A scented rug has a plurality of formed textile length portions disposed side-by-side with adjacent length portions secured together to form the rug. At least one of the length portions includes a scented strand extending lengthwise therein. The length portions can be formed by knitting, braiding, or wrapping in which embodiments the scented strand is covered by the textile material of the length portions. Alternatively, the rug is woven with the scented strand included in the warp or filling. The invention includes the methods of forming the rugs.

Currently, scented carpets, curtains, bed mattresses, and other household items are known for providing a pleasant aroma to a room in which the household item is used. Such scented items are formed or manufactured in part from a fabric that has been impregnated with fragrance capsules which, upon release of the chemical fragrance by the capsule, introduces the pleasing fragrance into the environment. For example, in Woo, U.S. Pat. No. RE 32,713, a fabric is impregnated with micron-size bubbles in the form of fragile capsules within the interstices between the strands of the fabric. A similar technique is employed in Ono et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,920.
Alternatively, it is also known from Tashiro et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,080, and Sasaki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,291, to utilize fibers in the range of 3 mm to 150 mm that include fragrance-carrying material in, for example, the making of a woven or knitted fabric or the formation of a sheet-like web. However, the costs associated with the impregnation of fragile capsules within a fabric or the manufacture of staple fibers having fragrance-carrying material therein can be prohibitive, and a need exists for a scented rug that can be easily and relatively inexpensively produced without any special treatment.

Rug including a scented filament incorporated therin and method therefor


An Ignition device for an internal combustion engine including a control device and an ignition coil which is feedable on its primary side by a voltage supply unit. The control device is provided to interrupt or reduce the voltage impressed on the primary side of the ignition coil when a magnitude of a magnetic induction B on the primary side of the ignition coil is greater than a predeterminable maximum value.

The present invention relates to an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a gas engine, having a control device and an ignition coil, which is feedable on its primary side by a voltage source.
The ignition coils of the ignition devices according to the preamble are transformers, on the secondary side of which the high voltage is applied to the ignition plug. During operation of these ignition coils power is transferred from the primary side to the secondary side.


A process is disclosed for producing ceramic layers. A dispersion of a strongly acid hydrolysed metal composed and of a metal oxide powder is hardened at low temperatures into a mechanically stable ceramic layer. 29 g of titanium tetraisopropylate are hydrolysed in 14 g water, peptised in 42 g hydrochloric acid (25%) and mixed with 15 g nanocrystalline titanium dioxide. A 10 .mu.m thick ceramic layer produced with this paste is hardened within 5 minutes in a hot air flow at 100.degree. C. This ceramic layer adheres to glass, ceramic materials, metals, and is solvent and water-resistant.

The process of the invention describes the production of thin ceramic layers consisting of pure titanium dioxide or of titanium dioxide combined with other metal oxides at a temperature of 100.degree. C. within 5 minutes on ceramic and metal.
The production of thin ceramic layers from titanium dioxide is known. The best known processes, like the process of the invention, start with a hydrolyzable titanium compound, then hydrolyze this compound and dissolve the precipitate generated by the hydrolysis first with an acid, thereby creating a sol. Up to this point, the inventive process is identical with the known art.
In the processes known in the art, the sol is now transformed into a gel. This is, for instance, achieved by concentrating the sol. When the gel is concentrated further, it crystallizes and forms cracks. For this reason, a surfactant is added to the gel for obtaining a crack-free layer. At a temperature of approximately 400.degree. C. which, of course, has to be maintained over an extended period of time, the titanium dioxide particles fuse together and the surfactant evaporates or decomposes. A nanocrystalline titanium dioxide layer remains.
This process is energy intensive and time consuming and can be rather disadvantageous for practical applications, especially since the resulting strength of the titanium dioxide layers is not very high.

Production of ceramic layers and their use

Creavis Gesellschaft fur Technologie und Innovation mbH


A stiffened panel and method for producing such a panel comprising a laminated skin extending in two directions, made of a resin and a continuous fibers reinforcement. A first stiffener in the form of a beam is made of a resin with continuous fibers reinforcement and extends on a first side of the laminated skin in a first direction. A second stiffener in the form of a beam is made of a resin with continuous fibers reinforcement and extends on a second side of the laminated skin in a second direction. The resins which make up the skin and the stiffeners are thermoplastic in nature and the stiffeners are closely joined to the skin by welding.

According to the prior art, a stiffened composite panel is made of a thermosetting resin with continuous fiber reinforcement. It includes a skin that is stiffened, firstly, by longitudinal stiffeners called stringers and secondly by stiffeners extending along a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, generally on the same side. The techniques of implementation of composite materials do not make it possible to apply such cross stiffening with single lengths of continuous stiffeners. Thus, to achieve that characteristic, when the stiffeners are placed on the same side of the panel, a first series of stiffeners, for example longitudinal stiffeners, are simultaneously co-cured, glued or simultaneously draped with the skin; for their part, the stiffeners that are orthogonal to them are assembled onto the skin by rivet type fasteners with cleats that are themselves riveted or glued to the skin. That panel manufacturing mode implies that it is made in several distinct assembly steps. Besides, it implies specific problems relating to the low peening resistance of the composite material which makes it necessary to oversize the rivets and increase the thicknesses at the fasteners, and thus increase the mass of the finished panel.
To remedy that drawback of the prior art, when the panel does not comprise an aerodynamic side, the continuous orthogonal stiffeners are advantageously placed on both sides of the skin. While that configuration makes it possible to achieve cross stiffening by continuous stiffeners without using intermediate cleats or fasteners, as said stiffeners are placed on each side of the thickness of the skin, making the stiffeners by direct drape forming or by adding them by simultaneous curing is very delicate since it makes it necessary to handle a non-consolidated pre-form while turning it over and to place and to position it in a complex tooling. Such a panel has a high manufacturing cost and the many manufacturing steps constitute as many sources of dispersion liable to lead to manufacturing quality defects.
The document EP 1 149 687 describes a composite panel stiffened by orthogonal stiffeners fixed by welding on the same side of the panel.

Double-sided stiffened composite panel and method for producing such a panel


A flyback converter is provided that includes a base driver for driving a base current into a base of a BJT power switch. The base driver is controlled so as to adaptively vary the base current across at least some of the pulses.

The explosive growth in mobile electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets creates an increasing need in the art for compact and efficient switching power converters so that users may recharge these devices. A flyback switching power converter is typically provided with a mobile device as its transformer provides safe isolation from AC household current. This isolation introduces a problem in that the power switching occurs at the primary side of the transformer but the load is on the secondary side. The power switching modulation for a flyback converter requires knowledge of the output voltage on the secondary side of the transformer. Such feedback can be obtained through opto-isolators bridging from the secondary side to the primary side but this adds to cost and control complexity. Thus, primary-only feedback techniques have been developed that use the reflected voltage on the primary side of the transformer in each switching cycle.
In a switching cycle for a flyback converter, the secondary current (the current in the secondary winding of the transformer) pulses high after the primary-side power switch is cycled off. The secondary current then ramps down to zero as power is delivered to the load. The delay between the power switch off time and the secondary current ramping to zero is denoted as the transformer reset time (Trst). The reflected voltage on the primary winding at the transformer reset time is proportional to the output voltage because there is no diode drop voltage on the secondary side as the secondary current has ceased flowing. The reflected voltage at the transformer reset time is thus directly proportional to the output voltage based upon the turn ratio in the transformer and other factors. Primary-only feedback techniques use this reflected voltage to efficiently modulate the power switching and thus modulate the output voltage.
The power switch in a flyback converter may comprise a transistor such as a MOSFET or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). As compared to MOSFETs, BJTs are cheaper to manufacture. In addition, BJTs have less EMI noise and lessen the need for snubber circuitry. Thus, the use of BJT power switches in flyback converters has grown in popularity, particularly for low-power applications such as for the growing mobile device market. A particularly advantageous flyback converter having a BJT power switch is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,289,732 (the '732 patent), the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In this flyback converter architecture, the BJT collector current (and thus the primary current) is controlled on a pulse-by-pulse basis using primary-only feedback. A feedback sense voltage (Vsense) is sensed on the primary side (such as on an auxiliary winding) at the transformer reset time as discussed above. A controller for the flyback converter compares the feedback voltage Vsense to a reference voltage that represents the target voltage at the output (as scaled according to the turn ratio in the transformer) to generate an error signal. The controller processes the error signal to control the power switch accordingly so that the desired peak primary current is achieved in the next switching cycle. Each time the BJT power switch is switched on, the collector current linearly ramps from zero to the desired peak current for that pulse.
Although the resulting control architecture is remarkably low cost and efficient, the linear variation in the collector current for each current pulse complicates the formation of the appropriate base current. To function as a switch, the base current for the BJT power switch should be sufficiently greater than the ratio of its collector current and common emitter gain so that the BJT power switch is driven into saturation. The appropriate amount of base current thus varies according to the linear variation of the collector current. Driving this sufficient amount of base current to maintain the BJT power switch in saturation is thus not an easy task as a sufficient amount of overdrive is necessary for the peak primary/collector current that is achieved just prior to switching off the BJT power switch. One approach for ensuring that this peak collector current is achieved involves driving the base current according to the overdrive amount sufficient to achieve this peak collector current across the entire pulse. But this use of such a constant base current then wastes power due to the resulting excessive overdrive across the bulk of the pulse but for the peak collector current. An example of such constant base current driving is shown in FIG. 1. A base driver on signal pulses on and off to control a generation of constant base current (iB) pulses accordingly. During each base current pulse, the collector current (iC) ramps up from zero to a peak collector current value. This amount of base current is sufficient for overdrive at this peak collector current and is thus excessive during the remainder of each pulse.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved base current driving techniques and systems for switching power converters having BJT power switches.

