A system for operating an on-load tap changer (OLTC) includes a plurality of legs that include mechanical switches. At least one leg switches from a first to a second tap of the OLTC on receipt of a tap change signal. At least one mechanical switch is activated to establish an electrical connection between one of the first and the second tap and a power terminal of the OLTC. Further, the system includes semiconductor switches that are parallel to the mechanical switches and when activated electrically couple one of the first and the second tap and the power terminal. The system includes a processing unit that selectively activates and deactivates the mechanical and semiconductor switches in such a way that electrical contact is maintained between at least one of the taps and the power terminal during the transition of at least one leg from the first tap to the second tap.

The present invention relates generally to the field of voltage regulation, and more particularly, to on-load tap changers operating as voltage regulation devices.
Conventionally, electricity is generated in large-scale power plants that are connected to a transmission grid. Electrical power is transmitted over a transmission system over long distances at very high voltages. At distribution substations the voltage is stepped down and power is supplied to different loads within a distribution grid. Voltage regulation in the distribution grid is typically achieved through voltage regulation devices such as on-load tap changing transformers or voltage regulators. Capacitor banks are also widely used in many utilities to support the voltage regulation in distribution grids, where voltage variations are mainly caused by slow variation of loads connected to the distribution system. With the growing penetration of intermittent renewable energy resources connected at distribution level, voltage variations in distribution grids are aggravated and becoming more frequent. This development requires more flexibility in network voltage regulation leading to an increased and more extensive utilization of voltage regulation devices in distribution grids.
Voltage regulation devices, such as on-load tap changing transformers, are used to provide regulated voltage to the output terminals. On-load tap changing transformers typically include at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding. The primary and secondary windings include a plurality of turns. Input voltage is provided to the primary winding and the electric load is coupled to the secondary windings. Magnetic interaction between primary and secondary windings causes energy to be transferred from the primary winding to the secondary winding. Transformers convert the input voltage (Vin) at the primary windings to an output voltage (Vout) at the secondary windings based on a turns ratio (T2/T1) of the secondary winding turns (T2) versus primary winding turns (T1). The output voltage is computed based on equation 1:Vout=Vin×T2/T1  (1)
An on-load tap changing transformer has several connection points, so called "taps", along at least one of its windings. With each of these tap positions a certain number of turns is selected. Since the output voltage of the on-load tap changing transformer is determined by the turns ratio of the primary windings versus the secondary windings, the output voltage can be varied by selecting different taps. On-load tap changers (OLTCs) are used to change the tap position of an on-load tap changing transformer while energized, i.e., under load.
Different mechanisms have been developed for OLTCs to change the turns ratio of the primary windings versus the secondary windings of on-load tap changing transformers. Several types of OLTCs, both mechanical and electronic, are available in the market. Mechanical OLTCs allow for in-service operation, but have demanding mechanical requirements. Each tap changing operation of mechanical tap changers leads to a certain amount of arcing between tap contacts and moving finger contacts. Arcing leads to slow deterioration of the transformer oil and accelerated wear-and-tear of mechanical contacts. The lifetime of a mechanical tap changer is hence limited by the number of tap changing operations. Conventional OLTCs have nevertheless a relatively long lifetime of 15-20 years. This is mainly due to the comparably low number of tap changing operations required to regulate the slow voltage variations due to loads. However, more frequent voltage fluctuations in distribution networks can be seen nowadays which are caused by the increasing share of distributed generation by means of renewable energy sources. Therefore, OLTCs are required to operate more frequently than before. This leads to much higher maintenance requirements and limited lifetime. Furthermore, mechanical OLTCs require current limiting inductors or resistors to limit the short-circuit current, which is present during a tap changing operation. Consequently, a need for cooling these current limiting devices may arise due to frequent tap changing occurrences.
The main drawback of mechanical on-load tap changers is unavoidable arcing between the tap contacts and the moving finger contacts when a tap is changed. Purely electronic on-load tap changers on the other hand do not have any moving mechanical contacts. Each tap contact is connected to the load through a solid-state electronic switch. The tap position is selected by switching on the corresponding electronic switch (i.e. conducting), while all other switches are switched off (i.e. not conducting). Changing from one tap position to the other is carried out by commutating the current from one electronic switch to the next. The current commutation is therefore achieved without arcing due to the typically very fast switching capabilities of solid-state switches. Although electronic OLTCs are highly flexible and can operate arc-free and would therefore substantially reduce maintenance requirements as compared to mechanical OLTCs, they also have certain disadvantages. The main drawback is the high cost of electronic switches. Since an electronic switch is required for each tap position, costs are further increased, in particular when the number of taps is higher. The second disadvantage is the higher conduction losses of electronic switches compared to mechanical contacts.
Hence, there is a need for OLTC devices that are economically more viable, require lower maintenance, cause lower conduction losses, and provide for flexibility to meet changing regulation requirements due to the increasing share of intermittent renewable energy resources in the distribution grid.

System and method for operating an on-load tap changer


A vibration dampening device for use on compound archery bows. A device may be associated with one or more bow limb, with each device disposing a vibration damping bumper in position to shorten the vibrating length of the bow string at brace, compared to the vibrating length of a bow string of a comparable bow lacking the device(s). Certain embodiments couple bowstring vibration at brace with one or more cable. Preferred embodiments include a limb anchor adapted to distribute string-induced loading onto a bow limb at both sides of a string cam.

1. Field
This invention pertains to compound archery bows, and specifically to mechanisms for dampening string vibrations following the launch of an arrow.
2. State of the Art
Casting an arrow with an archery bow involves first nocking the arrow to a bowstring and then pulling the bowstring at the nock point from its rest (brace) position to a drawn position. The limbs of the bow are thereby flexed to store energy. The string is released to cast the arrow, and returns to its rest (or brace) position. The energy stored in the limbs is transferred primarily to the arrow, but in part to the string. This string energy is dissipated through vibrations. Such vibrations are regarded as undesirable for several reasons. A peculiar sensation is experienced by the archer as vibrations transfer through the grip of the bow to the archer's hand and forearm. Moreover, the vibrations create noise, much as the vibrating string of a musical instrument. In a hunting environment, silence is considered to be essential. String vibration also contributes to a foreshortened useful life for the bowstring, due to fatigue. String vibrations, and their attendant disadvantages are particularly evident in compound bows.
Compound bows are available in many configurations, most of which are classified as either "single cam" or "dual cam" bows. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,486,495; 3,990,425; 4,748,962; 4,774,927; 4,967,721; 6,763,818 and 6,990,970, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference, describe a variety of constructions of such bows, including both single cam and dual cam configurations of cross bows. These bows are characterized by riggings (sometimes called "cable means") that include a central stretch (bowstring) and multiple end stretches (cables) interconnecting opposed limb tips. The term "rigging" is intended to include such structure as pulley assemblies, bowstring, and cable(s) that are operable to flex the limbs of a bow as the bowstring is drawn. Most single cam bows and many dual cam bows include riggings that connect a pulley assembly carried by one limb to the opposite limb through a yoke (sometimes called a "Y" harness.) Such arrangements are characterized by riggings that include a bow string extending from a pulley member and a yoke harness extending from an axle member supporting that pulley member. The spacing between the string and harness changes as the string is moved between brace and drawn conditions. That spacing increases as the sting is drawn, and decreases as the string returns to brace condition following the launch of an arrow.
Various devices have been proposed to deaden or dampen string vibrations. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,061,125; 4,461,267; and 5,720,269 disclose various forms of string bumpers supported by the bow handle in position to contact the bow string in brace condition following launch of an arrow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,314 discloses a similar bumper arrangement (called a "suppressor") that includes a support adapted for rigid attachment to the end of a bow limb. The distal portion of the support is configured to hold vibration suppressing material, such an elastomer or gel, against the string in rest, or brace, position. Such a suppressor may be connected to one or both limbs of the bow. The device disclosed by the '314 patent applies force received from the bowstring to only one side of the bow limb (to a single limb of a split limb bow, or an equivalent location on other limbs). This arrangement inherently imparts a twisting moment applied to the limb tip when the bow string encounters the damping element.

String vibration suppressor for compound archery bows


A method and a system for classifying at least one individual gas compound from a plurality of leaked gases in a specified field of view are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: generating, by a cryogenically cooled detector and using a first of at least n filters, multiple spectral band images of the specified view in spectral bands coinciding with said leaking gases spectral bands in which said leaking gases emit and absorb electromagnetic radiation; calculating from the images, the relative absorption response of said gases in each of said filters, respectively; calculating a set of predetermined coefficients; normalizing said relative absorption responses to the sum of relative responses of said filters; and calculating the weighted average molecular mass of said gas compound of said leaking gases.

