An apparatus for load and displacement sensing adapted for measuring normal and shear forces exerted on load bearing portions of a body. The apparatus includes a deformable pad and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor includes at least one magnet and at least one Hall-effect transducer affixed to opposite sides of the deformable pad. Normal forces are measured utilizing magnets having a planar North and South polarizations and the magnitude and direction of shear forces are measured utilizing magnets having alternating North and South pole segments disposed longitudinally therewithin. In another embodiment, normal and shear forces are measured utilizing a magnet having a point-magnetization. The force exerted on the body deforms the pad, bringing the magnet in close proximity to the transducer, which senses the change in the magnetic flux density.

As is known, there are a number of load sensing devices useful for measuring forces exerted on a body. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,325, issued to Bullivant, et al., discloses a Hall-effect weight transducer. The transducer senses changes in the magnetic field generated by a pair of magnets affixed to a housing. The field change is due to the relative movement of the upper and lower inner surfaces of the housing from the application of a weight to the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,811, issued to Gray, discloses a pressure monitoring apparatus. The apparatus utilizes a pressure gauge having Bourdon tube with a pair of magnets affixed thereto. The tube is responsive to external pressure and a hall effect detector mounted in close proximity to the magnets generates a signal proportional to the movement of the magnets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,854, issued to Seltzer, discloses a multi-axis displacement sensor for sensing the movement of two relatively movable parts. The sensor includes at least two magnetic poles mounted on one of the movable parts and two hall effect devices mounted on the other part. A displacement of the parts causes relative movement between the Hall-effect devices and the magnetic poles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,491, issued to Sipe, discloses a device for signaling a patient when a predetermined load is placed on the patient's foot. The signaling device utilizes a resilient foot pad having a liquid filled tube and is controlled by a pressure responsive means in communication with the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,918, issued to Goforth, discloses a notification system for monitoring critical pressure points on the feet of persons having diminished sensation of the feet. The systems utilizes a plurality of pressure transducers electrically connected to a microprocessor. An alarm indicates when a predetermined threshold of pressure is exceeded.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,930, issued to Confer, discloses a force sensing insole for use with an electro-goniometer for analyzing the gait of a patient. Normally open contact switches positioned in the open chambers of the body member are brought into contact with each other upon a compressive force applied to the insole.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,436 discloses a motion analysis system having pressure responsive shoes or insoles worn by the subject. The insoles utilize pressure transducers and provide signals which are processed, whereby a display indicates the pressure applied to the subject's foot while moving.

Apparatus for load and displacement sensing


A lift installation or assembly in which a lift cage and counterweight are driven by cables of a drive unit, which is arranged in a lift shaft. A carrier yoke is arranged at the upper ends of first and second guide elements. For mounting, maintenance and repair operations the drive unit can be pivoted into the lift shaft by means of a rotary mechanism arranged at the carrier yoke.

From Utility Model DE-GM 88 07 219 there has become known an elevator lift installation with a frame which reaches from the floor of the lowest story up to the ceiling of the uppermost story, and which serves as a guide element for a lift cage. The frame has, below the ceiling of the upper story, a platform consisting of crossbeams for an electric motor, a lift hoisting winch and a switching installation. The lift cage slides on rollers upon the inner sides of angle irons of the frame. Lift cables are fed to a cable drum and wound on and unwound in the opposite sense by way of two deflecting rollers disposed at the height of the platform.
A disadvantage of such known equipment is in that the arrangement of the drive unit and the cable guide is not suitable for a lift installation with a counterweight. It is further disadvantageous that the drive unit, which is arranged below the ceiling, which includes the motor and lift hoisting winch as well as the switching installation, is reachable only with difficulty for servicing operations.

Lift installation with drive unit arranged in the lift shaft


A shift pattern control for a multiple speed ratio transmission wherein an inference-based control overrides the normal shift pattern to automatically achieve manual pulldown operation under conditions for which such operation would be advised and expected. The inference-based control is achieved with a fuzzy logic technique by which vehicle parameters influencing the desirability of manual pulldown operation are measured or estimated, and used to establish an aggregate measure of the overall need for engine braking and downshifting. In the preferred embodiment, the fuzzy logic parameters include vehicle speed, grade load, engine throttle position, time of braking and time of deceleration. The parameters are applied to membership functions to indicate the truthfulness of the specified conditions, and logical combinations of the truth indications are formed, weighted to reflect their criticality, and combined to form an aggregate measure of the overall need for pulldown operation.

Vehicles having automatic transmissions are typically equipped with a driver manipulated transmission range selector positionable to one of a number of sectors for indicating a desired operating range of the transmission. The forward operating range is defined by a Drive sector and one or more manual pulldown sectors corresponding to the various forward speed ranges provided by the transmission.
To operate the vehicle in a forward range, the selector is ordinarily moved to the Drive sector, and the speed ratio selection is carried out automatically in accordance with an empirically determined shift pattern based on engine load (throttle position) and vehicle speed. For any given engine load, for example, the shift pattern may dictate a first vehicle speed above which an upshift should be initiated, and a second vehicle speed below which a downshift should be initiated.
However, the predetermined shift pattern is not especially suited to operation in hilly terrain. During such operation, the driver is encouraged to move the range selector to a manual pulldown position. In addition to downshifting the transmission to the indicated speed ratio, the manual pulldown configures the transmission to enable engine braking and inhibits upshifting to a higher speed ratio.

Inference-based manual pulldown control of an automatic transmission


A ring laser gyroscope is described that includes at least one laser gyroscope block and a dither motor, where the gyroscope blocks are configured to engage the dither motor. The dither motor has an outer ring, a hub section, at least one radially extending reed extending between the outer ring and the hub section, and at least one piezoelectric transducer attached the reed. The piezoelectric transducer includes a common piezo-ceramic having a contiguous void line that allows for a separate electrical connection to be made to electrode surfaces on each side of the void line.

This invention relates generally to dither motors, for example, dither motors incorporated within ring laser gyroscopes.
In a ring laser gyroscope, two electromagnetic waves in the form of monochromatic light beams are produced which are propagating in opposite directions. A rotation of the ring laser gyroscope about its input axis increases the path length for one light beam whereas the path length for the other light beam is reduced. The resulting path length change produces a frequency shift within each of the light beams since the oscillating frequency of the laser beams depends on the length of the laser path. Therefore the frequency difference is a function of the rotation rate.
At low rotational rates the frequency difference between both light beams becomes small and both light beams have the tendency to oscillate on the same frequency which is sometimes referred to as lock-in. In order to prevent this mutual interference of both light beams at low rotational rates it is well known to impart a rotary oscillation to the ring laser gyroscope so that the known lock-in effect is eliminated to a large extent.
In order to produce the rotary back and forth oscillation normally a mechanical oscillating device is provided which imparts a dither motion to the ring laser gyroscope. Such a device is commonly referred to as a dither motor and includes a spoked wheel (dither spring). In one known configuration, supports extending from a hub of the dither motor engage a bore formed in each ring laser gyroscope laser block. In another configuration the entire dither motor is placed within the bore of the laser block.
Piezoelectric transducers that are mounted on the spokes of the dither spring produce an oscillating back and forth (dither) movement of the ring laser gyroscope when they are driven by appropriate signals. Such transducers are referred to as drive transducers. Other piezoelectric transducers that output a signal based on the dither movement are referred to as pickoff transducers and are utilized as a feedback device in controlling the oscillation of the dither motor.
Dither motors that are incorporated within ring laser gyroscopes typically include both drive and pickoff piezoelectric transducers. One known dither motors incorporates pickoff piezoelectric transducers that are separate from the drive piezoelectric transducers. These pickoff piezoelectric transducers have a different size and are placed in a separate location than the drive piezoelectric transducers. The separate pickoff and drive piezoelectric transducers add stiffness to the dither spring and cost to the ring laser gyroscope product. In addition, pickoff piezoelectric transducers in a location separate from the drive piezoelectric transducer have a higher variation in phase relative to drive and pickoff voltages generated.

