The specification describes matched capacitor pairs that employ interconnect metal in an interdigitated form, and are made with an area efficient configuration. In addition, structural variations between capacitors in the capacitor pair are minimized to provide optimum matching. According to the invention, the capacitor pairs are interdigitated in a manner that ensures that the plates of each pair occupy common area on the substrate. Structural anomalies due to process conditions are compensated in that a given anomaly affects both capacitors in the same way. Two of the capacitor plates, one in each pair, are formed of comb structures, with the fingers of the combs interdigitated. The other plates are formed using one or more plates interleaved between the interdigitated plates.

A simple and cost-effective way of forming capacitors for integrated circuits is to use side-by-side runners of interconnect metal. To enhance capacitor area the runners may be interdigitated. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,858, issued May 7, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference. Since the capacitor dielectric may be formed by the interlevel dielectric of the integrated circuit (IC) these passive devices can be formed with no additional IC processing steps. Capacitance may be further increased by stacking interdigitated structures in a multi-level configuration. (See the patent referenced above).
Capacitors of this type may be integrated with active devices in a conventional integrated circuit, or may comprise portions of integrated passive devices (IPDs), where the capacitors are combined with inductors, resistors etc., to form a passive device network. IPDs typically are formed on high resistivity substrates and may have no active elements. In either case, capacitors are commonly used in pairs or other groupings.
For some IC applications, paired capacitors are required to have equivalent electrical characteristics. The straightforward method to obtain matched capacitor pairs is to form them with identical structures using the same processing steps. While that approach is largely successful, precise matching of capacitors, even when formed side-by-side on a substrate wafer, may not result. This is often due to dimensional variations in the runners, or the dielectric. These variations occur in both the thickness dimension, for example, the interlevel dielectric thickness, and in the lateral dimension, and are typically attributed to processing conditions. The thickness dimension is usually thought of as the z-direction, with the lateral dimension(s) corresponding to the x-y plane of the substrate wafer. Capacitor pair mismatch commonly occurs due to localized thickness variations in the metal runners from one capacitor structure to another.


A satellite antenna station composed of: a dish for concentrating received electromagnetic energy; photovoltaic elements for supplying electric power to the station; and a positioning device controlled by a control unit. The positioning device is adjustable at least into a first position for optimizing reception of a signal from a satellite and into a second position for optimizing exposure of the photovoltaic elements to solar radiation.

Satellite reception units consisting of a satellite antenna and corresponding receiver equipment are increasingly being used also for mobile applications, e.g., on vehicles such as motor homes. Each time such a unit is moved, which occurs frequently, it is necessary to optimally re-aim the generally small satellite antenna toward the satellite being received. In addition, at many locations there often is no line power supply available for the operation of the satellite reception unit.
DE 198 34 577 A1 discloses a special satellite antenna, consisting of many small individual antennas, that is dimensioned for motor homes. With the aid of GPS, the entire system can be swiveled by mechanical rotation into the desired direction for reception.
The problem of power supply availability is not addressed in this prior art.
DE 42 08 101 A discloses a stationary satellite reception unit, the parabolic reflector of which is designed not only for the usual purpose of bundling the incident rays onto the focal point, but in which the parabolic mirror additionally has a photovoltaic element affixed on it that directs the daylight, which impinges with greater or lesser intensity in the given satellite reception position of the reflector, to a battery that stores the electric energy to use it for the power supply to the satellite antenna and its associated reception components.
This solution has the shortcoming that the photovoltaic element on the reflector side may possibly impact the reception qualities for the satellite signal. The inevitable orientation of the satellite antenna toward the satellite accordingly has as a consequence that an optimization of the power supply generated by the photovoltaic element is not possible but occurs only as a by-product.
In the case of the receiving and reflector surfaces in mobile satellite reception units, which are generally made as small as possible, the solution according to this prior art does not have any advantages.

Satellite antenna with photovoltaic elements for electric power supply


A disclosure for lossless data compression can include receiving a data block by a processor, performing, by the processor, a sparse transform extraction on the data block, selecting, by the processor, a transform matrix for the data block, modeling, by the processor, the selected transform matrix for the data block, selecting, by the processor, a transform coefficient model for the data block, modeling, by the processor, the selected transform coefficient model for the data block, compressing, by the processor, the data in the data block using the selected transform matrix and the selected transform coefficient model.

When compressing data, the higher the compression ratio, the higher the potential rate of data transfer. However, data compression usually involves a trade-off between high compression ratio and resources (e.g., time, computing power, and power consumption). In real-time applications, in which the time between generation of data and the processing and receipt of the data should be as small as possible, computation complexity and delay costs often cannot be tolerated. Further limitations are imposed when lossless compression is desired. Lossless compression usually achieves a lower compression ratio as compared to lossy compression. Known compression algorithms, such as the Lempel-Ziv algorithm or Huffman coding, can be used to compress telemetry data, but these compression algorithms cannot be used in realtime compression because entire data set needs be explored to build dictionary during the compression. Furthermore, their computational complexity and delay costs may not be tolerable in real-time applications.
The commercial and industrial fields that have adopted the use of data collection devices using the technology of Internet-of-things (IoT) can include, but is not limited to, transportation, refining, manufacturing, power production, water treatment, health care, and smart technologies such as smart and networked vehicles, smart cities, smart buildings, and smart cities. It is often not practical to collect data in real-time and transmit the data using lossless data protocols due to one or more of connectivity problems between a remote device and cloud storage/the Internet, lack of bandwidth needed to transmit data in real-time for many remote distributed wireless networks, such as cellular networks, and cost of purchasing excessive bandwidth and cloud storage needs to handle the real-time data from multiple IoT devices.
The disclosed systems and methods are directed to overcoming one or more of the shortcomings set forth above and/or other shortcomings of the prior art.

Internet of things data compression system and method


A method of measuring an accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray source to produce x-rays includes applying an accelerating voltage to an x-ray source to produce x-ray radiation having an axis; diffracting first and second portions of the x-ray radiation that are symmetrically disposed relative to an axis with a single crystal material to produce two spectra of the x-ray radiation, each spectrum including continuous x-ray radiation having an end point energy at the maximum energy of the x-ray radiation; forming an image of the spectra of the x-ray radiation including respective end point energies; and measuring the separation of the respective end point energies of the spectra of the image and, thereby, determining the accelerating voltage applied to the x-ray source.

