The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of an amine functionalized styrene/conjugated diene copolymer elastomer (e.g. styrene/butadiene and/or styrene/isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer) which contains reinforcement comprised of silanol functionalized particulate carbon black having silica domains covering a fraction of the carbon black surface together with an alkoxysilane polysulfide coupling agent. The silica domains on the carbon black surface contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surfaces which are reactive with the alkoxysilane moiety of the coupling agent. The amine functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer is an organic solution polymerization prepared elastomer which contains pendant and/or terminal amine groups as one or more of primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, and/or heterocyclic amine groups. The amine functionalized elastomer may be tin coupled.

Tires are historically prepared with treads of rubber compositions which are comprised of various diene-based elastomers which are often comprised of a combination of cis 1,4-polybutadiene with styrene/butadiene copolymer and/or styrene/isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomers, although minor amounts of other elastomers may also be present. For some tires such as, for example, load bearing truck tires, the tread rubber may be composed of a significant amount of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber.
The rubber compositions for various tire components (e.g. tire treads) conventionally contain particulate reinforcing fillers which may be, for example, rubber reinforcing carbon black and/or aggregates of precipitated silica. Such reinforcement fillers are will known to those having skill in such art.
Each of the carbon black and silica particulate reinforcements tend to provide different aspects of physical reinforcement for the diene-based rubber composition. The silica usually requires the aid of a coupling agent to couple the silica to a diene-based elastomer for a more ideal reinforcement of the rubber composition. For example, a precipitated silica conventionally contains hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on its surface which is reactive, for example, with an alkoxysilane moiety contained in an alkoxysilane polysulfide based coupling agent.
Sometimes, functionalized silica-treated, or silica modified, carbon blacks are used for the rubber reinforcement which are composed of carbon black which contains silica domains on its surface and where the silica domains contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surface which are, in turn, reactive with an alkoxysilane moiety contained in an alkoxysilane polysulfide based coupling agent. For silica containing carbon blacks, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,679,728, 5,830,930, 5,919,841, 5,948,835 and 6,008,272.
Such carbon blacks which contain silica domains on their surface are envisioned as providing attributes of both carbon black reinforcement and silica reinforcement for diene-based elastomeric rubber compositions. The silica domains may normally be expected to, in turn, contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surface which would be reactive with a coupling agent such as, for example, an alkoxysillane polysulfide based coupling agent. In one aspect, it might be envisioned that if only a fraction of the surface of the carbon black contains the silica domains, then only a somewhat corresponding fraction of a coupling agent (e.g. alkoxysilane polysulfide based coupling agent) need be used to aid in coupling the particulate reinforcement to a diene-based elastomer.
Various amine functionalized styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomers have been suggested for use in rubber compositions for various tire components. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,450.
A significant aspect of this invention is the use of silanol functionalized carbon black in combination with an amine functionalized styrene/conjugated diene copolymer elastomer together with an alkoxysilane polysulfide based coupling agent.
In the description of the invention, the term "phr" relates to parts by weight of a particular ingredient per 100 parts by weight of rubber contained in a rubber composition.
The terms "rubber" and "elastomer" are used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated, and the terms "cure" and vulcanize" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated. The terms "compound" and "rubber composition may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.

Tire with component comprised of amine functionalized styrene/diene copolymer elastomer, silanol functionalized carbon black and coupling agent


A shortened identifier, such as a shortened URL, is used to access data, a service, and/or another resource that is associated with a full identifier, such as a full URL. In an exemplary embodiment, a hash key is generated from the full URL and included with a domain identifier to form a shortened URL. Other codes can also be included in the shortened URL. The shortened URL can be included in a message, page, and/or other data element that is generally too small for the full URL. When received from a client, a property code, a user ID, and/or other data is used to locate one or more full URLs. A selected hash function is applied to the full URLs to generate a table of hash keys. If a match exists with the hash key from the shortened URL, the resource is accessed at the corresponding full URL.

Data, services, and other resources are generally identified with a resource identifier such as a uniform resource locator (URL). For example, resource identifiers are often used to indicate a network location of email messages, alerts, application programs, and the like. Resource identifiers may also include query strings, settings, and/or other data. Consequently, resource identifiers can become rather large, and sometimes too large to include in certain types of data elements. For instance, some messages and web pages are limited in size, so they can be received, stored, and/or displayed on a limited capability device, such as a cell phone. To enable access to the resource, a shortened resource identifier can be used by the limited capability device and mapped to the full resource identifier.
A shortened resource identifier can be created by compressing the full resource identifier. When the shortened resource identifier is received, it is decompressed to determine the full resource identifier. However, the compression and decompression processes can cause loss of data, making the mapping unreliable. Also, the compression may not sufficiently reduce the size below the limits of the message or other data element. Another mapping may comprise a predefined database key that is stored in association with a full resource identifier. If the key is received, a database lookup is performed to find the corresponding resource identifier. However, storing a large number of keys and full resource identifiers may take an unacceptably large amount of storage space and require a large amount of maintenance. For security, the keys and/or the full resource identifiers may also need to be encrypted and decrypted, which adds time and consumes computing resources.

URL shortening and authentication with reverse hash lookup


The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus, more particularity to a universal power supply apparatus which is applicable to various portable electronics devices made by different manufacturers and having different functions by selecting a tip having a shape suited for the portable electronic devices. The universal power supply apparatus of the present invention comprises a keyway (321) having the information on a mechanical key (411) which can select a voltage suited for the portable electronic devices and combined with a tip (400) and the key (411) and an output converting section (200) being capable of converting ON/OFF information of the keyway (321) into an output. The keyway can covert the mechanical information of key into the electrical information.

The portable electronic device such as a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable digital video disk (DVD), a camcorder, a digital camera, a cellular phone and the like is provided with a battery during traveling. To charge the battery and use the equipment, DC power with a suitable voltage should be applied to the battery and the equipment through a connector having a proper shape. However, rated voltages of the portable electronic devices differ form each other according to the kinds of the device as well as the manufacturer, and shapes of input section to which DC power is supplied are different form each other according to the kinds of devices. Accordingly, the user having the various kinds of portable electronic devices should be carrying several power supply devices which are generally called as "adapter" and should purchase several adapters according to the electronic device, and so the user suffers economical loss.
As an attempt to solve the above problems, the universal power supply apparatus is provided. The universal power supply apparatus is a power supply apparatus which is applicable to various kinds of portable electronic devices with one main unit.
In such universal power supply apparatus, a detachable tip or cable which is applied in the different manners according to a shape of power input terminal of the device should be provided and a method for setting a voltage suited for the electronic device to be used should be provided.
In the conventional universal power supply apparatus general well known, a voltage of the device to be used is set in the main unit by using dip switch, rotary switch or a resistance substance with a special shape as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,211 and a tip or cable separated from the main unit and corresponding to a shape of power input terminal of the electronic device to be used is provided. However, the universal power supply apparatus has a drawback that the user finds the tip or cable which can be used for the portable electronic device and set a voltage suitable for the electronic device in the main unit so that it is difficult to use the universal power supply apparatus for the consumer with no electronic knowledge or skills.
In order to overcome the above drawbacks, a method for providing a special unit being capable of changing a voltage at the tip or cable in the entire cable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,691, U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,177, U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,611 and the like. The special unit used in the above method comprises at least one of electronic elements such as resistor, condenser, diode and the like, this unit is generally referred to as "a daughter electronic circuit". However, when such electronic element is mounted to the tip, it is difficult to manufacture and inspect the tip, and a manufacturing cost of the tip is increased. In particular, there is a drawback that it is most difficult to minimize the tip.


To provide a connection structure between an optical element and an optical fiber, which makes it possible to inexpensively secure optical transmission between the optical element and the optical fiber. A connection structure between an optical element and an optical fiber of includes an electro optical element, an optical fiber, and a connecting part. The electro optical element includes an optical surface and a base member provided on the optical surface. The connecting part is coupled to an end surface of the optical fiber and a top surface of the base member.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure between an optical element and an optical fiber, and a connection method to couple an optical element and an optical fiber.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an optical module and an optical transmission unit including the connection structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently there exist tendencies of high-speed and large-amount data transmission in the information and communication technology sector so that development of optical communication technologies is in demand. In related art optical communications, an electrical signal is usually converted into an optical signal, which is transmitted through optical fibers. Then the optical signal received is converted into an electrical signal. Such a converting operation from the electrical signal to the optical signal and then from the optical signal to the electrical one is performed by optical elements. For implementation of optical communications by such a converting method, it is necessary to precisely align the optical fiber and the optical element for the purpose of reducing optical loss.
However, an optical surface (i.e., a plane of incidence or an emitting plane) of the optical element generally has a fine structure and a diameter of the optical fiber is minute in size. Therefore, accuracy is required for the alignment between the optical element and the optical fiber.

