A toner comprising a small-particle diameter external additive having a number average particle diameter of 7 to 20 nm, a large-particle diameter external additive having a number average particle diameter of 40 to 80 nm and a toner particle having a volume average particle diameter of 4 to 7 μm, wherein the large-particle diameter external additive is stuck to the surface of the toner particles in a semi-embedded state and has a rate of liberation of 0.1% by weight or less from the surface of the toner particle.

The image formation process utilizing the electrostatic electrophotographic system generally involves a charging step, exposure step, transfer step, developing step, peeling step, cleaning step, charge removing step and fixing step. The process of forming an image is carried out in the following manner. First, the surface of a photoconductor driven with rotation is uniformly charged by a charger. Then, the surface of the charged photoconductor is irradiated with laser light by an exposure apparatus to form an electrostatic latent image, in succession, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is developed by a developing device to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor. Moreover, the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer device. Thereafter, the transferred toner image is fixed on the transfer-receiving material by heating using a fixing device to form an image. Also, the toner left untransferred on the photoconductor is removed by a cleaning device and recovered to a prescribed recovery section. Moreover, the surface of the photoconductor cleaned is subjected to a charge removing device to remove a residual charge and prepared for the next image formation.
Recently, the use of toners (small-particle diameter toners) having a volume average particle diameter of 7 μm or less have come to be the mainstream in order to improve the reproducibility of dots for the purpose of improving a higher quality image in an image forming device. The small-particle diameter toner has high cohesive force and high adhesion, posing the problem concerning less transfer efficiency when a toner image is transferred to a recording medium from a photoconductor drum.
As the method that solves this problem, a method of adding a large-particle diameter external additive to a toner is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Unexamined patent publication of No. 2000-81723.

Toner, two-component developer and image formation device


The present invention relates to an insulated electric wire for an automobile containing a conductor and an insulating coating layer which coats the conductor, the insulating coating layer being formed of a non-crosslinkable resin composition containing 65 to 90 parts by weight of a polypropylene-based resin, 10 to 40 parts by weight of a metal hydroxide, 20 to 50 parts by weight of a bromine-based flame retardant, 5 to 30 parts by weight of antimony trioxide, and 2 to 15 parts by weight of a maleic acid-modified resin in the ratio and further containing at least one of 3 to 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene resin and 2 to 10 parts by weight of an ethylene-based copolymer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an insulated electric wire for an automobile. More particularly, the invention relates to an insulated electric wire for an automobile, such as an insulated electric wire and a wire harness to be used as internal wiring of automobiles, automotive devices, and the like having a high ASR (shredder dust) recycling rate.
2. Background Art
As an insulating coating material for insulated electric wires to be used as wiring in the inside of an automobile, properties such as flame retardancy, abrasion resistance, heat resistance, cold resistance, and humidity resistance are defined in ISO 6722. As an insulating coating material satisfying such properties, there are polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based resins and polyolefin-based resins mixed with a halogen-based flame retardant containing bromine (Br), chlorine (Cl), or the like in the molecule. However, in recent years, halogen-free electric wires containing no halogen and containing a large amount of magnesium hydroxide added thereto have been known (for example, JP-A-2007-246726 and JP-A-2-73838).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An information processing apparatus that detects processing to be executed by a processor includes: a display that displays a status of the processing to be executed by the processor; and a switching controller that switches between a first adjustment mode and a second adjustment mode in association with predetermined processing to be executed without displaying the execution status on the display. The first adjustment mode sets, as a target for selection, a first selection range including a plurality of processing power classes classified according to the magnitude of the processing power. The second adjustment mode sets, as a target for selection, a second selection range in which a first processing power class related to relatively high processing power is excluded from among the first processing power class, a second processing power class, and a third processing power class of the first selection range.

An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer generates heat according to the operation of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and each electronic device itself raises the temperature of the chassis thereof. Such an information processing apparatus may be provided with a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a main electronic device or the like, and a cooling fan controlled based on the detection result of the temperature sensor.
Japanese Patent No. 4448101 describes temperature control using a thermal action table and the suppression of a rise in fan speed of a cooling fan when an electronic device such as a CPU is in an idle state.
Processing in the information processing apparatus such as OS update processing, security measure processing, or the like may be executed when a predetermined condition is met regardless of the user operation.
When the information processing apparatus is in a state capable of executing an application program or the like, if such a state is a state where a user leaves the information processing apparatus continuously unoperated for a certain period, the cooling fan may enter a state where the fan speed is slowed down.
Under these circumstances, when a schedule task is executed, the information processing apparatus may suffer from a sudden rise in the chassis temperature thereof and a sudden activation of the cooling fan to suppress the sudden temperature rise.

Information processing apparatus and method


An irrigated finned ablation head that provides enhanced cooling. The irrigated finned ablation head comprises a plurality of radial fins that are distributed about a central axis and that extend axially from a common base. The plurality of fins are arranged to define a central passageway along the central axis, as well as a plurality of slots therebetween, the slots extending in an axial direction along the irrigated finned ablation head. In one embodiment, the central passageway extends through the irrigated finned ablation head, defining an opening at the distal extremity, with the slots extending from the base to the opening. In another embodiment, the irrigated finned ablation head includes a cap portion at a distal portion that is common to all the radial fins, so that the slots are terminated at the distal portion of the irrigated finned ablation head. The radial flow distribution along the central axis can be tailored by the configuration of the central passageway.

An ablation catheter is a catheter having an end effector, such as a radio-frequency (RF) ablation head, designed to deliver energy to a target tissue for the purpose of forming a lesion on the target tissue. Catheter-based ablation therapy is performed by accessing the target tissue via a biological lumen, such as a blood vessel. The ablation head is often cooled with irrigation fluids to control the temperature of the ablation head. In some systems, the irrigation fluid is vented into the biological lumen or targeted organ via apertures in the ablation head. The local venting of irrigation fluid through the ablation head can serve the function of purging the immediate area of the target tissue, thereby preventing recirculation of blood proximate the ablation head that can lead to coagulation and the formation of blood clots.
An existing paradigm in irrigated ablation head design is to provide uniform flows through the purged apertures. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0030209 to Govari et al. (Govari) discloses an ablation catheter having a distal tip with a plurality of perforations through the outer surface, which are distributed circumferentially and longitudinally over the distal tip. Govari discloses that the perforations may optionally be varied over the length of the distal tip to compensate for pressure variation and ensure equal flow over the entire length. For this purpose, the perforations at and near the most distal part of the tip may be made larger than the more proximal perforations, which are nearer to the fluid inlet. As further example of the emphasis on uniform flow, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,338 to Brucker, et al. discloses structures to uniformly and evenly distribute the fluid around tip structures.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0249522 to Pappone et al. discloses internal lumen designs in an irrigated catheter that promotes uniform cooling and/or uniform fluid distribution in longitudinally spaced apart elution holes by varying the diameter of a fluid delivery lumen.
Other designs, such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,989 to Skarda (Skarda) deliver greater flow to the tip region of the irrigated ablation head. Skarda discloses a plurality of pores arrayed longitudinally and circumferentially around all sides of the ablation head, with an increased density of pores in distal end region of the ablation head, thus concentrating delivery of a conductive fluid distally, where primary contact with the target tissue occurs.
Despite such designs, problems persist in the implementation of irrigated ablation heads. Such problems include coagulation of blood in recirculation zones about the ablation head that can lead to the formation of blood clots. There is need for an irrigated ablation catheter and system that mitigates these shortcomings.

ST. JUDE MEDICAL LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.À.R.L.


