A method for detecting a function actuation on a motor vehicle with a sensor device includes monitoring the signals of a proximity sensor as to a first signal reply S1. The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for a time period Ts wherein the method is interrupted when the signal reply changes by more than a value St within the period of time Ts. The signal device is actuated after time Ts has expired in order to signal to the user that the actuation of time has expired. The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for time Te wherein the method is continued when the signal of the proximity sensor changes by more than a predetermined value Se within the period of time Te. Otherwise, the method is interrupted. If the method is continued, the actuation of the function of the motor vehicle is detected and the function trigger is signaled to a control device in the motor vehicle.

The invention relates to a detection method for actuating a switching device on a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to a method for detecting actuation gestures performed by a user for the purpose of accessing a vehicle function.
Devices for non-contact actuation of motor vehicle functions are known from prior art. For example, DE 10 2008 063 366 describes a trunk lid that can be actuated without direct contact. This device allows a user to perform an actuation gesture in the foot area below the rear bumper in order to actuate the trunk lid. For this purpose, this device comprises capacitance sensors which are arranged to detect within their detection range different space regions and which are able to detect an actuation gesture by means of their signals.
Such non-contact actuation of a trunk lid is conducive to comfort and safety when for various reasons it is difficult for a person to actuate the trunk lid manually.
The detection of a movement can include a body movement, for example, an apparent kick-motion, lifting and swiveling the leg or the like. However, it should be avoided that actuations are detected and a function is triggered when a respective actuation gesture is not specifically performed. For example, this can happen when objects (balls, pets or the like) get into the detection range.
DE 10 2004 041 709 discloses a device for a non-contact actuation of a trunk lid which proposes to use two sensor devices with separate detection ranges. For this purpose, it is possible to use as one of the sensor devices an ultrasound distance detection system, which has been provided on the motor vehicle for distance measurements.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,280 discloses a non-contact actuation device wherein a foot is optically detected in an optically marked area.
However, with regard to their actuation, the above-mentioned detection systems have disadvantages in different areas. If, because of physical restrictions or behavior constraints, it is not possible to perform a specific movement, such actuation systems are not suitable due to the required dynamics of motion.
It is the object of the invention to provide a detection and evaluation method for non-contact sensor devices which increases detection accuracy and which can be performed by the user in an easy and safe manner.

Method for detecting a function actuation on vehicles


The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments encoding plant fatty acid modifying enzymes associated with modification of the delta-9 position of fatty acids, in particular, formation of conjugated double bonds are disclosed. Chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic plants having altered lipid profiles. The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments encoding plant fatty acid modifying enzymes associated with formation of a trans delta-12 double bond also are disclosed. Chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic plants having altered lipid profiles.

Fatty acids bearing chemical modifications in addition to the common double bonds are found in the storage lipids of many oilseeds (Badami and Patil (1981) Prog. Lipid Res. 19:119–153). Some of these modifications functionalize the fatty acid to produce products that are useful in industrial applications; this is an alternative to the more common usage of plant-derived lipids as foods. Examples are the use of the hydroxylated fatty acid ricinoleic acid in lubricants, and the short- or medium-carbon chain length fatty acids from palm oil in detergents. In some cases, fatty acid composition of the storage lipids of oilseeds produced in temperate climates can be modified by the addition of genes from exotic sources so that large amounts of unique fatty acids are produced (Ohlrogge, J. B. (1994) Plant Physiol. 104, 821–826).
Fatty acids containing conjugated double bonds are major components of the seed oil of a limited number of plant species. For example, calendic acid (8-trans, 10-trans, cis-12-octadecatrienoic acid) composes greater than 50% of the total fatty acids of the seed oil of Calendula officinalis (Crombie and Holloway (1984) J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 15, 953–955, Chisholm, M. J. & Hopkins, C. Y. (1967) Can. J. Biochem 45:251–254). Another example, α-parinaric acid (9-cis, 11-trans, 13-trans, 15-cis-octadecatetraenoic acid) and β-parinaric acid (9-trans, 11-trans, 13-trans, 15-cis-octadecatetraenoic acid) compose more than 25% of the total fatty acids of the seed oil of Impatiens species (Bagby, M. O., Smith, C. R. and Wolff, I. A. (1966) Lipids 1, 263–267). In addition, α-eleostearic acid (9-cis, 11-trans, 13-trans-octadecatrienoic acid) and β-eleostearic acid (9-trans, 11-trans, 13-trans-octadecatrienoic acid) compose >55% of the total fatty acids of the seed oil of Momordica charantia (Chisolm, M. J. and Hopkins, C. Y. (1964) Can. J. Biochem. 42, 560–564; Liu, L., Hammond, E. G. and Nikolau, B. J. (1997) Plant Physiol. 113, 1343–1349). Calendic acid and eleostearic acid are both 18:3 fatty acids, like linolenic acid, however, their structures are quite different, as shown in FIG. 1. Another fatty acid containing conjugated double bonds is found in the seeds of Dimorphotheca sinuata. This unusual C18 fatty acid, dimorphecolic acid (9-OH-18:2Δ10trans,12trans), contains two conjugated trans-double bonds between the Δ10 and Δ11 carbon atoms and between the Δ12 and Δ13 carbon atoms as well as a hydroxyl group on the Δ9 carbon atom [Binder, R. G. et al., (1964) J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 41:108–111; Morris, L. J. et al., (1960)J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 37:323–327]. Thus, there are certain 18:2 and 18:3 plant fatty acids that contain conjugated double bonds.
The presence of conjugated double bonds in fatty acids provides the functional basis for drying oils such as tung oil that are enriched in isomers of eleostearic acid. This is due largely to the fact that fatty acids with conjugated double bonds display high rates of oxidation, particularly when compared to polyunsaturated fatty acids with methylene interrupted double bonds. Drying oils, such as tung oil, are used as components of paints, varnishes, and inks.
Conjugated fatty acids can also be used as an animal feed additive. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs, 18:2) have been used to improve fat composition in feed animals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,572, issued to Cook et al. on Dec. 22, 1998, describes a method of increasing fat firmness and improving meat quality in animals using conjugated linoleic acds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,646, issued to Cook et al. on Sep. 10, 1996, describes a method of reducing body fat in animals using conjugated linoleic acids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,451, issued to Cook et al. on Jul. 6, 1999, describes a method of improving the growth or the efficiency of feed conversion of an animal which involves animal feed particles having an inner core of nutrients and an outer layer containing a conjugated fatty acid or an antibody that can protect the animal from contacting diseases that can adversely affect the animal's ability to grow or efficiently convert its feed into body tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,072, issued to Cook et al. on Jun. 27, 1995, describes a method of enhancing weight gain and feed efficiency in animals, which involves the use of conjugated linoleic acid.
The mechanism by which these effects are realized is not known. It is believed that no one heretofore has discussed the use of conjugated 18:3 fatty acids (conjugated linolenic acids or ClnAs), for improving animal carcass characteristics.
The biosynthesis of fatty acids with conjugated double bonds is not well understood. Several reports have indicated that conjugated double bonds are formed by modification of an existing double bond (Crombie, L. and Holloway, S. J. (1985) J. Chem. Soc. Perkins Trans. I 1985, 2425–2434; Liu, L., Hammond, E. G. and Nikolau, B. J. (1997) Plant Physiol. 113, 1343–1349). For example, the double bonds at the 11 and 13 carbon atoms in eleostearic acid have been shown to arise from the modification of the Δ12 double bond of linoleic acid (18:2Δ9,12) (Liu, L., Hammond, E. G. and Nikolau, B. J. (1997) Plant Physiol. 113, 1343–1349). The exact mechanism involved in conjugated double formation in fatty acids, however, has not yet been determined. Fatty acid desaturase (Fad)-related enzymes are responsible for producing 18:3 Δ9,11,13 oils such as α and β-eleostearic acid and 18:4 Δ9,11,13,15 oils such as α and β-parinaric acid in Impatiens, Momordica, and Chrysobalanus. Insertion of a chimeric gene comprising an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding these enzymes into species that do not normally accumulate conjugated double-bond containing fatty acids resulted in production of eleostearic and/or parinaric acids (Cahoon et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:12935–12940; and WO 00/11176, published on Mar. 2, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference). The present invention extends this work by answering whether 18:3 Δ8,10,12 fatty acids like calendic or dimorphecolic acids can also be produced in transgenic plants. Unlike the Fad-related enzymes that modify the delta-12 position to produce eleostearic and parinaric acids, the enzymes of the present invention (with one exception as is discussed below with respect to DMFad2-1) modify the delta-9 position of fatty acids to produce calendic and dimorphecolic acids. One enzyme is disclosed herein which is associated with the formation of a trans-delta-12 double bond. The product of this enzymatic reaction then becomes the substrate for a reaction involving conjugated double bond formation comprising a delta-9 position of fatty acids. Isolation and characterization of two Calendula cDNAs, two Dimorphotheca cDNAs, and expression of a chimeric transgene, are described herein.