Oil, gas, chemical and power plant industries are constantly seeking for efficient in-situ detection of fugitive gas leakages. Most of the gases used (e.g., methane, propane, benzene, etc.) in these industries are highly toxic and explosive when mixed with air. Moreover, most of the leaking gases belong to the category of greenhouse gases and therefore are contributing to climate instability and temperature increase. Furthermore, the gas leakage problem is causing profit-losses to the industries thereof.
Typically, regulations in most of the developed countries require constant monitoring of equipment in order to control and reduce to a minimum gas leakage. Currently, there are many different products that facilitate detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other gases. Most of these products belong to a category named "sniffers". Sniffers provide accurate gas concentration readings but suffer from extensive labor related to the inspection process that has to be performed locally in close proximity to pipes, valves or any other gas carrying components.
Optical gas imaging systems are also known for gas leak detection. Different gases are characterized by different absorption lines in different spectral bands, which may enable detecting and classifying different gases or group of gases using different filters. Typically, optical gas detection systems include cooled detector and cooled or non-cooled band-pass filter(s), e.g., both located in a camera's dewar. The sensitivity of such systems is limited to a gas of a single type (or limited types of gases), due to, for example, disability of replacing the cooled or non-cooled band-pass filter(s) with different filters adapted for different types of gases.
Current Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technology can visualize leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in petrochemical industry facilities. Typically, these plumes of emitted gases are comprised of a mixture of various alkane compounds and aromatics. Current OGI technology utilizes a highly sensitivity, cryogenically cooled camera, which is tuned to detect hydrocarbon gases by using a spectral bandpass filter between 3.2 μm and 3.4 μm where these gases have absorption lines.
Due to the harmful nature of some compound (e.g. Benzene, which was proven to be a carcinogen) it is important for the regulators and industry to not only detect gas leaks, but also know whether it is a gas plume with high content of benzene or a plume of mostly alkane mixture (e.g. propane, butane and such) which are much less harmful. In addition, methane is a very potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and therefore in many occasions it is important to determine whether the detected gas plume has a high content of methane. In additional embodiments of the present invention the OGI technology may apportion sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide in stack and flare's emission plumes.

Methods for classification of a gas compound in a gas leak


A system for mounting a window treatment to a structure includes a beam supporting or forming a portion of the window treatment, a flange of a trim ring or an accessory thereof, and a clip connectable to the beam and to the flange.

A roller blind typically includes a roller tube, a blind material, for example, a blind fabric, attached and selectively rollable onto an outer surface of the roller tube, a spindle received within the roller tube, and a coil spring connected between the roller tube and the spindle. Such a roller blind typically is mounted to a first bracket that receives and supports a first end of the spindle and a second bracket that receives and supports a second end of the spindle. The first bracket and the first end of the spindle may be, but need not be configured so that the first end of the spindle may rotate freely with respect to the first bracket when received therein. The second bracket and the second end of the spindle typically are configured so that the second end of the spindle is keyed to the second bracket when received therein and, therefore, generally is rotatably fixed with respect thereto.
Such a roller blind and first and second brackets typically are provided as separate and distinct components. Installing such a blind and bracket system to a structure, for example, a window frame or a wall surrounding a window frame, requires precise placement of the brackets with respect to the roller and spindle. If the brackets are mounted to the structure too close to each other or too far apart from each other, it may be impossible to install the roller blind between them in an operable manner. The acceptable tolerance in the spacing between the two brackets may be very small. As such, installing such a blind and bracket system to a structure may be time consuming and error prone.
This disclosure is directed to a system for mounting a window treatment to a window frame or window trim ring that overcomes drawbacks with existing designs.
In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a beam having a generally C-shaped cross-section defining a first channel and a second channel, and a clip having a generally C-shaped cross-section. The clip includes a base, a first arm extending from the base and having a free end, and a second arm extending from the base and having a free end. The system also includes a trim ring with a peripheral flange. A shoulder portion of the first arm proximate the base is receivable in the first channel, and a shoulder portion of the second arm proximate the base is receivable in the second channel. The first arm defines a pocket proximate the free end thereof that faces the second arm proximate the free end thereof, and the second arm defines a barb proximate the free end thereof that faces the first arm proximate the free end thereof. The first arm and the second arm are configured to receive the flange between the receiver and the barb.
The beam, the first channel, and the second channel may be elongated. The beam may be substantially rigid and the clip may be substantially flexible and resilient. In this context, the clip may be flexibly and resiliently reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the free ends of the first and second arms may be proximate each other and a second configuration in which the free ends of the first and second arms may be distant from each other. The beam and the clip may be configured so that the clip may be readily assembled to and disassembled from the beam when the clip is in the first configuration and so that the clip may be substantially secured to the beam when the clip is in the second configuration. The clip further may be flexibly and resiliently reconfigurable between the second configuration and a third configuration where the free ends of the first and second arms may be more distant from each other than in the second configuration. The clip may be in the third configuration when the flange is received between the receiver and the barb. The flange and the free ends of the clip may cooperate to inhibit displacement of the first arm from the first channel and displacement of the second arm from the second channel. The barb may be configured to resist disengagement of the clip from the flange. The free end of the first arm may be generally parallel to the free end of the second arm, and the
The system may also include a window treatment connected to the beam.
In another exemplary embodiment, a clip for use with a beam and a trim ring includes a base, a first arm extending from the base and having a free end, and a second arm extending from the base and having a free end. A portion of the first arm proximate the base end is receivable in the first channel, and a portion of the second arm proximate the base is receivable in the second channel. The first arm defines a pocket proximate the free end thereof that faces the second arm proximate the free end thereof, and the second arm defines a barb proximate the free end thereof that faces the first arm proximate the free end thereof. The first arm and the second arm are configured to receive the flange between the receiver and the barb.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a system includes a beam having a generally C-shaped cross-section defining a first channel and a second channel, a trim ring cooperable with a window frame, and a clip securable to the trim ring and interposed between the trim ring and the beam. The clip includes a first connector engaging the first channel, a second connector engaging the second channel, and extension arms engaging the trim ring.
The first connector may engage an interior of the first channel, and the second connector may engage an interior of the second channel. The trim ring may define a peripheral flange, and the extension arms may engage an exterior of the peripheral flange.
The first connector may engage an exterior of the first channel, and the second connector may engage an exterior of the second channel. In this context, the first connector may include a first beam gripping portion engaging the first channel, and the second connector may include a second beam gripping portion engaging the second channel. The trim ring may include a first C-shaped channel defining a first T-shaped slot and a second C-shaped channel defining a second T-shaped slot, where the extension arms may be trim ring engaging portions engaging one of the first and second T-shaped slots. The first and second C-shaped channels may face opposite directions.


A power amplifier comprises an amplifier amplifying a high-frequency signal modulated by an input signal. An inverted envelope generates circuit generating an inverted envelope signal by using the input signal or the high-frequency signal The inverted envelope signal having an inverted envelope. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the amplitude of the inverted envelope signal, and a variable delay circuit adjusts a phase of the inverted envelope signal. A control circuit outputs a control signal to the variable gain amplifier and the variable delay circuit based on information about distortion or a signal level of the amplified high-frequency signal. The inverted envelope signal having been adjusted in amplitude or phase is injected to the high-frequency signal or the amplified high-frequency signal. The control circuit controls the variable gain amplifier or the variable delay circuit so that distortion or a signal level of the amplified high-frequency signal is minimum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power amplifier, a power amplifying method, and a power amplifier with predistortion compensation. The present invention specifically concerns a power amplifier, a power amplifying method, and a power amplifier with predistortion compensation that are used mainly at radio communication base stations of mobile phones.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In recent years, there has been a demand in base station transmitters, for high-efficiency power amplifiers with high linearity. These amplifiers are required to amplify a number of signal channels in a collective manner. In order to increase the linearity of power amplifiers, for example, it is necessary to adopt distortion compensating circuits of a predistortion system or the like.
FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a conventional power amplifier with predistortion compensation. Reference numeral 601 denotes an input terminal, reference numeral 602 denotes an output terminal, reference numeral 603 denotes a power divider, reference numeral 604 denotes a delay circuit, reference numeral 605 denotes a distortion generating circuit, reference numeral 606 denotes a variable attenuator, reference numeral 607 denotes a variable phase shifter, reference numeral 608 denotes a power combiner, reference numeral 609 denotes an amplifier, reference numeral 610 denotes a power divider, and reference numeral 611 denotes a control circuit.
In the power amplifier configured with predistortion compensation, a modulated carrier signal inputted to input terminal 601 is divided into two in the power divider 603. In response to one of the divided modulated carrier signals, the distortion generating circuit 605 generates a distorted signal. The distorted signal is adjusted in amplitude and phase in the variable attenuator 606 and the variable phase shifter 607. The resultant signal is fed to the power combiner 608. The other modulated carrier signal having been divided in the power divider 603 is delayed in the delay circuit 604, and then, the signal is inputted into the power combiner 608. The power combiner 608 combines the distorted signal and the modulated carrier signal and inputs the combined signal to the amplifier 609. The amplifier 609 amplifies the inputted signal and outputs the signal from the output terminal 602.
The power divider 610 is provided between the amplifier 609 and the output terminal 602. An output signal from the amplifier 609 is partially divided in the power divider 610 and is fed to the control circuit 611. The control circuit 611 controls the variable attenuator 606 and the variable phase shifter 607 so that the distorted signal inputted to the power combiner 608 is equal in amplitude to an adjacent channel leakage distortion, which is generated when the amplifier 609 amplifies a modulated carrier signal (hereinafter, simply referred to as "distortion" or "ACP"), in opposite phase.
As described above, in the power amplifier with predistortion compensation shown in FIG. 29, a distorted signal is generated which is equal in amplitude in opposite phase to distortion expected to be generated when the amplifier 609 amplifies a modulated carrier signal, and the signal is added to a modulated carrier signal to be inputted to the amplifier 609 (that is, a distortion component equal in amplitude to generated distortion in opposite phase is inputted to the amplifier), so that distortion generated in the amplifier 609 is reduced. Such a circuit configuration is disclosed, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-261252. The disclosure of the above reference is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
However, in the conventional power amplifier with predistortion compensation shown in FIG. 29, when a level difference is large between an adjacent channel leakage distortion component generated on the low-frequency side (hereinafter, referred to as ACPL) and an adjacent channel leakage distortion component generated on the high-frequency side (hereinafter, referred to as ACPU) in the amplifier 609, ACPL and ACPU generated in the distortion generating circuit 605 are both difficult to equalize in amplitude in opposite phase to ACPL and ACPU generated in the amplifier 609. Consequently, it is not possible to have a large suppressing amount of distortion on both of ACPL and ACPU.
In view of the above problem, the present invention has as its object the provision of a power amplifying method or a power amplifier whereby a level difference can be reduced between ACPL and ACPU generated in the power amplifier.

