A method of producing manganese metal or EMD by leaching a source of manganese with a solution comprising sulfuric acid to form a leach solution, adding one or more sulfides generated in a sulfide recycle stage to the leach solution in order to form sulfide precipitates comprising heavy metal sulfides, removing the sulfide precipitates from the leach solution, feeding the leach solution to one or more electrolytic cells, subjecting the purified leach solution to electrolysis so as to deposit manganese metal or EMD, reacting the sulfide precipitates with an acid to generate H2S, producing one or more sulfides from the H2S for recycle. Methods of producing manganese metal and a purified manganese sulfate solution are also provided.

High purity manganese and electrolytic manganese dioxide ("EMD") are typically produced by an electrolytic process (electrowinning, also known as electroextraction). For example, a manganese-containing material is leached with a sulfuric acid solution to provide a manganese sulfate (MnSO4) solution. This leach solution is then subjected to electrolysis in an electrolytic cell, such that, depending on cell operating conditions, manganese is deposited on the cathode or EMD is deposited on the anode. Typically, spent electrolyte solution comprising sulfuric acid, manganese sulfate and ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) is withdrawn from the electrolytic cell, and provides most of the sulfuric acid solution for leaching. After the spent electrolyte solution is combined with the manganese ore (or other manganese source), the resulting leach solution containing manganese sulfate (as well as other sulfates, particularly (NH4)2SO4)) is purified and thereafter returned to the electrolytic cell as the cell feed.
In the electrolytic production of high purity manganese, the spent electrolyte solution used for leaching comprises anolyte withdrawn from the electrolytic cell, and the cell feed (i.e., the purified leach solution) is introduced into the cathode side of the cell (i.e., as the catholyte). Pure manganese is deposited on the cathode(s) within the cathode chamber(s). For the electrolytic production of EMD (MnO2), spent electrolyte solution withdrawn from the cell (which is typically an undivided cell) is similarly used for leaching purposes, and the purified leach solution is used as the cell feed. Pure EMD is deposited on the anode(s) within the electrolytic cell.
The manganese-containing material is typically roasted prior to leaching in order to reduce higher oxides of manganese (e.g., MnO2, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4) to manganese oxide (MnO). Alternatively, and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,086, issued Aug. 3, 1999, titled "Process for Making Manganese," and International (PCT) Pub. No. WO 99/14403, published Mar. 25, 1999, titled "Process for Making Manganese" (both of which are incorporated by reference herein), the manganese ore can be sintered in order to convert MnO2 to Mn3O4, and thereafter the Mn3O4 leached with a sulfuric acid solution along with a reducing agent (e.g., sulfur dioxide, activated carbon, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen sulfide, reducing sugars and/or molasses) to provide a manganese sulfate solution (i.e., the cell feed).
Purification of the leach solution is generally necessary prior to feeding the leach solution into the electrolytic cell (as the cell feed). In particular, the leach solution should have very low concentrations of Fe, Al, Si, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, etc. These impurities are deleterious to electrolysis operation, causing low current efficiency, and can also reduce the purity level of the manganese or EMD product. Typically, iron, aluminum and silica are removed from the leach solution by increasing the pH of the leach solution from about 3 (or lower) to about 4 to 7 (e.g., 6 to 7) and adding an oxidizing agent. The pH is increased by adding a base such as ammonia gas and/or lime to the leach solution, and typical oxidizing agents used for this purpose include MnO2 and/or air. Iron, aluminum and silica (when present) will precipitate from the leach solution and can be removed by filtration or other conventional means.
Sulfides are used to remove heavy metals such as Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Mo as insoluble metal sulfides. In particular, after removal of Fe, Al and silica (and, in some instances, other impurities), one or more sulfides are added to the leach solution. Typically, the sulfides used for this purification step comprise one or more alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfides (e.g., NaHS and/or BaS) and/or ammonium sulfide, with about 5 to 10 times the stoichiometric amount of sulfide being necessary in order to reduce the heavy metal impurity level to below 1 mg/L (i.e., 1 ppm) in the leach solution/cell feed. Following the addition of the sulfide solution, the metal sulfide precipitates are removed from the leach solution, usually by filtration. However, not only are undesirable impurities such as Ni, Co, Cu and the like removed (as their insoluble sulfides), but also significant amounts of manganese (as MnS). In fact, these mixed sulfide solids (e.g., removed as a filter cake) can contain up to 90% MnS. In addition, the mixed sulfide solids are considered a hazardous waste material, and therefore must be disposed of in a controlled manner. As used herein, the terms "mixed sulfide solids" (or "mixed metal sulfide solids") and "mixed metal sulfate" refer to mixtures of two or more metal sulfides (e.g., MnS, NiS, CoS) and mixtures of two or more metal sulfates (e.g., MnSO4, NiSO4, CoSO4, etc.), respectively.
Thus, the above-described electrolytic production of high purity manganese or EMD results in waste streams, particularly insoluble heavy metal sulfides of valuable metals such as Mn, Ni, Co, Cu and Mo, as well as sulfur (in the form of sulfides). In addition, many conventional processes for the electrolytic production of high purity manganese and/or EMD employ materials that can be difficult (or impossible) to obtain in sufficient quantities (or even in any quantity) at locations where manganese ore is typically processed. For example, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and/or sodium sulfide are not always obtainable where manganese ore is processed, and in some instances, liquid and gaseous reactants are not permitted to be brought on site.
While a variety of devices and techniques may exist for producing manganese and EMD, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used an invention as described herein.
The drawings are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention may be carried out in ways not necessarily depicted in the drawings. Thus, the drawings are intended to merely aid in the explanation of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown in the drawings.

Sulfide recycling in manganese production


The present invention provides for multiple portions of a shoe structure and the method of making these portions wherein one or more of the portions comprise two or more flat perimeter edges. The present invention further provides faceted lasts for making faceted shoe portions. An exemplary embodiment (FIG. 9) of a shoe having a faceted outsole, rand, and shoe upper of the present invention features five separate straight-line facets (30-34) and six angled corners (40-45). Alternative degrees of the angle formed by the intersection of the various straight-line facets, and the number of the various straight-line facets, can be varied for different types of foot structures. For example, the angle degrees and number of outsole facets may vary as between shoes for adult males and for women and children's feet. Facet (30) and facet (32) contact exemplary edge formations (4a, 4b) respectively with outsole contact areas (7a-1, 7b-1). Further, facets (30, 32) contact exemplary rock wall faces (5, 6) respectively with rand surface area (7c-1, 7d-1).

