A time-shared multitask execution circuit for sharing registered digital hardware among a plurality of users is provided to achieve zero overhead switching while processing as few as 1 sample (in one clock cycle) for each user. The circuit comprises a three register bank, two switches, and a dual port RAM. On any given cycle of the clock, one register is processing data of a current user, one register is writing processed data of a prior user to the RAM, and one register is reading data of a subsequent user for processing from RAM. In this manner, processing, reading and writing are decoupled and proceed in parallel.

The most common application of sharing of digital hardware relates to time-shared computers. This well known method allows a single CPU to be shared among multiple processes (the terms "users", "channels" or "tasks" may be used interchangeably for "processes"). In most applications, the contents of the CPU registers are "swapped" out to RAM during a context switch. Typically, this switch takes many clock cycles, i.e., several clock cycles for each register being saved, where there may be 20 or more registers saved.
More specific to the present invention are applications involving the sharing of pipelined parallel digital hardware, as shown in FIG. 4 illustrating alternating processing devices P and registers R (e.g., a flip-flop). In these applications, RAM is attached directly to each register in the device to allow more rapid context switching. Originally, these systems are presumed to have used two clock cycles for switching, one for writing intermediate results out to RAM and one for reading results back from RAM before continuing processing. In this case, it is possible to process a single sample from one user before switching, but the associated overhead for switching was quite significant (200%). Systems that could supply multiple samples from a single user before requiring a switch benefited from much lower overhead as a result.
In the pending PCT patent application PCT/US97/16349 filed Sep. 19, 1997, entitled "Demodulation of Asynchronously Sampled Data by Means of Detection-Transition Sample Estimation in a Shared Multi-Carrier Environment" by James R. Thomas and Soheil I. Sayegh, a method and device are described for sharing registered digital hardware with only one clock cycle time required for switching overhead. This method can also process one or more samples from a single user before switching. In the case of a single sample, the overhead is then 100%.
However, none of the known conventional methods achieve zero overhead switching and one sample per user between switches. This particular feature is of special interest in digital communications because of the desire to use so-called "polyphase filters" to demultiplex communications channels for processing by digital demodulators. Polyphase filters inherently put out one sample per channel before switching. Other means of demultiplexing, specifically FFT-IFFT processors, naturally produce many samples per channel and are thus well suited for the prior means of sharing, although reducing overhead is still desirable. Alternatively, memory buffers may be used ahead of the equipment to be shared to group samples for processing, but they add significant size and power requirements to the overall processing system. In addition, zero overhead switching has significant application in modern microprocessors, replacing the first method described above, and greatly speeding context switching.
Another conventional alternative to support this type of sharing is the use of a register bank wherein a register is provided for every user, channel, or process at every stage of processing. This approach is simple to implement and supports both zero-overhead switching and one sample per user. However, for large numbers of users, it very inefficient in terms of hardware (e.g., in an ASIC) because as many as 10 gates per bit are required for implementation. For example, in the case of 100 users, an 8 bit data path and 20 stages in the pipeline, the register bank would require 160,000 gates=(20 stages).times.(10 gates/bit).times.(8 bits).times.(10 users).

Method and apparatus for zero overhead sharing for registered digital hardware


Portions of a sound and thermic insulation mattress are modified so as to retain the water imperviousness of the mattress and its insulation characteristics when it is secured to a support. The mattress is provided with an opening therein and a foam insert arranged in the opening and provided with an orifice. The insert is held in the opening by an adhesive strip which is glued to the foam insert and the mattress.

Civil transport airplanes are soundproofed and thermically insulated so as to offer maximum comfort to the passengers and aircrew. Insulation mattresses are generally formed of glass wool or another equivalent material and covered with a protective fabric. They are intended to be secured to the metallic structural portions of the aircraft readily resulting in producing heat and vibrations. Their role is to ensure suitable sound and thermic insulation of the plane in relation to the external environment. In other words, they make it possible to protect the passengers and crew from cold temperatures when the plane is flying at high altitudes and noises emanating from the aircraft engine or aerodynamic noises.
The performances of these mattresses are directly linked to their design conception and it is particularly important that they be sealed and that the glass wool constituting them has a homogeneous thickness.
This sound and thermic insulation is nevertheless rarely uniform owing to the various items of equipment traversing this mattress, items such as electric cables or ventilation sheathes and their supports and especially the numerous points for securing this insulation mattress to the fuselage. These fixing points are formed of a large number of gaps affording protection against cold and noise. In fact, the glass wool at the level of these fixing points may allow humidity and condensation water to pass absorbed by said wool.
These sound and thermic insulation mattresses are currently secured to the structure forming a support by means of slugs and fixing washers. The accompanying FIG. 1 shows the methods for preparing and fixing said insulation mattress according to the prior art.
As shown on FIG. 1, the fuselage of the aircraft 1 is covered by a large number of juxtaposed mattresses hereafter denoted as sound and thermic insulation mattresses 3 which are secured to its surface. This mattress is generally made of glass wool. In addition, the fuselage 1 includes at regular intervals sections 5 projecting from its internal surface approximately perpendicular to the latter and denoted hereafter as frames. A single frame is shown on FIG. 1. Each frame 5 is pierced with one orifice 7. The frame 5 is covered on its two faces with an insulation mattress element 3 folded in two. Before being disposed on the frame 5, this mattress has been prepared and pierced so as to facilitate its installation.
This preparation may be effected in two ways shown on both sides of the frame.
As shown in the lower portion of FIG. 1, the insulation mattress 3 is pierced with an orifice 9 having a small diameter and roughly corresponding to the diameter of the fixing slug 11 used for fixing this mattress (for example, 6 mm). The fixing slug 11 is then placed in the orifices 7 and 9 and the mattress is held against the frame 5 by means of two washers 13 forcefully driven onto the slug 11 on both sides of the frame 5 and maintained on the latter by means of the striae 14 of the slug 11.
This type of piercing of the mattress with a small diameter makes it possible to have little or no sound and thermic leaks, but imperviousness of the mattress is not ensured. In fact, the glass wool absorbs condensation water via these orifices 9. Moreover,.the insulation mattress 3 is embrittled in these zones and there may be tears at this location.
The upper portion of FIG. 1 shows a second mode for piercing of the mattress, said mode consisting of piercing an opening 15 with a much larger diameter (for example, about between 38 and 50 mm) and then of laying at the level of this opening 15 two flexible thermoglueing adhesive layers 17 enabling this opening to be bordered. This adhesive may also be reinforced by an excess pitting (not shown on FIG. 1).
The mode for fixing by the slug 11 and the washers 13 is then identical to the one described above. In this case, imperviousness is ensured by the adhesive 17, but the sound and thermic losses caused by the removal of the glass wool are considerable.

Sound and thermic insulation mattress having a foam insert for securing to a support and a method for preparing such mattress

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


An automatic data reference system and method responds to a query for a data item by determining whether a match can be found between the query dimensions and the dimensions of one of a number of data tables stored in the database for queries which constitute an exact match for an existing data table, as well as those queries which are underdefined, overdefined or require relational joining or linking of two or more data tables.

Data processing systems are often handicapped by the constraints imposed by the data bases on the manner in which the data may be accessed and retrieved. For example, in natural language systems (NLS) the form of the queries is quite flexible. But in one version of the NLS the data is arranged in one-dimensional tables only. If the data query does not exactly match one of the tables the system cannot respond. In another version of the NLS there is but one multi-dimensional table. Here too the match between query and table dimensions must be exact. With only one data table to work with, the available data is severely limited, for one table, even if it is multidimensional, cannot hold all the data items needed for a facile system.
Graphical input systems are somewhat less flexible in the form of queries acceptable. The query must precisely define the data items desired as well as the dimensions applicable. Further, the user must specify the tables to be accessed to respond to the query and if more than one table needs to be accessed the user must identify each such table and define the join between them. While the graphical approach does permit a large number of tables this is a problem as well as an advantage: the user must scan all of the tables in order to determine which tables are appropriate to access and whether or not and how to join them. And the difficulty becomes compounded when there are dozens or even hundreds of tables, only a few of which can be displayed at one time for review.
The least flexible approach for user queries is afforded by structural query language (SQL) which requires specific syntax table or tables to be specified. Further, the joins and any other artificial constructs must be stated precisely by the user. In all three of these approaches the query must be complete or the system cannot respond: a query which has more dimensions or fewer dimensions than the available data tables cannot be processed.

