A simple-structure vehicular rear seat wherein an upstanding seat cushion reliably receives and stops a luggage piece placed on a luggage supportive floor surface if the piece moves for any reason. When a seat back is laid down forward, the reverse surface of the seat back can be used as a luggage supportive floor surface. A seat cushion is supported on an elevated step portion of a stepped floor, and made up of a lower cushion and an upper cushion. The upper cushion is connected to the elevated step portion by a link-type connection mechanism that allows the upper cushion to be moved between a normal position where the upper cushion is supported on the lower cushion and an upstanding position where the reverse surface of the upper cushion abuts against and is supported by a front wall surface of the elevated step portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular rear seat of the type including a seat back provided at a rear portion of a seat cushion supported on an elevated step portion of a stepped floor in such a fashion that the seat back is capable of being stood up and laid down. When the seat back is laid down, the reverse surface of the seat back can be used as a luggage supportive floor surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various vehicular rear seats are known in which a seat back is provided at a rear portion of a seat cushion supported on an elevated step portion of a stepped floor such that the seat back is capable of being stood up and laid down, and in which when the seat cushion is swung up with a front portion thereof facing down and the seat back is laid down forward, the reverse surface of the seat back can be used as a luggage supportive floor surface, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3-189245.
However, this type of conventional vehicular rear seat has problems as follows. For example, when the seat cushion is swung up with the front portion thereof facing down, a space is left between the seat cushion and the front wall surface of the elevated step portion of the floor so that the seat cushion is not firmly maintained in a precise upstanding portion. If quick or panic braking is applied or the vehicle receives an impact from the forward direction so that a luggage piece moves forward on the luggage supportive floor surface, then the luggage piece, if it is small, may fall into the space and, if it is large, may apply a large load to a front seat via the seat cushion held in the upstanding state, thus impeding driving. To eliminate such problems, it becomes necessary to provide reinforcing members, such as a belt, a link or the like, for fixing the seat cushion in the upstanding state, thus causing another problem of structure complication.


A pixel sensing circuit and driving method therefor, an image sensor, and an electronic device are provided. The pixel sensing circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element configured to generate electric charges in response to incident light, a transmission element configured to output the electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion element, and a source follower circuit configured to compensate an output current of the transmission element. The source follower circuit includes a first source follower transistor, a second source follower transistor, and a first storage capacitor.

Active pixel sensor (APS) is used to convert light image into electrical signals, and is widely used in digital camera, mobile phone with camera, vision system, and so on. Active pixel sensors can be divided into Charge Coupled Device (CCD) type and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) type. A CMOS-type APS can be manufactured on a silicon substrate through a semiconductor manufacturing process, thus the CMOS-type APS can be easily integrated with a peripheral system having an amplifier circuit and a signal processing module. Compared with a CCD-type APS, a CMOS-type APS has lower manufacturing costs, higher processing speed and lower power consumption.

Pixel sensing circuit and driving method therefor, image sensor, and electronic device


A lighting unit that optimizes an oscillation frequency for oscillating a diffusion device and its amplitude amount and a projecting display using the lighting unit are provided. Driving of a light source driving unit is controlled on the basis of driving of the oscillation driving unit.

This invention relates to a projection display that displays an image by projecting a luminous flux from a laser light source having coherency to an image display device.
JP-A-2004-144936 discloses a lighting unit including a diffusion element for distributing and diffusing coherent light incident from a semiconductor laser by changing its intensity distribution to a predetermined intensity distribution, and oscillation means for oscillating this diffusion element.
JP-A-3-163333 discloses a synchronized magnetic domain observation apparatus for extracting a specific change point of a magnetic domain image that changes at a high speed, by controlling on/off of a laser beam by a high speed shutter on the basis of coherency of the laser beam.

Projection display and lighting unit with diffusion optical device


Amine polymers, particularly aliphatic amine polymers, are useful in the treatment and prevention of bone disease and in methods for promoting bone formation. Sevelemer, polyallylamine crosslinked with epichlorohydrin, which is sold under the tradename Renagel®, is the preferred polymer used in the invention.

Osteoporosis is a progressive condition in which bones gradually lose their strength and density. An estimated 1 million older Americans suffer broken bones (typically wrist, spinal vertebrae and hips) because of osteoporosis. Women typically account for the vast majority of injuries caused by osteoporosis.
Normally, bone is continuously removed by osteoclasts and is replaced with new bone that is produced by osteoblasts. Bone loss results when the balance of the constructive and destructive processes is tipped from equilibrium toward a loss of calcium and other bone components. Osteoporosis is typically caused by either environmental or genetic factors. Environmental factors include aging and endocrine disease (i.e., hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, Cushing's Syndrome). Genetic factors include abnormal estrogen receptor gene, osteogenesis imperfecta tarda, and homocysteinuria.
One typical treatment for osteoporosis is hormone replacement therapy, however, the efficacy of such treatment is in doubt (Hulley, S., et al. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 280:605–613 (1998)). Another treatment involves the use of bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate, risedronate), raloxifene, and/or nasal calcitonin. All of the aforementioned antiresorptive agents currently approved for the treatment decrease bone resorption but do not induce new bone formation. Studies have shown that antiresorption agents may in fact prevent new bone formation and may contribute to increased fractures in patients who have been taking these agents from prolonged periods (Goodman R. L., New Engl. J. Med. 344(22):1720–1721 (2001); Mashiba, T., et al., Bone 28(5):424–31 (2001)). In addition, bisphosphonates can cause side effects involving the gastrointestinal tract.
Because osteoporosis is a common disease of aging and because the elderly population in the United States continues to grow, there is a clear need for new treatments for osteoporosis. Additionally, new treatments that could promote the formation of bone and that could prophylactically treat bone disorders are needed. Such new treatments should have minimal side effects, particularly systemic side effects.


Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that in response to one or more of an installation of an application or a modification to the application, generates a lookup key based on a first file that is associated with the application, determines that the lookup key is to be transmitted to a server, and determines whether to store at least a portion of the first file in a memory cache based on a first frequency indicator associated with the first file from the server.

When an application is launched for the first time on a system with a cache (e.g., a disk cache, memory cache, a persistent disk cache, etc.), the cache may not contain data associated with the application. Similarly, when the application is updated, the cache may not include the most used data of the application. Thus, the application may initially have suboptimal cache usage. For example, caching may only occur after the application is utilized after an application installation or update. The cache replacement policies may be enhanced slowly and over time as the application's disk access patterns are measured and cached in balance with other applications executing on the system. Adjusting the cache replacement policies in such a fashion may result in suboptimal performance for extended periods of time (e.g., several days or weeks) as optimal cache replacement polices are achieved to impact user experience and performance. Furthermore, applications have evolved over time to become more frequently updated than in the past. Thus, modern applications may be prone to suffering from suboptimal cache usage at an ever increasing rate due to nearly continuous application updates.

Cloud-based frequency-based cache management


One embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting harmful and/or hazardous ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction, interfere with the effectiveness of a prescription drug, exacerbate symptoms associated with a chronic illness, and/or cause another undesired reaction.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that 2% of adults and 8% of children in the United States are afflicted with food allergies (an estimated total of 7 million Americans according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network). The allergic family represents an estimated $25 billion of grocery spending per year.
Allergies are believed the leading cause of chronic disease in United States, costing the healthcare system about $18 billion dollars annually. It is estimated that 150-200 people die each year from food allergies. Food allergy is believed the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside a hospital setting accounting for approximately 30,000 emergency room visits and 2,000 hospitalizations. The Epinephrine injection is the most effective method of treating anaphylaxis; however in a 1999 study conducted by Mt. Sinai Medical Center, only 32% of 101 parents administered it correctly, and only 21% of physicians administered it correctly.
In a 1999 study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 91 sets of parents were asked to identify products whose ingredients their children must avoid. The most restricted food groups, peanut products and milk products, yielded correct answers in only 54% and 7%, respectively.
Indeed, reading labels to ensure they do not contain any harmful or unwanted product may be a complex and time consuming process. There are more than 30 essentially synonymous terms for milk alone.
Moreover, some labels may identify an ingredient, such as mayonnaise, without specifying its sub-ingredient such as "egg" (while individuals with egg allergies must avoid those products as well).
The NCPI (National Council on Patient Information) estimates that 95% of individuals over 65 (i.e., 32 million Americans) receive daily prescriptions (an average of 2.4 prescriptions per person). This group accounts for 13.4% of the population but accounts for 42% of total outpatient prescription spending.
In a study reported in the Jun. 12, 2002 issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine relating to elderly patients admitted to an urban hospital ER, the average number of prescriptions medications per patient was six. However, only 42% of these patients could correctly identify their medications. Additionally only 15% could identify their medication's indications.
Further, in a long-awaited national study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, (findings released by the FDA Jun. 18, 2002) regarding the distribution and "usefulness" of the medicine leaflets, one of every three leaflets received a low score, "1" or "2", out of 5, for print size, print quality, line spacing and ease of reading.
Additionally, merely the process of reading food labels may pose great difficulty for the following individuals:                The visually impaired who may strain to read the fine print of nutritional labels.        Individuals whose main language is not English.        Individuals who suffer from learning disabilities, dyslexia, or struggle with literacy.        Any individual who falls under the American with Disabilities Act, ADA, whose manual dexterity compromises their ability to read labels, e.g. those suffering from Parkinson Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for a consumer to determine food/medicine interactions


A method for producing a zipper for use in the production of reclosable plastic bags of the type having the zipper extending across a top end of the bag. The zipper has a first profile member and a second profile member that is interengageable with the first profile member. At bag length intervals of the zipper notches are formed by removing at least a portion of the first profile member and a portion of said second profile member. A mold is positioned about each of the notches and a molten thermoplastic material is introduced into the mold cavity filling the notch and extending beyond the notch and over the zipper top so that when the molten thermoplastic material is cooled an end stop is formed in situ at each of said notches.