Method for the production of calendic acid, a fatty acid containing delta-8,10,12 conjugated double bonds and related fatty acids having a modification at the delta-9 position


A system and method for performing seek or jump functions in a digitally stored audiovisual file are described. When the audiovisual file is recorded onto a storage medium, headers, which are distinct and separable from the audiovisual file datastream, are set in the audiovisual file in the storage medium. Each header contains a timestamp. When jumping/seeking, an estimated position for the desired timepoint on the storage medium is calculated by multiplying the storage unit per time unit rate by the desired timepoint. Then the system and method jumps to the estimated position, where the timestamp in the nearest header is checked to determine whether the time it indicates is close enough to the desired timepoint. If it is not, a new estimated position is calculated and the method repeats until either an iteration limit is reached or the estimated position is determined to be close enough to the desired timepoint.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to digital audio and/or video data storage and playback, and, more particularly, to seeking a particular time point within a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) file.
2. Description of the Related Art
Developments in processing and storage technology have greatly expanded the ability of individuals to use microprocessor based devices for the recording and playback of sounds and images. As an example, individuals may now download songs onto a solid-state memory storage device, such as a portable MP3 player, and play the recorded song back at any time. In the area of moving pictures (with or without sound), MPEG is a popular standard for the recording and playback of digitally stored audio-visual files. The MPEG format provides an effective mechanism for efficiently compressing and decompressing digital video and/or audio signals and for supplying the decompressed signals to a playback mechanism for viewing. Although there are different versions of the MPEG standard, such as the old MPEG-1, the current MPEG-2, and the new MPEG-4, the term "MPEG" will be used herein to reference video and/or audio encoding and decoding algorithms and protocols promulgated in old, current, and future versions of MPEG.
Although MPEG plays back the stored audio-visual content at a constant frame rate, the standard stores the audio-visual content using a variable data rate. This is done to maximize the storage capacity of an MPEG file by taking advantage of the fact that sections of a video image do not change from frame to frame. Because these sections do not change, there is no need to store the data representing those sections when storing each sequential frame. Thus, the MPEG format encodes and records only those parts of sequential frames that are altered from frame to frame. But this results in the number of bytes representing a frame varying from frame to frame, depending on the amount of alteration between frames.
Because the stored MPEG format has a variable data rate (the number of bytes representing one frame may be twenty times greater than the number of bytes representing the next frame) but the frames are viewed (played back) at a constant data rate (usually between 30 and 50 frames per second), it is difficult to perform a seek, or jump, function (such as fast-forwarding to particular time point) in an MPEG file. To move through a MPEG file to a particular time point (or playback location), known as "seeking", prior art systems have resorted to parsing through the entire file until the time point (or frame number) that was sought is encountered in the encoded data. This method of seeking is time-consuming and uses up precious processing resources to perform the parsing.
Various solutions have been suggested in the prior art for the seek problem. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,005, a requested playback location referenced by a time or frame number is approximated by using the upper rate bound (maximum data rate) from a system header of the MPEG file. The method multiplies the upper rate bound by the requested playback time (which can be calculated from the frame number) in order to determine an approximate byte location in the MPEG file. A time stamp in the MPEG file near to the approximate byte location is read to determine whether the approximate byte location matches the requested playback time to within a predetermined degree. If it does not match within the predetermined degree, a new data rate is calculated and is used to determine a new approximate location. This repeats until a match is found. However, in practice, the upper rate bound is often set to 15 Mb/s by default, regardless of the actual value, to ensure that all rate variations will be covered, resulting in very large errors when the approximate byte location is calculated, requiring many iterations of the method before finding a correct match. Furthermore, recalculating the data rate during each iteration is wasteful of processing resources.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,176, the requested playback location is approximated by calculating a byte rate using the system clock reference (SCR) bits in nearby pack headers. The MPEG data stream is broken down into packs, each of which consist of header information and a series of data packets. The pack header information includes the SCR, which is a snapshot of the system clock (of the original encoder). Each packet within the pack also has header information, which includes the time stamps mentioned above. The two SCRs neighboring the current byte position are found. The byte rate is calculated by using the distances (in bytes) between the current position and the two SCRs and the difference in time between the two SCRs. Having found the byte rate, an approximate byte location is determined and found (thus becoming the current byte position). A nearby time stamp is found and it is determined whether the approximate byte location matches the requested playback time within a predetermined degree. If it does not, the byte rate is re-calculated using the currently neighboring SCRs, and the process repeats. This means that the byte rate is being continually recalculated as the process iterates, thus using up processing resources.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,682, the MPEG file is parsed to create a tag file, which may be used to determine seek positions within the MPEG file. However, this method requires the creation, processing, and storage of an additional file, which is wasteful of both processing and storage resources.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,771, the requested playback location is approximated by first estimating the total number of frames in the MPEG file and then estimating the byte location using the estimated total number of frames, the file size in bytes, and the target frame number. The method then subtracts a predetermined number of seconds (in bytes) from the estimated byte location and then jumps to that calculated position. It is determined whether the next group of pictures (GOP) header indicates a frame number greater than the target frame number. GOPs hold many frames and are several orders of magnitude greater in size than packs or packets. If the indicated frame number is greater than the target frame number, the method backs up to the previous GOP header and reads a predetermined number of frames forward to identify the target frame. If the indicated frame number is not greater, the method jumps to the next GOP header and repeats. However, this type of seeking works best if the bit rate is constant, and may involve a great deal of jumping in MPEG files that have a great variation in the number of bytes per frame.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method of seeking a particular point within an MPEG file without using too much processing and/or storage resources while still being sufficiently accurate.

System and method for jumping to a timepoint in a MPEG file


Methods are disclosed including applying a conformal coating to multiple light emitters. The conformal coating forms in gap areas between adjacent ones of the light emitters. The plurality of light emitters are separated into individual light emitters. The individual light emitters include the conformal coating that extends to a space corresponding to respective gap areas. Light emitting structures are disclosed including a semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) having an active region and a conformal coating including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion corresponding to at least one surface of the LED and the second portion extending from the first portion.

This invention relates to coating of semiconductor devices. In particular, this invention relates to the application of optical materials to optical elements that are mounted on a substrate. In particular embodiments, the invention relates to substrates used in conjunction with the application of optical coatings, such as phosphors and/or other particles, to optical elements of a semiconductor based light emitting device, such as light emitting diode based devices. In yet other embodiments, the invention relates to spraying optical elements with phosphor and/or other particles.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that convert electric energy to light. Inorganic LEDs typically include an active layer of semiconductor material formed between two oppositely doped layers. When a bias is applied across the active region, holes and/or electrons are injected into the active region. Recombination of holes and electrons in the active region generates light that can be emitted from the LED. The active region may include a single and/or double heterojunction, quantum well, or multiple quantum well structures with corresponding barrier layers and may include other layers. The structure of the device, and the material from which it is constructed, determine the intensity and wavelength of light emitted by the device. Recent advances in LED technology have resulted in highly efficient solid-state light sources that surpass the efficiency of incandescent and halogen light sources, providing light with equal or greater brightness in relation to input power.
Conventional LEDs generate narrow bandwidth, essentially monochromatic light. However, it is desirable to generate polychromatic light, such as white light, using solid state light sources. One way to produce white light from conventional LEDs is to combine different wavelengths of light from different LEDs. For example, white light can be produced by combining the light from red, green and blue emitting LEDs, or combining the light from blue and amber LEDs. This approach, however, requires the use of multiple LEDs to produce a single color of light, which can potentially increase the overall cost, size, complexity and/or heat generated by such a device. In addition, the different colors of light may also be generated from different types of LEDs fabricated from different material systems. Combining different LED types to form a white lamp can require costly fabrication techniques and can require complex control circuitry, since each device may have different electrical requirements and/or may behave differently under varied operating conditions (e.g. with temperature, current or time).
Light from a blue emitting LED has been converted to white light by surrounding the LED with a yellow phosphor, such as cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG). The phosphor material absorbs and "downconverts" some of the blue light generated by the LED. That is, the phosphor material generates light, such as yellow light, in response to absorbing the blue light. Thus, some of the blue light generated by the LED is converted to yellow light. Some of the blue light from the LED passes through the phosphor without being changed, however. The overall LED/phosphor structure emits both blue and yellow light, which combine to provide light that is perceived as white light.
LEDs have been combined with phosphor layers by dispensing a volume of phosphor-containing encapsulant material (e.g., epoxy resin or silicone) over the LED to cover the LED. In these methods, however, it can be difficult to control the geometry and/or thickness of the phosphor layer. As a result, light emitted from the LED at different angles can pass through different amounts of conversion material, which can result in an LED with non-uniform color temperature as a function of viewing angle. Because the geometry and thickness is hard to control, it can also be difficult to consistently reproduce LEDs with the same or similar emission characteristics.
Still another coating method for LEDs utilizes droplet deposition using systems similar to those in an ink-jet printing apparatus. Droplets of a liquid phosphor-containing material are sprayed from a print head. The phosphor-containing droplets are ejected from a nozzle on the print head in response to pressure generated in the print head by a thermal bubble and/or by piezoelectric crystal vibrations.
Problems with conventional methods of applying phosphor and/or other optical materials may include increased cost, complexity, clumping, dripping, settling, stratification, and/or separation, which may result in a reduced conformity and/or uniformity of the optical materials thus applied.