Power amplifying method, power amplifier, and communication apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A steering device includes: an offset correction value storing section to store an offset correction value including a first offset correction value and a second offset correction value, the first offset value being a current value for correcting the first sensed current signal so that a value of a vibration of the electric motor is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined value when the motor rotation speed signal is a first rotation speed, and the second offset value being a current value for correcting the first sensed current signal so that the value of the vibration of the electric motor is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value when the motor rotation speed signal is a second rotation speed.

The present invention relates to a steering device arranged to provide a steering force to a turning mechanism.
A Japanese Patent No. 5853096 (corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/155805) discloses a motor drive device including an inverter arranged to drive a motor; a voltage division circuit which is a neutral point potential sensing section arranged to sense a neutral point potential of a stator winding of the motor; and a controller configured to presume a rotor position of the motor based on the sensed neutral point potential, and to control the inverter based on the presumed result.
In this case, a ground potential of the controller is set to a potential on a negative side or a positive side of a direct current voltage applied to the inverter. The voltage division circuit is configured to sense the neutral point potential with reference to the potential on the negative side or the positive side of the direct current voltage.
The controller is configured to presume the rotor position based on a difference between a constant first reference potential and a first neutral point potential sensed at ON/OFF operation of the inverter, and a difference between a constant second reference potential and a second neutral point potential sensed at the ON/OFF operation.


A prosthesis of the knee which includes an articular element including a slideway in which is mounted the base of a bushing which threadingly receives a centro-medullary stem. The centro-medullary stem extends through the bushing so as to be engageable with impressions formed in the slideway to thereby lock the bushing and stem to the slideway.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a prosthesis of the knee and more particularly, although not exclusively, to a replacement prosthesis, i.e. one used for replacing part of a total prosthesis of the knee already applied to a patient and which must be replaced for some reason. In the case of replacement, it is often necessary to have more solid anchorages of the femoral and tibial elements, with the result that, for fixing the articular element, a long centro-medullary stem of suitable diameter is generally used.
Such a prosthesis may also be employed from the beginning.
2. History of the Related Art
French Patent No. 74 40575 discloses a prosthesis of the knee comprising two elements associated respectively with the femur and with the tibia, the femur element is made in the form of an incurved plate with two condyles, the plate being associated with a centro-medullary stem, while the second or tibia element includes a tibial plate likewise associated with a centro-medullary stem. The centro-medullary stems, secured to the femoral or tibial pieces, must have different characteristics depending on the surgical cases, with the result that their length, diameter, angulation and positioning with respect to the center must vary. Thus is particularly true for the femoral piece.
If it is desired to respond correctly to the surgical cases in question, the surgeon must have a multitude of implants available, which is extremely expensive.
It is an object of the improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks and to produce a prosthesis incorporating a plurality of components which enables all the desired dimensions of implants to be obtained economically.

Knee prosthesis with adjustable centro-medullary stem


A system and method for a personal telematics device (PTD) are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a PTD may include an actuator that can be selectively activated by a user. Furthermore, the PTD may include a controller in communication with the actuator. The controller may send an instruction signal to a wireless device coupled to the PTD in response to activation of the actuator. Additionally, the wireless device may connect the personal telematics device to an answering entity in response to receiving the instruction signal. The answering entity may then perform a user service corresponding to the actuator activated by the user.

The importance of wireless telecommunications in modern society continues to grow. People and businesses throughout the world increasingly depend on wireless technology as a way to communicate and share ideas. In particular, users today often use wireless subscriber terminals that are integrated within vehicles, such as cars, trucks, aircrafts, or sea vessels. These wireless subscriber terminals often enable users to wirelessly communicate with a network in order to access a variety of different services.
Unfortunately, current systems that enable wireless access from a vehicle to a network often include a number of drawbacks. For example, existing systems typically use dedicated wireless transceivers that are embedded or otherwise integrated within a vehicle. Thus, a user may be unable to readily transfer such a system for use in another vehicle. Also, during times when the vehicle is not in use, these dedicated transmitters are often left idle and useless. Further, existing systems typically require the use of substantial hardware and computing resources, making such systems relatively costly.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system and method for enabling wireless access to a network that overcomes the above deficiencies associated with the prior art.


According to one exemplary embodiment, a turret-type winder is provided and includes a rotatable turret assembly having a first core and a second core supported thereby. The turret is rotatable so that the first core can be positioned at a first location while the second core is positioned at a different second location, and the web material can be wound onto either of the first and second core at either of the first and second locations. The winder includes a pack roll assembly associated with each of the first and second cores, with the pack roll assembly including one pack roll that is pivotably movable into contact with a winding roll. The present winder is configured such that each of the first and second cores is unloaded at the first location after the winding is completed thereon and a new core is loaded at the same first location, while the other of the first and second cores is continuously winding at the second location.

