In one embodiment, a method involves, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, generating a signal that experiences changes during a time period that the foot is airborne during the at least one footstep. At least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts a surface is identified that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep. In another embodiment, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The signal is monitored to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time. In response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, it is identified that the foot of the user is airborne.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the monitoring of the activity of a user in locomotion on foot.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is known that useful information may be derived from the measurement of the xe2x80x9cfoot contact timexe2x80x9d (Tc) of a user in locomotion, wherein xe2x80x9cfoot contact timexe2x80x9d refers to the period of time that a foot of a user is in contact with the surface during a stride taken by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot. Once the foot contact time (Tc) of the user is known, other information, such as rate of travel, distance traveled, and ambulatory expended energy may be calculated based upon this measured foot contact time (Tc).
In the past, foot contact time (Tc) has been measured by placing pressure-sensitive sensors or switches, such as resistive sensors, in both the heel and toe portions of the sole of a shoe, and measuring a time difference between a first signal output by the heel sensor (which indicates that the foot has made physical contact with the surface) and a second signal output by the toe sensor (which indicates that the foot has left the surface). These sensors, however, are subjected to a high-impact environment inside of the shoe, and therefore fail frequently. In addition, inaccurate foot contact time (Tc) measurements may result when a user is taking strides during which either the heel sensor or the toe sensor is not activated, for example, when a user is running on his or her toes.
Another device well-known in the art is a pedometer. A pedometer typically is mounted on the waist of a user and is configured to count the footsteps of the user by measuring the number of times the user""s body moves up an down during strides taken by the user. A well-known prior art pedometer design uses a weight mounted on a spring to count the number of times that the user""s body moves up and down as the user is walking. By properly calibrating the pedometer according to a previously measured stride length of the user, the distance traveled by the user may be measured by this device. These xe2x80x9cweight-on-a springxe2x80x9d pedometers, however, generally cannot measure the distance traveled by a runner because the weight experiences excessive bouncing during running and footsteps are often xe2x80x9cdouble-countedxe2x80x9d because of this bouncing, thereby causing the pedometer to produce inaccurate results. These devices therefore cannot be used across different training regimes (e.g., walking, jogging, and running).
Another prior art pedometer device uses an accelerometer to measure the number of times that a user""s foot impacts the surface when the user is in locomotion. That is, an accelerometer is mounted on the user""s shoe so as to produce a signal having pronounced downward going peaks that are indicative of moments that the user""s foot impacts the surface. These devices therefore produce results similar to the prior art weight-on-a-spring pedometer devices in that they merely count the number of footsteps of the user, and must be calibrated according to the stride length of the user in order to calculate the distance traveled by the user. Thus, these accelerometer-based devices are subject to similar limitations as are the weighton-a-spring devices, and are not capable of measuring the foot contact time (Tc) of a user in locomotion.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a new approach to pedometry.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method involves determining at least one calculated parameter based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user and at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined variable physiological parameter of a user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves identifying at least one of an existence of a grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined performance parameter of a user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to identify at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined variable physiological parameter of a user in locomotion on foot on the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to identify at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user in locomotion on foot on the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one first sensor that determines at least one performance parameter of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; at least one second sensor that determines at least one variable physiological parameter of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means for determining at least one calculated parameter based upon the at least one determined performance parameter of the user and the at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that determines at least one physiological condition of a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface; and means for identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of the surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon the at least one determined physiological condition of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that determines at least one performance parameter of a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface; and means for identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of the surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon the at least one determined performance parameter.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining at least one performance parameter of the user; and estimating a value of a variable physiological parameter of the user based upon the determined at least one performance parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface; and (b) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the identified at least one of an existence of the non-zero grade of the surface and the value of the grade of the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) determining at least one altitude of a user; and (b) with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, calculating at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the at least one determined altitude of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one performance parameter of the user; and at least one processor that calculates a value of a variable physiological parameter of the user based upon the determined at least one performance parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, that determines at least one performance parameter of the user based upon at least one of an identified existence of a non-zero grade of the surface and an identified value of the grade of the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that calculates at least one performance parameter of the user based upon at least one identified altitude of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one performance parameter of the user; and means for calculating a value of a variable physiological parameter of the user based upon the determined at least one performance parameter.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface; and means, adapted to supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on the surface, for determining at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the identified at least one of the existence of the non-zero grade of the surface and the value of the grade of the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for determining at least one altitude of a user; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for calculating at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the at least one determined altitude of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, generating a signal that experiences changes during a time period that the foot is airborne during at least one footstep taken by the user. At least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts the surface is identified that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The signal is monitored to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time. In response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, it is identified that the foot of the user is airborne.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. It is determined whether any characteristics of the signal satisfy any one of a plurality of predetermined criteria consistent with a foot of the user engaging in a particular event during a footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of samples of the signal. Differences between pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal are calculated, and the calculated differences between the pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal are monitored to identify at least one pair of the plurality of samples of the signal having a difference therebetween that is indicative of a particular event during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during a plurality of footsteps taken by the user. A threshold is set based upon at least one first characteristic of the signal generated during at least a first one of the plurality of footsteps preceding a second one of the plurality of footsteps. The signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps is analyzed to determine whether at least one second characteristic of the signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps has exceeded the threshold.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) generating a signal in response to movement of a user during a plurality of footsteps taken by the user; (b) with at least one processor, analyzing the signal to determine a moment that a foot of the user makes contact with a surface during one of the plurality of footsteps taken by the user; (c) after performing the step (b), with the at least one processor, analyzing the signal to determine a moment that the foot leaves the surface during the one of the plurality of footsteps; (d) waiting a given period of time after performing the step (b) to perform the step (c); (e) with the at least one processor, during the given period of time, performing calculations involving at least one of a determined foot contact time and a determined foot loft time; and (f) repeating the steps (b), (c), (d), and (e) for each of the plurality of footsteps.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with at least one sensor that, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user on a surface, generates a signal that experiences changes during a time period that a foot of the user is airborne during the at least one footstep. The system includes at least one processor configured to identify at least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts the surface that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The system includes at least one processor configured to monitor the signal to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time, and to, in response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, identify that the foot of the user is airborne.