Conformally coated light emitting devices and methods for providing the same


A clutch fastener is provided for securely receiving pins, shafts, and the like. The clutch fastener includes a housing and a coil spring disposed within a central chamber contained in the housing. The chamber originates near the top surface of the housing and extends through the bottom surface. The bottom surface is countersunk to provide for easy insertion of the shaft. The chamber is sized such that it has a larger diameter than the shaft to be retained. The shaft is inserted into the chamber and retained by frictional forces generated against the coil spring. The clutch fastener may allow the user to selectively increase the tension placed on the shaft via a locking mechanism. The clutch fastener may also be provided with a second spring disposed within the chamber in order to limit the degree of compression of the first spring. Various designs are also disclosed for the spring stock from which the coil spring is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clutch fasteners and more
particularly to clutch fasteners incorporating helical spring retention mechanisms.
2. Description of Related Art
Clutch type securing devices are well known for gripping and securing posts, studs, or the like. Clutch type securing devices often serve to provide an enclosure for the sharp ends of jewelry pins, tie pins, etc. Such devices come in various forms. For example, a plurality of fingers may be provided to grip the stud or post. Other arrangements include a plurality of plate-like devices which act as spring clutches. A common problem associated with such securing devices is a loss of the frictional force necessary to retain the pin. In such instances, the securing portion may be lost, leaving the pin exposed to possibly harm an individual.
Various clutch type securing devices have been presented in the past to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,123 issued on Apr. 26, 1960 to Brancato discloses a coil insert with an outer engaging locking coil. The device includes a small locking spring which is introduced into a bore parallel to the cavity into which the screw thread insert of large diameter is to be placed. The locking spring is wound left-handed if the insert is wound right-handed, and vice versa. The locking spring engages between convolution portions of the screw thread insert to displace the engaged portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,745 issued on Nov. 28, 1961 to Blomstrand et al. discloses a frictionally driven wire connector. The device is constructed so that no tangential handles or other positive abutting members need be relied upon. The device includes a stiff, resilient coil having a forwardly directed enlarged opening and a diminished portion rearwardly thereof. The wire connector coil includes substantially circular convolutions, the rearmost of which are adapted to expand under unwinding force and automatically provide an increasing gripping relation to the inner surface of a sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,795 issued on May 2, 1967 to Tann discloses a fastening device including helical spring-like element. A piece of wire-like material is formed into a spring-like element wherein the convolutions of the spring-like element increase in diameter from one end of the spring to the other. By positioning the spring-like element within a tapered threaded nut, or around a tapered threaded screw, and rotating and advancing the nut or screw relative to the spring-like element, the spring-like element can be made to contract or expand radially. The expansion of the spring-like element can be utilized to seize or lock a member positioned within the spring-like element in the case of a nut, and the contraction utilized to lock a member positioned about the spring-like element in the case of the tapered threaded screw.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,070 issued on Mar. 23, 1976 to Hauser discloses a method of creating a wire thread cast insert. A wire of given cross-sectional shape is formed into a helical configuration. The pitch of the helical turns is adjusted over a major length of the configuration to a given value greater than the desired final given thread pitch to be provided in the threaded opening of a body. An internal support in the form of a core is introduced into the helical configuration. Thereafter, the material involved, plastic or metal, is molded or cast around the helical configuration and support until it hardens into a solid body. The internal support is then removed to leave a threaded opening in the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,089 issued on Mar. 23, 1976 to Gagnon discloses a securing device which is usable for studs of buttons, emblems, earrings, insignia and the like. The device includes a first part having a cylindrical stud extending therefrom. A second part is provided into which the stud may pass. The second part also includes a resilient clutch that grips a substantial length of the cylindrical stud.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,715 issued on Oct. 6, 1981 to Huddon discloses a clutch device for holding together two articles of jewelry such as earrings, pins, necklaces, etc. The clutch includes a tubular housing closed at both ends except for a small central opening in the center of each end. A coil spring is mounted in the housing with each of its ends turned inwardly toward the axis of the spring so that a sharp edge at the end presents itself to a pin entering the openings. The sharp edge grips the pin and holds it against removal. The second part of the clutch is a pin, having a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the spring, which may be attached to the article of jewelry. With the housing in one part and the pin in the other, two jewelry portions can be joined by a frictional gripping action.
U.K. Patent Application No. 2,032,251 published on May 8, 1980 discloses a point protector for tie pins and like articles of jewelry. The device includes a body constructed of resilient plastic materials. The body includes two end pieces which are contained in a metal casing. The metal casing is initially a tube which is counter-drilled at each end to provide locations for the end pieces. The body, one end piece, and the casing have bores to receive the point to be shielded.
Soviet Union Patent No. 759,758 issued in August 1980 discloses a detachable clamp joint with spiral insert having conical surfaces to join items for reliability. The device consists of an outer item containing a hole therein, an inner item having a tip, and an intermediate spiral insert which is made from a harder material and fits between the tip and the inner surface of the hole.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A brake device for a motor vehicle having a friction first element with a first face that is pressed against a first face of a second element secured to a wheel of the motor vehicle during a brake application and an third element for applying a braking force bearing via a first end against a second face of the friction first element that is opposite from the first face of the friction first element. The brake device including an amplifier arrangement with a first part separated from a second part by a mutual and a tiltable plane containing a bearing surface located between the friction first element and the application third element relative to a plane for the first face of the second element. The amplifier arrangement rotating applied during a brake application to modify the pressing of the first face against the second face on the friction first element.

A known type of brake device for a motor vehicle has a friction element or "brake pad" suitable or being pressed under the action of a piston against a brake disk that is constrained to rotate with a wheel of the vehicle.
The piston is in contact with a rear face of the brake pad in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the brake disk.
The piston is moved towards the brake disk, e.g. by means of a hydraulic fluid under pressure or by means of an electric motor.
Document WO 98/14715 describes an electrical disk brake including an electric motor for moving a piston towards a brake pad and for pressing the brake pad against the brake disk when the brakes are applied. The bearing plane in which the piston bears against the brake pad forms a non-zero angle with the plane containing the brake disk along a radius of the brake disk, so that the bearing plane is tilted in the direction in which the brake disk rotates when the motor vehicle is traveling in the forward direction.
Thus, when the brakes are applied, while the brake pad is being pressed against the brake disk, the braking force delivered by the electric motor is amplified by a wedging effect to which the pad is subjected between the brake disk and the piston, thereby offering assistance to braking. The wedging effect is due to the torque exerted on the pad by the disk due to said disk rotating, with the pad then being clamped between the disk and the face of the piston that bears against the slanting face of the pad.
The wedging effect, which is well known the in the field of brakes, makes it possible to amplify very considerably the braking force applied to the piston. Unfortunately there is a risk of that phenomenon causing the wheel to block, which is detrimental to the stability of the vehicle. In addition, such amplification is not necessary for low levels of braking, and yet, in the example described in Document WO 98/14715, the amplification is present each time the brakes are applied.

Disc brake comprising at least one inclinable brake pad


One aspect of the disclosure relates to a new form of lipid-complexed active platinum compound, which allows for high concentrations of platinum compound in the composition. For example, the concentration of cisplatin in the composition is higher at room temperature, e.g., about greater than 1.2 mg/mL, compared to 1 mg/mL in aqueous solution. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a composition comprising a lipid-complexed active platinum compound, wherein the complex has a lipid to drug (L/D) ratio of less than about 1 by weight, e.g. about 0.10 to 1, wherein the lipid-complexed active platinum compound comprises at least one lipid and at least one active platinum compound. In other embodiments, wherein lipid-complexed active platinum compound has an average volume-weighted diameter of about 0.5 to about 20 microns. In still other embodiments, the composition further comprises a liposome. The liposome may comprise at least one lipid, and may further comprise at least one active platinum compound. The disclosure also relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a lipid complexed active platinum compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The pharmaceutical formulation may be formulated for inhalation or injection.

