Embodiments provide an electrode material for a lithium ion battery capable of decreasing a metal elution amount even when an electrode active material having a large specific surface area is used as the electrode material and capable of obtaining a lithium ion battery in which a decrease in a capacity caused by storage at a high temperature in a fully charged state is suppressed and a lithium ion battery. The electrode material for a lithium ion battery includes electrode active material particles and a carbonaceous film that coats surfaces of the electrode active material particles, in which a tap density is 0.95 g/cm3 or more and 1.6 g/cm3 or less, and a volume ratio of micro pores to a total volume that is evaluated from nitrogen adsorption measurement is 1.5% or more and 2.5% or less.

Lithium ion batteries have a higher energy density and a higher power density than lead batteries and nickel-hydrogen batteries and are used in a variety of uses such as small-sized electronic devices such as smartphones, domestic backup power supply, and electric tools. In addition, attempts are underway to put high-capacity lithium ion batteries into practical use for recyclable energy storage such as photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation.
Lithium ion batteries include a cathode, an anode, an electrolytic solution, and a separator. As an electrode material that constitutes the cathode, electrode active materials made of a lithium-containing metal oxide having properties capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) are used, and studies are underway in order for improvement from a variety of viewpoints of an increase in the capacity of batteries, the extension of service lives, improvement of safety, cost reduction, and the like (for example, Patent Document 1).

Electrode material for lithium ion battery and lithium ion battery


The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper sliding plate and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower sliding plate. A relative sliding movement between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface distributes the deceleration of the shoe sole over a greater time period and allows the foot to feel as if it is wearing a conventional shoe that contacts a surface with reduced friction, for example, a soft forest ground. As a result, the force acting on the wearer and the momentum transfer on his or her muscles and bones are reduced.

Shoe soles should primarily meet two requirements. First, they should provide good friction with the ground. Second, they should sufficiently cushion the ground reaction forces arising during a step cycle to reduce the strains on the wearer's muscles and bones. These ground reaction forces can be classified into three mutually orthogonal components, i.e., a component occurring in each of the X-direction, the Y-direction, and the Z-direction. The Z-direction designates a dimension essentially perpendicular (or vertical) to the ground surface. The Y-direction designates a dimension essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a foot and essentially horizontal relative to the ground surface. The X-direction designates a dimension essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the foot and essentially horizontal relative to the ground surface.
The largest ground reaction force component typically occurs in the Z-direction. Studies have shown that peak forces of approximately 2000 N may occur in the Z-direction during running. This value is about 2.5 to 3 times the body weight of a typical runner. Accordingly, in the past, the greatest attention was directed to the strains of the muscles and the bones caused by this force component and the many different arrangements for optimizing the cushioning properties of a shoe in the Z-direction.
Ground reaction forces, however, further include noticeable force components in the X-direction and in the Y-direction. Measurements have shown that forces of approximately 50 N in the X-direction and of approximately 250 N in the Y-direction may occur in a heel area during running. During other sports, for example lateral sports such as basketball or tennis, forces of up to 1000 N may occur in a forefoot area in the X-direction during side cuts, impact, and push off.
The aforementioned horizontal forces in the X- and Y-directions are one reason why running on an asphalt road is considered uncomfortable. When the shoe contacts the ground, its horizontal movement is essentially completely stopped within a fraction of a second. In this situation, the horizontally effective forces, i.e., the horizontal transfer of momentum, are very large. This is in contrast to running on a soft forest ground, where the deceleration is distributed over a longer time period due to the reduced friction of the ground. The high transfer of momentum can cause premature fatigue of the joints and the muscles and may, in the worst case, even be the reason for injuries.
Further, many runners contact the ground with the heel first. If viewed from the side, the longitudinal axis of the foot is slightly inclined with respect to the ground surface (i.e., dorsal flexion occurs). As a result, a torque, which cannot be sufficiently cushioned by compression of a sole material in the Z-direction alone, is exerted on the foot during first ground contact. This problem becomes worse when the runner runs on a downhill path, since the angle between the shoe sole and the ground increases in such a situation.
In addition, road surfaces are typically cambered for better water drainage. This leads to a further angle between the sole surface and the ground plane. Additional loads, caused by a torque on the joints and the muscles, are, therefore, created during ground contact with the heel. With respect to this strain, the compression of the sole materials in the Z-direction alone again fails to provide sufficient cushioning. Furthermore, during trail running on soft forest ground, roots or similar bumps in the ground force the foot during ground contact into an anatomically adverse inclined orientation. This situation leads to peak loads on the joints.
There have been approaches in the field to effectively cushion loads that are not exclusively acting in the Z-direction. For example, International Publication No. WO98/07343, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses 3D-deformation elements that allow for a shift of the overall shoe sole with respect to a ground contacting surface. This is achieved by a shearing motion of an elastic chamber, where the walls are bent to one side in parallel so that the chamber has a parallelogram-like cross-section, instead of its original rectangular cross-section, under a horizontal load.
A similar approach can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,943, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Two plates interconnected by means of a rigid linkage below the heel are shifted with respect to each other. The kinematics are similar to International Publication No. WO98/07343, i.e., the volume defined by the upper and lower plate, which is filled by a cushioning material, has an approximately rectangular cross-section in the starting configuration, but is transformed into an increasingly thin parallelogram under increasing deformation.
One disadvantage of such constructions is that cushioning is only possible along a single path, as predetermined by the mechanical elements. For example, the heel unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,943 allows only a deflection in the Y-direction, which is simultaneously coupled to a certain deflection in the Z-direction. With respect to forces acting in the X-direction, the sole is substantially rigid. Another disadvantage of such constructions is that the horizontal cushioning is not decoupled from the cushioning in the Z-direction. Modifications of the material or design parameters for the Z-direction can have side effects on the horizontal directions and vice versa. Accordingly, the complex multi-dimensional loads occurring during the first ground contact with the heel, in particular in the above discussed situations with inclined road surfaces, cannot be sufficiently controlled.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,810, the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses dividing the overall sole of a shoe into two wedge-like halves which are shifted with respect to each other, wherein the movement is limited to the X-direction by means of corresponding ribs. Cushioning for ground reaction forces acting in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the Y-direction) of the shoe is not disclosed. In particular, the system does not provide any cushioning during ground contact with the heel.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cushioning element for a shoe sole that reduces loads on the muscles and the bones caused by multi-dimensional ground reaction forces, in particular during the first ground contact with the heel, thereby overcoming the above discussed disadvantages of the prior art.


A line sensor and image input section input a color image in a reading area containing an original, an original extracting section extracts an area of the original from the input image, a normalization section normalizes an image of the extracted original area to an image of preset size, an image averaging section converts the normalized image into an averaged image, and a brightness-hue-chroma converting section converts the averaged image in Vcd images used as color perception amounts of a human being. A pattern matching section collates the Vcd image with dictionary data in a dictionary data storing section to determine whether or not the original is a specified type of original such as a bill, and an image output controlling section determines whether or not image data output from the color image input section is to be output to the exterior based on the result of identification.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image input apparatus for inputting a color image on an original in a digital color copying machine, and more particularly to an image input apparatus having a function of automatically detecting the presence or absence of a specified original and controlling the output format or manner of the input image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as the digital color copying machine is more widely used and the image quality thereof is further enhanced, the possibility that crimes of forging bills, stocks or bonds are committed becomes higher.
Therefore, as a means for preventing the above crimes, a copying machine is developed which extracts a specified pattern based on an output of image input means such as a line sensor for inputting a color image on an original, detects the presence or absence of a bill or the like in the original by deriving the matching degree between the extracted specified pattern and a preset reference pattern and inhibits or interrupts the copying operation when the presence of the bill or the like is detected.
As a method for detecting a specified object from unspecified objects with high precision by use of a color image, for example, a method disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 275,441, filed on Jul. 15, 1994 is proposed. This method is to detect a bill or the like by forming a histogram or a frequency distribution pattern based on the color image and comparing the distribution pattern with a reference pattern.
However, in the conventional specified original identifying method, for example, the identifying method for comparing the frequency distribution of the color image with reference data, even a different pattern may sometimes have the same frequency distribution, and in this case, the identification operation will be erroneously effected. Further, storing means not only for the image pattern but also for frequency distribution data is necessary, causing the structure of the apparatus to be made larger.

Color image input apparatus having color image identifying function


A novel and simple method is proposed for preventing coloration of an organosilicon compound at an elevated temperature or under irradiation with light. The method comprises admixing the organosilicon compound with a specific aromatic adjuvant compound represented by the general formula ##STR1## in which each R is, independently from the other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group and X and Y are each, independently from the others, a divalent group or atom selected from the class consisting of --NH--, --S-- and --O--.

