A dispensing assembly in combination with a beverage brewing apparatus for controllably dispensing and directing a cleaning material into a brewing chamber of the beverage brewing apparatus. The brewing chamber has a receiving mouth through which the cleaning material is dispensed. The dispensing assembly includes a hinge part, a funnel body, and components to finding a hinge joint. The funnel body is generally conically shaped, having a pouring port at one end and a dispensing port at the opposite end. The pouring port is enlarged relative to the dispensing port forming the conical shape of the funnel body and facilitating ease and accuracy in dispensing a cleaning material into the brewing chamber. The funnel body is attached to the hinge part and is hingedly associated with the hinge joint for movably positioning the funnel body into and out of communication with the receiving mouth of the brewing chamber. The hinge joint and hinge part are cooperatively attached close to the receiving mouth to prevent the funnel body from being undesirably mispaced in the brewing apparatus and to insure proper alignment of the dispensing port with the receiving mouth when placed in communication therewith.

The present invention relates to devices for facilitating clean and efficient dispensing of detergent substances into a beverage brewing apparatus for cleaning the apparatus and preventing spilling of the detergent substance on the apparatus.
Various forms of beverage brewing apparatus are available. For example, there are manual apparatus as well as automatic apparatus. A typical beverage brewing apparatus, regardless of whether it is manual or automatic, infuses a brewing substance with a quantity of heated water. The brewing substance is retained in a filter and the infusing water is introduced and allowed to seep through the brewing substance and drain through the filter.
An example of an automatic beverage brewing apparatus can be found in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 07/683,285 to Bunn, et al., filed Mar. 26, 1992, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/818,850 to Bunn, et al., filed Aug. 30, 1991 (a continuation of Ser. No. 07/683,285). The above-mentioned applications both show automatic beverage brewing apparatus which have brewing chambers for brewing a beverage therein. The brewing apparatus as shown in these two examples also include a device for delivering a selected quantity of a selected beverage brewing substance to the brewing chamber. The device for delivering the substance includes storage hoppers and an assembly for dispensing material from the hoppers. A discharge chute of the dispensing assembly is positioned to deliver beverage brewing substances dispensed from the hoppers to the brewing chamber.
It is desirable to periodically clean the beverage brewing apparatus to remove oils and particulate matter left over from the brewing process. Further, it is desirable to remove any beverage brewing substances from the filter which may not have been removed during a flush cycle. Therefore, in order to clean the beverage brewing apparatus it is necessary to deposit a cleaning material or detergent substance into the brewing chamber portion of the apparatus to facilitate cleaning.
A variety of cleaning materials are available for use in cleaning the brewing chamber. The cleaning materials include liquids, powders, flakes, and range from colorless and odorless to colored and having a distinct and undesirable taste.
A problem arises in dispensing the cleaning material into the brewing chamber. Generally, the discharge chutes from the hoppers are in close proximity over a receiving mouth of the brewing chamber can be difficult. As such, pouring a cleaning material into the brewing chamber. Further, such apparatus quite often have limited frontal or side access and as such create further obstacles in dispensing cleaning material into the brewing chamber.
One way of overcoming these obstacles is to place a funnel in the receiving mouth and dispense the cleaning material into the funnel. While this achieves the goal of placing cleaning material into the brewing chamber, this is a limited solution. A problem with using a funnel is that the funnel is a loose component. Loose components create a problem because they are likely to become lost and may interfere with the mechanical operation of the apparatus if left in the apparatus.
When loose components, such as funnels, become separated from the apparatus with which they were designed to be used, the replacement funnels which are used often are not the proper size and may result in complications when dispensing a cleaning material into the brewing chamber. Additionally, if a funnel does not work properly, an operator may attempt to avoid using a funnel and dispense the cleaning material directly into the receiving mouth of the brewing chamber.
As mentioned above, there is limited space within the brewing apparatus and therefore use of an improperly sized funnel or the absence of a funnel may result in spilling the cleaning material inside the brewing apparatus. The brewing apparatus employs heated water to infuse the beverage brewing substance in the brewed chamber to created a brewed beverage therefrom. Due to the brewing process and the heated water used therein, the ambient humidity level inside of the brewing apparatus is somewhat elevated. As such, it is highly undesirable to have cleaning materials spilled inside of the beverage brewing apparatus in the elevated humidity level because such material may become liquified and seep into other parts of the beverage brewing apparatus or may become caked on the apparatus and cause further problems.
The beverage brewing apparatus operates by means of gears and motors to move various components of the beverage brewing apparatus during a brewing cycle. Heated water lines also run through the beverage brewing apparatus carrying water at at or near boiling temperatures. Because of the mechanical parts and elevated temperatures, a problem is created if a funnel is left in the beverage brewing apparatus in an undesirable location. If a loose component funnel is left inside the beverage brewing apparatus next to a heated water line, the funnel may melt, depending upon the type of plastic material, from the heat of the water line. The melted plastic may cause further complication in the beverage brewing apparatus. Additionally, if a loose component funnel is left in the beverage brewing apparatus and it is left in an undesirable position such that it becomes lodged in a mechanical component, or is vibrated by the operation of the apparatus so that it falls into a mechanical component, such interference with the mechanical components may cause problems.
As an additional matter, a funnel which is not designed for use with the beverage brewing apparatus may result in dispensing the cleaning material into an area, although located within the receiving mouth which may be undesirable. For example, the beverage brewing apparatus, as presented in the two patent applications referred to hereinabove, includes a receiving tube extending upwardly from the brewing chamber. The receiving tube has a mouth at a top end and a throat between the receiving tube and the brewing chamber. A rinse water line is connected to the receiving tube and dispenses a flow of rinse water into the receiving tube to flush particles from the brewing substances delivering device positioned above the receiving mouth down the receiving tube. If the funnel used to dispense cleaning material into the mouth of the receiving tube is incorrectly positioned, cleaning material may be dispensed into the receiving tube at a position above the rinse water nozzle. The cleaning material positioned above the rinse water nozzle will not be automatically flushed during a cleaning cycle and as such may later be vibrated or otherwise being knocked into the brewing chamber during a brewing cycle. A brewed beverage produced during a brewing cycle in which cleaning material is knocked into the brewing substance would be undesirable.
As a final matter, the automatic beverage brewing apparatus as presented in the two applications referred to hereinabove, reduce the amount of manual activity required to produce a brewed beverage. As such, it would be desirable to further eliminate any steps required in the cleaning of the beverage brewing apparatus.


