The present disclosure relates to processing operations configured to provide a linguistic-based approach to evaluating repetition in content of an electronic document. The approach of the present disclosure is about detecting terms/words/phrases that are likely to be perceived as being repetitious by native speakers of a language rather than just identifying the occurrence of identical words or strings in a document as done by traditional language checks. Processing of the present disclosure detects and evaluates terms or phrases using positive linguistic evidence derived from evaluation of linguistic relationships between words in a string in syntactic ways. This results in more accurate and efficient determination as to whether a term is truly repetitious at the linguistic level as compared with traditional language checks. As compared with string-based evaluation, fewer flags are raised for identification of repetitive/over-used language, but more precise/accurate identification of repetition occurs using processing of the present disclosure.

Repetitive language is a common occurrence when a user is writing. Often, a user may be unaware that their writing includes repetitive language and thus rely on grammar correction to identify and correct repetitive language. Traditional methods of identifying repetitive language use a general word count and/or string-based evaluation of content. For instance, a word count may be applied where if a word repeats in a document that repetitive word may be identified by analyzing the content of the document. As such, a word count can be utilized to tell a user how often (i.e., how many times) a word appeared in a document. Taking things further, some traditional string-based evaluation methods may evaluate proximity of strings of words in a comparative manner but nonetheless are limited to evaluating whether similar strings exist (i.e., n-grams in strings). Ultimately, in either instance, the user is still limited by its knowledge of a language in order to understand how to best remediate repetition even when a suggestion is provided for remediation. This does not result in the most accurate identification or correction of repetition/excessive use of terms.
While application of word counts and string-based evaluation may be useful to a user for some technical purposes, it may miss the mark on identifying whether language is truly repetitive (or not). For instance, a same term may be used in two consecutive sentences but not be repetitive to a native speaker of a language. In the traditional examples where word count and/or string-based evaluation may be applied, a false positive identification of repetitive language is likely to occur where language may not actually be repetitive but was identified as being repetitive/excessive. In such cases, unnecessary corrections may be applied to content. This is largely due to surface-level analysis provided by those traditional methods which do not truly evaluate linguistic aspects of terms of a string. In other instances, traditional language checks identify repetitions only when exact matches occur. This can cause traditional systems to miss repetitions that may have a flexible variation in how terms are used and combined. For example, traditional language checks may not identify an instance of repetitive language in the sentence "I like sparkling white wine but I do not like sparkling red wine," because the usages of "like sparkling wine" appear different due to the inclusion of antecedent terms (e.g., white, red).
Additionally, because traditional methods of identifying repetitive language do not provide a linguistic-based understanding of terms in strings, the suggestions/recommendations for remediation of repetitive/excessive language typically suffer. In some instances, only one type of correction is provided (i.e., replace a word with a synonym). In most cases, this may not even be the most appropriate correction for a repetition because a linguistic understanding of terms in a string was not conducted and a variety of corrections was not considered.
As such, there is a technical need for the present disclosure which solves the technical problems previously identified with traditional methods in the identification and remediation of repetitive language/excessively used terms.

Systems and methods for identification of repetitive language in document using linguistic analysis and correction thereof


The present invention provides a hand-held striking tool that has a head disposed forward of the centerline of a handle. The hand-held striking tool of the present invention may further include a flange positioned beneath the head of the tool, the flange functioning as a second area of contact so that the effect of overstrike may be controlled. The present invention also provides a hand-held striking tool that isolates the striking head of the tool from the handle such that the effect of vibrations caused by using the tool are reduced.

Hand-held striking tools are principally designed to deliver a blow to an object. Such tools are designed to drive nails, in the case of hammers, or chop and split wood in the cases of hatchets and axes. There are specialty impact tools, such as roofing striking tools, which have the physical characteristics of both a conventional striking tool and a conventional hatchet. There are also other specialty striking tools that are designed to perform specific functions, typically, when applied to the building trades.
The striking tools of the prior art share several common features. Typically, such prior art devices do not significantly insulate a user from the vibrations that result when the head of the hand-held impact tool strikes a surface. Also, the weight centerline of the head is approximately at the centerline of the shank of the prior art striking tool, such that the striking tool will balance vertically when held in a hand.
One prior art device employed a steel head forged separately of a solid steel handle in an attempt to provide a striking tool having good shock absorbing characteristics and a reduced manufacturing cost. Another prior art device employed a spring shank disposed between a striking tool's handle and head in an attempt to absorb the shock that occurred with use. Yet another prior art device employed beams, which were parallel to a core about which a handle was formed, the beams residing in over-sized holes to purportedly function as shock absorbers.
Also, the spatial relationship of the head to the handle of hand-held impact tools has remained virtually unchanged for decades. While the prior art has attempted to address vibration reduction, the prior art has generally not addressed the energy required to yield such devices. The prior art has similarly not addressed ways to manage overstrike. Overstrike occurs when, for example, the striking surface of a striking tool misses a nail and the handle strikes the wood or other surface. Thus, the shape of hand-held impact tools has remained, for the most part, unchanged.
The shank, or upper portion of the handle, is characteristically straight in most striking tools of the prior art. As discussed above, many striking tools of the prior art are weight-balanced when held vertically in a human hand such that the striking tools do not tip under their own weight. Thus, even in cases where the handle or shank of a prior art striking tool is not completely straight, such as where the handle is bent or disposed at an angle, the tool will be weight-balanced.
It would therefore be an advantage to have a hand-held striking tool that significantly reduces the effect of vibrations arising during use. It would be a further advantage to have a hand-held striking tool that better utilizes a user's energy. It would be yet another advantage to have a hand-held striking tool that manages the effect of overstrike.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A membrane switch which can be opened and closed with a small pushing load. A fixed contact point 4 is formed on one surface of a first sheet 3. Flexible movable contact points 7 opposed to the fixed contact point 4 via a space in a manner movable to and way from the fixed contact point 4 are formed on one surface of a second sheet 6, opposed to the one surface of the first sheet 3. Insulators are arranged on the flexible movable contact points at locations except for the locations of push portions of the flexible movable contact points 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a membrane switch, and more particularly to a membrane switch capable of turning on a switch with a small pushing force.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a membrane switch is known which includes a lower film, a plurality of lower electrodes, an upper film, a plurality of upper electrodes, and a spacer film (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H05-217463 (Paragraph numbers [0002] to [0010], FIG. 3).
The lower electrodes are formed at equal space intervals on the upper surface of the lower film.
The upper film is opposed to the lower film via the spacer film.
The upper electrode are formed at equal space intervals on the lower surface of the upper film.
A plurality of through holes are formed in the spacer film interposed between the upper film and the lower film. Each through hole accommodates a pair of a lower electrode and an upper electrode opposed to each other.
In this membrane switch, when a push portion of the upper film is pushed, an upper electrode under the push portion is brought into contact with a lower electrode associated therewith to turn on the switch.
The size of the push portion of the upper film is larger than that of the upper electrode. A gap between the lower electrode and the upper electrode is relatively large so as to prevent the lower electrode and the upper electrode from being erroneously brought into contact with each other when the membrane switch is bent.
In the above-described membrane switch, to bring an upper electrode into contact with a lower electrode associated therewith, it is required to push a small push portion with a fingertip to largely bend the push portion, which necessitates a large pushing load. This makes the membrane switch low in operability.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited


A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.

Numerous host systems utilize replaceable components that are held by a receptacle of the host system. Examples include a military aircraft that uses replaceable missiles or other projectiles, or a medical infusion pump that receives cassettes with tube sets for facilitating the delivery of fluids to a patient. Host systems may also include items that receive replaceable batteries, memory cards and the like. A common feature of such host systems is that they include a receptacle shaped to allow it to receive a replaceable component having cooperating shape. For example, military aircraft may have missile launch tubes 4 inches in diameter to receive either air-to-air missiles or rocket-propelled grenades, either of which may be sized for a four inch tube. A medical infusion pump may be shaped to receive a cassette that holds fluid delivery tubing of various diameters or sizes. A flashlight may be sized to receive batteries of various sizes, such as AA, AAA, C or D and the like.
Host systems also frequently alter their functionality depending on either the presence or type of replaceable component in the receptacle of the host system. For example, for a medical infusion pump, if a tubing cassette is not detected, it may be desirable to indicate a fault condition, such as by flashing a red light our sounding an audible alarm.
Host systems having a receptacle usually interact with a replaceable component some way lithe replaceable component is a battery, the host system may receive electrical energy from the battery. Some host systems, such as medical infusion pumps, interact with the tubing within a tubing cassette via ultrasonic sensors to monitor fluid flowing through the tubing. A military aircraft may interact with a replaceable component such as a missile by both launching the missile, and by reading information about the particular type of missile held by the aircraft.
In addition to detecting the presence or absence of a replaceable component, it is sometimes desirable to obtain information about the replaceable component held by the host system. The types of information it may be desirable to obtain about the replaceable component may be information regarding its operating characteristics (size, power, etc.) or its authenticity, i.e., whether it is genuine or counterfeit. This is particularly important for replaceable components designed for highly specialized host systems, such as medical infusion pumps. For example, the performance of tubing cassettes for medical infusion pumps depend their adherence to exacting tolerances and standards. Unfortunately, poor quality replacement components are often manufactured by other companies that pay little attention to the performance of the component, but only to ensuring that it is sized to fit into the host system.
The present disclosure is directed toward host systems that have an ultrasonic transducer that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system.
For example, military aircraft may be armed with rockets contained in pods for rapid firing. Each pod may carry 7 to 19 rockets. Since the rockets may have been loaded under extreme stress, or at night, or in inclement weather, or on a carrier or other ship engaged in battle, a manual inventory may not be possible or accurate. Thus, a pilot may not know which of several possible warhead types are available to fire.
A variety of optical or electromagnetic systems for identifying warheads in an aircraft launch tube have been evaluated. Such systems have not proven reliable, particularly under the high-stress, high-temperature, small-space conditions of a military aircraft.
A need therefore exists for a device and method that permits pilots to determine from the cockpit what rockets are loaded in their aircraft launch tubes. The present invention addresses that need.
Similarly, a need exists for a medical infusion pump to be able to ascertain the presence and characteristics of a tubing cassette capable of being held by the pump.

