A power amplifier circuit includes two amplifier subsections and delay elements coupled in parallel. An input received by the second amplifier subsection is a delayed version of the input received by the first amplifier subsection. The output of the first amplifier subsection is delayed such that the delayed output of the first amplifier subsection is in phase with the output of the second amplifier subsection. For low output power operation, only the first amplifier subsection is enabled. For high output power operation, both the first and the second amplifier subsections are enabled. The first and the second amplifier subsections operate as saturated amplifiers. A first variable output power control signal controls the output power of the first amplifier subsection, and a second variable output power control signal controls the output power of the second amplifier subsection.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to electronic power amplifiers (PAs), and more particularly to radio frequency (RF) or saturated power amplifiers with multiple, selectable output power levels.
2. Related Art
Electronic amplifiers receive an input signal and provide an output signal that is typically a larger magnitude version of the input signal. As is well-known, class A, class AB, class B, or class C amplifiers are broad general categories of electronic amplifiers (there are also switching-mode amplifiers, such as class D, class E, class F2, etc.). The class A and AB amplifiers operate in a linear manner, while the class B and C amplifiers operate in a non-linear manner. The class A, AB, B, and C designations are generally determined by the position of the quiescent current point (Q-point) on the amplifier's load line, as set by a particular amplifier bias setting. The Q-point position is set by bias levels (e.g., voltages) applied to the electronic amplifier circuit components. These amplifier classifications apply to small signal inputs to wideband (untuned) amplifiers.
A tuned amplifier is an electronic amplifier that is configured to provide a maximum gain at a particular input signal frequency. For example, a tuned RF amplifier provides a maximum gain at a particular RF operating frequency or at a frequency within a particular RF operating frequency band (e.g., a cellular telephony (wireless) frequency band designated for operation by a government agency). The amplifier is tuned to provide maximum gain at the desired frequency by resonating capacitance with inductance in the amplifier circuit.
In an ideal amplifier, the output signal waveform exactly corresponds to the input signal waveform (i.e., a linear relationship), except that the output signal waveform is increased in amplitude and possibly time-delayed (phase shifted). All real world amplifiers, however, distort the input signal during amplification such that there is at least a small degree of non-linearity between the amplifier's output signal and the driving input signal. For example, distortion can occur because of the amplifier's inherent characteristics (e.g., non-linear signal response during operation) or because of extraneous signals affecting the output signal (e.g., noise).
In wireless (e.g., radio) communications systems, the signal carrying information being transmitted is typically a byproduct of a carrier signal component and a modulating signal component. The modulating signal carries the transmitted information and is used to alter (modulate) the carrier signal waveform. Various well-known modulation techniques include amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), pulse code modulation (PCM), Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK), and coded modulation schemes (e.g., coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (COFDM)). In wireless communication systems, both carrier signal and modulating signal distortion are important design factors. Since the modulating signal component of the signal being amplified carries the information, modulating signal distortion should be minimized.
Three types of distortion that are of interest in RF amplifiers are harmonic distortion of the input signal to the amplifier, amplitude distortion of the modulating signal component of the input signal (e.g., AM-AM envelope distortion), and phase distortion of the modulated signal due to input envelope changes (e.g., AM-PM distortion). Since amplifiers used in RF applications are typically tuned amplifiers, harmonic components of the input signal are suppressed to acceptable levels in the amplifier's output signal. But RF amplifiers must amplify the input signal such that the modulating component in the amplified output signal is acceptably linear (acceptably distortion-free). If not driven into saturation by the input signal, both class A and class AB tuned RF amplifiers typically provide the required modulating signal component linearity for modern wireless power amplification applications (e.g., amplifying cellular telephone signals for transmission by the handset).
A saturated amplifier is an amplifier (regardless of amplifier class rating) that is operated with high input signal overdrive such that the amplifier is severely voltage limited. That is, in a saturated amplifier, the output signal voltage is limited by the supply voltages applied to the amplifier (i.e., the top-rail and bottom-rail voltages). Therefore, the amplified output voltage signal waveform is clipped. Both the output voltage and current are moving through the available extremes of the amplifying component(s) (e.g., in both the ohmic/high current regions and cutoff/high voltage region). A saturated amplifier is a non-linear amplifier (i.e., the output signal waveform is a clipped version of the input signal waveform). However, when using some modulation schemes where the envelope of the input signal is constant, the amplitude-limiting characteristic of a saturated amplifier is acceptable. Modulation methods of this type typically use phase or frequency variations to carry the modulated information signal. Low AM-PM distortion is important. Saturated amplifiers advantageously provide high DC operating power-to-RF output power efficiency with low AM-PM distortion.
The Doherty amplifier has been known since the 1930s, and was first applied to radio signal broadcasting. The Doherty amplifier includes a carrier amplifier and a peaking amplifier, which operate in response to a variable amplitude input signal. When the envelope peaks of the input signal are less than an input threshold, the carrier amplifier operates in a non-saturated linear manner and provides low power amplification. The peaking amplifier is disabled at this time. When the envelope peaks of the input signal are greater than the input threshold, the carrier amplifier operates in a saturated mode, and the peaking amplifier is enabled. The peaking amplifier is biased for class B and/or class C bias operation. The peaking amplifier never saturates in the classic Doherty amplifier.
Electric power available to portable wireless (e.g., radio) transceivers (e.g., cellular telephone handsets) is typically limited by battery life and desired talk-time. Of the electronic components in such transceivers, the power amplifier in the transmitter section typically consumes the most electric power. As such transceivers are increasingly miniaturized, electric power consumption becomes a critical design consideration, because long battery life is desirable. Some transceivers have transmitter sections that output signals at selectable power levels. For example, in a typical cellular telephone handset operating under the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the power of the RF input signal provided to the final stage amplifier of the transmitter is high and relatively constant. The output power of the final stage amplifier is controlled with an analog control signal. The output power of the final stage amplifier is reduced as the analog control signal is reduced, but since the battery voltage and power amplifier load impedance are constant, the DC to RF power efficiency is also reduced.
It is therefore desirable to have a saturated amplifier circuit that provides selectable output power levels and exhibits a high power efficiency over the desired range of power levels.

Saturated power amplifier with selectable and variable output power levels


A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a main body, a chain cage, a first pulley, a second pulley and a chain contact member. The main body is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The chain cage is pivotally coupled to the main body movement between at least a first orientation and a second orientation. The first pulley is rotatably coupled to one of the chain cage and the main body. The second pulley is rotatably mounted to the chain cage to move therewith relative to the main body. The chain contact member is coupled to the main body. The chain contact member includes a non-rotatable chain contact portion that projects into a chain path between the first and second pulleys while the chain cage is in the first orientation, and that is located outside of the chain path between the first and second pulleys while the chain cage is in the second orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle derailleur. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle derailleur that includes a chain cage with at least one pulley rotatably mounted to the chain cage.
2. Background Information
A bicycle typically uses a chain drive transmission for transmitting a pedaling force to a rear wheel. The chain drive transmission of a bicycle often uses derailleurs to selectively move a chain from one of a plurality of sprockets to another fir changing speeds of the bicycle. A typical derailleur has a base member, a movable member supporting a chain guide and a linkage assembly (e.g., a moving mechanism) coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the chain cage moves laterally relative to the base member. In the case of a rear derailleur, typically two pulleys are provided such that as the chain cage and the pulleys compensate for the chain being shifted to change a gear ratio.


Novel amino acid-modified silane compounds having a weakly acidic amino group and a weakly basic carboxyl group are useful as a surface treating agent or textile treating agent.

Amino-containing silane compounds are known useful as surface treating agents which are applied to substrates to render their surfaces hydrophilic and as textile treating agents which are applied to fibers and fabrics to impart hydrophilic properties. Exemplary compounds include aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and aminoethylaminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane. While these amino-containing silane compounds can impart hydrophilic properties, they are less effective for imparting antifouling and antifungal properties to the treated surface.
Also known are those compounds capable of imparting not only hydrophilic, but also antifouling and antifungal properties to the treated surface. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses silane compounds having a tetraalkylammonium group such as 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyloctadecyldimethylammonium chloride. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose silane compounds containing a sulfobetaine group and silane compounds containing quaternary ammonium and carboxyl groups.
However, these compounds are still unsatisfactory. Although the tetraalkylammonium-containing silane compounds described in Patent Document 1 can impart antifungal properties, they fail to impart satisfactory antifouling properties because the treated surfaces of substrates or fabrics are electrostatically charged positive by the tetraalkylammonium group, allowing dust and debris to deposit on the surface owing to electrostatic adsorption. Since the sulfobetaine-containing silane compounds described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 and the silane compounds containing tetraalkylammonium and carboxyl groups described in Patent Document 3 form a zwitter-ion in the molecule, the treated surfaces of substrates or fabrics are less electrostatically charged than the treatment with the tetraalkylammonium-containing silane compounds. The sulfobetaine-containing silane compounds have a bias toward the negative charge side due to the sulfonic acid group which is a strong acid, and the silane compounds containing tetraalkylammonium and carboxyl groups have a bias toward the positive charge side due to the tetraalkylammonium group. Because of such a bias from electrical neutrality, no satisfactory antifouling properties are available.

