A gaming machine in which a game is controlled using virtual reels arranged to correspond to symbols of actual reels, increases the interest of a player in playing the game. A virtual symbol row arrangement is provided corresponding to a plurality of symbol rows to be displayed on a variable display, and is formed of the symbols that constitute each of the symbol rows. When a predetermined play condition is satisfied, a controller starts the operation of the variable display and samples random number values. In response to the sampled random number values, the controller determines stop symbols in the virtual symbol row arrangement for every symbol row. The controller controls the variable display to produce an image of the stop symbols when the variable display is stopped, and performs win determinations on a selected combination of the stop symbols. The virtual symbol row arrangement consists of at least two tables, with a plurality of virtual symbol rows disposed as one table. First and second ones of the tables differ from one another in position or number with respect to a particular symbol in one of the plurality of virtual symbol rows.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to gaming machines such as slot machines, ball-shooting game machines, poker game machines, and the like, and more particularly, to a gaming machine having a variable display for displaying a plurality of symbols that correspond to mechanically driven reels, or electrically-operated display means such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), cathode ray tubes (CRTs), or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional slot machine, a rotating reel functions as a variable display. One or more such reels, illustratively three reels in a known arrangement, are provided with a plurality of symbols (e.g., twenty-two symbols) on peripheral surfaces thereof and are urged into rotation by a drive arrangement that may include a stepping motor. In use, the plural reels are caused to be rotated and a "win" is determined in response to a particular combination of symbols positioned on a predetermined winning line when the rotation of the reels ceases. Upon determining the occurrence of a win, coins or medals are paid out in a number or value that corresponds to the characteristic of the win.
In a gaming machine of the type that produces displays that vary with the multiplicity of combinations of the plurality of symbols as mentioned above, the variable displays are controlled by a control unit that consists of electronic circuitry, such as a microcomputer or the like, whereby the probability of a win is not greatly influenced by the skill of a player.
More particularly, in the case of the slot machine, when the player operates a lever or pushes a start button, the control unit drives the reels of the variable display into rotation, and samples a random number value. In response to the sampled random number value, the control unit determines the symbols (i.e.., stop symbols) that are displayed in display windows when the reels are stopped. Then, the control unit stops rotation of the reels in response to stop operations by the player or after a predetermined time period has passed. Afterward, the control unit performs win determination procedure.
In ball-shooting game machines, such as pachinko machines and the like, instead of operating the lever or pushing the start button as above, the control unit actuates a variable display and samples a random number value when a game ball has entered a winning zone called the "start hole." Then, depending upon the sampled value and the content of a winning table, the control unit determines whether the play is a win and also determines the stop symbols. The control unit controls the variable displays to stop after a predetermined time period has passed.
In a gaming machine comprising a variable display of video type (e.g., CRTs), graphical data corresponding to patterns of symbols is stored in a memory (symbol ROM) in accordance with a predetermined arrangement. The control unit reads the graphical data that is to be displayed at the variable display, from the symbol ROM.
When playing such gaming machines, the player can readily determine whether the play is a win or a loss, the number of play balls (prize) to be paid out for the player being determinable by viewing the plurality of symbol rows after they have been stopped. Therefore, the player watches the displays when each of the symbol rows is stopped, with significant interest.
In the above-mentioned gaming machines, the payout rate of the coins, determined in response to the odds of winning, is established with the probability that any particular combination of stop symbols will stand when the rotation of the plurality of reels that form the variable display ceases and the number of the coins to be paid out therefor. Thus, the player is greatly interested in the setting of the odds of winning, and the setting thereof is a significant consideration for the gambling establishment, as it ultimately affects the availability of the gaming machines and the resulting profitability of the business.
The odds of winning in gaming machines of the type that control the payout of coins in response to the random number sampling, as is the case in the gaming machines of the type wherein a stop symbol combination is determined with the use of a win determination table (stored in ROM) including winning symbol combinations having respectively associated probabilities of occurring, may be set by the gambling establishment as desired within a regulated range. Such is the case with slot machines employed in pachinko halls in Japan.
With respect to slot machines of the type generally used in the United States, the odds of winning, pursuant to regulations, cannot be modified freely after the slot machine has been installed in the gambling establishment. In addition, the probabilities associated with symbol combinations corresponding to a loss, as well as those corresponding to a win, must be calculated and the odds of occurrence must correspondingly be controlled. Thus, if the above method is employed, the control procedure becomes more complicated and operation time becomes longer. Therefore, in such slot machines, a known method of operation, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419, employs a table of probabilities correlated to the symbols of each reel, whereby the probability of occurrence of each symbol for each reel is determined in response to a random number value sampled by a random number sampling procedure. A table (stored in ROM) for each reel is thus referred to as a "virtual reel." The virtual reel is arranged to correspond to symbols similar to those on an actual reel sheet, but the number of symbols is different from an actual reel.
In gaming machines that employ the technique of the virtual reel, only a single combination of virtual reels is stored from which the stop symbols are determined in response to the random number sampling. Thus, after the gaming machines have been installed in the gambling establishment, as a player plays the game, the manner in which the stop symbols appear is decided, i.e., a pattern of standing of combinations of the stop symbols is getting decided, and the game becomes monotonous to make the player tired.


Corporate information technology (IT) networks can protect sensitive data sent to computers located outside of the corporate IT network. For example, a computer located outside of the corporate IT network may receive a message that instructs the computer to operate in a data protection mode in which the computer reduces a frame rate of a monitor of the computer from a first frame rate to a lower second frame rate. In this example, the computer receives sensitive information that includes sensitive visual content to be displayed on the monitor and displays the sensitive visual content on the monitor configured to operate at the second frame rate.

Many companies and organizations have set up their corporate information technology (IT) networks so that their employees can work from any place that has Internet access. To remotely access a corporate IT network, an employee may be required to log into a computer using credentials, such as a username and password. Today, employees regularly log into and access their corporate networks from home, coffee shops, or airports. For example, a consultant who regularly travels may use his or her laptop to access certain documents or send and receive emails at an airport or hotel. In another example, a software engineer can avoid rush-hour traffic in the morning by writing or reviewing software code from home or coffee shop until after the traffic subsides. Technology has made it possible for employees to have the flexibility to work from any place that has Internet access including their corporate offices. However, companies and organizations that offer remote access capabilities to their employees also face certain security risks. For example, an employee's laptop and credentials may be stolen and used to download confidential corporate information, or an employee may himself or herself remotely log into the corporate network for such nefarious purposes. In another example, an employee may be legitimately using his or her laptop in a coffee shop only to have a stranger take pictures of the employee's laptop screen to obtain confidential information.
The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


A device for the filtering of electromagnetic waves propagating in a main rotational symmetrical waveguide element comprising at least one filtering section constituted of a rectangular waveguide section inserted in being spliced into the main waveguide element, each transition between said main waveguide element and each of said filtering sections being made by metal walls which are substantially perpendicular to said axis of symmetry, the number and the geometrical and dimensional characteristics of the filtering sections being chosen so as to constitute a filter with a pre-determined filtering profile. The device can be applied especially in dual band filtering, for example for the making of dual band or bi-polarization duplexers.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of filtering in electromagnetic waveguides. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for the filtering of waves propagating in rotational symmetrical waveguides, such as the circular waveguides or coaxial waveguides used in TE.sub.11 mode.
The invention can be applied in particular to dual band filters. A major use of this invention is indeed the making of dual band and bi-polarization duplexers, notably when the ports of the duplexers are in the same rectangular guide standard. This is, for example, the case of the 10.95-12.5 GHz and 14-14.5 GHz bands in the WR 75 waveguide. As a general rule, the horizontal and vertical polarizations of these duplexers are not identical in the two frequency bands considered.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a known type of duplexer such as this. The high (for example 14-14.5 GHz) band port 11 and the low (for example 10.95-14.5 GHz) band port 12 are constituted by rectangular waveguides. The output 13 towards the radiating element is constituted by a circular waveguide.
For the low band, the excitation is achieved by a coupling, by means of a slot in the duplexer 14, between the rectangular guide and the circular guide. If the wave is to be propagated towards the radiating element and not towards the high band port 11 constituted by a rectangular guide, it is necessary to place a rectangular-to-circular transition 15 and a polarization filter 16 between the high band 11 port and the duplexer 14.
There already exists several known types of polarization, such as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a filter with metal plate 21, and FIG. 3 shows a filter with metal wires 31, 32, 33. These metal elements 21 or 31, 32, 33, selectively placed in the waveguide 22, enable the elimination of a polarization, hence the elimination of a given frequency band.
An error of one degree in the positioning of this plate 21 or of these wires 31, 32, 33 causes a maximum decoupling (transmission of the electromagnetic wave from the port 11 to the port 12) of 35 dB, which is generally insufficient. In mechanical terms, therefore, the making of these devices calls for high precision in the placing and fixing of the plate 21 or of the wires 31, 32, 33 to the interior of the circular guide 22. Furthermore, the manufacture of such filters calls for several successive and delicate steps.

