A non-flying land based training or testing vehicle with helicopter style main controls and capable of transporting at least one human operator. A preferred embodiment includes a chassis; ground contacting wheels supporting the chassis; a power-plant for driving a wheel and propelling the vehicle; at least one seat for the operator. The controls simulating helicopter controls are within reach of the operator and operatively connected with a computer and electric/hydraulic mechanisms (for example only) to provide similar effects as helicopter controls when manipulated. Such controls include a hand manipulable cyclic (joystick) providing an X-axis output for steering vehicle heading and a Y-axis output for determining forward or reverse travel; a lever style hand operated collective applying various loads to the power-plant to simulate changes in main-rotor blade pitch; and a grip for power-plant RPM manual manipulation by the operator for learning or practicing the maintenance of RPM under changing loads associated with various positions of the collective. Also included is a pair of foot pedals for making the rear wheels steer more than or less than the front wheels in a four wheel steering embodiment, and for simulating tail-rotor blade pitch or anti-torque control of a helicopter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to helicopter flight training, and more particularly to a non-flying vehicle capable of traveling on land and which includes helicopter style main controls for manipulation by a human operator.
2. Brief Description of the Related Prior Art
Clearly, in the prior art, there are many types of land vehicles capable of transporting at least the human operator.
Flying helicopters for transporting one or more humans exist in the prior art and include controls somewhat similar to those used in the present invention.
In the prior art there are helicopter flight simulators of numerous various arrangements, often computer aided and used with displays and costly motion platforms, for allowing flying practice and testing. Such simulators are not vehicles which transport the operator along the ground a substantial distance. There are also small flying helicopter models in the prior art which are remotely controlled.
The xe2x80x9cprior artxe2x80x9d book xe2x80x9cROTOR and WING INTERNATIONALxe2x80x9d HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS, by R. W. Prouty, Copyright 1985 by PJS Publications Inc. is hereim incorporated by reference in order to provide additional data related to helicopters and to expand the herein data related to the present invention. In the xe2x80x9cProutyxe2x80x9d book, the descriptions of the cyclic; the foot pedals; the collective; the throttle, i.e. the main controls manipulated by the pilot, and the requirement of the maintenance of proper engine RPM (revolutions per minute) are of particular relevance to the present invention.
Helicopter piloting is generally referred to as one of the most difficult and dangerous skills to learn. The complex, interactive nature of the controls makes it difficult to learn and impossible to master without extensive hours of demanding practice.
The four basic fundamental skill levels of helicopter flight are:
Stage 1xe2x80x94Learning control functions and basic coordination;
Stage 2xe2x80x94Learning dynamic flight control (compensating for external forces, wind etc.);
Stage 3xe2x80x94Environmental interaction (multi-craft maneuvers and formations);
Stage 4xe2x80x94In-flight communication (passengers, co-pilot, other vehicles, tower etc.).
More than other piloted vehicles, helicopter flight control is complex with proficiency achieved only through concentrated training and repetition. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of helicopter flight time/instruction and limited access to costly motion platform simulators, proficiency training is often compromised.
Furthermore, traditional helicopter flight instruction complicates the learning process by forcing the student pilot to learn multiple, fundamental skills simultaneously that can be learned more effectively if studied and practiced in a graduated series, i.e. one skill level or stage at a time.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration Office of Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Human Factors reports (Order 9550.8 Human Factors Policy) xe2x80x9cThe human factorxe2x80x9d has been widely recognized as critical to aviation safety and effectiveness. In the report titled xe2x80x9cSafe Skies for Tomorrow,xe2x80x9d the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) concluded that long-term improvements in aviation safety will come primarily from human factors solutions. Further the FAA""s emphasizing new and coordinated efforts in the area of human factors with NASA, DOD (Department of Defense), and a multitude of professional groups including the Air Transport Association Human Factors Task Force. Their objective is to identify cost-sensitive solutions to achieve performance enhancements including increased personnel efficiency and effectiveness, reduced operations and maintenance cost and enhanced aviation safety.
I am not aware of any prior art land based wheeled vehicle having helicopter style main controls, as with the present invention, for manipulation by a human operator riding in the vehicle. Further, I believe such a vehicle would be of substantial value in learning and practicing helicopter piloting.
The present invention is a non-flying land based wheeled vehicle with helicopter style main controls and capable of transporting at least one person. The helicopter style controls are provided on the present vehicle within reach of the operator and are positioned, structured and connected to provide similar feel and effects as helicopter controls when manipulated. The vehicle can be used for training a student to fly a helicopter; for a helicopter operator (pilot) to use in order to stay in practice or for testing proficiency, for example only.
The present vehicle in preferred embodiment includes, in addition to the helicopter style main controls, a frame or chassis; four ground contacting wheels supporting the chassis; a power-plant, i.e. engine or motor and transmission or the like supported on the chassis and connected for propelling the vehicle via rotating one or more of the wheels, and at least one seat for supporting a human. One preferred embodiment includes a seat for the student and a seat or seat space for an instructor or test giver (second person) so that at least two can ride in the traveling vehicle. This multiple person vehicle can, as shown in the herewith drawings, includes dual or duplicate helicopter styles controls allowing each person control input.
The controls simulating helicopter controls are provided on the present vehicle within reach of the seated operator and connected directly or indirectly (operatively) to the wheels, transmission, engine (power-plant) throttle and in a preferred embodiment to a computer or programable controller to provide similar effects as helicopter controls when manipulated.
Such helicopter style controls include a cyclic which is a joystick for simulating helicopter heading or direction of travel control which in the present preferred vehicle aims or steers the front wheels (preferably all wheels) and shifts the transmission between forward and reverse. Neutral can be in the center. The joystick (cyclic) on the present invention simulates the cyclic of a flying helicopter. Further included in the present preferred vehicle as a helicopter style control is a pair of foot operated pedals (foot pedals) for simulating helicopter anti-torque manipulation which can be increased or decreased via depression of the proper pedal to rotate the helicopter changing the nose heading, an aspect simulating tail-rotor blade pitch angle change in helicopters having a tail-rotor, or the air stream output angle in the Notar style helicopters, i.e., the type not having a conventional tail-rotor but instead blowing a stream of air to counter the torque effect of the rotating main rotor. In the present preferred vehicle, the opposing foot pedals selectively, depending upon the pedal pushed and the current position of the rear wheels, steer the rear wheels to positions of more than or less than the angles set by the cyclic and can be used as control interfaces to alter the nose or vehicle front end heading if the vehicle is traveling. The cyclic and the foot pedals can be viewed as first and second steering controls on the present vehicle. Also included in a preferred present vehicle is a pivotal collective lever or arm, as a helicopter style control, arranged to apply load or simulated load to the power-plant when raised, much like the collective of helicopter used to change the main rotor blade pitch angle to achieve lift, which due to the greater pitch, applies additional load to the engine (power-plant) requiring additional throttle in order to maintain RPM. In the present preferred vehicle, a hand throttle manipulable by the human operator is also provided preferably in a rotatable grip form, as a helicopter style control, so that the operator can practice maintaining engine RPM simultaneously while manipulating the collective which would also be manipulating power-plant RPM (first and second RPM manipulators). Some, but certainly not all flying helicopters have automatic RPM compensation for collective movement and thus do not include a hand manipulable throttle member, and while such would be within the scope of the invention, I prefer the hand input throttle or second throttle manipulation member so that the operator can practice the simultaneously manipulations of the collective and hand throttle, thereby learning to maintain RPM under varying loads applied to the engine (power-plant). Preferably the collective also actuates a wheel brake when pressed downward beyond a certain predetermined point so as to serve as a hand brake lever for stopping or slowing the vehicle by braking one or more of the wheels. Braking can also be used to simulate additional load applied to the power-plant requiring manual throttle input (increase) to maintain RPM.
The controls simulating helicopter controls are provided on the present vehicle within reach of the seated operator and connected directly or indirectly (operatively) as needed with mechanical, electromechanical, electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics and the like to achieve the desired end result to the wheels, transmission, engine (power-plant) and in a preferred embodiment to a computer or programable controller to provide similar feels and effects as helicopter controls when manipulated.
A primary object of the invention is to provide a land vehicle capable of transporting an operator over terrain and which includes helicopter style main controls useful to reduce the helicopter flight control training process down to its fundamental elements for providing an understanding of helicopter behavior, without risk, and facilitating efficient development of flight control skills at a relatively low cost.
The present helicopter flight training vehicle uniquely provides the appropriate challenge for student pilots at various learning stages or levels, facilitating an extremely effective self paced learning process. By reducing the training process down to additive fundamental skill development, students at all skill levels can practice and improve their proficiency and achieve the required level of instinctual response. Most importantly however, the present vehicle allows the inexperienced student pilot to safely reach a minimum proficiency level without leaving the ground. Additionally, the present helicopter flight training vehicle can be used for pilot skill testing and early identification of coordination challenges.
Further objects, advantages, uses and structural arrangements of the present invention should become apparent with continued reading and with a review of the included drawings.


