A buffer layer, an undoped gallium nitride layer, and an n-type gallium nitride active layer are formed on a sapphire substrate. Ohmic contacts and a Schottky contact are then formed on the n-type gallium nitride active layer as a source contact, a drain contact and a gate contact, respectively. The Schottky contact is a copper alloy, such as palladium copper, in which the content by weight of copper is 5%.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that includes a gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer, and in particular to an improvement in the material of a Schottky contact used in the semiconductor device.
(2) Related Art
With broader-band wireless communication in recent years, demands have heightened for circuits that are able to operate at high frequency. Semiconductor components in such high-frequency circuits must also be compatible with high frequencies. Gallium nitride compound semiconductor components are showing promise as high-frequency power device materials that respond to the demands.
A gallium nitride compound semiconductor refers to a semiconductor that is a compound of gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), indium gallium nitride (InGaN), indium aluminum gallium nitride (InAlGaN), or the like. Generally, such a compound is expressed as InXAlYGa1−X−YN (0≦X<1, 0≦Y<1, 0≦X+Y<1).
A gallium nitride compound semiconductor has high dielectric breakdown field strength, high thermal conductivity and high electron saturation velocity. Above all, a gallium nitride compound semiconductor of an AlGaN/GaN heterojunction structure has a field strength of 1*105 V/cm, and an electron velocity that is twice that of a gallium arsenic compound semiconductor. For this reason, expectations are high that superior high frequency characteristics will be realized if finer gallium nitride compound semiconductors are able to be manufactured.
One type of circuit component that uses this kind of gallium nitride compound semiconductor is a metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET). An MESFET is a field effect transistor (FET) that includes a gallium nitride compound semiconductor that is doped with an n-type dopant such as silicon or germanium and exhibits n-type characteristics, and on which a Schottky contact is arranged as a gate contact. Ohmic contacts are used as the source contact and the drain contact.
In order to have the field effect transistor operate at high frequency, it is necessary to shorten the length of the gate contacts, and lower the capacitance of the gate contacts themselves. In particular, in a device in which favorable high frequency characteristics are required, it is essential to have a fine gate of a sub-half-micron or less in length. However, when the gate length is shortened, adhesion between the gate contact and the gallium nitride compound semiconductor is poor, causing the Schottky contact to peel in the semiconductor process or to come off the substrate. This results in a problem of a reduced yield ratio.
Furthermore, generally a metal such as gold, platinum, palladium or nickel is used as the Schottky contact. However, the better the Schottky characteristics (such as barrier height and ideality factor n) of the metal material is, the more easily the Schottky contact peels.
For this reason, realization of superior Schottky characteristics with high frequency is a difficult technical problem.
Note that barrier height Φb and ideality factor n are defined in Dieter K. Schroder, "Semiconductor Material and Device Characterization, Second Edition", John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., pp.168-173, July 1998.

Gallium nitride compound semiconductor device having schottky contact

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An ergonomic wheelchair handle for use on a wheelchair handle bar is provided. The wheelchair handle bar has a horizontal section and a vertical section. The wheelchair handle comprises a first handle portion having a first end and a second end with the first handle portion attachable to the horizontal section of the wheelchair handle bar. A second handle portion is provided having a first end and a second end with the first end of the second handle portion pivotally connected to the second end of the first handle portion. A locking mechanism releasably locks the rotation of the second handle relative to the first handle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wheelchair handles and, more particularly, the invention relates to ergonomic wheelchair handles which provides comfort to a user and allows increased holding grip and push/pull strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Virtually all wheelchairs manufactured in the past and present build the chairs with horizontal handles. The problem with that is there are no adjustments available for the height of the caregivers (wheel chair handler) and causes strength and gripping situations which make it difficult to maneuver the chair. In addition, even if the assistant's height is somewhat "normal", the wrist and hand angle to the forearm is at such an angle that the holding grip and push/pull strength is diminished. If an emergency arises where a chair suddenly descends at a severe downward or upward angle, the handgrip is at a major disadvantage to maintain control.


A light weight antenna system and corresponding lightweight transmission lines are disclosed that are characterized as having an extremely light weight relative to prior such systems and lines. An inflatable body having an inner surface connected to an outer surface with a plurality of support structures, such as connecting tubes. Antenna elements are disposed on the outer surface of the inflatable body to form, for example, a phased array antenna. Coaxial transmission lines are used to transmit signals to and from an antenna element and are, in one embodiment, created by disposing an inner conductor within the aforementioned connecting tubes. Such a transmission line may be utilized in a number of applications, such as to connect a base station to an antenna system of a wireless communications network. In another embodiment, quasi coaxial transmission lines are formed by disposing flexible membrane shields around a transmission elements.

Light weight transmission lines and antenna systems are useful in many widely-varied applications. For example, lightweight lines and antennas may be used in an RF-based remote sensing application where objects or signals are detected or imaged from a position that may be a significant distance away from those objects or signals. In some remote sensing systems, phased-array radar systems, which are well-known in the art, have been developed to generate images of distant objects by generating a radio frequency (RF) signal and by then detecting and processing the return signal after it has "bounced" off of the distant object.
Phased array radar systems are especially suited for use in remote sensing radar applications as compared to well-known dish or slotted array antennas. Contrary to dish or slotted array antennas, which rely on a physical antenna shape and antenna pointing direction to form and steer an RF beam, phased array antennas utilize interference between multiple radiating elements to achieve beam forming and beam steering. By electronically adjusting the excitation of each element, the combined radiation pattern can be scanned and shaped at high speed and with advanced capabilities. Such phased-array antennas are characterized by very high beam agility, i.e., the beam can be moved as quickly as electronic signals can be generated across specific antenna elements. Additionally, phased array antenna systems are capable of advanced beam forming, such as forming multiple beams with the elements of one antenna. This permits, for example, tracking several moving objects at one time. In an imaging application, a phased array antenna system can be used potentially to image multiple objects, each of which is in a different location. Finally, phased array antennas are also advantageous in that they are typically very reliable. This high reliability is in part due to the fact that typical phased array antennas have no moving parts. For these reasons, phased array antennas are advantageous in ground-based, airborne and space-based radar remote sensing systems.

Light-weight signal transmission lines and radio frequency antenna system


A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a blade assembly. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly.

A food processor is a motorized domestic appliance for manipulating (e.g., chopping, slicing, dicing, shredding, grating, or blending) food items. Such an appliance includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are inserted into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by motor-driven cutting tool.
Food processors typically come equipped with a number of interchangeable cutting tools for slicing, shredding, or other food processing operations. One common cutting tool is a rotating disk-type cutter. Such a cutting tool includes a rotating disk having a cutting blade fixed thereto. The cutting blade is secured to the rotating disk at a location adjacent to an aperture formed in the disk so that pieces of food cut by the blade fall through the aperture and collect in the bottom of the bowl.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Food processor with adjustable blade assembly


An axial flow transonic turbofan jet engine includes a hub (26) from which radiate a plurality of rotor blades (50). A casing (12) surrounds and shrouds the rotor blades (50). Part-span dampers (56) are located between adjacent rotor blades (50) in an annular pattern to stiffen the elongated rotor blades (50) during operation. The distal tips (54) of the rotor blades (50) are convexed and spin within a rub strip (62) embedded within the casing (12). The rub strip (62) includes an annularly troughed contour (60) to closely conform with the convex tips (54) of the rotor blades (50). The hub (26) may also include an annularly troughed contour (60) formed along the roots (52) of the rotor blades (50). The annularly troughed contours (60) in the hub (26) and in the casing (12) are radially aligned with the part-span dampers (56) to reduce drag between the casing (12) and the hub (26) caused by the part-span dampers (56) at transonic speeds.