Amino acid-modified silane compounds and making method


According to embodiments of the present invention, an integrated circuit such as a processor includes a counter to count an actual number of unreliable storage locations in the processor cache, at least one register to store an acceptable number of unreliable storage locations for the cache, a detector to measure a thermal environment of the processor, and circuitry to raise an operating voltage of the processor if the actual number of unreliable storage locations exceeds the acceptable number of unreliable storage locations, and if the thermal environment is acceptable.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to integrated circuits and, in particular, to storage locations in integrated circuits.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, integrated circuit (IC) devices can be used to temporarily or permanently store information or data. For example, memory devices such as read-only memory (ROM) have storage locations that can be read. Memory devices such as random access memory (RAM) have storage locations that can be read and written.
Typically, the device is specified to work within a given environment and at a particular voltage. These specifications commonly represent a worst case environment in which the part will work properly. As technology takes the industry to smaller geometries and lower operating voltages, the integrity the devices may become an issue, however.

Method and apparatus to adjust voltage for storage location reliability


A golf club holder and display adaptable to the desired configuration of the user. The display includes a support member and a cradle, with the cradle being adjustably removable relative to the support member. The support member may accept different numbers and types of cradles, and the user can select the cradles based on the desired display configuration. The golf club holder and display is also adaptable to supporting both right-handed and left-handed golf clubs.

Many types of golf club display racks are available in the prior art. Available racks use various methods to hold and display the golf clubs. For example, there exist golf club racks that display the clubs where the golf club hangs from the head with the shaft hanging down. These racks are advantageous in that it allows for easy browsing of the golf clubs mounted on the rack, allowing the customer to quickly find the golf club desired.
An example of a golf club rack that displays the club upside down is a rack where the club heads are held in place by providing an upper and lower surface to support the head and part of the shaft, respectively. In this type of display, however, the display rack is not adaptable to accommodate different assortments of clubs depending on the desired selection that the golf club vendor wishes to display. Rather, the golf club vendor is forced to display only an assortment of clubs that will fit into the existing racks.
Another example of a golf club rack is a display that supports golf club heads using a cradle with arcuate arms and a trough. The golf club cradles used with this type of display, however, are limited in that a specific type of cradle must be used with this display, and therefore the rack is not adaptable to a variety of different environments and preferences.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a golf club display rack operable with multiple cradle designs to maximize versatility. Further, the golf club rack should keep golf club heads organized and protected, making it unnecessary for a user to spend time spinning the golf club heads to find the model desired. The golf clubs should appear organized, neat and professional, and allow for easy viewing of shaft options. Finally it is desired to have a display rack that allows easy removal of the golf clubs from the display and it does not require lifting of clubs out of tubes as in previous devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A detector is disclosed for sensing an intensity of an electron beam generated along a path. An exemplary detector includes an exposed conductor attached to a support which is configured to locate the exposed conductor within a path of an electron beam; a grounded conductor isolated from the exposed conductor, the grounded conductor partly surrounding the exposed conductor to form a plasma shield having a window positioned at least in a direction of the electron beam path.

Electron beams are used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to irradiation of packaging materials for sterilization purposes. For example, packaging materials such as cartons used to hold liquids for human consumption are sterilized using electron beam irradiation. To provide on-line control of the intensity of the electron beam, and to monitor uniformity variations, electron sensors are used for dose irradiation measurement. A signal from the sensor is analyzed and fed back into an electron beam control system as a feedback control signal. In the sterilization of packaging material, such sensor feedback can be used to assure a sufficient level of sterilization. Different levels of sterilization can be chosen depending on how long shelf-life is desired and whether the distribution and storage of the packages is made in chilled or ambient temperature.
One kind of existing sensor for measuring electron beam intensity, based on direct measuring methods, uses a conductor placed within a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is used to provide isolation from the surrounding environment. Because vacuum-based sensors can be relatively large, they are located at positions outside the direct electron beam path to avoid shadowing of target objects. Shadowing can, for example, preclude proper irradiation (and thus, proper sterilization) of packaging material. Therefore, these sensors rely on secondary information from a periphery of the beam, or information from secondary irradiation, to provide a measurement.
In operation, electrons from the electron beam which have sufficient energy will penetrate a window, such as a titanium (Ti) window of the vacuum chamber and be absorbed by the conductor. The absorbed electrons establish a current in the conductor. The magnitude of this current is a measure of the number of electrons penetrating the window of the vacuum chamber. This current provides a measure of the intensity of the electron beam at the sensor position.
A known electron beam sensor having a vacuum chamber with a protective coating, and an electrode representing a signal wire inside the chamber, are described in published U.S. patent application No. US 2004/0119024. The chamber walls are used to maintain a vacuum volume around the electrode. The vacuum chamber has a window accurately aligned with the electrode to sense the electron beam density. The sensor is configured for placement at a location, relative to a moving article being irradiated, opposite the electron beam generator for sensing secondary irradiation.
A similar electron beam sensor is described in patent publication WO 2004 061890. In one embodiment of this sensor, the vacuum chamber is removed and the electrode is provided with an insulating layer or film. The insulating layer is provided to avoid influence from electrostatic fields and plasma electrons created by the electron beam from substantially influencing the electrode output.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,212 describes an electron beam irradiation processing device wherein an insulating film is provided on a conductor, such as a stainless steel conductor, of a current detection unit placed outside a window of an electron beam tube. A current measuring unit includes a current meter that measures current detected. This patent describes advantages of a ceramic coated detector.

Exposed conductor system and method for sensing an electron beam


A terminal of the present disclosure includes a communicator configured to communicate using a short-range wireless protocol, a camera, and one or more processors configured to receive advertisement information from a plurality of target devices, control the camera to photograph an image of a selected target device of the plurality of target devices, and establish a connection with the selected target device via the communicator based on the photographed image of the selected target device and the received advertisement information.

The present disclosure relates to a terminal capable of photographing a target device to be connected to establish a short-range wireless communication connection, such as BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) connection, with the target device.
BLUETOOTH is a short-range wireless technology standard for wirelessly connecting various devices to exchange data over short distances. In order to perform wireless communication between two devices using BLUETOOTH communication, a user performs a procedure of discovering BLUETOOTH devices for communication and requesting a connection. In the present invention, the device may mean equipment or an apparatus.
At this time, the user may discover and then connect the BLUETOOTH devices according to a BLUETOOTH communication method.
The BLUETOOTH communication method includes a basic rate/enhanced data rate (BR/EDR) method and a low energy (LE) method. BR/EDR may also be referred to as BLUETOOTH Classic. The BLUETOOTH classic method includes BLUETOOTH technology which has been used since BLUETOOTH version number 1.0 using a basic rate and BLUETOOTH technology using an enhanced data rate which has been supported since BLUETOOTH version number 2.0.
BLUETOOTH low energy (hereinafter, referred to as BLUETOOTH LE) technology has been applied since BLUETOOTH version number 4.0 and may stably provide information of several hundred kilobytes (kB) with low power consumption. Such BLUETOOTH LE technology uses an attribute protocol to enable information exchange between devices. Such BLUETOOTH LE technology may reduce header overhead and simplify operation, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Some BLUETOOTH devices may not include a display or a user interface. Complexity of connection/management/control/disconnection between various types of BLUETOOTH devices and, more particularly, BLUETOOTH devices using similar technologies is increasing.
In addition, BLUETOOTH has a relatively high data rate with relatively low power and low cost, but a transmission distance is typically limited to a maximum of 100 m. Therefore, BLUETOOTH is most suitable for use in confined spaces and across relatively short-range distances.
Meanwhile, if a terminal and another device are to be connected using a conventional BLUETOOTH LE method, many processes or operations have to be performed for pairing and connection.
For example, the user must initiate a scan after entering a BLUETOOTH menu, confirm and select a device to be connected in a list of numerous scanned and discovered devices, and initiate a connection to establish a pairing and connection. Only after the connection is established following the numerous connection operations, the user is then able to execute a dedicated application ("app") to control the selected device.

