A software system facilitates the translation of text strings into multiple languages. The software system includes a macro which substitutes for a text string and a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key. The macro is included into a source code.

1. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to a method and system for computer software development and distribution. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for software development and distribution of software programs in multiple languages.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software programs generally are created and marketed for world-wide distribution. Programs having documentation and a user interface expressed in a single language generally have a limited appeal in many countries of the world. To achieve a world-wide appeal, software is translated to multiple different languages.
Distribution of a software program in multiple languages is not a simple task. Handling of software packages in multiple language versions is a difficult software management issue involving translation of text strings in the software program and then maintaining and shipping several versions of the program. Each version of the program supports a different foreign language.
Conventionally, multiple versions of a program are supported by translating the text strings from each foreign language version of the program from the strings of the native language version. Following translation, the different software versions are supported independently. However, the support of multiple software versions raises the chance for errors, to be introduced into the software, thereby complicating software development and support.
A major problem of a software development and distribution system that supports multiple language versions of a program is that the separate language versions are not portable between users. Thus a single language version of a program has limited usefulness when the program is used by multiple persons, for example in an office environment, who speak different languages.
Various techniques have been employed to manage the support of multiple languages in a software program. The most prevalent technique is to edit the source code from the native language software version and translate each text message into a foreign language counterpart. Another method is to create a predefined message token and insert the token into the source code at a suitable position. Message tokens are replaced at a later time. Each of these techniques has weaknesses. When the source code is edited, inadvertent code changes may occur between the separate software versions, reducing software reliability and possibly causing nonuniform operation among the program versions. The usage of reference tokens and a table of text entries that correspond to the tokens creates the possibility of the ordering of the tokens and table to become nonaligned so that an inappropriate message may be expressed by the program.
Software management of multiple language versions is further complicated when modules are developed by a source external to a software distributor. In many cases, an external source is a vendor that can only supply a module in the native language. Many such vendors supply only object or executable code so that no source code is available for translating into multiple languages.

Dynamic multi-lingual software module system


An APU has a control for controlling a load on the APU from an associated aircraft. The control further receives information with regard to a temperature challenge around the APU. If the temperature challenge exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the control operates the APU with a reduced load in a cool down cycle to reduce the heat load from the APU on an associated tail cone. A method is also disclosed.

This application relates to an auxiliary power unit ("APU") which is put through a cool down cycle at shutdown, but only in an extreme temperature situation.
APUs are known, and are typically provided in an aircraft, and started prior to actuation of the main aircraft gas turbine engines. The APU provides electric power through a generator for use on the aircraft prior to the startup of the main gas turbine engines. In addition, the APU may supply air for use in the aircraft cabin, and to start the aircraft engines.
Once the main aircraft engines have started, then the APU may be shut down. The APUs typically are under a heavy load just prior to shutdown, in that they are supplying a good deal of electricity, plus air to start the main gas turbine engines. Thus, they can be quite hot at shutdown.
Aircraft tail cones typically house the APU. The aircraft tail cones have traditionally been made of a metal, however, more recently they have been formed of various fiber composite materials. As an example, carbon fiber materials are being utilized.
Such fiber materials cannot withstand the high temperatures that the prior metal tail cones could withstand. As an example, an aluminum tail cone can withstand 450° Fahrenheit (232° Celsius) while the composite tail cones may only withstand 200° Fahrenheit (93° Celsius).


A thermal treatment system and method characterized by an outer drum mounted on the base for rotation about a rotational axis; an inner drum mounted coaxially within the outer drum closer to a heater end thereof than an inlet end of the outer drum, the inner and outer drums forming therebetween an annular flow passage surrounding the inner drum; a passage at a heater end of the inner drum for allowing material to drop from the inner drum into the outer drum for flow through the annular flow passage from its inlet end to its outer end; material conveying structure for conveying material within a feed tube from the inlet end of the outer drum to the inner drum for deposit within the interior of the inner drum at its inlet end, the feed tube being mounted coaxially within the outer drum and being spaced radially inwardly from the annular wall of the outer drum to form an annular flow passage surrounding the feed tube that has an inlet end connected to the outlet end of the annular passage surrounding the inner drum and a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the annular passage surrounding the inner drum; a burner for generating and feeding hot gases into the inner drum for contacting with material fed into the inner drum by the material conveying structure thereby to thermally treat the material, the hot gases flowing through the inner drum, then through the annular passage surrounding the inner drum and then through the annular passage surrounding the feed tube; and an outlet for exhausting the hot gases and discharging thermally treated material from the outlet end of the annular passage surrounding the feed tube.

Various prior art attempts have been made to treat material by thermal reclamation and, in particular, foundry sand. The advantages of reclaiming foundry sand are well known. One advantage is the reduction in the need for virgin foundry sand. In addition, the ability to reclaim used foundry sand obviates the problem associated with the need to find a suitable disposal site for the used foundry sand.
A need exists for a foundry sand reclamation system and method that overcome drawbacks and limitations or prior art foundry sand reclamation systems and methods. Principally, there is a need for such a system and method that provides high production output at low cost with high reliability and efficiency.

Foundry sand thermal reclamation system and method


A system and method of imaging an object. An array of detectors is mounted in an image plane. Each detector in the array of detectors is connected to a timing circuit having an interpolator, wherein the interpolator includes a first circuit which charges a first capacitor at a different rate than it discharges. An optical pulse is transmitted toward an object so that a portion of the optical pulse is reflected from the object as a reflected pulse and a first value representative of when the optical pulse was transmitted toward the object is recorded. The reflected pulse is detected at one or more detectors and a pulse characteristic of the pulse and a second value representative of when the reflected pulse arrived at the detector are recorded. Range to the object is then calculated as a function of the first and second values and the reflected pulse characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to imaging of objects using arrays of light detectors and, more particularly, to a system and method for determining range in three-dimensional imaging systems.
2. Background Information
Laser techniques, such as LADAR (Laser Detection and Ranging) or "LIDAR" (Light Detection and Ranging), are currently being used to image objects in three-dimensional image systems. Light, often from a laser source, is directed toward an object of interest. Reflected light from the object is then gathered and focused on one or more photodetectors.
LADAR systems are capable of determining the distance to an object, for example, by timing the travel time of light pulses sent round trip from a source to the object and back to a detector. However, adapting such systems to image remote objects challenges the sensitivity and speed of available devices.
Stettner et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,529 (1995), describes an array of detectors placed at the image plane to detect a two-dimensional image frame, which can be further processed to enhance the image. If adequate light is gathered and the reflective emissions of the object are distinguishable from noise, an object can be identified by such a system.
In some laser imaging systems either the scanner or the receiver is scanned across the object, and multiple laser pulses are used to probe the contours of the object. An example of such an approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,849, issued to Dimsdale et al. on May 11, 2004.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,575 (1999), Marino, on the other hand, discloses a system for imaging a scene using an array of monolithic light detectors operating in non-linear Geiger mode. In one "scanner-less" embodiment disclosed by the patent, a processor develops an image of the target scene based on the round trip travel times of object-reflected photons received by a photodetector array at multiple positions on the array.
The approaches to date have been complex and, therefore, expensive to produce and maintain. What is needed is a system and method for imaging which addresses the above issues and other issues that will become evident when reading the description below.

