Detection of in-band noise in a radio communications voice channel is provided by mixing a signal having a known frequency into a radio signal containing a voice channel signal in an in-band range, thereby translating the voice channel signal out of the in-band range. The in-band range is thereafter examined for the presence of noise signal energy whose presence can be indicative of in-band noise. Squelching of the voice channel is provided in the event that in-band noise energy exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The present invention is directed generally to muting a radio channel in a radiocommunications system and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for selectively squelching a radio channel based on a detection of in-band noise.
The first cellular mobile radio systems in public use were analog systems for conveyance of speech or other analog information. These systems utilized multiple radio channels to communicate analog information between base and mobile stations by transmitting analog-modulated radio signals. One such system is known as the Nordic Mobile Telephone system NMT 450. Another known analog cellular mobile radio system, of particular interest as background to the present invention, is the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) mobile radio system utilized in the U.S.A. In general, these systems provide a squelching system which relies on the detection of noise in order to determine whether squelching is to be applied.
Recently, digital cellular mobile radio systems for public use have been designed. Digital cellular mobile radio systems provide digital radio channels for transmitting digital or digitized analog information between base and mobile stations using digitally modulated radio signals. Digital cellular mobile radio systems may offer substantial advantages, e.g. greater system capacity per unit bandwidth, over analog cellular mobile radio systems.
In contrast to the introduction of digital-only cellular mobile radio systems, like the GSM system employed in parts of Europe, in areas with existing analog cellular systems it has been proposed to introduce digital cellular mobile radio systems which are designed to cooperate with the existing analog cellular mobile radio systems. In this way large legacy customer bases will not suddenly find that their terminal equipment has become obsolete. System designers of these hybrid systems believe that the digital portion of the system can be gradually introduced and, over time, the number of digital channels can be gradually increased, while the number of analog channels is gradually decreased. In order to provide complete compatibility, such dual-mode systems should comport with adopted standards for both analog and digital formats, such as the AMPS standard.
In cellular mobile radio systems it is desirable to provide a communications channel that is generally free of noise or interference, or in the event that such noise or interference is found, to mute the radio channel to enhance the perceived audio quality of a signal transmitted over the radio channel. It is also desirous that a mobile station with an established connection on a radio channel be able to maintain audio quality when moving within the same cell, or between cells, even if the radio channel being used is subject to increased interference. If the quality of the established connection falls below specified parameters it is further desirable to automatically mute, or squelch the radio channel momentarily, and then to restore the transmitted signal when the quality of the connection returns to an acceptable level. This practice avoids the perception of diminished audio quality.
The AMPS system provides a noise squelching technique whereby a radio channel is momentarily muted when a substantial amount of out-of-band noise is detected, and then restores the radio signal when the out-of-band noise level drops below a predetermined threshold. A voice, or information signal, normally occupies the 0-3 kHz frequency band (the "in-band" frequency range). The AMPS system monitors a higher (out-band) frequency range, in accordance with a known principle, wherein the detection of a sufficient amount of noise energy in this higher frequency range is believed to be indicative of noise, or interference in the in-band radio channel (hereinafter referred to as the "voice channel"). More specifically, the aforementioned conventional system operates in accordance with a known principle wherein a measurement of noise energy in the 17 kHz to 71 kHz bandwidth is considered determinative of whether there is noise or interference in the 0-3 kHz in-band voice channel. If a sufficient amount of noise energy is detected in the 17 kHz-71 kHz frequency band, it is assumed that voice channel interference is present, and that the voice channel should be squelched to preserve perceived audio quality.
Although dual-mode base stations and mobile stations continue to support analog system functions, such as squelching, the techniques by which these functions are supported are continuously being improved to reduce costs and improve quality. With the increased power of digital signal processors (DSPs), system designers are interested in implementing many signal processing techniques previously implemented using analog hardware components as DSP routines. DSP implementation has the added attraction of reducing the number of components, and hence the size, of base stations and mobile stations.
Of course, digital signal processing also has its limitations. One design tradeoff which system designers confront when trying to implement analog signal processing techniques as DSP routines is that of speed of execution of a routine versus the amount of DSP resources, e.g., the number of millions of instructions per second (MIPS), which are allocated to execute a given routine. Since digital signal processors are not yet sufficiently inexpensive or quick that the number of MIPS used for each routine are insignificant, system designers are called upon to develop innovative digital signal processing techniques that reduce the number of MIPS used so that a digital signal processor can handle as many tasks as possible.
For instance, the aforementioned squelching function in the analog domain examines noise energy in a 17 kHz-71 kHz range. However, a conventional DSP would have to devote a large amount of resources, i.e., MIPS, to the evaluation of signals in this range due, in part, to the high sampling rate required to sample such signals. For example, at least 80 MIPS would typically be required for processing signals in this frequency range.
Furthermore, Applicants recognize that signal energies present in the 17 kHz-71 kHz range may not necessarily be indicative of noise or interference. Non-noise co-channel signals, adjacent, or side band signals also may operate in, and consequently contribute energy to, the 17 kHz-71 kHz frequency band. Detection of energy from such signals may result in a false indication of noise, and the inadvertent invocation of voice channel squelching.
Consequently, direct application of digital signal processing to perform conventional noise squelching in radiocommunication systems is susceptible to erroneous noise indications. Furthermore, inordinate processing resources are required to sample the frequency band traditionally investigated for indications of in-band noise. Accordingly, new techniques are desirable for determining when to squelch a radio channel in radiocommunication systems.


A jump rope simulator for providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope. The simulator includes a pair of hand-held units. Each unit includes a handle and a flexible cord. The handle has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends of the flexible cord is coupled to the first end of the handle such that the flexible cord may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jump rope simulators and more particularly pertains to a new jump rope simulator for providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of jump rope simulators is known in the prior art. More specifically, jump rope simulators heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art jump rope simulators include U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,777; U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,899; U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,119; U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,123; U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,149; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 352,236.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new jump rope simulator. The inventive device includes a pair of hand-held units. Each unit includes a handle and a flexible cord. The handle has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends of the flexible cord is coupled to the first end of the handle such that the flexible cord may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle.
In these respects, the jump rope simulator according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope.


Systems and methods for capturing pollutants from braking mechanisms are provided. The systems can include a housing partially surrounding at least a portion of a vehicle brake assembly and disposed to receive brake dust from the brake assembly and a collector disposed to capture the brake dust received in said housing. A method can include providing the a providing a housing partially surrounding at least a portion of a vehicle brake assembly and disposed to receive brake dust from the brake assembly and a collector disposed to capture the brake dust received in said housing, creating a first air flow using the forward motion of the vehicle to move the pollutants from said housing to said collector, and capturing the brake dust in said collector.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is now the leading cause of water quality problems in America. NPS is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into coastal waters, lakes, rivers, wetlands and even our underground sources of drinking water. (See, for example, "Oil in the Sea" in Pollution Equipment News, dated October 2002.) These pollutants are many and varied, but they include oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production. Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also prime sources of NPS.
The accumulation of hydrocarbons and toxic metals on roadway surfaces is largely attributable to tailpipe emissions, tire tread wear, leaking automotive fluids, brake pad deterioration, and dirty car-washing water. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,372, the entirety of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.) As tailpipe exhaust is emitted, for example, the many "fine" particles in the exhaust are either inhaled or they are filtered back down back down on to the street, waiting for rain to wash them into a storm sewer or for rolling tires to throw them back into the air (also referred to as "re-entrainment.") Fine particles, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, toxic organic compounds (e.g., toluene), and other heavy metals are all found in tail pipe exhaust. Additionally, as tire tread wears, pollution accumulates on roadway surfaces in the form of zinc, cadmium, carbon black, and fine particles of rubber. Furthermore, leaking oil, antifreeze, brake and transmission fluids, battery acid, grease and degreasing agents, also accumulate on the roadway surfaces. These automotive liquids contain toxic organic compounds and metals, as well. Brake pad dust is also a major source of roadway pollution and significantly contributes to the accumulation of copper in our waterways. In the San Francisco Bay, for example, brake pad dust is reported to be the largest source of copper pollution. (See "How Do Vehicles Pollute the Bay? Let's Count the Ways" available at the Palo Alto (Calif.) Regional Water Quality Control Plant web site)
The accumulation of roadway pollution is having a drastic effect on human health. In a study financed largely by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, researchers calculated that the number of deaths from lung cancer increases by eight percent for every ten micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter. The risk of dying from lung cancer as well as heart disease in the most polluted cities has been compared to the risk associated with nonsmokers being exposed to second-hand (cigarette) smoke over a long period of time. (See Jeanie Davis, "Air Pollution Increases Lung Cancer Risk; Evidence Links Bad Air with Heart Disease, Too" MSN and WebMD Medical News, Mar. 5, 2002.") Since the number of automobiles is increasing three times faster than the rate of population growth in the world and approximately 40% of deaths around the world can be attributed to various environmental factors, especially organic and chemical pollutants, the need for a device and method to remove these toxins from roadway surfaces is manifest. (See BioScience, October 1998 issue.)
Several different devices have been made to trap pollutants that are emitted from automobiles (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,170,586, 5,711,402, 5,993,372, 5,967,200, 5,549,178, 5,692,547, and 6,524,992, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties). Although these devices and approaches reduce pollution by trapping the pollutants before they contact the roadway surfaces, there remains a significant need for devices and methods that remove pollutants that have already accumulated on roadway surfaces.

