An internal constant voltage control circuit for a semiconductor memory device includes a current source for generating voltage in accordance with current when power is turned on, a bias circuit for outputting a first bias voltage when power is turned on, a first level shifter for receiving the output voltage of the current source and outputting a first voltage, a second level shifter for receiving the output voltage of the bias circuit and outputting a second voltage, and a buffer for differentially amplifying the output voltage of the first level shifter and the output voltage of the second level shifter, and generating an internal voltage. The circuit decreases operation current by reducing an internal voltage during a low temperature operation and securing a timing margin between signals, thereby stabilizing a low temperature operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to an internal constant voltage control circuit for a semiconductor memory device capable of being stably operated at a lower temperature.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, an internal constant voltage control circuit for a semiconductor memory device according to a conventional art includes: a current source 110 for receiving a supply voltage Vcc when switches S1, S2 are turned on and outputting current I.sub.R ; a voltage output unit 120 for generating voltage V.sub.LB in accordance with the output current I.sub.R of the current source 110; a level shifter 130 for determining voltage V.sub.LN in accordance with supply voltage Vcc being applied thereto; and a buffer 140 for differentially amplifying the output voltage V.sub.LB of the voltage output unit 120 and the output voltage V.sub.LN of the level shifter 130 and generating internal voltage V.sub.L.
In the current source 110, there is formed a current mirror which includes a PMOS transistor M1 to the source of which is applied supply voltage Vcc, and another PMOS transistor M2 which receives supply voltage Vcc via a variable resistance R.sub.R. The gate and drain of the PMOS transistor M1 and the gate of the PMOS transistor M2 are connected in common to a node which is earthed sequentially via an NMOS transistor M3 and the switch S1. The drain of the PMOS transistor M2 is grounded sequentially via the NMOS transistor M4 and the switch S2 and at the same time it is connected to the respective gates of the NMOS transistors M3, M4. The connection node between the gates of the NMOS transistors M3, M4 is applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor M5 of the voltage output unit 120. Here, to the variable terminal of the variable resistance R.sub.R there is applied a supply voltage Vcc.
Also, in the voltage output unit 120, the drain of the NMOS transistor M5 is connected to the variable resistance R.sub.L through which is applied the supply voltage Vcc. The source of the NMOS transistor M5 is connected to ground voltage via a switch S3. The variable terminal of the variable resistance R.sub.L is connected to the level shifter 130 via a switch S4. A connection node between the variable resistance R.sub.L and the NMOS transistor M5 is connected to the level shifter 130 via a switch S5.
In the level shifter 130, a condenser (or capacitor) C1 having applied thereto the supply voltage Vcc and the switch S4 in the voltage output unit 120 are respectively connected to the gate of a PMOS transistor M6 (to the drain of which is applied supply voltage Vcc). The PMOS transistor M6 is connected to ground voltage via diodes M7, M8 wherein the gate and the drain of each of the diodes M7, M8 are connected to each other, so that voltage V.sub.LB is outputted from a connection node between the PMOS transistor M6 and the diode M7.
Referring to the buffer 140, the gate and drain of a PMOS transistor M9 applied thereto by supply voltage Vcc and the drain of a PMOS transistor M10 are connected in common to a node which is connected to the drain of an NMOS transistor M11 (to the gate of which is applied the output voltage V.sub.LB of the voltage output 120). The drain of the NMOS transistor M11 is connected to the drain of an NMOS transistor M12 (to the gate of which is applied the output voltage V.sub.LN of the level shifter 130). The drain of the PMOS transistor M10 is connected to the drain and the gate of the NMOS transistor M13, respectively, so that an internal voltage V.sub.L can be generated from the connection node. The sources of the NMOS transistors M11, M12, M13 are connected to ground voltage via an NMOS transistor M14 (to the gate of which is applied a bias voltage V.sub.B). Here, reference numeral C2 denotes a condenser connected between the gate of the NMOS transistor M11 and supply voltage Vcc, and reference numeral C3 denotes a condenser connected between the gate of the NMOS transistor M12 and ground voltage.
The operation of the thusly constituted conventional voltage control circuit for a memory device will now be described.
First, with power turned on, when a control signal .O slashed.1 is turned on, the current I.sub.R flows through the current source 110. The current I.sub.R flows to the PMOS transistor M2 in accordance with the PMOS transistors M1, M2, M3 serving as a current mirror. A gate voltage for the NMOS transistors M3, M4 is determined in accordance with the current I.sub.R. At this time, the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor M4 in the current source 110 becomes equivalent to a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor M5 of the voltage output unit 120.
Therefore, in accordance with the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor M6 the current I.sub.L flows through the voltage output unit 120, so that the supply voltage Vcc serves to generate the voltage V.sub.LB which is pressure-reduced to a predetermined extent in the variable resistance R.sub.L, and the pressure-reduced voltage V.sub.LB is also applied to a connection node N.sub.B of the variable terminal of the variable resistance R.sub.L.
When a control signal .O slashed.2 is turned on, the switches S4, S5 are turned on to thereby transmit the voltage in the variable terminal of the resistance R.sub.L to the level shifter 130, and in accordance with the resistance R.sub.L the voltage which is pressure-reduced to a predetermined extent is transmitted to the buffer 140.
At this time, the voltage V.sub.LN in the level shifter 130 is determined in accordance with the PMOS transistors M6, M7, M8. The gate voltages V.sub.GS of the transistors M7, M8 are determined in accordance with a gate voltage V.sub.GS6 of the PMOS transistor M6, so that because the gate voltage V.sub.GS6 of the PMOS transistor M6 denotes `V.sub.DS6 `, the value of the voltage V.sub.LN becomes `2V.sub.GS `.
The gate voltage V.sub.GS6 of the PMOS transistor M6 is determined by the current I.sub.L flowing through the variable resistance R.sub.L, wherein the current I.sub.L is controlled by the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor M5.
In the buffer 140, when the bias voltage V.sub.B is turned to a high level and the NMOS transistor M14 is turned on, the NMOS transistors M11, M12 respectively serving as a differential amplifier differentially amplifies the output voltage V.sub.LB of the voltage output unit 120 and the output voltage V.sub.LN if the level shifter 130. In accordance with the obtained difference the current flowing through the PMOS transistor M10 is determined for thereby generating the internal voltage V.sub.L.
The level of the internal voltage V.sub.L is rendered to follow the higher level of the input voltages V.sub.LN, V.sub.LB.
That is, with power turned on, during a time in which supply voltage Vcc is being turned to `5 V`, the output voltage V.sub.LN of the level shifter 130 is larger than the output voltage V.sub.LB of the voltage output unit 120, thereby starting the operation of the NMOS transistor M12. From a time point in which the supply voltage Vcc is becoming larger than `5 V`, the voltage V.sub.LB becomes larger than the voltage V.sub.LN, so that with the NMOS transistor M11 starting its operation, the internal voltage V.sub.L is generated in accordance with a graph as shown in FIG. 2, whereby `3.3 V` of constant voltage is generated around the operative voltage (5 V) with regard to the external voltage Vcc.
According to the above-described operation, the internal voltage V.sub.L is generated in accordance with the current I.sub.R which is generated by a difference between a high threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor M2 and a standard threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor M1, thereby maintaining a constant voltage irrespective of a temperature variation.
However, the conventional voltage control circuit generates a constant voltage with regard to a temperature variation, whereby a larger current is flowed therethrough during a low temperature operation than during a high temperature operation. Also, the conventional voltage control circuit causes a signal transition time to be faster for thereby decreasing a timing margin, and because a large amount of current being flowed therethrough leads to noise around a power source wire and a signal wire, there may occur an error operation.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when around supply voltage Vcc (=5 V) the NMOS transistors M11, M12 are respectively turned on, the current flow becomes increased, whereby the level of the internal voltage V.sub.L is raised to as high as the voltage difference .DELTA.V.sub.L for thereby resulting in an error operation.

Internal constant voltage control circuit for memory device


An electrically adjustable steering column includes a steering column servo-drive with a motor in two planes. The steering column is configured so that an inner shaft, mounted in an outer shaft provides for vertical movement or so that the inner shaft accomplishes the lengthwise movement.

In order to adjust a secure and comfortable position, steering columns of passenger cars are often adjustable in height and length in the prior art. In versions with electrical servo-motors, one motor is customarily used for each direction of adjustment.
Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, based on practical experience, uses one motor and one shaft and employs electromagnets to couple each threaded nut indicating the steering wheel inclination and the forward/backward position.
The Elba company of Bremen, in a steering column with two flexible shafts of the prior art, whose drive unit is switched on and off with a coupling, engages the two directions of adjustment forward or back.
The goal of the present invention, which it achieves, is to improve the existing technique.
Furthermore, the present invention advantageously creates more cost-favorable and simple alternatives with respect to the embodiments of the prior art.