A 2,4,6-tris-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-[1,3,5]triazine esterified with two or three arylsulfonic acids or heteroarylsulfonic acids is useful to prepare a positive-working radiation-sensitive mixture which is distinguished by a high resolution and a high sensitivity over a wide spectral range. It also shows high thermal stability and does not form corrosive photolysis products on exposure. A radiation-sensitive recording material which is produced from these esters is suitable for producing photoresists, electronic components, printing plates or for chemical milling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sulfonic acid esters of 2,4,6-tris-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-[1,3,5]triazine and to a positive-working radiation-sensitive mixture, containing
a) as a compound which generates a strong acid under the action of actinic radiation, the sulfonic acid ester PA1 b) a compound having at least one acid-cleavable C--O--C or C--O--Si bond and PA1 c) a polymeric binder which is insoluble in water and soluble or at least swellable in aqueous alkaline solutions. PA1 a) compounds having at least one orthocarboxylic acid ester group and/or carboxylic acid amide-acetal group; these compounds also have a polymeric character and it is possible for the said groups to occur in the main chain or in side chains of the polymer (see DE-A 2,610,842 and 2,928,636), PA1 b) oligomeric or polymeric compounds with recurring acetal and/or ketal groups in the main chain (see DE-A 2,306,248 and 2,718,254), PA1 c) compounds having at least one enol ether group or N-acyliminocarbonate group (see EP-A 0,006,626 and 0,006,627), PA1 d) cyclic acetals or ketals of .beta.-keto esters or .beta.-keto amides (see EP-A 0,202,196), PA1 e) compounds having silyl ether groups (see DE-A 3,544,165 and 3,601,264), PA1 f) compounds having silylenol ether groups (see DE-A 3,730,785 and 3,730,783), PA1 g) monoacetals and monoketals of aldehydes and ketones respectively, having a solubility in the developer between 0.1 and 100 g/l (see DE-A 3,730,787), PA1 h) ethers based on tertiary alcohols (U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,101) and PA1 i) carboxylic acid esters and carbonates whose alcohol component is a tertiary alcohol, an allyl alcohol or a benzyl alcohol (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,628 and J. M. Frechet et al., J. Imaging Sci. 30, 59-64 (1986)).
The invention also relates to a radiation-sensitive recording material which is produced from these radiation sensitive mixtures and which is suitable for producing photoresists, electronic components, printing plates or for chemical milling.
2. Description of Related Art
Continuing reduction in the size of the structures, for example down into the range of less than 1 .mu.m in chip manufacture, requires modified lithographic techniques. To form images of such fine structures, radiation of a short wavelength is used, such as high-energy UV light, electron beams and X-rays. The radiation-sensitive mixture must be adapted to short-wave radiation. A compilation of the requirements to be met by the radiation-sensitive mixture is given in the article by C. G. Willson "Organic Resist Materials - Theory and Chemistry" [Introduction to Microlithography, Theory, Materials, and Processing, editors L. F. Thompson, C. G. Willson, M. J. Bowden, ACS Symp. Ser., 219, 87 (1983), American Chemical Society, Washington].
There is therefore an increased demand for radiation-sensitive mixtures which can be used in the more recent technologies, such as mid-UV or deep-UV lithography [exposure, for example, with excimer lasers at wavelengths of 305 nm (XeF), 248 nm (KrF), 193 nm (ArF)], electron beam lithography or X-ray lithography, and which, furthermore, are preferably sensitive in a wide spectral region and correspondingly can also be used in conventional UV lithography.
Mixtures which, in addition to a binder insoluble in water and soluble or at least swellable in aqueous alkaline solutions and a component generating a strong acid under the action of actinic radiation, contain an acid-cleavable compound having, for example, C--O--C or C--O--Si bonds are described, for example, in DE-A 2,306,248 equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,778.
Compounds which generate a strong acid on irradiation, especially onium salts, such as diazonium, phosphonium, sulfonium and iodonium salts of non-nucleophilic acids such as HSbF.sub.6, HAsF.sub.6 or HPF.sub.6 as described by J. V. Crivello, Polym. Eng. Sci., 23 (1983) 953 have hitherto been used. In addition, halogen compounds, especially trichloromethyltriazine derivatives or trichloromethyloxadiazole derivatives, o-quinonediazidesulfonyl chlorides, o-quinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid esters, organometal/organohalogen combinations, bis(sulfonyl)diazomethanes, sulfonylcarbonyldiazomethanes (see DE-A 3,930,087) or nitrobenzyl tosylates (see F. M. Houlihan et al., SPIE Proc., Adv. in Resist Techn. and Proc. 920 (1988) 67) have been recommended.
These compounds are used in negative- or positive-working radiation-sensitive mixtures. The use of such photolytic acid generators involves, however, certain disadvantages which drastically restrict the possible uses thereof in various fields of application. For example, many of the onium salts are toxic, and their solubility is inadequate in many solvents, which is why only a few solvents are suitable for preparing a coating solution. Furthermore, when the onium salts are used undesired foreign atoms are sometimes introduced which can cause interference with the process, especially in microlithography. Moreover, the onium salts form Bronstedt acids, which have a very severe corrosive action in the photolysis. These acids attack sensitive substrates, so that the use of such mixtures leads to unsatisfactory results. The halogen compounds and also the quinonediazidesulfonic acid chlorides also form hydrohalic acids which have a severely corrosive action. In addition, such compounds also have only a limited storage life on certain substrates. This was improved by inserting an interlayer between the substrate and the radiation-sensitive layer containing compounds of the type (a), but this led to an undesired increase in defects and to diminished reproducibility, see DE-A 3,621,376 equivalent U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,867.
In more recent papers by F. M. Houlihan et al., SPIE 920, 67 (1988), it was shown by reference to positive-working systems that, in addition to the above-mentioned acid generators, nitrobenzyl tosylates, which on exposure also generate sulfonic acids having a low migration tendency, can be used in certain acid-unstable resist formulations. It can be deduced from these results that such compounds can also be used for photo-curable systems. However, the sensitivities thus achieved and the thermal stability of the photoresists proved to be inadequate.
Resist formulations with naphthoquinone-2-diazide-4-sulfonic acid esters, oximesulfonates, 1,2-disulfones, bis-sulfonyldiazomethane (see DE-A 3,930,086) and sulfonylcarbonyldiazomethane (see DE-A 3,930,087) have also been described. Under the action of actinic radiation, all these compounds form sulfonic acids which do not have a corrosive action. However, the photochemical reaction proceeds with an unsatisfactory quantum yield. The resist formulations absorb radiation of wavelength 248 nm to a considerable degree. The sensitivity to radiation of this wavelength is in the range from 50 to 100 mJ/cm.sup.2. Images of structures having an order of magnitude of 0.5 .mu.m and less cannot be formed by means of such resists.
It is also known from T. Ueno et al., Chemical Amplification Positive Resist Systems Using Novel Sulfonates as Acid Generators, in "Polymers for Microelectronics - Science and Technology", edited by Y. Tabata et al., Kodansha-Weinheim-New York, 1989, pages 66-67 to use 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene fully esterified with methane-, ethane-, propane-, butane-, benzene-, toluene- or naphthalene-sulfonic acid as a photo-active acid generator in positive-working photoresist systems. However, these resist systems are not used in practice, since their thermal stability and plasma-etching resistance are inadequate and, after development, resist remnants in the grooves and unacceptable resist profiles are observed.
In spite of the intensive research activity so far carried out in this field, no radiation-sensitive mixture is at present known, by means of which a positive-working radiation-sensitive recording material can be produced which has a high sensitivity in the DUV region (200 to 300 nm) and high resolution, and which releases, even on short-time irradiation, a sufficient quantity of an acid which does not have a corrosive action and is strong enough to cleave compounds of type b), and which, in addition, can be developed in aqueous alkaline media.

Positive-working radiation sensitive mixture comprising sulfonic acid esters of 2,4,6-tris-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-[1,3,5]triazine, and recording material containing these esters


In an embodiment, a porous composite particulate material includes a plurality of composite particles. Each composite particle includes an acid-base-resistant core particle at least partially surrounded by one or more layers of acid-base-resistant shell particles. The shell particles are adhered to the core particle by a polymeric layer. The shell particles and/or core particles may be made from an acid-base-resistant material that is stable in harsh chemical conditions. For example, the shell particles and/or core particles may be made from diamond, graphitic carbon, silicon carbide, boron nitride, tungsten carbide, niobium carbide, zirconia, noble metals, acid-base stable highly cross-linked polymers, acid-base stable at least partially cross-linked polymers, titania, alumina, thoria combinations of the foregoing, or other acid-base-resistant materials. The porous composite particulate materials disclosed herein and related methods and devices may be used in separation technologies, including, but not limited to, chromatography and solid phase extraction.

