A system and method for distributed authentication service is disclosed, which prevents any single participant from monitoring the logon rates of other participants is disclosed. In particular, there is no single central list that is consulted to identify where the authentication should be performed. Rather, the systems keys on the domain portion of the global user ID. The client portion parses the entered ID and re-directs the submission to the appropriate authentication service. Rather than consulting a global look-up table, the domain name is pre-pended to a central host domain and DNS is consulted to find the location of the underlying authentication servers. The DNS look-up is distributed and cached and, as a result, the look-up cannot be centrally monitored.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to Internet based authentication technology. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for distributed authentication service.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The explosive growth of the Internet is changing the ways in which we communicate, conduct business, and pursue entertainment. A few years ago, electronic commerce (E-commerce) was just an interesting concept. By 1999, however, it had become the hottest thing around. Today, not only are consumers buying an enormous volume of goods or services over the Internet, but the business-to-business E-commerce has taken off as well.
The basic cell of E-commerce is an electronic transaction, which requires a buyer or user fills out one or more electronic forms on screen and click a button named "send", "buy" or "submit", etc. To complete such an electronic transaction, a user has to go through an authentication process. In other words, the user must provide the seller or service provider with some information such as his or her personal identification, contact information, or even financial information. The authentication process may take from several minutes to hours. Because each seller or service provider maintains its own authentication server and database, millions of seller and service providers might share thousands of millions of consumers or users. Some of the consumers or users might be required to go through the same or similar authentication process again and again if they have transactions with many sellers or service providers. This repetitive authentication not only wastes consumers' precious time, but also burdens the sellers or service providers because they have to expand their databases to keep detailed authentication information for a growling number of users. This situation brings forth a technical need to create a universal, unified single-logon infrastructure wherein a specific user may be authenticated once for all and the authentication result is widely recognized by a large number of sellers or service providers.
In responding to that need, several approaches have been developed. For example, Microsoft Corporation has introduced a ".NET Passport" single sign-in system. With ".NET Passport", a user doesn't need to register a member name and password at each new site he visits. The user may simply use his e-mail address and password that registered as his ".NET Passport" to sign in to any participating site or service. The information the user registers with ".NET Passport" is stored online, securely, in the ".NET Passport" database as the user's ".NET Passport profile." When the user signs in to a ".NET Passport" participating site by typing his e-mail address and password in the ".NET Passport" sign-in box, ".NET Passport" confirms that (1) the e-mail address he typed is registered with ".NET Passport", and (2) the password he typed is correct. ".NET Passport" then notifies the site that the user has provided valid "sign-in credentials", and he is given access to the participating site. Once the user signs in to one ".NET Passport" participating site during an Internet session, he can sign in to others simply by clicking the ".NET Passport" sign-in button on each site.
Another example is America Online Inc.'s "Screen Name Service" system, which provides free service allowing anyone with a "Screen Name" to register easily and securely at a variety of Web sites. The "Screen Name Service" eliminates a user's need to remember multiple names and passwords for all the places he visits on the Web. With the "Screen Name Service" system, each user has a "My Profile", which stores the user's personal information used to make registering at sites across the Web simple and secure. When the user registers at a participating Web site using the service, he has the opportunity to choose which fields of information stored by AOL, if any, he would like to share with that site. No information is shared with any Web site without the user's explicit permission. When the user agrees to share certain information with a participating site, that information is conveyed to the Web site at which he is registering. Another feature is that the user is provided with a "My Site List", which is an effective way to manage personal information because it shows the user with which sites he has registered with using the service. The user can view the privacy policy of a site to see how it uses information it knows about the user. The user can also decide if he would like to be signed into the site without being prompted and if the site should be updated with information if "My Profile" changes.
The common characteristic of these approaches is that they implement a centralized solution for authentication and authentication information management. Undoubtedly, the centralized solution may overcome the repetitive authentication and repetitive storage problems that exist in the scattered, disorganized situation.
However, the centralized solution has three major disadvantages. First, in a centralized authentication system, because all the login requests go to a central authentication server, the traffic to the server could be very heavy, the requirements for the process capability and database size could be predictably high, and the authentication process would be very slow when the number of requests is overwhelmed for the server. Second, in case that the central authentication system fails, all the authentication requests would be suspended. Third, the central authentication service provider could monitor the participating sites' logon rates and a site which hosts a user's login page could monitor the user's logon information.
What is desired is a solution to have each authentication carried out at one of participating servers and have the authentication result distributed and cached all over the network of the participating servers so that the authentication results cannot be centrally monitored.

System and method for distributed authentication service


A rocking chair has two side panels each of which has an engaging hole and a plurality of positioning holes, a first bar and a second bar connected between the two side panels. A footrest has two side plates pivotally connected to the two side panels by a rod extending through the engaging holes and the side plates, each of the two side plates having a match holes so that the footrest is positioned relative to the two side panels by extending two pins through the positioning holes and the match holes. The two side plates can be rested on the first bar. Each of the two side plates has a notch defined therein so that the footrest can be folded between the two side panels by engaging the second bar with the two notches.

A conventional rocking chair is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a seat back 700, a seat 70 with two armrests 701 and a rocking mechanism 73 disposed below the seat 70. The rocking mechanism 73 includes two side panels 71, 72 which are each connected pivotally to a link system of the mechanism 73 so that user may sit in the rocking chair with his/her feet on a floor and rock his/her body so that the seat 70 together with the seat back 700 reciprocatingly move. This rocking chair has a fixed size so that the users may feel uncomfortable if the chair is too small or too big for the users. Besides, the user's feet have to step on the floor and apply a downward force so that he/she can push his/her hip portion backward to rock the chair. This limits the user's pose and the user's height.
The present invention provides a combination of the rocking chair and-footrest wherein the footrest can be adjusted relative to the rocking chair so that the limitations for using the chair are reduced. Therefore, the present invention obviates the inherent shortcoming of the conventional rocking chair.

Combination of a rocking chair and an adjustable hassock


A multi-language jump bar system and methods for use in connection with a multi-language contact management computer software program. The jump bar system includes a plurality of user-selectable buttons which may be associated with alphanumeric characters from different languages through use of a character set in which each alphanumeric character is identified by a single, unique, numeric character code. The buttons enable rapid updating of displayed contact information from a contacts information database simultaneously storing contact information in multiple languages so that a user of the contact management computer software may more quickly locate contact information for a particular contact. A jump bar method enables assignment of character codes to buttons according to weights associated with each character code. Such weights may be based at least partially on the usage frequency of the alphanumeric characters associated with the character codes in their respective languages.

Today's contact management computer software programs allow their users to input, edit, store and retrieve information associated with business and/or personal contacts. Generally, for each contact, the information comprises a plurality of data elements which are representative of the contact's name, title, company name, business address, home address, electronic mail addresses, and one or more telephone numbers associated with business telephones, business facsimile devices, home telephones, home facsimile devices, and wireless telephones. Each data element, typically, includes a plurality of alphanumeric characters or symbols that are stored and retrieved from a database or data file employed by the contact management program.
In order to enable their international use, the contact management computer software programs may enable their users to select one or more languages that will be used by the programs for the input, editing, storage and retrieval of the information associated with contacts (i.e., the contact information). For those contact management programs that operate under present and older versions of the Microsoft® Windows® environment, each language is uniquely represented by a code page having a system-wide code page number setting which is established and stored during setup of the Microsoft® Windows® environment. Within each code page, each alphanumeric character or symbol of the selected language is represented by a code number. As a consequence, the same alphanumeric character in different languages might be represented by different code numbers, thereby requiring those contact management programs operating under present or older versions of the Microsoft® Windows® environment to utilize and consider both the code page number and code number of each alphanumeric character when manipulating, storing and retrieving data elements and their alphanumeric characters if such programs enable the simultaneous management of contacts using a plurality of languages. Because the use and consideration of both the code page number and code number necessarily requires more memory, storage space and processing power, such contact management computer software programs, typically, allow the management of contact information using only one language at a time and not the simultaneous use of more than one language.
The necessary use and consideration of both the code page number and code number for each alphanumeric character also makes more difficult the implementation and operation of "jump bars" that some contact management programs utilize to enable their users to more quickly locate contact information associated with a particular contact. Such "jump bars", or "button bars", include a plurality of user-selectable buttons with each button being labeled and associated with a range of alphanumeric characters. Upon selection of a button by a user, such contact management programs retrieve and display the contact information for contacts starting with those contacts having a last name that begins with the first alphanumeric character of the range of alphanumeric characters associated with the button. If the simultaneous use of multiple languages is permitted, the range of alphanumeric characters associated with each button must include both code page numbers and code numbers for such characters and the contact management program must make use of both the code page number and code numbers when attempting to retrieve and display desired contact information.
Therefore, there exists in the industry, a need for jump bar systems and methods for multi-language contact managers that enable users to quickly locate and/or jump to desired contact information, and that addresses these and other problems or difficulties which exist now or in the future.