Dither motor having integrated drive and pickoff transducers


A portable ledge apparatus and method which may be quickly set up by a single user wherein four support arms fold into position from a central retaining member.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to outdoor sports and, more specifically, to a portable ledge apparatus and method, useful for climbing and similar outdoor activities, that is quick and easy to set up.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Those engaged in the sport of mountain or rock climbing often find it necessary to bring along a portable ledge for use during a climb. The purpose of a portable ledge is to enable a climber who is ascending a face or wall lacking in natural ledges sufficiently wide to safely support a resting or sleeping climber to erect a temporary ledge on the face or wall. The portable ledge is then used as a place to rest or sleep, or perhaps to seek refuge from a storm.
A typical prior art portable ledge features a collapsible aluminum tubing frame, onto which is sewn a cloth bed. The bed is then suspended from the face or wall by a series of straps, which are generally affixed at one end on at least the four corners of the bed and perhaps at the middle of each long side. The other ends of the straps converge at a point that is substantially over the center of the bed, to form a tent or tepee-like structure, and are then connected to a bolt or other anchor that secures the portable ledge to the wall. Prior art ledges also typically come with an optional "fly"--an overhead cover that may be lowered from the top point of the structure, over the straps, to create a ledge that offers its occupants protection from the elements.
Existing portable ledges are generally cumbersome structures, making them difficult and time consuming to erect. It is not unusual for a portable ledge to take ten or more minutes to assemble, and to require the efforts of two climbers. These qualities make many prior art ledges unsatisfactory. If for example a ledge is to be used as shelter from a storm, there may not be time to erect a prior art ledge before a storm hits. But once a climber gets wet from a storm, it is generally too late to seek shelter from the storm for purposes of continuing the climb after the storm passes. Because a wet climber cannot dry off in the confines of a portable ledge, it is typically necessary in such instances to return down the mountain. It is also inconvenient and perhaps even dangerous for a climber who may be exhausted at the end of a long day of climbing, to then have to spend as much as thirty minutes erecting a ledge. And, of course, where a ledge requires the efforts of two climbers to assemble, it is not appropriate for use by a solo climber.
There are other drawbacks to the design of the prior art ledges. Because of the need for an aluminum tubing frame around the mattress, the prior art ledges can be relatively heavy--and in a sport such as climbing it is desirable to reduce as much as possible the weight of equipment that a climber must carry. The "frame" design of the prior art ledges also makes them relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture. A prior art ledge often retires as many as eight separate aluminum tubes to form the collapsible frame--two tubes along each side connected by hinges or pivots--which collapsible frame must generally be sewn into the cloth mattress. The seams on the mattress where a tube has been sewn are vulnerable to coming apart during use, requiring repair or replacement of the portable ledge.
Therefore, a need existed to provide an improved portable ledge and method, which is capable of being quickly set up by a single climber. The improved ledge and method must be relatively lightweight when compared to prior art ledges, and must be relatively easier and less expensive to manufacture. The improved portable ledge should only require four support arms, and should not require the sewing of the support arms into the mattress.


A smart charging solution is provided. The smart charging solution includes a power supply, a power line connected to the power supply and at least one universal serial bus (USB) splitter module and/or wireless charging module. The smart charging solution further includes a cable compensation integrated circuit (IC) for improved output voltage stabilization and a locking mechanism for furniture installation.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to charging electronic devices, and more particularly, using furniture to charge electronic devices, both through a wire and wirelessly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the different furniture sizes and various layouts in or on homes, RV vehicles, and yachts, there is a need for different lengths of intelligent charging extensions with a variety of built-in features that will allow for the transfer of appropriate voltages, amperages (amps), and power to electronic devices (i.e., smart phones and smart tablets) over a distance in order to charge them with the same speed as the speed provided by factory chargers.
Further, locating fast, reliable, and available charging solutions has become problematic as the number of portable electronic devices has increased in recent years.
Additionally, low quality charging solutions may damage portable electronic devices and their batteries. Low quality charging solutions may distribute imprecise voltage and current values for charging portable electronic devices, especially when a power input source is far from where the power is ultimately output to an electronic device because the length of a cable may affect resistance in a power charging solution.
When imprecise voltage and current values are provided to electronic devices, the batteries may experience overcharging or undercharging, which in turn may deteriorate batteries' power efficiency. In other cases, when the power provided to a battery during charging is imprecise, the battery may continuously detect, not detect, detect, not detect, etc. power being input, which may increase the battery's charge cycle count and further deteriorate the battery's power efficiency.


A plastic package includes a plurality of terminal members each having an outer terminal, an inner terminal, and a connecting part connecting the outer and the inner terminal; a semiconductor device provided with terminal pads connected to the inner terminals with bond wires; and a resin molding sealing the terminal members, the semiconductor device and the bond wires therein. The inner terminals of the terminal members are thinner than the outer terminals and have contact surfaces. The upper, the lower and the outer side surfaces of the outer terminals, and the lower surfaces of the semiconductor device are exposed outside. The inner terminals, the bond wires, the semiconductor device and the resin molding are included in the thickness of the outer terminals.

High-density packaging of semiconductor devices for electronic appliances has been desired for downsizing electronic appliances. Miniaturization and thickness reduction of semiconductor parts have progressed, and packages that enable further thickness reduction and cost reduction are demanded.
Under such circumstances, techniques have been proposed to cope with thickness reduction. A plastic package proposed in JP 11-307675 A has a lead frame having exposed upper and lower surfaces. A plastic package proposed in JP 11-260989 has leads including those which are exposed and used as outer terminals.
On the other hand, efforts are being made to achieve one-chip system LSI. Two-dimensional wiring limits increasing operating speed by shortening wiring lines, and the development of techniques to achieve one-chip system LSI requires high development costs and long development time. Recently, trials have been made to achieve system LSI by using packages built up by stacking semiconductor devices for three-dimensional arrangement.
Such packages are called also system packages.
A stacked, plastic package disclosed in JP 11-307675 A is built by stacking plastic packages, and leads each having exposed upper and lower surfaces are used for electrical connection. However, those plastic packages are provided with a die pad and hence it is difficult to reduce the thickness of those plastic packages.
The plastic package mentioned in JP 11-260989 A cannot be formed in a stacked structure.
A package disclosed in JP 200-33434 A is formed by stacking semiconductor devices (chips) and sealing the stacked semiconductor devices in a package. This package has low application flexibility and is difficult to apply to general purposes.
JP 11-307675 A
JP 11-260989 A
JP 200-33434 A
Thus, semiconductor parts have been progressively miniaturized and made thinner, and still thinner packages have been demanded. Efforts have been made to fabricate system packages, to construct a system package by stacking a plurality of plastic packages, but further thickness reduction of the plastic packages is necessary.

Plastic package and method of fabricating the same


Systems and methods are disclosed for transmitting, to user devices, data for potential targets predicted to be identified in an augmented reality application. One method includes receiving a request for target data related to at least one physical object within an image of a real-world environment captured at the device; identifying a current target representing the physical object within a virtual environment corresponding to the real-world environment; determining at least one potential future target to be identified at the device based on identified coincident target requests; and sending to the device target data for each of the current and potential future targets based on the determination, wherein the device presents the target data for the current target within the virtual environment displayed at the device and store the target data for the potential future target in a local memory of the device.

Augmented reality (AR) applications present users with an augmented or enhanced view of a real-world environment, in which relevant content can be overlaid onto physical objects or points of interest located within the environment. For example, a mobile AR application executable at a user's mobile device may overlay static or dynamic AR content related to various physical objects in the real-world environment. Each physical object may be identified by the mobile AR application as a predefined "target" that can be represented digitally within a virtual AR environment displayed for the user via a display of the mobile device. The virtual AR environment and objects represented may be based on, for example, images of the real-world environment captured by a digital camera integrated with the mobile device. Examples of different types of AR content that may be overlaid for an object in the real-world (e.g., identified as a target in the virtual AR world) may include, but are not limited to, text, images, graphics, or location information, e.g., geographic location coordinates from a global positioning system (GPS).
However, conventional techniques for identifying targets within AR environments provided by mobile AR applications generally require a compromise between speed (e.g., with respect to AR target identification and content delivery) and efficiency (e.g., with respect to memory usage for storing target data). For example, speed may be increased by storing static target data for every identifiable target within a local memory of the mobile device. However, this would place a significant burden on memory and other system resources, particularly if the number of identifiable targets is extremely large (e.g., over a million or billion targets).
Alternatively, efficiency may be improved by offloading target identification operations to a server and/or storing the target data in a remote storage location (e.g., a cloud-based data store), which may be dynamically accessed by the mobile AR application via a communication network. However, the speed of target identification at the mobile device may be significantly reduced due to, for example, data propagation delays or bandwidth issues in the network.
Thus, such conventional solutions for target identification based on either static local data or dynamic data located remotely pose significant challenges to providing support for AR environments representing relatively more complex real-world environments with large numbers of identifiable targets (e.g., millions of targets related to individual consumer product items within a commercial business), it becomes even more critical for the mobile AR application to quickly identify a large number targets, while also maintaining an acceptable or desired level of responsiveness and overall system performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for caching augmented reality target data at user devices


