The reconstruction region of a hologram reconstructed image is segmented. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is carried out after multiplying the hologram measurement data V(R) by a weighting function. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is carried out after multiplying the antenna sensitivity inverse matrix A.sup.-1 (R'.sub.a,b) for each segment by inverse propagation function r'.sub.a,b exp(j2.pi.r'.sub.a,b /.lambda.) to find B.sup.-1.sub.a,b (s, t), and then multiplying this by a weighting function. After the two FFT outputs are multiplied by each other, inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is carried out. Compensation is performed for the weighting function and the output is made the segment reconstructed image. In addition, radio hologram observation is carried out at two scan surfaces, a horizontal polarization antenna and a vertical polarization antenna are placed at each scan surface, and the voltage vector distribution received by the antennas is stored. The sizes of the error of the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the vertical polarization reception antenna and the error of the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the horizontal polarization reception antenna are found, and the received voltage vectors and reception antenna sensitivity inverse matrices are selectively used to find and visualize the three wavesource current vector components.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a wavesource image visualization method based on hologram measurement data obtained by radio wave hologram observation.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Radiowave visualization methods that employ wave interference include both active visualizing techniques such as in synthetic aperture radar, snow radar, and underground radar as well as passive visualizing methods such as radioastronomy and radiometry [(1) Masaru Matsuo, Kuniyoshi Yamane: Radar Holography, Electronic Communication Society, Ed., 1980. (2) Yoshinao Aoki: Wave Signal Processing, Morikita Shuppan, 1986.]. Such methods have already been proposed for applications in probing wavesources of unwanted radiowave emission [(3) Jun'lichi Kikuchi, Motoyuki Sato, Yoji Nagasawa, Risaburo Sato; A Proposal for Searching the Electromagnetic Wave Sources by Using a Synthetic Aperture Technique, IECE transactions on B, Vol. J68-B, No. 10, pp. 1194-1201, October 1985.]. Spectral high-resolution algorithms by means of MLM (Maximum Likelihood Method), MEM (Maximum Entropy Method), and MUSIC (MUltiple SIgnal Classification) [(4) S. Kesler, Ed.: Modem Spectrum Analysis II, IEEE Press, 1986)] or improved ESPRIT (Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques) [(5) R. Roy and T. Kailath: ESPRIT-Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques, IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing. Vol. ASSP-37, No. 7, pp. 984-995, July 1989.] have also been proposed for realizing higher resolutions in the probing of a distant wavesource. In addition, examples of the application of MEM algorithms to the probing of a nearby wavesource have also been reported [(2) Yoshinao Aoki: Wave Signal Processing, Morikita Shuppan, 1986. (6) Jun'ichi Kikuchi, Yoji Nagasawa: Search for Electromagnetic Wave Sources by Using the Maximum Entropy Method, IECE Transactions on B, Vol. J69-B, No. 9, pp. 949-957, September 1986.].
MLM, MUSIC, and ESPRIT, however, are limited to the estimation of point sources, and in MEM, either a point wavesource reconstruction mode or a wavesource reconstruction mode having a normal distribution spread can be selected in accordance with the number of prediction error filter terms.
When dealing with unwanted emission from an actual device, however, the wavesource is rarely distributed as a limited number of point-like sources and is more likely to be an expansive planar wavesource. In other words, in visualizing the wavesource distribution of an unclear configuration, the above-mentioned algorithms are considered inappropriate. Visualization that takes unwanted emission as its object should therefore take the wavesource distribution as a continuous wavesource distribution rather than as an assemblage of a limited number of point wavesources. The inventors of the present invention have also proposed an algorithm SPIM (Spectrum Phase Interpolation Method) and its application for reconstructing a correct wavesource image of a configuration in which point wavesources coexist with a wavesource that spreads over an area [(7) Hitoshi Kitayoshi: High Resolution Technique for Short Time Frequency Spectrum Analysis, IEICE Transactions on A, Vol. J76-A, No. 1, pp. 78-81, January 1993; (8) Hitoshi Kitayoshi: High Resolution Technique for 2-D Complex Spectrum Analysis, IEICE Transactions on A, Vol. J76-A, No. 4, pp. 687-689, April 1993].
Nevertheless, this method also requires the setting of a threshold value for estimating a point wavesource and is therefore inadequate for the visualization of unwanted emission. An example has been reported in which, as a visualization technique for dealing with a continuous wavesource distribution, the relation between the observed field and a wavesource of an arbitrary shape is represented as a Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction integral [(9) Yoshinao Aoki, Shigeki Ishizuka: Numerical Two-Dimensional Fresnel Transform Methods, IECE Transactions on B, Vol. J57-B, No. 8, pp. 511-518, August 1974]. This method, however, imposes a limit on the region that can be visualized because it takes a Fresnel region as its object. This method further suffers from the drawback of bad resolution at the edges of the visualized range because a quasi-Fourier transform is used and the reconstruction results become wave space.
Finally, research into field measurement that takes into consideration the directivity of the antenna includes field measurement in the vicinity of the antenna [(10) A.D. Yaghjian: An Overview of Near-Field Antenna Measurements, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-34, No. 1, pp. 30-45, January 1986; and (11) Tasuku Teshirogi, Near-Field Antenna Measurement, IECE Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 10, pp. 1145-1153, October 1979.]. In these cases, however, field distribution is measured using a sufficiently large measurement surface (D.times.D) with respect to the antenna (L.times.L), which is the object of observation, under conditions in which L<D. The probe antenna used in measurement, considered in terms of its characteristics, is a device for investigating far-field, and the method therefore cannot be used unaltered under conditions in which L>D.
Next will be explained a radio hologram numerical reconstruction method of the prior art that does not employ Fresnel approximation or Fraunhofer approximation.
A surface current source J(R') exists at wavesource point x', y', z' on the orthogonal coordinates shown in the hologram observation model of FIG. 1, and the field of observation point x, y; z=0 thereby created is E(R). In addition, the range of distribution of wavesource J(R') is a finite two-dimensional plane at z=z' where:
-L/2.ltoreq.x'.ltoreq.L/2 and -L/2.ltoreq.y'.ltoreq.L/2; PA1 -D/2.ltoreq.x D/2 and -D/2.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.D/2. PA1 a step of segmenting the reconstruction region of a hologram reconstructed image by the size of the hologram measurement surface; PA1 a step of executing a first FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) after multiplying hologram measurement data by a weighting function; PA1 a step of executing a second FFT after giving the reconstruction focal distance and a numeral pair designating a segment of a reconstructed image, and multiplying by a weighting function a value obtained by multiplying an antenna sensitivity inverse matrix for each segment by an inverse propagation function; PA1 a step of executing IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) after multiplying the output of the first FFT by the second FFT; PA1 a step of compensating, in segment units, the weighting function used in multiplying the hologram measurement data; PA1 a step of compensating, in units of the reconstruction region, the weighting function used in multiplying the value obtained by multiplying the antenna sensitivity inverse matrix for each segment by the inverse propagation function; PA1 a step of displaying the output of this step at a position that designates the segment and making the output of that step a segment reconstructed image; and PA1 performing all of these operations for all segments, and producing a hologram reconstructed image. PA1 a step of carrying out radio hologram observation on two scan surfaces, a first scan surface and a second scan surface, placing at least two probe antennas, a horizontal polarization antenna and a vertical polarization antenna, on each scan surface, and recording the voltage vector distribution received by the antennas; PA1 a step of calculating the total directional characteristics of the probe antennas using a moment method, and finding the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the horizontal polarization reception antenna and the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the vertical polarization reception antenna due to wavesource current vectors; and PA1 a step of comparing the determinants of the reception antenna sensitivity matrices, finding the magnitude of error of the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the vertical polarization reception antenna and error of the reception antenna sensitivity matrix of the horizontal polarization reception antenna, and selectively using received voltage vectors and reception antenna sensitivity inverse matrices to find and visualize three wavesource current vector components.
and the range of observation of E(R) is also a finite two-dimensional plane at z=0 where:
Here, using a dyadic Green's function G in three-dimensional free space, E(R) can be represented by: ##EQU1##
However, if the effective vector length of an antenna used for observing field vector E is set at l.sub.1 and the wavelength is .lambda., the voltage V for receiving in the region r=.vertline.R-R'.vertline.>>.lambda. is: EQU V=g l.sub.1 .multidot.E (2)
Here, g is a constant. In other words, l.sub.1 can be seen as a function indicating directivity and sensitivity that does not depend on distance r. From equations (1) and (2), the output voltage from an antenna positioned at observation point R can be given by: ##EQU2##
Equation (3) gives reception voltage by any antenna with respect to any surface current distribution. If the antenna scan system is considered in actual hologram measurement, however, an antenna that receives the field in the x and y directions can be easily realized, but accurate reception of the field in the z direction is extremely difficult. Despite the presence of a current vector of the z component on the surface of the device which is the object of measurement, almost nothing is received in the hologram measurement plane.
The discussion hereinbelow is limited to a case in which the plane current has only a horizontal component and a vertical component, and reception is by antennas of horizontal polarization and vertical polarization.
Antennas of horizontal polarization and vertical polarization are placed in the hologram measurement plane, and the voltage vectors thereby received are: ##EQU3##
Here, V.sub.h and V.sub.v are the received voltages of the horizontal polarization and vertical polarization antennas, and l.sup.h.sub.1 and l.sup.v.sub.1 are the effective vector lengths of these antennas. The device employs two reception antennas of the same form, the main polarization sensitivity is A.theta., and the cross polarization sensitivity is A.phi.. In addition, the zenith angle and azimuth angle of point R' are .theta..sub.h and .phi..sub.h as seen from horizontal polarization reception antenna positioned at point R, and the zenith angle and azimuth angle of point R' are .theta..sub.v and .phi..sub.v as seen from the vertical polarization reception antenna. Here, azimuth angles .phi..sub.h and .phi..sub.v represent angles measured with respect to the direction of the x axis and y axis, respectively.
If the portion included on the right side of equation (3) that represents the reception sensitivity due to the point current source is represented as: ##EQU4## V.sub.h and V.sub.v can be found from the following equation, based on equations (3) and (4): ##EQU5##
On the other hand, equations (5) and (6) produce: EQU J(R')=A.sup.-1 (R-R').multidot.V(R).multidot.exp(j2.pi.r/.lambda.).multidot.rdxdy(7)
According to equation (4), the received voltage vectors are: ##EQU6##
And from equation (7), only two wavesource current vector components are visualized for these voltage vectors: ##EQU7##
The above-described prior art has the following problems:
Based on equation (6), V(R) has NxN items of data and visualized point of J(R') has MxM items, thereby requiring computation on the order of N.sup.2 .times.M.sup.2 and further requiring a considerable amount of time to obtain the visualization results.
Wavesource current vector cannot be accurately measured because, based on equation (9), no consideration is given to the directivity corresponding to the J.sub.z component of a probe antenna used in the measurement of V(R). In addition, only two components of the wavesource current vectors can be visualized.