Device for the filtering of electromagnetic waves propagating in a rotational symmetrical waveguide, with inserted rectangular filtering waveguide sections


The present invention provides compounds for disrupting the binding of a matrix metalloprotease (MMP) protein to a substrate protein at an interaction site other than the protease catalytic site. In particular the inventive compounds inhibit the MMP's ability to cleave a substrate protein. In some cases the compound may prevent activation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). The compounds are preferably polypeptide fragments of the hemopexin-like domain of the MMP, but may be mimetics thereof or peptides or mimetics of the portion of the MMP substrate protein to which the MMP interacts.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease affecting joints following (a) cartilage injury; (b) exposure to excessive load-bearing, or repetitive use; or (c) general aging. OA affects 10% of the world's 60 years and older population. It is characterized by joint pain and dysfunction, degradation of joint cartilages, decreased proteoglycan content in articular cartilage, production of osteophytes (calcified tissue in the margins of the articular cartilage) and fibrosis of the synovial lining of the joint. The unchecked actions of MMPs and elevated activation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) have been implicated as a primary cause for osteoarthritic cartilage degradation.
TGFβ biological activity is modulated by protease-mediated activation to disassemble latency complexes. TGFβ is secreted as a small latent complex that is covalently associated with latent TGFβ binding protein 1 (LTBP1) to form the TGFβ large latent complex. LTBP1 anchors the TGFβ large latent complex (TGFβ LLC) to the extracellular matrix (ECM). This complex must be released from the extracellular matrix in order for TGFβ to become activated for signaling. TGFβ is secreted as a small latent complex in non-covalent association with its N-terminal latency associated peptide, β-LAP. β-LAP and LTBP1 have been implicated in proper processing, secretion, and guidance of the TGFβ LLC to the ECM for storage. Analysis of TGFβ distribution in bone indicates that the bulk of TGFβ is stored in the ECM as a 100 kD TGFJ3 small latent complex (TGFJ3 SLC) and a 270 kD TGFβ LLC. TGFβ is only capable of binding the signaling receptor complex in its mature, 25 kD, homodimeric form. Therefore, activation must occur through a tightly controlled series of proteolytic steps. Plasmin, elastase, chymase, thrombospondin, MMP9, MMP3 and MMP13 have all been implicated in activation of TGFβ resulting in release of the mature receptor-binding homodimer. In addition, an alternatively spliced short form of LTBP1 can form the large latent complex with TGFβ. It has been demonstrated that this form of the TGFβ LLC including the short LTBP1 can be more readily removed from the extracellular matrix.
MMP inhibitors, such as batimastat, marimastat, CGS-27023A, and prinomastat, have been used to treat OA. However, those attempts have resulted in severe side-effects known as MMP-induced musculoskeletal syndrome which includes joint stiffness, inflammation, and symptoms manifested as pain in the hands, arms, and shoulders. Therefore, there remains a need for compounds and methods for inhibiting activation of TGFβ, and treating OA as well as other TGFβ-associated indications without the adverse effect of MMP-induced musculoskeletal syndrome.

Compounds for inhibition of MMP13-substrate interactions and methods of use thereof to treat osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration


Methods and systems for application framework development for wireless devices are provided herein. Aspects of the method may include acquiring an MMI event from an MMI event queue within the MMI wireless framework. An identity of the acquired MMI event may be determined and the acquired MMI event may be dispatched to an event handler based on the determined identity of the acquired event. If the acquired MMI event comprises a timing event, the acquired MMI event may be dispatched to an MMI event owner within the MMI wireless framework. If the acquired MMI event comprises a keypad event, the acquired MMI event may be dispatched to a currently active MMI view within the MMI wireless framework. If the acquired MMI event comprises an addressed event, the acquired MMI event may be dispatched to a destination handler within the MMI wireless framework.

A man-machine interface (MMI) may provide one or more user interfaces that may be utilized to facilitate user interaction with various telecommunication functions provided by a communication device. Exemplary telecommunication devices may comprise, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless telephone or a hybrid wireless PDA and telephone. The functionality that is provided by a conventional MMI may include one or more interfaces that may be utilized to dial telephone directory numbers, answer telephone calls, create, send and/or receive messages, and establish and/or change configuration or user settings. Different types of communication devices may require different types of man-machine interfaces to exploit the features that may be provided by the different devices. Accordingly, a user of a communication device may utilize the man machine interface to access various unique features and services provided by a service provider and which are accessible via a particular communication device communicatively coupled to the service provider's network. Today, there are various wireless communication standards, some of which may comprise Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT), Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Digital AMPS (D-AMPS), Personal Digital Cellular system (PDC), Extended TACS (ETACS), Digital European Cordless Telephone system (DECT), Cordless Telephone 2 (CT 2), and Cordless Telephone 3 (CT 3). In order to access various features that may be unique to each of these standards, a different man machine interface is required.
Application development frameworks may be utilized for design and development of man-machine interfaces for various different types of wireless devices. During development of each of these man-machine interfaces utilizing conventional application development frameworks, the functionality of these man-machine interfaces are outlined with different degrees of specificity in order to exploit the various features. This hinders the production and development process because, while wireless devices may vary to some degree between different manufacturers, they all possess approximately the same functionality and key configurations, which are defined by each relevant, specified standard.
In addition, man-machine interfaces utilizing conventional application development frameworks are programmed in such a way that they do not currently possess the necessary flexibility required by today's technology markets. In other words, there is an insufficient level of flexibility with the degree of customization and modification with regard to existing standard implementations. In this regard, existing application development frameworks do not provide sufficient flexibility and uniformity during the production and development of man machine interface applications for different wireless communication device designs. Furthermore, current application development frameworks create applications that utilize a significant portion of the limited memory on a wireless device, which may result in memory overload.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for handling events in an application framework for a wireless device


Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with selectively scheduling memory accesses in parallel are described. In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by a hardware controller, an access speed associated with a page request. The page request is a request to access a memory page in a memory device. The access speed is a number of clock cycles used to access the memory page addressed by the page request. The method also includes scheduling when the page request will be executed based, at least in part, on the access speed by assigning the page request to be executed in parallel with at least one other page request that is to access a different memory page in the memory device using a same number of clock cycles as the page request.

Digital data is often stored and retrieved from memory. Memory is manufactured in chips of silicon. Semiconductor materials etched onto the silicon allow many transistors to be implemented in a chip to produce high density memories. The transistors may be configured to form NAND gates, inverters, and other functions used to implement the memory.
A memory chip is implemented with many cells. Traditionally, a memory cell stored a single bit of data. A one "1" was stored in the cell when a cell threshold voltage was a first value. A zero "0" was stored in the cell when the cell threshold voltage was a second value. A better way to access memory may be desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Selectively scheduling memory accesses in parallel based on access speeds of memory