Connection structure between optical element and optical fiber, connection method thereof, and optical module


A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing mounted on an aircraft and in which one or more probes are mounted. At least one of the probes subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe for determining whether or not icing conditions are present.

The present invention relates to icing conditions detectors or sensors that use temperature sensitive probes, which are connected to sensing circuitry and positioned such that measuring voltage or power characteristics provides information for detecting moisture in a fluid flow, and when combined with an ambient temperature measurement serve to detect icing conditions in the atmosphere.
Emerging regulatory requirements for operating aircraft in icing conditions are being interpreted to require more conservative estimates of sensing icing situations than may be provided with existing ice detectors. Application specific Conditions that conventional accretion based detectors may not be able to detect due to Ludlam Limit effects need to be addressed to meet the new requirements. The ability to detect the existence of icing conditions, rather then actual ice accretion, may therefore be required. "Icing conditions" require the presence of liquid moisture in the airflow, and an air temperature below some selected threshold temperature usually specified to be slightly above freezing.


A cutter head assembly for delimbing trees includes two pairs of opposing curved limb-stripping levers including curved cutting blades. The limb-stripping levers of each pair are pivotably movable toward and away from each other for engaging and encircling the trunk of a tree. One pair of levers is positioned and configured for engaging and removing limbs from opposite side and lower portions of a tree trunk being drawn longitudinally through the cutter head assembly. The other pair of levers is positioned and configured for engaging and removing limbs from opposite side and upper portions of a tree trunk. The limb-stripping levers include angled deflecting members attached to the cutting blades for deflecting cut pieces of a tree outwardly away from the cutting blades.

It is known to remove limbs from trees by encircling the tree trunk or bole with curved cutting blades and either moving the curved blades along the length of the tree, or pulling the tree longitudinally through the curved blades. My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,749,012, 4,899,794, and 5,515,895, each of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, describe self-aligning cutter head assemblies for delimbing trees in which curved cutting and limb stripping levers having cutting blades are carried by a rectangular support frame supported for pivotal movement in both vertical and horizontal planes so that the limb stripping blades are automatically maintained in proper alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tree as the tree is drawn longitudinally through the cutter head assembly in a generally horizontal orientation. A pair of curved limb stripping levers having curved cutting blades are spaced about the longitudinal axis of the cutter head assembly and are pivotable toward and away from each other for engaging and disengaging a tree bole. The limb stripping levers and blades are positioned and configured to substantially encircle a tree bole disposed in the cutter head assembly, except for the bottom portion of the tree bole for which a stationary blade is provided for removing limbs therefrom.
The delimbing devices disclosed in the aforementioned patents are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and are highly effective and efficient for removing limbs from trees having a bole diameter of up to about 14 inches. However, in certain applications, trees having bole diameters of up to about 24 inches must be delimbed. For these larger trees, the curved limb stripping levers and cutting blades are not capable of encircling the uppermost portions of the tree bole and, consequently, limbs on these uppermost portions are not removed by the cutter head assembly.


A distance measurement method for calculating distance information from a first image and a second image that are image-captured with different image-capturing parameters. A setting step sets a first local region located in the first image including a distance calculation target pixel, and a second local region located in the second image corresponding to the first local region. An extraction step extracts a plurality of shift regions, which are regions of which a shift amount from the second local region is within a predetermined range. A correlation value is calculated between the first local region and each of the plurality of shift regions. A decision step determines a correlation value used for calculating distance information, based on the plurality of correlation values calculated in the first calculation step. The distance information on the distance calculation target pixel is calculated, based on the correlation value determined in the decision step.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a distance measurement technique, and, more particularly, to a technique to measure distance information from a plurality of images image-captured with different image-capturing parameters.
Description of the Related Art
As a technique to acquire distance of an image-capturing scene from an image acquired by an imaging apparatus, the depth from defocus (DFD) method, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-044844, has been proposed. According to the DFD method, a plurality of images having a different degree of blur is acquired by controlling the image-capturing parameters of an imaging optical system, and the degree of blur and the correlation amount of the acquired plurality of images are calculated using the measurment target pixel and its peripheral pixels in the plurality of images.
Since the degree of blur and correlation amount change depending on the distance of an object in the image, the distance can be calculated using this relationship. An advantage of the distance measurement by the DFD method is that incorporation with commercially available imaging apparatuses is possible because distance can be calculated by one imaging system.
Even if an object is image-captured at high-speed with changing of the image-capturing parameters during image-capturing, displacement is generated among the plurality of images due to camera shake, object motion, or the like, which drops the distance measurement accuracy of the DFD method. To prevent positional displacement, the positions of the images are aligned before executing the DFD method. Known methods to align positions are, for example, a block matching method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-044844, and a method using an affine transformation disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-310418.

Distance measurement apparatus, imaging apparatus, distance measurement method and program


A solid phase change ink composition that includes an ink vehicle, a colorant, and at least one naturally derived material. At least one naturally derived material is a low melt material having an onset of melting from about 45° C. to about 120° C., and a melt transition width of from about 3° C. to about 30° C. Also provided is a method for producing a solid phase change ink composition that includes selecting at least one naturally derived material, forming an ink vehicle, and adding a colorant, wherein at least one naturally derived material is a low melt material having an onset of melting of from about 45° C. to about 120° C., and a melt transition width of from about 3° C. to about 30° C. An ink jet device that includes the solid phase change ink composition described in the present disclosure is also provided.

The present disclosure generally relates to solid phase change inks, particularly solid phase change ink jet ink compositions containing renewable resources, and the use of such inks in methods of forming images, particularly for use in inkjet printing.
The inks herein exhibit improved abrasion resistance, adhesion to paper, and improved fold characteristics with reduced environmental impact as compared to conventional inks.

Solid ink set incorporating naturally derived materials and processes thereof


A new and distinct variety of peach rootstock denominated ‘HBOK 50’ is described. The ‘HBOK 50’ peach rootstock offers size control ability, root knot nematode resistance, less wood from dormant and summer pruning, and production of fewer root suckers. ‘HBOK 50’ has contributed to size reduction of compound trees when it is used as a clonally-produced rootstock with the fresh market peach “O'Henry”. No evidence of graft incompatibility or other abnormalities have been noted in such circumstances. Fruit on compound trees with ‘HBOK 50’ rootstocks is either similar in size or smaller than ‘Nemaguard’. The ‘HBOK 50’ rootstock displays root knot nematode resistance levels similar to ‘Nemaguard’ and more resistant than ‘Lovell’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of peach rootstock (Prunus persica) that has been denominated as 'HBOK 50' and more particularly to a peach rootstock that is graft compatible with peach and nectarine scion cultivars, and confers moderate vigor control on compound trees, produce fewer root suckers than 'Nemaguard', and is resistant to the rootknot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (race 1) isolate 'Beltran'.
It is recognized that vigor control of compound trees on a standard rootstock, such as 'Nemaguard', is difficult to achieve and to do so requires extensive pruning both in mid summer and the dormant season. It is also recognized that root suckers produced on standard rootstock are required to be removed manually, resulting in cost to the grower. The 'HBOK 50' peach rootstock has modest vigor control that produces smaller trees, which requires less pruning, and much fewer root suckers than 'Nemaguard', which results in cost savings for the grower.
The peach rootstock of the present invention was created at Davis, Calif. In 1990 hybrid 'P248-139' was created by crossing 'Harrow Blood' (HB) with 'Okinawa' (OK) at Fresno Calif. 'Harrow Blood' was used as the female parent and 'Okinawa' was used as the male parent in the cross. Seeds resulting from the open pollination of a single F1 plant from hybrid 'P248-139' were used to generate an experimental population (referred to as 'OP-F2 population') in February of 1994. Fifty seven 'OP-F2' seedlings were budded with 'O'Henry' (referred to as 'O'Henry population'), and concurrently each of these seedlings was budded onto 'Nemared' rootstock (referred to as 'OP-F2 population'). There were no obvious defects in the bud unions indicating compatibility of scions and rootstocks at this stage. Compound trees of 'O'Henry' scion budded onto each seedling of the 'OP-F2' segregating population as a rootstock were evaluated for trunk cross-sectional area (TCA), tree height, crop yield, cropping efficiency, fruit weight, and number of suckers. Eight seedlings were selected for further study of rootstock potential under semi-commercial conditions at Parlier, Calif. The primary criterion used for choosing seedlings having potential for size control as a rootstock was TCA. Wood from mother trees was propagated asexually (rooted), budded with 'O'Henry' peach scion and planted in a replicated field trial at Parlier, Calif. in 1999. 'HBOK' 50 was identified as a result of that trial, and was subsequently selected for further horticultural evaluation.
The new 'HBOK 50' peach rootstock of the present invention has been asexually reproduced by leaf cuttings at Davis, Calif. The distinctive characteristics of the new peach rootstock have been found to be stable and are transmitted to the new rootstocks when asexually propagated.