The invention sets forth an approach to context switching that utilizes scan chains modified to perform context switching operations. The design requires substantially less additional silicon area and design engineering effort than existing context switch approaches, while operating substantially faster and providing additional debug observability during context switching operations.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of computer graphics and more specifically to a technique for using scan chains to perform context switching.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern computing devices routinely alternate their execution between several or many software programs within a short period of time. This ability to alternately execute several programs allows a user to perform several concurrent tasks on the computing device, such as editing a spreadsheet, downloading a file from the internet, and listening to audio files through a multimedia program, while giving the appearance that each program is executing without interruption. However, the computing device is configured to give this appearance by alternating the computing device's execution between each software program on very short (on the order of milliseconds or microseconds) "processing intervals." This practice is typically referred to as "multiprocessing".
One technical requirement for multiprocessing is that the computing device perform a "context switch" at the beginning and end of each processing interval. A context switch includes saving the current state of the computing device to a secondary location, such as main memory or a secondary memory array, and restoring a previous state of the computing device that had been stored subsequent to a previous context switch. For example, a context switch from spreadsheet execution to multimedia program execution requires saving the computing device state for the spreadsheet execution to a secondary location followed by restoring the computing device state for the multimedia program from a secondary location.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art context save/restore capability implemented in a graphics controller 100 using additional state elements and observability logic. In this design, the context save/restore is performed by exchanging state information distributed throughout the graphics controller 100 with a memory controller 140, which subsequently saves/restores that state to/from a graphics memory (not shown) through a graphics memory interface 142. The state of the graphics controller 100 is contained in a plurality of state elements, shown as 101 and 120, although these elements are merely illustrative of the hundreds or thousands of such state elements that may exist in a modern microelectronics device.
As shown, the state element 101 has a preceding logic block 110 and a subsequent logic block 102. A "Q" output 104 of the state element 101 is coupled to an input of the logic block 102 and to a data input of the memory controller 140. An output of the logic block 110 is coupled to a first input 112 of a data selection mux 106, whose output 108 is coupled to a "D" input of the state element 101. A second input 118 to the data selection mux 106 is coupled to a data output of the memory controller 140, and a "select" input 107 to the data selection mux 106 is coupled to a mode select signal 114. Similarly, the state element 120 has a preceding logic block 130 and a subsequent logic block 122. A "Q" output 124 of the state element 120 is coupled to an input of the logic block 122 and to another data input of the memory controller 140. An output of the logic block 130 is coupled to a first input 132 of a data selection mux 126, whose output 128 is coupled to a "D" input of the state element 120. The data selection mux 126 has a second input 138 that is coupled to another data output of the memory controller 140, and a "select" input 127 to the data selection mux 126 is also coupled to the mode select signal 114. A clock signal 116 synchronizes the operation of the state elements 101 and 120.
The first step of a context restore operation requires the memory controller 140 to address and read a plurality of bits (e.g., 32 bits) of stored context from one or more corresponding addresses in the graphics memory. Subsequently, the memory controller 140 decodes that stored context into individual state values to be communicated to the data selection mux of each corresponding state element (e.g. the data selection mux 106, which corresponds to the state element 101). Finally, these values are written into the corresponding state elements on the next cycle of the clock 116. This process of addressing, reading, decoding and subsequently writing the previously stored state is repeated until the entire context switchable state of the graphics controller is restored. Similarly, a context save operation requires the memory controller 140 to address, read and encode state values from one or more state elements and then to write those encoded bits (e.g., 32 bits) as stored context to one or more corresponding addresses in the graphics memory. The process of addressing, reading, encoding and subsequently writing the current state is repeated until the entire context switchable state of the graphics controller is saved.
One disadvantage of this approach to context switching is that capturing the context switch state requires the addition of substantial logic (e.g., the state elements 101 and 120 and the muxes 106 and 126) to the overall design. Additional logic is also added in the form of observability logic in the memory controller 140 to address and then encode/decode the context switch state into data that match the format of the graphics memory. Identifying which context switch state values to save/restore, implementing the additional logic to save/restore the identified state values and verifying the correct functionality of the additional logic requires substantial engineering design effort. Further, the additional logic occupies valuable silicon area in the graphics controller 100. Another disadvantage is that the process of addressing, reading/writing and decoding/encoding data from/to the graphics memory is a slow and iterative process, resulting in slow context switch operations.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is an approach to context switching that avoids one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.


A sensor system includes a first sensor and a second sensor and a multiplexor having at least two multiplexer inputs connected to the sensors. The output of the multiplexor is connected to a time correlation logic circuit via at least a signal conditioning and anti-aliasing filter, and the output of the time correlation logic is a time correlated sensor reading of the first and second sensor.

Aircraft engine systems, such as those used in commercial aircraft, utilize multiple sensors to check engine properties during operation. The sensors transmit corresponding sensor readings to a signal processor/controller that interprets the sensor signal and determines how to respond. The signal processors/controllers are often located remote from the engine in which the sensors are located, and the sensor signals are transmitted over lengthy signal wires to reach the signal processor/controller.
In order to reduce weight and costs of the aircraft, the signals of analog sensors are multiplexed together at the engine itself and converted to digital signals. By multiplexing the signals together, only a single signal wire is required to carry the sensor signals from multiple sensors to the signal processor/controller. The multiplexing is performed by a multiplexor located in local proximity to the sensors.
In some engines, sensor readings are required to be time correlated with each other. In such a case, the signal processor/controller needs simultaneous information from each sensor. Due to the nature of multiplexing, however, a multiplexed signal alternates between each of the sensor signals that have been multiplexed together, such that the signal processor/controller only receives a single sensor signal value at any given time. As a result, time correlated sensor signals are not transmitted over multiplexed sensor transmissions lines.

Method and apparatus for multiplexed time aligned analog input sampling


An insulator gasket is disclosed having gasket sections folded toward each other to form an angled gap of 1-15 degrees. Openings in the gasket sections are partially aligned and allow passage of fastener devices during assembly. The gasket includes a composite construction having a metallic backing plate connected to an insulator layer. The present invention utilizes either a continuous hinge or spaced apart straps.

Gaskets are well known devices provided at interfacing joints for insulating a high temperature surface from a mating lower temperature surface to reduce undesirable heat transfer between the surfaces. For example, such gaskets may be used between an exhaust bracket and a body frame member on an internal combustion vehicle.
Known gaskets are fabricated from either a single layer or multiple layers of material. Multiple layer gaskets combine the benefits of two dissimilar materials. For example, one material may have increased wear resistance, but poor sealing ability. Another material can be placed on top of the first material to increase sealing. Multiple layer gaskets have gained popularity for their ability to provide increased performance and life. Typically, rivets or other fastening devices are used to keep the layers in contact.
One known gasket is made by folding two gasket halves together into engagement. Clamping devices are utilized to keep the halves engaged. The clamping devices are relatively small compared to the overall gasket length and provide little, if any, structural support. However, the use of clamping devices reduces the insulative nature of the gasket by providing a heat transfer path way. Additionally, clamping devices reduce the force available for sealing the gasket since clamping devices can interfere with the mating members before they are fully tightened together. Further, processing costs are increased by having to maintain the folded halves in engaging contact Gasket cost is also increased through the use of separate clamping devices. Finally, a fully folded and clamped gasket cannot provide a resilient spring biasing force to prevent unwanted loosening of fasteners caused by vibration.


A program execution apparatus moves the fixation point in a virtual space in response to a change in the direction of a prescribed part of a virtual character in the virtual space. When the program execution apparatus moves the fixation point in a virtual space in response to a change in the direction of a prescribed part of a virtual character in the virtual space, it causes the occurrence of a prescribed object in the virtual space, thereby achieving a video game having a high level of reality and an improved level of entertainment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a virtual space control method suitable for a video game as example, to a recording medium in which a virtual space control program is stored, to a program execution apparatus, and to a virtual space control program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video games have enjoyed widespread use in recent years. These video game machine can execute a game application program obtained from various storage media, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, or via various transfer media of communication networks or the like. By doing this, a user can enjoy a variety of games.
Various types of games are available, examples being RPGs (role-playing games), AVG (adventure games), SPG (sports games), and FTG (fighting games).
In this kind of video game, a game program performs playback of prepared motions or change in the attitude or the like of a virtual character (hereinafter referred to as simply a character) in the game. In these video games, a player (game participant) can change the action or behavior of a character by operating a game controller (hereinafter referred to as simply a controller) connected to a video game machine.
An example of a game in which a game program changes the attitude of a character is a so-called soccer game, in which a character dribbling a ball changes his attitude at times to look at the goal.
Among games in which the action or the like of a character is changed by a controller operation, there are games in which a player, by using a controller, not only can change the movement speed and direction of travel of a character, but also can operate alone just one part (element) of the character. An example of this is a game in which a player operates a robot or the like as a character. In the case of this video game, the player can operate the controller, for example, so as to cause the rotation of the upper body of the robot.
In the case of a video game in which the controller can operate on part of a character in this manner, the player can operate a character as he wishes. Therefore, compared with a game in which it is only possible to operate the speed or direction of movement of a character, this game provides a greater sense of reality.
In recent years, however, because there has been a demand for games with even better reality, even a game as described above, in which a part of a character is operable by a controller, cannot be said to be sufficient.
Games to be developed in the future will demand not only the above-noted reality, but also a higher level of entertainment.


