An animal separator particularly for waiting rooms in animal hospitals comprises an enclosed pet resting area for isolating pets and an integral chair for the owner. The resting area comprises a base having a raised side portion and end portions at the front and rear extending upwardly therefrom substantially at right angles. A pull out drawer is located beneath the base for ease of cleaning while a forward hinged door is located in the base of the unit to permit the base to move upwardly from the rear to deposit waste through the door into the drawer. The sides and end portions include a plurality of spaced apertures to permit an open feeling for the pet. The front end portion includes a slight lip to encourage the pet such as a dog to remain on the base which is grooved to permit ease of movement. A chair may be integrally molded to a one side of the separator adjacent the entrance side or the legs thereof may be inserted in a pair of elongated slots positioned adjacent the wall on the entrance side.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to animal separators for waiting rooms particularly in veterinary offices and hospitals.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR .sctn..sctn.1.97-1.98
The invention comprises a resting area for a pet in a waiting room which is cordoned off from other similar areas and includes an integral chair for the pet owner. This novel and efficient arrangement keeps the pets separated and at ease in contrast to the situation in most waiting rooms where the pets are in a high state of anxiety due to the other pets nearby.
Generally, the pets are on the floor or on their owner's laps while waiting to be seen by the veterinarian. In an often crowded office this can lead to chaos. There is a definite need for a device or apparatus to separate the pets in a waiting room. Such a device should be economical, easy to use, and adaptable to different office arrangements.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 903,218 to MIDDLEBROOKE discloses a foldable dog bed with various separators to keep the dogs apart.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,972 to KILBURN discloses a portable free stall comprising a base and two long channels and two short channels arranged at right angles to form a rectangular configuration. Individual stalls are formed by a plurality of longitudinally spaced upright angles which are secured along one of the longitudinal channels.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,720,861 to STROUP discloses a bedding device for animal stalls while U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,319 to McCRORY and U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,130 to ELIAS disclose animal and, in particular, dog beds.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 42,730; 135,425 and 388,191 show the combination of a chair with another piece of furniture such as a cradle but are otherwise irrelevant.
In general, none of the above patents are even close to the present invention which solves a unique problem in an unobvious manner. The invention provides security eliminating the possibility of attacks by more aggressive pets while providing a comfortable and attractive environment for both pets and their owners.


Disclosed are oral care compositions, including therapeutic rinses, especially mouthrinses and methods of use to provide significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity, thereby reducing oral bacteria and promoting overall oral health. The present compositions are formulated to deliver increased bioavailable levels of cationic antimicrobials, particularly quaternary ammonium compounds such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and are useful for preventing and treating diseases or conditions of the oral cavity including dental plaque, caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease and breath malodor. The present compositions are formulated to be essentially free of anionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants, which have been found to have a negative effect on bioavailability of the quaternary ammonium compounds and thus, their antimicrobial efficacy.

Dental plaque is a mixed matrix of bacteria, epithelial cells, leukocytes, macro-phages and other oral exudate. Bacteria comprise approximately three-quarters of the plaque matrix. Any given sample of dental plaque could contain more than 400 different varieties of microorganisms. This mix includes both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Viruses have also been found in samples of dental plaque.
This matrix of organisms and oral exudate continues expanding and coalesces with other plaque growths situated nearby. The bacteria synthesize levans and glucans from sucrose found in the oral cavity providing energy for the microorganisms. These glucans, levans and microorganisms form an adhesive skeleton for the continued proliferation of plaque.
The bacteria found in plaque can secrete acids, enzymes and toxins, which can cause caries, oral malodor and periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease ("gum disease") is a broad term used to describe those diseases which attack the gingiva and the underlying alveolar bone supporting the teeth. The disease exists in a number of species of warm blooded animals including humans and canines, and includes a series of diseases exhibiting various syndromes which vary from each other according to the stage or situation of the disease or the age of the patient. The term is used for any inflammatory disease, which initially occurs at a marginal gingiva area and may affect the alveolar bone. Periodontal disease affects the periodontium, which is the investing and supporting tissue surrounding a tooth (i.e., the periodontal ligament, the gingiva, and the alveolar bone). Two common periodontal diseases are gingivitis (inflammation of the gingiva) and periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontal ligament manifested by progressive resorption of alveolar bone, increasing mobility of the teeth, and loss of the teeth at advanced stage). Combinations of inflammatory and degenerative conditions are termed periodontitis complex. Other terms used for various aspects of periodontal disease are "juvenile periodontitis", "acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis", and "alveolar pyorrhea".
Periodontal disease may involve one or more of the following conditions: inflammation of the gingiva, formation of periodontal pockets, bleeding and/or pus discharge from the periodontal pockets, resorption of alveolar bone, loose teeth and loss of teeth. Periodontal disease is generally considered to be caused by/associated with bacteria, which are generally present in dental plaque which forms on the surface of the teeth and in the periodontal pocket. Thus, known methods for treating periodontal disease often include the use of antimicrobials and/or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adult humans. Tooth loss from periodontal disease is a significant problem beginning at age 35, but even by age 15 it is estimated that about 4 out of 5 persons already have gingivitis and 4 out of 10 have periodontitis. While good oral hygiene, as achieved by brushing the teeth with a cleansing dentifrice, may help reduce the incidence of periodontal disease, it does not necessarily prevent or eliminate its occurrence. This is because microorganisms contribute to both the initiation and progress of periodontal disease. Thus, in order to prevent or treat periodontal disease, these microorganisms must be suppressed by some means other than simple mechanical scrubbing. Towards this end, there has been a great deal of research aimed at developing therapeutic dentifrices, mouthwashes, and methods of treating periodontal disease, which are effective in suppressing these microorganisms.
Malodor of the oral cavity is also known as halitosis or bad breath. It is broadly estimated that in the United States 20-90 million individuals have oral malodor. It is generally believed that the cause of this condition is due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria, especially gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, in the mouth. These bacteria will generate volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's) which are known to cause oral or breath malodor. It is also recognized in the art that oral malodor not only comes from the posterior dorsal surface of the tongue but also from periodontal pockets. Furthermore, a person with gingivitis or periodontal disease may have increased oral malodor from disintegrated epithelial cells. Epithelial cells turn over faster if inflammation is present. Therefore, a larger number of these dead epithelial cells remain in the oral cavity and will degrade into the malodorous compounds.
The use of mouthrinses comprising quaternary ammonium antimicrobials such as CPC to reduce or eliminate oral bacterial flora and oral malodor has been recognized for some time. Examples of previous disclosures include: U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,395 to Libin; U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,229 to Adamy; U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,184 to Rolla; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,417 to Wicks et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,925 to Jampani et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,390 to Nelson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,063 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,549 both to McLaughlin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,906 to Scodari et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,664 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,527 both to Konopa; U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,604 to Hall; U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,418 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,865 both to Yamagishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,479 to Garlich et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,525,330; 5,256,396; 5,158,763; 4,370,314; 4,339,430; 4,273,759; 4,224,309; 4,188,372; 4,137,303; 4,123,512; 4,118,476; 4,118,475; 4,118,474; 4,118,473; 4,118,472; 4,110,429; 4,102,993; 4,100,270; 4,089,880; 4,080,441; 4,042,679; and 3,864,472 and WO 03/075865 (all assigned to Colgate Palmolive); U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,262 to Charbonneau et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,204; 4,663,154 and 4,472,373 all to Ryan; U.S. Pat. No. 4 4,325,939 to Shah; U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,551, to Parran, Jr.; WO 96/15770, WO 94/27566 and WO 94/18939 (all assigned to Warner-Lambert); WO 00/44338 (assigned to Bioglobe Tech., Inc.).
While quaternary ammonium antimicrobials such as CPC have long been used in oral mouthrinses, there is still a need for additional formulations, which provide enhanced antimicrobial activity along with increased user acceptance. The present invention relates to mouthrinse compositions that provide increased bioavailable levels of a quaternary ammonium antimicrobial and thus, improved efficacy. The compositions are formulated to be essentially free of anionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants. Surfactants are normally employed to achieve dispersion of water insoluble additives such as flavoring oils in oral care compositions. The present inventors have discovered that the presence of such surfactants in compositions containing quaternary ammonium antimicrobials can significantly inhibit their activity. Specifically the use of surfactants has been found to decrease the amount of bioavailable antimicrobial and is therefore deleterious to achieving acceptable bactericidal efficacy. The present mouthrinse compositions are thus formulated to be essentially free of such anionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants, resulting in enhanced bactericidal efficacy of the compositions, while surprisingly being aesthetically pleasing.

