An ion generator used for supplying an ionized air to an intake section of a combustion apparatus such as combustion engines and the like. In an air-flow passage within a casing, a high-voltage generator is disposed on the upstream side whereas an ionization electrode is disposed on the downstream side. A gap for the air-flow passage is defined between the high-voltage generator and the casing so as to allow for the air-cooling of the high-voltage generator. The ionization electrode has its outside electrode set to the negative pole and its inside electrode set to the positive pole so as to prevent the occurrence of plasma discharge in a space pace other than that between the both electrodes. This is effective to prevent the high-voltage generator from being overheated, thus contributing to an increased service life thereof.

The present invention relates to an ion generator for use in a combustion apparatus, such as internal combustion engines and the like, the generator adapted to ionize air introduced into a casing for supplying the ionized air to an air intake section of the combustion apparatus.
Heretofore, ion generators have been provided in the art for supplying ionized air to intake manifolds of internal combustion engines so as to enhance the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engines as the combustion apparatus with the aim of improving the fuel economy and reducing the air pollution. Such an ion generator has been disclosed by, for example, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No.3(1991)-39192.
The ion generator disclosed in this publication comprises, as shown in FIG. 12, a casing 91 including an intake port 92 formed in one end surface thereof, an exhaust port 93 formed in the opposite end surface thereof, an air-flow passage extending between the air intake port 92 and the exhaust port 93, and an ionization electrode 94 disposed in the air-flow passage. The ionization electrode 94 is comprised of a cylindrical outside electrode 94a surrounding the air-flow passage and an inside electrode 94b disposed inside of the outside electrode 94a and composed of a plurality of star-shaped electrodes. The air flowing through the air-flow passage is ionized by plasma discharge between the outside electrode 94a and the inside electrode 94b. The air thus ionized is supplied to an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine via the exhaust port 93.
The casing 91 further contains therein a high-voltage generator 95 for supplying a high voltage to the ionization electrode 94. The high-voltage generator 95 is formed by first placing its components in the casing 91 and then molding the components with an insulating resin material. The high-voltage generator 95 has its positive pole connected to the outside electrode 94a of the ionization electrode 94 and its negative pole connected to the inside electrode 94b, respectively.
The ionization electrode 94 is accommodated in a vessel 96 formed of an insulating resin material, thus insulated from the casing 91, which is comprised of an aluminum die-cast product.
Unfortunately, however, the ion generator of the above construction has suffered a short service life of the high-voltage generator 95 for supplying the high voltage to the ionization electrode 94 to effect plasma discharge. Intensive studies have clarified the cause of such a reduced service life of the high-voltage generator. That is, the outside electrode 94a of the ionization electrode 94 is set to the positive pole while the casing 91 is mounted to the vehicle body as grounded. Therefore, additionally to the plasma discharge between the outside electrode 94a and the inside electrode 94b, there occurs another plasma discharge between the outside electrode 94a and the casing 91, so that heat resulted from the former plasma discharge combines with heat resulted from the latter to overheat the high-voltage generator 95.


Aspects for consumer product distribution in the embedded system market are described. The aspects include forming a secure network for distributing product digitation files capable of configuring operations of an adaptive computing engine (ACE), and providing an agent server within the secure network for controlling licenses of the product digitation files, wherein a separation of responsibility and control of the distributing and licensing exists.

The electronics industry has become increasingly driven to meet the demands of high-volume consumer applications, which comprise a majority of the embedded systems market. Embedded systems face challenges in producing performance with minimal delay, minimal power consumption, and at minimal cost. As the numbers and types of consumer applications where embedded systems are employed increases, these challenges become even more pressing. Examples of consumer applications where embedded systems are employed include handheld devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning system (GPS) receivers, digital cameras, etc. By their nature, these devices are required to be small, low-power, light-weight, and feature-rich.
As consumer products, these devices also must remain easily attainable and cost competitive. Associated with making devices readily attainable is a need for an efficient, secure, and convenient distribution scheme that maintains protection of proprietary rights for the product manufacturers through proper licensing control without sacrificing financial gain. The present invention addresses such needs.

Consumer product distribution in the embedded system market


Lamps forming a lighting show are grouped into maps. Each map includes an association between the lamps and specific sets. Lamps are in particular sets in particular maps and can be in different sets in other maps. Each set can be associated with a parameter for that set. One such parameter is the color for the set of lamps. Both maps and parameters can be changed by a single key press. This allows single key press parameter cycling.

Stage lighting is increasingly becoming an important part of theatrical productions, such as rock and roll concerts or theater presentations. A modern stage lighting effect uses a computer to choreograph the lighting effects to be initiated and carried out at pre-planned times. The choreographed effect has usually been planned in advance.
The choreographed effect is usually planned between the artist, often the lighting designer, and the console operator. A dry run through the show is conducted while the lighting designer decides what lighting effects are desired at different parts of the show.
The console operator controls the lighting system according to the lighting designer's direction, and by so doing plans the lighting effects that occur at different times during the show. Those lighting effects need to be carried out by the console operator.
The lighting designer will often want to try different effects to see what they look like and how they will fit in. Each attempted effect requires the console operator to arrange the operation of each light in the way that the lighting designer has requested.
For example, the lighting designer may have in mind a certain effect to be carried out in primary colors. If there is a desire to see what certain parts of that effect would look like in pastel colors, the console operator will need to change a number of different sets of lights to pastel colors. The console operator needs to do this as quickly as possible, but each light may need to be seperately controlled.
The present invention recognizes this problem, and devises a system which enables simple button presses on the console to command combinations of effects to facilitate the console operator's chore during this operation. One such feature allows cycling through many different kinds of lighting effects and grouping effects.
Present technology has necessitated that most, if not all, lighting shows be conducted automatically, based on information that has been stored in advance. This has made it difficult to improvise the lighting effect during a lighting show.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a number of stage lights form a show. The stage lights are defined into at least two different maps. Each map includes a set assignment for each of the stage lights. Each map includes at least some of the different stage lights in different sets.
A parameter palette is formed which includes parameters for the different sets. A preferred parameter palette is a color palette. For example, a primary color palette could change all of the lights in set 1 to red, the lights in set 2 to green, and the lights in set 3 to blue. A pastel palette, on the other hand, changes the lights in set 1 to pastel pink, the lights in set 2 to pastel blue, and the lights in set 3 to pastel green. Other different palette sets are also possible. Hence these different sets have different colors associated with the lamps in the set, thereby allowing different combinations of lamps to colors.
When a specific palette is chosen, each color in the palette can be applied to a set in the current map. A particularly preferred technique allows each palette and each map to be changed by a single key press.
Another part of this technique rotates the combinations, i.e., it rotates the different sets through the colors within the palettes. Therefore, the different palettes, which include parameters of predetermined types, can be rotated through the different sets either at random or in an organized fashion to allow the different parameters to be assigned to different sets and to test that effect. The maps, i.e., the associations between the lamps and the groups, can be rotated in a similar way.
Another aspect groups the lamps forming a lighting show into maps. Each map includes an association between the lamps and specific sets. Lamps are in particular sets in particular maps, and can be in different sets in other maps. Each set can be associated with a parameter for that set. One such parameter is the color for the set of lamps. Both maps and parameters can be changed by an association changing device, e.g., a single key press. This allows single key press parameter cycling.
All of these operations are automatically carried out using simple keystrokes to form the different combinations. This hence allows the associations to be carried out in a shorter time. No revenue is derived from this rehearsal time, hence increasing the economic incentive for shortening this time.

User interface for a lighting system that allows geometric and color sets to be simply reconfigured


Wireless methods for dispensing water supplied by a main purification unit to a remote dispensing device. The remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with the main purification unit. A wireless transceiver is associated with the remote dispensing device and another wireless transceiver is associated with the main purification unit. The wireless transceivers communicate across a wireless communications link between the remote dispensing device and the main purification unit. The system may include multiple remote dispensing devices and/or multiple main purification units.