Ultrasonic identification of replaceable component for host system


The present embodiments relate to a hair removal tool. The tool may include a coil that is tightly wound and engaged to a housing. In operation, a user may roll the coil across a substrate (e.g., skin) to capture hairs between the coils in the coil. As the coil rolls radially around the housing, the outer edge of the coil can expand and contract, capturing and removing hairs as the coil rolls.

In many cases, it is desirable to remove hairs from specific portions of skin for various aesthetic reasons. For example, a user might want to remove sections of hair near their eyes.
Various devices may include components that can trim these undesired hairs. However, trimming hair generally does not remove the follicle of the hair. Consequently, the undesired hairs may grow back in a short time duration or leave the user with a visually undesired result.
Other hair removal devices, such as tweezers or wax, may remove undesired hairs at the follicle in a manner undesirable to the user.
Additionally, some devices may require the use of two hands of the user, which may reduce user experience.
The drawings depict various embodiments for the purpose of illustration only. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative embodiments may be employed without departing from the principles of the technology. Accordingly, while specific embodiments are shown in the drawings, the technology is amenable to various modifications.


A method and apparatus for communications resource allocation in a wireless communications system having a total system bandwidth. A service area is divided into a plurality sectors. A first set of base station antennas are positioned within a first set of sectors. The first set of antennas have main beams set at a first set of angles, and each antenna corresponds to a sector within the first set of sectors. A second set of base station antennas are positioned within a second set of sectors adjacent to the first set of sectors. The second set of antennas have main beams set at a second set of angles, and each antenna corresponds to a sector within the second set of sectors. Each sector is assigned a portion of the total system bandwidth.

The demand for wireless communications services is on the rise. Cellular telephones are becoming as common as office and residential telephones. Personal Communications Service (PCS) offers the potential to improve existing cellular communications dramatically. Wireless high-speed broadband packet services hold promise for a whole host of new services for work-at-home, telecommuting, local and Internet access.
As a result of the increased popularity of wireless communications services, bandwidth demands for wireless systems providing these services have increased accordingly. Bandwidth refers to the difference between the two limiting frequencies of a band expressed in Hertz (Hz). Bandwidth is a key limiting factor in determining the capacity of the system. The term "capacity" loosely refers to the number of users a system can service, or the amount of information a system can transmit to a user at any one time.
A traditional solution for increasing the bandwidth efficiency in wireless systems is through frequency reuse. Frequency reuse refers to reusing a common frequency band in different cells within the system. The concept of frequency reuse will be discussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a typical wireless communication system suitable for practicing the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a base station 20 in wireless communication with terminal stations 22. Base station is connected to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 26. MSC 26 can be connected to a fixed network, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 24 shown in FIG. 1 or the Internet (not shown). MSC 26 may also be connected to other base stations (not shown). Terminal stations 22 can be either fixed or mobile.
Base station 20 communicates information to/from terminal stations 22 using radio signals transmitted over a range of carrier frequencies. Frequencies represent a finite natural resource, and are in high demand. Moreover, frequencies are heavily regulated by both Federal and State governments. Consequently, each cellular system has access to a very limited number of frequencies. Accordingly, wireless systems attempt to reuse frequencies in as many cells within the system as possible.
To accomplish this, a cellular system uses a frequency reuse pattern. A frequency reuse pattern is determined by taking the total frequency spectrum allotted to the system and dividing it into K sets of frequencies, with each cell having access to one set of frequencies. For example, if the system were allocated 70 MHZ of frequency spectrum, and there were 7 sets of frequencies (K=7), each set would include 10 MHZ worth of the 70 MHZ available to the system (assuming a uniform distribution). Thus, each cell would have access to 10 MHZ Worth of the total frequency spectrum allotted to the system.
FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D) illustrate examples of frequency reuse patterns corresponding to K=4, 7, 12 and 19, respectively. A cellular communication system has a number of communication sites located throughout the geographic area served by the system. As shown in FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D), a geographic area can be organized into cells and/or sectors, with each cell typically containing a plurality of communication sites such as a base station and terminal stations. A cell is represented in FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D) as a hexagon. FIG. 2(A) shows a frequency reuse pattern where K=4. Cells are placed into groups of four (referred to as a "cluster"), with each cluster employing one of the frequency sets 1 through 4 (the number within each cell in FIG. 2(A) represents a set of frequencies). This cluster of four cells is then repeated until the entire service area is covered. This same pattern is shown in FIGS. 2(B), 2(C) and 2(D) for clusters of 7, 12 and 19 cells, respectively.
In view of the above, it can be appreciated that the larger the frequency reuse factor (i.e., K), the smaller amount of frequency is available to each cell. This limits the overall capacity of the system, for example, by limiting the number of terminal stations that can communicate within a cell, or the data rates at which each terminal station can send and receive information. Consequently, to the extent that the frequency reuse factor (i.e., K) can be lowered, the more capacity the system has to offer wireless communications services.
A major factor in designing a frequency reuse pattern is the attempt to maximize system capacity while maintaining an acceptable signal-to-interference ratio (SIR). SIR refers to the ratio of the level of the received desired signal to the level of the received undesired signal. Most of the undesired signal is due to co-channel interference. Co-channel interference is interference due to the common use of the same frequency band by two different cells. Thus, to a large extent, co-channel interference determines how often a set of frequencies may be reused throughout the entire system. Accordingly, to the extent co-channel interference can be minimized, the lower the frequency reuse factor (i.e., K).
In an attempt to minimize co-channel interference, conventional systems have separated each cell into multiple sectors, with each sector having a directional antenna co-located with a base station at the center of the cell. The beamwidth of each base station antenna is normally wide enough to cover the whole sector. Typically, a cell is divided into three sectors with each sector having a 120 degree antenna. These cell configurations, however, are unsatisfactory for a number of reasons, which are described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a conventional three-sector cell. The cell is represented as a hexagon, with solid lines representing hypothetical cell contours. The term "cell contours" refers to the outline of a cell as well as the lines within a cell which define a sector. The cell has a base station located at the center of the cell, with a directional antenna covering each sector of the cell. The beamwidth of each base station antenna is 120 degrees. The analytical cell contours (i.e., coverage area for each antenna transmission beam) is represented by non-solid lines. As shown in FIG. 3, the analytical cell contours for the front lobe of the antenna transmission beam for sector 1 ("originating sector") forms the shape of an oval. The hypothetical cell contours for sector 1, however, forms the shape of a diamond. As a result, it can be appreciated that the analytical cell contours do not match the hypothetical cell contours. Consequently, the analytical cell contours overlap into the sectors 2 and 3 which are adjacent to sector 1, thereby interfering with the antenna transmission beams for sectors 2 and 3. This type of cell configuration is referred to hereinafter as a wide-beam trisector cell (WBTC).
FIG. 4 illustrates a frequency reuse pattern with K=4 using conventional three-sector cells. Cells are placed into a cluster of four, with each cluster employing one of the frequency sets 1 through 4. This cluster of four cells is then repeated until the entire service area is covered. It can be appreciated that if each cell is a WBTC, the analytical cell contours illustrated in FIG. 3 will overlap not only with sectors adjacent to the originating sector within the same cell, but also to sectors adjacent to the originating sector in other cells (hereinafter collectively referred to as "adjacent sectors"). The increased interference caused by overlapping transmissions increases the frequency reuse factor, thereby decreasing overall cell and system capacity. FIG. 4 also illustrates that the distance (D) between each base station using conventional three-sector cells is 3.5 times the radius (R) of each cell.
FIG. 5 shows the cellular system using the frequency reuse pattern described with reference to FIG. 4 with an additional tier of cells creating co-channel interference for a sector labeled sector 4 located in the middle of the diagram ("FIG. 5 target sector"). FIG. 5 shows the FIG. 5 target sector receiving co-channel interference from four cells, labeled A, B, C and D. This interference, in part, explains why the frequency reuse factor for a conventional system using three sectors is typically K=7.
In light of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for a cellular architecture that minimizes the co-channel interference for adjacent sectors and cells, thereby decreasing the frequency reuse factor for a system, thereby increasing the overall capacity of the system.