The present invention relates to a method for preventing coloration of an organosilicon compound or, more particularly, to a method for preventing coloration of an organosilicon compound even at an elevated temperature or under intense light so that the organosilicon compound thus prevented from coloration is useful as an additive to or as a treatment agent of a white or colorless material such as fillers, fibers, resins and the like.
It is a trend in recent years that organosilicon compounds such as organosilanes and organopolysiloxanes are modified by introducing various kinds of functional groups into the molecular structure so as to impart the compound with improved compatibility or reactivity with various kinds of fillers, fibers, resins and the like for which the organosilicon compound is an additive or a treatment agent. When the organosilicon compound is an organopolysiloxane, it has a structure represented, for example, by the general formula EQU Q--(--SiMe.sub.2 --O--).sub.m --(--SiMeQ--O--).sub.n --SiMe.sub.2 --Q,
in which Me is a methyl group, each Q is, independently from the others, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a functional organic group such as alkoxy, acyloxy, (meth)acryloxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, glycidyloxyalkyl, halogenoalkyl, mercaptoalkyl, amidoalkyl and polyoxyalkylene-containing alkyl groups, at least one of the groups denoted by Q being such a functional organic group, and the subscripts m and n are each zero or a positive integer with the proviso that m+n is not zero. When the organosilane compound is an organosilane, it is represented by the general formula EQU R.sup.1.sub.3-p R.sup.2 SiMe.sub.p,
in which R.sup.1 is a hydrolyzable group such as alkoxy, acyloxy and amino groups, R.sup.2 is an organic group including alkyl, alkenyl, (meth)acryloxy, amino, amido, urea, epoxy, amino hydrochloride, halogenoalkyl, mercapto and polyoxyalkylene groups and p is 0, 1 or 2.
One of the problems in the use of these functional organosilicon compounds is that the compound is sometimes colored due to the content of a small amount of coloring impurities entering the compound in the course of the synthetic preparation of the compound or as a result of the reaction taking place in the modifying functional groups at an elevated temperature or under exposure to intense light. Once the organosilicon compound is colored, it follows that the material admixed or treated with such a colored organosilicon compound is also colored resulting in a great decrease in the commercial value of the product. Nevertheless, no very effective method is known for preventing coloration of an organosilicon compound.
This problem is particularly serious when the functional group is an aminoalkyl group, which is optionally in the form of a salt with an inorganic halogen-containing acid, or a methacryloxyalkyl group since these groups are liable to be decomposed under the influences of heat and light. In this regard, coloration of an organosilicon compound may be caused when the compound is synthesized in a process in which an amino compound or a hydrochloride is involved as an auxiliary reactant or a product derived therefrom.

Method for preventing coloration of organosilicon compound


Devices and methods for blocking signal transmission through neural tissue. One step of a method includes placing a therapy delivery device into electrical communication with the neural tissue. The therapy delivery device includes an electrode contact having a high charge capacity material. A multi-phase direct current (DC) can be applied to the neural tissue without damaging the neural tissue. The multi-phase DC includes a cathodic DC phase and anodic DC phase that collectively produce a neural block and reduce the charge delivered by the therapy delivery device. The DC delivery can be combined with high frequency alternating current (HFAC) block to produce a system that provides effective, safe, long term block without inducing an onset response.

Many neurological diseases are characterized by undesirable neural activity resulting in severe symptoms. Such diseases include spasticity, movement disorders, and chronic pain of peripheral origin. A localized, reversible, electrical nerve conduction block would be an attractive way of addressing these conditions.
High Frequency Alternating Current (HFAC) waveforms have been shown to provide a very localized, immediate, complete, and reversible conduction block for motor and sensory nerve fibers in acute animal preparations without indications of nerve damage. However, HFAC produces a transient neural activity when turned on. This effect has been termed the "onset response." The onset response can take many seconds to diminish and cease. If an HFAC nerve block were applied to a mixed nerve, the onset response could produce a painful sensation coupled with muscle contractions. The onset response has prevented the practical use of HFAC block for spasticity control and other applications. Efforts have been made to shorten the HFAC so that it generally lasts less than two seconds. These methods include the use of large HFAC amplitudes, higher frequencies (>20 kHz), and various electrode configurations. However, the initial portion of the onset response, lasting one to two seconds, is a component of HFAC block that has not been eliminated through modification of the waveform or electrode design alone.
A second form of electric nerve block can be achieved with direct currents (DC). In addition to other manipulations, slowly ramping the DC amplitude over the course of a few seconds can produce a DC block without evoking action potentials. This allows for DC nerve block without an onset response. However, application of DC waveforms results in nerve damage due probably to the creation of free radicals at the electrode-electrolyte interface after the charge injection capacity of the interface is exhausted and the voltage across the interface leaves the water-window. The water-window is the specific voltage range for each electrode-electrolyte interface that is limited by the activation energy, or applied external voltage, necessary to produce molecular oxygen and hydrogen. An advantage of a DC block is that it can be achieved without causing an onset response by gradually ramping the current amplitude. This is an effect that has not been achieved with HFAC block waveforms.
As such, a need exists for a better method of blocking neural conduction.

Therapy delivery devices and methods for non-damaging neural tissue conduction block


A map user interlace is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a first map and the initial path displayed on the first map, the initial path being from a starting location via at least one intermediate location to an end location, a deletion selector, selection of the deletion selector causing transmission of a deletion command being indicative of removal of a selected one of the locations, and a second view generated in response to the transmission of the deletion command, the second view including a second map and the modified path displayed on the second map, the modified path including all of the locations but not including the selected location.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a user interface that is transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system and to a method of interfacing with a client computer system, and more specifically to mapping technologies and technologies for finding directions.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The internet has become a useful tool for finding locations and directions on maps. Various map interfaces may offer one or more of the following features:
(i) Address Book: Registered users can store a list of commonly used street addresses, making it unnecessary to type them in again. A recently entered address can be quickly recalled by selecting one from a drop-clown list.
(ii) Live Traffic: Traffic incidents and current highway conditions can be viewed on the map.
(iii) Point of Interest Finder: Can be used to find businesses and other points of interest near the current location, with clickable icons that supply an address, a telephone number, and links for more information.
(iv) Driving Directions: Driving directions can be displayed in printable form.
Prior art map interfaces are usually relatively static and do not allow for much, if any, user interaction.

Map interface with removable path locations


An analog receiver circuit suitable for use with a flash analog-to-digital converter is described. A first stage of the receiver acts essentially as a voltage follower, receiving the centertap voltage of a flash A/D converter resistor ladder, and maintaining an internal reference voltage substantially equal to the centertap voltage over time. A second stage of the analog receiver acts as centering means, receiving an analog signal and centering it with respect to the internal reference voltage provided by the first stage. The receiver is thus able to provide an analog signal to the flash A/D converter which is dynamically centered with respect to the converter's operating voltage, thereby reducing DC offset. Moreover, introducing the analog signal at the second stage minimizes the bandwidth-limiting elements between this input signal and the DC-centered output signal. Thus DC offset is further reduced and operating frequencies of 500 MTz or greater are possible.