A non-volatile memory device and a bad block remapping method use some of main blocks as remapping blocks to replace a bad block in a main cell block and selects remapping blocks using existing block address signals. Thus, separate bussing of remapping block address signals is not needed. The bad block remapping includes comparing an external block address input from an external source to a stored bad block address, generating a bad block flag signal when the external block address is identical to the stored bad block address, generating a remapping block address selecting the remapping blocks in response to a remapping address corresponding to the bad block address, selecting one of the external block address and the remapping block address in response to the bad block flag signal to create a selected address, and outputting a row address signal in accordance with the selected address.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device having a bad block remapping function and a bad block remapping method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flash memory devices are non-volatile memory devices for electrically recording and erasing data. Memory cells of a flash memory device are configured in a plurality of blocks, and each of the blocks includes a plurality of pages. In particular, a block is an elementary unit for erasing data stored in a memory cell.
Flash memory devices program and erase data by using a tunneling effect, in which a particle penetrates a high energy barrier, and a hot carrier effect, in which a hot carrier having a high kinetic energy penetrates an insulating material. Since flash memory devices program and erase data, data can be programmed in a flash memory cell a limited number of times, and the flash memory cell might fail to write data. In addition, due to a variety of restrictions on manufacturing flash memory devices requiring a high integration density, defective flash memory cells might be manufactured.
During the manufacture or operation of flash memory devices, a fatal problem can occur in a memory cell. A block having at least one defective memory cell is referred to as a bad block. A flash memory device having an at least predetermined number, e.g., at least five, of bad blocks is determined to be a failure article.
A flash memory device having a predetermined number or less of bad blocks uses a method of managing a bad block. An example of the method includes a bad block mapping method in which a bad block is replaced with a redundant block. The bad block mapping method includes checking an address of the bad block, impeding writing and reading data in the bad block, replacing the bad block with the redundant block, and writing and reading data in the redundant data.

Non-volatile memory device and bad block remapping method


Advertisements or commercials are integrated into an entertainment program or display by designating locations or fields in the entertainment program or display into which targeted advertisements or commercials may in inserted and/or modified, so that the advertisements blend into the scene in which they are inserted without disrupting the entertainment program or display.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to advertisements, commercials, or the like, and in particular to a system and method for integrating advertisements or commercials into an entertainment program or display by utilizing locations or fields in the entertainment program or display into which advertisements or commercials may be inserted and/or modified, so that the advertisements blend into the scene in which they are inserted without disrupting the entertainment program or display.
2. Background of the Invention
One of the fundamental elements of modern society is the pervasiveness of advertising or commercials. Advertising is everywhere, having penetrated every type of media, in every geographic location, and virtually every type of human activity, including marketing, education, elections, and governance. With the development of new media technologies, such as those associated with the Internet, advertising has become even more indispensable. Advertising, which has been with the Internet from its beginning, is an essential to the growth of electronic commerce and the Internet in general.
Even as advertising has become more pervasive, its effectiveness has in many cases declined. Once a novelty, advertisements are now often regarded as an annoyance, or at best something to be ignored. As currently configured, advertisements tend to detract from the entertainment value of the programming or display into which they are inserted, either by entirely interrupting the program as in conventional television commercials, or by taking up space that could otherwise be used as part of the main program or display. Viewers have learned to ignore or even skip such commercials.
It is of course possible to insert advertisements into programs at the time of creation. For example, it is common in cinema to place products at positions where they might have a promotional effect, for example because characters in the cinema are using them. Furthermore, writers often have characters in entertainment programs offer messages or information, and sponsors of sports events often place advertisements in positions where they can be viewed as background for the main sports action. However, such "product placements" or messages lack immediacy. For example, it would be useless to integrate a campaign advertisement into a movie or television program since such programs are often created far in advance of broadcast or release, and the advertisement will certainly become outdated by the time the program is re-run or re-released.

System and method for insertion and modification of advertisements


An electromagnetic shielding device includes a metal frame mounted on a circuit board and having a looped surrounding wall configured with an inner space divided into first and second space portions by a partition wall unit. A cover is mounted fittingly into the inner space in the metal frame, and includes a dielectric cover body, and a conductive material layer attached to an outer surface of the cover body. The cover body has a looped surrounding wall extending downwardly from a periphery of a top wall and disposed in proximity to the looped surrounding wall of the metal frame such that the conductive material layer is in electrical contact with the looped surrounding wall of the metal frame. The cover cooperates with the metal frame to define first and second cavities having different depths and corresponding respectively to the first and second space portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electromagnetic shielding device, more particularly to a multi-cavity electromagnetic shielding device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an electronic device employing a conventional electromagnetic shielding device that includes a metal frame 1 and a metal cover 2. The metal frame 1 is mounted on a circuit board 3 via a looped solder pad unit 31 using surface mounting techniques. The circuit board 1 is mounted with first and second electronic component units 301, 302 that are spaced apart from each other, wherein the first electronic component unit 301 has a height greater than that of the second electronic component unit 302. The metal frame 1 has a looped surrounding wall configured with an inner space 103 that is divided by a partition wall 12 into a first space portion 101 for receiving the first electronic component unit 301, and a second space portion 102 for receiving the second electronic component unit 302. The metal cover 2 is mounted on the circuit board 3, and covers the metal frame 2. The metal cover 2 has a top wall 201 disposed on a top side of the metal frame 1, and a looped surrounding wall 202 extending downwardly from a periphery of the top wall 201 and disposed in proximity to the looped surrounding wall 11 of the metal frame 1 such that the metal frame 1 cooperates with the metal cover 2 so as to define first and second cavities corresponding respectively to the first and second space portions 101, 102.
It is noted that, since the metal cover 2 is formed by pressing, it is difficult to fabricate the metal cover having various thicknesses, and various heights relative to the circuit board 3. As a result, even though the heights of the first and second electronic component units 301 and 302 are different, the metal cover 2 of the conventional electromagnetic shielding device has a uniform height (h), such as 2 mm, and a thickness ranged from 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm. Therefore, the electronic device employing the conventional electromagnetic shielding device has a relatively large size, thereby impeding miniaturization of the electronic device.

Multi-cavity electromagnetic shielding device

Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.


An x-ray measuring apparatus comprises an x-ray source, an x-ray detector, a rotating device, and a processor. The x-ray source generates x-rays to be emitted to a subject. The x-ray detector detects measurement data regarding the subject. The rotating device changes a relative position of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector with respect to the subject. The x-ray detector is shifted by a distance shorter than half the length of the x-ray detector along a line parallel to the plane of rotation, in a tangential direction of the plane of rotation generated by the x-ray source. The processor obtains projection data by executing a logarithmic converting process for the measurement data, multiplies a value of the projection data by a weight, and obtains reconstructed data therefrom.

The present invention relates to an x-ray measuring technique, and more particularly to an x-ray measuring apparatus which performs tomography on a subject using x-rays.
X-ray measuring apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as CT apparatuses) are used for performing rotation image acquisition during the rotation of an x-ray source and a one-dimensional x-ray detector around the subject, using the one-dimensional x-ray detector. Another type of x-ray measuring apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as cone-beam CT apparatuses) are also used for performing rotation image acquisition during the rotation of an x-ray source and a two-dimensional x-ray detector around the subject, using the two-dimensional x-ray detector. CT apparatuses and cone-beam CT apparatuses are used for performing rotation image acquisition during the rotation of the subject, using a fixed x-ray source and a fixed x-ray detector. These CT apparatuses and cone-beam CT apparatuses are well-know techniques.
In the CT apparatuses and cone-beam CT apparatuses, a set of projection data for three-dimensional reconstructing processing is obtained through correction of a plurality of measurement data acquired by the rotation image acquisition. A three-dimensional image is obtained by three-dimensional reconstructing the obtained projection data, using a three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm. A well-known cone-beam CT reconstruction algorithm includes a Feldkamp method, etc. Such reconstruction algorithms are widely known.
A two-dimensional x-ray detector used in the cone-beam CT may be an I.I.-camera-type x-ray detector or a flat-type x-ray detector, etc. The I.I.-camera-type x-ray detector is a combination of an I.I. (Image Intensifier) and a video camera through an optical system. In the flat-type x-ray detector, sets of an amorphous silicon diode and a TFT are arranged in a square matrix, and these sets and a fluorescent screen are combined in direct. These sensors are well-known techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,593 suggests a CT apparatus and a reconstruction process capable of reconstructing a tomographic image in a larger view angle than that of a detector. In this conventional CT apparatus, a one-dimensional detector is displaced in a direction parallel to the plane of rotation generated by an x-ray source and the detector. The detector is placed on one side of a straight line passing through the x-ray source and the rotation center of the x-ray source, and perform photographing. The detector executes a reconstruction process using the one side data of the obtained projection data. In this configuration, non-redundant projection data can be obtained, the photography view is extended along the plane of x-ray source rotation, and the field of view of a reconstructed image can be extended. In this CT apparatus, the extension of the photography view can approximately be double.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-9583 suggests a cone-beam CP apparatus and a reconstruction process capable of reconstructing a tomographic image in a larger view angle than that of a detector. In this conventional cone-beam CT apparatus, a two-dimensional detector is displaced along the plane of rotation generated by an x-ray source and the detector. The detector is placed on one side of a straight line passing through the x-ray source and the rotation center of the x-ray source, and perform photographing. The obtained projection data is divided in a part corresponding to the axis of rotation of the two-dimensional detector, and a reconstruction process is carried out using one of the divided data. In this configuration, non-redundant projection data can be obtained, the photography view is extended along the plane of x-ray source rotation, and the view of a reconstructed image can be extended. In this cone-beam CT apparatus, the extension of the photography view can approximately be double.