In a method and apparatus for examination and evaluation of a blood flow in a pulmonary artery of a patient, measurement data are recorded, from which at least a part of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery is able to be re-constructed at least two-dimensionally in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery and by an anterior-posterior direction, including at least at several diastolic points in time in the course of a heart cycle, after a closure of the pulmonary valve. The number of diastolic points for which an asymmetry in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery in the anterior-posterior direction exists is determined. A measure is then determined that characterizes how long, after the closure of the pulmonary valve, the aforementioned asymmetry exists.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method for examining a human or animal body with regard to a blood flow in the pulmonary artery. In addition the invention concerns a medical imaging apparatus for implementing such a method. Such a method is especially used in the examination of patients with a pulmonary hypertension or with a suspected pulmonary hypertension or with a pulmonary hypertension occurring when the body is under stress.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pulmonary hypertension (abbreviated "PH" below) is an illness characterized by an increase in the pulmonary artery pressure. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (abbreviated "PAH" below) is a subgroup of PH. The definition of PAH has been established in the usual guidelines. It relates to the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and not to the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and to the exclusion of basic conditions such as serious lung or left heart diseases. PAH exists if the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) exceeds 25 mm Hg at rest or 30 mm Hg under stress. By comparison, the normal pulmonary pressure at rest is below 21 mm Hg. The prognosis of the PH is bad regardless of its genesis, especially if the diagnosis is made late.
Overview articles and guidelines about pulmonary hypertension can be found in the publications Galie N et al., "Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension", The Task Force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology, Eur Heart J 2004; 25(24): 2243-2278 and Olschewski H et al., "Diagnosis and therapy of chronic pulmonary hypertension" Pneumologie 2006; 60(12): 749-771.
A right heart catheter examination (swan-neck catheter) is currently seen as the "gold standard" method of examination for the determination of pulmonary artery pressure and thereby for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. This examination is invasive however and must be carried out by experienced personnel to obtain reliable data and to keep the risks low. The costs of such an examination are high.
The publications Chemia D et al. "Haemodynamic evaluation of pulmonary hypertension" Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 1314-1331, Denton C P et al. "Comparison of Doppler Echocardiography and Right Heart Catheterization to Assess Pulmonary Hypertension in Systemic Sclerosis" Br J Rheumatology 1997; 36: 239-243, Laaban J P et al. "Estimation of Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure Using Doppler Echocardiography in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" Chest 1989; 96: 1258-1262, and Hinderliter A L et al. "Effects of Long-term Infusion of Prostacyclin (Epoprostenol) on Echocardiographic Measures of Right Ventricular Structure and Function in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension" Circulation 1997; 95: 1479-7486 deal with methods such as the color doppler echocardiography method with which the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (abbreviated below "sPAP") can be determined from the maximum regurgitation velocity of a tricuspid insufficiency. This method is currently used as a screening examination for establishing pulmonary arterial hypertension. For patients with PAH the sensitivity is around circa 90% and the specificity is around 67% to 75%. The accuracy of the estimation in a healthy control population is however not known. In addition the practice of computing the mPAP from the sPAP is not established.
Other alternative non-invasive methods are subordinate to color doppler echocardiography.
A method is known from the publication Kitakabe A I et al. "Noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary hypertension by a pulsed Doppler technique" Circulation 1983; 68: 302-309 in which the acceleration time of the blood stream is determined with the aid of color doppler echocardiography and used as the correlate to the logarithm of the mPAP.
A method is known from the publication Mousseaux E et al. "Pulmonary arterial resistance; noninvasive measurement with indexes of pulmonary flow estimated at velocity-encoded MR imaging—preliminary experience" Radiology 1999; 21 2(3): 896-902 in which inter alia the maximum changes over time of the blood flow is determined from one-dimensional magnetic resonance phase-contrast flow measurements in the pulmonary artery as the correlate to pulmonary vascular resistance.
Known from the publications Laffon E et al. "Noninvasive assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension by MR phasemapping method" J Appl Physiol 2001; 90: 2197-2202, and Laffon E et al. "A computed method for noninvasive MRI assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension" J Appl Physiol 2004; 96; 463-468 are methods in which the pressure wave velocity and the maximum blood stream velocity can be measured with the aid of one-dimensional magnetic-resonance phase-contrast flow quantities in the pulmonary artery and an optimum functional relationship to mPAP determined. These types of results were not able however to be reliably reproduced by other working groups.
In the publication Kondo C et al. "Pulmonary Flow Quantification and Flow Profile Analysis with Velocity-encoded Cine MR Imaging" Radiology 1992; 183: 751-758 the relationship is demonstrated that patients with a PH exhibit a greater proportion of retrograde blood flow in the pulmonary artery.
The publication Mohiaddin R H et al. "Visualization of flow by vector analysis of multidirectional cine MR velocity mapping", Journal of computer assisted tomography 1994, 18: 383-392 describes how, in patients with pulmonary hypertension in the diastole, a backwards-directed flow in the pulmonary artery is detectable.
All the publications cited represent small explorative series. Most of the methods described therein have not been able to establish themselves.

Method and medical apparatus for measuring pulmonary artery blood flow


The present invention provides a polynucleotide (ipkc) which identifies and encodes a novel human protein kinase C inhibitor homolog (IPKC). The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding IPKC. The invention also provides for the use of purified IPKC and its agonists in the commercial production of recombinant proteins and in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of IPKC. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to ipkc in pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of diseases associated with the expression of IPKC. The invention also describes diagnostic assays which utilize diagnostic compositions comprising the polynucleotide, fragments or the complement thereof, which hybridize with the genomic sequence or the transcript of ipkc. The present invention also relates to anti-IPKC antibodies which specifically bind to IPKC.

