A battery overheating protection circuit includes a thermal resistor samples the temperature of the battery and converts the temperature into a temperature voltage, a comparison circuit compares the temperature voltage with a reference voltage for judging whether the temperature of the battery is higher than the maximum reference temperatures temperature or not. If yes, the comparison circuit outputs a protection signal to drive a charging module to stop charging the battery in the charging process, and to cut off the conducting path to draw power from the battery in the discharging process. The present invention sets two different maximum reference temperatures during charging process and discharging process by a reference voltage module, which makes the maximum allowable discharging temperature is higher than the maximum allowable charging temperature.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to battery circuits, and particularly to a battery circuit with the function of overheating protection.
2. General Background
Nowadays, handheld devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players) are more and more popular. These handheld devices are typically powered with a battery pack, which includes one or more cells to form a battery. Generally, the battery would be damaged and becomes dangerous when the temperature of the battery is too high. The temperature of the battery should be controlled below a limited temperature when the battery is either charged or discharged.
A circuit in related art can protect the battery from overheating when the battery is either charged or discharged. When the temperature of the battery goes higher than a predetermined temperature, the circuit interrupts charging or discharging of the battery. The circuit has the same interruption temperature for both the battery charging process and the discharging process. However, generally, charging of batteries must be halted at a certain temperature and discharging of batteries (i.e., in normal uses) must be halted at a somewhat higher temperature. In addition, the circuit adopts an intelligent chip to achieve the function of protecting the batteries from overheating, which adds to the cost.
According to this, it is necessary to provide a device to overcomes the above-identified deficiencies.


The present invention is directed to provide a magnetic head that is capable of effectively preventing TA noise.. A slider 1 is provided with air bearing surfaces 111 and 121. Electromagnetic conversion elements 2 and 3, which are provided toward the trailing edge TR of the slider 1, perform electromagnetic conversion at the air bearing surfaces 111 and 121. The slider 1 is provided with indented portions 114 and projecting portions 115 at the air bearing surfaces 111 and 121 where the electromagnetic conversion elements 2 and 3 are provided. The indented portions 114 are provided in the areas corresponding to the width W2 of the electromagnetic conversion elements 2 and 3 viewed in the direction of the track width further toward the trailing edge TR than the electromagnetic conversion elements 2 and 3. The projecting portions 115 are provided adjacent to the indented portions 114 further projecting out compared to the indented portions 114.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flying type magnetic head employed in a magnetic disk apparatus.
2. Discussion of Background
It is required of a flying type magnetic head employed in a magnetic disk apparatus in recent years that, in order to achieve high density recording/reproduction, the flying height at the electromagnetic conversion elements be reduced to, for instance, 20nm or less. In addition, magnetic heads that employ magnetoresistive elements (hereafter referred to as MR elements) capable of achieving high reproduction output without being dependent upon the relative speed between the magnetic disk and the magnetic head as their reproduction element have been put into practical use.
With this type of magnetic head, since it operates at an extremely small flying height, it is inevitable that it will at times come in contact with minute irregularities at the surface of the magnetic disk.
In a magnetic head employing an MR element for reproduction, noise is generated at the MR element when the magnetic head touches the minute irregularities at the surface of the magnetic disk due to the heat generated by the contact. This type of noise is referred to as thermal asperity (hereafter referred to as TA) noise among persons skilled in the field.
As a means for preventing TA noise, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 287444/1996 discloses a technology whereby the MR element is made to operate at a distance from the air bearing surface (hereafter referred to as ABS). Apart from this, means for correcting TA noise by an electrical circuit and the like are also known.
However, if the MR element is made to operate at a distance from the ABS, a reduction in the reproduction sensitivity of the MR element will result. In addition, even if a method of compensating for the TA noise through an electrical circuit is employed, it is technically difficult to compensate for all TA noise through such a circuit.
In order to avoid the generation of TA noise, the flying height of the magnetic head must be set large to ensure that the magnetic head does not come in contact with the minute irregularities on the magnetic disk, which makes it impossible to respond to the need for high density recording that may be achieved through lower flying height.

Magnetic head for a magnetic disk having a slider with indented portions for providing heat dissipation


A laundry machine for treating laundry is disclosed. The laundry machine includes a front gasket having a structure capable of effectively preventing leakage of wash water or effectively preventing laundry or foreign matter from being introduced between a tub and a drum.

As typical laundry machines, there are a washing machine and a drying machine. In particular, the washing machine generally includes a pulsator-type washing machine and a drum washing machine. Of such washing machines, there is a washing machine having a drying function, which can perform not only a washing operation, but also a drying operation.
In a drum washing machine, a tub is horizontally arranged. In the tub, a drum is also horizontally arranged. Laundry, which is contained in the drum, is tumbled as the drum rotates. As a result, the laundry is washed.
The tub functions to contain wash water. The drum contains laundry to be washed.
The drum is rotatably installed in the tub.
A rotating shaft is connected to a rear wall of the drum. The rotating shaft receives a rotating force from a motor. The rotating force, which is generated in accordance with rotation of the motor, is transmitted to the drum via the rotating shaft, thereby rotating the drum.
The drum rotates not only in a washing operation, but also in rinsing and spin-drying operations. During such rotation, the drum is vibrated.
The rotating shaft extends through the rear wall of the tub such that it is protruded outwardly of the tub. The rotating shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing housing. The bearing housing is rigidly connected to the rear wall of the tub. For this reason, the vibration of the drum is directly transmitted to the tub.
In order to damp the above-mentioned vibration, a suspension unit is provided. Generally, the suspension unit is connected to the tub, to damp the vibration of the tub. Thus, the vibration generated during the rotation of the drum is transmitted to the tub, and is damped by the suspension unit.


Methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for using machine-learning concepts (e.g., machine learning models) to determine predicted taxonomy-based classification scores for claims and dynamically update data fields based on the same.

Provider classification is an important topic in relationship management for health insurance companies. Providers cover a diverse range of specializations, from inpatient hospitals to primary care physicians. Inaccurate classification can be due to data entry errors, or more likely, owing to a change in the organizational structure of the provider's business (such as a merger or acquisition of another practice). Since provider taxonomy is not a data field required for payment of claims, very few providers update this information in corresponding systems. As a result, this data field may be unpopulated or incorrect in most systems, and current operational processes do not rely on the information provided, but instead perform manual searches into each individual provider's billing history in order to make a taxonomy-based classification. Thus, the time required for this step may range anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending upon the systems being queried and the number of claims.
Through ingenuity and innovation, various embodiments of the present invention make substantial improvements to the above challenges.

Dynamic database updates using probabilistic determinations


A syringe includes a plunger having a plunger tube with proximal and distal ends, a center tube with a center passage that extends within the plunger tube, and a balloon disposed over the center tube and sealingly fixed to at least one of the center tube and the plunger tube. The syringe also includes a barrel having a barrel tube having proximal and distal ends and an interior configured to accept a portion of the plunger, a tip fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the barrel tube, a post fixedly attached to the tip and extending within the barrel tube toward the distal end, the tip configured to partially extend into the center passage of the plunger, and a gas passage extending from a proximal end of the tip to the distal end of the post.

Field
The present disclosure generally relates to syringes and, in particular, to a syringe for extracting the contents of a sealed vial.
Description of the Related Art
Medications are often delivered in sealed vials. The medicine may be in either liquid form, and therefore ready to use, or in a dry, powdered form that requires reconstitution prior to use. In the case of a liquid medication, extraction of the liquid without introducing a gas into the vial results in a partial vacuum being created within the vial, which makes the extraction of the liquid more difficult. In the case of a dry medication, introduction of water into the vial, so as to reconstitute the medication, results in an increased pressure within the vial, which makes it difficult to introduce the water as well as presenting a hazard when extracting the reconstituted medication.
Vials are typically provided with a septum adapted for penetration by a needle. Vial adapters are available that include a needle, which is arranged to penetrate the septum of a vial, that is in fluid communication with a female needleless fitting configured to accept a needleless male fitting of a syringe. Common needleless fittings have a "Luer taper" conforming to an International Standards Organization (ISO) standard. Certain connectors have a self-sealing feature to prevent leakage of fluid from the attached vial when the syringe is decoupled from the fitting of the vial adapter. Certain vial adapters provide vent paths to the ambient environment to allow ambient air to enter the vial or allow gas to be expelled from the vial to the ambient environment. Certain vial adapters include a sealed chamber that capture gas expelled from the vial and prevent the expelled gas from passing into the ambient environment.


A driver circuit is configured to control a power transistor. The driver circuit comprises a signal generator configured to generate a control signal for the power transistor based on a supply signal and an input signal from a control unit. In addition, the driver circuit includes a ripple detector configured to receive the supply signal and determine whether the supply signal includes a ripple error. In some examples, the ripple detector may be configured to send a warning signal to the control unit in response to detecting the ripple error.

