A network analyzer includes a raw data measuring portion for measuring an S parameter of a device under test, a measuring-system error-factor measuring portion for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test, a parameter conversion factor calculating portion for obtaining a parameter conversion factor indicative of the relationship between impedance and measuring system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating measuring-system error factors from the S parameter, an extended error-factor calculating portion for obtaining extended error factors by combining the measurement-system error factors and the parameter conversion factor, and a device-under-test calculating portion for obtaining the impedance from the S parameter and the extended error factors. Accordingly, the need for fixtures is eliminated and, further, the extended error factors are obtained in advance. Therefore, operation of the network analyzer can be simplified and the calculating speeds increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network analyzer for calculating and measuring a circuit parameter of a device under test.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been two practiced methods for measuring various circuit parameters of a device under test such as, for example, an S parameter of an arbitrary normalized impedance, an S parameter in the case where a matching circuit is added, and the circuit impedance.
A first method is to connect a fixture to a device under test so that a desired circuit parameter is directly measured. In FIG. 10 is shown a system configuration of a device under test connected to a fixture. In the first method shown in FIG. 10, the fixture 120 is connected to a device under test 100 and the device under test 100, together with the fixture 120, is measured by the network analyzer 200.
In this case, the circuit parameters of the device under test 100 vary with the fixture 120. Therefore, in order to obtain the circuit parameters under given conditions, the measurement is carried out by fabricating a fixture 120 satisfying the given conditions and connecting it to the device under test 100. When, for example, it is desired to obtain circuit parameters for ten kinds of conditions, ten fixtures 120 may be fabricated and then ten measurement, may be performed by connecting each fixture to the device under test 100.
A second method is carried out as follows: raw data of the device under test (for example, an S parameter) is first measured. Then, the measured raw data is substituted into a relational expression between a desired circuit parameter and the raw data to thereby obtain the desired circuit parameter.
The second method will be described below by taking a measurement of the impedance of a device under test as an example. First, the impedance Z is expressed as the numerical expression in FIG. 11, where Ed is an error mainly due to the directivity of the bridge, Er is an error mainly due to the frequency tracking, and Es is an error mainly due to the source matching.
When the numerical expression of FIG. 11 is represented by a signal flow graph, FIG. 12 is obtained. S11 denotes the raw data to be measured. By substituting this into the numerical expression of FIG. 11, the impedance Z can be obtained.
The second method can be effectively used when it is difficult or impossible, in principle, to fabricate a fixture. In the case shown in FIG. 12, for example, the impedance may be measured if the portion in the center of the right-hand side can be fabricated as a fixture. However, it is impossible to fabricate such a fixture in principle. The second method is therefore used for obtaining the impedance.
However the first method has the following defects. First of all, it is troublesome to fabricate a variety of fixtures and it is also troublesome to repeat measurements many times. It is also difficult to fabricate fixtures having ideal characteristics. Further, when a plurality of fixtures for the same purpose are fabricated, it is difficult to fabricate them with uniform characteristics. Furthermore, depending on circuit parameters to be measured, there are cases where fabrication of the fixtures is impossible in principle.
On the other hand, the second method, it is relatively easy to solve the above mentioned problems related to fabrication of fixtures. However, a long time is taken for calculation and this prolongs the totally required measuring time.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network analyzer whereby various circuit parameters of a device under test can be obtained simply.
According to the present invention, a network analyzer for calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may include: a raw data measurement means for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement means for obtaining measuring system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation means for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; a true-value raw data calculation means for obtaining the measuring-system error-factor-free data from the raw data and the measuring-system error factors; and a device-under-test calculation means for obtaining the circuit parameter from the measuring-system error-factor-free data and the parameter conversion factor.
The term xe2x80x9craw dataxe2x80x9d as used herein means the data directly measured by a network analyzer. An example of the raw data is an S parameter. Factors of errors occurring in the measurement system include an error attributable to the directivity of a bridge, an error attributable to the frequency tracking, and an error attributable to the source matching. An example of the circuit parameter is an impedance. An example of factors of parameter conversion is the relationship between an S parameter and the impedance.
According to the present invention, a circuit parameter can be obtained from raw data, factors of errors in the measurement system, and factors of parameter conversion. Therefore, when a circuit parameter is connected to a device under test, the circuit parameter can be calculated without fabricating any fixtures and repeating many times of measurement with the fixtures changed each time. Hence, a circuit parameter can be calculated simply.
The present invention may include a network analyzer as noted above, wherein the measurement means treats the raw data as the measuring-system error-factor-free data.
In the case where the measuring-system error-factor can be neglected, the raw data of the device-under-test may be treated as the measuring-system error-factor-free data.
According to the present invention, a network analyzer for calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may include: a raw data measurement means for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement means for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation means for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; an extended error-factor calculation means for obtaining extended error factors by combining the measuring-system error factors and the parameter conversion factor; and a device-under-test calculation means for obtaining the circuit parameter from the raw data and the extended error factors.
According to the present invention, a circuit parameter can be obtained from raw data, factors of errors in the measurement system, and factors of parameter conversion. Therefore, when a fixture is connected to a device under test, the circuit parameter can be calculated without fabricating any fixtures and repeating measurements many times with the fixtures changed each time. Hence, a circuit parameter can be calculated simply.
Furthermore, the error factor calculation means obtains the extended error factors in advance by combining the error factors occurring in the measurement system and the factors of parameter conversion. Therefore, calculation speed can be improved.
According to the present invention, a network analyzer as noted above, may further include a parameter conversion factor record means for recording the parameter conversion factor.
The present invention may include a network analyzer as noted above, wherein the circuit parameter is an impedance.
The present invention may include a network analyzer as noted above, wherein the circuit parameter is an S parameter as an arbitrary normalized impedance.
The present invention may include a network analyzer as noted above, wherein the circuit parameter is an S parameter when a matching circuit is added.
The present invention may include a network analyzer as noted above, wherein the circuit parameter is a circuit admittance.
According to the present invention, a network analytical method of calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may include: a raw data measurement step for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement step for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation step for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; a true-value raw data calculation step for obtaining the measuring-system error-factor-free data from the raw data and the measuring-system error factors; and a device-under-test calculation step for obtaining the circuit parameter from the measuring-system error-factor-free data and the parameter conversion factor.
According to the present invention, a network analytical method of calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may also include: a raw data measurement step for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement step for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation step for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; an extended error-factor calculation step for obtaining extended error factors by combining the measuring-system error factors and the parameter conversion factor; and a device-under-test calculation step for obtaining the circuit parameter from the raw data and the extended error factors.
According to the present invention, a computer-readable medium embodying a program of instructions for execution by the computer to perform a network analytical method of calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may include: a raw data measurement step for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement step for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation step for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between, the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; a true-value raw data calculation step for obtaining the measuring-system error-factor-free data from the raw data and the measuring-system error factors; and a device-under-test calculation step for obtaining the circuit parameter from the measuring-system error-factor-free data and the parameter conversion factor.
According to the present invention, a computer-readable medium embodying a program of instructions for execution by the computer to perform a network analytical method of calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may include: a raw data measurement step for measuring raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement step for obtaining measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation step for obtaining factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; an extended error-factor calculation step for obtaining extended error factors by combining the measuring-system error factors and the parameter conversion factor; and a device-under-test calculation step for obtaining the circuit parameter from the raw data and the extended error factors.
According to the present invention, a network analyzer for calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may also include: a raw data measurement device that measures raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement device that obtains measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation device that obtains factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; a true-value raw data calculation device that obtains the measuring-system error-factor-free data from the raw data and the measuring-system error factors; and a device-under-test calculation device that obtains the circuit parameter from the measuring-system error-factor-free data and the parameter conversion factor.
According to the present invention, a network analyzer for calculating a circuit parameter of a device under test may lastly include: a raw data measurement device that measures raw data of the device under test; a measuring-system error-factor measurement device that obtains measuring-system error factors occurring in the measurement of the device under test; a parameter conversion factor calculation device that obtains factors of parameter conversion indicative of the relationship between the circuit parameter and measuring-system error-factor-free data obtained by eliminating the measuring-system error factors from the raw data; an extended error-factor calculation device that obtains extended error factors by combining the measuring-system error factors and the parameter conversion factor; and a device-under-test calculation device that obtains the circuit parameter from the raw data and the extended error factors.

Network analyzer, network analytical method and recording medium


A terminal element for fiber optic communication has an elongated body defining a body axis and having a first end from which an optical fiber extends along the body axis. The body has a second end with an angled surface offset at an angle from the body axis. The fiber extends partly through the length of the body, and terminates at a fiber end surface. The second portion has an optical entry surface registered with the fiber end surface such that light emitted from the fiber end surface enters the optical entry surface. At least one of the fiber end surface, angled surface and optical entry surface has a figured optical form with a non-planar shape.