Automatically retrieving queried data by extracting query dimensions and modifying the dimensions if an extract match does not occur


The present invention 10 discloses a collapsible pod for providing cathodic protection to a preferred structure 12. The present invention 10 has a top frame 20 and a bottom frame 22 with a plurality of folding leg segments 24 positioned therebetween. The leg segments are comprised of the anode material having a pivot 30 positioned at each distal end. Also extending between the top 20 and bottom 22 frame is the folded retaining means 28 that prevents random deployment of the structure. To expand the structure the folded retaining means 28 is disengaged whereby the top 20 and bottom 22 frame are spaced apart by the segmented leg elements 24. Also shown are stabilizers 26 and a rest channel 32 for the upper anode. Also disclosed is a lock bracket 34 forming a dual pivot point 30 for each leg segment 24. The lock bracket 34 provides means whereby each leg segment 24 lays in communication with each other adding rigidity to the folded structure. The lock bracket 34 has pins 45, 46 passing through a slot 52 in the guide bar extending from the distal ends of the leg segment 24. As the guide bar 50 moves into linear alignment with the lock bracket 30 the opposing guide bars move into the lock bracket and are then locked into the extended position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to corrosion protection and, more specifically, to a sacrificial anode structure that is deployed underwater having a conductive member connecting the anode structure to a structure being protected. As the anode structure corrodes electrons are released that move by means of the conductor to the structure being protected forming cathodic protection for the structure
The sacrificial anode structure is comprised of a folded expandable structure having folded retaining means to prevent random expansion of the structure until desired. In addition, dual purpose stacking guides allow multiple units to be stacked and locked together for land and offshore transportation. Units can be selectively unlocked for lifting or deployment. When on bottom or prior to deployment these arms may be deployed to provide stabilization.
The anode structure is comprised of a top and bottom frame having folded leg segments fastened therebetween. The leg segments are comprised of sections having pivot means positioned on each distal end of the segments.
To expand the sacrificial anode structure, the locking means is disengaged whereupon the top and bottom frame can be spaced apart by the extending leg segments. When the leg segments are linearly aligned, locking elements are inserted resulting in a rigid sacrificial anode structure.
Additionally, extra anode surface is deployed from hinged anodes protruding upwards from the upper frame. These may be deployed prior to launch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While there are other sacrificial anode structures that may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
Therefore it is felt that a need exists for a folded extendable structure having leg comprised of segments having pivot means positioned on each distal end whereby said structure can be selectively expanded to form a rigid sacrificial anode structure.
Furthermore it is felt that a need exists for a folded extendible structure having folded retaining means whereby said folded structure can be moved in the folded state to a desired location and deployed to a designated position in the folded state whereupon the folded retaining means can be disengaged resulting in the extension of the leg segments until linearly aligned. Thereby enabling locking means to be inserted resulting in a rigid structure.


A semiconductor pellet and chip components are provided on an insulating substrate, and are sealed with a molding resin that is molded by transfer molding. The chip components are positioned so as to surround the semiconductor pellet on all four sides. The lengthwise directions of the chip components surrounding the semiconductor pellet are aligned in a uniform direction. The insulating substrate is set within a die molding apparatus so that during resin injection, the lengthwise directions of the chip components are aligned substantially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the injected resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a resin-sealed semiconductor device in which a semiconductor pellet and chip components are sealed with a resin, and a method of manufacturing such a device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices in which the semiconductor pellet and chip components such as resistors are sealed using a molding resin are already well known. One example of a method used for injecting the molding resin is the transfer molding method (for example, see the patent references 1 and 2).
However, in the resin sealing process of the transfer molding method, the sealing region is subjected to high pressure. This pressure within the sealing region becomes even higher in the case of ultra thin devices, as the size of the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of flow of the injected resin is reduced. This pressure from the injected molding resin causes the bonding wires that connect the semiconductor pellet electrodes with lead electrodes and the like to be forced in the direction of the molding resin flow. As a result of this so-called wire flow, a variety of problems can arise, including disconnection of wires and undesired contact between adjacent wires, increasing the possibility of defects, and lowering the production yield of the semiconductor device.
Related Art List
Patent Reference 1
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-17912
Patent Reference 2
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-251344

Resin-sealed semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


The present invention relates to genetically modified cells that are capable of optimal transgene expression by co-expressing a silencing suppressor whilst at the same time are also capable of silencing a gene, such as a naturally occurring gene of the cell. The present invention also relates to methods of producing the modified cells, as well as relates to processes for obtaining a genetically modified cell with a desired property.

The engineering of cells to express new and valuable products is a central theme in biotechnology. Such metabolic engineering places a number of competing demands on the host expression platform including i) the need for high and sustained transgene expression, ii) the assembly of complicated multigene pathways, iii) scalability allowing either high-throughput trials or larger production runs, and iv) an easily-ablated host expressome allowing both gene replacement and optimised substrate pools for newly-engineered metabolic fluxes. Transient leaf assays have emerged as a versatile expression platform for metabolic engineering by meeting the first three criteria, namely high and extended periods of transgene expression (Voinnet et al., 2003), multigene engineering and high-throughput trait optimisation (Wood et al., 2009; Petrie et al., 2010), and scaling for larger production runs as required for personalised medicines (Bakker et al., 2006).
The sustained over-expression of transgenes in leaf assays depends upon viral suppressor proteins (VSP), also known as silencing suppressors, to block the host cell silencing apparatus. The most widely used VSP is p19 that specifically binds 21 nucleotide small RNA with two nucleotide 3′ overhangs (Ye et al., 2003) that are generated by the plant cell in response to the foreign transgene or hairpin RNAi. Reports have shown that although p19 enhances gene expression in leaf assays through its suppressor activity. This VSP also inhibits the effectiveness of RNAi, making it, it is thought, incompatible with simultaneous gene silencing in the same cell (Voinnet et al., 2003; Johansen and Carrington, 2001).
There is a need for methods which allow the concurrent over-expression of a transgene and the reduced expression of another gene such as an endogenous gene.

Simultaneous gene silencing and suppressing gene silencing in ihe same cell

COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION


An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft, with the slide having side tubes and cross tubes along with a slide panel that extends the full length of the slide. The slide has a head end and a toe end with one of the cross tubes located at the head end defining a head end tube. A girt, secured to the aircraft, has a quick release connection to the escape slide that is actuated by a lanyard, which lanyard is also connected to a plurality of releasable straps which provide support to the slide while it is being inflated. Such releasable straps are located at the head end of the slide and interconnect the head end tube and the side tubes to the girt.

This invention relates to an inflatable escape slide and more particularly to an improved aircraft inflatable escape slide raft assembly with releasable stabilizer straps that support the head end of the escape slide in its deployment from an aircraft.
Escape slides employed in aircraft emergency situations, such as aborted take offs and emergency landings where it is necessary to evacuate passengers and the crew immediately, it is necessary to deploy the escape slide in the correct attitude under adverse weather conditions including strong winds. In these weather circumstances, the slide can be twisted by the winds rendering it useless as where a portion of the slide is skewed under the aircraft thereby preventing its proper deployment.
The present invention is directed to the use of stabilizing straps that interconnect the head end of the escape slide raft assembly, which receives the initial inflating fluids, to the adjacent aircraft girt support to stabilize the slide during deployment under adverse wind conditions. The straps maintain the head end of the slide properly against the side of the airplane and prevents such head end from dipping during the inflation process in the strong winds. In addition the straps as placed and interconnected to transfer all the load into the girt bar. These stabilizer straps are detachable from the airplane and the girt after inflation simultaneously by a single lanyard that also releases the escape slide from its interlocking quick release connection to the aircraft thus permitting the escape slides use as a life raft.


The method provides a process for fabricating metal matrix composites. First the process coats the fibers with nickel by electrodeposition or gaseous deposition to form nickel-coated fibers. Over-plating the nickel-coated fibers with aluminum by either electrodeposition in a non-aqueous electrolyte or gaseous deposition forms aluminum-coated-nickel-coated fibers. Sintering this product under compression, perpendicular to the fiber's central axis, forms the final metal matrix composite. The metal matrix composite has a nickel-aluminum matrix, very few voids and extended unbroken lengths of fibers within the nickel-aluminum matrix.

Many methods for preparation of metal matrix composites containing carbon fibers have been attempted. The reason for this interest is because of the high strength of these fibers--3.5 to 6.5 GPa (500 to 970 ksi) with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.81. The specific high strength and modulus of these fibers have led to sales of over 15,000,000 lbs in epoxy and plastic composites. These fibers are around 7 micrometers in diameter and come with 3000, 6000 or 12000 filaments per tow wound onto spools. The fibers' main applications consist of epoxy composites used in aerospace and sporting goods.
The primary limiting characteristic of these organic matrix composites is their inability to function at temperatures much over 200.degree. C. For use at higher temperatures, researchers have developed methods to prepare carbon fiber composites utilizing an aluminum-based matrix. Methods discussed in prior literature include the following:
(a) liquid metal infiltration of aluminum around carbon fiber by squeeze casting; PA1 (b) physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, plasma spraying or electrolytic plating of aluminum onto carbon fibers and hot pressing the aluminum-coated carbon fibers; and PA1 (c) TiB.sub.2 or nickel coating a carbon fiber tow, then drawing the coated tow through molten aluminum and hot pressing the aluminum-coated tow. PA1 Pressure Infiltration--this has been used commercially to make Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 fiber composites. These techniques however, are less successful when applied to carbon fibers. Because molten aluminum does not wet carbon fibers, this process requires high infiltration pressures, increasing cost. One method to lower this high infiltration pressure is to use a nickel-coated carbon fiber preform as shown by Bell et al. in "Nickel-Coated Carbon Fiber Preforms for Metal Matrix Composites" 3rd International SAMPE Metals Processing Conference (1992), Vol. 24 (Advancements in Synthesis and Processes) Toronto, Canada, Oct. 20-22 (1992). The nickel coating allows the aluminum to easily wet the preform, thereby lowering the required infiltration pressure. While these alloys have some utility in high wear applications, this technique only incorporates a low volume fraction of fiber. Furthermore, this relatively low fiber content corresponds to a low composite strength. PA1 Carbon Fiber Tows--pre-coating these fibers with aluminum by ion plating, plasma spraying tows wound on a drum, electrolytic plating or chemical vapor deposition, each followed by hot pressing to form an article. PA1 Melt Drawing--pulling bundles of carbon fiber precoated with nickel into an aluminum matrix is also possible. Again, tows can be subsequently hot pressed together. The mechanical properties however do not reach those expected under the rule of mixtures due to the formation of an embrittling Al.sub.3 Ni phase.