Oral care compositions comprising increased bioavailable levels of quaternary ammonium antimicrobials


Disclosed is an electret condenser microphone which reinforces electrostatic discharge protection and noise isolation by adding a series of components in the electret condenser microphone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a condenser microphone used in a mobile communication terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electret condenser microphone which reinforces electrostatic discharge protection and noise isolation by adding a series of components in the electret condenser microphone.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a condenser microphone used in a mobile communication terminal such as a smart phone, a PDA, a CDMA terminal and a GSM terminal, etc., sounds are received depending on quantity of electric charge varied according to a sound pressure and provided to a baseband codec through a Field-Effect Transistor (FET) as a differential type (which is one having both a positive terminal and a negative terminal).
However, in the above-mentioned condenser microphone, an external body is formed as a terminal of the differential, not a ground. Accordingly, when connecting to a device of the mobile communication terminal, noise flows in an input of the microphone due to a contact of a power supply line and a ground source.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, according to the related art condenser microphone, since only a Multi Layer Ceramic Capacity (MLCC) 11, which is a chip capacitor, and a FET 12 are provided on an internal PCB substrate 10, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is also poor.

Electret condenser microphone for noise isolation and electrostatic discharge protection

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to block TDMA noise by embodying an RC circuit using series resistors and a varistor having a capacitor component in an electret condenser microphone, and to provide ESD protection effect when testing air or contact ESD by mounting two transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes. It is possible to block RF noises in various frequency bands, and to reduce TDMA noise level when making a call with a maximum power level, by applying an electret condenser microphone for ESD protection and noise isolation to a mobile communication terminal.

Abstract: Further, since the electret condenser microphone according to the invention uses an internal analog ground, an artwork of a PCB substrate or isolations from other parts is possible.


Computer-implemented methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for providing a notification when a vehicle has been accessed by an unauthorized person. An onboard computer system of a vehicle is activated in response to a trigger event indicating that the vehicle has been accessed. It is determined whether an authorized consumer electronics device (CED), that is associated with an authorized person, is connected to a wireless communication interface of an onboard computer system. When an authorized CED has not connected to the wireless communication interface, a notification message is communicated that indicates that the vehicle has been accessed and that an authorized CED has not connected to the wireless communication interface.

Many vehicles today include on-board computers that perform a variety of functions. For example, on-board computers control operation of the engine, control systems within the vehicle, provide security functions, perform navigation tasks, and facilitate communications with remote driver-assistance centers that can provide services including in-vehicle safety and security, navigation, and remote-diagnostics.
In some cases, a vehicle can be accessed without the owner's authorization. For instance, someone could enter or drive the vehicle without the owner's permission.
It would be desirable to provide methods, systems and apparatus for providing notification that a vehicle has been accessed without the owner's authorization (e.g., stolen). It would also be desirable if such methods, systems and apparatus can alert a vehicle owner when their vehicle is accessed, moved and/or driven without their permission or knowledge thereof. Other desirable features and characteristics of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Methods, systems and apparatus for providing notification that a vehicle has been accessed


Structures and methods for selectively applying a well bias to only those portions of a PLD where such a bias is necessary or desirable, e.g., applying a positive well bias to transistors on critical paths within a user's design. A substrate for an integrated circuit includes a plurality of wells, each of which can be independently and programmably biased with the same or a different well bias voltage. In one embodiment, FPGA implementation software automatically determines the critical paths and generates a configuration bitstream that enables positive well biasing only for the transistors participating in the critical paths, or only for programmable logic elements (e.g., CLBs or lookup tables) containing those transistors. In another embodiment, negative well biasing is selectively applied to reduce leakage current.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are a well-known type of digital integrated circuit that may be programmed by a user to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) surrounded by a ring of programmable input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLBs and IOBs are interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure. Some FPGAs also include additional logic blocks with special purposes (e.g., DLLs, RAM, and so forth).
The CLBs, IOBs, interconnect, and other logic blocks are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data (bitstream) into internal configuration memory cells that define how the CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect are configured. The configuration data may be read from memory (e.g., an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
In a PLD, as in other integrated circuits (ICs), the various CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect are formed on a single substrate. FIG. 1A shows a first silicon substrate on which NMOS 101 and PMOS 102 transistors are formed. The silicon substrate 100 is positively doped (P-type). Therefore, to form a PMOS transistor, an "IN-well" (negatively doped region) 112 is diffused into substrate 100, and the PMOS transistor 102 is formed within N-well 112.
FIG. 1B shows a second silicon substrate for a CMOS integrated circuit (IC) formed using a "triple-well" process. When the triple-well process is used, NMOS transistors 101 are formed within "P-wells" (positively doped regions) 111, within larger N-wells 113, which in turn reside within P-type substrate 100. Similarly, all PMOS transistors 102 are formed within N-wells 112, which also reside within P-type substrate 100. Thus, the P-wells 111 and N-wells 112 are electrically isolated, both from each other and from all other wells in the substrate.
FIG. 1C shows a third silicon substrate formed using an "SOI", or silicon-on-insulator, process. When an SOI process is used, NMOS transistors 101 are formed within P-wells 111, and PMOS transistors 102 are formed within N-wells 112. Each of P-wells 111 and N-wells 112 reside within an electrically insulating substrate 110. Thus, the substrate insolates the P-wells and N-wells from each other and from all other wells in the substrate.
Over time, IC designers are reducing the "VCC" or power high voltage level at which ICs are designed to operate. This reduction in VCC has the advantage of reducing power consumption in an IC. However, it also has the undesirable effect of reducing performance in the IC. Therefore, it is desirable to find ways to counteract this decrease in performance. One method is to apply a voltage bias to the wells in which the transistors reside.
When either a triple-well or an SOI process is used, the P-wells and N-wells can be biased to voltage levels different from each other and from other wells of the same type. An applied voltage differential is referred to as a "substrate bias" or (when applied to a well) a "well bias".
FIGS. 1B and 1C shows examples of the application of well biasing to P-wells and N-wells. For example, for an NMOS transistor 101, a positive well bias 105 of about 0.4 to 0.6 volts can be applied to P-well 111. In other words, if P-well 111 is normally at ground (0 volts), the P-well is driven to about 0.4 to 0.6 volts.
Similarly, for a PMOS transistor 102 a positive well bias 106 of about −0.4 to −0.6 volts can be applied to an N-well 112. In other words, the so-called "positive well bias" drives the N-well to a negative voltage relative to the original voltage level. For example, for a PMOS transistor 102, if the N-well is normally at VCC (power high), the N-well is driven to about VCC−0.4 to VCC−0.6 volts.
As the term is used herein, applying a more positive voltage to a P-well or a more negative voltage to an N-well is called applying a "positive well bias". Thus, applying a positive well bias effectively reduces the reverse well bias of the transistors within the well. Also as used herein, applying a more negative voltage to a P-well or a more positive voltage to an N-well is called applying a "negative well bias". Thus, applying a negative well bias effectively increases the reverse well bias of the transistors within the well.
By changing the voltage level of a well, the threshold voltage (Vt) of the transistors within the well is altered. For example, an increased positive voltage in a P-well (i.e., a positive well bias) causes a drop in the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistors within the well. This lower threshold voltage, in turn, increases the saturation drain current, which increases the performance of all of the NMOS transistors within the biased well.
The reverse situation is also true. For example, a lower voltage in a P-well (i.e., a negative well bias) causes a rise in the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistors within the well, resulting in a reduced leakage current. Gitlin et al. describe one example of using a negative well bias to reduce leakage current in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,620, entitled "Pass Gate Circuit with Body Bias Control", which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, the application of a negative well bias also has the effect of reducing the performance of the transistor.
While the application of a positive well bias increases the performance of a transistor, the faster operation has its price. Besides increasing the saturation drain current, the positive well bias also increases the amount of current flowing through an inactive transistor. This current is a major component of leakage current in a CMOS integrated circuit (IC). Therefore, applying a positive well bias to all the transistors on an IC certainly improves the performance of the device, but can also lead to an unacceptably large leakage current.
To address this limitation, "fixed function" logic devices (as opposed to programmable logic devices, or PLDs) can be designed with positive well bias applied only to circuits that are particularly speed-critical. By applying this technique, the speed advantage is gained only where necessary, while the increase in leakage current is kept within acceptable bounds.
However, the problem of increased leakage current with an applied positive well bias is not so easily addressed in PLDS. In PLDs, the critical circuits and paths are not limited to specific areas of the device or to specific transistors. For example, in an FPGA, a user can program any of the CLBs to perform a speed-critical function, and a path between two such CLBs can traverse any of a large number of interconnect paths. Therefore, in the past, to take advantage of positive well biasing in a PLD would have required the well biasing of each transistor in the programmable areas of the device, to ensure that the critical paths used the biased transistors. As PLDs increase in size, to the point where many millions of transistors are used in each PLD, leakage currents are becoming a limiting factor in many designs. Therefore, it has not been possible to take advantage of positive well biasing in the design of large PLDs.
It is therefore desirable to provide structures and methods enabling the application of well biasing techniques to large PLDS.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Structures and methods for selectively applying a well bias to portions of a programmable device


A light-transmitting discharge vessel (10) encloses a discharge space (11) in a gastight manner. The discharge space comprises mercury as well as one or several inert gases. The lamp is in addition provided with an electric coil (20) for generating a high-frequency magnetic field in the discharge space. The discharge lamp is provided with an auxiliary amalgam (40) which is provided on an elongate carrier (41) which is mechanically coupled to a tube (50) which issues into the discharge space. The auxiliary amalgam (40) covers the carrier (41) at least substantially entirely.