Multi-language jump bar system and methods


An access assembly for a vehicle body. The access assembly includes a body panel movably mounted to the vehicle body for movement between an open position and a closed position and defining an access opening. A door assembly is provided on the body panel and has a cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. A vehicle component is disposed in a substantially fixed position with respect to the vehicle body, the vehicle component having a receptacle that is substantially aligned with the access opening when the body panel is in the closed position. The access opening is exposed when the cover is in the open position, and the access opening is concealed when the cover is in the closed position.

Certain vehicle systems include a vehicle component that is mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle, but to which frequent access is required. Vehicles having internal combustion engines that utilize alcohol-based biofuels, such as ethanol or ethanol-gasoline blends as their primary fuel are well known. However, in vehicles that utilize some alcohol-based biofuels such as pure ethanol or high ethanol content blends as their primary fuel, it is difficult to induce combustion of the primary fuel when starting the engine from a cold-start condition. Thus, it is known to supply gasoline to the engine when starting the engine during a cold-start condition.
To supply gasoline to the internal combustion engine of an ethanol burning vehicle during engine startup, ethanol-burning vehicles often include a supplemental fluid storage tank for storing gasoline. The supplemental fluid storage tank is located in the engine compartment of the vehicle, and is mounted either to an internal wall of the engine compartment or to a portion of the engine itself. The supplemental fluid storage tank is generally small in volume, since it supplies gasoline to the engine only when the engine is starting.
As another example, diesel internal combustion engines can be provided with emission control systems that utilize urea as a reactant to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases of the diesel engine. In such systems, it is common to mount a fluid storage tank for storing urea in the engine compartment of the vehicle.
Filling the supplemental fluid storage tank of an ethanol burning vehicle typically involves opening the hood of the vehicle, since a dedicated access to the fluid filler tubes of the supplemental fluid storage tank is generally not provided. While fluid filler tubes for engine compartment mounted fluid storage tanks have previously been provided in the cowling below the windshield of the vehicle, doing so limits the acceptable mounting locations for the supplemental fluid storage tank, and may not be feasible in light of pre-existing design constraints. It is also known to provide a fluid filler tube that extends through an aperture in the hood. However, to prevent interference between the fluid filler tube and the hood when the hood is moved between open and closed positions, the aperture must be oversized, and the hood and the fluid filler tube must be installed to close tolerances.
As a further example, electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may include an electrical charging receptacle that is provided within the engine compartment of the vehicle. Providing such a receptacle so that it extends through the hood would be impractical, for the reasons stated in connection with fluid filler tubes, and further for the reason that the electric receptacle needs to be protected from the elements.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


The present invention is directed to the incorporation of melanin in an optical article with polarization properties. Such an article includes a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent, a second polymer layer containing melanin and wherein the second polymer layer is disposed upon the first polymer layer.

Melanin is known for its use as a pigment to provide a naturally appearing tan and a sunscreen to mammalian skin and hair. In recent years, increased attention has been given to the application of melanin for providing full spectrum (ultraviolet, visible and near infrared) absorption properties to protective eye wear. Ordinary eyewear lenses only cut off the ultraviolet radiation below 400 nm. It is believed that the high-energy visible (HEV), which is the radiation in the range of wavelength between 400 nm and 550 nm, causes photochemical damage to the retina. The amount and severity of the damage increases exponentially as the wavelength of the radiation decreases towards 400 nm. Melanin is effective in blocking HEV.
The application of melanin as absorbing pigment against radiation emitted by artificial and natural light sources is specifically disclosed in a series of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,374, 5,036,115, 5,047,447, and 5,112,883.
The use of a polarizing plate containing melanin in making sunlight protection eyewear has received much attention recently, due to the additional elimination of HEV light by melanin. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/207,307 describes a melanin-containing polarizing plate, in which melanin shares the same host layer as the polarization element. Usually, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) type polymer is used as the host film material. A hydrophilic melanin and polarization element (dichroic dyes or iodine crystal) are incorporated into the PVA film by means of absorption. In a typical process to make a high quality polarizing film such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,218, a PVA film (or partially stretched film) is soaked in an aqueous solution of dichroic dyes first. It is subsequently stretched substantially in one direction. The stretched film is then stabilized by immersing it in an aqueous solution containing a metallic ion and boric acid. The film is finally treated with heat. The absorption of melanin can happen before, during, or after the dichroic dye absorption.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


This invention relates to an image capturing apparatus for illuminating and capturing an image of an object using reflected light therefrom, and is objective to a miniaturized construction and simplified assembly. A plurality of light-emitting devices is mounted around an image sensor, and a light guide member guides the light of the light-emitting devices to an image capturing region for illumination. The image capturing apparatus having the closely disposed image capturing system and illumination system, the miniaturized image capturing apparatus is assembled by pressing a projection of the light guide member to the lower end of the hood for cutting outside lights from the image capturing range and by pressing the upper end of the hood to the filter. Thus, it becomes possible to assemble with less adhesion points and improve working ability of assemble of the image capturing apparatus to make defect ratios of productions low and improve production efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus for guiding light emitted from a light-emitting device to an object, irradiating the object, and image capturing the object, and more particularly an image capturing apparatus for easily assembling components even though a compact construction.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image capturing apparatus for capturing an image in a predetermined range of an object by irradiating the object with uniform light is widely used. In an image processing system using an image captured by such the image capturing apparatus, a clear image is particularly required.
For example, with the development of biometric technologies in recent years, there have been provided a variety of apparatuses for personal identification, which captures features of a living body, a portion of a human body by which an individual can be distinguished, and recognizes the features of the living body, for example, fingerprints of limbs, eye retinas, face and blood vessels.
In particular, blood vessels and skin patterns of a palm and back of the hand and a finger are suitable for reliable personal authentication, because a relatively large amount of personal feature data may be obtained therefrom. Further, it is believed that the patterns of blood vessels (veins) do not change from the time of an embryo throughout the lifetime of any person, and that no identical pattern exists among any persons without exception, which are therefore suitable for personal authentication.
For such the biometric authentication or the like, it is necessary to capture an image of an object (a portion of a human body in case of the biometric authentication) in a non-contact manner. For this purpose, the image capturing apparatus emits light producing uniform light intensity in a certain image capturing range (distance and area), receives the reflected light of the above image capturing range by a sensor, and outputs a captured image signal as an electric signal. Further, to perform image capturing appropriately, it is necessary to provide a distance sensor to measure the distance to the object.
FIGS. 24 and 25 show explanation diagrams of the conventional image capturing apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, an image capturing apparatus 100 includes an image capturing (digital camera) unit 120 at the center, and in the periphery thereof, a plurality of light-emitting devices 130-1 to 130-8 and a non-illustrated optical distance sensor. The dotted lines shown in FIG. 24 represent the range of the light having uniform intensity emitted from an individual light-emitting device among the plurality of light-emitting devices 130-1 to 130-8.
As such, by disposing a plurality of (here, eight) point light sources in the periphery of image capturing unit 120, the image capturing range of the image capturing unit 120 can be irradiated with the light of uniform intensity. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 25, the image capturing unit 120 includes a photoelectric conversion unit 122 such as a CMOS sensor, and an optical system 124 such as a lens. Since the photoelectric conversion device, which is a plane photo-detector device, has a predetermined light receiving area, a predetermined optical distance is required to guide the reflected light of the image capturing range onto the light-receiving plane of the photoelectric conversion device 122. For this purpose, a lens 124 such as a fisheye lens is disposed between the photoelectric conversion unit 122 and the object, so that an image of the predetermined image capturing range is projected onto the light-receiving plane of photoelectric conversion device 122.
Thus, conventionally, in order to irradiate the object with each point light source element 130-1 to 130-8 by sharing a predetermined image capturing range, the point light source elements 130-1 to 130-8 have been disposed apart from each other, as shown in FIG. 24. Also, in order to supply the light of predetermined uniform intensity to the image capturing range, the point light source elements 130-1 to 130-8 have been disposed nearer to the object than the photoelectric conversion device 122, as shown in FIG. 25. Further, the distance sensor measures the distance to the object by irradiating the object with spot light and receiving the reflected light thereof. For this purpose, similarly, the distance sensor has been disposed near the object (For example, International Patent Publication No. WO 2004/088588 (FIGS. 1 and 6)).