Climbers, mountaineers and other sports enthusiasts often use shoes specifically designed for heightened traction, such as for "edging" on rock and steep terrain. Rock climbing (including ice-climbing), approach shoes, canyoneering, fly-fishing, river walking, and mountaineering shoes are among the types of shoes for which heightened traction can be important.
Conventional climbing shoes have outsoles and uppers, the external perimeters of which express a round, non-angular curvature. Sometimes there is a rand surrounding a portion of the lower external surface portion of the shoe upper. In the case of such conventional climbing shoes, the entire external perimeter of the outsole and the upper/rand is rounded—that is, there are no flat, or straight-lined edges. FIG. 1a is a bottom view of an exemplary conventional rounded-perimeter outsole 1. Although the particular outline of the footprint of a conventional climbing shoe varies in length, width and curvature according to the size of the particular shoe, such shoes leave a rounded, non-angular footprint similar to the outline of the bottom view of an exemplary conventional outsole as depicted in FIG. 1a.
FIGS. 1b and 1c are side and top views respectively of an exemplary conventional rounded-perimeter shoe upper 21 and rounded-perimeter shoe rand (sometimes referred to as a "foxing" on some types of shoes) 20. As is depicted in FIGS. 1b and 1c, the rand/foxing 20 is attached to a bottom portion 22 of the shoe upper 21.
Conventional climbing shoes are often made using "lasts" with rounded forefront and heels. A "last" is an object that approximates the dimensions of a human foot of a particular size and shape. A last is used in the shoemaking process as a mold around which the outer shoe is formed. That is, a particular last is used to create the shape of the inside of a shoe of a particular size and shape. Lasts are often made of nylon, aluminum, or wood. FIGS. 2a through 2c depict a three-quarter view, a side view, and a top view, respectively, of an exemplary conventional rounded-perimeter last 130. As depicted in FIGS. 2a through 2c, a conventional last 130 provides a rounded perimeter 131.
In climbing, there are drawbacks to shoes with rounded outsole perimeter curvature. When a climber encounters an edge, the climber needs to maximize the contact surface with the edge. An edge is a climbing surface, often of small dimension, that forms an angle with one or more rock walls. Exemplary edges are depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
FIG. 3 depicts a top view of an exemplary edge formation 2a formed at an angle with a single rock wall 3. If a climber wearing exemplary conventional climbing shoes with a rounded-perimeter outsole 1 attempted contact with the edge formation 2a, then, as depicted in FIG. 3, only a small contact surface 2b would be formed between a small portion 2d of the rounded outsole 1 that contacts the edge 2a; the rounded upper or rand of the shoe would make contact 2c at only a small portion of the rounded surface of the upper or rand.
FIG. 4 depicts a top view of exemplary edge formations 4a and 4b formed along two opposing rock walls 5 and 6. If a climber wearing exemplary conventional climbing shoes with a rounded-perimeter outsole 1 attempted contact with the edge formations 4a and 4b, then, as depicted in FIG. 4, only small contact surfaces 7a and 7b would be formed between those small portions 7e and 7f respectively of the rounded outsole 1 that make contact with the edges 4a and 4b respectively; the rounded upper or rand of the shoe would make contact 7c and 7d respectively at only small portions of the rounded surface of the upper or rand.
FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an exemplary edge formation 8a formed between two opposing rock walls 5 and 6. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary edge formation 8 formed between the two opposing rock walls 5 and 6. As depicted in FIG. 5, the rounded outsole 1 makes no contact with the edge 8a; the rounded upper or rand of the shoe would make contact 8b and 8c at only a small portion of the rounded surface of the upper or rand.
The exemplary climbing edges 2a (FIG. 3), 4a-4b (FIG. 4), and 8a (FIG. 5) are depicted as being more or less horizontal with the ground; the rock walls 3 (FIG. 3), and 5 through 6 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) are depicted as being more or less perpendicular with the ground. However, that is not always the case. FIGS. 7a and 7b depict side and frontal views respectively of an exemplary edge formation 9 formed between two opposing rock walls 10 and 11 where the intersection 12 of the outer faces of rock walls 10 and 11 forms an obtuse angle with horizontal ground level and where the edge 9 formed between the two rock walls is not horizontal with ground level. In such a case, the rand, or if no rand, the upper, of the shoe of a rock climber attempting to use the edge would have the opportunity to make contact with the rock walls 10 and 11. Just as is the case for a rounded outsole, a rounded rand or upper will make contact with such rock wall surfaces at only a small portion of the rounded surface of the upper or the rand (as depicted above in elements 2c (FIG. 3), 7c and 7d (FIG. 4) and 8b and 8c (FIG. 5). In an angled edge/wall face formation, such as the exemplary formation depicted in FIGS. 7a and 7b, greater rand contact surface would provide increased climbing traction and leverage.
In nature, there are infinite variations of edge formations. It will be understood by someone with ordinary skill in the art that the edges depicted in FIGS. 3 through 7a, and 7b are exemplary for purposes of illustration only. Even if an edge is two or three inches long, a climber wearing shoes having a curved outsole perimeter will often not be able to make contact (such as depicted in FIG. 5), or in some cases, will be able to make only minimal contact (such as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4), with the particular target edge(s). Surface contact insufficiency is sometimes exacerbated by a tendency of a rounded shoe outsole to curl away from rock wall surfaces, e.g., 5 and 6 as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Mountain climbing, rock climbing, and similar "extreme sport" athletes perform their sports in dangerous environmental conditions, often thousands of feet above ground level. Maximizing climbing surface contact gives this type of athlete greater safety and performance.
Conventional wisdom in making and fitting rock climbing shoes in order to increase a climber's ability to make greater contact with rock climbing surfaces has been to make the shoe very, very stiff and/or to fit the shoe very, very tight. There are drawbacks to these two approaches. Stiff shoes detract from a climbers' ability to feel rock and rock edges. Tight fitting shoes are painful for the wearer.
A better way is needed to maximize outsole and rand surface contact with climbing edges and rock wall surfaces.

Surface contact maximizing shoe, outsole and rand


The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for a steer-by-wire. The present invention can ensure the safety of a steer-by-wire using a simple and compact structure and achieve a manufacturing-cost reduction effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for a steer-by-wire and, more specifically, to a safety apparatus for a steer-by-wire that can ensure the safety of a steer-by-wire using a simple and compact structure and can be manufactured at a low cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A steer-by-wire (SBW) refers to an apparatus that controls steering using hydraulic pressure or auxiliary electric power only through an electric signal instead of a mechanical structure connecting the rotation of a steering wheel and the rotation of wheels.
The SBW generally includes a steering angle sensor on a steering input side thereof and a steering output sensor and a steering actuator on a steering output side thereof. The steering angle sensor detects a steering angle, the steering output sensor detects the rotation angle of a wheel, and the steering actuator generates an auxiliary power to rotate the wheel.
When a driver turns a steering wheel, the steering angle sensor detects the number of turns of the steering wheel to transmit the same to an electronic control unit (ECU), and the ECU controls the steering actuator, which can rotate the wheel, to generate steering output.
However, in the SBW system, fatal errors may be caused by a non-steerable state in which an electric signal is not provided due to a short circuit or a contact failure of a wire on a signal path through which steering is detected and transferred to an actuator, and thus a driver's steering intention is not correctly transferred to the wheel, or in which the steering actuator or the electronic control unit breaks down and malfunctions.
A backup clutch driving apparatus for a steer-by-wire is exemplified as an example of a safety apparatus for preventing such problems from arising.
FIG. 1 illustrates a backup clutch driving apparatus for a steer-by-wire according to the related art.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backup clutch driving apparatus for a steer-by-wire according to the related art includes a first column shaft 102, a second column shaft 104, an electromagnetic coil 106, an armature 108, an output-side hub 110, an armature hub 112, and a plate spring 114.
The armature hub 112 is secured to the first column shaft 102 connected to a steering wheel (not illustrated), and the plate spring 114 is connected to the armature hub 112.
The armature 108 is attached to the plate spring 114.
The output-side hub 110 is secured to the second column shaft 104 and surrounded by the electromagnetic coil 106.
When the steer-by-wire is operating normally, the first and second column shafts 102, 104 are mechanically separated from each other. Therefore, a driver's steering force which is transmitted to the first column shaft 102 is not mechanically transferred to the second column shaft 104.
However, when an error occurs in the steer-by-wire, a current is applied to the electromagnetic coil 106, thereby causing a magnetic field. The magnetic field attracts the armature 108 against the restoring force of the plate spring 114 so that the armature 108 is brought into contact with the output-side hub 110.
When the armature 108 is brought into contact with the output-side hub 110, the first and second column shafts 102, 104 are mechanically connected to each other and the driver's steering force is transmitted to wheels, thereby solving a fatal error caused by malfunction of the steer-by-wire.
However, the backup clutch driving apparatus for a steer-by-wire according to the related art has a complex structure, and the electromagnetic coil employed for the backup clutch driving apparatus for a steer-by-wire has limitations due to its small driving force in cases where a large driving force is required and its high production cost is a drawback.


