A light-receiving element may easily detect the barycenter of a light intensity of light having a long-wavelength band in an optical communication. An InGaAs layer (i-type layer) and a p-type InP layer are stacked on an n-type InP substrate. Electrodes are formed on both sides of the top surface of the p-type layer, and an electrode is formed on the bottom surface of the n-type substrate. An incident light impinged upon the light-receiving element is photoelectricly-converged into a photocurrent, and the photocurrent flows in the p-type layer to the electrodes. As a result, a current is derived from each of the electrodes, the magnitude thereof being dependent on the distances from the light impinging position to respective electrodes. The barycenter of a light intensity may be calculated from the currents derived from the electrodes and a light intensity may be obtained from the summation of the currents.

An optical demultiplexer (for example, Light Detecting System PSS-100 commercially available by Shimazu Seisakusho) has been known in which the light collected by a collective lens is reflected by a mirror, the reflected light is demultiplexed by a diffraction grating, and the demultiplexed 20 lights are detected by a photodetector. The photodetector employed in this″′ optical demultiplexer is a light-receiving element array and is used as a spectrum monitor for wavelength.
In this conventional photodetector, the barycenter of a 25 light intensity is monitored by dividing the spectrum of one wavelength by means of an array of light-receiving elements (e.g., five elements). Therefore, the resolution of the photodetector is determined by an array pitch of the light-receiving elements. In this manner, the conventional 30 photodetector may merely obtain the resolution corresponding to the array pitch of the light-receiving elements, so that it is difficult for the conventional photodetector to further increase its resolution. It should be noted that the barycenter of a light intensity means herein the barycenter of spectrum distribution of a wavelength.
In order to resolve the problems described above, the inventors of this application have thought that a semiconductor position sensor for detecting the position of a light spot is used as a light-receiving element array of the photodetector in the optical demultiplexer. Because the semiconductor position sensor is a non-divided type of element different from the light-receiving element array described above, the semiconductor position sensor may detect continuously and spatially the barycenter of a light intensity.
As a conventional semiconductor position sensor, the sensor has been known in which a p-type resistor layer is provided on the top surface of a high-resistance Si substrate (i-type layer), on the bottom surface thereof a n-type layer is provided, and two electrodes are provided oppositely on the p-type resistor layer.
Because surface layers form a p-n junction in this semiconductor position sensor, a photocurrent is generated due to a photoelectric effect when an incident light impinges upon the p-type resistor layer. The photocurrent generated at the position upon which an incident light impinges is divided into two currents, respective magnitude thereof being in reverse proportion to respective resistances from the light impinging position to respective two electrodes, so that the light impinging position may be detected by monitoring each current derived from respective two electrodes.
The conventional semiconductor position sensor uses a Si substrate as described above, and then has a poor sensitivity in a long-wavelength band for an optical communication. Therefore, in a case that the conventional semiconductor position sensor is used for a light-receiving element array of an optical demultiplexer, it is difficult to detect the barycenter of a light intensity of light having a long-wavelength band.

Light-receiving element and photodetector using the same


An elementary device for coherently recombining a first elementary beam and a second elementary beam, includes a first input and a second input, into which are respectively injected the first elementary beam and the second elementary beam to be recombined, an output that delivers an output beam corresponding to the coherent recombination of the first and second elementary beams, a delay line placed on one of the paths of said elementary beams and configured to induce a variable delay on said path, a variable coupler comprising a first 2×2 combiner, a phase modulator and a second 2×2 combiner, a control detector configured to generate, from the complementary beam, an error signal (ε), a feedback loop configured to determine, from the error signal, the delay and the phase difference to be applied.

The problem to be solved, when the phase front of an optical beam bearing information is distorted by a trip through free space, is to maintain an optimal link budget despite these distortions.
A first solution is to use adaptive optics (e.g. a deformable mirror) to compensate for the distortion of the optical wavefront and typically to optimize the optical injection into a single-mode fibre connected to the detector. This approach has the advantage of processing the pupil in its entirety, and allows both the emission (pre-compensation) and reception case to be treated, and of being wide band (WDM application possible). In contrast, the speed of adaptive optical loops is limited (ms in the best of cases) and can prove to be insufficient for atmospheric distortions of bandwidth of about or higher than 1 kHz.
A second solution consists in using a multi-aperture telescope, in an architecture that is said to have spatial diversity. Each "sub-telescope" receives one portion of the incident beam, and the principle of the method is to assume that the spatial diversity will make it possible to avert spatial extinctions due to interference (speckle). Whatever the turbulence, at least one sub-telescope will collect a non-zero signal. The signals delivered to the detectors placed downstream of each telescope are electrically summed (incoherently). The main drawback of this method is that it requires as many detectors as sub-telescopes, the noise of each detector being summed. Furthermore, this method does not allow the signal-to-noise ratio of the link to be improved.
In a third solution, described in document U.S. Pat. No. 7,974,543, it is proposed to use a receiving system based on the coherent recombination of modes/elementary beams. The system comprises a matrix array of micro-lenses for sampling the incident beam, said matrix array being coupled to a coherently recombining device 10, which is presented with 2M beams to be recombined and which consists of a plurality of elementary 2×1 recombining devices arranged in cascade, such as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each elementary device consists of two inputs, 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 for example, corresponding to 2 beams to be re-combined, of a phase shifter 16 placed on the path of one of the beams, and of a 2×2 coupler 11 an output 12 of which is detected by a detector 13. The signal detected by 13 is minimized using electronics 15 (15a, 15b . . . ) allowing the phase shifter 16 (16a, 16b . . . ) to apply a phase shift to the beam 2 so that constructive interference occurs on the second output 17 of the coupler 11.
The final output 18 combines into a single beam all of the 2M initial beams. A maximum signal 18 is sought.
One limitation of this type of system is the need to use a phase shifter (component 16), which limits the width of the spectral band of the incident beam that the system is able to process, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the use of a single element does not allow both the amplitudes and the phases of the two signals to be recombined to be equalized, with regard to obtaining an optimal effectiveness.
In FIG. 2 the following situation is considered: a field E0 is emitted from a point source S, and follows 2 different paths T1 and T2 to reach a detector D. The first path T1 has a length L1, and the second path T2 has a length L2. To simplify, the medium separating the source S from the detector D is assumed to be non-dispersive, i.e. its refractive index is assumed to not depend on wavelength. Also for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the 2 paths have the same attenuation, and therefore that the fields incident on the detector will have the same intensity, independently of whether they have followed the path T1 or the path T2. The expression for the field at the detector is therefore:EDET=Etrajet1+Etrajet2 EDET=E0(t−τ1)+E0(t−τ2)where τ1 and τ2 are the times taken by the light to travel the paths T1 and T2, respectively, namely:
      τ          1                    (                  or                                                              2                )              =            n      ×              L                  1                                (                          or                                                                                2                        )                                c
The case where E0 has a certain spectral content (for example modulation sidebands, or indeed the case where E0 consists of a WDM frequency comb) will now be considered. The component of the spectrum of the electrical signal output from the detector at a frequency ω is therefore:
                                          i                          D                            E                            T                                                      (            ω            )                          =                                              [                                                            E                  0                                                                  (                                      ω                    ,                                          t                      -                                              τ                        1                                                                              )                                            +                                                E                  0                                                                  (                                      ω                    ,                                          t                      -                                              τ                        2                                                                              )                                                      ]                    ×                      c            .            c            .                                                  =                                              [                                                                                e                                                            -                      i                                                                                ω                                                                    (                                                  t                          -                                                      τ                            1                                                                          )                                                                                +                                                                                e                                                            -                      i                                                                                ω                                                                    (                                                  t                          -                                                      τ                            2                                                                          )                                                                                ]                    ×                      c            .            c                                                  =                                  2                                                                *                    ×                      (                          1              +                                                cos                                                        ω                                                              (                                                                        τ                          1                                                -                                                  τ                          2                                                                    )                                                                      2                                      )
It is now assumed that there is a means for controlling the optical phase difference between the fields issued from paths 1 and 2 (such as the phase shifter 16 of the aforementioned document). The field on the detector may therefore be written:EDET=E0(t−τ1)×e−iφ+E0(t−τ2)where φ is adjustable, with the aim of maximising the received signal. The signal iDET at the frequency ω is now equal to:
                                          i                          D                            E                            T                                                      (            ω            )                          =                                              [                                                                                e                                      -                                          i                                                                    [                                                                              ω                                                                                (                                                              t                                -                                                                  τ                                  1                                                                                )                                                                                +                          φ                                                ]                                                                                +                                                                                e                                                            -                      i                                                                                ω                                                                    (                                                  t                          -                                                      τ                            2                                                                          )                                                                                ]                    ×                      c            .            c            .                                                  =                                  2                                                                *                    ×                      (                          1              +                                                cos                                                        [                                                                  ω                                                                          (                                                                                τ                              1                                                        -                                                          τ                              2                                                                                )                                                                    +                      φ                                        ]                                                  2                                      )
To maximize the received signal the following condition must be met:cos[ω(τ1−τ2)+φ]=1namelyφ=ω(τ2−τ1)+k2π
It may therefore be seen that this condition depends on the frequency ω in question, and that it is only applicable in the close vicinity of this frequency, for applications in particular to a single optical carrier (no WDM). Typically, for phase modulators there is an excursion of 1 to 2×λ with components that are typically millimetre-sized and materials the index variation of which is about of the order of 10−3, corresponding to phase shifts of about one micron.
In addition, in the case of an emitting/receiving architecture, the lasers of the emitting and receiving systems are required to have similar but not identical frequencies (typically a few nm of difference), this possibly being a significant drawback in the case of a system located on-board a satellite for example, or to tackle ageing of the laser diodes.

