A system for establishing a hearing ability model of a hearing ability of a person, includes a data storage configured to store a representation of a distribution of a hearing ability of a population of individuals, and a processor configured to establish a hearing ability model representing a hearing ability of the person based at least in part on (i) information regarding a person's response to a stimulus of a hearing evaluation event, and (ii) the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability of the population.

When a person needs a hearing aid, the hearing aid should be configured to the specific hearing ability of that person. Specifically the hearing ability may include hearing loss. There are several ways of determining the hearing ability of a person. The most common method is pure-tone audiometric for determining hearing thresholds at selected frequencies. A model may then be established using the measurement results. Also hearing ability of a person without a hearing loss may be determined so as to improve or enhance hearing for that person.
The threshold of hearing is one of the most important clinical variables for characterizing a person's hearing ability profile, since it indicates the weakest acoustic signal that the person is able to hear. Specifically the person's hearing ability profile may provide information on the weakest acoustic signal a person is able to hear as a function of frequency. Because hearing ability, and specifically hearing loss, results may have significant influence on educational, occupational, social, and/or psychological outcome it is advantageous that procedures may be standardized and consistent among test providers. Since early days, starting with Fechner's method of limits, several pure-tone audiometric measurement procedures have been proposed to estimate a person's hearing threshold.
Three general methods of pure tone audiometry are used namely (a) manual audiometry, (b) automatic audiometry, also known as Békésy audiometry; and (c) computer-assisted audiometry.
Békésy audiometry refers to a method where the listener himself controls the loudness of a frequency-sweeping stimulus so as to follow his own hearing threshold as close as possible. Manual threshold measurement procedures put the audiologist in control of the stimulus presentation schedule. The currently recommended manual pure-tone threshold estimation method relies on an ascending technique with 5 dB up and 10 dB down steps, (see the ASHA Guidelines for manual pure-tone threshold audiometry, 2005). Lately, computer-assisted procedures that implement popular manual and automatic procedures have become commercially available, such as the MADSEN Astera.
In addition to pure tone audiometry with a manual yes/no response, given e.g. as a sign to an audiologist or as a press on a button, indicating the ability of the person tested to hear a tone, variations of testing the hearing ability of a person exist both in the type of stimulation and in the observation of responses.
Sound transmitted in one ear may be conducted in the cranium bone and may be heard in the other ear, especially in the case where the hearing loss differs very much between the ears. In this case the stimulus may be required to comprise additional masking noise in the ear not tested, which is intended to reduce the risk of the person tested responding to sound transmitted to the other ear. To provide diagnosis of the source of a hearing loss, stimulus may also be transmitted via bone conduction as vibration rather than as air conducted sound. In this case masking becomes even more relevant. In the case of masked pure tones, the power level of the masking noise must be balanced correctly. Therefore such a masked test of hearing ability will have a longer duration.
In addition to using pure tones as stimulus, a combination of speech and noise may also be used to identify the speech hearing and/or speech recognition ability of the person tested. In this case the response may also be more complex in choosing between several potential words.
Especially for infants, unable to respond by pressing a button, recording responses in the form of the electrical potential measured on the scalp of a person tested (e.g. EEG) is also used as observations of responses. Various variations of this concept exist, for instance ABR (auditory brainstem response)—where an audiologist manually observes whether a curve shows a response to either click sounds for a simple evaluation of hearing ability, or alternatively whether the curve shows a response to pure tone stimulus similar to that in normal pure tone audiometry with the aim of estimating frequency dependent hearing thresholds, also ASSR (auditive steady state response) where frequency and/or amplitude modulated tone stimulus is correlated to responses in the form of EEG curves by statistical techniques.
Patent publication WO2007/042043 to GN ReSound provides information relating to Bayesian statistics background.
Ozdamar et al. (Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1990; 88:2171-9), proposed CAST (classification of audiograms by sequential testing) developed as an automated approach to screening infant hearing abilities using a modified Bayesian method. In contrast to the embodiments described herein, the CAST method is based on traditional recording of an audiogram, and after the test categorizing this according to a predefined discrete set of template audiograms. Furthermore, a new audiogram is assigned a posterior membership to a set of template audiograms incrementally.
A first aspect of the embodiments described herein relates to a method of establishing a hearing ability model for a person. The method may include providing a representation of the distribution of hearing ability for a population of individuals and the method may comprise the steps:                i) performing a hearing evaluation event, comprising a stimulus of a person tested and a conscious or subconscious response of the person tested,        ii) registering an observation related to the response of the hearing evaluation event,        iii) establishing a hearing ability model representing the hearing ability of the person tested, based on the observation related to the hearing evaluation event and the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability.
Surprisingly the method above provides a model of the hearing ability of a person significantly faster than other methods as will be discussed below. In addition to that the method may provide an associated uncertainty of the model. The term faster may be construed as a shorter period of time where person is under active testing. The term faster may be also construed as a lower number of hearing evaluation events. One objective is to provide a method where the person is subjected to less discomfort while performing a hearing ability evaluation test.
The response of the person may be conscious and/or subconscious. E.g. the person may operate a switch and/or an electric signal in/from the brain may be registered.
The model may comprise an initial step of determining an initial model based on the representation of the distribution of hearing ability for a population of individuals and the first iteration of the method may include determining hearing ability model representing the hearing ability of the person tested based on the observation related to the hearing evaluation event and the initial model. Each subsequent iteration may include determining an updated model based on the latest hearing ability model and the latest, or set of latest, observations.
One object of the embodiments is to establish a sufficiently accurate estimate of the hearing threshold while limiting the burden on the person tested and/or the audiologist. In practice, this means that the "true" hearing threshold should be reached through a minimal number of listening experiments.
A second aspect of the present embodiments relates to a system for establishing a hearing ability model of the hearing ability of a person. The system may comprise:                a data storage configured to store a representation of the distribution of the hearing ability of a population of individuals representing distribution of hearing ability of a multitude of hearing impaired individuals,        a hearing evaluation device configured to provide a stimulus relating to a hearing evaluation event,        an observation registering device configured to register a response related to the hearing evaluation event,        a processor configured to establish a hearing ability model of the person tested based on the response related to the hearing evaluation event and the data set.
As with the above method the system according to the second aspect surprisingly provides a model of the hearing ability of a person by using few hearing evaluation events compared to other methods. This is contemplated to reduce the discomfort for a person being tested. This may be advantageous for any person and in particular, but not limited to, children and elderly persons. Other advantages will be obvious from the description below.
Further, the distribution of the hearing ability of a population of individuals may be stored as a data set or as a mathematical model or in any other appropriate way.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method of establishing a hearing ability model for a person using a representation of a distribution of hearing ability for a population of individuals, includes obtaining information regarding a person's response to a stimulus of a hearing evaluation event, and establishing, using a processor, a hearing ability model representing a hearing ability of the person, based at least in part on the information and the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability for the population.
In accordance with other embodiments, a system for establishing a hearing ability model of a hearing ability of a person, includes a data storage configured to store a representation of a distribution of a hearing ability of a population of individuals, and a processor configured to establish a hearing ability model representing a hearing ability of the person based at least in part on (i) information regarding a person's response to a stimulus of a hearing evaluation event, and (ii) the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability of the population.
In accordance with other embodiments, a system for establishing a hearing ability model of a hearing ability of a person, includes a data storage configured to store a representation of a distribution of a hearing ability of a population of individuals, a response observation device configured provide information regarding a person's response to a stimulus of a hearing evaluation event, and a processor configured to establish a hearing ability model representing a hearing ability of the person based at least in part on the information and the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability of the population.
In accordance with other embodiments, a system for establishing a hearing ability model for a person using a representation of a distribution of hearing ability for a population of individuals, includes means for obtaining information regarding a person's response to a stimulus of a hearing evaluation event, and means for establishing a hearing ability model representing a hearing ability of the person, based at least in part on the information and the representation of the distribution of the hearing ability for the population.


A rigid wire frame is formed around the exterior of a wire mesh fry basket. The rigid wire frame is shaped as an inverted frusto-pyramid. The inverted frusto-pyramid allows the baskets to be stacked together. A rigid wire hook, opposite a rigid wire handle enables the basket to be hung from an edge. The rigid wire frame protects the wire mesh fry basket from damage.

Wire mesh baskets are used to dry fry food. Prior art wire fry baskets are comprised of three components: a relatively fine-mesh wire basket; a frame to which the mesh basket is attached and a handle by which the mesh basket, suspended on the frame, can immersed into and removed from a hot oil bath. Such baskets have been used for years and are nearly ubiquitous in restaurants and food service institutions.
A problem with prior art wire baskets is the susceptibility of the wire mesh basket to physical damage. Because the mesh basket's sides and corners are unprotected, the mesh basket can be bent or dented if the basket is dropped or is otherwise not handled properly. A wire fry basket that protects the wire mesh basket would be an improvement over the prior art.