Wireless communications cellular architecture for improving communications resource allocation


A method of fabricating an integrated circuit sensor package. The method comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a substrate on a first mold block, the substrate comprising a substantially planar material having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface that contacts a mounting surface of the first mold block; 2) placing an adhesive on the first substrate surface; 3) placing an integrated circuit sensor on the adhesive; and 4) pressing a second mold block against the first substrate surface. The second mold block comprising a cavity portion for receiving the integrated circuit sensor, a contact surface surrounding the cavity portion, and a compliant layer mounted with the cavity portion. Pressing the second mold block against the first substrate surface causes the contact surface to form with the first substrate surface a seal surrounding the integrated circuit sensor. Pressing also causes the compliant layer to press against a sensor array surface of the integrated circuit sensor, thereby pressing the integrated circuit sensor into the adhesive and the first substrate surface.

Many integrated circuit (IC) devices do not encapsulate the entire IC chip in a protective package. For example, an IC sensor chip used in a fingerprint reader is a touch chip device that uses a sensor array to read a finger print. In order to work properly, the sensor array must be at least partially exposed in order to receive the finger of a user.
For these types of devices, it is necessary to package the IC sensor chip in such a way that the edges and wires of the IC sensor chip are protected, but the sensor array remains completely exposed. The packaging is usually accomplished using some kind of molding process. However, this process is made more difficult by the need to prevent molding flash from forming on the IC sensor and by the need to compensate for variation in die thickness and die tilt. The exposed IC sensor is brittle and must be handled carefully to prevent it from shattering.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved processes for fabricating integrated circuit packages that contain an at least partially exposed integrated circuit sensor.

Apparatus and method for attaching an integrating circuit sensor to a substrate


The present invention relates to a novel compound namely (2R,3S,24S)-2,3-diacetoxy-22,23-epoxy-24-ethyl-.beta.-homo-7-oxa-5.alpha.- cholestan-6-one and a process for the preparation thereof. The said compound is represented by the structural formula ##STR1## The said compound is a crucial intermediate in the synthesis of honobrassinolide having molecular formula C.sub.29 H.sub.50 O.sub.6.

The hitherto known processes for preparation of compound 3 are:
(i) Oxidation of compound having formula 2 using catalytic quantity of Osmium tetroxide in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (Nobuo Ikekawa etal. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1982, 30 4181-4185). PA1 (ii) Oxidation of compound having formula 2 with catalytic amount of Osmium tetroxide in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (Kenji Mori etal. Tetrahederon 1982, 38, 2099-2109). PA1 (iii) Oxidation of compound having formula 2 using equivalent quantity of Osmium tetroxide (C. W. Shoppe etal. J. Chem. Soc. 1957, 3100-3107).
The main drawback of all the above methods is the use of costly and highly toxic Osmium tetroxide as a reagent for the oxidation of compound having formula 2. Cis-Dihydroxylation of of said compound having formula 2 with tetradecyltrimethylammonium permanganate (TDTAP), a permanganate derived oxidizing agent, has not been reported so far. The reaction of present invention is fast, clean and can be carried out under simple condition. The reagent TDTAP is a violet crystalline solid, soluble in most of the organic solvents and easy to handle (B. G. Hazra etal. J.Chem.Soc. Perkin Trans.I 1994 1667-1669). The great advantage of the reagent TDTAP is that, it is cheap, non-toxic, selective and can be prepared very easily.

(2R,3S,24S)-2,3-diacetoxy-22,23-epoxy -24-ethyl-.beta.-homo-7-oxa-5.alpha.-cholestan-6-one and a process for preparing the same

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A laser apparatus capable of emitting laser beams of a plurality of different wavelengths includes: a solid-state laser medium which emits light of a plurality of different peak wavelengths; a resonance optical system which resonates the emitted light of the plurality of different peak wavelengths and converts respective light to oscillate the laser beams of the plurality of different wavelengths; and a ¼ wave plate for a wide band, which is placed in the resonance optical system and has a property of providing a uniform phase difference to the light of the plurality of different peak wavelengths to be converted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser apparatus capable of emitting laser beams of a plurality of different wavelengths.
2. Description of Related Art
As a laser apparatus capable of emitting laser beams of a plurality of different wavelengths, there have been known an apparatus using a solid-state laser and a wavelength converting element (a wavelength selecting element), in addition to an apparatus using an argon dye laser, a krypton laser, or the like. In the laser apparatus using the solid-state laser, the effect of thermal birefringence (or thermally induced birefringence) may be caused by heat generation of a laser crystal (a laser medium) itself, leading to a loss in a resonator, with the result that laser output power is reduced.


A hydrogen absorbing alloy having a crystal structure of CaCu.sub.5 -type hexagonal system and represented by the general formula Re.sub.1-x Y.sub.x (Ni.sub.5-y G.sub.y).sub.z wherein Re is one of La, Ce, Nd, Pr, misch metal and lanthanum-rich misch metal, Y is yttrium, Ni is nickel, and G is an element capable of forming an intermetallic compound or complete solid solution in corporation with Ni or a mixture of such elements, and x, y and z are in the ranges of 0<x.ltoreq.0.6, 0<y.ltoreq.1 and 0.8<z.ltoreq.1.2, respectively. This alloy has a high equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure at room temperature, a great capacity to absorb hydrogen and high durability to repeatedly absorb and desorb hydrogen.

The present invention relates to improvements in rare-earth element type hydrogen absorbing alloys.
Hydrogen absorbing alloys are adapted to absorb hydrogen for storage and to desorb the hydrogen for use to utilize the desorbing pressure and the heat of endothermic reaction during the desorption as an energy source. The hydrogen desorbing pressure and the heat of endothermic reaction are utilized as drive sources for hydrogen compressors, actuators, cold generating heat pumps, etc. For this purpose, these alloys must be high in equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure around room temperature and great in capacity to absorb hydrogen and have outstanding durability to repeatedly absorb and desorb hydrogen.
The rare-earth element type hydrogen absorbing alloys already known for use include, for example, those disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60-197835 and represented by the general formula (Nd.sub.x R.sub.y)Ni.sub.5 wherein R is a rare-earth element other than neodymium or an alloy of the rare-earth elements, 0.4<x<1.0 and 0.0<y<0.6. These alloys are rare-earth element-Ni.sub.5 alloys having a specified amount of Nd incorporated therein so as to be given an increased capacity to absorb hydrogen and an elevated equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure around room temperature, whereas they have the drawback of being low in durability to repeatedly absorb and desorb hydrogen.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60-70154 discloses other known examples of rare-earth metal-Ni.sub.5 alloys which are represented by the general formula LmNi.sub.a-x A.sub.x wherein Lm is one of rare-earth metals including 40 to 70% La, 0.1 to 2.0% Ce, Nd, Pr and Sm, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mn, Fe and Cr, 4.8<a<5.5 and x is 0.01 to 2.0. These alloys are rare-earth metal-Ni alloys having Al, Mn or like metal incorporated therein and thereby are given improved flatness of plateau (stability of hydrogen dissociation equilibrium) and an increased capacity to absorb hydrogen at a relatively low equilibrium pressure (up to about 5 atm. around room temperature). However, these alloys are not suited for use as the energy sources mentioned above since they are not high in equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure around room temperature.
Although various other improvements in rare-earth element-Ni.sub.5 alloys have been proposed, hydrogen absorbing alloys have yet to be developed which possess all the three characteristics of a high equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure around room temperature, a great capacity to absorb hydrogen and high durability to repeatedly absorb and desorb hydrogen.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen absorbing alloy which has the three characteristics of a high equilibrium hydrogen desorbing pressure in the vicinity of room temperature, a great hydrogen absorbing capacity and high durability to repeatedly absorb and release hydrogen, and which is suitable as a drive source, for example, for refrigeration systems of the thermal drive type.


