surface of the crankcase before the screws are tightened.

With the internal combustion engines customary at the moment with pairwise balance shafts, a unit containing both balance shafts is connected to the crankshaft bearing from below. This has the advantage of being able to equip conventional basic engines with balance shafts without any greater construction interventions, but does increase the construction height of the engine. This is undesirable with sloping engine hoods. In the completely new design of an internal combustion engine, one therefore endeavors to integrate the balance shafts into the engine, to integrate them at the side into or onto the crankcase or the engine block (which are anyway usually integral).
What causes problems here is the installation and the drive of the balance shaft unit. It is known from DE-A-29 35 384 to support a balance shaft at the side in a cover and to drive it by means of a chain. A drive without clearance is possible thanks to a chain tensioner, but the chain makes the installation a lot more difficult.
If a balance shaft is driven by means of gears, the load case typical for balance shafts (small, but pulsing transmitted torque at a very high rotational speed) requires special measures to avoid irritating noises. A proven measure is the reduction in the tooth clearance, in particular of the rotational flank clearance, which requires a very precise setting of the shaft position. It is known from EP-B-916 833 for balance shafts with gear drive arranged pairwise beneath the crankshaft to set the whole balance shaft unit by means of rotatable eccentrics.

Piston engine with integrated balance shafts


A blister package for a cosmetic article is disclosed which provides a means to include and protect an applicator while permitting the viewing of the cosmetic. The package comprises a support panel on which are mounted first and second blisters adapted to confine a cosmetic applicator and article, respectively. The first blister is mountable on the support panel confining the applicator and providing support for the cosmetic article while protecting the applicator from crushing and contamination. The second blister is mountable over the first blister, and the cosmetic article supported thereon, in a manner which allows the cosmetic article to be opened and the cosmetic therein viewed while preventing access to the cosmetic.

The present invention relates to a display package for a cosmetic compact and applicator which provides protection for both the cosmetic and an applicator means included therewith while permitting a prospective purchaser to view the actual cosmetic.
The packaging of three dimensional articles whereby the article is sealed within the packaging yet may be viewed by a prospective purchaser is well established. Specifically, with regard to cosmetic compacts containing face powder formulations, such packages include those of Swanberg, U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,128 and Matney, U.S. Pat. Re. No. 33,191. These packages provide a display card mounting means wherein the lower half of a compact is confined by a preformed blister which covers the cosmetic while the upper half or lid is allowed to pivot freely about its hinge.
The packages of the prior art are, however, deficient in their treatment of the applicator or puff which is commonly included with the powder compact. In most cases, such as that of Swanberg, the applicator is placed within the compact and partially covers the compressed powder cake thus obscuring it from view. In other cases, such as Matney, the applicator is confined between the bottom of the compact and the display card and is often received by the purchaser in a crushed state.
It is essential in such packaging that the cosmetic be protected from contamination or other damage until ready for use by a purchaser and it is preferred that the applicator be likewise protected. It is also preferred that the applicator be maintained in a puffed and uncrushed state while within the packaging and the present invention provides a packaging which achieves these objectives.

