A footwear accessory device, having a frame assembly with a top face and a bottom face. The top face has first fastening means and the bottom face has a spring member with a spring force. Protruding from the frame assembly are first and second tabs and hinge arms. An actuating arm is hingedly mounted onto the frame assembly. The actuating arm further comprises longitudinal members, at least one transversal member, and locking members. The locking members receive their respective first and second tabs when the first and second tabs are biased towards their respective locking members, thus overcoming the spring force when a shoelace knot is positioned between the spring member and the actuating arm to cover a shoelace to prevent the loosening or untying of the tied shoelace knot. At least one interchangeable assembly has second fastening means that secures onto the first fastening means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparel, and more particularly, to accessory devices for footwear having shoelaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Applicant believes that one of the closest references corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20050125972 A1, published on Jun. 16, 2005 to Gibson for a lace-trapping device. However, it differs from the present invention because Gibson teaches a lace-trapping device that comprises a strip of material that has a closure means. It is either attachable to the laces of a piece of footwear or built into the footwear at a point well below the top of the laces where they are tied so the device does not interfere with tying the laces. It is capable of closing over the lace ends after the laces are tied. Laces are threaded through a hole in the flexible material and then through the footwear eyelets at the low point of the laces. Hook and loop fasteners on overlapping strips, or flexible interlocking tensioned arms, two overlapping parts of a tension ring with mating teeth, or a pronged snap fastener secure the device to lock in the tied ends of the lacing.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20020083620 A1, published on Jul. 4, 2002 to Tsujino for a shoelace cover. However, it differs from the present invention because Tsujino teaches a shoelace cover for use with an athletic shoe for covering the shoelaces to prevent the loosening or untying of a tied shoelace bow, particularly applicable to wrestling shoes wherein the physical contact between wrestlers often causes the wrestling shoes to become untied. The shoelace cover generally includes a length of material with ends that can be interconnected to form an adjustable cuff for extending about one's ankle. A front portion includes apertures for shoelaces to extend through the cover. Preferably, the shoelaces extend from the shoe to pass through the apertures of the cover and then back to the shoe to secure the cover to the shoe. The front portion includes a pocket on a backside. The shoelaces can be tied into a shoelace bow, tucked into the pocket, and the ends of the cuff can be secured about one's ankle to retain the shoelace within the pocket under the cover.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,724 B1 issued to Perrler on Nov. 4, 2008 for a lace securing apparatus. However, it differs from the present invention because Perrler teaches a lace gripper having an upper body and a lower body that may be joined together whereby a tied lace is secured between the two bodies. Preferable the upper body is designed to receive inserts, keys, charms, lights, recording devices, alarm and locating audible signals and locating devices, to allow the user to customize the lace gripper to their personal preference. The lace gripper can additionally be utilized to maintain a memo and would be secured to an object of daily use, such as a key ring or purse. Artwork for an image for the insert can be created by using software with a preset outline of the insert. Such software can be provided in softcopy or accessible via the Internet.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,242 B1 issued to Perrler on Jul. 29, 2008 for lace securing apparatus. However, it differs from the present invention because Perrler teaches a lace gripper comprising an upper body and a lower body that may be joined together whereby a tied lace is secured between the two bodies. Preferable the upper body is designed to receive inserts, charms, lights, recording devices, alarm and locating audible signals and locating devices, to allow the user to customize the lace gripper to their personal preference. The lace gripper can additionally be utilized to maintain a memo and would be secured to an object of daily use, such as a key ring or purse.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,347 B2, issued to Tobias on Jul. 3, 2007 for plush toy for mounting on a shoe. However, it differs from the present invention because Tobias teaches a plush toy and methods for associating the plush toy with a shoe having at least one shoe strap with hooks and loops on an interior surface of the shoe strap. To associate the plush toy with the shoe, the shoe strap is threaded through an entrance and an exit of the plush toy. Next, hooks and loops of the shoe strap are engaged to attach the plush toy to the shoe. If there is a second shoe strap, the second shoe strap is threaded through a second entrance and a second exit of the plush toy to attach the plush toy to the shoe.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,649 B1, issued to Tobias on Apr. 15, 2003 for plush toy for mounting on a shoe. However, it differs from the present invention because Tobias teaches a plush toy capable of being detachably mounted on a shoe having a shoelace. The plush toy comprises a body having top and bottom sides and front and back ends and at least one mechanism for detachably mounting the body on the shoe without unlacing the shoelace. Preferably the body comprises at least one hole extending through the body for insertion of a shoelace. A young child can easily and quickly decorate his shoe with the plush toy.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,616 B2, issued to Hull on Oct. 10, 2006 for footwear and other foot-receiving devices including a removable closure system cover member. However, it differs from the present invention because Hull teaches foot-receiving devices, such as athletic or other footwear, that may be modified to provide different aesthetic looks. Such foot-receiving devices may include: a housing member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber; a closure system for at least partially holding the foot in the chamber; a tongue member located between at least a portion of the closure system and the foot, the tongue member including a first engagement element; and a cover member for at least partially covering the closure system, the cover member including a second engagement element that engages with the first engagement element to removably engage the cover member with the tongue member. The user can freely engage or disengage the cover member to change the aesthetic appearance of the device, e.g., depending on personal preference.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,323 B2, issued to Tsujino, et al. on Aug. 5, 2003 for shoelace cover. However, it differs from the present invention because Tsujino, et al. teaches a shoelace cover for use with an athletic shoe for covering the shoelaces to prevent the loosening or untying of a tied shoelace bow, particularly applicable to wrestling shoes wherein the physical contact between wrestlers often causes the wrestling shoes to become untied. The shoelace cover generally includes a length of material with ends that can be interconnected to form an adjustable cuff for extending about one's ankle. A front portion includes apertures for shoelaces to extend through the cover. Preferably, the shoelaces extend from the shoe to pass through the apertures of the cover and then back to the shoe to secure the cover to the shoe. The front portion includes a pocket on a backside. The shoelaces can be tied into a shoelace bow, tucked into the pocket, and the ends of the cuff can be secured about one's ankle to retain the shoelace within the pocket under the cover.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,483 B1, issued to Polk on Jun. 22, 1999 for shoelace and tied knot-securing apparatus. However, it differs from the present invention because Polk teaches a shoelace securing device in the form of an elongated strip of material with enlarged circular end portions that overlap upon assembly to cover the knot of a user's shoelaces. A rear side of the strip is completely covered with hook material to aid in gripping both the knot and adjacent shoelace material. The front surface has a loop patch at one end, the remainder of the front surface carrying an artistic design, other indicia, or logo. In one embodiment, the device includes two connectable, foldable strips of material. In each embodiment, a smooth surface is presented that can carry artwork, a slogan, words, a logo, or the like.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,220 B1, issued to Erny, et al. on Jan. 12, 1999 for a strap logo. However, it differs from the present invention because Erny, et al. teaches a strap logo for a user to apply to the strap of a bag, cap, to shoestrings, or other articles having a linearly extended member comprises a logo face rotably attached to arms which encircle the strap and are, in turn, attached to each other by complementary hook and loop fastening means. As constructed, the strap logo may be temporarily attached to a variety of straps and removed at the user's option.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,500 B1, issued to Illingworth on Jul. 14, 1998 for a knot-securing device. However, it differs from the present invention because Illingworth teaches a knot securing device of particular benefit in securing shoelace knots made from a flexible material with a region having hook elements, a region having loop elements and a pair of apertures in the flexible material for allowing the open ends of a shoelace to pass through from one surface of the material to the opposite surface of the material, wherein the shoelace is then tied in a knot and the regions with the hook and loop elements are brought into contact to form a secure, but releasable, lock around the knot.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,517 B1, issued to Gourley on Sep. 30, 1997 for Shoe lace safety guard. However, it differs from the present invention because Gourley teaches a device to cover and retain shoelaces to prevent inadvertent snagging or other interference with the laces when wearing shoes. An inner fastener element is attached by a tab to the shoelace at the furthest lace away from the point at which the laces are tied. The shoelaces are then tied by a bow over the inner fastener element. An outer fastener element attached at a fold is then folded over onto the inner fastener element and retained by a hook and loop material to cover and retain the laces. The outer fastener element may have hook and loop material to allow attachment of emblems, reflectors and other objects.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,342 B2, issued to D'Andrade, et al. on Jul. 22, 1997 for a decorative device for attachment to and securing of shoelaces. However, it differs from the present invention because D'Andrade, et al. teaches a device for securing shoelaces includes a base, a cover and an attachment mechanism for hingedly connecting the base and cover. The base has at least a bottom, a front and a back. The bottom has side cutouts adapted to allow a shoelace to pass therethrough. A pair of opposing slits extends from the side cutouts towards the center, but do not overlap. The opposing slits are formed so that the shoelace may pass easily from the side cutouts to the opposing slits. Each slit is sized and shaped such that it frictionally engages the shoelaces when they are pulled through it. In a further embodiment, it has a support structure, which can be attached to the footwear and then coupled with the base. In this embodiment, the base and support have complementary attachment mechanisms.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,477 B1, issued to Mathis, et al. on Oct. 22, 1996 for a removable shoelace cover for a shoe. However, it differs from the present invention because Mathis, et al. teaches a shoelace cover incorporating an interchangeable fashion panel for covering the shoelaces of a gym shoe. The shoelace cover is secured to the shoe by a number of straps threaded through slots in the shoelace cover. A strap secured to each side of the gym shoe includes a loop and hook material such that the straps can be disengaged and the shoelace cover can be drawn back to expose the shoelaces of the shoe. The fashion panel is attached to the shoelace cover by a loop and hook material such that at the whim of the shoe wearer, the fashion panel can be replaced by other fashion panels to convey a fashion statement.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,293 B1, issued to Blum on Nov. 19, 1985 for a reusable-tying device. However, it differs from the present invention because Blum teaches an improvement for tying devices, which can be secured to laces particularly on shoes for holding the shoelace knot in place. The device disclosed employs a mechanism for securing a portion of the device to the shoe and enabling the device to be reused for securing a knot in place each and every time the laces are tied. It also incorporates elastic or semi-rigid means for engaging the shoelace knot from opposed sides to impede the knot from becoming untied while simultaneously exposing the knot for view and maintaining the normal appearance of the bow.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,198 B1, issued to Meier on Oct. 21, 1969 for a shoe tie retainer. However, it differs from the present invention because Meier teaches an enclosure adapted to be attached to a shoe in such a manner so that the tie of the shoe can be locked within the enclosure. The enclosure is formed of two halves, which are hingeably attached to one another and is provided with a hidden latching means, which requires the use of a thin object such as a coin to be unlocked.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,526 B1, issued to Simpson on Mar. 17, 1959 for a shoelace clasp. However, it differs from the present invention because Simpson teaches a clasp for shoe lace including a first member with front and rear faces, a pair of space ears projecting therefrom and a spring plate intermediate the ears. A second member pivots at one end to the first member at the base of the ears. The edge of the end engages the front face of the spring plate to urge the clasp to open or closed position with the second member substantially contacting the rear face of the first member. The outer portions of the ears engage and move a lace along the second member and clamp it thereagainst upon relative pivotal movement of the members to closed position of the clasp.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 1,190,724 B1, issued to Chadwick on Jul. 11, 1916 for a shoestring retainer. However, it differs from the present invention because Chadwick teaches a shoestring retainer including member adapted to be pushed under a shoe string bow, a resilient plate secured thereto at one edge and adapted to fly back therefrom by its own resiliency and having a projection for engaging under the edge of the member, and a lever for forcing the projection back and releasing the resilient plate.
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.


