Seat reclining mechanisms for a vehicle seat may include a first or stationary housing, a second or rotational housing, a locking means received between the first and second housings, and a fastener for rotatably connecting the second housing to the first housing. The fastener is formed with at least one retainer portion and at least one slide portion that respectively project toward the second housing. Preferably, the at least one slide portion has a height greater than the at least one retainer portion.

1. Field of the Invention Deferent
The present invention relates to seat reclining mechanisms for adjusting a tilt angle of a seat back of a seat (e.g., a vehicle seat).
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a vehicle seat comprises a seat back and a seat cushion. The seat back and the seat cushion are rotatably interconnected via a seat reclining mechanism for adjusting a tilt angle of the seat back. Such a seat reclining mechanism is taught, for example, by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Number 2002-10851. Such a seat reclining mechanism is known as a "round type" seat reclining mechanism.
As shown in FIG. 11, the known seat reclining mechanism includes a pair of opposing disk-like housings, i.e., a first or stationary housing 11 and a second or rotational housing 12. The first housing 11 is affixed to the vehicle seat cushion (not shown). The second housing 12 is affixed to the vehicle seat back (not shown). The first and second housings 11 and 12 are circumferentially connected by an annular fastener or clip ring 2 along peripheral edges 11a and 12a thereof, so that the second housing 12 can move or rotate relative to the first housing 11 around a rotational shaft (not shown).
The clip ring 2 comprises an annular guide portion 2a that slidably support the peripheral edge 12a of the second housing 12 and an annular fixture portion 2b that is fixed to the peripheral edge 11a of the first housing 11. The guide portion 2a is circumferentially formed with a plurality of projections or slide portions 2a-1, so that a sliding clearance between the second housing peripheral edge 12a and the clip ring guide portion 2a can be easily controlled. As shown in FIG. 10, the slide portions 2a-1 are spaced at equal intervals. The first and second housing 11 and 12 thus assembled are respectively fixed to the seat cushion and the seat back.
The seat reclining mechanism further includes a locking means (not shown) that can prevent the second housing 12 from rotating relative to the first housing 11, so as to lock the seat reclining mechanism. The locking means essentially consists of a cam member and a pair of pawls (not shown) that are received within the housings 11 and 12. The cam member is secured to or integrally formed with the rotational shaft, so as to rotate with the rotational shaft. Each of the pawls is provided with a convex toothed portion and is radially movably positioned on the first housing 11.
When the rotational shaft is rotated to a locking position, the pawls are radially moved outward by the cam member, so that the respective convex toothed portions of the pawls engage a concave toothed portion (not shown) that is circumferentially formed over an inner circular surface of the second housing peripheral edge 12a. In this state, the second housing 12 is prevented from rotating relative to the first housing 11, so that the seat reclining mechanism is locked. As a result, the seat back is locked in position relative to the seat cushion.
Often times, a large force can be unexpectedly applied to the seat reclining mechanism in a direction to separate the housings 11 and 12 from each other. Such a large force may concentrate to the slide portions 2a-1 of the clip ring guide portion 2a. As a result, the guide portion 2a may be deformed outwardly or spread out, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 11. Such a deformation of the guide portion 2a may reduce a locking performance of the seat reclining mechanism.


A device for warning occupants in a vehicle is proposed which is connectible to a passenger-compartment sensory system and which has a warning device for an occupant, the warning device being activated as a function of signals from the passenger-compartment sensory system. As a warning device, a display, and/or a loudspeaker, and/or haptic means can be used. The vehicle occupant is warned, in particular, if he/she is in the so-called out-of-position situation. In the process, it is checked whether the occupant has been in the out-of-position situation, without interruption, for a predefined time period. Only then does a warning also follow.

To detect the position of a vehicle occupant, it is known to use a passenger-compartment sensory system. There are intelligent and passive passenger-compartment sensory concepts which are conceived as sensor systems. These include ultrasonic sensors, active infrared sensors, passenger-compartment cameras, in particular stereo-video or stereo-CCD cameras, radar sensors, and, in this context, in particular SAR radar concepts (synthetic aperture radar), absolute-weight sensors, for example those based on wire strain gauges, occupant-classification sensors, for example seat-mat, seat-position, headrest-position, seat-back-inclination, seat-belt-usage, seat-belt-load, child-seat-occupancy detection sensors or also combinations of such sensor concepts. This information is then used for triggering occupant-restraint systems.
German Published Patent Application No. 198 56 311 describes the output of an acoustic and/or and optical warning as a function of the sitting position of a vehicle occupant. In this context, the out-of-position position is monitored in particular. In German Published Patent Application No. 199 00 395, besides outputting a warning in response to an out-of-position position, the airbag is also disabled.


Plasma process control arrangement controls a plasma generator that provides electrical power to a plasma chamber for an RF or DC plasma process. A sensor system detects operating parameters of the electrical power, including voltage and current levels. A process detection system (pds) controller has inputs coupled to the sensor system to receive the operating parameters, a programmable memory unit for storing a control program to compute an output control signal based on the operating parameters, and a control output coupled to a control input of the plasma generator. An external computer device, includes a monitor, an icon copying device for example, a mouse suitable for drag-and-drop operation, and a memory storing a suitable code-building program for generating a user-selected control program according to user-determined process requirements. Respective graphical icons are presented on the monitor and are selected and connected by use of the icon copying device to represent logic processing of the operational parameters, and the external computer device creates the corresponding user-selected control program. The user-selected control program is downloaded from the external computer device to the programmable memory of the pds controller, e.g., using standard connectors and cables.