Blister package for cosmetic article and means to protect applicator therefor


An antenna device includes a planar conductor, a coiled antenna element, and a feed coil. The feed coil includes a coil conductor wound around a magnetic core. The planar conductor includes a ground conductor provided with a printed wiring substrate. In a portion of a circumferential portion of the planar conductor, a coupling portion is provided and defined by an aperture and a slit. In a planar view of the antenna element, at least a portion of the coil aperture of the feed coil and a portion of the aperture overlap with each other. In addition, at least a portion of the coil aperture of the feed coil and a portion of the coil aperture of the antenna element overlap with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device and a communication terminal device preferably for use in a communication system of an HF band or a UHF band.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a system for performing charging or article management, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system has prevailed. In the RFID system, a reader/writer and an RFID tag are caused to wirelessly communicate with each other using a non-contact method, and high-frequency signals are transmitted and received between these devices. Each of the reader/writer and the RFID tag includes a wireless IC chip used for processing the high-frequency signal, and an antenna element used for transmitting and receiving the high-frequency signals. For example, in a HF-band RFID system utilizing a 13.56 MHz band, as the antenna element, a coiled antenna is used, and an antenna coil on a reader/writer side and an antenna coil on a tag side are coupled to each other through an induction magnetic field.
In this HF-band RFID system, for example, in a such a way as a FeliCa (registered trademark) compatible terminal illustrated in Japanese Patent No. 4325621, an antenna coil is embedded in a portable communication terminal and the communication terminal itself is used as a reader/writer or an RFID tag, in some cases. FIG. 15 is the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a contactless IC card reader/writer 1 described in Japanese Patent No. 4325621.
The contactless IC card reader/writer 1 includes an antenna substrate in which a loop antenna and a capacitor are provided in the top surface thereof, a control substrate 6 in which a transmission and reception circuit and a chip-type coil 5 are provided in the top surface thereof, a magnetic sheet 10 disposed between an antenna substrate 4 and the control substrate 6, and an insulating case 15. In order to form an aperture portion 11 above the chip-type coil 5 provided in the control substrate 6, the magnetic sheet 10 is disposed so as to avoid the upper side of the chip-type coil 5. As illustrated by a magnetic flux φ1, the chip-type coil (feed coil) 5 is coupled to the loop antenna in the antenna substrate 4 through an induction magnetic field. As illustrated by a magnetic flux φ2, the antenna substrate 4 is magnetic-field-coupled to an IC card 20. With this structure, without using a contact pin or a flexible cable, it is possible to substantially connect an RFID IC chip and an antenna coil to each other.
However, in recent years, with the functional enhancement and the miniaturization of communication terminals, it has become difficult to secure, within a terminal chassis, a sufficient space for disposing an antenna coil, a wireless IC chip, and a feed coil. For example, even though an antenna coil is disposed on one main surface side of a printed wiring substrate, there is not a space on this main surface side in some cases, the space being used for disposing the wireless IC chip and the feed coil. In this case, it is necessary to provide the wireless IC chip on the other main surface side of the printed wiring substrate and connect this wireless IC chip to the antenna coil provided on the one main surface side of the printed wiring substrate through a flexible cable or the like.

Antenna device and communication terminal device


Formable inserts and related methods are disclosed herein. An example of forming a cover with a formable insert includes forming a first frame portion of the cover, attaching a formable insert to the first frame portion of the cover, and forming a second frame portion of the cover subsequent to the formation of the first frame portion to capture a perimeter edge of the formable insert in the second frame portion of the cover.

Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example, telephonic, electronic messaging, and other personal information manager (PIM) application functions. Portable electronic devices include, for example, several types of mobile stations such as simple cellular telephones, smart telephones, tablet computers, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), and laptop computers with wireless 802.11 or Bluetooth capabilities.
Electronic devices such as, for example, portable electronic devices employ a housing to enclose or contain various electronic or mobile components such as a microprocessor, a display, a keypad, a speaker, a microphone, etc. The housing may include a front cover or lid that couples to a frame or base to capture the electronic components within the housing.
Some known electronic devices employ a formable insert (e.g., a fabric or leather) applied to a cover to provide desirable attributes such as aesthetic appearance, desirable contact surface for gripping or feel, design variations or the like. Typically, the insert is attached to the cover via insert molding. In some instances, however, it can be difficult to provide a robust attachment of the insert to the cover. As a result, the insert can detach from the cover. In particular, edges of the insert fray or become damaged. In some instances, a parting line (e.g., due to mold tool) forms between the insert and the cover that is visible from an exterior surface of the electronic device and can be aesthetically unappealing.


