A resource allocation method of a base station in a wireless communication system based on a radio frame including a plurality of subframes including at least one first-type subframe and at least one second-type subframe is provided. The method includes generating first-type downlink control information including resource allocation information on the first-type subframe, generating second-type downlink control information including resource allocation information on the second-type subframe, and transmitting the first-type subframe including the first-type downlink control information and the second-type downlink control information, wherein the second-type subframe is transmitted with a lower transmit power than the transmit power of the first-type subframe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a resource allocation method and an apparatus for the wireless communication system using subframe generated by dividing frequency-time resource in time domain.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, mobile communication systems provide subscribers with voice communication services on the move. With rapid technological advancements, the mobile communication systems can now also support high speed data communication services. However, there is a need for more sophisticated mobile communication systems to mitigate resource shortage and meet the high-speed service requirements of the subscribers.
Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a next generation broadband communication technology developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in order to meet such requirement. The LTE system is a technology for realizing high-speed packet-based downlink communication at up to 100 Mbps. In order to fulfill the requirements for the LTE system, discussions are being held on various aspects: one scheme for reducing the number of nodes located in a communication path by simplifying a configuration of the network, and another scheme for maximally approximating wireless protocols to wireless channels.
In the aforementioned wireless communication system, resource allocation is performed in unit of a subframe. A sub-frame includes a plurality of sub-carriers/Resource Elements (REs) across a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, wherein the sub-carriers can be contiguous or non-contiguous in the frequency domain, and the OFDM symbols can also be contiguous or non-contiguous in the time domain. In order to maintain generality, the following description is made under the assumption that a sub-frame consists of a plurality of contiguous sub-carriers across a plurality of contiguous OFDM symbols. The resources in a sub-frame can be further partitioned into Resource Blocks (RBs), and an RB can be assigned to one or more connected User Equipments (UEs) in a multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmission mode.
A control channel is designed to carry the control signaling including Downlink Control Information (DCI) format for downlink resource allocation purpose. The design of control channel may vary from system to system. In 3GPP LTE Release 8, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) consists of the first few OFDM symbols of each sub-frame. A UE looks for its DCI format in PDCCH region and, if found, reads the information therein for the present transmitted sub-frame. A DCI format for downlink communication includes information on RB resource allocation, Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), Hybrid Adaptive Repeat Request (HARQ) parameters, and the like.
A subframe can be categorized into one of a normal subframe and an Almost-Blank Sub-Frame (ABSF) subframe. In the legacy system, ABSF is designed to carry no scheduling or data to avoid interference in a situation where at least two networks are deployed in the same location or with overlapped coverage.
However, the mal-configured ABSF is likely to degrade resource utilization efficiency in the resource wireless communication system.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and an apparatus for scheduling data transmission in ABSF that is capable of reducing scheduling overhead.

Resource allocation method and apparatus for wireless communication system


A system and method are disclosed for independently adjusting the pitch and timbre of an input signal within a modified Lent shifter. A method of adjusting the pitch and timbre of an input signal includes receiving an input signal and determining a window length corresponding to the input signal. A finite length spectrally smoothed signal is created from the input signal by synchronously windowing the input signal. The timbre of the finite length spectrally smoothed signal is adjusted thereby creating a finite length timbre adjusted signal. The finite length timbre adjusted signal is recombined at a rate necessary to produce a desired output pitch thereby reducing artifacts introduced by processing the finite length timbre adjusted signal and minimizing latency between receiving the input signal and producing a desired output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic audio effects. In particular, it relates to methods and systems for adjusting the pitch and sound of audio signals.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Pitch shifting has a wide variety of applications in audio. For polyphonic music, pitch shifting can be used to change the key of a musical passage by one or more semitones up or down. Pitch shifting can also be used on a scale smaller than one semitone in order to adjust intonation. This technique is valuable for mixing together different previously recorded segments of music which may be detuned from each other, or for correcting intonation problems in a performance. For monophonic (single pitch) musical sources, including speech, pitch shifting can be used for both of these applications as well as for adding harmonization to a melodic line.
The most common pitch shifting algorithms for audio signals are based on resampling. Resampling pitch shifters sample the input audio stream at one sampling rate, and output the sampled data at a different sampling rate. For shifting pitch upwards, the output sampling rate is higher than the input sampling rate; for shifting pitch downwards, the output sampling rate is lower than the input sampling rate. In order to preserve the time length of the signal, resampling pitch shifters divide the audio stream into short separate time segments (on the order of 200 mS) and recombine those segments with varying degrees of overlap after resampling the segments. For a given input sample rate, to preserve the time length of a signal, the amount of overlap between time segments will increase as the output sample rate decreases. Resampling pitch shifters can be used with previously recorded audio or in real time with some latency between input and output.
For single pitch harmonic musical sources, the pitch of a particular signal is associated with a fundamental frequency of the note which is defined as 1/T, where T is the time length of the signal's period. For example, the pitch known as A above middle C has a fundamental frequency of 440 Hz. The timbre of a musical note is associated with the harmonic structure of the note. Timbre is perceptually related to the "character" or "sound" of a note. It is timbre which distinguishes a man's voice from a woman's singing the same note, or the sound of a French horn from the sound of a trumpet. The relative weights of the harmonics present in a periodic signal are known collectively as its spectral envelope, and determine its timbre. For the case of human voice signals, if the spectral envelope of a signal retains its shape but is stretched along the frequency axis, the resulting signal will sound "deeper" or "bigger" than the original, but will have the same vowel sound. If, on the other hand, the spectral envelope is compressed while keeping the same shape, the resulting signal will sound "thinner" or "smaller" than the original, again with the vowel sound retained.
Resampling pitch shifters scale every frequency present in a signal by a constant factor. For example, if a signal is shifted up an octave by a resampling pitch shifter, every frequency present in the original signal will appear at double the frequency in the output signal. This means that not only will the pitch of the output signal be an octave higher than the original signal, but the spectral envelope will be stretched by a factor of two with respect to the original. Similarly a signal which is pitch shifted down will have its spectral envelope compressed. Thus, the timbre of a signal is altered by a resampling pitch shifter.
FIG. 1 shows time domain waveforms for a harmonic signal. As can be seen, signal 106 is a time-stretched version of signal 102. The period 108 of signal 106 is longer than the period 104 of signal 102. Thus the pitch of signal 106 is lower than the pitch of signal 102. Since the features of sianal 106 are time-stretched compared to those of signal 102, the timbre of signal 106 is "deeper" than that of signal 102. Signal 110 is a time-compressed version of signal 102. The period 112 of signal 110 is shorter than the period 104 of signal 102. Thus the pitch of signal 110 is higher than the pitch of signal 102. Since the features of signal 110 are time-compressed relative to those of signal 102, the signal 110 has a "thinner" timbre than signal 102. For both altered signals, the spectrum is compressed or stretched by an amount determined by the amount of pitch modification.
For many audio signal processing applications it is desirable for the timbre of a sound to change as its pitch changes. For example, a trumpet sound shifted down by an octave will fall in the musical pitch range common for a trombone. If the pitch shift is accomplished with a resampling pitch shifter, the spectral envelope will be compressed by a factor of two, which will result in a timbre similar to that of a trombone. The overall effect of the resampling pitch shift will then be to "transform" the sound of the trumpet note to a sound that resembles a trombone tone both in pitch and timbre. This same fortunate circumstance applies to many musical instruments. A notable exception is the human voice.
The human voice has the unique feature that over a wide range of pitch, the timbre of the voice remains similar. Moreover, the human ear is attuned to human voice signals, so small changes in timbre have a large perceptual effect when dealing with human voices. Changes in the shape of the spectral envelope are perceived as changes in vowel sounds, while, as mentioned above, stretching of the spectral envelope is perceived as a change in deepness of the voice. Unfortunately, the scale by which the spectral envelope of a human voice signal can be stretched and still sound human is small. As a result, pitch shifting by more than a small musical interval using a resampling pitch shifter results in an unnatural sound for human voice signals. For example, a human voice which is shifted down by half an octave using a resampling pitch shifter might be described as having a "Darth Vadar" quality, while a voice which is shifted up by half an octave using resampling might have a "chipmunk" quality.
Further compromising the usefulness of resampling pitch shifters for voice signals are the artifacts introduced by the recombination of the overlapping time segments. As each segment begins and ends, the amplitude of the output signal is increased and decreased. This results in amplitude modulation in the output. Also, while overlapping segments are added together, there are two sources of correlated data which are being combined. This results in comb filtering at the output. Thus, there are various kinds of distortion introduced by resampling pitch shifters, some of which are perceived as time domain artifacts and some of which appear as frequency domain filtering. Also, as mentioned above, resampling pitch shifters cannot work in real time without latency between the input and output signals.
Other processes exist for changing the pitch of an audio signal without changing the signal's spectral envelope. When applied to human voice signals, these processes are referred to as fixed-format pitch shifters. The most popular algorithm for fixed-format shifting is known as the Lent algorithm, or the pitch-synchronous overlap-add algorithm. The Lent algorithm requires the ability to periodically window the input signal in a synchronous fashion, i.e., the window length must be related to the pitch period of the input signal. This in turn requires that the input signal have a single pitch. In other words, Lent shifting is possible only for monophonic (single-pitch) sources.
The Lent pitch shifter, when applied to human voice, results in an output which has a different pitch than the input, but the same timbral characteristics. Harmonies generated by the Lent shifter will sound as though they were sung by the same person who sang the original notes, preserving the human quality of the voice. This is desirable in many circumstances.
The Lent shifter works as follows: The input signal is first applied to a pitch detector. There are several known methods of pitch detection, including autocorrelation methods and low-pass filter/zero crossing detector methods. A pitch detector suitable for use in a Lent shifter is available from Aureal Semiconductor, Inc. of Fremont, Calif. The pitch detector provides the period T of the harmonic input signal. The signal is then periodically windowed by a Hanning window or other suitable window of length greater than or equal to 2T. The exact window function used is not critical but it is desirable to use a window with small sidelobes. FIGS. 2a-2c show the windowing process. FIG. 2a is a continuous, infinite length time signal. FIG. 2b shows a window function whose length is equal to two periods of the signal in 2a. FIG. 2c shows the windowed signal, which is the product of the window function and the time signal. This signal is finite length, since the window function is only nonzero for a finite time.
The window spectrally smooths the signal, eliminating the fine structure of the spectrum. This removes any pitch associated with the input signal, and leaves only the spectral envelope or timbral information. The windowed data segments are recombined at a rate 1/T', where T' is the desired output period for the signal. This impresses the desired pitch on the windowed data. If T' is set to a constant, the output signal will have a fixed musical pitch. If on the other hand T' is computed as a fixed (fractional) multiple of T, the output pitch will be a fixed musical interval from the input pitch.
The resampling pitch shifter changes the pitch of a signal and stretches its spectral envelope, both by the same factor. The Lent shifter changes the pitch of a signal without changing the spectral envelope, or timbre. For some applications it is desirable to be able to process an audio signal to change its pitch and timbre independently. An example would be creating harmonies for a vocal melody whose timbre is similar but not identical to the timbre of the original melody. This would result in the accompanying harmony voices sounding like a different person, but still sounding human. The resampling pitch shifter and Lent shifter can be combined to create a device that gives independent control over the pitch and timbre of an input audio signal. Such a device is shown in FIG. 3. An audio input signal 301 is first routed to a resampler 307 where the timbre and pitch are adjusted producing an intermediate signal 305. Since a resampler is used, the fundamental frequency is modified by the same factor by which the spectral envelope is stretched. This intermediate signal is then sent through a Lent shifter 307 for adjusting the pitch of the signal. However, an output signal 309 from such a device retains the artifacts of both the resampler and the Lent shifter. In addition, each of the two pitch shifters in the system require separate memory and processing power which make the entire algorithm computationally expensive.
Therefore it would be desirable to have a pitch and timbre adjusting mechanism that does not have the overhead or expense of having a resampling step followed by a Lent shifting step. It would also be desirable to reduce artifacts introduced by signal processing. Finally, it would be desirable to minimize the latency from input to output of the algorithm. Small latencies are essential for any application which is used for real time performance, since any perceptible latency from input to output would be frustrating to a performer.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the pitch and timbre of an input signal in a controlled manner