Method of forming metal matrix fiber composites


A removable brake locking device for a hand-operated brake lever on a bicycle in its brake actuating position is provided and can be used with only one hand. The device is an nonextendible strap having a loop arranged and configured to be disposed around a handlebar to which the brake lever is attached. File strap has a linear free end extending from the loop which is then snugly pulled over the lever and attached to the loop to cause or to retain the brake lever in a closed or actuated configuration. The bicycle wheel couple to the corresponding brake is locked and the bicycle can be leaned against a vertical support without the likelihood of its turning and falling.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake locking device useful with a conventional brake of a vehicle such as a bicycle, normally having a hand brake mounted on a handlebar assembly of the vehicle.
2. Description of the prior art.
Generally, in two-wheeled vehicles, conventionally steered by a handlebar assembly, as in bicycles, it is quite common to have a hand brake operatively mounted on the handlebar assembly in the area of at least one of the hand grips on the handlebar. Normally, such a hand brake comprises a lever which is pivotally mounted on the handlebar assembly in the area of at least one of the hand grips, so that the operator of the vehicle can conveniently grasp and compress the brake lever toward the hand grip of the handlebar assembly in order to engage or operate the brake.
Normally, hand brakes on vehicles such as bicycles, have not included a means to maintain a brake in a locked or engaged position when the vehicle is in the stopped condition and when left unattended by the operator.
Without such a locking mechanism it is easy for the front wheel of the bike to turn and, if the front wheel is unlocked, the bike will roll out under the front wheel and fall.
Two basic reasons as to why vehicles such as bicycles have not used such locking devices are excessive cost and interference of the normal service operation of the brake.
One prior art solution has been to provide a clip which is clipped between the body frame of the bicycle and the wheel. Such clips are not available for mountain bikes because the clearance between the body frame and the wheel is too great and the clips do not fit. Larger clips for mountain bikes are not currently available and, even if they were, their size would cause them to be bulky and unwieldy for practical use.
Other attempts to solve this problem can be seen in Schueler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,442; Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,361; Yoshigai, U.S, Pat. No. 3,800,618; and Blancas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,613. However all of these attempts involved complicated and expensive mechanisms integrally formed and manufactured with the braking apparatus itself the excessive cost of such devices and their interference with normal service operation of the brakes are reasons why such devices are not in widespread use.

Method for locking a hand operated brake lever in its applied position

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A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product provide the ability to analyze ionospheric slant total electron content (TEC) using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-based estimation. Slant TEC is estimated for a given set of raypath geometries by fitting historical GNSS data to a specified delay model. The accuracy of the specified delay model is estimated by computing delay estimate residuals and plotting a behavior of the delay estimate residuals. An ionospheric threat model is computed based on the specified delay model. Ionospheric grid delays (IGDs) and grid ionospheric vertical errors (GIVEs) are computed based on the ionospheric threat model.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ionospheric modeling, and in particular, to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for analyzing ionospheric slant total electron content (TEC) using global positioning system (GPS) based estimation.
2. Description of the Related Art
(Note: This application may reference a number of different publications as indicated throughout the specification. A list of these different publications as well as references that may be relevant to the present invention can be found below in the section entitled "References." Each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.)
For single-frequency users of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), ionospheric delay continues to be the largest source of positioning error. In this regard, free electrons along the raypath impede the passage of a GNSS signal through the ionosphere. The total delay is proportional to the slant total electron content (STEC) along the raypath. The issue arises regarding how to analyze and visualize ionospheric STEC using measurements of GNSS. To understand such issues better, a description of prior art position estimating systems may be useful.
To guarantee the safety of airline navigation based upon GNSS signals, satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) have been developed to ensure the accuracy, integrity, availability, and continuity of user position estimates derived from GNSS measurements. In the United States, the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is an augmentation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) that measures the ionospheric slant delay of signals propagating from GPS satellites to multiple, dual frequency receivers distributed across North America in a network of thirty-eight reference stations (see FIG. 1).
To allow the user to correct for the error due to ionospheric delay, WAAS derives from these measurements a vertical delay estimate at each ionospheric grid point (IGP) in a mask specified by the WAAS Minimum Operational Performance Standards [MOPS, 2001] (see FIG. 2). The vertical delay at an IGP is designated the Ionospheric Grid Delay (IGD) at that IGP. In addition, WAAS computes, at each IGP, a safety-critical integrity bound called the Grid Ionospheric Vertical Error (GIVE). Integrity refers to the reliability and trustworthiness of the information provided by the navigation system and to the system's ability to deliver timely warnings to users when the system should not be used for navigation because of signal corruption or some other error or failure in the system. GIVEs are derived from inflated and augmented values of the formal estimation error. They protect the user from the effects of delay estimation error due to ionospheric irregularity, both sampled and undersampled.
From the Initial Operating Capability of WAAS in July of 2003 through Release 8/9 of the initial system to newer systems, the vertical delay estimate and its integrity bound at each IGP have been calculated from a planar fit of slant delay measurements projected to vertical. The slant-to-vertical conversion is achieved by modeling the ionosphere as an infinitesimally thin shell at a representative ionospheric altitude (see FIG. 3). In a later version of WAAS, estimation of vertical delays is performed by a geo-statistical technique known as kriging [Cressie, 1993; Webster, 2001; Blanch, 2002; Wackernagel, 2003], a type of minimum mean square estimator, adapted to spatial data, that originated in the mining industry in the 1950's. Kriging provides a smoothed depiction of a spatially distributed variable that has been sampled by irregularly spaced measurements. Compared to the planar fit model, the kriging model generally achieves a better match to the observed random structure of the vertical delays (or it can be tuned to match these data better).
To calculate the IGDs and GIVEs, WAAS (as well as the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service [EGNOS]) models the ionosphere as an infinitesimally thin shell at a representative ionospheric altitude (referred to as the thin shell model). The thin shell model is a crude model where the electron density is assumed to be non-negligible only in an infinitesimally thin layer located at a shell height representative of the altitude where the electron density attains its peak value. Such a crude approximation necessarily introduces error into delay estimation.
The thin shell model serves two purposes: (1) to define the ionospheric pierce point (IPP) of each measurement; and (2) to convert the slant delay measurement to a vertical delay estimate at the IPP. An IPP is the location where a satellite-to-station raypath or a satellite-to-user-receiver raypath penetrates the thin shell. At regularly spaced intervals in time, WAAS performs delay estimation, converting slant delay measurements in a given epoch to vertical delay estimates and transforms these vertical delay estimates, distributed unevenly in space over the thin shell, into a set of vertical delay estimates distributed at regular spatial intervals on the WAAS ionospheric grid. To infer the ionospheric slant delay (and its integrity bound) associated with a GPS signal detected by the user's receiver, the user must first determine the IPP associated with the signal and then approximate the vertical delay at this IPP using bilinear interpolation of the IGDs (and their integrity bounds) at the nearest IGPs surrounding the IPP. The interpolated vertical delay estimate is then converted, again using the thin shell model, to an estimate of the slant delay from the satellite to the user.
With a slant delay estimate and integrity bound for each GPS signal detected by a user's receiver, the user can determine a correction to his or her position estimate and an integrity bound on that estimate. This integrity bound is used, in turn, to specify the user's Horizontal Protection Level (HPL) and Vertical Protection Level (VPL). The HPL and VPL are the receiver-computed integrity bounds defined by the MOPS [2001] as, respectively, the radius of a circle in the horizontal plane and the half-length of a segment on the vertical axis perpendicular to this plane, each describing a region whose center coincides with the user's true position and whose breadth is sufficient to provide assurance that the region contains the estimated position. The HPL and VPL define the regions in which the respective time-to-alert requirements can be met. A Horizontal Alert Limit (HAL) and, where applicable, a Vertical Alert Limit (VAL) are associated with each navigation mode (e.g., precision approach, non-precision approach, en route, etc.) supported by WAAS. The MOPS [2001] defines the HAL and VAL as, respectively, a radius and segment half-length, analogous to the HPL and VPL, each describing regions also centered on the user's position but of such breadth as to meet the requirement to contain the true position within the probability required for a particular navigation mode. When the HPL exceeds the HAL or the VPL exceeds the VAL for a given level of aviation service, that level of service is not available to the user. When the true error in a user's position exceeds the VAL (for equipment aware of the navigation mode) or the computed VPL (for equipment not aware) and WAAS fails to provide notification of the error within the time-to-alert of the applicable phase of flight, WAAS is considered to be broadcasting hazardously misleading information (HMI). For example, the most restrictive integrity requirement on WAAS is that the upper bound on the probability of broadcasting hazardously misleading information be no more than one occurrence in every 10,000,000 runway approaches (resulting in either landings or missed approaches) that use precision approach with vertical guidance, i.e., a probability of broadcasting hazardously misleading information of 10−7.
By this means, WAAS provides vertical guidance down to a minimum height above the runway as determined by the level of the aviation service. The decision height in a precision approach is the height at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the approach has not been established. Each level of aviation service specifies a distinct decision height and VAL. For Localizes Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) service, the decision height is 250 feet and the VAL is 50 meters; for LPV200 service, the decision height is 200 feet, and the VAL is 35 meters.
As described above, in its initial operational capability, WAAS performed vertical delay estimation by incorporating the thin shell model into a planar fit algorithm. A later version of WAAS replaced the planar fit algorithm with an algorithm based upon a geo-statistical technique known as kriging. The success of kriging is partly due to its ability to mitigate the error due to the thin shell approximation. Other alternative methods of delay estimation eliminate the need for adopting the thin shell approximation altogether.
However, even though WAAS and other systems are capable of performing delay estimation, such prior methods fail to provide a delay estimation method that is efficient and sufficiently removes one or more sources of error. Regardless of the method utilized to mitigate error, it is useful to have a system that allows the user to analyze and visualize the ionospheric STEC using GNSS. In other words, it is useful to have a system that measures/evaluates the accuracy of the method utilized and determine STEC.