Adaptive BJT driver for switching power converter


This invention relates to a novel compound represented by the formula (I):

Glucokinase (GK) (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 188.8.131.52) is one of the four types of mammalian hexokinases (hexokinase IV). Hexokinases are enzymes in the first step of the glycolysis pathway which catalyze the reaction from glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Expression of glucokinase is largely localized in the liver and pancreatic beta cells, and it plays an important role in glucose metabolism throughout the body by controlling the rate limiting step of glucose metabolism in these cells. The glucokinase types expressed in the liver and pancreatic beta cells differ in the sequence of the 15 N-terminal amino acids due to a difference in splicing, but their enzymatic properties are identical. The enzyme activities of the three hexokinases (I, II, III) other than glucokinase become saturated at a glucose concentration of below 1 mM, whereas the Km of glucokinase for glucose is 8 mM, or close to the physiological glucose level. Thus, glucokinase-mediated intracellular glucose metabolism is accelerated in response to glucose level changes by postprandial glucose level increase (10-15 mM) from normal glucose (5 mM).
The theory that glucokinase acts as a glucose sensor for pancreatic beta cells and the liver has been advocated for about 10 years. Recent results in glucokinase gene-manipulated mice have confirmed that glucokinase does in fact play an important role in systemic glucose homeostasis. Mice lacking a functional glucokinase gene die shortly after birth, while mice overexpressing glucokinase have lower blood glucose levels. With glucose level increase, the reactions of pancreatic beta cells and the liver, while differing, both act toward lowering blood glucose. Pancreatic beta cells secrete more insulin, while the liver takes up glucose and stores it as glycogen while also reducing glucose release.
Such variation in glucokinase enzyme activity is important for liver and pancreatic beta cell-mediated glucose homeostasis in mammals. A mutant form of the glucokinase gene is expressed in a type of diabetes which occurs in youth, known as MODY2 (maturity-onset diabetes of the young), and the reduced glucokinase activity has been shown to be responsible for blood glucose increase. On the other hand, families have been found having a mutation which increases glucokinase activity, and such individuals exhibit hypoglycemic symptoms.
This suggests that in humans as well, glucokinase functions as a glucose sensor and thus plays an important role in glucose homeostasis. Glucose regulation utilizing a glucokinase sensor system should be possible to achieve in type II diabetic patients. Since glucokinase activators should have effects of accelerating insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and of promoting glucose uptake and inhibiting glucose release by the liver, they are potentially useful as therapeutic agents for type II diabetic patients.
In recent years it has been demonstrated that pancreatic beta cell glucokinase is expressed locally in rat brain, and particularly in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). Approximately 20% of VMH neurons are known as "glucose-responsive neurons", and these have long been considered to play an important role in body weight control. Administration of glucose into rat brain reduces feeding consumption, but inhibiting glucose metabolism by intracerebral administration of the glucose analog glucosamine produces hyperphagia. Electrophysiological experiments have indicated that glucose-responsive neurons are activated in response to physiological glucose level changes (5-20 mM) but that their activation is inhibited with glucose metabolism inhibition by glucosamine or the like.
The glucose level-detecting system in the VMH is believed to be based on a glucokinase-mediated mechanism similar to that for insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. Consequently, substances which activate glucokinase in the VMH in addition to the liver and pancreatic beta cells not only exhibit a blood glucose rectifying effect but can also potentially rectify obesity, which is a problem for most type II diabetic patients.
This indicates that compounds having glucokinase-activating effects are useful as therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents for diabetes, as therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents for diabetes complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, arteriosclerosis and the like, and as therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents for obesity.
An example of a compound which is structurally similar to the present invention is the compound represented by the formula (III) disclosed by International Publication No. WO00/26202.

However, the aforesaid compound does not have an amino group in the benzamide skeleton, and is clearly different structurally from the compound of this application. Also, the compound in the aforesaid formula (III) is used as a CDK inhibitor and an anti-cancer agent, and in International Publication No. WO00/26202, there is no mention or suggestion regarding its use in diabetes mellitus.
The compound represented by the formula (IV) is disclosed by International Publication No. WO00/39118.

This compound (IV) does not have a nitrogen atom adjacent to the carbon atom bonded to the nitrogen atom of the NH group of carbamoyl, and differs structurally from the compound of this application. The aforesaid compound (V) is used in relation to Factor Xa, but it is different from the diabetes mellitus which is the usage described in this application. Also, in WO00/No. 39118 wherein the compound (IV) is disclosed, there is no mention or suggestion to the effect that it is useful as a treatment or prevention agent for diabetes mellitus.
The compound represented by the formula (V) is disclosed by International Publication No. WO00/39118.

However, this compound (V) has a piperazinyl group on the carbonyl side of the amide, and clearly differs structurally from the compound of this application. These compounds are related to Factor Xa inhibitor. Also, their usage is clearly different from diabetes mellitus which is the usage for the compound of this application, and there is no suggestion in this report that these compounds are useful in diabetes mellitus.
The compound represented by the formula (VI) is disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-25764.

However, this compound has a nitro group in the benzamide skeleton, and differs structurally from the compound of this application which has an amino group.
The compound represented by the formula (VII) is disclosed by WO01/No. 10865 as an example of a compound which is effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

However, since the compound shown in formula (VII) has a methoxy group in R1 and does not have an amino group in the benzamide skeleton, it differs structurally from the compound of this application.

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,                wherein        R1 is —S(O)p-A, —S—(O)q-B or —O-D, wherein p and q, which are the same or different, each represent an integer from 0 to 2, A is a straight chain C1-C10 alkyl group which may be substituted by R10, and B and D each independently represent R12 which may be substituted by R10;        R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a straight chain or branched C1-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted by R10;        X1 and X2 each independently represent N or CH, but cannot both be N;        the formula (II):

Abstract: shows a monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaryl group which has a nitrogen atom adjacent to the carbon atom bonded to the amide group, and the heteroaryl group may be substituted by R10;                R10 is R11, or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted by R11;        R11 is, for example, a hydrogen atom or amino; and        R12 is, for example, phenyl, thiazolyl, pyridyl or methylene dioxyphenyl.

Abstract: The compound according to this invention has a glucokinase activation effect, and for example, is useful in the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus, and in the prevention of its complications such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic arteriosclerosis.


A communication system transmitting signals over a network using a transmission waveform in which a plurality of data packets are transmitted in a payload field of a transmission frame, the system includes a transmitter, which has a transmitting portion that sends information including user data in the data packets and a user data rate portion that dynamically changes the data rate of the user data to the highest rate possible for current link conditions by changing the waveform. The communication system also includes a receiver, which has a receiving portion that receives the information data packets and a reconfiguration portion that reconfigures the receiving portion based on the waveform parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to satellite and terrestrial wireless modems and, more particularly, to a modem that can change its rates (hereinafter, a "rate adaptive modem") using an adaptive technique, as subsequently explained and as referred to herein as "Information Throughput Adaptation" or (ITA).
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of satellite-based communication system using two conventional modems 4A, 4B, each located at a respective station A, B. Each station comprises a terminal 1A, 1B also having conventional amplifier, multiplexer and encoding capabilities, as well as an antenna 5A, 5B, respectively. The conventional modem 4A, 4B is a module coupled to other components of the terminal 1A, 1B, as an independent unit or integrated structure, between a source of user information and control data and an antenna 5A, 5B, respectively. The modem is adapted to modulate a carrier wave, which is generated at the terminal 1A, 1B and transmitted by the antenna, with the user information and control data, using well known techniques such as BPSK, QPSK, 8-PSK and 16-APSK. The modem also may encode the data according to techniques known to minimize losses and enhance accuracy, such as Viterbi and/or other codes at exemplary rates ½, ⅔, ¾, ⅞, 19/20. The modem also is adapted to demodulate a carrier wave received by the antenna, and strip away the data and information from the carrier wave, making the data and information available for further processing. In the illustrated conventional system, the user information and control data 2A that is input to user terminal 3A is first processed (encrypted, multiplexed, etc.) and then appended onto a carrier wave by modem 4A for transmission by antenna 5A to the satellite 6. The signal relayed by satellite 6 is received by antenna 5B, demodulated at modem 413 and processed (decrypted, demultiplexed, etc.) at user terminal 3B so that data and information 2B can be delivered for further processing. In bi-directional communications, modem 4B may also be used to modulate a carrier wave for transmission of data and information via the satellite 6, and modem 4A may be used to demodulate a received carrier wave for reception of those signals.
In a system using conventional modems, parameters such as symbol rate, type of waveform (modulation, coding) and data rates are fixed. Therefore, for communications to exist, both modems 4A and 4B must be initialized to the same set of configuration parameters. If the parameters need to be changed for any reason, the system must be taken off-line, i.e., the communications in the system between those two modems must be discontinued, before the new parameters can be entered.
Because the system must be taken off-line before parameters such as the user data rate can be changed, the conventional systems configure the modems with a modulation and coding such that the communication is reliable even in the worst of transmission conditions. Accordingly, the resultant user data rate is not maximized, i.e., bandwidth efficient, for all transmission conditions.
For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a storm 10 that is approaching the communications path that exists between antenna 5A and satellite 6. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the maximum possible user data rate for reliable communications and for a given set of atmospheric conditions is represented by curve 8. Curve 8 is at its maximum, point A, before the storm 10 approaches the communications path between antenna 5A and satellite 6 and after the storm 10 leaves the communications path between antenna 5A and satellite 6. As the storm 10 approaches the communications path, the user data rate must be lowered by changing the modulation, coding and symbol rate to less efficient values in order to maintain reliable communications. At the height of the storm 10, the user data rate must be lowered to the minimum point B in order to maintain reliable communications. In addition, a margin of error (or safety), which is illustrated as a difference between curves 7 and 8, is also employed so that the communications between the modems are as robust as possible. Therefore, to ensure reliable communications during the height of the storm 10, the user data rate must be lowered to point C.
Because the conventional modems do not allow for the user data rate to be changed dynamically, i.e., while communicating modems are on-line, and because taking the system off-line for every atmospheric change would be impractical, the user data rate in the conventional modems are set to the "worst case scenario," i.e., line 9. Although this would ensure reliable communications, the modems are not bandwidth efficient for situations where the atmospheric conditions allow for higher user data rates.