Wavesource image visualization method using a partial division fast fourier transform


A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an estimate of hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a model predictive control state and a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control state and the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to rotating machinery and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for model predictive control for hybrid electric propulsion.
A hybrid electric propulsion system for an aircraft can include a gas turbine engine and at least one electric motor that supplements performance of the gas turbine engine. Gas turbine engines and electric motors typically have separate control laws to manage gas turbine power and electric power. Separate control laws can increase challenges in effectively managing events, such as rapid transients, thermal-mechanical stress, component lifespan, and/or other control goals.

Adaptive model predictive control for hybrid electric propulsion


Herein are spatially scalable techniques for anisotropic compression of shared entropy between alternate representations of same data. In an embodiment, a computer compresses an uncompressed independent column into a compressed independent column. Based on the compressed independent column, an uncompressed dependent column is compressed into a compressed dependent column. The compressed independent column and the compressed dependent column are stored in a same file. In an embodiment, a computer stores, in metadata, an encrypted private key for decrypting an encrypted column. The encrypted column and the metadata are stored in a file. A request to read the encrypted column is received. Based on a public key and the file, the encrypted private key is decrypted into a decrypted private key. The public key is contained in the request and/or the file. The request is executed by decrypting, based on the decrypted private key and the file, the encrypted column.

Parquet is a file format used in the industry for columnar persistence. However, it only stores one (i.e. homogeneous) representation per column in a standardized Parquet representation: the column data type. These include int32, int64, float, double, and int96 timestamps, which are standardized by the Apache Parquet Open Source project.
As a high performance file format, Parquet is popular in the Hadoop ecosystem. It delivers high performance for database queries due to a Columnar data layout, and due to data being already parsed and converted from source text into binary representations. A conversion via extract, transform, and load (ETL) tooling is necessary for Parquet to deliver its IO Avoidance performance gains. In other words, Parquet has various limitations precisely because it is Columnar and post-ETL. Most importantly, Parquet only supports Schema-On-Write use cases, where the schema is known and supplied during ingest. In cases where the query schema or parse grammar has evolved since the original ingest was completed, the original ingest is unusable (at least not directly usable).
The ETL process has extracted and transformed the original text data into canonicalized binary data. Hence a Parquet file does not contain the original text, and cannot be used for Schema-on-Read applications. Also, a Parquet file cannot be "uncompressed" back to the original source, again since the ETL conversion process, particularly the Transform step, is generally lossy.
Parquet does not support encryption of data, so it is an insecure file format. Likewise, Parquet does not have any fine-grained security and privacy features.

Anisotropic compression as applied to columnar storage formats


An image processing apparatus constructed in a manner such that an image signal is inputted, the inputted image signal is clamped to a predetermined reference voltage in a clamp circuit, an optical black level of the clamped image signal is detected by a detection circuit, the detected optical black level and a predetermined black level are compared and a correction amount is calculated in an operation circuit, and the optical black level is corrected by operating the correction amount obtained by the operation circuit for the clamped image signal in a correction circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus of a VTR of a camera integrated type or the like.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a conventional image pickup apparatus.
In the circuit construction shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup element such as a CCD or the like for photoelectrically converting an image and outputting an image signal; 2 a circuit constructed by a double correlation sampling circuit for reducing noises included in the image signal outputted from the image pickup element 1 and an AGC circuit for adjusting a gain of the image signal (hereinbelow, the circuit 2 is referred to as an AGC circuit); 4 an A/D converter for converting the image signal outputted from a clamp circuit 3, which will be explained hereinlater, to a digital signal of eight or ten bits; 5 a signal processing circuit for performing a digital signal process to a digital image signal outputted from the A/D converter 4; 7 a clamp voltage generation circuit for integrating the image signal corresponding to an optical black portion from the image pickup element 1, namely, an optical black level (hereinbelow, referred to as an OB level) of a Y signal every horizontal line and for generating a clamp control voltage on the basis of the integration value; 6 a clamp pulse generation circuit for generating a timing pulse when clamping by a voltage generated by the clamp voltage generation circuit 7; and 3 the clamp circuit for setting a level of the image signal outputted from the AGC circuit 2 to the voltage generated by the clamp voltage generation circuit 7 by the timing pulse generated from the clamp pulse generation circuit 6 (hereinbelow, such a level setting is referred to as clamping).
The specific operation of the conventional image pickup apparatus with such a construction will now be described by also referring to a timing chart of the clamp pulse in FIG. 2.
In the circuit construction of FIG. 1, the image signal outputted from the image pickup element 1 is inputted to the AGC circuit 2 and is amplified to a predetermined signal level. The image signal outputted from the AGC circuit 2 is coupled by a capacitor 13 in an AC manner and is inputted to the clamp circuit 3. The image signal inputted to the clamp circuit 3 is clamped to the clamp voltage generated and outputted by the clamp voltage generation circuit 7 by the clamp pulse (refer to FIG. 2) outputted from the clamp pulse generation circuit 6 in the clamp circuit 3.
The clamped image signal is inputted to the A/D converter 4 and is converted to the digital signal. After that, signal is subjected to a digital signal process by the signal processing circuit 5. The processed signal is recorded by a D-VTR 14 and is also displayed on a monitor 15. The digital signal converted by the A/D converter 4 is also inputted to the clamp voltage generation circuit 7. In the clamp voltage generation circuit 7, the optical black level (OB level) of the Y signal corresponding to an optical black (hereinbelow, referred to as an OB) of the image pickup element 1 is integrated every horizontal line or at preset intervals, thereby generating a clamp voltage such that the integration value is equal to a predetermined value.
The clamp voltage which is generated from the clamp voltage generation circuit 7 constructs a closed loop among the clamp circuit 3, A/D converter 4, and clamp voltage generation circuit 7, so that a feedback is performed so as to hold the OB level of the signal which is inputted to the signal processing circuit 5 to be constant.
The conventional image pickup apparatus performs the clamping of the image signal by the above-mentioned construction.
In the conventional image pickup apparatus, however, as shown in explanatory diagrams with respect to a DC offset amount between the DC voltage and the OB level in a black period shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a DC offset exists between the DC voltage (1) in the black period and the OB level (2) of the image signal. Since the DC offset amount (3) [(3)=(2)-(1)] changes depending on the gain of the AGC, a tracing operation of the feedback is disturbed by a time constant when obtaining the OB integration value, so that the clamping operation is not correctly executed.
There is, consequently, a problem such that the OB level of the image signal fluctuates when the signal process is performed, so that the stable image signal cannot be obtained.