In shrouded rotor applications, it is frequently the case that spinning rotor blades are operated at exceptionally high rotational velocity. From an aerodynamic standpoint, high rotational velocities are not a particular concern when dealing with small diameter rotors. However, with larger diameter rotors, such as typically found in turbofan jet engines and steam turbines, large angular velocities can result in linear velocities at radially extended locations, e.g., at the rotor blade tips, which approach and even exceed the speed of sound in the particular fluid medium. These high local velocities at the tips of the rotor blades which approach or exceed the speed of sound are associated with an increase in drag due to a reduction in the total pressure through shock waves and due to thickening and even separation of the boundary layer due to the local but severe adverse pressure gradients caused by the shock waves.
In many shrouded rotor applications, e.g., the fan section of an axial flow turbofan jet engine, the rotor blades are stiffened by part-span dampers which circumferentially interconnect adjacent rotor blades thereby encircling the hub from which the rotor blades extend. Since many such shrouded rotor applications operate at exceptionally high rotational velocities, these large diameter rotor blades have a tendency to untwist as a result of the air pressures generated. In these instances, part-span dampers are particularly useful in rigidifying the rotor blades and dampening vibration. Typically, the part-span dampers are located between one-half and two-thirds distance from the hub.
When the shrouded rotor is operated at transonic speeds, i.e., the linear velocity of the rotor blades relative to the freestream approaches and exceeds Mach 1.0, the physical presence of the part-span dampers in the flow path between the hub and the casing surrounding the rotor blades increases shock wave drag. Such drag has the net effect of reducing fuel efficiency in the case of turbofan jet engines. In such applications, approximately 50% of the available energy produced in the combustion process is required to operate the compressor section and large bypass fan section. Therefore, it will be appreciated that a reduction in shock wave drag will have a considerable effect on engine efficiencies.
It has been indicated that to minimize drag losses caused by the part-span dampers, several things should be taken into consideration. First, the leading and trailing edges of the part-span dampers should be as sharp as possible. Second, the part-span dampers should be located as near to the hub as possible to minimize shock losses. Third, work input should be minimized at the part-span damper location. Fourth, the part-span damper should be as thin as possible to minimize the area influenced. However, even after all of these design considerations have been implemented, there remains a part-span damper of some size in some location along the rotor blades that causes additional profile and shock losses simply due to its physical presence. Accordingly, there remains incentive for further optimization of the rotor/part-span damper combination to minimize losses at transonic speeds.
A fruitful area of past research in transonic aerodynamics has included the well-known Area Rule. Heretofore, the Area Rule has only been applied in external flow situations where a drag reduction for wing/body combinations has been realized, as originally proposed by Richard T. Whitcomb in "A Study of the Zero-Lift Drag-Rise Characteristics of Wing-Body Combinations Near the Speed of Sound", NACA TR 1273, 1952. The theories of transonic and supersonic flow with small disturbances were extended in a very practical way by Whitcomb in his development of the Area Rule. The Area Rule aims at arranging the airplane components so that the total aircraft cross-sectional area, in planes perpendicular (normal) to the line of flight, has a smooth and prescribed variation. The designing of a fuselage with variable diameter for transonic drag reasons is sometimes called "coke-bottling".
The Area Rule, more particularly, states that all aircraft having the same longitudinal distribution of cross-sectional area in planes normal to the flight direction, including the wings, fuselage, nacelles, tail surfaces, or any other components, will have the same wave drag at zero lift. Thus, a complex airplane will have the same zero-lift wave drag as a body of revolution whose cross-sectional area is the same at corresponding longitudinal locations. Although Whitcomb's Area Rule has been successfully applied in external flow conditions for several decades, the prior art has never considered applying the Area Rule to the flow through rotating blades in an axial flow shrouded rotor section.

Area ruled fan blade ends for turbofan jet engine


In a motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle in which a worm wheel of a worm gear type speed reduction mechanism is fixed to a pinion shaft of a rack and pinion mechanism, a direction of a torsion angle β of a helical pinion provided in the pinion shaft is set to be opposite to a direction of a tooth lead angle γ of the worm wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle, there is a structure made to transmit steering torque applied to a steering wheel to a pinion shaft of a rack and pinion mechanism, to transmit an auxiliary torque generated by an electric motor to the pinion shaft via a worm gear type speed reduction mechanism in correspondence to the steering torque, and to steer a steered wheel by the rack and pinion mechanism, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-278077 (patent document 1).
In the motor-driven power steering apparatus for the vehicle described above, there is proposed a structure in which a reaction force from a road surface is transmitted to the worm gear type speed reduction mechanism via the rack and pinion mechanism. In order to lower vibration which may cause a beating sound generated due to play between a worm wheel and a worm constituting the worm gear type speed reduction mechanism, an elastic body is interposed in an auxiliary torque transmission path of the worm gear type speed reduction mechanism and the rack and pinion mechanism.
FIG. 8A shows a conventional motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle having a right-hand drive specification. Reference numeral 1 denotes a pinion shaft, reference numeral 2 denotes a rack engaging with a helical pinion 1A of the pinion shaft 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a worm wheel fixed to the pinion shaft 1, and reference numeral 4 denotes a worm engaging with the worm wheel 3. The direction of a torsion angle β of the helical pinion 1A provided in the pinion shaft 1 is set opposite to a direction of a tooth lead angle γ of the worm wheel 3. In FIG. 8A, the pinion shaft 1 and the worm wheel 3 are displaced in a direction B and are rotated in a direction C, and the worm 4 is displaced in a direction D due to a road surface reaction force A applied to the rack 2 during straight running of the vehicle. At this time, the directions B and D are opposite directions, and the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 are displaced in a direction which reduces the play that exists between the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 before being displaced, so that the vibration of the worm gear type speed reduction mechanism caused by the reaction force from the road surface is not amplified.
Alternatively, FIG. 8B shows a conventional motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle having a left-hand drive specification. Reference numeral 1 denotes a pinion shaft, reference numeral 2 denotes a rack engagable with a helical pinion 1A of the pinion shaft 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a worm wheel fixed to the pinion shaft 1, and reference numeral 4 denotes a worm engaging with the worm wheel 3. The torsion angle β of the helical pinion 1A provided in the pinion shaft 1 is set to the same direction as the direction of a tooth lead angle γ of the worm wheel 3. In FIG. 8B, the pinion shaft 1 and the worm wheel 3 are displaced in a direction B and are rotated in a direction C. Worm 4 is displaced in a direction D due to a road surface reaction force A applied to the rack 2 during a straight running of the vehicle. At this time, the directions B and D are same, and the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 are displaced in a direction that increases the play existing between the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 before being displaced, so that the vibration of the worm gear type speed reduction mechanism caused by the reaction force from the road surface is amplified.
In this situation, the elastic body quality deteriorates with time and can not maintain a stable vibration proofing performance, even when the elastic body in the patent document 1 is used in a vehicle having the left-hand specification of FIG. 8B. Further, this construction requires an increased number of parts.

Motor-driven power steering apparatus for a vehicle


A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Kirine-44’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; large creamy white-colored flowers that are fragrant; relatively tolerant to high temperatures; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Kirine-44'.
The new Nemesia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Tochigi, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Nemesia cultivars with good vigor and attractive flower coloration.
The new Nemesia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in February, 2007 in Tochigi, Japan of two unidentified selections of Nemesia hybrida, not patented. The new Nemesia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Tochigi, Japan in October, 2007.
Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Tochigi, Japan since November, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Nemesia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A reducing apparatus allows each displacement which has been effected to be analyzed and precisely measured. It includes three telescopic bars disposed along the axes x, y and z, respectively, of an orthonormal system, and connected to one another by joining pieces which are movable in relation to the telescopic bars. An angled arm is provided whose ends are formed by two pivoting discs which are disposed in perpendicular planes, these discs permitting the rotation about the axes y and z. Also provided is an adjustable circular sector made up of an arc and a mobile carriage which are intended to effect the rotations about the axis x.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns the field of fracture fixation and relates more particularly to an apparatus which is used in the external fixation of fractured bones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A large number of external fixators are known which are connected to the bone fragments by sets of pins which are inserted into each of the bone fragments. The problem involved in putting this type of fixator into place is that of being able to return the bone fragments to the precise original position. Thus, fixators have already been proposed with which it is possible to orient the pins, and consequently the bone fragments. U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,335, for example, describes a fixator which includes two supports for bone pins which supports are separated by a telescopic bar. It is possible for each support to be pivoted in three orthonormal axes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,322 discloses a reducing apparatus arranged between two clamps for gripping the pins which are inserted in each of the bone fragments. This reducing apparatus includes an adjustable circular sector which is equipped at each end with means for rotation and axial displacement of one of the gripping clamps. It thus permits a micrometric displacement of the bone fragments in all degrees of freedom, by means of axial displacements and angular rotations. The manipulations can thus be performed independently of one another in such a way as not to compromise a reduction result which has already been achieved. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,322 are incorporated herein by reference.
However, the design of these prior art devices makes it difficult for the practitioner to visualize the movement he will effect using one of the numerous screws or adjustment levers. In seeking to improve the relative positioning of the bone fragments, one runs the risk of disturbing the results which have already been obtained.


Described is a system and method for optical character recognition in an image. The method comprising identifying a connected component in an image, computing at least one parameter for the connected component and selecting a portion of the image corresponding to the connected component for optical character recognition when the at least one parameter is within a predetermined threshold range.