Ionospheric slant total electron content analysis using global positioning system based estimation


A new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius plant named ‘Passionate’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large bright red-colored flowers.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius plant, botanically known as Phygelius hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Passionate.
The new Phygelius is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Phygelius with attractive flower coloration.
The new Phygelius originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in 2002, of two unnamed selections of Phygelius hybridus, not patented. The new Phygelius was discovered and selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings since 2004, in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Phygelius are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Provided is a method of subjecting an alkene to partial oxidation by using a fixed bed multitubular reactor, thereby producing an unsaturated aldehyde and/or an unsaturated carboxylic acid each corresponding to the alkene, wherein a plurality of catalyst layers formed by N division (N is N≧2) with respect to a gas flow direction of a reaction tube are provided, and when a change (° C.) of hot spot temperature per 1° C. change of reaction bath temperature in the catalyst layer is designated as Sn, at least one of the plurality of catalyst layers is regulated to Sn≦6.

Although a method of using, as a raw material, an alkene or an alcohol capable of producing an alkene through its intramolecular dehydration reaction, thereby producing a corresponding unsaturated aldehyde or unsaturated carboxylic acid is widely carried out on an industrial scale, the generation of a local high-temperature portion (hot spot) in a catalyst layer is of a serious problem. The generation of a hot spot leads to shortening of a catalyst life, lowering of the yield to be caused due to an excessive oxidation reaction, and in the worst case, a runaway reaction, and therefore, there are made some proposals regarding a technology of controlling the activity of a catalyst to be filled in a portion where the hot spot is generated in order to suppress the hot spot temperature. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of decreasing the hot spot temperature by using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by varying the supporting amount or using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by varying the calcination temperature of the catalyst. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology of using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by varying a ratio of the apparent density of the catalyst. Patent Document 3 discloses a technology of using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by not only varying the content of an inert component of the shaped catalyst but also varying the occupation volume of the shaped catalyst, the kind and/or amount of the alkali metal, and the calcination temperature of the catalyst. Patent Document 4 discloses a technology of providing reaction zones in which the occupation volume of the shaped catalyst is varied and mixing an inert substance in at least one reaction zone. Patent Document 5 discloses a technology of using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by varying the calcination temperature of the catalyst. Patent Document 6 discloses a technology of using a catalyst whose activity is adjusted by varying the occupation volume of the catalyst, the calcination temperature, and/or the kind or amount of the alkali metal.

Method for producing unsaturated aldehyde and/or unsaturated carboxylic acid


A digital comb filter includes a period measurement circuit, a subtracter, a first adder, a first memory and a first multiplier. The period measurement circuit outputs difference signals representing differences between periods of target and input pulses. The subtracter subtracts a first deviation signal of the first multiplier from the difference signal of the period measurement circuit. The first adder adds a first accumulation signal of the first memory to the output of the subtracter. The first memory latches the output of the first adder, and the first multiplier multiplies the first accumulation signal by a first coefficient. The digital comb filter also includes a second adder, a second memory, a second multiplier and a third adder. The second adder adds a second accumulation signal of the second memory to the output of the first adder. The second memory latches the output of the second adder. The second multiplier multiplies the second accumulation signal from the second memory by a second coefficient. The third adder adds the output from the subtracter to a second deviation signal from the second multiplier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital comb filters and more particularly, to a digital comb filter for use in a video cassette recorder for controlling the rotation speed and phase of rotating magnetic heads.
2. Description of the Related Art
A drum servo apparatus is installed in a home video cassette recorder (VCR) to control the rotation speed and rotation phase of a rotary disc on which magnetic heads are mounted. The disc is driven by a drum motor. A frequency generator (FG), which generates a signal (FG signal) having a frequency proportional to the rotation speed of the drum motor, and a pulse generator (PG), which generates a pulse signal (PG signal) when the rotation of the disc reaches a predetermined phase, are fixed to the drum motor. The rotation speed and phase of the disc are controlled by regulating the drive current of the drum motor responsive to the FG signal and PG signal. Specifically, control of the rotation speed of the disc is implemented by controlling the rotation speed of the drum motor so that the period of the FG signal corresponds to a predetermined target value. Control of the rotation phase of the disc is implemented by controlling the rotation phase of the drum motor so that the phase of the PG signal has a predetermined relationship with a reference signal.
Unfortunately, however, the amplitude and phase of the FG signal does not remain constant even if the rotation speed of the drum motor remains constant. It is because of the effects of fixing error, eccentricity of the rotation axis or the electromagnetic field of the motor, etc., that parts of the FG are fixed around the rotation axis of the drum motor. This state is called FG unevenness. FG unevenness causes a phenomenon whereby the frequency of the FG signal is not constant even when the rotation of the drum motor is constant, and therefore the rotation of the drum motor is varied conversely.
As a method of solving this problem, a method of removing the component of an integer times the number of rotations of the drum motor was reported in "Television Gakkai Technical Report", Vol. 12, No. 17. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital comb filter according to the above report. Referring to this figure, drum motor 10 has an associated frequency generator (FG) 12 which generates a pulse signal (FG signal) having a frequency proportional to the rotation speed of drum motor 10. According to a disclosed embodiment, FG 12 outputs four pulse signals during each rotation of drum motor 10.
Pulse detector 14 is connected to the output of FG 12, for shaping the waveform of the FG signal. Period measurement circuit 16 is connected to the output of pulse detector 14 for generating a difference signal which represents the difference between the periods of a target signal and input pulses.
Subtracter 18 is connected to the output of period measurement circuit 16. Subtracter 18 subtracts the deviational signal which will be described later, from the difference signal generated by period measurement circuit 16. Both adder 20 and drum motor 10 are connected to the output terminal of subtracter 18. Adder 20 adds an accumulation signal, which will be described later, to the output signal of subtracter 18. Accumulation circuit 22 having four registers, 221 through 224, connected in series, is connected to the output of adder 20. Accumulation circuit 22 stores the four differences between each target period and each input FG pulse period to four registers 221 through 224, respectively.
Coefficient circuit 24 is connected to the output of accumulation circuit 22. Coefficient circuit 24 multiplies the output from accumulation circuit 22 by a coefficient K where K is in the following range: 0<K<1. The other input terminal of adder 20 is connected to the output of register 224 of accumulation circuit 22. The other input terminal of subtracter 18 is connected to the output of coefficient circuit 24.
The operation of the above digital comb filter will now be described below.
An FG signal is generated from FG 12 by the rotation of drum motor 10. The output waveform of the FG signal is shaped by pulse detector 14. In period measurement circuit 16, the difference signal representing the differences between the periods of a target signal and the output from pulse detector 14 is generated. The output signal of coefficient circuit 24, described in more detail below, is subtracted from the difference signal by subtracter 18.
The output of subtracter 18 is added to the output of register 224 of accumulation circuit 22 by adder 20. The output of adder 20 is first stored in register 221 of accumulation circuit 22. When the next output from adder 20 is generated, the output stored in register 221 is transferred to register 222, and the new output of adder 20 is stored in register 221. Each time a new output of adder 20 is stored in register 221, the output currently stored in registers 221 through 223 is transferred sequentially to the next register. The output of register 224 is transferred back to adder 20 and to coefficient circuit 24. Through this process, the four most recent outputs from adder 20 will be stored in registers 221 through 224. In this case, because four FG signals are generated by a rotation of drum motor 10, a group of four difference signals corresponding to a rotation of drum motor 10 are accumulated in accumulation circuit 22. Thus, in subtracter 18, the last group of four difference signals, which are accumulated in accumulation circuit 22, are sequentially multiplied by K of coefficient circuit 24 and subtracted from the four difference signals corresponding to the next rotation.
For example, if the period of the FG signal measured first in period measurement circuit 16 is different from the target period, a difference signal is obtained from period measurement circuit 16. If the contents of register 224 is zero, the difference signal from period measurement circuit 16 is output to drum motor 10 and adder 20 without a change of value from subtracter 18. In this case, unevenness of the FG signal is not removed. However, in the next rotation period of drum motor 10, the above difference signal will have been transferred to register 224 through adder 20 and registers 221 through 223. Thus, in subtracter 18, the difference signal from period measurement circuit 16 corresponding to the first FG signal in the next rotation of drum motor 10 is subtracted from the difference signal stored in register 224 multiplied by coefficient K. The value from subtracter 18 is thereby reduced and in every period thereafter, difference signals are reduced. Finally, the difference signal reaches zero, and the unevenness of the FG signal generated is removed by the above circuit. Such output from subtracter 18 is supplied to drum motor 10.
The unevenness of the rotation caused by noise, etc., results in the difference signal removing such noise at the output of subtracter 18. Thus, the signal for reducing the unevenness is supplied to motor 10.
The unevenness of the rotation caused by noise, etc., results in the difference signal removing such noise at the output of subtractor 18. Thus, the signal for reducing unevenness is supplied to motor 10.
In the above digital comb filter, if coefficient K of coefficient circuit 24 is adequately small, the reduction of the gain characteristic in the low frequency band may be small. However, in the initial state, such as when the rotation of drum motor 10 begins, the time needed to reduce unevenness of the FG signal is long.
A large coefficient K in coefficient circuit 24 may be used to decrease response time. However, if large coefficient K is adopted, the noise compensating gain characteristic of the low frequency band, (that is, near direct current) is reduced. FIG. 2 illustrates a characteristic of the digital comb filter shown in FIG. 1, and shows this problem.