Standalone water purification systems, which have been commercially available for decades, are used principally in laboratory environments to provide highly purified and high quality reagent grade water for various applications, including chemical analysis and physical testing. Ordinary tap water contains a variety of contaminants or impurities, including dissolved organics, dissolved inorganics, dissolved gases, suspended particles, microorganisms, and byproducts from bacterial degradation. Water purification systems remove a substantial portion of these contaminants and impurities to generate reagent grade water.
Various standards are employed to specify the purity of reagent grade water. One such standard setting forth requirements for water suitable for use in methods of chemical analysis and physical testing is the commonly-accepted standard D1193-99e1 "Standard Specification for Reagent Water" established by the organization ASTM International (West Conshohocken, Pa.). Under this standard, the highest quality reagent grade water, which conforms to, or exceeds, ASTM Type I standards, is generally used in applications like high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), atomic absorption (AA) spectrometry, and tissue culture. The ASTM Type II grade of reagent water, which has a lower purity than ASTM Type I reagent grade water, may be used for hematological, serological, and microbiological procedures. Reagent grade water suitable for general laboratory qualitative analyses, such as urinalysis, parasitology, and histological procedures, conforms to ASTM Type III standards. The ASTM Type IV grade of reagent water, which conforms to the least stringent standards, is used in applications where these relaxed purity requirements are permitted.
Conventional water purification systems may include a main purification unit that contains a pump that forces water through a fluid circuit and a water purification device capable of removing unwanted contaminants and impurities from water circulating in the fluid circuit. The water purification device may rely on a number of familiar purification techniques, including filtration, single or multiple distillation, sorption, and ion exchange, for removing impurities from the circulating water. The main purification unit often includes a manually operated tap or dispensing valve positioned at a convenient location on the main purification unit that diverts reagent grade water from the fluid circuit for fixed dispensing.
Certain applications dictate the need for a capability of dispensing reagent grade water at a location remote or removed from the main purification unit. A detached dispensing apparatus, which may have the form of a gun or another form such as a solenoid, may be fluidly connected to the main purification unit by a length of flexible tubing. The tubing conveys a flow of reagent grade water from the main purification unit to the remote dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus may be positioned relative to the main purification unit within the spatial limits imposed by the length of the flexible tubing for remotely dispensing reagent grade water. A stream of reagent grade water is continuously circulated through the tubing coupling the main purification unit with the dispensing apparatus and through the dispensing apparatus. When the dispensing apparatus is manually actuated, reagent grade water is dispensed.
Use of a remote dispensing apparatus in a water purification system also conserves space on the bench-top because the main purification unit can be positioned, for example, either under the bench, at the back of the bench, or high on a wall. In certain designs, the remote dispensing apparatus is removably supported in a bracket integrated into the main purification unit and may be optionally used for fixed dispensing local to the main purification unit when mounted in the bracket. Other ways of supporting a remote dispensing apparatus include a wall-mounting bracket or a bracket on a bench-top stand. When removed from the bracket and hand held to dispense purified reagent grade water into a container, the remote dispensing apparatus must be gripped at all times while depressing a gun trigger or with the gun trigger locked.
The remote dispensing apparatus may include electrical components that communicate with the main purification unit across a hard-wired communications link. For example, a remote dispensing apparatus may feature a flow control solenoid that is opened and closed by an electrical signal communicated through conductors inside a cable extending from the main purification unit. However, such cables tend to become entangled with nearby obstacles. Cables also have a finite length and are terminated by electrical connectors on each end. Hence, cable length may be adjusted only by installing a different cable. If a cable is too short, a longer cable must be installed. If the remote dispensing apparatus is moved closer to the main purification unit than the cable length, the unused length of the cable may prove cumbersome and unwieldy. Lengthy leads may also be susceptible to electrical noise or cause electrical noise that interferes with the operation of adjacent noise-sensitive devices. Another deficiency of conventional main purification units is that most only include a single connection point for the cable, which limits the main purification unit for use with only a single remote dispensing apparatus.
Multiple remote dispensing apparatus may be coupled with a single main purification unit by running lengths of tubing of a water loop and electrical cables from the unit to each of the remote dispensing apparatus. In some facilities, an existing fluid loop may extend through the room walls to connect different rooms in which one or more of the remote dispensing apparatus are situated. However, a facility that lacks an existing fluid loop will require remodeling or refurbishing to alter the structure to add a fluid loop servicing multiple rooms. The cabling of remote dispensing apparatus in different facility rooms also presents difficulties. Each of the remote dispensing apparatus should include a cable extending in association with the fluid loop to the main purification unit. The wire gauge scales upwardly with increasing cable length, which increases the cumbersomeness and unwieldiness of the cables. Fluid loops in newly constructed facilities must include associated cabling for establishing communication between the remote dispensing devices and the main purification unit.
In view of these and other deficiencies of conventional water purification systems, it would be desirable to dispense reagent grade water with one or more remote dispensing devices that lack a hard-wired connection with the main purification unit.

Methods for wirelessly operating water purification systems


A digital device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method for controlling a digital device comprises the steps of displaying contents and a first interface scrolling the contents in a first shape; displaying a plurality of objects included in the first interface based on a first index order; detecting a first slide touch input moving in a first direction on the first interface; scrolling a plurality of contents based on the first direction; detecting a second slide touch input moving in a second direction on the first interface; displaying the first interface in a second shape; and displaying the plurality of objects included in the first interface based on a second index order.

Field of the Invention
The present specification relates to a digital device displaying index information and a method for controlling the same.
Discussion of the Related Art
A digital device may display contents by using a display unit. In this case, the digital device may not display a plurality of related contents on one screen. In such a case, the digital device may display index information on the plurality of related contents. Also, the digital device may control a display of the contents by using a control input for the displayed index information. The index information may include a plurality of objects respectively corresponding to the plurality of contents. In this case, a method for allowing a digital device to display index information that includes a plurality of objects will be required.

Digital device displaying index information and method for controlling the same


A system and method for managing communication fees of a mobile phone are provided. The system is implemented by the mobile phone, and is used to manage communication fees when a user of the mobile phone uses a mobile communication service. The mobile phone includes at least one processor operable to execute a communication fees management system, and further includes a storage device and a display screen. The system can detect a current call when a user of the mobile phone makes a call, calculate a communication time and a communication fee of the current call, and display the communication time and the communication fee on the display screen at the termination of the current call.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing communication services of mobile phones, and more particularly to a mobile phone and method for managing communication fees of the mobile phone.
2. Description of Related Art
With the continuous development of wireless network technology, it has become common to use mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones or personal data assistants (PDA), which are capable of engaging in wireless communications. A relatively large charge to use mobile communication services is imposed in a user of a mobile phone. For example, large communication fees are often incurred when the user of the mobile phone uses the mobile communication service.
In order to restrict the large communication fees to use the mobile communication service, a communication charge system has been offered. The communication charge system can report communication times at the end of every communication. However, the communication charge system has a disadvantage that it cannot report communication fees to the user at the end of the every communication.
Therefore, there is an improved system and method for managing communication fees to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Mobile phone and method for managing communication fees thereof