Optical character recognition (OCR) is a computer-based translation of an image of typewritten text into machine-editable text or a picture of characters into a standard encoding scheme. For example, a conventional OCR engine may be coupled to a flatbed scanner which scans a page of text or a picture. Because the page/picture is placed flush against a scanning face of the scanner, an image generated by the scanner typically exhibits even contrast and illumination, reduced skew and distortion, and high resolution. Thus, the OCR engine easily translates the text/picture in the image into the machine-editable text or the standard encoding scheme. When the image is of a lesser quality with regard to contrast, illumination, skew, etc., performance of the OCR engine may be degraded and the processing time may be increased due to processing of all pixels in the image. This may be the case when the image is generated by an imager-based scanner, because the text/picture is scanned from a distance, from varying orientations, and in varying illumination.

System and method for optical character recognition in an image


A computer-controlled imaging system for providing a realistic representation of a three-dimensional scene on a two-dimensional medium in which multiple objects, viewed from several aspects and which may be combined informing a scene, are stored in digital form on mass storage device is allocated amongst plural channels. A field-of-view computer controls the read out of the stored objects into a buffer memory where they become available for processing by a pipeline processor which is capable of warping the image in accordance with instructions from the field-of-view computer. These images in each channel are then arranged in an order of range from a viewer whereby more remote images are occluded by closer images. The images from all channels are then fed in raster scan format to a scene construction module where CGSI and special effects can be added to the composite scene prior to being fed to video display equipment.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a computer controlled imaging system, and more particularly to a system for creating realistic images of a three-dimensional scene on a two-dimensional medium wherein multiple objects can be simultaneously undergoing processing in plural channels.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Operators of complex vehicular systems, such as tanks, planes or ships, must receive extensive training to become proficient in their operation. It is common practice to rely on various types of system simulators in the training of these operators since it may be prohibitively costly and impractical to do this training on the actual vehicle. This is particularly true when training operators to respond to emergency or hazardous situations. For this training to be effective, it is highly desirable that all of the stimuli received from the training simulator be as close as possible to the actual stimuli provided by the vehicle itself.
The two dimensions of the realism of a visual image are its fidelity and its dynamics. Ideally, the display image should be indistinguishable from the view of a real image and should move smoothly in real time in response to actions taken by the vehicle operator. It is common practice to use various types of computer-generated imagery to provide this display. Such prior art systems are typically very expensive and still fall short of the ideal of high fidelity and smooth real-time dynamics.
This invention relates to a novel processing architecture referred to as "multiple object pipelined processor" to provide highly realistic synthesized imagery at a significantly lower cost and complexity vis-a-viz prior art systems.
A comprehensive discussion of a prior art animation system is contained in a Graf, et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,459, entitled COMPUTER GENERATED SYNTHESIZED IMAGERY. That patent is assigned to Honeywell, Inc. who was the assignee of the instant application until its assignment to Hughes Simulation Systems, Inc. effective Jan. 1, 1989. Graf describes "computer generated imagery" (CGI) in which the objects and surfaces for constructing video-displayable scenes are derived from purely mathematical models stored in the form of points, which define the limits of the objects and surfaces. Such mathematical models are readily manipulated by digital computers to efficiently provide excellent surface representation, accurate positioning in the scene, correct illumination and correct perspective. Although CGI is very strong in manipulation of scene objects, it is lacking in realism in that the object itself cannot be realistically presented. This causes the resulting scene to appear cartoonish, particularly in the representation of highly structured objects, such as trees, grass and detailed man-made objects.
Another known approach is so-called "computer synthesized imagery" (CSI). In contrast to the CGI approach where the digital computer constructs the image of the object, in CSI the object images are pre-recorded using a photographic process, or its equivalent, and then assembled into an object database which can be accessed by a digital computer. Very realistic scenes may be generated, providing that the database contains exactly the scene and perspective called for. A major weakness of this approach is that it is not practical for any complex system to store the very large number of camera viewpoints required. Such systems are thus somewhat unrealistic in that, although the objects portrayed may be true images, they are not appropriately sized, rotated and set in the proper perspective for the point of view required at any given instant. The aforereferenced Graf patent discloses an embodiment which combines the image manipulative strengths of CGI with the realistic portrayal of objects of CSI to form computer-generated synthesized imagery (CGSI).
With reference to FIG. 3 of the Graf patent, it depicts an implementation of a vehicle simulation system using a CGSI approach to generate the display. In this arrangement, a field-of-view computer is programmed to coordinate the display of a particular point of view based upon a vehicle attitude and position in the gaming area provided by the vehicle simulation computer. The gaming area database contains the identity and position of all objects in the gaming area, but not the image data of the object itself. All object image data is contained in the object library database which is shown as being replicated for each of the three processing channels. For each instance of every object to appear in the final scene, the field-of-view computer provides the object identity, its position and orientation that it must have in the final scene. The object controllers fetch the object images from the object library database and present them to the object processing channels which perform the required manipulations to fit the objects onto the scene. Identical processing channels are provided to process the surface and special effects associated with a given object.
FIG. 31 of the Graf patent shows a more detailed representation of the object processing channel. The object is received from the object database in analog video form and is converted by the analog-to-digital converter card 30 into a digital format where it is stored in the high-speed X/Y access memory 32. The preferred format in that embodiment has 512 lines, each line having 512 pixels and each pixel comprising an 8-bit word representing 256 intensity levels. The object image transformation is accomplished with a two-pass warp algorithm, a first pass to transform the object pixels of a given column into their correct row positions and a second pass to transform all pixels in a given row to their correct column position.
To accomplish this, image data is read from a memory 32 sequentially, in column-by-column order, and is passed through the look-up table card 34 to provide intensity modification to the image and then presented to the Y access warp card 36. The results of the Y access warp are stored in a high-speed X/Y access memory 38. The image is read from memory 38 in row order and presented to the X access warp card 40 for the second pass warp. The output of the X access warp is presented to the scene construction module of FIG. 3 of the Graf patent. The two pass warp process is shown graphically in FIG. 30 of the Graf patent. It shows a 512.times.512 pixel input imagery frame from the optical disk warped to be positioned on a 512.times.512 pixel video screen.
Given the equal size of the image frame with the resultant video screen, this warp accomplishes the combination of size rotation and position of the object on the video screen. In typical situations, most objects are relatively small compared to the size of the screen and Graf recognizes that it is generally inefficient to warp small objects from an input frame the size of the output scene. He thus suggests as a solution to divide the input frame into a fixed array, e.g., 4.times.4 of smaller input frames, each having independently programmed warp factors. With this approach, up to 16 small objects may be loaded into memory 32 and independently warped to the output screen. However, this solution does not address the problem of properly occluding these objects or translating them to their final preferred screen location.
While the CGSI approach taught by Graf provides a substantial improvement over the prior art in the generation of real-time realistic imagery, it is nevertheless limited in its ability to deal with highly dynamic scenes involving a very large number of objects. These limitations arise due to the maximum rate which objects may be accessed from a single object database and the maximum rate at which objects may be warped, given a single channel warp processor and the processing inefficiency associated with combining sizing, rotation, and positioning in a single warp process.


