An improved apparatus, system and method of balancing a tire for a vehicle is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a new tire for a vehicle is provided wherein the tire incorporates a plurality of removable portions and/or attachments that may be removed from their position on the external portion of the tire to properly balance the tire about the wheel assembly. Further, a system and method is provided that may be employed to properly balance the tire without the necessity of adding metal or other type weights to the wheel and tire assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to field of tire technology, more specifically, to a tire rotation system that allows for automatic balancing of the tire without the necessity of placing additional weights on the tire to keep it in balance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The history of the wheel dates back almost six thousand years to approximately 3500 BC. However, even though the wheel has been around for centuries, the invention of the tire came thousands of years later. Over the course of time, the majority of wheels had been made of wood which guaranteed a rough ride and poor construction and maintenance to go along with it.
The evolution of the wheel was very simple. The wheel was constructed of a solid, curved piece of wood, then leather was eventually added to soften the ride. As time progressed, it became solid rubber which lead to today's tires, the pneumatic or air inflated, radial tire.
Early wheels were made of metal or wood but were not very durable and provided very little comfort in their ride. The first type of tire was really just a metal loop. There were many individuals that made contributions in creating the tire that we have today. The tires we have in today's society are much more durable, flexible and more reliable that the tires from just fifty years ago. More importantly, today's tires are far more comfortable than the old wood and metal hoop type wheels that came before the modern tire.
Rubber as a foundation of the tire has evolved significantly since its start. Early rubber did not hold shape, nor was it nearly as durable and long-lasting as it is today. Early rubber was very sticky in hot weather and became inflexible when it was subjected to cold weather. It could easily fall apart and/or snap if the temperature conditions weren't appropriate or ideal. In the 1800's, Charles Goodyear was credited with discovering the vulcanization process. Vulcanization is the process of heating rubber with sulfur. This transforms sticky raw rubber to form a pliable material that makes rubber a much better candidate for tire material.
Later in rubber development, tires were made out of solid rubber. These tires were strong, absorbed shocks and resisted cuts and abrasions. However, some of the problems with the solid rubber tire was that they were very heavy, expensive and did not provide a smooth ride. Even today, there are several types of tires that are made of solid rubber which allows for resilient tires that resist cuts and abrasions.
The next advancement in the tire industry was the invention of the pneumatic rubber tire. The pneumatic rubber tire uses rubber and enclosed air to reduce vibration and improve traction. The air filled tired that we use today came early in the life span of tires, but too early as it did not catch on for quite some time. The lighter pneumatic tire provided a much better ride quality, was much lighter and more cost effective to produce than the earlier solid rubber tires.
For much of the early 20th century, most vehicle tires were made up of an inner tube that contained compressed air and an outer casing. The plys were made of rubberized fabric cords that were embedded in the rubber. These tires were known as bias-ply tires. They were named bias ply because the cords in a single ply ran diagonally from the beads on one inner rim to the beads on the other. However, the orientation of the cords is reversed from ply to ply so that the cords crisscross each other. Many of today's classic and/or antique vehicles still use bias-ply tires as do many off-road vehicles.
The first introduced steel-belted radial tires appeared in Europe in the mid 20th century. The radial tires are so named because the ply cords radiate at a 90 degree angle from the wheel rim, and the casing is strengthened by a belt of steel fabric that runs around the circumference of the tire.
The Radial tire has ply cords that are made of nylon, rayon or polyester. The advantages of radial tires is that they typically have longer tread life, better steering and less rolling resistance, which may increase gas mileage of a vehicle. On the other hand, radials have a harder riding quality and are typically very expensive comparative to other types of tires.
One of the major problems with tires that are mounted to a wheel is that the tire can become imbalanced. This imbalance can be caused by a plurality of different factors including uneven wear, driving style, road conditions, weight, camber and a host of others. The imbalance of a tire may cause improper ride quality and can eventually lead to tire blowout. Properly balancing a tire requires that the tire and wheel assembly be removed from the vehicle and a specific machine used to determine if the tire is properly balanced on the wheel. If the tire is improperly balanced, a weight mechanism is attached to the attachment point between the tire and the wheel. The weight mechanism is typically a small metal attachment that is attached to the wheel assembly at a specific point to counteract the balance problem. When a sufficient amount of weight has been applied to the tire/wheel assembly, the tire/wheel assembly may be remounted on the vehicle and normal driving of the vehicle may continue.
Thus a need therefore exists for an improved system for balancing a tire that does not require the addition of elements, such as the weight mechanism to the tire for proper balancing of the tire for a vehicle. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.


The present invention provides a foot pedal for a drum that can clamp a hoop regardless of a board thickness of a hoop, improves an operability, handling and moreover, appearance, and increases a freedom of a setting the angle of a foot board. A pedal frame provides a hoop pushing apparatus that clamps a drum hoop. The hoop pushing apparatus includes: a hoop clamp with rotatability; a bolt that is provided at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp, piercing the hoop clamp, and can be adjusted in height; a hoop holding and binding lever that is provided at a bottom side of the hoop clamp with rotability; and a clamp holding mechanism that rotates and holds the hoop clamp at a certain height. The hoop pushing apparatus, upon clamping, holds and binds the hoop with a hoop receiving member and the hoop holding and binding lever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foot pedal for a drum for beating a drumhead on a bass drum by using the foot.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-167913, filed Jun. 8, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
This kind of foot pedal used for playing the bass drums has a hoop clamping apparatus for clamping a hoop (a frame for clamping) (for example, see Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-184461, Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032 and Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949).
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A-C show an example of a foot pedal for a drum in a prior art. A foot pedal 1 of the drum has a hoop clamping apparatus 4 clamping a hoop (clamping frame) 3 of a drum 2, and upon stepping on a footboard 5, a leg-power transmission member 6 is pulled down and a rocker 7 is rotated to a direction of a bass drum 2, therefore, a beater 9 attached to an end of a beater rod 8 beats a drumhead 10.
The hoop clamping apparatus 4 includes a hoop clamp 13 provided with rotatability on a supporting bar base 12 of a pedal frame 11, an adjuster bolt 14 attached at a back end side of this hoop clamp 13 (side of a player), a cam mechanism 15 rotating the hoop clamp 13 when the hoop 3 is clamped, and so on. The cam mechanism 15 has a cam 17 rotating the hoop clamp 13 and a clamp lever 18 rotating this cam 17. The cam 17 is formed to be substantially rectangular upon viewing from a side or to be oval (elliptical) and is set to the supporting bar base 12 via a rotation shaft 16 so as to be just under the adjuster bolt 14. The cam 17 is formed to have an external surface that is a cam-shaped surface, it is kept in a substantially horizontal state as shown in FIG. 4A when the hoop 3 is not clamped, and its upper surface touches an under surface of the adjuster bolt 14. The clamp lever 18 is attached to one edge of the rotation shaft 16.
When the hoop 3 is clamped by using the hoop clamping apparatus 4, a height of the adjuster bolt 14 should be adjusted corresponding to a board thickness of the hoop 3 beforehand, and a gap between a hoop receiving portion 12A of the supporting bar base 12 and the hoop clamp 13 should be larger than the board thickness of the hoop 3. Next, the hoop 3 is inserted into the gap between the hoop receiving portion 12A and the hoop clamp 13, and a bottom of the hoop 3 is mounted on the hoop receiving portion 12A. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4B or 4C, the clamp lever 18 is rotated substantially 90 degrees clockwise, and the cam 17 is raised perpendicularly. When the cam 17 stands up, the adjuster bolt 14 is pushed up, and the hoop clamp 13 pushes the hoop 3 by rotating in a counterclockwise direction around an axis 19 as a center of the rotation, therefore, the hoop 3 is held by binding with both the hoop receiving portion 12A and the hoop clamp 13. In FIG. 3, a symbol 20 is a rotation axis (shaft) laying across laterally and rotatably between a pair of bars 21 set right and left of the pedal frame 11, and a symbol 22 is an extension spring giving a constant rotational force to the footboard 5 and the beater 9 via the rocker 7 in a direction of returning. FIG. 4B is a figure showing a state in which a hoop with a large board thickness is held by binding, and FIG. 4C is a figure showing a state in which a hoop with a small board thickness is held by binding.
A setting angle α (height) of the footboard 5 of the foot pedal 1 for such a drum is varied in accordance with a preference of a player, and it is possible to adjust it by changing a length of the leg-power transmission member 6. In this case, a moving distance (rotation angle) of the beater 9 to the drumhead 10 upon stepping on the footboard 5 is kept constant, therefore, a moving distance (falling distance) of the footboard 5 is also constant regardless of the setting angle α.
In accordance with the conventional hoop pushing apparatus 4 above, the adjuster bolt 14 is attached at a rear edge side of the hoop clamp 13, therefore, in a case such that a setting angle α is small, when the footboard 5 is stepped on, there is a possibility that the footboard 5 may hit the adjuster bolt 14 or the hoop clamp 13, and therefore, there is a problem in that an adjustment range of the setting angle α is limited.
Moreover, the adjuster bolt 14 is set at a position under the footboard 5, therefore, a hand should be inserted under the footboard 5 and the adjuster bolt 14 should be rotated (screwed, or wrenched) upon adjusting it, that is, there is a problem in that an adjusting operation is troublesome.
On the other hand, for example, foot pedals for the drum shown in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032 and Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949 are known.
With respect to the foot pedal for the drum described in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032, it is constituted from a connection portion that connects the hoop of the bass drum to the pedal frame and that includes two members, an upper portion and a lower portion, formed in a shape like an alligator's mouth. These two members are supported by a shaft and can be opened and closed. These two members are pierced and screwed together by a wing nut. Therefore, upon clamping the hoop, it is possible to hold and bind the hoop by the two members in the shape like an alligator's mouth by clamping the wing nut. However, in accordance with such a structure, the hoop should be clamped by using a clamping force in order to clamp the hoop, therefore, it is difficult to clamp the hoop with a large holding or binding force, and therefore, there is a problem in that the hoop is easily disengaged from the two members in the shape like an alligator's mouth because of vibrations and the like upon playing.
The foot pedal for the drum described in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949 includes a cam member for rotating a hoop clamp body and a hoop clamp operation unit constituted from an adjuster bolt with a handle for rotating the cam member, which are on a base plate providing a front frame and their side of the adjuster bolt with the handle is protruding outward from an outer edge of the footboard while they are in a shape extended with an oblique angle in a direction from a front edge portion of the cam member to a side of the bolt with the handle. In accordance with such a structure, because the adjuster bolt is provided at a right or left side from the foot board, therefore, there is no interference between the footboard and the adjuster bolt even when the setting angle is small. Moreover, there is an advantage in that it is possible to clamp and release the hoop by operating at a right or left side of the foot pedal with good operability without being disturbed from the drumhead of the bass drum.
However, in a case of providing the hoop clamp operation unit protruding at the right or left side of the foot board, a larger setting space is needed for the foot pedal for the drum upon using, therefore, there is a problem in that settings of other drums or stands for music instruments are limited. In a case of providing the hoop clamp operation unit protruding at the right or left side of the foot board, there are problems such that it has a poor appearance and a larger space for storing is needed.