Protein kinase C, PKC, is a family of widely distributed signal transduction proteins important for cell growth, differentiation, and other responses. PKC is activated by growth factors, hormones, and other external messengers via stimulation of phospholipase C and the generation of the second messengers, inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol. All members of the PKC family share significant sequence homology and perform signal transduction via protein phosphorylation. Almost all cell types express one or more isoforms of PKC.
The activity of an endogenous inhibitor of PKC has been detected in bovine, avian, murine, and human tissues. The first complete primary structure of an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C, PKCI-1, was derived from bovine brain (Pearson, J D et al (1990) J Biol Chem 265: 4583-4591). PKCI-1 has a specific site of interaction with PKC and inhibits the phosphorylation ability of PKC. In addition to the bovine sequence, a complete amino acid sequence of PKCI-1 has been deduced from the maize, rat, and human genes (Simpson G G et al (1994) Biochim Biophys Acta 1222: 306-308; Waller S J and Murphy D (1994), unpublished; Brzoska P M et al (1995) PNAS USA 92: 7824-7828). The bovine PKCI-1 was shown to be a zinc (Zn) binding protein (Simpson et al, supra). The site of Zn binding has been localized to a 11 amino acid fragment (Mozier et al (1991) FEBS Lett 279:14-18), and the Zn binding domain is conserved among PKCI-1 molecules of other species.
Disease and PKC
PKC activation plays a significant role in multidrug resistance (MDR), a major contributing factor in the failure of many chemotherapeutic cancer regimens (Grunicke H et al (1994) Ann Hematol 69: S1-6). PKC regulates proteins that act to make cancer cells drug resistant, such as FOS, Jun, glutathione S-transferase, deoxy-thymidine monophosphate synthase, metallothionein, and mdr-1-encoded P-glycoprotein. PKC leads to the increase in transcription of these genes through protein phosphorylation. PKC inhibitors or antagonists that interfere with the phosphorylation function of PKC have been shown to reduce the expression of genes that mediate MDR. Evidence suggests that the selective inhibition of a particular PKC, cPKC alpha, might allow successful management of colon cancer with standard cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens (O'Brian C A et al (1995) Growth Factors and Tumor Promotion: Implication for Risk Assessment, Wiley-Lis, Inc., pages 117-120). Thus, PKC is a promising agent for cancer treatment.
In addition to contributing to MDR, PKC activation is often a critical event in tumor promotion (O'Brian C A and Ward N E (1989) Cancer Metastasis Rev 8: 199-214). For example, PKC alpha phosphorylates and activates the growth promoting gene Raf-1 (Kolch W et al (1993) Nature 364: 249-252). Without PKC induced Raf-1 activation, the ability to transform NIH3T3 cells is greatly inhibited. In cultured melanocytes loss of a particular PKC, isotype has been implicated in cellular transformation (Yamanishi D T et al (1994) Crit Rev Oncog 5: 429-450).
PKC participates in the sequence of molecular events that underlie learning and memory (Olds J L and Alkon D L (1991) New Biol 3: 27-35). The cellular distribution of PKCs changes as a result of memory storage in cells that have been demonstrated to act in memory and learning (Saito N et al (1994) Brain Res 656: 245-256). Thus, molecules that modulate PKC may modify the ability to learn and remember. PKC gamma mutant mice exhibit mild deficits in spatial and contextual learning, further implicating PKCs in learning and memory (Abeliovich A et al (1993) Cell 75: 1263-1271). Memory deterioration is one of the main characteristics and earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease.
PKCs can act in several ways to stimulate apoptosis (programmed cell death) in various cell types. PKCs can block the activation of other calcium-dependent enzymes triggering apoptosis (Lucas M et al (1995) Gen Pharmacol 26: 881-887). Activation of phosphatases by ceramide and inhibition of PKC by sphingosine mediates the sphingomyelin pathway to apoptosis. A putative PKC target, p34cdc2, can act to stimulate apoptosis when its activity is uncoupled from the completion of DNA replication. In addition, p21Ras mediates proliferative responses and also renders cells susceptible to apoptosis after inhibition of PKC activity (Chen C Y et al (1996) J Biol Chem 271: 2376-2379). The T lymphocytes of mice in which the Fas mediated apoptosis pathway has been knocked out rely on a PKC dependent apoptotic mechanism for selection against self-reactive T-cells (Ohkusu K et al (1995) Eur J Immunol 25: 3180-3186). Thus, PKC has a role in immune cell development. Saikosponin b2 induces apoptosis in B16 melanoma cells by down regulation of PKC activity (Zong et al (1996) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 219: 480-485). Furthermore, proteolytic activation of PKC delta by an ICE-like protease stimulates apoptosis in human tumor cell line U-937 (Emoto Y et al (1995) EMBO J 14: 6148-5156).
Many synthetic inhibitors of PKC have been reported, such as chlorpromazine (Mori T et al (1980) J Biol Chem 255: 8378-8380), trifluoperazine (Schatzman R C et al (1981) Biophys Res Commun 98: 669-676), tamoxifen (O'Brien C A et al (1985) Cancer Res 45:
2462-2465), aminoacridines (Hannun Y A et al (1988) J Biol Chem 263: 5124-5131), isoquinolinesulfonamides (Hidaka H et al (1984) Biochemistry 23: 5036-5141), and various synthetic peptides (House C and Kemp B E (1987) Science 238: 1726-1728; Ward N E et al (1995) Cancer Lett 88: 37-40). There is much evidence to suggest that PKC blockers may modify PKC activity in normal or disease cells. For example, PKC blockers have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo (Levitzki A (1994) Eur J Biochem 226: 1-13).
The PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide GF109203X (bisi) can affect the neuroblastoma cell line Neuro-2A in one of two ways. Without serum, neurite outgrowth is potentiated by bisi, while with serum, apoptosis occurs (Behrens MM et al Cell Growth Differ (1995) 6: 1375-1380). Other PKC inhibitors, including hypericin, staurosporine, tamoxifen, and the phorbol ester PMA induce apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH (Zhang W et al (1995) Cancer Lett 96: 31-35). PKC blockers may have utility beyond cancer indications. The PKC inhibitor H-7 induces apoptosis in Fas minus mouse T lymphocytes (Ohkusu et al (1995) Eur J Immunol 25: 3180-3186). It is possible that PKC inhibitors may help manage auto-immune diseases by inducing apoptosis in self-reactive T cells. However, synthetically made PKC inhibitors have often failed to advance in drug development because of a high level of toxicity and/or a low level of specificity. The selective inhibition of PKC may allow successful management of diseases associated with PKC induced effects, such as cancer, memory disorders, and auto-immune diseases. Therefore the identification of novel PKC inhibitors provides opportunities for early treatment of diseases associated with PKC.

Method of screening for human protein kinase C inhibitor homolog


Control circuits for a switching voltage regulator circuit which uses magnetic flux sensing are provided. These circuits can be used to improve output voltage regulation by reducing parasitic effects inherently present in magnetic flux-sensed feedback switching voltage regulator designs.

The present invention relates to switching voltage regulator circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to switching voltage regulator circuits that use magnetic flux-sensing to regulate the output voltage of the regulator circuit.
The function of a voltage regulator is to provide a predetermined and substantially constant output voltage from an unregulated input voltage. Switching regulator circuits (hereinafter "switching regulators") typically use a power transistor as a switch to provide a pulsed flow of current to a network of inductive and capacitive energy storage elements which smooth the switched current pulses into a continuous and regulated output voltage. Switching regulators can provide output voltages which are less than, greater than, or of opposite polarity to the unregulated input voltage, depending on the mode of operation of the switching regulator. They often can be implemented to a large extent using integrated circuit components, which advantageously reduce the size and complexity of the overall switching regulator circuit.
Switching regulators are commonly used in power supply circuits. Switching-regulator power supplies generally can be classified into three categories, depending on the type of output circuitry used. These classes are: (A) single-ended inductor circuits, (B) diode-capacitor circuits, and (C) transformer-coupled circuits. A specific type of transformer-coupled switching regulator power supply is the offline power supply. Offline power supply circuits generate one or more DC output voltages from an AC input signal. The most desirable form of the offline power supply is known as a universal supply, which can accept an input ranging from 85VAC to 270VAC and therefore can operate with various power systems around the world without alterations or switches.
Commercially sold offline power supplies generally must provide DC outputs that comply with regulation and isolation requirements defined by various worldwide safety/regulatory agencies. Of particular importance are standards set by Verband Deutscher Elecktrotechniker, commonly referred to as the "VDE specifications." The VDE specifications, which have their origin in Germany, are generally regarded as the most stringent in the world. Therefore, a power supply which meets the VDE specifications usually will meet applicable safety regulation codes anywhere in the world.
The output voltage of an offline power supply is usually regulated by a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The feedback signal is used to control the duty cycle of the switching power transistor. There are various ways to provide such a feedback signal. One way is to sample the output voltage directly (e.g., by using a resistor network). This method provides the most accurate output voltage regulation. The problem with this type of feedback mechanism is that there is no isolation between the input and output circuits of the power supply, which may be operating at significantly different voltage levels. An opto-coupler can be used in the feedback signal path to provide isolation, but at the expense of numerous discrete components, large board space requirements, high cost, design problems associated with loop stability, spurious noise pick-up, start-up problems and output overshoot. Furthermore, opto-couplers age and thus this may cause loop response problems or loss of output regulation.
An alternate and simpler method for providing a feedback signal while maintaining isolation between the input and output circuits of the power supply is to employ what is commonly referred to as magnetic flux-sensing. Magnetic flux sensing is the generation of a feedback signal by sensing the magnetic flux in an inductive element (e.g., by sensing the flux in the core of a transformer). Magnetic flux sensing can be used in offline power supplies configured in a flyback converter topology, and may be used in other topologies as well. In a flyback converter topology, the flyback voltage on the primary winding side of the transformer during "switch off" time is sensed and used to regulate the output voltage. Ideally, the output voltage (VOUT) is related to the primary flyback voltage (VPRI) during "switch off" time by the relationship: EQU VPRI=(VOUT+Vf)/N
where Vf is the forward voltage of an output diode usually connected in series with the secondary winding and N is the transformer turns ratio from secondary to primary.
It is difficult to derive a feedback signal directly from the primary flyback voltage because this voltage is typically several hundred volts. A common practice is to provide a lower voltage auxiliary (or bias) winding from which the feedback signal is generated. In addition, this bias winding is convenient to use as a power winding for powering circuitry of the switching regulator circuit or other circuitry.
Magnetic flux-sensing simplifies the design of offline power supplies by minimizing the total number of components required while providing isolation between the input and output circuitry. Improved isolation can result in greater safety and reliability. However, although magnetic flux-sensing has been used in the past, regulator circuits incorporating it have had poor output voltage regulation due to the parasitics inherently present in a transformer-coupled design. These parasitics are especially troublesome in transformers which are designed to meet stringent safety and isolation requirements of certain industry standards, such as the above-discussed VDE specifications.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide a transformer-coupled switching voltage regulator circuit which uses magnetic flux sensing and which does not suffer from poor output voltage regulation due to the parasitics inherently present in a transformer-coupled design.