Correcting an optical black level by feeding forward a calculated correction amount


Esterification and transesterification of fats and oils is conducted using one or more heterogeneous solid catalysts in the presence of an alcohol and a cosolvent. In one example, esterification of free fatty acids in fats and oils feedstock is conducted by contacting the feedstock with a solid catalyst having acidic groups. Transesterification of triglycerides in the feedstock is conducted by contacting the feedstock with a solid catalyst having basic groups. Single train continuous plant designs are described for near complete conversion of fats and oils by sequentially contacting the feedstock with heterogeneous acidic solid catalyst and basic solid catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods and systems for esterification and transesterification of fats and oils.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fats and oils consist mainly of triglycerides and free fatty acids in various proportions. Subjecting these fats and oils to esterification and/or transesterification reactions yield a mixture of esters and glycerol as the primary reaction products. The esters produced can be used as a biodiesel fuel or as components in other useful industrial and consumer products.
Many procedures currently used to convert fats and oils to esters involve mixing the fats or oils with an alcohol (such as methanol), miscible catalysts, and sometimes a co-solvent. The use of a co-solvent promotes the formation of single phase, preventing the separation of the alcohol and the fats or oils. Typically, an acidic miscible homogenous catalyst such as sulphuric acid dissolved in the alcohol is used to esterify free fatty acids, while a basic miscible homogenous catalyst such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide is used the transesterify the triglycerides. These catalysts are typically applied sequentially in a two-stage process. Heterogeneous catalysts have also been used for esterification and transesterification reactions using an oil/fat and an alcohol, but the oil and alcohol phase separation that occurs significantly impedes the reaction rate, thus resulting in long residence times lasting up to several hours and poor product yield.

Systems and methods for esterification and transesterification of fats and oils


A method of producing a hard magnetic alloy compact at low cost, in which an alloy that contains not less than 50% by weight of an amorphous phase and exhibits hard magnetism in a crystallized state is solidified and molded at around its crystallization temperature under applied pressure by utilizing the softening phenomenon occurring during a crystallization process. The resulting compact has high hard magnetic characteristics and can be applied as permanent magnet members such as in motors, actuators, and speakers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hard magnetic alloy compact and a method of producing such compact, which compact is excellent in magnetic characteristics so that it is applicable to motors, actuators, speakers, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, sintered Fe--Nd--B magnets, quenched Fe--Nd--B magnets, and the like are known as magnetic materials superior to ferrite magnets. In addition, new types of alloy magnets such as Fe--Sm--N magnets have been investigated for achieving more superior characteristics.
However, production costs of these magnetic materials are higher than that of the ferrite magnets, since they must contain 10 atomic % of Nd or 8 atomic % of Sm, in other words, large quantities of expensive rare earth elements are necessary.
Meanwhile, although the production cost of ferrite magnets is low, they have insufficient magnetic characteristics.
Therefore, a low-cost magnetic material having superior hard magnetic characteristics to those of ferrite magnets is in demand.
In general, to form a magnetic material powder into a certain shape, the powder is mixed with a binder such as rubber or plastic and subjected to compression molding or injection molding. Magnets produced by such methods are known as bond magnets and are widely used in electronic parts and the like because the magnets can be molded into various shapes. However, the magnetic characteristics of such bond magnets are disadvantageously lower than those of sintered magnets and the like, since the relative density of magnetic material in the magnet is reduced by the existence of binders.

Hard magnetic alloy compact and method of producing the same

11-806 Kawauchijutaku, 35 Motohasekura, Kawauchi


Methods, systems, and interfaces are provided for enabling a user to adjust confidence rankings of predictions of outcomes of fantasy sports games. The methods include causing display in a graphical user interface of an ordered list of at least two confidence score indicators, receiving selection of a first confidence score indicator and a second confidence score indicator selected from a first position and a second position, respectively, in the ordered list, moving the first confidence score indicator to the second position, moving the second confidence score indicator by at least one rank in the direction toward the first position to a third position, wherein the third position is adjacent to the second position, and moving one or more confidence score indicators located between the first position and the second position toward the first position, wherein the one or more confidence score indicators include a third confidence score indicator that moves from a position adjacent the first position to the first position.

1. Field
The present application relates generally to online fantasy sports games, and more particularly to assigning confidence values to predicted outcomes in online fantasy sports games.
2. Related Art
User interfaces for assigning confidence weights to predicted outcomes in fantasy sports games are known in the art. For example, in existing College Bowl "Pick 'Em" games, users predict which team will win an upcoming sports game, and users also specify their level of confidence in the prediction. A user specifies the confidence by assigning a weight value to a team in each upcoming game, where the weight value represents the user's confidence that the team will win the game. For example, a user may assign a weight value of 100 to indicate high confidence that the team will win the game, or a weight value of 1 to indicate low confidence. In that example, the predicted outcome is that a particular team will win a particular real-life college football game. Existing user interfaces for assigning these weight values are cumbersome, involve multiple user interface elements, leave multiple steps of the task to the user, and allow users to create inconsistent configurations that violate game rules. For example, existing interfaces may allow a user to assign the same confidence value to multiple teams although the game rules require a different confidence value for each team.
In existing confidence score games, such as the College Bowl Pick 'Em game, a list of match ups, e.g., games, is presented to the user. The user chooses a predicted winner for each match up, then assigns confidence points to each predicted winner. As introduced above, confidence points correspond to weights that range from low values to high values, where a higher value, e.g., 100 on a scale of 1 to 100, represents a high confidence and means that the user thinks the outcome is likely to occur, while a lower value, e.g., 1 on a scale of 1 to 100, represents a low confidence, and means that the user thinks the outcome is unlikely to occur. The user assigns a different confidence point value to each of one or more upcoming match ups. The user assigns the highest confidence point value to the match up (i.e., predicted outcome) for which the user is most confident in his or her prediction, the second highest confidence value to the match up for which the user is second most confident, and so on, with the lowest confidence point value being assigned to the match up for which the user is least confident.
Fantasy sports games are typically based on real-life sports games, such as football, baseball, hockey, and the like. However, the user's action of assigning confidence scores to outcomes (e.g., game results) may itself be a game, along with the selection of winners based upon the results of the subject games, e.g., as in the College Bowl Pick 'Em game. The assignment of confidence values may also be related to or part of a larger fantasy sports game in which the user performs other actions, such as selecting real-life players for fantasy sports teams.


To provide an adequate biasing load to an endless transmission belt by biasing forces of a plurality of springs with different biasing forces and oil pressure biasing force to permit an easy adjustment. In a structure which includes an almost cylindrical plunger, a tensioner body into which the plunger is fitted, high pressure oil chambers are formed by the tensioner body and the plunger and supplied with oil pressure. Two tensioner springs, a rigid spring and a soft spring are supported by the tensioner body and are arranged in series for biasing the plunger. The plunger in its fully stretched state is supported by the serially arranged rigid and soft tensioner springs. In a condition when the plunger is pushed back from this fully stretched state by a prescribed amount or further, the plunger is supported by the rigid tensioner spring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic tensioner lifter which applies tension to an endless transmission belt such as a chain or belt used in the transmission mechanism of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Background Art
Conventionally, in an internal combustion engine, a hydraulic tensioner lifter has been used in order to apply tension to an endless transmission belt used in the transmission mechanism, such as a chain. This hydraulic tensioner lifter uses a method which pushes a plunger by means of tensioner spring and oil pressure, where as the plunger stretches, a stretched lifter gives the chain a prescribed tension to suppress oscillation of the chain and ensure stable chain drive. See, for example, JP-A No. 287092/2003 Pages 6-7 and FIG. 2.
The hydraulic tensioner lifter as described in JP-A No. 287092/2003 includes a tensioner lifter body, a hole made in the lifter body, a plunger which is slidably fitted in the hole for forming an oil chamber in the hole of the lifter body and a tensioner spring which biases the plunger in a way to push it out of the hole, where the tensioner spring is located between the bottom of the hole and a plunger adjacent to the oil chamber side end face of an orifice member and as the plunger is pushed out by this tensioner spring and oil pressure fed into the oil chamber, it applies tension to the chain of the internal combustion engine.
In the above hydraulic tensioner lifter, while the internal combustion engine is not working, the hydraulic pump also stops working and the oil in the oil circuit of the hydraulic tensioner lifter falls down by the pull of gravity, causing air to enter the oil circuit of the hydraulic tensioner lifter. Therefore, when the engine is started, it takes some time to remove the air from the oil circuit of the hydraulic tensioner lifter and fill the oil circuit with oil.
Before the oil circuit of the hydraulic tensioner lifter is filled with oil, the endless transmission belt turns with the operation of the internal combustion engine and thus a pushing force is irregularly applied to the plunger of the hydraulic tensioner lifter. Consequently, the plunger is deeply pushed inward by a large pushing force and the plunger base end touches the tensioner body. Also, at the time of start, noise may be generated during transition of the chain from a loose state to a tense state.
If the spring constant of the tensioner spring is increased in order to avoid this, the spring force of the tensioner spring would rapidly grow with an increase in the plunging amount of the plunger, which would cause an excessive force to be applied to the endless transmission belt and thus resulting in an excessive tension on the endless transmission belt.


