A computer workstation is provided with a movable support for a video monitor which is counterbalanced such that it may be moved with a minimum exertion and a coordinated keypad for support of the keyboard for the computer is also arranged in a counterbalanced fashion for movement with a minimum exertion by the operator, both of such structures being coordinated together to provide a universally adjustable monitor work system station which both allows and encourages the operator to periodically make adjustments in the position of the various components so as to decrease or eliminate repetitive strain-type injuries which may be brought on by long continued exactly repetitive movements. The video monitor is adjustably supported with a dual adjustable support.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computer accessories and more particularly to the field of workstations for computer terminals. More particularly still this invention relates to ergonomically designed workstations for computers which workstations minimize the development of debilitating work related illnesses and symptoms due to so-called repetitive strain injury, frequently referred to as RSI.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computers, and particularly small digital computers, commonly referred to as personal or microcomputers (PC's), or occasionally also minicomputers, have become one of the most ubiquitous and rapidly proliferating developments of modern technology. Such computers have become almost indispensable business and scientific tools, used by nearly every level of worker from the lowest level clerk to corporate managers and presidents as well as by many individuals in their own homes, both for business and for recreation. The inherent speed of the electronic computer, which speed ever increases and allows it to handle masses of data and almost impossible calculations, makes the digital computer one of the most widely used as well as the most representative tools of the modern age. Once learned, the techniques of computing multiply the effectiveness of single individuals in handling repetitive data and as well as the speed and accuracy of complicated calculations and are responsible for the computer within a few short years, becoming almost a "wonder machine".
With the development and growth of the use of computers, a great number of accessory devices have been developed to enhance their basic effectiveness as well as to make the working environment of the computer operator more pleasant and efficient. However, along with the extraordinary benefits of the computer have come a number of persistent problems, including health problems. One of the greatest of these is related to the very nature of the computer, i.e. its astounding ability to handle masses of data and to accept instructions very quickly.
A computer itself, and particularly the digital, small computer, derives much of its flexibility from its ability to take a large number of repetitive instructions quickly and efficiently and to operate using such instructions at a very rapid rate. Normally an operator must provide the computer with its basic instructions and, in many cases, much of its original data, which means that an operator must operate the keyboard of the computer to either feed in data to the computer or program it. However, operators are subject to error and, since a computer is basically a stupid machine, which must either operate with whatever instructions and data it is provided or reject such data, causing the processing of the data to stop until corrections are made, it is necessary for the operator to check as the instructions are fed to the computer that, in fact, the proper instructions are being entered. Such verification operation is accomplished by having a Video Display Terminal (VDT) in the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT) upon which the instructions which are being fed to the computer are displayed for simultaneous checking by the operator. The VDT also displays instructions to or warnings to the operator from the computer to either guide the operator's handling of the data or instruction input or to warn the operator of malfunctions or mistakes.
The introduction of the VDT or Video Display Terminal for checking the operation of the computer, as well as the efficiency of the operator in coding in instructions, introduced a new factor into the environment of those who had traditionally operated keyboards, i.e. typists or typewriter operators who used a familiar keyboard which, after some practice, was memorized and required little actual monitoring. The typist operator previously could either let his or her eyes wander or, if typing data from a written memorandum, could focus upon the memorandum, which was placed very near to the keyboard. Such printed material has been traditionally placed fairly close to the keyboard so that the eye span between the keyboard and the material being typed is relatively small, minimizing the effort involved in moving the eyes from one to the other and also minimizing difficulty in focusing on both the material being typed and the keyboard. In transcribing dictation, furthermore, the typist's eyes have traditionally been able to wander, while their fingers flew over the keyboard, converting the words of the dictation into printed material, which was checked from time to time by the typist's eyes. Even with such minimum movements of the eyes, however, the repetitive hand and finger movement necessary in typing could become extremely tiring after several hours and the typist frequently also encountered strain due to the repetitive motion of the typing itself, even after much practice.
The introduction of the Video Display Terminal, or VDT, upon the introduction of computers with a conventional large monitor, however, introduced a new element into the equation of bodily comfort and health in that the video monitor required fairly frequent periodic checking to make certain the correct information was being applied to the keyboard. With the small restricted size of certain monitors applied to a conventional typewriter somewhat after the introduction of computers, the problem introduced by the monitors was not particularly great, because the monitor itself was small and was invariably mounted directly on top of the typewriter so that it was very close to the keys of the typewriter and required only a minimum movement of the eyes to focus upon. However, the normal Video Display Terminal or VDT associated with a computer is of fairly large dimensions so that it may be easily readable by the operator when there is a large amount of data displayed upon it.
Consequently, the very size of the video monitor prevented such monitor from being normally placed in close association with the keyboard of the computer. The video monitor, furthermore, because of it size, normally is fairly heavy and requires a substantial support, if it is to be secure. As a result, the custom grew of placing the video monitors or VDT, upon a conventional desk top, which invariably has sufficient strength to support the VDT along with the computer itself, and to have the keyboard attached to the computer by a cable so that the keyboard could be easily placed in front of the monitor.
In recent years the video monitor has increased very significantly in size so it can display more data at a time, particularly in spreadsheet form, while still providing a readable display. Such large monitors introduce significant difficulties in placement and support of the monitor in a convenient position for the operator.
Within a short time after the introduction of the VDT, specialized desks or "workstations" were developed, usually incorporating a basic desk or working top and frequently having shelves on the back for the receipt of various associated equipment. By connecting the CPU, or Central Processing Unit, to the keyboard and to the monitor by separate cables and/or wiring, the CPU could either be placed upon the desk top or on one of the shelves and the video monitor could also be placed either upon the desk top or working surface or upon the CPU cabinet or upon one of the shelves and the keyboard could be placed by the operator in whatever location they wished upon the work surface. The video monitor, therefore, became traditionally placed at about eye level in front of the operator while the keyboard was placed in front of the video monitor on the work surface. Various operators, however, might place the video monitor upon any work surface they found convenient and comfortable and place the keyboard in a position on the available work surface which they found comfortable.
Since long hours are normally worked in front of a computer by the operator, it was found that the operator, after a few hours, might become very uncomfortable. Statistical studies of the complaints of computer operators have found very elevated occurrences of musculoskeletal discomfort in Video Display Terminal operators, as compared with other workers during similar work, for example, typists. Statistical studies have shown a high correlation between VDT use and shoulder, neck and other discomfort and pain as well as so-called "wrist tendonitis". Such various discomforts and disorders may be broadly referred to as "repetitive strain injuries" (RSI) or sometimes cumulative trauma disorders. Such RSI disorders or injuries usually occur when a person repeats the same motion many thousands of times a day. It is exactly this type of repetitive motion which is most characteristic of the operation of computer terminals, particularly in those cases where the operator must essentially type for long periods such as is done by stenographers and data processing personnel.
Not only are there repetitive motions of the hands in the basically typing of data into a computer terminal, but the operator is continuously glancing from the keyboard, which incorporates certain keys which even the skilled typist normally has not memorized, to the video terminal to check on the data which is being fed into the computer. This also requires continuous movement of the eyes back and forth between the computer terminal and the keyboard and also sometimes to a third work surface where material in printed form is displayed which is being fed into the computer. In some cases, it may be necessary only to move the eyes, particularly if the operator does not wear glasses. However, because of the normal distance between the keyboard and the monitor as a result of the size of the monitor, the movement of even the eyes quickly tires the muscles of the eyes providing eye strain and, where the head is moved, such movement of the head and neck quickly leads to musculoskeletal discomfort of the neck, particularly in older operators.
Thus, one of the serious problems related to use of a computer terminal is that of neck and back strain. This is created by continuously sitting in a difficult position due often to the location of the monitor, the keyboard or both in relation to the position of the operator's chair. Particularly if the monitor is at a distance or is far off center, as is, in fact, sometimes preferred by some operators, at least initially, the operator may sit in a basically uncomfortable position for long periods of time. Furthermore, if the keyboard is too far from the operator's seat or is an uncomfortable height, a similar discomfort may rapidly occur. Thus, during the working periods of a computer operator, since it is frequently necessary to look from the monitor screen and back again in order to perform various tasks, if the computer equipment components, i.e. the keyboard and the video monitor, are not in advantageous or comfortable positions, strain to the muscles of the neck and the eyes may quickly occur.
It has been suggested before that it is ergonomically preferable to have the keyboard and the monitor screen located fairly close to each other and at about equal height, as well as at customarily comfortable distances from the eye of the user in order to minimize head movements and eye focusing adjustments, which may, after a long, continued activity, produce considerable physical stress in the muscles and related structure and physiology of the operator.
Incorrect keyboard and monitor screen positioning are particularly taxing to computer operators who wear corrective lenses, since such operators may have relatively little ability to focus their eyes easily at different distances or may even frequently be reduced to peering at one or the other or both of the monitor screen and the keyboard around the edges of bifocal corrective lenses.
One particular problem relating to the operation of computers which has been forced more and more prominently upon the attention of both medical and industrial hygiene personnel in recent years is the RSI or cumulative trauma disorder commonly known as carpel tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an unusually debilitating injury to the wrist joint frequently attributed to very long continued repetitive hand motions. Because the median nerve and flexor tendons of each hand pass through a relatively small opening in the wrist joint known as the carpel tunnel, if the walls of such tunnel become constricted, pressure may be placed upon the nerves in particular, and cause pain which can at times become excruciating. Long continued activities of the hand involving strain on the wrist combined with repetitive finger articulations may result in swelling of the carpel tunnel walls such that pressure is exerted upon the median nerve where it passes through the carpel tunnel with resulting pain, tingling and numbness of the fingers which are typical symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome. The usual medical treatment involves either complete immobilization of the wrist for a period of time to allow the swelling to decrease or disappear, or, alternatively, surgery to relieve the pressure or basically enlarge the carpel tunnel area so that considerable more swelling is necessary to cause serious pressure upon the nerve. However, it has been found that once carpel tunnel syndrome occurs, the likelihood of a recurrence is fairly high. Considerable lost work time may thus occur because of carpel tunnel syndrome and the loss of the services of skilled computer operators through temporary inability to operate computer terminals and/or necessary transfer to other tasks assumes very large proportions. Carpel tunnel syndrome, in fact, now constitutes a fairly large proportion of workmen's compensation-type injury and many industries have been seeking a solution.
