A single tone RF signal generator and a method of generating a single tone RF signal. The single tone RF signal generator includes an output and a power amplifier that has an input. The power amplifier is operable to receive an RF signal including a first harmonic corresponding to a single tone signal to be produced by the signal generator. The power amplifier is also operable to amplify the RF signal. The power amplifier is further operable to provide the amplified RF signal to the output of the signal generator. The single tone RF signal generator further includes a feedback circuit connected between the output of the signal generator and the input of the power amplifier. The feedback circuit is configured to add one or more predistortion harmonics to the RF signal received by the power amplifier for cancelling harmonics in the amplified RF signal provided by the power amplifier.

FIG. 1A shows an example of a single tone frequency generator. The frequency generator includes an oscillator 2 for producing a signal having the frequency of the single tone, and an output 6. It is known that single tone frequency generators can suffer from the presence of harmonics at the output 6. These harmonics can affect the performance of the generator in terms of its ability to provide a clean signal having a single frequency.
As shown in FIG. 1A, one way of reducing the presence of harmonics is to use a low pass filter 4. The low pass filter 4 is positioned between the oscillator 2 and the output 6.
The effect of the low pass filter 4 is illustrated in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 1B, the low pass filter 4 has an response 8 that allows the first harmonic H1 (which corresponds to the fundamental of the single tone output) to pass, while filtering out the second, third and higher harmonics.
Although the use of a low pass filter of the kind explained above can be effective in removing harmonics that can otherwise affect the performance of a single tone frequency generator, the filter may be expensive. Also, it may be difficult to use a low pass filter for high power applications (≧50 dBm, for example).
In the field of digital data transmissions, it is known to apply a technique that involves modifying a signal prior to amplification, for removing distortion that can otherwise create unwanted emission in adjacent channels. An example of this is explained below in relation to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows a digital data transmission circuit 10. The circuit 10 includes a digital modulator 14 which receives data at an input 12 for transmission by an antenna 20. The circuit 10 also includes an up conversion mixer 16 and a down conversion mixer 24. The circuit 10 further includes a power amplifier 18 and an attenuator 22. The down conversion mixer 24 and the attenuator 22 are provided in a feedback circuit that is connected to the output of the power amplifier 18 by a coupler 19.
During operation, the up conversion mixer 16 provides up conversion in the desired channel for digital data transmission and this up converted signal is provided then to the power amplifier 18 and subsequently transmitted via the antenna 20. Part of the output signal is fed back via the coupler 19, through the attenuator 22 and is down converted by the down conversion mixer 24. This feedback signal is then provided to the digital modulator 14. Complex algorithms are then used in the digital modulator to minimise the power in the unwanted channels. In essence, the digital modulator 14 modifies the data input 12 by applying predistortion to the signal in accordance with the feedback in order to minimise unwanted emissions in side channels of the transmitted signal. This is illustrated in the graph in the lower part of FIG. 2, which illustrates that the adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of the wanted digital channel 26 compared to the intermodulation signals in the unwanted side channels 28 can be enhanced using the circuit 10.
The circuit shown in FIG. 2 is used, as noted above, for digital data transmission and as such the predistortion introduced by the digital modulator 14 is relevant only in the case of a modulated signal. Additionally, the circuit 10 shown in FIG. 2 requires a large bandwidth in order to be able to detect the power in the adjacent channels 28. Accordingly, the circuit 10 shown in FIG. 2 is not useful in the case of single tone applications.
One example of a single tone application is a RF heating apparatus. This is shown schematically in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the RF heating apparatus includes an oscillator 2 which produces a signal which is amplified by a power amplifier 5. The amplified signal is then introduced into a cavity 30 of the RF heating apparatus using an antenna 20. The cavity 30 itself can act as a low pass filter and can thus provide at least some attenuation of the unwanted harmonics of a single tone signal. Nevertheless, there exists a need for the production of a single tone RF signal having a low level of harmonics.
As noted above, a low pass filter may be expensive and/or difficult to use for high power applications such as RF heating. Because of this, it may generally be necessary to place the low pass filter used in an RF heating apparatus in front the power amplifier. This is illustrated in FIG. 4.
The circuit of FIG. 4 includes an oscillator 2, a power amplifier 5 and a low pass filter 4 located in between the oscillator 2 and the power amplifier 5. Note that the circuit in FIG. 4 is similar that that described above in relation to FIG. 3, and may be used for RF heating applications. A problem with the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 however, is that the power amplifier 5 itself can introduce unwanted harmonics into the single tone signal. Because the low pass filter 4 is placed before the power amplifier, it cannot remove harmonies that are introduced by the power amplifier. Accordingly, the low pass filer 4 only has limited effect in reducing the level of harmonics at the output.
An article by M. Abid et al. entitled "Mixed Cartesian Feedback for Zero-IF WCDMA Transmitter", IEEE, 2011, describes an adaptive power amplifier (PA) linearization technique. A WCDMA zero-intermediate frequency (Zero-IF) transmitter is provided with a modified Cartesian feedback (CFB) loop. The transmitter architecture consists of an analogue stage including forward I/Q modulator and feedback I/Q demodulator, and a digital stage adjusting the phase rotation around the loop.


An attenuator for high pressure fluid systems includes a shielding stud including first and second ends and a cylindrical space extending therebetween. The attenuator comprises a cylindrical, attenuator body disposed within the cylindrical space and defining a pressure chamber therein. First and second seal heads are positioned within first and second ends of said shielding stud and coupled to the attenuator body using a tensioner assembly and a plug threadingly coupled to first and second inner threaded surfaces of the shielding stud in first and second ends thereof.

The present invention relates to high-pressure fluid systems and particularly to attenuators for absorbing pressure spikes in high-pressure fluid systems.
Conventional high-pressure fluid systems utilize attenuators that absorb pressure spikes created in the system when a piston, which creates the pressure in the system, is driven back and forth. A typical attenuator provides within the system a volume of fluid large enough to dampen pressure fluctuations present in fluid entering one end of the attenuator. The attenuator then delivers fluid from its opposite end at a more constant pressure.
The walls of high-pressure attenuators must withstand great stresses due to internal pressure. One common type of attenuator known in the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, it includes a body having a pressure chamber that is sealed off with seal heads coupled to the ends of the attenuator body by fasteners that are anchored in the wall of the pressure chamber and protrude beyond the end of the pressure chamber far enough for the seal head to be threadedly fastened to the pressure chamber.
The high pressures, under which attenuators operate, coupled with the presence of fasteners that extend into the wall of the attenuator body beyond the end of the pressure chamber, can create stress raisers within the attenuator walls causing cracks and fatigue problems. In addition, the assembly process to properly secure the seal-head to the pressure chamber is complex because of the strict requirement to get proper tension on the studs and because the process is very time consuming.
Alternatively, an attenuator for high-pressure system can comprise a body defining a pressure chamber therein. One such design as known in the prior art is shown in FIG. 2. At least one end of the body includes an opening to the pressure chamber. The body also includes an engaging wall extending beyond the opening to the pressure chamber. The engaging wall defines a sealing chamber therein. A seal head is positioned within the sealing chamber and seals the opening to the pressure chamber. The seal head includes a passageway therethrough for the passage of fluid from the pressure chamber. A tensioner is threadedly coupled to the engaging wall and positioned around the passageway within the sealing chamber. A plurality of jackbolts is threaded through the tensioner and includes ends contacting the seal head to bias the seal head against the opening to the pressure chamber.
In certain configurations of the design shown in FIG. 2, the tensioner includes threads on an outer threaded surface of the tensioner which engage mating threads on an inner threaded surface of the engaging wall. The jackbolts, threaded through the tensioner, push against a lateral face of the seal head forcing an engaging face of the seal head into engagement with a wedge surface surrounding the opening to the pressure chamber, thereby sealing the opening to the pressure chamber.
While the attenuator design shown in FIG. 2 overcomes the stress raisers in the pressure chamber wall and the assembly difficulties of the attenuator design shown in FIG. 1, neither design provides a sufficiently safe design that can prevent leaks through cracks in the pressure chamber from exhausting into the space around the attenuator. The space around the attenuator when it is in service can be near where people move about. Leakage from a crack in the pressure chamber wall can exhaust with very high energy and are potentially dangerous should a person be nearby.
In attempt to solve these problems, current designs commonly used in the industry use a non-loaded, bulky, secondary containment shell to protect nearby people or adjacent equipment should a rupture occur. Other attempts to solve these and similar problems are also provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,096 entitled "High Pressure Attenuator," and U.S. Pat. No. 9,163,617 entitled "High Pressure Pump Including Hollow Stud," each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved attenuator design that is efficient, economical and safe and that can overcome the aforementioned problems.


An etching method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing a substrate, which includes a silicon-containing film, in a chamber; and etching the silicon-containing film with a chemical species in plasma generated from a process gas supplied in the chamber. The process gas includes a phosphorus gas component and a fluorine gas component.

