A fixed bearing for a steering gear having a rotary bearing which comprises an inner bearing shell which is provided for receiving a pinion shaft of the steering gear, and an outer bearing shell which is accommodated in a bearing bushing, and having a pivoting ring which has an outer ring and an inner ring which are pivotably connected via one or more torsion webs, wherein the outer ring is provided for supporting the fixed bearing in a housing of the steering gear, wherein the inner ring of the pivoting ring is mounted and axially secured on the outside of the bearing bushing.

The invention relates to a steering gear for a power-assisted steering system of a motor vehicle, and in particular a fixed bearing for such a steering gear.
In most motor vehicles, power-assisted steering systems are installed which generate a supporting torque during steering and as a result reduce the steering torque which has to be applied to the steering column by the driver.
The known power-assisted steering systems are based on a steering gear which converts the driving power of a hydraulic or electric drive and transmits it to the steering column. Such steering gears are generally embodied in the form of a screw rolling gear, and in particular as a helical gear or worm gear, i.e. the latter comprise a gear wheel which is connected directly or indirectly to the steering rod, and a pinion which meshes therewith and is driven by the drive via a pinion shaft.
Gearing play which is formed owing to component tolerances, different widths of thermal expansion of the gear elements and owing to wear has proven problematic in such steering gears. In particular, in the case of what is referred to as alternating steering, that is to say, in the case of directly successive steering with alternating steering lock, such gearing play generates undesired noises which result from alternating abutment to opposite flanks of the teeth of pinion and gear wheel.
It is known for said gearing play to be eliminated by virtue of the pinion shaft being mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pinion shaft and at a distance to the toothing engagement of the pinion and gear wheel, and being pressed against the gear wheel by means of one or more spring elements. Here, the pivoting capability of the pinion shaft is integrated into one of the two bearing arrangements over which the pinion shaft is mounted at its ends. This bearing arrangement is referred to as "fixed bearing". The bearing arrangement in the region of the other end is then implemented with play (so-called "floating bearing") in order to permit the deflection caused by the pivoting movement. The fixed bearing is generally provided at the drive side, while the floating bearing is provided at the free end of the pinion shaft. The spring element or elements for pressing the pinion against the gear wheel are generally integrated into the floating bearing.
Such a steering gear is known, for example, from WO 2011/073039 A1. In said document there is a provision for the roller bearing which receives the pinion shaft in the region of the fixed bearing to be mounted on the outside in a pivoting bushing. The pivoting bushing comprises a bearing bushing which receives the roller bearing largely free of play, and an outer ring which is secured largely free of play in a drilled hole in a housing of the steering gear, wherein the outer ring and the bearing bushing are connected via a plurality of webs which are twisted during rotation of the outer ring with respect to the bearing bushing. The entire pivoting bushing is constructed in one piece in the form of a sheet-metal component.
A configuration of a steering gear which is similar to WO 2011/073039 A1 is described in the German patent application 10 2012 103 146.0 which has not been published to date. In said document, the pivoting ring is, however, embodied as a separate component. In this concept, the pivoting ring comprises an inner ring and an outer ring which is connected to the inner ring via two torsion webs. The outer ring serves to support the fixed bearing in the housing of the steering gear, while the inner ring is clamped between the roller bearing and a radially inwardly bent-over end of the bearing bushing. In order to be able to introduce the inner ring of the pivoting ring into the bearing bushing, the bearing bushing is provided at the corresponding longitudinal end with two longitudinal slots which serve to receive the torsion webs.
A disadvantage with this fixed bearing is the relatively complex manufacture (owing to the longitudinal slots which have to be put in place) and the relatively complicated mounting (owing to the necessary precise orientation of the bearing bushing relative to the pivoting ring). In addition, the bearing bushing is structurally weakened by the longitudinal slots, which can lead to undesired mobility of the roller bearing and therefore of the bearing arrangement of the pinion shaft.


A jet stack has a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the body chamber and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the body chamber, the outlet fluidically coupled to a jet in the array of jets, wherein the inlet and outlets are concentric.

Inkjet print heads typically include a 'jet stack,' a stack of plates that form manifolds and chambers of an ink path from an ink reservoir to an array of nozzles or jets. Ink enters the jet stack from the reservoir and is routed through the ink path to the final plate that contains an array of nozzles or jets through which the ink selectively exits the jet stack. Signals drive an array of transducers that operate on a pressure chamber or body chamber adjacent each jet. When the transducer receives a signal to jet the ink, it pushes ink out of the body chamber through the jet to the printing surface.
The desire for higher resolution images, and increased throughput, results in the need for higher and higher packing density for the jets. The packing density is the number of jets that exist within some predefined space. Space requirements for each jet limit the number of jets that can fit within that space. Current print head designs typically have a serial flow path. Fluid flows into the body chamber through a first discrete fluid element and then flows out of the body chamber through a second discrete fluid element that leads to the corresponding single jet aperture. Each of these fluid elements use a certain amount of real estate associated with the jet stack and have to have some distance between them for separation as well. These effects act to limit the number of single jets that can be packed within the space of any given jet stack.

Single jet fluidic design for high packing density in inkjet print heads


The present invention concerns a motion analysis system for analyzing the motion of an individual. The system has a control surface having one or more control areas, each control area corresponding to a predetermined instruction. An object is then held by an individual for use with the control surface. The system has a sensor for detecting the position of the object and producing a signal representative of the position. An analyzer then receives the signal from the sensor, wherein when the object is positioned at one of the control areas on the control surface the analyzer performs the predetermined instruction corresponding to the control area that the object is positioned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for analyzing the movement of an individual while participating in a sport or activity that involves the movement of a handled object, tool or instrument. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf swing analysis system that measures the movement of a golfer's swing from address to impact of the golf ball to the follow through and reconstructs and displays various points of view of the swing from the measured movement.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Unfortunately, for both beginners and veterans of the game, it is one of the most difficult games to master. The difficulty of the game is not caused by a need for any particular physical attribute, such as height in basketball, for example. Indeed, many of the top golfers in the world are average in height and weight. The key to the success of top golfers is that they have tremendous hand-to-eye coordination and the innate ability to swing a golf club in a way to maximize the ability to hit the golf ball with both power and accuracy.
Since most golfers are not born with such a talent, the only way to improve their swing is to practice individually or with professional help. The majority of players learn the game from a friend and develop their swing by trial and error on the golf course and at the driving range. However, learning the game in this manner can inhibit how good the player's swing can become. The player needs a way to analyze his or her swing after the swing has been made.
Players who obtain the assistance of a teaching professional often experience disappointment with their failure to improve. Sometimes the student is unable to relate the instructor's comments to the look and "feel" of the actual swing. At other times, the student reverts to their old habits immediately after the lesson as they have not retrained their muscles and have no objective feedback as to when the swing pattern is proper. In this situation, both the student and professional need a system to illustrate and reinforce the concepts being taught.
Some systems have been developed to respond to the needs of both the self-taught player and the professionally taught player. Examples of such systems are: (1) the Sportech Golf Swing Analyzer and WAVI.TM. system both manufactured by Sports Technology, Inc. of Essex, Conn.; (2) BioVision.TM. manufactured by Optimum Human Performance Centers, Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif.; (3) the Pro Grafix System manufactured by GolfTek of Lewiston, Id.; (4) the Swing Motion Trainer manufactured by Sport Sense of Mountain View, Calif.; and (5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,410 to Nakayama et al.
In Nakayama et al., a golfer wears a number of reflective tapes at various places on his or her body. While the player swings the club, a TV camera captures the motion of the golfer through the motion of the reflective tape. The image of the motion is digitized and the two-dimensional coordinates of the reflective tapes are calculated. The calculated coordinates are then manipulated in various ways to analyze the golfer's swing. For example, the coordinates can be used to construct a moving stick figure representing the golfer's swing.
Nakayama et al.'s system has several disadvantages. For example, Nakayama et al. is limited by the information it can convey to the user, since only a single view of the swing is generated for viewing.


A mismatch corrector can include a correction path comprising a plurality of parallel branches that each includes a correction filter that applies a respective one of a plurality of time domain filter coefficients that corresponds to a function of a mismatch profile of an interleaved analog-to-digital (IADC) signal on the IADC signal. The mismatch corrector can also include a delay path that delays the IADC signal by a predetermined number of samples to provide a delayed version of the IADC signal. The mismatch corrector can further include a summer to subtract an output of each correction filter from the delayed version of the IADC signal to generate a corrected IADC signal.

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC, A/D, or A to D) is a device that converts a continuous physical quantity (e.g., voltage) into a digital number that represents the quantity's amplitude. The analog-to-digital conversion involves quantization of the input, such that a small amount of error is introduced. Moreover, instead of doing a single conversion, an ADC often performs the conversions ("samples" the input) periodically. The result is a sequence of digital values that have been converted from a continuous-time and continuous-amplitude analog signal to a discrete-time and discrete-amplitude digital signal.
A time-interleaved ADC uses N parallel ADCs where each ADC samples data every Nth cycle of the effective sample clock, where N is a positive integer greater than one. The result is that the sample rate is increased N times compared to what each individual ADC can manage.