CPU writes display character codes corresponding to a liquid crystal display position to display RAM to cause any desired character to be read from character generator ROM and to be displayed. There are provided a scroll display line designation register for designating a desired display line to be scrolled and a scroll dot quantity register for designating the scroll quantity in pixels. A scroll register supplies, to a segment shift register, character data which is delayed by the designated number of dots with respect to the character data on the designated display line and causes the display line to be displayed.

The present invention relates to display control technology and more particularly to scroll technology for use in liquid crystal driving control, fluorescent tube driving control and the like as what is effectively applicable to liquid crystal control devices for displaying characters in a dot matrix form by utilizing, for example, character generator ROMs (Read Only Memories).
A liquid crystal display device utilizing a character generator as a display control form comprises a display RAM for storing character codes (hereinafter called "DDRAM"), a character generator RAM or ROM for storing character patterns such as character fonts (hereinafter called "CGRAM or CGROM"), a display address counter for reading DDRAM by adjusting the DDRAM to a position at which a liquid crystal display panel is driven, and a liquid crystal driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel. In this case, the central processing unit (hereinafter called "CPU") writes character codes corresponding to characters to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel to DDRAM. The display address counter reads the DDRAM sequentially in conformity with the position at which the liquid crystal display panel is driven and reads character patterns from CGRAM or CGROM with the character code thus read as part of an address. The character patterns sequentially read are then sent as liquid crystal lighting/nonlighting data to a shift register in the liquid crystal driving circuit, and all liquid crystal driving circuits simultaneously output lighting/nonlighting voltage levels at a point of time data on one line is stored so as to drive the liquid crystal display panel. The control operation above needs repeating as many as the number of lines of characters, line by line for display, because each character is made up of a plurality of lines in the vertical direction.
When the liquid crystal display device employing character codes is used to continuously scroll a plurality of characters on a display screen to the left or right, there are two methods that are considered feasible. One method is to scroll display characters by sequentially incrementing or decrementing the read start address of a display address counter for reading DDRAM to shift the reading position of DDRAM character by character to the left or right. Whereas the other one is to scroll characters by causing CPU to shift character codes within DRAM character by character to the left or right to rewrite the code. The present inventors examined these methods and have found out the following problems. In the case of the former method, a plurality of display lines on the display screen are simultaneously scrolled, though the load applied to the CPU is light. In the case of the latter method, all the character codes in DDRAM corresponding to a specific scroll display line need rewriting each time the scroll position is shifted from one character to another, though a specific display line may be scrolled selectively, and this makes the load applied to the CPU heavy. In the former and letter methods both, moreover, scrolling can be carried out only in characters and if it is attempted to scroll a plurality of characters continuously, the display characters will not move laterally and smoothly on the display screen, thus rendering the scroll display discrete and unnatural.
On the other hand, there is a bit map type liquid crystal display control device as another display control form. The display control device of this type is capable of visually providing smooth scrolling. More specifically, a liquid crystal display control device which is loaded with a bit map memory (hereinafter called "BPRAM") possessing lighting/nonlighting display data in pixels is used and CPU itself generates character patterns, directly writes the character pattern to the BPRAM, and rewrites the data stored in the BPRAM by shifting the data corresponding to a specific display line pixel by pixel to the left or right. Even in this case, however, the present inventors took notice of the fact that there had also arisen the following problems. In comparison with a liquid crystal display control device employing character codes, this liquid crystal display control device in question needs a large-capacity BPRAM, and also unavoidably causes the CPU to frequently rewrite the data in the BPRAM, thus making the load applied to the CPU extremely heavy. In order to carry out smooth scrolling, moreover, the liquid crystal display control device is of not practical use unless the CPU has high processing capability. As an example of a reference document describing display control technology with reference to character generator and bit map systems, there is "Microcomputer Handbook, p-171," published by Ohm Company on Dec. 25, 1985.


An intelligent computer switch is described. The intelligent computer switch has an automatic detection capacity to control a plurality of computers with at least one keyboard, at least one mouse and at least one monitor. The intelligent computer switch comprises an input port, a control device, an output port, and a plurality of computer connection ports. The input port receives input commands and data, and the output port sends output commands and data. While a series connection cable connected to the input port, the intelligent computer switch is determined to be a slave. While the series connection cable is not connected to the series connection cable, the intelligent computer switch is determined to be a master. The intelligent computer switch further comprises an on-screen display function and an authority-setting function with at least 4 sets of passwords for different users. Each slave generates a series number according to the sequence thereof and the master controls each slave according to the series number.

The wide proliferation of personal computers and networks allows people to utilize the networks to search for and provide information. Currently, network requests are higher, and network-related enterprises have to buy large numbers of computers and a lot of network equipment to satisfy user requests. For example, internet service providers and virtual host providers need to buy large numbers of server computers to rent to users. Because these providers may supply a fast network environment, a lot of companies are willing to rent their servers. The management and trouble shooting of these computers may become an important link. A larger server provider has thousands of server computers. Control of each of these computers requires a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. Actually, each of these computers spends little time on the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Most of the time, the servers need no peripheral devices for control. Control of every computer with a set of these peripheral devices would incur high operation costs and is not necessary. Such peripheral devices also waste space. In resolution of these problems, a computer switch with a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse controls a plurality of server computers.
A compact type of the computer switch can connect at least two computers and switch between these computers. The quantities of the connection port are increased to connect more computers by way of one computer switch. However, this arrangement still cannot fulfill the requests of a larger computer company. Hence, a series connection computer switch is designed for a larger computer company. More computers can be controlled by the series connection computer switches with one set of peripheral devices, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. The series connection computer switches reduce the quantity of the peripheral devices. Series connection computer switches set their series number with dip switches, a type of mechanical switch. Therefore, every series connection computer switch must be set with its own series number before use. If a series number is duplicated or a computer switch is not functioning, the series numbers must be checked and reset. During this process, all server computers must wait for a new computer switch to be set and installed. This wastes time and delays business.