A driver circuit for generating a driving pulse signal to activate a vibrating element includes a half-bridge circuit formed essentially of first and second switching devices to which drive signals are supplied through a driver interface. A driving voltage is supplied to a source of the first switching device, a drain of the second switching device is grounded, and an output terminal of the half-bridge circuit is connected to the vibrating element. The half-bridge circuit is controlled such that the two switching devices alternately turn ON. When the first switching device is ON, the driving voltage is supplied as the driving pulse signal to the vibrating element, and when the second switching device is ON, the vibrating element and the second switching device together form a low-impedance closed loop. As the switching devices are caused to alternately turn ON at specific intervals, the vibrating element vibrates at a natural resonant frequency, transmitting thereby an ultrasonic signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transmitter for radiating ultrasonic waves, an ultrasonic transceiver for radiating ultrasonic waves and receiving echoes of the radiated ultrasonic waves, and a sounding apparatus including an ultrasonic transceiver for detecting objects using ultrasonic waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, sonar apparatuses, such as scanning sonars, are widely used for detecting underwater objects (targets). A scanning sonar for detecting underwater objects in all surrounding directions has a generally cylindrical transducer. The scanning sonar forms an ultrasonic transmitting beam oriented in all directions around the transducer by activating vibrating elements arranged on a cylindrical surface of the transducer. Also, the scanning sonar forms a receiving beam oriented in a particular horizontal direction using a specific number of vertically arranged sets, or columns, of vibrating elements centered on that horizontal direction. Typically, this receiving beam is rotated around the transducer to detect underwater objects in a full-circle area by successively switching the columns of vibrating elements.
It is occasionally necessary for ultrasonic transceivers of scanning sonars of the aforementioned type to control the output power, or amplitude, of ultrasonic waves to prevent mutual interference of the ultrasonic waves between nearby ships which are equipped with the scanning sonars. If the scanning sonar is of a type that radiates ultrasonic waves from a transducer having a plurality of vibrating elements, arranged on the surface of the transducer as stated above, it is also necessary to suppress side lobes of the transmitting beam formed by the transducer (or a combination of the arranged vibrating elements). To achieve this, the ultrasonic transceiver should precisely control driving signals fed into the vibrating elements to control the amplitude of ultrasonic signals radiated from the individual vibrating elements.
Generally, a power amplifier of a transmitter section of the ultrasonic transceiver employs bridge circuits in a final stage, each of the bridge circuits including a plurality of switching devices. The ultrasonic transceiver generates pulse signals for driving the individual vibrating elements by alternately activating the switching devices of the bridge circuits to. The pulse signals cause the vibrating elements to oscillate and thereby radiate ultrasonic signals from the transducer as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-401798, for example.
Two types of bridge circuits are conventionally used in sonar apparatuses. These include a full-bridge circuit using four switching devices and a half-bridge circuit using two switching devices.
FIG. 6 is a general circuit diagram showing an example of a full-bridge circuit, in which field effect transistors (FETs) are used as switching devices.
As shown in FIG. 6, the full-bridge circuit includes a series circuit made up of two switching devices FET11, FET12 and another series circuit made up of two switching devices FET21, FET22, the two series circuits being connected parallel to each other between a driving voltage VB fed from a power supply and ground potential, associated with a vibrating element XD of which both terminals are connected between a joint of the two switching devices FET11, FET12 and a joint of the two switching devices FET21, FET22.
ON/OFF states of the switching devices FET11, FET12, FET21, FET22 are controlled by entering drive signals shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D into the individual switching devices FET11, FET12, FET21, FET22. As a result, the full-bridge circuit supplies a pulse signal shown in FIG. 7E, thereby causing the vibrating element XD to oscillate at its natural resonant frequency. More specifically, when the switching devices FET11, FET21 supply a pulse to the vibrating element XD, the vibrating element XD is caused to resonate and produce free vibration. The vibrating element XD maintains this free vibration even when no input pulse is supplied. Pulses are successively supplied to the vibrating element XD in a controlled fashion to synchronize ON/OFF timings of the switching devices FET11, FET22 and the switching devices FET12, FET21 such that the switching devices FET11, FET22 and the switching devices FET12, FET21 are alternately turned to the ON state with a delay time corresponding to half the period of oscillation of the vibrating element XD (or the reciprocal of the natural resonant frequency of the vibrating element XD). Driven in this way, the vibrating element XD continuously vibrates and radiates an ultrasonic signal having a specific amplitude, in which the amount of attenuation of free vibration is compensated for by the successively input pulses. The amplitude of the ultrasonic signal radiated from the vibrating element XD is controlled by regulating the pulselength of the pulse signal so that the vibrating element XD radiates the ultrasonic signal of a desired amplitude.
In the full-bridge circuit thus configured, a closed loop formed by the vibrating element XD and the switching devices FET12, FET21 has an extremely large impedance if the switching devices FET12, FET21 are in the OFF state when no driving voltage is supplied to the vibrating element XD from the switching devices FET11, FET21, or when the switching devices FET11, FET21 are in the OFF state. When increasing the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal radiated from the vibrating element XD, the pulselength of the pulse signal fed into the vibrating element XD should be increased. If the pulselength of the pulse signal is increased for this reason, periods during which all of the switching devices FET11, FET12, FET21, FET22 are set to the OFF state (i.e., durations α and β shown in FIGS. 7A-7E) are shortened so that the amount of attenuation of vibration of the vibrating element XD becomes relatively small. When decreasing the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal radiated from the vibrating element XD, on the contrary, the pulselength of the pulse signal fed into the vibrating element XD should be decreased. If the pulselength of the pulse signal is decreased for this reason, periods during which all of the switching devices FET11, FET12, FET21, FET22 are set to the OFF state become longer. In this case, time durations during which the closed loop formed by the full-bridge circuit and the vibrating element XD exhibits an extremely large impedance lengthen and the free vibration of the vibrating element XD is limited. Consequently, the vibration of the vibrating element XD is extremely attenuated and, when the vibrating element XD continuously radiates ultrasonic waves at a decreased amplitude, power loss increases resulting in deterioration of efficiency. If the vibrating element XD stops to vibrate before a succeeding driving pulse is fed into the vibrating element XD due to an extremely large amount of attenuation of vibration, the vibrating element XD would no longer be able to continuously transmit the ultrasonic signal.
The aforementioned problem could also occur in conventional half-bridge circuits. FIG. 8 is a general circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional half-bridge circuit.
As shown in FIG. 8, the half-bridge circuit is configured by a pair of series-connected switching devices FET1, FET2 which are connected between a power source supplying a positive driving voltage VB and a power source supplying a negative driving voltage −VB, and a switching device FET3 connected parallel to a vibrating element XD of which one terminal is connected to a joint of the two switching devices FET1, FET2.
As drive signals shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B are input into the individual switching devices FET1, FET2, the aforementioned half-bridge circuit causes the vibrating element XD to vibrate at its natural resonant frequency. In an ordinary half-bridge circuit in which the switching device FET3 is always OFF, or a half-bridge circuit including two switching devices FET1, FET2 and not any switching device FET3, there occurs periods of time when both of the switching devices FET1, FET2 are OFF. Particularly when the pulselength of ultrasonic pulses is reduced to lower the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal emitted from the vibrating element XD, periods during which both of the switching devices FET1, FET2 are set to the OFF state (i.e., durations γ and δ shown in FIGS. 9A-9D) lengthen, so that time durations during which a closed loop formed by the vibrating element XD and the half-bridge circuit exhibits an extremely large impedance lengthen and the free vibration of the vibrating element XD is limited. Consequently, as is the case with the aforementioned full-bridge circuit, the vibration of the vibrating element XD is extremely attenuated and, when the vibrating element XD continuously radiates ultrasonic waves at a decreased amplitude, power loss increases resulting in deterioration of efficiency.
To avoid this inconvenience of the ordinary half-bridge circuit, the conventional half-bridge circuit of FIG. 8 is provided with the switching device FET3 connected parallel to a load (the vibrating element XD). As will be recognized from the circuit diagram of FIG. 8, the half-bridge circuit is controlled in such a manner that the switching device FET3 becomes ON when both of the switching devices FET1, FET2 are in the OFF state. As a result, the impedance of a closed loop formed by the vibrating element XD, the switching device FET3 and the half-bridge circuit is lowered so that the vibrating element XD can maintain free vibration with reduced loss and continuously transmit the ultrasonic signal.
The conventional half-bridge circuit thus configured, however, still has a problem in that the provision of the switching device FET3 connected parallel to the vibrating element XD results in a complex circuit configuration.

Ultrasonic transmitter, ultrasonic transceiver and sounding apparatus


A unique audible message or information delivery system particularly suited for toys is realized by providing each model or type of toy in a particular group or class with a unique identification code and also providing a message delivery and handling assembly which incorporates a plurality of independent messages, each of which are specifically related to one particular toy model and are constructed for being delivered by the message delivery assembly upon receipt of the particular identification code. In this way, whenever a toy model interfaces with the information/message delivery assembly, the unique, identifying code associated with the model is received by the information/message delivery assembly and is processed for activating the audible presentation of the specifically designated message associated with that particular model. By employing this invention, every different model or type of toy in a group or class of toys is able to interface with the same information/message delivery assembly and cause a different, unique, specifically designated message to be audibly delivered. By providing an audio producing information delivery assembly uniquely constructed for a particular group or class of toys, any toy group or class is capable of being constructed with identification codes associated therewith for having specially designated messages audibly delivered in response to receipt of a particular code.

During the last several years, various child-oriented products have been developed which incorporate electronic circuitry for providing audible sounds or messages. Typically, these prior art sound producing toys are in the form of puzzles, display boards, or panels which enable certain sounds to be made when either a puzzle piece or a movable member is positioned to activate the system to produce the particular sound or message.
In addition, numerous toy dolls have been manufactured and sold over the last several years which incorporate circuitry for enabling the doll to enunciate messages, whenever activated. Such dolls have also been constructed with removable or replaceable sound producing chips in order to increase the vocabulary which the doll is capable of providing.
Furthermore, additional sound producing toys have been manufactured wherein action figures or attachments for the action figures are capable of producing sound effects associated with various activities for which the action figure is constructed. In this regard, an action figure incorporating a machine gun would be capable of producing machine gun like sounds when activated by the user.
Although much effort has been expended in developing a wide variety of sound producing toys in order to capture the imagination and interest of children, no construction has been developed which enables one group or class of toys which has a variety of models or different types within the class, to be separately placed on a message delivery system and have the system produce a unique message for that model. In particular, no prior art construction provides a system which produces a unique, specially created message relating specifically to the model or type of toy within the group being placed on the message delivery system at that time.
Typically, prior art systems have only been able to provide repeatable messages which are unrelated to the particular toy or model a child is using. Furthermore, prior art sound or message configurations have been unable to accommodate the addition of new models or types in a particular toy group. As a result, these prior art systems have been limited in their appeal or interest by children, due to the inherent limitation in their construction.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a single, message delivery system which is capable of interfacing with a plurality of different models or particular types of group or class of toys and producing specific, separate, individualized messages for each particular model or type interfaced therewith.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a message delivery system having the characteristic features described above which is capable of accommodating expansion and improvements in the different types or models of one class of toys.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a message delivery system which can be universally employed by children for obtaining specific information about each and every different model of one type of toy in the child's possession.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a message delivery system which expands the knowledge of children regarding the toys with which they play while also imparting the educational benefit in a constructive, fun environment.
Other and more specific object will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Audible message/information delivery system