System and method for determining range in 3D imaging systems


An axially-compressible connector (200) for a hardline coaxial cable (1000) has a housing that includes a body (202), a coupling nut (210) and a compression can (208). A nonmetallic sleeve (302), which is mounted within the housing, has a tubular portion and an integral insulator portion. The insulator portion holds a contact (306) that has arms (311–314) for seizing an inner conductor (1002) of the hardline coaxial cable. A ferrule (408) is slip fit mounted within the housing, and seizes an outer conductor (1006) of the hardline coaxial cable. A gripping member (414) is mounted within the housing and seizes a jacket (1008) of the hardline coaxial cable. An actuator (412), which is mounted within the housing around a portion of the tubular portion of the sleeve, has an angled surface (413) to guide an end of the outer conductor toward the tubular portion of the sleeve, as the tubular portion of the sleeve is inserted into the end of the coaxial cable. The jacket is gripped by the gripping member only after the outer conductor is seized by the ferrule.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more specifically to an axially-compressible electrical connector for use with a hardline coaxial cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hardline coaxial cable is a coaxial cable that has a solid, as opposed to a braided, outer conductor, which may be surrounded by an outer insulative jacket. One such hardline coaxial cable is the QUANTUM REACH® coaxial cable, catalog number QR320, which has a solid aluminum outer conductor and a solid copper clad aluminum inner conductor, and which is manufactured by CommScope Inc., of Hickory, N.C. A popular style of coaxial cable connector is a male, F-type axially-compressible connector. Prior to attaching such a hardline coaxial cable to such a connector, a coaxial cable coring tool is used to remove a predetermined amount of the dielectric material between the inner and outer conductors at a terminating end of the hardline coaxial cable, and to trim the jacket in order to bare the outer conductor a predetermined amount. The end of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable can become deformed while using the coring tool. Such deformation is usually flaring, which is slightly increasing the diameter of the outer conductor, or producing a slight octagonal shape to the end of the outer conductor. Known F-type connectors for such a hardline coaxial cable will sometimes not properly accept insertion of the coaxial cable due to such deformation of the end of the outer conductor.
Known F-type connectors for hardline coaxial cable have a metal sleeve within a housing. When the coaxial cable is inserted into such an F-type connector for attachment thereto, the inner conductor of the coaxial cable fits into the metal sleeve and the outer conductor envelopes the metal sleeve. Traditionally, such sleeves are made from metal in order to have strength. However, the metallic nature of such sleeves disadvantageously alters the characteristic impedance of the connector-coaxial cable combination from its nominal seventy-five (75) ohms. Known F-type connectors also have an insulator around a conductive center contact that holds the center contact to the housing of the connector. Because the sleeve and the insulator of known F-type connectors are made of different materials, the sleeve and the insulator must be separate components, thus disadvantageously increasing the number of components in the connector.
Coaxial cable connectors can be categorized by the action required to complete the attachment and to effect a permanent electrical and mechanical connection and/or seal between components of the connector. One style of connector is a threaded style. Another style of connector is a crimping style. A yet another style of connector is a compression style, which is axially-compressible.
The compression style of connector has a housing comprising at least two large parts, typically with an O-ring seal therebetween, which are axially compressed with a hand tool after the coaxial cable is inserted into the connector. One or more internal components, internal to the housing, are radially displaced toward the outer conductor by the axial compression. The one or more internal components are intended to securely engage and make an electrical connection with the outer conductor, and to engage the outer insulation, or jacket, of the coaxial cable.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known prior art male, F-type, compression style of connector 100 for use with a coaxial cable having a braided outer conductor, part number GAF-US-11, manufactured by Corning-Gilbert, Inc., of Glendale, Ariz., which performs its intended function well, but which is not intended for use with a coaxial cable having a solid outer conductor.
Compression style connectors that have internal gripping parts that seize the inner and outer conductors are well known. Some compression style connectors also seize the jacket. Known compression style connectors that seize both the outer conductor and the jacket do so substantially simultaneously as the connector is compressed. With such compression style connectors, the cable may disadvantageously have some relative motion with respect to the connector when the jacket gripping part attempts to seize the outer insulation of the coaxial cable. Known prior art compression style connectors that seize two or more portions of the coaxial cable simultaneously are disadvantageously difficult to compress.


A method and device for service time division multiplexing as well as a method and a device for transmitting service are disclosed. The method for service time division multiplexing includes selecting a part or all of radio frames in one time unit as specific radio frames; and selecting a part or all of subframes in the specific radio frames as specific subframes for sending a specific service. The specific service is a multimedia broadcast multicast service, or a unicast service, or one or more than one kind of services transmitted in broadcast or multicast mode.

The third generation partnership projects (3GPP) initiated a long term evolution (LTE) of the 3rd generation (3G) in 2005, and better support for increasing service requirements of operators and users is provided through evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN).
In an LTE system, downlink communication services can be divided into two categories, a unicast service and a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). The unicast service refers to a point-to-point service in which one data source sends data to one user equipment, and the MBMS refers to a point-to-multipoint service in which one data source sends data to multiple user equipment. The introduction of the MBMS is to realize resource sharing on a network. The network, which includes a core network and a radio access network, serves maximum multimedia user equipment having the same requirements by using minimum resources. In the radio access network, the MBMS can realize the multicast and broadcast of messages with plain text at a low rate, and realize the multicast and broadcast of multimedia services at a higher rate on a common transport channel and a common radio bearer.
For the MBMS, the specification 25.814 of the 3GPP supports two cell transmission modes, one is a multi-cell transmission mode, in which multiple cells simultaneously send the MBMS with the same frequency resource, and the other is a single-cell transmission mode, in which a single cell sends the MBMS without considering the transmission of other cells.
Data transmission modes of the MBMS include two modes, one is a mixed carrier (MC) mode, in which the MBMS and the unicast service share the same carrier to transmit data, and the other is a dedicated carrier (DC) mode, in which the MBMS itself uses one carrier to transmit data. In the case of the MC mode, it is decided at a 3GPP meeting that the MBMS and the unicast service are in time division multiplexing, and the two services are subframe-level time division multiplexing, i.e., each service occupies at least one subframe. If a base station does not send a signaling to inform the usage of each subframe, unicast service user equipment and MBMS user equipment will attempt to read their own service information through all the transmission time, thus wasting electric energy of the user equipment. If one bit of information is set for each subframe to indicate the usage, for example, one bit has two states, 0 and 1, corresponding to the two services respectively, then the required information amount is very large.
In addition, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology is employed in the downlink of LTE. The OFDM technology divides a given channel into multiple orthogonal subchannels in a frequency domain, and allows subcarrier spectra to be partially overlapped. As long as mutual orthogonality is met among the subcarriers, data signals can be obtained. In the operation of an OFDM system, symbols are firstly subject to serial/parallel conversion to form multiple low-rate sub-data streams. Each data stream occupies one subcarrier, the mapping from the sub-data streams to the subcarriers can be achieved through an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) or an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). A cyclic prefix (CP) as a guard interval is applied, which greatly reduces or even eliminates inter-symbol interference, and ensures orthogonality among various channels, thus greatly reducing inter-channel interference.
In the subframe which sends the unicast service or a single-cell transmission MBMS, the length of the CP only needs to meet the requirements of the serving cell. In the subframe of a multi-cell transmission MBMS, however, signal needs to pass through a longer transmission path, in which case a longer CP is required to overcome inter-symbol interference, and user equipment can successfully demodulate a subframe only after knowing the length of the CP of the subframe.
To sum up, the base station in the prior art cannot effectively inform the transmission time of various services and the length of the CP of each subframe in the case of time division multiplexing for multiple services.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and device for service time division multiplexing