Image capturing apparatus having an image capturing system disposed close to an illumination system


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor (SRM), in which after measuring the rotating speed of the SRM and determining whether the motor is decelerated or accelerated, current signals each having a waveform suitable to the acceleration/deceleration and the rotating speed of the motor are read from a current waveform table of a memory and then transmitted, and the current signals are controlled and then transmitted to motor coils of each phase, thereby driving the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor (SRM), and more particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor (SRM) capable of reducing a noise caused by torque ripple when accelerating/decelerating the motor by sensing the position and speed of the motor through an optical sensor when driving the SRM and then supplying different current waveforms to each motor coil according to the sensed speed of the motor, thereby enhancing efficiency of the motor when rotating the motor at high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a conventional switched reluctance motor (SRM). As shown in the drawing, the SRM includes a microcomputer 10 for transmitting a current control signal according to the position and speed sensed by an optical sensor (not illustrated); and an inverter circuit unit 20 for controlling the operation of the SRM according to the current control signal transmitted from the microcomputer 10.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the inverter circuit unit 20 in detail. As shown in the drawing, the inverter circuit unit 20 includes field effect transistors FET1 to FET5 which are switched by the current control signal transmitted from the microcomputer 10; and current feedback diodes D1 to D6 which control the current applied in motor coils L1 to L3 of each phase of A, B and C.
FIG. 3 is a waveform of the current applied to the motor coils of each phase of A, B and C. When driving the SRM, the optical sensor senses the position and speed of the motor and transmits the sensed signal to the microcomputer 10.
The microcomputer 10 controls the current amount according to the position and speed of the motor and supplies the current to the field effect transistors FET1 and FET2; FET3 and FET4; and FET5 and FET6, successively.
Accordingly, the field effect transistors FET1 to FET6 are switched and then predetermined current waveforms illustrated in FIG. 3 are supplied to the motor coils L1, L2 and L3 of each phase of A, B and C, thereby rotating the SRM.
However, in the conventional SRM, since the current waveforms applied to the motor coils when driving the SRM are constant to the motor speed, noise caused by torque ripple can be generated when rotating the motor at low speed. Moreover, the efficiency of the motor is degraded by a current overlap when rotating the motor at high speed.

Method and apparatus for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor


Compact scanning techniques that can scan a large degree optical solid angle are disclosed. One particular embodiment is a processor controlled scanner that is capable of a large degree optical solid scan angle. Dual axis scan capability can be provided with a single compact package. A pivoting ball joint on which a mirror assembly is attached is employed. The mirror assembly is operatively coupled to an actuator assembly (e.g., electro-magnets or piezoelectric based actuators). When control voltage is applied to the actuator assembly, the ball joint to moves thereby moving the integrally attached mirror assembly.

There are many conventional ways to scan a laser beam over a solid angle. However, each of these conventional scanning techniques is associated with one or more problems.
For example, dual galvanometers are used in many scanning operations, but have a large dual axis. Dual acousto-optic scanners, dual electro-optic scanners, and dual electro-optic scanners are each associated with a small scan angle (6 optical degrees or less). Dual electro-optic scanners are also physically very large. Dual resonant scanners are associated with a difficult random axis in solid angles unless there is a mechanism to change the resonance of each axis. Dual "stress optical beam" scanners have a small scan angle (15.5 optical degrees using GaAs). Dual gradient liquid crystal scanners also exhibit a small scan angle (0.57 optical degrees). Dual MEMS electro-static scanners have a small scan angle (<30 degree optical scan angle) and a small aperture (1-2 mm). Risley prism scanning assemblies exhibit beam distortion at the edge of scan and an anomaly at zero degree scan angle. Also, for multiple wavelengths, each Risley prism scans at a different angle unless a reflective Risley is used which is quite large. Spinning hologon, dual rotating polygon (transmissive or reflective), trepanning (move the lens), and dual rotating gratings are all scanning techniques associated with a large size. Dual phased arrays exhibit low power density.
A combination of any of these conventional single axis scanning techniques can also be used to make a dual axis scanning system. However, such a combination merely provides a combination of the associated problems.
What is needed, therefore, are compact scanning techniques that can scan a large degree optical solid angle.

Ball joint gimbal mirror with actuator assembly

Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A sport goggle structure includes a rim having an inner circumference along which a circumferential slot is formed to receive and hold therein a lens and a head strap having two ends respectively connected to connecting holes formed on two opposite lateral side edges of the rim. The circumferential slot of the rim has a minimum depth that is sufficient to receive a circumferential edge of the lens in order to minimize the size of the rim. The size-minimized rim has ventilation device and face contact device provided thereon. The face contact device is to provide a more comfortable and position-secured engagement with wearer's face. The ventilation device is to guide fresh air flow from outside goggles through a right-angled bend and directly toward an inner surface of the lens to provide the best defogging effect.

Sport goggles are used to protect the athletes from being damaged by particles or dusts carried in the air during doing exercise or playing a game. Generally speaking, when a person is doing violent activities, heat is generated by one's body and is removed by being dissipated through one's skin. The heat that is dissipated through the face of the wearer of the sport goggles may cause fog on the lens of the goggles. This affects the vision of the wearer. Further, without suitable ventilation between inside and outside of the goggles, the wearer's eyes may feel uncomfortable with no fresh air supplied thereto. Thus ventilation to supply fresh air and to defog is an important factor of the design of sport goggles.
Conventionally, the ventilation means is either provided on the rim of the goggles or on the lens of the goggles. In the former case, the rim has to be widened to accommodate the ventilation holes. This makes the goggles very bulky. Further, the widened rim increases the distance between the lens and the wearer's eyes and thus may cause unwanted limitation on the wearer's vision. For the ventilation means that is mounted on the lens, to avoid interference with wearer's vision, the lens is usually enlarged and such a large lens is, of course, more costly.
In FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, a conventionally sport goggle structure indicated at 5 is shown which is particularly suitable for horse racing. The goggles 5 comprise a rim 50, a lens 51 and a head strap 52. The rim 50 has an inner circumference along which a circumferential slot 501 is formed for receiving and holding therein the lens 51. Retainer members 502 are provided in the slot 501, preferably at positions corresponding to the upper and lower side of the bridge of the goggles 5, to engage notches 511 formed on the lens 51 for retaining the lens 51 on the rim 50. Openings 503 are provided on two opposite sides of the rim 50 for connection with the head strap 52.
The conventional sport goggles 5, however, have disadvantages and one of the disadvantages is that the goggles 5 are ready to move relative to the wearer's face when the wearer's facial muscle moves or acts. With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B for further explanation of the relative movement of the conventional goggles 5 with respect to the wearer's face, generally speaking, in the human head skeleton, a recessed portion is present between the eyebrows and the face contour is different from person to person so that the conventional goggles 5 that are worn to cover the area around the eyes are not capable to completely comply with the face contour of the wearer, especially at the recessed portion between the eyebrows and a gap is present between the upper edge of the rim 50 and the recessed portion of the face contour 60 as indicated in FIG. 2A. Thus, facial muscle movements, such as frowning, may cause the goggles to move upward relative to the face (see dashed line in FIG. 2B) and repeated muscle movements will finally move the goggles 5 to such a position that is uncomfortable to the wearer.
Thus it is desirable to provide a sport goggle structure which provides a better compliance with and a more close engagement with the wearer's face contour and thus reduces and even eliminates the movement of the goggles relative to the wearer's face caused by facial muscle movement.


A clamp assembly which together with a single nut can be used to form a secure lap-joint between overlapped ends of telescoped pipes, includes a yoke having a rigid body defining a concave semicircular pipe-engaging edge, and an elongate member having an arcuate central portion and a pair of parallel legs which extend integrally and tangentially from the arcuate central portion, with one of the legs being pivotally secured to the yoke. A free end of the other leg is threaded for engagement with a nut. The yoke includes a bearing seat upon which the nut can be tightened onto the threaded end of the elongate member to urge the concave semicircular pipe-engaging edge of the web and the concave semicircular pipe-engaging perimeter surface of the elongate member together to apply radially compressive forces about the circumference of overlapped ends of telescoped pipes.

