A gaming system, having a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. A server is operatively associated with the non-transitory computer readable medium. Communications means enable donors to access the server and donees to receive information related to donations sent by the donors through the server. An accumulation value is measured by the computer program. A trigger value is associated with the accumulation value. A selection of at least one award recipient from the donees is made whereby the selection is rendered by the computer program once the trigger value is reached. A notification to a respective at least one of the donors is made and a transmission of at least one award corresponding to the trigger value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to games, and more particularly, to gaming systems and methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Applicant believes that one of the closest references corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130304645 A1, published on Nov. 14, 2013 to Shank for AUTOMATED FUTURE COLLEGE FUND. However, it differs from the present invention because Shank teaches an online automated system that enables users to automatically receive contributions and/or donations to their own or a beneficiary's college savings account with the click of an online button, which is linked to their college savings account through a secure payment facilitator such as WePay or PayPal. The users account information is set up and saved securely. This allows donations and/or contributions to be easily sent to the beneficiary's college savings account from anyone that clicks the button, such as family members or friends. This method makes it much simpler and automatic with the click of an online button to contribute/donate directly to the college savings account without having to know the account number of the college savings account, write a check, and mail it in.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130232030 A1, published on Sep. 5, 2013 to Gockeler, et al. for SOCIALLY-INTERACTIVE CAUSE PLATFORM AND METHOD OF USE. However, it differs from the present invention because Gockeler, et al. teaches a socially-interactive cause platform for multiple users and multiple causes accessible via an internet-accessible computing device, including a log-in initiator to present an optional security challenge and direct the multiple users to the socially-interactive cause platform from an internet-accessible computing device; the multiple users including a cause-creating user and a cause-following user; a cause creator to allow the cause-creating user to create a specific cause within the socially-interactive cause platform; an action coordinator to establish one or more action initiators defined by the cause-creating user in connection with the specific cause for distribution to the cause-following user; and a search engine to allow the cause-following user to search or otherwise make themselves aware of the multiple causes, and if elected, join the specific cause created by the cause-creating user and receive the one or more action initiators from the action coordinator.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130226688 A1, published on Aug. 29, 2013 to Harvilicz, et al. for CROWD FUNDING SYSTEM. However, it differs from the present invention because Harvilicz, et al. teaches a method and system to help fund projects, such as business ventures, charitable causes, and those generally in financial need, by providing a website where viewers can browse projects, select projects to fund, and donate money, or goods and services to fund the project. In the spirit of giving, the creator of a new project may also be required to make a donation or pledge to an existing project in order to have the new project published.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130172072 A1, published on Jul. 4, 2013 to Isac for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING CHARITABLE DONATIONS. However, it differs from the present invention because Isac teaches a system and method for facilitating charitable donations. A first possible outcome of a game is associated with a first charity, online wagers against the first possible outcome are accepted and in response to the first possible outcome actually occurring, all, or a portion, of the wagered sums are electronically credited to an account associated with the first charity.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130103603 A1, published on Apr. 25, 2013 to Merriman for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING. However, it differs from the present invention because Merriman teaches a system and method of making a charitable donation on a mobile device that includes reading a code with the mobile device and requesting code related content in response to reading the code. The code related content is received from a server, the code related content comprising at least one short code associated with a charitable organization. In some embodiments, additional content may be provided to provide incentive to the user to make a donation. At least one of a SMS or MMS message is sent using the short code to make a donation to the charitable organization.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130085956 A1, published on Apr. 4, 2013 to Maloney, et al. for METHOD OF DONATING TO A CHARITY VIA AN EVENT OUTCOME. However, it differs from the present invention because Maloney, et al. teaches a system and method to facilitate donating to a charity with a donation level linked to the outcome of a specific event or series of events. Participants raising money for a charity log onto a website where they select a charity, an event and a performance based wager. A donor, planning to contribute to a charity, logs onto the same website, and selects a charity, an event and a participant, and agrees to participate in the wager proposed by the participant. The donor authorizes payment of the proposed wager to the charity dependent on the participant performance. Participants may be individuals, teams or individual members of a team. The charities may be any registered or recognized charity. The events may be any on which a quantifiable prediction may be made. Donors may be individuals, corporations, associations, partnerships, special interest groups or fan clubs.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20130053138 A1, published on Feb. 28, 2013 to Pereira, et al. for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING DONATIONS TO PLAY COMPUTER GAME. However, it differs from the present invention because Pereira, et al. teaches a computer-implemented method for providing a computer game such as, for example, a social network game that includes steps of hosting the game at a server, receiving a request from a player to play the game, enabling game play, requesting a donation from the player to continue play or to enable access to a game feature, and continuing game play or enabling access to the game feature only if the donation is received. A donation request screen may be displayed at the transition from one completed game level to a successive game level, when the game is over, or at any other time during game play. Multiple donation amounts may be specified on the donation request screen, each donation amount providing a different number of game credits. This method enables donations to be collected for a charitable entity while playing computer games. The method also raises social awareness through game play.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20100030564 A1, published on Feb. 4, 2010 to Castineiras for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING A FUNDRAISING RAFFLE. However, it differs from the present invention because Castineiras teaches a system and method for conducting a fundraising raffle venture between a sponsor and a fundraiser. The fundraiser offers raffle tickets to others, collects raffle revenue, and arranges a drawing to select a winner. The revenue is distributed as a jackpot to the winner and as gain to the sponsor. The sponsor may identify contacts and the fundraiser may send to the contacts promotional messages for the raffle. The promotional messages may be composed by, or merely previewed and edited by, the sponsor. The raffle venture may specify initial proportions for distribution of revenue to the sponsor and the fundraiser. The proportions may be adjusted before the drawing. The method may be practiced via a website and may include establishing a sponsor web page that optionally contains content uploaded by the sponsor. There may be a blog site, an online social networking site and a webcast of the drawing.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20090024528 A1, published on Jan. 22, 2009 to Otero for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARITABLE FUND RAISING IN CONJUNCTION WITH GAME-OF-CHANCE PARTICIPATION BY DONORS. However, it differs from the present invention because Otero teaches a method for making a contribution to a charitable organization through a financial transactions device by a participant having an account with a financial institution accessible through the financial transaction device. The method comprising: (a) the participant conducting a financial transaction at the financial transactions device, the financial transaction involving the financial institution; (b) the participant solicited to make a contribution to the charitable organization through the financial transactions device; (c) the participant making the contribution by deduction from the participant's account at the financial institution; (d) crediting the contribution to an account of the charitable organization; (e) soliciting the participant to participate in a game of chance through the financial transactions device; (f) the participant selecting a game entry object or automatically receiving the game entry object; (g) closing participation in the game of chance; (h) selecting a game winning object; (i) comparing the participant's game entry object with the game winning object; (j) declaring the participant to be a winner if there is a predetermined relationship between the game entry object and the game winning object; and (k) crediting a prize amount, if any, to the participant's account.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20050004867 A1, published on Jan. 6, 2005 to Spector for NETWORK-BASED DONATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. However, it differs from the present invention because Spector teaches techniques for network-based management and tracking of donations and associated donation information. More specifically, a donation management system that comprises a group manager module and a donation manager module. The group manager module presents a user interface with which a donor interacts to create a private donation group. Donors may join the private donation group by invitation only and the private donation group generally limits non-member donors from viewing information regarding the private donation group. The donation manager module receives electronic donations from members of the private donation group via a computer network. As such, the donation management system provides a comprehensive and adaptive approach to managing donations in a secure and private manner.
Applicant believes that one of the closest references corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,239,259 B2 issued to Borst, et al. on Aug. 7, 2012 for DONATIONS IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT. However, it differs from the present invention because Borst, et al. teaches a donation aspect for a website, whereby amounts of donations are limited and users are given awards based on their donations.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,870,067 B2 issued to Crowl on Jan. 11, 2011 for DONATION SYSTEM. However, it differs from the present invention because Crowl teaches a donation system that would encourage registered individuals to make small contributions to a charity or political campaign (or cause of their choice) as well as facilitate the process of doing so. The system provides a central location for all donation activity and works as a "contribution bundler" to empower those otherwise disempowered in the political marketplace. The system also acts as a "Civic Marketplace" that gives citizens a central location to turn to for civic information. The system provides safety features for registered users.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,884 B1 issued to Kelton, et al. on May 4, 2004 for E-CRITTER GAME FOR TEACHING PERSONAL VALUES AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO A CHILD. However, it differs from the present invention because Kelton, et al. teaches an Internet-based game for teaching personal values and financial responsibility to a child that includes interactive game events, an adventure story activity with selectable story elements, a scoring system awarding a virtual collectible creature having artificial intelligence characteristics and characteristics mimicking a financial instrument, and indicia of account information.
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.


