An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, a header carried by the chassis, and a header height control system. The header is movable in upward and downward directions. The header height control system includes an electrical processing circuit, a non-contact sensor and a contact sensor. The non-contact sensor is positioned to sense a crop canopy ahead of the header. The contact sensor is positioned to sense an actual ground position relative to the header. The electrical processing circuit is coupled with and receives signals from each of the non-contact sensor and the contact sensor. The electrical processing circuit is operable to predict an upcoming ground position based upon the sensed crop canopy and actual ground position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters such as combines, and, more particularly, to height control systems for headers on such harvesters.
2. Description of the Related Art
An agricultural harvester known as a "combine" is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning. A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls through perforations in the concaves onto a grain pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. A cleaning fan blows air through the sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material, such as straw, from the threshing section proceeds through a residue system, which may utilize a straw chopper to process the non-grain material and direct it out the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent to a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle.
The header is typically controlled with a header height control system to maintain the header at a predetermined distance relative to the ground. In the case of a cutting platform type header, sensors may be incorporated into the skid plates below the header to control the height of the header relative to the ground. It is also known to use a non-contact type sensor which can sense the crop canopy or the ground below the crop canopy.
What is needed in the art is a header height control system with improved header height control capabilities.

Header height control system for an agricultural harvester


A method and apparatus for adding torsion to a roller tube assembly of a retractable awning which includes a roller tube rotatable about a rod and a torsion spring between the roller tube and the rod. The model number of the roller tube assembly and the required number of turns to obtain the desired torsion is input, by bar code scanner, into a programmable controller. The controller is preprogrammed with data relating to the proper holding assemblies required for various model numbers and boundaries for the data input by the bar code scanner. The controller first verifies that the proper holding fixture is present. The rod is coupled to a drive motor for rotation therewith and the roller tube is secured in the holding assembly to substantially prevent rotation thereof. The rod is coupled and the roller tube is secured solely by longitudinally moving the roller tube assembly into the holding fixture. The drive motor rotates the rod relative to the roller tube for the input number of revolutions to add the desired amount of torsion. The rod is then locked to the roller tube and uncoupled from the drive motor and the roller tube is removed from the holding fixture.

The present invention generally relates to awnings and, more specifically, to retractable awnings which include a torsion spring.
There are a number of known retractable awning assemblies which when mounted to a vertical wall create a sheltered area adjacent to the wall. A popular application of such awning assemblies is on the side of a recreational vehicle. The retractable awning assemblies can be divided into two general classes: box-type awnings and shifting-roll-type awnings. Box-type awnings have a rotating roller tube which is mounted to the wall. The awning is unrolled from the tube to an extended position and rolled onto the tube for storage. A box forms a stationary enclosure for the awning when stored. Shifting-roll-type awnings have a rotatable roller tube suspended between two support arms. The tube is moved laterally toward and away from the wall to unroll and roll the awning. One edge of the awning is attached to the wall and the other edge of the awning is attached to the tube. Both types of retractable awnings typically are spring balanced or biased with torsion springs to aid in rolling the awning on the roller tube.
Torsion springs effectively aid in rolling the awning on the roller tube when they have adequate torsion and substantially equal torsion at each end of the roller tube. Prior art methods for applying torsion to the springs, however, has often resulting in uneven or no torsion. The torsion have been typically applied with a hand crank while the operator manually counts the number of turns applied. The operator must physically hold the crank until a locking pin is inserted. This process is not only physically demanding but is also subject to many kinds of errors. For example, the operator can easily miscount the number of turns applied to the roller tube assembly or apply a number of turns intended for a different awning model. This is particularly true when the process is interrupted for a break or at the end of a shift. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for applying torsion to retractable awning assemblies.


The invention relates to a smart thermal insulation box, including thermally insulated layers with mitered edges forming a thermally insulated space, and said space surrounded by cardboard material. The box has externally viewable and operable temperature and humidity sensors, where the sensors are preferably fixed inside the box to one side. The temperature monitoring system monitors temperature of the insulated space and facilitates delivery of refrigerant into it through a refrigerant delivery system when the temperature of insulated space exceeds a set value. One of the cardboard panels forming the top of the box which overlays the insulation layer has a window configured to overlay the display panel. An audible alert system may also be included to alert users to temperature or humidity excursions.

Shipment of pharmaceuticals, blood, organs and other biological materials is problematic because of their short effective life, and high value. In general, insulated containers in combination with temperature-control agents, such as refrigerant materials or phase change materials, are widely used as a cost-effective system to maintain the temperature of shipped products below room temperature and at selected temperature ranges. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,849,708; 7,294,374 and 8,375,730 (all of which are incorporated by reference).
Time in shipment can only be estimated, as there are many sources of delay during shipment, both conventional and unexpected. Also, the temperature during shipment can only be estimated based on expected weather conditions and knowledge of temperatures of the shipment mode and warehouses where the shipment is stored. Unexpected delays and temperature/humidity variations are more frequent as shipping routes become longer, especially where shipping routes become global—which is increasingly the case in the pharmaceutical, vaccine, blood and organ donation field.
If a shipment of such pharmaceutical or biological products is delayed, and/or the temperature increases beyond expectation during shipment for more than a prescribed period, the products may become unusable. Also, for blood or biological products, it is also important to have after-shipment verification of appropriate shipping conditions (esp. temperature, humidity, pH) for regulatory compliance purposes, for both the recipient and the shipper. Thus, what is needed is a cost-effective system to cool the cargo during shipment, if the internal temperature becomes too high for too long.

Thermal insulation box with cooling mechanism


The present invention discloses a flicker detection method and a flicker detection apparatus. The method includes: calculating the mean values of selected rows of image frames to constitute a mean value vector; calculating a differential vector between the mean value vectors of a current frame and a previous frame; calculating a DC-free difference vector; building a first square wave and a second square wave, and a third square wave and a fourth square wave; calculating a first frequency reference value; calculating a second frequency reference value; and if the difference between the first and second frequency reference values is above a threshold, then it is determined that flicker is present in the current frame; otherwise, it is determined that no flicker is present.

In recent years, CMOS image sensors have been widely applied to various image capturing devices, e.g., a digital picture camera, a digital video camera, a mobile phone, etc. Due to different photo-electric conversion time of respective pixels or rows of pixels in the course of photo-electric conversion, there may be bright and dark horizontal strips in a captured image, especially in the case that the image is captured under fluorescent lighting or some other lighting condition with periodically changing brightness. Such a horizontal stripe in the captured image arising from periodically changing lighting is referred to "flicker".
An exposure period of time can be set reasonably dependent upon the frequency of flicker to suppress and even eliminate flicker in the captured image. This necessitates the detection of the presence of flicker and the frequency of flicker.
Traditional method of detecting the presence of flicker and the frequency of flicker suffer from the disadvantages of poor detection accuracy, a low detectable rate and being subjected to a considerable influence from motion in a sequence of image frames.
Thus, there is a need of a flicker detection method and a flicker detection apparatus capable of detecting flicker in a sequence of image frames efficiently and accurately and further capable of being subjected to an inconsiderable influence from motion in the sequence of image frames.

Flicker detection method and flicker detection apparatus


A light emitting element having a cavity at the center of the top surface of an insulating block body. A through-hole extends downward through the block body to the bottom of the cavity. A metallic layer is present on the sides and bottom of the cavity, the sides of the through-hole, the bottom surface and part of the side surfaces of the block body. An LED chip is disposed on the metallic layer to the side of the bottom of the cavity. The LED chip and the metallic layer formed on a side of the bottom of the cavity separate from the first side are connected by a metallic wire. The cavity and the through-hole are filled with resin for encapsulating the LED chip.

