An auxiliary tap valve insertable into a fluid flow path of a tap is disclosed. The auxiliary tap valve includes a sleeve body with an auxiliary valve seat member, and an auxiliary valve member. The sleeve body has at least one constriction for restricting fluid flow through the auxiliary tap valve. The auxiliary valve member is supported within said sleeve body and operatively connectable to a main valve member of the tap to be movable between open and closed positions to open and close the auxiliary tap valve to fluid flow. The auxiliary valve member has a substantially-flat chamfered first face and a conical second face respectively facing downstream and upstream relative to fluid flow through the tap. In operation, fluid flow through said constriction is restricted to create a venturi pressure drop downstream across said auxiliary valve member. The venturi pressure and lift created by fluid flow against differential surface areas of the first and second faces collectively urge the auxiliary valve member toward the auxiliary valve seat member during fluid flow through the auxiliary valve member to reduce turbulence clatter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tap cocks and stop valves and in particular to an auxiliary tap valve either for retrofit or built in incorporation into screw down acting taps and valves for controlling fluid or water flow by automatically shutting off the flow of water through a tap during maintenance and reducing operating water flow to assist in water conservation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vast array of valves, cocks and taps exist for controlling the flow and delivery of liquids and gases.
Such devices vary from the simple plug cocks which provide a transverse plug to interrupt the flow of a gas or liquid in a supply line, where the plug is provided with a hole capable of rotational alignment with the input and output supply lines to effect control over the flow of gases and liquids, to complex sluice valves involving a number of components.
For the supply and control of water, in particular to domestic situations, a screw down stop valve is commonly incorporated into a tap cock such that a washer is made to bear down on an orifice through which water passes. Such devices fall midway between simple plug cocks and complex valves and find extensive application in the control of water supply.
The screw down stop valve provides a screw operated spindle as an activating means for the washer such that a high degree of control can be exercised over the washer and therefore over the flow of water through the orifice. Such screw down stop valves are commonly known as bib cocks and find wide application in domestic water control.
The bib cock provides a body through which water passes via an internal gate which is opened and closed by the screw action of a spindle urging a washer against the seat of an orifice in the gate to close off the water supply. However, if the washer fails or wears out, as they are bound to do, it is necessary to arrest the supply of water to the tap in question before the washer can be removed and replaced.
The requirement for shut down of a water supply prior to maintenance can often cause great inconvenience or danger to other users or systems fed from a common source. For example, in a block of flats or apartments it is often necessary to interrupt the water supply to the whole block in order to fix one tap. In a commercial situation, if a water tap requires maintenance it can be time consuming and often difficult to locate the site of a mains water control tap. In addition, industrial situations may require a constant supply of water or other liquids which cannot be interrupted until the end of a shift or run. If a tap is faulty in such a situation it may be impossible or very difficult to interrupt the mains supply in order to service the faulty tap.
A number of devices have been proposed to finction as intermediate valves in the above described situation.
For example, Australian Patent Application No. 59752/80 discloses a valve assembly to enable repair work to be performed without having to shut off the water supply. Similarly Australian Patent Application No. 70219/74 discloses an improved fluid valve involving a complex arrangement of valve members and springs adapted to close off the main water supply to a tap to facilitate maintenance.
The currently available devices operate in one of two ways;
a) either by a positive bias of the auxiliary valve in the form of a mechanical element like a spring which urges the valve closed; or,
b) by a passive action relying on the back pressure supplied by the fluid stream itself which actuates the valve and urges it into the closed position by following the direction of flow of the fluid.
The current devices which operate on either of the above systems suffer numerous serious drawbacks. The positively biased devices are totally dependent for their reliability on a spring which can fail and require major maintenance. Furthermore, such spring devices involve complicated manufacture and assembly and corresponding high costs as well as a limitation on the retrofittability of such mechanisms.
On the other hand passive devices that rely on the back pressure supplied by the flow of fluid in the direction from the fluid supply (upstream) through the top gate to the outlet (downstream) to close the valve also suffer problems; principally in the smooth and positive operation of the valve which can suffer if any turbulence is caused in the gate area of a tap. In particular, unless the valve is very specifically placed within the tap gate, the back pressure of the fluid may not be uniformly or positively applied to the underface or upstream face of the valve so as to push the valve closed, but may also be applied to the upper face of the valve and cause a counteracting force to keep the valve open. The resultant forces on the valve can cause excessive clatter and efficient operation.


Methods related to solid supports for binding reactions are disclosed. The present invention provides procedures for prepaing solid supports, and their use in binding assays, such that non-specific background on the solid supports is reduced. The reduction of non-specific background permits the detection of low levels of specific binding which normally would be masked by the non-specific binding. The methods are applicable to a variety of target ligands and probes, including nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides.

Hybridization technology is a powerful tool to identify pairs of molecules with a complementary relationship to one another. Such technology has been applied to a variety of types of molecules, including nucleic acids and proteins. For example, nucleic acid hybridization is a well-known and documented method for identifying specific nucleic acid sequences. Nucleic acid hybridization is based on the base pairing of complementary nucleic acid strands. When single stranded nucleic acids are incubated in appropriate buffers, complementary base sequence form double strand stable molecules. The presence or absence of such pairing may be detected by a number of different methods well known in the art. Most hybridization assays previously described involve multiple steps such as the hybridization techniques described by Dunn and Hassell in Cell 12:23 (1977).
The typical hybridization assay protocol for detecting a target nucleic acid in a complex population of nucleic acids can be generally described as follows. Target nucleic acids are separated by size on a gel matrix (electrophoresis), or are cloned and isolated, or sub-divided into pools, or are used in a complex population. The target nucleic acids are then transferred, or spotted, or otherwise immobilized onto a solid support, such as a nylon membrane or nitrocellulose membrane. (This "immobilization" can also be referred to as "arraying.") The immobilized nucleic acids are then subjected to a heating step or UV radiation which irreversibly immobilizes the nucleic acid. The membranes are then immersed in one or more of the traditional "blocking agents" which include Denhardt's reagent (Denhardt, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 23:641 (1966)), heparin (Singh and Jones, Nucleic Acids Res. 12:5627 (1984)), and non-fat dried milk (Jones et al., Gene Anal. Tech. 1:3 (1984)). Frequently, these reagents are used in combination with single-strand DNA and detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In the northern analysis of non-abundant sequences, or hybridizations using RNA probes, or single-copy Southern hybridizations, Denhardt's reagent is generally used with 0.5% SDS and 100 micrograms/ml of fragmented denatured DNA. (50.times. Denhardt's reagent consists of 1% w/v Ficoll (type 400, Pharmacia), 1% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone, 1% w/v bovine serum albumin (Fraction 5).) Blocking agents are generally included in both the prehybridization step and hybridization steps when nitrocellulose is used. However, when nucleic acid is immobilized on nylon membranes, the blocking agents are generally omitted from the hybridization solution since high concentrations of protein interfere with the annealing of the probe to its target nucleic. The latter problem is particularly noticeable when short probes, such as oligonucleotides, are employed. The target nucleic acids are then typically probed with labelled "signal" nucleic acid under stringent hybridization conditions. Signal nucleic acids are then frequently detected by using a conjugated enzyme in which the conjugated enzyme possesses one member of a ligand pair. The signal nucleic acid contains the other member of the ligand pair. Unbound enzyme is then washed away and the membrane is immersed in a substrate solution. Signal is then detected by colorimetric means, by fluorescence or by chemiluminescence, depending on substrate type. In short form, the hybridization assay protocol can be summarized as follows: Target nucleic acid is immobilized on a solid support. The solid support is treated with blocking agents to prevent spurious binding (non-specific binding; also known as "background") of probes. The solid support is then probed and signal is detected by a variety of means.
The use of a blocking agent to reduce non-specific binding is essential for a number of reasons, including to be able to detect low levels of specific binding which would be masked by the non-specific binding if the latter is not blocked. Unfortunately, the use of traditional blocking agents, such as those described above, has never been a reproducible method. Although tomes have been written on the subject, it is virtually impossible to uniformly "block," for example, an 8 inch by 12 inch piece of nitrocellulose or nylon membrane using a combination or cocktail of blocking reagents composed of Ficoll (type 400, Pharmacia), polyvinylpyrrolidone, bovine serum albumin (Fraction 5, Sigma), fragmented single nucleic acid, milk products, etc. The methods of the present invention as described herein overcome this limitation of previous methods.
Due to the problems associated with the current approaches for reducing non-specific background in hybridization reactions, there is a need in the art for new methods. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides other related advantages.