The present invention relates to reclosable packaging and, in particular to an improved zipper for use in the manufacture of such packaging.
Reclosable plastic bags are growing increasingly popular both for storage purposes and as primary packaging for food stuffs and other products. Such bags are formed with plastic zipper having profiles with mating interengageable elements. A problem that has been encountered with such zippers is that when the user opens the zipper, if too much force is exerted a run may develop down one or both side seams of the bag. To avoid this from happening, it has heretofore been proposed to crimp or crush the ends of the zipper. While such crimping works fine for sliderless packages, the result is not always satisfactory when a slider is provided to facilitate opening and closing the zipper elements. In such case, the slider may be pulled over the crimp and off the package if too much force is exerted.
In order to maintain the slider on the zipper profiles, it has heretofore been suggested to provide stops at the ends of the zipper. The prior art is replete with suggestions as to how the end stops may be formed. Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,121 end stops are formed of the material at the ends of the zipper by deforming the material to extend outwardly from the sides of the bag. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,286, 5,448,807 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,791 a clip is provided at the ends of the zipper.

Plastic zipper with end stops and method for manufacturing same


In voludensitometry and in cases in which it is necessary to acquire only a small number of views, the artifact ratio resulting from reconstructions is reduced. There is acquired at least one view of the object to be reconstructed, the principal direction of irradiation of which is oriented substantially at right angles to a plane formed by or containing the other directions of irradiation corresponding to the other views.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for acquisition of radiological data relating to a body irradiated with x-rays and for reconstruction of structures corresponding to said body. Reconstruction of structures is aimed at the representation of images of cross-sections, or images of views, of these structures. The method is essentially concerned with the acquisition of radiological data detected by a two-dimensional detector placed opposite to the x-ray transmitter. In contrast to conventional tomodensitometers, the x-radiation in this case irradiates the body in volume and the absorption of this radiation in the body can be measured at the same time for the entire volume of the body and not only in a slice of said volume. The object of acquisitions of this type is clearly to accelerate the stage of measurement of the x-ray absorption phenomenon throughout the entire body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This mode of acquisition is already known. For example, it was presented by Pierre Grangeat at the second image symposium of the "International Week of the Electronic Image" held at Nice in Apr., 1986. As opposed to tomodensitometry, one accordingly refers to voludensitometry, and a basic system for reconstructing the structures under study is as follows. The system comprises an x-ray point source and the radiation flux has a conical geometry. This source is placed opposite to a body to be examined. A. two-dimensional detector is placed on the other side of the body with respect to the source, substantially at right angles to a principal direction of the radiation. This two-dimensional detector is capable of acquiring radiological data which can be digitized.
By causing the acquisition unit comprising the source and the two-dimensional detector to rotate about the body, the irradiation can be reiterated and a set of acquisitions can be obtained. By means of a reconstruction algorithm, it is then possible to distribute digital data over a spatial square grid, these data being representative of a reconstruction of the structure of the body which is subjected to examination. The reconstruction algorithms employed in this type of investigation essentially involves utilization of the 3D Radon transform and its inversion formula. In other words, by reducing the acquisition stage to a few second by means of a system of this type and by employing an appropriate reconstruction algorithm, the desired result is achieved.
The reconstruction algorithms thus mentioned require that the path of travel of the x-ray source and the corresponding path of the 2D detector should be circular with respect to the body to be examined. Since the conical geometry of the radiation makes it impossible to resolve the reconstruction problem into a superposition of two-dimensional reconstructions in parallel cross-sections perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the unit, it is found necessary to develop algorithms based on approximate calculations of the 3D Radon transform and of its inversion.
The use of approximations leads to reconstruction artifacts, with the result that, when it is thus desired to visualize the reconstructed object by selecting cross-sections of this latter or by displaying it directly, these artifacts appear in the images shown. These images cannot readily be processed.
In another approach, the reconstruction is effected by simulating the reconstructed structure, by mathematically projecting the simulation of this structure in accordance with a direction of irradiation, and by comparing the image in simulated projection directly with the measurements resulting from the irradiation. In fact this comparison is made, not for a single direction of irradiation but for all directions of irradiation really carried out. Thus a projection of the simulated structure corresponds to each direction of acquisition. From this comparison is deduced a modification of the simulated model of the structure under study. In a following iteration, the modified simulated model is then projected as before, its projection is again compared with the acquisitions really made, and so on until the comparisons show that the modified simulated model is sufficiently close to the structure which has really been irradiated. These methods of reconstruction by estimation and simulation involving the use of so-called algebraic reconstruction algorithms are wholly suitable when the acquisition number is small or when the irradiations are badly distributed about the body. The number is small in particular when the examination is an angiography in which the injection of a contrast product is traumatizing and cannot be repeated too often. The irradiations are badly distributed when the geometry of the body to be studied or the means for intervention on said body do not permit correct positioning of the source-detector assembly on the entire periphery of a circle which surrounds the zone of interest of the object.
The object of the invention is to work towards the reconstruction of structures with less artifacts than in the known state of the art, this being achieved in respect of an equal acquisition number and by making use of an algebraic reconstruction algorithm. Quite simply, instead of causing the x-ray source to follow a circular path (with a corresponding path for the 2D detector), it is found preferable in accordance with the invention to distribute the orientations of the principal directions of acquisition in space so that all these orientations cannot be located in the same plane. Preferably, the acquisition number will be a minimum of three. These three orientations of the directions of irradiations will be orthogonal to each other. The avoidance orientations located in the same plane is associated with the use of an algebraic reconstruction algorithm.

Method for acquisition of radiological data in multiple orthogonal orientations using a 2D detector relating to a body irradiated with x-rays and for reconstruction of structures corresponding to said body using an algebraic algorithm


Isolated NCED3 nucleic acids and polypeptides are described herein, together with methods for using such nucleic acids and polypeptides for making transgenic plants with improved drought tolerance.

In the fields of agriculture and forestry, efforts have been made to produce plants with increased growth potential in order to feed the ever-increasing world population and to guarantee the supply of reproducible raw materials. This is done conventionally through plant breeding. The breeding process is, however, both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Furthermore, appropriate breeding programs must be performed for each relevant plant species.
In addition, plants are constantly exposed to a variety of biotic (e.g., pathogen infection and insect herbivory) and abiotic (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, and salinity) stresses. To survive these challenges, plants have developed elaborate mechanisms to perceive external signals and to manifest adaptive responses with proper physiological and morphological changes (Bohnert et al., 1995 Plant Cell, 7:1099–1111). Plants exposed to low water or drought conditions typically have low yields of plant material, seeds, fruit and other edible products. Some areas of the world consistently have very low rainfall and therefore have problems growing sufficient food crops for their population. Yet it has been observed that some plants survive and thrive in low water environments. To avoid reliance on breeding processes, it would be useful to identify genes that confer improved drought tolerance to enable the creation of transformed plants (such as crop plants) with improved drought tolerance characteristics.

Methods and materials for improving plant drought tolerance


Provided is an ultrasonic transducer including: a housing including a bottom surface and side members, the side members facing each other and extending upwardly with a space part therebetween, the housing having an opened upper part; a piezoelectric resonator disposed at an upper portion of the bottom surface; a housing auxiliary member disposed at upper portions of the side members and inserted into the space part; and a signal connection pin part disposed at an upper portion of the housing auxiliary member. In particular, the housing auxiliary member is formed of material having a lower density than the housing, thereby improving isotropic radiation characteristics. Sides of the housing are symmetrically opened by a structure for the ultrasonic transducer so that an isotropic radiation angle of ultrasonic waves is maximized to improve accuracy of sensing an obstacle, an internal structure of the housing is simplified in such a way that no additional process is required, thereby reducing manufacturing cost, and the housing auxiliary member is combined with the opened part of the housing so that external pollution can be prevented from entering into the ultrasonic transducer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic transducer that is capable of sensing an obstacle at the periphery of a vehicle.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Ultrasonic transducers that are used in vehicles, according to the related art, are mounted in bumpers of vehicles and used as obstacle sensors.
In ultrasonic transducers used for this purpose, if a transmission and reception range of ultrasonic waves in a horizontal installation direction is extremely narrow, blind spots are formed in the range of detection. Also, if the transmission and reception range of the ultrasonic waves in a vertical direction is extremely wide, waves reflected from the ground become noise. Thus, horizontal rather than vertical directivity is required.
In order to obtain such directivity, directivity has been generally improved by forming slits that are symmetrical to sides of a housing of an ultrasonic transducer.
However, in the case of such a configuration, foreign substances are introduced from the outside through slits formed in sides of the housing, and the introduced foreign substances accumulate on the periphery of a piezoelectric resonator, which lowers performance of the ultrasonic transducer. Also, due to complexity of the structure of the housing, processing including forging and cutting needs to be generally performed on the housing formed of an aluminum material such that manufacturing cost increases.