Chromatography and solid-phase extraction ("SPE") are commonly-used separation techniques employed in a variety of analytical chemistry and biochemistry environments. Chromatography and SPE are often used for separation, extraction, and analysis of various constituents, or fractions, of a sample of interest. Chromatography and SPE may also be used for the preparation, purification, concentration, and clean-up of samples.
Chromatography and SPE relate to any of a variety of techniques used to separate complex mixtures based on differential affinities of components of a sample carried by a mobile phase with which the sample flows, and a stationary phase through which the sample passes. Typically, chromatography and SPE involve the use of a stationary phase that includes an adsorbent packed into a cartridge or column. A commonly-used stationary phase includes a silica-gel-based sorbent material.
Mobile phases are often solvent-based liquids, although gas chromatography typically employs a gaseous mobile phases. Liquid mobile phases may vary significantly in their compositions depending on various characteristics of the sample being analyzed and on the various components sought to be extracted and/or analyzed in the sample. For example, liquid mobile phases may vary significantly in pH and solvent properties. Additionally, liquid mobile phases may vary in their compositions depending on the characteristics of the stationary phase that is being employed. Often, several different mobile phases are employed during a given chromatography or SPE procedure. Stationary phase materials may also exhibit poor stability characteristics in the presence of various mobile phase compositions and/or complex mixtures for which separation is desired. The poor stability characteristics of stationary phase materials in some mobile phases and complex mixtures, in some cases, may even preclude the possibility of using chromatography or SPE to perform the desired separation.

Porous composite particulate materials, methods of making and using same, and related apparatuses


The method of regulating a voltage produced by a generator with a voltage regulator according to a battery charge state includes providing a controller containing a clock and a memory able to store battery and power supply reference data, battery voltage and generator rotation speed; maintaining a regulated voltage produced by the generator at a normal value (U.sub.R) during a first time interval (t1); measuring a battery voltage (U.sub.B) and decreasing the regulated voltage (U.sub.R) during a second time interval (t2); determining the battery charge state from the measured battery voltage (U.sub.B) according to the stored battery- and power supply-reference data; and, when the battery charge state is determined to be unsatisfactory, determining an additional time interval (t4) with the controller and an amount of increase of the regulated voltage (U.sub.R) sufficient to obtain a satisfactory battery charge state during the additional time interval (t4) without damaging the voltage sensitive components of the voltage regulator; and increasing the regulated voltage above the normal value (U.sub.R) by the thus determined amount and turning on no voltage-critical consuming device during the additional time interval (t4). A voltage regulator including the controller is also described.

The present invention is based on a method and apparatus for voltage regulation depending on the charge state of a battery, especially for regulation of a voltage produced by a generator, which charges the battery and supplies consuming devices.
Methods and devices for controlling the voltage produced by a generator, which is required for charging a battery and supplying consuming devices, are known.
The charge of a battery in a motor vehicle can decrease to an undesirably low value, because of critical vehicle conditions, particularly when the vehicle has a low speed and simultaneously the connected consuming devices are consuming a high power. For reliable voltage regulation it is necessary to detect and consider the power supply load and the actual charge of the battery. It is also necessary to determine the charge on the battery in different time intervals as is set forth, for example, in German Published Patent Application 32 43 075. The battery can be separated from the power supply for a short time by an electronic controller and connected with a test resistor. The voltage, which exists between the battery terminals, can be used as a measure of the charge of the battery considering the battery temperature. If it is determined that the charge state of the battery is under a certain permitted value, suitable measures can be taken, for example, the rotational speed of the engine can be increased or the consuming device load can be reduced so that the charge state can improved during the following vehicle time.
It is disadvantageous that the battery be separated from the power supply net during the regulation of the voltage from the generator. Furthermore, if it is so disconnected, no information can be obtained on the size of the power supply network load.

Method and apparatus for voltage regulation depending on battery charge


Disclosed are interposer electrical connector embodiments including magnetic components used to facilitate interconnection of peripheral devices to standard input/output, or “I/O”, connectors (such as USB connectors) of devices such as mobile communications products (e.g. smart phones, tablets, and personal computers). The interposer connector embodiments disclosed include those in which a plurality of discrete permanent magnets are arranged with magnetic poles aligned in the same orientation perpendicular to and on one side of the electrical interface. Other embodiments include a plurality of bar permanent magnets located on opposite sides of the interface with all poles of the same type directed at the interface, but each one opposing a ferromagnetic element. These arrangements provide self-aligning capabilities useful for electrical connections that have restrictions on visibility or connection approach geometries. Other embodiments have a single magnet per mated connector pair and magnetic pole pieces and/or actuators to concentrate magnetic flux providing the magnetic attractive force for a plurality of electrical connections.

Field of the Invention
This disclosure deals with electrical connections between electronic devices in which electrical continuity is maintained through magnetic attraction.
Description of Related Art
There are many kinds of electrical connectors that are used to provide electrical signal and electrical power from one device to another. Many conventional reversible connectors depend upon overcoming a mechanical force during the mating process in order to provide a residual biasing force between the electrical contacts. Other zero-insertion-force or ZIF connectors, such as those for flat cables (as expected by the name) allow cable contacts to easily slip into position. However, a mechanical force still needs to be applied to create or release contact pressure after the insertion phase. Typically, in order to mate one electrical connector to another device, the two connectors must be oriented within a small range of angles and directed along a mating path within a certain displacement tolerance range. It is fairly easy to connect a USB connector to a mobile phone jack when the male and female members can be observed. This can be difficult in applications in which connectors are hidden in a cavity, such as a protective case for the electronic device. Guiding ramps and floating mechanical assemblies have been employed to ease these difficulties, but this usually increases the size or cost of the assembly.
Some connectors have arrays of fragile pins that can be damaged if not properly aligned, or spring contacts that relax overtime and become less reliable through use.
While some systems attempt to address one or more of these problems, a need still exists for an electrical connector solution that provides a robust electrical and mechanical attachment using magnetic materials. This disclosure is directed at addressing one or more of these difficulties. Other goals of some embodiments are to provide protection of the standard device I/O connector; to provide breakaway capability of attached devices, to facilitate installation of devices into protective cases and to provide a system for providing an adapter to provide device attachment flexibility.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrical connector system with ferromagnetic actuators


A recording/producing device for writing data on a recording medium, or reading data from the recording medium, wherein data matching a recording pattern so specified as to include a plurality of mutually different sets of mark lengths and space lengths is written on the recording medium, and the data is then read to generate data signals. An edge shift detector uses data signals to measure the edge shift amount of a mark formed on a recording medium for each set of a mark length and a space length. A record controller sets a recording parameter for each set of a mark length and a space length based on the measured edge shift amount.