Terminal and method for connecting to target devices


Rack assemblies and methods for cooling one or more rack-based computer systems, as well as data center configurations that utilize the rack assembly. The rack assembly comprises a rack providing support for multiple columns of heat-generating electronic devices and device fans for moving air from an air inlet side of the rack through the devices and through an air outlet side of the rack. The rack assembly also comprises a unitary door having a support frame spanning the air outlet side of the rack and hingedly coupling the door to a rear vertical edge of the rack. The door includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger panel spanning an air outlet passage inside the support frame so that substantially all of the air passing through the air outlet must pass through the heat exchanger panel. The air outlet passage has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the multiple columns of heat-generating devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cooling computer systems and to the configuration of a datacenter according to how computer equipment is cooled.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer systems use electrical energy and produce heat as a byproduct of electrical resistance. Rack-based computer systems include many rack-mounted components in a high-density arrangement, which can produce a considerable amount of heat. Excess heat must be removed from the rack to control internal temperatures and to maintain system reliability, performance, and longevity. In a conventional rack-based computer system, rack-mounted fans move cool air through the rack to remove the excess heat and cool the components. The heated exhaust air must then be transported to a computer-room air conditioner ("CRAC") that cools the air before returning the cooled air to the data center.
In a conventional datacenter layout, racks in a data center are commonly arranged in an organized hot-aisle/cold-aisle layout to minimize the likelihood of appreciable volumes of heated exhaust air from directly re-entering the racks. A hot-aisle/cold-aisle layout may include alternating hot aisles and cold aisles, with the front of each rack sharing a cold aisle with one adjacent rack and the rear of each rack sharing a hot aisle with another adjacent rack. The CRAC supplies the cooled air to the cold aisles. The air from the cool aisle is drawn into the front of each rack and the heated air is exhausted through the rear of the rack to the hot aisle. The heated exhaust air recirculates through the CRAC to be cooled and returned back to the cold aisles.

Rack with integrated rear-door heat exchanger

International Business Machines Corporation


A net light set includes a first common wire means extending in a first (horizontal) direction, the first common wire means including lengths of a bypass wire and a return wire. A plurality of series-connected light strings extend physically parallel to each other and in a second (vertical) direction transverse to the first direction. Each light string includes a plurality of lamp sockets and a plurality of intermediate lengths of a single active wire connecting the lamp sockets in series. In each of the light strings intermediate the first and last light strings, the single active wire is twisted together intermediate the lamp sockets only with a first non-wire extending in the second direction for enhanced tensile strength. At least one second non-wire extends in the first direction and physically connects intermediate lengths of each light string with corresponding intermediate lengths of other light strings.

The present invention relates to a net light set, and more particularly to an economical net light set using only a single active wire.
Net light sets are well-known in the prior art which exemplifies a broad range of different embodiments. Nonetheless, in the United States the manufacture and sale of a net light set is sharply limited by the standards and requirements of the UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Whether or not the UL requirements have the force of law, a failure to obtain the coveted UL certification may sound the death knell of any commercial electrical product. UL requirements involve standards for ultraviolet (UV)-rating (for outdoor use), temperature resistance, flammability (flame resistance), pull weight (tensile strength) and the like. For example, the UL requires that a current-carrying wire be either by itself of a thickness (18 gauge) such that its use would be uneconomical or thinner (22 gauge) and twisted together with another wire such that the twisted wires in tandem support one another. Thus a prior art net light set typically includes a current-carrying active wire and a current-carrying return wire twisted together to form the various columns or icicles of the light set and optionally a bypass wire extending horizontally from one end of the light set to the other end of the light set and being twisted together at various points along its length with adjacent portions of the twisted together active and return wires. While this latter technique for meeting the UL standard is economically superior to the use of the oversized wire, it is not entirely satisfactory from the point of view of the manufacturer as it requires the use of a return wire which is substantially of the same length as the active wire. The conductive core of the insulated wires is a major expense in the production of light sets, while the insulative outer covering is by itself only a small fraction of the production cost.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a UL-acceptable net light set which is economical to manufacture.
Another object is to provide such a set which employs a return wire of substantially lesser length than the active wire.
A further object is to provide such a light set which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, use and maintain.
The above and related objects of the present invention are obtained in a net light set according to the present invention. The net light set comprises a first common wire means extending in a first direction, the first common wire means including lengths of a bypass wire and a return wire. A plurality of series-connected light strings extend physically parallel to each other and in a second direction transverse to the first direction. Each light string includes a plurality of lamp sockets and a plurality of intermediate lengths of a single active wire connecting the lamp sockets in series. In each of the light strings intermediate the first and last light strings, the single active wire is twisted together intermediate the lamp sockets only with a first non-wire extending in the second direction for enhanced tensile strength. At least one second non-wire extends in the first direction and physically connects intermediate lengths of each light string with corresponding intermediate lengths of other light strings. Plug means are disposed at one end of the light set and include the bypass and return wires.
In a Straight Return embodiment, in the first and last light strings, the single active wire is twisted together only with the first non-wire intermediate the lamp sockets for enhanced tensile strength.
In a U-Return embodiment, the first and last light strings are formed of lengths of the single active wire twisted together with lengths of the return wire for enhanced tensile strength, and a second common wire means extends in the first direction parallel to and spaced from the first common wire means, the second common wire means including lengths of the single active wire and/or lengths of the first non-wire twisted together with a single length of the return wire for enhanced tensile strength. The second common wire means further includes lengths of the first non-wire twisted together with the single active wire and the return wires for enhanced tensile strength.
In an Extra Non-wire embodiment, at least one of the first and second common wire means (and preferably each) includes a length of an additional non-wire extending in the first direction between the first light string and the last light string and twisted together with the wires and non-wires thereof.
In a Sub-Set embodiment, the set is in turn comprised of a plurality of series-connected light sub-sets wired in parallel, each light sub-set (except optionally only the last sub-set) further including a bypass wire twisted together with at least one of the first and second common wire means.
In a Multiple Sets embodiment, a plurality of the light sets are provided, and in each light set (excepting optionally only the last light set) an end connector means is disposed at an opposed end of the light set and the bypass wire establishes electrical communication between the plug means and the end connector of the light set.
Preferably, in all embodiments the first and second non-wires resemble the active wire in outward appearance.
The present invention further encompasses a net light set useable as one of a plurality of interconnected net light sets. Each set comprises, at one end of the set, a plug having a pair of conductors for connection to a power supply or an end connector of another light set, and, at an opposite end of the set, an end element selected from the group consisting of an end connector adapted to receive the plug of another light set and means electrically connecting adjacent free ends of the bypass and return wires. A bypass wire extends across the set in electrical communication with a live one of the conductors, and a return wire extends across the set in electrical communication with a return one of the conductors. A plurality of active wires are provided, each active wire extending across a respective one of the subsets substantially in a plurality of electrically and physically interconnected, horizontally spaced vertical strings and being in electrical and physical communication with the bypass wire at a beginning end of a respective subset and with the return wire at a terminal end of a respective subset. A plurality of lamp sockets are disposed in series in electrical and physical communication and spaced along the active wire of each subset. A first non-electrical pseudowire (e.g., a first non-wire) resembling the active wire in outward appearance is twisted together with the active wire in each subset intermediate the lamp sockets thereof in order to provide additional tensile strength to each vertical string of the subset, and at least one second non-electrical pseudowire (e.g., a second non-wire) resembling the active wire in outward appearance connects horizontally aligned segments of the vertical strings of the set to form a net appearance.
There are either a plurality of vertically spaced apart and linearly extending second pseudowires or a single second pseudowire extending throughout the set in a xe2x80x9cZxe2x80x9d shape pattern. Each of the at least one second pseudowires directly connects horizontally aligned lamp sockets of the vertical strings of the set to form a net appearance or connects horizontally aligned portions of the active wire and the first pseudowire adjacent the lamp sockets.
Each of the bypass wire, the return wire, and the active wire is formed of an electrically conductive metal core and an electrically insulative sheath thereover, and each of the first and second pseudowires is formed of an electrically insulative polymeric sheath without an electrically conductive metal core therein. The first pseudowire exhibits a tensile strength of at least 28 pounds, while the second pseudowire may exhibit a tensile strength of less than 28 pounds.
The return wire and the bypass wire extend essentially directly across the set at a top thereof, or the bypass wire extends essentially directly across the set at a top thereof and the return wire extends in a U-shape configuration along one vertically extending side, a bottom, and another vertically extending side of the set.
In the former Straight Return embodiment, the return wire and the bypass wire extend essentially directly across the set at a top thereof. Within each subset, adjacent pairs of the vertical strings are connected by the first pseudowire and the active wire twisted together. Alternatively, adjacent pairs of the vertical strings are connected together alternately at the top of one adjacent pair of the vertical strings and at the bottom of the next adjacent pair of the vertical strings.
In the latter U-Return embodiment, the first pseudowire is twisted together with the active wire in each vertical string in each subset (excepting optionally a first vertical string of the first subset and a last vertical string of the last subset), the active wire of the first and last vertical strings being twisted together with portions of the return wire extending along the vertically extending sides of the set. Alternately, portions of the active wire extending across at least one pair of adjacent vertical strings at the bottom of a respective one of the subsets and portions of the first pseudowire extending across at least one other pair of adjacent vertical strings at the bottom of a respective one of the subsets are twisted together with respective successive portions of the return wire. The first pseudowire is twisted together with the active wire in each vertical string in each subset. Portions of the active wire extending across at least one pair of adjacent vertical strings at the top of a respective one of the subsets and portions of the first pseudowire extending across at least one pair of adjacent vertical strings at the top of a respective one of the subsets are twisted together with respective portions of the return and bypass wires. In this instance, portions of the active wire extend across at least one pair of adjacent vertical strings at the top of a respective one of the subsets and portions of the first pseudowire extend across at least one adjacent pair of adjacent vertical strings at the top of a respective one of the subsets. These portions are twisted together with respective portions of the return and bypass wires.
In such a U-Return embodiment, the bypass wire extends essentially directly across the set at a top thereof, but the return wire extends in a U-shape configuration along one vertically extending side, a bottom, and another vertically extending side of the set. The first pseudowire is twisted together with the active wire in each vertical string in each subset (except optionally a first vertical string of the first subset and a last vertical string of the last subset). The active wire of the first and last vertical strings is twisted together with portions of the return wire extending along the vertically extending sides of the set, and, alternately, portions of the active wire extending across at least one pair of adjacent vertical strings at the bottom of a respective one of the subsets and portions of the first pseudowire extending across at least one other pair of adjacent vertical strings at the bottom of a respective one of the subsets are twisted together with respective successive portions of the return wire.
The present invention further encompasses a net light set comprising a common wire means extending in a substantially horizontal first direction, the common wire means including lengths of a single bypass wire and a single return wire. A plurality of series-connected light strings extend physically parallel to each other and in a substantially vertical second direction transverse to the first direction, each light string including a plurality of lamp sockets and a plurality of intermediate lengths of a single active wire connecting the lamp sockets in series. In each of the light strings intermediate the first and last light strings, the single active wire is twisted together intermediate the lamp sockets only with a first non-wire extending in the second direction for enhanced tensile strength. At least one second non-wire extends in the first direction and physically connects intermediate lengths of each light string with corresponding intermediate lengths of other light strings. Plug means are disposed at one end of the light set and including the active and return wires. Adjacent each of the lamp sockets in each of the light strings, intermediate the first and last light strings and intermediate the top and bottom lamp sockets, the second non-wire extends in the first direction and crimps one of the socket-entering and socket-leaving single active wire portions about the other single active wire portion.
Preferably, the second non-wire extends to one side (e.g., the rear) of the socket-entering single active wire and the first non-wire twisted therewith, then to an opposite side (e.g., the front) of the socket-entering single active wire and the socket-leaving single active wire, and finally loops about the socket-entering single active wire before continuing intermediate the socket-entering single active wire and the socket-leaving single active wire in the first direction. Thus, the second non-wire blocks sliding movement of the lamp socket in both the first and second directions, thereby to provide the set with a net appearance.
In a preferred embodiment, spaced apart lengths of the first non-wire on opposite sides of a respective one of the lamp sockets are bridged by a third length of the first non-wire bypassing the respective one lamp socket. The set may additionally including means for commonly orienting the lamp sockets relative to one of the socket-entering and socket-leaving single active wires, the orienting means not functioning to block sliding movement of the lamp socket. Preferably, the first non-wire has a tensile strength of at least 28 lbs., although the second non-wire need not.