A flexible configurationally conformable camouflaging and insulating cover for an exposed compressed gas tank having a colored semi-opaque camouflaging exterior covering and an inner insulating layer supported spacedly adjacent the tank by plural spacers. Air passage spaces between the tank and the inner insulating layer formed by the spacers allows circulation of air therethrough to cool the tank and dissipate any heat absorbed by the cover and the tank.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to protective covers, and more particularly to a camouflaging and insulating flexible protective cover for compressed gas tanks.
2. Background and Description of Prior Art
Petroleum gas, such as propane, is a common heating fuel for residences, shops, swimming pools and the like because of its efficiency, environmental friendliness and low cost. In locales where gaseous heating fuel cannot be supplied via underground pipes, it is stored on site in large aboveground tanks that are regularly filled by vendors using commercial vehicles.
Residential and commercial propane tanks are large commonly having 120, 250, 500, 1,000 and 1,500 gallon capacities and are typically elongate cylinders with hemispherical ends supported above a supporting surface on short legs. A valve assembly, commonly on a top portion of the cylinder and protected by a sturdy hinged cover, regulates the flow of pressurized propane from the tank to a spacedly adjacent propane appliance such as a furnace.
Almost universally, propane tanks are painted with a coating having a highly reflective white color to minimize heat absorption which leads to thermal expansion of the propane and increased pressure in the tank. Further, pressure relief valves that open and vent propane to the atmosphere when the pressure in the tank exceeds a safety threshold (typically 250 PSI) are required on all large residential and commercial propane tanks by Fire Codes.
Heat absorption, due to high ambient temperatures and exposure to direct sunlight, is a common cause of venting. To reduce the frequency of venting, industry practice limits filling of propane tanks to 80% of maximum capacity so that volume expansion caused by temperature increases can be accommodated without exceeding the safety threshold of the pressure relief valve.
The shape, the size and the highly reflective white color tend to make propane tanks unsightly and aesthetically unappealing and these features are perceived as drawbacks by customers. These drawbacks are exacerbated because propane tanks must be located in close proximity to the appliances and structures using the propane due to propane plumbing requirements and due to the need for vehicular access to the tank for refilling.
The unsightliness of propane tanks causes many people to cover or otherwise camouflage the tanks despite Fire Codes and Regulations that may prohibit such covers and camouflaging. Unfortunately, many of the methods, devices and apparatus used to cover and camouflage tanks increase heat absorption, the likelihood of venting, the risk of fires and the risk of explosions. Further, many of the methods, devices and apparatus used to cover and camouflage tanks are permanent or semi-permanent and difficult to remove which hinders inspection of the tank seams by service personnel during refilling. Industry practice encourages all service personnel to visually inspect all tank seams for corrosion, rust and evidence of any problems every time a tank is filled and/or serviced.
A cover is needed for exposed residential and commercial size propane tanks that camouflages and obscures the tank and blends with the surroundings, while simultaneously minimizing heat absorption and heat transfer from the cover to the tank to reduce the likelihood of venting.
The prior art discloses various apparatus and systems for covering and insulating small barbecue size propane tanks, and at least one rigid picket fence-like structure attachable to a large upright propane tank to screen the tank from view. However, the known prior art does not provide a method, device or an apparatus that overcomes the obtrusiveness and unsightliness of large white cylindrical propane tanks proximate to places where people tend to gather, such as swimming pool areas. The known prior art does not provide a means to camouflage such tanks or cause the tank to blend into its surroundings. Further, the known prior art does not provide a means to cover and camouflage such tanks while simultaneously reducing the likelihood of venting by reducing heat absorption.
The present invention seeks to overcome these and other drawbacks to exposed propane tanks and to known propane tank covers by providing a multi-layer flexible configurationally conformable propane tank cover that uses colors and patterns to obscure, camouflage and conceal otherwise obtrusive propane tanks. The present invention provides an inner insulating layer between a camouflaging exterior cover and the propane tank that minimizes heat transfer from the cover to the tank and further provides for air conducting spaces, through which air may move by means of confection or otherwise, between the inner insulating layer and the tank.
My invention does not reside in any one of the identified features individually but rather in the synergistic combination of all of its structures, which give rise to the functions necessarily flowing therefrom as hereinafter claimed.

Camouflaging and insulating cover for compressed gas tanks


This disclosure provides ActRII-binding proteins such as anti-ActRIIA and anti-ActRIIB antibodies, and compositions and methods for making the ActRII-binding proteins. In certain aspects the ActRII-binding proteins inhibit, or antagonize ActRII activity. In addition, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions associated muscle wasting; a fibrotic condition; an inflammatory, cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurologic, ocular, skeletal, autoimmune, or metabolic disease or condition; wound healing; and cancer, and other ActRII-mediated diseases and conditions.

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family contains a variety of growth factors that are known to exert biological effects on a large variety of cell types in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Members of the TGF-beta family perform important functions during embryonic development in pattern formation and tissue specification and can influence a variety of differentiation processes, including adipogenesis, myogenesis, chondrogenesis, cardiogenesis, hematopoiesis, neurogenesis, and epithelial cell differentiation. The family includes proteins that are variously described as Growth and Differentiation Factors (GDFs), Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), activins and inhibins.
TGF-beta family members transduce signals through a mechanism that includes a multistep process in which the TGF-beta family member binds a type II serine/threonine kinase receptor expressed on the cell surface, the type II receptor forms a heteromeric complex with a cognate type I receptor and activates the type I receptor through phosphorylation, the activated type-I receptor phosphorylates and activates Smad proteins that transduce the signal from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and nuclear Smad oligomers bind to DNA and associate with transcription factors to regulate the expression of target genes.
Two related type II TGF-beta receptor family members, ActRIIB and ActRIIA, have been identified as type II receptors for activin A and activin B and other TGF-beta family members including BMP7, BMP9, BMP10, GDF1, GDF3, GDF8 (myostatin), GDF11, and Nodal (Yamashita et al., J. Cell Biol. 130:217-226 (1995); Lee et al., PNAS 98:9306-9311 (2001); Yeo et al., Mol. Cell 7:949-957 (2001); and Oh et al., Genes Dev. 16:2749-54 (2002)). ALK4 and ALK7 are the primary type I TGF-beta receptor family member receptors for activin A and activin B, respectively.
Alterations in the expression and activity of members of the TGF-beta ligand and receptor families have been proposed to be associated with a variety of disorder and conditions including muscle, bone, neurological and metabolic disorders and conditions, and cancer. It is an object of this disclosure to provide ActRII antagonists and uses for the same in the diagnosis and treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of a disease or condition associated with ActRII and/or ActRII ligands.

Methods of increasing muscle mass by administration of activin type 2 receptor antibodies


Disclosed are techniques for performing an antivirus task in a mobile wireless device running an embedded operating system. In one embodiment, calls intended for an application programming interface (API) function code is redirected to an antivirus function code. The redirection to the antivirus function code may be performed by modifying a kernel structure to point to a modified entry list instead of an API entry list. The redirection to the antivirus function code may also be performed by modifying the API function code to allow the antivirus function code to execute before the API function code. The kernel structure or the API function code may be properly restored back to its original form. Software implementations of these techniques may be readily loaded and unloaded, and may not require re-installation of the embedded operating system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to antivirus systems, and more particularly but not exclusively to methods and apparatus for performing antivirus tasks in mobile wireless devices.
2. Description of the Background Art
Mobile wireless devices become more sophisticated with advances in technology. For example, some mobile telephones, referred to as "smart phones," now have processing and data storage resources to accommodate photos, videos, music, calendars, and other functions previously performed by general-purpose computers. Some smart phones also have the capability to exchange data with general-purpose computers and other telephones. Although connectivity with other devices has obvious benefits, it also brings with it security problems, such as exposure to computer viruses.
Computer viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware are examples of malicious codes that have plagued computer systems throughout the world. Although there are technical differences between each type of malicious code, malicious codes are commonly collectively referred to as "viruses." For example, commercially available "antivirus software" is designed to scan a computer for viruses as well as worms and other malicious codes. While effective antivirus software is generally available for general purpose computers, this is not the case for smart phones. The somewhat limited computing resources of smart phones are optimized to handle telephone communications. Accordingly, smart phones run embedded operating systems, such as the Microsoft Windows Mobile™ platform. Unfortunately, conventional techniques for performing antivirus tasks in general purpose computers cannot be effectively used in smart phones running embedded operating systems.

Method and apparatus for performing antivirus tasks in a mobile wireless device


A straddle electric vehicle comprises a seat on which a rider is seated in a straddle state; right and left foot steps on which the rider puts feet, an electric motor for generating driving power for moving the straddle electric vehicle; a battery unit which is an electric power supply for activating the electric motor; and a battery case for storing the battery unit. The battery case is placed between the steering shaft and the seat in a forward or rearward direction and includes a seat vicinity portion which faces the seat in the forward or rearward direction. The seat vicinity portion is smaller in dimension in a rightward or leftward direction than a portion of the battery case which is other than the seat vicinity portion.

In recent years, a straddle electric vehicle which incorporates an electric motor as a driving power source has been developed. In a straddle electric motorcycle which is an example of the straddle electric vehicle, a rider straddling a vehicle body puts soles of the rider's feet on a pair of right and left foot steps at the lower portion of the vehicle, and sandwiches the outer surface of the vehicle body with knees to stabilize a driving attitude (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).


