The present invention provides a soundproof cover comprising: a sound-absorbing material having air permeability; and a skin material impregnated with a viscoelastic material and having air permeability, wherein the skin material is provided on a surface of the sound-absorbing material opposite to a sound source, and wherein the soundproof cover has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to an outer shape of the sound source.

There are a large number of sound sources in an automobile. From the viewpoint of a demand for quietness from noise in inside and outside of a car, various soundproof measures have been taken. In particular, with regard to components (sound sources) that generate loud sounds, such as an engine, a transmission, and a driving system, drastic soundproof measures are required in positions near to the sound sources. Thus, a dedicated soundproof component called a soundproof cover is used. In the case of conventional soundproof covers, highly rigid covers formed by molding a metal, a polyamide, polypropylene, or the like are used as sound-insulating materials and direct noises emitted from the sound sources are insulated by the rigid covers according to the mass law. Moreover, in the case of the rigid covers, since inner reverberating sounds (standing waves) generated by reflection of sounds between the sound sources and the covers increase, as measures thereto, the covers have a structure where a sound-absorbing material is post-attached to the inner surface of the covers or a part thereof facing the sound sources (see, e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, in these soundproof covers, since the above sound sources frequently possess solid-borne sounds (vibration) in combination, in order to prevent the rigid covers from becoming a new sound source (secondary emission), it is necessary to provide a gap between the covers and the sound sources usually through intervention of a vibration-insulating material such as rubber bush so that the rigid covers may not come into contact with the sound sources. However, there are problems such that the standing waves are leaked from the gap to thereby increase a noise level and thus an expected soundproof effect is not obtained.
In additions since it is difficult to provide a sufficient thickness of a lining sound-absorbing material in a highly concentrated space such as inside of an engine room, the above soundproof cover composed of the rigid cover and the lining sound-absorbing material results in an insufficient effect of reducing sounds. Furthermore, the secondary radiated sounds reflected at the cover inner surfaces repeatedly reflect diffusely between the soundproof cover and the sound source intricately to finally cause a phenomenon of emitting a greater sound that is collected from the narrow gap between the cover edge and the sound source in some cases. Particularly, in the case of the soundproof cover having a large and deep R shape, there arises a case where a reflected sound collected by the principle of parabolic antenna is collected at the cover edge and reflected and thus the mounting of the soundproof cover worsens the noise level. However, since the thickness of the lining sound-absorbing material to be used is limited owing to the clearance between the soundproof cover and the sound source, it is difficult to take measures thereto.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2003-254081    Patent Document 2: JP-A-2002-347535


When a switching device cutoff failure determination unit determines a failure in a switching device cutoff switching unit, output torque produced based on the first armature winding and output torque produced based on the second armature winding are produced in such a way that the respective directions thereof are opposite to each other.

To date, there has been an electric power steering apparatus configured in such a way that an abnormality in the driving stopping function of a switching device for driving a rotating electric machine that generates assist torque is monitored and a latent failure is detected so that the safety is improved by preventing abnormal operation of the rotating electric machine (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
The conventional electric power steering apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured in such a way that at a time of starting, a switching device for driving a rotating electric machine is driven and then it is ascertained by use of a terminal voltage of the rotating electric machine that the driving of the switching device is stopped by a cutoff signal outputted for checking from a microcomputer.

Rotating-electric-machine control apparatus and electric power steering control apparatus equipped with the rotating-electric-machine control apparatus


A card conveyance control method and apparatus that allow a card held by a plurality of conveying rollers to be conveyed and securely mounted at the proper position on a conveying platform. The conveying rollers of the first conveyer unit, which holds and conveys an optical card, are rotated in the conveying direction of the optical card, and the card conveying platform of the second conveyer unit is moved in the direction of the first conveyer unit so as to press the leading edge of the optical card conveyed from the first conveyer unit against the back edge of the conveying platform; the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit is then moved in the opposite direction from the first conveyer unit while the conveying rollers of the first conveyer unit are rotated in the conveying direction of the optical card; and this operation is repeated several times.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a card conveyance control method and apparatus for conveying optical and other cards, and more particularly to a card conveyance control method and apparatus for ensuring that a card is properly mounted on a conveyer in a card conveying system comprising a first conveyer unit for conveying a card held by a plurality of conveying rollers, and a second conveyer unit that has a conveying platform for mounting thereon the card conveyed from the first conveyer unit and conveys the card by moving the conveying platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical cards carrying optical recording media or cards combining such optical recording media with other recording media, such as magnetic recordings, IC (integrated circuit) recordings, or the like have recently been proposed for use as bank cards and various other cards.
Such optical cards carrying optical recording media have the following advantages:
1) the information storage capacity is much larger than that achieved with conventional magnetic cards, IC cards, or the like, and PA1 2) it is difficult to falsify data because of its physical recording method by means of forming the recording pits on the media. PA1 the conveying rollers of the first conveyer unit are rotated in the conveying direction of the card, and the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit is moved in the direction of the first conveyer unit so as to press the leading edge of the card conveyed from the first conveyer unit against the back edge of the conveying platform, and the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit is then moved in the opposite direction from the first conveyer unit.
With such card reader/writer apparatus for writing and reading data onto and from such optical and other cards, it has been proposed to use a structure that comprises a first conveyer unit for conveying a card held by a plurality of conveying rollers, and a second conveyer unit equipped with a conveying platform for mounting the card conveyed from the first conveyer unit, and conveying the card by moving the platform, wherein the data can be written and read in a stable manner by being written onto or read from the card by means of an optical head or the like while the card remains mounted on the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit.
With the above-described structure for writing and reading data onto and from the card mounted on the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit, a prerequisite is that the card conveyed from the first conveyer unit is mounted at the proper position on the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit. But the conventional apparatus have the problems that it is difficult to write and read data when the card conveyed from the first conveyer unit is not mounted at the proper position on the conveying platform of the second conveyer unit.

Card conveyance control method and apparatus


A catalyst comprising Pt—Co alloy, or Pt—Co—Sn alloy or Pt—ComOn mixed metal oxides is disclosed to be used as a catalyst for the direct electrochemical oxidation of glucose or other simple sugars and carbohydrates at room temperature. The catalyst can be supported on metal electrodes, graphite electrodes, porous carbon electrodes, or gas diffusion electrodes. An electrode containing this catalyst will be used as the key component in a direct glucose-air fuel cell operating in alkaline media with a good room temperature performance. This catalyst can also be applied as a key electrode material in a glucose sensor to detect glucose concentration in neutral or alkaline medium. The preparation method of the catalyst, optimum composition, and results of glucose sensor and glucose fuel cell applications are disclosed.

Electrochemical oxidation of glucose has been studied for the potential applications as a detector for dissolved glucose in blood or other media. Current commercial blood glucose sensors use an enzyme electrode to oxidize glucose, which is followed with an indirect electrochemical detection of the enzymatic reaction products. Enzyme is relatively expensive, with a limited shelf-life, a low tolerance to elevated temperature, and it is not suitable for industrial applications. Glucose oxidase and glucose hydrogenase were the common enzymes to be immobilized in electrodes and to have selective reactions with glucose in a solution. Inorganic catalyst materials have the advantages of direct electrochemical oxidation, a longer shelf-life, and are resistant to the high temperatures and other harsh operating conditions found in a bioreactor or other industrial applications. The previous investigated materials of inorganic electrocatalysts include platinum, gold, ruthenium, iridium, their mixtures, and their oxides. A high oxidation potential was required to oxidize glucose and the current density was low, thus unfavorable for practical devices of glucose oxidation.
Although the theoretical concept of using glucose to power a bio-fuel cell has been mentioned in the past, a workable glucose-air fuel cell has not been demonstrated due to poor performance of the previously tested catalysts which include enzymes. The previous power densities reported were in the orders of microwatts per square centimeters. Glucose is inexpensive, safe, commonly available, conveniently stored, non-toxic, and hazard free. It offers certain advantages over the common fuels considered for portable fuel cells, such as hydrogen, methanol, and borohydride.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,940, a biofuel-powered fuel cell is described with glucose, arabinose, and other carbohydrates as possible fuels. The fuel cell operates at above 90 ° C. with a two-step oxidation process using platinum, ruthenium, and vanadium as catalysts. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,719, a biofuel cell is described with glucose as a possible fuel. The oxidation is indirect and requires a microorganism to react with the glucose to generate other species to power the fuel cell. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,891, an implantable bio-oxidant fuel cell is described using glucose as a fuel and platinum, ruthenium, rubidium, iridium, nickel as catalysts for the anode. The power generated was in microwatts range. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,506, a ternary fuel cell catalyst containing platinum, cobalt, and chromium was disclosed for use as cathode material for oxygen reduction in acid medium, but not to be used as an anode.