Gate driver circuits are used to control power switches in order to control the delivery of power within a system. For example, modulation control signals (e.g., pulse width modulation "PWM" signals) can be applied to the gates of power switches to control the on/off switching of the power switches. The on/off switching of a power switch can effectively control the delivery of power through the power switch to a load.
Flyback power converters typically utilize a transformer that galvanically isolates a primary side from a secondary side of the power converter. A gate driver on the secondary side may be used to control a power switch that operates in a high voltage domain. To generate a supply for controlling the gate driver on the secondary side, buffering capacitors may be used to create a stable supply voltage.

Ripple detector for monitoring a supply to galvanically isolated gate driver


Segmented resistor string digital-to-analog converters using a resistor string primary converter segment and a current source secondary. The primary converter segment provides conversion of the most significant bits to an analog voltage form and the current source provides conversion of the least significant bits to an analog current form. An output circuit combines the two into a single analog output. Various embodiments are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuit digital-to-analog converters.
2. Prior Art
A simple digital-to-analog converter is comprised of a plurality of resistors coupled in series across a voltage reference, with a decoder receiving and decoding a digital input signal to control switches to couple the voltage of the selected node between resistors to the digital-to-analog converter output. A segmented resistor string digital-to-analog converter is similar in some respects, though contains first and second pluralities of resistors, each plurality of resistors being coupled in series to define two resistor strings. The first resistor string is coupled across a voltage reference. The second resistor string is coupled across two adjacent nodes in the first resistor string selected in response to the output of a decoder driven by the most significant bits of the digital input signal. The least significant bits of the input signal are decoded and used to couple the selected node between resistors in the second resistor string to the digital-to-analog converter output.
Many segmented resistor string architectures for digital-to-analog converters are well known in the prior art. These architectures include isolating the primary string from a secondary string by use of a pair of unity gain buffers, and applying a secondary resistor string directly across a primary string element and predicting the voltage shifts in the primary string voltages. Other similar, and more exotic, approaches are also known in the prior art.
Segmented resistor string digital-to-analog converters using a resistor string primary converter segment and a current source secondary. The primary converter segment provides conversion of the most significant bits to an analog voltage form and the current source provides conversion of the least significant bits to an analog current form. An output circuit combines the two into a single analog output. Various embodiments are disclosed, including an embodiment using a binary weighted current source and an embodiment using a thermometer code current source.


An imaging device capable of obtaining high-quality imaging data is provided. The imaging device includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit. The first circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element, a plurality of transistors including an amplifier transistor, and a plurality of capacitors. The second circuit includes a transistor. The third circuit includes a resistor and a transistor for controlling a current flowing in the resistor. The output signal of the imaging device is determined in accordance with the current flowing in the resistor. Variations in electrical characteristics of the amplifier transistor included in the first circuit can be compensated.

As a semiconductor device in which pixels each provided with a photosensor are arranged in a matrix, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is known. CMOS image sensors are provided in many portable devices such as digital cameras or cellular phones as imaging elements.
Silicon is widely known as a semiconductor material applicable to a transistor generally included in a CMOS image sensor or the like. As another material, an oxide semiconductor has attracted attention.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a transistor including an oxide semiconductor and having extremely low off-state current is used in part of a pixel circuit and a transistor including a silicon semiconductor with which a CMOS circuit can be formed is used in a peripheral circuit, so that an imaging device with high speed operation and low power consumption can be manufactured.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A device for the application of a preload between a subsea wellhead and a conductor housing comprises an activating member (1), a support housing (2), a locking member (3), end means (9) for securing the support housing relative to the well-head. Movement of the activating member causes an inclined lateral movement of the locking member. The activating member carries a ratchet (7) comprising a multiplicity of serrations which have a regular pitch in the activating direction and the support housing (1, 2) cames at least two latches (19, 20) which allow the relative movement and can engage the ratchet to inhibit movement reverse to the activating direction. The discrete locking positions provided by one of the latches are positionally out of phase with the discrete locking positions provided by the other latch or latches. A support member (16) is positioned to be moved laterally in response to movement of the activating member and to support the locking member (3) against the engagement zone (18) of the datum member (2).

In this and other contexts a ratchet may be engaged by a latch to provide a multiplicity of possible settings of a position of one member that carries the ratchet relative to another member which carries the latch. An ordinary ratchet and latch provides one-directional travel of one component past another. The latch may be sprung so that its profile engages discrete positions of the profile of the ratchet. Movement in the reverse direction is prevented by the locking engagement of the two profiles. The backlash of the system is determined by the pitch of the discrete locking positions of the engagement profile between the ratchet and the latch. It is, therefore, possible for the moving part of the system to come to rest within an infinitesimally small distance from which it can engage with a discrete locking position of the fixed component. From this position, there is nothing to prevent a reversal of travel up to the previous discrete locking position, which is approximately one pitch away from the desired resting position. It is, therefore, advantageous to minimize the backlash of the system such that reverse movement is efficiently reduced.


Systems and apparatus are provided for locating the center of a substrate. The invention includes a frame, mounted between a slit valve assembly and a transfer chamber wall in substrate processing equipment; at least one emitter, housed in the frame, and adapted to emit a signal; at least one sensor, housed in the frame, and adapted to receive the emitted signal; and a controller adapted to determine a center of a substrate based on the signal received by the sensor. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Processing of substrates (e.g., semiconductor, glass, etc.) for use in electronic devices is typically done in one or more processing chambers of a processing tool. The substrates may be moved between the processing chambers via a central transfer chamber. A slit valve connects the central transfer chamber to a processing chamber. Robot arms rotate and extend to load and unload the substrate wafers from the processing chambers. The substrates must be precisely positioned on the robot arms (or blades) in ideal pickup and drop positions. Deviations from these ideal positions may create negative consequences later in the processing of the substrates. For example, if the substrates are not properly positioned and seated on the robot arms at the time of pickup, the substrates may slide off the arms during withdrawal from the processing chambers. This may result in the substrate being partially left on the processing chuck and partially in the slit valve, thereby requiring venting and opening of the transfer chamber to manually remove the substrate. Additionally, the substrate may be contaminated, damaged or even broken, by contact with the chamber parts or motions of the slit valve, particularly if the valve is closed prematurely. These negative consequences may result in longer and more expensive processing times, which is undesirable.
Conventional systems for precisely positioning the substrates include using specialized setup tools and measurement wafers (such as "camera on wafer") to program the rotation and extension of the robot arms when loading or unloading the substrates from the processing chambers. However, some of the problems with these systems are that either the chambers must be opened to use the tools, or the tools themselves are extremely expensive and therefore may be quite limited in usage.
Additionally, the robots experience normal wear, particularly at the bearings, as well as changes in temperature, which will therefore cause the robot components to expand and contract. Thus, the "ideal" pickup and drop positions for the substrate in the chamber change over time. However, if the extension and rotation of the robot arms are set to a particular measurement, as described by conventional systems, these set measurements do not account for these changes in the tools.
Moreover, as the substrates are in transit, the substrates themselves may shift on the arms, or move in the chambers as they are lowered onto or lifted from processing chucks and other apparatus. Robots having particularly calibrated extension and rotation movements are unable to adjust for these misplacements of the substrate on the robot arm. Accordingly a need exists for a system that allows for improved substrate centerfinding.

Methods and apparatus for an integral local substrate center finder for I/O and chamber slit valves


A Virtual Reality (VR) computer system and method including a VR headset to be worn by at least one user; one or more pupil sensors located in the VR headset configured and operative to capture and track pupil movement of the at least one user wearing the VR headset; and at least one camera device operative to capture video image of at least one user wearing the VR headset. A computer processor is instructed to generate a two-dimensional (2D) image of the least one user such that an image of the VR headset is virtually removed from the image of the at least one user wearing the VR headset.