Fiber optic cables are used for high speed data transmission in many applications. This includes long distance telecommunications and computer networks, and smaller networks such as those used on advanced aircraft. Typically, a fiber optic cable carries a signal from a remote emitter, to be received by a detector on an electronic instrument such as a computer, relay station, communications hub, or the like. The fiber must be terminated in a manner that couples the light onto a photodetector and/or coupled light from the light source (laser or LED array) into the fiber. Such terminal elements may include lenses that receive the light signal from the light source and focus it onto the fiber or receive the light from the fiber, and focus it onto the receptor. In many applications, multiple independent fibers will carry independent signals, and the terminal will have several lenses to focus the beams from several emitters onto their respective fibers or from several fibers onto a corresponding array of detectors.
Some applications such as outdoor communications hubs and military hardware require environmental seals, often hermetic, to prevent damage, performance degradation, and premature failure due to harsh environmental conditions. This presents a significant challenge for fiber optic terminations, which are analogous to collimated flash lights positioned with micron-level precision. The termination must provide optical coupling, provide mechanical strain relief and often must provide a hermetic seal. Typical hermetically sealed components are bulky, making miniaturization of fiber optic terminal elements difficult. Moreover, hermetic seals often employ rigid materials that create a stress point where the fiber enters the material, making the fiber susceptible to damage, degradation, and breakage.
Miniaturization is particularly important in avionic and other mobile systems where size and weight are significant constraints. For example, it is highly desirable to pack as many system cards as possible into a rack to save space and weight. This can be accomplished by minimizing the height of electronic circuit boards electro-optic components such as emitters and detectors and the associated optical fiber interface. Optical fibers are made from glass and cannot be bent sharply without suffering optical loss or breakage. If the active area of the electro-optic device is coplanar with the circuit board to which it is mounted, then an optical component that folds the optical path is highly desirable. In addition, miniaturized parts have the added challenge of being more sensitive to misalignment, so that precision of manufacture and positioning during assembly is more critical. Consequently, there is a need for a readily manufactured fiber termination that is compact, low-profile, and can be precisely aligned.
Pertinent technology is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/341,336, entitled "Hermetic Fiber Optic Ferrule", filed Jan. 26, 2006 which is incorporated herein by reference.
There is a further need for multi-channel optical terminations that provide enhanced control over crosstalk, attenuation, filtering, and which may readily be manufactured without significant sensitivity to tolerance and alignment errors.

Termination for optic fiber with improved optical features


A local services platform including a server subsystem is connected to one or more APs; an application subsystem and provides headset/terminals (HS) with real-time services. A streaming interface is installed between the server and the application. The HS is capable of being activated and paired with a host device, typically a telephone under standard Link Control Protocol. The HS includes an extra button, when operated, causes the host to place the HS in an “idle” mode. During the “idle” mode, the HS listens to AP inquiries or carries out inquiries. When an AP beacon is detected, the HS requests a HOLD state from the paired telephone and receives streaming data after completing a connection to the AP beacon. When the streaming data is in channels, the HS can switch among the channels or end the transmission by operating the idle button.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to communication devices, systems and methods. More particularly, the invention relates to a short-range radio terminal, system and method adapted for data streaming and real-time services.
2. Description of Prior Art
Short-range communication technology, typically Bluetooth provides synchronous connection oriented (SCO) links capable of delivering 64 kilobytes per second (KPS) channels to active clients. The datastream includes any content, but in general consists of voice. The data stream can be applied to Bluetooth headsets using headset or hands-free profiles. Bluetooth Access Points (AP) serve as Bluetooth voice beacons, i.e., voice streams from the AP to the headset as the active terminal. The Access Point may also provide real time location aware or listening services to the headset. However, the headset must be paired with a host device, e.g., a telephone, before voice streaming or listening services are provided to the headset. Alternatively, the headset can be paired with an AP, and can be dynamically paired any time to any device. Pairing means that two devices have a common Link Key. Even though device A and B are paired, the device A can be also paired with device C. etc. During this state, already paired headsets in active connection to the host cannot receive Bluetooth beacon voice streams or location aware listening services.
It would be desirable to extend the functions of short-range terminal headsets to receive streaming voice or listening services while the headset is paired with a host device. By so doing, headset users will be able to receive a wide variety of new services enhancing the utility and interest in headsets.
Prior art related to short-range terminal headsets receiving streaming data or listening services includes the following:
1. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0111140, entitled, "Wireless Headset Capable of Automatic Link Connection and Method for Controlling the Same", published Feb. 13, 2001 discloses a wireless headset including a microphone supporting member having a microphone installed and being able to be forwarded to or unforwarded from the main body of the wireless headset, and a sensing device connected to a connector of the microphone supporting member. The sensing device senses whether the microphone supporting member is folded or unfolded. If the microphone supporting member is unfolded, an attempt to register and ID (Identification) of the wireless headset in a counterpart terminal and to connect a Bluetooth™, wireless communication link between the wireless headset and the counterpart terminal is preformed using the Bluetooth™ module.
2. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0068610, entitled, "Method and Apparatus For Selecting Source Device And Content Delivery Via Wireless", published Jun. 27, 2002 discloses a headset or other interactive device comprising a user interface apparatus, a wireless transceiver, and a switching module; wherein, the wireless transceiver is used for transport of content between the user interface device and a plurality of source devices, and the switching module is coupled to and interposed between the user interface apparatus and the wireless transceiver and is used to select specified source devices for wireless coupling with the user interface.
3. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0082057, entitled, "System and Method for Utilizing Mobile Communication Terminal as Wireless Headset", published Jun. 27, 2002 discloses a mobile communication terminal as a wireless headset, comprising a personal computer (PC) adapted to access to an internet phone service through an internet network; and mobile communication terminal for performing a function of a wireless headset of the PC when the PC accesses the internet phone service, wherein, the mobile communication terminal have a Bluetooth function. The Bluetooth built-in function makes possible the user of an Internet phone call service. When an operation mode of the mobile communication terminal is set to a headset mode, a speech signal of a user inputted through a microphone is transmitted to the PC directly, via a Bluetooth device and the speech signal of a counterpart inputted to the mobile communication terminal from the PC is applied to a speaker via the Bluetooth device.
4. U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,052 B1, entitled, "Subscription-Based Mobile Station Idle Mode Cell Selection", issued Dec. 25, 2001 discloses subscription-based information in a mobile telecommunications systems utilized to control idle mode operations of a mobile station. In one aspect, cell-related information is broadcast from cells. A mobile station then uses the received cell-related information to determine whether any given cell is part of a predefined service area that is reserved for use by only certain subscribers to the exclusion of other subscribers. The cell-related information may be a cell identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding cell, or it may alternatively be a service area identifier that uniquely identifies a service that comprises one or more cells. In either case, the mobile terminal makes its determination by accessing a memory such as a Subscriber Information Module (SIM), and retrieving therefrom stored information that defines the predefined service areas. In another aspect, the SIM may store information identifying preferred cells for the mobile station to camp on during idle mode.
5. U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,003 entitled "System and Method For Authorization Of Location Services", issued Oct. 24, 2000 discloses a telecommunications system and method which performs authorization checks prior to allowing a location service to position a mobile terminal within a cellular network. The various checks involve ensuring that the requesting agency has authorization to request positioning of mobile terminals, determining whether positioning of mobile terminals is allowed within the cellular network that the mobile terminal is currently located in, verifying the authenticity of the identity of the mobile positioning center, ascertaining whether the mobile subscriber has allowed the requesting agency to position the mobile terminal, and confirming that all relevant criteria for positioning have been met by both the mobile subscriber and the requesting agency.
6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,123 entitled "Electronic Tour Guide System", issued Jul. 31, 1979 provides messages about exhibits in a museum or the like to visitors carrying portable receivers. Audio sources which generate various messages are provided at a central location which are multiplexed and digitized and applied to one or more cables which extend to the covered areas. Receiver-transmitters are located along the cables and are adapted to decode one of the messages and transmit the same via infrared energy into a well defined area adjacent the exhibit, enabling a visitor having a receiver to receive the infrared radiated signal information and hear the message.
None of the prior art discloses or suggest a short-range terminal, typically a Headset adapted for receiving streaming voice or listening services from a voice beacon, typically an Access Point (AP) while in a paired state with a host device, typically a telephone by switching the terminal into a "idle state" where the paired device is in a passive condition, typically a HOLD state and disconnecting from the streaming voice when the host device becomes active.

Short-range radio terminal adapted for data streaming and real time services


Some embodiments include transmitting a plurality of files from a server to a first client through a first communication link; and transmitting the plurality of files from the first client to a second client through a second communication link while transmitting at least one of the plurality of files from the server to the first client; wherein the second communication link has at least some bandwidth independent of the first communication link.