A method of monitoring a scene by a camera (7) comprises marking a part (14) of the scene with light having a predefined spectral content and a spatial verification pattern. An analysis image is captured of the scene by a sensor sensitive to the predefined spectral content. The analysis image is segmented based on the predefined spectral content, to find a candidate image region. A spatial pattern is detected in the candidate image region, and a characteristic of the detected spatial pattern is compared to a corresponding characteristic of the spatial verification pattern. If the characteristics match, the candidate image region is identified as a verified image region corresponding to the marked part (14) of the scene. Image data representing the scene is obtained, and image data corresponding to the verified image region is processed in a first manner, and remaining image data is processed in a second manner.

Cameras are used in many different applications, both indoors and outdoors, to monitor a variety of environments. In certain situations there may be a need to treat one part of a captured image different from another part, such as when a building with windows is monitored and there is a need to avoid monitoring the inside of the building through the window. In such an instance, a privacy mask may be defined by marking the window to be masked on the image in a graphical user interface. For a camera which is able to pan, tilt and/or zoom, the privacy mask may be defined in a PTZ coordinate system.
Another example of when there is a need to mark a part of an image is in a situation where a camera should detect movement only in a selected area of the image and ignore any motion in the rest of the image. This is usually solved by an operator selecting, e.g. by marking an image area in a user interface, which part of the image, such as the higher or lower part, should be removed from motion detection.
However, improvements in this area are still of interest.


An antenna apparatus including a feed element excited by first and second wireless frequency signals, first non-feed elements for controlling directivity with respect to the first wireless frequency signal, second non-feed elements for controlling directivity with respect to the second wireless frequency signal, second variable-reactance circuits disposed between the second non-feed elements and ground, filters for passing the first frequency band and cutting off the second frequency band, which are connected to the first non-feed elements, and first variable-reactance circuits disposed between the filters and the ground.

ESPAR (Electronically Steerable Passive Array Radiator) antennas including a plurality of non-feed elements to which variable-reactance circuits are connected and a single feed element have been developed as variable-directivity antennas (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Documents 1–3).
Referring to FIG. 7, a known ESPAR antenna will be described.
FIG. 7(A) is a perspective view of main portions of an antenna apparatus, and FIG. 7(B) is a side view of the main portions. The antenna apparatus includes a ground conductor 1, a feed element 60 disposed at the central part of the ground conductor 1, and a plurality of non-feed elements 61a to 61f disposed around the feed element 60. Variable-reactance circuits including varactor diodes are disposed between these non-feed elements 61a to 61f and the ground. FIG. 7(B) shows the non-feed elements 61b and 61e to which variable-reactance circuits 62b and 62e are connected. A feeder circuit 30 is connected to the feed element 60.
The case in which radio waves are transmitted from the antenna apparatus, that is, the case in which power is supplied from the feeder circuit 30 to the feed element 60, will be examined. In the antenna apparatus with the above-described structure, electromagnetic coupling between the feed element 60 at the center and the peripheral non-feed elements 61a to 61f is actively employed. The radiation directivity (radiation pattern) of radio waves transmitted from the antenna apparatus is determined by the state of the electromagnetic coupling. When the reactances of the variable-reactance circuits connected to the peripheral non-feed elements 61a to 61f change, so does the state of the electromagnetic coupling. As a result, the radiation directivity of the antenna apparatus changes.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the feed element 60, which is a monopole antenna, is disposed at the center of the disc-shaped ground conductor 1, and, about one-quarter wavelength from the feed element 60, the non-feed elements 61a to 61f including six monopole antennas are circularly disposed at intervals of 60 degrees. Varactor diodes are used as the variable-reactance circuits. By appropriately setting voltages applied to the varactor diodes, the radiation directivity of the antenna apparatus in a horizontal plane can be controlled.
A multi-channel antenna apparatus for reducing an effect of coupling among element antennas excited at different frequencies, which is caused by the element antennas being disposed in the same aperture, is described in Patent Document 4. Non-Patent Document 1: Takashi Ohira and Kyouichi Iigusa, "Denshi-sousa Douhaki Array Antenna (Electronic Scanning Waveguide Array Antenna)", IEICE Trans. C, Vol. J87-C, No. 1, January 2004, pp. 12–31    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-16427    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-24431    Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-16432    Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-139626
A plurality of different frequency bands may be used by devices or systems used for the same purpose. For example, the standards for wireless LANs include the IEEE 802.11a using the 5.2 GHz band and the IEEE 802.11b/g using the 2.4 GHz band. To configure an access point covering both frequency bands, a single antenna that covers these two frequency bands is necessary.
However, the ESPAR antennas described in Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Documents 1 to 3 are used in only one frequency band and are not intended to be used in a plurality of frequency bands at the same time or at different times.
Regarding the antenna apparatus described in Patent Document 4, active directivity control, such as that performed by non-feed elements in an ESPAR antenna, cannot be performed in a plurality of frequency bands.
Conceivably, an antenna apparatus covering a plurality of frequency bands may be configured by disposing a plurality of ESPAR antennas, each operating as an ESPAR antenna in one frequency band, on a single ground conductor. However, the directivity of an ESPAR antenna changes due to electromagnetic coupling between a feed element (radiating element or radiator) and non-feed elements (waveguide elements or directors). When feed elements and non-feed elements operating in a plurality of frequency bands are simply disposed on the same ground conductor, the radiation directivity in a desired frequency band is negatively affected by coupling between a feed element and non-feed elements in an undesired frequency band. As a result, the desired radiation directivity cannot be achieved.
Problems similar to those above occur when the radiation directivity with respect to wireless frequency signals in different frequency bands is controlled or when the feeding position in the structure of a diversity antenna is changed.