Methods for preparing solid supports for hybridization and reducing non-specific background


A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes: a substrate; a first mirror layer; an active layer; a second mirror layer; a first electrode which is electrically connected to the first mirror layer; a second electrode which is electrically connected to the second mirror layer; and a pad which is electrically connected to the second electrode, in which the first mirror layer, the active layer, and the second mirror layer configure a laminated body, the laminated body includes a resonance portion, an insulation layer is provided on a side surface of the laminated body, in a plan view, the insulation layer has a shape line-symmetrical with respect to a virtual straight line passing through a center of the resonance portion, the pad is provided over the insulation layer, and in the plan view, the pad is only provided on one side of the virtual straight line.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser and an atomic oscillator.
2. Related Art
The vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is, for example, used as a light source of the atomic oscillator using coherent population trapping (CPT) which is one of the quantum interference effects.
In the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a resonator generally has an isotropic structure, and accordingly it is difficult to control a polarization direction of laser light emitted from the resonator. JP-A-2001-189525, for example, discloses a vertical cavity surface emitting laser which applies an anisotropic stress to a resonator (active layer) by an insulation layer which is formed to come in contact with an outer surface of a columnar semiconductor deposition body including a part of the resonator, and controls a polarization direction of laser light to a specific direction.
In the vertical cavity surface emitting laser disclosed in JP-A-2001-189525, an upper electrode is formed so as to cover most of the upper surface of the insulation layer.
Therefore, in the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, it is important to decrease parasitic capacitance, in order to improve high frequency characteristics.
However, in the vertical cavity surface emitting laser disclosed in JP-A-2001-189525, since the upper electrode is formed so as to cover most of the upper surface of the insulation layer, it is difficult to sufficiently decrease the parasitic capacitance.

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser and atomic oscillator


The invention relates to a device comprising a number of electrode assemblies (10), which can be applied to the skin surface (4) of an animal or human being and by means of which voltages and currents can be tapped from the skin surface (4), and comprising a flexible, in particular extendable, retaining element (6) formed by a planar or film-like molded part. According to the invention, the electrode assemblies (10) comprise a main body (1) and a number of pin electrodes (2) that protrude from the main body (1) in the same direction, the electrode assemblies (10) are fastened to the retaining element (6), and the main body (1) of the respective electrode assembly (10) is connected to the retaining element (6), wherein the pin electrodes (2) of all electrode assemblies (10) protrude in the same direction.

In the following the animal or human at whose skin voltages or voltage differences are to be determined will be referred to as the "patient".
The inventive electrode assemblies are used in particular in the medical field for measuring brain currents or cardiac activity.
In the use of dry electrodes for detecting electrical signals in the interior of the body of the patient, correct positioning of the electrodes is an essential requirement. According to the state of the art, so-called spiders are used which fix the individual electrodes or electrode assemblies to the body part of the patient on which measurements are to be made, to provide maximal holding and problem-free contact of the electrodes.
Spiders have a plurality of arms on the ends of which individual electrodes are arranged. A problem with this is that the positions and orientation of the individual electrodes have to be adjusted to the particular form of the patient, and therefore numerous different adjustment steps have to be carried out in order to adapt the electrodes to the patient. A further problem is that the electrodes are only poorly in contact with the patient and may easily slip out of place if the patient moves.
The object of the invention is to make possible a simplified adaptation of the individual electrodes to the shape of the body, particularly of the head, of the patient, and thereby allow more rapid progress in studying multiple patients.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a device for applying electrode assemblies to the surface of the skin of an animal or human, having the features of the predicate of the independent claim 1.

Device for applying electrode assemblies


A pressure tank includes a metallic vessel, a plastic liner received in the metallic vessel, a flexible diaphragm, two metallic joints, two anti-leak assemblies and a nozzle coupled to the metallic joints respectively. The metallic vessel includes upper and lower shells. The upper shell defines a first planar area on a side thereof and a second planar area on a top thereof. The lower shell defines a third planar area therebottom. The flexible diaphragm divides said metallic vessel into a storage space and a pneumatic room. The metallic joints are mounted on the side and top of the upper shell respectively and are in communication with the storage space. The two anti-leak assemblies provide leakproof connection between the metallic joints and the plastic liner. Additionally, the nozzle is mounted on the third planar area to be in communication with the pneumatic room.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a pressure tank and more particularly to a pressure tank having plural access openings for connection with plural pipes.
2. Related Prior Art
Taiwan Pat. No. M250911 and Taiwan Pat. No. M312357 are exemplary of patents directed to pressure tanks of the type to which this invention is directed. Basically, the conventional pressure tank includes a flexible diaphragm through which the inside of the pressure tank is divided into an upper storage space and a lower pneumatic room. However, there is only one access opening (or metallic joint) in the pressure tank to be in communication with the storage space. The only metallic joint is then served as both an inlet and an outlet at different time. It takes huge time simply to access liquid into or out of the storage space. Moreover, since there is only one metallic joint for access, residue dust or dirt may be easily accumulated on the bottom of the storage space, namely on the top surface of the flexible diaphragm, after a long time use.

Pressure tank having plural access openings


A method is provided for conducting electricity and thermal energy in an imaging system. The method includes providing a conductive path between a plurality of components and a support structure of the imaging system, in which the support structure comprises a material consisting essentially of conductive elements disposed in a non-conductive material matrix. An imaging system is provided, with a support structure of a conductive elements disposed in a non-conductive material matrix, a plurality of components coupled to the support structure, an imaging panel disposed in the housing, and a conductive path extending through the non-conductive exterior to engage the conductive elements, wherein the conductive path is configured to conduct heat, electricity, or a combination thereof, with one or more components of the imaging system. Another imaging system is provided, with a portable panel-shaped housing, a support structure including a compound plastic, a composite material, or a combination thereof, a conductive path penetrating a non-conductive exterior to a conductive interior of the compound plastic of composite material, and an imaging panel coupled to the support structure via the conductive path.

The invention relates generally to imaging devices and, more particularly, to the electrical and thermal conduction in portable digital x-ray detectors.
Portable imaging devices, such as portable x-ray detectors, often contain multiple electrical components, such as circuit boards, that require sufficient grounding to prevent electronic noise in images produced by the detector. Further, some electrical components may be sensitive to the heat generated during operation of the detector. Typically, the portable imaging devices include metal support structures to support the electrical components and provide conductive paths to provide grounding and thermal energy transfer. For example, these metal support structures may be constructed from multiple pieces of magnesium. Although the metal support structures provide good electrical and thermal conduction, these structures are generally very heavy and add undesired weight to the portable imaging device.

X-ray detector grounding and thermal transfer system and method


A control device for a vehicle. While subject control is performed, a second engagement control unit controls the engagement pressure of the second engagement device to a mid-control set pressure that has been set to be equal to or more than a first engagement pressure and equal to or less than a second engagement pressure. The first engagement pressure is a lower limit engagement pressure capable of maintaining the second engagement device in the directly coupled engaged state, in a state in which requested torque that is torque required to be transmitted to the wheels is transmitted to the wheels. The second engagement pressure is a lower limit engagement pressure capable of maintaining the second engagement device in the directly coupled engaged state, in a state in which maximum output torque of the rotary electric machine is transmitted to the wheels.

As a control device that controls a drive device for a vehicle as a controlled object as described above, for example, a device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-030486 (JP 2010-030486 A) (Patent Document 1) is already known. This control device is structured to be capable of performing slip rotational speed control such that an engagement device (second clutch CL2 in Patent Document 1) provided between a rotary electric machine and wheels is brought into a slipping engaged state, and the rotational speed of the rotary electric machine approaches a target rotational speed. In this case, the target rotational speed is set to a sum of a synchronous rotational speed (transmission input rotational speed in Patent Document 1) and a target slip rotational speed. The synchronous rotational speed corresponds to a rotational speed of a speed change input shaft or the rotary electric machine when the engagement device is in a directly coupled engaged state.
A situation is conceivable in which, for example, a device (such as a hydraulic pressure control device) for controlling an engagement pressure of the engagement device does not operate as commanded, so that the engagement device that should be controlled so as to be in the slipping engaged state is brought into the directly coupled engaged state, differently from the command. If such a situation occurs during the execution of the slip rotational speed control described above, the slip rotational speed control is performed in which the target rotational speed is set to the sum of the synchronous rotational speed and the target slip rotational speed while the rotational speed of the rotary electric machine is limited to the synchronous rotational speed. In this state, the slip rotational speed control cannot appropriately be performed, so a largely fluctuating driving force may be transmitted to the wheels. However, Patent Document 1 does not particularly take note of this.