A wire serves as a gettering material which is wire-bonded to electrical connections which lead outside of a vacuum sealed package. The wire can be activated to create and maintain a high integrity vacuum environment. The "getter" can be either heat activated or evaporated by the passing of an AC or DC current through the wire.

Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, such as those commonly used in desk-top computer screens, function as a result of a scanning electron beam from an electron gun impinging on phosphors on a relatively distant screen. The electrons increase the energy level of the phosphors. When the phosphors return to their normal energy level, they release photons which are transmitted through the glass screen of the display to the viewer.
Field emission displays seek to combine the cathodoluminescent-phosphor technology of CRTs with integrated circuit technology to create thin, high resolution displays wherein each pixel is activated by its own set of cold cathode electron emitters. Flat panel display technology is becoming increasingly important in appliances requiring lightweight portable screens.
It is important in flat panel displays of the field emission cathode type that an evacuated cavity be maintained between the cathode electron emitting surface and its corresponding anode display face (also referred to as an anode, cathodoluminescent screen, display screen, faceplate, or display electrode.
There is a relatively high voltage differential (e.g., generally above 200 volts) between the cathode emitting surface (also referred to as base electrode, baseplate, emitter surface, cathode surface) and the display screen. It is important that electrical breakdown between the electron emitting surface and the anode display face be prevented. At the same time, the narrow spacing between the plates is necessary to maintain the desired structural thinness and to obtain high image resolution. The spacing also has to be uniform for consistent image resolution, and brightness, as well as to avoid display distortion, etc. Uneven spacing is much more likely to occur in a field emission cathode, matrix addressed flat vacuum type display than in some other display types because of the high pressure differential that exists between external atmospheric pressure and the pressure within the evacuated chamber between the baseplate and the faceplate. The pressure in the evacuated chamber is typically less than 10.sup.-6 torr. Accordingly, the term "vacuum" is meant to refer to negative pressures of this type.
Contamination by unwanted, residual gases in the vacuum chamber will effect the performance of the display. Residual gases may even cause destructive arcing in the display. For example, oxygen molecules trapped in the evacuated chamber must be immobilized. The wire bonded "getters" of the present invention function to precipitate the oxygen molecules out of the evacuated atmosphere, thereby minimizing the effect such oxygen molecules will have on the functioning of the display, and consequently the image produced thereon.

Wire-bonded getter in an evacuated display and method of forming the same


The valve pin adjustment system is provided for use in valve gated injection molding applications which enables adjustments to the positioning of the valve pin without necessitating removal of the clamping plates and valve assembly components, including valve pins. A piston associated with the valve pin includes a cylindrical body having first and second co-axially aligned internally threaded bores of respective first and second diameters. Preferably, the threads formed in the first and second bores are of the opposite hand. First and second externally-threaded cylindrical valve pin positioning members are respectively received in the first and second bores. Each of the positioning members includes a head portion and a tip portion. The tip of the second positioning member is in contact with the head of the first positioning member to lock the first positioning member in place, and the tip of the first positioning member is in contact with a head portion on the valve pin to locate the valve pin.

The present invention generally relates to valve gate systems wherein a reciprocating valve pin opens and closes a melt passageway in injection molding applications. More particularly, this invention relates to valve pin assembly and a method for adjusting valve pin position to ensure proper opening and closing of the melt passageway during injection molding operations.
Valve gated injection molding systems are known in which pistons are actuated pneumatically or hydraulically to reciprocate the valve member. In general, such systems require that the components, in particular the valve pin and its associated piston, be made to very close tolerances to allow for thermal expansion so that, when at operating temperatures, the front end of the valve pin seats precisely in the gate to close it. If the valve pin does not extend far enough into the gate, it will not seat tightly when in the closed position, leading to a poor gate vestige. If the valve pin extends too far toward the gate, the tip of the pin will repeatedly impact the gate on closing, thus causing undue wear of both the valve pin and the gate and, potentially, fracture of the mold around the gate.
Typically, final adjustment of the positioning of the valve pin is a complicated and time-consuming procedure. First, the hot runner system in which the valve pins are to be used is fitted to the mold plate(s) without the upper clamp plate and valve pins in place. The valve pins, which have been cut to a calculated length, are inserted into the assembly. A depth gauge is used to measure the position of the valve pin head at room temperature from a reference point, usually the back surface of the mold plate. The assembly is then heated to the processing temperature and held at that temperature for a period of time sufficient for all the hot runner components, including the valve pins, to be uniformly heated. The depth gauge is then used to measure the position of the valve pin head at operating temperature (the valve pin head's new position), and the amount of the adjustment of each valve pin is calculated based upon the differences of the two measurements. Specifically, if the valve pin is too long, it must be removed and shortened; if the valve pin is too short, the piston that carries the valve pin is removed and its bottom is ground to shorten the piston. This measurement and shortening/lengthening process is repeated for each valve pin in the system. It is, obviously, an exacting and time consuming process.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve pin assembly and method for adjusting the valve pin that facilitates the quick and precise positioning of the tip of the valve pin with respect to the mold gate.


Shutter disks for use in process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a shutter disk for use in a process chamber may include a body having an outer perimeter, a top surface of the body, wherein the top surface includes a central portion having a substantially horizontal planar surface, and at least one angled structure disposed radially outward of the central portion, each of the at least one angled structure having a top portion and an angled surface disposed at a downward angle in a radially outward direction from the top portion toward the outer perimeter, and a bottom surface of the body.