In medical applications, x-ray radiation is conventionally produced within an evacuated tube. Electrons are generated by a source, such as a heated filament, and accelerated by a high voltage applied to an accelerating electrode. The accelerated electrons are directed toward and impact on a metal target, typically tungsten or molybdenum, resulting in the production of x-ray radiation. Typically, the peak accelerating voltage (kVp) is at least 15,000 volts and can be up to ten times higher. The accelerating voltage employed depends upon the diagnostic or therapeutic use being made of the x-ray radiation. The x-ray radiation increases in penetrating power with an increase in the accelerating voltage applied to the x-ray source.
In diagnostic applications of x-rays, the amount of radiation that passes through an object being analyzed with x-rays determines the contrast of a radiographic image on a fluoroscopic screen or photographic film. In some applications, moderate variations in x-ray penetrating power due to variations in the accelerating voltage applied to the x-ray source do not significantly affect x-ray analysis. For example, small variations in the contrast of photographic x-ray images of broken bones do not affect the ability of a radiologist and/or orthopedist to determine the location and nature of a bone fracture. However, in other applications of x-ray imaging, the contrast of a photographic x-ray image can be critical to accurate diagnosis of a disease or disorder. Two important examples where radiographic contrast control is of substantial or critical importance are mammography and coronary angiography. In those applications, variations in image contrast caused by even moderate variations in accelerating voltage can result in erroneous diagnoses. Therefore, precise measurement of the accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray tube is essential to proper diagnosis and treatment of important, potentially life-threatening diseases and disorders.
Measurement of the relatively high voltages applied to x-ray tubes used as x-ray radiation sources in radiological equipment presents numerous technological problems. Direct measurement of such high voltages is, in principle, straightforward for constant potentials and low frequency accelerating voltages. In the early development of x-ray equipment, power supplies for producing such high voltages were relatively large and frequently encased in a liquid dielectric medium, such as oil. Nevertheless, the output voltage terminals of the accelerating voltage power supply were accessible. In order to measure the accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray tube, a high tension voltage divider was connected across the output terminals of the accelerating voltage power supply so that a portion of the high voltage could be measured. The accelerating voltage could be calculated based upon the voltage dividing ratio of the voltage divider. These voltage dividers function well for the direct current and the low frequency components of the accelerating voltage kVp produced by older x-ray equipment. However, modern x-ray equipment produces accelerating voltages with high frequency components and complex waveforms that conventional voltage dividers cannot accurately measure without specific calibration of the dividers.
Typically, medical x-ray equipment includes a voltage control for varying the accelerating voltage so that the equipment can be used in various applications. The equipment usually includes an indicator, such as a dial or a meter, for indicating the accelerating voltage. The indicator is not directly connected to the accelerating voltage produced by the high voltage power supply but is actually connected to measure a lower voltage input to the accelerating voltage power supply. Historically, the accelerating voltage indicator was calibrated by connecting a voltage divider directly to the accelerating voltage power supply, setting the voltage control to a number of positions, measuring the actual accelerating voltage across the voltage divider for each position of the voltage control, and adjusting the indicator as necessary. The voltage divider is not present during medical use of the equipment so that a radiological technician depends upon the accuracy of the calibration of the indicator when setting the accelerating voltage for x-ray imaging or treatment. With the passage of time, the indicator can become inaccurate and periodic recalibrations are required to restore the accuracy of the indicator. In fact, governmental regulatory bodies frequently require periodic recalibration of x-ray equipment to maintain minimum standards of health safety.
Although power supplies in older x-ray equipment typically directly produced the pulsating, i.e., with some degree of ripple, direct current accelerating voltages using transformers, rectifiers, and capacitive filters, modern x-ray accelerating voltage power supplies are more complex. Modern x-ray equipment power supplies may employ toroidal transformers and inverters as well as rectifiers operating at various frequencies and with pulsed signals having complex waveforms to produce the accelerating voltage. Many parts of the modern power supplies are encapsulated in resins and do not permit access for the connection of a high tension voltage divider for calibrating the accelerating voltage indicator of the equipment.
Non-invasive, i.e., without direct electrical connection, techniques are and may have to be employed to calibrate the accelerating voltage indicators of modern x-ray equipment. One known technique employs two or more metal foils of different thicknesses, generally arranged serially with respective x-ray radiation detectors. In most cases the foils are made of the same materials. The different thicknesses of the foils cause different modifications of incident x-ray radiation that reaches the detectors. The relative intensities of the radiation that penetrates the respective foils is measured and compared, sometimes in a complex mathematical relationship, to determine an empirical correlation between differences in the radiation intensities measured by the respective detectors and accelerating voltage. Convenient methods of evaluating the measured radiation intensities produce results that depend upon the waveform of the accelerating voltage and, therefore, are not universally applicable to all x-ray equipment. Depending upon the voltage applied to the x-ray tube, the accuracy of voltage measurements using single foils ranges from five to ten percent, for example, .+-.2 kV when kVp is 20 kV.
An improvement in measurement accuracy as compared to the use of foils of the same material, at least for measuring a single accelerating voltage, can be achieved when filters of different materials are used. Any of the elements having atomic numbers between 40 and 60 may be used as one of the filters. A second filter having a much lower atomic number and an x-ray absorption characteristic matched to that of the first filter over part of a radiation energy range is used. The single acceleration voltage calibration point is unique to the specific elements used in the filters. In one commercially available filter pair, cadmium and aluminum are used in tandem with a photodiode detector. The photodiode is sensitive to x-rays that penetrate the filters. As the voltage applied to the x-ray tube is increased, significantly different x-ray penetration of the cadmium and aluminum filters occurs, as indicated by the photodiode detector, once the peak accelerating voltage, kVp, exceeds 26.5 kV. Thus, the cadmium and aluminum filter pair provides a precise indication of a single accelerating voltage. Other pairs of filter materials can be used to identify additional individual accelerating voltages precisely although the use of many such filter pairs to detect many accelerating voltages is cumbersome.
Improved precision in accelerating voltage measurement can be made using an ionization spectrometer that measures the shape of the x-ray spectrum near the end point energy. The spectrum of electromagnetic energy produced by an x-ray tube has two recognized components. First, the x-ray spectrum includes sharp "lines" of relatively intense x-ray radiation at wavelengths that are characteristic of and well established for various x-ray tube target materials. These radiation components, typically generally identified as K.alpha. and K.beta. lines, result from the transfer of energy from accelerated electrons to atoms of the target, followed by energy transitions between inner shell electron energy states of target atoms that produce x-ray radiation. The energy transitions between well defined energy levels account for the specific energies of the line components of the radiated x-ray spectrum.
Second, in addition to the sharp lines in the x-ray spectrum, a more broadly distributed component of continuous x-ray radiation is also produced. This radiation, the so-called Bremsstrahlung, results from the scattering of accelerated electrons by the target accompanied by emission of x-ray radiation having energies equal to the energies given up by the electrons in the scattering process. The energies given up are not confined to discrete energies so that a broad x-ray energy distribution, i.e., a continuous x-ray spectrum, is produced. The maximum energy loss that can occur in the electron scattering process occurs when all of the kinetic energy of an accelerated electron is lost and is converted to x-ray radiation. Since the kinetic energy of an accelerated electron equals the electronic charge, e, of the electron multiplied by the accelerating voltage, that total kinetic energy loss produces the highest energy x-rays within the continuous component of the x-ray spectrum. That energy, which may be measured in terms of the maximum frequency or the minimum wavelength of the x-ray radiation, is referred to as the end point energy because it is the upper energy limit of, i.e., end point of, the continuous component of the x-ray radiation.
In an ionization spectrometer, the shape of the x-ray spectrum near the end point energy is measured by analyzing charge pulses produced in a crystalline material, such as intrinsic germanium, in response to incident x-ray radiation. However, despite the improved voltage measurement accuracy achieved with an ionization spectrometer as compared to the use of foils and filters, ionization spectrometer measurements can only be made while a relatively low electron beam current flows in the x-ray tube. Higher currents increase the quantity of x-ray radiation produced and cause overlapping charge pulses in the crystal that cannot be reliably analyzed. Since the spectrometer can only analyze one charge pulse at a time, accelerating voltage measurement using an ionization spectrometer takes a relatively long time. The measured results must be extrapolated for practical electron beam currents, and errors may be introduced in the extrapolation if the accelerating voltage waveform is current-dependent.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for accurately measuring the accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray tube. Most preferably, the apparatus is portable and the method is simple so that calibration of existing clinical x-ray equipment can be carried out at the site of the equipment, without modification of the equipment, by a technician rather than a scientist, and without undue interruption in the medical use of the equipment.

Method and apparatus for precisely measuring accelerating voltages applied to x-ray sources

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce


A motor for a fuel pump includes a rotor which includes a shaft, a rotor core and a commutator fitted on the shaft. The rotor core is formed by stacking together a plurality of aligned laminations and includes a plurality of salient poles arranged along a circumference thereof. A center line of gravity of the rotor deviates from a rotational axis of the rotor. The rotor core has a first groove in one of the poles close to the center line of gravity of the rotor. The first groove extends from a first axial end of the rotor core to an axial middle portion of the rotor core.

A fuel pump typically has a housing, a motor received in the housing and an impeller driven by the motor. The impeller is rotated to drive fuel through the housing, and the motor. The motor has a rotor which includes a shaft, a rotor core fitted to the shaft, a commutator fitted to the shaft, and a plurality of windings wound around the rotor core. In order to improve the balance of the rotor, a groove is formed at a radially outermost surface of the rotor core by milling. Due to the characteristics of milling techniques, on one hand, the groove can only be formed on the outermost surface of the rotor core; on the other hand, a radial depth as well as a circumferential width of the groove varies along an axial direction of the rotor core, which causes undesired vortex flow when fuel flows through the motor.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved motor that can overcome the shortcomings described above.