Various types of chip LEDs have been developed. For example, the following four types of chip LEDs are generally known. A chip LED of type I is formed by molding a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin substrate having a metallic layer. A chip LED of type II is formed with the use of a lead frame by transfer-molding the epoxy resin. A chip LED of type III is formed by insert-molding a case in a lead frame in advance and by filling the case with the epoxy resin after mounting an LED chip. A chip LED of type IV is formed by forming a case in a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin substrate and filling the case with the epoxy resin like type III. In addition to these types of chip LEDs, as disclosed in the Japanese Publication for Unexamined Patent Applications, No. 107283/1980 and No. 283883/1989, there are LED lamps which are produced by forming a wiring pattern in a three dimensional manner on an injection-molded resin, without using a lead frame.
As for the chip LED of type I, since the difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin substrate (7 to 1.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C.) and the epoxy resin (4 to 6.times.10.sup.-5 /.degree.C.) is great, they are likely separated when heat is applied, for example, in soldering. In addition, the fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin substrate is flat and the chip LED of this type does not have a reflecting case structure, resulting in an LED lamp with poor luminous intensity.
As for the chip LEDs of type III and type IV, since these chip LEDs have reflecting cases, the light emitted by their LED chips is effectively directed in the upper direction. However, they have a drawback in terms of adhesion of the lead frame and the case or adhesion of the fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin substrate and the case, and are not resistant to high temperatures in soldering like type I. Furthermore, with respect to types III and IV, insert-molding the case in the lead frame and bonding of the case to the substrate respectively increase the manufacturing costs.
As for the chip LED of type II, since it does not have a reflecting case, the light emitted by the LED chip is scattered in the forward direction and therefore the light is not efficiently directed in the upper direction.
On the other hand, the chip LEDs disclosed in the Japanese Publication for Unexamined Patent Applications, No. 107283/1980 and No. 283883/1989, have an insulating block body. Each block body has a reflecting case (a cavity) in the form of a recess at the center in its top surface. The sides of the cavity slope. The cavity, top surface, side surfaces and part of the bottom surface of the block body are covered with a pair of electrode patterns (plated layer). In such chip LEDs, the reflecting case and the electrode patterns are united. This arrangement therefore overcomes the problem, i.e., insufficient adhesion of the lead frame and reflecting case, associated with the above-mentioned chip LEDs using lead frames, and reduces the manufacturing costs
However, in the chip LEDs having the electrode patterns formed on the insulating block body by plating, when sealing the cavities in a substrate whereon a number of chip LEDs are produced, an epoxy resin is dropped into each cavity. Therefore, even if a small amount of the epoxy resin overflows from a cavity, the resin flows to the bottom of the block body through its through-hole which is necessary for chemical plating and for forming electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. When the epoxy resin flows to the bottom of the block body, soldering cannot be performed properly in mounting the chip LED as a product. This problem is solved by increasing the capacity of the cavity. However, the cavity with an increased capacity causes an increase in the size of the chip LED. The resulting chip LED does not meet demand for smaller and thinner chip LEDs. Therefore, the chip LED is always formed with a cavity of the minimum possible capacity. Consequently, the resin must be poured into each cavity on the substrate with precision.
To increase the light emission efficiency of the LED lamp, the sides of the cavity must slope at a small angle between 30.degree. and 70.degree.. However, if the cavity becomes shallower, the epoxy resin more likely overflows. The reason for this is that the viscosity of the epoxy resin momentary decreases during heat curing and it spreads around the cavity when it comes to a level higher than the brim of the cavity.
Moreover, if the cavity is shallow, the adhesion of the epoxy resin and reflecting case becomes weaker and the epoxy resin and the reflecting case are easily separated from each other when heat is applied, for example, in soldering. Namely, when the cavity is formed in the above-mentioned shape, the light emission efficiency and the quality of the product improve. However, this causes complicated manufacturing processes and an increase in the manufacturing costs.
In the meantime, the chip LED is mounted on and electrically joined to one of the electrode patterns, and is connected to the other electrode pattern with a metallic wire.
In a chip LED of this type, since the respective electrodes are formed over the entire side surfaces of the block body and on the surface of the cavity in which the translucent resin is poured, solder may climb the side surfaces of the electrodes to the top surface of the LED in surface-mounting. As a result, the appearance of the product after mounted, and the quality of the translucent resin deteriorate. Moreover, when the electrodes are formed in the above-mentioned manner, they consume a large amount of solder, causing so-called Manhattan Phenomena (in which the chip part falls over).

Leadless chip-type light emitting element


A complementary pass-transistor logic includes input nodes provided with first complementary signals; intermediate nodes for outputting complementary intermediate signals; a logic network comprised of NMOS transistors, the network being connected between the input nodes and the intermediate nodes, and the conduction states of the transistors being controlled by second complementary input signals to output a logical operation result of the first and second input signals to the intermediate nodes; and inverters for inverting the intermediate signals and producing complementary output signals, wherein the NMOS transistors of the logic network are configured as a depletion-type NMOS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-speed complementary pass-transistor logic (referred to as "CPL", hereinafter).
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, CMOS logic is in vogue for semiconductor logic circuit. It is important to decrease the supply voltage of the CMOS logic for reducing power consumption, since power consumption is proportional to a square of power supply voltage in CMOS logic circuit.
A variety of circuit technologies have been proposed in which the operation speed is enhanced with a low supply voltage, since reducing the supply voltage causes a reduction of operation speed. Among them, there is a CPL in which a desired logic operation is provided using N-channel MOS transistors (referred to as "NMOSs", hereinafter) as signal transmission passes so as to configure a logic network.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a logical product gate comprised of a conventional CPL (referred to as "AND gate" or "AND", hereinafter), which is described in IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, 25[2] (1990-4), pages. 388-395 entitled "A 3.8 ns CMOS 16×16-b Multiplier Using Complementary Pass-Transistor Logic".
The AND gate comprised of the CPL has input nodes I1 and I4 provided with complementary input signals "a" and "/a" (hereinafter, simply denoted as a and /a), input nodes I2 and I3 provided with complementary input signals "b" and "/b" (hereinafter, simply denoted as b and /b), and a pair of intermediate nodes M1 and M2 outputting complementary intermediate signals "m" and "/m" (hereinafter, simply denoted as m and /m). A signal transmission path comprised of a plurality of NMOSs is arranged between the input nodes and the intermediate nodes and is connected as a logic network for performing a desired logic operation. In the case of the AND, for example, NMOSs 1 and 2 are connected between the input nodes I1 and I2 and the intermediate node M1, respectively, and gates of the NMOS 1 and 2 are provided with complementary input signals b and /b, respectively. Further, NMOSs 3 and 4 are connected between input nodes I3 and I4 and the intermediate node M2, respectively, and gates of the NMOS 3 and 4 are also provided with the complementary input signals /b and b, respectively.
The intermediate nodes M1 and M2 are connected to CMOS inverters 5 and 6, respectively, which invert the intermediate signals m and /m, so that complementary output signals /a·b and a·b having desired logic levels are output from output nodes O1 and O2.
Hereinafter, a description will be given of an operation of the logic gate.
For example, when the input signals a and b have levels "H" and "L", respectively, the NMOSs 1 and 4 are in an OFF state, and the NMOSs 2 and 3 are in an ON state. In this case, the intermediate node M1 is connected to level "L" (that is, a ground potential) through the NMOS 2 and the intermediate node M2 is connected to level "H" (that is, a supply potential) through the NMOS 3. Accordingly, the intermediate signals m and /m are at levels "L" and "H", respectively. The intermediate signals m and /m are further inverted by the CMOS inverters 5 and 6, so that output signals having desired logic levels "H" and "L" based on the supply potential are output from the output nodes O1 and O2.
Here, it is assumed that the input signal b is changed from "L" to "H".
According to the change of the input signal b, the NMOSs 1 and 4 are changed from the OFF state to the ON state, and the NMOSs 2 and 3 are changed from the OFF state to the ON state. By this, the intermediate node M1 is connected to the input node I1 at level "H" through the NMOS 1, so that charge for the intermediate node M1 is started. On the other hand, the intermediate node M2 is connected to the input node I4 at level "L" through the NMOS, so that discharge for the intermediate M2 is started. The charge and discharge operations for the intermediate nodes M1 and M2 are started at a timing when the input signal b rises to about threshold voltage of the NMOSs 1 and 4 (for example, 0.2V). Further, when one of the intermediate nodes M1 and M2 is discharged, the other is charged.
As such, since the level changes of the intermediate nodes start when the input signal is at about the threshold voltage of the NMOS in the CPL, the operation speed can be enhanced compared with the conventional COMS logic circuit whose logic threshold voltage is ½ of the supply voltage.
Although one NMOS is connected between the input node and the intermediate node in the above-described CPL, when a 3-input type AND or complicated logic is configured as the CPL, two or more NMOSs should be serially connected between the input node and the intermediate node of the logic network. Therefore, there occurs a problem in that on-resistance between the input node and the intermediate node is increased, and accordingly the charge and discharge operations are delayed. Further, there is a problem in that when the inverters, which convert the intermediate signals m and /m of the intermediate nodes into desired levels to generate output signals, do not operate at a high-speed, it is not possible to operate the entire circuit at a high-speed.

Complementary pass-transistor logic circuit and semiconductor device


The present disclosure is related to a method of inputting a command in a mobile terminal comprising; storing a table including at least one drawing pattern and a command on the each drawing pattern; receiving a user drawing on a touch screen; and determining a drawing pattern matching with the user drawing pattern by comparing the user drawing pattern and the table to execute a command corresponding the determined drawing pattern, and a mobile terminal using the same.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a method for inputting a command in a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal using the same.
2. Background
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile/portable terminals and stationary terminals. The mobile terminals can be further classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to possibility of user's direct portability.
As functions of the terminal are diversified, the terminal is implemented as a multimedia player provided with composite functions such as photographing of photos or moving pictures, playback of music or moving picture files, game play, broadcast reception and the like, for example.
To support and increase the terminal functions, the improvement of structural parts and/or software parts of the terminal may be considered.
Moreover, the mobile terminal has used the plurality of the input devices, and the producers have made an effort to provide the user with the convenient UI.

Method for inputting command in mobile terminal using drawing pattern and mobile terminal using the same


Peroxydicarbonate compounds are stabilized against decomposition by the presence of an effective amount of one or more oximes of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.A and R.sup.B are optionally substituted alkyl or alkenyl of up to 22 carbon atoms or phenyl, or form a C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl ring.