A system for supporting the drive of an excavating type underground advancing machine is provided to lighten the operator's burden so that an unskilled operator can perform operation comparable to that of the skilled operator. In this system for supporting the drive, output signals from a group of first sensors (12a) for measuring magnitude of operation of a rocking actuator (10) for orientation control and an output signal from a second sensor (12b) for measuring cutter torque pressure are input into an automatic measurement portion (14). These signals are adjusted in an automatic adjustment portion (15) and input to a fuzzy control portion. The rocking magnitude of an excavating cutter is calculated in a rocking magnitude control aiding system portion (16a) in response to the adjusted signal from the group of the first sensors. An optimal cutter torque control operating information is calculated in a cutter torque control aiding system portion (16b) in response to an adjusted signal from the second sensor, and the both results of calculation are displayed on a display output device (17).

Conventionally, an orientation control and a torque control of a cutter drum in a small diameter pipe shielding machine or an excavating type underground advancing machine have been performed relying on perception and experience of operators.
FIG. 26 shows the conventional method of control for the advancing machine, in which steps of detecting errors in vertical and horizontal directions, pitching angle, yawing angle of an excavation head by means of a sensor group, and of determination of a rocking magnitude according to a judgement of the operator based on the detected data are performed during an interval between "rear propelling jack contraction" and "rear propelling pin insertion". The rocking magnitude of a cutter drum is controlled on the basis of the determined value.
On the other hand, at this time, a hydraulic pressure of an actuator for rotatingly driving the cutter drum is constantly monitored for performing control operation of the cutter torque while the rear propelling jack is advanced.
In the above-mentioned conventional control method, a problem is encountered in significant variation of a precision in construction of a tunnel depending upon the skill of the operator for reliance to the operators' perception and experience, as set forth above.

System for aiding operation of excavating type underground advancing machine


A lift unit for a vertical take-off and landing type aerial vehicle. A smooth, cylindrical rotor, rotating at a high rate, as close as is practicable to the smooth, inside of a half-cylindrical, cradle-shaped stator, generates lift. While there is no up or down force within the very small space between the rotor and stator, there is reduced aerodynamic pressure on the exposed upper half of the rotor. Atmospheric pressure remains normal beneath the stator, producing considerable lift. Panels designed to slide over portions of the rotor, vary the lift, either uniformly or differentially to provide control. The streamlined unit is attached in a plurality to the wing of a conventionally configured, fixed-wing aircraft with the axis of the rotor aligned parallel to the thrust line of the vehicle. This lift unit is very efficient and produces no downward efflux, facilitating rescue operations.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a means for lifting and supporting an aerial vehicle.
2. Prior Art
Various means to accomplish vertical take-off and landing are known, such as rotating airfoils used on autogyros, helicopters, and tilt-wing aircraft. The autogyro requires forward motion of the entire vehicle, partially negating the advantage of being able to use a small take-off and landing area. The helicopter requires, comparatively, a large amount of power, because of the aerodynamic drag on the rotor, leading to inefficiencies. The helicopter is also mechanically complex, requiring swash plates, push rods, and anti-torque measures. The helicopter generates a lot of sound due to the beating of the air by the rotor blades. Another major drawback is that the forward velocity of the vehicle, as a whole, is limited because of the additive speeds of the vehicle and the forwardly advancing blade approaching mach one, disrupting and unbalancing lift. The helicopter also generates a great amount of downward efflux.
The vectored thrust machine has the same problem of excessive downward efflux, since it is dependent upon the action/reaction principle.
The tilt-wing aircraft is complex, mechanically, requiring an engine of a weight and class able to produce enormous thrust for take-off, making the craft heavy and overpowered for cruising flight.
The vertiplane, utilizing oversized propellers blowing air over a highly cambered wing with large flaps, has been marginally successful, but also requires a lot of power for relatively small payloads.
A device, reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,962 (Nov. 20, 2001) to Sampio, addresses some of these problems, but is not configured in the most advantageous way for cruising flight. The rotor element of this device also sets the air into motion relative to itself, leading to inefficiencies. Since the rotor of this device depends upon the viscosity of the air to cause the air to be put into motion with the rough rotor, essentially the thin boundary layer moves in unison with the rotor, with motion diminishing quickly as distance from the rotor increases.
The inventor of this device was also concerned about external turbulence, to the extent of his adding to his device a peripheral wall to shield its negative effect.
The Sampio device does not seem to lend itself well to streamlining. It would appear that the bladed version mentioned by the inventor would be the most likely to succeed, but is not significantly different in principle to the vertiplane, except that air is set in motion only over the upper surface of the planar element and not the under surface.
Another device, reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,892 (Dec. 17, 1991) to Alfred C. Carrington, uses two contra-rotating, inflow ducted fans to force a great deal of air into a plenum chamber, and then to a central nozzle to direct the efflux downward, utilizing the action/reaction principle. This arrangement requires stabilizing devices, which are complex, since the vehicle is balanced on and rises on a narrow column of efflux.
Most of the successful vertical take-off vehicles to date are to some extent dependent upon the action/reaction principle, or a combination of that principle and the Bernoulli and Coanda effects, for example, inflow of air over a curved, circular lip to produce lift by the Bernoulli effect. This means that such vehicles literally rise aloft on a powerful, downward directed efflux, which would be desirable to be limited or eliminated, as long as the vertical take-off capacity is still achieved.
Other aerodynamic devices, of which I am aware, are airfoils employing the Bernoulli and Coanda effects, as well as, devices utilizing the Magnus effect, such as the Flettner ship propulsion rotor, which requires an existing wind to create a differential force.

Lift unit for vertical take-off and landing aerial vehicle


Mis-wired addressable loops are determined by enabling all loops and identifying all devices communicating on all loops. A list of all identified devices is recorded. One at a time, each loop is disconnected, a list of devices that are disabled is determined and recorded for the disconnected loop, and the loop is reconnected. When all of the loops have been processed, the lists of disabled devices are compared and those devices that are wired improperly are determined.

A fire alarm system can be installed such that it has multiple circuits that are terminated adjacent to each other. Of interest is the case where these circuits are addressable loops that are used to communicate to multiple circuits of addressable fire alarm devices. In some cases, these wires are part of a cable in which the conductors are bundled together and which aids in properly identifying the pairs of wires.
In other cases, for example using THHN wire, the wires are discrete conductors. In these situations, the wires are commonly colored to identify polarity. It is possible to mix up the wires such that a black and white wire pair will terminate as a circuit when in fact they are wired to different loops of devices. This mis-wire may not be detected, since each circuit is complete across multiple loops. However, if a wiring fault, such as a short circuit, should develop on one loop, two loops will be affected.

Method and apparatus for determining mis-wired addressable loops


When an information processing apparatus detects an operation in which three different points on a displayed image are touched and, while fixing one of the three points, the remaining two points are moved, the information processing apparatus displays side by side the image enlarged or reduced in response to the movement of the two points and the image neither enlarged nor reduced.

In recent years, apparatuses having a touch panel on their display unit for displaying an image have been generally used. Such apparatuses are known to enlarge a display image through touch panel operations such as opening two fingers held in contact with the touch panel (a pinch-out operation), or quickly tapping twice (a double-tap operation).
However, when a user enlarges a part of an image displayed on the touch panel, an edge portion of the image disappears from the display area. Therefore, if the user wants to see again the portion of the image which has once disappeared from the display area, the user needs to perform operations such as reducing the enlarged image to the original size, or sliding the enlarged image to display the target portion of the image.
To improve the convenience of such operations, a technique for switching between an enlarged image and an original size image by inputting a user's gesture to a touch panel has been devised (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-122444).
According to the above-described conventional technique, although troublesome required operations have been reduced to a certain extent, it is not possible to show the user both the enlarged image and the original size image (an image portion the user wants to see) at the same time.

Information processing apparatus, method for controlling display, and storage medium


A projectile includes a housing and a slot formed in the housing. A deployable flight surface is inside the housing. A cover is attached to the housing and covers the slot. A cutter is adjacent the cover and moves in the slot and slices the cover to open the slot and allow deployment of the flight surface through the slot.