Virtual Reality (VR) enables remarkably immersive experiences, offering new ways to view the world and the ability to explore novel environments, both real and imaginary. However, compared to physical reality, sharing these experiences with others can be difficult, as VR headsets make it challenging to create a complete picture of the people participating in the experience.
Some of this disconnect is alleviated by Mixed Reality (MR), a related medium that shares the virtual context of a VR user in a two dimensional video format allowing other viewers to get a feel for the user's virtual experience. Even though MR facilitates sharing, the headset continues to block facial expressions and eye gaze, presenting a significant hurdle to a fully engaging experience and complete view of the person in VR.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for rendering virtual reality interactions


A mapper for a PAM encoder is provided and includes apparatus for generating desired code levels, and a constellation matrix memory which stores indications of a plurality of different N-dimensional constellations. The plurality of different constellations are used individually or together to support a plurality of different modem data (bit) rates. In order to maximize performance in the presence of robbed bit signalling, multidimensional constellations having different numbers of points are used together in the coding of a single group of bits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data communications equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to mapping systems and methods having advantageous applications in high speed modems which are coupled to lines subject to robbed bit signalling.
2. State of the Art
With the ever-increasing importance of telecommunications for the transfer of data as well as voice, there has been a strong effort to increase data transfer rates over the telephone wires. Recently, the ITU-T adopted the V.34 Recommendation (International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector Recommendation V.34, Geneva, Switzerland 1994) which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The V.34 standard and subsequent amendments define modem operating speeds of 28.8 kbps up to 33.6 kbps, and the vast majority of modems being sold today adhere to the V.34 Recommendation. However, with the explosion in the use of the Internet, even at the V.34 transfer rates, downloading of large files available on the Internet can take long periods of time. Thus, recently, there has been a thrust to provide additional standards recommendations which will increase data transfer rates even further (note the TIA TR-30.1 PAM Modem ad hoc group and the ITU-T Study Group 16).
Recognizing that further increases in data rates is theoretically limited where the telecommunication network is an analog system (see C. E. Shannon, "A Mathematical Theory of Communication," Bell System Technical Journal, 27:379-423, 623-656 (1948)), there have been various proposals to take advantage of the fact that much of the telecommunication network is now digital. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,437 to Ayanoglu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,583 to Dagdeviren, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,625 to Ayanoglu et al. (all assigned to AT&T/Lucent and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties) all discuss techniques which utilize the recognition that the network is mostly digital in order to increase data transmission rates to 56 kbps and higher. Similarly, Kalet et al., "The Capacity of PAM Voiceband Channels," IEEE International Conference on Communications '93, pages 507-511 Geneva, Switzerland (1993) discusses such a system where the transmitting end selects precise analog levels and timing such that the analog to digital conversion which occurs in the central office may be achieved with no quantization error. PCT application number PCT/US95/15924 (Publication WO 96/18261) to Townshend which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) discusses similar techniques. All of the disclosures assume the use of PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) digital encoding technology rather than the QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) currently used in the V.34 Recommendation. The primary difference between the AT&T technology and the Townshend reference is that the AT&T technology suggests exploiting the digital aspect of the telephone network in both "upstream" and "downstream" directions, while Townshend appears to be concerned with the downstream direction only. Thus, systems such as the "x2" technology of US Robotics which are ostensibly based on Townshend envision the use of the V.34 Recommendation-technology for upstream communications.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the technologies underlying the V.34 Recommendation, and the proposed 56 kbps modem are complex and typically require the use of high-end digital signal processors (DSPs). One of the complex tasks of the modem is the mapping of digital data into a sequence of digital signals chosen from a constellation which are converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter. Mapping typically includes utilizing a constellation. In the V.34 Recommendation, the preferred constellation is a four-dimensional constellation, whereas in the envisioned 56 kbps modems, the constellation is envisioned as a one dimensional PAM constellation which complies with .mu.-law (A-law in Europe) requirements. According to .mu.-law requirements which are set forth in ITU-T Recommendation G.711 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, the total constellation consists of 255 signal levels; 127 positive, 127 negative, and zero. Both the positive portion of the constellation and the negative portion of the constellation include eight sectors with sixteen points each (the constellation being shown in Appendix 1 hereto), with zero being a common point for both portions. As is well known in the art, the minimum distance between points in sector 1 of the constellation is a distance "2". In sector 2, the minimum distance is "4", while in sector 3, the minimum distance is "8". In the eighth sector, the minimum distance is "256".
Using the full PAM .mu.-law constellation, theoretically, a bit rate of almost 64 kbps can be transmitted over the analog local loop to the digital network. However, the average power of such a constellation would be about -4 dBm, and the minimum distance between points would be a distance of "2". Such a large average power is undesirable when compared to the present restrictions of an average power of -12 dBm on the network; and such a minimum distance is also undesirable, with minimum distances of at least "4" and preferably "8" being considerably more desirable in reducing errors due to noise. In addition, where the modem is to be coupled to a digital transport system which utilizes robbed bit signalling (e.g., a T1 trunk) for signal control and status information between network equipment, very high bit rates are not achievable because the robbed bit signalling will introduce errors into the transmitted signal.
With the systems of the prior art, errors resulting from robbed bit signalling may be introduced in several ways. First, if the PAM constellation includes two points having adjacent codes (e.g., 10110000 and 10110001), then by robbing and changing the 1sb, a direct error is introduced. However, even if the PAM constellation does not have points with adjacent codes, the robbing and changing of a bit can introduce error because the minimum distance between points is reduced. For example, in the case of a 40 kbps data rate, where the optimal thirty-two point constellation having a minimum distance (Dmin=96) appears as follows,
z1=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z2=0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z3=0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z4=0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1! PA0 z5=0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,1! PA0 z6=0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,0! PA0 z7=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z8=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 after robbed bit signalling, the constellation will be transformed into the following constellation, PA0 z1=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z2=0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z3=0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z4=0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,1! PA0 z6=0,0,1,1,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,1,1! PA0 z7=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0! PA0 z8=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0!
which has a minimum distance Dmin=32. In addition, the power of the constellation may be increased due to robbed bit signalling. As a result, while the original constellation might meet certain power requirements, the resulting signal could be in violation of the power requirements.

Mapper for high data rate transmission through channels subject to robbed bit signalling


An office chair is composed of a backrest, a seat, a support leg for supporting the seat, a sliding device, a locating device, and a control device. The sliding device includes two frame members and two sliding members. The locating device includes two toothed plates, two rotary plates and two elastic rods. The control device includes a press plate, an elastic rod, and a control rod. The backrest of the office chair can be adjusted back and forth to give a constant support to the back of an office worker seated on the office chair.

Conventional office chairs have a backrest which is generally fixed and cannot be adjusted in its position. The backrest of the office chairs is in fact seldom used by an office worker in view of the fact that the body of the office worker is often kept close to the desk or computer keyboard, thereby resulting in a backache to the office worker.


A switching circuit that transitions using a switch transistor. During the initial stages of a high-low transition, a control loop provides supplemental pre-charge to the gate of the switch transistor to reduce high-low switching delays. Once the current flowing through the switch transistor rises to a level causing the output voltage to change at specified speed threshold, a loop opening mechanism opens the loop. Further opening of the switch transistor in the high-low transition is taken care of by a relatively constant current source. At that point, no or negligible feedback current is used to charge the gate of the switch transistor. Low-high transitions may be performed in a similar complementary manner.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to switching circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to switching circuits that have controlled switching of the switching transistor for reduced Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), and that precharge the switching transistor for reduced switching delay.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Electronic circuitry has contributed enormously to the advancement of civilization. One of the fundamental building blocks of electronic circuitry is the switching circuit, in which a node of the circuitry is switched from one voltage to another in response to a switch control signal.
Designers of switching circuits take various constraints into account when conceiving such circuits. One of these constraints is the electromagnetic compatibility (or EMC) of the silicon chip they are designing. While operating, the chip should not radiate excessive electromagnetic energy in order not to interfere with the proper operation of other surrounding circuits. Such interference is often termed Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI).
Electro-Magnetic energy will radiate to some extent every time a time-dependent voltage signal is present on chip. In general, the faster that voltage signal varies, the more electro-magnetic energy is radiated. Since switching circuits by their very nature involve the transition of a voltage signal from one voltage to another, switching circuits also involve rapid changes in current to sustain the voltage signal transition at a particular node. These rapid changes in current cause the switching circuits to radiate EMI. EMI may be of particular concern in Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) drivers, which often generate sharp transition edges.
One conventional solution to limit EMI is to limit the slope of the transition edge when switching the switching circuit. An example of such a conventional switching circuit is illustrated in FIG. 7 as switching circuit 700. The slope of the transition edge is controlled by the current sources IQ1 and IQ2 and the capacitor C1. Accordingly, this switching circuit emits less EMI than switching circuits that do not implement slope control.
However, a main disadvantage of that switching circuit is that it has a very long delay between the command to perform a switch to the actual start of the switch. The turn-on delay is caused by the necessity for the gate to source voltage of switch transistor M1 to reach the threshold voltage of the switch transistor M1 before the switch transistor M1 starts conducting. The turn-off delay is caused by the necessity for the gate to source voltage of switch transistor M1 to drop before exiting the linear region. FIG. 8 illustrates a timing signal diagram 800 of the transition control signal VON and the switch voltage VDS across the switch transistor M1. Note the turn on delay t1 and the turn off delay t2.
Some conventional switching circuits reduce switching delay by pre-charging the gate terminal of the switch transistor prior to an off-on transition, and pre-discharging the gate terminal of the switch transistor prior to the on-off transition. However, the gate terminal should not be pre-charged to a point where the switch transistor conducts significant current. Likewise, the gate terminal should not be pre-discharged to a point where the switch transistor reduces significantly the amount of current conducted. Otherwise, the output voltage would be altered despite not being in a transition. To avoid this, a significant safety factor is built into the pre-charge and pre-discharge. This safety factor may be quite large due to the variability in transistor performance. This large safety factor often prevents much of any possible pre-charge or pre-discharge. Accordingly, such conventional circuits may still have significant switching delay.
Furthermore, this and other conventional circuits may use a closed loop to pre-charge and pre-discharge. Closed loops can be quite unstable if not designed properly. Accordingly, significant time is often expended in designing such closed loop pre-charge switching circuits.
What would thereby be advantageous are switching circuits that have slope control during transitions to reduce EMI, that perform pre-charging to reduce switching delay, and that do not need significant design and/or testing to ensure stability during operation.