This invention relates to plasma generation equipment, and is particularly directed to a plasma control arrangement, e.g., for terminating a plasma plating or etching process at a suitable endpoint. The invention is also concerned with controlling the plasma process based on detected operating parameters, for example, the current and voltage in the case of a DC plasma operation, or current, voltage, and phase of radio frequency (RF) electrical power that is being supplied, in the case of an RF plasma operation. The invention is further concerned with a system for adapting the control algorithm according to user-defined requirements.
In a typical RF plasma generator arrangement, a high power RF source produces an RF wave at a preset frequency, i.e., 13.56 MHz, and this is furnished along a power conduit to a plasma chamber. Because there is typically a severe impedance mismatch between the RF power source and the plasma chamber, an impedance matching network is interposed between the two. There are non-linearities in the plasma chamber, and because of these and because of losses in the line and in the impedance matching network, not all of the output power of the RF generator reaches the plasma chamber. Therefore, it is conventional to employ a probe at the power input to the plasma chamber to detect the voltage and current of the RF wave as it enters the plasma chamber. By accurately measuring the voltage and current as close to the chamber as possible, the user of the plasma process can obtain a better indication of the quality of the plasma. In the case of RF plasma, the phase angle is also measured. This in turn yields better control of the etching or deposition characteristics for a silicon wafer or other workpiece in the chamber. By monitoring these parameters, it is possible to determine the process endpoint by applying these parameters to mathematical and signal processing operators. Other observable parameters can be obtained, e.g., radiation from the plasma, values of magnitude error or phase error from the matching network, gas pressure, etc., and these may also be used for process control.
To date, development and implementation of process control algorithms for controlling plasma processes have been handled through either a system controller or an external computer, for example for detection of etch endpoint. This arrangement has the advantage of ease of algorithmic development by the system manufacturer. On the other hand, one major drawback has been slow response time for the system controller, i.e., on the order of several seconds or more. As an analog interface is also required, the system controller is prevented from executing sophisticated algorithms that may be needed for accurate process detection. For this reason, it would be preferable to operate detection and control algorithms in an intelligent sensor, rather than an attached computer, so that response times can be greatly decreased, e.g., on the order of milliseconds.
Another problem with the present-day approach is that the control algorithm is rather inflexible from the user's standpoint, and it is difficult for the user to make adjustments in the process control. As the existing process controller must be factory programmed, it is not possible for the user to make local adjustments in the algorithms. This makes rapid development, testing, storing, and recalling detection algorithms impossible in the current state of the art. Because the detection and control algorithms are highly proprietary to the end user, and often are highly system dependent, it would be preferable for the end user to develop these algorithms independently of the sensor manufacturer.
System controller slowness, and the conventional analog interface, prohibit the system controller from executing more sophisticated algorithms that are necessary for accurate process detection. The preferable implementation would require operation of detection software in an intelligent sensor, where response times can be greatly decreased from current response times, i.e., on the order of milliseconds.
Until quite recently, sensing technology was not available that was capable of intelligent and accurate monitoring of operating parameters, e.g., voltage, current, and phase angle, at the sensor position. This has been achieved in accordance with a system described in U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 08/684,833, filed Jul. 13, 1996, and which matured into U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,922 issued on Jun. 23, 1998, having a common assignee herewith. Prior implementations of a process detection and control system have required a separate small computer to serve as the "intelligence" of the sensor. For this reason, additional hardware had to be tied permanently to the plasma equipment, and these implementations did not solve the problems of delayed algorithm development and slow response times. Also, because all calculations are handled at the sensor, the need for analog connections to the system controller is eliminated, thus reducing opportunity for imposed noise.
A code-building software package that employs graphic user/design interface has recently appeared. One example of commercial software is sold under the name Matlab Simulink Interface. In this software, graphical icons, or blocks, are manipulated using a computer mouse or similar device to drag-and-drop the icons on the monitor screen of a computer. There is a library of available blocks, which include standard blocks and custom user-designed blocks. The program uses the metaphor of a block diagram to represent a dynamic system. The blocks are copied from the libraries of blocks, and connected so as to form a system, with lines representing the routing of signals from one block to the next. The object-oriented software then builds digital signal processing codes that conform with the algorithm represented by the user-created block diagram. The blocks can represent, e.g., signal generators, filters, oscilloscopes, etc., permitting the user to simulate a desired signal processing environment and to observe its behavior. However, the Matlab Simulink system does not provide for downloading an algorithm or code from the computer into a ROM or other memory device of a process controller.
A plasma monitoring and control system that monitors current, voltage and phase angle of RF plasma power, and determines process end points based on changes in those parameters, is described in Turner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,629. This system requires a dedicated process control computer. There is no provision for user-programming the computer to effect changes in the process end point detection. This system has to rely on detection of harmonics to achieve any speed in process control. The Turner et al. detection system is also quite complex, as well as cumbersome and expensive. Moreover, there are no means for saving a user-defined algorithm.

Process detection system for plasma process


A network line plug and network line, and more particularly to a network line plug, network line plug assembly and network line; the network line plug of the present invention comprises of a short-head main body, rubber core and eight welded terminals; the rubber core is fixed into the short-head main body; said welded terminals are inserted into the rubber core; the first and second ends of said welded terminal are an electrical contact portion and welding portion, respectively; the welding portions of the welded terminal penetrate selectively the through-holes of the rubber core; the welding portions of two welded terminals corresponding to the same core pair are arranged adjacent to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the technology field of a network line plug and network line, and more particularly to a network line plug, plug assembly and network line.
2. Description of Related Art
The currently available network line plug is of a puncture structure, which comprises a main body, laying rubber plug, threading rubber plug, internal metal casing and external metal casing; eight core wires of the network cable penetrate separately through-hole on the threading rubber plug, which allows to position and assign these core wires onto the connecting location; the front end of the core wire is inserted into the groove on the laying rubber plug, which is used to fix these eight core wires and arrange them in a line; the main body is provided with eight slots, wherein a contact chip is inserted; when the network line plug is installed, the contact chip is pressed into the main body by a fixture; the tip of the contact chip punctures separately the core wire insulator to realize electrical connection with the core wire conductor. Generally, the trifid contact chip can puncture the core wire insulator of the cable to realize electrical connection between network plug and cable conductor. The network plug is processed technically as follows:
1. Strip down the sheath of cable to a proper length;
2. Thread four pairs of core wires distributedly into the branching rubber plug, straighten and trim the core wires, then thread into the corresponding holes of the laying rubber plug by the sequence of plugs; next thread the laying rubber plug into the network plug.
3. Press the metal contact chip on the network plug by robot, and then puncture the core wire insulator to realize electrical connection between network plug and cable conductor.
If wiring with existing technology, green-white/green and blue-white/blue twisted pairs in the network line are intersected; meanwhile, as both branching rubber plug and laying rubber plug are used, the stripping length of the cable ends is increased, bringing about bigger damage to original twisted structure and characteristic impedance of the cable, and affecting greatly the near-end crosstalk of network line; owing to mismatching of the characteristic impedance of the network plug and the cable, the echo loss of the network line becomes bigger, so the data transmission quality is reduced, leading to bigger probability of defective products.


A test packet generator (225a) within a physical layer device (230) may generate test packets to be communicated over a closed communication path established within the physical layer device (230). The test packets may include a pseudo-random bit sequence. A receiver within the physical layer device (230) may receive at least a portion of the generated test packet. A test packet checker (225b) within the physical layer device may compare at least a portion of the received test packets with at least a portion of the generated test packets in order to determine the bit error rate for the physical layer device. A window counter (225c) within the physical layer device (230) may count at least a portion of a number of bits received within the generated test packets and a number of bits that are in error in at least a portion of the number of bits received. Accordingly, the bit error rate may be calculated based on a ratio of the number of counted bits in error to the number bits counted in the at least a portion of the number of bits received.

Embodiments of the present application relate generally to optical networking hardware, and more particularly to a system and method for performing on-chip bit error rate (BER) testing on a physical layer multimode device.
High-speed digital communication networks over copper and optical fiber are used in many network communication and digital storage applications. Ethernet and Fiber Channel are two widely used communication protocols, which continue to evolve in response to increasing need for higher bandwidth in digital communication systems. The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model (ISO standard) was developed to establish standardization for linking heterogeneous computer and communication systems. It describes the flow of information from a software application of a first computer system to a software application of a second computer system through a network medium.
The OSI model has seven distinct functional layers including Layer 7: an application layer; Layer 6: a presentation layer; Layer 5: a session layer; Layer 4: a transport layer; Layer 3: a network layer; Layer 2: a data link layer; and Layer 1: a physical layer. Importantly, each OSI layer describes certain tasks which are necessary for facilitating the transfer of information through interfacing layers and ultimately through the network. Notwithstanding, the OSI model does not describe any particular implementation of the various layers.
OSI layers 1 to 4 generally handle network control and data transmission and reception. Layers 5 to 7 handle application issues. Specific functions of each layer may vary depending on factors such as protocol and interface requirements or specifications that are necessary for implementation of a particular layer. For example, the Ethernet protocol may provide collision detection and carrier sensing in the data link layer. Layer 1, the physical layer, is responsible for handling all electrical, optical, opto-electrical and mechanical requirements for interfacing to the communication media. Notably, the physical layer may facilitate the transfer of electrical signals representing an information bitstream. The physical layer may also provide services such as, encoding, decoding, synchronization, clock data recovery, and transmission and reception of bit streams. In high bandwidth applications having transmission speeds of the order of Gigabits, high-speed electrical, optical and/or electro-optical transceivers may be used to implement this layer.
As the demand for higher data rates and bandwidth continues to increase, equipment capable of handling transmission rates of the order of 10 Gigabits and higher is being developed for high-speed network applications. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a 10 Gigabit physical layer device that may facilitate such high-speed serial data applications. For example, XENPAK multi-source agreement (MSA) defines a fiber optical module that conforms to the well-known IEEE standard for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) physical media dependent (PMD) types. In this regard, XENPAK compatible transceivers may be used to implement the physical layer. Notwithstanding, there is a need for transceivers, which are necessary for implementing 10 Gigabit physical layer applications. The well-known IEEE P802.3ae draft 5 specifications describes the physical layer requirements for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An optical-based transceiver, for example, may include various functional components which may implement tasks such as clock data recovery, clock multiplication, serialization/ de-serialization, encoding/decoding, electrical/optical conversion, descrambling, media access control (MAC), controlling, and data storage. These functional components may be implemented in a separate chip and/or integrated circuit (IC).
The proliferation of physical layer devices designed to provide high speed communication services will undoubtedly give rise to the need for testing the reliability of any communication links in which these physical layer devices are employed. The testing of communications links may often involve the application of one or more test signals to the inputs of the communication links and capturing the output signals by an external device. The external device may typically store and compare the captured outputs against expected outputs that are known to be accurate. In this regard, defective links or devices comprising the links may be detected when the captured output signals are inconsistent with the expected outputs.
One parameter that may be used to evaluate the reliability of a high speed communication link is bit error rate, which may also be called the bit error ratio (BER). The BER may be defined as a number of erroneous bits divided by the total number of bits transmitted, received, or processed over some stipulated period. When dealing with information, BER may be defined to be the number of erroneous decoded (corrected) bits divided by the total number of decoded (corrected) bits. The BER may usually be expressed as a coefficient and a power of 10. For example, 2.5 erroneous bits out of 100,000 bits transmitted may be represented as 2.5 out of 105 or 2.5×10−5.
Testing BER for a communication link by applying input signals and capturing of outputs by an external device may become difficult as the data rate of the communication links increase. To effectively simulate operational conditions, the external device must apply the input signals and capture the outputs at the operational data rate of the chip. Testing optical transceivers may be challenging because of the high speeds at which these devices operate. Accordingly, a need exists for achieving BER testing for a physical layer multimode device that may operate at speeds of the order of about 10 Gbps.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

