An adjustable utility wire-holding apparatus includes a partitioned pole which includes top, middle and bottom segments detachably connected to each other along an end-to-end pattern respectively. The apparatus further includes a base member, and a mechanism for freely rotating at least one of the top, middle and bottom segments. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for freely articulating the base member about the longitudinal axis while the middle and top segments remain statically disposed at a stationary position, and a mechanism for selectively biasing the base member between aligned and unaligned positions such that the base member becomes oriented along a single axis defined along a horizontal plane registered orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to wires and, more particularly, to a utility wire-holding apparatus for preventing an existing utility wire from being inadvertently torn down by an existing construction vehicle at a construction site.
2. Prior Art
During the course of constructing a new building or residence it is necessary to have a reliable supply of electricity in order to operate certain tools and machinery. As such, one often finds utility wires coursing their way about the construction site. Unfortunately, these wires are not easily seen if one is not specifically looking for them, thus it is not uncommon that utility wires inadvertently become torn or disconnected by personnel operating machinery and the like. This can cause majors hassles and significant delays in the construction of the structure. Obviously, it would be advantageous to provide a means for placing such utility wires and the like out of harms way.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,344 to Johnson discloses a pole for supporting utility lines, and the like is made of pultruded composites. In one embodiment, an interior lattice of composite members forms an elongated open-celled beam which is enclosed in a preferably composite outer skin. In another embodiment pole side panels are pultruded to define interlocking edges so they can be laid parallel to define an enclosure with the edges interfitting. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be used on any construction site.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,946 to Davis discloses a pole top extension assembly for mounting a wooden extension bayonet having a rectangular cross section to the flattened top of a cylindrical wooden utility pole. The pole top extension assembly comprising a pair of bracket members each having leg portions extending downwardly from the top of the wooden utility pole, and each bracket member further having a matingly inter-engageable portion which couples the said bracket members together over the top of the pole. At least one of said bracket members includes a rectangular collar opening upwardly to receive a bayonet member therein, with said rectangular collar having two pairs of opposite side walls oriented, respectively, substantially parallel and perpendicular to said leg portions. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not keep utility wires raised to an elevated position in order to keep construction vehicles from accidentally tearing them down.
Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The adjustable utility wire-holding apparatus is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for preventing an existing utility wire from being inadvertently torn down by an existing construction vehicle at a construction site. The apparatus is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use.

Utility wire-holding apparatus and associated method


A light-sensitive composition comprising a diazonium compound and a polymer binder wherein the polymer binder comprises structural units represented by the following formula (I); ##STR1## wherein X represents a single bond, an ester bond or an amide bond; and Y represents a polymer group comprising structural units represented by the following formula (II); ##STR2## where Z represents ##STR3## R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represent hydrogen atom or methyl group; R.sup.2 and R represent a single bond or a divalent bridging group; and R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 represent hydrogen atom or optionally substituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and R.sup.7 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms. The present light-sensitive composition exhibits extremely enhanced sensitivity and hence gives sufficient image formation with a short light exposure time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-sensitive composition suitable for producing a presensitized plate for use in making lithographic printing plates (hereinafter referred to as "PS plate(s)"), IC circuits, photomasks or the like and more particularly to a negative working light-sensitive composition comprising a diazonium compound and a polymer binder, which exhibits improved sensitivity on light exposure.
2. Prior Art
Most of the light-sensitive compounds used in negative working light-sensitive compositions are diazonium compounds and most commonly used are diazo resins such as a condensate of p-diazodiphenylamine and formaldehyde.
The light-sensitive composition for producing light-sensitive layers of PS plates can be classified into two groups, one of which simply comprises diazo resins, in other words those free of binders as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,066 and the other of which comprises both diazo resins and binders as disclosed in Japanese Patent Un-examined Publication (hereafter referred to as "J. P. KOKAI") No. Sho 50-30604. However, recently, most of the light-sensitive layers of the PS plates comprise diazonium compounds and polymers serving as binders for the purpose of imparting high printing durability to the plates.
As such a light-sensitive layer, there have been known so-called alkali-developable ones whose unexposed portions are removed (or developed) with an aqueous alkaline developer as disclosed in J. P. KOKAI No. Sho 50-30604 and so-called solvent-developable ones whose unexposed portions are removed (or developed) with an organic solvent type developer, but the former has become of major interest recently from the viewpoint of safety in operation and health of operators. Such development types of the light-sensitive layer are determined principally depending on properties of binders used. As the method for making the binders alkali-soluble, there have been known a method as disclosed in J. P. KOKAI No. Sho 50-30604 which comprises copolymerizing carboxyl group-containing monomers to obtain such a binder and a method as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,058 which comprises reacting hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol with a cyclic acid anhydride such as phthalic acid anhydride to introduce carboxyl groups into the resultant polymers.
However, light-sensitive compositions comprising such polymers cannot have enough sensitivity to produce a sufficiently acceptable image with a short light exposure time.

Light-sensitive composition comprising a diazonium compound and a macromer as the polymeric binder


A system and method for calculating memory addresses in a partitioned memory in a processing system having a processing unit, input and output units, a program sequencer and an external interface. An address calculator includes a set of storage elements, such as registers, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a memory address of a vector element dependent upon values stored in the storage elements and the address of a previous vector element. The storage elements hold STRIDE, SKIP and SPAN values and optionally a TYPE value, relating to the spacing between elements in the same partition, the spacing between elements in the consecutive partitions, the number of elements in a partition and the size of a vector element, respectively.

Many new applications being planned for mobile devices (multimedia, graphics, image compression/decompression, etc.) involve a high percentage of vector computations. One limitation on the computation rate of these applications is the speed of accessing vector or matrix data stored in memory.
One approach to accessing vector data is to specify the starting address in memory of the data, the size of each data element (in bits) and the separation between consecutive data elements (the "stride"). This approach allows sequential data to be accessed, but cannot be used where the elements are not separated by a constant amount. So, for example, the approach cannot be used if parts of a data vector are stored in different memory partitions. For example, a two-dimensional image may be stored in consecutive memory locations, one row at a time. The memory addresses of a data vector representing a sub-block are not separated by an equal amount.
A further approach, which has application to the processing of sparse data matrices, is to generate vectors specifying the locations of the non-zero matrix elements in memory. While this method provides the flexibility required for specialized Finite Element calculations, it is more complex than required for most multimedia applications on portable devices.
A still further approach uses L1 and L2 memory caches to speed memory access. The data is pre-fetched in blocks defining the starting address, block size, block count, stride and stride modifier. The stride modifier allows diagonal elements of a data matrix to be accessed. However, the approach cannot be used unless the data elements are separated by a constant amount. Further, the approach does not allow for data access to start part way through a block without modifying the block structure.

Method and apparatus for addressing a vector of elements in a partitioned memory using stride, skip and span values


A computer-implemented method performed by a server including obtaining a stream of live data comprising a plurality of segments; storing the plurality of segments to form a recorded stream; transmitting the plurality of segments as a near-live feed to one or more nodes in a network; transmitting the recorded stream to another node in the network; and transitioning from transmission to the another node of the recorded stream to the near-live feed, the transmission comprising: delaying transmission of the near-live feed to the another node until a new segment of the stream of live data is obtained.

Video on demand (VOD) and audio on demand technologies allow users to select and view/listen to video or audio content at their convenience. On demand systems can be implemented to stream content, which allows a user to view/listen as the content is being streamed, or to download content to a device, such as a computer or digital video recorder (DVR), for viewing/listening at any time. Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer VOD streaming, whereby a user buys or selects video content and it begins to play almost instantaneously, and/or downloading to a DVR for viewing in the future. VOD streaming is a one-way video transmission over a data network, including the Internet, used to play video dips and video broadcasts. Unlike VOD downloading, whereby movie files are played after the entire file has been downloaded and stored, VOD streaming enables videos to be played shortly after only a small amount of content has been received.
A DVR is a device that records video and audio content in a digital format to a disk drive or other memory medium within the device. DVRs include software for personal computers which enables video content capture and playback to and from the memory medium. DVRs can provide the user with functionality, including play, pause, stop, fast-forward and rewind. Such functionality can enable a user to pause a live video content stream for viewing at a later time. Alternatively, a user can record the live video content stream using the DVR and can playback the recorded video content at any time. DVR functionalities also include enabling a user to seek backwards and forwards within the content stream to view previously played and yet unplayed content.