A photoelectric converter capable of reducing random noise has a photoelectric conversion circuit that generates an optical signal in correspondence to incident light, a reset circuit connected to an output terminal of the photoelectric conversion circuit, and a first amplification circuit connected to output terminals of the photoelectric conversion circuit and the reset circuit. A first electric charge transfer unit has a terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplification circuit and a terminal connected to a first capacitor. Second and third electric charge transfer units have terminals connected to second and third amplification circuits and other terminals connected to second and third capacitors, and the second and third amplification circuits are connected to the first and second capacitors, respectively. A source follower amplifier has a gate connected to the third electric charge transfer unit and the third capacitor, and a channel selection circuit is connected to a source of the source follower amplifier. A common signal line is connected to an output terminal of the channel selection circuit, a first current source is connected to the common signal line, and a second current source is connected to the source of the source follower.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric converter that receives a light reflected from an original to which the light is irradiated, and converts the light into an electric signal, and more specifically to a linear image sensor suitable for an image reading device such as a facsimile or an image scanner.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 16 shows a circuit diagram of an image sensor IC used in a conventional image reading device, and FIG. 17 shows a timing chart. (For example see JP 11-239245 A (pages 2 through 5, FIG. 1)).
An N-type region of a photodiode 101 is connected to a positive supply voltage terminal VDD, and a P-type region is connected to a drain of a reset switch 102 and a gate of a source follower amplifier 103. A source of the reset switch 102 is supplied with a reference voltage VREF1. A source of the output terminal of the source follower amplifier 103 is connected to a read switch 105 and a constant current source 104. A gate of the constant current source 104 is supplied with a constant voltage of a reference voltage VREFA. A photoelectric conversion block An shown in FIG. 16 shows a photoelectric conversion block of an n-th bit. The number of photoelectric conversion blocks is identical to the number of pixels, and the photoelectric conversion blocks are connected to a common signal line 106 through the respective read switches 105.
The common signal line 106 is inputted to an inverse terminal of an operational amplifier 109 through a resistor 110, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier 109 is connected to an output terminal 116 through a chip select switch 112 and a capacitor 113. The common signal line 106 is connected to a signal line reset switch 107, and a source of the signal line reset switch 107 is given a reference voltage VREF2. A resistor 111 is connected between the output terminal and the inverse terminal of the operational amplifier 109, and a non-inverse terminal of the operational amplifier 109 is fixed to a constant voltage VREF3. An inverse amplifier D is composed of the operational amplifier 109, the resistor 110 and the resistor 111.
An output terminal 116 of the image sensor is connected to a drain of the MOS transistor 114, and a source of the MOS transistor 114 is given a reference voltage VREF4. Further, the output terminal 116 of the image sensor is also connected to a capacitor 115 such as a parasitic capacitor. A clamp circuit C is composed of the capacitor 113, the capacitor 115 and the MOS transistor 114.
However, in the image sensor of the above type, the photodiode is reset after an optical signal is read subsequent to the completion of photocharge storage, and thereafter the reference signal is read, and a difference between the optical signal and the reference signal is taken. This leads to such a problem that reset noises put on the reference signal and the optical signal are different from each other. That is, because the reset noises of the different timings are compared with each other, there arises a problem in that the random noises are large.

Photoelectric converter and a method of driving the same


An opposed path joint comprising an inner hub, which is provided with first inner grooves and second inner grooves, and comprising an outer hub, which is provided with first outer grooves and second outer grooves that respectively form a pair with the first and second inner grooves. The opposed path joint also comprises an annular cage, which is placed between the inner hub and the outer hub and which has a radial openings whose number corresponds to that of the groove pairs. Balls that engage inside the grooves are guided inside these radial openings. According to the invention, the outer hub of the opposed path joint is a single-piece closed ring, in which the outer grooves are formed without cutting. Alternatively, the outer hub has at least two elements that are located one behind the other on the outer hub axis and, together, center the cage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an opposed path joint that has a drive side and a power take-off side, having an inner hub, an outer hub, and a ring-shaped cage having a spherical outer surface, which cage is arranged between the inner hub and the outer hub and has several radial openings, in which balls are guided. The inner hub has an inner hub axis and an outer surface, in which first inner grooves and second inner grooves are arranged, alternately distributed about the inner hub axis. In this connection, the first inner grooves run from the drive-side end, proceeding in the direction towards the power-take-off-side end, whereby their track base moves away from the inner hub axis. The second inner grooves run from the power-take-off-side end, proceeding in the direction towards the drive-side end, whereby their track base moves away from the inner hub axis. The outer hub has an outer hub axis and an inner surface in which first outer grooves and second outer grooves are arranged, alternately distributed about the outer hub axis. In this connection, the first inner grooves lie opposite first outer grooves, and the second inner grooves lie opposite second outer grooves, and form a pair with them, in each instance. The first outer grooves run from the drive-side end, proceeding in the direction towards the power-take-off-side end, whereby their track base comes closer to the outer hub axis. The second outer grooves run from the power-take-off-side end, proceeding in the direction towards the drive-side end, whereby their track base comes closer to the outer hub axis.
2. The Prior Art
Such joints are used, among other things, in longitudinal shafts or lateral shafts or in steering shafts of motor vehicles. A same path joint is known from DE 199 05 451 C2, the outer hub of which is produced from a flat sheet-metal part, which is bent to form an open ring or ring segments after the outer grooves have been formed in it, and which is held in a closed ring-shaped accommodation part during operation. By means of the formation of the outer grooves in the sheet-metal part, cavities are formed between the latter and the accommodation part. In certain load cases, depending on the elasticity of the sheet-metal parts, deformations in the outer hub can occur, which exceed the permissible tolerances. In addition, in this known same path joint, the balls must be inserted individually into the cage and the pairs of grooves. This assembly step, which is performed manually, is time-consuming.


An apparatus is described having an ATM switch core, wherein the ATM switch core has an input coupled to an ingress AAL2 switch engine and an output coupled to an egress AAL2 switch engine. The ingress AAL2 switch engine has a first look-up table that can store: 1) an identification label for an AAL2 virtual channel through said ATM switch core; and, 2) an AAL2 egress connection identification label for an ingress AAL2 packet to be carried by the AAL2 virtual channel. The egress AAL2 switch engine has a second look-up table that can store an egress CID and egress VPI/VCI for the AAL2 egress connection identification label.

AAL2 is a packet based ATM standard (ITU-T I.366) that allows multiple users to share the same Virtual Path Identification/Virtual Channel Information (VPI/VCI). FIG. 1a elaborates on the AAL2 approach in more detail. Within an AAL2 framework, AAL2 packets (such as the packet formed by header 101a and payload 102a and the packet formed by header 101b and payload 102b) are transported over an ATM network.
As ATM cells are used to transport information over an ATM network, the AAL2 packets observed in FIG. 1a are "broken down" into separate pieces of information that are each carried by individual ATM cells (which are not shown in FIG. 1a for simplicity). Upon their reception, the payload of the ATM cells are pieced back together to form the flow of packets.
Frequently, neighboring packets are associated with different connections. For example, the packet formed by header 101a and payload 102a may be destined for a first user while the packet formed by header 101b and payload 102b may be destined for a second user. Thus, within each header 101a, 101b, is a Connection Identification (CID) label that informs a receiving node as to which connection the corresponding payload 102a, 102b belongs.
Under the current ITU-T I.366 specification, 6 bits are reserved within the CID which allows for 248 different connections. As such, up to 248 different AAL2 connections can be carried by a single VPI/VCI ATM connection. Note that information within different AAL2 packets may be carried by the same ATM cell. That is, the payload of a single ATM cell may contain information at (and on either side of) the transition X from the first packet to the second packet seen in FIG. 1a. As such, a pointer may also be included in the packet header to signify where a packet starts and where a packet ends.
FIG. 1b shows a model 103 for an AAL2 switch. Ingress ATM cells are received on a plurality of ingress lines (such as ingress line 108). A line, such as an ingress line, may be any line that carries ATM cells (such as any OC-n line or STS-n line). The ATM cell traffic from the ingress lines are collected on the ingress portion 105a, 106a, 107a of one or more line cards.
The ingress portion 105a, 106a, 107a of each of the line cards reconstructs AAL2 packets from the payloads of the received ATM cells. The AAL2 packets are then forwarded to an AAL2 switch core 104 that switches each ingress AAL2 packet, based upon its respective CID, to the appropriate egress line card portion 105b, 106b, 107b. The AAL2 switch core 104 can change the CID label to an appropriate egress value for transmission from the switch 103. Note that, frequently, a single line card has both an ingress portion and an egress portion.
Thus, for example, ingress portion 105a and egress portion 105b may be viewed as separate portions of a first line card; ingress portion 106a and egress portion 106b may be viewed as separate portions of a second line card; and ingress portion 107a and egress portion 107b may be viewed as separate portions of a third line card. Upon receipt of an AAL2 packet at an egress portion, the AAL2 packet may be broken down into pieces that are carried by different ATM cells which are subsequently transmitted along the appropriate egress line (such as egress line 109).
A problem, however, is the loss of economies of scale when implementing an AAL2 switch with an AAL2 switch core 104. That is, AAL2 is a specific type of networking approach. As other types of networking approaches are in common usage (e.g., pure ATM, AAL3/4, AAL5, Packets Over SONET (PoS), etc.), a switch having an AAL2 switch core 104 can not efficiently switch the traffic associated with these other types of networking approaches.