The subject of the present invention is a semi-rigid or flexible and low-gloss impact-reinforced acrylic material. The acrylic material according to the invention comprises a nanostructured matrix constituted of at least one thermoplastic acrylic block copolymer and at least one highly crosslinked acrylic copolymer. The matrix comprises at least one thermoplastic acrylic block copolymer. The highly crosslinked acrylic copolymer comprises, as sole monomer or as predominate monomer, MMA, that is to say that it comprises, by weight, more than 50%, advantageously more than 65% of MMA. The acrylic material according to the invention comprises from 60% to 99% by weight of matrix for 40% to 1% by weight of crosslinked copolymer. These materials may be converted by injection molding, extrusion, co-extrusion, extrusion-blow molding for producing parts, profiles, sheets or films for example.

To date, acrylic materials having a frosted or matt appearance have always been obtained from PMMA, which PMMA may be slightly modified:                either by introduction of impact modifiers having a flexible core/rigid shell structure;        or by incorporation of comonomers, such as, for example, acrylates, which make it possible to improve the thermal stability, or acrylic or methacrylic acids, which make it possible to improve the temperature stability.
The document EP 1 022 115 describes extruded polymer articles having a matt appearance and a textured finish, comprising a PMMA-based matrix and highly crosslinked MMA-based polymer particles.
The document EP 2 089 473 describes the preparation of methacrylic compositions comprising an MMA homo- or copolymer in which particles of crosslinked MMA-based thermoplastic polymers are dispersed.
These materials are manufactured by dispersing crosslinked acrylic beads in a PMMA matrix in the molten state (compounding). The materials obtained scatter light while allowing it to pass (for example, shower stalls having a frosted appearance). They are also highly resistant to UV radiation. However, these materials have the disadvantage of being very rigid and of having a poor impact strength. Furthermore, the size of the crosslinked acrylic, beads directly influences the roughness of the final product.
The development of acrylic materials in the field of optical waveguides or of the coating of other materials is thus limited by the stiffness and brittleness of current materials.
It is therefore desirable to introduce novel properties to low-gloss acrylic materials by improving their impact strength or by manufacturing even "flexible" acrylic materials. This type of material can offer novel applications, for example in the field of design (illuminations) and coatings of materials.
To this end, a subject matter of the present invention, according to a first aspect, is a semirigid or flexible acrylic material comprising:                a nanostructured matrix composed of at least one thermoplastic acrylic block copolymer,        and at least one highly crosslinked acrylic copolymer.
This combination has the effect of resulting in a material which exhibits a group of novel properties since the material is simultaneously flexible, highly impact resistant, non glossy and resistant to UV radiation and has a surface which, unexpectedly, once processed, has a soft touch which is very pleasant and more or less pronounced according to the blend produced between a soft material (the nanostructured matrix) and another very hard material (the highly crosslinked acrylic copolymer).
These materials can be transformed by injection molding, extrusion, coextrusion or extrusion/blow molding for the preparation of parts, profiled elements, sheets or films, for example.
The product can advantageously be used as coating on other materials. For example, use may be made of the technique of coextrusion or lamination of film on a substrate. It is also possible to produce profiled elements which can be used, for example, in optical applications.
It is also possible to manufacture multilayer structures comprising a first layer consisting of the acrylic material according to the invention and a second layer comprising at least one substrate made of a thermoplastic polymer material.
The invention will now be described in detail.
The development of anionic polymerization and of controlled radical polymerization made it possible, towards the start of the 1990s, to synthesize acrylic block copolymers, for example diblocks of polymethyl methacrylate-polybutyl acrylate (PMMA-pBuA) or polymethyl methacrylate-polybutadiene type, or also triblocks of polymethyl methacrylate-polybutyl acrylate-polymethyl methacrylate or polystyrene-polybutadiene-polymethyl methacrylate type.
In comparison with random copolymers, block copolymers make it possible to obtain novel morphologies, with in particular organizations in domains of a few nanometers of the various phases formed by each of the blocks. These organizations are, for example, described in Macromolecules, Vol. 13, No. 6, 1980, pp. 1602-1617, or also in Macromolecules, vol. 39, No. 17, 2006, pp. 5804-5814. This type of organization is referred to as "nanostructured".