A demodulator for demodulating S possible orthogonal modulation codes received serially as binary data, wherein each of the S possible orthogonal modulation codes comprises M binary bits representing an N-bit data symbol and wherein M=2N. The demodulator comprises Logic 00, Logic 01, Logic 10, and Logic 11 input detectors, each of which compares M/2 sequential pairs of the M binary bits of the orthogonal modulation codes to a respective one of a Logic 00 value, a Logic 01 value, a Logic 10 value, or a Logic 11 value and outputs a [+1,+1] signal if a match occurs and outputs a [−1,−1] signal if a match does not occur. An input decision circuit detects a [+1,+1] signal output by one of the input detectors after a comparison of a jth sequential pair of the M/2 sequential pairs of the M binary bits. In response to the detection, the input decision circuit adds the [+1,+1] signal to one or more of S accumulators if a jth one of the M/2 code mask bits in a corresponding one of a Logic 00 code mask, a Logic 01 code mask, a Logic 10 code mask, or a Logic 11 code mask is a Logic 1.

The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is a limited commodity. Only a small portion of the spectrum can be assigned to each communications industry. The assigned spectrum, therefore, must be used efficiently in order to allow as many frequency users as possible to have access to the spectrum. Multiple access modulation techniques are some of the most efficient techniques for utilizing the RF spectrum. Examples of such modulation techniques include time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), and code division multiple access (CDMA).
CDMA modulation employs a spread spectrum technique for the transmission of information. The CDMA wireless communications system spreads the transmitted signal over a wide frequency band. This frequency band is typically substantially wider than the minimum bandwidth required to transmit the signal. A signal having a bandwidth of only a few kilohertz can be spread over a bandwidth of more than a megahertz.
All of the wireless access terminals, including both mobile stations and fixed terminals, that communicate in a CDMA system transmit on the same frequency. Therefore, in order for the base station to identify the wireless access terminals, each wireless access terminal is assigned a unique pseudo-random (PN) long spreading code that identifies that particular wireless access terminal to the wireless network. Typically, each long code is generated using the electronic serial number (ESN) of each mobile station or fixed terminal. The ESN for each wireless access terminal is unique to that wireless access terminal.
In some CDMA wireless networks, during the transmission of user data from a wireless access terminal to a base station (i.e., reverse channel traffic), the user data are grouped into 20 millisecond (msec.) frames. All user data transmitted on the reverse channel are convolutionally encoded and block interleaved to form a baseband signal. In a preferred embodiment, the baseband signal is then modulated by an M-ary orthogonal modulation in which each N-bit data sequence or symbol is replaced by an orthogonal modulation code sequence of length M=2N. The M-ary modulated signal is then spread using a long code based on the ESN data and then separated into an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component prior to quadrature modulation of an RF carrier and transmission.
Next, the I-component is modulated by a zero-offset short pseudo-random noise (I-PN) binary code sequence. The Q-component is modulated by a zero-offset short pseudo-random noise (Q-PN) binary code sequence. In an alternate embodiment, the quadrature binary sequence may be offset by one-half of a binary chip time. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the in-phase component and the quadrature component are used for quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation of an RF carrier prior to transmission. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the access terminal may use binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or other digital modulation format for modulation of an RF carrier for transmission of the data signals prior to transmission.
For IS-95 and IS-2000 based systems, the M-ary modulation uses M=26 orthogonal binary sequences for 6-bit encoding. In other words, six (N=6) bit blocks (or symbols) of the encoded and interleaved baseband signal are represented by one of 26 (i.e., 64) unique codes. In 64-ary modulation used in current CDMA systems, one of 64 possible Walsh codes is transmitted for each group of six (6) coded bits of the baseband signal. Within a Walsh function, sixty-four (64) Walsh chips are transmitted. The particular Walsh function is selected according to the relation:Walsh Function=c0+2c1+4c2+8c3+16c4+32c5  (1)where c5 represents the last coded bit and co represents the first coded bit in the six-bit group of baseband data. Upon receipt of the transmitted signal from the access terminal, the base station performs the inverse of this sequence to detect the transmitted user baseband data bits.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that instead of M-ary modulation described previously, the baseband signal may be spread with an M-bit Walsh code, a quasi-orthogonal function or a turbo code prior to up-conversion and modulation of an RF carrier for transmission.
For multipath propagation, the base station may employ spatial diversity reception with two independent receive paths to receive a fading signal from the kth access terminal. In a preferred embodiment, diversity reception comprises two or more antennas separated by a distance equal to ten (10) or more wavelengths of the received RF signal. Those skilled in the art will recognize that signals arriving at the two or more antennas from the same source are un-correlated with antennas separations of ten (10) or more wavelengths. That is, if the signal received by one antenna is faded, the signal received by another antenna is not faded. Each antenna is connected to receive circuitry that performs separate despreading, M-ary demodulation, de-interleaving and convolutional decoding functional blocks for processing each multipath signal received by the base station. If the signal from the access terminal to one of the antennas undergoes a fade, a signal on the radio path from the access terminal to the second antenna may not have be in a fade condition. A selector circuit selects the best signal from the multiple diversity receive circuits to mitigate the affects of fading.
In conventional CDMA systems, the M-ary demodulator for demodulation of the signal from the kth access terminal consists of a bank of matched filters needed to detect one out of the M possible N-bit data symbols. A separate bank of matched filters is required for processing the signal received on each path. Each matched filter consists of M stages for processing the M modulation symbol bits to detect one out of the M possible N-bit data symbols. This greatly increases the number of ASIC gates or DSP processing (instructions per second) to detect the one of M=2N possible N-bit data symbols (patterns) in demodulating the M-ary modulated signal.
Therefore, there is a need for an M-ary demodulator that reduces the signal processing complexity required to perform M-ary demodulation of M-ary modulated data symbols. In particular, there is a need for an M-ary demodulator that does not require a separate bank of matched filters on each received signal path, wherein each matched filter consists of M stages for processing the M modulation symbol bits.

Practical M-ary demodulator using hard decision circuit and method of operation for use in a CDMA wireless network base station


A fluid heating device of a vehicle fuel system includes: a case having a fluid inlet for letting in fluid, a fluid outlet for letting out the fluid, and an inner space that communicates with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; upper and lower power-supply and heat-radiation plates that are arranged in the inner space to be vertically spaced apart from each other, and supply external power; and one or more PTC elements that are interposed between the upper and lower power-supply and heat-radiation plates to receive the external power, and spaced apart from each other to form one or more fluid flow holes. Accordingly, the combustion of the fuel and the cold start performance of the vehicle can be improved.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid heating device using a PTC element and a vehicle fuel system using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a fluid heating device is a device that heats a moving fluid by an appropriate heat source, which is used in various fields.
In a vehicle, the fluid heating device is used as a fuel heater. The fuel heater preheats fuel to an adequate temperature before supplying the fuel to an internal combustion engine to improve combustion of fuel, cold start performance of the engine, etc.
The fuel heater for the vehicle is installed on a fuel line to preheat diesel fuel, for example.
In the case of flex-fuel vehicles that are fueled by bioethanol (E100), gasoline fuel is used instead of the fuel heater, as well as it is used as start-up fuel, in order to enhance cold start performance of the engine.
That is, startup may be in trouble at an outside temperature below 15° C. because the ignition temperature of bioethanol is 12° C., which is high. To overcome this, attempts are being made to enhance cold start performance by spraying gasoline fuel to the back of the throttle body during engine start-up.
However, a conventional flex-fuel vehicle, which uses gasoline fuel as auxiliary fuel to enhance cold start performance, requires an auxiliary fuel tank for storing gasoline fuel and an auxiliary fuel system including a fuel cap, a fuel pump, etc. Thus, the conventional flex-fuel vehicle is not desirable in terms of vehicle weight, cost, assembly productivity, collision resistance performance, and so on.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Fluid heating device and vehicle fuel system using the same


A plant for manufacturing a rigid pipe for drawing up deep water within an offshore platform includes a floating platform on which a continuous production device is installed in the vertical axis of the pipe, and including:                a first stage of winding webs of fibers impregnated with resin around a winding roll for the partial crosslinking thereof,        a second stage of complete crosslinking of the resin,        a third stage of mounting functional members on the pipe,        a fourth stage of inspecting the pipe thus manufactured, and        a fifth stage of guiding the pipe.