Apparatus and method for AAL2 packet switching on an ATM switch core


A vertical shaft driving device wherein a plurality of rotary blades (8a, 8b, 8c and 8d) each including a blade (10) supported on a planetary shaft are equally arranged circumferentially of a central shaft (12) and capable of orbital motion integrally with the central shaft (12), and wherein the rotary blades are arranged in a multipoint intersection form, in which blade faces of the blades (10) are obliquely disposed with respect to radial directions with a center at the central shaft (12). By arranging the blades (10) in the multipoint intersection form, it is possible to provide the vertical shaft driving device, in which air flows or water flows can be efficiently utilized to obtain a great output power.

These days, importance of global environmental has increased, so a wind power attracts scientists' attention as clean energy, and many types of wind mills have been studied and developed. A drag-based vertical shaft wind mill is capable of operating without wind direction control, and aerodynamic noise, bad influence to scenery and moving shadows are less than those of a horizontal shaft wind mill, e.g., a propeller type wind mill, so the vertical shaft wind mills are good to install on roofs of houses and buildings as small-scale electric generators. Torque of the drag-based vertical shaft wind mills are large, but rotational speeds and energy converting efficiency thereof are low, so the vertical shaft wind mills are not practically used, other than Savonius type wind mills, as electric generators.
To utilize the merits of the drag-based vertical shaft wind mills and use the wind mills as small-scale electric power plants, an output power must be increased, so the conventional Savonius type wind mills have been improved.
For example, a Savonius type wind mill having fixed vanes, which are provided on the outer side of rotary blades so as to introduce a large amount of air to the rotary blades and reduce resistance caused by wind, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 11-62813.
Another Savonius type wind mill having at least one rotatable reflector, which is provided on the outer side of rotary blades so as to adjust air flows, improve an output power and make the output power stable, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2001-289150.
However, in the Savonius type wind mill disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 11-62813 which has the fixed vanes provided on the outer side of the rotary blades, a part of air flows introduced by the fixed vanes collide with rear faces of the rotary blades (faces on the forward sides of the rotary blades), so that the rotation of the wind mill is hindered. On the other hand, in the Savonius type wind mill disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2001-289150 which has the reflector separated away from the rotary blades, a size of the wind mill must be large in comparison with a diameter of a rotor.
In the Savonius type wind mill, if overlapped parts of rotary blades, each of which are formed into a half cylindrical shape, are small, tip speed ratio is decreased by increasing load so that air flows stay on the front side of the rotary blades (on wind receiving face sides of the rotary blades) and a braking force works to the rotary blades on an upper stream side. If the overlapped parts are made large so as to avoid this disadvantage, the rotary blades must be large in comparison with a rotor so that the rotary blades must be heavy.
Namely, in the Savonius type wind mills, it is impossible to efficiently convert air flows, which have been intercepted, collected and straightened by the fixed vanes, into torque, so that it is difficult to highly increase the output power. For example, in the Savonius type wind mill disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2001-289150, two reflectors, whose sizes are ½ of the diameter of the rotor, are provided on the upper stream side, maximum increase of the output power is about 50% even if positions and angles of the reflectors are adjusted, therefore substantial increase of the output power is not so large in spite of providing the reflectors which makes the wind mill larger.
In the gazette, the drag-based vertical shaft wind mill is capable of electrically controlling the positions and the angles of the reflectors, which are provided on the outer side of the Savonius rotor, so as to automatically control the rotational speed of the rotor and automatically protect the rotor against strong wind, but a complex structure including a mechanism for moving the reflectors, an electric power source, a motor, a wind direction sensor, a control unit, etc. is required.
Thus, the present invention was invented to solve the disadvantages of the conventional wind mills, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vertical shaft driving device, which is capable of generating a high output power in comparison with the conventional vertical shaft Savonius type wind mills (especially under high load) and controlling rotation of the device so as to automatically protect against strong wind without an external driving source, and an electric generator driven by the driving device.
Note that, water wheels driven by water flows have been used as devices employing natural energy. Water wheels are also required to efficiently use water flows, so water wheels driven by ocean streams, tides, etc. have the same disadvantages as the wind mills have.
In the present specification, the word "vertical shaft driving device" means an device for rotating a vertical shaft by natural energy, e.g., air flows, water flows.

Vertical shaft driving device for vertical wind mills or the like and electric power generator using the same


A simple pneumatic device for use in comparing and matching curling stones, and evaluating ice surfaces and sweeping broom efficiencies is described. A pneumatic cylinder, charged by means of a compressed gas, is placed against the backboard of a rink and operated to propel a curling stone with a predetermined and accurately controlled force along a sheet of curling ice.

Comparing and matching curling stones and comparing sweeping brooms and the effects of brushing are important factors in the sport of curling. The quality of the ice surface is also important. Heretofore, however, efforts to make meaningful comparisons have been hampered because there is no known method or apparatus for ensuring that each stone is propelled down the ice with exactly the same force. At best, human throwers attempt to propel each stone using as consistent a throwing force as possible. Such an approach is clearly suspect and does not provide sufficient accuracy for comparative research purposes. Attempts have also been made to launch curling stones down sloping ramps or to hit a stone with the ball of a pendulum, but these attempts are not entirely satisfactory or accurate enough for research purposes.
Mechanical launching devices for propelling bowling balls, marbles, hockey pucks and the like are, of course, well known and generally rely on spring-loaded guns or are cable transmitted pusher devices such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,211, issued 28 Sep. 1971, for a launching device for demonstrating collision principles. A curling stone, however, weighs approximately forty-four pounds and spring-loaded guns capable of handling such a load are extremely cumbersome and difficult to load manually. There is a need, therefore, for a simple propelling device for curling stones and the like which applies a consistent propelling force every time it is used so as to provide a consistent "stone throw" which can be used to compare any of: individual stones, ice surfaces, efficiency of sweeping, broom design and other variables in the sport of curling.


A method and an apparatus are provided for correcting the frequency characteristics of a carrier chrominance signal, which, by use of the correcting signal for the frequency characteristic involved in a vertical blanking interval, determine whether the frequency characteristics of the carrier chrominance signal are distorted and correct the frequency characteristics. A band pass filter is used which determines a degree of the frequency characteristic distortion of the carrier chrominance signal band from the correcting signal for the frequency characteristic, and has a gain in accordance with the determined result. If the frequency characteristic of the carrier chrominance signal involved in the input composite video signal is distorted by the frequency characteristics and so on of the analog broadcasting radio channel and the broadcasting receiver, the distortion is corrected whereby a stable reproduction of the color signal is possible irrespective of the broadcasting channels and the broadcasting receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to correcting frequency characteristics of a carrier chrominance signal, which, by use of the multi burst signals involved in a vertical blanking interval, determine whether the frequency characteristics of the carrier chrominance signal are distorted and correct the frequency characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
A broadcasting receiver is required for reception of analog broadcasting including a National Television System Committee (NTSC) system, a Phase Alternation Line (PAL) system, and a Sequential Couleur Avec Memoire (SECAM) system. Since the recent launch of the digital broadcasting, a simulcast that broadcasts the same contents as those of a digital broadcast has continued in an analog manner in order to provide service for users who have an analog broadcasting receiver. Thus, it is true that a digital broadcasting receiver also has a receiving end for receiving analog broadcasts.
When an analog broadcasting channel is selected, a tuner receives the corresponding radio frequency and transforms it to a 45.75 MHz intermediate frequency video signal. The intermediate frequency video signal is demodulated at a video detector circuit into a composite video signal, called CVBS (color, video, burst, sync) signal, that the intermediate frequency video signal is separated therefrom. The composite video signal is input into a video decoder and thus decomposed into three primary color signals for practical color reproduction. Then, the decomposed video signal is displayed through a display unit such as CRT and so on.
The composite video signal is shaped in such a manner that a 3.58 MHz (accurately, 3.579545 MHz) color subcarrier is balance-modulated and sidebands thereof are combined to form a carrier chrominance signal, and the luminance signal is then combined thereto. However, the overlapping of the carrier chrominance signal to the luminance signal renders an amplitude of the carrier chrominance signal excessively enlarged, providing over modulation, so that it requires a compression of the amplitude. Thus, the carrier chrominance signal is compressed in its amplitude and is combined with the luminance signal.
A video decoder of the broadcasting receiver includes therein an analog-digital converter and a comb filter so as to receive an analog composite video signal that the luminance signal and the color signal are multiplexed and input thereto. An analog composite video signal is converted into a digital signal by the analog-digital converter, which is in turn decomposed into the luminance signal and the color signal by the comb filter. If frequency characteristics of the decomposed color signal are distorted, a certain correction is necessary.
FIGS. 1A to 1C are graphs illustrating the frequency characteristics of the composite video signal in order to explain a problem of the prior art.
A graph of FIG. 1A shows the frequency characteristics of the normally received composite video signal. The frequency component 101 of the luminance signal reaches up to 4.2 MHz, and the frequency component 103 of the color signal is interleaved into the luminance signal while being carried in the 3.58 MHz color subcarrier 105.
Such frequency characteristics of a composite video signal are distorted in accordance with broadcast channels or the type of the broadcasting receiver.
FIG. 1B shows the frequency characteristics of a composite video signal of FIG. 1A being distorted. The distortions may be caused by the frequency characteristics of the broadcast channels or the broadcasting receiver. Referring to a graph of FIG. 1B, one can understand that signals of high frequency band are mainly distorted. Practically, the signal distortion in a 4.2 MHz high frequency band indicates that the color signal is more distorted than the luminance signal.
Upon decomposing the input video signal with such frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. 1B into the color signal by use of the comb filter, a graph as shown in FIG. 1C appears.
FIG. 1C shows the distorted frequency characteristics of the color signal carried in the color subcarrier.
In order to correct the distortion of such frequency characteristics, the color signal from the comb filter is corrected with a constant fixed value using an active band pass filter. However, such correction irrespective of a degree of the distortion cannot be an accurate correction.