Device and system for coherently recombining multi-wavelength optical beams


A battery snap including an insulative plate covered within an insulative covering to hold two conductive rivets within the insulative covering, the insulative plate and the insulative covering having terminal holes through which the cylindrical rivet body of either conductive rivet protrudes, a cylindrical plug and a cylindrical socket respectively fastened to the cylindrical rivet body of either conductive rivet outside the insulative covering through rivet joints for connecting the socket and plug terminals of the battery to be connected, each conductive rivet having a horizontal extension strip with symmetrical wing leaves at one side for fastening the conductor of a respective electric wire being inserted through a wire hole on the insulative covering from the outside.

The present invention relates to a battery snap for use in an electric device for connecting a battery.
A variety of mobile electric appliances are known and widely in use. These mobile electric appliances commonly use dry batteries for power supply, and have battery snaps for fastening the batteries.
Conventionally, the hot and neutral wires in electric appliances are directly soldered to the battery snap thereof. This connecting method is complicated to complete, and the wires may be disconnected from the battery snap easily when stretched. Further, because the tin solder may be oxidized easily, the conductivity of the battery snap will be affected.


A piezoelectric element for an automatic frequency control circuit. The element includes a balance spring formed of a piezoelectric crystal strip, a first electrode connected to the automatic control circuit, and disposed on at least a first side of the strip, and a second electrode connected to the automatic control circuit and disposed on at least a second side of the strip. The first and second electrodes are placed on one portion or over the entire length of the balance spring in a predetermined angular distribution.

Piezoelectric elements are commonly used in the field of electromechanical systems, for example for making oscillators used as time bases, or for applications for mass, force, gyroscope sensors and many others.
In the field of horology, and particularly of mechanical or electromechanical watches, it is known to provide an oscillating mechanical system with a piezoelectric element. The oscillating mechanical system may typically comprise a balance, on which is mounted a balance spring, one end of which is secured to the rotating balance staff and the other end of which is secured to a fixed element of a bottom plate. The oscillation of the mechanical system is maintained via an energy source which is generally mechanical. This energy source may be, for example, a barrel driving a gear train with an escape wheel cooperating with a pallet lever. This rotating pallet lever for example actuates a pin secured in proximity to the rotating balance staff. The balance with the balance spring may thus form a regulating member of a timepiece movement. This oscillating regulating member determines the driving speed of the gear train with the escape wheel leading to the time indicator hands. The piezoelectric element may include the balance spring, on which it is known to deposit films of a (PZT type) piezoelectric material, for example on the internal and external surfaces of the spring. In this regard, JP Patent Application No 2002-228774 or EP Patent Application No 2 590 035 A1 can be mentioned. However, depositing such piezoelectric films over the entire length of the balance spring introduces an expensive extra step into the manufacture of the spring, which is a drawback.
In these two Patent Applications, control of the oscillation frequency of the balance combined with the piezoelectric balance spring is achieved by means of an automatic frequency control circuit. The electronic circuit may be powered directly by the alternating voltage generated by the piezoelectric element, which has been rectified and stored across a capacitor. To control the oscillation frequency, a comparison is made between a signal at a reference frequency provided by an oscillator stage and the alternating signal from the generator. On the basis of this comparison, a frequency adaptation signal is generated which, once applied to the piezoelectric element, allows a compressive or extension force to be generated on the element in order to brake or accelerate the oscillation of the oscillating mechanical system.
Another example of a device comprising an oscillating mechanical system provided with a piezoelectric element, and a circuit for automatic control of the oscillation frequency of the oscillating mechanical system is provided by WO Patent Application No 2011/131784 A1. According to a particular example embodiment of this device, the piezoelectric element includes a balance spring formed of a strip of piezoelectric material, a first electrode disposed on an inner side of the spring, and a second electrode disposed on an outer side of the spring. The electrodes are connected to the automatic frequency control circuit. However, one drawback of the proposed piezoelectric element is that the piezoelectric effect of the element cannot be used in a precise and optimum manner without considerably complicating the design of the system.

Piezoelectric element for an automatic frequency control circuit, oscillating mechanical system and device comprising the same

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd


Provided is a technique for Input/Output scanning. A storage controller receives I/O requests from a host system, having an operating system, directed to at least one storage unit, wherein the storage controller manages I/O access to the at least one storage unit. A scanner program is loaded before executing any I/O requests directed to the at least one storage unit and the scanner program is run to check for code identified in code definitions in I/O requests directed to the at least one storage unit before and after the host operating system is loaded.

Many desktop computers and network systems run anti-virus programs to prevent users from inadvertently invoking malicious code, such as a virus, worm, Trojan horse, adware, spyware, etc. Many of these anti-virus programs are loaded into the runtime environment after the operating system is loaded. Such anti-virus programs cannot detect and stop the execution of virus data in the boot sector of the primary hard disk drive that is executed before the operating system and anti-virus program are installed. For such boot sector viruses, by the time the anti-virus program is loaded and running, the virus may have spread throughout the system and to any attached storage devices or over any attached network devices.
To remove malicious code from the boot sector, the user may boot the system from a floppy disk or other boot device and run an anti-viral program from the boot disk to scan and remove any viruses from the boot sector. Further, some products provide a facility to encrypt and prevent modification to the system areas, such as the boot sector, of the hard disk drive to allow detection of changes to the boot sector and system areas of the hard disk.


The present invention provides a tampon applicator assembly having an applicator barrel with an insertion tip with a maximum of three petals. Additionally, the tampon applicator assembly can be provided with a tapered insertion tip. A shaped pledget can be housed in the applicator barrel, which provides support to the petals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a tampon assembly. More particularly, the present invention is related to a tampon assembly having an applicator barrel with no more than three petals.
2. Description of Related Art
A tampon assembly is used to inject an absorbent or hygienic material, known as a tampon pledget, into the vaginal vault. The pledget of commercial tampon assemblies is typically positioned in a barrel for expulsion from a barrel by a plunger. The use of such assemblies requires a user to insert an end of the barrel into the vaginal vault.
Once the barrel has been inserted, the plunger can be used to expel the pledget from the end of the barrel into the vaginal vault. Once the pledget is in position, the pledget expands upon contact with moisture to conform to contours of the body and, thus, provide leakage protection. Comfort to the user during insertion of the barrel and expulsion of the pledget is an important aspect for the commercial success of the tampon assembly. Furthermore, perceived and actual level of performance is also dependent how comfortable the applicator is to insert into the user's body.
Many attempts have been made to increase the comfort associated with the use of tampon assemblies. For example, the barrels of some tampon assemblies include a dome shaped end. The dome shaped end includes a number or plurality of shaped petals configured to open during expulsion of the pledget. Unfortunately, the petals themselves can be a source of discomfort. An applicator with too many petals can pinch the vaginal vault during insertion or create a perception by the user that the petals will pinch the vaginal vault during insertion. Moreover, too few petals increase petal resistance during expulsion of the pledget from the barrel causing insertion difficulty.
Additionally, in prior assemblies having blunt or unshaped pledgets, users often push the pledget as far into the applicator tip as possible prior to insertion of the applicator. However, this can cause the petals to open prematurely, namely before insertion of the barrel into the body. The open petals provide prior barrels with a "claw-like" insertion tip, which can scratch during insertion of the barrel. Also, the open petals can close during the insertion process, which can pinch the skin of the user.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a tampon assembly that is aesthetically pleasing to a user and also has a quantity of petals that increases comfort to the user while having a petal resistance within a desirable range.