An energy production facility of this type generally includes a platform on which means are placed for producing electricity from the temperature difference in the surface and deep water, said platform also being associated with means forming a pipe for drawing cold water up from a depth.
The operating principle of such an OTE (Ocean Thermal Energy) facility consists of using the temperature difference that exists naturally between the surface and deep water of the oceans to run a thermal machine.
Due to the laws of thermodynamics, to have an acceptable efficiency, the implementation of such an OTE facility is only justified with a temperature difference for example greater than 20° C.
Typically, the water can for example be at a temperature of 25° C. on the surface and a temperature of 5° C. at 1000 meters deep.
One can then see that this limits the use of such facilities to specific areas, for example such as tropical areas.
The water must then be pumped at a very significant depth through means forming a suction pipeline associated with the platform, while the hot water is pumped on the surface.
Various attempts to develop OTE-based energy production facilities have already been made.
Efforts were for example made by Georges CLAUDE in the 1930s.
Of course, other operators have made attempts since then.
However, the very large majority of these attempts have failed due to various problems, and in particular problems of the mechanical strength of certain elements of those facilities with the environmental conditions encountered.
It is in fact known that in the geographical areas in which these facilities can be installed, particular meteorological conditions may be encountered such as relatively strong ocean currents, storms, etc., which causes the deterioration or even breakage of certain parts of the facility.
Other problems appear during the manufacture of the rigid pipe for drawing up deep water.
It has in fact already been proposed to produce that pipe in the form of sections jointed together using connecting means.
This nevertheless has a certain number of drawbacks, in particular in terms of the complexity and cost of such a structure.
Other solutions have consisted of producing the pipe on land and towing it to the production site.
The towing and handling operations for such a pipe, which can be several tens or even hundreds of meters long, are also extremely tedious.

Plant for manufacturing a rigid pipe for drawing up deep water within an offshore platform


A method and apparatus for the direct characterization of the phase of an optical signal includes measuring the interference between the optical signal and a sequence of optical pulses and processing the measured interference. The method and apparatus split and combine the optical signal and the sequence of optical pulses in order to measure the real and imaginary part of the interference signal for a least two pulses from the sequence of optical pulses. Processing steps are disclosed to obtain phase information on the optical signal from the measured interference.

In optical communications systems, it is necessary to characterize the phase and amplitude of optical pulses as accurately as possible in order to predict and mitigate signal degradation. For example, in long distance wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) systems, optical signals are modified by linear effects such as chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion, and nonlinear effects such as self-phase modulation or cross-phase modulation, all of which degrade their transmission properties. Characterizations of the effect of the distortions on a propagating optical signal can assist in determining corrective measures for an optical communications system. Another example of the necessity of having appropriate temporal diagnostics lies in the wide variety of modulation formats that are used for data transmission. Information bits are encoded in the amplitude or phase of short optical pulses, either in a binary fashion or with multiple levels of coding.
The temporal characterization of optical signals may be achieved by various means depending on the properties of the optical signal and the application. For example, one might be interested in measuring the electric field (temporal intensity and phase, or equivalently spectral intensity and phase) of a periodic train of pulses, from which information such as the duration or the chirp of the pulse (and more generally, the properties of the medium in which the pulse has traveled) may be deduced. In digital optical telecommunications where information is transmitted using optical pulses, a well-adapted characterization tool is the eye diagram, which consists of samples of the temporal intensity of a signal under test. A synchronous eye diagram therefore offers a statistical representation of allowable values for the temporal intensity of an optical signal. This information is extremely valuable in on-off keying systems since it represents the temporal shape of the pulses carrying the bits of information in the data stream and may be used to track various sources of noise and impairments. However, a conventional eye diagram only contains intensity information, and methods to measure such a representation do not have the ability to get any phase information. This is particularly detrimental for transmission systems based on phase-encoding, such as differential phase shift keying (DPSK), where the information is typically encoded in the phase difference between pulses in the data stream that have identical temporal intensity. The use of such phase encoding advantageously offers a relatively high degree of noise immunity while facilitating comparatively high data rates and is becoming common in telecommunication systems. As such, what is needed in the art is a method and apparatus for the direct characterization of the phase of phase-encoded signals.

Method and apparatus for the direct characterization of the phase of an optical signal


An inkjet printer comprising: an ink storage that communicates with a nozzle from which ink is ejected; a carriage that moves along a guide member and has the ink storage mounted thereon; an ink tube through which ink supplied to the ink storage passes; and a coupling member that connects the ink storage and the ink tube; wherein the carriage has a first wall located at a position that is in a first direction from the coupling member, and a second wall located at a position that is in a second direction from the coupling member, the first direction and the second direction being along the direction of carriage movement, and the second direction being opposite the first direction, and when viewed in the direction of carriage movement, the coupling member is superimposed with the first wall and is superimposed with the second wall.

The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printer.
Image forming devices that record images by ejecting fluid using a recording head configured to eject fluid (ink) are known from the literature. See, for example, JP-A-2013-111801.
The image forming device (inkjet printer) described in JP-A-2013-111801 has a head tank that stores the ink that is supplied to the recording head, a carriage that carries the recording head and head tank, a main tank that stores ink that is supplied to the head tank, a displacement member that changes position according to how much ink remains in the main tank, and a fluid conveyance means that supplies ink from the main tank to the head tank through a supply tube (ink tube), and ink is supplied from the main tank to the head tank based on a sensor detecting the position of the displacement member.


An improved and simplified apparatus and method for washing leafy plant products is provided. The invented apparatus utilizes hydro-energy for sufficiently cleaning plant products being processed thereby, while effectively using water recirculating therethrough. The apparatus comprises a plant product loading assembly coupled to a cleansing flume. The loading assembly comprises a conical receiving section having a plurality of spray nozzles located about the periphery thereof to form a turbulent water flow through the loading assembly that completely submerges plant product disposed in the receiving section. This ensures that a maximum amount of plant product mixes with the water to form a slurry that optimizes water usage and quickly cleans the product. The flow rate of the water flowing through the spray nozzles does not damage the plant product. The configuration of the loading assembly inhibits collection of debris for maintaining sanitation of the apparatus. A water distribution manifold is provided for controlling water flowing to the spray nozzles. The manifold is configured to facilitate sanitation and other maintenance procedures performed thereon. The flume is configured to maintain plant product flowing therethrough submerged for effectively cleaning the product, while optimizing as workspace occupied by the apparatus. The flume comprises a plurality of tubes that are provided with baffles positioned along a bottom surface thereof. The baffles are positioned to cause water passing through the tube to flow in a helical motion. The helical motion of the water maintains the plant product almost completely submerged, while cleaning the product.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/026,485, filed on Sep. 23, 1996.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for washing fruits and vegetables, and more particularly, to an improved and simplified apparatus and method for washing plant products and particularly leafy plant products.
2. Description of Related Art
There are a number of devices in the prior art directed toward cleaning fruits and vegetables prior to packaging the fruits and vegetables for the retail marketplace. These devices typically receive newly harvested plant product, then process the plant product for cleaning and performing other processing prior to packaging the plant product for the retail marketplace. These devices typically comprise substantially large, robust pieces of machinery that may be wholly, or partially, automated.
These devices usually include a plant product receiving area for receiving the newly harvested plant products. A processing assembly is typically coupled to the receiving area. The processing area may include a washing assembly, that can include a plant product conveyance assembly containing recirculating water for removing dirt, insecticides, and other undesired particulate matter from the plant products. A drying assembly may optionally be coupled to the washing assembly for drying the cleansed plant products prior to packing the plant product for distribution to retail marketplaces.
A number of such devices are disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,467,888, to Harlow, discloses an apparatus for washing plant products. The disclosed apparatus includes a table structure mounted for rotation about an upright axis. The table structure comprises a produce supporting top adapted to retain the produce thereon. The top is coarsely apertured so that when water is sprayed at produce retained on the top, as the water detaches waste from the produce, the apertures are sufficiently large to enable removal of the waste from the table top. The apparatus includes means for spraying the water and means for rotating the table. Further included is a pan that includes separate means for preventing exit of the waste through a water discharge outlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,945, to Weisser, is directed to a flood cell apparatus for conveying and processing materials for washing conveying, and processing vegetables and the like. The apparatus comprises an inclined tank that has a rounded bottom, a closed inlet end, and an open outlet end. The outlet end is upraised relative to the inlet end to define a flood level over which liquid introduced into the tank, leaves the tank. Nozzles direct streams of water under pressure from the inlet end of the tank toward the outlet end for impelling vegetables toward the outlet end. The nozzles create turbulence in the water for cleaning the vegetables. Waste material is detached from the vegetables and moves toward the inlet end where a waste outlet is provided for removing the waste, while the vegetables are moving toward the outlet end of the apparatus.
Another device for washing produce is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,131, to Medlock. The disclosed washer includes an elongated open top tank that contains water. The tank has a loading end and an opposing exit end. A plurality of outlet nozzles are positioned transversely across the tank and are spaced along the fall length thereof above the water line. A plurality of baffles are positioned in the tank in a staggered arrangement. The nozzles and baffles, along with the water in the tank, coact to draw produce loaded into the tank completely underwater. The produce is moved in an agitating serpentine pattern as it is moved toward the exit end of the tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,544, to De Vergara, is directed to an apparatus for washing and drying of fruit. The apparatus causes fruit to pass through a series of water baths under the influence of water pressure, under a rinsing spray, and finally between jets of air for drying the fruit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,755, to Hill, discloses a method and apparatus for processing produce, and particularly fresh vegetables for salads. The disclosed apparatus includes a cleaning assembly the includes high pressure nozzles that spray chlorinated water at the desired storage temperature of the vegetables.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,711, to Crosset, discloses a method and apparatus for processing leafy vegetables, and particularly for drying leafy vegetables such as spinach. U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,478, to Entes, is directed to an apparatus for washing slices of a tuberous plant, such as potatoes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,116, to Valdespino, is directed to a food lift and U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,545, to Trotter, discloses a portable washing and spray assembly.
However, the various methods and apparatus of the prior art have suffer from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage common to the above enumerated prior art references, and specifically those apparatus directed toward cleaning leafy vegetables, is that they are not well suited for cleaning substantially large volumes of the leafy vegetables. Often as these vegetables are being conveyed along the washing portion of the apparatus, the leafy vegetables collect and clog the washing portion of the apparatus. Unfortunately, operators are needed for monitoring these clogs, which adds to the cost associated with processing of the vegetables.
Another disadvantage found in the prior art, is that as the plant product is conveyed along the washing portion of the apparatus, the plant product is often not completely submerged or not submerged for a sufficiently long time period. This usually results in the plant product not being sufficiently cleansed.
A farther disadvantage of the prior art is that the water spray nozzles spray water under excessive pressure. This often causes the water to contact the plant product with enough force to damage the leaves of the plant products. Additionally disadvantageous of the prior art, is that it is often time consuming to drain and fill the water recirculating through the plant product washing portion of the apparatus. This may cause the water to not be replaced at proper intervals, such as when the water becomes excessively dirty, resulting in the plant product passing through the washing portion not being sufficiently cleaned. Another disadvantage is that these apparatuses are excessively large and consume unnecessary quantities of workspace.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved and simplified apparatus and method for washing plant products and particularly leafy plant product.