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes S PLLs (S is an integer satisfying S≧2), and the (k−1)th PLL 12(k-1) (k is an integer satisfying 2≦k≦S) is connected to the kth PLL 12k in the test mode. In this manner, the examination of S PLLs can be performed in a single test, and thereby it can reduce the time needed to examine PLLs in the semiconductor integrated circuit having a plurality of PLLs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit and method of testing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, as an LSI (Large Scale Integration) has gotten larger in scale, the number of PLLs (Phase-Locked Loops) embedded in an LSI has been increasing. Consequently, the testing time of PLLs embedded in a LSI has been problematically getting longer.
A conventional method of testing PLLs embedded in a LSI is explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 shows an exemplary case where a LSI 1000 has two PLLs, i.e., first PLL 1001 and second PLL 1002. A test device 2000 for testing a PLL includes a signal generator 2001 and a signal measuring device 2002. The test device 2000 also includes switches 2003 and 2004. The switch 2003 changes the connection from the signal generator 2001 between the first PLL 1001 and second PLL 1002. Likewise, the switch 2004 changes the connection to the signal measuring device 2002 between the first PLL 1001 and second PLL 1002.
Then, to test the PLLs embedded in the LSI 1000, firstly, the first PLL 1001 is connected to the signal generator 2001 and signal measuring device 2002 by the first and second switches 2003 and 2004. In this state, a clock having a frequency ft outputted from the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the first PLL 1001, and the frequency is frequency-multiplied by N at the first PLL 1001. Then, the clock having a frequency N×ft outputted from the first PLL 1001 is measured in the signal measuring device 2002, and the test of the first PLL 1001 has been completed. Next, by changing the switches 2003 and 2004, the second PLL 1002 is connected to the signal generator 2001 and signal measuring device 2002. In this state, a clock having a frequency ft outputted from the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the second PLL 1002, and the frequency is frequency-multiplied by M at the second PLL 1002. Then, the clock having a frequency M×ft outputted from the second PLL 1002 is measured in the signal measuring device 2002, and the test of the second PLL 1002 has been completed.
FIG. 9 shows a more concrete example of the circuit shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, selectors 1004 and 1005 are connected to the first and second PLLs 1001 and 1002 respectively. In a normal operation mode, the selectors 1004 and 1005 select a clock generated by an OSC (oscillator) 1003, and this clock is inputted to the first and second PLLs 1001 and 1002. On the other hand, in a test mode, the selectors 1004 and 1005 select a clock generated by the signal generator 2001, and this clock is inputted to the first and second PLLs 1001 and 1002. Furthermore, first and second logic circuits 1006 and 1007 are connected to the first and second PLLs 1001 and 1002. The first and second logic circuits 1006 and 1007 become active with the clock outputted from the first and second PLLs 1001 and 1002 in the normal mode, Furthermore, the test device 2000 outputs a control signal for controlling the switching of the selector 1004 and 1005.
Then, to test the PLLs embedded in the LSI 1000, firstly, the first PLL 1001 is connected to the signal generator 2001 by a switch 2005, and the first PLL 1001 is also connected to the signal measuring device 2002 by a switch 2006. At the same time, the test device 2000 inputs the control signal to the selector 1004 such that a clock generated by the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the first PLL 1001. In this state, a clock having a frequency ft outputted from the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the first PLL 1001, and the frequency is frequency-multiplied by N at the first PLL 1001. Then, the clock having a frequency N×ft outputted from the first PLL 1001 is measured in the signal measuring device 2002, and the test of the first PLL 1001 has been completed. Next, the second PLL 1002 is connected to the signal generator 2001 by changing the switch 2005, and the second PLL 1002 is also connected to the signal measuring device 2002 by changing the switch 2006. At the same time, the test device 2000 inputs the control signal to the selector 1005 such that a clock generated by the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the second PLL 1002. In this state, a clock having a frequency ft outputted from the signal generator 2001 is inputted to the second PLL 1002, and the frequency is frequency-multiplied by M at the second PLL 1002. Then, the clock having a frequency M×ft outputted from the second PLL 1002 is measured in the signal measuring device 2002, and the test of the second PLL 1002 has been completed.
However, in the method shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the case where a plurality of PLLs are embedded in a LSI, a test has to be performed the same number of times as the number of the PLLs embedded in the LSI to complete the PLL test. Therefore, the testing time of the PLLs gets problematically longer. Furthermore, since both a signal generator and a signal measuring device are expensive, it will be unrealistic to use several test devices simultaneously. In addition, the number of signal generators and signal measuring devices embedded in a single test device is two channels or three at the maximum, and even so it cannot test more than two PLLs simultaneously.
Meanwhile, it is known to test two PLLs simultaneously for a LSI having two PLLs by inputting a clock delayed by a delay circuit to one of the PLLs, comparing the outputted clocks from the two PLLs by a comparator, and detecting the failure of the PLLs from the phase difference between the outputted clocks from the two PLLs. (For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-277472 (Ogawa))
However, the technique described in Ogawa can only compare the phase difference between two input clocks, and cannot cope with a LSI having more than two PLLs.

Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of testing same


An exercise device has a board wherein an oval recess is formed. A circular recess is formed in the oval recess. An oval plate has a first side and a second side on which a disk is rotatably attached. The oval plate is receivable in the oval recess. The disk is receivable in the circular recess. The first side of the plate and the upper side of the board form a plain surface on which the exerciser can do sit-ups when the oval plate is received in the oval recess and the disk is received in the circular recess. When the oval plate is received in the recess with the second side thereof exposed, there is exposed the disk on which exercisers can stand and twist.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise device.
2. Related Prior Art
In modern life, many people are under great pressure to achieve success by working hard for long hours. As a result of this, they sacrifice time which should be spent on other activities, such as exercising, because this has a low priority compared to working. Even though some people want to exercise, it may be difficult to find enough space for exercise in urban areas. For those who wish to exercise and only have limited space, the present invention provide& an exercise device.


A detachable device for improved dental hygiene supports and tensions dental floss above and beyond the bristles of the tooth brush so that flossing can occur using the bristle end of the tooth brush and avoid having the bristles interfere with the flossing process. In preferred embodiments the device is mechanically coupled to a sonic toothbrush to transmit sonic energy to the floss for improved cleaning. In other embodiments the device includes a tongue cleaning implement.

The present invention relates to oral hygiene tools and in particular device for flossing and relating oral hygiene attachments for a toothbrush.
It has been recognized in the art of oral hygiene devices that it would be convenient to provide multiple functionality in a single hand tool, that is a means to brush clean the exposed tooth surfaces as well as another tool, such as tensioned dental floss, to remove debris and/or plaque from below the portions of the gum line that are not reached by a brush.
Prior methods of providing dental floss and a tooth brush in a single device attempt to dispose the toothbrush and the dental floss at the opposite sides of a an elongated stick like handle than the brush. Exemplary design includes those disclosed in US Patent application Nos.'s: US2003188761; US2003005544; and US2006260635, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,429. A shortcoming of this design is that it is inconvenient to grip the tool on the brush side when flossing
In an alternative approach, spooled dental floss is disposed on the same side of the handle as the brush, but on the back, opposite the brush. Such concepts are disclosed in U.S Pat. Nos. 6,772,770 and 6,095,157, as well as U.S Pat. Appl. No. US2002121283. The dental floss is generally tensioned on supports being threaded from a spool. However, in this design the spool and floss device can interfere with normal use of the tooth brush. Moreover, the bristles of the brush portion can interfere with the use of the dental floss. Such designs also present the problem that the spooled floss stored with or proximate the handle may be contaminated during use.
Another attempt to combine two oral hygiene devices is disclosed in U.S Pat. Appl. No. US20070100360 for a combination flossing device and tongue scraper. The device is essentially a pairs of tines that support tensioned dental floss. The tongue scraper is blade disposed opposite the tines and floss. In contrast, U.S Pat. Appl. NO. US200400237995 discloses a toothbrush having a hollow handle that conceals the refillable toothpaste, the dental floss and the tongue scraper. In contrast, the German with patent publication NO. DE19850325 discloses a dental care unit that comprises a sliding inter-dental brush, tooth pick and extensible dental floss set individually or all together in a head for fitting onto tooth brush. The inter-dental brush, tooth pick and floss can be turned to extend out and in by a rotary disc.
It should be noted that the aforementioned prior art does not provide a means for attaching a flossing device on a mechanical tooth brush head that the consumer chooses separately, such as an mechanical rotary tooth brush or ultrasonic tooth brush.
It should also be appreciated that the integrated designs of a flossing device in a tooth brush limits the consumers choice to a particular type of toothbrush, eliminating the options for a preference in a softness or the configuration of the bristles, as well as the option for use with an electric toothbrush of any type the consumer might already own.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a more flexible means for supplying a single device that allows floss and various oral hygiene aids to be attached or incorporated to a variety of toothbrushes, so as to encourage flossing as part of an oral hygiene regimen.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a means wherein the brush and the floss holder/dispenser do not interfere with their respective operations.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device that is more hygienic in that the floss is not likely to be contaminated or used multiple times.


An antenna comprising a rectangular reflector; first and second dipole antennae disposed in front of the reflector and aligned parallel to the long edge of the reflector; rod-shaped first metal conductors arranged parallel to the first and second dipole antennae and separated from the dipole antennae by a distance X1 to the outside in the direction parallel to the short edge of the reflector, and separated by a distance Y1 in the direction perpendicular to the reflector; and rod-shaped second metal conductors disposed at a position separated from the dipole antennae by a distance X2 greater than distance X1 to the outside with respect to each other, and separated by a distance Y2 greater than distance Y1 forward in the direction perpendicular to the reflector.