A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for dynamic tessellation spreading. In one embodiment, an offset vector may be determined for each of a plurality of vertices, wherein the plurality of vertices define an original path. The plurality of vertices and the plurality of offset vectors may be sent to a graphics processing unit (GPU). A spread path may be generated in the GPU, wherein generating the spread path comprises adjusting each vertex by the respective offset vector in a coordinate space of a target device. The spread path may be rendered to the target device using the GPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to computer systems; and more particularly, it is directed to utilization of graphics processors associated with computer systems for anti-aliasing operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the power and complexity of personal computer systems increase, graphics operations are increasingly being performed using dedicated graphics rendering devices referred to as graphics processing units (GPUs). As used herein, the terms "graphics processing unit" and "graphics processor" are used interchangeably. GPUs are often used in removable graphics cards that are coupled to a motherboard via a standardized bus (e.g., AGP or PCI Express). GPUs may also be used in game consoles and in integrated graphics solutions (e.g., for use in some portable computers and lower-cost desktop computers). Although GPUs vary in their capabilities, they may typically be used to perform such tasks as rendering of two-dimensional (2D) graphical data, rendering of three-dimensional (3D) graphical data, accelerated rendering of graphical user interface (GUI) display elements, and digital video playback. A GPU may implement one or more application programmer interfaces (APIs) that permit programmers to invoke the functionality of the GPU.
To reduce demands on central processing units (CPUs) of computer systems, GPUs may be tasked with performing operations that would otherwise contribute to the CPU load. Accordingly, modern GPUs are typically implemented with specialized features for efficient performance of common graphics operations. For example, a GPU often includes a plurality of execution channels that can be used simultaneously for highly parallel processing. A GPU may include various built-in and configurable structures for rendering digital images to an imaging device.
Digital images may include raster graphics, vector graphics, or a combination thereof. Raster graphics data (also referred to herein as bitmaps) may be stored and manipulated as a grid of individual picture elements called pixels. A bitmap may be characterized by its width and height in pixels and also by the number of bits per pixel. Commonly, a color bitmap defined in the RGB (red, green blue) color space may comprise between one and eight bits per pixel for each of the red, green, and blue channels. An alpha channel may be used to store additional data such as per-pixel transparency values. Vector graphics data may be stored and manipulated as one or more geometric objects built with geometric primitives. The geometric primitives (e.g., points, lines, paths, polygons, Bézier curves, and text characters) may be based upon mathematical equations to represent parts of vector graphics data in digital images. The geometric objects may typically be located in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. To render vector graphics on raster-based imaging devices (e.g., most display devices and printers), the geometric objects are typically converted to raster graphics data in a process called rasterization.
The rasterization process may result in undesirable aliasing. Aliasing is typically defined as the introduction of artifacts resulting from a wide-bandwidth signal being sampled at an insufficiently high sampling rate. Visible "jaggies" in a rendered image are an example of aliasing. Typically, aliasing is most noticeable on objects with non-orthogonal edges. Anti-aliasing techniques may be used to reduce the effects of aliasing and provide a smoother appearance for those edges. A typical approach to anti-aliasing includes low-pass filtering of a signal (e.g., by the averaging or other smoothing of pixel data) to reduce its bandwidth and thereby reduce anti-aliasing artifacts. However, low-pass filtering a signal may result in the "spreading" of the signal. For example, if a sharp edge (e.g., a stair or step function) is low-pass filtered or otherwise smoothed, the sharp edge may "spread" to become a soft edge in which the transition from edge's low value to its high value is spread over more pixels. Thus, the smoothed object may cover a slightly larger area (in device pixels, e.g., expanding the area out by one or two device pixels) than the original un-smoothed object.
As noted above, one of the geometric elements often rendered using a GPU is a path. A path may be a closed contour, and a geometric shape may be defined as the region enclosed by a closed path. A path may include straight lines and/or curve segments. Typically, regions enclosed by paths are rendered on a GPU by tessellating the region enclosed by the path to produce a collection of covering triangles that are each rendered on the GPU to a target device. However, because device pixels of a target device are larger at lower resolutions than at higher resolutions, typical approaches to anti-aliasing may produce a device-dependent path which is larger at low resolutions and smaller (i.e., closer in size to the ideal size of the original path) at high resolutions.
This problem has been addressed in the past by making the area to be filtered large enough to include all of the pixels that would be filtered at the lowest resolution. However, this approach often has the disadvantage of including many extra pixels at higher resolutions. For example, a 1 pixel spread of the bound at 72 dpi maps to a 10 device pixel spread at 720 dpi when a fixed spread is used. Thus, this approach may significantly increase the number of pixels that are unnecessarily filtered, cause a performance penalty, and introduce possible quality issues (especially, for example, at tight corners). An alternative approach is to define smaller zoom ranges so that the spread is smaller at the higher resolutions in the range and so that there are fewer wasted pixels. However, this may require re-tessellation as the path shape changes, and the number of re-tessellations may be tied to the size of the zoom range over which the tessellations can be used. Because tessellation of a path may be computationally expensive, it is desirable to avoid re-tessellating paths.
GPUs typically render with a center scan rule, while some applications (e.g., those using the Adobe® Imaging Model) may use an overscan rule for rendering. Center scan rendering follows a rendering rule for coloring device pixels that assigns to a pixel the color at the point on the graphic object that maps to the pixel's center. Thus, a thin graphic element (e.g., a thin strokefill) may not color any pixels at low resolutions using a center scan rule. In contrast, overscan rendering follows a rendering rule for coloring device pixels that assigns to a pixel the color of a graphic object touching the pixel. Thus, a thin graphic element (e.g., a thin strokefill) will always color pixels, even at low resolutions, using an overscan rule. If a path has thin or narrow sections, these sections may fail to render with the center scan rule when the center of a pixel is not enclosed by the path. For example, a thin horizontal stroke may not render at all if its path does not include a device pixel center. The position of pixel centers, relative to the path, may change with resolution such that paths may appear and disappear as a page is zoomed. This undesirable phenomenon is referred to as thin element dropout.

Dynamic tessellation spreading for resolution-independent GPU anti-aliasing and rendering


An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting audio signals from an auxiliary source such as a satellite broadcast receiver or a CD or cassette player to a radio receiver located, for example, in a vehicle, using a wireless link. The apparatus comprises a scanning device for locating open radio frequencies in the RF spectrum of the radio receiver. The apparatus displays plural RF channel options on a display device and provides a selection device with which a user selects an RF channel. The apparatus modulates the audio signals using the selected radio frequency, and the user tunes the vehicle radio receiver to the selected RF channel. The scanning device continuously scans for open RF channels and monitors the quality of the RF channel already selected for use as the wireless link. The apparatus provides the user with an indication to select another open channel when the RF channel in use degrades.

The invention relates to a system for providing audio signals from an auxiliary source to a radio receiver, particularly a vehicle radio receiver, using a wireless link. The invention further relates to a method of providing audio signals to a radio receiver by automatically selecting a number of low noise radio frequencies for wireless signal transmission from the auxiliary source to the radio receiver and providing user controls to select one of the frequencies for transmission.
A number of systems exist which use an existing audio system in a vehicle for playback of audio signals from a compact disc (CD) player, tape cassette player, satellite broadcast receiver, or other auxiliary audio source. These existing systems are designed to play back the signals from the auxiliary audio source using a number of different methods. For example, one system receives satellite broadcast signals and provides them to the optical head of a CD player, or the magnetic head of a tape cassette player, already installed in the vehicle. This system is disadvantageous because it requires the user to install a removable adapter to couple the satellite broadcast signal to the optical or magnetic head of the vehicle audio system.
In other systems, signals from an auxiliary audio source such as a CD or cassette player are coupled to a vehicle radio receiver via a wireless link such as an FM wireless link. In one system, for example, signals from the auxiliary audio source are frequency translated to the FM frequency band and are then broadcast from a transmitter in the vehicle on several fixed frequencies for reception by the vehicle radio receiver. A user then selects one of these frequencies on the vehicle radio receiver to listen to the transmitted signals. In another system, a user first selects a radio frequency in the FM band that is not being utilized in the local area, and then tunes the existing vehicle radio receiver to the selected frequency. The user then tunes a transmitter in the vehicle to the same frequency. The transmitter receives a signal from a CD player and transmits the signal at the selected frequency.
The two types of wireless FM systems described above are disadvantageous because they do not provide for automatic monitoring of the radio frequencies used for retransmitting signals from the auxiliary audio source via the wireless link to the existing vehicle radio receiver. The radio frequencies selected by the user, or the fixed frequencies used by the transmitter, may be subject to interference and poor signal quality. In addition, the manual selection of a suitable radio transmission frequency is inconvenient to users.
A need therefore exists for an audio coupling system that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing systems. Specifically, a need exists for a radio frequency or RF-coupled satellite broadcast receiver for vehicles which provides a wireless link to an existing vehicle radio receiver. In addition, a need exists for an RF-coupled satellite broadcast receiver for vehicles which automatically selects optimal radio frequencies for wireless transmission to the vehicle radio receiver.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an RF-coupled satellite broadcast receiver is provided which scans a radio frequency (RF) band in which a radio receiver, preferably but not necessarily in a vehicle, can be tuned for signal reception. The RF-coupled satellite broadcast receiver selects at least one open RF channel having the lowest noise floor for retransmission of the received satellite broadcast signal to the radio receiver.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the RF-coupled satellite broadcast receiver selects a plurality of open RF channels having low noise floors and is capable of retransmitting the received satellite broadcast signal on any of these available RF channels. The available RF channel information is provided to the user. The user selects one of these channels and then tunes the vehicle radio receiver to the selected channel to listen to the satellite broadcast program.

System for providing signals from an auxiliary audio source to a radio receiver using a wireless link


An axle shaft has an inboard end portion with a spline for engagement with a differential assembly and an outboard end with a flange for mounting a wheel hub assembly. One or both of the end portions have cavities for weight reduction. The inboard end portion cavity extends underneath the spline. The outboard end portion cavity extends completely underneath the flange.

This invention relates in general to axle assemblies and more particularly to axle shafts.
Axle shafts are widely used, particularly in vehicles to support a vehicle wheel for rotation. Many axle shafts connect vehicle wheels to driving devices, such as the differential of an automotive vehicle. Axle shafts, particularly for automotive vehicles, typically are formed of solid metal shafts with their opposite ends formed for connecting to the drive and driven members of the vehicle. For example, a flange may be forged or welded onto one end of the shaft for connection to a wheel hub assembly, while the opposite end of the shaft may be provided with a spline for connection to a differential gear.
Axle shafts must transmit considerable torque and are subjected to rapid starts and stops of power transmission and occasional shock loads. Axle damage such as fractures could occur in an axle shaft which is not robust enough to be handle overload conditions. Unfortunately, axle shafts which are overdesigned to handle shock loads and other extreme torque conditions add undesirable weight and cost.
It would be desirable to provide an axle shaft which will transmit torque under normal and overload conditions, but which is light weight and cost effective.


A plane super wide band coupling antenna comprises an isolating substrate for installing with a metal thin film layer by printing; a first radiating portion being a metal thin film layer printed upon the isolating substrate; the first radiating portion having a coupling section and being extended with a feeding point; a second radiating portion being a metal thin film layer printed upon the isolating substrate; the second radiating portion extending from a ground portion on the isolating substrate and being a bended structure; the second radiating portion being formed with gaps with the first radiating portion; the ground portion being formed by a metal thin film layer; one end thereof being electrically connected to the second radiating portion; a signal feeding wire being a coaxial cable; and the main signal wire of the signal feeding wire being electrically connected to the feeding point of the first radiating portion.