Method and apparatus for correcting frequency characteristics of carrier chrominance signal


A collecting chute includes a plurality of chute units having a supply port, a discharge port, and an inner circumferential surface. The chute units are arrayed along a circular virtual line in planar view and are also arrayed securing a space among the chute units at the central portion of the circular virtual line. Each of the chute units has an outer slope that is an inner circumferential surface along the circular virtual line and an inner slope that is the inner circumferential surface located on the back side of an outer circumferential surface facing the other chute units, and the tilt angle of the inner slope is greater than the tilt angle of the outer slope.

A collecting chute that collects articles discharged from a plurality of weighing hoppers of a combination weighing apparatus and discharges the articles to a packaging device or the like has been known. The collecting chute has a variety of types. For example, in order to divide articles of a predetermined amount discharged one after another from weighing hoppers into a plurality of discharge ports, there are a collecting chute for which one collecting chute is divided into two parts in the vertical direction (see the following Patent Literature 1), a divided collecting chute that is divided into four parts (see the following Patent Literature 2), and the like.
Such a divided collecting chute is often coupled to a twin-type packaging device installed side by side. For example, two discharge ports of the collecting chute divided into two parts are coupled to the twin-type packaging device directly. Furthermore, four discharge pathways of the collecting chute divided into four parts are put together into two discharge ports and are coupled to the same twin-type packaging device. At that time, because two article receiving ports of the twin type are juxtaposed being spaced apart with a predetermined distance, the two discharge ports of the collecting chute are also provided being spaced apart with a predetermined distance. However, because a supply port that is formed by the upper circumferential edge of the collecting chute is circular corresponding to the circular arrangement of the weighing hoppers, the two discharge ports spaced apart with the predetermined distance are displaced from the central position of the supply port.

Collecting chute for combination weighing device with variable slope to reduce the variation in arrival time at the discharge end of the chute of articles discharged from different hoppers arranged at varrying distances apart


A method and system for aggregating and reporting data from a plurality of data sources in a contact center is provided. The method includes: maintaining by a computer device the data for a sliding interval including a plurality of panes, the data including an ongoing component for ongoing events and a completed component for completed events; updating by the computer device the data for the sliding interval based on updates for the sliding interval received from one or more of the data sources; and reporting by the computer device an aggregation of the ongoing and completed components of the data sources for the sliding interval to a client in accordance with an expiring of one of the panes. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory physical medium. The medium has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute the method.

There is a rapidly growing need to process large amounts of data in real-time in such areas as telecommunications, finance, etc. For example, in customer contact centers, agent-groups can be large, each divided into several subsets of agents with statistics being acquired for each subset and then aggregated for the entire agent group. The statistics across multiple subsets of agents may need to be continuously tracked and updated. This real-time computing processing can present challenges to system designers, for example, in providing up-to-the minute statistical data that is both timely and accurate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low latency distributed aggregation for contact center agent-groups on sliding interval

GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES, INC.


A release aid comprising one or more (poly)C5-C20 alpha olefins and one or more surfactants for use in releasing a paper web from the fabric in through air drying processes and/or from the Yankee dryer, compositions comprising the release aid and methods of using the release aid.

In the manufacture of certain wet-laid paper products, such as facial tissue, bathroom tissue, or paper towels, the web is conventionally subjected to a creping process in order to give the web desirable textural characteristics, such as softness, bulk, stretch, and absorbency.
In one form of tissuemaking, the wet sheet is dried by means of through-air dryers, whereby hot air is passed through the sheet to dry it. This process preserves the bulk of the sheet and provides improved softness, a much-desired property. The wet sheet is carried to the through dryer by means of a fabric (referred to as a TAD fabric). The TAD fabric has a 3-dimensional character and serves to mold or pattern the wet sheet so that when dry, this pattern remains in the tissue. In order for effective patterning of the sheet to occur, the wet sheet has to be pulled into the fabric by a vacuum molding box. However after the sheet is dry, it must be transferred from the TAD fabric for additional processing.
In the CTAD process the sheet is transferred to a Yankee dryer and creped prior to final winding on the reel as described below. In the UCTAD process the sheet is separated from the fabric and goes directly to the reel. In both processes, the sheet that has previously been intimately molded into the 3-dimensional TAD fabric must be separated from the fabric without damaging the sheet.
TAD fabric release formulations are used to aid in the separation of the sheet from the TAD fabric. They are applied to the fabric, for example by spraying, prior to transfer of the sheet from the forming fabric to the TAD fabric. In addition by providing good transfer, they help to prevent individual fibers from pulling out of the sheet and remaining with the fabric. This keeps the fabric clean and allows optimum drying and molding of the sheet.
Typical creping processes involve the adherence of the sheet to a rotating creping cylinder, such as an apparatus known as a Yankee dryer, and then dislodging the adhered sheet from the cylinder with a doctor blade. The impact of the doctor blade against the web ruptures some of the fiber-to-fiber bonds within the web thereby causing the sheet to wrinkle or pucker.
In order to increase adhesion, a creping adhesive aid may be used to enhance any naturally occurring adhesion that the web may have due to its water content, which will vary widely depending on the extent to which the web has been previously dried. Creping adhesives should also prevent wear of the dryer surface and provide lubrication between the doctor blade and the dryer surface and reduce chemical corrosion, as well as control the extent of creping. A coating that adheres the sheet just tightly enough to the drum will give a good crepe, imparting absorbency and softness with the desired loss of paper strength. If adhesion to the dryer drum is too strong, the sheet may pick or even "plug", i.e. slip under the doctor blade, and wrap around the dryer drum. If there is not enough adhesion, the sheet will lift off too easily and undergo too little creping. The creping adhesive, generally in an aqueous solution or dispersion form, is usually sprayed onto the surface of the creping cylinder, e.g. the Yankee dryer.
In order to assist in the uniform release of the sheet at the creping blade, a release aid is sprayed onto the cylinder. These aids assist in the uniform release of the tissue sheet at the creping blade, and also lubricate and protect the blade from excessive wear.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need in the industry for improved formulations to aid in release of the paper sheet from the TAD fabric and from the creping cylinder.