A LED display module with a quick mounting-Dismounting structure comprising: a mask; a bottom shell; and an LED lamp board; the LED display module further comprises a quick mounting-dismounting unit, wherein the quick mounting-dismounting unit is adapted to be provided the LED display module to fixed to the frame of display screen or removed from the frame of display screen quickly.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a LED display module, in particular a LED display module which having a quick mounting-Dismounting unit. The LED display module can be fixed on the frame of display screen or removed from the frame quickly by the quick mounting-Dismounting unit.
2. Description of Related Arts
It is well known that with the development of LED technology the LED display module which uses LED as the light source has been widely used. It realizes display by controlling semiconductor light-emitting diode and it is generally composed of plenty of light-emitting diodes and it displays characters by the turning on or off of the LED light.
In the specific implementation, the LED display module can be used to display text, graphics, images, animation, quotes, video, video signals and other information. LED display module can be used indoor and outdoor, it has incomparable advantages compared with the projector, TV wall and LCD display screen. The wide attention and rapid development of LED display module due to its advantages such as high brightness, low work voltage, low consumption, miniaturization, long life and so on.
In specific implementation for a particular location, a large LED display screen is usually required. In this case, large LED display screens are all assembled by several LED display modules, and when it is implemented, a number of LED display modules are made to work together by auxiliary hardware equipment and software to achieve the purpose of displaying large graphic information.
In fact, several LED display modules are fixed respectively to the overall framework of the LED display screen to form a large LED display screen. However, LED display modules are fixed to the framework by screws or other simple connecting elements in prior art and such connection results in the inconvenient maintenance in late, for example, when some LED display modules damaged need to be removed or repaired, maintenance personnel need to sequentially remove all screws fixing the LED display to remove the module overall and maintain it. Removing the LED display module in this manner is very inconvenient for the specific implementation, and this is the major disadvantage of the conventional technique.

LED display module with quick mounting-dismounting structure


An elastomeric pharmaceutical barrier (2, 50, 75, 100) formed as a piston, a stopper, or a cap-like gasket and diaphragm structure for use in pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges and the like. The barrier combines a main body (4, 52, 76, 102) of butyl or silicone based rubber to provide a fluid seal mechanism and includes a pharmaceutically inert insert (6, 54, 78, 104) which provides a substantial portion (40, 68, 92, 130) of a surface of the barrier to be exposed to the pharmaceutical. The non-reactive insert can be fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene, glass, stainless steel or ceramic material and reduces the surface area of rubber exposed to pharmaceutical contact, therefore making the applicable face of the barrier substantially inert and nonreactive to the contacting pharmaceutical. The insert can be made to incorporate a guide (62, 66) and channel (64) for needle canula (74) access as well as a pressure valve system (118, 126, 132, 136) to allow fluid flow through the barrier structure.

Various butyl rubber formulations have been molded into several forms of elastomeric sealing barriers such as stoppers, diaphragms and pistons for pharmaceutical containers including vials, cartridges, syringes and the like. Butyl rubber barriers are desirable in these applications due to their good elasticity, moldability, inertness and consequent non-reactivity when placed in prolonged contact with pharmaceuticals. Most, if not all, butyl rubber formulations, however, require a silicone lubricant coating to ensure ease of axial movement within rigid structures such as syringes, cartridges, or the like. Alternatively, silicone-based rubber compounds such as SILASTIC.RTM. (registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation) can be employed to provide some degree of lubricity.
Regardless of whether silicone is used in the rubber compound or as a secondary lubricant, silicone can compromise the purity of many surrounding pharmaceuticals due to possible reaction with and/or contamination of the pharmaceuticals housed in the relevant container when stored for long periods of time. Therefore, rigid containers such as cartridges which use conventional silicone-based sealing barriers cannot be safely used for long term storage with many pharmaceuticals.
For this reason, coating processes for coating rubber with non-reactive materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene available as TEFLON.RTM. (registered trademark of Dupont Corp.) have been developed. TEFLON.RTM. coating is desirable due to its low friction surface and inertness, but presents fabrication problems for some structures.
With conventional technology, TEFLON.RTM. may not be applied to typical resilient sealing pistons or stoppers, due to their non-flat configuration and thermal expansion. Therefore, coating a conventional elastomeric sealing stopper with TEFLON.RTM. rather than silicone is not a practical alternative.


An anti-GAP43 antibody which is capable of distinguishing a non-phosphorylated threonine residue at position 89 (T89) from a phosphorylated threonine residue at position 89 (pT89) of mouse GAP43 set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13, and which is capable of specifically detecting a growth cone; an anti-GAP43 antibody which is capable of distinguishing a non-phosphorylated serine residue at position 96 (S96) from a phosphorylated serine residue at position 96 (pS96) of mouse GAP43, and which is capable of specifically detecting a growth cone; an anti-GAP43 antibody which is capable of distinguishing a non-phosphorylated threonine residue at position 172 (T172) from a phosphorylated threonine residue at position 172 (pT172) of mouse GAP43, and which is capable of specifically detecting a growth cone; and an immunological analysis method using these anti-GAP43 antibodies.

In neural development and regeneration, a stage (1) in which a nerve cell is developed or regenerated and a stage (2) in which an axon of the developed or regenerated nerve cell is correctly outgrown to correctly form a synapse are required. A highly motile flabellate structure called a growth cone is present at an axon tip of the developed and regenerated nerve cell. The growth cone has a central domain, and a peripheral domain including lamellipodia and filopodia. The growth cone repeats extension and retraction of its filopodia to appropriately guide an axon for synapse formation.
Growth associated protein 43 (neuromodulin) (hereinafter, referred to as "GAP43"), which is abundantly present in a growth cone, plays an important role in filopodia extension and neurite branching. GAP43 is phosphorylated by protein kinase C, and dephosphorylated by calcineurin. Non-phosphorylated GAP43, which functions as an actin capping protein, shows decreased filopodia extension. Further, phosphorylation of a serine residue at position 41 (S41) in mouse GAP43 is thought to be important to stabilize actin which is involved in filopodia extension (for example, see Denny, J B., Curr Neuropharmacol., vol. 4 (12): pp. 293-304 (2006)).
Conventionally, in order to evaluate the stage (2), an anti-GAP43 antibody that recognizes phosphorylated S41 is used.


A mobile device includes a file storage portion, a file reading portion, an index creating portion, an electric storage portion, an electric energy input/output portion, and an index creation determining portion. The file storage portion stores files. The file reading portion is capable of reading the contents of the files stored in the file storage portion. The index creating portion controls the file reading portion so as to read the contents of the files stored in the file storage portion and creates index data that can be used for searching of the contents of the files read by the file reading portion. The electric storage portion is capable of being charged/discharged. The electric energy input/output portion is capable of acquiring electric energy input from the electric storage portion and an external power source, and is capable of outputting electric energy to the electric storage portion, the file reading portion, and the index creating portion. The index creation determining portion permits the index creating portion to create the index data when an index creation condition that the electric energy input/output portion can acquire electric energy input from the external power source is satisfied, and does not permit the index creating portion to create the index data when the index creation condition is not satisfied.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-114584, filed Apr. 18, 2006 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a mobile device with an index creation function, a method of controlling the mobile device, and a computer program for executing the method.
2. Related Art
It has been known that a computer creates index data that can be used for searching. For example, in a computer disclosed in JP-A-2004-303250, an indexer identifies and acquires one or plurality of selected words from files that are stored in the computer or on a network and then stores or maps the words in records within the index data.
It is conceivable that index data that can be used for searching are created in a mobile device with an index creation function, which operates on electric energy supplied from an electric storage device, such as a battery, provided thereon. However, when an index creating process is executed while the mobile device is operating on electric energy supplied from the electric storage device, electric energy needs the electric energy for executing that process. This additionally reduces the amount of residual capacity in the electric storage device, resulting in a reduced operable time being left for the mobile device with an index creation function.

Mobile device with index creation function, method controlling the same, and computer program for executing the method


An octahedron-shaped game structure is disclosed for playing a three-dimensional strategy game. A plurality of cubes is introduced to configure the shape of octahedron and two sets of game pieces are provided. The preferred embodiment of the game structure has an arrangement of 11 tiers. The present invention is a game for two players and each player has a king, four rooks, four bishops, four knights, and twelve pawns. Contrasting coloration is used for the game structure and game pieces. It defines two different terrains and two different armies. A method of playing the game is also disclosed, including rules for movement of the game pieces on the game structure. The goal of the present game is to capture the opponent's king, however game can be also ultimately won if a pawn advances all the way to the opponent's pinnacle. The pinnacle is the last surface of each army's terrain.

