The hydrodynamics of a seagoing vessel are numerically modeled through the present invention's new calculative methodology, which uniquely combines vessel boundary characteristics and pseudo-spectral environmental characteristics. Solutions are obtained through mutual transformations between the vessel boundary's irregular grid and the environment's regular pseudo-spectral grid. The pressure at the vessel boundary, an important component of the vessel boundary itself, can be determined via either (i) finite element analysis (which has a Cartesian framework) or (ii) the present invention's new vessel normal vector analysis (which has a non-Cartesian framework); the latter approach avoids the singularity problem that generally besets hydrodynamics-related mathematics. Typical inventive practice implements a computer processing unit and succeeds in finding superior solutions in shorter CPU durations.

The present invention relates to interactions between marine vessels (e.g., steadily moving ships) and environmental waves, more particularly to methodologies for modeling such interactions.
The past few decades have seen great efforts toward the development of ship motion models. Generally, the ship motion models have been developed via algorithms or formulae based on either linear theory (e.g., Green function) or weakly nonlinear theory. Two major problems hinder the application of these conventional models, viz.: (i) their inability to model strongly nonlinear interactions (e.g., wherein the nonlinear interactions are comparable to or stronger than the linear variations) among surface waves, and among surface waves and ship bodies; (ii) the computationally expensive nature of the backbone algorithms, particularly in solving global wave-like solutions. Therefore, the conventional models are limited to the "mild-condition" applications; that is to say, the conventional models are significantly less than ideal (and may even be impossible) for solving extreme problems, such as storm surges, strong incident waves, and high speed ships. In addition, due to computational costs, the conventional models tend to be less likely than desired to meet real-time or near real-time application requirements.
Lord Kelvin first developed a mathematical description of wave pattern due to a point pressure distribution, the classical V-shaped wave pattern that bears his name; see W. Thompson, "On Ship Waves," Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., 1887, Reprint, 1891, in Popular Lectures and Addresses, 3:450-500, MacMillan, London; W. Thompson, "On the Waves Produced by a Single Impulse in Water of Any Depth, or in a Dispersive Medium," Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A 42:80-85, 1887.
Michell developed a thin-ship theory for the wave resistance of a ship; see J. H. Michell, "The Wave Resistance of a Ship," Phil. Mag. 45:106-23, 1898.
Havelock extended Michell's thin ship theory to predict the wave pattern about the ship; see T. H. Havelock, "The Propagation of Groups of Waves in Dispersive Media, with Application to Waves on Water Produced by a Traveling Disturbance," Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A, 81:398-430, 1908; T. H. Havelock, "Wave Patterns and Wave Resistance," Trans. Inst. Nay. Arch. 76:430-46 (1934).
Tuck developed slender body theory for a ship and the wave field near the ship. See E. O. Tuck, "A Systematic Asymptotic Expansion Procedure for Slender Ships," Journal of Ship Research 8(1):15-23, 1964; E. O. Tuck, "On Line Distributions of Kelvin Sources, Journal of Ship Research 8(2):45-52, 1964.
Two families of linearized free surface solutions satisfying the exact body boundary condition have been developed, viz., the Neumann-Kelvin methods and Dawson the methods. The Neuman-Kelvin methods linearize the free-surface flow about the free-stream velocity. The Dawson methods linearize the problem about the double-body flow.
The Havelock singularity solution of the Neumann-Kelvin formulation of the ship-wave problem reduces the problem to the solution of an integral equation on the body surface by using a Green function that satisfies explicitly the Laplace equation and the linearized free-surface condition. Doctors together with Beck, and Scragg, have developed Havelock-Green function-based methods for computing the solution of the Kelvin-wake problem; see L. J. Doctors and R. F. Beck, "Numerical Aspects of the Neumann-Kelvin Problem," Journal of Ship Research 31:1-13, 1987; L. J. Doctors and R. F. Beck, "Convergence Properties of the Neumann-Kelvin Problem for a Submerged Body," Journal of Ship Research 31:227-34, 1987; A. M. Reed, J. G. Telste and C. A. Scragg, "Analysis of Transom Stern Flows," Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Ann Arbor, Mich., pp 207-19, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1990.
Doctors & Beck and Scragg solve the full Neumann-Kelvin problem for the strengths of the singularities. Telste (See A. M. Reed, J. G. Telste and C. A. Scragg, "Analysis Of Transom Stern Flows," Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Ann Arbor, Mich., pp 207-19, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1990; J. Telste and A. M. Reed, "Calculation of Transom Stern Flows," Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Numerical Ship Hydrodynamics, Iowa City, Iowa, pp 79-92, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1993) employs Rankine singularities to solve the Neumann-Kelvin problem, which necessitates distributing Rankine singularities on the free surface as well as on the hull surface.
Dawson methods (See C. W. Dawson, "A Practical Computer Method for Solving Ship Wave Problems," Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Numerical Ship Hydrodynamics, Berkeley, Calif., pp 30-38, Berkeley, Calif.: Univ. Calif. Berkeley, 1977) solve for the Kelvin wake in a two-stage process. The first step involves the solution of a double-body problem where the ship's hull is reflected in the free surface and the flow is predicted as though the body and its reflected image are submerged infinitely deep in the fluid. The second stage of the solution involves solving a free-surface problem that is linearized around the double-body solution. This second solution involves singularities on the free surface as well as on the body. Compared to the Havelock Green function-based methods, the Dawson methods trade a much simpler Green function for a much larger computational domain with many more unknowns.
Cheng (1989), Kim et al. (1989), Sclavounos & Nakos (1988), and Nakos & Sclavounos (1990) have developed Dawson methods for solving the Kelvin-wake problem using Rankine sources. See B. H. Cheng, "Computations of 3D Transom Stern Flows," Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Numerical Ship Hydrodynamics, Washington, D.C., pp 581-92, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1989; Y-H Kim, S. H. Kim and T. Lucas, "Advanced Panel Method for Ship Wave Inviscid Flow Theory (SWIFT)," David Taylor Research Center (DTRC; now NSWCCD), Ship Hydromechanics Department, R & D Report DTRC-89/029, West Bethesda, Md., 66 pp, 1989; P. D. Sclavounos and D. E. Nakos, "Stability Analysis of Panel Methods for Free-Surface Flows with Forward Speed," Proceedings of the 17th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Den Haag, Netherlands, 1988; D. Nakos and P. D. Sclavounos, "Ship Motions by a Three-Dimensional Rankine Panel Method," Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, pp 21-41, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1990.
Scragg & Talcott (1990) and Scragg (1999) have developed a "Havelock-Dawson" approach that employs Rankine singularities on the hull and Havelock singularities on the free surface in a limited region of the undisturbed free surface near the body. See C. A. Scragg. and J. C. Talcott., "Numerical Solution of the "Dawson" Free-Surface Problem Using Havelock Singularities," Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Ann Arbor, Mich., pp 259-71, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1990; C. A. Scragg, "On the Use of Free-Surface Distributions of Havelock Singularities," Proceedings of the 14th International Workshop on Water Waves and Floating Bodies, Port Huron, Mich., 4 pp, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Univ. Mich., Dep. Naval Arch. Mar. Eng., 1999. The Havelock-Dawson method allows one to panel only a limited region of the free surface because the singularities satisfy both the linearized free surface and the radiation boundary conditions, resulting in a "self-limiting" distribution of singularities on the free surface. The Havelock-Dawson approach is computationally very efficient.
Most recently, fully nonlinear free surface flow solutions have been developed based on both potential flow and on RANS formulations. Raven (1996, 1998), Subramani (2000), and Wyatt (2000) have published nonlinear potential flow methods for predicting the wave field around ships. See D. C. Wyatt, "Development and Assessment of a Nonlinear Wave Prediction Methodology for Surface Vessels," Journal of Ship Research 44:96-107, 2000; A. K. Subramani, "Computations of Highly Nonlinear Free-Surface Flows, with Applications to Arbitrary and Complex Hull Forms," PhD thesis, Dep. Naval Arch. Mar. Eng., Univ. Mich., Ann Arbor, Mich. 127 pp, 2000; H. C. Raven, A Solution Method for the Nonlinear Ship Wave Resistance Problem, Wageningen, Netherlands: Marin, 220 pp, 1996; H. C. Raven, "Inviscid Calculations of Ship Wave Making—Capabilities, Limitations, and Prospects," Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Washington, D.C., pp 738-54, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1998.
All three authors in the preceding paragraph employ Rankine singularities and desingularize the free surface. Several authors have published the results from free-surface RANS codes that can solve the steady-ship wave problem. See A. Arabshahi, M. Beddhu, W. Briley, J. Chen, A. Gaither, et al., "A Perspective on Naval Hydrodynamic Flow Simulations," Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, Washington, D.C., pp 920-34, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1998; see also, R. Wilson, E. Paterson, and F. Stern, "Unsteady RANS CFD Method for Naval Combatants in Waves," Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium on. Naval Hydrodynamics, Washington, D.C., pp 532-49, Washington, D.C.: Natl. Acad. Press, 1998.
These codes solve the field equations using a finite volume or finite difference scheme. Each satisfies the full nonlinear free-surface boundary condition by employing some type of upstream differencing scheme on the free surface. The fact that the fluid volume must be re-gridded to track the nonlinear free-surface deformation adds a significant complication to the iteration scheme and adds significantly to the computation time. Solutions using nonlinear free-surface RANS codes such as these can take 40-80 hours or more to compute on a state-of-the-art multiprocessor super computer.
In parallel with the above studies, effort has recently been focused on interactions between ship waves and ambient waves because they cannot be well described by linear superposition (See, e.g., M. St. Denis and W. J. Pierson, "On the Motions of Ships in Confused Seas," SNAME Transactions, Vol. 61, 1953); Y. Liu, D. G. Dommermuth, and D. K. P. Yue, "A high-order spectral method for nonlinear wave-body interactions," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 245:115-136, 1992) first used a high-order spectral method to study nonlinear interactions among surface waves and ship. Their model was developed originally by Dommermuth and Yue (See D. G. Dommermuth and D. K. P. Yue, "Numerical Simulations Of Nonlinear Axisymmetric Flows With A Free Surface," Journal of Fluid Mechanics 209, 57, 1987) to study nonlinear gravity wave interactions based on the third-order Zakharov equation. See R.-Q. Lin, and W. Perrie, "A New Coastal Wave Model, Part III: Nonlinear Wave-Wave Interaction for Wave Spectral Evolution," Journal of Physical Oceanography, 27:1813-26, 1997; D. R. Crawford, B. M. Lake, P. G. Saffman, and H. C. Yuen, "Stability of Weakly Nonlinear Deep-Water Waves in Two and Three Dimensions," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 105:177-191, 1982.
However, the Zakharov Equation, and the Hasselmann Equation (See S. Hasselmann and K. Hasselmann, "A Symmetrical Method of Computing the Nonlinear Transfer in a Gravity-Wave Spectrum," Hamb. Geophys. Einzelschrifien Reihe A Wiss. Abhand, Vol. 52, 138 pp, 1981), which is similar to the Zakharov equation, are both derived using perturbation methods, which implies that the equations are not appropriate for problems with large wave steepness. For example, the maximum wave steepness for the Zakharov equation is 0.3, with a 10 percent error level. With the similar error, the Hasselmann equation only allows wave steepness up to 0.06; see R.-Q. Lin and W. Perrie, "A New Coastal Wave Model, Part III: Nonlinear Wave-Wave Interaction for Wave Spectral Evolution," Journal of Physical Oceanography, 27:1813-26, 1997.
In addition, the model of Liu et al. (1992) can only solve interactions between a cylinder and surface waves, while ships have much more complicated geometries. The solutions of Liu et al. can be extended to more complicated problems by applying conformal mappings, but this imposes constraints on the flow properties and on the ship geometries. In order to resolve arbitrary ship shapes, boundary element methods are introduced in modeling finite amplitude ship-wave interactions. See, e.g., W. M. Lin and D. K. P. Yue, "Numerical Solution for Large-Amplitude Ship Motions in Time-Domain," Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1990; W. M. Lin, M. J. Meinhold, N. Salvesen, and D. K. P. Yue, "Large-Amplitude Motions and Wave Load for Ship Design," Proceedings of the 20th Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics, U. California, Santa Barbara, Calif., 1994; Lin and Yue, 1990; Liu et al., 1992, 1994; M. Xue, "Three-Dimensional Fully-Nonlinear Simulations of Waves and Wave Body Interactions," Ph.D. Thesis, Dept Ocean Engineering, MIT, 1997; M. Xue, H. Xü, Y. Liu, and D. K. P. Yue, "Computations of Full Nonlinear Three-Dimensional Wave-Wave and Wave-Body Interactions. Part I. Dynamics of Steep Three-Dimensional Waves," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 438:11-39. 2001; Xue, 1997; Xue et al, 2000; Y. Liu, M. Xue, and D. K. P, Yue, "Computations of Fully Nonlinear Three-Dimensional Wave-Wave Wave-Body Interactions, Part 2: Nonlinear Waves and Forces," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 438:41-66, 2000.
Though the boundary element method (and other local methods) is very good for resolving flow near the boundaries of arbitrary ships, it is not very efficient in resolving the waves away from the ship. This problem can be very serious when ambient waves are present. In this case, fine-scale grids are necessary to resolve small-scale waves and wave-wave interactions. Insufficient resolution can easily result in numerical instabilities. On the other hand, spectral methods can take advantage of the wave-like motions at the surface away from the ship. In particular, by selecting appropriate base wave functions for spectral expansion, one can easily model surface waves and wave-wave interactions with high computational efficiency. Furthermore, one can model wave-breaking mechanisms that are important in studying finite amplitude wave-wave interactions. Because of these numerical advantages, ship hydrodynamics models based on spectral methods have been developed. For example, Liu et al. (1992) developed a spectral model to study interaction between incident waves and a cylinder (an idealized ship).
However, the spectral method is not very efficient in solving for the local flow structures near the ship. For example, a very fine ship will generate very small-scale flow near the ship. Resolving this small-scale flow with spectral methods requires a very high truncation order, not necessary for the flow away from ship. In addition, traditional periodic boundary conditions used in modeling wave-wave interactions (See, e.g., R.-Q Lin and W. Kuang, "Nonlinear Wave-Wave Interactions of Finite Amplitude Gravity Wave," Recent Developments in Physical Oceanography 8:109-116, 2004) are not applicable to ship-wave interaction problems. An example is the case of a ship moving in calm water where there are no waves ahead of the ship but waves extend behind the ship to infinity, where there can be no periodic far-field boundary conditions.
In ship-wave hydrodynamics, the flow is assumed to be an incompressible, inviscid potential flow. Therefore, singularities occur in solving flow at the ship boundary, particularly at bow and stern points. Resolving the flow near the ends of the ship is one of the important problems in ship hydrodynamics, and is particularly critical for correct evaluation of the pressure on a moving ship. In the past, researchers developed various approximations and techniques to avoid the singularities. As previously mentioned herein, Michell (1898) developed thin ship theory, which was further refined by Havelock (1908, 1934). Tuck (1964) developed slender theory for a ship and the wave field near the ship. Similar methods were developed in (linear and nonlinear) studies using the exact ship boundary condition, e.g. Doctors & Beck (1987), Scragg (Reed et al. 1990), Telste (Reed et al. 1990, Telste & Reed 1993), and Liu et al. (2000). These approaches to solving the velocity potential at the ship boundary depend on certain "cut-off" domains (e.g., truncation in wave number space of integrals for the wave components of the potential, or truncation of the Fourier series of the spectral representation). In addition, computations with arbitrary ship geometries can be very expensive, because high numerical resolution is required to avoid numerical errors and instabilities.