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user on a surface. The system includes at least one processor configured to determine whether any characteristics of the signal satisfy any one of a plurality of predetermined criteria consistent with a foot of the user engaging in a particular event during a footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user on a surface. The system includes at least one processor configured to sample the signal to obtain a plurality of samples of the signal, to calculate differences between pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal, and to monitor the calculated differences between the pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal to identify at least one pair of the plurality of samples of the signal having a difference therebetween that is indicative of a particular event during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during a plurality of footsteps taken by the user. The system includes at least one processor configured to set a threshold based upon at least one first characteristic of the signal generated during at least a first one of the plurality of footsteps preceding a second one of the plurality of footsteps, and to analyze the signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps to determine whether at least one second characteristic of the signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps has exceeded the threshold.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to compare a foot contact time of a user with a threshold value, to determine that the user is running if the foot contact time is less than the threshold value, and to determine that the user is walking if the foot contact time is greater than the threshold value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, generates a signal that experiences changes during a time period that the foot is airborne during the at least one footstep, and means for identifying at least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts a surface that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, and means for monitoring the signal to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time, and for, in response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, identifying that the foot of the user is airborne.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, and means for determining whether any characteristics of the signal satisfy any one of a plurality of predetermined criteria consistent with a foot of the user engaging in a particular event during a footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, and means for sampling the signal to obtain a plurality of samples of the signal, for calculating differences between pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal, and for monitoring the calculated differences between the pairs of the plurality of samples of the signal to identify at least one pair of the plurality of samples of the signal having a difference therebetween that is indicative of a particular event during the at least one footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during a plurality of footsteps taken by the user, and means for setting a threshold based upon at least one first characteristic of the signal generated during at least a first one of the plurality of footsteps preceding a second one of the plurality of footsteps, and for analyzing the signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps to determine whether at least one second characteristic of the signal generated during the second one of the plurality of footsteps has exceeded the threshold.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of (a) generating a signal in response to movement of a user during a footstep taken by the user; (b) identifying a first characteristic in the signal consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event; (c) identifying a first moment that the first characteristic occurred as a potential occurrence of a toe-off event during the footstep; (d) identifying a second characteristic in the signal, occurring after the first characteristic in the signal, consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event; and (e) identifying a second moment that the second characteristic occurred as the potential occurrence of the toe-off event during the footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during a footstep taken by the user, and at least one processor that identifies a first characteristic in the signal consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event, that identifies a first moment that the first characteristic occurred as a potential occurrence of a toe-off event during the footstep, that identifies a second characteristic in the signal, occurring after the first characteristic in the signal, consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event, and that identifies a second moment that the second characteristic occurred as the potential occurrence of the toe-off event during the footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that generates a signal in response to movement of a user during a footstep taken by the user; means for identifying a first characteristic in the signal consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event; means for identifying a first moment that the first characteristic occurred as a potential occurrence of a toe-off event during the footstep; means for identifying a second characteristic in the signal, occurring after the first characteristic in the signal, consistent with the occurrence of a toe-off event; and means for identifying a second moment that the second characteristic occurred as the potential occurrence of the toe-off event during the footstep.
According to another aspect of the invention, a display unit to be mounted on a wrist of a user includes a display screen, a base, and at least one strap. The display screen visually displays characters, and has a top edge and a bottom edge corresponding, respectively, to tops and bottoms of the characters displayed on the display screen. The base supports the display screen and houses electronic circuitry associated with the display screen. The at least one strap is attached to the base and is adapted to secure the base to the wrist of the user. The base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the top edge of the display screen is disposed a first distance away from an outer surface of the user""s wrist as determined along a first line oriented normal to the outer surface of the user""s wrist and passing through the top edge of the display screen, and the bottom edge of the display screen is disposed a second distance away from an outer surface of the user""s wrist as determined along a second line oriented normal to the outer surface of the user""s wrist and passing through the bottom edge of the display screen, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, and a distance traveled by the user; and (b) displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of the user; (b) with the at least one device, determining a value of at least one performance parameter of the user; and (c) displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by the user, determining respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user; and (b) displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one device adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot. The at least one device includes at least one sensor to determine respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, and a distance traveled by the user, the at least one device further comprising a display configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one device adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot. The at least one device includes a first sensor to determine a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of the user, a second sensor to determine a value of at least one performance parameter of the user, and a display configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one device adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot. The at least one device includes at least one sensor to determine respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user, and a display configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, and a distance traveled by the user; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes first means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of a user; second means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a value of at least one performance parameter of the user; and third means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining respective values of at least first and second parameters selected from a group consisting of: an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least first and second parameters, simultaneously.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing; (b) identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing; (c) defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and (d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and (b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) on a graph having foot contact times of a user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determining a location of a first point particular to the user; (b) identifying a second point on the graph independent of the user; (c) based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, defining a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points; and (d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined curve.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, defining a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user; and (b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves determining a speed of a user in locomotion on foot by including at least one determined foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, defining a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user; and (b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing; (b) identifying an average speed of the user during the first outing; (c) defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average speed identified during the first outing; and (d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and (b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average pace identified during a first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user without any other user-specific calibration constants being used to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to, on a graph having foot contact times of a user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determine a location of a first point particular to the user, to identify a second point on the graph independent of the user, and to, based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, define a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined curve.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to, based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, define a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to, determine a speed of a user in locomotion on foot by including at least one determined foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to, based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, define a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user based upon an average foot contact time and an average speed determined during a first outing, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user without using any other user-specific calibration constants to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average pace identified during a first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for using a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for, based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, defining a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user; and means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for determining at least on foot contact time of a user; and means for determining a speed of the user by including the at least one foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for, based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, defining a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user; and means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average speed identified during a first outing; and means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means for using a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining at least one foot contact time of the user in locomotion; (b) comparing a variable having the at least one determined foot contact time as a factor therein with a threshold value; and (c1) if the variable is one of greater than or less than the threshold value, determining that the user is walking; and (c2) if the variable is the other of greater than or less than the threshold value, determining that the user is running.