A luminaire assembly including a hinge member connected to a structure, a support member, a light source, and an outer shell. The support member is secured to the hinge member to be pivotable between a lighting position, in which electrical components are concealed, and a maintenance position, in which the electrical components are exposed. The light source is supported on a front side of the support member and is operational in the lighting position. The outer shell is secured to the hinge member such as to be pivotable between a closed position, in which the outer shell conceals the light source while being able to allow light from the light source to pass therethrough, and an opened position, in which the outer shell allows access to the light source. A hinge member and method for accessing the electrical components are also presented.

Luminaire assemblies using a fluorescent light source are often used in public transport vehicles, as they are typically energy efficient, with the fluorescent light source being durable with respect to other types of light sources. Such luminaire assemblies may be provided with reflective, refractive and/or diffractive components, the configuration of such components being an important design factor since it plays a key role in determining the light output. Moreover, as public transport vehicles and public areas are typically restricted in space, the sizing of luminaire assemblies installed therein is also an important design factor.
The maintenance of the luminaire assembly should be readily effected. Luminaire assemblies in general, and especially those found in series in public areas or in transport vehicles, should preferably have an interior which is easily accessed to facilitate, for instance, the change of the light source if necessary. Moreover, it is desired to minimize the amount of tools necessary for accessing the interior of such luminaire assemblies, while preferably being able to restrict access thereto to potential vandals.
It is known to combine a luminaire assembly with a ventilation duct. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,879, issued Jul. 4, 2000 to Myburgh, discloses a combination light fixture/HVAC duct/advertising card holder in which the ballast and other electrical components are located within the ventilation duct. Such a configuration exposes the, electrical components to potential contaminants present in the airflow, in addition to preventing servicing of the electrical components without perturbing the ventilation system. In addition, the light fixture does not appear to be readily removable for maintenance purposes.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved luminaire assembly.


A mattress spring structure is provided with a strengthened central area thereon to provide greater support for a user's body lumbar region when received thereon. The strengthening is provided with a continuous frame that encircles coil springs over a major expanse of the central area, this frame being connected to first and last transverse rows of coils in the central area and extra central area transverse coil rows next adjacent the said first and last rows. The frame also connected to adjacently paired longitudinally arranged coils springs in the central area at both sides of the spring structure. High carbon steel of six or nine gauge is used for the frame.

The present invention relates to mattress construction and, more particularly, to a mattress spring structure providing enhanced support in the area of the spring structure which in use supports the mattress area whereon the user's body lumbar region normally will be received.
Various and many mattress constructions have been produced in the past with special emphasis being given innerspring structures to deal with the differential loading on the mattress in certain areas due to differences in the weight of the parts of the user's body normally received on these certain areas. Commonly, and to take into account these differences, mattress spring structures have been strengthened with change of material gauge, varying spring tension, adding additional insulation to areas etc.
While the known practices have advantage, not enough attention has been fixed on the mattress and, correspondingly, the innerspring structure therein which is associated with reception and support of the user's lower back arch area. The user's lower back area or lumbar region is a critical one for proper support to avoid cause of back aches. Where spring structures have been modified in the past to enhance and insure lumbar region support, such has been achieved only by way of expensive and unnecessarily complicated strengthening means.

Mattress spring structure with reinforcing frame in the lumbar area


Computer-implemented methods of processing seismic data for the purpose of suppression of multiple reflections, or multiples, are subjected to quantitative evaluation. The evaluation is done by a computerized testing procedure. A known earth model is formed. From this model, data composed of primary reflections only, and data containing multiple reflections only are generated. These are retained separately, but a third data set representing their sum is also formed to serve as an original data set for processing. The original data set or sum is then processed by the processing method being evaluated. The processed results are then decomposed by a time-varying, least squares technique into primaries-only and multiples-only components. The decomposed primaries-only and multiples-only components so formed are then compared against the values of the original sets from the known earth model. The comparisons made are visual as well as numerical, quantitative comparisons, which may include simple difference plots, full- or partial-trace energy comparisons, or plots of least-squares decomposition coefficients. Users thus are provided with indications of how the processing techniques may be expected to perform on real data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to quality control of seismic data processing. Specifically, the present invention involves computerized evaluation of seismic data processing software for suppression and removal of multiple reflections or multiples.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple reflections, or multiples, are present in the results of virtually every seismic exploration survey. They are, however, undesirable since their presence can mask or interfere with the meaningful reflections, known as primary reflections or primaries, which are of interest in geophysical exploration. Presently available seismic data processing software usually includes some form of multiple-suppression software.
Multiple-suppression software has generally attempted to identify and remove multiple reflections from seismic data, while simultaneously preserving primary reflections. Multiple suppression has been one of the classic geophysical problems, and there have been many different approaches, each generally optimized for a specific type of multiple (e.g., water-bottom, interbed, short-period, and the like). The effectiveness of any particular multiple-suppression method was generally data-dependent. Also, since approximations varied, different implementations of an algorithm have performed differently. This has made it difficult for users to quantify the accuracy of any particular type or set multiple-suppression software.
So far as is known, multiple-suppression software has generally been tested by creating synthetic data from a known earth model, processing these data with some multiple-suppression software, and visually examining the results. This approach was largely qualitative, allowing different observers to reach different conclusions. This approach also did not quantify how well multiples were suppressed and how well primaries were preserved. Also, when the synthetic data contained many primary and multiple reflections, the data displays would often become quite cluttered or "busy," revealing little helpful information for evaluation purposes during visual examination.

Method of analyzing capabilities of multiple-suppression computer seismic data processing software


A tape cassette which protects the tape thereof from dust, and which can be accommodated in a small volume. This is achieved by providing both a front lid and an inner lid and by making a distance between a rotation axis of the cassette front lid and a cassette bottom surface greater than a distance between a surface of the tape stretched along the front of the cassette case and the rotation axis of the cassette front lid. In addition, a restriction plate is provided for restricting rearward movement of the tape stretched along the front of the cassette case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape cassette, and particularly to a tape cassette which is desirable for a magnetic recording/reproducing device such as a video tape recorder or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a conventional tape cassette to be inserted into a magnetic tape device such as a video tape recorder (which will be referred to as VTR hereinafter) or the like has a construction in which front and inner lids are provided on a front surface of a case and cover a magnetic tape which extends along the front surface of the case (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-175279).
The above conventional tape cassette is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the tape cassette of the prior art, and FIGS. 29 and 30 are sectional views of an important portion of the tape cassette of the prior art.
In FIGS. 28 to 30, an opening 61 is provided in a front surface of the tape cassette 64 along substantially the width of the cassette 64. A magnetic tape 59 is stretched over the opening 61 and is usually covered with front and inner lids 58 and 57.
The front lid 58 is free to rotate about a supporting point pin 65. A coil spring 66 is fitted to the supporting point pin 65 and always urges the front lid 58 to rotate toward a closing direction.
A pair of brackets 67 are provided at an upper and inner side of the front lid 58. A pair of supporting pins 60 provided at both left and right ends of the inner lid 57 are inserted into the brackets 67, and the inside lid 57 can freely rotate about the supporting pins 60.
A pair of guiding pins 55 provided at both ends of the inner lid 57 are inserted into a guiding grooves 56, and are free to slide therein. A locking member 50 is rotatably provided at the cassette case 68. A plate spring 70 is fitted to a rear side of the locking member 50 and urges the locking member 50 to rotate toward a forward direction.
Usually, a protrusion 52 provided on a side plate 54 of the front lid 58 is engaged with a click 53 of the locking member 50, such that the rotation of the front lid 58 can be prevented.
Operations of the tape cassette constructed as above are described hereinafter. The tape cassette 64 usually prevents the front lid 58 from carelessly opening by means of the locking member 50.
On the other hand, when the tape cassette 64 is inserted into the video tape recorder (which will be referred to as VTR hereinafter), the locking member 50 rotates in the D direction against the force of the plate spring 70 by means of a lock releasing member 71 provided at the VTR, such that the protrusion 52 becomes disengaged from the click 53 to enable the front lid 58 to rotate as shown in FIG. 30.
Then, when the tape cassette is moved in the E direction as shown in FIG. 30, the front lid 58 is opened upward. The supporting pins 60 on the inner lid 57 are moved upward about the supporting point pin 65 and the guiding pins 55 are guided along the guiding grooves 56. Thus the lids 58 and 57 are opened.
The above is the opening operations for inserting the tape cassette 64 into the VTR, and is reversed when the tape cassette 64 is being taken out.
However, in the above construction, a length from the tape surface extending along the front surface of the cassette to the front lid rotation supporting point is larger than that from the cassette bottom surface, so that a wider cassette opening is necessary and the cassette is relatively large considering the windable tape length.

Tape cassette with front and inner tape covering lids

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A digital camera includes a CCD image sensor that produces a plurality of sets of image data by continuously capturing a subject, a controller that sets the priority for executing image processing on at least one of the plurality of sets of image data, and an image processor that subjects a plurality of sets of image data to image processing on the basis of the priority for executing image processing.