Organic peroxides, such as peroxydicarbonates, are useful as free-radical initiators in the polymerization or copolymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
For example, organic peroxides are used as initiators in the polymerization of vinyl halides, such as vinyl chloride or vinyl bromide; vinylidene halides such as vinylidene chloride; and other compounds containing polymerizable unsaturated units. The products of this well known polymerization process have extensive commercial applications.
The polymerization of vinyl halides or the copolymerization of vinyl halides with vinylidene halides is usually conducted in an aqueous medium, i.e., emulsion, solution or suspension polymerization. In such polymerizations, the monomer or mixture of monomers is dispersed in water in the presence of a surfactant and thereafter the polymerization initiated with an organic peroxide. This is a well known reaction that has been widely reported.
All organic peroxides are by their nature hazardous materials. Their usefulness depends on their ability to decompose into free radicals, shown by the following reaction: EQU RO--OR'.fwdarw.RO.+R'O.
The rate of this decomposition reaction at any given temperature depends on the structure of R and R'.
The decomposition reaction is exothermic. If exothermic decomposition were to occur during production, storage, or shipment, when the peroxides are in a concentrated form, excess pressure development and/or fire or explosion could result. Consequently, many organic peroxides must be kept refrigerated.
There have been several reports in recent years of the retardation of the rate of decomposition of organic peroxides.
The Journal of the American Chemical Society, Volume 72, pages 1254 to 1263 (1950) discloses the use of, for example, ethyl acetoacetate, iodine, trinitrobenzene, acetanilide, nitromethane, phenol, hydrogen peroxide, and tetralin to retard the rate of decomposition of diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,929 (1985) reports aqueous dispersions of organic peroxides including peroxydicarbonates, which are stabilized against decomposition by the addition of diphenyl peroxydicarbonate or di(alkyl substituted) phenyl peroxydicarbonates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,682 (1985) discloses the use of phenolic antioxidants to retard the rate of degradation of aqueous organic peroxide dispersions. The use of phenolic antioxidants is undesirable because they result in discoloration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,192 (1992) discloses the use of organic hydroperoxides, e.g., tert-butyl hydroperoxide, to retard the rate of decomposition of peroxydicarbonates.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,046 (1996) and 5,541,151 (1996) disclose the thermal stabilization of dialkyl peroxydicarbonates using unsaturated nitrites or unsaturated acetylenic compounds.

Organic peroxide stabilization with oximes


An inverter circuit (20) includes a transformer (T2) including a primary winding and a secondary winding including a high voltage terminal, a first copper foil (P21), a power stage circuit (21) electrically connected to the primary winding, a detection circuit (22) including a second copper foil (P22) and an impedance (Z2), a protection circuit (23) outputting a protection signal, and a pulse width modulation controller (24) controlling output of the power stage circuit according to the protection signal. The second copper foil and the first copper foil are separated. An equivalent capacitor is formed between the second copper foil and the first copper foil, detecting voltage output from the high voltage terminal. The impedance is electrically connected between the second copper foil and ground, dividing a voltage detected by the equivalent capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to inverter circuits, and particularly to an inverter circuit with protection function.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, discharge lamps, especially cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), have been used as backlight sources in liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, driven by an inverter circuit supplying alternating current signals. Often, the inverter circuit includes a power stage circuit and a protection circuit to protect normal operation thereof.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional inverter circuit. The inverter circuit, driving a light source L1, includes a power stage circuit 10, a protection circuit 12, a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller 13, a transformer T1, a first capacitor C11, and a second capacitor C12. The power stage circuit 10 converts a received signal to an alternating current (AC) signal. The first capacitor C11 and the second capacitor C12 are arranged in series and connected between a high voltage terminal of a secondary winding of the transformer T1 and ground, the first capacitor C11 and the second capacitor C12, dividing a voltage output from the high voltage terminal of a secondary winding of the transformer T1, resulting in a divided voltage. The protection circuit 12 is connected to a node formed between the first capacitor C11 and the second capacitor C12, comparing the divided voltage to a reference voltage and outputting a protection signal. The PWM controller 13 is connected between the protection circuit 12 and the power stage circuit 10, controlling output thereof according to the protection signal.
In a conventional inverter circuit, either the first capacitor C11 or the second capacitor C12 is a high voltage capacitor, and the other is a low voltage capacitor. However, the high voltage capacitor is very costly, increasing the overall cost of the inverter circuit. The inverter circuit is disposed on a multi-layer circuit, and the high voltage capacitor is formed between copper layers of the multi layer circuit. Because the multi layer circuit is expensive, the overall cost of the inverter circuit is increased correspondingly.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.


An implantable atrial defibrillator analyzes both the atrium and the ventricle to determine an abnormal atrial condition of the atrium and if the ventricle is unstable. Therapy is applied to correct the abnormal atrial condition, such as atrial fibrillation, only if the ventricle is stable, to insure that the therapy does not provoke a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. If the ventricle is unstable, first a process is performed to stabilize it, for example by using a ventricular pacing protocol. After the ventricle is stabilized, the atrial therapy is applied in synchronism with the ventricular events (i.e., in synchronism with either ventricular intrinsic events or ventricular pacing pulses.)

a. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to an implantable pacemaker and more particularly to a pacemaker constructed and arranged to provide therapy for atrial fibrillation. More particularly, this invention pertains to a pacemaker having means for providing atrial defibrillation using defibrillation pulses applied precisely in synchronism with ventricular activity. Moreover the invention also pertains to an implantable atrial defibrillator which monitors the ventricle and stabilizes the same if necessary, before the application of atrial defibrillation pulses.
b. Description of the Prior Art
Since ventricular tachyarrhythmias can have grave and potentially lethal consequences, the primary concern for clinicians and pacemaker manufacturers until recently has been the detection and reversion of this undesirable condition. While many pacemakers were also capable of detecting atrial fibrillation, this latter condition was believed to be relatively benign, if unpleasant to the patient. Accordingly, atrial fibrillation was originally either ignored, or treated in a palliative manner.
However, since present pacemakers are capable of handling ventricular arrhythmia, attention has turned toward the detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation. There are several reasons why it is thought to be important to control atrial fibrillation. First, atrial fibrillation is associated with the loss of AV synchrony and therefore can result in a fast and irregular heart rate causing hemodynamically inefficient cardiac operation. Atrial fibrillation has also been associated with other symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, vertigo, angina pectoris, and palpitations. These conditions may lead to a patient losing his ability to enjoy life, perform work, and function normally. Atrial fibrillation is also a significant cause of stroke and death, via emboli arising from the left atrium.
Recent studies have shown in fact that atrial fibrillation occurs in 0.3-0.4% of the general population. Moreover, the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, so that it reaches 2-4% by the age 60, and 8-11% for patients above 75 years old.
Drug therapy and/or in-hospital cardioversion are the current clinical therapies provided for atrial defibrillation. However, these approaches are of limited efficacy. Hence, implantable atrial defibrillators (IADs) have been proposed as one of several non-pharmacologic therapeutic options. See for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,219. Studies have shown that internal atrial defibrillation is feasible at low energy levels. This feature is important for IADs because if the defibrillation pulses are successful at low energy, they can be relatively painless and therefore desirable for treating a conscious patient with atrial fibrillation. However one problem with the IADs proposed so far is that it can be difficult to synchronize their defibrillation pulses to the intrinsic ventricular events, because the ventricular rate can be highly variable. If atrial defibrillation pulses are not carefully synchronized with the ventricular intrinsic events, then a ventricular tachyarrhythmia (e.g., ventricular fibrillation) could be induced. Thus, rather then helping the patient, the present IADs may have a negative effect, namely inducement of ventricular arrhythmia. IADs are desirable because they may reduce the number and duration of AF episodes, may improve the lifestyle of the patient, may reduce the number of hospitalizations for treatment of recurring atrial fibrillation and may reduce morbidity and mortality. However, in a device without ventricular defibrillation capability, any instance of ventricular arrhythmia inducement by the IAD is unacceptable. IADs may be designed, in fact, as a dual chamber defibrillator with defibrillation capability in the atrium and ventricle. Even so, it is desirable to greatly minimize the induction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias by the devices.