A ping-pong amplifier includes two differential amplifiers A1 and A2 and an error amplifier. The error amplifier has one input connected to a predetermined common-mode reference voltage VCMR, its other input switchably connected to the common-mode outputs of A1 or A2, and an output which is switchably connected to the common-mode reference (CMR) voltage inputs of A1 and A2. Respective memory capacitors CM1 and CM2 are connected to the two CMR inputs. The error amplifier is periodically connected between A1""s common-mode output and its CMR input to form a closed-loop which forces A1""s common-mode output voltage to be equal to VCMR, with the error amplifier""s output voltage stored on CM1. A2""s common-mode output voltage is similarly calibrated, with the error amplifier""s output voltage stored on CM2. Both common-mode output voltages are thus made equal to VCMR, thereby reducing transients that might otherwise appear in the output as the amplifier ping-pongs between A1 and A2.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of ping-pong amplifiers, and particularly to techniques for reducing transient switching errors for such amplifiers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Auto-zeroed ping-pong amplifiers are known to provide low input offset voltages. A schematic diagram of a basic ping-pong amplifier 10 is shown in FIG. 1a. Two amplifiers A1 and A2, each of which has differential inputs and outputs, receive a differential input signal made up of signals INP and INM. Each amplifier also includes a common-mode reference voltage input CMR connected to receive a common-mode reference voltage VCMR, and a common-mode feedback circuit. The common-mode feedback circuit sets the amplifier""s common-mode output voltagexe2x80x94given by the sum of its differential outputs divided by 2xe2x80x94so that each of its outputs is nominally set to VCMR when the differential output voltage is zero. VCMR is typically set to a value between the amplifier""s power rails so that the amplifier may have a high gain.
The ping-pong amplifier also includes an output amplifier A0, which is connectable to the outputs of A1 via a pair of switches S1 and S2, or to the outputs of A2 via a pair of switches S3 and S4. A0 has a compensation capacitor CC connected from its output to its inverting input, and provides the ping-pong amplifier""s single-ended output OUT. A pair of fully differential nulling amplifier""s A3 and A4 are used to auto-zero A1 and A2, respectively; the inputs of A3 and A4 are connected to the outputs of A1 and A2 via pairs of switches S5/S6 and S7/S8, respectively. A pair of memory capacitors C1 and C2 are connected to the inputs of A3, and memory capacitors C3 and C4 are connected to A4""s inputs. A switch S9 is connected between the inputs of A1, and a switch S10 is connected between the inputs of A2. A switch S11 is connected between INM and A1, and a switch S12 is connected between INM and A2.
The switches are controlled with a control circuit (not shown), which operates them in accordance with the timing diagram shown in FIG. 1a. The ping-pong amplifier has a two-phase timing cycle. During the first phase (xcfx861), switches S5, S6 and S9 are closed, such that amplifier A1 is auto-zeroed by the output currents of nulling amplifier A3, with the error signals stored on memory capacitors C1 and C2. Switches S3, S4 and S12 are also closed during xcfx861, allowing the differential input signal to be amplified by A2 followed by A0. The roles are reversed during the second phase (xcfx862): switches S7, S8 and S10 are closed such that A2 is auto-zeroed by A4 (with the error signals stored on memory capacitors C3 and C4), and switches S1, S2 and S11 are closed such that the input signal is amplified by A1 followed by A0.
As noted above, amplifiers A1 and A2 each include common-mode feedback circuits which nominally set their common-mode output voltages to VCMR when their differential output voltages are zero. One weakness in this arrangement is that mismatch in the common-mode feedback circuit can result in common-mode output voltages which differ from VCMR. For example, A1 and A2 may produce common-mode output voltages VCMR1 and VCMR2, respectively, and due to mismatch, VCMRxe2x89xa0VCMR2.
A possible cause for this type of mismatch is illustrated in FIG. 1b, which shows one possible implementation of a fully differential amplifier such as A1 or A2: transistors M1-M4 and current sources I0-I2 form an operational amplifier, and transistors M5-M11 and current source I3 form a common-mode feedback circuit. If the average op amp output is higher than VCMR, more current flows through M10 and M11 into M7, which causes M5 and M6 to pull the output voltages back down. However, any mismatch between transistors M8-M11 can result in the common-mode output voltage differing from VCMR, and hence VCMR1 and VCMR2 voltages which are not equal.
Referring back to FIG. 1a, when VCMR1xe2x89xa0VCMR2, and the timing cycle transitions from xcfx861 to xcfx862, the voltage at the inverting input of A0 changes from approximately VCMR1 to VCMR2, which injects a transient with an amplitude about equal to VCMR1-VCMR2 into compensation capacitor CC. Similarly, a transient with an amplitude about equal to VCMR2-VCMR1 is injected into CC when the timing cycle transitions from xcfx862to xcfx861. As shown in FIG. 1a""s timing diagram, these transients appear in the ping-pong amplifier""s output, which reduces the fidelity of the output signal.
A ping-pong amplifier and method are presented which overcome the problems noted above. Differences between VCMR1 and VCMR2 are reduced, which reduces switching transients that might otherwise appear in the amplifier""s output.
The novel ping-pong amplifier includes an error amplifier, which has one input connected to common-mode reference voltage VCMR, its other input switchably connected to the common-mode output of one of the two differential amplifiers A1 and A2, and an output which is switchably connected to the common-mode reference voltage inputs of A1 and A2. Respective storage devices, preferably memory capacitors, are also connected to the two common-mode reference voltage inputs.
In operation, the error amplifier""s input is periodically connected to the common-mode output of A1, and its output is connected to A1""s common-mode reference (CMR) voltage input. This arrangement forms a closed-loop which forces A1""s common-mode output voltage to be equal to VCMR; the error amplifier""s output voltage is stored on the memory capacitor connected to the A1""s CMR input. Similarly, the error amplifier""s input and output are periodically connected to the A2""s common-mode output and common-mode reference input, respectively, to force A2""s common-mode output voltage to be equal to VCMR, with the error amplifier""s output voltage stored on the memory capacitor connected to the A2""s common-mode reference voltage input.
The voltages stored on the memory capacitors connected to the CMR inputs continuously adjust the common-mode output voltages of A1 and A2 so that VCMR1 and VCMR2 are held equal to VCMR. Keeping VCMR1=VCMR2=VCMR ensures that transients due to mismatch in the common-mode feedback circuits are largely reduced.
The invention is preferably used in an auto-zeroing configuration, which further improves the amplifier""s performance.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

Auto-zeroed ping-pong amplifier with low transient switching


A method and apparatus for providing biometric information are provided. The method includes measuring biometric information corresponding to at least one body part of a user; processing the biometric information based on at least one of a type of the biometric information and a type of the body part; and displaying the processed biometric information over at least one of image data obtained by photographing the body part and the body part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing information, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing biometric information.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the number of people in poverty has been significantly decreasing and standards of living have been increasing, interest in health has been increasing. Accordingly, measurement and management of physical health status has become increasingly commonplace, regardless of age.
In particular, older people periodically measure their physical health status through health screening and understand their physical health status by examining numerical data.

Method and apparatus for providing biometric information


Method and apparatus for information communication during call connections between subscribers adapted to transmit and receive multimedia information at a pair of endpoint nodes of a fast packet switched network, the endpoint nodes being connected by a network path including at least one transit node traversed by links of the path. The multimedia information is conveyed as traffic consisting of a plurality of component types from among voice, video and data traffic component types each associated with a different subscriber at one of the endpoint nodes. A succession of composite frames conveying information is launched from each of the endpoint nodes to the other of the pair on the network path, with each of the frames configured to contain a plurality of fixed size channels representing bandwidth allocations for each of the traffic component types. Each channel is assigned to a subscriber of the respective traffic component type at the endpoint node from which the composite frame wa launched for the duration of that subscriber's respective call connection. The composite frames are dynamically reconfigured by releasing and reassigning channels at each of the endpoint nodes when necessary to accommodate changes in traffic flow in the network.