Embodiments of a heat-transfer mechanism are described. This heat-transfer mechanism includes a first heatpipe having a first end and a second end, and a second heatpipe having a third end and a fourth end. Moreover, a heatpipe coupler is thermally coupled to the second end of the first heatpipe and the third end of the second heatpipe. This heatpipe coupler includes a housing surrounding a cavity and a liquid metal contained within the cavity, thereby providing a thermal path from the first end of the first heatpipe, which is configured to couple to a condenser, to the fourth end of the second heatpipe, which is configured to couple to an evaporator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat-transfer techniques. More specifically, the present invention relates to a heat-transfer mechanism that includes a liquid-metal thermal coupling.
2. Related Art
The computational performance of electronic devices has increased significantly in recent years. This has caused an increase in power consumption and associated heat generation. It has consequently become a considerable challenge to manage this 'thermal load' to maintain acceptable internal and external operating temperatures.
Portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers (notebook PCs), cellular telephones, and personal digital assistants, pose additional design constraints which make it harder to manage thermal load. In particular, size and weight limitations in such devices can make it difficult to achieve desired operating temperatures. For example, some laptop computers utilize heat-transfer mechanisms that include a heatpipe which transports heat from a heat source, such as a processor chip, to a condenser. Heatpipes are efficient at transporting heat, but because of fluidic and thermodynamic losses, the total length of the heatpipes in laptop computers is effectively constrained to be about 150 mm. Moreover, heatpipes typically do not offer mechanical flexibility. Unfortunately, these constraints pose problems in the design and layout of heat-transfer mechanisms in such systems.
Hence, what is needed are heat-transfer mechanisms that overcome the problems listed above.

Heat-transfer mechanism including a liquid-metal thermal coupling


Devices and methods to enhance the implantation, retreivability, or repositionability are provided. Embodiments of devices include pivotable sections providing the ability to maintain the device's engagement with a delivery system during implantation where the deliver system approaches an opening of the septum at an angle. Embodiments of devices also include configurations that allow for improved retrieval into a delivery system in the event that a malfunction or a problem with the patients physiology is detected.

The functioning of the heart and the opening and closing of heart valves occur primarily as a result of pressure differences. For example, the opening and closing of the mitral valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle occurs as a result of the pressure differences between the left atrium and the left ventricle. During ventricular diastole (ventricular filling), when ventricles are relaxed, the venous return of blood from the pulmonary veins into the left atrium causes the pressure in the atrium to exceed that in the ventricle. As a result, the mitral valve opens, allowing blood to enter the ventricle. As the ventricle contracts during ventricular systole (ventricular emptying), the intraventricular pressure rises above the pressure in the atrium and pushes the mitral valve shut. Blood then is pumped from the ventricles to the arteries.
The heart has four valves to ensure that blood does not flow in the wrong direction during the cardiac cycle; that is, to ensure that the blood does not back flow from the ventricles into the corresponding atria, or back flow from the arteries into the corresponding ventricles. The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is the mitral valve. The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the tricuspid valve. The pulmonary valve is at the opening of the pulmonary artery. The aortic valve is at the opening of the aorta.
Blood flowing back from the left ventricle into the left atrium, or systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, as mentioned in the background, may cause high atrial pressure and reduce the flow of blood into the left atrium from the lungs. As blood backs up into the pulmonary system, fluid leaks into the lungs and causes pulmonary edema. Blood volume going to the atrium reduces volume of blood going forward into the aorta causing low cardiac output. Excess blood in the atrium over-fills the ventricle during each cardiac cycle and causes volume overload in the left ventricle.
Heart failure with such symptoms is a common and potentially lethal condition affecting humans, with sub-optimal clinical outcomes often resulting in symptoms, morbidity and/or mortality, despite maximal medical treatment.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition affecting millions of people worldwide. CHF results from a weakening or stiffening of the heart muscle that commonly is caused by myocardial ischemia (due to, e.g., myocardial infarction) or cardiomyopathy (e.g., myocarditis, amyloidosis). CHF causes a reduced cardiac output and inadequate blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
Treatments for CHF include: (1) pharmacological treatments, (2) assisting systems, and (3) surgical treatments. Pharmacological treatments, e.g., with diuretics, are used to reduce the workload of a heart by reducing the blood volume and preload. While pharmacological treatments improve quality of life, they have little effect on survival. Assisting devices, e.g., mechanical pumps, are used to reduce the load on the heart by performing all or part of the pumping function normally done by the heart. However, in a chronic ischemic heart, a high-rate pacing may lead to increased diastolic pressures, calcium overload, and damage to the muscle fibers. There are at least three surgical procedures for treating a heart failure: (1) heart transplant, (2) dynamic cardiomyoplasty, and (3) the Batista partial left ventriculectomy. These surgical treatments are invasive and have many limitations.
CHF is generally classified into systolic heart failures (SHF) or diastolic heart failures (DHF). In a SHF, the pumping action of a heart is reduced or weakened. A normal ejection fraction (EF), which is a function of the volume of blood ejected out of the left ventricle (stroke volume) divided by the maximum volume remaining in the left ventricle at the end of a diastole or relaxation phase, is greater than 50%. In a SHF, the EF is reduced to less than 50%. A patient with a SHF may have an enlarged left ventricle because of cardiac remodeling developed to maintain an adequate stroke-volume. This pathophysiological phenomenon is often associated with increased atrial pressure and left ventricular filling pressure.
DHF is a heart failure without any major valve disease even though the systolic function of the left ventricle is preserved. Generally, DHF is a failure of the ventricle to adequately relax and expand, resulting in a decrease in the stroke volume of the heart. In particular, "diastolic heart failure" refers to the clinical syndrome of heart failure occurring in the context of preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction) and in the absence of major valvular disease. This condition is characterized by a stiff left ventricle with decreased compliance and impaired relaxation, which leads to increased end-diastolic pressure. Approximately one third of patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure and there are very few, if any, proven effective treatments. Presently, there are very few treatment options for patients suffering from DHF. DHF afflicts between 30% and 70% of patients with CHF.
There are several known techniques used to treat symptoms of DHF. Without attempting to characterize the following references, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,556 by Keren et al. discloses the use of an interatrial pressure relief shunt with a valve and a tissue affixation element at each end of the shunt; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 20050165344 by Dobak discloses a pressure relief system with an interatrial septal conduit with an emboli barrier or trap mechanism to prevent cryptogenic stroke due to thrombi or emboli crossing the conduit into the left side circulation. Dobak also discloses a conduit with a one-way valve that directs the blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium.
The constantly evolving nature of heart failures represents a significant challenge for developing an efficient treatment. Therefore, there is a need for novel and adaptable methods and devices for treating DHF, for example, by creating a pressure relief shunt which can be retrieved, repositioned, adjusted, expanded, contracted, occluded, sealed and/or otherwise altered as required to treat a patient.
In the past, strategies have been described for the relief of high pressure in the right atrium, such as the creation of hole(s) in the native or surgically created septum between the left and right atria. These have been designed for the rare conditions of pulmonary hypertension or cavopulmonary connections for certain complex congenital heart diseases. Accordingly, there still exists a need for devices and methods to treat heart failure, particularly diastolic and/or systolic failure of the left ventricle and its consequences.

Devices and methods for retrievable intra-atrial implants


A steering apparatus includes a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of a housing, the surface being opposed to each rack end in a vehicle width direction. The collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of a rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load from the corresponding rack end, and a shock absorbing member provided in an inner peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling by abutting of the rack end.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a steering apparatus.
2. Related Art
In the steering apparatus, a rack shaft moves in a vehicle width direction by a steering operation of a driver and steered wheels are operated. In a steering apparatus including a motor for assisting the steering of the driver, a torque of the motor is transmitted to the rack shaft.
Incidentally, in the steering apparatus, rack ends are provided in both ends of the rack shaft. Then, the rack ends abut on a housing which houses the rack shaft, thereby controlling movement of the rack shaft.
A steering apparatus disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-69061 (Patent Document 1) is configured by providing an elastic member in a housing so that rack ends abut on the elastic member. Accordingly, a collision load is absorbed by the elastic member and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.


A chassis for a mobility aid, the mobility aid including at least one base two lateral walls, and at least one connecting element which connects the two lateral walls. The chassis includes a plurality of positioning aids for each lateral wall, a bracket that can be connected to one lateral wall in at least three different configurations, and a drive unit that is connected to each bracket, wherein a bracket configuration on the lateral walls determines the type of drive for the mobility aid.