An artificial marble formed by molding a material, in which said material comprises an unsaturated polyester, an unsaturated polymerizable monomer, and a filler. The unsaturated polyester consists essentially of an acid component and an alcohol component, wherein said alcohol component contains at least a glycol selected from a group consisting of 2-methylpropane-1,3-diol, 3-methylpentane-1,5-diol, 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol, 2-isopropylidene-1,3-propanediol, 2-isopropyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2-methylene-1,3-propanediol.

1. Field of the present
The present invention relates to artificial marble which has superior impact resistance and thermal shock resistance, moreover is superior in formation cracking characteristics and heat resistance, and is formed by polymerization within a mold.
2. Related Art
In general, unsaturated polyester resins are produced by means of the production of an unsaturated polyester by means of the heat esterification of an unsaturated dibasic acid such as maleic acid anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid or the like, or a mixture of such an unsaturated dibasic acid with a saturated dibasic acid such as phthalic acid anhydride, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, or the like, and by reaction with a glycol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or the like, and the dissolving of the resulting unsaturated polyester with a polymerizable monomer such as styrene, vinyl toluene, diallyl phthalate, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, and the like. Artificial marble is generally obtained by means of the polymerization curing in a mold of a compound consisting of this unsaturated polyester resin composition, a filler, and a curing catalyst. In order to improve the artificial marble by adding impact resistance and thermal shock resistance, saturated dibasic acids having a long straight main chain, such as adipic acid and sebacic acid, were conventionally used as the raw material for the unsaturated polyester, and glycols having a straight main chain, such as diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, and the like, were used in an attempt to provide softness and flexibility characteristics.
However, when these raw materials were used, the water resistance of the cured resin was remarkably reduced, the artificial marble had inferior thermal shock resistance, and cracking occurred. Furthermore, artificial marble which did not possess gel coating on the surface layer thereof exhibited poor chemical resistance, and in addition the surface quality thereof was poor.


An obstacle detection device includes a transmitting portion for sending ultrasonic wave, a plurality of receiving portions provided at different positions and receiving reflected waves of the ultrasonic wave, a plurality of envelope wave acquiring portions for acquiring envelope waves corresponding to the reflected waves, on the basis of the reflected waves received by the receiving portions, determining portions for determining a peak of each of the envelope waves, storing portions for storing a partial data of the each of the envelope waves, whose peak is determined by the determining portions, estimating portions for estimating a starting point of the each of the envelope waves by using the partial and location determining portions for determining a location of an obstacle on the basis of the starting point of the each of the envelope waves.

Obstacle detecting devices for a vehicle have been invented, some of which estimate a receiving time of a reflected wave accurately, even when amplitude of the received reflected wave is fluctuant. For example, one of such obstacle detection devices is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication JP2005-69867A.
The obstacle detection device disclosed in JP2005-69867A estimates an envelope (an envelope wave) of reflected wave, which are full-wave rectified, and then estimates an approximate straight line by approximating a starting point of the envelope wave using two points where the envelope wave intersects with two threshold values of the different voltage values. Then, the device estimates a time when the approximate straight line and 0 voltage (0V) of the voltage value are crossed (zero-cross time). In this configuration, even when the amplitudes of the reflected waves are fluctuated, and consequently inclination of the approximate straight line is changed, the point (value) of the zero-cross time is not fluctuated. Therefore, by the use of the zero-cross time, a receiving time of the reflected wave is accurately estimated, and eventually a location of the obstacle (a location and a direction) is precisely determined.
The obstacle detection device disclosed in JP2005-69867A estimates the approximate straight line that approximates the upstroke of the envelope wave. However, when a rise occurs on the upstroke of the envelope wave, this known obstacle detecting has difficulties in estimating the appropriate approximate straight line. As a consequence, the accurate zero-cross time is not calculated. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when a rising occurs on the upstroke of the envelope wave, an approximate straight line L11 or an approximate straight line L12, which correspond to each rise, are calculated, and thus resulting in a failure to recognize an approximate straight line L13 as a primary approximate straight line. Therefore, the zero-cross time T3 of the approximate straight line L13 differs from the zero-cross time T1 of the approximate straight lines L11 and/or the zero-cross time T2 of the approximate straight line L12. As a consequence, a level of accuracy in determining a distance and a direction of the obstacle eventually decreases.
A need thus exists to provide an obstacle detection device and a method for estimating the receiving time that calculate the receiving time of each of the reflected waves accurately by appropriately determining a peak of the envelope wave, and consequently detect a location of an obstacle with accuracy.

Obstacle detection device and method for estimating receiving time


A system and method for controlling randomly operable valves in an engine is presented. According to the method, valve lift is used to create a Helmholtz resonator from a deactivated cylinder. The method can reduce engine pressure based audible noise for variable displacement engines.

One method to control intake and exhaust valve operation during engine operation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,693. This method presents a means to control electromagnetically actuated valves that may reduce exhaust noise. The approach attempts to reduce exhaust noise by staggering the opening timing of exhaust valves. This may reduce exhaust noise since cylinder pressure is restrained by initially releasing exhaust pressure through a single valve, thereby slowing the discharge of cylinder pressure into the exhaust manifold. The description also mentions that the method can be used to control intake valves by staggering the opening of two or more valves.
The above-mentioned method can also have several disadvantages. In particular, the approach requires two or more valves to regulate flow into or out of a cylinder. For engines with less than two intake and/or exhaust valves, the method may have reduced utility. For example, for a three valve, variable displacement engine (e.g., combusting an air-fuel mixture in four cylinders of an eight cylinder engine), having two intake valves and one exhaust valve, the method may not be effective for reducing exhaust manifold noise. Since the method relies on staggered opening of two valves to restrain flow into or out of the cylinder, the method may not be performed, in this example, to control exhaust gases since only one exhaust valve is present. Also for this example, operating the engine in a variable displacement mode can further increase engine exhaust noise that the method may not be capable of reducing since only a single exhaust valve is present.
In addition, depending on the engine operating region, multiple valves may not be necessary to improve engine breathing and power output. Therefore, adding an additional valve for the sole purpose of reducing engine noise may not make economic sense.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned method may increase engine pumping work in combusting cylinders of an engine if exhaust and/or intake valve timing is staggered. Pumping work can be increased by restraining flow into or out of a cylinder. Consequently, the fuel economy may decrease when valves are operated in this manner.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and have developed a method of electromechanical valve control that offers substantial improvements.