A water powered waste disposal apparatus has an adjustable valve with adjustable operating pressure requirements. The disposal apparatus has a plurality of cutters disposed in a passageway for cutting waste. A reciprocating piston is driven by pressurized water in an annular chamber. The piston is coupled to at least one rotatable cutter. The valve has a reciprocating control piston for selectively diverting the pressurized water into the annular chamber on alternate sides of the drive piston. A reciprocating pilot piston selectively conveys the pressurized water to alternate sides of the control piston in response to water pressure in the annular chamber. A detent and spring apply an amount of resistance to the pilot piston such that water pressure in the annular chamber must reach a certain threshold pressure to overcome the resistance of the detent and spring. An adjustment mechanism has a threaded member engaging the spring to adjust the amount of resistance applied by the detent to the pilot piston as the threaded member is advanced and retracted.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water powered waste disposal unit with adjustable torque and water pressure operating requirements.
2. The Background Art
Waste disposal units disposed under sinks have become commonplace. The waste disposal unit cuts or shreds waste, such as table scraps, so that the waste may pass through pipes of a house plumbing system without clogging the pipes. The disposal units provide the convenience of simply washing waste directly into the sink without having to first wipe the waste into a trash receptacle or having to later clear the waste from a drain in the sink. Disposal units are typically mounted under the sink between the drain in the bottom of the sink and the pipes of the plumbing system and typically have cutters disposed in the units and coupled to electric motors to cut the waste as it passes through the units.
Despite the conveniences provided by these waste disposal units, there are several disadvantages, one of which is the need for electrical wiring to operate the motor. Because of this, the devices are difficult to install and pose a danger of coupling an electric source to the water and plumbing system. Another disadvantage is the low starting torque of the electric motors. Waste initially disposed in the unit may stall the motor. Thus, the motor may burn out or pose a danger of injury as a user reaches into the unit to remove the clogged waste.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,700,178, issued Oct. 24, 1972, to Verley, and 4,082,229, issued Apr. 4, 1978, to Boosman, disclose water powered waste disposal units. The units have a housing defining an annular chamber around the unit. A reciprocating drive piston is slidingly disposed in the chamber and is coupled to a pivoting cutter in the housing. A valve alternately directs pressurized water into the annular chamber on opposite sides of the drive piston to drive the piston, and thus the cutter, in a reciprocal rotating motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,947, issued Aug. 23, 1983, to Spelber et al. discloses a valve for directing the water for a water powered disposal unit. The valve has a reciprocating control piston slidingly disposed in a valve housing. The control piston has a channel formed therein for alternately directing water into the annular chamber on either side of the drive piston as the control piston reciprocates in the valve housing. The valve also has a reciprocating pilot piston slidingly disposed in the housing. The pressure in the annular chamber forces the pilot piston to reciprocate. The pilot piston has a chamber formed therein for alternately directing water to opposite sides of the control piston as the pilot piston reciprocates, thus forcing the control piston to reciprocate.
A detent is disposed in the housing and engages the pilot piston. A spring biases the detent against the pilot piston so that the detent and spring apply an amount of resistance to the pilot piston. The water pressure developed in the annular housing must overcome the amount of resistance applied by the detent to the pilot piston in order to cause the pilot piston to reciprocate.
Despite advantages presented by the above-described water powered waste disposal units, there are also disadvantages. One is the water pressure operating requirement of the water powered units. The units require a certain amount of water pressure to initiate operation of the units. Different water sources, however, provide various different water pressures. Thus, the units may work in some areas, but not in others, depending upon the water pressure available. In addition, water pressure tends to fluctuate during the day. The pressure is lower during times of greater usage, and so the units may work at some times during the day, but not at others.
Furthermore, the water pressure operating requirements of the units result in inefficiencies. A unit designed to be used with various different water pressures, and thus lower water pressures, must have components capable of operating at lower pressures. But those same components may not be suitable to fully and efficiently utilize higher water pressures.
Another disadvantage with the water powered units is the difficulty in obtaining consistent and accurate performance characteristics from components. For example, the components applying resistance to movement of the pilot piston may apply an inconsistent amount of resistance, possibly resulting in non-functionality.
Another disadvantage of the water powered units is the high tolerances required. This is because variations in the unit dimensions and springs result in pressure variations which may or may not be sufficient to properly operate the unit. The high tolerances make the units very expensive and are difficult to obtain in less expensive, injection molded parts. These drawbacks have prevented the substantial advantages of the water powered waste disposal units from being enjoyed.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a water powered waste disposal apparatus, and/or valve for such an apparatus, capable of being used with various different water pressures, including low pressures. It would also be advantageous to develop such a disposal apparatus and valve capable of efficiently utilizing the water pressure to develop the most torque. It would also be advantageous to develop such a disposal apparatus and valve capable of being manufactured inexpensively, or without excessive tolerances.


A bus bar wiring board includes a first conductive bus bar, a second conductive bus bar, a first insulating board, in which one end portions of the first and the second bus bars are embedded and a second insulating board, in which the other end portions of the first and the second bus bars are embedded. A first longitudinal direction of a cross-section of the first bus bar intersects a second longitudinal direction of a cross-section of the second bus bar.

This invention relates to a bus bar wiring board used, for example, in the wiring of an electronic equipment.
Various electronic equipments are mounted on a vehicle (mobile body). This kind of electronic equipment includes a casing, a connector, electrical parts such as relays and fuses, and a bus bar wiring board through which metal terminals of the connector are connected to terminals of the relays, fuses and others. The casing is formed into a flattened box-like shape.
The connector includes a box-like connector housing, and the metal terminals received in this connector housing. When the connector is connected to a mating connector, the metal terminals are electrically connected to other electronic equipment or the like. The electrical parts are mounted on the casing and bus bars (described later) of the bus bar wiring board. The bus bar wiring board includes the electrically-conductive bus bars, a first insulating board, and a second insulating board.
Each bus bar is formed by blanking an electrically-conductive metal plate or the like. One end portions of the bus bars are embedded in the first insulating board. The other end portions of the bus bars are embedded in the second insulating board. The electrical parts such as relays are mounted on central portions of the bus bars. Longitudinal directions of cross-sections of the bus bars, each having its opposite end portions embedded respectively in the first and second insulating boards, are parallel to one another.
The mating connector is connected to the connector of the electronic equipment of the above construction, and the metal terminals of the connector are connected to the terminals of the electrical parts through the bus bars. The electronic equipment connects other electronic equipment to the electrical parts in accordance with a predetermined pattern.
In the bus bar wiring board of the related electronic equipment, the longitudinal directions of the cross-sections of the bus bars are parallel to one another. Therefore, the first and second insulating boards are caused to vibrate relative to each other by vibrations developing during the travel of the vehicle. Therefore, the positions of the first and second insulating boards relative to each other change, so that the bus bars are distorted. As a result, there is fears that the electrical connection between the relay and the bus bars is broken and that the bus bars are separated from the first and second insulating boards. Thus, there is a fear that the bus bar wiring board in the related electronic equipment is damaged by vibrations developing during the travel of the automobile.

Bus bar wiring board and method of assembling the same


Adjacent concrete wall panels are connected at the vertical joint by a shear connector structure that includes a metal connector angle embedded in a corner portion of one of the panels, and one or more threaded nuts or studs are welded to a flange of the angle. A metal shear connector plate has a hole for each threaded nut or stud and elongated holes or slots for the other concrete panel. After the panels are erected and positioned, the connector plate is bolted to the studs and self-tapping concrete anchor screws are inserted into the slots and threaded into holes formed in the other panel. The studs are formed by machinery weld studs to form a bore with threads at the welded end of each stud.