The process comprises a first step of O-acylation and subsequent acyloxylation of the 2-position methyl group of 2,3,5-trimethyl-4-methoxypyridine N-oxide, to obtain a compound which is subjected to a final halogenation step, in which the 2-position substituent is converted into halomethyl with a halogenating agent.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-halomethyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxypyridine halohydrate, of formula I ##STR1## where X and X' are halogens, the same or different.
Said compound is a precursor of the synthesis of omeprazol, the chemical name of which is 5-methoxy-2-(((3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-2-pyridinyl)methyl)sulphinyl)-1H-ben zimidazole, of formula II ##STR2## Omeprazol is a very effective drug for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Process for the preparation of 2-halomethyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxypyridine halohydrate


A snowmobile includes a seat having a rear end with a rear end face. The rear end face is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from an upper surface of a tunnel of a frame so that a cavity is defined beneath the seat between the inclined rear end face of the seat and the upper surface of the tunnel.

The present invention relates generally to snowmobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to the human-to-machine interface of a snowmobile.
Since their development in the middle of the 20th century, snowmobiles have gained widespread popularity. Snowmobiles are commonly used for trail riding and utility applications Perhaps the most common snowmobile application is recreational trail riding. Trail riding on a snowmobile allows a snowmobile enthusiast to travel through areas which are not accessible by other types of vehicles. For example, snowmobiles can travel very rapidly across frozen lakes during the winter in northern climates. Modem snowmobiles, can cover ground very rapidly and can cover great distances. Frequently, snowmobile enthusiasts ride their snowmobile for many hours straight and cover many miles.
A rider operates a snowmobile by providing inputs such as acceleration inputs provided using a throttle, deceleration inputs provided using a brake, and steering inputs provided using a set of handle bars. The rider may also influence the performance of the machine by shifting his or her weight, for example, by leaning into a turn. Frequently, people become interested in snowmobiling because of the unique riding experience that snowmobiles provide. Part of the thrill of riding a snowmobile is encountering challenging terrain, and traversing that terrain through a combination of the skill of the rider and the way that the snowmobile reacts to the inputs provided by the rider. Aspects of a snowmobile such as the overall weight of the snowmobile, the weight distribution of the snowmobile, and the location of the snowmobile center of gravity all effect the riding experience enjoyed by a snowmobiling enthusiast.
The ability of a rider to traverse challenging terrain smoothly and quickly frequently depends upon the way that the snowmobile responds to the rider. As mentioned previously, the rider can control the snowmobile by providing inputs using the handle bar, brake and throttle. The rider can also control the snowmobile by selectively shifting his or her weight.
The way that a particular snowmobile responds to inputs provided by a rider may depend upon the snowmobile's total inertia, the snowmobile's moment of inertia, and the location of the snowmobile's center of gravity. The total inertia of a snowmobile has an effect on that snowmobile's performance because this total inertia determines the extent to which the snowmobile will resist changes in location and linear velocity. For example, the inertia of an overly heavy snowmobile may limit how rapidly that snowmobile can accelerate and decelerate. The moment of inertia of a snowmobile also has an effect on that snowmobile's performance, since it determines the extent to which the snowmobile will resists changes in angular position and rotational velocity. The moment of inertia of a snowmobile is determine, at least in part by the total mass of the snowmobile the way in which that mass is distributed.
The present invention relates generally to snowmobiles providing an enhanced riding experience. More particularly, the present invention relates to the human-to-machine interface of a snowmobile. A snowmobile in accordance with the present invention may include a frame defining a tunnel and a drive track rotatably supported within the tunnel. The snowmobile may also include an engine connected to the frame and operatively coupled to the drive track by a drivetrain.
A seat may be fixed to the frame for receiving a rider of the snowmobile. A pair of handle bars may be rotatably coupled to the frame and adapted to receive the hands of the rider.
A pair of floor boards may be fixed to the frame and adapted to receive the feet of the rider. In some embodiments, the floor boards include toe stops.
In one aspect of the invention, the engine includes a cylinder bore having a cylinder bore axis that is directed rearwardly and upwardly so that a center of mass of the engine is disposed rearward of a center of rotation of a crank shaft of the engine. Placing the engine in this position may provide a snowmobile having a lower polar moment of inertia compared to a snowmobile having an engine with a center of mass positioned directly above, or in front of the rotational center of the crankshaft.
The engine of the snowmobile has a first side extending in a first direction from the cylinder bore axis and a second side extending in a second direction from the cylinder bore axis.
In one advantageous aspect of the present invention, air may enter the cylinder bore from the first side of the engine, and exhaust gases may exit the engine from the same side. In some applications, this arrangement may facilitating placing the fuel tank in close proximity to the cylinder of the engine.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the fuel tank has a front wall that is generally sloped rearwardly and upwardly. In some implementations of the present invention, the sloped wall of the snowmobile is generally parallel to the cylinder bore axis of the engine. In some implementations, the fuel tank and the engine may be positioned in such close proximity to one another, that a lateral reference plane passing through the snowmobile intersects both the fuel tank and the cylinder of the engine.
In an additional aspect of the invention, a starter of the snowmobile is disposed between the engine and the centroid of the snowmobile. Placing the starter in this position provides a snowmobile having a lower polar moment of inertia compared to a snowmobile having the starter disposed on a front side of the engine.
A snowmobile in accordance with the present invention may comprise a chassis, a shell fixed to a front portion the chassis and extending away from the chassis in a forward direction, and an engine coupled to the chassis for propelling the snowmobile. In some implementations, the shell defines a chamber fluidly communicating with the engine via a flexible coupling interposed between the shell and the engine.
In some implementations, the snowmobile also includes at least one ski coupled to the chassis by a suspension so that the ski is pivotable about a steering axis. In these implementations, the shell may be advantageously disposed forward of the steering axis.
In some implementations, the snowmobile includes a hood that is rotatably supported by the shell. In these implementations, a plenum defined by the hood advantageously fluidly communicates with the chamber defined by the shell at least when the hood is in a closed position. In some implementations, the chamber defined by the shell may be accessed via an opening in the shell when the hood is in the open position.


A configuration where a first group having a positive refractive power and a positive second group having a positive refractive power are placed sequentially from the object side is basically used. As the first group, a wide-angle first group and a telephoto first group are selectively switched over to be placed on the optical axis, thereby switching over the focal length between the wide-angle side and the telephoto side. Since the configuration in which the first group placed on the object side is switched is employed, adherence of dust or the like to the imaging surface due to the switching of the focal length can be prevented from occurring. Each group is configured by a minimum number of lenses. The whole system has a configuration which has a reduced number of lenses, and which is small and simple.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging optical system to be mounted on an imaging apparatus using an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), a digital still camera, a camera-equipped portable telephone, or a personal digital assistance (PDA), and more particularly relates to a bifocal imaging optical system in which the focal length can be switched over to a wide-angle side and a telephoto side.
2. Description of Related Art
In a recent imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS, miniaturization and increase of pixels are highly advancing. Therefore, also the body of an imaging apparatus, and lenses mounted thereon are requested to be further miniaturized and have a higher performance. As an imaging lens to be mounted on, for example, a camera-equipped portable telephone, a system having a simple lens configuration which is allowed to have only two or three lenses by using many aspherical surfaces is known. When such a simple lens configuration is employed, it is difficult to configure the imaging lens as a zoom lens, and the imaging lens is inevitably configured as a single-focal lens. However, a request for, also in a portable imaging apparatus, performing a telephoto imaging operation in addition to an imaging operation at a normal field angle is increasing. When the number of lenses is increased, it is possible to configure a zoom lens. In this case, however, the cost is increased, and also the size of the whole configuration is increased. Alternatively, a method in which the focal length is changed by externally attaching an attachment lens to the main lens system may be employed. In the method, however, a further optical system must be added to the main lens system. Therefore, the size of the configuration is increased, and hence the method is not suitable for a portable imaging apparatus.
JP-A-2005-265950 discloses an invention of a bifocal lens which does not have a configuration where an attachment lens is added to the main lens system, but has a configuration where a part of the main lens system is selectively interchanged to switch over the focal length between a wide-angle side and a telephoto side. The bifocal lens disclosed in JP-A-2005-265950 includes two lens groups of a first lens group and a second lens group, sequentially from the object side. The second lens group consists of a second group on a wide-angle side and a second group on a telephoto side. In a wide-angle side, a main lens system on a wide-angle side is configured by a combination of the first lens group and the second group on a wide-angle side, and, in a telephoto side, a main lens system on a telephoto side is configured by the first lens group and the second group on a telephoto side. In this way, the focal length is switched between the wide-angle side and the telephoto side by replacing the lens groups on the image side with each other. As a specific example, JP-A-2005-265950 discloses a configuration in which the first lens group consists of two lenses, and the second group consists of two or three lenses.
In the lens disclosed in JP-A-2005-265950, the main lens system is partly interchanged, and therefore it is possible to realize size reduction as compared with the case where an attachment lens is added to the main lens system. However, the bifocal lens disclosed in JP-A-2005-265950 employs the method in which the lens groups on the side adjacent to the imaging surface are interchanged with each other, and hence there is a possibility such as that dust adheres to the imaging surface with the interchange of the lens groups. Usually, a cover glass is placed in front of the imaging surface. In such a case, there is a possibility such as that dust adheres to the cover glass. The example disclosed in JP-A-2005-265950 has a large total number of lenses for an imaging lens to be mounted on a camera-equipped portable telephone or the like, and therefore is insufficient from the viewpoint of miniaturization.