The present disclosure relates to projectiles and seals for covering slots and holes in the fuselage of a projectile.
Aerial projectiles, such as rockets, missiles, and other similar munitions, utilize deployable flight surfaces to stabilize the projectiles in flight and/or to selectively guide and steer the projectiles during flight to their destinations and targets. These deployable flight surfaces include various fins, wings, canards, airfoils and the like, which are typically stowed inside the fuselage of a projectile prior to launch. With the flight surfaces stowed inside the fuselage, the projectile has a simple profile that allows compact storage of the projectile and launching of the projectile from a tube launcher or similar enclosure. The flight surfaces are deployed immediately or sometime after launch and extend through the fuselage via slots formed in the fuselage. In some projectile designs, the flight surfaces deploy immediately after exiting the launch tube or enclosure because the tube or enclosure was the only remaining impediment to deployment and the forces acting on the projectile cause the flight surfaces to deploy through the slots. In other more-complex designs, actuators are provided inside the fuselage that selectively deploy the flight surfaces through the slots.
While the slots in the fuselage allow deployment of the flight surfaces, the slots may also allow ingress of natural contaminants, such as moisture, dust, and ice, into the sensitive interior of the fuselage. The slots may also allow rocket motor exhaust created at launch to enter the fuselage, especially in systems where multiple projectiles are fired from the same launcher, such as the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
Recently, attempts have been made to seal the slot while the flight surfaces are stowed. One method used in the past to seal the slots includes a frangible seal that is shattered or torn by the flight surface when the flight surface deploys. This method is undesirable because a relatively large and heavy actuator is required to generate enough force to not only deploy the flight surface but deploy the flight surface with enough force to break through the seal. Another method uses small charges to detach and blow off a cover from the slot. This method is disadvantageous because the method is complex and the exhaust from the charges may contaminate the interior of the projectile. Another method uses a retractable cover, however, this system requires the addition of actuators and additional space to accommodate the actuators and the retractable cover, which adds cost and complexity to the projectile. A seal is needed that is simple and does not require complex and/or heavy actuators to open the seal.

Pre-slit membrane slot cover for a projectile


An expandable collet body and anchor system incorporating a collet body anti-rotation feature and preferably collet body translation arresting means are disclosed. The collet body includes a first end, a first wall portion having at least two fingers, a second end including a head, a second wall portion, an annular protrusion and anti-rotation means where the anti-rotation means engages with an auxiliary structure defining a hole having an internal surface adapted to translationally accept the collet body and operatively function with the collet body anti-rotation means. The auxiliary may include a work piece to be optionally joined to another structure or a sleeve insert locatable in a hole defined by a work piece. Because the collet body is relatively free to translate within the auxiliary structure, a wide spectrum of work piece depths can be engaged with a single length collet body with the use of a stud to radially expand the fingers, thereby engaging a distal structure.

In the field of non-permanent floor panel attachment, a nut and bolt combination has almost always been employed. A simple method involves directly passing a threaded bolt (or stud) through the front side of a passageway between the floor panel and underlying structure, and attaching a likewise threaded nut located on the backside of the passage to the bolt (stud) (in the case of a threaded stud, nuts are positioned at the front and backside of the passage to engage with the stud). Torque is then applied to the nut(s) with respect to the bolt (stud) in order to tighten the floor panel to the underlying structure.
A more sophisticated installation uses a potted-in insert installed in an enlarged passageway in the floor panel, the insert having an internal passageway that cooperatively receives a stud or bolt in general—a countersunk headed machine screw being preferred. This is particularly useful when the floor panels are made up of a honeycombed composite material that is easily distorted via torque and compression, and the insert is bonded to said material. Usual installation involves an insert with topside that resides near the front side of the passageway, and a bottom side that has an enlarged bonding flange and resides near the interface between the floor panel and the underlying structure. The topside of the insert is either swaged or not swaged to form fit the front side of the floor panel, and the enlarged bonding flange has a bonding surface that facilitates the bonding of the insert to the floor panel. However, any combination of bonding flanges and swaging operations may be used to install the insert into the floor panels, including a two-piece insert that has two bonding surfaces, one on each face of the floor panel.
An even more elaborate and industry preferred method for attaching floor panels to underlying structure involves using the aforementioned potted-in insert, the insert being installed in a honeycomb or similar floor panel; attaching a nut-plate element to the backside of the passageway in the underlying structure; and a countersunk headed screw being inserted through the passage way in the insert, and being torqued with respect to the nut-plate element, the nut-plate element being held by various methods to the underlying structure. Said torque rotates the countersunk screw with respect to the nut-plate element, thus causing subsequent tightening of the floor panel to the underlying structure.
The nut element of the prior art has many variations, two of the more popular being a nut-plate and a clip-nut. The nut-plate variation has a nut element being captured in a formed plate—said nut is captured such that it is centrally located over a center hole in the plate and offers small lateral misalignments. In addition, the plate which holds the nut element also has a least two additional holes located near the edges of the plate to serve as attachment points to the structure; the entire nut-plate being riveted through those holes to the underlying structure with the center hole located in line with the passageway in the underlying structure.
The clip-nut variation of the nut-plate element has a nut being captured or formed in a "U" shaped plate. The opening of the "U" shaped plate is sized to match the structure it is mounted on and the nut element is placed to be in line with the structure. The nut is captured and held tightly on the bottom outer portion of the "U" shape by a formed return tab. The return tab is structured so the nut is held in alignment over the through hole or passageway, and held from rotating with respect to the plate element.
Current manufacturing methods in the aerospace industry commonly use nut-plates and clip-on nut-plates to fasten panels to underlying structure, as described above. However, these existing methods often are accompanied by substantial detrimental consequences that result in costly reworks and delays.
In the existing manufacturing process, riveted-on nut-plates can be used in places where clip-on nut-plates do not have adequate throat depth to span the distance between the passageway and the edge of the underlying structure. However, the installation of riveted on nut-plates is time consuming and requires expensive specialized equipment. One installation can typically take 15 minutes to complete as specialized equipment must drill the main center hole in the underlying structure plus two additional smaller holes through which rivets are installed. Both rivets act as a torque reacting element and hold the nut-plate to the structure when not engaged in fastening. The nut-plate must then be riveted to the underlying structure using still more specialized equipment. Special care must be taken during this process not to misalign or mis-locate the rivets or the rivet holes as such misalignment can result in a variety of problems, e.g., replacement of the entire structure, an extremely expensive process.
In addition to the foregoing, the lateral float of a riveted nut-plate can be eliminated in later coating processes commonly used to prevent corrosion. In effect, the nut can be frozen in an out of alignment condition by sealants or corrosion resistant coatings, thus preventing the bolt from engaging the nut element during subsequent torquing operations.
Clip-on nut-plates are preferred over the riveted-on variety, as they do not require specialized equipment and processes. As described above, they are simply installed sideways onto the structure—the open end of the "U" shape is bent together to form a type of spring with clamping force and is inserted laterally onto the structure so that the structure is sandwiched between the top and bottom of the "U" element. The closed side of the "U" element serves as the torque reacting feature. The slightly bent "U"—now open after insertion over the structural element—provides a slight spring like clamping to hold it in position when not engaged. The top of the "U" portion has a bent down locator tab, which axial locates the clip-on nut-plate to the hole in the structure. This locator tab is usually undersized, thus allowing the nut-plate to move laterally within the range determined by the size difference between the hole in the structure and the locator tab.
Unfortunately, the locator tab has a sharp edge that scratches the surface of the underlying structure every time a clip nut is removed or installed, even when the underlying structure is treated with anti-corrosion coatings. The associated scratches resulting from clip nut installation and removal provide corrosion starting points. In addition, the back of the "U"-shape, which acts as a torque reactor, nicks and rubs against the underlying structure, further providing corrosion starting points.
It is also important to note that while each nut-plate design has unique problems associated with their use, they also share common disadvantages as described below. Both designs utilize thread-locking devices, which are required to provide a certain level of resistance to vibration forces that tend to loosen fasteners over a period of time during the operation of the aircraft. These thread locking devices are most commonly mechanical in nature and constitute mechanically deforming the nut. The purpose of the thread distortion is to providing a continuous preload on the threads to resist vibration. Therefore, additional torque must be applied to overcome the thread-locking feature while applying the specified clamping force.
It is also difficult to control the accuracy of the thread-locking measures. Sometimes the deformation is too extreme, causing a stud to freeze within the nut upon installation. Other times, the deformation is inadequate, and the fastener vibrates loose over time.
Another major disadvantage of these types of nut-plates share is that they require access to both sides of the structure—they are not true blind side fasteners. For instance, if an individual nut element is damaged or faulty (too much distortion on the thread-locking devices) and must be replaced during installation of a floor panel, the entire floor panel and all subsequently installed studs must be removed in order to gain access to the faulty nut-plate. Also, additional labor is required to install each nut-plate, then place the floor panel into position, then attach and torque the studs into position.
Finally, the current nut-plate designs have some alignment difficulties. The nut element is not designed to find the installation center of the stud. The limitation sometimes results in damaging the threads on either the nut element or the stud—cross threading.