A connector module includes a housing and a gasket. The housing is defined by a first shell and a second shell that mate at a seam. The housing includes a cable exit region extending along a cable axis. A passage through the cable exit region has an elliptical cross-section along a plane perpendicular to the cable axis. The gasket is within the passage of the cable exit region. An outer perimeter of the gasket in an uncompressed state has a non-elliptical cross section along a plane perpendicular to the cable axis. The gasket has an outer side engaging the inner surface of the cable exit region and an inner side configured to engage at least one cable received within the cable exit region. As the shells are mated, the gasket is sandwiched in a compressed state between the at least one cable and the cable exit region.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connector modules that include housings and cables extending therefrom.
In some electrical systems, an electrical connector, such as a plug or a receptacle, includes a cable extending from a housing. The housing holds electrical components, such as electrical contacts or a printed circuit board therein. The cable terminates to the electrical components within the housing. The housing of the electrical connector is configured to mate with a mating connector such that the electrical components within the housing electrically connect to electrical components of the mating connector. When mated to the mating connector, electrical power and/or data signals are transmitted between the electrical components of the mated connectors. The electrical connection between the mated connectors produces electromagnetic interference (EMI) within the housing. Electromagnetic interference is the disruption of operation of an electronic device due to an electromagnetic field caused by electromagnetic induction and/or radiation. The housing of the electrical connector may be configured to contain the EMI to prohibit the EMI from interfering with signal transmissions external to the housing, such as signals transmitted through the portion of the cable outside of the housing and/or other electronic devices in the surrounding environment. However, some known electrical systems fail to contain the EMI within the housing and electrical performance suffers as a result.
For example, EMI may leak through a cable opening in the housing through which the cable is received within the housing for electrical connection to the electrical components therein. The cable opening may be larger than the diameter of the cable such that the EMI leaks through gaps between the cable and the edge of the cable opening. In addition, some known housings are assembled by coupling two shells together, such that each shell defines at least part of the housing. The two shells couple together at a seam. If the two shells are not mated correctly, a gap may form at the seam, and EMI may leak through the gap out of the housing.
Some known systems use round gaskets that surround the cable at the cable opening for EMI containment. However, when assembling the electrical connector, a portion of the round gasket or a portion of the cable may get pinched in the seam between the two shells, thereby opening a gap in the seam that allows EMI to escape the housing. In addition, the cost of installing round gaskets around the cable may be prohibitive. A need remains for a connector module that provides better and more economical containment of EMI than prior art devices.

Connector module with cable exit region gasket


A system and method that allows digital audio files, either streaming or stored to be controlled and selected and provides an analog audio signal for broadcast by a radio or amplifier without interfering with the operation of the host PC. A remote device is provided which facilitates control of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for selecting and controlling digital audio signals from stored files or streaming digital audio signals and generating an analog signal to a remote device, such as an AM/FM radio or amplifier by way of a host personal computer (PC) without interfering with the operation of the host PC.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is an ever-increasing amount of audio content available as digital computer files, for example in MP3 format, (like those found at www.mp3.com) or as streaming digital audio, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 557,943, hereby incorporated by reference. These new types of audio content can be played on a personal computer with a sound card, but cannot be played on a radio or stereo that is designed to receive and amplify analog audio signals. There are several techniques for converting a digital audio source to an analog signal that could be used by analog radio or amplifier, but these techniques interfere with the operation of the host PC and would require use of the PC to select and control the audio, for example, on an analog radio. Thus, there is a need to provide a system which enables Internet-based or digital audio to be played, for example, on an analog radio without tying up a personal computer.

Structure and method for selecting, controlling and sending internet-based or local digital audio to an AM/FM radio or analog amplifier


Embodiments of a near-to-eye display include a light guide with a proximal end, a distal end, a front surface spaced apart from a back surface, an ambient input region on the front surface and an output region on the back surface. A display and a camera are positioned at or near the proximal end. A proximal optical element is positioned in the light guide and optically coupled to the display and the camera. A distal optical element is positioned in the light guide and optically coupled to the proximal optical element, the ambient input region and the output region. The proximal optical element can direct display light toward the distal optical element and ambient light to the camera, and the distal optical element can direct display light to the output region and ambient light to the output region and to the proximal optical element.

Heads-up displays, also sometimes known as near-to-eye displays, allow a user to view a scene in front of them while relevant information is overlaid on the scene, so that the user looking through the heads-up display simultaneously sees both the scene and the relevant information. For example, a pilot looking through a heads-up display while landing an airplane simultaneously sees the airport ahead (the scene) through the heads-up display while the heads-up display projects information such as speed, heading and altitude (the relevant information) that the pilot needs to land the plane.
In some instances it can be useful to couple a heads-up display with a camera that can capture the scene being viewed by the user. A potential difficulty with coupling the heads-up display with a camera is that of ensuring that the scene captured by the camera is the same as the scene viewed by the user, and that the captured image is correctly registered with the viewed image.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Near-to-eye display with an integrated out-looking camera


A non-vibrating capacitance probe for use as a non-contact sensor for tribological wear on a component. The device detects surface charge through temporal variation in the work function of a material. A reference electrode senses changing contact potential difference over the component surface, owing to compositional variation on the surface. Temporal variation in the contact potential difference induces a current through an electrical connection. This current is amplified and converted to a voltage signal by an electronic circuit with an operational amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to non-contact sensors for monitoring surface variations of a component part, and more specifically relates to a non-vibrating capacitance probe which uses a variable capacitor to measure the contact potential difference between two surfaces, generally on the same component part, and thereby recognizes surface variations such as wear of an object subjected to, for example, a sliding contact.
2. Technical Field
Mechanical systems such as heat combustion engines have components that are dynamically in contact with another body. These components are subjected to cyclic motions that can involve impact loading, shear straining, plastic deformation, frictional heating, and fatigue of subsurface regions. A combination of these mechanisms often leads to surface damage that impairs the performance of the component. In addition, the chemical interaction between the component surface and surrounding fluids also can accelerate surface degradation. Such problems, if unattended, can result in catastrophic malfunction of the machine and even compromise operational safety. In this regard, it is desirable to monitor the surface condition of a critical tribocomponent. The design of sensors to monitor the surface condition of the tribocomponents and the operation of machinery depends largely on the nature of tribological application.
A surface-monitoring method that exploits the spatial variation in the work function of a material is presented herein. The work function refers to an energy barrier to prevent the escape of electrons from the surface of the material. The work function is governed by the physio-chemical nature of the surface and also depends on the environmental conditions. From a tribological standpoint, the work function is a useful parameter for evaluating mechanical deformation features such as dislocation pile-ups and residual stresses. For example, it has been demonstrated that a metal subjected to different degrees of compressive stress exhibits a variation in the work function. Craig P. P. and Radeka, V., "Stress Dependence of Contact Potential: The ac Kelvin Method," Rev. Sci. Instrum., Vol. 41, pp. 258-264, 1969. The present invention is a non-vibrating capacitance probe as modified from that of the Kelvin-Zisman method, Zisman, W. A., "A New Method of Measuring Contact Potential Differences in Metals," Sci. Instrum., Vol. 3, pp. 367-370, 1932, that uses a variable capacitor to measure the contact potential difference (CPD) between two surfaces.

Non-vibrating capacitance probe for wear monitoring


A fuel cell system includes a stack for generating electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a fuel supply unit for supplying fuel to the stack, an air supply unit for supplying air to the stack, and a vaporizing unit connected with the stack and for vaporizing moisture discharged from the stack.