System and method for determining on-chip bit error rate (BER) in a communication system


The conductive polymer composition used in an over-current protection device blends a polymer substrate (for instance, PVDF) with the polyolefin and the conductive filler of carbon black alike. The polyolefin comprises of two monomers along the carbon chain to form its principal chemical structure. The first monomer includes four hydrogen atoms to bond with the carbon chain, and the second monomer includes at least one fluorine atom and at least one non-fluorine halogen atom. The non-fluorine halogen atom may be selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine elements.

(A) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an over-current protection device and conductive polymer composition thereof, more particularly, to a positive temperature coefficient property of over-current protection device and conductive polymer composition thereof.
(B) Description of Related Art
The electrical resistance of conductive composition with the so-called Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) property is sensitive to the variation of temperature. Consequently, it is popularly used as a current-sensing device in over-current protection devices to protect battery and circuitry devices. Since the conductive PTC composition keeps a very low value of resistance at normal temperature, it will allow the circuitry and battery to work normally. Reversely, if the circuitry and battery meet over-current or over-temperature, its resistance will abruptly raise to a high value (at least above 104 ohm), and meanwhile, the over-current is reversely cancelled in order to obtain the goal of protecting the battery or circuitry.
In general, the conductive PTC composition is comprised of one or more crystallized polymers and the conductive filler. This conductive filler is uniformly distributed over the polymer. This polymer is normally a polyolefin (e.g., the polyethylene) and this conductive filler is normally the carbon black, metallic grains or inoxidized ceramic powder, for instance, the titanium carbide or tungsten carbide.
The polyolefin may be modified to obtain a used Poly Vinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), whose chemical structure of monomer includes a carbon chain, two hydrogen atoms, which link to the carbon of this carbon chain, and fluorine atoms linking to this carbon. This monomer is polymerized to form the PVDF. Usually, the fluorine possesses water resists and endures temperature variation; therefore, the PVDF has the characteristic of environmental attack proof.
There are many means for manufacturing the PVDF, and their properties are also different with respect to different means. However, their usual melting points are around the range of 160° C. to 180° C.
In order to enhance the performance of the PVDF in advance, it is possible to blend the PVDF with another polymer. For example, the Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), which is a fluorine-based polymer called full fluorination, is used to reduce the electrical resistance of the PVDF blend after trip recovery.
In practical application, the over-current protection device usually faces more severe environmental conditions. For example, for those electromechanical devices located beneath the engine hood of a car, their design must consider that the engine is constantly running and also the climate outside the car to make the device expose under humidity and high temperature for a long time. Consequently, the over-current protection device has to increase the capability of humid proof and temperature varied endurance in advance.

Over-current protection device and conductive polymer composition thereof


An electric-powered bicycle has a monitoring unit connected to a throttle detector, a bicycle torque detector and a bicycle speed detector so as to monitor the position of a twist grip throttle, the bicycle torque on a pedaling device, and the forward moving speed of the bicycle. The monitoring unit is further connected to a motor driver, and controls the motor driver to deactivate an electric driving motor when the twist grip throttle is in the non-operative position and the bicycle torque on the pedaling device is not over a preset limit while an electric power source for the electric driving motor is activated, and when the twist grip throttle is in the operative position, the bicycle torque is not over the present limit and the forward moving speed of the bicycle is not over a preset safety speed while the electric power source is activated, thereby resulting in enhanced user safety.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric-powered bicycle, more particularly to an electric-powered bicycle that is operable in an automatic driving mode and a boosting driving mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric-powered bicycles have been developed to permit forward movement of the bicycle without the need for applying a large amount of force during heavy load conditions. In use, when the bicycle is moving along an uphill slope, or when the rider is tired and wishes to stop pedaling the bicycle, the power source of an electric driving motor of the bicycle is activated for automatic or boosting bicycle driving movement so as to conserve the energy of the rider. The speed of the bicycle is then controlled by operating a twist grip throttle of a speed control unit of the bicycle. When the power source of the electric driving motor is deactivated, the bicycle can be moved forward in a manual driving mode only by pedaling the same. At this time, even if the twist grip throttle of the speed control unit is moved to an operative position, the electric driving motor will not generate a driving power output.
A main drawback of the conventional electric-powered bicycle resides in its insufficient safety features. Unlike a motorcycle which employs a gas engine that generates sounds or vibrations to alert the rider of the running status of the gas engine, the rider of the conventional electric-powered bicycle is unable to detect if the power source of the electric driving motor is activated unless he or she observes the state of the power switch. Thus, accidental operation of the twist grip throttle while the electric-powered bicycle is parked, such as when the rider is talking to a passer-by, with the power source of the electric driving motor in an activate state will result in forward surging movement of the bicycle, thereby resulting in danger.

Electric-powered bicycle operable in an automatic driving mode and a boosting driving mode


A recording apparatus includes a transport drum that supports and transports a recording medium on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a recording head that is provided in a position so as to be capable of facing the outer peripheral surface and ejects ink onto the recording medium, and a drying unit that is provided in the inside of the transport drum and dries the ink.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a transport drum that supports and transports a roll-shaped recording medium on an outer peripheral surface thereof.
2. Related Art
In the related art, a recording apparatus including a drying unit that dries a transport drum supporting and transporting a recording medium on an outer peripheral surface thereof has been used. Among these, for example, as recording apparatuses disclosed in JP-A-10-86472, JP-A-2003-94615, and JP-A-2009-227466, a recording apparatus including a transport drum that supports and transports a roll-shaped recording medium on an outer peripheral surface thereof has been used.
On the other hand, since the recording speed of a recent recording apparatus has become fast, a recording apparatus including a drying unit has been used so as to promote drying of ink ejected from a recording head onto a recording medium.
A recording apparatus including a transport drum that supports and transports a recording medium on an outer peripheral surface thereof is easily enlarged. For this reason, in order to miniaturize the above described recording apparatus, for example, effective use of an inside of the transport drum is considered.
However, as disclosed in JP-A-10-86472, in the recording apparatus of the related art including the transport drum that supports and transports the recording medium on the outer peripheral surface thereof, it cannot be said that the inside of the transport drum has been effectively used.
In addition, in JP-A-2003-94615 and JP-A-2009-227466, there are no descriptions about a drying unit that dries ink recorded on a recording medium, and it is not disclosed and suggested that a space is effectively used by disposing the drying unit in the inside of the transport drum in the recording apparatus.