An apparatus for generating odor upon electronic signal demand using a disk having an aroma-impregnated adsorbent and a substrate. The disk is inserted into a disk drive that receives signals from a user and/or a server computer. A controller within the disk drive supplies an electric, mechanical or thermal signal to the disk, resulting in the heating of the adsorbent. The controller may also activate a blower to distribute the scent produced by the heated adsorbent and to cool the adsorbent at the end of the scent distribution cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for generating odor in which a controller signal, possibly from a remote location, activates a heater that heats an aroma-impregnated adsorbent.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Internet is a relatively new and quickly developing medium for information transfer and all forms of commerce. Internet access allows the user, through an ordinary telephone line, to view true multimedia clips, including text, pictures, audio and video. One current void on the Internet is the ability for a consumer to sample scents and aromas of food products, perfumes, flowers, wines and other products wherein the scent of the product is an important factor.
The prior art teaches several methods of distributing a specific scent on demand. The application of heat is a known method of diffusing perfumes or other odorants into the atmosphere. Pozzo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,877 teaches a method and apparatus wherein heat is applied, from a source such as a lightbulb, to a perfume-impregnated heat shrink material, thus diffusing the perfume into the air. Holland, U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,384, teaches a similar apparatus wherein heat, from a lightbulb, is applied to a porous, perfume-impregnated, temperature-resistant material.
Stern, U.S. Pat. No. 2,562,959 teaches a system wherein compressors pump various scents through air pipes depending on an electromechanical signal generated by a film. The various scents are stored in liquid form until selected for dispersal when they are vaporized and distributed through compressed air pipe lines.
There is a need, however, for an apparatus that permits a user to access any number of specific scents or fragrances, specifically through a signal provided from a remote location such as an Internet server.

Apparatus for generating odor upon electronic signal demand


Base and cover elements (12, 14) of a food container (10) can be rapidly closed at a plant and can be easily opened and closed by a customer. The cover has a lower rim wall (44) with a plurality of radially inward cover projections (50) spaced about the container axis (20), and the base has a base rim wall (32) with a plurality of recesses (52) with undercut grooves (60) that each receives a cover projection to hold the cover closed on the base. The bottom surface (86) of the cover projections and the top surface (80) of the base rim wall are beveled, so the cover can be installed by forcefully pushing it down, at any rotational position of the cover on the base. The cover then can be easily removed by turning it, with the cover projections moving along undercut base grooves (60), until the cover projections reach vertical passages (54) through which the projections can be easily lifted. The base has a handle (90) to prevent the base from turning, comprising a sheet-like tab that projects radially outward under the cover and that forms upstanding shoulders (94, 96).

A cake is commonly placed in a container that includes a base that supports a cardboard sheet on which the cake rests, and a cover that has a cover rim that extends around the base rim. A round cake is placed in a container with circular base and cover outer edges that are centered on a container axis. One type of container, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,607, includes a base that forms at least two threads and a cover that forms thread parts that can be screwed into place. It can be difficult to properly engage all threads. Also, in a plant where cakes are loaded onto a base and the cover is closed on the base, a very short time such as no more than a second, is allocated for closing each cover on a base. There is a need for a container that can be closed very rapidly by brute force. However, when a customer buys the cake and container, it is desirable that the customer be able to properly close and open the container using only moderate forces.

Fast closing-twist top opening packaging system


A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.

Communication technologies that wirelessly link electronic devices are well known in the art. In most wireless systems, wireless devices operate in cooperation with one another to form a wireless network. These wireless devices may be compliant with one or more operating standards, e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth, etc. Some of these wireless networks, e.g., those that operate according to one portion of IEEE 802.11, include at least one Wireless Access Points (WAP) that services a plurality of wireless clients. Wireless clients may include desktop computers, laptop computers, printers, personal data assistants, and other electronic devices.
Each wireless device of the wireless network typically includes a wireless network card that facilitates the wireless communications. A wireless network card typically includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and components contained thereon. As is generally known, the PCB serves as a mounting surface for the components and provides device interconnection conductors, shielding, etc. The wireless network card may be a PCI card, a PCMCIA card, or another card that is added to a corresponding wireless device. Components placed on the PCB include host interface circuitry, baseband-processing circuitry that implements communication protocol operations, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry, and at least one antenna. The electronics of the wireless network card may be formed in a single integrated circuit or in multiple integrated circuits.
Each wireless network card has its respective operational requirements. For example, WAP wireless network cards must have greater transmit power and greater receive gain than do client wireless network cards. Thus, while client wireless network cards often times employ internal antennas that locate on the surface of the corresponding PCB, WAP wireless network cards typically employ external antennas having relatively larger antenna gains.
The components of the WAP wireless network cards and the client wireless network cards are typically otherwise very similar or identical. Thus, to support different antenna structures, WAP wireless network cards and client wireless access cards require differing PCB structures. While PCBs manufactured for WAP wireless network cards must include external antenna connections, PCBs manufactured for client wireless network cards must include internal (surface mount) antenna connections. Further still, a third type of wireless network card used for lab testing purposes is required to have both internal antenna connections and external antenna connections. Thus, three different PCB designs must be manufactured to service these purposes, even though they may contain the same/similar electronic components.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a wireless network card structure that may be used for client devices and WAPs. Further, a need exists for a wireless network card structure that may be used for client devices, WAPs, and for lab testing purposes.

Wireless network card with antenna selection option


A fuel injector including a fuel intake, having an excitable actuating device using which a valve-closure member can be moved, having a fixed valve seat configured on a valve seat element, with which valve-closure member cooperates for opening and closing the valve. Also included in the fuel injector are a fuel outlet provided downstream of the valve seat, and a sleeve-shaped connecting part, that has an interior longitudinal opening and that receives the valve seat element. The thin-wall connecting part has formations that increase the rigidity and prevent a bending or a folding of the connecting part, the formations being executed in the shape of longitudinal creases. The valve is particularly well-suited for use in fuel injection systems of mixture-compressing, spark-ignited internal combustion engines.

The present invention relates to a fuel injector.
German Published Patent Application No. 196 32 196 describes a fuel injector which is designed so as to be very slim in order to extend, for example, at its spray-side valve end, into an induction pipe of an internal combustion engine. The electromagnetically actuatable valve is distinguished by the fact that both a valve seat support as well as a valve needle are configured in an elongated fashion. Therefore, the spray-discharge point of the valve is set far forward, thus making possible a very controlled spray discharge. A connecting part of the valve needle, connecting the armature and the valve-closure member, is designed as a stamping-bending part and, over the greatest part of its axial extension, has an open profile, deviating from a circular cross-section. The valve seat support is designed as a sleeve-like, thin-wall component.
European Published Patent Application No. 0 690 224 describes a fuel injector which has a nozzle opening, which, when the valve is installed, is already situated in the interior of an intake port, so that, while avoiding wetting the wall, a spray discharge is possible that is substantially directed at an intake valve of an internal combustion engine. The forward placement of the spray-discharge point increases the mass and the volume of the injector by elongating the solidly designed valve seat support.
The fuel injector according to the present invention has the advantage that, in comparison to the known elongated valves increased rigidity, is achieved simply and cost-effectively. Twisting or bending the spray-discharge-side valve end is advantageously prevented. The valve end has a high resistance to bending and folding. As a result of the increased strength of the thin-wall connecting part of the fuel injector according to the present invention, the connecting part being used as the valve seat support, it is possible to operate a fuel injector of this type even at system pressures that are higher with respect to the induction pipe injection. The fuel injector according to the present invention is therefore especially suited, as a so-called direct-injection valve, for directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing, spark-ignited internal combustion engine.
It is particularly advantageous to introduce, over the circumference of the connecting part, a plurality of longitudinal depressions in the form of elongated creases.


An information processing device includes: a measurement unit 10 for measuring respective use rates of a plurality of coprocessors each for executing a job, respective use rates of a plurality of interface cards each for passing data input or output by each of the plurality of coprocessors, and respective latencies and respective throughputs in communication between the plurality of coprocessors and the plurality of interface cards; and a determination unit 20 for determining a coprocessor that is to execute the job from among the plurality of coprocessors, based on a result of the measurement by the measurement unit 10.

A plurality of devices for significantly increasing a computer's computing power, which are called coprocessors or accelerators represented by GPGPU (General Purpose GPU (Graphics Processing Units)), may be included in the computer and used. In such a case, a scheduling scheme for efficient use of these coprocessors or accelerators is needed.
Accelerators mainly focus on computing functions, and so it is difficult to directly issue an I/O (Input/Output) from an accelerator to an I/F (Interface) card. In view of this, coprocessors or accelerators that have a function of performing I/O communication from a coprocessor or an accelerator directly through an I/F card are emerging as represented by the feature called GPUDirect.
An example of a scheduling scheme used in the case of executing a plurality of jobs by a plurality of coprocessors in parallel is a scheduling scheme described in Patent Literature (PTL) 1.
PTL 1: the specification of United States Patent Application Publication No.