Liposomes and lipid complexes have been long recognized as drug delivery systems which can improve therapeutic and diagnostic effectiveness of many bioactive agents and contrast agents. Experiments with a number of different antibiotics and X-ray contrast agents have shown that better therapeutic activity or better contrast with a higher level of safety can be achieved by encapsulating bioactive agents and contrast agents with liposomes or lipid complexes. Research on liposomes and lipid complexes as encapsulating systems for bioactive agents has revealed that a successful development and commercialization of such products requires reproducible methods of large scale production of lipid vesicles with suitable characteristics. Consequently, workers have searched for methods which consistently produce liposomes or lipid complexes of the required size and concentration, size distribution and, importantly, entrapping capacity, with flexible lipid composition requirements. Such methods seek to provide liposomes or lipid complexes with consistent active substance to lipid ratio while respecting currently accepted good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical products.
Conventional liposome and lipid complex preparation methods include a number of steps in which the bilayer-forming components (for example, phospholipids or mixtures of phospholipids with other lipids e.g., cholesterol) are dissolved in a volatile organic solvent or solvent mixture in a round bottom flask followed by evaporation of the solvent under conditions, such as temperature and pressure, which will prevent phase separation. Upon solvent removal a dry lipid mixture, usually in form of a film deposit on the walls of the reactor, is hydrated with an aqueous medium which may contain dissolved buffers, salts, conditioning agents and an active substance to be entrapped. Liposomes or lipid complexes form in the hydration step such that a proportion of the aqueous medium becomes encapsulated in the liposomes. The hydration can be performed with or without energizing the solution by means of stirring, sonication or microfluidization or with subsequent extrusion through one or more filters, such as polycarbonate filters. The free non-encapsulated active substance can be separated for recovery and the product is filtered, sterilized, optionally lyophilized, and packaged.
Other methods of making liposomes or lipid complexes involving injection of organic solutions of lipids into an aqueous medium with continuous removal of solvent, use of spray drying, lyophilization, microemulsification and microfluidization, and the like have been proposed in a number of publications or patents. Such patents include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,561 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,425.
Cisplatin—cis-diamine-dichloroplatinum (II)—is one of the more effective anti-tumor agents used in the systemic treatment of cancers. This chemotherapeutic drug is highly effective in the treatment of tumor models in laboratory animals and in human tumors, such as endometrial, bladder, ovarian and testicular neoplasms, as well as squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Sur, et al., 1983 Oncology 40(5): 372-376; Steerenberg, et al., 1988 Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 21(4): 299-307). Cisplatin is also used extensively in the treatment of lung carcinoma, both small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) (Schiller et al., 2001 Oncology 61(Suppl 1): 3-13). Other active platinum compounds (defined below) are useful in cancer treatment.
Like other cancer chemotherapeutic agents, active platinum compounds such as cisplatin are typically highly toxic. The main disadvantages of cisplatin are its extreme nephrotoxicity, which is the main dose-limiting factor, its rapid excretion via the kidneys, with a circulation half life of only a few minutes, and its strong affinity to plasma proteins (Freise, et al., 1982 Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 258(2): 180-192).
Attempts to minimize the toxicity of active platinum compounds have included combination chemotherapy, synthesis of analogues (Prestayko et al., 1979 Cancer Treat Rev. 6(1): 17-39; Weiss, et al., 1993 Drugs. 46(3): 360-377), immunotherapy and entrapment in liposomes (Sur, et al., 1983; Weiss, et al., 1993). It has been reported that antineoplastic agents, including cisplatin, entrapped in liposomes have a reduced toxicity, relative to the agent in free form, while retaining antitumor activity (Steerenberg, et al., 1987; Weiss, et al., 1993).
Cisplatin, however, is difficult to efficiently entrap in liposomes or lipid complexes because of its low aqueous solubility, approximately 1.0 mg/mL at room temperature, and low lipophilicity, both of which properties contribute to a low cisplatin/lipid ratio.
Liposomes and lipid complexes containing cisplatin suffer from another problem—stability of the composition. In particular, maintenance of bioactive agent potency and retention of the bioactive agent in the liposome during storage are recognized problems (Freise, et al., 1982; Gondal, et al., 1993; Potkul, et al., 1991 Am J Obstet Gynecol. 164(2): 652-658; Steerenberg, et al., 1988; Weiss, et al., 1993) and a limited shelf life of liposomes containing cisplatin, on the order of several weeks at 4° C., has been reported (Gondal, et al., 1993 Eur J. Cancer. 29A(1): 1536-1542; Potkul, et al., 1991).

Platinum aggregates and process for producing the same


A method and apparatus for synthesizing speech. According to one variation of the method and apparatus, a plurality of speech segment data units is prepared for all desired speech waveforms. Speech is then synthesized by reading out from memory the appropriate speech segment data units, and a desired pitch is obtained by overlapping the appropriate speech segment data units according to a pitch period interval. According to a second variation of the method and apparatus, speech segment data units are prepared for only initial speech waveforms and first pitch waveforms, and differential waveforms. With this variation, subsequent pitch waveforms for speech synthesis are generated by combining the first pitch waveform with the corresponding differential waveform. According to a third variation of the method and apparatus, a natural speech segment channel produces natural speech segment data units in the same manner as the first variation, and a synthesized speech segment channel produces speech segment data units according to a parameter method, such as a formant method. The natural speech segments and synthesized speech segments are then mixed to produce synthesized speech.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speech segment preparing method, speech synthesizing method, and apparatus thereof, applicable in telephone inquiry service, speech information guide system, speech rule synthesizing apparatus for personal computer, and the like.
2. Related Art of the Invention
A speech rule synthesizing technology for converting a text into speech can be utilized, for example, for hearing an explanation or an electronic mail while doing other task in a personal computer or the like, or hearing and proof-reading a manuscript written by a word processor. Moreover, by incorporating an interface using speech synthesis into a device such as electronic book, the text stored in a floppy disk, CD-ROM or the like can be read without using liquid crystal display or the like.
The speech synthesizing apparatus used for such purposes is required to be small and inexpensive. Hitherto, for such application, the parameter synthesizing method, compressed recording and reproducing method, and others have been used, but in the conventional speech synthesizing method, since special hardware such as DSP (digital signal processor) or memory of large capacity is used, applications for such uses have been rarely attempted.
To convert a text into speech, there are a method of making a rule of a chain of phonemes by a model, and synthesizing while varying the parameters by the rule according to an objective text, and a method of analyzing the speech in a small phoneme chain unit such as CV unit and VCV unit (C standing for a consonant, and V for a vowel), collecting all necessary phoneme chains from actual speech to stored as segments, and synthesizing by connecting the segments according to an objective text. Herein, the former is called the parameter synthesizing method, and the latter is the connection synthesizing method.
A representative parameter synthesizing method is the formant synthesizing method. This is a method of separating the speech forming process into a speech source model of vocal cord vibration and transmission function model of vocal tract, and synthesizing the desired speech by parameter time change of the two models. A representative parameter used in the formant synthesizing method is the peak position on the frequency axis of the speech vibration called formant. These parameters are generated by using the rule based on the phonetic findings, and the table storing the representative values of the parameters.
The parameter synthesizing method is high in the computational cost such as calculation of vocal tract transmission function, and the DSP or the like is indispensable for real-time synthesis. For parameter control, however, multitudinous rules are related, and the speech quality improvement is difficult. On the other hand, the table and rules are small in data quantity, and hence a small memory capacity is sufficient.
By contrast, the connection synthesizing method is available in the following two types depending on the format of memory of segments. That is, the parameter connection method of converting the segments into PARCOR coefficients or LSP parameters by using the speech model, and the waveform connection method of accumulating the speech waveforms directly without using speech model are known.
In the parameter connection method, the speech is segmented in small units of CV syllable, CVC, VCV (C standing for a consonant, and V for a vowel), etc., and converted into parameters such as PARCOR coefficients to be accumulated in the memory, and is reproduced as required, in which the memory format is the speech parameter, and therefore the pitch or time length can be changed easily when synthesizing, so that the segments can be connected smoothly. Besides, the required memory capacity is relatively small. A shortcoming is, however, that the calculation processing amount for synthesizing is relatively large. It, hence, requires an exclusive hardware such as DSP (digital signal processor). Yet, since the speech modeling is not sufficient, there is a limit in the sound quality of the speech reproduced from the parameters.
As the waveform connection method, on the other hand, the method of accumulating the speech directly in the memory, and the method of compressing and coding the speech to be accumulated in the memory, and reproducing when necessary are known, among others, and for compressive coding, .mu.-Law coding, ADPCM, and others are used, and it is possible to synthesize the speech at higher fidelity than in the parameter connection method.
When the contents of the speech to be synthesized are limited to few variety, it may be recorded in the sentence unit, syllable unit, or word unit, and edited properly. For synthesizing an arbitrary text, however, it is required to accumulate in further small speech segments, same as in the parameter connection method. Different from the parameter synthesis, it is difficult to change the pitch or time length, and therefore for synthesis of high quality, segments having various pitches and time lengths must be prepared.
Hence, the memory capacity of each segment is more than ten times that of the parameter connection method, and a further larger memory capacity is needed if a high quality is desired. Factors for increasing the memory capacity are dominated by the complicatedness of the phoneme chain units used in segments, and the preparation of segments in consideration of variation of pitch and time length.
As the phoneme chain unit, as mentioned above, the CV unit or VCV unit may be considered. The CV unit is a unit of combination of a pair of consonant and vowel corresponding to one syllable of the Japanese language. The CV unit is available in 130 types of combination, assuming 26 consonants and 5 vowels. In the connection of CV units, since a continuous waveform change from a preceding vowel to a consonant cannot be expressed, the naturalness is sacrificed. It is the VCV unit that is a unit including a preceding vowel of a CV unit. Hence, the VCV unit is available in 650 types, five times more than in the CV unit.
Concerning the pitch and time length, in the waveform connection method, different from the parameter connection method, it is difficult to change the pitch and time length of segments once prepared. Accordingly, segments must be prepared including variations, from the speech uttered at various pitches and time lengths beforehand, which gives rise to increase of the memory capacity.
Thus, a large memory capacity is required for synthesizing speech at high quality by the waveform connection method, and a large memory capacity several times to scores of times more than in the parameter synthesizing method is needed. In principle, however, a speech of an extremely high quality can be synthesized by using a memory device of a large capacity.
Therefore, the waveform connection method is superior in speech synthesizing method of high quality, but the problems are that the intrinsic pitch and time length of speech segment cannot be controlled, and that a memory device of large capacity is needed.
To solve these problems, a PSOLA (Pitch Synchronous Overlap Add) method is proposed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-501896), in which the speech waveform is cut out at window function in synchronism with the pitch, and overlapped to a desired pitch period when synthesizing.
The cut-out position in this method has the peak of the excitation pulse by closure of the glottis in the center of the window function. The shape of the window function should attenuate to 0 at both ends (for example, Hanning window). The window length is twice as long as the synthesized pitch period when the synthesized pitch period is shorter than the original pitch period of the speech waveform, and twice the original pitch period, to the contrary, when the synthesized pitch period is longer. The time length can be also controlled by decimating or repeating the cut-out pitch waveform.
As a result, from one speech segment, a waveform of arbitrary pitch and time length can be synthesized, so that a synthesized sound of high quality can be obtained by a small memory capacity.
In this method, however, the problem is that the quantity of calculation is large when synthesizing the speech. It is because it is necessary to cut out the pitch waveform by using window function when synthesizing, and calculation of trigonometric function and multiplication are performed frequently.
For example, operations necessary for synthesizing one sample of waveform include the follows. To generate one sample of pitch waveform, the memory is read out once for reading out the speech segment, the calculation of trigonometric function necessary for calculation of the Hanning window function is once and the addition is once (for giving a direct-current offset to the trigonometric function), the multiplication for calculating the angle to be given to the trigonometric function is once, and the multiplication for applying window to the speech waveform by using the value of trigonometric function is once. Since a synthesized waveform is produced by overlapping two pitch waveforms, one sample of synthesized waveform requires two times of memory access, two times of calculation of trigonometric function, four times of multiplication, and three times of addition (see FIG. 19).
Incidentally, to prevent increase of phoneme chain unit, a hybrid method is proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-050890). In this method, basically, segments are composed of CV units only, and the waveform varying portion from vowel to consonant is generated by parameter synthesizing method. Therefore, the variety of phoneme chain unit is about 130 types, and the operation rate of the parameter synthesizing portion can be lowered, so that the calculation cost can be suppressed low as compared with the pure parameter synthesizing method.
In the hybrid method, however, the calculation cost of the parameter synthesizing portion is high. Furthermore, in the case of real-time parameter synthesis or high changing speed of the parameters, harmful noise may be caused due to effects of calculation precision or transient characteristic effect of synthesis transmission function (so-called filter). Accordingly, plopping, cracking or other unusual sound may be generated in the midst of synthesized sound, and the sound quality deteriorates.