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) determining at least one foot contact time of a user while the user is in locomotion on foot; (b) comparing the at least one determined foot contact time with a threshold value; and (c1) if the foot contact time is less than the threshold value, determining that the user is running; and (c2) if the foot contact time is greater than the threshold value, determining that the user is walking.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one foot contact time of the user, and compares a variable having the at least one determined foot contact time as a factor therein with a threshold value; wherein, if the variable is one of greater than or less than the threshold value, the at least one processor determines that the user is walking, and, if the variable is the other of greater than or less than the threshold value, the at least one processor determines that the user is running.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one foot contact time of the user, and compares the at least one determined foot contact time with a threshold value; wherein, if the foot contact time is less than the threshold value, the at least one processor determines that the user is running, and, if the foot contact time is greater than the threshold value, the at least one processor determines that the user is walking.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one foot contact time of the user in locomotion; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for comparing a variable having the at least one determined foot contact time as a factor therein with a threshold value; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining that the user is walking if the variable is one of greater than or less than the threshold value; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining that the user is running if the variable is the other of greater than or less than the threshold value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one foot contact time of the user in locomotion; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for comparing the at least one determined foot contact time with a threshold value; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining that the user is running if the foot contact time is less than the threshold value; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining that the user is walking if the foot contact time is greater than the threshold value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes a step of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, determining an amount of force exerted by at least one foot of the user on the surface during at least one footstep taken by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, the at least one processor being configured to identify an amount of force exerted by at least one foot of the user on the surface during at least one footstep taken by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface; and means for identifying an amount of force exerted by at least one foot of the user on the surface during at least one footstep taken by the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one sensor supported by a user, monitoring movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and (b) determining a cadence of the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one sensor supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, monitoring movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and (b) determining a stride length of the user during at least one footstep taken by the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor adapted to be supported by a user and to monitor movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and at least one processor that determines a cadence of the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor adapted to be supported by a user and to monitor movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and at least one processor that, based upon an output of the at least one sensor, determines a stride length of the user during at least one footstep taken by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor adapted to be supported by a user and to monitor movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means for determining a cadence of the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor adapted to be supported by a user and to monitor movement of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means for determining a stride length of the user during at least one footstep taken by the user based upon an output of the at least one sensor.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, identifying one of a pace and a speed of the user relative to the surface; and (b) with the at least one device, determining whether the identified one of the pace and the speed of the user falls within one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, monitoring a distance traveled by the user; and (b) with the at least one device, when the user has traveled a first predetermined distance during the outing, providing an output indicating that the user has traveled the first predetermined distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, monitoring a distance traveled by the user; (b) receiving a goal distance as an input to the at least one device; and (c) with the at least one device, determining a remaining distance to be traveled by the user to reach one of the input goal distance and a calculated fraction of the input goal distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) receiving as an input to at least one device supported by a user a value representing one of a goal time for the user to travel a particular distance, a goal average pace for the user to maintain over the particular distance, and a goal average speed for the user to maintain over the particular distance; (b) with the at least one device, determining a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and (c) after the user has traveled a portion of the particular distance, with the at least one device, determining at least one performance parameter based upon the portion of the particular distance traveled and the input value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device, determining a distance traveled by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot; (b) with the at least one device, determining one of a current pace and a current speed of the user; and (c) after the user has traveled a portion of a particular distance, with the at least one device, determining a projected time that it will take the user to travel the particular distance based upon the one of the current pace and the current speed of the user, and the portion of the particular distance already traveled by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining a distance traveled by the user; (b) during at least one first distance interval during an outing, with the at least one device, providing an indication to the user that the user should be running; and (c) during at least one second distance interval during the outing, with the at least one device, providing an indication to the user that the user should be walking.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, that identifies one of a pace and a speed of the user relative to the surface, and that determines whether the identified one of the pace and the speed of the user falls within one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor that monitors a distance traveled by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, and that, when the user has traveled a first predetermined distance during an outing, provides an output indicating that the user has traveled the first predetermined distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that monitors a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that receives a goal distance as an input, and that determines a remaining distance to be traveled by the user to reach one of the input goal distance and a calculated fraction of the input goal distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that receives as an input a value representing one of a goal time for the user to travel a particular distance, a goal average pace for the user to maintain over the particular distance, and a goal average speed for the user to maintain over the particular distance, that determines a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, and that, after the user has traveled a portion of the particular distance, determines at least one performance parameter based upon the portion of the particular distance traveled and the input value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines one of a current pace and a current speed of the user, and that, after the user has traveled a portion of a particular distance, determines a projected time that it will take the user to travel the particular distance based upon the one of the current pace and the current speed of the user, and the portion of the particular distance already traveled by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and an indicator coupled to the processor, the at least one processor and the indicator being configured such that, during at least one first distance interval during an outing, the at least one processor causes the indicator to provide an indication to the user that the user should be running, and such that, during at least one second distance interval during the outing, the at least one processor causes the indicator to provide an indication to the user that the user should be walking.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, for identifying one of a pace and a speed of the user relative to the surface; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining whether the identified one of the pace and the speed of the user falls within one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by the user while a user is in locomotion on foot, for monitoring a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for providing an output indicating that the user has traveled a first predetermined distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for monitoring a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for receiving a goal distance as an input to the at least one device; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a remaining distance to be traveled by the user to reach one of the input goal distance and a calculated fraction of the input goal distance.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for receiving as an input to at least one device supported by the user a value representing one of a goal time for the user to travel a particular distance, a goal average pace for the user to maintain over the particular distance, and a goal average speed for the user to maintain over the particular distance; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for, after the user has traveled a portion of the particular distance, determining at least one performance parameter based upon the portion of the particular distance traveled and the input value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining one of a current pace and a current speed of the user; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for, after the user has traveled a portion of a particular distance, determining a projected time that it will take the user to travel the particular distance based upon the one of the current pace and the current speed of the user, and the portion of the particular distance already traveled by the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a distance traveled by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for providing an indication to the user, during at least one first distance interval during an outing, that the user should be running; and means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for providing an indication to the user, during at least one second distance interval during the outing, that the user should be walking.

Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot


An adaptor for a window locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism includes a keeper on a window sash and a cam roller on a window frame, the adaptor comprising a body portion having first and second sides with a recess being formed in the body portion, the recess being sized to receive a portion of the cam roller, the body portion further having at least one ramped portion extending from an edge of the recess to the first side. The adaptor can be used with conventional cam roller windows and provides an improved surface engagement and a greater displacement span.

Window sashes are mounted in window frames and the window sashes either slide, rotate or pivot in the window frame between open and closed positions as well as positions therebetween. The windows are opened and closed by various handles and sash bars. However, once the window is closed or is in proximity to the window frame, a locking device is generally provided to lock the sash in the closed position.
A desired arrangement is the use of multipoint locking mechanisms wherein a slider bar is moved to lock keepers on the window sash with a cam roller on the window frame. The advantage of multipoint locking is to provide a secure locking as well as to provide even pressure on the window. Thus, a multipoint locking mechanism tends to prevent warping of the window sash as it maintains flush with the window frame and the weather stripping to assure a good seal. Even if the sash is warped, this multipoint locking mechanism will exert a force on the sash to straighten the sash in the window frame.
It is known in the art to provide multipoint locking wherein the window lock has ramped keepers secured to the window sash and cam rollers on the slider bar which is amounted to the window frame. The slider bar translates up and down on a side wall of the window frame in response to movement of a handle. In placing the handle in the locking position, the cam rollers on the sliding bar each engage a ramped portion of a ramped keeper so as to lock the window sash to the window frame. A problem with the above arrangement is that the window sash must be generally closed for the rollers to engage the ramped keepers.
In order to overcome the above, it has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,970 to utilize an arrangement wherein both the keeper and the cam are wedges which provide increased surface engagement and a greater displacement span.
While the above has been found to be effective, there still exists many windows which use cam rollers and which windows are frequently difficult to lock.


A preformed planar structure is interposed between the chip(s) and the substrate in a flip-chip structure, and establishes a minimum gap between the chip(s) and the substrate. Liquid flux may be applied to the preformed planar structure in order that flux is selectively applied to the solder balls (pads) on the chip and the substrate. The preformed planar structure may be provided with through holes in registration with the solder balls on the chip(s) and the substrate. In this case, liquid flux selectively fills the through holes for delivery to the solder balls during soldering. The through holes also aid in maintaining registration of the chip(s) and the substrate. The through holes may be sized to establish a predetermined mechanical structure of solder joints formed by the solder balls when fused together. The preformed planar structure has a planar core and opposing planar faces. The core is formed of thermosetting organic resin, such as polyimide, or non-organic material such as alumina, polished sapphire, beryllium oxide, aluminum nitride or aluminum. The planar faces of the preformed planar structure are formed of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting material, such as polyacetal, epoxide resin or polystyrene. The preformed planar structure tends to draw the chip(s) together to the substrate, establishing a flip-chip structure of mechanical integrity. The preformed planar structure has a thickness of 5-50 microns, preferably on the order of 20-30 microns. Method and apparatus are disclosed.

"Flip-chip" manufacturing techniques involve soldering one or more semiconductor (silicon) chips (one is discussed), in face-to-face relationship, to another semiconductor chip termed a "substrate". Typically, solder balls (otherwise known as pads or bumps) are formed (raised above the planar surface of the chip and substrate) on facing surfaces of both the chip and the substrate at intended points of contact between the two, liquid flux (rosin) is often applied to the face of the chip and/or substrate, the chip is mechanically held in register with the substrate, and the chip and the substrate are subjected to elevated temperature to effect soldering, or fusion of the solder balls on the chip and the corresponding solder balls on the substrate.
The "solder balls" on either the chip or substrate, typically those on the substrate, may be solderable metallized surfaces. The soldering process may be carried out in a reducing atmosphere. A typical flip-chip structure is shown in FIG. 1, and is discussed in greater detail hereinafter.
Previous systems of rigid attachment of chips to chucks have been used for chip alignment, but they must allow some degree of compliance because the chips tend to change relative alignment during soldering by surface tension between the solder balls. The addition of liquid flux to the chip/substrate (flip-chip) assembly creates capillary attraction between the chip and the substrate, which serves to misalign the chip with respect to the substrate. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, and is discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Further, much of the flux that is applied to the flip-chip assembly is wasted. Still further, the dimension of the remaining gap between the chip and the substrate and the mechanical properties of the solder joints formed by the solder balls and corresponding solder balls tends to be indeterminate.

Method and apparatus for isolation of flux materials in flip-chip manufacturing


In wireless local area networks utilizing frequency-hopping between different channels spaced over an allotted frequency band, two or more groups of transceivers in close proximity may be arranged to operate satisfactorily with the full bandwidth available to each by arranging that their hop sequences are kept separate. This may be achieved by arranging for the hop sequence of one group or of each group to skip at intervals from one point to another in the sequence, chosen at random.

