A calibration technique, for a printer having a plurality of different color ink printheads, which includes printing and scanning a test pattern. The test pattern is printed by each printhead printing a plurality of swaths having a length and distanced apart from each other. An optical sensor is used to scan the printed test pattern. Calibration is performed for each head by reading the swath length and the relative spacing of the swath and comparing the length to the spacing. This comparison is used to find the directional error for each head.

This invention relates generally to incremental printing, with transversely scanning printheads, onto a printing medium that is also advanced along a longitudinal axisxe2x80x94and more particularly to marking-position errors in the printing-medium-advance axis. These errors are particularly important in that they create perceptible and in some cases conspicuous defects in printed images.
(a) The printer mechanismxe2x80x94The invention is amenable to implementation in a great variety of products. It can be embodied in a printer/plotter that includes a main case 1 (FIG. 1) with a window 2, and a left-hand pod 3 which encloses one end of the chassis. Within that enclosure are carriage-support andxe2x80x94drive mechanics and one end of the printing-medium advance mechanism, as well as a pen-refill station with supplemental ink cartridges.
The printer/plotter also includes a printing-medium roll cover 4, and a receiving bin 5 for lengths or sheets of printing medium on which images have been formed, and which have been ejected from the machine. A bottom brace and storage shelf 6 spans the legs which support the two ends of the case 1.
Just above the print-medium cover 4 is an entry slot 7 for receipt of continuous lengths of printing medium 4. Also included are a lever 8 for control of the gripping of the print medium by the machine.
A front-panel display 11 and controls 12 are mounted in the skin of the right-hand pod 13. That pod encloses the right end of the carriage mechanics and of the medium advance mechanism, and also a printhead cleaning station. Near the bottom of the right-hand pod for readiest access is a standby switch 14.
Within the case 1 and pods 3, 13 a cylindrical platen 41 (FIG. 2)xe2x80x94driven by a motor 42, worm 43 and worm gear 44 under control of signals from a digital electronic processorxe2x80x94rotates to drive sheets or lengths of printing medium 4A in a medium-advance direction. Print medium 4A is thereby drawn out of the print-medium roll cover 4.
Meanwhile a pen-holding carriage assembly 20 carries pens back and forth across the printing medium, along a scanning trackxe2x80x94perpendicular to the medium-advance directionxe2x80x94while the pens eject ink. The medium 4A thus receives inkdrops for formation of a desired image, and is ejected into the print-medium bin 5.
As indicated in the drawing, the image may be a test pattern of numerous color patches or swatches 56, for reading by an optical sensor to generate calibration data. For present purposes, such test patterns are for use in detecting positioning errors.
A small automatic optoelectronic sensor 51 rides with the pens on the carriage and is directed downward to obtain data about pen condition (nozzle firing volume and direction, and interpen alignment). The sensor 51 can readily perform optical measurements 65, 81, 82 (FIG. 7); suitable algorithmic control 82 is well within the skill of the art, and may be guided by the discussions in the present document.
A very finely graduated encoder strip 36 is extended taut along the scanning path of the carriage assembly 20 and read by another, very small automatic optoelectronic sensor 37 to provide position and speed information 37B for the microprocessor. One advantageous location for the encoder strip 36 is immediately behind the pens.
A currently preferred position for the encoder strip 33 (FIG. 3), however, is near the rear of the pen-carriage trayxe2x80x94remote from the space into which a user""s hands are inserted for servicing of the pen refill cartridges. For either position, the sensor 37 is disposed with its optical beam passing through orifices or transparent portions of a scale formed in the strip.
The pen-carriage assembly 20 is driven in reciprocation by a motor 31xe2x80x94along dual support and guide rails 32, 34xe2x80x94through the intermediary of a drive belt 35. The motor 31 is under the control of signals from the digital processor.
Naturally the pen-carriage assembly includes a forward bay structure 22 for pensxe2x80x94preferably at least four pens 23-26 holding ink of four different colors respectively. Most typically the inks are yellow in the left-most pen 23, then cyan 24, magenta 25 and black 26.
Another increasingly common system, however, has inks of different colors that are actually different dilutions for one or more common chromatic colors, in the several pens. Thus different dilutions of black may be in the several pens 23-26. As a practical matter, both plural-chromatic-color and plural-black pens may be in a single printer, either in a common carriage or plural carriages.
Also included in the pen-carriage assembly 20 is a rear tray 21 carrying various electronics. The colorimeter carriage too has a rear tray or extension 53 (FIG. 3), with a step 54 to clear the drive cables 35.
FIGS. 1 through 3 most specifically represent a system such as the Hewlett Packard printer/plotter model xe2x80x9cDesignJet 2000CPxe2x80x9d, which does not include the present invention. These drawings, however, also illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, andxe2x80x94with certain detailed differences mentioned belowxe2x80x94a printer/plotter that includes preferred embodiments of the invention.
(b) Relatively direct PAD-derived bandingxe2x80x94In the images produced by a printer of this type, defects called xe2x80x9cbandingxe2x80x9d appear where unprinted, lightly printed, or double-printed pixel rows occur repetitively. Relatively direct sources of such errors include:
Print-medium-Axis Directionality or Pen-Axis Directionality xe2x80x9cPADxe2x80x9d (FIG. 4), i.e. an angling of inkdrop trajectories particularly near the ends of the nozzle array 12,
variations xcex94PAD in the latter error,
variations xcex94PH in the pen height above the printing medium, and
rotation xcex8z of a printhead about the pen-to-print-medium axis z.
A dominant error source is PAD, which may be seen as analogous to camber. It can be either inboard or outboard.
It operates through the height PH of a pen above the print mediumxe2x80x94including the height variations xcex94PHxe2x80x94to extend or contract the swath length 14 in the pen-length direction on the printing medium, the so-called xe2x80x9cpaper swath lengthxe2x80x9d.
(In this document the term xe2x80x9cheightxe2x80x9d is reserved for actual vertical height of the pen above the medium; hence the dimension of the swath in the long dimension of the medium, though commonly called xe2x80x9cswath heightxe2x80x9d, is here instead termed xe2x80x9cswath lengthxe2x80x9d. Please do not confuse this dimension with the width of the swath, i.e. its dimension transversely across the medium in the carriage-scan axis.)
To reduce visible banding, operating strategies can compensate for such extension or contraction by a matching extension or contraction of the printing-medium-advance stroke. In other words, unprinted or double-printed pixel rows can be avoided by matching the stroke to the actual swath length.
This may be regarded as xe2x80x9ccompensationxe2x80x9d, though in a sense it is the oppositexe2x80x94namely, accommodationxe2x80x94and actually results in image deformation. Both the actual swath length and its matched stroke are different from the nominal swath length that constitutes a basic unit of the image.
Small resulting differences in shapes within an image can sometimes be detected. Accumulated differences due to such deformation can be seen as variation of overall printed image length.
The drawing shows a platen of the roller type, with print medium wrapped around the roller. In this geometry, swath-length extension is aggravated by the fact that the print-medium surface progressively recedes from the nozzle array 12 at all points off-axis relative to the pen-to-medium axis z.
This aggravating effect, in turn, is greatly complicated by any departure of the roller and printing-medium surfaces from nominal conditions, still relatively direct:
radius error xcex94radius from the nominal,
thickness of the printing medium, or difference of that thickness from any assumed nominal thickness,
runout or out-of-round, i.e. departure of the platen from circularity, and
eccentricity of the platen relative to the pen-to-medium axis z, and any difference xcex94eccentricity of that eccentricity from any assumed nominal eccentricity.
The aggravating curved-platen effect itself is still relatively direct, though present only if the system prints on a curved platen 13, such as a roller.
These factors, except for printing-medium thickness variation, are already corrected in factory calibration of the printing-medium advance mechanism. What is particularly problematic is that in a representative product this calibration is inoperative when the system runs in a test-pattern measuring mode.
Hence a test pattern for measuring or accommodating PAD is printed with the advance mechanism calibrated but measured with the mechanism uncalibrated. The resulting measurement of PAD is accordingly imperfect.
The drawing shows the printing medium wrapping around the roller at both ends of the swath (or to left and right as illustrated). In some systems the medium may wrap for example behind the platen but not in frontxe2x80x94still further complicating the overall effect on printed swath length.
In present systems of the greatest accuracy, however, such as precision plotters (as distinguished from systems for printing photograph-like images, or other display graphics), printing is instead on a flat platen. The platen may be formed as a vacuum bed to pull the printing medium into intimate contact.
Hence in such systems the receding-surface contribution is absent. Even if the platen is flat, however, PAD nevertheless directly alters the paper swath length.
(c) Relatively indirect PAD errorsxe2x80x94Furthermore, even if the platen is flat the paper is typically driven by one or more rotary elements such as pinch wheels (not shown), gears 44 (FIG. 2) and worms 43, and so on. Radius error, runout and eccentricities of each of these elements also contribute to error of relative positioning as between the pen and the printing medium.
Depending on their positions in the mechanism relative to the print-medium drive motor, the encoder, and the medium itself (FIG. 5), conceptually these various kinds of devices can introduce mechanical errors of three different types. These types may be effective only as between the encoder and medium, or between the motor considered together with the encoder and the medium, etc.
These relationships require careful consideration in the design of any system for measuring error with an eye to accommodating its effects, as everyone who is skilled in this field can appreciate upon studying the drawing. Once again, in a representative printer/plotter these errors are corrected by factory calibration that is operative and effective when the machine is printing, and even when it is printing a test patternxe2x80x94but not when it is measuring that same test pattern. Consequently the measurement and accommodation of PAD is rendered difficult or inaccurate.
These additional error sources can be regarded as less direct. They can only affect overall position of an entire swath, along the pen-length direction, rather than affecting the length of the pattern.
These sources of error can nevertheless be particularly insidious and troublesome. They are highly variable from one machine to the nextxe2x80x94arising as they do from fabrication tolerances in individual components.
Earlier systems for dealing with PAD problems, and the related ones discussed above, include provisions in the printer/plotter line of the Hewlett Packard Company, particularly for example the previously mentioned model known as the DesignJet 2000CP. It is a tool that is especially optimized for graphic-arts applications.
(d) Deformation of image elements, and alteration of overall image-lengthxe2x80x94As noted above, earlier systems also have produced printouts that are troublesome to users who require overall page or image to be accurately a nominal length - - - or that picture elements within an image be accurately a nominal aspect ratio.
In earlier systems the only available remedy, for such users, is to switch off the PAD-factor accommodation entirely. The result is a Hobson""s choice between banding and image dimensional inaccuracy.
(e) Varying functional requirementsxe2x80x94A limitation of the PAD accommodations practiced heretofore is the capability to investigate and match PAD phenomena with respect to only one characteristic. That characteristic, typically, is overall extension of the effective pen foot-print as defined by measurement using a particular group of end nozzles.
First, for certain kinds of images, characterization of the PAD error even by particular blocks of an established test pattern may not correct the banding artifacts that actually occur. Second, specific pens may exhibit longitudinal PAD profiles that differ greatly from the simple end-camber characteristic suggested by FIG. 4.
Third, pen PAD propertiesxe2x80x94even for given pensxe2x80x94are far from consistent under various nozzle-firing conditions, and the state of the art has not examined the opportunities to select firing properties tailored to a particular requirement. For instance it may be advantageous to use one PAD measurement-and-correction model for one printmode, and another model for a different print-mode.
Similarly, pen directionality is different with different firing frequencies. The stability of pen directionality is greater at some frequencies than others.
Prior PAD measurement techniques have failed to provide means for investigating these conditions for a particular image or type of image.
(f) Conclusionxe2x80x94These limitations have continued to impede achievement of uniformly excellent inkjet printingxe2x80x94at high throughputxe2x80x94on all industrially important printing media. Thus important aspects of the technology used in the field of the invention remain amenable to useful refinement.
The present invention introduces such refinement. In its preferred embodiments, the present invention has several aspects or facets that can be used independently, although they are preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. These facets are set forth in the appended claims.