Electrically adjustable steering column and operating method thereof


For rationalizing medical treatments in the hospital setting, particularly for improving the utilization rate of examination and therapy equipment and to avoid long waiting times, a time management system (1) is disclosed having at least one treatment station (2a-2c) coupled with an appointment-scheduling module (3) for storing appointments (T1, T2) in memory, each of which is assigned to a medical procedure (8a-8c) specified with a view to the treatment station, or a defined treatment station, (2a-2c) and to a predetermined duration (tv). The treatment station (2a-2c) is operative to output a check-back signal (R) to the appointment-scheduling module (3) once a procedure (8a-8c) has been completely performed. The appointment-scheduling module (3) is embodied for dynamically adapting subsequent appointments (T2) on the basis of the check-back signal (R).

In the hospital setting, medical treatments are increasingly being defined in the form of standardized procedures (or work flows) in a way that is similar to industrial processes. As used here, the term "treatment" includes the entire field of medical treatments, especially diagnosis, therapy planning, and therapy. The efficiency of such standardization is increasingly significant, especially given the increasing cost pressure and hence the economy increasingly demanded of a hospital. Once standardized procedures have been predefined, they can be better planned for, and appointments for them can be set better. Unlike conventional industrial processes, however, such an appointment schedule is a rule difficult to achieve in a hospital setting. This can ascribed particularly to the fact that estimating the actual duration of a medical treatment in advance can be done only with comparatively great uncertainty, because of the individual differences of every patient examined and the associated clinical picture. In particular, findings that affect the duration of the treatment are typically not known until during the course of a treatment.
The resultant deviations from the original appointment schedule, depending on the direction of the deviation, lead to long waiting times for later patients or times when the examination equipment stands idle between two treatments, making for a comparatively low degree of utilization. Low utilization is a considerable disadvantage, above all in the case of a cost-intensive examination or treatment device, such as a particle accelerator used for therapeutic purposes.
Until now, for scheduling appointments in the hospital setting, a conventional, and in particular software-implemented, appointment scheduler with static time allocation has typically been employed. Such an appointment scheduler makes it possible to assign appointments within fixed or variable time slots. If deviations from the appointment schedule occur in practice, then the appointment schedule may need to be updated manually, which is complicated. If for reasons of time the manual updating is not done, then a delay, once it occurs, spreads on and on to newly assigned appointments.

Time management system for medical applications, particularly in a hospital setting


The present invention provides for the identification of individuals having neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Peptoids recognized by Parkinson's Disease- and Alzheimer's Disease-specific antibodies are identified, allowing one to diagnose or predict ND in subjects.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecular biology, immunology and neurobiology. More particularly, it concerns the identification of peptoids that are recognized by neurodegenerative disease (ND)-specific antibodies. These peptoids can be used to identify subjects suffering from or at risk of NDs.
II. Description of Related Art
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal brain disease that affects as many as 5.3 million Americans. AD destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. These symptoms get worse over time, and ultimately the disease is fatal. Today, it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50-70% of all dementia cases. Sadly, while treatments for symptoms exist, there is no cure.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease is an empirical process that involves several types of evaluations and may take many days to weeks to complete. Evaluations include taking a detailed medical history and physical examination. In addition, standard laboratory tests including blood, urine and CSF tests are mainly designed to help eliminate other possible conditions. Neuropsychological testing, using a variety of tools to assess memory, problem-solving, attention, vision-motor coordination and abstract thinking, are also performed. Tests for depression should also be included. Finally, brain-imaging scans are recommended to rule out brain tumors or blood clots in the brain as the reason for symptoms. In sum, there is currently no single test that accurately diagnoses Alzheimer's Disease, with a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's possible only by examining brain tissue after death.
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is another degenerative disease of the brain (central nervous system) that often impairs motor skills, speech, and other functions. It affects movement (motor symptoms), but other typical symptoms include disorders of mood, behavior, thinking, and sensation (non-motor symptoms). Patient's individual symptoms may be quite dissimilar and progression of the disease is also distinctly individual. The symptoms of PD result from the loss (idiopathic or genetic, toxic or traumatic) of pigmented dopamine-secreting (dopaminergic) cells in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra (literally "black substance"). These neurons project to the striatum and their loss leads to alterations in the activity of the neural circuits within the basal ganglia that regulate movement, in essence an inhibition of the direct pathway and excitation of the indirect pathway.
Diagnosis of PD presents similar if somewhat distinct challenges. When performing a neurologic examination to evaluate a patient with any movement disorder, the doctor should take a medical history and perform a physical examination. In addition, a neurologic exam is conducted to make a thorough evaluation of the nervous system, including observing aspects of the patient's movement, coordination and balance. Laboratory testing of the blood of patients with the symptoms typical of Parkinson's only rarely uncovers any abnormality. Electroencephalograms (EEG's) record some aspects of brain electrical activity, but they are not effective in spotting PD. The MRI and CAT scans of the brain produce remarkable and exquisite anatomic pictures, but the brains of people with PD disease appear normal even under this scrutiny because the changes associated with PD are microscopic and are not revealed by these scans. With no definitive diagnostic tests to provide specific answers, physicians must base their diagnosis of PD on judgment.
Thus, there remains a need for diagnostic procedures for both of these diseases and other neurological diseases that are (i) accurate and objective, (ii) simple and reproducible, and (iii) useful in both early and late stage case.

Identification of small molecules recognized by antibodies in subjects with neurodegenerative diseases

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for triple format preserving encryption for activity data transmissions. In particular the invention provides a secure platform for transmission and storage of data based on multi-level compounded encryption while preserving native data format post-encryption to allow compatibility of post-encryption data with existing systems. In particular, the invention is configured for generating a plurality of encryption keys such that each of the encryption keys are structured to preserve pre-encryption data format, post-encryption. The invention is further configured for sequentially compounding encryption of native format data using the plurality of encryption keys.

Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of electronic activities, due to widespread use of smartphone, tablet computers, laptop computers, transaction terminals, and electronic computing devices in general which are configured for accepting authentication credentials in electronic form. Typically, in conventional systems activity data is transmitted from a source system to another recipient system for the performance of the electronic activity, and is stored at one or more locations. However, this activity data may be intercepted and modified by unauthorized entities during the transmission or this activity data may be accessed by unauthorized entities from the storage location. There is a need for systems and methods for increasing security of electronic data.
The previous discussion of the background to the invention is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

System for triple format preserving encryption


A heat transfer apparatus includes a wetting chamber, an air intake opening leading to an air flow pathway through the wetting chamber, an air outtake opening leading from the air flow pathway through the wetting chamber, an atomizer, a liquid reservoir, and a liquid delivery system for moving liquid from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer. The atomizer is arranged to receive the liquid from the liquid delivery system and disperse the liquid into the air flow pathway in a form of atomized liquid, and the liquid reservoir is disposed to collect the atomized liquid from the wetting chamber.

Typically, cooling systems, such as those used for cooling habitable structures, consist of systems that cool the air. The cooling of the air is performed in many ways, such as using cooled refrigerant, cooled air or cooled water. Evaporative cooling systems have historically been less expensive than refrigerant systems. Evaporative systems that utilize the evaporation of water, such as those that use pads soaked with water and have air drawn through them, have been used for many years. Such evaporation systems, however, tend to humidify the air within the structure, causing reduced occupant comfort after a certain dew point is reached.
The use of cooled water systems, such as those using cooling towers, is well-known in large-scale commercial applications. The residential use of circulating cooled water to cool the air within a structure has not been well received, due to set-up and operating costs. Additionally, the perceived negative aesthetics of most traditional cooled water systems has limited the broader adoption of use in residential applications. A cooling system that would economically and efficiently cool the air within a structure, using cooled liquid (water) to transfer heat from the structure's air as a means to cool the air and not add humidity to the air, would be advantageous.