There have been a number of recent studies to determine various ways of preventing the occurrence of repetitive strain injury, or RSI, in computer operators and various computer manufacturers have undertaken to design equipment which is adapted to lower the probability of the development of RSI by computer operators. Such equipment has depended largely upon improving the operator's position relative to the video monitor at the workstation so as to minimize stress upon the wrist, forearms and shoulders of the operator. Various improvements including the use of arm rests, wrist rests, and foot rests in conjunction with Video Display Terminals, or VDT, workstations have been tried and various means for locating computer screens and keyboards of computer workstations to make the station more comfortable have been developed or tried. In most of these arrangements the aim has been to allow the computer operator to adjust the position of the VDT, or Video Display Terminal, to a particularly comfortable viewing position as well as to adjust the keyboard to a position favored by the operator. In addition, operators have been trained to use easier and lighter keystrokes and particularly to take more frequent rests. While all these expedients have tended to decrease repetitive strain injury, or cumulative trauma disorders, the large problem of Repetitive Strain Injury, or RSI, has not been completely solved by any means and carpel tunnel syndrome, in particular, continues to be a serious problem among computer operators, not to mention the traditional "pain in the neck" and/or headache which seem to be particularly prevalent among computer operators and typists. One attempt to legislate an end to the problem has been that undertaken by the city of San Francisco which within the last several years passed an ordinance requiring certain equipment standards for employees whose duties include routine repetitive keyboard motions for more than four hours, inclusive of breaks per any eight-hour shift. Such ordinance makes it mandatory for employers to provide such operators with user adjustable workstations and chairs that meet various minimum standards, including provision for arm rests, wrist rests and foot rests, if the operator so requests, to enable the operator to maintain a neutral position of the wrist while at the workstation keyboard.
As a result of the problems set forth above, various attempts at solving repetitive strain injury difficulties have been made by various inventors and manufacturers as set forth, for example, in the following patents which have been issued within the past several years.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,714 issued May 3, 1983 to H. H. Henneberg et al. discloses an early vertically adjustable computer console table using a gas cylinder to infinitely adjust a computer work surface to attain the best height for the operator in order to increase efficiency and contribute to health.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,322 issued Jan. 20, 1987 to J. F. Hampshire et al. discloses an adjustable work table for computers which is tilted by means of a compound arcuate tilting mechanism and support activated by a rack and pinion arrangement which allows the arcuate supporting members to rock the arcuate tilting mechanism with a minimum of vibration. The workstation supporting table is also adjustable with respect to height by a scissors arrangement. Both the tilting mechanism and the elevating scissors arrangement are operated by rotating knobs. It is stated that the supporting surface for the cathode ray tube can be adjusted both vertically and rotationally about a horizontal axis to align with the operator's line of vision.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,500 issued Aug. 1, 1989 to J. B. Ryburg et al. discloses a computer workstation in which in general, the monitor or CRT and the keyboard are mounted upon movable slides, Preferably the central processing unit is also mounted upon the slide upon which the CRT is mounted and the CRT is in turn mounted upon a fairly long articulated arm which is in turn mounted upon the CRT slide. Such articulated arm allows the CRT to be moved upwardly and downwardly as well as moved in and out while the slide provides sidewise movement. Consequently, the CRT is provided essentially with universal movement or adjustability albeit with a rather expensive arrangement. The keyboard is not coordinated with the movement of the CRT support arm, but merely slides toward and away from the operator. One aim of the Ryburg et al. arrangement is to be able to move the CRT out of the way at the workstation when not being used. Several alternative articulated arm arrangements are shown for the monitor, all of which are mounted on slides.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,804 issued Jul. 23, 1991 to S. M. Faris discloses a unitary workstation mounted centrally upon a desk. The station is basically in the form of a unitary module. The unitary workstation module may be essentially rotated or positioned with various inclinations from flat matching the desk top to almost vertical depending upon the operator's inclination or desire either manually pivoting or by pivoting or rocking with power means. The CRT is mounted behind glass in the center of the module and the keyboard is mounted at the bottom. All the parts of the station including the CPU are contained in the module below the CRT and keyboard so no movable cables are involved. The keyboard does not appear to be individually adjustable with respect to the position of the CRT monitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,770 issued Aug. 20, 1991 to M. A. Seller et al. discloses a computer workstation in which the monitor and keyboard are supported upon separate elevatable supports. The supports are operated by electric motors. The monitor support can be moved forward and backward as well as up and down and the keyboard support can be moved to various angles. An adjustable wrist support is also provided adjacent the keyboard support. One of the expressed objects of the invention is said to be to allow the supports to be quickly and easily adjusted by the user to prevent the tasks being performed from being repetitive with possible physical injury such as carpel tunnel syndrome. Adjustment is by power means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,284 issued Sep. 3, 1991 to M. Gross discloses a computer workstation in which either the CRT or the entire computer combined with the CRT is mounted upon an adjustable shelf which is pivoted at the front and supported in the rear with a belt such that tightening the belt results in adjusting the angle of the shelf and the CRT support thereupon. The forward-rear position of the CRT or computer may be adjusted by the position of a rear panel on the shelf. A separate forward shelf is positioned in front of the CRT and pivoted at the near end in slots in the shelf supporting structure and supported by a pivot arm supporting the shelf on the opposite side. It is said that the position of the two shelves can be adjusted with a minimum of effort by the operator while seated to obtain a comfortable position of the two for use by the operator.
The adjustments are clearly not intended to be done frequently, but only when adjusting the workstation for a new operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,204 issued Dec. 10, 1991 to M. J. Price et al. discloses a desk-type computer workstation having a transparent central top with a CRT monitor supported at an angle on an adjustable shelf under the top. A keyboard is slideably mounted on a tray with a conventional drawer slide in front of the monitor shelf. The monitor shelf can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly and to various angles of inclination as desired by a variable pin arrangement, but is not readily adjustable at will.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,514 issued Mar. 10, 1992 to P. O. Grosch discloses a computer workstation furniture-type piece in which the CRT and frequently the computer also are mounted or supported upon a shelf within an opening below the main work surface. The shelf is mounted on a series of alternate pegs or the like in an inclined position. The top of the workstation furniture piece opens or pivots up to allow the operator to view the screen of the CRT and has a surface on its underside upon which printed material may be supported immediately above the CRT screen. A keyboard shelf meanwhile pulls out so it is available to the operator and also is out of the way of the operator's line of sight to the CRT screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,172 issued Jun. 2, 1992 to C. V. Ugalde discloses a computer workstation having an in-and-out sliding keyboard support at normal operating height plus an inclined shelf in back of and below such shelf to support the monitor in a position so that the operator may move his or her eyes only minimally up and down to shift their view from the keyboard to the monitor and back. The operator's view of the monitor is always maintained downwardly at an angle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,117 issued Jun. 9, 1992 to C. L. Williams discloses an ergonomically designed computer station comprised of a plastic tray-type support designed to be mounted within a cutout section of a desk or counter top. The depth of the tray is designed to place the keyboard at a good physiologic height of about 26.5 inches recommended for typewriters from the floor when mounted in a standard 29.5 inch worktable height. The monitor position is set at a small angle from the keyboard section. There is also a wrist support. There are no adjustable features.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,760 issued Nov. 10, 1992 to W. H. Terbrack discusses at some length the medical problems associated with long continued repetitive movements and provides adjustable arm, wrist and hand rests to aid in support of the arm and hand during use of a computer keyboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,223 issued Dec. 29, 1992 to M. K. Nagy et al. discloses a computer workstation having an elevation means for raising or lowering of the computer support table. Attached to the table is a keyboard stand that can be inclined to various positions and incorporates an arm rest to aid in supporting the arms. This is alleged to provide an ergonomically arranged workstation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,224 also issued to M. K. Nagy et al. on Dec. 29, 1992 is a continuation-in-part of the previous Nagy patent showing a keyboard support.
While, as will be recognized from the above, there have been a number of efforts to decrease the problem of Repetitive Strain Injuries, or RSI, and each of such efforts has, in fact, been successful to a certain extent or degree, no overall solution has been as yet found. While providing a comfortable workstation certainly tends to alleviate the symptoms of RSI for a period of time and while it is recognized that due to variations in build, physical condition and personal idiosyncrasies, it is advantageous to allow a computer operator to be able to adjust the position of the video monitor and the keyboard to his or her own most comfortable positions and that this will tend to at least considerably delay the development of actual symptoms of RSI, such symptoms continue ultimately to manifest themselves among many computer operators.
After a long continued study or this problem, the present inventor has found that the previous workers have been largely directing their efforts towards mere palliatives or decreases of the symptoms rather than directly addressing the heart of the RSI problem. After long continued study, the inventor has established the following, (a) that while it is advantageous to have the computer operator adjust the components of the workstation to the most comfortable position for that particular computer operator, that said comfortable position continues for only a relatively short time, (b) after a given position becomes uncomfortable, the operator must be able to assume a different position quickly and easily, and (c) that the operator will only assume a more comfortable position if the apparatus can be adjusted instantaneously and with no significant effort.
The applicant inventor, therefore, has developed a computer workstation system which allows and encourages the operator to adjust the relationship of the video monitor and the keyboard in an infinitely variable number of relationships with respect to the operator as operation of the computer continues so that former completely repetitive motions become significantly changed, and due to such change in the overall repetitive motion due to the change in position, RSI injury is significantly decreased and operator comfort is materially enhanced. Applicant inventor accomplishes these aims by taking into account certain physiological relationships and has developed an apparatus which can be conveniently readjusted by the computer operator, not only whenever such operator becomes uncomfortable, but at any time the notion strikes the operator or preferably at rather frequent intervals whereby the repetitive motions of the eyes and the fingers and the hands which are essentially inherent in the operation of a keyboard and a computer monitor are continuously slightly varied throughout the work period so that they are not exactly the same, but are continuously changing, thus very greatly enhancing the comfort of the operator and the aim of eliminating RSI injury. Furthermore, the operator essentially becomes responsible for their own comfort by maintaining healthful operating equipment parameters so that the operator can himself or herself determine how likely he or she is to develop RSI injury.