Compensation for marking-position errors along the pen-length direction, in inkjet printing


An auxiliary supporting frame of an electronic device that has a stopper hole to which a portion of a projection of a surface pressing part is inserted. The stopper hole is open in a direction that a front cover of the surface pressing button is mounted, and a stopper formed on a side opposite to the open side. Therefore, the surface pressing button can be surely and easily mounted on a back surface of a front panel, and a large load can be prevented from being applied to a switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface pressing button, and an electronic device including the surface pressing button, such as an audio device or a video device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electronic device such as an audio device or a video device includes many surface pressing buttons to perform operations of the electronic device, on a front surface in many cases. In case that the electronic device is a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player, it includes surface pressing buttons capable of performing operations such as power ON/OFF, playback, stop, and disc ejection, so that the operation related to the surface pressing button can be performed by pressing the surface pressing button.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a DVD player which is an example of a conventional electronic device. A DVD player PM shown in FIG. 6 includes a slot Ih for a DVD medium, a power supply button 91p, a stop button 91a, a playback (pause) button 91b, a medium ejection button 91c to eject the DVD medium, and a front panel 92 on which the aforementioned buttons are provided.
FIG. 7A is a sectional view showing a push button of the electronic device shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7B is a sectional view showing a mounting part of the electronic device shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the surface pressing button 91 is arranged so that a surface pressing part 911 may penetrate a through hole 921 formed in the front panel 92. Each of the four surface pressing buttons 91 includes the surface pressing part 911, a switch pressing part 912 integrally formed with the surface pressing part 911, and a supporting part 913 to support the surface pressing part 911 and the switch pressing part 912.
The supporting part 913 includes a boss hole 914 to which a boss 922 of the front panel 92 which will be described later is inserted, and a hinge 915 which is connected to the surface pressing part 911 and supported so as to be cantilevered. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the supporting part 913 supports the four surface pressing buttons 91 arranged in line through the hinges 915. An inclination preventing part 916 integrally formed with the supporting part 913 to prevent the surface pressing button 91 from inclining is formed between both ends and the adjacent surface pressing buttons 91. The boss hole 914 is also formed at the distal end of the inclination preventing part 916.
At this time, the boss 922 penetrates the boss hole 914 formed in the supporting part 913. An end of the boss 922 penetrating the boss hole 914 is heated to be fused and welded together to be fixed to the boss hole 914.
A substrate 93 is provided on the side of the switch pressing part 912 of the surface pressing button 91, and a switch 94 is also provided on the side of the switch pressing part 912. The switch 94 is mounted on the substrate 93 and a small space is formed between the switch 94 and the switch pressing part 912.
When the surface pressing button 91 presses the surface pressing part 911, the hinge 915 of the supporting part 913 bends, and an end of the switch pressing part 912 is moved downward. The switch 94 is arranged in the moving direction of the end of the switch pressing part 912. Thus, when the switch pressing part 912 is moved downward, the switch 94 is pressed by the switch pressing part 912.
When the surface pressing button 91 is pressed by strong force, the switch 94 receives a large load from the switch pressing part 912 and it could be damaged. In order to prevent the strong force from being applied to the switch 94, the front panel 92 includes a hook 923 to prevent an end opposite to the hinge 913 of the surface pressing part 911 from being moved too much. The hook 923 is formed adjacent to the through hole 921 as shown in FIG. 7A. The hook 923 is integrally formed with the front panel 92. When the hook 923 engages with the surface pressing part 911, the surface pressing part 911 and the switch pressing part 912 are prevented from being turned.
When the surface pressing part 911 of the surface pressing button 91 is pressed, the surface pressing part 911 and the switch pressing part 912 are turned around the hinge 913 for a certain amount and then the end of the surface pressing part 911 comes into contact with the hook 923 and it is stopped. Thus, a large load is prevented from being applied to the switch 94.
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 06-9023 (1994) discloses that a stopper rib is formed on a switch knob and, when the switch knob is pressed, the stopper rib abuts on a substrate holder to restrict an operation of the switch knob.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-39324 discloses that a stopper is provided on each side of a pressing part and, when a button is pressed, the stopper comes into contact with a substrate and prevents the button from being pressed more than needs.
The surface pressing button 91 includes the supporting part 913 and the boss hole 914 formed at the distal end of the inclination preventing part 916 which extends from the supporting part 913. When the surface pressing button 91 is mounted on the front panel 92, the boss 922 is inserted into the each boss hole 914. However, since the hook 923 which engages with the surface pressing part 911 to restrict the movement of the surface pressing part 911 is mounted on a position close to the through hole 921 in the front panel 92, when the surface pressing button 91 is mounted, the surface pressing part 911 comes into contact with the hook 923 also, so that it is difficult to mount the surface pressing button 91 on the front panel 92.
In case that the hook 923 is formed of a material having a certain degree of flexibility, when the surface pressing button 91 is mounted on the front panel 92, the hook 923 is bent and the surface pressing part 911 can easily engage with the through hole 921. However, since the hook 923 is flexible, it cannot support a force applied from the surface pressing part 911 sufficiently in some cases.
Although it may be considered that the hook 923 and the front panel 92 are manufactured separately and after the surface pressing button 91 is mounted on the front panel 92, the hook 923 is mounted, in this case, it is troublesome to mount the hook 923 and the hook 923 cannot support the force applied from the surface pressing button 911 in some cases.
Although it may be considered that lengths of the boss 922 and the boss hole 914 are shortened, some play is provided between the boss 922 and the boss hole 914 and the surface pressing button 91 is tilted when it is mounted, in this case, the surface pressing button 91 could be unstably fixed because the lengths of the boss 922 and the boss hole 914 are shortened.