The present invention relates generally to packet switched digital telecommunication networks, and more particularly to improvements in fully integrated voice, data, and video (multimedia) communication services through the shared use of transmission and switching facilities in an integrated services network, including but not limited to networks such as those defined by the CCITT ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) standards. The present invention provides for the coexistence and integration of 1.2 kilobits per second (kbps) to 2.045 megabits per second (mbps) applications with B-ISDN (>2.048 mbps) applications in a true multimedia network.
In recent years, the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT), a telecommunications industry international standards-setting group, established Study Group 18 to undertake cooperative planning of B-ISDNs. A principal aspect of B-ISDN is the support it would offer to multimedia traffic applications, in which a multiplicity of traffic component types including voice, data, and video are to be communicated through the network. Each traffic component type exhibits significantly different characteristics or attributes from the others, and may have different characteristics among the members of its own type or class. For example, pure data traffic components may be interactive data, local file transfer data, facsimile data, and so forth, which have different burst sizes, or "burstiness". Such different attributes create differences in the requirements imposed on the network and local equipment for efficient and effective handling of the traffic component types in the communication between sources and destinations of the traffic. For instance, isolated loss of voice packets may be tolerated in telephone communications because the listener can comprehend the overall tenor of the conversation despite these slight gaps. Although quality suffers, the "human ear" is quite forgiving in these circumstances. Delays between different voice packets, i.e., a change in the sequence of the packets from source to destination, however, is unacceptable. In contrast, transmission of data such as X.25 packets may not be adversely affected by delay among packets in transmission, but the loss of individual packets can prevent restoration of an entire message.
In 1988, CCITT Study Group 18 approved recommendation I.121 which identified Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) as the target solution for implementing B-ISDNs. ATM is an asynchronous time division multiplexing technique employing fast packet switching which communicates user information through the network in fixed length packets (called "cells" in the ATM jargon) of 53 bytes each. One mission of the Study Group and its Working Party 8 has been to standardize B-ISDN user network interfaces, including one at 155 mbps and another at 600 mbps. The present focus of the industry, however, is on fast packet (broadband) switching products at 1.54 to 45 mbps. For multimedia networks, the ATM scheme advanced by Study Group 18 uses fixed size cells each of which is assigned to a single user or traffic component type. Depending on user requirements at a given time, considerable bandwidth may be unused because partially empty channels are being transmitted.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,886 titled "Communication System Utilizing Dynamically Slotted Information" (the "'886 Patent"), assigned to the same assignee as the present application, S. Bernstein discloses a multimedia system in which each packet or frame has the same payload size, with a fixed number of slots assigned to users, and in which the slot assignments may be changed periodically to improve communication performance. These are composite frames, packing several users/traffic component types into each frame, rather than only one user per frame.
The invention disclosed in the '886 Patent departs from prior burst switching technology by distributing user payloads among the available slots in a multimedia frame based on the specified bandwidth requirements of each user. The slots, which constitute portions of the available bandwidth for each frame, are not necessarily occupied by respective users from start to finish of a transmission. Instead, each user is guaranteed a certain minimum amount of bandwidth and all users contend for any unused bandwidth in each frame, according to their individual needs. The sending side packet switch allocates bandwidth on a frame-by-frame basis, so that users may be moved from one slot to another or to several slots in midtransmission (i.e., on a "per burst" basis).
In the invention of the '886 Patent, unused bandwidth is not locked out; if a particular user has nothing to send or is not using its minimum guaranteed bandwidth (total slot or slots), the respective slot or portion thereof is allocated to a user having need for it. As the circumstances change, the allocations change. The receiving side packet switch monitors the slots in each incoming frame to keep track of the arriving information (data, voice, video, and so forth) and its sources, and to dispatch the information to its proper destination. Thus, the invention of the '886 Patent provides an entirely controllable bandwidth in which users are assigned priority rights to particular slots, but, depending on each user's particular need for bandwidth, bursts or blocks of information are temporarily allocated to unused slots or unused space in slots on a frame-by-frame basis.

Composite frame reconfiguration in integrated services networks

Sprint International Communications Corp.


The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for economically optimal control of an electrical system. A two-stage controller includes an optimizer and a high speed controller to effectuate a change to one or more components of the electrical system. The high speed controller receives a set of control parameters for an upcoming extended time period. The control parameters include a plurality of bounds for an adjusted net power of the electrical system. The high speed controller sets an energy storage system command control variable (ESS command) based on a state of adjusted net power of the electrical system and the set of control parameters.

Electricity supply and delivery costs continue to rise, especially in remote or congested areas. Moreover, load centers (e.g., population centers where electricity is consumed) increasingly demand more electricity. In the U.S. energy infrastructure is such that power is mostly produced by resources inland, and consumption of power is increasing at load centers along the coasts. Thus, transmission and distribution (T&D) systems are needed to move the power from where it's generated to where it's consumed at the load centers. As the load centers demand more electricity, additional T&D systems are needed, particularly to satisfy peak demand. However, a major reason construction of additional T&D systems is unwise and/or undesirable is because full utilization of this infrastructure is really only necessary during relatively few peak demand periods, and would otherwise be unutilized or underutilized. Justifying the significant costs of constructing additional T&D resources may make little sense when actual utilization may be relatively infrequent.
Distributed energy storage is increasingly seen as a viable means for minimizing rising costs by storing electricity at the load centers for use during the peak demand times. An energy storage system (ESS) can enable a consumer of energy to reduce or otherwise control a net consumption from an energy supplier. For example, if electricity supply and/or delivery costs are high at a particular time of day, an ESS, which may include one or more batteries or other storage devices, can generate/discharge electrical energy at that time when costs are high in order to reduce the net consumption from the supplier. Likewise, when electricity rates are low, the ESS may charge so as to have reserve energy to be utilized in a later scenario as above when supply and/or delivery costs are high.
Presently available automatic controllers of electrical systems utilize rule sets and iteration to find an operating command that in its simplest form can be a single scalar value that specifies the charge (or discharge) power setting of a battery. The main drawbacks of this existing approach are that it doesn't necessarily provide economically optimal control considering all costs and benefits, rule sets become complex quickly, even for just two value streams (which makes the algorithm difficult to build and maintain), and this approach is not easily scalable to new rate tariffs or other markets or value streams (rule sets must be rewritten).
An economically optimizing automatic controller may be beneficial and may be desirable to enable intelligent actions to be taken to more effectively utilize controllable components of an electrical system, and without the aforementioned drawbacks.

High speed control systems and methods for economical optimization of an electrical system


A method for producing sealing tape rolls of flexible, compressible foam having at least one external, radially oriented barrier layer comprises the steps of providing a foam web of flexible foam; forming a foam-barrier layer web by application of a barrier layer to a top surface and/or a bottom surface of the foam web; producing a plurality of sealing tape strips by introducing at least one continuous cut into the foam-barrier layer web in a longitudinal direction of the foam-barrier layer web and perpendicularly to the at least one barrier layer; and winding up each sealing tape strip of the plurality of sealing tape strips into a roll in such a way that the at least one barrier layer extends in the radial direction and is arranged on at least one of the two axial end surfaces of the roll.

Sealing tapes are used to seal joints such as those between the frame profile of a window or door and the wall of a building for the purpose of sealing the joints against drafts and driving rain. In addition, the sealing tapes provide thermal insulation in the area of the joint which surrounds the frame profile. Additional films or layers, which are provided on a lateral surface of the frame profile, also increase the resistance of the sealing tape to the diffusion of water vapor. Films or layers of this type are therefore frequently called "barrier layers". For the sake of space-saving storage and ease of handling, such sealing tapes are compressed and rolled up into sealing tape rolls. They are unrolled and cut to the desired length only just before the sealing tape is installed on the frame profile.
It is at times very complicated to produce such sealing tapes or sealing tape rolls, because the barrier layer must be applied separately to each of the sealing tapes to be rolled up into a sealing tape roll.
Alternative sealing tapes are known in which at least one barrier layer is introduced into the interior of the sealing tape between two adjacent foam strips, so that the barrier layer is protected from damage. Introducing such a barrier layer is also quite complicated, however, and it is very difficult to control the application of the barrier layer to ensure its uniformity over the entire cross section of the sealing tape.


A solid, single-pour synthetic weapon stock comprises polyurethane and an equal amount by volume of a spacing material of silica-alumina ceramic microspheres blended into the polyurethane. For additional strength, a U-shaped bar having spaced apart bores is disposed within the weapon stock. A process for manufacturing the polyurethane weapon stock, comprises the steps of blending polyurethane with the spacing material to form a polyurethane reactant, placing the U-shaped bar into a mold having a void of a shape of the weapon stock, pouring the polyurethane reactant into the void and allowing the polyurethane reactant to react to form a polyurethane object having the shape of the void, curing the polyurethane object and removing the polyurethane object from the mold.

I. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates generally to the field of weapon stocks. More particularly, the present invention relates to single pour, polyurethane stocks suitable for use with rifles and shotguns and single pour, polyurethane pistol hand grips.
II. Description of the Related Art.
Stocks for various weapons have been and continue to be manufactured from wood. Not only does wood provide natural beauty, it also provides workability and relatively light weight. A craftsman can engrave, bore or generally work the wood to add any desired ornamental or functional feature to the stock. However, wood is very sensitive to atmospheric relative humidity, resulting in the wood stock shrinking in "dry" conditions and expanding in "wet" conditions. For competitive marksmen, this is particularly bothersome since relative humidity from one location to another varies. In fact, relative humidity can vary at a single location throughout a given day. As a result, the competitive marksman often needs to recalibrate the weapon's sight at each shooting match to overcome this disadvantage. This recalibration, or zeroing, of the weapon is time consuming. Due to the limited time between the rounds of the match, it may not be possible to recalibrate the weapon and the marksman is therefore hampered.
To alleviate this problem, craftsmen developed synthetic stocks which do not react to the relative humidity. This enables the marksman to travel from one location to another with the weapon zeroed for his or her body. Unfortunately, the physical construction of such synthetic stocks do not allow modifications for ornamental or functional features like wood stocks. Further, because the synthetic materials are generally more dense than wood, it is desirable for the weight of the stocks be reduced to that of comparable wood stocks. Typically, these synthetic stocks have outer skins which may not be ruptured without loss of structural integrity in weapon firing applications.
Popular synthetic stocks are currently commercially available. One such stock manufactured by Bell and Carlson, Inc. has a hollow core with successive layers of graphite, KEVLAR, fiberglass and an outer skin of polyurethane. Another popular stock by McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Inc. is manufactured by an injection-molding process in combination with an epoxy impregnated, high-pressure laminated fiberglass cloth and chopped glass strands.
A gun stock of expanded cellular plastic material described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,753,642 by Sullivan has a preformed external skin of durable material and a core of low density, rigid and expanded cellular plastic within and secured to the skin. The skin is a thermoplastic sheet of tough, synthetic and rubber-like plastic. Poured into the skin to harden and cure, the core is a reactant alkyd resin meta-toluene-diisocyanate mixture or a phenolic type foam/cellular plastic. Although the core appears to be poured, the stock is made of two parts and the strength is derived from the skin. Even though Sullivan mentions polyurethane as a suitable material, the problems of the stock weight and the manufacture of a solid, single pour stock are not addressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,558 issued to Karl describes a metal gun barrel with encircling plastic layer and integral plastic sight. A molded gun stock is provided which is an integral part of the plastic coating. Suitable plastics are described as nylon, TEFLON, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene, polyurethane and acetal resin. The process by which the stock is molded is not described within the patent.
A polyurethane foam gun stock is described in German Patent Number 2017087 by Allgaier. This stock has a hard, smooth and non-porous skin and a core having a density which is 50% of the skin density. The skin is described as being more dense than wood and the core is describe as being less dense than wood. It is clear that the strength of the stock is derived from the skin and the stock is not manufactured by a single pour process.