Switching regulator circuit using magnetic flux-sensing


A lamination has at least one spacing strip which is formed by cutting out sheet-metal pieces from a metal sheet in order to define an inner boundary and an outer boundary of the lamination. A cut line is made in the metal sheet to define a contour for a spacing strip which is bent out of the main plane of the lamination.

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of electric machines, and more particularly to improvements in laminations for use in electric motors and/or other static or dynamic electric machines. The invention also relates to a method of making such laminations.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
In order to dissipate heat produced during operation of a motor, stacks of laminations, also called electrical steel sheets, are used, whereby laminations with spacing strips are arranged at defined intervals with respect to one another between laminations without spacing strips to thereby provide radial ventilation. The spacing strips are used to maintain a specific distance between a lamination with the spacing strips and a neighboring lamination. As a result, free spaces are created between the laminations to allow air to flow and thereby cool the motor.
Heretofore, a lamination with spacing strips has been manufactured by initially stamping the outer boundary and the inner boundary of the lamination out of a metal sheet, or burning out the outer boundary and the inner boundary by means of a focused laser beam. Then, the spacing strips, which have previously been stamped out of a metal sheet in a separate process, are fitted at right angles on the lamination, using spot-welding. This manufacturing process is relatively time-consuming and cost-intensive. Furthermore, welding of spacing strips to a lamination often leads to inadequate attachment of the spacing strips so that the lamination is less capable of resisting the pressure exerted on it. In other words, if the pressure is too high, the spacing strips will break off the lamination.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved lamination which obviated prior art shortcomings and which is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Laminations with integrated spacing feature for an electric machine, and method of making a lamination


A device for controlling an automatic weapon is provided. Disposed on or in a housing detachably mounted on the weapon is an electric drive motor, controlled by an electric control device, that drives a threaded spindle having a spindle nut on which is disposed a driver. A cocking bolt is guided on the housing and is coupled with a safety catch of the weapon, and is disposed in the path of movement of the driver and is movable out of a starting position, counter to the spring force acting on a safety catch, back to a cocking position in an end position of the spindle nut. In the cocking position, the cocking bolt is arrested by an arresting lever in the end position of the spindle nut, corresponding to the safety condition of the weapon. The cocking bolt is released by the spindle nut during its advancement in the starting position thereof, which corresponds to the released safety catch position of the weapon and leads to advancement of the cocking bolt and safety catch.

The present invention relates to a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon, whereby the term control initially refers to the cocking, locking of the safety catch, and unlocking of the safety catch of the weapon, and furthermore to the firing of the weapon and possibly to the sensing of certain conditions at the weapon.
The object of the invention is to provide a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon that can be used with different types of weapons having various designs, and that permits an automatic weapon, which is customarily operated manually, to be operated with remote control, for example from the interior of a tank.
The realization of this object is inventively effected via a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon that is characterized by a housing that is detachably mounted on the side of the weapon and on or in which is disposed an electric drive motor that can be controlled by an electric control device; the drive motor drives a threaded spindle that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon and on which a spindle nut is movable out of a starting position, counter to the firing direction, back into an end position; a driver is disposed on the spindle nut in such a way that a cocking bolt that is guided on the housing and is coupled with the breechblock of the weapon is disposed in the path of movement of the driver and is movable out of a starting position, counter to the spring force acting on the breechblock of the weapon, back into a cocking position in the end position of the spindle nut, in which it is arrested by an arresting lever disposed on the housing in the end position of the spindle nut, corresponding to a "safety" condition of the weapon, and is released by the spindle nut during advancement of the spindle nut in its starting position, which corresponds to the "released safety catch" condition of the weapon and leads to an advancement of the cocking bolt and breechblock of the weapon.

Device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon


A method and a system comprise monitoring one or more devices associated with a subject to generate one or more activity alerts for the subject. The activity alerts at least indicating the subject is active within their environment. The activity alerts are transmitted to a system unit for processing, in which the system applies a set of rules in determining a triggering event and notifies an interested party of activity of the subject and of inactivity of the subject.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that single, home bound, sick or elderly people living by themselves creates a conflict between a loved one calling all the time and not wanting to be a pest. When several persons are 'checking in', the randomness of the phone calls sometimes leaves large gaps in time. Knowing this, the interested party(ies) may have a level of anxiety by not knowing the status of the subject person at any given time. The single, home bound, sick or elderly person living by themselves also achieves peace of mind knowing if they are not active, help will be coming. There are existing services that call subject person with information or looking for responses. These services require calls from the service to confirm status.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Method and a system for monitoring an activity or lack of activity of a subject


A lens apparatus includes a barrel and a focus member mounted on the barrel. The barrel includes a fixing body and an engaging unit disposed at an outside wall of the fixing body. The focus member includes a retaining body contacted with the outside wall of the fixing body and a retaining unit disposed at an inside wall of the retaining body. The retaining unit and the engaging unit fasten each other for mounting the focus member on the barrel. When a force is applied on the focus member, the focus member drives the barrel to rotate by a friction generated between the retaining unit and the engaging unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a lens apparatus and, particularly, to a lens apparatus having a barrel and a focus member, which are ready to be assembled together.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lens apparatuses usually include a first barrel member, a second barrel member, and a focusing ring. The first barrel member may be an externally threaded barrel within which a first lens optical system is mounted. The second barrel member may be an internally threaded barrel within which a second optical system is mounted. The first and second barrels are threadedly and adjustably attached to each other. The focusing ring is mounted on the second barrel member in order to cause the axial movement of the first barrel member relative to the second barrel member.
However, the focusing ring is usually mounted on the second barrel member with several screws; an assembler has to use a screwdriver to fasten the screws into the focusing ring and the second barrel member one by one. The process is cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly in mass production.
What is needed, therefore, is a lens apparatus, which has a barrel and a focus member, which are easy to be assembled together.