This invention relates to a small antenna having a narrow HPBW (Half-Power Beam Width) in the horizontal plane that can be adapted, for example, to a third-generation (IMT-2000 system) six-sector wireless zone. This invention more particularly relates to an antenna that uses a plurality of non-powered metal conductors and has beam characteristics in the horizontal plane that are suitable for a six-sector wireless zone.
Repeated use of the same frequency in adjacent zones is a characteristic of a third-generation system, and the service area must be divided and the number of sectors increased in order to increase subscriber capacity. It is also known that narrowing the HPBW in the horizontal plane is more effective for increasing subscriber capacity than narrowing the angle of sector division (Reference: "Optimal Beamwidth of Base Station Antennas for W-CDMA" 1999 General Conference of The Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers). In a six-sector wireless zone, since the division angle of one sector is 60°, an antenna having a HPBW in the horizontal plane that is narrower than 60° is needed in order to increase subscriber capacity.
Generally known methods for narrowing the HPBW in the horizontal plane involve enlarging the reflecting device. FIG. 11 shows an antenna in which the HPBW in the horizontal plane is set to 45° by a dipole antenna and a planar reflector. Dipole antennae 111 and 112 are arranged parallel to and in front of the planar reflector 110. The aperture width of the planar reflector 110 for making the HPBW 45° in the horizontal plane is 150 mm as found by a moment method when the central frequency used is 2 GHz, for example, and a length of one wavelength λ2G of 2 GHz is necessary.
By another well known method, the same effect as widening the antenna aperture width is obtained by placing a metal conductor near the antenna, and inducing an electric current in the metal conductor. FIG. 12 shows a 60° beam antenna in which metal conductors are placed on both sides of the antenna, and the HPBW in the horizontal plane is set to 45°. The dipole antennae 121 and 122 in front of the reflector 120 are arranged opposite each other and parallel to the planar reflector 120. Metal conductors 123 and 124 substantially equal in length to the reflector 120 in the longitudinal direction are arranged parallel to the dipole antennae 121 and 122 at a wider spacing than the spacing between the dipole antennae 121 and 122. These metal conductors 123 and 124 produce the same effect as widening the reflector 110 shown in FIG. 11, and the HPBW in the horizontal plane is set to 45°.
Another example described in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2004-15365 that uses a metal conductor is shown in FIG. 14. In the example shown in FIG. 14, a first metal wire 142 substantially equal in length to the radome of a multi-frequency common 120° beam antenna 140 is placed in a position at a distance S1 from the center of the beam antenna 140 in the direction ±90° with respect to the main radiation direction of the antenna 140, a second metal wire 143 shorter than the first metal wire 142 is placed in a position at a distance S2 nearer than distance S1 in the same direction, and the HPBW is narrowed to 90°.
The method for enlarging the reflecting device shown in FIG. 11 has drawbacks in that the already installed antenna is unusable. This, of course, necessitates replacing the antenna, which makes interruption of service unavoidable and places a burden on the user. When the reflecting device is enlarged, since the surface area blown by wind increases and the strength of the building material becomes an issue when the antenna is mounted on the rooftop of a building or the like, it may become impossible to install a desired antenna in some cases. Methods for enlarging the reflecting device therefore involve significant burdens both in service and economic aspects.
The method shown in FIG. 12 whereby the metal conductors 123, 124 are placed near the antenna has advantages in that the existing antenna can be used. However, the conventional method has drawbacks in that the back lobe level and side lobe levels increase when the HPBW is narrowed.
The solid line in FIG. 13 indicates the directional characteristics in the horizontal plane of the antenna shown in FIG. 12 in which the HPBW is narrowed using metal conductors. In FIG. 13, the angle of the main radiation direction of the antenna is set to 90°, and the axis scale is normalized so that the maximum value is 0 dB. The half bandwidth (−3 dB) for when the metal conductors 123, 124 of FIG. 12 are not present, indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 13, is 60°, but the half bandwidth is indeed 45°, as shown in FIG. 13, due to the effect of placing the metal conductors. However, the back lobe in the direction of 270° is increased by about 3 dB. The antenna gain in the 30° and 150° directions offset 60° from the main radiation direction is also at a level of about −13 dB, and lowering the gain of the back lobe and side lobes in order to decrease interference is desirable when the original purpose is considered, which is to increase the subscriber capacity by reducing interference to narrow the HPBW. It can hardly be said that adequate directional characteristics in the horizontal plane are obtained by conventional methods that use a metal conductor in this manner.


A static structure of a gas turbine engine includes a multiple of airfoil segments and at least one structural reinforcement ring mounted to the multiple of airfoil segments.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine, and more particularly to static structure thereof.
In a turbine section of a gas turbine engine, a support structure typically extend between an annular outer case and an annular inner case across a core path through which hot core exhaust gases are communicated. The support structure is often shielded by a respective high temperature resistant cast metal alloy aerodynamically shaped fairing that forms the flowpath. For applications where this structure is located between the high-pressure turbine and low-pressure turbine it is referred to as a mid-turbine frame.
The mid-turbine frame fairings are typically not conducive to welding, and large-scale castings may be relatively expensive to manufacture. The mid-turbine frame fairings often employ single or double vane segments which are attached directly to the cold structure annular outer case or are mechanically joined to each other to form a full ring structure which is then attached to the cold structure. The segmented structure may require vane platform-to-platform sealing as well as sealing to the adjoining aero structures. Segmented structures may be subject to non-uniform deflections driven by thermal and pressure environment within the turbine section and may exhibit "shingling" between adjacent segments that may potentially result in leakage.

Turbine frame fairing for a gas turbine engine


An air bag assembly includes an inflatable device having a deflated condition; an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable device and actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device from the deflated condition; a cover for housing the inflatable device and the inflator, the cover including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being pivotable to a closed condition and an open condition; and a strap for releasably retaining the first portion and the second portion in the closed condition, the strap having a rupturable portion, wherein the force of inflation of the inflatable device causes the rupturable portion to rupture and release the first portion and the second portion from the closed condition, thereby enabling the first portion and the second portion to pivot to the open condition and enabling inflation of the inflation device from the cover.

An air bag module is part of an inflatable restraint system that is employed in an automobile for protecting an occupant against injury by physically restraining the occupant's body when the automobile encounters a collision. A side impact air bag module protects occupants from side collisions to the automobile and can be positioned in a seat, on the exterior of a seat, in a door or in a side pillar. A side impact air bag module typically includes an air bag cushion and an inflator contained within a reaction canister. The inflator has an elongated cylindrical housing having gas exhaust ports and containing gas generant that, once triggered by a remote collision sensor, provides the inflation gas for inflating the air bag cushion. A hybrid inflator has gas exhaust ports located centrally or at one end while pyrotechnic inflators have gas exhaust ports distributed substantially along their entire length.
In the event of an impact, the inflator is actuated, and the air bag is inflated into a position between the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat and the adjacent side structure of the vehicle. The air bag protects the vehicle occupant from forcibly being struck by parts of the side structure of the vehicle. The air bag can also help protect the vehicle occupant from objects which might intrude into the vehicle, such as a pole or a tree, during the side impact.
There is a need to reduce the size of an air bag module, the number of parts of an air bag module assembly and the overall manufacturing costs of an air bag module assembly.
Recently, it has been proposed to employ an air bag module with a clamshell-type cover for housing an air bag inflator and an inflatable air bag. Such a cover arrangement requires fewer parts, less assembly time, is conducive to the automated assembly and helps reduce the complexity and size of an air bag module.
One such air bag module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,295 to White, Jr. et al. The air bag module includes an air bag, an inflator assembly and a cover. The cover includes first and second cover parts which are releasably interconnected by a rupturable portion of the cover. The cover has a closed condition in which the first and second cover parts enclose the air bag when the air bag is in a deflated condition. The rupturable portion of the cover forms a first hinge about which the cover parts are pivotable relative to each other into the closed condition, during assembly thereof. A second hinge is formed where the inflator assembly is mounted in the cover. When the air bag inflates, the rupturable portion of the cover is ruptured and the first and second cover parts pivot about the second hinge to enable the air bag to inflate out of the cover.
In the air bag module of said U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,295, the clamshell-type cover utilizes a rupturable hinge portion which ruptures when the air bag inflates. Although the clamshell cover of U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,295 provides the benefits of a less complex and reduced size air bag module, the cover arrangement requires that inflator is assembled directly opposite the rupturable hinge. Such an arrangement limits the possibility of arranging the inflator assembly in other orientations than opposite that of the rupturable hinge. Moreover, such an arrangement limits the ability to design the first and second cover parts to enable the air bag to inflate from the cover at any desired location, particularly with respect to the inflator assembly.

Side impact air bag clamshell-wrap around strap closure


A dimensionally stable case for supporting and controllably combusting propellant and/or gas-generant combustion gases is disclosed. The case is permeable to the combustion gases produced at temperatures above ambient temperature but below the auto-ignition temperature of the propellant and/or gas-generant supported therein. Further, the case is dimensionally stable without the use of metals, alloys or the like that yield shrapnel upon explosion in the barrel section of the case. Thus, an Insensitive Munitions case capable of passing cook-off tests is provided.