Mobility aids in the sense of the present invention are orthopedic devices for persons with limited mobility. Mobility aids can be, for example, wheelchairs, walking aids or walker frames or other devices and instruments which increase mobility. Such devices and in particular wheelchairs have long been disclosed in the prior art.
Such a chassis is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2009 051 118 B4. There are electric wheelchairs with three types of drive, namely front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and central drive. Selecting the type of drive of an electric wheelchair is important. Maneuverability, tracking stability and handling outdoors are influenced by the type of drive. The suitable type of drive is selected in dependence on the application, location and use of the electric wheelchair.
Wheelchairs equipped with front-wheel drive have compact dimensions and have their center of gravity between the drive axle and the steering wheel. The center of rotation of the wheelchair is situated in front of the center of rotation of the user, which requires attention to be paid to the rear swinging out when the wheelchair is turned.
The turning circle is small because the wheelchair is also able to be turned in the arc as a result of the position of the center of rotation. Traveling downhill is supported as result of the higher traction on the drive axle.
The classic type of drive is also rear-wheel drive in the case of electric wheelchairs. Said wheelchairs have very good handling characteristics, even at high speeds. The center of rotation of the wheelchair is situated behind the center of rotation of the user in the case of rear-wheel drive, which results in the electric wheelchair having a large turning circle. The wheelchair also turns within the arc in the case of rear-wheel drive. Traveling uphill is supported with rear-wheel drive because the traction on the rear axle is increased as a result of the center of gravity being shifted.
Electric wheelchairs with central drive have six individually suspended wheels, all six wheels being in permanent contact with the ground. Said characteristic always keeps the wheelchair in a quiet and stable position, which is transmitted to the user and prevents the generation of spasms. The center of rotation of the wheelchair coincides with the center of rotation of the user. A high level of stability is achieved by the center of gravity lying above the drive axle, which allows for intuitive driving and consequently benefits the user with a higher degree of disability. The center of gravity only changes minimally when traveling uphill and downhill, which results in consistent propulsion. Steep tracks and ramps are able to be navigated without any problem even sideways.
The different types of drive require different chassis embodiments in order to connect the drive wheels and the motors to the chassis. As a result, production costs and the costs for storage are increased, in addition product diversity is restricted.

Chassis for a mobility aid and for an electric wheelchair


An optical pointing device includes a light source configured to respond to a drive current to provide at least partially coherent light to illuminate an imaging surface to thereby generate reflected images. A navigation sensor is configured to generate digital images based on the reflected images, and generate movement data based on the digital images that are indicative of relative motion between the imaging surface and the optical pointing device. A light source driver is configured to provide the drive current to the light source. A drive current controller is configured to calibrate the drive current based on selected digital images.

The use of a hand operated pointing device for use with a computer and its display has become almost universal. One form of the various types of pointing devices is the conventional (mechanical) louse, used in conjunction with a cooperating mouse pad. Mechanical mice typically include a rubber-surfaced steel ball that rolls over the mouse pad as the mouse is moved. Interior to the mouse are rollers, or wheels, that contact the ball at its equator and convert its rotation into electrical signals representing orthogonal components of mouse motion. These electrical signals are coupled to a computer, where software responds to the signals to change by a ΔX and a ΔY the displayed position of a pointer (cursor) in accordance with movement of the mouse.
In addition to mechanical types of pointing devices, such as a conventional mechanical mouse, optical pointing devices have also been developed. In one form of optical pointing device, rather than using a moving mechanical element like a ball, relative movement between an imaging surface, such as a finger or a desktop, and an image sensor within the optical pointing device, is optically sensed and converted into movement information.
Electronic image sensors, such as those typically employed in optical pointing devices, are predominantly of two types: charge coupled devices (CCDs) and complimentary metal oxide semiconductor—active pixel sensors (CMOS-APS). Both types of sensors typically contain an array of photodetectors (i.e., pixels), arranged in a pattern. Each individual photodetector operates to output a signal with a magnitude that is proportional to the intensity of light incident on the site of the photodetector. These output signals can then be subsequently processed and manipulated to generate an image that includes a plurality of individual picture elements (pixels), wherein each pixel in the image corresponds with one of the photodetectors (i.e., pixels) in the image sensor.
One form of optical pointing device includes an incoherent light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), for illuminating an imaging or navigation surface to thereby generate reflected images which are sensed by the image sensor of the optical pointing device. Another form of optical pointing device includes a coherent light source, such as a laser, for illuminating an imaging surface to thereby generate reflective images to be sensed by the image sensor of the optical pointing device. Coherent light source based optical navigation with optical pointing devices can provide better imaging surface coverage and better tracking performance than provided with conventional incoherent light source optical pointing devices.
Coherent light sources, such as lasers, have significantly more stringent eye safety regulation than incoherent light sources, such as LEDs. For example, the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) standard defines Class -1 lasers as lasers that are safe under reasonably foreseeable conditions of operation, including the use of optical instruments for intrabeam viewing. In order to meet the Class-1 classification, no eye damage will occur even if someone looked at the laser for an extensive period of time with a magnifier in front of the laser. The maximum optical power output of a Class-1 laser inside an optical pointing device is limited by the IEC standard based on the wavelength of the laser output and the mode of operation of the laser. For example, a single mode vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) having a nominal wavelength of 840 nanometers (nm) is defined by the IEC standard to have a peak optical power output less than 700 microwatts (μW) in a continuous wave (CW) mode to meet the Class-1 classification.
A coherent light source in a optical pointing device needs to provide a sufficient level of light output (i.e., minimum optical power output) to achieve proper exposure of the sensor image. An example minimum optical power output of a typical VCSEL in an optical pointing device is approximately 200 μW. This minimum optical power output can change with different environmental operating conditions of the optical point device. For example, less light is reflected off surfaces with darker tone and surfaces having larger surface roughness. In order to properly navigate the optical pointing device on these less reflective surfaces, the minimum optical power output from the coherent light source is typically increased. Alternatively, the exposure time of the sensor could be increased to achieve the proper level of exposure of the sensor image. The longer exposure time, however, limits the tracking speed of the optical pointing device.
Thus, the operating window of a coherent light source in an optical pointing device is defined by the minimum optical power output to provide proper exposure of the sensor image and the maximum optical power output of the coherent light source to meet the eye safety specification definition, such as the IEC standard defined Class-1 classification.
In optical pointing devices, coherent light sources, such as lasers, are typically controlled with a current regulating circuit. The current regulating circuit adjusts the optical power output of the coherent light source by varying the drive current provided by a light source driver to the light source. A typical coherent light source (e.g., VCSEL) employed in an optical pointing device is typically extremely sensitive to the drive current, such that a small fluctuation in the drive current provided by the light source driver results in a large change in the optical power output of the coherent light source. A stable and precise current source is preferably provided to the coherent light source in an optical pointing device to accommodate the operating window of the coherent light source.
One form of optical pointing device having a laser light source (e.g., VCSEL) employs a current regulating circuit to control the light source drive to provide a fixed drive current to the laser. In an optical pointing device with such fixed drive current circuitry, the mode of operation and the optical power output of the laser are based on the threshold current and the slope efficiency of the laser. The threshold current of a laser is the minimum drive current which causes the laser to start lazing. The slope efficiency of a laser is the optical power output of the laser versus drive current. VCSELs and other lasers typically employed in optical pointing devices typically have large manufacturing process variations which result in large variations in threshold current and slope efficiency of the lasers. Individual calibration of optical pointing devices is typically used for optical pointing devices with fixed current drive circuitry to ensure that the laser provides eye safe operation and minimal optical power output. Even after individual calibration, the optical power output of the laser can be affected by other parameters, such as laser age and changes in operating temperature conditions.
One form of optical pointing device which overcomes some of the above problems with fixed drive current circuitry includes closed-loop laser drive circuitry. In this form of optical pointing device, a monitoring photo diode is typically employed to continuously monitor the optical power output of the laser and provide feedback to the closed-loop laser drive circuitry. The closed-loop laser drive circuitry can accommodate threshold current and slope efficiency variations in lasers due to manufacturing process variations. In addition, laser age and operating temperature conditions can also be accommodated by the closed-loop laser drive circuitry. Closed-loop laser drive circuitry, however, is difficult and costly to implement. For example, the closed-loop laser drive circuitry employs a costly optical feedback path from the laser to the monitoring photo diode.
One form of optical pointing device includes open-loop laser drive circuitry. In one example process for manufacturing an optical pointing device having open-loop laser drive circuitry, the lasers (e.g., VCSELs) are pre-tested to determine the laser threshold current, slope efficiency, and temperature coefficient. The pre-tested lasers are sorted and grouped accordingly into a finite number of bins. Each bin of lasers is matched to a corresponding open-loop current regulating circuit. The corresponding open-loop current regulating circuit can properly adjust the drive current to the corresponding laser to ensure that the laser operates in its defined operating window to provide minimum optical power output and ensure eye safe operation. While this manufacturing process reliably ensures that the proper operating window of the laser is achieved, the manufacturing process is time intensive and costly. In addition, this manufacturing process typically results in a large percentage of the lasers being non-usable due to the limited compensation range provide by the limited number of selectable open-loop current regulating circuits.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

Light source control in optical pointing device


A rotary punching device for punching a hole on a sheet includes: a first rotary shaft having an outer peripheral surface; a punch mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft arranged in parallel with the first rotary shaft, the second rotary shaft having an outer peripheral surface; a die mounted on the outer peripheral surface of second rotary shaft; a motor connected to the first and second rotary shafts to synchronously drive the first and second rotary shafts such that the punch and the die are engaged with each other within a predetermined rotational angle range; a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding the sheet into between the first and second rotary shafts at a constant sheet feeding speed to punch the sheet by the punch and the die; and controller for controlling the rotation speed of the motor referring to the sheet feeding speed.

