A direct type backlight assembly includes at least one light lamp under a liquid crystal panel, having two substrates bonded with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. A light guide plate is positioned between adjacent light lamps. A reflective plate is under the light lamps and the light guide plate. At least one optical sheet covers an entire surface over the light guide plate. A case receives the above components. The backlight assembly prevents sagging of the optical sheets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to backlights of liquid crystal display devices and to liquid crystal display devices in general. More particularly, the present invention relates to a direct type backlight assembly and to a liquid crystal display device for preventing formation of an optical wrinkle caused by heat from a light lamp.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Recently, research in the area of flat display devices has been focusing on Liquid Crystal Display Devices (LCDs), Field Emission Display Devices (FEDs), Electro-luminescence Display Devices (ELDs), and Plasma Display Panels (PDPs).
In the field of flat display devices, applications pertaining to LCDs are expanding to notebook PC's, desktop monitors, and liquid crystal TVs, because of LCD features of great contrast ratio, suitability for gradation display and motion picture display, and low power consumption.
Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD illustrated therein is provided with an upper substrate 101 having a color filter layer 112 formed thereon for displaying colors, a lower substrate 102 having switching devices for changing an orientation of liquid crystal molecules, and a liquid crystal layer 100 between the upper and lower substrates 101 and 102.
Besides the color filter layer 112, the upper substrate 101 is also provided with a black matrix 111 for blocking a leakage of light, and a first common electrode 113 which is a first electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 100, and besides the thin film transistor 121 (which is a switching device), the lower substrate 102 is also provided with pixel electrode 122 which is a second electrode for receiving a signal from the thin film transistor and applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 100.
There are spacers 115 between the upper and lower substrates 101 and 102 for maintaining a fixed gap between the two substrates, and a sealant 116 is provided at a periphery of the substrates for preventing leakage of the liquid crystal material outside of the substrates.
However, since the LCD is a non-emissive type display device which emits no light from itself, a separate external light source is required for illumination. Particularly, in a case of a transmissive LCD, a separate illuminating device, i.e., a backlight assembly, is required in the rear of an LCD panel for emitting and guiding light without fail.
There are a variety of backlight assemblies in use, and they range from a direct type to a light guide plate type. The light guide plate type is provided with a linear light source in tube form, such as a fluorescent lamp (e.g., a hot cathode, or a cold cathode type) at a side of the liquid crystal display panel, for projecting light from the light lamp to an entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel by using a light guide plate, and the direct type is provided with light lamps mounted under the liquid crystal display panel for diffusing light from the light lamps as the light is diffused by a diffuser sheet between the light lamps and the liquid crystal display panel.
However, the light guide plate type is not competitive because of difficult sourcing of components, and the fabrication process has a problem of light leakage caused by close fitting of lamps and the lamp housing, and a drop in luminance caused by loss of light through the light guide plate.
In order to solve these problems, a direct type of light assembly is suggested, in which the light lamps are mounted under the liquid crystal panel, for providing a higher luminance and a more uniform light distribution. A direct type light source is preferable for a display in which uniform luminance is required.
In a case of the direct type, efforts for providing a high luminance backlight assembly has been an object of intense research, particularly directed to the development of a backlight assembly including a plurality of light lamps, or one curved lamp mounted under the display screen.
A background art direct type backlight assembly will be described with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 2 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a background art backlight assembly, FIG. 3 illustrates a section across a line I-I′ in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 illustrates a section of a backlight assembly (for use in describing problems of the background art backlight assembly).
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the background art direct type backlight assembly is provided with a plurality of light lamps 51 for emitting light, a reflective plate 52 for converging the light from the light lamps 51 to a display part of the liquid crystal display panel, optical sheets having a diffuser sheet 55, a prism sheet 56 and a protection sheet 57, and a case 53 for fastening and supporting various components inclusive of the light lamps 51.
In addition to supporting the backlight assembly, the case 53 also supports the liquid crystal display panel above the backlight assembly. There is a bezel part comprised of stainless steel on an outside of the case 53 fitted to an edge of the liquid crystal panel to cover a periphery of the screen, excluding an effective area where a picture is displayed thereon.
Optical sheets are provided for preventing the light lamps from showing on a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and providing a light source with a uniform luminance distribution, and includes the diffuser sheet 55, the prism sheet 56, and the protection sheet 57.
The diffuser sheet 55 is formed of a PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) sheet of approximately 130 μm thick having diffusing particles coated on both sides, and the prism sheet 56 is formed of lenses of approximately 170 μm thick with an apex angle of approximately 90°.
The light lamp is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) provided with a glass tube having a fluorescent material coated on an inside circumferential surface, and a discharge gas of a mixed inert gas or mercury Hg injected therein, and electrodes at opposite ends connected to power lines 59 and 59a for applying power thereto for driving the lamp, thereby turning it on with an external power source.
The backlight assembly is also provided with a lamp guide 60 fastened to an inside of the case 53 for holding a light lamp 51 with a gap from the reflective plate 52, and support sides 58 fastened to opposite ends of the light lamp 51 for holding and supporting the light lamp 51.
The lamp guide 60 holds the light lamp, and prevents the optical sheets from sagging, and the support sides 58 fixes the light lamp and seats the diffuser sheet 55 thereon.
The backlight assembly provides the light from the light lamp 51 to an information display surface through the diffuser sheet 55, the prism sheet 56, the protection sheet 57, etc. in succession.
However, the background art direct type backlight assembly has problems.
That is, in a case of a monitor or a TV LCD that requires a high luminance, many light lamps are required, which generate heat. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical sheets (particularly the diffuser sheet 55) can expand and sag downward, or form a wrinkle due to heat from the light lamps 51. The wrinkle refracts a path of the light, which results in a dark or bright part on the screen thereby causing a brightness of the screen to be non-uniform.


The electric machine comprises a rotor and stator, the rotor and stator having generally equal axial lengths. The stator has at least one primary and at least one control winding disposed around the stator. The electric machine comprises a stator extension of a magnetic material. The stator extension is disposed coaxially with the stator and has only the at least one control winding wrapped therearound. The stator extension extends axially adjacent the stator beyond an axial terminus of the rotor and defines a magnetic circuit around the at least one control winding. The stator extension is configured such that in use, the magnetic circuit remains unsaturated thereby increasing inductance of at least one control winding in an electric alternator/motor.

The output voltage and frequency of permanent magnet (PM) alternators are essentially determined by the rotor speed, which present challenges where the rotor speed cannot be independently controlled, such as in a gas turbine engine. Also, controllability in low- or no-load conditions may require using a regulation apparatus, such as a shunt regulation system, to draw current from the machine if the voltage increases above a given maximum allowable value. But these systems add weight and complexity. Instead, in one solution presented in U.S. Pat. No. 7,262,539, a set of control windings is provided around a portion of the stator.
The number of control winding turns generally sets the desired inductance of the control windings. However, the number of turns and the inductance can be the subject of conflicting requirements for designers. For example, a lower number of turns can be desirable to minimize voltage loss and reduce heating. However, increasing the number of turns to increase the inductance may be desirable to minimize current ripple or for other benefits. To date, the designers must sometimes make hard choices in optimizing inductance and machine performance, especially where the machine is used as both a generator and a motor. Room for improvement thus exists.

Inductance augmenter for an electric machine


Techniques to perform event-based synchronization of data are disclosed. In various embodiments, a synchronization is performed at a synchronization client, based at least in part on one or more synchronization events downloaded from a synchronization server. A result of said synchronization is verified at least in part by comparing a computed representation of synchronization set state as stored at the synchronization client with a corresponding computed representation of synchronization set state as stored at the synchronization server.

File sharing systems and services have been provided to maintain synchronization among a plurality of endpoints at which a synchronized folder and/or its contents (e.g., files) may be stored. Synchronization has been performed via processing done primarily on the server side, enabling synchronization to be provided across disparate client devices and systems using relatively minimal client side software.
For example, in some prior approaches, when an opportunity to synchronize a folder or other synchronization set as stored on a client device or system arose, e.g., the client checked in with a synchronization server, the server would determine which changes the client device or system needed to send to the server, and which changes made elsewhere needed to be downloaded to the client device or system. However, at scale, such a server centric approach may strain server side resources, particularly for large synchronization sets and/or for system that must synchronize a large number of synchronization sets of files (e.g., folders) across many client devices/systems and/or end users.

Verification of event-based synchronization


Internally colored glass and glass-like blocks (10) and the method for making them. No means for coating the internal cavities (26) of clear glass and glass-like hollow blocks has been available. Color coating provides aesthetically pleasing structures. Internally colored glass and glass-like blocks may be used in building internal room dividers, providing colorful building designs and for providing color relief in heretofore otherwise drab structures.