A combustion control method for the rich pulse control of Diesel engines with Lean NOX Trap systems includes identifying areas within a Diesel engine operating regime in which reduced recirculated exhaust gas and air with increased pre-mixed combustion is effective in providing fuel rich combustion, and a second, lower load, region in which low temperature combustion is particularly desirable.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a method of controlling the injection of fuel into Diesel engines to selectively provide a rich fuel mixture, and more particularly to such a method in which a rich fuel mixture is used to provide fuel rich combustion products for the periodic regeneration of lean NOX traps.
2. Background Art
Worldwide emissions regulations slated for introduction in the near future will require that practically all internal combustion engines be equipped with some form of exhaust treatment device. Perhaps of most concern are the proposed reductions in NOX emissions because they are the most difficult to mitigate from the exhaust stream of fuel-lean combustion, typical of Diesel engine combustion. One of the most promising technologies for NOX treatment is a NOX adsorber, also known as a "Lean NOX Trap" (LNT). However, these devices generally require that products of fuel-rich combustion be periodically passed through the LNT catalyst in order to regenerate the NOX trapping sites and convert the released NOX into N2 and CO2.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,554 issued Mar. 31, 1998 to Shizuo Sasaki, et al. for an EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE describes a rich combustion control method for reducing soot emissions by lowering the amount of excess air while simultaneously increasing the quantity of pre-mixed fuel. However, it has been discovered that the reduction of excess air flowing through the engine, such as by increasing the exhaust gas recirculation rate, has an adverse effect on smoke production and fuel economy at higher engine loads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,639 granted Aug. 17, 1999 to Shizuo Sasaki, et al. for an INTERNATIONAL COMBUSTION ENGINE describes a method for lowering the combustion temperature to minimize smoke generation during rich, or near rich, combustion. However, it has been found that lowering combustion temperature cannot be used effectively over all of a Diesel engine's operating regime. Dr. Shizuo Sasaki, a co-inventor of the above referenced patents is also a co-inventor of the present invention.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above with respect to providing rich pulse control of combustion over the entire operating regime of a Diesel engine. It is desirable to have such a method that avoids the problem of smoke production when operating at reduced air flow rates. It is also desirable to have such a method that concurrently avoids localized high combustion temperatures when operating in relatively low load regions of a Diesel engine's operating regime. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a method for providing rich pulse control that does not produce wide torque fluctuations and eliminates oil dilution caused by post fuel injection when operating at relatively low loads.

Method for rich pulse control of diesel engines


A new and distinct variety of mandarin tree named ‘12C009’, particularly selected for non-acidic flavour profiles and distinguished by the smooth skin texture, cleanness of peeling and high Brix levels, is disclosed.

Mandarin is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of mandarin trees. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties that can be harvested late in the season and meet consumer expectations for attractive external appearance (e.g. color and smoothness) combined with good eating qualities (e.g. sweet and low-seeded).

STATE OF QUEENSLAND THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES


A horse hair banding comb having a comb member with a plurality of teeth and a plurality of receptacles formed therein and a looking member removably affixed to the comb member. The looking member extends over the teeth. The looking member has an edge positioned in proximity to the receptacle area. The receptacle areas allow horse hair to pass therethrough. The comb member is made up of a body, a first tooth having a V-shaped configuration and extending downwardly from the body, a second tooth having a V-shaped configuration and extending downwardly from the body, and a first receptacle area formed in the body between the first and second teeth. The locking member includes a first bar and a second bar in generally parallel spaced relationship. The comb member is positioned within this spaced area between the first and second bars.

Virtually all horses have a mane of hair which is formed along the top surface of the horse's neck. This mane of hair is quite prominent in some types of horses and less prominent in other types of horses. The mane of hair is generally a very coarse hair which extends upwardly from the neck of the horse. If the horse's mane is left untended, the mane of hair will generally have a rather unruly appearance. The hair may extend out at awkward angles and may be of uneven lengths.
There are many events in which the horse's appearance is of a great deal of significance. Particularly, show horse events require that the horse have an excellent appearance and have good grooming. The horse's appearance can also have some significance in some equestrian events and in some racing events. In order to properly groom the horse, the horse's mane must be clean, trimmed, and otherwise tended to.
Many owners of show horses consider it desirable to "band" the mane of the horse. The procedure of banding the horse's mane is similar, in concept, to the formation of braids of hair or children's pigtails. Typically, sections of the horse's mane are tied together or braided together. This can be a very time consuming process. Often, it is difficult to achieve proper uniformity in the banding of the horse's mane. Depending on the accuracy of the person carrying out the banding, the clumps of hair may be generally uneven.
The procedure for the banding of a horse's mane is made even more complicated by the fact that the horse can become impatient and will move around. This makes it difficult to take the necessary steps so as to make sure that the mane is banded in a proper manner. As such, typical human-style combs will not accomplish the task for horse hair. If the horse moves, then the comb will become dislodged and be difficult to properly reset.
One product that has appeared on the market has been used for the banding of horse hair. This product is known as a "Perfect Band (TM)". The product is presently sold by Perfect Band, Inc. of Townsend, Mass. This device utilizes a tubular member having a slot extending longitudinally through the tubular member. A handle is formed on the tubular member so as to allow the user to properly maintain the member in a proper position. The hair of the horse is placed through the slot formed in the tube. Bands may then be applied to the hair extending outwardly from the other end of the slot. This device utilizes a tough latex band that requires no twisting and lays flat against the base of the mane. In normal use, this is a complicated procedure which makes it difficult to quickly band the mane of the horse.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a horse hair banding comb that quickly speeds the process of banding.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a banding comb that is easy to use and which will stay in place during the banding process.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a banding comb which is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


Chaotic air flow structures in internal combustion engine manifolds may lead to poor combustion performance and hence undesirable emissions such as visible smoke. Manifolds with flow characteristics compromised by other design requirements are especially prone to these poor characteristics. To overcome these, an engine air induction arrangement includes a feed passage having an end portion in a manifold with cylinder ports. The end portion is formed in such a manner that air exiting the end portion via an opening is hindered from travelling away from the cylinder ports. This improves the flow structure and evens air distribution to the cylinder ports, hence improving the combustion process and reducing emission levels.

Incomplete combustion in internal combustion engines may cause visible smoke exiting the exhaust system. This may contravene emission regulations and may also be perceived as negative by users and other members of the public with regards to health and environment issues.
A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine can produce excessive smoke during low engine speeds if the air feed passage terminates at the manifold. Combustion airflow fed into the manifold from a feed passage can have an unstructured characteristic and can become chaotic once in the manifold. The chaotic airflow motion in the manifold continues into the inlet port to the combustion chamber and causes the in-cylinder swirl motion to become unstable resulting in incomplete combustion. Smoke issues are limited at higher speeds due to the airflow structure changing with the airflow speed. One solution is to adapt the port shape design, but this will result in high development costs and may have a negative impact on the performance at higher engine speeds where emission levels are critical. Further challenges may arise due to restrictions to the design of the manifold itself, as the availability of multiple customer options may depend on particular manifold configurations. The present disclosure is directed at overcoming one or more of the above identified problems.