Conventional semiconductor device formation is commonly performed in one or more process chambers which have the capability to process substrates (e.g., semiconductor wafers) in a controlled processing environment. To maintain process uniformity and ensure optimal performance, various conditioning operations are periodically performed. For example, one such conditioning operation is a pasting process, wherein a covering is applied over materials deposited on process chamber surfaces to prevent the deposited materials from flaking off the process chamber surfaces and contaminating the substrate during subsequent processes.
In the aforementioned pasting process, a shutter disk may be positioned via a transfer robot atop a substrate support disposed in the process chamber to prevent the deposition of any materials upon the substrate support. During the pasting process, target material on the shutter disk may be removed from the shutter disk and pasted onto the process kit to prevent flaking.
However, the inventors have observed that during conventional pasting processes, there is non-uniform deposition on the desired chamber surfaces. The non-uniformity of the pasting layer results in particle issues on the substrate.
Accordingly, embodiments of shutter disks are provided herein than may provide improved pasting uniformity.

Finned shutter disk for a substrate process chamber


An electrophotographic image-forming device which permits reduction in the size of the device to be made possible, and which permits prevention of toner leakage through use of a sealing member having projections and recesses, said sealing member serving as an end seal member. The image-forming device has a sealing member which serves as an end seal member for a toner carrier. The end seal member for preventing leakage of toner from the toner carrier is formed from the sealing member which has step(s) comprising band(s) formed by recessed region(s) and projecting region(s) as indicated in FIG. 1. The end seal member is capable of bending such that recessed region(s) come in contact with the toner carrier, inhibiting entry of toner thereinto, and the end seal member also has a toner scraping action and a toner movement action.

Electrophotographic image-forming devices have conventionally had end seal members at photosensitive bodies and end seal members at develop apparatuses, and have had end seal members at intermediate transfer bodies and/or intermediate transfer belts in color image-forming devices, preventing leakage of toner at the interior of the image-forming device, and preventing contamination of the interior of the image-forming device and image defects which would otherwise occur due to leakage of toner. Furthermore, end seal members used in electrophotographic image-forming devices include sealing members comprising foamed synthetic resin bodies, sealing members comprising nonwoven fabrics, sealing members comprising implanted fibers, sealing members comprising piled woven fabrics, sealing members comprising woven fabric, sealing members comprising knit fabrics, and so forth. Such sealing members are frequently used in electrophotographic image-forming devices as end seal members at toner carriers to seal ends where surfaces of toner carriers which carry toner are partially exposed or as end seal members at toner carriers to seal ends where surfaces of toner carriers which are rotating bodies are partially exposed.
As indicated below, there are variety of conventional technologies related to material, structure, and so forth of sealing members used in image-forming devices. One thereamong discloses a develop apparatus in which an end face at one end of a seal member is made into a toner guide rake face comprising a rake angle (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 1). The develop apparatus in accordance with this disclosure has a guide comprising a single-step guide which is provided at one location for returning toner at a sheet, and because this single-step guide has a structure which is sheet-like and which engages in surface contact, the area over which it contacts the sleeve is large. Because the conventional device is thus a single-step guide, and because of rubbing of the sleeve due to sheet-like surface contact and slight leakage of toner, there is a large torque load on the sleeve, as a result of which there has been the problem that torque is high at the develop apparatus.
A develop apparatus has been disclosed in which a foamed body is employed as developer leakage prevention member, an inclined groove being provided such that the direction of movement of developer is made to be in a forward direction (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 2). However, the end seal member at the develop apparatus which is disclosed at this reference comprises a sealing member having a structure in which a groove is provided at a foamed body. But because this sealing member comprising a foamed body is an elastic body, the fact that the elastic body deforms as a result of rubbing due to contact with the develop roller has caused the effect whereby toner is controlled and returned to be lessened, so it can hardly be said that this possesses adequate seal functionality as an end seal member for a develop apparatus, and develop apparatuses have therefore been inadequate despite provision of such sealing members.
A cleaning apparatus has been disclosed as solution means to address deleterious effects of accumulation of toner below a side seal in the context of a cleaning apparatus for an image-forming device, the means being such that a slide member is attached at a location upstream from a sealing member to prevent accumulation of toner on the sealing member (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 3). However, the cleaning apparatus which is disclosed at this reference is such that toner constituting powder is diverted therebelow a little at a time and whenever necessary so that in practice there is no problem whatsoever with regard to deleterious effects from accumulated toner. But as the fact that toner is diverted therebelow a little at a time itself constitutes a problem, it cannot be said that this apparatus is an adequate cleaning apparatus.
A develop apparatus has been disclosed which is provided with a guide for causing toner which has entered the space between a sealing member and a rotating body to be made to return, as a result of rotation of the rotating body, to a region that comes in compressive contact with a control member (see, for example, Patent Reference No. 4). Here, the structure of the end seal member at the rotating body serving as the develop apparatus is a develop apparatus comprising a structure in which there is a sheet over which an inclined sheet is affixed, the step formed from these sheets being employed as toner guide so as to control leakage of toner. This apparatus has the same problem as at the aforementioned Patent Reference No. 1, which is that because of rubbing of the sleeve at the plane of the sheet and slight leakage of toner, there is a large torque load on the sleeve, and so there has been the problem that torque is high at the develop apparatus.
A sealing mechanism for a develop apparatus is disclosed which employs a sealing member in which implanted fibers are woven thereinto, the sealing mechanism for the develop apparatus being formed such that an angle of collapse of implanted fibers in an axial direction and an angle in which they are woven thereinto are defined (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 5). However, although the implanted fibers are woven thereinto it is nonetheless the case that the fibers are implanted, as a result of which there is the phenomenon of shedding of fibers, and so as a result of rubbing over long periods of time due to compressive contact with the develop roller there has been occurrence of fiber shedding, and it has been the case that a phenomenon whereby shed fibers enter the interior of the develop apparatus and are trapped by the toner control blade has caused appearance of bands on the developed surface or has caused occurrence of decrease in seal characteristics due to fiber shedding, and so it can hardly be said that these possess adequate seal characteristics, and there have also been problems with regard to ability to function as a develop apparatus.
A cleaning apparatus for an image-forming device has been disclosed, the cleaning apparatus being such that an end seal member is constituted from synthetic leather which contacts an image carrier and an elastic member which is made to adhere in integral fashion to this synthetic leather (see, for example, Patent Reference No. 6). Prior to recent years, because pulverized toner had been the favored approach, this cleaning apparatus had been used without any problem. However, in recent years, conglobated toner has come into frequent use. In this regard, in the Benefits of the Invention section of this Patent Reference No. 6, it is described that while the toner may have small particle diameter, it can be limited to a minimum that will permit passage through synthetic leather. But because the conglobated toner of recent years has a particle diameter that is even smaller than the toner of small particle diameter prior to recent years which is described at this reference, this makes it difficult to control or block leakage of toner through mere presence of a fine-structure-type configuration at the surface of a sealing member. For this reason, the back-skin-type sealing member comprising synthetic leather and an elastic member which is made to adhere in integral fashion to this synthetic leather as indicated at this Patent Reference No. 6 is inadequate as an end seal for a cleaning apparatus.
Moreover, in the context of a device comprising a processing cartridge capable of being installed in and removed from the main body of an image-forming device, a processing cartridge has been disclosed which is formed such that a magnetic sealing member is arranged with a prescribed gap between it and an outside circumferential surface of a developer carrier, an elastic body being provided so as to cause the developer carrier to be contacted thereby over the entire circumference at a portion corresponding to the magnetic sealing member and adjacent to the develop region side of the magnetic sealing member (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 7). It should be noted that this processing cartridge is effective as to the sealing effect of a magnetic seal formed with respect to magnetic toner and two-component developer. However, with respect to nonmagnetic toner, there being no magnetic constraining force, sealing is not possible. Furthermore, because this processing cartridge employs a magnetic body, it cannot be said to be advantageous from the standpoint of cost.
Furthermore, as a sealing member for preventing leakage of toner, a sealing member has also been disclosed which is a sealing member comprising a high-resistance electrically conductive member, and in which a voltage is applied to this sealing member to cause accumulation of charge at developer, a groove being formed such as will allow motion toward a central region facing an axial direction of a develop roller (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 8). Moreover, while this reference describes the sealing member as being formed flexible cloth, felt, urethane rubber, or other such elastic member, it is described that this alone will not permit prevention of scattering due to generation of a developer cloud or leakage of developer. That is, this is a develop apparatus that has been made capable of preventing leakage of toner as a result of application of voltage to a sealing member comprising a high-resistance electrically conductive member to cause accumulation of charge at developer, the sealing member being a rubber-type elastic body in which fine electrically conductive particles have been mixed, the surface of which has been coated with a friction-reducing polyamide-type (trade name Nylon), styrene-type, or fluoro-type coating agent, which are expensive components, making the develop apparatus expensive.
Moreover, with respect to sealing members comprising woven fabric, a sealing member comprising woven fabric is disclosed which is such that yarn is raised in wavelike fashion, yarn at peaks and valleys being arranged differently (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 9). With such woven fabric, the fact that yarn diameter is large and the fact that it is made up of multiple weaving patterns makes it possible that there will be spaces at the valleys between peaks, or that the yarn which forms peak regions will collapse to the side due to compression of the fiber, and will in addition collapse into valley regions, as a result of which blockage of toner may become unstable.
Moreover, sealing structures for rotating bodies formed by printing have been disclosed (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 10). Because such sealing structures that are stepped guides which are produced by printing, it is difficult to sharply form the corner which will serve as guide.
Furthermore, a develop apparatus has been disclosed which employs a sealing member in which projecting interstices of the woven mesh arranged so that overlapping portions of surfaces are progressively staggered are arrayed in such fashion as to be inclined at a prescribed angle which is less than or equal to 45° relative to the direction of motion of the developer carrier (e.g., see Patent Reference No. 11 or Patent Reference No. 12). However, at a woven fabric having such a woven pattern, the structure is such that the overlapping portions which control toner block toner from entering the interior of the sealing member, the warp yarns being in the forward direction relative to the direction of motion of the developer carrier, and the projecting interstices of the woven mesh being at an angle relative to the direction of motion. Accordingly, where toner has entered from the axial direction of the sealing member, since, so long as the warp yarns are in the forward direction, movement will be toward the interior or toward the exterior in the axial direction, this cannot be said to be adequate effect with respect to return of toner. For this reason, grease-like fluorinated lubricants have therefore been applied, this being nothing more than augmentation of the occluding effect of the warp yarns toward the interior of the sealing member. Furthermore, with regard to develop apparatuses, such application of grease-like substances to end seal members tends to cause toner to clump as if the toner had aggregated, and increases the likelihood of occurrence of image defects, and so it can be said that such an apparatus is inadequate as a develop apparatus, in addition to which there is nothing distinctive about the constitution in terms of recessed regions.

