The invention concerns a hydraulic line coupling arrangement of a consumer, with a pump line, a tank line and a safety valve in the pump line, the valve element of the safety valve being acted upon in the opening direction by an opening pressure from the pump line and in the closing direction by a closing pressure of a closing pressure connection. In such an arrangement it is desired to prevent overloading of the consumer. For this purpose, a pilot valve is provided for controlling the closing pressure, the position of the pilot valve being controlled by the pressure in the tank line.

The invention concerns a hydraulic line coupling arrangement of a consumer, with a pump line, a tank line and a safety valve in the pump line, the valve element of the safety valve being acted upon in the opening direction by an opening pressure from the pump line and in the closing direction by a closing pressure of a closing pressure connection.
A line coupling arrangement of this kind is known from the previous German patent application 199 22 866.3. When the consumer is connected with a supplier, the inlet valves of the pump line and the tank line are opened, so that the pressure in the pump line can get from the supplier to the consumer and the hydraulic fluid displaced by this can get back to the supplier via the tank line. Application examples for a hydraulic line coupling of this kind are tractors and other agricultural machines with different attachments, the attachments, for example a revolving mower or a loader wagon, requiring not only a mechanical connection with the tractor but also a hydraulic supply. When, in connection with such a line coupling, the tank line is not correctly connected with the supplier, the tank line is closed at the supplier end. Accordingly, the pump pressure in the tank line increases and closes the safety valve, so that the hydraulic attachments of the consumer connected downstream of the safety valve are not loaded by the pump pressure for a long time.
DE 38 16 987 C1 shows a safety valve for a line coupling arrangement, which is installed on the consumer. This safety valve blocks a pump line for as long as a coupling connection to the tank line of the consumer has not been established. When establishing this coupling connection, not only the valves at both ends of the tank line of supplier and consumer are opened, but also a pressure decrease is caused on the closing side of the safety valve via a valve operated mechanically by means of a tappet, so that the pump pressure can move the safety valve to the open position.
DE 37 28 986 A1 shows another safety valve for hydraulic rotary drives, said valve also being arranged on the supplier. On the tank coupling, that is, the coupling part connecting the tank line of the consumer with the tank line of the supplier, a valve slide is provided, which is displaced on the establishment of the coupling connection. As long as this valve slide has not yet-been displaced, it ensures a connection of the tank line to a branch of the pump line of the supplier, so that hydraulic fluid still remaining in the supplier can flow back to the tank.
The invention is based on the task of preventing an overloading of the consumer in connection with an incorrect coupling.
In the hydraulic line coupling arrangement mentioned in the introduction, this task is solved in that a pilot valve is provided for controlling the closing pressure, the position of the pilot valve being controlled by the pressure in the tank line.
Thus, it is possible to fit the safety valve in or at the consumer, that is, the safety measures for the consumer and its hydraulic attachments can be provided in the immediate proximity of the consumer. The safety arrangement, that is, the safety valve can be directly adapted to the requirements of the individual consumer, for example the possible maximum pressure, which should be permissible, also in case of errors, which is not possible when the safety valve is arranged at the supplier supplying varying consumers. The use of the pilot valve involves a higher degree of freedom in connection with the selection and embodiment of the closing pressure. In case of errors, the pilot valve ensures a very quick building up of the required closing pressure for the safety valve.
It is preferred that in the closing direction the valve element is loaded by a spring, the pilot valve being controllable in such a way that the pressure of the pump line also acts in the closing direction. Normally, it must be assumed that the pressure in the pump line is the highest pressure in the consumer. Enabling this pressure also to act in the closing direction initially causes the establishment of an equilibrium on the valve element. By means of the spring force, the valve element can be moved to its closing position. Thus, it is possible for the valve element to perform both its opening movement and its closing movement relatively fast, as the valve element is acted upon by the higher of the ruling pressures.
In a first alternative it is provided that the pump line is connected with the closing pressure connection via a throttle, the pilot valve releasing or blocking a connection between the closing pressure connection and the tank line. When the pilot valve releases the connection between the closing pressure connection and the tank line, the pressure available at the closing pressure connection is the same as the pressure available in the tank line. The throttle then produces a pressure drop, which corresponds to the pressure difference between the pump line and the tank line. The valve element of the safety valve remains open, as it is acted upon in the opening direction by the pressure in the pump line. When now the pilot valve closes, firstly the connection between the closing pressure connection and the tank line is blocked. At the same time, however, hydraulic fluid from the pump line reaches the closing pressure connection via the throttle, that is, very quickly the pressure of the pump line will also be available at the closing pressure connection, this pressure, together with the spring, displacing the valve element to its closing position.
In an alternative embodiment it is provided that the pilot valve is made as a three-way valve, which in one position connects the pump line with the closing pressure connection and in another position connects the closing pressure connection with the tank line. When the closing pressure connection is connected with the tank line, the pressure in the tank line is also available at the closing pressure connection, that is, the safety valve is open, as the pressure acting upon the valve element in the opening direction is higher than the pressure in the closing direction. When, however, the pilot valve is changed over, the pressure in the pump line reaches the closing pressure connection directly, so that the safety valve is closed.
Preferably, the pilot valve is acted upon by a spring against the direction of the pressure of the tank line in the direction of a position, in which the closing pressure connection is connected with the tank line. In a manner of speaking, this position is the position for the normal operation, during which the tank pressure of the supplier is available in the tank line of the consumer. In this case, the force of the spring on the pilot valve is higher than the force, which the pressure in the tank line can produce. When, however, the tank line is no longer or not correctly connected with the tank line of the supplier, be it through a released or not correctly connected coupling, hydraulic fluid can no longer or not to a sufficient degree flow off through the tank line, so that the pressure in the tank line increases. As soon as the pressure in the tank line is so high that it overcomes the force of the spring on the pilot valve, the pilot valve is changed over, which immediately causes the closing of the safety valve.
Preferably, the consumer has a consumer tank. This provides an additional measure that may cause a pressure release in the consumer. The consumer tank does not have to be big. It is sufficient, when the consumer tank can hold a hydraulic fluid quantity, which has to be drained off from the consumer or its attachments, respectively, to initiate a desired pressure decrease after the closing of the safety valve.
In this connection, it is preferred that the tank line is connected with the consumer tank via a safety valve. During xe2x80x9cnormal operationxe2x80x9d the safety valve ensures that no hydraulic fluid flows off into the consumer tank. This will not happen until the pressure in the tank line exceeds a predetermined value. The safety valve releases at a pressure that is higher than the pressure required for the adjustment of the pilot valve.
It is also preferred that a control connection on the spring loaded side of the pilot valve is connected with the consumer tank. In this connection it is taken into consideration that on the one hand certain leakages may occur at the pilot valve and on the other hand the hydraulic fluid required for the control of the pilot valve also has to be displaced to somewhere.
Preferably, the opening pressure is available in an opening pressure connection, which is connected with the inlet and the outlet of the safety valve. Independently of the position of the valve element of the safety valve, an opening pressure is thus always available, so that after eliminating the error in the tank coupling line the valve element can always be returned to its opening position again.


The invention relates to a device (1) for processing data packets, comprising identification means (14) for identifying a data packet, processing means (11, 12) for cryptographically processing the data packet, and memory means (13) for storing information relating to the processing, in which device the processing means comprise at least a first (11) and a second (12) processing unit. Control means (14) are provided to assign, on the basis of the identification of a data packet, said data packet to one of the processing units and to process said data packet with the aid of information related to said data packet. Preferably, at least one processing unit (11; 12) is designed to encrypt or decrypt data packets, and the information relating to the processing comprises a key and a status of a processing procedure.