Switching circuit using closed control loop to precharge gate of switching transistor and stable open loop to switch the switching transistor


A seismic isolation apparatus is provided between a structure and a foundation floor, and the seismic isolation apparatus includes: a support plate that is provided so as to face the structure at a predetermined interval; a base plate that is fixed to the foundation floor; and an elasto-plastic damper that is provided between the support plate and the base plate to be fixed to the support plate and the base plate. The elasto-plastic damper includes an inner cylinder inside which an elasto-plastic member is provided and an outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are configured to mutually slide in an axis direction thereof.

Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a seismic isolation apparatus and a seismic isolation method.
Description of the Related Art
Seismic isolation devices have been introduced as earthquake countermeasures for structures, such as buildings, machines and equipment. The seismic isolation apparatus is generally composed of a soft member such as a laminated rubber, and an attenuation member such as an oil damper to prevent earthquake acceleration from being transmitted to a structure. The general seismic isolation apparatus composed of the soft member and the attenuation member is not always effective against a large long-period displacement response even if the general seismic isolation apparatus is effective against a short-period displacement response. The general seismic isolation apparatus has difficulty of designing seismic isolation for the large long-period displacement response.
That is, if a large long-period earthquake vibration beyond expectations is received, there is a possibility that a structure provided with a seismic isolation apparatus may break its member such as the laminated rubber due to exceeding a design allowable value.
Each of FIGS. 13 to 16 is a sectional view of a seismic isolation apparatus in accordance with examples of conventional seismic isolation apparatus.
For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, in order to cope with breakage in an elastic body 100 such as a laminated rubber, between a structure 101 and a foundation 102, there is an example (which will be referred to as "first example") of the seismic isolation apparatus that includes a bed slide 103 fixed to the elastic body 100 and the structure 101, an upper support body 104 that is brought into contact with the bed slide 103 if there is large displacement, a lower support body 106 composed of layer composition such as a rubber plate that elastically supports the upper support body 104, and the like, and in which characteristics of the elastic body 100 that is squeezed in a direction perpendicular to its lamination plane allows the structure 101 to land on the seismic isolation apparatus by using elastic and cushioning action between the upper support body 104 and the lower support body 106 before the elastic body 100 is broken to reduce impact force caused by dropping of the structure 101.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 15, between the structure 101 and the foundation 102, there is an example (which will be referred to as "second example") of the seismic isolation apparatus that includes an upper sliding member 104 and a lower sliding member 106, provided with sliding faces so as to surround a periphery of a laminated rubber 100, and in which if the laminated rubber 100 is broken, the upper sliding member 104 and the lower sliding member 106 are brought into contact with each other to slide as well as support self-weight of the structure 101.
Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 16, in order to prevent the laminated rubber 100 provided between the structure 101 and the foundation 102 from breaking, there is an example (which will be referred to as "third example") of the seismic isolation apparatus that has a structure in which if an attachment face of the laminated rubber 100 receives a predetermined load, the laminated rubber 100 slides with respect to the foundation 102.
In the first example, since the lower support body 106 is composed of a rubber plate, and the like, energy generated by dropping of the structure 101 is converted into energy of elastic deformation, and then the energy, as it is, returns to the structure 101 as vibration energy. As a result, in the structure 101, there is a case where the energy generated by the dropping is not absorbed and consumed to cause vertical impulsive vibration. Further, if a number of elastic bodies 100 arranged are unevenly broken to cause a slight inclination to occur in the structure 101, there may be a case where dropping in accordance with an inclination angle is occurred, thereby causing impact force to be hardly absorbed.
The conventional method allowing the laminated rubber 100 to slide is not always effective against three-dimensional displacement in vertical and side-to-side directions even if the conventional method allowing the laminated rubber 100 to slide is effective against displacement in a side-to-side direction. As a result, it may be impossible to absorb impact force generated by the structure 101.
Further, the conventional method which is applied to the first to third examples has a possibility that the structure 101 may violently collide with the upper support body and the upper sliding member 104, the lower support body and the lower sliding member 106, or the like, to cause the members 104 and 106, and the structure 101, to be broken depending on vertical behavior of the structure 101 when the laminated rubber 100 is broken.

Seismic isolation device and seismic isolation method


A method of presenting search results (104) obtained from a search conducted over a computer network (720) is disclosed. The search is performed using searching criteria (102) and returns information including a plurality of network locations (106). Data is extracted (438) from a first one of the network locations and examined 442) to identify therein the searching criteria to provide at least one specific location (444) within the first network location of the searching criteria. The specific location is used to identify, from the extracted data, specific data (452) including at least the searching criteria. The specific data is then formatted a printable document (454). Preferably, the steps are repeated for each remaining network location in which the formatted data is incorporated into printable document. Typically, the formatted data spans at least one printable page thereby allowing identification of one or more locations (304) where the pages are void of formatted data. In such instances, further data (524) can be sourced from the computer network formatted and incorporated at least one void location within in the printable document.

In order to facilitate the accessing of information available through computer networks such as the Internet and the World Wide Web ("the Web"), network service providers typically allow users access to one or mores search engines that are operable by the user to identify specific classes of information available on the network.
FIG. 1 depicts an example of the Web browser application and a typical presentation via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a search engine page 100 that may arise from a user searching of a particular keyword string of text 102, in this example STRING. STRING may be a single alphanumeric word, or a list of such words, perhaps linked by Boolean operators, and represents the search criteria used by the search engine. As illustrated in FIG. 1, search results 104 are typically ranked according to the quality of hit upon the searched string and typically lists a location 106 of the search result and the corresponding title 108. The actual presentation of the search results 104 is often user definable within a range of settings established by the search engine. Typically the location 106 of an individual result 114 is expressed as a Uniform Resource Location (URL). In some cases, the title 108 and the location 106 are combined as a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI). Often, the search engine application provides for some amount of text 110, typically a few lines or an abstract, relating to the particular location to be presented as part of the search result. In many search engines, this text typically represents the first few lines of text of the referenced location.
As a consequence, based on the presentation shown in FIG. 1, the user is then able to scroll through the search results 104 using a scroll bar 112 or by selecting different display pages of the search result to identify those individual results desired to be reviewed. In those circumstances where the user preselects the text 110 to be displayed, often the search results 104 are provided arranged ten to a page. However, removal of the text 110 can provide the search results to be provided at a rate of approximately twenty per page, where "page" in this fashion represents electronic page of information displayed on a display screen to the computer network user.
Many problems exist with the above described arrangement. Firstly, where only the URL 106 is presented in the result, often the user has no means of interpreting the search result other than by accessing the URL. Where the titles 108 are selected for display, often the particular title 108 provides no information as to the specific content, or context of that content, to be found at the corresponding URL, or bears any relationship to the searched string 102. Further, where the text 110 is also provided, there is no guarantee that the searched string 102 will be presented in the text displayed on the search page 100. Further, in any configuration there in no guarantee that when the user accesses the particular location 106, at which the searched string 102 is putported to be found, that the searched string will actually be found. As a consequence of the inadequacies of the information presented in the search page 100 shown in FIG. 1, users often spend excessive amounts of time accessing individual locations, reviewing the locations and, where appropriate, discarding the relevance of that location before referring to a further location.
FIG. 2A exemplifies a display of a Web page 200 accessed through a user selecting the first search result 114 shown in FIG. 1. As seen from FIG. 2A, the displayed Web page 200 includes a title banner 202, various images 204, 206, 208, 210, and text 212 incorporating the searched string 214. With such an example, accessing of the first search result 114 by the user provides an immediate result in response to the user's searching of the search string.
However, in FIG. 2B, a Web title page 230 for another search result 116 shown in FIG. 1 is shown which also includes a title 216, a certain amount of text 218, an animated GIF image 220 together with a number of further URL links 222 within the same primary location depicted by the particular URL, in this case URL#m. Notably, the search string is not seen in the displayed page 230 of FIG. 2B. In order for the user to find the search string, it is necessary for the user to scroll through the Web page 230 using the scroll bar 112. As seen from FIG. 2C, the search string 102 is located at 232 within a display screen 234 within the Web page 230 defined by the URL#m. The display screen 234 is seen to have images 224, 226 and text 228.
Further, where the user reviews information at any one location, the only convenient way of forming a reasonable record of that review is to print a particular page of the reference location. Print facilities provided with browser applications and search engine pages are limited to one Web page at a time. This requires the user to access each Web page and to then print that page where appropriate.
It will therefore be appreciated that traditional methods of viewing search results obtained over computer networks can be time consuming, and are not conducive to providing a convenient record of search results.