Speech synthesizing method and apparatus for combining natural speech segments and synthesized speech segments

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A ladder holder for mounting a ladder in an upright orientation relative to a retaining wall is disclosed. The holder includes a mounting portion for coupling in fixed relation to the wall in a mounted position and a support portion supported fixedly on the mounting portion. The mounting portion has a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface that is moveable relative to the first clamping surface. The first and second clamping surfaces frictionally engage the inner and outer surfaces of the top beam of the retaining wall. The support portion has upper and lower rung-receiving slots used in conjunction to mount the ladder on the support portion at a fixed angle relative to the mounting portion. Furthermore, the storage slot suspends the ladder vertically from the support portion independently of the upper and lower slots.

The disclosed invention is a ladder holder for mounting a ladder relative to a retaining wall typically used in ground excavation. Retaining walls are a common sight in urban construction sites because it is vital to protect the workers working in these sites from the collapse of the surrounding ground. As with any construction site, an access means is needed in order to facilitate the access of workers and equipment into the site. Due to the lack of room in the site, ladders are predominantly used as opposed to more mechanized alternatives such as elevators. However, ladders cannot be used without some way of supporting the ladder or attaching it somewhat fixedly to a stable part of the excavation site. This is partly due to the fact that the ground at the bottom of the site is likely uneven, so using the ground to support the ladder is neither reliable nor safe. One available structure to which the ladder can be attached and supported safely is one of the retaining walls. In addition to a stable and safe means of supporting the ladder, another important consideration to make is to ensure that the ladder can be stowed when not in use to afford more space in the site. Furthermore, a valuable feature of such a mounting device would facilitate a worker inside or outside the site to return the ladder to a working position.
Prior art examples describing ladder hooks that could potentially be used to fix a ladder relative to a retaining wall include U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0158783 to Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,018,877 to Chickering, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,468 given to Steblinski. However, the ladder holders described by these patents have some drawbacks. Firstly, the prior patents do not include a means of guiding a proper angle of the ladder relative to the retaining wall. It is important for the ladder to be supported at an angle relative to the wall so as to afford safer access into and out of the site and to ease the carrying of equipment up and down the ladder. The patent publication for Carlson describes a ladder system with two rung supports that may allow for the ladder to be supported at an angle; however, the upper rung receptacle does not engage its respective rung in such a way that will prevent any lateral movement towards or away from the bar to which the support brackets are attached. As such, the angle of the ladder will not remain fixed relative to the mounting portion of the device. Also, Chickering's patent has two slots with an attachment hook at the upper end of the device that couples the ladder hook to a wall. Nevertheless, the attachment hook does not allow the device to be arranged at a fixed angle relative to an attachment surface. Furthermore, the patent granted to Steblinski uses a single rung supporting element with a flange at the free end of the rung supporting element to position the ladder at an angle to the attachment surface; however, this configuration affords the ladder little stability when positioned at an angle due to the reliance on a narrow flange to prop the ladder against the wall at an angle. A second shortcoming is that the prior art examples do not provide a secure means of stowing the ladder when not in use, so as to reduce the risk of the ladder being knocked off the device by a worker in the site. While the patent given to Steblinski affords the ability to suspend the ladder vertically when not in use, the storage mechanism does not restrict the movement of the ladder when in its storage position so that the ladder can be knocked out of place with little effort by pushing the ladder upwards. Lastly, the prior art examples do not describe a ladder holder that is able to mount to a retaining wall, which is unique in its structure because it contains a corrugated panel and a beam spanning the top edge of the wall that has edges extending beyond the panel on either side thereof. The corrugated panel may be problematic as the corrugations may limit the locations where the device can be stably mounted, while the beam necessitates an attachment or retaining mechanism that must fit a non-uniform structure (i.e., the entire retaining wall).


A method of managing timberland generally includes planting within a plot a first genetic tree crop of a first tree species that is selected for at least a first tree trait in a substantially linear pattern defining a first plurality of adjacent substantially linear beds at a first crop spacing and at a first row spacing between adjacent substantially linear beds. The method further includes interplanting a second genetic tree crop of the first tree species that is selected for at least a second tree trait in the first plurality of adjacent substantially linear beds at a second crop spacing that is shorter than the first crop spacing, such that adjacent substantially linear beds include trees of the first and second genetic tree crops.