Combustible materials useful as propellants or gas-generants are provided for a variety of applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, in the case of propellants, supplying the propulsive energy required to propel a rocket and, in the case of gas generants, supplying sufficient combustion gases, for example, to inflate a vehicle air-bag in the event of a collision. The propellant or gas-generant is typically located within a protective outer case.
While the propellant or gas-generant is maintained in storage or being transported, for example, prior to deployment of a rocket or while an air-bag remains undeployed, it is critically important to avoid where possible, or to at least minimize the effects of, unintended combustion and/or explosion of the combustible material. Prior to deployment, the propellant and/or the gas-generant composition within the case may be exposed to a variety of stimuli such as to extremes of temperature from fire or other localized or dispersed heat sources, varying humidity levels, exposure to incoming artillery including shrapnel, bullets and the like in a variety of environments wherein, e.g., rockets and/or air-bags have utility. In response to such stimuli, due to the explosive nature of these compositions, unintended combustion and explosion of propellants and/or gas-generants can occur causing catastrophic damage to life and/or to property.
Most often, just prior to explosion, the case in which a propellant and/or a gas-generant composition is located becomes highly pressurized. Such pressurization induces the case to violently explode, causing potentially catastrophic consequences. If the case itself or any substantial part thereof is enclosed within or substantially encloses materials such as metals, alloys and the like that may yield shrapnel, the extent of damage caused by the explosive force of the propellant and/or gas-generant within the case is exponentially increased.
To avoid or at least minimize the consequences of unintended combustion and explosion of the combustible material, it is desirable to provide a case that will not violently explode in response to exposure of the material therein to a variety of unforseen stimuli. Thus, there is a need to provide a case which minimizes the tendency to pressurize and then explode. Such a case, in the event of an explosion, would minimize or preferably eliminate the tendency to yield shrapnel while retaining its dimensional stability. Dimensional stability, as used herein, refers to a case having sufficient hoop and longitudinal load for either propulsive and/or gas-generant applications and is further defined below. Such a case would provide the advantage of minimizing or altogether eliminating the potential danger, for example, from an exploding rocket while in storage or in transport or from a vehicle air-bag whose deployment is initiated by an intervening cause such as a fire involving the vehicle in which the air bag is installed.
One approach to providing such a case is to form one which is permeable to combustion gases when the case is subjected to temperatures above the ambient temperature but below the auto-ignition temperature of the combustible material, e.g., the propellant and/or gas-generant contained therein. It is further desirable to form the case from materials that eliminate or minimize the use of materials such as metals, various alloys, or other similar materials that may yield shrapnel upon explosion. It is, therefore, desirable to eliminate or at least minimize the inclusion of such materials either within the case itself, substantially surrounding the case or being substantially surrounded by the case. Avoidance of or the minimal use of such materials thus reduces the potential for and extent of damage to property or injury to persons in the vicinity of an explosion typically occurring under unintended or uncontrolled circumstances.
U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,228,285; 5,060,470; and 5,369,955 are noted as examples of attempts to provide a case such as that described above. However, all of these patents disclose cases that are plagued by one or more critical 1s deficiencies. For example, in the '285 patent, a case comprising a slotted and capped metal sleeve overwrapped with fibers coated with a matrix resin is disclosed. The presence of the metal sleeve (see column 4, lines 25-27 of the '285 patent) in the barrel of the case is required to provide the necessary longitudinal load. The "longitudinal load", as the term implies, refers to the resistance provided by the case in response to the force longitudinally exerted thereon along its major longitudinal axis, L, upon controlled combustion of the combustible material. See FIG. 7, infra. The overwrap provides the necessary hoop load. The "hoop load" refers to the resistance provided by the case in response to the force radially exerted by controlled combustion of the combustible material thereon. Hoop forces are denoted by the radially directed arrows marked F in FIG. 7.
The term "dimensional stability" as used herein is defined as providing sufficient longitudinal and hoop loads for propulsive and/or gas-generating applications and the like. If sufficient hoop load and/or longitudinal load is not provided by the case, it will break up during the controlled combustion of the propellant and/or gas-generant contained therein to the degree that, for example, the rocket will not reach its target or the air-bag will not properly deploy. The case of the '285 patent, as noted above, requires the use of substantial amounts of metal in the barrel section which can form extremely destructive shrapnel upon explosion. As such, the case of '285 fails to fill the aforementioned need.
Likewise, the '470 patent relies on the use of memory metal members (item 26 of FIG. 2 depicted in the '470 patent) to provide a gas permeable case. Again, as with the '285 patent, the memory metal itself can form extremely destructive shrapnel upon explosion. As such, the case of the '470 patent also fails to fill the aforementioned need.
The '955 patent relies on the use of a case 12 (See FIG. 1 therein) comprising a fibrous material impregnated with a matrix material. The matrix material comprises first and second resin components. According to the '955 patent, the first resin component is any suitable resin which under actinic radiation conditions may be cured to immobilize the mass of the first resin without simultaneously curing the second resin component. The use of an actinic radiation curable material requires the use of cumbersome radiation curing equipment and further limits the choice of the first resin to one that is curable by exposure to such radiation and which cures under curing conditions different than those of the second resin. Use of such first and second resins and their peculiar curing requirements thus introduce unnecessary and undesirable limitations and complications in the formation of a case as described and sought.
Further, according to the '955 patent, the case described therein relies on the use of fibrous material that weakens as the melt point of the fiber is approached. See column 3, lines 30-43 of the '955 patent. Examples of such fibrous materials are polyolefin fibers (Spectra.RTM. 1000) or polyethylene fibers (Spectra.RTM. 900) as noted in the '955 patent at column 3, lines 46 and 56, respectively. Further, as also noted in the '955 patent, these fibers have melting points between 200.degree. F. to 300.degree. F., which are intermediate between the ambient temperature (up to 165.degree. F.) and the auto-ignition temperature (of 400.degree. F.) described therein. The use of such fibers, having melting points between 200.degree. F. to 300.degree. F., undesirably and disadvantageously limits the temperature at which the first and second resins may be cured. See column 4, lines 6-8 of the '955 patent. In particular, to maintain fiber integrity, the first and second resins cannot be cured above about 200.degree. F. Additionally, the low melting points in the range of 200-300.degree. F. of such fibers limit their use. For example, double base propellants have an auto-ignition temperature of only 320.degree. F. The close proximity of the auto-ignition temperature and the melting point temperatures of the fibers (of the '955 patent) prohibitively restricts their use to propellants and/or gas-generants having auto-ignition temperatures substantially higher than 320.degree. F. If high melting point-fibers could be used such limitations would be entirely avoided.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,764 to Drain et al. discloses a filament reinforced resin composite article serving as a pressure vessel. See column 1, line 62 of the '764 patent. According to the '764 patent, the filament includes materials such as glasses, graphite, boron, Kevlar.RTM., polyacetal and more generally, wood, metal, natural and synthetic polymers, etc. See column 17, lines 35-38 of the '764 patent. Further according to the '764 patent, the resins employed in filament winding must exhibit constant viscosity and long pot life to avoid sagging and to maintain uniform thickness during the filament winding process. As noted at columns 3 and 4 of the subject patent, the resin compounds are first and second epoxy resins identical to those described in the '955 patent. Thus, the unnecessary complexity introduced by the use of actinic radiation curable resins previously noted with the '955 patent equally apply to the '764 patent.
The major design flaw of the articles made according to the '764 patent is that the '764 patent is directed to forming "pressure vessels". Such vessels, as the term implies, are directed to maintaining and containing any pressure build-up that may occur during the combustion of a propellant and/or a gas-generant. In effect, the articles of the '764 patent are directed to being impermeable to propellant and/or gas-generant combustion gases. In fact, no mention of an article having permeability to combustion gases produced at temperatures above ambient temperature but below the auto-ignition temperature of the combustible material is made in the '764 patent.
Thus, the need to provide a case which is substantially free of metal or similar materials capable of forming dangerous shrapnel, which uses fibers having melting points above about 300.degree. F., preferably, well above about 300.degree. F., which is permeable to combustion gases above ambient temperature but below the auto-ignition temperature of a propellant, gas-generant or other combustible material contained therein while retaining its dimensional stability while in use remains unfulfilled.

Method for making a case for combustible materials


One embodiment of a microelectronic component system includes a base adapted for supporting a microelectronic component, a membrane sealed to the base, and a glass lid built-up on the membrane and hermetically sealing the membrane.

Microelectronic devices, such as micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), may be hermetically sealed within a package to protect the microelectronic device from environmental hazards such as humidity, electrical interference, dust, physical contact, and the like. Providing a hermetically sealed atmosphere for the microelectronic device within the package may reduce the effect of environmental hazards on the device.


The present invention relates to the biotechnology field, more particularly, to novel recombinant staphylokinase (RGD/KGD-Sak) derivatives and the preparation the thereof. The derivatives, have a low polymerizing ability, low immunogenicity and a bifunctionality of thrombolytics and anticoagulant. Based on the trimensional structural analysis of the monomer and dimer of recombinant staphylokinases and their biochemical properties, we designed two novel bifunctional staphylokinase molecular structures. Mutant genes were constructed by PCR site-directed mutagenesis, which were then recombined with a prokaryotic vector and used to transform E. coli. Engineered strains with a high expression level were selected by screening and propagated by fermentation, followed by disruption of the cells, centrifugation to collect inclusion bodies, renaturation, and purification of RGD/KGD-SAK through a two-step method. After lyophilized, the polymerizing ability and immunogenicity of the products decreased significantly. The derivatives can not only activate fibrinogen to lyse thrombus, but also significantly inhibit the platelet aggregation induced by ADP, suggesting that they have the bifunctionality of thrombolytics and anticoagulant.