A wind turbine for generating electrical power having a vertical “Savonius rotor type” wind rotatable turbine with multiple fixed pitch blades and a rotatable wind inlet duct having an identical number of multiple infuser-shaped aerodynamic guides as the pitch blades and is mounted in the duct to direct equal air flow at higher speed to load each of the multiple fixed pitch blades to form an infuser system. The wind-rotatable turbine is mounted within the inlet duct and infuser system. A synchronous generator is driven by the vertical turbine and an electrically driven hold-down spring system enables the wind turbine to disconnect from the generator when the wind speed is above maximum safe operating speeds. An automatic control system that controls electrical power to the electrically driven hold-down spring system enables the wind turbine shaft to be automatically loaded or unloaded to the generator shaft based on the incoming wind speed measurement as determined by a wind speed measuring system mounted to the rotating duct system and connected to the automatic control system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a vertical, wind-driven turbine for generating electrical power, and particularly to such a power generating system having a number of rotors supporting twice the number of loading blades, and preferably six (6) "Savonius type" rotors providing twelve (12) loading blades. A specially designed unique aerodynamic infuser allows the efficiency of the turbine to be increased by loading each of the 12 blades separately with higher speed air than the free wind stream. The infuser and the vertical wind turbine are mounted in an inlet duct system attached to a vertically-supported column in such a manner that the components can rotate with changing wind direction. The aforementioned components are herein designated as a "Wind Shark" electrical generating turbine.
The simple individuality of the design of the invention allows numerous "Wind Shark" electrical generating turbines to be mounted together in a "skid/rack" system where the turbines are located on a triangular pitch. These "skid/rack" systems can be pre-assembled and delivered to a wind power site for simple installation. The stacking of one or more than one "skid/rack" can provide for the assembly of a "wind motel" facility that can provide significant multiples of electric power over that generated by one turbine.
The unique design of the "Wind Shark" infuser systems also allows compressed air to be used to generate electricity when the free stream wind is not sufficient to turn the wind turbine. The electrical generating system of the invention thus provides renewable emission-free electric power where energy can be stored in compressed air tanks as needed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous types of windmills designed specifically for electrical power generation and most of these designs have a shaft oriented on a horizontal axis, and the rotors (large propellers) are mounted in a vertical plane located at right angles to the horizontal shaft. The lift on the propeller blades that is generated as the wind blows through the propeller causes the shaft to rotate and this turns a generator providing the electrical output. The amount of electrical power provided by a propeller driven machine is generally considered to be proportional to the diameter of the propeller. State of the art wind turbines being installed can be as large as 135 meters high and have propeller blades sweeping a 70 meter diameter circle. The horizontal generating shaft of such a device would be some 100 meters above the ground and the propeller would rotate between 11–22 rpm and generate about 1.5 MW of electricity. "Wind farms" covering many acres of ground can perhaps have 10 to 100 of these wind turbines installed. The generated electricity from each turbine device is collected in a low voltage collection system and the power is boosted using a transformer to the large high voltage transmission grid.
The most well known vertical axis-type wind turbine is the "Darrieus rotor" which comprises semi-circular airfoil sections that are attached to a vertical shaft. The only other practical vertical wind generator is a ducted wind scoop turbine in which the wind scoop directs wind flow down thru a duct that has a multi-bladed fan mounted inside. This multi-bladed fan turns on a vertical shaft and drives an electric generator.

Infuser augmented vertical wind turbine electrical generating system


A portable exercise system that can be attached to the uprights on any commonly available training rig, squat stand, or power rack, and for resistance can use any attachable weight. The system includes an upper pulley assembly, a lower pulley assembly and an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly utilizes a wedge and block to set the cable length and is adapted to attach the weights. The upper pulley assembly includes pulleys to keep the cable aligned and the resistance coming from above. The lower pulley assembly could be hinged for an additional degree of freedom. The cable runs through the lower pulleys, to the upper pulleys, and down to the anchor and weights. The other end of the cable has a fixed loop for attaching a handle for the user.

This invention relates generally to a portable, modular, cable-machine, exercise system attachable to and detachable from a standard upright member of a rig, rack, or squat stand.
A traditional "functional trainer" or "cable machine" is a standalone unit that allows the user to perform pulling or pressing movements (depending on body orientation of user to machine) from different angles (e.g., from the floor up to about seven feet high) with a variety of different handles. The resistance or load is typically set with an adjustable weight stack and is transmitted through the cable to the user. These features allow the user to perform a wide array of accessory movements that target specific muscle groups that may not be as effectively activated during traditional compound movements (i.e., conventional deadlift, bench, and squat movements).
One example of such a machine is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2003/0017918 A1 to Webb et al. This machine allows the user to pull or push from a variety of angles as well as modify the load. Two arms are free to pivot relative to the frame in both the horizontal and vertical ranges of motion to allow for a full range of exercise movements to be performed. A variety of handles can be attached to the arms for various exercise movements.
The shortcoming of machines like this are numerous, the primary being their large footprint and high cost. With micro and home gyms becoming more prevalent, the floor space required for just one of these machines becomes impractical. The user is also limited to whatever weight increment and total load that is supplied. Additionally, while these machines can facilitate a variety of movements and weights, there are limitations in what they can do as part of a complete exercise regimen.


An arrangement to enable automatic baud rate speed negotiation between transceivers having different operating speed characteristics is implemented. When an event indicative of a possible baud rate mismatch occurs, control signals are generated and used to trigger a baud rate negotiation procedure. In the baud rate negotiation procedure, a predetermined pattern is transmitted, the baud rate of the respective transmitting transceiver is decoded, and the decoded baud rate is used to select an appropriate filtering for the transceiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of serial transceivers, and in particular, to speed negotiation between transceivers having different characteristics.
2. Background Information
A number of different speeds and standards are currently used and being developed in serial communications systems, for example, fiber optical communication links. Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) modules are used in digital communications system transceivers to serialize and Deserializer data which is sent in serial form over a communications medium.
Existing transceivers, also called legacy transceivers, have generally been designed to operate at a different and lower speed than the newly emerging transceivers. It is desirable to be able to continue to use the legacy transceivers in existing systems, but also be able to connect them with other systems having the faster emerging transceivers. A user may want to upgrade a system to the faster transceivers in stages, and therefore it would be desirable to be able to continue using the legacy transceivers while upgrading.
However, currently, problems may be encountered in a link having two or more transceivers designed for different operating speed standards. Generally, a link having transceivers with different operating speeds can operate consistently only at the speed of the lowest speed transceiver. Therefore, the higher speed devices need to be able to operate at the lower speed.
Further, it would be advantageous if each transceiver could automatically detect the respective speeds of the other transceiver to which it is connected in a point-to-point link, automatically determine when a speed adjustment is necessary, and automatically make the speed adjustment.
One proposal which was discussed at a meeting of the Fiber Channel Optical Working Group in the Fall of 1999, was to encode and detect different baud rates using a lights on, lights off sequence, the rate of 'flashing' being related to the baud rate. For example, a 1 Hz flashing rate would mean a 1 GHz baud rate. However, so far no standard has been adopted in this regard.
Therefore, a need exists for an arrangement to implement an automatic baud rate negotiation between transceivers having different baud rate operating characteristics.
Along with automatic baud rate detection and adjustment, there is also a need to select and adjust to the appropriate speed-dependent (baud rate dependent) filtering because different link baud rate/speed standards require different transceiver bandwidths. Solutions to the bandwidth adjustment problem are described in copending application attorney docket, application Ser. No. 09/574,239, filed May 19, 2000, entitled "SWITCHABLE-BANDWIDTH OPTICAL RECEIVER" and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. A number of different ways in which receiver bandwidth can be adjusted are disclosed therein.
Known Fiber Channel standard optical transceivers have control input/output signals (I/O's) known as Transmit Disable (TxDsbl) and Receive Loss of Signal (RxLOS). These signals are presently used to disable a transmission and indicate the loss of a received signal, respectively. These signals may be used diagnostically to detect and/or indicate problems in a communications link, or for power conservation reasons, for example.

Speed negotiation for serial transceivers

International Business Machines Corporation


An optical imaging system provides automatic co-registration of a plurality of multi spectral images of an object which are generated by a plurality of video cameras or other optical detectors. The imaging system includes a modular assembly of beam splitters, lens tubes, camera lenses and wavelength selective filters which facilitate easy reconfiguration and adjustment of the system for various applications. A primary lens assembly generates a real image of an object to be imaged on a reticle which is positioned at a fixed length from a beam splitter assembly. The beam splitter assembly separates a collimated image beam received from the reticle into multiple image beams, each of which is projected onto a corresponding one of a plurality of video cameras. The lens tubes which connect the beam splitter assembly to the cameras are adjustable in length to provide automatic co-registration of the images generated by each camera.

The present invention relates in general to an imaging system for providing co-registered images of objects to a plurality of separate cameras, detectors or other optical imaging devices.
Numerous imaging applications require generation of multiple, co-registered images to facilitate multi spectral analysis thereof. As an example, stress in growing plants can be monitored, in part, by observing variations of the plant's reflectance of a specific radiation wavelength, 700 nm, which is readily absorbed by chlorophyll. If the plant is under stress, its chlorophyll production decreases, and its absorption of 700 nm wavelength radiation also decreases. Relative levels of chlorophyll in a plant can therefore be determined by measuring the plant's reflectance to 700 nm wavelength radiation. However, other environmental factors, such as ambient light level, also affect the plant's reflectance characteristics. Thus, the plant's reflectance to a reference wavelength, which is not affected by variations in chlorophyll production, must also be employed as a comparison standard. This necessitates the generation of two co-registered images of the plant, one of which is limited to light having a wavelength of 700 nm, and the other of which is limited to the reference radiation wavelength. By analyzing the ratio of the two reflectances, a determination of the chlorophyll production in the plant can be made.
In other situations, it is desirable to combine different types of images to provide the observer with more visual information. For example, optical fire detectors employed by NASA at the Kennedy Space Center employ infrared responsive image detectors to detect hydrogen flames because such flames are invisible to the naked eye. The infrared images cannot, however, provide a visible indication of the actual location of a detected fire. Thus, a visible spectrum image of the monitored area must be overlaid with the infrared image to provide this information.
Previous techniques for generating multi spectral co-registered images typically rely on the use of single element detectors with either scan mirrors or sensor motion relative to the target to produce a two-dimensional multi spectral image. The image of a single picture or image element, i.e., pixel, is focused on a field stop, re-expanded by a collimator, wavelength dispersed by means of beam splitters, dichroic mirrors, prisms, gratings, etc., and refocused onto single element detectors. The signal from each of these detectors is simultaneously digitized and stored as digital data. Each image pixel then consists of a data value for each wavelength. Since the image can only be formed by scanning sequentially, none of the pixels are coincident in time, or as in the case of a linear array of detectors, no two lines of the image are coincident in time. This requires post processing by a computer and software with significant data storage capability, or some special processor to process the data and form an image for presentation to an end user. Furthermore, even if the optical elements in one of these systems were specifically configured so that the resulting images could be easily combined, any reconfiguration of the lenses, beam splitters and filters would require a substantial redesign of the system components.
In view of the foregoing, a need therefore exists for an optical imaging system which generates co-registered multi spectral images without the need for extensive data processing, and at the same time permits reconfiguration of lenses, beam splitters and filters without redesigning the system components.

The United States of America as represented by Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration


An enclosure state, e.g., enclosed or not enclosed, of a communications device is determined based upon one or more of: i) a selected set of environmental sensor measurements, performed by the communications device, ii) a corresponding set of expected outdoor environmental conditions, e.g., sourced from a weather server, iii) weighting factors corresponding to each of the environmental conditions, and/or iv) a threshold value. The communications device performs one or more actions based on the determined enclosure state, enclosed, e.g. indoors, or not enclosed, e.g. outdoors. Exemplary actions include controlling a transmitter or receiver setting, communicating the enclosure state determination to an emergency responder or controlling an application resident on the communications device based on the determined enclosure state. Various exemplary actions contribute to efficient use of communications device resources, e.g., battery power and air link resources and/or contribute to increasing efficiency and/or safety with regard to emergency responses.

A wireless communications device typically has a different set of needs and capabilities depending upon whether or not the device is indoors or outdoors. It is inefficient and troublesome for the user to have to manually change settings each time the device moves between an indoor and outdoor environment. In addition, in emergency situations it is beneficial for an emergency responder to have as much information as possible readily available, e.g., to plan for an/or implement the response in an efficient and safe manner.
Based on the above discussion it would be beneficial if a communications device's enclosure state could be determined in an automated manner and the state information made available for use and/or distribution.

Methods and apparatus for determining and using enclosure state information


A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to receive a plurality of beams having passed through different exit pupil regions of an imaging optical system and output a pair of image signals corresponding to the different exit pupil regions; a calculation unit configured to obtain, from the pair of image signals, a spatial frequency at which a phase difference between a pair of images is minimized, and obtain an image shift amount between the pair of image signals from the spatial frequency; and a focus control unit configured to perform focus control by a phase difference detection method based on the image shift amount obtained by the calculation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus detection apparatus and method for detecting the focus state of an imaging lens by using an image generated from beams having passed through different pupil regions of the imaging lens, and an image capturing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, focus detection methods used in digital cameras serving as image capturing apparatuses include a contrast detection method popularly used in video cameras and compact cameras, and a phase difference detection method popularly used in single-lens reflex cameras. In general, a phase difference focus detection method used in single-lens reflex cameras is used to capture a still image because detection is performed by splitting a beam into those for a viewfinder optical system and focus detection optical system by a half mirror or the like inserted in the light path. The focus detection optical system is normally formed from two or more reimaging lenses which receive beams having passed through different pupil regions of the imaging lens, a stop, and an image sensor.
In the phase difference focus detection method, the focus state of the imaging lens is calculated based on an image shift amount between two focus detection images generated from beams having passed through different pupil regions of the imaging lens. The image shift amount between two focus detection images is calculated by performing correlation calculation for the two focus detection images. This calculation method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-18314.
When a moving image is viewed or recorded in a camera which captures an image by an image sensor, a contrast detection focus control method is used generally. In the contrast detection focus control method, focus control is performed by extracting the high-frequency component of an image sensed by the image sensor while moving the focus lens of the imaging lens along the optical path, and detecting a lens position where the contrast peaks. However, the contrast detection focus control method cannot perform focus control quickly because the contrast levels of images are compared while moving the focus lens. In recent years, even a single-lens reflex camera can capture a moving image, and it is desired to perform focus control quickly even during moving image capturing.
To meet this demand, the present applicant discloses, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-124984, an image capturing apparatus which can perform phase difference focus detection by arranging two photoelectric converters for one on-chip microlens forming part of a CMOS image sensor. In the image sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-124984, the on-chip microlens is configured so that the pupil of an imaging lens and two photoelectric converters have a conjugated relation. As a result, beams having passed through different pupil regions of the imaging lens are incident on the respective photoelectric converters. By using images obtained by the respective photoelectric converters, known phase difference focus detection can be performed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-37364 discloses a focus detection method of, when detecting the focus state of an imaging lens by using a focus detection image generated from beams having passed through different pupil regions of the imaging lens, obtaining the focus state by detecting the phase of a predetermined spatial frequency of the focus detection image.
However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-37364, when the focus state is obtained by using the phase of a predetermined spatial frequency of a detected focus detection image, no high-accuracy focus detection can be performed unless the object contains the predetermined spatial frequency component used for detection.

Focus control apparatus and method for performing focus control by phase difference detection, and image capturing apparatus


A load board for packaged IC testing. The load board with predetermined testing circuit thereon has bonding pad areas on its surface. A plurality of bonding pads is formed on the bonding pad areas, each of which is disposed corresponding to a lead of a packaged IC for testing connection, such as a quad flat packaged IC (QFP), a dual inline packaged IC (DIP) or a small outline packaged IC (SOP). The bonding pads on the load board connect the leads of the testing IC directly during IC testing, thus the conventional test socket between a conventional load board and a packaged IC is omitted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to IC (integrated circuits) packaging, and in particular to load boards for packaged IC testing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various electronics packaging has been developed to accommodate diverse integrated circuits (IC). Simple packaging, such as dual in-line packaging (DIP) or plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC), and sophisticated packaging, such as quad flat packaging (QFP) with dense leads, have been developed for different circuitries. For example, FIG. 1A shows an IC chip 16 packaged by quad flat packaging (QFP). There are leads 18 disposed along the four sides of the IC chip 16. The leads 18 on the IC chip 16 are usually formed in L-shaped or gullwing configurations as shown in FIG. 1B.
There are several types of quad flat packaging, such as plastic quad flat packaging (PQFP), low-profile QFP (LQFP) and thin QFP (TQFP). Plastic quad flat packaging (PQFP) is utilized in large scale or very large scale integrated circuit packaging. The leads of PQFP are thin, dense and usually over 100 in number.
The low-profile QFP (LQFP) is a low-profile and light-weight package designed for application-specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors, microprocessors, controllers, graphic processors, gate arrays, synchronous static random access memories (SSRAM), computer chipsets and mixed-signal devices.
Thin quad flat packaging (TQFP) provides a space-efficient packaging solution, resulting in smaller printed circuit board space requirements. Reduced height and body dimensions are ideal for space-conscious applications, such as PCMCIA cards and networking devices.
Package testing is the final point at which chips are tested to ensure function as designed before delivery.
Conventionally, a handler in a material handling system takes packaged IC chips from their carriers, loads them into testing sockets and sets the environmental temperature as specified. Each pin on the chip's package must be inserted into the socket coupled to a custom designed circuit board known as a DUT board or a load board. The load board is then coupled to a functional tester or automatic test equipment (ATE), which provides an interface to output electric signals from the pins of the packaged IC chips. The functional tester or automatic test equipment (ATE) is capable of functionally exercising all of the chip's designed features under software control. Any failure to meet the published specification is identified by the tester.
FIG. 2 shows a quad flat packaged (QFP) IC chip bonded to a conventional load board via a test socket as an interface apparatus. The leads 28 of an IC 26 packaged by quad flat packaging (QFP) are usually very small and dense. The leads 28 are inserted in socket holes (not shown) or electrically contacting the socket 24. The socket 24 is then electrically coupled to the load board 20 via the connecting units 22 for testing. A conventional test socket 24 with simple circuit layout provides an interface for electrical connection of the leads 28 and a load board 20.
A drawback is that each type of packaged IC chips requires a customized socket to couple to a corresponding load board.