Many methods are practiced for managing timberland. However, the various methods generally fall into one of two distinct categories of management practices. One category typically is known as plantation management wherein a single tree crop is planted in relatively narrow rows. This process is designed to provide uniform, even-aged regeneration of trees on the land. Typically, the trees are planted with a row spacing of about 8 feet to about 14 feet and are managed to produce between 450 to 750 trees per acre. Alternatively, there is a "shelterwood" method that requires a predetermined number of seed-producing trees be retained per acre to naturally establish a randomly dispersed new crop of seedlings. Both of these common timberland management methods have inherent limitations.
Current plantation management methods have many deficiencies. A one-pass planting process does not generally allow for the successful replanting in areas where trees fail to establish themselves. The relatively high number of trees planted under a plantation type management practice often preclude the use of practices such as high-quality genetics and containerized seedlings because they are not financially attractive due to cost. Further, a single tree crop is more susceptible to catastrophic loss due to disease or infestation than is a multiple genetic crop. Finally, the relatively high density of the trees requires thinning at times dictated by the growth of the trees rather than by maximizing economic return.
The "shelterwood" management method also has deficiencies. More specifically, relying on natural regeneration of timberland from selective seed trees yields a random arrangement of trees within a plot. Yearly variation in seed production, weather and quality seed beds greatly affect the success of this technique. Regeneration of uniform density of trees is rarely achieved. Consequently, the use of automated ground equipment is difficult because of the random arrangement of the trees. Likewise, the seed trees are the genetic basis for the new crop of trees. As a result, it is difficult to improve the genetics of the crop beyond the genetics of the initial seed trees.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for adaptive augmented reality for dynamic processing of spatial component parameters based on detecting accommodation factors in real time. The system is further configured for dynamic capture, analysis and modification of spatial component parameters in a virtual reality (VR) space and real-time transformation to composite plan files. Moreover, the system comprises one or more composite credential sensor devices, comprising one or more VR spatial sensor devices configured for capture and imaging of VR spatial movement and position credentials. The system is also configured to dynamically transform and adapt a first immersive virtual simulation structure associated with the first physical location sector, in real-time, based on detecting and analyzing mobility assist devices associated with users.

Conventional technology is directed to mere planar floor plans associated with building structures. However, conventional technology is not configured for dynamically detecting and processing the planar floor plans based on accommodation factors of users, much less transforming spatial component parameters thereof. Moreover, existing systems are not capable of harnessing other network devices associated with the individuals for facilitating detection and transformation of spatial component parameters. There is a need for a novel system structured for dynamic capture, analysis and modification of spatial component parameters based on accommodation factors of users. Furthermore, there is a need for a system that is structured for adaptive augmented reality for dynamic processing of spatial component parameters based on detecting accommodation factors in real time.

Adaptive augmented reality system for dynamic processing of spatial component parameters based on detecting accommodation factors in real time


Multicolor photographic elements are disclosed containing at least three dye image forming layer units. An enhancement of the speed-granularity relationship of a dye image is obtained when the corresponding dye image forming layer unit contains at least three superimposed emulsion layers. The two emulsion layers farther from the support contain silver bromoiodide emulsions, with the emulsion layer nearest the support containing a silver bromide or bromoiodide emulsion of up to 60 percent the iodide as a proportion of silver of the next overlying of the emulsion layers. The three emulsion layers each differ in speed from the next adjacent of the emulsion layers, with the fastest of the emulsion layers being located nearest the source of exposing radiation and being at least one half stop faster than the next adjacent layer and the slowest of the emulsion layers being located farthest from the source of exposing radiation and being at least one stop slower than the next adjacent layer. The three emulsions layers are each tabular grain emulsion layers with tabularities of greater than 25. At least the two emulsion layers nearest the source of exposing radiation tabular grains that contain a speed enhancing locally increased iodide content.

In constructing a multicolor silver halide photographic element primary reliance for analysis of performance is still placed on characteristic profiles of the type first suggested by Hurter and Driffield in the nineteenth century. An ideal characteristic profile is shown in FIG. 1, wherein optical density (hereinafter referred to as density) is plotted against log exposure. The characteristic profile CP produced by varied levels of exposure of a photographic element followed by processing and processing provides a valuable insight into the photographic performance to be expected in imaging. Exposures less than received at point A, just to the left of the toe of the characteristic profile, do not give rise to any increase in density. The displacement of the characteristic profile above zero density is referred to as minimum density (Dmin) or fog. Useful imaging occurs at exposures between points A and B. Exposures higher than those at point B, lying just to the right of the shoulder of the characteristic profile, produce no further increase in density. Point B lies at the highest attainable density, referred to as maximum density (Dmax). For the purpose of comparing photographic element speeds a reference point such as C is selected on the characteristic profile, typically at about 0.01 density unit above fog. The slope of the characteristic profile (.DELTA. density/.DELTA.log E), referred to as contrast or .gamma., usually measured over some segment of the curve CP bridging mid-scale density also provides valuable information on imaging characteristics. Toe contrast, measured in the A to C toe region of the characteristic profile, and shoulder contrast, measured in the D to B shoulder region of the characteristic profile, also provide useful measures of imaging properties. The displacement along the exposure scale of points A and B determines the exposure latitude of the film. The longer the exposure latitude the lower the risk image information being lost through over or under exposure during imaging. The accepted units of exposure (E) are lux (previously, meter-candle)-seconds. Each 0.3 increase in log exposure doubles the exposure and is referred to by photographers as a "stop". A half stop is 0.15 log E.
In constructing a multicolor photographic element the aim is usually to construct an element capable of producing at least three distinct characteristic profiles, indicative of the a yellow dye teristic profile produced by blue light exposure, a magenta dye characteristic profile produced by green light exposure and a cyan dye characteristic profile produced by red light exposure. The aim is usually to produce yellow, magenta and cyan profiles that are as nearly superimposed as possible. This is facilitated by characteristic profiles for each of the color records that are as nearly linear as possible over the intended exposure range. For example, in characteristic profile CP the linear portion of the characteristic profile between points C and D is ideal for color imaging, since a linear profile within an acceptable working exposure range facilitates superposition of yellow, magenta and cyan profiles and maintenance of an accurate color balance at varied levels of exposure.
Although the image dye characteristic profiles of a multicolor photographic element are useful in assessing its imaging qualities, one important image property that requires separate inquiry is image noise--i.e., granularity. It is generally recognized that photographic speed increases with increasing silver halide grain sizes and that image granularity also increases with silver halide grain sizes. The object in constructing multicolor photographic elements is usually to satisfy imaging application speed requirements while providing images of lowest attainable granularity.

Multicolor photographic elements exhibiting an enhanced speed-granularity relationship


The invention provides methods and compositions for amplifying selected polynucleotides, especially selected subsets of restriction fragments. Generally, methods of the invention are implemented by ligating adaptors containing at least one promoter sequence to such fragments under conditions that promote the formation of closed single stranded or double stranded structures, which are capable of serving as cyclical templates for transcription.

The quality and quantity of DNA samples for genetic analysis is critical, e.g. Report of Working Group on Biomedical Technology, "Recommendation for a Human Cancer Genome Project," (February, 2005). A variety of techniques have been developed for amplifying scarce DNA samples, but each involve technical trade-offs so that none is optimal in every circumstance, e.g. Hawkins et al, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 13: 65-67 (2002); Dean et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 99: 5261-5266 (2002). For example, many new DNA sequencing technologies provide tremendous throughput based on short sequence reads, which limits their application to the analysis of relatively small genomes, such as viral and prokaryotic genomes, e.g. Margulies et al, Nature, 437: 376-380 (2005); Shendure et al, Science, 309: 1728-1732 (2005). Many important problems related to mammalian-sized genomes could be amenable to analysis by such technologies, e.g. analysis of cancer genes, if there were available techniques to selectively amplify subsets of large genomes without biases or other deficiencies associated with common amplification techniques.


A grease gun with a quick-release end cover includes a barrel, and an operating end cover and a piston end cover disposed at two ends of the barrel. Between the operating end cover and the barrel is disposed a quick-release device which includes: an annular groove formed around the barrel; a first hole formed in the operating end cover and includes an outer open end and an inner open end. Inside the first hole is formed an annular shoulder portion, in the outer open end of the first hole is formed a slot. A control member has a shaft inserted into the first hole, the shaft includes an abutting and an operating portion formed at two ends thereof, and a positioning pin. A compression spring is sleeved onto the shaft and pressed between the annular shoulder portion of the first hole, and the annular abutting portion of the abutting block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a grease gun, and more particularly to a grease gun with a quick-release end cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional manually operated grease gun 10 which comprises a barrel 11 for storing grease, and a front end cover 12 and a rear end cover 13 screwed at two ends of the barrel 11. The front end cover 12 is provided with a dispensing tube 121 and a lever 122. A piston 14 is inserted through the rear end cover 13 and into the barrel 11 to push grease to the dispensing tube 121 by cooperating with the lever 122. The rear end of the conventional grease gun 10 is used to accommodate the piston 14, therefore, the grease is normally fed into the grease gun via the front end. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the front end of the barrel 11 is provided with an outer thread 111 for engaging with an inner thread 123 of the front end cover 12.
It is to be noted that the grease will be adhered to the inner surface of the barrel 11 and the front end cover 12 after being pushed by the piston, and the front end cover 12 needs to rotate when screwed to the barrel 11, as a result, the grease on the inner surface is likely to stick between the barrel 11 and the front end cover 12, when the front end cover 12 rotates, which not only affects the tightness of engagement between the barrel 11 and the front end cover 12, but also dirties the user when replacing the grease bar.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Grease gun with a quick-release end cover

SHUOXING METAL PRODUCTS (KUNSHAN) CO., LTD.