The present invention relates to a device for processing data packets. More in particular, the present invention relates to a device for cryptographically processing data packets, said device comprising identification means for identifying a data packet, processing means for cryptographically processing the data packet, memory means for storing information relating to the processing, and control means for selecting information related to the data packet. A device of this type is disclosed in the Specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,087.
In practice it is known to arrange for data communication, including telephony, to take place by means of data packets. Diverse techniques for data communication with the aid of data packets, such as X.25 and ATM ("asynchronous transfer mode"), are known. The need exists to an increasing extent to secure the data traffic by means of encrypting the messages (data packets). For this purpose, an encrypting device can be incorporated at the transmitting end and a decrypting device at the receiving end in the data connection concerned.
In modern data communication techniques, data packets belonging to a plurality of logical connections are transmitted via a single physical connection. Such logical connections will hereinafter generally be referred to as channels. Thus, for example, in the case of ATM, a plurality of "virtual channels" and "virtual paths" may use the same physical connection. At the same time, there is no fixed correlation between the consecutive data packets, referred to as "cells" in the case of ATM. The channel to which the data packet belongs can be read only from the header of each data packet.
If one or more of said channels is to be secured by encrypting, measures have to be taken to encrypt and decrypt data packets of a particular logical connection in a particular way, for example with a key belonging to the logical connection. For this purpose, the data packets of the different logical connections have to be identified in order to be able to determine the particular channel, and consequently, for example, the associated key, of a particular data packet.
In the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,087, the identification means are formed by a packet identifier. Stored in a memory is a plurality of keys, one of which is retrieved in each case in order to process a data packet of a particular channel (logical connection) in the cryptographic unit provided therefor. In addition, in the known device, a cryptographic residue is, in each case, retrieved or, respectively, stored in addition to the key. Such a cryptographic residue can represent the status of a cryptographic process by which related data packets are encrypted or decrypted, respectively.
The known device has the disadvantage that it is relatively slow. For each incoming data packet, the matching key and the matching residue have to be loaded on the basis of the identification, after which the cryptographic processing (encrypting or decrypting) takes place. After the processing, the new residue (and possibly the key) has to be stored, in each case, before a subsequent data packet can be processed. It will be clear that the repeated performance, that is to say the performance for each data packet, of said steps takes place at the expense of the processing speed of the known device and, consequently, of the throughput speed of the data packets to be processed.
The storage and retrieval of only a key for each channel, which is disclosed per se, for example, in the publication "Data security in packet switched networks", which is specified in greater detail below, may, in principle, be faster but still requires a relatively large amount of processing time. Such a solution is furthermore unsuitable for cryptographic procedures whose status has to be stored between two processing steps. It is precisely such procedures which are at present much used for encrypting data communication.
International Patent Application WO93/09627 discloses a cryptographic apparatus for use in computer networks. In its key generator, the apparatus comprises pairs of parallel registers each outputting a single key bit. Depending on data packets being designated "local" or "broadcast", the key bits of one of the pairs of registers is used to contribute to the running key encrypting the data packets. This known design is not suitable for cryptographically processing data packets of a large number of channels at a high data rate.
In modern data communication, speed plays an ever greater role. Devices for processing data packets, such as cryptographic devices, therefore have to satisfy ever higher speed requirements. In the known device, which involves reloading and storing related processing information for each data packet, said retrieval and storage of information forms a speed-limiting factor.


A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer formed of first semiconductor, a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer and formed of second semiconductor of a group different from a group to which the first semiconductor belongs, and a third semiconductor layer formed between the first and second semiconductor layers, the third semiconductor layer being one of a layer formed of third semiconductor of the same group as the first semiconductor and having an impurity concentration higher than the first semiconductor layer and a layer formed of fourth semiconductor of the same group as the second semiconductor and having an impurity concentration higher than the second semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having a hetero interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Group-II-VI compound semiconductor such as ZnSe and a nitride Group-III-V compound semiconductor such as GaN have a wide bandgap (wide gap) equivalent to or larger than an amount of energy corresponding to the wavelengths of light in the visible wavelength range and have received much attention as a visible light emitting material. Particularly, the operating wavelength range of a semiconductor laser or light emitting diode formed of a Group-III-V compound semiconductor material such as GaAlAs, InGaAlP lies in a wavelength range longer than that of green, but the semiconductor laser or light emitting diode formed by use of the wide gap Group-II-VI compound semiconductor and nitride Group-III-V compound semiconductor such as GaN may be operated in an operating wavelength range of blue or ultraviolet rays having shorter wavelengths. This makes it possible to apply the advantages of the conventional semiconductor light emitting device such as the small size, light in weight, low operating voltage, high reliability in the short wavelength region so that the density of the optical disk can be increased. Further, outdoor message boards can be displayed in full color.
In recent years, continuous oscillation of the current injection type semiconductor laser at room temperatures and high-luminance operation of the light emitting diode are reported in relation to blue-green semiconductor light emitting devices using wide gap Group-II-VI compound semiconductor such as ZnSe. For example, a current injection type blue-green semiconductor laser device using CdZnMgSeS is constructed as follows. That is, an n-type ZnMgSeS clad layer, n-type ZnSe light guide layer, CdZnSe quantum-well layer, p-type ZnSe light guide layer, p-type ZnMgSeS clad layer, p-type ZnSeS, and p-type ZnSe contact layer are sequentially stacked on one main surface of an n-type GaAs substrate. The p-type ZnSe contact layer is processed into a mesa stripe form with a width of 5 .mu.m by chemical etching, an insulating layer is formed on the p-type ZnSeS layer outside the mesa portion and the surface thereof is made flat. A p-side electrode is formed on the flat surface. The p-side electrode is a laminated electrode of Pd/Pt/Au laminated in this order from the bottom. An n-side electrode formed of In is disposed on the other main surface of the n-type GaAs substrate.
It is reported that the blue-green semiconductor laser device with the above structure can effect the continuous oscillation at room temperatures (Room Temperature continuous operation of Blue-Green Laser Diodes, N. Nakayama et. al, Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 16, pp. 1488-1489 (1993)).
In the above conventional cases, blue-green light is obtained by growing Group-II-VI compound semiconductor such as ZnSe, ZnMgSSe on the GaAs substrate by the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
In the nitride-series semiconductor laser containing GaN, short wavelengths shorter than 350 nm can be obtained and the oscillating operation at 400 nm is reported. The reliability that the light emitting life is longer than 10,000 hours is confirmed. Thus, nitride semiconductor is an excellent material which satisfies the necessary conditions as an optical disk recording light source for the next generation. However, even with this material, the subject of a lowering in the operating voltage remains.
A semiconductor device for effecting the low-voltage operation as a practical semiconductor laser or light emitting diode (LED) has not been realized.
In the conventional short-wavelength semiconductor light emitting device using ZnSe, it has been considered that the operating voltage is raised by the hetero barrier caused in the hetero interface of the p-type layer or the Schottky contact between the p-side electrode and the p-type semiconductor. However, it is proved as the result of study by the inventors of this application that a voltage drop in the junction between a layer having a large bandgap (for example, n-ZnSe) and a layer having a small bandgap (for example, n-GaAs) in the hetero interface of the n-type layer prevents a lowering in the operating voltage. This is considered to be because the band discontinuity in the conduction band becomes larger depending on the condition of the crystal growth and injection of electrons is prevented. It is desired to reduce the voltage drop in this portion and realize the low-voltage operation of the device by improving the obstruction to injection of electrons by the band discontinuity.
Further, a hetero barrier is present between the substrate and the GaN layer of a laser using GaN. The magnitude of the hetero barrier varies according to the condition of crystal growth, and it is proved by the study by the inventors that the hetero barrier on the conduction band side which has been considered to be low is larger than an expected value. It is necessary to reduce the voltage drop in this portion and realize the low-voltage operation of the device by improving the obstruction to injection of carriers by the band discontinuity.

Light emitter with lowered heterojunction interface barrier


A fabric having balanced stress-strain characteristics in the warp and weft directions. A method of processing the fabric includes overfeeding a woven fabric web along a first direction at one or more steps of a treatment process to facilitate crimping of the woven fabric web in the first direction. The overfeeding is indicative of a predetermined differential between a feed rate and a process rate at the one or more steps. The differential is adapted to cause the crimping in the first direction to substantially match a the level of crimping in a second direction.

The present invention relates generally to the field of fabrics. In particular, the invention relates to a coated textile fabric with substantially similar elongation characteristics in the warp and weft directions.
Fabric for certain applications, such as airbags for vehicle safety restraint systems, may be required to meet certain stringent requirements. This fabric is typically a woven fabric that may be required to have, for example, a certain elasticity. The elasticity of a fabric can be measured as the elongation of the fabric. It is desirable that the crimp of the fabric be controlled during the manufacturing process so that the resulting fabric has substantially balanced elongation in each direction. Conventional fabrics generally exhibit a higher tensile strength (lower elongation) in the warp direction.


Peptides are provided herein, wherein the peptide bearing one or more amino acid sequence differences relative to SEQ ID NO: 1, with the amino acid sequence differences comprising at least one cysteine replacement.