The present invention relates generally to an analog receiver circuit for providing a DC-centered analog signal to a flash A/D converter. More particularly, the invention relates to an analog receiver circuit for receiving a time-varying read signal from a disk drive, and for dynamically centering the read signal with respect to the DC operating point of a flash A/D converter.
"Flash" A/D converters are well-known in the art and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,555 issued to Hoeft, which contains additional references on the subject. Flash A/D converters are typically VLSI circuits able to perform rapid, high resolution analog to digital conversions via a simultaneous or "parallel" processing architecture.
A flash A/D converter usually includes an array of comparators and their associated drivers, a resistor ladder with a current source, and an encoder. The comparators simultaneously receive an analog signal input to the converter. Additionally, each comparator is provided with a unique reference voltage from the resistor ladder corresponding to one of N possible converter output states. The outputs of the comparators are coupled to the encoder inputs, and the encoder outputs in turn provide the flash A/D converter output.
The converter design just described is sometimes called a "full flash" A/D converter because all bits are processed simultaneously for one analog input sample. Consequently, this design requires a large number of comparators on a single chip. Alternate designs have been developed to reduce the circuit size by breaking down the processing into cycles. A half-flash A/D converter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,715 to Chin which performs two processing cycles for every analog input sample, using a lower resolution flash A/D converter. In a first cycle the converter processes the higher-order bits, and in the second cycle it processes the lower-order bits. A pipelined A/D converter such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,657 to Hwang et al. uses several processing stages to perform one conversion, each stage comprising a low-resolution flash A/D converter. The disadvantage of these alternate designs is their reduced operating speed.
An n-bit resolution full-flash A/D converter generally includes (2.sup.n -1) comparators corresponding to each possible state of an n-bit output (except zero). The resistor ladder has (2.sup.n -1) taps for providing (2.sup.n -1) unique reference voltages. The encoder has (2.sup.n -1) inputs, coupled respectively to the comparator outputs. Each encoder input corresponds to a unique state of the n-bit output (except zero). Thus the output of the converter will be determined by a high state on one of the comparator outputs (or zero if no input is turned "on").
During operation, an input analog signal is provided to each comparator and is simultaneously compared to each of the (2.sup.n -1) reference voltages, and will cause all the comparators having a reference voltage below or equal to the analog voltage to turn "on". The active comparators are detected by the encoder, which selects an appropriate corresponding output state.
The DC reference voltages of the resistor ladder become smaller as the resolution of the converter increases. This constraint is imposed by the voltage swing of an analog signal, which is generally 2 V or less. The higher the resolution, the smaller the increments into which this voltage range must be divided to represent the number of possible output states.
To perform accurate conversions it is therefore necessary to assure that the flash A/D converter receives an analog signal which is centered with respect to the converter's operating point voltage, which is available at the centertap of the resistor ladder.
In previous designs, the analog signal has been provided to the flash A/D converter by an amplifying receiver. The analog signal is provided to an amplifying circuit such as an operational amplifier. The op amp, in turn, produces an amplified analog signal which is centered with respect to the operating point voltage of the flash A/D converter. DC-centering is achieved by using a current mirroring configuration within the op amp. The converter's operating point voltage is provided via the centertap to the current mirroring circuit. The current mirroring circuit then "mirrors" the centertap voltage internally, thereby establishing the amplifier's own operating point.
A disadvantage of the previous designs is the substantial bandwidth limiting introduced by the amplifying circuit. Since the analog signal is both amplified and DC-centered in one stage, the signal passes through a number of bandwidth-limiting circuit elements before it reaches the converter. Consequently, the system response time of the receiver is reduced, rendering the design impractical in systems which operate at frequencies of 500 MHz and greater.
Other disadvantages of the previous designs relate to DC offsets. As previously discussed, the amplifying circuit is designed to receive the centertap voltage of the flash A/D converter, and to replicate this voltage internally. In theory, the elements of the current-mirroring circuit are identically matched to provide an amplifier operating point exactly equal to that of the converter. But in practice, precise matching is difficult to achieve because of technology limitations. Thus each element of the receiver may introduce a slight DC offset to the analog signal passing through. By the time the signal reaches the converter, its DC offset may be quite large. Such a design is unsatisfactory for converters having low offset requirements. Furthermore, the operational amplifier used in previous designs must provide high gain to minimize offset. A high gain amplifier design is more complex than low gain designs.
Yet another limitation of past designs arises when the centertap reference voltage drifts over time. The current mirror response to such changes tends to be slow, causing a significant offset in the analog signal provided to the converter input until the receiver stabilizes.
Finally, past designs have the disadvantage of poor noise immunity. Present signal-processing chips often comprise a combination of analog and digital components. The digital elements tend to inject a large amount of noise into the system. The amplifying receiver described further degrades the signal to noise ratio, and adversely affects the system error rate.
An attempt has been made to improve the system response time of previous designs by providing both positive and negative voltage sources to the op amp rather than using a single 5 V supply. This modification, however, leads to other problems of high cost, poor technology reliability and complex implementation.
The rapid conversion rate of flash A/D converters is particularly valuable in a variety of applications, including digital magnetic recording channels, cellular phones and satellite communication systems.
What is needed is an analog receiver with minimal buffering introduced between the input and output analog signals, permitting operation at frequencies of 500 MHz or greater with minimal DC offset. Furthermore, the analog receiver must be able to continually track the centertap voltage of the flash A/D converter in order to maintain an operating point substantially equal to the converter's operating point, thus providing a DC-centered analog signal to the converter having minimal DC offset over time. Ideally, the DC offset should be less than 1/2 of the converter's least significant bit (LSB) reference voltage, since a greater offset can cause a false bit-reading or failure to detect a bit due to the signal displacement with respect to the converter operating voltage. The analog receiver must not degrade the signal-to-noise ratio of the system to any significant extent.

DC centering analog receiver for flash A/D converter

International Business Machines Corporation


Apparatus and method for rebuilding the internal surface of a cylindrical object, including a mandrel for supporting the object for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and a wire-fed welding torch positionable adjacent to the interior surface of the object. The welding torch is movable axially with respect to the object during the rotation thereof, so as to deposit material about the interior of the object.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for and method of rebuilding the interior of a cylindrical object by depositing material thereon.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Many types of apparatus include members having cylindrical bores or passages therethrough that are subjected to extreme wear. One such apparatus is an oilfield mud pump, which includes a stuffing box that is subject to being scored, pitted, and eroded by the action of the drilling fluids pumped therethrough. When the stuffing box becomes damaged, it is necessary either to replace it or to remanufacture it.
Presently, damaged stuffing boxes are repaired by boring out the inside diameter of the box to insure a smooth cylindrical surface, and press-fitting into the bore a machined insert that has the appropriate internal diameter.
The present method of reconditioning stuffing boxes and other members having cylindrical internal bores is not entirely satisfactory. The high-pressure fluid found within mud pumps has a tendency to squeeze between the press-fitted insert and the stuffing box, causing vortices that erode the contact surface and allow high-pressure fluid to escape.

Apparatus for rebuilding cylindrical objects


In a multimedia application where movie events are distributed on an on-demand basis, a multimedia server serves a subscriber requesting a movie event through either a high-demand process or a low-demand process. In a low demand process, a data stream representative of the movie is exclusively provided to the subscriber in accordance with a double-buffering technique. The server may switch many low-demand processes serving the same movie event into a high-demand process to effectively utilize limited resources. In the high-demand process, high-demand pointers are launched periodically and are associated with data streams representative of the movie event having different start times. Each data stream associated with a high-demand pointer may be shared by an unlimited number of subscribers. Service alterations of the movie including fast-forwarding, rewinding, and restarting after a pause are achieved by way pointer-hopping.

The explosion of digital technology has sparked rapid growth in multimedia applications merging audio, video and text information. One such application, which is fervently pursued by the cable television industry, involves distribution of cable services such as movies on an on-demand basis.
Currently, the most common service for providing on-demand movies to subscribers is known as the "pay-per-view" service. In accordance with this service, a cable television provider repeatedly plays a movie on a specified channel throughout the day. The show times of the movie are predetermined and approximately two hours apart as a movie is normally two hours long. Based on a known schedule, subscribers may order a movie showing by way of telephone requests.
Another technique for offering on-demand movies which embraces a "nearly on-demand" concept is disclosed in: T. Gillette et al., "Method for Providing Video Programming Nearly on Demand," PCT Publication, WO 92/11713, Jul. 9, 1992. In accordance with this technique, a service provider operates multiple channels which play the same movie on a time offset basis. Through one of these channels, a subscriber is able to view the movie from its beginning at any time by waiting for a period no longer than the offset. For example, if five channels are used, the offset may be set to be 24 minutes. Thus, the wait time for the movie on average is appreciably reduced. On the other hand, the total number of channels used per movie is undesirably increased. Like the pay-per-view service, this technique requires subscribers to request by phone a movie showing.
The above two techniques both suffer a number of drawbacks. One such drawback is unduly limiting the subscribers' choice as the subscribers have to view whatever movies the service provider offers. In addition, the subscribers have to view the movies at the times specified by the service provider. As a result, the subscribers generally need to wait for some significant time before a movie starts.
Thus, the prior art services are technically lacking with respect to a "truly" on-demand multimedia service whereby a subscriber is allowed to choose from a large selection of movies and to view the selected movie instantaneously.
The current multimedia technology may rely on the latest network developments in such areas as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications and optical fiber networks to provide high speed transmission facilities. It however is deficient in the design of a multimedia server capable of delivering multimedia information to virtually any number of subscribers at any given time in an interactive manner. For example, in a truly on-demand multimedia movie service, the interactive capability should allow a subscriber to communicate his/her requests for such video cassette recorder (VCR) functions as rewinding, fast-forwarding, pausing, etc. In home shopping a subscriber should be able to enter purchase orders while the home shopping program is on. Thus, a desirable multimedia server, which has not been achieved in prior art, has to afford two-way communications to and from subscribers, and the capability of routing a wide range of application specific requests and acting on such requests promptly.
The desirable multimedia server must also be capable of handling multiple users simultaneously. For example, with the multimedia server, the service for thousands of people simultaneously accessing a feature movie should be no different from that for two people viewing the same news clip. Due to the real-time aspect of multimedia information, it is necessary to minimize delays caused by excessive service requests at any given time. The desirable multimedia server must ensure continuous and synchronized retrieval of multiple data streams at varying data rates. For example, in quality video broadcast, the video must be transmitted at thirty frames per second. Moreover, the desirable multimedia server should also allow random access to any part of a multimedia event, for example, the last quarter of a football game show which may be of particular interest.

Viewer controllable on-demand multimedia service

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A transducer converts an actuation, applied to the transducer, into a raw actuation signal. The sensor device comprises an acceleration intermediary for converting an acceleration of the transducer into an actuation which is applied to the transducer, an underlying surface state detector for generating an underlying surface state signal by evaluating the raw actuation signal and an actuation signal generator for generating the actuation signal, processed in dependence on an underlying surface state, by evaluating the raw actuation signal taking into account the underlying surface state signal.