The present invention relates to a shear connector structure or system for connecting adjacent concrete wall panels positioned to form a vertical concrete wall of a building. When concrete wall panels are cast in a precast concrete plant for delivery to the building site or are cast on a concrete floor of the building for tilting the panels to form vertical wall panels, the concrete panels are cast with embedded corner or angle strips which are welded to elongated reinforcing bars or members or rebars embedded in the concrete. The steel corner strips are located in the concrete so that when the concrete panels are positioned or tilted upwardly, the corner strips are located in opposing relation on the inside vertical corners of the concrete panels. After the concrete panels are positioned vertically in adjacent relation to form a concrete wall, a flat metal shear connector plate is welded to the opposing metal corner strips for maintaining horizontal alignment and strength to the connected concrete wall panels.
Since a plurality of vertically spaced flat shear connector plates are commonly welded to the opposing corner strips across each vertical joint between adjacent concrete panels, it is necessary for an electric welding person to be elevated to each of the vertically spaced connector plates at each joint where the person is supported by a ladder or a bucket mounted on an arm of a truck or other vehicle. Thus significant time is required for a welding person to be elevated to each connector plate across each joint between adjacent wall panels. Also, at many building sites, it is frequently a problem in obtaining an experienced welding person. In addition, the welded plates form rigid connections between adjacent wall panels at each vertical joint. As a result, when the adjacent concrete panels expand or contract slightly with changes in temperature, it is not uncommon for a weld to break or a metal corner strip to break away from a corner portion of the concrete panel. This sometimes requires the corner strip and corner portion of the concrete panel to be repaired.

Metal shear connector structure for adjacent concrete panels


The gallium nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer structure including, at least, an active layer, a first cladding layer of a first conductivity type, and a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type, the first and second cladding layers sandwiching the active layer therebetween; a dry etching stop layer of the second conductivity type formed on the first semiconductor multilayer structure; and a second semiconductor multilayer structure formed on the dry etching stop layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gallium nitride (GaN) compound semiconductor light emitting element capable of emitting light in the range of the blue region to the ultraviolet region.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a current blocking type or ridge waveguide type compound semiconductor laser is fabricated, a process of etching compound semiconductor layers of the laser to respective specified thicknesses with high precision or a process of selectively etching a layer to expose the surface of an underlying layer is required.
In the etching of a GaAs compound semiconductor layer, wet etching with high selectivity is normally employed. In the etching of a GaN compound semiconductor, dry etching is normally employed since no appropriate etchant is available. By dry etching, however, etching of a GaN compound semiconductor layer with sufficient selectivity is difficult. A GaN compound semiconductor which cannot be etched with sufficient selectivity will not be usable as a dry etching stop layer. Therefore, it is difficult to fabricate a current blocking type or ridge waveguide type semiconductor layer by dry etching with good reproducibility.
J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A 11 (4) 1993 pp. 1772-1775 describes the etching of GaN, InN, and AlN by ECR-RIBE (electron cyclotron resonance type reactive ion beam etching) which is one of the dry etching methods. This article discusses that the etching rate in this method has selectivity.

Gallium nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element and method for fabricating the same


A geophysical connector (10) having a housing (46, 52) and first (11) and second (131) connection members. First member (11) includes a low durometer soft plastic body (12) molded to the electrical contacts (20, 21) and encloses a rigid waterproof molded seal (34) molded about said contacts (20, 21). The second connection member (131) includes a rigid plastic insert (133) supporting a second coacting electrical contacts (135, 137) and a soft plastic body (159) bonded to the insert (133) and the electrical cable (163) connected to the second contacts.

Electrical connectors used in the geophysical field environment, most commonly, are plagued with a multiplicity of problems. The most common of these problems occurs when the cable that the connector is attached sustains a cut in the outer jacket allowing water to enter within the central cavity of the cable. Water migrates internally down the electrical conductors and enter into the center cavity of the connector body following a path to the electrical connections of either the pins or sockets which are molded within. If the two internal electrical conductor's outer jacket is cut through and to the metal stranded wire conductors then water will migrate internally and follow that path entering into the center cavity of the connector body thus reaching the electrical connection to the pin or socket. If the water communicates from one pin or one socket to the other electrical leakage or a short circuit condition will occur.
Another such problem encountered in the field environment relates to the connector's ability to mate and de-mate. A common design technique to seal the face of a connector is with a single molded facial O-ring or a multiplicity of molded O-rings to seal around individual pins or sockets. Another common design practice in use today is to mold an O-ring on the major outer diameter of a male connector which then mates within a central cavity of the receiving female connector that has a positioned mating O-ring groove designed to receive the O-ring of the male connector and thus provides a waterproof seal. However, the ability to mate and de-mate the connector in extreme low temperatures becomes very difficult if not impossible. Thus it becomes apparent that the design of the connector and the selection of the materials used to eliminate or minimize electrical leakage and has the ability to mate and de-mate in all environmental conditions becomes an absolute necessity.
The present invention embodies a moisture free, waterproof, low temperature electrical connector assembly in which one member includes a flexible, soft inner molded body for sealing in low temperatures is positioned within a hard, rigid protective outer housing and encloses a hard, rigid waterproof seal which acts also as an anchor. A second member includes a rigid insert which acts as a connection to the housing and as an anchor and includes a relative soft plastic body bonded thereto for sealing. A connector of this design operates equally as well in extremely cold weather areas, marsh or shallow bays or in the hot desert areas. An invention of this design will perform equally as well in the varied harshness of any geophysical field environment and maintains its electrical and mechanical ruggedness.

Waterproof low temperature geophysical connector


A system for distributing television signals comprises a first terminal which receives a coaxial cable, at least one second terminal which receives a twisted pair of conductors, and an amplifier system comprising a unit for selecting either a first slope or a second slope of increasing gain as a function of frequency between a signal present at the first terminal and a signal present at the second terminal. A method of distributing television signals includes a step of obtaining a system of the above kind, a step of determining a threshold for the length of the pair, and a step of selecting the first slope when the twisted pair has a length less than the threshold and the second slope when the twisted pair has a length greater than the threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the distribution of television signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Television signals are conventionally conveyed by coaxial cables, and thus in unbalanced form, but in certain circumstances it is beneficial to be able to distribute television signals over a twisted pair of conductors, i.e. in balanced form, especially if a twisted pair of conductors is available in a cable otherwise used to distribute telephone signals or local area network signals.
The invention aims to enable distribution using a twisted pair of conductors whose length may vary within a wide range.

Television signal distribution system and method using it


An illumination device comprises a light reflecting plate, a circuit board, and a point like light source, the light reflecting plate or a combination of the light reflecting plate and the circuit board forming a receiving concave portion. The point like light source is arranged in the receiving concave portion, wherein a brightness of a light emitted from the point like light source is to be up to 30000 cd/m2, when an incident angle of the light emitted from the light source is zero and 350 mm apart from the light source, and a part or all of the light emitted from the point like light source is reflected from an inner face of peripheral walls of the receiving concave portion and supplied as an illumination.

A fluorescent light has been used as the illumination, in particular, the ceiling illumination in the government office, the company office and housing. As such the ceiling illumination, a reverse Mount Fuji type or embedded type of the ceiling illumination device using two 40 W straight tube-type of the fluorescent lights are generally used.
A so-called system ceiling is increasingly applied as the ceiling, where the ceiling is divided to about 600 mm×600 mm reticular patterns, for example. The ceiling portion, illumination portion, or outlet portion of the air conditioner is received in each of the reticular pattern. Consequently, variously created fluorescent lights are applied in the illumination device used in the ceiling (i.e., ceiling illumination device). For example, four pieces of 20 W straight tube-type fluorescent lights, each having the length of about 600 mm are used, and in addition, three pieces of 36 W compact type fluorescent lights are used.
Lately, there are proposed illumination devices using the LED as the light source, which has such excellent properties as long-life operation, high visibility & response, and wavelength selectivity. For example, an advertising display decorated with lights, a light box interiorly illuminated such as interiorly illuminated sign (refer to Patent document 1, for example) are exemplified.
In the LED used as the illumination, in general, the point like light generating portion is covered and molded into a bombshell shape by a sealing member such as transparent resin. The light from the light generating portion as the illumination is emitted with the narrow angle of about 50 degrees (refer to Patent document 2, for example).    Patent document 1: Japanese patent application publication No. Hei 10-83148    Patent document 2: Japanese patent application publication No. 2002-222994


Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for intelligent steering of roaming of user equipment. More particularly, the methods include receiving, from a user equipment (UE) located in a visitor network, a registration message to register with a home network, the registration message including an identifier of the UE. The methods also include querying, by one or more processors, a steering controller using the identifier of the UE to obtain a roaming list customized for the UE. The methods also include pushing, by one or more processors, the roaming list to the UE.