A network data packet routing apparatus with BGP is configured to soft reset an AFI or SAFI, so that forwarding on routes associated with the AFI or SAFI can continue even after an event or error. One approach involves establishing a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering session between a first node and a second node in a packet-switched network; detecting a BGP condition requiring a reset of a BGP address family indicator (AFI) data structure or a sub-address family indicator (SAFI) data structure, wherein the BGP condition does not affect states of routes in the AFI or SAFI; preserving a BGP state and a forwarding state of the AFI or SAFI; and forwarding data on routes represented in the AFI or SAFI. Soft notification messaging and marking routes as stale facilitates the approach.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A computer network is a geographically distributed collection of interconnected communication links used to transport data between nodes, such as computers. Many types of computer networks are available, with the types ranging from local area networks to wide area networks. The nodes typically communicate by exchanging discrete packets or messages of data according to pre-defined protocols. In this context, a protocol consists of a set of rules defining how the nodes interact with each other.
Computer networks may be further interconnected by an intermediate node, such as a switch or router, to extend the effective "size" of each network. Since management of a large system of interconnected computer networks can prove burdensome, smaller groups of computer networks may be maintained as routing domains or autonomous systems. The networks within an autonomous system (AS) are typically coupled together by conventional "intradomain" routers. Yet it still may be desirable to increase the number of nodes capable of exchanging data; in this case, interdomain routers executing interdomain routing protocols are used to interconnect nodes of the various ASs.
An example of an interdomain routing protocol is the Border Gateway Protocol version 4 (BGP4), which performs routing between autonomous systems by exchanging routing information, e.g., network layer reachability information (NLRI), among neighboring interdomain routers of the systems. An adjacency is a relationship formed between selected neighboring (peer) routers for the purpose of exchanging routing information messages and abstracting the network topology. Before transmitting such messages, however, the peers cooperate to establish a logical "peer" connection (session) between the routers. BGP4 establishes reliable connections/sessions using a reliable/sequenced transport protocol, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
The NLRI information exchanged by BGP peers typically includes destination address prefixes, i.e., the portions of destination addresses used by the routing protocol to render routing ("next hop") decisions. An example of such a destination address is the Internet Protocol (IP) version 4 (IPv4) address. A prefix implies a combination of an IP address and a mask that cooperate to describe an area of the network that a peer can reach. Each prefix may have a number of associated paths; each path is announced to a peer router by one or more of its peers. Note that the combination of a set of path attributes and a prefix is referred to as a "route"; the terms "route" and "path" may be used interchangeably herein. The BGP4 routing protocol standard is well known and is described in Request For Comments (RFC) 1771, by Y. Rekhter and T. Li (1995), Internet Draft <draft-ietf-idr-bgp4-23.txt> titled, A Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP-4) by Y. Rekhter and T. Li (April 2003) and Interconnections, Bridges and Routers, by R. Perlman, published by Addison Wesley Publishing Company, at pages 323-329 (1992), all disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BGP4 is generally capable of only carrying routing information for IPv4; accordingly, a multi-protocol extension to BGP4, referred to as BGP4+, extends BGP4 to allow carrying of routing information for multiple network layer protocols, such as IP version 6 (IPv6) and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) addresses. BGP4+ extends BGP4 to associate these network layer protocols with next hop information and NLRI. Address Family Identifiers (AFIs) and Subsequent Address Family Identifiers (SAFIs) are used to identify the network layer protocols. BGP4+ and AFI/SAFI Address Family are well known and described in RFC 2858, by T. Bates et al. (2000) and RFC 1700 by J. Reynolds et al (1994), which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The interdomain routers configured to execute an implementation of the BGP protocol, referred to herein as BGP routers, perform various routing functions, including transmitting and receiving routing messages and rendering routing decisions based on routing metrics. The BGP protocol executing on each BGP router may be organized as a plurality of address family application modules, each of which is configured to provide an AFI/SAFI service such as IPv4/unicast, IPv4/multicast, IPv6/unicast or IPv6/multicast. Each AFI/SAFI service is enabled on a per peer basis by exchanging capabilities over the reliable BGP session between the router and its peer in accordance with Capabilities Advertisement with BGP4 described in RFC 3392 by R. Chandra et al (November 2002), which is hereby incorporated by reference. Two or more services may be enabled for two or more AFI/SAFI modules over the same BGP session and reliable transport.
Each BGP router also maintains a routing table that lists all feasible paths from that router to a particular network. The routing table is a database that contains routing information used to construct a forwarding table of a forwarding information base (FIB) that is used by the router when performing forwarding decisions on packets. Periodic refreshing of the routing table is generally not performed; however, BGP peer routers residing in the ASs exchange routing information under certain circumstances. For example, when a BGP router initially connects to the network, the peer routers exchange the entire contents of their routing tables. Thereafter when changes occur to those contents, the routers exchange only those portions of their routing tables that change in order to update their BGP peers' tables. These Update messages are thus incremental update messages sent in response to changes to the contents of the routing tables and announce only a best path to a particular network.
Broadly stated, a BGP router generates Update messages for an adjacency, also known as a peer router, by "walking-through" the routing table and applying appropriate routing policies. A routing policy is information that enables a BGP router to rank routes according to filtering and preference (i.e., the "best path"). Routing updates provided by the Update messages allows BGP routers of the ASs to construct a consistent view of the network topology. The Update messages are typically sent using a reliable transport, such as TCP, to ensure reliable delivery. TCP is a transport protocol implemented by a transport layer of the IP architecture; the term TCP/IP is commonly used to denote this architecture. The TCP/IP architecture is well known and described in Computer Networks, 3rd Edition, by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, published by Prentice-Hall (1996).
In particular, BGP peer routers use the Update messages to exchange routing information that is qualified by both AFI, such as IPv4, IPv6 or other address families, and SAFI, such as unicast, multicast or other applications, over a reliable BGP session. Often, an event may arise wherein a network administrator resets the BGP session for administrative reasons, e.g., to upgrade or enable a service of an AFI/SAFI module, or an error condition occurs with the module. The peers typically communicate the occurrence of the event or error condition through a conventional BGP Notification Message. However, a problem with the conventional Notification message is that it resets the BGP session (including reset of all the AFI/SAFI module services) and terminates the reliable transport between the routers. Thus, an event or error associated with one AFI/SAFI service provided over the transport penalizes all other services provided over that transport, resulting in routing "flaps" (streams of Update messages) for all AFI/SAFI modules supported by the peers.
One solution to this problem involves configuring multiple BGP sessions, one for each AFI/SAFI module or set of AFI/SAFI modules, between the peer routers. Each BGP session operates over a reliable (TCP connection) transport, typically by configuring multiple network layer (IP) addresses on each router and binding each session to a different IP address. Another solution involves multi-session BGP, wherein each of a plurality of BGP sessions is configured for each AFI/SAFI module or set of AFI/SAFI modules between a pair of BGP router peers. Here, rather than binding each session to a different IP address on each router, this approach shares an IP address over different sessions. However, each solution consumes resources (e.g., TCP bandwidth and associated control processing) that could be allocated more efficiently in the routers.
A related problem is that whenever a BGP session or an AFI/SAFI is reset, a BGP router flushes all the routes for that AFI/SAFI. When the routes are flushed, the router cannot forward traffic on those routes. However, the cause of the AFI/SAFI reset may not have affected the state of the routes in the Adj-RIB. This is especially true when the cause of the reset is expiration of a timer, exceeding the max-prefix-limit, etc. In these cases, a BGP protocol module may normally seek to reset all prefixes, but it is unnecessary to disrupt the forwarding plane for all prefixes due to the soft-reset of the AFI/SAFI.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network routing apparatus that performs soft graceful restart


The present invention generally relates to a high matching precision organic light emitting diode (OLED) driver by using a current-cascaded method, and more particularly, to a method in which the current-cascaded method is used so as to reduce the driving current mismatching brought about by the drifting in the parameters during different fabrication procedures, and thus improve the display quality. Among the plurality of driving integrated circuits (IC""s), the internal circuit of each IC comprises a first operational amplifier, the output of which is connected to a plurality of output transistors that are further connected to a current mirror. The outputs of said plurality of output transistors are connected to other plurality of driving IC""s respectively so as to achieve output current matching between other driving IC""s.