A method for driving an LCD monitor includes receiving image data corresponding to a pixel of the LCD monitor, comparing pixel values of a first frame data and a second frame data in the image data, dividing the second frame data into a plurality of sub-frame data when a difference between the first frame data and the second frame is greater than a predetermined value, adjusting pixel values of the sub-frame data according to the pixel value of the second frame data, and sequentially displaying the sub-frame data by the pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and related apparatus for driving an LCD monitor, and more particularly, to a method and related apparatus for dynamically determining whether sub-frames are necessary to be inserted and determining gray values of the sub-frames according to a gray value difference between adjacent frames.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advantages of a liquid crystal display (LCD) include lighter weight, less electrical consumption, and less radiation contamination. Thus, the LCD monitors have been widely applied to various portable information products, such as notebooks, PDAs, etc. In an LCD monitor, incident light produces different polarization or refraction effects when the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is altered. The transmission of the incident light is affected by the liquid crystal molecules, and thus magnitude of the light emitting out of liquid crystal molecules varies. The LCD monitor utilizes the characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules to control the corresponding light transmittance and produces gorgeous images according to different magnitudes of red, blue, and green light.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic diagram of a prior art thin film transistor (TFT) LCD monitor 10. The LCD monitor 10 includes an LCD panel 100, a control circuit 102, a data-line-signal output circuit 104, a scan-line-signal output circuit 106, and a voltage generator 108. The LCD panel 100 is constructed by two parallel substrates, and the liquid crystal molecules are filled up between these two substrates. A plurality of data lines 110, a plurality of scan lines 112 that are perpendicular to the data lines 24, and a plurality of TFTs 114 are positioned on one of the substrates. There is a common electrode installed on another substrate, and the voltage generator 108 is electrically connected to the common electrode for outputting a common voltage Vcom via the common electrode. Please note that only four TFTs 114 are shown in FIG. 1 for clarity. Actually, the LCD panel 100 has one TFT 114 installed in each intersection of the data lines 110 and scan lines 112. In other words, the TFTs 28 are arranged in a matrix format on the LCD panel 100. The data lines 110 correspond to different columns, and the scan lines 112 correspond to different rows. The LCD monitor 10 uses a specific column and a specific row to locate the associated TFT 114 that corresponds to a pixel. In addition, the two parallel substrates of the LCD panel 100 filled up with liquid crystal molecules can be considered as an equivalent capacitor 116.
The operation of the prior art LCD monitor 10 is described as follows. When the control circuit 102 receives a horizontal synchronization signal 118 and a vertical synchronization signal 120, the control circuit 102 generates corresponding control signals respectively inputted into the data-line-signal output circuit 104 and the scan-line-signal output circuit 106. The data-line-signal output circuit 104 and the scan-line-signal output circuit 106 then generate input signals to the LCD panel 100 for turning on the corresponding TFTs 114 and changing the alignment of liquid crystal molecules and light transmittance, so that a voltage difference can be kept by the equivalent capacitors 116 and image data 122 can be displayed in the LCD panel 100. For example, the scan-line-signal output circuit 106 outputs a pulse to the scan line 112 for turning on the TFT 114. Therefore, the voltage of the input signal generated by the data-line-signal output circuit 104 is inputted into the equivalent capacitor 116 through the data line 110 and the TFT 114. The voltage difference kept by the equivalent capacitor 116 can then adjust a corresponding gray level of the related pixel through affecting the related alignment of liquid crystal molecules positioned between the two parallel substrates. In addition, the data-line-signal output circuit 104 generates the input signals, and magnitude of each input signal inputted to the data line 110 is corresponding to different gray levels.
Since the physical performance of liquid crystal molecules is similar to a capacitor, the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules may be too slow. In addition, unlike a cathode ray tube (CRT) display applying an impulse-type driving method, an LCD display applying a hold-type driving method has a motion blur phenomenon caused by image edges of a moving subject. In order to reduce the motion blur phenomenon, the prior art provides a black frame insertion technique, or pseudo impulse-type driving technique, to shorten durations of original frames and insert pure black sub-frames or sub-frames with low gray values. In short, the black frame insertion technique inserts a sub-frame with a gray value equal to 0 or a comparative low value between two adjacent frames.
Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of frames of a pixel when performing the prior art black frame insertion technique, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of light intensity generated by the prior art pixel. Shadow areas represent received driving data P0, P1, P2, etc. of the pixel in each frame duration, and the driving data P0, P1, P2, etc. are respectively corresponding to the frame F0, F1, F2, etc. As shown in FIG. 2, gray values of the driving data return to zero (or a comparative low value) before the next driving data is inputted. In such circumstance, variation of the light intensity of the pixel applied the black frame insertion technique is similar to that of a pixel applied the impulse type driving method.
Since the liquid crystal molecules perform as capacitors, the liquid crystal molecules must take time to reach correct gray values when the gray value displayed by the pixel varies. Therefore, although the motion blur phenomenon can be eliminated through the black frame insertion technique, there is a multi-edge effect on edges of the moving subject, especially for a high-contrast image. For example, if a movie shows a bright subject moving in a dark background, the black frame insertion technique can eliminate the motion blur problem in the rear edge of the moving subject. However, in the front edge of the moving subject, the multi-edge effect appears owing to the long response time of the liquid crystal molecules. Similarly, if an animation shows a dark subject moving in a bright background, the black frame insertion technique can eliminate the motion blur problem in the front edge of the moving subject. However, in the rear edge of the moving subject, the multi-edge effect appears owing to the long response time of the liquid crystal molecules.
Therefore, although the prior art black frame insertion technique can eliminate the motion blur problem, there is still the multi-edge effect in an LCD monitor having slow-response liquid crystal molecules. Hence, the image quality of the LCD monitor cannot be enhanced effectively. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the pixel displays image data only during half the frame durations, and displays black image with zero gray value during rest frame durations. In other words, the black frame insertion technique shows half the average brightness of original images, and thus affects the image quality.