The present invention relates to three-dimensional chess-like strategy game, and more particularly to a game apparatus and a method of play.
Chess is a game of strategy. It has been in existence for over thousands of years. The rules of the games have varied with time and region, but a set of standardized rules has evolved for the game of chess, as we know it today. Since the standardization of chess, a significant amount of variation is introduced into the conventional chess game. One such variation of the game is a three-dimensional chess.
Since the first introduction of three-dimensional chess, many modification and changes of the game board have been developed. Different rules and variations of the game pieces have also been proposed. Nevertheless, none of the prior art games has achieved widespread acceptance, or caught up to the popularity of standard two-dimensional chess. Part of the reason for this is that all of the prior art games have had one or more drawbacks that detract from the original reason for adding a third dimension to make the game more fun and exciting.
Three-dimensional chess and other board games have been developed in the prior art wherein boards are vertically aligned one above the other with the game pieces are moved in straight lines on a board as well as between boards. The prior art three-dimensional chess games have been unsuccessful because conventional thinking has led to the forms of three-dimensional chess disclosed in the foregoing patents being played much like two-dimensional chess.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,877,154 issued to Weaver on Sep. 13, 1932 discloses having a game board comprised of two vertically spaced-apart layer members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,285 issued to Kane on Aug. 15, 1972 discloses having a game board comprised of four vertically spaced-apart layer members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,201 issued to Harper et al. on Oct. 23, 1973 discloses a multi-level game board structure for three-dimensional chess and check games. U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,471 issued to Brennan on Feb. 10, 1976 discloses using two 8 times 8 game boards stacked one over the other, as well as additional chess pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,027 issued to Escamilla-Kelly on Sep. 7, 1982 discloses Multi-level game board apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,157 issued to Riihiluoma et al. on May 22, 1990 discloses a chess-like board game apparatus and method of playing the game.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,056 issued to Ching on May 12, 1992 discloses Method of playing a three dimensional pyramidal-chess game. U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,419 issued to Craig on Jan. 11, 1994 discloses a three-layer three-dimensional game board system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,040 issued to Cutler on Aug. 16, 1994 discloses a three-dimensional chess game which is played on a four by four by four cubic chessboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,099 issued to Mardirosian on Sep. 17, 1996 discloses a three-dimensional chess game having multiple tiers with role-static pieces and role-altering pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,819 issued to Underwood on Oct. 21, 1997 discloses a three-dimensional strategy game having three tier game boards with a grid pattern. U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,880 issued to Cooper on Oct. 27, 1998 discloses a multi-level chess game with additional chess pieces.
The problem of the prior art three-dimensional chess games is that they attempt to extend two-dimensional game piece movement into three dimensions where the actual three-dimensional game structure does not exist. Many of the prior art three-dimensional chess games did not successfully extend the chess game into three dimensions. They are still very much like planar games with separated multiple levels that pieces can move between the tiers.
Even though the prior art's innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be comparable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

OCTATRIX™ —strategy game apparatus and method of play


An electronic circuit design environmentally constrained test generation system provides a corrector mechanism that filters the input signals to the design under verification (DUV) and ensures that inputs signals to the DUV are within the given environmental constraints that describe the limitations on the permissible inputs to the DUV. Both combinational and temporal constraints can be handled by the corrector, which consists of a new element, a mapper, and an observer. The mapper looks at the observer""s state and external test sequence input value and changes non-compliant test sequence input to the DUV to place the DUV in a legal state if the input would place it on a track to an illegal state, thereby constraining the inputs to the normal expected operating environment of the DUV. An illegal state is a state from which the violation of at least one constraint is unavoidable. A feedback loop from the DUV to the observer may be implemented using constraints that rely upon the DUV""s state.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to electronic circuit design verification and validation in a computer environment. More particularly, the invention relates to constraining test simulator input signals to a design under verification to the ranges encountered in the design""s normal operating environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Functional verification is concerned with ensuring that an electronic circuit design implements the intended functional behavior. Functional verification is commonly performed by applying deterministic or pseudo-random tests to a simulation model of the circuit design and analyzing its behavior.
A test generation engine takes a design and a set of test goals as input and produces tests, which are sequences of input vectors, that fulfill the test goals. A typical goal is to exercise all state transitions of a finite-state machine embedded in the circuit design.
Unconstrained test generation methods assume that the primary inputs to the circuit design under verification (DUV) can be driven independently of each other. The problem with these methods is that they may produce tests that are not meaningful because they fall outside the intended operating conditions for which the DUV was designed. A large numbers of tests are generated and a pass/fail outcome is computed for each test by simulating the design for each test. The user may have to sort through each failure, through manual or automatic means, to determine if the conditions leading to the failure are possible in the intended environment.
The circuit design, in its normal operating environment, is only going to be exercised for a certain set of legal behaviors. The legal behaviors are not defined by the circuit design itself, but rather the environment. In existing approaches, the circuit design parameters are used by the test generator and the environmental constraints are not taken into account. The test generator will then create tests that span the universe of behaviors. The challenge is to integrate the environmental constraints into test generation.
It would be advantageous to provide an electronic circuit design environmentally constrained test generation system that automatically constrains the test inputs to a DUV to the environmental constraints of the DUV""s intended operating environment. It would further be advantageous to provide an electronic circuit design environmentally constrained test generation system that produces test results that are meaningful within the realistic operating parameters of the DUV.
The invention provides an electronic circuit design environmentally constrained test generation system. The system automatically constrains the test inputs to a design under verification (DUV) to the environmental constraints of the DUV""s intended operating environment. In addition, the invention provides test results that are meaningful within the realistic operating parameters of the DUV.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a corrector mechanism that filters the input signals to the DUV. The corrector ensures that inputs signals to the DUV are within the given environmental constraints. Both combinational and temporal constraints can be handled by the corrector.
The corrector consists of a new element, a mapper, and an observer. The mapper looks at the observer""s state and input value and changes the input to the DUV to place the DUV in a legal state if the input would place it on a track to an illegal state. The inputs are constrained to the normal expected operating environment of the DUV. The mapper is created by a compiler that takes into account the device""s intended environment and the device""s states.
The compiler creates the mapper by taking a description of the environmental constraints, and optionally a description of the DUV, and creates an abstract description of a finite state machine. A state graph is computed from the finite state machine. From the state graph, a set of states is analyzed where the states are found from which an illegal state is unavoidable. The mapper is created using these states. The set of inputs are fed to the DUV by the mapper. A feedback loop from the DUV to the observer may be implemented if the constraints rely. upon the DUV""s state.

Electronic circuit design environmentally constrained test generation system


A vessel with a hydrodynamic duct for flow management at the bow thereof, a duct which as a pair of lateral walls (2, 3) with a hydrofoil section on either side of the bow connected with a horizontally oriented or inclined wall portion (1) with a hydrofoil section, the duct being displaceable in the vertical direction between positions (a) and (b) and contributing in the reduction of wave making and frictional resistances through differentiation of the flow within from the flow outside the duct in cooperation with a bow which has longitudinally extending rectilinear or convex side walls (102, 103). The lateral walls (2, 3) have their trailing edge at a constant distance from the side walls (102, 103) of the bow, while they might for aesthetic reasons comprise movable hydrofoil section coverings (2′, 3′) or internal sheet laminates (20′, 30′) which protrude outwardly during navigation of the vessel and retract inwardly when the vessel is stationary in a port destination.