Reducing acoustic noise of an engine having electromechanical valves


A mower deck lift mechanism for a lawn mower includes a mower deck, a linkage mechanism for movably mounting the mower deck to the frame for raising and lowering movement relative to the frame, and an electro-hydraulic actuator assembly connected to the linkage mechanism for raising and lowering the mower deck relative to the frame. The actuator assembly is an integrated unit including a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly connected to the linkage mechanism, a pump for supplying pressurized fluid to the piston-cylinder assembly, and an electric motor for driving the pump.

A number of known devices heretofore have been used for lifting a mower deck on a riding mower to a transport or height adjust position. These devices typically include a hand actuated lift lever. Hand adjustment lift levers can require considerable force to raise a mower deck, particularly larger decks.
Pedal-operated lifting mechanisms also are known. The pedal may include a locking mechanism for locking the deck in an uppermost position. In some lawn mowers, the pedal operated lifting mechanism is used to raise the deck to an elevated position so that a deck height adjustment mechanism, such as a rotatable cam or adjustment pin, can be adjusted, after which the deck is lowered to the adjusted position.
Another deck attachment and lift mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,077 mentions the use of a hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower the deck.
Lawn and garden tractors also have used lift cylinders to control the position (lifting and lowering) of a hitch mounted to the back of the tractor. Typically, the position control includes a mechanical linkage that opens and closes a pair of hydraulic valves and allows a lift cylinder to move up and down.

Electro-hydraulic lift mechanism for lawn mower deck


The present invention provides a golf ball having a resilient core made of rubber and a cover of one or more layer enclosing the core, wherein, letting V be the initial velocity (m/s) of the ball as measured by a method set forth in the Rules of Golf using an initial velocity measuring apparatus of the same type as the USGA drum rotation-type initial velocity instrument and letting E be the deflection (mm) of the ball when subjected to loading from an initial load state of 98 N (10 kgf) to a final load of 1.275 N (130 kgf), the value of V/E is at most 19. The golf ball has a good feel on impact and an excellent flight performance when hit with an iron.

The present invention relates to a golf ball having a reduced distance compared with official golf balls in current use.
There are primarily two sets of Rules of Golf: one issued by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) and one issued by the United States Golf Association. Both are revised every few years to maintain the integrity of golf competition. Investigations on limiting the distance of golf balls in these Rules of Golf are slowly being carried out. The dramatic improvements over the past few years in the total distance and initial velocity of golf balls appear to be due not only to improvements in the skill and strength of golfers, but also to the increased use of systems which can easily match golf equipment to the swing of an individual player and to improvements in the performance of golf clubs and balls. Concerning the use of golf clubs and balls in particular, golf course officials have begun voicing the opinion that consideration be given to restricting to some degree the distance and rebound of golf balls so as to keep the standard number of strokes on a golf course the same as up until now (par 72) without having to increase the length of the course.
Of the golf balls that have been disclosed to date, a few are golf balls which intentionally limit the flight performance or are designed to travel a short distance. For example, JP-A 60-194967 describes a short distance golf ball which includes a foam-molded thermoplastic resin polymer and filler material, and has a density gradient that increases along the radius thereof from the center to the surface of the ball.
However, this golf ball undergoes an excessive loss of distance not only at high head speeds, but also at low head speeds, making it too disadvantageous to the golfer in competition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,485 teaches a golf ball which has a low rebound and reduced distance. However, this ball has a high hardness and thus an unpleasant feel on impact.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,287 discloses a large-diameter golf ball having a diameter of 1.70 to 1.80 inches (43.18 to 45.72 mm), a weight of not more than 1.62 ounces, and a dimple surface coverage of at least 70% relative to the spherical surface of the ball. Yet, because the ball is larger than normal, it feels strange to the player. Moreover, the feel on impact has not been improved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,870 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,413 describe golf balls having a soft core. However, because the purpose of these inventions is to provide a good flight performance, they differ from the present invention in their fundamental aims.


An icemaker includes an ice tray configured to receive water, an ejector configured to rotate to eject ice made in the ice tray, and a heater arranged to contact the ice tray and configured to facilitate separation of ice from the ice tray by selectively heating the ice tray. The icemaker also includes a case mounted to a side of the ice tray and a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor mounted in the case and configured to selectively rotate the ejector in forward and reverse directions.

A refrigerator is an appliance used to store foods in a fresh state. The refrigerator is provided with a food storage compartment, which is maintained at a low temperature by a refrigeration cycle to keep foods fresh.
The food storage compartment may be divided into a plurality of storage compartments having different characteristics from each other to allow a user to choose a proper food-storage method in consideration of the kind, characteristic and expiration date of food. Typical examples of the storage compartments are a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment.
The refrigeration compartment is maintained at a temperature between about 3° C. and about 4° C. to keep foods and vegetables fresh. The freezer is maintained at a temperature below zero to keep food frozen and/or to make and store ice.
In a conventional refrigerator, a user desiring to obtain cool water stored in the refrigeration compartment needs to open the refrigeration compartment door and take out the water container placed in the refrigeration compartment.
However, a refrigerator having a water dispenser provided at the outside of the door has been developed. The dispenser allows the user to obtain water cooled by cold air in the refrigeration compartment without opening the door. Furthermore, products having a water purifying function added to the dispenser are also distributed.
In addition, when the user wants to drink water or a beverage with ice, the user needs to open the freezer compartment door and take out the ice from an ice tray provided in the freezer compartment. In this case, opening the door, taking out the ice tray and then separating ice from the ice tray may cause inconvenience.
Moreover, when the door is open, the cold air leaks out of the freezer compartment, and thereby the temperature of the freezer compartment rises. Accordingly, the compressor needs to work more, thus wasting energy.
Therefore, an automatic icemaker has been provided in refrigerators to automatically supply water, make ice, and discharge separated pieces of ice through the dispenser when necessary.

Icemaker and method of controlling the same


A forwarding element capable of forwarding protocol control information in an encapsulated form to a separate control element for processing. The forwarding element may include a proxy capable of intercepting protocol control information, encapsulating the protocol control information, and tunneling the encapsulated protocol control information to the control element for processing.

Networks often rely on devices such as switches to receive packets of data from the network, determine where the packets need to go, and forward the packets accordingly. Switches must be able to communicate with other switches in the network to establish protocols (e.g., layer 2, L2 or data-link layer control protocols) regarding the forwarding of packets. The exchange of control protocols enables switches to determine where packets need to go and avoid forwarding loops in the network.
This communication is made possible by the exchange of special packets containing protocol control information. These special packets, called protocol data units (PDUs), tell the switches which forwarding state (e.g., listening, learning, forwarding) to maintain. In general, when a switch receives a PDU it must process the PDU using protocol software (such as Spanning Tree Protocol software) and then make corresponding configuration changes in the hardware. Thus, switches are typically required to perform not only routing lookup and forwarding in hardware, but also application-level proxy and network layer address translation.


A method for quantifying activity levels of an individual within a predetermined time period including measuring a plurality of activity variables from an individual during a predetermined time period, providing a plurality of activity variables with minimum and maximum threshold values and a weighing factor, calculating a subindex for each of the activity variables as a function of the minimum and maximum threshold values and the weighing factor, and calculating a sum of the activity variables to determine an activity index of an individual. A personal activity level analysis system is configured to execute the method for obtaining an activity index used in quantifying an activity level of an individual.

In many areas of research, medicine, physical training and rehabilitation, objective data describing an individual's ambulatory function is a useful indication of the individual's condition. Typically, information is obtained from an individual regarding their habits and abilities, and a subjective evaluation is conducted by a healthcare professional to assess the activity level of an individual. While such subjective evaluations are quick and inexpensive, the inherent subjectivity may lead to biased and inaccurate results.
Another approach comprises obtaining objective detailed measurements over short periods of time within a controlled laboratory setting. A detailed analysis of the aspects of an individual's gait, such as joint kinematics, ground reaction forces, electrical activity of muscles, or energy requirements of walking provide insightful quantitative information. Unfortunately, such measurements often fail to reflect the activity level of an individual going about normal daily life and the activities accompanied therewith.
Long-term measures of physical activity can provide meaningful quantitative indicators of an individual's condition and physical levels. A number of devices are commercially available to measure physical activity of an individual over an extended period of time. Such devices can provide a time-based breakdown of data and capture changing patterns of activity. A limitation to these devices is that they may only provide raw data or a degree of the activity level of an individual based only on the one or two variables. As a result, the devices to not take into account different behavioral patterns of the individual and may incorrectly grade an individual's activity level.