In a surface-emitting laser device, an Al0.16Ga0.84As cladding layer, a GaAs optical waveguide layer, an Al0.30Ga0.70As carrier block layer, a GaAs side barrier layer, an InGaAs active layer, a GaAs side barrier layer, an Al0.30Ga0.70As carrier block layer, a GaAs optical waveguide layer, an Al0.16Ga0.84As cladding layer, an etching stop layer, and a contact layer are formed on a GaAs substrate in this sequence. A inclined facet which functions as a reflecting mirror is formed on a resonator optical axis between a horizontal resonator facet and a vertical resonator facet. With the constitution, thermal saturation and facet degradation can be suppressed as much as possible and high optical output power can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface-emitting laser device suitable for communications and measurements, and in particular suitable for multi-channel optical communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a technology to transmit and process quickly huge information like image information, parallel information processing systems using two dimensional integrated optical devices have been widely studied. For these systems, a surface-emitting laser device which can be arranged in two dimensional arrays is particularly important.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional surface-emitting laser device. This surface-emitting laser device is described in a paper, IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, vol. 7 No. 12, DECEMBER 1995 p1391, and on a GaAs substrate 11, a cladding layer 10, an optical waveguide layer 9, an active layer 8 formed of an InGaAs quantum well layer, an optical waveguide layer 7, a cladding layer 6, an etching stop layer 5 and a contact layer 13 are formed in sequence. The active layer 8, the optical waveguide layers 7,9 and the cladding layers 6, 10 constitute a separate confinement heterostructure of a graded index type, dubbed SCH structure. On the top of the contact layer 13 and on the bottom of the substrate 11 are formed electrodes 4,12 for carrier injection, respectively.
The etching stop layer 5 formed between the cladding layer 6 and the contact layer 13 has the function of preventing the cladding layer 6 and layers below the cladding layer 6 from being etched in the process of etching the contact layer 13 to form a horizontal resonator facet 2a. Another resonator facet 2b is formed by cleavage or the like so as to be perpendicular to each layer.
Furthermore, an inclined facet 3 is formed on a resonator optical axis between the horizontal resonator facet 2a and the vertical resonator facet 2b. The inclined facet 3 is inclined from the horizontal optical axis by a certain angle, e.g. 45 degrees, and functions as a reflective mirror for bending the optical axis.
With the above constitution, a laser device in which a laser beam having resonated between the resonator facets 2a and 2b is emitted to the external from the resonator facet 2a, functions as a surface-emitting laser device which can output an emitting beam 1 to the external in the normal direction of the substrate 11. In regard to laser characteristics, in the case of an operation at an operation current of 20 mA, an edge output power of 8 mW and a surface output power of 5 mW are obtained at the facets 2b and 2a, respectively, wherein a threshold current is 6 mA.
In light sources for communication, not only high speed operation but also high power operation is of great importance. Thermal saturation and facet degradation problems are considered as factors that limit the laser output power. The thermal saturation is such a phenomenon that an elevated device temperature due to loss of Joule heat generated by laser oscillation and other losses leads to reduction of the active layer gain and disturbs continuation of oscillation. On the other hand, the facet degradation is an irreversible phenomenon that generation of surface level on the laser emitting facet, caused by impurities and crystal defects, induces light absorption with the result that facet destruction is generated due to local heating.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the surface-emitting laser device with an inclined facet 3 of triangle cross section, heat conduction from the inclined facet 3 to the substrate 11 having large heat capacity is more difficult than that from other facets 2b, and hence the thermal saturation and facet degradation are likely to occur around the inclined facet 3. Furthermore, the inclined facet 3 is likely to be degraded because it is damaged more easily in processing as compared with the other facets 2a and 2b.
The damages in processing will be described in detail in the following. In the case of the surface-emitting laser using an inclined facet, the inclined facet has to be mirror-finished in a flatness of micron order. The practical inclined facet is composed of several laser-constituting layers such as an active layer, waveguide layer and cladding layer exist, and it is necessary to process these layers uniformly to form a mirror surface. As a method of processing the inclined facet is generally employed a dry etching method such as ion beam etching. When the inclined facet is damaged in processing, reabsorption of the laser beam occurs on the inclined facet during laser oscillation, which causes a facet degradation such as so-called catastrophic optical damage.
It is possible to employ a wet etching process as a countermeasure against such problem, in consideration of mirror-finishing while preventing the damage in processing. However, etching characteristics of layers constituting the inclined facet are generally different, and accordingly a step is formed between layers of high etching rate and layers of low etching rate, making it difficult to form a high quality mirror surface. Particularly in the conventional surface-emitting laser device, the Al content of the cladding layer cannot be set much lower so as to keep carrier confinement. In the wet etching process a high-Al-content layer is likely to be oxidized and degraded, causing big barriers to high power laser operation. Furthermore, in the wet etching process a high quality mirror surface has been difficult to form, because differences in etching characteristics between the high-Al-content layers and the low-Al-content layers are likely to cause irregularities on the surface and nonuniformity in orientation of the mirror surface.
Additionally, in order to avoid the thermal saturation and facet degradation in the inclined facet during the laser operation, it is important to reduce the electric resistance and thermal resistance of the device and the optical density thereon.
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing a typical example of SCH structure type device, and FIG. 4B is a graph showing light intensity distribution thereof. The axis of abscissas indicates positions of the laser device in a layer thickness direction thereof. The axes of ordinates of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B indicate Al and In contents, and light intensities, respectively. The SCH laser has a layer constitution in which a waveguide layer G is sandwiched between a pair of cladding layers C. The waveguide layer G corresponds to the active layer 8 and optical waveguide layers 7, 9 in FIG. 3, and the cladding layer C corresponds to the cladding layers 6, 10 in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 4A, for example, the composition of the cladding layer C is Al0.60Ga0.40As, and Al content of the waveguide layer G decreases continuously toward the center of the active layer in which a quantum well layer formed of InGaAs exists. Regarding AlGaAs type materials, since a band gap tends to increase with increases in Al content thereof, the band gap distribution almost coincides with the graph of FIG. 4A.
The cladding layer C is mainly involved in the light confinement, but practically has also the function of confining carriers which overflow from the quantum well layer depending on the height of the band gap. Accordingly, to maintain satisfactory temperature characteristics, it is necessary for carriers existing in the active layer to sense that the potential barrier of the cladding layer C is high enough.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs showing electric resistance and thermal resistance of AlGaAs type materials, respectively. The axis of abscissas indicates Al contents. As seen from FIG. 5A, although the electric resistance increases with increase in Al content and particularly the p-type material has higher resistance than the n-type material as a whole, the electric resistance of the n-type material abruptly increases when the Al content thereof is higher than about 0.3. The calorific volume increases with increase in electric resistance. As seen from FIG. 5B, the thermal resistance can be expressed as a quadratic function of Al content, which function is figured as a convex parabolic form having a maximum value at an Al content of around 0.5.
Consequently, in order to reinforce the carrier confinement function in the laser device of SCH structure, the employment of the cladding layer C having high Al content is often considered. Such increased Al content, however, causes increases in electric resistance and thermal resistance of the device, and as a consequence it can not be avoided to make sacrifices in thermal characteristics of the device.
Furthermore, in regard to the light intensity, as shown in FIG. 4B, the refractive index difference between the cladding layer C and the waveguide layer G increases with increase in Al content of the cladding layer C, and therefore light distribution is concentrated in the narrow waveguide layer G. As a consequence, the light intensity distribution becomes an exponential type with high peak intensity, and facet degradation is likely to occur around the peak.
An object of the invention is to provide a surface-emitting laser device capable of suppressing thermal saturation and facet degradation as much as possible and outputting high optical output power.
The present invention provides a surface-emitting laser device comprising:
an active layer;
a pair of optical waveguide layers, disposed on both sides of the active layer, having a band gap wider than or equal to that of the active layer;
a pair of cladding layers disposed so as to sandwich the active layer and the optical waveguide layers, having a band gap wider than or equal to that of the optical waveguide layers;
a carrier block layer disposed between the active layer and at least one of the optical waveguide layers, having a band gap wider than or equal to those of the active layer and the optical waveguide layer; and
an inclined facet, formed so as to diagonally cross with an optical axis along the active layer, for reflecting light generated in the active layer, to a layer thickness direction.
According to the invention, the carrier block layer interposed between the active layer and the optical waveguide layer functions to confine carriers into the active layer. For this reason, the composition and dimension of the cladding layer can be designed without considering carefully carrier confinement function of the cladding layer. Consequently, the cladding layer can be employed giving high priority for electric resistance and thermal resistance of the device, and a surface-emitting laser of good thermal characteristics and high output power with suppressed optical peak intensity and high reliability can be realized.
Furthermore, by reducing the thermal resistance of the cladding layer on the substrate side, heat generated around the inclined facet is transferred smoothly to the substrate, resulting in that thermal saturation and facet degradation at the inclined facet is suppressed.
Furthermore, by providing the carrier block layer, it is possible to enhance the freedom of design and to lower the difference in composition ratio between the cladding layer and the optical waveguide layer in comparison with a laser device without carrier block layer. Accordingly, the inclinations of the inclined facet made by etching, which facet is largely occupied by the cladding layers and optical waveguide layers become uniform owing to the small difference in composition ratio between the cladding layer and the optical guide layer. Accordingly preferable reflection characteristics can be obtained along with increased output power and oscillation efficiency. In particular, when the cladding layers and the optical waveguide layers are formed of AlGaAs materials, Al contents of these layers can be reduced and the above mentioned effects are further enhanced.
In the invention, it is preferable that the carrier block layer is disposed between the active layer and each of the optical waveguide layers.
According to the invention, by disposing the carrier block layer between the active layer and each of the optical waveguide layers, the function of confining carriers in the active layer can be fulfilled efficiently.
In the invention, it is preferable that the optical waveguide layers are formed of GaAs.
According to the invention, in regard to AlGaAs type materials, electric resistance and thermal resistance increase with increase in Al content. Accordingly the optical waveguide layer has preferably as low an Al content as possible, and more preferably it is formed of GaAs.
In the invention, it is preferable that the active layer is formed of InGaAs.
According to the invention, as the band gap of the active layer can be small, the potential barrier against carriers in the active layer can be set high enough, and then the effect of carrier confinement into the active layer can be enhanced.
In the invention, it is preferable that a thickness of the carrier block layers is within a range of 5 nm to 50 nm.
According to the invention, to prevent carriers in the active layer from leaking out by tunnel effect, the carrier block layer is needed to have some value of thickness, but when the carrier block layer is too thick, carrier injection efficiency and light exudation efficiency are decreased. Accordingly the carrier block layer preferably has a layer thickness of 50 nm or less. To the contrary, when the carrier block layer is too thin, a band bending phenomena due to the band peak relaxation and tunnel effect cause carrier leakage and depression of the carrier block function. Accordingly, the layer thickness of the carrier block layer is preferably 5 nm or more.
In the invention, it is preferable that the cladding layer is formed of AlxGa1xe2x88x92xAs in which xxe2x89xa60.3.
According to the invention, since electric resistance and thermal resistance of AlGaAs type materials increase with increase in Al content, the cladding layer preferably has as low an Al content as possible. More preferably, the cladding layer is formed of AlGaAs in which an Al content is equal to or less than 0.3.
The principle of the invention will be explained in the following. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing a typical example of a laser device according to the invention, and FIG. 1B is a graph showing the light intensity distribution of the example of FIG. 1A. The axis of abscissas indicates positions of the laser device in a layer thickness direction thereof. The axes of ordinates of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B indicate Al and In contents, and light intensities, respectively. This laser device has a layer constitution where a waveguide layer G is sandwiched between a pair of cladding layers C, and the waveguide layer G comprises the a central active layer Q, carrier block layers B adjacent to both sides of the active layer Q, and optical waveguide layers adjacent to outsides of the carrier block layers.
Carriers composed of electrons and holes are injected from outsides of the cladding layers C, and emit light after recombination in the active layer Q, whereby laser oscillation occurs by means of the optical resonator. Once the carriers are put into the active layer Q, they are confined thereinto by the potential barriers of the carrier block layers B. Consequently, the cladding layers C are not needed to bear the confinement of carriers, so that the cladding layers C can concentrate on carrier introduction and control of light distribution and heat transfer. Consequently, by setting the Al content of the cladding layer of the AlGaAs type, for example, at a low level, the electric resistance and thermal resistance of the device can be decreased and the light peak intensity can be suppressed.
On the other hand, since the total Al content of the laser device is reduced, the degradation due to oxidation can be suppressed and a mirror surface of desired flatness is easily obtained. Particularly, it is preferable to form the optical waveguide layers of GaAs, and as a result of which, an atom level mirror reflecting crystal orientation can be easily obtained.
In case of using GaAs, by selecting some type of etchant, a high quality inclined mirror facet with a certain angle reflecting the crystal orientation can be formed. On the other hand, for example, when each layer is formed of AlGaAs, since layers containing a large amount of Al show different etching rates, anisotropy corresponding to crystal orientation varies by layer, and accordingly nonuniformity in orientation of the surface after etching is exhibited. As a result, in the case of fabricating a surface-emitting laser by applying wet etching to a laser device comprising AlGaAs multilayer, the inclined facet becomes uneven for each layer and the surface orientation tends to vary by layer. Such a trend is not limited to AlGaAs type materials, and which is possible in three or more components materials.
In addition, the carrier block layer can be as thick as needed to confine carriers therein, and the effect on the light distribution can be minimized. As shown in FIG. 1B, the general form of light intensity distribution is decided mostly only by the waveguide layer G and the cladding layers C, and by making the waveguide layer G thick, the form of light intensity distribution can be changed from the exponential type with a sharp peak to a gentle Gaussian one, and the peak intensity to the total quantity of light can be reduced to great extent, and as a result the degree of facet degradation can be improved remarkably.
Since the carrier block layer contains large amount of Al, the inclined facet can go through a change in inclination or become uneven at the carrier block layer. However, the change in the inclined facet have little effect on light reflection because of the small thickness of the carrier block layer.