An apparatus and method of its use to prevent accidental transfusion of mismatched blood types from a blood bag containing pre-typed blood to a patient. The system includes two major independent but mating components: 1) a cannula spike attached to a cannula adapted for intravenous infusion of a fluid from the bag into a patient and 2) a plurality of different individual receptacle ports of graduated size, of which at least one is selectively attached to the outside of pilot tube at the time of blood typing. The cannula spike is a connected series of decreasingly sized individual cannula spike units, each unit being configured to be matingly received by and uniquely coded to its matching female receptacle port. Each of the units is individually removable from the cannula spike and the last unit may be affixed permanently to the cannula. Each unit may also be color coded, bar coded, and affixed with linear indicia to assist the user in avoiding an accidental mismatch between blood types.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus to prevent accidental transfusion of mismatched blood types from a blood bag containing pre-typed blood to a patient of a different blood type. More particularly, each of a connected series of decreasingly sized individual cannula spikes is configured to be matingly received by, and uniquely coded to, its unique and matching female receptacle which is permanently attached to the blood bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various inventions are known which have been proposed to help prevent the fatal effect of infusion of an improperly matched blood type to a patient. Each of such inventions have major drawbacks which generally stem from a requirement that the healthcare provider take positive, cognitive actions to avoid an improper match. The prior inventions, although serving to alert or remind the healthcare provider that a mismatch can occur, generally do little to actually physically prevent and actively discourage an incorrect connection between a typed blood bag and a cannulated patient otherwise effected by an unobservant or persistent healthcare provider.
To appreciate the disadvantages of the known art, an understanding of the blood typing system and the elements common to all patient cannulations is necessary. Typically, when blood is donated, the blood is prepared and typed according a universal blood typing system: A, B, AB, and O wherein AB is a universal recipient and O is a universal donor. The rh-factor of blood is also typed as positive (+) or negative (-). Hence, each bag may contain any one of eight different blood types and is so labelled for future use and for cold storage. This critical point provides the first opportunity to modify the blood bag to prevent future mistakes.
When a patient is in need of blood, the patient is also blood typed, and may be labelled too, whether by bracelet or other means. However, not all patients must receive an exactly matched blood type. Some blood types are acceptable to some patients in accordance with the universal blood typing system: AB patients may receive all blood types, AB, A, B or O; A patients may receive A or O type blood; B patients may receive B or O type blood; but, O patients may receive only O. Moreover, mismatched rh-factors (+ instead of -, and vice versa), may be critical to the welfare of the patient, nevertheless, often are not critical. Therefore, an rh-factor mismatch may be voluntarily risked in certain emergency cases, so long as the proper blood type is available and chosen.
Based upon such information, the appropriately labelled blood bag is matched to the patient. Each bag is typically provided with a pilot tube depending from a lowermost edge, which is provided with a puncturable diaphragm. A cannula, typically having a bag end attached to a hollow spike for puncturing the diaphragm and a patient end adapted for venous infusion, is provided as a separate unit which, when inserted into both bag and patient, allows the bag to be hung on an I.V. pole and allow the red blood cells to infuse by gravity into the patient.
When simple labelling techniques are used to identify blood bags, the ease of making a mistake is obvious. By merely misreading a label, the wrong blood bag may be chosen by the health care provider even when both donor blood and recipient patient are correctly typed. Statistics show that this type of accident is the most frequently observed in practice, whereas blood bag labelling mistakes rarely occur during the labelling process itself.
The likelihood of such cognitive mistakes arising is an inherent and major disadvantage of the following devices intended to avoid such mistakes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,421 issued May 24, 1994 to Leuenberger describes a microporous plastic film blood pack label which avoids wrinkling and thus distortion of its printed indicia. U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,383 issued Oct. 17, 1972 to Baucom describes combined elements including a patient identification band, having removable labels and a fastener, integrally combined with a pilot tube depending from a blood bag from which the band is ultimately separated. This system is used strictly to cross-identify, by means of printed indicia, a biological fluid and its recipient and fails to provide any physical impediments to mismatching the pilot tube with a patient cannula.
Other devices focus on preventing accidents by use of physical impediments, which do tend to limit the failure of use of cognitive skills which cause accidents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,458 issued Jul. 7, 1987 to Fredeking describes an apparatus and method using a lock and key to avoid mistakes during plasmapheresis, which involves taking blood and then returning the red blood cells back to the same donor. The flow of returned blood cells is allowed only by using a unique key to unlock a lock box which controls a roller clamp interposed on a flexible tubing cannula between the blood bag and the donor patient. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,920 issued Jun. 30, 1992 to Ishida is directed towards the prevention of mislabelling blood component bags at the time of blood donation (rather than towards prevention of misidentifying the bags at transfusion time), by providing several component bags interconnected by tubing for receiving blood. However, an inherent problem with such devices includes the inordinate amount of time necessary to operate the device thus tending to dedicate its use exclusively to autologous circumstances and teaching away from its use in emergency settings.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,673 issued Apr. 24, 1979 to Watt describes a blood bag having coded inlet-outlet fitments directed at preventing improper transfusions of bag contents. Like a child's peg and hole playset, a series of port fitments attached to the blood bag are coded according to various geometric shapes, which requires that only a correctly shaped hollow spike is allowed into the correctly coded port to permit puncture of the bag and thereby start flow of the fluid contained therein. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of the Watt patent show additional embodiments of the fitments and a brief accompanying description suggests that overlay fitments provided as a separate unit can be used to convert a bag having a conventional port to the coded system.
Although the simple Watt system does limit the inadvertent mismatch of ports and spikes of different shapes, it fails to teach the use of any one port as specifically matching a specific blood type (e.g. the square port is blood type B-). Thus, the chance of fatal error by providing mismatched blood is still high unless a consistent use or method is established wherein one type of port is used for one type of blood. Such a method is not taught.
Moreover, the variously configured structures of each port cause serious practical disadvantages to arise during use. Various mating configurations require that a multitude of pairs of parts be manufactured, and ultimately stored by the healthcare provider. Thus, depending on the frequency of need or if a sudden "run" on a particular blood type occurs, a mating part (the spike and attached infusion cannula) may become temporarily unavailable despite the availability of blood type and properly coded bag. Thus, to prepare for such contingencies, the provider must store an overabundance of each of the mating parts (cannulas having differently spiked ends) leading to unnecessary and increased costs. In an environment having limited storage space considerations, such as ambulances, such stock piling is highly impractical. Furthermore, the presence of multiple parts require added time to locate the properly stored part, such time often being unavailable to a health care provider in emergency situations.
The present invention provides a means by which all of these problems are overcome, the inherent structure of such means obviating the need to have excess storage for multiple parts and most importantly, preventing the inadvertent cross-matching of different blood types. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Failsafe intravenous transfusion system for typed blood


A wheel locking assembly for preventing theft of wheels and tires. The wheel locking assembly includes a wheel rim assembly including a disc-shaped wheel rim having a first side and a second side, and also having an axle-receiving opening being centrally disposed therethrough, and further having fastener holes being spaced apart and being disposed therethrough, and also having cover-mounting holes being disposed therethrough; and also includes a fastener assembly including fasteners being lockingly disposed in the fastener holes of the disc-shaped wheel rim; and further includes a locking assembly being disposed in the disc-shaped wheel rim for locking the fasteners in the fastener holes; and also includes cover members being fastenably attached to the wheel rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheel locks and more particularly pertains to a new wheel locking assembly for preventing theft of wheels and tires.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of wheel locks is known in the prior art. More specifically, wheel locks heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,177; U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,681; U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,655; U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,658; U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,917; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 432,006.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new wheel locking assembly. The prior art includes fasteners having various shaped head portions and having threaded shaft portions.


A reverse caller identification system. Telecommunications devices are registered with respect to specific locations and are monitored with respect to users proximity to said devices. Prior to putting an incoming call through to one of said devices, the caller is provided with information as to activities currently in proximity to that device. A plurality of options for real-time information data and caller feedback are described.