Numerical modeling of nonlinear ship-wave interactions

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


An aerodynamic flexible flying and bouncing disc (10) toy that is lightweight and fits in a pocket, having an equiangular pentagonal central portion (12) consisting of two sheets (12t, 12b ) of fabric material whereby printing and dyeing may be impressed thereon, or a single sheet central portion (112) of flexible plastic material whereby various images and colors may be impressed therein, which retains five individual bouncing spherical weights (16) of plastic or rubber material of equal heft and size at equal proximity to the main body when in rotation and subsequent deceleration by means of a connecting nylon cord (14), which is secured in position by a flexible plastic retainer (18) or alternate central portion (112) of alternate disc (110). This is done to colorfully provide an efficient flexible disc (10, 110) of varying flight and bounce capabilities, which can be smoothly tossed, alone or in plural, and easily caught, alone or in plural.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to flying disc toys, specifically to an improved flexible flying toy, which has greater stability when flown or rebounded, by itself or in plural, and is readily collapsible for easy catches and pocketability.
2. Description of Prior Art
After a quarter of a century of popularity the flying disc has become a permanent fixture in modem recreational sporting. The "Frisbee", manufactured by the Wham-O Manufacturing Company of San Gabriel, Calif. and disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,678 issued to Edward E. Headrick on Dec. 26, 1967, is the most familiar of flying discs. It is made of a relatively rigid plastic material and has a recessed undersurface which curves down into the outer rim. While this disc can achieve relatively long distance flights in a rotating aerodynamically stable manner, and rebounds off the ground for trick maneuvers, the rim of the disc can scrape the skin of the fingers when thrown and jam these fingers when miscaught. Should the disc miss its target entirely and carom off of the ground the receiver of the catch may be sent scrambling in full circles to retrieve the disc. Neither can a plural of the disc be handily gathered for multiple tosses.
While a safer, stackable flying disc, known as the "Flippy Flyer", U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,505 issued to Carl J. Linenfelser on Jan. 16, 1973, may be softer and more flexible these same shock absorbing qualities inhibit the ability of the disc to rebound off of the ground. The "Flippy Flyer" cannot compare with the distance or stabilized control of flight as the "Frisbee". The downward curving rim, which is believed to give the "Frisbee" airfoil capability, is less pronounced in the flexible disc. Perhaps, this is why the flexible disc cannot achieve comparable feats.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,226 issued to Allen R. Stauffer on Sep. 22, 1981 has all the positive aspects of the "Flippy Flyer" and loosely approximates the shape of the "Frisbee" rim, and hence, stable flight characteristics. However, this flexible disc does not rebound or achieve great flight distance, since it is primarily an indoor toy.
While the resilient disc of U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,707 issued to David E. Silverglate on Jul. 31, 1990 does bounce and have reasonable flight abilities, the bounce occurs only when the disc is tossed perpendicular to the planal surface, which drastically limits the disc's continued maneuvering options. The disc bends minimally and cannot be stored in the pocket. Neither are simultaneous multiple tosses practical, because the disc tends toward swift and widely seperate trajectories and does not readily conform to the grasp of the hand. Like the "Frisbee" the resilient disc can run off or in widening circles on the ground when the catch is missed.
The tremendous popularity and wide variety of flying discs created and being created attest to the fact that there is a continuing need for the art and its growth. A diverse, compact and efficient flying disc, which is physically challenging and visually appealing and can be utilized by the widest range of users would certainly find universal acceptance and patronage.