Network operators provide network services to user equipment (UEs) located within their network footprint (i.e., their "home network"). To expand network coverage, network operators often partner with other network operators associated with respective network footprints (i.e., "visitor networks"). Accordingly, the network operator's customers have network connectivity when their UE is located in a visitor network (i.e., the UE is "roaming"). To select the networks on which the UE is configured to connect, the UE maintains a configurable roaming list that identifies the relative priority for various visitor network. When the UE is located outside of the home network, the UE analyzes the roaming list and attempts to connect to a visitor network in accordance with the priority set forth in the roaming list.
When a UE attempts to register with a network, traditional networks are configured to provide the roaming list via an over-the-air (OTA) interface implemented via a short message service (SMS) protocol. However, the OTA interface is unreliable, particularly while the UE is roaming. For example, because visitor networks collect fees when a home network UE is connected to the visitor network, visitor networks may try to block attempts by the home network to steer the UE onto another visitor network. Accordingly, visitor networks often intercept SMS messages associated with the OTA interface. Additionally, most OTA interfaces are cumbersome and do not enable traditional network operators to dynamically alter their network lists. Thus, traditional network operators are restricted in their ability to steer UE onto their preferred visitor networks. Inadequate steering can result in inferior network selection for users and network congestion.

Intelligent steering of roaming for user equipment


According to one embodiment, a logical circuit to be simulated includes a timing network and a specific logical device. The timing network transmits a logical value change of an input signal in correspondence with an elapse of time or clock number increments. The specific logical device receives a timing network output signal that appears at an exit node of the timing network, and a logical value change or a logical value after change of the clock. When predetermined constraint information represents a constraint that a time period or the demanded number of clock cycles needed for a transition of a signal level change to pass through a signal path in the timing network is equal to or smaller than a predetermined numerical value (or equal to or larger than a predetermined numerical value), it is checked if the signal input to the specific logical device violates the predetermined constraint information.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a simulator for a logical circuit including a circuit element (timing network) through which a signal transition from a logical value "0" to a logical value "1" (or from a logical value "1" to a logical value "0") passes after an elapse of a predetermined time period (or the predetermined number of clock cycles).
2. Description of the Related Art
In a logical circuit design, a logic simulator is used to check the propriety of that circuit design before that circuit is actually manufactured as a product using an integrated circuit or the like. As examples of such simulator, the following simulators are known. That is, a logic simulator, which inputs logical connection data, extracts the connection relationship of logical gates as connection information, models a hazard to express a state propagation of each logical gate by a logical value, and simulates generation and propagation of the hazard using a logical gate state propagation table in association with the extracted connection relationship of the logical gates, is known (see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-16649: this reference is limited to a hazard function).
Also, a logic simulator, which writes, every time a level transition of an output signal from each element has occurred, at least level transition information which specifies the contents of the level transition and level transition cause information indicating an input terminal to which a test pattern signal that has caused the level transition is input in a storage area corresponding to the element in an information table form, so as to detect a timing error, is known (see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-252066).
Furthermore, a logic simulator, which controls a timing error verification means in a timing primitive to recognize input and output signal changes of elements obtained from a signal change of a signal line between elements based on a simulation execution situation, and to execute timing error verification processes with independent contents for respective elements based on the contents of a timing check value definition file, is known (see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-128199).
Moreover, a logic simulator, in which a timing check primitive appending means outputs circuit information appended with a timing check primitive only between an input and output of a selected element or a selected loop element based on circuit information with selected element information and circuit information with selected loop circuit information, so as to recognize input and output signal changes of elements obtained from a signal change of a signal line between elements, and to execute detailed timing error verification, is known (see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-61931).
In addition, a logic simulator, in which a simulation execution means gives, as a signal value, an error value indicating the presence/absence of a timing error in addition to a logical value to allow influence tracing of an error, is known (see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-357569).
As described above, various logic simulators have been conventionally proposed. In the conventional simulator, if there is constraint information "a time period or the number of clock cycles needed for a signal transition to pass through a signal path in a certain logical circuit should be set to be equal to or larger than a specific value or to be equal to or smaller than a specific value", it is difficult to attain circuit verification including checking as to whether or not elements in a circuit to be simulated violate this constraint information. In other words, it is difficult for the conventional simulator to confirm if the timing constraint of the aforementioned constraint information is proper (the propriety of the timing constraint used in static timing analysis) in accordance with a passing situation of the signal transition (to dynamically confirm when a wrong timing constraint is given).

Logic simulator and logic simulation method


A peripheral apparatus, for connecting to a first or a second transmission port of an electronic device, includes a signal transmission interface, a triggering unit, an amplifying unit and an adjusting unit. The signal transmission interface, coupled to the first or the second transmission port, includes a first and a second group of pins. The triggering unit is coupled to the signal transmission interface. When the signal transmission interface is coupled to the first or the second transmission port, the triggering unit outputs a first or a second voltage level signal, respectively. The amplifying unit is coupled to the signal transmission interface and a functional unit. The adjusting unit, coupled to the signal transmission interface, the triggering unit, the amplifying unit and the functional unit, changes an output power transmitted from the amplifying unit to the functional unit according to the first or the second voltage level signal.

A universal serial bus interface (USB) which is applicable for an electronic device (such as, computer) is connected to a signal transmission interface of a peripheral apparatus (such as, flash disk, keyboard, mouse, speaker and so on) so as to provide convenient and rapid connection ways. With advances in technology, larger transmitting bandwidth of the USB has been developed. The largest bandwidth of standard USB 1.1 is 12 megabits per second (Mbps), and that of USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps. Currently, the largest bandwidth of USB 3.0 is increased from 480 Mbps to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps).
The advances in USB also improve power supply for the peripheral apparatus. Take USB 2.0 for example, USB 2.0 not only transmit data in both directions but also supply power with 5 volts and 500 milliamperes. Moreover, applying USB 3.0, information transmitting rate may be up to 5 Gbps and power is supplied with 5 volts and 900 milliamperes. When a speaker having a USB 3.0 interface is directly connected to a USB 3.0 transmission port of a computer, the output power of the speaker is increased and the sound effect (namely, quality) is also improved.
The development of USB is to provide better effects (namely quality), but actual requirement also needs to be considered. Updating of USB version needs to provide backward compatibility (compatible with former version of USB). However, for most users, when the USB version is improved, most users may not clearly distinguish the transmission port of the computer or the transmission port of the peripheral apparatus. For example, the version of the transmission port of the computer is USB 2.0 and the transmission port of the speaker is USB 3.0. Because the USB 3.0 version allows backward compatibility, the USB 3.0 interface transmission port of the speaker may be inserted into the USB 2.0 interface transmission port of the computer. However, electrical circuits in the speaker are designed to match with USB 3.0 circuits with larger current inputting, such that current provided by USB 2.0 interface transmission port of the computer may not match with the USB 3.0 electrical circuits in the speaker.
It can be known from a relation of power (P), current (I) and voltage (V): P=IV, The optimized output power of the USB 3.0 speaker is 4 watts, when the USB 3.0 interface transmission port is inserted into the computer, the speaker may receive 4.5 Watts of input power (5 volts times 0.9 amperes), the optimized effect is achieved. When the USB 2.0 interface transmission port is inserted, the speaker may only receive 2.5 watts of input power (5 volts times 0.5 amperes). Therefore, voice cracks may occur and the volume of the sound generated by the speaker may be suddenly increased and decreased.


Process for treating lipophilic fluids employing filters, more particularly, multifunctional filters that are capable of removing as well as adding components to lipophilic fluids being filtered are provided by the present invention.

Conventional filter materials are good at removing particulates and/or other materials present in a filtrate. However, conventional filter material manufacturers do not appreciate the opportunity of not only removing agents from filtrates, but also adding agents to filtrates.
Accordingly, there is a need, especially in consumable filtering processes, for a filter that is capable of removing from and adding to a filtrate various agents.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A composite component includes a bonded portion and a component mount. The component mount is coupled to the bonded portion to move relative to the bonded portion. The bonded portion includes a fiber portion and a ceramic portion.