The invention provides an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor provided with a pair of mutually opposing electrodes and a thermistor element with a positive resistance-temperature characteristic situated between the pair of electrodes, wherein said thermistor element contains a cured body derived from a mixture comprising an epoxy resin, a curing agent and conductive particles, and there is included in the epoxy resin and/or curing agent a compound which imparts flexibility to the cured body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor having a PTC positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristic such that the resistance value increases drastically with increasing temperature.
2. Related Background Art
Thermoplastic resins are widely known as matrix materials for thermistor elements used in organic positive temperature coefficient thermistors. However, because thermoplastic resins require crosslinking treatment and noncombustible treatment to achieve heat resistance, the production steps for such thermistor elements are complex. As a result, attention has shifted toward thermosetting resins as matrix materials which can simplify the production process by eliminating such treatment.
Examples of hitherto studied organic positive temperature coefficient thermistors employing thermosetting resins which have been disclosed include types wherein a fibrous conductive substance is dispersed in a thermosetting resin (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,729), types wherein conductive particles with spike-like protrusions are dispersed in a thermosetting resin (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3101047), and types wherein conductive particles with spike-like protrusions and conductive staple fibers are dispersed in a thermosetting resin (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3101048).

Organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor


The present invention relates to methods for isolating polypepitdes from cells. The methods may be used to isolate denatured polypeptides or native polypeptides. In one embodiment the methods may be used to isolated polypeptide from cytosolic and nuclear compartments of eukaryotic cells. In one embodiment the methods may be used to isolate polypeptides from bacterial cells.

Extraction of proteins from total cell lysate is one of the most commonly employed procedures in biomedical research. The first step is to release proteins from the cells by chemical or physical methods. Cell lysis solutions containing denaturing detergents such as SDS, and non-denaturing detergents such as NP-40 and Tween-100 are frequently used in commercial kits for protein extraction (see, for instance, Pierce Protein Research Products, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rockford, Ill., and PromoKine, Heidelberg, Germany). Though strong detergents such as SDS can lyse the cells efficiently, it also results in a very viscous solution due to the presence of released genomic DNA in the cell lysate, which is difficult to pipette and might interfere with subsequent protein quantification, gel electrophoresis and other downstream applications One of the most widely used laboratory methods to isolate proteins from total cell lysate is to extract proteins using detergent-containing solutions to lyse the cells followed by physical methods such as repeated sonication or passing the cell lysate through a fine needle repeatedly to shear DNA into smaller fragments and reduce the viscosity of the solution; however, these procedures are tedious and time consuming. Repeated sonication also generates significant heat that may inactivate the biological activities of proteins. Affinity purification of desired protein components using spin column filter assembly has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,655 B1. A variety of commercial manufacturers have adopted the concept and are selling variations of spin column filters either as a stand alone unit or as a component of an assay kit for affinity purification of DNA and RNA (see, for instance, PureLink™ RNA Mini Kit).


A system for detecting, monitoring, and reacting to an event comprising: on premises surveillance equipment, an on premises wireless server, a cellular virtual private network in communication with the on premises wireless server, a router remote from the on premises surveillance equipment in communication with the cellular virtual private network and with a second network for directing data to at least one networked server, at least one client device, and computer instructions for enabling the at least one client device to connect to the at least one networked server.

A need exists for a system for monitoring a remote location in real time using wireless surveillance equipment that can be used to generate a contemporaneous reaction to events at the remote location.
A further need exists for a system that can monitor a remote location using a wide variety of surveillance equipment and react to events at the remote location using a wide variety of equipment, including video equipment, audio equipment, sound generation equipment, light generation equipment, water cannons, fire hoses, and other equipment and devices.
An additional need exists for a system that can monitor a remote location and react to events at that remote location that is entirely wireless and can be accessed by one or more users at any time, from any location, including remote locations.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

Wireless system for monitoring and reacting to events at a remote location


A pelvis remedial seating device is provided having a seat including a seat cushion on which an occupant is to be seated and left/right seat sides provided uprightly at each side end of the seat cushion; a pair of air bags nested to a height of the pelvis portion of an occupant on an inner side of each side for enabling themselves to be expanded or contracted by air supplied into or discharged from the inside of the air bag; air injector for providing air pressure to the air bags; and a controller for controlling running time, level, and direction of air flow supplied through the air injection means, wherein the expanding air pressure in the air bags presses the pelvis portion of an occupant.