Method and system for determining an activity level in an individual


An improved electrode structure (42', 42") for an addressing structure using an ionizable gaseous medium has a plurality of plasma discharge channels (20') and a reference electrode (30', 30") and a row electrode (62') extending along each channel. The channels open into a plenum (118) for exhausting gases from the channels and introducing into the channels an ionizable gaseous medium at a predetermined pressure. The reference electrodes and the row electrodes enter from opposite ends of the channels, and the reference electrodes cross below the plenum. The row electrodes have an end (110) spaced from the ends (102) of the channels. The end of the row electrodes is separated from the end of the channels by a first distance (D) adequate to prevent undesirable plasma discharge while the electrode structure is operating. In a first embodiment (42') the reference electrodes have an end (112) spaced from a first perimeter seal (106). The ends of the reference electrodes are separated from the first perimeter seal by a second distance (E) adequate to prevent substantial erosion or other disassociation of the first perimeter seal resulting from plasma discharge in the channel. In a second embodiment (42") the ends (112') of the reference electrodes are embedded in the first perimeter seal (106').

U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,149, issued Jan. 23, 1990 ("'149 Patent"), discloses an addressing structure using an ionizable gaseous medium. Such an addressing structure may be used in a system constructed of data storage elements which addresses those data storage elements with the use of an ionizable gas. An example of such a system is a flat panel display, a video camera, or a memory system.
The addressing structure includes an electrode structure having plasma discharge channels for containing the ionizable gaseous medium. Two electrodes extend within and along the length of each channel. Different ones of those two electrodes are operated as a cathode and an anode. When a voltage of predetermined magnitude is applied between the anode and the cathode in a channel, the gaseous medium in that channel ionizes or "fires" and carries an electrical current between that anode and that cathode.
As explained in the '149 Patent, it is desirable for the anode and the cathode in each channel to be connected to the electrical driving circuits at opposite ends of the channel. (See '149 Patent, col. 7, 11. 43-49; col. 12, 11. 8-30; and FIGS. 11A and 11B.) Such a connection of the anode and the cathode tends more nearly to equalize the potential difference between the anode and the cathode along their lengths when they are firing. The plasma resulting from ionization of the ionizable gaseous medium is then more evenly distributed in the channel and thereby promotes better operation of the addressing structure.
It is also desirable to provide in the electrode structure a pathway or channel for removing gas from, and for introducing the ionizable gaseous medium to, each of the channels. One effective way to provide such a pathway is to form in the electrode structure an open region called a "plenum." One end of each of the channels is open to the plenum, which in turn leads to a suitable input/output channel or valve. The plenum facilitates (1) removal of air and introduction of the desired ionizable gaseous medium during manufacture of the electrode structure and (2) purification and/or replenishment of the ionizable gaseous medium from time to time. The plenum is large enough to allow efficient removal of gases from, and addition of gases to, the channels but is not so large as to occupy too much space.
Typically each channel is of the order of 100-200 times as long as the length of the plenum in a direction parallel to each channel. The width of the plenum in a direction perpendicular to each channel is typically equal to the sum of the distance between the two outermost channels of the electrode structure and the width of a gas fill area located at one end of the plenum. (The width of the gas fill area adds about 0.76-1.5 mm to the length of the plenum.) Because there are typically of the order of hundreds to thousands of channels in an electrode structure, the width of the plenum in a direction perpendicular to the length of the channels is typically of the order of hundreds to thousands of times the width of a channel in a direction perpendicular to the length of the channel.
In an electrode structure in which the anodes and cathodes are to be connected to electrical circuitry at opposite ends of the channels and in which a plenum of the type just described is provided, some of the electrodes cross the plenum. In such an electrode structure, a plasma discharge can occur between an electrode fired in the plenum and another electrode in the plenum at ground.
A typical addressing structure system avoids the expense of providing a switch for each electrode. In such a typical addressing structure each electrode that functions as an anode is continuously referenced to ground, and each individual electrode that functions as a cathode is also referenced to ground except during the brief interval when that individual electrode fires in response to a predetermined firing waveform generated by electronic circuitry. If the addressing structure provided for each electrode a switch that disconnected the electrode except when it was supposed to be firing, then any electrodes could cross the plenum. It is, however, expensive to provide such a switch for each electrode.
In the absence of such a switch, if all electrodes were to cross the plenum, a fired cathode would preferably fire in the plenum. To prevent a fired cathode from firing in the plenum, only electrodes which are to be anodes cross the plenum.
Even when only electrodes which are to be anodes cross the plenum, a plasma discharge can nevertheless exist in the plenum as a result of two causes. First, a plasma discharge in a channel between a fired cathode and an anode located in that channel can spread outside that channel along the length of either that fired cathode or that anode. Second, a plasma discharge in a channel initiated by a fired cathode can extend to either an anode or a cathode at ground in another channel.
A plasma discharge which extends into the plenum can have any one or more of several adverse effects.
First, a plasma discharge in the plenum is likely to carry much more current per unit length of the electrodes involved in the discharge than a plasma discharge in a channel. The walls of the channel and of the plenum act as quenching agents to limit the intensity of a plasma discharge by attracting and/or capturing ions, and/or by neutralizing ions, and/or by promoting neutralization among ions having charges of opposite polarity. However, in the channels the ratio of wall surface to gas volume enclosed is much higher than in the plenum. The walls of the plenum are farther from most of the volume of the plenum than the walls of the channels are from most of the volume of the channels. A plasma discharge in the plenum can thus attract so much of the current flowing between the electrodes involved that the ionizable gaseous medium may not become or remain ionized in a channel in which it was supposed to become or remain ionized. Failure of ionization in a channel will prevent proper operation of the addressing structure.
Second, if the current flowing through a plasma discharge in the plenum is large enough, the involved electrodes may be eroded. (An anode may be eroded by arcing, and a cathode may be eroded by arcing or sputtering.) Undue electrode erosion typically occurs where the current per unit length of the electrode passing between the electrode and the ionizable gaseous medium is much larger than the current per unit length for which the electrode is designed, or is much larger than the current per unit length of other electrodes. In addition, the perimeter seal of the plenum may be eroded, or the material of which the perimeter seal is made may be disassociated, raising the possibility of degradation of the ionizable gaseous medium through leaks in the perimeter seal or through introducing contaminates into the ionizable gaseous medium.
Third, a plasma discharge in the plenum may generate enough ions for the ions to migrate into one or more channels which are not supposed to have ions in them at the time the ions migrate in. Such migrating ions can neutralize the charge controlling the state of memory of display cells of the addressing structure, thereby degrading the operation of the addressing structure.
There is thus a need to find some way to reduce or eliminate plasma discharge in the plenum while permitting the desired plasma formation in the channels.

Electrode configuration for channel confinement of plasma discharge in an electrode structure using an ionizable gaseous medium


Systems and methods for managing communication between a server and peripheral devices associated with at least one client deployed with an airport environment so that a virtualized application running on the server can be connected with at least one of the peripheral devices. A communications link is established between the server and the client associated with the peripheral devices and the application is directed to one of the peripheral devices via a virtual channel established between a server peripheral manager simulator component and a client peripheral manager simulator component and passing through the communications link. The client peripheral manager simulator is associated with a peripheral manager in the client which controls the peripheral devices.