Automated document production from a search environment


A mixture of unsatisfactory fragments of tobacco ribs and shreds of tobacco leaf laminae and/or tobacco ribs which are bonded to each other and/or are clumped together and/or crimped is treated to loosen the coherent and/or clumped shreds and/or uncrimp individual shreds and to thereupon separate the fragments of ribs from the thus liberated and/or straightened shreds. The treatment involves heating the mixture with steam, thereafter cooling (if necessary) the mixture, and thereupon pneumatically separating the shreds from the fragments of tobacco ribs. The heating operation can take place simultaneously with moisturizing of the mixture and can be carried out in a rotary or vibratory conveyor.

The invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for treating mixtures of tobacco particles. More particularly, the invention relates to the treatment of mixtures containing a first fraction consisting of fragmentized tobacco ribs and a second fraction consisting of shredded tobacco ribs and/or tobacco leaf laminae.
Tobacco leaves which are to be converted into the fillers of cigarettes or other rod-shaped smokers' products are subjected to a number of treatments prior to entering the distributor (also called hopper) of a rod making machine, e.g., a cigarette maker. As a rule, the first step involves the destalking of tobacco leaves, i.e., separation of tobacco leaf laminae from tobacco ribs. The thus obtained laminae are largely devoid of ribs and are contacted by one or more flavoring agents (e.g., in the form of sauces) prior to introduction into a comminuting machine known as cutter. The ribs are largely devoid of leaf laminae and are thereupon treated separately from the laminae; such treatment involves shredding and the thus obtained shredded ribs are mixed with shredded tobacco leaf laminae. The resulting mixture of the two types of shreds is ready for introduction into the distributor or hopper of a cigarette maker.
Those parts of comminuted leaves which are obtained as a result of cutting of ribs upon separation of ribs from the leaf laminae often contain fragments having a relatively high specific gravity (weight/air resistance) and hence a relatively pronounced stiffness. Therefore, such portions of tobacco ribs (hereinafter called fragments in contrast to shreds) are likely to interfere with the making of satisfactory cigarettes or other rod-shaped smokers' articles, especially in modern cigarette makers which are designed to turn out up to and in excess of 10,000 articles per minute. Consequently, the fragments of ribs should be, and normally are, separated from satisfactory comminuted ribs (namely acceptable shredded ribs) as well as from shredded leaf laminae. In many instances, the relatively heavy fragments are separated from shreds (of ribs and leaf laminae) in a cigarette making machine proper. The reason is that, in order to make a satisfactory tobacco filler, it is necessary to form a stream of loose tobacco particles (shreds) and, since the fragments are heavier than the shreds, the separating step can be carried out by resorting to relatively simple and convenient pneumatic separation or classification. Such pneumatic separation or classification involves the entrainment of the relatively lightweight shreds by one or more streams of a gaseous carrier fluid which is incapable of entraining the heavier fragments of tobacco ribs.
A drawback of heretofore known procedures of separating fragments of tobacco ribs from the shreds is that the mixture of fragments and shreds also contains a rather high percentage of shredded leaf laminae and/or ribs which, however, are present in such formations that they behave (for example, in a gaseous carrier fluid) not unlike undesirable fragments of tobacco ribs. The formations include coherent shreds, clumps of interlaced shreds and/or crimped or crimpled shreds whose configuration and/or other characteristics are such that they cannot be readily separated from undesirable fragments of tobacco ribs. For example, tobacco which has been treated with relatively high quantities of one or more flavoring agents in the form of sauces or the like will yield satisfactory shreds many of which, however, are bonded to each other by one or more flavoring agents to constitute relatively large accumulations having a relatively high specific weight. Furthermore, the presence of one or more flavoring agents enhances the tendency of otherwise satisfactory shreds to become interlaced and to form clumps which behave not unlike accumulations of coherent (bonded-together) shreds. Still further, the addition of one or more sticky flavoring agents enhances the tendency of individual shreds (or two or another small number of shreds) to undergo a pronounced crimping action and to be thus converted into globules or like configurations which, too, cannot be readily segregated from unsatisfactory or unacceptable fragments of tobacco ribs.
On the other hand, and since tobacco constitutes by far the most expensive constituent of a rod-shaped smokers' product, it is desirable for reasons of economy to salvage as many shredded tobacco particles as possible, i.e., to separate from unacceptable fragments of tobacco ribs all those shreds or groups of shreds (be it shreds of leaf laminae or shreds of ribs) which would be acceptable for use in the making of tobacco fillers save for their tendency to adhere to each other as a result of bonding or interlacing or to assume configurations departing from those of the majority of shreds, e.g., because portions of each such individual shred are bonded to each other by a flavoring agent.

Method of and apparatus for separating fragments of tobacco ribs from shredded tobacco


Disclosed herein is a method for producing a recycled hardened material using waste gypsum. The method comprises treating acidic wastewater generated in the production of copper, zinc or titanium or the production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and chlorine using saline water, with calcium hydroxide (slaked lime), so as to precipitate sludge, and mixing the precipitated sludge with pulp sludge ashes having pozzolanic properties.

Pulp sludge ashes generated by the incineration of pulp sludge in a papermaking process are used as cement additives, etc., because of hydraulic properties (i.e., pozzolanic properties). However, the majority of these pulp sludge ashes are buried in landfills, since methods capable of increasing their added value are insufficient in view of the amount of their generation.
Acidic wastewater generated in the production of copper, zinc or titanium or the production of sodium hydroxide or chlorine by the electrolysis of seawater or salt-dissolved water (hereinafter, referred to as saline water) is neutralized with calcium hydroxide to form sludge. The sludge is dehydrated to a water content of 60-80% to form so-called "waste gypsum". This reaction is illustrated by the following equation:H2SO4+Ca(OH)2→CaSO4+2H2O
The waste gypsum has a chemical molecular formula of CaSO4 which is the same as that of general gypsum. However, the waste gypsum has different chemical properties from general gypsum, so that it has no hydraulic properties even when it is not only in a wet state but also dehydrated by drying. Particularly, at a water content of 60-80%, the gypsum cannot provide a hardened material having strength sufficient to make handling easy, even when it is mixed with a cement having special composition. Thus, it was difficult to provide a cost-effective composition using the waste gypsum.
Although the waste gypsum is generated in various industrial fields at very large amounts, there are no methods of treating harmful components contained in the waste gypsum and recycling the waste gypsum in an economic manner. For this reason, it is buried in the underground at many costs, thus increasing the expense of manufacturers for wastewater disposal and causing environmental contamination.

Method of producing recycled hardened materials using waste gypsum


Optically active 1,3-BUTANEDIOL is produced by contacting microorganisms selected from respective groups of specific genuses having an effect of acting on an enantiomeric mixture of 1,3-butanediols and leaving (R)-1,3-butanediol or (S)-1,3-butanediol in enantiomeric mixture, and collecting the remaining optically active (R)-1,3-butandiol or (S)-1,3-butanediol. Optically active 1,3-butanediol can be produced by an economically excellent and convenient means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a process for producing an optically active 1,3-butanediol and, more particularly, relates to a process for producing an optically active 1,3-butanediol by contacting specific microorganisms or processing products thereof with an enantiomer mixture of 1,3-butanediols and collecting the resulting optically active 1,3-butanediol.
Optically active 1,3-butanediols are important raw materials for synthesizing various medicines, such as antibiotics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a process for producing optically active 1,3-butanediols, there has been known, for example, (1) a method of optically resolving chemically synthesized racemic form 1,3-butanediol by using an optical resolving agent (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 61-191631), and (2) a method of asymmetric synthesis from 4-hydroxy-2-butanone by using a Raney nickel catalyst processed with an optically active compound (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 58-204187 and Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 53, 1356-1360 (1980)) or the like. However, since there are drawbacks to these methods in that expensive optical resolving agents and catalysts have to be used in both methods (1) and (2), as well as in that the optical purity is low in method (2), it has been desired to establish a process capable of obtaining an optically active 1,3-butanediol of high optical purity with an economically excellent and convenient means.

Process for producing optically active 1,3-butandiol by asymmetric assimilation


A camera includes a housing, a camera lens and a supplemental lens mechanism positioned on the housing and located in front of the camera lens. The supplemental lens mechanism includes a supplemental lens set, a carousel, a holder, a bracket, and a positioning ring. The supplemental lens set includes a number of supplemental lenses configured for producing different imaging effects. The carousel is disposed in front of the camera lens. The holder joins with the carousel to hold the supplemental lens set. The bracket is disposed in the housing of the camera and accommodates/carries the carousel. The positioning ring couples to the bracket to hold the carousel. The carousel can rotate in the bracket to make a selectable one of the supplemental lenses in the supplemental lens set align with the camera lens.