Bifocal imaging optical system and imaging apparatus


A diaphragm valve features a valve body having a fluid flow channel with a weir portion to control the flow of fluid through the fluid flow channel; a diaphragm that responds to a closing or force to make sealing contact with the weir portion to interrupt said flow, or to release the sealing contact with the weir portion to allow the flow; a compressor configured to apply the closing or force in order to interrupt or allow the flow; and two studs configured to: couple the compressor and the diaphragm together, attach to the diaphragm to provide attachment points on the diaphragm on each side of the weir portion, and respond to the closing or opening force so the attachment points on both sides of the weir portion cause the diaphragm to make sealing contact with the weir portion or cause the sealing contact to be released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diaphragm valve; and more particularly relates to a weir-type diaphragm valve.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
FIGS. 1a and 1b show a diaphragm valve that is known in the art. In such a diaphragm valve, the diaphragm requires two mechanisms to make the valve work in both pressure and vacuum service conditions. A closing force, provided through the compressor (1), and an opening force, applied through the diaphragm stud (2), can be applied in numerous ways. Normally, a diaphragm stud is located in the center of the diaphragm. The stud and stud retention components create a non-uniformity in the sealing gasket cross section. This non-uniformity interrupts the pressure applied to the contact surface between the weir and diaphragm along the sealing bead of the valve body. This interruption can cause inconsistency of sealing for three reasons:                1) If the stud is too long or adjusted improperly, it can result in over compression of the diaphragm in the center, causing poor valve sealing characteristics and possible damage to the diaphragm.        2) If the stud is too short or adjusted improperly, it can result in under compression of the diaphragm in the center, causing poor valve sealing characteristics.        3) The transition area between the center seal line under the stud and the side seal line of the compressor may not experience the required seal pressure even if the pressure under the aforementioned components are balanced.
It is noted that the peripheral seal of the valve body is independent of the aforementioned weir portion sealing and is made by components omitted from FIGS. 1a, 1b.


An automatic focusing method includes the following steps: providing a digital camera module, which includes a lens member, an image sensor member, a distance-measuring member, a signal-processing member, a drive control member, and a drive member; measuring an object distance using the distance-measuring member, and transmitting the object distance to the signal-processing member for generating a control signal; the drive control member driving the drive member according to the control signal; and the drive member driving the image sensor member or the lens member to a position determined by the control signal. The step of providing the digital camera module includes: providing the lens member, the image sensor member and the distance-measuring member; measuring a depth of focus of the lens member; establishing a range of error of movement of the drive member; and selecting a suitable signal-processing member, drive control member, and drive member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automatic focusing methods used with photography and imaging equipment, and particularly to an automatic focusing method for a digital camera with high focusing accuracy.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of the technology of digital signal processing, digital cameras are now highly favored by consumers. Some digital cameras have focus adjusting mechanisms so that they can take high quality photos.
China Pat. No. 01202112 issued on Dec. 5, 2001 provides a camera module with a fixed focus. As represented in FIG. 4, the camera module 40 includes a substrate 41, an image sensor member 44, a tubular body 42, a lens member 43 and an elastic member 45. The lens member 43 and the image sensor member 44 are received in the tubular body 42 in that order from top to bottom, with the image sensor member 44 being held on the substrate 41. Aligned screw holes (not labeled) are defined in one end of the tubular body 42, the elastic member 45, and the substrate 41. Screws 46 are engaged in the screw holes, thereby attaching the tubular body 42, the elastic member 45 and the substrate 41 together.
To enable high quality photos to be taken, the image sensor member 44 should be positioned at the imaging plane of the lens member 43. The screws 46 are rotated inward or outward so that the elastic member 45 is compressed or decompressed, thereby adjusting the distance between the lens member 43 and the image sensor member 44. This is done until the picture captured by the camera module 40 is focused and clear to the human eye. However, the focusing procedure of the camera module 40 is rather laborious and time-consuming.
To solve the above-described shortcomings, many automatic focusing apparatuses and methods have been developed. However, typical automatic focusing apparatuses are assembled with a drive member having a predetermined accuracy of movement, which does not correspond to a depth of focus of a lens member of the automatic focusing apparatus. This may result in low quality photos. Therefore a new automatic focusing method is desired, which can conveniently and accurately adjust the image distance or the focal length of the digital camera.

Focusing method for digital camera using plural spatial frequencies


The present invention discloses a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) capacitive sensing circuit wherein two input nodes of a fully differential amplifier are separately connected to a MEMS capacitive sensing device and a matching capacitor, which both contain similar capacity value and connect to a bias node, and two resistors separately connect the MEMS capacitive sensing device and the matching capacitor to ground (zero voltage). Thus, the present invention could effectively eliminate the bias noise in the circuit without any discrete capacitor and capable for designer to integrate all circuit devices into an IC.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) capacitive sensing circuit, and more particularly, to a MEMS capacitive sensing circuit for eliminating the bias noise.
2. Description of the Related Art
The capacitive sensing device (e.g. microphone) is well known in the art and commonly used in medical equipments or communication industry. Along with the vigorous development of electrical industry and the considerable progress of manufacturing process, the microphone product is required for thinner, smaller, lighter, less power and low cost. Hence, the microphone, which can be integrated within the semiconductor manufacturing chip, is an important trend for current development.
For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,129, a conventional ECM (electret condenser microphone) amplifier circuit is utilized to eliminate the noise generated by a bias circuit of ECM. As shown in FIG. 1, the sound wave movement causes the difference of capacity value in an ECM microphone 10, which generates a signal into the input negative node of an amplifier 12. Then the amplifier 12 amplifies and outputs the signal. Meanwhile the noise from a bias circuit 14 will enter into the input positive node and negative node of the amplifier 12 simultaneously and part of noise will be eliminated based on the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) characteristic in the amplifier 12. However, the conventional ECM amplifier circuit requires discrete capacitors 16 and 18, and the required capacity values are between 0.1 to 10 μF, which might be too huge to design into an integrated circuit.
Additionally, the conventional MEMS microphone amplifier circuit requires a bias circuit for providing a bias voltage to MEMS microphone and the bias noise must far less than the minimum signal (several uV) outputted from the microphone. Generally, a discrete capacitor is required for stabilizing the voltage level and eliminating the noise. However, it is still a problem for designer to integrate the discrete capacitor into an integrated circuit.
Therefore, to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes a MEMS capacitive sensing circuit for eliminating the bias noise.

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) capacitive sensing circuit


A travel case for dolls incorporating a doll enclosure having a bottom wall, opposed upstanding end walls and two side walls interconnecting the bottom and end walls. A top wall is provided which is secured to the top edges of the side walls and is inclined relative to the bottom wall. The top wall is provided with an aperture and a cover of clear transparent material is secured to the top wall in overlying relationship to the aperture therein to permit the doll to be observed at all times by the doll owner.

As many parents can testify, young children, particularly girls, often become very attached to a particular doll. If the young girl has to travel by plane or train with her parents, it is almost certain that she would want to take the doll with her. There is, therefore, the need for a travel case for dolls.
To the young child, the doll is the equivalent of a another person, resulting in make believe conversations with the doll and a genuine concern as to the doll's welfare. Since the travel experience maybe something new for the particular doll, the young girl owner of the doll would want to make sure as she walks through an airport, that the doll is not concerned by her strange surroundings and, most desirably, the doll can "see" her young girl owner during this new experience.
Any conventional form of luggage into which a doll may be stuffed fails to provide the opportunity for the young girl owner to observe the doll and, more importantly to her, there is no opportunity for the doll to observe her new surroundings and to be assured that her owner is nearby.
Accordingly, there is a need for a doll travel case wherein the doll is visible to its young girl owner and, equally important, the doll can "see" her surroundings and the young girl owner, and thus be comforted during the new experience. Obviously, the doll travel case should resemble, as far as possible, the travel case employed by mother or father and hence should preferably incorporate wheels and a pull strap so that the young girl personally pull the doll case through the airport and onto the plane. Of course, any young girl owner of a doll would insist that the doll have a change of clothes accompanying her, and possibly a change of accessories such as doll jewelry to match the clothes. A doll travel case thus should also provide room for the doll clothes and doll accessories.


A method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, whereby the metering of fuel is adjustable in particular by varying the stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve, makes it possible to prevent an incomplete closure of the valve due to soiling (the risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder) in operating states of the internal combustion engine in which no complete strokes of the nozzle needle occur over a prolonged period of time and the nozzle is therefore not sufficiently scavenged. The nozzle is scavenged with fuel when a jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle is detected.