This invention relates to connectors for tubular conduits having telescoping ends which overlap, and more particularly to exhaust system clamps for securing together interfitted exhaust pipes and the like.
All types of vehicles, especially automobiles and trucks, employing an internal combustion engine generally have an exhaust system comprised of a muffler, catalytic convertor, resonator, or combination thereof, for treating the exhaust gas before it is discharged into the atmosphere and/or abating noise. The various components of the exhaust system are generally connected together by one or more conduits or pipes to form a continuous pathway for exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold, through the components of the exhaust system and out of the tailpipe.
The major components of the exhaust system such as the muffler, catalytic convertor and resonator are generally provided with an inlet tube and an outlet tube which are welded or otherwise secured to the component in a substantially leak proof, gas-type manner. The inner diameter of the tubes from the components, such as an outlet tube from the muffler, have an inner diameter which is about equal to the outer diameter of the connecting pipes so that an end of a connecting pipe can be slipped over the end of the tube from the muffler or other component to form a slip-joint or lap-joint. In order to secure the overlapped pipes together, a connector is used to apply a substantially uniform, radially inwardly directed compressive force about the circumference of the lap-joint. It is generally desirable to have the connector apply sufficient force uniformly about a circumference of the lap-joint to inwardly deform the overlapping tubes to form a substantially continuous bead or protuberance along the inner surfaces of the pipes.
A variety of clamps have been developed to apply the desired radially inwardly directed compressive forces about the circumference of a lap-joint to secure telescoped pipes together. One of the most common pipe connectors used for connecting exhaust pipes is a guillotine or saddle type clamp comprised of a U-bolt and a saddle or yoke having a web with a semicircular cutout portion. The U-bolt has a substantially semicircular curved section with a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to the outside radius of the outer of the two overlapping tubes or pipes which are to be joined together, and the semicircular cutout of the yoke has a similar radius. The U-bolt also has two parallel legs which extend from the ends of the semicircular curved portion thereof. The yoke is generally prepared from a sheet of steel which is cut, stamped and rolled to provide the web with the semicircular cutout. The yoke also includes apertures or tubular portions for receiving the ends of the U-bolt. The saddle and U-bolt are placed over a lap-joint between telescoped ends of exhaust pipes, with the edge of the semicircular cutout and the inner perimeter of the semicircular portion of the U-bolt facing the outer circumference of the lap joint, and with the ends of the straight leg portions of the U-bolt projecting through the apertures or tubular portions of the yoke. The yoke and U-bolt are then forced toward each other by a pair of nuts threaded on to the ends of the U-bolt legs to apply substantially uniform radially compressive forces continuously around a circumference of the lap-joint.
A disadvantage with conventional saddle or guillotine type clamps is that they include four separate components, including a yoke, a bolt and two nuts, which must be handled and brought together during mounting of the clamp to overlapped ends of exhaust pipes. As a result considerable time and effort must be expended to mount such clamps to connect exhaust pipes. Specifically, mounting requires first properly aligning the U-bolt with the yoke, then inserting the ends of the U-bolt through tubular portions or apertures in the yoke, and finally threading and tightening the two nuts onto the threaded ends of the U-bolt.
Various loop-type circumferential connectors or exhaust clamps comprised of a looped band or bolt having an eyelet or internally threaded extension at one end and an externally threaded extension at the other end have been proposed. Such clamps are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,774,270; 4,365,392 and 4,558,891. In each case, the externally threaded extension at one end of the loop is inserted through an eyelet or a tubular extension at the other end, and the nut is threaded and tightened onto the externally threaded extension to cause the loop to contract around the telescoped pipes of an exhaust system.
These loop-type connectors have the advantage of being comprised of only two parts, including a looped band and a nut, whereby mounting of the connector to telescoped pipes is considerably simplified. Specifically, installation typically involves placing the looped band over one end of the tube pipes which are to be connected, inserting the end of the smaller diameter tube into the end of the larger diameter tube to form a slip-joint, repositioning the looped band over a central circumference of the slip-joint if necessary, and threading and tightening a nut onto the externally threaded extension. As an alternative, it may be possible in some cases to connect the ends of the exhaust pipes together first and then slip the loop-type clamp over the unconnected ends one of one of the pipes, slide the clamp along the length of the pipe and over the lap-joint. However, this latter mounting procedure is generally difficult and time consuming at best, and often impractical or impossible.
A resulting disadvantage with the loop-type clamps is that, in general, it is exceedingly difficult or impossible to remove these clamps without first completely separating the pipes on which the clamp is located. Likewise, it must be kept in mind that mounting of the clamp will generally require slipping the clamp over one of the pipe ends which are to be connected together before the tubes are connected. Accordingly, any adjustments which might be required during installation or repair of an exhaust system can be difficult and cumbersome when such loop-type clamps are used.


An XMR-sensor and method for manufacturing the XMR-Sensor are provided. The XMR-sensor includes a substrate, a first contact, a second contact and an XMR-structure. The substrate includes a first main surface area and a second main surface area. The first contact is arranged at the first main surface area and the second contact is arranged at the second main surface area. The XMR-structure extends from the first contact to the second contact such that an XMR-plane of the XMR-structure is arranged along a first direction perpendicular to the first main surface area or the second main surface area.

Magnetic field sensors are used for a variety of applications. Many applications require the measurement of all three components of a magnetic field, e.g., compass applications. For two dimensional measurements the XMR-technology is very suitable due to the sensitivity to in-plane fields (e.g., along the x-axis and the y-axis), but fields perpendicular to the XMR-plane (e.g., along the z-axis) cannot be detected without further measures.

XMR-sensor and method for manufacturing the XMR-sensor


A fuel injector, in particular a fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines has a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuator, a valve closure member which can be actuated by the actuator via a valve needle and which cooperates with a valve seat face to form a sealing seat, and a translating device arranged between the actuator and the valve needle for translating an actuator lift of the actuator into a larger valve needle lift of the valve needle. In this context, the translating device includes at least one lever plate having at least one rigid lever segment running radially.

The present invention relates to a fuel injector.
A fuel injector is described in German Patent No. 195-19-192 In the case of the translating device following from this document, a piezoelectric actuator is charged for opening the valve needle. In the process, the piezoelectric actuator expands and moves a primary piston against the force of a spring. Inside the primary piston, provision is made for a secondary piston fixedly joined to a valve needle. Inside the secondary piston, provision is made for a small spring arranged between an inner surface of the primary piston and the secondary piston. A working space filled with fuel is bordered by the primary piston and the secondary piston. In this context, the working space is designed such that a change in volume of the working space can only be achieved by a movement of the primary piston and/or of the secondary piston. Therefore, the motion of the primary piston gives rise to a motion of the secondary piston. The surfaces which are effectively available for displacing the volume during a movement of the pistons can be predetermined by the diameters of primary piston and secondary piston. The translation ensues from the proportion of these surfaces.
In this known translating device, the relatively complex and not optimized design in terms of compactness is a disadvantage. Moreover, the small spring provided in the secondary piston is not sufficient to actuate the fuel injector directly. In the mentioned document, therefore, the actuation of the fuel injector takes place via an additional amplifying device. This amplifying device requires relatively a high outlay and additional space.
It is a further disadvantage that a large mass is moved to actuate the valve via the actuator and that the action of the actuator takes place via elastic and/or resilient components and pressure fluids, resulting in relatively long switching times so that the fuel injector is not suitable as a quick-switching fuel injector for high switching frequencies.
The fuel injector according to the present invention has the advantage over the background art that the simple design approach of the translating device results in an inexpensive and considerably more compact construction. Moreover, no hydraulic medium is needed. Consequently, the new design approach is also suitable for gasoline fuel which has a tendency to form bubbles. Due to rigid lever segments running radially, the lift translation is moreover of high rigidity, thus permitting high switching frequencies which is why the fuel injector can also be used as quick-switching fuel injector.
Provision is advantageously made for a plurality of lever segments which are separated from each other by openings. This first of all results in a distribution of the load on the lever segments and, secondly, the lever segments are interconnected in an advantageous manner so that the arrangement of the individual lever segments relative to one another is definitively preselected and not defined by any additional fastening. The openings moreover prevent tensions in the lever segments, which has a favorable effect on the mode of operation of the lift translation.
The lever segments advantageously have embossings preferably running form the center point of the lever plate to the edge of the lever plate. In this manner, the lever segments are additionally stiffened, as a result of even shorter switching times are rendered possible.
The lever plate is expediently composed of two different kinds of segments of which one kind of segments is formed as rigid lever segments and the other kind of segments is designed as elastic, flexible spring segments. In addition to the advantages given by the rigid lever segments and already discussed above, further particular advantages are produced by the elastic, flexible spring segments since, due to the latter, the lever plate also assumes the function of the restoring spring or the pressure spring whereby components can be economized.
Advantageously, the lever segments are attached to a thin, elastic and flexible holding disk. In this manner, the rigid lever segments can be brought into a fixed, contact-free arrangement relative to each other. Moreover, this results in special possibilities of design for the lever segments of the lever plate, these possibilities of design not being possible or only with difficulty if the lever plate is manufactured from one piece. Advantageously, the lever plate is composed of a metal sheet or of plastic, in particular polyamide, thus resulting in a gasoline-resistant, inexpensive and compact construction of the lever plate.
If the fuel injector is an inward opening fuel injector, it is advantageous that the actuator acts upon the lever segments at a middle supporting location via a tubular thrust sleeve, that the lever segments engage on the valve body at an outer supporting location, and that the lever segments act upon the valve needle at an inner supporting location. In this manner, a particularly inexpensive, space-saving, and low-maintenance embodiment of the translating device is given by the lever plate. It is an advantage if the thrust sleeve is partially encircled by the actuator, the actuator having an opening for this. Because of this, the thrust sleeve can run inside the actuator, resulting in a particularly space-saving embodiment. Moreover, the interior of the thrust sleeve can be designed as a fuel line and/or offer space for additional components such as pressure springs, restoring springs, supporting and fastening elements. It is a further advantage that thrust sleeve is enlarged on the side of the lever segments. Given a predefined distance of the inner supporting location from the valve axis, the distance of the middle supporting location from the valve axis can consequently be adjusted, thus allowing the selection of a suitable lever ratio of the translating device, whereby the ratio of valve needle lift to actuator lift can be adjusted. Thus, in particular, it is possible to achieve a suitable lever ratio even for a thrust sleeve having a very small diameter.
It is an advantage that a restoring spring acts upon the lever segments and that a pressure spring acts upon the lever segments via the valve needle in a direction opposed to the pressure spring, the pressure spring exerting a greater torque on the lever segments than the restoring spring. In this manner, the opening force on the valve needle given by force of the pressure spring on the lever segments can be adjusted during an actuation of the valve, whereby the opening speed can be adjusted via the opening movement, allowing for the actuator movement and the valve needle mass. Moreover, the restoring force acting upon the valve needle can be predefined by the force of the restoring spring. In this manner, considering the movement of the actuator and the valve needle mass, the closing speed given by the closing movement of the valve needle can be adjusted. When the fuel injector is closed, the pressure spring is blocked by the thrust sleeve via the lever segments, as a result of which the torque of the restoring spring is sufficient to press the valve needle on the valve seat against the pressure in the fuel chamber so that a sealing seat is formed. In the case of this arrangement, the opening and closing of the fuel injector is controlled only indirectly via the actuation of the actuator. In this case, the forces acting upon the valve needle for opening and closing the valve are given by the pressure spring and the restoring spring. Because of the combination with lever segments of negligible weight and a small mass of the valve needle to be actuated it is possible to implement particularly high switching frequencies.
If the fuel injector is an outward opening fuel injector, it is advantageous that the actuator acts upon the lever segments at a middle supporting location at the thrust sleeve, that the lever segments engage on the valve body at an outer supporting location, that the lever segments act upon the valve needle via an inner supporting location, and that a pressure spring acts upon the lever segments, the torque with which the pressure spring acts upon the lever segments being inversely directed to the torque and the actuator acts upon the lever segments. The lift translation of an actuator lift of the actuator into a valve needle lift of the valve needle can be favorable selected in this manner. During the closing of the valve upon the completed actuation of the actuator, the advantage ensues that the valve needle, which is pressed against the lever segments by the restoring force of the restoring spring, does not experience any radial force at the inner supporting location and is consequently pressed against the valve seat in a distortion-free manner, possibly with the aid of suitable needle guides.