Information processing device, job scheduling method, and job scheduling program


A method, system and computer program product encoded on a computer-readable medium for obtaining a glyph rendering are described. A request is received for a rendered first glyph for display on a display device. The request includes rendering information including a first origin. Each device pixel of the display device includes n sub-pixels, where n is an integer greater than 1. A rendered second glyph matching the first glyph is found in a cache of rendered glyphs. A matching rendered second glyph includes a rendered glyph having a second origin offset from the first origin by x/n of a device pixel, where x is an integer ranging between 1 and (n−1). If the second origin is offset from the first origin by x/n, then the density values associated with each sub-pixel of the matching rendered second glyph are shifted by x/n of a device pixel.

The present disclosure relates to glyph rendering. FIG. 1 shows two glyphs 100, 102 representing the lower case characters "a" and "e" respectively. Each glyph includes an origin, and location of the origin affects the interglyph spacing, which in turn affects readability. For example, the interglyph spacing can be selected to avoid glyph edges colliding or creating an un-intended word space between glyphs. In the examples shown, the origin location for the glyph outline "a" is at 104 and the origin location for the glyph outline "e" is at 106. The physical resolution of a display device or limitations of a printer device can affect the interglyph spacing. Some display applications can determine the interglyph spacing. Such display applications may assume there is infinite resolution and make a determination as to the ideal origin location for a glyph, and then quantize the origin location based on the limitations of the display device.

Method and system for improved glyph cache efficiency


An adjustable kickstand is constructed from a fixed kickstand body (110) and an extendable leg (150). The extendable leg (150) is effectively lengthened by the use of at least one spacing element (120a–120e). When at the proper length, the kickstand is mounted to a vehicle so as to prop the vehicle up at a predetermined angle, while providing sufficient force on a support foot (152) on a distal end of extendable leg (150) to prevent slippage on a parking surface.

As is widely known, a kickstand is a device for propping a vehicle, which would otherwise fall over, in an upright position, and which can be retracted for stowage when the vehicle is to be operated. Thus, it is desirable for a kickstand to be securely lockable in a parking position, while, at the same time, being easily retracted into its stowage position. For many kickstand configurations, these functions are seemingly mutually exclusive, i.e., the more immovable the kickstand is from its locked parking position, the more difficult it is to retract the kickstand into its stowage position.
The prior art is replete with stands for vehicles that simultaneously provide secure locking in the parking position and retract in a manner that is easy to operate. Such a vehicle stand is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,977 issued to Bookbinder. The Bookbinder stand is not a kickstand, per se, i.e., positioned into the parking and stowage positions by an operator's foot, but rather utilizes a motor-driven screw jack to extend and retract a longitudinally extending leg. The leg is coupled to a reversible motor through a limited torque coupling which terminates the extending operation upon firm contact with the parking surface.
Whereas, the stand of Bookbinder is convenient to operate and is reasonably secure against accidental retraction, the mechanism is extremely complex and involves an electric motor. Not only do these factors weigh heavily on the cost of the stand, but the vehicle may also be rendered unsafe to operate should an electrical failure occur in the circuit of the stand while the stand is in its extended parking position. The potential problems encountered when using electrically driven stands are avoided entirely through the use of simple, mechanically operated kickstands. Moreover, simple kickstands are much less expensive than their electrically operated counterparts and are much easier to install.
A simpler kickstand, which also implements a locking mechanism, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,423 issued to Ruth. In Ruth, each of a plurality of steel balls is motivated by gravity in and out of a corresponding recess formed in an extendable leg. When the kickstand is in the stowage position, the steel ball falls back into its recess thereby disengaging from a recess formed in an outer member of the kickstand. When the kickstand is to be used for parking, the operator rotates the kickstand towards the ground, whereby the plurality of steel balls fall, by the influence of gravity, towards the open end of their respective recesses and against the outer member. The operator may then adjust the length of the kickstand by extending the extendable leg from the outer member, whereby one of the steel balls engages with the recess formed therein. The applied pressure of the vehicle weight on the steel ball through the recess of the outer member maintains the selected length.
Ruth uses gravitational forces to reinforce the locked relationship between the extendable leg and the outer member to prevent longitudinal retraction of the stand, but does not securely lock the kickstand in the parking position. There are no reinforcing mechanisms to inhibit an accidental rotation of the kickstand towards the stowage position. As such, if the vehicle were to be "bumped" from the rear, it is possible for the kickstand to collapse, which, in the case of vehicles such as motorcycles, may result in substantial damage.
In light of the shortcomings of the prior art, the need is felt for a kickstand with a reinforced parking position locking mechanism, providing thereby a stable support for even heavy vehicles, yet of a simple, easily installed construction.

Adjustable kickstand with reinforced parking position lock


An information processing apparatus has a security checking function for ascertaining the authenticity of a program to be executed, and the program and display data to be displayed are stored in an external storage device. The information processing apparatus, which has a CPU for executing a program, is connected to the external storage device and a display device for displaying the display data. During the execution of the program, the display data stored in the external storage device are displayed on the display device in consonance with that program. The display data are compared with comparison reference data that are stored in the information processing apparatus. When the two sets of data do not match, the operation of the CPU of the information processing apparatus is halted, and further execution of the program is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a security checking method for ascertaining the authenticity of a program that is to be executed, to an information processing apparatus having such a security checking function, and to a program storage device that is employed for the information processing apparatus.
2. Related Arts
As the processing speed of microprocessors is being increased, information processing apparatuses of various types are being provided, and programs for execution by such information processing apparatuses are also being provided on many types of recording media.
Especially for information processing apparatuses, such as video game machines, the media employed for the distribution of game programs that are to be executed are usually cartridges, in which are packaged semiconductor read only memory (ROM) chips on which programs are recorded, or CD-ROMs.
In the video game business, not only is the superiority of a video game machine important, but also the relative excellence of a video game affects the distribution of game programs. If an excellent game program can be copied, or imitated, and sold by a third party who is not authorized to do so, the value to a developer of that game program is lost and the confidence of customers in the products of the developer is also deteriorated.
Therefore, security checking functions for examining the authenticity of programs and for preventing the execution of illegal programs have been proposed for information processing apparatuses, and have been implemented.
Such prior art techniques are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,486 (hereinafter abbreviated as "USP486"), U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,594 (hereinafter abbreviated as "USP594), U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,076 (hereinafter abbreviated as "USP076"), and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 62-3331 (hereinafter abbreviated as a "331 publication").
In the technique disclosed in USP486, a program includes data for generating a display signal to momentarily display a patent number or a patent application number. The authenticity of the program is ascertained by examining the data for the generation of the momentary display to determine whether they match a reference signal that is stored in an information processing apparatus.
The technique disclosed in USP594, which is the same as that in USP486, reads data that are stored in a specific location in an external memory in which a program is stored, displays the read data, such as a trademark, and determines whether or not the data match reference data that are stored in an information processing apparatus. When the data do not match, execution of the program is blocked.
The technique disclosed in USP076, which is the same as the techniques in USP486 and USP594, compares data at a predetermined address in an external memory cartridge with reference data stored in an information processing apparatus. Before substantially connecting the external memory to the apparatus, information concerning an authorized owner is displayed.
When the data matches the reference data, the external memory cartridge is regarded as an authentic one, and execution of a game is enabled.
Further, in the 331 publication, especially before a main operation of an information processing apparatus is begun, a program that is stored in an external memory device to ascertain program authenticity is executed by the external memory device. At the same time, a program for ascertaining program authenticity is executed by the information processing apparatus. When the results obtained by the execution of both programs for ascertaining program authenticity match, the main operation of the apparatus is activated.
The conventional security checking function for an information processing apparatus is performed by determining whether security codes, etc., match before a program, such as a game program, is executed. Once the execution of a program has begun, further security checking is not performed, or else can not be performed, for the duration of the execution of the program.
In a sequence of a program, therefore, steps for security checking processing are disabled or bypassed by some means, usually illegally, and as a result, the following steps in the program are performed though without the security check.
In addition, according to the security checking method described in USP486, USP596 or USP076, display data, such as a trademark, are merely displayed momentarily; the information processing apparatus neither checks to determine whether or not the correct image of a trademark, etc., is actually displayed, nor is it designed to do so.
Further, as is described above, when the steps for processing the security checking are disabled or bypassed in some manner, specific data can not be displayed and the authenticity of a program can not be examined.

Information processing apparatus with security checking function


Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer readable media for calibrating storage devices such as hard drives. A testing system is connected to a group of storage devices that are being prepared for release and eventual sale. Alternately, a storage device may be connected to an end-user system for which it is in use. The storage devices are tested for head instability. A lower frequency test pattern is performed, which induces a stronger magnetic field. A measurement of servo gain control is taken while reading from a disk and compared to a baseline for servo gain control. If the variance is larger than a predetermined amount, then the read/write head is determined to be unstable.