The present invention relates to a method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, whereby the metering of fuel is adjustable in particular by varying the stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a control device for carrying out the method, and an internal combustion engine with a control device of this type.
High-pressure fuel injection valves for direct fuel injection in the context of internal combustion engines are generally known. Specific types of high-pressure fuel injection valves 300, as shown in FIG. 3, are also known, in particular, with which it is possible to meter the fuel to be injected into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine via the opening time of the valve, and, in particular, by varying the stroke of valve needle 330. With these valves, nozzle needle 330 is actuated, e.g., directly with the aid of a piezoelectric actuator 320. Valves of this type are suited in particular for transmitting very short injection pulses and a plurality of injection pulses during a single working cycle, i.e., "multiple injection", within a very short time window. An example of a nozzle used with a valve of this type is the outwardly opening nozzle, i.e., the "A" nozzle.
In the related art, the needle stroke with the injection valves described—which allow the nozzle needle stroke to be varied—is limited in terms of high values and low values for the valve stroke using diverse restrictions:
The needle stroke is limited in terms of high values, for example, by                the possibilities for realizing a required small amount, because the nozzle surface and the fuel system pressure are specified by the combustion method used and are variable, although in a limited manner;        the size of piezoelectric actuators 320 that can be inserted, and by their physical properties, such as their stroke capacity, the amount of force they can apply, their ability to accelerate, etc.; and by        the capacity of the end stage of the control device (power dissipation, installation space).
In contrast, the needle stroke under rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, i.e., the nominal needle stroke in terms of small stroke values, i.e., in the form of a minimum needle stroke, is limited by                the need to ensure an adequate scavening effect.
The purpose of this minimum needle stroke is to ensure that, under rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, when the injection valve is operated primarily with the nominal stroke, a valve is prevented from closing incompletely or jamming open due to the presence of particles in the cross section of the injection nozzle.
The assurance of an adequate scavenging effect is particularly important because it prevents the risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder. Damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder occurs when the cross section of the injection valve is blocked by dirt particles, thereby preventing the injection valve from closing completely. In this case, fuel is delivered continuously into the cylinder whose injection valve is jammed. Since fuel can be considered to be an incompressible medium, the piston motion is hindered or blocked when the amount of fuel injected exceeds the compression volume of the cylinder. If other cylinders in the internal combustion engine are functioning properly at this time, they exert—via the crankshaft—very strong forces on the connecting rod and the piston of the blocked cylinder, which usually results in irreparable engine damage, particularly in the form of the connecting rod breaking and a damaged cylinder.
As described above, soiling of the nozzle with dirt particles is prevented via specification of the minimum needle stroke under rated operating conditions.
This specification of the minimum needle stroke applies only for the rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, however. It does not rule out the fact that the injection valve must also be closed completely at times between individual injection impulses and/or strokes of the nozzle needle. This applies in particular for operating states with a low fuel requirement, e.g., during idle, when the nozzle needle is actuated for a prolonged period of time not with complete strokes, as is the case under rated operating conditions, but only with partial strokes. In these operating states of the internal combustion engine, an adequate scavenging effect is no longer ensured, due to the partial-stroke actuation. This results in a greatly increased risk that the injection nozzle will become soiled and make it more difficult to detect such soiling.
During idle operation in particular, two injection cycles of a cylinder can be separated by a long period of time. As a result, only relatively few injection events are available for diagnosing the undesired jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle; this makes diagnosis of this operating state less reliable overall.

Method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine


The invention is based on a planar concept and involves the configuration of a planar radiating element with the property of generating wide-band electromagnetic radiation fields with circular field polarisation. A wide-band radiating element is developed in which the radiating and excitation network planes are separated and excitation of the radiating element is achieved using a coupling waveguide comprising a group of highly conductive planar elements stacked along the normal to their (large) surfaces above a conductive ground plane; to ensure a large radiation band-width, the highly conductive planar elements are placed well above the conductive ground plane and their highly inductive coupling components (which are connected to the ground plane) are compensated by special coaxial waveguide diaphragms whose ellipticity of the circular polarisation is adjusted solely by circular or square diaphragms within the planar contour, without affecting the radiating edges.

Currently known planar radiating element solutions for receiving electromagnetic radiation fields are based on the electromagnetic excitation of monopole groups in microstrip execution as well as of radiating openings of rectangular, square, triangular, circular, rhombic or trapezoidal boundary or of a boundary superposed on the aforementioned elements, the feed of which occurs by means of microstrip waveguides running on open circuit.
The generation of the radiation fields occurs on this basis exclusively over galvanically excited monopoles or monopole groups or over monopoles or monopole group-excited diaphragm fields.
The reciprocal arrangement of the exciting monopoles and diaphragms as well as the particular design of the diaphragm contour determine in their combination the characteristic of the generatable electromagnetic radiation field.
Here the arrangements of the either radiating or feeding microstrip waveguides are based on the generation of circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation fields consisting in each case of a pair of open-circuited microstrip waveguides of the geometric length of a quarter wavelength with respect to the line wavelength as well as of a spatial and temporal displacement of 90 degrees, or on the generation of linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation fields by means of in-phase generated monopoles, the geometric arrangement of which determines the vibration direction of the electrical field vector.
Besides monopole executions of the microstrip waveguides, there are known dipole as well as polar resonator arrangements, in which open-circuit microstrip wave guides or monopole executions are used exclusively for the excitation of diaphragm fields. There are known, further, microstrip radiation elements in ring or frame execution with resonant geometric ring or frame length. The arrangement of spatially orthogonally displaced and excited quarter wavelength radiating elements or also orthogonally displaced half-wavelength radiating elements, in two excitation network planes activatable independently of one another in triplateau execution leads to polarization-switchable antenna arrangements. Further there are known polarization-switchable solutions on the basis of diode-switchable waveguide combinations, by means of which linearly polarized fields are superposed on circularly polarized fields or the polarization direction of the circular polarization of the radiation field are varied.
The known solutions of the excitation networks for the case of group arrangements are based on the parallel feeding of the radiating elements or on the parallel feeding of series-fed radiating element subgroups.
The coupling of the radiating element plane or of the radiating element planes with the corresponding converting component occurs over a waveguide transition with capacitive coupling-in of the radiating element sum signal, in which within the waveguide segments the main mode is excited, i.e. the mode of the highest boundary wavelength.
The known waveguide transitions here have a rectangular cross section and generate at the point of the capacitive coupling-in of the maximum of the electric field components directed parallel to the waveguide narrow side.
Disadvantages of the solution of the known state of the art are the restriction in the arrangement height of the radiating elements in consequence of the uncompensated inductive constituents of the complex input impedance of the radiating element, as well as the necessity of generating the circular field polarization exclusively with the means of the double-path excitation, phase displaced and spatially orthogonally to one another, or of the deviation from the square or circular contour of the radiating element. Further disadvantageous for the case of coaxial couplings-in is the necessary of the galvanic connection of the coaxial inner conductor with the planar element to be excited.
The known solutions for the state of the art, furthermore, allow no possibility of correcting, by means of externally insertable mechanical adjustment elements, the spectral or the polarization behavior of the structured radiating element.

Receiver module for receiving extremely high frequency electromagnetic directional radiation fields