The production of electronic devices involves plasma etching of silicon-containing films on substrates. The plasma etching of the silicon-containing film uses plasma generated from process gases. Conventionally, a process gas may contain a fluorocarbon gas, as a process gas for use in plasma etching of a silicon-containing film. Also conventionally, a process gas may contain a hydrocarbon gas and a hydrofluorocarbon gas, as a process gas for use in plasma etching of a silicon-containing film.


An FC-type optoelectronic assembly is provided that has a threaded plastic body that is adapted to mate with a threaded sleeve of an FC plug by engaging the threaded sleeve the FC plug with the threaded body of the FC-type optoelectronic assembly. The threaded plastic body is transparent to an operational wavelength of the FC-type optoelectronic assembly and has an optical element integrally formed therein. A TO-can header is housed in the threaded plastic body. A miniature PCB may be used for mounting the electrical and optoelectronic components of the TO-can header assembly on the header of the TO-can header assembly.

Optical receivers are often implemented as transistor outline (TO)-can header assemblies. TO-can header assemblies typically include a metal cylindrical base, known as a header, four or five conductive leads having ends that pass through the header, a photodiode mounted on a mounting surface of the metal header, a receiver integrated circuit (IC) mounted on the mounting surface of the metal header, one or more passive components (e.g., capacitors, resistors, etc.) mounted on the mounting surface of the metal header, and a cap that is hermetically sealed to the metal header. The cap encases and protects the photodiode, receiver IC and other electrical devices (e.g., resistors, capacitors, etc.) mounted on the mounting surface of the header. The photodiode, the receiver IC, and the passive and/or active components that are mounted on the metal header are connected to ends of one or more of the conductive leads that pass through the metal header. A transparent window exists in the cap. An optical element (e.g., a plastic lens) is disposed between the transparent window and an end of an optical fiber attached to the TO-can header assembly to couple light passing out of the end of the optical fiber onto the photodiode.
An FC connector is a particular type of optical connector that incorporates a TO-can header assembly. The FC connector has been standardized in FOCIS 4 (Fiber Optic Connector Intermateability Standards (FOCIS) 4 of Electrical Industries Alliance/Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA)-604-04. In an FC connector, the TO-can header assembly is housed within a metal receptacle that has a threaded outer surface. The FC connector is designed to mate with an FC plug that holds an end of an optical fiber within a ferrule. The FC plug has a metal sleeve that is threaded on its inner surface and that can be moved from a rearward position to a forward position. In order to mate the FC plug with the FC connector, the end of the FC plug is inserted into the receptacle of the FC connector. The metal sleeve of the plug is then moved from the rearward position to the forward position over the threaded outer surface of the FC connector and rotated in the clockwise direction to cause the threads on the inner surface of the sleeve to engage the threads on the outer surface of the receptacle. In this way, the FC plug is securely attached to the FC connector.
When the FC connector is implemented as an optical receiver, the electrical and optoelectronic components of the receiver are typically directly attached to the mounting surface of the metal header. If passive or active electrical components are needed, they are typically implemented as chips that are die attached by a metallic (e.g., gold) bonding material to the mounting surface of the metal header and then wire bonded to one or more of the conductive leads. The die attachment and wire bonding processes are relatively expensive and time consuming to perform. Consequently, these processes increase manufacturing costs. It would be desirable to provide an FC-type optoelectronic assembly that obviates the need to perform these processes for passive and/or active electrical components used in the FC connector. It would also be desirable to provide and FC connector that is generally easier and less costly to manufacture.

Fixed connection (FC)-type optoelectronic assembly having a transparent threaded plastic body with an optical element integrally formed therein

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A device for inserting a transponder into a slot of an object, the device being designed as an insert part which has approximately the length and width of the slot and which can be connected to the slot, and which has a receptacle for the transponder.

The problem arises for various objects, in particular objects which are rented and which cannot be clearly identified because they do not have serial numbers, of easily identifying them—for example, to find out whether an identical rented object has been returned, or has been replaced prior to the return. Being able to detect such objects digitally, store their information in databases, and catalog them based on location are also desirable features.
Such objects can be equipped with optical codes to accomplish this. However, this is impossible in many sectors, or is associated with major disadvantages—for example, in the construction sector for the process of identifying scaffolding or formwork. These components are subject to considerable mechanical stress and are cleaned with high-pressure cleaners. Optical identifiers are therefore not strong enough for these components.
As such, the use of electronic identifiers in the form of RFID transponders is known from the prior art. For example, WO 2008/098755 A1 describes a formwork element having a formwork skin and having an outer frame made of metal, on which a recess is provided in which a transponder is arranged and retained.
DE 20 2010 005 092 U1 discloses an object having a recess and a transponder in this recess, the recess being formed by a container which is made of metal or plastics material.
DE 10 2010 038 474 A1 discloses a formwork element having a formwork frame and formwork skin, wherein an RFID transponder is attached to the back of the formwork skin.
DE 103 576 95 A1 discloses a slot antenna for a transponder, and US 2006/0232412 A1 discloses an RFID chip and a slot antenna.
WO 2014/048954 discloses a transportable device, in particular a formwork, which is equipped with a transponder which is arranged in a recess made of metal, the bottom of the recess being provided with a slot.
DE 10 2006 029 249 A1 discloses a device for inserting a transponder into a slot of an object, the device having approximately the length and width of the slot and having an insert part which receives the transponder.
DE 20 2008 001 549 U1 relates to an RFID transponder having a housing, a coupling loop which is electrically connected to an RFID chip arranged in the housing, and an antenna which has a slot and is arranged on the outside of the housing. In this case, the housing with the chip is placed on an object from the outside.
US 2006/0 232 412 A1 also deals with a reading system and a method for identifying goods with the aid of transponders, with particular reference being made to scaffolding material.
For the devices mentioned, the insertion of the transponder into the slot is difficult. Especially when the object to be marked has a cavity behind the slot, the transponder, the tag or the chip having the transponder can often fall through the slot into this cavity and disappear. It sometimes takes several attempts to fix a chip securely in the slot—for example, by gluing or soldering. Such a fixation also does not withstand the hard, continuous stress on objects that are used in the construction sector. In many cases, the glued or soldered chip comes off when the object is cleaned.
The problem therefore exists of designing a device for inserting a transponder into a slot of an object in such a way that the transponder to be used can be reliably positioned at the correct location of the slot.

Abstract: The task of designing an appropriate device in such a manner that the transponder to be inserted can be reliably positioned at the correct location of the slot is achieved in that the receptacle is arranged on the end of the insert part facing an end of the slot, and has a resilient web for clamping the transponder, when inserted, between a base of the insert part 4 and the resilient web, wherein the space between the web and the base is undersized with respect to the thickness of the transponder.


The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill that is adapted to apply a proper engaging force to a positioning plate fixed at the bottom of the internal side of the handrail assembly such that an unexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of a slope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position.

1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill, and more particularly, to an engaging mechanism that prevents the folding apparatus from an unexpected false action.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the application Ser. Nos. 11/900,042 and 11/866,999, the inventor of the invention has developed a folding apparatus of a treadmill that permits an easy folding of the platform frame in an upright position and even an easy folding of a handrail assembly. In this way, a complete folding is achieved. It is apparent that the inventor has made every effort to enhance the practicality and convenience of the product in the actual use. However, the inventor still found that it is likely to create a certain extent of sway on the platform frame and the handrail assembly due to the existence of the folding apparatus, thereby causing users to have little psychological anxiety and misgivings when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position and the user wants to employ the lifting motor and the slope adjusting support to adjust the exercise slope.
In fact, any treadmill having a folding apparatus for providing an auxiliary force creates a varying degree of sway when the mechanism for adjusting the exercise slope is operated. The slight sway won't harm the operators. In order to eliminate the misgiving of the operator in use, a further solution is developed again.

Engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill


There is provided a method of manufacturing a toner, using a shearing force for granulation, in which bubbles are prevented from arising upon application of the shearing force, thus manufacturing a diameter-reduced toner having a particle diameter of about 5 μm which is favorable for enhancement in definition and resolution of images. Upon granulating after a kneaded product of toner raw material is mixed with water dispersion, an interior part of granulating system is heated and pressurized and moreover, both of the shearing force and collision force are applied to the kneaded product of toner raw material by use of a high-speed rotating dispersion type granulator composed of a cylindrical pressure-resistant container, a spinning rotor, following screens, and a fixed screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a toner.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises an image forming process mechanism including: a photoreceptor; a charging section for charging a photoreceptor surface; an exposing section for irradiating with signal light the photoreceptor surface being charged, to form thereon an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information; a developing section for supplying a toner contained in a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor surface, to form thereon a toner image; a transfer section provided with a transfer roller for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor surface to a recording medium; a fixing section provided with a fixing roller for fixing the toner image onto the recording medium; and a cleaning section for cleaning the photoreceptor surface from which the toner image has been transferred. In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrostatic latent image is developed by use of a one-component developer containing a toner as a developer or by use of a two-component developer containing toner and carrier as developers so that an image is formed. Through the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an image of favorable image quality can be formed at high speed and low cost. This promotes the use of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or the like machine, resulting in a remarkable spread thereof in recent years. Simultaneously, the image forming apparatus has faced up to more demanding requirements. Among such requirements, particular attentions are directed to enhancement in definition and resolution, stabilization of image quality, and an increase in image forming speed, regarding an image being formed by the image forming apparatus. In order to fulfill these demands, a two-way approach is indispensable in view of both the image forming process and the developer. Regarding the enhancement in definition and resolution of the image, the reduction in diameter of toner particles is one of problems to be solved from the aspect of the developer. This is based on the perspective such that it is important to authentically reproduce the electrostatic latent image.
Conventionally, a pulverization method, a polymerization method, a wet method, and the like method have been known as a method of manufacturing a toner. According to the pulverization method, an admixture of toner raw materials such as binder resin and a colorant is melt-kneaded, and a melt-kneaded product thus obtained is cooled down to be solidified, followed by pulverization and classification, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained. The diameter-reduced toner manufactured by the pulverization method contains particles of which shapes are not uniform, and has an extremely deteriorated powder flowability. When such a toner is used, the toner is unevenly charged before supplied to an electrostatic latent image, for example, which possibly generates unevenness in density or color of an image being formed. According to the polymerization method, a monomer compound of binder resin, a colorant, and the like ingredients are evenly mixed in a solvent, followed by polymerization of the monomer compound of binder resin, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained. The polymerization method has a drawback such that the binder resin is limited to vinylic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, which can be manufactured by radical polymerization. The toner containing the vinylic polymer as binder resin is inferior to a toner containing polyester as binder resin, in terms of a fixing property onto a recording medium, transparency, and the like properties. According to the wet method, in a solvent containing an organic solvent, mixed are fine synthetic resin particles, a colorant, and other toner raw materials which are then coagulated, and a coagulated product thus obtained is heated, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained. When the wet method is implemented in industrial scale, a large amount of waste liquid containing organic solvent is generated. Considering environmental problems, the waste liquid should not be disposed without treatment. Accordingly, there arises a need of establishing a large-scale disposing facility for collecting the organic solvent, resulting in a higher cost for manufacturing a toner as compared to the other methods.
Conventionally, various methods have been known how to manufacture a toner by applying a shearing force to the toner raw material in water. For example, there has been proposed a toner manufacturing method in which a polymeric monomer composition containing a polymeric monomer, a colorant, and a polymeric initiator is added under a shearing force to a water dispersion (of which pH is from 6.5 to 12) containing inorganic dispersants such as phosphoric salt, carbonate, hydroxide, sulfate, bentonite, silica, and alumina, and then mixed to obtain an admixture that is further subjected to a shearing force to thereby granulate the polymeric monomer composition, followed by suspension polymerization of granulated substances thus obtained, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 10-312086 (1998)). Further, there has been proposed a toner manufacturing method in which a polymeric monomer composition containing a polymeric monomer and a colorant is added to a water dispersion containing an inorganic dispersant, and then mixed to obtain an admixture that is further subjected to a shearing force, a collision force, etc., to thereby granulate the polymeric monomer composition, followed by suspension polymerization of granulated substances thus obtained, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 8-305084 (1996)). Regarding the toner manufacturing method in which a polymeric monomer composition containing a polymeric monomer and a colorant is added to a water dispersion containing an inorganic dispersant, and then mixed to thereafter granulate the polymeric monomer composition, followed by suspension polymerization of granulated substances thus obtained, in a consequence whereof a toner is obtained, there has been proposed that the polymeric monomer composition is granulated by means of a granulator comprising: an open-air cylindrical container; a spinning rotor which is provided in an internal space of the cylindrical container and supported on one face in a thickness direction of the cylindrical container so as to be rotatable, having a shaft center in common with the cylindrical container; a following screen having a shape of tube or bottomed tube, which has a shaft center in common with the cylindrical container and is provided around the spinning rotor so as to be rotatable with rotation of the spinning rotor, and of which peripheral wall is provided with a plurality of slits for flowing a liquid; and a fixed screen having a shape of tube or bottomed tube, which has a shaft center in common with the cylindrical container and is provided around the following screen, and of which peripheral wall is provided with a plurality of slits for flowing a liquid (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2-32363 (1990)). The granulator used in the method disclosed by JP-A 2-32363 is commercially available, and known granulator includes Ebara milder (trade name) manufactured by Ebara Corporation.
In those techniques disclosed in JP-A 10-312086, JP-A 8-305084, and JP-A 2-32363, a toner is obtained by adding the polymeric monomer composition to the water dispersion containing the inorganic dispersant, and then applying the shearing force, the collision force, etc. to granulate the polymeric monomer composition, followed by the suspension polymerization of the granulated substances. The inorganic dispersant has a function to prevent bubbles which have actions of coagulating and coarsening the toner, from arising upon application of the shearing force. In those techniques, however, the generation of bubbles cannot be sufficiently prevented, so that a part of the obtained toner is coarsened, resulting in uneven particle diameter and shape of the toner. Thus, those techniques have a drawback that a diameter-reduce toner as desired cannot be obtained. Furthermore, another known method is a fusion emulsification method in which a toner is manufactured by applying a shearing force to a melt-kneaded product of toner raw materials in water. Also for the method, a technical improvement has been desired to obtain a toner having a further reduced diameter.


There is provided a pulsebeat measurement apparatus. The pulsebeat measurement apparatus includes a first temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of a human body, a specifying unit configured to specify a period of a temperature change caused by a pulsation of the human body based on the detected temperature, a pulsebeat measurement unit configured to measure a pulsebeat of the human body based on the specified period of the temperature change, and a heat absorber configured to absorb heat of the first temperature detector.

In recent years, a computer (so-called wearable device) such as a wristwatch, ring, or a pair of glasses which can be directly worn and carried by the user is attracting attention. There is no big difference between simply wearing and carrying a small computer. Therefore, an application technique which makes the best use of a feature of always wearing is required for the wearable device. As such application technique, a vital sensing technique of automatically recording the condition of the user at the time of wearing is plausible. An example of the vital sensing technique is pulsebeat measurement.
In general, as pulsebeat measurement, electrocardiography of detecting a heart rate almost equivalent to a pulse rate using the peaks, for example, P waves, R waves, or the like of an electrocardiographic waveform measured by attaching electrodes to a living body, photoplethysmography of irradiating a peripheral blood vessel such as a wrist, finger, or earlobe with light, and detecting a pulsebeat based on an optical change in which reflected light periodically changes due to a blood flow and light absorption characteristic, and the like have been widely used.
NPL 1 discloses an apparatus capable of performing heart beat measurement by embedding, in clothing, a measurement electrode according to a sport electrocardiographic lead system, and wearing it. Furthermore, PTL 1 discloses an arrangement capable of measuring a heart beat by wearing, on a pinna, an apparatus including a sensor for performing irradiation with an infrared ray.


For conventional cipher communications based on the principles of quantum mechanics, the photon number per signal needs to be controlled below 1 or to a mesoscopic level in order to make quantum-mechanical properties remarkable. This invention is intended to provide a quantum-mechanical communications' method that is practical even with a macroscopic number of photons. Antisqueezed light is transmitted using a random sender basis. The legitimate recipient can use a secret key to know the random sender basis, and thus to receive the information accurately without being affected by antisqueezing. However, because eavesdroppers unknowing of the sender basis must use haphazard bases in an attempt to receive the signals, the eavesdroppers are significantly affected by antisqueezing and the respective signal bit-error-rates are increased. This makes eavesdropping impossible, thus ensuring secure communications between the legitimate senders and recipients.