System and method for removing brake dust and other pollutants


A structure and associated method to control a flow of data on a semiconductor device. A transmitter, receiver and transmission line are formed within the semiconductor device. The transmitter, receiver, and transmission line are adapted to control data transfer between a first core and a second core within the semiconductor device. The transmitter is adapted to send a signal over the transmission line to the receiver adapted to receive the signal. The receiver is further adapted to create an impedance mismatch to indicate that the second core is unable to transfer the data. The transmitter is adapted to detect the impedance mismatch.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a structure and associated method to control data transfer between cores on a system on a chip.
2. Related Art
Electronic components in a circuit typically require complicated protocols to communicate with each other. Complicated protocols may require additional circuitry making the circuit bulky and costly. Therefore there exists a need to create a simple communication protocol.

Data acknowledgment using impedance mismatching

International Business Machines Corporation


Devices and methods for providing an indication of an active frame start, while reducing a number of line buffers utilized by conventional systems are provided herein. By way of example, an electronic display panel may include a host device (e.g., a processor) that provides an indication of a pending active frame start. The indication may be provided at a predetermined and fixed time/line interval before the active frame start. Next, a timing controller of the display circuitry may generate a vertical start pulse during vertical blanking based upon the indication and the fixed time/line interval. The vertical start pulse may be used to drive multi-clock integrated row driver circuits.

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic displays and, more particularly, to providing an indication of the start of active frame data prior to displaying the active frame on the display.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Electronic displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, are commonly used in electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and phones. The electronic displays display images when image data is sent by a timing controller (TCON) to display drivers in the electronic display. Oftentimes, these displays may implement integrated row driver technology for an enhanced narrow bezel design. However, this integrated row driver technology oftentimes consumes large amounts of power due to high-voltage swing clocks used in this technology. Accordingly, to reduce power consumption, multiple clocks may be used to reduce the frequency of the clock signals over multiple clocks. A vertical start pulse is used in this multi-clock approach. The vertical start pulse is provided several lines earlier than the actual frame start, indicating a time when the actual frame start begins. In conventional systems, the vertical start pulse is placed subsequent to the active frame start by using one or more line buffers to delay the active frame data during a lead time expected by the display circuitry (e.g., a fixed amount of time between the vertical start pulse and the start of the active frame). Unfortunately, these line buffers may offer several inefficiencies. For example, the line buffers may occupy a significant amount of die area of display circuitry and may also consume excessive amounts of power.

Devices and methods for indicating active frame starts


A method of discriminating an optical disc type and an apparatus thereof. The method for an optical disc system of recording and/or reproducing an optical disc that includes an optical pickup having a laser diode, an object lens, and a light receiving device, checks a track error signal while moving the object lens to upward/downward, and discriminates an optical disc type by using the magnitude of the checked track error signal. The method and apparatus discriminate the disc type in the initial stage of focusing where the object lens moves to upward/downward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discrimination of an optical disc type, and more particularly, to a method of discriminating an optical disc type, whether an optical disc is a read only disc or a recordable disc, and an apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the number of optical disc types increases, the number of disc types for an optical disc system to recognize and be compatible with increases. The amount of time for the optical disc system to recognize the optical disc type mounted in the optical disc system determines the performance of the optical disc system.
In a conventional optical disc system of recording/reading a read only disc and/or a recordable disc, the disc type is discriminated by measuring specific signals, which are generated after the start of a focusing control or after the start of a tracking control following the focusing control.
Such a conventional method requires a long time to discriminate the disc type, because the method discriminates the disc type by measuring the specific signals, which are generated after the start of the focusing control following the movement of an object lens in a pickup unit to an upward and/or downward direction, or after the start of the tracking control following the focusing control.

Method of discriminating optical disc type and apparatus thereof


A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a crown part, a land part extending from the crown part, a skirt part adjoining the land part, and a linking boss protruding from a reverse surface of the crown part and forming a spherical joint with a small end of a connecting rod. The piston is divided into an upper piston part having the land part, and a lower piston part having the skirt part and a plurality of molded plate members formed by press-molding plates.

An example of a piston for an internal combustion engine, wherein ribs are formed radially on the reverse surface of a crown part of the piston, stresses concentrated on the crown part are alleviated, and the thickness and weight of the crown part is reduced, is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-133613. This piston for an internal combustion engine will be described based on FIG. 10 hereof.
As shown in FIG. 10, a piston 200 is molded as an integrated member having: a crown part 201; a cylindrical land part 202 that extends downward from the edge of the crown part 201; cylindrical skirt parts 203, 203 that extend further downward from the land part 202; a cup-shaped support 208 that is formed on a reverse surface 207 of the crown part 201 in order to slidably link to a small end 206 of a con rod 204; and a plurality of ribs 211 that extend downward from the reverse surface 207 of the crown part 201.
The aforementioned cup-shaped support 208 has a narrow fixed base on the side of the crown part 201 and is shaped so that the diameter gradually increases from the fixed base. Therefore, when the piston 200 is to be formed by casting, a die with a plurality of partitions is used. Productivity decreases because the partitioned die must be dismantled when removing the piston element from the partitioned die. A method of manufacture that offers better productivity than casting has been needed.
Additionally, the piston 200 needs to be made lighter in order for the internal combustion engine to achieve higher rotation speeds.
Accordingly, a need has existed for a piston for an internal combustion engine offering improved productivity and lighter weight.


This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting mutant IDH1, useful in treatment of mIDH1 cancers including AML, as well as mIDH1-positive solid tumors such as glioma.

Mutant IDH1 is a genetically validated target in hematologic cancers, including AML. Mutations of IDH1 present in certain cancer cells can result in a new ability of this enzyme to catalyze the NADPH-dependent reduction of α-ketoglutarate to (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2HG). R-2HG is not formed by wild-type IDH. The presence of mutations at codon 132 in IDH1 imparts a neomorphic activity to the enzyme, resulting in the production of the "oncometabolite" R-2HG, which has pleotropic roles in tumorigenesis. Excess production of 2HG has been shown to inhibit α-KG-dependent enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation, collagen synthesis, and cell signaling, thereby leading to a block in normal differentiation of progenitor cells and the subsequent development of cancer mutations in IDH1 associated with 2HG neomorphic activity, specifically R-2HG neomorphic activity, including mutations at residues 97, 100, and 132, e.g. G97D, R100Q, R132H, R132C, R132S, R132G, R132L, and R132V. IDH mutation-specific inhibitors have been shown to reduce aberrantly elevated levels of the oncometabolite R-2HG, resulting in antitumor efficacy in preclinical models.

Inhibiting mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (mIDH1)


A distribution server distributes A/V content to a recipient according to terms determined from information stored in a database of prior unauthorized copying attributed to that recipient. The copy distributed to the recipient includes identifications of the content and recipient embedded in it by an ID embedder employing a steganographic or watermarking technique. A detection server detects embedded ID's in A/V content sampled from various distribution channels, and provides the ID information to the distribution server to update the database of prior unauthorized copying.