Method and related apparatus for driving an LCD monitor


A machine integrated positioning system shows an operator where to place a raw part in the press brake or other machinery. Further, the operator is informed if the dimensions associated with the raw part are, or are not, correct to produce the planned finished part. The operator is visually shown how the raw part is to be oriented. The operator is informed if the raw part is right-side-up, along with other pre-final placement information. If these and other conditions are not met, the machine integrated positioning system may prevent the press brake and other machinery from cycling.

The use of lasers in the machining industry is generally known. In particular, modern equipment with manufacturing parts will often employ lasers and associated sensors for safety reasons. For example, laser sensors may be used to determine if a person inadvertently moves to a high risk or dangerous area relative to the manufacturing equipment by crossing a light beam. In such situations, the equipment may be automatically stopped to ensure the safety of the person adjacent the equipment.
Conventional laser-vision positioning systems have also been employed to direct an operator where to place a raw part in a machine. However, these conventional laser positioning-vision systems do not, in advance, show an operator how to orient the raw part or inform the operator whether the raw part is upside down or backwards when installed into a part forming machine for manufacture of a finished part. This is especially a problem for non-symmetrical parts. Further, the known positioning systems do not, in advance of final placement in the machine, determine if the raw part is the correct part for a planned forming operation.
There is a need to integrate either laser or vision positioning systems with machinery, such as a press brake, so that these added concerns are addressed prior to final placement of the raw part in the machinery. Desirably, these systems would militate against a cycling of the press brake and other machinery if the above-noted conditions are not met.


Methods, systems and devices for automatically connecting similar users wherein similarity is based on live audio listening information. The method comprises receiving and storing audio listening information at a server for a plurality of users and identifying the audio the user is currently listening to. The server uses the stored information to automatically generate a list of users similar to a particular user. The similarity between users can be based on audio users are currently listening to, so that the list of similar users comprises a list of users currently listening to the same audio as the particular user. The server filters the list of similar users to a specific geographic area, such as a town. The server then provides the particular user with information on the similar users which may enable the particular user to communicate with the similar users publicly or privately.

Many social networking applications, such as Facebook™, allow users to connect and communicate with other users with similar tastes and/or interests. Specifically, if a user likes a particular radio station, the user can join a group for people that like that particular radio station. The user can then connect and communicate with users who are also members of the group. However, none of the known social networking applications automatically connect users based on their audio listening preferences.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known systems.

Method, system and device for connecting similar users


A prefabricated, movable and reusable, semipermanent modular building structure is provided for attachment to a common hallway of an existing permanent building for expanding the size thereof. It is based on a plurality of foundation units arranged along the ground to define a contiguous perimeter of the structure and, optionally, interior support within the perimeter. Each foundation unit on the perimeter can have a decorative finish on one vertical face thereof. Every foundation unit includes a mechanism for leveling same relative to adjacent foundation units, and a fixture for the coupling of a tie-down thereto. At least one building unit rests atop the foundation units. A portion of each building unit located over any of the foundation units can be moved to provide access to the foundation unit's leveling mechanism and tie-down fixture. A tie-down device is used to couple the building unit to the tie-down fixture of a foundation unit.

A simple method of facility expansion (e.g., as in the case of schools) includes the use of free-standing trailers or mobile office units that have been pre-fabricated and delivered to a site. While these units include their own climate control and lighting systems, and lend themselves to quick set-up, they also present a variety of problems. For example, the occupants have to walk outside when moving between the existing facility and the mobile unit(s). In addition, the nature of mobile units prevent them from being large enough to serve as a library, cafeteria, or other large facility space that must be shared by all occupants. Accordingly, while the use of mobile units provides for additional occupants, the existing shared facility spaces might not be designed to accommodate the additional occupants. Further, the mobile units are not generally compatible with the existing facility architecture and are often considered to be an eyesore. Combining this perception with the fact that the occupants are isolated from the main existing facility can lead to poor morale for the occupants relegated to the mobile units. Still further, the mobile nature of these units makes them more susceptible to storm and wind damage thereby possibly placing the occupants thereof in peril in the event of unexpected bad weather.


A device for determining the ignition-advance angle of an internal combustion engine, having a device for determining the ignition-advance angle from stored maps on the basis of the recorded parameters of the internal combustion engine, includes a knock control device. The additive ignition-advance angle adjustment defined in the knock control device is able to be added to the ignition-advance map angle to define a base ignition-advance angle. A setpoint torque interface is supplied with the base ignition-advance angle and, at its output, supplies a torque-optimized setpoint ignition-advance angle. The torque-optimized setpoint ignition-advance angle is routed to at least one downstream limiting stage, which limits the setpoint ignition-advance angle to a value that is acceptable for the operation of the internal combustion engine. The output ignition-advance angle is available at the output of the at least one limiting stage for controlling the ignition.

Control units used in electronic ignition control are described in Bosch Technical Information, Combined Ignition and Gas Injection System MOTRONIC (1 987 722 011, KH/VDT-9/85-De). From information pertaining to load and speed, temperature and throttle valve position, the control unit determines controlled variables, such as ignition advance angle and dwell angle, between two ignition processes. In this connection, the controlled variables are defined on the basis of stored (engine characteristics) maps. The map for defining the ignition advance angle is determined by engine bench testing, and is optimized in the vehicle in conformance with specifiable criteria, such as fuel consumption, exhaust, and performance, and is subsequently stored. This facilitates a ready adaptation to every operating state, as well as good vehicle performance, fuel economy, and exhaust gas ratings.
The control unit known from the related art contains a microcomputer, which defines the controlled variables from the operating parameters by extracting the ignition-advance angle from the map. Furthermore, the ignition-advance map angle is able to be adapted to various operating conditions. Thus, the ignition is able to be adjusted to favorable exhaust values, proper dynamic wheel balance, and good fuel economy in idle operation, for example, while vehicle performance and fuel consumption are in the fore in part throttle operation.
In the case of initial load (preload), the emphasis is on achieving maximum torque, while avoiding knocking. The ability to change the ignition-advance angle in conformance with the logic gating of various signals makes it possible for the ignition-advance angle to be individually adapted to every operating state of the engine. Thus, considerable consideration is given to the specific engine requirements, e.g., in the special operating states, start-up, idle operation, overrun (deceleration), and initial load. The ignition-advance angle in question is thus able to be shifted by any desired value as a function of various switch point signals.