The naturally occurring staphylokinase (Sak) is a proteolytic enzyme produced by the lysogenic phage: of Staphylococcus aureus, and consists of 136 amino acid residues. Indeed, Sak is not an enzyme in nature, but it forms a 1:1 complex with plasminogen (plg); in human plasma, which complex is then activated into Sak plm by the trace of plasmin (plm) on the surfaces of blood clots. Sak plm is a potent plasminogen activator to activate the free form of plg into plm, which in turn catalyzes the degradation of fibrin, the main matrix of thrombus, thus resulting in the lysis of thrombus. Sak has fibrin specificity in plg activation and acts more efficiently than other thrombolytic agents to lyse old thrombus and platelet-rich thrombus. Thus, Sak is an efficient and specific thrombolytic agent (Collen D et al, Nature Medicine 4, 279-284 (1998)). At present, recombinant staphylokinases are produced by several companies in the world, but they differ from each other in gene structures. The thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with recombinant staphylokinases studied by D. Collen of Belgium completed the clinical trial stage II. ShiXin Centre (Chengdu, China) also finished clinical trial stage I of AMI and the effect was quite good. In 1994 Shanghai Medical University constructed a Sak gene, accomplished the high level expression in E. coli, ad finished the pilot process. They have applied for the permission of clinical trials to treat acute cerebral infarction. However, as a heterologous protein, Sak may have strong antigenicity when administered to patients. Though no severe allergic reaction was reported in the clinical trials, Sak induced a high titer of neutralizing antibodies in most patients two weeks after administration, arguing against its repeated administration (Declerck P J et al, Thromb Haemost 71, 129-133 (1994)). Moreover, it was discovered in the study of recombinant staphylokinases that staphylokinases tend to form dimers, even polymers. The formation of polymers increases its immunogenicity.
During the thrombolytic therapy, thrombolytic drugs, are often combined with anti-thrombin or anti-platelet drugs such as heparin and aspirin to promote thrombolysis and to prevent reinfarction. Recent studies of thrombolytic auxiliary drugs are remarkable. Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and Lys-Gly-Asp (KGD) are functional sequences against platelet aggregation. They competitively bind to the glycoprotein membrane receptor IIb/IIIa associated with the platelet membrane aggregation, thus preventing the binding of fibrinogen to its receptor and blocking the reformation of thrombus (Frishman W H et al, Am. Heart J. 130, 877-892(1995); Nichols A J et al, Trends Pharmacol. Sci 13, 413-417(1992)). Introducing the RGD/KGD sequence into the cDNA of a thrombolytic agent e.g. urokinase under an appropriate conformational restriction, the product expressed will have the bifunctionality of thromboytics and anticoagulant (Smith J et al, J. Biol. Chem. 270, 30486-30490 (1995)). However, it was indicated in the clinical trials that the thrombolytic effect of urokinase was significantly lower than staphylokinase (50% versus 75%). Furthermore, various chemical mimics have been developed based on the RGD/KGD sequence such as Tirofiban, Lamifiban, Lefradafiban, Orbofiban, Xemilofiban, Integrinlin and the like, which could block the IIb/IIIa receptor. When administered in combination with thrombolytics, the incidence of reinfarction would be significantly decreased (Frishman W H et al, Am. Heart J. 130, 877-892 (1995); Verstraete M et al, 49, 856-884 (1995)).
The object of the invention is to provide novel staphylokinase derivatives, which escape from forming dimer and have the bifunctionality of thrombolytics and anticoagulant, and the preparation thereof.

Recombinant staphylokinase derivatives and the preparation and applications thereof


The invention is a heat curable extruded adhesive laminate system for producing collapsible tanks. The laminate is a composite of a fabric; an extruded linear hydroxyl adhesive having an uretdione that serves as a latent thermally activated curing component, and a high cyrstallinity thermoplastic polyurethane. In the system, panels cut from the adhesive laminate are assembled and seamed in a compression press operating at about 260° F. to about 350° F. The bonding process takes about 20-45 minutes, which causes the latent thermally activated curing component to cure the adhesive. Following compression heating in the press, the resulting seams have a strength that exceeds the minimum acceptable performance of 25 lbs/in, after being immersed in water and/or fuel at 160° F. for six weeks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to flexible laminates and more particularly to extruded thermoplastic adhesive laminates, wherein the laminate is particularly suitable for forming collapsible structures such as fuel tanks, water tanks, inflatable boats and other solid/liquid storage tanks.
2. Prior Art
Traditionally, collapsible tanks are constructed of panels that are assembled into the desired shape either by compression press or hot-air heating and pressure or RF welding. Flexible laminates are made by applying a solvent based adhesive on a nylon or polyester or Kevlar fabric, which is then extrusion coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or a TPU alloy onto the adhesive side of the coated fabric. In the current art the solvent based adhesive typically has a curing additive which cross-links the adhesive, thereby securely anchoring the extruded TPU to the fabric. It is recognized that the collapsible structures can undergo rather severe oxidative and hydrolytic conditions. As an example, in a water tank, the water tank can be exposed to the external weather elements for an indefinite, and potentially extended, period of time. Also, the collapsible structures used as fuel tanks need to be resistant to the solvating effects of fuel and, therefore, must be virtually impervious and non-swelling in the presence of the fuel. In both cases a relatively high-degree of cross-linking is desired to minimize the deleterious effects of fuel, oxygen, and water. To a certain extent the TPU is selected so that it is inherently resistant to aging, hydrolysis, oxidation and swelling. Typically, the adhesive laminate, as well as the assembled tank or other collapsible structure needs to retain bond strength and seam strength under severe conditions. The minimum acceptable bond performance is 25 lbs/in, following immersion in water and/or fuel at 160° F. for six weeks.
While conventional solvent based adhesives meet the performance requirements for collapsible structures there are various process-related problems. The major concern is the generation of air-borne emissions, typically as defined by the EPA as VOCs (e.g. volatile organic compounds). Normally, VOCs are captured by solvent recovery systems, or are disintegrated using catalytic converters (a.k.a. thermal oxidizer). Solvents have the additional problem that in addition to their cost of use and cost of capture they are flammable, and therefore represent an on-going threat of fire. What is desired is a laminating adhesive suitable for collapsible structures that does not utilize a solvent-based adhesive.

Curable extruded adhesive laminate system for manufacturing collapsible structures


A delay from the release of a low power consumption mode of nonvolatile memory to the restart of read operation is reduced. Nonvolatile memory which can electrically rewrite stored information has in well regions plural nonvolatile memory cell transistors having drain electrodes and source electrodes respectively coupled to bit lines and source lines and gate electrodes coupled to word lines and storing information based on a difference between threshold voltages to a word line select level in read operation, and the nonvolatile memory has a low power consumption mode. In the low power consumption mode, a second voltage lower than a circuit ground voltage and higher than a first negative voltage necessary for read operation is supplied to the well regions and word lines. When boost forming a rewriting negative voltage therein, a circuit node at a negative voltage is not the circuit ground voltage in the low power consumption mode.

The present invention relates to a data processing device having nonvolatile memory which can electrically rewrite stored information. For instance, the present invention relates to a technique effective to be applied to EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory) employing an on-chip MONOS (metal oxide nitride oxide semiconductor) type memory cell of 1 transistor/1 bit of a microcomputer for an IC card.
A nonvolatile memory transistor which can electrically rewrite stored information has a channel forming region between a source electrode and a drain electrode and a charge storage region (trap region) storing electric charges such as electrons or holes via a gate oxide film over the channel forming region so as to form a memory gate electrode thereover via an insulator film. It is possible to reversibly employ an enhancement state holding electrons in the charge storage region to increase the threshold voltage (for example, a write state or a hold state of data "0") and a depression state moving electrons from the charge storage region in the discharge direction to decrease the threshold voltage (for example, an erase state or a hold state of data "1"). In read operation, a negative voltage larger in an absolute value than the threshold voltage in the erase state is applied to the memory gate electrode. No read current can be flowed to an unselected memory cell at read. A voltage between the threshold voltage in the erase state and the threshold voltage in the write state may be applied to the memory gate electrode of a selected memory cell at read. It is unnecessary for a memory cell to employ the structure of 2 transistors/1 bit in which a select transistor for distinguishing select from unselect is connected to a memory transistor in series. Such nonvolatile memory is described in Patent document 1.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 60(1985)-095794


An exemplary inertial measurement apparatus incorporates self-calibrating bias correction signals. First and second inertial instruments generate respective input signals representative of an inertial attribute to be measured. A bias estimator generates first and second bias correction signals. First and second summation nodes receive the respective input signals and the respective first and second bias correction signals. The first and second summation nodes provide respective summed signals to the first and second inertial instruments. The first and second inertial instruments generate respective output signals representative of a value of the inertial attribute based on the respective summed signals. The bias estimator calculates the first and second bias correction signals based on first and second measurements made during respective first and second time intervals where a sign of one of the first and second bias error signals changes from one state during the first time interval to the other state during the second time interval.