Engine air induction arrangement and method


Certain novel phenyl substituted cyclic urea derivatives have unexpected insecticidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula I: where A, B a, D, b, E, G, c, d, J, X and R through R10, inclusively, are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of a second compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.

A longstanding worldwide demand exists for new, effective, less costly, and safe means to control pests in agricultural crops, greenhouse crops, nursery crops, ornamentals, turf, forestry, stored food and fiber products, structures, livestock, households, and public and animal health. Agricultural crop costs incurred by pests exceed billions of dollars annually in decreased crop yields, reduced crop quality and increased harvesting costs. Agricultural crops include wheat, corn, soybeans, potatoes, and cotton to name a few. Soil-bourne insects, such as termites and white grubs, cause millions of dollars of damage to structures, turfs and ornamentals. Household pests, such as flies, ants and cockroaches, carry disease and are undesirable in peoples' homes. In addition to these pests, many blood-feeding insects are vectors for pathogenic microorganisms that threaten human and animal health, or are annoying at the least. Insecticides and acaricides are desired which can control these pests without damaging crops, turfs, ornamentals or structures, and which have no deleterious effects to mammals and other living organisms.
A number of patents and publications disclose a variety of dihalopropene compounds that are reported to be insecticidally and acaricidally active. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0073847 discloses certain dihalopropene compounds for use as insecticides and acaricides of the general formula:
where Z is oxygen, sulfur, or NR4 (wherein R4 is hydrogen, or C1-C3 alkyl); Y is oxygen, sulfur, or NH; X's are independently chlorine or bromine; R2, R3, and R10 are independently halogen, C1-C3 alkyl, or C1-C3 haloalkyl; t is an integer of 0 to 2; and R1 is A-(CR5R6)pCHR7— (Q1), A-B-(CR5R6)pCHR7— (Q2), A-(CR11R12)s—B—(CR5R6)p—CHR7— (Q3), A-C(R13)═C(R14)—(CR5R6)p—CHR7— (Q4), A-B—(CR11R12)s—C(R13)═C(R14)—(CR5R6)p—CHR7— (Q5), A-B-(CR11R12)s—C(═O)—O—(CR5R6)p—CHR7— (Q6), or A-C(R13)═C(R14)—C(═O)—O—(CR5R6)p—CHR7— (Q7), where A is an optionally substituted heterocyclic ring, more particularly A is an optionally substituted 5-membered heterocyclic ring group containing 2, 3 or 4 nitrogen atoms and 1 or 2 carbon atoms; B is oxygen, S(O)q, NR9, C(=G1)G2 or G1C(=G2); q is an integer of 0 to 2; R9 is hydrogen, acetyl or C1-C3 alkyl; G1 and G2 are independently oxygen and sulfur; R5, R6, R7, R11 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, or trifluoromethyl; R13 and R14 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, halogen or trifluoromethyl; p is an integer of 0 to 6; and s is an integer of 1 to 6.
PCT publication WO 2003074498 discloses a class of cyclic diamine compounds of the following formula useful as pesticides:
where    A is CY1Y2OCY3Y4, CY1Y2SOnCY3Y4, CY1Y2NRCY3Y4, CY1═NCY3Y4 or CY1Y2N═CY3; R is hydrogen, optionally oxidized S, nitro, nitroso, CHO, CN, OH, amino, hydrocarbyl, heterocyclyl, (C2-C7)acyl, (C1-C6)alkoxycarbonyl, (C7-C11)arylalkylcarbonyl, (C6-C10)aryloxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, hydroxyoxalyl, aminooxalyl or hydroxyaminooxalyl (all optionally substituted);    Q1 is phenyl or heteroaryl (both substituted);    Q2 is substituted phenyl, (C1-C6)alkyl or (C1-C6)haloalkyl; provided that when A is CH2OCH2 then Q1 is not dichlorophenyl.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,386 discloses certain dihalopropene compounds with urea linkers for use as insecticides of the general formula:
    where R1 is C1-C10 alkyl or the like; L is C(═O)NH, NHC(═O)NH or the like; R2, R3 and R4 are independently halogen or the like; R5, R6, and R7 are independently hydrogen or the like; m is an integer of 0 to 4; n is an integer of 0 to 2; X is chlorine or the like; Y is oxygen or the like; and Z is oxygen or the like.
There is no disclosure or suggestion in any of the above-referenced patents or publications of the structures and pesticidal activity of the compounds of the present invention.


Footwear having plastic or rubber soles and having molded protruding hang tabs from the soles for use in the pairing of footwear together. Each sole having a plurality of protruding hang tabs molded at spaced-apart positions along a perimeter edging of the sole. The plurality of hang tabs includes a first hang tab positioned on the toe end of the sole, a second hang tab positioned on the heel end of the sole, a third hang tab positioned on the inside section of the sole, and/or a fourth hang tab positioned on the outside section of the sole. One or more of the hang tabs have plastic fasteners and the like attached thereto for connecting a pair of the soles together. The hang tabs are being removable from the soles after purchase by cutting off each hang tab from the perimeter edging of the sole.

Fastening systems for attaching together mated pairs of shoes, boots, slippers, laceless sneakers, etc. offered for sale are well known in the art. In the mass merchandising of relatively inexpensive shoes by self-service department stores, discount stores, factory outlets, and the like, it is common practice to fasten the mated shoes of a pair together, to prevent their separation and possible mismatching. The price tag is usually attached at the same time. This is customarily done by means of a thin strong plastic filament about 8 or 10 inches long having locking means for joining the ends together. In the case of shoes having straps or buckles or eyelets for shoe laces or vents or the like, there is no problem fastening the shoes together because the locking filament may easily be inserted through one of the available apertures on each of the shoes. The filament is passed through a hole in the price tag and the ends are locked together. Some shoes, however, do not have any available aperture or eyelet. It has been the practice to pierce the side of the shoe in order to thread the connecting filament through it. This leaves an undesirable and unsightly blemish or mark after the filament is cut and removed, after purchase of the shoes, boots, slippers, etc. have been made.
There remains a need for protruding hanging tabs on footwear, laceless sneakers or slippers having molded plastic or rubber soles, wherein the integrally protruding hanging tabs on the molded plastic or rubber soles are used for receiving fasteners or hanging display cards thereon. Additionally, the protruding hanging tabs are used for either connecting or hanging the footwear or slippers together, or for attaching price tags to the protruding hanging tabs.


A method for transferring management data between processors over an Input/Output (I/O) bus system (232) includes receiving the management data at a managing processor (212) from a managed host processor (202) over the I/O bus system; and storing the management data in an addressable memory (304) of an I/O bus interface device (218) of the managing processor (212).

As the demand for faster processing power increases, many system developers are making use of multi-processor systems. A multi-processor system is one that includes more than one central processing unit. A processing unit also referred to as a processor, is responsible for executing computer programming and thus performs a computing system's primary functions. Having more than one processor in a system may allow the system to process tasks at a faster rate,
A typical multi-processor system includes a managing processor and a number of managed host processors. The managing processor may receive information from the managed host processors relating to their configuration, operation, and performance.
This type of information may be very useful to a management entity such as a central management system. A central management system may be configured to interface with and manage the operating systems of several different computing and networking systems. Having management information related to the many processors within a system, a management entity may make more effective use of the various processing resources available.
Data transfer between a managing processor and a managed host processor is typically done through a one-wire serial communication bus. The managing processor typically includes a master bus station for polling a slave bus station on a managed host processor. Upon being polled the managed host processor sends the appropriate management data. However, this process is relatively slow compared to the speed at which many processors are able to execute instructions. Thus, by the time the management data from the managed processor in response to the poll reaches the managing processor, it may be outdated and of little use.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical elements.

Management data transfer between processors

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Provided is a preparing method of an Ag nano-particle for mass-producing Ag nano-particles, the method including: performing a first reaction of a reaction solution containing an Ag precursor and oleylamine at a set first temperature T1; performing a second reaction of the reaction solution at a second temperature T2 set so as to be higher than the first temperature; and obtaining a reactant from the reaction solution, wherein at least one of the first and second reactions is performed in a state in which the reaction solution is not stirred.