1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to an imaging device.
2. Background Information
With a conventional digital camera, when continuous capture is executed, image data that has been recorded to a memory is processed sequentially in time series. After the processing ends for the image data last recorded to the memory, the last image data is displayed on the screen (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2006-217510).
This disclosure provides an imaging device that is more convenient for the user in the reproduction of images.

Imaging device for performing processing of image data on the basis of priority

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The present disclosure relates to methods for producing nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be made using ethanol as the solvent and the reductant to fabricate noble-metal nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distributions, and to coat a thin metal shell on other metal cores. With or without carbon supports, particle size is controlled by fine-tuning the reduction power of ethanol, by adjusting the temperature, and by adding an alkaline solution during syntheses. The thickness of the added or coated metal shell can be varied easily from sub-monolayer to multiple layers in a seed-mediated growth process. The entire synthesis of designed core-shell catalysts can be completed using metal salts as the precursors with more than 98% yield; and, substantially no cleaning processes are necessary apart from simple rinsing. Accordingly, this method is considered to be a “green” chemistry method.

Active, durable metal nanocatalysts with low platinum (Pt) content are desired for commercializing fuel cells, and for lowering the cost of hydrogen generators through water electrolysis. While several core-shell nanoparticles with a narrow distribution of particle size have displayed high catalytic performance, methods to produce them in large quantity, uniformly and inexpensively are essential for marketing them.
Core-shell nanocatalysts have been made mainly by (1) Pt galvanic replacement of an underpotentially deposited (UPD) Cu monolayers, and (2) forming a Pt-rich shell through high-temperature annealing or acid leaching of Pt-bimetallic alloy particles. To narrow down the spread of particle size, surfactants or capping agents were used during wet-chemical syntheses.
The synthesis of monodispersed noble metal nanoparticles using ethylene glycol as the solvent and reducing agent was reported in 1999. PVP was used as capping agent in synthesizing nanoparticles of Pt, Pd, Au, Ru, and Ir at various temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 150° C.
Multiple processes have been used in preparing catalysts, often involving costly or poisonous agents. For example, a recent study prepared monodispersed Pt-bimetallic alloy nanocatalysts, Pt3M (where M=Fe, Ni, or Co) by an organic solvothermal method in several steps. First, metal salts were dissolved in organic solvents with various surfactants and reduced at elevated temperatures. Next, the metal nanoparticles were separated by centrifuge, washing, and then mixed with carbon black. After drying, the catalysts were heated in an oxygen-rich atmosphere to remove the surfactants. Finally, they further were annealed in a reducing atmosphere to eliminate surface oxides. Hence, simpler procedures employing only inexpensive, environmentally benign agents are highly desirable.

Synthesis of nanoparticles using ethanol


A variable length connecting rod (12) has a first locking mechanism (36) for releasably locking connecting rod parts in a first effective length setting (FIG. 7) for the rod, and a second locking mechanism (38) for releasably locking the connecting rod parts in a second effective length setting to change the compression ratio for an engine cylinder. When a length change is to be made, hydraulic fluid unlocks a locked one of the locking mechanisms, allowing inertial force to effect the length change during an engine cycle. At completion of a length change, the other locking mechanism automatically unlocks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to reciprocating piston type internal combustion (I.C.) engines for motor vehicles. More specifically it relates to I.C. engines having variable compression ratio connecting rods, especially to systems, mechanisms, and strategies for operating a connecting rod to different compression ratios while an engine is running.
2. Background Information
A gasoline engine whose compression ratio remains invariant as operating conditions change is said to be knock-limited. This means that the compression ratio built into the engine design must be selected to avoid objectionable engine knock that would otherwise occur during certain conditions of engine operation if the compression ratio were larger. However, those conditions that give rise to engine knocking in a motor vehicle typically prevail for only limited times as the vehicle is being driven. At other times, the engine could operate with better efficiency, and still without knocking, if the compression ratio could be made higher, but unfortunately the engine is incapable of achieving more efficient operation during those times because its compression ratio cannot change.
Certain technologies relating to reciprocating piston I.C. engines having variable compression ratio pistons and connecting rods are disclosed in various patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,875,180; 2,376,214; 4,510,895; 4,687,348; 4,979,427; 5,562,068; and 5,755,192. Various reasons for employing such technologies in I.C. engines have been advanced in those documents. One reason is to improve efficiency by enabling an engine that is relatively more lightly loaded to run at a compression ratio that is higher than a compression ratio at which the engine operates when running relatively more heavily loaded.
The compression ratio of an engine can be varied by varying the overall effective length of a connecting rod and piston. Change in overall effective length may be accomplished in either the connecting rod, or the piston, or in both. The foregoing patents describe various mechanisms for varying overall effective length.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,068 discloses a variable compression ratio connecting rod where adjustment of effective length takes place at the large end. Adjustment is performed via an eccentric ring that is generally coincident with a crank pin, but can be selectively locked to the crank pin and to the large end of the rod. When locked to the crank pin, the eccentric ring assumes a position that causes the rod to have a longer effective length and hence a higher compression ratio. When locked to the rod, the eccentric ring assumes a position that causes the rod to have a shorter effective length and hence a lower compression ratio.
The invention disclosed in one of the commonly owned patent applications that is incorporated herein by reference changes the connecting rod effective length at the large end of the connecting rod so that the incorporation of variable compression ratio by length change does not adversely contribute to the reciprocating mass of an engine in a way that might otherwise create unacceptable imbalance. That connecting rod comprises an assembly that contains a first part, a second part, and a third part assembled together to form the large end of the connecting rod assembly and provide a variable length for the connecting rod assembly. The first part is a semi-circular cap. One of the second and third parts is fastened tight to the first part. Guides disposed at opposite sides of the large end operatively relate the other of the second and third parts and the fastened parts to provide for relative sliding motion between the other of the second and third parts and the fastened parts over a limited adjustment range to change the length of the connecting rod assembly. Such a length change mechanism does not employ an eccentric ring as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,068.
The present invention relates to novel systems, mechanisms, and strategies: for operating a connecting rod, especially a connecting rod of the general type disclosed in the above referenced commonly owned patent application, to positions of different length while an engine is running, thereby changing the compression ratio; for locking the connecting rod in one position until it is desired to change length; for unlocking the connecting rod when a length change is desired; for utilizing inertial force to perform the length change; and for locking the connecting rod in another position upon completion of the length change.
The invention utilizes novel mechanical locking mechanisms to lock the connecting rod in its positions of different length. Operation of the locking mechanisms is accomplished by hydraulic pressure, using engine motor oil.
A connecting rod employs two such locking mechanisms. With both locking mechanisms unlocked, the centerline of the large end of a connecting rod is free to move between a position of concentricity relative to the centerline of a crank pin on which it is mounted via a bearing retainer and a position of eccentricity relative to the crank pin centerline.
When a connecting rod is in an extended position that endows it with a longer effective length, a higher compression ratio results. When a connecting rod is in a retracted position that endows it with a shorter effective length, a lower compression ratio results. When a connecting rod is in one of these two positions, one of the two locking mechanisms is locking the connecting rod to the bearing retainer while the other locking mechanism is unlocked.
To change length from an initial length, be that length extended length or retracted length, hydraulic pressure is applied to cause the one locked mechanism to unlock, freeing the connecting rod for re-positioning the centerline of its large end relative to the centerline of the crank pin on which it is mounted. with the connecting rod unlocked from the bearing retainer, inertial force acting on the connecting rod is effective to move it such that the centerline of the large end is re-positioned relative to the centerline of the crank pin, thereby changing the effective length of the connecting rod from the initial length to a new length. Upon completion of the length change, the hydraulic pressure that was effective to unlock the one locking mechanism now becomes effective to lock the other locking mechanism, thereby locking the connecting rod to the bearing retainer in the position of new length. The change in position of the large end centerline relative to the crank pin centerline prevents re-locking of the one locking mechanism that was initially unlocked to initiate the length change, and so that one locking mechanism remains unlocked while the connecting rod is in the new length position.
For changing the effective length from the new length back to the initial length, the application of hydraulic pressure is discontinued, causing the other locking mechanism to unlock and free the connecting rod for re-positioning the large end on the crank pin. With the connecting rod unlocked from the bearing retainer, inertial force acting on the connecting rod is effective to reposition it on the crank pin, thereby restoring the effective length to the initial length. Upon completion of the length change, spring force acting on the lock pin becomes effective to lock the one locking mechanism, thereby locking the connecting rod to the bearing retainer with the connecting rod in the initial length position. The length change prevents the other locking mechanism from being re-locked and so it remains unlocked while the connecting rod is in the initial length position.
One generic aspect of the invention relates to a variable compression ratio engine comprising a connecting rod via which a crankshaft that rotates about a crank axis reciprocates a piston within a cylinder. The connecting rod comprises a first part and a second part that are relatively positionable to set an effective length of the connecting rod and hence a compression ratio for the cylinder. A first locking mechanism is resiliently biased to an unlocked condition unlocking the first part from the second part when the two parts are in a position that sets a given effective length for the connecting rod to allow the two parts to be relatively positioned to a different effective length from the given effective length but is operable to a locked condition for locking the first part to the second part. A second locking mechanism is resiliently biased to a locked condition locking the first part to the second part when the two parts are in an effective length position different from the given effective length position but is operable to an unlocked condition that allows the first and second parts to be relatively positioned from the effective length position different from the given effective. length position. A first passage delivers hydraulic fluid to the first locking mechanism to operate the first locking mechanism from its unlocked condition to its locked condition in consequence of flow of hydraulic fluid to the first locking mechanism when the two parts are in the given effective length position. A second passage delivers hydraulic fluid to the second locking mechanism to operate the second locking mechanism from its locked condition to its unlocked condition in consequence of flow of hydraulic fluid to the second locking mechanism when the two parts are in the effective length position different from the given effective length position.
Further aspects will be seen in various features of presently preferred embodiments of the invention that will be described in detail.