Keratin refers to the filament-forming proteins presenting specific physiochemical properties, which can be extracted from the cornified layer of the epidermis. Keratin is the main protein in skin and makes up hair, nails, and the surface layer of the skin. Harsh chemicals and environmental influences such as UV and thermal radiation lead to lasting keratin damage to skin, hair, and nails.
A keratin protein is defined by a primary structure based on amino acid chains. The chains vary in number and sequence of amino acids, polarity, charge, and size. Small modifications in the keratin's amino acid sequence cause significant property modification, since these sequences determine the whole molecular structure and the nature of the bonds. The sulphur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine establish intra or intermolecular disulfide bonds. The role of disulphide bonds is important in keratin's structural integrity. The disulfide bonds can be broken by chemical treatment of the hair and over time result in serious long-lasting damage to the keratin.
The keratin intra-strand disulfide bonds result in characteristic waves, curls and the general body or appearance of one's hair. These characteristics of hair can be desirable or undesirable, resulting in an individual seeking hair treatment to change the natural body or shape of their hair. In order to limit or minimize the application of harsh chemicals used to straighten or shape hair into a desired conformation, there is a need to develop safer and more efficient alternative biologically-based compositions.
The object of this disclosure is to provide peptides for use in consumer products, cosmetic compositions, hair treatments, and/or hair color.

Compositions and method of use for hair straightening and shaping


A power supply apparatus for the television receiver set comprising a television receiving circuit and other receiving circuits, for example, satellite broadcasting receiving circuit or character broadcasting receiving circuit, each of receiving circuit is supplied with a supply power from the same switching power supply of regenerative type having plural secondary windings wherein some receivers are selectively turned off by switches provided the receivers and the switching power supply for automatic recording or standby mode. The regenerative type of switching power supply has a stable output characteristic over a range from no load to the maximum load because of regenerative operation. The horizontal scanning circuit is turned off by the switch. This causes the horizontal scanning circuit and vertical scanning and video signal processing circuits to stop operation because supply power of the vertical scanning and video processing circuits are supplied with power from tile horizontal scanning circuit through a high voltage generation circuit. The television having satellite broadcasting circuit and such power supply apparatus is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a power supply apparatus for television receiver set and television receiver set including the same and particularly to a power supply apparatus for television receiver set having satellite broadcasting or character broadcasting receiver and the television receiver set including the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, some television receiver sets have contained a satellite broadcasting receiver or a character broadcasting receiver where each of these functions can be performed separately. In the television receiver set with such multi-function, individual operation among these functions is enabled by that one power supply apparatus is provided for one function because there is necessity of selectively operating these function for automatic recording by VTR, etc.
Hereinbelow will be described a prior art television receiver set including such a prior art power supply apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the prior art television receiver set having the prior art power supply apparatus. In FIG. 9, numeral 1 is an ac power supply input terminal; numeral 2 is a main switch for manually turning off all power supplies of the television receiver set; numeral 4 is a relay switch turned on/off in response to a control signal 3 from a microprocessor 100; numeral 6 is a relay switch which is turned on/off by a control signal 5 also sent from the microprocessor 100 for causing the television receiver set to enter an automatic recording condition wherein only the power supply for the television portion is turned off but a satellite broadcasting receiving circuit 24 is operated; numeral 7 is a line filter; numeral 8 is a rectifying circuit of a switching power supply 10 for the television portions, which rectifies and smooths an ac input voltage; numeral 9 is a rectifying circuit of a switching power supply 11 for the satellite broadcasting receiving circuit 24; numeral 12 is a remote control transformer for supplying a standby supply power for the microprocessor 100; numeral 13 is a rectifying circuit for the standby supply power; numeral 14 is a high voltage generation circuit having a flyback transformer (not shown); numeral 15 is a horizontal scanning circuit for horizontally scanning an electron beam; numeral 16 is a flyback pulse from the horizontal scanning circuit 15; numeral 17 is a supply voltage for the high voltage generation circuit 14 and the horizontal scanning circuit 15; numeral 18 is a vertical scanning circuit for vertically scanning the electron beam; numeral 19 is a supply voltage of the vertical scanning circuit 18; numeral 20 is a video signal processing circuit for converting an RF signal to an RGB signal to reproduce an image on a braun tube (not shown); numeral 21 is a supply voltage for the video signal processing circuit 20; numeral 22 is a voice signal output circuit comprising an amplifier, etc.; numeral 23 is a supply voltage of the voice signal output circuit 22; numeral 24 is the satellite broadcasting circuit for receiving a BS-IF signal; and numeral 25 are plural supply voltages for the satellite broadcasting receiving circuit 24. Moreover, supply voltages 17, 19, 21, and 23 are outputted to respective circuits from the switching power supply 10 and the supply voltage 25 is outputted from the switching power supply 11.
Hereinbelow will be described operation of power supply apparatus for the television receiver set having the above-mentioned structure.
At first, a condition that a picture image is displayed with all circuits being activated will be described. When the main switch 2 is closed, an ac voltage is supplied to the remote control transformer 12 from the ac power supply input 1, so that a standby supply power is generated in the rectifying circuit 13 of the secondary circuit. This power supplying starts operation of the microprocessor 100. If a user has selected watching of the television, the control signals 3 and 5 from the microprocessor 100 are so outputted to close both relay switches 4 and 6. The supply voltages are produced as follows:
The ac voltage from the ac input terminal 1 is passed through a line filter 7 and is rectified by the rectifying circuit 8 is supplied to the switching power supply 10. In the similar way, the supply voltage from the rectifying portion circuit 9 is supplied to the switching power supply 11. Then, both power supplies 10 and 11 start oscillation. The switching power supply 10 supplies the supply voltage 17, the supply voltage 19, the supply voltage 21, and the supply voltage 23 to the horizontal scanning circuit 15, the vertical scanning circuit 18, the video signal processing circuit 20, and the video signal output circuit 22 of secondary loads respectively as shown in FIG. 9. In the similar way, the switching power supply 11 supplies the supply voltage 25 to the satellite broadcasting receiving circuit 24. Thus, all circuits in the television for displaying image pictures and outputting voice sounds, so that the television receiver set is in a condition that the user can selected to which a programs of the ordinal television broadcasting or the satellite broadcasting is watched at will.
Hereinbelow will be described an automatic recording of a program of the satellite broadcasting which is carried out from the above-mentioned condition. That is, the following describes the operation of the television receiver set when the user desires to record a program by a video recorder (not shown) during his absence. This function is carried out under the condition that power supplying to the circuits of the television portion is stopped but only the satellite broadcasting receiving circuit is operated.
When the user gives the television a command for automatic recording by a remote controller (not shown) or by a keyboard on the front of the television (not shown), in response to the command, the microprocessor outputs the control signal 5 so as to open the relay switch 6. Then, the switching power supply 10 stops operation because the supply voltage is not supplied thereto through the line filter 7 and the rectifying circuit portion 8. Thus, picture images are not displayed on the screen of the television receiver set because each circuit as its secondary load does not operate. In this condition the main switch 2 and relay switch 4 remain close, so that the switching power supply 11 remains in operation and the satellite broadcasting receiving circuit 24 is in a condition of automatic recording wherein it maintains its operation with a given broadcasting selected.
However, in the above-mentioned structure, there is a drawback that the cost is high because an area for mounting elements is large since there are two sets of a line filter, a rectifying circuit, and a switching supply for both the television and the satellite broadcasting portion. In addition to this, there is also another drawback that a power supply for the microprocessor is separately necessary.