Device for determining the ignition advance angle of an internal combustion engine


An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit that stores therein a recording medium; an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that forms an image on the recording medium transferred from the recording medium storage unit; a storage-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the recording medium storage unit; an image-forming-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the image forming unit and that protrudes forward relative to the storage-unit exterior member; and a fresh air supply path that is arranged on a back side of the image-forming-unit exterior member, through which fresh air introduced from outside the image forming apparatus flows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a recording medium storage unit, an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that form an image on a recording medium obtained from the recording medium storage unit, and a recording medium conveying unit arranged between the recording medium storage unit and the image forming unit to convey the recording media.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, devices, such as intermediate transfer devices or fixing devices, that get hot are arranged inside main bodies of the apparatuses. Therefore, the image forming apparatuses include cooling mechanisms that introduce air from outside the apparatuses to maintain the inside temperature in an appropriate range, that cool, with the air, the devices to be hot, and that discharge the air after cooling to the outside of the apparatuses.
As such a cooling mechanism, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-6484 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-240703 disclose a structure in which a cooling mechanism including a fan to blow air on the surface of an intermediate transfer belt, an air discharge fan, a ventilation duct, or the like are arranged on the outer side of the intermediate transfer belt to cool the intermediate transfer belt.
Incidentally, in an image forming apparatus capable of forming images at high speed, the amount of heat generated in the apparatus increases and it is increasingly necessary to mount a cooling mechanism with higher performance. Therefore, it is necessary to use a fresh air supply path (duct) with a larger cross-sectional area to introduce cooling air.
However, in the image forming apparatus, an image forming device including a developing device and a photoconductor drum, a secondary transfer device, a fixing device, an exposing device, a sheet conveying device, and the like are arranged without a space. Therefore, in reality, there is no extra space for arranging the fresh air supply path with a larger cross-sectional area. Furthermore, if the fresh air supply path is arranged around each of the devices inside the apparatus, the size of the main body of the apparatus including all of the devices and the fresh air supply path increases, resulting in the increased footprint.
Therefore, there is a need for an image forming apparatus capable of arranging a fresh air supply path with a larger cross-sectional area without increasing footprint.


In an instantaneous wire interruption detection system for a vehicle electrical system, a VSC-ECU includes an input processing circuit that processes electric signals transmitted from various sensors and an EFI-ECU by a signal wire (wire harness); a signal state determination circuit that determines whether the electric signals processed by the input processing circuit are normal or abnormal; a latch circuit that latches the determination result as a latch signal; and an output circuit that can output the latch signal. When a signal abnormality is detected by the signal state determination circuit, the latch circuit is able to generate the latch signal in synchronization therewith, and latch the latch signal for a predetermined time. Accordingly, for example, by connecting a tester device to the output circuit, and monitoring the latch signal, it is possible to detect instantaneous wire interruption of the electrical system.

Related art has been disclosed such as a fault diagnosis device for an electronic control unit of an automobile in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 2001-065403. In this related art, a fault diagnosis device incorporated in an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "ECU") detects abnormality (wire disconnection) of a wire harness connected to the ECU. More particularly, it is determined whether a signal (sensor signal) input to the ECU via the wire harness is within a normal range, and if it is determined (a provisional determination) that the signal is outside the normal range, a value of an abnormality determination counter is incrementally increased. Following this, it is determined whether the value of the abnormality determination counter has exceeded a predetermined value. In the case that the predetermined value has been exceeded (for example, there have been four provisional determinations in a row), it is finally determined that a fault has occurred.
However, with the above described related art, until the abnormality determination counter exceeds the predetermined value (namely, until a predetermined number of provisional determinations are made), the final fault determination is not made. Accordingly, this art is only able to detect faults in which have an abnormal state continues (for example, a fault of the sensor itself, or a wire disconnection in the wire harness); other faults are not detected. In other words, in the case of a temporary contact failure (instantaneous wire interruption) like a loose contact (a state where a connector fitting is inadequate), the abnormal state does not necessarily continue, and thus the above described related art has the drawback of not being able to address such situations because the temporary contact failure cannot be detected.
Further, in the related art, when the final fault determination is made based on the above described method or the like, the control system that includes the cause of the fault is stopped. Accordingly, checking of the abnormal state at real time is not possible, and it is difficult to identify the cause of the fault.

Instantaneous wire interruption detection system for vehicle electrical system


A computer virus outbreak is detected by comparing one or more measurement parameters determined over a measurement period against a threshold level. The measurement parameters can include a measurement of how many E-mail messages are sent having an identical file attachment, file type or simply in total. The threshold levels may be varied with the time of day and day of week as well as the tests applied.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the detection of an outbreak of a computer virus on a data processing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to detect computer viruses using signature definitions of those viruses. In this technique, when a new virus is discovered, a characteristic pattern of computer instructions is identified associated with the virus and this characteristic pattern then added to a library of computer virus definitions so that a suspect file can be compared against this library of definitions to determine whether it contains one of the known computer viruses identified within the library.
An alternative approach to virus identification is heuristic testing in which types of activity associated with viruses are searched for and used to identify candidate viruses. As an example, an executable computer file that has at its start a call to a routine located at the end of the executable file is a strong candidate for having been infected with a virus.
A problem with both of the above techniques is that they are only generally capable of detecting known viruses or viruses behaving in known ways. As an example, it is only after a virus has been created, released and infected innocent users, that it will be drawn to the attention of anti-virus system makers who can then add a new virus definition to their library of definitions characteristic of the newly released virus to enable its detection by the library technique. Similarly, a virus with a new type of action, such as Word macro viruses when they were first released, present a problem for heuristic identification since their patterns of activity are not ones that are being tested for until after those new viruses have been created, released and infected innocent users.
It is known from Trend's Scan Mail Exchange Beta Release to provide a system in which a virus outbreak is notified if more than a threshold number of known viruses are detected within a 24 hour period. This technique does not address unknown viruses and types of virus behavior.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A safety valve provided in a fuel injection apparatus includes an accumulator in which fuel is accumulated. The housing has an inside passage for introducing high-pressure fuel of the accumulator into the inside of the housing and a seat face formed at a portion of the inside passage. A valve element provided movably within the housing includes a valve body to open/close the seat face and an elastic member for pressing and biasing the valve element in a closing direction. A fuel chamber defined between the inner surface of the housing and the valve element maintains pressure for pressing the valve element in a valve-opening direction, and high pressure fuel from the inside passage is introduced into the fuel chamber when the valve body of the valve element is separated from the seat face. With this safety valve, the high-pressure fuel of the accumulator is introduced into the fuel chamber in order to press the valve element in the valve-opening direction so that the valve element will be rapidly opened, with the result that the fuel pressure in the accumulator can recover a predetermined value instantaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety valve of an accumulator in a fuel injection apparatus of a diesel engine for injecting high-pressure fuel accumulated in the accumulator by means of an injector of an electronic control type provided in each cylinder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been conventionally known a fuel injection apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 59-165858, which is arranged in such a manner that high-pressure fuel is accumulated in an accumulator called a common rail by a high pressure supply pump, and the high-pressure fuel of the accumulator is injected by an injector of an electronic control type provided in each cylinder.
This fuel injection apparatus is provided with a safety valve which is opened for releasing the fuel when a pressure in the accumulator exceeds a predetermined value.
As shown in FIG. 5, the structure of the conventional safety valve is such that a tapered seat face 32 which is an opening portion of a passage 31 in communication with the accumulator is opened/closed by a ball valve 37, and that when the fuel pressure in the accumulator exceeds a biasing force of a spring 38 which presses and biases the ball valve 37 in a valve-closing direction, the ball valve 37 is opened to release the fuel of the accumulator to the low pressure side, thereby suppressing an increase of pressure in the accumulator.
With this structure, however, an area of an opening after the ball valve 37 is opened is insufficient. Consequently, even after the fuel has been once released through the opened valve, there is a risk that the pressure in the accumulator is increased to exceed a valve-opening pressure of the ball valve 37 when the fuel is pressurized and delivered again. Particularly when the fuel of a maximum flow rate Q.sub.max is pressurized and delivered from the high-pressure supply pump to the accumulator, there is a risk, as shown in FIG. 6, that the fuel pressure is increased to exceed not only the valve-opening pressure P.sub.0 but also a critical internal pressure P.sub.E of an accumulation piping.