A video decoder that operates according to MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standards. The video decoder includes a parsing stage including inverse quantization and run-length decoding. An inverse transform stage and a compensating stage are then performed. Run-length decoding is performed just prior to the inverse transform stage and after the inverse quantization reducing the total number of pipelines and reducing the number of buffers.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video decoder according to MPEG-2, 11/1993 (Moving Picture Experts Group) standards. More specifically, it relates to a video decoder which performs the step of run-length decoding just before the step of inverse transformation so that the number of pipelines can be reduced and also the number of buffers can be reduced.
(2) Description of the Prior art
The growth of multimedia is based on the image compression techniques and progress in digitization. New techniques for digitizing data has been developing rapidly. Accordingly, image compression techniques, which are the basis for the growth of multimedia, are becoming more and more important.
MPEG, which was born in such a technical environment, is the international standards for the compression and encodement of a digital dynamic image, MPEG is an essential technique in the multimedia environment.
MPEG standardization is related to MPEG Video, MPEG Audio and MPEG systems. MPEG Video standardizes algorithms for compressing a video signal. MPEG Audio standardizes algorithms for compressing an audio signal. MPEG system addresses problems of synchronizing and multiplexing the compressed video and audio bit streams for multi-stages.
A function of MPEG is to remove redundancy between frames. MPEG adds to the frame compression functions of JPEG (Joint Photograph Experts Group), standards for compressing static images.
Before describing a video decoder that performs to MPEG standards, the process of encoding an MPEG video signal will is explained.
The process of encoding an MPEG video signal comprises the steps of preprocessing, transformation, quantization, and variable length coding.
In the step of preprocessing, digital image data is sampled or filtered causing a screen to have a prescribed size.
The step of transformation draws relationship between data. Waveform coding such as adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM), and transformation coding using discrete cosine transformation (DCT) are widely used in the transformation step.
If the discrete cosine transformation method is used, a phenomenon appears in which correlation between the calculated coefficients is little and energy is concentrated into low frequencies. In this case, if processing is performed in the subsequent quantization step, an image of high quality can be obtained with high compressibility.
In the step of quantization, transformed data is represented by a restricted number of bits to reduce data size.
In the step of variable length coding, the data values which, statistically, appear frequently are represented by a small number of bits, data values which appear rarely are represented by a large number of bits. Thus, the total number of bits is reduced.
Bit streams, which are obtained in the above step of variable length coding, are packeted, then recorded in recording media such as a compact disk (CD) or a hard disk, or transmitted through a cable transmission channel or a radio communication channel.
Bit streams, which are recorded or transmitted as above, are reproduced into a video signal by an MPEG video decoder.
In the following, a prior art MPEG video decoder will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional MPEG video decoder. As shown in FIG. 2, a prior art MPEG video decoder comprises: a syntax parser 210, a variable length decoder 212, run-length decoder 214 and a parameter decoder 216, all of which perform the step of parsing. A block buffer 220 interfaces the steps of parsing and of inverse quantization; an inverse quantizer 230 and an inverse scanner 232, all of which perform the step of inverse quantization. A block buffer 240 interfaces the steps of inverse quantization and of inverse transformation. An inverse discrete cosine transformer 250 which performs the step of inverse transformation. A macro block buffer 260 interfaces the steps of inverse transformation and of compensation. A motion compensator 270 performs the step of compensation.
As described above, a prior art MPEG video decoder has four pipeline stages including the steps of parsing, inverse quantization, inverse transformation, and compensation.
An MPEG video decoder which has the above structure performs decoding in the following order:
Syntax parser 210.fwdarw.Variable length decoder 212.fwdarw.Run-length decoder 214.fwdarw.Block buffer 220.fwdarw.Inverse quantizer 230.fwdarw.Inverse scanner 232.fwdarw.Block buffer 240.fwdarw.Inverse discrete cosine transformer 250.fwdarw.Macro block buffer 260.fwdarw.Motion compensator 270.
If decoding is performed in such order, three buffers are required, and the total number of pipeline stages will be four. If the number of pipeline stages is larger, control will be more complex and a larger number of buffers are required.


An electrical apparatus for powering an electrical machine with two different energy sources includes an electrical drive system having a battery and a super capacitor, and an electrical machine, wherein the electrical machine includes a rotor, a first separate multi-phase stator winding and a second separate multi-phase stator winding, wherein the drive system includes a first multi-phase bridge inverter connected to the first multi-phase stator winding, and wherein the apparatus further includes a second multi-phase bridge inverter connected to the second multi-phase stator winding and to the battery, where the first multi-phase bridge inverter is connected to a super capacitor, and where the drive system includes a switch adapted to connect and disconnect the DC links of the first multi-phase bridge inverter to and from the second multi-phase bridge inverter. The super capacitor can be used to both deliver and absorb transient power peaks which can prevent the battery from exposure of the power peaks which can improve the battery life.

The present invention relates to an electrical apparatus for powering an electrical machine and further to a method for powering an electrical machine. The apparatus is suitable for electric vehicles and other machines comprising an electrical machine.
The share of hybrid or full electric vehicles is expected to radically increase in the next 10 to 20 years. A fundamental limitation with such vehicles is the durability of the electrochemical traction batteries. Such batteries do have a limited lifetime, expressed in the number of charging/recharging cycles they may sustain and the Depth Of Discharge (DOD) that these cycles may use. A fully charged battery that is discharged e.g. 10% of its charging capacity and then recharged again may allow repeating this sequence hundreds of thousand times, maybe even millions of times. If the same battery is discharged e.g. 70% of its capacity and then recharged again, the corresponding lifetime may be only a few thousand repetitions. This means that if the DOD is increased 5-10 times, the lifetime is reduced at least 50-100 times, i.e. the total converted energy in a lifetime is reduced about 10 times. Another limitation is related to the average power used related to the energy storage capacity. With increasing power-to-energy ratio the battery lifetime, expressed as number of cycles, is also decreased. This aspect of the battery lifetime is to a large extent related to the use of the battery to provide peak power to the vehicle drive train when accelerating or to absorb peak power from the vehicle drive train when decelerating or braking. A well-known way of taking the burden of peak power off the electrochemical battery is to complement it with additional energy storage, like a flywheel or a Super Capacitor. In that case it is possible to let the Super capacitor deliver the high power peaks at e.g. acceleration (which a Super Capacitor is suitable for) and let the battery take the responsibility for the longer average supply of power and energy, thus limiting the power-to-energy ratio of the battery and extending the battery lifetime.
The energy content of a Super Capacitor has a quadratic dependence of the capacitor voltage. To use the Super Capacitor capacity it is thus required to connect it to the drive system in a way that allows a relatively large voltage variation, e.g. from a maximum voltage down to half the maximum voltage, which would give access to about 75% of the energy storage capacity. This means that some kind of converter arrangement is needed to make this adaption.
Since the Super capacitor is expected to deliver peak power, the power rating of this converter must be equal to the system peak power. This adds cost and complexity to the electric drive system.
There is thus a need for an improved system for powering an electrical machine using two energy sources. One of them is preferably adapted to function as a high power density "burst source" and the other is preferably adapted to function as a high energy density "continuous source".
It is desirable to provide an improved arrangement for powering an electrical machine in a system comprising two different energy sources and an electrical machine having two separate stator windings. It is also desirable to provide an improved method for controlling the power to each winding of an electrical machine, in a system comprising two different energy sources and an electrical machine having two separate stator windings.
In an electrical apparatus for powering an electrical machine from two different energy sources, comprising an electrical drive system having a battery and a super capacitor, and an electrical machine, wherein the electrical machine comprises a rotor, a first separate multi-phase stator winding and a second separate multi-phase stator winding, the drive system comprises a first multi-phase bridge inverter connected to the first multi-phase stator winding, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second multi-phase bridge inverter connected to the second multi-phase stator winding and to the battery, where the first multi-phase bridge inverter is connected to a super capacitor, and where the drive system comprises a switch adapted to connect and disconnect the first multi-phase bridge inverter to and from the second multi-phase bridge inverter.
By this first embodiment of the electrical apparatus for powering an electrical machine according to the invention, a method for powering an electrical machine having two stator windings with two bridge inverters used for charging the battery is obtained. The electrical machine comprises a rotor and two separate multi-phase stator windings and the drive system comprises two multi-phase bridge inverters, where one multi-phase bridge inverter is connected to one multi-phase stator winding and the super capacitor and where the other multi-phase bridge inverter is connected to the other multi-phase stator winding and to the battery. A switch is arranged between the DC links of the two multi-phase bridge inverters. The switch is adapted to connect and disconnect the DC side of the two multi-phase bridge inverters to and from each other, depending on driving preferences. In this way, the electrical machine cart be powered from either the battery alone or from a combination of the battery and the super capacitor.
In normal driving conditions, the two multi-phase bridge inverters are connected in parallel, powering the two stator windings simultaneously from the battery. In this way, the battery delivers most of the tractive power, and the super capacitor only delivers energy corresponding to smaller changes in the DC link voltage due to charge and load dependent voltage variations of the battery. During transient operations, the first and the second multi-phase bridge inverters are disconnected from each other, such that the first stator winding is powered by the super capacitor through the first multi-phase bridge inverter and the second stator winding is powered by the battery through the second multi-phase bridge inverter. The transient power will be taken with first priority form the Super Capacitor and if that power is not enough the battery will supply additional power requirements. The current delivered by the battery is dependent on the state of charge of the super capacitor. Such a condition is e.g. the acceleration of an electrical vehicle. When the throttle is pressed down, a specific dynamic power is demanded by the drive system. To protect the battery from the high peak power in this instant, as large part of the transient power as possible is provided by the super capacitor. The battery power is ramped up at a rate suitable for the battery and when the transient power peak is over, the battery continues to provide the continuous power flow.
The super capacitor can also be used to absorb transient power during regenerative braking. By disconnecting the first and second multi-phase bridge inverters, the initial transient power generated can be directed to the super capacitor, which will absorb the transient power. If the regenerative braking continuous, the switch may connect the two multi-phase bridge inverters when the voltage of the super capacitor is the same as the voltage of the battery, in order to continue to absorb the more constant charging current. It is also be possible to let the two multi-phase bridge inverters be disconnected and to absorb more regenerative energy in the super capacitor, such that the voltage of the super capacitor is higher than the voltage of the battery. When the vehicle is to accelerate again, i.e. when a transient power is required, the super capacitor will be able to deliver the required power. In driving conditions where a lot of start and stop occurs, such as driving in a town, it may be advantageous to use the two multi-phase bridge inverters in a separated manner most of the time. The use of a super capacitor will reduce the transient power that the battery has to deliver and receive, which helps to prolong the life of the battery. Further, the drivability of an electric vehicle comprising such an electrical system will also improve.
In order to facilitate connecting the battery to the super capacitor when the super capacitor is relatively empty, a connecting device able to limit the current between the battery and the super capacitor may be used to connect the two multi-phase bridge inverters. In this way, the charging current to the super capacitor is limited, thus protecting both the battery and the connecting device.
In the inventive method for powering an electrical machine by using an electrical drive system comprising a first and a second multi-phase bridge inverters, a battery and a super capacitor, wherein the electrical machine comprises a rotor and first and second separate multi-phase stator windings that are magnetically coupled to each other, and where the battery is connected to the second multi-phase bridge inverter and the super capacitor is connected to the first multi-phase bridge inverter, the steps of feeding energy from the battery to the second multi-phase stator winding through the second multi-phase bridge inverter, feeding energy from the super capacitor to the first multi-phase stator winding through the first multi-phase bridge inverter, and connecting or disconnecting the two multi-phase bridge inverters to or from each other with a switch depending on at least one predefined driving condition, such that energy is fed from the battery (8) to the first multi-phase stator winding (4) through the first multi-phase bridge inverter (6) when the two multi-phase bridge inverters are connected, are comprised.
In this method, an electrical machine is powered from one or two different energy sources, depending on the driving conditions. During steady-state operation, the battery powers the electrical machine, and in transient operations, a super capacitor is used in parallel with the battery in order to supply high power peaks to the electrical machine.