A fuel cell is generally known as an electricity generating system which directly converts chemical energy into electric energy through an electrochemical reaction between oxygen, or air containing the oxygen, and hydrogen contained in hydrocarbon-grouped material such as methanol and natural gas. Specifically, the fuel cell has a feature that it can produce electricity generated through the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without combustion and provides heat as a byproduct thereof that can be used simultaneously.
Fuel cells are classified into a phosphate (or phosphoric-acid) fuel cell working at a temperature of about 150° C. to 200° C., a molten carbonate fuel cell working at a high temperature of about 600° C. to 700° C., a solid oxide fuel cell working at a high temperature of 1,000° C. or more, and a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and an alkali fuel cell working at a room temperature or a temperature of 100° C. or less, depending upon kinds of used electrolyte. These fuel cells work basically on the same principle, but are different from one another in kind of fuel, operating temperature, catalyst, and electrolyte.
The recently developed PEMFC has an excellent output characteristic, a low operating temperature, and a fast starting and response characteristic as compared to other fuel cells, and uses hydrogen obtained by reforming methanol, ethanol, natural gas, etc. Accordingly, the PEMFC has a wide range of applications such as a mobile power source for vehicles, a distributed power source for the home or buildings, and a small-sized power source for electronic devices.
The aforementioned PEMFC has a fuel cell main body (hereinafter, referred to as a stack), a fuel tank, and a fuel pump supplying fuel to the stack from the fuel tank to constitute a typical system. Such a fuel cell further includes a reformer for reforming the fuel to generate hydrogen gas and supplying the hydrogen gas to the stack. Therefore, in the PEMFC, the fuel stored in the fuel tank is supplied to the reformer by means of a pumping power of the fuel pump. The reformer then reforms the fuel to generate the hydrogen gas. The stack makes the hydrogen gas and oxygen to electrochemically react with each other, thereby generating electric energy.
Alternatively, such a fuel cell can employ a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) scheme to directly supply liquid fuel containing hydrogen to the stack and to generate electricity. The fuel cell employing the DMFC scheme does not require the reformer, unlike the PEMFC.
In the fuel cell system described above, the stack substantially generating the electricity has a stacked structure of several or several tens unit cells having a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a separator (or a bipolar plate). The MEA has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are bonded to each other with an electrolyte membrane therebetween. The separator simultaneously performs a function of a passage through which oxygen and hydrogen gas required for the reaction of the fuel cell are supplied and a function of a conductor connecting in series the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of each MEA to each other.
Therefore, through the separator, hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode electrode and oxygen (or air containing the oxygen) is supplied to the cathode electrode. An oxidation reaction of the hydrogen gas takes place in the anode electrode and a reduction reaction of oxygen takes place in the cathode electrode. Due to movement of electrons generated at that time, electricity, heat, and water can be collectively obtained.
Here, some of the air supplied to the cathode of the MEA through the separator participates in the reaction, and the other air not participating in the reaction is discharged. The discharged air contains a large quantity of moisture generated at the time of generating the electricity in the conventional fuel cell system, when the non-reacted (or non-participating) air containing a large quantity of moisture is directly discharged into the atmosphere at a relatively low temperature, the non-reacted air contacts the atmosphere and its contained moisture is thus condensed.
As a result, the conventional fuel cell system needs to further include an additional unit for storing or recycling water generated while the non-reacted air's moisture is condensed. Therefore, it is not possible to make the size of the entire system compact, and a heat or an electric load due to the operation of the additional unit is further applied to the system to deteriorate the efficiency and performance thereof.


An emergency converter according to the invention is used in lighting applications for operation from an energy storage device in case of mains failure. The converter device comprises a charger circuit configured to charge the energy storage device and a microcontroller circuit configured to control the charger circuit. The driver circuit is preferably implemented in a coupled inductor boost circuit topology. The microcontroller circuit is further configured to control the switch based on a zero crossing of a measured inductor current.

Emergency lighting for a building relies on battery backed lighting devices that switch on automatically in an emergency mode of operation, when a power outage is detected. An emergency lighting system includes an energy storage device such as a battery, in particular a rechargeable battery for storing electric energy, a battery charger for maintaining the energy storage device at a predetermined charging level. A microcontroller is typically used to control the battery charger. An emergency lighting system further uses a lamp driver, for example an LED driver, a ballast or a converter for driving lighting means from the energy storage device for a predetermined time with a predetermined current in case of a power outage. Such emergency converter usually includes a switched mode power supply (SMPS) operating from a DC voltage supplied by the energy storage device and generates a required DC output voltage for driving for example LEDs of the emergency light. The emergency converter may be implemented for example in form of a boost converter or a similar circuit topology and includes an energy storage element and also a controlled switch. The emergency converter also requires a driver integrated circuit (LED driver IC) for controlling the emergency converter, in particular its switch in case of an emergency mode of operation. Due to the high switching frequencies employed in contemporary SMPs, the requirements with respect to timing are high, exceed the capabilities of cost effective microprocessors and usually met by dedicated application specified circuits employed as LED driver ICs for controlling the LED driver.


A cable connector is provided for coupling to and mounted within the internal cavity of an electrical box for securing an electrical cable passing through an opening in the electrical box. The cable connector includes a body having a first end positioned next to or adjacent the cable opening in the electrical box and a second end spaced from the first end and the cable opening. At least one and typically two retaining members are spring biased from the first end of the body and extend into a cable passage of the body toward the second end. A front wall is provided at the second end of the body with an opening for receiving the wires and forming a stop member to prevent the armor sheathing from passing through the front wall.

Electrical cables are commonly supplied to an electrical junction box for connecting the cable to electrical fixtures or other electrical cables. The cables generally pass through an opening in the wall of the electrical box and are secured in place by a suitable claim. Conventional cable clamps generally clamp the cable between the clamping plate and a side wall or bottom wall of the electrical box. This type of clamping arrangement generally relies on the smooth surface of the wall of the electrical box that does not adequately grip the cable.
Cable clamps are produced which are able to accommodate metal armor cable and plastic sheath cables. These devices include a stop member for the metal sheath to prevent the metal sheath from extending into the electrical box. Various clamping devices are known for clamping the electrical cable. Many of these cable clamps are mounted to the cable and then inserted into the opening in the electrical box so that at least a portion of the clamp projects outwardly from the outer surface of the electrical box.
One example of an electrical cable clamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,999 to Nattel which discloses an electrical wiring box and cable clamp where the cable clamp is attached to the wall of the electrical box. The cable clamp is a flexible member that overlies the opening in the electrical box bottom edge of the leg portions including upwardly turned flanges. The bottom wall of the electrical box includes ridges or score lines for engaging the nonmetallic cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,057 to Ross discloses an electrical box having a flexible flat retaining member attached to the inner face of the side wall of the electrical box. As shown in FIG. 2, the flat retaining member flexes to grip the surface of the cable passing through the opening in the electrical box.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,282 to Troder discloses a nonmetallic electrical box having a flexible metal cable retaining member attached to the inner face of the electrical box. The retaining member flexes when the cable is passed through the opening to grip the cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,641 to Bauer et al. discloses a nonmetallic electrical box having a cable clamp member that is inserted into the cavity of the electrical box. The cable clamp member includes an outer frame and a flexible flap. The flexible flaps bend upon insertion of the electrical cable through the opening in the frame to grip the cable.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0024596 to DiLillo et al. discloses a plastic cable clamp adapted for mounting in one of the openings in the electrical box. The cable clamp includes one or more flexible members capable of clamping the nonmetallic cable. In one embodiment, the cable clamp includes flexible legs that can bend inwardly upon insertion of the cable to grip the outer surface of the cable.
While the prior cable clamps and connectors are generally suitable for the intended use, there is a continuing need in the industry for improved cable clamps and connectors.