The present invention relates to wireless local area networks, or wireless LANs.
Present bandwidth usage requirements dictate that wireless LAN transceivers operate in a spread-spectrum mode, for example by frequency-hopping between a plurality of channels spaced throughout an allotted frequency band, in a predefined sequence, such that every channel is used equally. For a group of transceivers to communicate with one another, the sequence of channel hopping must be known by all of the transceivers, and the transceivers of a group must be coordinated so that they hop in synchronism and to the same channel.
Wireless LANs may operate, for example, in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band, 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, within which are defined some eight-two channels each 1 MHz wide, and transceivers may hop between these channels in a predefined pseudo-random sequence, occupying each channel in the sequence for some 40 msecs. The pseudo-random sequence may, for example, be derived from a look-up table or from a sequence generator based on a shift register with feedback from taps at intermediate points along the register.
One advantage of frequency-hopping spread-spectrum operation is that where two groups of transceivers are located in close proximity each group may have the full bandwidth available to it, provided that their hop sequences are kept separate so that they do not use the same channels at the same time.
The two groups may be separated by setting them up to use different hop sequences, but this requires deliberate intervention, such as from a system manager, to control the configuration of the transceivers in the two groups. While this may be acceptable in some situations, wireless LANs readily lend themselves to use by so-called ad-hoc groups of users, where there is no provision for such centralized management. In such a case two or more groups may be set up with the same hopping sequence, making it possible for them to become snychronized or locked together so that they are using the same channels, leading to reduced performance.


An atmosphere profiling system is disclosed. The atmosphere profiling system is configured to characterize optical properties of the atmosphere.

Properties of the atmosphere may vary by location and time. For example, optical turbulence and transmission of the atmosphere may vary by location in three-dimensional space. Additionally, the optical turbulence and transmission of the atmosphere at a static point may vary over time.
Transmission may refer to the absorption and scattering of electromagnetic waves such as, for example, visible light. Absorption and scattering of electromagnetic waves may also be called extinction and may be caused by dust and gases in the atmosphere. Optical turbulence may refer to the change in direction of electromagnetic waves as they travel through medium(s) with varying index of refraction. Optical turbulence may be caused by temperature variations in the atmosphere. For example, an object located beyond hot pavement may appear distorted due to the optical turbulence of the atmosphere.
The optical turbulence and transmission properties of the atmosphere may affect the accuracy and/or effectiveness of optical devices such as, for example, laser weapons and other laser devices. As such, an atmosphere profiling system is desired.


A touch-to-action structure of a key signal comprises a lower thin film circuit board, an upper thin film circuit board and a spacer. Wires and a plurality of electric connections are formed on the upper surface of the lower thin film circuit board. The upper thin film circuit board are arranged above the lower thin film circuit board, Wires and a plurality of electric connections are formed on the lower surface of the upper thin film circuit board. The spacer is arranged between the upper and lower thin film circuit boards, the spacer being installed with a plurality of vent holes correspondent to the electric connections of the upper and lower thin film circuit boards. At least one vent hole is installed in each outer rim of the electric connections of the upper in film circuit board and the lower thin film circuit board for venting air. As the key is clicked continuously and rapidly, the air still can effectively vented and sucked so that the touch-to-action hat still can operate normally. Therefore, a suction effect is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch-to-action structure of a key signal, and especially to a thin film wire structure in which as the key is clicked continuously and rapidly, a touch-to-action hat still can operate normally.
2. Background of the Invention
Thin film wire structures are widely used in the prior art touch-to-action structure of a key signal, such as Taiwan Patent Publication Nos. 237991, 303975, 314250, 325162, etc. The prior art touch-to-action structure of a key signal (thin film wire) includes a lower thin film circuit board, an upper thin film circuit board and a spacer. The lower thin film circuit board is installed with wires and electric connections above the upper thin film circuit board The upper thin film circuit board is arranged on the lower thin film circuit board. The upper thin film circuit board is installed with wires and a plurality of electric connections which are arranged on the upper surface of the lower thin film circuit board and are correspondent to the electric connections of the lower thin film circuit board The spacer is arranged between the upper and lower thin film circuit boards, the spacer is installed with a plurality of vent holes correspondent to the electric connections of the lower thin film circuit boards and the upper thin film circuit board. When the key is clicked, the electric connections of the upper thin film circuit board and the electric connections of the lower thin film circuit board are actuated so to form an electric contact When the key is released, the key can be restored to the original position by the elasticity of a touch-to-action hat.
However, in the prior art, as the key is clicked continuously and rapidly, the air often can not be effectively vented and sucked so that the touch-to-action hat will riot be operated normally by a suction effect.

Touch-to-action structure of a key signal


A camera comprises a photographing optical system, and a cover for covering the photographing optical system, and the cover is supported turnably about a rotating axis which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a camera body, and is operative to selectively open and close by turning about the rotating axis. Part of the cover is positioned by coming into abutment with part of a front exterior portion of the camera, so that the cover is held in a predetermined opened state. The cover is provided with a flash device, and when the cover is in an opened state, the flash device is moved away from the photographing optical system so that a red-eye phenomenon is prevented from easily occurring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having a flash device for flash photography.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional camera which is provided with a barrier for protecting a lens and the like at the front of the camera has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 56-87029 and the like. The barrier is turnably secured to the camera body of the camera via bearing means having an axis of rotation extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the lens, and a flash device is incorporated in the interior of the barrier. The camera is arranged so that photography is possible when the barrier is opened.
However, in the conventional camera, since a rotating shaft is disposed at the top end of the camera body, when the barrier is brought to an opened state, the barrier projects upwardly from the camera body, so that if the barrier is forced in an opening direction from the front side of the camera body, a greater part of the force acts on the rotating shaft. Accordingly, it has been necessary to impart a very high strength to a component which forms the rotating shaft.
In addition, the rotation stop position of the barrier must be limited (positioned) so that the angle of illumination of the flash device and the required area of a subject to be illuminated coincide with each other when the barrier is in the opened state. However, since the barrier projects upwardly from the camera body when in the opened state, i.e., there is no portion which comes into direct abutment with the camera body, it is necessary to provide a rotation limiting portion (a stopper for positioning) for the rotating shaft of the barrier.
In the case of the conventional camera, since there is no choice but to provide the aforesaid rotation limiting portion near the rotating shaft, the distance from the center of rotation of the rotating shaft to the rotation limiting portion becomes short, so that the limiting accuracy of the rotation limiting position becomes low. As a result, the angle of flash illumination must be set to a wide illuminating angle containing a considerable margin which allows for variations in the amount of rotation of the barrier, so that the amount of light which can reach the required area of the subject to be illuminated becomes small relative to the amount of light which can be radiated from the flash device.