Surface pressing button and electronic device including the same


In a door lever handle assembly, a latch bolt is movable between extended and retracted positions and is coupled operably to a spindle having opposite ends respectively and non-rotatably coupled to outside and inside lever handles. Operation of either one of the outside and inside lever handles causes actuating parts of a force transmitting member disposed on the spindle to disengage one of left and right force bearing parts of a sliding seat mounted inwardly of and slidably on one of the outside and inside lever handles and to push the other of the left and right force bearing parts against action of a biasing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a door lever handle assembly, more particularly to a door lever handle assembly that can be adapted for mounting on both left-hand and right-hand doors in a convenient manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
A door lever handle assembly for controlling opening and closing of a door generally includes an outside lever handle mounted on an outer side of a door panel, an inside lever handle mounted on an inner side of the door panel, and a latch bolt mechanism mounted inside the door panel. When the outside lever handle of a door lever handle assembly mounted on a left-hand door is turned in a first direction to retract a latch bolt into the door panel, the inside lever handle on the other side of the door panel turns in an opposite second direction, and vice versa. The outside and inside lever handles of the door lever handle assembly would turn in reverse directions when the assembly is applied to a right-hand door. On the other hand, mechanisms for restoring the outside and inside lever handles to their original positions after operation of the outside or inside lever handle act in different directions. In view of this, manufacturers in the past had to form four structurally similar restoring mechanisms but of different specifications in order to adapt a door lever handle assembly for application to both left-hand doors and right-hand doors, which is inconvenient in terms of manufacture and assembly.
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a door lever handle assembly which can be mounted on either a left-hand door or a right-hand door and which is convenient to manufacture and assemble.
Accordingly, a door lever handle assembly of this invention is adapted to be mounted on a door panel having an outer side, an inner side, and a lateral connecting side interconnecting the outer and inner sides. The door lever handle assembly includes:
an outside lever handle unit including an outside mounting cap adapted to be mounted on the outer side of the door panel, and an outside lever handle having a coupling end coupled rotatably to the outside mounting cap;
an inside lever handle unit including an inside mounting cap adapted to be mounted on the inner side of the door panel, and an inside lever handle having a coupling end coupled rotatably to the inside mounting cap;
a latch bolt mechanism adapted to be mounted inside the door panel and including a latch bolt that is movable between an extended position, where the latch bolt is adapted to project from the connecting side of the door panel, and a retracted position, where the latch bolt is adapted to retract into the door panel, and a spindle operably coupled to the latch bolt such that axial rotation of the spindle results in movement of the latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions, the spindle having opposite ends coupled respectively and non-rotatably to the coupling ends of the outside and inside lever handles such that operation of either one of the outside and inside lever handles can result in movement of the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted position; and
a restoring mechanism including
a force transmitting member provided on the spindle and having left and right actuating parts,
a sliding seat mounted slidably on one of the outside and inside mounting caps, and having left and right force bearing parts disposed respectively adjacent to the left and right actuating parts, and
a biasing unit for biasing the sliding seat toward the force transmitting member such that the left and right force bearing parts abut against the left and right actuating parts at the same time;
wherein operation of one of the outside and inside lever handles for moving the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted position causes one of the left and right actuating parts to disengage the respective one of the left and right force bearing parts, and further causes the other of the left and right actuating parts to push the respective one of the left and right force bearing parts against action of the biasing unit, thereby storing a restoring force in the biasing unit.


An optical system and a projection device are provided. The optical system includes a display unit, a first lens group, a second lens group, and a reflector in sequence along a transmission direction of light; both the first lens group and the second lens group have positive focal powers; the optical system satisfies the following relationship: 0.01≤|φ100|≤0.02 and 0.005≤|φ200|≤0.015; φ100 represents a focal power of the first lens group, and φ200 represents a focal power of the second lens group.

The ultra-short focal projection optical system has been widely used in home, education, office and other fields because of its short projection distance and large projection image.
Nowadays, the ultra-short focal projection lens on the market mostly adopts the structure of refraction and reflection. In order to correct the aberration of the optical system in the projection device, multiple optical lenses are usually required to cooperate with each other in the optical system. In the related art, the refractive lens group in the optical system usually has more than 3 lens groups, and the number of lenses in each lens group is large. As a result, the optical system is larger in size and heavier in weight. When the number of lenses in the optical system is larger, the difficulty of assembling the optical system becomes higher, thereby reducing the assembly efficiency of the projection device.
The foregoing content is only used to assist in understanding the technical solution of the present disclosure, and does not mean that the foregoing content is recognized as prior art.


A telebanking apparatus for performing monetary transactions from remote dispersed locations and, more particularly to apparatus for transferring cash value or monetary value between two parties, either nationally or across national borders. The telebanking apparatus is equipped to receive, store and transfer cash value to or from electronic cash value cards, credit cards, debit cards and the like, as well as to use such cash value and credit cards for the electronic payment of bills online. The disclosed apparatus additionally includes a handheld electronic device also providing such value transfer and bill payment services while traveling.

Bills may be paid and financial transactions conducted without the use of or exchange of physical currency. For example, it is known and practiced today to conduct financial transactions such as purchases and bill payments by the use of bank or other agency credit cards, as well as the use of debit cards linked to bank account numbers. For example, purchases are frequently made on the Internet or at retail shops using 'plastic' cards such as credit cards. It is also known and practiced today to transfer monetary value between two disparate bank accounts, as well as to conduct electronic payment of bills and invoices, these transactions conducted over the Internet network backbone by users having access to computer equipment and Internet banking accounts with banks and financial institutions offering such Internet banking services.
Credit and debit cards are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and are provided with marking on the front side identifying the card issuer, the card owner, the credit card account number and an expiration date, among other things. Such marks are usually provided as embossed characters enabling the card to make impressions on credit card purchase slips and the like. It is known for credit cards and debit cards to have account information stored electronically also and for retail establishments to have electronic means of reading the encoded electronic account information from the card to register it and complete an account debit or credit transaction. Account information may be encoded on the credit or debit card using any variety of know and practiced methods including storage of electronic account information in magnetic domains written to a magnetic strip on the back of the card, as well as the newer technology "smart cards" which have a programmable read/write memory chip embedded into the card wherein the chip stores and retains the account information, cash value information or other information. Either variety of card (magnetic strip or smart card) is adaptable for use as an electronic cash value card. For example, one variety of cash value card is in common use today in certain service establishments such as Laundromats where the user 'recharges' the cash value card at a recharge station in the store with currency such as dollar bills, and the cash value is stored to the value card. The value transfer card is then inserted into laundry machines to pay for wash and dry cycles and the machines deduct the cash value directly from the value transfer card.
It is known to transfer monetary value between two parties using electronic transfers or wire transfers between two bank accounts, most frequently between bank accounts in two separate banking entities. It is also known to transfer cash value across one country or internationally using wire transfer service providers such as Western Union, for example. Such transfers involve an intermediate party whose role is to enable the transaction from end to end, and such a service typically exacts a fee.
There is a need however for a telebanking apparatus for transferring money or cash value between two parties in the same country or across national borders that operates more independent of third party enablers and that permits two parties to securely exchange or transfer cash value over the global Internet network, wherein the cash value is transferred from a cash value card or credit card to another party over the Internet and stored to a cash value card, wherein the cash value on the card is available to pay various bills electronically as well as for making purchases through Internet retailers or other brick and mortar retailers.
There is also a need for a telebanking apparatus that is adapted for high speed connection to the Internet using a variety of network connection means, for example but not limited to, direct DSL connection using an internal DSL modem, direct connection to a cable Internet service using an internal cable modem, conventional phone data modem for connection using conventional dialup Internet services over conventional copper phone lines, as well as Internet connection through data packet services over cellular network service providers.
There is also a need for a telebanking apparatus that replaces standard phone equipment, providing superior services to phone equipment, and includes wireless phone handset and personal digital assistant (PDA) type electronic devices equipped to provide Internet browsing and Internet cash value transfer functions.
Therefore, a telebanking apparatus for overcoming the drawbacks of such conventional approaches for providing cash value transfer between parties over the Internet would be useful, advantageous and novel.