Described below are a sensor device for generating an actuation signal, processed in dependence on an underlying surface state, wherein the sensor device has a transducer for converting an actuation, applied to the transducer, into a raw actuation signal. The transducer can have, for example, a touch screen or a touch pad.
Also described is a vehicle which has such a sensor device. The vehicle can be, for example, an aircraft, a water craft and/or a land craft, in particular a passenger car or a truck.
In addition, a method for generating an actuation signal which is processed in dependence on an underlying surface state is described.
In the case of an operator control part (for example touch pad) in which an actuation force or an actuation movement plays a role, undesired triggering of a function can occur on a poor quality underlying surface. The cause of this is the mass inertia of the hand or finger on the operator control part and the associated undesired application of a force to the operator control part.
US2011/0084913A1 describes a method for arranging actuation symbols on a touch-sensitive display in a manner which is adapted to the situation and as a function of a movement activity which is sensed by an acceleration meter. In order to carry out the known method, a separate acceleration meter is required which increases the expenditure on manufacture and maintenance, as well as the risk of a failure, the space required in the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle.

Sensor device and method for generating actuation signals processed in dependence on an underlying surface state

Abstract: Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding vehicle and to a corresponding method for generating an actuation signal which is processed in dependence on an underlying surface state.


A pressure sensor Comprising a disk-type base part having a preferably central opening spanned at one end by a surface-type pressure transducer, a pressure receiving part having a diaphragm arranged at distance from the other end side of said opening and integrally formed with a rigid ring having the same peripheral dimensions as the disk-type base part and being connected thereto. A distance holder is provided between the diaphragm and the pressure transducer fully transmitting any deformation of the diaphragm to the pressure transducer. Such a pressure transducer may be manufactured by a simple and cost-effective procedure with the various elements formed of ceramic, sintered and combined.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pressure sensor having pressure transmission capability and a method for manufacturing such sensors.
2. Description of the Related Art
British Patent No. 1,065,192 discloses a pressure sensor comprising a pot-type metal housing in which a first chamber is formed by a diaphragm assembly comprising a solid disk of relatively small diameter surrounded by a thin metal diaphragm, the diaphragm assembly limiting the first chamber in which a pressure transducer is placed surrounded by liquid filled in the first chamber. A second diaphragm assembly is fixedly attached to an annular ring that in turn is fixedly attached to the housing by screws. Resilient 0-rings seal mating surfaces between the ring and the housing. The second diaphragm assembly comprises a solid disk of a diameter much larger than that of the disk of the first diaphragm assembly and is surrounded by a thin metal diaphragm member. A distance stud connects the large disk with the small disk for direct force transmission. This known pressure sensor is of complex design and difficult and expensive to be manufactured.
JP 61-88120 A in Patents Abstracts of Japan P-495, Sep. 9, 1986 Vol. 10/No. 264 discloses a pressure transducer comprising an annular supporting body having a thin diaphragm rigidly fixed to one end surface. A pressure transmitting rod is fitted to the opposite side of the pressure receiving surface. The diaphragm, the supporting body, and the transmission rod are made of ceramics and are joined and adhered with powder glass. One end of a cantilever including a strain gauge is adhered to the supporting body with glass and the free end is contacted with the rod without being fixed. The cantilever constitutes a strain gauge by selectively diffusing impurity into a single crystal silicone substrate. By such a design the strain gauge is protected against contamination due to a medium the pressure of which is to be detected. No pressure transmission capability is disclosed.
French Patent No. 1,447,317 discloses a pressure sensor comprising a metal block provided with an inlet for pressurized fluid, an outer peripheral surface of said block being provided with a threading for having screwed thereon an annular ring spanned by a first diaphragm of large diameter. A second metal ring is in turn screwed to the first metal ring and is spanned by a second diaphragm provided with a resistor bridge. A force transmission stud extends between the two diaphragms for direct force transmission therebetween. The threaded connections are subject to leakage; furthermore, it is extremely difficult to exactly adjust the distance between the two diaphragms and bridge said force transmission rod. A similar sensor has been disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0 145 146.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,271 discloses pressure sensors made of ceramic material by successively placing a plurality of ceramic layers on top of each other followed by sintering this combination to an integral body, one of the layers forming a diaphragm.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,797 discloses a strain gauge transducer comprising an annular housing spanned by a strip supporting a strain gauge assembly.


A digital camera accessory is provided for use with a game system having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a user to generate video game control signals. The digital camera accessory includes an image sensor for capturing video images, communication circuitry configured to transmit the captured video images, and a connector that, in use, electrically connects the digital camera accessory to the game system.

Over the years, portable (or hand-held) game systems have been (and continue to be) very popular. Typically, these portable game systems include a hand-held game system housing a processing unit and associated hardware for running a game program, and include a display for displaying images of the game. The game program itself is typically contained in a game program memory such as, for example, a semiconductor memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, etc.) that is part of a removable cartridge. By storing the game program in a removable cartridge, the user can conveniently and easily change the game being played by simply exchanging one cartridge with another, different cartridge containing a different game. Examples of portable game machines are the "Game Boy®" and "Game Boy® Color" products.
Generally, the functionality of conventional portable game systems of the type described above is directed to executing the game that is contained in the game program memory of a particular removable cartridge. It is desirable to provide accessories that expand the functionality of portable game systems.
In accordance with one example embodiment, a digital camera accessory is provided for use with a game system having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a user to generate video game control signals. The digital camera accessory includes an optical sensor for capturing video images, communication circuitry configured to transmit the captured video images, and a connector that, in use, electrically connects the digital camera accessory to the game system. The digital camera accessory may also include an audio sensor (e.g., microphone) for sensing audio. The communication circuitry may be configured to also transmit the sensed audio data, as well as to receive video and/or audio data transmitted from a remote location.
The digital camera accessory may be used, for example, to provide a "video telephone" capability. A moving video image captured by the optical sensor is transmitted by the communication circuitry to the other party to the "call." Audio captured by an audio sensor is also transmitted by the communication circuitry to the other party. A display of the game system shows a moving video image transmitted from the other party, while a speaker of the game system outputs corresponding audio.
Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Video game system and camera accessory for a video game system


A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine.

In the oil and gas industry, an engine (e.g., a diesel, gasoline, natural gas, or propane engine) is sometimes used to power a three phase generator. The generator, in turn, supplies power to a three phase induction motor used to drive a mechanical pumping apparatus. If the induction motor in such a system is operated at variable speeds, the capability of the pumping system is greatly expanded. However, prior approaches to providing variable speed operation of the pump in such pumping systems have not been entirely satisfactory. In one previously used approach to operating a pump at variable speed in an engine driven pumping system, variable frequency and voltage power is delivered to a three phase motor driving the pump. Typically, in a system using a generator as the source of electrical power, an electronic variable speed drive (a.k.a., a variable frequency drive or VFD) is interposed between the generator and the induction motor to provide variable voltages and frequencies to the motor. There are many potential disadvantages to using a variable speed drive, including voltage harmonics generated on the motor leads that can damage the motor, current harmonics generated at the input of the VFD that can cause problems for the generator, the complexity in VFD design and/or the need for an expensive output transformer when higher voltages are used (most often when motor leads are very long).
To eliminate the need for a variable speed drive, some prior approaches employ a variable frequency power system that varies the speed and excitation of a three phase generator to produce a desired output frequency and voltage in an attempt to achieve the desired operation of the three phase motor in the pump. U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,262, to Pettigrew discloses a variable speed drive system of this type, and discusses the operation of such a system in comparison to earlier prior systems of the type using a variable speed drive as described herein above.
Unfortunately, variable frequency power systems, of the type exemplified by Pettigrew, have significant drawbacks. For example, simply attempting to control the output of the three phase generator may not produce the desired operation of the pump. The output speed of the induction motor driving the pump will vary based on factors such as pump loading. When that occurs, the user of such a variable frequency power system will not have accurate control of the pump speed and may encounter a variety of undesirable situations. For example, the pump may operate at a lower than expected speed, resulting in lower than optimal production or the pump may operate at a higher than desired speed and experience a "pump dry" or "pump off" condition causing the pump to run without fluid to cool and lubricate it or the pump will turn off to allow the fluid to refill the casing, causing sediment to settle in the pump. These conditions will result in damage to the pump, resulting in reduced life.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the drawbacks described and, in addition, improving the state of the art in the oil and gas industry.