The Regents of the University of California

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A pressurized backup lubricant reservoir (36) with a lubricant line (31) to a rotor bearing (21). A control valve (43) on the backup lubricant line is normally closed. A monitor/controller (44) monitors multiple parameters of the bearing, and initiates an emergency protection sequence under combinations of conditions, including when a temperature of the bearing exceeds a threshold and a flow rate or pressure of a primary lubricant is outside a normal range and the rotor is rotating. The emergency protection sequence initiates a shut-down procedure for the rotor, and opens and modulates the control valve to meter a backup lubricant (33) from the backup reservoir to the bearing in proportion to a rundown rate of the rotor, such that lubrication of the bearing from the backup lubricant reservoir continues until the rotor stops turning. The protection sequence may also include coordinating braking of the rotor with the backup lubricant flow.

Machinery with rotors, such as electrical generators, steam and gas turbines, and large motors, commonly use journal type main bearings due to their high load-carrying capacity. In a journal bearing the rotor shaft is supported on a film of oil in clearance between the journal and the bearing inner surface or babbitt. The oil film is maintained by the rotation of the journal. Oil circulates through the bearing and exits through a drain line, then recirculates via a pump, filter, reservoir, and cooler. Circulation maintains the oil film, cools the bearing, and removes contaminants. If oil pressure is lost, the journal settles onto the babbitt and frictionally overheats, causing extensive damage to the shaft, bearing, and other parts.
In power generation equipment, the rotor may take about an hour to rundown during a non-braked shutdown. Even with braking, a rundown with a loss of bearing lubrication has time to cause serious damage.

Backup lubrication system for a rotor bearing


A high-voltage generating transformer for a discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to the present invention includes a rodlike core; a secondary winding bobbin that is divided into a plurality of sections, and where the core is disposed in the central portion thereof; a secondary winding part wound on the secondary winding bobbin, divided between the plurality of sections of the bobbin; a primary winding bobbin disposed around the outer periphery of the secondary winding part; and a primary winding part wound on the primary winding bobbin; wherein the primary winding bobbin is changed in thickness every section or every plurality of sections of the second winding part such that the bobbin has a thickened thickness on the side where the potential difference between the primary winding part and the secondary winding part is high, and the bobbin has a thinned thickness on the side where the potential difference is low.