Hydraulic circuit for unlocking variable compression ratio connecting rod locking mechanisms


A sensor assembly for a castable lure is provided including a pressure sensor configured to measure a water pressure applied to the castable lure when deployed in an underwater environment, a processor, and a memory including computer program code. The computer program code configured to, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to receive pressure data from the pressure sensor, correlate the pressure data with time stamp data, cause the pressure data and correlated time stamp data to be stored in the memory, determine a data connection status between a transceiver and a marine electronic device, and in response to determining that a data connection exists, cause the pressure data and the correlated time stamp data to be transmitted to the marine electronic device. The pressure data and correlated pressure data correspond to a depth profile for a cast of the castable lure.

Some fishing lures, such as crank bait lures, are configured to imitate a bait fish moving through the water at a target water depth. These lures are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors, most having one or more treble hooks attached on ventral side of the bait, e.g. the "belly" side (e.g., a first hook at a mid-ventral point and a second hook near or at the end of the lure). Crank bait lures also include a bill-shaped frontal protrusion, e.g. a "bill" or "lip", although some are "lipless." The size of the bill on the front of the crank bait and/or the weight of the lure determines how deep the lure will dive. Crank bait lures may also be designed to deflect side-to-side or "wobble" to further imitate a bait fish. The wobble of the lure may be determined based on the bill and/or a contour of the lure. Beyond the design of the lure, crank speed may also effect the operating depth and wobble of the lure. For example, a lure may dive deeper and wobble more than the desired target depth and wobble if the crack speed is greater than the recommended crank speed. Similarly, a lure may not dive to the target depth and/or wobble less than desired, if the crank speed is insufficient.


In an embodiment of the method, at least one signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) for each antenna configuration in a set of transmission antenna configurations is determined based on an estimated channel characteristic. At least one received signal characteristic is determined for each antenna configuration in the set of antenna configurations based on the determined signal-to-interference-and-noise ratios. One of the antenna configurations in the set of antenna configurations is selected based on the determined received signal characteristics.

The present invention relates to MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) devices and communications, and more particularly to a method of adapting the number of transmitting antennas in a MIMO wireless link.
MIMO represents an advance in wireless communication. MIMO employs multiple antennas at the transmitting and receiving ends of a wireless link to improve the data transmission rate while holding radio bandwidth and power constant.
A MIMO transmitter transmits an outgoing signal using multiple antennas by demultiplexing the outgoing signal into multiple sub-signals and transmitting the sub-signals from separate antennas. MIMO exploits the multiple signal propagation paths to increase throughput and reduce bit error rates. Each sub-signal reflects off the local environment along its associated signal propagation paths. The spatial richness of the local environment is a function of the uniqueness and distinctness among the different associated signal propagation paths. While multiple signal propagation paths cause interference and fading in conventional radios, MIMO uses these multiple signal propagation paths to carry more information than conventional radio transmissions. Using MIMO techniques it is possible to approximately, linearly increase the rate of transmission, depending on the richness of the local environment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a basic MIMO wireless link 10, where the transmitter 20 has Mmax transmitting antennas 21 (21-1 . . . 21-m), and the receiving station 30 has N receiving antenna 31 (31-1 . . . 31-n), the number of transmitters active at a given moment is M, such that M<=Mmax. A scattering environment 50 with some degree of spatial richness, or statistical independence of fading coefficients, exists between the transmitter and receiver. The H matrix represents the channel connection characteristics (or impulse response) between the transmitting and receiving antennas, 21 and 31, respectively.
In a traditional Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, the MIMO receiver must determine M and feed this back to the transmitter on a separate low rate channel, such as mode selection link 40, as shown in FIG. 1. In a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, no feedback link is necessary, as each end of the communications link can determine the transmission parameters independently.
In the situation where both the transmitter and receiver are stationary, the estimated channel characteristic of the MIMO system remains relatively stable, as does the optimal number of transmission antennas. However, where the transmitter, receiver, or objects in the environment are mobile, the actual channel characteristics of the connection and the spatial richness of the environment can change in response to movement. As the spatial richness of the environment changes, it becomes beneficial to vary the number of active antennas in the MIMO system to optimize the throughput of the wireless transmission. Varying the number of antennas in the MIMO system can offer various benefits including improved transmission rates, reduced interference among sub-signals, lower latency, and reduced power consumption.
For example, as the spatial richness in an environment increases, it may be beneficial to harness the increased variation in the multi-path signal propagation by increasing the number of active antennas. Alternatively, as the spatial richness decreases it may be beneficial to reduce the number of active antennas to avoid potential interference due to the limited signal path variations, and reduce power consumption by using fewer active transmitting antennas, which would otherwise cause interference. Therefore, there exists a need for a method to dynamically alter the number of transmitting antennas in response to, for example, changes in spatial richness.

Method of determining at least one transmit mode parameter for a multiple-input multiple-output system


An interferometer includes a light source and a beam splitter, via which the beam of rays emitted by the light source is split into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The measurement beam propagates in a measuring arm extending in a first direction between the beam splitter and a measuring reflector. The measuring reflector brings about an offset perpendicular to the direction of incidence between the measurement beam falling on it and the measurement beam reflected back by it. In a reference arm extending in a second direction, the reference beam propagates between the beam splitter and a reference reflector. In addition, the interferometer has a detector system, to which the superposed and recombined measurement beam and reference beam are able to be supplied, and via which a distance-dependent interference signal with respect to the position of the measuring reflector is able to be generated. The measuring reflector in each case includes at least one transmission grating as well as a reflector element.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,424, for example, describes an interferometer having a light source that emits a beam of rays in the direction of a beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the beam of rays into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The measurement beam then propagates in a measuring arm extending in a first direction between the beam splitter and a measuring reflector. The measuring reflector brings about an offset perpendicular to the direction of incidence between the measurement beam falling on it and the measurement beam reflected back by it. The reference beam propagates in a reference arm extending in a second direction between the beam splitter and a reference reflector, the second direction being oriented perpendicularly to the first direction. In addition, a detector system is provided, to which the superposed and recombined measurement beam and reference beam are able to be supplied, and via which a distance-dependent interference signal with respect to the position of the measuring reflector is able to be generated.
Because of the construction selected for the measuring reflector and the offset produced by it between the beams falling on the measuring reflector and reflected back by it, periodic signal errors otherwise occurring are able to be minimized. Such periodic signal errors may be caused, for example, by non-perfect polarization-optical elements, or else by other optical elements in the paths of the measurement and reference beams.
The measuring reflector described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,424 includes two plane mirrors, oriented perpendicularly relative to each other, which bring about the above-mentioned spatial offset of the beams reflected back by them relative to the beams falling on them. Moreover, although it is mentioned that the measuring reflector could also be constructed differently, details concerning an alternative form are not provided.
When working with a form of the measuring reflector having two plane mirrors oriented perpendicularly relative to each other, problems result in the case of a displacement of the measuring reflector along a direction which is oriented orthogonally relative to the measuring direction. In this context, measuring direction is understood to be the direction along which the measuring reflector is movably disposed. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,424, x denotes the measuring direction and z denotes the mentioned direction orthogonal to it. For further clarification of these problems, reference is made to FIGS. 1a and 1b. On the left, FIG. 1a shows measuring reflector MR, including two plane mirrors, which is disposed on a machine part MT, and whose position along measuring direction x is to be determined with the aid of the interferometer. FIG. 1a also shows the measurement beam falling twice on measuring reflector MR, the measurement beam falling for the first time being denoted by reference numeral 1, the measurement beam reflected back by measuring reflector MR the first time being denoted by reference numeral 2, the measurement beam falling on measuring reflector MR for the second time being denoted by reference numeral 3, and the measurement beam reflected back by measuring reflector MR the second time being denoted by reference numeral 4. Between the first and second incidence of the measurement beam on measuring reflector MR, the measurement beam impinges on a retroreflector. The right part of FIG. 1a is a top view of measuring reflector MR and the spatial configuration of individual measurement beams 1 to 4, i.e., the resulting rectangular beam cross-section pattern—hereinafter referred to as a spot pattern—in the yz-plane. S denotes the mirror axis of measuring reflector MR oriented along the y-direction, and I denotes the inversion center of the retroreflector. In the case of the provided position of measuring reflector MR along the z-direction, inversion center I is located on mirror axis S of measuring reflector MR.
FIG. 1b shows the conditions when measuring reflector MR, i.e., machine part MT, is displaced upward along the z-direction compared to the position in FIG. 1a. For example, this may be caused by inaccurate guidance. As illustrated in the right part of FIG. 1b, inversion center I of the retroreflector is no longer located on mirror axis S of measuring reflector MR, with the result that before and after the second incidence on measuring reflector MR, measurement beams 3, 4 have a greater distance to mirror axis S than in the case of the first incidence on measuring reflector MR. The result is the spot pattern shown in the right part of FIG. 1b, which is no longer rectangular.
According to the illustrations included in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the resulting spot pattern, that is, the spatial configuration of the measurement beams in the measuring arm in the case of the interferometer described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,424, is therefore not invariant with respect to a shift of the measuring reflector in the z-direction, i.e., with respect to a shift along a direction deviating from the measuring direction. The consequence of a spot pattern changing in this manner is that an overall larger construction volume is necessary for the interferometer or the interferometer optical system. The measuring reflector must be dimensioned such that even if it is shifted, the measurement beams all fall on it. Moreover, because of the spot pattern changing in this manner, relatively large beam diameters must be selected in order to ensure a sufficient overlap between the measurement beam and reference beam when they are recombined. Otherwise, the degree of modulation of the distance-dependent interference signals would be too low. Another result of the shift in the measurement beams explained is that they subsequently pass through or impinge on other areas and boundary surfaces of downstream optical components. Unevenness of these components then causes errors in the position measurement.