In a communication system comprising several nodes and a scheduler interconnected by a serial transmission medium, data are transmitted in time slots. The scheduler marks time slots either as reserved if nodes have previously made a request and received a confirmation, or it marks time slots as gratis for free use by any node. Slots are also marked gratis if the have reached their destination or removal node. To achieve fairness between nodes in the reservation process, they count gratis slots they used. When making a request for reserving a number NR of slots, a node must also transmit the number NG of gratis slots used. The scheduler then determines, according to a given rule, the number NC of slots to be granted for each node. A special signalling technique is also disclosed for effective transmission of the numbers in the reservation and confirmation process.

1. Field of the Invention
Present invention is concerned with regulation of access to the transmission capacity in a communication system comprising several nodes and a scheduler interconnected by a transmission medium in which transmitted information sequentially passes the scheduler and nodes, such as in ring systems or recirculating bus systems. In particular, the invention is applicable to systems in which data are transmitted by insertion into time slots, and in which reservation for time slots is made upon previous request by nodes.
2. Description of Related Art
Such systems are known e.g. from European patent application No. 0,388,574 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Distributed Queue Multiple Acces in a Communication System" or European patent application No. 0,393,293 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Cyclic Reservation Multiple Access in a Communication System". The system described in EP-A-0,393,293 is a dual-bus system in which a reserve command is issued for each of several consecutive cycles by a header station, each node requiring access amends a reservation count in this command, and stores in a local queue the number of slots it requested for that cycle. The header station receives the total number of slots requested and checks whether this can be granted. If yes, it sends a confirm command to all nodes and enters the respective slot count (and cycle number) into a global queue. Later, it issues a corresponding number of slots after start of that cycle, and each node knowing how many slots it had reserved can use the respective number of free slots.
If the accumulated request arriving at the header cannot be granted, a general cancel command is issued so that nodes must also cancel the respective reservations. A partial or selective grant is not provided.
In such systems, techniques may be introduced to reuse slots when they have served the communication for which they were reserved, but the traffic situation and location of nodes will give them different opportunities to use this additional transmission capacity.
It would be desirable to have a reservation and grant mechanism which allows a node individual handling, which automatically adapts to the current traffic situation, and which requires a minimum of overhead.