Lighting of a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID bulb) used for a vehicle headlamp requires a high-voltage generating apparatus called "an igniter (IGN)" in general, and the igniter generating a high voltage uses a high-voltage generating transformer. For conventional high-voltage generating transformers for a discharge lamp lighting apparatus, the following conventional examples are listed up.
As a conventional example 1, the example is a high-voltage generating transformer fabricated by winding a primary winding part on a secondary winding part formed of rectangular electric wires edgewise wound around a bar core, and a feature of the example is that the secondary winding part formed of edgewise wound rectangular electric wire is assembled directly on a core of high-resistance Ni—Zn system ferrite, thus enabling the external shape of the winding part to be small and the axial length thereof to be shortened.
Further, the embodiment thereof shows that a variety of methods of winding a primary winding part can be employed, and also shows an example employing traverse-winding of rectangular electric wire by using insulated round copper wire and a primary winding bobbin, or an example using thin conducting foil insulated with film; however, in any of those ideas, the primary winding part is disposed biased toward the low voltage side of the secondary winding part (see Patent Document 1, e.g.).
In a conventional example 2, there is shown a high-voltage generating transformer having a structure similar to that of the above-described conventional example 1 (Patent Document 1), and the conventional example 2 treats the core thereof as a conductor in contrast to the conventional example 1 treating the core as an insulator. For this reason, the conventional example 2 requires having insulation between the core and the secondary winding part, and in order to cause the secondary winding bobbin to have an insulating property, the bobbin on the high voltage generating side of the secondary winding part is thickened. However, those conventional example 1 and conventional example 2 have the same arrangement in the fundamental portion of the primary winding part and the secondary winding part (see Patent Document 2, e.g.).
A conventional example 3 is a high-voltage generating transformer where a secondary winding part formed of round wire is wound on a bobbin divided into some sections and a primary winding part is wound around the outer periphery of the secondary winding part, and a feature of the conventional example 3 is that a structure is employed where a core having a hole at the center is used and a high-voltage output terminal penetrates through the core.
The conventional example 3 shows in its embodiment as with the conventional example 1 that various methods of winding the primary winding part can be used, and also shows an example where traverse-winding of rectangular electric wire is adopted by using insulated round wire and a primary winding bobbin; however, the example says that optimum disposition of the primary winding part is concentrating the winding part in the central section and even roughly wound winding part using a bobbin can give an excellent characteristic as long as the winding part is axially evenly disposed (see Patent Document 3, e.g.).
As a conventional example 4, the example is a high-voltage generating transformer intended for a high-intensity discharge lamp not using mercury as described later, and the transformer is fabricated by winding a primary winding part over a secondary winding part formed of rectangular electric wire wound on a bar core as with the conventional example 1. Lighting a high-intensity discharge lamp not using mercury requires a high current, and a feature of the conventional example 4 is that in order to reduce the secondary winding part in its axial length, having its thickness increased because of its cross-sectional area enlarged for flowing the high current, the secondary winding part is divided, the secondary winding part of the low voltage side is wound on the outside of the secondary winding part of the high voltage side, and further, the primary winding part is provided on the outside of the part of the low voltage side.
Moreover, the embodiment thereof also shows an idea where the wall of the bobbin functioning as a partition wall for obtaining a withstand voltage is formed in a stepwise shape or wedge shape in cross section according to the applied voltage (see Patent Document 4, e.g.).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-093635
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2005-322515
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2001-257087
Patent Document 4: JP-A-2004-111451
Conventional high-voltage generating transformers used for discharge lamp lighting apparatuses are arranged as mentioned above, and are actualized and commercialized by using some methods.
Among those transformers, both high-voltage generating ones shown in the conventional example 1 (Patent Document 1) and the conventional example 3 (Patent Document 3) meet high-intensity discharge lamps (HID bulbs) using mercury (referred to as "conventional bulbs" hereinafter), and those technologies concerning the transformer are sufficiently completed for high-voltage generating transformers used for igniters.
However, thereafter, high-intensity discharge lamps not using mercury (referred to as "Hg-free bulbs" hereinlater) have begun to be put to practical use in consideration of mercury that is environmental material. Since an Hg-free bulb is energized with bulb current approximately two times greater than a conventional bulb is, the technology meeting conventional bulbs cannot sufficiently function by itself in designing a new igniter for an Hg-free bulb as follows. Therefore, the igniter therefor should be further enhanced in performance.
For example, although the rated powers of a conventional bulb and a Hg-free bulb for an on-vehicle headlamp are both 35 W; the rated current of an Hg-free bulb is 0.8 A; the rated current of a conventional bulb is 0.4 A; the rated voltage of an Hg-free bulb is 42 V; and the rated voltage of a conventional bulb is 85 V.
Therefore, in the winding part of a high-voltage generating transformer used for an igniter for an Hg-free bulb, it is necessary to reduce the electric resistance of the winding part by a factor of four in order to cope with the approximately doubled current and make the heat generation caused by the loss equivalent to the heat generation in the conventional bulb. For this reason, supposing that the diameter of the electric wire used for the winding part is simply doubled (four times in cross-sectional area), the winding part increases in volume, the portion housing the winding part provided on the bobbin also thereby increases, and the igniter increases in size and cannot be accommodated in the housing space of the headlamp, which can cause a size problem.
In order to cope with the size problem, even if the shapes of parts surrounding the igniter can be changed and the igniter increased in size can be thereby attached to the headlamp, all vehicles do not always have space for the expansion, and there is a possibility that the igniter cannot be used in another vehicle. This causes the igniter to lose its compatibility among varied vehicles, and results in causing the igniter to deteriorate its marketability as a component for vehicles.
Further, a winding part using thick electric wires puts a large distance between neighboring winding parts, and causes its magnetic flux making an interlinkage to leak, thus weakening its magnetic coupling. This deteriorates its electric performance, and also causes a characteristic problem.
As described above, a high-voltage generating transformer intended for an Hg-free bulb requires a heavy-current specification as compared with that of a transformer intended for a conventional bulb. Cases of trying to cause each of the above-stated conventional examples to accommodate the high-current specifications will be explained hereinafter.
In the conventional example 1 (Patent Document 1), in order for the example to meet the above-described high current, the rectangular electric wire constituting the secondary winding part needs to be enlarged in width or thickness; however, in the structure using the secondary winding part where rectangular electric wire is edgewise wound as described above, there is a limitation in the ratio of the width to the thickness of rectangular electric wire capable of being edgewise wound. It is impossible to enlarge the wire only in width while maintaining the wire in the thickness required for a conventional bulb and at the same time keeping the transformer in the total length required therefor. It is required to enlarge the wire in width and simultaneously increase the wire also in thickness. Accordingly, if a high-voltage generating transformer is built depending on the type of the conventional example 1 by using rectangular electric wire having an increased cross-sectional area because of being increased in thickness and width for energizing the transformer with a high current, the secondary winding part increased in thickness and width increases the high-voltage generating transformer in the diametrical direction and the axial direction (in the longitudinal direction of the core), and the transformer increases the igniter in size. There is a problem that an igniter having the same size as that of an igniter intended for a conventional bulb cannot be fabricated.
In the case of the conventional example 2 (Patent Document 2), in order to pass a high current the rectangular electric wire constituting the secondary winding part is increased in thickness, which increases the distance from the primary winding part to the secondary winding part (especially the secondary winding part located on the side opposite from the primary winding part) (the core is also elongated). For this reason, the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part becomes easy to leak from halfway the elongated secondary winding part. If the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part leaks from partway the secondary winding part, the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part does not reach the portion of the secondary winding part located remotely from the primary winding part. The portion of the secondary winding part that the magnetic flux does not reach does not function as the part of a transformer. Therefore, there is a problem that the igniter pulse voltage generated on the side of the secondary winding part becomes low, and thereby, the high-voltage generating transformer cannot deliver sufficient performance.
In the conventional example 3 (Patent Document 3), also in the structure such as that of this conventional example, where the primary winding part is wound around the outer periphery of the secondary winding part formed of round wire, divided into some sections, the wire shape of the secondary winding part is compelled to be enlarged in order to meet a large current applied to an Hg-free bulb.
Accordingly, also in the high-voltage generating transformer based on the conventional example 3, when electric wire having a heavy shape in cross section for passing a large current is used, there occurs a problem that the igniter increases in size as with the case of the conventional example 1, and moreover, there occurs a problem of performance described later.
To say more exactly, the secondary winding part constituting the high-voltage generating transformer expands in the direction of coil diameter (in the diametrical direction), and is axially elongated, which increases the distance from the primary winding part to the secondary winding part in the diametrical direction (to the layer of the secondary winding part located in the central portion) and in the axial distance. The increase of the distance between the primary winding part and the secondary winding part causes the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part to easily leak from halfway the radially expanded winding part or from halfway the axially elongated winding part. When the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part leaks from halfway, there occurs a problem that sufficient output cannot be obtained as with the case of the conventional example 2.
In the conventional example 4 (Patent Document 4), the example is intended for meeting an Hg-free bulb as previously stated, and is disclosed with the intention of further enhancing the performance of an igniter by solving the above-mentioned problem occurring in supporting an Hg-free bulb, to be more precise, the problem of size of the igniter accommodated in a limited space for vehicle use, or the problem of electric performance (characteristic) deterioration of a high-voltage generating transformer.
However, when the secondary winding part is divided between the low voltage side and the high voltage side and the divided portions of the winding part are placed in superposed relation, a bobbin for isolation for obtaining the withstand voltage between the high voltage section and the low voltage section is used, and further, the primary winding part is disposed biased toward one side of the secondary winding part. For this reason, it is inevitable that the distance from the primary winding part to the secondary winding part will be increased, the structural problem that the magnetic flux generated by the primary winding part easily leaks from halfway the secondary winding part is not so improved, and there is a possibility (problem) that the obtained transformer cannot deliver sufficient performance as a high-voltage generating transformer.
The above explanations are given to the cases of trying to cause the conventional examples 1-4 to meet high-current requirements.
About the leak of the generated magnetic flux described in the above-mentioned problem occurring in meeting an Hg-free bulb, in order to prevent the magnetic flux from leaking through the clearances between lines of the primary winding part, and also prevent the magnetic flux from leaking through the clearance between the secondary winding part and the primary winding part by keeping both the winding parts in close contact with one another, it can be said that the structure of a high-voltage generating transformer having a three-layer structure where the secondary winding part is divided between two bobbins in the direction of coil diameter (in the diametrical direction) and the primary winding part is inserted between the secondary winding part divided into two portions is most suitable. Further, the three-layer structure reduces the axial length thereof.
However, in the high-voltage generating transformer having the above-mentioned three-layer structure where the axial length can be reduced, there occur problems that the radius of the convolution of the secondary winding part increases because the diameter of the winding part expands and the length of the secondary winding part required for the convolution increases to thereby increase the resistance of the secondary winding part, thus resulting in no enhancement of characteristic, and further, increasing the igniter in size.
As mentioned hereinabove, if the structures based on the conventional examples are applied to fabricating the high-voltage generating transformer used for the Hg-free bulb newly commercialized, the problems of increase in the size of an igniter and deterioration in the characteristics of the igniter cannot be solved.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-voltage generating transformer for a discharge lamp lighting apparatus, which does not excessively increase an igniter in size, reduces the leak of the magnetic flux generated from a primary winding part to cause the magnetic flux to make an interlinkage with a secondary winding part, and has characteristics meeting the lighting of an Hg-free bulb.

High-voltage generating transformer for discharge lamp lighting apparatus


Described is a technology by which forum web pages are processed into clusters for classification purposes, including by determining repetitive regions between pages and associating pages that have similar repetitive regions into a common cluster. Patterns corresponding to the regions are determined, and a feature set based at least in part on those patterns (e.g., pattern frequency) is extracted from the page. The feature set of a page is compared against the feature set of another page to determine similarity therewith, e.g., via a feature space distance computation that is evaluated against a threshold distance.

User created content (UCC) is becoming an important data resource on the Internet. One popular type of user created content, directed towards user discussions, is referred to as a web forum (also named a bulletin board or discussion board). The data of a web forum are becoming very valuable for various web applications. For example, commercial search engines have begun to integrate forum data into their searches to improve the quality of search results. As another example, recent research efforts have tried to mine forum data to obtain useful information, such as business intelligence and expertise. In any such application, a general goal is to fetch data pages from various forum sites distributed over the Internet.
To download forum data effectively and efficiently, the characteristics of forums need to be understood, which involves understanding the forum pages and relationships between pages. Forum pages tend to be semi-structured, and are typically generated based upon pre-defined templates.
As a result of the structuring, the pages of a given forum site may be classified into several categories, in which each category represents a specific function. For example, generic forums usually have list-of-board pages, post-of-thread pages, user profile pages, and so forth; to extract post-of-thread content, identification of the post-of-thread pages is required.
Once classified, page classification may be used in forum page understanding, and for further analysis of forum data. Page classification is also valuable in forum crawling, e.g., page classification is a component used in recovering the structure of the forum site, and determine an optimized route for a crawler. Further, page classification can help filter out invalid pages and reduce duplicate pages; for example, the same pages (or other content) having different Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are often generated for different requests, such as "view by date" or "view by title" requests.
To categorize forum pages, URL pattern analysis may be used, particularly with respect to sites hosted by commercial forum service providers. For example, "*/forumdisplay.php?fid=*" refers to list-of-post pages, while "*/viewthread.php?tid=*" refers to post-of-thread pages. However, in many cases, a URL is ambiguous and does not reveal a page's function. As one example, professional forums and communities of large enterprises usually define their own forms, whereby, for example, a URL such as "http://www.wxyz-forums.net/" provides no readily apparent URL patterns indicative of different types of pages.
Another technique used in categorizing forum pages utilizes Document Object Model (DOM) tree-based structure criterions to describe target pages. However, using DOM trees in forum sites for categorization does not provide a sufficient and robust solution, as similar pages may have different numbers of advertisements, images, and even complex sub-structures from user posts.