The invention includes a method for densifying one or more porous preforms, including the edges and surfaces of one or more preform, when using a liquid precursor. The method includes covering at least a portion of the porous preform with an insulating material to insulate at least a part of the preform. The preform is submerged in a precursor liquid which is heat-decomposable. The preform is heated in the precursor liquid at a temperature sufficient to decompose the precursor liquid within the preform and to deposit a decomposition product of the precursor liquid within the preform. The heating of the preform is continued in the precursor liquid until at least part of the insulated portion of the preform, which would not densify in this process without insulation, is densified.

Presently, high performance brake disks for aircraft are frequently made by densifying carbon preforms through chemical vapor deposition using a gaseous methane precursor to form a carbon/carbon composite. This densification process typically involves repeated cycles consisting of densification followed by machining of the preform surface to open pores closed during densification. One disadvantage of this technique is that it can require large amounts of time, sometimes on the order of hundreds of hours to fully densify the preform.
Alternatively, the densification must be performed slowly so that the pores on the outside of the preform do not get filled before the pores on the inside of the preform. Were the pores on the outside of the preform to be blocked before densification of the interior portions, insufficient precursor would reach the inner portions of the preform and it would not be fully densified.
One approach to avoid this problem is by using a liquid hydrocarbon precursor densification process, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,152, issued on Feb. 14, 1995 to Thurston et al. In this process, overall densification occurs from the inside of the preform outward. Densification can, thus, be performed at a higher rate without concern that the pores at the exterior of the preform will be blocked and prevent densification of the preform interior.
During densification with a liquid precursor, the temperature gradient is such that the center of the preform is hotter than the surface and thus the densification proceeds from the center to portions of the surface as the temperature of the preform is increased. Typically, portions of the preform near some of the surfaces do not densify using this process. As a result, portions of the edges of the preform are often machined away after densification using a liquid precursor to form a fully densified structure. However, this process increases the waste associated with densification.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved method that allows densification of the regions of a preform that do not normally densify when using a liquid precursor.

Method for densifying the edges and surfaces of a preform using a liquid precursor


A compression molding machine includes a support mounted for rotation around an axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed around the support. Each of the molds includes a first mold segment and a second mold segment. At least one of the mold segments is movable with respect to the other mold segment between a closed position for compression molding a plastic article, and an open position for removing a molded article from the mold and placing a mold charge into the mold. An apparatus is provided for placing mold charges into the molds in sequence.

Machines for compression molding closure shells, or compression molding sealing liners within closure shells, typically include a turret or carousel that rotates around a vertical axis. A plurality of molds are provided around the periphery of the carousel, in the form of male and female mold sections that are aligned along vertical axes parallel to the axis of rotation. Cams drive one or both of the mold sections of each pair between an open position, in which a molded part is stripped from the male mold section and a charge of plastic material is placed in the female mold section, and a closed position in which the male and female mold sections are brought together to compression mold the shell or liner. In a liner machine, premade shells are placed in a nest when the mold sections are open, and a charge or pellet of liner material is placed within the shell before the molds are closed. U.S. Patents that illustrate machines of this type for compression molding plastic closure shells include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,100, 5,989,007, 6,074,583 and 6,478,568. U.S. Patents that illustrate machines of this type for compression molding sealing liners within closure shells include U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,360.
Although vertical axis carousel-type machines of the noted type have enjoyed substantial commercial acceptance and success, innovation remains desirable. In particular, in vertical axis carousel-type machines, the mold forces and the weight of the rotating equipment are parallel to the vertical axis of rotation, creating a bending moment with respect to the axis of rotation and the bearings and shaft that support the carousel. Carousel-type machines also require a substantial amount of valuable floor space in a manufacturing facility. It is a general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, to provide a method and apparatus for compression molding plastic articles, such as plastic closures and plastic liners within closure shells, which reduce the forces applied to the support frame and bearings, reduce maintenance requirements and the amount of energy needed to operate the machine, and/or reduce the amount of floor space required per machine.
The present disclosure involves a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A compression molding machine in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a support mounted for rotation around an axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed around the support. Each of the molds includes a first mold segment and a second mold segment. At least one of the mold segments is movable with respect to the other mold segment between a closed position for compression molding a plastic article, and an open position for removing a molded article from the mold and placing a mold charge into the mold. An apparatus is provided for placing mold charges into the molds in sequence.
The apparatus for placing mold charges into compression molds in sequence, in accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, includes a plate for rotation around a first axis and at least one mold charge placement mechanism carried adjacent to a periphery of the plate. The mold charge placement mechanism includes a placement arm mounted for rotation around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a cup on an end of the arm for placing mold charges into the compression molds as the molds pass in sequence adjacent to the periphery of the plate. In preferred embodiments in accordance with this aspect of the disclosure, the plate has a circular periphery, and there are a pair of mold charge placement mechanisms at diametrically opposed positions on the plate. A gear is coupled to driven shafts of the mold charge placement mechanisms for rotating the shafts and arms around axes perpendicular to the first axis and coaxial with each other. The gear may be stationary or may itself be rotated by a gear shaft independently of rotation of the plate. A cutter blade severs mold charges from an extruder nozzle or the like as the mechanisms are rotated on the plate. Vacuum and air under pressure preferably are applied selectively to the cups for retaining the mold charges in the cups as the mold charges are transported from the nozzle to the molds, and for assisting separation of the mold charges from the cups into the molds.
A machine for compression molding plastic articles, in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, includes a first array of compression molds and a second array of compression molds mounted on a support for movement through respective first and second mold paths. Each mold includes mold segments, at least one of which is movable between a closed position and an open position for removing a molded article from the mold and placing a mold charge into the mold. A first mold charge placement apparatus is disposed adjacent to the first path for placing mold charges into molds of the first array in sequence. A second mold charge placement apparatus is disposed adjacent to the second path for placing mold charges into molds of the second array in sequence independently of the first apparatus. Operation of the first and second mold charge placement apparatuses preferably is synchronized to movement of the support. The support preferably includes a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis, with the first and second arrays of compression molds being disposed on axially opposed sides of the wheel.


A laser imaging device is provided with a laser source that emits a laser beam including a plurality of wavelength components. The wavelength components are divided by a dividing optical system, and at least two wavelength components are extracted and each of which is directed to a beam dividing element. Each wavelength component are divided into a plurality of beams, and independently modulated by the modulating optical systems. The beams having different wavelengths are directed to respective scanning optical system, and deflected thereby to scan in different areas on an objective surface.