Dettling + Oberhausser Ingenieurgesellschaft


The present invention is directed to an arrangement for generating a variable illumination and irradiation for diagnosis and therapy, particularly for the human eye (1), and to a method for the application thereof. The object to be illuminated can be an artificial object or biological tissue. The arrangement for carrying out the illumination/irradiation of a human eye (1) comprises an illumination unit (2, 3), an optical imaging system (4), an evaluating unit, a central control unit (6) and an output unit (7). The illumination unit (2, 3) generates an illumination which is variable with respect to time and/or space and which is adapted to the diagnostic results. The solution according to the invention is provided chiefly for post-operative fine adjustment of the refractive power of photosensitive plastics already implanted in the eye (1). The latter can be optical lenses as well as other optical elements which are placed in a specific manner in the cornea. However, application of the invention for achieving dermatological effects is also conceivable.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an arrangement for generating a variable illumination and irradiation for diagnosis and therapy, particularly for the human eye, and to a method for the application thereof. The object illuminated by the variable illumination can be an artificial object or biological tissue. However, with respect to the eye, it is also possible to irradiate other parts of the eye besides the lens, such as the cornea, retina or fundus. In particular, the invention can be used for fine adjustment of photosensitive plastics introduced into the eye (according to WO 00/41650 and WO 01/71411). With plastics of this type, the irradiation excites polymerization processes that result in irreversible chemical changes in the substance. The index of refraction, geometric shape and/or transmission behavior for the visible useful radiation and the geometric shape of the plastic body can be changed in a defined manner by these processes. In this way, it is possible to improve defective vision.
b) Description of the Related Art
Patents WO 00/41650 and WO 01/71411 describe lenses, particularly intraocular lenses (IOL) in which polymerization of a polymer matrix contained in the lens is excited by irradiation and the index of refraction or the shape of the entire lens can be changed in this way. With implanted IOLs, the problem exists that in approximately 50% of patients an acceptable visual acuity can be achieved only through additional corrective measures such as eyeglasses or contact lenses. This is the result, in part, of errors in eye measurements, deviations in the positioning of the IOL and/or is due to the healing process. With the described IOLs, a correction of the IOL which is already implanted is made possible through directed irradiation by adapting to the actual conditions through changes in the index of refraction, the transmission characteristics or the optically active shape. The irradiation of the IOL for exciting the polymerization process is preferably effected by means of laser sources or lamps emitting a high UV component of the light. For this purpose, an He/Cd laser or an Xe/Hg lamp is used as the irradiation source. Illumination structures which may possibly be required are generally produced by means of mechanical diaphragms and/or filters.
However, there are disadvantages to arrangements of the kind described above in that the supply of patterns is limited by fixed diaphragms, there is no possibility of intensity distribution within the diaphragm patterns, and dynamic processes can be realized, at best, through manual switching and, therefore, hardly at all. Moreover, the generated illumination patterns can not be adapted to individual findings and are not adaptive or suitable for online regulation.
199 43 735 A1 describes a method and a device for directed irradiation of an eye by means of light from the UV-A and/or visible near infrared wavelength range. The irradiation brings about irreversible chemical changes in the eye lens substance which result in a change in the index of refraction and/or in the transmission characteristics for the visible useful radiation and which accordingly make it possible to improve defective vision. Successful treatment requires that the distribution of the refractive power of the eye being treated is determined over the most closely-knit, fullest area possible. The refractive power distribution desired after treatment and the data for the irradiation that are required for this purpose are determined from these values. Inevitably, however, the eyeball must usually be fixated for the duration of the treatment.
Patents WO 02/26121 and WO 02/31576 describe solutions for the irradiation of optical lenses or lens systems made from photosensitive plastics (according to WO 00/41650 and WO 01/71411) which are already implanted in the eye as intraocular lenses. In this solution, the irradiation patterns in question are determined by a computer program based on a wavefront analysis that is carried out beforehand. In addition to a diagnostic element for monitoring before, during and after irradiation, a surgical microscope is provided for additional visual observation. However, this solution has disadvantageous results in that there is only one fixating light for the patient. Experience has shown that it is difficult for the patient to concentrate on a stationary fixating light for the duration of treatment, so that movements of the eye can nevertheless occur.
DE 198 12 050 A1 describes a method and an arrangement for illumination in an ophthalmic microscope. A large variety of light mark geometries is generated by means of optoelectronic components and projected on the anterior portion or on the fundus of the eye. This solution is used for general examination of the eye. An arrangement for generating section images in transparent media is provided in DE 101 55 464.8, which has not yet been published. An ophthalmological examination device which enables a perimetric examination as well as a general eye examination has also not been published (DE 101 51 314.3). The solutions contained in both of these references likewise provide for the use of optoelectronic components for generating illumination marks and illumination patterns.

Arrangement and method for illuminating the lens of the human eye


The object of the present invention is to present an acoustooptical modulator without ripples in its wavelength loss characteristics. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention provides an acoustooptical body 8 having a piezoelectric vibrator supplying, for example, ultrasonic vibration, to modulate the incident optical signal, an acoustooptical medium rotated 90.degree. on the crystal axis of the acoustooptical medium upon which the optical signal emitted from acoustooptical medium is incident, and eliminates the polarization mode scattering caused the birefringence of both acoustooptical medium and acoustooptical medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an acoustooptical modulator, such as those used in optical measuring devices.
2. Background Art
An acoustooptical modulator adds a modulation signal to a piezoelectric element, and causes periodic oscillation in the refractive index within an optical medium by ultrasonic waves produced therein, modulating the beam.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the conventional technology for an acoustooptical modulator.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the optical signal propagated by an optical fiber 51 is focused by a lens 52 and is incident on the acoustooptical modulator 58.
The ultrasonic band frequency signal produced by the oscillator 53 is incident on the piezoelectric vibrator 54 installed on the acoustooptical medium 58, and the ultrasonic waves produced by this piezoelectric vibrator cause periodic oscillation of the refractive index of the acoustooptical medium 58.
At this point, the optical signal incident from the optical fiber 51 is separated into the transmitted beam and the primary diffracted beam due to a diffraction grating being formed in the acoustooptical medium 58.
The optical signal output from this acoustooptical modulator transits a prism 55, and after being focused by a lens 56, is emitted by the optical fiber 57.
By switching the signal output by the above described oscillator 53 on and off, the diffracted photons within the acoustooptical medium are generated and extinguished. Due to this, in addition to use as an optical modulator, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 realizes a mechanism for switching on and off an optical signal transiting between the optical fiber 51 and the optical fiber 57, and is widely used as, for example, a measuring device.
However, when using the acoustooptical modulator as a measuring device, loss due to the wavelength dependence of the acoustooptical modulator becomes a problem. FIG. 5 is a chart showing the wavelength-dependent characteristics of the loss of the acoustooptical modulator shown in FIG. 4.
As is apparent from FIG. 5, when the wavelength of the optical signal transiting within the acoustooptical modulator changes, ripple characteristics can be observed in the wavelength loss characteristics. This is believed to be due to polarization mode scattering produced by birefringence characteristics of the acoustooptical medium.
That is, when an optical signal having polarization mode scattering transiting the acoustooptical modulator enters the emitting optical fiber, inside optical fiber 57, interference due to the effects of mixing inside the optical fiber 57 is produced. In this case, the degree of interference changes depending on the wavelength of the optical signal.
Because of this, when the wavelength of the optical signal transiting inside the acoustooptical modulator changes, even if the power of the entering optical signal is constant, the power at the end of optical fiber 57 fluctuates. This is the ripple of the loss characteristics of the acoustooptical modulator.
The ripples having these loss characteristics become a significant problem when using this acoustooptical modulator as, for example, a measuring apparatus.


Disclosed is a simulated candle lamp, which includes a fixing bottom ring; a battery box installed in the fixing bottom ring; a control PCB installed on the side of the battery box; a transfer PCB installed on top of the battery box; a lower coil fixing member installed above the transfer PCB; a transmitter coil and a swing coil installed in the lower coil fixing member; a housing mounted at the upper end of the lower coil fixing member; an upper coil fixing member installed in the housing; a magnet and a receiver coil installed in the upper coil fixing member where the magnet is arranged above the swing coil, and the receiver coil is arranged above the transmitter coil; an LED fixture arranged above the upper coil fixing member; and an LED light-emitting diode mounted on the LED fixture.

Existing electronic candles on the market either have limited illumination and flicker capabilities, or may have full illumination capability but without flicker effect. In addition, the simulated flame flicker designs are all fixed modes set with a control program, and cannot provide the flickering sensation of an actual candle which burns unsteadily when it is disturbed by an airflow. As such, the eyes would be tired with the fixed flicker pattern, and cannot truly experience the flame visual effect of an actual burning candle.


A method and system for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention is disclosed. The method utilizes ultrasound energy which is targeted at a region of interest to treat existing acne and prevent future acne from forming. The application of ultrasound energy causes numerous physiological effects that treat acne. Some of these physiological effects comprise reducing sebum, increasing perfusion at the region of interest, denaturing proteins at the region of interest, creating an uninhabitable environment at the region of interest, initiating programmed cell death at the region of interest and the initiation of mechanical effects at the region of interest.

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease, causing temporary and permanent disfigurement. Acne typically appears on the face, back and/or chest at the onset of adrenarchy, i.e. when sex hormone activity increases in both boys and girls near puberty. Women often experience cycle-dependent acne. Acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are glands within the skin connected to a hair-containing canal called a follicle. The combination of the follicle and sebaceous gland is sometimes referred to as a "pilosebaceous unit." In healthy skin, the sebaceous glands produce sebum which flows out of the skin through the follicle. In diseased skin, the follicle becomes plugged with dead skin cells.
Sebum, an oily product of the sebaceous gland and cellular debris build up in the plug. Inflammation and often rupture of the hair follicles ensues, leading to gross inflammation, pus (a "whitehead"), pain, bleeding, and/or eventual scarring. If the acne lesion consists of an accumulated unruptured plug within a hair follicle, a "blackhead" forms. If the follicle ruptures superficially, a small pustule forms that often heals after a few weeks without scarring. If the follicle ruptures within the mid or deep dermis, a painful cystic abscess forms. Cystic acne usually heals with permanent and disfiguring scars.
The exact pathophysiology of acne is complex; however, several basic elements are necessary to produce an acne lesion, and acne therapies are based on attacking one or more of these basic elements. First, an active sebaceous gland is necessary. Sebaceous gland activity is driven by androgen and other sex steroid hormones. Second, a plug must form in the outflow tract of the follicle, called the infundibulum.
Bacteria, particularly Proprionobacteria acnes (P acnes) that digest sebum and follicular debris, contribute to plugging. Besides P acnes, numerous other strains of bacteria and other microorganisms reside within a patient's skin and contribute to the plugging. Further, tiny microorganisms besides bacteria also are typically found to reside in a patient's skin and can exacerbate acne.
The most potent treatments for acne are oral retinoids such as retinoic acid (Accutane®), which inhibit sebaceous gland function. While effective, oral retinoids such as the Accutane® drug have serious side-effects that prevent certain patients from using them. Most notably, these drugs can cause serious birth defects which prevents women of child-bearing years from using these treatments.
Many topical treatments including creams, gels, and various cleansing pads have been used to treat acne. These treatments include both over-the-counter treatments and those available only by prescription such as the Retin A® drug that is applied as a cream to the patient's body. The major drawback of topical treatments is that the creams or other substances are used up and must be constantly replaced.
Other methods and systems use various devices to treat acne which eliminates the problems of topical treatments in that devices are not used up and do not need constant replacement. Some devices pass heat through acne diseased skin or heat the surface of the skin. One such device is the Zeno™ device produced by Tyrell, Inc. of Houston, Tex. Unfortunately, these devices are not very effective, are not comfortable to use, and they cannot treat severe acne. One reason that these devices are not very effective is that they apply heat to the surface of the skin only, requiring the heat to travel down to the sebaceous gland to have any effect. It would be desirable to provide a method and system for heating the sebaceous gland directly and the area surrounding the sebaceous gland without applying unneeded heat to the patient's skin away from the sebaceous gland.
Yet other methods and systems treat acne by delivering energy to the acne diseased skin at levels that are strong enough to damage or destroy the tissue. Other techniques affect tissue by causing coagulation of the tissue, which is also effective.
Unfortunately, ablative and coagulative acne treatment methods have their drawbacks. Specifically, because they utilize enough energy to destroy or coagulate tissue, ablation and coagulation devices and techniques are generally not available over the counter for the general public's use. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a treatment system that is suitable for home use that can effectively treat all forms of acne, including severe acne.
It would also be advantageous to have a system and method whose use can prevent acne and/or reduce the amount of sebum production before acne flares up, or to simply to reduce skin oiliness.