Pacemaker with safe R-wave synchronization during countershock conversion of atrial fibrillation


An immortalized hemangiosarcoma cell line of malignant canine endothelial cells which possesses surface expression characteristics and growth factor and cytokine expression profiles typical of nonmalignant activated endothelial cells is provided. In vitro and in vivo models for angiogenesis produced from this cell line as well as methods for identifying antiangiogenic agents using these models are also provided.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, has been intensively studied over the past several decades because of its fundamental importance in tissue development, vascular diseases, and cancer. Angiogenesis is most active during fetal development. After birth angiogenesis is an important physiological function in the ovary, placenta, and in wound healing.
Pathological angiogenesis, that is inappropriate and unregulated, is a prominent feature of malignancy that facilitates tumor growth and metastasis. Improved treatments of malignancies that have progressed to the proangiogenic phenotype require relevant models to test the safety and efficacy of innovative antiangiogenic therapies.
There are a number of methods available for identifying potential antiangiogenic agents. One of these involves examining the effects of an agent on blood vessel formation in the eye in an intact mouse.
However, systems to study angiogenesis in the laboratory are limited by the transient nature of angiogenic events and limited accessibility to angiogenic tissues. Sources of endothelial cells currently used in the laboratory include human umbilical vein, and bovine aorta, pulmonary vein, and pulmonary artery (Jarrell et al. J. Vasc. Surg. 1984 1:757–764; Simonescu, N. and Simonescu, M. (eds) Endothelial Cell Biology in Health and Disease. New York: Plenum Press, 1988; Thilo-Korner, D. and Freshmey, R. I. (eds) In the Endothelial Cell—A Pluriopotent Control Cell of the Vessel Wall. Basel:Karger, 1983). A malignant hemangioendothelioma of murine origin is also used for studying endothelial cell biology (Obeso et al. Lab. Invest. 1990 63:259–269). Other endothelial cells, such as those derived from bovine adrenal cortex or retina, rat brain, and mouse aorta, epididymal fat pad, thoracic duct, or liver have been more difficult to maintain in stable long term culture (Gumkowski et al. Blood Vessels 1987 24:11–23; Jaffe, E. A. (ed.) The Biology of Endothelial Cells. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1983; Kumar et al. Differentiation 1987 36:57–70).

Malignant endothelial cell line and uses thereof in models for angiogenesis


A nanocarbon separation method includes a step of preparing a dispersion liquid having nanocarbons dispersed therein; a step of injecting a liquid including the dispersion liquid into an electrophoresis tank so that a pH of the liquid increases from a bottom to a top in a direction of gravitational force; and a step of applying a direct current to electrodes disposed in an upper part and a lower part of the electrophoresis tank.

In recent years, it has been expected that carbon materials having a size in a nanometer range (hereinafter referred to as "nanocarbons") will be applied to various fields due to their mechanical properties, electrical properties, chemical properties, and the like.
In the case of nanocarbons, nanocarbons having different properties are simultaneously produced in a manufacturing stage in some cases. When nanocarbons having different electrical properties are used in an electronic material when mixed together, a problem such as the deterioration in the characteristics thereof is likely to be caused. Thus, it is necessary to separate nanocarbons having different properties.
In order to separate nanocarbons, Patent Document 1 describes a nanocarbon material separation method which includes: a step of introducing a dispersion solution including nanocarbon materials dispersed in nanocarbon micelle groups having a plurality of different charges and a holding solution having a specific gravity different from that of the nanocarbon materials into an electrophoresis tank by laminating the solutions by disposing them in a predetermined direction; and a step of separating the nanocarbon micelle groups into two or more nanocarbon micelle groups by applying electricity in a serial direction to the introduced, arranged, and laminated dispersion solution and holding solution.

Nanocarbon separation method, nanocarbon purification method, and dispersion liquid


An apparatus for providing a frameless hollow roof mirror comprises: a first element having a first mirrored surface and a first abutment surface; a second element having a second mirrored surface and a second abutment surface, the first and second elements arranged in a roof mirror configuration wherein the second abutment surface abuts against the first abutment surface and the first and second mirrored surfaces meet at a generally linear junction and are oriented relative to one another at a desired roof mirror angle; and a plurality of fasteners extending through the first and second abutment surfaces. The plurality of fasteners exerts a force to cause the first and second abutment surfaces to bear against each other.

Sometimes optical systems, for example those associated with telescopes, microscopes and/or binoculars, are desirably configured to reverse and/or invert an image of an object.
As is well-known and illustrated in FIG. 1, a plane mirror 10 is a simple component for inverting an image I of an object O.
As is also well-known and illustrated in FIG. 2, two plane mirrors 20, 30 having respective mirrored surfaces 21, 31 are disposed at a right angle form a so-called roof mirror 40, which is a component capable of both inverting and reversing an image I of an object O.
It has proven challenging to build hollow roof mirrors accurately and robustly at reasonable cost and weight. Arranging and securing two delicate plane mirrors 20, 30 into a roof configuration can demand exacting tolerances during manufacture and assembly. Tiny gaps or misalignments tend to deform or destroy the optical path, as can any excess adhesive commonly used to retain plane mirrors 20, 30 in a roof configuration.
Plane mirrors 20, 30 may be attached to one another by an optical contact bond involving intermolecular forces. An optical contact bond may be formed by grinding and polishing abutment surfaces 22, 32 until they are highly conformal to each other, and then pressing abutment surfaces 22, 32 together. The polishing process may change the relative angles of abutment surfaces 22, 32 (e.g. relative to one another and/or relative to mirrored surfaces 21, 31), and this may affect the angle between mirrored portions 21, 31. This may make it difficult to form a desired angle between mirrored surfaces 21, 31 with the desirable degree of precision.
The problem of misaligned elements is also a concern in terms of durability. Over time, or through extended or extreme use, poorly designed elements that were originally aligned might slip out of alignment.
These manufacturing, assembly, and durability issues are important in many precision applications, such as for example, in optical components (e.g. telescopes, microscopes and/or binoculars) associated with sensitive measurement instruments. The challenges have been particularly present in manufacturing telescopes, binoculars and telescope and binocular accessories because there is a desire that telescopes and binoculars be sufficiently robust to survive use in the field. For example, there is a desire that telescopes and binoculars be able to survive vibrations during transportation to the field, survive temperature changes (and the associated thermal expansion/contraction, between storage, transportation and field environments), survive bad weather in the field, resist impact damage from hard use and the like.
One approach for attempting to satisfy these challenges has been to substitute two solid roof prisms for a hollow roof mirror. FIG. 3 shows an example of such an approach, where two solid roof prisms 50, 60 are configured into a so-called double Porro prism 70. When so configured, solid roof prisms 50, 60 take advantage of the phenomenon of total internal reflection to function as reflectors, not refractors. Light entering the solid roof prism 50 through a transmission facet 51 exits though the same transmission facet 51, after being twice internally reflected by reflection facets 52, 53. Similarly, light entering the solid roof prism 60 through a transmission facet 61 exits though the same transmission facet 61, after being twice internally reflected by reflection facets 62, 63.
Solid roof prisms and double Porro prisms have the advantage of being generally more robust than hollow roof mirrors. The reflection surfaces of the reflection facets being within the prism, the prism material is in essence being used as both reflector and frame. However, solid roof prisms also have significant disadvantages. One such disadvantage is the relative expense of manufacturing solid roof prisms, particularly in larger sizes. High-quality glass (which is itself expensive) must be carefully pressure-shaped under extreme heat and then slowly cooled. Even when great care is taken, this heating/cooling process still has a tendency to cause defects within the prism that can deform or otherwise negatively impact the optical path into, out of or through the glass. Another disadvantage associated with solid roof prisms is the typically greater weight associated with the full prism as opposed to the plane mirrors of the hollow roof mirror.
FIG. 4 illustrates another approach to satisfying these challenges which involves abutting two prisms 80, 90 together to create a hollow roof prism 100. A reflective coating is applied to the exterior surface of one facet on each prism 80, 90 (the reflection facets 81, 91) and the two reflection facets 81, 91 are disposed to form a right angle between them. Such a hollow roof prism 100 has a number of advantages. It is relatively robust and the interiors of component prisms 80, 90 need not be free of optical defects, because the optical path remains outside of component prisms 80, 90. However, the FIG. 4 hollow roof prism 100 also has disadvantages. Component prisms 80, 90 may still be more expensive and challenging to manufacture than simple plane mirrors and if component prisms 80, 90 are misaligned during assembly or use, they may not form an optically accurate roof. Roof prism 100 is also relatively heavy because of the extra material associated with component prisms 80, 90 (as compared to plane mirrors).
FIG. 5 illustrates still another approach to satisfying these challenges which involves constructing a framed hollow roof mirror 110, by disposing two plane mirrors 120, 130 at a right angle to form a roof and supporting plane mirrors 120, 130 with various frame components 140. In the case of the illustrated example, frame components 140 include: a base 141, opposing lateral supports 142 and 143, a plurality of shock-damping connectors 144, and opposing end-braces 145 (note that one of end-brace 145 has been removed from the FIG. 5 illustration so as not to obscure the other components of framed hollow roof mirror 110). While a framed hollow roof mirror benefits from the advantages that plane mirrors provide over prisms, it also suffers from the disadvantages inherent in a framing mechanism. By way of example, such disadvantages include additional weight and manufacturing and maintenance complications. Furthermore, it is generally difficult to form a fine junction between the two plane mirrors at the apex of the roof and to maintain that junction during use.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
There remains a general need for effective apparatus and methods for roof mirrors.