Flexible disc toy for singular and multiple flights and bounces


A control circuit, of a control loop, for a lighting driver. The lighting driver is adapted to controllably connect an electronic ballast to an LED light source or lamp. The control circuit comprises a biasing circuit having an adjustable impedance. A tuning circuit adjusts the impedance of the biasing circuit so as to tune a parameter of a frequency response of the control loop and thereby of the lighting driver.

There has been an increasing trend in the use of retrofit LED lamps or light sources capable of replacing existing lamps, such as fluorescent or halogen lamps, in conventional lighting fixtures. Typically, conventional lighting fixtures comprise an electronic or magnetic ballast for appropriately driving a lamp in order to regulate the current flow therein.
A retrofit LED lamp therefore requires a driver circuit to convert the output of the electronic ballast to a form suitable for driving the LED lamp. Thus, a typical retrofit LED lighting arrangement comprises a lighting driver and an LED lamp or light source. However, there are a wide variety of different types or models of electronic ballasts, which are each associated with outputs of differing frequencies and having different ranges of magnitude. Compatibility of a retrofit LED lighting arrangement, and lighting drivers in particular, with such a wide range of electronic ballasts has been an increasingly recognized problem. Note that the electronic ballast is well known device in the art so as to drive discharge lamps, like tubular lamps, such as fluorescent lamp, or high intensity discharge (HID) lamp.
This compatibility issue is of marked significance when there is a desire to dim a light source or place the light source in a standby working status, as this leads to unpredictable behavior of the electronic ballast. In particular, "flicker" or fluctuations in light output by the LED lamp occur when the LED light arrangement is incompatible with an electronic ballast (e.g. at a particular dimming level).
US20140375227A1 discloses a flyback converter to drive LED group from an AC input, and said flyback converter comprises an error amplifier. U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,376A1 discloses a variable-gain amplifying device to secure a phase margin to prevent oscillation.

Controllable driver and drive method to connect an electronic ballast to an LED light source based on the model, type, or identity of the ballast


A panoramic lens-fitted photographic film package with a flash unit. A charge switch of the flash unit is actuated by depressing or sliding a charge switch plate which is formed in one of a pair of grips disposed on the front wall of the film package. A synchro-flash switch of the flash unit includes first and second contact segments extending parallel to each other toward a between-lens-shutter mechanism. The first contact segment is depressed by an arm portion formed integrally on a connecting lever of the shutter mechanism when the connecting lever is struck by an actuating lever to move a shutter blade to open an exposure opening, upon a shutter release operation being effected. The depressed first contact segment is brought into contact with the second contact segment, thereby outputting a synchro-flash signal. A light projector of the flash unit has a discharge tube, a reflector and a diffusion plate. The reflector is formed by shearing and folding a sheet material, and has splayed side reflection surfaces adapted to increase the horizontal illuminating angle. The diffusion plate is adapted to limit the vertical illuminating angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash unit, and more particularly to an inexpensive compact flash unit for a lens-fitted photographic film package, especially for a panoramic lens-fitted photographic film package.
2. Related Art
Lens-fitted photographic film packages for panoramic photography (hereinafter referred to as panoramic film packages) are known, for example, from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/667,758, which are a single-use throwaway camera pre-loaded with photographic film. Such panoramic film packages make it possible to take panoramic pictures whenever desired without buying or carrying an expensive and heavy camera. A panoramic film package uses a wide angle lens system having a short focal length of about 25 mm as a taking lens, and the exposed area of the film is defined by a horizontally extended frame 12.times.36 mm in size. Upon printing, the 12.times.36 mm picture frame is enlarged at a magnification twice the standard magnification for a standard 24.times.36 mm picture frame of 35 mm film. As a result, a print twice as long as a standard size print is provided.
Because of such a large print magnification, it is required to minimize the blur of the original images. For this reason, a panoramic film package presently marketed by Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. is provided with a pair of grips disposed on both horizontal sides of the taking lens, for surely and stably holding the panoramic film package. The grips also prevent the fingers from entering the wide angle field for panoramic photography which is defined by the angle of view of the taking lens.
The wide angle lens system is composed of two lenses. Because the principal point of the lens system lies between these lenses, an aperture stop member for defining the aperture size (the size of exposure opening) and a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the exposure opening are also disposed between these lenses.
The shutter mechanism includes a V-shaped shutter blade which is pivotal about an axis disposed at one end of the V-shape, whereas the other end of the V-shape opens and closes the exposure opening upon pivoting. The shutter mechanism further includes an actuating lever and a connecting lever. One end of the connecting lever is in the path of the actuating lever, and the other end is engaged with the elbow of the V-shaped shutter blade. When the actuating lever is moved, the movement is transmitted to the shutter blade through the connecting lever, and the shutter blade is caused to pivot in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens, thereby opening and closing the exposure opening. Since the connecting lever partly overlaps the shutter blade, the shutter blade is prevented from oscillating in the optical axis direction.
The Fuji panoramic film package is principally for use in bright outdoor light. Therefore, it is impossible to take properly exposed pictures under low light, such as indoors. However, it is desirable to incorporate a flash unit in the panoramic film package, so as to take pictures under low light, for example for photographing a number of people standing side by side in a gathering.
Because the panoramic film package is a kind of disposable camera, it is necessary to minimize the cost of the flash unit, as well as the cost of the other parts of the panoramic film package. For this reason, it is preferable to use in the panoramic film package a simple flash unit as used in Fuji standard-type film packages for standard photography, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,896,178 and 5,003,330.
However, because the Fuji flash unit needs a charge switch, and a charge switch operation member is disposed on the front wall of the film package, it becomes necessary for incorporating the flash unit in the panoramic film package, to provide a charge switch operation member in addition to the grips on the front wall of the panoramic film package. If the charge switch is formed separately from the grips, the photographer must remove the fingers from one of the grips in order to charge the flash unit. This is inconvenient, and may reduce the stability of holding the film package, and so may cause a blur.
Such a simple flash unit also has a simple synchro-flash switch mechanism, wherein the synchro-flash switch contact is formed as a pair of resilient contact segments extending parallel to each other. A shutter blade disposed behind a single element taking lens pivots about an axis so as to open and close an exposure opening. The first contact segment is disposed in the path of the shutter blade, such that the shutter blade depresses the first contact segment upon fully opening the exposure opening. Thereby, the contact segments are brought into contact with each other, generating a synchro-flash signal.
However, it is difficult to dispose such contact segments in the path of the shutter blade of the panoramic film package. This is because the shutter mechanism of the panoramic film package is composed of a connecting lever and a shutter blade, and because these elements are disposed between two lenses, as described above. In addition to such a complicated construction, the shutter blade of the panoramic film package cannot be projected sufficiently from the lens holding portion. Consequently, it is necessary to change the taking lens system or the shutter mechanism of the panoramic film package from the construction of the Fuji panoramic film package in order to enable depression of the contact segment by the shutter blade. This increases the cost of the panoramic film package.
Moreover, because the simple flash unit is designed for standard-type film packages, of which the focal length is 35 mm and the exposure frame is 24.times.36 mm in size, the illuminating field of the flash unit is adapted to cover a photographic field defined by this focal length and this frame size, that is, a field defined by a horizontal angle of view of about 53.degree., and a vertical angle of view of 38.degree..
However, the horizontal and vertical view angles of the above-described panoramic film package are 75.degree. and 24.degree., respectively. Obviously, the horizontal illuminating angle of the flash unit cannot cover the horizontal view angle of the panoramic film package. Therefore, if such a flash unit were used in the panoramic film package, both side areas of the panoramic photograph taken with flash would be under-exposed. On the other hand, because the vertical illuminating angle of the standard flash unit is too large relative to the vertical view angle of the panoramic film package, the flash unit would illuminate uselessly the area beyond the vertical view angle of the panoramic film package.