Electrical apparatus and method for powering an electrical machine


A surrounding image generating apparatus changes a viewpoint of images around a vehicle, taken by multiple image pickup devices mounted at different positions along the vehicle, to generate a surrounding image of the areas around the vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint located above the vehicle. The surrounding image generating apparatus includes a metering area determining unit determining at least one overlapping area in which the shooting areas of the image pickup devices are overlapped with each other to be a metering area for at least part of the image pickup devices; an exposure calculating unit focusing metering on the metering area for the at least part of the image pickup devices to calculate an appropriate exposure of each of the image pickup devices; and a surrounding image generating unit generating the surrounding image by using image signals generated in accordance with the calculated exposures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surrounding image generating apparatuses and methods of adjusting metering for image pickup devices. Particularly, the present invention is preferably applied to a surrounding image generating apparatus that generates a surrounding image of a plurality of areas located around a vehicle, viewed from a virtual viewpoint located above the vehicle, and to a method of adjusting metering for multiple image pickup devices that are mounted along the perimeter of a vehicle to take images of the plurality of areas located around the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, technologies are proposed in which multiple cameras are mounted along the perimeters of vehicles and images around the vehicles, taken by the multiple cameras, are subjected to viewpoint change to generate and display surrounding images viewed from virtual viewpoints above the vehicles. Drivers can confirm the surrounding images displayed in display devices of the vehicles to see the positional relationship between the vehicles and surrounding obstacles in order to drive the vehicles so as to prevent, for example, collision of the vehicles with the obstacles.
Generally, in systems adopting the above technologies, front cameras mounted on the fronts of the vehicles take images of "shooting areas" ahead of the vehicles. Left-side cameras mounted on the left sides of the vehicles take images of shooting areas on the left sides of the vehicles. Right-side cameras mounted on the right sides of the vehicles take images of shooting areas on the right sides of the vehicles. Rear cameras mounted on the backs of the vehicles take images of shooting areas behind the vehicles. Surrounding images around the vehicles are generated on the basis of the images ahead of the vehicles, on the left sides of the vehicles, on the right sides of the vehicles, and behind the vehicles taken by the corresponding cameras.
Since the multiple cameras are mounted at different positions along the perimeters of the vehicles in such systems, the brightness of subjects can vary depending on the shooting areas of the multiple cameras. For example, if the right side of a vehicle is irradiated with sunlight, the shooting area on the right side of the vehicle is in the sun and becomes bright while the shooting area on the left side of the vehicle is in the shade and becomes dark. While a vehicle moves backward for parking in a garage, the shooting area behind the vehicle is in the garage and becomes dark while the other shooting areas are outside the garage and become bright. In such cases, the images taken by the multiple cameras differ in luminance.
When multiple images differing in the luminance are combined to generate a surrounding image showing the entire perimeter of the vehicle, there is a problem in that breaks caused by the difference in the luminance can be seen between the images in different directions to provide an image with discomfort and poor visibility. It is difficult to combine the images taken by the multiple cameras in such a manner that any break caused by the difference in the luminance cannot be shown under various conditions differing in the position of the Sun, the weather, and the surrounding environment.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3286306 discloses a technology of calculating a color of the pixel corresponding to a point P in the three-dimensional space, viewed from a virtual viewpoint above a vehicle, by using the colors of the point P in images that are taken by multiple cameras and that are associated with the point P in order to easily combine the images from all around the vehicle into one surrounding image so as to be close to the reality.
However, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3286306, there is a problem in that the color of the pixel corresponding to the point P cannot be appropriately adjusted to bring discomfort if the point P viewed from the virtual viewpoint is not associated with the images taken by the multiple cameras. In addition, there is also a problem in that it takes a significant time to perform the calculation because the color of each pixel must be calculated.

Surrounding image generating apparatus and method of adjusting metering for image pickup device


The described embodiments include a cache controller with a prediction mechanism in a cache. In the described embodiments, the prediction mechanism is configured to perform a lookup in each table in a hierarchy of lookup tables in parallel to determine if a memory request is predicted to be a hit in the cache, each table in the hierarchy comprising predictions whether memory requests to corresponding regions of a main memory will hit the cache, the corresponding regions of the main memory being smaller for tables lower in the hierarchy.

1. Field
The described embodiments relate to caches in electronic devices. More specifically, the described embodiments relate to a technique for predicting the outcomes of memory requests in a cache memory.
2. Related Art
Many modern computing devices (e.g., laptop/desktop computers, smart phones, set-top boxes, appliances, etc.) include a processing subsystem with one or more caches. Caches are generally smaller, fast-access memory circuits located in or near the processing subsystem that can be used to store data that is retrieved from lower levels of a memory hierarchy in the computing device (i.e., other, larger caches and/or memories) to enable faster access to the stored data.
During operation in such computing devices, memory requests are sent to a cache in an attempt to quickly resolve the memory requests. When attempts to resolve memory requests in the cache fail (i.e., when the memory requests "miss" in the cache), the memory requests are forwarded to a lower level of the memory hierarchy to be resolved. Because determining that the memory request has missed in the cache takes time and fruitlessly consumes resources (e.g., bandwidth on signal busses, processing time in the cache, etc.), misses in caches are undesirable.

Predicting outcomes for memory requests in a cache memory


An object of the present invention is to provide a charge stripping film in a charge stripping device of an ion beam, which has high heat resistance and no toxicity, with which there is no risk of activation, with which an ion beam can be made multivalent even if the charge stripping film is thin, and which is resistant to high-energy beam radiation over an extended period of time. The present invention comprises a charge stripping film used in a device which strips a charge of an ion beam, wherein the charge stripping film is a rotary charge stripping film comprising a carbon film having a thermal conductivity of 20 W/mK or more in a film surface direction at 25° C., and a film thickness of the carbon film is more than 3 μm and less than 10 μm. The present invention also comprises a charge stripping film used in a device which strips a charge of an ion beam, wherein the charge stripping film is a rotary charge stripping film comprising a carbon film produced by a polymer annealing method, and a film thickness of the carbon film is more than 3 μm and less than 10 μm.