Apparatus for washing leafy plant products


The present invention provides a method for making semiconductor nanometer-scale wire. The method comprises the steps of: forming a nitride film on a semiconductor substrate by implanting a nitrogen ions at a high temperature; forming a nitride film pattern with several nanometer line width and spaced by several nanometer therebetween by using an Atomic Force Microscope; forming a silicon oxide film by selectively thermal-oxidizing an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate; removing the nitride film pattern by using the Atomic Force Microscope; forming a semiconductor layer by using Molecular Beam Epitaxy method on the surface of the silicon oxide film and on the surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed by removing the nitride film pattern; and selectively removing the silicon oxide film and the semiconductor layer on the surface of the silicon oxide film through thermal treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for making a silicon(Si) or germanium(Ge) semiconductor wire having a nanometer scale line width with ultrahigh purity under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, more particularly, to a method for making Si or Ge nanometer-scale wire on Si substrate using an Atomic Force Microscope(AFM) and surface chemical reactions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, in order to achieve an ultrahigh integrated device of ultrahigh speed, a semiconductor device must be small. For that, first of all, it should be technically solved that the line width of the pattern is small and the pattern is made of pure materials with fewer impurities.
Conventionally, the semiconductor nanometer-scale wire is made by a method using a high energy electron-beam. Thus, no less than several tens nanometer-scale wire was made due to the characteristics of the conventional high energy electron-beam. Therefore, there are problems that the device cannot be any more integrated and its purity is also degraded.

Method for making semiconductor nanometer-scale wire using an atomic force microscope

Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute


A method and apparatus for preventing overspray onto bonding pads of a laser bar during facet coating includes manufacturing inserts with gaskets that are aligned with the laser bar such that the gaskets mask off the bonding pads during the facet coating process so that no overspray onto the bonding pads occurs. The gaskets are preferably made of gold with a thin titanium coating to prevent thermal compression bonding with the bonding pads. The inserts with gaskets are preferably manufactured using standard wafer processing techniques. The gaskets are preferably formed using the compliant layer metalization process described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,817.

Part of the manufacturing process of semiconductor lasers includes separating wafers into bars. Each bar is a one-dimensional array of laser chips. The manufacturing process requires the application of thin films of glasslike materials to portions, called facets, of the laser bars. The thin films are known as facet coatings. Due to the nature of the facet coating process, the coating can cover any unmasked areas on the laser in addition to the facet. Coating other areas of the laser is undesirable since the top and bottom of the laser have gold contacts for mechanical attachment of the device through a solder bond and for electrical connection to a power source through a ribbon bond.

Method for preventing facet coating overspray


A kit of four faucet nut wrenches, two of 1⅜ inch internal diameter, two of 1 inch internal diameter, longer wrenches 14–16 inches long, shorter wrenches 4 inches long. Drive sockets are provided for removable insertion into the drive end of each wrench. The smaller diameter wrenches are optionally held within the larger wrenches. Orifices in of the wrenches provide for the smaller diameter wrenches optional insertion into the larger diameter wrenches. Removable lock pins secure the wrenches together.

Faucets are secured to counters by faucet nuts. The faucet nuts are partially comprised of wings. Additionally, faucet supplies are secured to faucets by way of a smaller faucet nut with wings. Faucet nuts are threadably engaged on faucet nipples. The nipples are tubular, hollow, and externally threaded. Faucets are typically in hard to reach areas, such as under a sink counter. Reaching the nuts by hand is usually quite difficult. Tightening and loosening faucet nuts by hand, with most available nut wrenches, is not always possible. Further, most available faucet nut wrenches do not offer the reach possibilities needed to reach all faucet nuts. Hand cannot always adequately secure the fixture. Loosening a nut by hand is often impossible due to the nut being unreachable, over tightened, or frozen. Most existing tools require the use of a screwdriver or like device inserted perpendicularly into the faucet nut tool in order to gain the leverage needed to turn the tool. Space for such levers is seldom available. Space limitations also exist due to the length of most nut wrenches offered. Reaching and leveraging the nuts often calls for either a short or a long wrench. Accessibility to faucet nuts varies. What is needed is a kit which provides various sizes and lengths of wrenches for faucet nuts. The kit should further provide a hand-grip means for turning the wrenches, as well as further leverage for the wrenches. The kit should also contain wrenches whereby a square drive tool, such as a ratchet, can be used to rotate the wrench.
1. Field of the Invention
The faucet nut wrench kit relates to faucet nut wrenches and more particularly to a faucet nut wrench kit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior related art is replete with devices for turning faucet mounting nuts. Each device offers some unique feature. None of the devices known comprises a kit which provides various lengths of faucet nut wrenches, and various sizes of wrenches for addressing different sizes of faucet nuts. Further, the devices do not offer the socket wrench drives of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,447 issued to Bayouth on Dec. 7, 1999 teaches a wrench for engaging a faucet mounting nut. The wrench includes an elongated tubular pipe which has slots at one end and holes in an opposite end for inserting a screwdriver or the like. The tool is limited to either hand rotation without any aids for such, or screwdriver driven rotation. The tool is not a part of a kit for various nut applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,317 issued to Machovsky on Mar. 2, 2004 teaches a multi-purpose plumbing tool which is comprised of two parts. Like U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,447, one tool part relies upon holes into which a screwdriver or the like can be inserted. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,587 issued to Foerster, Jr. on Apr. 1, 1997 teaches a deep-socket driver with a plurality of slots which can engage the corners of a hexagonal nut, not a wing nut. The driver is further adapted for a hexagonal drive which can be engaged into a drill chuck. The driver is not adapted for a square drive, such as a ratchet.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a faucet nut wrench kit that provides for the advantages of the present faucet nut wrench kit. In this respect, the faucet nut wrench kit substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. Therefore, a need exists for an improved faucet nut wrench kit.