There are a number of different types of machinery that generally act to continuously wind a web material, such as thin plastic films (e.g., thin polypropylene films) as well as paper, paperboard and other type of web materials, after the web material has been processed in a predetermined manner. This type of machinery is available for use in an automated line environment where it is desired to continuously wind the web material.
Most often, the winder is one of the last pieces of equipment in the line where the resulting product is wound around a core or the like for storage, transportation, etc., and therefore, the winder typically follows an oven or the like where the web material, including any coatings thereof, and any other layers are processed to form the resulting product. Because the web material is advanced from one station to the next station, it is important that there are no delays or disruptions in the entire process. For example, if the winder machine has to be taken off line, the upstream web material may be kept in the oven too long and this can lead to direct damage of the web material and even destruction of the web material so that it has to be entirely discarded. Thus, it is desirable that the winder machine have the capability to operate continuously and as individual rolls are formed, there is as near seamless of a transition from a completed roll to an empty core which receives a leading edge of the web material.
In the continuous winding of these web materials, it is very important to maintain control over the tension in the web material throughout as much as possible of the winding process, and particularly, during the change of a full roll to a new core that receives the web material. One of the disadvantages of this type of process and the winding device is that the tension that is applied to the outer wraps of the roll is insufficient to exclude air from being drawn in between the outer wraps, especially during the roll changing motion, air is drawn into the space between the outer wraps and becomes entrapped between the wraps. This air entrapment between the outer web wraps produces wrinkles, bunching, telescoping or skewing in the outermost portion of the roll. As the winding roll is driven to wrap the web material, air is drawn around the rotating winding roll and at the point where the web material contacts the outermost wrap and itself becomes the next outermost wrap, a pressure condition exists and results in air being drawn into this space between the web material and the outermost wrap.
One type of web winder apparatus is a continuous turret-type winder. Turret-type winders have commonly been used with roll changers or accumulators by which each of a pair of core-supporting spindles, which are disposed at ends of the turret arms, are sequentially loaded with a core. A freshly cut leading edge of the web material is attached to the core by any number of suitable devices, such as a roller device. At a particular point in the winding action, the winding roll is indexed about 180 degrees to deliver a fresh core on the recently unloaded spindle of the turret arms to the web transfer station and to deliver the winding roll to an unloading station while the winding continues.
In a continuous winding operation, especially on turret-type winders and particularly for certain kinds of web materials, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account in order to produce a uniformly wound roll that is free of defects. One of the foremost considerations to take into account on a turret-type winder is the above-mentioned problem of air entrapment. In order to combat this from happening, it has become relatively common place to provide a pressure roll positioned against the winding roll to control the winding process and eliminate or substantially eliminate the aforementioned problem. More specifically, the pressure roll acts to expel the air layer at the incoming web and prevent this air from being trapped between successive layers. However, the operation of such a roll is complicated in a turret winder as a result of the normal action of the device during and following indexing of the winding roll since during this action, the winding roll moves away from the pressure roll. As a result, air is permitted to enter between the web material layers and this results in the aforementioned problem of slippage between the layers.
Several solutions of this problem have been proposed including the continuous pressure roll winder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,140. This device includes pivotally mounted pressure rolls which contact the cores and the winding roll throughout the entire winding process and throughout the indexing of the turret arms from a core loading station to a roll unloading station while maintaining the relative geometry of contact such that the web contacts the pressure roll at or before contacting the winding roll.
While the device disclosed in the '140 patent solves some problems associated with previous winding devices, the '140 device still suffers from disadvantages. More specifically, the '140 device is constructed such that the turret arm are rotated to a first position to permit a full roll to be removed from the device, at generally the nine o'clock position, while the new core winds at a three o'clock position as shown in the Figures of the '140 patent. The three o'clock position is also the position where the cutting mechanism along with other complex mechanisms are located and therefore, the three o'clock position is fairly crowded. In the '140 device, after the finished roll is removed, a new core is not inserted at the nine o'clock position since if a new core was inserted here, the rotation of the turret arm in the clockwise direction to place the current winding roll in the nine o'clock unloading direction would result in interference between the new core and the web material as it is fed along rollers and the like to the pack roll assembly, etc. and then onto the winding roll. As will be appreciated by viewing the figures of the '140 patent, the clockwise rotation of the turret arm would cause a new core inserted at the nine o'clock position to fold over onto the web as it is being fed to the pack assembly. In other words, the location and action of the web material prevents the rotation of the winding roll to the unloading location since the new core can not pass through the web material that is trained across rollers and the like.
Instead, the '140 device has to be operated such that the full completed core is removed from the nine o'clock position as the new core winds in the three o'clock position; however, a new core can not be inserted at the unloading location (nine o'clock position) for the reasons stated above. The new core has to be inserted at the three o'clock position after the turret arm is rotated so that the winding roll moves from the three o'clock position to the nine o'clock position. In other words, the new core can not be loaded at the same location where the old finished core is unloaded. One of the disadvantages of this type of scheme is that the three o'clock position in the '140 device is not that accessible due to the presence of other equipment, such as the cutting devices, and therefore it is not easy for a core loader to be disposed at this location. Furthermore, this type of arrangement where the finished core is unloaded at one location and a new core is inserted at another location requires multiple pieces of equipment at two locations to complete these tasks. In other words, unloading equipment is located near the unloading location and loading equipment is located near the loading location. Accordingly, the same equipment can not be used to perform both the unloading and loading operations and this greatly increases the complexity of the design and increases crowding of the various components and reduces accessibility at different locations.
What has heretofore not been available is a continuous winder that permits pressure to be applied to a winding roll at a point of entry of the web throughout the entire winding cycle and also permits a new core to be immediately inserted at the same location where a finished roll was just removed while the winding of a new roll continues at another location. In addition, it is desirable for this same device to allow for the pack rolls to be run in a gap position with a minimal distance being maintained between the roll and the building winding roll.


The invention relates to a mobile phone (1) and specifically to an interface for connecting external signals received from and transmitted to external devices to the mobile phone, and to an interface configuration for connecting the mobile phone to external signals. In the mobile phone of the invention, external digital signals are basically received and transmitted over a coaxial line (6) connected to an RF signal connector (3). In the interface configuration of the invention an interface unit (31) is provided at one end of the coaxial line (6), the interface unit controlling the transmission of external signals connected to connectors (35, 60, 61a, 61b, 61c) over the coaxial line (6) between the mobile phone (1) and the external devices. In one embodiment of the invention power supply to the mobile phone also takes place over the RF connector (3) and the coaxial line (6) connected to this.

As a rule, mobile phones comprise a plurality of interfaces including connectors for external signals and devices. The phone is usually provided with an interface for RF signals received and transmitted over an external aerial, and with a connector usually coaxial for this purpose, to which a coaxial line from an external aerial is connected. Control or data signals received or transmitted by the phone are transferred via a separate connector. Input and output audio signals frequently have a specific interface and connector. Charging current is supplied to the phone as D.C. supply over a specific connector. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical, well-equipped hand-held mobile phone 1, which, besides its own aerial 1, comprises a coaxial RF connector 3 for input and output RF signals transmitted over an external aerial, a DC connector 4 for power supply and a 12-pin basic connector 5 for external audio, control and data signals.
The invention relates to a digitally operated mobile phone, comprising at least one interface including a connector for RF signals and requiring additional interfaces for at least some output and input digital signals, which may be audio signals, data signals or control signals. Besides these interfaces, a mobile phone requires an interface for supplying charging current. The mobile phone of the invention is particularly advantageous when installed in a car, the hand-held mobile phone being placed in a holder as an independently operating mobile phone, integrated in a versatile car equipment, including for instance a complete loudspeaker feature with an external loudspeaker and a microphone, an interface to an aerial outside the car, interfaces to external data and control signals, such as for instance a signal detecting the state of the ignition switch, an external alarm control, etc., and power supply from the car battery for instance.
Using several connectors in a single mobile phone naturally causes additional expenses, occasionally involving laborious connection of a number of lines. This conventional configuration has the additional drawback of strict protective steps imposed by EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility ) requirements, both economically and technologically speaking. Electromagnetic protection of the mobile phone lines shall be provided by means of low-pass filters or band-pass filters at the interface of the phone connector. The great number of interfaces and connectors complicates the phone design considerably, calling for several filter components in the phone and entailing laborious and complicated manufacture. What is more, this kind of filter arrangement requires space in the phone set and will thus increase the weight and the size of the phone.
With some interfaces, for instance with a data interface, the transfer rate will not comply with EMC requirements. In that case it might be necessary to use an optical interface, which, again, requires large space and separate operating voltage.

Mobile phone and interface configuration in a mobile phone


An alumino earth-alkali silicate glass for lamp bulbs of tungsten halogen incandescent lamps has the following glass composition (% by weight) that reduces discoloration during operation of the lamp bulb:

The present invention relates to alumino earth-alkali silicate glasses for molybdenum-glass fusions in the form of light bulbs as the outer casing for lamps, in particular, for lamps with regenerative halogen cycle and bulb temperatures of from above 550° C. up to 700° C.
It is known that the stability of the regenerative halogen cycle in halogen lamps is the prerequisite for reaching the target lamp life of a halogen lamp. Decisive for this is that the equilibrium between formation and decomposition of tungsten halides is maintained. Disruptions of the halogen cycle, inter alia, can be caused by smallest amounts of contaminations in the glass as well as in the filament material or the feed-through sleeve material. These contaminations, inter alia, can weaken the halogen cycle as a result of the high lamp temperatures as well as the energy-rich radiation of the tungsten filament so that metallic tungsten will form a black precipitate on the inner side of the bulb. This causes a weakening of the lamp efficiency and light translucence. It is a well-known fact that particularly alkali ions have such a disruptive effect on the halogen cycle. For this reason, industrial scale halogen lamp glasses are practically free of alkali, which recently has resulted in alkali oxide contents (R2O) of <0.03% by weight, inasmuch as no stabilizing components partially compensate their effect. In addition to the negative effect of the alkali ions, other components such as H2, OH−, CO and CO2 are said to have an aggressive effect and to cause disruptions of the cycling process.
EP 0 913 366, DE 197 47 354, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,969 (same patent family) therefore limit the water contents for aluminoborosilicate glass containing alkaline earth metals employed in lamp bulbs to be operated at temperatures below 650 degrees C. to <0.02% by weight in order to prevent blackening of the lamp.
EP 0 913 365, DE 197 58 481, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,100 (same patent family, based on WO 99/14794) discloses aluminoborosilicate glass containing alkaline earth metals for lamp bulbs to be operated at temperatures above 650 degrees C. The references teach that the water contents must be less than 0.02% by weight because the water or the hydrogen ions are said to cause a disruptive effect on the halogen cycling process; discoloration of the glass at the operating temperatures of the lamp is to be prevented in this way.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,171 discloses a glass composition which is atypical for halogen lamp glasses (SiO2 50%, P2O5 4.8%, and Al2O3 19.2%) wherein the CO and alkali contents are practically zero and the water contents is limited to less than 0.03% by weight. Glasses of this type of composition however have practically not been used as halogen lamp glasses.
Numerous hart glasses which have been, and are being used, for halogen lamps, for example, glasses 180 made by General Electric; 1720, 1724, and 1725 made by Corning; as well as 8252 and 8253 made by a Schott, have water contents under 0.025% by weight, partially under 0.02% by weight. These glasses are within the composition range according to Table 1.
TABLE 1Oxides% by weightSiO256.4–63.4Al2O314.6–16.7B2O3  0–5.0BaO 7.5–17.0CaO 6.7–12.7MgO  0–8.2SrO  0–0.3ZrO2  0–1.1TiO2  0–0.2Na2O0.02–0.05K2O0.01–0.02Fe2O30.03–0.05
The typical compositions of halogen lamp glasses in patents are within the range of Table 2.
TABLE 2Oxides% by weightSiO252–71 Al2O313–25 B2O3 0–6.5BaO0–17CaO3.5–21  MgO 0–8.3SrO0–10ZrO2 0–5.5R2O  0–0.08(1.2)TiO20–1 Water<0.025
Observing these limits, in particular of the low water contents, poses significant requirements with regard to the employed raw materials as well as the glass melting process, such as, for example:                use of dried raw materials and refuse glass;        water-free raw materials;        increased technical and thus financial expenditure for the apparatus technology and operation of the glass melting apparatus for obtaining melting temperatures above 1,600° C. with a low partial water vapor pressure above the molten glass.
There presently exists, and there will exist in the future, a significant demand for glasses for halogen lamps.