A regulatable continuously variable transmission in which one multiple-jet nozzle (4) is used for supplying cooling and lubricant oil to the variator. The flow diameter (9, 10) of the nozzle (4) is created so that a stationary flow exists in the nozzle (4) and the continuity equation results in a constant value.

Those continuously variable transmissions are generally known. Common continuously variable transmissions have one variator for ratio adjustment which comprises one first cone pulley pair upon one primary shaft and one second cone pulley pair upon one secondary shaft and one encircling device running between the cone pulley pairs. Each cone pulley pair consists of one first pulley, stationary in an axial direction, and one second cone pulley, movable in an axial direction. In accordance with the shafts, the cone pulley pairs are called primary and secondary pulley sets.
To guarantee operation of the transmission without problems, lubrication and a cooling of the whole variator must be provided for. To that end, both cone pulley pairs are usually supplied with lubricant and cooling oil by special nozzles.
In the nozzles, hitherto known of course, it is often not possible to produce substantially equally good jets. Individual jets often split too strongly with the consequence that the cone pulley sets are not optimally lubricated and cooled. Increasing the difficulty, the existing installation space is very limited and ease for assembly must be kept in mind.
A transmission of the above mentioned kind with lubricant and cooling oil supply has been disclosed in EP 0 547 085 B1. In FIG. 2, is shown a so-called liquid supply capillary tube having two holes. The oil is conveyed into the lubrication pipe and again emerges from the two holes. The oil jets then strike on specific areas of the cone pulleys. In FIG. 6, one nozzle with three holes is shown whereby the second cone pulley pair is also to be supplied with oil.
It is disadvantageous in this design that in case of a constant flow diameter for the nozzle, the holes lie consecutively in the flow direction. Due to the emergency of the first oil jet, the oil in the nozzles is so swirled that it affects the further course of the flow. It is thus hardly possible that the emerging oil jet from the second discharge opening can optimally supply a specific area with oil.
The problem on which the invention is based consists in developing a nozzle with which cone pulley pairs of a continuously variable transmission are supplied with sufficient cooling and lubricant oil, it being necessary to bear in mind ease of assembly and small need of space.


A servo-assistance device (10) for a shift mechanism of a motor vehicle transmission, with which a characteristic curve can be produced which, as a function of a manual shifting force or a shift phase, has ranges of different gradients or proportionality to the manual shifting force. The servo-assistance device (10) includes an element (20) which is acted upon by the manual shifting force to be assisted. To produce the characteristic curve, the servo-assistance device (10) has components (42, 44, 50, 52) that are actuated by a servo-pressure (60) in such manner that the element (20) maintains its current position.

Today's utility vehicles, such as buses and trucks, with their front control design, are characterized by spatial conditions for the accommodation of the transmission such that the transmission is necessarily a substantial distance away from the driver's seat. This distance is particularly large in the case of vehicles with under-floor or rear-mounted engines. Owing to the long and sometimes tight gearshift linkage used with mechanically shifted transmissions, exact gearshifts are often more difficult.
To allow the driver of a motor vehicle to devote his full attention to the traffic, he should so far as possible be relieved and assisted in all the activities needed for driving the motor vehicle.
Every driver knows how decisive the trouble-free operation of the gearshift system can be in difficult traffic situations. In this connection pneumatic shift-assisting devices for utility vehicles of any size can be helpful.
Servo-assistance devices known until now are partly fitted directly on the transmission itself and have a control rod and piston rod accessible from outside. The gearshift linkage is connected to the control rod. The assistance mechanism is activated by longitudinal movement of the control rod. This type of control is combined with two rod- or cable-pull shifts. A disadvantage in such cases is the sealing of the control and piston rod by bellows and the lack of lubrication. In trucks the location concerned is exposed to a lot of dirt. When the gearshift linkage ratio is changed, the beginning of the servo-assistance also changes or it has to be adapted by modifying the valve to suit the linkage ratio. The same applies to shifting aids that consist of a control valve and servo-cylinder separate from one another. The valve and cylinder are connected by spherical joints to the shift lever and a bracket, which is in turn fixed on the transmission. This arrangement has the additional disadvantage that at every shift the components move relative to the transmission and the chassis, so that the air lines connecting the valve and cylinder with one another can be perforated by chafing.
Such pneumatic shift aids with an open structure are known, consisting of a mechanical-pneumatic control element and a separate, pneumatic force element. A shift aid with an open structure is known from Loomann; Toothed-wheel transmissions; 2nd edition; Springer Verlag; 1988; p. 225. The control element is a mechanically actuated control valve, which is actuated by a shift rod. In this case the transmission of the selection movement for gearshifts takes place mechanically, directly in the transmission. During transmission of the shift movement the control valve is actuated and at the same time the manual shifting force is transmitted mechanically to the transmission by a lever. During this, the manual shifting force is additionally assisted pneumatically by a compressed air cylinder. The compressed air cylinder, a two-position cylinder with integrated hydraulic damper, forms the pneumatic force element. In this case the manual shifting force is not imaged directly proportionally. The distances between the control and force elements are long, and the structure takes up a lot of space. Damage to the compressed air lines between the control and force portions can hardly be avoided.
DE 195 39 472 A1 discloses a shifting mechanism with a servo-assistance device for a motor vehicle transmission. A control rod of the servo-assistance device is arranged axially movably within a piston and co-operates, via a gearshift linkage, with a shift lever. On the piston rod is arranged a piston which can be acted upon on both sides by a pressure medium, and the piston co-operates with means for shifting the gear-type variable-speed transmission. Axial displacement of the control rod in the piston rod can actuate control valves by means of actuating pistons. The shifting force exerted upon the control rod via the shift lever and gearshift linkage is transferred proportionally by the piston rod to the means for shifting the gear-type variable-speed transmission. During this, the two sides of the shift mechanism produce shift forces of different size, so that various gears of the vehicle's transmission can be shifted with different shifting forces. The different shifting forces are produced by different valve characteristics, given by differently sized piston faces of the actuating pistons and/or by different geometrical dimensions of the two opposed surfaces of the piston.
In the unpublished applications by the present applicant with file numbers 10 2006 006 651.0 and 10 2006 006 652.9, a shift mechanism with servo-assistance for a vehicle transmission is disclosed, which comprises means for selecting and shifting a gear of the transmission and a control rod of the servo-assistance device, which is acted upon by the manual shifting force to be assisted. In the unpublished application with file number 10 2006 006 651.0 elastic elements are provided in the shift mechanism in order to change or limit the manual shifting force that acts upon the servo-assistance device before the force passes into the servo-assistance device. In the unpublished application with file number 10 2006 006 652.9, spring elements are provided in order to change the manual shifting force that acts on the servo-assistance device within the servo-assistance device before and/or during the production of the servo-assistance force, and thereby to influence the servo-assistance device in its action.
To produce different servo-assistance forces, it is necessary to have different elastic compliances or elasticities. Depending on the design, this can be difficult to achieve and may require structural space that is often not available.
DE 10 2004 042 609 A1 describes characteristics for a servo-assistance device for a shift mechanism of a motor vehicle transmission. As a function of a manual shifting force or a shift phase the characteristic curves have sections with different gradients or proportionality to the manual shifting force. It is not disclosed in DE 10 2004 042 609 A1 how the characteristics can be realized by design.