A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.

Both petroleum refineries and engine manufacturers are constantly faced with the challenge of continually improving their products to meet increasingly severe governmental efficiency and emission requirements, and consumers' desires for enhanced performance. For example, in producing a fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, petroleum producers blend a plurality of hydrocarbon containing streams to produce a product that will meet governmental combustion emission regulations and the engine manufacturers performance fuel criteria, such as research octane number (RON). Similarly, engine manufacturers conventionally design spark ignition type internal combustion engines around the properties of the fuel. For example, engine manufacturers endeavor to inhibit to the maximum extent possible the phenomenon of auto-ignition, which typically results in knocking and, potentially engine damage, when a fuel with insufficient knock-resistance is combusted in the engine.
Under typical driving situations, engines operate under a wide range of conditions depending on many factors including ambient conditions (air temperature, humidity, etc.), vehicle load, speed, rate of acceleration, and the like. Engine manufacturers and fuel blenders have to design products that perform well under virtually all such diverse conditions. This requires compromise, as often times fuel properties or engine parameters that are desirable under certain speed/load conditions prove detrimental to overall performance at other speed/load conditions. Conventionally, vehicular fuels are supplied in two or three grades, typically distinguished by their RON. Generally, the selection of fuel grade is based upon the engine specifications. However, once the fuel is "on board", it becomes a "one fuel fits all" and must be designed to accommodate diverse speed, load and other driving conditions.
One object of this invention is to employ a fuel supply system using a membrane for segregating octane boosting constituents from a main fuel tank or reservoir, that are selectively admixed or run separately to the engine fuel supply in response to engine drive cycle conditions.
Another object of this invention to establish a procedure for providing an engine with fuels specifically designed to enhance engine performance at low and high load engine conditions from a single fuel delivered to the vehicle.
Also, spark ignition engines are generally designed to operate at a compression ratio (CR) of 10:1 or lower to prevent knocking at high load. Compression Ratio (CR) is defined as the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber when the piston is at Bottom Dead Center (BDC) divided by the volume when the piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC). As is known, higher CRs, up to about 18:1, are optimum from the standpoint of maximizing the engine thermal efficiency across the load range. A higher CR leads to greater thermal efficiency by maximizing the work obtainable from the theoretical Otto (engine compression/expansion) cycle. Higher CRs also lead to increased burn rates, giving a further improvement in thermal efficiency by creating a closer approach to this ideal Otto cycle. Operation at high compression, however, is limited by insufficiently high fuel octane, as in practice it is difficult to supply a single fuel with sufficiently high octane overall to allow for a significant increase in compression ratio without having engine knocking at high loads.
Therefore, another objective of this invention is to facilitate the use of high compression ratio engines that realize greater thermal efficiency across the entire driving cycle without the problem of knocking at high load by supplying a specifically formulated fuel derived from the fuel supplied to the vehicle.
In theory, higher efficiency engine operation at certain moderate to high loads can be achieved by adjusting the spark ignition timing closer to the value that provides spark advance for best torque known as maximum brake torque ("MBT"). Experience has shown, however, that adjusting the ignition timing to allow MBT to be reached is not always practical since knocking typically occurs under conditions of moderate to high load at timings earlier than MBT with commercially available gasoline. In principle, operating with a very high octane fuel would allow running the engine at MBT across the drive cycle. However, a preferred approach is to supply the engine with a fuel that has sufficient octane to approach or operate at MBT without knocking over a wide range of load and speed conditions. The fuel supply system taught herein separates or extracts constituents of the supply fuel that have or can impart sufficient octane to approach or operate at MBT under moderate to high engine load and speed conditions.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide fuel compositions that allow adjusting the spark ignition timing closer to that which provides MBT over a wider range of load and speed conditions.
Present spark ignition engines are capable of operating with known fuels at a normalized fuel to air ratio ("φ") below 1.0 under low to moderate load conditions. The normalized fuel to air ratio is the actual fuel to air ratio divided by the stoichiometric fuel to air ratio. In addition, these engines can be operated with exhaust gas recycle (EGR), as the "leaning out" diluent, at a φ of 1.0 or lower. EGR is understood to include both recycled exhaust gases as well as residual combustion gases. An obstacle to operating the engine under such lean conditions is the difficulty of establishing a rapid and complete burn of the fuel.
Another object of this invention therefore is to provide a lower octane, lower autoignition resistant, high burn rate fuel for use under lean conditions. As known in the art, autoignition of the fuel at sufficiently high loads can pose a threat of mechanical damage to the engine, i.e., knocking. However, at certain low load conditions, for example lean stratified operation, autoignition of the fuel can be beneficial to overall engine operation by optimizing burn characteristics that result in a more complete burn or combustion, and thereby reduced engine emissions and higher efficiency.
The membrane separation or segregation process entails contacting a surface of the membrane with the feed material. Membrane composition is selected to permeate specific constituents of the feed. Those constituents dissolve onto and into the membrane surface region. These constituents then diffuse or migrate to the opposite surface of the membrane. There, the high octane constituents are recovered as permeate.
Other objects of the invention and their attendant advantages will be apparent from the reading of this specification.