The present invention relates to a rotary punching device, and more particularly to a rotary punching device with improved punching quality.
Conventional rotary punching device which is incorporated in a copy machine and others to punch a circular hole at the edge of a copy sheet is well known. As shown in FIG. 7, in such a rotary punching device, a punch holder 3 with a mounted punch 2 is mounted on one rotary shaft 1 of two rotary shafts provided in parallel whereas a die holder 6 with a dice 5 is mounted on the other rotary shaft 4. A release hole 4a of the die 5 and a paper discharging hole 6a of the die holder 6 and the hole 3a of the rotary shaft 4 are aligned in a straight line.
Gear wheels (not shown) are engaged in the two rotary shafts 1 and 4, respectively so as to be meshed with each other. When either one of rotary shafts is driven by a motor, punch 2 and die 5 are synchronously rotated at a constant speed. Thus, the punch 2 and the die 5 repeat engagement and disengagement.
As shown in FIG. 24(a), the tip surface of the cylindrical punch 2 is formed in a flat shape. As shown in FIG. 7, the punch 2 is inserted into a punch attachment hole of the punch holder 3 engaged on the rotary shaft 1 and secured there by a fastening screw (not shown). The die 5 is inserted into a die attachment hold of a die holder 6 engaged on the rotary shaft 4 and secured there by a fastening screw (not shown).
The rotary punching device is configured so that the sheet feeding speed of a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a sheet P between the two rotary shafts 1 and 4 is equal to the circumferential speed of the punch 2 and die 5. Thus, the punch 2 and dice 5 rotate in synchronism with the fed sheet to punch a hole in the sheet P. The punched sheet piece is externally discharged from the release hole 4a of the die 5 through the hole 3a of the rotary shaft 4 and the sheet-piece discharging hole 6a of the die holder 6.
Assuming that the circumferential speed of the tip of the punch 2 and die 5 is V.sub.1, the linear speed V.sub.1x of the punch 2 and die 5 in a sheet feeding direction is V.sub.1x =-V.sub.1 cos .theta. which varies at a period of 360.degree.. As shown in FIG. 22, when the circumferential speed V.sub.1 of the punch 2 and die 5 is set to be equal to a sheet feeding speed V.sub.2, the linear speed V.sub.1x of the punch 2 and die 5 coincides with the feeding speed V.sub.2 of the sheet P only at the rotation angle of 180.degree. of the punch 2. Before and after the angle of 180.degree., the linear speed V.sub.1x of the punch 2 and die 5 is lowered with respect to the feeding speed V.sub.2.
For this reason, because of changes in the linear speed V.sub.1x of the punch 2 and the die 5 in an engagement range (150.degree.-210.degree.) between the punch 2 and die 5, various inconveniences such as deformation of the punching hole and rupture of the edge thereof will occur.
In order to prevent rupture of the punching hole, a rotary punching device has been proposed in which the circumferential speed V.sub.1 of the punch 2 and die 5 is set to be slightly higher than the sheet feeding speed V.sub.2 so that as shown in FIG. 23, V.sub.1x =V.sub.2 at an engagement starting point (150.degree.) and an engagement ending point (210.degree.). In this case, however, V.sub.1x >V.sub.2 between the above two points and hence the longitudinal form of the punching hole is a short ellipse.
The conventional rotary punching device has problems such as breakage and deformation of the punching hole due to a change in the relative speed between the punch and die driven at a constant rotation speed and a sheet fed at a constant linear speed. This gives rise to a technical problem to be solved in order to improve the quality of the punch hole.
In the rotary punching device, if a sheet-piece is discharged at a waiting position where the die stops rotation, it will be discharged at substantially the same position. But the sheet piece does not necessarily always drop at the same time due to various causes, such as accumulation of sheet pieces in the release hole of the die and influence by static electricity, and is frequently discharged during the rotation of the die. Thus, a large amount of sheet pieces will be dispersed.
This gives rise to a technical problem of controlling the discharging direction of punched sheet pieces so as to be always constant, thereby making cleaning easy.
FIG. 25 is a graph showing the punching load of the above rotary punching device. As seen from the figure, it exhibits a concave-shape load curve with peaks at the starting and ending points of cutting and particularly the maximum peak at the ending point.
This is because, as shown in FIG. 26, the cutting length of the punching hole per a unit of rotating angle .theta. increases in the second half of a cutting stroke to reach the maximum at the end point of cutting. For this reason, the driving motor for the punch and die requires large torque, and the rotary shafts 1 and 4 require high warping rigidity, thus hindering the miniaturization of the driving mechanism.
This gives rise to a technical problem of reducing the peak of the punching torque to relax the load of the device.
Furthermore, the sheet feeding device may provide a variation in the sheet feeding speed because of changes in the diameter due to abrasion of a sheet feeding roller and in the friction coefficient on the surface of the roller. In this case, a difference occurs between the sheet feeding speed and the linear speed of the punch and die, thus leading to poor punching. For example, the shape of the punching hole may be deformed and the edge of the punching hole may be broken. Further, the linear speed of the punch arranged upstream may exceed the sheet feeding speed of the sheet feeding downstream on a sheet feeding path so that the intermediate portion of the sheet floats from the sheet guide. The sheet may flutter to produce abnormal sound.
This gives rise to a technical problem of preventing the variance between the sheet feeding speed and the linear speed of a punch and a die from being generated, thereby stabilizing punching quality. The present invention intends to solve the above problem.


An antenna apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein includes a first member and a second member limiting a slot, a feeding unit provided on one surface of a carrier covering the slot and configured to feed the slot, and a first radiator formed on the one surface of the carrier with being spaced apart from the feeding unit, and electrically connected to the first member, the first radiator configured to resonate together with the slot at a first frequency band and a second frequency band.

Mobile terminals are electronic devices which are portable and have at least one of voice and telephony call functions, information input and/or output functions, a data storage function and the like.
As it becomes multifunctional, the mobile terminal can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player.
Many efforts are undergoing to support and enhance various functions as such multimedia player in view of hardware or software improvements. As one example, a user interface environment is provided in order for users to easily and conveniently retrieve or select functions.
In addition to those efforts, a method for more improving functions of a mobile terminal may be taken into account. The improvement method may include structural changes and improvements for more facilitating a user to use the mobile terminal. As one of the structural changes and improvements, an antenna for transmitting and receiving electric waves may be taken into account.
An antenna is a device which is configured to transmit and receive radio electromagnetic waves for wireless communication and is an essential constituting element for a mobile terminal. Recently, users hold in a great account designs of mobile terminals, specifically, desire to use mobile terminals which have a larger display as well as being conveniently portable. Hence, manufacturers of mobile terminals are trying hard to develop techniques for producing a bezel with the least size. This, however, brings about the gradual reduction of the size of the antenna. Also, telecommunications operators are gradually expanding superhigh-speed data services from conventional 2G/3G voice/data services to 4G LTE/LTE-A services. This is not the trend that limitedly happens simply in several countries. Therefore, in designing mobile terminals, it should be considered to cover various frequency bands of various telecommunications operators in the world. This means that the number of frequency bands to cover in mobile terminals should increase much more than the conventional mobile terminals, and also means that an antenna space should innovatively be reduced in keeping with the aforementioned consumers' design trend. Therefore, studies on an antenna having a new structure providing satisfactory efficiency in a smaller space are actively undergoing.