Methods, systems and computer program products for providing roaming services to a wireless telephone roaming outside of its home service area by receiving a request for roaming service from a wireless telephone that is within a roaming network and offering a special roaming contract to the user of the wireless telephone. The request for services comprises an identify of the wireless telephone wherein the identity comprises the mobile identification number and the electronic serial number. Using the identity of the wireless telephone received in the request, the roaming network determines that the wireless telephone identity is not recorded as a record within the roaming network and is therefore roaming. The method provides offering a special roaming contract to the user and then executing the special roaming contract if the user decides to accept the offer for a special roaming contract.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods for communication, and more particularly to improved methods and systems for payment of roaming charges for a mobile telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of wireless or mobile communication devices has increased greatly in recent years. Wireless communications are generally transmitted between devices by using radio frequency (RF) technology. Wireless communications include communications that are transmitted through wireless units such as cellular telephones, mobile telephones, car telephones, personal communication service (PCS) units, and pagers. Other wireless communication devices may also include, for example, appropriately equipped computers and computer peripherals.
A wireless communication device is particularly useful to a person on the move. To serve the needs of such persons, wireless communications systems have evolved into seamless roaming networks that allow wireless telephone users to receive and to initiate telephone calls both from within their "home" service network and from within a "roaming" service network. A wireless telephone roams within a roaming wireless service network whenever the wireless telephone is located outside of the geographical area that is served by its usual, or "home," wireless service network.
Numerous technical and administrative obstacles had to be overcome before a subscriber of one wireless service network could transparently receive wireless communication services from another wireless service network. For example, multilateral operating agreements had to be negotiated between service providers to standardize communications between the dissimilar switching systems of the different networks. Most importantly, definitions, common signaling protocols and common signaling message formats for exchanging and handling messages between the different switching systems had to be developed and adapted by all participating wireless service providers.
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that illustrates the basic components of a conventional wireless network. A basic description of a wireless telephone system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,455, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference. The wireless network 100 includes a wireless telephone 114 that places or receives wireless telephone calls by transmitting and receiving RF signals through the base stations 116, 118. Typically, the wireless telephone 114 communicates with whichever base station 116, 118 provides the strongest signal.
Each base station 116, 118 transmits and receives wireless signals within a wireless communication coverage area 122, 124, often called a cell. Although only two base stations 116, 118 are depicted in FIG. 1, it should be recognized that the wireless network 100 may include many more than just two base stations. Each base station 116, 118 is connected to a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) 126, 128 through landlines or other communication links, such as microwave communication systems. The MTSOs 126, 128 are further connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 112, which is the wireline telephone system. It should be recognized that more than one base station 116, 118 is typically connected to an MTSO 126, 128.
The wireless telephone 114 shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional mobile telephone having a transceiver and an antenna that enables it to communicate with the base stations 116, 118. The MTSO 126, 128 is typically a conventional digital telephone exchange that provides wireline-to-mobile, mobile-to-wireline, and mobile-to-mobile telephone call connections. The MTSO 126, 128 also performs other functions, including, for example, receiving process status data from controllers at the base stations 116, 118 regarding the wireless telephone 114; handling and switching calls between the communication coverage areas 122, 124; processing diagnostic information; and compiling billing information. When the wireless telephone 114 passes from one communication coverage area 122 to another 124, the MTSO 126 performs a "hand-off" that allows the wireless telephone 114 to be continuously serviced in an apparent seamless manner.
The wireless network 100 identifies the wireless telephone 114, for call completion and billing purposes, by an assigned unique identity 132 that is stored in the memory of the wireless telephone 114. The identity 132 comprises a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) and an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) and may include a System Identification Code (SID). The MIN is the recognized telephone number, typically comprising an area code and a seven digit number, that is dialed by a person trying to place a telephone call to the wireless telephone 114. The MIN is assigned by the home network provider and may be easily changed at the request of the user. The ESN is assigned to the wireless unit 114 by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. The combination of the ESN and the MIN uniquely identifies each wireless telephone 114. Additionally, most providers of wireless network services within a market are assigned a SID that may be entered into the memory of the wireless unit to identify the home network service provider of the wireless telephone 114. Network service providers that have been assigned a SID typically broadcast their SID throughout their network. Then, if a wireless telephone has stored a SID in its memory, the wireless telephone can compare the SID that is being broadcast throughout the network where the wireless telephone is currently located with the SID that is stored in its memory to determine whether it is operating within its home network or whether it is operating as a roamer within a network of another service provider.
In the current North American cellular system, any given market area may be serviced by up to two competing wireless service providers, each assigned to different groups of frequencies through which services are provided. The assigned frequency sets are generally referred to as "A band frequencies" and "B band frequencies." The A band frequencies are typically reserved for the non-wireline service providers and the B band frequencies are typically reserved for the incumbent wireline service providers.
Operation of the wireless device under roaming conditions is often under the control of the wireless device user. The user may select whether the wireless device will operate in a Home System Only, A Band Only, B Band Only, A Band Preferred, or B Band Preferred operating mode. The user typically controls the system preference and mode operation through menu choice or selection. However, sometimes the home service provider may program the wireless device with a list of "negative" SID's from which the wireless device may not receive service. Negative SID's are fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,728 issued to Blair and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,806 issued to Barber, which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
The wireless network 100 must be capable of identifying roaming wireless telephones within its system. The wireless network 100 determines whether a wireless telephone 114 is roaming by examining the unique identity 132, which is the ESN and the MIN, of the wireless telephone 114. The wireless telephone 114 transmits its unique identity 132 to the MTSO 126, 128 during a registration process as is known in the art. The MTSO 126, 128 compares the unique identity 132 of the wireless telephone 114 with a list of unique identities contained within a Home Location Register 138 (HLR). The HLR 138 is a database used for the management of wireless telephone subscribers of the local wireless network and contains, for example, the unique identities of each subscriber, the name and address of authorized persons, billing information, and access rights to premium subscription services, such as caller ID or voice mail. If the unique identity 132 of the wireless telephone 114 is not found within the HLR 138, then the wireless network 100 determines that the wireless telephone 114 is not a subscriber to the wireless network 100, but is instead a roaming wireless telephone.
Whenever the MTSO 126, 128 determines that a wireless telephone 114 is roaming, the MTSO 126, 128 contacts the HLR 136 of the home service provider of the wireless telephone 114. The procedure for contacting the home service provider is well known in the art. By return message to the MTSO 126, 128, the home HLR 136 of the roaming wireless telephone 114 provides relevant information concerning the roaming wireless telephone 114, such as the subscriber's feature list and any calling restrictions. This information is stored in the Visitor Location Register (VLR) 134. The VLR 134 is used to identify the mobile device 114 as long as it is roaming within the wireless network 100.
Users of wireless telephones are concerned about the high charges incurred when they are using their wireless telephones in a roaming network. Roaming charges may include, for example, a base rate for roaming, any associated long distance charges, and premium per minute charges as well. Because the incurred charges for roaming are so high, many users minimize using their wireless telephones whenever they are outside of their home network. This is an inconvenience for users accustomed to using their wireless telephones on a regular basis. For those users who must use their wireless telephones while roaming, i.e., for business travelers, a high business expense is incurred.
Furthermore, it is not just the wireless telephone users that suffer from the high roaming charges. The wireless network providers are also damaged because the roaming networks lose revenues that may otherwise be collected if roaming wireless telephone users were more inclined to use their wireless telephones. If the roaming expenses charged to roaming wireless telephone users could be reduced, users of roaming wireless telephones would increase their usage, thereby increasing the revenues that would be generated for the roaming wireless service provider. Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that provide an efficient and cost effective means for delivering roaming services to users of roaming wireless devices.

Overlay calling plan for wireless telephone

International Business Machines Corporation


The device comprises a removable container (7) having an entrance opening (8) located opposite the window (2) for the ejection of the cases of fired cartridges of a firearm (1) having a carrying handle (4) with two spaced posts (5, 6) on the top of its frame, and all-azimuth temporary attachment means for attaching the container to these two posts comprising a fork (9) engaged around on post (5) of the carrying handle, a lock (10-12) with movable bolt (11) engaged around the other post (6), and a height retention stop (13, 12) associated with each of said two attachment means.

The present invention relates to a device for recovering cartridge case for an automatic or semiautomatic firearm having an ejection window for the cases of fired cartridges, a loading handle, and a carrying handle with two spaced posts on the top of its frame, comprising a removable container with means for permitting the temporary attachment thereof to the firearm and an entrance opening intended to come opposite the ejection window for the cartridge cases in order to collect them during the firing.
Devices of this type have been developed in an attempt to solve in the best possible manner the problems relating to their manner of attachment to and detachment from the firearm for which they are intended.
The handling of the device necessary by the detachment and particularly the successive reattachments of the container in order to recover the cases collected may in fact result in losses in time and irritation, and it is desirable to make these operations as simple and rapid as possible.
Depending on the position of the loading handle with respect to the ejection window for the fired cartridge cases, it may be difficult or inconvenient to reach said handle for manual rearming necessary for instance upon a change of the clip or else after each small series of shots upon practice.
The fact of having to detach the container in such cases may also result in a loss of time and irritation upon training and it is desirable in such cases to facilitate access to the loading handle.
Devices for the recovery of cartridge cases which are specifically suitable for firearms having a carrying handle on the top of their frame and a loading handle on the rear of the breech have been developed.
These devices, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,685, U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,834 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,375 have the feature in common that they comprise a first means of attachment to the firearm consisting of a holding flange which caps the top of the frame of the firearm between the two posts of the carrying handle. A second attachment means is formed either by a boss on the bottom of the container, held by threading in an element attached to the side of the firearm, as in the first document cited, or by a clip collar intended to surround and grip the barrel of the firearm in front of the cartridge case ejection window as in the second document cited, or by a pin which can be inserted through hinge elements connecting the bottom of the container to the frame of the firearm, two of these elements being attached to the latter in front of and behind the ejection window below it, as in the third document. In the first said document, the container has a cover the opening of which, by pivoting, makes it possible to withdraw the recovered cases. In the second document, the container is a flexible bag of netting mounted on a frame which pivots downward to permit the recovery of the cases. In the third document, the container is detachable from its attachment means by a so-called VELCRO tape entrance frame.
The said known devices, however, are not suitable for firearms with carrying handle having a loading handle on the top of the firearm between the two posts of said handle, due to the presence there of their first attachment means formed by their retaining flange. They are not adapted furthermore to facilitate access to a loading handle of a firearm on which this handle is arranged in the region of the ejection window for the cases of the cartridges fired.