Telebanking apparatus for transferring money or cash value between two parties in the same country or across national borders, for paying bills and browsing the internet


In a video recorder (1) for the recording and reproduction of picture signals in standard-play modes and long-play modes a reconverted picture color signal supplied by a frequency-conversion stage (70) is passed through a delay device (84) having a delay of one line period in order to compensate for reproduction-dependent time errors during multi-speed reproduction of a long-play recording. In such a video recorder (1) a rectangular detection signal of half the line frequency is supplied to an output (76) of a phase detection stage (73) which detects the phase of the burst signal in the reconverted picture color signal, which detection signal is applied, via a connection (91), to a modulator (36) for the modulation of non-modulated character signals as a control signal (S2) for the modulator (36), which generates modulated character signals suitable for insertion into the reproduced picture signals. The connection (91) includes a switching device (93) which enables a further delay device (94) having a delay of one line period to be included in the connection (91) in the case of multi-speed reproduction of a long-play recording by the video recorder (1), as a result of which the control signal (S2) is delayed by the same time as the picture color signal during such a reproduction mode, which ensures that the picture color signal and the character color signal always remain locked to each other in the same way in all the modes of operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for recording and reproducing picture signals comprising a phase-modulated or frequency-modulated picture color signal on and from a magnetic tape in adjacent tracks which are inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the tape, the picture signals being recorded and reproduced in a first recording mode and in a first reproduction mode with a first tape speed, and in a second recording mode and in a second reproduction mode with a second tape speed which is preferably a sub-multiple of the first tape speed, the video signals recorded in the first recording mode being additionally reproducible in at least one first further reproduction mode with at least one first further tape speed which differs from the first tape speed, and the video signals recorded in the second recording mode being additionally reproducible in at least one second further reproduction mode with at least one second further tape speed which differs from the second tape speed, modulated character signals, which comprise a phase-modulated or a frequency-modulated character color signal, being insertable into at least the reproduced picture signals, the system having a conversion stage for reconverting a reproduced picture color signal to an original frequency range, the conversion stage supplying the reconverted picture color signal to an output, having a detection stage which is arranged behind the output of the conversion stage and which, in the case of a phase-modulated picture color signal, is constructed as a phase detection stage for detecting the phase of the burst signal in the reconverted picture color signal and, in the case of a frequency-modulated picture color signal, is constructed as a frequency detection stage for detecting the frequency of the non-modulated color subcarrier signals in the reconverted picture color signal, the detection stage supplying a detection signal of half the line frequency to an output, having a first switching device arranged behind the output of the conversion stage and controllable by means of a control device, the first switching device being set to a first switch position by the control device in the second further reproduction mode of the system, in which first switch position, a first delay device of the system with a delay time of one line period is arranged in series with the first switching device and the reconverted picture color signal supplied to the output of the conversion stage is transferred with a delay of one line period to a further signal-processing stage of the system, the first switching device being set to a second switch position by the control device in all the other reproduction modes of the system, in which second switch position, the first delay device is bypassed and the reconverted picture color signal supplied to the output of the conversion stage is transferred without a delay to the further signal-processing stage, and having a character generator for the generation of non-modulated character signals and a modulator which is connected to the character generator and which enables the non-modulated character signals to be converted into modulated character signals to be inserted, and having a character insertion stage which is connected to the further signal processing stage and to the modulator and which is adapted to insert the modulated character signals at least into the reproduced picture signals, the modulator comprising a control input to the a control signal of half the line frequency is applied, which control signal being phase-locked to a detection signal of half the line frequency supplied to the output of the detection stage, in order to achieve that the reproduced picture color signals and the character color signals to be inserted are locked in phase in the case of a phase-modulated picture color signal, and are locked in frequency in the case of a frequency-modulated picture color signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system of the type defined in the opening paragraph is known from the prior art. In such a system, character signals corresponding to colored characters, such as colored letters or colored graphic symbols, can be inserted into picture signals corresponding to color pictures. This should be effected in such a way that the colored characters corresponding to the character signals are always reproduced on the display screen of a television receiver with the same color, i.e. in such way that, for example, red characters always and in all modes appear as red characters on the display screen on which the picture signals are displayed as a colored background picture.
When picture signals and character signals are reproduced on the display screen of a television receiver, the reference for the demodulation of both the background-picture color signal and the character color signal are formed by burst signal of the background-picture color signal in the case of phase-modulated color signals, as is the case with the PAL system, and by the unmodulated color subcarrier of the background-picture color signal in the case of frequency-modulated color signals, as is the case with the SECAM system. Therefore, a color signal component of a character color signal and a color signal component of a background-picture color signal should be in the same phase relationship to the burst signal of the background-picture color signal in the case of phase-modulated color signals, and they should be in the same frequency relationship to the unmodulated color subcarrier signals of the background-picture color signal in the case of frequency-modulated color signals in order to ensure that both color signal components are reproduced in the same color on the display screen. In the case of phase-modulated color signals, an inserted character color signal should therefore be locked in phase, and in the case of frequency-modulated color signals, it should be locked in frequency to the background-picture color signal in order to guarantee that the character color signal is always reproduced on the display screen with a specified color.
In order achieve this in the prior-art system for processing picture signals with a phase-modulated picture color signal, a rectangular detection signal of half the line frequency, appearing on the output of the detection stage formed by a phase detection stage, is applied to a generator stage for the generation of a rectangular control signal of half the line frequency, the detection signal controlling this generator stage so as to provide phase-locking of the generated control signal to the detection signal. The rectangular control signal of half the line frequency thus generated is applied to the control input of the modulator. Each positive edge of this rectangular control signal corresponds to a positive phase (+45.degree.) of the burst signal of the background-picture color signal and a positive phase of the (R-Y) component of the background-picture color signal, and each negative edge corresponds to a negative phase (-45.degree.) of the burst signal of the background-picture color signal and a negative phase of the (R-Y) component of the background-picture color signal. In the modulator, the positive phase of the (R-Y) component of the character color signal is assigned to each positive edge of the rectangular control signal and the negative phase of the (R-Y) component of the character color signal is assigned to each negative edge of the rectangular control signal. In this way, it can be achieved that the phase of the (R-Y) component of the character color signal is rigidly locked to the rectangular control signal and thus to the burst signal and to the phase of the (R-Y) component of the background-picture color signal, which corresponds to the rigid phase lock between the character color signal and the background-picture color signal explained above.
In the prior-art system, the rectangular control signal is applied to the modulator independently of the reproduction mode to which the system has been set. However, if the system is set to a second further reproduction mode, in which reproduction is effected with a tape speed which differs from the low second tape speed, i.e. in the case of so-called multi-speed reproduction of a long-play recording, this results in color reproduction problems in the reproduction of inserted colored characters because in such a reproduction mode, in order to compensate for reproduction-dependent time shifts in the background-picture color signal, this color signal must be applied via a delay device having a delay of one line period, which device may be constituted by a delay line or a stage for the formation of a conjugate signal, as a result of which the rigid phase lock between the burst signal and the (R-Y) component in the background-picture color signal, on the one hand, and the rectangular control signal and consequently the (R-Y) component of the character color signal, on the other hand, will be lost. When colored character signals are inserted into picture signals to be reproduced in a so-called multi-speed reproduction mode of a long-play recording, this will result in the characters being reproduced on the display screen of a television receiver with an undesired wrong color.

System for recording and reproducing picture signals into which character signals can be inserted


A method divides data traffic into multiple optical transport units formatted according to an optical transport network (OTN) standard. The multiple optical transport units include a master optical network unit and one or more slave optical network units. Each optical network unit includes overhead and a payload. The overhead includes used overhead specifically defined in the OTN standard and unused overhead not specifically defined in the OTN standard. The method encrypts each optical network unit with a respective one of multiple encryption keys, defines security control parameters identifying the multiple encryption keys, and inserts the security control parameters into the unused overhead of a first slave optical network unit among the one or more slave optical network units. The method transmits the optical network units in encrypted form.