A system and method are provided for tracking a face moving through multiple frames of a video sequence. A predicted position of a face in a video frame is obtained. Similarity matching for both a color model and an edge model are performed to derive correlation values for each about the predicted position. The correlation values are then combined to determine a best position and scale match to track a face in the video.

Tracking faces in a video sequence is an important module for automated video surveillance. It is a precursor to many applications such as video based face recognition, tag and track of faces and multi-camera indexing. Face tracking in a video has been a long studied problem using many features, such as skin color and edge based face structure features. Tracking faces poses unique set of problems when compared with tracking other objects, such as people, cars, or other objects of interest.
Faces are approximately uniform in their color which makes the tracking solution possible using color as an appearance model. Many researchers have used features derived from the skin color of the face, such as color histogram, for face tracking. Using the face color as an appearance model for tracking provides invariance to different head pose variations. However, the problem of face tracking using color is challenging when the background is of similar color or in the presence of ambient illumination variations. Using edge information of faces as an appearance model for face tracking proved robust to illumination variations. However, the out-of-plane variations of the face pose worsens 2D edge model matching. A generalized tracking algorithm has also been used that models the appearance using a mixture of Gaussians. It may be used for tracking a face with pose changes, typically in-plane pose changes. Others may use an appearance model and embed the tracking in the particle filter framework.
Two main approaches have been used to track faces in videos. In one approach, local features of the face are detected (or manually marked) and the features are tracked over time. This is useful if the orientation of the face needs to be computed along with the face position (as used in Human Computer Interaction applications). Another approach utilizes global features of the face, such as a color histogram, that distinguishes the face from the background.
In surveillance videos, multiple faces need to be tracked with face sizes as small as 24×24 pixels, making it difficult to identify and track local features. The faces can undergo illumination changes (because of shadows and indoor lighting), can have partial occlusions, and have large pose changes. The background may also be cluttered, depending on the setup. These challenges need to be overcome for effective face tracking in a surveillance setup.

Multi-pose face tracking using multiple appearance models


The current invention provides novel methods for treating victims of cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke. The methods of the current invention rehabilitate weakened and atrophied muscles by applying electrical stimulation to the muscles. Preferably, the electric current cycles between on and off thereby at 10 second intervals thereby stimulating the muscle for 10 seconds and allowing the muscle to relax for 10 seconds. Treatment periods are preferably 15 minutes per day, five days per week. In general, treatments are performed over a 3 to 12 month period. Patients treated according to the disclosed methodology experience significant improvements in their overall quality of life.

Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease, commonly referred to as stroke, brain attack or cerebrovascular accident, can have a devastating impact on the victim and the victim's family. American Heart Association statistics indicate that there are approximately 500,000 cases of stroke each year and strokes are the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. The likelihood of experiencing a stroke increases with age with approximately 80% of all strokes are suffered by those over the age of 65. Thus, as the average age of American society increases, the number of people at risk for stroke will continue to increase.
In layman's terms, a stroke occurs when a cerebral artery in the brain becomes blocked or ruptures preventing the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the associated portion of the brain. If the brain cells are deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes they die. With the death of the brain cells, the body function controlled by that portion of the brain is typically lost or at least seriously impaired.
One common method of assessing the impact of stroke on the victim is the Modified Rankin Scale. The Modified Rankin Scale has seven levels of impact ranging from a 0=no symptoms to 6=death. In between the two extremes, lie the following classifications:                1=no significant disability despite symptoms: able to carry out all usual duties and activities        2=slight disability: unable to carry out all previous activities, but able to look after own affairs without assistance        3=moderate disability: requiring some help, but able to walk without assistance        4=moderate to severe disability: unable to walk without assistance, and unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance        5=severe disability: bedridden, incontinent, and requiring constant nursing care and attention.
The methods of the current invention are primarily directed to improving the overall function and quality of life in stroke victims with Rankin scores of 2 (slight disability) to 4 (moderate to severe disability).
Several factors impact the patient's recovery from a stroke. In addition to the location and extent of the stroke, the patient's age and overall state of health impact the degree of recovery. The Merck Manual in Chapter 152, Section 14 notes that complete recovery from stroke is uncommon with those patients experiencing early improvements during treatment having a generally better overall prognosis. Typically, 50% of the patients with moderate to severe hemiplegia or milder deficits will recover functionally prior to discharge from the hospital. These individuals may eventually recover sufficiently to care for their own basic needs. Unfortunately, the Merck Manual states, "any deficit remaining after 6 mo is likely to be permanent, although some patients continue to improve slowly."
Research directed toward stroke prevention and treatment of stroke is ongoing; however, progress is slow. In particular, virtually no research is focused on improving the quality of life for stroke victims after the initial rehabilitation process. Rather, a stroke victim with moderate to severe disability more than six months after the occurrence of the stroke is generally regarded as being permanently disability. Clearly, the lack of research directed to improving the quality of life for stroke survivors subsequent to the initial rehabilitation process is a result of the generally accepted view that improvement will not occur in such patients.
The generally accepted view notwithstanding, the current invention provides methods for rehabilitating stroke victims who are well beyond the generally accepted six-month treatment period. The rehabilitation methods of the current invention provide significant improvement in mobility, strength and range of motion to those body parts impacted by cerebrovascular disease. Accordingly, the current invention provides improved methods for treating victims of stroke and in particular for treating victims who continue to suffer disability more than six months following the occurrence of the stroke. The methods of the current invention are described in detail below.