The need for secrecy in communications is an everlasting theme extending from ancient times to the future, and in the recent network society, the particular need has been ensured by the advancement of cryptography. The security of the currently widely used public key cryptosystem and the like depends on the fact that an unrealistic time is required for decoding. However, because computer technology is continuing to make constant progress, the above does not mean that the security of the public key cryptosystem and the like is guaranteed over the future. In contrast, quantum cryptography on which active researches are currently being done has its security guaranteed by the laws of physics, and no matter how far technology progresses, the security of quantum cryptography will not deteriorate. The realization thereof is being hoped for in this context.
The quantum cryptography, currently closest to practical use, is the quantum key distribution scheme using faint LD light, described in Non-Patent Document 1. This scheme utilizes the laws of quantum mechanics to share a necessary common key between a message sender and a recipient, and perform encrypted normal communications after the common key has been shared. During the process of sharing the common key, a random-number signal is transmitted using an exclusive optical line with the average photon number of less than one for one signal. Because one signal is constructed using less than one photon of light, even if this signal is eavesdropped on, the legitimate recipient can detect this fact and generate the common key by using only the random-number data whose successful receiving without being eavesdropped on has been ascertainable. Although the security of this scheme is already proved in cryptographic terms, the scheme always requires an exclusive line and is extremely weak against transmission loss because the number of photons used for one signal is less than one. For instance, 100-km transmission reduces the generating rate of the key to about several bits per second (bps). These drawbacks suggest that the introduction of the quantum key distribution scheme which uses faint LD light will be confined to limited use.
Under the background, Yuen et al. have proposed (in Non-Patent Document 2) a quantum-mechanical scheme that uses a mesoscopic number of photons to transmit the signal itself as well as to deliver a key ("mesoscopic" is a term that means somewhere in between "macroscopic" and "microscopic"). The two quadrature components (or paired intensity and phase) of light are not determined simultaneously below the accuracy of its quantum-mechanical fluctuation. Changing a transmission basis finely in a phase modulation scheme and ensuring that adjacent transmission bases are included in the range of quantum-mechanical fluctuation makes it impossible for eavesdroppers unknowing of these transmission bases to retrieve meaningful information from eavesdropping signals. It is reported in Non-Patent Document 3, however, that in this scheme, although the bases assuredly become uncertain within the range of quantum-mechanical fluctuation, if the pseudo-random numbers, which are used in ordinary encryption, are used during the process of changing the basis, when the photon number per signal is increased, the security of the scheme will be no more than that of ordinary classical mechanics-based encryption. In the present situation, the quantum-mechanical scheme mentioned above is still at its research phase.
Although the photon number in the method by Yuen et al. is limited to a mesoscopic number, this method has departed from using less than one photon of faint light and been invented in view not only of distributing a key, but also of sending the signal itself. Hence, the above method is an invention that has approached a realistic position. [Non-Patent Document 1] N. Gisin, G. Ribordy, W. Tittel, and H. Zbinden, Reviews of Modern Physics 74, 145-195 (2002).    [Non-Patent Document 2] G. A. Barbosa, E. Corndorf, P. Kumar, and H. Yuen, Physical Review Letters 90, No. 22, 227901 (2003).    [Non-Patent Document 3] T. Nishioka, T. Hasegawa, H. Ishizuka, K. Imafuku, and H. Imai, arXiv: quant-ph/0310168 v2 31 Oct. 2003 (http://xxx.lan1.gov/).


A cap for an endoscope includes: a cylindrical portion formed so that a distal end thereof protrudes forwardly from a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope; and a suction path that is connected to a suction device, and that communicates with an internal surface of the cylindrical portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap for an endoscope.
2. Description of Related Art
If hemorrhaging occurs from a digestive tract then an endoscopic method is selected first as the method of hemostasis. When implementing this endoscopic hemostasis, it is vital that a search is made of the point of the hemorrhaging. Conventionally, the point of hemorrhage is looked for by changing the physical posture of the patient so that congealed blood and blood that has hemorrhaged inside the digestive tract is moved, or by using the water supply function of an endoscope to discharge jets of water so that the hemorrhaged blood and congealed blood is washed away, or by using the suction function of an endoscope to suction hemorrhaged blood or congealed blood from the large intestinal tract (see, for example, "Decision Tree of Diagnosis and Treatment of Bleeding in Digestive Organs", by Koichiro Kumai, Digestive Organ Endoscopes, Digestive Organ Endoscope Editorial Committee, Tokyo Medical Co. Ltd., Feb. 25, 2003, Vol. 15, No. 2)
The present invention was conceived in view of the above circumstances and it is an object thereof to provide a cap for an endoscope that makes it possible to accurately ascertain a point of hemorrhage without suctioning up a greater quantity of blood than is necessary, and that can be used in endoscopic hemostasis to allow immediate hemostasis.


A method of removing wrinkles, and a device to assist in wrinkle removal is provided. Wrinkles are removed from items such as clothing, linens, curtains, upholstery, fabrics and the like by placing a handheld pad on one side of the item, a wrinkle-removing device (such as a nozzle of a garment steamer) on the other side of the item, and pressing a portion of the item between the pad and the wrinkle-removing device. The wrinkle-removing device and the pad are moved about the item compressing a small portion of the item at a time until the wrinkles are removed from the entire item. The pad device of the instant invention includes a working surface against which a portion of the item is pressed by the wrinkle removing device, and a handgrip for the user to support the pad on a user's hand. The pad includes a foam core that insulates the user's hand from heat of the wrinkle-removing device. The foam core is located within a heat-reflective pouch to further insulate the user's hand and to aid in wrinkle removal.

Several alternative devices currently exist for removing wrinkles from clothing, linens, curtains, upholstery, fabrics and other similar items. Examples of such devices include presses, irons/ironing boards and garment steamers. Each of these devices provides varying levels of wrinkle removal and convenience of use.
Generally, a press includes two large flat surfaces that are connected together by a hinge or other similar connection. Items are located between the two surfaces and the surfaces are compressed together. Steam is often injected between the compressed surfaces to aid in wrinkle removal. A press is desirable in that it generally removes wrinkles from an entire garment, or a large portion of the item, all at one time, and provides clean, long-lasting creases. Nevertheless, presses are very bulky and generally only well-suited for removing wrinkles from a limited variety of items such as pants, which can be folded in half along a crease.
Irons are less bulky, and generally more versatile than presses. An iron is usually used in conjunction with an ironing board which supports the item being ironed in a horizontal position. Generally, a section of the item is laid out flat on the horizontal ironing board and the hot iron (often steaming) is moved across the item to remove wrinkles as the item is compressed between the iron and the ironing board. In this manner an iron and ironing board function similar to a press for a smaller portion of the item. Ironing can be very tedious as the item being ironed must often be repositioned several times on the ironing board to remove all wrinkles. Use of an iron can result in damage, such as scorching, to the item being ironed if the iron is left at a single position for an excessive amount of time. In addition, the ironing board itself is very bulky and cumbersome to use.
An alternative to ironing, which eliminates the use of an ironing board and which eliminates the potential for damage to the wrinkled item, is the garment steamer. A garment steamer produces a large volume of steam that is expelled through a hand-held nozzle. Due to the thermo-dynamic properties of the steam, which rises when exposed to the cooler air of the environment surrounding the wrinkled item, garment steamers generally require that the wrinkled items be supported vertically instead of horizontally. Thus, items such as shirts, pants and other garments are generally supported vertically by clothing hangers when a garment steamer is used for wrinkle removal. The steam penetrates and relaxes the fabric to remove the wrinkles. Sometimes the user of the garment steamer will aid the steam in removing wrinkles by tugging on the bottom of the item to stretch the fabric. Although garment steamers are much faster and easier to remove the majority of wrinkles from an item than an iron, it is difficult to provide as crisp an appearance as can be obtained when the item is compressed between the iron and ironing board (or when pressed). This is particularly the case when an item contains excessively stubborn wrinkles. Nevertheless, the need to support wrinkled items vertically during steaming makes the use of an ironing board difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an improved method of removing wrinkles and a device to aid in compressing an item that is hung vertically during wrinkle removal by a garment steamer.

Handheld pressing pad and method of removing wrinkles


A system and method are provided that can detect any part of a multipath impulse radio signal. More specifically, the method compares a template pulse train and the multipath impulse radio signal to obtain a comparison result. The system performs a threshold check on the comparison result. If the comparison result passes the threshold check, the system locks onto any part of the multipath impulse radio signal including a direct path part and at least one multipath reflection part. The system may also perform a quick check, a synchronization check, and/or a command check of the multipath impulse radio signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the communications field and, more particularly, to a system and method capable of locking onto ultra-wideband signals in a multipath environment.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent advances in communications technology have enabled an emerging and revolutionary ultra-wideband technology (UWB) called impulse radio communications systems (hereinafter called impulse radio). Basic impulse radio transmitters emit short pulses approaching a Gaussian monocycle with tightly controlled pulse-to-pulse intervals. Impulse radio systems typically use pulse position modulation, which is a form of time modulation where the value of each instantaneous sample of a modulating signal is caused to modulate the position of a pulse in time.
For impulse radio communications, the pulse-to-pulse interval is varied on a pulse-by-pulse basis by two components: an information component and a pseudo-random code component. Unlike direct sequence spread spectrum systems, the pseudo-random code for impulse radio communications is not necessary for energy spreading because the monocycle pulses themselves have an inherently wide bandwidth. Instead, the pseudo-random code of an impulse radio system is used for channelization, energy smoothing in the frequency domain, and interference suppression.
Generally speaking, an impulse radio receiver is a direct conversion receiver with a cross-correlator front end. The front end coherently converts an electromagnetic pulse train of monocycle pulses to a baseband signal in a single stage. The data rate of the impulse radio transmission is typically a fraction of the periodic timing signal used as a time base. Because each data bit modulates the time position of many pulses of the periodic timing signal, this yields a modulated, coded timing signal that comprises a train of identically shaped pulses for each single data bit. As an option, the impulse radio receiver can integrate multiple pulses to recover the transmitted information.
In a multi-user environment, impulse radio depends, in part, on processing gain to achieve rejection of unwanted signals. Because of the extremely high processing gain achievable with impulse radio, much higher dynamic ranges are possible than are commonly achieved with other spread spectrum methods.
When receiving an ultra-wideband signal as part of a one-way communication system (e.g., a pager) or a two-way communication system (e.g., a wireless telephone), a problem exists as to how to detect the transmitted impulse radio signal, and more particularly, how to acquire and lock onto the impulse radio signal being transmitted. This problem exists independent of how the received ultra-wideband signal is used, such as in a one-way or two-way communication system.
Previous approaches to solving this problem are discussed in the following commonly owned patents, which are incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,035, issued Nov. 3, 1998 to Fullerton, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,927, issued Oct. 14, 1997. The present invention presents another approach to solving this problem.