In the field of shipbuilding, the reduction of energy consumption is becoming increasingly significant in view of the global economic crisis and the intensification of environmental problems.
One important factor that determines fuel requirements for the propulsion of a vessel is that of the wave making and frictional resistances it encounters. An ongoing attempt has thereby arisen to reduce such wave making and frictional resistances experienced by the vessels and afford an improvement in their propulsion through the solid mass of water they have to cross. By way of example, a bulb or ball configuration of the bow section of the hull has been widely used in the past to reduce wave making resistance and especially to reduce the height of the bow wave.
However, the frontal surface of the vessel, i.e. the surface area of the bow that comes in contact with water during propulsion of the vessel is an extensive area, and taking into account that the propulsion resistance is proportional to the square of the speed of the vessel, it follows that a correspondingly increased horsepower is required to overcome this resistance and provide propulsion of the vessel at the rated speed for which it has been designed.
WO-92/22456 (Petromanolakis Em.) has proposed a duct mounted at the bow of a vessel and extending at a height above and below the waterline thereof, such duct achieving a reduction of the wave making resistance during propulsion of the vessel as the vessel hits onto the water mass through the duct and not through the entire frontal surface thereof. Such a wave making resistance and energy consumption reducing duct has been optimized in subsequent patent applications wherein an increased differentiation of the flow through the duct in relation to the flow outside it has been attained.
In particular, WO-2013/011332 (Petromanolakis Em. et al) has disclosed a hydrodynamic duct mounted at the bow of a vessel, comprising a horizontal wall portion and two lateral wall portions, whereby the flow through the duct acquires substantially different characteristics from the flow outside it and thereby wave making and frictional resistances are reduced and the fuel conventionally required for the propulsion of the vessel is reduced accordingly. The duct is arranged with the Center of Low Pressure corresponding to a zero angle of attack onto the horizontal wall portion being located in the region of generation of the first bow wave and with the Centers of Low Pressure of the lateral wall portions in the region of connection thereof with the horizontal wall portion being located in a selected position between the Center of Low Pressure of the horizontal wall portion and up to or slightly forwardly the leading edge thereof. Further with a scope of overcoming drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art structural design parameters of the stem hydrodynamic duct have been proposed that allow optimization of the performance of the duct. In particular selective combinations are being proposed in the manufacturing parameters of the horizontal wall portion and of the lateral wall portions of the duct, wherein those parameters in the geometry of the wall portions of the duct, which determine the lift coefficient CL and drag coefficient CD are being considered with a scope of obtaining optimization of the ratio CL/CD for both the horizontal and for the lateral wall portions of the duct, as well as of obtaining optimization of the ratio of the lift coefficient CL of the horizontal wall to the lift coefficient CL of the lateral walls of the duct in correspondence with the specific nominal speed of propulsion of the vessel and the geometry of the bow.
It has however been observed that whilst the herein above proposed parametric design of the duct has led to significant improvements, such improvements having been confirmed through tests that have been carried out in models of different types of vessels (yachts, containers, bulk carriers and frigates) equipped with the hydrodynamic duct, the variation evident in the results obtained with the abovementioned different types of vessels has underlined the need of further work in the parametric design of the duct, wherein such design process is required to take into account the varying parameters of the configuration and of the geometry of each particular bow and further of the variable loading of the vessel, whereby the bow has to be designed in a manner such as to ensure optimal performance of the bow-duct combination thereby optimizing the eventual outcome of reduced horsepower requirements for the propulsion of the vessel and of reduced fuel consumption accordingly.
By way of example, whilst it has been found that the positioning of the duct at the bow of the vessel necessarily contributes to achieving an economically advantageous cruising, further also reducing the acceleration in the vertical movement of the bow thereby achieving a higher average speed of cruising, it is hereby considered that one reason for the differentiation of results obtained in the above tests is the diversity in the cooperation of the proposed duct with the vessel, as the flow exiting the duct impacts onto the sides of the bow and/or of the bulb, such impact creating obvious losses and contributing to the minimization of the beneficial effect of the duct.
Another reason for the differentiation in the continuity of the performance of the duct in the different tests that have been carried out is the varying loading condition of the vessel that differentiates the draught, i.e. the depth of immersion of the vessel in water, thereby changing the active range of the duct, such problem being particularly evident in container vessels wherein draught varies significantly in the extreme conditions of the ship without cargo and of the ship in a fully loaded condition.
It has also been observed that whilst the performance of the bulb in a vessel is satisfactory as long as the vessel travels at the nominal speed thereof and it is being reduced at lower speeds due to the concurrent change in Fn, the provision of the duct of the invention ensures a satisfactory performance also at speeds inferior than the designed nominal speed (economic speed) and at any Fn value whatsoever.
It is therefore a main object of the present invention to efficiently overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art and to propose structural design parameters of the hydrodynamic duct which will allow optimization of the performance thereof in conjunction with the functionally interdependent parameters of the configuration and geometry of the bow of the vessel, as well as with the varying loading conditions thereof.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a functional design of the bow of the vessel that is compatible with the installation of the hydrodynamic water flow management duct mounted thereupon with the waterlines being either rectilinear or convex rather than concave, always at a certain angle relative to the centerline of the vessel, so as to avoid the flow impacting onto a concave curvature of hollow curved sides of the bow and being entrapped therein, since such impacting and entrapping of the flow would undesirably contribute towards decelerating the vessel. A smooth flow at the outlet of the duct is therefore obtained with a rectilinear or convex rather than concave configuration of the bow sides and losses associated with the impacting of this flow onto the bow walls and/or onto the bulb are minimized.
Especially in ships fitted with a bulb, it is herein proposed a design that ensures coordination of the beneficial results of the bulb with the beneficial results of the duct in order to maximize cruising performance and minimize fuel consumption. It is in particular an object of the invention with particular application in vessels equipped with a bulb, to position the bulb in a manner such that the upper part thereof would be located not far beneath, but close to the load line and so that the stagnation point of the bulb would be located within the flow passing through the duct of the invention, wherein the proposed design contributes in the flow passing through the duct to influence all upwardly directed wave making vectors and some of the downwardly directed wave making vectors, thereby improving the flow at the sides of the vessel.
A further object of the invention is to propose the hydrodynamic water flow management duct at the bow of a vessel with a capacity of vertical movement so as to optimize the beneficial influence of the duct under varying conditions of draught of the vessel that depend on the loading thereof and on the consumption of consumables.
Another object of the invention is to propose the abovementioned vertically displaceable hydrodynamic water flow management duct at the bow of a vessel preferably provided with means that ensure its watertight abutment onto the side walls of the bow of the vessel thereby maintaining unaltered the characteristics of the flow within the duct. It is in particular an object of the invention to propose an embodiment with the duct mounted onto a plate covering the bow of the vessel, such plate extending in the longitudinal direction of the vessel and covering part or the entire length of the horizontal wall portion of the duct and moving together with the horizontal and the lateral walls of the duct thereby ensuring the watertight properties within the duct.
Another object of the invention for the case wherein the aforementioned plates covering the side walls of the bow are not provided, is to propose an alternative embodiment according to which the watertight abutment of the vertically displaceable horizontal wall portion of the duct onto the side walls of the bow is being achieved by using suitable sealing mechanisms, such as by way of example chambers being filled with air or other fluid medium or solid fixtures, made from rubber or other material, such chambers or solid fixtures or other types of means of watertight abutment being pushed towards the side walls of the bow, which are being installed either at the ends of the horizontal wall portion of the duct or at appropriate predetermined positions of the side walls of the bow and being actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic or mechanical or electrical mechanisms are being brought in a watertight abutment condition of the vertically displaceable horizontal wall portion of the duct onto the sides of the bow of the vessel. Similar sealing mechanisms for a watertight abutment can be used in the case where plates are employed for covering part of the length at the ends of the horizontal wall portion of the duct, whereby such sealing mechanisms are installed within the horizontal wall portion and are used to provide a watertight fitting onto the side walls of the bow for the remaining portion of the length of the horizontal wall portion extending beyond the length thereof that is covered by the plates.
Another object of the invention is to propose the horizontal wall portion of the abovementioned duct for the management of flow at the bow of a vessel provided with sheet metal plates or blades on either side thereof, such sheet metal plates or blades extending underneath the duct and converging towards the bow of the vessel, wherein these sheet metal plates or blades on either side of the horizontal wall portion contribute in the reduction of the stresses being exerted thereupon during the vertical movements of the bow due to sea waves.
It is another object of the invention to propose alternative arrangements of the horizontal wall portion of the hydrodynamic duct in relation to the bow of the vessel in order to optimize its performance
In particular an object of the invention is to propose the hydrodynamic duct with an imaginary line passing through the leading edge of the horizontal wall portion thereof forming an angle (a) on either side of the axis of symmetry of the vessel and with an imaginary line passing through the trailing edge of the horizontal wall portion forming an angle (b) on either side of the axis of symmetry, i.e. the centerline of the vessel.
Another object of the invention is to propose an embodiment wherein the horizontal wall portion of the hydrodynamic duct extends in a direction parallel to or at a certain slope, upwardly or downwardly, relatively to the horizontal level of the waterline on either side of the axis of symmetry of the vessel.
Another object of the invention is to propose a suitable geometry of the lateral walls of the hydrodynamic duct in relation to the bow of the vessel and in conjunction with the aforementioned positions of the horizontal wall portion with a scope of optimizing the performance of the duct and in particular to propose the hydrodynamic duct with lateral walls formed so that the horizontal section thereof will follow the geometry and in particular the flare of the bow with the trailing edge of each horizontal section of the lateral walls being maintained at a constant equal distance from the side walls of the bow, such distance being defined by the perpendicular taken from the trailing edge of the lateral walls that corresponds to each particular waterline.
A further object of the invention is, mainly for aesthetic reasons which are particularly important design parameters for recreation vessels (yachts, etc.), but also in other types of vessels, to ensure conditions were in order not to adversely affect the aesthetics of the vessel, the lateral walls of the duct of the invention are located approximately at the height of the waterline of the vessel when it is stationary in the port and in order to achieve this result it is being suggested that a portion of these lateral walls is coated with a hydrofoil section with an analogous configuration or that these lateral walls are provided with appropriately shaped plate extensions, whereby the abovementioned hydrofoil sections or plate extensions can move, when the vessel leaves the port and cruises, by sliding along the vertical direction so that the lateral walls may under any circumstances be located sufficiently above the waterline level to ensure the desired differentiated flow conditions within the duct.
A further object of the invention serving the same aforementioned goal of aesthetics is to propose the duct of the invention comprising parts of or the entire lateral walls and/or of the horizontal wall portion being selectively made invisible, whereby the hidden part of the lateral walls and/or of the horizontal wall portion retract within the vessel and project outwardly thereof through appropriate driving mechanisms. It is in particular an object of the invention to propose a design of the hydrodynamic duct with parts or with the entire lateral walls encased within the vessel along the side walls of the bow and being adapted to move downwardly when they must be brought in operating condition, whereby they "snap" into recesses or protrusions of either the horizontally extending retractable portions of the horizontal wall portion or directly into the recesses or protrusions of the horizontal wall portion.
A further object of the invention is to provide additional one or more blades extending parallel to and underlying the horizontally oriented or inclined wall portion of the duct of the invention, such blades having the same or different hydrofoil section as the horizontally oriented or inclined wall portion of the duct, wherein the space provided in between the horizontally oriented or inclined wall portion and the underlying additional blade is either being covered or is not being covered by lateral blades, wherein the objective of the proposed additional one or more blades is the increase in the speed of the incoming flow to the duct of the invention and therefore the enhanced further diversification of the characteristics of flow within the duct from the flow outside the same.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a configuration of the horizontal wall portion of the duct with an arrangement of projections, which reinforce the profile of the horizontal wall portion and in addition act as guides for the projection of appropriate sheet laminates through slots of the horizontal blade, such sheet laminates extending forwardly the leading edge and/or rearwardly the trailing edge thereof when a further control of the vertical acceleration vectors of the flow is required and when the lift coefficient CL is sought to be suitably positioned in the resultant new geometry of the horizontal wall portion of the duct in order to optimize flow characteristics within the duct.
With the design parameters and combinations of the same proposed in the present invention, solutions are provided for the design of the hydrodynamic duct functionally interdependent with the design of the bow of the vessel whereupon it is being mounted, thereby achieving optimal advantageous differentiation of the flow characteristics within the duct from the flow outside it and accordingly obtain reduced wave making and frictional resistances during propulsion and a consequent reduction in horsepower requirements and in fuel consumption.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Vessel with a flow deflecting hydrodynamic bow fin arrangement