Push-in cable connector and electrical box assembly


Monolithic integrated optical semiconductor components with a buried ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) are used for optical communications. They contain active (AB) and passive (PB) waveguide regions. High absorption losses occur in passive waveguide regions with a buried ridge stripe waveguide, while passive waveguide regions with low-loss rib waveguides have reflections and leakage losses in the junction with the active waveguide regions. A semiconductor component (BE2) according to the invention has a buried ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) in active (AB) as well as passive (PB) waveguide regions, which is covered by a cap layer (DS). In addition the passive regions (PB) have a semi-insulating or undoped cladding layer (MS) between the ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) and the cap layer (DS). A process is furthermore indicated whereby a semiconductor component according to the invention can be manufactured.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a monolithic integrated optical semiconductor component and a process for fabricating an optical semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a semiconductor component is used for producing, regenerating and processing signals, or for switching signals in optical communications, particularly in optical transmission networks which operate mostly without any optoelectronic signal conversion. To that end active waveguide regions are monolithically integrated in the semiconductor component, such as e.g. lasers, switches, modulators, amplifiers or detectors with passive waveguide regions, such as e.g. passive optical waveguides, branching points, filters or couplers.
A laser with a buried ridge stripe waveguide, which is monolithically integrated with a passive waveguide, is known from an article by D. Remiens et al ("Buried Ridge Stripe Lasers Monolithically Integrated with Butt-Coupled Passive Waveguides for OEIC", SPIE, Vol. 1362, pages 323-330). The passive waveguide is also a buried ridge stripe waveguide which is covered by a p-doped cap layer. However high absorption losses in the passive waveguide are a disadvantage. In addition the laser is manufactured in accordance with a process comprising several steps which require the laser to be precisely aligned with lithographic masks.
Furthermore a monolithic integrated optical semiconductor component with active and passive waveguide regions is known from the publication of the European patent application EP 616 243 A from which U.S. patent applications having Ser. Nos. 08/198,830 filed Feb. 18, 1994 and 08/474,686 filed Jun. 7, 1995 claim priority. It describes a cascaded optical space switch which has a ridge stripe waveguide in both the active as well as the passive waveguide regions. Furthermore a process is indicated whereby this ridge stripe waveguide can be applied in a single coating process. A cap layer is not described in EP 616 243 A.
In many state of the art applications the monolithic integrated optical semiconductor components preferably use buried ridge stripe waveguides in the active waveguide regions. As is known e.g. from U. Koren et al, "Semi-Insulating Blocked Planar BH GaInAsP/InP Laser with High Power and High Modulation Bandwidth", Electr. Letters, Vol. 24, No. 3, 4th Feb. 1988, this waveguide structure is suitable above all for lasers because of the low threshold current, the achievable high output and the long service life, but it is also used for integrated amplifiers and switches. In contrast, as is known e.g. from T. Koch et al, "Semiconductor Photonic Integrated Circuits", IEEE J. Quant. Electr., Vol. 27, No. 3, 1991, the use of rib waveguides is preferred in the passive waveguide regions due to their low absorption losses. But the integration of different optical waveguide structures leads to technologically expensive manufacturing processes, and additional leakage losses and reflections occur in the junctions between the active and the passive waveguide regions having different waveguide structures.


A first (5) of the sheets has, near the zone (6) of overlap, stiffening parts (74) designed to resist the bending of the sheet along the zone of overlap. At least one region of the first sheet (5) is made to project, cantilever fashion, into the zone (6) of overlap. The stiffening parts are located near this cantilevered region. A pressing mechanism of a laser welding installation (2) is made to press against another sheet (4) to hold the sheets in contact with one another at the zone (6) of overlap. The laser welding installation is used to weld the sheets together along the zone of overlap. Application to the welding together, by transparency-welding, of sheets of the external skin of railway vehicle bodies.

The present invention relates to a sheet to be welded to another sheet along a zone of overlap between the two sheets.
The invention applies in particular to the transparency-welding of external body skin panels made of steel sheet for railway vehicles.
Laser transparency-welding allows metal parts to be welded together at their surfaces that face one another in a zone of overlap.
To form a weld between these opposing surfaces in this zone where they are inaccessible, the laser beam impinging on one of the parts passes right through this part and melts the other part. The molten metal solidifies after the laser beam has passed, to form a welded seam.
The use of this transparency-welding technique requires the clearance between the opposing surfaces of the parts that are to be welded to be less than 10% of the total thickness of the zone of overlap.
This constraint on the clearance poses problems in applying this welding technique to railway vehicle exterior body skin panels because of the long lengths over which they need to be welded, it being possible for these lengths typically to be as much as 30 m.
In other fields and for small parts, uniformly spaced rams which clamp the two parts together along the entire length to be welded of the zone of overlap are used in order to comply with this constraint on clearance.
However, this solution would be particularly expensive for welding parts together over relatively long lengths, because of the proliferation in the number of rams.

Method for welding overlapping metal sheets and corresponding railway car body


In a pneumatic tire containing as an inner liner material a laminate of a film of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition and a layer of a rubber composition for improving the adhesive strength between the film and the rubber composition, the rubber composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of a condensate between a compound expressed by formula (1):

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-239905 discloses a laminate of a polyamide resin layer and a rubber layer usable as an inner liner layer for a pneumatic tire, in which the rubber layer contains an N-alkoxymethylurea derivative, and the rubber layer and/or the polyamide resin layer contains at least a resorcinol/formaldehyde condensate, in order to improve the adhesive property between the polyamide resin layer and the rubber layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-97644 discloses a laminate comprising two layers of polyamide resin and between them a rubber vibration insulator layer, which is composed of a vulcanized rubber composition containing as indispensable components (A) a diene rubber or rubber having a methylene group, (B) a vulcanizing agent, (C) resorcinol or a derivative compound thereof, and (D) a melamine resin, and is chemically bonding to the polyamide resin layers. However, the laminate is used in a small mount. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-97644 does not teach the use of the laminate for a pneumatic tire.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-42495 discloses a laminate comprising a rubber layer composed of (A) at least one of an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer rubber and a hydrogenated acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer rubber, (B) a peroxide vulcanizing agent, (C) resorcinol or a derivative compound thereof, and (D) a melamine resin, and a metallic foil and a resin film laminated on a circumferential surface of the rubber layer. However, the laminate is used as a gasoline fuel hose. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-42495 does not teach the use of the laminate for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen, a hydroxyl group or a C1 to C8 alkyl group, and formaldehyde, 0.25 to 200 parts by weight of a methylene donor, and a vulcanizing agent; and a weight ratio of the methylene donor content to the condensate content is 0.5 to 10.


A computer-implemented method and system for managing transaction card accounts involves enabling a transaction card account by a card issuer for use with pre-defined categories of providers of goods/services and goods/services sold and issuing a transaction card and establishing an associated pre-qualified category card account. Upon receiving data for a transaction with the transaction card at a transaction terminal by a processing platform of the card issuer via a card association processing network, the category of the provider and goods/services is interrogated to determine whether or not the transaction can be posted on the pre-qualified category card account of the cardholder, and the transaction is approved and posted to the pre-qualified category card account if the transaction falls within the pre-qualified category of the cardholder.

Private label credit cards are credit cards that have been branded with a specific company name. However, even though the name of a private business is on the front of the card, a card-issuing financial institution such as a bank actually issues and processes private label cards. Further, although they look like store-issued credit cards, private label credit cards have account numbers similar to major credit cards that include a unique sequence that identifies the credit card for a particular card association processing system, such as the MASTERCARD® card association card processing system.
Currently, certain industries are highly distributed in what can be described as a dealer-based type of environment, such as the health care industry in which there are many independent providers or the auto after-market industry in which there are numerous independently owned repair shops. In such an environment, in order for a card-issuing financial institution, such as a bank, to offer private label lending products to such providers, it is necessary for the financial institution to approach each one of those providers individually in order to sign each one up through a merchant services agreement.
In the current environment, it is also necessary for the financial institution to arrange for a merchant acquirer or acquiring bank and processors to process transactions for each one of such providers. In addition, it is necessary for the card-issuing financial institution to perform extensive system development work to enable those independent entities to produce and use private label lending products for their customer. Thus, it is necessary for the card issuer to have an external sales force that goes out to each of these independent providers and signs them up and to provide technology in their offices to enable them to acquire lending relationships and transact on those relationships.

Methods and systems for managing transaction card accounts enabled for use with particular categories of providers and/or goods/services


A non-aqueous hair leave-on composition directed to an aqueous hair leave-on composition for hair frizz reduction comprising from about 0.15% to about 12.0% of a moisture control material or mixture of moisture control materials wherein the moisture control material is selected from one or more of the Class II groups a, b, c, d, e, f and g and wherein the moisture control material of Class II is weakly to non-acidic and further wherein the moisture control material of Class II has protein binding higher than 10 and molecular volume lower than 1500 and log P higher than 0.5 and pKa of 5 or higher and hydrogen-binding higher than 4; and wherein, the non-aqueous carrier is selected from a group consisting of    a) hydrocarbons    b) silicone fluid    c) non-hydrocarbons volatile organic solvents or mixtures thereof.