Lens-fitted photographic film package and flash unit


A modular promoter construct is described which possesses a promoter which is active in plant cells and a DNA sequence from exon 1 of the rice actin 1 gene. This modular promoter construct gives rise, where appropriate together with additional regulatory DNA sequences, to a substantial increase in gene expression in plant cells.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a modular promoter construct based on exon 1 of the actin 1 gene from rice.
There has always been the need to provide agronomically important cereal plants with improved properties. Previously, hereditary traits or genes were crossed into the plants concerned using classical methods. Since recombinant DNA technology has become established, it is possible to insert defined genes into the genome of cereal plants such as, for example, rice, maize, wheat and barley. In addition to selecting the correct selective marker gene and the agronomically important genes, the choice of the correct promoter is of crucial importance for effectively expressing the desired gene. The promoter which is used most for increasing the expression of chimeric genes in monocotyledonous cereal plants derives from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S RNA gene (Odell et al., Nature 313, pages 810 to 820, 1985). However, as compared with its activity in dicotyledonous plants, this promoter is not very active in monocotyledonous plants (Topfer et al., Meth. Enzymol., "Rec. DNA", in press). Thus, alternative gene expression vectors using strong promoters, such as the promoters of the actin 1 gene from rice (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2, pages 163 to 171, 1990) and the ubiquitin gene from maize (Christensen and Fox, International Society for Plant Molecular Biology Meeting, Program Abstracts, No. 287, 1991).
In analogy with animal systems (Dynan, Cell 58, pages 1 to 4, 1989), it is probably also the case for plant genes as well that the transcription mediated by RNA polymerase II is dependent on modular elements, i.e. elements consisting of different regulatory DNA sequences. It has already been demonstrated that a number of different modular elements play an important role in, for example, tissue-specific transcription (Katagiri and Chua, Trends Gent. 8, pages 22 to 70, 1992).
Thus, DE-OS 41 24 537 discloses a modular promoter construction which can be used to increase the expression of foreign genes in plant cells. In this case, a DNA sequence from exon 1 of the sucrose synthase gene from Zea mays L. is inserted between the promoter and the gene to be expressed. A further, multiplicative increase in gene expression is possible if an additional DNA sequence, corresponding essentially to intron 1 of the sucrose synthase gene from Zea mays L., is coupled to the said DNA sequence.
McElroy et al., loc. cit., have described the isolation of promoter sequences of the rice actin 1 gene lying in the 5' region. It has emerged that there is a positive correlation between the promoter sequences and the subsequent intron sequences. Thus, in investigations of the transformation of rice protoplasts, a promoter construct of these sequences has proved to be an effective regulator of the constitutive expression of a foreign gene.

Maxplanck-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Wissenschaften E.V.


The present invention provides techniques for responding to overlapping conditions in wireless communications networks include receiving data transmissions from a transmitting device across a wireless communications network. These data transmissions correspond to a connection with the transmitting device and occur within a reserved portion of a communications resource. An interference condition is detected that includes an allocation of the communications resource for a neighboring device that overlaps with the reserved portion. Based on this detection, the method sends a notification to the transmitting device, the notification indicating the presence of overlapping transmissions in the reserved portion of the communications resource.

Short-range wireless proximity networks typically involve devices that have a communications range of one hundred meters or less. To provide communications over long distances, these proximity networks often interface with other networks. For example, short-range networks may interface with cellular networks, wireline telecommunications networks, and the Internet.
A high rate physical layer (PHY) standard is currently being selected for IEEE 802.15.3a. The existing IEEE 802.15.3 media access control layer (MAC) is supposed to be used as much as possible with the selected PHY. Currently, there are two remaining PHY candidates. One of these candidates is based on frequency hopping application of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The other candidate is based on M-ary Binary offset Keying. The OFDM proposal is called Multiband OFDM (MBO). Moreover, in order to further develop the OFDM proposal outside of the IEEE, a new alliance has been formed called the MultiBand OFDM Alliance (MBOA).
MBO utilizes OFDM modulation and frequency hopping. MBO frequency hopping may involve the transmission of each of the OFDM symbols at various frequencies according to pre-defined codes, such as Time Frequency Codes (TFCs). Time Frequency Codes can be used to spread interleaved information bits across a larger frequency band.
Presently, there is an interest within the MBOA to create a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer that would be used with the OFDM physical layer instead of the IEEE 802.15.3 MAC layer. A current version of the MBOA MAC involves a group of wireless communications devices (referred to as a beaconing group) that are capable of communicating with each other. The timing of beaconing groups is based on a repeating pattern of "superframes" in which the devices may be allocated communications resources.
MAC layers govern the exchange among devices of transmissions called frames. A MAC frame may have various portions. Examples of such portions include frame headers and frame bodies. A frame body includes a payload containing data associated with higher protocol layers, such as user applications. Examples of such user applications include web browsers, e-mail applications, messaging applications, and the like.
In addition, MAC layers govern the allocation of resources. For instance, each device requires an allocated portion of the available communication bandwidth to transmit frames. The current MBOA MAC proposal provides for the allocation of resources to be performed through communications referred to as beacons. Beacons are transmissions that devices use to convey non-payload information. Each device in a beaconing group is assigned a portion of bandwidth to transmit beacons.
Such transmissions allow the MBOA MAC to operate according to a distributed control approach, in which multiple devices share MAC layer responsibilities. A channel access mechanism, referred to as the Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP) is an example of such shared responsibility. DRP includes basic tools for establishing and terminating a unidirectional connection between two or more devices.
In a distributed network, a device making a reservation for a connection with another device may not be aware of the reservations of the devices around the other device. Therefore, the MBOA MAC provides for an Availability Information Element (AIE), which indicates the usage of communications resources from other device's perspective.
The current MBOA MAC Specification (version 0.62, September 2004) only requires an AIE to be sent in limited circumstances involving establishment of a new connection. Otherwise, it is optional to send the AIE. However, the mobility of devices may cause previously acceptable resource allocations to become ones that cause significant interference.
There has been a proposal for devices to transmit AIEs in every superframe. Although such an approach would reduce interference, it would also cause several problems. Such problems include the overloading of bandwidth allocated for beacon transmissions. This overloading would obstruct the sending of other important beacon transmissions. Accordingly, techniques are needed for the reduction of interference that do not waste communications resources.

Techniques for interference reduction in wireless communications networks


A surface contaminated with toxic materials to be tested or monitored is pled using a probe which is shown here to have a rectangular opening typically of several square inches in cross section. A pliable gasket of suitable heat-resistant material is used to cushion and seal the probe in contact with the surface, but small holes are provided of sufficient size (and positioned close to the surface to be tested) to allow ambient air to be drawn at a desired volumetric flow rate through a sampling tube which also forms the handle of the probe, and is connected through a flexible tube or hose to a suitable detector and vacuum pump. The detector and pump can be combined in a single unit. The detector can be one of several kinds of providing sensitive monitoring of agent vapors or simulant vapors, e.g., a flame photometer or a gas chromatograph (with suitable sampling techniques). Within the probe is mounted a lamp that provides intense heat (e.g., a quartz tube lamp) and is mounted in such a position that it is close to the surface when the probe gasket is in contact with the surface. A polished reflector can be used to focus the radiation uniformly across the surface. In place of the lamp other heating elements could be used, e.g., wound wire elements of Nichrome or other material, or electrically-conductive rods of semiconductors or carbon or other materials.

"Contact Hazard" from chemical agents can be defined in many ways depending upon specific scenarios. But in general, as applied to the hazard to human beings whose skin comes into contact with a surface that has previously been subjected to contamination by liquid agents such as nerve agents and mustard, it is defined as follows.
If a surface, e.g., paint on a substrate, that has previously been exposed to liquid agent, either is wiped so that no visible liquid remains, or is allowed to "weather" (stand undisturbed) until the surface appears to be completely dry, then contact hazard is that of the sorbed agent on and in the surface to humans touching or otherwise coming into direct contact with the surface.
Thus it is important to be able to detect the presence of agent residuals, and hence, hazards to humans, from surfaces in previously contaminated environments. Wiping the surfaces with detector paper will not work because sorbed agents will not be removed. Chemical analysis would require scraping, e.g., of paint samples followed by wet chemical procedures using trained personnel.

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


A footwear impulse-momentum device includes a first momentum actuator, a second momentum actuator, a position sensor, and a processing system, which are dimensioned to fit within a shoe sole. The first momentum actuator is coupled to receive a first control signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to move between a first position and a second position. The second momentum actuator is coupled to receive a second control signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to move between a third position and a fourth position spaced. The position sensor is configured to sense a position of the sole of the shoe and supply a shoe position signal representative thereof. The processing system is configured to receive the shoe position signal and is operable, in response thereto, to selectively generate and supply the first and second control signals to the first and second momentum actuators, respectively.

Running, in both competitive and recreational contexts, continues to gain in popularity. Regardless of a person's skill level, running is basically a series of rotations—leaping off one foot and landing again on the other. In this regard, running can be viewed as a series of falls, aided by gravity and management of angular velocity. Stated another way, when a person runs, they fall forward, and their fall is limited by their legs.
Many competitive and recreational runners seek to improve their running techniques, to thereby improve their running times and efficiencies. Many techniques concentrate on arm movement. This is because it is widely recognized that a runner's arms may act as a counterbalance, and may yield up to a 10 percent improvement with proper technique. Other techniques concentrate on the vertical components associated with running. However, as just noted, running is highly rotational based. Yet, very few, if any running improvement techniques or devices concentrate on angular energy management of the feet.
Hence, there is a need for a device that provides improvement in running capabilities that concentrates on angular energy foot management. The present invention addresses at least this need.