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for generating rotative force using spring according to the present invention permits rotative force of an input shaft to be intermitted to an acceleration gear by an intermitting gear, an available time for the rotation of an output shaft to be confirmed by an indicating means, and the operation to be stopped by a stopping means. In addition, the apparatus causes the rotation of the output shaft to be stopped exactly in xe2x80x980xe2x80x99 position of the available time by a setting means. Therefore, since the present invention intermits rotative force only by the intermitting gear, a production cost is reduced by the simple configuration, and thus the apparatus according to the present invention could be provided with low cost. In addition, the convenience in use is increased, since user could confirm the available time of rotation, the operation could be stopped while generating the rotative force, and the apparatus could operate in an inclined or upside down position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating rotative force using a spring, more specifically the apparatus for generating rotative force using the spring, which is simplified in its configuration and increases convenience in use.
2. Background of the Related Art
A motor and engine are referred to as an apparatus for generating rotative force generally, and these means are applied to various fields of the industry.
However, as electricity or liquid/solid fuel is required to operate the apparatus for generating rotative force, the usage thereof is limited where the provision of electricity and fuel are difficult.
An apparatus for generating rotative force using spring is provided to solve the above problem, and the configuration thereof is as follows.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view for describing a rotative force generating process of a prior apparatus for generating rotative force using spring, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view taken along a line Axe2x80x94A of FIG. 9.
A reference numeral 101, 102, and 103 is a first, second, and third partition fixed by fastener 104 in order to have a predetermined interval.
An input shaft 105 is coupled rotatively through the first, second, and third partition 101, 102, 103, one end of the input shaft 105 is projected to an outside of the first partition 101, and in the projected end of the input shaft 105 a joining part 105a having a flat surface is formed.
On an outer circumference of the input shaft 105 between the first and second partition 101, 102, a spring 106 is wound spirally. An inner end of the spring 106 is fixed on the outer circumference, and an outer end of the spring 106 is fixed by being hooked over the fastener 104 fixing the first and second partition 101, 102.
To the input shaft 105 between the second and third partition 102, 103, a main gear 107 is coupled slidably, and to a side of the main gear 107 a ratchet wheel 108 is fixed.
A rotating plate 109 is fixed adjacent to the ratchet wheel 108, an outer end of a blocking plate 110 is fixed to the rotating plate 109, and an inner end of the blocking plate 110 is inserted elastically in a dedendum of the ratchet wheel 108.
In the above configuration, as the input shaft is rotated counterclockwise (to the left), the inner end of the blocking plate 110 slides out from the ratchet wheel 108 thereby rotative force of the input shaft 105 is not transmitted to the main gear 107, and as the input shaft is rotated clockwise, the inner end of the blocking plate 110 is locked in the dedendum of the ratchet wheel thereby rotative force of the input shaft 106 is transmitted to the main gear 107.
Rotative force of the main gear 107 is increased by the first and second accelerating gear 111, 112, the increased rotative force is output through an output shaft 112a fixing the second accelerating gear 112 rotatively, and the rotating speed of the output shaft 112a is maintained constantly by a controlling means 113.
The controlling means 113 comprises an accelerating gear 113a engaged with the second accelerating gear 112, a ratchet wheel 113b rotated by the accelerating gear 113a, pendulum plate 113c installed rotatively adjacent to the ratchet wheel 113b, and a pair of blocking pin 113d fixed to the pendulum plate 113c and inserted in a dedendum of the ratchet wheel 113b repeatedly and sequentially.
These control means 113 control the rotating speed of the output shaft 112a by the operation, in which the pair of the blocking pin 113d slides along a tooth face of the ratchet wheel 113b rotating with the output shaft 112a and the blocking pin 113d is inserted in the dedendum of the ratchet wheel 113b.
In trying to generating rotative force by the apparatus of the prior art, firstly with coupling a knob (not shown) to the joining part 105a, the input shaft 105 is rotated counterclockwise by external force.
In the above rotation of the input shaft 105, as the inner end of the blocking plate 110 slides on the tooth of the ratchet wheel 108, the rotative force of the input shaft 110 is not transmitted to the main gear 107 and the spring 106 is wound around the input shaft 105 so as to store the elastic rotative force.
As the input shaft is not rotated, the tooth of the ratchet wheel 108 locks the inner end of the blocking plate 110. Therefore, there is no problem the input shaft is reverse-rotated rapidly by the elasticity of the spring 106.
When external force is applied no more after rotating the input shaft by a certain number with knob, the input shaft 105 and the main gear 107 is rotated clockwise, and rotative force of the main gear 107 is increased by the first and second gear 111, 112 and output through the output shaft 112a.
Accordingly, the apparatus 100 as mentioned above is applied widely to the place requiring rotative force, as rotative force could be generated for quite long time.
However, since the apparatus 100 of prior art has the ratchet wheel 108, the rotating plate 109, the blocking plate 110 and the like to intermit rotative force of the input force 105 on the main gear 107, the configuration thereof is not simple. Also, available time of rotative force is not indicated, the apparatus could be stopped during operation, so that the inconvenience of usage exists.
The present invention is contemplated to solve the aforementioned problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for generating rotative force using spring, which could be provided with low cost by reducing a production cost due to the simplified configuration for intermitting rotative force of an input shaft and a spring to an output shaft, and also increases the convenience in use by indicating the available time of rotation and being stopped during operation.
To accomplish the above object, it is provided an apparatus for generating rotative force using spring having: an input shaft; a main gear to which rotative force is transmitted by the input shaft; a spring wound spirally on an outer circumference of a main gear shaft, an inner end of the spring being fixed on the outer circumference of the main gear shaft, an outer end of the spring being fixed on a predetermined position; accelerating gears installed to a lower part of the main gear to increase rotative force of the main gear; an intermitting gear for intermitting rotative force of the main gear to the accelerating gears by sliding up and down along the rotation direction of the main gear with being engaged with the main gear; an output shaft outputting rotative force increased by the accelerating gears; and controlling means controlling rotating speed of the output shaft constantly, wherein elastic rotative force is stored into the spring as the input shaft being rotated by external force and the output shaft is rotated by the elastic rotative force stored in the spring as the external force being removed from the input shaft, being characterized in that the intermitting gear is supported toward the accelerating gear by elastic force so that rotative force of the main gear is transmitted to the accelerating gears through the intermitting gear when the apparatus is inclined or upside down.
In addition, the control means includes: a ratchet wheel rotating together with output gear; a pendulum plate installed rotatably to an upper part of the ratchet wheel; and a pair of blocking projections formed integrally in a lower part of the pendulum plate toward the ratchet wheel to be inserted in the ratchet wheel sequentially and repeatedly.
Meanwhile, the available time of rotation in the output shaft is represented by an indicating means, and the indicating means includes: a first, second, and third deceleration gear reducing the rotating speed of the input shaft; an indicator rotating with the first, second, and third deceleration gear; and a number plate fixed to indicate the time written on the peripherals thereof by the indicator.
Further, the output shaft is suspended by a stopping means during operation, and the stopping means includes a shaft installed rotatably above the pendulum plate, a blade formed to be projected from the shaft, and a handle fixed to an end portion of the shaft, wherein the handle is rotated in order that the blade presses an end portion of one side in the pendulum plate, and then one blocking projection formed in the pendulum plate is inserted in the ratchet wheel so that the rotation of the output shaft is stopped.
Still further, the rotation of the output shaft is stopped by a zero setting means in the position, which the indicator of the indicating means indicates xe2x80x980xe2x80x99 in number plate, and the setting means includes a disk formed integrally in opposite surface of the third deceleration gear in the indicating means, a projection formed on a circumference of the disk corresponding to xe2x80x980xe2x80x99 of the number plate, and a rod installed rotatably about the center portion, one end portion thereof being located on the upper part of the pendulum plate and the other end portion contacting with the circumferential surface of the disk elastically, wherein as the indicator reaches xe2x80x980xe2x80x99 of the number plate, one end portion of the rod is lifted by the projection, simultaneously, the other part of the rod presses one end portion of the pendulum plate, and the blocking projection maintains inserted in the ratchet wheel so that the rotation of the output shaft is stopped.

Apparatus for generating rotative force using spring


A vehicle can have a user profile securely deployed in it according to a security protocol. The vehicle can include a body, a powertrain, vehicle electronics, and a computing system. The computing system of the vehicle can be configured to: retrieve information from a user profile according to a security protocol. The computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to receive a request for at least a part of the retrieved information from the vehicle electronics and send a portion of the retrieved information to the vehicle electronics according to the request. The computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to propagate information sent from the vehicle electronics back into the user profile according to the security protocol. And, the computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to store in its memory, according to the security protocol, information sent from the vehicle electronics.

Vehicles can include cars, trucks, boats, and airplanes, as well as vehicles or vehicular equipment for military, construction, farming, or recreational use. Vehicles can be customized or personalize via vehicle electronics. Vehicle electronics can include electronic systems used in vehicles. Vehicle electronics can include electronics for the drivetrain of a vehicle, the body or interior features of the vehicle, entertainment systems in the vehicle, and other parts of the vehicle. Ignition, engine, and transmission electronics can be found in vehicles with internal combustion powered machinery such as conventional cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, planes, military vehicles, forklifts, tractors and excavators. Related elements for control of electrical vehicular systems are also found in hybrid and electric vehicles such as hybrid or electric automobiles. For example, electric cars can rely on power electronics for main propulsion motor control and managing the battery system.
In general, vehicle electronics can be distributed systems and can include a powertrain control module and powertrain electronics, a body control module and body electronics, interior electronics, and chassis electronics, safety and entertainment electronics, and electronics for passenger and driver comfort systems. Also, vehicle electronics can include electronics for vehicular automation. Such electronics can include or operate with mechatronics, artificial intelligence, and distributed systems. A vehicle using automation for complex tasks, including navigation, may be referred to as semi-autonomous. A vehicle relying solely on automation can be referred to as autonomous. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has categorized autonomy in to six levels. Level 0 or no automation. Level 1 or driver assistance, wherein the vehicle can control either steering or speed autonomously in specific circumstances to assist the driver. Level 2 or partial automation, wherein the vehicle can control both steering and speed autonomously in specific circumstances to assist the driver. Level 3 or conditional automation, wherein the vehicle can control both steering and speed autonomously under normal environmental conditions, but requires driver oversight. Level 4 or high automation, wherein the vehicle can complete a travel autonomously under normal environmental conditions, not requiring driver oversight. And, level 5 or full autonomy, wherein the vehicle can complete a travel autonomously in any environmental conditions.
A user profile is an electronic, digital, or computerize representation of a specific user. User profiles can be used by operating systems, computer programs, other types of computing systems, e-commerce and social media systems, as well as automotive infotainment systems. A mobile user profile is a type of user profile that can be used by at least a mobile device. A user profile can include a representation of a person's identity and can be considered a computer representation of a user model. A user model is data structure that can be used to capture certain characteristics about an individual user. And, the process of obtaining the user profile can be called user modeling or profiling. A user profile can also be used to store the description of characteristics of a person. The information of a user profile can be used by various types of systems such as any type of system considering characteristics and preferences of a person.
The use of user profiles by vehicle systems, such as vehicle infotainment systems and passenger comfort systems, has become prevalent. However, with such use of user profiles, information security is a significant concern. And, securing information about a user of a vehicle that can be shared over a wireless network can be complex. Thus, there are many technical problems to solve with the deployment of user profiles in vehicles.

Secure deployment of a user profile in a vehicle


Apparatus for performing leak testing on products is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for performing an adaptive leak test on products under test.

Many products are produced in an air or liquid tight manner for environmental, health, freshness, operational and/or other reasons. To meet the need for seal-tight products, test equipment has been developed to test certain types of products for leaks using air tests utilizing micro-flow sensors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,546 to Sagi et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, discloses a leak detection apparatus that is suitable for detecting leaks in a product having an opening to which a leak sensor and a vacuum system may be coupled to form a closed test system.
Conventional leak testing systems and methods employ procedures wherein an individual leak test lasts a predetermined amount of time. Each product under test is subjected to the same test time period, regardless of whether the product has a gross leak which is apparent immediately, a marginal leak, an insignificant leak, or no leak at all. Consequently, a given number of products require a relatively fixed period of time for testing.
The present invention provides a method by which the period of time for testing a particular product for leaks is variable and dynamically changes depending upon leak characteristics of the product in the on-going test such as the leakage flowrate and the stability of the leakage flowrate. Thus, it is possible to test a larger number of products in a given period of time as compared to conventional techniques.
These and other features of the present methods and apparatuses will become apparent and be further understood upon reading the detailed description provided below with reference to the following drawings.