The unauthorized copying and distribution (also referred to herein as "piracy") of audio-visual content such as motion pictures, music, the spoken word, photos or printed text has and continues to be a major problem for owners of such content. For example, the Recording Industry Association of America ("RIAA") has asserted that physical goods piracy costs the United States recording industry alone hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and around the world, many billions of dollars annually.
With the advent of the Internet and the growing popularity of digital A/V content, the problem of piracy has grown to new dimensions. The availability of these and other new technologies have made the problem of unauthorized copying so pervasive that virtually anyone owning a personal computer or Internet appliance can be a participant in copyright infringement. Under such circumstances, the rights of copyright owners are increasingly being violated and their rightful profits lost.
Audio Distribution
Music type A/V content, for example, is easily generated today from audio compact disc ("CD") using "ripper" software. As shown in FIG. 1, to generate A/V content 104, original audio on a CD 101 is played on an optical drive 102 and CD "ripper" software 103 creates the digital A/V content 104 from the output of the optical drive 102. Preferably, the A/V content 104 is in the form of a computer file in the MP3 format. A/V content 104 created in this way is a quite accurate representation of the original audio. Once created, it is an easy matter to transfer the A/V content 104 over the Internet 111 to other parties without the receiving parties paying for the rights to the audio. For example, the growth of online music communities, such as can be found at www.napster.com, or formed as a Gnutella community through software made available at www.gnutella.wego.com, facilitate a viral-type spread of audio content as music consumers browse and transfer content freely and easily between themselves without compensation to the content owners.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a Napster virtual network 100. A list server computer 105 has a memory 106 storing list data 107 that includes the identities of consumer client computers currently on-line, the music or other A/V content available from each consumer client computer, and the Internet connection speed associated with each consumer client computer. In this example, consumer client computers 108, 109 and 110 are currently on-line, having contacted and made a connection with the list server computer 105 over the Internet 111. Consumer client computers 108, 109 and 110 interact with the list server computer 105 in a classic client-server relationship to access the list data 107 over the Internet 111. This allows operators of consumer client computers 108, 109 and 110 to then select which music and from which other consumer client computer to transfer music from. For example, as depicted by dotted lines in FIG. 1, if the operator of consumer client computer 109 has selected A/V content 104 to download from consumer client computer 108, then consumer client computer 109 interacts with consumer client computer 108 in a client-server type manner to transfer a copy of the A/V content 104 to its memory 113.
In the case of Napster-type sites such as depicted in FIG. 1, the list server 105 doesn't actually store music, nor does the music ever actually transit through the list server 105 or its memory 106. The list server 105 does maintain the centralized data list 107, however, and consequently, the person or entity that generates the centralized data list 107 on the list server 105 may be subject to legal liability. To avoid the visibility that the centralized data list serving entity provides, other methods for transferring music between cooperating parties have been devised. One such method is the Gnutella community approach.
FIG. 2. illustrates an example of a Gnutella virtual network 200. In this case, there is no list server. Each of the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 may act as either a client or a server, depending upon whether it is receiving music from or transferring music to another consumer computer. When running the Gnutella application software, each of the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 maintains a list of other consumer computers that it knows the IP address of in the Gnutella virtual network 200. A special feature of the Gnutella application software is that each of the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 need only know the IP address of one other consumer computer in the Gnutella virtual network 200 to provide access to all consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 in the Gnutella virtual network 200. Each of the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 is then able to submit search queries to the Gnutella virtual network 200 and receive search results. Thus, when an operator of one of the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 finds a piece of music that he or she desires to obtain, they can indicate this to the Gnutella application software, and the Gnutella application software facilitates a direct transfer from a consumer computer including such music to the requesting consumer computer through the Internet 205. As an example, the solid lines between the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 and the Internet 205 are representative of the transfer of search queries and search results between the consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204. The dotted lines, on the other hand, are representative of an actual transfer of a copy of music 214 from the consumer computer 203 to the consumer computer 204 through the Internet 205 after the operator of consumer computer 204 has made a selection of that music.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a coupling diagram for the Gnutella virtual network 200 where Alice, Charlie, Eve and Bob are pseudonyms for consumer computers 201, 202, 203 and 204 respectively. In the example, Alice knows that Charlie is coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200 (i.e., Charlie is on-line) since she knows his IP address, but does not know that Eve and Bob are coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200; Charlie knows that Alice and Eve are coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200 (i.e., Alice and Eve are online) since he has their IP addresses, but does not know that Bob is coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200; Eve knows that Bob and Charlie are coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200 (i.e., Bob and Charlie are on-line) since she knows their IP addresses, but does not know that Alice is coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200; and Bob knows that Eve is coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200 (i.e., Eve is on-line) since he knows her IP address, but does not know that Alice and Charlie are coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200. As can be appreciated, since Alice, Charlie, Eve and Bob do not know the identities of all other consumer computers coupled to the Gnutella virtual network 200, the Gnutella application software provides protective anonymity to the unknown consumer computers shielding them from detection and possible prosecution for copyright infringement.
There have been initiatives to create secure environments for the download, distribution and listening of digital music from the Internet from groups such as the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). This system uses encryption to control access to music content and watermarks or embedded data to control equipment (either to control recording or control playback) once the content has been decrypted. This system has the disadvantage that it requires introduction of a completely new class of portable music player devices before it is effective. If these devices prove to be unacceptable in the marketplace, then the SDMI system is ineffective and does nothing to encourage consumers to purchase legal copies of digital A/V content versus continuing to rip and transfer music derived from CD's.
Theatrical Presentation
Movie content owners obtain a significant portion of their return on investment in the production of a movie during the theatrical release. The theatrical release precedes the release to other channels such as in-flight entertainment, cable TV pay-per-view channels or videotape in order to maximize the return on the investment. Content distributed illegally during the theatrical release represents a reduction in the content owner's early rate of return. With current film-based theatrical presentation, the use by pirates of a camcorder in a theater provides the primary mechanism for obtaining movie content during the theatrical release window.
The introduction of digital content into theater operations allows for the use of automation systems in theaters. A theater automation system allows a theater owner to operate his facility with a smaller staff size, to more rapidly ramp up and ramp down the number of screens available for any particular piece of content, and to provide for an overall improvement in the efficiencies of his operations. These theater automation systems also allow the theater operator to rapidly communicate box office information to the distributor thus allowing the distributor and eventually the copyright holder to operate more efficiently.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a digital theater system 400 that allows for the distribution of movies in a high quality digital form. A distribution server 401 distributes the movies to a theater client 402 through a secure transmission path 403 using satellite or fiber optic, or alternatively, by optical or magnetic media (not shown). The projection of the movie content in a digital theater is likely to provide a superior picture quality compared to film thus making the movie displayed in this venue more desirable as the source for a movie pirate's operation. The distribution server 401 transmits encrypted content through the transmission path 403 (or alternatively, the media) to enhance the content's security, and the theater client 402 has a decrypter 404 for decrypting the movie before sending it to a projector 405 for display on a theater screen 406. Despite such protection, however, there are various points where the movie content is available in an insecure form. For example, a pirate camcorder 407 might record the movie playing on the theater screen 406 so that the recorded movie may be distributed through pirate distribution channels 408. As another example, other points of vulnerability to pirating may be the interface between a playback device (not shown) and the projector 405 or some point within the projector 405.
Generally, a theater operator is under some obligation to the content owner to attempt to limit his customer's attempts to illegally make copies with a camcorder within his theater. Obviously, he is also obligated to ensure that his employees who have access to movie content adhere to the law. As such, a copyright owner can legitimately argue that a theater which is a source of pirated movies should be obliged to compensate the copyright owner appropriately if that theater is a source of pirated content.
Post-Production
The current process for producing a movie entails the distribution of tasks among a large number of employees and contractors. As depicted in FIG. 5, with the rapid increase in the capability of computers and networks, such a process often involves the distribution of pieces of a movie or other A/V content from a central publisher computer 501 out to contractor computers 502, 503 and 504 to provide for a distributed work environment 500. This distributed work environment improves the efficiency of the production process but also makes a greater portion of the A/V content 506 vulnerable to copying or inappropriate re-distribution through pirate distribution channels 513. Piracy from the post-production work environment can sometimes even result in pirated movies hitting the street prior to theatrical release. Again, this negatively impacts the content owner's revenue stream.