In recent years, cameras and image recorders have become popular with consumers. The camera lens, as a key component to traditional or digital cameras, plays an important role in the image quality.
Early digital cameras seldom had a protection mechanism in front of the camera lens. Camera lenses might suffer from pollution from dust or other pollutants if exposed to the environment without protection. Recently, some digital cameras have provided a protective cover in front of the camera lens. The protective cover moves to expose the camera lens when the digital camera is switched on. The protective cover moves to protect the camera lens when the digital camera is switched off. However, the protective cover lacks any other function.
Therefore, it is desired to develop a lens protection mechanism, which is capable of protecting the camera lens and is further capable of facilitating imaging diversity for the camera and a camera having the same.

Selectable lens mechanism and camera having same


A multi-purpose accessory straw is provided for use with a container for a consumable beverage, in which the straw is at least partially hollow and has structure to mix the beverage and at least minimize separation of the beverage into component phases or layers.

In today's society, beverages of many types are consumed by persons at an increasing rate. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are consumed at breakfast, lunch, dinner and at various times throughout the day. Beverages are consumed for many reasons, such as nourishment, thirst, societal, replacement of minerals and/or vitamins, etc.
Many beverages primarily consist of a single liquid phase, such as wine, beer, milk, etc. However, other beverages may contain more than one liquid phase, such as mixed drinks, coffee with cream and sugar, etc. In either case, the beverage should be mixed (i.e., stirred) at least occasionally for purposes of taste and enjoyment. This objective to mix is most evident after a multi-phase beverage is placed or poured into a container, such as a glass or cup, to prevent or at least minimize the separation of the beverage into component phases (or layers).
Additionally, many current beverage containers are one-piece, which means that the entire container may have to be destroyed if a crack develops in the container or if the container is broken. This, of course, leads to a certain amount of unrecoverable waste.
While accessories for beverage containers are currently available, such as straws, stirrers and swizzle sticks, the beverage-consuming public continues to look for new accessories which will enhance their enjoyment and consumption of beverages, especially multi-phase beverages.
Therefore, there is a need for new and effective accessory straws.

Accessory straws for mixing and consuming a beverage


A scanning optical system according to the present invention comprises a laser light source, a scanning deflector for deflecting a laser beam from said laser light source, a scanning lens for focusing deflected light on a scanning surface, a focusing point changing element for changing a focusing point so that a curvature of field is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning optical system for scanning a laser beam on a scanning surface to form a pattern thereon, and particularly to a system to be able to reduce a curvature of field.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese Patent Early Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-146015 discloses a scanning optical system having an anamorphic optical system. A laser beam emitted from a light source is imaged on reflecting surfaces of the polygon mirror in an auxiliary scanning plane by the anamorphic optical system so as to correct an affection caused by a tilting error of the reflecting surface used as a deflector.
Since the optical system of the Japanese publication cited above has a large positive power in the auxiliary scanning direction in order to temporarily image the light beam on the reflecting surface, a focusing point of the laser beam approaches the f.THETA. lens. In order to correct the curvature of field, a cylinder surface or toric surface having a negative curvature in the auxiliary scanning plane may be used for other lenses.
Also, in an optical system which provides a polygon mirror as a scanning deflector, since a radius of the polygon mirror is made relatively large, the curvature of field is corrected by a change of the deflecting point of the polygon mirror. If the number of the reflecting surfaces is fixed, the amount of the change of the deflecting point is varied by the radius of the polygon mirror.
However, if the negative power in the auxiliary scanning direction is made strong, it is possible indeed to favorably correct the curvature of field, but the wave aberration in the skew direction is deteriorated, thus resulting in a degraded spot shape.
Also, in case of a general scanning optical system such as a system of a laser beam printer, since the laser beam is incident to the polygon mirror from a direction from the optical axis of the scanning lens, a deflecting point on the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror changes asymmetrically about the optical axis. Therefore, a problem occurs such that the curvature of field become asymmetric on the scanning surface and correction can not be made when a lens is symmetric about the optical axis. As the radius becomes larger the curvature of field becomes smaller. Also, as the radius become larger the asymmetry also becomes larger.
In particular, such a problem conspicuously appears in a system having high accuracy and wide scanning extent.
For example, in such an apparatus as laser processing which requires such high accuracy in dot density, for example, 1000 dpi or more, a lens system having an F number of about 1:25.about.1:35 is required in order to reduce the spot diameter to about 30 .mu.m and deterioration of the quality of an image caused by wave aberration in the skew direction becomes significant.
Also, for laser processing devices used for printing posters, there are some devices which have a scanning extent of 600 mm or more.
Since the focal length of the lens system becomes long, it was very difficult to favorably correct the wave front aberration and to correct the curvature of field.


A system and method for encoding a document image and finding a location based on that image are described. A document page is encoded into codes associated with various locations of the document page. The codes are assembled into a code book. Captured images may then be similarly encoded and searched against the codes in the codebook. One or more codes and associated locations may be returned, thereby providing one or more possible locations for the captured images.

Computer users are accustomed to using a mouse and keyboard as a way of interacting with a personal computer. While personal computers provide a number of advantages over written documents, most users continue to perform certain functions using printed paper. Some of these functions include reading and annotating written documents. In the case of annotations, the printed document assumes a greater significance because of the annotations placed on it by the user. One of the difficulties, however, with having a printed document with annotations is the later need to have the annotations entered back into the electronic form of the document. This requires the original user or another user to wade through the annotations and enter them into a personal computer. In some cases, a user will scan in the annotations and the original text, thereby creating a new document. These multiple steps make the interaction between the printed document and the electronic version of the document difficult to handle on a repeated basis. Further, scanned-in images are frequently non-modifiable. There may be no way to separate the annotations from the original text. This makes using the annotations difficult. Accordingly, an improved way of handling annotations is needed.


A joint assembly has outer and inner joint members supported for relative angular movement while preventing rotation between the joint members. The outer joint member is fitted with a lip seal device presenting at least one seal lip which dynamically engages and sealingly wipes at least one corresponding sealing surface of the inner joint member at all angles to seal a space for the retention of lubricant and exclusion of contaminants.

So-called "Rzeppa" constant velocity joint assemblies are known in which an inner joint member is disposed within an outer joint member and the two formed with aligned ball grooves within which are disposed torque-transmitting balls which enable the joint to transmit torque between the members while being supported for relative articulation. Such Rzeppa joints are typically provided with a seal boot in a form of a convoluted sleeve which fits over and shrouds the inner and outer joint members and is clamped at its ends to provide a clean environment to the joint members and to retain lubricant. The convoluted configuration enables the joints to flex with the joint and maintain the sealed environment at high joint angles. One inherent drawback to such seal boots is that they are prone to damage from puncture, wear and/or abrasion. Such damage to the boot can impair its effectiveness at retaining lubricant and excluding contaminants which can shorten the life of the joint.
Another inherent characteristic of such convoluted boot seals is that they enlarge the overall package size of the joint. In applications where such joints are employed, space must be provided to accommodate the added volume of the boot.


In order to allow dual fuel operation, that is to say gas and liquid fuel, a fuel injection arrangement and an assembly are provided in which an injection conduit provides constriction to an airflow towards an outlet. In an assembly a plurality of arrangements including liquid fuel jets are arranged to such that through high angle incidents by the airflow appropriate vaporization and droplet formation is achieved for a fuel/air mixture combustible in a combustor of a turbine engine. At low liquid fuel flow rates below a pre-determined level the liquid fuel is atomized and entrained by the airflow. At high liquid fuel flow rates the fuel splash impinges upon a wash surface to develop a wash film which is again vaporized and atomized about an edge for a fuel/air mixture capable of combustion.

Operation of turbine engines is well known and involves the use of a combustor in order to combust a fuel and therefore provide rotary power for the prime mover engine. Turbine engines are used in a wide variety of situations and the present invention has particular applicability to stationary engines utilised for electrical power generation and providing power for pumping operations etc. It will be understood that turbine engines are utilised in situations such as oil platforms where a local electricity generator and possibly pumping operations are required. In these situations generally natural gas drawn from production will be used in normal operation. However, during construction of the platform and during periods of no gas production the turbine engine must still remain operational at least to provide an electrical power source. Of particular advantage in situations such as oil platforms where there is little space is the high thermal efficiency of turbine engine with low emissions and package size. In such circumstances turbine engines are generally optimized for gas combustion and it is difficult to provide dual fuel operations due to the limited package space available for the fuel injection arrangement as well as costs if intrusive techniques are required to convert between fuels.


A method of providing documentation from a source of telecommunications documentation. The method includes receiving a list of telecommunications work items and creating a report based on the list of work items, wherein the report includes a link to a source of telecommunications documentation associated with a work item on the list. The method also includes providing the report to a user and retrieving the documentation from the source of telecommunications documentation when the user selects the link.