A hip thrusting exercise machine is an apparatus that allows a user to safety perform a hip thrusting exercise in a controlled manner. The apparatus includes a backrest, an abdominal brace, a feet brace, an elongated frame, and a recoiling mechanism. The feet brace and the back rest allows the apparatus to properly hold the user's body in place while the user is performing the hip thrusting exercise. The abdominal brace is pressed against by the user's pelvic region in order to perform the hip thrusting exercise. The recoiling mechanism provides the user with physical resistance as the user pushes to raise the abdominal brace from a resting position to a vertically higher position. The coiling mechanism also returns the abdominal brace from the vertically higher position to the resting position so that the user can repeat the hip thrusting exercise.

Hip thrusts are usually a free weight exercise that is performed without the assistance of a machine. A common method for performing a hip thrust begins with a person reclining horizontally on a bench, balancing a weight on their hips, and pushing the weight upwards (i.e. in a vertical direction) with the hips. There is a danger of the weight falling off the person or the person not being able to sustain the weight, resulting in the person falling back to the bench and the weight injuring their body. Additionally, there can be certain discomfort when performing variations associate with either the bar or the bench. The bar can be difficult to manage and bigger (and thus heavier) plates may be needed to provide sufficient clearance for a person to position their hips below the bar.
The present invention provides a novel solution to these problems by providing a means to stop weights from injuring a person during hip thrust exercises. The present invention has built-in mechanical checks that prevent the weight from falling off the person doing the exercises and stops the weight from impacting and injuring the hips or abdomen. The present invention allows a user to do hip and gluteal muscle-strengthening exercises in a horizontal position without risking serious injury, which is important because injury due to the improper positioning of a barbell can seriously damage one's back.


A method of chemically and physically treating unconsolidated soils, over burden, fill and certain waste materials (the “ground”), or partly consolidated materials that can be excavated and broken up by normal earth moving and soil mixing equipment. This treatment results in the reduction of permeability in the ground, and as a result permits the prevention or control of contaminant migration from a site containing ground wastes of various types, thereby isolating these wastes.

In nature, the lithification of unconsolidated materials commonly occurs by the infilling of intergranular void space with interstitial material deposited from solution as mineral overgrowths and cements. This loss of void space progressively decreases the primary permeability and could reduce it to insignificance. A close natural analog of the Natural Analog System (NAS) is the formation of "caliche" soils in the southwestern United States desert regions. Such regions are typically characterized by dry lake beds that are progressively cemented by salts precipitated from the occasional run-off precipitation which reaches the lake basin and then evaporates.
Another example of a natural analog of the NAS is the formation of low permeability "hard pan" soil zones caused by precipitation of cement via ground water evaporation at the sub-surface water table interface. The most common precipitate cement in these examples are calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and various forms of silica (SiO2 or SiOx(H2O)y) as compatible in ambient alkaline or acid environments, respectively. Most ground waters, however, are neutral to alkaline (pH>7.0). NAS is primarily designed for this situation.
The NAS process follows the same principle of reducing void space to reduce permeability by artificially stimulating or inducing void space filling via interstitial precipitation, crystallization, and addition of particulates plus or minus cementation to duplicate that natural process, but much faster.
Related methods of treatment of ground strata include U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,621, issued on Sep. 26, 1989 to McLaren et al. for METHOD OF SEALING PERMEABLE EARTH SURFACE OR SUBSURFACE MATERIALS HAVING ALKALINE CONDITIONS BY INDUCED PRECIPITATION OF CARBONATES. McLaren et al. propose a method of artificially sealing voids in earth strata under alkaline conditions by inducing precipitation, via pumped slurries of aqueous solutions which may include finely divided solids, for example, of calcium carbonate, usually in the form of calcite.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,394, issued on Jan. 1, 1991 to McLaren et al. for METHOD OF SEALING PERMEABLE UNCONSOLIDATED MATERIALS. McLaren et al. propose a method for forming solid layers or local zones of material upon or below the earth's surface and above the water table to inhibit the flow of ground waters through such layers of materials.
The NAS process is a method of precipitating calcium carbonate cement in the ground that duplicates natural geologic cementing mechanisms. Calcium carbonate, the artificially produced product of the process, is analogous to the naturally produced calcium carbonate cements of sedimentary rock. A significant potential use, among several, of the NAS process is to reduce or eliminate ground water flow-though in contaminated soils and rocks, and thereby immobilize and isolate such sources of contamination in the natural environment. A principal advantage of the NAS process in environmental remediation and engineering applications is that the cement (calcite) is a natural analog, the permanence of which can be established by comparison with similar naturally calcite-cemented geologic materials. The NAS process introduces the concept of using such natural analog materials in environmental remediation and restoration projects rather than using artificial materials. Such artificial materials can not be assessed in terms of very long-term performance of the projects in various geologic settings.
The principal advantage of the NAS process when used in environmental remediations and restorations is that it can be applied by fluid injection in situ, that is, without excavation and processing of the contaminated-site soil or rock. A contaminated site can be isolated from the ambient ground water and immobilized as a source of hydrologically transported chemical species, without disturbance of surrounding terrain or structures. Further, the subsequent long-term performance of the remediated site can be determined by comparison with naturally occurring carbonate-cemented sites. Where appropriate, the NAS process can be applied by physically mixing NAS process components in contaminated soil and waste material to achieve remediation.
An important aspect of the NAS process is the induced precipitation of ancillary compounds that bind or capture hazardous chemical species from ground water or directly from the waste associated with a contaminated site. Such compounds are analogs of minerals known to be stable (insoluble) in such hydrogeologic conditions. The result is the immobilization of various hazardous chemical species (e.g., lead) into artificial minerals, the subsequent long-term environmental permanence of which can be documented by comparison with the equivalent naturally occurring minerals.
It is an object of this invention to reduce and/or eliminate soil/rock permeability and achieve isolation from ground water flow/pathways in land-fill, hazardous and toxic waste-site, and radioactive waste-site remediation.

Natural analog system for reducing permeability of ground


A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Sunmaricorapi2’, characterized by its decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; attractive red purple-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; long-lasting flowers; non-fertile flowers; and good garden performance.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sunmaricorapi2.
The new Verbena is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Verbena×hybrida cultivar Sunmariripi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,037. The new Verbena was selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent cultivar in a controlled environment in Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan in March, 1999.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan since November, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


