An autofocus camera includes a photographing lens which is electrically driven. A range finding unit emits a pulse beam to an object and receives a reflection beam from the object, thereby outputting a signal representing the distance between the range finding unit and the object. A first range finding operation control unit responds to half-depression of a release button, and activates the range finding unit to obtain a first range output. A first drive control unit responds to full-depression of the release button, and drives the photographing lens on the basis of the first range output from the first range finding operation control means, thus performing a first lens driving operation. A second range finding operation control units activates the range finding unit to obtain a second range output either before or after the first lens driving operation is completed. A timer measures a time interval between the time point of the first range finding operation and the time point of the second range finding operation, thereby outputting count time data. A second drive control unit estimates the distance to the object at the time of operating a shutter, on the basis of the first range output and second range output and the count time data, and re-driving the photographing lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an autofocus camera wherein a photographing lens is driven on the basis of an output from a range finding device, and to a method of focus control therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a camera having an autofocusing mechanism, a large time lag occurs between the time point of shutter release and the start of exposure. Consequently, when an object moving along the optical axis of the camera is to be photographed, a photographing lens may not be correctly focused.
Techniques for solving this problem are disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (PUJPA) No. 63-118133 and PUJPA No. 63-159817. According to these techniques, the velocity of an object is detected and the position of the object at the time of exposure is determined in advance, thereby driving the photographing lens. Specifically, on the basis of the distance detected at the first time point and the distance detected at the second time point (a predetermined time after the first time point), the velocity of the object is calculated.
However, according to the technique of PUJPA No. 63-159817 wherein complex calculation is performed to find the distance of the object and thereafter the lens is driven, the release time lag (calculation time+time required for driving the lens+time for starting the shutter operation) increases and the best chance for releasing the shutter may be missed.
Suppose that the time required for finding the amount of movement of the object is 10 msec. and the release time lag is 400 msec. In this case, on the basis of the amount of movement of the object during 10 msec., the distance from the camera to the object (hereinafter called "object distance") at the time point of exposure start after 400 msec is estimated. More specifically, the error in velocity of the object is increased 40 times, and the possibility of defocusing becomes higher in such a range finding device as an active triangular range finding device with a high error in distance found. If the time required for measuring the amount of movement of the object is increased to reduce the error, the time lag increases further and the chance for releasing the shutter may be missed.

Autofocus camera and method of focus control therefor


A light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a plurality of LEDs mounted on a substrate and a sensor for measuring light from the LEDs. Each LED emits light having a different spectrum from the other LEDs, the average intensity of light from that LED being determined by a drive signal coupled to that LED. The sensor generates a plurality of signals, each signal being characterized by a sensor value that is proportional to the intensity of light emitted by a corresponding one of the LEDs. A controller generates the drive signals and stores a current target value for each LED. The drive signals for each of the LEDs is generated such that the sensor value for that LED matches the stored current target value for that LED.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are attractive candidates for replacing conventional light sources such as incandescent lamps and fluorescent light sources. The LEDs have higher light conversion efficiencies and longer lifetimes. Unfortunately, an LED produces light in a relatively narrow spectral band. Hence, to produce a light source having an arbitrary color, a compound light source having multiple LEDs is typically utilized or part of the light from a single LED must be converted to light of a second wavelength, which is mixed with light from the original LED. For example, an LED-based white light source that provides an emission that is perceived as white by a human observer can be constructed by combining light from arrays of red, blue, and green emitting LEDs that are generating the correct intensity of light at each color. Similarly, light of other spectral emissions can be produced from the same arrays by varying the intensity of the red, blue, and green LED outputs to produce the desired color output. The intensity of light from each array can be varied by varying the magnitude of the current through the LED or by switching the LEDs on and off with a duty cycle that determines the average intensity of light generated by the LEDs.
A light source designer typically knows the desired output color for a light source in terms of standardized red, blue, and green light intensities. If the individual LEDs were highly reproducible and had light outputs that did not vary over the life of the LED, a light source constructed from red, blue, and green LEDs could be utilized to provide the intensities of the light from the individual colors by providing a drive circuit that drives each LED with the appropriate current or duty factor.
Unfortunately, the LED fabrication process provides LEDs having emissions and efficiencies that vary significantly from one LED to another even for LEDs of a particular type. In addition, the light output of an LED changes over time as the LED ages. If the designer constructs an LED lighting system by assuming that the LEDs are all the same, the variations lead to color shifts in the perceived spectrum of the light. Such variations are often unacceptable.
One solution to this problem involves selecting the LEDs such that the selected LEDs have precisely the correct emission efficiency and spectrum. Here, the individual LEDs are tested after fabrication. The LEDs that have the same output wavelength and current-to-light conversion efficiency to within some predetermined variation are grouped together. In essence, the LEDs are sorted into sub-types that have known parameters that are more tightly controlled. The light source designer can then specify a light source in terms of the sub-groups to avoid the manufacturing variability problem described above. Unfortunately, this solution reduces the production yield and increases the cost.
In addition, the sorting process does not solve the aging problems discussed above, and hence, the light source may still exhibit a color shift as it ages. To correct for the aging problem, a sensor is normally used to measure the intensity of light from the light source at the red, green, and blue wavelengths. A feedback control system then adjusts the drive currents or duty factors to the individual LEDs to maintain the color output at the desired point.
While a feedback system can correct for the aging of the LEDs, such systems are difficult to implement in a stand-alone light source designed to replace a conventional incandescent bulb. The LEDs are typically mounted on a first substrate in close proximity to one another. The light from the individual LEDs is mixed by a lens or other optical arrangement to provide the output light. The sensor must be located in the output light, and hence, must be located some distance from the LEDs. The controller drive circuitry is also typically mounted on a second substrate.

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A method for determining a shear elasticity and shear viscosity of a material based on resonance characteristics. A focused ultrasound wave is directed at the material to induce oscillations in the material, and a velocity of the material is measured. A spectrum of frequency of oscillation versus velocity is developed, and the resonance characteristics exhibited by the spectrum are used to estimate the shear elasticity and viscosity of the material.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining shear elasticity and shear viscosity of a material, and more particularly to a method for determining the shear elasticity and shear viscosity of a material based on resonance spectra of the medium under test.
The study of objects in terms of their mechanical response to external forces is of considerable interest in material science and medical diagnosis. Changes of elasticity of soft tissues are often related to pathology, and therefore the study of and characterization of changes in elasticity of materials can be an important diagnostic tool.
Traditionally, the mechanical characteristics of tissue have been examined through palpation. Palpation is a process in which a static force is applied to tissue and an estimation of the tissue elasticity is made through the sense of touch. While providing some information regarding the characteristics of the tissue, this method is highly dependent on the opinion of the medical practitioner estimating the force, and, although often useful, is not repeatable and does not provide a useful scale for characterizing the tissue.
Another prior art method for characterizing the mechanical properties of tissue is elasticity imaging, which has been the subject of extensive investigation in recent years. Elasticity imaging provides a quantitative method for measuring the mechanical properties of tissue. Generally, an excitation force is applied to the tissue and the response of the tissue is used to reconstruct the elastic parameters of the tissue. These parameters are typically related to the shear modulus, or "hardness" of the tissues being imaged. While providing a means for repeatably characterizing tissue, however, the ability of conventional B mode ultrasound imaging to differentiate various tissues depends principally on the acoustic impedance, which in turn depends upon the bulk modulus of the tissue under examination. The range of variation of bulk modulus, however, is relatively small. Therefore, the bulk modulus does not vary sufficiently as a function of the state of the tissue to allow for a characterization of the tissue.
Recently, vibro-acoustography, a method that can image the "hardness" of an object, has been developed. In vibro-acoustography, a confocal transducer having a center disk and an outer ring introduces two ultrasound beams to the same focal spot in an object. The two ultrasound beams have slightly different frequencies: for example, 1.001 MHz, and 0.999 MHz. At the focal spot, the interference of these two beams causes the object to vibrate at the beat frequency, in this example, at 2 kHz. Acoustic emissions from the object are detected by an acoustic hydrophone. These emissions contain information about the local material properties of the object.
By scanning the focal plane of the transducer in a raster manner, a 2D image of the object can be generated. In this method, the applied force is oscillative, allowing the dynamic properties of the material to be examined. The force is also confined to a local spot, therefore providing good spatial resolution of the image. This method is therefore particularly useful in detecting hard inclusions in soft material. For example, it has been used to image calcification in human arteries, microcalcification in breast tissue, and fractures in metal parts.
In vibro-acoustography, the brightness of a pixel is related to the stiffness and reflectivity of that location. However, the image is not a direct representation of a single elastic modulus. Rather, it combines information about several material properties of the object. Therefore, present versions of vibro-acoustography do not provide a direct evaluation of the stiffness of a material under examination.

Method and apparatus for shear property characterization from resonance induced by oscillatory radiation force


The present invention provides a simple system for in-water dry docking pleasure boats using existing boat slips. The system includes a dry-dock basin having one or more ballast tanks mounted below the bottom surface of the basin. The basin is submerged along guide pipes below the boat slip where the boat is typically stored. The basin comprises a port hull half and a starboard hull half that abuttingly engage at a seam which preferably comprises an insert. The insert is preferably flexible and may be formed as a keel well.

A boat hull requires periodic preventive and corrective maintenance to remove accumulated algae, organisms, and general dirt and other extraneous matter. The portion of a hull above the waterline is subject to other kinds of deterioration during normal operation of the craft, especially in a salt water environment, and this upper portion of a hull also requires occasional maintenance.
An owner of a pleasure craft may rent or own a boat slip in which to store his boat between outings. He may also own or have access to a hoisting assembly which typically is made of a hoist, cables, and slings to lift his boat out of the water for maintenance and repairs or simply to store the boat. By storing the boat out of the water, not only is the boat more easily maintained, it is also subjected to less attack from the elements and therefore requires less maintenance.
Large boats are more difficult to lift out of the water than smaller boats. To avoid the difficulty and expense (and possible damage to their boats) in routinely removing their boats from the water between outings, many owners of boats longer than 25 feet leave their boats in the water, typically at a marina, and periodically dry dock their boats at a commercial facility for periodic repair, painting, and other maintenance.
Commercial dry dock facilities are commonly of the submersible type. To dry dock a boat, the operator of the facility uses a relatively complex apparatus to submerge the dry dock, the craft is placed in position under its own power or by towing, and the submersible dry dock is lifted to lift the craft out of the water. Most submersible dry docks include various mechanisms such as doors, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, and other mechanisms. In addition to being expensive, such dry docks are subject to breakdown like any complex mechanical device.
For pleasure craft, owners or marine maintenance workers typically lift the boat out with a crane or hoist system, and set the boat on land on pods for support, where maintenance may be performed.
Other facilities simply lift the pleasure craft out of the water using a crane, hoist, or the like and transfer the vessel onto support pedestals where maintenance work is performed.
Consequently, there remains a need for a simple, affordable, dry dock apparatus that will allow the owners of relatively shallow-draft pleasure craft to reduce their maintenance costs, perform needed maintenance, and generally secure their boats on a routine basis without significant structural modifications to existing storage facilities such as marinas.
During further development of the invention disclosed in the above-mentioned application Ser. No. 08/294,253 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,070, it has been found that overland shipment of dry-dock can be simplified in certain circumstances by forming the dry-dock from two mirror-image halves. The whole dry-dock, formed as a single molding may present difficulties as a wide load in highway transit, and particularly in marina areas. There thus remains a need for a dry-dock that can be formed of mirror image halves that are easily assembled at the site of use, thus eliminating the "wide load" problem.
In northern freezing climates, pleasure craft are typically removed from the water because water expands as it freezes. This expansion creates extremely high crushing pressures on the hulls of the pleasure craft. Dry-docks may also find use in these freezing waters at the most beneficial time, the time in which the pleasure craft are removed from the freezing waters to protect them from the crushing ice forces. Thus, there remains a need for a means of absorbing the pressures exerted by frozen water surrounding the dry-dock.

In-water dry dock system with removable centerline insert


Electrical connector apparatus optimized for biomedical applications. In one embodiment, the connector apparatus comprises a low-cost simplified device having a unitary conductor element adapted to interface with an electrode terminal such as used in impedance cardiography (ICG) or electrocardiography (ECG). The unitary conductor is shaped so as to provide a high degree of electrical performance and signal stability, and also be highly reliable. The simplified structure of the connector (including the use of the unitary conductor element) allows it to be manufactured for very low cost, so as to be disposable if desired. Methods of manufacturing and operating the connector are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical connectors and connection apparatus, and particularly to an electrical connector apparatus useful in, inter alia, biomedical applications.
2. Description of Related Technology
In certain electrical connector applications, multiple (often competing) design and performance requirements exist, thereby significantly constraining the selection of connector technology for use in that application. This is especially true of certain clinical or biomedical applications such as impedance cardiography (ICG) and electrocardiography (ECG), wherein it is highly desirable to have a connector which is low cost, clinically rugged and robust, yet which provides both acceptable electrical performance (including low impedance) in a stable and repeatable manner. ICG and ECG connector assemblies have been historically characterized by high cost and substantial complexity of design. Unfortunately, such high cost tends to steer the clinician (or medical facility) using the connector away from disposing of these devices on a routine basis, as well as creating significant barriers to adoption of the technology in the first place.
Ideally, ICG/ECG connectors would be very simple in construction and low in cost, thereby allowing routine replacement and more ubiquitous use of these techniques in general.
Operational simplicity is another important consideration. Preferably, no complex or difficult operations would required in order to connect or disconnect the connector, yet the engagement (or disengagement) would be positive and rapid.
A great variety of different electrical connector designs (biomedical and otherwise) are known in the prior art, the following being generally representative.
Swiss Patent No. 48,890 to Cuendet issued July 1909 discloses a metallic loop element with aperture adapted for mating with a spark plug electrode. The loop is expanded by biasing two portions of the loop toward one another against a spring force.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,212,821 to Schade discloses a device for spring fastening a wire device to an electrical conductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,082,279 to Fore discloses a clip insulator adapted to be placed over the uninsulated portion of a conductor terminal.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,758,947 to Feighner discloses a method of clamping a spring loaded clip onto wires, terminals or other electrical conductors.
French Patent No. 964,611 to Ford issued August 1950 discloses a metallic loop element with aperture adapted for mating with a spark plug electrode. The loop is expanded by biasing two portions of the loop toward one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,143 to Lopin discloses an adapter for use in making an electrical connection between an electrode and a cable connected to a monitoring instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,697 to Ramsay, et al. issued Aug. 9, 1977 entitled "Electrical connector" discloses an electrical connector that has a resilient, stamped, metallic leaf contact defining a narrow neck contact entrance area and having reversely bent ends on either side of said area. A plastic body section embeds the ends and spans the area to provide two side by side lever legs arranged to act so that pressure on the legs resiliently opens the narrow neck to allow entrance of a second body contact. Relaxation of pressure on the legs causes resilient action of the connector to provide gripping of the second contact with a positive three point grip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,052 to Ekbom, et al. issued Dec. 11, 1979 entitled "Medical terminal clip member for attachment to patient electrodes" discloses a medical terminal clip that has a body member with a longitudinal axis and a pair of laterally spaced leg members extending in approximately the longitudinal direction and pivotally connected for relative movement. The respective spaced leg members form a variably spaced electrode receptacle on one side of the pivotal connection. A beryllium copper conductive member is embedded in the body member and is formed from a strip of metal bent into approximately an M-shape with side flanges on the leg members to ostensibly provide additional strength. A shield or barrier member extends at least between the approximate ends of the leg members on the other side of the pivotal connection while permitting relative movement of the leg members. The shield member is designed to close longitudinal access to the space between the leg members and thereby prevent any dislocation of the terminal clip member by catching onto exterior objects such as other terminal wires.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,960 to Tantillo, et al. issued Jun. 10, 1980 entitled "Electrical connector" discloses an electrical connector for engaging a terminal stud that has first and second insulating spring arms each carrying a conductive metal contact with the metal contacts defining through holes for electrically contacting a shank of a terminal stud. The metal contacts normally are in opposed spaced relationship to each other but are superimposed over each other and resiliently biased to their original position when the spring arms are squeezed toward each other by finger pressure. Release of the pressure causes the contacts to grasp the shank of a terminal stud over which the contacts are positioned. An electrical connector is formed by positioning a preformed end piece over an insulated wire and then molding a plastic connector end in abutting relationship with at least a portion of said preform whereby the molding and forming temperature used does not adversely affect the insulation of said wire.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,387 to Biche, et al. issued Sep. 2, 1980 entitled "Medical clip" discloses a medical terminal, particularly for use in connecting a lead wire or conductor to an electrode conventionally secured to the skin surface of a human or animal. The electrode comprises a male projection of the buttontype with an enlarged diameter head portion disposed within a recessed area of the electrode. The clip is generally V or wishbone shaped and includes a pair of support arms secured together at one end and normally spaced from each other at the other end. The arms carry resilient conductive loops normally biased out of overlapping condition but movable upon the application of external force into an overlapped condition wherein the clip may be applied over the head portion of the electrode. The support arms have offset depending shoulder portions from which the conductive loops extend and which are positionable within the recessed area of the electrode when the arms are moved toward each other. The support arms are integrally formed of resilient dielectric plastic material in an initial unstressed generally V-shape, with a female socket embedded in the plastic and electrically connected by conductor means to the conductive loops. Replaceable or interchangeable identification means is removably mounted on the clip in the area of the female socket, and a strain relief cover is removably positionable on the clip over said female socket and over said identification means to provide strain relief for the connection to a lead wire, and the cover is at least in part transparent to provide visual observation of the identification means.
German Patent No. DD 257 145 discloses a contact terminal clamp designed for use in medical applications, which provides a connection to dish-shaped electrodes on a patient. A double loop terminal element is coupled around a terminal stud, with the loop aperture being opened by grasping two opposing free ends of the terminal element and compressing them together.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,591 to Archer issued Jun. 9, 1987 entitled "Electrical connector" discloses a connector for establishing electrical connection between a conductor and a patient engaging electrode that includes a conductive post extending from the electrode. The post has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the distal portion. The connector comprises insulation means shaped to form a socket open at one end, a pair of first spring members, a pair of second spring members, and means for electrically connecting the conductor to the second spring members. The first spring members are laterally positioned with respect to one another in the socket, and the second spring members are laterally positioned with respect to one another in the socket closer to said one end than the first spring members. The first and second spring members are positioned and constructed such that when the post is inserted in the socket, the second spring members grip the proximal portion of the post, and the first spring members and the intermediate and distal portions of the post comprise a detent mechanism that resists removal of the post from the socket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,613 to Neward issued Jan. 11, 1994 entitled "Electrode junction assembly" discloses an electrical junction block particularly for use with a fetal electrode and electronic monitor. The junction block comprises a housing having a cavity therein, and a substantially U-shaped spring disposed in the cavity. The spring has legs which are biased outwardly by a suitable coil spring. The housing contains electrical contacts and wires connected thereto, and the U-shaped spring can be depressed to provide openings for receiving electrode wires. A mounting pad can be disposed on the housing for facilitating mounting of the assembly on a person during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,298 to Faupel, et al. issued Apr. 20, 1999 entitled "DC biopotential electrode connector and connector condition sensor" discloses an electrode connector and connector condition sensor for a biopotential sensing apparatus. A plurality of electrodes are connected to individual output leads for individual electrode channels by a connector which does not abrade the surface of the electrode button contact and does not require that pressure be applied to the electrode during connection. Two spring biased conductive arms for the connector are spread apart by the cam surface of an actuator button to receive the button contact and are contoured to engage substantially the peripheral surface of the button contact when the actuator button is released. The biopotential sensing apparatus includes a processor which senses the loss of signal in any electrode channel during a test period and activates an indicator to provide a warning indication.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,949 to Ubby issued Nov. 7, 2000 entitled "Lead protection and identification system" discloses a lead protection and identification system for a medical diagnostic device. Electrodes are placed on predetermined locations of a patient, and the system includes clips for attaching to the electrodes. The system identifies a lead and provides information to a user as to which one of the electrodes the lead should be connected to. Potentially dangerous signals are prevented from being inputted to a clip when the clip is not connected to an electrode and prevents the patient from being injured.
United States Patent Publication No. 20030068914 to Merry, et al. published Apr. 10, 2003 entitled "Precordial electrocardiogram electrode connector" discloses an electrocardiogram electrode connector for connecting an electrode to an electrocardiogram device. The connector of the present invention comprises a lower portion having an electrode end and an ECG end, and an upper portion pivotally connected to the lower portion. The upper portion likewise has an electrode end and an ECG end. The connector also comprises a spring between the lower portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends together to clamp about an electrode. Further, the connector comprises an electrical assembly having an elastomeric electrical connector to provide electrical continuity between the electrode and the ECG device when the electrode ends of the lower portion and the upper portion of the connector are biased together.
United States Patent Publication No. 20040039275 to Sato, et al. published Feb. 26, 2004 entitled "Biological electrode and connector for the same" discloses a conductive member adapted to be attached onto a living tissue to detect a bioelectrical signal. A retainer retains the conductive member on the living tissue. A lead member is partly brought into contact with the conductive member to lead out the bioelectrical signal to a connector. A waterproof sheet covers the lead member in a watertight manner, while exposing a portion of the lead member from which the biological signal is led out.
United States Patent Publication No. 20040072475 to Istvan published Apr. 15, 2004 entitled "Electrode connector" discloses an electrode connector for connecting a conventional tab electrode or sensor to a lead assembly for use with a physiological data collection system. The electrode connector includes a lead connecting portion for attaching the electrode connector to a lead assembly and a tab connection portion for attaching the electrode connector to a tab electrode or sensor. During use, the electrical signals corresponding to physiological data of the patient pass from the tab electrode or sensor, through the electrode connector, and to the lead assembly.
United States Patent Publication No. 20040106964 to Fischer, et al. published Jun. 3, 2004 entitled "Implantable Medical Device with Multiple Electrode Lead and Connector with Central Fastener" discloses an implantable medical device such as a cardiac stimulator, a multi-electrode lead attached to the device, and a connector coupling the device to the lead. The lead has multiple electrodes, each electrode connected to a wire extending though the lead. The electrodes may be circumferential coils or rings, for example. The lead has a connector that fits into a recess on a surface of the device or apparatus. A bottom wall of the recess has an array of apparatus connections deployed around a threaded bore. The connector is attached to the apparatus by a screw with a threaded shaft and an enlarged head. The screw passes through a central bore in the connector. Electrical connections form a regular pattern, such as a rectangular or square grid, or a radial pattern, around the central bore. A pair of O-rings or seals surround the connections. A gasket, mounted on male connections or contacts, fits around female connections that may be on either the apparatus or the connector.
Despite this broad variety of different designs, none of the foregoing prior art connectors are particularly well adapted to meeting the tandem goals of excellent electrical performance and stability, simplicity of design, low cost, and ease of operation. The prior art solutions (exemplified by those of U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,298 to Faupel discussed above) are either too complex and costly too manufacture, provide poor electrical performance, and/or are not well suited to biomedical applications. Spiraling health care costs further underscore the urgent need for lower cost (and disposable) connector form factors for use in, e.g., ICG/ECG monitoring and evaluation.

Electrical connector apparatus and methods


An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a cartridge, a casing, a cartridge holding unit and a first guide unit. The looped belt has a first surface outside of the loop, and is stretched to form a substantially straight portion on the loop that extends in a first direction. The casing has a base surface. The cartridge holding unit holds the cartridge at a first predetermined position in the casing. Each circumferential surface of the plurality of photosensitive drums contacts the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is held by the cartridge holding unit at the first predetermined position. The first guide unit guides the cartridge into the first predetermined position, and allows the plurality of photosensitive drums to move apart from the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is detached from the first predetermined position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a cartridge which can be mounted in the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A tandem type image forming apparatus has photoconductors, exposure units, developing units, and transfer units, each corresponding to the number of colors (for example, four colors of magenta, cyan, yellow and black). When the photoconductors, the developing units, and the like are replaced and maintained, or when a jam process is performed, it is necessary to remove the photoconductors, the developing units, and the like from an image forming apparatus body.
An image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2001-272899 has processing units constituted corresponding to the number of colors and guides for sliding the process units. Each processing unit has photoconductors, a developing unit, and the like. Each processing unit is slidable horizontally along each guide to be quickly attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body. At the time of maintenance or replacement, only a necessary processing unit which requires maintenance or replacement may be removed.
However, in the image forming apparatus, in case of performing a maintenance of a member located inside the processing unit when, for example, a conveying belt for conveying a paper sheet is replaced or a jam process is performed, it is necessary to draw out the processing unit entirely from the image forming apparatus body. Accordingly, the efficiency of the maintenance is low.
Further, the guide is formed to move the processing unit in parallel with the front surface of the conveying belt, etc. Accordingly, in some cases, the photoconductor or the like provided in the processing unit and the conveying belt or the like are slidably contacted with each other to be damaged.
To solve such a problem, an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2003-015378 has a cartridge which is configured of integrated processing units provided corresponding to the number of colors, and is attachable and detachable. According to this image forming apparatus, all of the processing units can be drawn out at a time by drawing the cartridge from the image forming apparatus body. Therefore, its maintenance efficiency is better as compared with the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2001-272899.
Furthermore, after the cartridge is once moved in a direction separating the photoconductor from the belt, the cartridge is drawn out from the image forming apparatus body by sliding the cartridge horizontally with the body. Accordingly, it can prevent the photoconductor and the conveying belt or the like from being brought into slidable contact with each other.
However, since in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2003-015378, a guiding mechanism, or the like for guiding the cartridge is complicated, its cost is high. Further, since an operation is necessary to separate the photoconductor from the belt before the cartridge is drawn out, its operability or maintenance efficiency is not good.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method are provided for managing emergency services received by a mobile terminal having a temporary wireless directory number (TDN). The system includes an emergency call register (ECR) network and a disaster recovery call center (DRCC). The DRCC authorizes the mobile terminal to receive emergency services and provides service information for managing the emergency services to the ECR network if the mobile terminal is authorized to receive the emergency services.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a system and method for telecommunications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for managing use of a temporary wireless directory number, which may be used in emergency situations, to provide communication service to a mobile terminal.
2. Background Information
In wireless communication systems, a mobile directory number (MDN) is a dialable number associated with a mobile terminal. The MDN of a mobile terminal may be dialed by a caller and used to route a call through a communication network to a wireless subscriber's home system. Calls to a roaming wireless subscriber are routed to a mobile terminal at the serving system (SS) using a temporary long distance number (TLDN), as opposed to the MDN. The TLDN is similar to a call forwarding number provided by the serving system to the home system on request to deliver a call to a roaming mobile terminal.
However, in disaster situations, such as a hurricane or earthquake, one or more elements of a network necessary to route calls to a mobile terminal using the MDN or TLDN may be damaged, thereby by impairing and/or preventing communication services from being provided to a mobile terminal. For example, a situation may occur in which a mobile terminal can make outgoing calls as a roamer through a visited serving system, but cannot receive incoming calls through a home system, which may be out of service due to a disaster.

System and method for managing communication services provided to a mobile terminal using a temporary wireless directory number


A control valve having an external valve trim adjustor is provided. The control valve comprises a valve shaft comprising a contact member extending in a direction transverse to the valve shaft, a stationary valve cap adapted to receive the valve shaft, an adjustment member coupled to the valve cap, and a stop plate coupled to the contact member and threadedly coupled to the adjustment member, the stop plate positioned at least partially between the adjustment member and the contact member and adapted to position the contact member away from the valve cap in response to manipulation of the adjustment member.

Control valves regulate the flow of fluid through some systems, permitting zero, partial, or full flow of fluid through the valve in response to control commands. In addition to adjusting the flow of fluid through the control valve between different operational states of the control valve, it is advantageous to calibrate flow through the valve during the operational states. Adjusting the valve in this manner is commonly known as adjusting the trim of the control valve.
Calibration of the valve can change the flow setting at various states of operation, such as how much fluid flows while in the maximally-open state, or whether some fluid is still permitted to flow in a maximally-closed state. Other intermediary states can have regulated flow amounts set by the calibration. It is advantageous to know precisely how much fluid will flow through the valve during the various states of operation or positions of the control valve. Thus, calibrating, or adjusting the trim of the control valve, differs from simply adjusting the fluid flow through the valve. Typically, such trim is a small adjustment relative to the changes between operational states of the control valve.
Some control valves can regulate the flow of toxic and/or hazardous fluids. In some control valves, calibration or other fine adjustment of fluid flow through the valve requires opening the valve or valve assembly and directly manipulating some of the components. Other valves can permit manipulation through external means but without sufficient sealing to contain the fluid within. In either case, it is not preferable to expose an operator adjusting or calibrating the valve to the fluid within the valve assembly. Accordingly, it is advantageous to adjust the trim of the control valve without permitting leakage or exposure of the fluid flowing through the control valve.

Valve trim adjustor for a poppet control valve


A vehicle powertrain with mechanically independent sets of front and rear traction wheels has separate motive power units. An electronic control system including traction wheel slip control is electronically coupled to a first motive power unit and to a second motive power unit to separately establish maximum rear wheel traction and maximum front wheel traction. Independent requests are made for an increase or a decrease in wheel torque for one set of traction wheels and an increase or decrease in wheel torque for the other set of traction wheels thereby improving acceleration performance and enhancing vehicle stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle with front and rear driving axles that are mechanically independent.
2. Background Art
It is known design practice for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain to use traction controlled systems and stability control systems for the vehicle. These separate systems usually are interfaced in a powertrain assembly that cannot independently control each driving axle. More recent design concepts for hybrid electric vehicle powertrains use a mechanically independent electric motor drive for one of the axles as the other axle is powered by an internal combustion engine. Examples of hybrid electric vehicle powertrains with that configuration are disclosed in U.S. patent publications US 2002/0041167 and US 2005/0178592. A vehicle chassis dynamics control system for such hybrid electric vehicle powertrains cannot independently request the powertrain to adjust (increase or decrease) driving torque for one set of traction wheels and to separately adjust torque for the other set of traction wheels.
If a traditional interface for the separate sets of traction wheels is used in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with two sets of traction wheels, it may be necessary to apply friction braking at a slipping axle in order to achieve traction control if a powertrain controller does not reduce traction wheel driving torque sufficiently to avoid wheel slipping. Application of friction braking to a traction wheel that has minimal traction will oppose torque distribution to one set of traction wheels thereby wasting energy and degrading acceleration performance for the vehicle.
Unlike a hybrid electric vehicle with two sets of traction wheels and a center differential that provides a mechanical connection between the driving axles for the traction wheels, a hybrid electric vehicle with independent driving axles does not include a center differential assembly for maintaining good acceleration performance by redirecting driving torque from an axle with slipping traction wheels to the axle that has better traction. In a HEV with separate front and rear powertrains and no center differential, therefore, application of friction braking alone cannot redirect torque to the axle with better traction available. Further, if friction brakes are applied to the traction wheels that have low traction, the brakes may have a tendency to degrade both the stability of the control system and acceleration performance.

Traction and stability control system and method for a vehicle with mechanically independent front and rear traction wheels


Provided is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer including: a loop-orbit defining electrode (21) including an outer electrode (211) and inner electrode (212) located on the outside and inside of a loop orbit, respectively; an ion inlet (22); an ion outlet (23) provided in either the outer or inner electrode; a loop-flight voltage applier (28) configured to apply loop-flight voltages to the outer and inner electrodes, respectively; a set of deflecting electrodes (24) facing each other across a section of an n-th loop orbit, where n is a predetermined number, the deflecting electrodes including a first portion (241) which faces the n-th loop orbit and a second portion (242) which includes other portions; and a voltage applier (29) configured to apply deflecting voltages to the first portion so as to reverse the drifting direction of the ions flying in the n-th loop orbit, and a voltage to the second portion so as to create the loop-flight electric field.

There is a type of mass spectrometer known as a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). In a TOF-MS, a predetermined amount of acceleration energy is imparted to a cluster of ions generated from a sample, to simultaneously introduce the ions into a flight space. After flying a path of a predetermined length defined within the flight space, the ions are sequentially detected by an ion detector, and the intensity of the ions at each point in time is recorded. The period of time required for the ions which have been given equal amounts of energy to fly the predetermined length of path (time of flight) varies depending on their respective mass-to-charge ratios. For a TOF-MS, the relationship between the mass-to-charge ratio and time of flight of an ion is previously tested. Based on that relationship, the time of flight of the cluster of ions are converted to respective mass-to-charge ratios to obtain a mass spectrum.
In a TOF-MS, the longer the flight path of the ions is, the more the ions are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratios, and the higher the mass-resolving power becomes. However, in the case of a mass spectrometer in which ions are made to fly a simple linear path, elongating the flight path directly increases the size of the device. In order to elongate the flight path for the ions without increasing the size of the device, a reflectron mass spectrometer and a multi-turn loop mass spectrometer have been proposed. In the reflectron mass spectrometer, the flight distance of the ions is increased by reversing the flight direction of the ions by a reflectron electrode so as to make the ions fly a reciprocating path within the flight space. In the loop mass spectrometer, the flight distance of the ions is increased by making ions repeatedly fly a loop orbit (closed orbit).
In the reflectron mass spectrometer, the flight distance can be almost doubled as compared to the case where ions are made to fly a simple oneway. However, a flight distance longer than that cannot be obtained. In the loop mass spectrometer, since ions are made to fly a loop orbit repeatedly, an "overtaking problem" occurs, in which an ion having a smaller mass-to-charge ratio and flying at a higher speed overtakes an ion having a larger mass-to-charge ratio and flying at a lower speed. This makes it impossible to distinguish the two ions of different travel distances.
Accordingly, in recent years, a multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MT-TOF-MS) with an open orbit (quasi-closed orbit) and a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS) have been proposed (for example, see Patent Literatures 1-3).
In the MT-TOF-MS, an orbit having a specific shape, such as a circular, elliptical or figure-"8" shape, is defined within the flight space. Ions are made to repeatedly fly this path while gradually changing their position in a predetermined direction (drift) for each turn. In the MR-TOF-MS, two reflectron electrodes are placed opposite to each other across the flight space. Ions are made to repeatedly fly back and forth between the two reflectron electrodes while gradually changing their position (drift) in a predetermined direction for each two-way path. These configurations make it possible to elongate the flight distance of the ions and improve the mass-resolving power without increasing the size of the mass spectrometer.
For example, an MT-TOF-MS described in Patent Literature 1 includes a loop-orbit-defining electrode formed by outer electrode and inner electrode. The outer electrode has a substantially spheroidal shape formed by a plurality of segment electrodes combined together. The inner electrode, which is located inside the outer electrode, also has a substantially spheroidal shape formed by a plurality of segment electrodes combined together which are arranged so as to respectively face the segment electrodes forming the outer electrode. The loop orbit of the ions is defined between the outer and inner electrodes. In this MT-TOF-MS, an electrostatic field for making ions repeatedly fly in the loop orbit ("loop-flight electric field") is created within the spheroidal space between the outer and inner electrodes ("flight space") by applying predetermined voltages to the segment electrodes forming the outer electrode as well as those forming the inner electrode, respectively. The outer electrode has an ion inlet for introducing ions into the loop orbit of the ions and an ion outlet for releasing ions from the loop orbit of the ions. Ions which have been introduced from the ion inlet into the flight space are made to fly a loop path in the flight space, and the loop path revolves around the axis of the substantially spheroidal space by a predetermined angle (drift angle) for each turn of the ions. After completing a previously specified number of turns (e.g., 20-30 turns), the ions are released from the ion outlet to the outside of the loop-flight space and detected by an ion detector.
Patent Literature 1 also proposes a configuration in which a set of deflecting electrodes face each other across a section of an n-th loop orbit of the ions (where n is a predetermined number), and predetermined voltages (deflecting voltages) are applied to those electrodes to create a deflecting electric field. In this MT-TOF-MS, ions are initially made to turn a predetermined number of times. Subsequently, the drifting direction of the ions is reversed by the deflecting electric field, and the ions are once more made to turn a predetermined number of times, to be ultimately released to the outside of the flight space. By this configuration, the mass-resolving power can be even further improved by making the ions turn a greater number of times and fly a longer distance than in the case where the deflecting electric field is not used.


Fire extinguishing or suppression apparatus and method employing a liquid pyrotechnic composition of a ternary mixture of hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, an amine nitrate salt, and water, in a closed combustion chamber of a pressure container. The apparatus is constructed to permit a large volume of water vapor exothermically generated by the reaction of a liquid pyrotechnic composition to be discharged from the combustion chamber and pressure container to an area of a fire.

Typically, fires involve a chemical reaction between oxygen and a fuel which is raised to its ignition temperature by heat. In general, suppression or extinguishment of fires has involved one or more of the following procedures: removing the oxygen, reducing the temperature in the environment of the fire, physically separating the oxygen from the fuel and/or interruption of the chemical reactions of the components. A number of means of accomplishing the foregoing methods are known. Physical agents operate primarily on heat absorption and chemical agents operate primarily by removing free radicals from the flames and the combustion system. Among the agents employed there may be mentioned water, carbon dioxide, dry chemicals and Halon halocarbons.
Although Halon halocarbons have been used extensively in the past, there is a need to eliminate their use due to the harmful effects they are considered to have on the environment, particularly their zone depleting aspect with respect to the atmosphere.
Due to the necessity for large cylinders to contain a very limited amount of carbon dioxide gas, use of carbon dioxide has been very restricted.
Probably the most commonly used fire suppressing material has been water. Heretofore, water-based indoor fire suppression has generally been in the form of water sprinkler systems which generally operate at ordinary building or municipal water pressure. These systems depend upon distributing a plurality of sprinkler heads around an area to be protected. Such systems can be relatively complex and expensive, requiring piping interconnecting the sprinkler heads and running to a suitable source of water, which is normally at the pressure provided in the facility or building, or the municipal or other provider of water pressure, that is, a relatively low pressure.
A more recently emerging technology in fire protection is to use some form of water mist system. Such systems use relatively small amounts of water in the form of a fine mist to extinguish a fire rather than the relatively large volume of water that an ordinary sprinkler system would typically distribute or apply. A water mist operates to extinguish a fire by at least two different mechanisms, namely, by extracting heat and by displacing oxygen. Such systems use relatively small amounts of water in the form of a fine mist of very small (e.g. 50 microns) water droplets to extinguish fires.
The vaporization of water to steam is very effective in removing heat from the fire. Again, however, one of the drawback to the use of water is the limited amount of water that can be conveniently stored for use in fire suppression systems. A further drawback has been the necessity, in some situations, to provide expensive means for converting the stored water to water vapor for use in suppressing a fire by oxygen displacement.

Liquid pyrotechnic fire extinguishing composition producing a large amount of water vapor


Disclosed is a bio-fertilizer composition for promoting growth of orchid plants. The composition comprises a symbiotic organism, a growth substance; and a medium, which is used to mix and evenly disperse the symbiotic organisms and the growth substance. The symbiotic organism is selected from the group consisting of Rhizoctonia sp. (BCRC930076) and Rhizoctonia sp. (BCRC930077). The bio-fertilizer composition according to the invention can promote the growth of orchid plants, increase the flowering rate and flowering quality, decrease the occurrence of root disease to prevent the usage of pesticide, and increase the beneficial components toward human health of medicinal orchids.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bio-fertilizer composition, especially relates to a composition containing symbiotic organisms for promoting growth of orchid plants.
2. The Prior Arts
Proper fertilizers are important to crops during growth stages since the nutrients in soil may not fully meet the needs. Fertilizer for crops may be classified as chemical fertilizer, bio-fertilizer, green manure and compost. Bio-fertilizer contains microbes or enzymes, and is available in the forms of powder, granule or liquid. When bio-fertilizers are applied on the seeds, seedlings or soils, not only the effectiveness of nutrient uptake can be improved, but also the amount of beneficial microbes can be replenished to maintain soil in good eco-environment. The nutrient level in soil is further elevated, with soil fertility enhanced, nutrient uptake assisted, and the abilities of disease-resistant, drought-enduring, and cold-resistant of crops enhanced. In general, the advantages may be grouped into 3 categories: (1) nitrogen fixation, to fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, and convert into nitrate which can be used by crops, (2) solubilization of soil minerals such as phosphorus, calcium and iron to be used by plants, (3) promotion of the nutrient uptake by roots and plant growth.
The Orchid family, Orchidaceae, is one of the most numerous and biggest vascular bundle family. There are more than 80 genuses being identified so far, which stand for more than 20,000 species worldwide. They can be traced from gloomy fresh tropical rainforests to steep cliffs to dry desert regions. Many orchids have medicinal properties besides ornamental importance, such as Dendrobium and Anoectochilus which are of great commercial values. Many of the orchid strains have the problems of low germination rates and low asexual reproduction (agamogenesis) rates. The price of orchids is therefore very high with the long planting and cultivation time.
Orchid plants have difficulties in cultivation, slow growth, perplexity in flowering promotion, and numerous problems regarding transplanting, manure, watering, light management and so on. Orchids are mainly propagated using tissue culture techniques, but the survival ability and growth of the seedling are very slow after being transplanted from the cultivating vessels. Many chemical fertilizers in the market containing fixed ratio of inorganic substances, a formula for in common use, are for general purpose but not aimed at certain plants. Therefore, no specific effect is observed. On the other hand, the studies in soil have demonstrated that inorganics have complicated interactions with each other. Increasing the amount of one inorganic will affect the uptake rate of other inorganics, and result in lack of other inorganics. And for the application of organic fertilizers, the main problem is to emphasize the effective use of animal droppings but not to determine the requirement terms of orchids on each element. Animal droppings usually contain low nutrient levels, but organic fertilizers retain moisture contents and nutrients, also release in a slower rate. Though organic fertilizers increase plant growth in the beginning for orchids planting, result in rotten roots of plants after a period of time. This is because of the decomposing of animal droppings, which makes water and air blocked, an ideal environment for bacteria growth. Therefore, the growth rates and yields of orchid plants are decreased. In addition, pathogens and weed may hide in animal droppings to destroy plants.
In summary, applying fertilizer is necessary during orchid planting stage, but the objective is incapable of fulfillment with the lacks and disadvantages of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers in the market.

Bio-fertilizer composition for promoting growth or orchid plants and application


A slant plate compressor with a variable displacement mechanism including a driving mechanism having a drive shaft is disclosed. The compressor includes a compressor housing having a cylinder block. A plurality of peripherally located cylinders are formed through the cylinder block. A piston is slidably fitted in each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by the driving mechanism. An inner end of the drive shaft is rotatably supported in the cylinder block by bearing which is fixedly disposed within a central bore formed through the cylinder block. Both rearward and radial forces acting on the drive shaft are effectively received and compensated for by the bearing without providing an axial position adjusting element, such as, a washer having the various thicknesses for adjusting an axial position of the drive shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerant compressor, and more particularly, to a slant plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism, such as a wobble plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism for use in an automotive air conditioning system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a wobble plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,705 to Parekh et al. For purposes of explanation only, the left side of the figure will be referenced as the forward end or front and the right side of the figure will be referenced as the rearward end.
Compressor 100 includes compressor housing 101, cylinder block 102 having a plurality of cylinders 103 formed therein, driving mechanism 104 having drive shaft 105 and slant plate 106, wobble plate 107 which is rotatably mounted on slant plate 106 and nutates when drive shaft 105 and slant plate 106 rotate, and rotation preventing mechanism 108 which prevents rotation of wobble plate 107 during the nutational motion of wobble plate 107. Pistons 109 are slidably disposed in respective cylinders 103 and are connected to wobble plate 107 through respective connecting rods 110. The nutational motion of wobble plate 107 causes pistons 109 to reciprocate in respective cylinders 103 and thereby compress the refrigerant therein. Crank chamber 111 is defined by housing 101 and a front end of cylinder block 102. Suction chamber 112 is defined in housing 101 rear to cylinder block 102. Valve control mechanism 113 is disposed in housing 101 and controls the communication between crank chamber 111 and suction chamber 112 in response to changes in suction chamber pressure in order to vary crank chamber pressure. Changes in the crank chamber pressure varies the slant angle of slant plate 106 with respect to a plate perpendicular to the axis of drive shaft 105. In turn, changes in the slant angle of slant plate 106 varies the stroke length of each piston 109 so that the capacity of compressor 100 changes. Therefore, the capacity of compressor 100 is varied by the operation of valve control mechanism 113.
An inner front end of drive shaft 105 is rotatably supported by a front end of housing 101 through needle bearing 101a. Thrust needle bearing 101b surrounding drive shaft 105 is disposed between an inner end surface of the front end of housing 101 and a front end of annular cylindrical member 114 fixedly connected to drive shaft 105 by pin member 115. Thrust needle bearing 101b receives a forward force generated by the gas pressure reaction force of the compressed refrigerant in cylinders 103 as transmitted through pistons 109, connecting rods 110, wobble plate 107, slant plate 106, drive shaft 105 and annular cylindrical member 114.
First annular groove 105c is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the inner rear end portion of drive shaft 105 in front of forward to cylinder block 102. Split ring return spring 116 is fixedly received in first annular groove 105c by snap portion 116a. When slant plate 106 reaches its minimum slant angle, it is contacted by return spring 116, and the restoring force of split ring return spring 116 urges it back towards greater slant angles. Therefore, when slant plate 106 contacts split ring return spring 116, a rearward force acting on drive shaft 105 is generated. The rearward force is increased in direct proportion to the increase in the restoring force of return spring 116. When the rearward force generated by the contact of slant plate 106 and return spring 116 becomes greater than the forward force generated by the gas pressure reaction force in cylinders 103, drive shaft 105 tends to move rearwardly.
Referring also to FIG. 2, drive shaft 105 includes small diameter portion 105a which is integral with and extends from an inner rear end of drive shaft 105, thereby forming annular ridge 105b at the inner rear end of drive shaft 105. Annular ridge 105b is located in front of cylinder block 102. Small diameter portion 105a of drive shaft 105 is rotatably supported by cylinder block 102 through needle bearing 102a which is fixedly disposed in central bore 117 formed through cylinder block 102. Needle bearing 102a is fixedly disposed in central bore 117 by, for example, forcible insertion.
Second annular groove 105d rearwardly extending from annular ridge 105b is formed in an outer peripheral surface of small diameter portion 105a of drive shaft 105. Washer 118 is slidably received in second annular groove 105d, and is sandwiched between annular ridge 105b and cylinder block 102 so as to prevent the rearward movement of drive shaft 105. The axial length of second annular groove 105d is designed to accommodate a washer 118 having a sufficiently large thickness. Washer 118 radially extends in order to contact the front end surface of cylinder block 102.
When this prior art compressor is assembled, the clearance created between a side wall of annular ridge 105b of drive shaft 105 and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 is variable because of a variation in the tolerances of the compressor component parts. Therefore, the washer 118 that is selected has a thickness equal to or slightly smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 in order to effectively prevent the rearward movement of drive shaft 105.
However, as drive shaft 105 tends to move rearwardly, drive shaft 105 thrusts annular ridge 105b rearwardly through washer 118, which is selected to have a thickness equal to or slightly smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102. Therefore, washer 118 is compressedly sandwiched by cylinder block 102 and annular ridge 105b when drive shaft 105 tends to move rearwardly. As a result, washer 118 rotates relative to cylinder block 102 or drive shaft 105 and frictionally slides over the front end surface of cylinder block 102 or the side wall of annular ridge 105b. In a short period of time, the operation of the compressor causes an abnormal abrasion on the friction surface of the softer member of drive shaft 105 or washer 118, and the softer member of washer 118 or cylinder block 102.
Accordingly, even though the thickness of washer 118 is appropriately selected during the assembling process of the compressor, a new clearance is created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b of drive shaft 105 and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 such that washer 118 may collide with the front end surface of cylinder block 102 and the side wall of annular ridge 105b of drive shaft 105. The collision between washer 118 and cylinder block 102 and annular ridge 105b causes an offensive noise.
Furthermore, if washer 118 is mistakenly selected such that the thickness thereof is smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102, washer 118 may also collide with the front end surface of cylinder block 102 and the side wall of annular ridge 105b of drive shaft 105 because washer 118 is slidably received in second annular groove 105d. In this instance, the collision between washer 118 and cylinder block 102 and annular ridge 105b also causes an offensive noise.
Still further, selecting a washer 118 that has a thickness equal to or slightly smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 complicates the assembling process of the compressor.
FIG. 3 substantially illustrates the relevant part of a wobble plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism as sold in the commercial market. In the drawing, the same numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that an explanation thereof is omitted.
In this prior art embodiment, thrust bearing 120 is slidably mounted about small diameter portion 105a of drive shaft 105 between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102. Thrust bearing 120 radially extends so as to contact the front end surface of cylinder block 102. Thrust bearing 120 is selected such that the thickness thereof is equal to or slightly smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b of drive shaft 105 and the front end surface of cylinder block 102. Thrust bearing 120 effectively receives the rearward thrust force generated when drive shaft 105 tends to move rearwardly so that no abnormal abrasion occurs on the front end surface of cylinder block 102 or the side wall of annular ridge 105b.
However, the provision of a relatively expensive thrust bearing 120 causes an increase in the manufacturing cost of the compressor.
Furthermore, if thrust bearing 120 is mistakenly selected such that the thickness thereof is smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102, the associated drawbacks, such as the collision between thrust bearing 120 and cylinder block 102 and annular ridge 105b, will also occur as discussed above for Parekh et al.
Still further, selecting a thrust bearing 120 such that the thickness thereof is equal to or slightly smaller than the clearance created between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 complicates the assembling process of the compressor, as it also did in Parekh et al.
FIG. 4 substantially illustrates the relevant part of a wobble plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-267374. In the drawing, the same numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that an explanation thereof is omitted.
In this prior art embodiment, thrust bearing 120 and belleville spring 121 disposed rearward to thrust bearing 120 are mounted about small diameter portion 105a of drive shaft 105 between the side wall of annular ridge 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102. Thrust bearing 120 is slidably mounted about small diameter portion 105a. Spring 121 is compressedly sandwiched between thrust bearing 120 and cylinder block 102 such that thrust bearing 120 is continuously urged forward by virtue of the restoring force of spring 121. Therefore, even though the clearance created between the side wall of annular groove 105b and the front end surface of cylinder block 102 is varied, the clearance is accommodated by spring 121 acting through thrust bearing 120, without selecting the thickness of thrust bearing 120. Furthermore, thrust bearing 120 effectively receives the rearward thrust force generated when drive shaft 105 tends to move rearwardly so that no abnormal abrasion occurs on the front end surface of cylinder block 102 or the side wall of annular ridge 105b.
However, since thrust bearing 120 is continuously urged forward by the restoring force of belleville spring 121, the rolling friction between the component parts of thrust bearing 120 is increased, and consequently, the life of thrust bearing 120 is decreased. Furthermore, the provision of a relatively expensive thrust bearing 120 causes an increase in the manufacturing cost of the compressor. And still further, the provision of belleville spring 121 in addition to thrust bearing 120 causes an increase in the number of component parts of the compressor.
In another prior art compressor, Japanese Patent Application No. 60-259776A discloses a variable displacement compressor in which a bearing is disposed within the cylinder block. The cylinder block comprises a bore having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion with a shoulder therebetween. The bearing is disposed in the large diameter portion such that a portion of the outer race extends radially beyond the shoulder while another portion of the outer race does not extend beyond the shoulder.
During assembly of the '776 compressor, if a rearwardly directed force is applied to the bearing through the small diameter portion of the bore so that the bearing snugly engages the end of the drive shaft, an uneven distribution of force is likely applied to the outer race. This is due to the bore configuration whereby only a portion of the outer race extends beyond the shoulder. Consequently, these nonuniform forces could damage the bearing and lead to its premature failure.


A skirted toilet assembly, comprising a toilet bowl having a sump outlet; and a wall extending around the bowl from a first rear edge to a second rear edge; wherein the wall, the first rear edge, and the second rear edge define a space within the wall, the sump outlet is configured to couple to a trapway, the trapway is configured to fluidly couple the sump outlet with a sewer outlet, and the trapway is configured to be disposed within the space. A trapway may be a thermoplastic and the sump outlet a ceramic.

Current technology for connecting a toilet bowl to a sewer line requires a trapway. A trapway typically extends between a sump of a toilet bowl and a base opening of a toilet. A trap inlet is coupled in a sump area of the toilet bowl and a trap outlet is coupled to an opening in the base of the toilet. The toilet base opening and trap outlet are coupled to a sewer drain pipe. A trapway allows for flow of water and waste from the toilet bowl to outlet pipes of a building and to a sewer system. A trapway functions in combination with a trap to prevent sewer gases from coming back into the toilet. In general, toilets include a trapway molded into the chinaware and the profile of the trapway is visible from the outside of the toilet. Molding the trapway in chinaware may avoid connection and sealing issues, but may be time consuming and expensive. There is a need for a trapway that is a separate part from the toilet and may be reliably coupled to the toilet. There is a further aesthetic need for a trapway that may be concealed by sidewalls of the toilet. There is a further need for a connection that can securely couple a trapway to a toilet in a fluid tight manner. There is a further need for a manner to couple the trapway to a toilet in a fluid tight manner without additionally mechanical components.


In a submarine weapon, particularly for combating submarines, a rocket engine with continuous rocket thrust is utilized as the submarine drive unit. An actively locating, acoustic target seeking device is provided for target detection and target pursuance, the ranging frequency of which is selected so that the echo level to be expected from its detection range lies above the noise level of the rocket engine.

The invention relates to a submarine weapon, particularly for combating submarines having a rocket engine and an actively locating, acoustic target seeking device.
Submarine weapons for the combating of submarines are known as torpedoes which, upon entering the water, will locate a submarine by means of the acoustic target seeking device and are steered toward the submarine by means of a steering unit evaluating the ranging results (homing). The torpedoes are usually equipped with a relatively low-noise propeller drive unit in order to prevent impairment of the function of the acoustic target seeking device by too high an intrinsic noise level. The propeller in this system is driven by a gas turbine, an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor.
A submarine weapon for antisubmarine use has been known under the term ASROC system, consisting of a torpedo of the MK 46 type, a rocket engine, and a parachute. This system is airborne, i.e. it is fired in each case from a surface vessel or an aircraft. Upon entrance into the water, the torpedo separates from the other parts of the system and is caused to home after target detection.
The propeller-driven torpedoes have the draw-back of mechanically very sophisticated drive mechanisms causing a great deal of expenditure. In case the propeller is driven electrically, a considerable portion of the volume and weight of the torpedo is taken by the batteries. Additionally, such torpedoes are not exempt from servicing over a prolonged period of time; rather, the torpedoes must be operated at regular intervals to ensure their functioning.
A submarine weapon of the type heretofore described has been known (DE 3,100,794 Al) which is transported into the proximity of the target by means of the rocket engine through the air from a mother ship. Upon entrance into the water, the rocket chamber serves as the operating chamber of a hydraulic pulsed engine by means of which the weapon is driven underwater. The hydraulic pulsed engine operates by repeatedly filling the rocket chamber with water which is then ejected at high velocity through a nozzle at the rear of the weapon body by means of a number of gas pressure generators ignited in succession. During the burning of one of the gas generators and the subsequent ejection of water from the rocket chamber in order to accelerate the submarine weapon, a considerable intrinsic noise is produced. However, between the drive impulses, the inherent noise of the hydraulic pulsed drive mechanism is at a minimum so that the acoustic sensors of the target locating device are capable of listening for noises of a submarine in the surroundings of the submarine weapon. The interval operation of hydraulic pulsed motor and acoustic target seeking device, though, represents a compromise that is not close to an optimum; on the one hand, the submarine weapon cannot attain any high traveling velocities and, on the other hand, the efficacy of the acoustic target locating device is limited with regard to its ranging zone.


According to a vehicle-body front structure, when a collision load caused at the time of a front end collision is input into a front part of a connecting member fixed to a front end of an apron upper member, a protruding member protruding outwardly in a vehicle width direction from a front part of a side-member main body is able to interfere with the front part of the connecting member from a vehicle rear side. This makes it possible to improve a transmission efficiency of the collision load between the connecting member and the front side member. Besides, the front part of the connecting member is reinforced by a bulk head, thereby making it possible to restrain the front part from being deformed by the collision load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automobile vehicle-body front structure.
2. Description of Related Art
In an automobile front body structure described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-231435 (JP 2005-231435 A), a connecting member is extended obliquely downward toward a vehicle front side from a front end of an apron reinforcement (an apron upper member). A front end of the connecting member is placed at a vehicle-width outer side relative to a front side frame (a front side member), and is also placed at the same position as the front side frame in a vehicle front-rear direction and in a vehicle up-down direction. The front end of the connecting member is connected between the front side member and a crash can (a crash box) via a plate-shaped plane portion. Hereby, at the time of a front collision of a vehicle, a collision load that cannot be absorbed by the crash box is transmitted (dispersed) to the front side member and the connecting member by the plane portion, thereby reducing damage to the vehicle.
However, in such a front body structure, since the front end of the connecting member is connected between the front side member and the crash box via the plate-shaped plane portion, rigidity may be decreased in the plane portion. In view of this, when that part of a vehicle-body front portion which is placed on a vehicle-width outer side relative to the front side member has a front end collision with a collision object such as other vehicles (at the time of a so-called short overlap collision), the plane portion is deformed unexpectedly, which may decrease a transmission efficiency of the collision load between the connecting member and the front side member.


The present invention provides a novel pyrazolopyrimidine compound of the formula [I]: wherein R′ is (A) a substituted aryl group, (B) an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing aliphatic heteromonocyclic group, (C) a substituted cyclo-lower alkyl group, (D) an optionally substituted amino group, or (E) a substituted heteroaryl group, R2 is (a) an optionally substituted heteroaryl group or (b) an optionally substituted aryl group, Y is a single bond, a lower alkylene group or a lower alkenylene group, Z is a group of the formula: —CO—, —CH2-, —SO2- or a group of the formula [II]: Q is a lower alkylene group, and q is an integer of 0 or 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable sait thereof, which has a small conductance potassium channel (SK channel) blocking activity and is useful as a medicament and a process for preparing the same

Ca2+-activated potassium (K) channels consist of at least three subtypes: Big- (BK), Intermediate- (IK) and Small-conductance K channel. These channels are activated by increase in intracellular Ca2+ level. Although BK and IK channels are sensitive to changes in membrane voltage and increase in intracellular Ca2+ level, SK channels are not significantly sensitive to the change in membrane voltage. Besides, SK channels are characterized in that the channels have a low conductance of 6 to 20 pS to single channel and a higher sensitivity to apamin. SK channels are present not only in excitable cells such as nerve cells and muscle cells but also in other kinds of cells such as liver cells or blood cells, and may be responsible for various cell functions including chemokine release, muscle contraction and secretion.
Apamin is a well-known selective SK channel blocker, and it has been reported that this agent activates gastrointestinal peristaltic function (S. A. Waterman and M. Costa, J. Physiology 477, 459-468, 1994; N. Spencer et al., J. Physiology 517, 889-898, 1999), improves cognitive/acquisition deficits (S. Ikonen et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 347, 13-21, 1998; C. Ghelardini et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 123, 1079-1084, 1998) and decreases immobility time in mouse forced swimming test (N. Galeotti et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 126, 1653-1659, 1999). Moreover, it is reported that a specific receptor for apamin exists in skeletal muscle cells and administration of this agent alleviates the symptoms in patients with myotonic muscle dystrophy (J. F. Renaud et al., Nature 319, 678-680, 1986; M. I Behrens et al., Muscle & Nerve 17, 1264-1270, 1994). Furthermore, it was reported that mice showed abnormal respiratory responses to hypoxia under conditional overexpression of SK subtype (SK3) (C. T. Bond et al., Science 289, 1942-1946, 2000).
As compounds having a SK channel-blocking activity, bis(benzimidazol) compounds such as 1,1′-(α,α′-p-xylene)-3,3′-(α,α′-m-xylene)-bis(benzimidazolium), cyclophan compounds such as 7,18-diaza-3,4(1,4)-dibenzena-1,6(1,4)-diquinolin-acyclooctadecaphan 3 trifluoroacetate hydrate, cross-linked bisquinoline compounds such as 1,4-bis-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-[1,4]-diazepane and compounds having a cyclohexane-1,1′(2′H)-spiroisoquinoline moiety are disclosed in International Patent Publication WO00/01676, WO97/48705, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,562 and WO02/79189, respectively.

Pyrazolopyrimidine compound and a process for preparing the same


A child safety seat system having sensing and notification abilities includes a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, and a transmitter. The proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat. The presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a person in the child safety seat. The transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance. Furthermore, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.

During the course of a year, outdoor temperature may vary from extremely cold to exceedingly warm. When a vehicle is parked outdoors, the temperature in the vehicle's cabin may approach or even exceed, over time, the temperature outside of the vehicle. Extreme temperatures such as those found in a vehicle's cabin after being parked outdoors may lead to serious injury, or even death, of a child who is inadvertently left unattended in the vehicle, for example, as a passenger in a child safety seat. Consequently, there is a need for a child safety seat that may lessen or eliminate the risk of fatality or injury to a child left unattended in a vehicle's interior as a passenger in a child safety seat.

System and method for a child safety seat having sensing and notification abilities


A telecommunications system (100) includes network access devices (104) that couple user devices (102) to a telecommunications network (106). The user devices (102) include at least voice and preferably text display and text generation capability. A voicemail server (114) is coupled to the telecommunications network. The voicemail server (114) is also coupled to an application server (116). Selectively, speech traveling through the telecommunications network (100) from user devices (102) is converted into text, stored, and forwarded to a user device as a text message. The text message is for example a facsimile transmission, an e-mail, or a SMS message. The selectivity is based on a stored attribute, current status of the user device, attributes of the sending device and the like. Text can even be converted into speech as an option. Or, stored speech associated with a text message can be retrieved based on the text message.

Multimedia communications systems, with capabilities for voice, data, audio and video, are becoming the standard. Such systems incorporate traditional voice communications, such as wireless and wire-line voice communications, traditional data communications and the Internet, and certain aspects of broadcast communication, most notably, video. At the backbone of such systems are circuit-switched network elements and packet-based network elements. Intermixing media in multimedia communications systems has not been fully exploited.
Text-to-speech conversion is one form of mixing media that exists today. There are various software programs that exist from MICROSOFT and others. Speech-to-text conversion also exists. And these algorithms and implementations are maturing over the years. Unfortunately, these technologies are employed in the computer rather than the telecommunications arts, which limits the applications of these technologies.
Therefore, a need exist for improved and enhanced multimedia communications systems that exploit speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities in telecommunications systems.

Network speech-to-text conversion and store


One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of memory management. Within the present embodiment, a page register along with supporting logic allows a mode to be selected by a processor at the same time it specifies a particular memory page. The selected mode defines what the subsequent use of the specified memory page will be. For example, this method may decrease overhead when moving between different memory pages by providing a mode that automatically returns to a previous page after a specified page has been accessed.

Modern research and technology have provided society with a wide variety of electronic devices. It is appreciated that some of these modern electronic devices are very powerful and useful to their users. For example, some of the electronic devices which fall into this category include: computers which occupy large office space down to computers which are held in one's hand, satellites which orbit around the earth relaying a multitude of communication signals, microwave ovens capable of quickly cooking food, global positioning system (GPS) devices capable of determining the specific locations of their users on the earth, cellular phones which enable their users to wirelessly communicate with other people, to name a few.
Additionally, it should be appreciated that some modern electronic devices also provide entertainment to their users. For instance, some of the electronic devices which fall into this category include: portable and fixed radio receivers which provide their users music along with a wide array of different audio programming, video game consoles which challenge their users with varying situations within different virtual realities, portable and fixed compact disc (CD) players which provide music to their users, portable and fixed televisions which provide a wide variety of visual and audio programming to their users, and video cassette recorders (VCRs) which enable their users to record television shows for later viewing and also enable them to watch (for example) prerecorded movies on a television set.
One of the enabling components of several of the above mentioned modern devices is a microcontroller or MCU. Specifically, the microcontroller is typically defined as a single chip (integrated circuit) that includes a processor, volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM), non-volatile memory such as read only memory (ROM), clocking source, and an input/output control unit. As such, the microcontroller is a computer on a chip. It should be appreciated that microcontrollers have been utilized in various applications for many years. Primarily, microcontrollers are used in control-oriented applications that are interrupt-driven, sensing and controlling external events. Microcontrollers are frequently found in a wide variety of devices and applications.
For example, microcontrollers may be found in appliances such as microwave ovens, refrigerators, televisions, VCRs, and stereos. Furthermore, microcontrollers may also be found within computer equipment such as laser printers, modems, and disk drives. Additionally, microcontrollers may be found within automobiles (e.g., engine control, diagnostics, climate control), environmental control devices (e.g., greenhouse, factory, home), aerospace, and thousands of other uses.
It should be understood that while a microcontroller may have sufficient memory to store data utilized by its processor, it may not be able to address all of the memory locations at once. For example, a microcontroller that has 8-bits of addressing can usually only address up to 256 memory locations. However, various techniques have been implemented in order to get around this limitation.
In one conventional technique, memory pages are directly swapped. For example, a register forms the high order of the address. As such, the active page is selected by writing to this register. Unfortunately, usually only one memory page is active at a time. Since the processor and the instruction stream have to issue an instruction to select the memory pages, all subsequent instructions operate within the current memory page. Thus, it is very difficult to pass information between memory pages.
Another conventional technique reserves a portion of each page (e.g., memory bank) as a shared area. For example, all memory banks may have an 8 byte hole which is reserved for shared data. Whenever a given memory bank is selected (energized), an 8 byte hole is selected (energized) in all of the memory banks. While this technique allows data to be copied back and forth between memory pages, it limits the available memory in each page.