Transmitting datastreams to late joining broadcast subscribers


There are disclosed an apparatus for and method of electronically balancing a machine for extracting fluids out of a load of liquid absorbent goods received in a rotatable drum by detecting the magnitude and location of the imbalanced load and injecting a balancing fluid into hollow balancing compartments, located within the drum, until the magnitude of the imbalanced load reaches a permissible level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a machine including a rotatable drum for extracting liquid out of liquid absorbent goods received in the drum during rotation of the drum at high speeds. Specifically, this invention relates to improvements in such machines having systems for at least partially balancing the drum to correct imbalances due to unequal distribution of goods about its inner circumference.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a machine of this type, typically a washer/extractor, the drum is contained in a housing which is supported by a frame. The drum rotates about its axis at relatively slow speeds during the initial cycles of washing and at high speeds during a final cycle in order to extract the liquid from the goods. The lower speeds range from less than 20 to 65 revolutions per minute (rpms) while the high speeds can reach in excess of 1,000 rpms.
Most machines are designed to withstand the unavoidable vibration due to the high speed revolution of the drum. During such high speeds, liquid absorbent goods are plastered against the side of the rotating drum. Very rarely are the goods evenly distributed about the drum. Thus, an unequal distribution of weight will create an imbalance which can over time cause severe damage to the washer/extractor including the structure supporting the housing and the mechanism rotating the drum.
Several attempts have been made to compensate for the imbalance to prevent damage to the machine in rigid mount models. The difficulties associated with finding a solution for the imbalance problem include identifying the magnitude of an imbalance, identifying the location of the imbalance in the rotating drum, and offsetting the imbalance during the extraction process.
One such attempt is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,534,267/268/269, Kahn, et al wherein the drum includes three inwardly directed hollow ribs, which are spaced about the drum to function not only as lifters for tumbling the goods, but also as balancing compartments for receiving a balancing fluid. Balancing fluid is independently injected into each compartment by balancing fluid injection valves that are selectively activated to inject balancing fluids into the respective compartments to compensate for any imbalance.
These Kahn systems utilize a magnetic vibration pick up device to determine the magnitude of an imbalance during an extraction cycle. This device is a fixed reference device in that part of it is mounted on the vibrating housing or frame supporting the drum, while the other part is mounted at a point which is fixed relative to the vibrating frame. A distributor disk or commutator whose rotation is synchronized with that of the rotating drum is used to identify the location of the imbalance. A solenoid or actuation mechanism of the balancing fluid injection valve is actuated by the simultaneous receipt of signals from the magnetic vibration pick up device and the distributor disk.
One problem with the Kahn system is expansion and contraction of cooperating parts of the vibration pick up device due to wear, settling, and temperature changes, necessitating constant adjustments. Another problem with this system is that the energizing means actuates the balancing fluid injection valve with each revolution of the drum. Balancing fluid passes through the valve during the entire revolution of the drum even though the valve is only actuated for a short time during the revolution because the mechanical response time closing the valve is slower than the electrical response time. The service life of the valve is significantly reduced by wear on the valve due to the repeated actuation of the valve during each rotation of the drum.
Yet another problem associated with the Kahn system is that it is inflexible with respect to choosing which balance compartments are actuated and when they are actuated. Once the system is designed and constructed, only specific injectors are activated relative to certain imbalances. If a user finds that different injectors should be actuated or that more than one should be actuated at a time, he cannot do this without significantly changing the system.
Still another problem is that the balancing system provides no way to terminate the extraction process if the imbalance exceeds permissible limits. Sometimes an imbalance reaches a level incapable of being balanced by the balancing system, at which point the speed of the machine should be reduced so the liquid absorbent goods can be redistributed around the drum to avoid damage to the machine.
Finally, the sensitivity and accuracy of the Kahn system is limited to the resolution of the commutator which has a cam operated switch for each of the balancing valves. For example, when an imbalance is not directly opposite a rib, two ribs will simultaneously be injected. Whereas, if the imbalance is directly located opposite a rib, only that rib will be injected. The accuracy of this process is dependent on the sensitivity of these mechanical switches.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,962, Starr discloses a machine having a system designed to overcome some of the problems of the Kahn systems. It has a mechanical vibration sensing device incorporating a fluid filled container, mounted in a fixed position relative to the vibrating frame, and closed on one side by one moveable member positioned to be displaced by vibrations of the drum and on the other side by a second moveable member displacement which actuates a mechanical switch. This mechanical vibration sensing device also incorporates an orifice (placed below a reservoir) which prevents slow movements of the vibration detection side from actuating the mechanical switch, while high speed motions would be transmitted, due to the viscosity of fluid in the container. As a result the unit is self compensating for wear, settling, and environmental changes and therefore does not require constant adjustment. Although a commercially successful modification of the machine disclosed in the Kahn patent, the latter machine nevertheless suffers from at least certain of the problems mentioned above. In addition, its sensing device requires several additional mechanical parts which can fail over time.
Additionally, the housings of the machines described in Kahn and Starr are rigidly mounted so whatever residual imbalance remains in the machine after the balance sequence is transmitted to the structure supporting the frame. Thus, installation of these machines is limited to structurally sound environments. Later, the machine of the Starr patent was further modified to flexibly support its housing, wherein the housing becomes a spring supported mass, in order to isolate the vibration so the machines were capable of being installed in less structurally sound environments.
In a rigid mount machine, the amount of excursion of the frame relative to a fixed position in space is linear with respect to the vibration force created. On the other hand, a flexibly supported machine undergoes a transition where the spring supported mass system experiences a resonant condition as the rotating drum accelerates from the lower speed ranges to the higher speed ranges. This resonant condition produces excursions which are extreme compared to the movements of a rigid mount machine. Even after the machine accelerates through its resonant frequency (at approximately 100 rpm) the amount of excursion of the spring supported mass relative to a fixed point in space is far greater than that of a rigidly mounted machine.
Since the fixed reference, vibration sensing mechanisms in both the Kahn and Starr machines were designed to measure very small displacements that occur in the rigid mount system, excursions generated in a flexibly supported machine would destroy them. Thus, the fixed reference device of the modified Starr machine has required complex changes.
It is the primary object of this invention to provide a machine of the type described, and particularly one in which the housing is flexibly mounted, in which these and other problems are overcome.
Another object is to provide such a machine having a balancing system which is of such construction that large initial excursions may be detected in a simple and inexpensive manner and without risk of damage.
A further object is to provide such a machine having a balancing system in which the proper balancing compartments are determined and then filled in such a manner as to reduce wear on the parts of the system as well as to reduce the number and likelihood of malfunctions of the parts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a machine having an improved balancing system which prevents damage to the machine when the load cannot be balanced because the imbalance exceeds a maximum allowable level.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a machine having an improved balancing system where the choice of which and when balancing ribs are injected with fluid is not limited to the mechanical constraints of the machine.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a machine having an improved, more accurate and sensitive balancing system.

Centrifugal extracting machine having balancing system


An apparatus for controlling electric field distribution is provided, where the apparatus includes at least one portion of a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device includes a plurality of wireless communication functions respectively corresponding to different communication standards, and the plurality of wireless communication functions includes a mobile phone function and at least one other wireless communication function. The apparatus includes: a main antenna, connected to a first side of a PCB of the portable electronic device, for performing the mobile phone function; and a plurality of short trace structures, positioned at the first side of the PCB and connected to the PCB, wherein at least one of the plurality of short trace structures is selectively utilized as at least one short trace or utilized as at least one secondary antenna corresponding to the at least one other wireless communication function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to radiation control of a portable electronic device, and more particularly, to an apparatus for controlling electric field distribution.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the electronic circuit technology continues to develop in recent years, a variety of wireless communication functions are widely implemented in many applications. Therefore, the radiation control for these wireless communication functions becomes a very popular topic. Certain regions and countries of large product sales tend to have some regulations for products on the market. For instance, the product with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification should comply with the relevant specifications when on the market. Similarly, the product labeled with Conformité Européenne (CE) should comply with relevant regulations when on the market.
According to the related art, the typical examples of the radiation-related indicators include: indicators of radiation energy absorbed by the body, especially the so-called specific absorption rate (referred to as "SAR value" hereinafter); and indicators of radiation energy interfering with hearing aids, especially the so-called hearing aid compatibility (referred to as "HAC value" hereinafter), wherein the measurement results of the SAR value and the HAC value tend to be affected by the total radiated power (referred to as "TRP value") in the wireless devices over the air performance (referred to as "OTA performance"), and the energy distribution of wireless devices.
The conventional solutions, such as reducing the OTA performance, attaching, using expensive absorbing materials or metal materials, etc., are frequently used in a variety of wireless devices to satisfy the related specifications of the HAC value and the SAR value, especially to enhance the HAC value and to reduce the SAR value. The conventional solutions often cause side effects, for example, resulting in poor communication quality, increasing cost and reducing design flexibility. Therefore, there is a need for a novel architecture for controlling surface current distribution of a wireless device to improve the performance of the wireless device in the HAC value and the SAR value by concentrating the electric field distribution of wireless devices on the antenna region.