The present invention is directed generally and in various embodiments to systems and methods for facilitating information retrieval in a telecommunications environment.
Telecommunications service providers often employ various software systems that allow for provisioning of various types of services. For example, a system is employed by many telecommunications service providers that assists in provisioning new circuits between telephone central offices (COs) or between telephone COs and customer provided equipment (CPE). Also, many telecommunications service providers employ a work control system that is used to automate many work assignments that are required to install and repair client facilities, trunks, special service circuits, and business and residential lines. A service (or work) order that requests the provisioning (e.g. installation, change, or disconnection) of a service is usually input into the systems to identify the service that needs provisioned, when it needs provisioned, and what action or actions must be taken to provision the service.
Oftentimes, a user of the above-described systems, such as a technician, is assigned a task that requires the user to consult information, such as a provisioning document, that is external to the systems. For example, a technician may need to consult an information source that is resident on a web page or in a paper document. In order to access such external sources, the user has to open, for example, a web browser, type in a link to the requested information, and then access the requested information.

Systems and methods for facilitating information retrieval in a telecommunications environment

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


The present invention provides a non-human model mammal of Alzheimer's disease (AD) containing chimeric amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene capable of producing human amyloid β peptide (Aβ) or a living part thereof, characterized in that Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio at 8-weeks-old is about 7-fold or more (about 140-fold or more in homozygote) higher compared to that of a corresponding wild-type mammal. Moreover, the present invention provides the mammal or a living part thereof, further characterized in that the level of APP expression is not significantly different compared to the corresponding wild-type mammal, and a screening method for a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for AD, a biomarker in biological fluids and molecular imaging of amyloid deposition or other pathological changes in the brain for an early diagnosis of AD using the mammal or a living part thereof.

In recent years, the increase of patients with elderly dementia is becoming a great social problem of the aging population. The main cause of elderly dementia is Alzheimer's disease (hereinafter sometimes to be abbreviated as "AD"). Based on genetic abnormality in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD), the mechanisms of the formation of senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle and the like have been increasingly revealed.
The major constituent of senile plaque is a highly aggregatable peptide called Aβ consisting of about 40 amino acid residues, which is produced by cleavage of a part of amyloid precursor protein (APP) consisting of 770 amino acids. Since both the responsible gene and susceptibility gene identified in FAD promote production and accumulation of Aβ, the accumulation of Aβ is believed to cause the onset of AD, and intensive studies have been performed to confirm this belief. Aβ has some molecular species having different lengths due to cleavage site (γ-secretase cleavage site) differences at its C terminal. Among these molecular species, Aβ40 consisting of 40 amino acid residues and Aβ42 consisting of 42 amino acid residues are important. Aβ42 is more likely to aggregate, and the pathogenicity thereof is higher than Aβ40.
In FAD with the Swedish mutation, it is known that there are two mutations at 2 amino acid residues just before the Aβ region in APP gene (Nat. Genet., 1(5): 345-7 (1992)), and that the total amount of Aβ in the brain is remarkably higher than that in normal individuals. Moreover, in vitro research involving mutations artificially introduced to each amino acid residue just after the γ-secretase cleavage site indicated that a substitution of the 716th isoleucine (Ile) with phenylalanine (Phe) in APP (I716F) increased the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio by about 30-fold (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96: 3053-8 (1999)). However, the results of any research involving FAD with such mutations have not been reported.
To reveal the pathology of the disease and to develop a therapeutic drug for the disease, it is necessary to develop a model animal of the disease. Tg2576 mouse, which is currently used worldwide as a model mouse of AD, is an APP transgenic (Tg) mouse brain over-expressing human APP gene with the Swedish mutation, and can reproduce the development of senile plaque and AD pathology, such as learning and memory disorders (Science, 274: 99-102 (1996)). However, subsequent investigations have revealed that the death of neuronal cells and loss of synapses are not observed in the hippocampus of this mouse, and that the reproduction of neurofibrillary tangle and neurodegeneration is insufficient. APP Tg mouse other than Tg2576 mouse (see, e.g. Nature, 373: 523-7 (1995), and Nature, 395: 755-6 (1998)) and a model mouse of AD wherein another gene was modified (see, e.g., Nature, 383: 710-3 (1996), and Neuron, 17: 181-90 (1996)) only reproduce a part of the pathology in the brain of an AD patient, and fail to reproduce all of the series of pathologies occurring in human.

Model mouse of Alzheimer's disease expressing FAD APP 716 and use thereof


This non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with: a wound electrode body which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, and wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound into a roll, with the separator being interposed therebetween; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode comprises a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode mixture layer that is formed on the negative electrode collector. The negative electrode mixture layer contains graphite, a carbon material that has a BET specific surface area of 10 m2/g or more, said BET specific surface area being larger than that of the graphite, and a hydrophobic binder. The coverage of the particle surfaces of the carbon material by the binder is higher than the coverage of the particle surfaces of the graphite by the binder.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using, as a binder, a fibrillated polymer fiber of a cellulose-based fiber or the like. Patent Literature 1 describes that good cycle characteristics of a battery can be obtained because adhesion of a mixture layer to a collector is thus improved.

Negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A system and method are disclosed for training a machine learning model using information pertaining to job titles. Training data for the machine learning model is generated. Generating the training data includes generating first training input including information identifying the job titles associated with organizations, and generating a first target output for the first training input. The first target output identifies an indication of job families. A job family identifies a category of personnel positions that are categorized based on one or more characteristics that are shared between the personnel positions of the category. The training data to train the machine learning model on (i) a set of training inputs including the first training input, and (ii) a set of target outputs including the first target output is provided.

A human resources department can refer to a department of an organization that is responsible for managing resources related to employees. A human resources department can be tasked with finding, screening, and recruiting job applicants. A human resources department can also be tasked with administering employee programs, such as employee-benefit programs, compensation programs, and training programs, among others.

Using machine learning to determine job families using job titles

Sequoia Benefits and Insurance Services, LLC


A device for isolating piping associated with a swimming pool for isolating a piping system associated with a swimming pool in order to reduce the amount of chemicals required to treat the piping system, and further to prevent mixture of chemicals within the pool with the treatment chemicals. The isolating device includes an adaptor head having an outlet configured to encircle a conventional swimming pool drain and an inlet configured to receive the end of a conventional vacuum hose. The adaptor head defines a substantially cylindrical configuration having a diameter at least as large as the particular drain with which the isolating device is being used. A plurality of screw bosses is provided on the interior of the adaptor head proximate the outlet to cooperate with the threaded openings provided in the drain for securing the drain grate. The adaptor head includes a cylindrical wall and a cover plate, the cover plate being removably mounted to the cylindrical. The inlet is carried by the cover plate and is configured to be closely received within one end of a conventional vacuum hose. The cover plate carries a relief valve for pressure equalization within the piping system, and especially within the isolating device. An attachment member is provided for the attachment of an elongated handle member. The attachment member is similar to conventional attachment members carried by conventional vacuum heads. The handle is attached to the adaptor head for manipulating the adaptor head to a position over the drain. When the isolating device is not secured to the drain as described above, the handle may be used to apply pressure to the adaptor head to maintain its position.

In the field of swimming pools, it is well known that the piping system associated with the swimming pool may become contaminated or infected with bacteria which is difficult to treat using conventional devices and methods. Conventionally, in order to treat the piping system, the entire pool must be treated, thereby allowing treated water to flow through the piping system. However, due to the dissipation of the treatment into the volume within the pool, ineffective amounts of chemicals may be introduced into the piping system. Further, it is well known that contaminated piping systems often cause the water within the pool to become contaminated. It is also well known that chemicals necessary to treat the piping system may not be compatible with chemicals in the pool, such as chlorine, and addition of those chemicals may cause the water to become discolored or create other adverse effects. However, without being able to effectively treat the piping system, it is often difficult to treat the swimming pool. As a result, chemicals must be put into the swimming pool at a volume much greater than would be required to treat the piping system alone.
Therefore, it is desirable to isolate the piping system associated with a swimming pool such that it may be chemically treated without treating the water within the swimming pool itself. Many devices have been produced to assist in the cleaning of a swimming pool. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 4,275,474 R. C. Woodard June 30, l981 4,637,086 J. Goode Jan. 20, 1987 4,718,129 R. E. Miller Jan. 12, 1988 4,776,053 J. G. Kiraly Oct. 11, 1988 4,832,838 D. K. Stone May 23, 1989 5,311,631 C. L. Smith, Jr. May 17, 1994 5,317,776 R. J. DeMoura June 7, 1994 5,396,677 G. V. Rissik, et al. Mar. 14, 1995 5,398,361 K. N. Cason Mar. 21, 1995 5,465,443 C. A. Rice, et al. Nov. 14, 1995 ______________________________________
Of these devices, that disclosed by Miller ('129) is a container configured to be used with the skimmer of the circulation system. An outlet is defined on the bottom of the container, with an inlet on the top. A vacuum hose is securable to the top of the container. However, the Miller device does not provide a means for isolating the piping system.
The device disclosed by Stone ('838) is provided for creating a turbulence in a swimming pool in order to move larger debris to the top of the swimming pool to then be removed through the skimmer, with smaller debris being forced through a drain in the floor of the pool. As in the Miller device, there is no provision for the isolation of the piping system from the volume of water in the swimming pool.
DeMoura ('776) discloses an electrically powered vacuum apparatus for use in a swimming pool, exclusive of the circulatory system associated with the swimming pool. Although the DeMoura device incorporates a vacuum head, and especially because of its exclusive nature with respect to the circulatory system, the DeMoura device cannot be used to isolate the piping system from the swimming pool.
The remainder of the referenced patents disclose various devices which are vacuum heads for use with conventional swimming pool cleaning systems. As with the previous devices, such do not disclose a means for isolating the swimming pool piping. Nor does any of the cited prior art indicate a need to isolate the piping.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for isolating the piping system associated with a swimming pool such that the water within the piping system may be chemically treated, substantially exclusive of the volume of water within the swimming pool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for isolating the swimming pool piping whereby chemical treatment of the piping may be accomplished using a greatly reduced volume of chemicals, as a result of not being required to add chemicals into the entire volume of water within the swimming pool and piping system, thereby reducing the expense of cleaning the piping system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which may be adapted to be used with any selected circulatory system associated with a liquid retention reservoir.