The relevant prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 595,485, to Charles R. Lamb for Mosaic Tile issued Dec. 14, 1897. The article of manufacture described in the Lamb patent represents an early attempt to provide a decorative glass structure adapted for mosaic work. The structure as described by Lamb may comprise two transparent glass plates having interposed therebetween a layer of metallic foil and being subsequently bonded by heat treatment so as to be practically inseparable. The inventor herein suggests that an ordinary glazier's diamond can be employed to subdivide the structure so formed into shapes and sizes as desired by the user thereof.
Another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,185, was issued to Joseph C. Keaney and dated Jul. 6, 1937, for Building Block. A stated primary object of the patent to Keaney is to provide a hollow glass building block adapted to be formed in automatic glass blowing machinery. The inventor noted the practice of the day to form a structural glass building block by the method of molding two semicubical shells of glass and then bonding the shells together to form a complete block. Keaney's block is formed integrally in glass blowing machinery.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,167,764 was patented on Aug. 1, 1939 for Glass Building Block for inventor William, O. Lytle. Lytle's patent describes a transparent sheet of synthetic resin situate between the usual opposing rectangular cup shapes making up a structural glass building block such that the resin provides increased structural strength, greater resistance to the passage of radiant heat and acts as a seal, strongly adherent to glass under heat and pressure, for the opposing edges of the half sections of the block. The inventor further suggests that the resin sheet may be colored so as to cut out part of the light or for decorative purposes in which case it may be printed with designs.
Yet another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,011 was issued on Oct. 28, 1941 to Otis W. Wiley for Building Block. The patent to Wiley relates primarily to the manufacture of hollow glass building blocks having a fusible screen disposed between the edges of the members forming the block, the screen becoming a permanent part of the completed block upon being fused therebetween by heat treatment.
Of somewhat lesser relevance to the instant invention are the U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,326, issued May 4, 1976 to Michaelis for Translucent Building Blocks and U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,542 to inventor Kline on Aug. 13, 1991 for Architectural Building Block Herewith.
The patent to Michaelis describes a hollow, translucent building block partially filled with a transparent liquid and with an oblique wall inserted in such manner as to give rise to the visual effects sought by the invention through the optical phenomenon of total internal reflection.
The building block specified by Kline describes an injection molded plastic block structure featuring snap lock connectors to provide even spacing between blocks when assembling a structure made up of a plurality of such blocks. The plastic blocks are claimed to resemble common glass blocks and additionally to provide for tinting by the introduction of tinting materials into the molding resin either prior to or during the molding process. Kline describes various decorative implementations in connection with this patented invention.
A final prior art patent discovered in applicant's pre-examination novelty search is U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,566, granted to Ashby et al. on Nov. 3, 1992 for Decorative Glass Block. Ashby et al. describe a scheme by means of which a decorative panel insert may be interposed between the two adjoined half members through a slot cut into and extending from the top of one vertical side wall of the glass block to the opposite vertical side wall. Subsequent to insertion, the panel is cemented to the bottom interior surface of the of the glass block and the slot is sealed over.
These prior art articles and their methods are commendable and show a creative spirit for their times. The quest for relieving the monotony of clear glass blocks has been long and varied and many creative ideas have been contrived. The originators and their methods have contributed remarkably to the technology involved. These prior art structures, however, do not include those elements of the instant invention that provide a long felt but unmet need in the art.


A molded article manufactured by a fixed mold used with a forming metal mold for molding synthetic resin includes a base mold, a first forming mold secured to the base mold and having a molding recess, and a second forming mold secured to the base mold as it is combined with the first forming mold. The first forming mold includes a transfer surface within the molding recess in continuation to its opening edge for providing decoration to the molded article on transcription to the surface of the molded article. The second forming mold includes a charged opening defining a cavity along with the molding recess and into which is charged a molding material.

Among the molded products, prepared on injecting a molding material, such as molten resin, charged into a cavity of a forming metal mold, and subsequently on allowing the so charged molten resin to be cooled and solidified, there are those the surfaces of which are decoratively worked for affording the feeling of the high grade product so that the finished articles appear as if they are formed of a metallic material. Examples of the decorative machining include mirror surface finishing, which works the product surface to a smooth and lustrous finish, a so-called spin mark machining, which forms a large number of fine parallel concentric lines on the product surface, and a so-called hairline machining, which forms a large number of fine parallel straight lines on the product surface.
The molded products with decorative surface machining are mostly formed using a metal mold provided with a transfer surface prepared by electroplating. The conventional manufacturing method for a forming metal mold, used for producing a molded article with such decorative machining, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
In a conventional manufacturing method, a master 101 is first prepared, as shown in FIG. 1. This master 1 is formed of a metal material, such as brass or beryllium copper, and has a diamond cut surface 102 formed on a rim portion of its upper surface by diamond cutting. The upper surface of the master 101 is formed with a plural number of fine concentric scores for forming spin marks on the molded product to provide a spin forming surface 103.
A plating layer 104 then is formed by electroplating on the entire surface of the master 101, as shown in FIG. 2. The plating layer 104 is formed of, for example, chromium, to a thickness of 5 to 6 mm.
The master 101 and the plating layer 104 then are separated from each other to form a recess for filling 105 on the plating layer 104, as shown in FIG. 3. By separating the master 101 and the plating layer 104 from each other, the diamond cut surface 102 and the spin forming surface 103 are transcribed on corresponding surfaces of the plating layer defining the recess for filling 105. The surface to which the diamond cut surface 102 has been transcribed is formed as a mirror surface processing surface 106 for transcription to the surface of a molded article for providing mirror surface finishing to the molded article, whilst the surface to which the spin forming surface 103 has been transcribed is formed as a spin processing surface 107 for transcription to the surface of the molded product to produce spin marks thereon.
The plating layer 104 is inserted into and fixed in an insertion recess 109 of a base mold of the forming mold 108, as shown in FIG. 4. The base mold 108, with the plating layer 104 secured thereto, is set and assembled with a fixed forming mold, not shown, to produce a metallic forming mold. A molding material is charged into the recess for filling 105. When the molding material is cooled and cured, the metal mold is opened to take out the molded product from the recess for filling 105.
On the molded article, thus prepared, there are transcribed the mirror surface processing surface 106 and the spin processing surface 107, such that the molded article appears as if it is molded of a metal material.
With the conventional method, described above, the master 101 is prepared of a metal material, such as brass or beryllium copper, and the plating layer 104 is formed on its surface by electroplating, in order to apply decorative processing to the surface of a molded article.
Usually, the plating layer 104 can be formed to a preset thickness by electroplating only after a processing time interval as long as approximately two months, thus raising an inconvenience of considerably protracted manufacturing time.
Apart from the problem of the protracted manufacturing time, the plating layer 104 needs to be formed in addition to the master 101, thus raising another inconvenience of increased production cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Metal mold for forming, method for the preparation of the metal mold for forming and molded article obtained on forming by the metal mold for forming

Abstract: In this forming metal mold, the molding material is charged into the cavity to transfer a pattern formed on the transfer surface to the molded product.


An apparatus comprises a substantially horn shaped structure configured to amplify sound from a speaker of a device wherein the apparatus comprises packaging of the device.

Some portable devices comprise integrated speakers for creating sound such as playing back music or having a telephone conversation. The loudness of the integrated speakers is important especially in environments where the ambient noise levels are high, even indoors. The loudness of the integrated speakers in a portable device is important for perception of ringtones of a mobile telephone. In some countries the loudness of the integrated speakers is important for listening to FM radio broadcasts.
In some parts of the world a portable device with an integrated speaker may be the only device the user owns which is capable of playing music. For example, a user may only be able to play music using a loudspeaker of a mobile telephone. The loudness and quality of sound from an integrated speaker is even more important if a user is solely reliant on an integrated speaker of a portable device for music playback.
It is known to increase the loudness of integrated speakers by actively amplifying sound by electronic solutions. For example, circuitry comprising large transducers, components for signal processing and other electrical modifications have been used. Other solutions further comprise external loudspeakers. It is also common to use two speakers where their output is acoustically coupled, for example by mutual acoustic coupling, to increase the loudness. Typically digital signal processing (DSP) may increase loudness by using one or more of the following: digital gains, equalization (EQ), single or multiple dynamic range controllers (DRC) and transducer protection. It is understood that there may be more additional systems or algorithms which are designed for use in digital signal processing. For example, in addition there may be and/or other systems in a playback chain such as electrical filters. Disadvantageously, the additional components are expensive and use additional power which can reduce portable device operating time dramatically.
Another technique for increasing the loudness of an integrated speaker is using an external accessory. One such accessory is a desk stand or a cradle for a hands free car kit which provides passive amplification for a portable device. However, external accessories providing passive amplification are expensive and bulky. This means the user cannot easily transport the desk stand and has to keep it in one place. Furthermore manufacture of such external accessories is complex and requires an expensive manufacturing set up and equipment.