In an optical transport network (OTN), client signals based on various standards such as synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH), Ethernet, and the like are accommodated and transmitted. To cope with an increase in speed and volume of client traffic, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has presented "Recommendation ITU-T G.709/Y.1331 (February 2012, June 2016) Interfaces for the Optical Transport Network," which extends traditional 1 Gbps (G), 40 G, and 100 G optical transport to data rates "beyond 100 G" ("B100 G"). The aforementioned Recommendation is thus referred to herein as the "B100 G standard" or more simply as "B100 G." The B100 G standard introduces an optical transport unit-Cn (OTUCn) exceeding 100 G, where "C" is a Roman numeral for 100 (or "100 G"), and "n" represents an integer multiple.

Security over optical transport network beyond 100G


The present invention comprises the use of a fiber in a sensing optical fiber system operated in a region of negative chromatic dispersion to minimize modulation instability thereby enabling the identification and measurement of the information-carrying signals. The present invention may be used in a variety of sensing environments.

The invention generally relates to the use of fiber optic sensors in a variety of environments. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of such sensors in a way which corrects the modulation instability that is generated when greater amounts of power are launched into the relevant fiber.
A distributed fiber optic sensor enables a measurand (usually temperature) to be characterised along the length of the fiber as a continuous function of distance. Distributed temperature sensors are used in the following industries and processes: oil well production, electrical power cables, industrial processes, pipelines, fire alarms and tunnels.
In optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) type sensors, a short pulse of light is launched into the sensing fiber. As the pulse propagates along the fiber a small fraction of light is scattered back towards the sending end. The processing electronics measures the characteristics of the backscattered light as a function of time relative to the input pulse. As the propagation time of the light is known, the perturbations of its characteristics may be spatially resolved along the fiber.
In Brillouin OTDR (BOTDR) the light scattered back is as a result of Brilloulin scattering. Both the intensity and frequency shift of the Brillouin scattered light are dependent oil temperature and strain. Therefore by analysing these parameters it is possible to realise a distributed temperature and/or strain sensor.
The performance of OTDR type sensors is critically dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) at the receiver which is directly dependent on the power of the launched pulse. The upper limit to the power of the launched pulse is determined by the onset of non-linear effects in the fiber. For BOTDR systems the first nonlinear effect which degrades system performance as the pulse power is increased is that known as modulation instability. Modulation instability is a result of the intense electric field of the optical pulse causing a change in the refractive index of the fiber. This causes a change in the phase of the light, effectively modulating it and results in the generation of sideband signals. The sidebands then interfere at the receiver with the wanted Brillouin signals and degradation of the S/N occurs leading to possible inaccuracies in the measurements.
Other types of fiber optic sensing systems are also susceptible to modulation instability. These include Raman OTDR systems, Brillouin or Raman optical frequency reflectometry systems, fiber Bragg grating systems, interferometric systems, polarimetric systems, intensity systems, and distributed, single-point, or multi-point systems.
The prior would therefore benefit from a fiber optic sensing system in which optical signals of greater power can be launched into the relevant fiber without the onset of modulation instability.
Thus, there exists a continuing need for an arrangement and/or technique that addresses one or more of the problems that are stated above.

System and method to minimize modulation instability


Stitched integrated circuit (IC) chip layout design structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes: an integrated circuit (IC) chip layout exceeding a size of a photolithography tool field, the IC chip layout including: a plurality of stitched regions including at least one redundant stitched region or at least one unique stitched region; and for each stitched region: a boundary identification identifying a boundary of the stitched region at which stitching occurs.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication and design, and more particularly, to a stitched IC chip layout design structure.
2. Background Art
In the integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication industry, circuitry is formed in a semiconductor substrate using photolithography. One challenge that faces the industry is that large circuit designs are too large to place as a whole on the reticles used in photolithography. One remedy to this issue is leveraging the redundancy within the IC chip design to break the design up into a subset of smaller unique dissected regions. When resolved in multiple regions, the dissected regions can form the completed large IC chip design on a wafer by a process commonly referred to as "stitching". Stitching includes placing the dissected IC chip (stitched) regions onto a reticle and performing multiple exposures on the wafer in order to complete the final whole IC chip image.
In terms of an IC chip fabricator (foundry), the common way of stitching a chip design is to have a customer break their own IC chip design into smaller sub-chip dissected (stitched) regions and releasing these stitched regions to the foundry to be placed on the reticle appropriately and stitched back together. The drawbacks of this approach are that it is difficult to check the design rules required of the whole IC chip and the stitched regions. In particular, appropriate design rule checks need to be performed for the whole IC chip and all of the stitched regions separately. This task falls on the customer of the foundry. In addition, stitched regions require different checks than the full IC design, which further increases the customer's burden. Further, the design rule checking required increases the release and design phases on the order of how many stitched regions the larger IC chip is dissected into. In addition, other issues beyond design rule checking may arise based on the unique issues presented by the boundaries of the stitched regions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stitched IC chip layout design structure

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and method for delivering digital subscriber line (DSL) service to a subscriber. In a telecommunications network, the signal passing through a protector field is diverted to a cross connect block that can be selectively configured to establish a communication route between the cross connect block and a splitter selectively receiving a DSL signal. The combined signal is then placed back upon the network by the cross connect block, which directs the combined signal back to the protector field.

The present invention relates generally to digital subscriber lines, and, more specifically, to a new system and method for adding digital subscriber line service to one or more lines of a telephone network.
Digital subscriber line (DSL) technology allows for high-bandwidth networking connections to be made over ordinary copper telephone lines. Traditional phone service typically relies on unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper lines to connect homes and small businesses to the communications network operated by the telephone company (TELCO). Every one of these networks includes a central offices (CO) that services a defined region, with each CO responsible for connecting and routing calls directed to sites that reside both internal to and external of the network
Branching out from the central office are numerous remote terminals (RT) located throughout the region being served by the CO, with each RT providing the phone service for the subscribers located within a specific area or neighborhood. One of the primary components that make up a remote terminal (RT) is a pair gain system, also known as a derived carrier system, or digital loop carrier system. In simplest terms, the pair gain system provides the TELCO with the capability to carry multiple services over a lesser number of lines, for example, five conversations over one telephone line. The pair gain system also is responsible for generating the dial tone signal one hears when they first pick up a telephone handset, indicating that an active connection is present.
FIG. 1 depicts a typical telephone connection between a pair gain system 10 of a remote terminal (RT) (not shown) and a subscriber 30. As indicated in FIG. 1, the connection between the pair gain system 10 and subscriber 30 is not accomplished directly, but instead in two legs. The first connection 10a exists between the pair gain system 10 and a cross connect block 20, while the second connection 20a is made between the cross connect block 20 and a subscriber 30. As indicated by its name, the purpose of the cross connect block 20 is to allow easy matching and connecting of two or more connections to one another, thereby facilitating the addition or removal of phone services to or from the subscriber.
To further illustrate the use of a cross connect block 20, consider the following example involving a typical modern day residence. New homes are often pre-wired to handle multiple telephone lines, i.e. six lines, to allow for future expansion. In this situation, there would be six connections running between the subscriber's house 30 and the cross connect box 20. However, if the subscriber only has two active phone lines, then only two connections representing the active circuits would run from the pair gain system 10 to the cross connect box 20. Later, if the subscriber wishes to add a new telephone line for a fax machine, a technician would have to run a new connection between the pair gain system 10 and the cross connect block 20, matching the new connection at the cross connect block 20 to the appropriate connection already present that runs to subscriber's house 30.
Note that each of connections 10a and 20a, along with the connections discussed below, although drawn as single lines in the figures, actually represent a cable pair, such as, for example, typical unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper lines. For the remainder of the application, the terms "connection" and "cable pair" should be considered interchangeable. In view of this, it should be further understood that terminals for receiving these connections, such as can be found on cross connect block 20, are comprised of two conductors, with each conductor receiving one cable of the cable pair.
FIG. 2 depicts the same connection as previously depicted in FIG. 1. However, unlike the previous depiction, FIG. 2 provides a more detailed illustration of cross connect block 22, which is illustrated as an insulation-displacement connection (IDC) block. Unlike blocks that rely on screw-terminals or a wire wrapping technique to secure wires to the block, IDC blocks provide for a gas-tight connection without requiring the removal of insulation covering the wire. Connection is achieved once a wire is placed into an IDC block contact, and then punched down, typically via an insertion tool, pressing the wire against the contact to form the gas-tight connection. Due to ease of use and effectiveness, cross connect blocks utilizing IDC contacts have become the standard within the telecommunications industry.
As DSL technology is relatively new compared to typical telephonic communication involving analog signals, many of the remote terminals (RT) that are part of a telephone company's (TELCOs) network were not designed to allow easy incorporation of newer technology such as DSL. Accordingly, the TELCOs have had to develop ways to effectively provide DSL service to their subscribers utilizing the existing equipment on the network.
FIG. 3 depicts a typical approach to incorporating DSL service with a remote terminal (RT). The dial tone or pair gain signal generated by the pair gain system 10 is directed to a splitter 50 via connection 10a. Splitter 50 also receives a connection 40a from a DSL system 40. DSL system 40 includes the equipment necessary for processing and directing the data signals back and forth between subscriber 30 and a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) (not shown). The DSLAM, which is operated by a service provider, takes all of the subscribers' DSL connections and aggregates them onto a single, high-density connection to the Internet. For the current illustrative example involving the integration of DSL at an RT, the DSL system may be physically mounted inside the cabinet housing the RT, or placed in its own cabinet mounted onto or next to the RT depending on factors such as size limitations and ease of access.
The role of splitter 50 is to combine the lower frequency signal from the pair gain system 10 with the higher frequency DSL data signal in such a way that they don't interfere with one another. Similarly, splitter 50 must also be capable of separating the signal sent by the subscriber 30 back into its two constituent components and then direct them back to the appropriate system. In FIG. 3, splitter 50 is depicted as an independent component separate from DSL system 40. Alternatively, splitter 50 may be incorporated into DSL system 40.
The combined signal produced by splitter 50 is delivered to cross connect block 20 over connection 50a, where it is then directed to subscriber 30 over connection 20a. Subscribers 30 can then access the higher frequency DSL signal by means of a DSL modem connected between their computing device and the telephone line(s) running throughout their residence. At the same time, standard telephones continue to have access to the lower frequency analog signals also routed over the line(s).
To accomplish the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3, a service technician is required to go onsite and perform wiring locally at the remote terminal (RT) that is servicing the subscriber. In order to combine the signal coming from the pair gain system 10 with the DSL data signal, the pair gain system 10 that normally is directly wired to cross connect block 20 must now be rerouted so that it interfaces with splitter 50. At splitter 50, the signal from the pair gain system 10 is combined with the DSL data signal, which also runs through splitter 50. The combined dial tone and DSL signal must then be placed back into communication with subscriber 30, requiring a new connection between splitter 50 and cross connect block 20. Due to these re-wiring requirements, the telephone service of subscriber 30 is disrupted; preventing them from making or receiving any telephone calls. Furthermore, the duration of this disruption can vary depending on the knowledge and skill of the service technician, along with the condition of the RT and the network.
If a DSL subscriber decides he or she no longer wants DSL service, the service technician must access the remote terminal (RT) again and disrupt the connection 40a that provides communication between the DSL system 40 and splitter 50. The splitter 50 must also be removed from the system, once again disrupting the subscriber's telephone service. Additionally, during the process of reconnecting pair gain system 10 back to cross connect block 20, there is always the chance that a mistake could be made, resulting in an improper connection to exist. This can lead to subscriber 30 going without telephone service for an extended duration until the problem can be corrected.