Roof mirror and methods for fabricating roof mirror


A test device includes a circuit modelling portion suitable for generating one or more model circuits by modelling a test-object circuit with a one-to-one or a one-to-multi relationship between the test-object circuit and the model circuits, and a test operation portion suitable for synthesizing the model circuits and performing a test operation on the model circuits.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a test device for testing a test-object circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices such as Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM) need to be tested in various ways before being put on the market. Such circuits may be tested on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). A FPGA is advantageous because it is capable of being quickly designed, has low implementation cost, and has design flexibility. Therefore, it is frequently used for testing integrated circuits. However, it is difficult to test fully customized circuits, designed from a transistor level, on an FPGA.
The process of designing the test-object circuit and synthesizing the test-object circuit on the FPGA will be described.
After the test-object circuit is designed through a schematic tool, the schematic tool generates a netlist corresponding to the test-object circuit. A netlist is a file generated by a schematic tool for simulation or for Layout Versus Schematic (LVS) automation. The netlist contains information on the synthesized circuit including interconnection relationships and nodes of the synthesized circuit, which are identifiable using the FPGA. The FPGA applies the netlist and performs test operations on the synthesized circuit. However, in custom-designed circuits that have a lot of asynchronous elements, logic simulation may be performed but it is difficult to evaluate such a circuit on an FPGA.

Test device and operating method thereof


An adjustable height mechanism for use in devices employing a collapsible scissors frame supporting an object is disclosed having a pair of pawls secured to the sliding leg of the scissors frame and slidably mounted onto a pair of guide rails. A central channel is positioned between the guide rails and receives a guide member extending from the leg to provide additional tracking and lateral stability during movement of the leg. A pair of spring biased, pivoting ratchet arms are mounted to the supported object and include a series of ratchet stops and a finger grip. The ratchet arms engage the pawls to restrict movement of the leg of the scissors frame in one direction while allowing ratcheting free movement in the opposite direction. The finger grips can be used by the user to squeeze the free ends of the arms together and release the ratcheting engagement with the pawls to provide height adjustment of the object supported by the scissors frame.

This invention generally relates to adjustable collapsible frame devices, and more specifically to adjustable catch mechanisms for locking a vertically collapsible support frame at graduated heights particularly adaptable for baby furniture.
Vertically collapsible scissors frames are advantageously employed to support objects such as tables, trays, and other articles which can benefit from the collapsible feature to facilitate reduction of space requirements for storage and transportation. In baby furniture, such as baby walkers, play seats and feeding tables, scissors frames are particularly advantageous. Baby furniture demands collapsibility for storage and transport because it must be conveniently carried and quickly deployed in various locations and at various times. Scissors frame construction allows the supported object to be moved between a fully elevated condition to a collapsed, compact position. Further, scissors frames allow adjustable height selection of the object supported by offering varying degrees of extension of the scissors frame. For devices such as baby walkers, baby tables and the like, this feature is particularly beneficial to accommodate the natural growth of a child or adaptability between multiple children of different sizes.
Generally, a scissors frame has at least two legs pivotally connected near their mid-points. An object is generally supported by both legs above the pivotal connection. Conventionally, one leg is attached to the supported object at a pivot joint and the second leg is attached at the object at a sliding pivot joint. By moving the two supporting pivot joints towards one another, the legs pivot at their mid-points and extend the scissors frame longitudinally to raise the supported object. When the supporting pivot joints of the two legs are moved away from one another in relative position, the supported object is lowered until the frame is eventually collapsed into a storage position. Selectible height adjustment can be achieved with such a construction by arresting the movement of the support portions of the legs away from each other at selected positions.
This general construction has been used for baby walkers and the like to provide adjustable height of the supported object and convenient collapsibility for storage. Various height adjustment mechanisms have been employed to secure the sliding pivot joint in a secured position and thereby lock the frame at a selected height. Locking arms, catches and other devices have been used to releasably lock the sliding leg in a selected position on the supported object. With baby walkers, however, simplicity and convenience of such an adjustable height mechanism is essential because the operator may only have one free hand to operate the adjustable height mechanism. As a result, successful adjustment mechanisms allow operation using only a single hand.
An example of a height adjustment apparatus used in a baby walker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,392. The mechanism uses a ratchet-type catch assembly for attaching a slide connection between a scissors frame and an object supported by the frame.
The assembly includes a slide disposed in a guide which is mounted to the supported object. The sliding leg is retained by the slide in a pivotable relationship. Therefore, expansion and contraction of the scissors frame is achieved by sliding movement of the slide in the fixed guide. Pawl levers are pivotally mounted on both sides of the slide and connected together at one end by a tension spring. The spring biases the pawl levers to engage the sides of the slide along a series of ratchet stops formed in the slide. Engagement of the pawls with the stops on the ratchet surface of the slide releasably secures the table at selected heights. This mechanism, however, offers only a single sliding connection between the sliding leg and the supported object. This connection, existing between the slide and the guide, is prone to translational forces, torsion and twisting which can cause binding and excessive wear. The sliding relationship is further inhibited by a spring connected between the slide and the leg to provide resilient or "bounce" support of the table. Removal of the bounce feature would require substantial modification to the construction of the device as disclosed. Furthermore, the construction offers inadequate overall structural integrity.
It is therefore desirable to have an adjustable height catch mechanism for scissors frame devices which offers enhanced torsional rigidity and structural integrity in the slide mechanism, is convenient and easy to use, offers low manufacturing cost and can be used with or without a bounce feature.

Adjustable height mechanism for a collapsible support frame


A valve (100) comprises a barrel (104) having a central bore (110), an inlet (112), and an outlet (114, 116), and a spool (120) disposed for motion within the central bore, including a ball tip (128), a metering edge (130), and a bore (132). The spool is moveable between a closed position, wherein the ball tip engages a seat (142) to prevent fluid flow through the inlet and the metering edge is disposed in a lower chamber (148) of the central bore to prevent the fluid flow through the outlet, and an opened position, wherein the tip is spaced apart from the seat to permit fluid flow through the inlet and the spool bore into an upper chamber (154) of the central bore to equalize pressure on the spool, and the metering edge is disposed in a flow path of the outlet to permit fluid flow through the outlet.

Government imposed requirements for fuel economy and emissions reduction are one reason fuel systems manufacturers seek to provide precise control over the amount of fuel that is injected during injection events of a combustion cycle. More specifically, a goal of many high pressure fuel injection systems is to provide increased control of the amount of fuel injected by the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine.
As shown in FIG. 1, a typical high pressure fuel pump system 10 generally includes a fuel supply 12 which supplies fuel to a hydro mechanical actuator such as an inlet metering valve 14. Metering valve 14, which is controlled by an electronic control module ("ECM") 15, is configured to control the amount of fuel provided to a plurality of high pressure pumping chambers 16. Pumping chambers 16 then disperse the fuel to a receptacle such as a common rail fuel apparatus or accumulator 18.
In many such systems, metering valve 14 includes a variable area orifice operated by a solenoid. In certain embodiments, the linear position of a spool inside metering valve 14 controls the amount of fuel to be supplied to pumping chambers 16. As such, metering valve 14 may be configured to prevent fuel from passing to chambers 16 when metering valve 14 is fully closed. However, in many systems, the mechanical configuration of metering valve 14 is insufficient to completely prevent fuel flow, and some leakage occurs. Moreover, in some systems the pressure of the fuel supply 12 to metering valve 14 requires significant counter-force by valve 14 when valve 14 is moved to a partially opened position to maintain valve 14 in its desired position. Generally, this counter-force is provided by a high performance solenoid controlled by ECM 15. Finally, in order to deliver the fuel economy and emission reduction desired, it is desirable to provide a highly accurate mechanism for metering fuel to chambers 16 when valve 14 is opened.

Two stage valve with conical seat for flow shut-off and spool knife edge for metering flow control


An azomethine dye represented by the following general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein A represents a dye residue formed by removing one hydrogen atom from an indophenol or indoaniline dye; L represents a divalent bonding group; and Z represents a non-metallic atomic group required for forming a three-membered to eight-membered heterocyclic ring together with N, provided that a carbonyl group is not directly bonded to N in the heterocyclic ring. Also disclosed is a silver halide photographic material having an emulsion layer with a covering power of at least 60, and wherein the silver halide photographic material contains at least one member of the dyes of general formula (I) in such an amount that an increase in transmission density in unexposed areas caused by the incorporation of the dye therein after development is not more than 0.06.

Many dyes derived from phenol derivatives or naphthol derivatives are known and include indophenol dyes and indoaniline dyes. These conventional dyes are useful as a skeleton which gives a bluish tone, and can be long-waved to the region near the infrared rays by modifying the skeleton with substituent groups. However, conventional dyes have a low molar extinction coefficient. Hence, a large amount of the dye must be used to obtain a desired density. Further, only some of the conventional dyes have sufficient fastness to heat and light.
Furthermore, the covering power of silver halide emulsions is an important factor for emulsion manufacturers. When an emulsion having a high covering power is used, the amount of silver required to provide a specific optical density can be controlled. Though the color tone of developed silver of emulsion grains which have a high covering power varies depending on grain size and thickness, the tone is yellowish and unpleasant to image observers. The yellowing phenomenon is caused by the reduced size and thickness of the developed silver. The reduction in grain size and thickness results in an increase in the scattering of the blue light component causing light which has a highly yellowish tone to be emitted. Accordingly, substantially water-insoluble dyes have been used to control the tone and to thereby prevent yellowing as disclosed in JP-A-60-154251 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") and JP-A-61-285445. However, when dyes having a conventional structure are used, there is the disadvantage that the dyes have a secondary absorption in the region of light having a wavelength shorter than that of light in the principal absorption region. The yellowing of the image is caused by the secondary absorption. Further, when conventional dyes are added to silver halide emulsion layers, there is the disadvantage that the sensitivity of silver halide emulsions is lowered.