The invention relates to an electrodeless low-pressure mercury discharge lamp provided with a light-transmitting discharge vessel which encloses a discharge space in a gastight manner, which discharge space contains mercury and one or several inert gases. The lamp is in addition provided with an electric coil for generating a high-frequency magnetic field in the discharge space, and an auxiliary amalgam which is applied to an elongate carrier which is mechanically coupled to a tube issuing into the discharge space.
Such an electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp, also referred to as lamp in the present description and claims, is known from DE 195 34 686 to which U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,508 corresponds. The auxiliary amalgam serves to cause the mercury pressure in the discharge vessel to rise quickly up to a value desired for nominal operation after the lamp has been switched on. It is the task of a main amalgam to maintain this value during nominal operation. A desired objective is that the light output should reach a value of at least 70% of the value obtaining during nominal operation within 60 s. Any temporary drop in the light output preferably amounts to no more than 20%. In the known lamp, the auxiliary amalgam is provided on a comparatively small portion adjacent the end of a cylindrically rolled metal wiring net. The cylinder formed thereby has a further, comparatively small portion coated with a main amalgam adjacent the opposite end. In another embodiment, the carrier is a metal strip. This construction, where the carrier of the auxiliary amalgam is fastened in the tube by means of frictional forces, is attractive because of the simplicity with which the carrier can be assembled together with the lamp. It is a disadvantage of the known lamp, however, that the auxiliary amalgam must be provided individually on each carrier.

Electrodeless low-pressure mercury discharge lamp


Disclosed is a wireless remote controller using a time division protocol. A satellite radio equipped with the wireless remote controller is also disclosed which performs an audio processing operation for time division multiplexing (TDM) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals respectively transmitted from satellites and a terrestrial repeater by demodulating and digitally processing the TDM and OFDM signals. The remote controller includes a transceiver for performing a bi-directional communication through a single channel in such a manner that transmission and reception sides are sync with each other in accordance with a time division duplexing scheme, the transceiver wirelessly transmitting a command from a user, and executing a response received thereto. A Bluetooth radio modem and a commercially available inexpensive protocol can be used, so that it is possible to inexpensively provide, to the driver, the same convenience and advantages as the conventional system. Also, the time division duplexing (TDD) wireless remote controller consumes reduced power. The wireless remote controller also allows the driver to manipulate the satellite radio for listening to music of high quality and displaying diverse information while minimizing reduction of his attention to driving the motor vehicle to maintain safe driving of the motor vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless remote controller for a satellite radio receiver, and more particularly to a wireless remote controller which uses a time division duplexing system using a time division protocol, thereby being capable of overcoming a limitation on the directionality of remote control for a satellite radio while efficiently utilizing limited frequency resources to implement diverse additional information services. The present invention also relates to a satellite radio equipped with such a wireless remote controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional AM/FM radios have a sound quality and reception sensitivity insufficient to meet the user's desire. In particular, in radios installed in motor vehicles, there are many difficulties in securing a desired reception sensitivity due to the mobility feature of those motor vehicles. In order to solve such a problem, satellite radios have been developed. Satellite radios can provide diverse digital services of high quality while maintaining a highly-sensitive reception state. However, such satellite radios have drawbacks when they are used in a running motor vehicle to provide music and other services of high quality. This is because the satellite radios have a complex configuration to provide many channels and diverse additional services, so that they cannot be conveniently manipulated by the user. For this reason, when a driver manipulates such a satellite radio installed in a motor vehicle while driving the motor vehicle, his attention to driving the motor vehicle may be reduced, so that an accident may occur. In order to allow the driver to conveniently manipulate the satellite radio without losing his attention to driving the motor vehicle, a remote controller for remotely controlling the satellite radio has been developed. This remote controller uses an infrared system mainly used in existing electronic products. However, the remote controller of such a type has a problem in that it must be used under the condition in which the driver pays attention to the directionality of the remote controller. Since the receiver unit of the satellite radio also has a limitation on its position due to the limited directionality of the remote controller, there may also be a problem in that where the satellite radio is installed at the central portion of the front panel in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, or at a position where the receiver unit cannot reliably receive a remote control signal from the remote controller, it is necessary to separate the receiver unit from the satellite radio, in order to install the receiver unit at a position where it can reliably receive the remote control signal from the remote controller. Furthermore, where the remote controller is configured to transmit digital data in an RF manner, its circuitry is complex. It is also necessary to secure error processibility and stability. For this reason, there is a problem of high costs. Meanwhile, wireless remote controller used in general satellite radios includes a combination of simple function keys. In other words, these wireless remote controllers have no hardware configuration capable of displaying information of diverse additional services, for example, a channel number, channel name, channel category, artist name, song title, subsidiary text, and diagnostic message.
Now, an example of conventional satellite radios will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a broadcasting system for a satellite radio broadcasting service, for example, a satellite radio broadcasting service provided by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. Referring to FIG. 1, the satellite radio broadcasting system includes a radio studio 1, a studio-side repeater 3, a first remote uplink repeater 5, a second uplink repeater 7, a first radio satellite 9, a second radio satellite 11, a bi-directional communication satellite 11 such as a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite, terrestrial repeaters 15, and base stations 17. VSATs are typically installed, for audio, facsimile, and data transmission, at out-of-the-way places, in the country, or farming and fishing villages where no terrestrial network is constructed.
The radio studio 1 produces a program to be broadcast, and transmits broadcast data of the produced program to the VSAT communication satellite 13 via the radio-side repeater 3 directly connected to the radio studio 1. Simultaneously, the radio studio 1 transmits the broadcast data to the first and second remote uplink repeaters 5 and 7 which, in turn, transmit the broadcast data to the first and second radio satellites 9 and 11, respectively. In response to the broadcast data, the first and second radio satellites 9 and 11 transmit satellite signals TDM1 and TDM2 to a mobile receiver, respectively. Meanwhile, the VSAT communication satellite 13 transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal to the terrestrial repeaters 15, so as to cope with a reception difficulty caused by topographical or structural problems. The OFDM signal is transmitted to the mobile receivers via respective base stations 17 or respective terrestrial repeaters 15. OFDM uses a multi-carrier transmission system using several carrier signals, so as to divide a radio channel of a wide band into radio channels of a narrow band, thereby achieving transmission of a large amount of information and high-speed transmission. Thus, most areas receive two satellite signals TDM1 and TDM2, whereas the OFDM signal is used as a terrestrial wave for areas involving topographical or structural problems.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the control circuit of a satellite radio system manufactured by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite radio system includes a tuner 20, a signal demodulating unit 30, a digital signal processing unit 40. The tuner 20 includes an RF processor 21 having a well-known configuration for dividing an input satellite signal into time division multiplexing (TDM) and OFDM components, and outputting the resultant signals. The signal demodulating unit 30 includes an analog/digital (A/D) converter 31 for performing a function of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, a demodulator 32 for demodulating digital data outputted from the A/D converter 31, a TDM selector 33 for selecting a signal having a highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from TDM signals outputted from the demodulator 32, and an OFDM selector 34 for selecting a signal having a highest SNR from OFDM signals outputted from the demodulator 32. The signal demodulating unit 30 also includes a first memory 35 for providing comparative SNR data to the TDM selector 33 and OFDM selector 34, a signal mixer 36 for mixing signals outputted from the TDM selector 33 and OFDM selector 34, and a second memory 37 connected to the signal mixer 36. On the other hand, the digital signal processing unit 40 includes an oscillator 41 for outputting an oscillating signal of 16.384 MHz, a digital/analog (D/A) processor 42 for processing data received from an external controller 50 and a signal outputted from the signal mixer 36, thereby outputting analog signals, respectively, and third and fourth memories 43 and 44 connected to the D/A processor 42. An audio D/A converter 60 is coupled to the D/A processor 42, in order to output an audio signal and a stereo audio signal.
When a satellite signal having a bandwidth of 12.5 MHz while being centered on 2.32625 GHz is inputted to the satellite radio system manufactured by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc to have the above described configuration, the tuner 20 divides the inputted satellite signal into signals of different frequency bands, that is, TDM signals TDM1 and TDM2 and an OFDM signal. The TDM signals TDM1 and TDM2, and OFDM signal outputted from the tuner 20 are sent to the signal demodulating unit 30. In the signal demodulating unit 30, the signals are converted from an analog form into a digital form, and then subjected to a digital down-converting process. Subsequently, the resultant signals are demodulated, and then sent to the signal mixer 36. The signal mixer 36 selects a signal having a highest SNR from the TDM signals TDM1 and TDM2 and OFDM signal, and performs a forward error collection (FEC) process for the selected signal. The digital signal processing unit 40 digitally processes the resultant data obtained in accordance with the FEC process, and outputs the resultant digital audio signal in the form of an IbS (Philips Inter-IC Sound Interface) format. The audio signal has a basic sampling rate of 32 KHz, and a maximum sampling rate of 96 KHz. The interface of the digital signal processing unit 40 to the external controller 50 uses a synchronous serial interface (SSI) format. Generally, the external controller 50 may be implemented in the form of a wired or wireless remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "wireless remote controller"). Alternatively, the external controller 50 may be integral with the body of the satellite radio system.
However, the above mentioned conventional satellite radio requires a complex manipulation, as compared to traditional radios, because it has a configuration capable of providing music services of high quality and diverse additional services, even where it is installed in a motor vehicle. As mentioned above, when the driver manipulates an operating panel integral with the body of the radio or a wired remote controller during the driving of the motor vehicle, his attention to driving the motor vehicle may be reduced, so that an accident may occur. To this end, it is necessary to design a wireless remote controller capable of preventing the driver from losing his attention to driving the motor vehicle during the manipulation of the remote controller, in order to allow stable use of the satellite radio.
Infrared wireless remote controllers mainly used in existing electronic appliances should be used under the condition in which the user pays attention to the directionality of the remote controller. Also, the receiver unit adapted to receive a remote control signal from such an infrared wireless remote controller has a limitation on its position due to the limited directionality of the remote controller. For this reason, there may also be a problem in that where a satellite radio adapted to use such an infrared wireless remote controller is installed at the central portion of the front panel in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, or at a position where the receiver unit cannot reliably receive a remote control signal from the remote controller, it is necessary to separate the receiver unit from the satellite radio, in order to install the receiver unit at a position where it can reliably receive the remote control signal from the remote controller. Of course, the receiver unit is connected to the satellite radio by a cable. Furthermore, the infrared wireless remote controller implements a unidirectional communication, so that it can only transmit an operating command from the user, without having a signal reception function. Although bi-directional transmission of digital data can be achieved using two bands in a general RF system, there are various problems in this case. For example, the circuitry of the system is complex. It is also necessary to secure error processibility and stability. For this reason, there is a problem of high costs. A Bluetooth scheme is known as a standard wireless communication method. However, it is undesirable to apply the Bluetooth scheme to a wireless remote controller for use in satellite radios because Bluetooth modules are expensive. Also, the above mentioned infrared wireless remote controller has a drawback in that it cannot display information of diverse additional services, provided by the wireless satellite radio, to be identified by the user, for example, a channel number, channel name, channel category, artist name, song title, subsidiary text, and diagnostic message, because it uses a unidirectional communication system.