Alumino earth-alkali silicate glasses with high thermal capacity for light bulbs and use thereof

Abstract: SiO255.0–62.5  Al2O314.5–18.5  B2O30.8–4.0  BaO7.5–17.0 CaO6.5–13.5 MgO1.0–5.5  SrO0–2.0ZrO20–1.5TiO20–1.0ZnO0–0.5CeO20–0.3R2O<0.03H2O0.025–0.042.


The invention relates to a suture comprising a copolymer of a polyethylene glycol terephtalate and a polybutylene terephtalate, which copolymer comprises 45-60 wt. %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of the polyethylene glycol terephtalate, and 55-40 wt. %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of the polybutylene terephtalate.

The invention relates to the field of surgical aids. More in particular, the invention relates to sutures.
Sutures are composed of threads or threadlike materials used for keeping tissue together. They may be applied in the skin of victims of accidents in order to repair large wounds. They may also be used internally, usually during or after surgery. In the latter case, usually other types of tissue are to be stitched together, such as muscle tissue.
Conventionally, sutures have been manufactured of non-degradable materials like nylon and polypropylene or degradable materials like polyglycolic acid and copolymers of glycolic acid and lactic acid. These materials are sufficiently biocompatible to keep risks of infections and the like within acceptable limits. On the other hand, they are sufficiently strong to fulfil their purpose.
A disadvantage of the non-degradable conventional sutures is that they have to be removed after a certain time period, usually when the wound is recovered to such an extent that stitches are no longer necessary. In the case of external uses, this forms a nuisance in the form of a return visit to a physician. In the case of internal uses of sutures, this forms a more significant problem.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,946, a non-absorbable surgical suture is disclosed, which is derived from segmented polyether-ester block copolymers. The copolymers comprise a soft and a hard block. The soft block may for instance be a (tetramethylene ether)glycol and has a number average molecular weight of 500-3,000. The hard block may for instance be a diacid, such as terephtalic acid or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. The hard block is preferably present in an amount of 50-85% in the copolymer. The overall number average molecular weight of the copolymer is 25-30,000. As mentioned, the described suture is non-absorbable, which means that it does not degrade in vivo.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,419 discloses a surgical suture material comprising segmented copolyether/esters. The copolymers contain soft and hard segments. In the examples, the copolymers are prepared from 1,4-butanediol, dimethyl phtalate and polytetramethylene ether glycol. Thus, the hard segments are butylene terephtalate blocks, and the soft segments are non-hydrophilic polytetramethlene ether terephtalate segments. The amount in which the soft segment is present in the copolymer is 40% or lower. The weight average molecular weight of the soft segment is preferably 1,000.
In the past, biodegradable sutures have been developed. These decompose in the tissue environment of the patient, desirably after a time when wound recovery has occurred to an extent that their strength is no longer necessary. This constitutes a large improvement in comfort for patients, as they do not have to return to a physician to have their stitches removed.
Biodegradable polymers that are used for the manufacture of commercially available sutures are polyglycolides and polylactides. Although these materials have an adequate degradability profile, they do not leave much room for variation. Different circumstances for application of sutures demand different properties. Important properties that have to be adjusted, depending on the type of application of a suture, are knot strength, slip, tensile strength, pliability and the like. It has been found that, using polyglycolides and polylactides, it is difficult to design a suture having the desired property profile, although a large amount of variation is possible by copolymerizing lactic acid and glycolic acid, as well as the copolymerization with other alfa-hydroxy acid members.
The present invention aims to provide a novel suture of a biodegradable, biocompatible material, which does not have the problems of the conventional sutures.
Surprisingly, it has been found that these goals may be reached by using a specific copolymer for manufacturing a suture. Accordingly, the invention relates to a suture comprising a copolymer of a polyethylene glycol terephtalate and a polybutylene terephtalate, which copolymer comprises 45-60 wt. %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of the polyethylene glycol terephtalate, and 55-40 wt. %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of the polybutylene terephtalate.
The suture of the invention is highly biocompatible and has a very good biodegradability. By choosing the ratio of the polyethylene glycol terephtalate and the polybutylene terephtalate, and by choosing the molecular weights of both constituents, it is possible to fine-tune the properties of the suture. Thus, the material provides a well-defined manoeuvring space for obtaining a suture having properties required for a certain application.
In general, the properties of the suture may be varied as follows. Higher amounts of polyethylene glycol terephtalate in the material, while keeping the amount of the polybutylene terephtalate constant, lead to a higher elasticity of the suture, and to a lower knot strength. Another parameter by which the properties of the suture can be varied, is the molecular weight of the constituents of the copolymer. Using a polyethylene glycol terephtalate for preparing the copolymer having a higher molecular weight, will increase the flexibility of the suture.
As has been mentioned, the material on which the present suture is based, is a copolymer of a polyalkylene glycol and aromatic polyester. The copolymer comprises 45-60 wt. %, preferably 50-55 wt. % of the polyethylene glycol terephtalate, and 55-40 wt. %, preferably 50-45 wt. % of the polybutylene terephtalate. These ratios are selected in order to achieve on the one hand a good flexibility, and on the other hand a favourable degradation behaviour. The group of block copolymers forms a preferred type of copolymers according to the invention.
Preferably, the polyethylene glycol terephtalate has a weight average molecular weight of about 150 to about 600, more preferably of about 200 to about 500. It has been found that the use of a polyethylene glycol terephtalate having a weight average molecular weight within the indicated ranges provides a suture having an excellent (i.e. low) swellability and stretching behaviour. An increase in weight average molecular weight of this component may have the effect that the suture swells too much in vivo and may be too elastic. Also, the suture might degrade too fast for some applications.
The weight average molecular weight of the copolymer preferably lies between about 10,000 and 200,000, more preferably between about 50,000 and about 120,000. Even more preferably the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer lies between about 70,000 and about 90,000 which corresponds roughly to a number average molecular weight between about 35,000 and 45,000. In general, the properties of a suture improve when the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer increases, until an optimal situation has been reached.
The weight average molecular weight may suitably be determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). This technique, which is known per se, may for instance be performed using chloroform as a solvent and polystyrene as external standard. Alternatively, a measure for the weight average molecular weight may be obtained by using viscometry (see NEN-EN-ISO 1628-1). This technique may for instance be performed at 25xc2x0 C. using chloroform as a solvent. Preferably, the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer lies between 0.2289 and 1.3282 dL/g, which corresponds to a weight average molecular weight between 10,000 and 200,000. Likewise, the more preferred ranges for the weight average molecular weight measured by GPC mentioned above can also be expressed in terms of the intrinsic viscosity.
The preparation of the copolymer will now be explained by way of an example. Based on this description, the skilled person will be able to prepare any desired copolymer within the above-described class. An alternative manner for preparing these copolymers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,201.
A polyethylene glycol terephtalate/polybutylene terephtalate copolymer may be synthesized from a mixture of dimethyl terephtalate, butanediol (in excess), polyethylene glycol, an antioxidant and a catalyst. The mixture is placed in a reaction vessel and heated to about 180xc2x0 C., and methanol is distilled as transesterification proceeds. During the transesterification, the ester bond with methyl is replaced with an ester bond with butylene. In this step the polyethyene glycol substantially does not react. After transesterification, the temperature is raised slowly to about 245xc2x0 C., and a vacuum (finally less than 0.1 mbar) is achieved. The excess butanediol is distilled and a prepolymer of butanediol terephtalate condenses with the polyethylene glycol to form a polyethylene/polybutylene terephtalate copolymer. A terephtalate moiety connects the polyethylene glycol units to the polybutylene terephtalate units of the copolymer and thus such copolymer is sometimes also referred to as a polyethylene glycol terephtalate/polybutylene terephtalate copolymer (PEGT/PBT copolymer).
The copolymer described above may conveniently be processed into a desired shape using any known manner such as extrusion, and so forth. The objective shape and size will depend on the envisaged application of the suture. Suitable examples of methods that can be used to prepare sutures of the copolymer are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,419 and 4,246,904, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, for different polymers.
The suture can either be formed into a mono-filament type suture or into a multifilament braided type suture. For the mono-filament suture types, the sutures may be prepared by straight extrusion of pellets of the copolymer, after which needle(s) might be attached to a certain length of the suture. In order to prepare a multifilament yarn, the copolymer may be processed by spinning into a multifilament yarn and subsequent braiding, using conventional polymer processing equipment. The suture preferably consists of a thread having a thickness between 0.01 and 1 mm.
In a preferred embodiment, a suture according to the invention is a monofilament suture. In comparison with a multifilament suture, this type of suture has significantly smaller surface area per unit length of the thread. Thus, the risk of infection is significantly reduced. It is a great advantage of the invention, that a monofilament suture has sufficient mechanical strength for most applications.