A fin-shaped antenna apparatus for vehicle ratio application is electrically connected to a wireless receiver circuit and receives a radio signal. The fin-shaped antenna apparatus includes a fin-shaped cover, an AM antenna, a signal amplifier circuit board, an FM resonance circuit on the signal amplifier circuit board and a metal base. The AM antenna is separated with the FM resonance circuit. The FM resonance circuit comprises a plurality of inductors to form a resonance circuit and is connected to a metal base for enhancing the signal reception thereof. Therefore the signal quality for vehicle ratio application is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fin-shaped antenna apparatus for vehicle radio application, and more particularly to fin-shaped antenna apparatus with enhanced AM/FM radio reception and arranged on vehicle top casing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The rapid progress of wireless technology provides more portability to electronic products. More particularly, the wireless electronic products generally comprise antenna designed for particular frequency, directive and radio strength. The conventional antenna is made into rod shape with length corresponding to the quarter wavelength of the radio wave used. Taking the antenna used for vehicle radio as example, the vehicle antenna is a telescopic rod for both AM and FM reception. However, the vehicle antenna might have the problem of retraction after long time use, which is troublesome for user.
To solve this problem, a helix antenna made of spiral metal wire is developed. However, the reception quality of the helix antenna is not satisfactory. Moreover, a glass antenna is developed wherein flexible conductive material is coated on vehicle glass to function as AM-FM dual antenna. However, the flexible conductive material is expensive. Moreover, a printed circuit board with special-shaped planar antenna is also developed. However, the signal reception quality is poor when the planar antenna is assembled to metal vehicle casing due to the signal absorption by metal casing.

Fin-shaped antenna apparatus for vehicle radio application


A method for identifying format of a video signal including a raster-synchronizing signal having a timing signal spanning a synch interval and a synch-follower signal level adjacent the synch interval, and a color-related signal, includes the steps: (a) ascertaining (1) first signal level of the color-related signal during the synch interval; (2) synch difference between level of the raster-synchronizing signal during the synch interval and the synch-follower level; and (3) peak excursion for the color-related signal; (b) in any order: (1) if first signal level is greater than a first value, set a first factor at one, else zero; (2) if synch difference is greater than a second value, set a second factor at one, else zero; and (3) if peak excursion is greater than a third value, set a third factor at zero, else one; and (c) employing the factors to identify the format according to predetermined relationships.

The present invention is directed to methods for identification of format of a received video signal. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention automatically identifies whether a received video signal is a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) graphics signal with embedded timing (also known as RGB—sync on green or RGB-SOG), a YPbPr component video signal with standard bi-level synch signaling or a YPbPr component video signal with tri-level synch signaling.
In order to reduce board area, system cost and product size manufacturers of video projectors and LCD monitors that support both component video and RGB graphics signal inputs often desire to use the same input connector for all received video signals. However, using the same input connector for all video signals creates a need for being able to identify which format video signal is received in order that the receiving product may properly handle the received signal. Prior art video handling products using a single video signal input connector typically require a user to manually identify the format of the receive signal via a user interface, such as a keyboard, selection switch or other user-operated input indicating device.
There is a need for a method for automatically identifying received format of a video signal.

Method for identifying format of a received video signal


The partial crown portion member comprises: the edge frame made from metal; the shell body made from metal and provided inwardly of the edge frame; the joining member made from resin and provided in between the inner edge of the edge frame and the edge of the shell body so as to envelop the inner edge of the edge frame and the edge of the shell body. The inner edge of the edge frame is formed with the first through-hole, while the edge of the shell body is formed with the second through-hole. The joint member made from resin envelops the portion where the inner edge of the edge frame and the edge of the shell body by casting manner. Accordingly, the edge frame and the shell body made from different kinds of metals can be strongly joined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As conventional known techniques of joining a metallic shell and a fiber-reinforced-plastic-made shell in order to form a head body employing a hollow structure, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-205055 discloses ones that: bonding a joining portion of the fiber-reinforced-plastic-made shell to both surfaces of a joining portion of the metallic shell; or forming a through-hole on the joining portion of the metallic shell so as to obtain joining strength of the metallic shell relative to the fiber-reinforced-plastic-made shell.
According to those conventional techniques, the golf club head can be lightened by the fiber-reinforced-plastic-made shell. In this golf club head, however, there is a limitation of enhancing its strength even the fiber-reinforced-plastic-made shell is used.
As a technique to solve this problem, one can be considered that forming the golf club head by combining a plurality of metals, each metal having small specific weight and different strength. According to this technique, for example, pure titanium/titanium alloy and magnesium alloy each having small specific gravity are used. Pure titanium/titanium alloy is used for a portion of the golf club head where larger durability and strength are required, while magnesium ally is used for a portion of the golf club head where smaller durability and strength are required.
However, welding the different kinds of metals in order to join them is difficult. Moreover, large adhesion can not be obtained when the different kinds of metals are joined by bonding as the above-described conventional techniques, or even an opening are provided thereon for bonding. Accordingly, sufficient joining strength of the different kinds of metals can not be obtained.

Golf club and method for manufacturing the same


An outboard motor steering angle and tilt/trim angle regulating system includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders each connected, at one end, to the boat through the stern brackets and connected, at the other end, to the outboard motor at a location upward of the one end in a vertical direction, and a control unit inputting the outputs of a steering angle sensor, a power tilt switch and a power trim switch and selectively driving the hydraulic cylinders to extend or retract, to regulate a steering angle and tilt/trim angles of the outboard motor relative to the boat in response to at least one of the inputted outputs. With this, while utilizing hydraulic cylinders, it becomes possible to simplify the structure to improve mountability on the outboard motor and hold weight increase to the minimum.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an outboard motor steering angle and tilt/trim angle regulating system, particularly to an outboard motor steering angle and tilt/trim angle regulating system that uses actuators to regulate steering angle and tilt/trim angles.
2. Description of the Related Art
An outboard motor generally comprises stern brackets that are fixed to the stem of a hull (boat) and an outboard motor main unit incorporating an internal combustion engine, propeller and the like, and is structured so that the steering angle and tilt/trim angles of the outboard motor relative to the stern brackets, i.e., the steering angle and tilt/trim angles relative to the boat, can be regulated as desired. However, a system that requires such regulation to be done manually puts a heavy burden on the operator.
Attempts have therefore been made to reduce the burden on the operator. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 62(1987)-125996, in particular its FIG. 2, for example, teaches a system that enables regulation of the steering angle of an outboard motor main unit by actuators, while Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 7(1995)-228296, in particular its FIGS. 2 and 3, teaches a system that enables regulation of the outboard motor main unit tilt and trim angles by multiple (specifically, three) hydraulic cylinders.
In the prior art, however, regulation of both the steering angle and the tilt/trim angles of the outboard motor main unit by actuators requires separate installation of the hydraulic cylinder for steering angle regulation of '996 and the hydraulic cylinders for tilt and trim angle regulation of '296. This complicates the structure, thus lowering mountability on the outboard motor and adding to overall weight.