Method and system for fast acquisition of ultra-wideband signals


Poinsettia `842` is a new cultivar, distinguished by bright red, upright flower bracts, dark green dentate foliage, prolific branching and a 9 week flowering response time. The new plant produces a very desirable branched flowering pot plant for the late-season holiday market. Poinsettia `842` is resistant to epinasty after being confined to shipping containers. The post-production foliage and bract retention is excellent even under low light intensities in the consumer's home.

This new Poinsettia cultivar, `842`, originated as an induced self-branching sport of a seedling known as "P-72" (not patented) in my greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. It was selected because of its upright, bright red flower bracts, dark green dentate foliage, prolific branching and late-season flowering response; traits that distinguish it from other poinsettia cultivars, and seem to make it a desirable plant for commercial greenhouse production. After selection, `842` was vegetatively reproduced from stem cuttings for test purposes in Encinitas, Calif. "P-72" is a proprietary plant and there are no specimens in the public domain. Poinsetta "P-72" is not self-branching in that no axillary branches develop as long as the apical bud is not removed (pinched). `842` is self-branching in that during development axillary branches elongate without removal of the apical bud. If under short day conditions, the axillary branches will develop inforescences. By subjecting clones of this plant to successive generations of vegetative propagation, it was demonstrated that the distinctive characteristics of `842` held true from generation to generation.


A grinding method for a wafer having a plurality of devices on the front side, wherein the back side of the wafer is ground by a grinding wheel to suppress the motion of heavy metal in the wafer by a gettering effect and also to maintain the die strength of each device at about 1,000 MPa or more. The grinding wheel is composed of a frame and an abrasive member fixed to the free end of the frame. The abrasive member is produced by fixing diamond abrasive grains having a grain size of less than or equal to 1 μm with a vitrified bond. A protective member is attached to the front side of the wafer and the wafer is held on a chuck table in the condition where the protective member is in contact with the chuck table. The grinding wheel is rotated as rotating the chuck table to thereby grind the back side of the wafer by means of the abrasive member so that the average surface roughness of the back side of the wafer becomes less than or equal to 0.003 μm and the thickness of a strain layer remaining on the back side of the wafer becomes 0.05 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of grinding the back side of a wafer to improve the die strength of the wafer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The back side of a wafer having a plurality of devices such as ICs and LSIs on the front side is ground to reduce the thickness of the wafer to a predetermined value. Thereafter, the wafer is separated into the individual devices, which are in turn used in various kinds of electronic equipment. In recent years, the thickness of the wafer in the condition prior to separation into the individual devices has been further reduced to meet the requirement of further reduction in size and weight of electronic equipment. In the case that the back side of a wafer is polished to reduce the thickness of the wafer to 100 μm or less, for example, there arises a problem such that a gettering effect of suppressing the motion of heavy metal such as copper contained in the wafer may be reduced to cause a reduction in quality of each device separated from the wafer.
To cope with this problem, there has been proposed a technique such that the back side of a wafer is ground to form a strain layer, thereby producing a gettering effect and accordingly suppressing the motion of heavy metal in the wafer (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2006-41258, for example). However, in the case that the strain layer is formed on the back side of the wafer, the die strength or strength against fracture of each device separated from the wafer may be reduced to cause a reduction in quality and life.


A radar apparatus transmits a pulse signal including pulses having at least two different pulselengths in a specific transmit pulse pattern and receives a returning echo signal through a single antenna. A tuning voltage setting timing generator generates a timing of setting a tuning voltage according to a combination of transmission pulselengths and a tuning processor performs tuning operation in a manner suited to a current transmission pulselength based on the tuning voltage setting timing. The radar apparatus may include a tuning voltage alteration decider for deciding whether or not to alter the tuning voltage based on a combination of alternate pulselengths before altering the pulselength of the pulse signal generated by a transmitter and the tuning processor alters the tuning voltage based on the result of decision made by the tuning voltage alteration decider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a radar apparatus and, more particularly, to a tuning method used in a radar apparatus which transmits and receives signals having multiple pulselengths assigned individually to selected range scales through a single antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radar apparatus conventionally used on a ship, for instance, transmits a specific pulse signal and receives an echo signal reflected by surrounding targets through an antenna. The radar apparatus determines angular direction, or bearing (.theta.), of a particular target from the direction of the antenna as well as a range (r) to the target based on the time elapsed from transmission of the pulse signal to reception of the echo signal.
The pulse signal transmitted from the antenna has a pulselength which is determined in accordance with a detection range and range discrimination that are required. Typically, the pulselength is determined for each range scale selected for on-screen presentation. For example, a short pulselength is selected to achieve higher range discrimination on a short range scale as echoes received from nearby targets are generally strong, whereas a long pulselength is selected to receive a larger amount of information and thereby achieve improved target detectability on a long range scale as echoes from far targets are weakened.
If the transmission pulselength is lengthened to improve long-range target detectability, however, the range discrimination deteriorates. Thus, there arises a drawback that nearby targets can not be discriminated from one another when these targets are observed on a long range scale. The conventional radar apparatus exhibits this drawback most conspicuously particularly when viewing nearby targets on a long range scale. For this reason, it has been necessary for a radar observer to switch the radar apparatus to an optimum range scale depending on the distance between own ship and targets of interest.
Although some radar apparatuses offer a "zoom" function which is conventional, the zoom function simply displays an enlarged picture obtained by "zooming in" part of the echo signal received on the range scale in use and, thus, the enlarged part of the echo signal is not displayed with increased range discrimination. Therefore, the zoom function does not provide any solution to the aforementioned drawback of the conventional radar apparatus.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1992-98179 and Japanese Patent No. 3507717 each disclose a technique which enables a radar apparatus to transmit signals having different pulselengths assigned individually to two or more range scales according to a selected transmit pulse sequence and simultaneously display radar pictures on two or more range scales. This technique, if implemented in a radar apparatus, makes it possible to simultaneously present echo signals obtained with multiple pulselengths on different range scales with high target detectability.
The aforementioned technique of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1992-98179 and Japanese Patent No. 3507717 however has a problem that a receiving circuit employing a conventional tuning method can not perform filtering operation at a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This is because the radar apparatus employing the technique successively switches the pulselength at high speed according to the transmit pulse sequence.
This problem of the aforementioned multiple pulselength technique is now examined in detail.
A commonly known conventional radar apparatus successively transmits pulses having a single pulselength which is determined in accordance with a detection range and range discrimination that are required. Thus, the pulselength of a pulse signal to which a receiving circuit of the radar apparatus should be tuned remains constant over time, so that the receiving circuit can normally execute tuning operation at a desired timing without the need to verify the pulselength of the signal. In performing the tuning operation, the receiving circuit sets a tuning voltage at the earliest timing according to task priority in order that a tuning voltage value given by a signal processor will be achieved as soon as possible.
Since the receiving circuit once tuned does not become greatly mistuned in actuality, the receiving circuit does not perform the tuning operation at every transmit pulse to alleviate work load of a mathematical processor of the radar apparatus. Rather, the receiving circuit performs the tuning operation at specified time intervals regardless of transmit signal output timing.
If the tuning operation of this kind performed in the conventional radar apparatus is used in combination with the aforementioned technique of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1992-98179 and Japanese Patent No. 3507717, it would be impossible to control the tuning voltage in such a way that the tuning voltage varies in accordance with the frequently switched pulselength of the transmit signal, and this would result in the aforementioned problem that an echo signal having a sufficient SNR is not obtainable.
It is to be pointed out that even the conventional radar apparatus switches the receiving circuit from one transmit signal pulselength to another when the range scale is altered. Operation carried out by the conventional radar apparatus when the pulselength is changed is as follows. First, the radar apparatus gives operational parameters corresponding to the newly selected transmit signal pulselength to individual processors and the individual processors perform signal processing suitable for the new pulselength according to the given operational parameters.
Then, a tuning processor generates a tuning voltage value corresponding to the newly selected transmit signal pulselength using a main bang signal obtained by transmission and reception of the pulse signal having the new pulselength and performs operation for setting and generating a new tuning voltage.
The aforementioned tuning operation however requires an extremely long period of time compared to a transmission interval of the pulse signal. Thus, if the above-described conventional tuning operation is used in combination with the technique of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1992-98179 and Japanese Patent No. 3507717, the aforementioned problem that an echo signal having a sufficient SNR is not obtainable would result.