Servo assistance device for motor vehicle variable-speed transmission


In shift control apparatus and method for a hybrid transmission suitable for use in a hybrid vehicle, at least one of a target drive torque and a target input revolution acceleration to be a value within a realizable region to be set as a drive torque command value or an input revolution command acceleration is corrected in such a manner that polarities of the target drive torque and the target input revolution acceleration are left unchanged, in a case where a combination of the target drive torque with the target input revolution acceleration falls out of a realizable region on two-dimensional coordinates of the drive torque and the input revolution acceleration, the drive torque command value and the input revolution acceleration command value contributing to controls of the main power source and the motor/generators in place of the target drive torque and the target input revolution acceleration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shift control apparatus and method for a hybrid transmission suitable for use in a hybrid vehicle in which a main power source such as an engine and motor/generators are mounted. The present invention particularly relates to the shift control apparatus and method which are capable of having a differential equipment (unit) interposed between the main power source and the motor/generators carry out a continuously variable shift operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a kind of hybrid transmission as described above, for example, includes a differential unit having two degrees of freedom and which is constituted by a planetary gear group or so forth. An input from the engine which is the main power source, an output to a drive system, and a plurality of motor/generators are mutually coupled to respective revolutional members of the differential unit so that powers from the motor/generators permit the continuously variable shift operation. In the above-described hybrid transmission, the motor/generators are driven by means of an electric power of a battery. However, when this driving is carried out, it is necessary for the motor/generators to be driven at a power equal to or lower than a power rating of the battery in the same case as the drive for a normally available electrical equipment.
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. Heisei 9-191506 published on Jul. 22, 1997 exemplifies a previously proposed technique controlling the drive torque to the motor/generators (function as motors) in accordance with a state of the battery. In the previously proposed technique disclosed in the above-identified Japanese Patent Application First Publication, an electric vehicle in which a motor is driven along with a charge-and-discharge of the battery which serves as a power source is prerequisite. When a state variable of the battery is varied by a reference value or more such as reductions in a battery voltage or a battery residual capacity equal to or lower than a reference value, a response speed of a torque control for a drive torque command to the motor is slowed so that an earlier deterioration of the battery is prevented.

Shift control apparatus and method for hybrid transmission applicable to hybrid vehicle


To provide a plasma ignition system that can prevent damage on an internal combustion engine due to erroneous ejection of a plasma jet, and further, even when the required voltage of an ignition plug becomes lower, can prevent erroneous ignition by the charged voltage of a PJ capacitor. A plasma power supply circuit of the plasma ignition system includes a voltage-limiting circuit having a first set voltage having an absolute value lower relative to the discharge voltage of the ignition coil, and a second set voltage having an absolute value higher relative to the discharge voltage of the ignition coil, and the first set voltage and the second set voltage are selectively switched according to an operation condition of the internal combustion engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma ignition system used for ignition of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine that ejects a plasma jet into a compressed air-fuel mixture, a large amount of ignition energy can be provided to the compressed air-fuel mixture and ignition performance can be improved, however, in the case where the charged voltage of a PJ (plasma jet) capacitor is extremely small or the like, so-called "failed plasma" may occur in such a way that spark discharge of the ignition plug occurs, but the subsequent plasma discharge does not occur. Further, if the charged voltage of the PJ capacitor is made larger, the failed plasma can be suppressed, but the inconvenience that the current flowing in the ignition plug at plasma discharge becomes larger and the plug life becomes shorter may be caused. As means for sparing the inconvenience, as shown in JP-A-2009-257112, after the start of plasma discharge using spark discharge of the ignition plug as a trigger, the charged voltage of the PJ capacitor may be switched from the high voltage to the low voltage.
The above described plasma ignition system erroneously ejects a plasma jet and causes damage on the internal combustion engine when the ignition plug is erroneously ignited due to external fluctuations because the charged voltage of the PJ capacitor is a higher set voltage as an absolute value relative to the discharge voltage of the ignition coil both at the high voltage and the low voltage. Further, when pressure within the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine becomes negative, there are problems that the required voltage of the ignition plug becomes lower and the erroneous ignition is caused by the charged voltage of the PJ capacitor.


The composition of the present invention comprising Cucurbita moschata, Carthamus tinctorius, Plantago asiatica and Lonicera japonica has a follicle-stimulating hormone reduction action. Based on this action, the composition is usable as a preventive, remedy, health food or functional food for diseases, for example, climacteric disturbance, primary hypogonadism (including ovarian hypofunction and testicular deficiency), Turner's syndrome, Klinefelter' s syndrome, gonadotropin-producing tumor, testitis, and primary ovarian amenorrhea and/or hormone-producing tumor.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a gonadotropic hormone (GTH) and is involved in the growth of seminiferous tubule and the promotion of semen formation in testis and, in ovary, in the growth and maturation of follicle.
The diseases associated with high amount of FSH in blood included climacteric disturbance (e.g. Hyojunsanfujinkagaku: ISBN: 4260130536, Igakushoin Co., Ltd., Change of Sexual Function and Sexual Organ Form with Aging, p. 23 to 25, 1997). Besides, there are primary hypogonadism, Turner's syndrome, Klinefelter' s syndrome, gonadotropin-producing tumor, testitis (e.g. Naikashindangaku: ISBN: 4890132341, Hormone Test, Nishimurashoten, Niigata, p. 843 to 887 1997), primary ovarian amenorrhea, hormone-producing tumor (e.g. Hyojunsanfujinkagaku: ISBN: 4260130536, Igakushoin Co., Ltd., Emmeniopathy B Amenorrhea, p. 34 to 44, 1997), etc.
Description is made on climacteric disturbance which is one of the above diseases.
Climacteric is defined in various ways but it refers to several years before and after menopause. Those diseases which appear in this period, are unbearable physically and mentally and need treatment, are called climacteric disturbance or disorder (e.g. M. Mizuno, Psychosomatic Disorder, Climacteric Disturbance and Health Care of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women, Hyojunsanfujinkagaku: ISBN: 4260130536, Igakushoin Co., Ltd., Tokyo, p. 170 to 175, 1997).
Climacteric disturbance appears in various symptoms and is largely divided into (1) dyshormonism such as metrorrhagia and atrophied vaginitis, (2) vasomotor nerve system disturbance such as burning sensation and palpitation, (3) psychomotor nerve system disturbance such as heaviness of head, headache and dizziness, (4) motor system disturbance such as stiff shoulder and lumbago, (5) digestive system disturbance such as constipation, inappetence and nausea, (6) urinary system disorder such as thamuria and sense of residual urine; (7) disorder of dermatologic system, internal medicine and urologic system such as perspiration and sense of oral dryness, (8) metabolism disturbance such as emaciation and obesity, (9) perception system such as numbness, and (10) other disturbances (e.g. Hyojunsanfujinkagaku: ISBN: 4260130536, Igakushoin Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1997) As representative symptoms of the climacteric disturbance, there are known dizziness, indefinite complaint, headache, palpitation, etc. As psychogenic symptoms often seen in the climacteric disturbance, there can be mentioned depression, masked depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, somatoform disorder, disorder of estrogen secretion, symptoms of the castrates, etc.
As the therapy for climacteric disturbance, various drug therapies can be mentioned.
Representative of such drug therapies are hormone replacement therapy (HRT), antianxiety drugs and anti-depressants. Meanwhile, there are times that traditional Chinese herbal medicines are used for before-menopause cases wherein menstrual cycle still remains at a certain level, or for postmenopause cases wherein HRT is contraindicated or is not desired. As main Chinese herbal medicines, there can be mentioned Toki-syakuyaku-san, Kami-syoyo-san and Keishi-bukuryo-gan (Current Diagnosis and Treatment, 12th Edition). Tsudo-san which is used only for removal of Oketsu (blood-stasis) in climacteric disturbance, contains a small amount of Carthamus tinctorius but the main component thereof is Japanese angelica root (e.g. T. Tani, Efficacy and Pharmacography of Traditional Chinese medicines, Chapter 17 Crude Drugs for Amelioration of Emmeniopathy, Nanzando Co., Ltd., Tokyo, p. 159 to 168, 1992; S. Koyama, Medical Herbal Extracts of East Asia: A Materia Medica Based on the Classics: ISBN: 4-901767-04-6 C3047, Tsudo-san, Medical Yukon Co., Ltd., Kyoto, p. 453 to 457). It is known that an efficacy for endocrine function is expected by use of Toki-syakuyaku-san (an agent for increasing FSH, LH and progesterone), Keishi-bukuryo-gan (an agent for increasing FSH and LH), Syakuyaku-kanzo-to (an agent for increasing progesterone and testosterone), Unkei-to (an agent for increasing LH-RH and an agent for reduction progesterone), and the like. (e.g. Guideline for Treatment by Traditional Chinese medicines, Obstetric and Gynecological Diseases, Outline of Obstetric and Gynecological Diseases, Midori Shobo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, p. 375 to 426).
Meanwhile, as to Cucurbita moschata, Carthamus tinctorius, Plantago asiatica and Lonicera japonica, respective efficacies are reported as follows. For example, it is disclosed that addition, to a feed, of at least one kind of Cucurbita moschata, Plantago asiatica and Lonicera japonica (particularly, a crude drug comprising these three crude drugs) can prevent, in particular, natural infection of parasites, bacteria and viruses and can achieve higher biophylaxis ability and improved meat and egg qualities. Further, it has been disclosed that a feed comprising four kinds of crude drugs, i.e. Cucurbita moschata, Plantago asiatica, Lonicera japonica and Carthamus tinctorius improves the health conditions, survival rates, quality of egg, and has anti-leucocytozoonosis effect in layers, and anti-New-Castle-disease effect and effects of the decreased numbers of enteric Coccidium and Staphylococcus in the intestine of quails (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,672).
A method for producing an interferon inducer from the plants of the genus Cucurbitaceae such as pumpkin has been disclosed (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,746). The antiviral activity and anti-tumor activity of interferon inducers extracted from the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius has been disclosed (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,597). It has also been disclosed that interferon inducers may be extracted from the flowers of Lonicera japonica, seeds of Plantago asiatica, and the like, and that the extracted interferon inducers are useful for prevention and curative treatments of viral infections in humans and animals (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,685). A macrophage activator comprising two crude drugs of Cucurbita moschata and Carthamus tinctorius has also been disclosed (e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 116498/1999). A neutrophil activator comprising four crude drugs of Cucurbita moschata, Carthamus tinctorius, Plantago asiatica and Lonicera japonica has also been disclosed (e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 281584/2000).
However, while these documents disclose the interferon inducing effects, macrophage activating effects, neutrophil activating effects, the inhibitory effects of IgE anti-body production, and the like of the crude drugs used as active components in the present invention, none of the references disclose or suggest the effect of reduction FSH level in high FSH concentration in blood.