Apparatus for controlling electric field distribution by utilizing short trace structures

Guangming District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A system enabling one or more persons to control one or more wireless electromechanical devices located in remote locations. The system includes a first personal computer (10) equipped with an internet connection. The first personal computer uses a web browser with a graphical control panel that enables the user to input control requests, and that includes an animated representation of the electromechanical device(s) such that the user can instantly see the anticipated behavior of the electromechanical device. Control signals are sent via the internet to a server (30) which in turn forwards the signals to one or more second computers (50). The second computer(s) transforms the information and sends behavioral signals to a transmitter (100) via a USB link (60). The wireless transmitter sends the signals to a wireless receiver (200) which is connected to an electromechanical device (300). In this manner, a plurality of electromechanical devices can be controlled by one or more persons located in multiple remote locations.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the remote control of electromechanical devices using control signals that are created on any device having a web browser, transmitted via a communications network, received by computer, which in turn sends the control signals via wireless link to a remote controlled electromechanical device.
2. Prior Art
Because this invention draws upon several different technologies, each will be discussed separately. At the conclusion of this section, the reader will be able to review the discussion of the few inventions that most closely resemble the one set forth here.
Topic 1—Radio Controlled Devices
There is a significant body of prior art which describes the remote control of an electromechanical device using radio waves as the medium to transport control signals. Typically these involve a set of servos and or motors that operate a battery powered mechanical device such as a miniature car or toy plane. The behavior of the mechanical device is remotely controlled by a portable battery powered control unit. Both the mechanical device and the control panel are equipped with an antenna. Control signals are created by manually adjusting a variety of knobs, levers, and switches on the control panel. The control panel converts these behavioral requests into analog signals and sends them via radio waves to the mechanical device. The mechanical device converts the radio waves into electrical signals which in turn control the servos and or motors that produce a behavior in the device.
Examples include:
US Class/U.S. Pat. No.TitleSubclass4,168,468Radio Motor Control System340/825.634,248,011Steering for RC Car446/4564,548,584Radio Controlled Mobile Device434/1185,481,257Remote Controlled Vehicle w/Camera340/825.695,609,312Model Helicopter244/17.195,762,533Toy Vehicle with adjustable wheels446/4665,816,352Remote Control Toy180/675,816,888Remote Controlled Vehicle446/456
All of these inventions, and the very many similar toys and devices available today, are highly limited in that:                1. in order to control the electromechanical device a person must have a physical control panel—meaning that control is not easily shared between a large number of people;        2. anyone using the control panel to control the electromechanical device must themselves be within a relatively short range (usually line of sight) of the device; and        3. the number of devices that an individual control panel can control is limited to the number of devices that can operate within the range of the transmitter.
In short, this control design does not scale to very large numbers of electromechanical devices, controllers, or human participants, and is also severely limited by distance.
Another significant limitation is the complexity of control signals that can be generated using a physical control panel. The signals that ultimately drive the actions of the remote controlled device are entered into the control panel using a variety of levers and switches. If the person controlling the device wants to repeat a particular set of actions, that person must repeat the physical act of moving the levers and switches on the control panel. In this manner, the user cannot "record" a set of behaviors for playback. Similarly, because the control information is generated and sent in real time, the user cannot record a complex set of commands at a slow speed and then "play-back" the set of signals at a higher speed.
In short, the control panel cannot remember what controls are being sent to the device, nor can it facilitate the entry of highly complex and numerous commands at a slower speed for playback at a higher speed.
Topic 2—Computer Controlled Children's Toys
Advances in industrial technology have created exciting opportunities for the development of new and interesting children's toys.
One example of an electromechanical children's toy is the suite of products marketed under the trade name "Mindstorms™" from the wonderful people at LEGO®. Lego Mindstorms include robotic and electromechanical control components that enable people to build robots. The control information, or programming, for these robots is done on a personal computer and then uploaded to the robot. This technique provides the robot with a set of behaviors that can be triggered by elements in the robot's surrounding environment. For example, a robot can be built that senses light or motion and then takes an action, like making a noise or firing a toy gun.
The heart of the LEGO system is the RCX microcontroller. The program for the chip is created on a personal computer using LEGO's proprietary programming code. This code is then sent from the computer using an infrared transmitter. An infrared receiver on the robot receives the program and stores it in the memory of the RCX microcontroller.
The RCX is connected to a variety to sensors on the robot. Sensors capture information about the environment and send the data to the RCX chip where it is processed. Based on the program running on the chip, the RCX will send out signals that in turn control motors, pneumatics, and other elements that make the robot behave in the desired way.
The Mindstorm products use an infrared beam of light to transmit information from the personal computer to the robot. Infrared communication has some significant limitations including:                1. very short range        2. a direct line of sight is required between sender and receiver because, unlike radio waves, light will not pass through walls or around corners
The Mindstorm products are not intended to be remotely controlled. Once the code is downloaded to the robot, it behaves in a completely autonomous manner. If the user wants to change the behavior of the device, she or he must return to the computer, rewrite the code, reload the code onto the robot, and then continue.
In addition to the LEGO example described above, there are several prior art examples of patents that combine personal computers and interactive toys. Examples include:
US Class/U.S. Pat. No.TitleSubclass4,548,584Computer controlled mobile device434/1184,846,693Video Based instructional entertainment434/308system using an animated figure5,636,994Interactive Computer Controlled doll434/3085,733,131Education/Entertainment device434/3075,746,602PC peripheral Internet Toy434/1695,752,880Wireless interactive doll463/15,977,951System and method for substituting345/156an animated character when a remotecontrol character is unavailable6,319,010PC peripheral interactive doll434/169
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,584 provides for "Computer control of a mobile device" where the device uses a micro-controller which in turn controls the motors and associated behavior of the device. Unlike the Lego product, the "Computer controlled mobile device" described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,584 remains tethered to the computer via a cable approximately of approximately "16 feet or 5 meters". U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,584 from the section entitled "Electrical/Electronic". This constant communication link between computer and device is in some respects an improvement over LEGO, however, the device is limited in that:                1. the range and mobility of the device is limited by the length of the cable;        2. only one person can control the device at a time;        3. the person controlling the device must be in the same room as the device; and        4. programming the device to perform tasks is accomplished by writing software and commands that can be interpreted by the microcontroller; and        5. the mobile device cannot be controlled from a web browser.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,693 describes a "video based instructional entertainment system" in which the eyes and mouth of an animated doll (such as a toy bear) move in response to audio signals. In this invention, a control box is connected to a conventional videocassette recorder. Electromechanical control signals are scripted to match actions and images in a movie or presentation. Both elements are encoded on video tape. When the tape is played in said cassette recorder, the control box interprets the control signals to control an attached doll. In this manner the illusion is created that the doll is having an animated conversation with the video image.
While this invention does suggest use of a keyboard that would provide local real-time control of the toy, this invention is limited in that:                1. a lack of wireless control limits the mobility of the doll        2. the control signals reside on a video tape or CD and do not provide for remote control        3. the solution does not provide for control of the device by a person in a different location        4. the device is not being directly controlled by a person and, as a result, can only execute pre-programmed actions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,994 describes an "interactive computer controlled doll" whereby a toy doll is connected to a computer. A computer program originates control signals that are in turn sent to a micro-controller which sends electromechanical control signals to various motors in a toy doll. "A program source such as a CD-ROM contains information which is processed by the computer." U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,994 from the section entitled "Abstract". In other words, the control signals are all predetermined and stored on media. The invention does suggest the use of a wireless communication link, however, all of the control signals originate from a locally hosted software program and not from a person. As a result, this invention has the following limitations:                1. control cannot be shared between a large number of people;        2. control cannot be easily shared between multiple computers;        3. this solution does not easily scale to control very large numbers of dolls in multiple remote locations; and        4. the doll cannot be controlled from a web browser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,131 describes an "education and entertainment device with dynamic configuration and operation" in which information about current events (weather, financial news, entertainment information) is sent via a Gaskill paging system or similar one-way communication link) to receivers embedded in dolls and/or small toys. This invention does provide for control signals to originate in a remote location and be sent to large numbers of devices. For example, a large number of "weather bears" will individually report the weather of the region in which they are located. U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,131 from the section entitled "Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment". In addition, this invention provides for individual devices to be remotely controlled in a limited fashion by human beings. More specifically, the invention suggests that a person could push buttons on a telephone requesting a particular behavior. The signal is then sent through the public switched telephone network and ultimately to the toy. The request could cause the device to enunciate a specific phrase (e.g. a parent reminds a child to do homework, brush teeth, go to bed) or demonstrate a physical behavior.