Power supply apparatus for television receiver set and television receiver set including the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Apparatus for deflecting a light beam, comprising: a scanning element having a base portion, a light beam deflecting portion, and a gap region disposed therebetween. The base portion is anchored with respect to an optical bench to permit the light beam deflecting portion to pivot about a fixed pivot point defined between the base portion and the gap region. The light beam deflecting portion has a natural resonant frequency of oscillation about the fixed pivot point and is mechanically-damped at the gap region. A permanent magnet and right beam deflating portion are mounted on the light beam deflecting portion. A magnetic-field producing coil produces a force field that interacts with the permanent magnet and forces the light beam deflecting portion to oscillate about the fixed pivot point at a controlled frequency of oscillation that is substantially different from the natural resonant frequency of oscillation of the light beam deflecting portion.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to laser scanning systems and more particularly, to electronically-controlled damped off-resonant mechanisms for reliably scanning laser beams during bar code symbol reading operations and the like.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Laser scanning bar code symbol scanners are widely used to read bar code symbols on products and packages for identification purposes. Many different techniques exist for scanning laser beams across objects.
One commonly used beam scanning technique involves driving a resonant element bearing a mirror into oscillatory motion within a plane, while a laser beam is directed incident the mirror surface. As the resonant element oscillates, so too does the mirror, causing the incident laser beam to be scanned across a scanning field of substantially planar extent, as well as a bar code symbol disposed therewithin. In general, laser light reflected from the scanned bar code symbol is collected and detected to produce an electrical signal representative of the scanned symbol. Ultimately, the electrical signal is processed in order to decode the scanned symbol and produce symbol character data representative of the decoded symbol.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,168,149, 5,280,165, 5,374,148 and 5,581,067, several different scanning mechanisms are disclosed, in which strips made of Mylar™ or Kapton™ plastic material are used to realize resonant scanning elements. While such prior art scanning elements are durable, they are not without their shortcomings and drawbacks.
Such prior art laser scanning mechanisms are generally massive and large in comparison to the size of the scanning mirror supported thereby. Prior art laser scanning mechanisms are generally difficult to produce, expensive to manufacture, difficult to precisely tune, and typically require an anti-shock mechanism to protect the scanning element from damage when dropped.
Addressing the shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the above-described scanning mechanism, Applicants hereof have attempted to construct a laser beam scanning mechanism, in which a thin strip of Kapton™ film, anchored at its base end and supporting a miniature mirror and a ferrite magnet on its free end, is driven in an off-resonant mode of operation in order to scan a laser beam incident the mirror. While laboring long and hard, Applicants have been unable to consistently manufacture in large volume and at low cost, a laser beam scanning mechanism based on such prior art design principles, without seriously sacrificing the operation and performance thereof.
Consequently, hitherto, Metrologic's ScanQuest® Laser Scanning Engine (Models 4110 and 4120), in which the above-described scanning mechanism is employed, could not be manufactured in high volume or at low cost.
Therefore, there is a great need in the art for an improved laser scanning mechanism which avoids the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art laser beam scanning apparatus and methodologies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronically-controlled mechanically-damped off-resonant light beam scanning mechanism and code symbol readers employing the same


A damper with continuously variable rates in both extension and compression operation is provided. The damper includes a single tube carrying a piston having at least one pressure chamber and separating the tube into extension and compression chambers. A bi-directional control valve is carried by the piston. The control valve includes a first annular disc carrying a seal and separating the pressure chamber from the extension chamber. A second annular disc carrying a seal separates the pressure chamber from the compression chamber. The discs are variably deflectable under fluid force to provide an opening through the piston. A pair of armatures control the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber to change the deflective characteristics of the discs by varying a backpressure in the pressure chamber. A coil is positioned near the first and second armatures and is operable to draw both the first and the second armatures to close the passages.

Conventional vehicle suspension dampers typically consist of direct double-acting telescopic hydraulic passive devices. They are generally described as either shock absorbers or struts. A primary purpose of shock absorbers is to dampen oscillations of the vehicle suspension spring. This is accomplished by converting kinetic energy in the form of motion between sprung and unsprung masses of a vehicle into heat and then dissipating the heat. Struts also serve this capacity and in addition, support reaction and side-load forces on the suspension.
Typical dampers are hydraulic devices using oil as the medium for dissipating energy. As the damper is cycled, a piston is forced to move in extension and compression directions through the oil that is contained within a cylinder tube. This creates pressure within a portion of the cylinder tube and a consequent pressure drop across the piston. During an extension stroke, high pressure is created in the extension chamber of the cylinder tube above the piston, forcing oil to flow through the valving of the piston. During a compression stroke, high pressure is created in the compression chamber of the cylinder tube below the piston, forcing oil to flow back through the piston's valving. As the piston moves an additional amount of oil substantially equal to the volume of the piston rod entering or exiting the cylinder tube is forced through the piston valving or through a valve on the base of the cylinder tube in combination with the piston valving in compensation.
As oil is forced to flow through the orifices in the piston valve and/or the base valve the pressure drop effects an energy conversion and the oil is heated. Through this mechanism dampers dissipate energy stored by the vehicle's suspension springs. The extent to which the oil is heated and consequently, the amount of energy dissipated is controlled by the size of the orifices in the valving and the amount of flow forced through the valving.
Damping force is a common measurement of the performance of a damper. It is used to quantify the amount of spring control provided by a damper. Passive dampers are tuned to provide selected vehicle performance characteristics. Because passive dampers provide a set damping force they are generally somewhat of a compromise in providing optimum damping performance over a wide range of operating conditions.
The concept of dampers with an electrically controlled damping rate has been developed in the art wherein an algorithm is used to provide a control mechanism for a means of varying the damping force provided by a damper. This is typically achieved by varying the valving orifices in response to various sensors which are used to detect current real world vehicle operating conditions. Such dampers adjust the damping force in response to the control mechanism so that various performance characteristics can be provided by an individual damper. A controllable orifice however, provides less than ideal levels of control, particularly at low flow rates.
Electrically controlled hydraulic dampers for vehicle suspensions have, in principle, been known in the art for some time. However, their actual wide-spread application and use has been somewhat of a recent phenomenon. A known type of adjustable damper which includes a control valve positioned near the piston carries components of the control valve within the piston rod. This necessitates a piston rod of a relatively large diameter. Additional volume required to accommodate the displacement resulting from a large diameter rod unpreferably increases the overall size of the damper and detracts from the active length of the assembly. Another type of known adjustable damper carries the control valve outside the cylinder tube. This type of design necessitates consideration of the externally carried valve when packaging the damper within the suspension system. Still other types of adjustable dampers vary the size of an orifice to control the pressure drop through a valve to change the performance provided by the damper.
A damper incorporating an electronically controlled flow regulation valve into the piston is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,454 which issued Oct. 1, 1996. That patent describes a damper with a regulating valve providing a continuously variable amount of damping by regulating extension fluid flow during damper extension only. Additionally, a separate bi-directional passive damping valve provides damping during both extension and compression travel of the damper. The regulation valve does not affect the amount of damping provided during damper compression.

Bi-directional pressure control valved damper


A change in electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device including an interlayer insulating film over a transistor including an oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor film is suppressed. The structure includes a first insulating film which includes a void portion in a step region formed by a source electrode and a drain electrode over the semiconductor film and contains silicon oxide as a component, and a second insulating film containing silicon nitride, which is provided in contact with the first insulating film to cover the void portion in the first insulating film. The structure can prevent the void portion generated in the first insulating film from expanding outward.

A technique by which transistors are formed using semiconductor thin films formed over a substrate having an insulating surface has been attracting attention. Such transistors are applied to a wide range of electronic devices such as integrated circuits (IC) and image display devices (also simply referred to as display devices). A silicon-based semiconductor material is widely known as a material for a semiconductor thin film applicable to a transistor. As another material, an oxide semiconductor has been attracting attention.
For example, a technique for forming a transistor using zinc oxide or an In—Ga—Zn-based oxide semiconductor as an oxide semiconductor is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

Semiconductor device comprising an insulating layer including a void

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An extended nip press is provided having an advantageous nip press shoe which generates less heat than conventional press shoes. The nip press shoe includes an inrunning land surface which may be planar or convex. At least one lubrication pocket is downstream of the inrunning land surface and defines a cavity for supporting lubricant to create a hydrostatic lubrication region with a flexible jacket. The pocket has a bottom surface which converges towards the flexible jacket in a downstream direction. The press shoe further includes an outrunning land surface downstream of the lubrication pocket for engaging the flexible jacket against the opposite convex press element at a downstream end of the extended nip press. The outrunning land surface has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the convex press element, and is planar in one embodiment, to create an attenuated hydrodynamic lubrication region with the flexible jacket.