Apparatus and method for providing passive amplification


A container for mixing an enclosed medical agent with a fluid. The container comprising an inclining bottom seam directed towards a connector. The connector comprising an elongated hollow body having a plurality of interconnected walls defining a first and a second longitudinal flow channel for fluidly connecting an inside and an outside of the container. The first flow channel has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening of the first flow channel is devised to be arranged inside of the container and the second opening of the first flow channel is devised to be arranged outside the container. The first opening of the first flow channel is arranged radially outwards from the first flow channel and directed towards said inclined bottom seam. The second flow channel has a first opening devised to be arranged inside of said container and a second opening devised to be arranged outside the container arranged axially to the first opening of the second flow channel.

Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to the field of providing solutions, particularly medical solutions. More particularly the invention relates to a multi compartment container and a connector, as well as a method, for providing a medical solution, such as a dialysate solution.
Description of the Related Art
EP2035059 discloses a container comprising a plurality of compartments separated by compartment dividers, and an inlet connector for receiving a liquid via a connection tube. The compartment dividers rupture when a sufficient pressure is applied by a liquid or gas introduced into the container through the inlet connector. Some of the compartments comprise powder, which dissolves at the introduction of liquid into the container.
The disclosed container has vertically positioned compartment dividers which is not always an optimal arrangement for providing a thoroughly mixing of a solution. Further, the connection to the mixing system is made by either separated inlets or outlets or by alternating a flow through an inlet being a tube by a valve or a pump. The document also discloses a double lumen connector being two cannulas. But there is no teaching of how to configure the combined inlet/outlet and how to arrange the inlet/outlet in relation to the features of the container to obtain an optimized mixing and/or improve control of the opening of the peelable dividers.
Thus, there is a need for an improved solution to the container and connector combination to obtain a better mixing of a solution inside the container. It is also desired to improve the precision and quality of the final medical solution for providing to a patient. The improvement should also provide for time savings by decreasing the dissolving time and thus the effectiveness of the mixing. The invention may also be seen as an alternative to what is hitherto available, preferably more cost-effective.
Hence, an improved combination of a container and connector would be advantageous and in particular for improving the quality of a medical solution and allowing for increased flexibility and effectiveness would be advantageous.

Container and connector for providing a medical solution


According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes applying an alternating current having a frequency at a selected voltage to a sensor, wherein the voltage is applied between a reference electrode and a working electrode of the sensor, varying the frequency of the alternating current between a lower frequency and an upper frequency, measuring an impedance of the sensor between the reference electrode and the working electrode as a function of the frequency of the alternating current, analyzing the measured impedance to determine a total impedance of the sensor and the real and imaginary components of the total impedance at each applied frequency of the alternating current, and characterizing the sensor based on the total impedance at the low frequency end of the sensor and on the real and imaginary components of the total impedances.

Measuring sensors, particularly electrochemical measuring sensors, are widely used for quality monitoring, process control and research in agriculture, beverages, foods, water, various industries and research labs. Such measuring sensors include pH sensors. A critical component of a pH sensor is a pH glass membrane. Generally, pH glass material used in the pH glass membrane is specially formulated to make the material sensitive to hydrogen ions (H+).
Conventionally, to test and verify the proper functioning of a pH sensor, the sensor is placed in contact with a standard buffer solution of known pH (e.g., pH 4, 7 and 10 buffers), and the sensor's signal output is displayed and verified using a pH meter. Certain pH meters include a function to measure glass impedance. However, such meters are not accurate enough or capable to distinguish sensor failure modes, such as a crack in the glass membrane or a short circuit in the sensor.
If in case a sensor failed to work normally, for whatever reason (e.g., harsh application conditions, inappropriate selection of sensor type, manufacturing processes, changes of material/part supply etc.), physical examination and often destruction (e.g., dissection) of the sensor has previously been the only way to determine the failure mode and root cause of failure of the sensor. However, dissecting a pH sensor can be very time consuming. In addition, it is not guaranteed to see root cause after dissection. For example, a micro-crack at the pH glass membrane/glass stem interface in transversal direction may not be visible. More often, dissection can easily damage the signs of root cause because of the complex construction of a pH sensor, which is usually built with materials of wide range mechanical and physical properties from liquid and soft rubber, to hard plastic, rigid epoxy, and very hard but brittle glass.
Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology to enable a method to characterize failure modes and to determine the root cause of such failures a measuring sensor.

Characterization and failure analysis of a sensor using impedance frequency response spectra


A parallel computer processor that performs L1 norm calculations includes a plurality of processing elements and a data pipeline which couples the processing elements. The data vectors for which the L1 norm is to be calculated are stored in storage lines of a cache memory. In operation each processing element accesses data in its private storage column in the cache memory and calculates a term signal. The term signals are added to form the resulting L1 norm.

Computer processors are well known and widely used for a variety of purposes. One application of computer processors is digital signal processing (DSP). By definition, digital signal processing is connected with the representation of signals by sequences of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. DSP has a wide variety of applications and its importance is evident in such fields as pattern recognition, radio communications, telecommunications, radar, biomedical engineering, and many others.
At the heart of every DSP system is a computer processor that performs mathematical operations on signals. Generally, signals received by a DSP system are first converted to a digital format used by the computer processor. Then the computer processor executes a series of mathematical operations on the digitized signal. The purpose of these operations can be to estimate characteristic parameters of the signal or to transform the signal into a form that is in some sense more desirable. Such operations typically implement complicated mathematics and entail intensive numerical processing. Examples of mathematical operations that may be performed in DSP systems include matrix multiplication, matrix-inversion, Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT), auto and cross correlation, Discrete Cosine Transforms (DCT), polynomial equations, and difference equations in general, such as those used to approximate Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) and Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters.
Computer processors vary considerably in design and function. One aspect of a processor design is its architecture. Generally, the term computer architecture refers to the instruction set and organization of a processor. An instruction set is a group of programmer-visible instructions used to program the processor. The organization of a processor, on the other hand, refers to its overall structure and composition of computational resources, for example, the bus structure, memory arrangement, and number of processing elements. A processing element may be as simple as an adder circuit that sums two values, or it may be a complex as a central processing unit (CPU) that performs a wide variety of different operations.
In a computer, a number of different organizational techniques can be used for increasing execution speed. One technique is execution overlap. Execution overlap is based on the notion of operating a computer like an assembly line with an unending series of operations in various stages of completion. Execution overlap allows these operations to be overlapped and executed simultaneously.
One commonly used form of execution overlap is pipelining. In a computer, pipelining is an implementation technique that allows a sequence of the same operations to be performed on different arguments. Computation to be done for a specific instruction is broken into smaller pieces, i.e., operations, each of which takes a fraction of the time needed to complete the entire instruction. Each of these pieces is called a pipe stage. The stages are connected in a sequence to form a pipeline--arguments of the instruction enter at one end, are processed through the stages, and exit at the other end.
These are many different architectures, ranging from complex-instruction-set-computer (CISC) to reduced-instruction-set-computer (RISC) based architectures. In addition, some architectures have only one processing element, while others include two or more processing elements. Despite differences in architectures, all computer processors have a common goal, which is to provide the highest performance at the lowest cost. However, the performance of a computer processor is highly dependent on the problem to which the processor is applied, and few, if any, low-cost computer processors are capable of performing the mathematical operations listed above at speeds required for some of today's more demanding applications. For example, MPEG data compression of an NTSC television signal can only be performed using expensive super-computers or special purpose hardware.
Many other applications, such as matrix transformations in real-time graphics, require data throughput rates that exceed the capabilities of inexpensive, single processors, such as micro processors and commercially available DSP chips. Instead, these applications require the use of costly, multiprocessor or multiple-processor computers. Although multiprocessor computers typically have higher throughput rates, they also include complex instruction sets and are generally difficult to program.
One application which is particularly expensive in terms of the required computing power is the calculation of L1 norms. The L1 norm of a vector x and a vector y .sub.i is defined as follows: EQU L1(x,y.sub.i)=.vertline.x.sub.1 -y.sub.i1 .vertline.+.vertline.x.sub.2 -y.sub.i2 .vertline.+.vertline.x.sub.3 -y.sub.i3 .vertline.+ . . . +.vertline.x.sub.n -y.sub.in .vertline. (Equation 1)
where ##EQU1##
Another way to express equation (1) is given in the following equation (4): ##EQU2##
The calculation of the L1 norm of two data vectors x and y.sub.i is needed in a large variety of digital signal processing applications. A typical requirement is that the L1 norm is calculated for a very large number of vector pairs. Such a requirement cannot be fulfilled by state of the art microprocessors or digital signal processors. Only supercomputers provide adequate computing power, but are prohibitively expensive for most applications.
Thus, there is a need for a method for effectively calculating an L1 norm and an improved parallel computer processor implementing such an improved method.