Currently, a recording/reproducing device for recording digital information (data) on a portable recoding medium such as an optical disk or magneto-optical disk, and reproducing digital information from the recording medium is widely used. In a recording/reproducing device for recording information in a DVD-RAM using laser beams, for example, a plurality of marks and spaces having different lengths are formed on an optical disk according to data to be recorded. The marks and spaces formed on the optical disk are read using laser beams, whereby the data is reproduced.
However, even when data is written using laser beams having the same laser power or pulse waveform, shapes of marks formed on the recording medium may vary due to individual differences between devices and between recording media. If the shape of the mark is deviated from a desired shape, the waveform of a read reproduction signal is deviated from an original waveform, resulting in degradation of reproduction quality. Thus, the recording/reproducing device has a problem such that the quality of a reproduction signal when data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced may significantly vary depending on the device or the recording medium.
For preventing such deterioration in reliability of the reproduction signal, test recording is conducted in loading a recording medium in the recording/reproducing device or in doing other operations. Specifically, predetermined data is recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium, and this recorded data is reproduced to check signal quality. Based on the results, the recording/reproducing device optimizes the characteristics of a reproduction system, and optimizes a parameter for recording (recording parameter).
It is to be noted that, in this specification, the recording parameter means, in a broad sense, a parameter specifying a recording operation of the device, capable of changing the shape of a mark formed on the recording medium. Typically, the recording parameter is a parameter specifying the waveform of a recording pulse that is used when an optical disk or the like is irradiated with a laser beam (e.g. pulse width, pulse edge position, etc.).
Particularly, in a recording medium in which information is recorded by heat resulting from irradiation of a laser beam such as an optical disk, a mark having an undesired shape (i.e. mark shifted in edge position) is easily formed due to heat interference. The degree of the heat interference varies depending on the pattern of marks and spaces formed on the recording medium. Therefore, if such a recoding medium is used, an optimum parameter is preferably set according to the above pattern.
In test recording, the quality of the reproduction signal is determined based on, for example, jitter (swing of reproduction signal along the direction of the time axis). FIG. 1 shows a conventional optical disk drive 900 optimizing the characteristics of the reproduction system or the recording parameter so that the jitter of the reproduction signal is minimized.
The optical disk drive 900 has an optical head 2 for writing information on an optical disk 1 or reading information from the optical disk 1. When data is read, reflection of light irradiated onto the optical disk 1 (reflected light) is converted into a reproduction signal matching the recorded data in the optical head 2.
The reproduction signal is waveform-shaped by a waveform equalizer 3, and then binarized by a comparator 4. The threshold (slice level) of this comparator 4 is feedback-controlled by an integration circuit or the like (not shown) so that the integral of a binarized output from the comparator 4 equals 0. This is because a recording method such that the integral of a reproduction signal equals 0 is usually employed, and undesired variations in the reproduction signal caused by external factors (e.g. variations in reflectivity of the recording medium, etc.) are inhibited taking advantage of the fact that the reproduction signal ideally has no direct current components (i.e. DC free).
Then, in a phase comparator 5, a phase difference between the binarized output from the comparator 4 and a reproduction clock signal is measured. The reproduction clock signal is extracted from clock information included in a reproduction signal by a PLL (phase locked loop) circuit. More specifically, the phase difference detected in the phase comparator 5 is averaged by an LPF (low-pass filter) 6, and this is used as a control voltage of a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) 7. At this time, the oscillation frequency of the VCO 7 and the phase of the outputted signal are feedback-controlled so that the cumulative amount of the phase difference outputted from the phase comparator 5 equals 0. Consequently, a reproduction clock signal synchronized with the reproduction signal is outputted from the VCO 7.
However, even when a reproduction clock signal generated using the PLL circuit, there arises a phase difference between the binarized signal and the reproduction clock signal if an undesired deviation (shift) exists in the edge of a formed mark, and the length of the mark is not ideal length. In the optical disk drive 900, the jitter of the reproduction signal is measured based on this phase difference. The operation for correcting the recording parameter in the optical disk drive 900 will be more specifically described below.
First, a record compensation circuit 9 generates a recording pulse signal according to an initialized recording parameter and a predetermined recording pattern outputted from a pattern generation circuit 8. Using this recording pulse signal, a laser drive circuit 10 records data matching the predetermined recording pattern on the optical disk 1.
Then, a track on the optical disk 1 in which the data is recorded is read. At this time, a difference detection circuit 11 receives from the phase difference comparator 5 a phase difference between the output of the comparator 4 (binarized signal) and the output of the VCO 7 (reproduction clock signal), and integrates the absolute value of the phase difference. In this way, the difference detection circuit 11 integrates the absolute value of the phase difference to measure a value (jitter amount) having a correlation with the jitter, and outputs the value.
The reason why the absolute value of the phase difference is integrated in this way is that the jitter represents a degree of spread of deviation (variation) in the reproduction signal. Thus, for obtaining a value having a correlation with the jitter, a phase difference should be added while ignoring signs (polarity).
Based on the jitter amount obtained in this way, the optical disk drive 900 can determine whether the recording parameter used is appropriate or not. A large jitter amount detected means that the recording parameter is not appropriate.
In addition, for optimizing the recording parameter, the optical disk drive 900 repeats the above described operation while changing the value thereof. Consequently, a jitter amount matching each recording parameter is detected. Among these parameters, a recording parameter allowing the jitter amount to be minimized is selected to optimize the recording parameter.
The procedure for optimizing the recording parameter based on measurement of the jitter of the reproduction signal will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. A procedure will be described as an example below in which by carrying out test recording using a recording pattern specified by a 6T space, a 4T mark, a 6T space and a 8T mark, a recording parameter specifying the position of an edge behind the 4T mark (hereinafter referred to as a trailing edge) is optimized. It is to be noted that, in this specification, if the polarity inversion period (pulse width) of a recording pattern matching a mark or space formed on the recording medium is mT (m is an integer of 1 or greater, and T is a clock period), the mark or space may be referred to as an mT mark or mT space. In addition, because the above polarity inversion period mT corresponds to the length of the mark or space, the length of the mark and the length of the space may be expressed by mT in this specification.
In the optical disk 1, a shift in mark edge by heat interference is hard to occur if a long mark and space of 6T or greater is continuously formed, and for the set of a long mark and space of 6T or greater, an optimum recording parameter common in each set is already set. Specifically, in this example, recording is performed with an optimum recording parameter for a mark leading edge in the 6T space and 8T mark, or mark trailing edge in the 8T mark and 6T space.
When a periodic NRZI (non-return to zero inverted) signal (recording pattern) shown in FIG. 2(a) is given from the pattern generation circuit 8, and a predetermined recording parameter is given from an optical disk controller 12, then the record compensation circuit 9 generates, for example, a laser driving signal (recording pulse signal) as shown in FIG. 2(b). Here, the Tsfp shown in FIG. 2(b) is a recording parameter determining a position of an edge ahead of a mark (hereinafter referred to as leading edge), and the Telp is a recording parameter determining a position of a mark trailing edge. A recording pulse signal is generated based on such recording parameters.
By irradiating the optical disk 1 with a laser beam according to the recording pulse signal generated in this way, a mark is physically formed on the optical disk 1 as shown in FIG. 2(c). In the optical disk 1 using a phase change medium layer as a recording layer, this mark is formed as an amorphous area in a recording layer.
Here, consider the case where the value of Telp as a recording parameter determining the position of the trailing edge of the 4T mark is changed to Telp 1, Telp 2 and Telp 3, respectively. Furthermore, Telp 1, Telp2 and Telp 3 each correspond a width of last pulse of multi pulses for writing a 4T mark, and meet the relation of Telp 1<Telp 2<Telp 3. In addition, Telp 2 is an optimum recording parameter allowing the mark to have a desired shape. In the case where the recording parameter Telp is changed to Telp 1, Telp 2 and Telp 3 in this way, the shape of the 4T mark formed on the optical disk (position of mark trailing edge) is changed as shown in FIG. 2(c).
If the recording parameter Telp is set to an optimum value Telp 2, a reproduction signal denoted by the solid line in FIG. 2(d-1) is obtained. Furthermore, in FIG. 2(d-1), the dashed line denotes a reproduction signal when Telp is set to Telp 1 or Telp 3.
When the reproduction signal denoted by the solid line in FIG. 2(d-1) is obtained as described above, and then the threshold Th1 of the comparator 4 is set based on the reproduction signal so that the integral of the binarized output equals 0. Binarization is performed using the threshold Th1 set in this way, whereby a binarized signal is obtained. Furthermore, a phase difference between the binarized signal outputted from the comparator 4 and the reproduction signal is detected in the phase comparator 5, and the reproduction clock signal is feedback-controlled so that the integral of the detected phase difference equals 0. In this way, the reproduction clock signal shown in FIG. 2(e-1) is generated.
On the other hand, if the recording parameter Telp is set to Telp 1 being a value smaller than the optimum value Telp 2, the reproduction signal denoted by the solid line in FIG. 2(d-2) is obtained. In this case, the edge position of the 4T mark trailing edge is shifted in the direction of the time axis, and therefore the threshold Th2 of the comparator 4 is higher than the level Th1 shown in FIG. 2(d-1) as shown in FIG. 2(d-2). Consequently, the binarized signal outputted from the comparator 4 is changed. In addition, the reproduction clock signal generated so that the integral of the phase difference between itself and the binarized signal is more advanced in shift than the clock signal shown in FIG. 2(e-1) as shown in FIG. 2(e-2).
Conversely, if the recording parameter Telp is set to telp3 being a value larger than the optimum value Telp 2, the reproduction signal denoted by the solid line in FIG. 2(d-3) is obtained. In this case, the edge position of the 4T mark trailing edge is shifted in the direction of the time axis, and therefore the threshold Th3 of the comparator 4 is lower than the level Th1 shown in FIG. 2(d-1) as shown in FIG. 2(d-3). Consequently, the binarized signal outputted from the comparator 4 is changed. In addition, the reproduction clock signal generated so that the integral of the phase difference between itself and the binarized signal is less advanced in shift than the clock signal shown in FIG. 2(e-1) as shown in FIG. 2(e-3).
Here, when a shift in time or phase difference (so called inter-data clock jitter) between the reproduction signal (here binarized signal outputted from comparator) and the reproduction clock signal in the mark trailing edge (rise edge of reproduced binarized signal) is measured, distributions shown in FIGS. 3(f1) to 3(f3) are obtained when the recording parameter Telp is set to Telp 1 to Telp 3, respectively. Furthermore, a curve showing a distribution of the phase difference related to the 4T mark trailing edge and a curve showing a distribution of the phase difference related to the 8T mark trailing edge are shown in each of FIGS. 3(f1) to 3(f3). In addition, the variation in the 4T mark trailing edge and the variation in the 8T mark trailing edge are assumed to have normal distributions of the same distributed values.
FIG. 3(f-2) shows the recording parameter Telp being set to an appropriate value Telp 2. In this case, the distribution of the phase difference between the rise edge of the reproduction signal representing the 4T mark trailing edge and the reproduction clock is a normal distribution with 0 at a center, and the average value of this phase difference equals 0. Also, the distribution of the phase difference between the rise edge of the reproduction signal representing the 8T mark trailing edge and the reproduction clock is a normal distribution with 0 at a center, and the average value of this phase difference equals 0. That is, the both distribution curves are formed in such a manner that one is superimposed on another. In this way, if the recording parameter specifying the position of the trailing edge of the 4T mark is appropriate, the total jitter of the reproduction signal is minimized.
However, if the recording parameter Telp is Telp1 (value smaller than the optimum value Telp 2), the phase of the reproduction clock signal is shifted compared to the phase shown in FIG. 2(e-1) as shown in FIG. 2(e-2), and therefore neither the average value of the phase difference related to the 4T mark trailing edge nor the average value of the phase difference related to the 8T mark trailing edge equals 0 as shown in FIG. 3(f-1). Each of the distributions of these phase differences is not overlapped on another, and is a normal distribution having a center at the same distance from 0. That is, the phase of the reproduction clock is changed due to the shift in the 4T mark trailing edge, and therefore the average of the phase difference (peak of distribution curve) in either the signal matching the 4T mark or the signal matching the 8T mark recorded with an essentially appropriate recording parameter no longer equals 0. As a result, compared to the case of FIG. 3(f-2), the degree of deviation of the reproduction signal from the clock signal increases as a whole, and thus the jitter of the reproduction signal is increased.
Similarly, if the recording parameter Telp is Telp 3 (value larger than the optimum vale Telp 2), neither the average value of the phase difference related to the 4T mark trailing edge nor the average value of the phase difference related to the 8T mark trailing edge equals 0 as shown in FIG. 3(f-3). Each of the distributions of these phase differences is not superimposed on another, and is a normal distribution having a center at the same distance from 0. Furthermore, two distribution curves shown in FIG. 3(f-3) and two distribution curves shown in FIG. 3(f-1) are different in that the distribution for the 4T mark trailing edge and the distribution for the 8T mark trailing edge change their places. In this case, the spread of deviation of the reproduction signal from the clock signal increases compared to FIG. 3(f-2), and thus the overall jitter of the reproduction signal is increased.
For inhibiting the increase in jitter, the optical disk drive 900 shown in FIG. 1 accumulates the absolute value of the phase difference between the reproduction signal and the clock signal to determine a value having a correlation with the jitter, and selects a recording parameter so that the value is minimized. FIG. 3(g) is a graph showing a relation between the set recording parameter Telp and the jitter amount outputted from the difference detection circuit 11 (i.e. cumulative absolute value of phase difference). As apparent from this graph, the jitter amount outputted from the difference detection circuit 11 is minimized when the recording parameter Telp is Telp 2. The optical disk drive 900 changes the recording parameter Telp to write predetermined data for finding out such an optimum recording parameter Telp 2.
Although the procedure for optimizing the recording parameter Telp for the 4T mark trailing edge has been described in the above example, a recording pattern same as that described above (i.e. repeated pattern of 6T space, 4T mark, 6T space and 8T mark) can be used to determine an optimum value for a recording parameter Tsfp specifying a 4T mark leading edge, as well.
Furthermore, for marks of lengths other than those described above, an optimum recording parameter is determined using a similar procedure. In this case, however, test recording is carried out using a specific recording pattern matching each set of mark lengths and space lengths. For example, using a recording pattern formed by repetition of a 6T space, a 3T mark, a 6T space and a 9T mark, a recording parameter related to the 3T mark trailing edge in the set of the 3T mark and 6T space, and a recording parameter related to the 3T mark leading edge in the set of the 6T space and 3T mark are optimized.
The recording parameter set for each set of a mark length and a space length will be more specifically described below.
In the optical disk device, the polarity inversion period of a recording signal is limited to a predetermined period according to a code demodulating system or the like. That is, the lengths of marks and spaces formed on the recording medium are limited to within a predetermined range. For example, if 8/16 modulation is employed as a code modulating system, data to be recorded is represented by a recording pattern having an inversion period of 3T to 11T that is an integral multiple of a clock period T, and an SYNC code recorded for detection of synchronization is represented by a recording pattern having an inversion period of 14T. Based on this recording pattern, a mark or space having a length corresponding to the inversion period of 3T to 11T or 14T is formed on the recording medium. In this specification, this is expressed such that a mark or space having a length of 3T to 11T or 14T is formed.
Here, the minimum polarity inversion interval of a recording data signal is mT, and the maximum polarity inversion interval is nT (m and n are each an integer of 1 or greater). In this case, the lengths of a formed mark and space are expressed by mT to nT. Furthermore, the value of m (or n) may be different for the mark and the space, but the same value is adopted for both cases here.
In this case, the position of the leading edge of a mark formed on the recording medium can be changed depending on the length of the space just before the mark and the length of the mark itself. Therefore, the recording parameter Tsfp specifying the position of the leading edge is set for each set of the length mT to nT of the space just before the mark and the length mT to nT of the mark itself. In addition, the recording parameter Telp related to the mark terminal position is set for each set of the length mT to nT of the mark itself and the length mT to nT of the space just after the mark.
As described above, however, an edge shift of a mark is hard to occur in a set of a relatively long mark and a relatively long space. Thus, it is not necessary to specify a recording parameter for each set for a set of a mark and a space each having a predetermined length or greater. The predetermined length of the mark is (m+a)T, and the predetermined length of the space is (m+b)T (a and b are each an integer of 0 to n-1). In this case, the position of the leading edge of a mark formed on the recording medium can be changed depending on the set of the width mT˜(m+b)T of the space just before the mark and the length mT˜(m+a)T of the mark itself. In addition, the position of the trailing edge of a mark formed on the recording medium can be changed depending on the set of the length mT to (m+a)T of the mark itself and the width mT to (m+b)T of the space just after the mark.
Thus, the recording parameter is preferably specified for each set of one of a different mark lengths, one of b different space lengths, and one of the mark leading edge and mark trailing edge (each of a×b×2 sets).
If m=3 and a=b=3 hold, then 32 different recording parameters are specified as shown in Table 1 (recording parameter Tsfp specifying the mark leading edge) and Table 2 (recording parameter Telp specifying the mark trailing edge). This matches the specification of DVD-RAM disk having a recording capacity of 4.7 GB that is now widely used.
TABLE 1Tsfp3Tm4Tm5Tm6Tm3Ts54214Ts54215Ts54226Ts6432
TABLE 2Telp3Tm4Tm5Tm6Tm3Ts91010114Ts91010115Ts9910106Ts891010
Furthermore, in Tables 1 and 2 described above, the mark of 3T is abbreviated as "3Tm", for example, and the space of 3T is abbreviated as "3Ts", for example. In addition, the values in Tables are illustrative of recording parameters. In this way, the optical disk drive 900 optimizes each of 32 different recording parameters for the mark leading edge and the mark trailing edge specified for each set of a mark length and a space length.
The operation of the optical disk drive 900 in the case of optimizing all recording parameters will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.
First, as shown in step S1, the optical head 1 is moved (jumped) to a test recording area of the recording medium. The optical disk drive 900 carries out test recording in this area to optimize each of a plurality of recording parameters individually specified for each set of a mark length and a space length and depending on the mark leading edge or mark trailing edge.
Then, as shown in step S2, whether a recording parameter that has not optimized yet exists or not is determined, and if such a parameter exists, optimization for the parameter is carried out.
For this optimization, test recording is carried out using a recording pattern associated with the recording parameter. In test recording, recording is performed based on a predetermined recording pattern selected as a recording pattern matching the recording parameter while the value of the recording parameter is changed for each area (e.g. sector) (step S3). Consequently, a mark having a different edge position depending on the value of the recording parameter is formed in each area.
Then, data recorded in the test recording area is reproduced, and the jitter amount outputted from the difference detector 5 is measured for each area in which data is recorded while the value of the recording parameter is changed (step S4). Consequently, the relation between the value of the recording parameter and the jitter is recognized so that the optical disk drive 900 can select as an optimum value the value of a recording parameter allowing the jitter to be minimized (step S5). In this way, the recording parameter is optimized.
Then, in step S2, if there exists a recording parameter to be further optimized, optimization for the recording parameter is carried out in the same manner as described above. By repeating this operation, all recording parameters can be optimized.
In this way, in the conventional correction operation, optimization for the recording parameter is performed by selecting a parameter value allowing the jitter to be minimized from a plurality of parameter values for all recording parameters. In this case, however, test recording with different parameter values should be carried out each time each recording parameter is optimized. This is because the relation between the parameter value and the jitter shown in FIG. 3(g) must be recognized for determining a parameter value allowing the jitter to be minimized, and for this purpose, the jitter should be measured for each case where a plurality of recording parameter values are used. However, in the case where test recording using a plurality of parameter values is carried out for every recording parameter, in this way, a problem arises such that an amount of time required for the correction operation is increased.
In addition, when the jitter is measured as described above, test recording is carried out using different recording parameters according to recording parameters. Each recording pattern should be configured to make it possible to make an evaluation on whether a predetermined recording parameter is appropriate or not from the detected jitter. Accordingly, for the recording pattern, a relatively simple pattern such as a pattern formed by repletion of a 6T space, 4T mark, a 6T space and 8T mark, for example, is used so as not to match a larger number of recording parameters.
However, if such a recording patter is used, the patter of marks and spaces formed on the optical disk becomes poor in randomness. If such a regular pattern is formed, a subsequent test recording operation or the like in which a mark and a space are formed in the same area can easily be influenced by the previously formed pattern. Thus, if a pattern as described above is formed, a primary recording operation should be carried out using a random pattern before recording (overwrite) of new data is performed. This also increases an amount of time required for the test recording operation.
In this way, in the conventional method, a relatively large amount of time is required for optimizing each recording parameter. This correction operation is carried out at the time when the recording medium is attached or detached or the like, but it takes long time, and therefore a considerable amount of time is required until the device puts itself into a standby state.
The present invention has been made for solving the above problems of the conventional technique, and its object is to provide a recording/reproducing device capable of optimizing recording parameters in shorter time.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A connection device for connecting a child car seat to an automobile seat wherein the connection device includes a ratchet assembly for manual tightening of a webbing attached thereto.