Electrophotographic image-forming device provided with end seal member


An embodiment of the present invention is a separating agent wherein a group represented by a chemical formula of:

In recent years, the presence of various enantiomers has been confirmed within the bodies of higher order animals such as mammals, and the important functions that each enantiomer serves are being elucidated. Among amino acids, large amounts of L-amino acids are present inside a body as constituents of proteins or nutrient sources whereas trace amounts of D-amino acids that are enantiomers thereof are frequently present inside the body. Because of this, when D-amino acids are analyzed, interference from a wide variety of peptides or amino compounds frequently occurs. Furthermore, mass spectrometry used for analysis at a high resolution is such that separation of enantiomers is impossible in principle, and hence, development of an optical resolution technique at a high resolution is desired to conduct accurate quantitative analysis.
Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method for optically resolving fluorescently derivatized amino acids by using SUMICHIRAL (registered trademark) OA2500S (produced by Sumika Chemical Analysis Service, Ltd.).
Patent Document 1 discloses a two-dimensional HPLC wherein a column for optical resolution is combined with a reversed-phase column.
However, in addition to the elution order of D-bodies and L-bodies of amino acids not being identical, there is a problem of a low resolution between peaks originating from the D-bodies and peaks originating from the L-bodies.

Separating agent and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract: or a group represented by a chemical formula of:

Abstract: is introduced on a surface thereof.

KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION


The MRS NAP apparatus is disclosed for carrying marching percussion or other objects, particularly but not exclusively drums of various sizes and amalgamations and other objects carried at a person's frontal area near waist height. The apparatus is worn about the user's waist and the utility uses the person's hips to bear the instrument's load. Current state of the art places a majority of the load upon the shoulders and spine. The apparatus relieves the shoulder and spine of weight and pressure and also allows more upper body movement. The MRS NAP apparatus consists of an exoskeleton load bearing frame for a solid platform to hold the carried object stably, an endoskeleton padded for comfort, a vertical spinal column brace, and straps from the apex of the spinal column brace for stability of larger objects. The MRS NAP apparatus is adjustable for various consumers of diverse sizes.

1. Field of the Apparatus
The apparatus relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for carrying marching percussion and other instruments, particularly drums of various kinds. Further, the apparatus relates to a carrier hardware including a novel support for percussion and other instruments and to carrier assemblies supporting percussion and other instruments on a person while standing, walking or marching. Further, the apparatus relates to a carrier hardware that can be employed to carry any object in the front of a person near waist height. In particular, the apparatus relates to a combination of a carrier assembly with a shift of weight and force vectors to the hips from the existing state of the art weight and force vectors on the shoulders and spinal column.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The prior art discloses many examples of apparatus for supporting percussion instruments but none providing the combination of features disclosed and proclaimed herein.
La Flame U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,683 discloses a carrier for percussion instruments having an abdominal plate connected at one end of a unitary frame partly encircling the consumer at the waist and having an upstanding rear portion pivotally connected to a back pressure plate. Shoulder bars are connected to the back-pressure plate and wrap about shoulders and support straps connect to the abdominal plate, creating weight and force vectors on the spine.
Hsieh U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,610 shows a carrier for percussion instruments having a "T" bar, a pair of shoulder bars, and a belly plate. The shoulder bars are bolted on a lateral plate of the "T" bar. The lateral plate has arc-like slots and spaced semi-circular holes permit bolts to slide in the slots.
The fastening end of each shoulder bar has a hole and an arc-like slot from the upper portion to the lower portion permitting angular adjustment of the shoulder rightward or leftward for various applications. This patented state of the art puts weight and force vectors on the spine. Further, depending on the specific design, the breast plate design discourages female percussionists from participation in drum lines due to pressure on the breast caused by the carrier.
La Flame GB patent 2,123,676 (based on U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,442) discloses a carrier for percussion instruments or the like which includes the combination of a belly plate with a carrier bracket for supporting an instrument at an outwardly-overhung position about a fulcrum area of contact with the front waistline area of the person, a rigid band with a generally bent contour to extend along a portion of the waistline area of the person to the back of the person, a back-plate riser arm supported by the band to extend in a generally upward direction such that a portion of the arm will extend along the back thoracic region of the person, and means carried by the arm for imparting to the thoracic back region of the person a reactive force to the overhung weight of the instrument about the aforesaid means forming a fulcrum area of contact with the person. This has the weight and motion of the musical instrument directly on the shoulders and spinal cord of the consumer.
Dranchak U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,839 discloses a drum-supporting harness having two shoulder-hooks with cushion pads or liners, a breastplate secured to the hooks, and a hanger structure attached to the breast plate and depending there from. Upwardly-facing hooks, a spacer bar extending downward from the hooks, and a spacing abutment carried by the spacer bar and extending forward there from, are carried by the lower portion of the hanger structure. The hooks and the spacing abutment engage upper and lower portions of the body of the drum. The hanger structure is adjustable or extensible by means of overlapping strips, which can be secured in a number of different positions. An adapter assembly attaches to the upper rim portion of the drum for connecting of hooks to the drum. Similar to the state of the art articulated in the Hsieh Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,610), depending on the specific design, the breast plate design discourages female percussionists from participation in drum lines due to pressure on the breast caused by the carrier.
Other possibly relevant prior art is Pyle U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,357; May U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,910; May U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,110; May U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,008; May U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,790; May U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,401; May U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,886; May U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,583; May U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,407; May U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,290; May U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,257; May U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492.

Apparatus for using a person's hips to carry the load of marching percussion equipment or other objects which are carried near waist-height and in front of a person


A method and system for estimating the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass or volume of a subject comprises performing a dual-energy X-ray scan of the subject; generating at least one image of the subject from the dual-energy X-ray scan; identifying a region of interest on the at least one image; dividing the region of interest into a plurality of sections; determining an outer transverse extent of a coelom or inner abdominal cavity of the subject; determining a subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) composition for each of the plurality of sections, wherein the SAT composition determination is restricted to an area directly anterior and posterior the coelom or inner abdominal cavity of the subject; and determining a VAT mass and/or volume for the region of interest based on the determined SAT composition for each of the plurality of section.