Device for recovering cartridge cases for an automatic or semiautomatic firearm


The invention relates to a method for operating a battery having at least one battery module (2) with at least one battery cell (3), having the following method steps: a. determining a first value of at least one first monitored variable of the at least one battery module (2) and/or the at least one battery cell (3), c. checking whether the determined first value of the at least one first monitored variable lies within a specified first target range for the at least one first monitored variable, the first target range being determined in particular in a method step b, and d. replacing the at least one battery module (3) with a different battery module and/or replacing the at least one battery cell (2) with a different battery cell if the determined first value of the at least one first monitored variable lies outside of the first target range for the at least one first monitored variable, wherein the first value of the at least one first monitored variable for the other battery module or the other battery cell lies within the first target range for the at least one first monitored variable.

The invention relates to a method for operating a battery. A battery is also the subject matter of the present invention.
It is known from the prior art that batteries, such as in particular lithium-ion batteries, consist at least of a battery module or also advantageously of a plurality of battery modules. In addition, a battery module has preferably a plurality of individual battery cells, which are connected to one another to form the battery module, wherein the individual battery cells can be connected to one another in series or in parallel.
Battery cells, battery modules and/or batteries for an after-series supply of the battery can only be stored for a limited time and are checked at regular intervals by means of measurements of the electrical values. This entails costs for a temperature-controlled storage and for the measuring equipment. It is alternatively possible to reconstruct individual battery cells, battery modules and/or batteries for the after-series supply. This entails costs for facilities and parts.
From the prior art, it is, for example, known from the American patent applications US20100121511 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,685 how to replace defective battery cells of a battery module.

Method for operating a battery, and battery


The invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical instrument with a support structure (20), and with an ultrasonic transducer (17) suspended on the support structure (20). A sonotrode (16) is connected to the ultrasonic transducer (17). The support structure (20) comprises a jacket portion (24) that extends around an inner space. According to the invention, the ultrasonic transducer (17) is suspended on a retaining ring (21), which is arranged in a continuation of the jacket portion (24) and which is connected to the jacket portion (24) via a connecting section (23). The connecting portion (24) has a plurality of apertures (26, 27) which in total cover the whole circumference of the connecting portion (24). The invention has the advantage that the instrument is uncoupled from the oscillations of the ultrasonic transducer.

The invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical instrument, in which an ultrasonic transducer is suspended on a support structure. A sonotrode is connected to the ultrasonic transducer. The support structure comprises a cladding section, which encloses an interior.
During surgery, such an ultrasonic surgical instrument can be used to sever tissue. The ultrasonic transducer makes the sonotrode undergo high-frequency vibrations. A front end of the sonotrode is brought into contact with the tissue such that the vibrations act on the tissue and the tissue is severed.
Since the ultrasonic transducer is connected not only to the sonotrode but also to the support structure, it can also make the support structure vibrate. This is undesirable since this places an unnecessary load onto the instrument and the handling becomes more difficult.


A process for the preparation of an aromatic carbonate or polycarbonate from a phenol or bisphenol, methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen comprising the steps of 1) reacting phenol or bisphenol with acetic anhydride to form (bis)phenyl acetate; 2) reacting dimethyl carbonate with (bis)phenyl acetate from step 1 to produce a phenyl carbonate or polycarbonate and methyl acetate; and 3) reacting the methyl acetate with carbon monoxide to produce acetic anhydride for use in step 1. In a desirable embodiment the dimethyl carbonate may also be prepared by reaction of methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of phenyl carbonates or polycarbonates. More particularly, the present invention allows for the preparation of phenyl carbonates or polycarbonates utilizing as reactants a corresponding phenol or bisphenol; methanol; carbon monoxide; and oxygen.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,726 a process for preparing aromatic carbonates utilizing Lewis acids to catalyze the transesterification of phenols or acyl esters thereof with an alkyl carbonate or an aryl alkyl carbonate was disclosed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,504 an integrated process for the preparation of aromatic carbonates was disclosed wherein the methyl acetate by-product formed in the transesterification of a phenyl ester with a dialkyl carbonate was recycled by heating the alkyl ester to form a ketene and subsequently such ketene was reconverted by reaction with a phenol to form additional quantities of the phenyl ester.
Preparation of a ketene intermediate has proven costly and inefficient due to the high temperatures involved. Recoveries on the order of only about 80% of theoretical or less are typical leading to the need to develop a more efficient means of generating phenyl carbonate precursors and disposing of alkyl ester by-products.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,968 an integrated process for the preparation of aromatic polycarbonates was disclosed wherein the methyl acetate by-product formed in the transesterification of a bisphenol diacetate with a dialkyl carbonate was recycled by heating the alkyl ester to form a ketene and subsequently such ketene was reconverted by reaction with a bisphenol to form additional quantities of the bisphenol diacetate. For the teachings contained therein the above identified patent is incorporated herein by reference thereto. As mentioned above, preparation of a ketene intermediate has proven costly and inefficient due to the high temperatures involved, leading to the need to develop a more efficient means of generating polycarbonate resins and recycling of alkyl ester by-products.

Process for the preparation of phenyl carbonates or polycarbonates


A method for controlling reproduction speed of an optical disk is disclosed in which when a data recorded in an optical disk is read, stored and transmitted to a connected instrument through a digital interface, the speed in reading and reproducing the data recorded in the optical disk is controlled to be varied at a high speed or at a low speed according to a transmission rate or a residual amount of the stored data. By doing that, the output image is prevented from temporary pausing and noise images such as a flicker is originally prevented from outputting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling reproduction speed of an optical disk that is suitable to an optical disk apparatus such as a CD-ROM driver for reproducing recorded data and transmitting it to a connected instrument through a digital interface.
2. Description of the Background Art
Construction and operation of an optical disk apparatus for reading and reproducing a data recorded in an optical disk such as a CD or a CD-ROM and transmitting it to a personal computer (PC) connected thereto through a digital interface will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, especially, taking an example of a CD-ROM driver that reads and reproduces a data recorded in a CD-ROM at a high speed for transmission and a personal computer (PC) that is connected to the CD-ROM driver through a digital interface to receive the data therefrom.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a connection between an optical disk apparatus, i.e., a CD-ROM driver, and a personal computer (PC) in accordance with a conventional art.
As shown in the drawing, the CD-ROM driver includes an optical pick-up (P/U) 2 for reading a data recorded in an optical disk such as a CD-ROM; a wave filtering/shaping unit 3 for filtering a signal read by the optical pick-up 2 and outputting it as an RF (radio frequency) signal; a digital signal processing (DSP) unit 4 for processing the RF signal to be a digital signal; a buffer 5 for temporarily storing the processed digital signal; an interface (I/F) unit 6 for transmitting the output signal of the digital signal processing unit 4 or the digital signal temporarily stored in the buffer 5 to a connected personal computer; a servo/driver 7 for varying the rotation speed of the optical disk 1 and the data reading position of the optical pick-up 2; and a MICROCOMPUTER 8 for outputting a control signal corresponding to a key input by a user.
The personal computer receives the digital signal, that is, a data, transmitted through the interface unit 6 as well as transmitting and receiving a control signal (Hold, Ready) for controlling operations of the MICROCOMPUTER.
Data transmission by the CD-ROM driver xe2x80x98Cxe2x80x99 connected through the digital interface and corresponding reproducing operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of data transmission between the conventional optical disk apparatus and the personal computer and a corresponding operation, which, especially, is a flow chart of transmission of a data read and reproduced from the CD-ROM driver xe2x80x98Cxe2x80x99 to the personal computer 20 connected through the digital interface unit, and a corresponding reproducing operation of the CD-ROM driver.
First, with reference to FIG. 1, a data recorded in the optical disk 1 is read by the optical pick-up 2 and then converted into an RF signal, that is, a high frequency signal, by the wave filtering/shaping unit 3 so as to be inputted to the digital signal processing unit 4. Then, the digital signal processing unit 4 processes the RF signal to be a digital signal and temporarily stores it in the buffer 5 (S10).
Thereafter, the digital signal, that is, a data, temporarily stored in the buffer 5 is transmitted to the personal computer 20 connected through the interface 6 (S11). At this time, the data processing speed for reading and storing the data, that is, the reproduction speed, is as fast as it can be increased to 48 times speed at its maximum, whereas, the transmission speed of transmitting a data to the personal computer 20 through the interface 6 is as low as one time speed or two times speed in case of a real time data such as a motion picture data.
Therefore, in case that the reproduction speed of the CD-ROM driver is as high as 48 times speed, the personal computer 20 transmits a control signal (Hold, xe2x80x981xe2x80x99) instructing to temporarily stop data transmission to the MICROCOMPUTER 8 of the CD-ROM driver through the interface unit 6.
Upon receipt of the temporary stoppage control signal (Hold, xe2x80x981xe2x80x99) (S12), the MICROCOMPUTER 8 controls in a manner that the data transmission operation is stopped (S13) and controls the operation of the servo/driver 7 so that the data reading operation of the optical pick-up 2 is in pause (S14).
The temporary stoppage of data reading operation is made by a tracking operation in which track jumping is repeatedly performed so as for the optical pick-up 2 to repeatedly search the same recording operation in a state that the optical disk 1 is being rotated at a high speed.
Thereafter, when a control signal (Ready, xe2x80x980xe2x80x99) instructing a resumption of data transmission is transmitted to the MICROCOMPUTER 8 through the interface unit 6 (S15), the MICROCOMPUTER 8 releases the data reading temporary pause (Pause) mode of a current operation mode (S16) and controls the operation of the servo/driver 7 so that the data reading operation is resumed by the optical pick-up 2.
At this time, a recording position of a corresponding optical disk 1 is searched at the time point when the reading operation was temporarily stopped, to perform data reading operation from the corresponding recording position. And then, data reading, storing and transmitting operations are repeatedly performed until the completion of reproducing (S17) in the same manner as stated above.
Accordingly, data transmission between the CD-ROM driver that reads, stores and transmits the data recorded in the optical disk 1 at a high speed and the personal computer 20 that receives and processes the data at a low speed.
However, due to the speed difference between the data reading speed in the CD-ROM driver and the data receiving speed of the personal computer 20, data reading pausing and releasing operations should be repeatedly performed, which requires an accurate track jumping operation or searching operation.
In addition, in case that track jumping operation and searching operation are not made accurately and quickly, the buffer for temporarily storing the transmission data is short of data, resulting in that an output image comes to a pause temporarily or a noise image such as a flicker is outputted.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling reproduction speed of an optical disk in which when a data recorded in an optical disk recorded in an optical is read, stored and transmitted to a connected instrument through a digital interface, the speed in reading and reproducing the data recorded in the optical disk is controlled to be varied at a high speed or at a low speed according to a transmission rate or a residual amount of the stored data.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a method for controlling reproduction speed of an optical disk including: a first step of reproducing a data recorded in an optical disk and storing it; a second step of externally transmitting the stored data through a digital interface; and a third step of varying the data reproduction speed of the optical disk according to the transmission rate of the data.
In order to achieve the above object, there is also provided a method for controlling reproduction speed of an optical disk including: a first step of reproducing a data recorded in an optical disk and storing it; a second step of externally transmitting the stored data through a digital interface; and a third step of monitoring a residual amount of the stored data, and varying the reproduction speed of the data of the optical disk if the residual amount of the stored data exceeds a reference value.