Method for calculating an L1 norm and parallel computer processor


A container having a flexible wall receives a continuous flow of a biological fluid that includes a target antigen and emits a continuous flow of the biological fluid at least partially depleted from the target antigen. The container further comprises a compartment with magnetic beads coupled to an affinity marker that binds the target antigen, and the target antigen is separated from the biological fluid using a magnetic force and an automatic mechanical force, wherein at least one of the magnetic force and automatic mechanical force is transmitted through the flexible wall.

Separation, and especially on line separation of target antigens from biological fluids for diagnostic and/or curative purposes is often desirable, especially where the biological fluid is a whole blood or other bodily fluid. Among frequently isolated and/or separated target antigens are diseased cells (e.g., T4-helper cells infected with HIV virus), non-diseased cells (e.g., adult stem cells), various bacteria, and viruses.
There are numerous methods of on line separation or isolation of target antigens known in the art, and such methods may be grouped into one of two categories. For example, in a discontinuous separation, a biological fluid is isolated from a source (e.g., blood is drawn from a human) and subsequently processed for the desired target antigen. Most commonly, such methods include centrifugation for relatively large volumes of biological fluids, or magnetic separation for relatively small volumes. In either case, the processed fluid may then be reintroduced into the human. While discontinuous separation is generally relatively effective, various disadvantages remain. Among other things, processing of the isolated biological fluid typically requires transfer of the fluid among a multitude of containers, which significantly increases the likelihood of contamination of the processed sample. Furthermore, depending on the particular the volume of the isolated fluid, multiple samples need to be drawn for sufficient amount of target antigen.
On the other hand, in a continuous separation, a biological fluid is directly routed from a source (e.g., via i.v. line) into a separation unit and continuously processed for the desired target antigen before the depleted fluid is rerouted into the source. Most commonly, such methods include gradient centrifugation, or on line magnetic separation. While discontinuous separation is generally advantageous with respect to simplified sample handling, all or almost all of the on line separations require relatively expensive and intricate equipment. Consequently, many continuous separation methods and configurations present various challenges. For example, continuous centrifugation equipment (e.g., as the equipment used in thrombocytophoresis) typically requires control by highly trained professionals. For magnetic separation, cells or other target antigens are separated by virtue of their magnetic moment, thereby typically limiting separation efficiency at desirable flow rates.
Although various configurations and methods for isolation and/or separation of one or more components from blood are known to the art, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantage. Therefore, there is a need to provide apparatus and methods for improved isolation and/or separation of components from blood.

Semi-continuous blood separation using magnetic beads


A method for determining an allowable simultaneous switching output level on a bank-by-bank basis is described. An inductance scaling factor is determined for a first bank. A noise limit scaling factor is determined for the first bank. A bounce voltage scaling factor is determined for the first bank. The inductance scaling factor, the noise limit scaling factor, and the bounce voltage scaling factor are multiplied with one another to provide the simultaneous switching output level for the first bank.

Programmable logic devices ("PLDs") are a well-known type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array ("FPGA"), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks ("IOBs"), configurable logic blocks ("CLBs"), dedicated random access memory blocks ("BRAMs"), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks ("DSPs"), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops ("DLLs"), and so forth. Notably, as used herein, "include" and "including" mean including without limitation.
One such FPGA is the Xilinx Virtex® FPGA available from Xilinx, Inc., 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95124. Another type of PLD is the Complex Programmable Logic Device ("CPLD"). A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to input/output ("I/O") resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in Programmable Logic Arrays ("PLAs") and Programmable Array Logic ("PAL") devices. Other PLDs are programmed by applying a processing layer, such as a metal layer, that programmably interconnects the various elements on the device. These PLDs are known as mask programmable devices. PLDs can also be implemented in other ways, for example, using fuse or antifuse technology. The terms "PLD" and "programmable logic device" include but are not limited to these exemplary devices, as well as encompassing devices that are only partially programmable.
For purposes of clarity, FPGAs are described below though other types of PLDs may be used. FPGAs may include one or more embedded microprocessors. For example, a microprocessor may be located in an area reserved for it, generally referred to as a "processor block."
Heretofore, noise management was done using discrete solutions for different types of noise. However, these discrete solutions often were guesses based on previous experience. Furthermore, many of these solutions were employed after the fact, namely as a fix to noise identified after building an integrated circuit ("IC"), building a printed circuit board ("PCB"), or assembling an IC/PCB assembly. Part of the inability to dissipate noise in an integrated circuit was a failure to understand the interplay between different types of noise. Part of the inability to accurately predict noise was due to a failure to account for noise generated due to coupling an IC die to a package, a PCB, or a backplane, depending on the application.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and useful to provide means that overcome one or more of the above-identified limitations.

Integrated system noise management—bounce voltage


In measuring a selected parameter of a test gas in isolation from gas pressure fluctuations, a pump draws the test gas through a storage capacitor into a sensor, storing the gas in the storage capacitor. A valve closes a fluid flow path which admits the test gas to the storage capacitor and opens a fluid flow path between the storage capacitor and a constant pressure alternate gas source, isolating the storage capacitor and the sensor from pressure fluctuations in the test gas. The storage capacitor prevents any mixing of the test gas with the alternate gas until measurement of the selected parameter has been accomplished.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the measurement of parameters of gases. The invention more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for measuring a selected parameter of a gas at a substantially constant desired pressure, in isolation from fluctuations in the pressure of the gas, for use with gas sensors having a substantially linear measurement response to the selected parameter in a desired pressure range, and having a substantially non-linear measurement response to the selected parameter outside the desired pressure range.

Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a gas in isolation from gas pressure fluctuations


A semi-rigid collapsible container (10) has a side-wall with an upper portion (5), a central portion (6), a lower portion (7) and a base (8). The central portion (6) includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion (2) and an initiator portion 1. The control portion (2) is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container (10), than the initiator portion 1. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container 10 the initiator portion (1) will flex inwardly to cause the control portion (2) to invert and flex further inwardly into the container (10) and the central portion (6) to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion (6) may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container (10). Raised ribs (3) made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state. In another embodiment the telescoping of the container back to its original position occurs when the vacuum force is released following removal of the container cap.

This invention relates to polyester containers, particularly semi-rigid collapsible containers capable of being filled with hot liquid, and more particularly to an improved construction for initiating collapse in such containers. The invention also relates to such containers capable of being filled with hot liquid.
'Hot-Fill' applications impose significant mechanical stress on a container structure. The thin side-wall construction of a conventional container deforms or collapses as the internal container pressure falls following capping because of the subsequent cooling of the liquid contents. Various methods have been devised to sustain such internal pressure change while maintaining a controlled configuration.
Generally, the polyester must be heat-treated to induce molecular changes resulting in a container that exhibits thermal stability. In addition, the structure of the container must be designed to allow sections, or panels, to 'flex' inwardly to vent the internal vacuum and so prevent excess force being applied to the container structure. The amount of 'flex' available in each panel is limited, however, and as the limit is reached the force is transferred to the side-wall, and in particular the areas between the panels, of the container causing them to fail under any increased load.
Additionally, vacuum force is required in order to flex the panels inwardly to accomplish pressure stabilisation. Therefore, even if the panels are designed to be extremely flexible and efficient, force will still be exerted on the container structure to some degree. The more force that is exerted results in a demand for increased container wall-thickness, which in turn results in increased container cost.
The principal mode of failure in all prior art known to the applicant is non-recoverable buckling, due to weakness in the structural geometry of the container, when the weight of the container is lowered for commercial advantage. Many attempts to solve this problem have been directed to adding reinforcements to the container side-wall or to the panels themselves, and also to providing panel shapes that flex at lower thresholds of vacuum pressure.
To date, only containers utilising vertically oriented vacuum flex panels have been commercially presented and successful
In our New Zealand Patent 240448 entitled "Collapsible Container", a semi-rigid collapsible container is described and claimed in which controlled collapsing is achieved by a plurality of arced panels which are able to resist expansion from internal pressure, but are able to expand transversely to enable collapsing of a folding portion under a longitudinal collapsing force. Much prior art in collapsible containers was disclosed, most of which provided for a bellows-like, or accordion-like vertical collapsing of the container.
Such accordion-like structures are inherently unsuitable for hot-fill applications, as they exhibit difficulty in maintaining container stability under compressive load. Such containers flex their sidewalls away from the central longitudinal axis of the container. Further, labels cannot be properly applied over such sections due to the vertical movement that takes place. This results in severe label distortion. For successful label application, the surface underneath must be structurally stable, as found in much prior art cold-fill container sidewalls whereby corrugations are provided for increased shape retention of the container under compressive load. Such compressive load could be supplied by either increased top-load or increased vacuum pressure generated within a hot-fill container for example.