Induction motor torque control in a pumping system


A foot receiving member has a spring member detachably attached to the bottom surface thereof. The spring member includes a top, arched, layer and a bottom, arched, layer and a strap disposed between the two arched layers. The arched layers are attached, at their ends, to a corresponding end of the strap in such a manner that the spring member will be automatically disassembled under the influence of an extraordinary lateral force.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sporting and exercising unit comprising a foot receiving member and a spring member attached to and disposed at the bottom of the foot receiving member. More specifically, the invention relates to such a unit which comprises a novel structure for the spring member which is removably attached to the bottom of the foot receiving member
2. Description of Prior Art
Such sporting and exercising devices are known in the prior art as shown, for example, in our U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,374, Lekhtman et al, Jan. 8, 1985. However, the unit as taught in the '374 patent has some shortcomings as follows:
1. As the spring member is permanently attached to the foot receiving member, the entire assembled unit as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the patent must be carried around in its assembled form. This can be inconvenient. PA1 2. The layers 5 and 7 which form the spring member are attached to each other and to a spring rate and weight adjustment mechanism 13 by an arrangement which includes a buckle 33, a bar 35 and a circular rubber member 39. Because of the nature of the attachment assembly, the spring member does not automatically disassemble under conditions of extraordinary force and this could be dangerous. For example, if a user should tread on the edge of a sidewalk, the arrangement would bend under the user so that the user would fall and possibly sustain injuries as well as sprained or broken ankles. PA1 3. Because of the need for metallic members 13, 15 and 17 in the '374 patent, the unit is relatively heavy. PA1 4. The spring rate and weight adjustment mechanism 13 is cumbersome and heavy. PA1 A) a foot receiving member; PA1 B) a plastic spring member detachably attached to and disposed at the bottom of the foot receiving member, said spring member comprising:


An optical disk reproducing apparatus of a front loading type including an optical disk insertion assembly, which has a disk insertion port into which optical disks such as CDs and DVDs are inserted, and a disk transfer assembly which transfers the optical disks to the reproduction mechanism where the disks are reproduced. The optical disk insertion assembly and the disk transfer assembly are caused to slide forward so as to project out from the front surface of the reproducing apparatus and then caused to pivot to a position where the disk insertion port is outside the front surface of the reproducing apparatus so as to be directly observed when optical disks are inserted and removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk reproducing apparatus and an optical disk reproducing method.
2. Prior Art
In optical disk reproducing apparatuses that reproduce optical disks such as compact disks, DVDs (digital versatile disks), etc., upright type (upright disk) reproducing apparatuses have become increasingly popular as a result of demands for reduced thickness, saving of space and interior design properties. In such an upright disk reproducing apparatus, a reproduction is performed with the optical disk held so that the recorded surface of the optical disk is positioned perpendicular to the installation plane of the optical disk reproducing apparatus.
Furthermore, in such a conventional upright type disk reproducing apparatus, a disk insertion port is located typically in the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Thus, disks are inserted from directly above the apparatus main body and loaded into the reproduction position.
More specifically, an optical disk is inserted via the disk insertion port provided in the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the optical disk that has thus been inserted via the disk insertion port is supported in a disk holder. The optical disk is then transferred to the position of the turntable by a disk loading means and chucked onto the turntable.
Such upright type disk reproducing apparatuses include a wall-mounted type. In such a wall-mounted type reproducing apparatus, the recorded surface of an optical disk is set perpendicular or parallel to the wall surface.
In the meantime, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 5-189846 discloses a cassette tape recorder; and in this cassette tape recorder, a cassette cover that opens and closes is disposed on the front surface, and cassettes are inserted by rotating and opening the cassette cover toward the front using a supporting shaft as an axis of rotation.
In the upright type disk reproducing apparatus in which the disk insertion port through which optical disks are inserted is disposed in the upper surface of the apparatus main body, the disk insertion port cannot be seen if the reproducing apparatus is mounted on a wall in a high position. Accordingly, when optical disks are inserted or removed, the recorded surface of the optical disk tends to come into contact with the disk insertion port wall surfaces, causing scratches on the recorded surface. Furthermore, since the disk insertion port is located in the upper surface of the apparatus, dust can easily enters into the apparatus through the disk insertion port, causing troubles in the apparatus.
In the structure of a cassette tape recorder described above, the cassette cover is opened toward the front of the main body of a cassette tape recorder each time a cassette is inserted or removed. In other words, a cassette tape is inserted via the open space created between the opened cassette cover and the cassette tape recorder main body, and the tape slides into a position where the tape is supported by a cassette tape supporting member disposed in the back of the cassette cover. When the cassette tape is to be removed, both side surfaces of the cassette tape supported by the cassette tape supporting member are held by the thumb and index finger of the user, and the cassette tape is pulled out.
When this mechanism of the cassette tape recorder is employed in an optical disk reproducing apparatus, if the opening angle of the cover member is set to be large so that the fingers and back of the hand of the user holding the optical disk can enter into the open space when an optical disk is inserted into the optical disk supporting member or when an optical disk is removed from the optical disk supporting member, dust tends to go into the interior of the apparatus through the open space and causes mechanical and other troubles. Furthermore, when the user removes an optical disk, the user must grip the optical disk from the side of the recorded surface of the optical disk. As a result, there is a danger that the fingers may inadvertently contact the recorded surface of the optical disk, resulting in fingerprints and scratches on the recorded surface of an optical disk.

Optical disk reproducing apparatus and reproducing method


Disclosed is a method of making a free-standing polyimide film. A solution is prepared of a polyamic acid 20 to 98% imidized in an organic solvent and a coating of the solution is applied to a non-stick substrate. The coating is heated to a temperature high enough to evaporate all but 1 to 20 wt % of the solvent and form a film. The film is removed from the substrate and is heated to evaporate the solvent to less than 1000 ppm.

This invention relates to a method of making a free-standing single layer polyimide film that is approximately equally adhesive on both sides. In particular, it relates to heating a coating on a substrate of a solution of a partially imidized polyamic acid to a temperature high enough to form a film, then hard baking the free-standing film after it has been removed from the substrate.
Adhesive films are used in the electronics industry for a variety of purposes such as, for example, bonding a metal lead frame to an integrated circuit chip. Polyimides are often used to make these films because they are good insulators, are stable at high temperatures, and bond well under heat and pressure. In a current commercial manufacturing process for producing single layer adhesive polyimide films, a solution of a partially imidized polyamic acid is cast onto a low surface tension surface or a release surface and is baked at about 250.degree. C; the resulting polyimide film is peeled from the surface. However, this process results in a film whose top surface bonds better than its bottom surface. That is, after bonding films made by the current process between two identical surfaces, the surface bonded to the top of the film adheres better than the surface bonded to the bottom of the film. This is true regardless of what kind of non-stick substrate is used for casting the solution of partially imidized polyamic acid when the film is prepared. It is desirable for the bottom and top surfaces to be equally adhesive, especially if this result can be achieved by increasing the adhesiveness of the bottom surface.

Method of making free-standing polyimide film


An electromagnetic relay which is so arranged that a plate spring having a movable contact and a fixed contact plate having a fixed contact are secured to a stopper member fixed to a heel piece for the electromagnet, with a lift pin of the plate spring being adapted to contact the moving iron, so that the pressure at the contacts and the gap between the contacts as well as the lowest working voltage are readily adjusted as desired by merely transforming the stopper member. Furthermore, since the movable contact is free from positional deviation, mutual erosion or cutting between the contacts due to uneveness of the contact surfaces arising from sparks and the like has been eliminated for positive closing or opening of the contacts.

The present invention relates to a relay and more particularly, to an electromagnetic relay for use in electrical and electronic equipment.
Electromagnetic relays are commonly employed extensively in various electric and electronic appliances for energizing or deenergizing sections of electric systems of the electrical and electronic appliances under normal or abnormal conditions.
Conventionally, the electromagnetic relay of the above described kind generally includes a moving iron or movable iron piece arranged to be attracted by an electromagnet, a plate spring attached to the moving iron, and a travelling or movable contact fixed to the plate spring for selective contact with or spacing from a fixed or stationary contact.
The known electromagnet relay having a construction as described above, however, has problems related to durability of constituent members, since it is necessary, for example, to bend the plate spring or to extend or lengthen a coil spring for returning the moving iron to adjust pressure at the contacts, to adjust the gap between the contacts or to adjust the lowest working voltage for actuating said electromagnetic relay. Moreover, since there exist side play to a certain extent at a hinge portion through which the moving iron is pivotally connected to a heel piece or yoke of the electromagnetic relay, surfaces of the contacts tend to be made uneven due to sparks arising from opening and closing of the contacts, resulting in such problems as when the movable contact is undesirably stuck to the fixed contact, thus not being properly spaced from the latter during the opening of the contacts.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Deuki Seisakusho


This invention pertains to a reseal member made of a resilient material used for sealing a fluid access port. The reseal member is inserted into the fluid access port and prevents fluids from passing therethrough. The reseal member is provided with a slit or recess, or both, that allows a user to exert-minimal force to insert a blunt cannula into the reseal member to create a passage to pass fluids through the reseal member. Upon withdrawal of the blunt cannula, the reseal forms a generally fluid-tight seal so that fluids cannot pass through the reseal.