There is provided a steel for induction hardening in which cracks are less liable to occur and high hardness and seizure resistance are attained even if a tempering process after induction hardening is omitted. The steel for induction hardening according to the present invention contains, by mass percent, C: 0.20 to 0.34%, Si: at most 0.20%, Mn: 0.75 to 2.0%, P: at most 0.03%, S: at most 0.20%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.2%, Ti: at least 0.002% and less than 0.030%, Al: 0.005 to 0.04%, and N: 0.0040 to 0.020%, the balance being Fe and impurities, and satisfies Formula (1):1.20≦Mn+Cr≦2.10  (1)where the content (mass %) of each element is substituted for each of the symbols of elements in Formula (1).

Some crankshaft is manufactured by being subjected to induction hardening and tempering followed by grinding. Induction hardening induces residual stress in steel. The residual stress causes cracks such as quenching cracks and grinding cracks. Tempering reduces residual stress and restrains the occurrence of cracks.
If a tempering process can be omitted, the manufacturing cost goes down. However, cracks attributable to the residual stress induced at the time of induction hardening are liable to occur. For this reason, there has been a demand for a steel for induction hardening in which cracks are less liable to occur even if a tempering process is omitted in the manufacturing process of a crankshaft.
JP61-186419A, JP2000-26933A, JP2005-256134A, and JP2007-113063A disclose steels which are used for manufacturing a hot forged product and a crankshaft, and in which cracks attributable to induction hardening are less liable to occur.
In the method for manufacturing a driveshaft disclosed in JP61-186419A, the occurrence of quenching cracks attributable to induction hardening is restrained by reducing the C content in a steel product. In JP61-186419A, the steel product further contains B to compensate the decrease in hardenability caused by the reduction in the C content.
In the steel for hot forging disclosed in JP2000-26933A, at least 0.04 wt % of Ti is contained to change the mode of sulfide, whereby the machinability after forging is improved, and the occurrence of grinding cracks at the time of grinding is restrained.
The steel material for crankshaft disclosed in JP2005-256134A contains at least 0.4 mass % of Si. A large amount of Si contained reduces the shrinkage at the time when carbides are produced by heat generated at the time of grinding, and restrains the occurrence of grinding cracks.
The hot-forged part disclosed in JP2007-113063A has a chemical composition such that a formula of fn2=521−353C−22Si−25Mn−8Cu−17Ni−18Cr−26Mo is at least 300. By making the formula of fn2 at least 300, the occurrence of quenching cracks is restrained.

Steel for induction hardening and crankshaft manufactured using the same

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


A system and method are described for spacing objects within a constraint. In one embodiment, data that defines the constraint and a set of spacing parameters that indicate how to space objects across the constraint are received. Further, a grid type from a plurality of grid types is selected. Each such grid type is associated with one or more grid attributes. A grid of the selected grid type is then mapped onto the constraint.

The spacing of objects has been a fundamental problem through history. Architecture design programs, generally known as computer aided design (CAD) programs, provide a planning mechanism that allows individuals to simulate the architecture and physical layout of a particular design. By simulating the layout of a particular design, a significant reduction in manufacturing costs may be realized as mistakes are identified and corrected and design changes are made prior to construction or manufacturing of the particular design.
In certain cases, a design may require a particular type of object to be placed at multiple locations within a particular area (the "target area"). For example, a building design may require that windows be placed fifteen feet apart on each floor of the building.
To determine the spacing of objects, typical design programs query the user to enter a "requested object count" and a "requested spacing offset". The requested object count indicates a number of objects that the user wishes to place in the target area. The requested spacing offset indicates a particular spacing that the user wishes to achieve between each object. The user may also specify a start location and a particular direction for the spacing objects.
To map the object into the target area, the design program identifies and places an object at the starting location, typically referenced as location (0,0) relative to the target area. The design program then identifies a next location based on the requested spacing offset and places an object at the next identified location. This process is repeated until the "requested" number of objects have been mapped.
A drawback associated with spacing objects in this manner is that the requested object count and requested spacing offset may not correctly conform to the boundaries of the target area. For example, if the "requesting" spacing of windows or the "requested" window count is too high, some windows may be placed beyond the end of the wall in which they are to be built. Thus, the user is required to repeatedly modify the requested object count and spacing offset values on a trial and error basis to achieve a desired spacing of objects for the particular area.
For example, FIG. 1A illustrates the mapping of objects as performed by the prior art. As depicted, FIG. 1A includes areas 102 and 104 in which a set of window objects 106 and 108 are respectively mapped. For area 102, the user specified a requested object count equal to "4" and a requested spacing offset equal to "10". Because the requested object count and requested spacing offset do not correctly conform to the area 102, the placement of window object 106 does not correctly conform to area 102. Conversely, for area 104, the user specified a requested object count equal to "5" and a requested spacing offset equal to "10". Here again, because the requested object count and requested spacing offset do not correctly conform to the area 104, the placement of window object 108 does not correctly conform to area 102. Thus, to cause the window objects 106 and 108 to correctly conform with areas 102 and 104, the user must modify either or both of the requested object count or requested spacing offset values and again wait for the design program to map the objects into the corresponding areas to determine whether the requested object count and requested spacing offset correctly conform to the corresponding areas.
Another drawback with the prior art is that the spacing of objects can only be performed in a single direction. Therefore, a user cannot easily perform the spacing of objects in a multi-dimensional area. For example, FIG. 1B depicts a side of a building 120 for which a user requires window objects 122 to be spaced on multiple floors 124, 126, 128 and 130. To cause the spacing of widow object 122 to conform to floor 130, the user repeatedly interacts with a design program to enter the appropriate requested object count and requested spacing offset values for floor 130. Likewise, to cause the spacing of widow object 122 to conform to floor 128, the user repeatedly interacts with the design program to enter the appropriate requested object count and requested spacing offset values for floor 128. However, because a user can only define the spacing of objects in a single direction, the user cannot easily control the spacing of window object 122 between floors 128 and 130.
Based on the foregoing, it is highly desirable to provide a mechanism that can be used for the spacing of objects without having to repeatedly map the objects on a trial and error basis to obtain a desired spacing.
It is also highly desirable to provide a mechanism that performs spacing of objects for multi-dimensional areas.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A receiver includes a feedback low noise amplifier (LNA). The feedback LNA has an LNA gain and includes an LNA input configured to receive a signal from an antenna and an LNA output configured to output an amplified voltage signal. The receiver also includes a resistive element, having a resistance, coupled to the LNA output and configured to convert the amplified voltage signal into a current. The receiver also includes a current commuting mixer coupled to the resistive element and configured to receive the current from the resistive element, where the current output by the resistive element is determined at least in part by the amplified voltage signal and the resistance of the resistive element.

Low noise amplifiers (LNA) are commonly used in front end receivers. An LNA is designed to have certain properties, such as an input resistance that matches an antenna, a certain gain (e.g., 10 to 20 dB), low noise, good linearity, etc. Front end receivers also have a mixer that mixes a received signal with an oscillating signal. A current commuting mixer inputs a current, whereas an LNA outputs a voltage. To convert from voltage to current, some front end receivers use transconductors between the LNA and mixer. Although transconductors have their advantages, one disadvantage to using a transconductor is that it consumes power since transconductors include transistors which must be biased. Also, the transconductor must be designed so that certain properties (e.g., linearity) are acceptable. It would be desirable if new LNA circuits could be designed that consume less power and/or and have better linearity. Furthermore, it would be desirable if these LNA circuits were broadband and/or could be configured to operate at a selected frequency of interest.