Fuel composition supply means for spark ignition engines

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A heating system is provided with a closed circuit system for a first liquid, a pass-through system for a second liquid and a controller. The closed circuit system has a primary heater with a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a circulating pump. The primary heater has a burner for burning hydrocarbon fuel and has a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from combustion products of hydrocarbon fuel to the first liquid. The second heat exchanger allows transfer of heat from the first liquid heated in the first heat exchanger to the second liquid in the pass-through system. The closed systems also has an outlet pipe connecting an outlet of the first heat exchanger to an inlet of the second heat exchanger, and an inlet pipe connecting an inlet of the first heat exchanger to an outlet of the second heat exchanger. The pass-through system has a storage tank, a recirculating tube system with recirculating pump, a main second liquid supply, a withdrawal tube and a fast response temperature sensor. The recirculating tube connects an inlet to an outlet of the storage tank via the second heat exchanger. The withdrawal tube is connected to the recirculating tube, for withdrawal of hot liquid from the pass-through system. The main second liquid supply line is connected to the recirculating tube upstream of the second heat exchanger. The temperature sensor is for sensing the temperature of second liquid in the recirculating tube between the main supply line and the second heat exchanger. The controller has means for detecting a substantial temperature drop caused by an in-flow of second liquid from the main supply line, as sensed by the temperature sensor, and has means for causing the hydrocarbon fuel to be burnt in order to heat the first liquid in the first heat exchanger.

Hot water heating systems are known. A common system used in North America includes a large water storage tank which has means for heating the water in the tank prior to discharge, for example to a sink, washing machine or the like. The water in such storage tanks are usually heated with electric heating coils or by burning hydrocarbon gas. Such storage tanks are advantageous because they can provide large amounts of hot water. In Europe, systems are used for rapidly heating cold water by passing the water through a coiled copper pipe which is positioned in a heating device. Such systems are relatively efficient but tend to be unable to provide large amounts of hot water. A combination of the two systems is shown in Canadian Patent Application 2 125 070 to R. W. Smith, which was published on Dec. 1, 1995. Basically, the Smith system uses a separate single-pass heater to supply hot water to a water tank. One of the limitations of the Smith invention is the deposition of solids from potable water onto wetted heating surfaces.
The present invention is intended to provide a compact improved apparatus for supplying hot water to a tank and to alleviate the aforementioned difficulties, e.g. substantially overcome the problems caused by deposition of solids from the water.


A mutually operated medicine dispenser having a programmable timer and alarm for indicating when a patient is to take medicine. A plurality of prefilled compartments are formed between a rotatable finned carousel and a basket within which the carousel resides. As the carousel rotates, the individual compartments align with a window in the bottom of the basket allowing the medicines within the aligned compartment to fall through the window, through a spout to be dispensed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is a medicine dispensing device provided with a programmable timer for signalling a patient at the correct time for taking their medicine and provided with a carousel having compartments prefillable with medicine which is manually rotatable in one direction in order to dispense the contents of only the next adjacent compartment.


A duty cycle corrector comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is configured to receive a clock signal and an inverted clock signal and to obtain a delay signal that indicates a time difference between transitions of the clock signal and the inverted clock signal. The second circuit is configured to receive the clock signal and the inverted clock signal and the delay signal and to delay the clock signal based on the delay signal to provide an output clock signal having substantially a 50% duty cycle.

Many digital circuits receive a clock signal to operate. One type of circuit that receives a clock signal to operate is a memory circuit, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), or double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR-SDRAM). In a memory circuit operating at high frequencies, it is important to have a clock signal that has about a 50% duty cycle. This provides the memory circuit with approximately an equal amount of time on the high level phase and on the low level phase for transferring data into and out of the memory circuit, such as latching rising edge data and latching falling edge data out of the memory circuit.
Often, a clock signal is provided by an oscillator, such as a crystal oscillator, and clock circuitry. The oscillator and clock circuitry may provide a clock signal that does not have a 50% duty cycle. For example, the clock signal may have a 45% duty cycle, where the high level phase is 45% of one clock cycle and the low level phase is the remaining 55% of the clock cycle. A duty cycle corrector receives the clock signal and corrects or changes the duty cycle of the clock signal to provide clock signals with transitions separated by substantially one half of a clock cycle.
Typically, analog duty cycle correctors utilize many clock cycles to achieve duty cycle correction. Also, in analog duty cycle correctors, it is difficult to keep accumulated charges for an extended length of time. In addition, even in power saving mode, clock signals are provided to the analog duty cycle corrector to update the accumulated charges. Thus, even in power saving mode the analog duty cycle corrector remains operable and clock buffers remain enabled, which continuously consumes power.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.


An underwater acoustic communication system for a mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone, has a communication unit with one or more ultrasonic transducers to transmit and receive underwater ultrasonic signals. The communication unit is connected to an audio auxiliary interface of the mobile electronic device. A processing unit in communication with the auxiliary interface receives RF signals from and transmits RF signals to the communication unit via the audio auxiliary interface.

Smartphone distributors have released high-end smartphones that are also water-resistant, such as Apple's iPhone 7, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Sony's Xperia phones. In particular, the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 have international protection (IP) ratings of 67 and 68, which means that they can be submerged without hardware damage for 30 minutes under 1 m and 1.5 m of water, respectively.

Underwater ultrasonic communication system and method


It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for improving the gripping characteristics in a hand-held power tool. To solve the problem, a representative power tool is provided to include a motor that drives a tool bit, a cylindrical housing that houses the motor, a motor actuating parts that actuates the motor, a cylindrical cover that is connected to one end of the housing in its longitudinal direction and houses the motor actuating parts. A grip to be held by a user of the power tool is defined by the housing and the cylindrical cover. A plurality of projections are formed on the outer surface of the grip in a circumferential direction of the grip and that each projection extends between the housing and the cover in the longitudinal direction of the power tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-held power tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2546089 discloses a portable disc grinder in which a cylindrical motor housing for housing a motor is used as a grip to be held by a user. Grooves or projections are formed as a slip stopper on the outer surface of the grip in order to improve the gripping characteristics.
As for a cord-type disc grinder in which a motor is driven by power supplied via a power cord, it is known that a cylindrical rear cover for housing wiring parts to be used for connection between the power cord and the motor is provided on the rear end of the motor housing as a separate member from the motor housing.
In such a disc grinder in which the motor housing is used as a grip and the rear cover is provided on the rear side of the motor housing, however, the grip design is not satisfactory, and further improvement is required in this point.


According to the invention, there is provided a heat resistant pad formed by the superimposition of a plurality of fabric layers of carbonizable oxidized organic fibers, at least one face of the said pad being covered with a silicone layer.

It is already known to make flame resistant fabrics from carbonizable oxidized organic fibers capable of strongly absorbing the thermal infra-red radiation of a fire. Such fabrics are preferably of the mesh type and the said organic fibers may be based on polyacrylonitrile. Other fibers, such as aramides are provided to facilitate the weaving. Such fabrics are, for example, made and sold under the Trade name MONTSEGUR by La Societe Ariegeoise de Bonneterie, 09300 MONTFERRIER, FRANCE.