In a device for detecting thermal radiation, at least one membrane is provided on which at least one thermal detector element is mounted for the conversion of the thermal radiation into an electric signal and at least one circuit support for carrying the membrane and for carrying at least one readout circuit for reading out the electrical signal, the detector element and the readout circuit being connected together electrically by an electric contact which passes through the membrane. In addition, a method of producing the device with the following method steps is provided: a) provision of the membrane with the detector element and of at least one electrical through-connection and provision of the circuit support and b) bringing together the membrane and the circuit support in such a manner that the detector element and the readout circuit are connected together electrically by an electrical contact passing through the membrane. Production activity is preferably carried out at wafer level: functionalized silicon substrates are stacked upon one another, firmly bonded to one another and then divided into individual elements. Preferably, the detector elements comprise of pyro-electrical detector elements. The device finds application in motion detectors, presence detectors and in thermal imaging cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for detecting thermal radiation of the type having at least one thermal detector element to convert the thermal radiation into an electrical signal, and to a method of production of such a device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A device for detecting thermal radiation is known from, for example, DE 100 04 216 A 1. This device is described as a pyro-detector. The detector element is a pyro-electrical detector element. It has a layer construction comprising two electrode layers with a pyro-electrical layer having pyro-electrical sensitive material arranged between the electrode layers. This material is Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT). The electrodes comprise, for example, platinum or of a heat-absorbing chromium/nickel alloy.
The thermal detector element is connected to a detector support made of silicon (silicon-wafer). To provide electrical and thermal insulation between the detector element and the detector support an insulating layer is arranged between the detector element and the detector support. The insulating layer has an evacuated cavity which extends over an area of the detector element, a support layer for the cavity and a cover over the support layer and the cavity. The support layer comprises poly-silicon. The cover is made of a boron-phosphorus-Silicate glass (BPSG). To read out, process and/or further transmit the electrical signals produced by the detector element a readout circuit is integrated in the detector support. The readout circuit is produced by the application of CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors) technology.
A comparable device for detecting thermal radiation is known from DE 195 25 071 A1. The thermal detector element is also a pyro-electrical detector element as described above. The detector element is arranged on a multilayer detector support. The detector element is applied to a silicon layer of the detector support at one of its electrode layers. The silicon layer is located on an electrically insulating membrane of the detector support. The membrane is formed, for example, as a triple layer—namely Si3N4/SiO2/Si3N4. Once again, the membrane is applied to a silicon substrate of the detector substrate. The silicon substrate has a radiation window (detection window) with an area which for all practical purposes corresponds with an area of the pyro-electrical detector element. The radiation window is an aperture in the silicon substrate. Thereby, the support material (silicon) of the substrate is removed down to the membrane. The thermal radiation passes through the radiation window to the detector element where it produces an electrical signal which can be evaluated. In that respect the membrane distinguishes itself by providing a suitable means of transmission of the thermal radiation. In the silicon layer displaced laterally relative to the detector element a readout circuit for the electrical signal is integrated. The detector support also functions as a circuit support for the readout circuit.
In the case of the known detectors, a number of detector elements may be provided (detector element array). In that situation the electrical signal from each of the detector elements is to be read out separately. Normally, electrical contact with the electrode layers of each of the detector elements is effected by bonding wires. However, this means that considerable space is required for the wiring of the detector elements which results in a limited, relatively low packing density of the detector elements (number of detector elements per unit area of the detector support).

Device having a membrane structure for detecting thermal radiation, and method for production thereof


Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure, among others, include vortex vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) systems and methods of cooling.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional refrigeration system 10 (refrigeration cycle) for both sub-critical and transcritical refrigeration cycles. The refrigeration system 10 includes a throttle valve 14, an evaporator 16, a compressor 18, and a condenser (for sub-critical cycle) or gas cooler (for transcritical cycle) 22, all of which are in fluid communication with one another via a manifold 12. The refrigeration system 10 includes a working fluid that flows through the system and is used to remove thermal energy from the evaporator 16. FIG. 2 illustrates a thermodynamic diagram (cycle) for the conventional refrigeration system shown in FIG. 1, where the cycle positions/states (e.g., "a", "b", "c", and "d") corresponds to the schematic in FIG. 1. The cycle is a transcritical cycle because all states of the cycle are in the vicinity of the critical point of the working substance (e.g., CO2) with the throttling process proceeding from the supercritical pressure (Pa>Pcritical) to sub-critical pressure (Pb<Pcritical) at constant enthalpy in the vicinity of the critical enthalpy (ha=hb=hthrottle˜hcritical).
In an ideal (reversible) case, the conventional transcritical refrigeration system operates in the following way. From position "a" to position "b" is an isoenthalpic (constant enthalpy h=constant˜hcritical) throttling process from the supercritical fluid (Pa>Pcritical) state "a" to the sub-critical (Pb<Pcritical) liquid/vapor mixture state "b".
From position "b" to position "c" is an isobaric (constant pressure Pb=Pc=constant<Pcritical) evaporation (phase change) process from the liquid/vapor mixture state "b" to the saturated (or possibly slightly superheated) vapor state "c". During this process, heat is being absorbed by the working fluid in an evaporator to enable refrigeration.
From position "c" to position "d" is a compression process (in an idealized reversible case, isoentropically) from the saturated (or possibly slightly superheated) vapor state "c" at lower pressure Pc to the higher pressure Pd superheated vapor state "d", which is also in the supercritical fluid domain.
From position "d" to position "a" is an isobaric (constant pressure Pd=Pa=constant>Pcritical) cooling of the working substance from the supercritical fluid state "d" with higher enthalpy (hd) to another supercritical fluid state "a" with lower enthalpy (ha). During this process, heat is being rejected to the atmosphere in the gas cooler.
Early in the 20th century, carbon dioxide was introduced and became popular as a refrigerant fluid (working fluid) because of its low toxicity, non-flammability, low cost, and universal availability. The use of competing refrigerants such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, methylene chloride, and others, achieved much higher cycle efficiencies (i.e., coefficient of performance (COP)), but the applications were limited because of various other shortcomings. The use of CO2 as a refrigerant declined dramatically in the early 1930s, with development of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) featuring low toxicity, as well as high COP of the refrigeration cycle.
Recently, the interest in carbon dioxide based refrigeration has picked up again, and quite sharply, owing to the ban on the use of CFCs and the phaseout of hydro-CFC (HCFC) due to serious environmental problems. Despite its unique advantages (e.g., low toxicity, non-flammability, low cost, environmental friendliness, and universal availability), low cycle efficiency is the major factor that prevents widespread application of CO2 refrigeration technology. This is an equally valid point for both a conventional vapor-compression cycle, as well as more recent supercritical/transcritical refrigeration cycles (critical temperature Tcritical=31.1° C. for carbon dioxide). For example, according to an ASHRAE Handbook (p. 167, 1993), the CO2 refrigeration cycle with an evaporating temperature of −15° C. and a condensing temperature of 30° C. has coefficient of performance (COP) of only 2.81, as compared to 4.77 for ammonia, 4.67 for R-22, and 4.41 for R-134a.
Therefore, there is a need in the industry to develop technology to overcome at least some of the deficiencies and inadequacies described above.

Vortex tube refrigeration systems and methods


A signal transmission method includes: determining, by the terminal device, an effective transmission power of a plurality of uplink signals; and transmitting, by the terminal device, the plurality of uplink signals simultaneously in a same frequency domain resource set according to the effective transmission power of the plurality of uplink signals.

In the 5G New Radio (NR) system, an antenna array of a terminal device may include a plurality of antenna panels, which may be used for transmitting uplink signals at the same time. Herein, one antenna panel may include multiple antenna units, and different antenna panels may use different Radio Frequency (RF) channels. When the terminal device is scheduled to transmit data on multiple antenna panels simultaneously in the same carrier, if a transmission power of the terminal device is limited, how to enable the terminal device to transmit data on the plurality of antenna panels becomes an urgent problem to be solved.

Signal transmission method and terminal device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


The present invention discloses a zoom lens assembly with capability of assuring concentricity of at least a lens group even during activity. The zoom lens assembly includes a plurality of optical lenses, at least two internal barrels, a lens holder and an alignment element wherein the lenses can be divided into at least two lens groups. The two internal barrels are used to respectively retain corresponding lens group therein to define a first and second lens sets. The lens holder is utilized to accommodate the first and second lens set therein. After twice alignment procedures in an assembled method, an internal barrel retained with one lens group is accommodated within the other internal barrel retained with another lens group to be precisely coupled. The two lens sets with mating structures are coupled to a guiding groove defined on the lens holder thereby the lens sets can slide inside the lens holder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens assembly, and more specifically, to a zoom lens assembly adapted for an apparatus capable of projecting or photographing.
2. The Related Art
Due to successive developments on the recent electronic products, especially on a projecting and photographing apparatus, their essential corresponding optical elements have to be raised with great precision in compliance with the requirements of qualities and the optimum image effects. A common character appearing in the above apparatus should have an ability of how to implement optically zooming by using an optical lens. Physically, the lens has a utility of being moveable to carry out zooming in/out of an image. Therefore, made as an essential optical element of the above apparatus, the performance of any image is absolutely depended on whether the fabrication quality of the optical lens is great or not.
Generally speaking, a zoom lens assembly ordinarily comprises a lens system defined with a plurality of optical lenses with different curvatures. Furthermore, the plurality of optical lenses can be divided into at least two lens groups, which are respectively disposed within two corresponding internal barrels for constructing a first and second lens sets. Eventually, the lens sets are allocated within an external holder or an external barrel. Meanwhile, either the external holder or the external barrel insides are shaped suitable for the reciprocal and telescope movements of an internal barrel with respect to the external holder or the external barrel. The zoom lens assembly is consequently provided with a zooming capability. In optical industry, any one of the lens sets has to be kept extremely controlled in a concentric and coaxial manner, even many times during opposite movements between the lens sets, in order to prevent the lens sets from becoming eccentric or non-coaxial after the assembly to result in performance degradation.
A traditional zoom lens assembly has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,432, as shown in FIG. 5 of the present specification. Meanwhile, a first lens group 90 and first lens holder 92 are constructed into a first lens set, and a second lens group 91 and second lens holder 93 are constructed into a second lens set. Both the first and second lens holders 92, 93 are mounted on a main frame 94. However the first and second lens holders 92, 93 mounted on the main frame 94, each uses only one spot to contact with a guide groove 95 for performing a telescopic movement, it may cause shakes while the lens holder is moving. Such a structure is not capable to completely ensuring that the first and second lens groups 90, 91 are moved oppositely along the same optical axis for all the time. Thus, it is hard to guarantee the optical performances of the zoom lens assembly. Besides, its fabricating method that the first and second lens groups 90, 91 are mounted on the main frame 94 separately will readily bring the fabricating quality more inaccuracies and degradation.
Understandably, it is necessary to provide a zoom lens assembly capable of assuring that each lens is coaxial with each other during moving oppositely or assembly.