Methods and apparatus for the oxidation of glucose molecules


There is disclosed a dry bulk hopper system that includes a generally frustoconical bottle and a base having a tapered wall that defines a cradle for holding the bottle. The bottle has locking tabs disposed at bottom end thereof that cooperate with engagement ledges to secure the bottle to the base when the bottle has been received into the base in a first orientation, but not in a second orientation. Extruded support columns are disposed inside an interior of the base to distribute loads created by material in the bottle when the system is raised by a forklift.

Rotationally molded dry bulk hopper systems are known. They generally comprise a base with a plurality of legs for supporting a bottle or tank. Typically, these systems are used to hold/store a variety of dry materials such as powders, or granular or pelletized material.
The present disclosure is directed to an improved dry bulk hopper system that has numerous features, including, but not limited to, improved stability, improved structural integrity, reduced manufacturing cost, and a simple and convenient means for securing/removing the bottle to/from the base, as compared to prior art systems.


A method of bonding and packaging components of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and MEMS based devices using a Solid-Liquid InterDiffusion (SLID) process is provided. A micro-machine is bonded to a micro-machine chip using bonding materials. A layer of chromium is first deposited onto surfaces of the micro-machine and the micro-machine chip followed by a layer of gold. Subsequently, a layer of indium is deposited between the layers of gold, and the surface of the micro-machine is pressed against the surface of the micro-machine chip forming a gold-indium alloy to serve as a bond between the micro-machine and the micro-machine chip. In addition, a cover is bonded to the micro-machine chip in the same manner providing a hermetic seal for the MEMS based device.

Micromechanics, micro-machines, or more commonly, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are an integration of mechanical elements, such as sensors and actuators, and/or electronics on a common substrate through the utilization of micro-fabrication technology. MEMS range in size from a few microns to a few millimeters. While the electronics are fabricated using Integrated Circuit (IC) process sequences (e.g., CMOS, Bipolar, or BICMOS processes), micro-mechanical components are fabricated using compatible "micro-machining" processes that selectively etch away parts of a silicon wafer or add new structural layers to form mechanical and electromechanical devices.
MEMS bring together silicon-based microelectronics with micro-machining technology, thereby making possible the realization of a complete system-on-a-chip. MEMS augment the computational ability of microelectronics with the perception and control capabilities of microsensors and/or microactuators. Examples of such electrical and mechanical combinations are gyroscopes, accelerometers, micromotors, and sensors of micrometric size, all of which may need to be left free to move after encapsulation and packaging. MEMS may be used within digital to analog converters, air bag sensors, logic, memory, microcontrollers, and video controllers. Example applications of MEMS are military electronics, commercial electronics, automotive electronics, and telecommunications.
In the fabrication of MEMS and other microstructures, two substrates or components may be structurally integrated together, such as by structural bonding. The structural bonds can be provided by any of several bonding techniques known in the art. For example, a direct bond may be formed by joining two clean, polished surfaces together under compressive force. Alternatively, two adjacent solder structures may be integrated and bonded together by reflowing the solder at an elevated temperature. In addition, an anodic bond may be formed between an insulating substrate and a conducting or semi-conducting substrate by the application of a high voltage, such as 1,000 volts, across a junction at an elevated temperature. Structural bonds, such as the aforementioned, are well developed for providing mechanical integration of two or more microstructures. However, a structural bond's strength may not be effective under harsh conditions. Additionally, these structural bonding methods are each application specific bonding methods and they also may not be viable methods for bonding within a fragile device such as a MEMS.
In some microstructure and MEMS applications, a pressure seal may be desired, such as to isolate a cavity internal to a MEMS or other microstructure from the surrounding environment. Pressure seals may be required, for instance, when a high-pressure gas atmosphere is desired inside a cavity, such as for example, to increase a breakdown voltage threshold used within an electrical component of a MEMS. In other applications, an evacuated cavity may be required, such as for example, for improving a thermal isolation of suspended radiation detectors in a microbolometer. Unfortunately, common structural bonding techniques are generally inadequate to provide pressure sealing because of surface variations and imperfections that preclude the formation of a tight seal across the full extent of a structural bond.
In the packaging of MEMS devices, protection is an important element because corrosion, moisture and debris can prevent the devices from working. Each device should be hermetically sealed, allowing only a negligible amount of gas to be exchanged between the passages in the MEMS body and the atmosphere during the life of the MEMS, in order to prevent the device from becoming contaminated. Existing packaging of MEMS devices typically involve selecting an appropriate arrangement of the MEMS device within a system, selecting an appropriate material for use in bonding the MEMS device in the system, and selecting an appropriate process for applying the material to create a bond. These packaging solutions often involve redesigning a MEMS layout due to materials and processes used, and therefore, are burdensome to accomplish. For example, in a Leadless Ceramic Chip Carrier (LCCC) package, a lid may be soldered to seal the package. However, outgassing may occur when soldering which requires the use of getters to alleviate the outgassing. This results in additional materials, processes, time, and costs.
MEMS packaging presents challenges compared to IC packaging due to the diversity of MEMS devices and the requirement that many of these devices are in continuous and intimate contact with their environment. Presently, nearly all MEMS development efforts must develop a new and specialized package each time a new device is designed. Application specific packaging is not an efficient method of sealing MEMS based products. Consequently, most manufacturers find that packaging is the single most expensive and time-consuming task in a MEMS product development program. Such packaging as wafer level protected MEMS, capped MEMS, and several other types of molded packages have been used by manufacturers. All of these options can be realized in System in Package (SiP) solutions that combine multiple chips and passive devices into one device. These SiP solutions are aimed at reducing the cost of MEMS packaging and providing standardization solutions, however these packaging options may increase the costs of MEMS due to additional design efforts, and since each device requires a specific package, it is believed that the standardization of MEMS packaging can not be realized using known techniques.
One of skill in the art would appreciate a bonding and packaging process that is capable of handling a mass production of MEMS. It would also be desirable to provide a simple process for bonding and packaging MEMS devices to enable design and manufacturing to be completed in a timely fashion and at a low cost.
It would also be desirable to provide a low temperature process for the bonding and packaging of MEMS devices that yields a high temperature and high strength bond. In addition, a selective temperature process for bonding may be desired using materials having different properties such as compositions and melting temperatures.
It would also be desirable to provide a single bonding process for bonding components to MEMS devices and for packaging the MEMS devices in order to simplify the manufacturing process of MEMS devices. For example, a uniform bonding and packaging method is desired for use in approximately all bonds present in a MEMS device.

Bonding for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and MEMS based devices


A group control type fluorescent, LED and/or halide lighting control system comprises at least a control interface, which generates a main control signal based on user's operation. This control interface is connected to one or more controllable driver to drive corresponding light sources according to the main control signal. The controllable drivers are cascaded to one or more drivers in order. These drivers control the connected light sources to produce corresponding actions according to control signals generated by the controllable drivers. Through a cascading design collocated with several controllable dimmable drivers, unlimited installation and immediate usage after installation can be accomplished without the need of any preset action. Moreover, the advantages of simple operation and easy learning can also be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting equipment and, more particularly, to a group control type of fluorescent, LED and/or halide lighting control system of easy and convenient to assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
In addition to providing indispensable illumination or mood for life at night, lighting equipments also play an important role for work and commerce at daytime. Therefore, for office buildings and residence houses, the ideal illumination must include basic illumination, decorating illumination, and functional illumination.
Since the invention of electric lamps, various types of new light sources suitable to different places have been proposed. Regardless of fluorescent lamps, halide lamps or LED modules, wirings are laid out or reserved in advance based on different places for installation of lamps, especially for group control type lighting design. In general, if the group control type lighting design is a wired design, e.g., European Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI), each controlled light source is usually coupled via an interface device so that it can be controlled by user. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the wiring from the control switch through the interface device to the location where the light source is located. The farther from the control switch a light source is, the longer the wiring. Moreover, because too long wiring causes too much noise, some repeaters are usually required to enhance the strength of signal, hence complicating the installation and wasting much wiring. For today's users, this job is too huge and very inconvenient, and material consumption and manpower expenditure required for the installation will lead to a substantial increase of cost. On the other side, if the group control type lighting design is a wireless design, although the wiring can be saved, it is necessary to perform setting actions for signal mating before use. Users have to learn complicated setting procedures in advance before use, hence causing much inconvenience.
Accordingly, the present invention aims to propose a group control type fluorescent, LED and/or halide lighting control system, which makes use of a cascading manner to achieve the advantages of saving of wiring and easy operation so as to effectively improve the above drawbacks in the prior art.