Child restraints for motor vehicles are widely used by operators of motor vehicles when traveling with children. Child restraints generally are formed from a plastic shell and may include padding and/or a harness. Child restraints are typically attached to a vehicle's seats using either the seatbelts provided on the vehicle's seats or by using an anchoring system provided specifically for use with child restraints. In the United States, most vehicles manufactured after Sep. 1, 2002, are required to include LATCH ("lower anchors and tethers for children") attachments which provide two lower anchors, one on each side of the seating position, and a tether anchor above and behind the seatback.
Many child restraints incorporating the LATCH system provide an attachment means consisting of segment of webbing that extends through a portion of the child restraint and extends beyond the seat on each side. Each end of the segment of webbing includes a clip designed to be connected to the respective lower LATCH anchor. Typically the segment of webbing also includes a buckle for shortening the overall length of the segment such that the child restraint is held tightly on the vehicle seat. While this method of attaching the child restraint may provide some advantages over securing the child restraint with the vehicle's seatbelts, it is sometimes inconvenient and difficult for the caregiver to tighten the webbing. Additionally, after the webbing is tightened, there may be a substantial tag end which may become inconvenient for other occupants of the vehicle.
Other child restraints incorporate retractor mechanisms designed to provide proper tension and to retract excess webbing between the child restraint and the LATCH anchors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,275 assigned to the assignee of the present application, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference, discloses a LATCH connector and portions of a tensioner that would be operable in connection with some aspects of the present disclosure. While the retractors used in these LATCH attachment mechanisms of this type have some utility, they have some disadvantages. Specifically, it sometimes may be desired to insure that the webbing is pulled as taught as possible and for a caregiver to have feedback in the form of interaction with the webbing retractor of such.