A control valve includes a tubular member and a truncated conical helix spring received in the tubular member. A diverging open end of the helix spring is fixed adjacent to a first open end of the tubular member. The helix spring has a truncated tapered open end opposed to the diverging open end. A plug member is fixed in the truncated tapered open end in order to close the truncated tapered open end. The truncated conical helix spring confines a truncated cone-shaped chamber and is formed of a plurality of turns which are wound in a watertight manner. The helix spring extends and forms a plurality of clearances among the turns under a predetermined axial tension force. The tubular member has two connecting outlet ports which are to be connected respectively to the ends of a transducer in order to measure the differential pressure and thereby measure the flow rate of the fluid which passes through the tubular member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control valve, more particularly to a triple functional valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flow control valves, such as check valves, flow regulators and flowmeters are widely used in fluid systems. Check valves are used to restrict the direction of fluid flow. Flow regulators can regulate the flow rate of fluid. In the past, these flow control valves are individually designed, constructed and utilized in a fluid system.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional check valve and a conventional regulator, respectively. The conventional check valve has two separate housings, 91 and 92, which can be locked to each other in order to form a valve seat, and a plurality of preset devices for controlling the direction of fluid flow, the flow rate, etc., which are mounted individually in the valve seat. The conventional regulator has a construction similar to the conventional check valve and has a valve seat formed of two detachable housings, 93 and 94, and a plurality of preset controlling devices mounted in the valve seat. The structure and the assembly of the conventional check valve and regulator are complicated and troublesome, resulting in a high manufacturing cost.
FIG. 3 shows a variable area flowmeter which has a plug 81 that is movable in a tube member 82 in order to change the pass area of the aperture 83 through which the fluid flows. The tube member 82 has two holes, 84 and 85, which are to be connected to a transducer (not shown) in order to measure the differential pressure which has mathematic relationship with the flow rate in the tube member 82. Such a flowmeter is individually utilized in a fluid system, that is, there is no structural relationship between the flowmeter, the conventional check valve and the regulator in the fluid system. Since the flowmeter, the check valve and the regulator must be mounted separately on the fluid system, the arrangement and assembly of these control valves in the pipe-line of the fluid system are time-consuming and troublesome.


A television receiver for receiving digital and analog signals that reduces adjacent channel interference when receiving digital signals susceptible to interference caused by a lower adjacent NTSC signal. Upon receiving the digital signal, the receiver heterodynes the digital signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. A microprocessor searches a memory unit for stored information regarding the digital broadcast channel and determines the presence or absence of a lower adjacent NTSC channel. In the case a lower adjacent NTSC channel is present, the microprocessor shifts the frequency of the LO signal causing the IF signal to shift towards the lower band edge of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter present in a digital signal processor further attenuating the lower adjacent NTSC channel.

A Digital Television Standard published by the Advanced Television Subcommittee (ATSC) specifies vestigial sideband (VSB) signals for transmitting digital television (DTV) signals, such as high definition television (HDTV) signals. The VSB signals are transmitted in 6-MHz handwidth television channels such as those currently used in conventional terrestrial broadcasting of National Television Subcommittee (NTSC) analog television signals within the United States. The HDTV system is incompatible with the NTSC broadcast standard, thus, if the broadcasting industry immediately adopted the digital HDTV system and abandoned the NTSC system, NTSC television receivers purchased within the last few years would be rendered obsolete. To avoid this undesirable result, the transition from conventional analog NTSC-standard broadcasts to digital HDTV television broadcasts will occur over a period that may last fifteen years to allow for normal attrition of older NTSC television receivers. Thus, during this transition period, both NTSC analog and HDTV digital signals will occupy the television spectrum. Television receivers manufactured during the transition period will be capable of processing both NTSC and HDTV signals.
At particular geographic location, a receiver may receive signals from two transmitters that have adjacent channel spectrum allocations (e.g., an HDTV channel adjacent to an NTSC channel). When attempting to receive one of the signals (the desired signal), the other (the undesired, adjacent channel signal) creates interference in the system. Consequently, the signals must be filtered to reduce the interference from the adjacent channel signal. This situation is particularly problematic when the desired signal is an HDTV signal and the undesired signal is lower adjacent NTSC signal because of the proximity of the aural carrier of the NTSC signal to the digital signal. The desired to undesired (D/U) signal ratio can be more than −40 dB. This presents an extreme challenge to fabricate surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, such as those required by digital television receivers, that have a steep transition band roll off in order to remove the undesired signal without significantly attenuating the desired signal.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for digital television receivers using conventional SAW filters that are able to reduce adjacent channel interference, particularly, lower adjacent NTSC channel interference.

Television receiver for digital signals with offset tuning provisions


A single structure device is provided to promote static and dynamic musculoskeletal alignment and strengthening of along the entire vertebral system. A vertebral surface pattern is defined for supporting the vertebral system extending as a continuous and varying surface pattern along its longitudinal axis. The vertebral surface pattern distinguishes a cranial-cervical region, a cervical, a thoracic region, a lumbar region, and a sacral region. The device is substantially circular allowing the device the ability to roll from side-to-side. The device could be solid, hollow, sectional or inflatable as long as the device is a single structure when in use to address and be used over the entire, and not just parts, of vertebral system.

Poor Posture has been linked to multiple health related problems like neck pain, back pain, forward head posture, headaches, poor overall health, fatigue, etc. Poor posture forces the spine to function in a poor alignment resulting in putting stress on all of its elements.
Foam devices are examples on how one could address posture related health problems. These devices could be cylindrical foam rollers or wedged-shaped structures in various shapes and sizes. A person would lay on top of these foam devices, supporting just a small portion of the spine, expecting the spine to realign itself. Unfortunately, these foam devices fail to properly align/contour with the natural shape and curves of the entire length of human spine/vertebral column. The limited support provided by these devices actually adds additional stress to the spine itself. Furthermore, these foam devices are typically used for static correction and would not be suitable or able to address any dynamic stability or posture issues.
The vertebral column functions most efficiently as a whole. Realignment of just one specific area of the spinal column can only lead to added stress on other areas and/or not address the problem completely. Therefore, the entire spine needs to be addressed as a whole for it to function optimally and provide the structure/support it is supposed to. The present invention provides a device to address the static and dynamic stability of the entire spine.

Spine roll to promote musculoskeletal alignment and strengthening of a human spine


An information system accesses an internal network via a firewall from an information terminal of an external network. The information system includes a relay server provided in the external network; and a file server provided in the internal network. The file server includes a relay agent configured to manage a network connection between the file server and the relay server, and a file system configured to store desired data. The relay agent generates a thread based on a number of requests received by the relay server from the information terminal, acquires the request by using the generated thread, and transfers the acquired request to the file system. The file system identifies data corresponding to the transferred request, and outputs the identified data to the information terminal via the relay agent and the relay server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information system, a file server, and a file server control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a technology of providing a firewall between an internal network (an in-company network, etc.) and an external network, to prevent unauthorized access from an external network (the Internet, etc.). A firewall is for allowing passage of necessary communications and blocking unnecessary communications. There is an example of a firewall by which access from an internal network to an external network is possible but access from an external network to an internal network is restricted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a relay agent (content output unit) is used to acquire a request (content output request) assigned to itself which is accumulated in a relay server (content output server). Therefore, by the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of requests are accumulated in the relay server, there are cases where the relay server cannot prioritize the processing of a relay agent for which many requests are made. That is to say, by the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the relay server performs information processing corresponding to a thread sent from the relay agent, and therefore there are cases where the relay server cannot prioritize the processing of a particular relay agent.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-46681