Safety valve for fuel injection apparatus


A cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber having an opening, a door configured to open and close the opening of the cooking chamber, the door including a channel and an inlet to allow communication between the cooking chamber and the channel, and an opening/closing unit to open and close the inlet in the door. A door including a first surface, a second surface spaced from the first surface to define a channel between the first surface and the second surface, an inlet formed in the second surface, the inlet being in flow communication with the channel, an outlet formed in one of the first surface and the second surface, the outlet being in flow communication with the channel, and an opening/closing unit to open and close the inlet in the second surface is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a door for a cooking apparatus and a cooking apparatus having the same, and more particularly a door for a cooking apparatus having an opening/closing unit to open/close an inlet in the door and a cooking apparatus having the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a related art cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber for heating food therein using heat generated from a heater or microwaves from a magnetron. The cooking apparatus usually includes a cabinet surrounding the cooking chamber and a door connected to the cabinet for closing the cooking chamber. In the related art cooking chamber, the external appearance of the cooking apparatus is easily stained because of pollutants generated during the cooking process. These pollutants may take the form of food scraps, sauces, fats, food particulates, and steam generated during the cooking process.
In addition to pollutants on the exterior of the cooking apparatus, pollutants can enter into the interior of the cooling apparatus through a gap in the cooking apparatus, particularly the interior of the door. Generally, it is more difficult to remove pollutants from the interior of the door as compared to removing pollutants from the exterior of the cooking apparatus and the interior of the cooking chamber. Furthermore, in some cases, a user of the cooking apparatus may not know that pollutants have entered into the interior of the door and, subsequently, the pollutants may generate a bad smell due to the rotting of the pollutants in the door of the cooking apparatus. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the cleanness of the cooking apparatus and the overall quality of the cooking apparatus may be deteriorated over time.


A tape strip is arranged to include a strip abutment and the strip abutment is positioned within a first sleeve, the first sleeve having a V-shaped web arranged for positioning as a first corner, with a second sleeve having a second V-shaped web arranged for abutting against a further spaced corner, with the second sleeve including a slide block to receive the tape member therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to tape measure apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved corner to corner tape measure apparatus wherein the same is arranged to accurately measure distances between spaced corners of a workpiece.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tape measure structure of various construction is indicated in the prior art and set forth by example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,010,657; 5,038,985; 3,473,235; and 4,827,622.
The prior art has heretofore failed to provide for structure to permit the ease of measuring of corner to corner distances between various positions of a workpiece and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A first fabric layer of a down-proof double-layer fabric has a plurality of first warps and a plurality of first wefts. A second fabric layer has a plurality of second warps and a plurality of second wefts. The first fabric layer and the second fabric layer have a plurality of coupling portions. In the coupling portions, the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer pass through each other repeatedly, and the first warps and the second warps are interlaced. The first warps, the first wefts, the second warps, and the second wefts are between 20 denier and 75 denier. The warp densities of the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are between 336 pieces/in and 456 pieces/in, and the weft densities of the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are between 220 pieces/inch2 and 300 pieces/in.

Field of Invention
The invention relates to a down-proof double-layer fabric and, in particular, to a down-proof double-layer fabric which utilizes the structure of the fabric itself for down-proof.
Related Art
Recently, with the advance of technology and the improvement of life quality, people's requirements for daily necessities are accordingly raised, and they put more emphasis on the functions of clothing for warmth, comfort, and health. Because down is comfortable and warm, fabrics are often filled with down and made into, for example, clothing (coat) or quilts, etc.
The so-called down-proof fabric refers to the fabric which prevents down filler from exudation. For the down-proof fabric, conventional technology generally utilizes coating, lamination, high density fabric by calendaring (the fabric is treated by high temperature and pressure with metal cylindrical sticks) to prevent the down filler from exudation from the fabric so as to be down-proof. Furthermore, to distribute the down filler evenly between the fabric layers and to avoid the down filler excessively accumulating in some parts, compartments are generally made by machine sewing in conventional technology so that the down filler located in the compartments is restricted in the compartments, and the down filler dose not accumulate in some parts of the fabric after using.
Although conventional technology can utilize coating, lamination, or calendaring to achieve down-proof for the fabric and the compartments are made by machine sewing, these external processing technologies are quite work-consuming, time-consuming, energy-consuming and environmentally unfriendly. Therefore, it is an important subject to provide a down-proof double-layer fabric which utilizes the structure of the fabric itself for down-proof by construction (for example without coating, lamination, or calendaring) and has the advantages of energy saving, environmental protection, and reduction in carbon emissions.


An apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference associated with a signal-conducting cable includes a ferrite bead and a one-piece molded encasement covering the ferrite bead. The encasement includes a number of ribs located within a longitudinal aperture of the ferrite bead. The ribs protrude radially inward to secure the apparatus to the cable and to coaxially align the cable within the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the encasement and ribs are integrally formed from a resilient material.

Ferrite beads are well known in the cabling industry, and are often used to shield sensitive data cables from extraneous electromagnetic noise and interference that may be present in the operating environment. A typical commercial ferrite bead may be available as a toroidal or donut shaped element sized to receive a cable. Ferrite beads may either be a solid, one-piece element or a split, two-piece assembly. The prior art is replete with devices and components designed to couple a ferrite bead to a cable. For example, a number of ferrite bead constructions and securing devices for ferrite beads are disclosed in the following patents: Meguro et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,074, issued Feb. 15, 1994; May, U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,772, issued Nov. 10, 1992; and Cort, U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,957, issued Apr. 4, 1989. Although these and other prior art assemblies may adequately secure ferrite beads to cables, they may not be desirable to use in many practical applications.
The assembly disclosed by Meguro et al. includes a hinged shell that snaps around the ferrite bead to secure the ferrite bead to the cable. Such a construction is relatively expensive to manufacture and package, and the hinged portion of the shell may lack a sufficient amount of structural integrity. Furthermore, the ferrite bead or the shell may become lost during handling or installation because the ferrite bead is not attached to the shell. In addition, nothing prevents the ferrite bead from vibrating or rattling within the shell after it is installed upon the cable. Such movement of the ferrite bead may cause undesirable chafing of the cable insulation.
The prior art also includes ferrite bead assemblies that are intended to permanently affix the ferrite beads to the associated cables. For example, May discloses a device that snaps over the cable in a locking manner to prevent removal of the ferrite bead from the cable. As disclosed by May, the ferrite bead cannot be removed or adjusted without destroying the outer case that holds the ferrite bead. Thus, such prior art devices are limited to a single use and their lack of adjustability may add a significant amount to the cost of installing a large number of ferrite beads in, e.g., a complex communications system.
Cort discloses an alternate ferrite bead assembly that includes a resilient sleeve that slides onto the cable. After the sleeve is installed on the cable, the ferrite bead is pressed over the sleeve and maintained on the sleeve with two integral retaining ridges. The ferrite bead remains exposed after it is installed on the cable; the Cort device does not protect the ferrite bead from damage, nor does it protect the surrounding equipment and environment from damage caused by the ferrite bead.
Other prior art methods of securing ferrite beads to cables may also be undesirable for many applications. For example, a ferrite bead may be secured to a cable with shrink wrap tubing that covers the bead and a portion of the surrounding cable. Unfortunately, the shrink wrap material can be expensive, particularly when relatively thick ferrite beads are utilized (because the cost of shrink wrap tubing increases as the shrink-down ratio increases). For example, the material and labor cost to install a ferrite bead on a cable using a three inch section of high-shrink-ratio tubing can be $3.00 or more. In addition to its high cost, this procedure results in a relatively permanent installation. Consequently, removal or adjustment of the ferrite bead typically requires a good amount of labor and additional cost.
The use of over-molding or tie wraps to secure a ferrite bead to a cable may not be appropriate for the same reasons discussed above. For example, over-molding is a costly procedure that results in a relatively permanent installation of the ferrite bead. Removal requires additional labor to remove the bead and remold the bead in a new location upon the cable. The use of tie wraps, while relatively inexpensive and easy to install, also does not facilitate quick and easy adjustment and removal of the ferrite bead. In addition, the use of tie wraps merely secures the location of the bead on the cable; the cable is not protected from chafing by the bead and the bead remains exposed to the environment.
Accordingly, a ferrite bead assembly is needed that overcomes the above and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Ferrite bead for cable installations having one piece encasement