Over the past ten years, the mass production of storage devices has become both increasingly large in scale and increasingly competitive. The combination of aggressive computer upgrade schedules, increased storage demands driven by media applications, and the opening of foreign markets to computer sales has driven up the size and scale of storage device production. However, at the same time, increased competition has driven down the cost of computer components such as storage devices. This combination of increased scale and cost-reduction pressures has increased the importance of production efficiency.
Among the tests performed during the testing of a storage device, is a head instability test. This test is intended to detect read/write heads that are prone to shifts in their magnetic fields, which can produce errors when reading the from the hard drive. Current methods of testing instability, utilize a series of high frequency shifts in the bias current (reversing the current direction every 1 or 2 cycles) that fail to fully effect the deeper layers of the read/write heads, thus allowing unstable heads to evade detection. What is needed is an improved system and method for testing that successfully excites deeper layers of the read/write head, thus allowing unstable heads to be detected.

System and method for detecting head instability

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to an image reading apparatus and includes: scanning unit including a light source; a focusing mirror which reflects light from the light source on a reflecting surface portion; and a mirror holder which fixes the focusing mirror on fixing portions formed at both ends of the mirror holder, wherein, when the scanning unit is moved to read image information, the focusing mirror is formed such that the fixing portion is smaller than the reflecting surface portion in at least one of strength and rigidity.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in the field of an extensive image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer, an image scanner, or a complex machine and a reflecting mirror unit used in the image reading apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
A conventional image reading apparatus which moves a scanning unit having a reflecting mirror formed thereon with respect to a focusing lens and a line sensor fixed at predetermined positions and exposes and scans an original surface to read an image is proposed by the present applicants (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-113961).
In recent years, on request of further miniaturization and simplification of an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus which constitutes a scanning unit which holds optical systems such as a reflecting mirror, a focusing element, a line sensor, and a light source together with each other as a compact unit and moves the scanning unit is practically used. As a device concerning to this, an image reading apparatus which constitutes an off-axial focusing unit to realize miniaturization is proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-126448). The off-axial focusing unit uses a plurality of mirrors as focusing elements, and the focusing mirrors are curved as off-axial reflecting surfaces having a direction opposing an incident direction of a reference axis beam to enable focusing.
However, the following several problems to be solved in common with conventional image reading apparatuses including the apparatuses disclosed in the Patent Documents are present.
As one of the problems, as in the image reading apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-113961, in a structure for moving a scanning unit having a reflecting mirror, when a field angle is reduced to increase the resolution of a fixed focusing lens, the apparatus disadvantageously increases in size because an optical path length must be extended. From the opposite point of view, since a field angle must be increased to achieve miniaturization of the apparatus, the resolution at an end portion decreases, so that an amount of light decreases. In this manner, a high resolution of a lens and miniaturization of the apparatus are difficult to be compatibly satisfied.
Another problem, as in an image reading apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-126448, a focusing mirror having an off-axial reflecting curved surface generally is made of a resin metal-molded and is not sufficient in rigidity or strength. For this reason, in order to fix a focusing mirror molded while keeping a mirror thickness constant by partially compressing the mirror or causing the mirror to adhere, stress acting on a pressing member or an adhering portion affects a mirror surface to deform the off-axial reflecting surface. As a result, focusing performance deteriorates.

Image reading apparatus and reflecting mirror unit


Transformer (1) for switched-mode power supply, equipped with a former (6) having chambers (9), each chamber (9) containing windings (15, 16), each winding (15, 16) having an outer side surface (18) generated by a straight line moving parallel to an axis (AA') of the former, and characterized in that the generatrices of all the outermost surfaces (18) of the windings (15, 16) contained in each of the chambers (9) are identically the same for all the outermost surfaces (18) of the windings (15, 16) of each of the chambers, these generatrices thus forming a unique cylindrical surface parallel to the axis (AA') of the former (6).

Switched-mode power supplies currently equip the majority of televisions and monitors which include a cathode-ray tube. These power supplies operate by chopping the current.
The principle of power supplies of this type is now well known. The article "IEE transaction on Consumer Electronics 473-479" explains the benefit and the working principle of power supplies of this type. These power supplies include a transformer having primary windings and secondary windings.
The invention relates to the architecture of the transformer. A known example of a transformer of this type for a switched-mode power supply is described in European Patent EP 71008, filed in the name of Licentia Patent Wervaltung.
This patent describes a transformer for a switched-mode power supply, in which the windings of the primary and of the secondary are not produced in successive layers around a ferromagnetic core, but in adjacent chambers arranged axially along the core. Each chamber is separated from the next by a sheet of insulating material. A transformer of this type is represented in FIG. 1 under the general reference 1.
It has a ferrite core 2 formed by two E-shaped ferrite half-cores 3, 4 which are bonded to one another by a line of adhesive 5 in order to form a right-angled torus with rectangular cross-section to which a central part, masked in FIG. 1 by a former 6, is adjoined; the former 6 is partially represented in FIG. 2. It has a cylindrically shaped hollow central core 7 and walls 8 perpendicular to this body. Only one of these walls 8 has been represented in FIG. 2. Windings (not shown) are present in chambers 9 formed between two walls. The wires 10, 10' of these windings are connected to connection pins 11, 11'. The primary windings are connected to the pins 11, and the secondary windings to the pins 11'. All the primary connection pins 11 are located on one side of the transformer. All the secondary connection pins 11' are located on the other side of the transformer. Because of the perspective represented in FIG. 1, only the primary winding wires 10 and the primary connection pins 11 are represented. The secondary connection wires 10' and the secondary connection pins 11' are all, for good isolation, located on a different side of the transformer. The wires 10' of the secondary are connected to the pins 11' of the secondary in a technical fashion similar to the connection of the wires 10 of the primary to the pins 11 of the primary. The term "other side of the transformer" means that the primary pins 11 and the secondary pins 11' lie on either side of a plane of symmetry of the core. In the case represented in FIG. 1, this is the plane of symmetry common to all three branches of the Es forming each half-core 3, 4 of the core 2.
The term "ends 12, 12'" of the primary wires 10 and secondary wires 10' is hereafter used to denote the portion of wire 10, 10' located between the end of a winding and a connection pin 11 or 11'. These ends are held in place by notches 13, 13' formed on one side of the insulating walls 8. The notches 13 or 13' of a wall 8 together form a connection comb 14 of the wall 8.
The combs 13 of the walls 8 guiding the primary wires 10 are located on the same side as the primary connection pins 11. The combs 13' of the walls 8 guiding the secondary wires 10' are located on the same side of the secondary connection pins 11'.
This transformer architecture permits good isolation of the primary side, also referred to as the "hot side", from the secondary side, also referred to as the "cold side". This good isolation is due to the fact that the primary and secondary windings are in chambers 9 which are DC isolated from one another by insulating walls 8 and to the fact that the primary pins 11 and secondary pins 11' are remote from one another.
The leakage inductances remain acceptable because chambers 9 containing primary windings and chambers 9' containing secondary windings have alternate axial positions, and there is a fairly large number of them. However, all other things being equal, this leakage inductance increases when the switching frequency increases.

Higher frequency switch mode transformer


A cereal hydrolysate containing composition which is derived from the amylase hydrolysis of cereal in combination with a hydrocolloid, preferably carrageenan or a blend of xanthan gum and locust bean gum, can be effectively used as a fat mimic in preparing low fat comminuted meat products.

The present invention relates to the provision of thermo-irreversible get particles for use in foods.
Recently, there has been an extensive emphasis on diet with the goal of reducing caloric and cholesterol intake. One of the major means of accomplishing this goal is the reduction of the intake of fat. Numerous fat mimics products are known and many are available commercially. One such product is an oat based extract patented under U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,996,063 and 5,082,673 issued to G. Inglett and identified as Oatrim. This product is the solids portion of the soluble fraction that remains after the partial hydrolysis of oat flour with .alpha.-amylase enzyme. The product has a elevated content of .beta.-glucan. In addition to acting as a fat mimic, the product also has the benefit of the known ability of oat soluble fiber and .beta.-glucan to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood.
While Oatrim has been used in various food systems as a fat mimic or replacer, it has various limitations relative to the area of use. In particular, Oatrim has been added to various ground meat products in order to prepare a reduced fat meat patty or sausage. However, Oatrim by itself in meat products, while providing cook yields, provides a meat product that exhibits a weak or musky texture. Oatrim as presently constituted cannot be used effectively as a fat mimic to satisfy these characteristics and conditions.
It has been discovered that Oatrim compositions can be prepared which provide good yield and good water-holding capacity while providing a fat reduced product with the visual, taste and mouth feel properties characteristic of a full fat meat product.

Dietary fiber compositions for use in comminuted meats


A processor-based system may be operated in an effectively “always on” condition. The system may transition from a lower power consumption state to a higher power consumption state in response to the first operation of a power button. In response to a second operation of the power button, the system transitions from the higher power consumption state to the lower power consumption state. However, unless the system is unplugged, the system remains in a power consuming state even when the power button is repeatedly operated.