(5.1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications.
(5.2) Description of Related Art
Telecommunications apparatus, such as telephones (wired or wireless), facsimile machines, answering machines, paging devices, and the like, have become ubiquitous tools of both business and domestic environments. While offering convenience and facilitating interpersonal contact and information exchange, such devices may also serve as a source of aggravation and annoyance. A number of mechanisms such as voice mailbox, call forwarding, call waiting, call screening, call blocking, and caller identification (commonly known as "Caller ID," or simply "CID") have been developed to improve telecommunication services.
The function of a CID system is such that when a call rings, the receiver is able to obtain the calling-party telephone number and other related information to decide whether to take the call. The protocol of sending a CID was developed by Bell Communications Research. When a call is dialed, the data message of the CID is sent from the switchboard to the destination every two seconds. Referring to FIG. 1 (Prior Art), the protocol for sending a CID is arranged in a time sequence, in which a ring 10 is sent first. About 0.5 second later, a signal of channel seizure 11 is sent. Next, a mark 12 with 150 milliseconds (ms) duration is sent. Finally, the data message 13, including the data message of the CID is sent. A subsequent ring 14 is sent a few seconds later, initiating the next cycle. CID is sent by utilizing a modularizing method of frequency shift key (FSK) in which, e.g., a frequency of 1200 Hz represents the logic state "1," a frequency of 2200 Hz represents the logic state "0," and the sending rate is 1200 bits per second (bps). The signal of the channel seizure 11 is formed in a series of logic data mixed with a number of "0" and "1." Following that, a signal mark 12 is in a form of continuous logic state "1." The first logic state "0" after the mark 12 is interpreted as an end of the mark. Then the date, time, and telephone number grouped as the information of the CID data message are sent immediately after the mark 12.
When calling in to a telecommunications apparatus located in a meeting room or other location, such as for a teleconference, the incoming call can interrupt an on-going activity in that room that is otherwise unknown to the caller. Even with CID in use at the target location, the call still immediately rings through, causing the interruption. Similarly, wrong number calls immediately ring through, also causing an interruption.
Relying on a busy signal sent to the caller provides very little feedback information with respect to real-time information about the activities at the target location; only an immediate status (that line is either busy or not busy) is relayed back to the caller from the target location. Even with the addition of add-on features such as automatic ring-back type information or number dialed information (e.g., an automated dialer displaying the number called and an identification label, e.g., "Mr. White 911-555-1212"), there is still no further information regarding activities at the target. An automated voice mail, immediate status reply to the caller (e.g., "I am on vacation until eight a.m. next Tuesday.") requires prior arrangement and relatively continual updating; moreover, such automated absentee voice mail generally does not currently allow putting a call through after that message.
Taking a planned teleconference in a conference room as an exemplary activity, to avoid such interruptive problems, one might not call the conference room itself, but instead call a cellular telephone of one of the known participants to determine if all is in order for the planned teleconference. Then, however, assuming all is ready, that cell phone call must be transferred to the teleconference phone or another call directly dialed thereto. This is also a procedure that is interruptive of current activities of the known participant and there is no real-time information regarding the target location if the known participant has not arrived there.
Another solution is to use a bridge line where each participant calls into a hub. However, this requires set-up in advance of each conference; the participants must keep track of a unique meeting identification; and the meeting participants must all call the bridge at the designated time. Again, this is also a relatively expensive solution. This solution is relatively inconvenient in station-to-station situations (e.g., a single remote attendee calling a conference room), as it requires active rather than passive measures by all parties.
Another solution is to use call-forwarding. The remote participants call the office telephone number of one of the on-site participants who forwards his or her line to the conference room number at the set time for the meeting. However, note that the forwarded call may still interrupt a prior activity at that room which has run into overtime. Such forwarding is subject to other problems such as forwarding to the wrong number, the continued forward of calls into the meeting unless call forwarding is canceled after all participants are logged in, or the like. The on-site participant must remember to cancel call forwarding.
Another solution is to have a live receptionist who can monitor each conference room and scheduled teleconferencing activities in real time. Obviously, this is an expensive solution.
None of the prior solutions are convenient, economical nor effective in the long term. Thus, there is a need for a system which allows a caller to avoid interrupting such an on-going activity and obtain real-time information regarding the local environment at the target location. In other words, there is a need for an electronic system which acts much in the same way that on-site participants to an activity at a given location can perform, such as looking into the location through a window and determining if it is occupied, and by whom, prior to entering and without causing a disruption. The system described herein is adaptable to a variety of other implementations such as home use, wrong number recognition, automated routing of calls, away-from-the-phone determination mechanisms, and the like.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An electric motor includes a stator, a case surrounding the stator, and a rotor rotatably disposed with respect to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor core having a plurality of poles and slots, a shaft coupled to a central portion of the rotor core, a rotor coil wound on the rotor core, and coil supporting members provided at the rotor core. The coil supporting members are configured to support the rotor coil such that the rotor coil is prevented from being separated from the rotor core in a radial direction when the rotor rotates. Under such a configuration, a short-circuit of the rotor coil due to a centrifugal force when the rotor rotates, can be prevented.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an electric motor, and particularly, to an electric motor capable of preventing the occurrence of a short-circuit of a rotor.
2. Background
As is well known, an electric motor is commonly a rotary electric machine for converting electric energy into mechanical energy.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electric motor in accordance with the conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a rotor of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electric motor includes a stator 20, and a rotor 30 rotatably disposed with respect to stator 20. A frame or a case 10 is provided outside stator 20. A bearing 12 for rotatably supporting the rotor 30 is provided at the case 10. Stator 20 includes a stator core 22, and a stator coil 24 wound on stator core 22.
The rotor 30 includes a shaft 31, a rotor core 41 coupled to shaft 31, and a rotor coil 51 wound on rotor core 41. As shown in FIG. 2, rotor core 41 includes a hub 43 to which shaft 31 is coupled, and a plurality of poles 45 protruding from hub 43 in a radial direction. Poles 45 are spaced from each other at constant intervals in a circumferential direction. Slots 44 are formed between every two neighboring poles 45. Rotor coil 51 is wound on each pole 45 a plurality of times.
A power supply unit 35 for supplying power to rotor coil 51 is provided at shaft 31. Power supply unit 35 includes commutators or slip rings 36 coupled to shaft 31, and brushes 37 contacting the commutators or slip rings 36 to conduct power to rotor coil 51.
However, the conventional electric motor has the following problems. First, when rotor 30 rotates, coil ends or end turns of rotor coil 51 protruding from two ends of rotor core 41 in an axial direction are pulled in a radial direction. This may cause a short-circuit of rotor coil 51. Second, when the electric motor is driven, rotor coil 51 does not smoothly emit heat due to its relatively small contact area with the surrounding air. This may cause temperature increases of rotor coil 51. If rotor coil 51 has a drastic temperature increase, the electric motor may have a reduced output capability and perhaps permanent damage.


Provided is a data bus system for a micro controller which has an input/output (I/O) unit, a central processing unit (CPU), an internal memory unit, and a peripheral circuitry. The data bus system includes an external access bus used when data is output from the CPU or data is input to the I/O unit or the internal memory unit; an internal access bus used when data is input to the CPU, data is output from the I/O unit or the internal memory unit, or data is input to or output from the peripheral circuitry; and an internal memory test bus used when data is output from the internal memory unit and input to the I/O unit.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-61487, filed 9 Oct. 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data bus system for a micro controller, and more particularly, to a data bus system for a micro controller having a plurality of sub data buses.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a microprocessor is one of various types of central processing units (CPUs), which is a semiconductor device in which a CPU of a computer is integrated on a single integrated circuit. A micro controller refers to a single chip with the built-in CPU, storage unit having a certain capacity, and input/output (I/O) control circuit. In the micro controller, movement of data within the micro controller is made via a data bus, and a system relating to the movement of data via the data bus is called a data bus system.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of conventional data bus systems for a micro controller. Referring to FIG. 1, the data bus system includes a data bus 102 and an address bus 104 which are connected to an I/O unit 112, a CPU 114, a memory unit 116, and a peripheral circuitry 118. Therefore, via the data bus 102, data is moved between the CPU 114 and the memory unit 116, between the CPU 114 and the peripheral circuitry 18, or between the CPU 114 and the I/O unit 112. During the movement of data, only one block related to the movement of data is open, thereby preventing the other blocks from interrupting the exchange of data.
However, the conventional data bus system is disadvantageous in that one data bus 102 is shared by the I/O unit 112, the CPU 114, the memory unit 116, and the peripheral circuitry 118. In this case, a greater amount of load capacitance is weighed on the data bus 102. Moreover, as the number of peripheral circuits installed in a micro controller is increased, the amount of data input to and output from the peripheral circuits are increased, thereby increasing loads weighed on the data bus 102. An increase in the loads on the data bus 102 results in a reduction in the operational speed of a data bus system and an increase in power consumption therein.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Methods and apparatus for efficient utilization of a cryogen in inerting of solid and molten metals are presented. One method and apparatus of the invention includes providing a source of liquid cryogen; transporting the liquid cryogen through a conduit connected to the source of liquid cryogen to a gas/liquid separator, wherein a portion of the liquid cryogen transforms into gaseous cryogen en route; transporting a portion of the liquid cryogen through a first conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen supply nozzle; transporting the gaseous cryogen through a second conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen supply nozzle; and flowing at least a portion of liquid cryogen and at least a portion of the gaseous cryogen through the cryogen nozzle separately and near a surface of solid or molten metal. Thus liquid that transforms into gaseous cryogen en route from storage is not vented and not wasted, but used in inerting of solid or molten metals.