A tiller for cultivating soil has a power source and a tilling shaft mounted for undergoing rotation by a driving force supplied from the power source. The tilling shaft has a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft extending through the outer shaft. The inner shaft has a variable rotating speed and/or direction of rotation relative to the outer shaft. A power transmission mechanism transmits a driving force from the power source to the tilling shaft. The power transmission mechanism has a first power transmission system for transmitting the driving force from the power source to the outer shaft and a second power transmission system transmitting the driving force from the power source to the inner shaft. The second power transmission system has a hydrostatic transmission comprised of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor for effecting a stepless change of the rotating speed of the inner shaft as well as a selective change of its direction of rotation. Tilling claws are disposed on the tilling shaft for tilling soil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tiller which is operable with a variable driving force and under variable tilling conditions, depending on the soil.
2. Description of the Related Art
A small tiller as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. SHO-57-86502 is known as a controlled machine having tilling claws attached to a tilling shaft rotatably for cultivating the soil with the forward movement of the machine, as well as allowing it to run on a road. The machine has a plurality of appropriately spaced apart tilling claws attached to the tilling shaft extending transversely under its main body, a rearwardly extending operating handlebar, and a resistance bar extending rearwardly and downwardly from its main body.
As the tilling claws serve also as traveling wheels, however, the machine requires a great deal of labor and skill for its operation, since the nature of the soil may disable it to keep a good balance between its driving force and tillage, and call for a change of the tilling conditions. If the soil is hard, the machine suffers from a serious lowering of its operability due to a dashing phenomenon, since the tilling claws do not cut into the ground, but roll thereon and cause the machine to move forward uselessly. If the soil is soft, the machine has a lower working efficiency, as it is likely to work on the soil to an unnecessary extent and have a lower driving force.
A small tiller as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-6-3002 is known as having been devised to solve those problems. The tiller has a connecting shaft connected to a tilling shaft, which is the output shaft of a transmission, and carrying tilling claws on its portion close to the transmission. The connecting shaft also carries thereon a planetary gear mechanism composed of a sun gear formed on its middle portion, a plurality of planet gears meshing with the sun gear and gear shafts each attached rotatably to the center of one of the planet gears. Traveling wheels are attached to the gear shafts of the planetary gear mechanism by bosses. A ring gear is rotatably fitted to the connecting shaft. The ring gear has a toothed inner periphery meshing with the planet gears. The ring gear is secured to a fender fixed to the transmission. The rotation of the tilling shaft is transmitted to the traveling wheels by the planetary gear mechanism, so that the traveling wheels may be rotated at a reduced speed relative to the tilling claws rotating with the tilling shaft. As the wheels have a fixed reduction ratio relative to the tilling shaft, however, the wheels have a fixed driving force for moving the machine forward, and under certain soil conditions, therefore, it is impossible to obtain the desired driving force for achieving any adequate tilling work. The tiller is so designed that a part of the planetary gear mechanism may be altered in structure to reverse the rotation of the traveling wheels relative to the tilling claws, but its structural alteration is a large-scaled and complicated job.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a tiller which can always maintain stability in operation to achieve an improved finish of tilling, a reduction of dashing and an improved ability to move forward irrespective of the conditions of the soil.
According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided a tiller for cultivating the soil, having a power source, a tilling shaft rotatable by a driving force supplied to it from the power source through a power transmission, and a plurality of tilling claws carried on the tilling shaft, the tilling shaft being a concentric dual-shaft structure having a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft extending through the outer shaft, the inner shaft having its rotating speed and/or its direction of rotation variable relative to the outer shaft.
If the rotating speed of the inner shaft or its direction of rotation is altered relative to the outer shaft, it is easily possible to alter the tilling conditions as required to suit the nature of the soil of a field and thereby obtain the desired tillage and tilling speed, so that the tiller of this invention can maintain stability in operation despite any change in the nature of the soil. The alteration of the rotating speed of the inner shaft is particularly useful, as it makes it possible to select any tillage and tilling speed from a finely divided range to thereby obtain the soil which is suitable for growing any of various kinds of crops.
The power transmission may be composed of a first power transmission system for transmitting a driving force from the power source to the outer shaft and a second power transmission system for transmitting a driving force from the power source to the inner shaft, the second power transmission system including a hydrostatic transmission composed of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, as will be described more specifically. The hydrostatic transmission makes it possible to change the rotating speed of the inner shaft in a stepless way and control its direction of rotation selectively as desired.
In a preferred form, the outer and inner shafts are fitted with a plurality of tilling claws. The tiller can easily be moved backward on the ground if the inner shaft is rotated at an increased speed in the opposite direction to the outer shaft. The dashing of the tiller can be prevented during the tilling of hard soil by the rotation of the outer and inner shafts in the same direction if the inner shaft is rotated at a lower speed than the outer shaft, since the force for driving the tiller by the tilling claws fitted on the outer shaft is restrained by the claws on the inner shaft.
A side disk is fitted on each of the opposite ends of the inner shaft, and a plurality of tilling claws are fitted on the outer shaft. Each side disk is provided on its inner surface with a plurality of upstanding plates each lying at an angle to the radius of the disk for producing a greater amount of friction with the soil. The friction force produced in the soil by the upstanding plates on the side disks enables the tiller to remain stable on both sides throughout its operation to thereby achieve an improved straight drive. If the rotating speed of the side disks on the inner shaft or their direction of rotation is altered relative to the tilling claws on the outer shaft, it is possible to vary the driving force of the side disks as desired, so that the tilling conditions can easily be altered to suit the nature of the soil to realize any desired tillage and tilling speed. The alteration of the rotating speed of the side disks is particularly useful, since it makes it possible to select any tilling speed from a finely divided range and thereby control tillage as desired. Thus, this invention makes it possible to realize an adequate tilling speed for achieving an improved operating efficiency and the desired control of tillage for making the soil suitable for growing any of various kinds of crops.


The invented method and apparatus include a transport mechanism for transporting a non-V.42, e.g. a V.14 or synchronous modem, data stream in a modem relay connection utilizing the standard V.14 raw or character mode, the transport mechanism including a rate-control mechanism for substantially speed-matching the end-to-end flow of data. Preferably, speed-matching is based on a calculated effective data rate—which takes into account various character and link framing and compression overhead—rather than a physical layer rate. Rate-control methods include the use of receive not ready (RNR) to control data flow in a V.42 leg of a mixed non-V.42 and V.42 connection, a single leaky bucket technique and effective data rate-matching. Also proposed is a lossless compression mechanism (e.g. run-length encoding (RLE)) for encoding a data bit stream into modem relay packets. An auto-detection method on the non-V.42 leg in the character mode is proposed for determining character size to enable extraction and packetizing thereof for modem relay transmission.

The present invention relates generally to modem relay network systems such as Modem over Internet Protocol (MoIP) systems. More particularly, it concerns method and apparatus for providing a fallback mode of V.14 or other synchronous modem operation in case one or more of two modem terminal devices is a non-V.42-type modem or is a V.42-type modem configured not to follow the V.42 link layer protocol.
V.42 Modem Relay gateways are used for transport of modem data over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. Typically, this involves three legs: Originating Telephony Leg, Terminating Telephony Leg, and an Internet Protocol (IP) Leg.
Originating Telephony Leg consists of the telephony leg between the originating modem and its associated gateway. Terminating Telephony Leg consists of the telephony leg between the answerer modem and its associated gateway. The IP Leg refers to the connection over the IP network joining the two telephony legs.
Frequently, both of the two telephony legs run the V.42 link layer protocol. This is frequently the case with dial-up Internet connections. In this case, a "V.42 modem relay gateway" would terminate the physical layer as well as V.42 error correction layer over the telephony legs. It may additionally terminate the compression layer.
Information that a gateway receives on its telephony leg from the client modem on its telephony leg can then be sent over a reliable IP transport protocol to the remote gateway, which would then forward this information to its associated client modem.
The procedure for two modems (e.g. a client modem and its associated gateway modem) to negotiate V.42 link layer is done shortly after physical layer bring-up, using ADP/ODP sequences exchanged between the two modems. However, either of the two modems may be configured to not use any link layer protocol. For example, one side may not generate the standard ADP or ODP patterns, whether by manual intervention or otherwise. In this case, the V.42 specification has defined a fallback mechanism to a no-error-correction mode of operation, based on the V.14 specification.
The V.14 mode of operation involves transfer of data using a "Start/Stop" delimited character format. A typical application is gaming, which may run the PPP protocol straight over non-error-corrected V.14 modem links. The V.14 mode is typically used in gaming due to its reduced latency, since information is transmitted in characters and hence there is no packetization delay. Data errors are acceptable in such an application whereas latency, i.e. transmission or turn-around delays, is not.
The case where modem relay techniques support the non-V.42 mode of operation (which is mandatory as per the V.42 specification) is significantly different from the case where both telephony legs use V.42 link layer protocol. The present invention provides a modem relay approach to support a non-V.42 mode of MoIP operation.

Fallback for V.42 modem-over-internet-protocol (MoIP) gateways method and apparatus


The invention relates to a tracked vehicle (11) comprising a vehicle body (30), at least one track assembly (21) and a suspension device (S). Said track assembly (21) is arranged to be supported by said vehicle body (30) by means of said suspension device (S), said track assembly comprising a track support beam (22) for supporting a plurality of road wheels (23, 23a), an endless track (25) being disposed around said road wheels. Said suspension device (S) comprises a bogie arrangement (50) rotatably attached to a fastening point (P0) of said vehicle body (30) about an axis of rotation (Z0) transversal to the longitudinal extension of said track assembly (21) and attached to said track support beam (22) in connection to at least two fastening points (P1, P2) so that the track support beam (22) is allowed to rotate in a rotational plane extending along the longitudinal extension of said track support beam (22) about said axis of rotation.