Compositions comprising (poly) alpha olefins


A liquid silicone rubber coating composition that is ideal for forming a coating on an air bag is provided. The composition includes: (A) an organopolysiloxane containing two or more alkenyl groups bonded to silicon atoms within each molecule, (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane containing at least two silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms within each molecule, (C) an addition reaction catalyst, (D) a finely powdered silica with a specific surface area of at least 50 m2/g, (E) an organosilicon compound containing an epoxy group and a silicon atom-bonded alkoxy group within each molecule, and (F) a compound represented by a general formula: Al(OH)(OCOR)2 (wherein, R represents identical or different, unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 20 carbon atoms). Leakage of the inflator gas when the air bag is in an inflated state is suppressed, enabling production of an air bag that exhibits excellent sustainability of the inflation period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid silicone rubber coating composition that is ideal for producing air bags for vehicles and the like, wherein a film of a silicone rubber coating is formed on a fibrous fabric such as 6,6-nylon, 6-nylon or polyester. The present invention relates particularly to a liquid silicone rubber coating composition that is ideal for producing curtain air bags, which unlike the air bags installed for the driver's seat and passenger seat, are housed along the edge of the roof from the front pillar, and must be capable of maintaining an inflated state for a certain period of time in order to protect the region around the head and prevent people being flung from the vehicle during a collision or rollover of the vehicle. The present invention also relates to a curtain air bag having a silicone rubber coating layer composed of a cured product of the above composition, and a method of producing such an air bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional air bag silicone rubber compositions used for forming a rubber coating on a fibrous surface include the compositions described below. For example, patent reference 1 discloses a liquid silicone rubber coating composition for an air bag that exhibits excellent adhesion to base fabrics, prepared by adding an inorganic filler, an organopolysiloxane resin, and an epoxy group-containing organosilicon compound to an addition curable composition. Patent reference 2 discloses a liquid silicone rubber coating composition for an air bag that develops excellent adhesion to base fabrics upon heat curing for a short period of time, prepared by adding an inorganic filler, an organopolysiloxane resin, an organotitanium compound, and an alkyl silicate or alkyl polysilicate to an addition curable composition. Patent reference 3 discloses a silicone rubber coating composition for an air bag that has excellent thin-film coating properties, in which the viscosity of a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane is restricted to not more than 8,000 centipoise. Patent reference 4 discloses a liquid silicone rubber composition for coating purposes that is used in the production of a silicone rubber-coated base fabric having reduced tack, and is prepared by adding a wet silica with an average BET specific surface area within a range from 150 to 250 m2/g and an average particle size of not more than 20 μm to a rubber coating composition.
However, when these compositions are used in curtain air bag applications, none of the compositions is able to satisfactorily suppress leakage of the inflator gas to enable the inflation time to be sustained for a satisfactory period.
Addition curable compositions containing an aluminum compound related to that of the present invention are disclosed in patent references 5 to 7. However, none of these references discloses the aluminum compound used in the present invention.
[Patent Reference 1] U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,256
[Patent Reference 2] JP 2002-138249 A
[Patent Reference 3] JP 2001-287610 A
[Patent Reference 4] U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,520
[Patent Reference 5] U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,103
[Patent Reference 6] JP 4-178461 A
[Patent Reference 7] U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,022

Liquid silicone rubber coating composition, curtain air bag, and method of producing same


An apparatus for measuring the amount of medication in a sealed metered dose inhaler dispenser comprises a housing in which a mounting platform is located. An aperture in the housing allows the dispenser to be placed on the platform. Displacement of the platform is correlated with the weight of the dispenser and contents. The weight is displayed as an indication of the amount of medication in the dispenser from full to empty. The platform means may rest on a compression spring, the deflection of the spring being correlated with the applied weight. Tabs associated with the platform align with indicia on the exterior of the housing to indicate the degree of dispenser fill.

Devices for the therapeutic administration of asthma medication play a large and important part in the control of the disease. In addition to the preventative effects of regular prescribed dosing, with the onset of an asthma attack, it is of vital importance that therapeutic medication be administered promptly and in a proper amount. The most effective way to deliver asthma medication is by inhalation, and by far the most popular means for delivering the medication for inhalation is the metered dose inhaler (MDI) which allows the dispensation of a controlled amount of medication in an aerosol form.
The standard form for an MDI dispenser is a metal canister including an integral dose dispensation nozzle. The medication is under pressure within the canister, and each activation of the valve mechanism releases a measured or metered amount of the medication. Typically, a canister contains sufficient medication for approximately 200 doses.
A major deficiency of the MDI is the lack of a visual dose counter to advise the patient as to the amount of medication remaining in the canister. Accordingly, the patient must be extremely cautious in determining when a canister should be discarded and a new canister used. While patients can become somewhat adept in determining the approximate amount of medication remaining by hefting the canister, or by placing it in water and observing the degree of buoyancy, such procedures provide only general indications of the fill status of the canister. Other, similar attempts to determine the likely useful life of a canister, such as by dividing the number of daily doses prescribed into the number of needed actuations specified by the manufacturer of the canister, can similarly only serve as a guideline. Further complicating the ultimate decision is that, although medication may remain in the canister, proper dosing cannot be assured after a specified number of actuations. Thus, while the canister may appear to remain viable for use, due to the existence of medication therein, there still remains a risk that an incorrect amount of medication will be dispensed if the medication level is too low.
It is accordingly a purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus which allows the amount of medication in an MDI canister to be determined with practical accuracy.
A further purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for determining the amount of medication in an MDI canister which is convenient and portable.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned type which is accurate, easy to read, and efficient in operation.

Apparatus for determining the amount of medication in a closed dispenser


The invention relates to an interpenetrating network of carbon fibrils and a polymer, which comprises a rigidized, three-dimensional macroscopic assemblage of a multiplicity of randomly oriented carbon fibrils and an innerpenetrating mass of an organic polymer. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such innerpenetrating networks.

Carbon fibrils are vermicular carbon deposits having diameters less than 500 nanometers (nm). They exist in a variety of forms, and have been prepared through the catalytic decomposition of various carbon-containing gases at metal surfaces.
Tennent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,230, describes carbon fibrils that are free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat and have multiple graphitic outer layers that are substantially parallel to the fibril axis. As such they may be characterized as having their c-axes, the axes which are perpendicular to the tangents of the curved layers of graphite, substantially perpendicular to their cylindrical axes. They generally have diameters no greater than 0.1 micron and length to diameter ratios of at least 5. Desirably they are substantially free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat, i.e., pyrolytically deposited carbon resulting from thermal cracking of the gas feed used to prepare them.
Fibrils are useful in a variety of applications. For example, they can be used as reinforcements in fiber-reinforced network structures or hybrid network structures, i.e., networks containing reinforcements such as continuous fibers in addition to fibrils.
In recent years, much interest has been expressed in the formation of molecular composites, i.e. composites in which individual molecules of rigid rod polymers are dispersed in more flexible matrix polymers to form mutually interpenetrating networks. It is generally believed that such composites will be able to withstand stresses substantially greater than conventional composites because stress will be distributed throughout the interpenetrating molecular system. Also, such composites will be less likely to suffer localized stress and will be able to withstand higher stress and/or strain before failure.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/057,328 filed May 5, 1993 [PCT US94/04879, WO 94/25268], hereby incorporated by reference, discloses methods for forming three dimensional macroscopic assemblages of randomly oriented carbon fibrils. Broadly, dispersions of fibrils in a compatible liquid are prepared and the liquid is then removed to form a low-density porous plug or mat. In a preferred method, a low-density porous fibril plug is prepared by dispersing the fibrils in solvent, e.g., n-pentane, the dispersion is charged to a pressure vessel, the vessel, is heated above the critical temperature of the solvent, and the supercritical vapor is bled out of the vessel. In this manner a solid plug having the shape of the vessel interior is obtained.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/857,383, filed May 15, 1997, hereby incorporated by reference, describes rigid, porous carbon structures comprised of carbon fibrils. The fibrils are bonded or glued to one another at their intersections. Bonding can be induced by chemical modification of the surface of the fibers to promote bonding, by adding "gluing" agents and/or by pyrolyzing the fibrils to cause fusion or bonding at the points of interconnection.

Three dimensional interpenetrating networks of macroscopic assemblages of randomly oriented carbon fibrils and organic polymers


A method and circuit are shown for generating a higher order compensated bandgap voltage is disclosed, in which a first order compensated bandgap voltage and a linearly temperature dependent voltage are generated. Thereafter, a difference between the linearly temperature dependent voltage and the first order compensated bandgap voltage is generated. The resulting difference voltage is squared, and finally the squared voltage is added to the first order compensated bandgap voltage, resulting in a higher order compensated bandgap voltage. There is also disclosed a higher order temperature compensated bandgap circuit.