Reseal members are widely used in medical solution containers to initially seal the container and later to prevent leakage of fluid from a container during and after the insertion of a cannula or needle to create a passage so that fluids may be removed or added to the container.
Typically a reseal member includes a generally cylindrical, solid, rubber body. To add or remove fluids, the reseal member must be pierced by a sharp cannula or needle. Sharp cannulas or needles are required to penetrate the reseal member because the reseal member is thick and solid at the insertion point.
"Accidental needle stick" is a great concern with the use of this type of reseal member since a sharp cannula or needle is needed to pierce the solid, rubber body. To overcome this potential danger, sharp cannulas or needles are being replaced with blunt cannulas. However, a blunt cannula cannot be inserted into the traditional type of reseal member without application of undesirably high force, which creates other potential dangers. The present invention is intended to overcome these potential dangers as well as to present several significant advantages.


A spark detection apparatus is set forth and incorporates a closed chamber for receiving a carrier gas flowing therethrough between inlets and outlets, and the carrier gas is exposed to a pair of electrodes forming a spark across the chamber and through the carrier gas. One component of the carrier gas is argon. The sample to be analyzed is injected into the carrier gas. One reaction involves the formation of metastable argon which upon decay serves as a source of ionizing radiation which reacts with sample compounds producing detectable events. These events are used to identify and quantify unknown compounds contained in the sample. The methods and apparatus are especially useful in measuring pollutant compounds in atmospheric samples since the ionizing radiation emitted from the decay of metastable argon is below the ionization potential of the major constituents of air. This greatly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio for detecting impurity compounds when the detection system is used to monitor air quality. Air is not energized.

The present disclosure involves the quantitative analysis of gases for compounds of interest and is an extension of the apparatus and methods taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,519. More specifically, the invention is directed, although not limited, to the classification and quantification of impurities in air.
The referenced patent discloses the creation of several charged species by a pulsed direct current (DC) spark discharge acting on a carrier gas containing other compounds to be identified and quantified, where the carrier gas is typically helium. The charged species are used to classify and/or quantify the unknown compounds in the carrier. This detector is connected with upstream or downstream devices such as a sample source, gas chromatograph (GC) column, spectrum analyzer or the like. A sample to be analyzed is loaded for flow along with the carrier gas into a system chamber. While the sample passes through the detection device, a pulsed, high voltage DC spark discharges to form selected charged or energized species within the gas. The spark discharge simultaneously initiates several types of detection systems. For instance, the very short DC spark creates a readily available thermalized electron flux which can be used in a detection system. In an alternate mode of operation, the spark creates a more slowly diffused flux of metastable helium atoms which drift toward selected electrodes within the detector at a controlled rate. The helium atoms will react with molecules of the sample to surrender the excess energy from the excited state to cause sample molecule ionization which, as a secondary and delayed reaction, can be measured by a detection system. Another aspect involves photoionization of gas into positive and negative charged particles normally recombining at high speed. If a select sweep pulse voltage is applied, the recombination is prevented to furnish a signal indicative of the unknown compounds within the gas mixture. Identification and quantification of compounds of interest can, to some extent, be controlled by varying the timing of the spark, the electrode geometry, the voltages of the detector segments, and the modes of interactions observed within the plasma. A complete discussion of the apparatus and basic principles of the measurements are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,519 and are incorporated herewithin by reference.

System for identifying and quantifying selected constituents of gas samples using selective photoionization


A delta modulator automatically adjusting the slewing rate is disclosed. In the absence of a transition in the output data of a delta modulator, the current used for the integrator of the delta modulator is increased. When the comparator of the modulator indicates that the feedback signal of the modulator has overshot the input signal, the current is decreased or reversed until the two signals are approximately equal as signalled by a 50% duty cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to using improved analog to digital and digital to analog conversion techniques for digital storage of data and more particularly to using such improved analog to digital and digital to analog conversion techniques using delta modulation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During the last fifteen years, tremendous time, money and efforts have been devoted to translating analog signals into digital data. A wide variety of converters have been developed.
For example, analog to digital conversion can involve either a serial process or a parallel process. Serial conversion frequently allows for a simpler and a less costly implementation but tends to be slower than parallel conversion.
A further consideration is the amount of noise that is permitted. The more bits that are used for quantifying the analog signal, the less quantization noise that will result from the conversion and the greater the dynamic range of the system. For example, using simple pulse code modulation (PCM), 128 separate levels as represented by 7 bits are required for a dynamic of 42 dB while 131,072 separate levels or 17 bits is required for a dynamic range greater than 100 dB.
One digital to analog system that may have relatively high dynamic range and low quantization noise is a delta modulation system, which is a one bit output form of a PCM system. FIG. 1 represents the classic delta modulation system 10. An input analog signal e.sub.1 signal is fed through a comparator 12 with the output signal .epsilon. of the comparator 12 representing which of the input signal e.sub.1 and a feedback output signal e.sub.1 of an integrator 14 is greater. That output .epsilon. is modulated by a modulator 16 supplied with a periodic pulse train from a pulse generator 18. In effect, the modulator 16 samples the output .epsilon. of the comparator 12. The output of the modulator e.sub.0 is fed back for integration by an integrator 14.
The result is that the output e.sub.0 of the delta modulator 10 is a series of pulses. The pulses represent the rate of change of the signal amplitude from sampling instant to sampling instant.
A system 20 to reconstruct the original input signal e.sub.1 is shown in FIG. 2. The output e.sub.0 of the delta modulator is integrated by an integrator 22 and is then inputted to a low pass filter 24 to eliminate high frequency noise caused by the sampling or the modulation. Alternatively, a frequency limited integrator may be used.
To reduce noise in the system, a higher frequency for the pulse train can be used. Further, instead of using just one integrator in the modulator and demodulator, two integrators may be used. Details regarding different types of delta modulators may be found in a variety of textbooks, including Philip F. Panther, Modulation, Noise and Spectral Analysis (1965).
However, delta modulators have several advantages. They are relatively slow in responding to rapid, large changes in the amplitude of the input signal. Further, delta modulators lose all D.C. information contained in the original analog signal. In addition, delta modulators have limited resolution.
Delta modulators also cause quantization noise in the resultant analog output signal upon conversion back to an analog signal. Commonly, such quantization noise can be avoided by dithering.
Another example of a delta modulator that overcomes some of these problems is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,786 to Gerdes and owned by the Assignee of the instant application. This patent describes an analog circuit that presets the delta modulator to compensate for overshoot and undershoot. This patent also includes a diode current steering bridge that controls the rate of charging or discharging the signal capacitor used in the delta modulator. The rate control circuit of this prior art patent provides a maximum rate of increase in the magnitude of the integrating current instantly for large changes in magnitude through the use of presets. That instant large current change is potentially undesirable. Further, the rate control circuit is an analog circuit and lacks the ready flexibility of a digital circuit.
Therefore, it is a first object of this invention to provide a relatively simple analog to digital converter that provides high speed conversion with good resolution. It is a further object of this invention to avoid the use of dithering to remove quantization noise and to avoid the loss of DC signals. And it is a still further object of this invention to provide such a converter that is simple and that may be incorporated into one integrated circuit.

Digitally controlled adaptive slew rate delta modulator


An ion-exchange and ultrafiltration filter system having an exterior housing having an inlet and an outlet with an ultrafiltration membrane provided within the housing along a central axis about a central portion of the housing with an ion-exchange membrane provided within the housing between the ultrafiltration membrane and the housing. The ion-exchange and ultrafiltration filter system being capable of being configured so as to provide two-step filtration in a plurality of modes, either ion-exchange to ultrafiltration, or ultrafiltration to ion-exchange.

Filtration systems operate in a wide variety of applications, even when constrained to water filters. Such filters can be found anywhere from wastewater plants to nuclear power plants, and from commercial application, to hospitals. It is well understood that these systems operate in an optimal fashion when the filter elements are replaced or cleaned at very particular intervals. In particular systems ion-exchange can be performed prior to particulate removal using an ultrafiltration membrane. In yet additional systems ultrafiltration can be performed prior to the ion-exchange. It will be appreciated that these systems have been separate and distinct systems which can be large and burdensome to maintain and/or replace.

Integrated ultrafiltration membrane and ion-exchange filtration system


An improved apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media. The apparatus has at least one solid phase change ink and a solid null image element. A printing head melts the solid phase change ink to form a molten phase change ink and melts the solid null image element to form a molten null image element. The molten phase change ink and the molten null image element are deposited, in an imagewise pattern, onto a transfer surface. A cooling mechanism cools the molten phase change ink and the molten null image element in the imagewise pattern to form a malleable phase change ink and a malleable null image element in the imagewise pattern on the transfer surface. The malleable phase change ink and the malleable null image element are transfered to a media from the transfer surface in the imagewise pattern.