The present invention generally relates to a high matching precision organic light emitting diode (OLED) driver by using a current-cascaded method, and more particularly, to a method in which the current-cascaded method is used so as to reduce the driving current mismatching brought about by the drifting in the parameters during different fabrication processes, and thus improve the display quality.
Among the computer peripherals, displays serve as important output devices. Recently, due to the increasing demand of displays that are thin and light, thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD""s) have consequently been widely used. In addition, other thin and light displays and related techniques have been vastly investigated. In particular, the display drivers strongly affect the quality of display, and thus are very important.
To date, the most widely used dot-matrix displays are thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD""s), which utilize the voltage signals to control the ON/OFF state of the thin film transistor (TFT) and control the display color and brightness. During the past two years, organic light emitting diodes (OLED""s) represent a new display technique. In an organic light emitting diode (OLED), different organic molecules have different energy bandgaps, and accordingly lights of different energies, and consequently, colors are emitted as electrons from different conduction bands and holes from different valence bands recombine. In such a manner, organic light emitting diodes (OLED""s) can serve as light sources providing light of different colors and do not need a back light plate as thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD""s) do. Therefore, the aspect thickness and the fabrication cost of a display can be reduced.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a somewhat schematic cross sectional view illustrating the basic compositional structure of a conventional organic light emitting diode in accordance with the embodiment of the prior art. In the drawing, the structure comprises, from the top, a cathode 2, which is connected to the negative end of the electric source; an electron transport layer (ETL) 4; an emitter layer (EML) 6; a hole transport layer (HTL) 8; a hole injection layer (HIL) 10; an anode 12, which is connected to the positive end of the electric source; and finally a glass substrate 14 to complete the basic formation of an organic light emitting diodes (OLED). As for the flow directions of the electrons and the holes, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a somewhat schematic diagram illustrating the flow directions of the electrons and the holes across the electron transport layer (ETL) 4, the emitter layer (EML) 6, the hole transport layer (HTL) 8 and the hole injection layer (HIL) 10 in accordance with the embodiment of the prior art. To be more specific, the holes flow from the anode 12 through the hole injection layer (HIL) 10 and the hole transport layer (HTL) 8 to the emitter layer (EML) 6, as the electrons flow from the cathode 2 through the electron transport layer (ETL) 4 to the emitter layer (EML) 6, where the electrons and holes recombine and photons with energy equal to the energy difference between the conduction band and the valence band are emitted.
FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic circuit diagram illustrating the driving system of dot-matrix display in accordance with the embodiment of the prior art. In the drawing, the diode symbols are implemented by using organic light emitting diode pixels 18, each of which is driven under the control of a current switch 17 and a state switch 19. The current switch 17 controls the input of the driving current 16, and the state switch 19 determines the pixel 18 to be connected either to the ground or to high level. In such a manner, a basic circuit structure of the driving system of a dot-matrix organic light emitting diode display is thus completed.
On the other hand, the brightness of the organic light emitting diode is controlled by the input current. Therefore, in order to achieve high brightness uniformity and high display quality, all the IC""s that drive the display are required to provide identical output currents. In other words, all the output currents are determined to match. For a high resolution organic light emitting diode display panel, a set of driving IC""s are connected in parallel to simultaneously provide the driving current. If the set of IC""s connected in parallel are driven under the control of voltage signals according to the conventional method, there occurs the output current mismatching of each driving IC brought about by the drifting in threshold voltage VT or offset voltage VOS of the operation amplifiers in each IC due to different fabrication processes. Accordingly, the display quality is affected.
For a detailed description of this problem, please refer to FIG. 4, which is a somewhat schematic layout diagram illustrating the internal circuit of a set of IC""s connected in parallel to drive the organic light emitting diodes under the control of voltage signals according to the conventional method of the prior art. As the external circuit delivers the voltage signals determined by the brightness of the same level to each driving IC, there occurs the difference between the output current Iout1 of the first driving integrated circuit IC1 and the output current Iout2 of the second driving integrated circuit IC2 brought about by the drifting in threshold voltage VT or offset voltage VOS of the operational amplifiers in each IC due to different fabrication procedures. The relation between the output current difference and the offset voltages of the operational amplifiers can be described as below:
Iout=(VBTxe2x88x92VOS)/Rxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
xcex94Iout=Iout1xe2x88x92Iout2=(VOS2-VOS1)/Rxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
From equations (1) and (2), we know the reason the driving currents according to conventional technique as shown in FIG. 4 mismatch is that the offset voltages of the operational amplifiers are difficult to be implemented to achieve complete matching. Moreover, the large difference between different IC""s can hardly be overcome due to the complicated internal circuit design of the operational amplifiers.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the two resistors R1 and R2, are used in the external circuit; in practical applications, however, the two external resistors can hardly be implemented to be identical either. As a result, the mismatching problem occurs and needs to be solved. As for the mismatching problem of the current mirrors, the error is endurable and is not taken into consideration since it is a problem due to the in-chip IC layout and much less significant than the former two.
In order to overcome the problems that have been previously discussed above, the present invention has been proposed and relates to a method in which the current-cascaded method is used so as to reduce the driving current mismatching brought about by the drifting in the parameters during different fabrication procedures, and thus improve the display quality.
Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a high matching precision organic light emitting diode (OLED) driver by using a current-cascaded method, in which the error resulting from the output current mirror mismatching can be determined by the error resulting from the in-chip IC process, instead of the errors from the external resistor mismatching and from the offset voltage difference between the operational amplifiers. Therefore, the image quality of the display can be improved by controlling the pixel driving currents to be stable and identical.
In order to accomplish the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a current-cascaded method for a plurality of driving IC""s of organic light emitting diodes that is different from the conventional method for driving IC""s in the design that the internal circuit of a first driving integrated circuit (IC) in accordance with the present invention comprises a first operational amplifier, which is used to receive an input voltage signal and then execute the signal amplification; a plurality of output transistors used as the output buffer transistors of said first operational amplifier are connected to one of the inputs of said first operational amplifier at the other end, wherein said first operational amplifier is enclosed in a closed loop and serves as an unity-gain buffer, wherein the outputs of said plurality of output transistors are further connected to said other plurality of driving IC""s so as to make the output currents of said other plurality of driving IC""s to be identical and match; a first current mirror, which is connected to said first output transistor so as to provide said other driving IC""s that are connected to said other output transistors with the current source; a resistor, which is externally connected to said first operational amplifier and said output transistors so as to further modulate the output current of said driving IC.