Forum web page clustering based on repetitive regions


A self-contained, oil flush medium toilet system is provided having a largely rectangular enclosure that separates the flush medium from collected waste and preprocesses the waste for subsequent removal. The device requires no connection to sewage or water lines, and can be installed with only electrical connections for continual operation. Waste is first received through a toilet bowl, whereafter it is consumed by the oil and falls under the surface thereof. The waste is then circulated below the oil, whereby it is continually aerated to promote aerobic digestion of the waste until it reaches a certain volume, where the processed waste exits the enclosure for further processing or storage. The oil flush medium is pumped through a particulate and carbon filter to maintain its condition, wherein the oil is immiscible with the waste to first consume it and remain above the waste within the enclosure during operation.

Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an oil flush toilet system that can operate independently from existing waste treatment infrastructure. More specifically, the present invention comprises a self-contained, environmentally friendly, and efficient oil flush toilet enclosed within a stand-alone unit that does not require any external sewage connections in order to operate and treat waste. Waste is collected in a commode style structure, treated, and then removed periodically while the treated byproducts are exhausted. The unit requires only an electrical connection and periodic maintenance for sustained operation.
Most indoor toilets are permanent fixtures connected through a plumbing network to a wastewater treatment system managed by a local municipality. Sewage from the residential or commercial buildings transfers from the toilet and into sewage pipes that route the wastewater for external treatment at a dedicated facility. This modern system has proven to be an effective solution for managing large quantities of wastewater in a developed area, but its operation has some inherent drawbacks.
The first of these is the limitation that conventional toilets must be connected to an existing sewage system. This requires infrastructure dedicated to the collection and treatment of wastewater. In certain rural and developing parts of the world, the necessary infrastructure for permanent, indoor plumbing is lacking. This creates potential problems for the local population as there is no system to remove waste from the local area. Untreated waste near living areas creates a public health hazard for the populous and an environmental concern for the local habitat.
Another drawback to conventional flush toilets relates to plumbing systems in high rise buildings and the necessary energy required to operate these systems. Conventional toilets utilize a considerable amount of water to remove waste from the building. For high rise buildings, the water is pumped to the higher floors for circulation of the water and subsequent removal of the waste. The energy required to pump the water up many stories can quickly become significant and require several pumps in order to operate successfully. Operation of this type of system in extremely tall buildings comes at a great expense in terms of energy and in terms wasted water, which is inefficient for the building owner and inefficient in terms of energy consumption.
Yet another drawback to most conventional toilet systems is their excessive water consumption. In conventional sewage treatment systems, the flush or transport medium is water, which represents 90 to 98 percent of the total volume of the sewage being handled. This consumption of fresh water is wasteful of natural resource, where fresh water has become ever more valuable in large regions of the world. The fresh water is used as both a transport medium and a means to block foul odors from exiting the toilet during use. However, the ever growing demands for fresh water makes this use less appealing, where the fresh water could otherwise be utilized for human consumption, agriculture, or for commercial applications.
Finally, most conventional toilet systems pose an inherent risk to the environment in terms of potential contamination of the local area with untreated or escaping wastewater. Even with existing infrastructure to treat mass volumes of sewage, the distance between waste collection areas and treatment centers introduces the risk of contamination into the local environment. Furthermore, if the wastewater is not subsequently treated correctly before being discharged into a local waterway, the waterway and surrounding environment will be adversely impacted. This can result in health risks and have an impact on the local environment.
The present invention pertains to a self-contained toilet system that utilizes a reusable oil flush medium. The unit is compact and requires no connection to an existing sewage line. Rather than using water as a medium to transport waste, a mineral oil is utilized, which can be readily separated from the sewage within the toilet unit and without external processing. When the terms "sewage" or "waste" are used herein they are meant to describe any of the typical forms of waste matter generally encountered in sewage handling systems, including human excreta, paper, cigarette butts and the like. The oil flush medium cleans the toilet bowl and carries the waste below the toilet and into a separate chamber, wherein it is aerobically biodegraded and the waste is liquefied for discharge to an evaporator or other disposal means.
Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to toilet systems and means of processing wastewater. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to larger systems for processing waste or for oil flush toilets of diverging purpose. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
Systems with reusable media have been previously disclosed wherein the flush media is of a density different from that of the sewage. U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,614 to Robert W. Claunch and assigned to Chrysler Corporation, as well as and U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,528 to Robert W. Claunch and assigned to Chrysler Corporation describe systems that have been successfully developed and used in the field with success. The systems described in these patents eliminate the use of water as a flush as a flush medium for sewage waste and substitute a reusable medium. The reusable flush medium is substantially immiscible with water and of a sufficient difference in density from that of water and other sewage waste to permit physical separation of the sewage from the flush medium. The medium is also chemically stable under the operating conditions of the sewage facility and in the presence of sewage waste.
In these systems, the flush medium is supplied to a point of use, such as an ordinary toilet commode or urinal, and then flushed with any waste received through a sewer line into a separation tank. In the separating tank, because of its difference in density, the flush medium rises above the waste to float on it and an interface forms between the point of contact between the medium and the sewage waste. Liquid flush medium floating on the waste in the separation tank is preferably passed through a suitable filter means and into a fluid circulation system for reuse. The circulation system preferably includes a pressurized storage tank or accumulator equipped with a pressure switch means which automatically activates a pump in the circulation system when the pressure in the accumulator drops below a preset minimum. The waste collects at the bottom of the separating tank until a sufficient quantity has accumulated to activate an automatic transfer means. Waste is then transferred from the separating tank into a waste receiving means, such as a catch tank, holding tank, incinerator, aerobic digester or the like. After a given quantity of the waste has been transferred the transfer means automatically stops and the accumulation of waste in the lower part of the separation tank starts again. The transfer means prevents carryover of sewage waste with the flush medium when it is removed from the separating tank An electrical control system including floats and switches is used in the patented system to activate the transfer means at appropriate times for controlling the volume of waste and flush medium retained in the separating tank. The '528 patent improved the original '614 device by eliminating the need for a grinder waste pump with level sensors and switches. This new embodiment provided for automatic discharge of partially digested liquefied waste to a remote holding tank or treatment means.
The present invention provides a new oil-flush toilet system that is provided within a self-contained unit, wherein the waste is collected and preconditioning for transfer to an external disposal means, wherein the collection and preconditioning takes place in a one container. The toilet bowl, the toilet seat, the flush fluid pump, the waste conditioning means, and all functions of the previous inventions will take place in one container, except for the flush fluid filters and electrical switches. The same method of waste water separation from flush fluid is utilized within a confined unit; however no external sewer lines or flush fluid provider lines need be connected outside of the container. This arrangement allows for the placement of a toilet inside an existing building without having to provide collection lines for the toilet waste, while flush fluid is recycled and continuously replenished as it is consumed over several flushings and waste water extractions.
Other devices related to oil flush toilets and self-contained waste treatment toilets include U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,731 to Houde and U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,768 to Hammond. The Houde device describes an oil toilet wherein oil is utilized as a sealant to isolate unpleasant odors produced by waste materials in the toilet. A cleaning means comprising a stop valve and a discharge valve removes waste materials from the toilet while reusing a substantial amount of the oil in the toilet. The Hammond device describes a self-contained toilet that utilizes compressed air and a flush liquid to remove waste, whereby water is not consumed in the process. Within the toilet unit is a heater for dehydrating the waste and a grinder for grinding the waste into a powder, wherein the powdered waste is recovered by a receptacle for later disposal. While providing new and unique waste removal systems, the Houde and Hammond devices do not describe the functional elements of the present invention, which utilizes an oil flush system that separates and conditions waste for removal in a compact unit.
It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing oil flush toilet devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

Self-contained oil flush toilet unit and sewage treatment system for separating and pre-treating waste