In order to efficiently accelerate a beam in an ion beam accelerator, it is necessary to strip electrons from ions to adjust into an intended valence. A charge stripping film plays an important role for stripping electrons from ions to adjust into an appropriate valence. Liquid lithium, beryllium, a carbon film, a carbon-boron composite film, a carbon nanotube composite film, and a carbon-organic composite film have been reported as charge stripping films (Non-Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 also reports that a carbon film is vapor-deposited on a vapor-deposited substrate obtained by vacuum-depositing nickel chloride on a glass substrate by arc discharge or the like, and the film is used as a charge stripping film. In addition, Patent Document 2 also reports a carbon-boron composite film as a charge stripping film.
Although carbon nanotube (CNT) composite films as disclosed in Patent Document 3 have high physical strength, they may be broken due to a long-time operation because of a low heat resistance, so that there is a problem in reliability such as necessity to stop the operation of the accelerator at each time (Non-Patent Document 2).
Further, in order to prevent a beam energy after passing through a charge stripping film from decreasing too much, a film thickness of the charge stripping film should be reduced, but on the other hand, when the film thickness becomes thin, a beam after passing through the film is difficult to be made multivalent. Furthermore, since an ion beam has high energy, a load applied to the charge stripping film is large, so that the charge stripping film is required to have durability. In order to improve the durability, attempts have been made to prevent the beam from being intensively irradiated to a specific portion of the charge stripping film by rotating the charge stripping film (Non-Patent Document 2).
Non-Patent Document 3 discloses the use of a gas stripper of hydrogen or helium for charge stripping.

Rotary charge stripping film in charge stripping device of ion beam and charge stripping method of ion beam


An air deodorizing apparatus for circulating and filtering air within a flush tank and bowl of a toilet includes a fan, annular air filter, and housing mounted within the toilet flush tank. The fan has a motor with a rotary output shaft and a fan blade mounted to the shaft and rotatable therewith for inducing a flow of air past the motor upon operation of the motor. The housing is mounted on an upper end of an overflow tank in the toilet flush tank. The housing supports the fan in axially aligned relation with the overflow pipe and mounts the annular air filter in concentric relation around the fan motor with the fan blade rotatable adjacent to the air flow inlet side of the annular filter. The apparatus also has an electrical power supply and switch connected to the fan motor and operable for controlling operation of the fan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to techniques for filtering odors from air in toilets and, more particularly, is concerned with an air deodorizing apparatus for circulating and filtering within a toilet flush tank and bowl.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior patent art, a wide variety of devices have been proposed for removing odors from air within a toilet flush tank and bowl. Representative examples of the prior art devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. to Huff (2,591,817), Tubbs (2,881,450) Martz (3,626,554), Zimmerman (3,763,505), Maisch et al (3,781,923), Pearson (3,939,506), and Werner (4,031,574).
The Tubbs and Werner patents, in particular, disclose toilet tank and bowl ventilator devices mounted to the upper end of the toilet tank overflow tube. The ventilator devices include an exhaust fan driven by an electric motor and mounted in communication with the overflow tube.
The Tubbs device exhausts the air from the overflow tube to the outside atmosphere via a stand pipe or the room. A push button provided on the front exterior of the tank for operating the motor is activated by a person on the toilet seat.
The Werner device exhaust the air from the overflow tube through a filter to the interior chamber of the tank between the tank cover and the surface of the water within the tank. The fan motor is operated by a battery mounted in the interior of the tank via a clip that fits over the top lip of the tank. An activating pushbutton switch is also mounted by the clip at the exterior of the tank. The switch has a time delay which shuts off the motor, for example, three minutes after it is turned on.
The ventilator devices of the Tibbs and Werner patents appear to be steps in the right direction toward providing a satisfactory way to minimize odors in toilets. However, it is perceived by the inventor herein that further improvements are still needed in the design of a ventilator device to provide an acceptable product.

Toilet flush tank and bowl air deodorizing apparatus


An apparatus is disclosed for manufacturing communication cables with improved, more uniform impedance characteristics at signal frequencies up to and above 600 MHz. The apparatus includes an "inside-out" rigid twisting machine and at least two bobbins supported within each such machine. Each rigid twisting machine includes a drive for spinning each of the bobbins about their respective axes, and fly-off arrangement is provided for flying off an insulated conductor wire wound on each of the bobbins with substantially no tension in the wire when the bobbin attains a first rotational speed. Guides are provided for guiding the wires from each of the bobbins to a closing point where the wires are closed. A double twist bow arrangement is provided which includes second drive for twisting the closed wires at a second rotational speed to form a twinned cable. Controls are provided for adjusting the first and second rotational speeds to apply a pre-twist to each of the wires about their individual neutral axes prior to twinning, after which a take-up is provided for taking up the twin cable. A bank or line of rigid twisting machines are preferably used to produce two or more twinned cables, which all can then be twinned or twisted about each other to form a multi-cable assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for the manufacture of high quality communication cables of the type including a single set or a plurality of sets of twisted wires.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Communication cables of the type that include a plurality of twisted wires are manufactured in either one stage or in two stages.
In the case where cables are manufactured in two stages, the twisted wires are first prepared by twisting the wires together by means of so-called twinning or pairing machines. Twisted wires are then made up into communications cables by means of for example, stationary take-ups, rotating take-ups (also called drum twisting machines) or other types of rotating equipment.
One form of equipment conventionally used for twisting two, three or four wires is the double twist machine. The resulting twisted elements are called pairs, triads or quads.
This equipment includes a bobbin cradle around which is arranged a rotatable frame or bow which is driven to turn around the cradle. Wires to be twisted may be supplied from bobbins on the bobbin cradle inside the twinning cage and taken up on a take-up reel outside the twinning cage. The aforementioned arrangement is referred to as an "inside-out" machine. The wires to be twisted may also be supplied from outside the twisting cage and taken up on a bobbin arranged within the bobbin cradle. The latter configuration is sometimes referred to as an "outside-in" machine.
Outside-in machines are generally preferred in individual twisting machines since the wire may be supplied from storage facilities of simple construction and greater capacity. In this case, the bobbin cradle within the twisting cage is also required to hold only a single bobbin. The outside-in machine is also readily adaptable to use with a greater number of wires.
If communication cables are made in one stage, the apparatus generally employs a plurality of twisting machines, or heads of the "inside-out" type.
The twisted elements so manufactured are directed to any type of take-up (e.g., stationary or rotating take-ups, single or double twist machines, capstan or extrusion lines) for laying up twisted wires to form a communication cable. This is done in one operation.
The plurality of double twist twisting machines can be arranged horizontally or vertically, depending on the preferred plant layout.
One typical example of such an installation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,579 assigned to the assignee of the subject application.
It is well-known in the art that the lay obtained with double twist actions is not perfectly regular and, if longer lays are used, some irregularity in the position of the cores in the twisted elements have to be accepted in order to achieve higher speed of manufacture. These irregularities in the lays do not cause problems in communication cables such as low frequency telephone cables used in standard telephone applications since the perfect constancy of the lays and in the relative position of the individual wires in each element (pair, triad or quad) are not that critical.
With the advent of high speed data transmission, especially for computer use and other applications, the frequencies required are much higher and therefore standard pairs, triads or quads acceptable in telephone networks cannot be used in such high frequency applications.
It is well known, for example, that the characteristic impedance of an n-wire cable is a function not only of the diameters of the individual conductors but also a function of the spacing or distances between the conductors. Matched impedances are critical at high frequencies to optimize power transfer, reduce line reflections which cause deterioration of signal integrity and optimize the useful frequency band width for which the cable can be used.
It has been proven that, for example, the characteristic impedance of pairs can change drastically at different frequencies around its theoretical average. Cables utilizing high quality pairs have been produced for use in communication local area networks (LANs) with a maximum useful frequency of 100 MHz. This, in the industry, is called a Level or Category 5 cable. The specification for these cables requires, for example, that the nominal characteristic impedance of 100 Ohms can only vary between 85 and 115 Ohms from 0 to 100 MHz.
The industry is already requiring twisted elements, especially pairs, that will maintain their electrical characteristics up to and above 600 MHz. This is normally called an "enhanced" Category 5 or Category 6 communication cable.
In order to produce pairs, triads or quads that can operate satisfactorily at these frequencies, it is necessary to produce a cable in which the individual elements or wires of each pair, triad or quad ideally be maintained substantially in the same desired positions relative to each other so that the electrical characteristics of the pair, triad or quad vary within specified ranges along the length of the cable.
One acceptable way of achieving this has been to shorten the lays of the elements in order to manufacture an element that is mechanically more stable. This approach has, however, reduced the productivity of the equipment since there are physical limitations on the rotational speeds of the bows used in double twist machines.
Another approach for maintaining the mechanical integrity of assembled cable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,039, assigned to the assignee of the subject application, which uses a group twinner in which each wire twister includes an internal tape dispenser for taping the wire pairs before assembly of the cable.
A still further approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,151 for a twisted parallel cable intended for high frequency transmission use that includes a plurality of insulated conductors that are twisted to form a pair. The pairs of adjoining insulated conductors are encased within a thermoplastic, fluorocopolymer or rubber type material.
However, "physically" maintaining the relative positions of the individual wires along the length of the cable is not sufficient as the frequency of operation is pushed higher and higher, where factors not visible at lower frequencies become important considerations. Because impedance is a function of the spacing between the conductors, variations in the eccentricities of the conductors within their insulating sheaths also impact on the spacings between the conductors. In most cases, the conductors are never precisely concentric in relation to their exterior insulations, most conductors being within the range of 88% to 95% concentricity. This means, however, that there is more insulation on one side of a conductor than on the other, thus creating physical bumps or high spots, on one side, and low points, on the other. Because two forces are created when two wires are twisted, one that twists the wires and the other that is directed toward the center, a twisted pair will typically arrange the individual wires to be in abutment at the thinnest portions of the insulation. These regions of reduced interconductor spacing create corresponding regions of lower impedance. As suggested, at lower frequencies such low spots caused by variations in eccentricity are not consequential. However, as the wavelength of the signal frequencies approach the distances between such low spots this problem becomes more significant. As data transfer is pushed from 100 megabits/sec. to 600 megabits/sec any deviations that effect the electrical properties of the twisted conductors are as significant as the factors that maintain the mechanical integrity of the cable.
It has been observed that by torsioning the individual wires about their own neutral axes prior to twinning the high and low spots on the twinned wires are made to shift along the cable, this having the effect of averaging or smoothing out impedance variations and having beneficial results on the overall cable, reducing structural return losses (SRLs) as well as the impedance fluctuations over the anticipated frequency ranges. See, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2 which show the impedance and SRL characteristics of a cable made with a planetary machine, which provides full or 100% backtwist on the individual wires prior to twinning, and FIGS. 3 and 4, showing the impedance and SRL characteristics of a cable made on a rigid machine with a zero backtwist. These differences can best be explained by referenced to FIGS. 5 and 6.
In FIG. 5 a pair of insulated wires 10, 12 are shown in abutment or in contact with each other at a point or, more accurately, a helical line 14. For purposes of simplicity the conductor 10a of the wire 10 is shown to be perfectly concentric within the insulating sheath 10b (concentricity=100% or eccentricity=0). The conductor 12a of the wire 12, however, is eccentric in relation to the insulator 12b, the extent of eccentricity being defined as e=(t.sub.1 /t.sub.2 .times.100)%. As a result, the interconductor spacing S is less than the diameter of the wires, as it would be if both conductors were perfectly concentric. The wire 10 is labeled with a triangular marker 10c while the wire 12 is labeled with a dot marker 12c for establishing reference points of angular orientation of these wires about their own axes. The wire pair P in FIG. 6a develops a helix having a length I which is a function Do equal to the diameter described by the processed members, the amount of torsion being a function of the nature of the machine performing the twinning. For a rigid frame machine the torsion is: EQU Torsion=360.degree. L/[(.pi.D.sub.0).sup.2 +L.sup.2 ].sup.1/2 (1).
For a planetary machine the torsion is: EQU Torsion=360.degree. L/[(.pi.D.sub.0).sup.2 +L.sup.2 ].sup.1/2 -360.degree.(2).
It is evident from equations 1 and 2 that for very small diameter wires the torsion for a rigid-frame machine is about 360.degree. over one lay length (FIG. 6c), while that torsion is about 0.degree. for a planetary machine (FIG. 6d). In FIGS. 6c and 6d, each of the wires are illustrated at 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree., 270.degree. and 360.degree. intervals or positions along the helical twist, showing both how the individual wires have been torsioned about their axes and about themselves. With the rigid machine, the wires in FIG. 6c rotate equally about each other as well as about their individual axes so that the wires continue to contact along the same line 14. However, in FIG. 6d, for the planetary machine, the wires twist about themselves although they maintain their individual angular orientations fixed throughout the helix. For this reason the markers 10c, 12c remain fixed at the 12:00 o'clock positions along the helix while they are twisted about each other when made on a planetary machine.
From FIGS. 1 and 2 it is clear that the torsioning or rotating of the wires 10, 12 about their individual axes with a planetary machine (FIG. 1) improves the impedance characteristics of the twisted pair, reducing the impedance variation to approximately 10 Ohms over the frequency range of 0-100 Mhz, while the wires formed by a rigid machine (FIG. 3) provide much greater swings and exceeds UL specifications at a number of frequencies by dropping below 85 Ohms or exceeding 115 Ohms. While this suggests that high frequency pairs for Category 5 and 6 cables should be made on planetary machines, such machines are not the machines of choice for these applications, and rigid machines are used almost exclusively because of their better productivity for stranding, pairing, etc. However, rigid machines that pre-twist the individual wires prior to twinning, etc., have not been used with group twinners to efficiently produce high frequency cables that have enhanced high frequency products.