As a woman grows older, the muscle of her pelvis is gradually weakened with cause of sexual life and child delivery. After the birth, particularly the pelvis muscle, which supports hypogastrium, the bladder, the vagina and the anus, takes a sudden turn for worse.
The typical actual phenomena of the physical process occurred by following is that the pelvis gets wider. With the widened pelvis, the body of the woman loses a balance and it will not be able to maintain a good shape.
Additionally, as the pelvis muscle weakens, the function that controls the bladder decreases. Even when the bladder is full, urinary incontinence can result in spite of oneself.
Another phenomena occurred by pelvis base muscular weakening is that the controllability of the sphincter, which contracts and dilates the vagina and the anus notedly decreases, thus bring an impediment to a married life.
In many conventional arts, a guard belt having a form of a band is disclosed, which is worn on a waist or pelvis portion to support a weaken pelvis muscle. The typical prior technology describing the guard belt is cited in Korean Utility Patent No. 20-0166329.
The conventional guard belt is comprised of an inner band having a plurality of steel balls therein and an outer band covering the inner belt. It anticipates an action and effect such that a press of steel balls supports the articular ligament of the lumbar vertebra.
However, since conventional guard belts described above are worn using a Velcro (an adhesive tape which is substituted for a button: trademark) fastener attached on each free end of the belt, wearing the guard belt cause localized pressure in the human body and induces a pain. It also brings about a hindrance in activity of the body.
Further, as a wearer is doing an action, the tightening force gradually becomes loose and it must be tightened frequently, which brings a cumbersome problem. Furthermore, the inconvenience is brought that the wearer on a pelvis portion could not sit and lie down relaxedly.
Particularly, the conventional belt with its form of band has a weak pressure force and therefore not much effect can be anticipated. When a pelvis is crooked, it has a disadvantage that no appropriate remedy can be achieved.