Hair frizz is described by consumers as the appearance of unruly fibers at the top of the scalp and tips of hair as well as an increased volume through the bulk of the hair. Generally they see this frizz on days the level of moisture in the air is high. The appearance of frizz is undesired and it is often associated with a loss of shine and smoothness, which are associated with a perception of poor hair health. The common accepted mechanism causing fizz in high humid environments is that at high humidity water penetrates into hair and changes the chemical bonding interactions inside the hair. During styling, the consumer will create a 'wet set' where hair is blow dried or flat ironed to create the desired shape. During drying, water is evaporated from hair and hydrogen bonds (and other bonding interactions) are formed between the protein chains holding the style in place. As moisture diffuses into hair the hydrogen bonds (and other bonding interactions) are broken and hair returns back to its natural shape. For consumers who straighten their hair by blow drying or flat ironing, this return to a curled style is associated with a loss of alignment and increased volume. In addition, at high moisture levels in hair the fiber diameter increases which also increases the overall volume of hair.
The typical strategy to prevent frizz is to formulate leave-on or rinse-off products with surface-depositing materials such as silicone, oils, conditioning silicone etc. which make hair more hydrophobic and decrease inter-fiber interactions. At high levels these materials can also provide increased cohesive forces holding fibers together to prevent frizz from occurring. With these materials depositing on the hair surface a greasy look and feel is typically experienced, which is an undesired trade-off of frizz reduction.
Consequently, a need exists for hair products that are effective in controlling frizz and at the same time delight consumers by providing hair that do not have sticky or greasy feel. This can be achieved by using compositions containing Moisture Control Materials which penetrate hair fibers and reduce the amount of moisture absorbed by hair at high humidity. Traditional water-based leave-on and rinse-off products may be utilized to achieve that Non-aqueous chassis containing moisture control materials may provide higher smoother feel benefit on first leave on application than aqueous chassis. The inventors surprisingly found that many consumers find the in-use experience of anhydrous products more delightful than the experience achieved by aqueous products. We also found that, at high content of Moisture Control Material in an aqueous composition may occasionally show phase instability in comparison to non-aqueous composition. Thus, a need exists for the development of non-aqueous anti-frizz products that enable stable forms at any concentration of the Moisture Control Materials and at the same time provide a more immediate benefit and a delightful experience for the consumers.

Non-aqueous composition for hair frizz reduction


This invention allows a user to easily classify and manage image files by recording an image file obtained by image capture and an image file obtained from an external apparatus in different folders. For this purpose, a system control unit which controls an overall digital camera determines whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data captured in an image pickup mode or image data received in a communication mode. The system control unit then determines whether the current mode is the image pickup mode or the mode which allows reception. If the current mode coincides with neither of the two modes, since it indicates that the source of the image data to be saved in a storage medium differs from the source of the latest saved image data, the system control unit turns on a folder creation flag for the creation of a folder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus which captures and records still and moving images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital cameras and digital video cameras have been widely used, which capture still and moving images by using image sensing devices such as CCD sensors and CMOS sensors.
Such an apparatus records captured images as digital data files (captured image files) on a storage medium such as a compact flash memory card.
Many of these image processing apparatuses comprise interfaces for connection to external apparatuses, and can record images received from a connection partner as well as captured images as digital data files.
In general, such apparatuses record image files captured in this manner by using a file system (folder structure) using folders (directories). There is known a proposed technique of classifying captured image files by using folders and performing subsequent search operations (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-54041).
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-54041 is at best a technique associated with storage management of images captured by the user himself/herself. As described above, many currently available digital cameras can communicate with external apparatuses, and obviously can receive and store image data from external apparatuses (PCs, other digital cameras, and the like). When a digital camera stores images transferred from an external apparatus in this manner, the received images mix with the images captured by the user himself/herself in one storage medium. This makes it impossible for the user to determine which images are those received and which images are those captured by himself/herself.

Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor


To use CSI feedback information capable of sufficiently supporting MU-MIMO transmission and CoMP transmission in LTE-A systems, in a radio communication method of the invention, a radio base station apparatus (200) generates downlink transmission data including a report mode corresponding to a bandwidth to perform feedback of feedback information including channel quality information and spatial channel information, and an extension level of the feedback information, and multiplexes the downlink transmission data and a reference signal for feedback information to transmit to a mobile terminal apparatus (100), and the mobile terminal apparatus (100) receives a downlink signal including the report mode and the extension level, and generates feedback information associated with the report mode and the extension level to transmit to the radio base station apparatus (200).

In LTE (Long Term Evolution) systems specified by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), in order to actualize faster transmission, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) transmission is adopted in which a radio base station apparatus uses a plurality of reception antennas. By using this MIMO transmission, it is possible to perform scheduling in the spatial domain, in addition to scheduling in the time domain and frequency domain. As MIMO transmission, there are single user MIMO (SU-MIMO) in which a radio base station apparatus having a plurality of antennas parallel transmits a plurality of signals to a single user (mobile terminal apparatus), and multi-user MIMO in which a radio base station apparatus having a plurality of antennas performs spatial multiplexing to transmit to a plurality of users (mobile terminal apparatuses) (SDMA: Space Division Multiple Access). In this MIMO transmission, a PMI (Precoder Matrix Indicator) indicative of a transmission weight for each antenna is used in downlink transmission.
In LTE systems, scheduling in the time domain, frequency domain and spatial domain is dependent on channel states in downlink. Therefore, for scheduling in the time domain, frequency domain and spatial domain in the radio base station apparatus, mobile terminal apparatuses report channel states. As a parameter to report the channel state, there are the above-mentioned PMI, and downlink quality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicator) used in adaptive modulation/demodulation and coding processing (AMC: Adaptive Modulation and Coding scheme). By transmitting such PMI and CQI (Channel State Information: CSI or feedback information) to the radio base station apparatus as feedback, the radio base station apparatus performs scheduling in the time domain, frequency domain and spatial domain.

Radio base station apparatus, mobile terminal apparatus and radio communication method


A support coil for radially supporting an elastically expanded tube material includes an extruded profile body consisting of a plurality of windings wound about a longitudinal axis of the support coil. Each of the windings has opposing end faces. A ratchet arrangement joins the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support coil. A tongue and groove arrangement joins the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to a radial direction of the support coil. The tongue and groove arrangement is spatially separated from the ratchet arrangement.

Support coils are used to radially support a resiliently expanded tube material, such as an insulating tube or sleeve body, during the insertion of an electrical component therein. For example, the insulating tube and/or sleeve body may be used to electrically insulate and/or seal electrical components, such as cable couplings or cable plug connectors, in power engineering applications. Because high electrical voltages above 100 kV can be applied to the electrical components, the insulating tube is formed to have a thick wall and is made of a material with good electrical insulation properties, such as silicone. The tube material may be, for example, a cold shrink tube, and is formed to resiliently adapt to an outer contour of the electrical component such that the electrical component is insulated and sealed as tightly as possible. The tube material may have a diameter that is capable of expanding up to four times its original size prior to fitting of the electrical component therein. The electrical component can therefore be easily introduced into the tube material.
In order to keep the tube material expanded prior to fitting of the electrical component, a support coil is inserted into the tube material. The support coil resiliently expands the tube material and absorbs the restoring force of the tube material due to the resilient expansion thereof. The support coil absorbs, for example, compressive forces of about 10 bar. The electrical component is then inserted into the support coil. The support coil is then removed from the tube material to allow the tube material to tighten around the electrical component. Because the support coil is an extruded profile body consisting of a plurality of windings, the support coil may be removed from the tube material by manually unwinding or unraveling the support coil in a longitudinal axis. As the support coil gradually unravels, the tube material automatically tightens around the electrical component to be insulated. The unwound extruded profile body may then be extracted from the tube material.
In view of the foregoing, the support coil must be formed such that the support coil can permanently withstand the high pressure emanating from the expanded tube material and can be removed manually from the tube material. It is also important for the support coil to have a wall thickness that is as low as possible to allow sufficient overall space for the introduction of the electrical component therein. In order to meet these requirements, it is known to join together end faces of the windings of the extruded profile body of the support coil in a material-uniting manner, for example, by welding or bonding. It is additionally known to form the end faces of the windings of the extruded profile body of the support coil such that adjacent end faces of the windings interlock. Examples of these types of support coils are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,492, EP 0 619 636 A1, WO 93/22816, WO 83/00779, DE 198 20 634 C1, EP 0 399 263 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,223 and WO 96/24977.
A problem exists in the above-described support coils in that the material-uniting connection between the end faces of the windings is not uniformly tight. A non-uniform connection between the end faces of the windings can cause the detaching forces required for manually unwinding the extruded profile body to markedly fluctuate, such that manually separating the connected end faces can, on unraveling of the windings, become difficult or even impossible. Additionally, a non-uniform connection between the end faces of the windings can cause the support coil to break or fail under the load of the resiliently expanded tube material.

