An update system is provided that generates a service list of services and sorts the services in the service list from least dependent services to most dependent services. Services that are unaffected by updates as determined based on the sorting are removed. An update runbook is generated with steps for updating the services. An order of the steps is based on the sorted service list, and the steps indicate target services, hosting machines and actions to perform on target services.

Organizations may rely on various computer applications (referred to as "services") to provide functions needed by the organization. These services may be part of a customer relationship management ("CRM") system, an enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system, a human resource ("HR") system, and so on. The services may include accounting applications (e.g., general ledger), payroll applications, benefits applications, database applications, point of sale applications, inventory applications, and so on. A large organization may use tens and even hundreds of services that are provided by various service providers. An organization may host the services on servers of a data center of the organization or servers of a cloud infrastructure system. Each service may be hosted on multiple servers, and each server may host multiple services.
From time to time, a service provider will provide updates to its service. For example, a provider of a payroll service may provide an update that fixes a problem with the payroll service or that adds a new feature needed to satisfy a new statutory requirement. As another example, a provider of a publisher/subscriber system may provide an update to support a new communications protocol. To update a service, the service typically needs to be stopped. The update can then be installed, and the service can then be restarted.
The updating of a service can be problematic because various services of an organization may rely on other services of an organization. For example, a retail service may rely on an inventory service, which may in turn rely on a database service. Because of this reliance, if one service fails or stops, the services that rely on it may fail in some way. For example, if a database service stops, then an inventory service may also fail and the inventory data stored by the database service may be left in a corrupt state. Thus, the stopping of one service when installing an update may result in a cascade of failures in other services. To prevent such a cascade of failures, an organization may shutdown all services of the organization when installing one or more updates.


A dilatation balloon for use in combination with a catheter device, the balloon having a waist, cone and body portion and having a first layer formed from a first polymeric composition, the balloon having a second layer disposed on at least a portion of the first layer, the second layer formed from a second polymeric composition which is crosslinked on at least a portion of the dilatation balloon, and methods of making and using the same.

Balloon catheters are commonly used in relatively non-invasive medical procedures for the treatment of heart disease, such as in coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). During such procedures, a balloon catheter is advanced through the vasculature of a patient such that the balloon is positioned proximate a restriction in a diseased vessel. The balloon is then inflated and the restriction in the vessel is opened.
In a typical PTCA procedure, a hollow guiding catheter, a guidewire and a dilation catheter are inserted into the vasculature of a patient. The guiding catheter has a pre-shaped distal tip which is percutaneously introduced into the vasculature and advanced. An operator, such as a surgeon, twists and moves the proximal end of the guiding catheter to advance the distal tip through the aorta. The distal tip reaches the ostium of a diseased coronary artery.
Such medical devices require exacting specifications in order to perform adequately under the rigorous conditions in which they are required to perform. Depending on the end use, such medical devices may be primarily comprised of polymeric materials that are non-thrombogenic, non-immunogenic, flexible, manipulatable, that exhibit both radial and longitudinal strength and/or, in certain applications, and so forth.
Balloon dilatation catheters desirably have strength, softness, flexibility and a thin, low profile which are important for achieving the performance characteristics of folding in an uninflated state, tracking, crossing and recrossing the area of the obstruction or stenosis in a vessel in an uninflated state. However, when balloon dilatation catheters are used in large vessels, such as in the coronary or peripheral systems, the size of the vessels and thus the size of the balloons used to dilate them requires that the balloons have a thicker wall. Thicker walls however, tend to increase the stiffness, and to decrease the ability to track, and to cross and recross, for example.
Thus, inasmuch as there are very few single polymeric materials that provide this combination of characteristics, most medical devices are comprised of more than one polymeric material to provide the desired combination of physical properties. The use of multiple polymeric materials, in turn, requires that the polymeric materials be securely bonded together, through welding or through the use of an adhesive, or other bonding method.
Thus, adhesives or thermal welding are typically employed in several locations of a balloon catheter. For instance, balloon catheters typically have an outer tubular member with a distal extremity terminating within the balloon interior and an inner tubular member with a distal extremity extending through and slightly beyond the distal end of the balloon. The annular space between the inner and outer members defines the inflation lumen in communication with the balloon interior. The integrity of the balloon interior is maintained, thereby enabling the balloon interior to hold inflation media, by fluid tight bonds located at proximal and distal extremities of the balloon which secure the balloon to the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member respectively.
Additionally, it may be desirable to form a guide catheter by bonding together two or more tubular sections in order to achieve a more rigid proximal portion and more flexible distal portion. Thus, when a guide catheter is comprised of more than one generally tubular section, these sections are joined together at joints where the distal end of a first tubular section is affixed to the proximal end of a second tubular section.
Thus, in the manufacture of balloon catheters or guide catheters, a number of techniques may be used to bond the balloon to the catheter shaft, including use of adhesives or thermal bonding, i.e. welding.
During welding operations, it is common to employ a heat shrinkable material as a way to exert a compressive force on the region to be welded. Polyolefin or polytetrafluoroethylene heat shrink are typically used in the manufacture of medical devices as a way to exert force and thermally weld two polymeric materials together. See, for example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,863 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Using a heat shrink material is accomplished by a multi step process including irradiating the heat shrink and then expanding the material to achieve the required compressive properties typically accomplish this. The heat shrink is then cut in to small rings and placed around the surfaces to be bonded or welded. Placement and orientation of the heat shrink is very important to the production of an acceptable and reproducible bond. Thus, this method is both time consuming and costly. See also commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,552 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
There remains a need in the art to employ polymeric materials in such a way as to optimize the performance of various components of a catheter device, and for a faster, more economical process for joining various components of a catheter device
Additionally, there remains a specific need in the art for a dilatation balloon catheter which has an improved crossing profile and stenosis recrossing, trackability, and balloon retrieval after deflation.


A method and system can align a robot arm with a payload station. A probe and a contact detector may be positioned on the robot arm and three pins may be placed on the payload station. A controller may move the robot arm in a pattern over the payload station until contact may be made between the probe and one of the pins. A search about the contact location may be performed to obtain additional contacts. The search may be interrupted when contact is made between the probe and one of the pins. The position of the pin may be calculated from three such contacts on the spherical portion of the pin. The location of the probe at the time of contact may be stored and a localized search about the pin location may be performed. If the position of the pin cannot be resolved from three contacts, additional contacts may be made until a combination of three contacts does provide a solution. Three such pins may be so located such that the robot arm may learn the position of the payload station without operator intervention.

Handler robots may be used to transfer payloads between stations, e.g., vacuum robots may be used in semiconductor manufacturing to transfer a wafer between load locks and the wafer orienter. Fixtures may be used at the stations to center the end effector, or payload pick over the stations, so as to teach the robots the station positions. In order to minimize misplacement of the payload at its destination station, the taught positions may be at the center of the locations of the stations, or may be displaced in the same direction and magnitude relative to the station locations.
Generally, the robots may be taught by means of an operator manually placing the end effector over the target fixture at the stations and recording the position. Thus, the quality of the alignment may be a function of the operator's skill in placing the end effector over the target. Alignment errors due to human variability may result in misplacement of the payloads that may cause damage to the payloads and/or the handling equipment.

Automated robot alignment system and method using kinematic pins and end effector sensor

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


This is a method of fabricating a heterojunction bipolar transistor on a wafer. The method can comprise: forming a doped subcollector layer 31 on a semiconducting substrate 30; forming a doped collector layer 32 on top of the collector layer, the collector layer doped same conductivity type as the subcollector layer; forming a doped base epilayer 34 on top of the collector layer, the base epilayer doped conductivity type opposite of the collector layer; forming a doped emitter epilayer 36, the emitter epilayer doped conductivity type opposite of the base layer to form the bipolar transistor; forming a doped emitter cap layer 37 on top of the emitter epilayer, the emitter cap layer doped same conductivity as the emitter epilayer; forming an emitter contact 38 on top of the emitter cap layer; forming a base contact on top of the base layer; forming a collector contact on top of the collector layer; and selective etching the collector layer to produce an undercut 45 beneath the base layer.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with the manufacturing of bipolar transistors, as an example.
Heretofore, in this field, in bipolar mesa transistors, the base layer extends outside the area of the active device region to enable contacting of the base. This area is called the extrinsic base region, outside the active device region, and it increases the junction capacitance between the base layer and the layer beneath the base (e.g. the collector, in emitter-up devices).
Since junction capacitance limits the high-frequency performance of bipolar transistors, great effort has been spent on reducing the junction capacitance between the base layer and the layer beneath the base. Accordingly, improvements which overcome any or all of the problems are presently desirable.

Method of reducing extrinsic base-collector capacitance in bipolar transistors


A method and apparatus for generating random numbers based on packetized media data comprising querying one or more packetized media devices for a predetermined number of bits from one or more current real-time transport protocol (RTP) session, receiving the predetermined number of bits from the one or more packetized media devices, assembling the predetermined number of bits into a set of bytes; and converting the second set of bytes into a numerical value.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to random number generation and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for generating random numbers based on packetized media data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generating a sequence of numbers which appears to lack a pattern, or random number generation, has many applications in computing. For example, statistical analysis relies on the generation of large amounts of random data in order to function. However, creating such large datasets and assuring that the datasets are random or pseudo-random requires high computational complexity and time. Random numbers are also used in security applications, cryptography. Many of these applications rely on pseudo-random numbers as opposed to truly random numbers. Pseudo-random numbers rely on computational algorithms to produce an apparently random number, but the algorithm is based off a number or an initial set of numbers, known as a seed. However, because these pseudo random number generators rely on a seed, the output is inherently predictable. Predictability, especially in sensitive technology areas such as cryptology, leads to security vulnerabilities which can be exploited by malicious software.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for decreasing the predictability inherent in pseudo-random number generation.

Method and apparatus for generating random numbers based on packetized media data


The device has a drill body, of generally cylindrical shape, connected by a flexible pipe to a high-pressure water pump placed on a low-height carrying vehicle. A striking piston is mounted movably, and is resiliently returned, in the drill body, and is subjected to a pulsed high water pressure so as to be moved with a percussive movement against a bit-carrying anvil, the pipe simultaneously transmitting to the drill body an alternating rotary movement about its principal axis. A solenoid valve, interposed between the pump and the point of departure of the pipe, receives successive electrical pulses causing opening and closing, which create shock waves in the water column contained in the pipe, which transmits these shock waves to the striking piston of the drill body. Applications: underground workings, mine workings, particularly for use in low-height galleries.

The present invention relates to the field of drilling in underground workings, and particularly in mine workings. It relates in particular to a rotary percussive drilling device, adapted for use in low-height mine galleries, particularly for drilling holes in the roofs of these galleries. The invention also proposes a method of rotary percussive drilling applied by this device.

Sandvik Mining and Construction Lyon SAS


A system and method for providing continuous AC/DC current for powering the appliances used by a truck driver in the cabin of transportation trucks in an economic and environment-friendly manner especially in countries that enforce non-idling laws on heavy trucks. The power generated in accordance with the presence invention relies only on the combustion engine of the reefer, independently of the main engine system of the truck. DC current is generated by an alternator, or a plurality thereof if needed, and then inverted into AC using an inverter. It is also possible to power the main engine and charge the batteries of the truck through the system when the truck is running using a switch that interrupts the main alternator of the main engine system of the truck reducing friction and power losses, which allows for more fuel savings and reduction in polluting gases emitted in the atmosphere.

Due to the environment changes, Governments of the industrialized countries are inclined to apply more restricted rules on fuel powered vehicles, and mostly transportation trucks. For instance, non-idling laws are coming into force, whereby, heavy trucks are not allowed to keep the engine running when the truck is not moving.
Depending on the laws of each country or state, each driver is required by law to rest for an average of 10 hours after driving for 14 hours, and virtually most of the electrical appliances used at home are also used in the cabin of the truck especially in heavy-duty trucks, in which, drivers often spend weeks on the road transporting goods.
Accordingly, truck drivers are forced to look for other alternatives in order to power the refrigeration unit and the cabin of the trailer when the truck is parked for maintenance or when the driver is resting. These alternatives include an external power source if the truck is parked in a parking that provides this facility, or a bank of batteries which charges when the main engine of the truck is on and enables for few hours of non-idling power, or a combustion engine with an alternator which provides DC power.
DC Appliances are very expensive and at the same time known to have a more frequent failure and breakdown. Additionally, the provision of DC power to the cabin for all the appliances requires large diameter cables which are expansive and subject to stealing especially when the driver parks the truck and rests in the cabin.
Several attempts have been made in the past for providing the cabin of the truck with a source of power that enable AC appliances in the cabin to function, such as televisions, fridges, microwaves etc.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional system for providing AC power to the cabin of a truck as published on the following website http://www.oksolar.com/inverters/truck_inverters.htm. The system includes a bank of batteries which are connected to the alternator of a truck for charging when the truck's engine is on. An inverter is then used for inverting the DC power to an AC power for powering the AC appliances in the cabin of the truck. The problem with this design is the short period of non-idling power, depending on the number of appliances being used in the cabin and the amount of power consumed thereby, in addition to the external load created on the alternator of the truck.
Another system marketed under the name COMFORTPRO™ provides an auxiliary power unit with DELTEK™ diesel-electric technology which runs of the truck's fuel supply and powers the cab accessories directly. This system is also expansive and complicated, and requires substantial changes in the pre-existing heating and cooling system of the truck cabin. Similar alternatives and auxiliary power units which require additional combustion engines are disclosed in the following websites:
www.tempastart.com
www.autothermusa.com
www.nitesystem.com
www.saferco.com
www.espar.com
www.auxgenerators.com
www.auxiliarypowerdynamics.com
www.rigmasterpower.com
www.trucktrailer.carrier.com
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,679 describes a combined heat and electricity generating unit that is suitable for use in class 8 trucks and the like. When it is operating it provides heat for keeping the engine and cabin warm and electricity for use by the electricity consuming devices in the cabin.
Therefore, there has been a need for a simple, economic and at the same time environment friendly back-up system for providing A/C power to the cabin of a truck.

System and method for powering the cabin of a truck


A new variety of orchid plant of the Oncidiinae Intergenerics, ×Wilsonara, named ×Wilsonara Red Pacific ‘Deep Shadows’, distinguished particularly by a compact size, many deep red flowers round in shape arranged pleasingly on a panicle and growing quickly to sexual maturity.

×Wilsonara is an artificial hybrid of orchids between three genera in the subtribe Oncidiinae. ×Wilsonara is made from the genera Odontoglossum, consisting of about 300 species, Oncidium, consisting of about 500 species and Cochlioda, consisting of 6 species. The first hybrid of ×Wilsonara was created in 1916. Due to the varying percentages of the parent genera that make up ×Wilsonara and the gene expression in their progeny, ×Wilsonara varies in morphology and size. All exhibit sympodial growth habit.
×Wilsonara breeding is typically done from sexual methods. Asexual propagation of ×Wilsonara is often done in aseptic tissue culture from apical or axillary shoots.
The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor within the progeny of a cross made by the Inventor on Sep. 8, 1999. The Inventor selected ×Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Deep Shadows' as a single plant from a population of over 50 plants grown in Hilo, Hi. ×Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Deep Shadows' was submitted by the Inventor to a commercial tissue culture laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand on Jun. 10, 2003 and asexually reproduced by aseptic tissue culture technique. A quantity was produced for evaluation and has demonstrated that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
Other seedlings from the same cross that was used to produce ×Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Deep Shadows' have been commercially available from others. The characteristics of ×Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Deep Shadows' are clearly distinguishable from the characteristics of those other plants. Those other plants were sold without specific epithet to individuals and other nurseries. To the Inventor's knowledge, the only other named clone of the cross is ×Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Ruby Red', non-patented, and is owned by the Inventor. Plants of the grex ×Wilsonara Red Pacific are sold as plants of the grex without specific epithet.

×Wilsonara Red Pacific plant named ‘Deep Shadows’


A hydrostatic sewer cleaning machine for driving a cable and cleaning tool in from 6 inch to 30 inch diameter sewer lines. The sewer cleaning machine comprises a wheeled base having a baffled hydraulic fluid reservoir therebeneath and an inverted U-shaped operator's handle at its rearward end. A prime mover, a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor are mounted on the base. The primer mover drives the hydraulic pump which is connected to the reservoir. The hydraulic pump is connected to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic pump has a control valve which controls the direction and the amount of flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor. The pump control valve is operated, via a cable, by a control lever mounted on the operator's handle. The pump also has a manual relief valve by which the static pressure in the system can be released. The hydraulic motor output is connected through a slip clutch to the cable which drives an appropriate remote cleaning tool. The sewer cleaner can have its speed controlled and be immediately and directly shifted to any one of forward, reverse, and neutral, by the control lever. Full torque is available, throughout 95 percent of the rpm range of the hydraulic motor in both forward and rearward directions.

Prior art workers have devised various embodiments of sewer cleaning machines of the type comprising an elongated cable provided at its forward end with a sewer cleaning tool. The cable is caused to rotate, which in turn imparts rotation to the cleaning tool. Rotation of the cable and cleaning tool in the forward direction, will cause them to advance through the sewer pipe being cleaned. When an obstruction is reached, the cleaning tool will remove the obstruction by a cutting action.
A typical prior art sewer cleaning machine is provided with a prime mover usually in the form of a gasoline or diesel engine. The output shaft of the engine is connected to the cable by means of a geared transmission and a clutch, usually of the automotive type. The transmission output is connected to the cable by an appropriate cable connector. The transmission has a shift lever normally having first, second and third forward positions, and a reverse position. The clutch is actuated by a foot pedal and the engine is provided with a throttle; usually a manual throttle. As a result, the operator of the prior art tool will generally be required to work a manual throttle, a manual gear shift lever and a clutch foot pedal.
In use, the operator will shift the transmission through first, second and third gear to drive the cleaning tool rapidly through the pipe until an obstruction is encountered. At that point, the operator will shift to first or low gear and will adjust for maximum throttle to obtain maximum torque. As a result, the cutting and grinding action is carried out at a relatively low speed of from about 150 to 350 rpm.
An experienced operator can determine, by "feel" and from the appearance of the cable, when he has encountered a particularly difficult obstruction to clear. In particularly difficult instances, the cable may tend to loop or kink. When a difficult obstruction is encountered, the operator will generally depress the clutch and shift the transmission into reverse. It may be that the operator will have to shift between first and reverse many times in order to force the cleaning tool through the obstruction. It will be evident that, in the use of this type of sewer cleaning machine, the operator is substantially constantly manipulating one or more of the throttle, the gear shift and the clutch.
The present invention is based upon the discovery that the prime mover may be used to drive a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump, in turn, is used to drive a geared hydraulic motor. The output of the hydraulic motor is connected to the cable through a slip clutch, which serves as a torque limiter. The hydraulic pump is provided with a control valve which controls both direction of flow and amount of flow of the hydraulic fluid, and thus the direction of rotation and the rpm of the hydraulic motor output shaft.
A great many advantages result from this arrangement. First of all, the prime mover or engine runs at constant speed and frequent throttle manipulation is eliminated. The transmission and clutch are also eliminated. Maximum torque is achieved throughout 95% of the rpm range of the hydraulic motor.
The control valve of the hydraulic pump can, itself, be controlled by a lever actuated cable. When the manual control lever is in a central position, the sewer cleaning machine is in an idle mode wherein the pump control valve is set to cause the pump to simply withdraw and return hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid reservoir. As the manual lever is moved forwardly, it will cause the hydraulic motor output, the cable and the cleaning tool to rotate in a forward direction. The rpm rate or speed of rotation will increase, as the lever is pushed forwardly. When the lever is pulled rearwardly from its central position, the elements will rotate in a reverse direction and speed will increase as the lever is pulled rearwardly. Maximum torque is constant above 50 rpm.
The present invention provides full speed control in either direction with maximum torque and maximum cutting ability at any forward or reverse speed above 50 rpm. The sewer cleaner may be shifted between forward and reverse instantly. Finally, both speed and direction can be controlled by the simple manual manipulation of a single lever.


A melt is stored in a vessel. A lower half of a degassing member is immersed in the melt. The degassing member has a cylindrical form with the lower end closed, and the lower half section is made of a porous material which is permeable to gas and impermeable to melts as molten metal, molten slag, or molten matte. This lower half section is a partitioning member. When an internal space inside the degassing member is sucked to realize vacuum or reduced pressure atmosphere, gas producing components in the melt pass through the partition member of the degassing member, and are exhausted to inside the degassing member, thus being separated from the melt. Also, by making the degassing member rotate or move in a horizontal or vertical direction, the melt is stirred. With these features, gas-producing components in the melt can be removed at a high efficiency.

The present invention relates to a vacuum-suction degassing apparatus, in which gas-forming solute ingredients are removed or recovered from a melt, such as a molten metal, matte, or slag, through a porous member.
Conventionally, the RH method, DH method, and other degassing methods are used to remove gas-forming solute ingredients from a molten metal. According to the RH or DH method, a large quantity of argon gas is blown into the melt, the surface of which is kept at a vacuum or at reduced pressure so that the partial pressure of the gas-forming ingredients is lowered, thereby removing these ingredients.
Requiring the use of argon gas in large quantity, however, the conventional RH or DH degassing method entails high running cost. Since much argon gas is blown into the melt, moreover, the melt is liable to splash so that many metal drops adhere to the wall surface or some other parts of the apparatus, which requires troublesome removal work. To cope with this splashing of the melt, furthermore, the apparatus is inevitably increased in size, resulting in higher equipment cost.


A reference current source includes at least one first voltage-controlled current source, at least one second voltage-controlled current source, and an addition unit. The first voltage-controlled current source includes: at least one first control voltage source providing a first temperature-dependent control voltage, at least one first MOS transistor having a process gain, and an output providing a first current that is dependent on the control voltage and on the process gain of the first MOS transistor. The second voltage-controlled current source includes: at least one second control voltage source providing a second control voltage, at least one second MOS transistor having a process gain, and an output providing a second current that is dependent on the second control voltage and on the process gain of the second MOS transistor. The addition unit provides a reference current from the first current and the second current.

The present invention relates to a reference current source for providing a current that is at least approximately temperature-independent within a temperature interval.
A known circuit for generating a temperature-independent current has a bandgap reference, as is described for example in Tietze, Schenk: xe2x80x9cHalbleiterschaltungstechnikxe2x80x9d [Semiconductor circuitry], Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1991, page 558, and a largely temperature-stable resistor. In this case, the resistor is connected to an output of the bandgap reference at which a temperature-independent output voltage is present, and a temperature-independent current flows through said resistor, which current can be fed to an application circuit via a simple current mirror circuit.
Problems can arise through the use of a bandgap reference and a resistor for reference current generation in integrated circuits using CMOS technology. In CMOS technology, resistors can be fabricated with the required accuracy only with very great difficulty. Moreover, the resistances of such resistors are greatly dependent on temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,265 discloses using a MOS transistor for generating a reference current. For compensation of a temperature dependence of the drain-source current of a MOS transistor, in the known reference current source a circuit arrangement is connected to the gate terminal, which circuit arrangement generates a control voltage which is dependent on absolute temperature and counteracts the temperature drift of the drain-source current.
An approach similar to that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,265 is pursued in the case of a known reference current source according to Blauschild: xe2x80x9cAn Integrated Time Referencexe2x80x9d, 1994, International Solid State Circuits Conference, Paper WP3.5.
In the case of the current source both according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,265 and according to Blauschild, good bipolar transistors are necessary in order to generate a drive voltage which counteracts the temperature drift of the drain current. Although parasitic bipolar transistors are available in all bulk CMOS processes, their electrical properties allow reproducibility to an ever poorer extent in CMOS processes, particularly in the xe2x80x9cDeep-Submicronxe2x80x9d range.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a reference current source which supplies an at least approximately constant current within a temperature interval and which can be realized simply and cost-effectively using CMOS technology.
The reference current source according to the invention has a first voltage-controlled current source having at least one first control voltage source for providing a first temperature-dependent control voltage and having at least one first MOS transistor. In this case, a first current is available at an output of the first voltage-controlled current source, which current is dependent on the control voltage and a process gain of the at least one first MOS transistor. The reference current source furthermore has a second voltage-controlled current source having at least one second control voltage source for providing a second control voltage and having at least one second MOS transistor. In this case, a second current is available at an output of the second voltage-controlled current source, which current is dependent on the second control voltage and a process gain of the at least one second MOS transistor. Furthermore, an addition unit is provided for the purpose of forming a reference current from the first and second currents of the first and second current sources. The process gain K of a MOS transistor results, as is known, from the product of the temperature-dependent charge carrier mobility xcexc and a capacitance per unit length Cox, which is dependent, inter alia, on the thickness of the gate oxide. In the case of the reference current source according to the invention, in which the first current is dependent on the temperature-dependent first control voltage and the temperature-dependent process gain K, and in which the second current is dependent on the temperature-dependent process gain and the second control voltage, the first and second currents can be set by means of suitable dimensioning of the MOS transistors in the current sources or by means of suitable weighting of the currents prior to their addition in such a way that the reference current resulting from the first and second currents is at least approximately temperature-independent within a temperature interval.
The first control voltage, which is dependent on temperature and is preferably proportional to absolute temperature, can be generated with sufficient accuracy by a bipolar transistor, in particular by a parasitic bipolar transistor present in every bulk CMOS circuit.
The second control voltage is configured in particular in such a way that the derivative of the first control voltage with respect to temperature and the derivative of the second control voltage with respect to temperature are not identical. The second control voltage is preferably constant within the relevant temperature interval within which the reference current is intended to be constant, or, within this interval, is inversely proportional to absolute temperature.
The current supplied by the first and second voltage-controlled current sources preferably satisfies the following relationship:
Ixe2x88x9dKxc2x7Uc2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where I designates the respective output current of the first or second current source and Uc designates the respective control voltage.
W. M. Sansen et al.: xe2x80x9cA CMOS Temperature-Compensated Current Referencexe2x80x9d, IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, vol. 23, No. 3, June 1988, describe the basic construction of an exemplary embodiment of a current source whose output current satisfies the relationship (1). The circuit arrangement essentially has two MOS transistors whose control terminals are coupled by means of a control voltage source and through which the current I flows in each case.
A proportionality factor A not contained in equation (1) is dependent on the dimensioning of the two MOS transistors in each voltage-controlled current source. Mathematically, it can be shown that the output currents of the first and second voltage-controlled current sources can be weighted by means of suitable dimensioning of the two MOS transistors or by means of multiplication of the output currents by suitable weighting factors prior to addition in such a way that the reference current is at least approximately temperature-independent.

Reference current source having MOS transistors


An SSB radio communication system and radio apparatus applicable to ultra high frequencies such as a VHF band and UHF band. In the transmitting side, a carrier wave is amplitude modulated by modulation input signals which comprise a constant amplitude, sine wave shaped reference pulse having a predetermined width and period and a sine wave shaped modulation pulse signal having an amplitude representing two- or multi-value digital values having the same width as the reference pulse signal and which are formed based on the amplitude of the reference pulse signal, and the modulated pulse signals are transmitted on a single side band, while in its receiving side the gain of received signals is automatically adjusted based on the reference pulse signal that is the value of the peak of the received signals. Further, in the transmitting side, the period or frequency of the reference pulse signal is also formed in synchronism with the carrier wave frequency, and in the receiving side, a local carrier wave frequency to be given to a demodulator is determined based on the period of frequency of the reference pulse signal.

An SSB radio communication system is widely used, wherein wireless communications are carried out by using amplitude modulation signals.
In this SSB radio communication system, a carrier wave and one of upper and lower side band waves that do not contribute directly to the transmission of information are suppressed, and only either one of the upper and lower side band waves is transmitted. This system not only saves electric power but also can use a number of communication channels by using only a half the frequency band.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a receiving circuit for a radio apparatus using the conventional SSB radio communication system.
In FIG. 1, an antenna 11 receives single side band signals transmitted from the transmitting side, and a high frequency amplifier 12 amplifies the received signals. A frequency converter 13 mixes the single side band signals from the high frequency amplifier 12 and a signal from a local oscillator 14, and converts the mixed signals through a band limiting filter 15 into intermediate frequency signals. In an intermediate frequency amplifier 16, the gain of the converted signals is automatically adjusted by a detector 17 so as to give an output of a predetermined value. In a demodulator 18, the automatically gain adjusted intermediate signals are demodulated based on a signal from a local carrier wave oscillator 19. The output signals of the demodulator 18 are passed through a low pass filter 20 and amplified by a low frequency amplifier 21 to obtain demodulated output signals.
However, since in this SSB radio communication system there is no reference carrier wave signal serving as a reference for adjusting a level when an automatic gain adjustment is carried out in the intermediate frequency amplifier 16 and detector 17 of FIG. 1, the time constant in the automatic gain adjustment needs to be made sufficiently longer than the period of the modulated signals. For this reason, when the level of the received signals changes, depending on the conditions of a radio communication path, at a period shorter than that in the automatic gain adjustment, an amplitude distortion will be generated in the receiving circuit so that the received output changes.
In addition, to completely recover the waveforms of the modulated signals, it is needed that a frequency which causes frequencies in the transmitting and receiving sides to coincide must be fed to the frequency converter 13 and demodulator 18 from the local oscillator 14 and local carrier wave oscillator 19, respectively. Even if a little error is allowable, a frequency within the allowable range must be supplied. Thus, to coincide frequencies in the transmitting and receiving sides a high stable oscillator is required. When there is no such a high stable oscillator, for example, a circuit (clarifier) for finely adjusting the frequency in the receiving side will be needed.
Further, since in the SSB radio communication system the output level of the received signal changes depending on the conditions of a radio communication path, it is difficult to handle the values of amplitudes as the values of modulated digital signals so that the efficient transmission of data is impossible.

All-frequency-band SSB radio communication system and radio apparatus


A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like, is described. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to environmental control of storage buildings and facilities. More particularly, the present invention relates to the control of such parameters as temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) within a storage facility wherein produce or like commodities are stored.
2. State of the Art
Produce providers often desire to store fruits and vegetables for extended periods of time. Produce is often stored to maintain adequate supplies during periods when a particular commodity is out of season. Processors of fruit and vegetables increasingly desire commercial growers to store their products for longer and longer periods of time. Indeed, processors require a year-round supply of produce while requiring that the quality of such produce remain high.
To store produce for extended periods of time without substantial degradation of quality, it becomes imperative to control the environment in which the produce is stored. Control of the storage facility environment may include the control of, for example, temperature, humidity, and air quality including carbon dioxide (CO2) content. Typically, control of such parameters in a storage facility environment entails movement of air within the facility. Oftentimes, this includes introduction of air from outside the facility. Other times it may simply involve the circulation of existing air inside the storage facility.
One method of controlling the environment has been to place fans or air-handling units in the facility. The fans may be turned on when the temperature rises above a predetermined upper level and shut off when the temperature of the facility reaches a predetermined lower level. A system of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,888 to Faulkner. This type of system utilizes the fans at full power, allowing them to cool the facility at a relatively quick pace, but also allowing temperatures or other environmental parameters to change rapidly within a specified range. Rapid changes in temperature or temperature spikes may often cause a temperature-induced shock to the stored inventory, ultimately resulting in quality degradation. Similarly, rapid changes in other environmental parameters may degrade the quality of the stored commodity.
Some systems have sought to utilize multi-speed fans such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,359 to Olander et al. Such a system is implemented with the desire of allowing temperature or other environmental changes to take place at a slower rate. However, even these systems do not allow the desired flexibility in controlling a chosen environmental parameter within the storage facility. Such systems employ low- and high-speed control of the fan or air-handling unit. While this allows for a stepped transition from one temperature to another, it simply reduces the magnitude of any temperature spike rather than providing a continuous control of temperature within the storage facility. This is because the high- and low-speed settings each correspond to a defined range of operability. Thus, for example, in controlling temperature, the fans will remain inoperative if the temperature of the facility is within a defined temperature range. The fans will then operate at a low-speed setting once the temperature increases into a second defined range. Finally, the fans will operate at a high-speed setting if the temperature increases into a third defined range. The process will reverse itself as the temperature decreases. However, the ranges cannot be defined too tightly, otherwise the fan will be constantly starting and stopping as the temperature fluctuates between the first and second range. On the other hand, the defined ranges may not be set too broadly. If the ranges are too broad, then the temperature will increase to the point where the fans will be operating at the high-speed setting for extended periods of time in an attempt to bring the temperature back to an acceptable value. Also, depending on the commodity being stored, broad parameter ranges may simply not be acceptable from a quality standpoint.
Another important consideration in the environmental control of a storage facility is the efficient use of power. With most systems relying on fans that are cycled between on and off positions, or those systems having high/low-speed settings, power consumption is of paramount concern to the facility operator. Storing commodities for extended periods of time requires a significant consumption of power with existing systems and methods. The cost of such power, while initially resting with the facility operator, ultimately gets passed along to the consumer in the form of higher prices at the market. Thus, an efficient and accurate environmental control system for storage facilities would be of benefit to more than just the facility operator.
In view of the shortcomings in the art, it would be advantageous to provide an environmental control system for a storage facility which effectively controls specified environmental parameters while consuming a reduced amount of energy. Such a system or method should be simple to employ in existing as well as new storage facilities.

Environmental control system and method for storage buildings


A resin sealed semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a main surface, a plurality of surface electrodes formed on the main surface of the chip, a plurality of projection electrodes formed the main surface, each projection electrode being connected to respective one surface electrodes, and a resin shield covering the main surface, the surface electrodes and side surfaces of the projection electrodes, the resin having a thermal expansion coefficient in the range of 8-10 ppm/° C. and a Young's modulus in the range of 1.8-2.0 Gpa.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a resin-sealed semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a Chip Size Package (CSP) whose mounting area is similar to that of a semiconductor chip contained therein. Further, the invention relates to a resin itself used in the CSP, and a method for manufacturing the CSP using the resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, since resin-sealed semiconductor devices are applied to memory cards, IC cards and portable telephones, a demand for thinner, smaller and lighter is becoming more and more intense. In response to the demand, shapes or structures of resin-sealed semiconductor devices have been improved. One of the improvements is a Chip Size Package (CSP) type resin-sealed semiconductor device.
Generally, a CSP-type semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having integrated circuits on its surface, a plurality of surface electrodes on the surface of the semiconductor chip, an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor chip, projection electrodes formed on the insulating layer, metal wires for connecting the surface electrodes to the projection electrodes, a resin shield for sealing the entire surface of the semiconductor chip, and metal balls formed on the projection electrodes. By a process called dicing, a semiconductor wafer is divided into many CSP-type semiconductor devices after all components are formed on the semiconductor wafer.
As described above, in the process for manufacturing the CSP-type semiconductor device, the resin shield is formed on the semiconductor wafer. During the formation of the resin shield, the semiconductor wafer is heated so as to melt the resin material. Then, the melted resin is flowed on the heated semiconductor wafer, and then solidified.
Thermal expansion coefficients of the resin and the semiconductor wafer are determined by their material. Therefore, when the semiconductor wafer on which the resin shield is formed is cooled to room temperature to solidify the resin material, the resin and the semiconductor wafer either shrink or stretch. In the dicing process for dividing the semiconductor wafer into CSP-type semiconductor devices, the semiconductor wafer is placed on a vacuuming table. However, the semiconductor wafer is warped by the shrinkage or stretching of the resin shield, and as a result, the bottom surface of semiconductor wafer is not in complete contact with the table. Therefore, during the dicing process, the semiconductor wafer is not precisely divided along grid lines.
Further, after a CSP-type semiconductor device is mounted on a board, the device is heated on some occasions. Since the board also has a thermal expansion coefficient which is determined by the material of the board, the board and the CSP-type semiconductor device either shrink or stretch after the board and the device are cooled to room temperature. Because of the differences in thermal expansion coefficient between the board and the CSP-type semiconductor device, the metal balls connecting the CSP-type semiconductor device may crack. Once cracks form in the metal balls, the reliability of the metal balls for performing their connecting function is reduced. Moreover, since the resistance values of the metal balls are increased by the cracks, the reliability of the CSP-type semiconductor devices is reduced.

Resin for sealing semiconductor device, resin-sealed semiconductor device and the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device


A multi-wavelength semiconductor diode laser device includes a semiconductor diode gain medium including one or more quantum well structures, each of the quantum well structures having an associated gain peak, the semiconductor gain medium further including a back facet configured for high reflection of laser light therein and a front facet configured for coupling a laser beam therefrom, one or more collimation optics configured to receive the laser beam, and an external volume Bragg grating configured to reflect a portion of the laser beam and narrow the wavelength of at least a portion of the light generated by the semiconductor gain medium to a selected wavelength corresponding to at least one of the gain peaks, wherein an output beam is coupled out of the external volume Bragg grating, the output beam having a plurality of output wavelengths.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the field of the present invention is multi-wavelength lasers. More particularly, the present invention relates to multi-wavelength semiconductor lasers with co-aligned output beams.
2. Background
Multi-wavelength laser systems have potential applications in many areas such as two-wavelength interferometry, laser spectroscopy, differential LIDAR, etc. For some of the applications, it is highly desirable to have the different wavelength beams to be co-aligned to within a few tens of micro-radian accuracy. In the semiconductor laser arts, providing an array of lasers with physically separated gain media for each wavelength is a common approach for multiple-wavelength operation. Dual-wavelength operation with a single semiconductor gain medium has also been achieved. However, these solutions resort to multi-component and complicated architectures to achieve dual or multi-wavelength output. Because of efficiency limitations, these devices tend to operate with low output powers. More importantly, some of these architectures do not provide a co-aligned multi-wavelength beam. Innovations herein are directed to overcoming the attendant problems of prior art architectures and other drawbacks.


Disclosed is a temperature indicating method and device. The device embodies a sealed tube containing a liquid and a float. The tube has markings on the exterior indicating temperature zones or, in the alternative, temperature gradients. The method disclosed includes inverting the tube such that the indicator drops to the bottom of the tube and freezing the device at the appropriate temperature level. In use, the device is placed right side up in a container along with other items for which the highest temperature level arrived at is desired to be known. Upon warming, the liquid in the tube melts and the float drops through the liquid to the freezing level of the liquid. By removing the device from the container and comparing the float level in the tube to the markings on the exterior of the tube, the highest temperature or temperature zone that the contents of the container were subjected can be determined.