1. Brief Description of the Invention
This invention generally addresses needs in the inerting of molten or solid metals, and in particular methods and apparatus to improve efficiency of use of cryogens such as argon in inerting molten or solid metals.
2. Related Art
In the metal casting industry, metals (ferrous or non-ferrous) are melted in a furnace, then poured into molds to solidify into castings. In the foundry melting operations, metals are commonly melted in electric induction furnaces. It is often advantageous to melt the metals under cover of inert gas (usually Ar or N2), rather than expose the metal to atmospheric air. The inert gas cover minimizes oxidation of the metal (including its alloying components), which increases yield and alloy recovery efficiency, and also reduces formation of metallic oxides which can cause casting defects (inclusions). The inert gas cover also reduces the tendency of the molten metal to absorb gases (chiefly O2 and H2) from the atmosphere, which in turn reduces gas-related casting defects such as porosity. Other benefits of melt surface inerting include reduced slag formation, improved metal fluidity, increased furnace refractory life, and reduced need for de-oxidizers.
As the electric induction furnace is generally an open-top, batch melter, the inert gas (N2 or Ar) is usually applied from above the furnace. Inert gas is usually applied throughout the entire melting cycle.
There are many types of furnace inerting techniques in practice today, but they can generally be classified into two major categories: Gas inerting, in which gaseous N2 or Ar is (gently) blown into the top of the furnace; and liquid inerting, in which liquid N2 or Ar is dripped or poured into the top of the furnace. In gas inerting, there are many different configurations of pipes and manifolds or distribution xe2x80x9cringsxe2x80x9d employed to blow the inert gas into the top of the furnace. These make use of varying gas pressures, velocities, discharge locations and angles of injection. Some try to minimize turbulence by creating gentle laminar flow. Some utilize a xe2x80x9cswirlingxe2x80x9d pattern. Some techniques may employ a collar, shroud or cone-like assembly mounted on top of the furnace. However, with any gas inerting technique, it is difficult to produce and maintain a true inert (0% O2) atmosphere directly at the metal surface, because hot thermal updrafts from within the hot furnace are continually pushing the incoming cold inert gas up and away from the metal surface. As the hot air and gases rise, the induced draft is continually pulling fresh cold air toward the furnace. The injected inert gas will also entrain ambient air along with it as it is injected into the furnace. Because of these effects, it is difficult, if not impossible, for gas inerting techniques to provide a true inert (0% O2) atmosphere directly at the surface of the metal.
With liquid inerting (such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,156), the liquid cryogen (typically N2 or Ar) has higher density than its gas phase and air, and is much less likely to be pushed up and away from the melt surface by the thermal updrafts. The liquid drops or stream are much better able to fall all the way down to the actual metal surface (hot solid metal or molten metal). After contacting the metal surface, within a short time, the liquid vaporizes into a gas. (The appearance is similar to drops of water xe2x80x9cdancingxe2x80x9d on a hot pancake griddle). As the N2 or Ar boils from liquid to gas, it expands volumetrically by a factor of 600-800 times as it rises. This expansion pushes ambient air away from the surface of the metal. In this manner, liquid inerting provides a more effective, true inert (0% O2) atmosphere directly at the metal surface, as compared to gas inerting. With liquid inerting, inert gas usage efficiency is generally increased; i.e. it requires a lower quantity of inert gas to achieve the same performance as gas inerting.
One drawback of liquid inerting is the difficulty of efficiently delivering the liquid N2 or Ar to the furnace interior in a liquid state. The liquefied gas (preferably N2 or Ar) is extremely cold (approximately xe2x88x92184xc2x0 C.). In the storage tank and distribution piping, the liquid inert gas is continually absorbing heat from the surroundings. This ambient heat pickup manifests itself by boiling some of the liquid to vapor inside the storage tank and distribution piping. The tank and piping is insulated as much as practically possible (typically 7 to 11 cm foam, or vacuum-jacket). The tank-to-furnace piping distance is kept as short as possible (in practice, usually about 15 to 50 m). In spite of these efforts, there is always some amount of liquid that will unavoidably boil to vapor, due to this ambient heat pickup. In addition, some liquid will always xe2x80x9cflashxe2x80x9d boil to vapor by virtue of pressure reduction alone. The liquid is stored at elevated pressure (typically 2 to 7 bar) in the storage tank, in equilibrium with its vapor phase. Elevated pressure is necessary to provide the driving force to xe2x80x9cpushxe2x80x9d the liquid out of the tank, through the distribution piping. As a matter of practicality, there is usually a vertical elevation rise in the piping which needs to be overcome, and there is some pressure drop through the final liquid discharge device (diffuser). So, as the liquid N2 or Ar travels through the piping, pressure decreases (eventually to atmospheric pressure at the discharge point), and more and more of the liquid boils to vapor. Due to these combined effects (ambient heat pickup and pressure drop), by the time the liquid N2 or Ar reaches the discharge point at the furnace, it is estimated that roughly 0.5% to as much as 30% has boiled to vapor, depending on the parameters of the particular system.
Due to volumetric expansion, the vapor (gas phase) occupies much more space than the liquid. In the piping, this expanding gas restricts, or xe2x80x9cchokesxe2x80x9d the flow of liquid by occupying a greater and greater portion of the volume available in the pipe. Hence the N2 or Ar in the pipe can be mostly liquid by mass, but mostly vapor by volume.
The result is that xe2x80x9csputteringxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csurgingxe2x80x9d flow is observed at the discharge end of the pipe. xe2x80x9cSputteringxe2x80x9d flow is a combination of gas and xe2x80x9csprayingxe2x80x9d liquid, often unsteady in appearance with time, with respect to the observed amount of liquid flow. xe2x80x9cSurgingxe2x80x9d flow is a more extreme condition, in that there is observed alternating time periods of xe2x80x9cgas onlyxe2x80x9d discharge, and xe2x80x9cgas plus liquid sputteringxe2x80x9d discharge. Sputtering and surging flow is caused by the generated vapor xe2x80x9cbubblesxe2x80x9d working their way out of the system piping. The greater the percentage of vaporization, the more extreme the observed sputtering and/or surging will be.
Sputtering or surging flow will reduce the furnace inerting effectiveness, for liquid inerting processes. Compared to a compact, well organized and steady (small) liquid stream, or compared to relatively large droplets, a spray or mist of fine liquid droplets will have much greater surface area, and will therefore absorb heat from the furnace environment much more quickly, vaporizing more quickly, and therefore be less likely to fall all the way down to the metal surface in the liquid state, therefore providing a less effective inert atmosphere at the metal surface. The most effective liquid inerting is provided by a compact, well-organized and steady liquid stream, or by a steady succession of relatively large liquid droplets (minimum liquid surface area).
It is common to use a diffuser, or tight mesh screen (typically sintered metal filter, approximately 40 micron size), at the discharge of the liquid pipe, in order to minimize sputtering flow. The diffuser xe2x80x9ccatchesxe2x80x9d the sputtering spray of gas and small liquid drops, reducing the liquid velocity and re-organizing the drops into larger liquid droplets or a steady liquid stream, which generally drips out the bottom portion of the diffuser, while the gas generally seeps out the top. This diffuser is surrounded by an outer shroud, or cone, which protects the diffuser from molten metal splash, and can also help to organize the emerging liquid droplets into a more focused, single stream. The diffuser/cone assembly, then, helps to provide a more compact, well-organized and steady liquid stream or succession of larger droplets, to improve furnace inerting effectiveness (i.e. reduces the percentage of emerging liquid droplets that evaporate in the furnace).
However, even by using a diffuser/cone assembly, and after minimizing the piping distance, insulating the pipe and tank as much as possible, and reducing the tank pressure to as low a level as possible, what emerges from the diffuser is still a combination of liquid and gas. Vaporization of some of the liquid to gas is unavoidable. In many cases, sputtering flow, or even surging flow is still observed. The greater the percentage of vapor mixed with gas, the more extreme the sputtering and/or surging will be, and the greater the reduction in furnace inerting effectiveness. As the ambient heat input to the system (tank plus piping) is relatively constant (function of total surface area and temperature difference), the absolute amount of liquid boiling to vapor will be essentially fixed, for a given system. So, as liquid flowrate is increased, the percentage of vapor will be reduced. In practice, then, in order to achieve a stable and consistent liquid flow, as opposed to surging, furnace operators will increase the total N2 or Ar (liquid) flow higher and higher until surging is eliminated (i.e. flood the system with liquid). In many cases, due to high levels of vaporization (caused by high ambient heat pickup or large pressure drop), the total N2 or Ar flowrate is higher than what it really needs to be, to provide effective and consistent inerting for a given furnace. This increases operating cost, and can create potential for explosions, by having too large a quantity of liquid pooling on top of the molten metal. Hence, in many cases, if vaporization could be reduced, then total flowrates could be reduced, and operating cost could be reduced while improving operator safety.
One way to reduce surging and to provide a more consistent, stable liquid flow is to remove the generated gas bubbles from the piping, prior to the diffuser. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,751 (special lance). This method utilizes a double-wall (concentric) pipe as the last section of liquid Ar or N2 piping before the diffuser. A small hole is located in both the inner and outer pipes, pointing vertically upward, with the inner hole at the discharge end and the outer hole at the inlet end. Vapor generated inside the piping is allowed to escape through the inner hole. This cold xe2x80x9csacrificialxe2x80x9d vapor travels through the annular region between the inner and outer pipe, counter to the flow of liquid (and gas) in the inner pipe, and escapes to atmosphere through the hole in the outer pipe. Thus, some of the vapor is allowed to escape the piping system before the gas/liquid mixture discharges through the diffuser, and the escaping vapor is utilized to help cool (insulate from further heat pickup) the last section of pipe (generally positioned over the hot furnace) to reduce further evaporation. However, the chemical value of the escaping vapor is wasted, in that it is vented to atmosphere, rather than being sent into the furnace. Also, it is not clear that the size and location of the holes is optimum for each individual installation. Also, since gas bubbles generated in the piping generally will rise to the highest point in the piping system, it is not clear that all of the vapor will consistently and effectively be purged through these holes in the concentric pipe lance, since it is located at the discharge end of the piping (at the furnace), which is usually the lowest point in the system piping.
Another technique for removing vapor bubbles from the piping is to utilize a gas-liquid phase separator device in the piping. These are sometimes referred to as gas vents, or xe2x80x9ckeep-fullxe2x80x9d devices. These are commercially available devices. One or more are mounted, typically, in the highest point in the piping system, generally close to the discharge end. The gas vent device typically includes an internal float and valve mechanism, inside a small chamber. Liquid accumulates in the bottom of the chamber, raising the float by buoyancy force, which closes the gas vent valve on top of the chamber. As gas accumulates in the piping, generally rising to the highest point, it will accumulate in the xe2x80x9cdomexe2x80x9d or upper portion of the chamber, displacing liquid in the chamber, until eventually the float drops low enough to open the top gas vent valve. This allows gas to vent out the top, until enough liquid re-fills the bottom of the chamber to push the float up, which closes the vent valve. The cycle then repeats, indefinitely. This simple mechanical device helps to continually and automatically vent gas from the system piping, which increases the percentage of liquid, which helps to reduce surging flow, and allows the operator to reduce the total liquid flow required to maintain stable, consistent liquid flow. However, the purged as is vented to atmosphere, and again, its chemical (inerting) value is wasted. Also, while the gas vent valve periodically opens to vent gas to atmosphere, system pressure is reduced. This can reduce the driving force for pushing liquid through the piping system, causing the operator to increase tank pressure, which results in additional flash vaporization. Or, the periodic venting to atmosphere with subsequent pressure reduction can cause additional liquid to vaporize, due to the premature reduction in pressure.
Finally, in many liquid inerting systems, a small metering orifice is placed just upstream from the diffuser. This is sized to allow a constant xe2x80x9ccorrectxe2x80x9d amount of flow to the diffuser downstream. However, this can compound the severity of observed surging, since all liquid and gas must pass through this small orificexe2x80x94it can take longer for gas bubbles to work their way through this orifice. Also, with time, as system insulation value deteriorates, and heat input to the system increases, the percent vaporization increases, and the metering orifice may in fact become xe2x80x9ctoo smallxe2x80x9d, and surging flow is exhibited where at one time it was steady. The operator then is forced to increase the size of the metering orifice (open up the metering orifice valve).
It would be an advance in the art if more efficient methods and apparatus were developed to overcome some or all of the above problems.
In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus are presented which overcome some or all of the mentioned disadvantages of previous systems.
One aspect of the invention is an apparatus for efficient utilization of a cryogen in inerting of molten or solid metals, the apparatus comprising:
a) a source of liquid cryogen;
b) a conduit connected to said source of liquid cryogen for transporting said liquid cryogen to a gas/liquid separator (also denoted as a xe2x80x9cgas vent devicexe2x80x9d herein);
c) a first conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen inerting nozzle and adapted to supply liquid cryogen to the cryogen inerting nozzle, the cryogen inerting nozzle positioned over molten or solid metal in a container; and
d) a second conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to the container at a position over the molten or solid metal, the second conduit adapted to supply gaseous cryogen to the molten or solid metal.
Preferably, the second conduit connects the gas/liquid separator to an outer section of the cryogen inerting nozzle, as further described herein. Preferred apparatus also comprise insulation for the first and second conduits to maintain temperature as low as possible.
A second aspect of the invention is a method for efficient utilization of a cryogen in inerting of solid or molten metals, the method comprising:
a) providing a source of liquid cryogen;
b) transporting said liquid cryogen through a conduit connected to the source of liquid cryogen to a gas/liquid separator (also denoted a gas vent device herein), wherein a portion of the liquid cryogen transforms into gaseous cryogen;
c) transporting a portion of the liquid cryogen through a first conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen supply nozzle positioned over solid or molten metal in a container;
d) transporting at least a portion of said gaseous cryogen through a second conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to the container, and preferably to the cryogen inerting nozzle; and
e) flowing the portion of liquid cryogen through the cryogen inerting nozzle near a surface of solid or molten metal in the container, and flowing at least a portion of the gaseous cryogen near the same surface of solid or molten metal, preferably through the cryogen inerting nozzle.
Liquid inerting effectiveness can be decreased due to vaporization of liquid in the system piping, as described. Removal of this gas before reaching the discharge diffuser can improve inerting effectiveness. The new method utilizes this vented gas in the furnace to assist with inerting, rather than venting the gas to atmosphere. The known diffuser/cone assembly is replaced with a novel cryogen supply nozzle, preferably shaped like a cone, which incorporates a second connection for this gas. The gas vented from the piping (via a gas vent device) is fed to this novel cryogen supply nozzle. Preferably, a pressure regulator or similar device can be used in the gas vent line to maintain the desired back pressure on the gas vent device and system piping, while venting gas from the piping system.