Support coil comprising a mechanical locking means and method for the production thereof


A network line equalizer includes a transconductance-controlled, tunable single zero high-pass, filter that includes a single zero impedance circuit, and first and second MOS transistors that output differential currents based on differential input signals and the impedance of the single zero impedance circuit. The MOS transistors act as source followers to convert the differential input voltage signals to respective differential current signals. The single zero impedance circuit connects the first and second MOS transistors, and causes the first and second MOS transistors to output a corrected pair of differential signals based on the impedance. The impedance of the single zero IMPEDANCE circuit is implemented using CMOS transistors, enabling the impedance to be dynamically controlled by an external impedance controller.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to network line equalizers having high-pass filters for equalizing attenuated transmitted analog signals, such as multiple layer transition (MLT-3) decoded signals, from a network medium such as a 100-BASE-TX Ethernet (IEEE standard 802.3u) transmission medium.
2. Background Art
Local area networks use a network cable or other network media to link nodes (e.g., workstations, routers and switches) to the network. Each local area network architecture uses a media access control (MAC) enabling a network interface device at each network node to share access to the media.
Physical (PHY) layer devices are configured for translating digital packet data received from a MAC across a standardized interface, e.g., a media independent interface (Mll), into an analog signal for transmission on the network medium, and reception of analog signals transmitted from a remote node via the network medium. An example is the 100 BASE-TX IEEE standard 802.3u receiver, configured for receiving a 3-level MLT-3 encoded analog signal at a 125 Mb/s data rate.
One problem with transmission of analog signals on the network medium is the attenuation of high-frequency components. For example, FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating the frequency response characteristics f(line) of the network medium. As shown in FIG. 1A, an MLT-3 encoded signal transmitted by the network medium encounters transmission loss in the form of high-frequency attenuation. Hence, the 100-BASE-TX Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u) receiver includes a line equalizer having a high-pass filter, having the frequency response (f (filter)) of FIG. 1B to compensate for the high-frequency attenuation from the network medium. One example of a high-pass filter is a single zero filter.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional single zero high-pass filter 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the high-pass filter 10 includes an operational amplifier 12, a capacitor 14 having capacitance C, and a resister 16 having resistance R. As recognized in the art, the high-pass filter 10 has a transfer function H(s)=S+Z, where Z equals 1/RC. Hence, the high-pass circuit 10 is considered a single zero filter, where S is a complex variable based on frequency.
A disadvantage of the high pass filter 10 is that a high bandwidth operational amplifier 12 is required for implementation. In addition, a direct connection of the high-pass filter 10 within a line equalizer may affect the impedance of the transmission line (i.e., the network medium), since the capacitor 14 and resistor 16 are in parallel with the transmission line""s termination resistance. In addition, the connection of the capacitor 14 is between the two nodes (VIN and VO), neither of which is a ground or a supply node. Hence, the high-pass filter 10 is extremely difficult to implement using CMOS technology, since a CMOS capacitor cannot be connected between two arbitrary nodes.
There is a need for an arrangement that enables a single zero high-pass to be implemented using CMOS technology with minimal effort.
There is also a need for an arrangement for providing a single zero high-pass filter using MOS transistors that provides a single zero filtering with minimal complexity.
There is also a need for an arrangement in a network line equalizer, where a high-pass filter includes a single zero impedance circuit that has an impedance that can be selectable by a control signal.
These and other needs are attained by the present invention, where first and second metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, each having a gate for receiving a corresponding differential input signal, are connected to a single zero impedance circuit for generation of differential currents and/or voltages based on the impedance and the differential input signals.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a single zero high-pass filter includes first and second metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, each having a gate for receiving a corresponding differential input signal, and first and second junctions, and a single zero impedance circuit connecting the first and second MOS transistors at the corresponding first junctions, wherein the second junctions of the first and second MOS transistors output respective differential currents having a difference corresponding to the impedance and the differential input signals. Use of the MOS transistors for receiving the differential input signals provide an infinite DC impedance to the input terminals, significantly reducing signal attenuation at the inputs receiving the differential input signals. Moreover, the MOS transistors provide a high speed operation due to the direct and simple conversion of input voltage between the differential input signals into operating current, where the first and second MOS transistor act as source followers. The use of the MOS transistor also results in an extremely simple high-pass filter that requires little area on a semiconductor circuit. The single zero impedance circuit also enables MOS gate capacitance to be used as at least part of the capacitance element of the impedance, advantageous for CMOS processes where the capacitance element with arbitrary node connection is not available, as opposed to node-to-ground or node to-Vcc only.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a network line equalizer configured for receiving a differential pair of transmitted signals from a network medium and outputting a corrected differential pair of transmitted signals. The network line equalizer includes a high-pass filter including (1) first and second MOS transistors, each having a gate for receiving the corresponding differential transmitted signal, and (2) a single zero impedance circuit having an impedance selectable by a control signal. The single zero impedance circuit connects the first and second MOS transistors, and causes the first and second MOS transistors to output the corrected differential pair of transmitted signals based on the impedance. The network line equalizer also includes a control outputting the control signal for selecting the impedance. The selectable impedance in the single zero impedance circuit enables the equalizer to be easily tuned to compensate for different frequency response characteristics, enabling the line to compensate for attention due to different length network media. The use of MOS transistors increases the bandwidth of the line equalizer, enabling CMOS technology to be used. Moreover, the connection of the single zero impedance circuit to the MOS transistor eliminates the necessity of a feedback loop, enabling the line equalizer to perform line equalization for high-frequency signals, without introducing any stability problems.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a method of equalizing a differential pair of input signals received from a network medium. The method comprises supplying the differential pair of input signals to gates of first and second MOS transistors, respectively, the first and second MOS transistors each having a first junction and a second junction, selecting an impedance of a single zero impedance circuit having first and second terminal ends connected to the first junctions of the first and second MOS transistors, respectively, and outputting a differential pair of equalized signals, generated based on the differential pair of input signals and the selected impedance, from the second junction of the first and second MOS transistors, respectively. Use of a single zero impedance circuit having an impedance selectable by a control signal enables a controller to select the impedance, for example based on changes in the line characteristics of the network media supplying the transmitted signals to the network line equalizer. Moreover, use of first and second MOS transistors for receiving the differential transmitted signal increases the input bandwidth of the high-pass filter, and increases the input resistance of the line equalizer to minimize distortion in the signal received by the network line equalizer.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Apparatus and method for equalizing received network signals using a single zero high-pass filter having selectable impedance


A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.

This invention relates generally to semiconductor memories.
Phase change memory devices use phase change materials, i.e., materials that may be electrically switched between a generally amorphous and a generally crystalline state, as an electronic memory. One type of memory element utilizes a phase change material that may be, in one application, electrically switched between generally amorphous and generally crystalline local orders or between different detectable states of local order across the entire spectrum between completely amorphous and completely crystalline states.
Typical materials suitable for such an application include various chalcogenide elements. The state of the phase change materials is also non-volatile. When the memory is set in either a crystalline, semi-crystalline, amorphous, or semi-amorphous state representing a resistance value, that state is retained until reprogrammed, even if power is removed. This is because the programmed resistance represents a phase or physical state of the material (e.g., crystalline or amorphous).
Conventionally, phase change memories are read without triggering the memory element. Triggering occurs when the threshold current (at threshold voltage) of the memory element is exceeded. As a result, the read current may be limited to avoid triggering. But limiting the read current to less than the threshold current reduces performance. Use of a higher current but limiting the voltage applied to less than the threshold voltage is sensitive to variation in threshold voltage and the voltage clamp which may reduce margin and inadvertently trigger the memory element, possibly causing the cell to change (read disturb) or be misread (non-repeating "soft error").
Thus, it would be desirable to improve the margin of reading phase change memories.

Using higher current to read a triggered phase change memory


A partial data acquisition unit acquires partial data included in digital data, a partial data specifying information acquisition unit acquires specifying information for the partial data, a combining unit combines the partial data and the specifying information, and a verification data generation unit generates verification data. Thus, it is possible to verify whether or not region data in image data has been altered. In addition, it is possible to verify that the region data is the region data in image data different from the original image data, and/or, it is possible to further verify that the region data is the different region data included in the original image data.

Conventionally, a signature method which aims to verify whether or not partial region data (not whole image data) has been altered is proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,779. More specifically, in the signature method proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,779 for a digital image, as shown in FIG. 17, an ROI (region of interest) of the relevant image is first selected (step S131), the hash value (i.e., the message digest) of the selected ROI is calculated (step S132), the calculated hash value is encrypted by a private key to generate a digital signature (step S133), and the generated digital signature is attached to the relevant image (step S134).
Thus, according to such a conventional technique, it is possible to verify whether or not the region data in the original image data has been altered. However, it is difficult in the conventional technique to verify whether or not the relationship between the region data and the original image data is correct. For example, it is difficult to verify whether or not the region data is the partial image data existing in the original image data, and it is also difficult to verify whether or not the partial image data is the region data at the correct location in the original image data. That is, even if the partial image data including the digital signature is falsely added to original image data that is quite different from the authentic original image data, it is impossible to detect such alteration. Moreover, even if the partial image data is falsely replaced by different region data in the authentic original image data, it is impossible to detect such alteration if the digital signature of the relevant different region data exists.