System and method of providing DSL services on a telephone network


An ECU executes a program including the steps of detecting a temperature TB of each battery block, calculating a desired output value VT of each motor based on a detected temperature, detecting output value V of each motor based on a signal transmitted from an F/V conversion circuit converting a pulse signal of a speed sensor provided on each motor into a voltage, reading a last DUTY command value D, calculating a difference DV between desired output value VT and output value V (DV=VT−V), calculating a DUTY command correction value for each motor based on difference DV, and adding a calculated DUTY command correction value to last DUTY command value D to calculate DUTY command value D.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling device of a power supply, more specifically, to a cooling device of a power supply formed with a plurality of electricity storage blocks.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, attention has been given to a vehicle which runs with driving force from a motor, such as a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle or an electric vehicle, as one of measures to protect the environment. On such vehicle, a battery storing power for supply to the motor is mounted. A battery pack, formed by connecting a plurality of cells in series to form a module and then connecting a plurality of modules in series, is used as the battery. Though a high voltage (several hundred volts) is required to drive the vehicle, a voltage per one cell is low (for example, about 1.2 volts). Therefore, a total number of series-connected cells forming the battery becomes large and thus a size of the battery is increased. Therefore, in a vehicle having severe limitation of a space for mounting, the modules (cells) forming the battery are sometimes divided into a plurality of battery blocks. Each of the battery blocks is mounted in a separate location of the vehicle. Respective battery blocks are connected in series to form the battery. On the other hand, since the battery produces heat due to charging and discharging of power, it must be cooled. Therefore, for the battery formed with a plurality of separately mounted battery blocks, cooling of each battery block is required.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-142167 publication discloses a cooling device of a battery pack system formed with a plurality of battery pack blocks (battery blocks). The cooling device described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-142167 publication includes a temperature detection unit and a cooling fan provided on each battery pack block, and a control unit controlling each cooling fan by selecting any one of a plurality of control maps and, when a difference in temperatures of an arbitrary battery pack block and another battery pack block becomes larger than a threshold value, changing the control map for the cooling fan of the battery pack block for controlling. When the temperature detected is higher than a minimum temperature by at least a predetermined value, the control map for the cooling fan of the battery pack block is changed to a control map having a higher cooling capability. A volume of air supplied from the cooling fan is set based on the detected temperature and the control map.
According to the cooling device described in this publication, the control map for the cooling fan of a high-temperature battery pack block can be changed to the control map having a higher cooling capability to increase the volume of air supplied from the cooling fan of the high-temperature battery pack block. With this, a difference in temperatures of battery pack blocks can be decreased to make degradation speeds uniform to prolong an overall life.
It is to be noted that, though the volume of air supplied from the cooling fan sometimes deviates from a set value due to an effect of a pressure loss or the like, there is no description in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-142167 publication as to how to drive the cooling fan to attain the volume of air as it is set. Therefore, the difference in temperatures may not be decreased because the volume of air supplied from the cooling fan may be different from the set value.


An interior vehicle cargo system is provided with an interior cargo structure, bulkhead and a bulkhead attachment assembly. The bulkhead attachment assembly selectively retains the bulkhead in one of a plurality of locations within interior cargo area. The bulkhead attachment assembly includes at least a pair of elongated tracks and at least one fastening structure associated with each of the elongated tracks. One of the elongated tracks is attached to a first one of the vehicle panels, while another elongated track is attached to a second one of the vehicle panels that is opposite the first one of the vehicle panels. The fastening structures are slideably arranged on the elongated tracks to selectively fastening the bulkhead at one of the plurality of locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an interior vehicle cargo system dividing an interior area of a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an interior vehicle cargo system that is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
2. Background Information
Typically, a standard cargo van or vehicle has a large undivided cargo area that is very useful for loading large items. In other words, the cargo area is usually little more than a large empty volume. However, with such a large space, small items can move around when driving. Thus, some cargo vans include several tie-down points scattered along the perimeter of its interior walls to help secure items from moving during driving. Also these standard cargo vans or vehicles are typically open to the driver so that the driver can access the cargo area without exiting the vehicle.
While the large cargo area and the easy access to cargo area are advantageous at certain times, they can also be very disadvantageous at times. Accordingly, various accessories have been offered to allow customization of the cargo area to suit a particular need. Currently, bulkhead dividers have been proposed for isolating the driver from the cargo area. One example of a bulkhead divider for a cargo van is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,979 to Montagna et al. However, with this type of bulkhead divider, the divider is secured to the vehicle such that it is difficult to easy change the position of the divider in the cargo area. Thus, others have proposed movable bulkhead dividers. Examples of movable bulkhead dividers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,856 to McKenzie; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,298 to Sotiroff et al. While these systems are at least partially effective, they are not necessarily designed to interface with the cargo van in an optimum manner from a functional, structural and aesthetic standpoint.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved interior vehicle cargo system. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A method of providing data to two client devices on a first network having a shared cache from a server device on a second network. An instance of substantially simultaneous requests for data being made to a server from two client devices on a same network is identified. In response to a first request for the data being received at a first point in time a first one of the two client devices is served with the requested data from the server such that the data is stored in the shared cache. The second one of the two client devices is directed to make a second request for the data at a second point in time, later than the first point in time, so that the requested data is available in the stored cache.