Pre-twist group twinner and method of manufacturing communication cables for high frequency use


The present invention provides a card connector in which heat dissipation of a card can be performed by means of a heatsink without requiring any operation of the heatsink by the consumer. The card connector comprises a heatsink for contacting one surface of the card that is inserted into a connector part, and a push rod for ejecting the card. The push rod has a cam having a first cam surface which acts so that the heatsink moves away from the one surface of the card at the time of the insertion of the card, and a second cam surface which acts so that the heatsink moves away from the one surface of the card during the ejection of the card.

For example, the card connector shown in FIG. 17 (see Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. H6-151004) is known as a conventional card connector of this type.
This card connector 101 is mounted on a circuit board PCB, and comprises a connector part 102 into which a card (not shown in the figure) such as a PCMCIA standard PC card is inserted, and an ejection mechanism 103 which ejects the card from the connector part 102. Furthermore, the ejection mechanism 103 comprises a cam arm 104 which is installed in the connector part 102 so that this cam arm can pivot and which ejects the card from the connector part 102 by pushing the front end (upper end in FIG. 17) of the card that is inserted into the connector part 102 to the rear, and a push rod 105 which is linked with the cam arm 104 and which can move linearly in the forward-rearward direction.
This card connector 101 is devised so that when a card is inserted into the connector part 102, the card and the circuit board PCB are electrically connected via the connector part 102. Furthermore, when the push rod 105 is caused to move forward linearly while the card is inserted in the connector part 102, the cam arm 104 pivots to push the front end of the card I a rearward direction, so that the card is ejected from the connector part 102.
Demand has increased in recent years for the use of the card connector 101 shown in FIG. 17 comprising an ejection mechanism, for example, in a subscriber-system television setup box. In a setup box, there are cases in which a card is connected to the card connector 101 for a long time because of the circumstances of the viewers. When a card is connected to the card connector 101 for a long time, there is a danger that the temperature of the card will be elevated, which will cause operational malfunction. Accordingly, there is a need for dissipating heat.
Methods for dissipating heat of a card include a method in which a card is caused to contact a heatsink, a method in which heat dissipation of a card is performed by means of a heat-dissipating fan, and the like. However, the method that uses a heat-dissipating fan is not suitable for dissipating heat of a card used in a setup box since the sound of the rotating heat-dissipating fan is annoying to the viewers.
Therefore, it is preferable to use a method for dissipating heat of a card by means of the method in which a card is caused to contact a heatsink. However, heat dissipation of the card cannot be performed in the card connector 101 shown in FIG. 17.
Meanwhile, the IC socket shown in FIG. 18 (see Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2001-24370) has conventionally been known as a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) type IC socket in which heat dissipation of an electronic component is performed by means of a heatsink.
This IC socket 201 comprises a housing 202 in which a plurality of socket contacts 203 are arranged in the form of a matrix, a slider 207 which is disposed on the housing 202 so that this slider can move, and a component attachment-detachment operation/pressing member 204 which is provided on the housing 202 so that this member can pivot. The component attachment-detachment operation/pressing member 204 comprises a component attachment-detachment operation lever 205 which is disposed on the housing 202 in a pivotable manner and which causes the slider 205 to move, and a component pressing part 206 which is integrally formed with the component attachment-detachment operation lever part 205 and which presses the upper surface of a heatsink 220 placed on an electronic component 210 that is in the mounted and connected state.
Furthermore, when the component attachment-detachment operation lever 205 is placed in an upright state, i.e., when the slider 207 is in a state in which an electronic component can be mounted, the electronic component 210 is mounted on the slider 207, and the heatsink 220 is placed on this electronic component 210. Afterward, the component attachment-detachment operation lever part 205 is pivoted and engaged with a locking part 208. As a result, the slider 207 moves over the housing 202, and the contacts (not shown in the figure) provided on the electronic component 210 make contact with the socket contacts 203 with a pressure being applied; at the same time, the component pressing part 206 presses the upper surface of the heatsink 220, so that the electronic component 210 and the heatsink 220 are tightly attached. As a result, heat dissipation of the electronic component 210 is possible. Furthermore, when the electronic component 210 is to be removed, it is only necessary to cause the component attachment-detachment operation lever part 205 to pivot and stand, to remove the heatsink 220, and subsequently to remove the electronic component 210.
However, in the IC socket 201 shown in FIG. 18, the worker must operate the heatsink 220 when attaching and detaching the electronic component 201. Accordingly, if this technology is applied to the card connector 101 shown in FIG. 17, for instance, the consumer (viewer) is required to operate the heatsink, besides operating the ejection of the card, so that this IC socket is not suitable for consumer use.


An improved seal assembly for a bearing housing is provided and includes piston rights which do not contact the rotating shaft, and a grease supply passageway connected to a labyrinth, and a grease purging passageway exiting axially through the seal assembly.