Methods for treating victims of cerebrovascular disease


An annular groove part with a predetermined depth is formed in a rotation body, and a wall surface of the annular groove part is sealed by a second protrusion elongated annular part formed in an inner circumference of a rotor attached to the annular groove part, and a wall surface of the annular groove part is sealed by a first protrusion elongated annular part formed in an outer circumference of the rotor, and grease is sealed in the inside. When the rotor is engaged in a support body and the rotation body is rotated, rotation of the rotor is regulated, so that the rotation body is damped by fluid resistance of the grease and is slowly rotated. The rotation body is supported by a support shaft inserted into a shaft hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an opening and closing damping apparatus for slowly opening and closing a rotation body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, structure bodies having various opening and closing mechanisms are provided in the vehicle interior of a vehicle such as an automobile. The structure bodies include a retractable hook apparatus, a retractable assist grip apparatus, a retractable storage box, a cup holder, a glove box, a console box, etc.
As the opening and closing mechanisms, there is also a mechanism for together providing an opening and closing damping mechanism which has a shaft part for supporting a rotation member, a support body for rotatably supporting the shaft part and a spring for always energizing the rotation member in an opening direction or a closing direction, and further slowly opens and closes the rotation member against energization force of the spring.
As the opening and closing damping mechanism, a grease damper constructed so that there are provided a cylindrical support body and a columnar shaft body which is inserted into this support body and also is integrated with an opening and closing body and a grease passage and a grease retention are formed in the shaft body and grease with a predetermined viscosity is injected between the shaft body and an inner circumference of the support body and thereby the grease is retained in the grease passage and the grease retention and the opening and closing body is slowly rotated by the viscosity of this grease is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-10-54171.
In this art, it is constructed so as to prevent leakage of the grease without using sealing means such as an O ring by using the grease with the predetermined viscosity and retaining the grease in the grease retention, so that the number of parts can be reduced.
Also, a rotary damper constructed so that grease or oil is not used as a member for damping opening and closing of an opening and closing body integrally provided in a shaft body and the opening and closing body is slowly rotated by friction sliding between a support body and the shaft body is disclosed in JP-A-2002-193012.
In this art, grease or oil acting as the damping member is not required, so that that the number of parts can be reduced.
However, in the art disclosed in JP-A-10-54171, the support body for rotatably supporting the shaft body is required, so that there is a problem that assembly and manufacture of the support body become complicated and product cost increases. Further, since the shaft body is used as a component of the damper, applied material is limited in the case of use in a place in which rigidity is required, so that there is a problem that it is lacking in versatility.
In addition, since a sealing member such as an O ring is not used, a certain level of viscosity is required in grease in order to prevent leakage of the grease, so that limitation is imposed on a choice of grease, for example, grease with a low viscosity cannot be used.
On the other hand, in the art disclosed in JP-A-2002-193012, opening and closing damping attempts to be applied by friction sliding between members without using grease, so that a contact region between the members tends to wear with time and there is a problem in durability.


Devices and methods of providing symmetric UL and DL ACK/NACKs is generally described. UL ACK/NACKs of different UEs are multiplexed and received by a UE with a PUSCH. The receiving UE in response transmits the DL ACK/NACK. The ACK/NACK may be transmitted in a localized or distributed manner among subbands that may be adjacent or each may have blocks separated by blocks of a different subband. The ACK and NACK may use independent resources or the NACK may not be transmitted on the single ACK/NACK resource, the lack of an ACK serving as a NACK. The ACK/NACK may be transmitted using a beamforming weight shaped by the received PUSCH/PDSCH. The ACK/NACK symbol may be located in the first symbol, adjacent to the PUSCH/PDSCH, or at the end of a TTI. If adjacent, the UL grant or UL assignment may indicate whether the ACK/NACK resource is used by the PUSCH/PDSCH.

With the increase in different types of devices communicating over networks to servers and other computing devices, usage of 3GPP LTE systems has increased. In particular, as the number and complexity of UEs has grown, the demand for an increased amount and variety of services has grown. Next generation systems may be targeted to meet vastly different and sometime conflicting performance constraints driven by these different services. In designing next generation 5G systems, certain aspects of LTE communications may be modified to account for the increased number of devices. In particular, among the various control signals, it may be desirable to provide flexibility for Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) acknowledgements/negative acknowledgements (ACK/NACK) in next generation networks.

ACK/NACK signals for next generation LTE devices and systems


Methods, systems, and data structures are provided to connect services. A local service attempts to connect with a remote service by first using an internal address for the remote service, where the internal address is used to establish a local connection between the local service and the remote service. If the internal address does not establish a connection, then an external address for the remote services is used. The external address is used to establish an external connection between the local service and the remote service. In one embodiment, a volatile memory associated with the local service is scanned initially to detect an internal or external address, which was last successfully used by the local service in establishing a connection with the remote service. In another embodiment, the internal address and the external address are updated by the remote service one the local service is connected with the remote service.

Distributed computing has become commonplace in today's highly interconnected and networked environments. As a result, software services interface with one another via local network connections and external network connections. Generally, a local network connection exists if both a local service and a remote service are communicating within a secure environment (e.g., within a firewall, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wide array network (WAN), and the like). Similarly, an external network connection exists if the local service and the remote service are communicating within a less secure environment (e.g., outside a firewall, an Internet connection, and the like).
In today's ever-mobile society, organizations/service providers have gone to great lengths to ensure that their employees/customers have access to resources of the organizations/service providers at any time and any location. As a result, high-availability (HA) and remote access to software services is a top priority, since employees/customers are more likely to use the software services, if the time and place associated with any particular access are not restricted.
However, creating software services that can seamlessly communicate with one another through a local network connection and simultaneously through an external network connection remains problematic. This is so, because a local service requires a local address to establish a local network connection with a remote service and a different external address to establish an external network connection with the remote service. Moreover, as increased numbers of local services attempt to access remote services, the remote services must be replicated on multiple servers in order to handle additional processing associated with the additional local services. Each remote service replication is represented by a different address that must be used by an appropriate local service when attempting to connect with the remote service.
Furthermore, often the remote services will be moved or upgraded from one server to another server, and each move or upgrade results in address changes associated with the remote services. The address changes must be communicated to any affected local services. Generally, the address changes are manually administered, such as when a network administrator manually visits each client within a network having an affected local service and installs the changed address for a moved or upgraded remote service. This process is time and resource intensive, and therefore it is not desirable.
Alternatively, address changes can be communicated to an end user associated with an affected local service, and the end user can be relied upon to make the appropriate address changes for moved or upgraded remote services. Yet, this technique often creates more work for network administrators or network support groups, since often the end user is not adept enough to make the appropriate address changes for the remote services without requiring some phone/electronic mail (email) assistance from the network administrators or the network support groups. And, as one of ordinary skill in the art readily appreciates, even minimal address changes can create an untoward volume of phone calls/emails from confused and frustrated end users.
Moreover, conventional interactions between local services and remote services do not automatically distinguish or detect whether a particular connection type is a local network connection or a remote network connection. As a result, when connection types change, a local service will be unable to successful connect with a remote service until a manual address change is communicated to the local service. This can be especially frustrating for an end user.
For example, consider an end user having a local email service that connects and interfaces to a remote email service, where the remote email service manages the end user's email account. The local email service resides on a laptop computing device, that when docked interfaces with the remote email service via a local network connection (e.g., LAN within a firewall) using a local address for the remote email service. If the end user takes the laptop out of the docking station and attempts to connect with the remote email service through a standard Internet connection (e.g., outside the firewall), then the local email service will require the end user to manually change the local address for the remote email service to a remote address. Further, many first-time end users will not be aware of the needed address change, correspondingly these first-time end users will frantically attempt to get phone support to resolve the problem. Additionally, even experienced end users will be surprised when a previously used external remote address fails, because of a moved or upgraded server, which was not communicated to the end users.
Additionally, as a local service attempts to use a connection address to establish a connection with a remote service, if the used address is incorrect, then the end user is forced to endure a latency period of time while the local service waits for a time out communication indicated that the used address is not acceptable. Once the latency period of time lapses, the end user is finally informed that the address attempted was incorrect. Again, this is frustrating and time consuming for the end user, and even experienced end users will forget to change addresses, and correspondingly will be forced to endure this undesirable startup latency period of time before being able to connect with a desired remote service.
As is apparent, there exists a need for improved techniques that can automatically connect local services with remote services, irrespective of whether the local service is using a local network connection or an external network connection. Furthermore, there exists a need for techniques that better predict correct addresses for remote services, such that unwanted and undesirable startup latencies, associated with connecting local services to remote services, are minimized.

Methods, systems, and data structures to connect services


A Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell system uses heat pipes to convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the reactant storage tanks. The storage tanks act as heat sinks/sources and as passive radiators of the waste heat from the fuel cell stack. During charge up, i.e., the electrolytic process, gases are conveyed to the reactant storage tanks by way of tubes that include dryers. Reactant gases moving through the dryers give up energy to the cold tanks, causing water vapor in with the gases to condense and freeze on the internal surfaces of the dryer. During operation in its fuel cell mode, the heat pipes convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the respective reactant storage tanks, thereby heating them such that the reactant gases, as they pass though the respective dryers on their way to the fuel cell stacks retrieve the water previously removed.

Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells (URFCs) are being developed by several fuel cell manufacturers. The applications for this technology are the same as for Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) systems. Specific NASA applications include high altitude airships, lunar or Mars-based outposts, and other secondary battery applications where the discharge period is 1 to 2 hours long or longer.
The URFCs developed to date are all based on the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology. The key advantage of the URFC over other RFC systems is that the URFC does both the process of electrolysis of water as well as the process of recombining of the hydrogen and oxygen gas byproducts to produce electricity. Because of this advantage, a one cell stack of a URFC system replaces the one electrolysis cell stack and one fuel cell stack of the prior art RFC systems. This reduction in fuel cell stacks saves a substantial amount of weight since the cell stacks are the major components of a RFC system. Besides saving the weight of one cell stack, the plumbing, wiring and ancillary equipment for one cell stack is also eliminated.
The operation of the URFC system is also simpler. A RFC requires that when the fuel cell stack is active, the electrolysis cell stack must be kept warm to avoid freezing water lines and transient warm-up periods. Likewise, as the electrolysis cell stack is active, the fuel cell stack must be kept warm to avoid freezing water lines, excessive condensation, and transient warm-up periods. Maintaining cell stacks in standby conditions complicates the overall system design, resulting in greater mass, volume, and parasitic power.
Early efforts to develop a regenerative cell resulted in cells with poor performance or cells not easily reversed in their operation. Dedicated fuel cells or electrolysis cells often have the reactants circulated through the cell stack. Usually the circulating reactants function to remove the byproducts of the fuel cell reaction (product water during fuel cell operation, and product gases during electrolysis cell operation). Sometimes the reactants are also circulated for cooling of the cell stack during its operation. For a URFC to act without circulation pumps requires that the reactants not be circulated through the cell stack, but instead, be "dead-ended" into the cell stack.
As an energy storage system, the URFC system "charges" and "discharges" like a rechargeable battery. While charging, the URFC operates the electrolysis process, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. While discharging, the URFC operates the fuel cell process, which combines hydrogen and oxygen and produces electricity.
The gases produced during electrolysis are expelled from the cell stack by the production of still more gas inside the cell stack. The continued production of gases by the cell stack pushes the gases into the reactant storage tanks, gradually "pumping" the gases to higher and higher pressure where they are stored. In addition to the oxygen and hydrogen, a certain level of water vapor also accompanies these gases when they are expelled from the cell stack.
During the URFC fuel cell process, as gases are consumed inside the cell stack, more gas is delivered to the cell stack by the pressurized reactant storage tanks.
The management of reactants inside the URFC cell stack is highly influenced by both the materials and the construction inside the cell stack. Besides the development of the reversible electrodes, proper and reliable reactant management inside the cell stack is most important to achieving acceptable URFC performance. Achieving this level of reactant management inside the cell stack during both electrolysis and fuel cell operation, and the transitions between these different processes, is currently the single biggest hurdle yet to be accomplished.
In the past, a number of reversible or regenerative fuel cells designs were known.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,913 to Erickson discloses a closed-cycle gas generator in which one chemical, such as water, is reacted with a metal, such as molten aluminum, to produce hydrogen gas which, along with O2 from a separate storage tank, is conveyed to a fuel cell. Waste heat from the gas generator drives a closed-cycle heat engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,445 to Hsu discloses a reversible "solid oxide electrochemical energy converter" having a counter-flow heat exchanger that disposes of waste heat by directing it to heating the incoming fuel gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,622 to Hsu, et al discloses a fuel cell system that specifically addresses the issue of waste heat management by means of a counterflow heat exchanger assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,589 to Palmer, et al discloses a fuel cell with a reformer, wherein the reformer receives waste heat from the fuel cell. Waste heat is also conveyed to a space heating system and also to a 'bottoming cycle' engine and, if at too low a temperature, is discharged to the atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,066 ('066) to Sprouse discloses an 'ultra passive,' variable pressure RFC having a single H2 storage tank "that encloses a plurality of smaller gaseous O2 storage tubes." No pumping elements are used. A heating/cooling coil inside the H2 tank prevents icing or overheating. The source or sink of the heat for said coil is not specified.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,202 ('202) to McCoy discloses a variable pressure fuel cell. McCoy uses prior art images similar to those of in the '066 patent, suggesting a possible similarity of the '202 patent's waste heat management system to that of the '066 patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,410 to Fujita et al discloses a fuel cell system for use with cars. For example. "The combined system preferably includes a heat storage tank disposed in a conduit of a heating medium . . . ." A heat transfer medium, "such as water," is used to convey heat to various heat exchangers including one that moves heat to or from a metal-hydride storage tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,727 to Kawatsu discloses a fuel cell arrangement in which waste heat is conveyed, by way of apparently integral cooling water tubes, to reaction tanks 30 and 50 wherein, respectively, oxygen and hydrogen are generated for use in the fuel cell.
In addition to the above US patents, a PCT patent US 2003/001721 A1 to Wattelet et al discloses a mobile and compact fuel cell system having "an integrated heat exchanger unit" that combines the fuel cell cooling system and a cathode exhaust gas condenser, both being cooled, in parallel, by a shared cooling air stream. A cooling tube (callout number 38) appears integrated with the fuel cell.

The United States of America as represented by the Administration of NASA


Customizable dosage forms are provided. The flavor, color, sweetness, or texture of the dosage forms may be customized directly by the consumer.

The taste, color and texture of pharmaceutical dosage forms are important factors in patient compliance with dosing regimens. Since pharmaceutically active ingredients often have unpleasant tastes or textures for example, a wealth of taste masking and texture masking technology has developed in the art. However, such technology is typically applied during manufacturing of dosage forms, and therefore not subject to a high degree of consumer customization. Unfortunately, different patients often prefer different product attributes, tire of certain product attributes. Pediatric patients can be especially finicky about taste and texture, making administration of medicine to them particularly difficult.
Pharmacists sometimes custom flavor dosage forms for patients. However, the current practice suffers from several limitations. First, not all flavoring agents are physically and/or chemically compatible with all of the excipients typically employed in liquid dosage forms, such as suspension vehicles. Accordingly, it is often necessary to test the compatibility and stability of known flavoring agents with the liquid dosage forms with which they are intended for combination. Second, the addition of commercially available flavor systems to a pre-flavored liquid product can result in flavor incompatibilities. Certain flavors can overwhelm others, or certain "off-notes" of one flavor can increase in the presence of another flavor. Third, the flavoring agents used by pharmacists are typically highly concentrated compositions that require professional training to use. They are unsuitable for use by a consumer.
A method for preparing a flavored liquid medicament, particularly a pediatric preparation, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,808 B1. The method comprises addition of a flavoring vehicle to an unflavored liquid medicament that has an unacceptable taste.
Applicants have now discovered that pharmaceutical dosage forms may be customized directly by the consumer by providing customization agents that are physically and chemically compatible with the dosage forms, i.e., ready to use. These customization agents, specifically flavoring agents, sweetening agents, or texturizing agents, are suitable for combination with the dosage form just prior to administration. Flavoring agents in particular are advantageously compatible for adding to dosage forms already containing a first flavor, so that the dosage form is initially provided to the consumer with at least some flavor, which may be subsequently customized as desired prior to administration.


The present invention relates to a guide and tensioning system for a billboard, comprising a facing area surrounded by trim pieces. The trim pieces each comprise a back plate, a side plate and a front plate. Guide groups may be located at various locations along the outside edge of the back plate. The guide groups may comprise an arced guide located between two tab guides or a keeper tab may be centered over the arced guide. The guide group may also comprise a clip that selectively secures to the arced guide. The clip has a complimentary shape to the arced guide and to a gap in the back plate. Hook-like structures on the clip selectively engage with the end edge portions of the arced guide. When engaged with the arced guide, the clip preferably prevents a cable member from falling behind the back plate.

Billboards are well known devices used to display large format messages. The messages may be located on one or more sheets of material that are located on or adjacent to the panel or panels that extend across the frame of the billboard.
Typically, the sheet or sheets of material are pulled across the panel or panels so that the sheet(s) are taut. This tensioning step ensures that the sheet(s) are properly positioned on the frame, properly secured on the frame and it creates a sign that is aesthetically pleasing.
There are a variety of prior art tensioning systems that cooperate with the billboard frame to provide tension to the sheet(s) to accomplish the foregoing objectives. Unfortunately, the billboard frame often must be highly modified to accommodate the various tensioning systems. The modifications require a large amount of additional hardware that must be added to the frame. This extra hardware is both expensive in terms of the parts themselves as well as the labor required to install the many parts of the system. The large number of parts is also problematic because the parts may be installed in the wrong location on the billboard and/or the parts may be lost during delivery or installation. Additionally, the added parts are often prone to rusting, which may diminish the aesthetic value of the entire system, result in premature failure and result in increased repair or replacement efforts.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art it would be advantageous for a guide and anchor system for a billboard tensioning system to be cost effective both in terms of parts and labor. It would also be advantageous for the system to have a minimum number of parts to minimize potential part loss and installation problems. Preferably, the system would also be readily compatible with any of the available, or future, tensioning systems. It would also be advantageous for the system to be effective but simple to use. Additionally, it would be advantageous for the system to be robust and weather resistant.