Many methods have been proposed for the generation of gradient images from discrete dots of ink.
Combinations of different density solvent based inks in an ink jet printing method have been shown to be a suitable approach to the generation of high gradient images from a discrete number of inks. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,727,436; 4,860,026; 5,142,374; 4,713,746; and 4,713,701 all teach variations on methods and apparatus for combining inks. Suitable gradients are available using these and other techniques. Even with suitable gradients the image quality is still unsuitable due to image dot spreading which occurs as a result of the carrier solvent, such as water or an organic, and the ink diffusing into the media. Another major disadvantage of solvent based ink jet systems is the solvent which must be absorbed by the media or evaporated after printing. Evaporation of the solvent is environmentally unsatisfactory particularly when non-aqueous solvents are employed. It has been a long standing goal of skilled artisans to decrease the amount of ink used to form an image which, in-turn, decreases the image dot spread and lowers cost.
Phase change ink printing provides some advantages over solvent based ink jet systems. Specifically, there is no solvent since the phase change ink is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at coating temperatures. One disadvantage of phase change ink printing is the inability to easily vary drop size on demand. Discrete drop sizes limit the gradient levels available with conventional phase change ink printing methods due to the lack of continuously variable ink density levels. Phase change ink printing does allow for the placement of multiple dots at a given position which increases the contrast available to some extent. When multiple dots are applied image resolution and image durability deteriorate due to the appearance of ink islands occurring as a result of the stacking of solid ink. Phase change inks and printing techniques are described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,372,852 and 5,276,468 and in European Patent Applications 0 566 259 and 0 604 025.
It would be highly advantageous to combine the dry printing capabilities of phase change ink printing with the ink combining methods of solvent based ink jet printing to achieve a superior print with high resolution and contrast. Efforts towards this goal have been thwarted and the method has been considered to be abandoned by skilled artisans due to the loss of resolution and poor image durability resulting from the ink islands.
The present invention provides a method for eliminating the problems associated with combining phase change inks of different densities. The resulting image exhibits excellent gradation without discontinuities and provides a superior method of printing.

Apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media


A method of calibrating and controlling a gauge, to which a stepper motor is applied in a cluster of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), includes: receiving information corresponding to an operation state of an electric motor from a certain controller; and controlling a gauge angle indicated by a needle of the gauge to correspond to a target gauge angle indicated by the received information. The step of controlling includes: setting a dropping flag when the target gauge angle is lower than a previous gauge angle; and calibrating the target gauge angle to drop by a reference angle when the target gauge angle corresponds to an angle value that is different from a lowest point of the gauge while setting the dropping flag.

Recently, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has been drawing attention as an eco-friendly vehicle.
In general, the HEV refers to a vehicle that uses two power sources together, which usually correspond to an engine and an electric motor. The HEV not only has excellent fuel efficiency and power performance but also is advantageous in reducing exhaust gas when compared to a vehicle that only includes an internal combustion engine, and thus, has recently been actively developed. Among HEVs, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) may be connected to a plug to charge a battery that drives an elector motor with external power.
An analog dial-type gauge (hereinafter referred to as an "eco-gauge" for convenience of description), which indicates whether the electric motor is being charged or is driving a wheel and a level thereof, is disposed in a cluster in the HEV. The eco-gauge acquires information about a position to be indicated by a needle from a hybrid controller. Here, the hybrid controller may refer to a controller that controls whether to switch between a driving mode in which only the electric motor is used and a driving mode in which the engine is used together with the motor in the HEV.
A configuration, an operation, and a problem of the eco-gauge will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIGS. 1A to 1E are diagrams for description of a configuration and a problem of a dial-type gauge of a general HEV.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an eco-gauge 100 of the HEV may broadly include a needle 110 and an area in which the needle 110 moves. The area in which the needle 110 moves includes a charging area 130 indicating charging of a motor on a left side and a driving area 140 indicating driving of the motor on a right side based on a zero point 120. When the ignition is turned OFF (IG OFF), the needle 110 remains at a lowest point 150.
When the ignition is turned ON (READY/IDLE STOP), the needle 110 operates in a rising mode to indicate the zero point 120 as in FIG. 1B.
As driving starts, the needle 110 operates in the rising mode or a dropping mode according to driving conditions as in FIG. 1C.
Incidentally, when the vehicle stops again during driving (that is, enters a READY/IDLE STOP mode), the needle 110 needs to operate in the dropping mode and stop at the zero point 120. However, in practice, the needle 110 may not accurately stop at the zero point 120 due to an error as in FIG. 1D. A picture of an actual eco-gauge experiencing this phenomenon is shown in FIG. 1E.
When the needle 110 returns to the zero point 120 in the dropping mode, the needle 110 may not accurately stop at the zero point 120 due to a scheme in which the needle 110 moves. This phenomenon will be described with reference FIGS. 2A to 2C.
FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for description of a configuration of a stepper motor applied to the dial-type gauge and hysteresis occurring in the stepper motor.
The stepper motor may be applied to an eco-gauge of a general HEV. Here, the stepper motor (or step motor or stepping motor) refers to a motor that moves in steps to rapidly find an accurate position and settle at the position rather than continuously rotating.
FIG. 2A illustrates a configuration of the stepper motor. The stepper motor may include a coil 210, a rotor magnet 220, a rotor gear 230 that rotates by electromagnetic force generated from the coil 210 around the rotor magnet 220, an output gear 250 connected to the needle 110, and an idle gear 240 that delivers a torque between the rotor gear 230 and the output gear 250. This configuration is illustrative, and the idle gear 240 may be omitted or more idle gears may be included according to configuration.
This type of gear structurally has hysteresis, and a tolerance is usually designed in consideration of hysteresis since the gauge vibrates in response to a minute change in input when this tolerance design is not applied.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, a position at which the motor stops when the motor rotates in a positive direction is different from a position at which the motor stops when the motor rotates in a negative direction. Hysteresis of the stepper motor refers to a difference in stopped position at this time.
In general, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the difference in stopped position corresponds to one step of the stepper motor, that is, one sawtooth 241 of the gear.
Such an error due to hysteresis of the stepper motor occurs at a middle position (that is, zero point) of the gauge. Thus, a problem due to an indication error does not occur in a gauge such as a velocity gauge or a temperature gauge in which a lowest point corresponds to a zero point. However, referring to a gauge such as the eco-gauge in which a zero point is in the middle, a needle cannot accurately indicate the zero point in the middle. Thus, consumers have been filing complaints about indicating the zero point, which is the most sensitive issue. In this way, a problem of quality has been occurring.

Vehicle cluster gauge system and method for calibrating the same


The disclosed computer-implemented method for detecting suspicious microcontroller messages may include (1) observing a typical interval at which messages are sent over a network by a microcontroller, (2) identifying a message sent over the network by the microcontroller, (3) determining that the interval between the message and the previous message sent by the microcontroller does not comprise the typical interval, and (4) categorizing the message as a suspicious message in response to determining that the interval does not comprise the typical interval. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Many modern automobiles are controlled not just by the steering wheel, gas pedal, and brakes, but by a proliferation of microcontrollers known as electronic control units (ECUs). ECUs are often connected to the engine, transmission, cruise control, power steering, brakes, timing belts, suspension, and other parts of a vehicle. Because the functioning of all of these systems is crucial to the safety of a vehicle and its occupants, the possibility of a malicious attacker taking control of or spoofing an ECU is a serious threat. An attacker who successfully spoofs ECUs could cause brakes to fail, seriously damage the engine, change the vehicle's speed via cruise control, or endanger the vehicle and its occupants in a variety of other ways.
In most implementations, ECUs communicate using a controller area network (CAN). CAN networks do not intrinsically support any security features, meaning that any defense against attackers must be programmed into ECUs or added by an external service. While ECUs are extensively tested for automotive safety, they are typically not designed to be resistant to malicious electronic attacks. Traditional security systems design for other kinds of networks and computing devices may be entirely inadequate at securing electronic components of vehicles. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for detecting suspicious microcontroller messages.

Systems and methods for detecting suspicious microcontroller messages


A vacuum glazing includes a vacuum layer formed between a first glazing and a second glazing, a spacer provided in the vacuum layer, a frame provided at edge portions of the first and second glazings, and a sealant interposed between the frame and surfaces of the first and second glazings to perform sealing of the vacuum layer. The insulating performance of the vacuum glazing is improved.