Wireless remote controller using time division protocol and satellite radio receiver including the same


An agricultural implement includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. Seed delivery systems are included to aid in transporting the seed from the seed meter to the ground in a controlled manner to mitigate skips and to aid in controlling the spacing of the seeds, which can be based upon the ground speed of the implement as it moves through the field. The seed delivery systems can control the transport of the seed to a furrow in the field such that the seed can experience zero or near zero relative velocity so that the seed will have little to no movement once positioned in the furrow.

An agricultural row crop planter is a machine built for distributing seed into the ground. The row crop planter generally includes a horizontal toolbar fixed to a hitch assembly for towing behind a tractor. Row units are mounted to the toolbar. In different configurations, seed may be stored at individual hoppers on each row unit, or it may be maintained in a central hopper and delivered to the row units on an as needed basis. The row units include ground-working tools for opening and closing a seed furrow, and a seed metering system for distributing seed to the seed furrow.
In its most basic form, the seed meter includes a housing and a seed disc. The housing is constructed such that it creates a reservoir to hold a seed pool. The seed disc resides within the housing and rotates about a generally horizontal central axis. As the seed disc rotates, it passes through the seed pool where it picks up individual seeds. The seeds are subsequently dispensed into a seed chute where they drop into the seed furrow.
Seed spacing in the seed furrow is controlled by varying the rotational speed of the seed disc. Most commonly, seed disc rotation is driven by connection to a common driveshaft. The driveshaft runs horizontally along the length of the toolbar to connect to each row unit, and is driven by a single motor or a ground contact wheel. In this configuration, the planting rate can be adjusted for all row units uniformly by adjusting the rotational speed of the common drive shaft. This can be a tedious task, and an operator is unlikely to adjust the gear ratio as often as necessary to maximize yields. Generally, an optimal overall rate for a given acreage will be selected prior to planting and will be maintained at that rate regardless of soil conditions. Whether using a mechanical, air, or vacuum style seed disc, the seed disc is installed inside of the seed meter using independent fasteners and requires the use of tools to facilitate changing the disc. For example, if a farmer uses the same planter to plant corn and soybeans, he would use a different disc for the respective seed types. With planters continuing to grow in size, and more row units being added, the task of changing seed discs using independent fasteners and tools adds unnecessary burden to changing out seed discs.
More recently, planters have been designed to provide for independent driving of each of the seed discs in each seed meter. The meters include a motor, such as an electric motor, that is attached to the meter. The output shaft extends from the motor and into the meter such that a portion of the shaft is operatively connected to the seed disc. Therefore, the motor will operate to rotate the seed disc.
The most common seed delivery system for delivering seed from the seed disc to the furrow may be categorized as a gravity drop system. In the case of the gravity drop system, a seed tube has an inlet end, which is positioned below the seed metering system. The singulated seeds from the seed metering system drop into the seed tube and fall via gravitational force from a discharge end thereof into the seed trench. Monitoring systems are commonly used to monitor the operation of the planter. Such systems typically employ a seed sensor attached to each seed tube to detect the passage of seed therethrough.
However, such a gravity system can affect the seed spacing of the planter. For example, as the spacing of the speed is dependent on the rotational velocity of the seed disc and the gravitational constant, interruptions, forces, or other occurrences acting on the seed can greatly affect the spacing. For example, if the seed bumps against a wall of the seed tube on the way to the furrow; this can cause a delay or a non-vertical fall of the seed. If a preceding or following seed does not experience the same interruption, the seeds could be spaced too close or far from one another.
Furthermore, as the speed of planting increases, this causes additional problems. Drawing a planting implement through the field at faster speeds increases the speed of deposited seeds relative to the ground, causing seeds to roll and bounce upon landing in the trench or furrow and resulting in inconsistent plant spacing. The adverse agronomic effects of poor seed placement and inconsistent plant spacing are well known in the art.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an agricultural planting implement that includes a seed delivery apparatus that aids in delivering seed from a singulating seed meter to a furrow or trench in the field, such that the spacing of adjacent seed is more consistent to increase the yield obtained of the end crop.


The present invention relates to compounds, their use in the treatment or the prevention of viral disorders, including HIV.

The present invention relates to compounds, their use in the treatment or the prevention of viral disorders, including HIV. The present invention also relates to methods for the preparation of such compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. The present invention also relates to the treatment of viral infections by the administration of a therapeutically efficient amount of such compounds.
The Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease due to infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a retrovirus, belonging to the subclass of primate lentiviruses. Two types of HIV have been identified, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the larger part of the AIDS global epidemic in the world, with virtually every country reporting cases.
Currently HIV infected patients are treated with Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapies (HAART) that rely on a combination of several drugs belonging to different classes. Up to 2003, all approved anti-HIV drugs were inhibitors of the catalytic activity of two viral enzymes, Reverse Transcriptase (RT) inhibitors and Protease (PR) inhibitors. Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors include two different classes, Nucleoside/Nucleotide RT Inhibitors (NRTI) and Non Nucleoside RT Inhibitors (NNRTI). In 2003, a new class of Anti-retroviral drug (ARV), Fusion inhibitor (Enfuvirtide) was introduced (Cervia et al, Clin Infect Dis., 2003, 37(8):1102-6). And lately, in 2007, two other classes of ARV were approved, Entry inhibitors (Maraviroc (Pfizer)) targeting the CCR5 co-receptor, and Integrase inhibitors (Raltegravir (Merck)) (Hughes et al, J Infect., 2008, 57(1):1-10). Although these three novel drugs were very useful to treat patients in therapeutic failure due to multiresistance to RT and PR inhibitors, resistance mutations against these drugs have already been reported.
Although the development of these potent anti-HIV drugs, has allowed HIV-infected people to live longer and to benefit of a higher quality of life, it is clear that these drugs do not cure the HIV infection. Moreover, their prolonged use often results in significant toxicity and in the emergence of drug-resistant viruses. Importantly, the ability of HIV to establish latent reservoirs early in the course of infection ensures the persistence of the virus even in the face of intensive drug therapy and vigorous antiviral immune response.
Thus, there is a continuous need for the development of novel anti-HIV therapies or agents to overcome the problems of resistance to the existing drugs and to improve treatment efficiency (Daar E S, Top HIV Med, 2008, 16(4):110-6; De Clercq E, Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2008, 13(3):393-416).
Document of Christ et al (Christ et al, Nat. Chem. Biol., 2010, 6: 442) and documents WO 2007/131350, WO 2009/062285, WO 2009/062288, WO 2009/062289, WO 2009/062308, WO 2010/130034, WO 2010/130842 or WO 2011/015641 describe partially or totally unsaturated 6-membered heterocyclic derivatives as anti-HIV agents.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,506 describes imidazole derivatives as anti-HIV agents.

Inhibitors of viral replication, their process of preparation and their therapeutical uses


A pump having no moving parts which can be used to pump high temperature molten metal or other fluids in a vacuum or low pressure environment, and a method for pumping such fluids. The pump combines elements of a bubble pump with a trap which isolates the vacuum or low pressure region from the gas used to create the bubbles. When used in a vacuum the trap prevents the pumping gas from escaping into the isolated region and thereby reducing the quality of the vacuum. The pump includes a channel in which a pumping gas is forced under pressure into a cavity where bubbles are formed. The cavity is in contact with a reservoir which contains the molten metal or other fluid which is to be pumped. The bubbles rise up into a column (or pump tube) carrying the fluid with them. At the top of the column is located a deflector which causes the bubbles to burst and the drops of pumped fluid to fall into a trap. The fluid accumulates in the trap, eventually forcing its way to an outlet. A roughing pump can be used to withdraw the pumping gas from the top of the column and assist with maintaining the vacuum or low pressure environment.

Various types of pumps are commonly used to pump fluids from one location to another. Liquid metal, or another fluid of sufficiently high electrical conductivity, can be pumped by means of an electromagnetic (EM) pump. A description of the theory behind and applications of such pumps can be found in the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 6th Edition, Volume 6, pages 153-54, published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. EM pumps are based on the principle that a force is exerted on a current-carrying conductor when it is placed in a magnetic field. There are several types of EM pumps, with the various designs being differentiated by the character of the current (direct or alternating current) and magnetic field used, and the method used to cause current to flow within the pumped fluid.
One of the most common types of EM pumps is termed a conduction pump, which may be of either the direct current (dc) or alternating current (ac) variety. A dc conduction EM pump consists of a pump duct or conduit through which flows a conductive fluid (such as molten metal) and across which is applied a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the desired direction of fluid flow. The magnetic field may be produced by either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Electrodes are arranged such that they form a path for current to be conducted through the fluid in a direction perpendicular to both the desired direction of fluid flow and the direction of the magnetic field. The relationship between the current, magnetic field, and intended direction of fluid flow subjects the fluid to a force which acts to pump it through the conduit (where the incremental force dF is given by dF=I dl.times.B, where dl is the increment of length of the current path in the fluid and B is the magnetic field).
The physical arrangement of the elements in such a pump allows only a single passage of current between the electrodes, resulting in the existence of a relatively short length for the current path within the fluid. To compensate for this situation, and to increase the force exerted on the fluid, very high currents (typically thousands of amperes) at low voltages (typically less than 1 volt) are used. The high currents can result in the production of heat due to the I.sup.2 R power dissipation occurring within the conducting fluid. This situation, and the need to protect the magnet from the fluid, which itself may be at a high temperature, means that the magnet is usually both electrically and thermally insulated from the conduit.
Standard EM pumps have several advantages over mechanical pumps. The absence of moving parts within the pumped fluid means that seals or bearings are not needed. This minimizes required maintenance and improves reliability. EM pumps can also operate in a vacuum, something that some mechanical pumps are not capable of doing.
However, EM pumps also have several disadvantages. Because the conduit is often relatively flat in order to increase the magnitude of the force applied to the conducting fluid, such pumps are prone to becoming obstructed. The magnet used to create the magnetic field must be close in proximity to the conduit and electrically and thermally insulated from it. This makes the pump bulkier and complicates its design and fabrication. EM pumps also require a power supply to provide the conduction current and may require an additional power supply if an electromagnet is used to produce the magnetic field.
In addition, although EM pumps are capable of pumping large volumes of fluid (hundreds to thousands of gallons per minute), because such pumps are sensitive to the head depth of the pump, they are not as easily used to pump small amounts or to regulate the rate at which fluid is pumped. This can be a disadvantage in circumstances where it is important to be able to precisely control the amount of fluid which is pumped, or to obtain a highly reproducible pump rate. Finally, the fluid which is to be pumped must have a sufficiently high electrical conductivity in order for the pump to be effective. This limits the applications for which the pump is suited.
Another type of pump which can be used to pump fluids is a bubble or air-lift pump. This type of pump uses gas (typically air) forced under pressure into a cavity to create a stream of bubbles, which carry liquid with them as they rise up a pump tube. A theoretical analysis of the performance of air-lift pumps is contained in the article "An Analytical and Experimental Study of Air-Lift Pump Performance", by A. H. Stenning and C. B. Martin, published in Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Engineering for Power, pp. 106-110, April 1968.
Air-lift or bubble pumps are commonly used for purposes of underwater exploration and mining. However, standard bubble pumps are not suitable for pumping fluids in a vacuum because as the bubbles burst, the quality of the vacuum will be reduced. This limits the usefulness of bubble pumps, as it is desirable to pump fluids such as liquid metal in a vacuum in order to reduce the reactivity of the molten metal. Pumping molten metal in a vacuum serves to lessen damage to the pump and limits chemical reactions involving the metal which may reduce its usefulness for the purpose for which it is intended.
What is desired is an apparatus and method for pumping high temperature molten metal or other fluids in a vacuum or low pressure environment, which is not subject to the disadvantages of pumps currently used for such purposes.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A display apparatus (10, 10′) for sequentially displacing sheets (A) to a display position, comprising a drive (20) for displacing sheets (A) in a circuit to a display position. An actuator (30) actuates the drive (20). Connector devices (40, 50) connect opposed ends of sheets (A) along the drive (20). Each connector device (40, 50) has (i) a first connector (40) securing a first edge portion (A1) of a sheet (A) to the drive (20), and (ii) a second connector device (50) having a longitudinal member (41′) secured to a second edge portion (A2) of the sheet (A) and connected to the drive (20) so as to be restrictively displaceable along the drive (20). An abutment portion (43′) is securable against the longitudinal member (41′) for retaining the edge portion (A2) of the sheet (A) therebetween. A tensioner (52) connects the longitudinal member (41′) to the drive (20) to maintain the sheet in a taut condition with a predetermined tension.

Display apparatuses with sequential scrolls of advertisement sheets are well known and broadly used. Such apparatuses allow advertisers to share display spaces and owners of the spaces to profit from the rental of these spaces.
A well-known type of these scrolling display apparatuses comprise a pair of parallel rollers spaced from one another. A film supporting a sequence of advertisement images is unwound from the first roller to be wound onto the second roller in a first displaying sequence. Once the film has been completely unwound from the first roller, the sequence is reversed to wind the film onto the first roller.
Although such display apparatuses are relatively simple, the nonuniform sequence of the image display is problematic. More specifically, the end images get about half as much exposure as the in-between images of the film. Also, when the film reaches an end of the sequence, the penultimate image is shown twice in a three-display sequence. Accordingly, the attention span of an observer may be shortened by the lack of novelty in the displays he observes. Also, it is known that the attention span is relatively short, and it is therefore preferable to squeeze as many different images as possible into this attention span, rather than showing a repeat of a same image.
Accordingly, other types of display apparatuses have been provided with continuous display sequences. For instances, U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,987, issued on Jan. 11, 1994, to Honse, discloses a display system for advertisement sheets having a storage rack with an entrance and an exit. A belt drive entrains a first display sheet from the exit in a circuitous pathway to a display area. Thereafter, the first display sheet is returned to the entrance of the storage rack, behind the other sheets. This display system operates in a "first-in, first-out" fashion, whereby all other display sheets will have to be displayed prior to the first display sheet being entrained by the belt drive.
In such display systems, the display sheets must be installed onto the existing belt drives. The display sheets are, for instance, glued to the drives, or have connectors (such as zipper, Zip-lock™ mechanisms) glued thereto for subsequent installation on the drive.
Unfortunately, the bonding of the connectors to the display sheets or of the display sheets to the drive is not very convenient, especially if the bonding takes place on site. For instance, the curing time of bonds or glues is typically 24 hours at room temperature before exposure to lower temperatures. Accordingly, the bonding of the advertisement sheet to the connectors cannot be performed on outdoor sites below certain temperatures. In cases where connectors are used, it is possible to supply additional sets of connectors to be bonded to the advertisement sheets prior to the on-site installation. However, this represents additional costs, and hence is not an optimal solution considering that the advertisement sheets are relatively cheaper in price than the connectors. It is possible to lessen the strength of the bond or shorten the curing time, but this may ultimately result in the advertisement sheets dislodging from the display system, and cause inoperability of the display system.
Accordingly, because of the inconvenience provided by the use of glue or bond fixing the connectors to the advertisement sheets, some advertisement sheets of display apparatuses go unchanged in some cooler countries during the cooler periods. Therefore, such display apparatuses are less appealing to some products having shorter lifespans, if advertisement contracts are struck with relatively long terms (e.g., six months) that are scheduled to avoid advertisement sheet changes in the cooler weather.
Another drawback of display apparatuses is the premature ripping of advertisement sheets. The advertisement sheets are typically of a nonextendible material, and the connectors attaching the advertisement sheets of the display apparatus keep the advertisement sheets taut. The advertisement sheets are displaced in a circuit in which they follow both straight and arcuate paths. In the arcuate paths of the circuit, the distance between the connectors at opposite ends of an advertisement sheet often varies slightly, thereby causing unwanted tension or ballooning in the advertisement sheet. This unwanted tension can cause the advertisement sheet to rip, thereby causing the inoperability of the display apparatus. This situation is likely to occur during cooler periods, in which the advertisement sheets contract due to exposure to cold temperatures. Considering the inefficient change of advertisement sheets: as set forth above, the ripping of an advertisement sheet in cold weather is likely to result in an extended downtime of the display apparatus.

Apparatus for sequentially displaying a plurality of advertisement sheets


A dump body heater according to an embodiment of the present invention blows hot air into the dump body, heating the body and preventing material from freezing to the body in cold weather. Prior art systems typically use the exhaust system of the truck by diverting the exhaust heat into the dump body.

It is well-known to provide heating systems for the payload area of trunk-type vehicles. For example, heating the payload-bearing area of a dump truck also known as the dump truck body.
Typical systems merely divert the truck's exhaust into the dump truck body or underneath it to heat the body itself. The exhaust gas is not usually hot enough and loses too much heat before getting to the dump truck body to effectively heat the payload area. Uneven heating and freezing of the payload are usually the result. In addition, new motor vehicle emission laws are making it more difficult to use the prior art exhaust systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,711 to Vogelzang et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,935 to Dillingmah. Neither patent, however, discloses an independent, distinct and separate heating system for the payload area of a vehicle.

Independent heating system for motor vehicle payload


A mirror angle controller is provided which includes a pivot plate (H) which is attached to a reverse side of a mirror (M), and an actuator (A) which holds the pivot plate (H), in which the actuator (A) includes a housing (A1), a rod (A3) which pushes and pulls the pivot plate (H), and a motor which provides driving force to the rod (A3), in which, a ringed holder (121) which is placed to surround the rod (A3) is formed in the housing (A1), and in which the pivot plate (H) includes a ringed sliding part (H31) which is contact with and arbitrarily slides on the holder (121), and an engaging part which is engaged with an end of the rod (A3) so as to securely hold the mirror (M).

As described in JP 2004-161123A, for instance, a mirror angle controller which holds and arbitrarily tilts a mirror is included in an outer rear view mirror which is installed on a side of a vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 14, the mirror angle controller described in JP 2004-161123A is attached to a reverse side of a mirror M (on a front side of the vehicle). The mirror angle controller includes a pivot plate Hc which holds the mirror M through a mirror holder Mh, and an actuator Ac which holds and arbitrarily tilts the pivot plate Hc.
The actuator Ac includes a ringed holder P whose inner peripheral surface is spherically formed and rods Q and Q which push and pull the pivot plate Hc. Moreover, a motor which provides driving force to the rod Q, and a gear which transmits the driving force of the motor to the rod Q not shown are included inside the actuator Ac.
A ringed sliding part P′ which is held by and arbitrarily slides on the holder P and a pair of engaging parts (not shown) with each of which the end of the rod Q engages are formed in the pivot plate Hc.
Thus, a rotation direction and amount of the motor are controlled to move the rod Q back and forth so that the pivot plate Hc tilts with respect to the actuator Ac.
By the way, in the mirror angle controller, the rods Q and Q are located outside the holder P. Therefore, load which is applied to the mirror M is applied to not only the holder P but also the rods Q and Q. In other words, in the mirror angle controller, the load which is applied to the pivot plate Hc is supported by three points (the holder P and the pair of rods Q and Q).
For instance, in a case where there is backlash between the rod Q in the actuator Ac and the engaging part in the pivot plate Hc, or a case where the rod Q has a dimension error or a mounting error, there occurs a problem that it is impossible to securely hold the mirror M. In particular, in a case where the mirror angle controller is installed in an outer mirror of a vehicle, the mirror M vibrates with high frequency during high-speed driving. A noise generated by the vibrating mirror may bother a passenger.


A slip control loop (13) is proposed which compares the actual differential speed between input and output speed of a friction clutch (5) of a motor vehicle with a desired differential value and adjusts a positioning drive (7) of the clutch (5) according to the desired differential speed. To increase the accuracy of control, a desired position signal from a clutch characteristic curve memory (25) is additively superimposed in the sense of an influencing variable on the desired position signal s' calculated by a controller (19) of the slip control loop (13). The clutch characteristic curve memory (25) stores the desired position signal s" as a function of the clutch moment which can be transmitted in this position and is addressed according to the instantaneous engine moment determined, for example, via an engine characteristic map (27). During a load change of the engine (1), the clutch (5) is adjusted to the expected moment before a significant change in the actual differential speed occurs. The controller (19) has an integrating controller property so that the integral portion of the desired signal s' is zero when the dimensioning of the clutch characteristic curve stored in the clutch characteristic curve memory (25) is corrected. A correcting device (33) allows step-wise correction of the characteristic curve as a function of the value of the integral portion.

The invention relates to an arrangement for controlling the slip of an automatic friction clutch arranged between the engine and the gearbox of a motor vehicle. From another aspect, the invention relates to an arrangement for correcting data stored in a data memory for the control of such a friction clutch.
It is known to engage and disengage conventional friction clutches arranged between the engine and the gearbox of a motor vehicle by means of a positioning drive which adjusts the clutch as a function of a comparison between a desired value and an actual value to a position which can be predetermined by a desired position signal. The desired position signal is produced for the automatic operation of the clutch by control means according to the travel situation of the motor vehicle. The control means can adapt its engagement characteristic in a known manner to the differing requirements during the start up of the motor vehicle or during a change of gear speeds.
It is known from DE-A-34 38 594 to keep the slip of the clutch at a predetermined desired slip value by means of a slip controlling circuit, independent of the control means controlling engagement and disengagement of the clutch. The slip controlling circuit can be used, on the one hand, to reduce rotary vibrations in the power train of the motor vehicle in that, for example, as a function of the engine speed a slip which is slight in comparison with this speed is permitted. On the other hand, the slip controlling circuit can be made effective in the final phase of the engagement process in order to achieve particularly soft and smooth engagement.
With the known slip controlling circuit, the input speed and the output speed of the clutch are measured by means of speed sensors and an averaging circuit produces an average value signal corresponding to the timed average value of the difference between these speeds, which the slip controlling circuit compares with a signal representing the instantaneous difference. The slip controlling circuit produces the desired position signal adjusting the positioning drive as a function of this comparison. The accuracy of control of the known slip controlling circuit is frequently inadequate in practice if small speed differences between input speed and output speed of the clutch of, for example, 1 to 2% of the input speed are to be regulated. In particular, great variations in the differential speed can occur with the known slip controlling circuit during a change in the power requirement of the engine, for example owing to a change in the position of the accelerator pedal. The known slip controlling circuit can follow only to a limited extent and comparatively slowly during a change of load.

Arrangement for controlling the slip of an automatic friction clutch


A data classification apparatus capable of quickly determining an emotion of a driver includes an input device in which a target emotion and an accuracy expectation value of the target emotion are inputted, and a controller rearranging a pre-stored data structure based on the target emotion and the accuracy expectation value of the target emotion, wherein the controller rearranges the data structure so that an accuracy value of the target emotion is secured as much as the accuracy expectation value.

In modern society, automobiles are the most common means of transportation and the number of people using them is increasing. Owing to the development of automobile technology, there are many changes in life such as easy movement over long distances and convenience of life.
In recent years, techniques have been developing to determine a driver's emotion and to increase the driver's convenience in accordance with the driver's emotion. In addition, technologies using biometrics have been developing to determine a driver's emotion.
Biometrics recognizes part of a person's body to perform emotion determination, such as voice recognition, face recognition, hand gesture recognition, and heartbeat recognition. Since biometrics uses a unique part of a person's body that changes according to emotions, biometrics is highly accurate in determining emotions, and thus many studies have been conducted on biometrics.

Data classification apparatus, vehicle including the same, and control method of the same


A bit-rate-transparent electrical space-division switching matrix is employed in an optical cross-connect and the input/output stage is constructed from simple, broadband optical receivers and transmitters. Since the switching matrix operates in unclocked manner, i.e. its switching function is not based on internal bit timing and frame timing, arbitrary signals can be switched though transparently at almost any bit rate, independently of the protocol-type being used. The inputs and outputs likewise operate fully independently of bit rate and protocol, since they only implement an O/E conversion or O/E conversion. By virtue of this structure, a simply constructed but extremely powerful optical cross-connect is created that can be employed equally for all types of optical signals within the stipulated wavelength-range. As a result, connections can be switched on the physical layer of an optical network, whereby the optical network can be utilised equally by various services with different transmission protocols.

For the transmission of data in transport networks, nowadays systems are mainly employed that operate in accordance with the recommendations of ITU-T for SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) and SONET (Synchronous Optical Network). In these systems, payload-data signals to be transmitted are packeted into multiplex units and interleaved in accordance with a multiplex rule to form a time-division-multiplexed communications signal. This is then transmitted as an optical communications signal via optical fibers of the network, whereby, in interposed network elements of the transport network, the communications signals are disassembled into the individual multiplex units contained therein and can be interleaved again in a new configuration. Connections in an SDH-based or SONET-based transport network are switched in this way. An overview of these systems is presented, for example, in the article entitled "SONET 101" produced by Nortel Networks.
In addition, optical networks are also increasingly finding application in which wavelength-multiplexed optical communications signals are transmitted. Such wavelength-multiplexed signals consist of several optical channels, which are each represented by one wavelength. As a result, it is possible for several optical signals to be transmitted in parallel via a single optical waveguide. For such optical networks, network elements are required that are capable of decoupling individual wavelengths from and inserting them into wavelength-multiplexed communications signal (add/drop multiplexers). In addition, network elements are required that are able to disassemble such wavelength-multiplexed communications signals into the individual wavelengths contained therein and multiplex them again in a new configuration, in order to switch connections in the optical network (cross-connects). The realization of the network elements that have been described is technically very elaborate, and the development of these devices is currently still in its initial stages. A standard for the optical channels is currently still being developed. For instance, a new multiplex hierarchy with the designation "optical channel (OCh)" is currently being discussed. This new multiplex hierarchy is intended to have multiplex levels with bit rates of 2.66 Gbit/sec and also multiples thereof (factors of four), namely 10.7x Gbit/sec and 43.x Gbit/sec, and is provided for optical transmission of information using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM).
Furthermore, so-called optical cross-connects are currently being developed which are intended to switch optical communications signals of arbitrary format such as SONET, ATM, IP. They contain a central space-division switching matrix which is intended to be transparent in respect of the communications signals to be switched. An example of such an optical cross-connect is specified in the article entitled "Cost Effective Optical Networks: The Role of Optical Cross-Connects" by Charles A. Brackett. This optical cross-connect operates with a SONET-based, clocked electrical space-division switching matrix which operates with the frame timing of OC-48. Full transparency in respect of non-SONET-based communications signals is therefore not guaranteed.
A further example is the 20000 Series wavelength router produced by Monterey. In a brochure relating to this product which has been published on the Internet it is specified that said router consists of a subsystem designated as a "switch core" and of I/O cards that support OC-48/STM-16 signals and that are connected to the switch core via short-range optical interfaces (Ultra-Short-Reach-Optics™). The switch core has a switching capacity of 256 OC-48 or 64 OC-192 equivalents. Consequently, it is likewise based on the frame-timing rate of SONET and is therefore not fully transparent in respect of all signal-types.
One aspect of the present invention comprises specifying an optical cross-connect that operates independently of bit rate and independently of protocol and additionally guarantees transmission functions for at least one protocol-type. A further aspect of the invention comprises specifying a method for bit-rate-independent and protocol-independent switching of optical communications signals.


A compound semiconductor light emitting device having a long life and high performance and a method for industrially fabricating the same are provided. The compound semiconductor light emitting device includes a GaP substrate, a buffer layer consisting of InN which is formed on the substrate, a relaxation layer consisting of In.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N which is formed on the buffer layer, and a luminescent layer consisting of In.sub.k Ga.sub.1-k N which is formed on the relaxation layer. In this description, k represents a constant value within the range of 0<k<1, and x (excluding 1 and k) decreases from 1 to k through the relaxation layer in the direction of thickness from the side adjacent the buffer layer toward the side adjacent the luminescent layer. In fabrication of the compound semiconductor light emitting device having the aforementioned structure, a buffer layer and an epitaxial layer are formed by the same organic metal chloride vapor phase epitaxy process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an epitaxial wafer and a compound semiconductor light emitting device, and methods of fabricating the same, and more particularly, it relates to an InGaN-based epitaxial wafer and compound semiconductor light emitting device employing volatile compound semiconductor substrates of GaAs, GaP, InAs or InP, and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of a GaN-based blue or green light emitting device (LED) employing a sapphire substrate described in Nikkei Science, October 1994, p. 44, for example, which is now being put on the market.
Referring to FIG. 4, a clad layer 14 consisting of n-type AlGaN, a luminescent layer 15 consisting of InGaN, a clad layer 16 consisting of p-type AlGaN and a GaN epitaxial layer 17 are successively formed on an epitaxial wafer which is formed by a sapphire substrate 11, a gallium nitride (GaN) buffer layer 12 which is formed on the substrate 11 and a hexagonal n-type GaN epitaxial layer 13 which is formed on the GaN buffer layer 12 in this blue or green light emitting device. Ohmic electrodes 18 and 19 are formed on the GaN epitaxial layers 13 and 17 respectively. In this blue or green light emitting device, the GaN buffer layer 12 is adapted to relax distortion caused by the difference in lattice constant between the sapphire substrate 11 and the GaN epitaxial layer 13.
Referring to FIG. 4, this blue or green light emitting device employs insulating sapphire as the material for the substrate 11, and hence two electrodes must be formed on the same surface side in order to fabricate the device. Thus, patterning through photolithography must be performed at least twice while the nitride layers must be etched by reactive ion etching, whereby complicated steps become necessary. Further, sapphire is hard to handle in element isolation, due to its high hardness. Thus, employment of the sapphire substrate is problematic in process cost. In view of application to a light emitting device, sapphire cannot be applied to a laser diode having an optical resonator which is formed by a cleavage end plane, since the same is impossible to cleave.
Further, it has been difficult to fabricate a blue or green light emitting device by a conventional growth method, since the growth temperature is so high that growth with a high In composition ratio cannot be attained in the InGaN layer 15 which is an active layer. In addition, zinc (Zn) must indispensably be introduced as an emission center, leading to such technical problems in application to a device that the emission wavelength is widened and display performance of a full-color display is deteriorated.
To this end, it has been attempted to employ a volatile compound semiconductor such as conductive GaAs as the material for the substrate in place of sapphire having the aforementioned disadvantages. When the substrate is prepared from GaAs, however, an epitaxial wafer comparable to the wafer employing a sapphire substrate cannot be obtained under similar conditions.
Thus, a number of studies have been made in order to form GaN epitaxial layers on GaAs substrates. Most of these studies are adapted to form buffer layers consisting of GaN, AlN, GaAs and the like on GaAs substrates and thereafter form GaN epitaxial layers on the buffer layers.
However, the difference in lattice constants, or lattice incommensurateness between GaAs and that GaN and that between GaAs and AlN are 20% and 23% respectively.
If an epitaxial wafer which is fabricated by forming a buffer layer consisting of GaN or AlN on a GaAs substrate and further forming a GaN epitaxial layer thereon as described above is applied to a light emitting device (LED), therefore, there is a possibility that the life of the device is disadvantageously reduced by crystal defects.

Epitaxial wafer and compound semiconductor light emitting device, and method of fabricating the same


A system and method for determining characteristics of a multiphase flow in a well/pipe are disclosed. The disclosed system and method use an optical immersion probe including a flow gap across which two or more types of radiation are transmitted in order to measure absorptions of two or more substances within the multiphase flow. Primarily, broadband ultraviolet (UV) and/or near infrared radiations (NIR) are utilized with the probe to gather absorption data at and/or around at least one of the water peaks and at and/or around one or more oil or oil-condensate peaks. This data may be utilized to calculate the water-cut of the multiphase flow over a wider range of gas volume fractions. Additionally, pressure ports having pressure sensors being located on the optical immersion probe for determining the impact pressures and flow rates of different phases of the multiphase flow may also be used.

This disclosure relates in general to immersion probes and, but not by way of limitation, to using immersion probes for measuring the water-cut in gas-condensate (wet-gas) wells, amongst other things.
Probes, such as immersion probes, can offer a range of data which aids in both determining and helping to regulate the content and/or flow rate of gas and oil flows in wells. Use of these probes varies dependent on the type of well in which it is utilized. For instance, natural gas and crude oil wells vary in the amount of gas-condensate, oil, natural gas, water and gas volume fractions (GVF) that are present. Accordingly, the probes are designed to accommodate such differences in order to provide the most accurate readings of the constituents within each well type.
Currently, the primary optical technique for determining the water-cut is utilizing a near infrared (NIR) beam to measure absorption levels in the multi-phase mixtures for oil/gas-condensate wells having low to high gas volume fractions. Water-cut may also be referred to as water-in-liquid ratio (WLR) for a well-mixed liquid and is the amount of water content in the liquid phase of a multiphase flow. The NIR beam is utilized because water is highly absorbed in the NW range, with one of the peak absorptions at around 1450 nanometers (nm). The absorption of oils, condensate and water mixtures varies, each can have relatively different absorptions at different wavelengths. For instance, oil-condensate or light oils show higher absorptions at lower wavelengths and water shows absorption peaks at higher wavelengths.
Prior art configurations for determining the water cut of a flow, use a probe disposed along the two opposing sides of a well pipe and having a beam sent across the pipe from an NIR and/or ultraviolet (UV) light source to a receiving element separated by the diameter of the pipe. The received light is then sent to an NIR and/or UV spectrometer and the results are processed by a computer or other device having a capability to perform spectral analysis. The spectrally analyzed results from the aforementioned configuration, which configuration is disclosed in the commonly owned GB Patent Number GB2426579B, provide for analyzing the presence of water and/or oil condensate in the liquid phase of gas-condensate multi-phase wells. As previously mentioned, the near infrared light at a selected wavelength band is highly absorbed by water, and has close to zero absorption by the gas and gas condensate. The UV light at a selected wavelength band, on the other hand, is highly absorbed by condensate oil and is substantially transparent to the gas and water.
The aforementioned technique is limited to sensing the liquid fractions across the diameter of a pipe for flows of very high GVF or very low liquid fractions, as well as provides presence of water and/or oil condensate in a multiphase flow. However, the actual quantitative water-cut measurements can be problematic in these systems as GVF decreases or as the liquid fraction increases. This is primarily due to the increased scattering attenuation effect cross pipe which may overwhelm the underlying small absorption measurements used to extract liquid fractions. The scattering effect occurs from entrained liquid droplets and bubbles within the gas phase flow and liquid phase flow, respectively. Further, additional problems occur when the light source is inconsistent. In some systems, the light sources are integrated into the insertion sensing probe itself and exposed directly to the high temperature and pressure conditions of the flows in a well pipe. These light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LED), become degraded and produce shifted wavelength bands at different temperatures and over the lifetime of the device. Accordingly, such faulty light sources require removal and replacement of the entire sensing probe system.

Immersion probe using ultraviolet and infrared radiation for multi-phase flow analysis


An LED illuminating device includes an optical section (10), an electrical section (30), and a heat dissipation section (20) arranged between the optical section (10) and the electrical section (30). The heat dissipation section is provided with a heat dissipation device (200) which includes a heat sink (23), a mounting seat (24), and a heat pipe (22) connecting the mounting seat with the heat sink. The heat sink includes a solid base (231) and a plurality of fins (232) extending radially and outwardly from the base. The base is provided with a through hole (233). Alight source (11) is provided in the optical section and attached to the mounting seat. The heat pipe includes an evaporating portion (222) attached to the mounting seat, and a condensing portion (221) fittingly received in the through hole of the base.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relates to light emitting diode (LED) illuminating devices, and particularly to an LED illuminating device with a high heat dissipating efficiency and a light engine of the LED illuminating device.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, LEDs (light emitting diodes) are preferred for use in LED illuminating devices rather than CCFLs (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) due to a high brightness, a long lifespan, and a wide color range of the LED.
For an LED, eighty percents to ninety percents of the power consumed by the LED is converted into thermal energy, and only ten percents to twenty percents of the power consumed by the LED is converted into light. In addition, a plurality of LEDs are generally packaged in a single LED illuminating device in order to obtain a desirable illumination brightness. Therefore, heat dissipation of the LED illuminating device is a problem inhibiting the application of the LED illuminating device, which requires to be resolved.
For a high brightness LED illuminating device, a highly efficient heat dissipation device is necessary in order to timely and adequately remove the heat generated by the LED illuminating device. Otherwise, the brightness, lifespan, and reliability of the LED illuminating device will be seriously affected. Conventional heat dissipation devices, such as heat sinks or a combination of heat sink and cooling fan, can no longer satisfy the heat dissipation requirement of the high brightness LED illuminating device.
For heat dissipation purposes, heat pipes are well known due to having an excellent heat transfer performance. The heat pipe has a low thermal resistance in heat transfer due to a phase change mechanism of working fluid employed in the heat pipe. If the heat pipe technology is applied to the high brightness LED illuminating device, the heat dissipation requirement of the high brightness LED illuminating device may be satisfied.

LED illuminating device and light engine thereof


A broom having a handle with a threaded end and a broom head connected to the handle which includes a generally cylindrical sleeve made of plastic having a first end which defines an open surface extending therethrough and a second end which defines a reverse threaded open surface in communication with the open surface of the first end, wherein the open surfaces are configured to receive the threaded end of the handle and wherein the sleeve is employed in a method for winding a broom head which includes mating the sleeve to a threaded shaft, disposing broom corn about the sleeve, securing an end from a winding wire through the broom corn to the sleeve, clockwise rotating the shaft such that the winding wire wraps about the broom corn in a manner to secure the broom corn to the sleeve and connecting another end of the wire to the sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in brooms wherein the broom head is made separate from the handle. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel broom having a broom head which includes a broom head sleeve and method of making a broom employing the same.
2. Related Art
The art of broom making is very extensive including myriads of designs for various purposes. Brooms commonly include a handle and broom head which has a plurality of debris gathering fibers. The fibers are arranged in rows in a side by side lengthwise manner and are bound together and attached to the handle directly or to a head which is then attached to the handle.
To save in costs of packaging, ship ping and shelf storage space, various designs for separate broom heads and handles have been made. This is desirable to the consumer for reasons that a consumer may need only replacement of a worn broom head or a broken handle.
Nevertheless, the art of making conventional wooden handle brooms with sewn broom corn fibers wound to the handle has remained popular and relatively unchanged. This is due to the fact that such broom making equipment is relatively simple and provides a consumer with an inexpensive product. In making such brooms, broom corn fibers are placed adjacent an end of the handle to become the broom head and a piece of winding is tacked through the broom corn fibers to the wooden handle end. A rotatable collet attaches to another end of the wooden handle and the handle is rotated to draw the winding about the broom corn fibers in a manner to secure the broom corn fibers to the handle wherein a terminal end of the winding is stapled or tacked to the wooden handle.
There is a desire and need to continue making this type of broom yet have a separate broom head and handle, and, for the reasons stated, employ the described conventional broom making equipment to accomplish the same. Presently, no such methods or devices are available to satisfactorily accomplish this.


An expandable net, including a plurality of spring reels. Each spring reel has a housing defining an interior and having a central anchor, in the interior, and further defining an opening; a spool rotatably mounted inside the housing, and having a side wall; a tension member wound about the spool and extending through the opening and having a distal end; and a spiral spring anchored at the anchor and having an outer end, attached to the side wall. Further, the distal end of each tension member is attached to the housing of another spring reel, thereby forming the expandable net.

Every year, people are injured and killed by items that are poorly stowed in the bed of a pickup truck and go flying out while the truck is being driven, striking another driver or a pedestrian. In the case of another driver who is struck or distracted by an object hurtling toward his windshield, this can lead to a fatality. If a tarp is used, the Bernoulli principal causes the tarp to flap annoyingly and to be pulled upwardly, possibly causing the tarp to work itself free from its restraints, and go flying off, thereby constituting a danger to other drivers.
Although nets made of elastic elements are available, these can be a challenge to both stretch to fit the needed area, and yet collapse to a small enough package to easily stow. Moreover, there is nothing engaging about these nets. Often, after purchase they remain, unused, in a little-noticed corner of the vehicle, out-of-sight and out-of-mind.