The present invention relates to a laser imaging device which deflects a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths to scan on an objective surface to form an image thereon.
Conventionally, a laser imaging device such as a direct imager, a laser photo plotter or the like has been used for forming a circuit pattern on a base plate for manufacturing a printed circuit board, a semiconductor device or the like. Such an imaging device is constructed such that a laser beam emitted by a light source is modulated, and then deflected using a polygonal mirror. The deflected beam scans on an objective surface (i.e., the surface of a base plate), on which photosensitive material is applied, to form a circuit pattern thereon. Since the laser beam impinges on the objective surface directly, a gas laser (e.g., Argon laser), which oscillates continuously at high power is used as the light source.
Further, conventionally, in order to obtain a relatively high exposure amount, a laser source, which emits a laser beam having a plurality of wavelength components, has been employed. When such a beam is used, however, if a scanning optical system of the laser imaging device has chromatic aberration, beam spots to be formed on the objective surface are formed at different positions depending on the wavelengths. Therefore, in the scanning optical system of the laser imaging device employing such a light source, the optical systems thereof is constructed such that the chromatic aberration is compensated.
Recently, there is a requirement that a relatively wide area is scanned at a high speed. For example, Japanese patent provisional publication HEI 10-142538, entitled as xe2x80x9ca laser imaging device having a multi-head scanning optical systemxe2x80x9d discloses a laser imaging device of such a type. In the laser imaging device described in the publication, two scanning optical systems, which are arranged in the main scanning direction, are provided. The laser beam having a single wavelength this modulated by a modulator, and the modulated beam is alternately directed to impinges on two scanning optical systems, which are arranged in the main scanning direction, so that a relatively wide area is exposed to light.
In the laser imaging device provided with two scanning optical systems as described above, if a light source, which emits a laser beam including a plurality of components having different wavelengths, is employed, it becomes necessary that the chromatic aberration of each scanning optical system is compensated, which complicates the structure of the scanning optical system as a whole, and increases the manufacturing cost.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved laser imaging device provided with a laser source that emits a laser beam including a plurality of wavelength components, and a plurality of scanning optical systems arranged in the main scanning direction, and the structure of the optical systems will not be complicated.
For the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a laser imaging device, which is provided with at least one laser source that emits a laser beam including a plurality of wavelength components, at least one dividing optical system that spatially divides the laser beam into the plurality of wavelength components, at least two modulating optical systems, at least two of the plurality of wavelength components divided by the dividing optical system being modulated by at least two modulating optical systems, respectively, and at least two scanning optical systems. At least two of the plurality of wavelength components respectively modulated by the at least two modulating optical systems are caused to scan on at least two different areas of an objective surface by the at least two scanning optical systems.
With the above configuration, since the beams having different wavelengths are incident on different scanning optical systems, it is not necessary to compensate for the chromatic aberration.
Optionally, the at least one laser source includes a plurality of laser sources, and the at least one dividing optical system includes a plurality of dividing optical elements corresponding to the plurality of laser sources, respectively.
The laser imaging device is further provided with a beam combining system that combines beams having the same wavelength.
Further optionally, each of the at least two modulating optical systems includes an acousto-optical-modulator.
Still optionally, each of the at least two modulating optical system includes a beam dividing element that divides an incident beam into a plurality of divided beams.
In this case, each of the at least two modulating optical systems includes a multi-channel acousto-optical-modulator that modulates the plurality of divided beams independently from each other.
Still optionally, each of the at least two modulating optical systems is provided with a relay lens that adjusts a diameter of each of the wavelength components divided by the at least one dividing optical system, a collective lens that converges each of the plurality of divided beams divided by the beam dividing element on positions in the vicinity of the multi-channel acousto-optical-modulator, and a collimating lens that collimates the beams modulated by the multi-channel acousto-optical-modulator.
In particular case, each of the at least two scanning optical system may include a polygonal mirror that deflects the modulated beams to scan. In this case, each modulating optical system may include a piezo mirror, inclination of which is controlled to compensates for facet error of the polygonal mirror.
Further optionally, the at least one light source includes an Argon laser source that emits a laser beam including at least two components whose wavelengths are close, output power of the at least two components being substantially the same.
In the laser imaging device described above, the wavelengths of at least two components are approximately 351.1 nm and approximately 363.8 nm, so the wavelength-difference is small. Alternatively, at least two components may include a component whose wavelength range includes approximately 351.1 nm and approximately 351.3 nm, and another component whose wavelength is approximately 363.8 nm.


A computer-implemented apparatus or method, or a software product, for generating a composite quantitative comparison of drug products based on multiple attributes of them. A set of name-attribute similarity scores are generated based on similarities among the names of selected target and reference drugs. A set of product-attribute similarity scores are generated based on similarities among product attributes of the selected target and reference drugs. A target drug confusability score is generated based on the confusability of the target drug as compared to a population of other drugs. The composite quantitative comparison is generated based on a composite of the name-attribute and product-attribute similarity scores, and the target confusability score. A set of one or more severity of confusion scores may also be included in the composite quantitative comparison. These scores are based on one or more indicators of the severity of the consequences to a patient of confusing the target and reference drugs so that, for example, the wrong drug is administered to the patient, or the correct drug is incorrectly administered. The name-attribute similarity scores may be generated based on orthographic, phonetic, and/or phonological analysis. The product-attribute similarity scores may be generated based on the drugs'strengths, indications, dosages, administration routes, manufacturers, pharmacological categories, storage requirements, colors, shapes, legal standing, trademark description, and/or other attributes. The composite quantitative comparison may include severity-weighted similarity scores or both similarity scores and severity of confusion scores. The severity of confusion indicators may include a therapeutic index and/or a contraindication index.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to linguistic applications or attribute matching in information retrieval and data processing and, more particularly, to systems or methods for measuring similarities between words or between representations of multiple attributes of products or items, especially attributes related to pharmacological products or items.
2. Related Art
Errors in the administration of medications, such as occur when the wrong drug or the wrong dosage are provided to a patient, represent a serious problem that has been much discussed by health professionals, patient welfare groups, academics, insurers, and others. Various causes for these errors have been identified, including the misunderstanding of physicians' orders due to illegible handwriting, similarity between drug names, confusing pharmaceutical packaging, poor design of devices for administering drugs, and other factors. An overview of some systemic causes of medication errors is provided in M. R. Cohen, "Drug product characteristics that foster drug-use-system errors," 52 Am. J. Health-Syst Pharm (February 1995) pp. 395–399, hereafter referred to as "the Cohen article," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another overview of the subject is found in M. R. Cohen (ed.), Medication errors, American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, D.C. (1999).
A variety of groups and government agencies have programs designed to identify the sources of medication errors and to reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. For example, the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists has issued "ASHP guidelines on preventing medication errors in hospitals," 50 Am. J. Hosp. Pharm. (1993) pp. 305–314; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a Subcommittee on Medication Errors; the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention has information available on the Internet (www.usp.org/standard/9805/9805—08a.htm) and elsewhere; and a medication-error reporting network has been established by the nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the Drug Product Problem Reporting Network of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, Inc. (USP).
One class of errors that has been identified and studied by these groups and agencies is related to the use of drug names that sound like, and/or look like, other drug names. Lists of these sound-alike or look-alike drugs have been published, as in N. M. Davis, et al., "Look-alike and sound-alike drug names: the problem and the solution," 27 Hosp. Pharm. (1992) pp. 95–98, 102–105, 108–110; and N. M. Davis, "Drug names that look and sound alike," in Hospital Pharmacy, vol. 32, pages 1558–70 (1997). Agencies such as the FDA, the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN), the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Committee of the World Health Organization, the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), have regulations and programs related to the possibility of confusion among drug names. Also, pharmaceutical companies typically expend significant effort in proposing and perfecting trademarks for new drugs.
Notwithstanding the activities of these, and other, organizations, new drugs continue to be given names that may be confused with those of existing drugs, not infrequently leading to serious or fatal consequences for patients. Confusion between Celebrex® and Celexa® is a recent example, as documented in USP Quality Review, May 1999, no. 66 (U.S. Pharmacopeia, Rockville, Md.). Also, existing look-alike or sound-alike drug names remain on the market. One reason for these continuing problems is the diverse, and sometimes conflicting, goals of the agencies and companies involved in the naming of drugs. For example, pharmaceutical companies seek trademarks based not just on the objective of distinguishing their drugs from the competition, but also on enhancing recognition and recall and creating brand loyalty. The USAN and the INN, although concerned with name confusion, are also interested in ensuring that drug names are useful to health care professionals, i.e., that drug names preferably convey some medical information rather than being merely arbitrary or fanciful. Similarly, the USP has an interest in encouraging the use of drug names that are consistent with the existing compendial nomenclature. In contrast, one element used by the courts and the USPTO to determine the likelihood of confusion between trademarks is the strength of a mark. A mark may be strong, and therefor entitled to broad protection, because it has a relatively remote relationship with the product, such as a mark that is arbitrary or fanciful.
Another reason for the continuing problem of drug name confusion is attributable simply to the large number of drugs available. For example, there are over 15,000 medications sold in the United States alone, and there are over 35,000 names in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's database of trademark registrations for pharmaceuticals. Approximately half a million pharmaceutical trademarks are registered in the major industrialized countries. Even agencies, such as the FDA, that are focused squarely on reducing medication errors due to name confusion are hard pressed to anticipate sources of name confusion due to the large number of pairs of proposed and existing names, proposed and proposed names, or existing and existing names.
Moreover, assessment of the likelihood of drug-name confusion often is limited by reliance on the subjective judgment of human experts. For example, the FDA employs panels of experts who are directed to make their evaluations based on guidelines that generally are open to subjective interpretation. The inevitable disagreements that arise result in what social scientists commonly refer to as "poor interrater reliability." Similarly, practitioners before the USPTO, and the examiners and other officials of that agency, must apply complex guidelines (statutory, regulatory, and judicial) that call ultimately for the application of subjective judgments.
Efforts have been made to systematize the analysis of drug names by human experts. For example, the Cohen article refers to a system used by the pharmaceutical industry "for assessing proposed trademarks for possible medication-error problems." 52 Am. J. Health-Syst Pharm (February 1995) p. 398. More generally, the same article refers to "a system for ranking pharmaceutical labeling and packaging for error potential." Id. at p. 399. Both systems appear to be based on the participation of experts who, in accordance with an evaluation protocol, apply conventional social-science rating techniques to some factors that are considered to be relevant to the potential, for errors. For example, experts pronounce product names read from handwritten drug orders from physicians, and rank the potential for confusion on a scale of one to ten. Other experts assign point values to each factor. These scores for each factor may then be combined to provide an overall rating between one and ten that is intended to be indicative of the potential for confusion. Id. at p. 398. Although a quantitative rating is thus produced, this approach relies on the subjective judgment of experts. As is evident, the judgment of any person may vary on the same subject from one trial to another, and the judgments of two people may vary on the same subject. Thus, the approach is not deterministic in the sense that a particular input (a handwritten drug order, for example) may produce one output (the quantitative rating) for one trial and the same input may produce another output for another trial. Also, the approach is not "automatic" in the sense that determination of the quantitative rating requires human involvement.
Some computer-implemented techniques have been employed to provide a more objective, and automated, analysis of drug-name similarity. For example, pharmaceutical companies typically screen potential new drug names by computerized searching, apparently based on similarity of spelling and/or sound of the new drug names as compared with existing drug names. Typically, however, regulatory agencies do not require results of these searches to be submitted as part of the evaluation process. Trademark attorneys and commercial trademark-searching firms similarly use computer-based searching techniques, including Internet searching, to assess the likelihood that a registration for a proposed drug name will be granted by the USPTO. The utility to public agencies and the public of these search techniques is limited, however, by the fact that the precise methods by which the searches are conducted generally are not publicly disclosed. Consequently, due to this lack of transparency, and due to uncertainty as to whether the same or similar standards are applied to one or more searches by one or more firms, comparisons of the likelihood of confusion across a wide population of drugs is problematic or impracticable.
Moreover, these automated conventional techniques, have various characteristics that limit their efficacy in reducing confusion among drug names. For example, most of these techniques provide only an approximate relative measure. That is, the searching techniques may simply rank reference names in order of similarity to a target name. Thus, with respect to a target drug named "AAA," reference drug "AA" may be ranked first, reference drug "A" second, reference drug "AB" third, and so on. Moreover, if additional quantitative information is provided, it may be limited to a simple score that is not tied to a benchmark. That is, according to some conventional techniques, one pair of target and reference drugs may have a score of "1.2" and another pair a score of "0.7," but neither score provides any absolute measure of the likelihood of confusion. Rather, only a relative measure is provided by these techniques. That is, a score of 1.2 may indicate a higher likelihood of confusion, based on the names of the drugs, than a score of 0.7.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A wireless communication method and apparatus for decoding enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) transmissions are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives E-AGCH data which includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) part and a data part. The CRC part is masked with a WTRU identity (ID) at a Node-B. The CRC part and the data part are demultiplexed and the CRC part is demasked with the WTRU ID. A CRC is then performed with the demasked CRC part. If the CRC passes the data part is sent to an enhanced uplink medium access control (MAC-e) entity. The WTRU ID may be a primary E-DCH radio network temporary identity (E-RNTI) or a secondary E-RNTI. When the E-AGCH data is transmitted over a 10 ms frame, if the CRC fails, E-AGCH data via subsequent subframe may be soft combined with the previous E-AGCH data.