Sheet material for constructing high performance thermal screens

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


A method for controlling a zonally operated elevator installation, wherein on a changeover floor changing between zones is made possible, and wherein with a delivering elevator group and a collecting elevator group transportation to and from the changeover floor is realized, and wherein a trip destination is entered via a destination-call control by each passenger to be transported. An elevator installation for zonal operation in buildings with several elevators, wherein each elevator group contains at least one destination-call input device for registering the destination of a passenger. Each elevator is assigned to an elevator group, the building is divided into zones, and a changeover floor for changing between the elevator groups is arranged between the zones. The delivering elevator group and the collecting elevator group are combined into a multi-group which is controlled by a multi-group control. Using the trip-destination entries and a statistics unit, the number of passengers who will change from the elevator group on the changeover floor is determined by the multi-group control. The elevator groups are controlled by the multi-group control depending on the number of changing passengers.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a zonally operated elevator installation, wherein on a changeover floor changing between the zones is made possible, and wherein with a delivering elevator group and a collecting elevator group, transportation to and from the changeover floor is realized, and further wherein a trip destination is entered via a destination-call control by each passenger to be transported. The invention further relates to an elevator installation for zonal operation in buildings with several elevators, wherein each elevator group contains at least one destination-call input device for registering the destination of a passenger. Each elevator is assigned to an elevator group, the building is divided into zones, and a changeover floor for changing between the elevator groups is arranged between the zones.
To meet the increasing need for transportation in tall buildings, intelligent elevator controls are used. For this purpose, the building is divided vertically into 2 or more zones or floor areas. In each of these zones, one or more elevator groups can be provided to allow transportation, especially of passengers. As soon as it is necessary to change elevators to reach a higher floor area, if the incidence of traffic is high, queues can form on the changeover floors. These queues are caused mainly by unequal transportation capacities of the delivering and collecting elevator groups.
An elevator control is a central system in which the operating processes are controlled by an intelligent station in the elevator system. This elevator control can be located in the machine room, or inside or outside the elevator cars.
The changeover floors between the zones, or between two zone systems, are also referred to as sky lobbies. The problem of possible overfilling of the changeover floor can also arise when changing between zone systems.
Elevators in very tall buildings occupy a significant part of the cross-section of the building. The amount of space available on the changeover floors is usually limited, and cannot be increased without very great constructional and financial outlay.
To effectively utilize these limited capacities on the changeover floors, use is known of devices for automatically detecting when the changeover floor is fully occupied. For this purpose, space monitoring devices such as light barriers, movement sensors, cameras, etc. are used. However, these devices provide only inexact information concerning occupation of the changeover floors. Furthermore, with these devices it is only possible to reduce or optimize the delivering transportation, and thereby avoid overfilling of the changeover floor and even greater delay in the transportation of passengers, at the cost of the overall transportation volume.
WO 02/14198 describes an elevator system in which group controls are used. The group controls use light barriers or weight sensors to record the number of persons. With this system, no exact forecast can be made of where the individual passengers travel to, or how many passengers are present on the changeover floor and when.
With the measures known to date, it cannot be determined whether all the persons detected on the changeover floors want to use the connecting elevators of the upper or lower zone, or whether they leave the elevator lobby or changeover floor for the purpose of visiting offices, restaurants, conference halls, etc. located on that floor.
The solutions for preventing or limiting overfilling of the changeover floor or sky lobby known to date aim either to reduce the transportation capacity of the delivering elevator group, which at times of peak load contraproductively causes transportation peaks, or else propose measures for increasing the transportation capacity of the collecting elevator group which in practice can only be realized to a limited extent. Such measures may include, for example, increasing the speed or acceleration, or shortening the door-open times. However, in respect of motor rating and power supply, elevators are usually not overdimensioned, so that increasing their speed or acceleration can only be considered to a very limited extent. Moreover, increasing the acceleration negatively affects how passengers experience the ride, so that here also, only a very limited increase in the transportation capacity can be achieved. Shortening or optimization of the door-opening times is implemented as standard on most elevators. These measures do not allow any really noticeable increase in the transportation capacity to be achieved.

Zonally operated elevator installation and method for control thereof


In a base transceiver station in a cellular network, a digital signal processor generates a baseband input signal, which is converted to analog and transmitted by a transmitter at radio frequency. In accordance with the present invention, the baseband input signal is scaled by a selected factor from a predetermined table of scaling factors. The scaling factors are determined based on measured output power characteristics of the transmitter and provide frequency compensation caused by filtering ripple and/or attenuation compensation caused by uncertainties in internal attenuators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power compensation in transmitters and, more particularly, to attenuation and frequency compensation in a radio frequency transmitter in a cellular network.
2. Description of Related Art
In radio frequency transmitters, the power of the output signal may vary due to filtering ripple and uncertainties in internal attenuators. In order to compensate for these power variations, external variable attenuators may be provided. However, these attenuators can only provide a coarse adjustment that is inadequate to compensate for power variations. An analog attenuator with a digital to analog convertor connected to the input of the transmitter may also be provided. Although this allows for a slightly finer adjustment, it adds complexity to the system and increases the expense due to the extra components. A closed loop could also be implemented to provide power adjustment but this would also be expensive and would not provide adequate compensation over a large dynamic range.
Therefore, there remains a need for a method and apparatus for compensating for output power variations in a transmitter without increasing cost or adding additional components.

Method and apparatus that compensates for output power variations in a transmitter by using scaling factors to scale the baseband input signal


The invention concerns a device designed to be used in horse riding, consisting of a pivoting base provided with female fixing means so as to be secured to the rider's foot through a male fixing means attached on the sole of his shoes. The use of a single stirrup branch enables rapid release of the foot outwards. Said branch includes damping means so as to absorb part of the forces exerted on the stirrup by the rider's weight and thus avoid accidental release of the attachment. The automatic stirrup provides greater safety in case the rider falls by preventing the foot from being jammed through the use of a single branch prevents the rider from losing his stirrups as a result of the horse's sudden movements or loss of balance through the fixing means and dampens the rider's movements, particularly when jumping over an obstacle through its damper.

Traditionally, a horseback riding stirrup is composed of a loop, two branches, and a bottom.
The use of two branches allows the rider to more easily remain in the stirrups, since the foot is only able to exit through a rearward motion, and it is not possible to lose the stirrup through a lateral movement. The drawback of using two branches is the danger of a foot becoming blocked in the stirrup if it is inserted too far. The use of a heeled boot arises from the need to protect the rider from that risk of becoming blocked. It is effective without being perfect or helping the rider to remain in the stirrups in all situations.


A method for synchronizing the recordings of two video cameras which are operated in parallel for the three-dimensional representation of an image sequence includes fading a light signal into the image area of the two cameras and simultaneously recording the light signal by both cameras. Playback of the recordings are synchronized using the recorded signals. The two video cameras may be two digitally recording video recorders.

The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing the recordings of two video cameras which are operated in parallel for the three-dimensional representation of an image sequence, in particular, of two digitally recording video recorders. The present invention likewise relates to a system for implementing this method.
In the domain of professional film and video recordings, cameras are known which permit parallel recording of image sequences via two equally oriented lenses. The synchronization of the cameras and of the projectors is carried out electronically, requiring a corresponding outlay. Due to the high financial outlay, these systems are not suitable for the private user, especially because the handling of the complex systems requires appropriate training.

Synchronization of a stereoscopic camera


Component mounting equipment mounts an FPC board onto an LCD board. The LCD board has a first electrode section on one side edge and a second electrode section on another side edge. The FPC board has a first section on one side edge and a second section on another side edge. A first mounting apparatus mounts the first section on the first electrode section. A second mounting apparatus mounts the second section on the second electrode section. In the second component mounting apparatus, the second section is separated from the second electrode section at an ACF supply section and released at a pre-press bonding section.

FIGS. 30A and 30B show an example of a small LCD board 1 suitable for equipment such as mobile phones. The LCD board 1 has a liquid crystal display section 1a and an electrode section 1b having ends of driver voltage supply lines 2 disposed along one side edge of the board. On an FPC board 3 that is mounted on the LCD board 1, a driver circuit is formed by an IC 4, chip components 5 and the like. One side edge of the FPC board 3 is provided with a electrode section 3a in which ends of driver voltage supply lines 7 for the driver circuit are disposed. The electrode section 3a is fixed onto the electrode section 1b of the LCD board 1 with anisotropic conductive film tape (ACF tape), anisotropic conductive paste (ACP) or the like, and the driver voltage supply lines 2 of the LCD board 1 are electrically connected to corresponding driver voltage supply lines 7 of the FPC board 3.
In recent years, a function of displaying a color image has been required for this type of LCD board 1 and, accordingly, a conspicuous increase in a number of the driver voltage supply lines 2, 7 has been demanded. A decrease in a pitch of the driver voltage supply lines 2, 7 would allow the number of the driver voltage supply lines 2, 7 to be increased without causing increases in sizes of the LCD board 1 and the FPC board 3. However, since the decrease in pitch is limited to the order of 50 μm, it is difficult to achieve the increase in the number of the driver voltage supply lines 2, 7 required for displaying the color image and the like only by the decrease in the pitch.
For example, if the LCD board 1 has a quadrangular shape with a length of a side of about 30 mm, the pitch of the driver voltage supply lines 2, 7 is about 50 μm, and the number of the driver voltage supply lines 2 is about 768 at a maximum, then a length required for achievement of the number of the driver voltage supply lines 2 is 38.4 mm (50 (μm) multiplied by 768 (lines)), which is larger than the length of a side of the LCD board 1 and cannot be fulfilled.