A method and system for providing conditional bandwidth subscriptions to MPLS LSPs. Traffic is policed and/or marked at an ingress node to ensure that traffic that exceeds the LSP's conditional bandwidth is dropped. Traffic above the LSP's committed bandwidth but below the LSP's conditional bandwidth is admitted but marked as suitable for discarding. All traffic below the LSP's committed bandwidth is admitted. A queuing mechanism at each node of the LSP helps ensure that committed bandwidth traffic is protected during periods of congestion. Each node maintains a queue with a first area reserved for periods of congestion and a second area reserved for periods of no congestion. When congestion is encountered, unmarked traffic is stored in the first area and marked traffic is discarded. When no congestion is encountered, both marked and unmarked traffic is stored in the second area.

Recent data communications nodes often support a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) protocol that provides a connection-oriented service that enables IP tunneling across a wide area network. Unlike the hop-by-hop, on-demand forwarding of conventional Layer 2 (e.g. bridging) and Layer 3 (e.g. routing) protocols, the MPLS protocol provides a common protocol for end-to-end switching over heterogeneous switching nodes, referred to as label switch routers (LSRs), on pre-configured label switched paths (LSPs). A label switched path is a path through an MPLS network so that when a label is applied, traffic transits multiple routers in the LSP. The MPLS protocol is described in detail in "Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture," E. Rosen et al., Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comment 3031, January 2001 (hereinafter referred to as RFC 3031), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
According to the MPLS protocol, analysis of a packet's network layer header is done only once, and not repeated in subsequent hops. In the subsequent hops, a label that is attached to the packet is used as an index into a table which specifies the next hop, and a new label. The old label is replaced with the new label, and the packet is forwarded to its next hop.
According to current MPLS LSP technology, each LSP is generally assigned a committed bandwidth. One deficiency with the assignment of a committed bandwidth for MPLS LSPs from a carrier's point of view is that it often does not appropriately allocate excess bandwidth to the LSPs during low network traffic periods and thus, makes poor usage of a network node's bandwidth.
Another deficiency is that even traffic within an LSP's committed bandwidth may often be affected during peak traffic periods. For example, if aggregate traffic accepted into a network node exceeds the node's queuing capacity, traffic within an LSP's committed bandwidth may be dropped.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for controlling network traffic that helps appropriately allocate use of a network node's excess bandwidth and ensure no loss of traffic within an LSP's committed bandwidth.

Conditional bandwidth subscriptions for multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) label switched paths (LSPs)


In an image reading apparatus according to the invention, the switching frequency of a switching power supply is set to a value equal to integral multiples of a reading frequency corresponding to each line, thereby correcting, for example, uneven image density due to ripples in a power supply voltage. Further, the switching of the switching power supply is synchronized with a horizontal synchronizing signal output from a scanner, thereby causing the positions of the ripples to correspond between lines for correcting, for example, uneven image density.

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image of a document placed on a document table, and performing shading correction on the read image on the basis of a reference signal obtained from a white reference plate.
In general, digital copying machines, for example, comprise a scanner section for reading an image, and a print section for printing the image read by the scanner section.
The scanner section uses a CCD line sensor for reading an image. The level of voltage accumulated in the CCD line sensor are significantly influenced by variations in the illuminance of an exposure lamp, a reduction in the illuminance with time, and/or level variations in the pixels of the CCD line sensor. In light of this, the white and black levels are set immediately before image reading, so that the same image can be copied regardless of conditions (shading correction).
To this end, a white shading correction plate (hereinafter referred to as a "white reference plate") is used, and a signal from the white reference plate is read by a scanner section with several lines of elements, thereby correcting variations in the illuminance of an image, using the average level of the read signal as a white reference level.
When ripples occur in the power supply line of the scanner section, they also occur in image signal lines, thereby causing oblique lines or uneven density to be generated in a resultant image. In the prior art, to suppress the ripples, an electrolytic capacitor is added to the power supply line to increase the capacity of the power supply line.
However, this inevitably increases the capacitance of the capacitor, and involves disadvantages, such as an increase in substrate size and/or cost, or the disadvantage that a package component cannot be used.
Degraded images having density or color differences result from the ripples that occur in image signal lines. Since the occurrence of ripples in the voltage of the power supply is asynchronous with the generation of image data, the ripples do not occur at corresponding positions between the lines.


A client device provides to a user, in an application associated with a social-networking service provided by a server system, a link to a page associated with a third-party service provider. The third-party service provider is distinct from the social-networking service. In response to user selection of the link, the page is loaded within the application. The page includes script for calling one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) of the server system. The client device calls the one or more APIs to obtain information associated with the user from the server system. The client device displays the page within the application, and uses the information associated with the user to conduct a transaction with the third-party service provider through the page.

As the popularity of mobile devices markedly increases, so too does the use and development of applications on such devices. However, the discovery of applications continues to be a major challenge that limits the number of people using or enjoying the applications. Particularly, even if users are actively discovering new applications, users typically must perform a number of actions before being able to use the applications, including downloading, installing, and executing the applications, in addition to creating an account or providing other information.

Methods and systems for accessing third-party services within applications


An aftercooler thermostat housing for an engine is disclosed. The housing system comprises a housing and a thermostat within the housing. The housing system further includes a bypass system for providing a connection to allow an engine coolant to flow to the aftercooler system if the engine coolant temperature is below a first predetermined temperature. The bypass system allows for the engine coolant to flow through a heat exchanger which is part of the aftercooler system if the temperature of the coolant is above the first predetermined temperature. A low temperature aftercooler (LTA) thermostat housing system achieves the necessary heat rejection for the engine via the heat exchanger and achieves low temperature aftercooling using the heat exchanger.

In a conventional cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the coolant is circulated by a circulating pump through the engine block, through the cylinder heads, eventually through the intake manifold. In an automobile, or other land vehicle, the coolant flows through a radiator. Most marine engines do not have a radiator. In a marine engine having an open loop cooling system, sea water supplied by a sea water pump is used to directly cool the engine and is then discharged overboard.
Other engines have closed loop cooling systems. In a closed loop cooling system, an engine coolant circulates through the engine and then through a heat exchanger.
In closed loop cooling systems, the flow of engine coolant through the heat exchanger is controlled by a thermostat on the engine block of the engine. When the engine and engine coolant are cold, the thermostat is closed so that coolant does not pass through the heat exchange. With the thermostat closed, a small portion of engine coolant flows through a bypass and returns a limited amount of coolant to the circulating pump, so that there is a sufficient engine coolant flow through the engine block while the system is warming up. While a limited amount of engine coolant is adequate when the engine warms up slowly, problems can occasionally exist if the operator runs the engine wide open before the engine and coolant have warmed up. Under these conditions, coolant flow through the engine bypass before the thermostat opens might not provide sufficient cooling. This can be critical because wide open operation can quickly to hot spots in the an engine. The present invention addresses such a need.