1. Field of the Invention
The current invention relates to a method of providing data to two or more devices on the same network from a server or another computer on a second network. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of simultaneously streaming media content to two or more client device on the same network.
2. Background Information
When two or more devices, for example computers, on the same network request a data resource (for example a file, web page or streaming media content) from another computer or server on another network there is a waste of network bandwidth if duplicate copies of the requested data resource are sent from the second network to the first network. To avoid this many networks have a proxy server or caching server that provides a shared cache for client computers on a network. When a resource is requested by a computer on a first network from a server or computer on a second network, the resource is served to the requesting computer and is stored in a cache on the network of the requesting computer. Thereafter, if another computer of the first network makes a duplicate request for the same data resource it can be served directly from the cache without transferring the request to the original data resource provider on the second network. This reduces internet gateway bandwidth requirements and speeds up resource access time for client computers on the first network.
A problem exists with the above-mentioned scheme if two or more original requests for the same data resource are initiated simultaneously from two or more client computers on the same network. If the data resource has not been previously stored in the shared cache then both requests will be sent to the original data resource server. This problem is particularly significant in the case of streaming live media content, such as video or audio programs, over the internet. Because the live content is streamed in real-time there is no, or very little, opportunity for the content to be cached before multiple requests are made and send from a first network. This can be particularly problematic for internet service providers (ISP) who provide internet access to individual consumers and often have a very large number of clients computers connected simultaneously to its internet access network. When popular live events such as sporting fixtures are streamed live on the internet a significant number of requests for the streaming content can originate from a single ISP network.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for providing data resources, and in particular streaming media content, to two or more client computers on a same network which ameliorates or substantially overcomes the above-mentioned problem. It is a further object to a present invention to provide a method of simultaneously streaming live video and audio content over the internet to two or more client computers on the same network which takes advantage of existing shared caching services of the network.

Method of simultaneously providing data to two or more devices on the same network

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited


An electronic greeting card for recording and playing back a personalized message includes a bifurcated card with first and second coextensively shaped sections pivotally coupled to each other. The device further includes a mechanism for recording and playing back a one-time personalized message associated with the greeting card, and a mechanism for adapting the recording and playback mechanism between inoperable and operable modes for allowing a sender to record the one-time personalized message on the recording and playback device and thereafter allowing a recipient to repeatedly play back the one-time personalized message.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to greeting cards and, more particularly, to an electronic greeting card for recording and playing back a personalized message.
2. Prior Art
Techniques for incorporating sound messages into greeting cards are known in the prior art, and include a switch that may be depressed to activate playback of a sound message. While such techniques certainly enhance the personalization of a greeting card or postcard, they are accompanied by a number of drawbacks. First, despite ongoing progress in the miniaturization of electronic components, such playback devices are relatively large and bulky relative to the sheet material that forms the card, and hence interfere with the aesthetics of the card by providing either an unsightly bulge or unwanted thickness along at least a portion of the card. To minimize the aesthetic intrusiveness of such modules, they are manufactured in as compact and lightweight a form as possible. However, the resulting small and lightweight structures of such modules necessarily limit the quality of the sound they produce, and render them fragile and susceptible to breakage when conveyed through the various machinery of the postal service. Thirdly, the power cells used in such modules are likewise necessarily small and of limited power capacity, which in turn limits the module to a relatively short lifetime of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,698 to Johnson discloses a personalized greeting card that includes an independent, detachable, electronic memory device that stores electronic signals, a mechanism for retrieving the electronic signals from the memory device, a voice synthesizer which obtains these electronic signals and produces audible sounds representative of the personalized message, and a switch that controls the retrieving device and the voice synthesizer. Prior to incorporating the memory device in the card, an EPROM translation machine converts the personalized message obtained from the sender of the card into appropriate electronic signals and stores those representative electronic signals in the memory device. The memory device is then detached from the EPROM and mounted in the circuitry disposed in the greeting card. Unfortunately, this prior art example creates a bulky appearance and interferes with the aesthetics of the card.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,606 to Sasaki discloses a message card that includes a button type dry battery, a visual image display, a speaker, a control circuit for recording, storing and reproducing both of visual images and audio messages data, a flexible circuit substrate for mounting the control circuit, connecting substrate formed integrally to the circuit substrate for connecting electrically the control circuit with the visual image display and with the speaker, writing terminals for writing desired visual images and audio messages data on the control circuit and being connected electrically to the control circuit on the substrate, and a switch for activating the reproduction of the visual images and the audio messages data. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not prevent the card recipient from erasing the original audio recorded message.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,921 to Soscia discloses a system and method for optically imprinting and reading sound data onto a piece of printed sheet material such as a greeting card. The system includes an encoding device for converting a sound message into a two-dimensional encodement, a printer for invisibly imprinting the encodement onto the greeting card, and a reader for optically reading the encodement and converting it into a sound corresponding to the message. The encoding device preferably converts the sound message into a compressed digitized form prior to its ultimate conversion into a two-dimensional encodement. The reader preferably includes a lens for focusing an image of the encodement onto the image sensor array. The sensor array responds to the image by generating a digital signal representative of the compressed sound that the reader decompresses and renders into an analog sound signal which is representative of the original sound image. Both the system and method are particularly useful in providing an individualized sound message on customized greeting cards. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed for enabling a user to express a thoughtful greeting with his/her own voice.
Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The electronic greeting card is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for recording and playing back a personalized message. The device is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use.

Personalized electronic greeting card and associated method


A method for decorating an exterior light fixture includes the step of providing a decorative body with an ornamental design corresponding to a single event, where the decorative body has a rear side with an elastically deformable couple and a front side with the ornamental design. The method also includes the step of elastically deforming at least a part of the rear side to removably attach the decorative body to an exterior light fixture that is attached to an exterior surface of a building structure such that the ornamental design is positioned on a side of the light fixture opposite the structure. The ornamental design and at least a portion of the body surrounding the ornamental design have differing translucences such that light emitted from the light fixture enhances visibility of the ornamental design from a distance away from the body.

Exterior light fixtures, such as light 100 shown in FIG. 1, are well known. The light 100 is of the type found on many homes 102 in a typical neighborhood. The light 100 has a light bulb 104 and power is fed to the bulb 104 though a conductor 106 that is connected to a remote power source within the house 102. Although the style of the light 100 varies from home to home, the purpose is consistent—to provide light to the front of the structure 102. In most instances, the light fixture 100 can be seen from the street and has a decorative effect.
Many people enjoy expressing themselves on special occasions, such as the Fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, birthday parties, baby showers, and many others. This expression is often in the form of, for example, signs, banners, objects in the yard, and internally-lighted ornaments. Internally-lighted ornaments can be, for example, a pumpkin with a light bulb inside, a plastic snowman with a light bulb inside, or other similar devices. However, the light bulbs must receive power from a power source. This requires a user to install the ornament somewhere in the front of their house and to run an electrical conductor to a receptacle that supplies power to the ornament. If the receptacle is not close to the ornament, a long conductor, such as an extension cord, is required. The extension cord is vulnerable to tripping people and presents an electrical hazard. If no receptacle is available on the exterior of the house, the electrical conductor must be run to the interior of the structure, which may prevent a window or door from being able to be shut securely. This renders the home vulnerable to break-ins and theft. In addition, setting up and powering the ornament takes time and effort. Furthermore, free-standing ornaments are susceptible to falling over in high winds.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Method for decorating an exterior light fixture


The invention relates to a magnetoresistive sensor with a triangle made of magnetic sensitive material with three corners with two wiring connections, wherein the three sides of the triangle have different or at least substantially equal length.

The sensors currently in use make use of Wheatstone bridges, which are rotated against each other by an angle of 45°. If an angle of an external magnetic field is changed, the two bridges deliver different signals with a phase difference of 45°. Thus the angular position can be determined. Such sensors are known from DE 198 39 450 A1.
DE 10 2004 019 238 A1 discloses a device for measuring the direction of a magnetic field especially for use in a magnetoresistive sensor and a method for determining the direction of magnetic fields using voltage dividers, consisting of resistors that are configured from magnetoresistive thin layers, at least three voltage dividers being arranged in such a way that the signal voltages of the different voltage dividers, which occur in the central contacts during the rotation of the magnetic fields, have phases that are offset in relation to one another.
EP 0 411 971 B1 discloses a device using three magnetoresistive sensors arranged as a pyramid.
Disadvantages of the above mentioned types of sensor elements are its relatively high offset and the offset drift over temperature. Therefore the signals are not reproducible. These drawbacks result in the need for a sophisticated offset compensation either by the customer or on the signal conditioning die.