Seals for bearing assemblies are necessary in machines such as pumps, turbines, agitators and the like to seal bearings contained in housing. The bearings in the housing support shafts which normally protrude from both ends of the bearing housing.
The bearings require lubrication and an absence of contaminants to properly operate. At the point where the shaft protrudes from the bearing housing seals are necessary. Due to the rotation of the shaft and the stationary housing it is also necessary to use seals which minimize frictional losses and heat generation.
In high contaminant environments effective sealing is especially important. Labyrinth seals are well-known in these types of applications wherein different members of the seal assembly interconnect to form a tortuous labyrinth making it especially difficult for contaminants to penetrate the seal and affect the bearings.
One type of seal is sometimes called a "Taconite Seal" which is a premium seal used for contaminated environments, ie. mining or heavy equipment operations where excessive dust and dirt particles are present. Taconite seals typically have a labyrinth and a number of additional sealing elements. Often these sealing elements include lip seals or v-ring seals which contact the surface of the shaft during rotation. In some cases these seals actually rotate with the shaft inducing friction, heat and ultimately seal failure. Most types of labyrinth seals include means to purge grease through the seal by applying grease into the labyrinth under pressure.

Labyrinth seal with contaminant purging passageway for bearing housings


A highly efficient CMOS cell structure for use in a metal mask programmable gate array, such as a sea-of-gates type gate array, is disclosed herein. In a basic cell, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, three or more sizes of N-channel transistors and three or more sizes of P-channel transistors are used. The larger size transistors are incorporated in a drive section of a cell, while the smaller size transistors are incorporated in each compute section of a cell. The particular transistors in the compute and drive sections and the arrangements of the compute and drive sections provide a highly efficient use of silicon real estate while enabling the formation of a wide variety of macrocells to be formed.

Programmable gate arrays, sometimes containing over one million transistors, are frequently used to create economical Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). A programmable gate array may be metal mask programmable, electrically programmable, or laser programmable. In a mask programmable gate array, the silicon die containing the unconnected transistors is called a master slice or master image. A user who wishes to customize a master slice uses well-known software programs and predefined logic circuit configurations (macrocells) contained in a macrocell library to selectively interconnect the transistors within the gate array to provide an ASIC.
In one type of metal mask programmable gate array, an array of cells is formed on a chip wherein each cell is comprised of a plurality of unconnected components. In a typical arrangement, there is a variety of types of components in each cell to enable a designer of the macrocells to create various kinds of logic circuits within each cell or by using a combination of cells. Ideally, each cell should contain an optimum number and variety of components so that the designer may create a wide variety of macrocells using the shortest interconnect wire lengths, using a minimum amount of die area, and using other techniques for achieving high performance for each macrocell.
In a programmable gate array structure, CMOS transistors frequently comprise the components of a cell due to the low power consumption of a CMOS device, where an N-channel and a P-channel MOSFET are connected in series between a power supply terminal and ground. Because the gates of these CMOS transistors are made common, one transistor will be off while the other transistor will be on, thus avoiding a low impedance path between the power supply terminal and ground. These CMOS transistors may be used as building blocks to create a wide variety of macrocells.
A conventional CMOS gate array cell is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a number of equal size N-channel transistors 2 and a number of equal size P-channel transistors 4. Such a cell is inefficient at implementing memory elements such as D-type flip flops and SRAM cells, and its output drive capability is very limited. The transistor sizes typically used in such prior art cells are unnecessarily large for driving nets with a low fanout of, for example, one or two and are insufficient for driving nets with a high fanout exceeding, for example, five. Consequences of using unnecessarily large transistor sizes for driving low fanouts are that the relatively large input capacitances for the logic macrocells result in unnecessarily high dynamic power dissipation and also unnecessarily high loading on clock nets.
Since the typical transistors are too small to adequately drive a fanout exceeding five, two or more macrocells must be connected in parallel, or separate buffers must be introduced in the design. These large resulting macrocells give rise to inefficient chip area utilization and an increase in interconnect length.
Also in the prior art, to improve the efficiency of implementing SRAM cells, CMOS gate array cells with N-channel transistors of two different sizes have been used. The smaller size N-channel transistors are typically less than one third the size of the larger size N-channel transistors. These prior art cells may also incorporate small size P-channel transistors to further improve the efficiency of implementing SRAM cells. However, in such cells, the large transistors are still unnecessarily large for driving low fanout nets and inadequate for driving high fanout nets, while the small transistors are inadequate for driving almost all nets. Generally, for these prior art devices to drive high fanout nets, two or more macrocells must be connected in parallel or separate buffers must be introduced.
In the prior art, since the small size transistors used in SRAMs are typically not used for implementing logic macrocells, such as D-flip flops, these logic macrocells are area inefficient. Moreover, the input capacitance for the macrocells is generally unnecessarily high.

Basic cell architecture for mask programmable gate array with 3 or more size transistors


A server computer system within a network of an organization receives a request from a user to access a cloud account. The request includes a user identifier. The server computer system authenticates the user for access to the cloud account based on the user identifier, identifies one or more predetermined roles associated with the cloud account for the user, and identifies one or more pseudo accounts associated with the cloud account. The server computer system further maps the user to the one or more pseudo accounts, and provides user access to the cloud account based on the mapping and with access privileges corresponding to the one or more pseudo accounts.

A business, corporation, and/or company, is commonly referred to as an Enterprise. Cloud computing is generally becoming the platform of choice for Enterprises that want to reduce operating expenses and be able to scale resources rapidly. "Clouds" may be provided by different cloud providers to provide Enterprises access of computing resources over a computer network. Clouds can provide Software-as-a-service (SaaS), sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," to various Enterprises. SaaS is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally, typically in a cloud, and are accessed by user using, for example, a web browser, over the Internet. SaaS has become a common delivery model for most business applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM).
Many SaaS providers price their services based on the number of Enterprise users accessing their various business applications (e.g., CRM applications). With such a pricing model, Enterprise may incur unwarranted costs if not all of the accounts that are being paid for are being used fully. For example, in an Enterprise, not all employees may use the travel application provided by a SaaS provide at the same time. Nonetheless, many Enterprises pay for an account for each employee and the SaaS provider bills the Enterprise for all the active accounts regardless of use.
SaaS is a cloud service and has its own specification of roles and permissions. Application programming interfaces (APIs) associated with SaaS may not be generic and vary from provider to provider. As a result, a setup on one particular SaaS may therefore be different than a setup on another SaaS. Therefore, role-based access control may be difficult to implement, especially across multiple SaaS or cloud service platforms. In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with conventional role-based access control technologies as applied to SaaS infrastructure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Role-based access control using dynamically shared cloud accounts


Disclosed herein are various compositions, including a transparent compositions with maximum haze of 50%, comprising (including): a first polymer component (FPC) that includes polypropylene having a melting point (Tm) ≧110° C.; a second polymer component (SPC) that includes a propylene polymer having 60 wt % or more units derived from propylene, including isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and Tm<105° C. or a Heat of Fusion<45 J/g, or both; and a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg≧20° C.; wherein: the SPC is present in the amount of ≧10 wt % and ≦70 wt % based on the total weight of a), b) and c) and the composition has: Haze value of ≦50 percent; and Shore A Hardness of 90 or below.

1. Field of Invention
The claimed inventions herein relate to transparent thermoplastic polymer blend compositions for use in molded and extruded articles.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of transparent thermoplastic compositions have been developed, some of which have been disclosed in the patent literature and/or introduced to the marketplace. Each of those compositions has a particular level of transparency, often characterized in terms of "haze," which is expressed as a percentage (%) in accordance with recognized test procedures. Shortcomings of those compositions include unsatisfactorily high haze values (low transparency), poor processability and poor mechanical properties, including undue hardness, low flexibility, etc. For example, previously proposed thermoplastic elastomer compositions with transparency and flexibility such as compounds based on styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, thermoplastic vulcanizate blends (TPV) or thermoplastic olefin (TPO) blends have reached transparency and softness levels that are still unsatisfactory in some applications.
It is among the objects of the invention to provide a transparent material that has a desirable balance of softness, flexibility and strength, and which can be easily processed in a molten state in extrusion or molding.
Polymer blends prepared for various applications are known. Adhesive blends that include hydrocarbon resins are disclosed in PCT Application No. WO 2004/087806. In Example 4 certain compositions include hydrocarbon resin with Tg>20° C. blended with two different types of polypropylenes, namely, minor amounts of polypropylene having a Tm≧110° C. and major amounts (72 wt % and above) of propylene-ethylene copolymer that has isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and Tm<105° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,070 also discloses adhesive compositions that include a hydrocarbon resin with high glass transition temperature, but the polymers with which the compositions are blended are different from the polypropylenes claimed herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,563 discloses blends of two different types of polypropylene, including blends made from a polypropylene having a Tm≧110° C. and propylene-ethylene copolymer that has isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and Tm<105° C.
Three component blends of isotactic polypropylene, impact modifying amounts of an ethylene propylene based rubber or low density ethylene copolymer and a propylene based elastomer as compatibilizer are described in EP946640, EP946641 (WO 98/027155), EP969043 and EP1098934.
WO04/014988 describes blends of isotactic polypropylene with non-functionalized plasticizers such as poly-alpha-olefins.
Unpublished U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/434097 filed 17 Dec. 2002 describes blends of polypropylene and propylene based elastomers to provide flexibility.
Dow WO03/040233 also discloses two component blends with the isotactic polypropylene as the predominant, matrix phase and the propylene-based copolymer serving as an impact modifier.
EP1003814 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,316 disclose two-component blends of small amounts of isotactic polypropylene and predominant amounts of an ethylene based elastomer.
EP374695 (WO 98/027155) Example 5 discloses visually homogeneous two component blends however using 40 wt % or less of the propylene-based copolymer.
WO00/69963 describes films made of two-component blends with from 75 to 98 wt % of a propylene ethylene based elastomer having a heat of fusion of less than 25 J/g. A process oil may be present.


