A system and method to facilitate optimization of targeted advertisements based on user profile information are described. A set of event keywords associated with an event or action performed by the user or an agent of the user is identified in a data storage module. User profile information, if available, is further retrieved from the data storage module. A set of profile keywords is further identified from the retrieved user profile information and the set of profile keywords is compared to the set of event keywords based on predetermined business rules to determine a set of resulting keywords. Advertising information related to the set of resulting keywords is further retrieved from an advertising storage module. The retrieved advertisements are ranked based on one or more parameters within one or more keyword/advertisement matrices based on user, segment, or time parameters, and, finally, top ranked advertisements are transmitted to the user or the agent of the user for further display in connection with the requested content.

The explosive growth of the Internet as a publication and interactive communication platform has created an electronic environment that is changing the way business is transacted. As the Internet becomes increasingly accessible around the world, users need efficient tools to navigate the Internet and to find content available on various websites.
Internet portals provide users an entrance and guide into the vast resources of the Internet. Typically, an Internet portal provides a range of search, email, news, shopping, chat, maps, finance, entertainment, and other content and services. Thus, the information presented to the users needs to be efficiently and properly categorized and stored within the portal.

Optimization of targeted advertisements based on user profile information


A method and apparatus for starting a turbogenerator having a sensorless magnetic rotor supported for rotation in a stator by a compliant foil fluid film bearing, the method comprising energizing the stator to generate a continuously rotating magnetic field to capture the magnetic rotor and thereafter accelerating the rotational speed of the magnetic field to substantially minimize the time required for the magnetic rotor to reach a liftoff speed associated with the compliant foil fluid film bearing.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for capturing a magnetic rotor for acceleration, rotation and deceleration with a rotating magnetic field generated by a stator for use in a turbogenerator including a compliant foil fluid film bearing.
Compliant foil fluid film radial bearings are currently being utilized in a variety of high speed rotor applications. These bearings are generally comprised of a bushing, a rotating element such as a rotor or a shaft adapted to rotate within the bushing, non-rotating compliant fluid foil members mounted within the bushing and enclosing the rotating element, and non-rotating compliant spring foil members mounted within the bushing underneath the non-rotating compliant fluid foil members. The space between the rotating element and the bushing is filled with fluid (usually air) which envelops the foils. Conventionally, the compliant fluid foil elements are divided into a plurality of individual compliant foils to form a plurality of wedge-shaped channels which converge in thickness in the direction of the rotation of the rotor.
The motion of the rotating element applies viscous drag forces to the fluid in the converging wedge channels. This results in increases in fluid pressure, especially near the trailing edge of the wedge channels. If the rotating element moves toward the non-rotating element, the convergence angle of the wedge channel increases, causing the fluid pressure rise along the channel to increase. Conversely, if the rotating element moves away, the pressure rise along the wedge channel decreases. Thus, the fluid in the wedge channel exerts restoring forces on the rotating element that vary with and stabilize running clearances and prevent contact between the rotating and non-rotating elements of the bearing. Flexing and sliding of the foils causes coulomb damping of any axial or overturning motion of the rotating element of the bearing.
Owing to preload spring forces or gravity forces, the rotating element of the bearing is typically in physical contact with the fluid foil members of the bearing at low rotational speeds. This physical contact results in bearing wear. It is only when the rotor speed is above what is termed the liftoff/touchdown speed that the fluid dynamic forces generated in the wedge channels assure a running gap between the rotating and non-rotating elements.
Compliant foil fluid film radial bearings typically rely on backing springs to preload the fluid foils against the relatively movable rotating element so as to control foil position/nesting and to establish foil dynamic stability. The bearing starting torque (which should ideally be zero) is directly proportional to these preload forces. These preload forces also significantly increase the rotor speed at which the hydrodynamic effects in the wedge channels are strong enough to lift the rotating element of the bearing out of physical contact with the non-rotating members of the bearing. These preload forces and the high liftoff/touchdown speeds result in significant bearing wear each time the rotor is started or stopped.
These compliant foil fluid film radial bearings (air bearings) may be positioned at multiple locations along the rotor in a turbogenerator assembly, such as between the stator, compressor, and turbine wheel. These air bearings are operative to support the shaft at rotational speeds above approximately 8,000 rpms. Rubbing of the rotor against the foil occurs prior to liftoff and after touchdown, which is generally under approximately 8,000 rpms. This rubbing is undesirable because it may cause wear on the foil.
While compliant foil fluid film radial bearings have been specifically described above, much the same considerations apply to compliant foil fluid film thrust bearings which are also currently being utilized in a variety of high speed rotor applications.
The least expensive turbogenerator design includes a sensorless rotor. By xe2x80x9csensorlessxe2x80x9d it is meant that the system includes no means for determining the rotational position of the rotor because the rotor has no sensors to provide such information. A problem inherent in such a low cost generator is that it may be difficult to capture the rotor for rotation with the stator if the rotational position of the rotor is unknown. The challenge is to not allow the rotor to rotate in contact with the air bearings for prolonged periods of time before liftoff has been reached. Such prolonged contact causes damage to the air bearings.
In order to achieve minimal contact between the shaft and the air bearings, quick acceleration is necessary, which requires efficient capture of the rotor for rotation with the stator. If the stator is simply accelerated quickly, it may fly by the rotor without capturing the rotor, in which case the stator must be decelerated again to capture the rotor, and then accelerated again. Obviously, this provides an inefficient system. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for capturing, accelerating, and decelerating a sensorless magnetic rotor in a turbogenerator in a manner which minimizes the duration of contact between the rotor and the air bearings in order to prevent damage to the air bearings.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for starting a turbogenerator having a sensorless magnetic rotor supported for rotation in a stator by a compliant foil fluid film bearing. The method comprises energizing the stator to generate a continuously rotating magnetic field to capture the magnetic rotor and thereafter accelerating the rotational speed of the magnetic field to substantially minimize the time required for the magnetic rotor to reach a liftoff speed associated with the compliant foil fluid film bearing.
In another aspect of the invention, the rotor is decelerated during shutdown and the inertial energy of the rotor is dissipated by converting the inertial energy to a DC bus voltage and dissipating the DC bus voltage with an off-load device including a brake resistor.

Method and apparatus for controlling rotation of magnetic rotor


Before being incident to a nonlinear medium, a short pulse is intensity-modulated with a bit string pattern, and then made incident. When the pulse light corresponding to a bit value ‘0’ is incident to the nonlinear medium, the pulse light is intensity-modulated so that the spectral width thereof is not spread to a predetermined spectral region due to the nonlinear phenomena, thereby producing a light state of being not output from an optical demultiplexer. Meanwhile, when the pulse light corresponding to a bit value ‘1’ is incident to the nonlinear medium, the pulse light is intensity-modulated so that the spectral width thereof is spread to the predetermined spectral region due to the nonlinear phenomena, thereby producing a light state of being output from the optical demultiplexer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transmission apparatus for transmitting a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal in an optical fiber network, and more particularly an optical transmission apparatus for broadcasting a distribution data by means of a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress of broadband in communication infrastructures, communication and broadcasting are merging in recent years. The communication to date has mainly been based on point-to-point transmission in which stations are connected one-to-one. In contrast, 1-to-N broadcast, in which identical signals (distribution data) are distributed toward a plurality of routes, is required in broadcasting.
At present, a backbone communication network is configured of a large-capacity optical fiber transmission system. FIG. 1 to 3 show conventional configuration examples of an optical transmission apparatus for broadcasting the distribution data over such the large-capacity optical fiber transmission system.
For example, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an optical intensity modulator 2 performs optical intensity modulation of the light supplied from a single-wavelength light source 1, which is constituted of a laser diode (LD) oscillating with a certain wavelength (λ1), with the distribution data, and the modulated light is distributed by a star coupler 3 for splitting the optical power of the light in 1-to-N. However, in the backbone optical communication network in recent years, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has been introduced to obtain a large capacity, and signal routes are switched according to the wavelengths. In order to perform broadcasting in such a network, it is necessary to carry identical distribution data on a plurality of wavelengths.
As a means for realizing the above method, as depicted in the configurations shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, there is a known system (FIG. 2A) in which a plurality of single-wavelength light sources 1 oscillating with different wavelengths are prepared, and the light having each wavelength is multiplexed in an optical wavelength multiplexer 4, and then an optical intensity modulator 2 integrally modulates the wavelength-multiplexed light with identical distribution data, and the integrally modulated wavelength-multiplexed light is split in an optical wavelength demultiplexer 5. Also, as another known system (FIG. 2B), optical intensity modulators 2 are provided on a basis of light having different wavelengths, and the identical distribution data are modulated in each optical intensity modulator 2. However, in a present WDM network, wavelength multiplexing of several tens to several hundreds of wavelengths is performed, and therefore a huge cost may be required if an individual light source is to be prepared for each wavelength.
Meanwhile, to cope with such the anxiety, a multi-wavelength light source capable of outputting a plurality of wavelengths using a single light source is under study. In the official gazette of the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. Hei-8-234250, Hei-9-244076, 2003-18126, 2003-69502, and 2001-264830, the inventions with respect to a variety of multi-wavelength light sources are disclosed. Among others, as a light source for WDM, a variety of studies have been conducted on a super continuum (SC) light source capable of generating coherent light through a wide wavelength band. The SC light source is a wideband light source utilizing the phenomenon that the spectrum is extremely spread by passing short pulse light (for example, having a pulse width of the order of picoseconds) of high energy (for example, a few watts at a peak value) through a special fiber (nonlinear medium).
FIG. 3 shows an exemplary configuration of an optical transmission apparatus using an SC light source 10. Also, FIGS. 4A-4C show diagrams illustrating characteristics of the light generated from SC light source 10 on a wavelength axis and a time axis, respectively, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, SC light source 10 includes a short pulse light source 11 and a nonlinear medium 12, and output light (string of repeated pulses) from short pulse light source 11 is made incident to nonlinear medium 12. As shown in FIG. 4A, the output light from short pulse light source 11 is a string of repeated pulses when viewed from the time axis, while the output light has a narrow spectrum deviating out of the wavelength transmission range of an optical wavelength demultiplexer 5, when viewed from the wavelength axis.
As shown in FIG. 4B, when the light output from short pulse light source 11 is incident to nonlinear medium 12, the spectrum of the output light is widely spread on the wavelength axis, including the wavelength transmission range of optical wavelength demultiplexer 5, due to nonlinear phenomena (self-phase modulation, four wave mixing and stimulated Raman scattering) and wavelength dispersion. Also, on the time axis, the pulse width is compressed, and the power is increased for the amount of compression. The light having a spread spectrum shown in FIG. 4B is called SC light. At this time, since the nonlinear phenomena appear more remarkably as the power incident to nonlinear medium 12 increases, the higher the peak power of the incident pulse light is, the more remarkable the spectral spread becomes. On the contrary, when the power is low, the spectral spread is suppressed.
Next, the SC light output from the nonlinear medium 12 is made incident to optical wavelength demultiplexer 5, and cut out on a wavelength component basis by means of a filter. Thereafter, light of each wavelength is modulated in optical intensity modulator 2, and WDM transmission is performed by carrying signals on each wavelength. As shown in FIG. 4C, the light output from optical intensity modulator 2 is intensity-modulated to the light having a predetermined wavelength transmitted through optical wavelength demultiplexer 5. Let optical power at the time of data '0' be Poff, and optical power at the time of data '1' be Pon, Pon/Poff is called an extinction ratio.
Generally, as short pulse light source 11, a mode-locked laser is employed so as to obtain a multi-longitudinal-modes component having good coherence, and as nonlinear medium 12, an optical fiber in which a wavelength dispersion value and a nonlinear coefficient are managed to efficiently generate the nonlinear phenomena. In the WDM transmission of backbone systems today, wavelength (signal) bandwidths of the C-band zone (1,530 nm-1,565 nm) and the L-band zone (1,565 nm-1,625 nm) are often used. To such the above bandwidths, it has been reported that SC light source 10 produces a satisfactory continuous spectrum over 1,450 nm-1,650 nm.
Additionally, in the official gazette of the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei-7-312575, there is disclosed a configuration for the transmission of a main signal superimposed with a sub-signal by use of an intermediate repeater in an optical communication system.
When configuring an optical transmission apparatus for broadcast using such the above SC light source 10, there is a known configuration as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a diagram illustrating an example of the conventional configuration of the optical transmission apparatus for broadcast using SC light source 10. FIG. 6 shows a diagram illustrating a characteristic of SC light source 10 on both the wavelength axis and the time axis, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5.
In FIG. 5, in order to integrally generate identical distribution data having multi-wavelength components, the SC light output from nonlinear medium 12 is intensity-modulated with the distribution data in optical intensity modulator 2, and thereafter, by demultiplexing the intensity-modulated SC light into each wavelength component in optical wavelength demultiplexer 5, the identical distribution data are output from each wavelength port of optical wavelength demultiplexer 5. FIG. 6A shows a characteristic of the light output from short pulse light source 11, FIG. 6B shows a characteristic of the light output from nonlinear medium 12, and FIG. 6C shows a characteristic of the light output from optical intensity modulator 2. Since the identical distribution data are carried on the light having each wavelength, before demultiplexing to each wavelength in optical wavelength demultiplexer 5, it is possible to integrally modulate with the identical distribution data for the entire wavelength bandwidths having been multiplexed.
However, in the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 5, there have been problems described below:
(1) Because the SC light is generated with spreading the spectrum by the pulse compression, the peak power of the pulse increases. For example, the peak power reaches as high as approximately +32 dBm. Considering the maximum tolerance of input light power of optical intensity modulator 2 generally in use, it is difficult to input such the high power pulse without modification. In a LN (LiNO2) optical intensity modulator usually in use, the input upper limit is as high as approximately +20 dBm or of that order. Therefore, it is necessary to decrease the input value in advance using an attenuator so as to avoid break of optical intensity modulator 2. As a result, a wideband optical amplifier is additionally required for the purpose of level compensation.
(2) Because the SC light has a wide spectral width, wavelength dependency of a variety of characteristics of optical intensity modulator 2 (such as a transmission loss and an extinction ratio) becomes a great problem. For example, when the transmission loss characteristic is not uniform (flat) throughout the spectral range of the SC light, the optical power on each wavelength port after being split by optical wavelength demultiplexer 5 is also not uniform. As a result, level adjustment on a wavelength (channel) basis becomes separately necessary.
(3). When the SC light is integrally modulated, it is also necessary to pay attention to an influence of wavelength dispersion. FIGS. 7A-7C show diagrams illustrating the wavelength dispersion. The SC light is generated by making output light (pulse width: Δt, and pulse repetition period: T), supplied from short pulse light source 11 shown in FIG. 7A, be incident to nonlinear medium 12. At this time, when the wavelength dispersion of nonlinear medium 12, an optical fiber, is completely zero (refer to FIG. 7B), a group delay difference in a pulse is not generated even the spectrum becomes spread by means of the SC light. Therefore, each wavelength component can be intensity-modulated in optical intensity modulator 2 at the identical temporal timing.
On the other hand, when the wavelength dispersion is existent (refer to FIG. 7C), the group delay difference occurs in the wavelength band of the SC light. As a result, time deviation arises between the wavelength components before the SC light is input into optical intensity modulator 2. By performing integral intensity modulation, there is produced a wavelength range in which the modulation cannot be performed correctly in optical intensity modulator 2. When the pulse bitrate becomes particularly higher (or the repetition time T becomes shorter), it is necessary to pay attention to the above problem. For example, when a single-mode dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) having a length of 3 km is used as nonlinear medium 12, considering the dispersion coefficient of a general DSF fiber, a delay difference of approximately 180 ps/km is produced between a zero-dispersion wavelength 1,550 nm and the longest wavelength of 1,625 nm in the L-band, and a delay time of approximately 540 ps arises in case of 3 km. Assuming a case of a bitrate of 10 Gbps, since the repetition time T=100 ps, the delay longer than the repetition time occurs, and integrated modulation becomes impossible.
(4) In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the pulse extinction ratio (Pon/Poff) is determined by the characteristic of optical intensity modulator 2. Generally, optical intensity modulator 2 cannot completely intercept the light from passing through. Since the SC light has a high peak level of the pulse power, even when the optical power is Poff (in case of data '0'), high optical power may pass through as residual light, if the extinction ratio is small.


A method of maintaining a biographical digest of information stored in a radio frequency identity chip communicatively coupled to a motherboard of a mobile communication device. The method comprises determining and writing inception information to the radio frequency identity chip once and preventing later modification of the inception information by a biographical digest software layer stored in a memory of the mobile communication device and executed by a processor of the device. The method further comprises determining and writing current information to the radio frequency identity chip by the biographical digest software layer in response to triggering events.

Mobile communication devices have become ubiquitous among people living in nations with developed economies. When a problem occurs, a mobile communication device may be serviced by customer care representatives, for example by a representative in a retail outlet that sells mobile communication devices. Information about the original manufacturing of the device, the initial configuration of the device, and/or the current configuration of the device may desirably be determined to assist a representative in troubleshooting and/or repairing the device. Some mobile communication devices provide such manufacturing and initial configuration information encoded in graphics, for example bar codes, that are affixed to the device, for example inside a battery compartment and behind a battery of the device. Other information about the current configuration of the mobile communication device may be looked up or accessed from a data base via a work station operated by the representative, for example by providing information identifying the subject device such as an electronic serial number (ESN), a mobile station identity (MSID), a phone number, or other identifying information obtained from the graphics affixed inside the battery compartment and/or provided by a user of the device.
A mobile communication device, for example a mobile phone, may pass through a number of states from initial manufacturing to termination of the device, for example when melted down to harvest precious metals. A device may be provided to a first owner and activated for wireless communication services. The device may be deactivated and returned to a refurbishing center. The device may then be provided to a second owner and activated for wireless communication services, possibly services associated with a different brand or service provider. The device may cycle through these states any number of times. Ultimately the device may be deactivated and terminated.

System for managing a digest of biographical information stored in a radio frequency identity chip coupled to a mobile communication device


Liquid crystal display apparatus is disclosed wherein a liquid crystal mixture having incorporated therein (a) a positive order parameter dye and a negative order parameter dye, or (b) a zero order parameter dye and a positive order parameter dye, or (c) a zero order parameter dye and a negative order parameter dye, is interposed between transparent electrodes secured to a transparent superstrate and a transparent substrate. An operating voltage wave ranging between 0 volts and an operating voltage which may be as high as 15.6 volts, and of variable frequency, is applied across the transparent electrodes to produce color changes of adjustable frequency in the liquid crystal mixture. Simultaneously, a square voltage wave of 35 Hz is applied across the transparent electrodes to prevent degradation of the liquid crystal mixture. Various modifications are shown which Produce a travelling wave of color changes of adjustable frequency across the liquid crystal display.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates, broadly speaking, to novel liquid crystal displays.
More particularly, this invention relates to novel liquid crystal color modulation displays and operating electronic circuitry capable of exhibiting colors over a range of colors, which colors can be changed as desired within said range to create novel aesthetic effects. Said liquid crystal color modulation displays can, for example, be embodied in a cell construction, such as a flexible plastic cell, which in turn can be secured by any suitable means to objects such as articles of clothing, watches, automobiles, furniture, walls and the like.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Liquid crystal displays, used for example in watches and television screens, are well known in the art.
"Field-Induced Color Switching in Liquid Crystal Displays," M. Schadt, J.Chem.Phys. 71(6), Sept. 15, 1979, pp. 2336-2344, discloses a liquid crystal guest-host effect which modulates color intensity, and its color changes upon the application of a voltage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,561 (1987) discloses a guest-host display with pleochroic dyes, containing negative and positive order dyes to produce a change of color from one to another.
U.S Pat. No. 3,833,287 (1974) discloses a thin film liquid crystal device employing the guest-host principle, in which unpolarized light is selectively absorbed. In the absence of an electrical field across the thin film, virtually all the unpolarized light is absorbed by the film. When an electric field is applied to the film, none of the unpolarized light is absorbed. This device can be used for displays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,611 discloses a flexible plastic cell enclosing guest-host material in which the color can be changed according to applied voltage. An oscillator control circuit changes the color at the desired frequency.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,834,508 (1989), 4,878,741 (1989) and 4,953,953 (1990) each discloses a liquid crystal cell acting as a color filter and used in information displays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,245 (1983) discloses an optical display cell comprising liquid crystal material held within spaced substrates. Spacers are provided between the substrates to maintain a uniform distance therebetween.
U.K. Patent No. 2,138,838 (1984) discloses a guest-host liquid crystal material having a dye with a negative order parameter which goes from colorless to color under applied voltage.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,624,531 (1986) discloses a guest-host display to produce colored symbols on a colorless background.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,505 (1991) discloses a guest-host display.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,659 (1989) discloses a guest-host display using fluorescent dyes. The guest-host display modulates the color and the fluorescense of the dye.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,350 (1990) discloses a liquid crystal display device that uses red, green and blue striped cells serving as color filters.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,074 (1991) discloses a display device filled with different dyes in a liquid crystal host.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,894 (1986) discloses a multi-colored liquid crystal display with a color transreflector and color filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,239 (1990) discloses a multi-shade color liquid crystal display apparatus using several color filters to produce shading variations of one color.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,479 (1987) discloses the use of a guest-host material to turn a mirror into a non-reflective display.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,160 (1990) discloses a liquid crystal guest-host system employing several pleochroic dyes, and is designed for informational display using different layers of the guest-host mixtures.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,707,080 (1987), 4,616,903 (1986), 4,556,289 (1986), 4,506,956 (1985), 4,886,343 (1989), 4,601,547 (1986) and 4,737,610 (1988) disclose various liquid crystal displays.

Liquid crystal color modulation displays with dyes of different orders and circuitry for providing modulated AC excitation voltage


A computer method for enhancing medical evaluation. The method includes the steps of providing a problem database comprising a compendium of patient medical history; providing a remedy database comprising a compendium of at least one of medical therapies, pharmaceuticals, medical information and medical diagnostics; and employing a data mining technique for interrogating the problem and remedy databases for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating patient problem with patient remedy.

This invention relates to methodology for utilizing data mining techniques in the area of medical evaluation.
Data mining techniques are known and include disparate technologies, like neural networks, which can work to an end of efficiently discovering valuable, non-obvious information from a large collection of data. The data, in turn, may arise in fields ranging from e.g., marketing, finance, manufacturing, or retail.
We have now discovered novel methodology for exploiting the advantages inherent generally in data mining technologies, in the particular field of health and medical applications.
Our work proceeds in the following way.
We have recognized that a typical and important xe2x80x9cthree-partxe2x80x9d paradigm for presently effecting medical evaluation, is a largely subjective, human paradigm, and therefore exposed to all the vagaries and deficiencies otherwise attendant on human procedures. In particular, the three-part paradigm we have in mind works in the following way. First, a doctor develops a problem database comprising a compendium of individual patient historyxe2x80x94e.g., the patient""s response to blood tests, x-rays, or the doctor""s observations. Secondly, and independently, the doctor develops in his mind a remedy database comprising the doctor""s personal, partial, and subjective knowledge of objective medical facts culled from e.g., the medical literature, the pharmaceutical literature, or input from colleagues or salespersons. Thirdly, the doctor subjectively correlates in his mind the necessarily incomplete and partial remedy database, with the patient problem database, in order to promulgate an individual""s patient""s prescribed medical evaluation and cure.
This three-part paradigm is part science and part art, and captures one aspect of the special genius of medicine. However, as suggested above, it is manifestly a subjective paradigm, and therefore open to human vagaries.
We now disclose a novel computer method which can preserve the advantages inherent in this three-part paradigm, while minimizing the incompleteness and attendant subjectivities that otherwise inure in a technique heretofore entirely reserved for human realization.
To this end, in a first aspect of the present invention, we disclose a novel computer method comprising the steps of:
i) providing a problem data base comprising a compendium of patient medical history;
ii) providing a remedy database comprising a compendium of at least one of medical therapies, pharmaceuticals, medical information and medical diagnostics; and
iii) employing a data mining technique for interrogating said problem and remedy databases for generating an output data stream, said output data stream correlating patient problem with patient remedy.
The novel method preferably comprises a further step of updating the step i) problem database, so that it can cumulatively track the patient""s medical history as it develops over time. For example, this step i) of updating the problem database may include the results of employing the step iii) data mining technique. Also, the method may comprise a step of refining an employed data mining technique in cognizance of pattern changes embedded in each database as a consequence of remedy results and updating the problem database.
The novel method preferably comprises a further step of updating the step ii) remedy database, so that it can cumulatively track an ever increasing and developing technical medical literature. For example, this step ii) of updating the remedy database may include the effects of employing a data mining technique on the problem database. Also, the method may comprise a step of refining an employed data mining technique in cognizance of pattern changes embedded in each database as a consequence of remedy results and updating the remedy database.
The novel method may employ advantageously a wide array of step iii) data mining techniques for interrogating the problem and remedy database for generating an output data stream, which output data stream correlates patient problem with patient remedy. For example, the data mining technique may comprise inter alia employment of the following functions for producing output data: classification-neural, classification-tree, clustering-demographic, clustering-neural, factor analysis, or principal component analysis, or expert systems.
In a second aspect of the present invention, we disclose a program storage device readable by machine to perform method steps for providing an interactive medical database, the method comprising the steps of:
i) providing a problem database comprising a compendium of patient medical history;
ii) providing a remedy database comprising a compendium of at least one of medical therapies, pharmaceuticals, medical information and medical diagnostics; and
iii) employing a data mining technique for interrogating said problem and remedy databases for generating an output data stream, said output data stream correlating patient problem with patient remedy.
In a third aspect of the present invention, we disclose a computer comprising:
i) means for inputting a problem database comprising a compendium of patient medical history;
ii) means for inputting a remedy database comprising a compendium of at least one of medical therapies, pharmaceuticals, medical information and medical diagnostics;
iii) means for employing a data mining technique for interrogating said remedy databases; and
iv) means for generating an output data stream, said output data stream correlating patient problem with patient remedy.

Data mining techniques for enhancing medical evaluation

International Business Machines Corporation


A composite flywheel wherein a primary mass is rotatable by the engine of a motor vehicle and can transmit torque to a secondary mass--which serves to rotate the clutch plate of a friction clutch--by way of several sets of coil springs and a planetary transmission. A friction clutch serves to oppose certain angular movements of the primary and secondary masses relative to each other, and a slip clutch is provided to limit the magnitude of the torque which can be transmitted by the planetary transmission.

The invention relates to apparatus for damping the fluctuations (such as vibrations and/or peaks) of torque which is being transmitted between a plurality of rotary masses, for example, in a composite flywheel wherein a first or primary mass or flywheel is rotatable with as well as relative to a second or secondary mass or flywheel, or vice versa.
More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus which can be utilized with advantage to oppose undesirable stray movements (such as vibratory movements, abrupt accelerations or abrupt decelerations) of one or more parts which receive torque from a crankshaft, a camshaft or another rotary output element of a prime mover (such as the combustion engine of a motor vehicle) and which serve to transmit torque to an input element (such as the pressure plate or the clutch disc of a friction clutch) which, in turn, transmits torque to one or more rotary input elements of one or more driven assemblies (e.g., a manual, automated or automatic change-speed transmission, a differential, a light generator, an air conditioning system, a constituent of a power steering mechanism and/or others).
It is well known to provide the power train of a motor vehicle with a vibration damping system which is called a composite flywheel and employs two coaxial masses or flywheels (including a primary mass which is attached to the output element of the engine and a secondary mass which can transmit torque to a transmission, e.g., by way of a suitable clutch) which are rotatable with each other as well as relative to each other against the resistance of a damping device or other suitable means for yieldably opposing rotation of the primary and secondary masses relative to each other.
It is also known to employ a damping mechanism which includes a planetary transmission (hereinafter called planetary for short) and energy storing means acting in the circumferential direction of the primary and secondary masses. An advantage of a planetary between the primary and secondary masses of a torsional vibration damping apparatus (as used herein, the term "torsional vibration" is intended to embrace all undesirable stray movements which should not be transmitted from the primary to the secondary mass of a composite flywheel or an analogous vibration damping apparatus or system, e.g., in the power train between the engine and the wheels of a motor vehicle, such as might be caused for example by inertia, inaccurate centering and/or for other reasons) is that the planetary can eliminate or weaken the influence of fluctuations of torque resulting from the inertia of rotating masses and/or from the damping of transmitted torque. Otherwise stated, the planetary can exert a beneficial influence upon the behavior of a torsional vibration damping apparatus as a result of appropriate selection of the transmission ratio.
For example, a presently known torsional vibration damping apparatus which is to be effective between two masses or flywheels adapted to rotate about a common axis with as well as relative to each other is designed to enhance the comfort of the occupant(s) of a motor vehicle in that its energy storing means (e.g., a coil spring or a set of coil springs) is designed in such a way that its spring rate or stiffness is reduced at least within the first stage or portion of its characteristic curve. This can be readily achieved if the energy storing means employs a series of coil springs. Furthermore, such energy storing means can be utilized in conjunction with two masses which are rotatable relative to each other and which can effect a change of the moment of inertia as a function of movement; this can result in a reduction (or even elimination) of peaks (if any) of transmitted torque. Thus, it is possible to equip the power train of a motor vehicle with a composite flywheel which is specifically designed and particularly well suited for use in a specific make of a motor vehicle.
The kinematics of a planetary which operates between the primary and secondary masses of a composite flywheel can be selected to exert a beneficial influence upon the composite flywheel as well as upon the entire power train within a wide range of the magnitudes of transmitted torque. For example, if the planetary is designed in such a way that its input side is being acted upon by mutually opposing damping forces in the free mass, it is possible to reduce the peaks of torque acting upon the output element (such as a camshaft or a crankshaft) of an engine. Furthermore, the planetary can reduce undesirable accelerations of RPM at the output side, i.e., at the side which is remote from the prime mover and serves to transmit torque to a transmission, e.g., by way of a friction clutch or any other suitable clutch. This, in turn, prolongs the useful life of various auxiliary aggregates (such as the aforementioned light generator (dynamo), the air conditioning system, the pump of the power steering mechanism and others) which receive motion from the output element of the engine downstream of the flywheel.
To summarize, available torsional vibration damping apparatus of the above outlined character can take advantage of three important expedients or principles, namely friction, velocity-related damping, and acceleration related damping.
In certain presently known torsional vibration damping apparatus, the primary mass is rotatable relative to at least one carrier forming part of a planetary and mounting at least one planet pinion which meshes with a sun gear or sun wheel and an internal gear or wheel. One of the primary and secondary masses of such apparatus is provided with an abutment which acts upon the energy storing means of the apparatus between the primary and secondary masses whereby the energy storing means bears upon an intermediate mass (e.g., a mass including the sun gear, the planet carrier(s) and the internal gear). The parameters of movement of the intermediate mass vary as a function of variations of the extent and direction of angular displacements of the primary and secondary masses relative to each other.
FIGS. 3 and 4 of German patent No. 31 39 658 C2 illustrate a torsional vibration damping apparatus wherein the primary mass is provided with a friction lining and is fixedly secured to a sun gear on a hub of a secondary mass. The planetary which includes the sun gear further comprises a planet carrier which is secured to the hub and has limited freedom of movement relative to the friction lining. The planet pinions which are mounted on the carrier mesh with the sun gear as well as with an internal gear on one or more covering panels for the hub. The internal gear can turn relative to the hub. The panels have windows for discrete springs of the energy storing means.
In the just described conventional torsional vibration damping apparatus, torque which is being transmitted to the primary mass is transmitted to the sun gear by way of the friction lining. In the event of fluctuations of transmitted torque, the planet pinions rotate relative to the sun gear and relative to the internal gear to thus effect a change in the angular position of the aforementined panels relative to the hub. This entails a stressing of the springs, i.e., the energy storing means is caused to store energy.
By properly selecting the ratio of the planetary, the extent of deformation of the springs in the windows of the panels can be selected in such a way that it is more satisfactory than in a torsional vibration damping apparatus which does not employ a planetary, i.e., wherein the springs of the energy storing means are stressed to an extent which is directly proportional to the extent of angular movement of the primary and secondary masses relative to each other. It has been found that the stressing of springs, which form part of the energy storing means, by way of a planetary is much more effective to reduce or to eliminate the influence of undesirable fluctuations of transmitted torque. However, the just described torsional vibration damping apparatus also exhibit a serious drawback, namely the mass moment of inertia at the output side is small which affects the ability of the patented apparatus to counteract or absorb pronounced fluctuations of transmitted torque.
A torsional vibration damping apparatus which can counteract more pronounced fluctuations of torque and is installed between the primary and secondary masses of such apparatus (e.g., a twin-mass flywheel) is disclosed, for example, in German patent No. 36 30 398 C2. This rather rudimentary apparatus merely employs a set of springs which are stressed to a greater or lesser extent, depending upon the magnitude of the angle of rotation of the primary and secondary masses relative to each other. A drawback of such apparatus is that their ability to absorb or counteract fluctuations of torque is rather limited though they are capable of absorbing some of the fluctuations regardless of their magnitude.
A comparison of torsional vibration damping apparatus which merely employ a set of springs with those which employ energy storing means in conjunction with planetaries indicates that those using planetaries exhibit at least some important advantages including the following:
If the primary mass receives torque so that it begins to rotate relative to the secondary mass (or vice versa), the primary mass transmits a first portion of the torque to the secondary mass whereas the remaining second portion of such torque is transmitted to the aforementioned intermediate mass (which can include the sun gear, the planet carrier and the internal gear of the planetary). The ratio of the first and second portions of the torque being transmitted by the primary mass (as concerns the magnitudes and the directions of action of the first and second portions of the torque) is dependent upon the construction of the planetary and the manner in which the planetary is operatively connected with the primary and/or with the secondary mass. It is possible to design and install the planetary in such a way that the magnitude of the first and/or the second portion of the engine torque being transmitted by an apparatus employing a planetary exceeds the torque being transmitted to the primary mass. However, by mounting the springs of the energy storing means in two sets one of which damps the fluctuations (if any) of the first portion of transmitted torque and the other of which damps the fluctuations of the second portion of transmitted torque, it is possible to ensure that the torque being transmitted by the secondary mass a least approximates the torque being transmitted to the primary mass. The two sets of springs of the energy storing means do not undergo any pronounced deformation but can effect a desirable "smoothing" of the respective portions of the torque being transmitted by the primary mass, i.e., the fluctuations of the torque being transmitted by the secondary mass are or can be much less pronounced than those of the torque being transmitted to and by the primary mass. Moreover, the inertia of the secondary and intermediate masses does not greatly affect the quality of the damping action provided that the magnitudes of the first and second portions of the torque being transmitted by the primary mass are substantial. On the other hand, if the magnitudes of the two portions of the torque being transmitted from the primary mass (a) directly to the secondary mass and (b) to the intermediate mass are relatively small, the difference between the RPM of the secondary mass and the RPM of the intermediate mass is very pronounced with the result that the springs undergo a substantial deformation and the inertia of the secondary and intermediate masses appears to be much greater.
The above enumerated experiences with conventional torsional vibration damping apparatus employing a planetary would indicate that the planetary and its connection with at least one of the primary and secondary masses should be selected with a view to ensure a pronounced damping of the fluctuations of transmitted torque prior to the transmission of the thus influenced torque to the part or parts being driven by the secondary mass. This holds true irrespective of which of the masses (other than the intermediate mass) acts as a primary mass or a secondary mass. It is to be borne in mind that the ratio of a planetary changes when a vehicle is coasting, i.e., if the normally secondary mass serves to transmit torque to the normally primary mass because, in lieu of transmitting motion from the sun gear, to the internal gear the planet pinions then transmit motion from the internal gear to the sun gear (or the other way around).

Apparatus for damping fluctuations of torque


An organozinc species, useful in the reactions of aldehydes and ketones, is a reaction product of a) a biphenyl compound having one or more hindered 2,2'-substituted biphenyl subunits and b) an organozinc compound, such as diethylzinc. The organozinc species catalyzes the reduction of a ketone by a borane, as well as the epoxidation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated compounds by an oxidizing agent, such as O.sub.2 or an alkyl hydroperoxide. The biphenyl compound may be chiral and may catalyze the formation of optically active reaction products.

Catalysts are an important component of many chemical reactions as they typically increase the rate of the reaction. They may also inhibit the formation of competing products as there is less time for significant product formation by competing reactions. Beyond improving reaction rate and enhancing product yield, catalysts may also provide an enantioselective mechanism for obtaining an optically active product. Often an enantioselective catalyst is itself chiral and optically active. There is a need for the development of enantioselective catalysts to catalyze reactions resulting in optically active products. Many naturally occurring and biologically active molecules are optically active and many reaction mechanisms, especially biological reactions, only function with compounds having a specific enantiomeric configuration.
Polymeric catalysts may be useful in large-scale industrial applications. It is often easy to separate the polymeric catalyst from the products of the catalyzed reaction as a polymeric catalyst has special solubility properties because of its macromolecular nature. In addition, removal of the polymeric catalyst by filtration is typically enhanced because of the polymer's large size. Furthermore, studies have also shown that polymer-supported catalysts may have more durable catalytic activity than monomeric metal complexes. It is, however, often difficult to predict the activity of a polymeric catalysts from knowledge about the monomer.
A number of catalysts are organometallic species, which are formed by the combination of an organic molecule or polymer and a metallic compound, cation, or complex. Organozinc species are known catalysts in the alkylation of aldehydes, see reviews by Soai, et al., Chem. Rev., 92, 833 (1992) and Noyori, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 30, 49 (1991) and the reduction of ketones, see review by Deloux, et al., Chem. Rev., 93, 763 (1993). Both monomeric and polymeric catalysts are known. However, the polymeric catalysts that have been studied are primarily known chiral catalysts of the reaction which are covalently bonded to an achiral polymeric backbone, such as polyethylene or polystyrene. See e.g., Soai, et al., Chem. Rev., 92, 833 (1992) and D. Seebach, Helvetica Chimica Acta, 79, 1710 (1996). A polymeric chiral catalyst with a backbone structure that is sterically regular could potentially provide better enantioselectivity or catalytic activity than chiral molecules merely attached as pendent groups on a polymer backbone.
Because of the enhanced reaction rate and decreased formation of side products, and, in the case of chiral catalysts, potential enhanced enantioselectivity, there is a need for the development of new catalysts which may provide improved reaction times, yields, or enantioselectivity to the reactions. Furthermore, there is a need for new catalysts which may be useful with a variety of substrates.

Chiral organozinc species for use in asymmetric reactions


The disclosure discloses a motor including a stator and a mover. The stator and the mover are arranged facing each other so as to be relatively movable via a magnetic air gap. Any one of the stator and the mover includes a yoke, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of coils. The plurality of teeth are disposed protruding from the yoke to the magnetic air gap side. The plurality of coils are wound around the plurality of teeth. The plurality of coils include, for each phase, coil groups. Each of the coil groups includes a plurality of the coils. The coils are continuously arranged along the relative movement direction and are in-phase with each other and have the same wire diameter with each other. The coil group includes at least one the coil in which a coil width is larger than a teeth pitch.

1. Field of the Invention
A disclosed embodiment relates to an AC motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a prior art, there is described a technique which relates to a three-phase armature winding having three continuous in-phase coils, and more particularly applies degree of freedom to a number of turns of the coil without lowering a space factor, by winding with coils having two kinds of wire diameters.


A magnetooptical recording magnetic head is provided with a base, a core, a coil wound on the core, and a driving device for driving the coil. The core provided on the base is formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic thin films with a high permeability and a high saturation magnetic flux density so as to sandwich insulating films therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetooptical recording magnetic head and a magnetooptical recording apparatus for recording information signals in a magnetooptical recording medium in accordance with a magnetic field modulating scheme.
2. Related Background Art
A magnetooptical recording apparatus using a magnetic field modulating scheme is known as a magnetooptical recording apparatus for recording information in a magnetooptical recording medium, such as a magnetooptical disk, at a high density. In this scheme, laser light converged into a light spot about 1 .mu.m in diameter is irradiated onto a recording medium, and a magnetic head applies a magnetic field modulated by an information signal onto a portion irradiated with the laser light, thereby recording the information signal.
A generally known magnetooptical recording apparatus of the magnetic field modulating type has an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1. A magnetooptical recording medium 1 used in this apparatus is a disk-like medium manufactured by forming a signal recording layer on a transparent substrate. The disk 1 is rotated by a spindle motor 2. During this rotation, a floating magnetic head 3 is located on the upper surface side of the disk 1, and an optical head 4 is located on the lower surface side of the disk 1 at a position opposite to the floating magnetic head 3. The magnetic head 3 is held at the distal end of a suspension 5, and the fixed ends of the optical head 4 and the suspension 5 are connected to each other by a connecting member 6, thereby constituting a magnetooptical unit. The connecting member 6 is mounted on a linear motor 7. The optical head 4 and the magnetic head 3 are therefore driven by the linear motor 7 to together move in the radial direction of the disk 1.
To record an information signal on the disk 1 in the above magnetooptical recording apparatus of the magnetic field modulating type, the optical head 4 irradiates laser light 8 onto the signal recording layer of the disk 1 while the disk 1 is rotated at a high speed by the spindle motor 2, thereby forming an image of the laser light as a light spot about 1 .mu.m in diameter on the signal recording layer. This consequently increases the temperature of the signal recording layer up to the Curie temperature or more. At the same time, the magnetic head 3 is driven by a magnetic head driving means 9 to apply a bias magnetic field modulated in accordance with the information signal to the portion whose temperature is raised. As a result, the direction of magnetization of the signal recording layer is pointed in the direction of the bias magnetic field to thereby record the information signal on the signal recording layer.
The arrangement of the magnetooptical recording magnetic head 3 used in the above magnetooptical recording apparatus is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the overall magnetic head, and FIG. 2A is an enlarged view showing a core of the magnetic head. This core C is generally made of ferrite with a high permeability. A coil W is wound around the main magnetic pole of the core C. The magnetic head moves while floating with a small gap kept with respect to the disk by means of an air stream produced by the high-speed rotation of the disk. The magnetic head, therefore, has a slider SL with an aerodynamic floating surface. The slider SL consists of a nonmagnetic material, such as ceramic. The core C and the slider SL are fused to each other via glass G.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the recording current flowing through a coil of a conventional magnetooptical recording magnetic head and the generating magnetic field of the magnetic head. FIG. 3 shows an example of conventional, standard magnetic heads in which a core consists of ferrite with a saturation magnetic flux density of 5 kG, the dimensions of a magnetic pole are 0.15 mm.times.0.15 mm, and the number of turns of a coil is 20. Generally, it is necessary to apply a bias magnetic field of 200 to 300 Oe in order to perform signal recording on a magnetooptical disk in a good condition. The graph shown in FIG. 3 demonstrates that the generating magnetic field is proportional to the recording current when the recording current is small, and is saturated with an increase in the recording current. This is so because the magnetic flux density inside the core cannot increase beyond the saturation magnetic flux density of ferrite.
In addition, the magnitude of the saturation magnetic field depends on the frequency f of the recording signal as shown in FIG. 3; the higher the frequency f, the lower the saturation magnetic field. Such a phenomenon is caused because a high-frequency loss (which is primarily a property inherent in the magnetic material forming the core) of the magnetic head increases to cause the magnetic head to generate heat as the frequency f of the recording signal rises, and the saturation magnetic flux density of ferrite forming the core decreases accordingly. As an example, FIG. 4 shows the temperature dependency of a saturation magnetic flux density Bs of ferrite used in a core of a conventional magnetooptical recording magnetic head. As shown in FIG. 4, although the saturation magnetic flux density Bs of ferrite is 5 kG at room temperature (25.degree. C.), it decreases with an increase in temperature and becomes approximately 3 kG at 100.degree. C.
A strong demand has recently arisen for higher-speed signal recording in such a magnetooptical recording apparatus, and so it becomes necessary to raise the frequency of a recording signal accordingly. If the frequency of a recording signal is raised as described above, however, the saturation magnetic field is lowered by an increase in the high-frequency loss of the magnetic head. For example, if the frequency of a recording signal is increased up to 10 MHz or more as shown in FIG. 3, it is impossible to obtain a generating magnetic field of 200 Oe or more which is required to perform signal recording in a good condition even at the maximum recording current. As described above, higher-speed signal recording is impossible because the frequency of a recording signal is limited by the performance of the magnetic head.

Magnetooptical recording head for a recording apparatus including a laminated core having a plurality of magnetic thin films sandwiching insulating films therebetween


A memory card connector has an ejection mechanism comprising an extraction plate which is mounted across a frame defining a card receiving compartment for reciprocal movement in the card insertion direction and has card releasing hooks for engaging the mating end of the card and a flange connecting to a driven rack of a rack and pinion mechanism a driving rack of which extends from a card release button exposed at the front of the compartment. The ejection mechanism is housed in a compartment formed in the frame laterally of the card receiving compartment and substantially coplanar therewith.

Memory cards containing integrated circuitry, (e.g. flash memory), which are approximately the same size as credit or business cards, have recently been adopted for use as a memory medium for small computers (e.g. notebook or laptop computers, electronic notebooks). Such memory cards have a series of pin receiving sockets in a mating end which releasably mate with pin contacts anchored in circuit boards of the computer.
A prior memory card connector is described in Japanese Utility Model Bulletin No. 63-69375, published May 10, 1988, and comprises frame means providing a memory card receiving compartment having a front end formed with an elongate memory card receiving mouth, a rear end with mateable, electrical connecting means extending thereacross, and memory card guiding means extending rearwardly in a memory card insertion direction away from the mouth towards the electrical connecting means.
In using such connector, the memory card is manually inserted into the memory card receiving compartment and pushed rearwardly bringing the sockets into mating engagement with the contact pins. However, to release the memory card it is necessary to provide an ejection mechanism to overcome the pin retention force of the sockets so that, subsequently, the memory card can easily be removed by hand from the connector. Such ejection mechanism should apply an evenly distributed extraction force to the memory card to avoid skewing of the memory card during extraction and possible consequential distortion of the contacts.
In the prior document, the ejection mechanism comprises a pair of extraction parts aligned to engage the mating face on the left and right of the socket series, the extraction parts being connected to driven racks mounted in the frame for reciprocal movement in the insertion direction, a pair of pinions meshing with respective rack teeth and with driving rack teeth on respective opposite sides of an operating part extending rearwardly from a release button.
In order to extract the memory card from the connector, the release button is depressed manually, actuating the racks and pinions causing the extraction parts to push the memory card out of of mating engagement with the pin contacts.
However, in the arrangement taught by the prior document, the rack and pinion mechanism and button are located above the memory card, undesirably increasing the height (thickness) of the connector which should be minimal for many applications


A structure intends to arrange the appearance of furniture at a connecting portion between a first member having stiffness and a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness without forming the connecting portion in an unnaturally large diameter. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure for connecting members comprising: a first member having stiffness; a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness; and a spring member in which an end portion thereof is connected to the first member and other end portion thereof is connected to the second member so as to accumulate a reaction force by elastic deformation, wherein the spring member is formed into a frame-like shape extending along the first and second members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for connecting members wherein a first member is connected to a second member movable relative to the first member via a spring member capable of storing a reaction force by elastic deformation.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a structure for connecting a first member having stiffness and a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness via a spring member disposed between the first and second members and capable of accumulating reaction force by elastic deformation, a variety of examples have been contemplated. For example, a structure in which the first member and second member are connected pivotably at their end portions and a twisting coil spring is disposed at this pivoting portion has been contemplated (see for example Japanese Patent No. 2616332 (see particularly paragraph 0020)).
Then, in the structure described in the Japanese Patent No. 2616332, the twisting coil spring needs to be disposed as well as a pivoting shaft on which the first and second members are connected, between the first and second members. If such a twisting coil spring is exposed outside, substance may go into between the twisting coil spring and pivoting shaft so that a relative movement between the first and second members becomes unsmooth, which is a problem to be solved. On the other hand, if a cover for wrapping such a twisting coil spring is provided, that cover needs to be provided in the vicinity of the pivoting shaft, so that apparently the diameter near the pivoting shaft increases largely as compared with the widths of the first and second members thereby generating such a disadvantage that its appearance is poor to see.


Systems and methodologies associated with providing additional functionality to a conventional SAS expander are described. One exemplary SAS expander embodiment includes logic for selectively performing source identifier checking for frames received at the SAS expander. The logic may also facilitate selectively performing explicit route checking for frames received at the SAS expander. In one example, the logic may also facilitate selectively providing VLAN-like services to devices connected to the SAS expander.

Devices may be connected to other devices. The devices may include, for example, servers, operating systems, disks, volumes, and so on. Thus, "device", as used herein may refer to a physical (e.g., server, disk) and/or logical (e.g., operating system, volume) entity. There are different ways to connect devices (e.g., SCSI (small computer systems interface), ATA (advanced technology attachment)).
Another way to connect devices is using serial attached SCSI (SAS). The SAS specification defines an external connector and cabling system for box-to-box connections required by SCSI applications. Such point-to-point (P2P) configurations achieve high bandwidth but may require intermediary devices between initiator devices like servers and target devices like disks. Thus, the SAS specification defines an expander for use in the SAS environment. SAS expanders may function as the intermediary devices. These SAS expanders facilitate architecting systems in which a set of initiators (e.g., blade servers) may have a set of connections to a set of targets (e.g., disks).
SAS devices contain virtual constructs called ports. Ports include PHYs. A PHY includes a transceiver—a transmitter and a receiver—through which signals can be transmitted to and/or received from another PHY. A physical link attaches two PHYs together. SAS ports and SAS expanders have unique SAS addresses (e.g., 64 bit SAS address). Similarly, PHYs have unique identifiers. Thus, a port, as a virtual construct, may include groups of PHYs with the same SAS address that can be attached to another group of PHYs sharing an SAS address.
An end device is an SAS device that is not an expander device. Example end devices include a host bus adapter (HBA), a disk drive, a blade server, and so on. End devices may be connected directly to an HBA, in which case the number of SAS physical links available through the HBA limits the size of the SAS domain (e.g., 16 devices). Alternatively, end devices may be connected indirectly to an HBA through SAS expanders. In this way the potential size of an SAS domain can be increased (e.g., 16,000 devices).
A conventional SAS expander can be viewed as a switch having a set of ports and logic that implements part of an SAS protocol. The switch enables multiple point to point connections to be made from a single HBA enclosure and for multiple SAS devices to be aggregated into an SAS domain.
SAS expanders may be configured so that end devices (not SAS expanders) connecting to the SAS expanders may be either SAS devices or SATA (serial ATA) devices. The SAS expanders may be fan-out expanders and/or edge expanders. Generally, an SAS domain may include one fan-out expander and one or more edge expanders. A fan-out expander may connect to a maximum of 128 SAS devices which may include combinations of initiators, targets, and edge expanders. An edge expander may in turn be connected to a maximum of 128 SAS devices, which may include no more than one other expander. Thus, a fan-out expander connected to 128 edge connectors, each of which is in turn connected to 127 fan-out devices, would describe an SAS domain with over 16,000 devices.
Addressing such a large number of devices in an SAS domain may include using globally unique identifiers like worldwide names (WWN) for the SAS devices. Therefore, many SCSI devices come pre-configured with WWNs. When a system described by an SAS domain is being powered-on, the SAS devices in the system discover and establish connections with each other. During the discovery phase, WWNs may be exchanged so that the number and type(s) of devices connected in the SAS domain can be determined. As they are discovered, paths between initiators and targets may be stored, for example, in routing tables in SAS expanders. Conventionally, all initiators are given access to all targets.
SAS uses three different protocols to transport information. SSP (Serial SCSI Protocol) supports SCSI devices, drives, and so on. STP (Serial ATA Tunneling Protocol) supports ATA devices, drives, and so on. SMP (Serial Management Protocol) supports SAS expanders and manages SAS's point to point topology.
SAS protocols may be viewed as having four layers: a PHY layer, a link layer, a port layer, and a transport layer. An SAS port may implement these four layers. The transport layer encapsulates commands, data, status and the like into SAS frames (data packets) and assigns them to the port layer. The transport layer receives SAS frames from the port layer, extracts data from the frames, and sends the data to an application layer. The port layer receives packets from the transport layer and sends messages to the link layer. These messages may facilitate, for example, establishing connections. The port layer may also select PHYs through which frames may be transmitted. The port layer may also receive signals from the link layer and provide packets to the transport layer. The link layer facilitates controlling the PHY layer for connection management. The PHY layer includes hardware like transceivers that facilitate connecting to a physical interface and thus physically sending and/or receiving signals.
Conventionally, the SAS standard is functionally permissive and thus may facilitate connecting all sources to all targets. A conventional SAS expander may have no processor and little memory. Additionally, a conventional SAS expander may be configured to allow other devices to manipulate its memory, in particular a routing table located in the memory on the SAS expander. Thus, the SAS expander may have little, if any, ability to control (e.g., allow, prevent) certain devices from communicating with other devices, to facilitate isolating devices physically and/or logically, to provide basic security features, and the like.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A supplementary service, such as H.450 in a specific embodiment, test client is provided. The H.450 test client can send and receive H.450 application protocol data units in any H.225 message. The test client allows for the setting of desired H.450 parameters and allows for the display of the H.450 message itself.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunication systems and, particularly, to a system and method for sending messages from an application to signaling entities and, for particular embodiments, the sending of APDUs between H.323/H.450 endpoints.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1), described in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) X.680 and X.691 specifications, defines a data structure protocol for describing messages to be exchanged between distributed computer systems. ASN.1 defines data units independently of system architecture. Because of this, ASN.1 is used to generate programming language code that forms the core of a wide variety of messaging systems applications, including ITU-T Recommendation H.323.
The ITU-T Recommendation H.323 is a group of specifications defining the operation of a multimedia communication system over packet networks. The ITU-T Recommendation H.323 specifies H.245 control signaling for negotiation of media channel usage, Q.931 (H.225.0) for call signaling and call setup, H.225.0 Registration, Admission, and Status (RAS), H.450 for supplementary services, and RTP/RTCP for sequencing audio and video packets. An exemplary system implementing the Recommendation H.323 is the HiPath™ 5500 system, available from Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
H.323-based systems use ASN.1 coded messages and protocol state machines for describing the application protocol data units (APDU) or packets of data used for signaling between H.323 endpoints, servers, gateways, and gatekeepers.
The processing of H.323 ASN.1 messages is typically implemented in a protocol stack, and its functions are accessed by application programs through application programming interfaces (API). The software primitives of the APIs are typically written with programming languages, such as C, C++, and Java, and all the associated parameters are expressed and declared in the corresponding language.
Whenever new features, such as new parameters or completely new supplementary services are added to the protocol stack of a software product, such as an H.323 application, software changes must be done in three layers: new functional entities must be added to the protocol stack; new parameters or programming primitives must be added to the API; and applications and their user interfaces must be changed or enhanced to allow user access to the new features. Each operation carried out by the new feature must be callable via an API that must be explicitly exported to the application. The changes must be made at the source code level, and the new software system must be recompiled and linked together and loaded to the customer's target system.
Thus, changes and additions to the software require replacement of the software in the target system. While software can be downloaded remotely, an interruption of the target system's operation occurs, which can hinder the simple "plugging in" of new features to the system.
Moreover, unless the API is modified, the application cannot access new features. Thus, even relatively small changes and additions to the signaling protocols and related protocol stacks require relatively high development effort, since the API source code must be modified.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for updating the protocol stack of an API based software product. There is particularly a need for an improved method for updating the processing of ASN.1 messages in an H.323 telecommunications system.
Further, as is known, H.225 messages are used for call signaling to establish a connection between endpoints. Initially, an H.225.0 RAS (registration, admission, status) channel is established between an endpoint and a gatekeeper (in the gatekeeper-routed call model). After the RAS signaling channel is established, an H.225.0 call signaling channel is established between endpoints. H.225.0 call signaling messages include SETUP, ALERTING, CONNECT, RELEASE COMPLETE, and FACILITY. The user-user information element of an H.225 message can carry an H.450 APDU (application protocol data unit) for H.450 supplementary services. Such services are call-related services beyond the basic call and can include Call Forwarding, Call Transfer, Call Waiting, Message Waiting Indication, Conference, and the like.
As can be appreciated, newly implemented H.450 supplementary service features must be tested with all possible normal and exceptional events. To perform these tests, various H.450 messages must be sent and received by the endpoints. As such, there is a need for a system and method for sending, receiving, and displaying such test messages.

System and method for analyzing and generating supplementary service data units in packet based multimedia communications systems


Methods and compositions are described for organizing nanoparticles or microparticles into nanostructures or microstructures using collagen as a template.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are hexagonal networks of carbon atoms forming seamless tubes, and each end can be capped with half of a fullerene molecule. They were first reported in 1991 by Sumio Iijima who produced multi-layer concentric tubes or multi-walled CNTs by evaporating carbon in an arc discharge. CNTs possess certain electronic and mechanical properties, making them candidates for applications relating to composite materials, nanoelectronics, sensors, and electron field emitters. CNTs can be utilized individually or as an ensemble to build a variety of devices. For instance, individual nanotubes have been used as tips for scanning probe microscopy and as mechanical nano-tweezers. Ensembles of nanotubes have been used for field emission based flat-panel displays, and bulk quantities of nanotubes may be used as a high-capacity hydrogen storage media. The electronic behavior of CNTs is closely related to their structure, i.e., tip curvature, radius and composition, nanotube length, and chirality. Thus, there is a need for methods of arranging CNT structural elements, such as for electronic applications, including the development of field emission devices (FEDs). However, there is no existing method capable of organizing nanotubes, especially over large scales.


A method of routing an integrated circuit design includes steps of receiving as input at least a portion of an integrated circuit design including at least two separate routing rules assigned to the same net for routing the integrated circuit design, formulating a single combined routing rule as a function of content of each of the separate routing rules, and generating as output the combined routing rule and a routing rule assignment that assigns the combined routing rule to the net.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the design and manufacture of integrated circuits. More specifically, but without limitation thereto, the present invention is directed to a method of detailed routing of an integrated circuit design.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical design cycle for manufacturing an integrated circuit, each net in the integrated circuit design is routed according to specific routing rules. In addition to the standard routing rules that are typically provided in a physical design database used to manufacture the integrated circuit, special routing rules may be required, for example, to satisfy timing constraints in a specific circuit design. The special routing rules typically include variables such as net spacing and trace width that affect the routing based on properties of the net being routed and net constraints such as metal layers in which certain routing rules are to be applied.

Method and computer program for detailed routing of an integrated circuit design with multiple routing rules and net constraints


An analyte measuring device (5) for monitoring, for example, levels of a tissue analyte (e.g., bilirubin), includes a number of narrow band light sources (10), each narrow band light source being structured to emit a spectrum of light covering a number of wavelengths, and a number of detector assemblies (15) configured to receive light reflected from the transcutaneous tissues of a subject. Each of the detector assemblies includes a filter (20) and a photodetector (25), each filter being structured to transmit a main transmission band and one or more transmission sidebands, wherein for each narrow band light source the spectrum thereof includes one or more wavelengths that fall within the transmission band of at least one of the filters, and wherein for each narrow band light source the spectrum thereof does not include any wavelengths that fall within the one or more transmission sidebands of any of the optical filters.

Neonatal jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and other tissues of a newborn infant. Typically, a bilirubin level of more than 5 mg/dL manifests clinical jaundice in neonates. Management of jaundiced neonates typically requires the measurement and monitoring of total serum bilirubin (TSB), which is most commonly determined by analyzing a plasma or serum sample from the infant. However, as will be appreciated, the drawing of blood from infants for such an analysis causes pain and trauma. This fact has lead to the development of a number of non-invasive techniques for estimation of TSB.

Apparatus and method for measuring an analyte such as bilirubin, using light


A connector interface provides direct connection from a wireless communication device to a coaxial connector. The wireless communication device has a housing with an antenna connector. The antenna connector has a hollow pseudo-cylindrical center providing an opening through the housing. The connector interface has a custom connector comprised of an outer conductive shell, a nonconductive spacer and a ground probe. The outer conductive shell is mounted on the printed circuit board. The nonconductive spacer is disposed within the hollow pseudo-cylindrical center of the outer conductive shell. When the connector interface is connected to the wireless communication device, the outer conductive shell contacts the antenna connector and the ground probe extends through the opening into the housing to connect electrically to a ground potential within the housing.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication devices and production testing thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved dual purpose connection for a wireless communication device which interfaces with an antenna in normal use and interfaces with a connector interface during production testing.
II. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication devices are becoming increasingly prevalent, with cellular telephones being a particularly notable example. With these devices, radio-frequency (RF) signals are transmitted and received to create a communication link to the device. During the manufacture of such devices, it is necessary to functionally test the RF signal generation and reception circuitry as well as the signal processing circuitry prior to shipment of the device to a customer.
The typical testing procedure for such devices includes placing a small test antenna near the antenna installed on the wireless communication device. Test signals are passed between the two antennas to test sensitivity, output power, and other parameters of the RF circuitry and signal processing circuitry of the device. One such wireless communication device is a portable cellular telephone. A single cellular telephone may have two antennas each of which may be used to transmit and receive RF signals. These two antennas are typically embodied in a single antenna assembly such as a retractable monopole whip antenna for normal RF transmission and a small helical antenna which remains external to the telephone body, even when the monopole whip antenna is retracted within the telephone body. Either the monopole whip antenna or the helical antenna may be used to transfer RF signals during normal operation. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,036 to Baldry. In addition, the helical antenna may be used for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a test antenna. Although acceptably precise measurements of cellular telephone performance characteristics can be made with this system under some conditions, it is difficult to prevent the accumulation of small errors in the manufacturing environment which degrade the quality of the results obtained. Furthermore, in the manufacturing environment, where many devices may be tested simultaneously, interference from neighboring RF sources can affect measurement accuracy.
In spite of the drawbacks of testing by the coupling of two antennas, wireless communication devices have not generally included suitable interface hardware for testing which does not rely on such coupling. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,162 to Korovesis, et al., these problems are considered in conjunction with the testing of cellular telephones mounted inside vehicles. In this case, the whip antenna is usually provided on an exterior surface of the vehicle, such as the rear window, to transfer the RF signals outside of the vehicle itself. In particular, Korovesis et al. describe an RF coupler with a ground plane having a hole in its center which is placed over the whip antenna interface on the rear window prior to installation of the whip. A semicircular contact is placed in electrical contact with the antenna interface base. Although this apparatus allows telephone testing without using the antenna, interference can still be a problem. To help minimize such interference, a mesh EMI shield is preferably placed over the test apparatus during use. The present invention is substantially less cumbersome compared to such an arrangement.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need in the technology for a means and method for providing a connection between a wireless device under test and standard test equipment which overcomes the cumbersome nature of the prior art and which eliminates the need for radiated fields. The present invention provides a direct and efficient connection which is suitable for the production environment and which does not require an additional port on the device.

Method and apparatus for providing a dual purpose connection for interface with an antenna or connection interface


A developing device includes a first agitating member and a second agitating member. Each of the first and second agitating members includes a screw having a helical portion formed helically so as to define a hollow portion, and a plurality of ribs formed on the helical portion in the longitudinal direction of the screw. On at least one of the first and second agitating members, there is disposed a paddle opposed to the communicating portion on a downstream side in a transport direction of the developing powder. The paddle has a flat surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a width of a distal end of the paddle is smaller than a width of a proximal end of the paddle disposed to the agitating member in a plan view.

The present disclosure relates to a developing device used for a copier, a printer, a facsimile, a multifunctional peripheral thereof, and the like, and to an image forming apparatus including the same.
There is known a developing device having a structure in which two transport paths extending close to each other in parallel are disposed for circulating and agitating developing powder, and the developing powder is circulated in the two transport paths by agitating members disposed in the individual transport paths. In this developing device, partition walls are opened to form communicating portions on both ends in a longitudinal direction of the two transport paths so that the developing powder circulates in the two transport paths. The developing powder is transported by the agitating member in the longitudinal direction in the transport path. In order to transport the developing powder to the other transport path, it is necessary to transport the developing powder in the communicating portion in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction in the transport path. When the transport direction of the developing powder is largely changed in the communicating portion in this way, the developing powder may stagnate in the communicating portion.
Therefore, there is known a developing device to resolve the stagnation of the developing powder in the communicating portion. The developing device includes communicating portions opening both ends in the longitudinal direction of the neighboring first and second transport paths, and agitating members disposed in the transport paths for agitating the developing powder to transport the same in the transport paths in the longitudinal direction. The agitating member includes a helical screw disposed on a rotation shaft portion, and a rectangular flat plate paddle disposed to the rotation shaft portion to be opposed to the communicating portion. When the screw rotates, the developing powder is transported in the transport path in the longitudinal direction, and the developing powder is transported from the transport path to the communicating portion by rotation of the paddle. By disposing the paddle to the agitating member in this way, stagnation of the developing powder in the communicating portion is resolved.
However, in the above-mentioned developing device, when the developing powder such as magnetic toner having a relatively low fluidity is agitated and is transported in the transport path in the longitudinal direction, the developing powder may be coagulated by frictional heat between the agitating member and the developing powder. When the developing powder is transported from one of the transport paths to the other transport path via the communicating portion by rotation of the paddle, the coagulated developing powder may adhere to the paddle, or the coagulated developing powder may adhere to the side end surface of the paddle formed in a rectangular shape. As a result, there is an inconvenience that the developing powder can be hardly transported smoothly in the communicating portion.

Developing device and image forming apparatus including the same


A reference signal including a quality indication is injected into the reverse link signal received at a base station. The transmit power of the reference signal is controlled by the base station through reverse link power control, and the base station estimates the reverse link load from the transmit power of the reference signal. As the load increases, the transmit power must increase to overcome interference. The reference signal may be generated by a signal generator within the base station; by a mobile station hardwired to the base station; or by a mobile station proximate the base station, sending the reference signal over the air interface. The reverse link load may be estimated directly from reference signal transmit power, or from the reference signal transmit power minus a minimum reference signal transmit power in the absence of interference.

The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless communications and in particular to a method of reverse link load estimation using a reference signal.
Modern cellular wireless communication networks provide voice and data communication services to mobile stations throughout a geographic area, such as a cell or sector. Voice and data are transmitted on dedicated channels and on shared packet data channels from base stations to mobile stations within their coverage area. This is known as the forward link. Voice and data are also transmitted from mobile stations to one or more base stations, known as the reverse link.
For efficient and stable operation, it is imperative that the base station maintain an accurate estimate of the reverse link load. As used herein, the "load" is a measure of how congested, or how close to full capacity, a network, cell, or sector is at any given time. More specifically, the load is defined as the ratio of total received power at the base station to the thermal noise power. The total received signal power includes all received signals from mobile stations reaching the base station and the thermal noise. When this ratio is small, the load is defined as being low. Conversely, when the ratio is high, the load is defined as high. The reverse link load ratio is also known in the art as the rise-over-thermal (ROT).
Accurate estimation of the reverse link load is important for several reasons. First, it is used to help maintain system stability. For example, if the reverse link load becomes high, congestion control may be initiated to reduce the load. Second, knowledge of the reverse link load may help the wireless network run more efficiently at a finer time scale level (e.g., 800 Hz). For example, a sector with a low reverse link load over several 1.25 millisecond periods may allow traffic channels such as the reverse packet data channel (R-PDCH) to broadcast at higher rates, thus increasing the load. Third, the level of an "uncertainty buffer"—the back-off from a threshold indicating a highly loaded condition—may be reduced. The uncertainty buffer level must be increased as the load estimation accuracy decreases. Fourth, accurate reverse link load estimation may assist admission control and load balancing. These benefits are similar to improved system stability and efficiency, but at a larger time scale. For example, if the reverse link load of one carrier is high, with a highly accurate estimation, an incoming call request from a user may be diverted to an alternate carrier.
Current methods of estimating the reverse link load suffer from unacceptable inaccuracies. In one prior art technique, received signal power is directly measured, such as at the output of an automated gain control (AGC) circuit in the base station. This gives an inaccurate estimate of the reverse link load, particularly with respect to temperature changes. In another prior art approach, the absolute sector received power estimate (RSSI over all mobile stations) is calculated. However, each mobile station's received signal strength is a poor indicator of the reverse link load. Still another prior art approach utilizes the received signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) information of demodulated signals. This provides an inaccurate measure of reverse link load since the SINR information of non-demodulated signals is necessarily taken into account. Another approach that yields an inaccurate estimate of the reverse link load is the target load sum: sum_k [SINR_k/(1+SINR_k)] using set points. Still another inaccurate prior art reverse link load estimate is the energy sum—using received SINR_k (or Eb/Nt).
Reverse link power control is well known in CDMA systems. The base station sends power control information to each mobile terminal in a cell or sector at the rate of 800 Hz in CDMA 2000, and 1500 Hz in WCDMA. If the base station can clearly decode the information from a mobile terminal, it directs the mobile terminal to reduce its transmit power on the reverse link. If the base station detects errors in the signal received from the mobile terminal, it directs the mobile terminal to increase its transmit power. The base station uses a quality indication from the mobile terminal to determine whether there are errors in the received signal, and therefore to determine how to control the reverse link power level for the mobile terminal.
Reverse link power control is related to the reverse link load. As the reverse link load increases, more interference exists on the reverse link, degrading the quality of signals received by the base station from each mobile terminal in the cell or sector. Consequently, the base station must direct each mobile terminal to increase its transmit power in order to be able to decode the reverse link signals.

Reverse link load estimation using reference signal


To reduce the effect on the communication performance of an antenna to secure a good communication state with respect to the antenna. An acoustic output device includes a speaker for outputting sound, a cell having one surface facing in a facing direction represented by a predetermined direction,

There are acoustic output devices used as headphones or earphones mounted on heads to output sound from speakers. In recent years, the acoustic output devices have been used increasingly in an outdoor mode as well as an indoor mode.
Some acoustic output devices have an antenna that sends and receives signals and a cell as an electric power source for supplying electric power to various parts, other than a speaker for outputting sound and a control board for controlling operation of the speaker, etc. (see, for example, PTL 1, paragraph 0067, etc.).
An acoustic output device with an antenna is able to send signals to and receive signals from a communication device such as a portable device via wireless communication or the like. For example, the acoustic output device can receive music data, i.e., a sound signal, sent from the communication device and output the received music data as sound from a speaker. Acoustic output devices of the type used as a pair of left and right ones are capable of sending a signal received by one of the antennas from the one of the antennas to the other antenna, so that they can output sound in a stereo mode.

Abstract: a control board for controlling predetermined parts, and an antenna for sending and receiving signals, the antenna having at least a portion spaced from the control board and the cell. The cell and the control board are positioned side by side with each other in directions different from thicknesswise directions of the control board. The facing direction is different from the directions in which the cell and the control board are side by side with each other. The antenna is positioned side by side with at least one of the control board or the cell in the thicknesswise directions or the facing direction.