Outboard motor steering angle and tilt/trim angle regulating system


A wrapping machine which includes an elevated platform with a pair of opposed clamping members adapted to hold a narrow workpiece being wrapped therebetween. Each clamping member includes a flat base and a pair of sides for holding a narrow workpiece between the clamping members, with each of the clamping members being rotatably mounted. One of the clamping members is coupled to the platform and the other of the clamping members is coupled to a vertically movable arm. A vertical support is provided to support the vertically movable arm, with a first drive mechanism rotatably driving one of the pair of clamping members, and a second drive mechanism for moving the movable arm relative to the support to position the pair of clamping members with respect to the workpiece being wrapped.

The present invention relates to a wrapping machine adapted for wrapping narrow workpieces, such as windows and the like.
Various wrapping machines have been known in the art. The prior art discloses wrapping machines which provide a base upon which a turntable rotatably supports a workpiece. The prior art additionally utilizes vertically movable top clamping members to secure the workpiece between the turntable and the clamping member during the wrapping operation. Examples of these prior art devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,271,657; 4,299,076; 4,450,668; 4,628,667; 4,779,396; 4,807,427; 4,955,181 and 5,046,303. The prior art wrapping machines are generally applicable to workpieces provided with broad bases and are not well-suited to handle relatively narrow workpieces such as windows, frames and the like.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient wrapping machine which overcomes the above-identified drawback and is particularly adapted for handling narrow workpieces, such as windows and the like.


A contact member includes, an outer conductor including a mating interface section that includes a front end of the outer conductor, a termination section including a rear end of the outer conductor, and a middle section therebetween joining the mating interface and termination sections; an inner conductor received in the mating interface section; and a protective insulator including a main portion received in the mating interface section of the outer conductor and supporting the inner conductor and including an end portion configured for closed entry mating. The end portion has an end face extending outside of the front end of the outer conductor.

The disclosure relates to a contact member for an electrical connector and more particularly to a contact member being configured for both high density and high frequency capabilities for the connector.
Next generation radio frequency (RF) interconnect systems require increased channels and higher data bandwidth, which in turn require smaller, higher density and higher frequency RF connectors. Automobiles, for example, have an increasing need for RF interconnect to support new technologies, such as autonomous driving, 5G wireless networks, and V2X communications. The current automobile industry interface standard "FAKRA" is limiting based on size and frequency range. Also, this standard does not include a multi-channel version for higher density packaging.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Network node power management methods and apparatus are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Many electronic communication devices are subjected to power constraints. For example, cellular telephones, radios, and pagers may use rechargeable batteries to provide device power when the device is not attached to a continuous power source. The amount of time that a device is operational between battery charges depends on the rate of power consumption of the device. Developers continue to derive new ways of extending the operational time of power-constrained communications devices.


A steering ratio control system of a vehicle includes a variable steering ratio mechanism variably adjusting a steering ratio of a steer angle at left and right steered road wheels to a steering-wheel rotation angle, and a braking/driving force control unit individually controlling braking force and/or driving force of the left and right steered wheels. A steering ratio control unit determines a reference steering ratio based on a vehicle's driving state. The steering ratio control unit calculates a steering-ratio correction value needed for canceling torque steer resulting from a difference in braking force and/or driving force between the left and right steered wheels. A final steering ratio is determined based on both of the reference steering ratio and the steering-ratio correction value to drive the variable steering ratio mechanism responsively to the final steering ratio reflecting the steering-ratio correction value.

In most front wheel drive vehicles, a phenomenon known as "torque steer" is experienced. Torque steer is a vehicle steering effect resulting from a difference in braking force (braking torque) and/or driving force (traction or driving torque) between left and right steered road wheels. In order to eliminate or cancel the torque steer effect, a steering torque value resulting from torque steer must be compensated for. Generally, on automotive vehicles employing electric power steering devices, torque steer is compensated for by summing the steering torque value corresponding to torque steer to a steering assistance torque command value, thus effectively suppressing an undesirable steering-wheel pull (steering-wheel pulling power) in clockwise or anticlockwise directions, that is, positive or negative fluctuations in steering-wheel rotation angle occurring owing to torque steer. Such torque-steer compensation technologies have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,696 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 11-129927) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,755 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 9-207802). As is generally known, in heavy vehicles employing high-power engines, there is an increased tendency for torque steer to occur. However, assuming that the previously-discussed electric-power-steering device equipped torque-steer compensation system, which uses a summed value of a steering assistance torque command value and a steering torque value required to cancel torque steer, is applied to such heavy vehicles, there are several drawbacks, such as a lack of steering assistance torque owing to the limited line-source voltage, a large-sized electric motor, or an increased weight of the electric power steering device. Thus, an electric power steering device is unsuitable to heavy vehicles employing high-power engines. On automotive vehicles employing braking/driving force control systems (or active torque split control systems) capable of individually controlling braking force and/or driving force between left and right road wheels, when there is an excessive difference in driving force between left and right steered road wheels, the control system generally acts to limit or decreasingly compensate for the engine power output (corresponding to the summed torque value of driving torque applied to the left steered wheel and driving torque applied to the right steered wheel) in order to avoid the torque steer from excessively develop. This deteriorates the acceleration performance.

Steering ratio control system of vehicle


There is provided a rotatable cutting tool for supporting at least one knife in at least two alternate angular cutting configurations. The cutting tool includes a body that defines at least one cavity extending generally in a longitudinal direction of the body. Each cavity is configured to support one of the knives at predetermined hook and shear angles, and each cavity can be configured to provide a different hook and/or shear angle.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rotatable cutting tools and, more specifically, to supporting one or more knives in alternate configurations.
2) Description of Related Art
Rotatable cutting tools are well known in the art and include, among others, saws, knives, cutterheads, heads or chucks with removable knives, drill bits, router bits, drills, end mills, moulders, and grinders of multiple shapes. These tools are used for cutting or grinding a variety of structural materials including, but not limited to, wood, metal, composite materials, plastic, foam, food products, and the like.
One conventional rotatable cutting tool, commonly referred to as a cutterhead, typically includes a generally cylindrical body that defines several longitudinally extending cavities for receiving knives. Each knife is inserted into one of the cavities and positioned so that a cutting edge of the knife extends from the cutterhead. The knife is then secured in place by tightening bolts that extend through part of the body and urge the knife against one wall of the cavity. Typically, the bolts are inserted through milled pockets on the outside of the cutterhead so that the heads of the bolts do not extend from the tool. The cutterhead is then rotated, for example, by a spindle that is connected to a motor. Structural material is brought into contact with the rotating knives, and the structural material is cut or scraped by the knives.
The configuration of the knives relative to the body affects the type of cutting or scraping that is achieved. For example, the hook and shear angles of the knives can affect the degree of material that is removed by each knife and the surface that is left on the structural material. The hook angle is measured as the angle between a leading surface of the knife and a radial line of the body that extends through the edge of the knife. A positive hook angle indicates that the leading surface of the knife is angled toward the direction in which the knife rotates. A knife with zero or little hook angle contacts the structural material so that the edge of the knife is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the structural material, thus resulting in a primarily scraping action of the structural material. A knife with positive hook angle, however, tends to achieve a slicing action because the cutting edge is directed closer to the direction of motion of the knife relative to the structural material.
The shear angle is measured as the angle between the longitudinal extension of the blade and the longitudinal axis of the body. For example, a zero shear angle indicates that the blade is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A non-zero shear angle indicates that the blade is angled relative to the body so that a first end of the blade leads the blade and the opposite end of the blade trails as the body and blade are rotated.
An improper hook or shear angle can result in fracturing of the wood, rough or uneven work surfaces, excessive wear of the knives, and other poor cutting characteristics. The best hook and shear angle can depend on the structural material, including grain, fracture, and hardness characteristics. Thus, processing different structural materials can require adjustment of the hook and/or shear angle of the knives. For example, it is known in the art to use a hook angle of about 12° when cutting certain hard woods and 20° when cutting certain soft woods. Because the hook and shear angle of the knives is typically determined by the configuration of the cavities of the cutterhead, adjusting the hook or shear angle can require changing the knives and/or cutterhead, which can be time consuming, thereby reducing machine efficiency. Additionally, keeping multiple cutterheads with different hook and shear angles on hand for different processes requires a disadvantageous additional expense.
A known cutterhead includes a first pair of cavities configured at a first hook angle, and a second pair of cavities that are completely separate from the first pair of cavities and configured at a second hook angle. Knives are positioned in either the first or the second pair of cavities, and fillers are typically positioned in the other pair of cavities such that the fillers do not extend from the cavities. Bolts are used to secure the knives and fillers in the respective cavities. When it is desired to adjust the hook angle of the knives, the position of the knives and fillers are reversed. Thus, a single cutterhead provides two modes of operation, each characterized by a distinct hook angle. However, the provision of additional cavities that are not occupied by knives can change the rotational and balance characteristics of the cutterhead and the tool can be damaged if used without securing appropriate fillers in the cavities that are not being used to secure knives. If fillers are positioned in the unused cavities, there is a risk that improperly sized or weighted fillers will be used, thereby increasing the risk of tool failure and damage to nearby equipment. Additionally, the milled pockets provided for the bolts can also adversely affect the strength of the tool as well as the rotational and weight characteristics of the tool. Further, if the bolts are not properly tightened, the knives and/or fillers may become loose during operation and be projected from the tool.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved rotatable cutting tool that can support one or more knives in alternate angular configurations to achieve multiple hook angles at one or more shear angles. Preferably, the cutting tool should reduce the likelihood of incorrect installation of knives, fillers, bolts, and/or other components. Additionally, the cutting tool should be compatible with different knives and adaptable to conventional tool variations.