This disclosure relates generally to imaging methods and systems, and more particularly to medical diagnostic imaging methods and systems that acquire and process tissue information for measuring the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of a subject.
Characteristics of a subject, such as body weight, fat mass, height, girth, gender, age, etc. are clinical descriptors useful by physicians to predict certain health risks that may increase or decrease mortality and morbidity risk. For example, the amount or type of abdominal fat, such as subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) or subcutaneous fat and VAT or visceral fat are associated with, and useful predictors of, an adverse metabolic risk profile and certain diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. In addition, measuring visceral fat, for example, can relate to metabolic syndrome (i.e., a combination of medical problems that can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and/or stroke). People suffering from metabolic syndrome can have some or all of the following: high blood glucose, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high total cholesterol and/or high triglycerides.
Conventional methods and systems for measuring VAT are mostly performed using anthropomorphic gauges, bioimpedance gauges, weight scales, etc. These devices often are not capable of providing accurate measurements of VAT because the actual fat content is not being measured, certain assumptions and/or estimates are made during the calculation process, and/or the devices are not exactly calibrated. Also, reproducibility may be difficult, leading to inaccurate comparisons between examinations.
Medical diagnostic imaging systems, such as computed tomography (CT) imaging systems or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems have also been used to measure VAT content. However, the use of these systems is often very costly and can expose a subject to high levels of ionizing radiation, for example, when using a CT imaging system. Additionally, these imaging systems are not always available for clinical use and may have long scan times. Moreover, certain measurements are inaccurate in larger subjects.
More sophisticated methods and systems for determining VAT often use simple models to approximate the abdominal volume of a subject from an estimate of subcutaneous fat thickness measurements. However, these methods and systems often fail to accurately estimate SAT, thereby resulting in an inaccurate estimate of VAT. For example, a normal dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) image of the abdomen is a planar two-dimensional (2D) image that cannot explicitly measure VAT because it cannot measure the thickness of SAT in the vertical plane. It has been very difficult to determine the thickness of the subcutaneous fat region around the abdomen, especially near the buttocks, since the models used in the past do not take into account differences in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat region around the abdomen near the buttocks.
Prior methods and systems for measuring or estimating VAT have subtracted an estimated SAT contribution from the total fat (SAT and VAT) of the entire abdominal region of interest of a subject. However, there are regions of SAT within the entire abdominal region of interest of a subject that are unnecessary in the estimation or calculation of VAT of the subject. The method and system of the present disclosure accurately determines the outer transverse extent of the coelom or inner abdominal cavity and subtracts an estimated SAT contribution from the total fat (SAT and VAT) of only the regions directly anterior (above) and posterior (below) the coelom. SAT beyond the coelom or inner abdominal cavity may be excluded from the estimated VAT calculation. This improves the VAT estimate by eliminating the unneeded outer boundaries of SAT. Furthermore, a new inferior posterior model eliminates reliance on an elliptical model for the SAT outer boundaries, which are known to be inaccurate due to deviations due to buttock fat and flattening of a subject from lying on a table during the method and system of the present disclosure.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system to more accurately estimate VAT by restricting subtraction of SAT from the total fat (SAT and VAT) to only the coelom in the abdominal region of interest of a subject, and use of a non-elliptical inferior posterior model that eliminates reliance on an elliptical model for the SAT outer boundaries, which are known to be inaccurate due to differences of fat in the superior and inferior sections in the abdominal region of interest of a subject.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system to estimate visceral adipose tissue by restricting subtraction of subcutaneous adipose tissue to coelom projection region


The system provides the ability for primary users (e.g., parents, or the like) to assign actions to dependent users (e.g., kids, or the like) through the use of devices located at the location of the dependent users (e.g., home, or the like). The actions may be tasks for the dependent users to complete using devices (e.g., appliances or other devices). Moreover, the primary users can monitor if the dependent users are undertaking the assigned actions using the devices, and in response, may control the use of other devices at the same location (e.g., entertainment devices) until the dependent users undertake the actions (e.g., start, complete, etc. the actions). Assignment of the actions and control of the devices may be made automatically in order to aid in achieving the one or more desired actions. Notification of the actions and/or instructions on how to perform the actions may pushed to the devices.

When parents are not at the house, being able to assign tasks to kids at the house is difficult because the kids may not know how to perform the tasks, may perform the tasks incorrectly, and/or simply ignore the tasks assigned to them. This holds true or anyone assigning a task to another person, when the people are not located in the same place. As such, there is a need to provide better control over the ability of a person, such as a parent, to assign, monitor, and control the tasks of others, such as kids, and provide ways to implement consequences if the tasks are not completed.

Device control based on action completion


The present invention of a biservice iron relates to an iron, especially an iron of which the steam brush and the base of the metal soleplate are disassembled. The present invention of a biservice iron includes a steam brush set, a base set and a thermoregulator knob. The thermoregulatory knob includes an external knob rotatably disposed on the housing of the steam brush set and an inner knob rotatably disposed on the housing of the base set. The inner knob is connected to the level lever of the thermoregulator on the housing of the base set. The external knob is inserted.

The existing irons are disposed with a metal soleplate, which has a heating pan, in the lower portion of the housing. A thermoregulator is disposed inside the housing to control the power to the heating pan and then change the heat radiation of the metal soleplate; the housing is disposed with thermoregulator knob, which is directly connected to the level lever of thermoregulator to regulate the level of the electricity output of the thermoregulator.
To expand the use mode of the iron, combining a steam brush set and a base set to be a biservice iron.
The steam boiler of electrical heated is disposed inside the housing of the steam brush set. The steam outlet of the steam brush is connected to the outside from the bottom of the housing. The electrical wire is led into the housing from the rear portion and connected to the switch of the steam boiler. Turn on the switch, the steam boiler is energized by the external power, the water inside the steam boiler turns into steam and spurts out from the bottom of the housing. A handle is disposed on the housing of the steam brush set for independently usage of garment ironing.
The heating pan is disposed at the bottom of the housing of the base set. The thermoregulator is disposed inside the housing to control the power to the heating pan and then change the radial of the heating pan. The housing of the base set is disposed without handle, but the housing of the base set is disposed with an accommodation room for the steam brush set and for locking the lower of the steam brush set. The steam brush set is locked to the base set, forming an iron with a handle for ironing.
However, how to realize the thermoregulator knob on the steam brush to disassemble connect to the level lever of the thermoregulator on the base set to regulate the level of the energy output of the thermoregulator is a much vexed problem for the designer. In the disassemble state, the rotation positions of the thermoregulator knob on the steam brush and the level lever of the thermoregulator on the base set are random, making it difficult to make sure that the thermoregulator knob and the level lever of the thermoregulator are rotating synchronously when the steam brush set is locked to the base set. Besides, it's difficult to ensure that the level indicator for the thermoregulator knob can exactly read the present level of the thermoregulator when the thermoregulator knob is randomly connected to the level lever of the thermoregulator.

Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co., Ltd.


A data input device with a film-based pressure sensor including a first carrier film, a second carrier film and a spacer. The spacer has an opening delimiting an active zone, in which first and second electrodes are arranged such that, in response to a compressive force, an electrical contact is established. A control circuit able to operate in at least a first and a second mode is configured to measure, in the first mode a quantity indicative of electrical resistance and, in the second mode, a quantity indicative of a capacitance.

Data input devices are commonly used in conjunction with electronic appliances to feed them with various kinds of data, including e.g. control data influencing directly or indirectly the behavior of the appliance, data that are processed by the appliance and/or simply stored.
It is known to construct data input devices based upon film-type pressure sensors. A film-type pressure sensor comprises two carrier films, which are arranged at a certain distance from one another by means of a spacer. The spacer is provided with at least one opening that defines an active zone of the sensor, in which the two carrier films face one another. Inside this active zone, at least two electrodes are arranged in such a way on the carrier films, that electrical contact is established between the electrodes when the two carrier films are pressed together under the action of a compressive force acting on the sensor in the active zone.
Depending on the application of such a pressure sensor, a layer of semiconducting material may be disposed between the electrodes, so that the sensor shows a gradual pressure sensitive behavior, that is to say its resistance varies gradually or even continuously as a function of the force applied. The layer of semiconducting material may comprise a material whose internal electrical resistance varies as a function of compression or of deformation of the layer or a material whose surface structure confers to the layer a surface resistance that is reduced following an increase in the number of points of contact with a conducting surface of an electrode, against which the layer of semiconducting material is pressed under the action of the compressive force.
WO 2004/049364 relates to a data input device comprising several keys arranged in at least two rows. A unidirectional position detector of film-type construction is associated with each row of keys Each unidirectional position sensor enables the detection of the actuated key along the direction of the unidirectional position detector. The unidirectional position sensors are interconnected in such a way that a control circuit can detect in which row a key has been actuated.
A different kind of sensors is based upon capacitive sensing. U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,425 discloses an electrical proximity detector that senses the changes in the contents of a defined sensitive volume. The detector comprises an antenna that is driven by an oscillator and that emits an electric field into the sensitive volume. A person or an object intruding into the sensitive volume causes a change of the electric field of the antenna, which is detected by the detector. To shape the electric field of the antenna the detector comprises a first shield, driven by the oscillator with a signal of same amplitude and phase as the signal of the antenna, and a second, grounded shield.
Other sensors based on electric field or "capacitive" sensing have been proposed by J. Smith et al. in "Electric Field Sensing for Graphical Interfaces", IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, Issue May/June 1998, 54-60, as a human-computer interface. The interfaces are based upon an array of electrodes to detect the gestures of a user.
The above-mentioned documents are herewith included herein by reference.

IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.


A pet outhouse is provided for use with a building having an opening formed in a wall thereof. Also included is a tray having a bottom face and a peripheral lip coupled to a periphery of the bottom face and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an upper peripheral edge. The tray is accessible via the opening in the wall of the building and pet litter is situated within the tray. A roofed housing is provided including a side wall with an open bottom defining a lower peripheral edge which is removably coupled to the upper peripheral edge of the tray for covering the same. The housing further has a hole formed therein for being accessed via the opening in the wall of the building.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to litter boxes and more particularly pertains to a new pet outhouse for maintaining a litter box and associated stench exterior of a living space.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of litter boxes is known in the prior art. More specifically, litter boxes heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art litter boxes include U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,645; U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,934; U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,366; U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,546; U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,137; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,406.
In these respects, the pet outhouse according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of maintaining a litter box and associated stench exterior of a living space.


Animal harness, including blankets and straps, provides low pressure internal pneumatic elements to aid in padding harness effect on an animal and in ventilating animal body portions thereunder. A blanket provides an air pervious felt element folded upon itself and sewn to form a plurality of adjacent open-ended pockets, each carrying an inflatable bicycle tire inner tube deformed to fit in a pocket with two side-by-side courses. The felt element is covered by an air pervious fabric cover. A harness strap provides two similar mesh side elements joined about adjacent peripheral edges by banding to define a medial channel. A strap having connectors at each end and a medial cross strap is joined to the outer surface of one mesh side element for strength and to allow fastening to other harness structure. The medial channel defined by the strap carries an inflatable bicycle tire inner tube deformed to an elongate shape. Motion of an animal and supported load cause responsive deformation in the pneumatic harness elements that results in a pumping action that moves air sequentially toward and away from animal portions beneath the harness elements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS
There are no applications related hereto heretofore filed in this or any foreign country.
1. Field of Invention
My invention relates generally to padded animal harness having low pressure elastic pneumatic elements, and more particularly to such harness that is air permeable to cause ventilation therebeneath.
2. Background and Description of Prior Art
Since its early history animal harness has been padded in various manners to make it more comfortable and less damaging to an animal and to aid in positional maintenance. In the more recent history of harness pneumatic elements of various sorts, carried either in or on the harness or sometimes associated with it, have become known for such purposes. The instant invention provides a new, novel and improved member of pneumatically padded harness.
Harness by its nature must have sufficient strength and configurationally sustaining deformability to fulfill its purpose. This requirement generally has resulted in the use of harness materials that are relatively impervious to both air and liquid such as leather, the most commonly used harness material. Harness by reason of the nature of its use must necessarily fit in close adjacency with portions of an animal which it spans. This in the past has caused sweating and prevented air access to covered portions of an animal's skin often to cause skin irritation, commonly referred to as "galling", by reason of the synergistic action of abrasion and motion of harness and the moist conditions of both harness and animal. The prior harness art has generally not adequately considered this problem nor dealt with it sufficiently to provide meaningful solutions.
My invention provides harness that is air permeable to allow ventilation of an animal's skin underlying the harness to aid in resolving the galling problem. My blanket has a central pad of felted fibrous material which allows relatively free passage of air therethrough, and the pad has a fabric covering that is loosely woven to be as air permeable as the felted pad. My strap is formed with similar mesh side elements that allow free passage of air therethrough while the efficiency and utility of the strap is maintained by a traditional leather strap carried only on the medial portion of one outer side of the mesh side element that is distal from an animal's body to allow air flow to the covered body portion.
To further aid padding and ventilation of my harness, I provide medial low pressure pneumatic elements extending over a substantial portion of the area of a harness element. My blanket pads are formed with a plurality of adjacent elongate pockets, each carrying an elastic pneumatic element such as a bicycle tire inner tube deformed into two adjacent linear courses with folded interconnecting ends. My strap harness provides a pocket between mesh sides to carry a similar elongate pneumatic element. The pneumatic elements are inflated to a pressure of approximately one pound above that of the ambient atmosphere so that when force is applied on the harness elements by an animal, a load or a rider, those elements change configuration. In so doing various portions of the harness move, to create somewhat of a pneumatic pumping action that causes air to move between the two sides of the harness and thus ventilate the body portions of an animal beneath the harness.
My invention resides not in any one of these features individually, but rather in the synergistic combination of all of its structures that give rise to the functions necessarily flowing therefrom as specified and claimed.


A vehicle convertible roof including a rearmost roof member, a side roof rail, an actuator and a link having a length that varies between a first length and a second as the rearmost roof member moves between a nominal and raised position. The adjustable length link is fixed at the second length during retraction and extension of the side roof rail of the vehicle convertible roof.

The present invention relates generally to automotive vehicle convertible roofs and more particularly to a convertible vehicle top stack mechanism having an active rearmost roof bow.
Some traditional convertible roofs for automotive vehicles employ an active number five bow which can be selectively rotated from a nominal and generally horizontal position to a raised and generally vertical position in order to allow clearance for a moveable, rigid tonneau cover. Such a tonneau cover needs to be opened to allow convertible roof access for retraction into a storage compartment or boot well, and the tonneau cover is closed so the number five roof bow can sit on top of it when the convertible roof is fully raised. One such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,382 entitled "Folding Top for a Motor Vehicle" which issued to Mather et al., on Mar. 21, 2000, and is incorporated by reference herein. Hydraulically driven buggy links have been used to move active number five roof bows in various of these conventional roof systems. Some exemplary U.S. patents disclosing these conventional constructions are: U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,644 entitled "Folding Top for a Convertible" which issued to Rothe et al. on Oct. 6, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,619 entitled "Motor Vehicle with Foldable Roof, and Foldable Roof for Such a Motor Vehicle" which issued to Mentink on May 12, 1998; both of these are incorporated by reference herein. It is noteworthy, however, that many traditional number five bow actuation systems have required undesirably high forces to operate which necessitates difficult to package, large and expensive hydraulic cylinders while increasing the chance of premature part failure. Furthermore, many of these traditional systems disadvantageously create undesirably fast acceleration of the number five bow during movement which can lead to premature part failure. Moreover, many of these traditional systems also disadvantageously push the backlite or rear window into the rear passenger area of the vehicle thereby limiting the usable passenger space during the raising and retracting of the convertible roof.
In accordance with the present invention, a vehicle convertible roof includes a rearmost roof member, a side roof rail, an actuator, and a link having a length that varies as the rearmost roof member is moved between a nominal and raised position. In another aspect of the present invention, a convertible vehicle top stack mechanism includes a number five roof bow, an actuator and an adjustable length link that varies in length as the number five roof bow moves between a nominal and raised position. In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a convertible roof includes changing a length of a link coupled to the rearmost roof member during movement from a nominal position to a raised position and maintaining the link at a fixed length during movement of a roof rail from a raised position to a retracted position.
The convertible vehicle top stack mechanism of the present invention is advantageous over traditional constructions in that the present invention reduces the activation forces required to move a rearmost roof bow relative to a side rail while also reducing acceleration spikes during movement of the rearmost roof bow. The present invention is further advantageous by providing movement of the convertible roof that limits the intrusion of the backlite into the passenger space during the retraction and raising operation thereby reducing the operating envelope of the convertible roof. Accordingly, the present invention reduces part failure during usage, is easier to control, and requires a smaller operating space. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


A solar cell module and a method of manufacturing the same are discussed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of back contact solar cells, an interconnector that is positioned on back surfaces of the plurality of back contact solar cells and electrically connects adjacent back contact solar cells to one another, upper and lower protective layers for protecting the plurality of back contact solar cells, a transparent member that is positioned on the upper protective layer on light receiving surfaces of the plurality of back contact solar cells, and a back sheet that is positioned under the lower protective layer on surfaces opposite the light receiving surfaces of the plurality of back contact solar cells. The upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are formed of different materials.

Field of the Invention
Example embodiments of the invention relate to a solar cell module and a method of manufacturing the same.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, as existing energy sources such as petroleum and coal are expected to be depleted, interests in renewable energy for replacing the existing energy sources are increasing. As the renewable energy, solar cells for generating electric energy from solar energy have been particularly spotlighted. A back contact solar cell capable of increasing the size of a light receiving area by forming both an electron electrode and a hole electrode on a back surface of a substrate (i.e., the surface of the substrate on which light is not incident) has been recently developed. Hence, the efficiency of the back contact solar cell is improved.
A solar cell module manufactured by connecting the plurality of back contact solar cells each having the above-described structure in series or in parallel to one another is used to obtain a desired output. The solar cell module is a moisture-proof module manufactured in a panel form.