The present invention relates to communications management and, more particularly, to the management of communication between peripheral devices within a virtualised communications system for airports.
In airport communication systems, a peripheral manager containing device drivers forms part of a client computer system which is geographically local to and is directly connected to one or more peripherals via a local communications system. Such a peripheral manager is constrained in establishing communications with central server-based applications due to the use of non-static internet protocol (IP) addresses and the requirement for IP address translation when the communication needs to traverse networks comprising a mix of public and private addressing schemes.
Within airport environments, workstations (including thin client devices, mobile/tablet devices) and peripheral devices may be shared for multiple airline usage. However, different airlines tend to utilise different systems and a problem arises where the same peripheral devices need to communicate with those different systems. One way of providing such communication requires the adaptation of existing client applications and print emulators to target remote hostnames in conjunction with addressing schemes based on fixed IP addresses. However, this is problematic for a number of reasons, including: the limited availability of public IP addresses; the complexity associated with security, firewalls and mobile data modes where 3G and/or 4G networks are used; the need for many routing configurations that need to be established and effectively managed; and the need to manage multiple stakeholders providing different elements of the communications, for example, airport authorities, network providers, airport information technology providers etc.
In systems where a host computer is required to be in communication with a remote client computer, multiple addressing schemes and translation across heterogeneous local and wide area networks, including mobile carrier networks, are required to enable communications between the host computer and the remote client computer. In this case, it is difficult to establish a reliable link irrespective of the multiple addressing schemes and the different types of networks required for the necessary communication.


There is disclosed a trash rake system for use in clearing debris from an intake screen of an intake trash rack of a water intake port of a water use facility. The intake screen is configured to collect debris transported by water, for example, a river, to prevent the debris from entering the intake port of the water use facility. The trash rake system includes a track system, a movable support structure, a rack and pinion drive mechanism, and a controller configured to receive signals from an encoder on a drive motor and a proximity sensor system.

Various systems and facilities intake large quantities of water from various exposed natural and other above-ground water sources, such as rivers, lakes, oceans, reservoirs, irrigation and flood water canals, outdoor water parks, other water conveyance structures, and the like. Examples of such systems and facilities include hydroelectric plants, pulp and paper mills, steel mills, petro-chemical plants, municipal water systems and waste water plants, nuclear and other energy facilities that use the water for cooling or for other purposes, other water filtering or screening facilities, etc. In all such systems it is important to screen naturally occurring debris found in the exposed above-ground water source from the flow of water that is taken into and employed by the system or facility. Such debris may include, for example, leaves, branches, and other portions of trees or other plants that have fallen into or grown in the water source, trash, and other debris that has been dumped or otherwise found its way into the exposed above-ground water source, etc. Such debris could cause significant damage to the system or facility obtaining water from the exposed above-ground water source if it were allowed to enter into the system or facility.
Various screening systems are known and used for preventing debris found in exposed above-ground water sources from entering into the systems or facilities described above. For example, fine mesh screening may be used to exclude even small pieces of debris from such systems. Screening systems with larger openings may be used, either alone or in combination with finer screening, to prevent large debris from entering the system or facility taking water from the exposed above-ground water source. Such larger opening screening systems may be used for preventing large debris from reaching finer mesh screening positioned downstream from the larger opening screening. Larger opening screening systems preferably do not dramatically adversely affect the water flow volume provided into the facility or system through the screening system.
An exemplary screening system of this type is known as an intake rack system or trash rack. Intake rack systems typically provide screening using a series of vertically oriented parallel blades separated by spacers and mounted on horizontally oriented rods. The spacing between the blades forming the intake rack is selected to screen debris of the desired size from entering the water intake of the system or facility that the trash rack is protecting, without significantly reducing water flow into the water intake. Such intake racks may be made of metallic or non-metallic materials. Intake racks of this type are available, for example, from Hydro Component Systems, LLC of Watertown, Wis. and covered by U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,811, incorporated herein, in full, by this reference. In a typical application, intake racks of this type may be mounted upstream from the water intake of a hydroelectric or other plant, system or facility that intakes water from a river or other similar exposed above-ground water source. The elongated vertically oriented parallel blades forming the intake rack extend downward into the water to prevent debris floating at the water surface or in the water below the water line from entering the system or facility.
As an intake rack or other screening structure prevents the flow of debris into the water intake of a system or facility from an exposed above-ground water source, the debris being screened will build up on the intake rack or other screening structure. This accumulating debris must be cleared from the intake rack or other screening structure on a regular basis, to prevent the buildup of such debris from interfering with the flow of water into the system or facility water intake.
A typical tool for removing accumulated debris from an intake rack is known as a trash rake. A typical trash rake can include a rake-like structure including tines that are spaced apart so as to fit between the blades of an intake rack to be cleaned. This rake-like structure is positioned adjacent to and drawn vertically along the intake rack blades to remove accumulated debris therefrom.
The debris cleared from the intake rack using such systems typically is dumped onto a deck or conveyor located at the top of the intake rack system to be hauled away to a nearby debris disposal location. Thus, an expensive and/or time consuming secondary system or process must be employed to haul away the debris that has been removed from an intake rack using such current systems. Current trash rake systems do not allow an operator under all operating conditions simply, easily, and effectively under full power to position a trash rake adjacent to an intake rack to be cleaned, especially if the disposed site is at an angle relative to the intake rake, and then to carry the removed debris to a desired disposal location adjacent to the intake rack without the use of a secondary system or process.


A satellite radio telephone system employing at least two space-based components, each of which is configured to communicate with a plurality of radio telephones. Each space-based component employs its own frequency band and its own air interface and includes an ancillary terrestrial component that is configured to communicate terrestrially with a plurality of radio telephones over their frequency bands and air interfaces.