Low temperature thermostat housing system for an engine


A camera device having photosensitive film, a frame connected to the film for holding the film fixed in a first plane, and a plurality of lenses of several predetermined focusing powers mounted to the frame and disposed in a second plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of the film. A shutter assembly is mounted to the frame for enabling light transmission selectively through the lenses and onto the film. The shutter assembly is actuated by shutter activation componentry mounted to the frame and operatively connected to the shutter assembly. A Fresnel lens and a Fresnel reflector are mounted to the frame and disposed on opposite sides of a light source for providing artificial illumination for the camera. Each lens is assocaited with a respective viewfinder and a respective camera exposure indicator. The camera a designed for storage and transport in a wallet or billfold.

This invention relates to a camera. More particularly, this invention relates to a disposable camera which is capable of being carried in a shirt pocket. This invention also relates to an associated method of taking photographs.
A recent development in photography is the disposable camera. Generally, such cameras are somewhat smaller than the conventional single lens reflex cameras preferred by afficionados. The disposable camera, however, is simple to operate. It is only necessary to aim the camera and press the shutter release button.
A problem with such disposable cameras is their size. They can be carried in a glove compartment of an automobile or in a briefcase, purse or coat pocket. However, they are too bulky to be carried in a suit or shirt pocket.

Camera with multiple lenses in planar array parallel to fixed film strip


High frame rate moving image data is satisfactorily transmitted.

In recent years, a camera is known that performs high frame rate shooting with a high speed frame shutter. For example, while a normal frame rate is 60 fps, 50 fps, or the like, a high frame rate is several times or several tens of times, or furthermore several hundred times the normal frame rate.
In a case where a high frame rate service is performed, it can be considered to convert moving image data shot by a camera with the high speed frame shutter into a moving image sequence of a lower frequency than the moving image data, to transmit the moving image sequence. However, an image of the high speed frame shutter has an effect of reducing motion blur and achieving high sharpness image quality, but also has a factor that causes an image quality problem in a conventional frame interpolation technology in a receiving and reproducing side.
In frame interpolation using a high sharpness image shot with the high speed frame shutter, a difference increases between in a case where motion vector search is suitable and in a case where the motion vector search is not suitable. For that reason, the difference between the two cases becomes a remarkable image quality degradation and is displayed. In the frame interpolation, a high load arithmetic operation is required for improving accuracy of the motion vector search, but the high load arithmetic operation influences a receiver cost.
The applicant has previously devised a technology that performs conversion of a material of an image shot with the high speed frame shutter, and performs display with an image quality higher than a certain level with a conventional receiver that performs normal frame rate decoding (see Patent Document 1).

Transmission device, transmission method, reception device and reception method

Abstract: Mixing processing is performed in units of two temporally consecutive pictures in predetermined frame rate image data, and base frame rate image data is obtained. Image data of one picture in units of the two temporally consecutive pictures is extracted, and high frame rate enhanced frame image data is obtained. Prediction encoding processing of base frame rate image data is performed to the base frame rate image data, and a base stream is obtained. Prediction encoding processing with respect to the base frame rate image data is performed to the high frame rate enhanced frame image data, and an enhanced stream is obtained. A predetermined format container is transmitted including the base stream and the enhanced stream.


Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a control method therefore. The control method of the mobile terminal, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of executing a mobile messenger, selecting a specific other user pre-registered in the mobile messenger, receiving a first command which is for the selected specific other user as a recipient; controlling the state of the at least one device according to the received first command; and controlling the controlled state of the at least one device to be maintained or to be changed according to whether the first command and a second command are in conflict with each other when the second command which is for the specific other user as a recipient is received through another mobile terminal in which the mobile messenger is executed.

A terminal can be classified into a mobile/portable terminal and a stationary terminal in accordance with whether the terminal is capable of being moved. Again, the mobile terminal can be divided into a handheld (type) terminal and a vehicle mounted terminal.
A function of a mobile terminal is diversifying. For instance, the function of the mobile terminal includes such a function as data and audio communication, capturing a picture and a video using a camera, audio recording, playing a music file using a speaker system and outputting an image or a video on a display unit. Some of the terminals may have an additional function such as playing an electronic game or perform a function of a multimedia player. In particular, a latest mobile terminal can receive a multicast signal providing such visual contents as a broadcast, a video and a television program.
As the function of the terminal is diversified, the terminal is implemented in a form of a multimedia player equipped with multiple functions such as capturing a picture or a video, playing a music file or a video file, playing a game, receiving a broadcast and the like.
In order to support and increase the function of the terminal, it may consider improving a structural part and/or a software part of the terminal.
Recently, solutions for controlling a plurality of external devices using a mobile device in a home network or IoT (Internet of Thing) environment are developing.

Mobile terminal and control method therefor


A printer which provides detailed information on usage of consumables such as paper, ink, toner, etc., aiding in planning print tasks and ordering supplies. The printer also provides information on printer setting usage and print costs.

Printers, such as black and white and color laser printers, are used for a wide range of tasks, from personal home use to use by the largest corporations and governments. Print quality has steadily risen as cost has decreased, and printers are now commonly used for tasks previously performed only by commercial printers.
However, monitoring and controlling print costs, almost always a critical task, has remained difficult. Managing print costs has in fact become more complex, as most printers now provide a number of different settings. These settings, such as resolution, print density, or paper type, are typically configurable either using the printer control panel or through software executing on a computer connected to the printer. Printer settings affect the print costs as well as the print quality. Some settings are even labeled in terms of relative cost, such as "Economy Mode," rather than identifying the actual print characteristics to be changed. Many printer settings are thus an attempt to enable the user to manage print costs and usage of resources such as toner and paper.
Unfortunately, printers currently available do not directly help users to manage print costs using printer settings. Users are aware only that they should save money if they reduce print quality by changing the print settings. This does not provide much useful information to a user who needs to balance print quality with cost, such as when selecting the best print quality to use to meet a budget, or to decide between in-house printing and commercial printing for given print jobs.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for implementing a switching between a body coil and a head coil in a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprising the body coil, the head coil and a power amplifier component, wherein the power amplifier component comprises sets of power amplifiers, each set of power amplifiers comprising channels of power amplifiers combined by a Wilkinson circuit, a combiner configured to combine signals from the sets of power amplifiers and to connect the sets of power amplifiers to the body coil, a first switching device comprising a first terminal configured to be grounded, a second switching device connected in series in a resistor branch of the Wilkinson circuit, and a ¼ wavelength transformation transmission line located between the second switching device and the head coil, the method comprising connecting the power amplifier component to the body coil or the head coil by setting states of both switching devices.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of nuclear magnetic resonance and, more specifically, to the body/head coil switching in nuclear magnetic resonance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, nuclear magnetic resonance technologies find wide application in the medical arts. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), also referred to as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI), is a diagnosis method that generates an image with the use of resonance of atomic nucleuses in a magnetic field. Its basic principle is that an image is constituted by using inherent characteristics of atomic nucleuses and interaction of magnetic fields. A class of atomic nucleuses that are closely related to body tissues will generate a magnetic resonance signal under the action of an external radio frequency (RF) field, and a set of parameters related to the magnetic resonance may be used as variables for imaging.
A RF coil is an important part of a MRI system, and all of magnetic resonance scans and examinations will be done with the use of the coil. Its function is to transmit RF pulses and receive MRI signals, and is an important link in MRI system imaging. A RF coil may be classified into a head coil, a body coil, and the like, depending on its structure and the purpose of the examination. In practice, depending on the part to be examined, the size of lesion and the purpose of the examination, switching is required among different RF coils, thereby improving the image quality of the MRI examination, improving the diagnostic coincidence rate of the MRI examination, and enlarging the application range of the MRI examination.
In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a power amplifier (PA) is one of its important components. A PA consumes power of a power supply, and outputs RF power. RF PA will output different power levels when it is connected with a body coil and a head coil, respectively. For existing MR PA designs, there are two methods to implement this. The first PA design is to use a six-way parallel connection to meet the requirement of a body coil, and switch to a head coil when it is connected with some other coils. However, a disadvantage with this method is that the efficiency is low when it is connected with a head coil. The second PA design is to use a sicx-channel parallel connection to meet the requirement of a body coil, and design another separate channel for connecting to a head coil. However, a disadvantage with this method is that it is expensive.
Therefore, there is a need for a novel PA design that can improve the efficiency while reducing the cost.