A method and system for creating a vertical search engine. The method and system may help allow “vortals” to be created for the Internet and other computer networks that efficiently index and search lists of Uniform Resource Locators (“URLs”) created from an appropriate list of keywords for a selected topic. Vortals include information pertinent to a targeted topic of a very small horizontal breath, but a larger depth. The created vortals may provide greater user satisfaction and less user frustration when searching for information about a selected topic.

As is known in the art, the Internet is a world-wide interconnected network of devices including computers, servers, gateways, routers and other devices. The World-Wide-Web is collection of servers and other devices on the Internet that support electronic document exchange. Electronic documents on the World-Wide-Web are formatted in special languages called mark-up languages, that support electronic links or "hyperlinks" to other documents, as well as to graphics, audio, video, animation and other types of electronic content. The mark-up languages include, Hyper Text Markup Language ("HTML"), Extensible Markup Language ("XML"), and many others.
As is known in the art, a "search engine" is a software program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of hyperlinks to the documents where the keywords were found. Although a search engine is really a general class of programs, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Yahoo, Lycos, Alta Vista, Excite, Google and others that enable users to search for electronic content on the World-Wide-Web.
Typically, a search engine works by sending out a software "spider" to fetch as many electronic documents as possible. Another program, called an "indexer," then reads these documents and creates an index of Uniform Resource Locators ("URL") based on the keywords contained in each document. Each search engine typically uses a distinct proprietary algorithm to create its indices such that meaningful results are returned for each query.
As is known in the art, a "spider" is an automated program that searches the Internet for new World-Wide-Wed documents. An "indexer" indexes the corresponding URLs and content-related information in a database, which can be examined for matches by a search engine. Spiders are generally considered to be a type of "bot," or Internet robot and are also called "crawlers."
Most search engines are also general portal sites. As is known in the art, a "portal" is a web-site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, chat rooms, search engines, on-line shopping malls, etc. American On-Line ("AOL"), the Microsoft Network ("MSN") and others are general portal sites.
However, there are a number of problems associated with search engines that are general portals. One problem is that a general search engine is designed to provide all types of general information to all types of users. A general search engine's search algorithms are typically designed to "horizontally" search for a breath of information to provide general types of information. This horizontal search approach causes individuals looking for specific information on the World-Wide-Web to look through hundreds, if not thousands, of irrelevant pieces of information to finally locate the information they seek, provided they find it at all.
Another problem is that general search engines often return indexes including a large number of links to information that is not closely related to a search requested by a user. This makes it difficult for a user to locate desired information and often leads to user confusion and user dissatisfaction.
Another problem is that vague search terms used in a general search engine return a large a huge number of results. However, a vague search term may be a term of art or all the user knows. The vague search term may not be vague at all when applied to a specific topic or a specific topic.
There have been attempts to solve some of the problems associated with general search engines using vertical search engines or "vortals." As is known in the art, a vortal is a specific type of search engine that provides information and resources related only to one (or a small number) specific topic. These sites typically contain focused information, such as "vertical" or "in-depth" information pertinent only to their particular targeted topic of interest. Vortals include information pertinent to a targeted topic of a very small horizontal breath, but a larger depth. Vortals are designed to include "the" source of pertinent information on the World-Wide-Web for a "community of interest."
Vortals typically provide news, research and statistics, discussions, newsletters, online tools, and many other services that educate users about a specific topic. Vortals typically use specialized searching algorithms to search and provide only information about a specific topic.
For example, a vortal may be created for people interested in the sport of golf. On a general search engine, if a user typed in a search using the vague keyword "Tiger" to search for URLs including hyperlinks to information about the golfer Tiger Woods, the general search engine would return thousands of URLs including animals, product names, nick-names, television programs, movie names and a large amount of other information. The user would have to look through a large number of pages to find information on the golfer Tiger Woods.
A user could qualify a search on a general search engine. For example, a user may enter a search using the keywords "Tiger and Golf" or "Tiger Woods." However, such a search on a general search engine still returns information un-related to the golfer Tiger Woods such as information about animal and forestry. In addition, most general search engines and require a user develop some knowledge and expertise on how general search engines work to create and successfully use a qualified search.
In contrast, on a vortal specifically designed for golf, entering a search using the vague keyword "Tiger" would only return information about the golfer Tiger Woods. A user would have to sort through, very little if any, information not related to the golfer Tiger Woods. Even very vague search terms on a vortal can be used to return highly relevant search results for a particular vortal.
Vortals are also being used for electronic commerce ("e-commerce") including Business-to-Business ("B2B"), Business-to-consumer ("B2C") and other types of e-commerce transactions. For example, buyers and sellers with different procurement and catalog systems use B2B vortals to inter-operate and cooperate effectively.
However, there are also a number of problems associated with vortals. One problem is that it is difficult to create an appropriate list of keywords to be used for a vortal. Another problem is that it is difficult to create indexes including URLs and electronic content from web pages, and search such indexes. Another problem is that it is difficult to verify whether all indexes including URLs and electronic content for a given vortal are appropriate for a selected topic. These problems and other problems with vortals often lead to user frustration and user satisfaction.
Thus, it is desirable to provide new types vertical search engines for vortals. The vertical search engines should allow vortals to be created that efficiently index and search lists of URLs created from an appropriate list of keywords for a selected topic.

Method and system for creating vertical search engines


An electronic device equipped with a speaker includes: a first cushion member interposed between the side surfaces of the speaker and the side guides of the speaker holding section formed on the cabinet; a second cushion member that is formed of a material softer than the first cushion member and is interposed between the undersurface of the speaker and the pedestal of the speaker holding section; and a third cushion member that is formed of a material softer than the first cushion member and is interposed between the rear surface of the speaker and the backrest of the speaker holding section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with a speaker.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many electronic devices are provided with a speaker. For example, a notebook personal computer (hereafter referred to as a note PC), which is formed by a main unit provided with a keyboard on a top surface thereof and a display unit connected to the main unit so as to be opened and closed, commonly has a speaker on a front end surface of the main unit.
Such a speaker should be preferably small due to the demand for a small and light note PC. When the speaker is installed in a note PC, it is covered with a hard rubber or the like except for a vibrating surface thereof in order to stabilize the posture of the speaker and the hard rubber is installed in the cabinet of the note PC.
Here, it should be noted that a note PC is equipped with multiple electronic parts including the one like a hard disk drive (HDD) that is likely to malfunction caused by mechanic vibration.
When a speaker emits a sound at high volume level, the speaker vibrates. The vibration is transmitted to the cabinet of the note PC, which generates a grating chattering sound, and eventually exerts adverse influence on an electronic part vulnerable to mechanic vibration.
In order to prevent generation of chattering sound and adverse influence on the electronic part, it is devised to improve rigidity of the cabinet and dispose an electronic part away from the speaker. However, significant improvement of the cabinet may be contrary to the demand for downsizing of the electronic device. In addition, there is a limit to dispose the electronic part away from the speaker because the electronic device is equipped with various electronic parts.
Meanwhile, it is also conceivable to cover the speaker with a soft rubber, instead of a hard rubber, for absorbing vibration. In this case, the speaker may not be stabilized in the cabinet and thus the posture of the speaker in the cabinet may be varied for each product.
Japanese patent application publication Nos. 53-92123 and H08-33077 disclose techniques for suppressing transmission of vibration generated by a speaker. However, the techniques do not cope with keeping a posture of the speaker as well as suppressing transmission of vibration by a simple configuration, and are difficult to be applied to a small built-in speaker of an electronic device.
In addition, Japanese patent application publication Nos. H07-106775 and 2002-2380008 disclose techniques to prevent influence of vibration on the HDD.
Although preventing influence of vibration on the HDD is also important, it should be prioritized to suppress transmission of vibration in the speaker that generates vibration.


A device maintenance apparatus includes: a comparison target selector configured to select comparison targets of a device information of a device as a maintenance target; and a display configured to display a comparative information generated based on changes in the device information.