Electronic component, component mounting equipment, and component mounting method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A computer system includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a main storage interconnected by a bus to the CPU. The I/O module for transferring received data and data to be transmitted to and from an external unit is directly connected to the main storage, which stores the received data or the transmission data, so that data transfer can be effected every minimum data cycle that allows an access to a memory macro included in the main storage. This accomplishes high-speed data transfer based on DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer over the bus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system mounted on, e.g. an LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuit and using DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer.
2. Description of the Background Art
A computer system with a DMA controller mounted thereon is conventional. In the event of data transfer, e.g. when data received from an external unit are written in to a main storage, or data stored in the main storage are read out and output to the external unit, a computer system of the type operable at a lower operational speed is designed to give a bus access right to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) so as to cause data to be transferred between the CPU and the main storage. By contrast, a computer system of the type operable at a higher operational speed is adapted to give a bus access right to the DMA controller because data transfer via the CPU is time-consuming. This type of computer system causes the DMA controller to control an I/O (Input/Output) module or interface connected to an external unit such that data transfer to and from the main storage is directly effected without the intermediary of the CPU to thereby implement DMA control.
A specific prior art computer system with a DMA controller mounted thereon will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As shown, the computer system, generally 700, includes a main storage 704 for storing program sequences and data under the control of a CPU 702. The main storage 704 is connected to the CPU 702 and an I/O module 708 via a bus 706 in order to effect data transfer. A DMA controller 712 is used to implement direct data transfer between the I/O module 708 and the main storage 704 without the intermediary of the CPU 702. At this instant, a bus arbitrator 714 arbitrates the CPU 702 and the DMA controller 712 as to the right to use the bus 706.
The I/O module 708 plays the role of an interface that connects the external unit 710 to the computer system 700 for implementing the transfer of received data and data to be transmitted (referred to as transmission data hereinafter) and includes a buffer memory 716 for temporarily storing such data.
In the event of transfer of received data to the main storage 704, the computer system 700 would, if designed operable at a low operational speed, write in the received data to the main storage 704 via the CPU 702. By contrast, the computer system 700 would, if designed operable at a high operational speed, use the DMA controller 712 to directly transfer data to the main storage 704 over the bus 706 because data transfer using the CPU 702 is time-consuming.
The bus arbitrator 714 switches a bus access right every bus access cycle, which is a single period for giving the bus access right, in response to a bus access right request signal. The bus arbitrator 714 therefore does not have to switch the bus access right when the bus access right request signal is not input thereto.
Reference will be made to FIG. 8 for describing how received data are transferred from the external unit 710 to the main storage 704 in the conventional computer system 700. As shown, received data are fed from the external unit 710 to the I/O module 708 (step 802). In response, the I/O module 708 generates a request signal for requesting the transfer of the received data and delivers the request signal to the DMA controller 712 (step 804).
On receiving the request signal, the DMA controller 712 generates a bus access right request signal requesting the use of the bus 706 and delivers the request signal to the bus arbitrator 714 (step 806). Assume that the bus arbitrator 714 has given the bus access right to the CPU 702 when having received the bus access right request signal. Then, the bus arbitrator 714 waits until the break of the above bus access cycle, and then releases the bus access right given to the CPU 702 (step 808).
Subsequently, the bus arbitrator 714 generates a response signal representative of the release of the bus access right, and feeds it to the DMA controller 712 such that the bus access right is given to the DMA controller 712 (step 810). Upon the receipt of the response signal, the DMA controller 712 executes the bus access right and transfers received data from the I/O module 708 to the main storage 704, i.e. executes DMA transfer (step 812).
After the DMA transfer stated above, the DMA controller 712 generate a release signal indicative of the release of the bus access right and feeds the release signal to the bus arbitrator 714. In response, the bus arbitrator 714 releases the bus access right given to the DMA controller 712 and again gives the bus access right to the CPU 702 (step 814).
On the other hand, when the transfer of received data from the I/O module 708 ends, the I/O module 708 feeds a report indicative of the end of data transfer to the CPU 702 by interrupt (step 816). This allows the CPU 702 to, e.g. read out received data from the main storage 704.
As state above, the computer system 700 is capable of directly transferring, with the DMA controller 712, data transferred from the I/O module 708 to the main storage 704 without the intermediary of the CPU 702, and capable of arbitrating, with the bus arbitrator 714, the CPU 702 and the DMA 712 as to the bus access right.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,468 to Schlage discloses a data processing system including a main memory and a CPU directly connected to each other, a first switching device for controlling connection between the CPU and the main memory, and a second switching device for controlling connection between a system bus and the main memory. The first and second switching devices are interconnected such that only one of them can release connection between the CPU or the system bus and the main memory, thereby improving the performance of the data processing system. This allows the data processing system to concurrently process as many tasks as possible for thereby reducing the waiting time of the system bus. Further, the CPU and I/O unit, connected to the system bus in a conventional method, can simultaneously access the main memory via a DAM unit.
The computer system 700 with the DMA controller shown in FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings of the present patent application has some problems left unsolved, as will be described hereinafter. Although the I/O module 708 is connected to the main storage 704 via the bus 706, an access to the main storage 704 is not practicable without the arbitration of a bus access right including a plurality of steps, i.e. a bus access right release request, data transfer, bus access right release and so forth, increasing a period of time necessary for data transfer.
In the computer system 700, the I/O module 708 transfers even a great amount of data to the main storage 704 in a single bus access cycle, occupying thus the bus 706 over several-ten consecutive data transfer cycles. Consequently, the CPU 702, for example, cannot access not only the main storage 704 but also other circuits, or peripherals, over such data transfer cycles. This problem is more serious when a plurality of I/O modules 708 are included in the computer system 700 and request to access the main storage 704 at the same time because the bus access right is sequentially given to the I/O modules 708 for data transfer so as to perform data transfer for each of the I/O modules 708, thus occupying the main storage 704 for a much longer period of time.
While the bus 706 included in the computer system 700 is usually implemented as a synchronous bus, data transfer is effected by a protocol synchronous to a clock signal. As a result, overheads such as a synchronization loss for one or more clock signal period occur in the event of data output to or input from the bus 706.
Moreover, the I/O module 708, which is required to transfer data at a higher transfer rate, includes the buffer memory 716 for temporarily storing received data or data for transmission. However, when the computer system 700 is implemented in, e.g. an LSI form, wider strips of power supply wiring and a number of bus connections must be arranged around the buffer memory 716 because of the layout of the LSI elements. Consequently, despite that the buffer memory 716 is smaller in size than the main storage 704, the former is apt to become two times or more greater in size than the latter when the spaces for the power supply wiring and bus connections are taken into account.

Computer system having an I/O module directly connected to a main storage for DMA transfer


A block tool, which can be assembled by a user, is configured with multiple types of blocks and is shot by a camera for capturing a still image or a moving image. The position coordinates of a marker of the square-pillar block in a three-dimensional space are obtained by image recognition. Also, a connecting position and the type of each block, a gradient vector of the square-pillar block, an angle between two blocks constituting the square-pillar block, and the respective blocks' lengths are obtained so as to derive the shape, posture, and position of the block tool, and corresponding information processing is then performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing technique using an object in a real space.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been conventionally used, in a variety of fields, a technique of measuring a parameter related to an object, such as a human or substance, in a real space using some means, and using the parameter as an input value for a computer so as to perform analysis or display an image. In the field of computer games, motion of a user or of a marker held by a user is acquired and a character in a virtual world within a display screen is made to move according thereto, for example, thereby realizing intuitive and easy operation (see WO 2007/050885 A2, for example). Such a technique of reflecting in the screen display a change in the motion or shape of an object in a real space is expected to be applied to toys or learning materials besides games (see Michael Philetus Weller, Ellen Yi-Luen Do, Mark D Gross, "Posey: Instrumenting a Poseable Hub and Strut Construction Toy," Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction, 2008, pp 39-46, for example).
In order to create the realism of the scenes and enable intuitive operation in the aforementioned case where an operation on an object is used as an input value to perform information processing, it is important to provide perceived affordance. For example, there may be provided an apparatus that resembles the shape of a real object, such as a steering wheel or a pistol, and is operable in a similar way, but the uses of the apparatus are limited. If the shape of such an apparatus is made variable, the range of the uses will be expanded, but some ingenuity need be exercised to measure a change in the shape or motion of the apparatus.
In the technique disclosed in the document of Weller et. al, for example, an infrared LED and a photo sensor for receiving light from the LED are embedded in a joint part of a component, so as to measure the rotation angle of the component and identify the shape. In this case, the measurable rotation angles are limited and so is the variable range of the shape. Also, since every part need be provided with such devices, manufacturing cost will be increased. In this way, if the form of the apparatus provided as an input means is made more flexible, the mechanism for measuring the form will be more complicated; as a result, manufacturing cost or processing cost tends to be increased.

Input apparatus using connectable blocks, information processing system, information processor, and information processing method


An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive drum, an exposure head, a developing cartridge, and a light shielding member. The photosensitive drum is rotatably disposed inside the casing. The exposure head is configured to expose the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to light. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller configured to supply the developer onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. The developing cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from the casing. The developing cartridge has an uppermost point and is disposed beneath the exposure head when mounted in the casing. The light shielding member has a first portion disposed between the exposure head and the developing roller and intersecting with an imaginary plane defined by inclusion of the axial line of the photosensitive drum and the uppermost point of the developing cartridge.

Conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatuses generally include a photosensitive drum, an exposure head and a developing cartridge. The exposure head is provided for exposing the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to imaging light. The developing cartridge stores developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-168570 discloses an image forming apparatus of the type described above, and shows an arrangement in which the developing cartridge is spaced apart from and disposed below the exposure head.