Body/head coil switching method, a power amplifier component and a MRI system

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


A clock-data recovery circuit includes a variable delay circuit that adjusts timing of a recovered clock by an amount to recover a received data stream at timing corresponding to a maximum opening of an eye pattern of the data stream. The delay timing is adjusted iteratively. The data stream in input to a 2-bit ADC, where the sampled data stream is compared with reference values representative of conditions of the eye pattern, and a result of the comparisons increases or decreases the clock delay according to a relative height of the eye pattern. A method of clock-data recovery uses the recovery circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to clock-data recovery.
2. Description of Related Art
Persons of ordinary skill in the art understand terms and basic concepts related to microelectronics that are used in this disclosure, such as "signal," "clock," "square wave," "edge (of clock)," "binary data," "vertical eye opening," "binary phase detector," "loop filter," "voltage-controlled oscillator," "ADC (analog-to-digital converter)," "inverter," "delay-lock loop," and "clock recovery." Terms and basic concepts like these are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and thus will not be explained in detail here.
A clock-data recovery circuit is a circuit that receives a received signal, which carries a stream of serial binary data, and establishes a recovered clock that is aligned with a timing of the received signal. An exemplary waveform of a prior art clock-data recovery circuit, as observed by using an oscilloscope, is shown in FIG. 1A. The received signal, when observed using an oscilloscope, exhibits an "eye pattern". The recovered clock is represented as a square wave with a first edge (i.e., rising edge) aligned with a data transition of the received signal (e.g., edges 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109) and a second edge (i.e., falling edge) aligned with a center of the serial binary data carried by the received signal (e.g., edges 102, 104, 106, and 108). Once the recovered clock is properly established, the serial binary data can be detected by sampling the received signal using the second edge of the recovered clock. A principal of clock-data recovery is well known in prior art and thus not described in detail here.
The prior art clock-data recovery circuit works well if the received signal exhibits a symmetrical eye pattern. However, sometimes, the received signal exhibits a nonsymmetrical eye pattern, as shown in FIG. 1B. In such a situation, the second edge 112 will not be perfectly aligned with the optimal sampling instant 113 where the received signal has the maximum "vertical eye opening" when the first edge 111 is aligned with the transition of the data carried by the received signal.
What is desired is a clock-data recovery circuit that establishes a clock with an edge that is aligned with the optimal timing where the received signal has a maximum "vertical eye opening."

Clock-data recovery circuit and method thereof


A switching device for a multi-filament electric lamp. The filaments of the electric lamp are electrically connected to arcuate contact surfaces arranged in a circle. The conductive bar is arranged to rotate about the axis of the circular arrangement of contact surfaces. The ends of the conductive bar contact the contact surfaces, and an electric power supply is electrically connected to the center portion of the conductive bar. Current flows into the center portion of the bar and out both ends and through the filaments of the electric lamp in the patterns determined by actuation of a pull-chain to operate the lamp in LOW, MEDIUM, and HIGH states. With the conductive bar in a further, pull-chain determined position, the lamp is OFF.

A number of multiple filament lamp sockets and other superficially related lamp sockets have heretofore been proposed. Those of which the applicant are aware are disclosed in Dulberg U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,222,655 issued 26 November 1942 for "MULTIPLE FILAMENT LAMP COMBINATION"; Schultz 1,666,248, issued 17 April 1928 for "THREE-WAY LAMP SOCKET"; and Truitt 625,219 issued 16 May 1899 for "ELECTRIC SWITCH"; and also, LEVITON has a switch and socket device on the market.
Each of the foregoing references discloses switching devices that are incapable of pull-chain control of a multiple filament electric lamp. The Schultz and LEVITON switch and socket mechanisms are designed only to control single filament electric lamps.
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the LEVITON device has four arcuate surfaces in a circle on a non-conductive support member 200. Contacts 202 and 204 are formed on two arcuate surfaces in opposing quadrants. Contact 202 is connected to an electric power source, and contact 204 is connected to the filament 208 of a single filament electric lamp. A conductive bar 210 rotates from an "OFF" position shown in FIG. 18, in which it rests on the non-conductive support member 200, to an "ON" position, shown in FIG. 10, in which it rests on contacts 202 and 204. In the "ON" position, current may flow from power source 206, through conductive bar 210, and through filament 208. Filament 208 is thus energized, and the light bulb becomes luminous. Conductive bar 210 is rotated using a standard pull-chain type rotation actuator. The LEVITON device would energize only one filament of a standard multiple filament electric lamp.
On the other hand, Truitt and Dulberg, while allowing control of a multi-filament lamp, do not provide for control of such lamps using a pull-chain actuating device.

Switch mechanism for a multiple filament electric lamp


An upright open frame formed by an inverted U-shape member having rigidly interconnected legs entering the earth to support the frame in an upright position. A target anchor bar having sufficient mass to normally hold a target taut within the frame is slidably supported by the legs. Fastener members connected with the bight of the U-shaped frame and the anchor bar are connected with respective end portions of a target to be supported within the frame.

This invention relates to target practice and more particularly to an improved target support to be used preferably by shooters in practicing small caliber target practice.
1. Field of the Invention
Small caliber targets are usually formed from sheet material, for example, a sheet of paper or cardboard which may vary in size and is usually rectangular in overall configuration.
Paper targets, usually rectangular, need to be supported, particularly at their top and bottom end portions, to maintain them in a generally vertical plane to prevent wind currents moving the targets. Further, when changing targets during target practice, it is desirable that the old target be easily removed and the new one installed without manually changing clamps and making other adjustments for the fresh target in the event the targets are not of the same size. This invention provides a target holder which will accommodate substantially any size target presently in use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,353 issued Aug. 24, 1971 to Dale for Adjustable Target Holder discloses a target holder having a crossbar connecting pair of legs which may be inserted into the ground for support. One of the legs is extended upwardly and supports a lateral bar parallel with the crossbar of the legs, and receives clips which support a target in the vertical spacing between the lateral bar and crossbar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,318 issued Jun. 14, 1977 to Boss for Portable, Adjustable Target Stand, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,593 issued Feb. 23, 1988 to Wade for Portable Target Assembly are believed good examples of the further state-of-the-art.
The Boss patent discloses a base formed by inverted U-shaped pivotally connected scissor legs which support an upright U-shaped target holder pivoted to the base and maintained in a generally upright position by an elongated brace rod adjustable connected with the other of the scissor connected base legs. Cross rods between the upright target holder are frictionally engaged with a respective leg of the target holder which must be vertically adjusted to the vertical length of the target to engage clips therewith supported by the cross rods.
The Wade patent discloses upright laterally spaced-apart posts on a rigid base which supports a sheet target therebetween. A cross rod between the posts supports a swinging target in depending relation. This target holder, like many others, requires adjustment of the components when replacing targets, but has the added feature that it may be completely disassembled and stored in the base.
This invention is believed distinctive over the above named and other patents by providing a rigid target holder having legs easily entering the surface of the earth for supporting the target holder in an upright one piece manner, with the exception of a horizontal crossbar, gravity moved downward by its sleeve ends surrounding the upright legs.