Silver halide photographic material containing isomethine dyes


A client computing system (CCS) receives a tool measurement from a measurement tool other than by determining the tool measurement from a vehicle data (VD) message. The CCS generates a VD report including a vehicle identifier of a vehicle associated with the tool measurement and the VD report. The VD report can include temporal and/or spatial identifiers pertaining to the tool measurement. The VD report can be provided to a server computing system (SCS) for storage as part of a VD record associated with the vehicle. The CCS that generated the VD report or another CCS can request the VD report from the SCS. The SCS can determine if the requesting CCS is authorized to receive the VD report to maintain the vehicle owner's privacy. The tool measurement can be selected from a service procedure provided to the CCS from SCS and displayed at the CCS.

Most vehicles are serviced at least once during their useful life. In many instances, a vehicle is serviced at a facility with professional mechanics (e.g., technicians). The technicians can use any of a variety of non-computerized hand tools to service (e.g., repair) any of the wide variety of mechanical components on a vehicle. While servicing vehicles, a technician sometimes makes measurements to determine what needs to be repaired. The technician may spend valuable time recording measurements by writing the measurements on a repair order. Alternatively, the technician may save time by not recording measurements, but a service writer and vehicle owner will not know what measurements were performed and the passage of time may cause the technician to forget the measurements. Furthermore, many vehicle owners prefer to keep information about their vehicle (e.g., measurements) private or at least limit who has access to information about their vehicle.

System and method for using measurement made by computerized measurement tool


In user equipment for communicating with a base station in a radio communication system including the base station and the user equipment, the user equipment includes a receiver that measures received power of reference signals associated with a plurality of different identification information items, the reference signals being transmitted from the base station, and that selects a specific reference signal based on a measurement result; and a transmitter that transmits a random access signal including a preamble sequence, the preamble sequence corresponding to the identification information item of the reference signal selected by the receiver.

For the LTE/LTE-Advanced, the MIMO technology has been adopted that enhances system capacity, a cell edge user throughput, and so forth. Additionally, the heterogeneous network technology has been adopted that achieves high quality communication by reducing inter-cell interference, while allowing different types of base stations (e.g., macro cells and small cells) to coexist.
Especially, it is assumed, for a small cell in the heterogeneous network, that a high frequency band is to be used. Here, since propagation loss increases for the high frequency band, in order to compensate for this, it has been studied to adopt the massive MIMO for implementing beam forming with a narrow beam width.
The massive MIMO is the large-scale MIMO where a large number of antennas (e.g., 100 elements) are used, and the massive MIMO can cause the electric field intensity to be concentrated in a narrow region, so that interference between users can be reduced.
Furthermore, for the heterogeneous network, in order to compensate for the propagation loss in the high frequency band, it has been studied to implement beam forming using a plurality of antennas, not only for a downlink, but also for an uplink.

User equipment, base station, communication access method, and communication method


A hydraulic apparatus such as a bleeder screw comprises an inner end, an outer end, and a main body extending between the inner end and the outer end. The main body includes a first section having a threaded outer peripheral surface a second section disposed between the first section and the inner end. The second section has a smaller diameter than the threaded outer peripheral surface of the first section, and an axial length of the threaded outer peripheral surface is less than an axial length of the second section. An internal fluid passage opens through an outer peripheral surface of the second section at a location between the inner end and the threaded outer peripheral surface, and the internal fluid passage opens through the main body at a location between the threaded outer peripheral surface and the outer end. Another hydraulic apparatus comprises a first fluid reservoir having a first reservoir chamber and a first reservoir outlet; a second reservoir having a second reservoir chamber and a second reservoir outlet; and a common fluid passage in fluid communication with the first reservoir outlet and the second reservoir outlet to flow fluid from both the first reservoir chamber and the second reservoir chamber to the atmosphere.

The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to a bleeder screw for a bicycle hydraulic brake device.
In recent years, some high performance bicycles have been equipped with hydraulic disk brake systems. Hydraulic disk brake systems typically include a caliper housing, first and second brake pads mounted on opposite inner sides of the caliper housing so as to face each other, and one or more pistons that move the first and/or second brake pads towards each other in response to hydraulic pressure created by the actuation of a brake lever assembly mounted to the bicycle handlebar. A rotor that rotates with the bicycle wheel is disposed between the first and second brake pads. The first and second brake pads apply a frictional force to the rotor when they move towards each other in response to the hydraulic pressure created by the actuation of the brake lever assembly, thereby stopping rotation of the rotor and the bicycle wheel.
The brake lever assembly typically comprises a base member structured to attach to the bicycle handlebar and a brake lever pivotably coupled to the base member. The base member includes or is attached to a master cylinder and a fluid reservoir that supplies brake fluid to the master cylinder through appropriate orifices. The fluid reservoir has a removable cap so that brake fluid may be added as necessary. The master cylinder includes a brake fluid outlet and a piston that reciprocates in response to pivoting of the brake lever. A tube is connected between the brake fluid outlet and the caliper housing to communicate brake fluid between the master cylinder and the caliper housing. Pivoting the brake lever toward the handlebar causes the brake lever to press against the piston so that the piston forces brake fluid through the brake fluid outlet to the caliper housing, thereby causing the first and second brake pads to contact the rotor.
Brake fluid is a substantially compressionless fluid that allows the brake fluid to properly communicate the force from the piston in the brake lever assembly to the piston(s) in the caliper housing. Accordingly, it is necessary to ensure that there is no air, which is highly compressible, in the path from the piston in the brake lever assembly to the piston(s) in the caliper. Conventionally, this is accomplished by installing a bleeder screw at the fluid reservoir in the caliper housing. The bleeder screw typically has a solid inner end and an internal fluid passage that extends from a side of the screw near the inner end to the outer end of the screw. When the bleeder screw is screwed into the caliper housing, the solid inner end closes an orifice at the fluid reservoir. Loosening the bleeder screw allows brake fluid to move past the solid inner end, through the internal fluid passage and out of the outer end of the screw. Thus, by loosening the bleeder screw and operating the brake lever, fluid is forced from the reservoir in the brake lever assembly, through the tubing connecting the master cylinder to the caliper housing, and through the bleeder screw. Any air in the path from the master cylinder to the caliper housing exits through the bleeder screw together with any air entrained in the brake fluid. The bleeder screw then is tightened to seal the system.
Because brake fluid usually exits the bleeder screw during the bleeding operation, it is necessary to collect and dispose of the removed brake fluid. Conventionally, one end of a tube is placed over the outer end of the bleeder screw, and the other end of the tube is placed in a container. The exiting brake fluid passes from the outer end of the bleeder screw, through the tube and into the container. The removed brake fluid then may be disposed in a suitable manner. However, as a practical matter, the brake fluid sometimes leaks from between the bleeder screw and the tubing, the tubing is very difficult to clean so that brake fluid continues to drip from the tube when the tube is later stored, and the bleeding operation itself wastes a substantial amount of brake fluid.