Gas turbine engines are used to power aircraft, watercraft, power generators, and the like. Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses air drawn into the engine and delivers high pressure air to the combustor. In the combustor, fuel is mixed with the high pressure air and is ignited. Products of the combustion reaction in the combustor are directed into the turbine where work is extracted to drive the compressor and, sometimes, an output shaft. Left-over products of the combustion are exhausted out of the turbine and may provide thrust in some applications. As a result, very high working temperatures are experienced by the turbine.
Design of gas turbine engines is driven by many concerns, however, maximizing engine efficiency to minimize costs of operation and environmental impact due to emissions are becoming increasingly important. Gas turbine efficiency is maximized by increasing a maximum operating temperature of the gas turbine engine. As a result, efficiency is limited by the temperature capabilities hot components such as turbine blades, turbine vanes, turbine blade tracks, combustor liners, etc.
Temperature capabilities of hot components may be increased through cooling, materials, and coatings of the components. Some materials, such as nickel-based (Nibased) superalloys have reached an intrinsic limit in high-temperature resistance. As a result, development has focused on Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC), which may be brittle, and Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) materials, which sometimes suffer from load transfer problems.
CMC materials include various components which may include Silicon and Carbide. In one example, SiC/SiC CMC materials may be used in hot section structural components for generation gas turbine engines. SiC/SiC CMC engine components provide desirable high-temperature mechanical properties, high-temperature physical properties, and chemical properties. These desirable properties allow gas turbine engines to operate at relatively higher temperatures than the current engines having superalloy components. SiC/SiC CMC materials also provide the additional benefit of damage tolerance, which monolithic ceramic materials do not possess.
However, combining CMC materials with metal materials has some issues. One issue is that CMC materials often have a different stiffness than metal components in which the CMC materials may be joined to. Another issue is that CMC materials have different Coefficients of Thermal Expansion (CTE) than metal materials they may be joined to. As a result, significant stresses may be result where CMC materials are joined to non-CMC materials.

Compliant composite component and method of manufacture

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.


An apparatus and method for reminding a motor vehicle driver to take some action before exiting the vehicle. A reminder ribbon apparatus is disclosed. One end of the reminder ribbon is held in place at the driver's right side, as by being attached to the strap bracket anchoring the female seat belt buckle to the vehicle. The other end of the reminder ribbon is attached, as with a spring clip, to the seat belt when the seat belt buckle assembly is engaged to place the seat belt in the use position across the driver's torso. When the seat belt buckle assembly is disengaged, the reminder ribbon is drawn across the driver's torso by the automatically retracting seatbelt. The driver is reminded, by the presence of the ribbon across his torso, to take an action, for example to attend to a child in the back seat of the vehicle, before exiting.

The present apparatus and method addresses the growing problem of automobile drivers accidentally leaving their children or pets in the vehicle after it is parked. While relatively rare, there are an increasing number of incidents in which a driver—especially a very preoccupied driver, or a driver completely outside his or her normal routine—parks a motor vehicle at a destination, and then exits the vehicle and accidentally leaves an infant or pet inside the vehicle. (Nearly always, the infant or pet is sitting quietly in the back seat; the infant may be asleep in an infant safety seat.) The result can be tragic. On a hot day, the infant or pet can suffer potentially fatal heatstroke. Or the child could be kidnapped, or the driver may be charged with child neglect, etc.
There is a need for a simple, affordable, effective system for reminding the driver of a motor vehicle that he has a helpless passenger in the back seat. The system must be easy to use, so that drivers will not resent (and thus avoid) using it. It needs to be reliable, and most effective in the moment immediately before the driver leaves the vehicle. Indeed, the system preferably will not allow the driver to exit the vehicle without being reminded that there is a child in the car. The system should be simple and low-tech, for reasons both of reliability and of affordability. A simple, affordable system could be made readily available even to drivers of modest income.
A number of apparatus and systems have been proposed to remind a vehicle driver that he has a passenger. Previous efforts include U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0200465 to Fabors et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,742 to Mesina; U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,988 to Kalce; U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,852 to Kautz; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,058,983 to Davisson et al. These systems, however, involve various electronic alarms, sensors, light beams, and the like, which may compromise reliability, affordability, and simplicity of installation or use. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0146383 to Chenault appears to offer a possible method of preventing an adult passenger from exiting a vehicle without an accompanying child passenger, but is impractical for use by an automobile driver. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0074757 to Banda shows a relatively simple device, but is cumbersome to use and evidently requires the vehicle door to be opened.
Against the foregoing background, the present invention was formulated.

Reminder method and apparatus for a motor vehicle driver


Apparatus, kit and method for painting a marbleized pattern on an essentially flat interior surface using paints with a plurality of colors. Before beginning the process, if necessary, the surface is cleaned and prepared. This can include applying masking tape around the periphery of the area to be painted. Splotches of paint of one color are then applied to a portion of the total area to be painted using a stiff bristled brush. Splotches of other paint colors are then applied interspersed with the previous colors. The brush is then used to preliminarily blend the various splotches of paint. A special blending tool faced with wool is used to complete blending the paint. The wool face is moistened before use, and blending is completed by patting the paint with the wool face of the tool while changing the angles and locations of the tool between each contact. Accent veining lines can be added to the blended paint surface using a feather dipped into a paint of a different color than the blended surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus, and a method of applying color media to any paintable surface, particularly walls, to create multiple decorative painted effects in an unprecedented fast and easy manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Faux finish is an art form of illusion achieved through an act of painting or a particular form of decorative painting. Traditional faux finishes are accomplished utilizing highly skilled and artistic decorative techniques. These techniques were designed to replicate many natural surfaces, such as granite, marble, aged European stucco, and suede. Typically, such known techniques have been used to decorate interior surfaces that would otherwise be impossible to manufacture or install with natural materials because of the shape of the surface or the extreme expense. Today, the faux finish process is used because it overcomes these problems and also permits utilizing colors which harmonize with other interior elements.
In the past, faux finish techniques required specialized paints, solvents, coloring agents, brushes, sponges, and other specialized elements. In addition, the finish was applied in a multi-step process involving several layers which required highly skilled craftsmen, typically requiring several days.
The traditional faux finish methods allow the artisan to work with several layers of thinned, translucent paints, called glazes, applied on top of an opaque base coat. Every color represents a separate layer which applied on top of the previously dried layers, making this a painstakingly complex and difficult process. A desirable factor to these techniques is the speed of application. If the artisan does not move fast enough or is delayed in the process, the work will be destroyed unavoidably due to the glazes drying before the work is finished.
Applying color media onto a surface in a two color pattern intended to resemble a marbleized finish has been taught in Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,975. Obtaining a painted finish on an exposed surface such as a wall or ceiling is taught by that document. The approach of Jones has a number of disadvantages including a limited number of options to create different effects, it requires a base coat, incorporates a limiting two colors that requires an applicator tool for each color used, it requires another tool and step to "fill-in" areas, requires a step of stamping the applicators together, and it incorporates another step of going over dry painted surface to reblend irregularly painted areas that result in many time consuming steps.

Decorative painting apparatus and method


A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.

Systems that facilitate lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms are limited to the available performance on a computing platform or device. Certain lighting techniques may require more computing power than is available in real-time. For example, a video sequence in a game or movie may take minutes or hours to render per frame. The same level of detail and/or the same lighting techniques may not be available during interactive gameplay, in which the viewpoint may change due to a user's input. In particular, viewpoint changes may be unpredictable, such that a new image may need to be created in response to a viewpoint change.
Developers of interactive media content, e.g. game developers, may target a particular client computing platform having known graphics capabilities and/or known computing power. In some case, game developers may target different types of client computing platforms, such that the targeted platforms may be distinguished in two, three, or more levels. For example, a particular video game may be targeted to both a particular high-end client computing platform having state-of-the-art graphics capabilities and industry-leading amounts of computing power, as well as a low-end client computing platform having less advanced graphics capabilities and a modest amount of computing power. For example, the high-end platform may be the latest PlayStation™ and the low-end platform may be an outdated Android™ smartphone. To target both platforms for a new video game, game developers may decide on a first set of lighting features for the high-end platform and a second set of lighting features for the low-end platform.


The present disclosure generally relates to providing accurate and real-time insights into abnormal entities and activities using machine learning algorithms. An exemplary computer-enabled method comprises receiving a set of input data, wherein the set of input data is associated with an entity; automatically obtaining, based on the received set of input data, a set of derived data, wherein the set of derived data is associated with the entity; obtaining, based on the set of derived data, a plurality of feature values corresponding to a plurality of features; providing the plurality of feature values to an autoencoder-decoder to obtain a plurality of feature-specific reconstruction errors; selecting, based on the plurality of feature-specific reconstruction errors, one or more features from the plurality of features; outputting the selected one or more features and one or more textual descriptions associated with the selected one or more features.