Guide and anchor system for a billboard tensioning system


Radiated noises of an output pulse signal are reduced. A pulse signal outputting apparatus outputs a pulse signal generated by a modulating means outside, the modulating means includes a calculation circuit that has a pull-up resistor which is connected to power supply inside, a general-purpose input/output terminal that is connected to the calculation circuit, input/output selecting means for selecting whether the general-purpose input/output terminal is used as an input terminal or an output terminal, pull-up resistor connecting means for connecting or disconnecting the pull-up resistor and the general-purpose input/output terminal, and a pull-up resistor connection control circuit that performs control so that the pull-up resistor connecting means is operated when the general-purpose input/output terminal is selected as the input terminal, the general-purpose input/output terminal is selected as the input terminal by the input/output selecting means when a transition of an output signal level of the pulse signal starts, the pull-up resistor and the general-purpose input/output terminal are connected by the pull-up resistor connecting means when the general-purpose input/output terminal is selected as the input terminal, and the general-purpose input/output terminal is switched to the output terminal by the input/output selecting means after a certain period of time has passed.

A sensor that detects various kinds of physical amounts such as temperature, pressure, or a flow rate is used in a vehicle, a consumer appliance, and industrial equipment for control or securing safety. Such a sensor is configured by a physical amount detecting unit that extracts a physical amount as an electric signal, an electrical signal processing unit that amplifies the electric signal to a desired amplitude, an output signal modifying unit that outputs the detected physical amount to the outside, and the like. The output signal is input to an apparatus that reads a signal of the sensors and performs a certain kind of control or display and the like. Since such an apparatus changes an operation or a display thereof based on information from the sensor, an output signal of the sensor should not cause physical amount information to deteriorate in signal transmission or should not increase electromagnetic noises caused by the transmission of the signal and the like, in order to obtain high reliability.
Meanwhile, recently, there is a case where a calculation circuit is used in a part or all of the electric signal processing unit or the output signal modulating unit. In this case, it is reasonable that a modulation technique by a pulse signal that can be easily handled by the calculation circuit is used for the output signal of the sensor. Though the modulation by a pulse signal includes frequency modulation, PWM modulation, PCM modulation, and the like, any of these uses binary logic or time between pulses.
Since such a signal does not have a median level, information transmission is highly accurate, but electric noises are likely to increase due to a steep change of a signal level. Therefore, a through rate control technique in which logic transition speed of the pulse signal is properly smoothed is used.
For example, a technique for such control is disclosed in PTL 1.
PTL 1 discloses a circuit example in which logic transition speed of a digital signal is smoothed, and an original digital value is input to an on/off generator 9 and causes a transistor Q1 to be turned on and also a transistor Q3 by an ON signal. Series resistors R1 and R2 are connected to a circuit switched by the transistor Q3 and a capacitor C is connected to a connecting point of the resistors R1 and R2. Therefore, a potential at an output signal drawing point a is continuously and gradually increased based on time constants of the resistor R1 and the capacitor C. In this manner, adjustment of logic transition speed with time constants of a resistor and a capacitor is widely performed. If a plurality of capacitors and resistors are prepared by using such a circuit and switching is performed by a selecting switch (such as a transistor), through rate control can be arbitrarily performed.
Further, PTL 2 discloses a technique of adjusting logic transition speed only with a transistor without using a passive component such as a resistor or a capacitor.
PTL 2 discloses that an output control circuit 3 that drives transistors 11 and 12 of an output unit has a function for controlling electric current for driving the transistors 11 and 12. In specific, as illustrated in FIG. 2, transistor groups MN1 to MNn that have different electric current driving capabilities are provided, the respective transistor groups have independent signals TA1 to TAn for driving transistor groups MN1 to MNn, and selectively use the signals TA1 to TAn in order to provide a desired logic transition speed to an OUT terminal of FIG. 1. Since each of the transistor groups has a different electric current driving capability, continuous and smooth driving signals can be obtained depending on selection of the transistor groups, thereby functioning as through rate control.


An acoustic transducer comprising: a mechanical acoustic filter configured to be electrically controllable to change the acoustic properties of the transducer.

Many portable devices, for example mobile telephones, contain a number of acoustic transducers, such as microphones, earpieces and speakers. Such transducers are key components in mobile phone audio/acoustic design. Generally, there will be one or more sound channels or back cavities associated with each acoustic transducer. Such sound channels can ensure a certain frequency response is obtained for the transducer, and must be carefully designed as part of the mechanical configuration of the device hardware. Small changes in the size and configuration of the sound channels or cavities can have a large effect on the acoustic properties of the combined transducer/sound channel.
In known acoustic transducer configurations, the mechanical design of the sound channels is fixed at the point of hardware design and manufacture of the device is completed, and cannot be later adapted during use for a specific purpose or desired configuration. Instead, the desired acoustic properties are produced by filtering the electrical signal representing the sound output before the signal is applied to the transducer. Typically, this requires the use of significant processing power, commonly provided by dedicated digital signal processors (DSPs).
Furthermore there is a limit to the modification of the acoustic response of the transducer which can be carried out in the DSP.
An example of the limitations of the mechanical design of typical microphone transducers is that of wind noise. Wind noise is a problem particularly for miniaturised designs such as found in mobile phone where there is no room for mechanical protection of the microphone from wind such as used in broadcast microphones like wind screens or foam protectors. Furthermore filtering out the wind noise from the signal in the electrical domain, not only requires significant processing power in a digital signal processor, but typically produces poor results as the sound pressure levels generated by the wind cause the microphone acoustic element to saturate.

Transducer apparatus having a mechanical acoustic filter with movable blocking member


A system for removing cooling liquid from a mist. The system includes an intake, where the intake is configured to receive the cooling mist and a baffle filter including a plurality of overlapping and offset layers of baffles, the baffle filter configured to collect and output cooling liquid from the cooling mist. The system also includes a mesh positioned vertically above the baffle and configured to drip cooling liquid collected thereon onto the baffle filter and an air filter, where the air filter is configured to remove a portion of pollutants from the demisted air. The system further includes a filter clamp configured to hold the air filter in place and an exhaust, where the exhaust is configured to output the demisted air.

Cooling liquid is commonly used with machine tools. These tools may produce a high rate of motion or rotation. As the tool interacts with a work material, the high rate of motion may lead to high amounts of frictional heating. This heating may damage the tool, the work material or both. To prevent his damage a cooling liquid is often circulated over the tool and work material. The circulating cooling liquid removes the heat, preventing unwanted damage.
Nevertheless, there are a number of drawbacks associated with the use of cooling liquid. In particular, the motion of the tool tends to scatter the cooling liquid. I.e., the stream of cooling liquid is disrupted and broken up into droplets. This can result in cooling liquid causing a large mess in the immediate area.
In addition, it can make it more difficult to recover the cooling liquid. I.e., the cooling liquid is recirculated over and over, repeatedly dissipating the frictional heat. However, the disruption of the cooling liquid stream can result in loss of cooling liquid. This can lead to a loss of efficiency as the cooling liquid may not be given sufficient time to be cooled before being recirculated. Further, it can lead to greater expense as the cooling liquid needs to be replaced.
Moreover, the scattered droplets may be suspended in the air. These droplets can form a mist if enough droplets are formed. This cooling mist can enter air intakes of the machine tool or other machines in the nearby area, which can foul the operation of the machines. In addition, it can be inhaled by workers in the immediate area, causing respiratory or other health problems.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system that can remove the cooling liquid droplets from the mist. In addition, there is a need in the art for the system to collect the cooling liquid. Further, there is a need in the art for the system to allow the cooling liquid to be recirculated.

Machine tool mounted mist collector with filter clamp


The present invention provides a resin-molded component for signal reader, which is light in weight and is able to improve the vibration damping property and to increase the resonance frequency, and which is excellent in heat dissipation. Specifically, it provides a resin-molded component for signal reader structured by 55 to 75% by weight of liquid crystalline polymer (A) composed of structural units expressed by general formulae (I) through (IV):—O—Ar1—CO—  (I)—CO—Ar2—CO—  (II)—O—Ar3—O—  (III)—O—Ar4—CO—  (IV)(where, Ar1 is 2,6-naphthalene group, Ar2 is selected from 1,2-phenylene group, 1,3-phenylene group, and, 1,4-phenylene group, Ar3 is selected from 1,3-phenylene group, 1,4-phenylene group, and p,p′-polyphenylene group, and Ar4 is 1,4-phenylene group); 20 to 10% by weight of inorganic hollow sphere (B1); and 25 to 15% by weight of fibrous inorganic filler (B2), and has 1.4 or smaller specific gravity d, 0.5 W/m·K or larger thermal conductivity λ, and 10 GPa or larger flexural modulus.