A vehicle computer system has a housing sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard or other appropriate location. The housing includes a base unit and a faceplate. A first logic unit is mounted to the base unit to form a support module. The support module has two interfacing slots and can support connections to multiple peripheral devices. The support module facilitates high speed data exchange between the peripheral devices for streaming continuous audio or video data. The support module has a fast data memory to temporarily hold data being communicated between the peripheral devices. The support module also has a memory access circuit associated with each of the peripheral devices which designates at least one storage area within the fast data memory to hold data received from, or to be sent to, the associated peripheral device. The vehicle computer has a computer module which can be connected to or removed from one interfacing slot of the support module. A multi-bit bus (e.g., PCI bus) interfaces the computer module and the support module. The vehicle computer system also has a logic unit mounted to the faceplate to form a faceplate module. This module is detachably connected to the other interfacing slot of the support module. When the faceplate module is attached, a high speed serial interface electronically couples the support module to the faceplate module. The high speed serial interface enables the logic units on the support and faceplate modules to exchange a high speed, synchronized, serial bit stream. This data stream is organized into multiple frames, with each frame having multiple data bits and at least one valid bit to indicate whether the data bits are valid.

Modern vehicles are typically equipped with several independent electronic systems. For instance, most modern vehicles have a sound system and a security system. The sound system usually consists of an AM/FM radio, a cassette or CD (compact disk) player, an equalizer/amplifier, and speakers. The radio and player are arranged in a metal casing or housing that is mounted in a dashboard of the vehicle. The housing has a standardized size, often expressed in terms of DINs (Deutsche Industry Normen), to ensure that the sound system is compatible with and can be retrofit into most vehicle dashboards.
The security system is entirely separate from the sound system. The security system generally consists of security sensors placed throughout the vehicle, and a central application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to monitor the sensors and determine whether security is being jeopardized. Security System also controls actuators to lock/unlock doors or windows, and an alarm or siren.
Most late model vehicles are also constructed with a diagnostic system that analyzes performance of the vehicle's engine, transmission and fuel system, and other components (1996 or later for OBD II, 1993 or later for OBD I). The diagnostic system can be coupled to an external computer to download or monitor diagnostic information that is useful to a vehicle mechanic during servicing of the vehicle. Additionally, the diagnostic system might include dashboard displays that inform the driver of various operating conditions.
In some recent models, vehicles are being equipped with a navigation system that incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The GPS receiver has an antenna to receive signals from a satellite network. The vehicle navigation system uses the satellite positioning signals to compute coordinates that locate the vehicle over the surface of the earth with regard to longitude, latitude, and altitude. Also, with the appropriate map software, the vehicle's location can then be shown on a map.
Cellular communications systems have also been added to vehicles. These communications systems enable the vehicle driver or occupant to transact telephone calls from their vehicle. Some of the more sophisticated systems are voice controlled which permit the driver to initiate or receive calls while traveling without removing a hand from the driving wheel, or diverting his/her eyes from the operation of the vehicle.
While these various electronics systems have proven useful to vehicle users, there is a drawback in that the systems are unrelated and incompatible. Each system employs separate proprietary dedicated processors or ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) which execute incompatible proprietary software. If a vehicle owner would like to add a security system to his/her vehicle, the owner must purchase an entire security system from one of the vendors and have it customarily installed. There is no way to add security functionality to an existing electronics system, such as the navigation system or the sound system.

Vehicle computer system with high speed data buffer and serial interconnect


A power circuit of an AC power supply includes a power input unit connected to a AC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter is connected to a DC/DC circuit, and the DC/DC circuit is further connected to an adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit. The adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit is connected to an amplifier to amplify and convert the DC voltages into the AC voltages, thereby outputting different AC voltages and electric currents under the condition of not switching off the output when adjusting the voltage via cross position, so that a power level is switched promptly and a very low power distortion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power circuit of an AC power supply.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a conventional AC power supply circuit is shown. An output procedure generated from a structure of the power circuit is described as follows. A power input unit 1 receives an outer AC voltage. The power input unit 1 is connected to an AC/DC converter 2 and converts the AC voltage provided from the power input unit 1 into a DC voltage via a filter and rectification.
The DC voltage output from the AC/DC converter 2 is converted by a stable power of a primary side circuit 3 and sent to a transformer 4 for being transformed. The transformer 4 includes a set of primary winding 5 and two sets of secondary windings 6. The primary winding 5 is electrically connected to the primary side circuit 3. The voltage transformed by the transformer 4 is output via the secondary windings 6. The secondary windings 6 are respectively connected to a secondary side circuit 7 thereby supplying a full-wave rectified DC voltage. The full-wave rectified DC voltage is respectively amplified by two amplifiers 8 connected to the secondary side circuits 7, and converted into a sinusoidal output AC voltage.
The amplifiers 8 are further connected to a switch circuit 9 thereby controlling contactors of the switch circuit 9 to close the contacts P1, P2, while S1 and S2 are opened, which allows the amplifiers 8 to be connected in parallel. The switch circuit 9 is able to control the connecting sequence and position, so that the contactors of the switch circuit 9 closed the contacts S1, S2, while P1 and P2 are opened, and the amplifiers 8 are connected in series. Therefore, the series and parallel circuits of the output terminal of the amplifier are switched via the contactors of the switch circuit 9 so as to adjust different AC voltages output from the AC power supply.
The AC power supply power circuit attains the purpose of supplying different AC voltages by switching the parallel-series output of the output terminal of the amplifiers. Since the AC power supply power circuit outputs different AC voltages via a plurality of parallel-series connections of the amplifiers, a complicated circuit and an increasing cost are caused. Moreover, the operation of parallel-series connection is switched by contactors but not the stepless adjusting output mode, so the contact connecting sequence of contactors of the switch circuit has to be controlled when switching and outputting different AC voltages for avoiding a short circuit. In this manner, the voltage output needs to be interrupted, which renders the transmitted power level unable to be switched promptly. The most popular industrial application of AC power supply is an AC power source manufactured by Keysight corporation. AC VOLT RANGE Selections can be 150V or 300V range in AC mode and 200V or 400V range in DC mode. The actual range values may be different depending on the configuration. It is noted that the voltage range is coupled with the output relay state. If the output relay is closed, the voltage range cannot be changed
Referring to FIG. 2, another conventional AC power supply power circuit which substantially has a similar structure to the previous AC power supply power circuit is shown. The improved power circuit is characterized in that the switch circuit 9 is connected to the secondary side circuit 7, and only one amplifier 8 is connected to the switch circuit 9 in this AC power supply power circuit.
An output procedure of the AC power supply power circuit is described as follows. The power input unit 1 receives the AC voltage supplied from the outside. An AC/DC converter 2 converts the AC voltage processed by a filter and rectification into a DC voltage. The voltage is output from a primary side circuit 3 to a transformer 4 for being transformed and becomes a full-wave rectified DC voltage via the secondary side circuits 7. Different DC voltages are output by the switch circuit 9 which switches the parallel-series connection of the secondary side of circuits 7 and transmitted to the amplifier 8 for being amplified and converted into a sinusoidal output AC voltage. In other words, the AC power supply power circuit makes use of the switch circuit 9 switching the parallel-series connection of the power terminal of the amplifier 8 for outputting different AC voltages.
The above AC power supply power circuit may simplify the circuit thereof and omit one of the amplifiers. However, since the switching operation of the parallel circuit and the series circuit of the switch circuit relies on the contactors but not on a stepless adjusting output mode, the switch circuit must be switched when the output is shut off to change the parallel and series connections of the power terminal of the amplifier for the voltage adjustment when the AC power supply switches and outputs different AC voltages. Therefore, the conventional design causes the inconvenient operation of the AC power supply and needs an improvement. A well known such AC power supply has been manufactured by California Instruments. The output of the DC converter is automatically selected for 250 VDC or 500 VDC output depending on whether the low range output (150 Vac) or high range output (300 Vac) is selected. The 250/500 VDC range selection is made by a relay that selects one of two taps on the DC output. The input/output board holds a lot of the large components and provides interconnection between the AC input, the DC-DC board, the AC power board and the output without the use of heavy cables. The output relay and the output current metering circuit are also mounted on this board. The conventional AC power supply circuit always require a relay for outputting the required AC power. The circuit board of these power supply may be programmed to have a fixed voltage range. Relays are required to switch off the circuit while the output power is to be changed. There is a conventional Programmable Precision High Power DC Power Supply which has 13 models of wide voltage range for same output power. An example is shown in below table.
Sorensen SGI seriesModelVoltageCurrent Power (kW)SGI 30X501 3050115SGI 40X375 4037515SGI 50X300 5030015SGI 60X250 6025015SGI 80X188 8018815.04SGI 100X15010015015SGI 160X94 1609415.04SGI 200X75 2007515SGI 250X60 2506015SGI 330X45 3304514.85SGI 400X38 4003815.2SGI 500X305003015SGI 600X256002515
Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic view of the outputting power level of the conventional AC power supply in switching is shown. The AC power supply power circuit supplies a low-voltage power by the parallel input of the power terminal of the amplifier. The AC power supply power circuit supplies a high-voltage power by the series input of the power terminal of the amplifier. In low-voltage power supply, the power terminal of the amplifier parallelly inputs the power supply of the low voltage and high electric current. In high-voltage power supply, the power terminal of the amplifier serially inputs the power supply of the high voltage and low electric current. The power level is unable to be switched promptly in switching, that is to say, the voltage stops outputting in switching. Therefore, it may cause a great distorted error while stopping outputting. Hence, the AC power supply power circuit is restricted and has the above-mentioned disadvantages.
In terms of that, the inventor of the present invention holds the spirit of trying for the best with the experiences of devoting to the professional development, manufacture, and marketing of the electronic equipments and the related components, thereby improving the disadvantages of the conventional AC power supply power circuit.