Method of controlling reproduction speed of optical disk


The invention relates to a coating composition for PVC sections, based on a polymeric vehicle, a crosslinking agent, and a thermoplastic resin powder. The coating composition is particularly useful for coating PVC sections for windows, shutters, and doors. PVC joinery coated with the composition of the invention has exceptional impact strength and resistance to abrasion, friction, and inclement weather.

Polyamide-based paints have a particularly wide range of uses including coatings on wood (furniture, office furniture), on aluminum (prelacquering industry, coatings for roller blinds), on plastic substrates (data processing, audio and video equipment), and as ground coverings (parking, sports grounds).
European Patent EP-0,047,508 relates to applications-of the prelacquering type. This patent describes a coating composition for coating metal objects, making use of the belt lacquering (coil coating) process. The coating composition is characterized in that it contains a vehicle containing a hydroxyl functional group, a blocked polyisocyanate, and a polyamide powder. The coating is subsequently crosslinked at temperatures of between 200 and 260.degree. C., which temperatures are too high to be employed on a rigid PVC section whose distortion threshold lies between 60.degree. C. and 80.degree. C.
Japanese Application 54.64945 No. JP 55157661, published on Dec. 9, 1980, describes a paint that is based on polyamide 6 or 6.6 or 6.10, silicone oil, and a particular urethane prepolymer and is applicable to PVC slide tracks intended for the motor vehicle industry. This coating is employed so as to obtain highly specific characteristics related to the friction coefficient.
French Patent FR 1,469,096 claims a polyurethane/polyamide system intended for ground-covering. The intended objective of this coating is the anti-skid effect.
One of the disadvantages of the PVC window is its white color. Producing colored PVC joinery assumes solving complex technical problems related especially to impact behavior, uniformity of aesthetic qualities and durability, over a wide range of colors, under acceptable economic conditions.
Four techniques which make it possible to impart color to sections are known at present:
coloring in bulk PA1 coextrusion PA1 veneering PA1 painting. PA1 of one (or more) coating(s) with a thickness which may be between 10 and 100 .mu.m and, preferably, between 10 and 40 .mu.m, PA1 of a substrate, preferably of PVC with a variable thickness, in section form. PA1 high weather resistance (resistance to UV, moisture, and the like), PA1 high impact strength even at low temperature (no flaking) PA1 high scratch resistance, PA1 resistance in the Erichsen model 435 test: higher than 15 N. PA1 resistance to wear at the window seals (dubbing during opening and closing), PA1 retention of the tensile resilience of unpainted PVC. The present invention may even improve this tensile resilience after aging because the coating protects the PVC and prevents surface crazing.
Coloring in bulk is difficult because of incompatibilities between some components of the polymers and the pigments, resulting in poor behavior of the material towards the ultraviolet rays. Also, bulk coloring gives rise to high storage costs, since it would be necessary to store and make an inventory of numerous articles in a number of colors.
Coextrusion consists in extruding together the white PVC of the structure and the colored polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) on the outer parts of the section. While the technique is well-developed and reliable, a number of obstacles arise, essentially of an economic nature. Manufacturing and storage costs are very high.
Veneering is the technique most widely employed at present. It consists in heat-bonding a polymer film onto the sections as they leave the extruder. Colored sections of good quality are thus obtained which have been employed for a number of years without notable failures. However, this technique has two major disadvantages. The impact behavior of veneered PVC is frequently unacceptable in work-site conditions that are often difficult. A significant economic disadvantage is high storage costs. It is necessary to store and make an inventory of numerous articles in a number of colors. Furthermore, the color range is frequently restricted due to storage constraints.

Base paints comprised of polyamide powders for use in coating PVC structures


An antenna arrangement (402) for a wireless communication device (400) comprises a first element (404) and a second element (406). The first element (404) is coupled to circuitry (408) of the wireless communication device (400). The second element (406) is movable between a first and a second position relative to the first element (404). The performance of the antenna arrangement (402) is substantially less desirable when the second element (406) is between the first and the second position than the performance of the antenna arrangement (402) when the second element (406) is at either the first or the second position. The second element (406) is mechanically spaced apart from and substantially electrically coupled to the first element (404) in both the first and the second position. The antenna arrangement (402) advantageously provides for reduced dimensions while achieving desirable performance.

Wireless communication devices in many forms are becoming increasingly popular. The term "wireless communication device" in this context encompasses cellular telephones, patio telephones, cordless telephones in their many different forms, personal communication devices, and the like.
Wireless communication devices are characterized by being easily transportable by the user.
Typically, wireless communication devices include an antenna arrangement for providing the wireless communication. The antenna arrangement may provide, in cooperation with circuitry of the wireless communication device, transmit, receive or transceiving functions for the wireless communication device. Desirable antenna arrangements are small, reliable and manufactureable. Since the wireless communication device is indeed transportable, desirable antenna arrangements are also typically moveable between a stowed and an unstowed position, for example, a retracted and an extended position, respectively.
Designers of antenna arrangements strive to optimize the size, reliability and manufacturability of the antenna arrangement while achieving desirable performance for the antenna arrangement. Since technology is driving the size of wireless communication devices to be smaller, the antenna arrangement for those smaller devices must also be made smaller to preserve the antenna arrangement's stowable feature and desirable performance. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate first, second and third antenna arrangements for a wireless communication device which seek to optimize both size and performance of the antenna arrangement in accordance with the prior art.
FIG. 1 illustrates the first antenna arrangement 102 for a wireless communication device 100 in accordance with the prior art. A detailed description of the antenna arrangement 102 in FIG. 1 is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,218. The antenna arrangement 102 of FIG. 1 generally includes a helical antenna 104 and an extendible half-wave antenna 106. The helical antenna is coupled to circuitry 108 of the wireless communication device 100. The extendible half-wave antenna 106 is adapted to be capacitively coupled to the helical antenna 104 when in the extended position and to be substantially decoupled therefrom when in a retracted position (shown in dotted lines). Advantages of the antenna arrangement 102 include contactless coupling between the helical antenna 104 and the extendible half-wave antenna 106 and the performance of the antenna arrangement as indicated by the height 112 where the current maximum of the extendible half-wave antenna 106 occurs when the extendible half-wave antenna 106 is extended. However, a disadvantage of the antenna arrangement 102 is that its overall physical height 110 is too long to meet present day needs of miniature wireless communication devices.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second antenna arrangement 202 for a communication device 200 in accordance with the prior art. A detailed description of the antenna arrangement 202 in FIG. 2 is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,576. The antenna arrangement 202 includes a helical antenna 204 coupled to circuitry 208 and an extendible half-wave helical antenna 206. An advantage of the antenna arrangement 202 over the antenna arrangement 102 of FIG. 1 is that the height 210 is lower than the height 110 of the antenna arrangement 102. However, a disadvantage of the antenna arrangement 202 is that the height 212 where the current maximum of the extendible half-wave antenna 206 occurs when the extendible half-wave antenna 206 is extended, is lower than the height 112 where the current maximum occurs in FIG. 1. Therefore, the performance of the antenna arrangement 202 was sacrificed for a shorter antenna.
FIG. 3 illustrates the third antenna arrangement 302 for a wireless communication device 300 in accordance with the prior art. The antenna arrangement 302 generally includes a first straight portion 304 and a second helical portion 306 which is electrically isolated from the first straight portion 304. The straight portion and the helical portion 306 each have an electrical wavelength of 1/4 wavelength. The straight portion 304 includes a terminal 310 for connection to a connector 312 when the antenna arrangement is extended. Likewise, the helical portion 306 includes a terminal 314 for connection to the connector 312 when the antenna arrangement is retracted. Circuitry 308 is coupled to the antenna arrangement 302 via a connector 312. An advantage of the antenna arrangement 302 is that its height 316 is reduced even further than that represented in FIGS. 1 or 2. However, a disadvantage of the antenna arrangement 302 is that the height where the current maximum occurs when the antenna arrangement 302 is extended is much lower (shown below the housing of the device) than the height of the current maximum as shown in FIGS. 1 or 2. A further disadvantage is that metallic contacts of the connector produces electrical noise which reduces reliability.
Therefore, there is a need for an antenna arrangement for a wireless communication device having further reduced dimensions while achieving desirable performance as well as maintaining acceptable reliability and manufacturability.