Hydraulic apparatus for a bicycle brake lever device


A device and method for treating a patient who is experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome is provided. The invention involves a cannula which has a closed blunt end and an open end. The cannula is dimensioned so that an endoscope and a knife can be simultaneously manipulated inside the cannula. A slot is provided between the ends of the cannula for viewing and incising the carpal ligament. The cannula preferably has a handle attached near its open end. The cannula is typically employed in conjunction with an endoscope and a knife to cut the patients transverse carpal ligament through a small wrist incision, thereby minimizing trauma to surrounding tissue, and post-operative recovery time.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating condition which afflicts many people. It is commonly associated with activities involving repetitive movements of the wrist and hand, and is therefore prevalent in the workforce. Associated conditions include diabetes and hypothyroidism. Conservative measures of rest, immobilization and anti-inflammatory medication are effective alternatives to surgery in approximately 50% of cases.
The syndrome is a compression neuropathy where the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel. Traditionally an open surgical release of the transverse carpal ligament to decompress the median nerve has been the treatment of choice. However, this technique requires a large incision beginning one centimeter proximal to the volar wrist flexion crease, extending 5 to 6 centimeters (cm) distally. The incision is carried through the skin, subcutaneous fat, and palmar fascia in order to expose the ligament. While this technique permits constant visualization and control, it is followed by significant postoperative pain, scarring, loss of grip and pinch strength. Typical recovery time is usually 8-12 weeks.
In an effort to minimize trauma to surrounding tissue, surgeons have developed procedures for cutting the transverse carpal ligament through a small transverse entry portal near the patient's wrist utilizing endoscepic techniques.
One such technique, described by Agee et al., involves insertion of a blade assembly through a small wrist incision. "The Agee Surgical Technique and User's Guide", 3M HealthCare (1990). The assembly includes a blade which is distally located from a viewing port. Thus, with the Agee device, the surgeon cannot actually view the ligament cutting procedure. Consequently, accidents such as severance of the median nerve have occurred. Another problem with Agee's technique is that the entire cannula/blade assembly must be repeatedly moved during the procedure, thereby increasing the probability of injury to surrounding tissue or structures.
Another endoscopic technique, discussed by C. Y. Chow in "Endoscopic Release of the Carpal Ligament: A New Technique for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome", The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol. 5(1), pages 19-24 (1989), requires two incisions located on opposite sides of the transverse carpal ligament. The surgeon cuts an entry portal near the patient's wrist and an exit portal in the patient's palm. An open ended cannula is passed into the wrist portal, under the transverse carpal ligament and out the palm portal. The surgeon inserts a knife through one end of the cannula and an endoscope through the other end of the cannula. A problem with this technique is that it requires two incisions rather than one. Another problem is that the palm incision must be performed quite precisely in order to avoid severing palmar nerves and arteries. An additional problem with Chow's technique is that cutting is performed from proximal to distal edges of the ligament putting distal structures such as nerves and arteries in jeopardy.
Another endoscopic technique, disclosed by Okutsu, et al. in "Endoscopic Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome", The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol. 5(1), pages 11-18 (1989), involves inserting a clear plastic endoscopic sheath into a wrist incision. A hook knife is eventually used to cut the ligament while the procedure is viewed through the transparent sheath. A problem with this approach is that there is no sheath for the knife to prevent accidental cutting while moving the knife to and from the intended cutting position.

Device and method for carpal tunnel release


An image processing apparatus which includes an image reading apparatus comprising a first memory, a book image corrector, and a selector. The first memory stores optical positioning information of the image reading apparatus. The book image corrector performs an image correction based on reference data from an image read by the image reading apparatus when the image is of a book document. The selector selects one of the plurality of different correction modes of the second corrector based on the optical positioning information stored in the first memory. The book image corrector includes a first corrector configured to correct in a main scanning direction a distortion of the image of the book document based on the reference data and a second corrector having a plurality of different correction modes configured to correct a distortion of the image of the book document in a sub-scanning direction.

When a flat bed scanner is used to scan bindings of thick documents such as a book and a magazine as shown in FIG. 1, a binding portion 41 of a book document 40 is scanned such that the binding portion 41 cannot be laid flat on a contact glass 2 of an image reading apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, the binding portion 41 of the book document 40 is laid on the contact glass 2 substantially in parallel to a main scanning direction. When the binding portion 41 of the book document 40 rises above the contact glass 2, the binding portion 41 is away from a focal point of the scanner, so that both ends of a binding boundary line of the book document 40 are distorted and a scanned image shrinks in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning directions as shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1, configured as part of a digital copier 16, includes a pivotable platen 17 and a sensor 18. The platen 17 contacts a document to the contact glass 2. The sensor 18 detects an opening and closing of the platen 17. A document scale 11 determines a position for placing a document and adjusts the contact glass 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, various technologies are proposed for correcting a distortion by expanding a distorted, scanned image in main and sub-scanning directions.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-358514 describes a method for checking curvatures of straight lines such as a book outline (i.e., a page outline), a ruled line, and a character line in a document, measuring a magnification for correcting the curvatures to original straight lines, and expanding the curvatures in the main scanning direction.
In a correction in the sub-scanning direction, when a location in the main scanning direction of an optical axis passing through a center of a lens of a scanner and a distance from the lens to a contact glass are determined, a distance from the contact glass 2 to a height of the book document 40 is determined so that a three dimensional position is identified. Using information about the three dimensional position allows for expanding in the sub-scanning direction.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-247643 describes a method for use in a ratio of a rectangular width and height circumscribing a character in a scanned image when a location in the main scanning direction of an optical axis passing through a center of a lens of a scanner and a distance from the lens to a contact glass are not determined.
Presently, the above-mentioned techniques, however, possess their own distinct disadvantages. Users who require a distortion correction cannot perform a process of a correction, causing a longer processing time and a lower correction image quality. In addition, after the process of correction is completed, a corrected image often has a different size from an original document.

Image processing apparatus and method, image processing program, and storage medium


A software program in a mobile phone periodically checks the current network connection parameters and compares them to the minimum data throughput requirements of all applications loaded on the mobile phone. If the current parameters fall short of the required parameters for a given application, the mobile phone will shade that application out on the display indicating that the application will not execute at the moment. This saves the user from the frustration experienced in actually launching the application and waiting for the application to fail. If the current parameters meet or exceed the required parameters for a given application, the mobile phone will display that application normally indicating that the application can execute at the moment. If the mobile phone has a color display, the applications that cannot currently execute can be colored differently than applications that can currently execute.

Mobile phones do not always provide users with an accurate indicator of instantaneous network conditions especially as it pertains to launching and executing data applications that may require higher bandwidths for data throughput than standard voice communications to operate.
The only current signal strength indicator between a mobile phone and its network is a fixed received signal strength indicator (RSSI) scale that is based on the voice communications requirements of the mobile phone. Because the RSSI is based on voice requirements it cannot provide a reliable indication for mobile-to-network data applications that have more stringent data throughput requirements than voice communications.
For example, if a mobile application requiring a data rate that corresponds to −86 dBm is launched from a location having a −101 dBm signal between mobile and network, the RSSI will indicate sufficient signal strength to launch and execute the application. This may be true for voice communications, but is not true for the high speed data application if it has a higher minimum data rate requirement that needs a stronger RF signal strength than −101 dBm. As a result, the data application is likely to fail. This can frustrate and annoy the user since they have been provided misleading signal strength indications.
What is needed is a more reliable and accurate signal strength indicator that can be dynamically tailored to provide an indication whether any particular data application that communicates with the network can be executed from the mobile phone's current location.

Method for providing mobile phone user with accurate capability indicator


An integrated circuit device includes a fin-type active region extending on a substrate in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate; a gate structure extending on the fin-type active region and extending in a second direction parallel to the top surface of the substrate and different from the first direction; and source/drain regions in a recess region extending from one side of the gate structure into the fin-type active region, the source/drain regions including an upper semiconductor layer on an inner wall of the recess region, having a first impurity concentration, and including a gap; and a gap-fill semiconductor layer, which fills the gap and has a second impurity concentration that is greater than the first impurity concentration.

The inventive concepts relate to an integrated circuit device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an integrated circuit device including a fin-type active region and a method of manufacturing the same.
There is a growing demand for higher integration of integrated circuit devices in accordance with the reduction and/or miniaturization of electronic products. A short channel effect of a transistor occurs due to downscaling of integrated circuit devices, thereby deteriorating the reliability of the integrated circuit devices. To reduce the short channel effect, an integrated circuit device including a fin-type active region has been proposed. However, as the design rule is reduced, the sizes of the fin-type active region, a gate line, and source/drain regions are also reduced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Integrated circuit devices and method of manufacturing the same


An automated warehouse includes a plurality of transfer destinations at which articles can be placed; and a transporter that moves between the plurality of transfer destinations and that transfers the article to the transfer destination, the automated warehouse including: moving-side image capturer provided on the transporter and image-captures the transfer destination and a part or all of an operation of transferring the article to the transfer destination performed by the transporter; and a fixed-side image capturer provided at a predetermined position in the automated warehouse, and image-captures, from a direction different from that of the moving-side image capturer, the transporter and a part or all of the operation of transferring the article to the transfer destination performed by the transporter.

In manufacturing factories such as semiconductor manufacturing factories, articles such as transportation containers (FOUPs) for semiconductor wafers and reticle pods for transporting reticles are temporarily stored. The automated warehouse includes a transporter such as a stacker crane, and the transporter transfers articles to a storage rack, an incoming/outgoing port or the like. It has been proposed that to confirm articles that have been transferred to a storage rack, the presence of the articles on each storage rack is confirmed by acquiring images (video images) of the articles with a television camera provided on the transporter and the acquired images are used for stock management purposes (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H02-95605).
The transporter used for an automated warehouse is controlled to place articles at predetermined positions on a storage rack. However, sometimes, an abnormality is detected due to some cause and the transporter may be stopped as a result. Therefore, confirmation of transfer operation is required.
In view of the above circumstances, there is a need to easily confirm a transfer operation of a transporter from a plurality of directions.