Method and apparatus for efficient utilization of a cryogen for inert cover in metals melting furnaces

L""Air Liquide-Societe"" Anonyme a"" Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l""Etude et l""Exploitation des Procedes George Claude


A lithium secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a can accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap assembly coupled with the can, the cap assembly being positioned at a topmost part of the can and having an upper cap including gas discharge holes therein; and a washer coupled with the upper cap, wherein the washer includes a body part, the body part having a flat plate shape and having a centrally disposed connection hole; and insertion parts, the insertion parts extending toward a center of the connection hole from the body part and being arranged in the gas discharge holes.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a lithium secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithium secondary battery may include an electrode assembly (having a positive electrode plate coated with a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode plate coated with a negative electrode active material, and a separator between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, wound together), a can accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly sealing or coupled with an upper portion of the can.


Modifying an audio signal comprising a plurality of channel signals is disclosed. At least selected ones of the channel signals are transformed into a time-frequency domain. The at least selected ones of the channel signals are compared in the time-frequency domain to identify corresponding portions of the channel signals that are not correlated or are only weakly correlated across channels. The identified corresponding portions of said channel signals are modified.

Recording engineers use various techniques, depending on the nature of a recording (e.g., live or studio), to include "ambience" components in a sound recording. Such components may be included, for example, to give the listener a sense of being present in a room in which the primary audio content of the recording (e.g., a musical performance or speech) is being rendered.
Ambience components are sometimes referred to as "indirect" components, to distinguish them from "direct path" components, such as the sound of a person speaking or singing, or a musical instrument or other sound source, that travels by a direct path from the source to a microphone or other input device. Ambience components, by contrast, travel to the microphone or other input device via an indirect path, such as by reflecting off of a wall or other surface of or in the room in which the audio content is being recorded, and may also include diffuse sources, such as applause, wind sounds, etc., that do not arrive at the microphone via a single direct path from a point source. As a result, ambience components typically occur naturally in a live sound recording, because some sound energy arrives at the microphone(s) used to make the recording by such indirect paths and/or from such diffuse sources.
For certain types of studio recordings, ambience components may have to be generated and mixed in with the direct sources recorded in the studio. One technique that may be used is to generate reverberation for one or more direct path sources, to simulate the indirect path(s) that would have been present in the case of a live recording.
Different listeners may have different preferences with respect to the level of ambience included in a sound recording (or other audio signal) as rendered via a playback system. The level preferred by a particular listener may, for example, be greater or less than the level included in the sound recording as recorded, either as a result of the characteristics of the room, the recording equipment used, microphone placement, etc. in the case of a live recording, or as determined by a recording engineer in the case of a studio recording to which generated ambience components have been added.
Therefore, there is a need for a way to allow a listener to control the level of ambience included in the rendering of a sound recording or other audio signal as rendered.
In addition, certain listeners may prefer a particular ambience level, relative to overall signal level, regardless of the level of ambience included in the original audio signal. For such users, there is a need for a way to normalize the output level of ambience so that the ambience to overall signal ratio is the same regardless of the level of ambience included in the original signal.
Finally, listeners with surround sound systems of various configurations (e.g., five speaker, seven speaker, etc.) need a way to "upmix" a received audio signal, if necessary, to make use of the full capabilities of their playback system, including by generating audio data comprising an ambience component for one or more channels, regardless of whether the received audio signal comprises a corresponding channel. In such embodiments, listeners further need a way to control the level of ambience in such channels in accordance with their individual preferences.

Ambience extraction and modification for enhancement and upmix of audio signals


A portable radio communication device (102) includes a housing (302), and a transmitter (906) and control circuitry (902) disposed in the housing (302). The housing (302) is configured to carry a first battery source (112) and to optionally simultaneously carry a second battery source (114). The control circuitry (902) configures the transmitter (906) to transmit in accordance with a first set of power levels when the second battery source (114) is available, and in accordance with a second set of power levels when the second battery source (114) is unavailable. The first set of power levels includes at least one power level greater than any of the second set of power levels.

Communication devices, such as mobile stations communicating via radio frequency (RF) signals, are typically portable and powered by removable batteries or battery packs. A removable battery can supply power to a communication device for a limited amount of time which is inversely proportional to an average power consumption of the device. The communication device typically includes a transmitter with a power amplifier consuming a great deal of power from the battery during transmission.
While communication devices have become significantly smaller, the battery has become an increasingly significant contributor to the device's size and weight. Thus, a battery having a small size and weight is often desired. However, such a battery limits the operating time of the communication device and may not be efficient nor otherwise appropriate for use during high power transmission.
Accordingly, there is a need for a communication device that is small in size and weight and capable of meeting high power transmission requirements.

Method of and apparatus for controlling a transmit power of a communication device


A lubricant cooling system for cooling lubricant of a lubricating system for an outboard motor powered by an engine is disclosed. The motor has a cooling system which includes a pump for delivering coolant through one or more cooling jackets associated with the engine. The motor has a lubricating system comprising a pump for delivering lubricant from a supply to at least one part of the engine for lubricating the engine. The motor also includes a lubricant cooling system including a cooler through which lubricant flows and through which coolant from the cooling system selectively flows for cooling the lubricant. The lubricant cooling system includes a control for increasing a volume of coolant supplied to the lubricant cooler when a temperature of the lubricant increases and for decreasing a volume of coolant supplied to the lubricant cooler when said temperature of the lubricant decreases.