There are four standards for wireless local area network, including IEEE802.11, IEEE802.11b; Bluetooth suitable for the frequency band of 2.4 GHz and IEEE802.11a suitable for 5 GHz. When a wireless application electronic device is used for different standards so that a plurality of frequency bands are necessary, the corresponding antenna is used.
Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a prior art dual frequency antennal is illustrated, which is an inverse dual frequency antenna for receiving a first frequency and a second frequency. The antenna 100 has a first plane trans-conductive element 200 and a second plane trans-conductive element 300. The first plane trans-conductive element 200 has an L shape and second plane trans-conductive element 300 has a bended rectangular structure which is vertical to the first plane trans-conductive element 200 and is connected to a joint 400 of the first plane trans-conductive element 200. When the area of the second plane trans-conductive element 300 is overlarge, it will induce the joint to break. However the bandwidth, impedance matching and gain of the antenna 100 are adjustable by the first plane trans-conductive element 200 and the second plane trans-conductive element 300. The area of the second plane trans-conductive element 300 will affect the gain of the antenna. If an antenna with a higher bandwidth is needed, the area of the substrate is needed to be enlarged, which is confined by the installing space. Thus the area of the substrate can not be enlarged effectively.
Therefore, from above description, it is known that the prior art has the following defects.
The prior art is confined by space and thus the bandwidth is confined.
In the prior art, when the second plane trans-conductive element has an overlarge area, it will induce that the joint between the two trans-conductive elements breaks.
In using the prior art, the ability for sensing the harmonics is insufficient and the standing wave ratio is low and thus it will induce the difficulty in the design of the circuit.
The manufacturing process in the prior art is tedious, the cost is high and the installation is difficult.


A self-regulating tire pressure system and method employs a bistable valve (10) that allows air from a high pressure reservoir (6) to replenish the pressure within a tire (4) when it has fallen below an actuating pressure, and discontinues its operation only after the tire pressure has increased to a closing pressure that is greater than the actuating pressure. The system is capable of sensing the valve's (10) frequency of operation as an indication of a slow tire leak when the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, of sensing the number of valve (10) operations and the duration of each operation as an indication of a flat tire condition when the number of operations for a predetermined duration exceeds a second threshold, and of sensing the duration of the valve's (10) operation as an indication of a low reservoir (6) pressure condition when that duration exceeds a third threshold. The valve (10) includes a bistable diaphragm (94, 120) that receives a reference pressure on one side and the tire pressure on its opposite side, and snaps between two stable positions respectively opening and closing the valve (10) in response to the tire pressure falling below the actuating pressure and then increasing to the closing pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to self-regulating pressure systems and methods for vehicle tires, and more particularly to self-regulating systems and methods in which the tire is automatically replenished from a high pressure reservoir in response to a sensed low pressure condition in the tire.
2. Description of the Related Art
Low tire pressure is an important cause of excessive fuel consumption, tire wear and impaired steerability. A normal tire will typically leak on the order of 25 percent of its pressure per year due to its inherent permeability. It is thus good practice to check tire pressure on a regular basis. However, even checking tire pressure every few weeks may not prevent these adverse affects when a slow leak is present, and the leak may go undetected unless a careful record is maintained of how frequently the pressure in each tire has to be replenished. A fast leak or flat condition can rapidly cause damage to the tire and even render it unusable in a short period of time, but this condition may go unnoticed by an inexperienced driver until it is too late.
It is thus highly desirable to have some mechanism that automatically replenishes the tire pressure when it is too low, and that warns the driver of the low pressure condition. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,376 to Barabino. This patent incorporates a high pressure reservoir into the vehicle wheel, and uses a valve that automatically opens a passageway between the high pressure reservoir and the tire in response to the tire pressure falling below a selected threshold level. Operation of the valve also causes a sonic or ultrasonic signal to be generated which is detected by a sensor mounted in close proximity to the wheel, typically within the wheel well. When it senses a valve operation, the sensor initiates a visual and audio warning for the driver. To differentiate between the different tires, the valve on each tire may be tuned to generate a signal with a unique frequency, or the sensors for the different tires may be tuned to detect different components of a uniform valve signal.
Another system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,857 to Gandhi. In this patent the tire valve includes a magnet that moves in response to a falling tire pressure. Movement of the magnet to a low pressure position is sensed by a solenoid mounted on the shock absorber adjacent the tire. The magnetic field from the moveable magnet intercepts the solenoid at each tire revolution, generating a voltage in the solenoid that varies with the magnet's position. When the magnet's sensed position indicates a low pressure condition, a warning is provided to the vehicle operator. If the operator wishes to replenish the tire pressure, he or she actuates a switch that supplies current to the solenoid for the appropriate tire. The solenoid produces a magnetic field that moves its associated magnet to a position at which a valve from a high pressure reservoir within the wheel is opened so that air can flow into the tire.
While the above systems can effectively replenish the air pressure within a tire, they are incapable of distinguishing between normal long term leakage from a tire, a slow leak condition that requires repair, and a fast leak or flat tire condition. The vehicle operator is thus uninformed as to whether a tire repair or replacement is called for. The operator is also not supplied with any information as to the condition of the high pressure reservoir, and whether it requires replenishment. Furthermore, the prior use of separate transmitters within each wheel and associated receivers on the vehicle requires a power source within each wheel and complex electronics, and is unduly expensive.
An after market sensor for low tire pressure has been marketed by Epic Technologies Inc. The sensor monitors tire pressure and causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted in case the pressure falls below a predetermined set point; transmission of the RF signal actuates a warning for the vehicle driver. However, the system does not have any mechanism to automatically replenish the low tire pressure.

Self-regulating tire pressure system and method


A broadband network, such as a cable television system, includes a synchronous code generator that converts an analog signal into a digital signal and inserts a synchronous code in the digital signal. The synchronous code generator is in communication with an optical link, which transmits the digital signal. An optical performance monitor receives the digital signal from the optical link and determines performance of the optical link based on errors in the synchronous code. The optical link performance monitor includes an error detector, which detects errors in the synchronous code, and, in response thereto, signals a counter of the error. The counter accumulates the errors detected by the error detector for a period of time. A processor, which is in communication with the counter, determines the optical performance of the optical link based upon the number of errors accumulated by the counter. A user interface displays the results of the processor.

The present invention generally relates to communications systems, and more specifically, to methods and systems for detecting optical link performance in a hybrid fiber coax path.
Fiber optic and coaxial cables are utilized to transmit signals along communications systems, such as a cable television systems. Cable television systems typically include a headend section for receiving satellite signals and converting the signals to a format appropriate for distribution over fiber optic and coaxial cables. The signals can then be converted to an optical signal for transmission from the headend section over fiber optic cable. Optical transmitters can be distributed throughout the cable system for splitting and transmitting optical signals, and optical receivers can be provided for receiving and converting the optical signals to electrical signals that can be further transmitted along branches of the system over coaxial cable rather than fiber optic cable.
The fiber optic and coaxial path in communications systems, referred to herein as a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) path, has conventionally been employed in a forward manner to transmit high frequency (e.g., 50-750 MHz) cable television signals to subscribers. More recently, however, the HFC path has been used to carry information in a reverse manner, from a subscriber to a cable provider. The reverse HFC path typically operates at lower frequencies (e.g., 5-40 MHz) than those at which the forward path operates. The reverse path communication allows subscriber-generated signals, such as data, video, or audio signals, to be processed by the cable provider, enabling interactive services such as pay-per-view or video-on-demand programming.
Important in many communications systems, including cable television systems, is the need to provide reliable service with little interference. To this effect, an indication of signal quality is generally desirable. A cable service provider""s ability to effectively monitor the system""s signal quality, in both the forward and reverse path, can result in more efficient service having fewer disruptions and less down time because the provider may be able to more promptly locate and correct problems, ensure that minimum performance standards are being met, and gather historical data for predicting future performance of the system.
Most conventional coaxial forward and reverse paths utilize analog signals transmitted over coaxial cables. Typical monitoring of these paths offers no integral indicator of signal quality. The only indicator of signal quality at the receiver end of the path is whether the analog signal is received or not. Sophisticated external testing equipment and methods, such as spectrum analysis, are generally utilized to monitor and measure typical analog phenomenon, such as carrier to noise ratio and distortion.
Recently, devices for digitizing portions the reverse path have been made. For example, it is known to digitize the signal transmitted over the fiber optic link portion of the HFC path between the headend and a node. In the reverse path, a node receives analog signals from a subscriber, converts the analog signal to a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal over fiber optic cable to the headend, which converts the digital signal back to analog for transmission to the service provider.
A number of benefits result from digitizing the analog signal and transmitting the digital signal over a fiber optic cable, also referred to as an optical link. For example, unlike analog signals, digital signals can travel long distances (e.g., 60 km) as easily as shorter distances (e.g., 20 km) without any increase in signal deterioration, signal distortion, and signal-to-noise problems. Furthermore, digital signals can be recovered more easily at lower powers than their analog counterparts and can be implemented using readily available parts.
However, performance monitoring of an optical link in a digital HFC path requires expensive external test equipment which is not cost effective to utilize. Generally, therefore, an unsatisfied need exists in the industry for a low-cost method for monitoring digital performance of an optical link in a hybrid fiber coax path without the use of external monitoring equipment.