Ergonomic computer workstation and method of using


The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for dispatching instructions in an information handling system. A pre-execution queue stores instructions, and at least one execution cluster is operably coupled to the pre-execution queue. An execution cluster comprises an early execution unit for executing a first instruction dispatched from the pre-execution queue to generate and forward a first result and a late execution unit for executing a second instruction dispatched from the pre-execution queue to generate and forward a second result after the first execution unit forwards the first result. The invention further includes circuitry operably associated with the pre-execution queue, and a method for prioritizing the order in which the instructions in the pre-execution queue are dispatched to the execution cluster.

Forwarding data between multiple execution units in a super scalar design has been a problem which often limits the cycle time of the design. The result bus from each unit or the cache must be forwarded to other execution units, the GPR/FPR register files, the SPRs, other implementation dependent queues, and reservation stations or rename buffers. In current designs, the result busses are forwarded uniformly to all destinations (i.e., results are made available to all destinations in the same cycle). Uniform forwarding of data to all destinations results in heavy bus loading which becomes a critical performance degradation factor, either by limiting the cycle time or delaying the forwarding of data. This invention describes a non-uniform forwarding of data, as well as an instruction queuing and issuing mechanism to utilize all the execution units effectively.

Instruction dispatch unit and method for dynamically classifying and issuing instructions to execution units with non-uniform forwarding

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a modular assembled outdoor lighting device and an installation method thereof, light pole structure. It includes a base, a main pole, a lamp, a function device fixedly connected to the main pole, and an auxiliary pole fixedly connected to the top of the main pole. At least one concave or convex mounting surface is provided on the outer edge of the auxiliary pole, the lamp is fixedly connected to the mounting surface, the base is fixedly connected to the bottom of the main pole, and at least one outer surface of the main pole is provided with a mounting groove, and a fixing member is embedded in the mounting groove. A module board, as a spliced structure, is sleeved on the outer edge of the main pole. The module board includes at least one daughter board and/or at least one mother board fixedly connected to the fixing member.

Urban lighting facilities are indispensable infrastructures for a city, and play a vital role in the safety of vehicles and pedestrians on urban roads. Street light poles are necessary basic members of outdoor lighting device. Street light poles seem simple, in fact, a great deal of attention should be paid on them. First of all, it is the safety after installation, secondly, the convenience of maintenance needs to be considered. If it can be easily replaced, then the aesthetics of the street lights will be taken into account. The street lights of a city often reflect the characteristics and style of the city. However, with the development of society and the advancement of urbanization, people's demand for outdoor lamps no longer meets only a single lighting function, and higher requirements, such as the additional functions, shapes, and other aspects of outdoor lamps, are also put on.
At present, most of the outdoor lamps on the market have a single shape and function, and the installation and wiring of the lamp head and other functions are old and tedious. After that, it is inconvenient to add other functions, the fixing method is rough and unattractive, and the device maintenance is not convenient.

Modular assembled outdoor lighting device and installation method thereof, light pole structure


A variable valve lift apparatus for changing a lift of an intake or exhaust valve in at least two stages may include a lever body, a piston, a cylinder, a hydraulic pressure chamber, an active portion, a hinge portion, a roller, a rotation shaft, a guide slot, a hydraulic pressure supply portion, and an elastic member, in which the lever body may make a lever motion at an end with the intake valve or the exhaust valve connected thereto, the piston may make reciprocal motion in the cylinder, the rotation shaft may pass through the hinge portion and the roller and be a rotation center of the roller, moving together with the roller, the hydraulic pressure supply portion may supply hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure chamber for moving the piston, and the elastic member may return the piston if the hydraulic pressure being supplied to the hydraulic pressure chamber is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable valve lift apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a variable valve lift apparatus which can change a valve lift with one cam.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an internal combustion engine generates power by burning fuel and air received in a combustion chamber. In this case, when the air is to be drawn, an intake valve is put into action by driving a camshaft, to draw the air into the combustion chamber while the intake valve is opened. And, when the air is to be exhausted, an exhaust valve is put into action by driving the camshaft, to exhaust the air from the combustion chamber while the exhaust valve is opened.
In the meantime, optimum operation of the intake valve or the exhaust valve varies with an engine rotation speed. That is, an appropriate lift of a valve opening/closing timing is controlled according to the engine rotation speed. Thus, in order to embody an appropriate valve operation according to the engine rotation speed, a variable valve lift (VVL) apparatus is under research, for embodying the valve to operate at a lift varied with the engine rotation speed. As an example of the variable valve lift apparatus, there is a device having a plurality of cams provided to a cam shaft for driving a valve with lifts different from one another for selecting a cam to drive the valve according to a situation.
However, if the plurality of cams are provided to the cam shaft, a configuration of making selective change of the plurality of cams for operating the intake valve or the exhaust valve can become complicated and interferences among the elements in the configuration are bound to take place. If the plurality of cams are operated independently for preventing the interferences among the configuration elements from taking place, leading to requiring an element for operating each of the cams, a cost is liable to increase.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


Examples of a character recognition system are provided. In an example, the system may receive an object detection requirement pertaining to a video clip. The system may identify a visual media feature map from visual media data to process the object detection requirement. The system may implement an artificial intelligence component to segment the visual media feature map into a plurality of regions, and identify a plurality of image proposals therein. The system may implement a first cognitive learning operation to allocate a human face identity for a human face and an object name for an object present in the video clip. The system may determine a face identity model for the human face present in the plurality of image proposals and generate a tagged face identity model. The system may implement a second cognitive learning operation to assemble the plurality of frames with an appurtenant tagged face identity model.

The importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for recognition of human facial features and various objects in a video clip has increased significantly in recent times. For example, AI may be used to identify various characters and objects associated with those characters in a video clip. In particular, AI may be used to determine names and allied information regarding various characters in a video clip. These mechanisms include, for example, various AI tools developed for human face detection recognition and analysis by organizations such as, Amazon®, Google®, Microsoft®, IBM®, Affectiva®, and OpenCV®. However, such methods may be limited to forward-facing stills where prominent facial features are not occluded. Such tools may be highly dependent on optimal lighting conditions and direct capture of the target's face. For example, the face of a person may be occluded from view in a video clip. Various tools and techniques, which may be frequently used for face detection such as, for example, the Glasgow face matching test, the Cambridge face memory test, and the 30/60 face recognition test may lack the capability to recognize such a person from an alternative part of the same video clip. Also, most AI tools and techniques require human intervention for application of various face identity tests across the video clip. Such a process may be labor intensive and not scalable across thousands of hours of a video clip.
Additionally, a sizeable number of digital marketing validations require a particular product to be identified across a video clip. For example, when an organization sponsors an event, there may be a requirement to showcase a particular product throughout a video clip associated with the event. However, most organizations may not be able to keep track of such products being showcased across the video clip through the existing identification system. There may, therefore, be a need for an identification system, which may be applied to a video clip for identifying people and objects such as, for example, a video character or an object, with minimal human intervention in an accurate and efficient manner. There may also be a need for a character recognition system that can account for diverse factors such as, for example, facial features of people, various objects associated with various people, and to accurately identify people and objects in a video clip.
Accordingly, a technical problem with the currently available face identification system is that they may be inefficient, inaccurate, and/or not scalable. There is a need for a real-time intelligent character recognition system that may account for the various factors mentioned above amongst others to generate a unique identity for each character and object despite the individual being temporarily occluded from a view in a video clip.


A format for modified IRIB-G time code, with added message fields while preserving pulse width coding rule of the standard IRIG-B time code, having a time interval field for carrying time interval between the local time signal and a received time signal, and a user-defined or padded field for carrying user-defined time and/or control messages. An encoding and a decoding methods and devices for high-precision time transfer, where the modified IRIG-B time code carries more messages, and enabling transmission of timing messages and testing messages of two-way time comparison via a single message channel at the same time, which reduces fluctuation due to encoding and decoding manipulation and correlation with working frequencies via exact synchronization between the on-times of the output encoded time code and the transmitted time signal, and between the on-times of the output decoded time signal and the input time code, and improves precision of time transfer.

High precision remote time transfer technology finds valuable and important applications in the fields of satellite navigation, scientific research and measurement, aeronautics and astronautics, deep space exploration, telecommunication, power industry, and finance. With the improvement of atomic clock and increased demand for time synchronization precision in various applications, requirement for time transfer precision gets more demanding. In high precision time transfer, it is generally required to implement synchronous transfer of one pulse per second (1 PPS) signals, time message and control message by means of encoding. Encoding and decoding method is one of the main factors in deciding time transfer precision, which again depends on the transfer precision of the front-edge of pulse per second signals. Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) implements remote time transfer at sub-nanosecond level via pseudo-random spread spectrum coding. However, the scheme thereof requires complicated coding modulation and decoding of modulated codes, and is therefore costly. IRIG-B is an internationally adopted standard scheme for time transfer encoding. Its upsides include simple implementation, large volume of messages, standard interfaces, and low cost. However, TRIG-B transmits codes just at the speed of 100 bit/second and requires modulation onto high speed carrier for remote transmission. Moreover, as it carries no time interval message, additional communication channels are required to transmit time interval messages for two-way time comparison adopting the time code. Further, optical fiber has low consumption and high bandwidth, and its potential for implementing higher precision time transfer has attracted great attention. Nevertheless, design of prior art time codes is directed at space channels and electric cables. Improvement and optimization thereof based on features of optical fiber transmission systems is in need.

Encoding and decoding methods for high-precision time transfer and encoding and decoding devices therefor


An HDD is divided into a segment area storing multimedia data, an information file area storing an information file of a file, and a system information area storing a system information file. Storage of the system information file in the system information area and storage of the information file in the information file area are performed every prescribed time (X seconds), instead of a time point when recording and/or reproduction is stopped. If an apparatus suddenly stops, a location where damage is likely in the HDD can be detected by referring to the information file area and the system information area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data storage and reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to a data storage and reproduction apparatus capable of efficiently locating a defective segment.
2. Description of the Background Art
A variety of technologies for a data storage operation in a data storage and reproduction apparatus have conventionally been disclosed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-236414 discloses a technology for avoiding loss of an already-recorded video signal by rewinding a magnetic tape when recording that was once interrupted automatically resumes in a recording and reproduction apparatus.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-152636 discloses a technology in which, in a case where many programs are successively recorded in a recording and reproduction apparatus, a discontinuity in recorded information produced when recording is temporarily stopped and then resumed is automatically registered as a boundary between chapters in information for administering the chapter.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-84498 discloses a technology in which, if recording is abnormally stopped during operation in a digital video recording apparatus, reproduction control information corresponding to video data that has been recorded until abnormal stop is recorded in a recording medium.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-32975 discloses a technology allowing reading of data that was recorded in a recording medium even if an apparatus may stop due to power failure or the like, by regularly recording in the recording medium or in a non-volatile memory, administrative information of data to be recorded in the recording medium in a data recording apparatus.
As described above, it is important to allow reading of the data that was recorded in the recording medium even if the apparatus stops due to power failure or the like. If the apparatus stops due to power failure or the like, the recording medium itself may be damaged. Accordingly, improvement in a data storage and reproduction apparatus also addressing such a problem has been desired.

Data storage and reproduction apparatus storing and reproducing multimedia data


A reflective loudspeaker array is cooperatively operable with an acoustically reflective planar surface to provide a constructive combination of direct and reflected sound waves that produces a uniform sound field. The uniform sound field provides a controlled sound field in the vertical and horizontal direction, and also provides uniformity from distances close to the reflective loudspeaker array to far way. The direct and reflected sound waves are advantageously and constructively combinable to generate a focused beamwidth of soundwaves. The reflective loudspeaker array includes a plurality of loudspeakers coupled to a surface of the reflective loudspeaker array. The surface may be formed to include at least one curve with a radius of curvature. The reflective loudspeaker array may be placed adjacent an acoustically reflective planar surface such that a frontal plane of a loudspeaker adjacently located closest to the acoustically reflective planar surface is aligned perpendicularly, and a frontal plane of a loudspeaker spaced away from the acoustically reflective planar surface is not aligned perpendicularly.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to loudspeakers, and more particularly to a loudspeaker array configured to cooperatively operate with an acoustically reflective planar surface to provide a constant-beamwidth sound field.
2. Related Art
A loudspeaker enclosure may be a source for a sound field. For example, a typical loudspeaker enclosure may be used to generate a sound field for "live" sound reinforcement, for home entertainment, for car audio, for a discotheque, or the like. Generally, three-dimensional radiation patterns of sound fields generated by a loudspeaker vary with frequency. Such a sound field also may not be focused at the intended listeners, and spectral content of the sound field may vary with direction. In applications where a sound field is generated in an enclosed or a partially enclosed space, an unfocused sound field may cause constructive and destructive wave interference patterns, which may further distort the sound field at different locations.
A theoretically ideal loudspeaker, on the other hand, produces a sound field with a spectral content that does not vary with direction, and that has three-dimensional constant radiation patterns over a wide frequency range. For certain applications, such as use in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, it may be desirable to have a loudspeaker that has constant directivity in addition to constant radiation patterns over a wide frequency range. Constant directivity may also be desirable in an unenclosed space. A loudspeaker with radiation patterns that do not differ significantly with respect to frequency is referred to herein as a constant-directivity or a constant-beamwidth loudspeaker.
Various methods have been used in the sound industry to attempt to construct a constant-beamwidth loudspeaker that overcomes the above-mentioned problems. The use of horns, arrays and higher order sources have all been implemented. In sonar applications, constant-beamwidth transducers using spherical caps have been described in the literature. So far, none of these approaches have overcome the problems described above associated with typical loudspeakers. It would be desirable to provide a constant-beamwidth loudspeaker that produces a sound field with spectral content that does not vary significantly with direction and that has three-dimensional radiation patterns that are relatively consistent over a wide frequency range. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a constant-beamwidth loudspeaker that advantageously uses an acoustically reflective planar surface to minimize undesirable signal reflections that can detrimentally modify the frequency response and radiation pattern.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


An improved cluster-supporting catalyst has heteroatom-removed zeolite particles, and catalyst metal clusters supported within the pores of the heteroatom-removed zeolite particles. A method for producing a cluster-supporting catalyst includes the following steps: providing a dispersion liquid containing a dispersion medium and the heteroatom-removed zeolite particles dispersed in the dispersion medium; and in the dispersion liquid, forming catalyst metal clusters having a positive charge, and supporting the catalyst metal clusters within the pores of the heteroatom-removed zeolite particles through an electrostatic interaction.

A supported catalyst obtained by supporting a catalyst metal on a carrier is used in many fields and is used as a catalyst for exhaust gas purification, liquid-phase chemical synthesis reaction, gas-phase chemical synthesis reaction, fuel cell reaction, air cell reaction, etc.
As to such a supported catalyst, it is known that the size of the catalyst metal particles supported on a carrier is important. In this connection, for example, Patent Document 1 has proposed a supported catalyst in which catalyst metal particles having a size of 1 to 10 nm are supported on a carrier of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia or a combination thereof. In addition, Patent Document 2 has proposed a catalyst for nitrogen oxide, in which copper ion is supported on zeolite by ion exchange. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 has proposed a technique where palladium supported on zeolite by ion exchange is dried and then clustered by a reduction treatment to prepare a cluster-supporting catalyst, and the cluster-supporting catalyst is used for a coupling reaction, etc.
Further, Patent Document 4, which is not disclosed at the filing date of the priority application of the present application, discloses a cluster-supporting catalyst comprising porous carrier particles having acid sites such as zeolite, and catalyst metal clusters supported within the pores of the porous carrier particles; and a method for producing the same.
Incidentally, it is known that a zeolite particle used as an absorbent, etc. changes its property, when at least part of aluminum atoms constituting the alumino-silicate zeolite structure thereof is removed from the zeolite skeleton such that the zeolite particle is changed to a dealuminated-zeolite particle.

Cluster supported catalyst and method for producing same


A buckle has a pair of side flange portions interconnected in spaced relation by a plurality of transverse bars. A first anchoring bar and a second anchoring bar are held in spaced partially superimposed relation to each other to define therebetween a substantially "Z"-like path for wrapping therearound a web-like material or a belt. The belt is thereby firmly secured in place relative to the buckle after its length has been adjusted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a buckle for adjustably securing a web-like material, typically a belt, for garments, bags, sports gear and the like.
2. Prior Art
There are known a variety of buckles including means for adjusting the length of their associated belts or straps to suit a particular application. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Disclosure No. 63-110207 discloses one example of such a prior buckle device which comprises a first side flange carrying a retainer bar and a second side flange carrying a winding bar with a stopper means, both flanges being pivotally connected to a transverse shaft, wherein the retainer bar is flipped back over the winding bar to retain belt therebetween. When the belt is thus retained under pressure, there will be a counter-acting force exerted by the belt against the buckle tending to spread the two bars apart, this being more likely due to the shaft bore being relatively large. Another drawback of this prior art buckle is that it is a two-piece structure requiring the winding bar portion to be separately fabricated, leading to increased production cost.
Another buckle of the known type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-4203 in which there is shown a buckle having a first bar and a second bar with their respective confronting edges spaced apart a distance not greater than the thickness of a bell such that the belt is passed around the confronting edges along a path configuration is not distinct enough to ensure firm fixation of the belt relative to the buckle.

Buckle for adjustably securing a belt or the like


A solvent-soluble siloxane polyimide comprising a copolymer obtained by reaction of a diamine compound mixture comprising a diaminopolysiloxane and an alicyclic diamine with an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid anhydride, followed by polyimidization reaction of the resulting polyamic acid forms a heat-resistant adhesive by adding an epoxy resin, a diamine-based curing agent and an organic solvent thereto, The formed adhesives show a distinguished heat-resistant adhesiveness when the resulting siloxane polyimide soluble in ordinary organic solvents is used as a main component of the adhesive for bonding between a base material and a copper foil of a flexible printed substrate. By further addition of a fluorinated resin to the heat-resistant adhesive, the adhesiveness can be more improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a siloxane polyimide and a heat-resistant adhesive containing the same, and more particularly to a solvent-soluble siloxane polyimide and a heat-resistant adhesive containing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Heat-resistant adhesives containing an aromatic polyimide, etc. as a main component have been so far used in bonding between a base material and a copper foil of a flexible printed substrate. However, the aromatic polyimide is generally insoluble in ordinary organic solvents, and thus is used in the form of a solution of an aromatic polyamic acid as its precursor, which specifically requires an additional polyimidization reaction step with heating at a high temperature for a long time successively after application and drying of the solution. The polyimidization reaction step has such problems as occurrence of void phenomena and thermal deterioration of electronic parts per se.
JP-A-61-118424, JP-A-1-121325, etc. on the other hand, disclose solvent-soluble siloxane polyimides, but have such problems as low heat resistance, insufficient solubility in a variety of organic solvents, considerable curling of substrates when drying solution-applied flexible printed substrates, etc.

Siloxane polymide and heat-resistant adhesive containing the same


A data reproduction circuit for converting a read analog signal into digital data corresponding to recording data, has a second order differential circuit for emitting a second order differentiated signal of the read analog signal read from a data recording medium, an inverter for generating a comparative voltage that is switched between a plurality of levels, and a comparator for comparing the second order differentiated signal and the comparative voltage to release digital data. This permits to cancel a DC component of the read analog signal and to adopt a 2,7 NRZI method for recording and reproduction enabling to achieve a high recording density. The circuit further comprises a peak detecting circuit for detecting and converting a peak of the read analog signal into digital data, and that has a first order differential circuit for emitting a first order differentiated signal of the read analog signal, a three-state inverter for generating a second comparative voltage that is switched between a plurality of levels, and a comparator for comparing the first order differentiated signal and the second comparative voltage to release digital data. The circuit may thus be adopted for both RZ and NRZI methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data reproduction circuit for use in a data recording/reproduction apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a data reproduction circuit for converting a read analog signal that was read from a magneto-optical disk or other medium by means of an optical head, into the original digital data.
2. Description of Prior Art
An example of data recording/reproduction apparatus, here a recording/reproduction apparatus for magneto-optical disk shown in FIG. 16, will be described hereinbelow.
A magneto-optical disk 1601 has a magnetic thin film as a recording medium on the surface of the disk which has a magnetic anisotropy such that the axis of easy magnetization is oriented vertical to the surface of the film. A laser beam 1602 is irradiated from an optical head 1603 onto the magnetic thin film. Due to this irradiation, the temperature of the irradiated spot is raised locally to decrease the coercive force Therefore, when a biased magnetic field is applied to the spot from a magnetic head 1604, the magnetization of the spot is inverted Here, the biased magnetic field may be applied only to the spot to be recorded, or may be preliminarily applied prior to the recording operation. If the direction and strength of the magnetic field applied from the magnetic head 1604, or the strength of the laser beam 1602 is controlled according to recording signals A sent from a modulation circuit 1605, digital data is magnetically recorded in a vertical direction as dots having a diameter of the laser beam 1602. When erasing recorded data, a magnetic field having a direction opposite to that adopted for the recording is applied.
Upon reproducing data recorded as described above, a laser beam 1602 weaker than that adopted for recording and erasing is irradiated onto the magnetic thin film of the magneto-optical disk 1601. The linearly polarized laser beam 1602 is reflected to have a polarization plane inclined according to the magnetized state of the magnetic thin film by the magneto-optical effect (Faraday effect or Kerr effect). Therefore, the inclination of the polarization plane of the reflected light is converted through an analyzer into an electrical signal by an optical detector housed in the optical head 1603 whereby a read analog signal B may be obtained
The read analog signal B is transmitted to a data reproduction circuit 1606 where it is converted into digital data C. The digital data C then passes through a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) 1607 and is demodulated in a demodulation circuit 1608. Modulation and demodulation are respectively performed in the modulation circuit 1605 and the demodulation circuit 1608 according to, for example, a modulation/demodulation method adopting the well-known 2,7 RLL code illustrated in Table 1. The 8/10 GCR code is also widely adopted.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ (2,7 RLL code) Input bits Modulated bits ______________________________________ 10 0100 010 100100 0010 00100100 11 1000 011 001000 0011 00001000 000 000100 ______________________________________
A conventional data reproduction circuit will be described referring to FIGS. 17 to 26. FIGS. 17 to 19 illustrate a data reproduction circuit designed for an NRZI recording method while FIGS. 20 to 22 illustrate a data reproduction circuit designed for an RZ recording method.
A waveform of the read analog signal B (FIG. 17(d)) produced when the NRZI recording method is adopted is shown in FIG. 17. Modulated bits (FIG. 17(c)) are recorded onto a recording magnetic film 1701 (FIG. 17(a)) adopted as the magnetic thin film mentioned earlier, based on the recording signal A (FIG. 17(b)) and using the laser beam 1602 and the external magnetic field. The read analog signal B generated from the recording signal A is such that the leading and trailing edges thereof correspond to "1" of the modulated bits.
The conventional data reproduction circuit 1606 designed for the NZRI recording method will be discussed with reference to FIG. 18.
The read analog signal B is fed into an amplifier 1801 via a capacitor 1805. Interference in the waveform is then compensated for and S/N is improved in an equalizer and LPF (low-pass filter) 1802, and a reproduction signal D is sent to a non-inverted input terminal of a comparator 1803 and to an envelope detecting circuit 1804. The envelope detecting circuit 1804 emits a comparative voltage E corresponding to the center level of the envelope of the reproduction signal D to be sent to an inverted input terminal of the comparator 1803. The reproduction signal D and the comparative voltage E are compared in the comparator 1803 that releases digital data C.
FIG. 19 illustrates waveforms produced in the different sections shown in FIG. 18. With the NRZI recording/reproduction method, the leading and trailing edges of a recording mark 1901 (FIG. 19(b)) respectively coincide with a recording bit (FIG. 19(a)) "1". The read analog signal B (FIG. 19(c)) is produced by reading the recording marks 1901 by means of the optical head 1603.
The reproduction signal D is fed into the non-inverted input terminal of the comparator 1803. On the other hand, the comparative voltage E fed into the inverted input terminal of the comparator 1803 corresponds to the center level of the envelope of the reproduction signal D (FIG. 19(d)). Therefore, reproduction bits (FIG. 19(f)) coinciding with the recording bits may be obtained by having "1" correspond to the inverting positions of the digital data C (FIG. 19(e)) released from the comparator 1803.
The read analog signal B obtained when the RZ recording method is adopted, will be discussed now with reference to FIG. 20.
Modulated bits (FIG. 20(c)) are recorded upon the recording magnetic film 1701 (FIG. 20(a)) based on the recording signal A (FIG. 20(b)) by means of the laser beam 1602 and the external magnetic field. The difference with the recording NRZI method lies in the fact that, here, each peak of the read analog signal B (FIG. 20(d)) corresponds to the modulated bit "1".
A conventional data reproduction circuit designed for the RZ recording method will be discussed hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 21. The read analog signal B is fed into an amplifier 2101 via a capacitor 2105. Interference in the waveform is then compensated for and S/N is improved in an equalizer and LPF 2102. A first order differentiated signal F is sent via a differential circuit 2103 to a hysteresis comparator 2104 that releases digital data C.
FIG. 22 illustrates waveforms obtained with the configuration shown in FIG. 21.
With the RZ recording/reproduction method, each recording bit "1" (FIG. 22(a)) coincides with the center of a recording mark 2201 (FIG. 22(b)). The read analog signal B (FIG. 22(c)) may be obtained by reading the recording marks 2201 by means of the optical head 1603 The digital data C (FIG. 22(e)) is inverted as the first order differentiated signal F (FIG. 22(d)) fed into the hysteresis comparator 2104, goes beyond hysteresis levels Th.sub.1 and Th.sub.2. Therefore, reproduction bits (FIG. 22(f)) slightly lagging behind the recording bits may be obtained by having "1" correspond to the falling edges of the digital data C released from the hysteresis comparator 2104.
Lately, the development of magneto-optical recording/reproduction apparatuses has been actively pursued and high recording density together with high speed are demanded. Magneto-optical recording/reproduction apparatuses employing various modulation methods or recording/reproduction methods have been investigated and developed to meet this demand. However, the conventional data reproduction circuits discussed above suffer from the drawbacks that (1) high recording density, (2) compatibility, and (3) high speed are difficult to achieve. This will be covered hereinbelow.

Data reproduction circuit for converting a read analog signal


Image analysis and recognition includes reading text, by digitally scanning a surface, locating the printed material in that digital image, and then recognizing words, phrases, or numbers based on their two dimensional, low frequency Fourier harmonics. One objective is to specifically apply this method of recognition to the postal industry, to include all shipping and labeling applications. Once the image of a word is digitized and isolated, a two-dimensional Fourier transform is computed of the digital image. The process is accomplished in the same manner regardless of the type of surface the printed text comes from, just as long as each word, phrase, or set of numbers to be recognized is isolated, stored in a digital form, and then Fourier Transformed. The sine and cosine coefficients from the Fourier Transform are then filtered to include only the low frequency, terms (i.e. DC term and first 5 harmonics in both vertical and horizontal axis). The sine and cosine terms (coefficients) then define 121 unique vectors which represent a 121 orthogonal vector space. The vector space is normalized to unity and each image of the word, phrase, or set of numbers defines a unique point along this 121 orthogonal vector hypersphere. A library of words, phrases, and/or numbers must be produced using many different font styles. The library when developed, will consist of sine and cosine coefficient values which represent each word, phrase, or number to be recognized. This library is uniquely fashioned by averaging the sine and cosine terms of similar font styles into what is called font groups.

The present invention relates generally to image analysis and recognition of whole words, phrases or numbers. This includes a Fourier transformation and pattern recognition of offline text that does not require intraword character segmentation.
OCR automation of businesses is dependent on a machine's ability to recognize the input (words, phrases, or numbers) and act according to preprogrammed instructions. Unfortunately most inputs are not in a form compatible with automation. An example is the postal service. The average person does not address his letter with a bar code label format. People address their mail with words written on one side of the envelope or package. No two persons' handwriting is the same and no one can write exactly the same way each time. In addition, words and numbers are inseparable because they touch one another or the print is broken and incomplete. It is not difficult for the human mind to recognize most handwriting but the complexity to build a computer system to do the same has yet to be achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,973 provides a preliminary background. It provides the rudimentary steps to input a piece of document text (whether on a printed page or parcel package), scan the text, and to recognize the scanned information. However, the previous algorithm was not capable of handling a large dictionary with many font styles. It was only sufficient as a testbed for research and for use with studying dyslexic readers. The background section of the patent provides more discussion of the problem, and includes references for background information and prior studies in this field.

Offline text recognition without intraword character segmentation based on two-dimensional low frequency discrete Fourier transforms

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A system and method for using a light source to treat tissue with NIR light. The operation provides for generating higher temperatures in deeper layers of tissue relative to shallower layers of tissue. The increased temperature in dermal layers can operate to induce collagen shrinkage, or remodeling. One of the light sources for providing a broad spectrum of NIR light is a filament light. The light from the filament lamp can be selectively filtered, and after filtering this light is applied to the skin, where the selective filtering can enhance the ability to elevate the temperature of deeper layers of tissue, relative to layers of tissue which are closer to the surface of the skin.

Devices using radio frequencies have been reported to be useful in heating skin at depths of a few to many millimeters. Such treatments may produce tissue remodeling or shrinkage, resulting in clinically useful changes in the morphology or appearance of the skin. The RF power can be problematic to apply to skin in that the contact electrode geometries and superficial hydration of the skin can greatly affect the coupling of power into the skin. Attendant complications include superficial burns, uneven application of energy. One reference which discusses the uses of a device for applying radio frequency to the skin is U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,202, entitled Method and apparatus for controlled contraction of collagen tissue
Some prior systems have provided for a combination of a light source in combination with use of RF electrodes to obtain relatively deep heating of dermatological issue. Additionally, some efforts have been directed toward developing systems utilizing a filament light source to apply light energy to the skin to achieve collagen shrinkage. However, prior systems have exhibited different significant limitations.

System and method for heating skin using light to provide tissue treatment


An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions. The orthosis includes a first arm member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member extending therefrom. A second arm member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. The second extension member is operatively connected to the first extension member and travels trough the first extension member along an arcuate pat when the second arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the first arm member.

In a joint, the range of motion depends upon the anatomy of that joint and on the particular genetics of each individual. Typically, joints move in two directions, flexion and extension. Flexion is to bend the joint and extension is to straighten the joint; however, in the orthopedic convention some joints only flex. For example, the ankle has dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. Other joints not only flex and extend, they rotate. For example, the elbow joint has supination and pronation, which is rotation of the hand about the longitudinal axis of the forearm placing the palm up or the palm down.
When a joint is injured either by trauma or by surgery, scar tissue can form, often resulting in flexion or extension contractures. Such conditions can limit the range of motion of the joint, limiting flexion (in the case of an extension contracture) or extension (in the case of a flexion contracture) of the injured joint. It is often possible to correct this condition by use of a range-of-motion (ROM) orthosis.
ROM orthoses are devices commonly used during physical rehabilitative therapy to increase the range-of-motion over which the patient can flex or extend the joint. Commercially available ROM orthoses are typically attached on opposite members of the joint and apply a torque to rotate the joint in opposition to the contraction. The force is gradually increased to increase the working range or angle of joint motion. Exemplary orthoses include U.S. Pat. No.: 6,599,263, entitled "Shoulder Orthosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,562, entitled "Shoulder Orthosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,979, entitled "Orthosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,830, entitled "Adjustable Orthosis Having One-Piece Connector Section for Flexing;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,764, entitled "Method of Increasing Range of Motion;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,619, entitled "Orthosis for Bending Wrists;" 5,456,268, entitled "Adjustable Orthosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,075, entitled "Orthosis with Distraction through Range of Motion;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,303, entitled "Orthosis with Distraction through Range of Motion;" 5,365,947, entitled "Adjustable Orthosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,773, entitled "Orthosis with Distraction through Range of Motion;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,095, entitled "Orthosis with Joint Distraction;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,612, entitled "Adjustable Orthosis," all to Bonutti and herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.


A power tool is provided having a housing with a handle for an operator, a rare earth permanent magnet motor oriented within the housing having a rotary output portion operatively driving an implement. The motor has a relatively high horsepower output for its size enabling the location of the motor relative to the implement and the handle to be functionally and ergonomically optimized.

Portable electric power tools are typically made by using universal motors or in the case of battery power tools, permanent magnet motors. The electric motor of a power tool is typically very substantial in size and accounts for a significant portion of the power tool's total weight. The size of the motor additionally dictates the layout and orientation of the motor relative to the power driven implement which in turn, dictates the location of the handles enabling the user to grasp the power tool. The following patents are representative and illustrate prior art power tools: U.S. Des. 295,824, Des. 282,236, U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,531, U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,051 and U.S. Des. 315,854.

Portable electrical power tool having a rare earth permanent magnet motor


An air management system with a set of compressed air sources for supplying pressurized air to air consumer equipment. In particular, either an air bleed system, electrical compressors, or a combination thereof may perform such supplying of compressed air depending on the aircraft operation condition.

In gas turbine engines, air is normally taken from compressor stages upstream of the fuel-burning chamber(s). Thus, this bleed air is at high temperature and high pressure, wherein typical values are comprised in the range 150-500° C. when extracted from the engine, and in the range 150-250° C. after regulation in a pre-cooler; and 40 psig relative pressure, respectively.
Once taken, this bleed air is channeled from the compressor stages of the engine to various locations within the aircraft by an air management system comprising in turn a network of ducts, valves and regulators. Consequently, such channeling means are to be adapted to withstand the high temperature and pressure of the bleed air.
Because of its high temperature and pressure, this bleeding air is used to operate air consumer equipment such as the Air Cycle Machines of the Environmental Control System (ECS), the Wing Anti-Ice system (WAIS) and other minor air consumers. Depending on the air consumer requirements to be fed, a wide range of pressure and temperature may be needed which entails different energy cost, for instance:
air conditioning (i.e., ECS) is driven by the available pressure, and
WAIS is driven by available temperature.
Classic architectures of air bleed system extract bleed air from the gas turbine compressor at two different stages via respective ports. One of these ports is located at a low-intermediate compressor stage (the so-called Intermediate Port, 'IP') while the second port is located at an intermediate-high compressor stage (the so-called High Port, 'HP') to allow extracting the bleed air at two different conditions.
Typical values of bleed air extracted from each of these ports are:
Intermediate Port, 'IP': pressure from 10 psig ('idling') to 180 psig (maximum take-off thrust, 'MTO'), while temperature is between 80 C° and 400° C.
High Port, 'HP': pressure from 30 psig ('idling') to 650 psig (′MTO′), while temperature is between 150° C. and 650° C.
It is to be noted that the exact value of pressure and temperature of the air bled depends on the engine speed. Similarly, although only two conventional ports have been discussed herein (IP and HP), the High Pressure Port, 'HP', may be formed by more than one port (normally two ports) all located at intermediate-high compressor stages, different from the Intermediate Pressure Port, 'IP'
Hereinafter, for illustrative purposes the possible ports (one or more) forming part of the High Pressure Port will be discussed in conjunction as 'HP'.
Under some circumstances, the channeling means may undergo an unexpected loss of bleed air, the so-called leakages, which could potentially lead to problems when operating the aircraft. Due to its inherent effect in the overall performance, detection means should be installed along the entire route of the channels. Eutectic salt-based sensors are widespread used in the industry as overheat detection sensors for sensing bleed air leakages throughout the ducting.
It is well known in the current practice that air management systems need to install fail-safe architectures such as disperse shut-off valves in order to isolate the different aircraft zone for integrity assurance once ducting leakage is detected. Nevertheless, aircraft vibration may induce rattling on these sensors, which might cause spurious leakage detection alerts and unnecessarily isolation. Besides, spurious faults trigger maintenance actions for leakage localization.
Furthermore, from on-ground to in-flight, external air conditions drastically change. This need to be compensate by the onboard air management system by regulating the air bleeding from each of the two ports (IP or HP ports). Hence, the overall air management system (which exclusively rely on bleed air) must be sized to operate at any planned flight phase, involving a significant energy loss during take-off/climb and descent/holding phases. Hereinafter, details of this energy loss can be seen in FIG. 1.
With the advent of new aircraft models (specifically those Ultra-High By-Pass Ratio engines that provide higher HP port temperatures with lower 'Fan port' pressures), the above problems stress. Consequently, there is a need in the aerospace industry for an air management system that satisfies air consumers requirements with the optimum energy extracted from the gas turbine engines.


This invention relates to a heat-cured furan foundry binder system comprising a furan binder and a furan monomer or oligomer containing at least two terminal hydroxymethyl groups. The binders are particularly useful as warm-box binders, because they cure faster and foundry shapes (typically cores and molds) made with the binders exhibit higher tensile strengths than those made with conventional heat-cured furan binders.

Heat-cured furan binder systems are well known. Of particular interest are the so-called hot-box and warm-box binder systems. Hot-box furan binders typically comprise a furan, urea formaldehyde resin, and phenol formaldehyde resin. They are cured with an inorganic or organic salt at temperatures of 200° C. to 300° C. On the other hand, warm-box binder systems are typically comprised of a furan resin and furfuryl alcohol. They are cured with an inorganic or organic salt at temperatures of from about 100° C. to 300° C. Examples of warm-box binder systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,317,763, 4,451,577, and 4,383,098. These binders are preferred over hot-box binder for some applications because of their low formaldehyde content, low nitrogen content, higher tensile strength, lower binder usage level, availability of equipment, and the dimensional accuracy of the foundry shapes made with them.
Recently, improvements in warm-box binders have been made. Warm-box binder systems, which are nitrogen free, urea free, and essentially free of free formaldehyde, have been developed. Modifications of warm-box furan binders to increase their reactivity are also known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,986 discloses a binder comprising a phenol formaldehyde resin, modified furfuryl alcohol/formaldehyde resins, resorcinol pitch, and polyvinyl acetate to improve the reactivity of the warm box system. However, further improvements in these binders are still needed to improve their reactivity and the tensile strengths of cores made with them.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,942 relates furan no-bake binders comprising (a) a reactive furan resin, (b) furfuryl alcohol, (c) an activator selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, resorcinol pitch, and bisphenol A tar, (d) a bisphenol compound, (e) a polyol, and (f) a catalyst component comprising a catalytically effective amount of a halide of a transition metal. The patent discloses that the reactive furan may be a mixture of a conventional reactive furan and bis-hydroxymethylfuran.
All citations referred to in this patent application are expressly incorporated by reference.

Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC


A self calibrating irradiation system is provided. The system includes sources for providing a calibration beam and a radiation beam, one or more detectors and a processor. A method of calibrating an irradiation system is also provided. The method includes measuring the energy of a calibration beam and periodically updating a transmission value of the laser system based on a calibration factor and the energy of the calibration beam.

Irradiation systems, such as laser systems, are used as therapeutic or diagnostic devices in a variety of medical procedures. Some of the medical procedures include treatment of skin disorders, skin rejuvenation and eye surgery. The energy of the laser is controlled and adjusted to maintain the reproducibility and consistency during such medical procedures. If the energy of the laser beam is higher than necessary, it can cause harmful effects to the patient.
The energy of the laser beam is typically controlled by calibrating the irradiation system prior to each use. A typical calibration method includes using a handpiece equipped with a distance gauge. The handpiece is placed into a calport which allows the internal energy meter to measure the laser output parameters. The handpiece may need to be kept in the calport for an extended period of time until the calibration is completed.
The calibration method presents several disadvantages. The procedure is tedious and time consuming. Since the procedure must be repeated frequently, it is cumbersome for the end user of the irradiation system. In addition, a sudden drop in the energy of the laser is not detected until the system is recalibrated. Such a sudden drop can lead to unsatisfactory results of the medical procedure. Failure to calibrate prior to each use may result in occasional delivery of excessive laser energy that can cause harmful and undesired treatment effects to the patient of the medical procedure.


A circuit for and method of operating a supply tracking clock multiplier is provided. An embodiment of the present invention may permit a less power consuming portion of an integrated circuit to operate at a relatively higher average clock rate than a more power consuming portion operating at a relatively lower clock rate, by adjusting the duration of the cycles of the higher frequency clock. The adjustment may be according to the supply voltage changes that result from logic switching activity of the more power consuming portion, and may be performed in a manner that substantially matches the delay behavior of the logic. The phase of the higher frequency clock remains locked to the lower frequency clock. An embodiment of the present invention may reduce the area and cost of an integrated circuit by minimizing the need for other on-chip power supply noise mitigation approaches, while also improving device throughput and performance.

In certain applications it is beneficial to run some parts of an integrated circuit (IC) at a higher clock frequency than the majority of the chip. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of clock signals, clk1x 110 and clk2x 120, where clock signal clk2x 120 is twice the frequency of clock signal clk1x 110. Examples of integrated circuits in which portions of the device may operate at a higher frequency include, for example, high performance microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSP), and IC's used for high speed data communications. To generate the higher clock frequencies used in such applications, phase locked loops (PLLs) or delay locked loops (DLLs) may be used. The jitter performance of these PLLs and DLLs is usually one of the key design parameters, and customarily the jitter is minimized to provide equal cycle times, independent of power supply noise. This is typically achieved by using a separate power supply for the higher frequency clock circuitry, or by using circuits having a propagation delay independent of the power supply level.
In many IC devices, the on-chip power supply voltage has a pronounced ripple at the clock frequency of that portion of the device that dominates the power dissipation. This ripple is caused by the clock controlled periodic supply current, which passes through on-chip resistive supply networks, and through the package inductances. The ripple results in a lower than average power supply voltage (i.e., a droop region), during the times when the logic consumes its peak current. The IC circuitry may then experience some inductive overshoot (i.e., an overshoot region) above the average power supply voltage, when the instantaneous current consumed by the logic tapers off. In an edge triggered design, the droop region usually appears close to the rising clock edge, when the majority of the device logic comprises rising-edge-triggered flip-flops.
The propagation delay of logic gates in an IC is a function of the power supply voltage at the time when the circuit evaluates. Higher power supply voltages reduce propagation delay, lower supply voltages result in increased propagation delay.
When one portion of an integrated circuit operates at a higher frequency (e.g. twice the frequency) than another portion that consumes the majority of the power, the higher frequency block is forced to operate in the droop region of the power supply ripple caused by the portion of the circuit that consumes the largest amount of power. FIG. 2 illustrates the outline of an IC 210 comprising a smaller portion 230 that may operate using a higher speed clock than the portion 220 of the IC 210 that consumes the majority of the power. Such a situation typically forces an IC designer to limit the operating speed of higher speed portion 230 of the IC 210 based upon logic propagation delays available at the lower, droop region power supply voltages caused by the large power consuming portion 220, or to incorporate separate sources of power or additional noise reduction circuitry to minimize power supply noise. The minimum power supply voltage in the droop region may be substantially lower than the average supply level, impacting overall device performance, or the additional noise reduction measures may add cost to the device. This design problem can be expected to become more and more pronounced as the device density of ICs increases, the power supply voltages are scaled down, and power supply currents grow.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A current lead for the superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance system, the superconducting magnet being refrigerated by a cold head, has a positive current lead and a negative current lead electrically connected to the superconducting magnet for magnetization thereof. The cold head is electrically connected to the superconducting magnet and is used as one of the positive and negative current leads. The cold head is used as the positive current lead or the negative current lead so as to reduce the number of current leads as well as the heat conducted by the current lead, therefore it maintains a stable superconducting environment more efficiently. Furthermore, the cold head and the current lead can be provided in the same conduit without the need to design a separated turret tube and side tube, and the structure of the current leads of the superconducting magnet of the magnetic resonance system is simplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a current lead, and more particularly to a current lead of a superconducting magnet for magnetic resonance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a superconducting type of magnetic resonance system, a superconducting magnet is magnetized by a current provided gradually by a magnet power supply in a low temperature environment, i.e. at the temperature of the liquid helium of an absolute temperature value of 4.2 K (−269°), so as to build up the magnetic field; once the magnetization is accomplished, since the coil is at a superconducting status, there is no need to provide a power supply to the superconducting magnet, as long as a stable superconducting environment is maintained, therefore a highly stable and uniform magnetic field is achieved.
An important condition for a superconducting type of magnetic resonance system to be successfully magnetized and to work in a stable manner is to establish and maintain a stable superconducting environment. Once the superconducting environment is damaged, this leads to the quenching of the superconducting magnet. After quenching, the economic losses due to restarting the refrigeration, magnetization as well as those due to the downtime of the magnetic resonance system are very large.
The superconducting magnet requires for its magnetization a specialized high precision power supply system, which is placed in an environment of room temperature, and it supplies the power to the superconducting magnet in the superconducting environment through current leads. Heat can be conducted to the superconducting magnet via the current leads, thus the superconducting environment is affected. At the same time, when it is magnetized or demagnetized, a huge current of a few hundred amperes will pass through the current leads, and due to the resistance in the current leads themselves, the ohm heat resulting from the resistance under the effects of the huge current can also be conducted to the superconducting magnet, thus affecting the superconducting environment.
In the prior art, usually two types of current leads are used to supply the power to the superconducting magnet; one is a detachable current lead, and the other is a fixed current lead. When using the detachable current leads, the detachable current leads are electrically connected to the superconducting magnet only when the superconducting magnet needs to be magnetized or demagnetized, and they are separated from the superconducting magnet when the superconducting magnet is in a stable superconducting status. Since the detachable current leads are not electrically connected to the superconducting magnet for most of the time, external heat is effectively prevented from being conducted to the superconducting magnet via the current leads; however such detachable current leads have a complex structure and they require handling by an experienced person when they are connected to or detached from the superconducting magnet. When the fixed current leads are used, the fixed current leads are always connected to the superconducting magnet. In this case, it is unavoidable for the external heat to be conducted to the superconducting magnet via the current leads, however such fixed current leads are convenient in operation, and as the refrigeration capability of refrigeration devices is being improved, the shortcoming caused by the heat conduction is compensated to a certain degree, therefore in the superconducting type of magnetic resonance systems the fixed current leads are increasingly used in practical commercial applications.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a prior art connection device of the fixed current leads, a superconducting magnet 70 is submerged in liquid helium within a liquid helium container 60, the current leads 40 are provided in a turret tube 50 in communication with the liquid helium container 60, and the current leads are electrically connected to an external power supply system and the superconducting magnet 70 respectively to supply the power to said superconducting magnet 70. Said current leads 40 comprise the leads used respectively as a positive current lead and a negative current lead. A superconducting switch 30 is connected between the positive current lead and the negative current lead to control the superconducting magnet 70. A cold head 10 is provided in a side tube (Sidesock) 20 in communication with the liquid helium container 60, to be used for refrigeration. As described above, this current lead connecting device would conduct external heat to the superconducting magnet 70 via the current leads 40 and the ohmic heat resulting from the strong current passing through the current lead 40 would also be conducted to the superconducting magnet 70, leading to the evaporation of the liquid helium due to the heat in the liquid helium container 60 and the damage to the superconducting environment. In addition, in such a current lead connecting device, the current leads 40 and the cold head 10 are provided in the turret tube 50 and the side tube 20 respectively, leading to a complicated structure for the current lead connecting device.
FIG. 2 shows an improved current lead connecting device, in which the differences between it and the current lead connecting device shown in FIG. 1 are: the current lead 40 is only used as the positive current lead and a side wall of the turret tube 50 is used as the negative current lead. The advantage of this improved current lead connecting device is the reduced number of current leads 40, however although a part of the heat conducted from outside to the superconducting magnet 70 through the current lead 40 is reduced, the difficulty for designing and producing the turret tube 50 is increased, because not only the heat conduction property but also the mechanical properties as well as the electric conduction properties of said turret tube 50 need to be considered. In the same way as the current lead connecting device shown in FIG. 1, the current lead 40 and the cold head 10 of this improved current lead connecting device are provided in the turret tube 50 and the side tube 20 respectively, leading to the complicated structure of the current lead connecting device.

Current lead of superconducting magnet of magnetic resonance system


The snap-in visor mount of the present invention employs a polymeric attachment member which includes at least one resilient spaced leg for gripping the upper surface of the sheet metal roof of the vehicle and which cooperatively is engaged by a snap-in bezel for both urging the leg of the attachment member into a locking position as well as interlocking the bezel with the attachment member.

The present invention relates to automotive visors and particularly to a mounting assembly for attaching a visor to a vehicle.
Conventionally, visors are mounted to vehicles by an elbow bracket assembly which is secured to the sheet metal framework of the vehicle roof by fastening screws. There also exists a variety of snap-in mounts including those of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,357,974; 4,178,035; and in German Patentschrift No. 23 41 940. Also known are the visor mounts disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,569,552; 4,553,797; 4,529,157; and 4,634,196 which are assigned to the present assignee. U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 989,913 filed Dec. 12, 1992 and entitled VISOR MOUNT also assigned to the present assignee discloses a twist-in visor mount.
Although snap-in and other types of visor mounting systems which avoid manual attachment to the vehicle using fastening screws are preferable, other fastening systems of the prior art tend to be either excessively complex, and therefore costly, or the visors are too easily removed, thus not providing secure installation. Snap-in visor mounts utilizing plastic materials, although preferable from a cost standpoint, tend to loosen due to creeping of the plastic material, thereby providing an unacceptable visor mount for long term use.