Follicle-stimulating hormone reduction agent


A first method for processing of a radiological image to be used as a mask image in subtracted angiography wherein processing for reduction of noise present in the mask image adapted to preserve the aspect of the noise in the mask image. A second method for processing of a sequence of subtracted images (Jn) obtained by subtraction of a mask image from each of the images in a sequence of images (In) acquired during angiography of blood vessels in an area of interest (104) of a patient (200), wherein processing for reduction of noise present in the subtracted images (Jn) adapted to preserve the aspect of vessels (80) in the subtracted images. A radiography apparatus for implementing a method according to one and/or the other of the first and second methods.

The field of the invention is imaging and in particular imaging in X-ray medical imagery. The invention is more particularly concerned with a method and an apparatus for processing radiological images, and particularly images used for example in a vascular examination by Digital Subtracted Angiography (DSA).
Angiography is a medical imagery technique used for a diagnosis or therapeutic purpose during which a practitioner makes an examination of the blood vessels of a patient using X-rays. This technique more precisely allows for visualization of blood vessels by injecting a contrast product (typically based on iodine) that mixes with the blood and temporarily makes it opaque to X-rays.
The contrast product can be injected either intravenously, or intra-arterially using a catheter inserted into the lumen of the arteries. The introduction of the catheter and guidance as far as the artery of interest enables the practitioner to inject the contrast product only locally. If the examination is more invasive than an intravenous injection, the quantity of the contrast product used is lower and the image quality is better because the display is not disturbed by opacification of nearby arteries and/or veins, and the contrast product is significantly less diluted in the blood.
In angiography, an injected image is an image taken while the contrast product is present in the patient's body. In the opposite sense, a non-injected image is an image taken without use of the contrast product.
Since the practitioner's primary interest is the opacified vessel, it is desirable to eliminate the remainder of the patient's anatomy (in other words background structures such as muscles, bones, etc.), which could hide parts of blood vessels due to absorption of the X-rays. The background structures are typically removed by subtracting from an injected image a non-injected image of the area of interest taken under the same conditions. This non-injected image is then called the mask image and the resulting image is said to be subtracted. All that remains in the resulting image is then the arteries containing the contrast product.
In general, an attempt is made to minimize the dose of X-rays applied to the patient during acquisition of the radiographic images. The result is that images are usually affected by a quantum noise. Moreover, this noise is amplified by the subtraction operation and then becomes even more visible on a uniform background. Noise reduction techniques have been proposed that make use of an intra-image spatial filtering. However, these techniques usually cause blur and smoothing of vessel edges. Furthermore, since this spatial filtering modifies the shape of the noise power spectrum, the use of these techniques tends to generate noise clusters, with a granular aspect that practitioners do not accept.

Method and apparatus for processing images for subtracted angiography


A liquid dispenser which includes a housing having a chamber for holding a collapsible tube of liquid, a front opening to the chamber, and a side opening to the chamber. An actuating lever is pivotally connected to the housing and has a protrusion extending into the side chamber through the side opening for engaging and compressing the tube. The tube has a dispensing nozzle which extends through the front opening of the housing. A stop mechanism limits the movement of the actuating lever toward the tube for limiting the compression of the tube and the amount liquid dispensed from the tube. More specifically, the stop mechanism is adjustable and the dispenser is fabricated from a plurality of modules.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for holding a tube of liquid and for dispensing the liquid from the tube. Many liquids such as oils, paints, greases, solder, paste, adhesive, glues, and lubricants are sold in compressible or collapsible tubes. The liquid is dispensed from a tube by compressing the tube.
The principle objection to dispensing liquid from a collapsible tube is that it is difficult to control the amount of liquid being dispensed with any degree of precision. Another objection is that it is difficult to apply the liquid to small or hard to reach places. These and other difficulties experienced with the use of liquid dispensing tubes have been obviated by the present invention.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an apparatus for holding a collapsible tube of liquid and for dispensing the liquid from the tube in a precise controlled manner.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for liquid in a collapsible tube which is adaptable for different types of liquids having different viscosities.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for dispensing liquid from a collapsible tube wherein the apparatus is adjustable for selectively controlling the degree of compression of the tube to control the amount of fluid dispensed from the tube at each compression.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for holding a collapsible tube of liquid and for dispensing the liquid from the tube for a wide range of applications such as arts and crafts, fingernail cosmetics, dental, medical and many industrial settings.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for holding a collapsible tube of liquid and for dispensing the liquid from the tube wherein the apparatus is made of a modular construction in which the modules are simple in construction, easy to assemble and easy to use.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Compressible tube dispenser with adjustable actuating lever


A method and system for processing statements of a first language embedded in a program having statements of a second language are described in various embodiments. Statements of the first and second languages are compiled into an executable program, the executable program including original executable instructions associated with the statements of the first language. The executable program is executed, and during execution, recompilation conditions are detected for statements of the first language. In response to the recompilation conditions, selected statements of the first language are recompiled, during execution of the executable program, into new executable instructions. The new executable instructions are respectively associated with the selected statements and are executed in place of the original executable instructions.