Methods and systems for detecting optical link performance of an optical link in a hybrid fiber coaxial path


A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of a single optical element within the scan carriage. The illumination source comprises a single lamp disposed for correct illumination of the selected object focal plane. Automatic resolution selection and focusing of the original image can occur using a converging device comprising a first and second focusing lens.

The field of the present invention is optical scanning of high-resolution color images, and in particular, the use of a flat-bed scanner system for the scanning of reflective and transmissive original documents at high resolution in a high volume production environment typical in the graphic arts electronic prepress industry. The original documents scanned by such systems include color or monochrome photographs, artwork, and composed pages of text and graphics. The actual graphic image content of the scanned original document is referred to as an "original".
In use of a flat-bed scanner for reflective scanning, an original on an opaque substrate is placed with the surface containing the original facing down on a flat transparent reference surface, typically glass. The original document is fixed on the surface such that a single line of the original, herein after referred to as a "scan line" is illuminated from below, and the light reflected from the scan line is directed through an optical system to form an image of the scan line on a sensor such as a CCD array, which converts the optical signal to an electronic representation of the scan line, comprising a line of digital picture elements, or "pixels". The desired portion of the original is scanned, one scan line at a time, by moving the original relative to the illumination system, optical system, and sensor along a direction hereinafter referred to as the "scanning axis". In systems typical of the prior art, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,225, the illumination system, optical system and sensor are configured to move together as a unit. In other systems, such as those of U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,443, the original is moved while the illumination system, optical system and sensor remain fixed. In a production environment, original documents are scanned in a sequence, with each requiring a preparation step in which the original to be scanned is located and fixed on the surface in proper alignment and registration, followed by the actual scanning operation.
A transparent original document, typically a photographic transparency, comprises an original on one side of a thin transparent substrate. In this case, the original is illuminated from the side opposite from that containing the optical system and sensor. Use of a single flat-bed scanner for both types of scanning involves a modal configuration change. Typically, a flipcover used in reflective scanning mode to hold the original document flat on the transparent surface is replaced by a transmissive illumination module which illuminates from above the portion of the original to be scanned. As in reflective-mode scanning, prior art systems are configured so that either the original or one or more scanner illumination, optics or sensor components move to carry out the scanning process.
In addition to reconfiguration of the illumination system, the magnification of the optical system is typically changed so that the same number of pixels imaged on the CCD array, and captured by the digitizing electronics, corresponds to a larger or smaller area of the original. In high-resolution scanning systems typically in use in graphic arts electronic prepress processing, transparencies are oftentimes scanned at resolutions of 2,000 to 4000 pixels per inch (ppi) or greater, while reflective originals are usually scanned at much lower resolutions, for example 600 to 800 ppi. Accordingly, in a production environment in which both reflective and transmissive originals are to be scanned in a mixed processing sequence, mode changes involving illumination system and resolution settings can add significantly to the time required for job processing.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost apparatus for color scanning both reflective and transmissive original documents.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a scanning apparatus with increased scanning efficiency.
It is a further object of the present invention that a single illumination source be used for illuminating both reflective and transmissive original documents.
It is still another object of the present invention to minimize the number of folds in the optical pathway.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a scanning apparatus for scanning transmissive original documents at low and high resolution.
Additional objects, advantages, novel features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, including the following detailed description, as well as by practice of the invention. While the invention is described below with reference to preferred embodiment(s), it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein and with respect to which the invention could be of significant utility.

Single lamp illumination system for a dual plane flat-bed scanner


In a vehicle for off-road use, an engine is mounted on a lower portion of a body frame, a carburetor is attached to the engine, and a main air cleaner is attached to the carburetor. The carburetor is provided with an air vent unit attached thereto, for transferring atmospheric pressure to fuel in a float chamber in the carburetor, and a supplemental air cleaner is attached to the tip of the air vent unit. The supplemental air cleaner is disposed above the engine, and above and anterior to the carburetor and the main air cleaner. Since the supplemental air cleaner is substantially covered, from below, by the internal combustion engine, the carburetor, and the main air cleaner, fluids splashed up from a road surface can be blocked by these components, so that the supplemental air cleaner is substantially prevented from being exposed to splashed fluids.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supplemental air cleaner for an all-terrain vehicle used on uneven ground. More particularly, the present invention relates to a supplemental air cleaner layout structure for an all-terrain vehicle, in which splashed fluid is substantially prevented from contacting a supplemental air cleaner.
2. Description of the Background Art
A supplemental air cleaner has been known in which an expansion chamber, having a filter, is provided in a part of an air cleaner case. A supplemental air cleaner layout structure of this type is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. HEI 2-94350 (e.g., see page 1, FIG. 1 of the reference).
FIG. 7 of the present application is a cross-sectional view, partly in side plan view showing the prior art supplemental air cleaner layout structure of Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. HEI 2-94350.
In the prior art structure shown in FIG. 7 of the present application, an air cleaner case 103 is attached to a carburetor 101 via an outlet tube 102, an expansion chamber 104 is provided in a part of the air cleaner case 103, and a filter member 106 is provided in the expansion chamber 104. The expansion chamber 104 and the carburetor 101 are coupled to each other with an air vent tube 107 for providing ambient atmospheric pressure to a fuel chamber in the carburetor.
When the expansion chamber 104 and the air vent tube 107 of the above-described structure are used off-road for, e.g., a vehicle for running on uneven ground, muddy water or the like from a trail surface is more likely to be splashed over the air cleaner case 103. If such muddy water intrudes into the expansion chamber 104, the muddy water eventually enters the fuel chamber of the carburetor 101 through the air vent tube 107.
When the expansion chamber 104 and the air vent tube 107 are used off-road on uneven ground, therefore, consideration should be given to the placement of the air cleaner case 103 in the vehicle, and to the placement of the expansion chamber 104 in the air cleaner case 103, such that the air cleaner case 103 is not exposed to muddy water or the like.
Although the known devices have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for an improved supplemental air cleaner layout structure for a vehicle for off-road use on uneven ground. In particular, there is a need for an improved supplemental air cleaner layout structure for a vehicle for off-road use on uneven ground.

Supplemental air cleaner for an all-terrain vehicle, and all-terrain vehicle incorporating same


A method and composition are disclosed utilizing the pure (R,R) isomer of formoterol, which is a potent bronchodilator with reduced adverse effects, a low incidence of the development of tolerance and an increased duration of action, as compared to racemic formoterol.