Method and apparatus for determining digital A/V content distribution terms based on detected piracy levels


A system includes a current transformer including: a primary coil, and a secondary coil including at least two taps; a tap selection circuit; a current measurement apparatus configured to produce an indication of an amount of current flowing in the secondary coil; a power supply electrically connected to a first one of the taps, the power supply configured to receive electrical power from the first one of the taps; and a controller coupled to the power supply and the current measurement apparatus, the controller configured to receive electrical power from the power supply and to control the tap selection circuit based on the indication of an amount of current in the secondary coil.

A current transformer (CT) is a type of transformer that is used to reduce or increase an alternating current (AC) signal. A CT includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is electrically connected to a power distribution system. In operational use, the primary winding and the secondary winding are magnetically coupled, and current that flows in the primary winding induces a proportional current in the secondary winding.


A method is described for providing one or more patches to a client device. The method may comprise determining manifest file version information of a manifest file that is used by the client device; detecting an indication that one or more patches have been missed, a patch comprising information for updating at least part of information in the manifest file; requesting one or more missed patches on the basis of the manifest file version information (and the version information of the manifest file that the client would obtain after having applied the last missed patch—if available); and, receiving the one or more missed patches for updating the information in the manifest file.

In order for a client device to be able to retrieve media data comprising audio and/or visual content from a streaming server, the client device needs to retrieve metadata specifying where the content can be found. Within the context of HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS), metadata may be provided to a client device using a so-called manifest file, which in MPEG-DASH is referred to as a media presentation description (MPD). A manifest file may also contain information about the availability and location of variations of the same content (e.g. the same content in different resolutions, different encoding types, different language and/or subtitle versions, etc.) and whether the content refers to a live-event (e.g. as in broadcasting) or video on-demand. Hence, the manifest file allows a client device to select and retrieve the most appropriate version of the content that is available given for example the capabilities of the playback device and of the network/broadcast link.
When streaming live media data to client devices, it is necessary to keep the information in a manifest file (i.e. metadata for playout of live content) up-to-date. To that end, a manifest file may be updated so that it allows contains the most recently available segments. For example, the MPEG-DASH standard includes an MPD update process wherein the client device is periodically signaled to request a new version of the MPD. A client device may thus periodically request and receive a version of the manifest file from a server.
In order to reduce bandwidth and signalling, the MPEG DASH standard further includes a so-called a patch mechanism in order to update only a part of a live-stream MPD that is used by a DASH client. To that end, a streaming server may include an MPD patch in a segment box in one or more segments that are sent in-band to the DASH client devices. The MPD patch comprises metadata in the form of a set of instruction for replacing certain parts of a certain manifest file with information that is contained in the patch. Applying a patch to a certain version i of the MPD, permits to obtain a further version j of the MPD. Using the patch mechanism, the streaming server is able to inform the client device (e.g. the function at the client device handling the HTTP adaptive streaming such as a MPEG DASH client application) by including patch information in a segment box, which is part of a segment retrieved by the client device. The MPD patch mechanism, unlike the regular MPD update, is not dependent upon the client device actively requesting a patch. In addition, the MPD patch mechanism allows to save a considerable amount of bandwidth, since a client device only needs to receive the difference between versions i and j, as compared to a regular MPD update wherein each time a full new version of the MPD is sent to the client device.
Although the MPD patch mechanism saves bandwidth by sending a patch for a live-stream MPD inside a segment, a client device may miss a patch, for example due to packet loss (in broadcast or multicast systems), or due to user activity such as pause/resume. E.g. a client device may skip retrieval of certain segments, for example after having paused the streaming, and jump ahead in the content timeline. Alternatively, after having received a MPD, a client may not immediately start watching content (and retrieving segments) from the 'start' of the content (e.g. the first segment of a content, but may decide to jump start, skip one or more segments and retrieve segments from a later moment on the 'content timeline'. If patches are missed by the (HAS) client the content playout may be seriously disrupted.
Hence, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems for providing manifest file updates to a HAS client. In particular, there is a need in the art for improved schemes for updating a manifest file. In particular, there is a need in the art for resilient patch update mechanisms that enable continuous playback of a HAS media stream even when during streaming one or more patches are missed or cannot be applied by a client device.