Method and sysem for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention


Mattress borders are manufactured by advancing and severing a strip of border maerial into first relatively short lengths of the border material for forming handles, and second relatively longer lengths of the border material for forming mattress borders, folding and hemming the relatively short lengths to form tubular handles, temporarily storing the formed handles out of the path of advance of the strip of border material, aligning formed handles so that their tubular axes extend laterally across the longer lengths of material at desired handle positions, and serging ends of the handles to edges of the longer lengths of material to form mattress borders with handles. The invention also extends to apparatus for performing this method. The disclosed method and apparatus enable mattress borders complete with handles to be formed from a single strip of material

Automated machines been used for decades to measure and cut mattress borders to length. Cord handle grommets and backbars have been automatically installed in advance of a measuring drive on many machines. Other machines have finished border edges by using drive rollers to pull border material through sergers. Fabric handles; have been made manually from separate material stock and attached to borders.

Mattress border production method and apparatus


A gas purging valve is operative to be connected to piping in a Fire Protection System (FPS) and to bleed gas at a predetermined rate. The valve includes an inlet in gas flow relationship with the FPS piping and a central passage in gas flow relationship with the inlet. The valve also includes a calibrated orifice removeably disposed in the central passage, in gas flow relationship with the passage and operative to allow a maximum predetermined gas flow rate therethrough. The valve further includes an outlet in gas flow relationship with the calibrated orifice. A ball is disposed upstream of the central passage. The ball is operative to allow gas flow through the gas purging valve but operative to impede the flow of water through the gas purging valve.

Fire sprinkler systems are a well-known type of active fire suppression system. Sprinklers are installed in all types of buildings, commercial and residential, and are generally required by fire and building codes for buildings open to the public. Typical sprinkler systems comprise a network of pipes, usually located at ceiling level, that are connected to a reliable water source. Sprinkler heads are disposed along the pipes at regular intervals. Each sprinkler head includes a fusible element, or a frangible glass bulb, that is heat-sensitive and designed to fail at a predetermined temperature. Failure of the fusible element or glass bulb opens an orifice, allowing water to flow through the head, where it is directed by a deflector into a predetermined spray pattern. Sprinkler systems may suppress a fire, or inhibit its growth, thereby saving lives and limiting inventory loss and structural damage. Sprinkler specifications are published by the National Fire Protection Association (e.g., NFPA 13, 13D, 13R).
The sprinkler system (more generally, Fire Protection System, or FPS) is fed from a pump room or riser room. In a large building the FPS consist of several "zones," each being fed from a riser in the pump room. The riser contains the main isolation valve and other monitoring equipment (e.g., flow switches, alarm sensors, and the like). The riser is typically a 6 or 8 inch diameter pipe coupled through a booster pump (called the fire pump) to the main water supply to the building. The riser then progressively branches off into smaller "cross mains" and branch lines, also known as "zones". At the furthest point from the riser, typically at the end of each zone, there is an "inspector's test port," which is used for flow testing.
Many FPS are "wet" systems—meaning the sprinkler pipes in each room are full of water under a predetermined "internal set point" pressure. If the water pressure decreases below the set point, valves are opened and/or a pump is activated, and water flows into the sprinkler pipes in an attempt to maintain the pressure. The set point pressure drops when water escapes the system, such as due to the opening of a sprinkler head in a fire. However, the system may also be activated by a broken sprinkler head, or leaks in the system, such as leaks caused by corrosion of the pipes.
Due to the possibility of water discharge in other than actual fire conditions, a wet FPS present an unacceptable risk to sensitive equipment or merchandise in many applications. For example, a data center that houses expensive, mission-critical computing or telecommunications equipment; a semiconductor manufacturing facility; and a warehouse storing high-value, non-waterproof merchandise, are examples of facilities in which a wet FPS would be unacceptable. Also, areas subject to freezing temperatures cannot utilize wet FPS.
To address the need for FPS in areas where a wet FPS is not acceptable, alternatives to the wet FPS have been developed. These are of two general categories. Dry FPS are typically used in areas that are subject to freezing temperatures, where a water-filled system is not practical (e.g., parking garages, non-heated attics of motels and nursing homes, and the like). A dry FPS uses compressed air in the piping as a "supervisory gas." The air is maintained at a supervisory pressure, e.g., approximately 20 PSI. When a sprinkler head opens, the air pressure drops to atmospheric (e.g., 0 PSI), and a valve opens in response to the lower pressure. The valve locks in the open position and water rushes into the system. Dry FPS address the freezing problem, but present the same hazards of loss or damage to expensive equipment or merchandise as wet FPS, if the dry FPS is activated due to sprinkler head damage or failure, or a leak such as from corroded pipes.
Pre-Action FPS, also called a double interlock dry FPS, protects against water damage by increasing the probability that the system is only activated by an actual fire. A pre-action FPS operates similarly to a dry FPS; however, two or more action signals are required before water is injected into the system. A drop in supervisory air pressure alone will not activate the water isolation valve unless a second signal, such as a heat or smoke detector signal, is received by the control panel. At that point the isolation valve will open and water will rush into the zones with the aid of a booster pump called the fire pump.
Both dry and pre-action FPS must be hydro-tested after initial installation to make sure that the piping and hangers can support the additional weight of the water, and to make sure that the flow rate of water through the system conforms to applicable specifications (e.g., the NFPA 13 standard). Once it has passed all the tests, the system is drained and then filled with compressed air (supervisory gas). However, the FPS pipes never drain completely, and the residual water that remains creates ideal conditions for the initiation and propagation of corrosion in the piping either by means of galvanic or organic induced corrosion. Sometimes, microbes can grow in the water and accelerate the corrosion by means of the byproducts that they produce during their metabolic cycle. This is called Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC). Over time, MIC or galvanic corrosion can cause extensive damage to an FPS, as corrosion-induced leaks cause loss of supervisory gas, either arming (pre-action FPS) or activating (dry FPS) the system. Compressed air is used to maintain the supervisory pressure in both Dry and Pre-Action FPS, and this compressed air provides the oxygen that induces the galvanic corrosion and/or MIC, when the FPS is laden with residual water after draining from the hydrotesting.
Most real-world dry and pre-action FPS leak pressure. The allowable leak rate 1 PSI per 24 hours, per NFPA specifications. Conformance with this leak rate is tested following the hydro-testing, and if it is in compliance, the FPS is certified. From that point on, the supervisory gas leak rate only increases over time, due to dried out pipe coupler gaskets, fitting compounds (i.e., "pipe dope") drying out, and the like. In practice, most building owners are not concerned about the increased in leak rate until the air compressor providing the supervisory gas begins to cycle excessively to maintain the supervisory pressure. Eventually, it cannot maintain the required pressure, and the FPS will trigger an alarm, requiring that the leaks be found and sealed, or that a larger compressor be installed.