Video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 are coupled with frame memory 10 through buffer and frame memory controlling portion 9 and controlling processor 1 through host interface portion 2. Frame memory 10 is accessed by video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 in time sharing manner. Controlling of video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 is centralized in controlling processor 1. Portions in dotted frame 20 are integrated in one LSI chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture coding apparatus and more specifically, to a picture coding apparatus comprising a dedicated LSI for picture coding.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional picture coding apparatus comprises plural specialized LSIs for picture coding. A CPU is mounted on each of the LSIs and a frame memory is coupled with each of the LSIs.
For example, a picture coding comprising three kinds of specialized LSIs for picture coding is described in 17.1.1 "A Chip Set Architecture for Programmable Real-Time MPEG Video Encoder" (on pages 393-396) of preliminary paper of IEEE COSTOM INTEGRATED CIRCUITS CONFERENCE hold in May 1995. FIG. 2 of the title shows that three memory chips are necessary for the encoder. FIG. 4 and 6 of the title show that two of the three LSIs have controlling processors. Moreover, In 17.1.2 "A Single Chip, 5 GOPS, Macroblock-Level Pixel Processor for MPEG" Real-Time Encoding" (on pages 397-400) of the preliminary paper, the details of one of the three LSIs, a pixel processor, is described. FIG. 7 of the title shows that RISC unit occupies about 20 percent of the chip area.
For another example, a CODEC which comprises two kinds of specialized LSIs for picture coding are described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in "MPEG2 VIDEO CODEC USING IMAGE COMPRESSION DSP" on pages 466-472 of IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. 40, No. 3 published in August 1994. It is apparent that two LSIs has their own memory chips.
Another example of the similar system is described on pages 2-7 of an issue the February 1996 of "Denshi Gijutsu (Electronics Technology)" published by Nikkan Kogyo newspaper office in Japan. FIG. 7 on page 6 shows that each of two kinds of LSIs necessitates its own memory. It is described that one chip (VDSP) of the two kinds of LSI adapts a programmable architecture.
For further example, on page 98 of proceedings of lecture of Hot Chips VII, a video encoder comprising two kinds of specialized LSIs for picture coding is described. FIG. 4.1-08 shows that the encoder comprises two kinds of chips for picture coding: ENC-M and ENC-C. FIG. 4.1-12 shows that controlling processor occupies one-fourth area of ENC-C chip.
ENC-M chip is described in "A Real-time Motion Estimation and Compensation LSI with Wide-Search Range for MPEG2 Video Encoding" on pages 242-243 and 453 of a digest of technical papers of IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. FIG. 6 on page 453 of the title shows that controlling processor (RISC) occupies one-fourth area of the LSI.
For still further example, a similar picture coding apparatus is described in C-562, on page 178, of a preliminary papers of meeting of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers hold in March 1996 in Japan. The figures on the page shows that two kinds of memory chips are required in the apparatus.
For more further example, a picture coding apparatus comprising three kinds of specialized LSIs is described on page 105 of proceedings of Hot Chips VII. FIG. 4.2-06 of the title shows the structure. Although the internal structure is not described apparently, it is specified that the system requires three kinds of memory chips as well as the number of LSI chips.
One problem of the aforementioned picture coding apparatuses is that plural kinds of specialized LSIs are required, the size of the LSIs are large, and the cost for manufacturing the apparatus using them becomes high eventually. The increase of the area by 20 to 30 percent when using a CPU in a specialized LSI for picture coding results in the increase of cost. The necessity of a CPU in a picture coding LSI is caused by including programmable portion for controlling itself. Although the programmable portion is not required if the picture coding LSI is designed based on beforehand and sufficient consideration on the specification, too much programmable portion accompanying increase of chip area is introduced to make the chip more flexible than required for tuning up the picture coding apparatus.
Second problem of the aforementioned picture coding apparatus is that the number of components increases and eventually the cost and power consumption of the apparatus increase. In addition to plural picture coding LSI chips, plural memory chips belonging to each of LSI chips are required. This is caused because it is impossible to integrate every picture coding functions containing too much programmable portions in one chip using LSI process nowadays.


An automatic locking landing net yoke includes a channeled ramp feature such that, when the handle is drawn through the yoke and the yoke slides over a spring button, the ramp forces or cams the button downwardly and into the handle. Toward the lowermost portion of the ramp is a hole such that, as the hole in the yoke slides over the spring button, the force of the button extends it upwardly through the hole. The spring button is never pushed completely into the handle because the backside of the yoke hole prevents the yoke from being extended to the point that the yoke slides off the handle. The yoke is also configured such that the yoke allows use with hoop and handle shapes of various configurations and is molded of a material that does not create any oxidation or corrosion between the handle and yoke, thus providing smooth operation between the two elements.

Although once a means for human survival, fishing in the modern age has evolved into more of a competitive and recreational sport. To increase their chances for a successful outing, modern anglers prefer to utilize equipment and devices that they know will work and that they can rely on. Though not completely fool-proof, many fishing accessories have improved simply because technology and manufacturing methods have improved as well. This makes fishing equipment more reliable and affordable. In the view of this inventor, however, there is always room for improvement of equipment and the traditional landing net is one such piece of equipment that anglers and others have sought to improve over the years. The landing net is one piece of equipment that anglers have used for many years to help reduce the load that is otherwise placed on the angler's lure and on the line that is connected to it when pulling a fish into a boat or onto shore, thereby also reducing the risk of losing the hooked fish.
Landing nets of recent design tend to include three elements: a hoop which supports the net, an extensible handle, and a yoke. The function of the landing net yoke is to provide an attachment means between the hoop and the handle such that the landing net can be readily changed from a stored or collapsed position to an active or extended position by telescoping the handle and locking it into a fixed position relative to the hoop and net. The traditional yoke has been around for over twenty years. The first ones were tube steel or aluminum that was welded together. They progressed to stampings that were fastened together and then to the extruded aluminum that is popular today. Some yokes that require less strength have been injection molded out of polypropylene. Regardless of the design, the traditional operation for all yoked landing nets is the same. The yoke and hoop assembly is slid along the handle to the end position. A spring button within the handle is manually depressed so that the yoke can slide over it. The yoke is then positioned so that the spring button can extend into a hole within the yoke. The yoke is now in a fixed position.
There are, however, disadvantages to the old and currently available yoked landing net assemblies. For example, to move the yoke from its fixed position, the spring button must be manually depressed to allow the yoke to engage it. This takes extra time in a situation that is required to be done as quickly as possible. If the spring button does not line up with the hole in the yoke, the yoke can be over-extended from the handle, thereby disconnecting it from the handle. Another disadvantage is that different yokes are required for each handle and hoop combination. This makes yokes of current design unusable with multiple shapes of handles and hoops. Another disadvantage is that, if the yoke is made of a metallic material, the yoke is susceptible to corrosion or oxidation between the yoke and the handle, which is also typically made of a metallic material.
Accordingly, what is needed is a landing net assembly whereby the handle can be slid into a fixed position without manually activating the spring button, thus making the net easier and quicker to use. What is also needed is an automatic locking yoke designed for use as a part of such a landing net assembly whereby the yoke does not allow the spring button to miss the hole, thus making the net more reliable in use. What is also needed is an automatic locking yoke that is designed for use as a part of such a landing net assembly whereby the yoke geometry allows multiple shapes of hoops and handles to be used, thus making the yoke design much more valuable due to manufacturability. What is also needed is an automatic locking yoke of such design that is manufactured of a material that does not allow corrosion or oxidation between the yoke and the handle.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful automatic landing net yoke whereby the handle can be slid into a fixed position without manually activating the spring button, thus making the net easier and quicker to use. It is another object to provide such an automatic landing net yoke whereby the yoke does not allow the spring button to miss the hole, thus making the net more reliable in its use. It is yet another object to provide such a yoke whereby the yoke geometry allows multiple shapes of hoops and handles to be used, thus making the yoke design much more valuable due to manufacturability. It is still another object to provide such a yoke whereby the yoke of such design is manufactured of a material that does not allow corrosion or oxidation between the yoke and the handle. Additional objects of the present invention are to provide such a yoke that is lightweight, strong, and no more expensive to produce than currently available parts are, thus making the yoke useful and affordable.


A comfort noise generator (104) suitable for use in a communication system includes a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (136), a random number generator (140), and a coefficient updater (138). The coefficient updater (138) determines an updated set of filter coefficients (142) based on the signal frame of the input signal (102). The updated set of filter coefficients (142) is output to the FIR filter (136). The FIR filter (136) shapes a white noise signal (146) supplied by the random number generator (140) to provide a simulated background noise signal, or comfort noise signal (122). The comfort noise signal (122) is selectively output from an echo suppression system or corresponding method to overwrite or suppress reflected residual echoes.

An echo control system in a hands-free communication device attenuates a signal path between the microphone and the speaker to reduce the echoes experienced by a far-end user. However, due to inherent nonlinearities, acoustic echo cancellers used in such systems only provide between 25 dB and 30 dB of attenuation in the signal path. This attenuation may be insufficient and may allow residual echoes to be reflected back to the far-end when only a far-end user is actively producing audio signals. Therefore, the introduction of additional attenuation into the signal path during far-end only activity is necessary.
In addition to attenuation, many systems will insert simulated background or comfort noise using parameters generated from speech compression algorithms. The near-end hands-free communication device extracts parameters from current background noise and transmits these parameters to the far-end hands-free communication device across a narrow-band channel. The far-end hands-free communication device then reconstructs the noise from the parameters as it receives them. However, speech compression algorithms require additional and relatively complex processing and therefore increase overall system costs for the creation of bandwidth-efficient parameters.
Background noise can alternatively be simulated using an echo suppressor that locally generates what is known as comfort noise that closely approximates the background noise. The comfort noise is output simultaneously with the audio signal transmitted over the hands-free communications device to replace the background audio signal. This eliminates the need for bandwidth efficiency as the parameters are locally generated and used. However, one problem with such an echo suppressor is that parameters must be extracted from the current frame of background noise that also contains the echo. Another problem with such an echo suppressor is that it is necessary to span arbitrarily long periods of time without updating the parameters. This can cause undesirable clicking noises if done improperly.
An echo suppressor that uses an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter for comfort noise generation is known. Such an echo suppressor, which uses linear predictive coding (LPC) and synthesis codebooks, eliminates the problem of extracting parameters from a frame of background noise containing the echo. However, this type of echo suppressor requires complex LPC and therefore has large memory and computational requirements.
Therefore, what is needed is an echo suppressor for use in a hands-free communications device that provides high quality echo cancellation while maintaining low memory and computational requirements.