Power circuit of an AC power supply with an adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit


The present invention provides for a method and a computer system for preserving filehandles after a file system migration on a distributed file system. One embodiment of the invention includes maintaining a cache of each filehandle provided to a client from a source file server. When files are migrated from the source file server to the destination file server, the cache entries are transferred from the source file server to the destination file server. The cache entries are then updated to link the source file server filehandle of each cached data object to the file attributes of the data object now existing on the destination file server. When a client subsequently attempts to access a file by using a previously valid filehandle, the cache will translate the source file server filehandle into the file attributes of the object on the destination file server, allowing the file to be located without receiving a filehandle expiration error.

Data file servers employing a distributed file storage protocol facilitate the storage and access of files across a computer network. Without a distributed file system, file servers each act as autonomous machines on a network, each server being managed individually and having a separate namespace containing an individual set of data. The distributed file system is responsible for linking the various file servers together into one file system, providing a federation of data that is managed as a unit, and a single namespace for all of the data contained therein.
One such distributed file system in widespread use is the Network File System (NFS), version 4. NFS version 4 contains the capability to redirect a client machine to a different server if the resource it is trying to access no longer resides on the server or never resided on the server the client is requesting them from. This allows the replication and migration of file sets of data between multiple servers, with the migration process being seamless and invisible to the client that is attempting to access files within the file sets.
One problem with the current approaches to data migration in NFS version 4 concerns the use of filehandles. The most common form of a filehandle is referred to as "persistent" in that it can be used by a client computer to refer to a file object, at any time, until the file object is deleted. A filehandle is typically constructed by a server using the internal identifiers of the server, filing system, and identifier for the file object, typically referred to as an inode. This type of filehandle is problematic, however, when a system starts to support file migration.
To maintain the validity of existing filehandles, one method of migration in NFS is by performing a low level copy of the filing system, which allows the inode number to be identical on the new server. A filehandle is typically constructed using the inode number, hence if the inode number does not change, it is easy to use the same filehandle after a file has been migrated. This method, however, must be performed by copying the entire file system, block by block, to create a perfect mirror image on the new server.
Another approach is to specify a specific inode number, matching that of the file on the system it is being migrated from, for a copied file in the destination file system to ensure that a filehandle identical to the source file system can be used. This technique, however, only works if the inode number on the destination file system is currently unused, and may not allow the migration of files to a existing data file system. A similar workaround employs a mapping table to translate the inode value of each file on the source file system to each new file on the destination file system, to enable the new system to translate filehandles created on the source system to files on the destination system. The use of such a table, however, requires an extensive number of entries—an entry for every migrated file—which is resource intensive and inefficient.
To facilitate the migration of files, NFS version 4 introduces the use of volatile file handles. These volatile file handles allow the server to inform the client that a filehandle has expired and is no longer valid, which then notifies the client to perform a path lookup to re-discover the new filehandle for the file object. There are various classes of volatile filehandles, but in this context, the most commonly used is a class that causes a server to expire a filehandle when a file object is migrated to a new system. This leads to extensive system activity after the file system is migrated, because the system must use a resource-intensive path lookup to determine the new filehandle. Additionally, a problem exists in situations where a file on the original file system is opened by a user but subsequently becomes deleted or removed. The opened file cannot be looked up by name because it has been unlinked or renamed.
None of these existing approaches provide a flexible and efficient way to seamlessly migrate of a set of files from one server to another. What is needed in the art is a high-performance operation to preserve filehandles and facilitate the efficient operation of data migration.

System and method for preserving filehandles across file system migrations on a best effort basis

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for activating a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor of one or more cells includes positioning an electromagnetic field generator in proximity to a VEGF receptor such that the flux of an electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic field generator will extend through the VEGF receptor. The method also includes generating an electromagnetic field, using the electromagnetic field generator, having a rate of fluctuation that activates the VEGF receptor.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass which leads to a spontaneous bone fracture or fractures occurring due to an impact that under normal conditions would not produce a bone fracture. The goal for treating osteoporosis is to build bone strength to a level sufficient to withstand normal loading conditions without failure. A significant determinant of bone strength is bone mass. Bone mass is determined by the balance between the activity of osteoclast, which destroy bone, and osteoblast, which build bone. During homeostasis, in which bone mass is maintained at a constant level, the activity of the osteoclast and osteoblast are equal. Around the age of thirty, peak bone mass is typically achieved. At this stage the activity of osteoblasts begin to lag behind the activity of osteoclasts. This results in a loss of bone. The health impact of osteoporosis includes loss of the quality of life as osteoporotic bone fractures usually occur in the elderly who have a diminished healing capacity.
One method of treatment is to stimulate osteoblast to form new bone. It is well known in biology that mature, fully differentiated cells do not divide to create new cells. Therefore, to increase the number of bone producing, fully differentiated bone cells it is necessary to first increase the number of pre-osteoblast cells and then induce their maturation into fully differentiated bone cells to reverse the effects of osteoporosis. Furthermore, since new bone cell growth is also needed to heal non-osteoporotic bone fractures and to fuse vertebrae, the stimulation of osteoblasts to form new bone is also useful for treating other fractures and for performing spinal fusion.

Methods of stimulating cell receptor activity using electromagnetic fields


A method, device and system for transmitting wireless data are disclosed. In the present disclosure, a local mobile terminal not only may exchange information with a base station, but also may exchange information with other mobile terminals by using a short distance transmission system of the mobile terminals, and transmit, by combining Local Area Network (LAN) communication and Wide Area Network (WAN) communication are combined, data simultaneously via an LAN and a WAN. A target mobile terminal may also receive and send data via the LAN and the WAN. The present disclosure can implement multi-channel transmission of wireless data, thus relieving network load greatly and improving the efficiency of data transmission.

Currently, information interaction is performed only between mobile terminals and base stations in an existing communication system. In other words, each mobile terminal independently communicates with a base station to which the mobile terminal belongs, whereas there is no direct interactive relationship between individual mobile terminals. As shown in FIG. 1, specifically, a local mobile terminal 1 or a mobile terminal 2 sends information to a local base station 1 to which the local mobile terminal 1 or the mobile terminal 2 belongs. The base station 1 then sends the received information to a target base station to which a target mobile terminal belongs, e.g., a base station 2. The base station 2 then sends the received information to the target mobile terminal, e.g., a mobile terminal 3 or a mobile terminal 4, so as to achieve communication between the local mobile terminal and the target mobile terminal. The involved communication mode is referred to as Wide Area Network (WAN) communication. Since a local terminal communicates with a base station only through a main transmission line, the transmission rate will be very low when the local mobile terminal transmits a relatively large volume of data to the local base station, thus reducing the transmission efficiency. In addition, the local mobile terminal will fail to send data to the local base station in the case that there is a failure on a transmission line between the local mobile terminal and the local base station, thus a user cannot communicate normally.
Moreover, when a mobile terminal is to transmit a larger volume of data, network capacity can be improved only by capacity extension of a base station, so as to improve the data transmission efficiency. However, the capacity extension of the base station will cost a great deal of financial and material resources and the capacity of the base station cannot be extended unlimitedly.
In addition, all short distance transmission systems of the mobile terminal, such as a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) transmission system and a Bluetooth transmission system, can implement short distance communication between mobile terminals. The short distance communication refers to Local Area Network (LAN) communication. However, such LAN communication is isolated from WAN communication and the two communication modes cannot be applied in combination, thus a short distance transmission system of a mobile terminal in an idle state cannot often be utilized adequately and short distance communication resources of the mobile terminal are wasted.