The method any system for nationwide mobile telecommunications billing provides improved efficiency in billing for mobile services. Local mobile networks are communicatively connected by signaling network to a national mobile service platform (MNSP). Traffic event information generated by local mobile networks is collected directly by the NMSP. Traffic event information generated by local landline networks and long distance networks is also collected by the NMSP. The NMSP processes all traffic events for all calls, generates all necessary billing information and returns resulting billing information to other networks only when necessary. In order to simplify NMSP processing, all billing information collected from other networks is formatted to form uniform master call detail records (MCDR). Each MCDR contains all the information necessary for the NMSP to perform its processing. Each MCDR is rated, then billing information is generated.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention relates generally to billing in telecommunications networks, and in particular to a system and method for improving efficiency in billing for mobile telecommunications services.
2. Background Information
A multitude of mobile communications systems have been established throughout the world. These systems include older systems, such as, for example, Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communications System (TACS) as well as newer digital systems, for example, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Personal Communications System (PCS). While these systems differ in many details, they are similar in many respects. In particular, all mobile systems have similar problems associated with inter-system billing. In order to simplify the description of the present invention, the present invention is described in the context of the GSM. However, the GSM is used merely as an example of a mobile communications system. The principles of the present invention are not limited to GSM; they are equally applicable to other mobile telecommunications systems as well.
In 1982, the global system for mobile communications (GSM) was established in Europe, to provide a cellular mobile radio system. The primary function of the GSM is to provide a full roaming mobile telephone service. The GSM protocol has been selected for use around the world for digital mobile telephone service. The principles of operation of the existing GSM digital mobile telephone system is described in the following references:
Balston, D. M., "Pan-European Cellular Radio", IEEE Electrical and Communications Journal, No. 1, pp. 7-13, 1989.
Goodman, D. J., "Second Generation Wireless Information Networks", IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, VT-40, May 1991, pp. 366-374.
Pautet, M. B., and Mouly, M., "GSM Protocol Architecture: Radio Subsystem Signaling", IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, May 1991, pp. 326-332.
A problem arises when calls involving roaming mobile subscribers must be billed. Whenever a call involving a roaming subscriber is completed, billing records for that call must be sent to the subscriber's home system in order for the subscriber to be billed. Although the GSM specifications specify the information which must be included in a billing record, they do not specify a particular format which must be used. Consequently, in Europe, a situation has arisen in which each GSM system uses a different format for its billing records. Each billing record received must be reformatted to the format used by the system receiving the record. Because there are a plurality of systems, each with its own format, each system must be capable of reformatting messages received in a plurality of formats. This places an overhead burden on each system's billing processing systems.
The billing records are used not only to generate subscriber bills, but to facilitate reconciliation between telecommunications carriers. Each call originated within a particular carrier's mobile system entitles the carrier to receive at least a portion of the amount which is billed to the subscriber. Periodically, all carriers must reconcile the amounts they are due from other carriers and the amount payable to other carriers. If the amounts due from and payable to another carrier are not equal, one carrier must pay the other the difference. Billing records are used to generate reconciliation information. Multiple formats for billing records causes an overhead burden on this process also.
This problem may be even worse in the United States, in which there are even more independent PCS systems. Many PCS systems have adopted the GSM standard. If each PCS system adopted a different format for its billing records, as is the case in Europe, the overhead burden would be even greater. This problem is shown by the example of a call placed from a mobile station located in one mobile network to a mobile station located in another mobile network. Typically, such a call would be handled by an originating mobile network, a local land-line network, a long distance network, a remote land-line network and a destination mobile network. Five telecommunications networks are involved. The call causes each network to generate traffic information about the call. Each network must then process their respective traffic information and separately generate billing information for its portion of the call. Much of this information must be communicated to some other network in order for proper billing and reconciliation to be completed. Each network which sends billing information may send the information in a different format. Each network which receives billing information must reformat the received information in order to process the information. With a large number of possible formats, the overhead burden of reformatting each record may become excessive. A need exists to reduce the amount of reformatting of call detail records which must be performed for wireless calls.