The invention relates to methods of agglutinating or capturing cells comprising providing a mixture comprising a population of cells and a population of bacteriophage expressing a first antibody on the surface of the bacteriophage, the first antibody being specific for an antigen-bearing moiety expressed by at least a portion of the cells in the cell population, wherein the first antibody binds to the portion of the cells causing the bacteriophage to also bind to the portion of the cells, adding to the mixture a second antibody specific for the bacteriophage, wherein binding of the second antibody to bacteriophage bound to the portion of the cells causes the portion of the cells to agglutinate or be captured.

Each year, tens of millions of units of blood are collected worldwide and an equal number of patients receive those units of blood as transfusions. Every unit of collected blood and every patient must be typed for the Rh antigen to ensure a match prior to the transfusion. The ID-Micro Typing System, Inc., disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,689 (Ortho Diagnostics, Inc.) provides a simplified method for antigen typing of red blood cells. Other micro typing card systems are also known in the art. For example, a DiaMed AG card system is available from Cressier, Switzerland, known as the DiaMed-ID Micro Typing System. In addition, a Bio Vue card is available from Ortho Diagnostics.
In a conventional blood typing test, drops of typing serum and donor or recipient red blood cells are placed in test tubes and are incubated together. Excess unreacted serum is washed away and a drop of rabbit anti-IgG antibody (Coomb's reagent) is added to the mixture to induce agglutination between cells that may have bound the typing reagent. This test is known as an indirect agglutination test or an indirect Coomb's test. Agglutination is assessed by briefly centrifuging the cells and gently shaking the tubes one by one over a concave mirror and observing the presence of red blood cell agglutinates as the cells return to a suspension. Microwell arrays in microplates may be used in place of test tubes.
In the Micro Typing System, red blood cells are centrifuged in a controlled manner through a dextran-acrylamide gel and Coomb's reagent predispensed in a specially designed microtube. Measured volumes of serum or plasma and/or red blood cells are dispensed into the reaction chamber of the microtube. If necessary, the card is incubated and then centrifuged. Agglutinated red blood cells become trapped in or above the gel and unagglutinated red blood cells travel through the gel particles and form a pellet at the bottom of the microtube.
In a second type of blood group detection system described in WO 9531731 A, a method of detecting a blood group antigen is disclosed. The method comprises adding a sample of red blood cells to a reaction tube which has a lengthwise axis containing a reaction medium consisting of several particles which have immunoglobulin-binding ligands selected from protein A, protein G, protein A/G or a universal kappa light chain binding protein, which ligands are coupled to the surface of the particles, and antibody, optionally a bridging antibody, specific for the antigen coupled to the ligand on the particles. The reaction tube is centrifuged for a time which is sufficient to remove red blood cells which have not attached to the antibody in the form of a pellet in the bottom of the tube. The attachment of the red blood cells, or the lack of attachment of red blood cells is detected and the attachment is correlated with the presence of the antigen.
Each of these methods is designed to detect red blood cell antigens using antibodies which have been produced in eukaryotic cells, either as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. These methods cannot be used to detect antibodies which are expressed on the surface of virus particles.
The ability to produce monoclonal antibodies has revolutionized diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. Monoclonal antibodies are typically produced by immortalization of antibody-producing mouse lymphocytes thus ensuring an endless supply of cells which produce mouse antibodies. However, for many human applications, it is desirable to produce human antibodies. For example, it is preferable that antibodies which are administered to humans for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes are human antibodies since administration of human antibodies to a human circumvents potential immune reactions to the administered antibody, which reactions may negate the purpose for which the antibody was administered.
In addition, there exist certain situations where, for diagnostic purposes, it is essential that human antibodies be used because other animals are unable to make antibodies against the antigen to be detected in the diagnostic method. For example, in order to determine the Rh phenotype of human red blood cells, human sera that contains anti-Rh antibody must be used since no other animal can make an antibody capable of detecting the human Rh antigen.
The production of human antibodies in vitro by immortalizing human B lymphocytes using Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-mediated transformation or cell fusion has been fraught with technical difficulties due to the relatively low efficiency of both EBV-induced transformation and cell fusion when compared with the murine system. To overcome these problems, processes have been developed for the production of human antibodies using M13 bacteriophage display (Burton et al., 1994, Adv. Immunol. 57: 191-280). Essentially, a cDNA library is generated from MRNA obtained from a population of antibody-producing cells. The mRNA encodes rearranged immunoglobulin (Ig) genes and thus, the cDNA encodes the same. Amplified cDNA is cloned into M13 expression vectors creating a library of phage which express human Fab fragments on their surface. Phage which display the antibody of interest are selected by antigen binding and are propagated in bacteria to produce soluble human Fab Ig. Thus, in contrast to conventional monoclonal antibody synthesis, this procedure immortalizes DNA encoding human Ig rather than cells which express human Ig.
There are several difficulties associated with the generation of antibodies using bacteriophage. For example, many proteins cannot be purified in a non-denatured state, in that purification procedures necessarily involve solubilization of protein which may render some proteins permanently denatured with concomitant destruction of antigenic sites present thereon. Such proteins thus cannot be bound to a solid phase and therefore cannot be used to pan for phage bearing antibodies which bind to them. An example of such a protein is the human Rh antigen.
To solve the problem, a method was developed wherein intact red blood cells were used as the panning antigen (Siegel et al, 1994, Blood 83: 2334-2344). However, it was discovered that since phage are inherently "sticky" and red blood cells express a multitude of antigens on the cell surface, a sufficient amount of phage which do not express the appropriate antibody on the surface also adhere to the red blood cells, thus rendering the method impractical for isolation of phage which express antibody of desired specificity.
De Kruif et al. (1995, Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 92: 3938-3942) disclose a method of isolating phage encoding antibodies, wherein antibody-expressing phage are incubated with a mixture of antigen-expressing cells and cells which do not express antigen. The antibody-expressing phage bind to the antigen-expressing cells. Following binding with phage, a fluorescently labeled antibody is added specifically to the antigen-expressing cells, which cells are removed from the mixture having antibody-expressing phage bound thereto. The isolation of fluorescently labeled cells is accomplished using the technique of fluorescently-activated cell sorting (FACS), an expensive and time-consuming procedure.
There is a need for a method of isolating recombinant proteins, preferably antibodies, which is rapid and economical, and which will provide a vast array of protein-binding proteins useful for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in humans.
There is also a need for rapid and accurate assays for the typing of red blood cells using recombinant proteins which are expressed on a virus surface. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Compositions and methods for detection of antibody binding to cells

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


Data is synchronized among multiple web servers, each of which is coupled to a common data server. Each web server retrieves a scheduled activation time from the data server. If the current time is prior to the scheduled activation time, then each web server retrieves updated data from the data server into a staging cache in the web server. At the scheduled activation time, each web server copies data from its staging cache to an active cache in the web server. If a new web server is added or an existing web server is initialized, then data is copied from an active cache in the data server to an active cache in the new or initialized web server. The multiple web servers may be arranged to form a web farm.