Fuel cell systems and methods are described. A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell receives hydrogen from a fuel processor configured to process a fuel source to produce the hydrogen, includes transporting a heating medium from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when electrical energy output by the fuel cell includes less than an electrical threshold or when temperature of a component in the fuel cell is less than a temperature threshold, heating a portion of the fuel cell, transporting hydrogen from the fuel processor to the fuel cell, detecting temperature of the component or electrical output of the fuel cell, and generating electrical energy in the fuel cell when the temperature of the component is about equal to or greater than the threshold temperature or when electrical energy output by the fuel cell is about equal to or greater than an electrical threshold.

The present invention relates to fuel cell technology. In particular, the invention relates to systems for improving fuel cell system efficiency.
A fuel cell electrochemically combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy. The ambient air readily supplies oxygen. Hydrogen provision, however, calls for a working supply. Gaseous hydrogen has a low energy density that reduces its practicality as a portable fuel. Liquid hydrogen, which has a suitable energy density, must be stored at extremely low temperatures and high pressures, making storing and transporting liquid hydrogen burdensome.
A reformed hydrogen supply processes a fuel source to produce hydrogen. The fuel source acts as a hydrogen carrier. Currently available hydrocarbon fuel sources include methanol, ethanol, gasoline, propane and natural gas. Liquid hydrocarbon fuel sources offer high energy densities and the ability to be readily stored and transported. A fuel processor reforms the hydrocarbon fuel source to produce hydrogen.
Fuel cell evolution so far has concentrated on large-scale applications such as industrial size generators for electrical power back-up. Consumer electronics devices and other portable electrical power applications currently rely on lithium ion and similar battery technologies. Fuel cell systems that generate electrical energy for portable applications such as electronics would be desirable but are not yet commercially available. In addition, techniques that increase fuel cell system efficiency would be beneficial.

Efficient micro fuel cell systems and methods


A frequency selective leveling loop that performs phase and amplitude control of multiple signals within a phased array structure is disclosed. The leveling loop sensor components are embedded into the array structure. The frequency selective leveling loop can be used with multiple signal amplifiers, and a conventional phase array jamming system can be used to radiate multiple signals simultaneously. The conversion of phase information to baseband eliminates the need for phase matched cables. The frequency selective leveling that is enabled is tolerant of multiple signals and provides the individual signal phase and amplitude feedback by utilizing analytic sampling.

A phased array is a group of antenna elements in which the relative phases of respective signals feeding the antenna elements are varied to coordinate radiation patterns of the array so that the radio wave signals are reinforced in certain directions and suppressed in others. The relative amplitudes of the signals, as well as the constructive and destructive interference effects among the signals radiated by the individual antenna elements, determine the effective radiation pattern of the array.
A phased array may be used to point a fixed radiation pattern, or to scan rapidly in azimuth or elevation. Transmitters utilizing phased array techniques have been implemented successfully for many years. Common applications for phase arrays include, for example, narrow band military radar systems.
More recently, the capability of phased array techniques has gradually extended to include wide band, multi-signal, multi-polarization military jammers. However, the feed network and support electronics for this type of jammer is complex and contains a large number of individual hardware elements including multiple amplitude adjust modules, time delay modules, phase shift modules, and signal couplers. This is because conventional phased array architectures separate signal generation, beam forming and signal polarization functions.
Most recently, an additional requirement of phased arrays includes the ability to independently steer individual beams for each signal. Adding this capability further increases the system complexity by nearly the number of signal beams. In particular, a phase-locked multi-signal exciter must be coupled to each antenna array element. As such, the system implementation with conventional phased array architectures approaches a practical limit that precludes extending the architecture to more than a hand full of radio wave signals.
Consider, for example, the multiple amplitude adjust modules that are required in a phased array. Conventional multi-signal RF output amplitude control is implemented using "open loop" techniques that require complex factory calibration tables to compensate for known amplitude and phase distortion in the RF power amplifiers associated with each antenna element. Without phase control feedback, the beam steering phase shifters must be complex true time delay (TTD) in order to achieve a wide RF bandwidth. Such an "open loop" approach results in imperfect antenna beam steering, and may also require frequent re-calibration due to system hardware maintenance repair or other changes to the factory-calibrated system.
In addition, conventional RF leveling loops cannot be effectively extended to multi-signal systems. Instead, RF leveling loops provide minimal effectiveness and are used more to protect amplifiers from damage than to optimize RF performance and efficiency. For instance, if there is more than one signal present or a strong interfering signal, a conventional RF leveling loop can level on the wrong signal. This can result in unnecessary power reduction and loss in efficiency. In short, conventional phased array beam forming techniques and RF leveling loop architectures are relatively large, require a substantial number of components, require complex factory calibration, and provide limited RF performance and efficiency.
What is needed, therefore, are phase array techniques and leveling loop architectures that provide enhanced RF performance and efficiency relative to conventional techniques and architectures.

Frequency selective leveling loop for multi-signal phased array transmitters

Sensor and Antenna Systems, Lansdale, Inc.


An ultrasonic imaging system and method acquire fundamental mode and harmonic mode ultrasonic image signals from a subject with a transducer. These image signals are then combined to form a composite image. This composite image includes a nearfield image region modulated primarily as a function of the fundamental mode ultrasonic image signals, and a middlefield or farfield image region modulated primarily as a function of the harmonic mode image signals. In this way, excellent images can be obtained throughout the imaged range.

This invention relates to ultrasonic imaging systems and methods, and particularly to ultrasonic imaging systems and methods that utilize both harmonic and fundamental imaging modes.
Ultrasonic imaging systems that combine ultrasonic images from multiple transmit beams to form a single improved image are described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,568,813; 5,111,824; 5,462,057; and 5,579,770. The methods described in these patents however do not address the issue of providing high image quality in harmonic images of technically difficult examinations.
Hossack et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/638,918, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a method and system that combine nearfield harmonic imaging and farfield fundamental imaging to create a single improved image. This application also discloses a system and method that combine a nearfield image which is an amplitude matched combination of fundamental and harmonic signals with a farfield fundamental image to form a single improved image.
In spite of the improvements provided in the above identified Hossack application, a need presently exists for an ultrasonic imaging system and method that provide improved nearfield imaging, particularly for use in harmonic imaging systems used to image tissue without added nonlinear contrast agent. In such cases, particularly in technically difficult examinations, the nearfield and farfield performance may be less than optimum because of small nonlinear propagation distances in the nearfield and decreases in the signal to noise ratio in the farfield.

Ultrasonic imaging system and method for displaying composite fundamental and harmonic images


A drive line apparatus has a pair of tubular shafts configured to fit telescopically. The outer shaft has internal splines and the inner shaft has outer splines so that the shafts rotate in unison. Each of the outer and inner shaft has one partially closed end for coupling to a universal joint, wherein the joint connected to the partially closed end of the inner shaft is disposed within the inner shaft for further reducing the length of the drive line apparatus.

The drive line shaft connects the transmission output to the differential at the rear wheel on rear drive vehicles. The rotary motion of the transmission output shaft is carried to the differential and from there to the wheel. The drive line shaft must change in length and angle as the wheels move up and down. To allow for these two variations, two or more universal joints and a slip joint are required. The universal joint accommodates a change in the drive angle. The slip joint accommodates a change in the length of the drive line.
In the conventional drive line shaft, the slip joint has outside splines on one shaft and matching internal splines on a mating hollow shaft. The splines cause the two shafts to rotate together and to permit the two to move endwise in relation to each other. This allows changes in the length of the propeller shaft as the rear axles move toward or away from the vehicle frame.
Some vehicles, such as busses, have the engine mounted at the rear. Due to the limited space available, short shafts and universal joints carry the engine power to the rear wheels. It would be desirable to provide the shortest transmission shaft possible without sacrificing the strength of the shaft to support bearing stresses.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Techniques for generating 3-D holographic images of a 3-D real or synthetic object scene are presented. A holographic generator component (HGC) can obtain a real or synthetic 3-D object scene. The HGC generates a high-resolution grating, and generates a low-resolution mask based on the 3-D object scene. The HGC overlays the mask on the grating to generate the hologram, which can be a digital mask programmable hologram. The HGC can use the grating as an encryption key, if desired, wherein the mask can be encrypted based on the encryption key. The display component receives the hologram and can generate holographic images, based on the hologram, and display the holographic images using one or more low-resolution displays. The grating and display can be arranged in various formations in relation to each other. A single display can be partitioned into a tile structure for displaying holographic images in the respective tiles.