Information system, file server, and file server control method


An apparatus and a method for generating acceleration and deceleration patterns for control of a robot in a servo system which is equipped with a plurality of driving axes so constituted as to mutually exert dynamic interference, in such a manner that a synchronism is attained at acceleration start points, velocity peak points and deceleration end points in the patterns for the individual driving axes. Peak time calculating means responds to the information relative to dynamic parameters from constant setting means and command means, and calculates the peak time, which is required until the velocity reaches its peak after the pattern generation start point, from the kinetic energy consumed for each displacement and also from the power distribution relative to the driving sources. And pattern generating means generates, on the basis of the peak time thus obtained, an acceleration pattern and a temporally reflected deceleration pattern for each driving axis, whereby the tact time required for each displacement can be minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating acceleration and deceleration patterns for control of a robot in a servo system which is equipped with a plurality of driving axes so constituted as to mutually exert dynamic interference, in a manner to shorten the required time of movement by such patterns adequate to draw out the maximum power from a driving source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of the effective indexes in examining the kinetic capability of a robot is a working tact time. It is preferable that the tact time is minimized and that no unnecessary vibration is concomitant.
Some methods have been proposed heretofore for minimizing the tact time. One of them is carried out by optimizing an acceleration-deceleration curve relative to a servo system.
First, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a brief description will be given on the exemplary method proposed by the present applicant as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 2 (1990)-283867, now Japanese Published Application No. 4-157508.
Denoted by a in FIG. 10 is an acceleration-deceleration curve, where the time required for the velocity .omega. to reach its peak value (.omega.p) from an acceleration start instant (t=0) is termed "peak time" (hereinafter abbreviated to Tp), and in contrast with an acceleration pattern until such peak time, a deceleration pattern is obtained by execution of a temporal reflection with respect to t=Tp.
The acceleration-deceleration curve a is determined by changing the peak time Tp in accordance with the displacement.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, there is previously prescribed the characteristic with respect to the displacement (.DELTA..theta.) and the peak time Tp, and in generating acceleration and deceleration patterns, first an acceleration pattern is generated in such a manner that the time required for the velocity to reach the peak value from the acceleration start point becomes equal to the peak time corresponding to the displacement, and thereafter a deceleration pattern is generated by the technique of temporal symmetrization.
Although the method mentioned above is considered to be sufficiently effective in a servo system in the situation wherein there is no dynamic interference between a plurality of driving axes as in an orthogonal type robot, a problem arises in the case such a method is applied to a multiaxial scalar type robot.
FIG. 12 schematically shows the motion of a biaxial scalar type robot b. In this robot, a second arm b2 is rotatably connected to the fore end of a first arm b1.
FIG. 12A shows the situation wherein the two arms b1, b2 have rotated through an angle .DELTA..theta.1 with the two arms b1 and b2 linearly extended, and FIG. 12B shows the situation after rotation through an angle of .DELTA..theta.1 with the second arm b2 at an angle with respect to the first arm b1. In both cases, the rotation angle .DELTA..theta.2 of the second arm b2 is zero.
As will be understood by careful observation of the motions of both arms, the control aspect becomes different depending on the relationship between the arms b1 and b2. With respect to the moment of inertia at the center of rotation of the first arm b1, the moment in the situation shown in FIG. 12A is greater than that shown in FIG. 12B, so that greater power is needed in the former even though the two motions have the same displacement .DELTA..theta.1. A longer time is also required before the movement comes to a halt.
That is to say, if the acceleration and deceleration patterns for each arm are generated using the same concept as that applied to orthogonal type robots irrespective of the circumstances, it follows that the same peak time Tp is used in both of the situations shown in 12A and 12B.
Therefore, the robot b is actuated with a greater Tp value as compared with the situation shown in FIG. 12B. This lengthens the tact time (2.multidot.Tp).
In an attempt to eliminate such a disadvantage, it is possible to consider changing the peak time Tp in accordance with the displacements .DELTA..theta.1 and .DELTA..theta.2 of the arms.
However, correct determination of such a change requires a lot of experience and is highly dependent on the operator's level of experience and ability. Even if a satisfactory result is attained, there still remains the possibility that the best selectable setting is not achieved or that some additional operations may be needed in case the normal operation fails to completely meet the requirements.
For example, it may be possible to contrive a method of first dividing the operations into a number of probable cases, empirically determining optimal Tp values for each case, subsequently writing the optimal values into ROMs or the like, and using such values as references in generating acceleration and deceleration patterns. However, a lot of complicated work is necessary in order to complete the ROMs, and such must be repeated during the development of every new robot.

Method and apparatus for generating acceleration and deceleration patterns for robot control


A method and apparatus for inputting a plurality of different circuit schematics designed with printed circuit board (PCB) mountable components; extracting circuit topologies for said plurality of different circuit schematics; transforming said extracted circuit topologies to a fixed number of connection points; and generating a configurable circuit PCB physical layout pattern having said fixed number of connection points such that said PCB mountable components when positioned on one or more of said fixed number of connection points can implement any circuit represented by said plurality of different circuit schematics.

Circuitry is universally used in many fields. It is applicable to fluidics, optics, electronics, etc.
In the field of electronics, circuitry is used to define, control, and direct operations, processing, sensing, etc. Often the topology of a circuit will define its function.
For example, an embedded controller may be built into a product and capable of providing control to devices hooked up external to the controller. Interfaces with such external devices may be classified depending on direction of control/sensing as inputs, outputs, or bidirectional. The particular configuration of inputs and outputs in embedded controllers may either be fixed or customizable. For example, in a washing machine, the embedded controller might have inputs from the temperature buttons or dials and outputs to control various motors and valves within the machine. In this way, the embedded controller provides a method for its embedded computer to interact with the outside or real world.
Embedded controllers with a fixed configuration of inputs and outputs are generally purchased off the shelf and are quickly available from manufacturers' stock. Such controllers often utilize a modular system of input/output interfaces to provide a method to customize the number and type of input output interfaces. For example, an expansion bus may be used to which the modular input/output (I/O) devices connect. This extra overhead adds to the cost of the controller. This presents a problem.
An embedded controller with just the correct number of needed I/O ports requires a custom configuration that must be specially designed and manufactured. This requires considerable up front engineering costs. Thus, custom configuration embedded controllers are generally not an option unless production volume is high enough to amortize the initial investment. A production volume of 500 units per year is often suggested as the volume needed to justify this initial cost. This presents a problem.

Method and apparatus for configurable printed circuit board circuit layout pattern


The collapsible camera includes a base panel with a segmented panel connected thereto. The base panel carries light sensitive media, such as photographic film, and includes a light exposure region. The segmented panel carries a lens thereon. One end of the segmented panel is anchored to one end edge of the base panel. The opposing end of the segmented panel is slidably connected to the base panel. Upon sliding of the movable end of the segmented panel toward the anchored end, the segmented panel is erected thus positioning the lens to the proper focal length from the light sensitive media in preparation for taking a picture. Light blocking material surrounds the region between the lens and the light sensitive media.

The present invention relates generally to a photographic camera. More specifically, the present invention relates to a collapsible housing for a compact card camera that is capable of using standard 35 mm photographic film.
The sale of photographic film and single-use pre-loaded cameras to amateur photographers is a major industry worldwide. The market for these products is almost entirely xe2x80x9cevent-drivenxe2x80x9d in that the consumer purchases the film or the single-use camera because they intend to take photographs at a pre-planned event, such as a birthday party, wedding, and the like. Individuals do not typically carry a camera at all times for the capture of xe2x80x9cimpulsexe2x80x9d photographs of non-planned events due to the bulk and weight of current design cameras and film, which inhibits their xe2x80x9cconstant carryxe2x80x9d. As a result, the volume of film sold and developed is a fraction of its total potential usage. While extremely compact cameras have been developed and marketed in the past, such as the Minox-type cameras, the goal of these cameras was concealment, they still exhibited enough volume and weight so as to make them unsuitable for continuous carry, they were of expensive design, and importantly, they employed a specialized film which is not compatible with xe2x80x9cfast-turnaroundxe2x80x9d one-hour film developing establishments geared for processing standard 35 mm film.
As can be understood, a camera includes a body housing that contains light sensitive media for capturing the image to be taken, as well as a lens for focusing the image to be taken on the light sensitive media. To achieve a properly focused picture for capturing an image, the lens must be positioned a certain distance away from the light sensitive media, otherwise known as the focal length. The positioning of the lens away from the light sensitive media is critical in ensuring that the picture is in focus. This is of particular concern when it is desirable for the overall size and shape of the camera to be very small. As a result, there is a need for the camera to be able to collapse for storage during periods of non-use. However, prior art compact cameras collapse in a fashion that is awkward and requires many moving parts, resulting in an expensive camera. Further, prior art cameras still remain so bulky so as to discourage xe2x80x9cconstant carryxe2x80x9d for capture of xe2x80x9cimpulsexe2x80x9d photographs.
Therefore, in view of the concerns discussed above, it would be desirable for a camera to be as compact as possible, such as in the configuration of a credit card for easy transport at all times. It is particularly desirable for such a compact camera to have a housing that can collapse quickly and easily to achieve a compact configuration during non-use of the camera. It is desirable for a camera to be quickly and easily set-up for use. It is also desirable for a credit card camera to be very inexpensive to manufacture to reduce the overall cost to the consumer. Further, is also desirable for a credit card camera to be easy to operate. It is further desirable for the film inside the credit card camera to be easy and inexpensive to develop while achieving high picture quality.
The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art cameras and prior art collapsible housings therefor. In addition, this camera provides new advantages not found in prior art cameras and their housing, and overcomes many of the disadvantages of such cameras and associated housing.
The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique compact card camera, that is typically credit card sized, with particular application in taking quality photographs using standard 35 mm film. The credit card camera of the present invention enables compact transport of a camera which is well-suited for emergency use, and the like. The credit card camera of the present invention has a unique collapsible housing that enables quick assembly and preparation of the camera for operation.
The preferred embodiment of the card camera of the present invention includes a base panel having a first end edge and a second end edge opposing said first end edge and a first side edge and a second side edge. A segmented panel has a number of segments hingedly connected to one another. The leading edge of the first segment is anchored proximal to the first end edge of the base panel. The trailing edge of the last segment is controllably movable along the base panel between the first end edge of the base panel and the second end edge of said base panel. The trailing edge of the last segment is temporarily fixable to the base panel at a selected distance from the leading edge of the first segment. A portion of the base panel under the assemblage of top segments defining a light exposure region. A lens is disposed in one of the segments between the first segment and the last segment and positioned above the light exposure region. Light blocking material extends from the lens holding segment to the portion of the base panel about the light blocking region. The segments are movable from a position substantially parallel to the base panel to an erected condition over the film exposure region with the lens disposed thereabove in preparation for exposure of film positionable in the film exposure region.
Also, a shutter preferably controls the light imparted to the light-sensitive medium. The light-sensitive medium is exposed to a scene through the lens. The light-sensitive medium may be separate individually stacked photographic film frames, a fan folded photographic film strip, individual film frames residing on a film carrier web, or compact roll of film. When individual frames are used, for example, they may be assembled into a continuous strip configuration for development using standard photographic equipment.
The card camera as originally packaged, for example, at the point of purchase, is in a compact configuration substantially equal to the size and configuration of a standard credit card. To take a picture, the camera is first assembled and then is aimed at the subject scene and the shutter is actuated by depressing a button at the top of the camera. The film is then advanced in accordance with the particular film transport employed. After all of the film is exposed, the camera, or a removable film cartridge, can be sent to a standard photographic film service for developing. The camera may be returned to a collapsed state for this purpose. Depending on the film transport employed, the film will be prepared accordingly so that it may be accommodated by a standard film developing service. Such preparation for film developing will be discussed in more detail below.
It is the intent of the present invention to provide a camera that is of a shape, size, weight, and design so as to encourage constant and convenient carry by photographers for the capture of impulse as well as pre-planned photographs. It is further the intent to produce a credit card shaped xe2x80x9ccard cameraxe2x80x9d which may be constantly carried in an ordinary wallet, or on a key chain, for example, for extended periods of time. Additionally, the present invention permits the compact camera to use common 35 mm or APS film compatible with development at xe2x80x9cfast turnaroundxe2x80x9d one-hour film development establishments. It is further the intention of the present invention to enable extremely low-cost manufacture of the camera through the employment of die-cut camera components, and xe2x80x9cbuilt-upxe2x80x9d laminate sheet construction techniques, or injection molding, to achieve a lower camera price for higher sales. Most importantly, the present invention provides a new and unique collapsible housing to enable the camera to quickly and easily be significantly reduced in size to permit the convenient portability as described above. Such a flat, lightweight camera design will also make mailing a single-use version to a development facility easier and less expensive, as well as make it easier to package the camera with other consumer goods as a promotion.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that is lightweight and compact and of a configuration similar to that of a standard credit card.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a camera that is inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a credit card camera that employs standard 35 mm or APS film.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that may be stored in a compact state yet is easily assembled in preparation for use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that is lightweight and compact to facilitate carry at all times for emergency and impulse photography.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that is suitable for carrying in a wallet, or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that is easy to use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a credit card camera that functions similar to a common and familiar xe2x80x9cpoint and shootxe2x80x9d camera.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, collapsible structure, capable of self-bracing, to maintain proper focal length in a compact camera.