An apparatus and a process for transferring packet data includes receiving packets from a first interface such as a network interface and transferring data to a second interface such as an SD Bus interface such as SDIO using a protocol such as one described in SDCard.org. The SD Bus second interface operates as a slave device to a master device, and the packet transfer from first interface to second interface includes concatenating length fields and packet data fields from packets received on the first interface to form a superframe which is provided to the second interface at time of data transfer. The formation of each superframe includes starting a timer such that the superframe is transmitted to the second interface by asserting an interrupt on that interface when either the timer expires, the number of packet from the first interface exceeds a threshold, or the amount of data from the first interface exceeds a threshold.

Present electronic devices typically use a microprocessor as a core processing element with some sort of shared interface to a number of peripheral processing elements that jointly carry out the functionality required of the device or its application. Microprocessors come in a variety of forms, but they all share a common functionality of providing a standard interface through which other devices or peripherals can be temporarily or permanently interconnected for the exchange of information. These bus interfaces come in a variety of physical and protocol related forms.
SDIO, as specified by the SD Card Association (www.sdcard.org), is one of several interface standards that are based on a master-slave configuration. SDIO is related to the bus interface used in the Secure Digital (SD) memory card that is in turn based on the Multimedia Card (MMC) format.
The Master-Slave configuration is a common bus topology, and is also used by the protocols SDBus, MMC, and USB. In the master-slave configuration, all data transfers are initiated by a master, and the slave can only respond to commands issued by a master device. Through the use of a slave device address mechanism, multiple slaves can be connected on the same bus, as shown in FIG. 1.
Slave devices commonly respond to two broad categories of commands—write commands and read commands. Whenever the master wants to carry out a 'write', it sends the write command followed by the data to be written. The slave latches this data and carries out the required action, such as to store the data into a specified memory location, or pass the data to an intended functional block within the device. Whenever the master wants to carry out a 'read', it sends a read command accompanied by an address to be read, and the slave responds by driving the appropriate data onto the bus. In a shared bus arrangement, at any time, only one master or slave device may drive the data bus. The master as initiator of the read or write operation determines when a slave device can send data to the shared bus.
There are typically two types of slave devices in the SD family: devices with fast memory and devices with slow IO. For a fast memory type of slave device, the device master will simply provide write data accompanied by an address, or a read data address, and the response time of the device is not a concern. For slower memory devices, the data may be posted for writing at the convenience of the device, or the read operation may complete in a relatively short window of time that will not tie up the processor during the interval required for the data to be recovered and provided. A slow slave IO operation may invoke a significantly longer process, such as a read or write to a remote device across a network which may not be reachable at the time the transaction occurs, or the request for data from a device providing GPS data which includes an acquisition latency interval, or any other IO operation which has a long or unknown latency time. Because of the ability to bridge across several SDIO devices, the latency problem occurs particularly in SDIO devices which may be used as an interface through which complex functions can be provided on a separate device. These functionalities include wireless data access through WLAN, or reception of navigation data through GPS, or reception of a video stream via a DVB-H receiver. These applications involve reception of data from a network wirelessly, or preparation of data through complex processing based on some inputs from the host. When a new set of data, or a packet of data, is available to be transferred to the host, the slave has to notify this condition to the master. One of the prior art methods of notifying an event to a requesting master device is to have the master poll some address location in the slave device periodically to check if any event is pending or completed. But this method has the following disadvantages:
1) The master has to poll even when there is no event pending.
2) If polling rate is kept low to reduce the overhead on the master, events will be pending for a longer time which might not be acceptable to all slaves or the applications they provide.
Another way to communicate an event is for the slave to assert an interrupt to the host or master. This can be done either through a dedicated interface pin which can be connected to one of the interrupt sources of a processor, or through a time multiplexed input on an existing interface pin, which is a method supported by the SDIO protocol.
Interrupts asserted by a slave are routed through to an appropriate software segment in the host for processing. FIG. 2 shows the various software layers involved in a general master-slave bus topology. This architecture is suggested by various standards like SDIO and USB to ease client driver development although it is burdened with excessive overhead. The Host Controller Driver provides hardware abstraction layer functionality and is responsible for interacting with the actual host controller hardware. The Bus Controller provides a cleanly abstracted view of the client device to the client drivers and is responsible for loading the corresponding client driver when a card is detected.
FIG. 3 shows the propagation of an interrupt from the SDIO slave device 310 to the processor in the master platform via SDIO slave device driver 302. FIG. 3 also shows that a series of software processes involved in a slave asserting an interrupt 312 and the master or host processor returning to service it 302. This response latency has an impact on how quickly data can be moved from an SDIO device into the host. When a packet pending interrupt 312 is detected, the host issues a read packet command and reads the corresponding packet, following which it clears the interrupt. The sequence of events is:
1) An interrupt is asserted by the SDIO slave device 310.
2) The interrupt propagates to the device driver 302 through the master controller driver 306 and bus controller driver 304, as shown in FIG. 3.
3) For a read interrupt, the length descriptor of the pending packet is read. A read interrupt is an interrupt generated to indicate a pending packet. A slave can generate an interrupt for other reasons also, and action is taken in the host appropriately.
4) The device driver issues a packet read command to the SDIO stack (the bus controller 304 and host slave device driver 302) with the length value from step 3.
5) After the packet is read, the device driver 302 issues a write command to clear the interrupt.
6) The device driver then checks whether any further packets are pending. After the interrupt is cleared, the interrupt is immediately reasserted by the slave device if there are further packets pending. The read interrupt only indicates that one or more packets are available to be read out—it does not indicate the exact number of packets available at the time the interrupt was raised. The interrupt status is checked within the interrupt service routine (ISR) so that if further packets are available, they may be handled immediately, rather than after the ISR exits and re-enters.
7) If any further packets are pending, the handler repeats steps 3 to 6, otherwise it exits from the interrupt service routine (ISR).
The following table quantifies the delays involved in the above steps for the case of four packets which are pending in the slave device:
Delay inNo.Step Causing LatencyuS1.Interrupt latency to the device90driver2.First packet length descriptor40read latency3.First packet read latency of the325SDIO stack4.Interrupt clearing latency205.Further interrupt checking20latency6.Second packet length descriptor40read latency7.Second packet read latency of325SDIO stack8.Interrupt clearing latency209.Further interrupt checking20latency10.Third packet length descriptor40read latency11.Third packet read latency of325SDIO stack12.Interrupt clearing latency2013.Further interrupt checking20latency14.Fourth packet length descriptor40read latency15.Fourth packet read latency of325SDIO stack16.Interrupt clearing latency2017.Further interrupt checking20latencyTotal1710
The stacked nature of the SDIO interrupt device drivers provides flexibility, but with an intrinsic inefficiency which results in long response latencies. Because of this inefficiency, the actual read throughput achievable is far less than the theoretical limit of bus throughput.
It is desired to increase SDIO bus throughput. Additionally, it is desired to decrease packet interrupt response latency.

Concatenating secure digital input output (SDIO) interface


A data storage system comprises magnetoresistive (MR) sensing elements for sensing data from a recording medium that is referenced to ground, and an amplifier circuit including a biasing stage, an amplifying stage, and a matching stage, each referenced to a common supply voltage source and to ground. The biasing stage includes a reference current source for selectively biasing each MR element with a constant current and, in so doing, developing a single-ended voltage signal having a first dc component. The amplifying stage converts the single-ended voltage signal into an amplified single-ended output voltage signal having a second dc component but in which the first dc component is eliminated. The matching stage creates a bias and imposes said bias on the amplifying stage for converting the single-ended output voltage signal to a differential output voltage signal in which the second dc component is eliminated.

Commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 07/914,278, filed Jun. 15, 1992, entitled "Low-Voltage, Low-Power Amplifier For Magnetoresistive Sensor" discloses low-noise, low-power, low-voltage amplifier circuits with a single-ended input having no common mode rejection for concurrently biasing and amplifying signals generated by magnetoresistive (MR) sensing elements in a disk storage system. The amplifier circuits comprise a single (grounded) supply voltage source. The head/disk assembly of the disk file is completely enclosed by a highly conductive electrostatically shielded metallic enclosure that operates as a Faraday cage and isolates leads connecting the MR elements with the amplifier circuit from large, fast rise/fall time voltage transients.
These circuits operate very satisfactorily at supply voltages of as low as 4.5 volts. However, there is a need for amplifier circuits having configurations that not only include a single-ended input to eliminate common mode rejection and use a single (grounded) supply voltage, as taught in the application just cited, but also permit operation with supply voltages as low as three volts. This need arises because MR sensors are now being proposed for use with battery-operated low-end storage devices, such as hard disk drives for lap-top and notebook computers. These types of devices require actuator-electronics (AE) modules with extremely low power consumption and supply voltages of less than 4.5 volts.