Group control type fluorescent, LED and/or halide lighting control system


In a level conversion circuit where the input signal is input via a flip-flop which sets its output in a high impedance state during the holding state, by adding a circuit which sets the output voltage to a predetermined potential level when the output of the flip-flop is in a high impedance state, the leakage current is reduced and a clock skew is prevented, to result in a stable operation of the level conversion circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level conversion circuit for converting a signal level of a first circuit to another signal level of a second circuit having a different power supply voltage from that of the first circuit.
2. Background of the Invention
In recent LSIs, different power supply voltages such as 5V, 3.3V, and 2.2V are used. Further, efforts have been made to lower the power supply voltage for reduction of power consumption, but when considering the margin of the voltage, the operating speed of the circuit, etc., there are known circuits where the power supply voltage cannot be lowered. For this reason, level conversion circuits are used as an interface between different circuit blocks having different power supply voltages or an interface between different LSIs.
According to the operating mode, level conversion circuits are roughly categorized into two types: asynchronous level conversion circuits and synchronous level conversion circuits.
In an asynchronous level conversion circuit wherein a clock signal is not used, a leakage current generally flows between power sources having different voltages during a level converting operation. Further, in a synchronous level conversion circuit wherein a clock signal is used for a synchronized operation, the disadvantages peculiar to asynchronous circuits can be overcome, but malfunctions tend to occur due to the time lag of the clock signal.

Level conversion circuit controlled by clock signal


A feed rod vibration prevention support of a material feeder includes a guide device for guiding a feed rod moving to feed a material to a working machine, and a vibration attenuation mechanism for preventing the feed rod from being vibrated. The guide device further includes a guide and a bush supported by the guide having a feed rod placed thereon. The vibration attenuation mechanism includes a first elastic material located between the bush and the guide. The bush is provided with a flanged portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bar feeder for feeding a bar material to a working machine such as lathe, to a feed rod vibration prevention support in a material feeder, and to a vibration stopper of the material feeder.
2. Related Art
A bar feeder of a related art includes a structure having a feed rod passing through a guide pipe in form of a U-groove or cylindrical pipe, or an oil feeder for supplying oil to such guide pipe.
On the other hand, another automatic rod feeder includes an oil feeder having bushes fastened by screws in the U-groove guide at a predetermined interval. This oil feeder includes a bush body and a screw for fixing the bush to a guide pipe.
The guide pipe of the first-mentioned bar feeder, however, has a continuous long-scale structure composed of a metal, a resin or a compound of these metal and resin. In this structure, even if the oil is fed to the guide pipe having a feed rod inserted therein, only a slight gap exists between the feed rod and the inner periphery of the guide pipes. Because of this reason, the oil hardly reaches the feed pipe guide portion, thereby achieving less vibration prevention effect. Where wearing occurred to parts, an entire structure was obliged to be exchanged because the guide pipe has the continuous structure.
In the guide pipe of the latter-mentioned rod feeder, on the other hand, when the oil is fed from an oil feed port, the oil is not fed to a space of a next oil reservoir as far as the oil goes over a wall of the bush. When a feed rod is placed on the bush, the space is closed by the feed rod, and accordingly, a slight gap remains between the feed rod and the inner periphery of the bush. Because of this reason, the oil reaches the neighbouring oil reservoir through this slight gap, so that it is difficult for the oil to reach the neighbouring oil reservoir, thereby reducing the vibration prevention effect due to the oil.
Another bar feeder of a related art includes a belt vibration stopper having upper and lower frames vertically opened or closed with two fulcrums being the centers thereof. Such machines or like are required to be adjusted in accordance with a diameter of the material. However, these machines or like are not provided with any mechanism for adjusting an open/close angle of the frames so as to accord with the material diameter. The upper and lower frames must be adjusted independently, which, however, is not easily performed. Especially, in a case where the lower and side surfaces of the upper and lower frames are covered by covers or like, it is predicted to be difficult to adjust the lower frame.
Furthermore, a roller vibration stopper of a related art has upper and lower frames opened or closed with one fulcrum being the center thereof. However, the upper and lower frames are used in the closed state, and this stopper is not provided with any mechanism for adjusting the open/close angle of the upper and lower frames so as to accord with the material diameter.
An oil support of a related art has a mechanism opened or closed vertically. The oil support is, however, not provided with a mechanism for adjusting the open/close angle so as to accord with the material diameter.
A roller vibration stopper of a related art has a frame opened or closed by two cylinders. However, a structure including such two cylinders is complicated and the vibration stopper is firmly fixed to a body.
Another bar feeder feeds a bar from its front end side to the working machine such as lathe while supporting the rear end of the bar material, and the working machine supports the rear portion of the bar material during the working of the front end portion of the bar material.
The bar feeder is provided with a support portion having a U-shaped groove. This support portion is located on the extension of a main shaft of the working machine, and the bar material fed in the U-shaped groove is fed to the main shaft of the working machine by a feed pipe reciprocating in the U-shaped groove.
The bar material is fed into the U-shaped groove from a material rack located on one side of the support portion, and a number of bar materials are arranged in parallel with the U-shaped groove. The bar materials are fed one by one from the material rack to the U-shaped groove of the support portion, and the bar material rolling down from the material rack is received in the U-shaped groove. As mentioned above, when the bar material is fed into the support portion, the feed pipe advances in the U-shaped groove to push the bar material toward the spindle of the working machine. The working machine works the front end of the bar material by repeating clamping and unclamping operations and sequentially cuts and feeds products so that each of them has a predetermined length. After the repeated cutting working, and one bar material is completely worked, a new bar material is fed from the material rack into the U-shaped groove of the support portion, and the like working is repeated.
Further, at the time when the bar material is fed from the material rack into the U-shaped groove of the support portion in the bar feeder, the bar material rolls down into the U-shaped groove, so that an impact, noise or like may be caused by the collision of the bar material with the support portion.
For example, in a case where the bar material is erroneously fed into the U-shaped groove by a miss-operation of an operator, it is extremely difficult to take out the bar material from the U-shaped groove. This difficulty will be increased in a case the diameter of the bar material becomes near the width of the U-shaped groove.
One end of the U-shaped groove of the support portion is opened, and accordingly, the bar material is easily come off from this open end of the U-shaped groove during the working of the bar material.

Bar feeder, feed rod vibration prevention support of material feeder and vibration stopper of material feeder


A dispensing system includes a pump mechanism that has a liquid chamber, a liquid piston for delivering fluid to a mixing chamber, and a valve component biased to close the outlet from the liquid chamber. The pump mechanism also has an air chamber, and an air piston for delivering air to the mixing chamber. A bore allows passage of a mixture of the air and the liquid from the mixing chamber to a dispensing tube. A pump actuator moves the air piston and the liquid piston to propel a dose of the mixture of the air and the liquid through the bore and into the dispensing tube and to collapse a draw-back chamber. The draw-back chamber expands to draw the mixture of the air and the liquid from the dispensing tube into the draw-back chamber. The valve component is biased to close the first outlet before the draw-back chamber expands.

Dispensers with draw-back mechanisms are known for dispensing a foamed soap or other material to a user. The draw-back mechanism is used to prevent soap, or other material, from hanging and dripping from the end of the dispensing tube after delivery of the liquid dose. One such dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,765. Such dispensers may use pumps that dispense foamed liquids. One such pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,629.


A method for downloading content into a wearable device is described. The method includes utilizing an application executable on a computing device to create a user account via a web portal, affixing an object to a receiving portion of a wearable device, detecting the object by the receiving portion of the wearable device, reading tag data of the object, verifying that the wearable device is associated with the user account, confirming a purchase of the digital content of the object, and utilizing the tag data to interact with a cloud backend to download the digital content.