In the art of papermaking, the use of extended nip presses--also referred to as long nip presses or wide nip presses--in the press section of a papermaking machine has become very popular since the extended nip press has a dewatering capacity that is significantly larger than the dewatering capacity of a conventional roll nip press. The extended nip presses marketed today by various manufacturers are typically of the kind referred to as shoe presses
A typical shoe press unit comprises a generally concave shoe, a rotatable flexible tubular jacket running in a loop around the shoe, a stationary support beam for supporting the shoe, at least one (normally several) actuator(s) on the support beam for pressing the shoe against an interior surface of the jacket and a cylindrical counter roll. The shoe is often lubricated to avoid wear with the inner surface of the tubular jacket. The concave shoe and the cylindrical counter roll define between them an extended nip through which a fibrous web is passed.
In comparison with a conventional roll press, an important advantage of a shoe press is that a higher linear loading may be used than in a roll press. The amount of dewatering which takes place in a press nip depends to a large degree on the press impulse that can be calculated as I=L/S where I=the press impulse, L=the linear loading (force per unit length in the cross machine direction) of the press and S=the speed of the paper web through the nip. In theory, the press impulse does not depend on the length of the nip in the machine direction. However, the maximum linear loading that can be applied in the press nip is limited by the pressure to which the web can be subjected.
In a conventional roll press, the nip area is very small and even a relatively low linear loading may result in a pressure which is simply too high for the fibrous web that is passed through the nip. A shoe press with its long nip and large nip area can use a much higher linear loading and yet not reach such high levels of pressure in the nip that crushing of the fibrous web will occur. This is of particular importance for the papermaker who desires to obtain a high bulk product. Since the shoe press can use a high linear loading without subjecting the fibrous web to a high pressure, a high bulk product can be obtained. Therefore, the first commercial use of shoe presses was in machines for making high bulk products, such as board machines. Recently, shoe presses have also been employed for different paper grades.
However, a high dewatering capacity is not always the only desired property of a press unit. For example, it might also be desirable that the final product has a high strength in terms of Scott Bond. In order to obtain a paper with high strength in terms of Scott Bond, the fibrous web should be subjected to a high pressure as it is passed through the press unit. An easy way to obtain a high pressure in the nip is to use a conventional roll press unit. However, a roll nip is not compatible with the requirement for a high dewatering capacity as explained above. In addition, high pressure in the nip may result in a product having insufficient bulk.
An alternative solution would be to use a shoe press and apply a higher linear loading than usual. However, a shoe press is designed to result in a relatively low pressure and even with a high linear loading it can be difficult to obtain a very high level of pressure. Furthermore, if the pressure level in a shoe press nip is raised, frictional heat generated between the flexible jacket and press shoe may become a very serious problem, even if the shoe is lubricated. The frictional heat that is generated may cause deformation of the shoe and other problems associated with dissipating the generated heat, such as overheating of the flexible jacket. The frictional heating can become especially serious if the papermaking machine is run at high speeds such as 25 m/s or higher.
In order to solve the problem of frictional heat generated in a shoe press nip, it has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,802 (Schiel) to use a heat insulating layer between an upper and a lower part of the shoe. However, such a solution makes the shoe more complicated and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the use of a heat insulating layer only prevents heat from being conducted to other parts of the machinery, and does not decrease the amount of heat transferred to the tubular jacket.
The amount of frictional heat developed in an extended nip depends on a number of parameters such as nip pressure, machine speed and the lubrication system. For lubrication, a shoe press can be hydrodynamically lubricated or hydrostatically lubricated. In a hydrodynamically lubricated shoe, lubrication oil can be sprayed into an interface between the flexible jacket of the shoe press and a leading edge of the shoe itself as disclosed in e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,768 (Cronin et. al). In a hydrostatically lubricated shoe, lubrication oil is fed through a conduit in the shoe to a lubrication pocket on the face of the shoe. Such a lubrication system is disclosed in for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,011 (Ilmarinen). A hydrostatically lubricated shoe normally also has one or more regions or zones of hydrodynamic lubrication at least adjacent to the leading and/or trailing edges of the hydrostatic lubrication region. The Ilmarinen patent discloses leading and trailing land surfaces which are both concave and have a radius of curvature corresponding to that of the counter roll, thus creating a shoe that is both hydrodynamically and hydrostatically lubricated.
Frictional heat in a shoe press nip is generated in large part by the hydrodynamically lubricated zones. Therefore, the problem of frictional heat could theoretically be overcome by using a shoe that is completely hydrostatically lubricated. It has been suggested, see for example German Patent DE 35 03 819 to Sulzer Escher-Wyss GmbH, that hydrodynamic lubrication be entirely eliminated. The German '819 patent discloses a kind of press shoe which consists almost entirely of a hydrostatic pocket. In theory, such a shoe would generate only a very small amount of frictional heat and could be suitable for high nip pressures in combination with high machine speeds. However, the shoe disclosed in the German '819 patent has a sharp transition from the hydrostatic pocket to the end walls of the pocket. In the transition area, the flexible jacket will be subjected to stress and wear and possibly a considerable degree of heat generation.
The inventor has found that fibrous webs made from wood-containing stock are less pressure sensitive and can be subjected to a high pressure without significant loss of bulk. For such paper grades, for example supercalendered (SC) or light weight coated (LWC), it would be advantageous if the web could be pressed in a press unit with both a high degree of dewatering and a high nip pressure. The inventor has also recognized that this would be best achieved if the web could be passed through a shoe press unit which employs a pressure which is higher than a conventional shoe press (but still lower than a roll press). However, if a conventional shoe press unit employs high pressures of the magnitude required for desired dewatering and Scott Bond strength, excess frictional heat generated in the press nip will become a problem.
Therefore, there is a need for a shoe press that can employ a high nip pressure at high speeds for obtaining a desired level of dewatering and Scott Bond strength. However, such a shoe press should not be subject to overheating of the shoe or jacket and should not suffer from accelerated wear characteristics.


A linking element for a spinal fixing system is designed to link at least two implantable connecting assemblies. The linking element is formed at least partly of a support made of polymeric material and of two rods with a first rod, bent or not, substantially coaxial with the support, and a second rod formed of turns surrounding the first rod with the turns being at least partly embedded in the support. A spinal fixing system has at least two implantable connecting assemblies linked by at least one linking element.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of spinal systems for linking the vertebrae.
(2) Prior Art
There are two types of spinal links: osteosynthesis links, and dynamic links.
Spinal osteosynthesis links have the aim of setting the linked vertebrae in a specific configuration and of stabilizing them during bone fusion in order to permit fixed stabilization in the set position.
Dynamic links, by contrast, do not generate bone fusion but instead seek to reduce the stresses on the articular facets and on the intervertebral disks, by permitting certain movements, while at the same time realigning the vertebrae relative to one another, if necessary.
The present invention relates more particularly to a linking and dynamically stabilizing element for a spinal fixation system, designed to link at least two implantable connecting assemblies to one another, permitting certain possibilities of movement of one relative to the other.
Linking elements for dynamic stabilization are already known from the prior art.
European patent application EP669109 proposes a device for stabilizing adjacent thoracic vertebrae, comprising a band which is made of an elastic synthetic material and which has a round cross section, and at least two pedicle screws. The band can be inserted through the transverse hole in the head of the screws and fixed by a locking screw transversely with respect to the hole, that is to say in the direction of the screw axis.
The device additionally comprises a bearing element mounted on the band. This bearing element forms a pressure-resistant body in order to transfer pressure forces between the two screw heads. The cross section of the band fits in suitable holes of the bearing element and of the screw head in order to center the bearing element and the screw head relative to one another.
In addition, the band can be pre-stressed between two adjacent pedicle screws by a band extension which protrudes outside the pedicle screws in order to be able to mutually support the bearing element and the screw head on a bearing surface which is common to them and is arranged around the band.
A major disadvantage of this stabilizing device is that the band has to be slid into the hole formed in the head of the pedicle screws, and also through the bearing element(s). This first entails a difficulty, upon implantation, in passing the band through these elements, as the pedicle screws are already fixed to the vertebrae. Introduction of the band is not easy; but it means above all that the length of the bearing element has to be chosen before the band is put in place. It may well happen that the effective distance between the screws after tensioning of the band is not exactly the distance desired, and in this case the surgeon has no other choice than to dismantle the assembly made up of bearing element and band in order to introduce a bearing element of a different length. In fact, this system does not afford any freedom in terms of compression or distraction between the screws after the elements have all been put in place. Moreover, the viscoelastic material of the bearing element compresses when the band is tensioned, which further complicates the choice of length of the bearing element since this changes during tensioning of the band.
Another major disadvantage of the stabilizing device of the prior art is that the linking element takes up a considerable volume: of the order of 12.5 millimeters. In some circumstances, it is then difficult to avoid the linking element coming into contact with bones and this contact causing great pain.
Another major disadvantage of the stabilizing device of the prior art is that the linking element does not effect any torsional return in order to oppose pivoting movements of the vertebrae about the disks.
Another major disadvantage of the stabilizing device of the prior art is that the linking element cannot be curved in order to adapt it to the natural curvature of the lumbar spine.
Another major disadvantage of the device is the impossibility of performing surgical revision to extend the assembly, or of replacing the linking element by a rigid rod in order to obtain osteosynthesis without complete removal of the material beforehand.
Another disadvantage of the device is the impossibility of combining it with a conventional osteosynthesis system.

Linking element for dynamically stabilizing a spinal fixing system and spinal fixing system comprising same


A system of blocks for building a free standing wall. The system includes at least one size of wall block and a generally rectangular column block. The height and depth of the column block are the same as those of the wall block and the length of the column block is twice its depth. The exposed surfaces of the blocks in the free standing wall are textured to a greater extent than the other surfaces. The blocks are used to form a wall with a rectangular column, where the wall is tied into the column to enhance the stability of the wall.