Method, device and system for transmitting wireless data


The present invention is a magnetic therapeutic device which subjects a treatment area such as an anatomical area or plant to a dynamic magnetic field having an amplitude of at least a half waveform. To subject the treatment area to such a dynamic magnetic field, the magnetic source may be rotated, oscillated, moved through a particular pattern, or otherwise moved relative to the treatment area. Each embodiment of the present invention includes at least one permanent magnet contained within a housing having an application surface which is adapted to engage a treatment area such as an anatomical area of a user's body. The application surface is positioned relative to the magnet so that the magnetic field extends around and/or through the application surface to the anatomical area to be treated. Each magnet has a north and south magnetic pole and a pole width equal to the width of the magnet at the poles. Means for moving the permanent magnet are provided in each embodiment, and are preferably positioned within the housing.

The beneficial effects of applying a magnetic field to an area of human and animal anatomy such as the back, legs, arms and the like, are widely known and well documented. Magnetic fields are commonly used for therapeutic purposes such as reduction of inflammation in tissues and pain relief. Magnetic fields are known to improve the blood flow to tissues to which the magnetic field is applied. Additionally, the application of magnetic fields to plants is likewise believed to have a beneficial effect on plant growth.
To enhance such beneficial effects, a dynamic magnetic field may be applied to the anatomical area to be treated. The relative movement of magnetic fields through treatment area acts on charged particles such as ions and electrons in the treatment area, displacing the positively and negatively charged particles in opposite directions. The movement of ions and charges influences the distribution of ions on cell membranes, thereby affecting the electrical potential on such cell membranes. The movement of electrons results in locally generated eddy currents which affect the cellular functions of muscles, nerves and other tissues. Such eddy currents have been associated with the activation of capillary blood flow, the relaxation of muscle and connective tissue, and the blocking of propagation of pain impulses as well as other nerve functions.
To maximize the displacement of charged particles (maximize electromotive force product), three variables may be manipulated; the intensity of the magnetic field at the treatment site, the rate of change of the magnetic field at the treatment site, and the amplitude of the net change in magnetic flux (or waveform) to which the treatment site is subjected. The intensity of the magnetic field may be varied by varying the strength of the permanent magnet utilized. The rate of change of the magnetic field may be varied by varying the speed at which the permanent magnet is moved relative to the treatment area.
The last listed variable, the amplitude of the net change in magnetic flux, is believed by some practitioners to be the most important variable in the application of magnetic therapy. Permanent magnets have a north pole and south pole, with north pole magnetic flux emanating from the north pole, and south pole magnetic flux emanating from the south pole. An object moving through the magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet from the north pole of the magnet to the south pole of the magnet is subjected first to a full north pole field. As the object moves toward the south pole, the strength of the north pole field decreases until a neutral field is encountered, approximately at the midpoint of the magnet. As the object continues to move toward the south pole, the object is subjected to a south pole field of increasing intensity until the object reaches the south pole of the magnet where it is subjected to a full south pole field. By moving in this fashion, the object is subjected to a "full waveform." Likewise, an object moved from the south pole to the north pole is also subjected to a full waveform. A maximum displacement of the electrical and ionic equilibrium is achieved when the treatment area is subjected to a full waveform, the treatment area experiencing a complete reversal of magnetic flux. An object may be subjected to a "half waveform" by moving the object from a full north pole field to neutral or full south pole field to neutral. Many practitioners believe that subjecting a treatment area to magnetic flux fields consisting of primarily north pole flux (e.g., half waveforms of north pole flux) enhances the therapeutic effect of the treatment on the anatomical area. The amplitude of the change in magnetic flux may be manipulated to provide preferred configurations of magnetic fields to treatment areas.
A wide variety of devices have been used to expose an anatomical area to a moving magnetic field. Unfortunately, none of the prior art devices permit the magnetic field to be particularly configured to meet particular therapeutic needs, such as the application of a magnetic field having substantially all north pole flux to a treatment area.
Another commonly used therapy for treatment of pain and enhancement of muscular relaxation is vibrational massage. The therapeutic effect of vibrational massage on body tissue is well documented. Many therapeutic devices are available which apply vibration to an anatomical area such as the muscles of the lower back to enhance circulation and relax such muscle.
While various prior art devices apply dynamic magnetic fields to various anatomical areas, none of the prior art devices apply a dynamic magnetic field in conjunction with vibratory massage. While each procedure has been utilized to increase blood flow to an effected area, the combination of procedures increases the beneficial effects to the user as the treated area receives both mechanical massage and magnetic stimulation to enhance blood flow.


The coaxial connector includes a tube-shaped outer conductor and an inner conductor provided inside the outer conductor in a plan view. The outer conductor includes an engaging portion recessed towards the inner conductor, a first portion positioned closer to one end of the outer conductor relative to the engaging portion, and a second portion positioned closer to the other end of the outer conductor relative to the engaging portion. The outer peripheral surface of the engaging portion is positioned closer to the inner conductor than to the outer peripheral surface of the first portion and the outer peripheral surface of the second portion, and the inner peripheral surface of the engaging portion is closer to the inner conductor than to either the inner peripheral surface of the first portion or the inner peripheral surface of the second portion.

The Present Disclosure relates, generally, to a coaxial connector.
As electronic devices become more compact, there is demand for smaller coaxial connectors. These coaxial connectors function as a receptacle (referred to as a first coaxial below), and as a plug (referred to as a second coaxial below). The first coaxial connector, which may be mounted on a circuit board, includes a tube-shaped first outer conductor and a first inner conductor arranged inside the first outer conductor. The second coaxial connector may be mounted on the end of a coaxial cable or on a circuit board. The second coaxial connector has a crimped portion secured to the coaxial cable, a second inner conductor electrically connected to the coaxial cable, and a tube-shaped second outer conductor surrounding the outside of the second inner conductor. In the first coaxial connector, the first outer conductor engages the inner peripheral surface of the second outer conductor of the second coaxial connector to mate the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor, and to establish an electrical connection with the second coaxial connector.
An example of this is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/661,898, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. The '898 Application discloses a second coaxial connector which has a C-shaped second inner conductor with a slit. When the second outer conductor engages a first outer conductor, pressure is continuously applied to the outer peripheral surface of the first inner conductor and the inner peripheral surface of the second inner conductor.


A solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a solid dispersion of a BCS Class II drug in a solid carrier/hydrophilic carrier; and a pH modifier. The solid carrier/hydrophilic carrier has a melting point of between about 40° C. to about 60° C. and an HLB value of between about 10 and about 18. The BCS Class II drug may be telmisartan.

The Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) is a system to differentiate the drugs on the basis of their solubility and permeability. According to this classification, the drugs are placed under four classes based on their solubility and permeability.
The drugs which are of high permeability and low solubility are classified under class II. The bioavailability of these drugs is limited by their dissolution rate. Drug delivery systems are designed to improve oral bioavailability of BCS class II drugs. Improving oral bioavailability of BCS class II drugs as solid dosage forms remains a challenge for the formulation scientists. Therefore there is a continuous research in the art for developing variety of drug delivery systems to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, such as, self-emulsifying systems (SEDDS); self-nano emulsifying systems (SNEDDS); oral lipid based drug delivery systems; nanoparticulate drug delivery systems; polymer systems; solid dispersions etc.
Among the various approaches to improve solubility, the solid dispersion technique has often proved to be successful in improving the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs because it is simple, economic, and advantageous. Solid dispersion technique improves the dissolution rate of highly lipophilic drugs by reducing drug particle size, improving wettability and forming amorphous particles.
The term solid dispersion refers to a group of solid products consisting of uniformly mixed inert carrier and drug. The carrier can either be crystalline or amorphous in nature. Most commonly used carriers for the preparation of solid dispersions consist of excipients like polyethylene glycols (PEGs), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPs), Gelucires, sugars, saccharides, urea or mixtures thereof. The drug can be dispersed either molecularly or as amorphous/crystalline particles.
Telmisartan (TEL) is one such BCS class II drug, exhibiting pH dependent solubility. TEL is manufactured and supplied in the free acid form and is characterized by poor solubility resulting in low bioavailability. It is readily ionizable exhibiting maximum solubility at high and low pH (pH 3 to 9: poorly soluble). pH modifier like meglumine has been employed, to improve solubility of TEL. Literature provides with the use of pH modifiers like citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide for altering the microenvironmental pH of TEL improving its solubility and hence dissolution. However, it is reported that TEL degrades in strong alkaline conditions thereby limiting the use of the latter.
In addition to a pH dependent solubility profile, TEL is a lipophilic compound with a partition coefficient, log P=3.2 (n-octanol: buffer pH 7.4). Reports suggest the use of excipients such as polyethylene glycol, Polyvinyl pyrrolidone, Poloxamers and the like which improve solubility and dissolution of poorly soluble drugs like TEL.
The solid dispersions are prepared conventionally using the methods selected from fusion (melt), solvent evaporation, spray drying, lyophilization (freeze drying), hot-meltextrusion, electrostatic spinning method, coating on sugar beads using fluidized bed coating system, supercritical fluid technology. Despite the commendable research in the field of solid dispersion in the past four decades, the commercial utilization of the same is very limited due to the problems involved such as physical and chemical stability of drugs and carriers; reproducibility of physicochemical properties of such carriers; further formulating solid dispersions into dosage forms; scaling up such processes, and the like.
Therefore, there is need to provide oral pharmaceutical dosage form of BCS class II drugs comprising stable solid dispersions with improved solubility. In addition there is also a need to provide simple methods of preparation that can be scaled to industrial levels. Hence, the objective of the present invention is to provide oral pharmaceutical compositions comprising stable solid dispersion of BCS class II drugs with improved dissolution and potential to improve bioavailability for which protection is sought.

Pharmaceutical composition comprising solid dispersion of BCS class II drugs with Gelucires


A justification/authentication personal certificate system stores in a remote database a counterpart of an identifier and a digital watermark contained in the personal certificate. The personal certificate includes the digital watermark embedded in an authentic image such as a facial photograph, a retinal scan, or a fingerprint. When the personal certificate is used, the authentic image is read from the personal certificate, and the digital watermark information is extracted. The digital watermark information and the identifier are compared with the counterparts stored in the database. If the extracted digital watermark information is identical to the information in the database, then the personal certificate is judged to be unjustifiable. In one embodiment, at least one of the identifier and digital watermark are changed each time the system justifies the personal certificate.

This invention relates to a justification authenticating system, a personal certificate issuing system, and a personal certificate used in these systems.
In general, personal certificates that include authentic images (of a card type or a book type), such as a credit card, cash card, membership card, student identification card, employee ID card, passport, health insurance card, and license, have been widely used. In this specification, the "authentic image" signifies an image by which an individual is identified, such as a photographic image of a face, an image of a fingerprint, or an image of a pupil.
However, incidents are so frequently occurring in which a person who is not the owner of these personal certificates substitutes another authentic image for an authentic image of the owner, and thereby the person unjustly impersonates the true owner. This is a social problem.
As a countermeasure against such counterfeiting, a technique for embedding a digital watermark into a facial photograph has been proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei-10-275203), the disclosure of which is herein included by reference. According to the digital watermark method, desired data is embedded into an authentic image, which is digital data, as watermark information so as to be indistinguishable to the eye, while permitting normal viewing of the authentic image.
In this technique, the justification of a personal certificate is judged in such a way that a digital watermark embedded in the personal certificate is accurately extracted by the aid of authentication equipment (for example, a card reader).
Here, it is supposed that, when a personal certificate is generally formed, the identifier of the owner of the certificate is "BBB", and information to be added is "AAA", and the digital watermark of "ABABAB" is embedded.
In this case, the digital watermark is read from an authentic image when authenticated. If reading fail, the identification is judged to be unjustifiable. Even if the reading is successful, according to an opposite procedure to the procedure followed when embedded, as a result of excluding the identifier "BBB" from the "ABABAB", the information "AAA" is separated. A judgment is then made as to whether or not the information is correct. As a result, if information is correct, it is judged to be justifiable, and, if not correct, it is judged to be unjustifiable.
However, the above technique is at a disadvantage in that, since the justification is determined only by the data stored on the card, falsification is easily perpetrated if the algorithm for embedding a digital watermark is leaked or revealed. For example, the illegality of an offender B cannot be exposed even if the offender B who stole the credit card of a person A merely pastes a facial photograph in which a digital watermark according to this algorithm is embedded on the facial photograph of the offender B, and the offender B shops with this credit card. Accordingly, the above technique cannot completely avoid problems about security.

Justification authenticating system, personal certificate issuing system, and personal certificate

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A malfunction detector for magnetoresistive device sensors includes a window discriminator, a rotation indication circuit, and an alternative failure circuit. The window discriminator includes minimum and maximum voltage comparators, wherein if the sensor output signal is outside reference voltages, a first error signal is output. A rotation indication comparator outputs a square wave signal if the sensor output signal is detected. An alternative failure circuit includes a peak detector, a valley detector and a voltage comparator, wherein if a voltage differential between high and low values is less than a predetermined voltage differential, a second error signal is output.