A variety of internet-based server applications require access to certain data. In situations where multiple servers are executing multiple instances of a particular server application, all instances of the server application require access to the same set of data. For example, a commerce-related server application requires access to a set of data containing information regarding product (or service) prices, shipping charges, and promotions or other discounts. If multiple servers are executing the same commerce-related server application, each instance of the application must access the same set of data to accurately and consistently calculate the price of a customer's order. If different instances of the commerce-related server application access different sets of data, different instances of the application may calculate different prices for the same order. To avoid this problem, it is important that all instances of a particular application access the same set of data or access different sets of synchronized data.
In a typical collection of web servers, referred to as a "web farm", a technique known as "DNS round-robin load balancing" is often used to distribute tasks among the multiple web servers. Using this technique, each web server in the web farm is assigned a unique internet protocol (IP) address. In this situation, a single internet site address is associated with a list of IP addresses (i.e., the unique IP addresses assigned to each web server in the web farm). When a client browser resolves an internet site address using a domain name service (DNS) lookup, the client browser receives the list of IP addresses associated with all web servers in the web farm. In response to the first request, the client browser selects one entry in the list as the starting point. The client browser then rotates through the list of addresses in a round-robin manner for each subsequent request. When the browser reaches the end of the list, the next request is retrieved from the beginning of the list. Thus, each time a web page associated with an instance of an internet-based application is accessed, the next web server in the web farm (i.e., the web server associated with the next IP address in the list of addresses) is used to provide the web page to the browser.
In the internet server application discussed above, all web servers in the web farm must access the same set of data regarding pricing, shipping, and discounts. If different web servers apply different sets of data, then the price of the customer's order may change with each new web page access. For example, a simple "web page refresh" command will cause the browser to retrieve the "refreshed" web page from the web server associated with the next IP address in the list. If the new web server applies a different set of data to determine pricing, shipping costs, and discounts, then the price displayed to the customer may change after the page is refreshed, even though the actual order has not changed. This situation is undesirable and may cause the customer to abandon the web site, thereby resulting in lost revenue (and possibly a lost customer) for the operator of the site.
To ensure that all web servers access the same set of data, some existing systems use a two-tier approach of the type shown in FIG. 1, which allows multiple web servers to access data stored in a database through a cache server. FIG. 1 shows a web farm 10 comprised of multiple web servers 12. Each web server 12 is connected to a cache server 14, which is connected to a database 16. Web servers 12 are connected to cache server 14 through a local area network (LAN) 18. To access a particular set of data, one of the web servers 12 issues a data request across LAN 18 to cache server 14. Cache server 14 then retrieves the requested data from database 16 and provides the retrieved data across LAN 18 to the requesting web server 12. By providing a common database, each web server 12 accesses the same set of data when generating a web page.
Although the system of FIG. 1 ensures that each web server accesses a common set of data, the use of a single cache server 14 introduces a single point of failure. If cache server 14 fails, then all web servers 12 are prevented from accessing data contained in database 16. Furthermore, the system shown in FIG. 1 creates a significant amount of network traffic on LAN 18. Each time a web server 12 requests data from database 16, several messages (as well as the requested data) are sent across LAN 18 to satisfy the request. If the data requested by the web servers 12 does not change frequently, the web servers 12 may request the same data numerous times before the data in database 16 changes. This repeated transmission of data requests for the same data generates significant network traffic that is unnecessary if the data has not changed since the last data request. Additionally, if network traffic is heavy, the time required to retrieve data across LAN 18 may significantly delay the generation of a web page by web server 12. If data retrieval speed is important, then the delays associated with the system of FIG. 1 may prevent acceptable operation of web server 12.

System and method for data synchronization


The present invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting system, the lighting system being arranged as a wireless network comprising a controller and a plurality of operating nodes arranged to communicate with each other, wherein the method comprises the steps of synchronizing the operating nodes with the controller, determining, from the plurality of operating nodes, a set of operating nodes that are located within a predetermined operating area, estimating a state-shift delay based on a maximum communication delay between the controller and the set of operating nodes located within the predetermined operating area, communicating the estimated state-shift delay to the plurality of operating nodes, and communicating a state-shift command to the plurality of operating nodes.

Wireless control of lighting systems is increasingly replacing wired control, for example reducing installation costs and commissioning effort. A number of wireless technologies have been developed, including for example IEEE-802.15.4, Low-Power WiFi, WiFi, Bluetooth, EnOcean, Z-Wave and similar technologies, which typically permit short range communication.
For real-time control of a wireless lighting system, it is desired to minimize the latency when switching a state of the light source nodes of the lighting system. An example of such a lighting system is disclosed in US2006/0154598, where a group of light source nodes of a radio network are arranged to selectively respond to broadcast messages from a lighting system controller, thereby providing decreased latency for switching of the light source nodes.
However, in large-scale wireless lighting systems not all light source nodes may be in communication range with the lighting system controller. Rather, large-scale lighting systems require state-shift commands from the controller to the light source nodes to be routed also between the different light source nodes, effectively introducing different control command reception delays for the different light source nodes. Due to the nature of the different reception delays, the visual impression of the state-shift, such as wake-up or switch OFF lights, is unpleasant in that not all light source nodes shift state at the same time. For example, the CSMA/CA mechanism used with 802.15.4 or WiFi to access the wireless channel for transmitting a packet includes a random "backoff time" which will most probably be different on each node, causing some time/delay differences. Besides, collisions, different routes or different nodes with different processing power may cause some different delays.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method that provides controlled state-shift in a wireless lighting system, having focus on obtaining a simultaneous state-shift of the light nodes.

Abstract: An advantage with the invention is that the visual artifact of the state-shift may be essentially removed as the time synchronization and timer interrupt alignment together with the estimated state-shift delay allows for the plurality of nodes to shift state at essentially the same time.


A foot supporting orthotic having parallel, separately flexing rays extending forwardly from an arch region which in use underlies the arch of a wearer's foot. The rays are bowed by spring-like elastomers and facilitate the shock absorbing and adaptation stages of walking.

The present invention is an improvement upon the subject matter of my U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,499, issued Apr. 10, 1984. That patent discloses a dynamic foot support or "orthotic" platform which helps the foot move through various critical positions or stages within the walking cycle. The dynamic platform facilitates the shock absorbing and adaption stage of the gait cycle which is called "pronation." Pronation occurs during heel contact until the midstance, full weight bearing stage of the human gait. During the human gait an eversion of the heel occurs in the subtalar joint (that is, the heel bone) and in the bone directly above it (the talus). As pronation occurs, the midtarsal joint becomes more easily "unlocked." (The midtarsal joint is comprised of the composite calcaneal cuboid and talar navicular joint). This unlocking or free swinging attitude gives the foot its adaptability and enhances its ability to absorb shock. However, if pronation continues beyond midstance the foot becomes inefficient for thrust off. As a result the forefoot becomes hypermobile at all its joints and therefore more susceptible to all the wear and tear conditions and acquired deformities associated with mechanical foot disorders. The motion that is opposite to pronation, i.e., suppination or inversion of the feet, causes the axis of the articulation (calcaneal-cuboid, talarnavicular) to become oblique making the midtarsal joint lock up, which in turn makes the foot a rigid lever for thrust off.
Many of the prescribed or over-the-counter orthotics attempt to limit or eliminate the natural pronation. The orthotic of the '499 patent facilitates pronation by assisting the foot in moving from pronation toward the position of suppination that is necessary to attain efficient toe off for forward propulsion, and thereby reduces the hypermobility of the forefoot. The '499 patent discloses a platform having longitudinal cuts which form finger-like portions which are referred to as "rays." (The foot also has rays which consist of each metatarsal and its articulation with its corresponding cuneiform bone, with the exception of the fourth and fifth metatarsals which articulate with the cuboid.) The rays of the platform are cut far into the platform, from the toe or leading end of the platform all the way to the heel. The platform rays disclosed in the '499 patent extend past the ends of the rays of the actual foot and in fact past the midtarsal joint articulations.