Solar cell module and method of manufacturing the same


An electric arc apparatus for processing an optical fiber includes one or more first electrodes and one or more second electrodes. The first electrode(s) each have an end portion that terminates at an opening defined by the first electrode(s). The opening is configured to accommodate the optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis. The second electrode(s) each have an end portion that terminates at a location spaced from the opening defined by the first electrode(s). The first electrode(s) or second electrode(s) are configured to receive a voltage that generates a plasma field between the first electrode(s) and second electrode(s), which are shaped to focus the plasma field so that the plasma field extends across the longitudinal axis and modifies the end of the optical fiber. Methods of processing an optical fiber with an electric arc apparatus are also disclosed.

This disclosure relates generally to optical fibers, and more particularly to electric arc apparatuses for processing optical fibers, and related systems and methods.
Optical fibers are useful in a wide variety of applications, including the telecommunications industry for voice, video, and data transmissions. In a telecommunications system that uses optical fibers, there are typically many locations where fiber optic cables that carry the optical fibers connect to equipment or other fiber optic cables. To conveniently provide these connections, fiber optic connectors are often provided on the ends of fiber optic cables. The process of terminating individual optical fibers from a fiber optic cable is referred to as "connectorization." Connectorization can be done in a factory, resulting in a "pre-connectorized" or "pre-terminated" fiber optic cable, or the field (e.g., using a "field-installable" fiber optic connector).
Regardless of where installation occurs, a fiber optic connector typically includes a ferrule with one or more bores that receive one or more optical fibers. The ferrule supports and positions the optical fiber(s) with respect to a housing of the fiber optic connector. Thus, when the housing of the fiber optic connector is mated with another connector or an adapter, an optical fiber in the ferrule is positioned in a known, fixed location relative to the housing. This allows an optical connection to be established when the optical fiber is aligned with another optical fiber provided in the mating component (i.e., the other connector or an adapter).
The ferrule bore in a fiber optic connector may extend from a rear of the ferrule to a front of the ferrule. With such a design, an optical fiber can be passed through the ferrule so as to extend beyond an end face of the ferrule. After securing the optical fiber relative to the ferrule by using a bonding agent or the like, an optical surface (i.e., an end surface/facet intended for optical coupling) may be formed on the optical fiber. The optical surface is typically formed a precise distance from the end face of the ferrule according to very tight dimensional standards to reduce signal attenuation. For example, the final optical surface of the optical fiber may be within 200 nm of the end face of the ferrule.
One conventional method of forming an optical surface involves a mechanical cleaving step followed by several mechanical polishing steps. Such methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the number of polishing steps required to precisely control material removal and meet the tight dimensional requirements. For example, it may be necessary to begin with coarse grit when mechanically polishing and gradually switch to finer grits in subsequent polishing steps to carefully control the protrusion of the optical fiber from the end face of the ferrule and to form an optical surface of high quality. Mechanical polishing processes can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and use a large amount of consumables. Additionally, these processes sometimes suffer from low yields due to human error.
Various techniques for cleaving and polishing an optical fiber with non-mechanical means, such as with lasers or electric arcs, are also known. Although these techniques may help reduce or eliminate some of the polishing steps associated with mechanical processing, there remains room for improvement.

Electric arc apparatus for processing an optical fiber, and related systems and methods


A single object system, method, and computer program product are provided for storing information associated with user interactions with a good or service. In use, a plurality of user interactions with one of a good and a service are received via a graphical user interface. Furthermore, information associated with the user interactions is stored in a single object.

Applications have been adapted for enabling browsing of goods and/or services, for example, over the Internet. In some cases, these applications even allow electronic transactions, such as purchases, of goods and/or services. However, conventional applications that provide such browsing and electronic transactions have exhibited various limitations.
Just by way of example, a catalog capable of being searched for goods and/or services has generally been separate from virtual shopping cart capable of storing goods and/or services selected for purchase. Thus, an indication of goods and/or services searched has traditionally not been stored for future user access, while goods and/or services selected for purchase have been stored for future user access via the virtual shopping cart. There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Single object system, method, and computer program for storing information associated with user interactions with a good or service


Provided is a light emitting semiconductor device comprising a flexible dielectric layer, a conductive layer on at least one side of the dielectric layer, at least one cavity or via in the dielectric substrate, and a light emitting semiconductor supported by the cavity or via. Also provided is a support article comprising a flexible dielectric layer, a conductive layer on at least one side and at least one cavity or via in the dielectric substrate. Further provided is a flexible light emitting semiconductor device system comprising the above-described light emitting semiconductor device attached to the above-described support article.

Conventional light emitting semi-conductor (LES), including light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes, and LES devices (LESD) and packages containing LESDs have several drawbacks. High power LESDs generate a substantial amount of heat that must be managed. Thermal management deals with problems arising from heat dissipation and thermal stresses, which is currently a key factor in limiting the performances of light-emitting diodes.
In general, LES devices are commonly prone to damage caused by buildup of heat generated from within the devices, as well as heat from sunlight in the case of outside lighting applications. Excessive heat buildup can cause deterioration of the materials used in the LES devices, such as encapsulants for the LESDs. When LESDs are attached to flexible-circuit laminates, which may also include other electrical components, the heat dissipation problems are greatly increased.
When LESDs are packaged into sub-mount devices, which are then attached to secondary driver systems such as metal core PCB (MPCB), metal insulated substrate (MIS), Bergquist thermal boards, COOLAM substrates, etc., the thermal performance of the submount depends on the thermal resistance of each element in the structure including the sub-mount device, the secondary driver, and the heat sink. In many cases, the secondary driver limits the thermal performance of sub-mount device. Consequently, there is a continuing need to improve the design of support articles and packages to improve their thermal dissipation properties.

Two part flexible light emitting semiconductor device


A one-way clutch of roller type comprises an outer race having pockets provided at their inner faces with cam surfaces, an inner race spaced inwardly from the outer race in a radial direction and rotatably disposed in concentric with the outer race and having an annular outer peripheral track surface, a plurality of rollers disposed in the pockets and adapted to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race when engaged by the cam surfaces, and accordion springs disposed in the pockets and adapted to bias the rollers toward engagement directions with respect to the cam surface, and is characterized in that one ends of the accordion springs are secured to axial end faces of the outer race.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a one-way clutch of roller type for use in a torque transmitting element or a back stopper in a driving apparatus of a motor vehicle, industrial machines and the like, for example.
2. Related Background Art
In general, a one-way clutch of roller type is comprised of an outer race, an inner race disposed in concentric with the outer race, a plurality of rollers disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the inner race and inner peripheral cam surfaces of the outer race and adapted to transmit torque, and springs contacted with idle rotation sides of the rollers.
With this arrangement, in the one-way clutch, the inner race is designed so as to be rotated only in one direction with respect to the outer race by means of a cam mechanism constituted by the rollers and the cam surfaces. That is to say, the inner race is designed so that it is idly rotated relative to the outer race in one direction, and on the other hand, it applies rotational torque to the outer race through the cam mechanism only in an opposite direction.
In the one-way clutch of roller type, to obtain positive engagement, the rollers as torque transmitting members and the springs for biasing the rollers are disposed in respective pockets provided in the outer race or the inner race.
In particular, in a one-way clutch of roller type of a motor bike, since the number of rollers is small (for example, three or six), if the respective rollers are not engaged positively, a design torque capacity may not be maintained. Thus, it is important to positively remove foreign matters and the like which would affect a bad influence upon engaging performance of the roller.
In the one-way clutch used as a stator of a motor bike, as disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 8 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-44615 (1993), a side plate provided at its inner diameter portion with splines is bolted to an outer race of the one way-clutch of roller type.
Further, to lubricate the one-way clutch of roller type, there has been proposed an oil lubricating system as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-44615 (1993) or a one-way clutch in a cry condition without any oil lubrication. Since the one-way clutch of roller type used as the starter of the motor bike is used under a high speed rotation and great vibration condition and a condition in which environment regarding powder dust is severe, dust including worn powder is apt to be accumulated in the one-way clutch of roller type.
Since foreign matters such as dust accumulated in the one-way clutch of roller type also affect a bad influence upon the engaging ability, it is desirable to remove such foreign matters. Further, there is need for providing cheaper one-way clutch of roller type used as a starter.