A smoking article includes a tobacco column, a binder surrounding the tobacco column, a first wrapper surrounding the binder, and at least one additional removable wrapper which surrounds the first wrapper and is removably secured to a wrapper beneath the additional removable wrapper. Packaging for a smoking article involves a supportive tube surrounding the smoking article and sealed in a package, where the package is made from a front and a rear sheet sealed together to form a sealed envelope.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to smoking articles and to the packaging for smoking articles, and in particular to a smoking article having improved flavor and burn rate, and packaging to keep the smoking article fresh before smoking without requiring storage in a humidor.
2. Description of Related Art
In the manufacturing of smoking articles, considerable attention has been paid to the wrappers for use in encasing a tobacco rod or other smokeable materials. Much of the focus has been on the reduction of secondary or sidestream smoke which is a by-product of the combustion of a smoking article as well as selective additives to reduce fire propensity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,636 (Cline, et al.) teaches the use of carbon coated inner wrappers to significantly reduce sidestream smoke production in the smoking article.
Different wrappers may also effect the burn rate and taste of the smoking article. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,087 (Wanna et al.) discloses a smoking article with a partial double wrap design intended to affect the burn rate of the smoking article.
While the wrapper material is only a relatively small percentage of the total material in the smoking article much of the taste comes from the wrapper material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,636 (Cline et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,282 (Cogbill et al.) teach taste improvement in a smoking article by using a carbon inner liner in a smoking article.
Spotting of smoking article wrappers may occur over time due to a number of different factors, and has also been a focus of smoking article manufacturers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,372 (Cantrell) teaches the use of an inner wrap comprised of wood fibers and flax fibers in order to reduce such spotting.
One factor which may accelerate spotting on a wrapper of a smoking article is exposure to improper temperature and humidity conditions during transportation and storage. Humidors are a popular solution for this problem, as they provide a humidity controlled environment for storing smoking articles. However, humidors are expensive, and do not provide easily transportable storage for smaller numbers of smoking articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,461 (Guzman) teaches an airtight cigar package made up of rectangular transparent front and rear sheets, which are heat-sealed together to form an airtight envelope. Four individually wrapped cigars are sealed in the package with support members between and alongside the cigars to prevent crushing of the cigars during package transport and storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,775 (Butler) teaches a cigar packaging in the form of a film or sheet of synthetic resinous thermoplastic material wherein each elongate object is disposed in a separate compartment formed by the sealing of the film or sheet to a generally like film or sheet. Each compartment can be readily opened in sequence and the contents removed without disturbing the hermetic seal of the remaining containers.
It is desired that the consumer be able to choose the complexity of a smoking article according to his or her individual preferences by way of a smoking article featuring multiple removable wrappers, which when removed, can change the taste and burn rate of the smoking article.
It is also desired that the smoking article be packaged in way that is convenient to store and transport while maintaining the smoking article's freshness and protecting it from damage.
It is further desired that the smoking articles be individually packaged.

Smoking article with removably secured additional wrapper and packaging for smoking article


A hybrid electric vehicle having a discrete ratio transmission shifts according to distinct shift schedules in various operating modes. For example, different shift schedules may be used for operating with the engine off, operating with the engine running, and regenerative braking. When the vehicle transitions from one mode to another, the new shift schedule may schedule a shift that the driver would not expect. To avoid annoying the driver, a control strategy inhibits the shift until either the old strategy would also schedule a shift or a customer event occurs.

Many vehicles are used over a wide range of vehicle speeds, including both forward and reverse movement. Some types of engines, however, are capable of operating efficiently only within a narrow range of speeds. Consequently, transmissions capable of efficiently transmitting power at a variety of speed ratios are frequently employed. When the vehicle is at low speed, the transmission is usually operated at a high speed ratio such that it multiplies the engine torque for improved acceleration. At high vehicle speed, operating the transmission at a low speed ratio permits an engine speed associated with quiet, fuel efficient cruising. Typically, a transmission has a housing mounted to the vehicle structure, an input shaft driven by an engine crankshaft, and an output shaft driving the vehicle wheels, often via a differential assembly which permits the left and right wheel to rotate at slightly different speeds as the vehicle turns.
Many transmissions are designed to operate at a discrete number of fixed speed ratios. The available speed ratios may be referred to as gears or gear ratios even if there is not a direct correspondence between each ratio and a particular physical gear within the transmission. The ratios are typically numbered starting from the highest speed ratio and progressing to lower speed ratios. For example, 1st gear may have a speed ratio of 4.5, 2nd gear a speed ratio of 3.0, 3rd gear a speed ratio of 2.3, etc.
A particular speed ratio from the set of available speed ratios may be selected by engaging particular shift elements such as clutches or brakes. Shift elements may include actively controlled devices and passively controlled devices like one way clutches. When the currently selected speed ratio is not optimal, the transmission shifts to a different speed ratio by releasing one or more shift elements and engaging one or more shift elements. For example, if the currently selected speed ratio results in an engine speed which higher than optimal, the transmission may upshift to a lower speed ratio. On the other hand, if the engine speed is excessively slow, the transmission may downshift to a higher speed ratio. During the shift, vehicle occupants may notice variations in output torque and may notice changes in the engine sound. Vehicle occupants may be annoyed if the shift is rough and jerky, if a shift occurs when they weren't expecting one, or if no shift occurs when they do expect one.
Modern automatic transmissions utilize controllers both to decide when to shift and to control the shift elements to accomplish the shift as smoothly as possible. Sometimes, a controller schedules a shift event in direct response to an action performed by the driver such as an abrupt change in accelerator pedal position. In these circumstances, the driver may expect that the transmission will shift and will be pleased to feel a shift. At other times, a controller schedules a shift event due to a gradual change in vehicle speed or pedal position. Occupants expect some shifting of this type but are displeased if the transmission shifts too frequently. When a vehicle is cruising over level terrain at a steady speed, vehicle occupants expect the transmission to remain in the currently selected gear. Occupants may believe that a transmission shift during such steady state driving is an indicator of something wrong with the transmission.

Method of transitioning among shift schedules


The present invention provides a personal authentication apparatus that includes a permissibility information file for registering information indicating whether setting an ID common to more than one person is permitted or not. In the apparatus, only if setting of an ID common to more than one person is prohibited, an information registering section refers to the permissibility information file to check whether or not a first ID currently obtained for registration is identical to any of second IDs stored in an information storing section. Then, only if the first ID differs from any of the second IDs, the information registering section registers the first ID and biometric information currently obtained in an information storing section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a personal authentication apparatus that registers biometric information unique to each individual person, and obtains the person's biometric information anew when performing authentication, and checks it against the registered biometric information to authenticate the person.
2. Description of the Related Art
Facilities and equipment that require personal authentication for the opening and closing entrance doors of rooms or buildings or operating information processing devices in order to improve security or protect privacy have proliferated in recent years. For such authentication, code numbers have been widely used traditionally. In recent years, more secure personal authentication methods are becoming widespread in which sensors are provided to detect some biometric information unique to every individual, such as fingerprints or palm or pupil vein patterns, for performing personal authentication (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-85539 and No. 2004-112172).
A problem with a code number is that, if it is known to another person, the person can readily impersonate the holder of the code number. In contrast, personal authentication that relies on biometric information, which varies from person to person, can significantly reduce threat of impersonation.
In a system in which biometric information is used for personal authentication, IDs are associated with the biometric information and used in addition to the biometric information for greater security or for convenience of management (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-338947 and No. 2001-290959).
When biometric information is used in combination with an ID, a problem arises as to whether different IDs should be assigned to different individuals. For example, for controlling access of workers to a factory or an office building, it is desirable that IDs be unique to individual workers, whereas for controlling access to a complex housing such as an a condominium, IDs unique to individual dwelling units, rather than to individuals, are preferable because the dwellers may include young children and elderly people. In the latter case, the same ID may be assigned to a number of people.