Gas purging valve for fire protection system


Disclosed herein is an engine mounting structure for reducing vibration. In particular, an engine having a mass is mounted to a damper pulley or a drive plate thereof to form an outer balancer. A roll mount is positioned on a virtual yaw axis after the virtual yaw axis is set in the engine, and an engine mount is mounted to one end of a virtual torque roll axis after the virtual torque roll axis is set in the engine. Furthermore, a transmission mount is mounted to the other end of the virtual torque roll axis. Therefore, the mounts are mounted to the engine to reduce vibration at the time of idle vibration, thereby making it possible to improve NHV performance of a vehicle and increase salability and driving convenience of a driver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine mounting structure for reducing vibration, and more particularly, to an engine mounting structure for reducing vibration during idle vibrations via the engine mounts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With an increase in a demand for compact vehicles, the size of an engine has become smaller and as such vehicles in which a 3-cylinder engine is mounted therein have become increasingly popular. However, currently, 3-cylinder engines have some drawbacks compared to a typical 4-cylinder engine due to the amount of vibration they produce. In connection with this, the greatest weakness in view of noise vibration harness (NVH) of the 3-cylinder engine is idle vibration, which is caused by exciting force by pitch and yaw moments corresponding to vibration components of the engine as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
Generally, in most of the 3-cylinder engines, since the pitch and yaw moments are coupled to each other by 50%, an engine mount needs to be designed differently to cope with the above-mentioned additional exciting force in addition to a roll moment, which is an existing main vibration component.
Although some engine mounts for reducing vibration and noise generated by the engine have been developed, a significant amount of vibration is still generated in yaw and roll moments at the time of idle vibration to deteriorate NVH performance of the vehicle, such that salability and driving performance of the vehicle is also deteriorated as a result of the vehicles lack-luster NVH performance.

Engine mounting structure for reducing vibration


A transmitter formed of two or more light-emitting sections such as LEDs, which are physically arranged in a predetermined manner, is disposed in the real world object, and each light-emitting section transmits data by flashing at a flashing pattern representing the transmission data of a predetermined bit length. A receiver, on the other hand, includes a photoreceiving section formed from a two-dimensional photoreceiving surface, decodes the transmission data on the basis of the photoreceived flashing pattern, and recognizes the spatial information of an object on the basis of the flashing position on the two-dimensional photoreceiving surface. Therefore, information, such as an ID, can be obtained from the object in the real world, and also, the spatial position of the object can be recognized at the same time.

In current, highly advanced information processing technology and information communication technology, information devices, including personal computers and portable information terminals, have been ubiquitous in the real world, such as in offices and households. In such environments, it is expected that "ubiquitous computing", where devices are connected with one another and desired information is obtained anytime and anywhere, and augmented reality (AR) systems, where circumstances in the real world (things in the real world, the position of a user, etc.) are actively used, will be realized.
The concept of ubiquitous computing is that, no matter where a person is, the available computer environment remains the same. That is, since ubiquitous computing means "anytime and anywhere", the ultimate ubiquitous computing does not necessarily require information terminals, such as computers, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), or cellular phones.
According to augmented reality systems, it is possible to provide services using real-world information such as the position of the user. In this case, simply by carrying a portable terminal, the system is able to assist every aspect of the user's daily life by using the huge amount of information available on networks by presenting information corresponding to things in the real world in the neighborhood of the user and within the field of view of the user. For example, when the user visits a record store in a shopping mall, by holding up a portable terminal with a camera, recommended newly released records are displayed on the terminal. Furthermore, when the user looks at a signboard of a restaurant, impressions of the dishes are displayed.
When a computer or a peripheral device (i.e., a target such as a user terminal) to which data is transferred over a network is to be specified or when information such as the position of the user and information related to a real-world object is to be obtained, even if the other party is immediately in front, it is necessary to know his/her name (or the ID unique to the device, the network address, the host name, and the resource identifier such as the URL/URI). That is, from the point of view of user operation, computers are coordinated only in an indirect way, and therefore, the user operation somewhat lacks intuitiveness.
As a technique for transferring user identification information and obtaining real-world circumstances, such as the position of the user, while omitting such complicated procedures, techniques using real-world computing, such as visual codes such as "cybercodes" and RF tags, have been proposed. According to these techniques, there is no need for the user to consciously access the network, and instead, the user can obtain information related to an object from the ID of the object, which is gathered automatically.
Here, a "cybercode" is a two-dimensional bar code in a mosaic form, and identification information can be provided by representing each cell by a binary white or black level within a code pattern display area in which cells are arranged in an n×m (e.g., 7×7) matrix. The cybercode recognition procedure includes a step of binarizing a captured image, a step of finding a candidate of a guide bar from within the binary image, a step of searching for a corner cell on the basis of the position and the direction of the guide bar, and a step of decoding the image bit-map pattern in response to the detection of the guide bar and the corner cell.
For example, functions of applications, etc., the device ID, the network address, the host name, the URL, and other object-related information are registered in the cybercode in advance. Then, in response to the recognition of the cybercode from the image taken by a camera, the computer is able to execute a registered application (for example, "activating mail"), to search for the network address of the other party on the basis of the recognized ID in order to automatically make a connection, and to access resources on the basis of the recognized URL.
An RF tag is a device containing unique identification information and a readable/writable storage area. The RF tag has operation characteristics such that radio waves corresponding to the identification information and the stored information are transmitted in response to the reception of radio waves of a specific frequency, and the reading device can read the identification information of a wireless tag and the information stored in the storage area. Therefore, by setting the device ID, the network address, and the host name as the identification information of the wireless tag and by writing the URL and other object-related information in advance in the storage area, the system is able to execute a registered application (for example, "activating mail"), to search for the network address of the other party on the basis of the recognized ID in order to automatically make a connection, and to access resources on the basis of the recognized URL.
However, in a case where visible identification information, such as a visual code, is used, the size of the code varies according to distance. That is, since, the size of the code becomes small as the distance to the object increases, in order to recognize a distant object, a code having a large pattern needs to be formed. In other words, the information transmission technique based on this technique lacks robustness with respect to distance. For example, in order to recognize a building which is far away, it would be necessary to attach a huge code on the building, and this is not practical.
In the case of the RF tag, it is necessary for the user to direct the RF tag to a tag reading device or to bring the RF tag into contact therewith. That is, only an object at a very short distance can be recognized, and distant objects cannot be recognized.
Examples of a simple system for transmitting data and commands include an infrared remote controller. In this case, since the receiver is generally formed of a single pixel, only the existence of transmission data from a transmitter can be determined, the photoreceived signal has no spatial resolution, and the direction in which the transmitter exists cannot be detected. Furthermore, since the single pixel receives noise and data in a mixed manner, the separation of noise and data is difficult, and a frequency filter and a wavelength filter become necessary.
Furthermore, in order to detect the position of an object, a GPS (Global Positioning System) may be used. However, in this case, since only positional information, composed of the latitude and the longitude, can be obtained, in order to determine the azimuth, another means must be included. Furthermore, since it is necessary to receive radio waves from a satellite, it is difficult to use it in cities and indoors. Furthermore, it is not possible to deal with a case in which the position of the user differs from the position of the object at which information is linked, as in the case where a building is specified from a distant location.
In addition, in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-208511, a configuration is described in which a light-emitting section for measuring position and a light-emitting section for transmitting data are made to emit light at different wavelengths so as to perform communication. In Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-59706, a configuration is described in which the position of a light-emitting source which emits light in synchronization with a synchronization signal is measured. However, in the configurations of these related arts, synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver and the wavelength division of the transmitter are necessary, and simplification of the system configuration, reduction in size, and reduction in power consumption are limited.

Data communication system, data transmitter and data receiver


A coupling device for driving an engraved cylinder of a printing device. The coupling device comprises a single part of chromium, nickel and molybdenum alloyed steel having undergone core hardening. The coupling device includes a central cylindrical portions, first and second flanges at the respective first and second ends of the cylindrical portion, each flange having a side portion operable to distort under stress and act as a membrane. The ratio of the difference between the diameter and the flange and the diameter of the central portion divided by the average thickness of the side portion of the flange is between 7 and 15.

The present invention concerns a coupling device for driving a printing device cylinder.
Gravure printing is used particularly for high quality publishing or large print-runs in which the graphics should play a leading role to promote a product. This printing process allows, in one run, to print up to ten colors with solvent, water or other inks; to print matte, glossy or structured varnishes; to print face and/or back and to emboss.
Gravure printing is a rotary printing process used for several supports including paper or cardboard, using engraved cylinders as a printing form. In a gravure machine or printing line, a web support to be printed goes successively through printing units, wherein each printing unit carries out printing of one typical color, or varnish or the embossing.

Coupling device for the driving of a printing device cylinder


In an image source for multimedia applications such as networked computer games, a graphics engine (16) generates pixel images one line at a time using a scan-line algorithm and supplies the generated scan lines to an encoder (18) where they are buffered. The encoder codes the buffered pixel data as macroblocks of, for example 16.times.16 pixels according to MPEG or similar standards. When the graphics engine has sent sufficient scan lines for a first macroblock to the encoder, it sends a signal (FLAG) on receipt of which the encoder begins coding the pixel data as a macroblock in a line of macroblocks whilst continuing to receive scan lines from the graphics engine (16). To increase encoder efficiency, the graphics engine specifies to the encoder global (GMV) and macroblock (BMV) motion vectors for substantially all or selected ones of the macroblocks of an image respectively. Completed coded macroblock lines may be sent to a remote user over a data network, with user commands for modifing the composition of subsequent image frames being received on a back-channel (26) of the network.