Magnetoresistive sensor with three corners with two wiring connections


A terminal locator for a hand tool includes a base, a magnet, and a holder attached to the base and rotatable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. The holder has a magnet passageway and a resilient latch retaining the magnet in the magnet passageway.

A hand tool generally includes a crimp tooling and locator holding a terminal. The locator locates the terminal in a precise position with respect to the crimp tooling to permit the hand tool to properly crimp the terminal.
The locator has a number of small volumes holding the terminal and other elements that allow the terminal to be precisely positioned. Manufacturing these small volumes with the required precision, however, requires the use of highly accurate manufacturing methods, which increases the cost of producing the hand tool with the locator.


A coupling for securing a first element to a second element includes an actuation bolt, a clamping jaw mounted on the first element which comprises a bore having a threaded part which defines a nut that threadedly engages the actuation bolt, and a torque limitation device positioned between the actuation bolt and the bore for transmitting the rotational movement of the actuation bolt directly to the clamping jaw to thereby rotate the clamping jaw about the axis. In operation, when an external force acting on the clamping jaw is greater that the force generated against the bore by the torque limitation device, rotation of the actuation bolt will result in translation of the clamping jaw, and when the external force acting on the clamping jaw is less than the force generated against the bore by the torque limitation device, rotation of the actuation bolt will rotate the clamping jaw about the axis.

The present invention relates, in a general fashion, to couplings, in particular for loading arms.
As is already known, a coupling is a mechanical assembly comprising clamping modules, intended in particular to apply a clamping preforce so as to ensure the mechanical linkage and tightness between an articulated arm for loading and unloading products, in particular fluid products, such as for example petroleum products (liquefied natural gas etc.), and a complimentary means installed on a vessel.
The present invention is more particularly aimed at the case where the coupling is a hydraulic coupling with several clamping modules, in practice three or more, capable of conveying liquid products, in particular at very low temperatures (up to −196° C.).
According to an arrangement which is already known, each clamping module comprises a clamping jaw for clamping which is designed to couple the arm to a complimentary means, such as a manifold, and, for this clamping jaw, an actuation system comprising a device of the bolt/nut type driven by a motor.
A first system, known and marketed by the applicant, uses a device of the bolt/nut type arranged in a way so as to reproduce the action of a jack, the bolt being driven in rotation by a hydraulic motor via a chain.
This system actuates an assembly of three connecting rods which are linked to each other and two of which have one of their ends connected to a fixed point.
This configuration allows reduction of the clamping force on the flange and tilting of the whole module in order to open or close the coupling.
According to the same principle, a development without connecting rods has been proposed to overcome this drawback while reducing the space requirement and the weight of the device. This development is described in the French Patent Application No. 2834327.
In another device which is already known, the coupling uses compression springs of large diameter each connected at one of their ends to a clamping jaw and at the other to a ring designed to be actuated in rotation.
The inclination of this ring corresponds to the inclination of the springs which, depending on the latter, apply more or less pressure on the clamping jaw which clamps the flange of a complimentary means of the loading arm.
In their compressed position the springs deliver a maximal clamping torque.
The use of a hydraulic jack to activate the ring in rotation means that the mechanism becomes reversible and in the case of a failure of the hydraulic system this can lead to a progressive loosening of the flange.
Another known coupling uses a cam driven in rotation by a hydraulic jack.
This cam applies a load to the clamping jaw to close the coupling and incorporates a parallel irreversibility system in the case of a hydraulic failure.
Another coupling continues the principle of the cam with a toothed rotary washer positioned on the periphery of the coupling. This washer pivots under the pressure of a hydraulic jack and pushes the assembly of the clamping jaw thanks to the teeth which compose it to capture the flange.
According to another existing device, the coupling uses a device of the bolt/nut type, more reliable than a hydraulic jack, to drive the clamping jaw in rotation, the nut being in tilting connection with the latter.
The rotation of the bolt drives the translational movement of the nut which thanks to said tilting connection with the clamping jaw drives the latter in rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of translation of the nut, to clamp or release the flange according to the direction of rotation of the bolt.
An emergency release system is provided in parallel, in order to increase the responsiveness of the system during an opening phase in an emergency procedure.
Some known devices, of the same sort as those described above, are in particular disclosed in the patent applications or patents EP-A 0 285 813, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,222,591, and 3,661,408 and GB-A-1 395 928.
Finally, there exists a coupling device which is known and which is marketed by the Applicant under the name <<Quikcon2>>.
This device has a clamping jaw which combines two movements: a rotation and a translation respectively about and along the same axis.
The clamping jaw overall presents the shape of the letter <<L>>, the base of the <<L>> being the part which effectively serves to grip the flange and its vertical (<<long>>) part corresponding to the axis of said combined rotation and translation.
This last part, which is longer, is introduced into a bore of the frame of the coupling module.
The guiding in rotation of the clamping jaw in this bore is carried out by a ball mounted there between, sliding inside a helical path machined in the <<long>> part of the clamping jaw and held in a specific housing installed in said bore integral with the frame of the coupling module.
The operation of the clamping jaw is carried out using a nut device integral with the clamping jaw and bolt advantageously collaborating with the latter and driven in rotation by an suitable means (hydraulic motor for example).
The bolt and the nut are located in the axis of rotation and translation mentioned above.
In practice, the bolt and the nut are located at the centre of the <<long>> part of the clamping jaw which has a longitudinal bore created for this purpose.
The above-mentioned helical path has a favourable shape which allows transformation of the movement of translation of the clamping jaw imposed by the rotation of the bolt/nut system into a movement of rotation combined with said movement of translation, these two movements occurring respectively about and along the same above-mentioned axis.
Thus, during the closing phase of the clamping jaw a rotation of the latter is initially observed, which rapidly ensures the coupling of the two elements to be coupled, then a translation corresponding to the clamping of said elements together.
The ball is however not designed to withstand high stresses which can, for example, result from an impact between the clamping jaw and an external element.
Thus, the ball can be subject to a permanent deformation or to a mechanical break and the machining of the helical path can also be damaged.
The ball and the helical path can also be damaged by other mechanical stresses due to an opening or a closure in difficult conditions (for example: foreign bodies in the mechanism, corrosion factors, etc.).
In addition, a clamping jaw comprising such helical machining is expensive to manufacture.

Coupling with direct transmission of the rotational movement of an actuation bolt to a clamping jaw driven in translation by the latter


One of the major artifacts that pushed Information Technology companies ahead of its competitors is undoubtedly contextual domain knowledge. When a new development problem comes to an IT team, how problem solving and steps of action can be automatically formulated is the major area of research. A method and system for utilizing domain knowledge to identify solution to a problem has been provided. The problem is reformulated as recommending a workflow like a pipeline of connected steps, by leveraging contextual domain knowledge and technical knowledge, finally planning and scheduling solutions steps, given a problem of a domain & use case. This is achieved by Contextual sequence-aware recommendation of steps, backed by semantic web technologies and pattern recognition steps. Finally a plan is derived by automated planning techniques which can be executed based on software orchestration by connecting a repository of re-usable annotated code blocks.

At present, a lot of stress has been given on the automation of processes in an enterprises because of repetitive nature of work. Typical IT companies gets projects from their clients that are mostly similar to old problems solved and some are totally fresh. While a combination of software and hardware technology solved the problems, the deciding factor of technology selection and execution in most cases was driven by contextual domain knowledge (CDK). However, due to lack of a system to capture and expand problem solving and allied knowledge, teams often start afresh without reusing the knowledge of a team residing at different location due to unawareness and collaboration bottlenecks. An example CDK is as follows—when an audio recording needs to be processed for speech recognition (for say home automation use case), if it is known that the device is a modern smartphone (context), then standard noise cancellation algorithms need not be applied on captured audio as by default smartphones already do active noise control implicitly (part of phone system) using reference background noise from a second microphone.
Domain knowledge can be broadly thought of two types—(1) those gathered from existing literature like books based on common collective knowledge of the community, which computing systems can parse and build a semantic map in a satisfactory way and (2) practical knowledge and thumb rules stored in an individual practitioner's mind that comes from years of experience in a niche field or from a new field where literature is still in the making. Computationally capturing the second one is challenging, yet essentially required to realize automation of problem solving in IT scenario. A few methods are being used in the prior art to capture the contextual domain knowledge or expertise of person. But they are time consuming and requires a lot of effort.

Method and system for utilizing domain knowledge to automatically identify solution to a problem