The present invention relates to semiconductor magnetoresistive devices, also known in the art as magnetoresistors, employed in position and speed sensors, and more particularly to a malfunction detector which uses the output signal to monitor the functionality of speed and position sensors.
It is well known in the art that the resistance modulation of magnetoresistors can be employed in position and speed sensors with respect to moving ferromagnetic materials or objects (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,835,467, 4,926,122, and 4,939,456). In such applications, the magnetoresistor (MR) is biased with a magnetic field and electrically excited, typically, with a constant current source or a constant voltage source. A magnetic (i.e., ferromagnetic) object rotating relative, and in close proximity, to the MR, such as a toothed wheel, produces a varying magnetic flux density through the MR, which, in turn, varies the resistance of the MR. The MR will have a higher magnetic flux density and a higher resistance when a tooth of the rotating target wheel is adjacent to the MR than when a slot of the rotating target wheel is adjacent to the MR. Angular position information is contained in the location of target wheel tooth edges (i.e., tooth/slot transitions), and at these locations the output signals of the MRs are by design unequal so that their differential signal is nonzero.
High accuracy and repeatability magnetic position sensors employ two matched sensing elements such as magnetoresistors or Hall generators. They are spaced a few millimeters apart from each other, either in the axial direction (dual track target wheels) or along the target periphery (sequential sensors). The primary purpose of using two matched sensing elements is common mode signal rejection, since the sensing elements are equally affected by temperature and air gap. Presently, selection of matched MR pairs, a tight process control during all phases of sensor manufacture with a final testing of each sensor, is employed to build sensors meeting the required specifications. Unfortunately, this approach increases the final cost of the sensor.
Currently, variable reluctance (VR) sensors are the most common types of anti-lock braking system (ABS) wheel speed sensors. They are rugged and inexpensive, but are incapable of sensing zero wheel speed. A feature demanded by an increasing number of sophisticated ABS implementations. Also, they do not lend themselves to easy monitoring and automated fault detection. In contrast, semiconductor magnetoresistors manufactured from InSb, InAs, and other compound semiconductors provide large signal outputs down to zero wheel speed and, being resistors, they allow for continuous monitoring and fault detection by simple means without interfering with the wheel speed sensing process.
FIG. 1 shows a present wheel speed sensor utilizing a single MR sensor 100 driven by a constant current source 120 powered by a supply voltage VB with output voltage VS wherein the passage of a tooth 140 of the rotating target wheel 180 produces a high output voltage and the passage of a slot 160 produces a low output voltage. A constant current source 100 is the preferred drive method for single MR sensors. The use of a constant voltage drive, however, would not affect a malfunction detection system.
FIG. 2 depicts the output voltage VS corresponding to the two extreme operating conditions within the specified tolerance range of the sensor 100 as VS1 and VS2. The MR sensor 100 will produce the highest output voltage signal VS=VS1 when the MR sensor is simultaneously operating at the lowest temperature, smallest air gap, and largest MR drive current, all within the specified tolerance range, however. The MR sensor 100 will produce the lowest output voltage signal VS=VS2 when the MR sensor is simultaneously operating at the highest temperature, largest air gap, and smallest MR drive current, all within the specified tolerance range, however. The voltage span between the largest value of VS=VMAX and the smallest value of VS2=VMIN defines the correct operating range of the sensor 100 with a corresponding output signal voltage VS. That is, VMIN less than VS less than VMAX. Monitoring a failure of the MR sensor 100 requires that the maximum output voltage VS not exceed VMAX and that the minimum output voltage VS will not fall below VMIN.
The output signal VS exceeding VMAX may, for example, be indicative of such potential problems as too large a MR drive current 120, defective MR die, bad wiring, bad connector, insecure sensor, or loose target wheel mount. The output signal VS falling below the value of VMIN may, for example, be indicative of a partial short circuit, total short circuit, insufficient MR drive current 120, defective MR die, insecure sensor, or loose target wheel mount.
FIG. 3 shows a present wheel speed sensor utilizing a dual MR sensor 200 driven by a constant supply voltage Vxe2x80x2B with output voltage Vxe2x80x2S wherein the passage of a tooth 240 of the rotating target wheel 280 produces a high output voltage and the passage of a slot 260 produces a low output voltage. A constant voltage source Vxe2x80x2B is the preferred drive method for dual MR sensors. The use of constant current drives, however, would not affect a malfunction detection system.
FIG. 4 depicts the output voltage Vxe2x80x2S corresponding to the two extreme operating conditions within the specified tolerance range of the sensor 200 as Vxe2x80x2S1 and Vxe2x80x2S2. The MR sensor 200 will produce the highest output voltage signal Vxe2x80x2S=VS1 when the MR sensor is simultaneously operating at the lowest temperature, smallest air gap, and largest MR drive voltage Vxe2x80x2B, all within the specified tolerance range, however. The MR sensor 200 will produce the lowest output voltage signal Vxe2x80x2S=Vxe2x80x2S2 when the MR sensor is simultaneously operating at the highest temperature, largest air gap, and smallest MR drive voltage Vxe2x80x2B, all within the specified tolerance range, however. The voltage span between the largest value of Vxe2x80x2S1=VMAX and the smallest value of Vxe2x80x2S1=Vxe2x80x2MIN defines the correct operating range of the sensor 200 with a corresponding output signal voltage Vxe2x80x2S.
That is, Vxe2x80x2MIN less than Vxe2x80x2S less than Vxe2x80x2MAX. Monitoring a failure of the MR sensor 200 requires that the maximum output voltage Vxe2x80x2S not exceed Vxe2x80x2MAX and that the minimum output voltage Vxe2x80x2S will not fall below Vxe2x80x2MIN.
The output signal Vxe2x80x2S exceeding Vxe2x80x2MAX may, for example, be indicative of such potential problems as too large a MR drive voltage Vxe2x80x2B, one or two defective MR dies, bad wiring, bad connector, insecure sensor, or loose target wheel mount. The output signal Vxe2x80x2S falling below the value of Vxe2x80x2MIN may, for example, be indicative of a partial short circuit, total short circuit, insufficient MR drive voltage Vxe2x80x2B, one or two defective MR dies, insecure sensor, or loose target wheel mount.
Accordingly, it is necessary when monitoring either single or dual MR speed and position sensors for malfunction to observe the value of the output signal within a maximum and minimum voltage envelope.
The present invention is a sensor malfunction detection method and system applicable to MR speed and position sensors. The sensor malfunction detection method and system is used in conjunction with passive MR sensor configurations such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the sensor contains only the MR or MRs and no processing electronics. The raw MR signal VS or Vxe2x80x2S of FIGS. 1 and 2 could be transmitted to an off-site processor containing the malfunction detection circuitry. If the processing electronics is integrated with the sensor, the malfunction detection circuitry could also be integrated with the sensor. However, some fault detecting functions would be difficult to perform within the sensor such as, for example, an integrity check for the connections between the integrated sensor and the controller receiving the sensor output signal. The present invention would be particularly beneficial in ABS where the absence of signal pulses would normally be interpreted as the wheel not rotating.
The present invention compares a voltage output of a MR sensor to a maximum and minimum reference voltage to determine if a failure has occurred. A malfunction detector for magnetoresistor sensors includes a window discriminator, a rotation indication circuit for providing a position signal used by a controller to determine position and speed, and an alternative failure circuit. The window discriminator monitors whether the sensor output voltage is within the correct range. The rotation indication circuit monitors wheel rotation and the alternative failure circuit monitors the magnitude of the raw MR signal in order to recognize failure modes undetectable by the window discriminator such as overheating of the dual MR sensor which may keep the sensor signal within the correct voltage range when its magnitude might become unacceptably low.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a malfunction detector for MR speed and position sensors which observes values of the output signal within a maximum and minimum voltage envelope to monitor the functionality of speed and position sensors.
This, and additional objects, advantages, features, and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

Malfunction detector for magnetoresistor speed and position sensors


According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising memory configured to store data defining, at least partly, an artificial neural network, and at least one processing core configured to train the artificial neural network by applying a test dataset to the artificial neural network with at least one stochastic rectified linear unit, the at least one stochastic rectified linear unit being configured to produce a positive output from a positive input by multiplying the input with a stochastically selected value.

Machine learning and machine recognition finds several applications, such as, for example, automated passport control at airports, where a digital image of a person's face may be compared to biometric information, stored in a passport, characterizing the person's face.
Another example of machine recognition is in handwriting or printed document text recognition, to render contents of books searchable, for example. A yet further example is pedestrian recognition, wherein, ultimately, a self-driving car is thereby seen as being enabled to become aware a pedestrian is ahead and the car can avoid running over the pedestrian.
In addition to visual recognition, spoken language may be the subject of machine recognition. When spoken language is recognized, it may be subsequently input to a parser to provide commands to a digital personal assistant, or it may be provided to a machine translation program to thereby obtain a text in another language, corresponding in meaning to the spoken language.
Machine recognition technologies employ algorithms engineered for this purpose. For example, artificial neural networks may be used to implement machine vision applications. Artificial neural network may be referred to herein simply as neural networks. Machine recognition algorithms may comprise processing functions, in recognition of images such processing functions may include, for example, filtering, such as morphological filtering, thresholding, edge detection, pattern recognition and object dimension measurement.
Neural network may be comprise, for example, fully connected layers and convolutional layers. A fully connected layer may comprise a layer wherein all neurons have connections to all neurons on an adjacent layer, such as, for example, a previous layer. A convolutional layer may comprise a layer wherein neurons receive input from a part of a previous layer, such part being referred to as a receptive field, for example.


Upon determining (201) a need for image recognition facilitation content, a corresponding process (200) first determines (202 and 203) whether adequate local resources are available. When true, those local resources are used (204) to facilitate the desired image recognition. When false, however, one or more remote resources are accessed (205) and supplemental image recognition facilitation content is received (206) and locally used (207) to effect the desired image recognition process. Local memory management can optionally comprise, if desired, deletion (208) of some (or all) locally stored image recognition facilitation content and/or storage (209) of the remotely sourced image recognition facilitation content.

Image recognition comprises an area of present interest and study. In general, image recognition relates to the analysis of a captured image and more particularly to the recognition of some or all of the contents of that captured image. For example, if a given captured image comprises an image of a room containing various objects, image recognition might be used to recognize one or more of those objects and/or to recognize the room itself for what it is.
Such techniques hold considerable potential for widespread application. So-called smart cameras (i.e., an image capture platform that also incorporates a native capability to implement computer vision algorithms to facilitate recognition of the contents of captured images) could be used, for example, as an important element of a vehicle collision avoidance system, an airport security system, and so forth. Realization of this potential, however, is likely dependent, at least in part, upon an ability to effect such recognition accurately and timely. A collision avoidance system, for example, that cannot readily discern a difference between a child on a tricycle and a piece of cardboard blowing in the wind might pose a concern.
Many different approaches exist regarding the nature and operation of the recognition engine itself and many more will likely be developed in the future. In general, however, it may be observed that essentially all such approaches make use of image recognition facilitation content to effect their purpose. This content can comprise, for example, object models that correspond to various objects to be recognized when present in a captured image (where present object models form a comparative basis for recognizing and identifying corresponding objects and often comprise, at least in part, characterizing geometric property information and interaction properties information (such as whether a given object tends to move, and if so, with what degree of relative movement with respect to other objects)). Other examples of such content exist as well and/or will likely be developed in the future. For example, so-called classifiers (which some skilled practitioners might consider as being a kind of (or a variant of) a model) that tend to be more statistical in nature are also relevant to these teachings and may also serve as image recognition facilitation content.
Unfortunately, such content requires corresponding storage space. Though memory capacity and management continues to improve, it may not be possible to include a memory of sufficient capacity and/or capability in the near future that can contain all possible and/or available image recognition facilitation content as may exist at any given time.
Furthermore, even if such a memory did exist, sheer capacity in and of itself will not necessarily address all relevant concerns. In particular, new objects to be recognized occur on a regular basis (with illustrative examples including new personal objects, furniture, vehicles, architectural objects and features, and specific persons, to name a few). It is also likely that some existing objects to be recognized may assume a new shape or other condition that effectively renders that object effectively "new" (for example, broken objects such as half a cup or a partially dismantled chair may not be recognizable in their less-than-whole form). As an immediate end result, it is unlikely that a fielded image recognition platform (such as, but not limited to, a smart camera) will always have sufficient locally available image recognition facilitation content to ensure that its primary functionality can be adequately served at all times and under all circumstances.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Image recognition facilitation using remotely sourced content