This invention relates to novel compositions of matter containing optically pure (R, R)-formoterol. These compositions possess potent, long-lasting bronchodilating activity as β-adrenergic agonists while avoiding or reducing adverse effects, including but not limited to muscle tremor and tachycardia, as well as avoiding or reducing the development of tolerance or hypersensitivity on repeated administration. The compositions also provide an improved duration of action.
This invention also relates to methods of treating asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchospasms, and other ailments in patients with obstructive airway or allergic disorders, while avoiding adverse effects, development of tolerance or hypersensitivity on repeated administration or a limited pattern of bronchial distribution when administered by inhalation.
The active compound of these compositions and methods is an optical isomer of formoterol, which is described in Ida, "Arzneim," Forsch., 26:839-842 and 1337-1340 (1976) and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,974. Chemically, the active compound is N-hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxy-2-[(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)methylethyl]amino]ethyl]phenylformamide, which exists as two enantiomeric pairs of diastereomers. Of these, the R,R diastereomer is the most active and, when substantially optically pure, is hereinafter referred to as (R, R) formoterol. Formoterol is available commercially only as a racemic diastereomer: (R,R) and (S,S) in a 1:1 ratio, which is also the enantiomeric mixture referred to by the generic name formoterol. The racemic mixture of (±) formoterol that is commercially available for administration is a dihydrate of the fumarate salt.
When two chiral centers occur in the same molecule, each of them can exist in two possible configurations, thus giving rise to four combinations: (R,R); (S, S); (R,S); and (S,R). The enantiomeric pair (R,R) and (S,S) are mirror images of each other and therefore share chemical properties and melting points. Similarly, (R,S) and (S,R) are an enantiomeric pair. The mirror images of (R, R) and (S,S) are not, however, superimposable on (R,S) and (S,R). The relationship between these two groups is called diastereomeric, and (R,R) is a diastereomer of (R,S). Due to its two chiral centers, formoterol falls into this category.
Adrenergic or sympathomimetic drugs are so called because they are understood to exert their effect through their action on the body's adrenergic receptors of which there are three functionally divided types: α, β1 and β2 receptors.
On the basis of their interaction with these three receptor types, adrenergic or sympathomimetic drugs are in turn classified into three groups:                1.1 Non-selective sympathomimetic drugs;        1.2 Non-selective β sympathomimetic drugs; and        1.3 Selective β2 sympathomimetic bronchodilator drugs.
Drugs of group 1.1 exert both α and β sympathomimetic effects. This class of drugs includes the substances adrenaline and ephedrine. Both adrenaline and ephedrine are known clinically as bronchodilators. Though adrenaline, despite side effects induced by its α-sympathomimetic properties, is still used by some practitioners for the treatment of acute asthma, both drugs have largely been replaced for asthma therapy.
The drugs of group 1.2 have both β1 and β2 sympathomimetic activity but virtually no α-sympathomimetic activity. Of the group 1.2 drugs, isoprenaline is the best known representative. Isoprenaline differs from the drugs of group 1.3 in its faster onset but shorter duration of action and in its cardiac stimulating effects which result largely from its β1 activity. Though isoprenaline was previously extensively used for bronchodilator therapy in asthma, its use today has become clinically restricted. It is believed that a rise in the rate of asthma deaths in the UK in the 1960's was associated with isoprenaline usage, and this has resulted in a discontinuation in its clinical application.
The selective β2 sympathomimetic bronchodilator drugs of group 1.3 (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Group 1.3 drugs") act, as their name implies, selectively on β2 adrenergic receptors. The Group 1.3 drugs include for example, the drug substances terbutaline, albuterol, fenoterol, isoetharine, metaproterenol and, more recently, the so-called "long acting selective β2 sympathomimetic bronchodilator drug substances"-formoterol, bambuterol and salmeterol. All of the above recited Group 1.3 drugs are commercially available and clinically used, generally in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, such as, e.g., as the sulphate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, fumarate or methanesulfonate or, where appropriate, one or other of the hydrate forms thereof.
Group 1.3 drugs characteristically contain as part of their structure an ethanolamine or a 2-aminoethanol moiety of formula I
wherein R1 is an aromatic group: commonly 3,4 or 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl or 4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylphenyl, or, in the case of formoterol, 3-formylamino-4-hydroxyphenyl.
R2 and R3 are commonly H.
Since the formula I moiety comprises at least 1 asymmetric carbon atom (C-1 in formula I), all of the Group 1.3 drugs exist in optically active isomeric forms, with the chiral carbon atom having either the (R) or (S) configuration [as designated using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog system (Angew, Chem. Intern. Ed. 5, 385-415 (1966)]. When the C-1 carbon atom is the sole asymmetric carbon atom present in the structure, Group 1.3 drugs will exist as individual (R) or (S) enantiomers or in the racemic [(R,S)] form, i.e., as a 50:50 mixture of the (R) and (S) enantiomers.
Individual Group 1.3 drugs in which R2 is other than H, or in which the remainder of the molecule includes an asymmetric carbon atom (formoterol, e.g.) exist in a variety of isomeric forms: (a) in individual (R,R), (S,S), (R,S) and (S,R) isomeric forms; (b) as racemic (RS,RS) and (RS,SR) mixtures comprising the (R,R) with (S,S) and (R,S) with (S,R) enantiomeric pairs; as well as (c) in the form of diastereomeric mixtures comprising all four isomeric forms.
The Group 1.3 drugs can be administered orally, parenterally or most commonly, by inhalation, e.g. using nebulizers or metered aerosol devices or as inhaled powders. Inhalation of Group 1.3 drugs presently represents the mainstay of bronchodilator therapy for the treatment of asthma of all grades of severity.
The duration of bronchodilation induced by the majority of Group 1.3 drugs is relatively short and they are employed to relieve asthma attack as and when it occurs. As indicated above, however, the more recently introduced Group 1.3 drugs, such as formoterol, are characterized by their longer duration of action and hence an apparent reduced frequency of dosaging is required.
Although the Group 1.3 drugs are effective and generally seem to be well tolerated, their safety, especially at high dosages, has been questioned over many years and numerous reports have appeared on the adverse effects of Group 1.3 drug therapy (see, e.g., Paterson et al., American Review of Respiratory Disease, 120:844-1187 (1979), especially at page 1165 et seq.). More recently, from New Zealand, where a continuing increase in asthma death has been recorded, two case control studies reported in The Lancet have linked an increase in asthma mortality to the use of the Group 1.3 drug, fenoterol; see, esp., Editorial "β2 agonists in asthma: relief, prevention, morbidity", Lancet, 336:1411-1412 (1990).
A subsequently reported Canadian study found that the use of inhaled Group 1.3 drugs, principally fenoterol and albuterol, is associated with "an increased risk of the combined outcome of fatal and near-fatal asthma, as well as of death from asthma alone." Spitzer et al., New England J. Med., 326:501-506 (1992); and related Editorial, page 560.
Various possible explanations for observed episodes of increased airway obstruction, arterial hypoxaemia or "anomalous" or "paradoxical" bronchospasm, as well as increased morbidity associated with Group 1.3 drug usage, in particular long term/high dose usage, have been proposed. For example, reactive myogenic tone, increased inflammatory burden, adrenoceptor tachyphylaxis and induction of airway hyperreactivity, as well as the involvement of spasmogenic drug metabolic products or long term influence of aerosol spray propellants (see, e.g., Paterson et al. loc. cit. and Morley et al, Eur. Respir. J., 3:1-5 (1990).
There is mounting concern within the medical profession as to the potential dangers of Group 1.3 drug usage in asthma therapy. To quote the Lancet editorial already referred to:                "These studies raise serious question about the use of β2 agonists (i.e., Group 1.3 drugs). The findings of Sears et al. could be interpreted as supporting the current trend towards earlier use of corticosteroids and other preventers of inflammation [for asthma therapy] rather than perseverance with an escalating bronchodilator regimen. The findings of the Nottingham and Dunedin groups also indicate that there is some way to go before long acting β2 agonist preparations such as salmeterol and formoterol can be unreservedly recommended for routine use in the management of asthma. There seem to be clear advantages of compliance and possibly of anti-inflammatory activity associated with such agents, but the potential for adverse effects cannot be ignored. Clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical companies must now attempt to redefine the use of β2 agonists in asthma." [Emphasis added.]
Equally, there has been an evident inability or reluctance to conceive of any problem in relation to Group 1.3 drug therapy as being inherent in Group 1.3 drugs themselves or as hitherto employed: cf the following, taken from the previously cited editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine:                 "Although . . . too much reliance is placed on beta-agonists (Group 1.3 drugs], it is difficult to believe that the problem is related directly to the more regular use of inhaled beta-agonists."
While the suitability, in particular of high dose or long-term, Group 1.3 drug therapy has long been a subject of debate, the practice of administering drugs of this group as racemic mixtures has continued. This practice has been accepted by drug registration authorities world-wide and even the most recently introduced of the Group 1.3 drugs have been developed for clinical use as racemic mixtures. This practice is based upon the assumption or understanding that the non-bronchodilator component of the racemic mixture, i.e., the bronchodilatorily-less or inactive enantiomer (distomer) is devoid of any relevant drug effect and can thus be administered together with the bronchodilatorily-active isomer (eutomer) essentially as inactive ballast and without risk to the patient.
The teachings of the present invention thus stands in stark opposition to long, widely established and continuing practice, and runs contrary to the wisdom of the art.
As the Group 1.3 drugs clearly offer a very considerable potential benefit for bronchodilator usage in asthma, the need to find a means of avoiding, ameliorating or restricting any disadvantages inherent in their use is urgent and crucial. By meeting this need, the present invention may be anticipated to bring immeasurable benefit both to the medical profession, as well as to the population of asthma sufferers.
Formoterol, which is the subject of the present invention, is currently only available as a racemic mixture of the (R, R) and (S,S) diastereomers. Trofast et al, Chirality, 3:443-450 (1991) have described the preparation of each of the substantially pure isomers, and they have concluded that "[s]ince the (S,S) enantiomer is practically inactive there is from this point of view no reason for its removal from the racemate in pharmaceutical preparations . . . ".
Formoterol's primary use is as a long-acting bronchodilator for the relief of reversible bronchospasm in patients with obstructive airway disease such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
Asthma, bronchitis and emphysema are known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. COPD is characterized as generalized airways obstruction, particularly of small airways, associated with varying degrees of symptoms of chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. The term COPD was introduced because these conditions often coexist, and it may be difficult in an individual case to decide which is the major condition producing the obstruction.
Airways obstruction is defined as an increased resistance to airflow during forced expiration. It may result from narrowing or obliteration of airways secondary to intrinsic airways disease; from excessive collapse of airways during a forced expiration secondary to pulmonary emphysema; from bronchospasm as in asthma; or may be due to a combination of these factors. Although obstruction of large airways may occur in all these disorders, particularly in asthma, patients with severe COPD characteristically have major abnormalities in their small airways, namely those less than 2 mm internal diameter, and much of their airways obstruction is situated in this zone. The airways obstruction is irreversible except for that which can be ascribed to asthma.
Asthma is a reversible obstructive lung disorder characterized by increased responsiveness of the airways. Asthma can occur secondarily to a variety of stimuli. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, but inherited or acquired imbalance of adrenergic and cholinergic control of airways diameter has been implicated. Persons manifesting such imbalance have hyperactive bronchi and, even without symptoms, bronchoconstriction may be present. Overt asthma attacks may occur when such persons are subjected to various stresses, such as viral respiratory infection, exercise, emotional upset, nonspecific factors, such as changes in barometric pressure or temperature, inhalation of cold air or irritants, such as gasoline fumes, fresh paint and noxious odors, or cigarette smoke, exposure to specific allergens, as well as the ingestion of aspirin or sulfites in sensitive individuals. Psychologic factors may also aggravate an asthmatic attack but are not assigned a primary etiologic role.
Persons whose asthma is precipitated by allergens (most commonly airborne pollens and molds, house dust and animal dander) and whose symptoms are IgE-mediated, are said to have allergic or "extrinsic" asthma. They account for about 10 to 20% of adult asthmatics; in another 30 to 50%, symptomatic episodes seem to be triggered by non-allergenic factors, such as, for example, infection, irritants and emotional factors, and these patients are said to have non-allergic or "intrinsic" asthma. In many persons, both allergenic and non-allergenic factors are significant. While allergies are said to be a more important factor in children than in adults, the evidence is inconclusive.
Chronic bronchitis (unqualified) is a condition associated with prolonged exposure to non-specified bronchial irritants and accompanied by mucus hypersecretion and certain structural changes in the bronchi. Usually associated with cigarette smoking, it is characterized clinically by chronic productive cough. The term chronic obstructive bronchitis is used when chronic bronchitis is associated with extensive abnormalities of the small airways leading to clinically significant airways obstruction.
Pulmonary emphysema is enlargement of the air spaces distal to terminal non-respiratory bronchioles, accompanied by destructive changes of the alveolar walls. The term chronic obstructive emphysema is used when airways obstruction is also present and where it is clear that the major features of the disease can be explained by emphysematous changes in the lungs.
Many of the β2 agonists cause somewhat similar adverse effects. These adverse effects include but are not limited to, the central nervous system symptoms such as hand tremors, muscle tremors, nervousness, dizziness, headache and drowsiness; respiratory side effects such as dyspnea, wheezing, drying or irritation of the oropharynx, coughing, chest pain and chest discomfort; cardiovascular effects such as palpitations, increased heart rate, and tachycardia. According to Trofast et al. (previously cited), (R,R) formoterol is primarily a chronotropic agent in vitro with inotropic effects showing up at higher concentrations. The chronotropic effects are reported at concentrations that are higher than those at which relaxation of tracheal muscle (bronchodilation) is seen. β2 agonists (e.g., dobutamine) are known in general to exhibit inotropic activity. In addition, racemic β2 agonists can cause angina, vertigo, central stimulation, insomnia, airway hyperreactivity (hypersensitivity), nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth and vomiting. As with other pharmaceuticals, β2 agonists sometimes cause systemic adverse effects such as weakness, fatigue, flushed feeling, sweating, unusual taste, hoarseness, muscle cramps and backaches.
Furthermore, patients have a tendency to develop a tolerance to the bronchodilating effect of the racemic mixture of formoterol. This is related to desensitization, one of the most clinically significant phenomena involving the beta-adrenergic receptor. It has been observed that patients in prolonged beta-agonist therapy have a tendency to increase the dosage of drug they use. This occurs because after prolonged administration, the beta receptor appears to become desensitized to the agonist, thus requiring larger doses of the compound to effect an equivalent physiological response.
The problem of desensitization is especially significant in the treatment of diseases involving bronchospasms, such as asthma. The treatment of asthma usually involves self-administration either orally or by aerosol, of beta-adrenergic agonists such as the racemic (R,R)/(S,S) mixture of formoterol. These agonists mediate bronchodilation and promote easier breathing. Asthmatic patients utilizing β2 agonists for a prolonged time gradually increase the self-administered dose in order to get a sufficient amount of bronchodilation and relief in breathing. As a result of this increased dosage, the agonist concentration builds to a sufficient level so as to enter the peripheral circulation where it acts on the beta receptors of the heart and vasculature to cause cardiovascular stress and other adverse effects.
Moreover, when administering the racemic mixture of formoterol by inhalation, due to the particle size and air flow distribution characteristics of the racemic mixture of formoterol, the distribution of the compound into the smaller bronchioles is limited, which results in a decreased effectiveness of the compound. It is therefore desirable to find a compound with the therapeutic characteristics of formoterol which would not have the above described disadvantages.

Methods and compositions for treating pulmonary disorders using optically pure (R,R)-formoterol


Poly (vinyl sulfoxide)- and (vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers made by capping a lithium terminated elastomer (such as a lithium terminated styrene-butadiene rubber) with more than 0.5 equivalent of vinyl sulfoxide monomer provide compounded elastomer vulcanizates of lowered hysteresis characteristics. Such low hysteresis vulcanizates are useful in making road-contacting tread components of pneumatic tires. Tires with such tread components exhibit low rolling resistance and reduced heat build-up during use.

It is known that it is desirable to produce elastomeric polymers capable of exhibiting reduced hysteresis when properly compounded with other ingredients such as reinforcing agents and then vulcanized. Such elastomers, when fabricated into components for constructing articles such as tires, vibration isolators, power belts, and the like, will manifest properties of increased rebound, decreased rolling resistance and less heat-build up when subjected to mechanical stress during normal use.
The hysteresis of an elastomer refers to the difference between the energy applied to deform an article made from the elastomer and the energy released as the elastomer returns to its initial, undeformed state. In pneumatic tires, lowered hysteresis properties are associated with reduced rolling resistance and heat build-up during operation of the tire. These properties, in turn, result in lowered fuel consumption of vehicles using such tires and prolonged tire life. In such contexts, the property of lowered hysteresis of compounded, vulcanizable elastomer compositions is particularly significant. Examples of such compounded elastomer systems are known to the art and are comprised of at least one elastomer (that is, a natural or synthetic polymer exhibiting elastomer properties, such as a rubber), a reinforcing filler agent (such as finely divided carbon black, thermal black, or mineral fillers such as clay and the like) and a vulcanizing system such as sulfur-containing vulcanizing (that is, curing) system.
Various synthetic strategies have been developed to provide elastomers with molecular structures exhibiting reduced hysteresis energy losses. One technique is to produce elastomers of very high molecular weight. In such high molecular weight systems, the number of free, uncrosslinked molecular chain-ends per given weight in the vulcanizates made from them are reduced. Since the presence of free, unbound chain ends are believed to be a significant factor in hysteretic energy loss because they cannot participate in elastic recovery processes, their reduction leads to a desirable reduction in hysteretic energy loss.
Another technique is to prepare elastomer molecules with end groups capable of interacting with the reinforcing fillers such as carbon black present in compounded elastomer compositions. Again, such interaction reduces the number of free end groups believed to contribute to hysteretic losses. Such interactive end groups include those derived from tin or other metal reagents as well as those derived from polar organic reagents such amines, amides, esters, imines, imides, ketones and various combinations of such groups. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/703,533 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,469 describes elastomers with end-groups derived by reacting an anionically prepared polymer having a reactive lithium site with about an equivalent of an alkyl or aryl sulfoxide compound to provide an elastomer with polar end groups. This application does not disclose or suggest reaction of polymer with a vinyl sulfoxide which, under the anionic conditions used in this invention, occurs through the vinyl functionality. Thus, the capping reactions occuring in the present invention are inherently different than those occuring with alkyl or aryl sulfoxides.
The present invention is directed to vinyl sulfoxide-capped elastomers which, when used to prepare a compounded and vulcanized by known rubber processing techniques, provide vulcanized elastomers which exhibit desirable low hysteresis characteristics. These (vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers can be made by reacting lithium - terminated elastomer intermediates with more than one equivalent of at least one vinyl sulfoxide. The (vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers thereby produced contain short blocks of poly (vinyl sulfoxide) having a degree of polymerization of about 1 or more. Mixtures of (vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers with the uncapped elastomer derived from the lithium terminated elastomer are also useful. For convenience, these mixtures can be described as having a degree of polymerization less than 1.0, say 0.5. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the vinyl sulfoxide-capped elastomers have blocks with degrees of polymerization greater than 1.0, usually greater than two. These are poly (vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers where the degree of polymerization of the vinyl sulfoxide block is 2 or more, the elastomer molecules have polar end-groups derived from two or more molecules of vinyl sulfoxide.