High matching precision OLED driver by using a current-cascaded method

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that adjust signaling messages that include channel quality metrics communicated between a mobile wireless device and a wireless access network before and/or after interruption of a connection to improve downlink performance after resumption of the connection. One or more adjusted channel quality metrics are determined and communicated to the wireless access network to compensate at least in part for an estimate of communication channel performance degradation by a network element of the wireless access network following the interruption and resumption of the connection between the mobile wireless device and the wireless access network.

Wireless networks continue to evolve as new communication technologies develop and standardize. Wireless network operators can deploy new communication technologies in parallel with earlier generation communication technologies, and wireless networks can support multiple communication technologies simultaneously to provide smooth transitions through multiple generations of mobile wireless devices. Mobile wireless devices can include hardware and software to support wireless connections to different types of wireless networks that use different wireless communication technologies. A representative wireless network can include simultaneous support for the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication protocol and the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) CDMA2000 1x (also referred to as 1xRTT or 1x) wireless communication protocol. This representative "simultaneous" wireless network can support circuit switched voice connections through a first wireless access network that uses the CDMA2000 1x wireless communication protocol and packet switched connections (voice or data) through a second wireless access network that uses the LTE wireless communication protocol. The 3GPP wireless communications standards organization develops mobile communication standards that include releases for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), LTE and LTE Advanced standards. The 3GPP2 wireless communications standards organization develops mobile communication standards that include CDMA2000 1xRTT and 1xEV-DO standards. While a dual network mobile wireless device that includes support for both CDMA2000 1x and LTE is described as a representative device herein, the same teachings can be applied to other mobile wireless devices that can operate in dual (or more generally multiple) wireless communication technology networks. In particular, the teachings disclosed herein can pertain to mobile wireless devices that switch transceivers from one wireless technology to another wireless technology and back again. The teachings provided herein can also apply to mobile wireless devices that operate under widely varying communication channel conditions using a single wireless technology, e.g., when a mobile wireless device encounters a deep fade that interrupts transmission and/or reception between the mobile wireless device and a wireless access network.
Dual chip mobile wireless devices can include separate signal processing chips that each can support a different wireless communication protocol, such as a signal processing chip for a CDMA2000 1x wireless network and another signal processing chip for a LTE wireless network. In particular, in a dual chip mobile wireless device, each signal processing chip can include its own receive signal processing chain, including in some instances multiple receive antennas and attendant signal processing blocks for each signal processing chip. With separate radio frequency receive signaling chains available to each signal processing chip in the dual chip mobile wireless device, pages can be received independently from two different wireless networks, such as from the CDMA2000 1x wireless network and from the LTE wireless network, by the dual chip mobile wireless device. Even when the dual chip mobile wireless device is connected and actively transferring data through one of the signal processing chips to one of the wireless networks, such as the LTE wireless network, the dual chip mobile wireless device can also listen for and receive a paging message through the other parallel signal processing chip from a second wireless access network, such as the CDMA2000 1x wireless network. Thus, the dual chip mobile wireless device can establish a mobile device originating or mobile device terminating circuit switched voice connection through the CDMA2000 1x wireless network while also being actively connected to (or simultaneously camped on) a packet switched LTE wireless network. Dual chip mobile wireless devices, however, can consume more power, can require a larger physical form factor and can require additional components (and cost more) than a more integrated "single chip" mobile wireless device.
A single chip mobile wireless device, at least in some configurations, can include a signal processing chip that can support different wireless communications protocols but can be unable to be actively connected to a first wireless access network and to receive communication from a second wireless access network simultaneously. The single chip mobile wireless device can support multiple wireless communication technologies, such as connections to a CDMA2000 1x wireless network and to an LTE wireless network, but only to one wireless network at any given time. The single chip mobile wireless device can be limited to receiving signals that use one wireless communication technology type at a time, particularly when multiple antennas are used to receive signals for a single communication technology that supports receive diversity. In a representative embodiment, a single chip mobile wireless device is able to connect to or camp on an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) of the LTE wireless network and also to connect to or camp on a radio access network (RAN) of the CDMA2000 1x wireless network, but not to both wireless networks simultaneously. The single chip mobile wireless device can be registered on both the LTE wireless network and on the CDMA2000 1x wireless network and can therefore form connections with each wireless network singly but not simultaneously. The single chip mobile wireless device can be connected on the LTE wireless network and can interrupt the connection to the LTE wireless network to maintain registration on the CDMA2000 1x wireless network. During the interrupted connection, control signaling and responses to received transmissions between the mobile wireless device and the wireless access network portion of the LTE wireless network can be interrupted. Upon resumption of the connection to the LTE wireless network by the mobile wireless device, downlink transmissions can be restricted to lower data rates by the wireless access network than can be supported by the communication channel signal quality characteristics, as the base station of the wireless access network can interpret the interrupted connection as a poor quality connection. The mobile wireless device is able to receive higher data rates than allocated by the wireless access network, however, the base station of the wireless access network can assign lower data rates to the mobile wireless device for a period of time, thereby unnecessarily penalizing downlink performance to the mobile wireless device. Thus, there exists a need to compensate for connection interruptions between a mobile wireless device and a wireless access network to improve performance of connections upon resumption of the connection.
This application describes methods by which a mobile wireless device can operate in a multiple wireless network environment and/or a time varying single network environment and optimize throughput performance after connection interruptions between the mobile wireless device and an access network portion of a wireless network.

Link adaptation resumption based on CQI offset


A display device including: an organic light emitting display unit formed on a first substrate, the organic light emitting display unit comprising first and second electrodes facing each other, and an organic emissive layer formed between the first and second electrodes; and a liquid crystal display unit formed on a second substrate facing the first substrate, the liquid crystal display unit configured to operate as a liquid crystal shutter in response to an electrical potential difference, wherein a resonance structure of the organic light emitting display unit enables the liquid crystal display unit to form an image in a color reflected from each pixel of the organic light emitting display unit.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device in which an organic light-emitting display unit and a reflective liquid crystal display unit are coupled to each other so as to maximize outdoor visibility.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In general, an organic light-emitting display device including a thin film transistor (TFT) is drawing attention since it can be applied to electric and electronic products, such as a digital camera, a video camera, a camcorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a thin film television set, an ultra-slim notebook, a tablet PC, a flexible display device, and the like.
The organic light-emitting display device is a self luminescent display device that forms a color by recombining and emitting holes and electrons that are injected into an anode and a cathode at an organic emissive layer (EML), and has a stack structure in which the EML is interposed between the anode and the cathode.
However, since such a stack structure may not obtain highly efficient emissive, the organic light-emitting display device selectively uses an intermediate layer such as a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injection layer (EIL) that are disposed between electrodes and the EML.
A liquid crystal display panel is a light receiving display device that does not emit light, but rather receives light incident from outside to display an image.
The liquid crystal display panel displays an image, a number, a character, and the like by injecting liquid crystals between a plurality of substrates, and changing an arrangement of liquid crystal molecules when power is supplied. The liquid crystal display panel may be classified in various ways according to a driving method, a display method, and a display form. In this regard, a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display panel is a panel in which transistors are uniformly arranged on a substrate.
In particular, a liquid crystal display panel of a semi-transmission structure has excellent visibility characteristics under sunlight. However, power consumption increases, reflectivity is reduced, and the manufacturing process is difficult due to a reduction in an aperture ratio.
The organic light-emitting display device has advantageously a high color recombination rate, high contrast, and wide viewing angles, compared to the liquid crystal display panel. However, the organic light-emitting display device has an outdoor visibility characteristic caused by a polarizing film, and thus visibility of the organic light-emitting display device deteriorates due to a reflected polarizing film. Therefore, the organic light-emitting display device needs a structure capable of securing visibility under sunlight.