This disclosure relates to data distribution to multiple clients over a network.
Large amounts of data may be collected at a single source server. This data may be used by multiple clients connected to the server through a network. However, when distributing the large amounts of data from the server to multiple clients, the bandwidth of the connection from the server to the network can limit the speed at which the data may be transmitted to the clients. For example, the server may transfer 300 files that are each 600 MB to 20 clients through a 100 MB/s bandwidth connection to the network. The time for this transfer is 10 hours. This type of transfer may occur every day. If more clients are added, the file size increases, or the like, the time to transfer the data to the clients each day may approach or exceed one day.

Chained file distribution to multiple clients


The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel.

Vehicle turn signals, while having been in use on commercially available motor vehicles for about 70 years, have changed little since their first application. More recently, vehicles have been equipped with computer-operated functionality which allows the vehicle's driver or operator to control the vehicle's radio, compact disc player, connected devices, cellular telephone and navigation system, and other components through a central controller.
A vehicle steering wheel is commonly comprised of a column, central hub and annular ring with various components including a turn signal activation switch or switches. Typically turn signal lights are operated by a "stalk switch" or lever located to one side of the steering wheel. The stalk switch is moved upward to signal a right-hand turn and downward to signal a left-hand turn. When the stalk switch is moved up, lights located generally in the front and rear right side fenders begin to blink. Similarly, when the stalk switch is moved down, lights located generally in the front and rear left side fenders begin to blink. More typically, the stalk switch includes four positions, two up and two down. The first positions, either up or down, operate the turn signals but the stalk switch returns to the off position, or center, when released. The second of the positions maintains the turn signals on even when the stalk switch is released and shuts off after the steering wheel has been turned a fixed rotation and then returned to an approximately "wheels straight" position.
With the mechanism described above, several well-known problems arise. For example, turn signals may be left on with the signal lights "blinking" well after a turn is completed. A common condition is that signal lights turn off prematurely if the steering wheel is momentarily turned even slightly away from the direction of the turn. Another common condition is the failure of a turn signal to engage if the steering wheel is slightly turned in one direction and the driver attempts to signal a turn in the opposite direction. Such problems have existed since the turn signal was first installed on a motor vehicle.
Recent advances have addressed different physical configurations and different control mechanisms for improving on the operation of the turn signal. For example, more sophisticated in-vehicle computer hardware, such as those systems offered by RLP Engineering, Dayton, Ohio, has allowed for the real-time management of turn signal operation to address problems such as those described above. In such a system, vehicle speed, steering wheel position and other data are monitored in real time to determine whether the vehicle is turning and when the turn has been completed. However, even in such a computer-based system, the turn signal is activated by moving a stalk switch up or down to turn on the switch and the corresponding turn signal light. The turn signal of this computer-based system can be manually switched off by a button on the stalk switch. One disadvantage of this system is that one hand must be removed from the steering wheel in order to operate the stalk switch.
Other modifications of the turn signal have focused on replacing the stalk switch with buttons or paddles located in the hub of the steering wheel, such as the apparatuses illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,491 to Crosson, Jr., and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/01655592 to Sakai et al. However, such modifications do not address the disadvantages described above. Specifically, placing the turn signal activation switches in the huh of the steering wheel still requires the driver either to remove one hand from the steering wheel or to release his grasp on the wheel in order to operate the hub-mounted switch. Such modifications also do not address problems arising when the turn signal is left on after a turn or when the turn signal prematurely turns off.
Spoke-mounted turn signal activation switches, such as those envisioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,666 to Kingsolver, do not eliminate the requirement that a driver's hand must be repositioned to activate the switch even if the hand remains in contact with the steering wheel. The natural position of the driver's thumb is aligned with the rim of the steering wheel or wrapped partially around the rim of the steering wheel when the wheel is gripped. Therefore, a driver must release his/her grip from the steering wheel in order to re-position the thumb on the spoke mounted switch. This change in position is necessary regardless of the location of the spoke around the internal diameter of the steering wheel. If the driver's hand is located proximal to or in contact with the spoke and above the spoke, the driver must rotate the hand downward to contact the spoke-mounted switch. If the driver's hand is located proximal to or in contact with the spoke and below the spoke, the driver must either rotate the hand downward to contact the spoke-mounted switch or move the hand upward and rotate the thumb downward to make contact with the switch. Such a rotation or movement requires that the driver release his/her grip from the wheel in order to move the hand.
Even though the expressed advantage of placing the turn signal switch in the spoke of the steering wheel was that it would permit turn signal operation without the driver needing to remove his/her hands from the steering wheel, in practice a driver must re-position his/her hands to press the spoke-mounted switches. As addressed above, such a design, like those placing the turn signal activation switch in the steering wheel hub, permits the operation of the switch without removing one hand from the steering wheel in very limited and still undesirable positions of the hand relative to the steering wheel.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,644 to Mercier et al., a steering wheel with hot buttons placed at the "10 o'clock" and "2 o'clock" positions on the steering wheel rim was posited. According to this publication, such a system would allow a driver to activate the hot buttons, thus activating a turn signal, by using a thumb. Such a process of activating a turn signal, according to this publication, would not require a driver "to even move his or her hands much." However, tests conducted demonstrated that the hot buttons of this hypothetical device cannot be pressed if the driver maintains a fully-wrapped four finger grip anywhere on the top half of the steering wheel. Therefore, this hypothetical device suffers from all of the problems of other earlier devices because it merely relocates the functionality of the turn signal stalk switch to hot buttons on the rim of the steering wheel. Turn signals may be inadvertently turned on by misplacement of the hand or remain on with the signal lights "blinking" well after a turn is completed. Turn signal lights may turn off prematurely if the steering wheel is momentarily turned even slightly away from the direction of the turn. Furthermore, with this hypothetical device the driver must loosen his or her grip on the steering wheel so that the hand may be rotated in order to put the thumb in position to operate the hot buttons.
According to "Hands-On: A Practical Measure of the Perceived Risk of the Driving Context," J. A. Thomas and D. Walton, Transit NZIFIT 7.sup.th Annual Conference (2005), most drivers place both hands somewhere on the top half of the steering wheel when driving under higher-risk or complex conditions. It follows then that most drivers feel that driving with two hands on the top half of the steering wheel, particularly during high-risk or complex driving situations, provides more control over the vehicle. As Paul A. Eisenstein noted in "Turn signal neglect a real danger, study shows," citing research by the Society of Automotive Engineers, "drivers either neglect to use their signals when changing lanes—or fail to turn the signals off—48% of the time."http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/01/11486051-turn-signal-neg-lect-a-real-danger-study-shows?lite. Eisenstein further notes, "when making a turn the failure rate is around 25%." Id.
A driver in many instances must remove one hand from the steering wheel in order to operate a stalk switch-activated turn signal because the stalk switch is typically not located in close enough proximity to the steering wheel. Regardless of the driver's hand position, one hand must always be removed from the steering wheel in order to operate a stalk switch-activated turn signal. Where the turn signal switches are located in the hub of the wheel, the result is essentially the same. Either the driver's hand must be removed from the steering wheel to activate the hub mounted switch or the hand must be turned so that the thumb of the driver's hand can reach the hub-mounted switch. In turning the hand to stretch the thumb to reach the switch, a driver must release his/her grip on the steering wheel, even if the hand remains in contact with the steering wheel. Similarly, when the turn signal switch is located in a spoke of the steering wheel, the driver must reposition his or her hand in order to operate the spoke-mounted switch.
It would therefore be advantageous to have a turn signal activation switch and system which does not require that a driver release his/her grip from the steering wheel in order to operate the switch. It would be a further advantage to have a turn signal activation switch and system which can be operated during high-risk or complex driving situations while maintaining a two-handed grip on the steering wheel. It would be an additional advantage to have a turn signal activation switch and system that would not prematurely turn off or remain on after a turn. It would be yet a further advantage to have a turn signal activation switch and system that could not be accidently operated.
Computer-driver interfaces are also known for use on motor vehicles. Such interfaces may be used to control specific equipment components of the motor vehicle such as a radio, compact disc player, connected devices, or wireless communication devices. Interfaces such as the BMW IDRIVE system, AUDI MMI, system, MERCEDES COMMAND system, LEXUS REMOTE TOUCH system, FORD SYNC system and MYFORD TOUCH system, each offer variations on the same type of controls. Such computer-driver interfaces appear to be mouse/dial/joystick/touch screen combinations with the controls located in the proximate to a gear shift selector. Alternatively, such computer-driver interfaces may be located on stalk levers with buttons and switches attached, or in thumb-operated buttons located on the steering wheel horizontal spoke cross bar directly inwards from the steering wheel annular ring and proximal to the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the annular ring. Information from such a computer system which controls the motor vehicle equipment components may be displayed to the motor vehicle operator via a screen in the center of the vehicle dashboard, on a screen in the vehicle operator's instrument cluster, and/or in a heads-up-display also known as a HUD.
The computer-driver interfaces typically cannot be operated with the motor vehicle operator maintaining a fully wrapped grip around the annular ring of the steering wheel, and would require repositioning of the hands especially if the hands were originally positioned on the upper half of the steering wheel. Some of the presently commercially available computer-driver interfaces have been criticized because their use requires a driver to look away from the road in order to locate and operate the interface.
It would therefore be advantageous to have a computer-driver interface and system which does not require that a driver release his/her grip from the steering wheel in order to operate the interface. It would be a further advantage to have a computer-driver interface and system which can be operated during high-risk or complex driving situations while maintaining a two-handed grip on the steering wheel. It would be an additional advantage to have a computer-driver interface and system that could not be accidentally operated.
Common to many personal digital assistants ("PDA") and cellular telephones are assignable keys that may also be referred to as "convenience keys." Convenience keys allow an operator to designate a specific function (camera, voice recorder, media player, etc.) on the PDA or cellular telephone. Many video game systems such as XBOX game system or PLAYSTATION game system, or personal computers as well as personal music devices such as an IPOD device include a menu which offers a subsection of controller where the operator may deviate from the native default settings of the device and assign specific functions to specific keys on the device. Personalized keys are also known for seat, steering wheel, mirrors and seat belt location settings and are found in many motor vehicles with control buttons usually on the door of the motor vehicle. Such personalized keys are analogous to radio presets and allow a driver to adjust selected elements to a pre-set value with the push of one button. It appears, however, that assignable/reassignable convenience keys are not available as integrated controls in the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
It would therefore be advantageous to have a computer-driver interface and system which includes assignable/reassignable convenience keys that are integrated into the annular ring of a motor vehicle steering wheel so that an operator sitting behind the steering wheel would have the ability to assign a function to such convenience keys, and then have the option to change that function to a different function at will.
It appears that the operation of all paddle/thumb shifters on motor vehicles in the consumer marketplace require a driver of such motor vehicles to loosen or alter their fully wrapped four finger grip on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle. Many such paddles are especially used in sporty driving situations. It is reasonable to assume that the vehicle driver's underlying desire in those circumstances is to maintain as much control over the steering wheel as possible. Paddle shifters can be found dating back to at least 1912 and evolved in the consumer market to apparently mimic the FORMULA ONE automobile paddles which achieved racing success in the late 1980's. Today, most automobile manufacturers offers some variety of paddle shifters in at least one model of motor vehicle. It appears such paddle shifters have been marketed as a compromise, on the one hand, for car buyers who wanted access to both manual and automatic shifting of the motor vehicle's transmission's gears, and, on the other hand, as a faster shifting improvement over traditional manual transmissions on automobiles such as the FERRARI automobile.
It would therefore be advantageous to have paddle shifters for a motor vehicle integrated into the annular ring of the motor vehicle's steering wheel such that the driver of the motor vehicle would not have to loosen or alter a fully-wrapped four-finger grip on the steering wheel in order to operate the paddle shifters. It would be a further advantage to provide an integrated vehicle control system and apparatus which includes a computer-driver interface and system having assignable/reassignable convenience keys that are integrated into the annular ring of a motor vehicle steering wheel so that an operator could assign the paddle-shifter functionality to the convenience keys at will.
The advent of "hands free" controls in a vehicle has been primarily in response to the desire to keep a driver's hands on the wheel, not necessarily because drivers want to "speak" every command to operate the motor vehicle. There are many commands that drivers would prefer to keep secret. In the event of a carjacking or kidnapping, providing the driver with the ability to covertly send a distress call to 911 while appearing to simply drive the car with two hands on the wheel is a feature never before offered in the marketplace.
It would therefore be an advantage to have an integrated vehicle control system which can be operated during high-risk or complex driving situations while maintaining a two-handed grip on the steering wheel and facilitates the sending of a distress call to emergency personnel. In vehicles equipped with GPS systems, the distress call could also send emergency personnel a real-time location and potentially also activate a hidden camera in the car capturing a picture or video image. Cab drivers or bus drivers would no longer have to risk reaching for the radio or a "bank teller style" hidden button to call for help if an integrated vehicle control system were available which did not require a motor vehicle operator to remove his or her hands from the motor vehicle's steering wheel in order to operate.
It would also be an advantage to have a computer-driver interface and system which does not require that a driver release his/her grip from the steering wheel in order to operate the interface and which is further integrated with a motor vehicle's HUD system. It would be advantageous for a driver to be able to access a HUD system to obtain information such as the motor vehicle's speed, navigation information and location proximity alerts, or to access a vehicle's night vision capabilities, while allowing the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road while maintaining a fully-wrapped four-fingered grip on the motor vehicle's steering wheel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Integrated vehicle control system and apparatus


A system and method for evaluating dental treatment utilizes virtual models created from scanned plaster casts. Patient's teeth are directly scanned with a three dimensional scanner or plaster casts of the patient teeth following treatment are scanned for evaluation. A planned configuration based on a plaster cast prior to treatment is created and the desired position and the two models are compared so that the actual position of the teeth may be compared to the desired position after treatment. Superimposition of the virtual models provides accurate and precise measurement of variances between the two virtual models. Difficulties due to superimposing the models, which are of the entire arch and evaluations based on individual teeth are overcome by applying an iterative closest point algorithm to correct the position and provide a truer measurement for evaluation. Differences between a preferred position of a patient's teeth and actual position of a patient's teeth may be assigned a score and the score may be compared to other patients to rank the patient needs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system and method for evaluating orthodontic treatment in an objective manner by comparing virtual models of teeth following orthodontic treatment to a targeted alignment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Evaluation of patient's needs and treatment is invaluable for determining a prognosis and diagnosis for the patient. Precise and accurate measurement of a patient's teeth is needed for diagnosis and for evaluation. Traditional methods require locating selected patient structures and using the structures as landmarks. The use of landmarks has built in imprecision as there is some imprecision in locating the landmark twice. The problem is compounded when the landmark must be located after growth and/or treatment. Therefore, it has been difficult for practitioners to quantify and rate severity or to quantify treatment success.
Evaluation and grading also is important for ensuring that orthodontic practitioners are performing satisfactorily. In order to ensure quality standards are maintained, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certifies members who pass a stringent examination including a clinical examination. The clinical examination currently involves reviewing casts from patients to assess the success and quality of the treatment provided. An objective grading system has been developed to evaluate final dental casts and radiographs. Criteria and areas evaluated include alignment, marginal ridges, buccolingual inclination, occlusal relationships, occlusal contacts, overjet, interproximal contacts and root angulation.
The evaluation is conducted by a group of members of the American Board of Orthodontics utilizing a specially developed measuring gauge. Members of the ABO involved in grading the clinical examination take measurements on various locations on several sets of plaster casts presented by candidates seeking certification. Graders make determinations regarding deviation from a desired result and points are awarded according to the success of the treatment. A score is then assigned for the clinical examination.
For each candidate, ten or more cases may be evaluated. For each case, the upper arch and lower arch are measured, meaning that more than twenty sets of measurements are made and compared for each candidate. It can be appreciated that with many candidates seeking certification and a number of graders involved in the certification, the clinical examination grading process is a time consuming endeavor than can take hundreds of man hours for each examination.
In addition to being time consuming, the examination process has several flaws. The manual measurements that are made may not be consistent from grader to grader. Precisely locating landmarks for reference points used in comparison is challenging. In addition, there is subjectivity with regard to the results and further inaccuracies that may be incorporated from the measurement process. Due to these drawbacks, it is possible for some candidates who should pass the certification process to be failed while others may pass that should not.
It can be seen that a new and improved system and method for quantifying the severity of a patient's condition and for grading orthodontic treatment is required. In addition, a method and system is needed that provides a precise and objective evaluation with a numerical rating comparing the position of the teeth to an ideal position. Such a system should eliminate the need to use traditional landmarks to make measurements while increasing accuracy and consistency over prior art manual measuring systems. Moreover, such a system should provide for greater precision than is possible with the current systems. Such a system should eliminate the need for each grader to manually measure and evaluate the final occlusion and allow all graders to utilize an accurate virtual model. Such a system should save time and effort over current systems. In addition, such an evaluation system and method should provide an electronic model suitable for use beyond grading for examination purposes. The present invention addresses these problems, as well as others associated with evaluation of orthodontic treatment.