Antenna arrangement for a wireless communication device


A power-generating element containing a stacked electrode assembly (10) and an electrolyte solution is disposed in an accommodating space of a plastic battery case (13). The entirety of the battery case (13) is enclosed air-tightly and liquid-tightly in an outer cover made of an aluminum laminate. An opening (13A) of the battery case (13) is sealed by sealing members (16a, 16b) disposed and melt-bonded so as to cover an opening (13A) of the battery case 13 and to sandwich current collectors (14, 15) of the power-generating element from both sides. The outer cover is sealed at at least a location corresponding to the opening (13A) of the battery case (13).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to batteries such as prismatic lithium-ion batteries used for low-rate discharge backup power sources, and battery modules in which a plurality of such batteries are connected to each other. More particularly, the invention relates to batteries and battery modules that use a lightweight and rigid battery case made of plastic and that achieve high reliability and low cost.
2. Description of Related Art
Power sources used for low-rate discharge backup applications, for example, are hermetically sealed in a limited space and are therefore desired to be compact and lightweight, as well as being low in cost. As one type of batteries that can meet such requirements, lithium-ion batteries, which have high energy density and high power density, have been used widely in recent years. Lithium-ion batteries have been used as secondary batteries for various types of mobile devices.
For the lithium-ion batteries, a battery case made of an aluminum laminate sheet or a metallic can, such as an aluminum can and a stainless steel can, have been used as the outer package. A problem with the use of a metallic can is that although it has rigidity against impact from the outside, metal has greater specific gravity than plastic or the like, resulting in a lower mass energy density of the battery. On the other hand, a battery case made of an aluminum laminate sheet can make the battery lightweight. However, it tends to show insufficient strength to resist impact from the outside because the aluminum laminate sheet is soft, and in order to supplement the insufficient strength, it has been necessary to provide additional means such as covering the battery with an outer cover such as a housing having rigidity.
In addition, when lithium-ion batteries employing a battery case made of a metallic can or an aluminum laminate are used to construct a battery module, it has been necessary to use a housing and battery module components that are made of metal or plastic to construct the battery module using the batteries, and the corresponding increase in the parts count has been a problem.
For lead acid batteries, plastic battery cases have been used because they are low in cost. However, the use of plastic battery cases for lithium-ion batteries is particularly problematic because plastic does not provide complete hermeticity. Specifically, since the lithium-ion battery uses an electrolyte solution containing an organic solvent, entry of moisture through the wall of the plastic battery case and leakage of gas generated from the organic solvent of the electrolyte solution through the wall can be significant causes of poor durability of the battery.
In view of this problem, for example, the following techniques have been known in the field of lead acid batteries. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-56829 discloses a battery in which a cylindrical metallic container is fitted outside a plastic battery case. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 10-106513 discloses a battery structure in which a metal plate is integrally formed in a plastic battery case. These techniques can prevent deformation and fracture of the plastic battery case, thereby improving the strength. Moreover, it is also possible to minimize permeation and evaporation of moisture.
Nevertheless, the techniques as disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application Nos. 2002-56829 and 10-106513 are far from satisfactory in terms of weight reduction and cost reduction because no particular improvements are observed in terms of parts count reduction.


An improved deck cleaning tool includes a rigid blade with a sharply angled front end and adapted to dislodge debris build-up commonly found between planks of outdoor decks is supported by a plate having an aperture connected to a rigid and hollow conduit having a handle at its distal end. The distal end further adapts to couple to a common shop or wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

This invention relates to a tool for removing debris between adjacent planks of decks and similar structures.
Outdoor decks typically include wood or composite planks arranged in a generally parallel layout with a narrow gap or crevice between adjacent planks. The gap allows expansion space for wood planks and facilitates water drainage. This gap, however, commonly clogs with debris including leaves, pine needles, and other matter. The build-up of debris between the planks accelerates deterioration of the planks, causes the deck surface to become slippery, and inhibits water shedding. Further, periodic maintenance of the deck, typically consisting of painting or staining, requires complete removal of the debris build-up. Thus, a need remains for a tool designed to efficiently and completely remove debris and build-up between deck planks.
The methods and devices of the prior-art address this problem with varying success. One common approach uses pressurized water to forcefully evict debris from the gap between deck planks. This requires a cumbersome mechanism that receives a supply of water from an outdoor water tap, a nozzle apparatus and a pressurizing means. The pressurizing means typically includes either an internal combustion engine or an electric motor to compress the water. One significant limitation of this approach is that the high-pressure fluid stream damages the surface of the deck by exploding the cell membrane of the wood deck planks, or by removing a surface treatment of stain, oil, paint or other covering. Further, the high-pressure wash stream poses a safety concern to the user and care must my used to avoid contact with the effluent stream because severe injury can result. And, when a combustion engine provides the pressurized stream, additional hazards include the storage, transportation and evaporation of a combustible and hazardous chemical and pollution of the air during use.
Another approach to removing debris build-up between deck planks includes a device described by Gairdner in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,683 issued on 16 Sep. 1997. The Gairdner device includes an elongated, hollow and lightweight shaft with a tine at one end and a handle at the opposite end. The tine, sized with a rectangular cross-section and width of a size to fit between the planks of a deck, provides a flat engagement surface arranged at an first angle relative to the horizontal deck planks and a second angle relative to the shaft. An operator locates the tine between the deck planks and either pulls or pushes the handle parallel to the arrangement of deck planks. This causes the tine to contact and loosen the debris. However, one limitation of this design includes the dislodged debris may be extracted from the gap between planks only to be deposited on the surface of the planks, which requires a secondary operation to remove it. One plausible secondary operation would include sweeping or using pressurized water to clean the surface—however, both of these techniques re-introduce the debris between the planks and may cause the debris to become re-stuck.
Another approach, described by Bowen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,608 issued on 27 Mar. 2001, includes a device having a blade attached to a handle and a pair of wheels for contacting the upper planar surface of the deck planks. Yet another attempt, described by Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,928 issued on 6 Jul. 2004, includes a device consisting of a pole pivotably mounted to a cleaning head. In both the Bowen and Lee references, debris build-up is removed between the planks; however, both devices simply dump the debris on top of the deck surface necessitating a remedial clean up to remove the deck. Further, the remedial clean up often consists of pressure washing or sweeping. And, this inefficient remedial step results in a re-deposit of the debris during sweeping or damage to the deck from the use of pressurized water.
Thus, there remains a need for a deck-cleaning tool that not only adequately fits between the deck planks, but does not re-deposit the debris build-up on top of the surface of the deck. Moreover, such an improved deck-cleaning tool should eliminate a remedial cleaning operation.


A reproduction device according to an embodiment is a reproduction device configured to output a reproduction signal to a speaker system including a first speaker unit group and a second speaker unit group disposed behind the first speaker unit group, the reproduction device including: first delay circuits configured to delay reproduction signals output to speaker units included in the first speaker unit group; and second delay circuits configured to delay reproduction signals output to speaker units included in the second speaker unit group. In the second speaker unit group, a delay time in accordance with a distance difference between a distance and a distance and a longitudinal distance is set for the second delay circuit.

The present disclosure relates to a reproduction device, a reproduction method, and an on-vehicle speaker system.
Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H07-162998) discloses an on-vehicle acoustic device including four speakers. The on-vehicle acoustic device delays an acoustic signal transmitted from a sound source and transmits the signal to each speaker. That is, a speaker that is farther from a listening position is set as a reference and a delay is allotted to a speaker that is closer to a delay circuit.
A delay time is allotted to a left front speaker and a left rear speaker so that the phases of the sounds from the left front speaker and the left rear speaker that reach the left ear of a driver coincide with each other.
Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H07-203598) discloses an on-vehicle digital audio system including four speakers. In Patent Literature 2, the signal applied to a speaker system is delayed in accordance with the speaker system furthest from a listening position. By this configuration, the distance from the listening position to each speaker system is equivalently equidistant.
Patent Literature 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-235456) discloses a voice signal processing device for appropriately delaying a signal in accordance with a size of a room. Left and right front speakers and a center speaker are disposed on the front side of the listening position, and left and right surround speakers are disposed on the rear side of the listening position. The voice signal processing device receives a front channel signal and a surround channel signal and outputs a delay surround channel signal that is delayed by a prescribed time from the surround channel signal. This delay time is determined in accordance with a difference in a distance from each speaker to the listening position (paragraph 0037).
The voice signal processing device adds a delay surround signal to the front channel signal. The front speaker outputs the front channel signal to which the delay surround signal is added. Further, in order to make the sound pressure level of the sounds equal at the listening position, a sound volume adjustment circuit corrects the level of an acoustic signal and applies the signal to each speaker.

Reproduction device, reproduction method, and on-vehicle speaker system


A telecommunications terminal module (10) is provided, having a splitter group or other electrical or electronic component (26) integrated in the terminal module (10), and two rows of contacts (18, 18′) with contacts (14, 14′,) to which cable cores (16) can be connected from the outside of the terminal module (10), the contacts (14) being connected with contacts (32) of the splitter group (26) inside the terminal module (10), and the contacts (14) being designed in such a way that they approach each other inside the terminal module (10), at least in parts, but are electrically separated from one another and are separately connected to the splitter group (26).

In the telecommunications field, it is necessary for cable cores serving signal communication to be connected with other cable cores in various devices. For example, sub-scriber lines are connected with system lines in a main distributor, which lead to an exchange. The connection generally results via suitable terminal modules having at least two rows of contacts to which the cable cores can be connected.
In connection with the transmission of several different signals via the same line, the use of so-called splitters is necessary in order to "split up" different signals, transmitted via the same line in separate frequency bands, into individual signals. The individual line leading to the subscriber, which transfers multiple signals, is connected, for example, on one side of a corresponding splitter group. Attached on the other side, on which the individual signals are separated, is a system line which transmits the normal telephone ("POTS") signal and leads to the exchange as well as a line which transfers the additional signal, e.g. a high-bit-rate data signal, and leads to further devices, e.g. a DSLAM.
German patent DE-U-201 04 605 relates to a telecommunications terminal block in which a splitter group is integrated. The terminal block thus consists of two isolating modules placed one on top of the other, with only two of the rows of contacts of the respective isolating contacts being used for connecting cable cores. Both of the inner rows of contacts are covered and are not used for connecting cable cores. There are contacts inside the module, which are provided on the splitter groups and are linked with the contacts, to which cable cores can be connected, in a manner not described in more detail.
Furthermore, there is a terminal block having a splitter group made by the firm Corning Cable Systems under the designation "ADSL-Splitterblock S5000", each splitter group being arranged between two terminal modules such that a layered arrangement results overall. The respective terminal modules have two rows of contacts and are connected with the splitter group at the rear side of the respective terminal module via a suitable "backplane".


A cutting apparatus comprising a cutting blade arranged along a pole pendent from a motor portion, a press rod having a cloth press attached to the lower end thereof, which is vertically movably arranged at a front part of the cutting blade, and a brake disposed to confront the press rod for controlling the vertical movement of the press rod, wherein a guard covering the cutting blade is attached to the press rod, a handle is provided with a lever to be actuated when the handle is gripped, a switch of the motor portion to be actuated by the operation of the lever is connected to open and close the brake, and a power source is separately arranged.

The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus having a safety device.
There is known a cutting apparatus for cutting a large quantity of a cloth, which has a structure where a vicinity of this handle 9 so that the release lever 8 is manipulated by the hand gripping the handle 9. Reference numeral 10 represents a driving switch 10 which also is operated by the hand gripping the handle 9.
In this structure, the bed 2 is slipped between a table and piled layers of cloth placed on the table, and the cloth is spread on the bed 2 and the brake 7 is released by the release lever 8 to move the press rod 5 and make the height of the cloth press 6 in agreement with the height of the cloth, whereby the cloth just in front of the cutting blade 4 is pressed for the cutting operation.
In this state, the driving switch is turned on and the cutting blade 4 is applied to the part, to be cut, of the cloth, and the cutting operation is thus carried out.


Tracking units for facial features with advanced training for natural rendering of human faces in real-time are provided. An example device receives a video stream, and upon detecting a visual face, selects a 3D model from a comprehensive set of head orientation classes. The device determines modifications to the selected 3D model to describe the face, then projects a 2D model of tracking points of facial features based on the 3D model, and controls, actuates, or animates hardware based on the facial features tracking points. The device can switch among an example comprehensive set of 35 different head orientation classes for each video frame, based on suggestions computed from a previous video frame or from yaw and pitch angles of the visual head orientation. Each class of the comprehensive set is trained separately based on a respective collection of automatically marked images for that head orientation class.

As a general class, constrained local models (CLMs) are conventional methods of finding sets of points on a subject image, as constrained by a statistical shape model. Generally, a region from an image is sampled and projected onto a reference frame to generate a response image using local models, where each point has a cost for its estimated location. In the case of an image of a human face and the pose of the associated human head, the parameters of the statistical shape model, and sometimes pose models, are then varied to find an optimal combination of points that minimizes the total cost, thereby representing the face and the head pose in the image.
One main drawback of conventional CLM schemes for modeling facial features is a limited range of working head rotations in the models. The 2-dimensional (2D) context of each landmark point changes drastically with changes in the "yaw" and "pitch" angles of the 3D head pose, for example. Moreover, landmark points become occluded and invisible in the image for highly rotated head positions. Unfortunately, increasing the number of classes to represent more head rotation states requires an enormous amount of work to construct the needed database for training the local models. To manually mark enough training images to populate a comprehensive set of head rotation classes is far from cost effective or desirable, and is conventionally avoided. Conventional face tracking schemes are also slower and more complex during runtime when they are made to rely on larger working databases, more machine learning, or more training of conventional modeling schemes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Facial features tracker with advanced training for natural rendering of human faces in real-time


Methods of registering a Machine Type Communications (MTC) device for scheduling MTC device transmissions by a network element are provided. The method includes registering a MTC device. The registering includes assigning at least one resource block to the MTC device for transmitting at least one MTC device transmission. The registering includes establishing a triggering mechanism that detects when a trigger event occurs, such that when the trigger event occurs, the MTC device transmits the at least one MTC device transmission on the assigned at least one resource block. The registering includes configuring the network element to receive the at least one MTC device transmission based on the assigned resource block and the established triggering mechanism. The method includes allowing the MTC device to transmit the at least one MTC device transmission over the resource block that is assigned during the registration.

Current wireless cellular systems are designed to serve user terminals and their applications, in order to allow the continuous streaming of data (e.g., voice and/or video) during a communications session. For these types of applications, when a communications link between a user terminal and a base station is enabled, the communications link is expected to last for a relatively long period of time. Additionally, setting up one or more channels for a communications link between a mobile terminal and a base station may require the mobile terminal and the base station to send and receive various control and signaling data prior to starting a streaming session (e.g. signaling procedures for traffic channel access). Once the communications link is established, other signaling protocols, such as scheduling protocols, may be used to avoid signal interference with other data transmissions. Furthermore, even when a user terminal enters an "idle mode" (i.e., when no data is being transmitted) in order to reduce the amount of signaling that takes place during a communications session, the user terminal may be required to send and receive various control and signaling data prior to entering an "active mode". These control and signaling procedures may require a substantial amount of network resources.
In contrast to user terminals, Machine Type Communications (MTC) devices and their applications may only need to transmit a relatively small amount of data during a relatively short amount of time (as compared to data streaming). Additionally, MTC devices stay in idle mode and rarely change locations. Because MTC devices may only require relatively short data transmissions, and due to their stationary nature, requiring MTC devices to undertake the aforementioned control and signaling procedures may be a very inefficient use of existing network resources. In many instances, the network resources required for a MTC device data transmission is less than the resources required to establish a communications link between the MTC device and a base station. Furthermore, if there are many MTC devices in a base station's service area, the base station may have to handle numerous MTC device transmissions in short period of time, leading to cell overloaded conditions.

Systems and methods for registering machine type communications devices and scheduling machine type communications device transmissions


A medical device includes a printed circuit board, a connector mounted on the printed circuit board, and a polymeric body molded over the connector and the printed circuit board. The connector is configured to receive a medical lead and electrically and mechanically couple the lead to the printed circuit board. The connector comprises a housing and feedthrough assembly that includes a polymeric housing and a conductor. The housing defines a bore configured to receive the lead and defines a feedthrough opening through which the conductor extends. The housing and feedthrough assembly is sealed except for an aperture in communication with the bore. The connector further includes a contact disposed in the bore. The conductor electrically couples the contact with the printed circuit board. When a lead is properly received by the bore, the contact couples the lead to the printed circuit board via the conductor.

Implantable medical devices have been developed to have extended lives, and as a result can be expensive to manufacture. For example, lead connectors of implantable medical devices can be formed from materials including, for example titanium, glass, and thermoplastic urethane. Hermetic feedthroughs are often used to couple device electronics to electrical contacts of the lead connector.
Often device manufactures attempt to build on prior platforms to develop new devices. For example, a manufacturer may employ various aspects of a design of a lead connector of an implantable medical device in a lead connector for an external medical device. However, such devices may not need to be built to the same tolerances as long-term implantable medical devices. Accordingly, alternative methods for manufacturing external medical device, particularly those for short-term use could be desirable.

Medical device with surface mounted lead connector


The present invention is directed to a method of allocating links in a base station of a 1×EVDO (EVolution Data Only) system. Conventionally, since a 1×EVDO system sequentially allocates a link to a user who requested a call setup irrespective of the link status, some of the allocated links may suffer from overload that eventually decreases the data transmission rate for the user. However, in order to perform the link allocation in due consideration of the link status, the present invention uses a link database including various status information, such as an equipment confirmation flag, a block flag, a current status, the total call user number, and the current call user number. With the status information, a base station control processor (BCP) in the 1×EVDO system of the present invention distributes traffic loads among the links and ensures an optimized data transmission rate.

Generally, the 1×EVDO is the dedicated protocol for transmitting packet data that are very different from the conventional IS-2000 wireless protocol. The maximum transmission rate of the 1×EVDO is 2.4576 Mbps in its forward direction. The link for communication between the base station transceiver subsystem (BTS) and the base station controller (BSC) is E1 or T1. Among these, the effective bandwidth of E1 is 2.048 Mbps (equivalent to 32 channels), which is comprised of 30 data channels of 1.92 Mbps, a framing channel, and a signaling channel (or a reserved channel). Further, the effective bandwidth of T1 is 1.544 Mbps (24 channels+1 bit), which is comprised of 24 channels of 1.536 Mbps and 1 signaling of 1 bit. A user of the 1×EVDO can be sequentially connected to only one wire link.
However, since a 1×EVDO system sequentially allocates a link to a user who requested a call setup irrespective of the link status, some of the allocated links may suffer from overload that eventually decreases the data transmission rate for the user.

Method of allocating links in a 1x evdo system


A display device that is automatically operable with various types of standards of video signals has a display panel, a controller, and a timing generator. The display panel includes pixels arranged in the form of a matrix to form an image. The display panel also contains a built-in vertical scanning circuit that is operable in response to input timing signals and sequentially selects the respective rows of the pixels. Additionally, the display panel contains a built-in horizontal scanning circuit that is operable in response to input timing signals and distributes the various types of standards of the video signals provided from the exterior to the selected rows of the pixels, thereby displaying the image. The controller deciphers the standard of the video signal provided from the exterior and automatically supplies the adjustment information required for optimizing the picture. The timing generator generates the timing signals in accordance with the adjustment information and inputs them into the display panel, whereby the image that has been optimally adjusted based on the standard of the video signal is displayed.

The present invention relates to a display device having an active-matrix display panel containing a vertical scanning circuit and a horizontal scanning circuit, and also having a timing generator and the like that supplies controlling timing signals to the display panel. More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in making adjustments to the linearity, the center position, and the like, of a picture on the display panel.
A brief explanation will now be given of an example of a display device with reference to FIG. 10. The display panel for the display device has a plurality of gate lines X arranged in the form of rows, a plurality of signal lines Y arranged in the form of columns, and a plurality of pixels PXL each arranged at the intersection between each gate line X and each signal line Y. The pixels PXL are formed of, for example, minuscule liquid crystal cells that are arranged in the form of a matrix to form a picture. Switching devices, such as thin film transistors Tr or the like, are integrated to drive the individual pixels PXL. Further, the display panel includes a vertical scanning circuit 101 that sequentially scans the respective gate lines X in the vertical direction in accordance with timing signals, such as vertical start signals VST and a vertical clock signal VCK and the like, so as to select the pixels PXL for one line at every one horizontal period. One vertical scanning operation is completed for one vertical scanning period. The display panel also has a horizontal scanning circuit 102 that sequentially scans the respective signal lines Y within one horizontal period in accordance with horizontal start signals HST and a horizontal clock signal HCK so as to sample a video signal Vsig supplied from a video line 103 and to write the sampled signal points into the selected pixels PXL for one line. More specifically, each signal line Y is connected to the video line 103 via a horizontal switch HSW so as to receive the video signal Vsig from the exterior. The horizontal scanning circuit 102, which is formed of a shift register, sequentially transmits the horizontal start signals HST based on the horizontal clock signal HCK so that it sequentially outputs sampling pulses to cause the respective horizontal switches HSW to sequentially open or close, thereby sampling the video signal Vsig onto the respective signal lines Y.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of a display device by the application of the display panel shown in FIG. 10 to a display. A timing generator 105 is connected to a display panel 104 and supplies the above-described various types of timing signals HCK, HST, VCK, VST to the display panel 104. The display panel 104 is operated in response to the timing signals and sequentially provides video signals Vsig to the pixels, whereby a desired image can be displayed. There are a variety of standards for video signals that are input from the exterior. For example, there are about 100 types of various formats of VGA signals when the display panel is applied to a computer data display system or the like. However, the display panel 104 of this display device is operable only with the single or the limited few types of synchronizing signals. Video signals having different synchronizing signals from predetermined timing signals have their timings converted via a scan converter 106 and are then supplied to the display panel 104. For performing this conversion, a field memory 107 is provided for the display device. The writing timing and reading timing of the video signals into/from the field memory 107 are suitably adjusted so as to match the driving timing inherent in the display panel 104. This necessitates ICs for the scan converter 106 and ICs for the field memory 107, thus increasing costs of the display system.

Display circuit which automatically deciphers different video formats and optimizes the horizontal and vertical centering of the image on the display


A flexible shaft having ends of square cross-section for coupling a mating female driving member such as a square recess in a motor assembly, with a mating female driven member such as a square recess in a gearbox assembly, for positioning a seat in a motor vehicle. To decrease vibration and noise due to friction and relative movement between the shaft ends and the mating recesses, the sides of the shaft end portions are covered with a deformable polytetrafluoroethylene sheath applied by positioning a length of heat shrinkable tubing over each end portion and heating the tubing to shrink it onto the corresponding end portion so that it assumes the square cross-sectional shape of the end portion.

The present invention relates to a flexible shaft exhibiting reduced noise and vibration characteristics and is especially useful for, but not limited to a flexible shaft which couples a motor to a gear assembly for positioning an adjustable seat in a motor vehicle.
In automotive seat positioning systems currently in use, a drive motor is equipped with a female drive member typically having a square recess for receiving one square end of a flexible shaft. The opposite end of the flexible shaft is also square and engages a similar recess in a gearbox assembly which converts rotary motion to linear motion (for example, forward, rearward, upward, and downward) to move the seat accordingly.
In an effort to improve perceived value, the automotive industry strives for reduction of harshness due to noise and vibration, including buzz, squeak and rattle noise when the seat is moved.
Noise and vibration in the aforementioned seat adjustment mechanism is contributed to by relative movement and accompanying friction between the ends of the flexible shaft and the recesses with which those ends mate. Such relative movement is reduced by forming the shaft ends in a helical square configuration so that they more tightly engage the mating recesses, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,588.
However, in order for the helical square shaft ends to significantly reduce vibration and noise the mating recesses must be dimensioned to rather close tolerances which are not always realized in production seat assemblies.
The use of nylon coatings on the flexible shafts ends to prevent metal to metal contact and thereby reduce friction and resulting vibration and noise is known in the art. Such coatings, however, have not proven to provide satisfactory performance in applications which are not of a light duty nature.
For a number of years flexible shaft end coatings have been applied utilizing electrostatic grade nylon 11 powder. A "volumized bed" or thermal coating process applies a thin (approximately 0.003 inches) layer of the nylon powder to the flexible shaft ends. The shaft is first heated to a specific temperature and then passed through a cloud of the powder, to partially melt the powder and fuse it to the flexible shaft ends. The resulting coating prevents direct metal to metal contact and reduces gaps between the shaft ends and mating recesses, reducing vibration and noise. However, over time the thickness of the coating is reduced due to mechanical working and wear, and noise levels increase.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible shaft exhibiting reduced vibration and noise over a long period of time and suitable for coupling to mating recesses having less tight tolerances; that is, a relatively wide variation from the nominal dimensions thereof.