There are many electronic devices on the market today that require a precise and reliable reference voltage that is stable over a wide temperature range. Such electronic devices include cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, and digital music players. While there are circuits available for addressing this need, many suffer from problems. In particular, there is a need for relatively simple method and circuit for correcting the output voltage of a bandgap voltage reference source that achieves higher order compensation.

Method and circuit for generating a higher order compensated bandgap voltage


A CAM device memory array having different types of memory cells. A CAM device memory array is subdivided into at least two different portions, where each portion uses only one particular type of CAM cell, and each portion is dedicated to storing a particular type of data. In particular, at least one portion consists of binary CAM cells and the other portion consists of ternary CAM cells. The portions can be partitioned along the row, or matchline, direction or along the bitline direction. Since particular data formats only require predefined bit positions of a word of data to be ternary in value, the remaining binary bit positions can be stored in binary CAM cells. Therefore, the CAM device memory array will occupy an overall area that is less than memory arrays of the same density consisting exclusively of ternary CAM cells.

An associative memory system called Content Addressable Memory (CAM) has been developed to permit its memory cells to be referenced by their contents. Thus CAM has found use in lookup table implementations such as cache memory subsystems and is now rapidly finding use in networking system applications such as network address translation, pattern recognition, and data compression. CAM's most valuable feature is its ability to perform a search and compare of multiple locations as a single operation, in which search data is compared with data stored within the CAM. Typically search data is loaded onto search lines and compared with stored words in the CAM. During a search-and-compare operation, a match or mismatch signal associated with each stored word is generated on a matchline, indicating whether the search word matches a stored word or not.
A CAM stores data in a matrix of cells, which are typically SRAM based cells. However, to provide ternary state CAMs, ie. where each CAM cell can store one of three values: a logic "0", "1" or "don't care" result, ternary SRAM based cells require two binary SRAM cells.
A typical CAM block diagram is shown in FIG. 1. The CAM 10 includes a matrix, or CAM memory array 25, of CAM cells (not shown) arranged in rows and columns. A predetermined number of CAM cells in a row store a word of data. An address decoder 17 is used to select any row within the CAM array 25 to allow data to be written into or read out of the selected row. Data access circuitry such as bitlines and column selection devices, are located within the array 25 to transfer data into and out of the array 25. Located within CAM array 25 for each row of CAM cells are matchline sense circuits, which are not shown, and are used during search-and-compare operations for outputting a result indicating a successful or unsuccessful match of a search word against the stored word in the row. The results for all rows are processed by the priority encoder 22 to output the address (Match Address) corresponding to the location of a matched word. The match address is stored in match address registers 18 before being output by the match address output block 19. Data is written into array 25 through the data I/O block 11 and the various data registers 15. Data is read out from the array 25 through the data output register 23 and the data I/O block 11. Other components of the CAM include the control circuit block 12, the flag logic block 13, the voltage supply generation block 14, various control and address registers 16, and JTAG block 21.
FIG. 2 depicts a hierarchical view of the typical CAM array 25. CAM array 25 includes a matrix of CAM cells 30 and a matchline sense circuit block 26. CAM cells 30 of the CAM array 25 are arranged in rows and columns. CAM cells 30 of a row are connected to a common matchline MLi, and CAM cells 30 of a column are connected to a common pair of search lines SLjb/SLj and a common pair of bitlines BLj/BLjb, where i is an integer value between 0 and n, and j is an integer value between 0 and m. While not shown to simplify the schematic, each row of CAM cells 30 is connected to a wordline, and those of skill in the art will understand that wordlines are required to ensure operability of the CAM cells 30. Located adjacent to the CAM array 25 for each row is matchline sense circuit block 26. Matchline sense circuit block 26 includes one matchline sense circuit 27 connected to a respective matchline MLi, and is used during search-and-compare operations for outputting match signals ML_OUT0-ML_OUTn which indicate a successful or unsuccessful match of a search word against the stored word. Although not shown in the simplified schematic of FIG. 2, the matchline sense circuits 27 also receive control signals to control their operation, and a person skilled in the art would understand that such control signals to be necessary for their proper operation of the circuit. While the bitlines are connected to well known bitline circuits, the searchlines in a CAM device 10 are connected to searchline drivers (not shown), such as those disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,596.
FIGS. 3 through 5 show circuit schematics of the types of CAM cells 30 that can be used in the CAM array 25 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a typical ternary data SRAM type CAM cell, FIG. 4 shows an alternate ternary SRAM type CAM cell, and FIG. 5 shows a binary SRAM type CAM cell.
FIG. 3 shows a typical ternary SRAM type CAM cell, referred to as a ternary SCAM cell from this point forward. SCAM cell 40 includes two well-known six-transistor SRAM cells 42 and 44, and a pair of search and compare stacks. Since both SRAM cells 42 and 44 are identical to each other, the following description of SRAM cell 42 will apply to SRAM cell 44. SRAM cell 42 includes a first access transistor 46 and a second access transistor 48 for coupling bitlines BLP and BLPb respectively, to the complementary nodes of cross coupled inverters 50 and 52 in response to an active WL signal. The first search and compare stack associated with SCAM cell 42 includes compare transistor 54 and search transistor 56 serially connected between the matchline ML and the tail-line TL. The gate terminal of compare transistor 54 is connected to a node of SRAM cell 42 while the gate terminal of search transistor 56 is connected to searchline SLb. Tail-line TL is typically coupled to a ground, or VSS power supply. The second search and compare stack associated with SRAM cell 44 includes compare transistor 58 and search transistor 60 serially connected between the matchline ML and the tail-line TL. The gate terminal of compare transistor 58 is connected to a node of SRAM cell 44 while the gate terminal of search transistor 60 is connected to searchline SL.
SCAM cell 40 includes a total of 16 transistors and stores encoded ternary data. Together, the two SRAM cells of SCAM cell 40 can store a ternary value representing logic "1", logic "0", or "don't care". Table 1 below shows an example of the ternary data encoding. Persons of skill in the art should understand that SCAM cell 40 can be implemented with n-channel transistors as shown in FIG. 3, and/or p-channel transistors.
TABLE 1SRAMSRAMTernary ValueCell 42Cell 44001110"Don't Care"00
FIG. 4 shows an alternate type of ternary SCAM cell similar to the one shown in FIG. 3. The presently shown ternary SCAM cell stores one bit of data and one mask bit of data to block the search and compare results from affecting the matchline ML. SCAM cell 70 includes the previously described SRAM cells 42 and 44, and the search and compare stacks consisting of transistors 54, 56, 58 and 60. However, this SCAM cell 70 includes an additional mask transistor 72, and the gate terminal of compare transistor 58 is now connected to a storage node of SRAM cell 42 that is complementary to the storage node connected to the gate of compare transistor 54. Mask transistor 72 is connected between the source terminals of search transistors 56 and 60 and the tail line TL, and has its gate terminal connected to a storage node of SRAM cell 44. Accordingly, SCAM cell 70 consists of 17 transistors, implemented in n-channel and/or p-channel technology. SCAM cell 70 essentially functions as a searchable binary CAM cell with masking capability. More specifically, the comparison circuit is enabled if the mask bit stores a logic "0" and the comparison circuit is disabled if the mask bit stores a logic "1".
In applications where the mask bit is unnecessary, or where the data to be stored is only binary in nature, a typical binary SCAM cell can be used.
FIG. 5 is a circuit schematic of a typical binary SCAM cell. Binary SCAM cell 80 uses the same SRAM cell 42 and search and compare stacks as seen in the previous ternary SCAM cell schematics, and includes a total of 10 transistors which can be implemented in n-channel and/or p-channel technology. Clearly, the absence of the second SRAM cell 44 and mask transistor 72 makes binary SCAM cell 80 smaller than previously shown ternary SCAM cells 40 and 70.
As previously mentioned, binary based CAM, and in particular binary SCAM, has found wide use in networking applications where data packets are transferred through the network according to the data in the header portion of the data packet. More specifically, network data packet routing and switching operations involve matching the header portion of the data packet with predetermined comparand data. While binary CAM can be used to match header data, it is limited to searching for exact matches between the comparand data and the header data having the same bit length headers. Therefore, binary CAM is not practical for use in systems that receive data packets having variable bit length headers.
However, the additional "don't care" state provided by ternary CAM permits partial match searches to be executed as the irrelevant bit positions can be set to the "don't care" state such that no comparison to the corresponding bit of comparand data occurs. This capability is useful in modern network longest prefix matching operations, where only leading bits of the header portion are relevant for routing and switching.
Present ternary CAM chips are available in a 9M-bit density, meaning that the chip has approximately 9 million ternary CAM cells in its memory array arranged in rows and columns. A typical data packet can include a word of 144 bits stored by 144 ternary CAM cells in a row, or multiple 144-bit words stored in consecutive rows memory cells. With ternary data storage capability in each ternary CAM cell, the CAM chip can be used as a universal device for accommodating any data packet format because any number of ternary CAM cells can be reserved for header data.
However, it can be observed from progressive standardization of communication protocols and data packet formats that a specific number of bits of each data packet will only ever store binary data. Use of ternary CAM cells for storing only binary data is an inefficient use of silicon area because the unused storage cell of the ternary CAM cell cannot be used to store an unrelated bit of data, and use of ternary search circuits for performing binary searches unnecessarily wastes power.
Various schemes have been proposed in which ternary CAM cells can be dynamically configurable as binary CAM cells, such that the second data bit storage location of the ternary CAM cell can be used for storing another bit of data. Accordingly, the storage density of the CAM device memory array is effectively doubled. Unfortunately, such schemes require relatively complex CAM cell configurations which will further increase the size of the ternary CAM device memory array, and circuit overhead for controlling the operating mode of the configurable memory cells.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a hybrid binary/ternary CAM device memory array that occupies minimal silicon area and consumes less power, while maintaining or improving CAM search and compare performance.