System and method for evaluating orthodontic treatment


A hood mounting system and methods having compliant hinge assemblies mounted between frontal portions of a hood and the vehicle frame. A spring actuator is mounted from the frame and hood which exerts force to assist movement of the hood from the open and closed positions. A locking device is operably connected to the spring actuator and is operable in response to movement of the hood to automatically lock the hood in an open position. The locking device is movable to a release position to permit the hood to move from the open hood position to the closed position.

One previously known way of mounting a hood to a frame and cab of a truck is to utilize a four-point hood mounting system. Such systems are typically used on class 7 and 8 trucks, resulting in a cab-to-hood gap of approximately 25 mm. Such a large amount of hood-to-cowl spacing is required in order to accommodate up to approximately 22 mm of travel between the cab and frame due to deflection and other factors with a typical fully-loaded chassis.
Air cab suspensions are typically included on modern trucks to produce an improved ride for the driver. Usually, the air cab suspension is mounted at the back of the cab and the cab pivots about a pivot axis near the front of the cab. The pivotal action of the cab occurs with respect to the vehicle frame. Movement of the cab relative to the frame causes the cowl to move fore and aft considerably in response to articulation of the suspension. As a result of this fore-and-aft bucking action, an undesirable, large clearance gap is required between the back edge of the hood and the front edge of the cab.
A typical four-point mounting system has two hinges mounted at the front corners of the hood. The hinges allow rotation of the hood relative to the frame or chassis when opening and closing the hood. The rear of the hood is supported on pads located at the rear corners of the hood. The pads align the vertical position of the hood with the adjacent cab surfaces in a closed operating position. The pads also allow fore and aft translation of the hood relative to the cab to accommodate cab and frame deflection, particularly when the cab has a suspension system.
Another previously known way of mounting a hood to a frame and cab of a truck is to utilize an alternative four-point mounting system. According to this construction, the mounting system has a pair of front hinges and a pair of rear elastomeric guide pins that align the hood with the cab in a desired operating position. Such a rear hood support system induces forces into the hood as the cab and hood try to move relative to each other. This loading can result in excessive loading on the hood and failure in extreme cases. It also has a negative impact on the cab ride due to restriction of the cab suspension.
Prior art truck hood mounting systems also have not provided adequate ease of use with regard to opening and closing the hood. It is desirable to provide relatively low force requirements for both opening and closing the hood. It is also desirable to have some ability to maintain an open hood in the opened position.
Thus, there has remained a need for trucks having an improved hood and cab mounting system.

Spring actuation system for vehicle hoods and closures


A disk drive apparatus includes a shutter operating pin engageable with a pin receptacle on the shutter of a disk cartridge. The shutter operating pin is carried by a shutter operating arm which is pivotable for causing a transverse shift of the shutter operating pin for shifting the shutter from a closed position, at which a disk is inaccessible, to an open position, at which the disk is accessible. An arm lock mechanism is provided for locking the shutter operating arm at the shutter fully opened position. The arm lock mechanism is provided in the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder is also provided with a cartridge lock mechanism which includes a cartridge lock pin engageable with a lock pin receptacle on the disk cartridge. The cartridge lock mechanism is actuated by means of the shutter operating arm at the shutter fully opened position, to establish locking engagement of the cartridge lock pin with the lock pin receptacle of the disk cartridge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a disk drive apparatus for driving a disk cartridge, such as a so-called micro-floppy disk cartridge, which has a sliding shutter for opening and closing a disk access opening. More specifically, the invention relates to a disk drive apparatus which has a cartridge holder having a cartridge insertion mouth for accepting and ejecting the disk cartridge.
2. Description of the Background Art
As is well known, a disk drive apparatus generally comprises a chassis with a turn table, a cartridge holder which is movable forward and aft in the chassis, and a shutter operating pin for opening and closing a sliding shutter of a disk cartridge. When the disk cartridge is inserted into the cartridge holder for loading, the shutter operating pin enters or engages with an operating pin receptacle formed in the shutter for causing sliding movement of the shutter for opening.
The shutter operating pin is carried by a shutter operating arm which is pivotable in both the shutter opening direction and the shutter closing direction. The shutter operating arm is biased toward an initial position, i.e. the shutter closing direction, by means of a return spring. When the disk cartridge is first inserted into the cartridge holder, the shutter operating pin engages with the operating pin receptacle. Upon further insertion of the disk cartridge, the shutter operating pin is axially displaced. The axial movement of the shutter operating pin causes pivotal movement of the shutter operating arm so as to cause lateral or transverse displacement of the shutter operating pin carrying the shutter. Therefore, when the disk cartridge is fully inserted, the shutter is placed at the fully opened position for permitting access to the disk. One example of the aforementioned type of conventional disk drive apparatus has been disclosed in Japanese Patent First (unexamined) Publication (Tokkai) Heisei 1-143064.
Such construction of the conventional disk loading mechanism of the disk drive apparatus is advantageous for simple manufacture and for allowing disk loading without requiring any drive power source. Furthermore, since the aforementioned construction is mechanically associated with the shutter operating mechanism, it may ensure automatic shutter opening operation. On the other hand, the return spring may constantly exert a spring force on the disk cartridge in order to resiliently place the disk cartridge to the eject position upon unloading. This creates difficulty in accurately chucking the disk in the disk drive mechanism.
In particular, the spring force of the return spring affects the disk loading mechanism, including the motor driven disk lifting mechanism for lifting the cartridge holder up and down between the disk loading and unloading positions. Namely, when the cartridge holder with disk cartridge inserted moves from the unloading position to the lowered loading position, the motion of the disk cartridge cannot be restricted until the positioning pin engages the disk cartridge. As a result, the disk cartridge can be pushed backward to project from the disk cartridge receptacle mouth of the cartridge holder.
In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed an arm lock mechanism for locking the shutter operating arm during the lifting operation of the disk lifting mechanism. The arm lock mechanism includes a lock rod which is provided for pivotal movement about a pivot shaft mounted on a lock base. The lock rod has a restricted angular range for pivotal motion and is biased by means of a spring. The arm lock mechanism becomes active when the cartridge holder approaches a position for initiating the operation of the disk lifting mechanism in order to shift the cartridge holder into the loading position, and to engage the lock rod to a lock rod receptacle which is cut-out of the shutter operating arm to prevent the latter from pivotally moving. Thus, the spring force of the return spring will not act on the disk cartridge held in the cartridge holder.
On the other hand, in the foregoing construction, since the shutter operating pin is provided on the cartridge holder and the arm lock mechanism is provided on the chassis, precise adjustment of the relative positions of the shutter operating pin and the arm lock mechanism becomes essential so that the arm lock mechanism is constantly effective. Excessive tolerance in the relative positions of the shutter operating pin and the arm lock mechanism may cause failure of the arm locking scheme, or in the alternative, incomplete shutter opening.
Furthermore, in the aforementioned construction, since the disk cartridge is not per se locked into the cartridge holder, it is still possible to withdraw the disk cartridge even after the arm lock mechanism locks the shutter operating arm. Therefore, if the disk cartridge is withdrawn immediately after the disk lifting mechanism starts, the movement of the disk cartridge causes damage to the disk and/or the magnetic head.

Disk drive apparatus with shutter locking mechanism which is preventive of play of disk cartridge in loading condition


A rope clutch having a plurality of apertured pivoted plates which grip or release a rope passing through their apertures according to the angle they make to the rope, has a mechanism for initiating release of the rope which includes a variable toggle linkage.

It is concerned with clutches of the type shown in U.S. application No. 4,413,382 where a rope passes through a clamping mechanism which includes holes in a plurality of pivotable members, in one attitude of which edges of the holes gripping the rope and in another attitude of which, closer alignment of the axes of the holes and the rope allowing passage of the rope.
Such rope clutches have had the disadvantage that, at high loads it is difficult or impossible to release the rope. To try to overcome this a fixed-pivot toggle mechanism could be used but this does not function well for ropes whose diameters are at an extreme of the working range of the device because the angle of the members in the one attitude will vary with the diameter of the rope and at some angles it would provide poor initial mechanical advantage for the release handle and/or throw excessive strain on that handle.


A system and method for configuring a plurality of graphics pipelines in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface to enable a user to graphically specify at least one parameter for a plurality of pipe rectangles of the computer graphical display system, each of the plurality of pipe rectangles being associated with at least one of the plurality of graphics pipelines, receiving the at least one parameter, and updating a compositor of the computer graphical display system in real-time based at least in part on the at least one parameter.