A silver (Ag) metal has optical properties sensitive to a size and shape thereof, and indicates high plasmon excitation efficiency, high electric conductivity, and high thermal conductivity. It was found that an Ag nano-particle using these properties is a prominent material in a field such as an organic catalyst field, an optical sensor field, an electronic printing field, a photonics field, and the like.
Since a size and shape of this Ag nano-particle have a large influence on optical, electrical, and surface energy properties, it is important to synthesize significantly uniform Ag nano-particle. In order to synthesize the Ag nano-particle by a bottom-up method, basically, an experimental environment capable of reducing Ag+ ions in a solution containing the Ag+ ions should be prepared.
Introducing synthesizing methods of an Ag nano-particle, a method of transferring UV/vis energy, microwave energy, or ultrasound energy to a solution via radiation to reduce Ag+ ions, a method of adding a strong reducing agent such as borohydride based reducing agents, hydrazine, or the like, at room temperature, and a method of adding a weak reducing agent such as sodium citrate, ascorbic acid, or polyol in a state in which a solution is heated, have been known.
Among the methods as described above, in the energy radiation method, a synthetic method is significantly simple, but it is impossible to apply uniform energy to the entire reaction solution, such that non-uniform particles are generated. In addition, in the method of adding an arbitrary reducing agent, since various chemical species such as a surfactant, a solvent, a reducing agent in addition to an Ag precursor are added, synthetic cost is increased, such that this method is not suitable for mass-production.
Therefore, in a preparing method for mass-producing an Ag nano-particle in an industrial field, the chemical species should be minimally required in synthesis, the cost should be cheap, an amount of energy applied thereto should be small, and the Ag nano-particle should be prepared through a simple processing step.

Preparing method of Ag nano-particle and hydrophobic spherical Ag nano-particle prepared using the same


A device monitor for RF and DC measurement. The device monitor comprises a plurality of test cells arranged substantially in line. The test cell comprises a device under test, an input pad, an output pad and at least two reference pads. The input pad is electrically connected to an input of the DUT. The output pad is electrically connected to an output of the DUT. At least one of the reference pads is electrically connected to the DUT to provide a reference level. The input pad, the output pad and the reference pads are arranged substantially in line and at least one of the reference pads is located between the input pad and the output pad.

The invention relates to electrical testing of an IC component and, in particular, to a test structure of a device monitor.
Integrated circuits are typically fabricated on a semiconductor wafer. After semiconductor processing is finished, the wafer is sawed into multiple chips. Before die sawing, the chips are arranged in an array on the wafer and divided by scribe lines or streets. To enhance utilization of wafer area, these scribe lines or streets receive device monitors. Devices under test are embedded in the device monitors. The structures of the devices under test are the same as components in the wafer and are fabricated with the same process. Thus, by measuring the devices under test operating under different conditions, it is known whether the components comply with the model on which the chip design is based. Behavior of the chip can be predicted before die sawing or chip testing with expensive testers so that production cost can be reduced. Accordingly, to obtain accurate measurement results with minimum chip area occupied by the device monitors becomes important.
Conventional device monitors are categorized according to operating frequency. One group is suitable for measurement under DC or very low frequency (˜1 MHz). The other group is suitable for measurement under very high frequency. The device monitors for very high frequency are also divided into two groups as follows.
The first group of device monitors is a GS (ground-signal) type test structure, as shown in FIG. 1, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,766. The test structure is located at the intersection of two scribe lines such that part of the test structure is in the first scribe line while other part is in the second scribe line. Thus, the test structure accommodates a narrower scribe line (˜100 um).
The second group of device monitors is GSG (ground-signal-ground) type test structure, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Symmetry of the GSG test structures guarantees symmetry of the electromagnetic field. Better EM field termination from a signal end to a ground end is also provided so that interference can be minimized. Thus, measurement accuracy in high frequency environment can be improved. The GSG type test structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,739 is shown in FIG. 3. Six pads thereof are arranged substantially in line with a device under test (DUT) so that the test structure accommodates a narrower scribe line. The DUT mentioned herein is typically a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).
In addition, in traditional RF test structures in FIGS. 2 and 3, to obtain accurate high frequency measurement results of four terminal DUTS, such as a MOSFET or a BJT, two ends other than the input and output are connected. Accordingly, the test structures cannot be used for DC electrical parameter extraction when the two ends require a specific bias condition for each terminal.

Device monitor for RF and DC measurement


A method for managing multi-tier SLA relationships. The method can include first computing costs of utilizing edge server resources in a CDN, costs of dedicating content host resources in a content host in lieu of the utilization, and prospective revenues which can be generated by the content host providing services based on the resources to content consumers. Minimum QoS levels can be identified which must be maintained when providing the services to the content consumers according to QoS terms in established SLAs between the content host and individual ones of the content consumers. Finally, a new SLA can be established between the content host and the CDN. Importantly, the new SLA can include QoS terms for selectively allocating resources in the CDN. Moreover, the QoS terms can optimize revenues generated by the content host providing services based on the selective allocation of resources and the computed costs.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to a network system which operates according to the terms of a service level agreement, and more particularly to a network system which operates at different tiers according to the terms of tier-level service level agreements.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an efficient admissions control and capacity planning policy, minimal resources can be allocated automatically to satisfy the requirements of a specified service level agreement (SLA), leaving the remaining resources for later use. SLAs are agreements between service providers and their customers which specify a minimum level of service to be provided by the service provider on behalf of its customer. Typical SLAs include one or more network traffic terms which either limit the amount and type of resources that the subscribing customer can consume for a given rate, or guarantee the amount and quality of service (QoS) of resources that the provider will provide to the subscribing customer for a given rate.
For example, a subscribing consumer can agree to an SLA in which the consumer agrees to consume only a particular quantity of network bandwidth offered by the provider. Conversely, the SLA can require the provider to guarantee access to the subscribing consumer to at least a minimum amount of bandwidth. Also, the SLA can require the provider to provide a certain QoS over the provided minimum amount of bandwidth.
When considering the terms of an SLA, content hosts provision server resources for their subscribing customers, co-hosted server applications or services, according to the resource demands of the customers at their expected loads. Since outsourced hosting can be viewed as a competitive industry sector, content hosts must manage their resources efficiently. Logically, to ensure that the customers receive the promised level of service in the SLA, content hosts can be configured to survive a worst-case load. Yet, the worst-case approach can unnecessarily tax the resources of the content host, even when those resources are not required to service a given load. Hence, rather than over-provisioning resources in the content host, efficient admission control and capacity planning policies can be designed merely to limit rather than eliminate the risk of meeting the worst-case demand.
In this regard, an efficient resource management scheme can automatically allocate to each service of a subscribing customer only the minimal amount of resources required to meet the QoS levels specified in an SLA. In consequence, surplus resources can be withheld for use by the content host to meet the requirements of other subscribing customers. Thus, resource provisioning logic must adapt to changes in load as they occur, and the resource provisioning logic must respond gracefully to unanticipated demand surges or resource failures.
Business methods for establishing and managing SLA relationships between providers and subscribing customers have been implemented in content hosting environments. Specifically, those implemented business methods manage the cost/benefit analysis associated with resource allocation choices. Yet, content hosting environments no longer exist in a vacuum. Rather, as content hosting centers become overloaded with traffic, or as content hosting centers acquire new subscribing customers based upon QoS guarantees in an SLA, functions and data processing are removed from the content host to the edge of the network.
Existing content distribution network (CDN) models include edge processing of content requests at the edge of the CDN. These existing CDN models provide for takeover or overflow service for content hosts. Specifically, where in the takeover or overflow service model of the conventional CDN, the CDN handles all traffic direction and caching for content hosts. Alternatively, the CDN agrees to handle traffic only where specific peak traffic conditions in the content host arise. Yet, existing SLA models for managing resource allocation choices wholly ignore the complete relationship between CDN, content host and data consumer.

Multi-tier service level agreement method and system

International Business Machines Corporation


A computing system can receive input data specifying a destination location for a requesting user and determine a guaranteed upfront cost for transporting the requesting user to the specified destination location. The system can cause the computing device of the requesting user to display a ride service selection interface comprising a graphic feature indicating the guaranteed upfront cost for the specified transport option. Based on a user selection of the graphic feature, the computing system can select a driver from the one or more available drivers based, at least in part, on a proximity of the selected driver to the current location of the requesting user, and determine a rendezvous point at which the requesting user can rendezvous with the selected driver.

User centric network services typically sequence users through a number of selection interfaces so that the user can specify certain information for a desired type of service, including service level selections and preferences. With enhancements in network and mobile technology, the number of on-demand services for user selection is also increasing, creating inconvenience for human operators. Moreover, the time needed for selection can occupy an interface device, creating performance issues and draining resources of the operative selection device.

Service information and configuration user interface