A remote control toy car set comprising a toy car with a housing having a driving device, a camera system, and a first radio module. The camera system is fixed on the housing for taking images of the toy car in motion and generating corresponding image signals, and the first radio module is fixed on the housing and electrically connects with both the driving device and the camera system. The first radio module transfers the image signals from the camera system and receives radio control signals in order to control the operations of the driving device. The remote control toy car set also includes a remote control device for controlling the toy car. The remote control device includes a display for displaying images, a remote control interface for generating control signals, and a second radio module for transferring both the image signals from the toy car to the display and the control signals from the remote control interface to the toy car.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote control toy car set, and more particularly, to a remote control toy car set with both cameras and rear vision mirrors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditional remote control toy car sets generally include a toy car and a remote control device. Housing of the toy car includes a driving module electrically connected to a first radio module. The remote control device includes a second radio module and a remote control module. The remote control module generates remote control signals, which are then received by the second radio module to be transferred out. The first radio module within the toy car receives remote control signals and transfers them to the driving device in order to control the operations of the toy car.
However, it is impossible for users of the toy car to have the sensation of actually being behind the wheel of the car. As well, the experience of controlling the toy car is not as real as playing a video game such as cart racing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy car set with cameras and rear vision mirrors in order to provide users of the toy car with the experience of actually being behind the wheel.
In accordance with the claimed invention, a remote control toy car set comprises a toy car with a housing that includes a driving device, and both a camera system and a first radio module fixed on the housing. The camera system functions in taking images of the toy car in motion and generating corresponding image signals. The first radio module electrically connects with both the driving device and the camera system for transferring of the image signals from the camera system and receiving radio control signals in order to control the operations of the driving device. The remote control toy car set also includes a remote control device for controlling the toy car.
It is an advantage of the present invention that a toy car is provided with cameras and rear vision mirrors for displaying to the user, images ahead and behind the toy car while controlling the operations of the toy car just as if the user was actually driving the car.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

Toy car camera system and rear vision mirrors


In an electroencephalogram recording apparatus: a classification section classifies a collected sound into one of categories concerning sound pressure; an accumulation determination section determines whether or not to record an electroencephalogram of a user based on whether a number of times of data accumulation has reached a target value for the category into which the sound is classified; and an accumulation section accumulates an electroencephalogram data and a sound data in association if the electroencephalogram data is determined to be recorded. A first value is designated as a target value for a first category into which sounds of an expected minimum value are classified. A second value is designated as a target value for a second category into which any sound having a sound pressure greater than the minimum value is classified. The accumulation determination section sets the first value to be equal to or greater than the second value.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a technique of recording data to be used for the adjustment of a hearing aid. More specifically, the present application relates to an apparatus, method, and program for recording, together with sounds which a user may hear in various acoustic environments in daily life, electroencephalogram data which reflects states of hearing with respect to such sounds.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, due to the aging society, increased opportunities for listening to loud music for long hours, and other influences, there is an increasing number of people suffering from presbycusis or hypacusia associated with acoustic traumas. Moreover, due to the downsizing and improved performance of hearing aids, users feel less of a psychological barrier against wearing hearing aids, and there is an increasing number of users who use hearing aids for the purpose of improving aural comprehension of daily conversations.
A hearing aid is a device for compensating for the deteriorated hearing ability of a user by increasing the amplitude of signals of specific frequencies, among various frequencies that compose sounds that are difficult for the user to hear. The amount of sound amplification which a user desires in a hearing aid varies depending on the level of deterioration in the hearing ability of the user, and also on the frequency band. Therefore, before beginning use of a hearing aid, a "fitting" is required for adjusting the amount of sound amplification for each frequency, in accordance with the hearing ability of each user.
Fitting is performed in order to ensure that the output sound pressure (i.e. fluctuations in air pressure that are perceivable as a sound) of each frequency from a hearing aid is at an MCL (most comfortable level: a sound pressure that is felt comfortable to a user).
In a first step of fitting, an audiogram is measured. An "audiogram" is a result of hearing assessment with respect to pure tones of different frequencies, performed at a hearing aid shop or hospital first, i.e., a result of assessing a hearing threshold value defining a smallest sound pressure of a pure tone that allows it to be heard. For example, an "audiogram" may be in the form of a diagram in which, for each of a number of sounds of different frequencies, the smallest sound pressure level (decibel value) that the user can aurally comprehend is plotted against frequency (e.g., 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz).
Then, from the audiogram, an initial adjustment is performed to determine an amount of amplification based on a fitting technique, which is a method of adjustment for providing amplification to a sound pressure level for attaining comfortable hearing. As necessary, a hearing aid shop further performs a speech sound intelligibility assessment, which involves presenting monosyllabic audios one by one to the user orally or from a sound source such as a CD, and making assessments as to whether the speech sounds were actually aurally comprehended, and thus makes a fine adjustment for the hearing aid. Through repetitions of such assessments and hearing aid adjustments, a hearing aid is obtained which has characteristics suited to the hearing of the user.
However, there has been a problem in that satisfactory adjustments for a hearing aid may not necessarily be made even through such fully-attended adjustments, because such hearing aid assessments and adjustments are made in a hearing aid shop and by a shop expert.
It is in the scenes of daily life that a user of a hearing aid actually wears the hearing aid, e.g., in the household, while watching television, or while going out. The optimum values of adjustment for the hearing aid will presumably differ from situation to situation. Conventionally, when any dissatisfaction with regard to the adjustment of a hearing aid is felt in the daily life, such scenes of dissatisfaction must be memorized, and conveyed to an expert. For example: there are no problems with conversations but television tends to sound too loud; while there are no problems conversing with an expert at the hearing aid shop, talking to the family still presents difficulties in hearing; and so on. As the hearing aid user conveys the dissatisfaction to the expert at the hearing aid shop, the expert makes a readjustment based on that result.
The difficulty in such adjustments is that the user needs to recall from memory those past experiences of difficulty of hearing, and try to explain the particular scene(s) and difficulty of hearing to the expert, who tries to estimate from the user's report what sort of difficulty of hearing was felt by the user in what sort of acoustic environment, and make a readjustment for the hearing aid. In the first place, subjective expressions of hearing may permit a lot of variations, and the difficulty of adjustments is further enhanced by reliance on memory.
This problem may be addressed by an approach of automatically recording the acoustic environments and states of hearing in scenes of daily life, this recorded data being acquired by an expert of a hearing aid shop either at the shopfront or via remote control, who analyzes the content of the data so that it is utilized as information for hearing aid fitting.
Conventional techniques related to this approach are as follows. Japanese National Phase PCT Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-512376 (hereinafter "Patent Document 1") discloses a hearing aid that has a data logger which logs the data of an input signal (ambient sound), and records results of characteristic analysis of parameters. This permits a quantitative understanding of what sort of acoustic environment(s) the user has been living in.
Japanese National Phase PCT Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-525696 (hereinafter "Patent Document 2") discloses a user-specific fitting method which, after an initial fitting is made, monitors and records a log of a history of choices made by a hearing aid user from among a set of plural gain parameters (i.e., a history of control operations made on the hearing aid), so that an expert at a hearing aid shop is able to determine from the log a final setting value for the hearing aid. This approach indirectly estimates the acoustic environment and state of hearing of the user by relying on the history information concerning which one of a set of plural gain parameters belonging to the hearing aid has been used most frequently.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-4432 (hereinafter "Patent Document 3") discloses a hearing aid which, in response to each press of a store button by the user whenever feeling uncomfortable, records an ambient sound existing at that point in time, so that this stored sound is reproduced at the time of fitting for facilitating the fitting. Thus, the user is allowed to again hear at the hearing aid shop a sound which was difficult to aurally comprehend, etc., whereby the user is able to remember the scene which presented hearing difficulty. These techniques are all aimed at recording situations in scenes of daily life, with a view to realizing a more appropriate hearing aid fitting.

Electroencephalogram recording apparatus, hearing aid, electroencephalogram recording method, and program thereof

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The present invention is directed to a lean direct injection (LDI) combustion system for a gas turbine using a shell and tube heat exchanger concept to construct a shell and tube lean direct injector (“LDI”) for the combustion system. One side of the LDI injector, either the shell side or the tube side, carries an oxidizer, such as air, to the combustor, while the other side of the LDI injector carries fuel to the combustor. Straight or angled holes drilled in an end plate of the combustor allow the fuel to enter the combustor and mix with air being injected into the combustor.

Most combustion processes have, in some way or another, a recirculating flow field. The recirculating flow field tends to stabilize the combustion reaction zone, but an unnecessarily large recirculation zone can result in high nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for combustion systems.
Lean direct injection for combustion has been shown to have the potential to reduce NOx emissions. However, constructing a combustor to simply and uniformly inject many fuel and air streams presents a challenge. Non-premixed combustors typically use multiple fuel passages to inject fuel from a diffusion tip into air passing through an outer ring of the diffuser tip. This requires multiple diffuser tips with multiple separate air and fuel passages all mounted in a complicated head end assembly.
The shell and tube LDI combustion system of the present invention provides a means for easily constructing a combustion system made up of many LDI injector sets with uniform air and fuel flow through all the passages using a concept similar to a shell and tube heat exchanger design. A shell and tube heat exchanger consists of a shell with a bundle of tubes inside it. One fluid flows through the tubes and another fluid flows over the tubes, through the shell, to transfer heat between the two fluids.