Method and system for nationwide mobile telecommunications billing


This disclosure describes techniques for generating a set of data points that form a triangular wave having a desired gain and a desired frequency. In one example, the method includes the step of (a) determining an increment value based on the desired frequency and the desired gain of the triangular wave. The method further includes the step of (b) adding the increment value to a current data point to generate a next data point, the current data point and the next data point forming a subset of the set of data points. The method further includes the step of iteratively performing (a) and (b) to generate the set of data points that form the triangular wave.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a format for the creation, communication and playback of audio sounds, such as music, speech, tones, alerts, and the like. A device that supports the MIDI format may store sets of audio information that can be used to create various "voices." Each voice may correspond to a particular sound, such as a musical note by a particular instrument. For example, a first voice may correspond to a middle C as played by a piano, a second voice may correspond to a middle C as played by a trombone, a third voice may correspond to a D# as played by a trombone, and so on. In order to replicate the sounds played by various instruments, a MIDI compliant device may include a set of information for voices that specify various audio characteristics, such as the behavior of a low frequency oscillator, effects such as vibrato, and a number of other audio characteristics that can affect the perception of different sounds. Almost any sound can be defined, conveyed in a MIDI file, and reproduced by a device that supports the MIDI format.
A device that supports the MIDI format may produce a musical note (or other sound) when an event occurs that indicates that the device should start producing the note. Similarly, the device stops producing the musical note when an event occurs that indicates that the device should stop producing the note. An entire musical composition may be coded in accordance with the MIDI format by specifying events that indicate when certain voices should start and stop. In this way, the musical composition may be stored and transmitted in a compact file format according to the MIDI format.
MIDI is supported in a wide variety of devices. For example, wireless communication devices, such as radiotelephones, may support MIDI files for downloadable ringtones or other audio output. Digital music players, such as the "iPod" devices sold by Apple Computer, Inc and the "Zune" devices sold by Microsoft Corp. may also support MIDI file formats. Other devices that support the MIDI format may include various music synthesizers such as keyboards, sequencers, voice encoders (vocoders), and rhythm machines. In addition, a wide variety of devices may also support playback of MIDI files or tracks, including wireless mobile devices, direct two-way communication devices (sometimes called walkie-talkies), network telephones, personal computers, desktop and laptop computers, workstations, satellite radio devices, intercom devices, radio broadcasting devices, hand-held gaming devices, circuit boards installed in devices, information kiosks, video game consoles, various computerized toys for children, on-board computers used in automobiles, watercraft and aircraft, and a wide variety of other devices.
A number of other types of audio formats, standards and techniques have also been developed. Other examples include standards defined by the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG), windows media audio (WMA) standards, standards by Dolby Laboratories, Inc., and quality assurance techniques developed by THX, ltd., to name a few. Moreover, many audio coding standards and techniques continue to emerge, including the digital MP3 standard and variants of the MP3 standard, such as the advanced audio coding (AAC) standard used in "iPod" devices. Various video coding standards may also use audio coding techniques, e.g., to code multimedia frames that include audio and video information.
One important feature of the MIDI format is its ability to store data related to the articulation of a particular note. The articulation data includes information about sound effects, such as a vibrato or a tremolo, which can help to emulate the sound of an acoustic instrument. A device that utilizes MIDI may implement these effects using a combination of low frequency oscillators and envelope generators. Typically, a low frequency oscillator (LFO) can be used to generate a periodic low-frequency wave to modulate the pitch, amplitude, and frequency of a particular note. In order to generate a low-frequency wave that operates within acceptable tolerance ranges, numerous and complex calculations are required, which can require the storage of a number of parameters and the utilization of a significant amount of chip area.

Method and device for generating triangular waves


In an information processing apparatus for relaying a calling from a first module to a function inside a second module in software divided into a plurality of modules, the calling is relayed from the first module to the function inside the second module. A log in the second module corresponding to the calling is obtained. The log includes at least a write starting address of binary data and a data size thereof. An area where the binary data is written is determined based on the write starting address and the data size thereof. Whether or not writing into the decided area is permitted is determined. On the basis of the determination result, writing into the decided area of the binary data is controlled. As a result, writing into an invalid area of the log is prevented without modifying the software.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for obtaining a software processing log and an information processing method for use therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software failures with a low reproducibility rate are often dealt with by obtaining a software processing log. Hitherto, a processing log is obtained by modifying the application software module so as to add a processing log obtaining routine. However, in the above-described method requiring a modification of application software, such as embedding log obtaining code, the modification processing becomes complicated.
Accordingly, there is proposed a method in which, in software that is divided into a plurality of modules, by providing a log obtaining module for relaying the calling of a function from a module corresponding to application software, the module being present within another module, and for obtaining a processing log in the other module corresponding to that calling, the log of processing can be obtained without performing complex modifications of application software (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-38311).
When a log is to be obtained as binary data using such a log obtaining module, access is made to data on the basis of a memory pointer defined in a parameter for a function, and the data is stored. At this time, when part or all of the binary data is placed in an invalid area where access is prohibited due to a failure, etc., of application software, as a result of the log obtaining software accessing the area, an exception occurs. Therefore, corresponding exception processing needs to be performed.
In regard to the above, a method in which the application software itself is changed and an invalid access to memory is detected has been proposed. However, since the change of the application software is complex, this is not effective.

Information processing apparatus and method for obtaining software processing log