Updating part of a manifest file on the basis of patches


The semiconductor types of first and second semiconductor type transistors are different from one another and the two transistors are connected in series. An input signal is supplied to each of the bases of the first and second transistors. Each of the collector electric currents of the first and second transistors are thus controlled. An output is provided from the inter-connection point of the first and second transistors. A third transistor supplies the collector electric current which is 1/K.sub.1 times the collector electric current of the second transistor, where K.sub.1 is the current-mirror ratio between the second and third transistors. A fourth transistor has the collector and base connected with one another. The fourth transistor supplies an electric current according to the collector electric current of the third transistor. A fifth transistor has the base electric current controlled by the base electric current of the fourth transistor. The fifth transistor supplies its collector electric current, which is K.sub.2 times the collector electric current of the fourth transistor, to the base of the first transistor, where K.sub.2 is the current-mirror ratio between the fourth and fifth transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an amplifying electronic circuit, and, in particular, to an amplifying electronic circuit having a single-end push-pull formation output.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG.1 shows an amplifying electronic circuit in an example of the related art. This amplifying electronic circuit 1 includes a bias circuit portion 2 which applies a bias to an input signal, a differential amplifying circuit portion 3 which amplifies the input signal, an output circuit portion 4 which outputs the amplified input signal, a constant-electric-current circuit portion 5 which supplies driving constant electric currents to the differential amplifying circuit portion 3 and the output circuit portion 4, and feedback circuit portion 6 which controls the amount of feedback.
The bias circuit portion 2 includes resistors R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and a ripple removing capacitor C.sub.1. A signal source 7 supplies a signal, to be amplified, to the bias circuit portion 2 via a direct-electric-current removing capacitor C.sub.2. The bias circuit portion 2 applies a bias to the thus-supplied signal, and supplies the signal to the differential amplifying circuit portion 3.
The differential amplifying circuit portion 3 includes PNP transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 which act as input transistors, and NPN transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 which act as a driving electric current source. The input signal, which has a bias applied thereto by the bias circuit portion 2, is supplied to the base of the input PNP transistor Q.sub.1. An output signal, which is controlled by the feedback circuit portion 6 is supplied to the base of the other input PNP transistor Q.sub.2. The differential amplifying circuit portion 3 noninverting-amplifies the input signal and then supplies it to the output circuit portion 4.
The output circuit portion 4 includes NPN transistors Q.sub.5, Q.sub.6, Q.sub.7, PNP transistors Q.sub.8, Q.sub.9, resistors R.sub.6, R.sub.5, and a capacitor C.sub.3. The output circuit portion 4 is a push-pull output circuit, power-amplifies the signal supplied by the differential amplifying circuit portion 3, and outputs the amplified signal to a load capacitor C.sub.L and a load resistor R.sub.L. During this operation, an electric current for generating an idling electric current is always supplied to the output circuit portion 4 from the constant-electric-current circuit portion 5 in order to prevent a crossover distortion from occurring around the cut-off levels of the NPN transistor Q.sub.7 and the PNP transistor Q.sub.9.
The feedback circuit portion 6 includes resistors R.sub.f and R.sub.i. The resistor R.sub.f is connected between the output node of the output circuit portion 4 and the base of the PNP transistor Q.sub.2 which acts as the input transistor of the differential amplifying circuit portion 3. The other resistor R.sub.i is connected between the resistor R.sub.f and the inter-connection point of the resistors R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 of the bias circuit portion 2. Thereby, the differential amplifying circuit portion 3 is configured as being a noninverting amplifying circuit.
The constant-electric-current circuit portion 5 includes a constant-current source 8, PNP transistors Q.sub.10, Q.sub.11, Q.sub.12, and resistors R.sub.7, R.sub.8. The constant-electric-current circuit portion 5 includes a current-mirror circuit. A power-supply voltage Vcc is supplied by a power supply 9 to the constant-electric-current circuit portion 5. The constant-electric-current circuit portion 5 generates a driving electric current from the supplied power-supply voltage Vcc, and supplies the driving electric current to the differential amplifying circuit portion 3 and the output circuit portion 4.
Setting of the idling electric current in the output circuit portion 4 will now be described. In the output circuit portion 4, each of an emitter area ratio between the transistors Q.sub.5 and Q.sub.7 and an emitter area ratio between the transistors Q.sub.8 and Q.sub.9 is assumed as being `n`. Further, symbols will be used for various factors as follows:
the base-emitter voltage of the transistor Q.sub.5 : V.sub.BE5 ; PA1 the base-emitter voltage of the transistor Q.sub.7 : V.sub.BE7 ; PA1 the base-emitter voltage of the transistor Q.sub.8 : V.sub.BE8 ; PA1 the base-emitter voltage of the transistor Q.sub.9 : V.sub.BE9 ; PA1 the emitter electric current of the transistor Q.sub.5 : I.sub.E5 ; PA1 the emitter electric current of the transistor Q.sub.7 : I.sub.E7 ; PA1 the emitter electric current of the transistor Q.sub.8 : I.sub.E8 ; and PA1 the emitter electric current of the transistor Q.sub.9 : I.sub.E9. PA1 V.sub.T : the thermal voltage (VT can be expressed as V.sub.T =kT/q, and V.sub.T .apprxeq.26 mV, where the temperature thereof is 25.degree. C.); PA1 I.sub.C : the collector electric current; PA1 I.sub.S : reverse-direction collector saturation current (being in proportion to the emitter area); PA1 V.sub.CE : the collector-emitter voltage; and PA1 V.sub.A : the Early voltage. PA1 a third transistor which supplies the collector electric current which is 1/K.sub.1 times the collector electric current of the second transistor where K.sub.1 is the current-mirror ratio between the second and third transistors; PA1 a fourth transistor having the collector and base connected with one another, the fourth transistor supplying an electric current according to the collector electric current of the third transistor; and PA1 a fifth transistor, the base electric current of which is controlled by the base electric current of the fourth transistor, the fifth transistor supplying the collector electric current which is K.sub.2 times the collector electric current of the fourth transistor to the base of the first transistor.
It is assumed that the amplification factor h.sub.FE Of each transistor is h.sub.FE >>1. Thereby, a base electric current can be considered to be zero with respect to a collector electric current and a base electric current can be considered to be zero with respect to an emitter electric current. A feedback current i.sub.f is assumed such that i.sub.f <<I.sub.E7. EQU V.sub.BE5 +V.sub.BE8 =V.sub.BE7 +R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.E7 +R.sub.6 .multidot.I.sub.E9 +V.sub.BE9 =V.sub.BE7 +V.sub.BE9 +(R.sub.5 +R.sub.6).multidot.I.sub.E9 ( 1)
The NPN transistors Q.sub.5, Q.sub.7 and the PNP transistor Q.sub.8, Q.sub.9 are assumed as being configured such that the NPN transistors Q.sub.5, Q.sub.7 are symmetrical with the PNP transistor Q.sub.8, Q.sub.9. Further, it is also assumed that R.sub.5 =R.sub.6. Thereby, it is possible that the emitter electric current I.sub.E7 of the transistor Q.sub.7 is equal to the emitter electric current I.sub.E9 of the transistor Q.sub.9. Further, it is enough to consider a relationship between the transistor Q.sub.5 and the transistor Q.sub.7 when the above-mentioned equation (1) is considered.
Therefore, when the equation (1) is considered, it is enough to consider only the following equation (2): EQU V.sub.BE5 =V.sub.BE7 +R.sub.5 I.sub.E7 ( 2).
Generally speaking, the base-emitter voltage V.sub.BE of a transistor is expressed by the following equation (3): EQU V.sub.BE =V.sub.T .multidot.lnI.sub.C /{(1+V.sub.CE /V.sub.A).multidot.I.sub.S }! (3);
where:
When the equation (2) is rewritten using the equation (3), ##EQU1## (Because it is considered that the base electric current is substantially zero with respect to the collector electric current and with respect to the emitter electric current as mentioned above, it is possible that I.sub.C7 can be considered to be equal to I.sub.E7.) ##EQU2## The equation (5) can become the following equation (6): EQU V.sub.T .multidot.ln{I.sub.C7 /I.sub.C5 .multidot.(1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7)/(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5).multidot.I.sub.S7 /I.sub.S5 }=R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.C7 ( 6).
In the equation (6), I.sub.S7 /I.sub.S5 corresponds to the above-mentioned area ratio `n`. Further, the collector current I.sub.C5 of the transistor Q.sub.5 is approximately equal to the collector current I.sub.C12 of the transistor Q.sub.12 which supplies an electric current to the transistor Q.sub.5. Thereby, the equation (6) becomes the following equation (7): EQU V.sub.T .multidot.ln{I.sub.C7 /I.sub.C12 .multidot.(1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7)/(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5)}.multidot.n!=R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.C7( 7).
Generally speaking, in a power amplifier or the like, setting is performed such that an output electric current flows in an amount 100 times to 1000 times the idling electric current. The value of R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.C7 in the equation (7) is as small as tens of millivolts according to a design of such a semiconductor device.
It is assumed that V.sub.T .multidot.ln{I.sub.C7 /I.sub.C12 .multidot.(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5)/(1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7)}in the equation (7) is sufficiently larger than R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.C7. That is, EQU V.sub.T .multidot.ln{I.sub.C7 /I.sub.C12 .multidot.(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5)/(1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7)}>>R.sub.5 .multidot.I.sub.C7( 8).
It is possible that the following equation (9) is obtained; EQU I.sub.C7 =I.sub.C12 .multidot.{(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5)/(1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7)} (9).
A diode connection is performed for the transistor Q.sub.5. Therefore, V.sub.CE5 is equal to V.sub.BE5. V.sub.BE5 .apprxeq. 0.7 (V), and is constant. Therefore, V.sub.BE5 does not substantially depend on the power-supply voltage. EQU V.sub.CE7 .apprxeq. (1/2)Vcc (10).
This is because, generally, in a single-end push-pull electronic circuit, an output center voltage V.sub.OUT is set to (1/2)Vcc.
In the above-mentioned equation (9), the collector electric current I.sub.C7 of the transistor Q.sub.7, which current corresponds to the idling electric current, is obtained from the following equations (11) (corresponding to the above equation (9) ): EQU I.sub.C7 =K.multidot.I.sub.C12 (1+V.sub.CE7 /V.sub.A7) (11),
where
K=1/(1+V.sub.CE5 /V.sub.A5).
Thus, in the related art, the idling electric current I.sub.C7 is determined from the collector current of the transistor Q.sub.12 which supplies the driving electric current, the emitter area ratio between the transistor Q.sub.5 and transistor Q.sub.7, and resistance values of the resistors R.sub.5 and R.sub.6.
FIG.2 shows characteristics of the idling electric current with respect to the temperature of the device in the related art.
As shown in FIG.2, the idling electric current tends to increase as the temperature of the device increases.
FIG.3 shows characteristics of the idling electric current with respect to the power-supply voltage in the related art.
As shown in FIG.3, the idling electric current increases as the power-supply voltage Vcc increases. As shown in the equation (10), V.sub.CE7 depends on the power-supply voltage Vcc. As shown in the equation (11), the idling electric current depends on V.sub.CE7. Therefore, the idling electric current depends on the power-supply voltage.
In the related art, the idling electric current being supplied to the output transistors in the output circuit portion varies depending on the temperature of the device and power-supply voltage as discussed above. Thereby, it is not possible to provide a stable output signal.

Amplifying electronic circuit with stable idling current


An escapement fuze self-destruct mechanism for a projectile includes a drive weight that maintains a biasing member in a compressed state by centrifugal force when a projectile's RPM speed is above a preselected threshold. When the RPM speed falls below the preselected threshold, the biasing member exerts sufficient counter-rotational force to overcome the centrifugal force exerted by the drive weight. The biasing member expands to an uncompressed state and displaces the drive weight into position for mechanically implementing self-destruction of the projectile if a rotor is fully armed or for rendering the projectile “safe” if the rotor is in any position other then fully armed.