Low noise amplifier circuit for magnetoresistive sensors for fast read-write switching in low supply voltage applications

International Business Machines Corporation


A power supply control signal generating circuit includes a connector, a switch, a transistor, and an input-output (I/O) controller. The connector includes a first pin and a grounded second pin. The switch has two terminals respectively coupled to the first pin and the second pin of the connector. The transistor has its base coupled to the first pin of the connector and a power supply via a first resistor, its collector coupled to the power supply via a second resistor, and its emitter grounded. The I/O controller has an input terminal coupled to the collector of the transistor, and outputs a power supply control signal at the output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control signal generating circuits, and particularly to a power supply control signal generating circuit in a computer.
2. Description of Related Art
AT-style computer cases have a power button that is directly connected to the system computer power supply (PSU). The general configuration is a double-pole latching mains voltage switch with the four pins connected to wires from a four-core cable. The wires are either soldered to the power button (making it difficult to replace the power supply if it fails) or blade receptacles are used. An ATX power supply does not directly connect to the system power button, allowing the computer to be turned off via software. However, many ATX power supplies have a manual switch on the back to ensure the computer is truly off and no power is sent to the components. With this switch on, energy still flows to the components even when the computer appears to be "off." This is known as soft-off or standby and can be used for remote wake up through Wake-on-Ring or Wake-on-LAN, but is generally used to power on the computer through a front switch. When the front switch is pressed, a MOSFET on a motherboard of the computer turns off, and then an input-output (I/O) controller on the motherboard converts the signal output from the MOSFET to a power supply control signal Power Supply On (PS_ON). The power supply control signal is then transmitted to the ATX power supply to control output of direct current (DC) voltage. However, when the user presses the front switch, static electricity that may have accumulated in the user's body is transmitted to the gate of the MOSFET through the front switch. The MOSFET has high input impedance, so a lot of static electricity can accumulate at the gate of the MOSFET and ruin the MOSFET.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a power supply control signal generating circuit which can eliminate static electricity at the gate of the MOSFET.

Power supply control signal generating circuit

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A therapeutic composition for treating the manifestations of overindulgence in alcohol includes effective amounts of acetaminophen, one or more antacids agents and caffeine, all provided in finely powdered form suspended in a medium including glycerin, xanthan gum and purified water, along with a dissolved simple sugar, such that the composition is basic and has a pH less than 9. The use of a flavorant, a colorant, a stomachic and preservatives in the composition is disclosed. A method of oral administration of the composition is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions, particularly non-prescription compositions and methods of administering same for treatment of hangover as a result of overindulgence in alcohol.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The major symptoms of the condition generally known as "hangover" resulting from overindulgence in alcohol, include headache, acid indigestion, queasiness or nausea, diarrhea, lethargy and a general malaise. These symptoms have been treated by various techniques, generally aimed at relief of only one or a few of the symptoms. At least one formulation, designed for relief of all of the symptoms, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,569. However, that formulation must be administered in two separate portions. This is because the ingredients are such that the necessary quantities thereof required to produce the desired therapeutic results are too large to permit administration in a single dose. Furthermore, the ingredients are such that, if admixed in a single-portion dose, they interact in such a way as to adversely affect the stability of the formulation. Also, the formulation is administered in capsule form and, therefore, must normally be taken with water or some other fluid to facilitate swallowing.

Therapeutic composition and method of using same for treatment of hangover


A thin pipe connecting joint comprises: a joint body including retaining walls bent individually from the two end portions thereof, and an assembly hole extending through the axis thereof; and a pair of pipes including engagement walls formed at their end portions to be connected and adapted to be brought into abutment against each other, elastic seal ring members assembled on the individual back faces of the engagement walls, and a socket member inserted on the back of one of the elastic seal ring members and having a plurality of protruded tongue walls opened backward. When the engagement walls of the pipes are assembled in the assembly hole of the joint body, the other of the seal ring members is retained on the retaining wall at the same side, and the one of the seal ring members is pushed and held by the socket member so that the pipes are connected by retaining the tongue walls of the socket member on the retaining wall at one side of the joint body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pipe connecting joint and, more particularly, to a thin pipe connecting joint for connecting metal pipes or resin tubes (as will be shortly referred to as "pipes"), which are arranged for oil or air supply piping in automobiles or various machines or apparatus and which have a relatively small diameter of 20 mm or less.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The connecting joint of this type has already been proposed in the prior art by our Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 268190/1990. In the axial hole of a joint body 1, as shown in FIG. 13, there are fitted seal ring members 25 and bushing members 26 which are pushed into contact with the outer circumference of a first pipe P.sub.1 to be assembled into one end portion of a communication hole 24. At the same time, a socket member 22 having a pawl wall 22' to engage with an annular bulging wall P.sub.1 ' formed in the vicinity of the end portion of the pipe to be connected is retained on the circumference of the same side of a joint body 1. A second pipe P.sub.2 having an annular flanged wall P.sub.2 ' is assembled into other end portion. In this state, the end portion is caulked inward to hold the other seal ring member 25 and bushing member 26. and the second pipe P.sub.2 is held to move a predetermined distance in the axial direction through an internal space 23.
As a result, the joint body 21 can be easily moved the predetermined distance in the axial direction together with the second pipe P.sub.2 without any change in the relative positions of the two pipes so that the pipes can be easily connected in a narrow space. Moreover, the pipes can be connected while adjusting its arrangement length to reduce the troubles in the connecting operations. Still moreover, the components at the connected portions including the plated pipes can be used to improve the working efficiency because they need not be treated after the connecting operations. At the same time, the portions in the vicinity of the connected portions are satisfactorily freed from any degradation in the mechanical strength due to the cracking or breakage. In such prior art, however, the axial space 23 has to be held in the joint body 21 so as to ensure the aforementioned movement of the predetermined distance. This necessity generally elongates the joint body and increases the weight of the same. In these respects, the thin pipe connecting joint has been desired to improve.


A computer system operable as a virtual machine system capable of accessing multiple virtual address spaces, which has an access register translation means for translating a space identifier into an origin address of a table for address translation and a translation pair memory for storing translation pairs of the space identifiers and the associated origin addresses. In each entry of the translation pair memory, a field is provided in association with the translation pair, for storing a machine identifier of the guest virtual machine associated with the translation pair. When accessing a virtual address space, a guest virtual machine makes reference only to the associated translation pair based on the virtual machine identifier thereof.

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a data processing system in which a program being executed in a guest virtual computer accesses plural space operands concurrently, and more particularly to a method of accessing multiple virtual address spaces by means for storing translation pairs each consisting of a space identifier (hereinafter called "space iD") and a translation pair of an origin address.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in data processing systems employing virtual addressing in multiple virtual storage spaces, the range which can be designated by an instruction with a logical address obtained by using, for example, a general register is called "a virtual address space". From this virtual address space and a logical address, a real storage address is given by a computer system. The operation to obtain a real address from a virtual address space and a logical address is called "address translation". This address translation is performed, for every virtual address space, by using address translation tables (i.e., a segment table and a page table) predetermined by the computer system.
The address translation tables exist on a main storage, and its origin address (STO: Segment Table Origin address) is given for every virtual address space. Address translation from a logical address into a real address is performed by referring to the address translation tables by using the origin address STO.
Further, for determining an address space from multiple virtual address spaces, a space iD is designated by a base access register corresponding to a base register to be used in computing an operand logical address of an instruction, and the STO corresponding to this space iD can be obtained by means for referring to the tables provided in the computer system. This prior art is exemplified by Japanese Patent Publication No. 41379/1985 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,846.
For more advanced prior art, a method was proposed in which a translation pair of a space iD and STO are prestored in hardware when a base access register is used for memory accessing.
In this prior art, when an ordinary memory access instruction, e.g., an L (load) instructions is inputted in an instruction register, a base register is selected from the general registers, for calculating a logical address of an operand according to four bits of a base register number field, and at the same time, a base access register paired with the base register is selected, thereby determining STO. Specifically, using a space iD in the base access register, reference is made to a memory in which translation pairs of space iDs and STOs are stored, and an STO corresponding to the space iD of an operand is readout, whereupon the logical address of the operand is translated into a real address based on the STO to access a buffer storage or a main storage. If a desired translation pair consisting of the space iD and the STO is not stored in the translation pair memory, it is possible to obtain the STO by operating an access register translation table in the main storage by hardware (this is called "access register translation"). After this access register translation, a buffer storage or a main storage are accessed in the same manner as discussed above.
In such processing, when a translation table defining the translation of the space iD and the STO is altered, there is a possibility that a translating pair consisting of the space iD and the STO before the alteration could be stored in the translation pair memory. For this reason, there is prepared an instruction by which the translation pair stored in the translation pair memory is invalidated.
With the above-mentioned prior art, when a reference is made to a translation pair memory of space iDs and STOs by a given space iD during operation of a guest virtual computer in a virtual computer system, there is a possibility to read a translation pair, though with the same space iD, which was stored by a host or other guest virtual computer other than the guest virtual computer. If real address translation is performed with this STO, a wrong access to a buffer storage or a main storage would be carried out.
Consequently, at the start or termination of operation of the guest virtual computer, the host computer must issue an instruction for invalidating the whole translation pair memory or must exclusively allocate the space iD to the host computer and the individual guest virtual computers.
However, in the former method, the translation processes of space iDs to STOs are increased due to the invalidation of the translation pair memory, while in the latter method, the exclusive allocations of the space iD to be performed by the host computer would degrade the performance of the system. Further, when the instruction for invalidating the translation pair memory is issued during operation of the guest virtual computer, even the translation pairs stored by the host and other guest virtual computers would be invalidated. As a result, also in the host and other guest virtual computer, the translating process of the space iD to the STO would increase, thus degrading the performance.