Concrete blocks have been a basic building material for many years Concrete blocks have been designed for use in many applications, including concrete masonry blocks used in the construction of foundations for residential and commercial buildings, as well as in constructing the interior and exterior walls of such buildings, and concrete retaining wall blocks used to construct retaining walls. Concrete masonry blocks are typically laid up in courses with mortar being used to secure the blocks to one another, while concrete retaining wall blocks are typically dry stacked (i.e. no mortar is used) in ascending courses.
Concrete blocks may also be used to construct free standing walls. A free standing wall is a wall that is open on each side of the wall.
Free standing walls may be an important architectural component of both residential and commercial buildings. For example, a free standing wall can be constructed around the perimeter of a patio to separate the patio from another area. As a further example, a free standing wall may be built at the end of a driveway to a residence so as to form an entrance marker. These free standing walls should be easy to construct, so that homeowners or others without special training can install them. Free standing walls should also be capable of being constructed with a curved form, so as to fit and function appropriately in their environment. Free standing walls should also be stable and resistant to falling over. Further, free standing walls should be attractive.
A free standing wall may also include a column to provide additional attractiveness, to provide an attachment point for related devices (such as lights, signs, gates, etc.), and to provide additional stability to the free standing wall.
There is a continuing need for a system of blocks that can be used to form attractive and functional free standing walls. The system of blocks should readily assemble into a free standing wall that is strong and secure, as well as attractive. The system should also readily allow columns to be incorporated into the free standing wall.

System of blocks for use in forming a free standing wall


A system for determining when it is not safe to arm a vehicle airbag by storing representations of known situations as observed by a camera at a passenger seat; and comparing a representation of a camera output of the current situation to the stored representations to determine the known situation most closely represented by the current situation. In the preferred embodiment, the stored representations include the presence or absence of a person or infant seat in the front passenger seat of an automobile.

The present invention relates generally to automotive vehicle occupant restraint systems, particularly air bags. It relates more specifically to mechanisms for selectively modifying the deployment of such systems.
Inflatable occupant restraint, or air bag, systems have come into widespread use in the automotive industry. Although these devices have proved to be very successful in reducing the secondary collision between a vehicle occupant and the interior of the vehicle in the event of an accident, there are certain instances in which it is desirable to reduce the inflation power or disable operation of an air bag system. One such instance occurs when the occupant is seated in a rear facing infant seat (RFIS), because the air bag can (and has) injure or kill such occupants by slamming the RFIS toward the rear of the vehicle. Another instance occurs when the passenger weighs less than 66 pounds, because such passengers are especially vulnerable to the high impact force of the air bag. Also, occupants who are for some reason near the air bag, such as short vehicle operators, can be powerfully impacted by an inflating air bag. Finally, it is undesirable to deploy the air bag when the passenger seat is empty, because the replacement cost of an air bag is on the order of $700.
To overcome these problems, various techniques have been suggested to selectively disable the air bag. The simplest of these techniques, an operator-controlled switch to selectively disconnect the electrical circuitry to the air bag, is not considered to be a preferred solution because it is dependent upon user input to ensure that the switch is in the proper orientation dependent upon the situation. Accordingly, the desired objective is to automatically reduce the inflation power or totally disable the inflation of the air bag depending on the weight, size, and position of the occupant, as well as to disable deployment when the occupant is in a RFIS or when the seat is empty.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,903 of Meister et al. discloses a system utilizing a weight sensor in the seat and magnetic or optical sensors which communicate with corresponding devices mounted on a RFIS. One disadvantage of this system is the requirement that a special RFIS be used with the system. Another disadvantage that has been discovered with systems using weight sensors is that the weight detected by the sensor changes as the occupant moves in the seat. Thus weight sensors are not considered in the industry to be a reliable indicator for activation of an air bag.

Video occupant detection and classification


A method is disclosed for multiplexing a plurality of data flows onto a radio channel, as is a wireless communication system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes steps of (a) segmenting data packets of a first data flow into radio blocks; b) in response to a required transmission of data packets of a second data flow, signaling in a first field a change in data flows; (c) signaling in a second field an identity of the second data flow; and (d) segmenting data packets of the second data flow into radio blocks and transmitting the radio blocks of the second data flow. The method further includes steps of (e) changing back to transmitting the first data flow; and (f) continuing the transmission of an incompletely transmitted packet of the first data flow.

Modern wireless telecommunications systems are evolving to provide high speed packet data services for users of mobile equipment. One example is an ability to provide internet access to a user of mobile equipment. A wireless system that is rapidly evolving in this direction is a Time Division, Multiple Access (TDMA) system known as the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), in particular enhanced versions of GSM known as GSM+, GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and EGPRS (Enhanced General Packet Radio Service).
In EGPRS, as currently specified, different packet data flows of single mobile station can be multiplexed to a single radio channel. Such data flows consist of packets of different sizes, and the radio channel can contain radio blocks of different sizes. In a Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol of the EGPRS the data flows correspond to radio bearers and packets correspond to Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) blocks, and the radio channel and radio blocks correspond to a Temporary Block Flow (TBF) and RLC blocks, respectively. A TBF is established to permit the transmission of packet data (PDCP blocks).
FIG. 1 is useful for explaining a segmentation protocol that is currently specified for EGPRS. Two blocks are shown for carrying a total of five packets. At the beginning of a block a single bit (indicated as SB) indicates whether an extension octet is present. In the example of FIG. 1, both blocks have this bit set to one for indicating that an extension octet is present in each block. The extension octet contains a Length Indicator (LI) field and a bit indicating whether another extension octet is present. In this manner each block can contain a variable number of extension octets, and therefore a variable number of Length Indicators. The last extension octet in each of the blocks has this bit set to zero, indicating that no further extension octet is present. The presence of the Length Indicator fields reduces the actual data carrying capability of the block accordingly.
The radio blocks can contain data segments from one or more data packets. In the example shown in FIG. 1 the first block (block 1) contains three segments which contain packets A and B and the beginning of packet C. The Length Indicators indicate the length of those segments that carry the last octet of a packet (in this case, packets A and B). Since no Length Indicator is provided for packet C, packet C is interpreted as continuing in the next block (block 2). In block 2 there are three Length Indicators present, as well as the remaining part of packet C, and all of packets D and E. Since the length of the third segment is specified by a length indicator, packet E does not continue to the next block. Since there is no remaining space in block 2 it does not include any further segments, no packet continues from block 2 to the next block.
In a first approach that was used in EGPRS Release 1999 (R99), which can be referred to as a multiplexing above segmentation technique, packets from different flows are multiplexed into a single TBF. In this method, and referring to the example shown in FIG. 2, two radio bearers or flows are being multiplexed. The first flow contains packets A, B and C, and the second flow contains higher priority packets X and Y. A significant drawback to this technique is that once the transmission of a packet has begun (e.g., packet C), the entire packet must be transmitted, even if new, higher priority packets arrive that are significantly shorter than the packet currently being transmitted.
In another approach, which can be referred to as a Media Access Control (MAC) layer multiplexing technique, different flows have different segmentation entities, and each radio block contains packet data from only one flow. In this method each radio block carries a Flow Identity. This method was employed in EGPRS R99 to multiplex between different users, and it has been proposed for use in EGPRS Release 2000 (R00) to multiplex between different flows. Referring to FIG. 3, it can be readily seen that this technique leads to inefficiencies, as some of the radio blocks are not completely filled (blocks 4 and 1.) However, the transmission of the higher priority packets X and Y can begin immediately in radio blocks 0 and 1.
A further technique, referred to as RLC multiplexing below segmentation, is similar to the last, except that it operates above the Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocol level. As such, the Flow Identity can be transmitted as user data and need be included only when the flow changes. A drawback to this technique is that any ARQ retransmissions must have a higher priority than the original transmissions of a higher priority flow, since a single ARQ protocol is used and protocol stalling is to be avoided. With special care, however, a different prioritization is possible.

Method and apparatus for providing radio bearer multiplexing within segmentation protocol


Provided is a fragrance composition containing a compound that is highly harmonious with other various fragrances and that can impart a stronger floral feeling by being blended. A fragrance composition containing 3,6-dimethyl-heptane-2-ol. The fragrance composition may further contain at least one selected from the group consisting of, for example, 7-methyloctane-3-ol, esters, carbonates, aldehydes, ethers, lactones, and alcohols other than 3,6-dimethylheptane-2-ol.