A system and method for operating a user functionality in a mobile communications device is disclosed. In an embodiment of the system, a communications infrastructure provides interoperability between a first communications network utilizing a first technology and a second communications network utilizing a second technology. The infrastructure provides an indicator to a mobile communications device in communication with the first communications network to either activate the user functionality or deactivate the user functionality. In accordance with an embodiment of a method of the present invention, the method includes providing the indicator to the mobile communications device in communication with the first communications network utilizing the first technology by the communications infrastructure. The user functionality is activated if the indicator is provided in a first state and the user functionality deactivated if the indicator is provided in a second state.

Dispatch calls are becoming more and more popular with subscribers of communications networks. As is known, a dispatch call, also known as a "walkie-talkie" type of call, is a half-duplex call where only one party at a time is able to speak. These types of calls are now offered by a variety of service providers, one of which is Sprint Nextel where these services are marketed under the trade names of Push-To-Talk (PTT) and Direct Connect.
As discussed above, a variety of service providers now offer dispatch calls and, additionally, various technologies are utilized for providing these types of calls. Certainly, different service providers may utilize different technologies and some service providers may even utilize different technologies in their own network for providing these types of calls to their subscribers. As can be understood, there is a need to be able to communicate across these different technologies when any particular calling party utilizing one technology desires to communicate with a called party utilizing a different technology in a dispatch call. Whereas these different technologies are generally interoperable, not all of the functional features associated with a communications device operating on one technology are available on a communications device operating on a different technology. This can present problems when these two communications devices are communicating with each other in a dispatch call and one communications device desires to use a functionality that is not available to the other communications device. Even in this circumstance where a communications device does not have the subject functionality, and thus cannot use the functionality, the use of the functionality by the other communications device may impact the communications device that does not have this functionality.
For example, in Sprint Nextel's communications network for dispatch calls, one subscriber may be utilizing the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) technology, as provided by Motorola, and another subscriber may have been migrated from the iDEN technology to a new 3G technology, e.g., a code division multiple access (CDMA) technology known as QChat and as provided by Qualcomm. Whereas these two different technologies are interoperable with each other, the QChat user may have functionalities available to his/her communications device that are not available to the iDEN user. This can present problems when the two subscribers are involved in a dispatch call with each other.
When the iDEN user is communicating with the QChat user in a dispatch call, either in a one-to-one call or a group call with other parties, the QChat user has the ability to select an "add member" functionality on their handset. This functionality enables the QChat user to add another QChat user or another add member Push-to-Talk capable user, e.g., Push-to-Talk over cellular user, to the dispatch call. However, the iDEN technology does not support this add member functionality. Therefore, during a dispatch call between the QChat user and the iDEN user where the QChat user has used the add member functionality to add another party to the call, the iDEN user will not be informed of the newly added call participant. This results in an unusual, and undesirable, calling experience for the iDEN user as it may result in the iDEN user hearing audio from the newly added call participant, but yet not receive any indication on their communications device to alert the iDEN user that the new participant has been added to the call, or it may result in the dispatch call being terminated immediately. This lack of identification is in contrast to the identification that any other QChat user who may be present on the call would receive when a new participant is added. The add member functionality of the QChat technology provides an indication to all QChat participants in the call that a new call participant has been added to the call. The add member functionality displays the newly added participant's talker ID on the communications devices of the QChat participants.
In addition to this situation providing a potentially undesirable user experience for the iDEN user, it may also present problems if the iDEN user is under surveillance by law enforcement officials, for example, under the provisions of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). In this circumstance, because the iDEN user, and thus the iDEN network, is not informed of who the newly added participants to the call are, the IDEN network may not be able to identify who the iDEN user may be talking to in the call for CALEA monitoring purposes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved system and method for operating a user functionality in a mobile communications device, particularly where the functionality is available to one participant in a communication and not available to another participant.

System and method for operating a user functionality in a mobile communications device


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating in-store or near-store ordering and payment of goods and/or services through a single tap of a near field communication (NFC) device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system can include a smart poster locatable in an area that is accessible to a potential consumer of goods or services. The system can further include a mechanism in or on the smart poster for directing the NFC enabled device to access a portion of a merchant ordering and payment system specific to the good or service advertised by the smart poster. The system can further include a wallet application residing on the NFC enabled device that upon interfacing with the smart poster downloads, submits, and pays for an order of the good or service advertised by the smart poster via the single NFC tap.

Wireless smart devices, such as near field communication (NFC) enabled devices, are becoming more prevalent in society for replacing conventional magnetic stripe cards. One advantage of NFC enabled devices over conventional magnetic stripe cards is that NFC enabled devices are often integrated within other devices, such as mobile telephones, that have additional hardware and software that may facilitate the obtaining of product information or the making of a purchase transaction. For example, NFC enabled devices may be integrated within mobile telephones, including smart phones, having hardware and software capable of performing purchase and information retrieval actions in addition to saving a consumer's preferences. In contrast, conventional magnetic stripe cards only provide the track 1 and track 2 data when read by a magnetic stripe reader and are incapable of obtaining or saving additional information about a product or service or of directing a consumer to alternate purchase channels.
One particular instance in which it may be desirable to use the enhanced capabilities of an NFC enabled device is when a consumer wants to place an order and pay for the order in a single step via a single tap of the NFC enabled device. This can include using a preselected payment option stored within a wallet application of device. Currently, the ordering and payment process is a multi-step process which can be both cumbersome and time consuming. The consumer must first read the menu-options and decide which option to purchase. The consumer must then place an order at a cashier station and pay for the order using traditional payment instruments such as cash, check, or payment cards. This process is not automated and has many areas for improvement. In this example, an order may optionally be placed by selecting a single item and/or multiple items via multiple NFC taps (e.g., tapping on a smart poster would select more than one meal/item, and then the order could be placed on the NFC enabled device by selecting a payment option communicated via device to a backend merchant server).
In another example, to date, consumers do not have an easy mechanism for saving his or her preferences for further orders using traditional payment instruments. In many instances, a consumer will visit the same store and place a repeat order for goods and/or services. Each time, the consumer must repeat the multi-step ordering and payment procedures. A need exists for allowing the merchant and/or consumer to save consumer preferences for future reuse. Traditional payments instruments are not capable of saving and/or conveying order information.
In a further example, it may be desirable to use the NFC enabled device communicate a table code to the merchant back end server via a single NEC tap such that merchant may know which table or location the order should be delivered to. Currently, traditional payment instruments are not capable of specifying delivery instructions.
Accordingly, there exists a long felt need for methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating ordering and payment of goods and/or services through a single tap of a NEC enabled device, with the option of saving the consumer's preferences.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating in-store or near-store ordering and payment of goods and services through a single-tap of a near field communication (NFC) device