An apparatus for operating an auto-shutter in an air-conditioner having an external casing includes a louver frame having an air exit installed in the external casing, an auto-shutter movable between an opened position opening the exit and a closed position closing the exit, and a shutter driver driving the auto-shutter. The shutter driver includes a driving motor which is rotatably mounted in the casing for tilting forwardly and backwardly, a screw-rod rotationally coupled with the driving motor, a bushing coupled with the rotational rod which ascends and descends along with the rotational rod when rotated, a slider, one end of which is coupled with the auto-shutter and the other end of which is coupled with the bushing. The frame and shutter include cooperating surfaces defining to guide the auto-shutter and cause the driving motor and the rotational rod to tilt by a predetermined angle as the auto-shutter moves from the opened position to the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for operating an auto-shutter in an air-conditioner, and more particularly, to an auto-shutter operating apparatus for use in an air-conditioner, which can open and close an auto-shutter using a shutter driver which includes a screw-rod shaped rotational rod, a bushing, a slider, and a driving motor, thereby driving the auto-shutter more effectively in terms of driving power, without employing an auto-shutter driving system which is opened and closed by a mutual operation of a conventional rack and pinion.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, an air-conditioner is divided into a wall-mounted air-conditioner and a stand-alone air-conditioner according to an installation method. The air-conditioner is divided into an integral air-conditioner where an indoor device and an outdoor device are integrated, and a separated air-conditioner where an indoor device and an outdoor device are separated from each other, according to the structure of the air-conditioner.
Here, in the case of one of the separated air-conditioners, a compressor for compressing coolant at high temperature and high pressure and a condenser for condensing the compressed coolant are installed in an outdoor device, and an evaporator for heat-exchanging the condensed coolant is provided in an indoor device.
An indoor casing in the conventional separated air-conditioner includes a cabinet-shaped outer casing where predetermined components are mounted therein and a front cover forming the front surface of the outer casing.
An inhaling unit inhaling indoor air is formed in the lower area of the front cover and an exit discharging heat-exchanged air is provided in the upper area of the inhaling unit.
Also, an auto-shutter is installed in the exit, in which the auto-shutter can be moved between an opened position opening the exit and a closed position closing the exit.
In the case that the air-conditioner operates, the auto-shutter opens the exit so that heat-exchanged air can exit from the exit, while in the case that the air-conditioner does not operate, the auto-shutter closes the exit so that heat-exchanged air cannot exit from the exit.
Meanwhile, a number of technologies exist in connection with the auto-shutter driving systems. As an example, one of the auto-shutter driving systems is disclosed in Korea Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-111640 (Dec. 20, 2001) entitled "Apparatus for opening and closing an exit in an air ventilator." In this disclosed technology, an auto-shutter is opened and closed according to mutual operation of a rack and a pinion by a motor.
Since most of the conventional air-conditioners employ an auto-shutter driving system of a relatively complicated structure which is opened and closed by the mutual operation of a rack and a pinion, a fault ratio is relatively high and thus a maintenance cost can increase.
Accordingly, the Applicant proposed a new technique of enabling an auto-shutter to be opened and closed by a new method, thereby driving the auto-shutter more effectively in view of driving power used.

Apparatus for operating auto-shutter in air-conditioner


Systems and methods are provided for managing depths in stereo images. In one implementation, systems and methods are provided for using a procedural shader and automated rendering to match depths of computer-generated images with that of native stereo images, i.e., images recorded using two cameras for stereo imaging. The system and method may employ a checkerboard and a tri-planar shader, and may further employ a texture reference object to make more convenient and intuitive the depth matching.

Movies presented in 3-D are enjoying tremendous popularity. One way of achieving three-dimensional images is by way of stereography. In stereography two images are captured and presented to a user, one from a left camera and for the left eye of a viewer, and one from a right camera and for a right eye of a viewer. It is one of the oldest ways of producing a 3-D image for a viewer.
Today's cinematography commonly blends live-action footage with computer-generated objects or characters. For example, a live-action actor may have a computer-generated spider moving on their shoulder, and the CG spider must move with both the character and the camera. One way of performing this movement is with match move processes or just "match moving", also known as camera tracking. Markers are placed on significant points of the live-action images, and the movements of these points define how a virtual camera, imaging CG object, should move as well, to match the physical camera.
While match moving is highly accurate in two dimensions, significant errors can exist when extended to multiple distinct viewing angles as exist in a stereographic camera system. Accordingly, there is a need to improve match moving for such systems.

System and method for match move quality control


An accelerator pedal (100) includes a stopper member (30) fixed to the floor of the driver's seat, a pad member (20) fastened to the stopper member (30) and operated by the driver's depression force, an arm (4) engaged with the pad member (20) to transmit the depression force, and a bracket (5) engaged with the arm (4) to support the arm (4), wherein the stopper member (30) is provided with a pad fitting section (17) for fastening the pad member (20), and the pad member (20) is integrally molded by a single resin material.

Conventionally, the accelerator pedal is fixed by bolts, etc. on a floor carpet that is laid entirely over the floor of the driver's seat. In the case where the floor carpet is washed, repaired or replaced with another one, it is necessary to disassemble a pad member, an arm and a bracket of the accelerator pedal, and then detach the stopper member fixed on the floor of the driver's seat.
After the floor carpet is removed and washed, repaired or replaced with another one, the stopper member is fixed on the floor by bolts, and then the pad member is fitted into the stopper member. And the arm and the bracket are engaged with the pad member, and thereafter the throttle for controlling the engine speed is readjusted.
In other words, if the accelerator pedal is once detached, the mounting position of the bracket, which supports the arm, cannot be restored, so that an adjustment of the throttle, etc. is required to control the engine speed to the original engine speed.
Further, in order to hook resinous nails provided at the pad member of the accelerator pedal through nail-catch sections of the stopper member, a fastening method, for example, employing a snap-fit structure, in which fastening is made use of the flexibility of the resin, is conventionally known. However, to perform a firm and reliable fastening made by the deflection of the resinous nails, it is necessary to further employ bolts, nuts or tapping screws.
For this reason, in such a fastening structure of resinous parts wherein the resinous nails are deflected and prevented from being pulled out, the resinous nails are made of a resin having a higher hardness instead of a soft resin ranging from resin to rubber.
For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-270343 (Pages 3-4, and FIG. 2) discloses such an accelerator pedal structure for vehicles, which includes a restricting member for restricting a relative movement between the accelerator pedal pad and the retainer in the rotation shaft direction, so as to minimize the backlash amount in the rotation shaft direction.
However, according to this conventional method, the fit-in structure where the fastening member is deflected and fitted into the corresponding fastened member upon engagement thereof prevents removal and backlash of the fastening member. The resinous nails of the fastening member are not of a deformation proof structure, for example, with respect to the deformation of the resin, therefore, it may cause a deformation and thereby causing removal of the nails regardless of whether or not the fastened member deforms.
In the case where a soft material is used for the fastening member, it may cause removal or backlash of the fastening member. To this end, a firm fastening structure for preventing the removal and backlash has been desired.
The accelerator pedal is fixed by bolts on the floor carpet that is laid entirely over the floor of the driver's seat. When the floor carpet is washed, repaired or replaced with another one, it is necessary to detach the stopper member that is fixed on the floor of the driver's seat. For this reason, in the conventional accelerator pedal, the pad member, the arm, and the bracket have to be disassembled. However, there is a drawback such that the pad member is difficult to be detached from the stopper member.
Once the arm and the bracket are disassembled, readjustment of these parts is required in order to control the engine speed to the original conditions.
The present invention is proposed to solve the above drawbacks, and the purpose of the present invention is to readily detach the pad member from the stopper member without causing removal and backlash of the pad member relative to the stopper member.


An EEG monitoring apparatus (2) adapted to be carried continuously by a person being monitored comprises means adapted for measuring at least one EEG signal from the person carrying the apparatus and a signal processing means for analysing said at least one EEG signal and adapted to identify or predict predetermined biological incidents in said person based on said analysis. The EEG monitoring apparatus (2) further comprises a decision means adapted to decide when information is to be presented to said person and a message selection means for selecting a voice message providing said person with information, as well as an acoustic transducer adapted for presenting the selected voice message to the person. The invention also provides a method for presenting voice messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable EEG monitoring apparatus. The invention, more particularly, relates to a portable EEG monitoring apparatus adapted to be carried continuously by a person. The invention furthermore relates to a method of presenting messages in such a portable EEG monitoring device.
EEG is the commonly used abbreviation for Electro EncephaloGram, EEG monitoring is generally speaking a method of electrically monitoring brain activity of a person. Systems for monitoring EEGs have been known for many years. However with the general technological development, EEG monitoring systems, which may be carried or worn continuously by a person to be monitored, have been devised.
2. The Prior Art
One such system is known from the document WO-A1-2006/066577, where blood sugar levels are monitored in a person suffering from diabetes in order to warn against hypoglycaemic attacks. Low blood sugar levels have severe influences on the brain activity and too low blood sugar levels may lead to unconsciousness and even death. The system disclosed WO-A1-2006/066577 is a fully implanted subcutaneous system. The implanted electrodes are via electrical leads connected to a monitoring device capable of detecting the brainwaves characteristic for an imminent hypoglycaemic attack, and issuing a warning in the form of a vibration of the subcutaneous monitoring device. In WO-A1-2006/066577 it is furthermore suggested that the implant may wirelessly communicate with an external unit, which may contain the more power demanding parts of the electronics, so as to obtain a long battery service life of the implanted subcutaneous parts. It is stated that this will also allow an acoustic warning, but WO-A1-2006/066577 does not disclose any details on how.
Other systems known from e.g. US-A1-2009/0062682 or US-B-6354299 suggest monitoring of brain states using an implant, and the use of voice messages to warn against disorders, such as imminent epileptic seizures, based on the monitored brain states.
Based on this prior art it is a feature of the present invention, to provide an improved system vis-à-vis the prior art system, in particular regarding the acoustic warning of the person carrying the apparatus.