MP3 players can play a piece of music from information stored in the MP3 player without the use of a CD. Specifically, MP3 is a coding format for digital audio. However, MP3 players are not child-friendly, due to the associated risk of damage by dropping such device. Additionally, such MP3 players are difficult and confusing for children to use. Furthermore, for such devices, it becomes difficult to protect the rights associated with the digital content streamed from or downloaded from the Internet. Thus, what is needed is a child-friendly system for the secure management of the supply of digital content to a wearable device from a server.
Examples of related art include:
U.S. Pat. No. 8,160,495 B2 describes a portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and/or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WIFI protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WIFI hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,226 B2 describes a method and system of synchronizing data between a contents providing system and a portable device via network.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,721,550 B2 describes systems and methods of detecting headphone rotation to properly process user input to the headphones.
WO 2017/129349 A1, WO 2015/104222 A1, DE 102014000075 A1, and U.S. Design Pat. No. 0822640 S describe a toy for playing back music or a narrated story. The toy includes a loudspeaker or a loudspeaker terminal, a sensor that can detect, within an area in the surroundings of the sensor, a property or a change in a property of said surroundings, and a control unit that can actuate the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker terminal to play back music or a narrated story when the sensor senses, within the area in the surroundings of the sensor, a certain property or a certain change in a property of the surroundings or when the control unit detects a certain change in the property sensed by the sensor. A toy identification and a device for transmitting a signal that is dependent on the toy identification are also provided by these references.
WO 2006/048668 A1 describes a computerized teaching apparatus comprises: a plurality of items (9), a reader (15) and a computer (1). Each item (9) comprises a computer-readable medium arranged to store data that corresponds to a physical attribute of the item. The reader (15) is arranged to generate input signals, each input signal representing the data stored on the computer-readable medium of one item (9). The computer (1) is programmed to receive the plurality of input signals sequentially. The computer is further arranged to generate, in response to a detection of a stored predetermined combination of input signals, an output signal representative of that combination.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,327 B1 describes an interactive intelligent play set, method, and apparatus, that includes a principle toy, a plurality of action figures, and/or play accessories. An intelligent play set identifies and tracks action figures and/or play accessories used by a player during a play session, provides interactions based on the specific action figures, accessories, or combinations thereof, used by a player during game play, provides interactions based on the history of how a player has interacted with the set during previous play sessions, and/or enables a player to construct new interactions between the various play pieces of the play set, using basic interactions as building blocks.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2008/0153594 A1 describes an entertainment system that comprises at least one handheld controller with a plurality of accelerometers and a touch screen interface. The system further includes a base station and an accessory box. The base station routs signals containing data and information from the handheld controllers and the accessory box to a computing apparatus that is in communication with a game portal residing on a server on a network. Game play is enabled by the server on the entertainment system.
WO 2006/058204 A3 describes an electronic game board (18) for use in a DVD gaming system (10) that includes: a DVD player (12), where DVD media (14) incorporating commands and audio visual content is accessed by the DVD player (12) as part of game play. The electronic board (12) may be used with play piece (34) and may be configured to determine the identity and location of a play piece (34) on the electronic board (18), to wirelessly transmit location data to the DVD player (12), to determine the location of finger contact on the board surface instead of play piece location, and to receive transmissions from the DVD player. The board (18) may include command inputs such as buttons, switches, or joysticks to be used as part of game play. The board (18) may include a display for presenting information or pictures to players. The board (18) may overlay displaying different playing surfaces and playing spaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,362,399 B1 describes systems and methods of detecting headphone orientation.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0123053 describes a personalized content system that enables a user with a communications device to convert and/or passively receive pre-selected content from multiple resources.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,009,594 B2 describes content gestures. In examples, one or more controls are output to control output of content and for display in a user interface by a computing device. An input is recognized, by the computing device, which was detected using a camera as a gesture to interact with a particular one of the controls to control the output of the content.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,068,568 B2 describes systems, devices and methods for segmentation of content. In one aspect, a method may include receiving content associated with speech, text, or closed captioning data. The speech, the text, or the closed captioning data may be analyzed to derive at least one of a topic, subject, or event for at least a portion of the content. The content may be divided into two or more content segments based on the analyzing. At least one of the topic, the subject, or the event may be associated with at least one of the two or more content segments based on the analyzing. At least one of the two or more content segments may then be published such that each of the two or more content segments is individually accessible.
TWM599457U describes a wearable device that changes the rhythm of music based on data received from sensors of the wearable device.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,133,900 B2 describes a method for controlling the output of contextual information to assist a user in performing a sequence of activities using a computing device. The computing device includes or is coupled to at least one wearable sensor and at least one output device for providing contextual information. The method includes numerous process steps, such as: identifying, using sensor information from the at least one sensor, an activity being performed by the user; and selecting and controlling the output of contextual information based on the activity being performed by the user. The contextual information is being output from the at least one output device to a user to assist the user in performing the identified activity.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2013/0226930 A1 describes a method for indexing multimedia content. The method includes numerous process steps, such as: segmenting the multimedia content, by a computer, into a plurality of segments; identifying, by a computer, for each segment, one or more features present in the segment, where the features are of respective media types; identifying, by a computer, for each identified feature in each segment, one or more respective keywords associated the identified feature; and determining, by a computer, for each identified keyword associated with an identified feature in a given segment, a respective relevance of the keyword to the given segment, where the respective relevance is dependent on a weight associated with the respective media type of the identified feature.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2008/0165141 A1 describes a system, method, and software for implementing gestures with touch sensitive devices for managing and editing media files on a computing device or system. Specifically, gestural inputs of a human hand over a touch/proximity sensitive device can be used to control, edit, and manipulate files, such as media files including without limitation graphical files, photo files and video files.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2009/0251244 A1 describes an improved field emission system and method that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
Some similar devices exist in the art. However, their means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure, as the other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure.

System, method, and apparatus for downloading content directly into a wearable device


A direct communication network system for resource synchronization communication is provided. The direct communication network system includes a base station and a first user equipment. The base station broadcasts a pre-authorized setting. The first user equipment receives the pre-authorized setting and listens to a first resource synchronization message broadcasted from the base station according to the pre-authorized setting. The first user equipment directly communicates with a second user equipment according to the first resource synchronization message.

In the conventional direct communication system, a user equipment (UE) which desires to perform direct communication must firstly transmit a resource synchronization request to the base station. After receiving the resource synchronization request from the UE, the base station allocates an available network resource to the UE so that the direct communication is subsequently performed by the UE.
To synchronize the UE having small communication coverage with a base station, a lot of base stations may be deployed to extend the network coverage so as to receive the resource synchronization request from the UE, or alternatively, the synchronization may be accomplished by using a relay node.
However, the aforesaid solutions might lead to a significant increase of the hardware cost, and synchronization signals for resource synchronization that are transmitted by different relay nodes might cause wastes in the network resources. Moreover, in case the UE is to perform the synchronization via different relay nodes, it is impossible for the UE to accurately achieve resource synchronization mainly with a single source because the UE cannot know synchronization sources of different relay nodes.
Accordingly, efforts still have to be made in the art to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional direct communication network so as to accomplish resource synchronization communications at a low hardware deployment cost, with a high network resource utilization factor and at a high resource synchronization accuracy rate.

Direct communication network system for resource synchronization communication


Disclosed herein are aminopyridinium cations and compositions containing these cations. Piperidino pyridinium cations and compositions containing these cations are also described. Ionic compositions, particularly liquid ionic compositions that contain the aminopyridinium cation or piperidino pyridinium cation are also described. Methods of enhancing the thermal stability of a compound, particularly an ionic compound, using the aminopyridinium or piperidino pyridinium cations, are also presented. Compositions having an expanded liquidus range of from about −73° C. to about 444° C. are also described. Solvents, heat transfer fluids, and lubricants having improved thermal stability characteristics and an expanded and improved liquidus range are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of ionic compounds, as a novel class of pyridinium-based cations (aminopyridinium and piperidino-pyridinium cations) and ionic compounds containing the pyridinium-based cations are provided. The invention also relates to the field of improved heat transfer preparations, solvents, lubricants, and compositions containing them, suitable for use in high temperature applications.
2. Related Art
Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with low melting points. Many of these compounds are liquid at room temperature in their pure state. These ILs act much like good organic solvents, dissolving both polar and nonpolar species.2 They have also been reported to perform better than at least some commonly used solvents.3
Ionic liquids have also been defined as molten salts, having a melting point below 100° C.4 By way of example, ILs include the quaternary imidazolium salts, compounds having quaternary aromatic 5- and 6-membered ring heterocycles such as imidazolium salts, pyridinium salts, and the like.5
Ionic liquids (ILs), while being liquid in their pure state at room temperature, have negligible vapor pressure.1 Because they have negligible vapor pressure, this class of substances would not contribute to air pollution, and would not contribute to the generation of potentially toxic and/or harmful emissions when used as a solvent, etc., in industrial and commercial applications. Thus, they present an advantage over other types of liquids, particularly solvents that do generate fugitive emissions. This characteristic has made ILs an attractive alternative as a solvent for commercial manufacturing processes.
Conventional solvents and heat transfer fluids have boiling points at or below 320° C., and are therefore not useful at temperatures at or exceeding this temperature. The flash point and fire point of many conventional heat transfer fluids are generally much lower than 320° C. In contrast, ionic liquids do not evaporate, and therefore the flash point of these compounds is essentially the same temperature as their decomposition temperatures.
For these reasons, among others, ionic liquids are being intensively investigated for a variety of applications, including as solvents for reactions and separations, as non-volatile electrolytes, and as heat transfer fluids.
While possessing many characteristics that render these compounds suitable for uses that are efficient and more environmentally compatible (such as in chemical processing), they have not found widespread use. A need continues to exist in the art for a class of ionic liquids having a wider range of temperature stability, particularly a wider upper range of temperature stability, without sacrificing a functional and extended lower liquids range.
The increasing demands of industry creates a continuing need for ever improved and long-lasting, stable lubricants, solvents and heat transfer fluids capable of withstanding temperatures of 300° C. or higher for extended periods of time, sometimes under highly pressurized conditions. While currently available ionic liquids posses some characteristics that render them interesting for development in these industries, they have not as yet been optimized sufficiently to meet the demands of current day high temperature application needs.