Abnormal cardiac activity in a patient may be detected by acquiring an electrocardiogram waveform associated with a first level of physiologic activity of the patient and an electrocardiogram waveform associated with a second, different level of physiologic activity of the patient. QRS complexes of the electrocardiogram waveforms are compared to identify an abnormal portion of the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram waveform associated with the second level of physiologic activity. The abnormal portion of the QRS complex is processed to detect abnormal physiologic activity.

The invention relates to detecting abnormal activation of the heart.
Abnormal activation of the heart may be indicative of myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction. Myocardial ischemia, which is also known as reduced myocardial blood flow, may be indicative of coronary artery disease. Myocardial ischemia may be provoked under clinical conditions by applying stress to a patient, and may be indicated by localized changes in heart function due to localized changes in myocardial blood flow. Accordingly, myocardial ischemia and related coronary artery disease may be diagnosed by measuring such localized changes in heart function.
Myocardial infarction is a more severe condition. Myocardial infarction may result in a complete loss of activation of areas of the heart. This results in loss of blood flow to areas of the heart.
Localized changes in heart finction resulting from myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction may include electrical changes in the heart. Electrical activity of the heart generates an electrical potential on the body surface. At any given location on the body, this potential includes contributions from every region of the heart, with the contribution from a particular region being inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the region to the location on the body. Given the anatomy of the heart and chest, the potentials at most locations on the body surface effectively represent summed electrical activity from a large region of the heart.
The body surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is a measure of electrical activity of the heart. The ECG provides a measure of the potential difference between two points on the body surface as a continuous finction of time. The ECG is routinely measured using standard ECG electrodes.


A communication system serving a plurality of radio units in a frequency blocked area includes a remotely controlled and remotely configurable network of radiating coaxial conductors. The radiating coaxial conductors, along with associated amplification devices, are arranged to provide radio communication to an area around the network using radio frequency radiation released by the plurality of radiating cables. Remote control to the system is provided by a control station which transmits control data to the amplification devices through the network of radiating coaxial conductors. The amplification devices are arranged to control the radiating coaxial conductors in such a way that, in response to receiving the control data, the radiating coaxial conductors may be reconfigured to overcome faults occurring in the system.

Radio frequency communication over large or wide geographical areas has posed significant problems in the past Systems of this type generally must make communication available for radio units which have low power transmitters and which can move in any direction within the wide area coverage. Although there exist a number of systems of this type, few systems have been designed to cover generally inaccessible areas, or frequency blocked areas. For example, a subterraneous location such as a subway is inaccessible to wide area coverage systems operating above ground, because their transceivers cannot overcome the blocking effect of the earth.
Most systems which have been designed to address frequency blocked areas use multiple low power repeaters which are spaced at designated points to avoid the frequency blocking obstruction. Unfortunately, the use of low power repeaters is expensive to implement and burdensome to maintain.
There have been attempts to cover frequency blocked areas using radiating coaxial cables, as an antenna, to distribute the communication channel throughout the intended coverage area. Systems using this approach, however, have been limited to relatively small coverage areas due to the inherent signal loss in such coaxial cable. Moreover, these systems have failed to provide effective system management capability; for example, monitoring and controlling the system to handle: faults, system reconfigurations and on-going adjustments such as tuning and power level adjustments.
In most wide area coverage systems, such system management is accomplished by transmitting control and status response commands from a central computer to the respective repeaters. Because each repeater is in direct communication with the central computer, transmitting commands and/or receiving status information from the repeaters and other remote devices does not pose a significant problem.
Unlike many wide area coverage systems, systems designed to cover frequency blocked areas cannot communicate directly with a central computer. A central computer in a system covering frequency blocked areas is, by definition, blocked from communication with each of the repeaters or other remote system components.
Known prior art systems designed to provide communication in frequency blocked areas have been unable to provide control and monitoring functions with respect to the various components in such systems in a reliable, efficient and cost-effective manner.

Distributed amplifier network management system


A device for sterilizing the inner surfaces of pressure sensitive containers with ionized particles has an evacuable chamber which takes up the containers. The electrodes allocated to a container and charged by an alternating voltage, are arranged outside of but closely surround the respective container. The container is subject to equal pressure from the inside and the outside, and the inner surface of the container to be sterilized is also essentially the plasma-limiting wall.