When conventional ammunition is fired, pressure is generated by a propellant that burns in a high-pressure chamber. The pressure forces expanding gases to flow through vent holes into a low-pressure chamber and propels a projectile from the high-pressure chamber. A rotating band around the projectile engages rifling in a launcher tube thereby generating a high RPM spin to the projectile. Upon firing, setback force causes the fuze setback pin to move away from the fuze rotor. The rotor is held out of line with a fuze detonator by the setback pin and a fuze centrifugal lock that engages gear teeth of the fuze rotor.
When the projectile attains sufficient spin, the centrifugal lock releases the rotor and arming begins. The rotor begins rotation toward the center of the projectile. The rotor gear, when engaged with the pinion shaft, delays arming of the fuze. After the projectile has traveled an acceptable distance from the launcher tube, the rotor is locked in the armed position and the fuze is armed.
However, a significant problem exists in conventional runaway escapements. A self-destruct mechanism is needed for runaway escapement fuzes. The mechanism should be inexpensive and small in size but is should possess high efficacy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,080 discloses an apparatus mountable in a projectile for utilization with a rotor-type safing and arming mechanism for post-launch self-neutralization of a spinning projectile having a fused warhead and a stab detonator. That apparatus relies on a launch-activated battery, however, and an electric detonator positioned sufficiently close to the stab detonator to initiate the stab detonator upon initiation of the electric detonator. It further includes a spin decay switch circuit operatively interconnecting a charged storage capacitor and the electric detonator upon substantial cessation of projectile spin, for delivering power sufficient to initiate the electric detonator. The apparatus includes a storage capacitor charging circuit activated by launch-induced forces. It further includes a pre-launch shorting circuit electrically connected in parallel with the electric detonator and deactivated by launch forces, and a "bleed" circuit connected in parallel with the battery activated by launch-induced forces.
There is a need, therefore, for a post-launch self-neutralization safe and arm mechanism that does not rely upon a battery that is activated by launch-induced forces, a battery-reliant electric detonator, a spin delay switch circuit, a storage capacitor, a storage capacitor charging circuit, a pre-launch shorting circuit, a bleed circuit and other such electrical components.

Mechanical self destruct for runaway escapements


A sprocket is provided having a plurality of teeth around its circumference. Adjacent teeth are separated by roots each having a root radius defined as the distance between the center of the sprocket and a point along the root closest to the sprocket center in a radial direction. In one aspect of the invention, the sprocket comprises at least two different root radii arranged in a pattern effective to redistribute tensions imparted to a chain by the sprocket at one or more predetermined sprocket orders.

Chain and sprocket systems are often used in automotive engine systems to transmit rotational forces between shafts. For example, a sprocket on a driven shaft may be connected via a chain to a sprocket on an idler shaft. In such a chain and sprocket system, rotation of the driven shaft and driven sprocket will cause the rotation of the idler shaft and idler sprocket via the chain. In an automotive engine system, sprockets on the crankshaft may be used, for example, to drive one or more cam shaft sprockets.
The chains used in chain and sprocket systems typically comprise a plurality of intermeshing link plates connected with pins or rollers. The sprockets typically comprise a circular plate having a plurality of teeth disposed around the circumference thereof. Located between adjacent teeth are roots having generally arcuate or semi-circular profiles for receiving the pins or rollers of the chain. Each root has a root radius, defined as the distance from the center of the sprocket to a point on the root closest to the sprocket center.
In a "straight" sprocket the root radii are all substantially equal. However, it has been found that as a chain rotates around a straight sprocket, audible sound frequencies creating undesirable noise are often generated as the pins or rollers connecting the links of the chain contact the sprocket teeth and impact the roots disposed between adjacent teeth of the sprockets.
The sound frequencies and volume of such noise typically varies depending on the chain and sprocket designs, chain rotational speed, and other sound or noise sources in the operating environment. In the design of chain and sprocket systems, it can be desirable to reduce the noise levels generated as the rollers of a chain engage roots of a sprocket.
"Random" sprockets have been developed to help reduce the radiated noise levels generated by the engagement of the chains with the sprockets. Random sprockets may be characterized by having a plurality of different root radii. The different root radii can be arranged in a pattern around the sprocket circumference to modulate the sound frequencies generated by the engagement of the chain rollers or pins with sprocket teeth and roots. By modulating these sound frequencies, the noise generated as the chain rotates around the sprocket may be reduced.
In addition to minimizing noise generated by engagement between a chain and sprocket, it is also desirable to reduce the tensions imparted to the chain by the sprocket. Reduced chain tensions can be advantageous because they may result in decreased wear of the chain, thus increasing the life cycle of the chain. Furthermore, reduced chain tensions may also result in less wear to the sprocket, thereby also increasing the life cycle of the sprocket.
It has been observed in chain tension measurements that certain chain tensions in a particular system may vary on a periodic or repeating basis, which often can be correlated to tension inducing events. For example, in automotive timing chain systems, it has been observed from chain tension measurements that the engagement and disengagement of each sprocket tooth and/or root with the chain pins often results in repeating tension changes. These chain tension changes may be correlated with potentially tension inducing events, such as the firing of piston cylinders, transmission engagements, etc.
A useful approach to analyzing such tension events is to observe the number of events that occur relative to a reference time period, as well as the amount of the tension change for each event. For example, in an automotive timing chain system, one may observe the number or frequency of tension changes in the chain relative to rotations of a sprocket or a crankshaft, as well as the magnitude of the tension change in the chain.
In such a system, for example, a tensioning event that occurs once per shaft or sprocket rotation may be considered a "first" order event, and an event occurring four times for each shaft or sprocket rotation may be considered a "fourth" order event. Depending on the system and the relative reference period, i.e., rotations of the crankshaft or the sprocket (or another reference), there may be multiple "orders" of events in a crankshaft or sprocket rotation in such a system originating from one or more tension sources. Similarly, a particular order of the sprocket rotation may include or reflect the cumulative effect of more than one tensioning event. As used herein, such orders of tensioning events occurring during a sprocket (or crankshaft) rotation also may be referred to as the orders of a sprocket (or crankshaft) and/or sprocket orders (or crankshaft orders).
In straight sprockets, measurable tensions typically are imparted to the chain at a sprocket order corresponding to the number of teeth on the sprocket, also known as the pitch order. Thus, in a sprocket with nineteen teeth, tensions would be imparted to the chain at the nineteenth or pitch order, i.e., nineteen times per revolution of the sprocket. Depending on the sprocket design, the order in a straight sprocket would typically occur at equal intervals relative to the sprocket rotation, with a generally equal tension change or amplitude.
Random sprockets, in contrast, typically have different tensioning characteristics when compared to straight sprockets due to the different root radii. As the chain rotates around the random sprocket, each of the different root radii typically imparts a different tensioning event to the chain. For instance, as a roller of the chain engages a root having a first root radius, the chain may be imparted with a tension different from when a roller of the chain engages a root having a second root radius larger than the first root radius. Tension changes, in addition, may also be imparted to the chain by a random sprocket due to the relative positioning of the different root radii. A roller moving between adjacent roots having the same root radii may result in different chain tension changes than a roller moving between adjacent roots having different radii.
The change in chain tensions imparted by random sprockets may be further accentuated when the sprocket has more than two different root radii. In a random sprocket having first, second, and third successively larger root radii, the tension imparted to the chain may be greater when a chain roller moves from a root having a first root radii to a root having a third root radii than when a chain roller moves from a root having a first root radii to a root having a second root radii.
Thus, random sprockets designed principally for noise reduction often cause increases in chain tensions and tension changes as compared to the maximum tensions imparted to the chain by straight sprockets. For example, a random sprocket design may reduce chain noise or chain whine by reducing the pitch order of the sprocket. However, reducing the pitch order of a sprocket may result in redistributing or concentrating the tensional forces imparted to the chain by the sprocket over the lower orders of the sprocket. This often results in increased chain tensions corresponding to the lower orders of the random sprocket.
The increased chain tensions at the lower sprocket orders frequently cause the overall maximum chain tension force exerted on the chain and sprocket to increase. As a consequence, a chain and sprocket system subjected to such tensions typically will experience greater wear and increased opportunities for failure, as well as others adverse effects, due to the concentration of the tensional forces in the lower orders.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a sprocket design and method of designing sprockets that incorporates the noise reduction properties of random sprockets without the increased maximum chain tensions associated therewith. In addition, there is a need for a sprocket design and method for designing sprockets to provide the flexibility to shift tensional forces to different sprocket (or other) orders to enhance the performance, durability, and efficiency of a chain and sprocket system or other comparable systems.


An isolator system for an attachment to an electrostatic field sprayer discharging liquids having an electrostatic potential thereon comprising a series of spaced apart flat discs that shed water in both directions, and which are made of an insulating material and mounted concentrically on the attachment. The attachment has a length that extends substantially vertically downward, and said discs are spaced apart in vertical direction. The discs are graduated in size with the smallest disc on the bottom, and any discs above the bottom disc are of larger diameter than the next adjacent lower disc.

The present invention relates to a system for electrically isolating a depending member on a field sprayer boom by providing a barrier for migration of charged particles toward a grounded potential portion of the field sprayer. In particular, the isolator is used in connection with a depending foam marker pipe at the outer ends of the boom for marking the path for travel of the sprayer.
Electrostatic field sprayers are known, and for example are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,617 to Davidson. Such electrostatic sprayers can be utilized for applying herbicides or pesticides, and aid in increasing sprayer efficiency.
Further, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/372,377, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,799 filed Jan. 13, 1995 owned by the same assignee as this application, illustrates a typical field sprayer using electrostatic principles for applying liquids. The present invention can be adapted for use on such a field sprayer.
In conduction electrostatic spraying, a very high potential liquid is sprayed from nozzles spaced along a boom, and the liquid spray drops are charged to in the range of 40,000 volts or more. The boom and the accessories are maintained at substantially ground potential, so the liquid particles are attracted to the lower voltage components. The accumulated droplets form paths for shorting out the high voltage charge.
Atmospheric conditions may also cause condensation of water or the formation of dew on the sprayer boom and other components, particularly during use in the early morning or evening. This moisture may also cause shorting out of the high voltage system.
Various types of shields have been advanced for preventing migration of electrostatically sprayed liquids to a grounded component. The problems persist particularly where a folding boom is utilized, as is the case with the large field sprayers. Inverted cup isolators that have been advanced serve as isolators in working position, but when they are on an outer end of the boom and the boom is folded back on itself, the cups open upwardly and collect water, which then serves to provide a wet path for voltage leakage as soon as the boom is returned to its usable extended position.
The foam used for foam markers is at substantially ground potential. The insulating pipes that carry the foam are connected to grounded components, so it is important to prevent any conductive paths from being formed on the pipe. The foam is generally dropped adjacent to the outer spray nozzles, so it tends to become wetted with electrostatically charged particles and these tend to migrate back to the supports for the depending pipes carrying the foam.
The one mode of failure is that the current may penetrate the material of the foam tubes and reach the foam (which is a conductor) and then reach the foam source via the foam in the remainder of the tube. This is prevented by the dielectric properties of the material used for the tube. Current may also travel along the foam tube (after it has been wetted by the above mentioned reasons) and reach the foam outlet. As soon as the current reaches the foam outlet, it will be conducted back to "ground" because of the conductive nature of the water based foam. This is prevented by the isolator discs of the present invention.

Isolator for depending components on electrostatic field sprayer boom


According to one embodiment of the invention, a ski brake is positioned on a ski, such that a ski brake device is integrated into a bottom side of a ski and comprises a squeegee cut tread with an open position and a closed position. The squeegee cut tread has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the squeegee cut tread exposes the inner surface to a snow surface in the open position when the ski bottom side is in a flexed position. The squeegee cut tread exposes the outer surface to the snow surface in the closed position when the ski bottom is in a non-flexed position.

Snow skiers expose their knees, and particularly their anterior cruciate ligament ("ACL"), to injury when they fall or place themselves in a position of imbalance during periods of uncontrolled acceleration. When a skier loses balance and falls backwards placing weight on the back of the skis, the front of the skis flex in an upward position. As the skis flex in the upward position, the skis accelerate uncontrollably thus placing greater strain and force on the skier's ACL and potentially causing injury.


Provided is a gas molecule sensor, characterized in that the sensing element is a polycrystalline tin oxide film having a thickness less than 1 μm. The sensing element is produced by electrolytic deposit of a tin film on an insulating support in an electromechanical cell, where the anode is comprised of tin and the cathode is a conductive film applied on the surface of the insulating support at one of its ends, the two electrodes being separated by an electrolyte comprised of a tin salt solution, and by passing a constant current through said cell. The deposit step is followed by an oxidizing step.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sensor for reducing gas molecules, the sensitive element of which is tin oxide.
2. Description of the Related Art
The detection and measurement of the concentration of harmful molecules in an atmosphere constitutes a very major challenge, especially because of the increase in emissions of industrial or municipal origin. It has become necessary to detect the presence of harmful molecules in ever decreasing concentrations, below the concentrations of danger to humans. The case of carbon monoxide CO, found in particular in exhaust gases and in cigarette smoke, is one example, this gas being fatal at extremely low concentrations, of the order of 1 ppm. Furthermore, these same molecules must be detected in certain industrial or technological devices such as fuel cells, in which very low concentrations cause, for example, catalysts to be poisoned. The sensitivity threshold and the speed of detection are the two important parameters of a sensor of this type.
It is known to use tin oxide sensors to detect reducing gas molecules. The conductivity of tin oxide, which is an intrinsic semiconductor, varies according to the content of reducing molecules in the atmosphere. It is accepted that, in a nonreducing atmosphere, oxygen is adsorbed at the grain boundaries and partially repels the grain boundary electronic states, making the material highly resistive. In the presence of reducing molecules, the oxygen concentration at the grain boundaries decreases, thus releasing the electronic states near the surface of the grains, on either side of the actual contact surface. The existence of these electronic states allows conduction of electrons across the grain boundaries. It is thus apparent that the sensitivity of the sensors having tin oxide as sensitive element increases when the oxide grain size decreases, that is to say when the specific surface area increases and when the quantum effect of repelling the electronic states toward the interior of the grain is more effective. However, reducing the grain size in general causes a reduction in the physical connectivity between the grains, to the detriment of the conductivity.
Such sensors whose sensitive element is a tin oxide are described, for example in the special issue "Gas-sensing Materials" of Materials Research Society Bulletin, published in June 1998. They comprise a polycrystalline tin oxide layer on a support. In commercialized devices, tin oxide grain size is in general of the order of 1 μm. Also known are sensors containing polycrystalline tin oxide as active material in the form of grains having a size of less than 20 nm. These are essentially laboratory devices, produced by preparing the oxide from a metal obtained by sputtering, by laser ablation, by sol-gel processes, by precipitation or by other chemical synthesis processes. When the oxide is obtained by a sol-gel process or by simple precipitation, it contains a solvent that has to be removed. In most cases, the oxide obtained is in the form of a powder of separate grains, which then has to be sintered and fired so that it can be used for a sensor, and the physical connectivity of the grains is not guaranteed. Furthermore, sintering results in a three-dimensional material in the form of wafers that contain a large number of grains through the thickness. The response time of a sensor containing such an oxide will be longer the thicker the wafers, because of the time needed for the gas molecules to be detected to diffuse into the core of the active material of the sensor. Another drawback with sintering lies in the fact that it does not allow a sensor to be formed. The powders may be formed by processes consisting in incorporating the grains in an ink and then tracing the sensor using the techniques used in ink-jet printers. However, this technique gives films in which the grains are not connected on a macroscopic scale in relation to their size and it introduces solvents into the grains.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


The present invention provides compositions and methods for providing factor replacement therapy. In particular, the present invention provides replacement therapy for subjects suffering from cystinosis.