A metal-air battery includes (a) an anode; (b) a cathode including a metal that reduces oxygen; (c) a housing for the anode and cathode having an air access that allows oxygen to contact the cathode; (d) a separator between the anode and the cathode; and (e) a hydrogen recombination catalyst within the housing. The hydrogen recombination catalyst can include a Pd, Pt, Ru metal or a salt thereof, and CuO.

The invention generally relates to metal air electrochemical cells.
Batteries are commonly used electrical energy sources. A battery includes a housing containing a negative electrode, typically called the anode, and a positive electrode, typically called the cathode. The anode contains an active material that can be oxidized; the cathode contains or consumes an active material that can be reduced. The anode active material is capable of reducing the cathode active material. In order to prevent direct reaction of the anode material and the cathode material, the anode and the cathode are electrically isolated from each other by a sheet-like layer, typically called the separator.
When a battery is used as an electrical energy source in a device, such as a hearing aid or a cellular telephone, electrical contact is made to the anode and the cathode, allowing electrons to flow through the device and permitting the respective oxidation and reduction reactions to occur to provide electrical power. An electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode contains ions that flow through the separator between the electrodes to maintain charge balance throughout the battery during discharge.
In a metal air electrochemical cell, oxygen is reduced at the cathode, and a metal, such as zinc, is oxidized at the anode. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode from the atmospheric air external to the cell through air access ports in the battery housing. Metal oxide, such as Zinc oxide or zincate, is formed in the anode. Thus, the overall electrochemical reaction within a zinc-air electrochemical cell results in zinc metal being oxidized to zinc ions and oxygen from the air being reduced to hydroxyl ions. While these chemical reactions are taking place, electrons are transferred from the anode to the cathode thereby providing power to the device. An undesirable process can also occur, where the zinc reacts directly with the electrolyte to produce zinc oxide and hydrogen. This not only depletes zinc and electrolyte, but the hydrogen can accumulate to increase internal pressure, damage the cathode and induce leakage. Mercury and other metals such as lead and cadmium often are added to the anode to reduce the levels of hydrogen gas produced during the electrochemical reaction of the battery.
In general, the invention relates to a hydrogen recombination catalyst for metal air electrochemical cells. Metal air electrochemical cells containing hydrogen recombination catalysts have reduced hydrogen gassing. At the same time, the hydrogen recombination catalyst can partially replenish the water content of the electrolyte within the metal-air electrochemical cell, and thereby reduce the amount of drying of the electrochemical cell.
In one aspect, the invention features a metal-air battery including (a) an anode; (b) a cathode including a metal that reduces oxygen; (c) a housing for the anode and cathode having an air access that allows oxygen to contact the cathode; (d) a separator between the anode and the cathode; and (e) a hydrogen recombination catalyst within the housing. The hydrogen recombination catalyst can include Pd, Pt, Ru metals or salts thereof, and CuO.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of replenishing the water level in an metal-air battery by positioning a hydrogen recombination catalyst in a metal-air battery. The metal-air battery includes (a) an anode, (b) a cathode that includes a metal that reduces oxygen when the battery is in use, and (c) a separator between the anode and the cathode. The hydrogen recombination catalyst cycles between an oxidative stage to oxidize hydrogen to water and a reductive stage to reduce oxygen to regenerate the oxidative properties of the hydrogen recombination catalyst, e.g., when hydrogen encounters the catalyst in the presence of oxygen, the hydrogen is oxidized to water and the catalyst is reduced (the oxidative stage).
The reductive stage occurs when oxygen in the electrochemical cell interacts with a reduced hydrogen recombination catalyst to oxidize the catalyst and thereby restore the oxidative properties of the hydrogen recombination catalyst, i.e., once re-oxidized by oxygen, the catalyst can, in turn, further oxidize hydrogen to water. As a result of the hydrogen recombination catalysts"" ability to periodically cycle through the oxidative and reductive stages, the hydrogen recombination catalyst in a metal air electrochemical cell oxidizes an amount of hydrogen above the theoretical anaerobic hydrogen absorption limit of the catalyst. The theoretical anaerobic hydrogen absorption limit can be determined based on the molar amounts of catalyst material and by assuming that the catalyst undergoes only a single, complete oxidative stage without undergoing a reductive stage. The hydrogen recombination catalyst preferably oxidizes an amount of hydrogen greater than about 2 times the theoretical anaerobic hydrogen absorption limit. At ambient temperature, the hydrogen recombination catalyst preferably oxidizes hydrogen at a rate at least about 0.5 standard cubic centimeter (scc) per gram of hydrogen recombination catalyst per day. Under anaerobic conditions, the hydrogen recombination catalyst preferably can oxidize hydrogen at this rate for at least 130 days. More preferably, the hydrogen recombination catalyst preferably can oxidize hydrogen at this rate for at least 240 days. Under aerobic conditions, the hydrogen recombination catalyst may function indefinitely by combining any hydrogen with oxygen present in the electrochemical cell.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.


The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first operation unit having a plurality of buttons corresponding to setting items of imaging conditions, and capable of adjusting the setting items according to operation; and a second operation unit capable of performing a rotating operation and a depressing operation and setting conditions related to the setting items according to operation.

In general, an imaging apparatus such as a digital video camera automatically or manually changes imaging conditions such as focus and exposure. In order to easily change the imaging conditions, it is important that the imaging apparatus has a user interface that is easy for the user to operate.
As an example of the above imaging apparatus, Patent Literature 1 discloses an imaging apparatus having a first operation means composed of an operation key, a second operation means provided separately from the operation key and outputting two operation signals corresponding to the operation direction, and a control means. When the depression time of the first operation means is less than a predetermined time, the control means executes switching processing between an automatic setting mode and a manual setting mode for a setting item whose setting value is to be changed. Further, the control means changes the setting value of the setting item to be changed according to the operation direction of the second operation means when the mode is switched to the manual setting mode by the switching processing, and displays a selection screen of the setting item to be changed on the display means when the depression time is a predetermined time or longer.

Imaging apparatus with two operation interfaces for setting imaging conditions


To obtain a planar light source which is free from brightness variations or chromaticity variations by using a point light source having a high directivity for emitted light, and to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining superior display characteristics by using this planar light source device. A planar light source device having an opening in the upper surface comprises a hollow box, a diffusion plate disposed in the opening, a reflecting plate disposed on the bottom of the hollow region of the box, and a plurality of point light sources disposed in a row along at least one side surface of the box. This planar light sources device is characterized by including a refracting element disposed parallel to the row of point light sources and between the point light sources and the hollow region for refracting the light from the point light sources, whereby the light at an incident angle at which the brightness is greatest in the luminous intensity distribution of the light radiated to the irradiation subject surface of the refracting element is refracted to the bottom surface of the box by the refracting element.

In a conventional planar light source device, the portion of light radiated from a cold-cathode tube and light which is radiated from the cold-cathode tube and reflected on the cylindrical surface of a light source cover becomes parallel light with a focus lens and radiated on the reflection plane of a reflecting plate, and the reflected light is scattered from a scattering plate to be radiated (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54625/1996 (page 3, line 18 of the left column to line 45 of the right column, FIG. 2)).
Further, other conventional planar light source device is composed of a light distribution means, light emitting diodes, a reflection means which is provided so as to face the light distribution means, a hollow space which is formed between the light distribution means and the reflection means, and a reflector (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 258764/2002 (page 4, line 3 of the left column to page 5, line 43 of the left column, FIG. 1)).
Since cold-cathode tubes having low directivity as a light source are used in a conventional planar light source device, there has been a problem that the quality of display is lowered, since focusing property at a condenser lens is low, luminance nearby the light source comes to be higher in comparison with luminance at a position far from the light source, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity are generated in display.
Further, when light emitting diodes having high directivity are used as a light source, there has been a problem that the quality of display is lowered, since the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity are generated in display in accordance with the light distribution of point light sources.
The present invention is achieved in order to solve the problems, and it is the purpose of the invention is to provide a planar light source device which does not generate the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity in case of using point light sources having the high directivity of radiating light, and a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining superior display property by using the planar light source device.

Planar light source device and display device using the same


A surgical tool includes a malleable elongate body having a flexible plunger rod slidably mounted in a bore therein and having a tapered and rounded forward end for ease of insertion into the body. A needle having suture material attached may be placed into the end of the rod, which can be retracted into the bore of the elongate body. In practice, the tool may be inserted into a bodily structure, such as one of the corpora cavernosum of a penis. The outer surface of the tool body may be equipped with measuring markings to allow the user to gauge the depth that the barrel has been inserted into a bodily structure. After the tool has been malleably bent to access the corpora cavernosa in the desired manner, the flexible plunger rod, with threaded suturing needle attached is slid along the bore to extend the needle out of the rounded, tapered end thereof. The needle is manually pulled out of the bodily structure. After the tool is withdrawn, the suture material remains threaded through the bodily structure.