Compact camera with improved collapsible housing


A device for providing cleaning or other solution in a printing press including a spraying device, the spraying device having a liquid exit disposed along a width of the spraying device for delivering a liquid to a press component and a spray shield selectively covering at least one part of the liquid exit so as to block delivery of the liquid through the at least one part to the press component. Also disclosed is a method for providing cleaning or other fluid to a printing press component comprising the steps of spraying a fluid over a fixed width of a press component, and blocking part of the fluid over a part of the fixed width so that the part of the fluid does not reach the press component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to a device and method for providing a liquid to a cylinder of a printing press.
2. Background Information
Offset lithographic printing presses, for example, have a blanket cylinder for transferring images from a printing plate to a web of material, such as paper. Blankets on the blanket cylinder typically have a rubber outer print layer.
Especially after continued use, blankets in the printing press accumulate foreign matter such as dried ink, lint, dust, clay, dirt and the like which should be periodically removed by cleaning. When changing a print job, it may be desirable that the blankets are cleaned. Lack of proper cleaning can lead to poor print quality and reduced press productivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,578 discloses an automatic cleaning device for cleaning blankets in a web fed offset lithographic printing press. A brush roller is selectively applied to the blanket for removing foreign matter from the blanket. A blanket wash solution is applied to the brush roller in order to improve the cleaning of the blanket. U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,578 is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The blanket wash solution for such devices is typically applied by a spray bar, which sprays a cleaning solution or solvent through a line of holes along the entire width of the brush. The spray bar cleaning solution thus is applied through the brush to the entire blanket when the blanket is cleaned. If the web in the printing press is the same width as the blanket, the cleaning of the entire blanket width is desirable.
However, it is often desired to print narrower web widths with an offset printing press. For example, even though a printing press could print a 57 inch web width, it may be desired to use the same press to print solely a 30 inch wide web, depending on the type of printed products desired. In this case, spray bar blanket wash systems will still spray cleaning solution across the entire 57 inch brush and blanket cylinder width. Since many cleaning systems rely on the web to remove the debris during the wash, the narrow 30 inch web will not readily remove debris and used cleaning solution from areas beyond the web width. Moreover, in the areas beyond the web width, the cleaning solution is still being applied and is not carried away by the web. In other words, a section of the blanket cylinder 27 inches wide is still receiving cleaning solution, even though no web is in that area.
The application of cleaning solution beyond the web width causes excess waste of cleaning solution or solvent, as the solvent exits as waste and is not reused. The disposal of the solvent, which may be environmentally sensitive material, can be expensive.
Moreover, the excess solvent can work its way into the narrow web during a print run, breaking down ink on the web and leading to print quality degradation. This degradation can cause paper waste, as the resulting printed products often have a washed out look or are unreadable and must be discarded.
European Patent Application No. 0 618 074 A2 purports to disclose a printing machine spraying device for spraying fluid having two emitters movable axially with respect to a printing cylinder. The fluid can be used to clean a blanket, and the emitters can be automatically controlled so as to be moved axially over the entire width or part of a desired width of the blanket cylinder, depending on how wide the printed material is.
The device of the ""074 European patent application has a disadvantage in that the desired blanket width is not sprayed at one time, but rather in portions as the emitters move axially, thus requiring more time to coat the desired width. Moreover, the movement and control of the emitters requires a complex arrangement, which can be subject to malfunction or fouling.
An object of the present invention is to provide for a reliable and efficient device and method for providing cleaning or other solution to a cylinder or part of a printing press.
The present invention provides a device for providing cleaning or other solution in a printing press comprising:
a spraying device, the spraying device having a liquid exit disposed along a width of the spraying device for delivering a liquid to a press component; and
a spray shield selectively covering at least one part of the liquid exit so as to block delivery of the liquid through the at least one part to the press component.
The present invention permits instantaneous delivery of liquid, such as a cleaning solution, to the press component through the liquid exit, over variable widths, for example corresponding to a web width.
Preferably, the spraying device is a spray bar, the spray bar being at least as wide as the press component.
The press component preferable is a blanket cleaning brush or a blanket of an offset lithographic printing press.
Preferably, the liquid exit is a plurality of holes, and the at least one part is at least one of the holes disposed at one or both ends of the spray bar.
The spray shield preferably is at least one cylinder rotatable with respect to the spraying device, the cylinder having at least one aperture having a variable width.
In a first embodiment, the spray shield includes two rotatable cylinders, each at one end of the spray bar. Each has an aperture with a sloped or angled side for selectively covering a part of the liquid exit so as to narrow the effective spray area. The middle of the spray bar may remain unaffected by the cylinders. Alternately, if a narrow web is run at a side of the press, and not exactly in the middle, the spray shield may be a single cylinder with a sloped aperture can be provided on one side.
In alternate embodiments, the spray shield may have a single cylinder with a single aperture having sloped ends, or with a plurality of apertures with different widths.
The spraying device preferably is stationary, while the cylinder rotates around the spray bar. Preferably, the rotation is performed manually. However, the rotation may be effected by an air cylinder fixed at one end to the spray bar and at the other end to a follower which fits in a helical slot in the interior of the spray shield. The air cylinder motion thus rotates the spray shield. Most preferably, two air cylinders are provided, one having double the stroke length of the other, so that four equally spaced positions can be attained.
Preferably, a collection device collects the blocked liquid from the spray shield and returns it to a cleaning fluid reservoir.
The present invention also provides an offset lithographic printing unit with a plate cylinder, a blanket for contacting a plate on the plate cylinder and a blanket cleaning device. The blanket cleaning device includes a spraying device with a liquid exit disposed along a width of the spraying device for delivering a liquid, directly or indirectly, to the blanket, and a spray shield selectively covering at least one part of the liquid exit so as to block delivery of the liquid through the at least one part to the blanket.
Also provided is a method for providing cleaning or other fluid to a printing press component comprising the steps of spraying a fluid over a fixed width of a press component, and blocking part of the fluid over a part of the fixed width so that the part of the fluid does not reach the press component.

Variable-width spray applicator for a printing press