(Vinyl sulfoxide)-capped elastomers and compositions containing them having reduced hysteresis properties


A heat exchanger comprising at least one pipe (1) and at least one lamina (2), for exchanging heat between a first coolant that flows through the pipe (1) and a second coolant that wets the heat exchanger under the influence of centrifugal forces in order to be cooled and to be available to further cool a rotating machine element (3) that is situated in a housing (4). The heat exchanger is of approximately ring-shaped design, essentially surrounds the rotating machine element (3) and is integrated into the housing (4).

Numerous heat exchangers are known from the existing art, and are often designed in a ring shape. In most applications, ring-shaped heat exchangers serve to cool a first coolant flowing through the flat piping of the heat exchanger by means of cooling air that is blown by a fan or the like from inside to outside (or vice versa) through cooling ribs situated between the flat pipes.
Likewise in most cases the flat pipes have been bent on their narrow sides, so that a plurality of flat pipes can be situated side-by-side and the laminae or the cooling ribs for the radially flowing cooling air can be placed between them. One example among numerous others was described in DE 37 21 257 C2 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
A ring-shaped heat exchanger has also already been proposed, whose flat pipes have been bent on their wide sides, which is more easily accomplished in terms of production technique. In this case, however, the cooling air flows axially through the laminae situated between the flat pipes. One such example can be found in DE 3 104 945, FIG. 4. DE 3 104 945 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Ring-shaped heat exchangers have often been equipped with round or slightly oval pipes, which are easier to bend than flat pipes. The lamellae there are usually flat ribs that have openings through which the pipes have been inserted before being bent. With round pipes the surfaces involved in the heat exchange are smaller than with flat pipes, which worsens their efficiency.
Rotating machine elements may be, for example, clutches or brakes that have a need for cooling. Torque transmitting elements have been addressed, for example,—frequently referred to as wet clutches—that run through a coolant sump, in most cases containing oil, and that fling the coolant away by their rotation. The coolant then runs down the wall of the housing, for example, back into the sump, and there can cool down. There are also numerous publications in this field.

Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing


A time series myoelectric potential signal is acquired, which is representative of time series activity amount of a muscle of a driver when the driver is performing a driving operation on the vehicle, the muscle being involved in the driving operation. Based on the acquired time series myoelectric potential signal, a parameter value indicative of a fluctuation amount of the time-series myoelectric potential signal and an average value of the myoelectric potential signal are obtained. Drivability of the vehicle is evaluated based on the obtained parameter value and the obtained average value.

At present, in an evaluation of characteristics of a driver who drives an automobile vehicle or of drivability of an automobile vehicle, or in performing an operation assist control for assisting an operation performed by a driver who drives an automobile vehicle to thereby control a behavior of the automobile vehicle, information on the automobile vehicle being driven or biological information of the driver who is driving the vehicle are used.
Of those, the drivability of an automobile vehicle is determined based on a balance between two contradictory types of performance such as responsiveness and stability. The responsiveness herein refers to an index for indicating how sensitively the steering state of an automobile vehicle reacts to the operation (for example, steering operation) performed by the driver. When the vehicle is high in responsiveness, the vehicle can be steered greatly even when the driver performs the operation by a significantly light force. Similarly, the stability refers to an index for indicating a degree of insusceptibility of the steering state of an automobile vehicle with respect to an influence due to a disturbance resulting from a road surface irregularity or the like. When the vehicle is high in stability, the vehicle can travel in a stable steering state even when affected by a great disturbance resulting from the road surface irregularity or the like, without the need for a great steering adjustment force to be exerted by the driver driving the vehicle. As has been widely recognized in general, a vehicle which is too high in responsiveness tends to be low in stability, while a vehicle which is too high in stability tends to be low in responsiveness. The drivability of an automobile vehicle, which is determined by the two contradictory types of performance such as the responsiveness and the stability, is difficult to quantify. Conventionally, in order to quantitatively evaluate the drivability of an automobile vehicle, a feeling test has been mainly conducted to make the evaluation. In the feeling test, a driver who drives a vehicle of evaluation target quantitatively evaluates the vehicle of evaluation target in terms of drivability thereof, based on the feeling of the driver oneself.
As regards the feeling test which has been conventionally conducted, Patent Document 1 described below, for example, discloses an apparatus for measuring driving stability of a vehicle, which has been made for the purpose of appropriately evaluating the driving stability of a vehicle based on a quantitative index. Patent Document 1 describes that attention is focused on how the steering operation performed by a driver is affected by external work resulting from a road surface irregularity or the like, and the driving stability is evaluated by using as an index a steering work ratio, which is obtained as a product of a time differential value of a steering angle (steering speed) and a steering force. Patent Document 1 describes that the steering work ratio corresponds to the amount of work externally received due to a road surface irregularity or the like. Further, in particular, in the case where the steering work ratio has a negative value, the wheel steering speed (time differential value of a steering angle) is mutually opposite in direction to the wheel steering force, and accordingly the case is regarded as a state where the driver is trying to stop the movement of the steering wheel and is externally receiving work resulting from a road surface irregularity or the like. In Patent Document 1 described below, the driving stability of a vehicle can be evaluated according to the magnitude of the negative steering work ratio.
Patent Document 1: JP 2002-214083 A

Method, apparatus, and program for evaluating drivability of a vehicle


A method for operating a braking system of a vehicle includes: establishing a first setpoint brake pressure to be set in a first wheel brake cylinder of a first brake circuit and a second setpoint brake pressure to be set in a second wheel brake cylinder of a second brake circuit; reducing first and second actual brake pressures by setting a master brake cylinder pressure to be no greater than a minimum of the first and second setpoint brake pressures, and controlling a first switchover valve of the first brake circuit and/or of the second brake circuit; and/or increasing the first and second actual brake pressures by setting the master brake cylinder pressure to be no smaller than a maximum of the first and second setpoint brake pressures, and activating a first wheel inlet valve of the first brake circuit and/or of the second brake circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for a braking system of a vehicle and a method for operating a braking system of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Published German patent application document DE 10 2010 040 854 A1 describes a hydraulic braking system and a method for operating same. With the aid of a use of the hydraulic braking system or by carrying out the method for its operation, it is to be made possible to decelerate a vehicle with the aid of at least one electric motor and a hydraulic braking system.

Control device for a braking system of a vehicle, and method for operating a braking system of a vehicle


In example implementations, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a connection interface, a local area network (LAN) interface, a wide area network (WAN) interface, and a processor. The connection interface is to connect to a printed circuit board (PCB) of a door controller. The LAN interface is to communicate with a plurality of door sensors, wherein each one of the plurality door sensors is to monitor operation of a respective door of a plurality of doors. The WAN interface is to communicate with a remote server of a service provider. The processor is communicatively coupled to the connection interface, the LAN interface, and the WAN interface. The processor is to receive door data from the plurality of door sensors via the LAN interface, transmit the door data to the remote server for analysis via the WAN interface, receive a correction action from the remote server over the WAN interface in response to the door data, and execute the corrective action on a door of the plurality of doors via the LAN interface.

Commercial buildings, such as warehouses or manufacturing facilities, may have many doors. For example, some warehouses may have doors for docks where deliveries are made, where products are loaded onto trucks, for egress and ingress to the building by forklifts or other machinery, and the like.
Operation of these doors may be important for businesses to keep operations running smoothly. Failure of a door can lead to interruptions of work flow or timely order fulfillment. However, manual tracking of door operations can be cumbersome and time consuming.
In addition, many of the doors may be opened by motors that can be controlled remotely. For example, some doors may have complicated wiring and communication interfaces that are installed and configured before operation. Set up of these electrical components can be complicated. Some technicians at the commercial buildings may not be able to correctly configure these electronic components or may be unable to precisely articulate the errors when troubleshooting with the manufacturer of the electronic components.

Communication interface device for wireless door controllers


A sales information architecture detects user interaction with a tagged item and in response displays product information about the item to the user. The architecture can process a sales transaction involving the item and report the sale in real-time to other enterprises such as manufacturers using a publish subscribe messaging service.

The present invention relates to sales information architectures.
Conventional sales information architectures fail to provide information to customers in a timely and comprehensive manner. For example, a customer of a grocery store may wish to know exactly where a product such as beef comes from and how fresh it is before purchasing the beef. To find out this information, the customer typically has to ask the store personnel. Similarly, a customer of a music store may wish to listen to the audio tracks of a CD before purchasing the CD.
Once the item has been purchased, the vendors (retailers or suppliers) may wish to be notified about the sale immediately. For example, in the entertainment industry, the top-selling items in a particular category are often publicized in a hit list or similar benchmark. The appearance of an item in a hit list often helps to promote further sales of the item. Immediate notification of sales also helps vendors to better plan out their replenishment schedules to avoid running out of stock.

Real-time sales information architecture