In a musical instrument, such as a piano, having a sound board, the sound board vibrates in response to vibrations of a string responsive to depression of a key. A waveform corresponding to such vibrations of the sound board is detected and recorded into a memory for each of the keys. The recorded vibration waveform is usable for reproduction of a sound based on sound board vibrations. In a sound reproduction apparatus, such as a piano, having a sound board, an excitation device physically excitable in response to an input waveform is provided on the sound board. In response to an operation of a key, a sound board vibration waveform corresponding to the operated key is read out from the memory, and the excitation device is driven in accordance with the read-out waveform signal so that the sound board is vibrated.

The present invention relates generally to a technique which, in a musical instrument provided with a sound board to which physical vibrations of a sounding member like a string are transmitted, permits recording of a vibration waveform related to vibrations of the sound board, and also relates to a sound reproduction apparatus, such as a musical instrument like a piano, capable of generating an audible sound by vibrating a sound board in accordance with a drive signal indicative of a vibration waveform of the sound board.
Examples of the conventionally-known pianos include ones known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-5-73039 and Published Japanese Translation of International Patent Application No. 2006-524350, which can compulsorily vibrate a sound board by an actuator in accordance with a drive signal in addition to vibrations caused by striking of strings.
In the piano disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-5-73039, vibrations of any one of the strings and the sound board during a performance are detected via vibration sensors and a microphone, DSP processing is performed on the detected vibrations to generate a sound board drive signal so that the actuator is driven to vibrate the sound board within five msec from sound generation by striking of the string. Thus, a sound generated by vibrations of the sound board via the actuator is added to a sound of an acoustic piano, so that it is possible to set as desired a type and variation amount of an audio effect to be imparted in a performance.
However, with the piano disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-5-73039, where the sound board and the strings are in such a relationship that vibrations are transmitted mutually between them, a resonant sound resulting from compulsory vibrations of the sound board etc. are generated in addition to a sound generated by striking of any one of the strings. Thus, the sound generated by the string striking and the sound by the compulsory vibrations of the sound board mix together to cause a resonant-sound overlapping state, so that an unintended acoustic effect may be undesirably produced.
Because sounds of different quality from original sounds of the acoustic piano are generated for the foregoing reason, the technique disclosed in the No. HEI-5-73039 publication differs from a technique intended to faithfully replicate or reproduce original acoustic characteristics of an acoustic piano in a performance. In addition, the technique disclosed in the No. HEI-5-73039 publication is not a technique designed to execute automatic reproduction using data obtained by recording a performance. Further, because the technique disclosed in the No. HEI-5-73039 publication is constructed to merely generate sounds by compulsory vibrations of the sound board in addition to sounds generated by string striking, it can hardly adjust sound volumes during a performance. Further, Published Japanese Translation of International Patent Application No. 2006-524350 does not disclose recording and reproducing vibrations of the sound board.

Recording and reproduction of waveform based on sound board vibrations


A hinge assembly (14) for attaching a translating-motion-type aircraft door (10) to an aircraft fuselage (12) is disclosed. The hinge assembly (14) includes a fitting (28) that is pivotally attached to the portion of the aircraft fuselage (14) adjacent the door opening (16) in the fuselage in which the door (10) is normally seated. The door is attached to the hinge fitting (28) by way of a universal shaft (30) that is rotatably attached to the free end of the hinge fitting (28). A drivebelt (32) is anchored at one end to the aircraft fuselage (12) and is attached at the opposed end to the universal shaft (30) so as to move in unison with the shaft. When the hinge assembly (14) of this invention is opened, the hinge fitting (28) pulls on the drivebelt (32) so as to cause its movement and the subsequent movement of the universal shaft (30). The universal shaft (30) is rotated about the hinge fitting (28) so as to maintain the door (10) attached thereto in a constant angular relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft fuselage (12).

An integral part of an aircraft fuselage is the door assembly through which passengers and crew can enter and exit the aircraft. One type of door assembly that has become increasingly popular for use in commercial aircraft is the translating-motion-type door. This door, when opened, first moves up and away from the fuselage opening in which it is seated. Once the door clears the opening it is moved to one side of the opening so as to leave a free path for persons to enter and exit the aircraft. Translating doors take the place of conventional cocking type doors that are rotated inward and outward of the fuselage openings with which they are associated. A disadvantage of a cocking door is that, when opened, it is pivoted into the space inside the aircraft adjacent the entry/egress way adjacent the door. Consequently, the space inside the aircraft to the side of the door must be kept clear. A translating door, on the other hand, does not move into the space to the side of the door. As a result, when a translating door is installed in an aircraft, cabin units, such as galleys and lavatories, can be placed immediately adjacent the door entry/egress way. This increases the efficiency with which the space inside the fuselage is used. Also, translating-motion-type door assemblies weigh significantly less than cocking door assemblies for comparably sized openings. Moreover, translating doors typically include fewer components and are more economical to manufacture than similar cocking doors. Still another advantage of translating doors is that they move along a relatively straightforward up-and-out path when opened. In comparison to the inward rotation and outward movement of cocking doors, this feature makes translating-motion doors much easier to open. This feature is important because cabin attendants, who are often small in stature, sometimes find it physically difficult to open a cocking door.
An important part of any door assembly is the hinge that connects the door to the adjacent aircraft fuselage structure. A hinge used with a translating-motion-type aircraft door must be designed to allow the door to move up and down so that the door can move in and out of the associated fuselage opening. The hinge must further be arranged to allow the door to be moved away from the door opening so that the path in and out of the opening is clear. Moreover, once the door clears the opening, the hinge should allow the door to move along a path that is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane. In other words, the hinge is typically arranged so that, when the door is opened, the inside wall of the door is adjacent the outer skin of the aircraft. An advantage of this type of motion is that the effort required to move the door along a sliding path is substantially less than that required to pivot the door around the hinge as is required for cocking-type doors. Given that aircraft doors can weigh 300 pounds or more, any advances that reduce the effort required to open and close them are generally appreciated.
Many hinges used with translating-motion-type aircraft doors include both a structural hinge for securing the door to the aircraft and a mechanical linkage that provides a second door-to-fuselage connection. The mechanical linkage is employed to control the rotation of the door along its longitudinal axis so that, as the door is moved away from the fuselage, the door remains generally parallel to the outer skin of the aircraft. If the movement of the door was not controlled, the door would either swing free of the hinge and be difficult to maneuver and/or strike the outer skin of the fuselage.
A disadvantage of these hinges is that the linkages are composed of numerous interconnecting, movable mechanical parts. Providing these linkages appreciably adds to the overall cost of the hinges. Moreover, owing to the nature of their assembly, these mechanical linkages must be provided with rather long linkage members that add extra weight to the aircraft. This extra weight serves only to reduce the carrying capacity and operating efficiency of the aircraft. Owning to the nature of construction of these linkages, they are prone to require extensive and frequent maintenance. Furthermore, the rate at which these stiff linkage members apply angular momentum to rotate the door changes during the actual opening or closing cycle of door movement. As a result, as a door that is attached to this type of hinge is moved to the end of an opening or closing cycle, the amount of force needed to move the door increases. Moreover, the numerous cranks and drive rods of these linkages can be aesthetically displeasing to view.


An electronic apparatus includes a housing having a hole, an electronic component disposed adjacent to the hole, and a support fitting that supports the electronic component. The support member has a partition that supports the electronic component and defines a space around the hole in cooperation with an inner wall of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, performance of electronic apparatus represented by notebook personal computers has been increased while a storage medium such as a large-capacity hard disk is mounted thereon to store a large amount of information. Also, because notebook personal computers excellent in portability are widely used and there is growing awareness of privacy protection, theft-protection measures are becoming absolutely essential.
Under such circumstances, locking devices for protecting an electronic apparatus from theft by restricting movements of the apparatus are available on the market. One of such locking devices has a locking member to be inserted into a hole formed in a part of the housing of the electronic apparatus. Once the locking member is inserted in the hole, it spreads out inside the hole so than it cannot be removed therefrom. The locking member is linked to a heavy immovable object with a chain or the like so that the apparatus cannot be freely moved (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-14063 for example).
However, even if such a hole for locking is formed in the electronic apparatus, the hole is left unused in many cases because there are many users who do not have a locking device for their electronic apparatus or may use a locking device only inside a building but leave it removed when going out with the apparatus. In such cases, dust will enter through the hole formed in the electronic apparatus and eventually cover an air-cooling fan disposed inside the apparatus or peripheral areas of the fan, thereby blocking air circulation, which results in insufficient air-cooling.
To address such dust-related problems, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-14063 proposes such a structure that a plate is provided to cover the hole from inside and a spring is provided to urge the plate from behind. When the locking member is inserted into the hole, the plate is pushed by the locking member and retracts away from the hole.
However, the structure proposed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-14063 requires components dedicated to blocking of the hole, such as a plate for covering the hole, a spring for urging the plate, a structure for supporting the spring and the like, resulting in cost increase.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an electronic apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of malfunction due to insufficient air cooling, a short circuit, and the like caused by dust entering through the hole.