Computer graphical display systems are commonly used for displaying graphical representations of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional display device, such as a cathode ray tube.
In existing computer graphical display systems, a graphics application stored on a processor-based system, such as a computer, defines an object to be rendered by the computer graphical display system. In order to render the object, the application transmits graphics data defining the object to a graphics pipeline, which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The graphics pipeline via well-known techniques processes the graphics data received from the application and stores the graphics data in a frame buffer. The frame buffer stores the graphics data to define the image to be displayed by a display device. The frame buffer is used to store a set of data for each pixel displayed by the display device. Each set of data includes the color value of the corresponding pixel as well as any additional information needed to appropriately color or shade the identified pixel, such as transparency and depth values. Each set of data is correlated with the coordinate values that identify a pixel position on the display device. The frame buffer transmits the graphics data stored therein to the display device via a scanning process such that each line of pixels defining the image displayed by the display device is consecutively updated.
Multiple display devices may be used to display a single large image in which each display device displays a portion of the large image. In such an embodiment, the multiple display devices are treated as a single logical display device or screen, and different portions of an image may be rendered by the different display devices. Each of the multiple display devices may be associated with different computer systems and the multiple computer systems may be interconnected via a computer network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN). An X Window System is a standard for implementing window-based user interfaces in a networked computer environment and it may be desirable to utilize X Protocol in rendering graphics data in a networked computer system. A more detailed discussion of the X Window System and the X Protocol that defines it may be found in X Protocol Reference Manual Volume Zero (O'Riley & Associates 1990) by Adrian Nye.
Although it is possible to render and display two-dimensional and three-dimensional data in conventional computer graphical display systems, there exists limitations that restrict the performance and image quality exhibited by such systems. High quality images, particularly three-dimensional images, are typically defined by a large amount of graphics data and the speed at which conventional graphics pipelines can process the graphics data defining an object is limited. The above-referenced patent application, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY RENDERING GRAPHICAL DATA" describes a computer graphical display system and method for efficiently utilizing a plurality of graphics pipelines to render graphics data for a display device. However, a user of existing computer graphical display systems does not have control over the management and use of the graphics pipelines used in the system.

System and method for configuring graphics pipelines in a computer graphical display system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention disclosed a built-in electric air pump for inflatable product, including a housing, a panel cover, an impeller, a motor, an intake, an air valve orifice, an air valve and an air passage part forming a motor chamber, an impeller chamber and an air passage in the housing, wherein an air passage directional chamber is formed by the air passage part, which is the junction of the air passage, the intake and the air valve orifice; an air passage directional valve is mounted within the air passage directional chamber; a motor chamber's air inlet is located on the wall of the air passage directional chamber; and the air passage directional valve has a heat dissipation and pressure release outlet which is used for pressure release, air exhaust and heat dissipation during the inflation process and used for drawing-in cool air from the environment during the deflation process. The present invention has a simple structure. A heat dissipation and pressure release outlet is arranged in the passage directional valve, which results in good heat dissipation and prevents the inflatable product from exploding as excess inflation pressure. Furthermore, the additional seal assembly with double leakproof function prevents the airbed inflated with air from leaking for a long time.

The inflatable product which are conveniently carried and easily kept are becoming more and more popular with consumers. Early inflatable product, for example inflatable furniture, has an air valve and was inflated or deflated by separate external inflation tools. As technical development, the inflatable product with built-in electric inflation/deflation device was present, to provide convenience for use. But the structural characteristic having the built-in air pump is usual to have a single air passage, which would cause insufficient heat dissipation to easy damage the air pump and have potential hazard. Further, the pressure would be continuously accumulated in the chamber of the inflatable products during the inflation process, so that the inflatable products are easy to explode as the excess inflation pressure.
To make heat dissipation and prevent the inflatable products from exploding as excess inflation pressure, Chinese patent application CN 200710026338.4 disclosed an inflatable product and electric inflation/deflation device thereof which make heat dissipation and pressure release automatically. Said electric inflation/deflation device has complicated structure and bad air tightness, the "automatic pressure release valve" of which is a static pressure balancing device and wouldn't be activated until the maximum pressure is reached. The valve would be a dynamic device when the inflatable product is being used, and the inflatable product would be deflated through the valve when it is pressed. The inflatable product, for example airbed would bear some pressure when it is in use, and the valve is always under pressure during the period, so that the sealability of said valve would be decreased and the capacity of responding to the maximum pressure of the valve would be also decreased, which will affect the normal use of the valve.

Built-in electric air pump for inflatable product

Foshan Shunde Xinshengyuan Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.


A cascade shade comprising a horizontal blind and a fabric cover assembly having means to attach it to the blind to produce a series of cascading loops or folds covering the blind without interfering with the raising, lowering, opening or closing of the blind.

Window coverings in the form of "horizontal blinds" account for a substantial part of the window covering market. These blinds which are among the most practical and the least expensive of window coverings allow for proper light control by use of louvers mounted on ladders spanning between a head rail and a bottom rail so that they can be tilted between open and shut positions by a suitable control, usually by cords or a wand, or the entire blind can be raised by a cord control to bring the bottom rail up to the top rail.
Ascetically, however, there is an increasing trend where more and more customers want the appearance of a "soft" window covering such as the type of shade known as a "Roman Shade". This type of shade normally consists of a material (usually fabric vinyl or any other soft type window covering material),a head rail, a bottom rail and a cord control system for raising and lowering the shade. When the shade is raised it creates cascading loops of overlapping folds of material giving a beautiful elegant appearance. However, when the shade is lowered it simply displays a flat piece of material hanging in front of the window. Such a Roman Shade or Blind is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,096, issued December 285h, 1993. To counteract this bland lowered appearance, this type of shade needs dressing up with a valance or other decorative topper treatment.
More complicated Roman Shades have been disclosed using a system of spacer cords combined with special ribs and cord carriers to achieve the soft look when the shade is lowered as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,735, issued Oct. 22, 1996.
A major problem with these prior art "Roman Shades" is that the consumer needs to make a choice between opaque, semi-opaque or translucent materials along with the choice of the desired patterns and/or colors when ordering the shade. If, for example, a translucent material is used such as a voile or sheer, then one would not, for example, install this style of "Roman Shade" in a window where privacy is required such as, for example, a bedroom window or a bathroom window. On the other hand, if an opaque material is selected for the shade, then, when the shade is in the lowered position, there is no sunlight entering the room, thus limiting the number of rooms in which this type of "Roman Shade" can be used.
Another problem with "Roman Shades" is that their manufacture and assembly involves a large number of small components requiring assembly, sewing or gluing in preparing both the fabric and the head rail. As a result, the manufacturing process is a very labor intensive and time consuming one making the manufacture of such a product very inefficient and, in turn, making the product a very expensive one.
The present invention is directed to providing a unique Roman Type Shade, hereinafter generally referred to as a cascade shade, which in its preferred form will present the desired beautified soft elegance presented by a series of cascading loops or overlapping folds of material in all positions of the shade from raised to lowered. Further, the invention is directed to such a shade where the consumer can select any desired light transmitting material based on design and color regardless of where the shade is to be used.
A further aspect of the present invention is to enable such a cascade shade to be created in a very simple manner without requiring any specialized equipment, sewing, or gluing operation with the result that no skilled labour to assemble the shade is required and the need for large inventories of various components, fabrics etc. is eliminated.


A prosthetic foot comprises an attachment member and two or more flexible members. The attachment member can include a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device. The two or more flexible members can be rotatably attached to the attachment member by rotatable joints such that the flexible members can both rotate and flex relative to the attachment member when the prosthetic foot contacts the ground.

Field
The present application relates to prosthetic feet and other prosthetic devices including a spring, and more particularly to prosthetic feet and other prosthetic devices having one or more flexible members between two or more joints (e.g., pivots) and allowing for variable stiffness during use.
Description of the Related Art
In the field of prosthetics, particularly prosthetic feet, it is desirable to provide a high level of functionality with reliable performance. Further, as each user is different, it is desirable to provide a prosthesis that can be adapted to the particular needs of each individual user.

Prosthetic foot with enhanced stability and elastic energy return


In example implementations, a method is provided that is executed by a processor. A multiplexed data stream is received over a single transmission control protocol (TCP) connection that uses a SPDY protocol. The multiplexed data stream contains data packets associated with a plurality of different data streams. A plurality of sub-contexts are generated. Each one of the sub-contexts is associated with a different one of the plurality of different data streams. The data packets are demultiplexed from the multiplexed data stream into a respective one of the plurality of sub-contexts. The plurality of different data streams in the respective one of the plurality of sub-contexts are examined to detect a malware.

The growth of Internet traffic has led to development of a modified hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) called SPDY. SPDY protocol provides an improvement to HTTP that allows multiple concurrent streams of data to be multiplexed into a single transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between an endpoint and a server. As a result, rather than using a sequential process used by previous HTTP where data streams are sent one after another, SPDY protocol allows multiple data streams to be multiplexed or interleaved with one another and sent asynchronously.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A reverse recovery current prevention device includes a full wave rectifier having a plurality of diodes, first and second diodes, a switch part and a switch control unit. The full wave rectifier rectifies a power source voltage from an alternating current power source inputted into first and second input terminals. The first and second diodes have anode terminals connected to the first and second input terminals, respectively. The switch part opens or shorts an electrical circuit between a negative-side output terminal of the full wave rectifier and each cathode terminal of the first and second diodes. The switch control unit prohibits the switch part from shorting the electrical circuit between the negative-side output terminal and each of the cathode terminals when a voltage between the negative-side output terminal and each of the cathode terminals is at or above a threshold.