In a having a plurality of levels, each level has at least one information node; a number of information nodes of a lower k+1-th level are assigned to an information node of a k-th level configured thereabove and linked to this one information node; one information node of the lower k+1-th level is designed to inform the information node of the k-th level configured thereabove, which pieces of information the information node of the k+1-th level needs, and which pieces of information the information node of the k+1-th level is making available.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network and to a method for exchanging information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication systems in motor vehicles typically include a plurality of different bus systems, such as CAN, LIN or FlexRay, for example. The communication systems are used for exchanging a multiplicity of brief pieces of information, which, depending on the resolution, are mostly smaller than 8 bytes, cyclically or in an event-controlled manner among connected control units. These pieces of information are combined by a particular control unit into brief messages. By combining individual pieces of information into messages, the bandwidth required for the transmission is reduced, since an improved ratio of metadata, respectively control data to the actual useful data is provided. The metadata are provided by a header and/or a trailer of the message. Typically, the header (head) includes information pertaining to a source address and/or target address, as well as a type of a data packet to be transmitted. Generally, a trailer (appendage) includes a checksum, as well as control and management information.
In comparison to automotive communications protocols, there is a substantial need for control data when working with the Internet Protocol (IP) in the realm of computer networks. In this case, a customary use is the transmission of large-volume data packets, which, in comparison to individual pieces of information within data packets that are transmitted in the motor vehicle, have a large proportion of useful data. These are typically files or streaming data that are transmitted using long data packets. In comparison to the useful data, the meta data here have a smaller volume, so that a favorable ratio between the meta and useful data is obtained.
When the Internet Protocol, respectively IP technology is used in the motor vehicle, an exchange of the brief pieces of information described above leads to an unfavorable utilization of the communication capacity. In comparison to an Internet transmission, the proportion of metadata within a data packet is large in the case of an IP transmission due to the system-related protocol overhead of metadata, so that an unfavorable ratio between the meta data and useful data results.


A method for splitting a product stream comprising the steps of delivering a plurality of products to an circular path, transferring a first product of the plurality of products inwardly from the circular path to a first substream, and transferring a second product of the plurality of products inwardly from the circular path to a second substream. Further provided is a device for splitting a product stream comprising a support rotatable about a central axis, the support having an outer circumference and an inner circumference; and at least one transfer device attached to the support for receiving products of the product stream, the transfer device having a first position for receiving a first product of the products at the outer circumference and a second position for delivering the first product to a substream at the inner circumference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to a device and method for splitting a stream of printed products.
2. Background Information
Web printing presses print a continuous web of material, such as paper. The continuous web then is cut in a cutting unit so as to form book blocks. These book blocks can be sections of a newspaper, for example. In order to process the book blocks, for example to perform a trimming operation, it is often desirable to slow the product stream. This may be accomplished by splitting the product stream and then to decelerating the resultant split product streams. This often requires a large amount of floor space.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,129 describes a mechanical book clamp which can accommodate various book thicknesses. A chain drive can be used to move the clamps along a desired path.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,900 discloses an apparatus for splitting a product stream into an A stream and a B stream. The signatures are gripped by grippers, and alternating grippers rotate to split the product stream. This device requires a large amount of floor space to perform the split, and performs only an A/B split.
An object of the present invention is to provide for a device and method for splitting a printed product stream, such that the amount of floor space required for the split is reduced. An additional or alternative object of the present invention is to be able to split the printed product stream into more than two substreams.
The present invention provides a method for splitting a product stream including the steps of delivering a plurality of products to a circular path, transferring a first product of the plurality of products inwardly from the circular path to a first substream, and transferring a second product of the plurality of products inwardly from the circular path to a second substream.
By using the circular path and inward transferring, the splitting can be accomplished in a vary small amount of floor space, i.e. with a small footprint.
A single transfer device may perform both the transferring of the first product and the transferring of the second product. The method also may further comprise transferring a third product of the plurality of products inwardly from the circular path to a third substream and transferring a fourth product inwardly from the circular path to a fourth substream. The first substream, the second substream, the third substream and the fourth substream then may be located in a circular arrangement ninety degrees apart. In such an arrangement, the first product may be received by a transfer device attached to a support and delivered to the first substream after a ninety degree rotation of the support. The transfer device preferably rotates 180 degrees during the ninety degree rotation of the support.
The first and second substreams preferably move downwardly, which permits for a minimum of floor space use.
The present invention also provides a device for splitting a product stream comprising a support rotatable about a central axis, the support having an outer circumference and an inner circumference, and at least one transfer device attached to the support for receiving products of the product stream. The transfer device has a first position for receiving a first product of the products at the outer circumference and a second position for delivering the first product to a substream at the inner circumference.
The at least one transfer device preferably includes four transfer devices. The support may include a hub and four arms extending from the hub. A first of the at least one transfer device preferably is located at an end of one of the four arms, the end being located away from the hub. The support also may include a hub and eight arms. In the second position the transfer device is capable of receiving a second product of the products at the outer circumference.

Device and method for splitting a printed product stream


A portable camera including a housing including a pair of apertures formed on a front surface and a rear surface, an imaging unit including a pair of lens units exposed through the pair of apertures and mounted inside the housing, and a main board controlling the imaging unit. The imaging unit includes a pair of camera modules respectively facing directions of the front surface and the rear surface of the housing, a camera bracket between the pair of camera modules, and a pair of adhesive tapes between the camera modules and the camera bracket. The portable camera may provide a 360-degree panorama image without having to move the camera, and the portable camera may also may minimize any distortion occurring in the panorama image in accordance with the rotation speed of the portable camera, when capturing (or taking) the panorama image by moving and turning the camera.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable camera that is capable of performing 360-degree capturing (or imaging).
Discussion of the Related Art
A general camera is equipped with a camera module that faces one side, and, in order to capture another side, the direction of the camera is required to be changed. Although mobile user equipment (or terminals) equipped with a camera module on each of its front surface and its rear surface are being introduced, each camera module is independently controlled and is not inter-connected to one another.
The related art camera is disadvantageous in that it requires an operation of turning the direction of the camera in order to capture a 360-degree image, and, in this case, if the rotation speed is not consistent or if the camera is shaken along a vertical direction, the image may become distorted.


A transmitter includes a transformer that is configured to transform a baseband signal into an amplitude information signal and a phase information signal. The transmitter includes a ramping control unit configured to generate a power control signal. The transmitter includes a mixer that is configured to combine the amplitude information signal with the power control signal and produce a second amplitude information signal. The transmitter includes a modulator that is configured to modulate the second amplitude information signal on the phase information signal and produce an output signal.

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 059 985.8, filed on Dec. 13, 2004.
Transmitters are used for the transmission of information via wireless or wire line data traffic channels. To transmit information from different users through a single data channel, communication methods such as Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) can be used. Another method that allows for different information to be transmitted in different time slots is Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) which is used in European telecommunication standards such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).
The power level of an output signal produced by a transmitter working in a TDMA system has to be ramped up or down according to a well defined ramping profile. In a GSM communication system, this profile is defined as a time dependent sequence of power level values such as described in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification TS 45.005. This standard also defines the allowed spectral densities of the output signal.
Another standard that is based on the GSM standard and that uses TDMA is the Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) standard. To transmit using standards such as EDGE, transmitter modulation units must modulate an output signal according to an 8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme. The modulation of the output signal is a phase and amplitude binary coding of the transmitted information. The use of amplitude modulation with this approach requires that the transmitter include a linear transmission chain in order to avoid distorting the output signal.
One approach that can be used to ramp the output signal of a transmitter is to use a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA). The VGA can be used to control the power level of signals such as a baseband signal or a high frequency signal modulated on a carrier frequency.
Another approach that can be used to control the power level of the output signal of a transmitter is a Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA). With the PGA, a digital control word is set in order to adjust the gain of the PGA. The architecture of the transmitter for the PGA must be designed to allow for a continuous ramping of the power level of the output signal between a zero value and a target value in accordance with the standard being used.
In architectures that use a VGA or PGA, an output stage is used to convert a signal to a desired output power level before the signal is inserted into the transmission channel (e.g. by using an antenna). To achieve different output power levels, any amplification produced by elements within the transmitter signal path must be compensated by the VGA and/or the PGA. To provide this compensation, the amplifiers must be designed to have large dynamic ranges. For example, with GSM EDGE, the dynamic range has to be more than 40 dB in the high transmission band. With a VGA, this large dynamic range in combination with the spectral density and low noise requirements for the output signal results in high current consumption for the transmitter.