While this is a clever invention, it has the following weaknesses:                1. unlike the internet, the Gaskill paging system is a one-way communications link;        2. control of a single toy cannot be easily shared among a large number of people;        3. the individual generating the control signals has a very limited set of choices;        4. the control interface (phone) does not provide a visual representation of the actions of the toy;        5. the person controlling the toy does not know when their request is executed;        6. they cannot see the result of their request unless they can actually see the device being controlled; and        7. the device cannot be controlled from a web browser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,602 describes a "PC peripheral interactive doll" for teaching and educating a child using an interactive doll with a wireless link to a personal computer. In this invention, scripted data is stored on a computer. The doll captures feedback from the child and sends information back to the PC. The software running on the PC determines what actions should be taken and then transmits motion and action scripts that drive additional subsequent behavior of the toy. The patent does suggest that the toy could have "access to mass storage devices and remote databanks through digital and analog communication links" U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,602 from the section entitled "Background of the invention". While this implies access to remote databases via the internet, the local computer that is connected to the toy is the entity controlling the toy. The patent describes an alternate embodiment in which the computer receives audio signals from a person on a telephone in a remote location, but it does not describe a graphical interface that could be used by a person or persons for controlling the toy from afar. As a result, this invention has the following limitations:                1. control cannot be shared between a large number of people;        2. control cannot be easily shared between multiple computers;        3. it does not scale to provide control of large numbers of devices situated in multiple remote locations;        4. the invention does not allow for the person controlling the device to have fine grain control over the physical behavior of the toy; and        5. the doll cannot be controlled from a web browser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,880 describes an "Interactive Doll" where two toys are controlled by a computer system via radio (wireless) links. In this invention multiple toys respond to a plurality of input techniques including voice command and the use of a graphical interface. While this system allows for the control of multiple devices using a graphical interface it does not provide for remote control via the computer networks nor does it include the sharing of control between people in multiple remote locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,951 provides a "System and method for substituting an animated character when a remote control physical character is unavailable". This computer based system provides for an on-screen animated replica of a remote control device as a back-up when the remote control device becomes unavailable, but does not directly relate to the remote control of a wireless device via the internet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,010 describes a "PC peripheral interactive doll" where a toy doll is connected to a computer. A computer program originates control signals that are in turn sent to a micro-controller which sends electromechanical control signals to various motors in a toy doll. These motors, in turn, cause the toy doll to move. While "data and routines available from the Internet are made available to the interactive doll," U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,010 from the section entitled "Description of the Preferred Embodiment". the control of the doll resides with the software. The device is not remotely controlled, but is controlled by the PC to which it is connected. Because the original control information is generated by a software program and not by a person in real time, this invention has the following limitations:
1. a person or individual cannot directly control the doll;
2. control cannot be shared between a large number of people;
3. control cannot be easily shared between multiple computers;
4. the responses of the toy are predetermined; and
5. the doll cannot be controlled from a web browser.
German Patent DE 3009-040 describes a device for adding the capability to transmit sound from a remote control to a controlled model vehicle. The sound is generated by means of a microphone or a tape recorder and transmitted to the controlled model vehicle by means of radio communications. The model vehicle is equipped with a speaker that emits the received sounds.
Topic 3—Robotics and Computer Controlled Puppetry
Robotics is another area that blends electromechanical control and computers. The following U.S. patents deal with systems that are used for computer driven control of electromechanical devices:
U.S. Pat. No.TitleUS Class/Subclass4,825,136Mimetic function simulator318/568.15,493,185Method for animating a motorized318/3puppet
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,136 discloses an apparatus for controlling a doll based upon storage and reproduction of analog and digital recorded signals. An attached recording device records, stores, and then transmits the electromechanical control signals that control servos on a puppet. Control cords connect the doll to the recording and playback device. This invention has several shortfalls. Specifically the invention does not:
1. provide wireless control of the device;
2. scale to large numbers of persons who want to share control of the puppet;
3. scale to control very large numbers of puppets;
4. scale to control puppets located in multiple locations; nor does it
5. allow the doll to controlled using a web browser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,185 describes a "method for animating motor driven puppets (and the like) and apparatus for implementing the method". This invention provides the capability for a puppeteer to control multiple devices by remote control, whether wireless or by cable. The invention allows for the combination of both preprogrammed and spontaneous human generated control signals as well as for the recording and playback of complex tasks. While an improvement over the prior art, this invention has several shortfalls including:                1. because control signals originate with the computer connected to the puppet(s), the number of people who can control the puppet is limited to the number of people who can use the single computer. As a result, control of the puppet is not easily shared amongst a large number of people;        2. the invention does not easily scale to control very large numbers of devices located in multiple locations; and        3. the invention does not allow for the puppets to be controlled from a web browser.Topic 4—Telepresence/Telerobitics
There are several examples of prior art that enable the remote control of a device from a great distance. The following prior art examples describe various means by which an electromechanical device can be controlled from a remote location.
The "Robotic Arm Project" at the University of Australia maintains a robotic arm that can be remotely controlled over the internet from their web site at telerobot dot mech dot uwa dot edu dot au. The arm is monitored by a webcam A webcam is a camera that is connected to the internet and that sends images, photographs, or video over the internet so that they can be viewed in a remote location, which enables the person controlling the arm to see what actions are being taken. Visitors to the university's web site can control the robotic arm and move colored blocks around. Overall, this has been a successful experiment with approximately 500,000 people having accessed the robotic arm between 1994 and 2000.
In order to control the arm, a user must download a java applet from the university. Control information for the arm is entered as text in the form of 3 dimensional special coordinates using an X, Y, Z notation with modifiers T and S controlling the acute angle of the robotic arm and the acute angle of the claw respectively.
Software at the University of Australia converts the commands entered via the Java Applet into electrical signals that in turn control the robotic arm.
In spite of its usage over the years, there are many elements which could be improved including:                1. the software that controls the arm is designed to operate in a non-commercial, low security environment (meaning that persons cannot control the device from a computer with standard commercial security measures in place e.g. a firewall);        2. the experiment uses a highly technical interface that requires the user to learn a great deal before the interface can be used;        3. the experiment uses a text based input technique and does not capitalize on the invention and wide use of the computer "mouse" to enable traditional "drag and drop" capabilities which are so common in interface design today;        4. in its current design, the system requires a physical (data cable) connection to the machine receiving the control information from the internet; and        5. perhaps most important, the system provides very poor user feedback regarding the current position of the arm—neither the arm nor the toy blocks are graphically represented in a format that makes it is easy for the user to decipher what is happening with the arm or the blocks. Data regarding the position of the arm can only be obtained by reviewing the text based command window and by viewing the time delayed image provided by the web cam.