In the past, motors have often been used as a drive source for fans, air ventilators, and various other machines. Generally, a motor is driven by a motor driving apparatus having a full wave rectifier for performing full wave rectification on alternating current voltage from an alternating current power source, and/or an inverter unit for using rectified voltage to generate a drive voltage for driving the motor. However, there have been problems in the motor driving apparatus, such as a decrease in the power factor because of a distortion in the input current from the alternating current power source flowing into the full wave rectifier.
To counter this problem, a rectification device 501 disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2007-274818 is known as a technology for improving the power factor (see FIG. 1). The rectification device 501 is primarily provided with a full wave rectifier 505, two rectification diodes D502, D503, and one switching element 504 constituted of, for example, a transistor. Each of the anode terminals of the rectification diodes D502, D503 is connected to the alternating current input terminals of each of the phases of the full wave rectifier 505, and each of the cathode terminals is connected to a positive electrode of the switching element 504. A negative electrode of the switching element 504 is connected to a negative-side output terminal of the full wave rectifier 505. In such a rectification device 501, the switching element 504 is turned on and off by a microcomputer (not shown) such that the input current flowing into the full wave rectifier 505 becomes a sine wave, and such that the voltage phase and the current phase are in conformity.

Reverse recovery current prevention device and motor driving apparatus


An apparatus and method for transmitting information for a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) is provided that facilitates a mobile communication device receiving a specific MBMS without any difficulty when the device moves from one area to another area. By providing MBMS status information to a controller in the area from which the device moved, the controller in the area from which the device moved can either establish an additional channel to provide the MBMS to the device or initiate a relocation of control of the device to a controller in the area into which the device has moved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS), and particularly, to an apparatus and method for transmitting information for supporting mobility of a terminal and providing an MBMS.
2. Description of the Related Art
A universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) is a third generation mobile communications system that has evolved from a specification known as the European Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) system which aims to provide an improved mobile communications service based on a GSM core network and a wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) technology. FIG. 1 illustrates a network structure of a UMTS system to which the conventional art and the present invention are applied.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the UMTS system is broadly comprised of a terminal, or user equipment (UE), a UTRAN 2 and a Core Network (CN) 3. The UTRAN 2 includes more than one Radio Network Sub-system (RNS) 4, each of which includes a single Radio Network Controller (RNC) 5 and more than one Node B 6 managed by the RNC. The RNC 5 manages the Node B 6, which serves as an access point of the UTRAN 2 for the terminal by receiving information transmitted from a physical layer of the terminal over an uplink and transmitting data to the terminal 1 over a downlink. The RNC 5 allocates and manages radio resources, and serves as an access point of the CN 3.
FIG. 2 illustrates a connection structure between the UTRAN 2 and the terminal 1 within the UMTS network. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal 1 is connected with the CN 3 in order to receive services provided from the UMTS and information of the terminal and the CN is transmitted via the UTRAN 2.
The CN 3 is connected to the RNC 5 through an Iu interface in order to transmit and receive data and control messages. Each terminal 1 connected to the UMTS network is managed by a specific RNC 5 within the UTRAN 2. A Serving RNC (SRNC) 5 is the RNC for managing terminals. In other words, the SRNC 5 refers to the RNC that serves as the access point with the CN 3 for transmitting data to a specific terminal 1.
The SRNC 5 performs as a second layer of an Open System Interface (OSI) for data coming through a radio interface or being transmitted to the terminal and allocates radio resources appropriate to provide services. The function of managing radio resources performed by the SRNC 5 includes control functions associated with the specific terminal 1, such as setting transport channels, determining a handover and performing an Open Loop Power Control. The terminal 1 connected to the CN 3 through the UTRAN 2 at a specific time point has only one SRNC 5.
In general, one RNC 5 is used between the terminal 1 and the CN 3. However, if the terminal 1 moves to a new area managed by another RNC 5, the terminal is connected to the RNC at the new area via the RNC of the previous area.
For instance, it is assumed that the terminal is initially connected to the CN 3 through R1 (RNC1), but the terminal moves to an area or cell managed by R2 (RNC2). After moving to the area managed by R2, the terminal 1 is connected to R1 through an Iur interface via R2. R1 manages the terminal and serves as an access point with the CN 3 and R2 partially performs functions of routing user data or allocating codes, specifically, common resources. In the UMTS network, every RNC 5 connected to the terminal 1, such as R2, other than the SRNC is referred to as a Drift RNC (DRNC). Therefore, one terminal 1 may have no DRNC 5 or may have one or several DRNCs according to its connection state.
The SRNC 5 and the DRNC are logically divided with relation to a specific terminal 1 . However, the RNC 5 and the Node B 6 within the UTRAN 2 have a subordinate relation there between and, accordingly, the RNC can be divided at the side of the Node B. In order to distinguish between the RNC 5 managing the Node B 6 and other RNCs, an RNC managing a specific Node B is referred to as a Controlling RNC (CRNC). Specifically, the RNC 5 that is connected to a specific Node B 6 via an Iub and controls radio resources of the Node B corresponds to the CRNC of the specific Node B and there is a one-to-many relation between the CRNC and the Node B in the structure of the UTRAN 2. The CRNC 5 performs functions such as load control and congestion control of traffic within a cell that the CRNC manages, acceptance control for a new radio link set within this cell and code allocation.
A Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer is defined at a third layer of a radio protocol located in the RNC 5 and the terminal 1. The RRC handles the controlling of transport channels and physical channels related to establishment, reconfiguration, and release of Radio Bearers (RBs). An RB denotes the services provided by a second layer of the radio protocol for data transmissions between the terminal 1 and the RNC 5. In general, establishing the RB denotes the processes of stipulating the characteristics of a protocol layer and a channel, which are required for providing a specific service, and setting the respective detailed parameters and operation methods thereof.
The RRC state refers to whether the RRC of the terminal 1 is logically connected to the RRC of the UTRAN 2, thereby forming a logical connection with the RRC of the UTRAN. If the RRC of the terminal 1 forms a logical connection with the RRC of the UTRAN 2, this is referred to as an RRC connected state. Conversely, if there is no logical connection between the RRC of the terminal 1 and the RRC of the UTRAN 2, this is referred to as an RRC idle state.
When the terminal 1 is in the RRC connected state and, accordingly, the UTRAN 2 can recognize the existence of the corresponding terminal according to units of cells, the UTRAN can effectively control the terminal. On the other hand, the UTRAN 2 cannot recognize a terminal 1 that is in idle state. The terminal 1 in idle state can be managed by the CN 3 according to units of location areas or units of routing areas, which are areas larger than the cell. Specifically, the existence of a terminal 1 in idle state is only recognized according to units of large areas, such as location areas or routing areas, and the terminal must transition into the connected state in order to receive typical mobile communication services such as voice or data.
FIG. 3 illustrates an RRC state transition of a terminal 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, when a user turns on the power of the terminal 1, the terminal first detects an appropriate cell and maintains its idle state in the corresponding cell. The terminal 1 in idle state forms an RRC connection with the RRC of the UTRAN 2 through the RRC connection procedure and transitions into the RRC connected state when the RRC connection needs to be formed.
There are several instances in which a terminal 1 in idle state is required to form the RRC connection. For example, an uplink data transmission may be required due to a call attempt by a user or the transmission of a response message in response to a paging message received from the UTRAN 2 may be required.
A Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) refers to a service for providing streaming or background services to a plurality of terminals 1 using a downlink dedicated MBMS bearer service. In the UTRAN 2, the MBMS bearer uses a point-to-multipoint radio bearer (RB) and a point-to-point RB.
The MBMS is divided into a broadcast mode and a multicast mode. The MBMS broadcast mode is a service for transmitting multimedia data to all users within a broadcast area. The broadcast area refers to a region where the broadcast service is possible. Conversely, the MBMS multicast mode is a service for transmitting the multimedia data only to a specific user group within a multicast area. The multicast area refers to a region where the multicast service is possible. The multimedia area and broadcast area are referred to as a service area.
FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional procedure for providing a specific MBMS (service 1) from a UMTS network to a terminal (UE) 1 by using a multicast mode. A UE 1 that desires to receive an MBMS subscribes to the service, a process referred to as subscription. Subscribing refers to establishing a relationship between a service provider and a user.
Terminals 1 desiring to receive the MBMS should receive a service announcement provided by the network 3. The service announcement refers to providing to the terminal 1 an index and any related information of the services to be provided. Specifically, a terminal 1 desiring to receive the MBMS of the multicast mode should join a multicast group. The multicast group refers to a group of terminals 1 receiving a specific multicast service and joining refers to one user merging with the other users in a multicast group to receive the particular multicast service.
The terminal 1 can inform the UMTS network that it desires to receive specific multicast data through MBMS multicast joining. Conversely, a procedure whereby a terminal 1, having joined a specific multicast group, is no longer a part of the multicast group is referred to as leaving. Each terminal 1 performs the subscribing, joining and leaving processes. The terminal 1 can perform the subscribing, joining, and leaving processes at various times, such as before data transmission, during the transmission, or after the transmission.
While a specific MBMS is ongoing, one or more sessions can sequentially be generated with respect to the corresponding service. If data to be transmitted for the specific MBMS is generated in an MBMS source, the CN 3 notifies the RNC 5 of the start of a session. Conversely, when there is no more data to be transmitted for the specific MBMS in the MBMS source, the CN 3 notifies the RNC 5 of a session stop. The data transmission with respect to the specific MBMS can be carried out between the session starting and the session stop. The data transmitted through the data transmission process can be transmitted only to the terminals 1 having joined the multicast group for the specific MBMS.
In the session starting process, the RNC 5, having received the session starting from the CN 3, transfers an MBMS notification to the terminals. The MBMS notification refers to the RNC 5 informing a terminal 1 that the data transmission of the specific MBMS in a cell draws near or is impending. The MBMS notification is transmitted more than one time before actual data of the service is transmitted. The RNC 5 may also count the number of terminals receiving the specific MBMS within one specific cell using the MBMS notification process. The counting procedure is used for determining whether a point-to-multipoint RB or a point-to-point RB should be set as the RB for transmitting the specific MBMS, or whether no RB should be set.
The RNC 5 internally establishes a threshold value to select an appropriate MBMS RB. After the RNC 5 counts the number of terminals 1, if the counted number of terminals existing within the corresponding cell is smaller than the threshold value, the RNC establishes a point-to-point RB, while a point-to-multipoint RB is established if the counted number of terminals is greater than the threshold value. After determining the MBMS RB, the RNC 5 informs the terminals 1 of the establishment information of the corresponding RB.
When the point-to-point RB is established for the specific service, the terminals 1 desiring to receive the service are all in the RRC connected state. However, when the point-to-multipoint RB is established for the specific service, all terminals 1 desiring to receive the service do not have to be in the RRC connected state. That is, terminals 1 in an idle state can also receive the MBMS data by using the point-to-multipoint RB. When MBMS data is transmitted from the CN 3 during one session of the MBMS, the RNC 5 initiates data transmission using the established RB, and releases the pre-established RB when the CN transmits a session stopping message.
However, if there is no terminal 1 that desires to receive the specific MBMS, the RNC 5 does not establish any RB and does not transmit the MBMS data. Establishing an RB by the RNC 5 even if there is no user who wants to receive the service would cause undesirable consumption of radio resources.
The MBMS area refers to an area configured with cells supporting MBMSs to which a specific terminal 1 has subscribed. The MBMS area is constructed by combining more than one cell, and may be constructed with cells managed by one RNC 5 or be located over areas managed by several RNCs. A list of neighboring cell information refers to a list including information of cells managed by the DRNC 5 that is positioned adjacent to the RNC.
FIG. 5 illustrates an MBMS attaching procedure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the RNC 5 providing an MBMS recognizes and manages a terminal 1 in the RRC connected state among terminals having joined a specific MBMS for every cell that the RNC manages. The RNC 5 makes a list, such as an RRC connected terminal list, of terminals 1 in the RRC connected state for each MBMS of each cell. The RRC connected terminal list includes identifiers, such as URNTI, of the terminals 1 having joined the specific MBMS.
As part of the MBMS attaching procedure, when the terminal 1 has moved from a cell managed by the SRNC 5 into a cell managed by the DRNC, the SRNC receives a session start message from the CN 3 with respect to an MBMS that a terminal in the RRC connected state has joined, both for those services that are ongoing and those services that are not ongoing. Thereafter, the SRNC 5 transmits terminal information to the DRNC through an MBMS connection or attachment request message, such that the DRNC adds terminals 1 which request the MBMS connection to the RRC connected terminal list that the DRNC manages. The MBMS connection request message includes an ID of a cell to which the terminal 1 has moved, IDs of any MBMS that the terminal is joining and the URNTI of the terminal.
Once the MBMS connection or attachment request message for a specific terminal 1 is received from the SRNC 5, if it is possible to allocate resources for maintaining the RRC connected state with respect to the corresponding terminal. The DRNC 5 grants the MBMS connection request of the terminal 1. The DRNC 5 then adds the URNTI of the terminal 1 to the RRC connected terminal list for each MBMS that the moved terminal has joined.
The DRNC 5 then transmits a positive response to the SRNC through an MBMS connection response message. The SRNC 5, having received the message, maintains the terminal 1 in the RRC connected state even in the new cell. The SRNC 5 also transmits the MBMS data to the terminal 1 using a point-to-point RB. Specifically, the MBMS data is transmitted to the DRNC 5 through the SRNC and then transmitted to the terminal 1 through the DRNC using the point-to-point RB.
The DRNC 5 does not always grant the MBMS connection request upon receiving the MBMS connection request message for the specific terminal 1 from the SRNC. If the DRNC 5 forms the RRC connection for the terminal 1 but there are no resources for maintaining the terminal in the RRC connected state, the DRNC denies the MBMS connection request of the terminal and transmits a negative response to the SRNC.
However, in the conventional art, if a terminal 1 located outside each MBMS area is connected to the DRNC 5, problems may occur. When the terminal 1 has moved to the MBMS area managed by the DRNC 5 that provides an MBMS to which the terminal has subscribed, the moved terminal obtains information of the corresponding service by receiving a notification from the DRNC or receives information of the MBMS through a MBMS Control Channel (MCCH).
At this time, the MBMS can be transmitted using a point-to-point RB or a point-to-multipoint RB. When the DRNC 5 provides the MBMS using the point-to-point RB, the terminal 1 should receive the MBMS directly from the SRNC instead of from the SRNC via the DRNC by setting a dedicated channel. However, it is impossible for the SRNC 5 to accurately recognize whether the DRNC is providing the MBMSs to which the terminal 1 has subscribed or that the MBMSs are being provided using the point-to-point RB.
Accordingly, the SRNC 5 cannot set the dedicated channel for the terminal 1 to receive the MBMS using the point-to-point RB and, therefore, the terminal cannot receive the MBMS. Specifically, when a terminal 1 has moved from an area managed by the SRNC 5 to an area managed by DRNC and has been connected to the DRNC, even though the MBMS to which the terminal has subscribed is being transmitted through the point-to-point RB via the DRNC, the SRNC can not accurately recognize the state of the MBMS in the DRNC and the SRNC cannot set the dedicated channel with the terminal. As a result, the terminal 1 cannot receive the MBMS.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method for transmitting information for supporting mobility of a terminal and providing an MBMS. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