Method of accessing multiple virtual address spaces and computer system


A line radiation preventing element absorbs undesired radio waves superposed upon a wire or a coaxial cable by use of a magnetic substance, instead of reflection of the undesired radio waves and without increasing the cost thereof. The line radiation preventing element for preventing undesired radio waves superposed upon a wire led out of an electronic appliance from being radiated, has a conductive core wire (2) connected to the wire (5) led out of the electronic appliance; a conductive outer pipe (1) arranged concentrically with the conductive core wire (2), one end of the conductive outer pipe being shorted to the conductive core wire by use of at least one of a shorting plate (3) or an electric capacitance (14) and the other end of the conductive outer pipe being opened; and a magnetic substance (7) arranged between the conductive core wire and an inner wall of the conductive outer pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line radiation preventing element for preventing undesired radio waves from being radiated from lines or wires, and more specifically to a line radiation preventing element for preventing undesired radio waves from being radiated from lines and simultaneously from entering to an electronic appliance from the outside thereof through lines. Here, the lines are power lines, signal input/output lines, control lines, etc. led out of a casing or a chassis of the electronic appliance. Further, the undesired radio waves are induced through the lines inside and/or outside the electronic appliance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a cable or a coaxial cable including power lines, signal input/output lines, control lines, etc. is led out of a casing or a chassis of an electronic appliance, since electromagnetic waves (referred to as radio waves, hereinafter) generated inside the casing are superposed upon these lines, the radio waves are transmitted to the outside of the casing through the lines and then radiated to the circumference. In contrast with this, undesired radio waves enter the electronic appliance through the lines as jamming (interfering) radio waves or noise.
The undesired radio waves radiated by one electronic appliance interfere with signals of the other appliances, so that the other appliances may be operated erroneously or subjected to ghost interference, for instance. As a result, the electric stability and the signal quality of the other appliances deteriorate.
Conventionally, in order to remove the interfering radio waves such as undesired radio waves or noise induced by and superposed upon the lines (e.g., the power line, input/output lines, control lines, connecting lines between two circuits, etc.) from the electronic appliance, various elements such as filters, capacitors, choke coils, ferrite beads, etc. have been connected in series to the line upon which interfering radio waves are superposed or between the line and the ground.
In the above-mentioned prior art method, since the line impedance changes to a high impedance value or a low impedance value (shorted) at frequency of the noise superposed upon the line, the interfering radio waves can be reflected from the high impedance element or bypassed to the ground through the low impedance element, with the result that undesired radio waves are prevented from being radiated to the outside or entering into the inside of the electronic appliance.
FIG. 14 shows an example of the prior art reflective interfering wave removing method, in which a first electronic appliance having no choke coil and a second electronic appliance having a choke coil are both connected to a common power source. As shown in FIG. 14, direct interfering radio waves superposed upon a power source line and additionally indirect interfering radio waves reflected from the second electronic appliance both enter the first electronic appliance. Therefore, when the phases of both the direct and indirect interfering radio waves match each other, there exists the case where the first electronic appliance is subjected to a strong interference, as compared when the second electronic appliance is not connected to the common power source. In addition to the above-mentioned radio interference, since the inductance of the choke coil connected to the second electronic appliance is reduced due to the presence of capacitances formed between the choke coil wires, there exists such a problem in that the reflection capability of noise deteriorates markedly in a high frequency range.
In the case of the ferrite beads used for the same object as with the case of the choke coil, there exists no problem with respect to the capacitance between wires, and further noise can be consumed as heat by use of a high ferrite resistance at high frequency. However, since the resistance is several tens ohms at the most, the resistance and the reflection capability are both not sufficient according to the line path. Further, there exists a possibility that the harmful influence of the re-radiation of interfering radio waves as shown in FIG. 14 occurs even in the case of ferrite beads.
Instead of the above-mentioned method such that the load side of the electronic appliance is opened to reflect interfering radio waves, there exists such another method that the load side of the electronic appliance is shorted to reflect interfering radio waves by use of a capacitance connected between the line and the ground. In this method, however, as far as the common power source is used, there arises the same problem as with the case of the choke coil, so that the interfering radio waves are re-radiated. Further, in this method, since the interfering radio waves are shorted to the ground, when circuits are connected to each other and then connected to a common ground line within the same one electronic appliance, there exists a problem in that the mutual interference occurs between these circuit through the common grounded line. In any cases, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art reflective line radiation preventing elements, the same problems as described above arise in the same circuit or between the two circuits of the same appliance or between the two different appliances, with the result that the circuit operation is not stabilized or ringing phenomenon occurs due to the undesired radio wave reflection along the lines within the circuits of the electronic appliance.
On the other hand, in all the electronic appliances and systems, undesired radio waves must be suppressed as small a level as possible. In case leakage or undesired radio waves are radiated from one electronic appliance, there exists a possibility in that the other appliances, facilities, navigation control systems, etc. may be subjected to the harmful influence of the radio interference. In particular, the erroneous operation of medical instruments and automatic control system causes serious results.
In addition, in the case of the recent electronic appliances, the erroneous operation must be prevented perfectly even when signals of extremely small level are processed, in spite of the fact that the size, weight and power thereof are all minimized. Therefore, the anti-noise characteristics or the resistance capability against interfering radio waves has become important more and more. In addition, there exist many chances that the electronic appliances are exposed to interfering radio waves radiated by other appliances or to strong electric fields of broadcasting waves, movable radio instrument waves, etc., the electronic appliance must be protected from these various radio waves.
Recently, the frequency handled by the electronic appliances has increased more and more with the advance of the operating speed of digital elements. Therefore, when the higher harmonics of the fundamental frequency thereof are considered, the frequency of the radio waves having a possibility of being subjected to the harmful influence of undesired radio waves is very high and the frequency range thereof is wide. Further, the interference degree is largely influenced by the gap formed in the casing or the chassis of the electronic appliance and the conditions of the coaxial cable, power supply lines, control lines, etc. led out of the casing or the chassis thereof. The various conditions of generating interfering radio waves as described above are one of the factors which make difficult the countermeasures for the electronic appliances against the interfering radio waves. However, since the power supply lines, signal input/output lines, etc. led to the inside of the electronic appliance must be protected from the interfering radio waves as perfectly as possible, these countermeasures are important.


A support stand includes a support member, a friction member, a first connecting bracket, and a second connecting bracket. The support member includes a base portion and two arched plates extending from an end of the base portion. The friction member is rotatably clamped by the arched plates. The first connecting bracket connected to a first end of the friction member. The second connecting bracket connected to a second end of the friction member opposite to the first end. The second connecting bracket is detachably attached to the first connecting bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to support stands and, particularly, to a support stand for a flat-panel display monitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A viewing angle of a display screen of a flat-panel display monitor can be adjusted by a support stand, so that users can view the display screen from different positions.
A typical support stand includes a monitor bracket, a hinge assembly, a support bracket, and a base member. The monitor bracket is attached to the flat-panel display monitor. The hinge assembly is connected to the monitor bracket and the support bracket. The support bracket is positioned on the base member. The hinge assembly includes a pivot shaft, a friction washer, a plurality of resilient washers, a rotary member rotatably sleeved on the shaft, and a fastening member. The rotary member and the shaft are fixed to the monitor bracket and the support bracket. The friction washer and the resilient washers are sleeved on the pivot shaft. The resilient washers create an axial force to push the friction washer to tightly resist the rotary member. The fastening member is fixed on an end of the pivot shaft to prevent the resilient washers and the friction washer from detaching from the pivot shaft. The monitor bracket together with rotary member may be positioned in any position relative to the shaft because of friction created between the friction washer and the rotary member.
However, the typical support stand includes many components, thus the cost of the typical support stand is relatively high. In addition, it is troublesome to assemble the support stand. Furthermore, over time, the friction causes abrasion of the engaging surfaces of the rotary member and the friction washer, resulting in little or no friction between the rotary member and the friction washer. Thus, the monitor bracket together with the rotary member would be incapable of remaining in any desired position. Therefore, the support stand has a relatively short usage life.
Therefore, a new support stand for a flat-panel display monitor is desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings.