With the advancement of computers, digital holography has become an area of interest and has gained some popularity. Conventionally, a Fresnel hologram of a three-dimensional scene can be generated numerically by computing the fringe patterns emerged from each object point to the hologram plane. Research findings derived from digital holography technology have demonstrated the possibility for generating holograms (e.g., medium-sized holograms) for representing three-dimensional (3-D) scenes that can contain a relatively large number of object points. Some techniques have been able to generate and process digital holograms at video rates with the use of the wavefront recording plane.
While these results are encouraging, they are shrouded by the lack of high-resolution real-time spatial light modulators (SLMs) (e.g., SLMs of 5 microns or less) for displaying the digital holograms. Although higher resolution holographic displays can be implemented with the integration of an active tiling method and optically addressed SLMs (OASLMs), the cost of such systems can be expensive, and implementation of such systems also can be complex.
The above-described description is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of generating and displaying digital holograms, and is not intended to be exhaustive.


Systems and processes for interactive wagering are provided. A cellular telephone or handheld computing device may be used to access an interactive wagering service. Television equipment and computer equipment may be used to access the service. A user may view information on wagers such as current odds and other racing data for horses or other runners on the cellular telephone or other device. The user may create a corresponding off-track wager with the cellular telephone or other device that may be sent to a transaction processing and subscription management system. The transaction processing and subscription management system may handle the wager transaction and adjust the user's account balance.

This invention relates to interactive wagering, and more particularly, to interactive wagering using cellular telephones and handheld computing devices.
Wagering is a popular leisure activity. For example, many racing fans wager on events such as horse, dog, and harness racing. However, it may be inconvenient to attend racing events in person. Not all racing fans have sufficient time to visit racetracks as often as they would like and some fans have difficulties in obtaining suitable transportation to the track. Off-track betting establishments are available for fans who cannot attend racing events in person, but fans must still travel to the off-track betting establishments.
As a result, systems have been developed in which fans may place off-track wagers using personal computers connected to the Internet, standard telephones, or set-top boxes. These systems are generally satisfactory, but are sometimes not as portable or as easily accessible as desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interactive wagering system that allows users to place wagers or view race results or the like using cellular telephones or handheld computing devices.

Cellular telephone interactive wagering system


A probe head for a coordinate measuring machine has a coupling part having a retaining pin, on which a probe tool is detachably arranged. The probe tool has at least one stylus for touching a measurement object, and a rotary plate. The rotary plate is coupled to the coupling part by means of the retaining pin in one of a plurality of defined rotation angle positions. Moreover, the rotary plate has a latching mechanism including at least one adjustable latching element and a detector. The latching element has a latching position in which it fastens the rotary plate on the retaining pin, and it has a release position in which it releases the retaining pin. The detector generates a signal which is representative of at least one from the latching position and the release position.

The present invention relates to a probe head for a coordinate measuring machine for determining spatial coordinates on a measurement object, and to a probe tool for such a probe head.
Coordinate measuring machines are typically used for determining geometrical dimensions and/or the shape of workpieces. In general, the coordinate measuring machine has a measurement head which can be moved relative to the workpiece (hereafter measurement object). Depending on the position of the measurement head relative to the workpiece, spatial coordinates are determined which represent the position of defined measurement points on the workpiece within a measurement volume. If a plurality of spatial coordinates are determined for a plurality of measurement points, the geometrical dimensions and/or the shape of the measurement object can be checked with the aid of the spatial coordinates.
In many cases, the probe head of a coordinate measuring machine has a probe tool with which the desired measurement points on the measurement object are touched (physical contact). Accordingly, the probe head may be referred to as a touch probe head.
The probe tool often has a stylus with a free end, on which a touch ball is arranged. The desired measurement points on the measurement object are touched with the touch ball. In order to reach all measurement points in the case of complex workpieces, it is often desirable to hold the stylus in different orientations relative to the probe head. Furthermore, it is often desirable to use probe tools with different styli or styli combinations on a probe head, in order to optimally reach all desired measurement points.
DE 101 14 126 A1 discloses a probe head having a replaceable probe tool. The probe tool has a stylus which is angled in an L-shape and can be fastened on the probe head in different rotation angle positions. A rotary plate of the probe tool is arranged in a defined rotation angle position on the probe head by means of a kinematic three-point bearing. In order to change the rotation angle position, the rotary plate is disengaged from the three-point bearing by means of a pneumatically actuated push-rod and subsequently rotated on the push-rod by means of a rotary drive arranged in the probe head. The rotary plate is then re-engaged into the defined three-point bearing. The rotation angle position of the rotary plate and of the stylus arranged thereon is determined by a sensor, which at the same time also delivers signals for the rotary drive. In order to prevent the rotary plate from falling when the stylus is being rotated, the rotary plate is fastened on the push-rod by a hook-shaped connection. Further safeguarding of the rotary plate against falling during the rotation process is not disclosed.
The known probe head makes it possible to use different probe tools with different orientations. It is therefore suitable for flexible measurements on complex measurement objects. Disadvantages are the rotary drive integrated in the probe head and the pneumatically actuated push-rod, which are required in addition to the probe head sensors with which displacements of the stylus relative to the probe head are determined. Depending on the frequency of use, the rotary drive generates heat which can have an unfavorable effect on the measurement accuracy of the probe head. Furthermore, integration of the additional components into the probe head leads to heavier weight.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/198,845, published as US 2012/0079731 A1, the assignee has described a probe head for a coordinate measuring machine, in which the probe tool can be rotated using measurement force generators and a so-called roll motion projection. Measurement force generators are actually used in so-called active probe heads to adjust and ensure a defined sampling force when a measurement point is being touched. They are present in active probe heads, and according to the concept described in US 2012/0079731 A1, they are also used for rotating the probe tool. Accordingly, this probe head avoids the disadvantages of the probe head of DE 101 14 126 A1.
In the case of the probe head of US 2012/0079731 A1, the rotary plate of the probe tool is fastened on a retaining pin, by means of which the rotary plate can be disengaged from its kinematic bearing for the rotational movement. In test operation, it has been found that the fastening of the rotary plate on the retaining pin is a critical point. If the retaining pin and/or the rotary plate are contaminated, for example, it is possible that the fastening of the rotary plate on the retaining pin will be insufficient and the probe tool can loosen and fall during rotation on the roll motion projection. This may cause damage to the probe tool and/or the measurement object.
DE 10 2005 043 454 B3 discloses a change device for replaceable reception of a probe tool on a coordinate measuring machine, a safety cable ensuring that the probe tool does not fall out of the holder even in the event of collision, even though the probe tool can detach from the holder in the event of a collision in order to avoid damage. A similar safety mechanism is also described in the aforementioned prior application US 2012/0079731 A1. This safety mechanism, however, does not offer protection against the probe tool falling out when the fastening of the probe tool on the retaining pin is already insufficient.
EP 0 523 906 A1 discloses a further probe head having a rotatable probe tool. The probe tool is in this case retained magnetically on the probe head. A retaining magnet for holding the probe tool is connected to a shaft which can be rotated by means of a motor specially provided therefor. In order to rotate the probe head, the retaining magnet is moved forward together with the shaft, so that the probe tool is disengaged from its working position. With the aid of the motor, the probe tool is then rotated. Subsequently, the shaft is pulled back into its original position, the retaining magnet being released from the probe tool. Here again, no particular security is provided against the probe tool falling during rotation.

Probe head for a coordinate measuring machine for determining spatial coordinates on a measurement object

CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH


Provided a transfer member for electrophotography of a multilayer structure including a surface layer having a surface for carrying toner is provided.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer member for electrophotography having a low-adhesion surface layer which is used in an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine and a printer.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an intermediate transfer system has been used in a color electrophotographic apparatus. In the intermediate transfer system, developed images in four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black are once successively transferred (primary transfer) from a photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member, and then color images formed on the intermediate transfer member are collectively transferred (secondary transfer) to a transfer material such as paper. As the intermediate transfer member used here, for example, a semi-conductive belt containing carbon black dispersed in a polyimide resin is known.
However, in the image forming apparatus in which high image quality and high durability are required, such a semi-conductive belt itself may not be sufficient. High image quality as described here refers to the fact that a toner image is secondarily transferred at a high transfer rate from a belt to a transfer material (for example, paper). When the transfer rate is low, an omission may occur in the toner image transferred to the transfer material; density unevenness may occur in the image outputted in this state; and color unevenness may occur in the transfer of four-color images. Further, high durability refers to the state where a high transfer rate is maintained in the secondary transfer process, and density unevenness and color unevenness hardly occurs even in repeated image output.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-138594 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-078801 each disclose, in order to achieve high image quality, an effective technique of imparting excellent secondary transferability by coating the surface of a transfer member with a low-adhesion material such as a fluororesin and a silicone resin to improve toner release properties.
Specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-138594 discloses a technique of reducing adhesion of remaining toner or the like by incorporating a linear perfluoropolyether rubber into a surface layer.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-078801 discloses a technique of forming a hard-coat layer by coating the surface of a transfer member with a graft type copolymer resin having a polymerizable fluororesin as a main chain and polysiloxane as a side chain and curing the coating film by a curing unit such as ultraviolet irradiation. In this technique, the polysiloxane side chain chemically bonded to the main chain provides excellent physical resistance such as damage resistance and wear resistance, and good secondary transferability derived from the main chain is imparted to the transfer member.
One aspect of the present invention is directed to providing a transfer member for electrophotography which has excellent secondary transferability to prevent occurrence of density unevenness and color unevenness in a printed image and has resistance to physical degradation in the transfer process of an electrophotographic system.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to providing an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which can stably form a high quality electrophotographic image.