The control applet is designed to be used in a non-commercial, low security environment consistent with educational use within a university campus. The Java applet requires a direct socket connection on TCP/IP ports 4444 and 4445 between the java applet and the university server. This means that persons using computers protected by a "Firewall" cannot control the robotic arm because Firewalls are designed to prevent traffic from flowing through these standard ports. To do otherwise would present a security risk to the company or community protected by the Firewall.
The user interface requires the user to decode the position of the arm based on 3 dimensional special coordinates provided in an X, Y, Z notation (e.g. a description of the current position of the arm might be "Robot Position=X=350 Y+480 Z=50 degrees T=17 degrees gripper open").
Because of the non-graphical text based method of entering control information, study and preparation is required for the user to understand how to determine the position of the arm and to enter information. The interface does not allow for the manipulation of a graphical or animated representation of the robotic arm.
In addition, once the control information has been entered, the user does not immediately know what the physical outcome of the control request was. The user must wait and see the results in the video window.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, in this and other similar examples, the device being controlled has no mobility—meaning it is physically tethered to a server. The result is that it cannot be easily moved within the space, or moved to another room without being disconnected.
Another example of Telepresence Technologies is The Puma Paint Project. Started at Villanova University, the project is currently being moved to Rodger Williams University in Rhode Island. Puma Paint allows the user to download a Java applet that accepts commands and control information that is in turn used to control a robotic arm located at Rodger Williams University. The robotic arm used by Puma Paint, is used to dip a paint brush into paint and then depress the brush against a physical canvas thereby enabling the user to paint a picture in a remote location. As with the Australian project, a web cam is pointed at the canvas thereby providing the user with a real time picture of the painting process.
The interface for Puma Paint is superior to that of the Australian project in that it is more graphical, however, Puma Paint still uses a set of 3 dimensional special coordinates provided in an X, Y, Z notation to describe the location of the robotic arm holding the paint brush. Similar to the Australian project, there are a number of text based user feedback elements that provide the user with complex and not immediately understandable feedback about the painting process (e.g. labels on the interface include "% acked?", "packet Q", "ack'd cmds" and similar phrases which are not immediately easy to understand).
Similar to the Australian project, Puma Paint is physically tethered to the machine receiving the control information from the internet. This prohibits greater mobility on the part of the device being controlled. For example, in its current form, Puma Paint could not be easily moved to another room in the university, nor could it be easily moved outside without using numerous lengths of computer cables.
Topic 4—Adult Entertainment Devices
There are a wide variety of massage and related devices designed to soothe and or stimulate areas of the body. Examples include:
U.S. Pat. No.TitleUS Class/Subclass3,991,751Portable Vibrator12//365,470,303Massage Device601/845,911,686Male Sexual Aid600/386,110,102Vision of Love600/386,142,929Sexual Stimulation Apparatus600/386,280,403Massage Device601/706,203,491Adult Sexual Apparatus600/386,368,268Method and device for interactive600/38virtual control of sexual aidsusing digital computer networks
The most relevant example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,268 which describes a "method and device for remote control of a sexual aid via the internet. The invention describes computers with a radio transmitter for control of a wireless device, and a video camera so that the actions of the device can be viewed by a remote party controlling the device. The process described in the application requires the person who wishes to control the device to obtain and install a piece of software on a personal computer. While this invention provides for the remote control of a wireless device, the process has the following deficiencies:                1. the invention requires the user to obtain and install software—precluding the user from spontaneously controlling a device.        2. the manufacturer or provider of the invention must develop multiple versions of software to accommodate multiple operating systems and control devices;        3. the invention does not provide for an animated representation of the device being controlled. The result is that it must rely upon the video signal sent by the remote camera forcing the user to control a device she or he may not be able to see.
WebPower Inc. under the trade name "SafeSexPlus.com" markets and sells a device called "the SafeSexPlus adapter". The SafeSex Plus adapter has been mentioned on CNN, the Howard Stem Radio Show, Wired Magazine, and other publications. The device consists of a small beige plastic box . . . with suction cups on the back, two light sensors . . . and a port for your sex toy" "The Love Machines" article by Tricia Baldwin published by Salon.com
To operate the SafeSexPlus adapter, the user loads software (included) onto his or her computer. When run, the software creates the image of a square on the screen that is half white and half gray. Using the suction cups, the user then affixes the plastic box over the section of the screen that displays the colored square.
A second person in a remote location uses similar software that generates a duplicate image of a white and gray square on their screen. Using a mouse, the remote user changes the color of the square from white to gray. The corresponding shift in the color of the square is sent back to the first via the internet.
The color changes are then reproduced on the display of the first computer. The changes in color are detected by the light sensors on the SafeSexPlus adapter (plastic box) hanging from the monitor via suction cups.
The changes in color are interpreted by the SafeSexPlus adapter, and the corresponding electromechanical control signals travel down a wire to the adult toy.
As a result, the intensity of the vibration in the toy is a controlled by a person in a remote location via the internet using a graphical interface.
While this invention provides for remote control of an electromechanical device via the internet, it has the following significant limitations:                1. the invention does not provide for wireless control of the device;        2. the suction cup is prone to "slide" on a computer screen's smooth surface thereby moving the light sensors out of position and preventing communication between the computer and the device;        3. the invention does not allow for two way communication between the screen and the SafeSexPlus adapter. A mono-directional information flow prevents the computer from detecting the presence of the SafeSexPlus adapter, and prevents the SafeSexPlus adapter from sending any kind of acknowledgement or error message if an input is incomplete, corrupted, or misunderstood;        4. the person controlling the device is required to download a small application or "applet" in order to control the device;        5. the device can not be controlled using a web browser; and        6. most importantly, interface does not provide a visual representation of the device being controlled.
Feelthe.net LLC markets a product called "Sexsations" under the trade name DigitalIntamacy.com. The Sexsations product enables someone to control an electromechanical device over the internet using a graphical interface.
The product provides a Java based graphical interface that is downloaded over the internet and is then used to control up to four electromechanical devices located in a remote location. The Java interface allows the person controlling the devices to specify the body location and the level of vibration to be applied. The control signals are captured by the Java applet and sent over the internet to someone in possession of the Sexsations hardware device. The hardware device is connected to a personal computer via a 9 pin serial port connection.
While this invention provides for remote control of an electromechanical device via the internet, it has the following significant limitations:                1. the invention does not provide for wireless control of the device;        2. the nature of the serial connection between the Sexsations hardware device and the computer requires the computer to be rebooted in order to recognize the device;        7. the person controlling the device is required to download a small application or "applet" in order to control the device;        8. the applet is very large (more than 5 Megabytes) and can take several minutes to download;        3. the device can not be controlled using a web browser; and        4. perhaps most importantly, interface does not provide a visual representation of the device being controlled.
Cyber-Vibe Inc. is currently developing a product that would allow for wireless control of a sexual device. However, like the Safe-Sex-Plus and Sexsations products noted above, their product requires the person controlling the device to obtain and install an application on their computer. A Cyber-Vibe device can not be controlled using only a web browser. Also, as with the Safe-Sex-Plus and Sexsations products, the control interface for the Cyber-Vibe product does not include a graphical representation of the toy being controlled. The result is that user feedback is dependent upon being able to see the device in a real-time video image. If the device leaves the camera's field of vision—the user's ability to control the device is impaired.
VR Innovations markets a product called the "Virtual Sex Machine". The product includes CD-ROMs or DVDs that contain video images and control signals. The product also includes a sexual stimulation device that can be connected to a computer using a standard 9 pin serial cable. When the DVD or CD-ROM is played, the computer displays the video images and relays the control signals to the sexual stimulation device. In this manner the sexual stimulation device is able to "respond" to the video images displayed.
This invention is limited in that it does not allow for real-time control by a person in a remote location; nor does it provide for wireless remote control of the device;
In summary, while prior art examples include a wide array of remote controlled devices, and a variety of techniques for controlling them, none allows the user to control the remote device using only a web browser. All of the prior art example require that prior to controlling a device the user obtain a physical control panel or piece of software—none allows anyone with a web browser to spontaneously take control of a wireless device. None include an animated representation of the device being controlled and, as a result, are highly dependant upon a video image to help them understand the result of their control requests.