Expandable collet anchor system and method


Data having an ID code attached thereto is transferred via a network line. The ID code is detected by an ID code detection circuit and data is received by a data receiving circuit. An ID code detected by the ID code detection circuit and an ID code previously stored in an ID comparing register are compared with each other by a comparator circuit. Predetermined ID codes corresponding to an engine rotation speed and car speed, for example, are stored in the ID comparing register. A masking circuit for masking one or more bits of the ID code is provided in the comparator circuit. The switching state of a switch for controlling the transfer of data received by the data receiving circuit is controlled according to a comparison output of the comparator circuit. When the ID codes are coincident with each other, the switch is turned on, causing data received by the data receiving circuit to be transferred to a CPU. A plurality of electronic instruments can be selected by use of a single ID code by masking at least one bit of the ID code by means of a masking circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multiplex communication system for detecting an ID code attached to data received from a network and transferring the received data to an instrument corresponding to the detected ID code and to a multiplex communication system which may be used in a broadcast communication system used on cars, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the multiplex communication system used on cars, the types of data (such as the rotation speed of the engine and the speed of the car) are coded, attached to data as an ID code and transferred to a network. Each multiplex communication IC connected to the network detects the ID code, selects only necessary data from the received data and transfers the selected data to the CPU. This operation is effected to transfer only the necessary data among the received data to the CPU and prevent transfer of unnecessary data to the CPU, thereby reducing the load of the CPU. In general, a plurality of types of data are required by each CPU, and an ID code corresponding to data required by each CPU is detected by using a circuit system shown in FIG. 1 or 2 in the prior art.
The circuit shown in FIG. 1 has comparators of a number corresponding to the number of types of necessary data. That is, ID codes which are previously provided for the rotation speed of the engine and the speed of the car, for example, are stored in ID registers 11-1 to 1-4. The ID codes stored in the ID registers 11-1 to 11-4 and ID codes received are respectively supplied to and compared by comparators 12-1 to 12-4. The comparison outputs of the comparators 12-1 to 12-4 are supplied to an OR gate 13 to derive the logical sum thereof. When at least one of the received ID codes coincides with a corresponding one of the ID codes stored in the ID registers 11-1 to 11-4, a coincidence signal indicating the coincidence of the ID codes is output from the OR gate 13.
However, with the construction shown in FIG. 1, the number of ID codes increases with an increase in the number of types of data so that a large number of ID registers 11 and comparators 12 may be necessary, thereby increasing the size of the hardware. Particularly, since the comparators 12 require a relatively large pattern area when the circuit is formed in an IC form, it is disadvantageous when forming the circuit on one chip. Further, since it becomes difficult to change the number of ID codes after the circuit is formed in an IC form, it will be necessary to prepare a large number of comparators for allowance at the time of design. As a result, in many practical cases, redundant hardwares (comparators) may be provided.
The circuit system shown in FIG. 2 is formed to solve the defects of the circuit of FIG. 1 and effect the same operation as the circuit of FIG. 1 by using a comparator, a control circuit and a selection circuit. Like the circuit of FIG. 1, previously attached ID codes are stored in the ID registers 11-1 to 11-4 and the ID codes stored in the ID registers 11-1 to 11-4 are supplied to the selection circuit 14. The selection circuit 14 is controlled by an output of the control circuit 15 and one of the ID codes stored in the ID registers 11-1 to 11-4 is sequentially selected. The ID code selected by the selection circuit 14 and a received ID code are supplied to and compared by the comparator 12. The comparison output of the comparator 12 is output as a coincidence signal indicating the coincidence of the ID codes.
When the coincidence of the ID codes is detected by the comparator 12, the signal is supplied to the control circuit 15 and the succeeding selecting operation of the selection circuit 14 is inhibited.
With the above construction, it is only necessary to use one comparator which requires a large pattern area when an IC is formed so that the pattern area can be made small. However, with the construction shown in FIG. 2, since the number of comparing operations to be repeatedly effected by the comparator 12 becomes larger as the number of ID codes becomes larger, time for comparison becomes long. This is extremely disadvantageous for high-speed transfer, and particularly, for real-time transfer in a system used on a car.
As described above, in the conventional received ID comparison system, the hardware becomes large, and if an attempt is made to solve this problem, the processing time may become long, making it difficult to attain the real-time process.


According to a process for producing isomer-free 2,3-difluoro-6-nitrophenol, 2,3,4-trifluoronitrobenzene is reacted with an aqueous solution of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in the absence of organic solvent, at temperatures between about 20.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., the pH value of the reaction mixture is set at about 1 to 6 by acid addition, the resulting product is stream distilled and the 2,3-difluoro-6-nitrophenol is isolated after cooling. No organic solvents are used during any of the steps of the process.

It was hitherto only possible to are the compound in question by reaction of sodium hydroxide with 2,3,4-trifluoronitrobenzene at 25.degree. C., subsequent acidification until the product precipitated and filtering off thereof according to the equation ##STR1## residual isomer contents of 2,3-difluoro-4-nitrophenol (3) occurring.
These isomer contents could be reduced by extraction of the product with non-halohydrocarbons (Ihara Chem. Ind. Co., JP 62/181,241 A2), while in the extraction with halohydrocarbons only a product of about 90 percent purity was obtained.
The addition of polar aprotic solvents proved essential for carrying out the reaction in this method because of the low solubility of 2,3,4-trifluoronitrobenzene (1) and the alkali metal salts of (2) in aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution (Daiichi Seiyaku Co. Ltd., JP 61/246,150, 246,151, 246,171, 246,188, JP 58/135,840).
The removal of the solvent added (as a rule dimethyl sulfoxide) had to be carried out by extraction from alkaline solution by means of a further organic solvent (chloroform). After acidification of the aqueous phase removed, isolation of the product (2) was likewise carried out by extraction with chloroform (Daiichi Seiyaku Co. Ltd., JP 61/246,150, 1.11.86).

Process for producing 2,3-difluoro-6-nitrophenol


A support system for an air handling unit (AHU) including a first rail supporting the AHU and a second rail supporting the first rail. A vibration isolator is disposed between the first rail and the second rail to vibrationally isolate the AHU from the second rail. The vibration isolator includes a spring secured between opposed spring retainers. An adjusting member threadedly receives the upper spring retainer. The first rail structurally carries the guide member along at least two positions. An angle is secured to the second rail, and the second end of the structural member slidably engages the guide member. Rotating the adjusting member with respect to the spring retainer in one direction compresses the spring between the spring retainers to support the weight of the first rail and the AHU. The angle constrains the AHU to movement along the guide member.

Air Handling Units (AHUs) are one of several components in cooling and heating systems. They are an important component as the AHU houses a number of components used in the system to provide forced air for climate control in a particular structure. AHU components typically include motors, heating/cooling coils, and blowers as well as the required interface connections to effect such climate control.
The AHU is an enclosed interconnected framed panel structure. The framed panel structures have insulated panels that are supported between framing members, also referred to as raceways, to define interconnected rectangular compartments. AHUs are typically large and bulky, the amount of floor space required to accommodate the AHU being commonly referred to as a "footprint." Due to the layout of a particular structure, the AHU may be located in any number of locations, including rooftop installations.
To reduce the footprint, the AHU compartments are mounted atop each other. Since the compartment containing the blower assembly and motor is often mounted atop other AHU structures, vibration isolation is highly desirable. That is, by virtue of the operation of the motor and blower assembly, vibrations may be produced that could otherwise propagate to adjacent AHU structures and possibly to ductwork, generating noise or possibly causing damage to components subjected to these vibrations.
One attempted solution to this concern, U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,782, is directed to an integral suspension system for an air conditioning system adapted for mounting the air conditioning system to a support surface. Substantially enclosed spring support receptacles are formed at each end of Z rails for securing springs therein. A set of four retaining bolts is arranged within the spring support receptacles for contacting the outer periphery of the base coil of the spring when mounted within the receptacle to prevent lateral movement of the spring. The springs collectively support the Z rails which likewise support cross channels for mounting AHU components. However, this suspension system construction requires specially configured structural components that may add significantly to the cost of the AHU.
What is needed is an air handling unit construction provided with a vibration isolation device having a minimum number of components and no specially machined structural parts to minimize costs associated with fabrication and installation.

Vibrationally isolated support construction for an air handling unit


A system and method allows a legacy program to call a distributed service in the manner of the legacy program calling another legacy program. The call is translated and sent to the distributed system in a secure manner, with potential timeout issues potentially handled faster than would be handled by the distributed system, and the response is returned to the legacy program in the format that another legacy program would have used.

Distributed systems are computer systems that perform services over a network. Legacy programs are programs written for a mainframe computer system or other similar computer system, and written in an early third generation language such as COBOL or FORTRAN. What is needed is a system and method that allows legacy programs to call distributed services without compromising the security of the legacy system or requiring it to wait as long as a distributed services system can provide an indication of a timeout or other error.

System and method for receiving services provided by distributed systems


A personalized voice mail identification system is enclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention resides on a personal computer (PC) connected to a phone line via a TAPI-compliant or other appropriate device for enabling telephone functions to be performed by the PC. In one aspect of the invention, when a caller calls a system subscriber, a callerID code, if present, is detected and a determination is next made whether there is an ID recording comprising the spoken caller's name associated with the callerID code already stored in a database of the system. If there is an ID recording for the caller in the database, the recording is accessed and played to the subscriber as part of a call screening function. Alternatively, if no callerID code was detected or if there is not an ID recording associated with the caller in the database, the caller is prompted to speak his or her name into the phone, at which point the caller's name is announced to the subscriber and the ID recording is stored in the database in association with the callerID code, if one was detected. In another aspect of the invention, the accessed ID recording is incorporated into an audio message header of a message left by the caller when the subscriber is unavailable.