The present invention relates to a device for ion-particle sterilization of the inner surfaces of electrically non-conducting, pressure sensitive containers comprising a unsealed filling opening. The device comprises an evacuable chamber for taking up the containers, a gas supply line connected to the chamber, electrodes for generating a plasma located in the chamber with two electrodes allocated to each container, and an alternating current generator for charging the electrodes with an alternating voltage.
DE 44 08 301 A1 discloses a device in which the containers to be sterilized run through three vacuum chambers, of which the middle one is provided for sterilization treatment of the pressure sensitive containers by low temperature plasma. An electrode pole and a gas nozzle are inserted into each container which stands on a metallic pallet.
The sterilizing effect of a plasma is due to a mechanical as well as a chemical destruction of germs by ion bombardment. Even by applying a very low energy level, the plasma can penetrate into the smallest surface cracks and holes, whereby with increasing vacuum the temperature is reduced to such an extent that even heat sensitive containers can be treated. One disadvantage of the known device lies in the insufficient homogeneity of the plasma which comes into contact not only with the surfaces to be sterilized but also with the remaining surfaces. As a result, a sterilization time of two minutes is necessary for a sufficient sterilization quotient is reached. A sterilization time of this length is too long for industrial application.
German published patent application 21 06 736 discloses sterilizing the inner surfaces of a container with a low pressure plasma based on chlorine, bromine or iodine. In one embodiment, the containers are arranged inside a reactor which is surrounded by a coil. In another embodiment, the containers are treated in the inside of a reactor, whereby an electrode is arranged in the container and a second electrode surrounds the container. In a third embodiment, the container is also the reactor and is surrounded directly by a coil. One disadvantage is that in the first two embodiments, the containers are hit by the plasma from the outside, so that the plasma is not particularly effective in the interior of the container. In the latter embodiment, only pressure insensitive containers can be sterilized, as the vacuum occurs only on the inside of the container.
It is an object of the present invention to sterilize the inner surfaces of pressure sensitive containers with a device in which the surface to be sterilized is essentially also the plasma-limiting wall.
This object has been achieved in accordance with the present invention by arranging both electrodes outside of the respective container while closely surrounding same.
As a result of the arrangement of the electrodes according to the present invention, it is ensured, on one hand, that the same low pressure prevails inside and outside the container, while on the other hand the surface to be sterilized is also essentially the plasma-limiting wall, which results in a high degree of effectiveness of the plasma and a short sterilization time. With this capacitive excitation, the ions hit the untreated wall at a particularly high energy level, which results in a high sterilization quotient which reaches at least 10.sup.4. This sterilization quotient is defined as follows: EQU SQ=a/b
The letter a denotes the quantity of germs before sterilization, while b denotes the quantity of germs after sterilization.
When the two electrodes closely surround the container by the two electrodes in the manner according to the present invention, a small gap is created. This gap permits the vacuum there to become effective, but which, however, due to its small dimensions, prevents a plasma being activated already outside of container, that is, there where it is not required. The size of the gap is determined by the so-called Debye length, which sets the characteristic shielding length and which measures between 100 und 500 .mu.m in practical use of the present invention. Thus a great homogeneity is reached on the actual surfaces to be sterilized, so that sterilization times of only a few seconds become possible. The effective vacuum on the inside and outside of the container permits on the one hand pressure sensitive containers to be sterilized, while on the other hand, due to the high vacuum, the sterilizing temperatures are so low that even heat sensitive containers, for example, paper containers, can be treated.
In connection with the present invention, "pressure sensitive" containers here include not only compressible containers, for example those made of paper, but also containers which only sporadically break under pressure, for example, glass bottles.
The electrodes can be positioned to the container from two sides. This positioning makes it possible not only to apply the electrodes according to the present invention so that they surround the container, but also to adjust the necessary small gap in a simple manner so that the electrodes are guided practically to the point of contact on the outer wall of the container. The vacuum necessary for the outside of the container is hereby not affected.
At least one electrode can advantageously be arranged to a plurality of containers. This results in a reduction of installations per container. Thus, for example, a longer container row can be arranged between, in all, only two electrodes.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes have a recess -n the area bordering directly on the filling opening. Thus the outer area of the container directly adjoining the filling opening is also sterilized. This is particularly advantageous when the recess is also the receiver for a sealing piece arranged to the filling opening. This sealing piece can be, for example, a so-called pull-tab, which is already applied adjacent to the filling opening on the lid of the container. Container and sealing piece need not then be separately sterilized.
One particular advantage of the present invention lies therein that the evacuable volume of the chamber consists essentially only of the inside of the containers. Due to the practical arrangement of the electrodes and the wall of the container--surrounding chamber, the space of the chamber to evacuated, insofar as it is located outside of the containers can be kept very small. Although the containers are surrounded by an evacuable chamber, the practical effect is similar as when the containers themselves formed the reactor. Thus only a small amount of air needs to be pumped out.
For the purpose of the present invention, the chamber subject to an operational pressure of 1 to 100 Pa. This low pressure has a resultant low gas temperature, as is necessary for example for paper cans. The low operational pressure results further in reducing the sterilization time to a few seconds.
Non-toxic gases are chosen for the purpose of the present invention, whereby oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, steam, hydrogen peroxide steam or mixtures of these gases are preferably contemplated. It has proved, however, particularly advantageous to use hydrogen or helium for ionization. These gases form the lightest and smallest possible ions in the plasma. The ions can penetrate into the smallest pores of the container and diffuse most efficiently towards -he surface at a high ionization energy level.
For the purpose of the present invention, a high frequency is provided for the alternating voltage, which frequency lies between the plasma frequencies of the ions and the electrons. Thus the permissible high frequency of 13.56 Mhz is applied.
In a particularly advantageous currently contemplated embodiment of the present invention, the chamber is configured as a so-called parallel plate reactor. Thus a great number of containers can be sterilized at the same time in a particularly cost-effective way. If, for example, twenty containers are sterilized at the same time in a sterilization time of 16 seconds, the cycle time per container is reduced in this way to under one second.

Method of sterilizing electrically, non-conductive, pressure-sensitive containers having a filling opening


A method and apparatus for forming edge terminations in multi-layer electrical component chips, such as capacitor chips, is arranged to cut holes through a laminated printed circuit pad at locations corresponding to the boundaries between adjacent chips when the pad is subsequently cut into individual chips. The holes are then filled with conductive ink to form plugs spanning the boundaries. The pad is then cut along a grid of perpendicular cutting lines defining the individual chip areas, simultaneously cutting through each of the ink plugs so that the cut ink plugs form the appropriate edge terminations along each side edge of a chip. The cutting device is suitably programmed to cut holes over the areas corresponding to the desired edge termination sizes and positions.

The present invention relates generally to laminated printed circuit chips such as capacitor chips, and is particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for making such chips incorporating terminations at the side edges of the chips.
Currently, laminated printed circuit chips are made by laminating together several layers of ceramic on which circuit patterns are printed into a stack, and then cutting the stack into individual chips according to the selected chip size. The cutting process will leave cut conductor ends on the side edges of each chip, and the cut ends are terminated by dipping the edges into a plating bath. This procedure is relatively simple for large size chips, but for small chips it is difficult to perform and very expensive. It also results in small bumps projecting from the sides of the chip. The smallest capacitor chips may have an area as small as 0.040 inches by 0.020 inches (which is referred to as an 0402 chip size), and it is extremely difficult to provide multiple terminations on the side edges of a chip this small using the known dipping process.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing pre-terminated chips


An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact. The electrode consists of an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section with a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissue-engaging members at an acute angle. In one embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is substantially flat, and the electrode thus is a half-rhombus in cross-section. In a second embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is also a half-rhombus, so that the electrode is a rhombus in cross-section. An improved electrical connector for connecting lead wires from the electrode to external monitoring equipment is also disclosed. A device for inserting the electrode into body tissue is also disclosed, the device having a stylet pre-curved to conform to the tissue and a sheath surrounding the stylet for receiving the electrode.