The present invention relates to the manipulation and coding of video images and particularly, but not exclusively, to the interactive manipulation and predictive coding of computer graphics images for transmission over a network to one or more remote users.
A particular problem with real time image manipulation in multimedia applications such as a network system, where user commands are sent over the network from a terminal to a remote server and images modified in response to those commands are sent back over the network to the user, is the round trip loop delay.
In current MPEG systems the minimum delay in a decoder is around 80 ms (40 ms minimum buffer delay and around 40 ms decoding time) and operation at this extreme produces low quality pictures, assuming a network interface transfer rate of around 1.5 Mb/s. With higher speeds the quality may be restored or the latency may be reduced, by reducing the buffer delay, but the higher speed capability would produce penalties in terms of the cost and complexity of the equipment required. The commensurate figure for the encoder is around 60 ms, of which around 20 ms is the time to grab one field and 40 ms is the encoding time. Again, at this extreme, the quality would be poor. The delay attributable to the network back channel, passing control messages from user to server, is about 15 ms, typically. Given standard MPEG operation, with 1.5 Mb/s digital video transmission rate and accepting minimal quality presentation, the minimum round trip delay in a remote game, or any other networked Video-on-Demand (VoD) type of application, is about 160 ms.
Typical human reaction time is of the order of 80 ms, and a system (whether communicating over a network or directly connected) that responds more slowly than this will appear sluggish to a user. Whilst, in some applications, the remote user can become accustomed to the delay due to system latency and compensate for it, applications requiring rapid user reaction will inevitably suffer. As an example in terms of directly connected systems, the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority has a limit of 150 ms permitted latency in commercial flight simulators.


Described herein is a buffer concentration for highly efficient ligation of two oligonucleotides. The embodiments herein have led to the development of an optimized ligation step used in the sample preparation for sequencing reactions. Further, embodiments herein describe a high-throughput method for sequencing using barcodes or the purpose of multiplexing several samples simultaneously and novel methods for making targeted DNA libraries for re-sequencing on massively parallel next-generation sequencing platforms and for alternatives to gel-purification for recovering the desired templates from small RNA libraries for next generation sequencing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to novel methods and compounds for ligation and barcoding oligonucleotide sequences. The invention also relates to novel methods for making targeted DNA libraries for re-sequencing on massively parallel next-generation sequencing platforms and for alternatives to gel-purification for recovering the desired templates from small RNA libraries for next generation sequencing.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Typically 15-45 nucleotides in length, small RNAs play important roles in the genome. Small non coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been classified as microRNA (miRNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA) and piwi RNA (piRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) and long ncRNAs. Most of the ncRNAs in the genome have yet to be discovered and validated for function. Evidence has shown that many of these ncRNAs play key roles in processes such as cellular differentiation, cell death, and cell metabolism. Several groups have reported on method for cloning miRNAs from primary RNA sources (Berezikov et al. (2006) Nature Genetics 38:S2; Cummins et al. (2006) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 103: 3687: Elbashir et al. (2001) Genes and Development 15:188; Lau et al. (2001) Science 294:858; Pfeffer et al. (2003) Curr Protocols Mol Bio 26.4.1. In order for small RNAs to be isolated and sequenced, a series of ligation steps, reverse transcription, followed by amplification must take place in order for material to be sequenced on a sequencing instrument. One of the most critical steps in this type of small RNA sequencing is the ligation step. Using an enhanced ligation buffer solution and a longer time period of incubation, this portion of the cloning/sequencing step is significantly optimized resulting in an increase of small RNA material being ligated compared to other methods.
In order for high throughput large scale comparative genome discovery to occur, multiplexing using barcodes are prerequisite tools. Barcoded AIR™ Adapters provide flexibility in high-throughput sequencing applications. They enable the user to detect rare sample events amongst hundreds of samples, across several time points and even multiple genomes. Barcodes are chosen based on uniform melting temperature (Tm) and sequences that have unique color space. Once attached to sample, they may be pooled together and sequenced in a single flow cell run. Analysis post run allows the user to identify the sequence barcode back to specific samples. AIR™ barcoding significantly increases scale and throughput while reducing costs by allowing the user to pool multiple library preparations into a single sequencing reaction.
T4 RNA ligase 2 truncated comes from a family of RNA ligases that are defined by essential signature residues in the C-terminal domain. Mutational analysis of RNA Ligase 2 has identified several amino acids that are essential for strand joining (Ho and Shuman (2002); Yin et al. (2003), the truncated version of which compromises an autonomous adenylyltransferase/AppRNA ligase domain (Ho et al. (2004) Cell 12:327. Optimum pH conditions of the adenylyltransferase activity of full length RNA Ligase 2 and truncated RNA Ligase 2 (pH 6.5 and pH 9-9.5 respectively) are prior art described in Ho et al. (2004) Cell 12:327.
Targeted re-sequencing of selected regions of genomic DNA is used in the context of massively parallel next-generation sequencing, to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost for sequencing regions of higher interest, as opposed to sequencing entire genomes. Targeted sequencing allows high-interest regions to be interrogated from mixtures of multiple samples, by including sample-specific molecular barcode/index sequences on PCR primers used to prepare the samples. Examples of targeted re-sequencing include sequencing of candidate genes thought to be related to specific pathological conditions, in large panels of affected and non-affected individuals, in order to identify putative causative mutations; re-sequencing of the −1% of the human genome that encodes proteins (the so-called "exome"); and re-sequencing of large panels of viral DNA genomes to identify sequence differences associated with virulence.
Methods to select DNA for targeted re-sequencing typically involve either selective amplification of target regions by PCR, or hybridization-based capture of fragmented genomes using capture oligonucleotides, to physically separate fragments containing the target sequence. A modification of hybridization capture uses biotinylated RNA as the capture moiety. Hybridization-based approaches can be carried out where the hybridization is done either in solution, followed by recovery of the capture oligonucleotide along with the targeted sequence, or alternatively, where the hybridization step is carried out with the capture sequence immobilized, for example on a microarray.
Current methods for targeted sequencing generally result in only about 40%-60% of the obtained sequence actually comprising the targeted regions. Another limitation is that methods that rely on PCR are prone to propagation of Taq polymerase errors introduced at early cycles into the targeted library, leading to difficulty in distinguishing Taq errors from true genetic polymorphisms; methods to ameliorate this problem include limiting the number of PCR cycles (which compromises yield of targeted sequences) and applying bioinformatic algorithms such as "de-duplication" to eliminate multiple sequence reads derived from the same amplicon from the analysis. Another limitation of current methods is the need in some cases to re-amplify, re-fragment and re-concatenate the targeted libraries, in order to introduce sequences needed for attaching the targeted regions to flow-cells of sequencing instruments, and/or to allow internal regions of the targeted regions to be accessible for sequencing on short-read instruments. This invention describes a novel method to prepare samples for targeted sequencing that can overcome the limitations described above.
Recent methods for "next generation sequencing" (also called "deep sequencing") have provided an alternative to microarrays for global sequencing of various types of nucleic acids, including so-called "small RNAs", which include microRNAs, snoRNAs, piRNAs, and endogenous siRNAs. Advantages of next-gen approaches include higher sensitivity for detecting low-abundance RNAs, opportunities to discover new small RNAs, and ability to use multiplex approaches to allow multiple samples to be assessed in a single experiment. Preparation of samples for next-gen sequencing of small RNAs generally involves an initial step of extracting total RNA, usually followed by an enrichment step to eliminate large RNAs greater than ˜100 bases, and sometimes an additional fractionation step to recover only RNAs in the size-range of microRNAs (˜20-30 bases). With the RNA in hand, the next step is to add common oligonucleotide sequences ("linkers") to the 5′ and 3′ ends of the RNA population, in order to provide binding sites for Forward and Reverse PCR primers, so that the RNA population can be amplified and modified to include sequences complementary to capture oligonucleotides ("adapters") used by the sequencing instrument to capture the RNA templates into flow cells or onto slides as appropriate for the sequencing platform to be utilized. Two purification steps using high-resolution polyacrylamide gels are typically carried out during the linker addition steps used to create the small RNA library. The first gel purification step is used to recover RNAs after ligation of the first linker, which is usually the 3′ linker, and the second gel purification step is used to recover the final product, after ligation of the second linker (i.e. the 5′ linker). Gel purification is needed to remove components of the ligation reaction buffers and unwanted side products that could interfere with the subsequent steps, including PCR amplification of the small RNA library and the sequencing reaction itself. Examples of unwanted side products are 5′/3′ linkers that are ligated to each other without an intervening target RNA, and target RNAs to which only a single linker has been added. Gel purification is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process that can lead to loss of material. Gel purification is especially problematic in the context of small RNA library construction, since the target molecules are too small (typically in the size range of ˜60-100 bases) to be easily stained, resolved, and visualized on polyacrylamide gels. It would be desirable to develop methods that eliminate the requirement for gel purification during small RNA library construction. This disclosure describes an approach to accomplish that goal.

Oligonucleotide ligation methods for improving data quality and throughput using massively parallel sequencing