In a power source device including a battery pack, a safety switch is provided between a given pair of battery modules connected to each other. The safety switch connects and disconnects those battery modules by insertion and removal of a safety plug to/form a switch body. The power source device also includes an insertion prevention unit, such as a lock, for preventing the insertion of the safety plug to the switch body in such a manner that prevention of the insertion of the safety plug is releasable. A release operation unit is kept by a worker who removes the safety plug, so that safety of the worker against electric shock is ensured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power source device including a battery pack. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power source device for ensuring worker's safety against electric shock.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various apparatuses using a power source device including a battery pack. The battery pack has a plurality of battery modules each of which includes a single cell or a plurality of cells connected in series, and which are connected in series. Examples of the apparatuses include an electric vehicle using the battery pack as a driving power source, a hybrid vehicle using the battery pack together with an internal-combustion engine, and other various apparatuses. In such an apparatus, a power switch is provided for opening and closing a circuit for distributing power from the power source device. However, there is a problem such that, while a worker conducts maintenance work or the like with the power switch turned off, the worker may get shocked because of a mistaken power-on operation by another person.
Conventionally, a battery pack provided with a work safety device called as a "service plug" is known as a measure for safety against electric shock (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-320801, for example). In the "service plug," a safety switch is provided between a given pair of battery modules in the battery pack that are connected to each other. A worker inserts and removes the "service plug" to/from a main body of the switch, thereby connecting and disconnecting the battery modules so as to open and close the power distribution circuit. Moreover, when the worker pulls out the "service plug," an interlock reed switch is turned off and a system main relay is turned off by a master controller.
By doing so, the worker can remove the "service plug" and conducts maintenance work or the like with safety. That is, even when the power-on switch is turned on by mistake, the power distribution circuit remains open. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the worker from get shocked.
However, anyone can easily insert the "service plug." Thus, there remains a problem that the worker may get shocked when another person mistakenly inserts the "service plug" while the worker is working and the worker works without noticing the insertion of the "service plug." Moreover, even if the master controller is configured to turn off the system main relay separately, the system main relay may have a trouble and may be inoperative because of welding or the like. Therefore, it is very dangerous that the "service plug" can be inserted while the worker is working.


A server and cooler module arrangement includes a server accommodating a stack of an operating system and an electronic device in an accommodation chamber therein at one side and an access device unit in the accommodation chamber at an opposite side, and a cooler module, which comprises a rack mounted in a partition way in the accommodation chamber between the stack of operating system and electronic device and the access device unit and a plurality of fans respectively adjustably mounted in respective open frames at different elevations and adapted for drawing air or sending air toward different heat sources in the operating system, the electronic device and the access device unit for quick dissipation of waste heat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to server cooling technology and more particularly, to a server and cooler module arrangement, which has fans arranged at different elevations to aim at different heat sources for quick dissipation of waste heat during operation of the server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of semiconductor technology, the packaging density of electronic devices is comparatively higher, and the size of electronic devices is comparatively smaller. High-speed electronic devices consume much electric energy, and release much heat energy during operation. If waste heat is not quickly carried away, the problems of electron ionization and thermal stress may occur, lowering system stability and reliability and shortening the lifespan of the electronic components. Therefore, heat dissipation is an important issue to be settled.
Nowadays, computer has been intensively used as tool means in many different fields for different purposes. The life cycle of computer becomes short to meet marketing requirement. In consequence, the replacement rate and culling rate of computer electronic components, such as CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphic processing unit), are high. During operation of a computer, the CPU(s), IC chips, power supply device, CD-ROM and other electronic components of the operating system will release waste heat. If waste heat from the CPU(s), IC chips, power supply device, CD-ROM and other electronic components of the operating system is not quickly dissipated, it will be accumulated in the computer, affecting normal functioning of the CPU(s), IC chips, power supply device, CD-ROM and electronic components of the operating system. In order to prevent accumulation of waste heat in a computer, for example, server computer, multiple cooling fans are usually used. Cooling fans use air as a medium to dissipate heat without damaging electronic component parts. Subject to a reasonable design, cooling fans can effectively carry waste heat away from a server computer, avoiding accumulation of waste heat.
According to the prior art, as shown in FIG. 7, a bracket B is mounted inside a server A to support a plurality of cooling fans B1 that are operable to send cooling air toward a circuit board A1, a power supply device A2 and electronic devices A3 (mobile HDD, CD-ROM, and etc.). The cooling fans B1 are fixedly mounted on the bracket B at fixed locations to send air in predetermined directions. According to this design, the positions of the cooling fans B1 cannot be separately adjusted to aim at the respective heat sources at the circuit board A1, power supply device A2 and electronic devices A3. Thus, the cooling fans B1 cannot accurately send air toward the respective heat sources at the circuit board A1, power supply device A2 and electronic devices A3 to effectively carry waste heat away from the internal space of the server A to the outside open air.
Therefore, the aforesaid prior art design has drawbacks as follows:
1. To fit different operation and control requirements, the server A may have new electronic parts and electronic devices A3 installed therein. When new electronic parts and electronic devices A3 are installed in the server A, the cooling fans B1 cannot be adjusted to send cooling air toward the new heat sources, causing accumulation of waste heat in the server A.
2. The circuit board A1 and the power supply device A2 may be respectively equipped with a respective mini fan for cooling. The working directions of the cooling fans B1 may be unable to effectively carry exhaust air of the mini fans of the circuit board A1 and the power supply device A2 away from the internal space of the server A, causing accumulation of waste heat in the server A.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a server and cooler module arrangement, which dissipates waste heat rapidly during operation of the server, preventing accumulation of waste heat in the server.


A time server of a server time protocol (STP) facility of a coordinated timing network (CTN) receives a primary-reference-time (PRT) update, with the primary-reference-time update having been determined with reference to a time source, which includes a precision-time-protocol (PTP) source. The time server sets a primary reference time correction steering rate for the coordinated timing network based on receiving the primary-reference-time update, and broadcasts to one or more other servers of the coordinated timing network a PRT-correction-steering information block (PCSIB). The PRT-correction-steering information block includes a precision-time-protocol identifier for the time source used in determining the primary-reference-time update, and the primary-reference-time correction steering rate set by the time server.

A coordinated timing network (CTN) is a network in which multiple distinct computing systems maintain time synchronization to form the coordinated timing network. Systems in the coordinating timing network employ a message-based protocol, referred to as a server time protocol (STP), to pass timekeeping information between the systems over existing, high-speed data links. This enables the time of day (TOD) clocks at each system to be synchronized to the accuracy required in today's high-end computing systems. A computing system that provides time to other computing systems is referred to as a time server or server herein.
In one or more implementations, a timing network, such as a coordinated timing network, may utilize a network timing protocol (NTP) source to provide time synchronization. To provide a minimum required level of synchronization for certain of today's systems, the NTP approach may be combined with a pulse-per-second (PPS) signal, where each server has access to the pulse-per-second source to ensure all servers synchronize to the same reference time. This synchronization approach requires each server to have an external link to receive the pulse-per-second signal to achieve the desired degree of accuracy.

Facilitating precision time protocol use in a coordinated timing network

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION