A rake lock assembly for a steering column assembly includes a component operatively associated with a rake bracket, the component including a trigger element, and a locking cam configured to be disposed within the rake bracket and to rotate about a rotational axis. The locking cam includes a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality of teeth configured to interact with rake teeth. When an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and a rake bolt is shuttled in a first direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing a vehicle steering column from raking movement in a second direction.

Some known steering columns for motor vehicles are provided with mechanisms for adjusting the steering column position by an operator of the motor vehicle. Available adjustments typically include a telescoping adjustment in which the steering column is extended toward the operator or retracted away from the operator, and a tilt or rake adjustment in which an angular position of the steering column is changed relative to the operator.
In some known systems, rake is adjusted by releasing an adjustment lever from a secured position, which then allows for rotation of the steering column about a pivot, typically located at an end of the steering column opposite that of the of the steering wheel. Returning the adjustment lever to the secured position retains the steering column in a desired set position about the pivot.
In a vehicle impact event, the steering column is configured to absorb energy of the impact to prevent or reduce injury to the operator due to collision with the steering wheel. In doing so, it is desired to further lock the rake position of the steering column to allow controlled energy absorption in such situations. In some steering column designs, during a collapse cycle, the column is designed to disengage the shaft and jacket assembly from the column mounting bracket. This allows the shaft and jacket assembly to shuttle forward in a vehicle, which allows the column to unclamp to facilitate internal collapse. At this point, rake lock needs to be maintained or re-established.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an energy absorbing rake lock assembly configured to re-establish rake lock during an impact event and provide high rake direction load retention without requiring high levels of forward loading.

Steering column energy absorbing rake lock

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for autonomous device authentication and compartment unlocking. Example methods may include determining, by a user device, an identifier associated with a target Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device, receiving a beacon from a Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device, and determining, using the beacon, that the Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device is the target Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device. Example methods may include establishing a connection with the target Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device, and sending a signal to the target Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device to implement an action, where the signal comprises a resource identifier, and where the target Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral device controls access to a plurality of resources, and uses the resource identifier to identify a resource of the plurality of resources at which to implement the action.

User and/or device authentication may be used to authorize physical access to locations. For example, device or user authentication may be used to unlock doors, open gates, and so forth. However, such authentication may rely on user interaction. For example, a user may have to swipe a badge, type a passcode, input credentials, or otherwise interact with a system. Such interactions may cause friction in a user experience or may otherwise be cumbersome. In addition, such interactions may increase a risk of unauthorized access to locations. Accordingly, secure and autonomous device authentication may be desired.

Autonomous device authentication and compartment unlocking


A control link switch method is employed by a wireless fidelity (WI-FI) multi-link device (MLD). The control link switch method includes: sending a request frame to another WI-FI MLD for requesting a switch process of switching a current control link to a new control link, and receiving a response frame from another WI-FI MLD. After the response frame is received, the new control link is selectively enabled at the WI-FI MLD.

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to a control link switch method employed by a wireless fidelity (WI-FI) multi-link device (MLD).
In a WI-FI multi-link operation, there exists several links between two MLDs, including one access point (AP) and one non-AP station (STA), that occupy different radio-frequency (RF) bands. These links can operate independently to increase the overall throughput and/or to improve the connection stability. In some applications, these links may include one or more dedicated links used for particular services. However, the dedicated link(s) may be unstable due to interference or may be unavailable due to non-AP STA's resource allocation change. Thus, there is a need for an innovative link switch mechanism in a WI-FI multi-link operation.

Control link switch method employed by wireless fidelity multi-link device


An input stage for receiving an input signal having a signal level varying to represent successive states of a one-bit digital signal, comprises: a thresholder for detecting whether the input signal level is above or below a threshold signal level; in which: the input of the thresholder is biased with a bias signal varying between a signal level above the threshold signal level and a signal level below the threshold signal level; and the amplitude of the alternating component of the bias signal is lower than the amplitude of the alternating component of the input signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to processing one-bit digital signals (e.g. one-bit digital audio signals), and to input stages for receiving such signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a one-bit signal is received by digital signal processing apparatus (e.g. from a transmission line such as a coaxial cable) it is common to use a thresholder or slicer to "clean up" the received signal. This is done by the thresholder generating an output at one of two signal levels (to represent the two possible states of the one-bit signal) dependent upon whether the received signal is above or below a threshold level.
However, if the signal on the cable is removed (for example, because the source of the signal is unplugged or powered down), then the thresholder would output a consecutive string of the same value, which in one-bit digital systems represents a very large output signal indeed. In a one-bit digital audio system this could lead to overload of subsequent processing devices.


A method for forming a molded-in lifter for supporting a fabric liner of a flexible magnetic recording disc so that the disc is cleaned by rotation of the disc with respect to the liner when the disc is housed within a cartridge. The lifter is a raised rib that has a controlled height typically provided by deforming a molded-in rib to the desired height. The cartridge may also include a recess in the shell opposite the rib to receive the rib and prevent or reduce compression of the media if the cartridge is compressed.

Floppy magnetic recording discs are flexible discs of polyester resin or the like having a magnetic layer on each side thereof on which information is recorded by a magnetic head. Floppy discs which have a diameter of 31/2 inches (8.9 cm) or less are known as micro-floppy discs. Generally, the micro-floppy disc is accommodated in a hard casing to form a cartridge. The micro-floppy disc comprises a thin circular magnetic recording medium having a hub at its center.
The cartridge generally includes a fabric liner on both inner surfaces of the casing. The liner is contacted with the recording surface of the disc to remove debris on the recording surface while the disc is rotated. The liner has a width at least equal to the width of the recording region of the disc, and is forced against the entire width of the recording surface by a lifter secured to the inner surface of the casing.
A prior art micro-floppy magnetic recording disc cartridge 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The cartridge 10 is comprised of two cartridge shells 12A and 20A which enclose a floppy magnetic recording disc 16. The shells 12A and 20A each have a fabric liner 14 and 18, respectively, on their inner surface which approximates the shape of the disc 16. A prior art lifter 22 is provided in the form of a separate sheet of material that is affixed to the inner surface of the shell 20A and angled to apply pressure on the fabric liner 18. That pressure causes the fabric to rub against the disc 16, thereby cleaning the disc when it is rotated in the cartridge 10. The amount of resistance provided by lifter 22 and fabric liners 14 and 18 against rotation of the floppy disc 16 may be regulated during manufacture by adjusting the degree to which the lifter is angled from shell 20A.

Method for forming a molded-in lifter for cleaning a flexible magnetic disc


A method and apparatus for deskewing a sheet of media traveling through a paper path in a printer is provided. A buckle is formed in the sheet of media by over-driving the sheet into stationary deskew rollers that form a deskew nip downstream. A deskewing bias element includes a plurality of articulated segmented surfaces that contact the buckle and urge the leading edge of the sheet into the deskew nip. The buckle force combined with the biasing force from the deskewing bias element aligns the leading edge of the sheet with the deskew nip across the full width of the sheet, thereby removing any skew.

The field of imaging is replete with references describing various mechanisms and methods for transporting media through an imaging apparatus. Many of the transport mechanisms include provisions for properly aligning or deskewing individual sheets of media as they travel through the mechanism.
Several prior art patents teach the concept of creating a buckle in a sheet of media to correct for media skew. An exemplary patent disclosing this concept is U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,909 for TWO STEP, LARGE LATITUDE, STALLED ROLL REGISTRATION SYSTEM (the '909 patent). The '909 patent teaches a media feed apparatus for deskewing a media sheet and adjusting the timing of the feed of the sheet through the printer. A media sheet 110 is advanced substantially horizontally along a paper path by a preregistration nip 153. As shown in FIG. 1 of the '909 patent, the sheet lead edge is over-driven into a stalled registration nip 159 until a deskew buckle is formed in the sheet. The spring force of the deskew buckle coupled with the gravitational force pulling the sheet and buckle downwardly tends to urge the sheet lead edge toward the registration nip 159 and correct any skew in the sheet.
After the deskew buckle is formed in the '909 patent, the registration nip 159 is activated and the sheet 110 is fed through the registration nip a fixed distance until the sheet lead edge trips a downstream sensor 160. If paper feed timing adjustments are required, the registration nip 159 is again stopped and the preregistration nip 153, which is driven continuously, feeds a trailing portion of the sheet toward the registration nip 159, thereby creating a timing buckle in the sheet. As shown in FIG. 2, the timing buckle can be much larger than the deskew buckle. The size of the timing buckle is limited by a movable buckle chamber member 155. After a predetermined time, the registration nip 159 is activated and the sheet 110 continues along the paper path.
It is also known in the art to deskew a sheet lead edge by rotating in reverse a roller assembly that forms a nip. One prior art patent that discloses this concept is U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,462 for a METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PAPER CONTROL AND SKEW CORRECTION IN A PRINTER (the '462 patent). This patent teaches advancing a sheet of media into a nip and slightly therebeyond. The rollers are then rotated in reverse, causing the lead edge of the sheet to jiggle or dance within the nip and settle parallel with the nip under its own weight.
While the apparatus described in the '909 and '462 patents assist in deskewing media, they also contain several drawbacks. For example, when a sheet of media is conveyed substantially upwardly and a buckle is formed, gravity tends to pull the buckle and the leading edge of the sheet downwardly and away from a registration nip. Similarly, if the sheet is conveyed around a corner, the buckle spring force is directed towards and substantially absorbed by the paper guides defining the corner. In either event, the sheet is either incompletely deskewed or not deskewed at all, and a jam or misfeed may result. This problem is particularly apparent with lightweight media having a low stiffness, in which case the buckle spring force is small to begin with. Thus, a need exists for an improved apparatus for deskewing media that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

Apparatus and method for deskewing media in a printer


When a power source of a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus is turned on, a microprocessor executes reading of a Read Data with specifying a Read Slave Address which is set by applying a prescribed electrical potential to an Address Select (AS) terminal, if the microprocessor confirms that an A/D converter (ADC) bit which is contained in the Read Data from a Mixer Oscillator PLL (MOP) IC is a ADC bit which is set by applying a prescribed electrical potential to an ADC terminal, the microprocessor transmits a tuning data of a format which corresponds to the MOP IC in which target channel is specified with specifying a Write Slave Address which is set by applying a prescribed electrical potential to the AS terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore in a production line for a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus, it has been performed that a plurality of tuners which are made by a plurality of tuner manufacturers are employed because of cost merit and stable product supply by competition (as for technology where tuners made by different suppliers are used in a same type of broadcasting receiving apparatus, see for example, JP-A-2000-299823). In such situation, a plurality of different tuner driving software are necessary for every tuner made by different supplier because Mixer Oscillator PLL (MOP) ICs which are employed for the tuners by every different tuner supplier are different and format of tuning data which are used are different. As a result, in a conventional digital broadcasting receiving apparatus production line a tuner and a microprocessor in which a plurality of tuner driving software are built in are attached on a circuit board in an assembly step, and information that the attached tuner is made by which tuner manufacturer is controlled for every product. The controlled information is reported to a completion check step which is a down stream step, and a worker operates every product in a manufacturer factory mode in the completion check step and selectively set which tuner driving software is driven.
However in the above described and conventional digital broadcasting receiving apparatus it causes a cost problem because of management costs as above described which are required for the control in the assembly step and for matching control between the assembly step and the completion check step, and operating cost for the worker. Further, it causes also a problem that there is possibility of miss setting by the worker.
In addition it causes also a problem that after the product is delivered in market when trouble is caused and the tuner is replaced by a serviceman to a new one that is made by a different tuner supplier from the original, the serviceman needs a high level skill because it is necessary to operate the manufacturer factory mode to select and to set the tuner driving software.

Digital broadcasting receiving apparatus


An ESC (Electrostatic Chuck) to chuck an object by electrostatic force, having an ESC main body supporting the object; a guide ring supported by the ESC main body and encircling the object; a dielectric material layer interposed between the guide ring and the ESC main body; a media gas supplier to supply a media gas to the guide ring; and a power supplier to supply power to the ESC main body. With this configuration, the ESC provides an apparatus to chuck a guide ring to an ESC main body, while maintaining the guide ring and an object, such as a wafer, at the same or similar temperature, thereby enhancing uniformity of the object during a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, deposition, or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic chuck (hereinafter, "ESC"), and more particularly, to an ESC with an improved combining structure, having a guide ring and an ESC main body to enhance uniformity of deposition and/or etching in a semiconductor manufacturing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor elements are produced by applying various processes to materials. Examples of such processes include a deposition process, an etching process, and a cleaning process. Each process is performed in a chamber that needs to maintain a controlled work environment.
These chambers are often equipped with chucks to hold objects such as wafers. The chucks can be mechanical, vacuum, or electrostatic.
Mechanical chucks stabilize wafers on a supporting surface by using mechanical holders. Mechanical chucks have a disadvantage in that they often cause distortion of wafers due to non-uniform forces being applied to the wafers. Thus, wafers are often chipped or otherwise damaged, resulting in a lower yield.
Vacuum chucks operate by lowering the pressure between the wafer and the chuck below that of the chamber, thereby holding the wafer. Although the force applied by vacuum chucks is more uniform than that applied by mechanical chucks, pressures in the chamber during semiconductor manufacturing processes are non-uniform. Because of the variable chamber pressure, proper force applied cannot be in some situations. In other situations, the pressure in the chamber is too low to perform a vacuum chucking operation.
ESCs, which are gaining popularity, stabilize and hold wafers utilizing a voltage difference between the wafers and electrodes. ESCs apply a more uniform force than mechanical chucks or vacuum chucks.
In an ESC, the chucking of a wafer is achieved using the Coulomb force and the Johnsen-Rahbek effect generated when a voltage-applied dielectric material is charged and its electrodes are polarized. The Johnsen-Rahbek effect is a force generated when a gap is formed by surface irregularities between a wafer and a dielectric material. The gap can be likened to a vacuum for dielectric material. The gap is charged and polarized by current generated when voltage is applied thereto. The ESC can perform heat processing uniformly and minimize generation of particles by attaching the wafer to an ESC main body. Recently, ESCs have been used to hold wafers in a process chamber for chemical and/or physical deposition apparatuses, as well as etching apparatuses.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a reaction device having a conventional ESC.
As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction device has an ESC in a sealed reaction chamber 5. The ESC is supported by a supporter 7. The reaction chamber 5 provides a sealed space to form an atmosphere for an object 101 to be processed.
Outside of the reaction device, a reaction gas source 3 is provided to supply the reaction gas. The reaction gas source 3 supplies the reaction gas for deposition or etching to be performed during the semiconductor manufacturing processing.
A media gas supplier 50 supplies a media gas to mediate heat transmission and cool down the ESC main body 130.
The ESC comprises an ESC main body 130; an object 101 disposed on the ESC main body 130; a guide ring 110 to guide the object 101; a voltage supplier 75 to supply voltage to the ESC main body 130; and an RF generator 70 to supply RF power.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are sectional views of the ESC main body of a conventional ESC, and the ESC main body of a conventional ESC with an additional dielectric material layer added.
The ESC main body 130 is made of a metal such as aluminum. The ESC main body 130 has a voltage supplied to it by the voltage supplier 75. When voltage is supplied, the ESC acts as an electrode.
A dielectric material layer 120 in the ESC main body 130 generates an electric charge between the dielectric material layer 120 and the ESC main body 130 when voltage is supplied from the voltage supplier 75. Thus the object 101 is chucked on the upper side of the dielectric material layer 120. The thinner the dielectric material layer 120 is, the greater the electric charge. The electric charge is directly proportional to the square root of a value divided by the thickness of the dielectric material layer 120. The dielectric material layer 120 may be made of materials that include: Al2O3, SiO2, AlN, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional ESC main body with a dielectric material layer 120 has an electrode 135 on top of a first dielectric material layer 120a and a second dielectric material layer 120b on top of the electrode 135. The voltage supplier 75 applies voltage to the electrode 135 so that the object 101 is chucked on the second dielectric material layer 120b.
The object 101 is disposed on the dielectric material layer 120b. In the semiconductor manufacturing processing, the object 101 is a reaction object of the reaction gas and is usually a plate-type wafer. A pattern or a PR (photoresist) is formed in the object 101.
The RF (Radio Frequency) generator 70 supplies the RF power to the ESC main body 130 to form a desirable reaction gas, and the reaction gas formed therein collides with the object 101 of the ESC main body 130.
The temperature of the object 101 is elevated when the reaction gas collides with the object 101. If the temperature of object 101 is elevated during the semiconductor manufacturing processing, the pattern or the PR formed therein can be damaged, and thus the semiconductor element cannot be produced. Therefore, the heated object 101 has to be cooled.
To lower the temperature of the object 101 that was elevated during the semiconductor manufacturing process, the media gas supplier 50 supplies a media gas 55 to transfer heat from the object 101 to the ESC main body 130. Inside of the ESC main body 130, a media gas hole 160 is provided to transmit the media gas 55 to the bottom side of the object 101.
The amount of the media gas 55 injected can be controlled by a gas valve 45 in the media gas hole 160.
The media gas 55 transfers heat from the object 101 to the ESC main body 130. Helium gas or argon gas is used as the media gas 55 for efficiency of heat transfer.
The ESC main body 130 receives the heat transferred by the media gas 55 and the temperature of the ESC main body 130 is increased. The ESC main body 130 utilizes a coolant fluid therein for cooling. The coolant fluid circulates in the ESC main body 130 through coolant passages 180 provided therein. After absorbing the heat from the ESC main body 130, the coolant fluid returns to a coolant supplier (not shown). The circulation of the coolant fluid cools the ESC main body 130.
The guide ring 110 is provided on the ESC main body 130, or in a groove formed thereon. The guide ring 110 encircles the object 101 and guides it. When the guide ring 110 is exposed to the reaction gas with the object 101, the temperature of guide ring 110 is increased during the semiconductor manufacturing process.
The object 101, heated during the semiconductor manufacturing process can be cooled by allowing media gas 55 to contact the bottom side of the heated object 101 through the media gas hole 160 in the ESC main body 130, thereby transferring heat from the object 101 to the ESC main body 130.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the media gas 55 contacts the bottom of the heated objected 101 and cools the object 101 only by transferring the heat absorbed from the object 101 to the ESC main body 130.
While the media gas 55 cools the heated object 101, the guide ring 110 is not cooled. As a result, a temperature difference develops between the heated object 101 and the guide ring 110. As the temperature difference becomes greater, the heat from the guide ring 110 is transferred to the outer edge of the object 101, thereby causing the object to have a non-uniform temperature in that the edge will heat up, while the center remains cooler. Such a temperature difference can cause the edge and the center of the object 101 to be processed unevenly during a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching or deposition, thereby reducing the yield of the object 101.


A method and a system for diagnosing insufficiency of vehicle coolant includes a preparing step of checking whether the vehicle is in a stop state and is on flat ground. An operating step applies a predefined output to a coolant water pump when the vehicle is in the stop state and is on flat ground. A measuring step measures a rotation speed of an impeller of the coolant water pump for a period in which the predefined output is applied to the coolant water pump. A M determining step compares the measured rotation speed of the impeller of the coolant water pump with a reference speed to determine whether or not the coolant is insufficient.

The present disclosure diagnoses and informs of insufficiency of a coolant through a cooperative control between controllers, without using a separate sensor in a hybrid vehicle, or the like, in which an electric water pump (EWP) is mounted.
In the hybrid vehicle, or the like, temperature is an important factor in normal operation of a power converter component. Excessive heat causing a temperature rise deteriorates vehicle performance, and the vehicle may shut down in severe cases, which may cause a significantly dangerous situation to a driver. Therefore, accurately diagnosing a coolant insufficiency in a power converter cooling system and informing the driver to prevent overheating in a control circuit in advance are critical.
A reliable diagnosis of an insufficiency of a coolant control technology through a cooperative control between controllers based on analysis and evaluation of disturbance factors, such as an input voltage, a control duty, a vehicle deviation, a component deviation, a duration of deterioration, a coolant temperature, a coolant amount, an inclined angle sensor error, and the like of the electric water pump (EWP) of the power converter cooling system can be implemented.
A vehicle using an electric water pump (EWP) according to the related art does not have a function of diagnosing an absence or insufficiency of a coolant, but a method of indirectly diagnosing absence or insufficiency of a coolant by calculating a temperature rise rate using a temperature sensor has been mainly used.
For example, a deviation (gradient) of a temperature change depending on time is larger when there is less coolant when a vehicle switch is turned on. The coolant is assumed to be insufficient when the deviation is excessive compared with temperature change modeling measured when the coolant is sufficient. The driver is then informed about the insufficiency of coolant, thereby preventing a problem associated with insufficiency of the coolant.
The matters described in the Background section are provided only to assist in the understanding for the background of the present disclosure and should not be considered as corresponding to the related art known to those skilled in the art.

Method and system for diagnosing insufficiency of vehicle coolant


A shadow mask of two different metals which are cold rolled into adhesion with the shadow mask made from a first metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion on the order of glass and a second metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially greater than glass with the first metal forming a framework for holding the second metal in position even though the temperature of the first and second metals is elevated.

The concept of shadow masks for use in television tubes is well known in the art. Typically, a shadow mask having small openings is located in a television tube and acts as guide for the electron beams. Because the shadow mask undergoes a substantial increase in temperature during operation of the television, the shadow mask material expands in accordance with the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mask material, and the increase in temperature. As the shadow mask is used as a guide for electron beams that impinge on the phosphor dots on the glass plate, it is necessary to maintain the proper relationship of the shadow mask to the glass plate even though the temperature of the televisions tube increases during operation of the television. Unfortunately, the glass where the phosphor regions are located has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the shadow mask, which can result in misalignment of the shadow mask and the glass. One of the prior art methods of minimizing problems produced by the differences in the thermal expansion rates of the glass and the shadow mask, is to make a shadow mask of a metal which has a coefficient of thermal expansion on the order of the glass. One such commonly used material is a nickel-iron alloy known as an INVAR.TM. alloy. INVAR.TM. alloys can be produced to have a coefficient of thermal expansion on the same order as the glass, thus minimizing the effects of misalignment. One of the drawbacks in the use of Invar alloys is that the Invar alloys are generally more expensive than the conventional steel alloys and make the shadow mask more costly.
The present invention provides a composite shadow mask material formed of bands of a first metal and a sheet of a second metal. The metals are cold rolled together under sufficient pressure so as to form a unitary shadow mask material. The bands of the first metal are made from an alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion on the order of the glass inside the television tube, and the second metal is made from less costly alloys which have a higher coefficient of thermal expansion. The composite material utilizes the bands of the first metal to form a support to restrain the thermal expansion of the second metal so that the alignment of the shadow mask and the glass plate can be maintained during operation of the television tube.


A broadcast feeder for projecting food aggregate or pellets directionally into an area up to, for example, sixty or more feet away from the feed container. The action is controlled to provide a predetermined quantity of aggregate at a predetermined time. The velocity of the feed as it exits the feeder is such that the area directly surrounding the feeder is free of feed particulate. A modular design affords the ability to operate as a self-contained unit with its own storage hopper or as a retrofit module added to existing conventional barrel type scatter type feeders. The projection of the feed is accomplished by propelling the feed pellets with a center intake centrifugal air blower assembly designed such that no special feed gates, baffles or chutes are required.

The majority of existing game feeders, which function to a predetermined feeding schedule, are scatter plate type feeders. This type of feeder generally consists of a barrel type bulk container with a funnel located at the base. Suspended below the funnel is a disk or scatter plate directly attached to a battery driven motor which is controlled by an electric timer. When the scatter plate is stationary the feed flows out of the funnel onto the stationary scatter plate and accumulates upwards in a conical shape until it restricts the opening and stops further flow. At preprogrammed feed intervals the timer applies power to the motor. Powered rotation of the scatter plate creates an inertial force on the feed particulate, slinging it out in a circular unidirectional sweep around the feeder. Fins and sidewalls are frequently added to the scatter plate to stabilize the feed cone or increase the feed throw distance. The first function of the scatter plate is to act as a valve to turn the feed flow on and off from the funnel. The secondary function is to broadcast the feed out in a circular pattern for consumption. Scatter plate type feeders are simple reliable and low cost for most general game feeding requirements.
There are, however, numerous game feeding requirements where the conventional scatter type game feeders are severely limited. Typical of these applications is when the feed must be projected out away from the feeder in a single direction to a predefined feed area. For example, a typical requirement for a directional feeder arises when the bulk feeder is or must be protected behind a corral, structure or fence, and, thus, the feeder must project feed into an open or game accessible area. A further example is projecting feed into a fishpond or lake without the use of floats, docks, and cables or floating assemblies. Both, scatter-type feeders and directional feeders are useful for commercial or private game management. The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the application between the two types of feeders discussed, whereby a stand-alone, bulk directional feeder can be utilized or a conventional scatter feeder can be converted to a directional type by the addition of a directional feeder module. The directional feeder modules can be added to or removed from the conventional feeders as requirements dictate.

Directional broadcast feeder for fish and game


An ionic conditioning process and molecular arrangement for removing colloids from an aqueous solution, where the aqueous solution is transported to and/or through several conditioning zones for purification. The process utilizes vessels within which stages of conditioning are performed and are monitored. The conditioning processes perform ionic, chemical and physical conditioning to the colloids in the aqueous solution causing the colloids to be transformed into a state that reacts with a polymer flocculating agent and is thereby precipitated rapidly and efficiently for removal. The effluent as well as the precipitate can be further treated with conventional means to meet certain specifications for discharge and disposal.

Aqueous solutions containing suspended colloids, present a problem with respect to removal of the colloidal particles. These colloids carry the same charges, and the electrostatic barrier repulsion prevents them from combining into larger colloid clusters for precipitation. Thus, some chemical and physical techniques are applied to help them precipitate. The phenomenon is known as coagulation where the colloids are combined with each other or flocculation where a flocculating agent is added.
A traditional method of coagulation is performed with the addition of an electrolyte. Charged particulates combine with the electrolyte ions neutralizing the charges. The neutral colloids combine to form larger colloid clusters, and finally precipitate.
A traditional method of flocculation is to use high-molecular-weight material to attract or trap the agglomerates with the flocculent, achieving a higher specific gravity and then settling down together. Starch and multiple charged ions are often used. Polymers with multiple charged sites are also commercially available for this purpose. In essence, various charged sites on these high-molecular-weight materials can collect colloids into an agglomeration or bridge format.
In traditional methods, dirty water is cleaned by treating with electrolytes such as Alum (Al2(SO4)3.12H2O), Ferric Chloride (FeCl3), Ferrous Sulfate, (FeSO4), Ferric Sulfate (Fe2SO4). The addition of those salts as an electrolyte may cause the pH to be lowered to the point where soluble ions (Al+3, Fe+3) are formed instead of hydroxide compounds. This is due to the Carbonic Acid formation and the sulfate ions (SO4−3). This practice in traditional methods produces unstable reactions creating turbidity and dispersion of the coagulation. In order to control dispersion it is usual to add either lime, Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Soda Ash (Na2CO3), or Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or a combination thereof in order to balance the pH and the desired level of alkalinity. Traditional methods of treatment as described are only applications for colloidal removal from wastewater in a limited range of pH levels approaching 5 to about 7.
Determining the amount of electrolyte addition needed in order to obtain good coagulation results is as much an art as it is a science. Often, the correct formulation parameters is determined by experience coupled with trial and error testing with utilization of commercially available laboratory jar test equipment with jars of different shapes and or sizes. Formulation parameters of the present invention includes the amount of electrolyte, retention times, pH of solution and mixing characteristics.
The measurement of Zeta potential is another aid to determining the amount of electrolyte necessary to add to the aqueous solution being treated in order to coagulate or agglomerate its colloids into clusters. Equipment for measurement of Zeta potential is commercially available from Zeta-Meter, Inc, Staunton, Va. and its use is explained in their publication "Everything You Want to Know About Coagulations & Flocculation" Fourth Edition, 1993 (published by Zeta-Meter, Inc, available at www.mtec.org), and outlined below.
In order for colloids to combine together to form the colloid clusters, the repulsion between the colloids must be reduced. As explained in the Zeta-Meter Publication (Supra), Zeta potential is directly related to the charge strength on the colloids. Therefore, with Zeta potential instrumentation one can track the reduction of the charge force or barrier on the colloids. When the charge on the colloids is reduced sufficiently to allow the particles to collide, Van der Waals forces become the predominant force between the colloids and they form clusters. Because the Zeta potential is traditionally reduced to near zero, this mechanism is known as neutralization.
In traditional water treatment methods, those neutralized colloid clusters are removed from the aqueous solution.
Processes using addition of ballast flocculation and chemical precipitation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,031. Numerous technologies have been developed over the years that are designed to maximize the efficiency and minimize the cost of each of the steps performed in a physical-chemical treatment process. Examples of such designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,388,195, 5,039,428, 5,730,864, 5,770,091, 6,210,587, and 6,277,285. Those technologies typically attempt to increase the coagulation and settling rates of suspended particles in the effluent. The coagulation and settling rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including the type and density of the particle and the concentration of solids being settled. However, the use of ballast material and inorganic compounds increase the solid volume, thus the resulting sedimentation is larger in volume, and the operation can become extremely complicated.
Another attempt to increase the flocculation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,810 by using of shell fossil powder as a Ca2+ source, the method includes the use of aluminum sulfate to improve the floc forming mechanism, and gypsum as a flocculation agent. Perhaps the use of aluminum sulfate creates hazardous solids and the shell fossil powder requires rare and expensive material to be obtained.
The present invention uses some of the traditional electrolytes, but in a different way, in order to accomplish a unique series of process steps which increase the efficiency of the colloidal precipitation process and remove not only the colloids but also substantial amounts of specifically targeted dissolved solids. In particular, in the coagulation step, the colloid is not subjected to neutralization but rather carries a substantial charge thus achieving a Zeta potential specific to this process. This process subjects the colloid to substantially different than traditional reaction conditions.
With the present invention, there are two mechanisms that are responsible for bringing the targeted dissolved solids into becoming suspended solids and then progress into colloids. The first mechanism action engages when existing molecules with positive radicals or positive dipole charges bind with the trivalent negative ions PO4−3 thus binding the dissolved solids and bringing them to the colloidal state. The second mechanism supports the dissolved solids becoming suspended solids and colloids. That mechanism is the result of the ionic migration of Ca+2 ions as a dissolved solids (hardness) exchanging with the existing targeted dissolved solids.
In particular, the invention improves the colloid cluster charge availability and fragmentation process along with increasing the efficiency of a precipitation process. The present invention conditions the aqueous solution and its ionic, physical and chemical nature in three treatment steps and thereafter, if required, a separation process could be used to remove the resultant colloid clusters. In essence the process of the present invention conditions the aqueous solution in several steps to form flocculants, which can efficiently be removed by traditional separation processes, such as sedimentation and/or flotation.
The present invention has the objective, in the first step, to condition a stable colloidal suspension to become an unstable colloidal suspension (with a substantial charge or Zeta Potential) by way of ionic layer compression. The ionic compression enables the unstable colloidal suspension to agglomerate to form large colloidal clusters. The resulting colloidal clusters are kept in suspension e.g. by the aqueous solution being constantly mixed.
The present invention has the objective in the second step to further condition the large colloidal clusters so that they fragment into smaller clusters, which are kept in suspension e.g. by constant mixing of the aqueous solution.
In the third step of the present invention the fragmented colloid clusters are interacting with a flocculating agent (preferably a polymer type) that was injected into the aqueous solution. The flocculating agent flocculates the fragmented colloid clusters, which prepares the solution for a precipitation process (if desired) in the next step. The solution is normally constantly mixed in the third step in order to keep the flocculants in suspension and to permit uniform interaction of the flocculating agent and the suspension colloids. The flocculated solution could be delivered to a fourth step for separation and removal of the flocculates from the solution.
The present invention has the object to condition the aqueous solution so that the colloids can be clustered, sized, flocculated and then precipitated efficiently with the utilization of traditional separation means.

Process for conditioning an aqueous solution for efficient colloidal precipitation


A method is provided for automatically transitioning a cruise control speed from a current speed zone to a next speed zone. A location at which the speed zone limit changes from the current speed limit to the next speed limit forward of a driven vehicle is determined. A speed profile is determined for changing the vehicle speed from the current speed limit to the next speed limit. The speed profile includes non-linear changes in the vehicle speed between the current speed zone and the next speed zone for eliminating abrupt changes in the vehicle speed. A relative location is determined for initiating the non-linear changes in the speed of the vehicle. The non-linear changes are actuated in the speed of the vehicle at the relative location for gradually changing the speed to the next speed limit.

An embodiment relates generally to cruise control systems.
Cooperative speed control systems include decreasing a speed of the vehicle at a distance in front of a caution zone, such as an intersection, crosswalk, school zone, and then increases the speed to the required speed following the crossing zone. Such systems will travel at a constant speed limit of the vehicle road until it nears the caution zone. At a distance preceding the caution zone, such systems abruptly initiate a linear deceleration until the speed reaches the caution zone speed. At that time, the vehicle speed is abruptly changed to the caution zone speed limit. When the vehicle exits the caution zone, the vehicle system abruptly initiates a linear speed change until the speed reaches the speed limit of the vehicle road. Upon reaching the speed limit, the speed of the vehicle is abruptly changed to the vehicle speed the vehicle was traveling prior to the caution zone. The issue with such systems is that when the vehicle transitions to and from a caution zone speed, a linear change in velocity is applied which produces jerking of the vehicle as felt by the driver. The jerk or abrupt surges in the vehicle dynamics felt by the driver is the direct result of abrupt braking or abrupt vehicle acceleration that is a result of transitioning directly transitioning the vehicle speed between a constant velocity and a linear deceleration or linear acceleration or the increase in acceleration to a higher speed. Such occurrences are nuisances to the driver of the vehicle.

Method and apparatus for speed-limit following cruise control


A digital-to-analog converter and method for transforming a digital value into an analog signal are disclosed. The digital-to-analog converter has a voltage generator, a voltage selector, a multiplexer and a switch array. The voltage generator provides a first and second group of voltages. The voltage selector selectively outputs the first or second group of voltages according to a polarity signal. The multiplexer selectively outputs the digital value or a complementary value of the digital value according to the polarity signal. The switch array outputs one of the voltages received from the voltage selector according to the value output from the multiplexer.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a source driver. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital-to-analog converter of a source driver.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a function block of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of a LCD source driver. Output voltage Vout is selected with a switch array 108 from gamma voltages Vr0˜Vr2−1n from a corresponding decoder input which is controlled by digital codes A0˜An−1. Here, An−1 is chosen as Most Significant Bit (MSB) and A0 is chosen as Least Significant Bit (LSB).
For a conventional line-inversion LCD, the switch array 108 as illustrated in FIG. 2 requires two full sets of columns 118 and 128, which have different transistor types for the two groups of gamma voltages provided in response to different polarities while the line-inversion LCD displaying, respectively, one set of the columns 118 having P-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (PMOS) transistors and the other set of the columns 128 having N-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (NMOS) transistors, and therefore this architecture occupies large area of the source driver chip.


An industrial control system and a method of inspecting one or more communication packets in an industrial control system may be provided, the industrial control system firewall module comprising a packet accessing component configured to access a communication packet of an industrial control system; a firewall rules database, the firewall rules database configured to store one or more firewall rules; an inspection module configured to access the one or more firewall rules based on an industrial protocol associated with the communication packet; and the inspection module is further configured to perform a comprehensive inspection of all header fields and data fields of the communication packet based on the one or more firewall rules accessed based on the industrial protocol associated with the communication packet.

It has been observed that Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems have evolved from traditionally using a closed internal network comprising proprietary technologies into using an open network together with an increased number of connections between a SCADA network, an enterprise network and even the Internet. It has been recognised that having relatively open networks make SCADA systems more vulnerable to various network attacks that are common threats to computer/communication security. For example, one of the vulnerabilities is unauthorised access to a SCADA control centre. Another example is a threat of fake commands to control SCADA field devices through a man-in-the-middle attack.
Communication security has therefore become a significant consideration when designing a SCADA network. The inventors have recognised that many legacy SCADA systems may leave critical infrastructure and systems vulnerable to security threats. Existing SCADA protocols also lack adequate security mechanisms for e.g. advanced SCADA application control, authentication and encryption, and commands validation, which are primary weaknesses that may be exploited in SCADA attacks.
There have been proposed a number of approaches that aim to secure SCADA systems. One of the approaches in SCADA network monitoring and filtering is the use of firewalls. In particular, the network security capabilities of firewalls have been extended to support SCADA networks or to protect related industrial environments. There are related commercial firewalls and open-source firewalls available that may be inserted for use with SCADA systems. However, despite proposal of the use of such available firewalls within a SCADA system, the inventors have recognised that SCADA systems are still vulnerable to malicious attacks.
In addition, the inventors have recognised that there is a lack of scalability of such existing firewalls particularly when proprietary industrial protocols are used in a SCADA system that is used in an industrial environment.
Hence, there exists a need for an industrial control system and a method of inspecting one or more communication packets in an industrial control system that seek to address at least one of the above problems.

Industrial control system firewall module

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A telescoping draft link assembly includes a hollow first tractor-coupled link and a second implement-coupled link slidably received by a channel in the first link. A pocket is formed in the first link next to the channel. A plate is pivotally mounted in the pocket and is pivotal from a release position wherein the plate is entirely received in the pocket to a locking position wherein at least a portion of the plate projects into the channel. The second link has a notch formed therein, an end of the notch forming a shoulder which is engageable with the plate to releasably hold the second link in the retracted position. A spring is biased to urge the plate towards its locking position and a knob is attached to the plate so that an operator may pivot the plate to a release position.

The invention relates to a latchable telescoping draft ling assembly.
A known telescopic draft link assembly available with John Deere tractors includes an implement coupling link which slides inside a channel in another link which is coupled to the tractor. The implement link is latched or held in place by a cylindrical pin which is biased by a spring into corresponding bores in the links. Such an assembly must be accurately machined to function properly. Also, the latch pin is subjected to shear or tensile forces and may "freeze up". Another known telescopic draft link assembly includes a part that falls into a slot in the draft link end by gravity. Such an assembly must also be accurately machined to function properly, especially if the parts are forged. It would be desirable to have a telescopic draft link assembly which is simple to machine.


A plug mounted at one end of a torsional spring operatively connected to an overhead shaft of a counterbalancing mechanism of a garage door, wherein the plug comprises projecting interlocking means able to cooperate with corresponding matching means of a mating part of the counterbalancing mechanism, so that when the interlocking means of the plug are inserted into the corresponding matching means and when tension is applied to the torsional spring, the interlocking means interlock with said matching means of the mating part, thereby preventing the plug from being readily removed therefrom. The projecting interlocking means thus act as safety means because they provide an automatic locking mechanism which make the plug operate as a safety device as well. Hence, the plug according to the present invention has a dual purpose, that is, it can operate as a conventional plug, whether it be stationary or winding, as well as a safety device for the counterbalancing mechanism with which it cooperates, because of its projecting interlocking means.

The present invention relates to a plug, also known as a xe2x80x9ccollarxe2x80x9d or an xe2x80x9canchorxe2x80x9d, such as the ones used for operatively connecting torsion springs to overhead shafts of counterbalancing mechanisms used for garage doors and the like, in order to allow a torque transfer between the torsion spring and the overhead shaft so as to counterbalance such cable operated doors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plug comprising safety means which interlock with a mating part of the counterbalancing mechanism when tension is applied to the torsional spring, so as to prevent the plug from being readily removed therefrom in order to avoid serious injuries to unexperienced or inadvertent users tampering with the plug when tension is still present in the torsional spring.
It is known in the art that large, vertical, cable operated doors, such as commercial and residential sectional garage doors, usually require counterbalancing mechanisms to counterbalance the weight of the door in order to decrease the force required to open the door and also facilitate its closing from a raised to a lowered position. Large sectional garage doors used in commercial and residential applications may be manually or power operated. In either case, but particularly for manually operated doors, counterbalancing mechanisms have been used for many years to counterbalance the weight of the door and control its opening and closing movements so that one person can easily control the operation of the door. Counterbalancing mechanisms are also advantageous for power operated overhead doors since they reduce the power requirements needed for the motor and they lower the structural strength required for the opening and closing mechanism of the door. In other words, lighter weight, lower cost, door controlling mechanisms may be used if a counterbalancing mechanism is connected to the door to assist it in its opening and closing movements. Furthermore, the provision of a counterbalancing mechanism minimizes the chance of a rapid and uncontrolled closing of the door in the event of failure of one of the components of the door controlling mechanism, which can result in personal injury or damage to property.
It is also known in the art that a widely used type of counterbalancing mechanism generally comprises a pair of spaced apart cable drums connected to flexible cables, each cable being in turn connected to a lower opposite side edge of the garage door. The cable drums are usually mounted on an overhead shaft which is supported above the door opening and is connected to one or more torsion springs which are each fixed to the shaft at one end, and secured to the wall at the other end, so that the cable drums are biased to rotate in a direction which winds the cables onto the drums and counteracts the weight of the door connected to the cables. Generally, conventional counterbalancing mechanisms include two torsion springs which are coaxially mounted onto the overhead shaft and which are opposed to one another. Furthermore, the torsion springs are adjusted by applying tension therein to properly balance the weight of the door so that minimal opening and closing efforts are required, either manually or when motor controlled. The two drums which are used for winding the cables are usually fastened at each opposite end of the overhead shaft and are fixed to the same by means of screws, whose respective ends are in contact with the shaft and exert pressure thereon.
It is also known in the art that conventional, low cost adjustment devices used for the above-mentioned type of counterbalance mechanisms, and widely utilized in the garage door industry, are generally cylindrical xe2x80x9ccollarsxe2x80x9d commonly referred to also as xe2x80x9cplugsxe2x80x9d (or xe2x80x9cconesxe2x80x9d) which are connected to the so-called fixed ends of the torsion springs and are mounted on the aforementioned shaft for adjusting the deflection of the springs to preset the counterbalance force. That is, each torsion spring is usually coaxially mounted onto the overhead shaft and is preferably connected with a stationary plug at one end and a winding plug at the other end. Usually, stationary plugs are connected to a fixed structure, such as for example, a support bracket rigidly mounted to the wall. Moreover, winding plugs are usually removably fixed to the overhead shaft and are used to operatively connect the torsion spring to the overhead shaft so as to allow a torque transfer between the latter two. Hence, the above-mentioned plugs ensure a mechanical connection between each opposite end of the torsional spring and the support or a shaft, depending on whether they are respectively stationary plugs or winding plugs. The winding plugs usually include one or more setscrews which lock the plugs to the shaft to prevent rotation therewith except during adjustment of the spring deflection. The winding plugs also include sockets for receiving winding bars whereby the springs are manually preset, or xe2x80x9cpreloadedxe2x80x9d, by rotating the winding plugs with respect to the shaft using the winding bars and then locking the winding plugs to the shaft with the setscrews.
An important problem associated with the aforementioned type of counterbalancing mechanisms, or with any other type of counterbalancing mechanism which uses similar plugs (also known as xe2x80x9canchorsxe2x80x9d) and tensioning springs is that they constitute a serious injury hazard for unexperienced or inadvertent workers which tamper with said plugs. This arises from the fact that when the cable operated doors are closed, the torsion springs, which are under considerable tension, and the plugs, whether stationary or winding, are readily accessible. It has been experienced that several people, either due to unexperience or inadvertence or any other reason leading to human error, have unscrewed either one of the plugs, or the support bracket for that matter, without taking the necessary precautions, which has resulted in severe personal injuries given the considerable tension present in the torsional spring. The abovedescribed problem is inherent to the plugs known in the art because they are not provided with safety means for preventing such adverse consequences. Therefore, it would be useful to provide a plug which comprises safety means devised so as to prevent the plug from being readily removed when tension is present in the torsional spring.
Another major problem is that none of the types of plugs known in the art provide a simple, quick, reliable, and cost effective way for operatively connecting a torsion spring to an overhead shaft of a counterbalancing mechanism used for garage doors and the like, while further acting as a safety device for said counterbalancing mechanism with which they cooperate. Therefore, it would be useful to provide a simpler, more reliable, easier to use, easier to maintain, safer, quicker, and more cost effective plug which is devised for both operatively connecting a torsion spring to an overhead shaft and for acting also as a safety device for the cable-operated door counterbalancing mechanism with which it cooperates.
The object of the present invention is to provide a xe2x80x9cplugxe2x80x9d, also knows as a xe2x80x9ccollarxe2x80x9d, an xe2x80x9canchorxe2x80x9d, or a xe2x80x9cconexe2x80x9d, which satisfies each of the above-mentioned needs.
More particularly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a plug which comprises safety means devised so as to prevent the plug from being readily removed when tension is present in the torsional spring.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a simpler, more reliable, easier to use, easier to maintain, safer, quicker, and more cost effective plug which is devised for both operatively connecting a torsion spring to an overhead shaft and for acting also as a safety device for the cable-operated door counterbalancing mechanism with which it cooperates.
In accordance with the present invention, the above objects are achieved with a plug mounted at one end of a torsional spring operatively connected to an overhead shaft of a counterbalancing mechanism, wherein the plug comprises projecting interlocking means able to cooperate with corresponding matching means of a mating part of the counterbalancing mechanism, so that when the interlocking means of the plug are inserted into the corresponding matching means and when tension is applied to the torsional spring, the interlocking means interlock with said matching means of the mating part, thereby preventing the plug from being readily removed therefrom.
More particularly, the above objects are achieved by a plug mounted at one end of a torsional spring operatively connected to an overhead shaft of a counterbalancing mechanism, the plug comprising:
a cylindrical collar coaxially mounted onto the overhead shaft, said collar comprising connecting means for connecting the end of the torsional spring onto the collar;
at least one flange projecting longitudinally along the shaft from the collar, said at least one flange being insertable into and cooperable with an aperture of a mating part of the counterbalancing mechanism so as to be interlocked with said aperture when tension is applied to the torsional spring;
wherein said at least one flange comprises a hook-shaped ridge, whereby when tension is applied to the torsional spring, the plug rotates about the overhead shaft so that said ridge interlocks with a corresponding matching notch of the aperture.
Preferably, the plug comprises two flanges, each flange comprising a hook-shaped ridge, whereby when the tension is applied to the torsional spring, the plug rotates about the overhead shaft so that each corresponding ridge interlocks with a corresponding matching notch of each corresponding aperture.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Plug with safety means for use with counterbalancing systems of garage doors and the like


An image rendering method comprising the steps of:                (a) performing a noisy estimation of a given view of a given scene of said image using a Monte-Carlo stochastic renderer, wherein general information of each ray sample, such as color and position in the image plane, is stored,        (b) calculating a similarity measure between two sets of samples cast from two pixels of said scene and their neighbors, and        (c) generating an output image wherein each pixel color is a weighted combination of the pixel colors generated from (a) with weights based on the similarity measure of (b) between the respective set of samples cast from the pixels and their neighbors.

Producing high quality realistic images in reasonable time remains a computer graphics challenge. The goal of a global illumination render is to create a physical image of the steady-state light distribution from a given point of view of a given scene. The rendering equation is usually solved by Monte Carlo numerical integration techniques, as described in the article "The rendering equation" by James T. Kajiya, SIGGRAPH Comput. Graph., 20:143-150, August 1986. In a Monte Carlo renderer, image pixels are computer-generated by averaging the contribution of stochastic rays (random walks, Monte Carlo samples) cast from the camera through the scene.
The principal problem of Monte Carlo rendering is that the variance of the light estimator decreases linearly with the number of stochastic samples. Thus the root mean squared error to an ideal image decreases as the square root of the number of samples. Several hours or even days may be necessary to produce noiseless realistic images. This involves high costs.

Method for accelerating Monte Carlo renders


A data storage device includes a resistive random access memory (ReRAM). The data storage device includes read circuitry coupled to a storage element of the ReRAM. The read circuitry is configured to read a data value from the storage element, during a read operation, based on a read current sensed during a first phase of the reading operation and a leakage current sensed during a second phase of the reading operation. The data storage device also includes a controller coupled to the read circuitry. The controller is configured to provide an input value to an error correction coding (ECC) decoder, where the input value includes a hard bit value and a soft bit value. The hard bit value corresponds to the data value, and the soft bit value is at least partially based on the leakage current.

Resistance-based random access memory devices use a variable resistive material to store data. The variable resistive material has a resistance that can be changed responsive to a programming voltage. For example, a storage element of a resistance-based random access memory device may be programmed to a first resistance state to indicate storage of a first logical value (e.g., a low resistance state representing a "0" value) and may be programmed to a second resistance state to indicate storage of a second logical value (e.g., a high resistance state representing a "1" value).
Storage elements of a resistance-based random access memory device can be arranged in a three-dimensional structure. In such a structure, each storage element may be placed between a bit line and wordline. For example, a first storage element may be coupled to a first bit line and a first wordline. A second storage element may be coupled to the first bit line and a second wordline. Another storage element may be coupled to a second bit line and the first wordline. In this arrangement, to read the first storage element, a read voltage may be applied across the first storage element by applying a first voltage (e.g., a relatively high voltage) to the first bit line and applying a different voltage (e.g., a relatively low voltage) to the first wordline. A sense amplifier coupled to the first bit line may sense current that flows through the first bit line. The current flowing through the first bit line may correspond to current that flows through the first storage element responsive to the voltage across the first storage element. Thus, the current can be used to determine a resistance state of the first storage element using Ohm's law.
Since the storage elements of the resistance-based random access memory device store logical values based on resistance state, different read currents are used to read different logical values. For example, reading a storage element that is in a low resistance state uses more read current than reading a storage element that is in a high resistance state. However, a reliability of data storage and retrieval at the resistance-based random access memory device may be impacted due to the resistive network topology of the memory, such as by introducing leakage current during read operations and affecting an applied voltage during write operations.

Reading resistive random access memory based on leakage current


Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating inflammation including its end-stage sepsis and conditions mediated by inflammation such as liver apoptosis and cirrhosis, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycogenemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. In one aspect, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can also be used to enhance clearance of microbes from infected tissues, organs, or systems in a subject. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods for reducing levels of stress responsible transcription factors and metabolic transcription factors in a cell in a subject with microbial, allergic, autoimmune, metabolic, and posttraumatic inflammation.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) afflicts an estimated 2 million patients in the US with an astounding 65% mortality rate over a 4-year period. Acute or chronic alcohol abuse alters homeostatic balance that exists between intracellular mediators and suppressors of proinflammatory signaling. This signaling culminates in genomic reprogramming of the liver cells manifested by expression of proinflammatory and proapoptotic mediators. ALD represents an example of metabolic inflammation caused by excessive and chronic use of ethanol-containing beverages.
Inflammation represents a fundamental mechanism of diseases caused by microbial, autoimmune, autoinflammatory, metabolic, and physical insults. Millions of people in the United States and globally suffer from inflammatory diseases. Inflammation is the body's response to harmful stimuli, and when limited, is beneficial and helps the body heal. However, when inflammation is unchecked it can lead to tissue destruction, necrosis, and fibrosis. For example, the action of microbial insults on microvascular endothelial cells in severe microbial infections evolving into their end stage, septic shock, leads to endothelial dysfunction that contributes to major organ failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) involving liver microcirculation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury, and acute brain injury. Similarly, autoimmune factors targeting the body's own cells and organs develop into rampant inflammation, destroying skin and joints in psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, and insulin-producing beta cells in Type 1 diabetes. Microbial and metabolic inflammation leads to insulin resistance, which underlies Type 2 diabetes. Chronic microbial inflammation caused by the oral microbiota of periodontitis, and bronchitis contribute to coronary heart disease while Hepatitis C virus infecting 200 million people worldwide contributes to fatty liver (steatosis), cirrhosis and, ultimately liver cancer.
Unfortunately, many inflammatory diseases are not adequately treated using conventional therapeutics. Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., hydrocortisone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone) have significant side effects increasing blood glucose, blood lipids and body fat distribution, skin thinning and delayed wound healing, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, increased susceptibility to infections, cataract, increased in eye pressure, stomach ulcers, and psychiatric disturbances. Methotrexate therapy is associated gastrointestinal and liver toxicity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, celebrex) may cause fluid retention leading to edema, kidney failure (primarily with chronic use), liver failure, ulcers and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Inhibitors of kinases that target Bruton Tyrosine kinase (ibrutinib, acalabrutinib) and the JAK family of kinases may cause serious opportunistic infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Herpes zoster, Cytomegalovirus, and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Finally, monoclonal antibodies such as anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody carry the risk of the reactivation of latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the monoclonal antibody natalizumab carries the risk of JC virus-caused progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Thus, there is a need for more effective therapeutics for preventing and treating inflammation-mediated diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for treating alcoholic liver disease


An FSK signal receiver includes an amplifier which amplifies a first FSK signal at an adjustable gain. A frequency converter converts an output signal from the amplifier into a second FSK signal having a frequency lower than a frequency of the first FSK signal. A demodulator demodulates the second FSK signal into a baseband signal. A bit-state detector detects a bit state from the baseband signal in response to a threshold. A calculator calculates a number of times of occurrence of a fact that the baseband signal moves across the threshold during a given time. The gain of the amplifier is adjusted in response to the number of times which is calculated by the calculator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an FSK (frequency shift keyed) signal receiver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese published unexamined patent application 61-141228 discloses an FM demodulator having an automatic gain controller and an automatic frequency controller.
There is a known FSK (frequency shift keyed) signal receiver having an automatic gain controller and an automatic frequency controller. As will be described later, the gain controller and the frequency controller in the known FSK signal receiver have problems.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A field development system and associated methods provide a main wellbore intersecting a formation and having fractures extending outwardly from the main wellbore into the formation. Multiple additional wellbores, spaced apart from the main wellbore and without associated additional production facilities, intersect the fractures and provide auxiliary drainage of the formation into the main wellbore via the fractures extending outwardly therefrom.

The present invention relates generally to production of, and injection into, subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a field development system and methods associated therewith.
To improve drainage of a formation, it has become quite common to drill one or more lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore and into the formation. An alternative is to drill numerous wellbores into the formation, but this generally requires additional production facilities for the additional wells. Such production facilities are very costly, so the choice is typically made to drill lateral wellbores where conditions warrant.
However, drilling lateral wellbores has its disadvantages as well. For example, a large amount of casing wear is usually experienced in drilling lateral wellbores. As another example, forming a pressure tight junction between the parent and lateral wellbores is a problem.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that it would be quite desirable to provide a field development system which enhances the drainage of a formation without requiring the drilling of lateral wellbores from a main producing wellbore, and without requiring numerous production facilities for numerous wellbores.
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a field development system is provided in which a main producing wellbore is placed in fluid communication with one or more additional wellbores extending within a formation. Associated methods are also provided.
In broad terms, a method is provided which includes the steps of drilling a second wellbore to intersect a fracture extending outward from a first wellbore and flowing fluid between the first and second wellbores through the fracture. Both the first and second wellbores may intersect a formation into which the fracture extends, in which case the second wellbore effectively extends the drainage of the formation by the first wellbore, without the need of drilling a lateral wellbore from the first wellbore. Alternatively, the second wellbore may intersect a formation which is not intersected by the first wellbore, in which case the second wellbore provides a conduit by which the formation may be drained by the first wellbore.
The second wellbore may be equipped with a fluid property sensor, which may be in communication with a receiver in the first wellbore for transmission of fluid property indications to the surface. The sensor may be utilized to detect when water enters the second wellbore. Several of the second wellbores with sensors therein may be arranged in an array about the first wellbore, in which case an advancing sweep of water may be detected in two or more dimensions.
The advantages of the present invention may also be used in water flood or steam injection applications. For example, an injection well may be placed in fluid communication with additional wellbores drilled in a formation via fractures which extend outward from the injection well and intersect the additional wellbores.
In another aspect of the present invention, drainage wellbores which are drilled to intersect fractures extending outward from a main wellbore are plugged between the formation and the earth""s surface. Thus, no additional production facilities are utilized to produce fluids from the drainage wellbores.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the drainage wellbores may be drilled as lateral wellbores extending outward from a parent wellbore. The drainage wellbores may be drilled in more than one formation also intersected by the main production wellbore. Alternatively, the main production wellbore may not intersect one or more of the formations in which the drainage wellbores are drilled.
In still another aspect of the present invention, flow between a drainage wellbore and the main production wellbore may be prevented by releasing a flow blocking substance in the drainage wellbore. This may be useful, for example, to prevent water encroachment from the drainage wellbore to the main production wellbore. The flow blocking substance may be released by flowing a particular fluid, such as acid, from the main production wellbore into the drainage wellbore via a fracture.
These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings.


A flexible pouch package for fluid products including a composite bag having inner and outer package walls formed of flexible film folded over and sealed together about the outer edges thereof to define a chamber therein. The package may include an easy open feature.

The present invention provides a flexible package for fluidic products and may include an easy open arrangement. Conventional packages for such products normally include components which are subject to flex cracks and rupture from the inside-out, immediately behind and adjacent the heat seals, and exterior surface fractures or cuts which destroy the barrier and/or cause product leakage. Additionally, most of these packages have a conventional tear notch which requires two hands to open the package and often results in spillage of the contents during opening of the package.

Flexible package with an easy open arrangement


A carrier having a body with arcuate sidewall sections and an integrally formed base, the body being sufficiently rigid to support a plurality of individual canned or bottled beverages. The carrier also includes an internal coolant chamber, a durable handle, and an elastomeric, thermally insulative band that is releasably securable around the body to maintain the beverages in supported contact with the body until removed for consumption of the contained beverage. Upon removal of all beverage containers from the carrier, the band desirably contracts into engagement with the projecting portions of the body perimeter to reduce the overall volume defined by the carrier. Shoulders are preferably provided on the body of the carrier to assist in maintaining the elastomeric band in a preferred positional alignment relative to the body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to carriers for canned or bottled beverages, and more particularly, to a pre-cooled carrier for a six-pack of chilled beverages that collapses to a reduced volume after the beverage containers are removed.
2. Description of Related Art
Six-pack sized insulated carriers for canned or bottled beverages are well known, and are also available with molded plastic inserts holding a liquid cooling agent that can be frozen or refrigerated prior to use. A disadvantage of such devices is that they are bulky and do not collapse to a reduced size after the beverages are consumed and the disposable containers are discarded.
Other six-pack or twelve-pack carriers are available for canned or bottled drinks, which carriers are not insulated or lack a liquid reservoir that can be pre-cooled to assist in keeping the beverages cool prior to consumption.

Reduced volume carrier for canned or bottled beverages


A storage case is disclosed for storing screwdriver tips. It includes a circular body and a rotary disk. The circular body is provided with a plurality of storage slots arranged circularly for keeping a plurality of screwdriver tips. The rotary disk is fastened pivotally with the circular body such that the circular body is superimposed by the rotary disk. The rotary disk is provided with a tip retrieving hole corresponding in location to the storage slots of the circular body. The tip retrieving hole is provided at one end thereof with an arcuate block having a bevel through hole for receiving a magnetic block capable of attracting one of the plurality of screwdriver tips, when the tip retrieving hole of the rotary disk is located over a predetermined storage slot of the circular body.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a screwdriver is provided at the free end of a shaft 1 thereof with a hexagonal hole 3 for holding tips 2 of various forms. The tips 2 are kept in a circular storage case 4, as shown in FIG. 2. The storage case 4 is provided with a rotary disk 5 fastened pivotally therewith. The rotary disk 5 is provided with a retrieving hole 6. In the process of retrieving a screwdriver tip kept in the storage case 4, the rotary disk 5 is rotated such that the screwdriver tip is aligned with the retrieving hole 6 to be dumped out of the storage case 4.
Such a prior art storage case 4 as described above is rather primitive in design in that the screwdriver tips can not be easily retrieved from the storage case 4 in which the screwdriver tips are kept.

Disk-shaped storage case for screwdriver tips

No. 3, Industrial Rd., Ta-Li Industrial Zone,Taiping Hsiang


A device for processing slaughter animals or parts thereof, for example poultry, comprises a transport system with an endless track and a chain of chain elements which can be moved along the track, wherein a plurality of chain elements are set up as carriers to carry one or more slaughter animals and/or parts thereof. The device furthermore has a delivery station for delivering slaughter animals or parts thereof to the carriers of the transport system, one or more stations being set up along the track of the transport system to perform actions relating to the slaughter animals or parts thereof. The device furthermore has location means for determining the position of the chain in relation to the track, wherein the location means comprise an identifiable chain element which has an associated identification mark, and also an identification sensor set up along the track to detect each identifiable chain element, wherein the remaining chain elements in the chain are designed as unidentifiable chain elements. The location means furthermore comprise a counting device to count the unidentifiable chain elements which pass along a counting station by the track following the passage of an identifiable chain element. Moreover, the location means furthermore comprise electronic memory means with a memory table in which a memory field is provided for each carrier, wherein the location means record a variable in the memory field representing the number of carriers counted by the counting device since the passage of the identifiable chain element located upstream.

In large slaughterhouses which are designed for processing poultry, for example chickens; transport systems occur in current practice with many thousands of carriers in a chain. Slaughter lines are known with 15,000 to even 30,000 carriers in a single chain, which may be kilometres long. Between adjacent carriers, different types of chain elements are present, for example one or more links of a chain or a piece of cable, steel wire or the like, which interconnect the carriers.
A plurality of transport systems are often present in slaughterhouses, wherein it occurs that a part of a poultry item held by a carrier in a first transport system is separated and the separated part of the poultry item is transferred to a carrier which forms part of a second transport system.
For example in this situation, it is important during the slaughter process to know the location of the carriers in each of the transport systems. It can thus occur that an inspection station is set up along the second transport track, where a veterinary inspection of passing separated poultry item parts takes place. If a poultry item part is then rejected, it is desirable, and sometimes required, that the associated poultry item part which is still located in the first transport system is also rejected and is treated as such, for example is removed in a reject station. The slaughterhouse installation must then be able to locate the relevant carrier in the first transport system.
In order to be able to locate the carriers in the transport system, as presently used in slaughterhouses, location means are present which can determine at least the position of the chain of carriers in relation to the track.
In a known design of these location means, a single identifiable chain element is present in the chain which has an identification mark, said chain element being referred to as the reference chain element, and the remaining chain elements in the chain are designed as unidentifiable. An identification sensor is then set up along the track to detect the identifiable reference chain element.
The known location means further comprise a counting device set up at a position along the track, usually near the identification sensor, to count the carriers which pass following the passage of the reference chain element.
Furthermore, the known location means comprise electronic memory means with a memory table in which at least one memory field is present for each carrier, wherein the location means record a variable in a memory field for each carrier representing the number of carriers counted by the counting device since the passage of the reference chain element.
In the known transport system described above, a serial number is, in a manner of speaking, allocated to each carrier, starting from the reference chain element. In practice, the memory table comprises, for each carrier, along with the memory field with the serial number of the carrier, also one or more memory fields in which other information can be stored. For example, data relating to the relevant product can also be stored in a memory field of this type, such as the weight or the like.
In an embodiment generally known in practice, the carriers are designed as trolleys which can be moved along a guide rail, with running wheels which engage on the rail. Furthermore, each carrier is provided with a receiver part to receive a slaughter animal or one or more parts thereof.
It is known for a sensor to be set up along the guide rail which is operated under the influence of a passing trolley of a carrier. The reference chain element is then obtained in a known design by placing a bridge piece, in practice a spring, between the running wheels of two adjacent trolleys, said spring operating the relevant sensor as if it related to the passage of a trolley. This longer operating period compared with the passage of a normal trolley is electronically identified and the reference chain element is thus detected in the chain. Furthermore, the sensor performs the counting of the passing trolleys and therefore the carriers. It is known for the sensor to be designed as an element which can be mechanically moved by the passage of a running wheel and which cooperates with an electronic detector, for example an inductive detector.
In a different known variant, an optical sensor which detects each passage of a carrier is placed along the guide rail. An additional chain element is set up between two adjacent carriers in the chain, which can be detected in the same way as a carrier by the optical sensor. The passage of this additional chain element can easily be determined on the basis of the shorter time lapse between successive detections, whereby the reference chain element is then defined.
The transport systems described above essentially operate satisfactorily in slaughterhouses.
However, a problem occurs, for example, in the event of a power failure. This power failure can affect the drive means of the chain and/or the identification sensor and/or the electronic memory means. As a result, even if no apparent problems have occurred within the location means, uncertainty arises concerning the position of the chain in relation to the track and therefore the location of the carriers and products carried thereby in relation to the track and the associated stations.
In terms of food safety, uncertainty of this type in a slaughterhouse for, for example, poultry, is undesirable.
In order to eliminate this uncertainty, in the known transport system the chain is moved on in a "restore routine" until the single reference chain element is again detected by the identification sensor. During this "restore routine", no new products may of course be added, products removed or actions carried out.
It will be clear that, in the case of a long chain, as described above, the duration of the "restore routine" may be unacceptably long.
Another problem with long chains relates to the loss of a carrier, for example due to a carrier breaking off from the chain. In the present approach, a loss of this type is identified at an undesirably late stage, and a large number of the slaughter animals or parts thereof located in the carrier may possibly have to be rejected on food safety grounds.
Finally, as a result of the great length of the chain, in the event of an emergency stop or the like, the carriers may move back against the direction of transport because the chain had been stretched during operation and this stretch is then released. As a result, the location means may, in a manner of speaking, perform a counting error.
An obvious solution to the aforementioned problems is to design all carriers as identifiable carriers and to provide each carrier with a unique identification mark. Each carrier can then possibly be designed to be provided with a remotely readable electronic transponder with a unique code, or to be provided with a readable graphical code, for example a barcode.
Although these solutions are appropriate for fast location of carriers in the chain, they have unacceptable disadvantages. For example, the cost price of the transponders is too high to provide all carriers with a transponder. A disadvantage of readable graphical codes on each of the carriers lies in the reliable reading of these graphical codes with a high reading frequency. In particular, moisture and condensation may hinder the reading and the graphical codes will quickly deteriorate.
The aforementioned disadvantage of the known approach for determining the position of the chain in relation to the track also comes to the fore in connection with the "stretching out" of the chain. As mentioned, the chain may be very long and because, almost inevitably, the chain stretches during use (for example through wear), chain elements, including carriers, are in practice removed regularly, for example weekly, from the chain in order to compensate for the stretch. Also, as a result of faults or breakage of the chain, carriers are in practice removed from the chain by maintenance personnel. As a result of the removal of the chain elements, the chain as defined in the memory table no longer corresponds to the actual chain, so that a restore routine is required in order to re-establish said correspondence.

Device and method for processing slaughter animals and/or parts thereof provided with a transportation system


The disclosure relates to a child safety lock mechanism for a cupboard, the cupboard includes at least one movable door and fixed frame, the locking mechanical system includes an external section arranged on the outside of the cupboard door, an internal section secured to a part of the frame, a latching means and a releasing means, wherein the external section is removably lockable to the internal section by the latching means and releasable by the releasing means. The latching means and releasing means are mutually engageable to release the latch, and extend from a first surface of the door to a second surface of the door to effect the engagement.

Cupboards are commonly used in daily life in kitchens, bedrooms, offices, etc. to store a wide range of articles, some of which may be harmful to children. Small children may also attempt to climb on, or even in, cupboards and cabinets in an effort to hide. Cupboards and cabinets may house many types of materials which may be potentially hazardous to children such as medicines, household cleaners, knives, tools, paint, etc.
To prevent young children from accessing these storage areas, numerous items have been patented and sold, most of a multi-piece assembly. Generally, some sort of a longitudinal member with a hook portion is attached to either side surface of a cupboard or cupboard handle to limit the amount the cupboard door may be opened. The hook portion may engage with the cupboard handles or fixings on the cupboard doors. A latch on the hook may be depressed to release the hook from the cupboard handles or fixings on the cupboard doors.
While the disengagement of the latch is relatively easy for an adult, the latches are intended to be difficult to manipulate by a child. However, since the actuation may be easily learned by an attentive child, the latch may soon prove inadequate.
In some cases, these hooks require at least two components, which need alignment during installation or adjustment after installation. These components generally include protrusions fixed to the cupboard door for the hook to latch around. This mechanism may further require a biasing member (springs, etc.) to bias the latch member against the hook member.
These hooks allow a certain amount of operability of the cupboard doors allowing their partial opening due the playability of the material used or a looseness of the fixing.
What is needed is a "child-proof" safety lock that is easy to install on at least one cupboard door, and which includes a more complex action which must be actuated to release the lock. Thus, a cupboard door may not be partially opened and its contents kept secure from children. Upon actuation of the more complex action by an adult, the contents may become accessible.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a lock which may preferably be moulded of plastic to provide a low cost safety latch.