Novel 6-substituted amino-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo3,2,0!heptan-7-one compounds, as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and diastereoisomers thereof, of formula I, ##STR1## are disclosed, which exhibit excellent cysteine protease inhibitory activity and may be used for treatment of different diseases such as muscular dystrophy, arthritis, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease, bacterial infection, common cold, osteroporosis and cancer metastasis.

Cysteine proteases, such as cathepsins B, L, S, and O.sub.2, have been implicated in a number of diseases, including cancer metastasis and invasion (Clin. Exp. Metastasis 1992, 10, 145-155; Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1990, 9, 333-352), arthritis (Int. J. Biochem. 1993, 25, 545-550; Arthritis Rheumatism 1994, 37, 236-247; J Rheumatol. 1993, 20, 1176-1183; Biochem. Pharmacol. 1993, 44, 1201-1207), muscular dystrophy (Am. J. Pathol. 1986, 122,193-198; 1987,127, 461-466), myocardial infarction (J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 1983, 2, 681-688), bacterial infection (Rev. Infect. Dis., 1983, 5, 5914-5921) and common cold (Biochem. 1995, 34, 8172-8179). The calcium-associated cysteine proteases calpains I and II have been associated with ischemia and hypoxia, Alzheimer's disease (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1993, 90, 2628-2632) and cataracts (J. Biol. Chem. 1993, 268, 1937-1940). These medical disorders are thought to be due, among other factors, to the deregulation of the above mentioned cysteine proteases class of enzymes. Therefore this class of enzymes is excellent targets for the development of specific inhibitors as possible therapeutic agents.
Several types of cysteine proteases inhibitors have been reported, such as peptide aldehydes (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1991, 1073-43), nitrites (Biochim. Biophys.Acta 1990, 1035, 62-70), halomethyl ketones (Anal. Biochem. 1985, 149, 461-465; Acta. Biol. Med. Ger. 1981, 40, 1503-1511; Biochem. Phar. 1992, 44, 1201-1207), diazomethyl ketones (Biochem. J. 1988, 253, 751), acyloxy methyl ketones (J. Med. Chem. 1994, 37, 1833-1840; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988,110, 4429-4431), ketomethylsulfonium salt (J. Biol. Chem. 1988, 263, 2768-2772), .alpha.-ketocarbonyl compounds (J. Med. Chem. 1993, 36, 3472-3480; 1994, 37, 2918-2929), vinyl sulfones (J. Med. Chem. 1995, 38, 3193-3196), monobactam derivatives (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/1415055, 1995) and epoxysuccinyl derivatives (Agric. Biol. Chem. 1978, 42, 523-527). These inhibitors, in general, have a peptidyl affinity group and a group reactive towards the thiol of the cysteine residue in cysteine proteases. Some of them are clinically useful. However, the efficacy in vivo is not as much as expected on the basis of in vitro inhibitory activity and may be due to lower selectivity towards other proteases and poor pharmacokinetics. There exists a continuing need to develop new cysteine proteases inhibitors with high selectivity, lower toxicity and better pharmacokinetics.
In continuation of our efforts to find out the low molecular weight cysteine protease inhibitors for therapeutic uses, we have focused our attention at 6-substituted oxapenam derivatives on the basis of the molecular modeling studies of 3-substituted-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo 3,2,0! heptan-7-one derivatives.

6-substituted amino-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo 3,2,0! heptan-7-one derivatives as cysteine protease inhibitors


A multi-layer printed circuit board having a low noise characteristic, the multi-layer printed circuit board includes at least one circuit layer; at least one isolation line for dividing the at least one circuit layer into at least two areas, the at least one isolation line forming an open pattern and the at least one isolation line extendedly forming a long neck line into the at least one area; and at least one capacitor placed at one side of the opening of the open pattern in any one of the areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-layer printed circuit board and more particularly, to a multi-layer printed circuit having low noise characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is shown a prior art printed circuit board. A printed circuit board 10 is composed of three different layers; one is for power, one is for ground, and the other is for components. A component layer (top side or bottom side) is used for the layout of signal line (as a signal layer). Electronic elements are placed on the top layer or the bottom layer of the printed circuit board 10, and signal pins, power pins and ground pins are respectively connected to the other electronic components on the component layer, the power layer, and the ground layer. Additionally, the electronic components can be divided into two groups, analog electronic components and digital electronic components. The analog electronic components may include an audio chip, an amplifier, a power supply, etc.; the digital electronic components may include a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a video driver, etc. To avoid noise generated by the digital electronic components from affecting the analog electronic components, an isolation area 11 is usually separated from the power and/or ground layer of the printed circuit board 10. A portion within the isolation area 11 is called an analog electronic component area Al, and the other portion outside of the isolation area 11 is called the digital electronic component area A2. No connection exists between the analog electronic component area A1 and the digital electronic component area A2. Hence, noise generated by the digital electronic components cannot pass through the power layer to affect the analog electronic components, and the interference from the printed circuit board 10 is reduced significantly. Similarly, the ground layer of the printed circuit board 10 can have the same design.
However, when the connections between digital and the analog electronic components are required, the signal lines have to cross over the isolation area 11; the reference plane of the signal lines is not continuous and it will affect signal quality. Furthermore, the electromagnetic interferences between signals will become stronger and the electromagnetic radiations are likely to exceed EMC standards' limits. In a prior art, a metal neck line is used to connect the two isolation areas to provide continuous voltage levels, but the noise isolation between the areas becomes even lower near the resonant frequencies of the two isolation areas.
In a prior art technology for improving isolation effects, a decoupling capacitor is connected between the power layer and the ground layer. However, every capacitor has a series inductance, which provides effective filtering at low frequency regions but not at high frequency regions.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a multi-layer printed circuit with low noise to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-layer printed circuit with low noise


Computing node identifiers can be used to encode information regarding the distance between requesting and available computing nodes. Computing node identifiers can be computed based on proximity values for respective computing nodes. Requests can be directed from one computing node to an available computing node based on information encoded by both the computing node identifiers of the requesting node and the receiving node. Using these computing node identifiers to direct request traffic among VMs can more efficiently leverages network resources.