It is known that satellite radio telephones have been developed and deployed throughout the world, especially where topographical conditions preclude use of conventional mobile radio telephones or fixed wire telephones, for example in rugged terrain areas or sparsely populated areas. These systems typically are understood to provide both voice and data communications so that they may include terminals such as PCS terminals.
Prior art satellite radio telephone systems may be broadly classified into two types: mobile satellite radio telephone systems and fixed satellite radio telephone systems. In each of these systems, one or more satellites are used to communicate with radio telephones, the satellites being either orbiting satellites or geostationary satellites. Typically, a mobile satellite radio telephone system is designed to communicate with a plurality of mobile radio telephones of similar size as conventional cellular radio telephones, whereas a fixed satellite radio telephone system is designed to communicate with a plurality of fixed or non-mobile radio telephones using large, permanent or semi-permanent fixed antennas which may be mounted on buildings or homes. The satellite signals to/from the fixed radio telephones are usually further distributed to a large number of users via a terrestrial, wired network.
Consequently, it has been found that the capacity of fixed satellite radio telephone systems (as measured by total number of users served) is much larger than that associated with mobile satellite radio telephone systems. In particular, a significantly lower number of users is served than in a fixed satellite system.
Generally, the per-satellite capacity of a satellite radio telephone is limited by the amount of satellite power that is expended per communication circuit in order to establish and maintain communications with a radio telephone. In addition, limiting factors such as available frequency spectrum and the typically poor frequency reuse of satellite radio telephone systems impact the per-satellite capacity of these phones.
Consequently, mobile satellite radio telephone systems have been found to generally possess much lower capacity than fixed satellite radio telephone systems. Both regional and global mobile satellite systems are found to be quite limited in capacity. Regional mobile satellite systems involving geostationary satellites have, for example, a capacity per satellite of about 10,000 simultaneous voice circuits. Global mobile satellite systems involving both medium earth orbiting satellites, or MEOs, or low earth orbiting satellites, or LEOs, generally have even lower capacity per satellite, having on the order of 3,000-4,000 simultaneous voice circuits.
It is understood that the per-satellite capacity of mobile satellite radio telephone systems is the amount of power that is expended per communication by the satellite payload in order to establish and maintain communications with the small hand-held mobile phones. The practical limitations involved in forming a very large number of spot beams from the satellite often limits frequency reuse for mobile satellite radio telephone systems, resulting in generally low capacities of the systems.
In contrast, fixed satellite radio telephone systems generally have higher capacity than mobile systems, since they employ fixed user terminals which can use relatively large end user antennas. The satellite power required per equivalent communication is found to be lower for a fixed system than for a mobile system. In addition, frequency allocations of the fixed systems are found to be more liberal than those of mobile systems due to the fact that fixed systems generally operate at higher frequencies, such as C-band or above, where the frequency spectrum is not as crowded, and user terminals are fixed and use highly directional antennas so that angular separation between satellites can be relied upon for frequency reuse.
Prior art methods have been developed to increase the relatively limited capacity of mobile satellite radio telephone systems experiencing capacity bottlenecks or hot spots which are developed in congested areas of the mobile satellite radio telephone system where the mobile satellite radio telephone system (MSS) does not have enough capacity to accommodate all users. It has been found that it is difficult to increase the capacity of the MSS in these congested areas.
Consequently, methods and systems to increase the capacity of a MSS include allowing an MSS to use some of the capacity of a fixed satellite system in areas of congestion, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,586.
In addition to improving cellular satellite communication systems and methods to provide wireless communications employing at least one space based component, such as one or more satellites that are configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of radio telephones or other types of cellular terminals, hybrids of satellite and terrestrial systems have been developed and used wherein terrestrial networks enhance cellular satellite communications system availability, efficiency and/or economic viability by terrestrially reusing at least some of the frequency bands allocated to cellular satellite communication systems.
Cellular satellite communication systems experience difficulty in reliably serving densely populated areas where the satellite signal may be blocked by high rise structures or may not penetrate into buildings. In such cases, the satellite spectrum may be underutilized or unutilized in such areas. It is found that the use of terrestrial retransmission can reduce or eliminate this problem. Thus, the capacity of the overall system can be increased significantly by the introduction of terrestrial retransmission since terrestrial frequency reuse can be much denser than that of a satellite-only system. It is further found that capacity can be enhanced where it may be mostly needed, for example, densely populated urban/industrial/commercial areas so that the overall system can become much more economically viable as it may be able to serve a much larger subscriber base.
One example in the prior art of terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,332 entitled "Satellite Telecommunications Repeaters and Retransmission Methods". As is generally described therein, satellite communication repeaters are provided which receive, amplify and locally retransmit the downlink signal received from a satellite, thereby increasing the effect of downlink margin in the vicinity of the satellite telecommunications repeaters and allowing an increase in the penetration of uplink and downlink signals into buildings, foliage, transportation vehicles and other objects which can reduce link and margin.
Methods and systems in the prior art allow a satellite radio telephone frequency to be reused terrestrially within the same satellite cell while allowing intrasystem interference to be reduced. These systems include a space-based component such as a satellite that is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radio telephone in a satellite footprint comprising one or more cells over a satellite radio telephone frequency band. An ancillary terrestrial network is also provided that comprises one or more ancillary terrestrial components configured to receive wireless communications from a second radio telephone in the satellite footprint over the satellite radio telephone frequency band. The wireless communications from the second radio telephone are also received by the space based component in the satellite footprint over the satellite radio telephone frequency band as interference, along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radio telephone in the satellite footprint over the satellite radio telephone frequency band. In such cases, an interference reducer is employed that is responsive to the space based component and to the ancillary terrestrial network and that is configured to reduce the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space based component from the first radio telephone in the satellite footprint over the satellite radio telephone frequency band using the wireless communications that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network from the second radio telephone in the satellite footprint over the satellite radio telephone frequency band.
Other wireless communications systems including a satellite gateway coupled to a communications network and operative to communicate with a communications satellite include a terrestrial terminal interface subsystem operative to communicate with a satellite gateway via the communications satellite using a first radio interface and to communicate with wireless terminals over a geographic area using a second radio interface, for example, as is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,856,787.
Other cellular systems include a space based system having a first set of cells and a ground based system having a second set of cells. In such systems the space and ground systems can optionally function substantially autonomously with each using spectrum from at least one predetermined frequency band, for example, as is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,652.
Prior art mobile satellite systems employing radio telephones or MSS are known in the art; for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,286 assigned to Globalstar®, a satellite communication system has at least one, but usually a plurality, of orbiting satellites over a terrestrial satellite service area, a satellite control center and a plurality of terrestrial communication links, wherein call setup is controlled by processors and databases onboard the orbiting satellites, and wherein only after the satellite link for the communication channels is completed, does control and switching rely on ground-based systems such that the orbiting satellites are integrated into a ground based telephone network and tariff structure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,297 assigned to Globalstar®, there is disclosed a radio communication system capable of servicing a roaming user or the like outside the range of terrestrial relay stations which includes a packet switched network and database of roaming users and a satellite communications system having at least one, but usually a plurality, of orbiting satellites over a terrestrial satellite service area, a satellite control center and a plurality of terrestrial communication links, wherein call setup is controlled by processors and databases onboard the orbiting satellites, and wherein only after the satellite link for the communication channels is completed, does control and switching rely on ground based equipment such that the orbiting satellites are integrated to a ground based telephone network and tariff structures. Similar systems and improvements thereto, as found in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,303,286 and 5,715,297 patents, include those discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,837 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,768. In addition, still other systems are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,905,943 and 6,879,829.
Various other systems have been proposed as depicted in the FCC filing for "Authority to Launch and Operate a Satellite System to Provide Mobile Satellite Services in the 2 GHz Bands" dated Nov. 3, 2000, relating to the Globalstar® system, which is hereby incorporated by reference; the FCC filing in the matter of Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary, LLC for "Minor Amendment of Application to Launch and Operate a Replacement L Band Mobile Service Satellite at 1010 West" dated Nov. 18, 2003; and the FCC filing by Thuraya which depicts a one GEO satellite system to provide a satellite telephone service; and the Iridium system produced by Motorola generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,918,176 and 5,490,087, in addition to the above recited Globalstar® systems.
In view of the above discussion, there continues to be a demonstrated need for systems and methods for terrestrial reuse of cellular satellite frequencies that can allow improved reliability, capacity, cost effectiveness and/or esthetic appeal for cellular satellite radio telephone systems, methods and/or satellite radio telephones. This is especially significant in view of the enormous costs associated with providing the satellites and launching them, in addition to monitoring them in orbit to efficiently and effectively provide satellite telephone services.
More recently satellite radio telephone systems have been provided employing multiple air interfaces and multiple frequency bands operating on the same satellite system having an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC). These prior art systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,778 issued to Karabinis, are directed to mobile satellite systems (MSS) operators which have sufficient spectrum to provide an ATC component with the necessary frequency reuse. These and other systems, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,778, are ineffective to provide a satellite radio telephone system having at least two operators in the MSS/ATC mode where each operator is found to have insufficient spectrum for efficient reuse in the ATC mode. Currently, systems are being developed to address this problem and provide an effective satellite radio telephone system employing multiple satellite systems with different air interfaces for the MSS component. These systems are to be contrasted with those provided in the prior art as in, for example, the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,778 which is directed to one satellite system having multiple air interfaces. There is therefore seen to be a demonstrated need to provide systems devoid of the above noted prior art deficiencies.

Ancillary terrestrial component services using multiple frequency bands


A capacitor is disposed within a semiconductor device assembly atop a plastic layer pad, beneath which passes a pair of leads connected to a semiconductor device. The capacitor is connected to the pair of leads, such as by soldering, spot welding or conductive epoxy through cutouts in the pad. In one embodiment, the cutouts extend into the pad from inner and outer edges thereof. In another embodiment, the cutouts are holes through the pad. A plurality, such as four, capacitors are conveniently disposed atop a corresponding plurality of pads, and are connected to a corresponding plurality of pairs of leads within the semiconductor device assembly. By positioning the capacitor(s) as closely to the semiconductor device as possible, the efficacy of the capacitor(s) is maximized. Method and apparatus are disclosed.