Enhanced uplink (EU) is one of the major features in third generation partnership project (3GPP) frequency division duplex (FDD) systems. EU offers a peak data rate of 5.76 Mbps. Several downlink physical channels are provided to support EU transmissions. One of the downlink channels is the E-AGCH.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional wireless communication system 100 which supports EU. The system 100 includes a WTRU 102, a Node-B 104 and a radio network controller (RNC) 106. The RNC 106 controls overall E-DCH operation by configuring E-DCH parameters for the Node-B 104 and the WTRU 102, such as an initial transmit power level, maximum allowed transmit power or available channel resources per Node-B. Between the WTRU 102 and the Node-B 104, an E-DCH 108, an E-DCH dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) 110, an E-AGCH 112, an E-DCH relative grant channel (E-RGCH) 114 and an E-DCH hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) indicator channel (E-HICH) 116 are established for supporting E-DCH operations.
For E-DCH transmissions, the WTRU 102 sends scheduling requests, (also known as rate requests), for the logical channels which a radio resource control (RRC) determines that reporting is needed to be made to the Node-B 104 via the E-DCH 108. The scheduling requests are transmitted in the form of scheduling information and happy bit. The happy bit is transmitted via the E-DPCCH 110 whenever the E-DPCCH 110 is transmitted. The Node-B 104 sends a scheduling grant to the WTRU 102 via the E-AGCH 112 or the E-RGCH 114. After E-DCH radio resources are allocated for the WTRU 102, the WTRU 102 transmits data via the E-DCH 108. In response to the E-DCH transmissions, the Node-B 104 sends an acknowledgement (ACK) or a non-acknowledgement (NACK) message for H-ARQ operation via the E-HICH 116.
The E-AGCH 112 is a very important channel for performing fast scheduling in the EU. The E-AGCH 112 carries the scheduling grant in the form of a maximum power ratio for the WTRU 102. The maximum power ratio is given by the power ratio of the E-DCH dedicated physical data channel (E-DPDCH) over the dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) (not shown in FIG. 1). In addition, the E-AGCH 112 also carries an activation flag that is used to activate or deactivate H-ARQ processes, indicating activation or deactivation of either single or all H-ARQ processes.
The E-AGCH 112 is transmitted with an E-DCH radio network temporary identifier (E-RNTI). Under the current 3GPP standards, two E-RNTIs may be configured for the WTRU 102 at a time. One is a primary E-RNTI and the other is a secondary E-RNTI. Only one E-RNTI may be transmitted at a time. The WTRU 102 should monitor both E-RNTIs if configured. Decoding of the E-AGCH 112 has to be performed for both E-RNTIs if configured. The success or failure of the decoding of the E-AGCH 112 significantly affects the performance of the EU. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a reliable method for decoding the E-AGCH 112.

Wireless communication method and apparatus for decoding enhanced dedicated channel absolute grant channel transmissions