In industrial plants such as chemical plants, plants that manage and control well heads such as in gas fields or petroleum fields, and the surrounding areas, plants that manage and control electrical generation such as hydroelectric, thermoelectric, and nuclear power generation, plants that manage and control environmental electric power such as from solar light or wind power, or a plant that manages and controls water and sewage or a dam, distributed control systems (DCSs) to which on-site devices such as measuring instruments or actuators known as field devices and control devices that controls them are connected via a communication means are built to implement a high degree of automated operation. In a plant in which such a distributed control system is implemented, from the standpoint of preventing erroneous operation and maintaining measurement accuracy, operators maintain field devices (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated "devices"), either periodically or irregularly.
The maintenance of field devices, for example, is performed using a device maintenance apparatus capable of communication with a field device, either wirelessly or by cable. The device maintenance apparatus, for example, is a computer such as a laptop or tablet computer, a PDA (personal digital assistant), or a smartphone into which a dedicated program for performing maintenance on the field device has been installed. The field device can hold one or a plurality of device information. Device information is information regarding the field device, being, for example, information for setting operation of the field device, information indicating the state of the field device, or identification information of the field device. The device maintenance apparatus reads and verifies the device information set in the field device, sets new device information into the field device, or changes the device information set in the field device.
There has been a device maintenance apparatus that displays on a display thereof the changed device information, when device information set into the field device has been changed, to verify the change of the device information, referring to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-109011.
Of plant monitoring apparatuses that display numerical information from processing of plant process data, there is one that displays on a display device the variation (trend) of numerical information from processing of process data over a prescribed period of time, referring to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-222316.
However, because the frequency of work (including non-regular) to verify, set, or change device information (hereinafter referred to as device information verification and the like) will differ, depending upon the usage condition of the field device, the type of field device, and the performance status of maintenance work, there has been a case, in which the period of time is not appropriate for understanding the variation in the device information, depending upon the device information. That is, for example, although the change of field device information that changes daily can be understood in a relatively short time period, the variation of the device information that changes with a frequency of once per month cannot be understood unless the time period is longer, so that the time period enabling an understanding of a change may vary. There has been a case in which just displaying changed information on a display of the device maintenance apparatus device makes it difficult to understand the details of the changed device information and to judge the influence of the change in the device information.
The present invention is made in consideration of the above-noted situation and has as an object to provide a device maintenance apparatus, a device maintenance method, a device maintenance program, and a recording medium, which display the change of device information in easily understandable form.

Device maintenance apparatus, device maintenance method, device maintenance program, and recording medium


In an optical disk including at least a rewritable phase change material and comprising a recording layer having a reflectivity of more than 15%, an address output value as an address pit signal component occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be 0.18 though 0.27 or a numerical aperture of an address pit signal occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be more than 0.3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium being utilized for a recording and reproducing apparatus or a drive, which records an information in the optical information recording medium with moving the medium relatively and reads out the information from the medium, and a substrate and a manufacturing method for the optical information recording medium, particularly, relates to an optical information recording medium, which can be recorded and reproduced in a high density and a large capacity, and a substrate and a manufacturing method for the optical recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, there existed a system, which can optically record and reproduce information by using a disk shaped medium, as a system of an information recording medium for reading out information with moving the medium relatively. A disk system medium can be divided into several types such as a read only type or a ROM (read only memory) type, a recordable or a write once type or an "R" type and a rewritable type or a RW type. Generally, a recording density of a medium is high in a ROM type and low in "R" and RW types. For instance, in a DVD (digital versatile disk) system, which utilizes a laser beam having a wavelength of 635 through 650 nm, introduced into the market in 1996, a read only type disk such as a DVD-ROM disk and a DVD-Video disk was introduced first. A recording capacity of a read only type DVD disk is 4.7 GB. On the other hand, a recording capacity of a rewritable type DVD disk such as a DVD-RAM (DVD-Random Access Memory) disk is 2.6 GB, that is, the recording capacity of a DVD-RAM disk is almost 55% of that of a DVD-ROM disk. Researches and developments for increasing a recording capacity of a rewritable type disk are progressing. However, a system having a same capacity as that of a DVD-ROM disk has not been developed yet.
In the case of a rewritable type disk, a recording format on a disk and materials of recording medium are key technologies. In a DVD-RAM disk, a land-groove recording method, which is utilized for recording information on both land and groove of an optical information recording medium, has been used. In this method, an address necessary to recording and reproducing is recorded with cutting a land and a groove at each specific period of time.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view of a disk partially enlarging a microscopic construction 20, that is, a physical format construction of the land-groove recording method disk. In FIG. 19, the drawing shows an external appearance of the construction when the disk is not recorded and grooves 21a through 21c, hereinafter represented by the groove 21, are formed in parallel to each other. Lands 22a and 22b, hereinafter represented by the land 22, are allocated in between the grooves. An information is recorded on both the groove 21 and the land 22 when recording. A plurality of address pits 23a through 23n, which is necessary to recording and reproducing, is formed by cutting the groove 21 and land 22. The addresses occupy an area 24 in conjunction with an accompanied signal, so that the area 24 prevents a total capacity of a disk from increasing. In other words, a limited area of a disk can not be effectively utilized because of the area 24.
Further, with respect to recording material, in consideration of interchangeability with a read only type DVD disk drive, a phase change recording method, which does not utilize a magnetic head, is suitable. However, this method is defective in reflectivity, which is much inferior to a read only type disk or a write once type disk of utilizing dye. Accordingly, the low reflectivity results in that a recording capacity can not be increased.
By combining a microscopic construction or a physical format construction with a phase change material for high density recording and by optimizing them, a recording capacity equivalent to that of a read only type DVD disk can be realized.
An optical disk, which records addresses with scattering over a disk without having an inherent address area such as the area 24 shown in FIG. 19, is considered as a format for a large capacity optical disk. In other words, an address area such as the area 24 is not provided, so that a recording capacity can be increased as many as that of a DVD-ROM disk. However, in a case that a main recording signal is recorded in a vicinity area of an address signal, the main recording signal may interfere in the address signal and an error may occur by this method, and then rewriting can not be performed any more. Conversely, the address signal may leak into and interfere in the main recording signal and result in a reading out error.

Optical information recording medium, and substrate and manufacturing method for the optical information recording medium


Gates or switches for use in circuits implementing ternary and multi-value functions are disclosed. The gates can be optical, mechanical or electrical. The gates can conduct or not conduct when a control input assumes one of multiple states, or when a control input assumes two or more of multiple states. Circuits and methods for implementing ternary and multi-value functions are also disclosed. Corrective design techniques that can be used when a logic expression is incorrectly realized are also disclosed. Circuits that use inverters and gates to realize logic expressions are also provided.

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/935,960, filed on Sep. 8, 2004, entitled TERNARY AND MULTI-VALUE DIGITAL SCRAMBLERS, DESCRAMBLERS AND SEQUENCE GENERATORS, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/547,683, filed Feb. 25, 2004.
This invention relates to the realization of binary and multi-valued digital (non-binary) logic devices by implementing binary and multi-valued two input/single output functions. More specifically, it relates to realizing these functions by applying externally controlled conducting and non-conducting gates and binary and multi-valued inverters.
The foundation of digital binary electronics lies in the translation of binary logic into 2-valued switches. This translation can be performed in such a way that with a limited set of binary logic functions all possible binary logic functions can be realized.
It is well known that with a set of two binary switching functions (the NOT and the NAND function) all other binary functions can be realized. The NOT and NAND functions are said to form an adequate set of connectives.
All 16 binary (two inputs/single output) functions can thus be created from the NOT and the AND function. Those functions include the well known AND, OR, NAND, NOR, NOT and XOR functions.
Using the NOT and NAND function to create other logic functions is not always the most economical way to do so. For instance, implementing the exclusive or (XOR) function this way will require 3 NAND and two NOT functions. There are better, more economical ways to implement this function.
A similar theory can be applied to ternary and multi-valued logic. In multi-value logic, a logic state can assume one of x values where x is greater than or equal to 3. One can find adequate sets of ternary connectives. Unfortunately, creation of the rest of the ternary functions from the set of adequate ternary connectives may not be efficient. Another disadvantage may be that the ternary functions in the adequate set may not be easy to realize.
The approach of applying the ternary set of adequate connectives (and of any multi-valued connectives) may not be an economical or even a possible way to realize all other ternary (or multi-valued) functions. While it may be possible to find a limited set of multi-valued connectives, it may take too many of these connectives to realize desirable functions. It may also be very difficult to find physical switching mechanisms that can realize the individual connectives.
The current way of realizing binary or in general digital switching circuits is by first finding a mathematical logic expression that describes the functions that have to be realized. In general, the selected functions represent realizable logic devices. An important mathematical property of these expressions is the associative property, which affects the way how they can be grouped. This combined with the causal property (which means that an expression has to be executed before its result is available) determines largely how a logical expression is realized with logical devices. These properties become apparent in circuits such as digital ripple adders. Several approaches exist to minimize the number of logic functions and execution steps in what is generally called multi-level logic expressions. The overall speed of executing a multi-level logic expression is generally limited by its level of complexity and the related propagation delays of the individual functions.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing for and improving the implementation of ternary and multi-value functions.

Single and composite binary and multi-valued logic functions from gates and inverters