As used herein, the term "semiconductor device" refers to a silicon chip or die containing circuitry, and the term "semiconductor device assembly" refers to the semiconductor chip and associated packaging containing the chip, including leads such as for connecting to a socket or a circuit board, and internal connections, such as bond wires, of the chip to the leads.
Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,419, entitled SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS and filed on Jan. 28, 1987, discloses a composite support assembly for an integrated circuit chip. The support assembly includes a rigid lead frame that is attached to a relatively thin, flexible, tape-like structure. The tape-like structure includes a metallic layer that is etched with inner and outer lead "fingers" allowing for a short pitch, high density arrangement of the lead fingers, thereby enabling bond wires that connect a semiconductor chip to the support assembly to be relatively short. The metallic layer is supported by a segmented plastic film layer, preferably formed of KAPTON (trademark of DuPont Corp.).
Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,330, entitled WIRE BONDS AND ELECTRICAL CONTACTS OF AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE and filed on May 13, 1987, discloses an integrated circuit device package including a rigid frame and flexible tape assembly having wire leads between the die attach pad, conductive lead fingers and the integrated circuit (IC) chip. A dam structure prevents resin flow to ensure proper wire bonding.
Commonly-owned, copending U.S. patent application No. 115,228, entitled METHOD AND MEANS OF FABRICATING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE PACKAGE and filed on Oct. 30, 1987, incorporated by reference herein, discloses a semiconductor device assembly having a patterned conductive layer, including a die attach pad and a plurality of leads, and a patterned insulating layer. A semiconductor die is seated on the die attach pad and is connected, such as by bond wires, to the leads. A silicone gel, such as Dow Corning Q1-4939, having a 1 to 10 mixing ratio of curing agent to base, is applied over the bond wires. A body frame, preferably made of a polymer material such as RYTON (trademark of Phillips Chemical Co.) is positioned around the die, and an encapsulant material, such as HYSOL CNB 405-12 (trademark of Hysol) is distributed within the RYTON frame over the semiconductor die and die connections.
Commonly-owned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 380,174, entitled STRIP CARRIER FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS and filed on Jul. 14, 1989, incorporated by reference herein, discloses a semiconductor device assembly having a patterned conductive layer and a patterned insulating layer, and mounted to a strip carrier (surrogate lead frame) providing mechanical rigidity to the semiconductor device assembly during assembly thereof. After assembly, the packaged semiconductor device assembly is excised from the strip carrier.
The aforementioned patents and applications relate to semiconductor device assemblies having a high (and dense) lead count and that may operate at high speeds. Such high speed semiconductor devices must generally be provided with capacitance across the power leads to ensure noiseless direct current (DC), even when the best of power supplies are provided, since noise can easily be induced onto the power leads by adjacent signal leads. In this regard, the ultimate solution would be to have capacitors (for power lead filtering) located directly on the semiconductor device (chip). Unfortunately, such a solution is not feasable. Therefore, it becomes highly desirable to locate the capacitors as close to the semiconductor device as possible. In this regard, packaging considerations become paramount. Therefore, it has been generally accepted to mount the capacitors external to the semiconductor device assembly, such as within or adjacent a socket into which the semiconductor device assembly is mounted. In real world terms, this means that the capacitors may be located on the order of a half inch or more away from the semiconductor device. Such a "remote", external mounting of the capacitor(s) presents a real limitation to the operating speed of the semiconductor device. Simply put, capacitors located outside the package of the semiconductor device assembly do not help with problems occuring within the package. These problems include stray inductances, ground plane bounce and voltage surges.
In the prior art it has been known to incorporate a relatively large capacitor within in the semiconductor device assembly as part of the die attach pad. However, this solution has a major drawback in that the thermal expansion characteristics of the capacitor are not readily matched to the thermal expansion characteristics of the remaining components of the semiconductor device assembly. Alternatively, it has been known to incorporate a relatively large capacitor on top of the entire semiconductor device assembly. This solution suffers from a tendency to catch on neighboring objects. Neither of these solutions properly solves the problem of getting a capacitor very near to the semiconductor device.

Method of providing a capacitor within a semiconductor device package


The adjustable variant resistance exercise apparatus has installed several different resistant elastic springs and can provide variety of resistance for exercise. Man, woman, boy and girl can share the same one of adjustable variant resistance exercise apparatus for exercise. User can upgrade or downgrade exercise resistant power by adding more or remove some elastic rubber bands for exercise.

Adults and teenagers have different muscular strength. Besides, after a long period of time of exercise everyone's muscular strength will get stronger and will need more powerful resistance exercise apparatus for exercise. Adjustable resistance exercise apparatus can provide variant resistance and can upgrade or downgrade the resistance power to suit individual's need for exercise.


A system and method for accessing a document management system in a multi-environment processing system includes receiving a client call command from a web service proxy. The web service proxy, disposed on a client and running in conjunction with a client application. A web service end point, disposed in a web service framework receives the client call command. Through the web service end point and a class module, the client call command is converted for accessing the document management system. Retrieved data is temporarily stored in a memory location. The amount of data transfer allowed in a single data transfer is determined. Then, based on this information, multiple web services call are executed to incrementally transfer the data for the client application.

The present invention relates generally to remote application data access and more specifically to accessing data and the transferring of the data from a document management system across various processing platforms.
In existing systems, problems arise between different software platforms and different applications running on these platforms. In addition to problems associated with the executable instructions, there is also compatibility issues regarding data objects used across multiple platforms. For example, if a general application is used to collect data and a specialized application uses the data, problems can arise in accessing the data. Data access and/or retrieval commands may only be readable by the first software platform, causing problems with the second platform.
As the number of remote applications increase, there is a greater demand for usability of these applications across a centralized system. For example, if a processing system includes applications and other executable clients in different platforms, e.g. JAVA, C++, ABAP, or other languages, these systems cannot communicate without one or more translators. This translation is not only computationally expensive, but also can be problematic with advancements in the different systems.
One approach for overcoming problems associated with varying platform applications is a web services architecture. The web services architecture generally describes functionality allowing for communication across different applications in different platforms through a centralized communication protocol.
Web services associated with a central application for document management is problematic when accessing complex applications, such as found with applications associated with centralized document management.
In a document management system it is often required to transfer content of a document, which might have a size of hundreds of megabytes. One problem currently existing is that web services only provide for the transfer of data in a serialized fashion. This data is serially transmitted across a network. For example, in a pure JAVA environment, streaming is used to transfer large data content. Streaming is not supported by the web service technology. Sending the whole content in one web service call is also not possible because the server or client will run out of memory.
This serial transfer works with small amounts of data. Web services are typically accessed by a web service proxy and the serialization of data transfer is therefore visible to a client application. With the larger data transfer of the document management system, this client-level visibility can create significant inconveniences for APIs on client applications while accommodating the serial data transfer.
Similarly, web services typically do not distinguish between remote data calls and local data calls. Remote data calls require further processing due to call translations and other factors. In some applications, this process is unnecessary, if the client application and web service end-point are running on the same platform. Typically, the decision if the applications runs on the same server, is often not even done by a user interface developer but depends on the usage at customer side.
For example, if a JAVA-based user interface is built on a document management framework, the user interface can run either on the same platform as the management framework, which may be called a local Scenario, or on a remote platform which is called a Remote Scenario. The user interface developer can either always use the web service API, which is costly in terms of performance with the Local Scenario, or has to distinguish between the Remote and Local Scenario and use two different APIs.
Another problem that arises with web service features is the synchronization of the APIs. A web service API executes on top of an existing API, such as the API for the document management system. Therefore, these two API must be synchronized for efficient and effective operation.
Similarly, in existing systems, if the web service API is enhanced by new features, all client proxies need to be updated to fit to the new web service. As it is difficult to maintain updated proxies, a document management system typically has to support multiple versions of the web service. This increases the size of the web service API and has a direct effect on a total cost of ownership for developing the underlying web services.

Data transfer in a multi-environment document management system access