Remote control of wireless electromechanical device using a web browser


A mulching deck particularly designed to handle tall, thick grasses and weeds (dry or wet), and a kit for converting an existing mowing deck into such a mulching deck. The deck features the combination of a closed discharge chute in a multi-bladed rotary mower having a plurality of stationary cutting blades positioned within the rotary blade housing. Deflectors may be provided in the housing for helping to redirect the clippings back into the path of the rotary and stationary blades for further comminution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rotary lawn or grass mowers, and more particularly, to mulching mowers having a plurality of rotary cutting blades, such as mowing decks commonly found on lawn tractors, garden tractors and commercial mowing tractors. The invention provides a new and improved mulching deck as well as a kit for converting an existing mowing deck into an improved mulching deck.
2. Description of Related Art
The conventional lawn tractor, garden tractor, or commercial mowing tractor has a plurality of rotary cutting blades, typically numbering from two to five, although larger commercial models may include many more. They are used to mow a variety of types of grass under a variety of conditions: household lawns, landscaping lawns adjacent public and corporate buildings, golf course fairways and roughs, fields, and weeds alongside roadways, to name a few.
The usual mowing tractor cuts the grass and discharges the clippings either into a grass collector or onto the grass beside the mowing deck's discharge chute. When the clippings are collected, frequent dumping of the grass collector, along with subsequent disposal of the clippings, entails a considerable cost in time and money, especially when the mowing has been commercially contracted.
In those instances in which the grass is not collected, other problems arise. Because of the danger of injury to people or damage to property caused by the forcible ejection of hard objects from the mowing deck, most mowing decks are installed with a spring-biased flap covering the discharge chute. As a result, the clippings are deposited in dense windows adjacent the discharge chute of the mowing deck. When the grass is heavy or wet, the clippings form grass-smothering clumps which often kill the underlying grass, producing bare spots which are unsightly and which promote erosion.
It is ecologically desirable, and more cost efficient, to mulch the clippings. As mulch, the clippings are directly absorbed into the lawn or field, returning to the soil the nutrients extracted therefrom for their growth, thus promoting lush growth as well as preventing the aforesaid erosion. Mulching the clippings also removes the necessity to bag and dispose of the clippings.
In the past, the conversion to mulching mowers of hand-propelled, discharge-type lawn mowers has received much attention as a field of invention.
Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 2,685,774, enclosed a reel-type lawnmower with a flexible screen having cutter ribs mounted internally therein. The reel blades coact with the ribs in the manner of scissors to mulch the clippings.
Davis et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,024, provide a rotary cutting blade which cuts standing grass and lifts the clippings above the plane of the blade. A plurality of stationary blades are located immediately above the rotary blade which scissor the clippings into mulch.
Halsten, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,954, lifts the clippings into an apertured housing having a plurality of free-swinging flails therein. The flails beat the clippings until they are comminuted sufficiently to pass through the apertures as mulch.
Hass, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,166, fixes a rotary disc with cutting blades coaxially above a rotary cutting blade. The rotary cutting blade cuts the grass and lifts the clippings through large openings in the disc into the path of the disc's cutting blades.
Jackson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,903, supplying a mulching attachment for single-bladed rotary mowers. The attachment comprises a linear mounted internally of the mower housing above the rotary blade. The liner is continuous around its periphery, thereby closing any discharge chute the mower may have. Guide vanes are located internally of the liner to deflect or direct the clippings inwardly and downwardly. A special rotary cutting blade has an outer region which cuts the grass and lifts the clippings upwardly into contact with the guide vanes. An inner region of the blade has a sharpened cutting edge for mulching the downwardly deflected clippings followed by a downwardly directed edge for blowing the twice-cut clippings into the grass.
Paker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,904, converts a conventional rotary mower into a mulching mower by covering the discharge chute with a plate. The plate has a plurality of tines and openings formed thereon to mulch grass or leaves.
Thorud, U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,512, like Jackson et al, provides guide vanes, "kickers", within the mower housing to direct clippings inwardly and downwardly into a sharpened edge of the rotary cutting blade.
Szymanis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,268, uses a compound blade, like Jackson et al, having an outer region which cuts and lifts the clippings and an inner region which further cuts and blows the clippings downwardly into the grass. Szymanis provides a toroidal chamber around the outer periphery of the housing to direct the clippings inwardly and downwardly into the compound blade.
Israel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,446, affixes a mulching plate upstream of the discharge chute which, with the rotary cutting blade, scissors the clippings prior to exiting through the discharge chute.
Thorud et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,951,449, and 5,090,183, disclose a plurality of kickers which deflect the clippings inwardly and downwardly into secondary contact with the rotary cutting blade for mulching, in the general manner of Jackson et al and Thorud, above.
The above-noted mulching mowers were concerned with the problems of cutting and mulching lawns, such as household lawns. These are relatively small parcels of land with fine grass specially selected for their groomed, decorative look. Multi-bladed mowers, on the other hand, while also used in groomed lawn situations, are additionally required to handle more demanding conditions. Small fields, e.g., two to five acres, as would be found in mini-estates, government installations, golf courses, etc., have a variety of grasses and weeds which need mowing as well. Often, the cycle of mowing is interrupted by other duties or prolonged periods of rain, and the field's grass becomes tall and thick, often accompanied by moisture retained on the lower portions of the grass, even after a few days of sunshine. An added burden is thus placed on multi-bladed mowing machines which the average household lawn mower never faces.
Being tall and dense presents additional problems. Bagging acres of grass is clearly very time consuming and inordinately expensive. If the cut grass and weeds are simply discharged in windrows, they tend to stifle the growth beneath them. Mulching would be desirable, if it could be attained under these extremely adverse conditions.
Multi-bladed mowers have been developed. To date, however, they have not been completely adequate for the task.
Some multi-bladed mowers concentrate on spreading the clippings more evenly. Examples include Bacon, U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,376, and Hansen et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,271, both of which provide baffles and deflectors positioned to spread the discharge of the clippings over a wider area. Reilly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,773, places anti-blowout plates adjacent each rotary blade at the lower edge of the housing skirt to prevent windrowing due to clippings being blown out from under the housing upstream of the discharge chute.
Multi-blade mulching decks have been proposed. Exemplary are Mullet et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,074, Mullet et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,887, Pernia, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,011, and the application of Thorud's concepts, discussed above, to multi-blade mowers by The Toro Company of Minneapolis, Minn.
Mullet et al ('074) provide manually operated gates which close exit channels from each of the rotary cutting blades, effectively isolating each blade in its own internal chamber. The clipped grass is recirculated within each individual chamber until comminuted into mulch by the blade which clipped it.
Mullet et al ('887) install baffles to guide all clippings from the plurality of rotary cutting blades into a separate set of mulching blades, the mulching blades being located immediately before the discharge chute.
Pernia closes the discharge chute with a panel having a plurality of fixed blades selectively mounted thereon. The clippings impact the fixed blades, are further cut, and fall to the ground.
And, The Toro Company shapes the housing to provide a separate chamber for each rotary blade to essentially isolate it from the others. Kickers, shaped and placed as described in the Thorud patents discussed above, are provided in each chamber to recirculate the clippings back into comminuting contact with the blade which initially cut the clippings.
These mulching mowers, while undoubtedly suitable for lawn-type environments, can be inadequate, when cutting tall or dense grass, especially if the grass is wet. Simply covering the discharge chute with a panel and fixed blades is often insufficient to completely mulch the volume of clippings produced by multi-bladed mowing decks. In like manner, individual blades which cut heavy weeds and subsequently chop the recirculated clippings for comminution can be overloaded. It is customary when mowing dense grass with a multi-bladed mower to use only one-third to one-half of the cutting width of the mowing deck for cutting a new path. The most upstream of the blades is the only one which is actually cutting grass. The remaining blades act principally to blow the dense clippings from the housing, while secondarily cutting grass remaining standing from the last pass. When too much grass is circulated adjacent any one blade, that blade becomes jammed and stops, causing the drive belt to pass over a stationary pulley creating heat which burns and severs the belt. Isolating each blade in its own chamber promotes blade overload.
There exists, therefore, a need for a mulching deck for multi-bladed mowers, which is capable of mulching grass under all conditions likely to be encountered, including very tall, dense, and wet grass or weeds.


In an embodiment, a processor includes a cache data array including a plurality of physical ways, each physical way to store a baseline way and a victim way; a cache tag array including a plurality of tag groups, each tag group associated with a particular physical way and including a first tag associated with the baseline way stored in the particular physical way, and a second tag associated with the victim way stored in the particular physical way; and cache control logic to: select a first baseline way based on a replacement policy, select a first victim way based on an available capacity of a first physical way including the first victim way, and move a first data element from the first baseline way to the first victim way. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Conventionally, computing devices include a central processor and main memory (e.g., random-access memory external to the processor). The processor may read data and instructions from the main memory, and may write execution results to the main memory. Some processors may use cache memory to store copies of data blocks that are also stored in the main memory, and that may be required by the processor in the near future. Thus, in the event that the cached data blocks are required by the processor, these data blocks do not have to transferred from the main memory. In this manner, the cache memory may enable faster and/or more efficient execution by the processor.