The present invention provides for an efficient and novel method for the C-terminal sequencing of proteins or peptides by use of acetyl chloride or phosphoryl chloride by reaction with a suitable isothiocyanate for derivitation of the carboxy terminus to a thiohydantoin amino acid derivative, under acidic conditions. Cleavage of the derivatized thiohydantoin amino acid may occur by use of thiocyanic acid and acetic acid in water and also by the novel means using a buffer and a potassium or sodium thiocyanate or potassium or sodium dithionite reagent. The present invention also provides for an novel and efficient means for the C-terminal sequencing of proteins or peptides by a two or three step process which comprises first reacting the peptide or protein with an acid chloride reagent, such as acetyl chloride, or phosphoryl chloride. The stable protein carboxy terminal amino acid chloride is then reacted with an organic isothiocyanate, an organic salt thiocyanate, or a metal thiocyanate to yield a thiohydantoin amino acid derivative. This thiohydantoin amino acid derivative may be cleaved using either acidic or basic condition, preferably using the novel reagents disclosed above.

The sequencing of proteins from the carboxyl terminus has been a challenging problem in protein structure determination. Many methods for N-terminal sequencing have been published and readily available to the skilled artisan but little has been accomplished relative to the C-terminus, and fewer methods have resulted in commercial usage.
The thiocyanate method, described by Schlack et al., Physiol. Chem., 154:125;14 170 (1926) involved the reaction of a protein or peptide with certain isothiocyanate reagents, in the presence of acetic anhydride, to form a C-terminal thiohydantoin amino acid. The derivatized amino acid is hydrolyzed to yield a shortened polypeptide and a thiohydantoin amino acid. The thiohydantoin amino acids are now analyzed by HPLC methods. A disadvantage of this reaction is the severity of the conditions required for complete derivatization of the C-terminal amino acid.
Stark, G. R., Biochemistry, 7:1796-1807 (1968) introduced use of the reagent acetohydroxamate as one more mild and capable of performing a more rapid cleavage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,165 discloses the use of the reagent trimethylsilylisothiocyanate (TMS-ITC) which resulted in an improved yield of the thiohydantoin formation and reduced the number of side products obtained. The yields were low upon repetition which limited the number of degradation cycles to be performed. Further, not all amino acids were able to form thiohydantoin derivatives by this method.
Bailey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,807; discloses the use as a sequencing agent of an isothiocyanate regent which is a combination of phophoroisothiocyanatidate and pyridine. The phophoroisothiocyanatidate includes a diphenyl moiety of the formula (Ph)).sub.2 -P(O)-NCS or a diethyl derivative (EtO).sub.2 -P(O)-NCS. Bailey et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,309 discloses using an alkyl or aryl tin isothiocyanate derivative, such as R.sub.x Sn(NCS).sub.y. Bailey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,475 discloses use of alkali metal salts of trialkyl silanols and trialkylamine N-oxides, utilized in preference with silyl isothiocyanate as the coupling reagent.
Boyd et al., U.S. Pat No. 5,185,266 discloses a method for cleaving the acyl thiohydantoin bond with an alkylating agent to form an adduct on the thiohydantoin. The adduct containing acyl-thiohydantoin is cleaved by reaction under substantially anhydrous acidic conditions.
Boyd et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,368 discloses a method for forming thiohydantoins by activation of the amino acid with a ketenimine, and converting the ester to a thiohydantoin by reaction with a silyl or pyridine isothiocyanate.
Boyd et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,388 discloses use of a mixed anhydride of isothiocyanic acid and a carboxylic or carbonic acid, for use under basic condition which reacts the peptide with the activated support derivatized as noted.
Boyd et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,497 discloses a method of forming an N-protected amino acid for use in C-terminal peptide sequencing which utilizes uronium compounds with preferred thiocyanate such as TMS-ITC, or crown ether adducts of metallothiocyanates.
Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,494 discloses phophoryl (thio)amide coupling reagents to yield arylthiohydantoin derivatives of amino acids. Miller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,785 discloses a coupling reagent for use in C-terminal peptides of the formula (R.sub.1).sub.n X.sub.a -P(=X.sub.c)((R.sub.2).sub.n X.sub.b)-N(R.sub.3)-(C=X.sub.d)-X.sub.e.
Patent Applications to Hawke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,507 discloses a method of C-terminal sequencing wherein the peptide is reacted with a mixed anhydride of isothiocyanic acid and carboxylic, carbonic or sulfonic acid under basic conditions.
Various substrate materials for use in sequencing C-terminal peptides have been proposed by Bailey et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,781 which discloses an activated carboxylic acid modified polyethylene membrane and in Sherrington et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,784 which discloses a pourous polymeric material.

Method of carboxy terminal protein or peptide sequencing


In an embodiment, an image processing device includes: a first acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of parallax images having parallax between one another; a second acquiring unit that acquires identification information of a parallax image to be observed from a predetermined observing point position in each of a plurality of regions into which a display area on which three-dimensional image is configured to be displayed is divided, each of the regions including at least one element image, and the element image including each pixel in the plurality of parallax images; a corrector that corrects pixels at positions corresponding to the regions in the parallax images into pixels of parallax images identified by the identification information; and a first generator that generates the three-dimensional image from the parallax images resulting from the correction.

There are image display apparatuses allowing viewers to observe three-dimensional images. An image display apparatus includes, on a front face of a display panel on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, a light beam controller that controls the emitting directions of light beams from the pixels, and displays a plurality of parallax images having parallax between one another.
For example, in a case of a sheet display or the like where a display area itself can be bent or where parts of a panel and a lens are deformed or removed because of aged deterioration, an image on such an image display apparatus does not appear three-dimensional to viewers.

Three dimensional image processing device, method and computer program product, and three-dimensional image display apparatus


In accordance with the present invention is a miniature planar oceanographic conductivity, temperature pressure (CTD) system based on a thin film material fabricated on a Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP). The micro-CTD system in accordance with the present invention analyzes water for salinity by measuring conductivity, temperature and depth.

Salinity is an important and fundamental chemical property of seawater that directly affects biological and physical processes of the oceans and coastal waters. Available instrumentation for measuring salinity is severely limited by accuracy, power, long-term stability, and high cost. Commonly, salinity measurements are determined by using a CTD instrument, which simultaneously measures conductivity, temperature and depth of the water. For a water sample of known temperature and pressure the salinity can be determined by measuring the conductivity of the sample. CTD data provides critical information to all fields of marine science research including chemical, biological, physical and geological.
There are various CTD systems currently known in the art. CTD systems constructed utilizing large scale electrodes are currently available. The size of these CTD systems severely limits their flexibility and adaptability to various applications. Inductive style CTD systems are also known in the art. These inductive systems are limited by their large physical size to sensed volume and long flushing lengths. These inductive CTD systems are based on embedded ceramic technology.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a CTD system that allows for mass production and miniaturization of a CTD would be beneficial to the oceanographic community and water quality measurers.

Micro sensor system for liquid conductivity, temperature and depth


A pointer assembly illuminated by a rear circular light source surrounding a pointer axis includes a pointer having an inner portion surrounding the axis and a tip extending radially from the inner portion, a stem for supporting the pointer on a gauge spindle and including a plate for attenuating light transmission to the inner portion, and a cap surrounding the inner portion to prevent unwanted light escape from the assembly and having an elongated opening aligned with the tip. The tip and elongated opening define the illuminated pointer surface. A light collector portion of the tip located near the axis has a curved reflector for uniformly disseminating received light along the length of the tip.

Instrument gauges used for displaying information in motor vehicles generally employ pointers which are illuminated at least at night for easy viewing. While pointer styles vary for aesthetic reasons as well as for functional viewing reasons to suit different situations, pointers usually have been illuminated from the tip to some point short of the spindle axis. It is desirable in some applications to have a longer illuminated portion of the pointer and especially including a tail portion which extends beyond the spindle axis opposite from the pointer tip.
Such tip to tail illuminated pointers have been achieved using an expensive construction and yet have resulted in non-uniform illumination along the length of the pointer. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,082 entitled "TIP TO TAIL ILLUMINATED POINTER" discloses an illuminated pointer which is inexpensive and extends across the spindle axis. That pointer achieved illumination from the tip to the tail by using an illuminated filter in the region of the axis and, along with an apertured cap, forming an extended pointer tail. The edge of the filter is visible, however, causing a discontinuity in pointer appearance.

Tip to tail illuminated pointer assembly