Device for isolating piping associated with a swimming pool


Continuous electrical connectors. A continuous electrical connector is formed by joining a first a number of first connector bodies to a second number of second connector bodies by inserting a pin through corresponding holes in each of the connector bodies. The first connector bodies form a number of first splices when placed end-to-end, and the second connector bodies form a number of second splices when placed end-to-end. The first and second splices are staggered a distance so the bodies form a continuous connector that obviates the need to inventory a multitude of various connector sizes.

Electrical connectors are commonly used in the electronics industry in order to facilitate the interconnection of various components, usually by a plurality of conductive wires. Such connectors are typically formed as a row of a specified number of positions, with each position containing one or more connection sites. For example, a twelve position dual in-line connector will have twelve positions of two pins or connection sites each, for a total of 24 pins or connection sites. Similarly, a twelve position single in-line connector will have twelve positions for a single pin or connection site, for a total of 12 pins or connection sites.
Electrical connectors may generally be divided into two classes: through-hole connectors and surface mounted connectors. Surface mount connectors include a conductive lead for each position protruding from the bottom surface of the connector. Each lead is formed in a curved configuration such that the lead rests on a conductive pad on the surface of the printed circuit board. The surface mount leads are soldered to these conductive pads.
Through-hole connectors, on the other hand, include a row of conductive pins which protrude from their bottom surfaces and extend through holes formed in the printed circuit board to which the through-hole connector is mounted. Each of these pins is soldered to a conductive trace on the opposite side of the printed circuit board from this connector body. For example, if a through-hole connector has 24 pins, twenty-four through-holes will be formed in the printed circuit board with the same dimensional spacing between the through-holes as between the connector pins. In addition, a through-hole connector may have a pin protruding from the top of the connector body to allow a second printed circuit board to be mounted as described above and therefore electrically connected to the first board. Finally, a through-hole connector may include two or more rows of positions adjacent to and aligned with the original row.
When a through-hole connector is mounted onto a printed circuit board, each of the connector pins extend through a respective through-hole in the printed circuit board. There can therefore be no misalignment between the mounted connector and the printed circuit board, because the through-holes positively locate the connector mounting position. This feature makes through-hole connectors particularly advantageous over surface mount conductors to some manufacturers.
One disadvantage with the electrical connectors described above is that the end user may have a need for a number of connectors with a different number of positions. This requires either the connector manufacturer or purchaser, or both, to maintain a substantial inventory of electrical connectors with various lengths and numbers of positions.
Another disadvantage to electrical connectors having varying length requirements is that the manufacture of these connectors often results in wasted scrap material. For example, if the standard connector body includes 50 positions, and the end-user requires a 20 position connector, then two connectors may be formed therefrom, with twenty percent (20%) of the original connector having to be scrapped.
One attempt to address the foregoing shortcoming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,622 to Zann. This patent discusses a continuous connector header via an extrusion or injection molding process. After the continuous body is formed, it is then drilled (if necessary) for the insertion of pins, or otherwise modified for insertion of other devices. The end user may then "cut to position" in order to form a connector with the desired number of positions.
While the foregoing prior art addresses some of the problems in manufacturing electrical connectors, it is not entirely satisfactory. First, continuous extrusion and injection molding techniques are very expensive, particularly when manufacturing a through-hole connector. It is much more cost effective to manufacture discrete, uniform header segments of a finite length (so long as potential scrap and inventory costs are not considered.) Second, the continuous manufacturing techniques involve a more difficult manufacturing process, which presents additional problems concerning quality control. For instance, if a defect is found in a continuous reel, then manufacturing must be stopped, or the entire reel may be unusable.
There is therefore a need in the prior art for a continuous electrical connector design that eliminates the scrap and inventory problems created by the varying position and length requirements of end-users, but is inexpensive and simple to manufacture. Such a design should also be readily integratable into existing manufacturing techniques. A need also exists for a continuous electrical connector design that allows continuation of the quality known by existing connector body designs and manufacturing techniques. The present invention is directed toward meeting that need.

Continuous electrical connector and method for making same


An exemplary backlight module (100) includes a diffusion sheet (110), a plurality of light sources (120), a plurality of supporting posts (130), a plurality of fasteners (140), and a reflective plate (150). The supporting posts are disposed generally between the reflective plate and the diffusion sheet to form a gap with a predetermined distance between the reflective plate and the diffusion sheet. The fasteners are engaged with the reflective plate and hold the light sources to mount the light sources in the gap above the reflective plate. The reflective plate comprises a plurality of elongate bumps (151), and the bumps face toward the diffusion sheet. Each bump is located midway between two adjacent light sources for concentrating and guiding reflected light beams toward a corresponding area of the diffusion sheet above the bump.

A typical LCD device includes an LCD panel, and a backlight module mounted under the LCD panel for supplying light beams thereto. The backlight module is generally classified into one of two types—a direct type or an edge type—according to the position in which a light source is installed in a backlight unit of the backlight module.
In the case of a direct type backlight module, the light source may be one or more elongate lamps or a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). A light spreading plate and a light reflection plate are installed at top and bottom sides of the light source respectively. The light spreading plate is located directly under the LCD panel. Accordingly, some light beams are substantially directly output from the light source to the LCD panel positioned above the light spreading plate, and other light beams reflected from the light reflection plate are then substantially directly output to the LCD panel.
FIG. 5 is a schematic, side cross-sectional view of a conventional backlight module. The backlight module 10 includes a diffusion sheet 11, a plurality of lamps 12, and a reflective plate 13. The lamps 12 are disposed between the diffusion sheet 11 and the reflective plate 13. The diffusion sheet 11 and the reflective plate 13 are thin, and each of the lamps 12 is elongate.
When the size of the LCD device increases, the size of the lamps 12 used therein should also increase. If the lamps 12 are unduly long, they may not be secure and may be prone to break. This is particularly the case when the LCD device is subjected to vibration or shocking during use or transportation.
FIG. 6 shows another kind of conventional backlight module. The backlight module 20 has a structure similar to that of the backlight module 10, and includes a diffusion sheet 21, a reflective plate 23, and a plurality of lamps 22 disposed between the diffusion sheet 21 and the reflective plate 23. The backlight module 20 further includes a plurality of posts 24 disposed between the reflective plate 23 and the diffusion sheet 21, to ensure that a gap with a predetermined distance is formed between the reflective plate 23 and the diffusion sheet 21. The lamps 22 are fixed to corresponding fasteners 26. The fasteners 26 tightly and securely fasten the lamps 22 in the backlight module 20. This helps prevent the lamps 22 from sustaining damage when the backlight module 20 is subjected to vibration or shock during use or transportation.
FIG. 7 shows reflective optical paths in the backlight module 20. Some of light beams (not shown) emitted by the lamps 22 directly transmit to the diffusion sheet 21. Other light beams emitted by the lamps 22 transmit to the diffusion sheet 21 after being reflected by the reflective plate 23. The light beams then pass through the diffusion sheet 21 to illuminate an associated liquid crystal display panel.
However, a majority of the light beams are transmitted to areas of the diffusion sheet 21 directly above the lamps 22, whereas a smaller quantity of the light beams are transmitted to areas 25 of the diffusion sheet 21 that are generally between each two adjacent lamps 22. Moreover, the fasteners 26 block transmission of some of the light beams emitted by the lamps 22. Thus light intensity distribution in the areas directly above the lamps 22 is greater than light intensity distribution in the areas 25 generally between the lamps 22. This uneven light intensity distribution at the diffusion sheet 21 typically prevents the backlight module 20 from attaining a highly uniform light intensity distribution.
Accordingly, what is needed is a backlight module that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Backlight module having supporting posts and bumpy reflective plate