A driving apparatus according to the invention turns on a capacitive light emitting device having a first electrode and a second electrode in accordance with a light-on instruction. The apparatus has: a voltage accumulating unit, for example, a capacitor for holding a voltage energy corresponding to the contents of the light-on instruction; a circuit for applying the voltage energy held in the voltage accumulating unit to a portion across electrodes (A and B) in one direction in response to a first control signal and for applying the voltage energy held in the voltage accumulating unit to the portion across the electrodes in the other direction in response to a second control signal; and a circuit for alternately generating the first and second control signals. The invention can cope with a deterioration due to an aging change or the like, prevent a reduction of a light emission intensity due to the deterioration or the like, and contribute to a simplification of the construction and a decrease in costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to driving method and apparatus in a display or light emitting system and, more particularly, to method and apparatus for driving a capacitive light emitting device such as an electroluminescence device (hereinafter, called an EL device) or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
One technique has been known, in which a capacitive light emitting device, for example, an EL device is driven by using an alternating-current voltage source. According to the technique, by alternately applying constant voltages having forward/reverse polarities across electrodes of the device, the device is allowed to emit a light.
A light emission luminance or intensity of the capacitive light emitting device, however, is reduced due to a deterioration by an aging change or time-varying. A countermeasure for this is consequently desired.
In a light-emitting system, display system, or optical system having the device of this kind, what is called a good yield is requested. That is, a simplification of the structure and a reduction in costs have to be also considered.

Driver for capacitive light-emitting device with degradation compensated brightness control


Aluminum-lithium alloy sheets which are welded together are examined to identify regions requiring repair. A grid is applied to the sheet about the region requiring repair, and the region to be repaired is ground out and rewelded. Residual stresses are relieved by planishing yes to cause localized plastic deformation in the repaired region. The grid is used as a guide to restoring the original dimensions of the sheet in a manner which tends to reduce in-plane shrinkage. The reduced in-plane shrinkage in turn tends to reduce undesired tensile residual stresses. The planishing also tends to work-harden the weld filler.

The external propellant tank of the space shuttle, designated 10 in FIG. 1a, has been successfully made from aluminum. The external propellant tank 10 includes a hydrogen propellant tank 11, which is made from two end pieces 14 and 15, each of which is in the general form of a hemisphere, separated by two or more cylindrical tank sections, one of which is designated 16, and all of which are welded together. The complete tank 10 includes an intertank 12 and oxygen tank 13. An automated arrangement for welding sections of the tank is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,039, issued Jan. 9, 1996 in the name of Gallagher. The standard aluminum alloy external tank is, however, a significant contributor to the weight of the space shuttle at launch. In order to improve the payload of the space shuttle, attention has been directed toward fabricating the external tank from lighter-weight materials than standard aluminum alloys. Among the materials which are u under investigation is aluminum-lithium 2195 alloy, which is light and strong. Unfortunately, aluminum-lithium alloys are more difficult to fabricate than ordinary aluminum alloys, in that welding tends to change the structure of the material in the region of the weld, as mentioned in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/584,901, filed Jan. 11, 1996 in the name of McGee et al.
Improved welding and repair methods are desired.

Method for repair welding aluminum-lithium alloys


The present invention is directed to a hydraulic pressure control system for controlling a hydraulic pressure in each wheel brake cylinder operatively mounted on each wheel of a vehicle, which includes a modulator disposed between a master cylinder and the wheel brake cylinder for introducing thereto and draining therefrom the brake fluid. First and second pump devices are provided for introducing the brake fluid and pressurizing it to discharge the pressurized brake fluid to the wheel brake cylinder through the modulator, respectively. The second pump device has a different suction phase from the suction phase of the first pump device. A changeover valve device is disposed between the master cylinder and the modulator, and adapted to select one of a first operating position for communicating the master cylinder with the modulator and blocking the communication between the master cylinder and the first and second pump devices, and a second operating position for communicating the master cylinder with the first and second pump devices and blocking the communication between the master cylinder and the modulator. First and second check valves are disposed between the changeover valve device and the inlets of the first and second pump devices for allowing the brake fluid to flow from the changeover valve device to the first and second pump devices and blocking the reverse flow. Preferably, the outlets of the first and second pump devices are communicated with a common volume chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic pressure control system for supplying brake fluid from a master cylinder to each wheel brake cylinder through a modulator by means of a fluid pump, and storing the brake fluid drained from the wheel brake cylinder through the modulator, in a reservoir.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Recent automotive vehicles are provided with a vehicle motion control system for performing various control modes such as anti-skid control, traction control, front-rear braking force distribution control, and the like. Furthermore, it is proposed to control vehicle motion characteristics by applying the braking force to each wheel irrespective of operation of a brake pedal, thereby to perform a steering control by braking, i.e., an oversteer restraining control and an understeer restraining control. With respect to a hydraulic pressure control system for use in the above-described vehicle motion control system, is often employed such a simple system that the brake fluid in a master cylinder is supplied by a fluid pump through a modulator to each wheel brake cylinder, and that the brake fluid is drained from the wheel brake cylinder through the modulator to be stored in a reservoir. For example, in order to prevent an acceleration slip from occurring in the case where an excessive driving force is applied when starting or accelerating the vehicle, a traction control system is employed, and various pressure control systems therefor are proposed in a Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 64-74153. In FIG. 3 of that publication, a single changeover valve for use in the traction control system is connected to an anti-skid control circuit of so-called circulation type.
In order to perform a traction control by means of a hydraulic pressure control device for the circulation type anti-skid control, it is proposed in a Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 5-116607, that a main passage is divided upstream of a section thereof connected with a pump, to provide an additional supply passage communicated with the reservoir for storing the drained fluid, and provide an intermediate reservoir communicated with the additional supply passage. And, it is so described that the intermediate reservoir is provided so as to avoid flow resistance at an input port of the master cylinder, and a resistance in a pipe or tube for connecting the master cylinder with the hydraulic pressure control device.
The hydraulic pressure control system as shown in FIG. 3 of the above Publication No. 64-74153 relates to a system in which the anti-skid control circuit is controlled when the brake pedal is not depressed. If this circuit is used for the control to be performed irrespective of the operation of the brake pedal, not only the traction control but also the steering control by braking can be performed, so that the vehicle motion control can be performed.
When the vehicle motion control is performed by the pressure control system as disclosed in the Publication No. 64-74153, it is necessary to supply sufficient brake fluid to the anti-skid control circuit irrespective of the operation of the brake pedal. However, even if a fluid pump for supplying the sufficient brake fluid was employed, it would be difficult to ensure a sufficient suction volume (or, suction volume per unit time), because the inner diameter of the pipe to be used is limited. If the inner diameter of the pipe was enlarged to increase the suction volume, its outer diameter would be necessarily enlarged, so that it would be difficult to bend it in piping. Therefore, the outer diameter of the pipe must be limited to a certain extent, to result in the limitation of the inner diameter of the pipe. As a result, the flow resistance in the pipe will be increased, so that it will be difficult to ensure the sufficient volume of the brake fluid.
According to the suction property of an ordinary pump employed in the above system as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7, which will be described later in detail, it is impossible to introduce into the pump the fluid more than an allowable suction volume Q0, which is determined by the inner diameter of the pipe. Therefore, the problem can not be solved simply by enlarging the volume of the pump for discharging the fluid. Consequently, it will be impossible to ensure the necessary volume for discharging the fluid by a single ordinary pump.
With respect to the system disclosed in the publication No. 5-116607, the intermediate reservoir is provided for avoiding the flow resistance caused at the input port of the master cylinder. However, a delay in the normal braking operation might be caused. In the case where that system is used for the vehicle motion control when the brake pedal is not depressed, even if the brake pedal is depressed during the vehicle motion control, the pressure in the wheel brake cylinder will not be increased. In this case, therefore, the brake pedal can not be depressed further.

Hydraulic pressure control system for a vehicle


A method for assembling a quad flat no-lead (QFN) device includes mounting and electrically connecting a die to a pre-plated lead frame (PPF) to form a sub-assembly, where the plating is solder-wettable and the lead frame has notches in the lead fingers located along the device boundary. The sub-assembly is then encapsulated to (1) leave the distal ends of the lead fingers exposed and (2) have the edge of the encapsulant adjacent to the notches. The sub-assembly is then singulated to leave distal lead segments protruding from the resulting device. The protruding exposed segments are then bent to be substantially parallel to the device sidewalls. Consequently, the plated surface of each lead extends along portions of both the bottom and one side of the device.

The present invention relates to packaging integrated circuit (IC) devices and, more particularly, to a Quad Flag No leads (QFN) type device with bent leads.
QFN devices have leads that do not extend out from the device edge. That is, the leads or device contacts are generally flush with the package body. One type of QFN device is a power QFN (PQFN), which includes an exposed die paddle at the bottom of the device for more-efficient heat dissipation from the die. Note that flat no-lead devices are also known as micro lead frame (MLF) devices, micro lead frame packaged (MLP) devices, or small outline no-leads (SON) devices.
FIGS. 1A-1F show steps in the assembly of a conventional QFN device 101(1) (FIG. 1D). The assembly process includes die mounting, wire bonding, encapsulation, and singulation. Note that, conventionally, multiple devices 101 are simultaneously assembled. As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms device and chip refer to a singulated, packaged IC die.
FIG. 1A shows a top plan view of partial segment 100 of a lead frame array. The lead frame array is in the form of a two-dimensional array having a number of rows and the same or a different number of columns of attached lead frames outlined by a grid, including lead frames 102(1) and 102(2). The segment 100 includes lead frames 102(1) and 102(2) and portions of adjoining lead frames of the lead frame array. The lead frame array is typically stamped from a metal sheet.
Each lead frame in the array may be a pre-plated frame (PPF), which comprises a copper core plated with a metal finish comprising, for example, nickel, palladium, lead, tin, gold, and/or silver. The plated finish is solder-wettable, where a material's solder-wettability refers to the ease of adhesion of molten solder to the material. In other words, during surface mounting, molten solder adheres easily to the plating on the lead frame.
The lead frame 102(1) comprises corresponding paddle 103(1), tie bars 104(1)—such as exemplary tie bar 104(1)(1), support bars 105(1)—such as exemplary support bars 105(1)(1) and 105(1)(2), and lead fingers 106(1)—such as exemplary lead finger 106(1)(1).
Each lead frame 102 comprises (i) four tie bars 104 supporting the die paddle 103 to the intersections of support bars 105, (ii) four support bars 105, which support the lead fingers 106 and also define the grid of the lead frame array, and (iii) 32 lead fingers 106, eight on each of the lead frame's 102 four support bars 105. Note that support bars are sometimes referred to as dam bars. The support bars 105 that are in the interior of the array—in other words, support bars that are not on the periphery of the lead frame array—are shared by adjacent lead frames 102. For example, support bar 105(1)(2) is shared by lead frames 102(1) and 102(2) and, as a result, may also be referred to as support bar 105(2)(1) of lead frame 102(2). IC dies are subsequently mounted onto die paddles 103 and electrically connected to the lead fingers 106 with a wire bonding process.
FIG. 1B shows a top plan view of the partial segment 100 comprising sub-assemblies 107(1) and 107(2), following (1) the mounting of dies 108 to the die paddles 103 of the lead frames 102 of sub-assemblies 107 and (2) the electrical connection of the dies 108 to corresponding lead fingers 106 using wire bonds 109. For example, sub-assembly 107(1) comprises die 108(1) mounted to paddle 103(1) of lead frame 102(1) and electrically connected to lead fingers 106(1)—such as lead finger 106(1)(1)—using corresponding bond wires 109(1)—such as bond wire 109(1)(1), which connects lead finger 106(1)(1) to a corresponding bond pad (not shown) on the top surface of the die 108(1). The die 108(2) is similarly mounted and wire-bonded to the lead frame 102(2) of the sub-assembly 107(2). The sub-assemblies 107 of the lead frame array are then encapsulated.
FIG. 1C shows a top plan view of the partial segment 100 of FIG. 1B, comprising sub-assemblies 107(1) and 107(2), following the encapsulation of the sub-assemblies 107 with an encapsulant 110. The encapsulant 110 may be, for example, an epoxy molding compound. The top surface of the sub-assemblies 107 comprises the encapsulant 110. Other components of the sub-assemblies 107 are shown as hidden features in FIG. 1C. Next, the sub-assemblies 107 are singulated.
FIG. 1D shows a top plan view of one of the devices 101 resulting from the singulation of the sub-assemblies 107 of FIG. 1C—such as corresponding sub-assemblies 107(1) and 107(2). The array comprising partial segment 100 of FIG. 1C may be singulated or diced by, for example, a laser or a saw. The singulation may include grinding in addition to the cutting. Aside from separating the sub-assemblies 107, the singulation process removes the support bars 105 around chips 101 and portions of the lead fingers 106—including the corresponding segments of encapsulant 110—leaving behind corresponding leads 111, such as exemplary lead 111(1)(1) that corresponds to lead finger 106(1)(1) of FIG. 1B.
FIG. 1E shows a perspective view of the device 101(1) of FIG. 1D, where the device 101(1) has been flipped over showing its bottom and two sides. Die paddle 103(1) is exposed. Each of leads 111(1) has two exposed surfaces that are flush with the surfaces of the device 101(1)—i.e., a bottom surface and a side surface. Detail area 112 includes the exposed surfaces of lead 111(1)(1).
FIG. 1F shows an enlargement of the detail area 112 of FIG. 1E. The exposed surfaces of each lead 111(1), such as lead 111(1)(1), include a lead side surface 111(1)a, such as side surface 111(1)(1)a, and a lead bottom surface 111(1)b, such as bottom surface 111(1)(1)b. Each bottom surface 111(1)b is plated with the above-described plating finish, as is the bottom surface of the die paddle 103(1). Side surface 111(1)a, however, is mostly the copper core of the lead frame 102(1) of FIG. 1A. Copper is not solder-wettable. As a result, during mounting, molten solder will adhere to bottom surfaces 111(1)b, which are plated with solder-wettable plating, but not to the side surfaces 111(1)a, which are not plated.

Packaged integrated circuit device having bent leads


There is provided an optical movement sensing system which can be miniaturized and ensures a wide angle of view. The optical movement sensing system collecting light reflected from an object to be imaged on an optical sensor, the optical movement sensing system including: a wide-angle lens including a first lens element having a curved object-side surface; and a second lens element having an object-side surface in contact with an image-side surface of the first lens element and having a planar image-side surface. The optical movement sensing system with this configuration can be reduced in size and weight and has a wide angle of view. Therefore, the optical movement sensing system is applicable to a mobile device such as a mobile telecommunication terminal and assures sufficient peripheral light amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical movement sensing system used in an optical pointing device, and more particularly, to an optical movement sensing system which can be miniaturized and ensures a wide angle of view.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an operational principle of a general optical pointing device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical pointing device includes a light source 11, a lens 13, and an image sensor 14. The light source 11 generally employs a light emitting diode (LED) and emits light. The lens 13 collects light reflected from an object 12 by the light emitted from the light source 11. The optical sensor 14 senses an image of the light collected by the lens 13 and detects movement of the object 12. The optical sensor 14 may adopt an image sensor.
The object 12 is configured as a ground or a pad corresponding to the ground in case of a general optical mouse. With a user moving the optical mouse, a relative movement of the object (ground) is detected by the optical sensor 14 to perform pointing (positioning).
Recently, attempts have been made to apply this optical pointing device to a mobile device such as a mobile telecommunication terminal.
As described above, the optical pointing device for use in the mobile telecommunication terminal employs a finger surface as an object and performs pointing by sensing movement of a finger or fingerprint through the optical sensor 14.
However, the conventional optical pointing device, when employed in practice, prevents big movement of the finger, thereby causing great discomfort to users accustomed to the general optical mouse.
As described above, to apply the optical pointing device to the mobile device such as the mobile telecommunication terminal, an optical sensing system should be small and should ensure peripheral light amount. Also, the optical system should ensure a wide angel of view so as to perceive big movement of the fingers.
Therefore, an optical movement sensing system has been in demand to overcome these limitations.