A headgear device for assisting a user in performing bridge exercises to strengthen the muscles of the neck, and exercises performed using the device. The headgear outer surface has an area of low-friction material to allow the headgear to slide on an exercise surface while the user's head supports a portion of his body weight in the bridge position. This allows the user to introduce dynamic resistance into the exercise by moving around on the surface. One or more straps connectable to the user's arms and/or legs can be used to provide stability and/or resistance during the exercise. A friction pad adapted to be removably attached to the outer surface of the headgear can be used to provide resistance to the headgear sliding.

The neck is one of the body parts most susceptible to sports-related injuries. Strong, well-developed neck muscles can help protect an athlete's neck and spine against injury, especially in sports such as wrestling, martial arts, and other contact sports. One of the most common neck exercises is called the "wrestler's bridge." It is performed by an athlete lying on his back (supine) on an exercise surface such as a floor or exercise mat, then arching his back and placing the soles of his feet on the surface, while simultaneously supporting the weight of his body with his head, neck, and feet. This uses the weight of the athlete's body as resistance against the muscles of the neck. The wrestler's bridge may also be performed from a prone, or stomach-down, position using the head and feet or knees to support the body. Once in the bridge position, the athlete may change the resistance level and direction by rocking his hips, or by rolling his head in one direction or another to work the muscles of the neck. The bridge is a particularly effective and relatively safe exercise because it uses the athlete's own body weight as resistance, lowering the chance of injury while exercising, and because in the bridge position, the neck is forced to provide stability to the body, providing a more effective workout than that offered by a simple resistance motion in one direction.
There are various mechanical devices intended to assist an athlete in strengthening the neck muscles. These devices may use pulleys, collars, and external weights to apply resistance to the motion of the athlete's neck. Such devices are typically large, expensive, and often work the neck muscles in only one plane of motion. The use of external weights also increases the chance of injury through overexertion during the exercise. Because of this, such devices are typically not suitable for home use, and do not provide a complete workout for all the muscles in the neck. A need exists, therefore, for an easy-to-use and inexpensive device that allows a user to perform a complete workout on the muscles of the neck.


A honeycomb structure including porous partition walls, a porosity of the partition walls is from 45 to 70%, and when pores having the maximum width in excess of 10 μm in a cross section of each of the partition walls are large pores and the partition wall is equally divided into three regions of a center region and surface layer regions present on both sides of the center region, a total area of cross sections of the large pores which appear in the surface layer regions is from 60 to 100% of a total area of cross sections of all the pores which appear in the surface layer regions, and a total area of cross sections of the large pores which appear in the center region is from 0 to 40% of the total area of cross sections of all the pores which appear in the center region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a honeycomb structure onto which a catalyst for purification of an exhaust gas is loaded, a honeycomb catalyst body using this honeycomb structure, and a manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure.
2. Description of Related Art
An exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine such as an engine for a car includes harmful substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). When such harmful substances are decreased and the exhaust gas is purified, a catalyst reaction is broadly used. In this catalyst reaction, it is possible to realize generation of a harmless substance from a harmful substance such as carbon monoxide (CO) by simple means for bringing the exhaust gas into contact with a catalyst. Therefore, in the car or the like, the exhaust gas is usually purified by disposing the catalyst in the middle of an exhaust system of the exhaust gas from the engine.
To dispose the catalyst in the exhaust system of the car or the like, a honeycomb catalyst body is used in which the catalyst is loaded onto a honeycomb structure. In the honeycomb catalyst body, the honeycomb structure is formed by partition walls onto which the catalyst is loaded, and cells surrounded with the partition walls function as through channels of the exhaust gas. In such a honeycomb catalyst body, the exhaust gas is divided into small portions to flow into the plurality of cells, and in each cell, the divided small portion of the exhaust gas is brought into contact with the catalyst loaded onto the surface of the partition wall. Consequently, in the honeycomb catalyst body, by simultaneously treating the plurality of divided small portions of the exhaust gas, the exhaust gas can be treated with a high purification efficiency.
Furthermore, for the honeycomb catalyst body, a technology has been suggested in which a honeycomb structure is formed by porous partition walls having numerous pores, and a catalyst is also loaded onto inner wall surfaces of the pores of the partition walls (e.g., Patent Document 1). In this technology, the catalyst is loaded onto the inner wall surfaces of the pores to increase an amount of the catalyst to be loaded onto the honeycomb catalyst body. Furthermore, in this technology, an exhaust gas is allowed to flow into the pores of the partition walls to bring the exhaust gas into contact with the catalyst also in the pores, thereby further increasing a contact frequency between the exhaust gas and the catalyst.

Honeycomb structure, honeycomb catalyst body using the same, and manufacturing method of honeycomb structure


A pocket-size hand-held testing tool is provided for testing the operation of telephone lines and tracing the location of electric wires, including a sound signal channel with an output speaker, a dial tone detection circuit for detecting a dial tone on a telephone line, a probe for capacitively receiving a signal from a particular wire in a bundled wire cable to identify that wire as one to which a tracing signal is being applied at the other end of the cable, and a momentary switch normally connecting the dial tone detection circuit into communication with the sound signal channel but manually depressable to instead selectively switch the probe into communication with the sound signal channel while disconnecting the dial tone detection circuit from it.

The present invention relates to the field of electrical wire continuity testing and telephone dial tone detection.
The common analog telephone line consists of two wires, a TIP wire and a RING wire. After a phone line has been installed, or when a problem with communication through existing lines arises, the lines must be checked to ensure proper functionality or to locate the source of the problem. It is common in the industry for a lineman, after installation, to use a butt set (or butt-in set) to listen for dial tone in order to verify proper operation of the line and to report line status to the office.
A butt set is essentially a portable telephone that the lineman carries, usually at his side. It commonly has clip leads so that the lineman can clip to pins in a B-box or cross-box to verify operation of the line at that point outside a building.
In this age of telecommunications, linemen often simply install a group of telephone lines to a building while other workers route the lines within the building. In addition, businesses now have their own management information systems (MIS) personnel who maintain their own internal telephone lines, as well as other computer and electrical related lines. For example, it is now common for MIS personnel or network installers to route wire for computers which could include bundles of wires containing, among others, telephone fax lines, telephone modem lines, local area network lines, wide area network lines, and printer lines. It is imperative that these lines be functional and correctly routed.
To verify proper installation of the telephone line within a building, the installer or troubleshooter connects a conventional phone or butt set to the line to verify the presence of a "dial tone". As it is becoming common for lines to have modular type receptacle connectors within the building, a breakout adapter must be connected to the modular connector so that the clip leads from the butt set can be attached. As such, then it is necessary to carry both a modular breakout adaptor along with the conventional butt set to listen for dial tone.
Quite often, an installer or troubleshooter also wants to trace wires, check continuity, or simply distinguish wires in a bundle. When this is the case, additional equipment must be used. In accordance with a known practice, an alternating electrical signal (or "tone") placed upon a particular wire at some remote location can then be detected, making it possible to identify that wire, confirm its electrical continuity, and trace its physical location. A special signal generator, sometimes called a "warbler", is used on the remote end of the particular wire to impress a high frequency signal which in audio form is easily distinguished from the telephone dial tone. At the other end of the wire a tone probe or detector may be used to identify the wire which carries that signal. In the industry, "tone" commonly refers to the high frequency warbler sound, while "dial tone" refers to the standard telephone dial tone.
Since equipment is expensive and is generally personally carried by the installer or troubleshooter, he must decide which equipment to purchase and carry, and which to leave behind, based on cost, size, and functionality. For instance, a simple continuity checker may be used, even though a tone probe is preferred and more functionally suited, simply because of cost and size concerns. In addition, the time lost locating and switching equipment could be used more productively. Furthermore, unlike a lineman, computer system installers or troubleshooters neither require all the functions available in a butt set to successfully complete their task nor would they prefer to carry a butt set and modular breakout adaptor if a better equipment is available.
The present invention, therefore, is based upon our recognition that there is a need for a more cost efficient, easy to use, and easily portable alternative to existing equipment.

Listening device for tracing line continuity and detecting telephone dial tone