Novel techniques for controlling a processor's clock frequency and/or fan so as to prevent overheating are disclosed. The invention attempts to maximize the processing speed of the processor while preventing overheating or to reduce power consumption. In a preferred embodiment, the invention monitors a processor's activity and its temperature. When there is no activity for the processor, a slowed clock frequency is used, thereby saving power and lowering the thermal heat produced by the processor. On the other hand, when there is activity for the processor, a fast clock frequency is used. However, when prolonged activity (i.e., sustained fast clock frequency) causes the processor's temperature to become dangerously high for proper operation, the clock frequency is reduced and/or a fan is activated so as to prevent overheating. The invention may be implemented as an apparatus or a method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computing device and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling a processor's clock frequency.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that if no user activity has occurred for a period of time that a portable computer can be placed in a suspend or sleep mode. It is also known to suspend or slow a computer's processor (e.g., microprocessor, CPU) when the processor is not actively processing. The following patents and patent publications are representative of the current state of the art:
(a) U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,059 discloses a sleep mode which is activated when control given to BIOS or alternatively by incorporating some statistical analysis of the frequency of BIOS calls. In this patent, the sleep mode either stops the clock or slows it to 4 MHz.
(b) U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,024 discloses a power management system for a laptop computer. The power management system operates to disconnect power sources and/or clock signals to various peripheral devices to conserve battery power. The slow mode is entered into when no activity has been detected for a predetermined period of time.
(c) U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,704 discloses a technique for power conservation based on real-time sampling of CPU activity. The activity is sampled during interrupts and when it determines that the CPU may rest, a sleep clock is supplied to the CPU. The detection of an interrupt restores the clock to the fast rate prior to processing the interrupt.
(d) U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,652 discloses a technique for power consumption which disconnects the CPU from the power supply when control logic determines the CPU is not actively processing. Thereafter, the CPU is periodically powered-up to perform housekeeping chores as well as to determine it normal processing should be resumed.
(e) European patent publication EP-0474963 discloses a sleep mode controller which lowers the CPU clock speed when no input/output operation (when keyboard control routine of BIOS executed no input key data in key buffer, or when CPU is idle and no input key data in the key buffer) is performed. The system uses a clock generator circuit which produces the low clock (4 MHz), the high clock (32 MHz) and a slightly slower high clock (16 MHz). A keyboard controller is used to determine which of the high clocks is used, with selection being made by the computer user. The sleep mode controller is disabled if the AC adapter is connected.
(f) U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,055 discloses a portable computer wherein the computer is make inoperable when ambient temperature or humidity become too high. Here, ambient temperature and humidity are periodically monitored.
(g) European patent publication EP-0381021 discloses a power saving system for a personal computer. The system operates to allow or stop power to be supplied to an oscillator based on control data set to a control register via keyboard or software.
(h) U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,679 discloses a power system for a portable computer wherein the supply voltage is varied depending on the current being supplied to the computer by the power system. Further, a variable-frequency clock is provided which varies its frequency based on the supply voltage being produced.
External clocks have been used to provide a computer system with faster clocks. Here, the faster external clock is substituted for the internal clock of the computer system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,703 is illustrative of an external clock unit which supplies a faster clock to a computer without requiring any hardware changes within the computer.
The problem with all the prior solutions to energy conservation is that the processors can still overheat. In particular, during prolonged processing or activity by a computer's processor, the processor will not enter its sleep mode (if any) and as a result the processor will become hot and require extensive means to cool the processor to prevent overheating and eventual failure of the processor. Overheating and failure of the processor can also occur when the computer is used in particularly hot environmental temperatures, the computer's cooling fan fails, or when cooling of the processor is otherwise inadequate.
Another problem is that with portable computers, manufacturers have to either use a lower clock frequency (lower than would be used in a comparable desk top computer) for processing or provide a fan for cooling. A lower clock frequency is not satisfactory as users want maximum processing power just as they get with a desk top computer. Requiring a portable computer to use a fan for cooling is also unsatisfactory because it consumes battery energy.
Thus, there is a need for a solution to the above problems which enables a computing device to maximize its processing speed while, at the same time, preventing overheating.

Method and system for performing thermal and power management for a computer


A co-polymer of isobutene and 4-bromo-3-methyl-1-butene formed by direct co-polymerization in a single-step process. A continuous process for forming the co-polymer preferably comprises periodic or semi-continuous addition of catalyst to a mixed monomer solution. Semi-continuous reverse addition of the mixed monomer solution to a pre-provided catalyst solution may also be employed. The co-polymer exhibits allylic bromide functionality and is advantageously curable by either ZnO curing systems or sulfur-based curing systems.

Poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene), or IIR, is a synthetic elastomer commonly known as butyl rubber which has been prepared since the 1940's through the random cationic copolymerization of isobutylene with small amounts of isoprene (1-2 mole %). As a result of its molecular structure, IIR possesses superior air impermeability, a high loss modulus, oxidative stability and extended fatigue resistance.
The first major application of IIR was in tire inner tubes. Despite the low levels of backbone unsaturation (ca. 0.8-1.8 mol %), IIR possesses sufficient vulcanization activity for inner tube application. With the evolution of the tire inner liner, it became necessary to enhance the cure reactivity of IIR to levels typically found for conventional diene-based elastomers such as butadiene rubber (BR) or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). To this end, halogenated grades of butyl rubber were developed.
Halobutyl rubbers are prepared through post halogenation of butyl rubber dissolved in an organic solution. For example, the treatment of solutions of IIR dissolved in hexane with elemental chlorine or bromine results in the formation of chlorobutyl (CIIR) and bromobutyl (BIIR) rubber. These halobutyl rubbers are marked by the presence of reactive allylic halides along the polymer main chain. The enhanced reactivity of these moieties (c.f. traditional elastomer unsaturation) elevates the cure reactivity of CIIR and BIIR to levels comparable to those possessed by materials such as BR and SBR. This allows for acceptable levels of adhesion between, for example, a BIIR based inner liner formulation and a BR based carcass compound. Not surprisingly, the enhanced polarizability of Br compared to Cl results in BIIR being far more reactive than CIIR. As such, BIIR is the most commercially significant grade of halobutyl rubber.
This conventional process of producing halobutyl rubber has a number of problems. The butyl rubber must first be produced, typically at temperatures from −70 to −100° C., then separated from the polymerization diluent (typically methyl chloride), dried, and then re-dissolved in a hexane solution for treatment with elemental chlorine or bromine at temperatures from 40 to 65° C. There are significant energy and solvent costs associated with this multi-step process. Furthermore, the halogenation process involves an aqueous quenching step that generates a significant volume of acid requiring neutralization before disposal. The conventional process is costly and involves multiple steps; in order to simplify the process, it would be desirable to produce a halogenated butyl rubber directly during polymerization in a single-step process by co-polymerizing an isoolefin with a halogenated co-monomer.
There have been previous attempts to co-polymerize isoolefins with halogenated co-monomers. In particular, co-polymerization with brominated co-monomers was attempted using p-Bromostyrene (Z. A. Sadykhov, F. M. Aliev, Azerb. Khim. Zh. 1970, 3, 96) and 2-Bromo-2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (EP 0 609 737). These attempts have all met with limited commercial success. However, there have been no reports in the literature on the copolymerization of Isobutylene (IB) with 4-Bromo-3-methyl-1-butene (BMB) and this particular co-monomer therefore remains unexplored.
The need therefore still exists for co-polymers of isoolefins with halogenated co-monomers, particularly brominated co-monomers, and simplified processes for producing those co-polymers.

Co-polymerization of an isoolefin with a halogenated co-monomer


Extracellular matrix (ECM) valve conduits are disclosed. Methods for regenerating atrioventricular valves to replace defective atrioventricular valves within a heart of a subject using the ECM valve conduits are also disclosed. Methods of sterilizing and decellularizing an ECM material are also disclosed.

There are many known types of replacement heart valves. The selection of a particular type of replacement heart valve depends on factors such as the location of the valve, the age and other specifics of the patient, and the surgeon's experiences and preferences. Commonly used replacement heart valves can be classified in the following three groups: mechanical valves; allograft tissue valves; and xenograft tissue valves.
Mechanical heart valves, including, for example and without limitation, caged-ball valves, bi-leaflet valves, and tilting disk valves are typically attached to a sewing ring so that the valve prosthesis can be sutured to the patient's native tissue to hold the mechanical valve in place postoperatively. Although mechanical heart valves have advantageous long-term durability, these mechanical valves also have a propensity to cause the formation of blood clots in a patient. If such blood clots form on the mechanical valve, they may preclude the valve from opening or closing correctly or, more importantly, may disengage from the valve and embolize to the brain, causing an embolic stroke. Thus, the patients who receive such mechanical valves are typically required to take systemic anticoagulant drugs for the rest of their lives. In addition to being expensive, these anticoagulant drugs can themselves be dangerous in that they can cause abnormal bleeding in the patient that can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.
Allograft tissue valves are harvested from human sources, such as human cadavers. Unlike mechanical heart valves, allograft tissue valves typically do not promote blood clot formation and, therefore, avoid the need for prescribing an anticoagulant medication for the patient. However, allograft tissue valves are not available in sufficient numbers to satisfy the needs of all patients who need new heart valves. Furthermore, there have been significant complications when allograft tissue valves have been used to replace atrioventricular (AV) valves within a subject. Moreover, allograft tissue valves can be more difficult to implant than mechanical valves or xenograft valves. Because of these difficulties in implantation, the operative risk associated with allograft tissue valves is often greater than the operative risks associated with mechanical valves and xenograft valves.
Xenograft tissue valves are formed from non-human tissue sources, such as cows or pigs. Most known xenograft tissue valves are constructed by sewing and/or constructing valve leaflets from a non-human tissue source and then securing the leaflets within a patient's heart using a stent and/or a sewing ring. These xenograft tissue valves are less likely to cause blood clot formation than comparable mechanical valves, and therefore, patients that receive xenograft tissue valves are not always required to take anticoagulant medications. However, xenograft tissue valves are prone to calcification and lack the long-term durability of mechanical valves and, consequently, require frequent replacement as compared to mechanical valves. One factor that may contribute to these failures is the chemical treatment that the xenograft tissue valves typically undergo to reduce antigenicity of the animal tissue. Without these chemical treatments, xenograft tissue valves can trigger an immune response in a patient, which can lead to rejection of the tissue valve by the patient. Another factor that may contribute to the lack of durability of the xenograft tissue valves is the presence of a stent and/or sewing ring, which can prevent the xenograft tissue valve from accurately approximating the anatomy of a normal heart valve.
Known tissue conduits, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,480,424 and 5,713,950, both of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, suffer from various limitations, including many of the limitations of known xenograft tissue valves. For example, known tissue conduits suffer from antigenicity of the conduits, which is typically addressed using chemical treatments that lessen post-implantation durability of the conduit. Additionally, these known conduits are rapidly degraded within a patient's heart such that they can only serve as competent heart valve replacements for a matter of months.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a readily available, highly durable, and affordable tissue prosthesis that can be easily implanted to regenerate an anatomically accurate AV valve within the heart of a subject. There is a further need in the art for a sterile, acellular tissue prosthesis that can be implanted to regenerate an AV valve within the heart of a subject.

Extracellular matrix material conduits and methods of making and using same


The described embodiments comprise a computing device with a first processor core and a second processor core. In some embodiments, during operations, the first processor core receives, from the second processor core, an indication of a memory location and a flag. The first processor core then stores the flag in a first cache line in a cache in the first processor core and stores the indication of the memory location separately in a second cache line in the cache. Upon encountering a predetermined result when evaluating a condition for the indicated memory location, the first processor core updates the flag in the first cache line. Based on the update of the flag, the first processor core causes the second processor core to perform an operation.

1. Field
The described embodiments relate to computing devices. More specifically, the described embodiments relate to a conditional notification mechanism in a computing device.
2. Related Art
Many modern computing devices include two or more entities such as central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU) cores, hardware thread contexts, etc. In some cases, two or more entities in a computing device communicate with one another to determine if a given event has occurred. For example, a first CPU core may reach a synchronization point at which the first CPU core communicates with a second CPU core to determine if the second CPU core has reached a corresponding synchronization point. Several techniques have been proposed to enable entities in a computing device to communicate with one another to determine if a given event has occurred, as described below.
A first technique for communicating between entities is a "polling" technique for which a first entity, until a value in a shared memory location meets a condition, reads the shared memory location and determines if the shared memory location meets the condition. For this technique, a second (and perhaps third, fourth, etc.) entity updates the shared memory location when a designated event has occurred (e.g., when the second entity has reached a synchronization point). This technique is inefficient in terms of power consumption because the first entity is obligated to fetch and execute instructions for performing the reading and determining operations. Additionally, this technique is inefficient in terms of cache traffic because the reading of the shared memory location can require invalidation of a cached copy of the shared memory location. Moreover, this technique is inefficient because the polling entity is using computational resources that could be used for performing other computational operations.
A second technique for communicating between entities is an interrupt scheme, in which an interrupt is triggered by a first entity in order to communicate with a second (and perhaps third, fourth, etc.) entity. This technique is inefficient because processing interrupts in the computing device requires numerous operations be performed. For example, in some computing devices, it is necessary to flush instructions from one or more pipelines and save state before an interrupt handler can process the interrupt. In addition, in some computing devices, processing an interrupt requires communicating the interrupt to an operating system on the computing device for prioritization and may require invoking scheduling mechanisms (e.g., a thread scheduler, etc.).
A third technique for communicating between entities is the use of instructions such as the MONITOR and MWAIT instructions. For this technique, upon executing a MONITOR instruction, the first entity configures a cache coherency mechanism in the computing device to monitor for updates to a designated memory location. Upon subsequently executing the MWAIT instruction, the first entity signals the coherency mechanism (and the computing device generally) that it is transitioning to a wait (idle) state until an update (e.g., a write) is made to the memory location. When a second entity updates the memory location by writing to the memory location, the coherency mechanism recognizes that the update has occurred and forwards a wake-up signal to the first entity, causing the first entity to exit the idle state. This technique is useful for simple cases where a single update is made to the memory location. However, when a value in the memory location is to meet a condition, the technique is inefficient. For example, assuming that the condition is that the memory location, which starts at a value of 0, is to be greater than 25, and that the second entity increases the value in the memory location by at least one each time an event occurs. In this case, the first entity may be obligated to execute the MONITOR/MWAIT instructions and conditional checking instructions as many as 26 times before the value in the memory location meets the condition.
A fourth technique for communicating between entities employs a user-level interrupt mechanism where a first entity specifies the address of a memory location ("flag"). When a second entity subsequently updates/sets the flag, the first entity is signaled to execute an interrupt handler. For this technique, much of the control for handling the communication between the entities is passed to software and thus to the programmer. Because software is used for handling the communication between the entities, this technique is inefficient and error-prone.
As described above, the various techniques that have been proposed to enable entities to communicate with one another to determine if a given event has occurred are inefficient in one way or another.


A modular wall panel system including at least one wall panel having a raceway with at least one receptacle opening therein and at least one receptacle assembly. The at least one receptacle assembly includes a retaining device that retains the receptacle to the raceway and a restraining feature that restrains the receptacle assembly from completely entering the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring assembly utilized in a modular wall panel, and, more particularly, to outlet receptacles utilized in an electrical assembly for a modular wall panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modular wall panels are utilized as part of an office modulization system wherein individualized office spaces are created by the placement of modular wall panels, which may be free standing or connected to structures of the room in which the modular wall panel system is installed. Modular wall panels are utilized so that the capital costs of renovation are kept low. Further, modular wall panels can be easily utilized in leased space without altering the structure of the building. Modular wall panels are arranged to accommodate electrical and data access so that each office cubical can utilize those respective utilities.
Modular wall panels often include a wiring raceway in which electrical and data conductors are run to appropriate outlets for interconnection with equipment contained in each office cubical. Individual wall panels are typically interconnected along a vertical edge and electrical and/or data connections are interconnected between the individual wall panels.
Modular wall systems are used in many situations to construct temporary, or at least rearrangeable office configurations. With the proliferation of computer work stations, and the decreasing costs for obtaining and operating various office equipment including printers, scanners, fax machines and the like, the installations of such equipment have increased, and there is an ever increasing need for electrical, communication and data transmission circuits in each defined work space. Rearrangement of the work space defined by the panels, and/or rearrangement of the equipment within the work space can result in the need to relocate the various receptacles to avoid unsightly and unsafe dependence on extension cords.
To meet the need for relocatable and expandable electrical, data and communication circuitry in modular wall systems, it is known to provide a wire raceway in the modular wall, commonly near the bottom thereof. Circuit components may include distribution, jumper and receptacle elements that can be combined and configured to achieve the desired outlet locations.
As needs have increased, it has become more common to require receptacles on both sides of the modular wall. Separate distribution components can be used, but this requires a relatively large wire race, and can result in an undesirable amount of wires or cables in the wire raceway.
What is needed in the art is a quick economical method of wiring modular wall panels.


A radar homing system in a guided missile for intercepting one of a group of targets, such as aircraft flying in formation. Offset circuitry places undesired Doppler target returns outside of the IF filter bandpass frequency of the system. The system is designed to take cognizance of the highest Doppler frequency derived from the targets.

This invention provides a means by which a guided missile, a homing type missile, e.g., when confronted by two or more targets in formation, can discriminate against all but one of the targets, and can successfully intercept the selected target.
The science of homing guidance systems in missiles has been extensively and successfully practiced for many years in the interceptions and destruction of targets of many shapes, speeds and closing velocities. However, if instead of one target, the threat is a multiplicity of targets, such as air vehicles flying in formation, the probability of successfully intercepting one of the targets is greatly diminished. The usual reaction of a homing system to a multiple target threat is to attack the center of the reflected energy emitted from the multiple target formation. As a result, the missile may fly through the formation and miss all of the targets.
An active or semi-active homing system in a missile derives a target signal by illuminating the target with a narrow beam of radio energy and then comparing the frequency of this radio beam as received by the missile with the frequency of the portion reflected from the target. The difference between the direct beam frequency and the reflected beam frequency is a function of the closing velocity between the missile and the target. This is known as the Doppler effect. If the closing velocity between the missile and the target is zero, the difference or Doppler frequency will also be zero and the missile will never get any closer to the target. In the usual case, there will be an appreciable closing velocity between the missile and the target and a usuable Doppler frequency will result which will be proportional to the closing velocity.
In this case of multiple targets, two factors serve to produce differences between the Doppler frequencies derived for each of the targets. The first is the effect called jockeying which is caused by speed differences among the targets as they attempt to maintain their formation positions. This can produce Doppler difference frequencies of up to several hundred hertz per second. The second cause of Doppler differences among the target returns is produced by the geometrical relationships that occur in that portion of the flight just prior to intercept. This can be illustrated by assuming, for example, that a missile is heading straight for one of the targets in a formation. As the distance between the missile and the target formation decreases, the angular spread among the targets becomes increasingly significant. While the closing velocity between the missile and the target toward which the missile is steering will not change, the closing velocity between the missile and each of the other targets will decrease at an increasing rate and will drop to zero at the interception of the chosen target. Therefore, it can be seen that in order to attain a successful interception of one of a group of targets, a multiple target system must be able to select and derive its guidance from the target having the highest Doppler frequency while suppressing the guidance information of the other targets. The present invention provides a solution to the problem by utilizing the frequency characteristics of the multiple target signals to discriminate against all but one of the targets.