The present invention generally relates to computer program compilers and program execution environments, and more particularly to processing statements of one language embedded in a program written in another language.
Some compilers and database management systems, for example, the UCS and RDMS systems from Unisys Corporation, support SQL statements embedded in programs of various languages. For example, many application programs are written in the COBOL programming language and have embedded therein SQL statements that reference a database. Embedded SQL statements allow an application programmer to use SQL techniques and SQL-compatible database management systems in combination with COBOL application programs, for example.
The example UCS and RDMS systems have the capability to compile application programs having embedded SQL statements. Continuing the example having SQL statements embedded in a COBOL program, a COBOL compiler compiles the COBOL statements, and when an SQL statement is encountered, the SQL statement is passed to a compile-time component of RDMS. RDMS resolves the data object names in the SQL statement and creates an execution sequence that optimizes execution of the SQL statement. The resolved names and execution sequence for the SQL statement are saved and combined with the executable program produced in compiling the COBOL code. When an SQL statement is encountered during execution of the compiled program, the resolved names and execution sequence associated with the SQL statement are provided to the runtime component of RDMS for execution.
Having compiled SQL statements offers the advantage of fast execution as compared to interpreted SQL statements. However, interpreted SQL offers increased flexibility in maintaining the program. For example, when changes are made to database definitions, interpreted SQL statements do not need to be recompiled. If the changes in database definition are compatible with the SQL statements, the program can be executed without compilation. However, with compiled SQL statements that are embedded in a program, the program must be recompiled. Since the compilation of embedded SQL statements is performed as an integral part of compiling the application program, the effort required to build a new application with respect to the changed database definitions can be time-consuming. A method that addresses the aforementioned problems, as well as other related problems, is therefore desirable.
A computer-implemented method for processing statements of a first language embedded in a program having statements of a second language is provided in one embodiment. The method comprises compiling statements of the first and second languages into an executable program, the executable program including original executable instructions associated with the statements of the first language. The executable program is executed, and during execution, recompilation conditions are detected for statements of the first language. In response to the recompilation conditions, selected statements of the first language are recompiled into new executable instructions during execution of the executable program. The new executable instructions are respectively associated with the selected statements and are executed in place of the original executable instructions.
In another embodiment, a system is provided for processing statements of a first language embedded in a program having statements of a second language. The system includes a compiler arrangement, a runtime arrangement, and a database management system. The compiler arrangement is configured to compile statements of the first and second languages into an executable program, the executable program including original executable instructions associated with the statements of the first language. The runtime arrangement is configured to execute the executable program. The database management system is coupled to the runtime arrangement, and is configured to detect recompilation conditions for statements of the first language during execution of the executable program. In response to the recompilation conditions, selected statements of the first language are recompiled into new executable instructions during execution of the executable program, and the new executable instructions are respectively associated with the selected statements. The database management system executes the new executable instructions in place of the original executable instructions.
In accordance with another example embodiment of the invention, there is provided a computer program product that is configured to process statements of one language embedded in a program of another language, as summarized above.

Method and system for dynamic recompilation of statements of a first language embedded in a program having statements of a second language


A system for providing real-time site specific weather information comprises a weather alert manager that receives meteorological data and combines the meteorological data with a geographical grid covering a predefined geographic area to produce a storm profile for the storms within the geographical area, wherein the geographic grid partitions the geographic area into a plurality of cells. A distribution network distributes the storm profiles to remote units that are responsive to the storm profiles. The remote units are configured to process the storm profiles and present real-time site specific weather information based upon the storm profile. The storm profiles may include a cell identifier that identifies a cell of the geographic grid that is affected by the storm. In addition, the storm profiles may further include a storm identifier, a storm type identifier, and a presence qualifier associated with each cell identified.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for weather reporting and forecasting, and more particularly, to computerized systems and methods for reporting and forecasting real-time weather information.
The importance of weather reporting and forecasting in our daily lives cannot be contested. A large percentage of the people in the United States watch their local evening news on a nightly basis to see the local weather report and forecast. This information may then used to make decisions for the next day, or for the upcoming weekend, such as what to wear, what activity to participate in, what activity not to participate in, what to bring on an outing, etc. Under certain circumstances, such as in the case of severe weather, some people may find themselves in situations where they are making life and death decisions based upon the weather information they have available to them.
To assist local television stations, as well as the national networks, in providing accurate and timely weather reporting and forecasting, the National Weather Service (NWS) maintains a network of radar installations located at approximately one hundred thirty-eight sites throughout the United States. Observers at each of these installations monitor the weather conditions within their area and provide hourly teletyped messages to subscribers, typically through a third party weather service provider such as GTE Contel, a subsidiary of GTE Government Systems. In addition, other services provide lightning strike information on a subscription basis, such as through Global Atmospherics, Arizona, U.S.A.
The weather information provided by any one or a combination of the above services may be synthesized at a local television station into a understandable format for presentation to the public. In general, the meteorological data is gathered at the local television station and combined with image maps of a geographical region to generate a weather image i.e., a graphical illustration of the weather. In addition, the local temperatures for various communities or cities within the viewing area of the station may also be generated on the weather image. A sequence of these composite weather images can be looped to create weather animation. The local television station may then broadcast the weather images to viewers.
Although the current weather reporting and forecasting systems used by television stations and networks have much benefit, they may not provide relevant weather information during severe weather. This is particularly true when it comes to the existence of severe weather which arises quickly without much warning, as is often the case with tornados. It is well known that tornados and other types of severe weather can strike quickly without much prior notice. The information provided by the television stations and networks regarding these types of severe weather are seldom provided in a real-time fashion and are generally not detailed as to the specific location or direction of the weather front. Therefore, the public is often not given sufficient warning to adequately prepare for the weather in order to protect their property or find a safe refuge for themselves. Moreover, the weather information that is provided is often provided on a county wide basis which, depending on the size of the county, the actual path of the severe weather through a county, and the position of the listeners within the county, may be irrelevant. The listener may consequently become impatient or inattentive, and stop viewing the weather report.
An alternative source of weather information is through weather radios such as the Realistic Weather Radio Alert III, Model No. 12-140, distributed through Radio Shack, a division of the Tandy Corporation. In general, weather radios may provide listeners with prerecorded or live weather updates on an essentially continuous basis. The weather radios receive the weather information updates which are broadcasts by the national Weather Service (NWS) from local transmitters using specific frequencies designated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The weather updates usually comprise regular weather information which is prerecorded and then broadcast, except for the issuance of severe weather watches or warnings. In those cases, a prerecorded (or sometimes live) watch or warning message is preceded by a tone (e.g., a 1,000 cycle tone) that is manually activated at the broadcast station. The tone weather radios that are turned on and within the range of the broadcasted signal may receive the tone which activates an audible alarm on the radio. The audible alarm is typically not distinctive as to the whether it is for a watch and warning, nor does the audible alarm indicate the type or severity of the severe weather. The alarm will usually continue until the user pushes an alert key or button on the weather radio. It is noted that NWS personnel are responsible for both manually recording of the audio messages for broadcast and the manually activating of the tone.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry for an improvement in the delivery of real-time weather information for a localized area to people in that area during times of severe weather.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide more relevant weather information.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide site specific weather information.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide real-time weather information.
These and other objects are provided in accordance with the present invention by a system for providing real-time site specific weather information that comprises a weather alert manager that receives meteorological data and combines the meteorological data with a geographical grid covering a predefined geographic area to produce storm profiles for the storms within the geographical area, wherein the geographic grid partitions the geographic area into a plurality of cells. A distribution network distributes the storm profiles to remote units that are responsive to the storm profiles. The remote units are configured to process the storm profiles and present real-time site specific weather information based upon the storm profile. The storm profiles may include a cell identifier that identifies a cell of the geographic grid that is affected by the storm. In addition, the storm profiles may further include a storm identifier, a storm type identifier, a list of cells affected by the storm and a presence qualifier associated with each cell identified.
The storm distribution network preferably distributes the storm profiles to the remote units that are associated with the cells affected by the storm. For instance, a remote unit may receive storm profiles for a storm that is currently located within the present cell, or likely to cross the present cell. The distribution network may include means for addressing the storm profile to enable point-to-point distribution to the respective cells associated with a storm. The distribution network may comprise a land-line telephone network, a universal wireless network, a pager network, an Internet, or a local cable television network.
In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the meteorological data received by the weather alert manager comprises indications of the storm""s speed, location, direction, and type. Further, the meteorological data may include a severity indicator of a storm. The meteorological data may be provided manually by a user such as someone from an emergency management agency, or automatically by a NexRad attributes data provider, or a combination of both manually and automatically gathered weather data.
The remote units may include an audible alarm that can be selectively actuated to distinguish between a warning alarm and a watch alarm. Further, the remote units may include an audible alarm that is selectively actuated to indicate a storm type. Alternatively, the remote units may include an visual indicator that may be selectively actuated to distinguish between a warning alarm and a watch alarm, and/or a visual indicator that is selectively actuated to indicate a storm type.
The weather alert manager may include means for predicting a path of the storm based upon the meteorological data. For example, the means for predicting a path of the storm may comprise a NexTrac computer program from Baron Services, Huntsville, Ala., USA.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing real-time site specific weather information comprises the steps of receiving meteorological data, and combining the. meteorological data with a geographical grid covering a predefined geographic area to produce a storm profile for a storm identified in the meteorological data, wherein the geographic grid partitions the geographic area into a plurality of cells. The method also includes the step of distributing the storm profile to a remote unit that is responsive to the storm profile for presenting real-time site specific weather information. The step of combining the meteorological data with a geographical grid to produce a storm profile may include producing the storm profile with a cell number that identifies a cell of the geographic grid that is affected by the storm. The method may further include the step of producing visual and/or audio alarms that can be selectively actuated by the remote units in response to the storm profiles in order to distinguish between warning alarms and watch alarms, and/or the type of the storm (e.g., thunder, hail, tornado, etc.). The method may also include the step of providing a severity indicator of said storm as a part of said meteorological data. Further, the step of combining said meteorological data with a geographical grid covering a predefined geographic area includes predicting a path of the storm based upon the meteorological data.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Systems and methods for distributing real-time site-specific weather information