According to one or more embodiments described herein, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a trigger event occurring at a physical space. The method further includes generating, by the processing system, a temporary network and a temporary authorization code to permit access to the physical space based at least in part on an analysis of information associated with the detected trigger event. The method further includes transmitting, by the processing system, information about the temporary network and the temporary authorization code to a second processing system. The method further includes implementing, by the processing system, an automation routine responsive to detecting the trigger event.

The present invention generally relates to processing systems, and more specifically, to authenticating access to a physical space.
Physical spaces are often restricted using premise security devices, such as locks. Access to a physical space may be controlled by the premise security device such that only one with an authorized key or access code can enter. Premise security devices can be electronic and/or enabled with "smart" capabilities. For example, a "smart lock" is a type of premise security device that aids in securing a physical space, such as by locking a door, window, etc. The smart lock can be controlled using a passcode, which can be entered directly to the smart lock or using an application executing on a user device. The smart lock can also be controlled, for example, by detecting the presence of an authorized user device. That is, when an authorized user device (i.e., a device associated with a user who is authorized to access a physical space associated with the smart lock) comes within a certain proximity (e.g., within wireless communication range, within a predefined distance, etc.), the smart lock can change states to permit or deny access accordingly.

Authenticating access to a physical space

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A water purifier includes a filter part to filter water, a storage part to store the water filtered by the filter part, and a separation unit to partition a space within the storage part into a plurality of spaces. A contact part is disposed between an inner surface of the storage part and the separation unit.

The present disclosure relates to a water purifier.
Water purifiers are apparatuses which are connected to a water supply to purify supplied water.
Such a water purifier includes one or more filters and a water storage tank for storing purified water. Depending on the type of purifier, the water purifier may further include a hot water storage tank for storing hot water or a cool water storage tank for storing cool water, or the hot water storage tank and the cool water storage tank. In the case where the water purifier includes the hot water storage tank, a heater for heating purified water may be provided. In the case where the water purifier includes the cool water storage tank, a cooler for cooling purified water may be provided.


An inspection system and method is provided herein for increasing the detection range of the inspection system. According to one embodiment, the inspection system may include a photodetector having a plurality of stages, which are adapted to convert light scattered from a specimen into an output signal, and a voltage divider network coupled for extending the detection range of the photodetector (and thus, the detection range of the inspection system) by saturating at least one of the stages. This forces the photodetector to operate in a non-linear manner. However, measurement inaccuracies are avoided by calibrating the photodetector output to remove any non-linear effects that may be created by intentionally saturating the at least one of the stages. In one example, a table of values may be generated during a calibration phase to convert the photodetector output into an actual amount of scattered light.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for extending a detection range of an inspection system used for inspecting a specimen. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for extending the detection range of an inspection system by forcing the photodetector into the non-linear range.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are given as background only.
Fabricating semiconductor devices, such as logic, memory and other integrated circuit devices, typically includes processing a specimen such as a semiconductor wafer using a number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that typically involves transferring a pattern to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Inspection processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield in the manufacturing process, and thus, higher profits. Inspection has always been an important part of semiconductor fabrication. However, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection becomes even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices. For instance, detecting defects of decreasing size has become increasingly necessary, since even relatively small defects may cause unwanted aberrations in the semiconductor device, and in some cases, may cause the device to fail.
Many different types of inspection tools have been developed for the inspection of semiconductor wafers, including optical and E-beam systems. Optical inspection tools may be generally characterized into dark-field and bright-field inspection systems. Dark-field systems typically provide a higher detection range than bright-field systems. For instance, dark-field systems detect the amount of light scattered from the surface of a specimen when an incident beam is supplied to the specimen at a normal or oblique angle. The amount of scattered light detected by the system generally depends on the optical characteristics of the spot under inspection (e.g., the refractive index of the spot), as well as any spatial variations within the spot (e.g., uneven surface topologies). In the case of dark-field inspection, smooth surfaces lead to almost no collection signal, while surfaces with protruding features (such as patterned features or defects) tend to scatter much more strongly (sometimes up to six orders of magnitude or more). On the other hand, bright-field inspection systems direct light to a specimen at a particular angle and measure the amount of light reflected from the surface of the specimen at a similar angle. In contrast to dark-field systems, the detection range of a bright-field system is generally no more than about two orders of magnitude.
Most inspection tools are designed for inspecting either unpatterned or patterned semiconductor wafers, but not both. Since the tools are optimized for inspecting a particular type of wafer, they are generally incapable of inspecting different types of wafers for a number of reasons. For example, most unpatterned wafer inspection tools are configured such that all of the light collected by a lens (or another collector) is directed to a single detector, which generates a single output signal representative of all of the light collected by the lens. Although sufficient for unpatterned wafer inspection, a single detector inspection tool is generally incapable of inspecting patterned wafers.
When used for patterned wafer inspection, the light supplied to a single detector may include light scattered from patterns or features on the patterned wafer in addition to other scattered light (e.g., light scattered from defects). In some cases, the single detector may become saturated, and as a result, may not yield signals that can be analyzed for defect detection. Even if the single detector does not become saturated, the light scattered from patterns or other features on the wafer cannot be separated from the other scattered light thereby hindering, if not preventing, defect detection based on the other scattered light.
For this reason, many patterned wafer inspection tools employ at least two detectors for improved spatial resolution and detection range. An approach of this sort is described by Almogy et al. in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0058433, whose disclosure is herein incorporated by reference. Almogy describes an inspection system that utilizes at least two detectors with separate detection channels. One of the detectors is optimized for high resolution, while the other is designed with a high saturation level to improve detection range, typically at the expense of resolution. The light scattered from a specimen is split among the detectors with the addition of various optical components. Although Almogy may improve spatial resolution and detection range, Almogy does so by requiring multiple detectors with additional optics and electronic circuitry, all of which consume additional space, increase complexity, and incur higher cost.
In some cases, one or more of the detectors may become saturated, especially when imaging with a dark-field system. As noted above, dark-field scattering signals obtained from a patterned wafer may vary by six orders of magnitude (or more) due to the variation in surface topology from smooth surface regions (which appear dark) to highly textured regions (which appear bright). It is often difficult, especially with detection systems operating at high data rates, to collect meaningful signals from both the very dark and the very bright areas of the wafer without "on-the-fly" gain adjustment.
"On-the-fly" gain adjustment is another method commonly used to improve spatial resolution and/or detection range. One such method is described by Wolf in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,122, whose disclosure is herein incorporated by reference. In the method described by Wolf, the output signal from a photomultiplier tube (PMT) is processed by a logarithmic amplifier and gain correction mechanism. The logarithmic amplifier and gain correction mechanism provides a feedback signal to the PMT for adjusting the detector gain "on-the-fly" (e.g., by changing the bias potentials supplied to the dynodes) to account for variations in light supplied to the detector. When larger amounts of light are supplied to the detector, the PMT gain may be reduced to avoid anode saturation, and therefore, extend the detection range. On the other hand, the PMT gain may be increased when smaller amounts of light are supplied to the detector to improve spatial resolution in the low signal range. However, "on-the-fly" gain adjustment tends to increase the level of noise and limit the sensitivity in the low signal range, and requires highly trained personnel to operate the complex and expensive drive electronics.
Therefore, a need remains for improved inspection systems and methods for extending the detection range of a wafer inspection system. Preferably, such improved systems and methods would provide significant detection range extension without the complexity and cost of real-time gain adjustment, as required by Wolf, or the additional detectors, optics and electronic circuitry required by Almogy. In addition, an improved inspection system would extend the detection range without sacrificing sensitivity, resolution or noise performance (especially in the low signal range). In some cases, the improved inspection system may be used for inspecting both patterned and unpatterned wafers.

Inspection systems and methods for extending the detection range of an inspection system by forcing the photodetector into the non-linear range