A system for providing an auxiliary audio input for a vehicular entertainment sound system (VESS) (42) includes a portable electronic audio device (48) for generating an auxiliary plurality of audio signals. An auxiliary output line (50) terminating at an end with a plug (52) is coupled to the portable electronic audio device (48). The plug (52) is mated with an audio input jack assembly (10) that is fixedly coupled to a remotely located region (40) of an automotive vehicle external to the VESS (42). The auxiliary plurality of audio signals are then communicated through the auxiliary output line (50) to the audio input jack assembly (10). Then, the auxiliary plurality of audio signals are transmitted through an auxiliary input line (58) to the VESS (42).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a vehicular entertainment sound system (VESS), and more particularly to an audio input jack assembly for supplying an auxiliary plurality of audio signals from a portable electronic audio device to the VESS.
2. Background Art
A vehicular entertainment sound system (VESS), depending upon its components, presently receives a plurality of audio signals from various forms of media. For example, a system having a compact disk player (CD player) receives a plurality of audio signals from a compact disk (CD). Likewise, a system including an audiocassette tape player may receive a plurality of audio signals from an audiocassette tape.
Many vehicular occupants are prevented from listening to the media they wish to hear because they do not have a VESS with the component necessary for playing such media. Moreover, many of the same people own portable electronic audio devices capable of playing such media. In view of these circumstances, attempts have been made to allow a VESS to receive audio signals from a portable electronic audio device.
Currently, a car adaptor kit permits a VESS having an audiocassette tape player to receive audio signals from a portable CD player. The portable CD player reads the CD thereby creating a plurality of audio signals. The audio signals are then transmitted through an output line to an adaptor. Contained within a housing shaped as a conventional audiocassette tape, the adaptor is then inserted into the audiocassette tape player of the VESS. Once inside the audiocassette tape player, the adaptor converts the audio signals to a magnetic field that is subsequently detected by the audiotape cassette player. As one skilled in the art would know, the tape player detects these magnetic waves and converts them into audio signals for acoustical transmission on the VESS in the usual manner an audiotape cassette player reads an audiotape cassette.
However, the car adaptor kit is limited to applications involving a portable CD player and a VESS having an audiocassette tape player integrated therein. For example, an individual who has a VESS, lacking both a CD player component and an audiotape cassette player component, cannot acoustically play a CD on the VESS even though he may own a car adaptor kit. Therefore, these particular car adaptor kits do not provide auxiliary audio input for the vehicular occupant.
Moreover, most car adaptor kits frequently require direct attachment to the VESS thereby causing inconveniences to the user. For example, the output line of the CD player frequently extends outward from the audiocassette tape player of the VESS and subsequently draping over the VESS controls and the gearshift. Consequently, access to VESS controls and the gearshift is typically impeded. An additional drawback of the car adaptor kit is the unclean appearance of wires hanging in plain view.
Therefore, a need exists for a robust vehicular audio input connector that allows for the transmission of audio signals from various electronic portable devices to a VESS. Also, a need exists for an audio input connector that eliminates obstructed access to VESS controls and the gearshift.


RET antenna with a modular switching unit and a multi-device control unit con figured to be inserted into and removed from a receptacle in the antenna. The multi-device control unit works together with motors and position sensors located inside the antenna to allow a single controller located in the multi-device control unit to control multiple embedded electro-mechanical actuators, such as phase shifter control motors. The multi-device control unit includes lightning protection circuits, communications circuits, a motor controller, power control circuits and a motor position sensing circuit inside a small housing. These components are shared between all motors inside the antenna through the modular switching unit, which allows a single set of components within the multi-device control unit to replace redundant components deployed in prior RET antennas.

Antennas with variable electrical tilt (VET) functionality are known in the art. These antennas, which are used in cellular networks, enable network operators to electrically tilt the elevation beam pointing direction of the antenna by manually rotating a knob or translating a shaft on the exterior of the antenna. The knob or shaft is linked to phase shifters inside the antenna that convert the mechanical rotation or translation of the shaft to phase changes in the radio frequency beam forming network inside the antenna. Changes in phase between radiating elements inside the antenna cause the beam emitted from the antenna to tilt up or down relative to mechanical boresite of the antenna. An example of a cellular base station antenna demonstrating VET technology is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,236, which is incorporated by reference.
Beam tilt adjustment is needed in cellular networks to reduce signal propagation between sites in the network in order to minimize signal interference and to maximize network capacity. Antennas with VET functionality allow network operators to make accurate tilt adjustments at a cell site without mechanically tilting the antenna and without changing the visual appearance of the site. Antennas with VET functionality typically include some sort of tilt indicator to provide visual feedback of the antenna electrical tilt setting to a person located at the antenna to inspect the antenna or to manually make the tilt adjustment.
Remote electrical tilt (RET) antennas are also known in the art. RET antennas incorporate an electro-mechanical actuator attached to or installed inside of the antenna to rotate the knob or translate the shaft on a VET antenna. This enables the electrical tilt of the VET antenna to be controlled from a remote location, eliminating the expense of hiring a rigger to climb the tower and manually adjust the electrical tilt of the antenna beam.
This conventional configuration of RET actuators is shown in FIG. 1, in which a tri-band antenna 4 includes three self contained, separately removable RET actuators 5a-c, one for each operational frequency band of the antenna. Each RET actuator is a self contained electro-mechanical device with lightning protection circuits, communications circuits, a motor, motor control circuits, power control circuits and a motor position sensor contained within a single enclosure. For antennas designed to operate over multiple frequency bands, multiple, stand-alone RET actuators are attached to or inserted inside of the antenna housing. Cable assemblies are connected between the RET actuators to provide power and signaling to the multiple RET actuators for that antenna. This design approach is expensive due to the cost of the external cable assemblies and the redundant electronic components used by multiple RET actuators. In addition, removable RET actuators must be configured to physically align with and receive the phase shifter shafts for each beam of the multi-beam antenna, which requires a different removable RET actuator configuration for each antenna with a different phase shifter shaft configuration.
The locations of the phase shifter adjustment knobs or shafts on a typical multi-band RET antenna are constrained by the physical size and shape of the RET actuators and by their attachment mechanisms. The phase shifter adjustment knobs or shafts must be spaced far enough apart to allow the multiple RET actuators to be attached to the antenna without mechanical interference. The knobs or shafts must also be spaced far enough apart to provide room for the RET actuator mounting hardware and to provide access for the tools used to install the mounting hardware. As a result, the location of the phase shifter adjustment knobs or shafts on the antenna are often determined by the geometry of the RET actuators and not by the optimum phase shifter placement inside the antenna. These constraints increase the mechanical complexity of the RET antenna design and increase the development time and costs for new antenna models.
There is, therefore, a continuing need for a RET antenna that can be produced with fewer electronic parts for lower cost and that reduces mechanical constraints on the phase shifter drive shaft locations inside the antenna.

Multi-beam antenna with multi-device control unit


There is provided a method and system for transmitting control information for user equipment. According to embodiments there is provided a method and apparatus for enabling multi-transport block scheduling with time diversity. According to embodiments, there is provided a method and apparatus for managing multi-transport block transmission.

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication standard offers a high-capacity, high-speed wireless interface for use by mobile phones, data terminals, machine-type-communication (MTC) or machine-to-machine (M2M) equipment, and the like. However, in some instances it may be desirable to sacrifice aspects of an LTE terminal's performance, for example data capacity, in order to gain other benefits, such as reduced complexity and/or cost. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project has considered such possibilities, for example in connection with "low-cost" or "limited capability" User Equipment (UE), also referred to as a CAT-M UE.
The 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) standards committees have recognized the need for LTE to support very large numbers of M2M user equipment (UEs) and have identified objectives for modifications to the existing LTE standards designed to support very large numbers of M2M UEs. Common requirements for such modifications are that they maintain compatibility with existing devices and limit the impact of M2M traffic on the high data rate and low latency requirements of current and future users.
In Release 15 or earlier, multiple transport blocks (TBs) must be scheduled individually. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, TBs with 4 repeats each are illustrated, wherein each set of TB repeats, e.g. four TB1s 110 and four TB2s 120 occur after a grant 105, 115. It is noted that the configuration as illustrated in FIG. 1, there are a lot of unused sub-frames (SF) which slows the data rate and uses a lot of MTC physical downlink control channel (MPDCCH) resources to schedule each grant. 3GPP has agreed that Multi-TB scheduling via a multi-TB grant (MTBG) could be specified in Rel 16 for LTE-M (RP-181450) and NB-IOT (RP-181450). Allowing multiple TBs per grant will result in more efficient scheduling as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein there are 8 TBs with 4 repeats each, e.g.; four TB1 205, four TB2 210 and four TB3 215. However, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 would not allow the use of "time diversity". Furthermore, as an LTE-M device is to be simple in design, a UE configured as a LTE-M device typically cannot do blind decoding of the MPDCCH for different sized DCI messages, for example grants.
Therefore there is a need for a method and system for transmitting control information for Category M User Equipment (UE) that is not subject to one or more limitations of the prior art.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Method and apparatus for multi-transport block grant transmissions