EEG monitoring apparatus and method for presenting messages therein


In a distributed storage of data objects in a cluster system, a data object is distributed across a group of node apparatuses in units of data blocks. For each child object, the metadata structure of the respective child object is stored to one of the node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of data blocks of the data object and includes a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes; and the metadata structure of the parent object is distributed across the plural node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of child objects of the data object and includes, on each node apparatus of the group of node apparatuses, a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes.

In the prior art, it is known to manage I/O requests from clients to data stored in units of blocks on storage devices of a storage apparatus based on a metadata tree structure including a root node directly or indirectly pointing to blocks e.g. via indirect nodes pointing to direct nodes and via direct nodes pointing to blocks of data, e.g. in connection with a log write method which writes modified data to newly allocated blocks.
Below, some potential objects are described. Exemplary embodiments and aspects as described in the following may be proposed to solve one, more or all of the below objects. It is an object of the present invention to provide aspects in a data storage system, which provides an efficient and reliable scale-out approach in which a cluster system of plural node apparatuses is enabled to manage I/O access to one or more data objects distributed across a plurality of node apparatuses and is, at the same time efficiently and reliably scalable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide aspects in a data storage system, which allows to efficiently and reliably manage the I/O access independent of data location in the cluster system and independent of which node apparatus receives the I/O request in a scalable cluster system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aspects in a data storage system, which allows to efficiently and reliably allow for rebalancing and redistributing of data across node apparatuses of the cluster system for purposes of load balancing and/or for the purpose of adding or removing node apparatuses to/from the cluster system.

Data storage system and process for providing distributed storage in a scalable cluster system and computer program for such data storage system


A system for monitoring and tracking vehicles in parking locations, public roadways and highway entrances and exits and other public vehicle access areas and to monitor and track vehicles in parking spaces, public roadways and highways without the need for parking or traffic personnel. The system includes a meter system that generates image data of a vehicle in a parking space, public roadway and highway entrances and exits such as by creating an array of pixel data in a predetermined field of view that includes a vehicle identification tag and facial imaging. An enforcement and tracking system receives the image data to identify the vehicle license number, vehicle tag identification number and facial image based on the expected location of the license tag, identification tag and field of view image data characteristics of the license tag, facial image or other suitable data. From the image data acquired, monitoring of parking spaces is performed and violation citations or notices are generated.

Parking meter systems are known in the art. Such parking meter systems generally use cellular telephones or other devices to allow a user to pay for parking, and may also alert the user when additional funds are required to pay for an additional parking interval. Nevertheless, if the meter expires and the vehicle is still parked, parking enforcement personnel must be present to place a ticket on the vehicle for a parking violation. Likewise, if the vehicle leaves the parking space and a new vehicle parks in the meter while time is still present on the meter, then the new vehicle occupant gets a "free ride" on the parking toll paid by the previous user. Thus, prior art systems require significant enforcement resources and also result in lost potential revenue.

System for tracking suspicious vehicular activity


An apparatus and assembly method including a sprocket hub and a locking collar for go kart vehicles and other land vehicles with drive axles is provided. The present invention eliminates the need for two locking collars on either side of the sprocket hub. The invention further provides a lightweight sprocket hub with a hub neck portion adapted to receive a single locking collar. The sprocket hub fits loosely on the drive axle. The fin-like sprocket hub arms and sprocket hub extensions each have sprocket connection holes used to connect the sprocket hub to a drive sprocket. The locking collar engages the sprocket hub neck portion by means of two flanges located on the sprocket hub. As assembled, the sprocket hub and locking collar float and oscillate on the drive axle to compensate for chassis flex and chain bind such that acceleration of said kart vehicle is enhanced.

The present invention relates generally to a collar and sprocket hub apparatus and particularly relates to a single locking collar and sprocket hub apparatus and method for use on the driving axles of land vehicles. The invention can be used on a variety of vehicles, but is designed specifically for use on go kart vehicles or the like.

Single locking collar and sprocket hub apparatus and method


A transverse connector includes a cross member assembly, a first connector assembly, and a second connector assembly. The cross member assembly includes a cross member, a first ring, and a second ring. The cross member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first ring is receivable on the first end portion of the cross member and the second ring is receivable on the second end portion of the cross member. The first and second connector assemblies are coupled to the first and second rings of the cross member assembly, respectively, to support the cross member between the first and second connector assemblies. The first and second connector assemblies are configured to selectively and releasably secure to bone anchors.

Disease, the effects of aging, or physical trauma resulting in damage to the spine has been treated in many instances by fixation or stabilization of the effected vertebra. A wide variety of spinal fixation apparatuses have been employed in surgical procedures for correcting spinal injuries and the effects of spinal diseases. Many of these apparatuses commonly use a pair of longitudinal rods running in a relatively parallel relationship to each other and the spinal column. These rods are connected to connectors, which in turn are secured to the underlying vertebral bone by spinal bone fixation fasteners such as pedicle screws, hooks, and the like. The pair of longitudinal rods can be held in position relative to one another by transverse connectors, also known as transverse bridge elements or cross-connectors.


Disclosed are reconfigurable optical interconnections for opto-electronic processors in general, and for scalable computer architectures and scalable network servers in particular. The optical-signal interconnects are adaptable, or reconfigurable, during the normal operation of the processor. A large number of optical-signal interconnects may be provided among the components of the processor while using a small number of light transmitters and/or light receivers.

Mainstay computer systems and network-server systems use electrical interconnects among the integrated-circuit (IC) chips on the component boards, and electrical interconnects on bus-based interconnect planes to interconnect the component boards. The speed of communication in these systems is limited both by the well-known "skin effect," where resistance increases as signal frequency increases, and by capacitance effects. To overcome the resistance and capacitance of the electrical interconnects, more powerful bus drivers have been used. However, these drivers increase the power consumption of the system, and require additional cooling for the system.
Recently, there has been an explosive growth in the amount of information conveyed through the Internet, local networks, and high-speed data exchanges between servers. Current information processing systems and network servers are having difficulty keeping up with the growth, and are now running into the physical limits of the electronic components, electric interconnections, and assembly technologies.
The present invention is directed to addressing the ability of information processing systems and network servers to keep up with the growth of information communication, and to addressing the physical limits placed on systems by current electronic components, electric interconnections, and assembly technologies.

Opto-electronic processors with reconfigurable chip-to-chip optical interconnections