Fragrance is an important element that produces, for example, preference, a sense of luxury, a sense of ease, and expectations for the effect for products and the like. Furthermore, a distinctive fragrance provides a product differentiation effect and the capacity for attracting customers. Particularly, floral fragrance notes are preferred for toiletry products.
Alcohols such as linalool, citronellol, and geraniol are known as fragrance materials that impart floral fragrance notes.
On the other hand, in order to control, for example, a long-lasting property and balance of a fragrance, generally, a fragrance is imparted to a product using a fragrance composition in which a plurality of fragrance materials are mixed together. It is required for the fragrance materials composing the fragrance composition to be highly harmonious with other fragrance materials.
Examples of commercial products of alcohols include 3,4,5,6,6-pentamethylheptane-2-ol, which is sold as Kohinol (product name) by IFF.
Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses that 2,5,7-trimethyl-3-octanol and 2,4-dimethyl-8-nonanol each are useful as a fragrance and have a fruit-like fragrance note.
Patent Document 2 discloses that, for example, 3-butyl-6-methylheptane-2-ol is useful as a fragrance and has a green narcissus and aromatic gentian like fragrance notes.
Patent Document 3 discloses that 3-hydroxy-7-isobutyl-1,6-octadiene and derivatives thereof each are useful as a fragrance and have a fresh grass-like fragrance note.
Very roughly speaking, fragrance materials have similar fragrance notes when they have similar structures to each other, but there are many exceptions. Particularly, when a plurality of substituents are combined to change the structure, it is difficult to predict how the fragrance note will change and it is also difficult to predict the harmonicity with other fragrance materials.


A snow goggle device includes a spectacle frame, two pivoting members movably connected to the spectacle frame, and a curved lens pivotally connected to the two pivoting members. Each pivoting member is cooperated with the spectacle frame to form with a first segment movable along a straight path and a second segment movable along an arced path, and includes a third segment synchronously movable with the first segment and the second segment. When the first and the second segments of each pivoting member are synchronously moved, the third segments drive the curved lens to move with respect to the spectacle frame between a closed position and an open position, synchronously causing a deformation of the curved lens. When the curved lens is at the closed position or the open position, the curved lens receives a stress that is smaller than a stress generated from the deformation.

A conventional snow goggle includes a spectacle frame and a lens fastened to the spectacle frame. The conventional snow goggle can be provided with a pivotal member to connect the spectacle frame and the lens, so that the lens can be rotated with respect to the spectacle frame by the pivoting member.
However, in rotation of the lens of the conventional snow goggle, a portion of the lens connected to the pivoting member is rotated along a circular path by taking a portion of the spectacle frame connected to the pivoting member as a fulcrum (or a rotating axis). Since the portion of the spectacle frame connected to the pivoting member is not moved during rotation, the circular path is limited to having a small radius based on the size of the spectacle frame, so that the lens of the conventional snow goggle sustains a large deformation and generates a large stress when being rotated, which are also sustained by the spectacle frame and the pivoting member.


A system includes a computer that is programmed to receive one or more media streams, each from a respective one of a one or more media capture devices, and to receive, from a client device, for each of the one or more media streams, state data including at least one of an active and a potential state of the media stream. The computer is further programmed to disconnect from the client device, and then, upon reconnecting to the client device, to provide at least one of the media streams and the state data to the client device.

Usage of streamed media data such as video data has increased rapidly. Videos are used for instructional purposes, to record and view sports events, to share personal and family events, to sell real estate, etc. Users may wish to mix data from multiple input data streams into a single output data stream to view immediately or to store for later viewing. A media production device can be used to receive, broadcast, and/or mix data from multiple input data streams based on user inputs.


A center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration acquisition apparatus of the invention is applied to a vehicle equipped with a lateral acceleration sensor which is installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle and which detects lateral acceleration of the vehicle at that position. The apparatus acquires lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle by correcting the detected lateral acceleration by making use of two relationships; i.e., a first relationship which holds among yaw rate of the vehicle, the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle, and the detected lateral acceleration, and a second relationship which holds between the yaw rate of the vehicle and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle during a predetermined stable travel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration acquisition apparatus for acquiring lateral acceleration of a vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle through correction of lateral acceleration detected by a lateral acceleration sensor installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle. The present invention also relates to a motion control apparatus for a vehicle which utilizes the center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration acquisition apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in order to acquire a status of turning motion (turning behavior) of a vehicle, the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of the vehicle and the yaw rate of the vehicle must be acquired. Since a detected value of the yaw rate of the vehicle is affected by the location on the vehicle body where the detection is performed, a yaw rate sensor for detecting the yaw rate of the vehicle need not be installed at (or in the vicinity of) the center of gravity of the vehicle.
On the contrary, a detected value of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is affected by the location on the vehicular body where the detection is performed, because the vehicle in turning motion causes a rotational motion about its center of gravity (so-called spinning motion) in addition to an orbital motion. Therefore, if a lateral acceleration sensor for detecting the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is installed at a position remote from the center of the gravity of the vehicle, the lateral acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor deviates from the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of the vehicle by the amount corresponding to the above-described rotational motion. In other words, the lateral acceleration sensor must be installed at (or in the vicinity of) the center of gravity so as to directly detect the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Recently, a technique has been developed for incorporating driving dynamics sensors, such as a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor, into a unit (hereinafter referred to as "an integrated unit") in which a hydraulic unit (HU) including a plurality of hydraulic devices, such as a plurality of solenoid valves and hydraulic pumps, necessary for hydraulic braking force control, is integrated with an electronic control apparatus (ECU) which controls the plurality of hydraulic devices (see, for example, Japanese Kohyo (PCT) Patent Publication No. 2004-506572). In general, such an integrated unit is often installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle (for example, in an engine room). In this case, the lateral acceleration sensor is installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle.
As described above, in order to acquire the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of the vehicle in the case where the lateral acceleration sensor is installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle, the lateral acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor must be corrected by an "amount corresponding to the rotational motion" of the vehicle described above. It is widely known that "the amount corresponding to the rotational motion" can be represented by the deviation (a distance in the front-back direction of the vehicle body and a distance in the lateral direction of the vehicle body) of the lateral acceleration sensor from the center of gravity of the vehicle and the yaw rate of the vehicle (and a time-differentiated value of the yaw rate).
Accordingly, the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of the vehicle (hereinafter refereed to "corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration") can be determined through correction of the detected lateral acceleration using the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor. In this case, the yaw rate sensor must operate normally so as to obtain the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration with high accuracy.
That is, in the case where an anomaly occurs with the yaw rate sensor and the detected yaw rate deviates from an appropriate value, the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration cannot be acquired with high accuracy. In view of the above, it is desired to acquire the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration through correction of the detected lateral acceleration without using the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor.
Further, the following problem arises when the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration is acquired by making use of the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor. Here, a case is considered in which vehicle stabilization control for stabilizing motion of the vehicle (for example, over-steer/under-steer suppression control) is performed, and for example, a yaw rate deviation, which is a motion state quantity of the vehicle necessary for the above-described control, is obtained. Herein, the yaw rate deviation refers to a deviation between an actual yaw rate and a yaw rate (target yaw rate) determined from a speed of the vehicle and a steered angle of steerable wheels.
In addition, a case is considered in which, in order to prevent erroneous operation of the vehicle stabilization control due to occurrence of anomaly of the yaw rate sensor (that is, to provide redundancy to the control in order to cope with the anomaly of the yaw rate sensor), a first yaw rate deviation determined through direct use of the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor and a second yaw rate deviation determined without direct use of the detected yaw rate are obtained, and both the yaw rate deviations are used for the vehicle stabilization control.
The first yaw rate deviation can be determined by directly using the detected yaw rate as the "actual yaw rate." The second yaw rate deviation can be determined by using, as the "actual yaw rate," a yaw rate estimated from the above-described corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration determined through correction of the lateral acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor.
However, as described above, if the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor is used in acquiring the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration, the second yaw rate deviation will also be a value determined by indirectly using the detected yaw rate. In other words, as well as the first yaw rate deviation, the second yaw rate deviation may also be affected by the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor.
Accordingly, in this case, it becomes impossible to provide redundancy to the control so as to cope with anomaly of the yaw rate sensor. From this viewpoint as well, it is desired to obtain the corrected center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration through correction of the detected lateral acceleration without using the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor.