Watercraft are often propelled by an outboard motor. These motors have a water propulsion device, such as a propeller, which is driven by an output shaft of an internal combustion engine. The engine is typically mounted in a cowling of the motor.
The motor includes a lubricating system for providing lubricant to the engine. These systems are well known in the art, and arranged to provide lubricant from a supply to one or more galleries, bearings and the like of the engine for lubricating the various parts thereof.
When the lubricant in such a system is too cool or too hot, the effect of the lubricant is less than optimal. Typically, the optimum operating temperature range for the lubricant is in the 60.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. temperature range. When the temperature of the lubricant is less than this range, it is difficult to pump and flows less freely through the lubricating system and engine. On the other hand, when the temperature of the lubricant exceeds this range, the lubricant thins and becomes less effective in providing a protective lubricant film on the moving parts of the engine.
The problem of overheating the lubricant is especially a problem in outboard motor applications since the engine is positioned in an enclosed cowling, trapping engine heat. Some lubricant systems are provided with a lubricant cooling system to prevent the lubricant from becoming overheated. The cooling system of an outboard motor is generally arranged such that water from the body of water in which the motor is being operated is drawn by a pump and delivered through one or more cooling jackets associated with the engine and then discharged back to the body of water. In one lubricating cooling arrangement, lubricant is delivered through a delivery line which passes through a heat exchanger through which coolant from the cooling system of the motor also passes. In this arrangement, the fixed flow of coolant passing through the heat exchanger has the tendency of over-cooling the lubricant when the engine speed/temperature is low. As one attempt to correct this problem, the coolant flow rate through the heat exchanger may be fixed at a low rate which does not over-cool the lubricant. This arrangement has the problem of providing insufficient cooling to the lubricant when the engine temperature increases.
The problems associated with maintaining the lubricant temperature are aggravated in the outboard motor setting since the coolant may comprise extremely cold water from the ocean or a lake. In that situation, the coolant temperature is so low that when the lubricant temperature is low, the coolant lowers the lubricant temperature to an unacceptably low level.

Lubricant cooling system for a lubricating system of an outboard motor


To minimise the power consumption when registering an electronic ticket, a bidirectional communication in a higher frequency band is initiated when the electronic ticket has received a wake-up signal in a lower frequency band via a highly sensitive receive module. During entry stamping, a wake-up telegram containing an identity of the detection space is transferred to and stored in the electronic ticket. The wake-up telegram is received in the lower frequency band by another receive module in the electronic ticket.

The present invention relates to a method for registering tickets and an electronic ticket for executing the method in accordance with the precharacterising clause of claims 1 and 8 respectively.
The present invention relates to the registration of objects in a delimited space, in order to establish a service which is to be purchased and/or a defined presence. This field is also known as "electronic ticketing" or "fare management". The term "electronic ticket" or simply "ticket" is synonymously used instead of object in this document. In technical terms, such a ticket is usually a so-called "SmartCard". In other nomenclatures, the term transponder is also commonly used instead of SmartCard.
The document WO 01/03057 A1 [1] discloses a method for detecting objects by means of a transponder, wherein a first information unit is transmitted in the frequency range 127 kHz to the transponder when a detection zone is entered, thereby waking up said transponder. On the basis of the information which is contained in the first information unit, a send module which is present on the transponder is activated immediately or following a delay, in order at least once to transmit a second information unit to a receive unit which is located in the detection zone.
The method and system for registering tickets as disclosed in the document EP 1,210,693 B1 [2] differ in that a receiving module which is present on the ticket is "woken up" from a sleep state by means of a first information unit and is periodically switched to active. Using further information units, a bidirectional communication is established on a higher frequency of e.g. 868 MHz by a send/receive unit which is assigned to the detection zone, and the relevant presence of a ticket is registered as a ticket record.
EP 0,766,215 B1 [3] proposes a method in which an electronic ticket can be woken up in various stages. A level detector is initially provided for this purpose, whereby only wake-up telegrams on a low frequency of e.g. 6.78 MHz of a defined minimum level result in a first activation. In a subsequent method step, provision is made for checking whether the received wake-up telegram has the predetermined modulation. If this modulation is recognised as correct, a further circuit part is activated and inter alia the correspondence of an access code with a security code which is stored on the ticket is checked on a higher layer.
The aforementioned systems, as described in accordance with [1] and [2], have the so-called "timing mode" in common: as a result of waking up and periodically activating either the send module and/or receive module which is located on the ticket, the power consumption is actually reduced very clearly in comparison with a permanent activation. In many cases, the ticket is woken up in this way without a subsequent registration taking place or being allowed to take place, as is the case when an accompanying person who is carrying such a ticket merely stays on the platform. The "timing mode" method featuring a single prior wake-up has the serious disadvantage that a significant share if not the largest share of the battery power which is available on the ticket must be used in order to ensure that, during the overall journey, the ticket periodically becomes briefly active ("wakes up") in the agreed time slot pattern and must switch on its receiver, e.g. on the frequency 868 MHz, merely for the purpose of re-establishing its synchronisation. In this case, a communication for the purpose of actual detection takes place only very briefly and preferably only once per journey section.

Method for registering tickets and electronic ticket


A video signal reproducing apparatus for playing a recording medium on which a video signal is recorded and inhibited operation information is recorded which is information representing whether or not an inputted key operation is inhibited, includes a control means of displaying, if the inputted key operation is inhibited on the inhibited operation information, an alternative operation message causing a user to select whether or not an alternative key operation is used, the alternative key operation giving an alternative processing coupled with a processing required by the inputted key operation, and of making, if the user selects using the alternative key operation, on an assumption that the alternative key operation not inhibited on the inhibited operation information and giving alternative processing has been inputted by the user, control of executing a processing corresponding to the alternative key operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing or playing a recording medium on which a video signal is recorded and inhibition operation information is recorded which is information representing whether or not an inputted key operation should be inhibited.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the DVD with various video signals recorded thereon, where there is a key operation whose use is not desired when viewed from the side of a producer while a certain scene is being played, the key operation can be inhibited. Therefore the key operation to be inhibited differs in the DVDs. Further, even with the same DVD, as the case may be, the key operation inhibited is different according to different scenes being played. Thus, it is often unknown for a user whether or not the key operation to be inputted is inhibited. In order to obviate such an inconvenience, the following technique has been proposed (referred to as the first related art). Specifically, in this technique, where a sub-image indicative of operation inhibition has been recorded, if the inhibited key operation is inputted, the sub-image is displayed to tell that the inputted key operation is inhibited. Where the sub-image has not been recorded, a warning sentence indicative of operation inhibition is displayed using "on-screen display" (for example, see JP-A-11-41563, Paragraphs 0763-0764).
The following technique has been also proposed (referred to as the second related art). In this technique, each of key switches on a remote controller is equipped with a lighting means. And where the DVD is being played, the key switch whose operation is not inhibited is lit whereas the key switch whose operation is inhibited is extinguished. Thus, the key switch(s) whose operation is inhibited is prevented from being unnecessarily operated. By on-screen displaying the icons of the remote controller with only conspicuous key switches whose operation is permitted, the key switch(s) whose operation is inhibited is prevented from being unnecessarily operated (for example, JP-A-11-238367, Paragraphs 0540, 0543-0545).
However the above related arts presented the following problems. When a user operates a skip key because he or she hopes playing jumped to the subsequent chapter on the way of playing, if this key operation has been inhibited, in the first related art, it is only shown that the operation is inhibited by the sub-image recorded on the DVD, or the warning sentence. Thus, the user was forced to tolerate the inconvenience of stopping the playing jumped to the subsequent chapter.
On the other hand, in the second related art, it is known that the operation of the skip key has been inhibited prior to doing the key operation. So the skip key is prevented from being unnecessarily operated. However, in this case also, the user is forced to tolerate the inconvenience of stopping the playing jumped to the subsequent chapter.
This invention has been accomplished in order to solve the above problems. An object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus in which if an inputted key operation is inhibited, an alternative operation message is displayed which causes a user to select whether or not an alternative key operation is used, the alternative key operation giving alternative processing coupled with the processing required by the inputted key operation, and if the user selects using the alternative key operation, the key operation corresponding to the alternative key operation is executed, so that even if the key operation inputted by the user is inhibited, the processing hoped by the user can be executed by a simple operation, displaying of the alternative operation message is prevented from becoming troublesome, the quantity of software to be added to execute the alternative key operation is prevented from being increased, displaying of the alternative operation message is prevented from hindering user's enjoying playing a title, and a strong impression that the key operation inputted is inhibited is given to the user.
Another object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus in which if an inputted key operation is inhibited, an alternative operation message is displayed which causes a user to select whether or not an alternative key operation is used, the alternative key operation giving alternative processing coupled with the processing required by the inputted key operation, and if the user selects using the alternative key operation, the key operation corresponding to the alternative key operation is executed, so that even if the key operation inputted by the user is inhibited, the processing hoped by the user can be executed by a simple operation.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can prevent displaying of the alternative operation message from becoming troublesome by displaying an alternative operation message when the key operation which is inhibited is inputted repeatedly to exceed a prescribed number of times.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can prevent the quantity of software to be added to execute the alternative key operation from being increased by storing, in the key inputting buffer if the user selects using the alternative key operation, the data corresponding to the alternative key operation and thereafter executing the processing corresponding to the data stored in the key inputting buffer.
A further object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can prevent displaying of the alternative operation message from hindering user's enjoying playing a title by temporarily stopping, if the temporary stopping of movement of a screen is permitted, the movement of the screen.
A further object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can inform a key operating method for executing the processing hoped by a user even if the user's inputted key operation is inhibited by displaying if the inputted key operation is inhibited, an alternative key operating method giving alternative processing coupled with the processing required by the inputted operation.
A further object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can prevent displaying of the alternative key operating method from becoming troublesome by displaying an alternative key operating method when the key operation which is inhibited is inputted repeatedly to exceed a prescribed number of times.
A further object of this invention is to provide a video signal reproducing apparatus which can prevent displaying of the alternative key operating method from hindering user's enjoying playing a title by temporarily stopping by stopping, if the temporary stopping of movement of a screen is permitted, the movement of the screen.