Tracked vehicles normally comprise a pair of track assemblies, where each track assembly of the pair of track assemblies comprises a track support beam, a drive wheel, a plurality of support wheels and an endless track running over the drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels. Said drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to said track support beam.
In order to improve mobility and comfort of such a tracked vehicle, the vehicle needs to be provided with a suspension device.
WO2014182235 discloses a tracked vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a track assembly arranged to be supported by said vehicle body by means of a suspension device, said track assembly comprising a track support beam for supporting a plurality of road wheels, an endless track being disposed around said road wheels. Said suspension device comprises a track assembly suspension configuration configured to connect the track assembly pair with a centrally arranged vehicle body in the shape of a vehicle body.
Said track assembly suspension configuration comprises a front trailing A-arm configuration and a rear trailing link arm configuration for the respective track assembly. The front trailing A-arm configuration is at one end rotatbly connected at a lower attachment of a front region of said vehicle body and at the other end at a front region of said track support beam, and the rear trailing link arm configuration is at one end rotatably connected at a lower attachment of a rear region of said vehicle body and in another end at a rear region of said track support beam. Said track assembly suspension configuration comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders for the respective track assembly.
The suspension device according to WO2014182235 also comprises a support wheel suspension configuration configured to resiliently secure said support wheels to said track support beam, wherein the track assembly suspension configuration is configured to cooperate with the support wheel suspension configuration based on the force acting on the track assembly.
There is however a need to present improvements in suspension devices for tracked vehicles.

Tracked vehicle comprising a rotatably attached bogie


The invention relates to a method of detecting duplicates in a synchronization system comprising at least one client device and at least two synchronization servers. The method comprises the steps of allocating first identifiers to the data units to be synchronized for use in the client device and second identifiers for use in the synchronization server; maintaining mapping tables for the synchronization servers by adding to the mapping table first identifiers and second identifiers allocated to the data units to be synchronized via the synchronization server. The method further comprises the steps of comparing the identifier pairs formed by the first and second identifiers added to the mapping tables of different synchronization servers; and causing at least part of the identifier pairs of the mapping tables to correspond to each other.

The invention relates to arrangement of data synchronization, in particular to detection of data unit duplicates, in a communications system comprising several synchronization servers. Data synchronization is a function in which correspondence is formed between two data collections in such a way that the data units of the data collections substantially correspond to each other after the synchronization.
Data of portable terminals, such as computers, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices, mobile stations or pagers can be synchronized with databases of network applications, desktop applications or other databases of a communications system. Typically, it is specifically data of calendar and e-mail applications that is synchronized. Synchronization has previously been based on the use of different manufacturer-specific protocols that are not compatible with each other. This restricts the use of different terminals and data types and is frequently difficult for the user. In mobile communication, in particular, it is important to get data acquired and updated irrespective of the terminal or application used. The SyncML (Synchronization Markup Language) has been developed based on the XML language (Extensible Markup Language) for more practical synchronization. The SyncML synchronization protocol using messages in SyncML format allows data of any application to be synchronized between any networked terminals.
FIG. 1 illustrates a synchronization system in which a mobile station MS functions as the client device and network servers S function as the synchronization servers. The client device MS transfers the changes having taken place in the data set under synchronization after the preceding synchronization round to the server S, which synchronizes the data, i.e. analyzes the changes made in the data of the client device MS and the database under synchronization, and makes uniform the data (makes the required modifications, replacements and deletions). After this, the server S returns the changes to the client device (MS), which changes the data set in accordance with the changes. Conventionally, in client-server synchronization the client device and the server have identifiers of their own for the data unit. As described for example in the SyncML specification 'SyncML Sync Protocol, version 1.0.1', June 2001, Chapter 2.3 (pages 12-13), identifiers used in the server are called global unique identifiers GUID that are always as unambiguous as possible, in other words they cannot be mixed up with each other. Identifiers of a client device are called local unique identifiers LUID. LUID identifiers are shorter in order to save memory, and the synchronization server maintains a mapping table between the GUID and LUID identifiers. The client device can synchronize data with several servers S, and also the servers S can synchronize data with each other. One simple example of this is that a data unit A is added to a desktop and allocated the identifier GUID1. The desktop synchronizes with mobile stations, whereby it is further allocated the identifier LUID1. When the desktop and the e-mail server have synchronized, the data unit A is recorded with the identifier GUID1 also in the e-mail server. When the mobile server synchronizes with the e-mail server, the e-mail server does not recognize the identifier LUID1. The e-mail server records the data unit and allocates it a new identifier GUID2. After this, the data unit A has been recorded in the e-mail server (i.e. its database) twice. This is called the loop problem of synchronization, which causes redundant data transmission and consumption of memory capacity when unnecessary duplicates are recorded.

Arrangement of data synchronization in a telecommunications system


An apparatus comprising an input connector configured for sterile connection to a fluid source, a first tube, a second, and a third tube. The first tube extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end comprising an input connector configured for sterile attachment to a fluid source. The input connector provides fluid communication between the first tube and the source. The second and third tubes are each in fluid communication with the first tube. The second and third tubes each extend from a proximal end to a distal end comprising an output connector configured for sterile connection to separate fluid input ports of a catheter based device.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to fluid delivery systems for medical devices.
An intracardiac blood pump is a blood pump that is at least partially introduced into the heart to deliver blood from the heart into an artery, wherein the pump may protrude through a surgical opening in the heart. A special form of intracardiac blood pumps are intravascular blood pumps. Intravascular blood pumps are introduced into the heart through the vascular system of the patient, the insertion site being spaced from the heart, such as insertion at the thigh of the patient for access to the femoral artery.
For example, currently known blood pump catheters, such as the Impella 2.5 catheter marketed by Abiomed, include a drive portion including a motor and a pump portion including an impeller driven by the motor, at least one lateral discharge port being provided between the drive portion and the pump portion. Fluids from outside the patient may be delivered through lumens to the drive portion for various purposes. For example, fluids may be delivered the placement signal lumen to facilitate the proper positioning of the drive portion. Fluids may also be delivered to the motor to keep it purged of blood.
As shown in FIG. 1, with currently known blood pump catheters 10, a first fluid, such as a saline solution, may be delivered through the placement signal lumen and a second fluid, such as a glucose solution, may be delivered through the purge lumen. This arrangement requires two fluid sources 12 and 14 and requires that two sets of tubing 16 and 18 pass into the sterile field and results in excessive clutter. Further, a device such as an auxiliary pump 19 may be required to deliver the second fluid from the second fluid source 14 to the purge lumen. The auxiliary pump 19 can be difficult to use to those unfamiliar with it. Further, the auxiliary pump is another device that must be in close proximity to the sterile field, causing additional clutter.
Devices such as the blood pump catheter device 10 may need to be deployed quickly in emergency scenarios. It would be advantageous to provide an improved apparatus for delivering fluids for multiple uses to a catheter with multiple lumens to reduce the set-up time needed for such a device.
It would be advantageous to provide a fluid delivery apparatus with reduced clutter in the area of the sterile field.
It would be advantageous to provide a method for using a fluid delivery apparatus with a familiar, easy to use interface for medical practitioners performing or assisting with a medical procedure including a multiple lumen catheter.

Apparatus for simultaneously delivering fluid to a dual lumen catheter with a single fluid source


Provided is a bistatic and multistatic system for detecting and identifying a target in close proximity to an orbiting satellite. An electromagnetic fence is established to surround the satellite, using a ground-based communication uplink from a gateway antenna. A contact or breach of the electromagnetic fence by the target is detected by the satellite, or at other sensor locations, and an exact position, range and ISAR image of the target is calculated using scattered RF energy from the fence. Identification data is transmitted to satellite system monitors, whereby the data is used to decide on a corrective course of action.

A long standing challenge for governments and the commercial space industry is developing an effective means for detecting when an unknown object or target is approaching a space-borne platform, such as a satellite. Detection and identification of targets may be necessary to protect satellites from damage and/or functional degradation. The need for "space situational awareness" is accented by an ever increasing effort to use satellites and other space-borne platforms for more than just observation and communication purposes.
Satellite operations often include a gateway antenna on Earth which establishes an uplink with one or more satellites orbiting the Earth. The satellite may be in a low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) of a geo-stationary orbit (GEO). The uplink is via a transmitted radio frequency signal which is typically in one of several frequency bands, to include C, X, Ka, and Ku bands. Once the link is established, complex tracking algorithms and hardware ensure the link is not broken as the satellite orbits. If the satellite becomes damaged, however, the link may be broken despite the best efforts of the antenna and tracking subsystems.
A reliable, cost effective means for detecting and identifying an object approaching a satellite, or other space-borne platform, does not exist in the open literature. Detection alone is an inadequate defense mechanism, as an approaching object may or may not be man-made, and it may or may not pose an ultimate threat to the platform. Identification, while certainly preferred, often requires expensive detectors and processors that may occupy more space, and utilize more power, than is available on the platform.
Hence, there is a need for a system for space situational awareness that detects and identifies a target as it approaches a space-borne platform, thereby giving operators a chance to take corrective and/or defensive measures. The system must be able to operate within existing satellite system architectures and envelopes, and it must provide reliable data that can be used in a decision making process.

Bistatic and multistatic system for space situational awareness