Apparatus for acquiring lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of vehicle, and motion control apparatus for vehicle


A urea quality diagnosis system capable of accurately diagnosing the quality of an aqueous urea solution in a urea tank. A concentration and a level (L) of an aqueous urea solution inside a urea tank 16 are detected, and the quality of the aqueous urea solution is diagnosed based on a detected value of the concentration of the aqueous urea solution when the level L is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

In order to purify NOx in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine, for example, an SCR system that uses a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) is developed as an exhaust gas purification system (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-27627 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-83223).
In the SCR system, urea is used as a reductant, an aqueous urea solution is supplied upstream of the exhaust gas of the SCR apparatus, the urea is hydrolyzed by heat of the exhaust gas to generate ammonia, and NOx is reduced by the ammonia on an SCR catalyst to achieve purification.
The aqueous urea solution is stored in a tank, and an injection quantity of the aqueous urea solution injection is calibrated in accordance with an engine speed—load so that a target purification rate can be achieved at a predetermined concentration (for example, 32.5%).
Replenishing the aqueous urea solution may be problematic since dilution of the aqueous urea solution by water may cause a decline in purification performance and, conversely, accidentally adding an aqueous urea solution with a high concentration may cause an ammonia slip due to an oversupply of urea or clogging of an injection nozzle due to urea deposition.
In addition, an increase in concentration due to water evaporation in the urea tank or an increase in concentration due to contamination by a foreign liquid such as a saline solution may conceivably cause a failure in an injection system or the SCR apparatus.
An urea concentration sensor such as that described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-47006 is provided in the aqueous urea solution tank. The sensor detects and diagnoses a concentration of the aqueous urea solution, and judges that the concentration is abnormal when the concentration is lower or higher than a predetermined value, whereby injection of the aqueous urea solution is prohibited and a warning is issued to an operator to prompt replacement of the aqueous urea solution inside the tank with a normal aqueous urea solution.


A hygienic razor blade dryer is provided that comprises a housing having an interior, a razor blade holder disposed within the interior that is adapted to receive a razor blade, a dryer for drying a razor blade received in the razor blade holder, and a vacuum for evacuating the air within the interior to prevent moisture buildup in the air and on the razor blade and to inhibit oxidation on the blade surfaces. A sanitizer may also be provided to sanitize the razor blade before, during or after the dryer operation.

Wet shaving razors come in several types including the disposable type (with single or multiple blades) or of the type using disposable blades. All such shaving razor's blades generally become dull and undesirable for use (or unusable) after several uses. The dullness of the blade is caused by several mechanisms. One mechanism is the actual abrasive effect of the blade cutting through hairs and rubbing against skin. Repeated use of a razor over time inevitably produces this dulling effect.
A second mechanism that results in effective dulling (or equivalent degradation of effectiveness) of the razor blade is corrosion of the blade surface and cutting edge caused by oxidation that occurs when a wet blade is left to air dry. This occurs primarily after shaving when the wet blade is stored away until the next use. However, depending on the storage location of the blade, such as on a bathroom counter or in a shower, which are both high humidity environments, the blade can be exposed to additional sources of ambient moisture that results in the re-wetting of the blade followed by a subsequent drying. Thus, a razor blade may experience many wet-dry cycles during the day, which can accelerate the degradation of the blade over time.
While the closeness and effectiveness of a shave appears to a user to degrade with repeated use of a razor blade over time, it has been determined that the second mechanism relating to oxidation results in the most actual damage to the blade. Dryers for razor blades are known in the art and generally focus on the drying of a blade immediately after use. However, such prior art dryers fail to address environmental moisture buildup that promotes oxidation during periods when the razor blade is being stored or is otherwise exposed to moisture that is unrelated to the act of shaving.


A method of estimating the gain of a servo control system including an actuator, in which input data supplied to the actuator and the actuator's position data are applied to a gain estimate formula in a closed loop discrete value system for controlling the actuator, so as to estimate the gain of the servo control system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a servo control system of a disk drive using a disk as a recording medium and, more particularly, to a method of estimating the gain of a servo control system for controlling the position of a head which reads or writes data on a disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk drives using a disk as a recording medium have been widely used as an auxiliary recording device of a computer system. A hard disk drive is a typical disk drive. The hard disk drive records data transmitted from a host computer on a predetermined track of the disk, and then reproduces and outputs the recorded data when a user demands it. That is, the main function of the hard disk drive is to read or write data.
In order to record data transmitted from the host computer on a predetermined track or to reproduce the recorded data from the track, first of all, the head must be located on the track. For this, a servo control is used for controlling the position and speed of the head. That is, the disk drive must include an element for carrying out reading and writing of data, and a servo controller for controlling the head before the reading and writing of data.
In a disk drive, a microprocessor is connected to a programmable read only memory and a static random access memory. A head is connected to one end of an actuator and effects a lateral movement on a disk of a recording medium and reads and writes data on the disk. A voice coil motor located on the other end of the actuator is vertically driven on the disk in response to the level and direction of the current supplied thereto. A spindle motor rotates the disk mounted on a driving axis in response to a control signal supplied from a motor driver. A voice coil motor driver connected to the voice coil motor controls the voice coil motor. A digital-to-analog converter which is connected to the microprocessor and the voice coil motor driver receives a digital control input signal from the microprocessor, converts it to an analog signal, and outputs it to the voice coil motor driver. The motor driver is connected to the spindle motor and microprocessor and controls the spindle motor under the control of the microprocessor.
A preamplifier connected to the head amplifies a read signal and outputs an input signal to be written by the head. A read/write channel circuit is connected to the microprocessor, preamplifier, and interface controller, and receives and encodes the written data from the interface controller and outputs it to the preamplifier under the control of the microprocessor. The read/write channel circuit digitally converts an analog read signal input from the preamplifier and outputs it as an encoded read data. An analog-to-digital converter is connected to the read/write channel circuit and receives an analog servo read signal and digitally converts it to a position error signal and outputs it to the microprocessor. A gate array connected to the read/write channel circuit receives the encoded read data and detects servo information such as a gray code in the servo region of the disk from the encoded read data.
In the aforementioned disk drive, the analog-to-digital converter, digital-to-analog converter, voice coil motor driver, and voice coil motor form one servo control system. Each element of the servo control system has a typical gain characteristic and accordingly, calibration during the servo control is obtained by measuring these characteristics when the drive is initially driven. That is, there are differences in the torque and inertia of the actuators between the disk drive sets and they can be changed by the surrounding temperature in the track seek mode of the disk drive. Furthermore, the gain of the digital-to-analog converter and analog-to-digital converter may be different between sets and changed by circumstances. Accordingly, a gain constant of the whole servo control system including the torque constant and inertia of the actuator, the gain constant of the digital-to-analog converter and the gain constant of the analog-to-digital converter are different between disk drive sets and can be variously changed according to environmental factors. In order to obtain the control performance of the servo control system which can overcome the environmental factors, the gain of the whole servo control system must be estimated all the time and automatically controlled. Accordingly, it is important to develop an algorithm for estimating the gain of the servo control system.
The transfer function of a servo control system is related to the torque constant of the voice coil motor, the inertia of the actuator, the gain constant of the digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, and the sampling time. The microprocessor supplies a DC torque to an actuator to measure the speed during sampling and performs the estimation calculation employing control input data and output data as inputs to thereby output the gain estimate of the servo control system.
When a track is sought, since the DC torque is supplied during the acceleration section, the gain of the servo control system can be estimated at every track seek and thus, the control performance which can overcome the environmental variations can be obtained.
However, in the control system of the earlier disk drive, its speed is measured by differentiating the position data in order to obtain the output information of plant and this deteriorates the gain estimating performance of the servo control system if there is speed measurement noise. Furthermore, since the settling time of a power amplifier serving as a current controller is not considered in the earlier servo control system, the gain estimating performance of the servo control system is deteriorated.
The following patents each disclose features in common with the present invention but do not teach or suggest the specifically recited method of estimating the gain of a servo control system for controlling the position of a head which reads or writes data on a disk in accordance with the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,439 to Ono et al., entitled Digital Servo Control System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,487 to Hutsell, entitled Servo System With Once Per Revolution Rejection, U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,447 to Kiji et al., entitled Adaptive Control System And Method Thereof U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,422 to Sidman et al., entitled Self-Tuning Adaptive Bandwidth Regulator, U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,898 to Kanda, entitled Method And System For Changing Control Parameters In Accordance With State Of Process In Process Control, U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,501 to Hashimoto, entitled servo Circuit, U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,526 to lino et al, entitled Adaptive Process Control System, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,127 to Stich et al., entitled Adaptive Control Technique For A Dynamic System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,909 to Dierkes et al., entitled Method For Positioning A Data Transducer Head In A Rotating Disk Drive Data Storage Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,771 to Keithley et al., entitled Servo Gain Compensation In A Disk Drive, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,255 to Kobayashi et al., entitled Disk Apparatus And Its Control Method, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,976 to Pham, entitled Digital Sector Servo Incorporating Repeatable Run Out Tracking.

Method of estimating gain of servo control system