A GaN-based light-emitting device and the fabricating method for the same are described. The light-emitting device is a light-emitting body with a light extraction layer thereon. The light-emitting body has some GaN-based layers and is capable of emitting a light when energy is applied. The light extraction layer is a double layered structure having a current spreading layer and a micro-structure layer, or a single layered structure without the current spreading layer. The micro-structure layer is a TiN layer with a nano-net structure obtained by nitridation of a Ti layer or a Pt layer with metal clusters thereon obtained by annealing of a Pt layer.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is related to an improvement of luminous efficiency of a gallium nitride (GaN) based light-emitting diode (LED). in particular, the present invention is related to a GaN LED with a metal micro-structure as a light extraction layer and a manufacturing method for the same.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been developed for several decades and the luminous efficiency thereof plays a key role in whether LEDs may be further applied in lighting facilities generally used in ordinary living. Therefore, LED research, for the past decades, has been focused on improvement of luminous efficiency. Generally, luminous efficiency varies with the following factors: semiconductor material adopted, device structure devised, transparency of material used, total reflection existed, etc.
Of the semiconductor LEDs, a gallium nitride (GaN) based material may be the most commonly used. To let the GaN-based material irradiate light, a voltage or a current has to be applied to the corresponding LED. To apply a voltage or a current to the LED, a pair of positive and negative electrodes are disposed on the LED structure.
The positive electrode is also called a p-electrode while the negative electrode is also called an n-electrode, since charges provided by the p-electrode first flow into a p-type semiconductor material layer and charges supplied by the n-electrode first flow into an n-type semiconductor material layer. The p-type electrode is where positive charges flow into the LED structure, and holes are carriers for conductivity. On the other hand, the n-type electrode is where negative charges flow into the LED structure, and electrons are carriers for conductivity. Owing to the poorer mobility of the hole carriers as compared to the electron carriers, a current spreading layer is generally disposed under the p-type electrode so that the hole carriers may be uniformly distributed in the p-type semiconductor layer. In this case, electric force lines between the p-type electrode and the n-type electrode may also be uniformly distributed so as to enhance excitation of light in the LED. The afore-mentioned current spreading layer may be any suitable material, and a Ni/Au double layered structure is the most commonly used. Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates an LED structure 10, the LED structure 10 comprises a substrate 11, a buffer layer 12, an n-type GaN-based layer 13, a semiconductor active layer 14, a p-type GaN-based layer 15, a p-type semiconductor layer 16, a current spreading layer 17 and a p-type electrode 18. The process thereof may be found in ROC patents 558848, 419837, etc. In the figure, the current spreading layer 17 is disposed between the p-type semiconductor layer 16 and the p-electrode 18 and used to distribute uniformly positive charges thereon and then enter into the p-type semiconductor layer 16.
However, a serious total reflection issue is closely related to the current spreading layer since the current spreading layer has flat surface and thus reflects light back to the LED structure and has a poor light extraction. Some technologies for roughening the current spreading layer are provided. For example, roughening structures are disposed where the emitted light is output so that most emission angles of the emitted lights are smaller than a critical angle, which is defined by Snell's Law. These roughening structures are generally shaped as hemispheres or truncated pyramids. However, these roughening shapes are hard to form and may be expensive.
Other roughening technologies are available. For example, an etch process is applied onto the upper flat surface of the LED to form small, roughened facets on the flat surface so that most emission angles of emitted light may output without reflection to the LED structure. Such a roughening method comprises a process of randomly etching a surface. For example, particles are deposited on the surface and then used as masks in the random etching. However, there are at least two major disadvantages. First of all, some small islands may exist in the p-type electrode. Since the lower parts of the island structures do not contact the p-type electrode contact, no light will be emitted by these portions and the total light output is reduced. Second, since the upper surface of the LED structure is very close to the light-generating area below, the light generating area may be very likely broken.
In view of the disadvantages of the prior GaN-based LED, there is a need to provide a GaN-based LED with high light extraction efficiency.

Gallium nitride based light emitting device and the fabricating method for the same


Reducing memory dump data size by: (i) receiving a memory dump data including a set of stack(s), including at least a first stack which includes a current stack portion; (ii) removing from the memory dump data a first removed data portion that comes from a portion of the first stack to yield an optimized memory dump data; (iii) determining respective ranking values for a plurality of ranked data portions from the set of stacks; and (iv) selecting a ranked data portion from the current stack portion of the first stack to be a first removed data portion based, at least in part, upon the ranking values.

A thread of execution, kernel thread, or simply "thread," is a sequence of programmed instructions, or functions, managed independently by an operating system scheduler. In most cases, a thread is contained inside a process. Multiple threads can exist within the same process and share resources including: (i) instruction code; (ii) variable values at any given moment (context); (iii) process state; (iv) memory; and (v) address space.
Each thread has a reserved region of memory referred to as its stack. The stack is made of current stackframes. See Definitions section of the Detailed Description for the definitions of "stack" and "current stackframes." Each stackframe relates to a function executed by the tread and usually contains a header (with a pointer to the previous stackframe), the variables allocated by the function and also a copy of the register values (like the program counter) from the time when the function was called. Initially the stack does not contain current stackframes and its content is old data, or non-current stack portions (also sometimes called "garbage"). See Definitions sub-section of the Detail Description section for the definition of current stackframes. However, as the thread executes, its stack begins to fill with current stackframes. The number of current stackframes in the stack grows and decreases during the execution depending on the number of functions in the call graph (also called call-chain).
When a function is called, the calling function may create a new stackframe and store some registers there defined by the application binary interface (ABI). The called function may grow the stackframe that the caller created to include some temporary variables (with a lifescope equal to or less than the execution time of the function) of the function and preserve additional registers as defined by the ABI. When the function exits, the function restores the original register values from the stack, including the program counter that contains an address within the caller function. On return, the caller function deletes the stackframe, but usually, for the sake of performance, the memory is not clean and just the end of stack pointer is updated. If a region of memory lies on the thread's stack, that memory is said to have been allocated on the stack.
Memory dumps are useful in debugging software problems. Typical dump size is growing quickly, because, among other reasons, the number of threads used in a typical program is growing, making it difficult to store and/or transmit the data of the memory dump (the data of a memory dump is also commonly referred to as a "memory dump" or "dump"). It is known to split memory dumps into regions and truncate the dumps to be limited to only the important regions. It is also known to apply data compression techniques to the memory dump, thus reducing the dump size. A memory dump may include: (i) all of the stacks; (ii) none of the stacks; and/or (iii) selected whole stacks (such as the whole stack of the crashing thread).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


An earphone has a housing, with a speaker mounted within the housing. A cable inlet contains a cable that includes a wire connected to the speaker. The cable and the cable inlet have different cross-sectional shapes, such that the cable is in contact with the inner surface of the cable inlet over a substantial portion of their length, while a rear volume of the speaker is vented through the cable inlet. This ensures that the cross-sectional area through which the rear volume is vented through the cable inlet remains relatively constant. The earphone may further comprise a microphone, positioned to detect ambient noise approaching the ear of a wearer of the earphone, and the cable may then further include a wire connected to the microphone.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an earphone, and in particular to an earphone of the intra-concha type.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intra-concha earphones are small earphones that are placed, in use, in the user's outer ear, adjacent to the entry to the user's ear canal.
It is known that, in order that the earphone should produce sound with a good low frequency response, the earphone casing should be provided with a port for venting pressure generated by the speaker. It is also known that this port may be provided in the inlet through which the cable enters the earphone casing.
However, it is often advantageous for this port to have a known cross-sectional area, and this cannot usually be achieved when the port is provided in the inlet through which the cable enters the earphone casing, because the movement of the cable can alter the effective cross-sectional area.
Noise cancelling systems are well known, in which a microphone is also included in the earphone casing, for detecting ambient noise. One type of noise cancelling system has an adaptive gain in the noise cancelling circuitry. That is, the earphone is provided with an error microphone, positioned so as to detect the level of ambient noise reaching the wearer's ear canal. The gain applied to the noise cancelling signal is then controlled, based on that level of ambient noise. One issue that arises with such earphones in particular is that, when the gain is set to a high level, and the venting port becomes coupled to the microphone for detecting ambient noise (for example by the wearer's finger approaching the earphone), this will be interpreted as a very high level of ambient noise, and the noise cancelling system will generate a very loud sound in an attempt to overcome that ambient noise.
It is therefore advantageous for the venting port to be located well away from the microphone for detecting ambient noise.

Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.