Compositions and methods for the treatment and diagnosis of diseases or disorders amenable to treatment through modulation of expression of a nucleic acid encoding a lymphocyte function associated antigen 3 (LFA-3; also known as CD58) protein are provided.

Cell--cell interactions are a feature of a variety of biological processes. In the activation of the immune response, for example, one of the earliest detectable events in a normal inflammatory response is adhesion of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium, followed by migration of leukocytes out of the vasculature to the site of infection or injury. The adhesion of leukocytes to vascular endothelium is an obligate step in their migration out of the vasculature (for a review, see Albelda et al., FASEE J., 1994, 8, 504). As is well known in the art, cell--cell interactions are also critical for propagation of both B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes resulting in enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses, respectively.
In several instances, the adhesion of one cell type to another is mediated by interactions between specific proteins, termed "adhesion molecules," located on the surface membrane of cells. The interaction between adhesion molecules is similar to classical receptor ligand interactions with the exception that the ligand is fixed to the surface of a cell instead of being soluble. One group of related (by peptide sequence), biologically significant molecules mediating cell--cell interactions are known in the art as CAMs (cellular adhesion molecules). CAMs include, for example, several intercellular adhesion molecules (i.e., ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3), endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1). The CAM family is in turn a part of the immunoglobulin superfamily of genes (Newman et al., Science, 1990, 247, 1219).
In cell:cell interactions, a given cellular adhesion molecule present on a first cell binds one or more ligands present on a second cell. For example, ICAM-1 binds LFA-1, LFA-3 binds CD2, etc. Such interactions may be simply represented as follows: EQU CELL.1--LFA-3+CD--CELL.2.fwdarw.CELL.1--LFA-3:CD2--CELL.2
The binding of a given cellular adhesion molecule to its ligand can have many results, including (1) facilitating the ability of the two cells to remain in close contact for a period of time, during which molecules (e.g., antigens) can be passed directly from one cell to the other and/or (2) initiating a cellular response in, for example, the second cell via a conformational or chemical change in the ligand of the second cell that results from the ligand's interaction with the first cell's adhesion molecule (i.e., signal transduction). In the latter instance, a free (i.e., not associated with a cell) soluble form of the appropriate adhesion molecule may be capable of binding to the surface ligands of the second cell and thereby evoking the same or similar cellular response. Such soluble isoforms of adhesion molecules may also be produced in vivo in order to competitively bind with the membrane-bound ligand and thus reduce or inhibit cell:cell interactions, and/or to effect cell:cell de-adhesion. Using LFA-3 and CD2 as examples, such reactions may be simply diagramed as follows, wherein "sCD2" indicates a soluble form of CD2 present in excess: EQU CELL.1--LFA-3:CD2--CELL.2+sCD2.fwdarw.CELL.1--LFA-3:sCD2+CD2--CELL.2
As is known in the art, cell:cell interactions play an important role in the activation of thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells), which are regulatory and/or effector cells in a variety of immune responses. That is, some T cells (e.g., helper cells) act to regulate other cells of the immune system by, e.g., producing and releasing factors that stimulate such other cells to effect molecular immunoreactive activities. Other T cells [e.g., cytotoxic, cytolytic or natural killer (NK) cells] directly effect immunoreactive activities by, e.g., lysing target cells bearing a foreign or abnormal antigen. In either event, the stimulation and antigen specificity of T cells in an immune response is mediated by cell:cell interactions between a T cell and, e.g., an antigen presenting cell (APC) (Bierer et al., FASEB J., 1988, 2, 2584). At a molecular level, these cell:cell interactions are mediated by adhesion molecules present on T cells and APCs (Bierer et al., FASEB J., 1988, 2, 2584; Makgoba et al., Immunol. Today, 1989, 10, 417).
Several types of adhesion molecules are implicated in mediating interactions between T cells and APCs. These include at least three lymphocyte function associated antigens (LFA-1, LFA-2 and LFA-3; Sanchez-Madrid et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1982, 79, 7489) and ICAMs (including ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3). The present invention is drawn to modulators of LFA-3 function, the ligand/receptor of which is CD2. CD2 is expressed primarily on T cells, including helper and NK cells, while LFA-3 is expressed on all human cells except thymocytes and some T cells (Bierer et al., FASEB J., 1988, 2, 2584).
LFA-3 proteins are glycoproteins expressed on the surfaces of a variety of cell types (for reviews of LFA-3 and related proteins, see Dustin et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol., 1991, 9, 27). LFA-3 plays a role in mediating thymocyte interactions with thymic epithelial cells, and antigen-dependent and--independent interactions of T lymphocytes with target cells and APCs (Wallner et al., J. Exp. Med., 1987, 166, 923). This interaction can also enhance major histocompatibility complex (MHC) T cell recognition (Selvaraj et al., Nature, 1987, 326, 400). LFA-3 is also associated with some hyperproliferative diseases, such as myeloma (Cook et al., Acta Haematol., 1997, 97, 81; Tatsumi et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 1996, 87, 837).
Furthermore, LFA-3 is upregulated in cells infected with, or enhances the replication of, certain viruses, for example, cytomegalovirus (Grundy et al., Immunol., 1993, 78, 405).
Due to LFA-3's involvement in cellular processes associated with immune responses, tumorigenesis and other disease states, it is hoped that inhibitors of LFA-3 expression would provide a novel therapeutic class of immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory and/or anticancer agents with activity towards (1) autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, particularly autoimmune disorders of the thyroid such as Graves' disease, and undesired immune responses, such as, for example, those that occur in graft versus host disease (GVHD); (2) a variety of inflammatory diseases or disorders with an inflammatory or T cell-mediated component such as various forms of arthritis; allograft rejections; asthma; inflammatory diseases of the bowel, including Crohn's disease; various dermatological conditions such as psoriasis; and the like, and (3) a variety of hyperproliferative diseases or disorders including, but not limited to, cancers, tumors, and the growth and spreading (metastasis) thereof.
To date, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively prevent the expression of LFA-3. Current agents which affect cellular adhesion molecules include monoclonal antibodies and polypeptide soluble forms of the ligands of adhesion molecules. Monoclonal antibodies to LFA-3 may prove to be useful for the treatment of acute inflammatory response due to expression of LFA-3. However, the binding of antibodies to membrane-bound LFA-3 may mimic ligand (CD2) binding and thus stimulate signal transduction, even though CD2 binding is blocked; compounds that reduce or inhibit the expression of LFA-3, such as the antisense compounds of the invention, should block both ligand and signal transduction. Moreover, with chronic treatment, the host animal develops antibodies against the monoclonal antibodies thereby limiting their usefulness. In addition, monoclonal antibodies are large proteins which may have difficulty in gaining access to the inflammatory site. Polypeptide forms of the cell adhesion molecules suffer from many of the same limitations as monoclonal antibodies in addition to the expense of their production and their low binding affinity. Moreover, LFA-3 is transmembrane or membrane-bound protein, and polypeptides derived from LFA-3 are often insoluble in aqueous solution, limiting their therapeutic potential (Dustin et al., Annu. Rev. Immuno., 1991, 9, 27). Thus, there is a long felt need for molecules which effectively inhibit LFA-3. Antisense oligonucleotides avoid many of the pitfalls of current agents used to block the effects of LFA-3. It has been found that such antisense compounds can modulate the expression of LFA-3 proteins.


A processor executes an instruction set including instructions in which a register specifier is implicitly derived, based on another register specifier. One technique for implicitly deriving a register specifier is to add or subtract one from a specifically-defined register specifier. Implicit derivation of a register specifier is selectively implemented for some opcodes. A decoder decodes instructions that use implicitly-derived register specifiers and reads the explicitly-defined register. The decoder generates pointers both to the explicitly-defined register and to the implicitly-derived register. In other embodiments, a pointer to registers within a register file includes an additional bit indicating that a register read is accompanied by a read of an implicitly-derived register.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to instruction execution elements of a processor. More specifically, the present invention relates to the instruction execution elements of a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor including control elements that define and supply register specifiers.
2. Description of the Related Art
One technique for improving the performance of processors is parallel execution of multiple instructions to allow the instruction execution rate to exceed the clock rate. Various types of parallel processors have been developed including Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processors that use multiple, independent functional units to execute multiple instructions in parallel. VLIW processors package multiple operations into one very long instruction, the multiple operations being determined by sub-instructions that are applied to the independent functional units. An instruction has a set of fields corresponding to each functional unit. Typical bit lengths of a subinstruction commonly range from 16 to 24 bits per functional unit to produce an instruction length often in a range from 112 to 168 bits.
The multiple functional units are kept busy by maintaining a code sequence with sufficient operations to keep instructions scheduled. A VLIW processor often uses a technique called trace scheduling to maintain scheduling efficiency by unrolling loops and scheduling code across basic function blocks. Trace scheduling also improves efficiency by allowing instructions to move across branch points.
Limitations of VLIW processing include limited parallelism, limited hardware resources, and a vast increase in code size. A limited amount of parallelism is available in instruction sequences. Unless loops are unrolled a very large number of times, insufficient operations are available to fill the instructions. Limited hardware resources are a problem, not only because of duplication of functional units but more importantly due to a large increase in memory and register file bandwidth. A large number of read and write ports are necessary for accessing the register file, imposing a bandwidth that is difficult to support without a large cost in the size of the register file and degradation in clock speed. As the number of ports increases, the complexity of the memory system further increases. To allow multiple memory accesses in parallel, the memory is divided into multiple banks having different addresses to reduce the likelihood that multiple operations in a single instruction have conflicting accesses that cause the processor to stall since synchrony must be maintained between the functional units.
Code size is a problem for several reasons. The generation of sufficient operations in a nonbranching code fragment requires substantial unrolling of loops, increasing the code size. Also, instructions that are not full include unused subinstructions that waste code space, increasing code size. Furthermore, the increase in the size of storages such as the register file increase the number of bits in the instruction for addressing registers in the register file.
A register file with a large number of registers is often used to increase performance of a VLIW processor. A VLIW processor is typically implemented as a deeply pipelined engine with an "in-order" execution model. To attain a high performance a large number of registers is utilized so that the multiple functional units are busy as often as possible.
A large register file has several drawbacks. First, as the number of registers that are directly addressable is increased, the number of bits used in the instruction also increases. For a rich instruction set architecture with, for example, four register specifiers, an additional bit for a register specifier effectively costs four bits in the instruction (one bit per register specifier). Second, a register file with many registers occupies a large area. Third, a register file with many registers may create critical timing paths and therefore limit the cycle time of the processor.
Many powerful instructions utilize multiple register specifiers. For example, a multiply and add instruction (muladd) utilizes four register specifiers including two source operands that are multiplied, a third source operand that is added to the product of the multiplication, and a destination register to receive the result of the addition. Register specifiers are costly due to a large consumption of instruction word bits. For example, a large register file in a VLIW processor may include 128 or more registers that are specified in seven or more bits. Typically the instruction word is limited in size, for example to 32 bits per subinstruction. A 32 bit subinstruction with four register specifiers of seven bits would have 28 bits used for register specification alone, leaving only four bits to specify an operation code and supply other coding. Accordingly, the large number of register specifiers in combination with a limited instruction size constrains the power and flexibility of the processor.
What is needed is a technique and processor architecture enhancement that improves the efficiency of instruction coding and reduces the bit resource allocation within an instruction word that is dedicated to register specification.

Implicitly derived register specifiers in a processor


Methods and systems are provided for modifying a pulse sequence. In one embodiment, a determination is made whether an estimated peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) associated with a pulse sequence exceeds a PNS limit. If the estimated PNS exceeds the PNS limit, a slew rate associated with one or more axes of the pulse sequence may be reduced and the maximum gradient amplitudes for each axis of the pulse sequence may be adjusted. In one embodiment, adjustment of the maximum gradient amplitudes or local slew rate may be based upon a cost analysis performed on the pulse sequence.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more particularly, to techniques for designing and implementing pulse sequences on magnetic resonance imaging systems.
The use of medical imaging technologies has become commonplace in the medical community. Such imaging technologies typically allow the acquisition of images which depict the internal structures (internal tissues and organs, bones, and so forth) and/or biochemical functions of a patient without the use of invasive procedures. That is, medical imaging technologies typically allow the internal structures and/or functions of a patient to be observed without surgery or other invasive procedures.
One such medical imaging technology is known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI systems typically employ magnetic fields and pulses of radio frequency (RF) energy to generate images based on the gyromagnetic properties of tissues and structures within the body. For example, MRI systems may employ a primary magnetic field to generally orient susceptible molecules (such as hydrogen nuclei in water molecules) within the field and a RF pulse to disrupt this orientation. The reorientation of molecules within the primary magnetic field after this disruption may generate signals that may be detected and used to generate images of the internal structures and/or functions within the patient. Time-varying magnetic gradient fields may also be applied to the subject so that the generated signals may be localized with respect to x-, y-, and z-axes, allowing an image to be generated.
Imaging performance not only depends on the hardware capabilities, but also patient safety constraints imposed on the system. In some instances it may be difficult to achieve the highest imaging performance due to patient safety constraints imposed on the pulse sequences, which describe the timing and operation of the magnetic and RF fields generated by the imaging system. Commercially available MRI scanners provide safety models based on the guidelines provided by governing control bodies (FDA, IEC etc.) to restrict scanner operation to safe limits. For example, constraints on slew rate (how fast the gradient waveforms can be changed) may be imposed to avoid certain types of peripheral nerve stimulation. Such constraints, however, may limit imaging performance. Earlier MRI systems were largely limited by the hardware capabilities. With the recent technological advances, safety constraints are becoming the new bottleneck in achieving the highest possible imaging performance.

Method and system for modifying pulse sequences


A vertical synchronization processing circuit includes a counter for counting a clock signal synchronized with a horizontal sync. signal, a circuit for resetting the counter in response to a vertical synchronization signal within a predetermined limit prohibiting reset due to a non-standard signal, a memory for storing the data counted at the timing of reset, and a circuit for changing a predetermined limit prohibiting reset due to a non-standard signal according to the data from the memory. A circuit for discriminating an existence of a vertical synchronization interval can also be provided along with a second resetting circuit for resetting the counter if the discriminating circuit detects the existence of the vertical synchronization interval when the counter counts a predetermined number of clock signals in case there is not a vertical synchronization pulse within the predetermined limit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vertical synchronization processing circuits and, more particularly, to a vertical synchronization processing circuit for use in monitor receivers or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vertical synchronization processing circuits for use in a monitor receiver or the like are proposed to count a horizontal synchronizing signal and generate a vertical synchronization timing signal or the like from the count value (known as "count down processing").
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in block form an arrangement of a conventional vertical synchronization processing apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, a vertical synchronizing signal applied to an input terminal 61 is supplied through an input inhibit gate 62 to a reset terminal of a counter 63. A clock signal synchronized with a horizontal synchronizing signal is supplied from a terminal 64 to the counter 63 and is thereby counted. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, a vertical deflection timing signal, for example, is developed at an output terminal 65 from the counter 63. Further, this count value is supplied to a window setting logic circuit 66 which then forms a detection window of the vertical synchronizing signal. The detection window is supplied to the input inhibit gate 62. When the vertical synchronizing signal is not detected during the detection window period, then a reset signal corresponding to the end of the detection window period is supplied from the logic circuit 66 to the reset terminal of the counter 63.
In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, however, the detection window is formed of a hard logic so that only detection windows of about one to three kinds in a fixed range can be provided. On the other hand, the detection window cannot be reduced too much in width because a non-standard signal such as signals used in a variable speed playback mode of a video tape recorder must be taken into consideration. There is then the large possibility that a noise or the like, which might be mis-detected, occurs in the vertical synchronizing signal within the detection window. Therefore, there is then the large risk such that a malfunction or the like occurs due to the mis-detection.
Further, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when the vertical synchronizing signal is not detected within the detection window, the counter 63 is reset at the end of the detection window period and the vertical synchronizing signal is interpolated by this resetting of the counter 63. As a result, a jitter component occurred due to this interpolation. Further, since distributions of vertical synchronizing signals are different depending upon input signals, the distribution is not always located at the center of the detection window. Therefore, it is frequently observed that the amount of jitter components is changed when the distribution of the vertical synchronizing signal is located in the first or second half of the detection window.