Glass may be used for the door of a home appliance. For example, the glass may be used for the door of a refrigerator. If the glass is applied to the door of the refrigerator, a user has an advantage in that the user may easily see foods stored in the refrigerator through transparent glass without opening the door.
However, since the glass represents a lower insulating rate due to the intrinsic characteristic of the glass, chilly air stored in the refrigerator may be leaked to the outside through the glass. In particular, when the glass constitutes a glazing in a single layer, the lower insulating rate may be a more serious problem.
To compensate for the lower insulating rate, the glass may constitute a double glazing or a vacuum glazing including at least two glazings. The double glazing may be formed by injecting specific gas, which has a lower heat transfer coefficient, between the two glazings.
In addition, the vacuum glazing may be formed by making, in the vacuum state, the space between the two glazings. The vacuum glazing is more advantage than the double glazing in terms of an ability to block heat from being transferred to an inside or an outside of glass.
Regarding the vacuum glazing, there are introduced following related arts.                1. Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. (publication date): 10-2009-0036709 (Apr. 15, 2009).        2. Title of disclosure: Vacuum window glass and method of fabricating the same
The related art has the following problems.
First, as the thicker thickness of an adhesive (glass frit) for bonding the two glazings to each other is formed (to about 8 mm or more) to improve the adhesive force between two glazings, heat is transferred through the bonding part, thereby forming dew. In addition, an addition heater is required to prevent the dew from being produced.
Second, as the thicker vacuum layer is formed due to the thicker adhesive, the height of a spacer to support the two glazings between the two glazings is increased. Accordingly, the spacer may fall down or may not be stably installed in the manufacturing process of the vacuum glazing.
In addition, when the diameter of the spacer is increased to the above problem, the insulating performance of the vacuum glazing may be deteriorated.

Vacuum glazing and method for manufacturing the same


A transfer device for gripping a filled bag from a suspended position at a filling neck and depositing the bag on a conveyor belt for moving it into a bag closing device, a clamping assembly having two approximately vertical arms which are articulated at their lower ends, with horizontal clamping strips attached thereto, with the arms, for the purpose of clamping in the upper end of the bag by means of the clamping strips below the bag clamps at the filling neck, being movable at their free ends in the sense of closing the clamping strips and with the arms being able to accommodate the conveyor belt extending between them in the direction of the opening edge of the bag; a linear drive unit for moving the clamping assembly in the direction of the conveyor belt; and a lifting unit for the clamping assembly, for depositing the bag clamped in between the clamping strips on the conveyor belt, with the actuating means for the clamping assembly, the drive unit and the lifting unit being arranged below the conveyor belt.

The invention relates to a transfer device for gripping a filled bag being held in a suspended position at a filling neck, depositing the bag on a conveyor belt, and, in synchronization with the conveyor belt, moving the bag into a bag closing device. Bags filled and held in a suspended position at a filling neck are normally deposited on a conveyor belt passing through underneath the filling neck by releasing the bag clips at the filling neck, or they are held by grips and deposited on the conveyor belt and then released. The bag opening is then expanded by expanding devices engaging the opening from above. Subsequently, the bags with their upper ends being expanded by the expanding devices above the product level are transferred to a closing device.
During the period between releasing the bags by the bag clips at the filling neck and completing the expanding operation by the expanding devices, the bags are at least partially out of control. This may lead to the bags being deposited on the conveyor belt at an angle, and being expanded and closed in a way not corresponding to their side folds. Bags filled with a highly aerated product may even fall over after having been released onto the conveyor belt. This applies both to flat bags and to bags with side folds; in the latter case, the side folds may open up in the region of the bag opening.

Transfer device for gripping and depositing a filled bag and for moving it into a closing device


A vehicle drive unit is provided which includes a hydraulic circuit capable of efficiently supplying a hydraulic pressure from an accumulator to a hydraulic servo while minimizing the capacity of the accumulator. In a hydraulic circuit included in a continuously variable transmission, an accumulator is connected through an electromagnetic switch valve to an oil passage connecting a clutch pressure control valve and a manual valve, a one-way valve for allowing oil to flow only in the direction from the clutch pressure control valve toward the accumulator and the forward clutch is provided in the oil passage. The electromagnetic switch valve switches an oil passage to a communicating state when the oil pump is driven and switches the oil passage to a shut-off state when the oil pump is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle drive unit that quickly supplies a hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic servo upon restarting of an engine to enable, for example, rapid engagement of a friction engagement element that enables starting of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known art, a vehicle having a function to automatically stop an engine when predetermined conditions are satisfied during running of the vehicle (an idling stop function) has been put to practical use in order to achieve fuel saving, reduction in exhaust gas emission, noise reduction, and the like. In such a vehicle, the engine is stopped when all of conditions such as zero vehicle speed, accelerator OFF, and brake ON are satisfied.
When the engine is stopped, an oil pump generally connected to the engine is also stopped. Therefore, for example, oil that is supplied to a forward clutch (hydraulic servo) to be engaged during forward running is discharged through an oil passage, and the forward clutch is disengaged.
When predetermined restart conditions are satisfied such as when a driver depresses an accelerator pedal, the stopped engine is restarted and the oil pump is also restarted. At this time, the forward clutch needs to be engaged as soon as the engine is restarted. Engagement shock will occur if the forward clutch is engaged at a high engine speed.
Various technologies for preventing such engagement shock have been proposed. For example, in one of the technologies, an accumulator capable of accumulating a hydraulic pressure is provided in a branched manner in an oil passage that connects a forward clutch of an automatic transmission and an oil pump for generating a hydraulic pressure to supply the hydraulic pressure to the forward clutch (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2000-313252). When the engine is restarted, the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator is supplied to the forward clutch. Thus, generation of engagement shock is prevented, and engine restart capability is improved.
In another technology, an accumulator is provided in a branched manner in a hydraulic circuit of an automatic transmission, and a check valve is provided on the oil pump side of the accumulator (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-H8-14076, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-226802). With this structure, a hydraulic pressure is constantly supplied from the accumulator to a forward clutch while the engine is stopped. The forward clutch in the automatic transmission is thus constantly maintained in an engaged state.
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2000-313252, however, the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator cannot be efficiently supplied to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo) in a short time when the engine is restarted. The reason why this problem occurs is as follows: when the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator is supplied to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo), the hydraulic pressure is supplied not only to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo) but also to a primary regulator valve and leaks through the primary regulator valve.
Moreover, a second accumulator, a second switch valve, and a branched oil passage are provided before the forward clutch (hydraulic servo). These elements increase a fluid resistance and an oil passage length when the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator is supplied to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo). This increases the time it takes until the hydraulic pressure is supplied from the accumulator to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo). This is one of the reasons why the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator cannot be efficiently supplied to the forward clutch (hydraulic servo) in a short time.
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-H8-14076, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-226802, on the other hand, the hydraulic pressure is constantly supplied from the accumulator to the forward clutch while the engine is stopped, whereby the forward clutch in the automatic transmission is constantly maintained in an engaged state. In this case, engagement shock can be eliminated because hydraulic pressure supply is not delayed. In this technology, however, the accumulator needs to have an increased capacity. Moreover, an outlet (turbine) side of a torque converter is stopped when the engine is started. Therefore, rotation of the engine needs to be absorbed by oil of the torque converter. The engine is thus restarted while stirring the oil of the torque converter. This imposes a large burden on the starter system, causing additional problems such as need for a larger starter.


Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed for automatically aggregating, analyzing, and presenting probabilities associated with data items. Data items may be associated with probabilities or risks, and the data items may have various characteristics. A grouping of data items may be determined based on these characteristics, and probabilities within groups of data items may be aggregated and analyzed. Aggregated probabilities may be used to determine incremental probabilities for individual data items, to assess cumulative risk associated with a group of data items, and to analyze probabilities associated with a particular data item group. User interfaces may be generated to facilitate selection and grouping of data items, selection of risk models, and analysis of aggregate probabilities.

Electronic record-keeping produces data sets with thousands or millions of records. The sheer quantity of information available for analysis may prevent meaningful conclusions from being drawn, or may prevent analysis from even being attempted. Data items in data sets may be associated with probabilities or risks that can be aggregated across various item dimensions, and an analysis of the probabilities associated with a particular data item may be incomplete or misleading without further consideration and analysis of aggregate probabilities.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Data item aggregate probability analysis system


Techniques for use in the communication of supplemental non access stratum (NAS) information in a network are described. In one illustrative example, a mobile device operates to send to a network an initial NAS message associated with a NAS procedure. The mobile device further operates to send to the network a supplemental NAS message associated with the NAS procedure, where the supplemental NAS message includes supplemental NAS information. Several related and alternative techniques are provided.

Field of the Technology
The present disclosure relates generally to mobile communication devices operating in wireless communication networks, and more particularly to the communication of non access stratum (NAS) information in such wireless communication networks.
Description of the Related Art
In order to establish a circuit-switched session in a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), a mobile device is required to send a message for requesting service or access to a core network. The message indicates the purpose of the session establishment to non access stratum (NAS) layer, and may be referred to as an initial NAS message. The initial NAS message includes NAS information to be used by the network for performing the associated procedure(s). The initial NAS message is relayed to the core network through the access network and is limited in size due to restrictions of use of the data link layer protocol in the GERAN. For that reason, it is not feasible to simply add further NAS information that would be useful or required for future enhancements. Other networks and environments may have the same or similar deficiencies.
Accordingly, what are needed are methods and apparatus to overcome these and similar deficiencies of the prior art.

Methods and apparatus for use in communicating supplemental non access stratum (NAS) information