One-way clutch of roller type for use in starter for motor bike


The high pressure fluid pump includes a driver defined by a float riding on the waves of a sea surface, a fluid pump housing, an impeller operatively attached to the driver and disposed within the fluid pump housing, a backflow check system connected to the fluid pump housing, and an outflow check system controlling the pressure, volume of fluid flow, and direction of fluid flow to various other systems. The pump may be used to pump fluids other than seawater and may include features multiplying pumping mechanical advantage for a given tidal range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydrokinetic energy conversion systems, more particularly, a high pressure fluid pump that converts tidal, wave, swell, wind, and or solar energy to usable energy in the form of a high pressure fluid pump, which may be used for various purposes, including generating power, producing potable water or general cleaning thereof through reverse osmosis membrane processes, irrigation for aqua farms, compressing gaseous fluids, creating vacuum, delivering fluids from one location to another, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current energy demands require much use of dwindling fossil fuels, nuclear power or other costly man made substitutes. These demands cannot be met indefinitely without serious impact on the world economy or the environment.
Alternative energy producing methods have been proposed using natural resources such as solar, air, and water. Solar panels or related use of solar energy is widely well known. These solar energy conversion systems work well in providing alternative energy, but they still suffer from inefficient use of or energy conversion from the source. Moreover, they are a costly investment. Air power via windmills and derivatives thereof is another viable source of energy. However, it requires optimal geographic and weather conditions for these systems to work. Water energy conversion systems utilizing the natural power of the tidal forces have been proposed in an effort to use the immense mechanical energy created, but a significant amount of potential energy is eventually lost to the great heat sink of the seas without other benefits. All of the above systems are viable alternative energy sources, but widespread use have not been seen due to costs or inefficient use of the natural resource.
Thus, a high pressure fluid pump solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


An apparatus for generating ultraviolet light and irradiating a 450 mm diameter semi-conductor wafer. The apparatus includes a plenum and an array of nine RF irradiator units coupled with the plenum. Each irradiator unit includes a plasma lamp bulb and an RF generator operable to generate a radiation energy field to excite the plasma lamp bulb and emit the ultraviolet light. The nine irradiator units are arranged in three rows with three of the irradiator units in each row.

Ultraviolet (UV) lamp systems are commonly used for treating semi-conductor wafers for use in the electronics industry. Certain UV lamp systems have electrodeless light sources and operate by exciting an electrodeless plasma lamp with RF energy, such as microwave energy. In an electrodeless UV lamp system that relies upon excitation with microwave energy, the electrodeless plasma lamp is mounted within a metallic microwave cavity or chamber. One or more RF (radio frequency) or microwave generators, such as magnetrons, are coupled via waveguides with the interior of the microwave chamber. The magnetrons supply microwave energy to initiate and sustain a plasma from a gas mixture enclosed in the plasma lamp. The plasma emits a characteristic spectrum of electromagnetic radiation strongly weighted with spectral lines or photons having UV and infrared wavelengths.
To irradiate a substrate, the UV light is directed from the RF or microwave chamber through a chamber outlet to an external location. The chamber outlet is capable of blocking emission of RF or microwave energy while allowing UV light to be transmitted outside the chamber. A fine-meshed metal screen often covers the chamber outlet of many RF or microwave powered UV lamp systems. The openings in the metal screen transmit the UV light for irradiating a substrate positioned outside the chamber, yet substantially block the emission of RF or microwave energy. In some RF or microwave powered UV lamp systems, a shutter also covers the chamber outlet and is selectively operable to expose the substrate to the UV light.
In existing applications for treating semi-conductor wafers on the order of 300 mm in diameter, UV lamp systems are provided to emit light with the required uniformity, intensity and dosage over the surface area of the wafer. For example, one existing UV lamp system for treating a 300 mm semi-conductor wafer having surface area of 70,685 mm2 uses two 10″ lamp bulbs each powered by two magnetrons to properly surface treat the wafer. These lamp bulbs are configured in parallel to each other. Electrical power in a total amount of 12 kilowatts is provided to the lamp system, or in other words, 600 watts per inch of bulb length. The power density of the system is equal to the total wattage inputted divided by the wafer surface area. In the case of the 300 mm diameter wafer, the power density is therefore 0.1698 w/mm2. One challenge associated with this existing system and others that use multiple magnetrons in a single cavity is the "cross talk" or interference that can exist between the multiple magnetrons, especially at start up. This can damage the magnetrons and lead to shorter life. In addition, the latest semi-conductor wafers are 450 mm in diameter and, therefore, have a surface area of 159,043 mm2, which is much larger in surface area than the 300 mm diameter wafers. Specifically, the surface area is 2.25 times the area of the 300 mm diameter wafer. Therefore, in order to obtain the same power density as needed for the 300 mm diameter wafer the power input requirement for a lamp system used to treat the 450 mm diameter wafer is 27 kilowatts (i.e., 2.25 times 12 kilowatts). However, developing a UV lamp system for treating the 450 mm diameter semi-conductor wafer presents a significant challenge that extends well beyond these basic calculations due to the need for optimum intensity, dosage and uniformity of UV coverage over the entire 450 mm diameter semi-conductor wafer.
There is a need, therefore, for apparatus that achieves the advantages of providing necessary UV radiation intensity and dosage over the entire surface area of a 450 mm diameter semi-conductor wafer while also providing uniform UV radiation across the entire 450 mm diameter semi-conductor wafer and maintaining high productivity.

Method and apparatus for irradiating a semi-conductor wafer with ultraviolet light


Ankle replacement devices are disclosed. Methods of making and using ankle replacement devices are also disclosed.

Total ankle arthroplasty is a common treatment to replace the damaged talocrural joint due to wear, fatigue, and trauma. This joint structure can be damaged from arthritis, bone fractures, displasia, or other degenerative mechanisms. Many of the FDA-approved devices only feature a saddle-type joint that allows flexion and extension, but limited talocrural stability during inversion and eversion. Further, the structure of ankle replacement devices currently available on the U.S. market also have an ability to dislocate from internal rotations that exist on the tibia and talus during loading. In addition, current total ankle replacements are static in displacement and cannot be adjusted post-operation for limb length discrepancies that are found in the patient.
There exists a need in the art for improved ankle replacement devices that (i) allow flexion and extension, as well as increased stability for inversion and eversion joint movements, (ii) allows for length adjustments to account for limb length discrepancies that are found in many patients, and (iii) provide years of normal patient use.

Ankle replacement devices and methods of making and using the same


A circuit for measuring resistance of a magnetoresistive head. First and second current biasing circuits are respectively coupled to opposite sides of the head. The first biasing circuit includes a first resistance, and the second biasing circuit includes a second resistance. First and second current mirrors are respectively coupled to the first and second biasing circuits. A current leg is coupled to the current mirrors. The current mirrors drive current in the resistances so that a first voltage across the first resistance is substantially equal and opposite to a second voltage across the second resistance. The biasing circuits bias current through the head such that a voltage on the first side of the head is close to the first voltage and a voltage on the second side of the head is close to the second voltage, so that the common mode voltage of the head will be close to zero.

The electronic storage of data is essential to the management of computer and information systems. Currently, one popular method of electronic storage utilizes magnetoresistive (MR) heads to store and recover data on a disk.
To recover data from a disk, an MR head employs an MR element which changes in resistance according to information stored on an adjacent disk surface. In particular, information is stored on the disk surface as small magnetic domains which produce a series of small localized magnetic fields, and the MR head changes in resistance in accordance with the changing magnetic flux. A current is passed through the MR head, and magnetic information stored on the disk is "read" by measuring the changes in the resistance of the MR head as it passes through the magnetic fields. Specifically, using the value of the current, and by measuring the voltage induced thereby across the MR head, the change in resistance can be calculated. Typically, the voltage across the MR head is measured by converting it to a digital signal using an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter.
FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a conventional MR resistance measuring circuit 100. In FIG. 1, ADC 150 is an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal to a digital signal. As can be seen, ADC 150 connects to each side of the magnetoresistive head (hereafter "MR head") 102, for measuring the voltage vmr across MR head 102. Current source 101 provides a current which is passed through the MR head 102, and which is used in combination with the changes in the voltage across MR head 102 to calculate the resistance Rmr of the MR head.
However, MR heads are sensitive to disturbances introduced into the circuit. One typical disturbance is a common-mode voltage. Fluctuations in common-mode voltage can be caused by numerous sources, including nearby magnetic fields, manufacturing processes, circuit topology, and parasitic circuit elements.
Big fluctuations in common mode voltage, and other jumps in such common mode voltage, may cause damage to the MR head.
While some sources of common-mode disturbances can be detected and addressed, it is difficult to identify and eliminate all causes of common-mode disturbances. Moreover, while some computer chips may be able to tolerate higher amounts of common-mode voltage, other circuits may not be able to function properly once common-mode voltage reaches a threshold level.

Current biasing circuit to reduce MR common mode voltage jumping for MR resistance measurement