A voice mail system is a record and playback system that allows a caller to record a message for a designated recipient, or subscriber, who is not available to take the call at the time the call is received in the system. The caller's message is typically digitized and stored in a central memory device and associated with the designated recipient's "mailbox address." Only the designated subscriber can subsequently retrieve the messages associated with his or her mailbox address. The set of messages designated as being for a single subscriber is commonly referred to as the subscriber's "voice mailbox," although the messages for a single subscriber may be stored throughout the memory device, rather than being stored together in one area of the device.
In some voice mail systems, such as systems commercially available from Octel Communications Corporation, VMX, Inc., and IBM Corporation, if the caller calls from a telephone from within a PBX with which the system is associated, the system will identify the caller by name, by matching the extension from which the caller is calling with an audio file, such that the name of the caller recorded in the caller's own voice may be played, e.g., as a part of a message header, to the subscriber when the subscriber retrieves his or her messages from the mailbox. However, if a caller calls from a telephone that is not within the PBX, the system will only be able to determine, and perhaps indicate, that the caller is "an outside caller" and will not be able to provide to the subscriber the spoken name of the caller.
Another deficiency of current voice mail systems is that they do not support a user-friendly call screening function. For example, if a subscriber is desirous of receiving or avoiding only calls from a particular caller, it would be helpful for the subscriber to be informed, before he or she must decide whether to answer the phone, the name of the person who is calling. "CallerID" systems are available to indicate to the subscriber the name and/or telephone number of the caller; however, because this information is presented on a display associated with the telephone, rather than announced to the subscriber, the subscriber must be standing near enough to the telephone to read the display and determine whether to answer the call. This feature, therefore, has little benefit when the subscriber is in another room.
Therefore, what is needed is a system for identifying callers into a voice mail system by name, and using such identification for performing personalized caller identification and screening.

Personalized voice mail identification system


A constant current source comprises a FET, a bandgap reference voltage source coupled to its gate terminal and a resistor coupled to its source terminal. The width and length of the FET are configured so that the temperature coefficient (TEMPCO) of Vgs of the transistor offsets the TEMPCO of the resistor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to FET constant current sources and, more particularly, to temperature compensation in such circuits.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Integrated circuits (ICs) often require a constant current source; that is, a current reference that is both accurate and stable with respect to temperature and variations in manufacturing process. In the prior art, the ICs that implement such a constant current source are typically both complex and inefficient; that is, wasteful in terms of chip area utilized and power consumed. Constant current sources that are illustrative of prior art approaches include D. A. Badillo, IEEE Symp. on Circuits and Systems-III, Vol. 3, pp. 197–200 (May 2002) and R. Dehghani et al., IEEE Symp. on Circuits and Systems-II, Vol. 50, No. 12, pp. 928–932 (December 2003), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Badillo paper describes a CMOS current reference circuit that places a level shift stage between a feedback amplifier and a bandgap reference (BGR) voltage source in order to increase the temperature operating range. The Dehghani et al. paper also describes a CMOS current reference circuit based on a BGR voltage source and a CMOS circuit similar to a beta amplifier but modified by the inclusion of an NMOS transistor that functions as a resistor. The NMOS transistor is operated in the triode region to achieve a current that has a negative temperature coefficient and only oxide thickness dependence. The BGR voltage has a positive temperature coefficient that cancels the negative temperature coefficient of the beta amplifier.
Thus, a need remains in the art for an accurate, stable constant current source, which can be implemented in MOS technology without the complexity and inefficiency typified by prior art designs.

Temperature compensated FET constant current source


A latch apparatus for retaining a flexible circuit cable within a receptacle mounted on a circuit board comprises a latch body having a second planar side comprising opposing alignment pins positioned at a first edge and a second edge of the body. A second end of the body comprises alignment protrusions extending from the second end in a first direction. The second end also comprises clamping protrusions extending from the second end in the first direction. The clamping protrusions are a distance from the alignment protrusions equal to a thickness of the circuit board. A latch member extends from the second end. The latch member comprises a linear clip surface extending from the latch in a direction perpendicularly away from the second planar side, and the linear clip surface runs in a second direction and has a length less than a width of the receptacle.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to a latch apparatus, and more particularly to a latch apparatus for retaining a flexible circuit cable within a receptacle mounted on a circuit board.
Flexible circuit cables are used extensively in modern electronic devices to provide signal and power connections. Such cables are generally very flat (having a cable width that is much larger relative to the cable thickness). Such flexible circuit cables often maintain separate wires insulated from, and running parallel to, one another with conductive connectors for each of the wires electrically insulated from one another at the ends of the cable.
Low insertion force (LIF) connectors are often used as electronic receptors for such flexible circuit cables because they enable very low insertion forces. More specifically, low insertion force connectors maintain an electrical contact corresponding to each of the conductive connectors at the ends of the flexible circuit cable, and generally have a slot opening that has a thickness approximately equal to (or just slightly larger than) the flexible circuit cable to allow the flexible circuit cable to fit snugly within the slot opening. Such low insertion force connectors utilize frictional forces between the slot and the conductive connectors at the end of the flexible circuit cable to maintain the flexible circuit cable within the slot opening of the low insertion force connector.
In one example, print heads commonly utilize two flexible circuit cables to transmit electrical signals from the head interface control (HIC) board and wave amplifier boards within the print box controller (PBU) to the print head. At the print head, each flexible circuit cable is inserted into separate low insertion force connector soldered to the master printed wire board assembly (PWBA) on the print head. Once inserted within a slot on the low insertion force connectors, the flexible circuit cables are retained in place by frictional forces generated from a light clamping force applied to the thickness of the flexible circuit cables from electrical leads within the low insertion force connectors.
However, in order to make it easy for the user to insert the flexible circuit cable into the low insertion force connectors, sometimes the slot is sized to have a thickness that is large enough to generate low frictional retention forces. If the retention forces are low enough, this can create a substantial risk to physical damage to the device to which the cable is attached due to unintentional cable skew or removal. Therefore, due to the low cable insertion forces enabled by utilization of low insertion force connectors, cable retention force can be compromised.
High retention forces are useful in preventing the flexible circuit cable from inadvertently becoming skewed relative to, or completely decoupled from, the low insertion force connector. In one example, an inkjet printer can utilize 56 print heads with two flexible circuit cables per head, which yields 112 opportunities for failure at this interface, which could result in crossed leads and extensive physical damage to the print head or head interface control and wave amplifier boards within the print box controller.

Latch apparatus for retaining a flexible circuit cable within a receptacle mounted on a circuit board


Disclosed is a substituted sulfonamide derivative represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof ##STR1## wherein A represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, G represents a methylene group or an alkylene group, Q.sup.1 represents an ethylene group, Q.sup.2 represents an ethylene group or a trimethylene group, E represents an alkyl group or a group represented by a formula selected from formula (II-a) and (II-b) EQU - G - J - Z (II-a), EQU - G - Z (II-b). wherein G is as defined above, J represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and Z represents an aryl group unsubstituted or substituted with an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, or a heterocyclic group, and. X represents a quinolyl group, an isoquinolyl group, a benzothiazolyl group or a quinazolin-4-on group. The substituted sulfonamide derivative and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof affect the bronchial smooth muscle of a mammal, and are useful as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Various compounds have been proposed as a drug for the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as a vasodilator, a cerebral circulation ameliorator and a drug for the treatment of angina and the like. In this connection, reference may be made to, for example, European Patent No. 0061673 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,757, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,755, U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,589, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 57-156463, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 57-200366, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 58-121278, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 58-121279), European Patent No. 0109023 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,770, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,023, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 59-93054, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 60-81168), U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,783 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 61-152658 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 61-227581), U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,897 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 62-103066 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 62-111981), Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 32, 42-50 (1989), Agents Actions 28 (3-4), 173-184 (1989), and Pharmacology, 37 (3), 187-194 (1988).
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2-184673, sulfonamides were proposed as a drug for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification Nos. 2-073067 and 2-073068, quinolines and isoquinolines were proposed as a drug for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.
It is known in the art that N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-hexyl-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-3-aminopiperidine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,897 and N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamides disclosed in Agents Actions, vol. 28, No. 3-4, pp 173-184 (1989), Pharmacology, vol. 37, No. 3, pp 187-194 (1988) and European Patent No. 0109023 have not only a vasodilating effect but also a bronchodilating effect. It is also known in the art that N-[2-3,4-methylenedioxybenzylamino)ethyl]-8-chloro-5-quinolinesulfonamides have a brochodilating effect. However, the vasodilating and bronchodilating effects of the above compounds are not satisfactory.
Bronchodilators, such as xanthine type medicines and .beta.-receptor stimulants, are widely used as a clinical, therapeutic agent for the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. As a representative example of the xanthine type medicines, aminophylline can be mentioned. Further, as a representative example of the .beta.-receptor stimulants, isoproterenol can be mentioned However, these xanthine type medicines and .beta.-receptor stimulants have side effects on the heart and the like, and an intractable asthma which is not remitted by these medicines has emerged. Therefore, these medicines do not always satisfy the demand of clinicians.
In these situations, the present inventors have made extensive and intensive studies with a view toward developing a drug which is more useful for prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. As a result, it has been found that a specific substituted sulfonamide derivative, in which the S atom of a sulfonamide moiety has, bonded thereto, a quinolyl group, an isoquinolyl group, a benzothiazolyl group or a quinazolin-4-on group and the N atom of the sulfonamide moiety has, bonded thereto via a methylene group or an alkylene group, a piperazinyl group or a homopiperazinyl group, and an acid addition salt thereof, have strong bronchodilating activity. Based on this finding, the present invention has been completed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a substituted sulfonamide derivative or an acid addition salt thereof which has an excellent activity to inhibit bronchoconstriction so that it is useful as an active ingredient of a drug for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned sulfonamide derivative or acid addition salt thereof as an active ingredient, which has excellent bronchoconstriction inhibiting activity so that it is useful as a drug for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims .

Substituted sulfonamide derivative and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same


A personal shelter, such as a bivouac sack (10), tent or sleeping bag, for extracting internal moisture and venting. The personal shelter includes a top (14), bottom (12) and end (16) piece, and defines a foot end (17) and head end (18) at opposite ends of a longitudinal axis. The personal shelter also includes a first opening (40) at the foot end, a second opening (20) near the head end, and a semi-rigid duct (30) with an inlet end that is approximately colocated with the first opening and an outlet end that is approximately colocated with the second opening. The semi-rigid duct receives outside air through the first end, mixes the received outside air with moist air within the personal shelter, and exhausts the mixed air through the second end.

As will be understood from the following description, the present invention was developed for improving bivouac (hereinafter bivy) sacks. This invention may also find utility in other environments, such as tents and weather resistant sleeping bag shells.
Conventional bivy sacks are made from breathable materials that allow occupant produced moisture to escape while protecting the occupant from the environment, e.g., rain, snow, etc. However, an occupant tends to produce more moisture than what can escape through these breathable materials. Therefore, excess moisture accumulates within the bivy sack. On a foul weather day the occupant stores equipment and extra clothes within the bivy sack to keep them dry from the foul weather. This purpose is defeated when the accumulated moisture soaks the equipment and clothes.
A partial solution for improving the comfort in personal shelters is shown in the VL Wing tent produced by Mountain Hardwear. The VL Wing tent includes a square cross-sectioned, vertically hanging vent structure for promoting air flow within the tent. However, this vent structure is ineffective at decreasing moisture within the tent, because the tent fails to include coordinated vertical ventilation. The tent duct is oriented along an inverted V shaped path, having inlets to the outside air at the lowermost ends of the duct, and an outlet to the tent interior at the highest center point, i.e. at the apex of the tent. Because the warm, moist air inside the tent is less dense than the cold outside air, there is no mechanism to cause air to flow through the duct and outside. This design thus provides no effective mechanism for carrying moist air outside of the tent.
The present invention provides a new and improved personal shelter with improved moisture evacuation and ventilation.


A therapeutic hand exercise device includes one or more pliant sleeves (5) for attachment to one or more digits of a human hand, a chamber (4) provided in at least a dorsal region of the or each pliant sleeve (5), a liquid inlet to the chamber and a pump (3) for supplying pressurized liquid to the or each chamber. Each pliant sleeve (5) is movable between a relaxed state and a stiffened state in which the pliant sleeve forms a substantially rigid elongate member for holding a finger disposed within the sleeve in an extended position. A resilient member (6) is fitted to the palmar side of each pliant sleeve which returns the finger to a state of contracture.

Loss of function in the hand can occur for numerous reasons which include post fracture of the carpal, metacarpal and phalange bones, dislocation and injury of the joints in the hand, tendon injuries, nerve injuries (lesions), vascular impairment due to venous or arterial damage, muscular and skin injury. Causes of these injuries can be due to chronic and acute conditions and also as a result of trauma. Examples include sporting injuries, road traffic accidents, traumatic industrial injury due to crushing, occupational hand disorders such as RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), VWF (Vibration induced White Finger) and CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) plus other causes of nerve compression and burns to the hand (thermal, electrical or chemical).
In order to restore function, reduce deformity and reduce pain it is important that regular therapeutic exercises of the hand are undertaken. This is especially important following reconstructive surgery of the hand following complex fractures or burns. Other reasons for applying hand physiotherapy is in the treatment of degenerative chronic diseases such as (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative nerve diseases such as MND (Motor Neuron Diseases) and rehabilitation following a stroke (Acute or Chronic).
Some aims in applying hand exercises include improving blood flow, strengthening weakened muscles, reducing oedema and exercising paralysed or contorted fingers. Additionally it has been shown that following a trauma injury, the patient can be affected by Complex Pain Syndrome, which can be more problematic than the initial injury but is less prevalent if regular therapeutic exercises are undertaken.
Although it is recognised that controlled physical therapy can prevent or reduce long term problems such as distortion, contracture, pain and also improve the range of available movement, there are barriers to applying therapy. The conventional type of therapeutic exercises that have been shown to alleviate the above problems have traditionally been administered by a helper or specialist therapist. These types of exercises are commonly referred to as PROM (Passive Range of Movement). To ensure these exercises are effective they must be undertaken several times a day to prevent contracture. Each individual exercise can take at least 30 minutes and with a physical therapist having 10 or more patients to look after this can become impossible to achieve, resulting in patients not receiving the optimum level of therapy to aid their recovery.
In order to overcome this problem several devices have been conceived in order to reduce the time the therapist needs to spend with the patient by encouraging the patient to carry out the exercise themselves. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,421 for providing the user a means to perform therapeutic hand exercises. Other orthotic devices for treating contracture and providing rehabilitation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,547,752, 6,673,028, 6,482,168 and 4,907,574. Sometimes it is desirable to exercise individual digits of the hand independently and U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,554 describes a Hand splint and exerciser device that provides a means to apply tension to an individual finger against which the patient applies an opposing force.
Devices utilising pneumatic inflatable elements as a means to assist in moving the joints of the hand are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,369, 5,466,202, 3,937,215, 5,437,620, 5,152,740, 3,581,740, 5,020,515, 4,644,938 and 4,274,399. Generally these devices assist the therapist in moving the fingers away from the palm and cannot exercise individual fingers over the full range of possible movement with the patients' joints in a relaxed state. A Therapeutic Multiple Joint Exerciser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,258, which teaches a method of utilising air bladders and a combination of sprung steel strips to exercise different joints in the body including the hand. An embodiment is described in which the air bladders and compartments for the sprung steel strips is held in place on the dorsal surface of the hand and held in place by straps around the wrist and by straps around the ends of the fingers.
The physical practicalities of using air as an actuation means may have prevented the use of this technology in a commercial device. Because of the compressible nature of air, in order to generate sufficient force to extend a finger, either a small volume of high pressure air or a large volume of lower pressure air is required. High pressure is not desirable in this application and therefore the volume of the bladder needs to be maximised. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,258, large air bladders are described that extend beyond the length of the fingers, which in clinical utility may have some significant practical issues in patient compliance and likely prevent use of the hand for normal activities whilst in use on the hand. A pumping unit suitable for providing an air supply for such a pneumatic exercise device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,893.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,250A describes a therapeutic aid for treatment of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and similar conditions associated with nerve impairment. A device is described that consists of a wrist splint cloth that has bladders for liquid or air incorporated into the spaces between the fingers. The device utilises a separate pump and control system for inflating and deflating the bladders. Separate bladders are provided for extending and contracting the fingers.
Devices that also administer automatic therapy and do not require the patient to use their own muscles are known as CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) Devices. Generally these devices only require assistance from a therapist in setting the device up. Devices that fall into this category are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,250, 4,576,148, 3,937,215, 4,875,469, 5,765,228 and 5,261,393. The CPM devices in general use are typically complex electro-mechanical devices that require significant and skilled setting up, can reduce the mobility of a patient and are often very expensive.
An alternative means of providing an actuation force to straighten the fingers is described in EP421368 and uses an electrical current and a control circuit to intermittently heat a temperature sensitive memory alloy which provides a cyclic exercise. Generally the cost of memory alloys and their associated control systems have precluded them from widespread commercial use.
Each of the prior art devices identified is only intended to provide one of Continuous Passive Motion Therapy (automatic exercise) or Passive Motion Therapy (driven by the patient). The devices are generally not easily portable, tend to be expensive and do not generally promote patient compliance with clinical treatment programmes. Therefore there is a need for a therapeutic hand exercise device which reduces or substantially obviates these problems.