Cystinosis has been known since the first decade of the last century. Small, pale children who died of wasting and whose organs were shown to be riddled with microscopic crystals were described by Abderhalden in 1903. He termed the condition "Familiare Cystindiathese" (Thoene. Mol Genet Metab. 2007, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). The disease has been conflated with the unrelated condition cystinuria, which is an extracellular disease of renal transport which results in excess cystine urinary excretion, leading to cystine stones in the urinary tract (Palacin et al., eds. The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease, 8th edition, McGraw Hill, 4909-4932, 2001, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety), while cystinosis is an intracellular condition that results from defective lysosomal cystine transport, leading to lysosomal cystine storage. The lysosomal cystine transporter, cystinosin, is encoded by CTNS, located at 17p13.3, and functions to move cystine from the lysosomal interior to the cytosol, where it can be reused for GSH and protein synthesis. Many mutations have been described at this locus, however a large 57 kb deletion accounts for about half the cases descended from west European parents. The clinical phenotype in nephropathic cystinosis is relatively unique: renal Fanconi syndrome with salt, water, glucose, amino acid and other small molecule losses; crystalline keratopathy and salt and pepper retinopathy; short stature and failure to thrive; photophobia; and ultimately renal death by age 10 years. Other elements include hypothyroidism, and later in life, muscle weakness, esophageal dysmotility, and diabetes. It produces the renal Fanconi syndrome with salt, water and other small molecule wasting, deficient bone mineralization, short stature, failure to thrive, and later in life, hypothyroidism, muscle wasting and weakness, esophageal dysmotility, pancreatic deficiency, and pulmonary involvement. It is treated symptomatically with salt and water replacement, and specifically, with cysteamine, which causes depletion of the stored lysosomal cystine which is the biochemical hallmark of the condition and which results from mutations in the lysosomal cystine transporter, cystinosin. Therapy of cystinosis has taken several forms, although none is currently satisfactory. Initially recognition of the peril these children are in from the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance led to symptomatic water and electrolyte replacement therapy. Subsequently, chronic dialysis and then renal transplantation were used to compensate for the renal failure. Specific therapy for cystinosis was achieved in 1994 when the FDA approved cysteamine bitartrate as Cystagon for the treatment of cystinosis. This drug causes depletion of cystine from cystinotic lysosomes by forming a mixed disulfide with cystine which resembles lysine and which can thus exit lysosomes on the intact lysine transporter. Unfortunately, the structure of cysteamine includes a free thiol group, thus the drug has the odor and taste of rotten eggs, a feature of concern both to parents administering the treatment to children, and to patients themselves who may find the offensive odor to be socially debilitating. Although cysteamine has been FDA approved since 1994, there are problems with this therapy: 1) It does not prevent renal failure, but merely delays the onset, for most patients 2) its repugnant thiol odor and taste causes both gastrointestinal and compliance problems and social concerns in children as they reach adolescence. The latter issue causes some patients to forgo or discontinue treatment, with the expected concomitant health consequences resulting therefrom. For these reasons, a superior form of treatment that averts renal failure indefinitely, and which lacks the thiol odor and taste of cysteamine would be highly desirable.
Gene therapy has been proposed to treat a variety of conditions, including inborn errors of metabolism, however serious reactions to AV and AAV vectors has lead to questioning in the field as whether these agents can be safely employed in patients. Gene therapy, long the hope of patients with many diseases, both genetic and otherwise, has continuing issues of safety and efficacy. The safety concerns relate to integration of the trans genes in locations that disrupt the function of critical tumor supressors, or other vital sequences. Other side effects include serious or fatal allergic reactions to the large number of virions which must be administered in the quest for stable gene expression that will have a salutary impact on phenotype. A death was reported in July, 2007 in an arthritis patient receiving gene therapy using an AAV vector, which was hoped to be safer than the AV vector involved in the Geissinger death in 1999.

Extracellular vesicles comprising recombinant lysosomal transmembrane protein

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


In an access control system, accesses are controlled which are received from not only the same communication network, but also either one or a plurality of other communication networks. In this access control system, a channel processor of a storage control system accepts a log-in request containing a target IP address from a target host apparatus, and compares this target IP address with the own IP address stored in an iSCSI port. Based upon a comparison result, the channel processor judges a network relative logical distance of a target network with respect to a communication network containing the storage control system as to the target network containing a target host apparatus. Then, the channel processor permits an access of a permission access type corresponding to the judged network relative logical distance with respect to a target upper grade apparatus.

The present invention is related to a technique for controlling an access which is received via a communication network from an external apparatus, concretely speaking, for instance, directed to a storage control apparatus for controlling an access in accordance with the iSCSI protocol, received via the communication network.
For instance, such a fibre channel connection storage control apparatus has already been known from, for example, JP-A-10-333839, and this fibre channel connection storage control apparatus controls accesses received form a plurality of upper grade apparatus via a fibre channel.
On the other hand, in IP-SAN (Internet Protocol-Storage Area Network), it is known that communication operations are carried out based upon such a communication protocol called as "iSCSI (symbol "SCSI" is abbreviated as "Small Computer System Interface)". The communication techniques operated based upon the iSCSI protocol own one major aspect, namely, how to prevent illegal accesses in order to improve security.
However, the access control technique made based upon the fibre channel, as described in above-described JP-A-10-333839, cannot be merely applied to the technique used to control the accesses based upon the iSCSI protocol. This reason is given as follows: That is, an access which is received via a fibre channel by a storage control apparatus must be equal to such an access which is issued from an upper grade apparatus connected to the same communication network. However, the first-mentioned access is not such an access which is issued from an undefined node connected to another communication network as explained in the access made based upon the iSCSI protocol. Concretely speaking, in accordance with the iSCSI protocol, there are some cases that, for instance, a storage control apparatus connected to a certain LAN (Local Area Network) may accept an access issued from an undefined information processing terminal via both another LAN and the Internet to which the last-mentioned LAN is connected.
As previously explained, in the communication technique established based upon the iSCSI protocol, one major aspect thereof is conceivable. That is, high security may be provided by executing such a way that how the access control operation is carried out. Also, this sort of major aspect may exist in such a system that accesses are accepted via either one or a plurality of other communication networks, but not via the same communication network, while this major aspect is not limited only to the above-explained iSCSI protocol.

Access control apparatus and access control method


A toner density controlling apparatus adapted to control toner density by sensing a T/D level in a developer vessel by using a toner sensor performs a toner density controlling operation on the basis of an output of the toner sensor while maintaining an input control voltage to be applied to the toner sensor at a predetermined level in a definite control range where the toner sensor output decreases proportionally to the T/D level in a linear relation. Conversely, in an indefinite control range where the relationship between the toner sensor output and the T/D level is nonlinear, the input control voltage to be applied to the toner sensor is variably controlled so that the toner sensor output can be adjusted to an upper or lower limit level of the definite control range, and the toner density controlling operation is performed on the basis of the input control voltage. With such an arrangement, even if the definite control range where the toner sensor output decreases proportionally to the T/D level in a linear relation is narrow, the toner density controlling operation can be performed on the basis of the input control voltage in the other control ranges. Therefore, even if an image forming apparatus provided with such a toner density controlling apparatus is used in an extensively varied environment, the toner density can properly be controlled by using a single toner sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner density controlling method and apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer. More particularly, the invention relates to a toner density controlling apparatus which uses a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier.
2. Description of Related Art
In a copying machine, for example, image formation is achieved by exposing a uniformly charged photoreceptor surface to light for formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor surface, then developing the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image with toner, and transferring the toner image onto a sheet.
The development of the electrostatic latent image with the toner is achieved by allowing the toner to electrostatically adhere onto the photoreceptor surface by means of a developer unit. As the development operation is repeatedly performed by the developer unit, the amount of the toner retained in a developer vessel of the developer unit is reduced. Where a two-component developer is used, a carrier and a toner are retained in the developer vessel. In such a case, the amount of the toner is reduced during the repeated development operation, while the amount of the carrier is kept constant. Therefore, a T/D level (%) (wherein T is the amount of the toner and D is the amount of the developer (the total amount of the toner and the carrier)) indicative of the proportion of the toner to the developer is changed, resulting in a change in the image density.
To cope with this, it is a conventional practice to determine the change in the T/D level by sensing the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developer vessel by means of a toner sensor. The sensing of the magnetic permeability of the developer is based on the ground that the two-component developer contains a magnetic substance as the carrier and the change in the magnetic permeability is inversely proportional to the amount of the toner with the amount of the carrier kept constant.
Conventionally, the density of the toner in the developer vessel is kept constant by driving a toner feed motor to supply the toner from a hopper to the developer vessel in such a manner that the T/D level is kept constant. More specifically, a target output level of the toner sensor is preliminarily determined such that a desired T/D level can be maintained, and the operation of the toner feed motor is controlled so that the actual output voltage of the toner sensor reaches the target output level.
However, the output of the toner sensor changes with the change in the absolute humidity. Further, the relationship between the output voltage of the toner sensor and the T/D level varies with the input control voltage to be applied to the toner sensor. In addition, the output of the toner sensor decreases proportionally to the T/D level in a definitely linear relation only in a relatively limited range.
Therefore, the output of the toner sensor does not always decrease proportionally to the T/D level under any possible environmental conditions where the copying machine is used. Depending on the use environment of the copying machine, the relationship between the output of the toner sensor and the T/D level may involve uncertainty, so that the image density cannot properly be controlled.
Alternatively, a plurality of toner sensors may be employed, which are switched to cover extensive environmental conditions for correct determination of the T/D level. In such a case, however, the number of toner sensors is increased, so that the control operation of the toner sensors is complicated and the cost of the apparatus is increased.

Toner density controlling method and apparatus