Information processing method and device, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium


An electrochemical device includes a case, a nonaqueous electrolyte filled in the case and containing a room temperature molten salt in an amount of 1 to 50 vol %, a first electrode housed in the case, and a second electrode housed in the case and containing a substance having a lamellar crystal structure. The room temperature molten salt contains a cation represented by formula (1) or formula (2) given below.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrochemical device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a lithium ion secondary battery or an electric double layer capacitor is promising as an electrochemical device used as a power source of, for example, electronic equipment or a vehicle.
An organic solvent based nonaqueous electrolyte prepared by dissolving an electrolyte in an organic solvent is used mainly as an nonaqueous electrolyte included in the electrochemical devices referred to above. It should be noted that the organic solvent is combustible. Therefore, in view of the improvement of the safety, various safety devices are mounted to an electrochemical device using an organic solvent based nonaqueous electrolyte, with the result that the volume energy density of the electrochemical device has been caused to be lowered.
Such being the situation, attention is paid to the method of using a nonvolatile room temperature molten salt in place of the volatile organic solvent so as to improve the incombustibility of the nonaqueous electrolyte and thus, to improve the safety of the electrochemical device. The term "room temperature molten salt" noted above denotes a salt consisting of a cation and an anion and capable of assuming a liquid form under room temperature. The room temperature molten salt is featured in having a strong ionic bond and, thus, is nonvolatile and incombustible.
However, in the case of a lithium ion secondary battery using a substance having a lamellar crystal structure, which is represented by a carbonaceous material, as a negative electrode active material, the cationic component of the room temperature molten salt is subjected to a decomposition reaction in the charging stage of the secondary battery, with the result that charge-discharge cycle characteristics of the secondary battery are deteriorated.
Under the circumstances, it is known to the art to suppress the decomposition reaction of the room temperature molten salt by adding additives such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and vinylene carbonate (VC) to the electrolyte used in the electrochemical device, as described in "Takaya Sato, Tatsuya Maruo, Shoko Marukane, and Kentaro Takagi, Journal of Power Sources, 138 (2004) 253-261". The additive such as EC or VC serves to form a film on the negative electrode in the initial charging stage of the secondary battery so as to inhibit the decomposition reaction of the cationic component of the room temperature molten salt.
However, EC, VC, etc. are incapable of forming a film in an amount conforming to the addition amount. Therefore, if EC, VC, etc. are used in amounts large enough to form a satisfactory film on the negative electrode, the nonaqueous electrolyte is caused to contain large amounts of EC, VC, etc. which are not consumed for forming the film. It should be noted in this connection that EC, VC, etc. are combustible so that it gives rise to the problem that the incombustibility of the nonaqueous electrolyte is impaired.
This is also the case with the electric double layer capacitor. Where a carbonaceous material having a lamellar crystal structure is used as the negative electrode material, a decomposition reaction of the room temperature molten salt is generated in the charging stage of the capacitor so that the charge-discharge cycle characteristics of the capacitor is deteriorated.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-149982 is intended to provide an electrolyte, which includes a room temperature molten salt having flame incombustibility and is excellent in the mobility of Li ions. The patent document discloses an electrolyte prepared by dissolving a Li salt in a quaternary ammonium salt consisting of a cation and an anion. It is taught that a lithium secondary battery excellent in the capability of acquiring a large capacity during the stage of the large current discharge can be obtained by using the electrolyte thus prepared. The substituent of the quaternary ammonium salt is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a group having a carbonic acid ester structure or a fatty ester structure.
However, it was impossible to obtain excellent charge-discharge cycle characteristics by using the electrolyte disclosed in the patent document quoted above.

Abstract: R1 includes a carbonic acid ester group. Each of R2 and R3 denotes a substituent having an acyclic structure and having 4 or less carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 are combined to denote a substituent having a cyclic structure and having 4 or 5 carbon atoms.

Abstract: R4 includes a carbonic acid ester group, R5 has an acyclic structure and has 4 or less carbon atoms, and R6 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.


A computer-implemented method for faster unmount of tape drives includes generating a batch file to be migrated from a primary storage to a tape media acting as a secondary storage. The size of the batch file is determined based on an amount of available storage space on the tape media between a position in a longitudinal direction of storage (LPOS) and longitudinal position three (LP3) on the tape media. The computer-implemented method further includes migrating the batch file from the primary storage to the tape media mounted on a tape drive. Upon completion of migrating the batch file, the LPOS is within a predetermined threshold distance of LP3 on the tape media.

The present invention relates generally to the field of hierarchical storage management, and more particularly to migrating data within a hierarchical storage environment.
Hierarchical storage management is a data storage process that moves data within a tiered storage environment. In a tiered storage environment, at least two types of data storage media are delineated by differences in attributes, such as price, performance, capacity, and function. Accordingly, whether data is stored in one tier or another is defined by the requirements of the data to be stored. Typically, data files stored on high-speed storage media are migrated to slower speed storage media if the data files are not used for a period of time.

International Business Machines Corporation


A virtualized storage system comprises at least one host, at least one virtual array, a backend array and a management server. The host requests storage operations to the virtual array, and the virtual array executes storage operations for the host. The backend array, coupled to the virtual array, comprises physical storage for the virtual array. The management server determines the efficiency for the virtual array. The management server determines an input throughput data rate between the host and the virtual array based on storage operations between host and virtual array. The management server also determines an output throughput data rate, from the virtual array to the backend array. The output throughput data rate is based on the storage operations that require access to the backend array. The management server determines the efficiency of the virtual array using the input throughput data rate and the output throughput data rate.

A storage system typically comprises one or more storage devices into which information may be entered, and from which information may be obtained, as desired. The storage system includes a storage operating system that functionally organizes the system by, inter alia, invoking storage operations in support of a storage service implemented by the system. The storage system may be implemented in accordance with a variety of storage architectures including, but not limited to, a network-attached storage environment, a storage area network and a storage device assembly directly attached to a client or host computer. The storage devices typically include storage device drives organized as a storage device array. In one embodiment, the storage device comprises hard disk drives, wherein the term "disk" commonly describes a self-contained rotating magnetic media storage device. The term storage device in this context is synonymous with hard disk drive (HDD) or direct access storage device (DASD). However, the storage device may comprise any type of device capable of storing data.
The storage operating system of the storage system may implement a high-level module, such as a file system, to logically organize the information stored on volumes as a hierarchical structure of storage objects, such as files and logical unit numbers (LUNs). A known type of file system is a write-anywhere file system that does not overwrite data on storage devices. An example of a write-anywhere file system that is configured to operate on a storage system is the Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL®) file system available from NetApp, Inc. Sunnyvale, Calif.
The storage system may be further configured to allow many servers to access storage objects stored on the storage system. In this model, the server may execute an application, such as a database application, that "connects" to the storage system over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private network (VPN) implemented over a public network such as the Internet. Each server may request the data services of the storage system by issuing access requests (read/write requests) as file-based and block-based protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the system over the network.
A plurality of storage systems may be interconnected to provide a storage system architecture configured to service many servers. In some embodiments, the storage system architecture provides one or more aggregates, each aggregate comprising a set of one or more storage devices (e.g., disks). Each aggregate may store one or more storage objects, such as one or more volumes. The aggregates may be distributed across a plurality of storage systems interconnected as a cluster. The storage objects (e.g., volumes) may be configured to store content of storage objects, such as files and logical unit numbers, served by the cluster in response to multi-protocol data access requests issued by servers.
Although this storage system architecture is capable of servicing many servers or hosts, adding more hardware may not suffice in addressing the need for more storage capacity. Often times data center space available for storage systems has not kept pace with increased need. The rapid increase in storage device capacity has helped; but even with this growth, real estate remains a limiting factor. Storage virtualization has emerged as an important strategy in addressing this problem. Storage virtualization abstracts the logical storage of data from its physical location. The available space on physical storage devices in a system is assigned to virtual pools to which hosts (or servers) can be attached. Virtualization can result in much more efficient and flexible usage of storage capacity; it can, for example, enable such capabilities as adding capacity on the fly and changing the allocation of storage capacity to computing device on an as-needed basis.

Determining efficiency of a virtual array in a virtualized storage system