Increase in the capacity and the speed of information treated by signal reader, particularly by digital disk driver, is remarkable in recent years. Thus the recording information density has become larger than ever owing to the increase in the speed multiplication of CD-ROM disk and to the popularization of DVD.
The disk of the digital disk drive r generates vibration caused by eccentricity, face deflection, rotational vibration, and the like. Accordingly, on reading information from a disk, if laser is applied, the focal point of laser and the position of information to be read give an offset to each other, which raises a reading error.
To prevent the reading error, conventional signal readers adopt a mechanism to correct the offset caused by vibration and the like. Nevertheless, owing to the above-described increase in the vibration resulted from the increased vibration caused by the recent increase in the speed of digital disk driver and to the increase in the vibration frequency and the information density, the requirement for improving the vibration damping property and for increasing the resonance frequency in the signal reader has become severer than ever.
Under the above-described circumstance, the conventional thermoplastic resin materials for existing signal readers cannot achieve stable reading performance. Furthermore, the components of signal reader and other structural parts are requested to perform quick response to satisfy the increased speed multiplication. The response largely depends on the weight of the signal reader and other structural parts. As a result, a material having small specific gravity is wanted.
According to the related art, the request for small specific gravity of the material was answered by reducing the amount of filler and by combined use of hollow inorganic filler.
Along with the increased speed multiplication, however, the heat generation on the digital disk driver has become a problem of failing in attaining the stable signal reading accuracy. The problem raises a request for high heat dissipation material.
JP-A 2001-172479 discloses a liquid crystalline polyester resin composition having light weight and low thermal conductivity, which resin is composed of 100 parts by weight of LCP, 2 to 50 parts by weight of a hollow sphere having 5 to 500 μm of average particle size and 60 to 80% of hollow percentage, and 0 to 40 parts by weight of an inorganic fiber, while giving 10 to 50 of X designating the break rate of the hollow sphere (refer to claims 1 to 4, Examples and Table 1 of JP-A 2001-172479).
The disclosed technology, however, does not describe or suggest that the material can be used as an adequate one for increasing the resonance frequency and for improving the vibration damping property in the signal reader. The Example in the disclosure describes that the thermal conductivity is 0.42 W/m·K or smaller and that higher than the range is not suitable.
JP-A 2004-27021 discloses a molding article prepared by injection molding of a composition composed of 90 to 45% by weight of an wholly-aromatic liquid crystalline polyester having 320° C. or higher melting point, 10 to 40% by weight of an inorganic hollow sphere having 2 or smaller aspect ratio, and 0 to 15% by weight of an inorganic filler having 4 or larger aspect ratio. The molding article is an wholly-aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin composition giving 3.0 or smaller dielectric constant and 0.04 or smaller dielectric dissipation factor, and shows heat resistance of resistance to solder reflow and the like, and excellent dielectric characteristics. Consequently, the molding article is used for a fixing or holding member of transmission and receiving parts of information communication devices which are used in high frequency band such as microwave and millimetric wave, (refer to claims 1 to 7 and Examples of JP-A 2004-27021).
The disclosure of the technology, however, does not describe or suggest that the molding article realizes the increase in the resonance frequency and has effective vibration damping property, and that the molding article can be used as a material for signal reader having large thermal conductivity.

Resin-molded component for signal reader and method for molding thereof


The present invention provides a scrambled compressed data distribution device that can perform a high-resistance scrambled compressed data distribution by selectively using a plurality of types of scramble information and a playback device thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compressed data scrambled distribution device and a playback device controlled by a digital watermark thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, methods for carrying out descrambling by use of digital watermark as key information have been proposed in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method for generating a locking key by use of separately sent copyright information, player-specific information, and digital watermark information and carrying out descrambling based thereon. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for applying descrambling to data when a trigger signal embedded in the form of a digital watermark exists and outputting without descrambling when the trigger signal does not exist.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-78007
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-534016
However, in both of the techniques, only one scramble signal is used, and there is no assumption that a plurality of types of scramble signals are selectively used.

Compressed data scrambled distribution device and playback device thereof

Abstract: A scrambling section scrambles compressed data by unique one of a plurality of scrambling methods. A hash value calculating section determines a hash value based on data b in a position where digital watermark data is not embedded, and an encrypting section encrypts the hash value with a secret key Sk(n) corresponding to the scrambling method and outputs an encrypted hash value c. A watermark data embedding section embeds the encrypted hash value in a watermark data embedding position of the data b and transmits the same as a compressed data stream d.


A voltage to current converter includes three field effect transistors (FETs), the sources of which are electrically connected to define a common source node, and a feedback network. First and second voltage inputs are connected to the gates of the first and second FETs, respectively. First and second current outputs are connected to the drains of the first and second FETs, respectively. The feedback network is connected between the drain of the third FET and the common source node. The feedback network controls and extends linearity by varying the voltage between the common source node and ground in response to changes in the voltage inputs in order to maintain a constant current through the third FET. The floating common source node quickly adjusts and thereby keeps a linear relationship between the input voltages and the output currents. Thus, the feedback network can dynamically bias the converter by permitting the common source node to float with respect to ground.

Voltage to current converters are well known electronic building blocks for many circuit applications. As is well known to those having skill in the art, a voltage to current converter, also known as a transconductor, provides an output current that is directly proportional to an input voltage and which is independent of the load impedance. Voltage to current converters are widely used where it is necessary to generate a current signal in proportion to a given voltage signal.
For example, voltage to current converters are used in signal processors. The performance of signal processors is dependent on interface circuits such as voltage to current and current to voltage converters. In addition, analog four quadrant multipliers, using voltage to current converters, play important roles in the construction of convolvers, correlators, adaptive filters, and complex analog signal processors. Other computational circuits that use a voltage to current converter as part of their structure include multipliers, dividers, squaring circuits, integrators, and difference of squares circuits.
As technology advances, there exists a need for faster and more linear devices. As system speeds increase, voltage to current converter speed must also increase, so that the voltage to current converter does not produce a bottleneck in a system. Moreover, as system accuracy requirements increase, greater linearity demands are placed on the voltage to current converter. Finally, many systems are capable of processing both balanced and unbalanced inputs. Accordingly, there is a need for a voltage to current converter which is capable of receiving both balanced and unbalanced inputs.

Linear voltage to current converter including feedback network


A novel optical component mount is disclosed, which includes at least one first mount body with at least one adjustment member traversing through at least one adjustment member passage formed in the first mount body. At least one second mount body is configured with at least one component aperture formed therein and at least one insert receiver formed therein. The insert receiver is configured to receive at least one thermal compensating positioning insert positioned in the insert receiver. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermal compensating positioning insert is configured to be equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adjustment member. At least one engaging body is positioned in the thermal compensating insert and engages the adjustment member. The engaging body is configured having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermal compensating positioning insert and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adjustment member. At least one biasing system movably couples the second mount body to the first mount body. During use, the combinations of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the components described above, result in minimal changes in position of the optical component mount during changes in ambient temperature.

Optical component mounts are commonly used today. Presently, they are used to hold various optics such as lenses and mirrors used in optical and laser systems. A variety of actuators may be used with these mounts to adjust the position and orientation of the optics in multiple degrees of freedom. When the position and/or orientation of the optic has been set, the user can lock the actuators to prevent further movement of the optic. Shortcomings in optical component mounts have been identified, one of which is that the position or orientation of the optic may change due to temperature gradients or changes in ambient temperature, often affecting the results of sensitive laser experiments or affecting the performance of lasers systems that use such optical component mounts.
Thus, there is an ongoing need for an optical component mount that reduces or eliminates the effects of changes in ambient temperature on the position of optics through the use of thermal compensating components and features.

Thermal compensating optical component mount and related devices


A process of producing an anilide compound, including reacting an acid fluoride with an N-silylaniline compound in the presence of a basic compound, is provided. According to the process, a desired anilide compound can be produced in a high yield without requiring a filtering step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process of producing an anilide compound.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To produce an anilide compound, conventionally, a method is known wherein an acid fluoride and an aniline compound are reacted. However, in this reaction, since hydrogen fluoride is produced concomitantly, for a reason of safety, it is required to catch the hydrogen fluoride using an acid scavenger, such as a tertiary amine and a basic nitrogen-containing compound. In addition, the use of a tertiary amine produces an amine hydrofluoride in the form of a solid and a step is required to filter off this salt, which is a defect.
On the other hand, the reaction of an acid fluoride with an N-silylaniline compound proceeds hardly or even if they are reacted, the yield is very low.