Computing functions can be performed by a collaboration of distinct smaller functions, which can be distributed in different locations. For example, virtual machines (VMs) often operate in complex networked systems. In these virtualized environments, VMs can be spread across different physical architectures such as servers or server blades in the same or different chassis hosting the VMs. VMs can act as virtual network functions ("VNFs") that perform the function of existing network components. When acting as VNFs, VMs across the network can request services from one another. For example, a number of VM's, each implementing some functions, collaborate with one another to perform a network function which traditionally is performed by custom hardware and software.
One other way of distributing computing functions is using micro-services, in which a computing functions are broken down into a number of smaller tasks (sometimes referred to as micro-services) distributed in different computing resources. In such examples, some of these micro-services may need to pass data back and forth between one another to complete a computing task. A micro-service may run inside a VM or it may run on bare metal. Microservices can also be implemented to perform network functions.
In order for networks that implement VMs, microservices, or other similar architectures to function efficiently, sufficient bandwidth with sufficiently low latency should be made available when a VM or microservice requests services from another VM or microservice. Existing networks lack effective means to gauge which VMs or microservices in the network should be requested for optimal performance. Furthermore, existing networks do not take advantage of other parameters such as jitter rate and latency.

Computing node identifier-based request allocation


A device includes a substrate having first and second major surfaces and a hub that defines an axis of rotation for the substrate, and an unvented channel having a plurality of connected compartments. Methods for using devices of the invention are also disclosed.

Two-dimensional separation systems for protein samples are of great interest because of their increased peak capacity over one-dimensional systems. For example, separation of a complex protein mixture is currently performed using two-dimensional poly(acrylamide) gel electrophoresis, in which proteins are first separated by their iso-electric points, and then by size. The technique gives excellent separation of the protein mixture, but is very time consuming and labor intensive. Furthermore, because the proteins are embedded in the gel matrix, extensive protocols involving destaining, in-gel digestion, and extraction are necessary for further analysis by mass spectrometry, for example. Procedures that require considerable human intervention and a number of fluid transfers such as these can result in errors, contamination, and exposure to potential biohazards. Therefore, there remains a need for a device that is capable of providing limited user-intervention for two-dimensional separation and subsequent analysis.