An apparatus for adjusting a sampling phase in analog to digital conversion, and an adjustment method thereof is disclosed. Provided are an apparatus for adjusting a sampling phase of a digital display including a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit unit for converting a frequency of a sampling clock signal and outputting the converted frequency, the sampling clock signal for converting an analog video signal into digital format, an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting the incoming analog video signal into digital format using the sampling clock signal input from the PLL circuit unit, a detection unit for detecting a maximum phase shift of the video signal converted at the ADC, and a control unit for controlling the PLL circuit unit so that the sampling phase can be adjusted in accordance with the maximum phase shift detected by the detection unit, and an adjustment method of the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting a sampling phase of a digital display and an adjustment method thereof, and more particularly, to an apparatus for adjusting a sampling phase of a digital display in accordance with the number of occurrence of phase shift of video signal during a conversion from analog video signal to digital format, and an adjustment method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As flat panel display (FPD) such as liquid crystal display (LCD) is in great demand, there are also increasing demands for image processing apparatuses that convert incoming analog video signal into digital format to adaptively use it for display.
For a conversion of analog signal into digital format, a clock signal is generated, and if the phase of the generated clock signal does not correspond with the signal source, image quality deteriorates. Accordingly, the phase of the sampling clock signals needs to be adjusted whenever there occurs a change in signal source.
As an existing method for adjusting the phase of the sampling clock signal, there is a method that adjusts the phase of the sampling clock signal based on a difference of horizontal resolution of pixel data and digital signal.
The sampling phase adjustment apparatus employing the above existing adjustment method is provided with an input level interface into which analog video signal is inputted, an A/D converter for converting incoming analog video signal into digital format, a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit that generates and supplies sampling clock to the A/D converter, a data latch/logic unit that detects number of pixels in an active region where effective video signals exist, and a control unit that controls the PLL by converting the PLL data in accordance with the incoming video signal and the horizontal synchronization signal, and a synchronization signal processing unit that generates information about incoming signal in accordance with the horizontal and the vertical synchronization signals and supplies the generated information to the control unit.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart for illustrating a method for adjusting a sampling clock by detecting number of pixels in the active region with a sampling phase adjusting apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit determines a resolution mode of the incoming video signal in accordance with the horizontal and vertical synchronization signal of the incoming analog video signal in operation S1. Here, the incoming analog video signal is the signal that has been processed at the synchronization signal processing unit. As the resolution mode of the incoming video signal is determined, the control unit sets the PLL by supplying the PLL data corresponding to the resolution mode to the PLL circuit, and thus, the PLL circuit generates a sampling clock at a basic sampling frequency in operation S2. After the A/D conversion at the sampling clock, the data latch/logic unit detects number of pixels in the active region in operation S3. Then through the comparison of the detected number of pixels and reference number of pixels in operation S4, the control unit adjusts the sampling phase to an optimum in accordance with the number of pixels of the active region in operation S5 when the absolute value of the difference equals 1. When the absolute value of the difference is other than '1' in operation S4, operations in S2 and S3 are repeated. After the adjustment of the sampling phase through the operation in S5, the control unit determines whether the detected number of pixels of the active region equals the reference number of pixels in operation S6, and if so, adjusts the horizontal position in accordance with the detected number of pixels of the active region in operation S7. When it is determined that the detected number of pixels of the active region is different from the reference number of pixels in operation S6, the control unit returns to the operation of S2 and re-adjusts the sampling phase.
The above existing method, which adjusts the position of the sampling clock based on the difference between the number of pixels in the active region and the reference number of pixels, have several limitations as follows. That is, the existing method requires computations that are too complex for the capacity of a general microcomputer provided in the digital display to handle. If the resolution of the digital display is increased, it takes a considerable time for the computation, while, if the width of the detected data is reduced to shorten the time for procedures, optimum sampling phase is hardly found.
Meanwhile, there is another method presently available for adjusting the sampling phase. According to this method, whether the beginning and last active data exist in the active video pixel or not is determined based on the horizontal synchronization signal, and the active regions are compared, and if they are correct, optimum sampling phase is determined using the phases of the both active data. However, this method accompanies a problem. That is, if there is no clear difference between the beginning and the last active data as in the case of one dot on/off pattern, while there is no beginning, or last active data in the horizontal direction, or if the phase of the active data is mistakenly determined due to external factors such as noise, error occurs in video data region determination. In brief, the method of determining the median of the beginning and the last phases as an optimum phase is quite prone to errors.

Apparatus for adjusting sampling phase of digital display and adjustment method thereof


An automotive control module includes a microcontroller having an access port, and that permits reprogramming of its functions responsive to a voltage at the access port being greater than a first predefined threshold upon power-up or reset thereof. The automotive control module also includes a boot assist control circuit lacking logical elements and including a pair of input ports, an output port directly electrically connected to the access port, and a plurality of capacitors, resistors, and transistors electrically connected between the pair and output port. The plurality outputs a voltage to the output port at least equal to the first predefined threshold responsive to voltages at both the input ports being greater than a second predefined threshold, and outputs a voltage to the output port less than the first predefined threshold responsive to the voltage at either one of the input ports being less than the second predefined threshold.

Electrified vehicles (EVs) including hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rely on a traction battery to provide power to a traction motor for propulsion and a power inverter therebetween to convert direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power. The typical AC traction motor is a 3-phase motor that may be powered by 3 sinusoidal signals each driven with 120 degrees phase separation. The traction battery is configured to operate in a particular voltage range and provide a maximum current.
Certain electrified vehicles include a DC-DC converter, also referred to as a variable voltage converter (VVC), to convert the voltage of the traction battery to an operational voltage level of the electric machine. The electric machine, that may include a traction motor and a generator, may require high voltage and high current. Due to the voltage and current requirements, a battery module and a power electronics module are typically in continuous communication.

Microcontroller dual input boot assist control circuit


Degradation in reconstructed medical images is reduced by a method for calibrating a primary decay correction for a radiation detector having a decay curve that can be characterized by a plurality of components having different time constants. The method includes steps of: fitting the decay curve to a sum of a plurality of weighted exponentials having a first set of time constants; applying a correction to a measured response of the detector using a sum of the plurality of weighted exponentials having the first set of time constants to obtain a corrected response; selecting at least one additional exponential time constant dependent upon the corrected response; and fitting the decay curve to a sum of a second plurality of weighted exponentials including the first plurality of time constants and the at least one additional exponential time constant.

This application relates to methods for correction of high-order primary decay in detectors, and more particularly to methods providing increased flexibility in defining shapes of corrected decay curves in detectors.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cprimary decayxe2x80x9d refers to the fastest exponential decay component of a scintillator. xe2x80x9cAfterglowxe2x80x9d refers to remaining, slower decay components.
In at least one known computed tomography (CT) imaging system configuration, an x-ray source projects a fan-shaped beam which is collimated to lie within an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and generally referred to as the xe2x80x9cimaging planexe2x80x9d. The x-ray beam passes through the object being imaged, such as a patient. The beam, after being attenuated by the object, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the object. Each detector element of the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the beam attenuation at the detector location. The attenuation measurements from all the detectors are acquired separately to produce a transmission profile.
In known third generation CT systems, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated with a gantry within the imaging plane and around the object to be imaged so that the angle at which the x-ray beam intersects the object constantly changes. A group of x-ray attenuation measurements, i.e., projection data, from the detector array at one gantry angle is referred to as a xe2x80x9cviewxe2x80x9d. A xe2x80x9cscanxe2x80x9d of the object comprises a set of views made at different gantry angles, or view angles, during one revolution of the x-ray source and detector. In an axial scan, the projection data is processed to construct an image that corresponds to a two dimensional slice taken through the object. One method for reconstructing an image from a set of projection data is referred to in the art as the filtered back projection technique. This process converts the attenuation measurements from a scan into integers called xe2x80x9cCT numbersxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cHounsfield unitsxe2x80x9d, which are used to control the brightness of a corresponding pixel on a cathode ray tube display.
It is known to use europium-containing polycrystalline ceramic scintillators in detector arrays of computed tomographic (CT) imaging systems. Such scintillators exhibit much lower hysteresis and radiation damage than other known solid state detectors, such as CdWO4. In addition, the detector material is highly transparent, resulting in higher light output. Detection quantum efficiency (DQE) of 98% or more at 3 mm depth is obtained in a clinical x-ray energy range, resulting in improved image quality. Nevertheless, output signal decay, as indicated by its primary decay, is relatively slow (close to 1 millisecond), discouraging use of these otherwise advantageous scintillators at fast sampling rates at high scanning speeds. An exemplary decay curve is shown in FIG. 3.
It has been shown that a slow primary speed of the detector degrades spatial resolution of a CT imaging system, especially at higher scanning speeds. For example, a scan at 0.5 seconds per rotation will be degraded relative to a scan at 1.0 seconds per rotation, resulting from the significantly increased sampling rate. To overcome this shortcoming, recursive correction algorithms have been proposed.
Corrections using recursive correction algorithms compensate not only for the effects of the primary speed component of the detector response, but also for the afterglow components. Known techniques perform satisfactorily for scan speeds up to 1.0 second using scintillation materials having a decay characteristic such as that illustrated in FIG. 3. For faster scan speeds. however, undershoot and overshoot on the decay curve will occur, resulting in streak artifacts in reconstructed images. This undershoot and overshoot phenomenon is not an intrinsic feature of the decay of this scintillation material, but rather is a side effect of the signal restoration technique.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide methods to reduce or void undershoot and overshoot of the decay curve and the resulting artifacts in the reconstructed images.
There is therefore provided, in one embodiment, a method for calibrating a primary decay correction for a radiation detector having a decay curve that can be characterized by a plurality of components having different time constants. The method includes steps of fitting the decay curve to a sum of a plurality of weighted exponentials having a first set of time constants; applying a correction to a measured response of the detector using a sum of the plurality of weighted exponentials having the first set of time constants to obtain a corrected response; selecting at least one additional exponential time constant dependent upon the corrected response; and fitting the decay curve to a sum of a second plurality of weighted exponentials including the first plurality of time constants and the at least one additional exponential time constant.
The above described embodiment reduces or avoids undershoot and overshoot of the decay curve and the resulting artifacts in reconstructed images.

High order primary decay correction for CT imaging system detectors

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC