A bedding structure, including an innerspring mattress and a padded cover (enclosing the mattress) which provides added postural support (as well as extra thermal insulation and padding). The padded cover includes a sheet of convoluted foam which covers essentially the full length of the mattress. This sheet of convoluted foam is stiffened, over the middle part of the mattress length, by a complementary piece of convoluted foam which is mated with it. The increase in thickness caused by having two pieces of convoluted foam face-to-face is relatively small. Thus, this arrangement provides extra firmness under the torso, while maintaining an essentially flat upper surface. This cover structure can be retrofitted to existing innerspring mattresses.

The present invention relates to bedding, and particularly to combinations of an innerspring mattress with a quilted mattress cover.
An immense expenditure is laid out for mattresses each year. Some of this expenditure goes for air, water, or foam mattresses, but (in the United States at least) the overwhelming majority of expenditure goes for innerspring mattresses.
Some mattress technologies provide support which is inherently somewhat uniform (e.g. waterbeds, as extensively discussed in the presently preferred embodiment). This is NOT true of innerspring mattresses, where different coils can be made of different stiffnesses, to modulate the hardness of the mattress as desired across the length and width of the mattress. However, many existing innerspring mattresses were manufactured without such modulation, or without an adequate amount of such support modulation.
An innerspring mattress is a moderately expensive and long-lived consumer asset. (A typical price for a good-quality mattress and box-spring set, in the United States, would be in excess of $500, and the in-service lifetime of such a set would typically be more than 10 years.) Thus, purchase of complete bedding sets for all beds in a household would typically be a sizable expenditure. Consumers will be reluctant to replace old mattresses which are still serviceable.
One advantageous application of the disclosed innovations is that they can be used to retrofit improved postural support to an existing innerspring mattress.
A further related advantage of the disclosed innovations is that manufacturers can use these innovative teachings to rapidly modify existing mattress designs, which are already in production (or even in inventory), to improve the postural support at minimal cost.
A further advantage is that a mattress's postural support can be readily customized. Thus, for example, the distribution of support needed by a muscular male athlete is quite different from that needed by a fashionably thin nulliparous adult female, or an obese middle-aged person. By use of the disclosed innovations, customized versions can readily be produced, at minimal cost, as simple modifications to an existing production line.
The hardness of an innerspring mattress is affected by the gauge of the spring wire, the number of springs, and the coil design. There is no generally accepted quantitative measure of hardness or softness of innersprings, but the extreme cases can be readily identified. Thus, for example, a full-size mattress with 312 coils.sup.1 of 12.5 gauge spring wire in Bonnell wrap would be an unusually hard mattress. Mattresses with lighter-gauge spring wire, for a given number of coils, would be softer. For a given spring wire gauge, mattresses with a lower number of coils will generally be softer. FNT .sup.1 The number of coils is usually specified with reference to the full-size mattress. For a given mattress model, this number is varied proportionately for other mattress sizes.
Harder innerspring mattresses provide better overall postural alignment. However, harder mattresses are more likely to create pressure points. The disclosed innovations provide a way to reconcile these choices, and to obtain the comfort benefits of a soft mattress and also the postural advantages of a hard mattress.
Uniform support presents a problem, because the weight distribution of the human body is not at all uniform. The highest concentration of mass (per unit length in the height axis) will be between the shoulder blades and the hips. The mass per unit length is generally lower at the head, and is much lower in the legs..sup.2 Thus, if a soft mattress has a uniform thickness and support, the user's hips or buttocks will tend to sink excessively far into the mattress..sup.3 This problem is exacerbated when the mattress is used by two persons sleeping together. FNT .sup.2 The weight distribution is, of course, different from person to person, depending on the person's age, height, sex, obesity, and general body type. However, the problems discussed are problems for a very large fraction of users. FNT .sup.3 Spinal alignment, in a good sleeping posture, should be the same as that in a good standing posture. Thus, a sleeper should be supported so that his or her spine will be laterally straight, and will be curved with no more (and no less) than normal lumbar and thoracic arch and pelvic tilt. Distortions of this sleeping posture will produce immediate or gradual discomfort, and may not be optimal for the sleeper's health.
This deficit in support will tend to reduce the user's comfort, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the user. However, a more important effect is that this deficit in support may permit a user to sleep in a condition of postural misalignment. This may lead to backaches, or to vague discomforts which reduce the user's overall level of health and well-being.
Some efforts have been made to increase the support under the torso..sup.4 Apart from the art of waterbeds, other attempts have been made to design sleeping pads with some allowance for the uneven weight distribution of the human body. Many of these attempts have used convoluted foam,.sup.5 which is one of the basic structural materials used in designing bedding structures. FNT .sup.4 For example, the "System 750" waterbed, from Land and Sky, includes a floating foam/fiber structure, inside the bag, which is thicker under the user's midsection to provide additional back support. FNT U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,848 (to McDaniel et al.) discloses an immersed tube structure, with foam inserts in the tube.
The "Avanti III" model, from Pleasant Rest, is a waterbed with a foam topping, which includes extra layers of fiber (under a single sheet of foam) under the user's midsection to provide added lumbar support.
The "Marvelous Middle" from Restonic includes stiffer springs in the middle of the mattress. The cover itself includes extra lines of stitching, under the sleeper's midsection, which give the impression that the middle of the cover is different from the rest of the cover; but in fact (insofar as is known to the present inventor) the cover is uniform over its length, and does NOT include any additional material under the sleeper's midsection. FNT .sup.5 Convoluted foam (in which one surface is carved into a rippled or egg-carton shape) is effectively softer than a solid block of foam of equivalent height, because the individual protrusions in the carved portion have more room to expand laterally under pressure. Convoluted foam is described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,544 to Persicke et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. FNT Some of the attempts to use convoluted foam pads for sleeping structures are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,337 to Williams et al.; 4,955,096 to Gilroy et al.; and 4,879,776 to Farley; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Bedding structure with enhanced postural support


A magnetic random access memory includes first and second write wirings, the second write wiring having first and second crossing angles formed by crossing the first write wiring, a first magnetoresistive element having a first axis of easy magnetization directed to a side of the first crossing angle and having a first recording layer including first and second ferromagnetic layers and a first nonmagnetic layer, and a second magnetoresistive element being electrically connected to the first magnetoresistive element, having a second axis of easy magnetization directed to a side of the second crossing angle, and having a second recording layer including third and fourth ferromagnetic layers and a second nonmagnetic layer, wherein in a write operation, magnetizations in the first and second recording layers execute a toggle operation by using the first and second write wirings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) using a magnetoresistive effect, magnetic random access memory manufacturing method, and magnetic random access memory write method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic random access memories (MRAMs) using a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) effect have been proposed recently as information storage elements (e.g., Roy Scheuerlein et al., "A 10 ns Read and Write Non-Volatile Memory Array Using a Magnetic Tunnel Junction and FET Switch in each Cell", ISSCC 2000 Technical Digest, p. 128).
A memory cell of a magnetic random access memory comprises an upper write wiring, lower write wiring, and magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element provided between the upper and lower write wirings. The MTJ element has a fixed layer, recording layer, and tunnel barrier layer sandwiched between the fixed layer and the recording layer.
In a so-called toggle cell, the direction of axis of easy magnetization of the MTJ element tilts 45° with respect to the running direction of the upper or lower write wiring. The recording layer of the MTJ element has a three-layer structure of ferromagnetic layer/nonmagnetic layer/ferromagnetic layer. The two ferromagnetic layers are anti-ferromagnetically coupled through the nonmagnetic layer.
In a write operation of such a toggle cell, first, current is sequentially supplied to the upper and lower write wirings. Then, supply of the currents is stopped in the same order as that of its start. With this process, magnetization reversal occurs regardless of the initial magnetization state. Hence, before the write, data of the MTJ element is read out to determine the current cell state. After that, the write operation is started as needed.
The resistance state of the MTJ element changes between "1" and "0" depending on whether the magnetization direction of the fixed layer and that of the ferromagnetic layer of the recording layer located on the fixed layer side is parallel or anti-parallel. The read operation can be executed by extracting the resistance state.
The toggle cell is hardly affected by a variation in magnetization reversal threshold value of each MTJ element in principle and can advantageously be used for increasing the scale of magnetic random access memories. However, it is not yet the standard technique of magnetic random access memories because of problems such as the large write current and low write speed.

Magnetic random access memory, magnetic random access memory manufacturing method, and magnetic random access memory write method


This invention provides a cover device mountable to the roof of an automobile for protection from snow and sun, having modular construction including body groups mounted on the front facing and rear facing surfaces of a frame. The frame is supported on a base positioned on the automobile roof by two extendable feet connecting the base to roof racks. The body group contains a number of cover pieces supported on the body supports. Bottom of the body support is fitted into a pair of rails attached to an adjacent body support such that the outer body supports are slidable along the rails and extendable to the extent allowed by the length of the rails. A locking device is installed to interlock the cover pieces within one body group. Body groups are secured to each other so that the body groups are extendable and retractable as a unit.

Every year, the number of automobiles keeps growing along with living standards in the modern world. The resulting shortage of covered parking lots and other covered parking areas have led more people to park their automobiles on the roads or outside. As well known, automobiles have large areas of glass, which if uncovered in hot weather traps solar energy and overheats the automobile interior and in cold weather tends to frost over or freeze precipitation. A prompt snowfall crown on top of ice makes cleaning of automobile windshields a difficult task. To clean them, a person needs tools, strength, and especially time, while being exposed to harsh outdoor temperatures and potentially perilous, cumbersome, and inconvenient conditions.
A traditional blanket to cover the automobile partially solves the problem. The blanket protects the vehicle, but it does not get rid of the snow. Moreover, the snow is more difficult to remove after freezing onto the blanket. Also, there is a problem in finding a place to store the blanket other than in the luggage compartment, where the blanket may leave very little room for other effects. Snow, rain, and heat may produce mold in the blanket, which may spread in the luggage compartment and contaminate food or other stored items.
For these and many other reasons, most people do not use traditional blanket for protecting an automobile against snow. Furthermore, in the summer, a traditional blanket used as a sun shade may block ventilation air inlets, generating over prolonged time excess humidity and an unhealthy atmosphere for the driver and passengers. From the perspective of providing proper maintenance of automobiles, excess heat or humidity may shorten their lifetime.
The present invention provides an improved cover device for solving the problem of automobile protection against snow and ice, as well as sunlight. The improved cover device readily deploys on the automobile roof to cover the vehicle entirely from the front to back when necessary, resists strong wind, allows snow to be removed with minimal work from the user, and readily stows safely in the luggage compartment after use.


A junction box has a housing mounted directly to a battery. The junction box includes a terminal that mounts to the post of the battery and secures the housing to the battery. Enclosed within the housing is a printed circuit board for receiving outputs from the terminal and distributing electrical power to a second set of outputs, which can communicate with a wiring harness for further distribution of the electrical power.

This invention relates generally to a vehicle electrical junction box that is mounted to a battery.
Modern vehicles are provided with many electrical systems and components. All of these draw power from the battery. Typically, a battery cable has supplied electrical power from the battery to a remote junction box. The junction box typically includes appropriate controls and connections to distribute the electrical power as appropriate. Wire harnesses are attached to the junction box to communicate to the electrical systems and components.
In most vehicles the junction box is mounted to a wall in an engine compartment or to an interior sidewall of a passenger compartment. Generally, a terminal is mounted to a post of a battery and the battery cable connects the terminal to the junction box. Oftentimes, the junction boxes are located in places which are not conveniently accessible. In addition, the typical placement of the junction box requires long cable runs between the battery and the junction box and from the junction box to electrical components within the vehicle.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a junction box that is located closely adjacent to the battery to reduce the length of cable required to distribute power from the battery to the electrical systems and to provide easier access to the junction box. This invention permits a junction box to be mounted directly to a battery, thereby eliminating the need to include a battery cable extending between the terminal and the junction box . The invention also provides a more convenient location for the junction box.


The present invention relates to the preventive or curative treatment of metabolic syndrome and the associated disorders with AhR agonist or microorganism producing AhR agonist.

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack and diabetes risk factors. This represents a major health problem because a quarter of the world's adults have metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to die from, and three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared with people without the syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome have a five-fold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor/transcription factor that regulates genes involved in toxicant metabolism and provides a major defense to environmental exposures. The AhR can be activated by dietary components such as fats and fat derivatives, and there is evidence linking the activated AhR to major diseases, including obesity (La Merill et al, 2009, Environ Health Perspect, 117, 1414-1419).
More recent publications suggest that AhR activity would be associated obesity and suggest that its inhibition would be beneficial against obesity.
Several studies have examined the AhR and fat metabolism using a model system comparing functional AhR signaling to one that is AhR deficient. Xu et al. (2015, Int J Obes, 39, 1300-1309) concluded that AhR deficiency protected against HFD (high Fat Diet)-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance and inflammation, and preserved insulin signaling in major metabolic tissues. The authors suggested to target AhR for the development of pharmaceuticals, independent of food intake, to combat obesity and diabetes.
Kerley-Hamilton et al (2012, Environ Health Perspect, 120, 1252-1259) studied a model system with two different functional AhR, namely with high-affinity AhR and low-affinity AhR. They showed that mice with high-affinity AhR are more susceptible to obesity than mice with low-affinity AhR when fed Western diet. Therefore, the authors suggested to use of AhR antagonists for the treatment of obesity.
Park et al (2013, Biofactor, 39, 494-504) concluded that circulating AhR ligands may directly reduce mitochondrial function in tissues, leading to weight gain, glucose intolerance, and metabolic syndrome.
More recently, Moyer et al (2016, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 300:13-24) investigated into whether inhibition of the AHR prevents Western diet-based obesity and came to the conclusion that AHR antagonists α-naphthoflavone and CH-223191 significantly reduce obesity and adiposity and ameliorates liver steatosis in male C57Bl/6J mice fed a Western diet.
The metabolic syndrome remains a major issue for the health and it exists a strong need of any means suitable for fighting such a plague.

Use of AhR agonist for the preventive or curative treatment of metabolic syndrome and the associated disorders

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE


The present invention discloses a USB3.0 clock frequency generation device without crystal oscillator, that is, the crystal oscillator used in the USB3.0 device (or apparatus) is removed and replaced with an oscillator circuit module in the present invention, in which a simple circuit module is added to the controller circuit of the USB3.0 device to provide accurate and proper timing signals needed. The oscillator circuit module includes an oscillator block, a frequency divider block, a delta-sigma modulator block, and a preset number block.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to USB3.0 clock frequency generation devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a USB3.0 clock frequency generation device without crystal oscillator.
2. Description of Related Art
To ensure the proper linking and operation of all USB3.0 devices, most of the USB3.0 devices have a crystal oscillator to provide the timing signals for controller operation and data transmissions.
However, the prices of the crystal oscillator used in USB3.0 devices are usually expensive, and the size of the crystal oscillator together with the accompanying passive components always takes almost half of one side of the multi-layer PCBs (printed circuit boards) used in USB storage devices, such as USB pen drives (including USB2.0 and USB3.0 flash pen drives), not to say the complexity and bulk size of the circuitry needed to connect the crystal oscillator and the accompanying passive components with the driver chip and the flash chips.


The present invention provides for a hair restoration device and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In one embodiment, the hair restoration device is comprised of a hairbrush body housing a plurality of wide-pattern laser LEDs configured to cooperate to project a precision laser light pattern at a focal plane proximate a skin area to be irradiated; and bristles extending from the hairbrush body and terminating substantially at the focal plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed, in general, to a hair restoration device and, more specifically, to a hairbrush housing a laser assembly of wide-pattern laser light emitting diodes (LEDs) projecting a focused precision light pattern directly on a skin area to be irradiated.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Hair loss and graying are viewed as significant problems by a substantial percentage of the population. Older individuals view it as a sign of irreversible aging every time they look into a mirror or view a photograph of themselves. In the case of younger individuals, it makes them look much older than they are, or at least think they are, which distresses them and, in some cases, their spouses. A large number of these people will go to great lengths to stop or reverse the process of balding and graying. This is why, since time immemorial, numerous attempts have been made to improve a persons appearance by restoring the appearance of a full head of hair.
Notwithstanding the various creams and ointments peddled by so-called "patent medicine men", the earliest successful solutions typically involved various kinds of hair pieces. While wigs and toupees address the more obvious appearance concerns in most cases they also present obvious problems. Except for those that are exceptionally well made, a trained eye can usually detect that they are not real. In some cases, hair pieces are so notoriously badly made that they can easily be detected even by an untrained eye. Well made hair pieces are usually very expensive since they are generally made of human hair. They are made even more expensive by the fact that the hair color of the wearer must be closely matched. Hair pieces are also inconvenient because they usually have to be removed if a wearer wants to go swimming or engage in certain other athletic endeavors. They also frequently come off or get skewed when least expected. In addition to hair pieces, more complicated mechanical solutions to restore the appearance of having a full head of hair have been developed, such as hair weaving. These solutions are still quite expensive and frequently share the same problems as the more prevalent and conventional hair pieces.
A modern medical solution to hair loss is to surgically replace missing hair with hair plugs. This procedure overcomes some of the problems created by the use of hair pieces but creates its own entirely new set of problems. Because replacement hair plugs are from the individual being treated, the color will be correct and replacement hair will look natural, but this method of treating hair loss is still expensive because it involves a surgical procedure that must be done by, or under the supervision of, a physician.
Other solutions to baldness and hair loss involve various modern drugs, which can take the form of either an ingestible medication or a topical ointment. Because the more effective products must be prescribed by a physician, they are expensive. The over the counter products are usually much weaker than the prescription products and, thus, are not as effective. In addition, some of these drugs have the potential of causing harmful side effects, such as liver damage.
It is now believed that lasers can be used to stimulate hair growth. To this end, various laser devices to stimulate hair growth have been developed. These laser devices generally have the appearance of the large permanent hair dryers seen in a beauty shop, with floor or chair mounted helmets. Such devices contain multiple laser assemblies and are designed to irradiate an individual's entire scalp and hair with laser energy. The main disadvantage of such devices is that they are large and pretty much permanently installed. This means that a user must travel to the facility having the devices in order to obtain the desired treatment. These treatments are usually paid for on a per treatment basis, which can make the total cost quite expensive. Such treatments can represent a major inconvenience for a user as well as a substantial financial commitment.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a small portable, easy-to-use, relatively inexpensive laser device that an individual can use at his or her convenience.

Hair restoration device and methods of using and manufacturing the same


A method for managing a fan system in an information handling system (IHS) is disclosed. The method includes providing the fan system comprising a first fan and at least one subsequent fan, wherein the first fan is associated with a first fan speed, the at least one subsequent fan is associated with the at least one subsequent fan speed and the fan system is associated with a system fan speed. The method also includes generating a system fan speed request, adjusting the first fan speed to avoid a critical range when the system fan speed request falls within the critical range, and adjusting the system fan speed to meet the system fan speed request.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is an information handling system (IHS). An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the magnitude of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for such systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Components of the IHS may consume electrical power and output most of it as heat power. Heat within an IHS may degrade or reduce the reliability of certain IHS components. An IHS may include a fan or plurality of fans, such as a fan system, to address the cooling requirements of the system.
IHS fans may be coupled to the IHS via connectors located within the IHS housing itself. Fans may serve the purpose of cooling the overall system or housing, or may serve to cool particular IHS components, such as for example, the central processing unit (CPU), the power supply unit (PSU), and/or the graphics card. As IHS power consumption has increased, so has the need for fans to remove heat within the IHS. Presently, many IHSs contain a plurality of fans. For example, a network server IHS may contain 6 or more fans to address various cooling needs. It is not uncommon to have multiple fans addressing particular components of the IHS. For example, an IHS may contain 4 or 6 fans, to cool the CPU, and 2 fans to cool the PSU.
The use of multiple fans may meet an IHS's cooling requirements, but negative consequences may result from the use of the fans. Airborne, or acoustical, noise, for example, may occur in electronic enclosures where multiple fans operate homogenously (i.e., at the same speed). Fans of similar size and/or blade geometry may interact acoustically to create unwanted noise in an IHS. This may occur whenever two or more fans are operated at the same speed, which can result in a "beating" noise that can be unpleasant for users. Additionally, there may be certain fan speeds that result in a "whistling" noise that can also be unpleasant for users. Other acoustical noise issues may include prominent tones, modulations, or buzzes, as well as sheer magnitude of fan noise.
Current fan control or management methods generally operate fans to optimize thermal performance at the lowest possible fan speed in order to reduce noise. If additional cooling is required, then current fan management methods may "jump" the range of speeds associated with known acoustical noise issues. At the higher speeds, the fans may meet the system's cooling requirements, but at the cost of higher power consumption. Other solutions for acoustical issues include fan isolation, removal of obstructions from airflow path, and/or manufacturing the IHS with differently-designed fans. These solutions pose problems for IHS layout and design. Furthermore, due to continuity of supply, the costs associated with redesigning and altering the manufacturing of the IHS may be extremely high.
Fan usage may further result in vibrations within an IHS. IHS components have become increasingly compact to offer more portable and/or space-efficient products to users. Concurrently, cost pressures on IHS manufacturing have resulted in the incorporation of potentially less robust components within some IHSs. The result has been an undesirable interaction between fan vibrations and IHS components that has impacted IHS function. In some situations, fan vibrations may interfere with the hard drive such that the hard drive cannot function optimally. In extreme cases, fan vibrations may interfere with the hard drive to such a degree that the hard drive goes offline and data is lost. During such an occurrence, fan speed limits may be imposed to prevent fans from entering speed ranges which cause vibrations that are damaging to hard drive function. However, while vibrations may be minimized under the fan speed limitations, component and ambient temperatures within the IHS may remain high at such fan speed ranges and result in less than optimal IHS function.
Conventional fan management methods may provide adequate cooling for an IHS, but generally at the cost of increased power consumption, acoustical issues and/or increased system vibration. These costs may interfere with user experience. In some cases, the cost may be so high that IHS components may not function (e.g., hard drive malfunction) properly. Thus, a need may exist for methods and systems for improving fan speed management while not compromising energy efficiency, acoustics, and component functionality.

Methods for managing fans within information handling systems


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism configured to form a visible image using toner on a recording sheet according to input image data and a fixing mechanism configured to fix the visible image onto the recording sheet. The fixing mechanism includes a first roller, a second roller, a belt, and a third roller. The first roller is configured to rotate. The second roller includes inside a first heater and is configured to rotate. The belt is looped over the first and second rollers. The third roller is arranged opposite to the first roller via the belt, includes inside a second heater, and has a surface resistivity not higher than 1.0×106 Ω-cm under a voltage of 10 V. The third roller applies a pressure to the belt and the first roller and rotates in conjunction with a movement of the first roller via the belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a fixing apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by using a belt.
2. Description of the Background Art
Background image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, facsimiles, and printers, generally include a fixing unit for fixing a toner image transferred on a recording medium such as paper.
One example of the fixing unit includes a pair of rollers, i.e., a heating roller and a pressure roller opposing to each other. A recording medium having a toner image is conveyed through a nip formed between the heating roller and the pressure roller. Heat applied by the heating roller and pressure applied by the pressure roller melt and fix the toner image on the recording medium.
Another example of the fixing unit includes the pressure roller, a fixing belt replacing the heating roller of the above example, and a pair of rollers for rotating the fixing belt. The fixing belt is looped over the pair of rollers. One of the rollers opposes the pressure roller via the fixing belt. The other roller includes a heater for heating the fixing belt from its inner circumferential surface and the pressure roller includes a second heater for heating the fixing belt from an outer circumferential surface thereof. The fixing belt can be heated more quickly than the heating roller of the above example due to its smaller volume and heat capacity. Thus, this fixing unit can be heated to a predetermined temperature more quickly than the above fixing unit including the heating roller after the image forming apparatus is powered on. The two heaters respectively heat the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the fixing belt, resulting in a quick increase in temperature of the fixing belt.
The image forming apparatus including the fixing belt may use an SPR-C toner. The SPR-C toner is produced by dissolving or dispersing a prepolymer including a modified polyester resin, a compound to perform an elongation or cross-linking reaction with the prepolymer, and a toner constituent in an organic solvent to obtain a dissolved or dispersed liquid, cross-linking and/or elongating the dissolved or dispersed liquid in an aqueous medium to obtain a dispersion liquid, and removing a solvent from the dispersion liquid.
When the SPR-C toner is used in the fixing unit including the fixing belt and the pressure roller, the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt may be charged and may attract toner particles from the recording medium. This is called an electrostatic offset.
When the electrostatic offset occurs, the attracted toner particles may be transferred onto another recording medium after the fixing belt rotates for one cycle and may form an afterimage on the recording medium. To prevent this, a cleaning member (e.g., a cleaning roller) is disposed to contact the fixing belt to remove the attracted toner particles from the fixing belt. However, when a large amount of toner particles is adhered to the cleaning member, the toner particles may melt onto the fixing belt, resulting in staining and damaging the recording medium.

Image forming apparatus and fixing apparatus for fixing toner image by using belt


The present invention relates to a propylene random copolymer which satisfies the following requirements [1] to [4], and to various useful molded products obtained by molding the propylene random copolymer:                [1] the concentration (Pa, % by mole) of a skeletal constituent derived from propylene (a), and the concentration (Px, % by mole) of a skeletal constituent derived from at least one olefin selected from ethylene (b) and α-olefins having 4 to 20 carbon atoms (c), each of which is contained in the propylene random copolymer, satisfy the following relational expressions (Eq-1) to (Eq-3):85≦Pa<100  (Eq-1)0<Px≦15  (Eq-2)Pa+Px=100;  (Eq-3)        [2] the concentration (Pa, % by mole) of the skeletal constituent derived from propylene (a) contained in the propylene random copolymer, and the melting point (Tm) measured with a differential scanning calorimeter satisfy the following relational expression (Eq-4):135−4×(100−Pa)<Tm<165−4×(100−Pa);  (Eq-4)        [3] the total amount of 2,1-bonded and 1,3-bonded non-stereoregular fractions is less than or equal to 0.2% by mole; and        [4] the amount of the n-decane (nC10)-soluble fraction is less than or equal to 2.0% by weight.

Propylene random copolymers have excellent physical properties and thus, they are used in a wide range of applications. For example, propylene random copolymers are widely used for packaging films; however, there are some cases in the packaging film applications where low temperature heat sealability is required. In order to improve the low temperature heat sealability, the melting point of the propylene random copolymers needs to be lowered. JP-A No. 2-173015 proposes a propylene random copolymer prepared from an aluminoxane and a hafnium compound whose ligand is a polydentate coordination compound in which two groups selected from an indenyl group, a substituted indenyl group and partially hydrogenated form thereof are bonded via a lower alkylene group. Even though the propylene random copolymer described in the publication certainly has a low melting point, the copolymer also has a problem that the anti-blocking property of a film obtained from the copolymer is poor due to the large amount of low-crystalline and low molecular weight fractions.
JP-A No. 9-110934 discloses a propylene random copolymer obtained from a chiral metallocene compound and an aluminoxane. According to the method described in the publication, a propylene random copolymer having a low melting point can be prepared, but there is a problem that atactic polymers are produced as side products in the presence of achiral mesomeric metallocenes that are produced as side products upon the production of chiral metallocene compounds. Therefore, there is a problem that a film obtained from the copolymer has the deteriorated anti-blocking property or the deteriorated haze after heat treatment.
JP-W No. 8-504457 proposes a low melting point propylene homopolymer having a smaller amount of the xylene-soluble fraction. However, since the polymer is a propylene homopolymer, a film obtained therefrom has poor impact resistance.

Propylene polymer particle method of producing the same and use thereof


A self-powered towed underwater sensor is provided. The sensor has a shied casing which encloses an electric generator. The generator is connected to an impeller that is located at the midpoint of the casing. The impeller is covered by a shroud which minimizes the disturbance of the water by the impeller. The casing contains a shield which absorbs electromagnetic radiation produced by the generator. The shield is placed around the generator. A towed cable is connected to the forward end of the casing. The towed cable is made of a material having a high tensile strength to facilitate towing. A fiber optic cable is located within the towed cable and runs the length of the cable, specifically for transmission of received data from the attached sensor to the towing craft. The use of fiber optics prevents interference by electromagnetic radiation in the environment through which the cable passes, and there is no power lead that could conduct interference into the array.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to underwater acoustic detection devices and specifically to impeller driven electrical generators for self powered devices towed underwater.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Towed acoustic receptor arrays have found a wide variety of uses throughout both the military and commercial sectors. In military uses, the U.S. Navy has used towed receptor arrays to distance the array from the "noise" of the towing ship. This separation allows the receptor arrays to operate at a higher level of sensitivity leading to earlier detection of hostile targets. In the commercial-sector, many operators have used towed arrays for exploration, notably in the fields of oil and gas exploration and salvage operations. In both these cases, the objective has been to boost the sensitivity of the towed array while distancing it from the towing craft so that the array operation is not affected by the movement of the towing craft. However, the use of the long tow cables has resulted in two major inherent drawbacks. First, the cable itself is subject to electromagnetic interference from a variety of sources, including other devices towed by the same tow cable. Additionally, power is provided for the remote devices from the towing ship. This means that each tow line must contain a copper power feed in addition to the data transmission leads. The drawbacks from this are numerous. The power feed is an additional source of electromagnetic interference for the closely situated data transmission leads. The length of the tow cable is usually of such magnitude that significant amounts of power (up to 50%) are dissipated during transferal of power from the towing ship to the end device. This dissipation requires that larger diameter cables be used to handle higher power levels, which increases the weight of the cable, increase the storage requirements and further complicates the electromagnetic problems already described.
In the prior art, attempts to solve these problems have focused on the data transmission side of the problem. Through the use of fiber optic transmission leads, prior art devices have succeeded in making the transmission media less susceptible to electromagnetic interference, both from the nearby power feed as well as from other, external sources around the tow cable. The use of fiber optic leads has also decreased the amount of copper wiring in the towed cable, thus beneficially decreasing the weight and diameter of the tow cable.
However, the power feed remains a significant problem not yet addressed by the prior art. No prior art devices have eliminated this "weak link" which provides the bulk of the electromagnetic interference and tow cable weight in the prior art.

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


A method for geosteering while drilling a formation includes generating a plurality of formation models for the formation, where each of the plurality of the formation models includes a set of parameters and a resistivity tool therein and locations of the resistivity tool differ in the plurality of the formation models. The method may also include computing predicted tool responses for the resistivity tool in the plurality of formation models, acquiring resistivity measurements using the resistivity tool in the formation, and determining an optimum formation model based on a comparison between the actual tool response and the predicted tool responses. The method may also include steering a bottom home assembly based on the optimum formation model.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to well logging using resistivity logging tools. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for processing signals from an electro-magnetic well-logging tool to determine formation properties and a desired well path through the formation.
2. Background Art
Wells are generally drilled through formations in the Earth's crust so that materials trapped reservoirs in the formations, such as petroleum, can be recovered. Often a well is drilled horizontally through a reservoir to increase the drainage area in the reservoir. Because many of these formations are layered, the position of the well with respect to the boundaries of the layers can be very important. For example, a poorly placed well may have a much lower productivity than if the well had been drilled in a better location.
Because knowing the exact location of a horizontal bore-hole in a reservoir is critical to maximize production, various techniques have been developed to determine the location of a wellbore in a formation. These techniques include seismic surveys, resistivity measurements, etc. Seismic surveys are the most commonly used in locating the well path in the formation, due to its ability to probe far into the formation. However, seismic surveys are incapable of providing the desired resolution and accuracy to accurately predict the location of the borehole.
Other measurements, such as gamma ray and resistivity measurements, are more accurate and can provide better resolution. Resistivity measurements are often made with electromagnetic (EM) tools. EM logging tools have an elongated support equipped with antennas that are operable as sources or sensors. The antennas on these tools generally comprise loops or coils of conductive wire. In operation, a transmitter antenna is energized by an alternating current to emit EM energy (magnetic field) through the borehole fluid ("mud") and into the surrounding formations. The magnetic field induces eddy currents in the formation that in turns induce secondary magnetic fields. The secondary magnetic fields then induce signals in the receivers that are disposed at a distance from the transmitter. The magnitudes of the detected signals reflect the formation resistivity. The signals detected by the receiver may be separated into real signals (R-signals) that are in-phase with the transmitter signal and quadrature signals (X-signals) that are out-of-phase with respect to the transmitter signals. By processing the detected signals, a log or profile of the formation and/or borehole properties may be determined. Conventional resistivity tools, however, often cannot "read" far enough into the formation to define the location of the borehole with respect to formation layer boundaries.
Other EM logging tools use propagation techniques to measure the resistivity of the formation. A propagation tool measures the amplitudes, phase shifts, and attenuation of EM signals in the formation to determine the resistivity of the formation.
Recently, a resistivity tool capable of deep reading is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,222 B1 issued to Seydoux et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. This tool includes a long spacing between the transmitter and the receiver, and it takes advantage of the telemetry signals carrying measurement data from down-hole sensors through the formation to a measurement-while-drilling ("MWD") receiver located higher in the bottom hole assembly ("BHA"). The transmitted signals are decoded by the MWD receiver to extract signal amplitudes, that is used to determine formation resistivity. In addition, changes in the signal amplitude are also used to indicate formation boundaries for determining well location during directional drilling.
Measurement data from logging tools, such as the deep reading resistivity tool disclosed in the Seydoux patent, are typically processed using an inversion method to determine a position of a wellbore with respect to layer boundaries in earth formations. Exemplary inversion methods for calculating a distance between a well logging instrument and a formation boundary from the logging data, for example, may be found in U.K. published patent application GB 2 301 902 A filed by Meyer and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,584 B1 issued to Omeragic et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
An inversion technique, such as that disclosed in the Omeragic patent, involves making an initial estimate or model of the geometry of earth formations and the properties of the formations surrounding the well logging instrument. The initial model parameters are derived in various ways known in the art. An expected logging instrument response is calculated based on the initial model. The calculated response is then compared with the measured response of the logging instrument. The difference between the calculated response and the measured response is used to adjust the parameters of the initial model. The adjusted model is again used to calculate an expected response of the well logging instrument. The expected response for the adjusted model is compared to the measured instrument response, and any difference between them is used to adjust the model. This process is repeated until the differences between the expected response and the measured response fall below a pre-selected threshold.
While these prior art resistivity tools and methods can sometimes provide satisfactory results in locating well-bore in the formations, better apparatus and methods are needed, in particular for geosteering during drilling horizontal wells.

Systems for deep resistivity while drilling for proactive geosteering


Monomers having a C-B-A-B-C structure are disclosed, where A is a core of either trithiocarbonate and allyl sulfide, where B are linker units, and where C are end units. The end units may comprise acrylates, methacrylates, alcohol(s), amine(s), and alkynes, among others. The linker units may include an alkane, alkene, phenyl, diphenyl, or benzylic group, among others. Methods of synthesizing such compounds are also disclosed.

The RAFT (Reversible addition-fragmentation termination) process has rapidly become one of the two most dominant controlled radical polymerization processes and is ubiquitous in commercial and research practice. The RAFT process involves a radical, typically generated either thermally or by light exposure, attacking a double bond to form a tri-centered radical intermediate (I). This intermediate, which is generally unreactive to further addition to double bonds, then cleaves (i.e., fragments) in one of three possible manners, leaving a newly formed double bond (I) and another radical species to further the RAFT process (I), as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Synthesis of trithiocarbonates and allyl sulfides and their application into advances in covalent adaptable networks


Dynamic assignation of addresses to multiple PHY devices by a management station coupled to each of the PHY devices permits the management station to uniquely address each PHY device without a priori knowledge of the PHY addresses. The addresses are assigned by the station and thereby knows the addresses to use to access specific PHY devices.

The present invention relates generally to administration of addresses in a network, and more specifically to dynamic assignment of PHY addresses to multiple managed PHY entities that are managed by a station management entity.
FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a conventional implementation of a station management (STA) entity 100 including medium access control (MAC) sublayer 105 and a reconciliation sublayer (RS) 110. STA 100 is coupled to a physical layer interface (PHY) 115 by a media independent interface (MII) 120. STA 100, PHY 115 and MII 120 operate according to parameters defined in IEEE 802.3u standard, hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all purposes. Clause 22 of the incorporated IEEE 802.3u standard describes MII 120 in an implementation that includes an interface that is a simple two wire, serial interface to connect STA 100 to PHY 115 for the purpose of controlling PHY 115 and gathering status information. MII 120 is an eighteen wire connection, with the two wires relevant for the control and gathering being a management data input/output (MDIO) line and a management data clock (MDC) (neither of which are individually shown in FIG. 1).
In some applications, it is desirable to attach one STA 100 to multiple PHY 115 devices. FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a conventional multi-PHY 115.sub.i arrangement. Each PHY 115 device shown in FIG. 2 has an address to facilitate the control and data gathering functions. In a conventional system, the address of any particular PHY 115.sub.i device is set by appropriate grounding of any of five address pins ADDR.sub.0-4. STA 100 is coupled through a bus 205 to each PHY 115.sub.i device. STA 100 coupled to multiple PHY 115 devices must have a priori knowledge of the address of each PHY 115 if it is to control it and gather information from it. In these conventional systems requiring such a priori knowledge, flexibility, costs and efficiency in setting up and testing these systems are not optimal. It is desirable to find an effective solution to improving operation under these conditions so that effective administration of PHY addresses is possible with the attendant advantage of having efficient multi-phy systems.

Address administration for 100BASE-T PHY devices


A rotary latch mechanism that includes at least one support plate that pivotally supports both a latch fork and a lock cam is disclosed. The lock cam is movable from a first position where the lock cam prevents rotation of the latch fork to a second position where the lock cam does not interfere with the movement of the latch fork. A spring is attached to the latch fork and the lock cam and extends between the latch fork and the lock cam, so that the spring biases the lock cam towards the first position while biasing the latch fork to a release position.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a rotary jaw latch mechanism used for locking things into place. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a single jaw latch mechanism that eliminates the use of bumpers and uses a single external spring for the biasing of both jaws.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
Rotary latch mechanisms are widely used for locks, releasable retention devices, and other applications where a latch mechanism is needed. Examples of these types of mechanisms can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,948 to Wienerman et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,961 to Wienerman et al.
A significant limitation of known latch mechanisms is that these designs use springs or other biasing mechanisms that are positioned against the forks or jaws of the latches. Additionally, these devices typically use multiple springs, making the devices more expensive and more likely to fail, as it is well-known that a larger number of components leads to a higher likelihood that one of these components will fail.
Still another disadvantage of known latch mechanisms is that the springs that are used to bias the forks or jaws are installed between the jaws or forks and a cover plate that supports the axles for the jaws. This arrangement is a serious disadvantage of these devices in that it makes it very difficult replace the spring in the event that the spring fails.
Still further, known double jaw or double fork latch mechanisms are typically not adapted for allowing multiple latch mechanism to be actuated from a single location. The ability to release several latch mechanisms from a single location is highly advantageous in that the use of several latch mechanisms that are actuated from a single location creates a much stronger closure or retention of the door or other component being held closed. Still further, the use of multiple latch mechanisms spreads out the lock locations, which prevents the ability of opening of the door panel or cover that is being held closed by flexing the panel at a location that is relatively far away from the single lock location.
Still further, known latching mechanisms are not particularly well suited for use with a pushbutton actuator of the type shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,602, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. More particularly, with known devices the pushbutton actuator must be pressed from the same direction as the direction the striker enters the latch mechanism or through a series of pivoting mechanisms. This severely limits the usefulness of these devices with boxes or containers that are opened through a pushbutton. Accordingly, there remains a need for a latch mechanism that is easily used with pushbutton actuation devices.
Therefore, a review of known devices reveals that there remains a need for a simple, reliable, and easily expandable latching system.
There remains a need for a secure latching system that uses few parts and is easy to maintain.


According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) telephone number provisioning and voicemail routing by a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: provisioning a telephone number (TN) and its associated mobile subscriber identification (MSID) owned by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on a home location register (HLR) of a third party carrier, the third party carrier is not the owner of the TN; routing a call to the provisioned TN from a calling party by utilizing the HLR, wherein a called party of the TN is at least one of providing no answer or unreachable; receiving an indication from a gateway mobile switching center (GW MSC) of the third party carrier that there is no voicemail transfer number associated with the TN; and initiating a new call to a voicemail server of the MVNO, the new call to provide voicemail associated with the TN to the calling party. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

In the present telecommunications industry, wireless companies are emerging which do not own a licensed frequency spectrum and typically do not own their own network infrastructure. However, these wireless companies resell wireless services under their own brand name by utilizing the network of another wireless operator. Typically, these Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) have business arrangements with traditional mobile operators to buy minutes of use (MOUs) for sale to their customers.
In order for MVNOs to successfully operate, a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) may assist an MVNO by providing the infrastructure and services to enable MVNOs to offer services and have a relationship with end-user customers. The MVNE does not have a relationship with the end-user customer. MVNEs offer infrastructure and related services ranging from network element provisioning, administration, and operations to OSS/BSS support.
MVNEs often provide the middle ground between MVNOs that do not want to have any control over network elements and those that want complete control. Some MVNOs may want to completely rely on the underlying wireless network infrastructure of the host mobile network operator whereas other MVNOs may want to own and/or control their own network elements. MVNEs provide the middle ground in the sense that then can provide options to MVNOs for what they bring in-house versus what they rely on the host carrier for.
Two particular problematic areas for MVNOs are telephone number provisioning and voicemail services. Most MVNOs do not own a home location register (HLR) on which to provision telephone numbers for location tracking, and thereby call routing. In addition, many MVNOs would like to offer a voicemail option specific to the MVNO, rather than having to rely on the voicemail services of a third party wireless carrier. An MVNE that could provide advanced features relating to these areas would be beneficial.

Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) provisioning and voicemail routing by a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE)


Methods and systems for backing up data of a client connected to a server. The methods and systems include operating a graphical user interface for displaying to a user information about the data of a client. At an administrator module and client module, initiating one or more wizard program modules including dynamic link libraries configured to carry a user through the steps to complete a backup function, each wizard program module having one or more application programming interfaces which allow the wizard program modules to communicate with the operating system on which the administrator module or client module is operating. A common presentation layer can also be included to provide one or more common user interface screens which are insertable into each wizard program module.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wizard applications. Specifically, the present invention relates to a modular architecture for wizard applications and also to wizard applications with a common look and feel regardless of the operating system platform on which the wizard applications are operating.
2. The Relevant Technology
Wizard utility applications have conventionally been used to allow a computer user (e.g., a client user, developer, technician, or programmer) to perform an operation on a computer by providing a series of steps and offering assisting in completing these series of steps. However, wizard applications are generally operating system platform specific. For example, a wizard application on a Windows NT operating system cannot be easily implemented on a Solaris operating system.
Furthermore, even if the user were to place the wizard application on a different operating system, the user is not ensured that all of the application programming interface (APIs) will be available to be able to communicate with the operating system platform.
In addition, when wizard applications are used on different operating systems, they can have a different look and feel which makes interacting with the wizard application difficult if a user is not familiar with the different looks and feels on various operating systems. In fact, even when a wizard application is designed for another platform, it typically does not provide the same look and feel as on other platforms.
There are many situations where this lack of a common look and feel can reduce the effectiveness of a wizard application. A software programmer, for example, may spend more time than is necessary when implementing wizards on different platforms. Further, the user does not always have time or the expertise to perform the extensive programming changes that would allow a wizard application to run more effectively on a different operating system.

Software configuration methods and common presentation layer


An optical transmitter is disclosed including an optical signal source generating a frequency modulated signal encoding data. An optical spectrum reshaper is positioned to receive the frequency modulated signal and converts the frequency modulated signal into a reshaped signal having increased amplitude modulation relative to the frequency modulated signal. A third-order dispersive element is positioned to receive the reshaped signal and is adapted to impose third-order dispersion on the reshaped signal to generate a compensated signal having third-order dispersion effective to compensate for second-order dispersion caused by an optical fiber positioned between the optical transmitter and a receiver.

1. The Field of the Invention
This application relates to optical transmitters and, more particularly to systems and methods for overcoming chromatic dispersion.
2. The Relevant Technology
The ability to transmit data over optical fibers over long distances is limited by various factors. For example, at intermediate stages between transmitter and receiver a signal may be amplified, which introduces noise into the signal. The signal may also be converted to an electrical signal and then retransmitted, which is subject to detection errors.
The primary limitation on long-haul transmission of optical signals is dispersion within the optical fiber itself Inasmuch as the optical fiber has a wavelength dependent index of refraction, different frequency components of a signal travel at different speeds. Transmitted pulses will therefore tend to broaden, causing the peak amplitude of 1 bits to be reduced and the amplitude of adjacent 0 bits to increase thereby making the transmitted symbols indistinguishable from one another.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/084,633, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled "Method and apparatus for transmitting a signal using simultaneous FM and AM modulation," described a laser transmitter including a directly modulated laser that emits frequency modulated pulses through an optical spectrum reshaper that converts a portion of the frequency modulation to amplitude modulation. In this application, the frequency modulated signal includes frequency excursions from a base frequency to a peak frequency. The application discloses that for frequency excursions equal to between 0.25 and 0.75 times a bit rate, 1 bits separated by an odd number of 0 bits will destructively interfere as they broaden and begin to overlap, which makes an intervening 0 bit more readily distinguishable. Although this method is particularly useful for promoting proper detection of the 101 bit sequence, it does not provide any benefit for isolated 1 bits among multiple 0 bits.
In view of the foregoing, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a laser transmitter having a directly modulated laser and optical spectrum reshaper that reduces errors caused by chromatic dispersion for a plurality of bit patterns, particularly isolated 1 bits.

Dispersion compensator for frequency reshaped optical signals


A meniscal allograft with a bone block having a trapezoidal shape in cross-section and a technique for using a meniscus allograft having a trapezoidal shaped bone block are disclosed. A groove is formed initially in the bone using drill bits. Dilators are used to increase the size of the drilled groove. The orthogonal corner at the bottom of the groove is shaped using a rasp. A smooth dilator compacts the bone in the acute angle at the bottom of the groove opposite the orthogonal corner to create the final trapezoid shape of the bone groove. A meniscal allograft having a bone block of corresponding trapezoidal shape is prepared using a workstation and three cutting jigs to make three corresponding cuts. The trapezoidal bone block of the meniscal allograft is then installed within the bone groove.

A known method of performing an anatomical reconstruction of the meniscus is the so-called meniscal allograft "keyhole" technique using instrumentation sold by Arthrex, Inc. of Naples, Fla. In this technique, the bone block of a meniscal allograft is formed in the shape of a keyhole plug, to match a corresponding keyhole groove prepared through the cortical and cartilagenous surface of the tibial plateau. The bone plug for the meniscal allograft is then fed into the keyhole groove, such that the meniscal allograft is mounted on the tibial plateau and secured without transosseous sutures.
Although the above-described technique is a vast improvement over prior meniscal allograft technique, the "keyhole" shape of the allograft implant is difficult to reproduce and necessitates a long preparation time, typically about 45 minutes. Thus, although the "keyhole" technique described above is a vast improvement over prior meniscal allograft techniques, it would be desirable to provide a meniscal transplant system and technique that is quicker, easier and more reproducible.

Dovetail meniscal allograft technique and system


A phase locked loop, which does not require a local reference clock to obtain a frequency lock. The circuit includes a frequency locked loop and a phase locked loop in which the frequency locked loop does not require a local reference clock. The frequency locked loop includes a transition counter having an input for data with an output connected to a charge pump. This charge pump is connected to a loop filter, which in turn is connected to a voltage controlled oscillator. The output of the voltage controlled oscillator is connected to a second input in the transition counter. The phase locked loop includes a phase detector with an input for data. The output of this phase detector is connected to a second charge pump, which has it output connected to the loop filter. The output of the voltage controlled oscillator also is connected to the input of the phase detector.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to digital data transmission and in particular to a method in apparatus for recovering a clock signal. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a phase locked loop circuit in which a reference clock is absent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Services such as voice mail, video on demand, and voice activated accessing of information from remote text and video libraries across the country are being made available over the internet and through other sources through various broad band technologies. These services are made available through components such as synchronous optical network (SONET), a synchronous transfer mode (ATM) and intelligent networks (IN) that are found in broad band communications systems. Other services include computer serial input/output (I/O) data channels such as Fibre Channel and serial storage architecture (SSA). These services are provided through a communications network containing a system of interconnected facilities designed to carry traffic from a variety of telecommunications sources. A "network" includes nodes and links. "Nodes" are typically switching offices, junction pairs, both. "Links" represent cable, terminating equipment, etc. "Traffic" is information within the network that flows through the nodes and links. With the introduction of more sophisticated services involving the transfer of large amounts of information, such as digital data, video, or voice data, communications networks must provide certain levels of performance.
As the speed of serial data links and communications networks increase, the quality of the data must be maintained. For example, jitter and signal amplitude may cause intersymbol interference (ISI). "Jitter" is a term which refers to a type of signal distortion in serial data communications. More specifically, jitter can be described as incidental phase modulation measured as a time deviation. Typical bit error rates (BERs) are acceptable to an order of 10.sup.-12. Transmitters with low jitter output and sensitive receivers are required in serial data links to achieve acceptable levels of BER in communications networks. Additionally, repeaters are used to regenerate the amplitude with the signal providing the ability to transmit the data across the additional lengths of cable, allowing quality transmission over longer distances. Additionally, repeaters are employed to remove jitter caused by ISI. A component found in many repeaters is a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, which is used to provide a recovered clock signal to re-time data going through a repeater. Many phase locked loop circuits employ a reference clock as an input to the repeater. The reference clock usually consist of an expensive crystal oscillator, which is used only for a short period of time to obtain frequency lock within the clock recovery PLL. Once frequency lock is obtained, the reference clock is no longer used by the repeater circuit.
In FIG. 1, repeater circuit 100 includes an amplifier 102, a D flip-flop 104, a clock recovery PLL 106 and a reference clock 108. Data is input into amplifier 102, which regenerates the amplitude of the data signal. This data is sent to D flip-flop 104 and clock recovery PLL 106. Reference clock 108 is employed to obtain frequency lock when the circuit is started. Thereafter, clock recovery PLL 106 generates a recovered clock signal, which is input into D flip-flop 104 as a clock signal that re-times data output from D flip-flop 104.
In reducing costs of PLLs and repeaters, it would be desirable to have an improved clock recovery apparatus that eliminates the requirements of a reference clock using a crystal oscillator.


The invention relates to interpreting the change in the increment of the RTP TS field as occurring either due to silence suppression for a voice flow or a change in sampling/frame rate of a video flow. By interpreting this change correctly, the value of the TS_STRIDE field in robust header compression may be correctly calculated leading to efficient header compression performance. In one aspect, there is disclosed a method of improving ROHC between an Access Network (AN) having a compressor and an Access Terminal (AT) having a decompressor, comprising providing flow information to the compressor relating to a change in the increment of an RTP TS field of a header; determining the change in the increment of an RTP TS field as occurring either due to silence suppression or due to a change in a sampling/frame rate; and taking appropriate action for TS_STRIDE.

1. Field
The invention relates to data compression and decompression in a communication system and, in particular, to a system and method for improving Robust Header Compression (ROHC) efficiency.
2. Background
ROHC is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) header compression framework that provides for high efficiency and robustness in wireless communication systems. Among other features, ROHC supports Real-time Transfer Protocol/User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (RTP/UDP/IP) and UDP/IP compression profiles. The ROHC working group is also specifying support for a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) compression profile.
ROHC exhibits robustness, i.e., the ability to tolerate errors on the wireless links. ROHC is useable with multi-media applications and provides for header compression for various applications, protocols, and wireless technologies. Header compression is a technique to reduce the packet size transmitted over a link thereby increasing the link efficiency and throughput. Header compression is particularly useful on slow links or when packet sizes are small where a reduction in the header size results in a significant decrease in the header overhead. Header compression achieves this by leveraging header field redundancies in packets belonging to the same flow. In particular, many packet header fields such as source and destination addresses remain constant throughout the duration of a flow while other fields such as sequence numbers change predictably to allow header compression to transmit only a few bytes of header information per packet. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical ROHC compression/decompression block diagram 100 of IP/UDP/RTP headers over a communication link. Typically, reference copies of the full headers are stored at a ROHC compressor 102 and a ROHC decompressor 104 in order to reliably communicate and reconstruct original packet headers. There is a need in the art, however, for a system and method for improving ROHC efficiency by correctly interpreting change in increment of the RTP Timestamp field either due to silence suppression for a voice flow or due to a change in sampling/frame rate of a video flow.

System and method for improving robust header compression (ROHC) efficiency


When a portion of an audio object comprising a head pack having a system header is to be deleted, a copy of the system header of the pack is inserted in a pack which is the end boundary of deletion. This gives a new head pack after the deletion a system header having the same contents as the deleted pack. Even when audio data comprising a system header is partially deleted by editing or the like and the system header disappears, this system header can be reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of processing audio data having a system header and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus of recording a system header of audio data formed by a program stream based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art disclosing an AV (Audio Visual) data recording/playback system for mainly recording video data is described in, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3026808. The prior art aims to facilitate recording and editing and realize on-memory time search by using a memory LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit) of about 512 KB. AV data processed in this system is based on a program stream of the MPEG standard. The AV data includes one or more GOPs (Group Of Pictures), and is configured as a GOP set (VOB: Video OBject) having a VOBU (Video OBject Unit) structure whose playback time is 0.4 to 1.0 sec. Manager data for managing the AV data has time search information. The time search information has a hierarchical structure in which time entry information indicating time entry for, e.g., every 10 sec is added to VOBU entry information for managing each VOBU information as an entry table.
In the above prior art, recording of video data is essential, so the recording time for a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) disk capacity of 4.7 GB is about 8 hrs. Therefore, even a time map structure for all entries of VOBU information (3 bytes: size and access information) whose playback time unit is about 0.5 sec occupies a capacity of at most about 200 KB. This is not a serious problem compared to the whole manager data processed in on-memory processing. Also, in the above prior art, by inserting a system header for each VOBU which forms a VOB, editing based on an MPEG program stream can be processed for each VOBU.
On the other hand, an audio data recording/playback system (e.g., a system of the DVD audio recording standard) for mainly recording audio data can record only sound. For example, when a 96-Kbps compressed audio code is used, the recording time for a DVD disk capacity of 4.7 GB reaches about 100 hrs. In this case, 1,000 pieces or more of music can be recorded and played back even when the playing time of one piece of music is about 5 min. Therefore, the manager data (e.g., the time entry information) must handle data of 1,000 pieces or more of music.
If a unit structure (AOBU: Audio OBject Unit) similar to the VOBU in the above-mentioned prior art is used and a set (AOB) of this AOBU structure whose unit is 1 sec is formed for audio data of 1,000 pieces or more of music, the size of a table of AOBU entry information (2 bytes: size and access information) exceeds 700 KB. Consequently, this information alone increases the load on the on-memory processing and makes other important manager data difficult to process.
That is, the conventional video recording system constructs a video data unit structure having a system header at its start on a large-capacity disk. The system poses no problem because editing is performed for each unit. However, an audio recording system capable of recording audio data on a large-capacity disk by using various compression systems can record and play back 1,000 pieces of music for about 100 hrs. Accordingly, in the hierarchical structure of an audio data unit structure, the size manager data comprising a time map and the like becomes enormous and exceeds the range capable of being processed by on-memory processing if the memory size is at most about 512 KB.
On the other hand, if a unit structure is disused to reduce this enormous manager data and make rapid on-memory processing feasible, a system header disappears by deletion, editing, or the like.

Method and apparatus of processing audio information having system header


An apparatus for measuring the temperature and pressure of air in a pneumatic tire. The apparatus comprises a circuit for sensing the temperature and pressure of air in the pneumatic tire. The apparatus further comprises a circuit for transmitting a signal indicative of the temperature and pressure of air in the pneumatic tire as sensed by the circuit for sensing. The apparatus also comprises a circuit for receiving the signal from the circuit for transmitting. The signal could be used to control a vehicle suspension system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the motor vehicle arts, in particular to dynamic measurement of the pressure and temperature of a motor vehicle tire as a control parameter for an operational or safety function.
2. Discussion
Most modern motor vehicles operate on suspension systems which utilize pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires can be found in a variety of constructions, such as radial ply construction or bias ply construction, and while tires most commonly have a tubeless design, there remain types which utilize a tube to maintain air pressure. Due to the pressurized air held within a pneumatic tire, the tire provides certain advantages in ride and control of a motor vehicle. The pneumatic characteristic also has an impact on the suspension design of the vehicle.
When the vehicle is in motion, and the tire is rolling over the road surface, the tire is going through a continuous and dynamic change, particularly in its shape. In a pneumatic tire, the surface of the tire touching the road is compressed while the remaining majority portion of the tire resides in a normal state. The continual fluctuation as the tire rolls over the road caused by compression of a portion of the tire's surface, causes the tire and the air compressed within it to increase in temperature. Additionally, depending upon the maneuver that the vehicle is going through or the toughness of the surface over which the tire is rolling, the pressure of air within the tire may vary. For instance, increased load within the vehicle will increase the pressure within all of the vehicle's tires. Cornering the vehicle will increase pressure in the tires of the vehicle on the outside of the turn. Dynamic operation of the tire, which is mounted to the vehicle's suspension system, causes pressure variations, such as would occur when the tire rolls over a rough or washboard-like surface, or hits a bump. Many studies have been done by tire companies to investigate tire temperature and pressure changes in order to improve tire design characteristics.
With the advent of modern electronics, which are durable and require low power, applications of electronic systems in motor vehicles have been significantly increasing. Electronics now control most fuel management and ignition systems for engines powering motor vehicles. Automatic brake systems which assure that a wheel and tire will not skid in inclement weather or under severe braking conditions have been introduced. Electronic control of the damping elements of the vehicle suspension system, i.e., the shock absorbers, has also been designed and implemented, permitting a driver to vary the ride control of the suspension from within the driving compartment through manual selection of increased or decreased damping characteristics.
Since the ride and control of the motor vehicle is intimately dependent upon the characteristics of its suspension system, improvements in suspension system design are continually sought. Through the use of modern electronics, active control of the damping characteristics of a vehicle's suspension system has been suggested. Other parameters of suspension system design may also be dynamically controlled, such as, spring rate or roll stabilizer control.
The unfulfilled need in such an active control system is development of an accurate, but consistent and reliable means for determining control of such a suspension system. This is perhaps the primary and most important element in active suspension design. In order for a dynamically controlled suspension system in a motor vehicle to be effective, it must have suitable means by which the control required can be determined. It is believed that the invention presented herein will fulfill this need and provide an accurate, consistent, and reliable means for directing a dynamically controlled suspension system in a motor vehicle.
The present invention utilizes tire pressure and/or temperature as a source of information for a vehicle suspension system control. The following discussion of hardware is merely one example which would work but various other designs and hardware could be used to obtain the same effect.

Telemetry system for tire pressure and temperature sensing


Provided is a method and an apparatus for controlling a write parameter according to a voltage variation. The method for controlling the write parameter includes monitoring a voltage supplied to a pre-amplifier before performing a write operation and adjusting the write parameter supplied to the pre-amplifier based on the monitoring result. Controlling the write parameter includes reading a predetermined write parameter from a write parameter table based on the monitoring result, and adjusting the read write parameter to the write parameter which will be supplied to the pre-amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for controlling a write parameter. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a method and an apparatus capable of controlling a write parameter in accordance with a voltage variation supplied to a pre-amplifier.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0010857, filed on Feb. 3, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the amplitude of write current supplied to a disc within a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) is defined in relation to the power supplied to an associated pre-amplifier. That is, the rise time (dt) of the write current changes in accordance with a voltage (dv) supplied to the pre-amplifier, as follows:
      dt    =          N                    di        dv              ,where "di" is current and N is a constant related to the number of turns.
As the operating speed of devices, such as HDDs, increases, shorter and shorter write current rise times are required. To reduce the rise time, the supply voltage applied to the pre-amplifier is increased. However, there are well-understood, practical limits on the supply voltage regardless of the operating speed of the overall device. For example, assuming an HDD uses supply voltages of +5V and −5V, the −5V supply voltage may be supplied by a voltage a regulator circuit receiving a supply voltage of 12V. The +5V supply voltage on the other hand may be supplied using a switching mode power supply (SMPS).
Under these assumptions, the −5V supply voltage may be readily and constantly maintained an output from the regulator. However, +5V supply voltage supplied by the SMPS will vary. As this supply voltage varies, so too does the rise time of a write current supplied from the pre-amplifier to a write head of the HDD.
Figure (FIG.) 1 is a graph showing the relation between write current and a Bit Error Rate (BER) as a function of two exemplary voltage variations. Referring to FIG. 1, when the voltage provided by the SMPS is reduced, the rise time for the write current increases, thereby resulting in greater bit errors in the written data. Such a result impairs the reliability of the HDD.
For example, when voltage V2 of FIG. 1, as supplied to the pre-amplifier of an HDD, falls from +5.0V to +4.5V, the bit error rate for the HDD increases significantly over an analogous BER for voltage V1 which is maintained at +5.0V. Therefore, when the voltage supplied to the pre-amplifier decreases from +5.0V to +4.5V, the write current must be increased from 30 mA to 50 mA to compensate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for controlling write parameter according to voltage variation


A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device wherein the number of input/output terminals can be selectively increased while using input/output amplifier circuit functional portions having the same circuit configuration, by using both ball bonding and TAB bonding techniques. Every two (4A, 4B) of the electrodes on the semiconductor device correspond to each one set of input/output amplifier circuits formed by three ones (6A, 6B, 6C) of the input/output amplifier circuits. The spacing S.sub.1 between the two electrodes (4A, 4B) corresponding to one set of input/output amplifier circuits is substantially equal to the spacing S.sub.2 between the electrode 4B and the adjacent electrode 4C of one adjacent set of input/output amplifier circuits and also to the spacing S.sub.3 between the electrode 4A and the adjacent electrode 4D of the other adjacent set of input/output amplifier circuits.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having I/O amplifier circuits and electrodes disposed around its fringes and, more particularly, to a logic circuit semiconductor device that needs numerous input/output terminals.
The logic circuit semiconductor device is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 6. Generally, this semiconductor device 1 has the functional portion 2 of a logic circuit, the functional portions 3 of input/output amplifier circuits disposed around the functional portion 2, and electrodes 4 for making connections with an external substrate (not shown).
The electrodes 4 are disposed around fringes of the semiconductor device so as to correspond to their respective input/output amplifier circuits in a 1:1 relation. If necessary, the input/output amplifier circuits are electrically connected with their respective electrodes.
The logic circuit semiconductor device 1 is installed on a package equipped with external terminals which are connected with the external substrate. The device 1 is tied with signal lead lines existing inside the package via the electrodes and is also electrically connected with the external substrate via the external terminals. The logic circuit semiconductor device is connected with the signal lead lines by ball bonding using Au wires or by TAB bonding (tape automated bonding) using TAB tape.
This logic circuit semiconductor device is isolated from other logic circuit semiconductor devices at a scribe center 5. The functional portions 3 of the input/output amplifier circuits are formed by input/output amplifier circuits 6.
In recent years, as semiconductor fabrication technology developed, miniaturization of semiconductor devices has improved greatly. Also, device densities have increased greatly. As a result, it has been possible to fabricate large-scale integrated logic circuitry out of semiconductor devices. As semiconductor device densities are increased, it has been required to offer semiconductor devices which permit one to select the ratios of the numbers of leads and electrodes to the size of the circuit from various values.
This tendency is conspicuous in cases of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) such as gate arrays and standard cells. Especially, in the case of gate arrays, it is important that semiconductor devices installed on the arrays and connectable electrodes be selected from a wide choice of numbers. Furthermore, it is necessary that the semiconductor devices be inexpensive.
As semiconductor device size has become smaller and device densities have increased, a semiconductor device which forms small-scale circuitry or has small size and which is equipped with numerous connected electrodes has generally been required.
In order to satisfy this requirement, it is important that means for connecting a semiconductor device with signal lines inside a package be made thinner. In particular, fabrication technology for interconnecting small semiconductor elements having numerous electrodes closely spaced from each other and for assembling a semiconductor device, especially up to a molded semiconductor device, using the interconnected elements, is important. In addition, the interconnecting means are required to be economical.
As mentioned previously, in the case of a molded semiconductor device, ball bonding and TAB bonding are generally used to interconnect a semiconductor device having logic circuitry and signal lines inside a package. In the case of a semiconductor device having numerous interconnected electrodes, it is essential to use ball bonding and TAB bonding adequately according to the purpose in order to maintain the performance and to seek for good economy as described below.
We now take a conventional molded semiconductor device as an example. Where interconnections are made by ball bonding, leadframes are installed around a semiconductor device. The front ends of the inner leads of the leadframes are connected with the electrodes formed on top of the semiconductor device by Au wires.
The positional relation between the front ends of the inner leads and the electrodes are physically determined by the number of the leads and by the pitch between the front ends of the leads. Specifically, when the leads are machined, if the pitch between the front ends can be narrowed, then the front ends of the inner leads can be brought closer to the semiconductor device even if the number of the leads is larger. However, the pitch between the front ends can be reduced to about 200 .mu.m at best because of the minimum size achievable by etching techniques or presswork techniques.
Therefore, where a subminiature semiconductor device having numerous electrodes spaced less than 200 .mu.m from each other is connected with an external substrate by Au wires, the inner leads are spaced remotely from the corresponding leads. Consequently, the distance between the electrodes and the front ends of the corresponding inner leads is increased. This increases the lengths of the loops formed by the Au wires.
Where the lengths of the loops formed by the Au wires are increased, the diameter of the Au wires must be increased to prevent them from warping or sagging. On the other hand, in order to connect closely spaced electrodes by ball bonding, the diameter of the Au wires must be reduced. Accordingly, where a small-sized semiconductor device having numerous electrodes spaced less than 200 .mu.m from each other is connected with an external substrate by Au wires, it is necessary to satisfy these two conflicting technical requirements.
Where ball bonding is done, the capillaries of a bonding machine are not permitted to contact adjacent Au wires shaped like nail heads. The capillaries are jigs for crushing a ball formed at the head of each Au wire and shaping the ball into a form resembling a nail head. Therefore, even if an optimum capillary shape is used, it is impossible to increase the Au wire diameter beyond a certain value. Hence, it is impossible to reduce the electrode spacing below a certain value. Because of these conditions, if it is assumed that the minimum achievable wire diameter is about 30 .mu.m, then the minimum achievable electrode spacing is 95 to 100 .mu.m.
Although the loop lengths of Au wires, the electrode spacing, and the pitch between the front ends of the inner electrodes have technical limitations as described above, the greatest advantage of ball bonding is that it is inexpensive. Because of the economy, use of ball bonding is required as long as it can be applied technically.
Meanwhile, where interconnections are made by TAB bonding, the accuracy at which fingers on a TAB film are aligned with bumps formed on electrodes and the accuracy at which they are fabricated are limiting factors. Since dimensional limitations such as the loop lengths of Au wires, the electrode spacing, and the pitch between the front ends of the inner electrodes as encountered in the above-described ball bonding do not exist, the electrode spacing can be reduced down to 60-70 .mu.m.
For this reason, for a subminiature semiconductor device which has electrodes closely spaced from each other and to which the ball bonding cannot be applied, interconnections can be made by TAB bonding. However, the cost is high, because expensive TAB film and bumps must be employed. In consequence, it is necessary that ball bonding and TAB bonding be used properly, depending on the purpose, from technical and economical points of view.
With respect to the circuit arrangements of a semiconductor device, especially the circuit arrangements of ASICs, the functional portions of logic circuits have become smaller and smaller because of development of microminiaturization technology. However, input/output amplifier circuit portions around the functional portions of logic circuits have required the same areas as used in the prior art techniques in order to secure sufficient ability to drive the devices. That is, the input/output amplifier circuit portions cannot be reduced in size though the functional portions of logic circuits become smaller and smaller. This technical gap has grown increasingly.
To permit ball bonding and TAB bonding to be used properly, depending on the purpose, subassemblies each consisting of an input/output amplifier circuit and an electrode must be designed and fabricated separately. This requirement is not permitted in designing and fabrication of ASICs such as gate arrays.
Where it is attempted to permit ball bonding and TAB bonding to be used properly, depending on the purpose, and to arrange electrodes in or on the same semiconductor device with an electrode spacing close to the minimum values achievable by both ball bonding and TAB bonding, it is necessary to determine the size of the semiconductor device with the lowest multiple common to both minimum achievable electrode spacings. This makes it impossible to fabricate semiconductor devices with any arbitrary size.

Process for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a logic circuit and a plurality of input/output amplifier circuits