In many fields of endeavor, such as in medicine, biological research, animal husbandry and other areas, there is a need to genetically stabilize, store and/or safely transport materials to offsite locations. These materials can include a wide variety of items, such as cultures of viruses and bacteria, tissue cells, multi-cellular organisms, enzymes, human and animal DNA, vaccines, diagnostic substrates, embryos, spermatozoa and a host of other materials.
In general, the process of genetically stabilizing organic or biological materials has been accomplished by containing the chosen materials in enclosures wherein cryogenic temperatures are maintained at or near liquid nitrogen or vapor phase liquid nitrogen temperatures. At a fixed location, there are currently means available to store and assure that the materials are properly and safely stored. However, when it is desired and/or necessary to transport the chosen materials to offsite locations, many problems and concerns arise. The biological materials must be transported at cryogenic temperatures to maintain viability. This requires a shipping container that can maintain a cryogenic environment for the duration of the transportation time and a means to assure that the contents of the shipper have stayed at or below a preset temperature level during the course of transportation.
As an example only, in the field of animal husbandry today, most domesticated animals, such as cows, turkeys and other animals, are artificially inseminated. In practice the sperm is collected and stored in what is known as straws. The straws are sealed, labeled and placed in a cylindrical tube. The tube is placed into a holder with the proper identification so that the person using the sperm to inseminate their animals can verify the origin of the sperm. The straws, tube and tube holder are then cryogenically stored in a container. This container has a compartment for holding the tubes and the compartment is surrounded by liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is contained by the container. To maintain the viability of the sperm, the sperm should be kept at temperature colder than minus 50 degrees centigrade. However, in practice most suppliers and users of animal sperm recommend that the sperm be kept no warmer than minus 90 degrees centigrade to assure the viability of the sperm.
To assure the end user that the temperature of the sperm has not dropped below a preset minimum, the shipping container that contains the tubes containing sperm straws also contains a device that acts as a temperature indicator. Today, the temperature indicator tube has two separate, partially liquid filled ampoules, one of the capsules is red in color and the other is blue. The red and blue capsules act as a go—no go indicator to assure the user that the frozen sperm has not dropped below a specified temperature, typically minus 90 degrees centigrade for the blue color and minus 50 degrees centigrade for the red color. If the blue liquid in the ampoule drops a certain amount, that is ok and the sperm is still viable. However, if the red ampoule drops then there is a problem with the temperature being below the desired threshold and the sperm is viewed as being: suspect.
Once a user chooses the type and quantity of sperm they need for their operations, the sperm supplier packages the sperm straws in the tubes and place the tubes in the containers with liquid nitrogen and the current temperature indicator and transports them offsite. As the container travels to its end destination, the container and its contents gets warmer and some of the liquid nitrogen evaporates off. In order not to create a buildup of pressure within the container, each container has a vent to release any nitrogen vapors. This creates a shipping problem as liquid nitrogen is a hazardous material when in liquid form. If the container should happen to tip over during transit, the liquid nitrogen could spill out through the vent hole, thereby causing a hazardous material (extreme cold) spill along with the potential for destroying the viability of the sperm.
Once the shipping container arrives at its destination, the user opens up the container and checks the temperature indicator to assure the viability of the sperm through the use of the colored go—no go type ampoule positions. Currently, this is a simple yes—no answer, the contents are either viable or not. The problem with the existing art is that it presents a simple go—no go gage for determining the viability of the contents of the container, whereas, in fact, there is a range of temperatures within which the contents of the container remain viable. As such, the existing art provides no means to determine the actual range of temperatures or actual temperature that the contents of the container reached over time and the possible viability of the contents. The new invention solves this problem.

Method and device for indicating temperature


A ground penetrating traction stud for attaching to a flexible track, the stud having a longitudinal axis, a penetrating member formed with a contact face, a reinforcing rib and a pair of transition facets extending between the edges of the contact face and the reinforcing rib. The contact face may be inclined at an angle between about 3.degree. and 10.degree. to the longitudinal axis.

Snowmobiles driven over adverse riding surfaces, such as snow and ice employ traction devices which penetrate the riding surface to improve operating performances. The traction devices include an elongated, substantially cylindrical, rigid stud having either a conical or a wedge-shaped penetrating bit, and a semi-cylindrical penetrating bit having a flat side and a chisel-shaped or cone-shaped tip. The tip of the cone or wedge-shaped bit or the chisel-shaped tip penetrates the riding surface to dispose a length of the stud in the riding surface. The bit is either affixed to the stud or integrally formed with the stud.
Traction studs are usually formed with the long axis perpendicular to the head or T-nut so that the stud is at right angles to the direction of rotation of the track. A washer and a T-nut are commonly used to affix the stud to a track. Some embodiments of the device are constructed in a "push-through" configuration in which a head is integrally formed with the inner end of the stud on the inner side of the track and a threaded nut and a washer mounted on the outer end of the stud on the outside of the track. The T-nut or head and the washer provide a large contact area with the track. The large contact area minimizes damage to the track as forces are exerted on the traction device.
Studs with a conical shaped bit provide ready, deep penetration of a riding surface. However, the cone shape allows riding surface matter to slide around the cone, resulting in a loss of traction for forward travel of the sled and instability in a lateral direction. The deep penetration of the bit and the small tip also causes accelerated wear of the bit. While providing a more durable bit wedge shaped bits do not penetrate as deeply as conical bits and there is a loss of traction due to the shallow penetration.
Studs with a semi-cylindrical bit having a flat side facing the rear of the sled as the track meets the riding surface and a chisel-shaped tip allow deep penetration and improved traction in the forward direction over the conical and wedge shaped bits. However, the opposite side of the bit presents a semi-circular face to the riding surface and allows snow or dirt to slide around the bit with loss of lateral stability, especially from side-slipping while negotiating corners. Alternatively, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,316, milled faces are formed to define a converging angle as they tend toward a conical tip of the stud.
A snowmobile track may have several hundred studs installed on it. Generally, the greater number of studs on the track the better the traction. However, the greater the number of studs added to the track, the more weight that is added to the vehicle. Obviously a heavier vehicle cannot go as fast or handle corners as well as a lighter one. Furthermore, at speed, the added rotating mass tends to configure the track into a circular shape which unfavorably loads the bearings thereby increasing wear and horse power requirements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,316 describes a stud made, at least in part, from aluminum rather than steel to reduce the overall weight. However, aluminum is less durable and is subject to rapid wear.
Therefore, the need exists for a traction stud having good penetrating characteristics while providing durable use. The need further exists for a traction stud having increased lateral stability. The need also exists for a traction stud with a reduced weight, thereby allowing greater transfer of available power to motive forces, as well as reducing wear on the track assembly.


A communications module is disclosed for facilitating wireless electronic communications with an electronic device. The communications module includes a processor and a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with the electronic device. A paging module is also included that is in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a paging network. The communications module also includes a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network. Further, memory is in electronic communication with the processor for storing data.

Computer and communication technologies continue to advance at a rapid pace. Indeed, computer and communication technologies are involved in many aspects of a person's day. For example, many devices being used today by consumers have a small computer incorporated within the device. These small computers come in varying sizes and degrees of sophistication. These small computers may vary in sophistication from one microcontroller to a fully-functional complete computer system. For example, small computers may be a one-chip computer, such as a microcontroller, a one-board type of computer, such as a controller, a typical desktop computer, such as an IBM-PC compatible, etc.
Computers typically have one or more processors. The processor(s) usually are interconnected to different external inputs and outputs and function to manage the particular computer or device. For example, a processor in a thermostat may be connected to buttons used to select the temperature setting, to the furnace or air conditioner to change the temperature, and to temperature sensors to read and display the current temperature on a display.
Many appliances, devices, etc., include one or more small computers. For example, thermostats, furnaces, air conditioning systems, refrigerators, telephones, typewriters, automobiles, vending machines, and many different types of industrial equipment now typically have small computers, or processors, inside of them. Computer software runs the processors of these computers and instructs the processors to carry out certain tasks. For example, the computer software running on a thermostat may cause an air conditioner to stop running when a particular temperature is reached or may cause a heater to turn on when needed.
These types of small computers that are a part of a device, appliance, tool, etc., are often referred to as embedded systems. The term "embedded system" usually refers to computer hardware and software that is part of a larger system. Embedded systems may not have typical input and output devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and/or monitor. Usually, at the heart of each embedded system is one or more processor(s).
Embedded systems may be used to control and/or monitor appliances, machines, tools, sensors, the use of certain resources such as power or water, etc. Some embedded systems cannot be easily accessed and/or cannot easily be given inputs. Users of these embedded systems may be able to have more control over the operation of appliances, machines, tools, sensors and many other devices if the embedded system were more accessible to enter inputs and/or to communicate with. In addition, more information may be available to users if embedded systems were better adapted for communications with other embedded systems or computers. For example, if users were able to communicate with an embedded system controlling a thermostat, they may access the temperature from a remote location, or they may turn down the settings from a remote location. If users could more readily communicate with an embedded system in a vending machine, as a further example, vendors of products could remotely determine when certain items must be refilled or when there was a problem with the vending machine. Thus, benefits may be realized if communications with embedded systems were enabled and/or enhanced.

Communications module for wireless communications with an electronic device to enable remote access


It is made possible to favorably test the transmission state and so on by using an OFDM modulated signal. Time axis representation of predetermined input data is converted to frequency axis representation thereof at every predetermined unit by using inverse Fourier transform, and thereby an OFDM signal using a plurality of sub-carriers is generated. In addition, in response to a predetermined command, output of arbitrary sub-carriers included in the plurality of sub-carriers forming the OFDM signal is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an OFDM signal generation method, and apparatus, for generating a signal subjected to Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing hereafter referred to as OFDM) modulation, and in particular to a technique suitable for the case where a transmission system is tested by transmitting an OFDM signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, as one of modulation systems in the case where a comparatively large amount of digital data are sent by radio transmission or the like, an OFDM modulation has been put to practical use. The OFDM modulation system is a system for transmitting transmission data as multi-carrier data distributed into a plurality of sub-carriers. By using the OFDM modulation system, radio transmission of a large amount of data can be conducted efficiently.
When testing a receiving apparatus for receiving such an OFDM signal, an appropriate random bit sequence was inputted to a transmission data input portion of a transmitting apparatus for transmitting an OFDM signal. An OFDM modulated signal was thus generated. The receiving apparatus was made to receive a signal transmitted from this transmitting apparatus for the purpose of testing. Also when testing a transmitting system of a communication terminal having a function of transmitting a OFDM modulated signal, data of an appropriate random bit sequence were inputted to the communication terminal and thus an OFDM modulated signal was generated.
If the above described random bit sequence for testing was inputted to an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) circuit serving as an OFDM signal generation means to generate an OFDM signal, the generated OFDM modulated signal looked like just a random noise when viewed in the time axis direction. Even when viewed in the frequency axis direction, it was difficult to determine whether an OFDM modulated signal was outputted correctly. It was thus difficult to determine from the conventional states of test signals whether or not a correct processing was conducted. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional test signal. In FIG. 1, FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a waveform when viewed in the frequency axis direction, while FIG. 1B, is a diagram showing a baseband waveform when viewed in the time axis direction. It is difficult to grasp the state from only these waveforms.
Furthermore, when a test is conducted by inputting an OFDM modulated signal to a receiving apparatus, it was especially difficult to determine whether or not a fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit for transforming the frequency axis of an OFDM signal to its time axis was functioning normally.
In addition, in the case where an OFDM modulated signal was generated by inputting a random bit sequence to the IFFT circuit, there was a possibility that phases of sub-carriers were aligned if processing was conducted without considering phases of the sub-carriers. When the waveform was observed on the time axis in such a case, an extremely large peak was observed and the signal was distorted due to exceeding the dynamic range of a modulator. FIG. 2 shows an example of such a case. In FIG. 2, FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a waveform when viewed in the frequency axis direction. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a baseband waveform when viewed in the time axis direction. Even if there is no abnormality when viewed in the frequency axis direction, an extremely large peak waveform might appear when viewed in the time axis direction. Such an abnormal state is not desirable in testing.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to favorably test the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus using an OFDM modulated signal.
In order to solve this problem, an OFDM signal generation method of the present invention includes the steps of converting time axis representation of predetermined input data to frequency axis representation thereof at every predetermined unit by using the inverse Fourier transform and thereby generating an OFDM signal using a plurality of sub-carriers; and stopping output of an arbitrary sub-carrier included in a plurality of sub-carriers forming the OFDM signal in response to a predetermined command.
According to the OFDM signal generation method of the present invention, an OFDM signal having an arbitrary number of sub-carriers can be generated.
Furthermore, an OFDM signal generation apparatus of the present invention includes a conversion means for converting time axis representation of predetermined input data to frequency axis representation thereof at every predetermined unit by using the inverse Fourier transform, thereby generating an OFDM signal using a plurality of sub-carriers; and a control means for stopping output of an arbitrary sub-carrier included in a plurality of sub-carriers forming the OFDM signal to be converted by the conversion means , in response to a predetermined command.
According to the OFDM signal generation apparatus of the present invention, an OFDM signal having an arbitrary number of sub-carriers can be generated by the conversion means on the basis of a command given to the control means.

OFDM signal generation method and OFDM signal generation apparatus


The retractable cord assembly (26) comprises a cable (28) having a central carrier and plural conductors helically wrapped about the central carrier. The assembly further includes a grommet for connecting the cable (28) to a device, the grommet having a head and stem, with a passage throught he head and stem for receiving the cable (28). The passgae is tapered to provide an enlarged proximal end when installed. The assembly further includes a flexible metal conduit (30) through which the cable slides. The cable outer surface is nylon braid and the conduit inner surface is a nickel plated to minimize friction therebetween.

The present invention relates to retractable cord assemblies for use with telephones and other electrical or electronic devices.
Cord reels are used to retract and dispense cords for electrical devices such as telephones. To be operable, the cord must conduct electrical signals. Also, in the case of a retractable cord and reel, the cord may be under retractive spring pressure. Through use, including dispensing, retraction, bending and the like, these cords may eventually suffer failure.
Such cords typically compromise several individual conductors wrapped together. As such a cord bends and rotates, one of its conductors may fail. Upon the failure of a single conductor element, the entire cord is failed.
A frequent point of failure is at the point of connection between the retractable cord and the device. In the case of a telephone, for instance, the point where the cord joins the phone is a frequent failure point. As the handset is moved about, the cord at this connection point is bent at sharper angles than the remainder of the cord, and is thus under greater stress and/or strain. Also, as the handset is used, the cord at this point is rotated. These factors or increased wear at the device connection point often lead to premature failure.
Another frequent failure problem arises for applications that require the cord to travel through a conduit. In the case of a telephone on an airline seat, for instance, a retractable cord reel may be located under the seat, while the handset is located in the armrest. In such an example, the cord reel may be located up to several feet from the handset. A conduit is used to guide the retractable cord between the handset and the reel. In some cases, the conduit must be flexible, for example to allow the airline seat or armrest to fold.
Frequent failures occur under such conditions. One cause of failure is friction that develops between the cord and the conduit as the cord is pulled through the conduit. This friction leads to accelerate wear on the cord through heating of the surface and increased stress on the cord. Another cause of failure is through kinking or cracking of the conduit itself; particularly if it is required to move or otherwise flex. Friction between the retractable cord and conduit can cause the outer surface of the cord to fray or otherwise deteriorate. This increases friction between the cord and the conduit, making operation difficult. Further, this friction increases the stress on the cord and connections, likewise leading to a shortened service life. If the cord does not retract fully, as may be caused by excessive friction, the operator may improperly push or force the cord into the conduit, causing cord kinks, which may lead to failure.
An unresolved need therefore exists for an improved cord and cord reel device that offers improved failure free service life.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-conductor cord that offers improved resistance to failure.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that offers improved resistance to cord failure at the point of connection to a device.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a cord and conduit that offers reduced friction and improved durability.
The present invention comprises a cable having a central carrier and a conducting element wrapped about the central carrier. The present invention further comprises a grommet for connecting the cable to a device, the grommet having a head and stem, with a passage through the head and stem for passing the cable. The present invention further comprises a cable and conduit assembly, wherein the cable outer surface and the conduit inner surface are treated to minimize friction there between.
The cable of the present invention comprises a central carrier with one or more perimeter conductors wound about it. An outer insulating sheath may cover the carrier and conductors. Prior art cords that have several individual conductors are typically oriented with a central conductor and remaining conductors helically wound about the central conductor perimeter. It has been discovered that in such cords the central conductor is by far the most frequent failure of the conductors. While the exact reason for this is not known, it is believed that since the perimeter outer wrapped conductors wind about the central conductor in a helical fashion, they have a higher tolerance to withstand flex fatigue associated with bending and twisting. Also, as the cord may be bent or twisted, the helically wound perimeter outer conductors are free to slide or otherwise move, while the central conductor is more fixed in place.
In accordance with these beliefs, an improved cable has been developed which comprises a central carrier element and one or more perimeter conductors helically wrapped about the carrier. The central carrier may be comprised of any of a number of materials, chosen for their strength, relative inelasticity, and low cost. Preferred central carriers include cotton or other materials including synthetic fiber cord, such as nylon, Kevlar, or the like. Although perimeter conductors may be present in numbers from one to as many as may be required, it has been discovered that the present invention offers greatest improvement in service life in cords having at least 5 perimeter conductors. A non-conducting insulating sheath may be used to cover the carrier and perimeter conductors.
The present invention further comprises a grommet for improved connection of a cable to a device such as a telephone hand set. The grommet has a rectangular head portion, a stem portion, and a passage through the head and stem for passing a cord. The grommet head is placed in a device housing, with the stem extending out to receive the cable. The grommet may be comprised of any suitable resilient, compressible elastomer. The grommet of the invention satisfies several needs. The connection point between the cable and the device is a frequent location of failure from flex and torsion fatigue as it is a point of acute bending and twisting. The grommet decreases the cable failure rate as its stem lends flex support to the cable passing through it. As the head portion is rectangular, it resists pull through and rotation after being put in place in a device housing. Further, the grommet serves to anchor a braided sheath layer covering the cord conductors. The braided sheath is locked into place after being woven over the grommet.
Preferably, the passage through the grommet is tapered, with a smaller entrance at the stem end and a larger exit at the head end. When the cable is installed, the tapering results in the outside diameter of the distal end to be enlarged in greater degree than the proximal or head end of the stem. The enlarged outside diameter of the stem end helps to lock the grommet in place in a device.
The present invention further comprises a conduit and cable assembly for improved cable service life. Some cord reel applications require a cord reel to be located at a distance from a device (e.g. telephone handset) to be connected to the cord. In such applications, the cable is guided from the reel to the device by a conduit through which the cable passes. In order to improve the service life of the cable and conduit, the present invention comprises a cable with an outer surface and a conduit with an inner surface where the surfaces are designed to minimize friction there between. While the present invention may comprise surfaces of a wide variety of materials and treatments, a preferred cable comprised of a nylon braid in combination with a preferred conduit inner surface comprised of a smooth, hard, metal plating has been found to result in low friction and extended service life. Other materials may potentially be used, including a Teflon lubricant. The conduit inner surface may be comprised of a number of hard, smooth surfaces, including metallic platings such as electroless nickel plating, electrolytic nickel plating, or chrome plating. Generally, it has been discovered that a polymer cable covering in combination with a metallic plate conduit inner surface results in low friction. The conduit should further be chosen on a basis of flexibility so as to resist cracking, kinking, and collapse. Flexible metal conduits are preferred.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining the preferred embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and not limitation.
The objects of the invention have been well satisfied. These advantages and others will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present invention comprises methods and compositions for affecting indoor air quality, such as by reducing particulates in indoor air and providing allergen control comprising using surfactant-free cleaning compositions to remove particulate matter such as soils and stains from fibers and surfaces comprising fibers such as indoor carpeting and upholstery, and to prevent redeposition of particles and other soil or stain components on indoor environmental surfaces.

Indoor air pollution is a problem that is receiving much attention. Particulates in the air cause multiple problems, and include deposition of particulate matter in the airways, inhalation of toxic chemicals, metals and fibers that are present in the air, and exacerbation of allergic reactions in humans and animals. The presence of improperly maintained upholstery and carpets in confined spaces adds to the transmission and retention of particulates and allergens.
An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in an human or animal who is exposed to the substance. A comprehensive list of allergens is not possible, because sensitivities vary from person to person and it is possible for someone or an animal to be allergic to almost any substance.
A growing issue for children and adults is the increase in allergic asthma. In recent years, numerous hypotheses have advanced the biological plausibility for the exacerbation of allergic asthma likely associated with episodic exposure to allergens bound to soil particles, transported to lower tracheobronchial (TB) and alveolar (A) regions of the lung. Typically, allergens such as dander, including house mite, cockroach, cat, or dog allergens, or pollens such as ragweed, rye grass, or pine are found mainly in the coarse fraction of airborne particles. However, allergens can also be found in respirable particles that differ in particle size and chemical composition.
Recent studies show that all types of particles appear to exert an adjuvant effect on the immune response to co-administered protein antigen, indicating that inhaled antigen in particle-exposed individuals plays a major role in allergic asthma. Different particles stimulated distinct types of immune responses. Studies suggest that particles could modulate airway disease through their actions on airway epithelial cells and that bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatics are different from those of non-asthmatics.
Evidence also suggests that metals commonly found in particulate matter are responsible for augmentation of allergic sensitization and may be responsible for increased allergic sensitization in treated animals. Increased concentrations of heavy metals have been found in the body tissues (including lungs) of humans and other mammals living in areas with elevated metal-containing soils.
The body in response to acute injury, infection, or other inflammatory stimuli releases C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines. This response is called the acute phase reaction. Acute phase proteins are a class of proteins that are synthesized in the liver in response to inflammation. C-reactive protein is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is only present during episodes of acute inflammation. CRP is therefore a marker of inflammation. The most important role of CRP is its interaction with the complement system, which is one of the body's immunologic defense mechanisms.
Cytokines are small protein molecules that are the core of communication between immune system cells, and even between immune system cells and cells belonging to other tissue types. They are actively secreted by immune cells as well as other cell types. Their action is often local, but sometimes can have global effects on the whole body. Cytokines act by binding to their cell-specific receptors. These receptors are located in the cell membrane and each allows a distinct signal cascade to start in the cell, which eventually will leads to biochemical and phenotypical changes in the target cell.
It has recently been discovered that CRP also plays a role in heart disease. Atheromatous plaques, characterized by thickening and fatty degeneration of the inner coat in diseased arteries, typically contain inflammatory cells. Rupture of atheromatous plaque is thought to be the mechanism for acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. The most common site of plaque rupture appears to be the shoulder region where inflammatory cells are most prominent. Thus the release of acute phase reactants as a response to inflammation have been proposed as a potential marker of an "unstable" atheromatous plaque and underlying atherosclerosis, the progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries over time.
The amount of CRP produced by the body varies from person to person, and this is affected by an individual's genetic makeup. Higher CRP levels tend to be found in individuals who smoke, have high blood pressure, are overweight and don't exercise, whereas lean, athletic individuals tend to have lower CRP levels.
The toxicological consequences of inhaled particles on the cardiovascular system are also under increased investigation. The studies suggest that pathophysiological changes in cardiac function, such as heart rate variability, post-myocardial infarction; increased atherosclerosis plaque formation and/or blood coagulation could be linked to inhaled protein and other toxins found in respirable metal-associated particles.
What is needed are improved methods for improving indoor air quality such as in control of particulates in indoor air and reduction in allergen exposure by humans, adults and children, and animals.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for surfactant-free cleaning


A die separator cylinder for use in separating first and second portions of a metal forming die set comprises a housing including a bore. A piston is adapted to reciprocate in the bore between an extended position and a depressed position. The die separator cylinder further includes gas flow paths leading to and from the bore that define asymmetrical gas flow rates relative to each other so that said when the bore is charged with an inert gas, the inert gas biases the piston to the extended position with a force that varies depending upon a time interval elapsed since the piston moved from the depressed position to the extended position. As such, the cylinder is configured so that during opening and closing of the press for metal-forming operations, the piston moves inward and outward with reduced force, while during periods of inactivity, the piston is biased outward with maximum force sufficient to separate the die halves of the die set to protect the die surfaces and to facilitate stacking of the die set for storage. The die separator cylinder can be configured as a stand-alone self-contained cylinder or can be configured as part of a hosed system or the like.

Gas springs charged with nitrogen or other inert gas are well-known and in widespread use in connection with metal-forming die sets. Examples of such nitrogen gas springs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,004 entitled "Self-Lubricating Fluid Cylinder," U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,185 entitled "Cushion Assembly and Method," and U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,159 entitled "Low Contact Force Spring," all of which patents are hereby incorporated by reference. These gas springs and others are available commercially from Hyson Products, Brecksville, Ohio, U.S.A.
A need has been identified for a new type of gas spring to be used as a die separator cylinder. More particularly, a need has been found for a die separator cylinder, a group of which is adapted to be assembled into a forming die set which is used in a press, wherein the die separator cylinders provide maximum separation force to maintain the upper and lower die components in a spaced-apart relationship when the die set is put into storage, and wherein the die separator cylinder provide minimal separation force when the die set is put into use so as to have minimal effect on metal forming operations.