This invention is related generally to electrodes for monitoring cortical electrical activity in order to define epileptogenic foci. However, the invention is not limited to monitoring brain electrical activity but also has improved features for monitoring and electrical stimulation of other tissue. For example, the invention may be used to monitor electrical activity in or to stimulate the spinal cord.
Surgical removal of epileptogenic brain is indicated for treatment of many medically refractory focal seizure disorders. One of the important factors in providing good results from such surgery is the degree of accuracy in identifying epileptogenic foci. Various methods have been used in attempting to determine epileptogenic foci, and all, of course, involve sensing of cortical electrical activity using electrical contacts applied in various ways.
Standard scalp contacts have been used for many years, but accurate localization is usually very difficult with recordings obtained from such contacts. Therefore, many epilepsy centers in recent years have used intracranial recording techniques to better define regions of cortical epileptogenicity.
Intracranial recording techniques have used either of two different types of electrodes--intracortical depth electrodes or subdural strip electrodes. The far more commonly used technique of intracranial recording uses intracortical depth electrodes, but other techniques using subdural strip electrodes, first utilized many years ago, have been shown to be relatively safe and valuable alternatives.
The relative safety of subdural strip electrodes lies in the fact that, unlike depth electrodes, they are not invasive of brain tissue. Depth electrodes are narrow, typically cylindrical dielectric structures with contact bands spaced along their lengths. Such electrodes are inserted into the brain in order to establish good electrical contact with different portions of the brain. Subdural strip electrodes, on the other hand, are generally flat strips supporting contacts spaced along their lengths. Such strip electrodes are inserted between the dura and the brain, along the surface of and in contact with the brain, but not within the brain.
A typical subdural strip electrode of the prior art is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,208. The '208 patent discloses a subdural strip electrode 10 having an elongated flexible silicone dielectric strip 14, a plurality of spaced aligned flat electrical stainless steel contact disks 16 held within dielectric strip 14, and lead wires 18 exiting strip 14 from a proximal end 20 thereof.
Dielectric strip 14 of strip electrode 10 has front and back dielectric layers 22 and 24, respectively. Each front layer 22 has a front layer opening 26 for each contact disk 16. Openings 26 are circular and somewhat smaller in diameter than contact disks 16. Front and back layers 22 and 24 are sealed together by adhesive and/or heat such that they form, in essence, an integral dielectric strip.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the subdural strip electrodes of the prior art are predominately rectangular in cross-section. Other subdural strip electrodes of the prior art have a circular or round cross section.
As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, prior art subdural strip electrodes that have a rectangular (FIG. 5) or round (FIG. 6) cross-section do not optimize the amount of surface area of the electrode E in contact with the cortical surface S. As the electrode E is inserted between the dura D and the cortical surface S, downward pressure is exerted by the dura on the electrode, which in turn exerts pressure on the cortical surface. Such pressure causes the cortical surface S to slightly deflect downward, as shown in the Figures. Prior art rectangular or round electrodes cannot follow this deflection, resulting, in the case of a rectangular electrode (FIG. 5), in the electrode contacting the surface S primarily at the edges; and in the case of the round electrode (FIG. 6), in the electrode contacting the surface S along an arc.
One of the problems with such prior art strip electrodes is that the lack of adequate contact with the brain surface can result in inaccurate recordings of epileptogenic foci.
Another problem with such prior art strip electrodes is that there is very little room between the dielectric strips to pass the wires. This may require very fine wires with high electrical resistance, which may in turn cause inaccurate recordings.
Another problem of such prior art strip electrodes is lack of adequate stiffness for insertion. It would seem that proper insertion of the strip electrode requires at least some degree of stiffness (less than complete flexibility) in the strip, because of how such strips are inserted through the burr hole and under the dura. That is, rather than being pulled into place between the dura and the brain by grasping the distal end of the strip, such strips must be pushed into place from their proximal ends from which the lead wires extend. Nothing supports the strip along its length much beyond the edge of the burr hole during the complete insertion step. It is understood that if there is insufficient stiffness along the strip length and across the strip width, the strip could not be inserted properly. In some cases, it could stray from the intended position; in other cases, it could turn or double up.
Proper insertion and positioning and having an accurate understanding of the exact positions of the strip are essential to proper interpretation of the recordings taken from the strip contacts. For that reason, it has been thought necessary to have a certain amount of strip thickness and width in order to provide the necessary body or stiffness for proper insertion.
Another consideration in the design of subdural strip electrodes is their ability to adequately support the contacts and lead wires secured by the dielectric strip. If insufficient dielectric supporting material encompasses the contacts and lead wires, the lead wires when pulled could distort the strip and create undesirable openings in the strip. The lead wires would also be more prone to break away and the contacts more prone to be mislocated within the strip.
All of these factors argue for greater width and thickness dimensions in the strip electrode--that is, greater cross-sectional area. Yet, there has been a trend in the subdural strip electrode art to decrease cross-sectional area.
A problem resulting from low mass and low cross-sectional area in subdural strip electrodes is that they are not easily seen under X-ray.
The lead wires are generally routed out through a stab wound in the skin remote from the electrode and generally terminate in a distal end with ring-type terminals (FIG. 4). These ring-type terminals are then connected to monitoring equipment by means of a connector. Such a prior connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,255. FIG. 7 illustrates such a connector of the prior art.
The connector 20 holds several pairs of male conductor members 34 in an array. The lead wire terminal rings 32 of the electrode and male conductor members 34 are held in engagement by mechanical interference. As can be seen in FIG. 7, this arrangement results in the lead wire terminal rings 32 making contact with the male conductor members 34 only along two short arcs. This minimal surface area may result in inaccurate electrical recordings of cortical activity.
There is a need for an improved tissue electrode and connector which addresses the above problems of prior art electrodes.

Tissue electrode for recording and stimulation


The present invention provides an autonomous emergency braking system of a vehicle including a sensor module which radiates a signal when the vehicle is being driven to the front of the vehicle to detect an object in front of the vehicle, an autonomous control module which determines whether the object collides with the vehicle and when it is determined that the object collides with the vehicle, puts the brake on the vehicle, and a sensor control module that when the vehicle puts on the brakes and is forwardly inclined, adjusts a signal radiating direction of the sensor module to control the sensor module to detect the object.

An autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is a system which performs a warning and autonomous braking function to minimize a possibility of collision when a driven vehicle is expected to collide with a vehicle ahead the driven vehicle.
Generally, the AEB system is configured to monitor a relative distance from the forward vehicle and monitor whether there is a forward vehicle to determine when the AEB operates. A radar sensor, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and a camera sensor are used as a forward vehicle monitoring sensor which is currently used.
Here, a detection performance may be lowered due to vehicle motion in an AEB using the radar sensor. When the vehicle brakes, a pitching motion occurs in the vehicle and a front part of the vehicle is inclined toward the ground so that a direction of the front sensor is inclined toward the ground. When the front radar misses a risky vehicle due to the inclination, the AEB system may determine that the risky collision situation of the front side ends so that autonomous braking ends so that the vehicle may collide with the forward vehicle.
Recently, a technology which overcomes a situation where the sensor module does not detect the forward vehicle in accordance with the pitching motion of the vehicle which is generated in an autonomous emergency braking situation is being studied.

System and method for vehicle autonomous emergency braking


An annular brush gasket makes it possible to ensure imperviousness between two zones wherein a pressure difference exists between the zones, even when the shaft is moved off center. The body of the gasket is mainly formed of several annular sectors disposed so as to form a ring around the shaft and each sector is pivotally mounted to the stator. A retaining ring or snap ring elastically biases the filaments of the sectors against the shaft despite any outward movement of the shaft center.

With reference to FIG. 1, in certain types of turbojet engines, the need to ensure imperviousness is tested between two annular chambers 1, 2 delimited by a partition 3 of the turbine distributor 4 which is fixed and one partition 5 of the turbine rotor 6 which rotates around the main axis of the turbojet engine. Of course, the partition 5 of the rotor 6 rotates with respect to the partition 3 of the turbine distributor 4.
The method is known on how to use a labyrinth type gasket so as to ensure imperviousness between these two chambers 1 and 2. However, this type of gasket takes up a large amount of space and does not provide full imperviousness between the two chambers 1 and 2.
On the other hand, the ROLLS-ROYCE Patent GB-1 598 926 describes a "brush" type gasket mainly constituted by a bundle of fibers or filaments placed perpendicular to a shaft and at a minimal distance from the latter so that the extremities of the fibers or filaments are flush with the shaft around which the gasket is to be mounted so as to ensure imperviousness on both sides of this gasket. The bundle of filaments is supported by two flanges rendered integral with a fixed support.
With this type of gasket, imperviousness may be effected completely, provided the shaft rotates fully circularly, that is no outward movement of the center which may occur in relation to the rotation of this shaft. In fact, if the shaft comprises an unbalanced mass or rotates with a pronounced moving out of center, the almost continuous contact between the shaft and the extremity of the filaments of the brush gasket makes the latter function with buckling and results in obtaining the following effects:
premature deterioration of the flexible extremity of each wire of the brush gasket via crushing, PA1 ultrarapid heating of the contact zone between the gasket and the shaft (this heating limited to the approximate width of the gasket is that much greater when the speed of rotation of the shaft is high). PA1 an annular brush body formed of two flanges and mounted in the housing, and PA1 arcuate filaments mounted via one first extremity in the brush body and and orientated towards the shaft so that their second extremity is flush with the shaft so as to create a sealed curtain between the two annular volumes.
The object of the invention is to resolve these drawbacks or delay the deterioration of the filaments of the brush gasket and the heating produced by contact.

Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "SNECMA"