Method and apparatus for controlling a transmitter


A pipe joining construction includes a tube, two or more extensions extended from the tube, a tube member coupled to each of the extensions so as to form a joint portion, an insert disposed in each of the tube members and the extensions and having an envelope and a foamable material disposed in the envelope, a covering having an outer layer wrapped around the joint portion and a foamable material disposed between the outer layer and the joint portion. When foamed, the foamable materials apply forces against the tube members and the extensions so as to solidly couple them together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pipe joining construction, and more particularly to a pipe joining construction of a bicycle frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical pipe joining construction of a bicycle frame is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,800 to Hashimoto et al., filed Apr. 26, 1988; in this patent, the covering body is made from SMC which includes plastic and chopped fibers. Obviously, the SMC is simply adhered to the lug and the pipe and applies no force against the lug and the pipe. In addition, the fibers should be chopped such that the fibers are not continuous and such that the strength of the fibers is thus greatly decreased.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional pipe joining constructions.

Pipe joining construction of a bicycle frame

No. 3, Yu San Rd., Yu Shih Industrial District, Ta Chia Chen


A processor system and computer-implemented method are provided for assigning view numbers to display elements of an autostereoscopic display for use in interleaving image data of different viewpoints of a scene on the basis of said assigned view numbers. The assignment is performed in an efficient yet accurate manner and may be easily adapted to different optical designs of such autostereoscopic displays, for example, in terms of pitch and/or slant of the optical elements used in such autostereoscopic displays, or to different sub-pixel layouts of the display panel.

Increasingly, display devices such as televisions, digital photo frames, tablets and smartphones comprise 3D displays to provide a user with a perception of depth when viewing content on such a device, for example for in home or portable entertainment, medical imaging or computer-aided design (CAD). For that purpose, such 3D display devices may, either by themselves or together with glasses worn by the user, provide the user with different images in each eye to provide the user with a perception of depth based on stereoscopy, i.e., a stereoscopic perception of depth.
3D display devices typically use content which contains depth information in order to establish the content on screen as having a degree of depth. The depth information may be provided implicitly in the content. For example, in the case of so-termed stereoscopic content, the depth information is provided by the differences between a left and a right image signal of the stereo content. Together, the left and right image signal thus constitute a stereoscopic 3D image signal. The depth information may also be provided explicitly in the content. For example, in content encoded in the so-termed image+depth format, the depth information is provided by a 2D depth signal comprising depth values which are indicative of distances that objects within the 2D image signal have towards a camera or viewer. Instead of depth values, also disparity values may be used, e.g., the 2D depth signal may be a 2D disparity signal, or in general, a 2D depth-related signal. Techniques are known to generate a 2D depth-related signal from a stereo 3D image signal, e.g., for view synthesis for autostereoscopic displays. In general, the data representing content containing depth information is in the following also simply referred to as '3D image data'.
Autostereoscopic displays provide stereoscopic perception of depth without needing the viewer to wear polarized, color-filter-based or shutter-based glasses. For that purpose, optical components are used, such as lenticular lens arrays (or more general lenticular or barrier means), which enable the display to emit a viewing cone from each given point on the 3D display, the viewing cone comprising at least a left view and a right view of a scene. This enables the viewer to see a different image with each eye when positioned accordingly within the viewing cone. Certain types of autostereoscopic displays, sometimes specifically referred to as 'automultiscopic' displays, provide a series of views of a scene represented by the 3D image data to a viewer in what is typically referred to as a viewing cone. This allows the viewer to assume multiple positions in the viewing cone, e.g., to experience experiencing motion parallax while still obtaining a stereoscopic perception of the scene. Some displays may emit such series of views in each of a series of repeated viewing cones.
Examples of such autostereoscopic displays are described in a paper by C. van Berkel et al. entitled "Multiview 3D—LCD" published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2653, 1996, pages 32 to 39 and in GB-A-2196166. In these examples the autostereoscopic display comprises a matrix LC (liquid crystal) display panel which has rows and columns of pixels (display elements) and which acts as a spatial light modulator to modulate light from a light source. The display panel may be of the kind used in other display applications, for example computer display screens for presenting display information in two-dimensional form. A lenticular sheet, for example in the form of a molded or machined sheet of polymer material, may overlay the output side of the display panel with its lenticular elements, comprising (semi) cylindrical lens elements, extending in the column direction with each lenticular element being associated with a respective group of two, or more, adjacent columns of display elements and extending in a plane that runs parallel with the display element columns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,424 also describes an example of an autostereoscopic display with an array of parallel lenticular elements overlying the display, in which the lenticular elements are slanted with respect to the display pixel columns. It is said that the reduction in display resolution experienced in such apparatus, particularly in the case of a multi-view type display, is shared between both horizontal and vertical resolution.
To display content on an autostereoscopic display having an array of lenticular elements, an output image may be generated by the autostereoscopic display or a device connected thereto on the basis of the 3D image data. This may involve a 'interleaving', 'weaving' or 'interdigitation' step in which it is determined for each display element of the display which image data from which view is to be displayed by the display element, with the output image then being generated by selecting the image data from the corresponding view for display by the respective display element. Here, the term 'display element' may include pixels but also sub-pixels. Such 'interleaving', 'weaving' or 'interdigitation' is in the following simply referred to as 'interleaving'.
For example, the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,424 describes that the individually operable display elements of the display are driven in an appropriate manner such that a narrow slice of a 2D image is displayed by selected display elements under an associated lenticule. The display produced by the panel comprises six interleaved 2D sub-images constituted by the outputs from respective display elements. Each lenticule 16 provides six output beams from the associated underlying display elements with view-numbers 1 to 6 respectively whose optical axes are in mutually different directions and angularly spread around the longitudinal axis of the lenticule.
In general, such interleaving is also known from other publications, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 7,616,227 which describes a system and method for interdigitating multiple perspective views in a stereoscopic image viewing system, and from U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,886, which describes a method and apparatus for optimizing viewing distance for a stereogram system in which optimum pitch values are stored in a table for specified viewing distances and an interdigitation program then acts on the table values and creates a mapping of interdigitated views for each viewing distance.
WO 2015/091014 describes characterizing a lenticular lens sheet using a pitch and slant, and to determine a phase for the discrete positions of display elements with respect to the periodic lenticular lens based on the pitch and slant.

Assigning new numbers to display elements of an autostereoscopic display


A gas leakage monitoring method and system capable of ensuring safety of a gas utilization facility by visualizing invisible-to-naked-eye leakage gas and/or flame of leakage gas into the form of an image. The gas leakage monitoring method comprises the steps of collecting a detected light of a particular wavelength, which is caused by leakage gas and/or a flame of the leakage gas, in a space to be monitored, converting the detected light into an electronic image, amplifying and then converting the electronic image into an optical image again, and imaging the spatial intensity distribution of the particular wavelength light. The gas leakage monitoring system comprises first means for collecting a detected light of a particular wavelength, which is caused by leakage gas and/or a flame of the leakage gas, in a space to be monitored, second means for converting the detected light into an electronic image, and amplifying and then converting the electronic image into an optical image again, and third means for imaging the spatial intensity distribution of the particular wavelength light.

Hitherto, leakage gas has been detected by bringing sucked gas into direct contact with a sensor portion and measuring gas concentration based on a change in value of electrical resistance or current. However, such a known gas detector is of the sensor type that an area capable of being monitored by one detector is narrow and leakage gas cannot be detected unless the gas reaches the detector. Accordingly, there has been a risk that, in the event of a gas leakage, an alarm error may occur depending on the direction of wind and the position where the detector is installed. Another problem is that, in a gas refinery or the like, a very large number of gas detectors must be installed and a substantial cost is required (see Patent Reference 1).
On the other hand, to solve the above-mentioned problem, a gas visualizing device for remotely monitoring the presence of a gas leakage has been proposed. Such a gas visualizing device employs a laser beam source for irradiating an infrared laser beam having the same wavelength as the absorption wavelength of gas to be measured, and the absorption of an infrared ray, which is reflected from the background, is imaged using an image sensor to be displayed in the form of a two-dimensional visible image.
However, that known gas visualizing device requires a very large-sized and high-power laser beam source and therefore has a serious problem in point of cost. Another problem is that the displayed two-dimensional image is greatly affected by weather conditions and temperatures, and a difficulty arises in discriminating the occurrence of a gas leakage from shinning of sunlight. For those reasons, the known gas visualizing device has not been suitable for monitoring a gas leakage in practical fields (see Patent Reference 2).
Further, in the case of hydrogen gas, in spite of being an energy medium with a high risk in such a point as causing explosion if ignited, the hydrogen gas is tasteless, colorless, and odorless. In addition, even if ignited, a flame of hydrogen gas is substantially transparent and invisible to the naked eye under sunlight. Meanwhile, several publications disclose detection techniques of selecting ultraviolet light generated upon the occurrence of corona discharge by an interference filter, collecting an ultraviolet ray having passed through the interference filter, and visualizing the collected ultraviolet ray in the form of a visible image using an ultraviolet image tube or a TV camera (see Patent References 3 and 4).
Patent Reference 1Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-307967Patent Reference 2Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-288858Patent Reference 3Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-40874Patent Reference 4Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. 61-174680

Gas leakage monitoring method and its system