This invention relates generally to medical devices and pertains more particularly to a surgical tool for the implantation of urological prosthetic devices.
Various techniques and equipment have been developed for the implantation of urological prosthetic devices, using tools such as forceps or dilators. One well known type of prosthetic device which may be implanted using such tools is described by Robert Buuck in U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,102 which discloses a penile erection system. That patent describes the use of a rigid metal rod to dilate the corpora cavernosa regions of the penis to allow insertion of inflatable prosthetic cylinders.
Several other tools have been provided in this art, including one by Scott, U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,151 and another by Furlow and Mikulich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,370. Both of these tools, among other things, are used to introduce a suture carrying needle into the penile corpora cavernosa. The Furlow et al. device has overcome many of the undesirable aspects of prior insertion tools and methods. However, the Scott and Furlow et al. tools, as well as other prior art tools, have a disadvantage in that they are rigid, which constricts the maneuverability of the tools when encountering other external bodily obstructions, such as obese abdomens, as is further discussed hereinbelow.
This invention provides a new and improved tool constructed in such a manner and of such materials as to render it flexible and in its most preferred embodiment malleable, and even provides it in a disposable form, thus eliminating the necessity for sterilization of the tool between procedures.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool for implanting medical prosthetic devices and for other medical procedures. The tool has advantages over existing tools in the following areas:
1. Increased ease of passage and insertion of the tool due to its flexibility. PA1 2. Increased control of insertion and position of the suture carrying needle with the ability to retract the needle if the position is not optimal without removing and replacing the instrument with resultant minimization of tissue trauma. PA1 3. Conformity to tissue curves and angles with less chance of a crossover between the septum dividing the corpora cavernosa and/or trauma to the corpus spongiosum tissue. PA1 4. Disposability so there is no chance of contamination due to retained debris from a previous procedure. PA1 5. Positive control of the suture needle with minimal chance of unintentional exposure of the needle. PA1 6. Malleability with resultant greater ease of placement and positioning in cases of anatomical and positional obstructions or abnormalities.


An orthosis with controlled angular excursion can be positioned at the level of a joint or articulation of the human body. The orthosis includes an articulated joint with a basic structure designed to be positioned on the joint and also includes centrally, a pin with toothing located in a circular sector with predetermined width. The basic structure and the relative pin provided with toothing are equipped with a respective pair of rings, each of which has a substantially elongated shape. A hollow part, or slot, includes two straight sectors, of which at least one is provided with toothing with the same pitch as the toothing of the pin with which it engages. The pair of rings can, when in use, be simultaneously rotated around the pin, and are provided with slots which in turn include a tractor for the orthosis.

The use is known in the orthopedic sector of orthopedic braces or orthoses by subjects presenting orthopedic problems involving the knee joint, but similarly also of other joints, such as the ankle or the elbow, above all in the case of injuries or as a result of a previous surgical operation.
In general, the orthopedic brace or orthosis is designed to guarantee or control the hinge restraint function of joints, for example between the femur and the tibia in the case of the knee, but also of other articulated joint points, for example the elbow, supporting stress which would otherwise be harmful for the joint.
The function of an orthosis is, in general, that of guaranteeing the relative immobilization or limitation of a joint affected by trauma, by arthrosis, by sprained ligaments or which has undergone a surgical operation.
Another use of orthoses is for the concomitant functional rehabilitation or re-education, wherein the orthosis can be used to reduce the load on the joint and reduce the pain, or can be used for prevention in cases of osteoporosis or bone weakness.
An orthosis usually comprises a rigid or soft frame, encircling the limb, designed to guarantee adequate harnessing of the joint in order to prevent the onset of stress on the ligaments or on the synovial membranes during walking by the injured and/or convalescent subject.
According to background art, the frame of an orthosis for joints, for example in the typical case of a knee brace, comprises means of restraint to the femur and the tibia and a section of connection of these means consisting of an articulated joint positioned at the level of the knee.
The means of restraint usually consist of preformed bars that are fixed by means of suitable straps encircling both the femur and the tibia of the injured subject or fabric bands, straps or sleeves that make it possible to create a restraint between the ends of the mechanical articulated joint and the limb.
The mechanical articulated joint is positioned laterally with respect to the femur and the tibia, in the case of application, for example, to the leg. Thanks to its conformation consisting of two rotation centres relatively restrained to each other by toothed profiles, this articulated joint follows the kinematics of the knee with good approximation.
A standard multicentre articulated joint is a system consisting of two hinged bars, each one hinged to its own centre of rotation, wherein these centres of rotation are restrained parallel to each other and at a known distance.
In the standard multicentre articulated joint, the two bars are connected to each other thanks to a circular toothed profile present on each bar, and this toothed profile places them in relative and synchronous motion with respect to each other.
In this articulated joint, by definition, the rotation centres and the toothed profile enable the bars to rotate only around two parallel axes and their rotation motion thus lies on one plane.
Various solutions and types of joints are used to correct several problems, for example through the use of special knee braces aimed at correcting the misalignment of the joint, generally through the use of shims of various types inserted inside the brace close to the lateral thrust area to be fitted on the articulated joint.
While clinically and at least partially resolving limb deformities, the solutions proposed above are not without drawbacks substantially connected with the use of the orthosis.
One problem is that the articulations of the human body, such as the knee, especially in the case of disease or other problems during walking, move in an irregular way, that is to say not exactly on a rotation plane. This means that traditional orthoses are not suitable for angular movements, since the rotated parts only change their angular position with respect to the main axes of the fixed part, since it is impossible due to their construction conception for them also to change their relative distance with respect to the centre of rotation located in a specific position of the fixed part, thus also making it impossible to vary the total length of the entire system in following the anatomical movements of the limb.
This means that since they are not designed to follow the anatomical variations in length that occur during the angular movement of a joint, standard type braces lose adherence during movement of the limb, making it impossible for the brace to follow the limb, thereby losing the function for which it was designed.
Another problem is that, taking the knee joint into consideration, it was noted that during movement, when walking for example, the tension varies according to the position of the knee, which will tend to be overloaded in the angles between 30° and 0° in extension, that is to say in a sector wherein the weight of the body weighs more heavily on the joint precisely when it needs greater stability.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,264 B1 discloses an orthosis that is mountable on a knee having a femoral head and patella. The orthosis has upper and lower arms positionable about the knee and a hinge assembly positioned between the upper and lower arms at the knee to one side of the patella. A compression member is positioned at the femoral head adjacent to the patella on the opposite side of the patella from the hinge assembly.

Orthosis with controlled angular excursion


A card connector is provided having a housing and a contact. The housing includes a card receiving space. The contact is supported by the housing and includes a contact arm and an extended portion. The contact arm includes a free end and the extended portion includes a first end positioned below the contact arm on which the free end of the contact arm slides.

Cards, such as memory cards, are becoming smaller and smaller, all the while requiring additional functions, for example, transitioning a micro SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card to a nano SIM card, which is smaller than the micro SIM card. There is a demand for use of the nano SIM card in a device equipped with a card connector for the micro SIM card. Generally, a mobile-phone company provides no warranty for usage of a nano SIM card in a micro SIM card connector, and users generally perform this under personal responsibility using an adapter. That is, the nano SIM card is attached to the adapter, and the nano SIM card which has been attached to the adapter is inserted together with the adapter into the card connector adapted to the micro SIM card. In this manner, the nano SIM card can be used in the card connector adapted to the micro SIM card.
In this regard, JP 2012-129028 A discloses a known card connector provided with a cantilever-type contact having a free end.
There is no standard for the size or the like of an adapter used for such a purpose. Therefore, a step may occur between an adapter and the nano SIM card attached thereto. In this case, when the nano SIM card with the adapter is pulled out of the card connector, the free end of the contact may get caught in the step, which may cause the contact to buckle or to be damaged, thereby causing the card connector to break down. To this effect, a contact with fixed ends fixed may be provided. Thus, the contact has both ends fixed, and buckling or damage of the contact is prevented. However, if the contact having ends is adopted, contact pressure with the card may become excessively high, which may damage the card or shorten the life of the card.
JP H08-330009 A discloses a known contact having a cantilever-type tongue piece with a box type contact portion and an inverted-V shape slide on a bottom plate of the box type contact portion. Since the contact tongue piece has an inverted-V shape, buckling or the like of the contact tongue piece can be avoided. However, for a card connector, numerous contacts are formed from sheet metal, and since the contact is a relatively long part, forming the contact by folding back sheet metal like the known contact tongue piece of JP H08-330009 requires sheet metal having a large area as sheet metal material for the contact, which causes an increase in material cost, which is undesirable.