An engaging component includes an engaging stub in the shape of a hollow cylinder with the bottom being secured on a first object to be engaged, and an outer sleeve in the shape of a hollow cylinder having a shank arranged to be inserted into the central hole of the engaging stub through a second object to be engaged. A positioning rod is insertable into a central hole of the outer sleeve, the positioning rod preventing the shank from being taken out of the central hole of the engaging stub, thereby locking the outer sleeve to the engaging stub.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a combined structure of an easily assemblable and movable storage cabinet with its engagement components, and is provided for easy assembling of the movable storage cabinet and reducing of its cost of production, working hours as well as its volume in storing and shipping.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A movable storage cabinet is normally used to dispose the electrical appliances such as a TV set, a video cassette recorder/player or a hi-fi set in a house, conventional structure of a movable storage cabinet is as shown in FIG. 1 comprised of a base plate 1, a rear backing plate 2, two lateral side plates 3, a top plate 4 and two door panels 5. In which, the base plate 1 is laid down on the ground with rollers 6 on the bottom thereof, so that the movable storage cabinet can slide by rolling of the rollers 6, the rear backing plate 2 and the two lateral side plates 3 are located upright respectively on the rear and the two lateral sides of the base plate 1, the top plate 4 has an area approximately equal to that of the base plate 1 and covers the tops of the rear backing plate 2 and the two lateral side plates 3, an opened receiving space 7 is formed by the base plate 1 , the top plate 4, the rear backing plate 2 and the two lateral side plates 3, in order to hold therein a video cassette recorder/player, the main machine of a hi-fi set, an amplifier, cassette tapes, videotapes or CDs etc., a TV set can be placed on the top of the top plate 4, the door panels 5 are provided in front of the receiving space 7 for opening or closing the receiving space 7.
The above mentioned conventional structure of a movable storage cabinet is convenient in use, however, it has quite a lot of defects in production, assembling, storing as well as shipping thereof, so that its cost can not be lowered, customers are in no way to buy durable ones of them with cheap prices. The principal reason making the defects of the conventional movable storage cabinets is that, the structure thereof is limited to the conventional assembling mode, i.e., the members including the base plate 1, the rear backing plate 2, the two lateral side plates 3, the top plate 4 and the door panels 5 are all made by connecting and fixing with the material of nails, iron sheets, conventional screws, rivets etc., and can not be detached once they are assembled and fixed; to a manufacturer, this will induce troubles such as too slow assembling speed, time wasting, too large volume of the assembled cabinet, wasting of storing space and inconvenience in shipping, all the troubles can render the cost of production and in turn the selling prices increased, yet customers are unable to take the cabinets home by themselves, shipping charges are induced, this further increases expense of the customers, in view of these, the structure of the conventional movable storage cabinets is necessary to be improved.

Engaging component for cabinet structures


An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a storage device controller having logic circuitry to apply a program voltage verification process for a first threshold level to a group of non volatile memory cells and correlate first program voltages for the group of non volatile memory cells determined from the process to a second threshold level to determine second program voltages for the second threshold level for the group of non volatile memory cells. The second threshold level is higher than the first threshold level.

With the onset of "big-data", artificial intelligence, machine learning and other highly data intensive applications, the ability to access stored data is becoming an increasingly important aspect of modern data computing systems and data centers. As such, developers of mass storage devices, such as Solid State Drives (SSDs), are focused on improving the density and speed of their devices.

SSD having a parallelized, multi-level program voltage verification


A platform structure has at least two articulated platforms that can extend end-to-end to form a bench type arrangement. For ease of portability, the structure includes wheels so that it can be carted when it is in a stow position. The structure can include a detachable canopy frame and a canopy, which provides protection from the element, namely rain, snow, sun, and wind. The canopy can have a camouflaged pattern so that it can blend into the surrounding. When the canopy is camouflaged, the structure is instantly converted into a hunting blind. In addition, a mounting mechanism is provided to mount the platform structure to another structure.

The present invention is directed to providing a folding platform structure. In particular, the present invention is directed to providing a seat, table or bar structure that can be easily transported by an individual to a site of use and/or attached to a fixed structure.
There are a number of situations in which an individual may desire to have a portable seating, table or bar structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,430, for example, describes a need for portable seating apparatus in spectator situations. Newer spectator arenas are designed to maximize the use of valuable space. An anchored seating arrangement, such as fixed benches, cannot be easily configured based on the type of event taking place at the arena. Accordingly, some form of portable structure is preferable. Similarly, in many outdoor events, it is desirable to providing as seating and/or table structure. For example, in many open field events for non-professional sports activities, no seating structures exist. Particularly in the case of soccer fields, coaches and players are often left standing and exposed to the elements. There still remains a need for a seating structure that can be easily setup/stowed at locations where no or limited seating space is available and further to provide cover from the weather. Still other examples include hunters that need seating and cover for hunting blinds or individuals participating in tail gate parties at sporting events in needs of seating and tables. Still further, a folding platform structure that could be utilized in conjunction with a fixed structure would be desirable in situations in which inclement weather may overturn a seat, table or bar.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide a seat, table or bar structure can be folded into a compact storing position, that can be made portable for easy transportation, that can provide cover from the elements of weather, and that can alternatively be coupled to a fixed structure.


A focus adjustment unit according to the present invention has an imaging section configured to generate an image signal by forming and capturing an optical image on an image sensor by an optical system including a focusing lens, and performs focus adjustment based on a focus detection signal relating to a focus detection area set within an imaging area, the focus adjustment unit comprising a focusing lens position detection section configured to detect a position of the focusing lens, a storage section configured to store information on an image magnification change of the optical system along with movement of the focusing lens, and a focus detection area setting section configured to set a focus detection area within the imaging area, wherein the focus detection area setting section sets the focus detection area based on the position of the focusing lens and the information on an image magnification change.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus adjustment unit and a camera system that set a focus detection area within an imaging area and performs focus adjustment based on a focus detection signal in the focus detection area.
2. Description of Related Art
AF (Auto Focus) is known generally, which brings a subject into focus by adjusting the position of a focusing lens using an image signal from an image sensor at the time of imaging. For example, focus detection is performed on an AF area fixed within the imaging area and the position of the focusing lens is adjusted based on this focus detection information.
In such a focus adjustment method, the size of a subject image changes in accordance with zooming of a zoom lens and the subject image corresponding to the AF area changes, and therefore, there may occur a problem that focus adjustment accuracy is decreased. To address such a problem, in the lens control unit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-025118, the AF area is scaled in accordance with an image magnification change due to zooming so that the AF area corresponding to the subject is fixed apparently at all the times.


A boost regulator circuit with soft-start is arranged for high-frequency pulse width modulation of LED current. When a shutdown signal is asserted, all circuitry in the boost regulator circuit is disabled, except for circuitry needed for a shutdown delay timer. Also, when the shutdown signal is asserted, the shutdown delay timer begins. If the shutdown signal is de-asserted before the shutdown delay timer expires, the boost regulator circuit resumes normal operation and soft-start is not employed. If the timer expires before the shutdown signal is de-asserted, a soft-start timer is reset, and the entire boost regulator circuit is disabled. When the shutdown signal is de-asserted after the soft-start timer is reset, soft-start is employed.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used for lighting in portable electronics applications, and the like. It is often desirable to provide a mechanism for adjusting the brightness of the LED. According to a first approach, an LED may be driven with a DC voltage, and the DC voltage may be adjusted to adjust the brightness of the LED. According to a second approach, an LED may be driven with a high peak current having a low duty cycle, and the duty cycle of the current may be adjusted to adjust the brightness of the LED. The second approach consumes less power at a given level of brightness than the first approach.
White LEDs may be used for back-lighting applications. Typically, several white LEDs are coupled in series. A boost switching regulator may be employed to provide a voltage across the white LEDs.

Apparatus and method for high-frequency PWM with soft-start