This invention relates to inertial instruments, such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, and more specifically to bias error correction in such instruments.
The performance of inertial instruments is degraded by bias, a measure of the deviation of a measurement made by a non-ideal inertial instrument from a measurement made by a perfect or ideal instrument. For example, the bias of a gyroscope is determined by the difference between the gyroscope's reading at a zero angular rate and zero which would be measured by a perfect gyroscope. Bias drift is a rate of change of the bias resulting from changes such as environmental conditions over time.
One method of compensation for bias and/or bias drift in an inertial instrument is to periodically make bias correction adjustments of the inertial instrument based on information obtained from another source of known accuracy. For example, global positioning satellite (GPS) signals processed by a GPS receiver co-located with the inertial instrument can be used to determine a series of locations over known time intervals. This GPS information can be utilized to periodically recalibrate a bias error correction signal of the inertial instrument to make the output coincide with the GPS data. However, depending upon the operational environment, the reception of GPS signals is not always possible, and hence correction of the inertial instrument's output based on GPS data cannot always be relied upon. Therefore, a need exists to minimize bias and bias drift in an inertial instrument without requiring a separate source of accurate positional information such as derived from GPS information or the like.

Self-calibration for an inertial instrument based on real time bias estimator


A circuit for presenting one or more current source outputs which may be used to optimize the interface between optical components in a computer system. The multiple currents may be independently varied in each particular component to provide a current adjustment for proper functioning of a wide variety of LEDs and photo transistors. As a result, a dynamic optimization of the devices is provided. Since the present invention allows a wide variety of optical components to be used, the overall cost of implementing the device may be reduced.

Certain optical devices, such as a computer mouse, a track ball, a digitizer or a graphics tablet may be used to present a data input signal into a computer. In the example of a computer mouse, a central ball is generally coated with, or made from, a plastic or gum material which rotates as the mouse is moved. The movement of the ball is then transmitted into two small rollers that are generally perpendicular to each other. Each of the rollers converts a direction of movement of the device into an X and Y directional component by transferring the motion to two small disks having small holes. Each of the disks alternately closes or opens a photo sensor assembly that, when rotated, corresponds to the general movement of the mouse in the X or Y directions. The number of interruptions and releases of the photo sensor assembly is generally a function of a quantity equal to the amount of movement of the mouse in the particular X or Y direction. The number of interruptions and releases per second defines a functional quantity equal to the speed of the movement of the device. Other input devices function in a similar fashion by converting directional information into X and Y components using optical components.
Conventional approaches implement circuits for producing fixed bias currents for each direction (i.e., the X and Y directions) of movement of a pointing device. The fixed bias currents in conventional devices can be provided by a fixed resistor. A circuit with a fixed or variable threshold may be used to sense the state of a photo transistor. Another conventional approach uses a pulse width modulated bias current on an LED to vary the LED light output and hence the photo transistor response.
FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit 10 comprising a conventional fixed bias current device. The circuit 10 has a photo transistor (PTR) 12 and a sensing section 14. The sensing section 14 has a buffer 16 and a resistor 18. A primary disadvantage with the circuit 10 is that it does not generally tolerate a wide variation in the properties of the optical components such as the photo transistor 12. Additionally, the circuit 10 does not allow for dynamic optimization of the system performance after fabrication. For example, in the two extremes, an out of tolerance photo transistor 12 may be in a saturation mode due to the light being too bright, or may be in a cutoff mode if not enough light is present to be greater than the threshold necessary to turn on the photo transistor 12. Since each of the components of the circuit 10 is fixed, adjustments for variations in system components are not practical.

Method and software for optimizing an interface between components


Data can be encoded by assigning source symbols to base blocks, assigning base blocks to source blocks and encoding each source block into encoding symbols, where at least one pair of source blocks is such they have at least one base block in common with both source blocks of the pair and at least one base block not in common with the other source block of the pair. The encoding of a source block can be independent of content of other source blocks. Decoding to recover all of a desired set of the original source symbols can be done from a set of encoding symbols from a plurality of source blocks wherein the amount of encoding symbols from the first source block is less than the amount of source data in the first source block and likewise for the second source block.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates in general to methods, circuits, apparatus and computer program code for encoding data for transmission over a channel in time and/or space and decoding that data, where erasures and/or errors are expected, and more particularly to methods, circuits, apparatus and computer program code for encoding data using source blocks that overlap an can be partially or wholly coextensive with other source blocks.
2. Background
Transmission of files between a sender and a recipient over a communications channel has been the subject of much literature. Preferably, a recipient desires to receive an exact copy of data transmitted over a channel by a sender with some level of certainty. Where the channel does not have perfect fidelity (which covers most all physically realizable systems), one concern is how to deal with data lost or garbled in transmission. Lost data (erasures) are often easier to deal with than corrupted data (errors) because the recipient cannot always tell when corrupted data is data received in error. Many error correcting codes have been developed to correct for erasures and/or for errors. Typically, the particular code used is chosen based on some information about the infidelities of the channel through which the data is being transmitted and the nature of the data being transmitted. For example, where the channel is known to have long periods of infidelity, a burst error code might be best suited for that application. Where only short, infrequent errors are expected a simple parity code might be best.
In particular applications, there is a need for handling more than one level of service. For example, a broadcaster might broadcast two levels of service, wherein a device capable of receiving only one level receives an acceptable set of data and a device capable of receiving the first level and the second level uses the second level to improve on the data of the first level. An example of this is FM radio, where some devices only received the monaural signal and others received that and the stereo signal. One characteristic of this scheme is that the higher layers are not normally useful without the lower layers. For example, if a radio received the secondary, stereo signal, but not the base signal, it would not find that particularly useful, whereas if the opposite occurred, and the primary level was received but not the secondary level, at least some useful signal could be provided. For this reason, the primary level is often considered more worthy of protection relative to the secondary level. In the FM radio example, the primary signal is sent closer to baseband relative to the secondary signal to make it more robust.
Similar concepts exist in data transport and broadcast systems, where a first level of data transport is for a basic signal and a second level is for an enhanced layer. An example is H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) wherein an H.264 base compliant stream is sent, along with enhancement layers. An example is a 1 megabit per second (mbps) base layer and a 1 mbps enhancement layer. In general, if a receiver is able to decode all of the base layer, the receiver can provide a useful output and if the receiver is able to decode all of the enhancement layer the receiver can provide an improved output, however if the receiver cannot decode all of the base layer, decoding the enhancement layer does not normally provide anything useful.
Forward error correction ("FEC") is often used to enhance the ability of a receiver to recover data that is transmitted. With FEC, a transmitter, or some operation, module or device operating for the transmitter, will encode the data to be transmitted such that the receiver is able to recover the original data from the transmitted encoded data even in the presence of erasures and or errors.
Because of the differential in the effects of loss of one layer versus another, different coding might be used for different layers. For example, the data for a base layer might be transmitted with additional data representing FEC coding of the data in the base layer, followed by the data of the enhanced layer with additional data representing FEC coding of the data in the base layer and the enhanced layer. With this approach, the latter FEC coding can provide additional assurances that the base layer can be successfully decoded at the receiver.
While such a layered approach might be useful in certain applications, it can be quite limiting in other applications. For example, the above approach can be impractical for efficiently decoding a union of two or more layers using some encoding symbols generated from one of the layers and other encoding symbols generated from the combination of the two or more layers.

Encoding and decoding using elastic codes with flexible source block mapping


A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Baldespep’, characterized by its semi-double type with multi-patterned white, red, and pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Baldespep'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during January 2001. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars with flower uniformly with attractive flower and foliage coloration and a moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.
The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated GER 2385, not patented, characterized by its single type pink-colored flowers with red spots, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Patriot 'Sparkler Red', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,252, characterized by its semi-double type multi-patterned bright red, pink, and white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during January 2002 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since January 2002 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


A system may include transaction storage devices. Each transaction storage device may include a data store configured to receive, from a first entity, a request to push a detailed transaction corresponding to a secure identifier. The secure identifier may be generated, using an encoding function, from a user identifier of a user. The detailed transaction may identify at least one selected from a group consisting of products and services received by the user from the first entity. The data store may be further configured to store the detailed transaction based on a first determination to trust the first entity. The system may further include an access controller configured to perform the first determination by applying a first security rule corresponding to a type of the secure identifier to the request to push the detailed transaction, and a registry configured to store at least the first security rule.

Current standards for exchanging transactional information (e.g., the Open Financial Exchange (OFX), a framework for exchanging financial transactional data and instructions between customers and their financial institutions) do not support the capability to obtain detailed transactional information associated with users. That is, while aggregate-level transactional information may be accessible (e.g., a payment amount of a transaction), transaction details (e.g., line items purchased) are typically unavailable.
In addition, current standards for exchanging financial transactional data typically require point-to-point connections, which grow proportionally with the number of participating organizations, thereby creating bottlenecks. For example, while a point-to-point architecture may be sufficient to support a user's interactions with a few financial institutions, when the architecture is opened to an arbitrary number of service providers, a point-to-point architecture may become unwieldy. Furthermore, substantial overhead may be required to authenticate numerous participants and maintain participant accounts.
Accessing detailed transactional information associated with users is typically based on a "pull" model driven by explicit requests (e.g., to financial institutions). The detailed transactions may be dispersed across multiple service providers, and it may be difficult or impossible to collect such detailed transactions in a timely manner. This difficulty hinders access to detailed transaction information, which could be used to support analytics and insights.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.