Card connector and contact with buckling prevention


This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless data communication. In one aspect, a device communicates with a base station. The device comprises a circuit configured to generate energy based on an environmental input. The device further comprises a storage device configured to store the energy. The device further comprises a clock circuit configured to generate a clock signal. The clock circuit is configured to power on during an active state of the device and power off during a sleep state of the device. The device further comprises a trigger circuit configured to generate a trigger signal that transitions the device into the active state when a level of the energy stored reaches a threshold value. The device further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a message to the base station in response to generation of the trigger signal.

Devices, such as tracking or monitoring devices, communicate wirelessly with a base station. Periodically, these devices gather information from sensors and transmit this information to the base station. Information gathered by the sensors may include a location, a heartbeat, a sugar level, and the like. To conserve power, the devices often enter a sleep mode when not gathering information and communicating with the base station. A clock or timer may be used by a device to determine when to gather information and communication with the base station and when to enter the sleep mode. However, the clock or timer consumes a non-zero amount of power and a non-zero amount of circuitry. Thus, the clock or timer limits an amount of power that can be conserved by a device and increases the size of the device.

Systems and methods for saving power in monitoring and tracking devices


A representative spacecraft system includes a launch vehicle elongated along a launch vehicle axis and having at least one stage carrying a corresponding rocket engine. The representative system further includes an annular support structure carried by the at least one stage and positioned to support a cargo spacecraft having a service module and a cargo module. The cargo module of the cargo spacecraft is positioned along the launch vehicle axis in a direction distal from the support structure, and at least a portion of the service module of the cargo spacecraft positioned within an annulus of the support structure.

Rocket-propelled launch vehicles have long been used to carry spacecraft into earth orbit or beyond. The launch vehicle typically includes one or more booster stages that successively advance the spacecraft farther from the earth's surface, ultimately separating entirely from the spacecraft, which then carries out one or more space-based missions.
The spacecraft typically includes a cargo module (e.g., a satellite, space station supplies, crew, or the like) and a service module (e.g., a propulsion system and navigation, control, and guidance systems). The service module is responsible for delivering the cargo module to its destination. In many instances, the service module is specifically designed for a particular launch vehicle and/or cargo module. Accordingly, such service modules can become obsolete in light of changes made to the launch vehicle, for example, increased launch vehicle capacity. As a result, there exists a need for improving the versatility of service modules, and the overall cargo capacity of the associated spacecraft.

Spacecraft with increased cargo capacities, and associated systems and methods


A control unit extracts stop position candidates P1 to Pn from the white line data and three-dimensional object data recognized and acquires their positions L1 to Ln, and sets, as a target stop position Lt, one of the stop position candidates P1 to Pn that is the closest to the braking distance Lb obtained based on the current braking operation quantity θp and vehicle speed V. The control unit subtracts a learning value LL from the target stop position Lt to calculate a corrected target stop position Ltc and sets a corrected braking operation quantity value θpc based on the corrected target stop position Ltc and vehicle speed V. When the absolute value |θp−θpc| of the difference between the braking operation quantity θp and the corrected braking operation quantity value θpc is within a preset range, the control unit executes braking control based on the corrected braking operation quantity value θpc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle braking control device for assisting smooth braking by a driver.
2. Related Art
In recent years, braking control devices have been proposed for assisting braking by a driver in a variety of ways.
For example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Application JP-A-2004-256104 discloses a braking control system for calculating a correction factor in accordance with the distance to an obstacle ahead, distance to a car running ahead or a road gradient and correcting the braking operation quantity of a driver by using the correction factor. According to this system, it is possible to obtain a same braking distance with the same amount of stepping on a brake pedal in the braking while driving down hills.
When a driver stops his/her vehicle by way of braking, in case the brake pedal operation is insufficient for a target stop position, the vehicle stops beyond the target position. In case the brake pedal is stepped on excessively, the vehicle stops before the target position. The driver attempts to adjust the brake pedal operation quantity to stop the vehicle at the target position. In this operation, a change in the degree of deceleration gives a passenger a sense of discomfort. The system just provides the same braking distance corresponding to the same brake pedal operation. This does not assist the driver to eliminate the sense of discomfort caused on the passenger due to a change in the degree of deceleration.


Disclosed in a digital broadcasting receiver comprising first means for performing pre-scan processing for successively tuning in on channels previously set, to examine whether or not a received signal on each of the channels is of a predetermined quality or more, and temporarily registering the channel numbers of the channels on which the received signals are of the predetermined quality or more in a storage device as receivable channel candidates, and second means for performing normal scan processing for successively tuning in on the receivable channel candidates temporarily registered in the storage device by the first means, to acquire and register necessary channel information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver for receiving digital TV broadcasting and digital audio broadcasting, and a channel information registration processing method in the digital broadcasting receiver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional television broadcasting receivers, channel information such as a receivable channel number and service information have been registered in the receiver by making a channel scan (a search) for each channel. Conventionally, within a range of channels which can be received by a tuner, all the channels including the channel on which no programs are actually broadcast have been successively searched for the channel information.
In order to acquire the service information, it is necessary to wait until a demodulation/FEC (Forward Error Correction) circuit is locked. When the channel on which no programs are actually broadcast is searched, the demodulation/FEC circuit is not locked. Therefore, it has been conventionally judged whether or not the demodulation/FEC circuit is locked for a predetermined time period, to search the subsequent channel if the demodulation/FEC circuit is not locked. Conventionally, it has been thus judged whether or not the demodulation/FEC circuit is also locked with respect to the channel on which no programs are actually broadcast. Accordingly, it takes much time to register the channel information.

Digital broadcasting receiver and channel information registration processing method in digital broadcasting receiver


An adjustable vehicle seat (1) has a seat part (2) and a backrest part (3) which is pivotable relative to the seat part about a backrest pivot axis (6) and is lockable in a design position (the backrest is approximately upright) and in a table position (the backrest rests on the seat part). Two locking devices (90) are kinematically assigned to the seat part and an unlocking unit (10) is kinematically assigned to the backrest, for unlocking the locking devices (90). The unlocking unit (10) is connected to the locking devices (90) by two Bowden cables (83, 84). A passage element (80), that is approximately cylindrical, is fastened to the seat part with a cylinder axis aligned with the backrest pivot axis (6) and with a first Bowden cable passage opening (81) and a second Bowden cable passage opening (82) arranged at a same distance from the backrest pivot axis.

Adjustable vehicle seats which have a seat part and a backrest which is arranged pivotably on the seat part are known by use. In addition, a vehicle seat of this type has two backrest setting fittings, by means of which the backrest can be pivoted about a backrest pivot axis relative to the seat part, and by means of which the backrest can be locked to the seat part in a plurality of angular positions.
Starting from a design position, in which a passenger can be seated and the backrest is approximately vertical, the vehicle seat can be transferred into a table position, in which the backrest rests on the seat part. Here, the rear side of the backrest lies approximately horizontally and the vehicle seat has the function of a table.
Furthermore, it is known that the vehicle seat can be locked to the vehicle structure by means of two locking apparatuses which are attached in the rear region of the seat part. By way of unlocking of the two said locking apparatuses, the rear part of the vehicle seat can be released from the vehicle structure. By way of raising of the rear part of the vehicle seat and pivoting toward the front, the vehicle seat can be transferred into a tumble position, in which additional cargo area is produced.
An unlocking unit which is assigned kinematically to the backrest is provided for unlocking the two locking apparatuses. The unlocking unit is connected to each of the two locking apparatuses by means of in each case one Bowden cable. Here, the locking apparatuses are assigned kinematically to the seat part.
During a pivoting movement of the backrest relative to the seat part from the design position into the table position, the actuating travels of the two Bowden cables can be influenced, in particular can be lengthened or shortened.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,368 A has disclosed an adjustable vehicle seat which can be transferred from a design position into a position, in which the backrest rests on the seat part, and which adjustable vehicle seat can be locked to a vehicle structure by means of two locking apparatuses.
DE 102 97 476 T5 has likewise disclosed a vehicle seat of this type.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,595 B2 discloses a vehicle seat which can be locked to a vehicle structure by means of two locking apparatuses, it being possible for the locking apparatuses to be unlocked by means of Bowden cables.