A display apparatus according to the present invention has a gasket attached in a space between a flexible print cable on which an electrically insulating coating is formed, the flexible print cable connecting the circuit board of a display panel and a connecting substrate connected to an external electric device, and a frame supporting a display unit including the display panel, the connecting substrate, and the flexible print cable. The gasket is provided with a core portion made of non-metal and having elasticity, and a surface portion made of metal disposed on a periphery of the core portion. By this means, unnecessary radiation noise generated from the flexible print cable connecting the display panel to the external electric device is effectively shielded without machining the display panel.

A display apparatus used for, e.g., displaying a map of a car navigation device or displaying an image of television broadcasting, includes a liquid-crystal display panel, a backlight unit, a connecting substrate and an outer frame body housing the liquid-crystal display panel, the backlight unit, and the connecting substrate. The liquid-crystal display panel is constituted with two glass substrates and liquid crystal filled in a space between the two glass substrates. A circuit board on which a driver IC for the liquid-crystal display panel is disposed is provided on the glass substrate. The connecting substrate is connected to an external display controlling device. The circuit board and the connecting substrate are connected to each other through a flexible print cable on which an electrically insulating coating is formed.
A high frequency control signal is input into the liquid-crystal display panel through the flexible print cable. Thus, unnecessary radiation noise (electromagnetic wave) is generated from the flexible print cable. In Patent Literature 1 discloses a structure that shields the unnecessary radiation noise. That is, in Patent Literature 1, the flexible print cable is covered by a gold film for shielding and the gold film is electrically connected to an outer frame body made of metal. The outer frame body to which the gold film is connected is relatively large-sized and has a large surface area. Therefore, the unnecessary radiation noise generated from the flexible print cable is absorbed by the gold film and flows toward the outer frame body.


A radially expandable stent is useful for holding a passageway open by placing the stent into a lumen. The stent includes a cylindrical frame formed by a plurality of unit structures. Each unit structure is of a closed zig-zag configuration including an endless series of straight sections joined by bends. The plurality of unit structures are arranged end to end to form the frame. A plurality of connecting members connect the unit structures together. The outer surface of the frame is wrapped with mesh, which is preferably coated with silicone rubber.

It is desirable in various situations that means be provided for expanding a constricted vessel portion or for maintaining an open passageway through a vessel portion.
For example, these situations can be those by esophageal strictures that are caused by esophageal carcinoma or esphageal metastasis, or those by strictures that resulted from the cancer of biliary system, urinary duct system and bronchial system.
The balloon expansion has been well known method of enlarging and maintaining the passageway of esophagus in these cases; but this method should be operated repeatedly for its temporary effects, and also it has no effects on the patients of serious strictures.
As alternatives, various artificial-esophagi have been used in the cases of esophageal strictures, but since they have no constriction and relaxation, the rate of esophageal rupture is high (30-40%) in the process of inserting them into the strictural area that has been caused by the cancer, and the high mortality rate due to mediastinitis results from rupture of esophagus. In addition, the patient has a great difficulty in swallowing due to narrow inner diameter (10-12 mm) of artificial esophagus, and obstruction of artificial-esophagus occurred frequently due to food intake.
As the means of overcoming the difficulty, a device to hold the passageway enlarged using a stent was presented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,587. However, the device of the invention has the temporary effect in enlarging the passageway, there is still the problem that the endovascular lumen gets narrows after a long time.
To improve this disadvantages, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568 was offered. The stent of said invention includes a wire formed into a closed zig-zag configuration including an endless series of straight sections joined by bends. The stent is resiliently compressible into a smaller first shape wherein the straight sections are arranged side-by-side and closely adjacent one another for insertion into a larger second shape wherein said straight sections press against the walls of the passageway to maintain it open.
However, in a case that the stent of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568 invention is put into use for a long time, it still has the problem that the lumen is narrowed, because the proliferated cells cover the stent thickly. There is no effect in the case of the stricture by cancer, because the cancer cells can pass through the straight sections.

Self-expanding endovascular stent with silicone coating


This invention provides an image processing apparatus which keeps energizing some loads to reduce next startup processing at the time of power OFF operation via a switch of the apparatus while stopping power supply to all the loads at the time of power OFF operation by remote control, a control method for the apparatus, and a program. To accomplish this, this image processing apparatus is shifted to the power OFF state upon, for example, receiving an instruction for decreasing power consumption from an external apparatus, and is shifted to the quick OFF state upon receiving an instruction for decreasing power consumption from the external apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which can remotely manage a power source, a method for controlling the same, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an environment in which many image processing apparatuses are operated while connected to a network, it is required to use a method for performing intensive power management for these image processing apparatuses. For example, when taking a long vacation, a company may need to turn off the power sources of all image processing apparatuses before the vacation. In addition, when electric service is planned to be interrupted, there is a need for the manager to turn off the power sources of all the image processing apparatuses. On the other hand, there is known a conventional technique of allowing the manager to shut down a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network by remote control via the network. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216118 has proposed a technique of managing power source information of all or some of image forming apparatuses connected to a network and allowing to make ON/OFF setting for the power source of each image forming apparatus, thereby comprehensively managing the usage of each image forming apparatus.
The conventional techniques, however, have the following problems. There is a tendency for recent image processing apparatuses to take a long time to enable users to actually operate the apparatuses after they operate the power switches because of a tendency toward an increasing number of functions. One of the reasons for this kind of problem is that software for operating a controller to control an image processing apparatus increases in size along with an increase in the number of functions. In contrast to this, there is a technique available for keeping part of a controller including a memory energized; that is, keeping the controller in a kind of standby state without actually turning off the power source of the overall apparatus when the user performs a power-OFF operation. This allows the image processing apparatus to be set in an operative state within a short period of time by using the contents of the memory when the user performs the next power-ON operation.
Combining the conventional remote control shutdown technique with the image processing apparatus using the above technique will give rise to the problem of the apparatus shifting to the standby state even if the manager wants to turn off the power source. In this standby state, since part of the controller is in an energized state, the power source of the image processing apparatus is not completely turned off. A power failure in such an incomplete power OFF state may cause a failure in the image processing apparatus. Such an operation is therefore undesirable as a remote control shutdown operation.

Image processing apparatus for remotely managing a power source, method for controlling the same, and a storage medium