Sample processing device with unvented channel


The press brake punch holder has a main housing adapted for attachment to the ram of a press brake. A pair of mating wedge strips are disposed within the housing, the lower wedge strip being slidable with respect to the upper wedge strip. A U-shaped channel is disposed between two flanges depending from the side walls of the main housing, the exterior surfaces of the flanges being beveled, the U-shaped channel being slidable vertically between the flanges. A bolt extends through each upper wedge, a slot defined in each mating lower wedge, and a slot defined in the bottom of the housing, in order to thread into holes defined in the U-shaped channel. A support member having a cross shape in cross section depends from the U-shaped channel. A plurality of clamps are bolted into the ends of the side arms of the support member, the clamps being spring biased to clamp the shank of a punch between the clamp and the lower leg of the support member. The upper edge of the clamp is beveled to mate with the beveled edges of the flanges. The lower wedge strip may be pulled along its longitudinal axis, either by mechanical, electrical or hydraulic power, the bolts pulling the U-shaped channel vertically upward, causing the upper edge of the clamps to slide up the side of the flanges, thereby opening the clamps simultaneously and releasing the punch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to machine shop apparatus for shaping and forming sheet metal, and more particularly to a holder for the punch of a press brake.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most sheet metal machine shops are commonly equipped with a press brake for shaping and forming sheet metal. The press braise is used to form flanges and other bends and shapes in long or thin strips of sheet metal. The device generally includes a frame which has a long apron supporting a press table or bed on which is mounted a female die or molding. Vertically above the press table is another apron, often referred to as a ram, on which is mounted a male die or punch. Although in some presses the lower apron, or both aprons, are moveable, more commonly the ram is slidably moved in the vertical direction with great force against the stationary press table in order to compress the work piece between the punch and the female die, thereby bending and shaping the sheet metal according to the particular punch and die combination. The ram may be operated by a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies at either end of the ram, or by a mechanical crankshaft. Usually the apparatus will include a flywheel to maintain sufficient energy to operate the ram, the flywheel maintaining the energy level at idle when the ram is not in use.
The ram and the press table are often quite long, press brakes between seven feet and twenty feet not being uncommon. The punch and the die are removable and replaceable assemblies, there being different designs of punches to impart different shapes to the metal. The punch may be one long continuous piece, or the punch may be shorter, discrete pieces attached end to end along the length of the ram. Various problems may result from this construction.
For precision work, it is desirable to form bends or shapes which are uniform in depth throughout the length of the work piece. Since the pistons exert the greatest force at the ends of the ram, over a period of time the ram or die may develop a curvature towards the center due to constant wear, or other irregularities my develop on the surface of the punch or the press table.. Consequently, it is desirable to provide some means for adjusting the depth or curvature of the punch. Further, the punch must be clamped to the ram, the clamps usually being secured by bolts. It has been found that better clamping action is obtained by using a plurality of clamps along the length of the ram than a single long clamp. With a plurality of discrete clamps attached along the length of the ram, it is inconvenient, time consuming, and inefficient to have to unbolt and bolt each clamp individually when replacing the punch. A central mechanism for controlling and releasing the clamps quickly is therefore desirable.
A variety of devices have been developed for addressing these problems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,374, issued Oct. 19, 1982 to H. Deguchi, teaches a punch mounted on a slide and a die mounted on a press table, where pairs of wedges are installed under the table, the top wedge being attached to the table and the bottom wedge being slidable. The bottom has a rack engaged by a pinion operable from the front of the table, such that as the rack is adjusted, the wedges raise and lower the height of the table in order to control the depth of the cut. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,552, issued Mar. 29, 1988 to M. Leflis, shows a press with relocatable dies at fixed work stations for performing multiple shaping operations on strip fed sheet metal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,237, issued Nov. 29, 1988 to Houston, et al., describes clamps for holding the punch and the die, the clamps having a fixed member and an L-shaped member slidable on a bolt connecting the fixed and slidable members. A pneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinder and piston are mounted concentrically with the bolt adjacent the fixed member, a spring biasing the piston to extend from the cylinder against the fixed member to pull the slidable member to a clamping position, the application of air or hydraulic pressure causing the piston to retract so that the slidable member relaxes to an open position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,014, issued Jan. 23, 1990 to D. L. Houston, shows an improvement in the foregoing clamp system having segmented clamps with one embodiment in which the clamp is released mechanically by rotating a cammed handle which moves a row of wedges longitudinally down the length of the ram or press table, moving the clamps laterally to a release position overcoming the bias of the springs, and a second embodiment in which pneumatic or hydraulic pressure forces a piston against an elongated clamp contact member which moves the individual clamp segments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,098, issued Apr. 23, 1991 to J. L. Merksteijn, describes a press having curve forming means to compensate for sagging in the bends produced in the work piece resulting from wear or irregularities in the punch or die, consisting of strips with members moveable longitudinally and transversely with each other, which shim the table, being angled more in the center than at the ends, and being moveable longitudinally by a hand crank or electrical or hydraulic means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,256, issued Jun. 11, 1991 to J. van der Meulen, shows a clamping device having a fixed jaw and a pivoting jaw with a resilient strip between the two, the resilient strip having a wedge which interlocks with the punch tool. A hydraulic cylinder pushes a piston against the pivoting jaw to clamp the tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,610, issued Nov. 19, 1991 to K. Yonezawa, teaches a clamp having a front jaw and a back jaw, the front jaw being separated into separate plates longitudinally, the clamp being spring biased to normally hold the clamp. The clamp is released by hydraulic pressure, each plate having a cylinder and piston, the pistons extending to push the jaw away from the punch, the cylinders being connected by a continuous hydraulic line with pipes between the individual plates. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,686, issued May 19, 1992 to T. Kawahara, shows a pin for precisely locating the die on a "bolster". The pin is placed in registered recesses in the die and the bolster and has resilient collars which expand when the collar is pressed in the die.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,626, issued Jun. 16, 1992 to J. B. Baldwin, shows a means for clamping a die to the ram or the bed which has an adjustment means to counteract wear on the die. The device includes a support bracket with an angled lower surface, a thrust member having a wedge shape under the bracket's lower surface, and a disk rotatably mounted on the bracket which engages a slot on the thrust member in order to move the thrust member laterally to raise and lower the die. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,027, issued Oct. 24, 1995 to Y. Takahashi, shows a clamp for attaching punches with a uniformly planar shank or punches with a longitudinal groove in the shank for engaging a projection on the clamp. The clamp is attached to the ram by bolts and has a lower projection for engaging a groove on the shank, the projection being pivotal and spring biased against the shank of the punch.
A series of patents have been issued to S. Kawano, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,390,527, issued Feb. 21, 1995; 5,507,170, issued Apr. 16, 1996; 5,511,407, issued Apr. 30, 1996; 5,513,514, issued May 7, 1996; 5,572,902, issued Nov. 12, 1996; 5,619,885, issued Apr. 15, 1997; 5,642,642, issued Jul. 1, 1997; and 5,685,191, issued Nov. 11, 1997. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,486, issued Aug. 18, 1998 to Sugimoto, et al., describes another variation on the Kawano devices.
The Kawano patents show a clamp mounted on a holder operated by a lever rotating between stops, the punch being held between the clamp and the holder, a wedge between the holder and the ram, the clamp being resiliently biased against the holder. Variations include a triangular wedge between the clamp and the punch, the wedge having a projection engaging a groove on the shank of the punch, the triangular wedge being spring biased, hydraulic cylinders to release the clamp, mating projections on the clamp and punch to prevent the punch from accidentally falling, an adjustable clamp piece mounted on the clamp pushing against a spring or elastic member, an elastic clamp, etc.
German Patent No. 616,783, published Aug. 5, 1935, describes an adjustment mechanism mounted on the ram for counteracting curvature of the ram or the bed, which includes a lower wedge strip extending the length of the ram, and a pair of upper wedge strips divided at the center of the ram, the slope of the wedges diminishing from the center of the rams to the ends, the curvature of the punch being adjusted by attaching the ends of the wedge strips to adjustment screw spindles at the ends of the ram, the screws pulling the upper wedge strip over the lower wedge strip to form a gap in the center, the angles of the wedges increasing the depth of the punch towards the center of the ram.
The present invention deals only with the problem of alleviating the time and inconvenience involved in unbolting a plurality of clamps to release the punch. It does not purport to address the problem of wear and irregularities in the punch or die.
The three newest clamp holding devices available include the Wilson Express Clamp, made by Wilson Tool International, the Amada One Touch (see the Kawano patents cited above), and a system made by MachineFabrik Wila. The Wilson and Amada devices employ a rotary handle to release each clamp. While this represents an advance over past systems which required unbolting two bolts per clamp with perhaps thirty to forty clamps over a ten foot length of ram, nevertheless it still leaves the problem of operating thirty to forty rotary handles over a ten foot length of ram. The Wila device employs a hydraulic bladder type apparatus to release the clamps. The problem with this device is that the hydraulic system is complicated, expensive, and may develop a leak, rendering the system inoperable. Further, since the hydraulic lines are continuous, the Wila system precludes the flexibility of selectively removing individual punches normally permitted in manual systems.
Therefore, there is a need for a mechanical device which will open a plurality of clamps simultaneously to release to release the punch. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a press brake punch holder solving the aforementioned problems is desired.