A control apparatus for a synchronous generator system has: a voltage instruction generator for generating voltage instructions (V.sub.u *, V.sub.v *, V.sub.w *) based on an output power reference (P*) of the synchronous generator, currents (I.sub.u, I.sub.v) flowing through the synchronous generator and position information (.theta..sub.0, .omega..sub.r) of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator; a zero crossing point detector for detecting a point that the voltage (V.sub.u) of the synchronous generator passes through zero volt.; and a magnetic pole position calculator for calculating the information (.theta..sub.0, .omega..sub.r) on the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator on the basis of the voltage instruction (V.sub.u *) and the power reference (P*) when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output signal of the zero crossing point detector when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a synchronous generator system for converting kinetic energy to electric power, and more particularly to a control apparatus which does not require the provision any sensor, such as an encoder, hole elements and so on, for detecting the position of rotating magnetic poles of a synchronous generator. Further, the present invention relates to a hybrid-type electric vehicle, to which the synchronous generator control apparatus as mentioned above is applied.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a hybrid-type electric vehicle, in which an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor and/or generator are used in combination as a driving power source, for the purpose of improving the fuel consumption and the exhaust gas purification. In such an electric vehicle, it is desired that an electric vehicle under a standstill state can only be started electrically.
By the way, as a motor or a generator for use in an electric vehicle of this kind, a synchronous type machine is usually utilized. As is well known, the positional relationship between a stator and a rotor thereof must necessarily to be found, in order to operate the synchronous machine.
In a conventional control apparatus of this kind, there has been provided a position sensor for detecting the position of rotating magnetic poles of a synchronous machine. However, such a position sensor is very expensive, with the result that the whole cost of the control apparatus increases. Further, such a sensor also increases the size of the control apparatus as a whole.
To solve the problems as described above, the Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. 9-163507 (published Jun. 20, 1997) proposes a so called sensorless synchronous machine system, in which a control computer carries out a predetermined processing to presume the position of magnetic poles of a synchronous machine.
It is well known that the voltage induced across a winding of a certain phase has a phase difference of 90.degree. from the magnetic flux produced by a magnetic pole. The prior art as disclosed in the JP-A-9-163507 utilizes the aforesaid known fact, and the control computer takes therein a signal concerning the induced voltage and executes a predetermined processing to presume the position of the magnetic poles.
However, the prior art as described above operates on the assumption that the phase difference between the phase voltage and the magnetic flux is equal to 90.degree.. This assumption is quite correct under the condition wherein a synchronous machine is not loaded. However, the phase difference does not become equal to from 90.degree., as a load current flows through the synchronous machine. Namely, the position of the magnetic poles can not be presumed exactly under the loaded condition of the synchronous machine.

Control apparatus for a synchronous generator system and a hybrid-type electric vehicle using it


An arm support device is provided for use in supporting a person's arms while engaged in an activity such as typing at a keyboard or feeding an infant. The arm support device includes a cushion surrounded by fabric and is divided into a front portion and two side portions extending generally perpendicular to the front portion to form a U-shaped cushion. In use, the U-shaped cushion fits around a person's abdomen with the front portion lying on a person's lap. The side and front portions can support the person's arms when engaged in a stress producing activity. The cushion relieves stress that would otherwise build up within a person's arms and wrists. The device also includes means for vertically adjusting the device for different applications or different sized people. The adjustment feature uses separate smaller cushions that may be inserted into pockets sewn beneath the front and side portions to give the overall cushion a greater height.

Increasing medical problems have been identified among people using keyboards because of muscle fatigue, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, shoulder strain, neck and back strain, and other repetitive motion disorders. Observation of users of keyboards has indicated that much of the underlying stress is back-related, not just wrist related. The very nature of the finger/hand/wrist/arm movements creates stress and tension on the shoulders, necks, and arms of keyboard users. Joan Duncan and D. Ferguson published a study of keyboard operations and the effect on the human body in Ergonomics, 1974, emphasizing the need to concentrate on back and neck muscle groups. Fitting the Task to the Man notes that the elbows must be close-in to the body and straight with the shoulders. "Lifting the shoulders is strenuous . . . work," according to the author's research. A Swiss ergonomics study in 1982 pointed out that 83% of keyboarders rested their forearms if a devise to do so was available which supports other research which indicate that shoulder and neck muscles suffer during the workday. Various studies have concentrated on methods to relieve the wrist tensions and numerous hard surface and soft surface inventions have been created and marketed to relieve tension and pressure on wrists and forearms. Most have been static devises attached to the keyboard or desktop rather than attached to the keyboard operator.


A mold unit is provided for molding an object part to be molded which is arranged on an object. The mold unit includes: a fixed core, having a dividing surface thereon; a molding die which is incorporated in the fixed core to mold the object part to be molded; and an auxiliary die interposed between the molding die and the dividing surface of the fixed core to ensure a positional accuracy of the object part to be molded with respect to the object by modifying the auxiliary die.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a mold unit which is employed in molding a resin molded product, and also relates to a module for electrical connection including a housing which is obtained by resin molding employing the mold unit and used for assembling various components for electrical connection, and snap fits which are integrally formed on the housing for assembling the components.
2. Background Art
As a representative example of the module for electrical connection which is constructed by assembling various components for electrical connection such as bus bars, terminals, and circuit boards, there is an electrical junction box which is used in a wiring system in a vehicle, for example.
A representative example of structure of the electrical junction box is shown in FIG. 5. An electrical junction box 1 in this example includes a housing 2 which is obtained by resin molding. The housing 2 has a component assembling part 3 to which electrically conductive elements such as bus bars 4 (bus bars 4a, 4b, and so on) and terminals 5 are assembled by insert molding. portions of the bus bars 4a, 4b are respectively exposed from windows 6 (windows 6a, 6b, and so on) provided in the component assembling part 3. Moreover, a fit-in mounting part 7 is provided in the component assembling part 3, and a bus bar 8 to be fitted later is assembled to this fit-in mounting part 7 by fit-in mounting, as an electrically conductive element to be fitted later by non-inserting. Further, snap fits 11 are integrally formed at four positions in the component assembling part 3 so that the components such as circuit boards, which are not shown, can be assembled in a snap-fitting structure, by means of these snap fits 11 at the four positions.
As shown in an enlarged view in FIGS. 6A and 6B, each of the snap fit 11 has a base part 12 in a columnar shape which is integrally formed in the component assembling part 3, and a pair of snap pieces 13, 13 which are extended from the base part 12 axially symmetrically in a manner of interposing a deforming gap 14 between them. The snap pieces 13, 13 respectively have leg portions 15 and locking head portions 16, and are so constructed that taper faces 17 formed on the locking head portions 16 are pressure-contacted to an assembling hole which is formed in the mating component to be assembled (not shown), whereby the snap pieces 13, 13 are deformed into a state where the deforming gap 14 is narrowed.
In integrally molding the snap fits 11 in the component assembling part 3 at a time of molding the housing 2, it is unavoidable that an error to a certain extent may occur in the positions of the snap fits 11, due to molding conditions, and shrinkage or deformation of the resin at a time of molding, depending on a type of the resin to be used. By the way, in case of the electrical junction box, high accuracy is required in assembling the components, and accordingly, high accuracy is also required as for the positions of the snap fits 11. Therefore, it is necessary to modify a mold unit (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "the mold") according to the positional error of the snap fits in a molded product which has been produced as a prototype. However, there is a problem that modification of the mold is extremely difficult, in case where the housing 2 of the electrical junction box 1 is produced by resin molding.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, structure of a mold in a region where the snap fit is molded is shown. FIG. 7 shows relation between the mold and the snap fit 11 at a time of molding, and FIG. 8 shows relation between the mold and the snap fit 11 after molded. The mold in the region where the snap fit is molded is so constructed that a snap fit die 22 for molding the snap fit 11 is incorporated in a fixed core 21. From such structure of the mold, it is unavoidable that the region for molding the snap fit is positioned on a dividing surface 23 of the mold, which is a factor responsible for making modification of the mold extremely difficult.
As an art for assembling the circuit boards in the snap-fitting structure, there has been known, for example, the art disclosed in JP-A-2007-59753.
As described above, in case where the snap fits for assembling the components are formed, by integral molding, in the housing of the module for electrical connection such as the electrical junction box which is formed by resin molding, there has been such a problem that modification of the mold for eliminating the positional error of the snap fit is extremely difficult, because the region where the snap fit is molded is positioned on the dividing surface of the mold. Therefore, it has been required to solve this problem.

Mold unit and module for electrical connection