Image forming apparatus internally provided with shield for preventing foreign light from reaching light sensitive area


A medical device system and method for detecting cardiac lead dislodgement measures intervals between sensed cardiac events for detecting an event interval pattern including at least one short event interval consecutively followed by a long event interval. Responsive to detecting the event interval pattern, a cardiac signal amplitude associated with a detected short event interval is measured. Dislodgement of the cardiac lead is detected in response to the measured amplitude.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs), including pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), record cardiac electrogram (EGM) signals for sensing cardiac events, e.g. P-waves and R-waves. Episodes of bradycardia, tachycardia and/or fibrillation are detected from the sensed cardiac events and responded to as needed with pacing therapy or high-voltage cardioversion/defibrillation therapy. Reliable detection and treatment of potentially life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) requires reliable sensing of cardiac signals. Dislodgement or dislocation of a cardiac lead carrying electrodes for sensing EGM signals can result in erroneous sensing of cardiac signals, leading to improper detection of the cardiac rhythm and inappropriate delivery or withholding of pacing or shock therapy. While ventricular lead dislodgement is rare, if it does occur inappropriate shock therapy and proarrhythmia caused by unnecessary therapy could result, or a necessary or optimal therapy may not be delivered, such as bradycardia pacing or anti-tachycardia pacing. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an implantable medical device and associated cardiac lead system capable of detecting lead dislodgement.

System and method for identifying lead dislodgement


Apparatus and methods for beaming some or all payload component loads out to surrounding support structure and adaptably coupling payload assemblies to a support structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a payload assembly includes a payload member and at least one payload support. The payload member is adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, and the at least one payload support is coupled to the payload member and is adapted to operatively engage at least one of the elongated supports of the support structure. The at least one payload support is further adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the at least one elongated support, and to be moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure. In one particular embodiment, the payload support includes an end portion adapted to engage with a top surface of the elongated support.

Many aspects of modern commercial aircraft are manufactured in accordance with the particular requirements of the aircraft owner. One such aspect is the arrangement of the various components within the cabin of the aircraft, including the galleys, lavatories, passenger seats, cargo containers, section partitions, and other aircraft components. With conventional payload structure design, additional structure within the cabin of the aircraft is typically added as needed to account for larger than average loading caused by heavy monuments (e.g. lavatories, galleys, etc.) set between the floor and ceiling. When there is a need to move such monuments to different locations within the cabin of the aircraft, the floor, and potentially the walls and ceiling, need to be designed (or redesigned) to account for all potential monument locations.
For example, FIG. 1 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of a conventional support structure 50 and a payload assembly 52 in accordance with the prior art. FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the conventional support structure 50 and payload assembly 52 of FIG. 1. The conventional support structure 50 includes a plurality of seat tracks 54 that extend longitudinally along the cabin of the aircraft. The seat tracks 54 are adapted to be coupled to a plurality of seat assemblies or other aircraft components, which may be positioned at desired locations along the seat tracks 54. Supplemental support members 56 are interspersed among the seat tracks 54 and extend beneath one or more of the payload assemblies 52 (FIG. 2). A plurality of floor panels 58 are disposed between the seat tracks 54 and the supplemental support members 56. At the edges of the floor panels 58, sealant is installed in the gap between the floor panel 58 edges and seat track 54 & 56 edges and sealing tape 60 (not shown), which is several inches wide, is installed over the sealed gap to minimize leakage between the floor panels 58 and the associated seat tracks 54 and supplemental support members 56. Finally, plugs 62 are installed in the unused, exposed portions of the seat tracks 54 and the supplemental support members 56 in some areas of the cabin.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the desired locations of the payload assemblies 52 (e.g. galleys, lavatories, etc) often do not lineup with the seat tracks 54, so that the supplemental support members 56 must be added to carry the loads. To move a payload assembly 52, such as a galley, to make room for changes in seating configuration or changes in layout, a lengthy series of tasks must typically be performed. For example, a galley area mat (not shown) must be removed. Next, payloads where the galley is going to be placed must also be removed (setting off another chain reaction of tasks). Sealing tape and sealant around where the initial position of the galley must be removed. Similarly, floor panels around the initial position of the galley must be removed. Sealing and sealing tape around the periphery of each of the floor panels must be removed, and the galley must be disconnected and moved out of the way. Next, old system interfaces must be removed and terminated (e.g. power, electronics, waste, air, heat, etc.), and new system interfaces that the new galley location must be designed, manufactured, and installed. The galley is then moved to the new location and installed, including connection of system interfaces, manufacture and installation of new floor panels, installation of sealant between the floor panels, installation of sealing tape over all floor panel edges, and installation of a new galley mat.
Although desirable results have been achieved using the conventional support structure 50 and payload assembly 52, there is room for improvement. For example, the supplemental support members 54 are typically added over the entire portion of the aircraft cabin known as the flex-zone in which the payload assemblies 52 may be desirably located so that they will not need to be added later when a move is desired. Unfortunately, this practice increases manufacturing costs, and also adds unnecessary weight to the aircraft which increases operational costs. Therefore, novel support structures and payload assemblies which at least partially mitigate these characteristics would be useful.


A hinge assembly for use with an expandable performance platform that allows relative independent pivotal movement between its first or extension panels and its adjacent second or base panel. The hinge assembly allows the extension panels to lay atop the base panels for storage or transport by providing movement of the pivot axis as the extension panel is pivoted. The hinge assembly also provides a flat performance area with a minimum of gaps along its abutting edges when the extension panels are in a performance mode.

1. Field of the Invention
With regard to the classification of art, this invention is believed to be found in the general class entitled Miscellaneous Hardware and more particularly to those subclasses pertaining to Hinges that are used with pivotable performance platforms that present a flush finish of adjacent platforms when arrayed in a performance mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been found that there is a need for large performance platforms that are mobile. The platform area of these large performance platforms must be reduced for storage and/or transport. In addition to the need described above, it has been determined that there is a need for the platform area should be free of large gaps between the adjacent performance panels. It has also been determined that the abutment of one panel with another should be substantially flat, meaning that there should be substantially no raised surfaces, steps or objects on the performance area for the safety of the people using the platform.

Hinge assembly for an expandable performance platform


A zoom lens system having a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group, from an object side, and achieving zooming by varying a group-to-group distance. The second lens group includes a three-element cemented lens which is a set of three lens elements cemented together including, from the object side, a negative first lens, a positive second lens, and a negative third lens, and the three-element cemented lens fulfills conditional formulas 0.08<(rs2+rs1)/(rs2−rs1)<0.5, 27<v2-v1<40, 20<v2-v3<38 (rs1, rs2 represent the curvature radius of the sides of cemented surfaces of the three-element cemented lens on the object side and the image side respectively, and v1-3 represent the Abbe numbers of the first to third lenses of the three-element cemented lens).

Conventionally, many zoom lens systems have been proposed that comprise two, i.e., a negative and a positive, lens groups. For example, Patent Document 1 identified below proposes a zoom lens system wherein a second lens group is composed of a front group and a rear group and the front group is used as a focusing group to achieve compactness. Inconveniently, however, the zoom lens system proposed in Patent Document 1 produces large curvature of field at the periphery of the image field, and produces large chromatic coma.

Zoom lens system, imaging optical device, and digital appliance


A method (300) and system for preventing private information to be collected and sent to the INTERNET without the consent of a user of a client computer. Every time the user wishes (317) to run a new application program, an isolator engine is invoked (303). The isolator engine intercepts (329) all the output operations (327) of the application program attempting to send messages to the INTERNET. Each message is compared (330-345) with a privacy list storing a series of strings (such the name of the user, his or her private e-mail address); if a match occurs, the user is asked (352) whether he or she desires to continue or abort execution of the application program.

Transmission of information is a common practice in modern data processing systems, particularly in telematic networks connecting a great number of computers, such as the INTERNET. Security is of the utmost importance in this context; in fact, any computer connected to the INTERNET is prone to be accessed by any other user of the network.
Several techniques have been proposed in the last years for ensuring that information stored in a computer cannot be compromised. For example, anti-viruses inspect programs in order to prevent running of harmful code that could impair operation of the computer. On the other hand, firewalls are designed to prevent unauthorised access to computers of a private network; particularly, all messages entering the private network pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet specified security criteria.
Filtering is also used for controlling access to the INTERNET, by analysing incoming and outgoing packets and letting them pass or halting them based on the address of a source or destination, respectively. For example, a bozo list or kill file enables the computer to block all messages from a specified individual; moreover, it is also possible to prevent access to specific web sites from the computer.
However, this scenario is not completely satisfactory. In particular, the inventor has discovered that none of the solutions known in the art is effective in protecting privacy of a user of the computer. As a consequence, the user of the computer is very often spammed with junk e-mail or newsgroup postings, generally consisting of unsolicited advertising for some product. Moreover, the user of the computer may also receive searing messages (generally known as flames) in which a writer attacks him or her in overly harsh, and often personal, terms.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks. In order to achieve this object, a method as set out in the first claim is proposed.

Method and system for preventing the transmission of private information over a network

International Business Machines Corporation