A sensor carrier for an in-tube inspection scraper has setting places for installation of monitoring sensors responsive to any diagnostic parameters of a pipeline being inspected. The carrier includes a set of kinematically interconnected sensor supports that are subjected to an elastic force in the radial direction from the carrier axis. The supports are made as elastic ring-shaped elements or as rows of interconnected elements adjoining the pipe wall or are fixed on elastic components such as rings or sectors of sleeves, and/or are connected to a housing capable of bending. Installed on the supports between the sensors and the internal surface of the pipeline are elastic gaskets. The carrier allows one to increase the efficiency of the flaw detection in pipelines having defects of geometry in the cross section.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices used for flaw detection of long-distance pipelines, mainly oil and gas pipelines through non-destructive methods by passing inside the pipeline an intelligent scraper with monitoring sensors mounted thereon and responding to any diagnostic parameter of the pipeline. The invention primarily relates to means for attaching sensors and maintenance of their necessary spatial location with respect to the pipeline surface during the travel of the scraper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known in the art are sensor carriers (see GB939172, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,496,457, 3,449,662, 3,810,384, 3,835,374, 3,940,689, 3,949,292, 3,967,194, 3,973,441, GB2020023, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,342,225, 4,457,073, 1,157,443, 4,717,875, 4,598,250, DE3506622, DE3706660, U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,877, 4,945,306, 4,953,412, 5,115,196, 3,755,908, 5,460,046, DE19747551, DE3719492) for an in-tube scraper with sites for sensors which are arranged on a surface with axial symmetry (inscribed into a surface with axial symmetry). The carriers are characterized in that they include housing and sensor supports. The use of the above devices does not allow one to obtain a resolution sufficient for identification of defects such as pinpoint corrosion or cracks in the pipeline wall.
Also known in the art are sensor carriers (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,529,236, 3,543,144, 3,786,684, RU2139469, RU2139468) for an in-tube inspection scraper with setting places for sensors which are arranged on a surface with axial symmetry (inscribed into a surface with axial symmetry). The carrier is characterized in that it includes a housing and one or several belts of sensor supports spring-loaded in the radial directions and secured on the housing with the help of pivot joints. Each support has setting places for sensors. The advantage of such a sensor carrier is that it allows one to scan the whole surface of the pipeline with overlapping the zones monitored by individual sensors. The main disadvantage of such a carrier is that when it passes a pipeline section with a defect of geometry, for example, a dent, the sensor supports behave as rigid elements, and a knock of the front part of the support against a dent (projection on the pipeline internal surface) is accompanied by a departure of whole support from the non-deformed part of the pipeline. An increase of the distance between the sensors and the internal surface of the pipeline imparts the efficiency of the sensors, and such sections of the pipeline with defect of geometry remain to be not inspected.
Known in the art is a sensor carrier (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,126) for an in-tube inspection scraper with setting places for sensors, which are provided on a surface with axial symmetry. The carrier is characterized in that it includes an elastic sleeve whose diameter is less than the pipeline bore diameter, the sensors are installed along the periphery of the sleeve and said sensors are inscribed in a cylinder whose diameter exceeds the sleeve diameter. Such a carrier is advantageous in that, when the scraper travels along a pipeline section with an insignificant defect of geometry, like a dent, the sensors adjoin the deformed surface of the pipeline. The basic disadvantage of such a carrier is that the carrier sensors are arranged as a single belt, and since some distance separates the sensors from each other, this distance restricts the linear resolution of the inspection scraper with such a carrier. Furthermore, the distance between the adjacent sensors cannot be less than the sensor size/and this also restricts the linear resolution. Besides, when the carrier passes pipeline sections having major defects of the geometry in the cross section, the sensors move away from the non-deformed part of the pipeline near the defect of geometry and this is followed by a collapse of the sleeve with sensors. When testing the pipeline consisting of pipes having essentially different thickness of the pipe walls, for example, in the presence of earlier repaired pipeline sections, on the sections with an increased wall thickness, as well as in the presence of a fixed foreign object on the internal pipe surface, the movement of the sensor carrier can be accompanied by a collapse of the sleeve and a loss of orientation of some sensors. Besides, installation of the sensors outside results in a damage of the sensors by such obstacles as jar washers.
A related device for the claimed group of inventions is a known sensor carrier (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,484 and its equivalents CA1307129, DE3626646, EP0255619, ES2026869, NO172956, NO873252) for an in-tube inspection scraper with setting places for sensors which are arranged on a surface with axial symmetry. The carrier is made as an elastic cylindrical sleeve with protuberances forming a cylinder whose diameter is larger than the internal diameter of the pipe; the sensors are located in the depressions of the sleeve, the protuberances and depressions being oriented under an acute angle to the sleeve axis.
This carrier is advantageous in that the sensors installed along the lines oriented at an angle to the carrier axis allow one to scan the entire surface of the pipeline with overlapping of the zones monitored by individual sensors; the installation of the sensors in the sleeve depressions protects them against damage on such obstacles as jar washers; when passing the pipeline section with a defect of geometry such as a dent, the sensors adjoin the deformed and non-deformed surfaces of the pipeline both along the axis and along the perimeter of the pipeline.
The disadvantage of such a carrier is that the elastic sleeve carrying a large number of sensors with associated cables (which provide high linear resolution) or utilization of heavy sensors (for example, magnetic) with long length and low thickness of the sleeve and, respectively, good elasticity, results in deformation of the elastic sleeve under the total weight of the sensors and cables. This leads to a formation of a gap between the sensors at the top part of the elastic sleeve and the internal surface of the pipeline, in which case the presence of a gap interferes with uniform pressure of the sleeve to the internal wall of the pipe when filling the starting chamber with fluid to be conveyed. The increase of the sleeve rigidity (to avoid the above phenomenon) is accompanied by a loss of elasticity of the sleeve when enveloping the defects of geometry of the pipeline and formation of gaps between the sensors and the internal surface of the pipeline near the defect.
Besides, the gaps between the sensors and the internal surface of the pipeline are also formed when enveloping the defects of geometry by the sensors arranged at the front wall of the sleeve whose ability of compressing in the plane passing through an carrier axis is much lower than at the section of the sleeve remote from its front wall.

Sensors carrier for in-tube inspection scraper


An improved waveguide grating router enhances the transmissivity of a dominant passband selected from a plurality of passbands. The router includes a first waveguide coupler, a second waveguide coupler, and a plurality of M waveguides coupled between the first and second waveguide couplers. Each waveguide m has a length L(m). The difference in length (.DELTA.L) between any two adjacent waveguides, m and (m-1), is equal to an arbitrary constant plus (A*m) for each of the waveguides. Mathematically, this may be expressed as .DELTA.L={L(m)-L(m-1)}=k+A*(m), where k is an arbitrary constant, m denotes a given waveguide out of a total M waveguides, and A is a positive or negative real number. In this manner, the difference in length .DELTA.L between adjacent waveguide arms is a monotonically increasing or decreasing function of m; i.e., a parabolic function of m. The focal lengths of the second waveguide coupler are related to A, thereby enhancing the transmissivity of a dominant passband selected from a plurality of passbands.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to optical transmission, and more specifically to techniques for controlling optical signals in waveguide grating routers.
2. Background of Related Art
Waveguide grating routers have been employed in the field of optical transmission. One example of a waveguide grating router is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,671 (the '671 patent), issued to C. Dragone, and incorporated by reference herein. The waveguide grating router disclosed in the '671 patent is a planar device with N.sub.1 inputs and N.sub.2 outputs arranged in the form of M grated waveguides (i.e. "arms") of varying lengths L(m), connected between two waveguide couplers. The router includes a set of ports p at a first end of the router and a set of ports q at a second end of the router. The router functions as a filter for each input-output (p-q) combination. If the q ports are terminated with an array of N amplifiers and mirrors, and the p ports are terminated with mirrors and optical amplifiers, a multi-frequency laser (MFL) oscillating at N precisely-spaced frequencies is obtained.
In state-of-the-art waveguide grating router designs, the difference in length (.DELTA.L) between any two adjacent waveguides is constant for all waveguides. Mathematically, this may be expressed as .DELTA.L={L(m)-L(m-1)}=k, where k is a constant. In other words, the length L(m) of a particular waveguide (arm) m, is equal to a constant k plus the length of an adjacent arm m-1, denoted as (L(m-1)). The length of the shortest arm, represented by m=1, is a design parameter that is selected in accordance with the desired physical dimensions of the waveguide grating router.
The frequency spectrum of existing waveguide grating routers presents some shortcomings. Within the frequency passband of each channel, a plurality of evenly-spaced frequency components, each at roughly the same peak power level, will occur. The spacing of these frequency components is determined by the router's free-spectral range. For the MFL, in some of the channels, the net power gain may be nearly the same for two or more of these frequency components, especially if the optical amplifiers connected to the MFL router all have substantially similar characteristics. This repetition of the same signal at several different frequencies within the passband of each channel results in multimode lasing of an optical laser, producing instabilities in the laser's output.
A waveguide grating router having a dominant passband (i.e. one predominant frequency component) is therefore highly desirable. In addition, it is desirable to control the particular frequency or passband at which the peak signal occurs within each channel. Note that, as used herein, the term "frequency" may denote a signal having a single frequency, or a signal occupying a given range of frequencies, i.e., a signal passband.

Chirped waveguide grating router with focal length adjustment