This invention relates generally to processor-based appliances such as set-top boxes and particularly to power management for such devices.
Some processor-based systems are intended to operate as appliances. Consumers may believe that appliances should operate with certain characteristics. For one, when an appliance is turned on, it should immediately operate. To some degree this is inconsistent with the way many processor-based systems operate. In those systems, when the device is turned on, a boot process must be undertaken before the device is ready to operate. This delay in "active on" operation may create, for many consumers, the conception that such processor-based systems are not as easy to use as an appliance. The consumer may prefer electronic devices that operate in the fashion the consumer is accustomed to with other appliances.
A set-top box is a processor-based appliance that operates with a conventional television receiver. For example, the set-top box may sit atop a conventional television receiver. The set-top box may provide computer functionality, such as Internet access, as well as control over the television. For example, the set-top box may provide an electronic programming guide (EPG) to facilitate the operation of the television receiver. Conventionally, the television receiver acts as the monitor for computer operations as well.
The set-top box bridges television and computer functionalities. It is desirable that the set-top box act like other appliances such as a television receiver.
Thus, there is a need for ways to make processor-based appliances operate in a fashion similar to other appliances.

Power management for processor-based appliances


A PLZT film (30) is formed as the material film of a capacitor dielectric film and a top electrode film (31) is formed on the PLZT film (30). The top electrode film (31) comprises two IrOx films having different composition. Subsequently, back face of a semiconductor substrate (11) is cleaned and an Ir adhesion film (32) is formed on the top electrode film (31). Substrate temperature is set at 400° C. or above at that time. Thereafter, a TiN film and a TEOS film are formed sequentially as a hard mask. In such a method, carbon remaining on the top electrode film (31) after cleaning the back face is discharged into the chamber while the temperature of the semiconductor substrate (11) is kept at 400° C. or above in order to form the Ir adhesion film (32). Consequently, adhesion is enhanced between a TiN film being formed subsequently and the Ir adhesion film (32) thus preventing the TiN film from being stripped.

A ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) stores information by using the hysteresis characteristics of a ferroelectric material. In the ferroelectric memory, a ferroelectric capacitor having a ferroelectric film as a capacitor dielectric film between a pair of electrodes is formed in each memory cell. In a ferroelectric material, polarization occurs in accordance with the applied voltage between the electrodes, and spontaneous polarization remains even after the applied voltage is removed. Also, when the polarization of the applied voltage is inverted, the polarization of the spontaneous polarization is also inverted. Therefore, information can be read out by detecting the spontaneous polarization.
As in other semiconductor devices, it is necessary to reduce the cell area in the ferroelectric memory as well. The structures of the ferroelectric memory are roughly classified into a planar structure and a stack structure, and the cell area of the stack structure is smaller than that of the planar structure. In the stack structure, a capacitor is formed immediately on a plug which is formed on a drain of a field-effect transistor formed in each cell. That is, a barrier metal film, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric film, and a top electrode are sequentially deposited immediately on a W plug.
The barrier metal film suppresses diffusion of oxygen from the upper layer to the W plug. As the material of the barrier metal film, a combination of TiN, Ir, IrO2, Pt, and SRO (SrRuO3) is used. Since, however, many materials of the barrier metal film can also function as the bottom electrode, it is impossible to clearly distinguish between the barrier metal film and the bottom electrode. An example of a structure combining the barrier metal film and the bottom electrode film is a structure in which an Ir film, a IrO2 film, a Pt film, a PtO film, and a Pt film are sequentially stacked.
To meet demands on micropatterning of devices, it is favorable to etch the side surfaces of the films composing the capacitor into a substantially vertical shape having no slope. Examples of etching are a method of simultaneously etching these films, and a method of simultaneously etching the top electrode film and the ferroelectric film.
To form a ferroelectric capacitor having the stack structure by using simultaneous etching, etching using a hard mask is necessary. This is so because the selectivity between an organic resist mask and the ferroelectric film is low.
SiO2, SiN, TiN, and the like are extensively used as the materials of the hard mask used in simultaneous etching. Of these materials, TiN is suited as an etching mask material for forming the ferroelectric capacitor, since TiN is hardly etched during etching using a gas formed by adding oxygen to halogen.
Unfortunately, in etching using a gas formed by adding oxygen to halogen, the etching rate significantly lowers when the ferroelectric film is etched. Therefore, the use of the gas as described above during etching of the ferroelectric film is unpreferable in respect of the throughput.
By contrast, the throughput increases when a hard mask having a layered structure in which an SiO2 film is formed on a TiN film is formed, the SiO2 film is used as a mask until the ferroelectric film is etched, and the TiN film is used as a mask when the bottom electrode film is etched.
Note that after the films forming the ferroelectric capacitor are deposited, the back surface (lower surface) of the wafer must be cleaned in order to remove the residue of the organic resist used when a contact hole and the like are formed.
Although the throughput increases when simultaneous etching using the hard mask having the layered structure as described above is performed, during the formation of TEOS (TetraEthylOrthoSilicate) film, peeling may occur between the top electrode film and hard mask over the entire surface of the wafer, or may occur in the bottom electrode film and barrier metal film on the edge of the wafer.
Also, omission of the capacitor may occur when simultaneous etching is performed or the hard mask is removed. That is, the top electrode, the capacitor dielectric film, and the like composing the capacitor sometimes completely disappears by peeling.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-135798 discloses a structure which uses a metal silicide layer as a wiring layer in contact with the top electrode, in order to suppress deterioration of the characteristics of the ferroelectric capacitor caused by annealing after a metal interconnection is formed. In the structure, a layered material of an IrOx film and an Ir film is used as the top electrode. Also, in the fabrication of a capacitor element, the top electrode film is patterned using lithography (resist mask) and dry etching, and the ferroelectric film and the bottom electrode film are patterned using lithography and dry etching after that.
In the conventional fabrication method, however, no simultaneous etching of the top electrode film, the ferroelectric film, and the bottom electrode film is performed, so the hard mask is necessary if the simultaneous etching is performed. Accordingly, the method cannot solve the problem of peeling as described above.
Patent reference 1
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-135798

Method for fabricating semiconductor device


An electrical female terminal is provided of two piece construction comprising an outer body and an inner body. The outer body has a forward shield portion and rearward conduction attaching portion. The inner body has a forward receptacle portion and a rearward conduction contacting portion enabling current to flow from a mating terminal to an attached electrical cable via the inner body. The receptacle portion includes resilient contact arms. The shield portion of the outer body surrounds the receptacle portion. The shield portion includes back-up spring members that enable the receptacle portion to maintain a normal force on a mating terminal even if the contact arms relax.

Tab receptacle terminals having a one-piece design are described in Mobley, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,026 and Feeny, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,220. A problem with the known one-piece designs is that materials that have good electrical properties typically are not suitable for high temperature applications. High temperatures cause contact springs within the terminal to relax over time, thereby reducing retention force between the tab receptacle terminal and a mating member such as a male terminal blade or tab. This causes the current carrying capacity of the mater terminals to decrease or leads to unintended separation of the tab receptacle terminal from the mating member.
It is already known to provide electrical female terminals of two-piece construction comprising a terminal member and an inner spring contact member. In a known female terminal, the terminal member has a shield portion on one end and crimp wings at the other end to attach the terminal member to the end of a cable. The shield portion surrounds an inner spring contact member.
A problem associated with this known two-piece female terminal is that electrical current must pass through both the terminal member and the inner spring contact member. As a result, both members must be electrical conductors. In addition, both members are welded together to provide a good electrical interface. Consequently, the electrical mechanical, and weldability properties must all be considered when selecting materials for the terminal member and the inner spring contact member. This limits the materials available for selection and adds cost. Consequently, materials chosen for each member become compromises that do not ideally satisfy all of the requirements. Furthermore, an additional electrical interface is created within the terminal because the electrical current must flow between the inner spring contact member and the terminal member.