Transfer member for electrophotography and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Abstract: The surface layer contains a graft type copolymer comprising a polymer having a structure represented by formula (1) as a main chain, and a group containing a structure represented by formula (2) and a group containing a structure represented by formula (3) each bonded to the main chain as a side chain. The surface of the surface layer has a matrix phase formed by a group containing a structure represented by formula (2) and a domain phase formed by a group containing a structure represented by formula (3):


A system for load balancing, the system includes a LAC, a contact LNS, and a plurality of load balancing LNSs. The LAC includes a contact LNS address, the contact LNS address specifies the address of a contact LNS. The contact LNS is communicatively coupled to the LAC and the plurality of load balancing LNSs are communicatively coupled to the contact LNS and to the LAC. The LAC sends a message to the contact LNS, the message informing the LAC of its availability and the contact LNS sends a response message containing IP address of a selected one of the plurality of load balancing LNSs to which the LAC should establish a session.

Computer networks have become widely used in society today. Different types of devices may be coupled to these networks. Protocols have been developed to facilitate communications between the devices across these networks. For example, the point-to-point protocol (PPP) may be used.
In PPP connections, a point-to-point link may be established. In order to establish communications over a point-to-point link, each end of the link may first send packets that help configure the link. After the link has been established, the link can be authenticated before the transmission of packets. The PPP provides a standard method of encapsulating Network Layer protocol information over point-to-point links. PPP may be used to encapsulate data over data link connections; establish, configure, and test the data link connection; and establish and configure different network-layer protocols.
PPP may be tunneled using the L2TP protocol. The L2TP protocol is a protocol established by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). User devices may be coupled to a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC). The LAC is coupled to a network, for example, the Internet. The LAC may be coupled to other networks, as well. The network is coupled to a L2TP Network Server (LNS). The LNS may be coupled to other types of networks or devices, as well.
In a tunneling, a payload of data may be transferred from a node in the first network using the connections of a second network. The data payloads may be frames or packets conforming to any protocol. Instead of sending a frame as it is produced by the node in the first network, the frame may be encapsulated in an additional header. The additional header may provide routing information so that the encapsulated payload can traverse the second network.
The encapsulated packets may then be routed between tunnel endpoints over the second network via the tunnel. Once the encapsulated frames reach their destination endpoint, the frame may be unencapsulated and forwarded to its final destination.
A tunnel comprises a communication path between a LNS-LAC pair and may, for example, carry PPP datagrams between the LAC and the LNS. In addition, multiple sessions may be multiplexed over a single tunnel. A control connection operating in-band over the same tunnel controls the establishment, release, and maintenance of sessions and of the tunnel itself.
Control messages, for example, in a L2TP packet format, may be sent over a tunnel between a LNS and a LAC. To maximize extensibility while still permitting interoperability, a uniform method for encoding message types and bodies may be used. This encoding may be, for example, in the Attribute-Value Pair (AVP) format. The AVP may include a type field, a length field, and a value field. Other examples of messages and field values are possible. Other types of formats are possible.
Control messages may be used to establish and clear user sessions. For example, control messages are used to maintain the control connection itself. The control connection is initiated by an LAC or LNS after establishing the underlying tunnel-over-media connection.
Control messages may be sent as packets on the established tunnel connection between a given LNS-LAC pair. All data is sent in network order (high order octets first). Each control message may have a header, for example, including an AVP indicating the type of control message, followed by one or more AVPs appropriate for the given type of control message. The control messages may have other fields and use other formats, as well.
Various types of control messages are sent between the LAC and the LNS. For instance, the Start-Control-Connection-Request (SCCRQ) is an L2TP control message used to initialize the tunnel between an LNS and an LAC. The tunnel must be initialized through the exchange of these control messages before any other L2TP messages can be issued. The establishment of the control connection is started by the initiator of the underlying tunnel.
Another example of a control message sent between the LNS and the LAC is the Start-Control-Connection-Reply (SCCRP). The SCCRP message is an L2TP control message sent in reply to a received Start-Control-Connection-Request message. Sending this message indicates that the request was successful.

Load balancing between LNSs using virtual LNS with minimal LAC configuration


Vehicle automatic transmission control system in which based on the determined operating parameters of the vehicle including degree of throttle opening, vehicle speed or the like, a plurality of sets of membership functions of the parameters are established in accordance with a plurality of sets of predetermined fuzzy production rules. Fuzzy reasoning is carried out on the sets of the rules to determine a target gear ratio to shift to. The plural sets of the rules are predetermined hierarchically. One category of rules is directed toward the entire area of shift control, whereas another category of rules is directed toward a specific shift control area such as hill climbing. Further an additional category of rules is provided to presume the driver's intentional condition such as an intention to decelerate. Based on the last category of rules, fuzzy reasoning is carried out to determine the intentional condition. The condition thus obtained is added to the first-mentioned parameters and the second fuzzy reasoning is carried out to determine the target gear ratio on the basis of the first and second category of rules.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle automatic transmission control system, and more particularly to a vehicle automatic transmission control system which applies fuzzy logic in such a way as to allow a multi-step or continuously variable transmission to respond and to be controlled in a manner resembling response and control based on the judgments and operations of an expert driver in the case of a conventional manually controlled vehicle transmission and which thus provides response and control that is well matched to human feelings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional automatic transmission the time for changing gears is determined on the basis of the vehicle speed and the degree of throttle opening. More often than not the control system for carrying out this control employs a microcomputer. While control by microcomputer is superior to that by human operation in terms of speed and the volume of information that can be handled, it is often inferior to that of an expert driver in terms of quality, and for this reason has not been fully satisfactory. This is because when driving a vehicle with a manual transmission the driver does not decide to shift gears based solely on the vehicle speed and the degree of throttle opening but also takes into consideration a wide range of surrounding circumstances including the inclination of the road surface and the like. The driver then makes his decision as to whether or not to shift gears on the basis of various rules he has learned through his driving experience. For example, when driving up hill the driver decides when to shift gears taking into consideration the amount of reserve engine power available, and the more experienced he is, the more capable he will be of selecting the best gear to shift to. In the conventional automatic transmission, on the other hand, since the control or a response is based solely on the vehicle speed and the degree of throttle opening, gear changing tends to be carried out unnecessarily and repeatedly during hill-climbing, which degrades the riding comfort. Moreover, as the driving conditions change, such as when entering an uphill or downhill driving situation, the conventional automatic transmission control does no give sufficient attention to quality factors such as riding comfort, safety and fuel efficiency, which are considered important in evaluating driving performance. This has become an increasingly important problem in recent years since people no longer consider vehicles to be mere means of transportation for getting them from one place to another but want a vehicle that provides operability and performance characteristics matched to human sensibilities. There is thus a strong desire for the qualitative improvements that conventional control systems are unable to provide, and on which conventional automatic transmission control systems have been less than satisfactory.
When observing the human decision making process, it is found that a parson first acquires a general grasp of a situation, then makes a decision and acts. This process, which involves recognition, judgment, decision and action, enables the person to act or respond in a highly suitable manner notwithstanding that his or her grasp of the situation is general and imprecise.
Over the past few years, fuzzy control has come into the spotlight as a control method capable of simulating the imprecise behavior pattern of human beings. One application of such control is seen, for example, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 63(1968)-246546 which was filed in the United States and is now matured to Patent under the number of U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,815, relating to an automatic transmission control system using fuzzy control.
Fuzzy reasoning falls into two categories including one based on fuzzy production rules and one based on fuzzy relationships. The control system disclosed in the above-mentioned publication uses reasoning by fuzzy relationships for deciding an appropriate gear ratio.
Reasoning by fuzzy relationships deals with a model expressed as complex relationships involving various fuzzy relationships connected in series and parallel. This form of reasoning is suitable for troubleshooting and other types of backward reasoning but is not appropriate for foreword reasoning which requires control values to be determined through the analysis of current phenomena. In contrast, fuzzy reasoning by rules uses a model expressed on the control side in terms of "If . . . , then . . . ," permitting the aforesaid human behavior pattern to be easily expressed and the creation of a knowledge base to be facilitated. As this mode of reasoning also makes it possible to formulate rules in the manner of a dialogue, it enables the control know-how acquired through the experience of an expert driver to be incorporated with increased accuracy so that control and response matched to human feelings can be more readily realized. Moreover, modifications in the control are easy to implement.
It was because of these advantages that the applicant proposed an automatic transmission control system based on production rules in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2(1990)-85563 which was filed in the United States and is now being allowed. However, since the rules in this earlier system are uni-dimensionally enumerated, the number of rules is large and there remains room for improvement, particularly through modifications on the control side and other measures for increasing system simplicity.


The present invention discloses a ring comprising a plurality first and second annular semi-precious stones, where the stones form a setting for a center precious stone.

Rings are popular items of jewelry which have been worn by women and men for centuries. Generally, rings are made out of a solid metal material. The most common form of a ring constitutes a simple metallic band, often of a gold or silver alloy, fitted for the wearer's finger.
Rings containing elaborate precious or semi-precious gems are worn by people interested in donning jewelry. A diamond is one of the most popular gems and is often placed on a ring.
The beauty of diamond rings is slightly hindered by the prominent view of the metal band that supports the diamond. While every diamond is unique, metal bands, even gold bands, have a commonplace appearance. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a band for a diamond ring that has an appearance that, as compared to a metal band, enhances the uniqueness and elegance of a diamond ring.

Ring having a setting of semi-precious stones