Antenna device and mobile terminal having same


A beam blade wiper assembly including a rubber wiping element and an elongated beam having first and second longitudinal ends. The wiper assembly also includes an airfoil having an attachment portion and an upper portion extending between first and second distal ends. The attachment portion includes a flat rib and a pair of legs adapted to operatively engage the rubber wiping element. The upper portion includes a solid base having a leading edge that extends from the base toward the wiping element. The base and the rib define a space that receives the elongated beam. The base and the elongated beam define a cavity that provides flexibility between the upper portion and the attachment portion during wiper operation. The upper portion further includes a spoiler that extends from the base in a manner opposite to the leading edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to windshield wiper assemblies and, more specifically, to a beam blade windshield wiper assembly having improved wind lift characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional windshield wiper assemblies known in the related art generally consist of two types commonly referred to as "beam blade windshield wiper assemblies" and "tournament windshield wiper assemblies." Both types of windshield wiper assemblies include a wiping element that contacts the windshield or surface to be wiped. Further, both types of windshield wiper assemblies are carried across the windshield by a wiper arm and rely on the downward force from the wiper arm to maintain contact between the wiping element and the windshield. However, tournament-style windshield wiper assemblies depend on a series of levers to distribute the downward force from the wiper arm across the wiping element.
On the other hand, beam blade windshield wiper assemblies include an elongated, homogeneous strip forming a spring backbone or beam that is resiliently flexible. The beam is curved along a single plane that flexes to correspond to the curvature of a windshield. A wiper arm delivers a downward force to the beam that is distributed across the beam, thereby pressing the wiper assembly into contact with the windshield. An example of a beam blade type windshield wiper assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,096 issued Apr. 22, 2003 to Stewart et al. and assigned to Trico Products Corp.
Beam blade windshield wiper assemblies include a smaller profile and less moving parts than tournament windshield wiper assemblies. Thus, as a matter of aesthetics, beam blade windshield wiper assemblies are generally preferred over tournament windshield wiper assemblies. However, due to the general characteristics of beam blade windshield wiper assemblies, they are more likely to be subjected to a phenomenon referred to as "wind lift." Generally speaking, wind lift occurs when airflow underneath the windshield wiper assembly creates a lift force greater than the opposing downward forces of the wiper arm and airflow over the assembly. During wind lift, the windshield wiper assembly lifts from the windshield of the vehicle, which can decrease the effectiveness of the windshield wiper assembly to clean the windshield.
To counter wind lift, airfoils of various designs have been employed to combat this problem. Airfoils create a downward force that presses the windshield wiper assembly into contact with the windshield, even at elevated driving speeds where wind lift can be extreme. While the beam blade windshield wiper assemblies known in the art provide significant advances in the related technology, there continues to be a need in the art for improvements in beam blade windshield wiper assemblies, which result in improved performance at variable vehicle speeds, and reduce wind lift with simplicity of parts and reduction in manufacturing costs.
As a result, there is a need in the art for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly that that includes an airfoil for improved wiping performance at variable vehicular speeds. Further, there is a need in the art for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly having an airfoil that simpler to manufacture and assemble to thereby reduce manufacturing and assembly costs.

Beam blade windshield wiper assembly having an airfoil


In connection with paging displacement operation, a mobile station delays entry into sleep mode in order to read a specified number of subsequent alternate (i.e., every other) additional paging channel slots to receive a paging message. During the paging channel slots located between those designated for reading paging displacement related paging messages, the mobile station makes more efficient use of limited battery supplied energy resources by making any requisite signal strength measurements.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communications system and, in particular, to reducing mobile station power consumption in connection with paging and mobile station channel measurement operations.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that mobile stations (telephones) in wireless communications systems consume large amounts of power while operating in a talk mode. Consumption of power at a significant, albeit reduced, rate continues when the mobile station operates in a stand-by (i.e., idle) mode awaiting receipt or origination of a telephone call. For currently available portable, battery powered mobile stations, the on-board battery typically has a working lifetime of approximately eight hours in the stand-by mode and two hours in the talk mode. After such time expires, the battery must be recharged or replaced in order for the mobile station to continue to provide communications service.
Many methods and apparatus have been proposed to reduce power consumption in mobile stations and thus extend battery life between charges or replacement. A functional characteristic shared in common by many of these methods and apparatus is controlling mobile station operation by denying or reducing the supply of power to certain electronic components of the mobile station such as the transceiver, display or processor in order to reduce drain on the battery and extend useful battery life. This is commonly referred to as "sleep mode" operation. In order to obtain the maximum power conservation benefit from sleep mode operation, it is important to maximize the amount of time the supply of power is denied or reduced. Efficient mobile station operation, however, depends on mobile station monitoring of control and command signals transmitted from the serving wireless communications system as well as making downlink signal strength measurements. These monitoring and measurement functions require the mobile station to be adequately powered to enable transceiver and processor operation. Accordingly, a balance must be struck between power conservation (sleep mode) operation and power consumption operation. Given the availability of sleep mode functionality, a need exists for a method and apparatus by which the time spent in sleep mode can be maximized without adversely affecting the ability of the mobile station to be sufficiently operational to carry out any required monitoring and measurement functions.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 wherein there is shown the structure of a hyperframe 10 for the forward (i.e., downlink) digital control channel (F-DCCH) as specified by the TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-136 air interface. The hyperframe 10 is composed of two superframes 12. A first one these superframes 12(1) is commonly referred to as the "primary" superframe. A second one these superframes 12(2) is commonly referred to as the "secondary" superframe. Each superframe 12 is composed of a number of logical channels. A first one of these logical channels is a broadcast control channel (BCCH) commonly referred to as the fast broadcast control channel (F-BCCH) 14. This logical channel is used to broadcast control channel structure parameters and parameters that are essential for accessing the system. A next one of these logical channels is a broadcast control channel commonly referred to as the extended broadcast control channel (E-BCCH) 16. This logical channel carries broadcast information to mobile stations that is less time critical than the F-DCCH information. Another one of these logical channels is a broadcast control channel commonly referred to as the short message service (SMS) broadcast control channel (S-BCCH) 18. This logical channel is used to broadcast short message service messages to mobile stations. Yet another one of these logical channels is commonly referred to as the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel (SPACH) 20. This logical channel is used to broadcast information to specific mobile stations regarding SMS messages, paging messages, and to provide an access response channel. Another defined logical channel (RES) 22 is reserved at this point in time for a future but not yet specified use.
The SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 is divided into three logical sub-channels. A first one of these sub-channels is the paging channel (PCH) 24 that is dedicated to delivering pages and orders. A next one of these sub-channels is the access response channel (ARCH) 26 that is used to convey assignments to another communications resource or other responses to a mobile station access attempt. Another one of these sub-channels is the SMS channel (SMSCH) 28 that is used to deliver short message service messages to a specific mobile station.
One superframe 12 includes thirty-two slots 30 for use by the broadcast control channels (BCCH) 14, 16 and 18, the reserved channel (RES) 22, and the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel (SPACH) 20. Of these thirty-two available slots 30, when full rate operation is specified, between one and twenty-eight slots are made available to the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 for use by the paging channels (PCH) 24, access response channels (ARCH) 26 and the SMS channels (SMSCH) 28. Any of the slots 30 used for paging channels 22 in the primary superframe 12(1) are repeated for use in the secondary superframe 12(2). The other SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 related information, such as with respect to the access response channel 26 and the SMS channel 28, may be different from one superframe 12 to a next superframe.
Each mobile station is assigned a particular one of the slots 30 in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 as its paging channel (PCH) 24. A mobile station camped on to the forward digital control channel reads its assigned paging channel 24 to determine whether a message has been broadcast addressed to its mobile station identification (MSID). If there is no such message detected, the mobile station further reads a page continuation (PCON) bit carried in the slot 30 for its assigned paging channel 24. If the page continuation bit is clear (PCON=0), the mobile station enters sleep mode until the next occurrence of its assigned paging channel 24 on to the forward digital control channel (not shown). If, on the other hand, the page continuation bit is set (PCON=1), a page displacement functionality is activated and the mobile station responds by delaying entry into sleep mode in order to read additional slots 30 in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20. The number of slots 30 which are then read is specified by a paging channel displacement parameter (PCH.sub.-- DISPLACEMENT) sent over the forward digital control channel.
When full rate operation is specified, the mobile station reads every other slot 30 in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 following its assigned paging channel 24 slot until the number of slots read equals the number specified in the paging channel displacement parameter or it receives a paging message addressed to its mobile station identification. In the situation where the mobile station has read the last available slot 30 in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 of the primary superframe 12(1), and the paging displacement parameter specifies that additional slots be read, the mobile station starts again reading with the second slot in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel of the next primary superframe. In the situation where the mobile station has read the next-to-last available slot 30 in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 of the primary superframe 12(1), and the paging displacement parameter specifies that additional slots be read, the mobile station starts again reading with the first slot in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel of the next primary superframe.
An example of paging displacement operation is shown in FIG. 2. In this example of full rate operation for the forward digital control channel, the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 is assigned six slots 30(1)-30(6). Assume that a given mobile station is assigned a paging channel 24 that occurs in slot 30(1) of the first illustrated primary superframe 12(1). The mobile station wakes up and reads this paging channel 24 (as indicated by "X") to determine whether a message has been broadcast addressed to its mobile station identification (MSID). If there is no such message detected, the mobile station further reads a page continuation (PCON) bit. If the page continuation bit is clear (PCON=0), the mobile station enters sleep mode until the next occurrence (not shown) of its assigned paging channel 24 on the forward digital control channel. If, on the other hand, the page continuation bit is set (PCON=1), the mobile station reads every other slot (30(3), 30(5)) in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 following the slot 30(1) for its assigned paging channel 24 (as indicated by "Y") until the number of slots read equals the number specified in the paging channel displacement parameter (PCH.sub.-- DISPLACEMENT=4 in this example) or it receives a paging message addressed to its mobile station identification. When the mobile station reads the next-to-last available slot 30(5) in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel 20 of the first illustrated primary superframe 12(1), and the paging displacement parameter specifies that additional slots be read, the mobile station starts again reading with the first slot 30(1) in the SMS point-to-point, paging and access response channel of the second illustrated (i.e., the next following) primary superframe.
Not only must a mobile station wake up to read its assigned paging channel, it must also wake up periodically to make signal strength measurements. Although these measurements are not required to be performed at any particular place in the superframe, they are typically performed immediately before or after the paging data. These measurements are made on the control channels of cells in the wireless communications system which neighbor the cell currently serving the mobile station. The signal strength measurements are then processed by the mobile station for the purpose of making server selection determinations.
Paging displacement provides a mechanism by which the wireless communications system can force mobile stations to postpone entry into sleep mode and make additional reads on the forward digital control channel for the purpose of finding pages. Postponing entry into sleep mode and requiring transceiver and processor operation to make additional control channel reads places additional demands on the stored energy resources of the mobile station battery. Even the reading of a few extra slots can significantly shorten battery life. The additional periodic requirement to make signal strength measurements further serves as a drain on the limited energy resources of the battery. A method and apparatus are needed to maximize the time spent in sleep mode so as to conserve battery resources while simultaneously facilitating mobile station operation to make requisite signal strength measurements and support the paging channel displacement functionality.

Integration of mobile station channel measurement with paging channel displacement operation in a wireless communications system


A coupler telescopic apparatus comprises a housing and a drawbar capable of extending and retracting along the housing, the housing is sleeved outside the drawbar, a limiting block is fixed arranged on an outer side face of the drawbar, a locking ring capable of coming into contact with the limiting block is sleeved inside the housing, and the locking ring is coaxial with the housing and rotatably connected to the housing; a through groove is axially formed on an inner surface of the locking ring, and the through groove correspond to the limiting block in shape, so that the limiting block passes through the through groove when the through groove is aligned with the limiting block, and then an extension of the drawbar is locked by rotating the locking ring to block the limiting block after the extension of the drawbar is completed. The present application can reduce space occupation and has simple structure.

As a key component for a train coupler, a telescopic apparatus can ensure smooth completion of two actions (i.e., extending and retracting the coupler) during train operation. To enable the coupler to be kept in the current state after being extended or retracted, the telescopic apparatus is required to have a reasonable locking mechanism. Existing automatic coupler telescopic apparatus for couplers is mainly locked by the following: (1) latch, which are simple in structure but small in pressure-receiving cross-sectional area; (2) block, which are relatively simple in structure, but are easy to wear and deform at contact surfaces for a long time since the contact surfaces are two curved surfaces with different radii; and, (3) spline.
Chinese Invention Patent CN102424057A has disclosed a telescopic mechanism of a telescopic coupler buffer apparatus for a high-speed Electric Multiple Units, comprising: a pressure-receiving rod that is positioned inside a movable housing of the coupler buffer apparatus with one end connected to the movable housing, and a load-bearing joint that is sleeved on the pressure-receiving rod, wherein a guide drum is fixedly mounted outside the load-bearing joint; a telescopic diving mechanism is arranged between the guide drum and the movable housing; the end of the pressure-receiving rod is connected to the movable housing through a torsion spring, and the pressure-receiving rod and the load-bearing joint are kept in a locked state; a locking mechanism comprises bumps that are positioned at the other end of the pressure-receiving rod and distributed at intervals and grooves that are formed on an inner wall of the load-bearing joint and fitted with the bumps, with the bumps and the grooves being distributed at equal intervals, the bumps being the same in shape, and the grooves being the same in shape; when the bumps correspond to the grooves, the pressure-receiving rod and the load-bearing joint are unlocked and can slide relative to each other; an unlocking driving mechanism is arranged outside the movable housing; the unlocking driving mechanism comprises a steel wire rope that is fixedly mounted on the pressure-receiving rod and can drive the pressure-receiving rod to rotate; and, limit stops are arranged in the grooves on the load-bearing joint.
However, in the abovementioned telescopic mechanism, due to a presence of the pressure-receiving rod, the telescopic driving mechanism can only be arranged outside the housing, resulting in defects of large space occupation and complex structure.

Coupler telescopic apparatus and coupler

CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG ROLLING STOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD. (CN)


A developing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus including a developer bearing member configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member and rotate together with the image bearing member so that opposed surfaces thereof rotate in the same direction, an interval guarantee member configured to maintain a distance between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member by coming into abutment with the developer bearing member and the image bearing member, and a biasing member configured to bias the interval guarantee member toward the upstream side in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member by applying an elastic force generated by elastic deformation on the interval guarantee member.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to an interval guarantee member configured to maintain a distance between an image bearing member and a developer bearing member, a developing apparatus and a process cartridge provided with the interval guarantee member.
A developing apparatus is used for an image forming apparatus. The term "the image forming apparatus" used here includes electrophotographic copying machines, electrophotographic printers (for example, laser beam printers, LED printers, and the like) configured to form images on recording medium using, for example, an electrophotographic image forming system, and facsimile apparatus and word processors. The process cartridge is configured to be detachably attachable with respect to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, in the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic image forming process, an interval guarantee member referred to as a spacer is provided at an end of the developing roller in order to maintain an interval and a distance between a photosensitive drum (an image bearing member) and a developing roller (a developer bearing member) to be constant.
The spacer is clamped between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller by a biasing force of a spring or the like, and controls the interval between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller to be constant.
As the spacers of the related art, in addition to a type in which the spacer is rotated by itself in association with the rotation of the developing roller or the photosensitive drum, there is proposed a type in which the spacer is supported rotatably with respect to the developing roller but does not rotate by itself even though the developing roller rotates (For example, Japanese Patent No. 3679665).

Developing apparatus, process cartridge, and interval guarantee member


A questionnaire network makes it possible to create, disseminate, conduct questionnaires or surveys on mobile handsets and to collect results for processing and storage. The questionnaire network is powered by a questionnaire creation tool and a questionnaire trading system. A questionnaire trading system for QTime makes it possible for producers of QTime, such as carriers, and consumers of QTime, such as product manufacturers and advertising companies, to buy or sell QTime in bulk and to trade in QTime as a commodity. In one embodiment, supplementary information and preambles that are part of a questionnaire are captured in audio form using the questionnaire creation tool and are stored selectively along with the questionnaire in a carrier's questionnaire repository or separately at a hosted repository.

Electronic devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA's), often contain small screens with very limited viewing area. They are constrained in terms of how much information can be displayed, and in terms of user interaction capabilities. The keyboards on cell phones, for example, are not conducive for user data entry, and only brief user inputs can be solicited from a user without annoying the user.
User interaction in real time, such as those provided for a user using a PC on the Internet, are often not possible for a user using a cell phone. For example, the amount of textual information cannot be a full page of textual information that is typically made available o a PC. Graphical information also cannot be large. A typical website provides a rich multi-media experience. The same website, when accessed from a cell phone, would be not only unreadable but also frustrating. Thus, there is presenting user with information in order to solicit user input when the user is using a cell phone rather than a PC is a big problem.
Cell phones are therefore a device for which traditional websites are ill prepared to provide information. In addition, surveys or questionnaires that are created for Internet based access via a PC are not appropriate for cell phone access. Asking one or more detailed questions with information on how to answer them is possible on a web page that is accessed from a PC. However, the same web page would be unmanageable and difficult to navigate on a cell phone with a small LCD screen and small keyboard for user input.
Quite often, for marketing purposes, a manufacturer or retailer tries to solicit information and feedback from a customer. Typically, flyers and documents are mailed to customers for them to fill in and send it back. The Internet has facilitated some of these interactions. A user may be requested to visit a website and answers a lot of questions. However, contacting a user is a problem. The manufacturer has to determine some user specific information such as addresses, etc. in order to be able to send them questionnaires or request them to provide feedback. Contacting users via postal services or email for making them answer questionnaires or provide feedback, or answer surveys is therefore time consuming, expensive and labor intensive. Users tend to ignore emails sent to them by considering them to be spam. Postal mails are also often ignored for several reasons, including their association with junk mail.
Often, a question asked of an individual elicits responses that may obviate the need to ask further questions. Unfortunately, traditional questionnaires are not setup to take advantage of users responses. Without detailed instructions provided, questionnaires that try to guide users to specific questions based on their potential answers end up being confusing to a user. Therefore, traditional questionnaires are not flexible or dynamically arranged.
Currently, if a manufacturer, marketing organization or advertising company has to purchase a block of "questionnaire time" (QTime) to be used for conducting surveys or questionnaires, there is no mechanisms or institutions to purchase them from. Similarly, if a carrier wants to sell accumulated QTime to manufacturers of consumer products or advertising and marketing companies, there is no forum or sales environment for them to sell them in.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Questionnaire network for mobile handsets and a trading system for contracts on user commitments to answer questionnaires