The invention is directed to water-dispersible, substantially homogeneous artificial diets and diet formulations which provide honey bees with a fully nutritious, complex mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins in an easily digestible form. The diets of the invention support growth and development of honey bees, sustain brood rearing, and maintain hive vigor, and thus make possible the continuous rearing of bees using an artificial diet. The invention diets are useful for many purposes, and are particularly advantageous for providing nutrition sources for bees that are moved during commercial crop pollination or for other migratory beekeeping uses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to artificial diets for honey bees. More particularly, the invention is directed to artificial diets and diet formulations which provide honey bees with a fully nutritious, easily digestible, complex mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. The artificial diets of the invention sustain brood rearing and make possible the continuous rearing of bees.
2. Description of the Art
Honey bees are necessary to pollinate important agricultural crops and also to produce honey and wax for commercial markets. In the United States, honey bees produce $270 million worth of honey, beeswax, and other hive products and pollinate over $14 billion worth of crops annually.
Honey bees need a complex mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins to maintain normal growth and development. Typically, honey bees are able to acquire all of their dietary needs from available flowers or stored resources in the hive. Under normal circumstances, bees are able to forage and store enough pollen and honey to provide for their nutritional needs throughout the year. However, movement of hives create circumstances wherein normal foraging and/or stored resources are not adequate to provide bees with needed nutrition.
In the United States, 2-2.5 million hives are moved annually to provide commercial crop pollination. Migratory beekeeping places unusual stresses on the bees to the point that their stored pollen and honey resources diminish, and the nutritional state of the colony ultimately shuts down brood rearing due to a lack of available protein and nutrients. In addition, when hives are moved to a new site, there may be inadequate natural food sources at the new location and supplemental feed is required to maintain hive vigor.
Since the mid 1930s, work on artificial diets for honey bees as a replacement for pollen has been carried out. Currently known artificial diets for honey bees include liquid artificial nectars which comprise a carbohydrate or sugar source, pollen patties made of pollen and sugars, patties made of soy protein (usually solvent extracted) mixed with brewers yeast and sugar, patties made from a mixture of soy flour, Torula or brewers yeast, pollard, vegetable oil, vitamin mix and irradiated honey or malt, patties made from a mixture of Expeller press soy flour, pollard, cotton seed oil, vitamin mix and irradiated honey or malt, and Haydak diet patties made of soy meal, brewers yeast, sugar, and powered skim milk. A drawback of known artificial diets for honey bees is that they do not sustain brood rearing and thus are not suitable for the continuous rearing of bees.
Artificial diets for rearing entomophages and arthropods have been have been reported. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,834,177 and 5,945,271 to Cohen describe a fresh and freeze-dried product, respectively, which comprise a mixture of (a) cooked whole egg, (b) a protein-lipid paste, and (c) a liquid, wherein the cooked whole egg forms a sticky, stringy substrate that retains nutrients in the protein-lipid paste in stable form. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,235,528 and 6,506,597 to Cohen describe (1) an artificial growth medium composed of a mixture of cooked egg, liquid, and carbohydrate source, suitable for rearing zoophagous arthropods; (2) an artificial growth medium composed of a plant-based diet which includes cooked egg yolk or cooked whole egg, suitable for rearing phytophagous arthropods, including facultatively zoophagous phytophages, and (3) an artificial growth medium which includes the diet of (1) in combination with a plant-based diet which includes cooked egg yolk or cooked whole egg, which diet is suitable for rearing phytophagous arthropods, including facultatively zoophagous phytophages.
What is needed by the bee keepers and bee industry are artificial diets for honey bees that sustain brood rearing, maintain hive vigor, and maintain bee growth and development.

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

The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona


The present invention relates to the combination of one or more CB1 antagonist azetidine derivatives and of one or more products which activate dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain, to the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the combination of one or more CB1 receptor antagonists and of one or more products which activate dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain, to the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
2. Description of the Art
CB1 receptor antagonists have been developed for the treatment of schizophrenia (D. Kendall, Curr. Opin. Cent. Peripher. Nerv. Syst. Invest. Drugs, 2(1), 112–122, 2000), for their effect on food intake (G. Colombo et al., Life Sciences, 63 (8), 113–117 (1998); J. Siamand et al., Behavioral Pharmacol., 9, 179–181 (1998)) and for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, migraine and stress (G. Gerdeman, D M. Lovinger, J. Neurophysiol., 85(1), 468–471, 2001; WO 0046209).
Parkinson's disease results from a chronic and progressive neurological disorder. It is based on a deficiency of dopamine and a relative excess of acetylcholine and is associated with destruction of the dopaminergic neurons which participate in the control of the motor activities (H. Lullmann et al., Atlas de poche de pharmacologie [Pocket atlas of pharmacology], 2nd Ed., Medecine-Sciences, Flammarion, ISBN2-257-12119-8). The treatment of Parkinson's disease is mainly pharmacological and involves various medicaments intended to increase the amount of dopamine present in the brain.
As dopamine does not pass through the hematoencephalic barrier, levodopa, a precursor of dopamine converted to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase, was developed in the 1960s. Levodopa remains today the first treatment of choice for Parkinson's disease and initially gives good results. However, after several years, fluctuations in response (on-off effect), a decrease in its effectiveness as the disease progresses (wearing-off effect) and in particular dyskinesias (involuntary abnormal movements) are observed in the majority of patients. A psychotic state may also be observed.
Other medicaments, such as dopaminergic agonists, are also recommended, alone or in combination with levodopa, and have as main aim that of reducing, at least, the undesirable effects of the latter. For some years, selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase MAO-B, an enzyme which decomposes dopamine in the brain, and inhibitors of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme which prevents levodopa from crossing the hematoencephalic barrier, have been developed and prescribed in combination with levodopa. Significant side effects have also been observed with these therapies.
All of the references described herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combination of a CB1 receptor antagonist and of a product which activates dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use in the treatment of parkinson's disease


A contact integrator for supporting a die in a semiconductor package and for providing an electrical pathway from the semiconductor package to one or more bonding pads on the die is provided. The contact integrator includes a substrate that has one or more conductor trace for interconnection to the semiconductor package. A Z-elastomer member is disposed on the substrate. An insulating member is disposed on the Z-elastomer member. One or more conductor rods are coupled to the insulating member. Each of the conductor rods has a first end adapted to contact one of the bonding pads and a second end adapted to contact the Z-elastomer member. The conductor rods are respectively substantially vertically aligned with the bonding pads and the conductor traces, and are capable of longitudinal movement relative to the insulating member.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to semiconductor device packaging and more specifically to a compliant contact integrator for securing a bare semiconductor die and method for making same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of unpackaged semiconductor die it is often desirable to establish electrical connections between the bonding pads of the die and other electrical devices for testing or other purposes. For example, burn-in and full functionality tests are typically performed to certify each bare die as a known good die (KGD). During these test procedures, the bare die are loaded into a test carrier, which takes the place of a conventional plastic or ceramic semiconductor package. A typical test carrier consists of a die cavity plate that has a die cavity formed therein and a plurality of pins that extend from the die cavity plate for connection to test apparatus. The configuration of such a die cavity plate is similar to a standard ceramic dual in-line package (CERDIP). Prior to testing, a bare die is inserted into the die cavity and temporarily connected to communicate electrically with the external pins of the die cavity plate.
The die cavity plate is then connected to a particular test apparatus. These types of test apparatus typically include an interconnect component for establishing the temporary ohmic connection between the bare die and the pins of the test carrier. One example of such an interconnect component known in the art utilizes an interconnect formed on a silicon substrate with integrally formed silicon contact members. The integrally formed contact members are positioned and configured to contact the individual contact pads on the die, and the ultimate ohmic connection with the pins of the test carrier is made via bonding wires. Another type of interconnect component known in the art incorporates microbump contact members. The microbump contact members consist of metal bumps formed on conductor traces that are attached to an insulative film, such as polyimide. The microbumps are configured and spaced to make electrical contact with the bonding pads of the bare die. The conductor traces are adapted to establish a circuit path to the microbumps. The conductor traces are ordinarily electrically connected to the external pins of the test carrier via bonding wires. For forming the interconnect component, the combination of the insulative film with the microbumps and conductor traces attached thereto can be mounted to a rigid substrate.
There are certain disadvantages associated with each of the aforementioned interconnect components. The interconnect component formed on a silicon substrate with integrally formed silicon contact members requires complex, time-consuming, and costly semiconductor device fabrication techniques. The manufacturing process for the microbump interconnect component is similarly complicated and costly. In the typical process flow, the conductive traces are formed by electroplating a patterned metal layer on the insulating film or by laminating a layer of metal to the insulating film and, then, etching the metal layer to form the conductor traces. In either case, a masking step is required to outline the pattern for the conductor traces. After the conductor traces are formed, holes or vias are established in the insulating film and metal is electroplated into the vias to form the microbumps.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.


A stereo camera calibration method includes: controlling a stereo camera assembly to capture a sequence of stereo image pairs; simultaneously with each capture in the sequence, activating a rangefinder; responsive to each capture in the sequence, updating calibration data for point cloud generation by: detecting matching features in the stereo image pair, and updating a first portion of the calibration data based on the matched features; updating an alignment of the rangefinder relative to the stereo camera assembly, based on the updated first portion of the calibration data, and a detected position of a beam of the rangefinder in a first image of the stereo image pair; and updating a second portion of the calibration data based on the detected position of the beam of the rangefinder in the first image of the stereo image pair, the updated rangefinder alignment, and a depth measurement captured by the rangefinder.

Stereo imaging may be employed to generate point clouds, dimension objects, and the like. Stereo imaging hardware may be deployed on mobile computing devices, e.g. to enable mobile dimensioning of objects such as packages in warehouses or other facilities. However, the accuracy of information generated from stereo images, such as object dimensions, may be negatively affected by miscalibration of the imaging hardware.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Method and apparatus for in-field stereo calibration