A method for discriminating a noise pulse from a background noise in which a signal of interest is converted to an envelope signal using an entropy-based envelope generator, which envelope signal is then integrated over a plurality of consecutive integrative periods, producing an integrated envelope signal for each of the integration periods. The ratio of the envelope signal at the end of each of the integration periods corresponding to each corresponding said integrated envelope signal is determined and compared with a predetermined threshold signal for each of the integration periods, resulting in a comparison value. The integration period in which the comparison value exceeds the predetermined threshold signal and which is preceded by two integration periods in which the comparison value does not exceed the threshold value represents the point in time at which the noise pulse is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
In one aspect, this invention relates to a method for differentiating a noise pulse from background noise. In another aspect, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for differentiating between the noise generated by contact with underground objects and background noise. In yet another aspect, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting contacts with underground objects such as utility pipelines. In yet another aspect, this invention relates to a method for evaluating the quality and condition of butt-fusion joints in plastic pipe.
2. Description of Related Art
Underground pipelines are widely used to transport a variety of fluids, including oil, natural gas, water, etc., from one place to another. Such underground systems are subject to damage from a variety of sources, both naturally occurring and man-made. For example, subsidence of the soil, local construction projects, seismic activity, and weather can all lead to defects and anomalies in the pipeline. Also, harsh environments can cause pipelines to move gradually over time, leading to defects, cracks, leaks, bumps, and other anomalies, within the interior of the pipeline.
Continuous monitoring of long pipelines, whether for seismic events or impacts occurring during excavation in proximity to the pipeline, is not a simple task. Damage to pipelines can be detected in a variety of ways including detection of the substance that escapes from the pipeline as the result of the damage, pressure drops in the pipeline, and impacts on the pipeline. And, when construction equipment, for example, a backhoe, strikes an underground utility pipeline, an acoustic signal is generated that propagates along the length of the pipeline.
There are several systems and methods known to those skilled in the art for monitoring the condition of underground pipelines. Acoustic monitoring of an underground pipeline may be carried out by a variety of acoustic sensors/detectors, such as geophones, accelerometers and the like. However, one problem with the use of acoustic means for monitoring underground pipelines is noise, both background and sensor noise, in the output signal from these means, which noise may partially or possibly completely mask the signal of interest, thereby precluding detection of the pipeline condition. For example, while sounds associated with impacts on a pipeline can be transmitted through the pipeline and detected at substantial distances from the point of contact via such highly sensitive acoustic sensors, the high sensitivity of such sensors can produce or result in a significant number of false calls arising from sources such as nearby traffic, passing pedestrians, low-level ground movement, and weather conditions such as thunder. Accordingly, to better enable the use of acoustic means for monitoring underground pipelines, one alternative is to substantially reduce or, if possible, eliminate the noise in the output signals from the acoustic sensors/detectors. Another alternative is to utilize the characteristics of the noise generated by the impact to distinguish the impact noise from the background noise.


A method for determining an energy content of a hydrogen-rich gas mixture using a gas density meter (101) is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a vibratory gas density meter (101) and meter electronics (112) with the gas density meter (101). The meter electronics (112) communicate with at least one external input (116). The meter electronics (112) are configured to measure a density of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture, measure a specific gravity of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture, and derive a calorific value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture using the derived specific gravity and a plurality of constant values.

The usage and combustion of hydrogen rich gases such as fuel gas, tail gas, and bio-gas is heavily dependent upon the energy content of the gas itself. The energy content of a gas may be described as how much energy can be generated upon combustion. Energy, often measured in British thermal units (BTU), is thus a critical measurement for gas suppliers, transporters and users alike A BTU is defined as the amount of energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Another commonly used parameter associated with the energy generated by the combustion of a gas (called calorific value or CV) is that of Wobbe Index (WI) or Wobbe number. This is an important parameter that indicates how easily a gas will burn, and not simply just how much energy can be generated by its combustion. The WI is employed because it is a reliable indicator of the interchangeability of fuel gases such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other hydrocarbons, for example. The Wobbe index may be described by equation (1):
                    WI        =                  CV                      SG                                              (        1        )            Where:
WI is the Wobbe Index;
CV is the calorific value; and
SG is the specific gravity.
The calorific value, CV, is often defined by equation (2):
                    CV        =                                                                              0.0235                  +                                      (                                          0.00197                      -                                                                                [                                                                  0.000329                        ·                                                  Mco                          2                                                                    +                                              0.000217                        ·                                                  Mn                          2                                                                                ]                                    )                                                                          G            S                                              (        2        )            Where:
Mco2=% CO2 content; and
Mn2=% N2 content.
The Wobbe Index is often used to compare the combustion energy output of different composition fuel gases for a given application. For example, should fuels have identical Wobbe Indices, then for a given pressure and process settings on a particular apparatus, the energy output will be the same between the fuels. This is particularly important in processes or apparatuses where gases may be substituted for each other or where gas composition does not remain constant.
For hydrogen rich gases, there are two common types of instrumentation that are used to calculate/measure CV or WI—Gas Chromatographs (GC's) and Wobbe Index meters. GCs are relatively slow, as they separate gas into constituent components and then calculate gas parameters by separately analyzing the properties of the individual mixture gases. Wobbe Index meters typically combust a gas to measure the energy or calculate CV or WI. However, for non-combustion Wobbe Index meters, a major problem in obtaining accurate measurements relates to the accounting for the percent of inert gases and percentage of Hydrogen (H2) present in the gas mixture. Inert gases drastically change the energy content generated by the overall mixture—as does Hydrogen. The inert gases most often encountered in hydrogen-rich gas mixtures and fuel gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Nitrogen (N2). Of these, CO2 and CO are relatively easy to measure, as near infra-red (NIR) monitors are available for this purpose. Nitrogen measurements, however, remain cumbersome to measure, and typically require a GC.
When it comes to measuring hydrogen content, a number of thermal conductivity analyzers are available that can directly output this variable, so measurement of this parameter is relatively simple. In most Hydrogen-rich and fuel gas mixtures, Nitrogen content is a relatively small percentage of the mixture, and generally relatively constant. Therefore, a constant value of N2 may often be employed in the determination of accurate energy measurement values. For CO, CO2 and H2, this is definitely not the case. Wild swings in concentration of these components is typical, often occurring over a period of mere seconds. This is a primary reason that GC technology fails to meet the market need for fast response gas energy and Wobbe Index (WI) measurement.
Gas Chromatographs are widely used in the gas measurement industry, and while they provide an accurate output of the full gas composition of the gas mixture under measurement, they have a number of significant limitations. First, GCs exhibit an extremely high cost of ownership. Systems and parts are expensive to buy, and a number of moving parts require significant and frequent servicing. Second, GCs require regular calibration. Third, the calibration gases needed for the calibration process must be generated, which is timely and expensive. Fourth, skilled and trained operators are required for GC operation, which increases operating costs. Fifth, the response time is typically extremely slow, with outputs typically updated about every 7 minutes.
As noted above, Wobbe Index meters or calorimeters can be used for fuel gas or H2 rich gas mixtures, yet they also exhibit a number of limitations. First, there is a high cost of purchase and ownership. Second, due to the combustion often needed for measurements, such units must often be installed in non-hazardous areas. Third, these meters also require extensive utilities, such as high current electrical inputs and compressed air-gas bottle supplies. They are therefore expensive to install and operate. Along these lines, the waste gas exhausted by these units is typically around the order 800° C., which is potentially dangerous and expensive to mitigate in hazardous environments, such as those found in oil refineries, for example.
An alternative method and apparatus for calculating CV, WI, density, base density, SG, etc. is needed. A method and apparatus for these calculations that updates quickly is needed. Additionally, a method and apparatus is needed that minimizes safety risks. A non-combustive, fast-response method and apparatus is provided to address these and other issues, and an advance in the art is achieved. Embodiments disclosed provide an alternative method to determine gas energy and WI in a hydrogen-rich gas mixture. This method and apparatus is especially well-suited for a gas composition that is not known and/or where existing standards that relate gas specific gravity to energy content are not applicable.

Gas energy measurement method and related apparatus


A coaxial cable connector for terminating a prepared coaxial cable end includes a connector body having a center passageway. A compression sleeve attached to one end of the connector body is axially movable wherein movement of the sleeve causes the center conductor of an engaged coaxial cable end to be engaged by a plurality of spring contacts that are radially disposed in relation to a conductive member into which the center conductor is advanced. The center conductor is seized when advanced a predetermined distance into the conductive member.

Coaxial cables are used conventionally as a transmission medium for modern communication networks, such as cable television (CATV) and computer networks, among others. It is conventionally known to use various types of connectors in order to terminate coaxial cable in order to connect the cable to various electronic devices such as televisions, radios, sound producing equipment and the like. Such connectors are as described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,458,851 and 7,347,729, among others.
Conventional coaxial cables, such as 50 ohm and 75 ohm cables, typically include a center conductor that is surrounded by an intermediate dielectric layer and an outer conductor layer in which the outer conductor layer is surrounded by a protective sheath. The center conductor can be solid in terms of its construction, or alternatively the center conductor can be made hollow so as to reduce material usage and stiffness in some cases. In the former types of coaxial cables, the outer conductor layer is typically either spirally, annularly or otherwise corrugated. It is necessary for each of the outer and center conductors to be effectively seized during cable termination in order provide effective mechanical and electrical engagement. Presently, one compression conductor is described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/643,733. According to this design, a conductive pin includes a collet portion which must be driven into the body of an insulator by means of a mandrel or other drive element that is movably attached to a compression sleeve and supported within the conductor.
It is desired to provide a simpler version of a connector that reliably and effectively provides both mechanical and electrical connectivity to the center or inner conductor of an engaged coaxial cable end.

Compression coaxial cable connector with center insulator seizing mechanism