Current technologies for detecting abnormal entities (e.g., merchants) and activities (e.g., transactions) in the merchant processing industry are generally inefficient, inaccurate, and costly. For example, some institutions maintain a large number of staff to monitor and analyze various transactions to uncover abnormal activities or patterns of activity. This can be prohibitively expensive, as the analysis requires decades of experience and constant vigilance.
Some institutions adopt computer programs designed to detect abnormal entities and transactions using rule-sets. For example, some underwriting and risk management platforms and services in the ISO/MSP-Bank industry operate on custom, rule-based queues and flagging systems. However, because fraudulent activities are constantly evolving and taking on new forms, rule-sets implemented by computer software need to be constantly updated and thus can quickly become cumbersome and overly complex.
Further, both the manual approach and the rule-based approach are error-prone, as both approaches can produce high false-positive rates and low-accuracy due to bias. Due to the lack of accuracy and efficiency in existing approaches, as well as the highly regulated and slow moving nature of the merchant processing industry in terms of new technology adoption, little innovation has been done in this field. Since it is common for companies in this space to have millions of transactions without having a large staff or proper tools to monitor and evaluate their risk, many companies are forced to simply be reactive instead of proactive.
Accordingly, there is a need for an accurate, efficient, and cost-effective platform for detecting abnormal entities and activities that goes beyond preprogrammed rule-sets and is not susceptible to biases. Further, there is a need for such a platform to provide actionable insights and recommendations for any detected abnormality, rather than simply indicating that abnormality has been detected.

Platform for detecting abnormal entities and activities using machine learning algorithms


A method and apparatus for defeating high-velocity projectiles. A plurality of disks of equal size comprised of fiber induced ceramic composites are provided. The disks are laid out in an imbricated pattern row by row such that each disk in a row is in substantially a straight line with the other disks in the row and overlaps a segment of a disk in an adjacent row. The imbricated pattern is then adhered to a flexible, high tensile strength substrate and overlaid by a second high tensile strength layer such that the imbricated pattern is enveloped between the substrate and the second layer. The envelope is then coupled to a soft body armor backing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to protective wear. More specifically, the invention relates to flexible body armor designed to defeat high-velocity projectiles.
2. Background
Advances in body armor are frequently related to development of improved materials from which the armor is formed. In recent years, ballistic resistant materials formed from high tensile strength fibers, such as aramid fibers or polyethylene fibers, have gone into common use in the field. Unfortunately, soft body armor, even with these advanced materials, has proven insufficient to thwart even armor-piercing pistol ammunition, sharp thrusting implements, and circular penetrators, all of which are now in common use.
To address this problem, various hard metal plating systems have been developed. One such system employs a number of titanium disks one inch in diameter and having a uniform thickness in the range of 0.032-0.050 inches in thickness laid out in overlapping rows such that in the interior of a row, a disk overlaps its predecessor in the row and is overlapped by its successor in the row. Subsequent rows overlap their predecessor and are overlapped by their successor. The coin layout is then attached to a substrate such as adhesive impregnated aramid fabric. A second layer of adhesive impregnated aramid may be used to envelope the "plate" formed by the coins. This enveloped plate can be attached to conventional soft body armor over vital organs. It provides good flexibility and is thin enough to conceal.
While this overlapping of the coins has been shown to spread the force effectively to defeat most existing armor-piercing pistol rounds, sharp thrusting implements, and circular penetrators, unfortunately, rifle rounds continue to tear through this plating structure (even when set out in an imbricated pattern), as well as the underlying soft body armor like a hot knife through butter. Thus, for protection from rifle rounds, users have been required to employ large rigid plates to shield the vital organs. These large plates are heavy and inflexible, and generally uncomfortable to use. Additionally, they are next to impossible to use in a concealed manner. Efforts to employ the coin design with thicker disks have failed to yield a commercially viable product to defeat rifle rounds. Thicker disks result in less flexibility and do not lay out well. The result is a plating structure thicker, no more flexible, and heavier than the solid plates discussed above. Wearer comfort is also a premium concern in body armor production. Accordingly, these limitations make such a structure impractical as a commercial product.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have a flexible armoring system that would defeat high-velocity projectiles, such as rifle rounds.

Method and apparatus for defeating ballistic projectiles

American Development Group International, LLC


A PGA socket including a plurality of sub-socket components, which when used in combination forms a larger effective socket, includes multiple apertures configured to receive corresponding pins of an IC. The PGA socket further includes multiple contact members, each of the contact members corresponding to a respective one of the apertures. The contact members are configured to movably engage corresponding pins of the IC upon respective movement of the apertures so as to provide electrical and mechanical contact thereto. Each of the sub-socket components is configured to mechanically engage at least one of the other sub-socket components such that the contact members in each of the sub-socket components are capable of electrically connecting to corresponding pins of the IC substantially simultaneously.

Pin grid arrays (PGAs) are commonly used in the microelectronics industry, for example, for connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board or printed wiring board, utilizing pins in an area under the module that plug into a corresponding socket on the printed circuit board. Alternatively, the module may utilize a socket in an area under the module which is adapted for receiving corresponding pins mounted on the printed circuit board. PGAs are commonly, although not always, referred to as zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors. The term "ZIF connector" generally refers to a socket arrangement wherein when the socket is open, a chip may be placed in the socket without any pressure at all, and when the socket is then closed, the contacts of the socket grip the pins of the chip. Micro-PGA sockets typically refer to a PGA socket configured having a pin spacing, also referred to as pin pitch or simply pitch, between adjacent pins that is about 1.27 millimeters (mm) or less.
Micro-PGAs are often preferred to other types of area array sockets, such as, for example, land grid arrays (LGAs), primarily because assembly and disassembly are much easier and do not require actuating hardware with posts that extend through the printed circuit board. PGA sockets are often soldered to the printed circuit board in a surface mounted fashion. The module typically has pins extending downward. In a ZIF arrangement, the module and socket on the PCB are typically brought together such that the pins are inserted all at once into corresponding contact holes in the PGA socket, and then the socket contacts are brought into electrical and physical contact with the pins using a mechanism that moves a top plane of the socket laterally, thereby engaging each pin to the respective electrical connection at that grid location.
Most high input/output (I/O) count chip modules (e.g., greater than about 100 pins) currently use a 1.00 mm pitch to interconnect to the printed circuit board, either by soldering, as ball grid arrays (BGAs), or by socketing with LGAs. PGAs, in contrast, are most commonly used on smaller I/O modules and often at a 1.27 mm pitch, PGA suppliers are now attempting to fabricate PGA sockets that have a large I/O count at a 1.00 mm pitch, but are struggling to achieve a 50 mm×50 mm array size. Conventional interconnection methodologies appear to be approaching a natural limit based at least in part on characteristics of the injection molding process typically used to fabricate the plastic component parts. For example, injection molding parts with sufficient uniformity and flatness is difficult, in part because the large area of a 50 mm×50 mm array makes the transport of molten plastic from the injection ports to all mold areas difficult and in part from shrinkage and thermally induced stress across the array. This precludes making PGAs as a single molded piece for large substrates such as those currently serviced by LGAs with I/O pin counts greater than about 7000.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved PGA-type microelectronic interconnection capable of providing substantially large I/O pin counts (e.g., greater than about 7000) that does not suffer from one or more of the problems exhibited by conventional PGA-type area interconnections.

Pin grid array zero insertion force connectors configurable for supporting large pin counts

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus are provided. The method includes detecting a conflicting option that is impossible to be set simultaneously with a plurality of options selected for a job of the image forming apparatus, reflecting the detected conflicting option to display an option setting screen for the job of the image forming apparatus, and if a conflicting option is selected on the displayed option setting screen, displaying an option list user interface (UI) window in an area of the displayed option setting screen, wherein the option list UI window includes a replaceable option that replaces an option that is impossible to be set simultaneously with the conflicting option.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that easily solves conflicting options that are impossible to be simultaneously set among a plurality of options selected for a job of the image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus refers to an apparatus that prints printing data on a recording medium like a copier, a printer, a fax machine, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that may functions as more than one device.
A MFP provides various functions such as copying, faxing, scanning, printing, etc. and may provide a screen for selecting various options related to performance of the various functions.
However, the selected options may include a-conflicting options that are impossible to be simultaneously set. The MFP is not capable of performing a function as an image forming apparatus. Therefore, if there are conflicting options that are impossible to be simultaneously set in a plurality of options selected for a job of the image forming apparatus, a method of appropriately solving this is required.

Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus


A low power method and apparatus for selecting operational modes of a circuit. One circuit according to the teachings of the disclosed method and apparatus includes a first current limiting circuit coupled between a selector terminal and a first voltage bus. The first current limiting circuit is adapted to vary a current limit out of the selector terminal in response to a voltage on the selector terminal. The circuit also includes a second current limiting circuit coupled between the selector terminal and a second voltage bus. The second current limiting circuit adapted to vary a current limit into the selector terminal in response to the voltage on the selector terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more specifically, the present invention relates to integrated circuits that are controllers for switching power supplies.
2. Background Information
It is well known that the use of integrated circuits to replace discrete components in electronic circuits can reduce the cost and size of electronic systems. The use of integrated circuits also reduces the power required to operate those systems. A category of electronic systems that benefits from the use of integrated circuits is electronic power supplies. The parameters of cost, size, and power consumption are especially important in application of these systems. Switching power supplies are of particular interest to designers of electronic systems because the highest performance is generally achieved with switching power supply technology.
To realize the goals of systems designers, integrated circuits for switching power supplies should have options that allow them to be used in a variety of different applications. The integrated circuits should require as few discrete components as possible, and they should consume the lowest possible power in operation. An example of a desirable option is the ability to select different switching frequencies so that an optimal design can be achieved for different applications of a single integrated circuit. The package of the integrated circuit should also have as few terminals as possible to minimize cost.

Method and apparatus for robust mode selection with low power consumption


A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a feeding device for feeding a sheet, a regulating member for regulating a position of a lateral edge of the sheet fed by the feeding device, a first rotary member adapted to feed the sheet fed by the feeding device while urging the lateral edge of the sheet against the regulating member, a second rotary member adapted to feed the sheet fed by the first rotary member while urging the lateral edge of the sheet against the regulating member, and a guide device for guiding the sheet in such a manner that the sheet is curved between the feeding device and the first rotary member. An urging force of the first rotary member by which the sheet is urged against the regulating member is set to be equal to or smaller than an urging force of the second rotary member by which the sheet is urged against the regulating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus used with an image forming system such as a copying machine, printer, facsimile, word processor and the like, or other equipments utilizing sheets. More particularly, it relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet (transfer sheet, photosensitive sheet, electrostatic recording sheet, print sheet, OHP sheet, envelope, post card, sheet original or the like) rested in a sheet containing portion such as a sheet supply cassette one by one to a sheet receiving portion such as an image forming station, exposure station, treating station or the like with a one-side reference.
2. Related Background Art
For convenience' sake, the related art will be described with reference to examples of laser beam printers shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C.
FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C show laser beam printers having sheet paths, i.e., sheet feeding paths (extending from a sheet containing portion to a sheet ejecting portion) of straight type, U-shaped type and S-shaped type, respectively.
The printer having the sheet path of straight or linear type as shown in FIG. 11A has a sheet supply cassette inlet 51 formed in a side surface of a frame 50 of the printer, and a sheet ejection opening 62 formed in the other side surface of the frame. A sheet supply cassette (sheet containing portion) 52 is mounted within the inlet 51, and an ejection tray 63 is mounted within the ejection opening 62 and extends outwardly therefrom. When a sheet supply signal is emitted, a sheet supply roller 53 is rotated to afford a feeding force to an uppermost sheet (recording medium) P on a sheet stack rested in the sheet supply cassette 52, thereby separating the uppermost sheet from the other sheets with the aid of separating pawls 54 and feeding the sheet into the printer.
The fed sheet is conveyed between guide plates 55, 56 and through a path (sheet path) including a pair of register rollers 57, on image transferring portion 58, a conveyer belt device 59, an image fixing device 60, ejector rollers 61 and the ejection opening 62, whereby the sheet on which an image was formed (print) is ejected on the ejection tray 63.
An electrophotographic photosensitive member of drum type (referred to as "photosensitive drum" hereinafter) 64 is driven at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) around its own axis in a clockwise direction and is provided at its peripheral surface with a photosensitive body consisting of an organic or inorganic photoconductive layer. The reference numeral 65 denotes a charger for uniformly charging the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum with the predetermined potential having a predetermined polarity; 66 denotes a beam scanner for scanning and exposing the charged surface of the photosensitive drum to write the aimed information thereon; 66a denotes a beam reflection mirror; 67 denotes a developing device for developing, with toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum surface by the exposure; 68 denotes a transfer roller acting as a transfer means for transferring the toner image on the drum surface to the recording sheet P; and 69 denotes a cleaning device for cleaning the drum surface after the toner image is transferred to the recording sheet.
Since the principle and process for forming the image is well known, the explanation thereof will be omitted. Incidentally, in the illustrated printer, the photosensitive drum 64, charger 65, developing device 67 and cleaning device 69 are constituted as a single removable process cartridge 70.
In this printer, the sheet path extending from the sheet supply cassette 52 to the ejection tray (sheet ejecting portion) 63 is substantially straight, so that the reliability of the sheet feeding operation is increased. However, since the sheet supply cassette 52 and the sheet ejection tray 63 are protruded from both sides of the printer frame outwardly, the installation space for the printer will be greatly increased.
In order to reduce the substantial installation space of a printer, there has been proposed laser beam printers having sheet paths of U-shaped type or S-shaped type, as shown in FIG. 11B or FIG. 11C.
The printer having the sheet path of U-shaped type as shown in FIG. 11B has a sheet supply cassette inlet 51 and a sheet ejection opening 62 and is designed so that a sheet supply cassette 52 is wholly inserted into the printer from the inlet 51 and a recording sheet P supplied from the cassette by means of a sheet supply roller 53 is inverted by inversion guides 71a, 71b and convey rollers 72a, 72b to direct the sheet toward a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction from the cassette 52 above the latter and is fed through a path including an image transferring portion 58, a conveyer belt device 59, an image fixing device 60, ejector rollers 61 and the ejection opening 62 and then is ejected onto an ejection tray 63. With this arrangement, since only the ejection tray 63 is protruded from the printer outwardly, the installation space for the printer is reduced in comparison with that for the printer of FIG. 11A.
On the other hand, the printer having the sheet path of S-shaped type as shown in FIG. 11C is designed similar to the printer of FIG. 11B, but the sheet ejected from the ejector rollers 61 is inverted again upwardly by an invertion guide 73 to be ejected onto an ejection tray 75 formed on a top plate of the printer by means of second ejector rollers 74. With this arrangement, since there is no member or element protruding from the printer outwardly, the installation space for the printer is further reduced in comparison with that for the printer of FIG. 11B.
Although the installation space for the printer can be reduced by forming the sheet path as the U-shaped configuration (FIG. 11B) or S-shaped configuration (FIG. 11C), the height of the printer will be increased in comparison with that of the printer having the straight sheet path as shown in FIG. 11A. To eliminate this drawback, there has been proposed to reduce the radii of the inversion guides as long as possible.
However, if the radii of the inversion guides are reduced, for example, in an inverting portion C in FIG. 11B, the sheet will be clogged or slacked between the inversion guides 71a, 71b due to the difference in speed between the convey rollers 72a, 72b, thus worsening the reliability of the feeding operation. Further, in the image forming system, when the recording sheet is not properly fed to the recording portion, the image formed on the recording sheet will be distorted.
Thus, there has been proposed that the sheet was fed by skew-feed rollers so that one lateral edge of the sheet was guided along a one-side feeding reference formed in an image forming system to prevent the skew-feed of the sheet. However, if the radii of the inversion guides for inverting the sheet are decreased, the skew-feed of the sheet will occur at the first skew-feed roller due to the feeding load in the inversion guide at a side opposite to the feeding reference side, thus damaging the edge of the sheet abutted against the one-side feeding reference.
Further, in view of the manufacturing technique, it is very difficult to completely coincide a position of a regulating member (formed on a sheet supply cassette) for regulating a lateral edge (at the reference side) of a recording sheet with a position of a feeding reference guide formed on an image forming system, with the result that the recording sheet will frequently be damaged. Explaining such inconvenience with reference to FIG. 12A, when the position of the regulating member 89 is deviated from the position of the feeding reference guide 90 by a distance .DELTA..sub.1, as the recording sheet 92 is fed while being biased toward a direction shown by the arrow by means of the skew-feed roller 91, the lateral edge of the sheet 92 will be bent or scratched at a position B in FIG. 12A.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the feeding reference guide 90 is displaced inwardly from the position of the regulating member 89 by a distance .DELTA..sub.2, a corner of a leading end of the recording sheet 92 will be struck against the feeding reference guide 90 at a position C in FIG. 12C, thus scratching that corner.