Apparatus and method for transmitting information for MBMS


Provided herein are catalyst supports, catalyst systems, and methods for making catalyst supports, catalyst systems, and performing chemical reactions with the catalyst systems. The catalyst supports include a zeolite and a binder including non-sodium counterions, such as ammonium counterions and/or potassium counterions. The catalyst systems include the catalyst supports and a catalytic material. The catalyst systems may be used to perform chemical reactions, including reactions of one or more hydrocarbons.

Zeolite catalyst systems and catalyst supports can be useful to dehydrocyclize hydrocarbons to produce aromatic hydrocarbons. For example, catalyst systems containing large pore zeolites can be useful for reforming light petroleum naphtha (e.g., C6-C8) to benzene, toluene, xylenes, or combinations thereof.
Examples of such aromatization catalyst systems include catalyst supports containing silica bound large pore zeolites, platinum, and halides, such as chloride and fluoride.
Commercially available zeolite catalyst systems include the AROMAX® Catalyst, but its production can include many steps, which increases its production time and/or cost. A relatively lengthy production time can decrease manufacturing capacity, which can be especially disadvantageous as the use of AROMAX® Catalyst increases.
Currently, the processes for making AROMAX® Catalyst include several temperature controlled washes, followed by drying and calcination. These washes remove sodium from the catalyst that is readily removable, but tightly bound sodium counterions require harsh and/or destructive conditions. These washes are also batch processes, which are not readily adaptable to continuous production.
Due to the commercial importance of such catalyst systems, an ongoing need exists for improved zeolite catalyst systems and methods of making and using same, including methods that reduce the number of production steps, including wash steps, thereby decreasing production time and/or cost.

Catalyst supports and catalyst systems and methods